COLLECTIVE MADNESS



Soft despotism is a term coined by Alexis de Tocqueville describing the state into which a country overrun by "a network of small complicated rules" might degrade. Soft despotism is different from despotism (also called 'hard despotism') in the sense that it is not obvious to the people."
Award-winning documentary filmmaker and fine-art photographer Miguel Gandert shows his work highlighting his mestizaje heritage, and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas. Runs through 12/29.

Querer means to want, to desire, to be in a place, with its people. In folk terminology, querencia is such a place, the center space of desire, the root of belonging and yearning to belong, that vicinity where you first beheld the light. Querencia, in collective terms, is homeland. ~Enrique Lamadrid, Nuevo Mexico Profundo

Miguel Gandert tells stories. He tells stories of his homeland, New Mexico (and beyond), its people and the cultural practices that distinguish communities from each other while simultaneously revealing their kinship. You will have to form your own words, however. Ganderts stories are told through penetrating, black and white photos. A primary focus of his work is his own mestizaje heritage and the fusion and tension of the relationship between Spanish Colonial and Native Cultures of the Americas.

Miguel Gandert, a native of Espanola, NM, is an award-winning documentary and fine-art photographer and filmmaker. His photographs have been shown in galleries and museums throughout the world and are in numerous public collections including the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the National Museum of American History and Art at the Smithsonian.

Querencia: Rituals of the Rio Arriba opens Friday, October 6 at the New Mexico Humanities Council, 4115 Silver Ave SE, Albuquerque. An artists reception will be 6:00 pm  8:00 pm with an artist's discussion at 7:00 pm. The exhibit closes December 29, 2017.
By 1955, gangster movies had been entertaining audiences for a quarter of a century, so its not surprising Hollywood found it increasingly difficult to inject fresh elements into the genres tried-and-true formula. Though Hell on Frisco Bay doesnt bring anything new to the table (except maybe Technicolor and CinemaScope), theres something comforting about its predictability. Slickly directed by Frank Tuttle and packed with potent performances, this hard-boiled revenge flick breezes along, ably mixing underworld drama and muscular confrontations with brusque banter, a little romance, and even a couple of songs.

Simple plot. Basic direction. Straightforward presentation. In a nutshell, thats Hell on Frisco Bay. Yet like the old ad campaign for Holiday Inn, sometimes the best surprise is no surprise. Tuttle employs a paint-by-numbers approach, but takes great care, so the finished product looks polished. The story may lack depth, but the colorful portrayals and brisk pacing keep us engaged, while extensive location shooting in and around San Francisco and a thrilling speedboat climax (which tragically cost a stunt man his life) punch up the pictures appeal.

As the movie opens, Steve Rollins (Alan Ladd), the tough cop that got set up for manslaughter, walks out of San Quentin prison after serving a five-year sentence. Bitter and disillusioned over the loss of his career and infidelity of his estranged wife Marcia (Joanne Dru), Steve funnels all his energy into finding the killer who framed him and shutting down the violent syndicate that grips San Franciscos docks like a vice. His former colleague Dan Bianco (William Demarest) tries to dissuade him, but Steve wont be deterred, and vows to bring ruthless kingpin Victor Amato (Edward G. Robinson) and his henchmen to justice if its the last thing he does.

Though Technicolor and CinemaScope dont particularly suit this type of movie, they sure make the Golden Gate Bridge, Frisco Bay, and Joanne Dru look pretty. The wider screen immerses us more fully in the atmosphere, but diminishes both tension and that delicious sense of claustrophobia so essential to film noir. And by shooting in color instead of black-and-white, Tuttle sacrifices grit for gloss, dulling the narratives down-and-dirty feel and lending it an antiseptic flavor instead.

Thankfully, the superior cast offsets any blandness. Just as he did in Shane a couple of years earlier, Ladd brings a quiet strength to his soft-spoken role, projecting an imposing on-screen presence that belies his diminutive stature. His chemistry with the beautiful Dru is a bit tepid, but he spars well with Robinson, who chews the scenery as voraciously as he chews his ever-present cigar. From the get-go, Robinsons Amato resembles two of the actors iconic gangster creations - Rico in Little Caesar and Johnny Rocco in Key Largo - but without any of the subtle character complexities. Yet if Robinson rued Amatos lack of dimension, he doesnt let it show. On the contrary, he seems to relish every blustery threat, nasty put-down, and petulant outburst.

The always endearing Demarest embraces his plain-speaking sidekick role, while the underrated Paul Stewart as Robinsons conflicted right-hand man and King Kong heroine Fay Wray also file fine work. A young Rod Taylor (billed here as Rodney) and uncredited Jayne Mansfield in only her third film (and doing her best Marilyn Monroe imitation) perk up the proceedings as well.

Hell on Frisco Bay never will be regarded as a top tier film noir, but it remains a prime example of efficient, workmanlike studio moviemaking during the 1950s. Artistry may come at a premium, but the entertainment value of this taut, pedestrian gangster flick is high enough to help it merit renewed attention more than 60 years after its initial release. If youre a fan of the genre, you should definitely check it out.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

Hell on Frisco Bay arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu without music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.
October 13, 2017

Since the Hasm militant movement claimed responsibility for the Sept. 30 explosion at Myanmar's Embassy in Cairo, officials are wondering if the group plans to expand beyond its mainstay target of Egyptian authorities.

The movement so far has been a relative minor league player among jihadi ranks, but could be looking to move up alongside international terrorism groups.

Hasm has claimed responsibility for several assassinations and bombings targeting Egyptian authorities since its rise. In August 2016, the movement carried out a failed assassination attempt against Egypt's former grand mufti, Ali Gomaa, wounding his bodyguard. Hasms first known operation was the July 2016 assassination of Maj. Mahmoud Abdel Hamid, chief of investigations in Tamya.

There are reasons to suspect the movement is connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. Hasm planted a car bomb in November 2016 against Ahmad Abu al-Fotouh, a judge in the 2015 trial of Brotherhood member and ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Fotouh survived, but two of his bodyguards and a deliveryman were killed.

Egypt is investigating 17 incidents for which Hasm is blamed, including the assassination of army and police officers, judges and public prosecutors.

Egyptian authorities say the group's central command is headed by Ahmed Abdul Hafiz, who lives in Turkey. They believe the group is being aided by three Brotherhood leaders  Ali Bateekh, Magdy Shalash and Mohammed Abdul Hadi  but there is no conclusive evidence proving ties between Hasm and the Brotherhood.

However, as both groups' approaches and philosophies are similar, there is speculation that Hasm was formed by rebels who defected from the Brotherhood organizationally but who retain its influence.

Before its Twitter account was blocked, Hasm posted a statement comparing the practices of the Myanmar government against the Rohingya Muslims with measures Egyptian authorities take against government opponents, especially in Sinai, which the movement describes as home to the authorities of the military coup against Morsi.

So does Hasms claimed targeting of the embassy indicate that it's entering a new phase and becoming a transnational organization like al-Qaeda and the Islamic Jihad? Does Hasm have the ability and public base to go through with such a shift? Officials have yet to even acknowledge Hasm was involved in the explosion.

An Interior Ministry security source told Egypt's El-Watan newspaper Sept. 30 that the embassy explosion was due to some combination of a cigarette, volatile fumes from old construction materials and a nearby gas pipe. However, two security sources told Reuters that traces of explosives were found at the scene. Hasm said in a statement that it had used "utmost caution to ensure that there were no civilian casualties or innocent people [hurt] during the operation, or else you would have seen a burning hell you could not have stopped."

Salah al-Din Hassan, a researcher on Islamist movements and former editor-in-chief of Al-Bawaba newspaper, told Al-Monitor, Despite the significance of Hasm's claiming responsibility for the Myanmar embassy attack, it does not forecast the movements ability to execute operations abroad. But the [group's] development might be in attacking the interests of states that Hasm believes oppose Egypt. This new development heralds globalized operations in a message whose main aim is to show the movement as a force of solidarity with Muslims around the world, amid injustice to the Brotherhood.

Anas al-Kassass, a strategic and international affairs analyst, told Al-Monitor, Talk about armed shifts within the Brotherhood must be dealt with seriously for objective reasons related to the [Brotherhood's] fluctuating ideological and religious authority since its establishment in 1928.

He added, These groups  did not exist in themselves, but were born as a reaction [against the regime], leaving limited repercussions because of their lack of vision. Besides, they do not have an organizational culture allowing them to cope with the variables around them, be they political, economic, ideological or technological.  The Hasm movement cannot turn into a transnational group."

Regarding the prospect of confrontations between Hasm and Egyptian security, Hassan said, The security forces in Egypt succeeded in eliminating organizations like the [now-defunct] Soldiers of Egypt and the Popular Resistance, which were fruits of jihadism, and they are now up against groups branched from the Brotherhood. These groups have more stamina because they are affiliated with the Brotherhood, which has a wide popular and social base, and it is generally a large Islamist current. Historically, organizations emanating from the mother Brotherhood group split from it and form separate groups that have their own distinct character.

The Soldiers of Egypt (Ajnad Misr) disbanded after Egyptian security killed its leader, Hamam Mohammad Atiya, in April 2015. Many members are now on trial, and 13 were sentenced to death this month. The Popular Resistance was formed in August 2014. The movement claimed responsibility for several operations, and Egyptian security still arrests some members from time to time.

Hasm has taken steps that might push the United States and other countries to designate it as a terrorist group, given that its operations could be going global, even if on a small scale. Hasm will either disintegrate under pressure or expand within the circle of violence, presenting a greater security challenge and more violence in the Nile Valley and Delta in Egypt.

Abdelrahman Youssef contributed to this story.
Genres : Action, Drama, History

Starring : Sybille Schmitz, Hans Nielsen, Kirsten Heiberg

Director : Herbert Selpin

Plot Synopsis

Before James Cameron s 1997 blockbuster, the Hollywood Titanic of 1953, and the 1958 British film A Night to Remember, there was the Nazi German film Titanic. Begun in 1942, this production nearly sank as decisively as the doomed ocean liner, after the film s director, Herbert Selpin, was overheard making remarks damning the German army. Reported to the Gestapo, Selpin was arrested and later found hanging in his prison cell, the victim of an arranged suicide. In April, 1943, the film was banned by the Berlin censors because of its terrifying scenes of panic, all too familiar to German civilians undergoing nightly Allied bombing raids. After extensive cutting, Titanic was released in occupied Paris and a few army installations. It wasn t until late 1949 that it was seen in Germany, though it was banned, a few months later, in the Western sectors. Technically, this Titanic is an excellent catastrophe film; its shots of the ship sinking were later used by the 1958 British film without credit. Somewhat true to the facts though peppered with fictional good Germans both on and below deck the film ends with a trial scene that acquits the White Star Line management, followed by a final slide denouncing England s eternal quest for profit. These packed a powerful propaganda punch; cut from the postwar prints, they have been restored for this Kino Classics edition.
October 13, 2017

CAIRO  Through Facebook, social media activists in Egypt have been calling since Oct. 1 for adding a special condition in marriage contracts, requiring the first wifes prior consent in the event that her husband seeks a second wife under a polygamy arrangement.

Media activists posted a photo showing a copy of a marriage contract that added this condition, claiming it was officiated in Egypt.

This sparked a wide controversy in Egypt, pitting those who believe this condition is one of the first wifes most basic rights against those who see this as contradictory to Islamic Sharia, which allows men to marry up to four women.

Member of parliament Abdel Moneim al-Alimi, a member of the Legislative and Constitutional Committee, told Al-Monitor that this social media campaign will be supported by the draft law he submitted on Oct. 2 to Egypts parliament to amend the law organizing the marriage officiant profession.

He said the draft law includes several conditions aimed to ensure the validity of the marriage contract. One condition says the second marriage contract becomes null and void if the husband's wife does not provide written approval for his second marriage.

A marriage contract aims to regulate marital life away from disputes and conflicts that may disrupt this union. Disputes about the wifes education or work after marriage or the husbands second marriage as well as other disputes usually lead to separation and the fragmentation of the family after an arduous journey of judicial disputes during which the spouses fail to agree on rights and duties, he said.

Alimi said, A condition was included in the draft law to regulate the relation between the spouses in the marriage contract so as to put an end to these disputes and to take judicial action against those who violated these conditions in record time.

He further pointed out that it is up to the Azhar Islamic Research Academy and not to specific persons or movements to determine the compatibility of the draft law with Islamic Sharia.

Asserting that the draft law is compatible with Islamic Sharia, he indicated that the Islamic Research Academy would approve it because Islamic Sharia allowed both spouses to add conditions to protect their rights, to preserve their interests and to have guarantees.

On another note, Ahmed Khalil, the head of the Nour Party's parliamentary bloc, told Al-Monitor that he will not talk about the draft law and whether it violates Islamic Sharia because this falls within the competence of the Islamic Research Academy, but that he will rather address the usefulness of the draft law.

He said, Hundreds of draft laws have been submitted to Egypt's parliament. These inappropriate draft laws have preoccupied public opinion and caused controversy, while parliament ought to take care of the draft laws that remedy the countrys current problems and set the foundation for the Egyptian state over the next 100 years.

Khalil added, What second marriage are we talking about at a time when the number of spinsters in Egypt stands at more than 11 million? Egyptian young men are barely capable of getting married once, let alone a second marriage.

He said, Parliament ought to enact laws that would make it easier for young people to marry instead of addressing exceptional cases.

On the other hand, Abdul Hamid al-Atrash, the head of Al-Azhar Universitys Fatwa Committee, quoted hadith from the Prophet Muhammad that said Muslims are bound by contract conditions except for those that violate Sharia.

He told Al-Monitor, These conditions include the wifes condition in the marriage contract requiring her husband not to marry a second wife. This is a permissible condition that has a sound purpose, which is to prevent the harm that may be caused to the first wife in case her husband decided to marry a second woman without her consent.

He added, This condition is not tantamount to an infringement of the husbands rights since it is the husband who is waiving his right.

Atrash explained, If a man has the right to marry more than one and consents to waive this right, than the condition [of the first wifes prior approval] would therefore be valid. In this case, the first wife would hold the keys to her husbands second marriage. A man can still be capable of having another wife without harming his first wife, since in Islam doing justice between wives is a prerequisite for polygamy.

Abla Ibrahim, the director of the Arab League's Women's Department, rejected the draft law. She told Al-Monitor, I do not agree to such an unreasonable condition in the marriage contract. At the beginning of their marriage, both spouses would have strong emotional feelings and would rule out the idea of a second marriage. But as life goes on, a man could consider a second marriage. I think that the husband should submit to the court the reasons for which he wants a second marriage, and it would be up to the judge to decide whether to allow him or not to do so. The first wife is not a neutral party, and certainly she would not want her husband to take on a second wife.

However, National Council for Women member Sanaa Al-Saeed told Al-Monitor, The condition requiring the wife's prior consent for her husbands second marriage is stipulated in the applicable personal status law, but it is not being enforced as a result of legal maneuvers by lawyers.

She said the law gives a wife whose husband marries a second wife the right to ask for divorce even if she had not stipulated in the marriage contract that he should not marry a second wife.

Saeed added, However, the law stated that this right is subject to a one-year statute of limitation as of the date on which the wife becomes aware of her husbands marriage to another women. This point is being exploited by lawyers. We hope the new draft law includes implementation controls and not rigid legal rules.

She further pointed that Muhammad did not allow Ali bin Abi Talib to take on another wife besides Muhammad's daughter Fatima Zahra because this would hurt her, which confirms that the marriage contract condition of the first wifes approval on the second marriage is in accordance with Islamic Sharia.

For his part, Sheikh Sharif al-Hawari, a board member of the Salafi Call, told Al-Monitor, The rule in polygamy is the lack of [such] condition. Prophet Muhammad and his companions were married to several women, and no one reported that they ever waited for their first wife's permission.

He explained that Muhammad's rejection of Ali bin Abi Talib is a special case related exclusively to Fatima because the second wife was the daughter of Abu Jahl, an infidel.

Hawari added, Moreover, the prophet did not forbid Ali from getting another wife, but he asked him to divorce Fatima if he insisted on marrying the daughter of Abu Jahl. After Fatimas death, Ali married eight women. Therefore, this example cannot be cited when talking about polygamy.
October 15, 2017

Iranian Popular Mobilization Units may determine Kirkuk outcome

On Oct. 13, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis conveyed a message via reporters that Iraqi parties should stay focused on defeating ISIS, or the Islamic State (IS).

The next day, as forces massed near Kirkuk, Iraq, Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' Quds Force, paid his respects at the tomb of former Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in Sulaimaniyah.

The contrast might be illustrative of what to expect in coming days. Despite long-standing US political and military ties with both Baghdad and Erbil, it is Tehran, not Washington, that seems best placed to determine the course of events, as we wrote in this column two weeks ago. Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), which recently liberated the city of Hawija from IS, as Shelly Kittleson reports, have lined up in support of Iraqi government forces around key military and oil installations outside Kirkuk, which is defended by Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga units.

Iraq Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has been able to play both statesman and nationalist by opposing the Iraqi Kurdistan Regions independence referendum and seeking a negotiated solution to the crisis. His endgame includes re-establishing Iraqi government control of areas of Kirkuk lost to IS in 2014 and subsequently seized by Iraqi Kurdish forces.

Abadi would prefer a victory without bloodshed, given Iraqs fragile polity. The precedent of the Iraqi referendum could spur Basra and some Iraqi Sunni communities to seek autonomy as well, as Adnan Abu Zeed reports. But there may now be an escalatory dynamic, and Abadi is one of several players, with Iran holding the balance.

The crisis over the referendum has given new charge to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which has strong ties to Iran. At Talabanis funeral, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sat one seat away from Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani; the United States was represented by its ambassador in Iraq. Perhaps it is no surprise that Soleimani is in PUK territory, as Iran-backed militias are opposite peshmerga fighters on the Kirkuk front.

The PUK had been skeptical of the independence referendum, which was driven by the Barzani-led Kurdistan Democratic Party. The PUK, including the late president's son Bafel Talabani, has taken the lead in calling for a negotiated solution to the crisis and for holding talks with Iraqi President Fuad Masum, who is also a Kurd, in Sulamaniyah, the partys home base in the region.

There is also the role of Iraqi Turkmens, who number about 3 million (about 8.3% of Iraqs population) and are concentrated mostly in Kirkuk and surrounding regions. Turkmen parties opposed the independence referendum and have been able to establish armed factions within the [PMU] in mixed areas such as Tuz Khormato and al-Bashir, writes Hamdi Malik. Shiite forces such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq backed the Turkmen PMU factions to pressure the Kurds in these areas.  The Turkmens hope the liberation of Hawija and adjacent areas as well as pressure from the federal forces will ultimately weaken the Kurds in these areas.

Turkey looks to Syrian tribes for support

Turkey deployed special forces, commandos and Free Syrian Army (FSA) units into Idlib, which is mostly controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the al-Qaeda-linked armed group, in accord with a de-escalation agreement with Russia and Iran. The Syrian government criticized the incursion.

Khaled al-Khateb reports from Aleppo, Although Turkey controls the FSA factions in the liberated areas, it still needs the allegiance of the tribes spread across the areas they hold. Organizing the tribes into a council makes it easier for Turkey to control them. Hence, the new council's formation is a boon for Turkey.

The tribes constitute a strong suit in the civil war, so all the parties involved want to win them over, Khateb adds. Turkey is trying to take advantage of the role the tribes play in the liberated areas while also preventing the regime of President Bashar al-Assad or the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from enrolling them as allies. Tribes are particularly prominent in northern and eastern Syria, where they have a lot of social clout. The SDF has relied on several tribes in the Aleppo and Raqqa countrysides in its fight against [IS]. Some tribes have also fought with the regime in Aleppo's eastern countryside. The establishment of the new tribal council in the liberated areas is a step aimed at getting the tribes to ally with Turkey.

DeMistura seeks to build on de-escalation zones

Syrians are suffering unacceptable levels of violence, and civilian casualties have spiked recently as a result of what may be the final or near final battles against IS in Raqqa and Deir Ez-Zor.

A report from the UN secretary-general to the Security Council last month notes that ongoing clashes, in particular military operations targeting strongholds of [IS], continued to result in the injury, death and displacement of the civilian population and the destruction of civilian infrastructure and contains a plea for the parties to the conflict, in particular the Syrian Government, to release detainees, abductees and missing persons.

The spike in civilian casualties may have obscured another trend in the report, which acknowledges the persistent and determined efforts to reduce violence through de-escalation agreements, which have delivered observable results in reducing hostilities by all parties to the conflict.

The report points out that there are nearly a million fewer people living in besieged or hard-to-reach locations in Syria, a total of 3.47 million, down from 4.44 million, as a result of increased access in the northeast of the country. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported in June that 440,000 internally displaced Syrians and over 30,000 refugees had returned to their homes in the first six months of 2017. It is a good bet that those numbers are increasing.

Although the situation is fragile, we can say at this point that the de-escalation zones have exceeded most expectations and may offer the best chance in years for a renewed political process. That is certainly the plan of UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, who told the Security Council on Sept. 27 that de-escalation should be a precursor to a truly nationwide cease-fire, and to action on the humanitarian and confidence-building fronts  [and to] laying the basis for a renewed Geneva process  one that moves from preparatory talks into genuine negotiations on the political future of Syria.

De Mistura is banking on a Saudi initiative, a "Riyadh 2" conference in Geneva, to unify and impart realism into the opposition platform prior to a new round of Geneva talks to commence in October or November.

Signs of realism may be evident among Syrias Kurdish leaders. Gen. Mazlum Kobane, the chief commander of the SDF and leader of its military campaign in Raqqa, told Amberin Zaman in September that he considers the Syrian government a threat to us at present," but added that "one has to come to terms with the current regime. The Syrian regime is a reality. Militarily, the regime has won a victory against the opposition  the opposition other than us, I mean  at least in the areas it is currently present. And looking at things objectively, the regime is here to stay." He also said, "Our essential objective is to negotiate with the central government and get a certain status for the areas we liberated. If required, we are ready to engage in dialogue with the central government on this.
October 15, 2017

In Iran, both government officials and regular citizens have reacted with anger to the Oct. 13 speech made by US President Donald Trump on his new Iran strategy. Though Trump attempted to distinguish between the Iranian people and the Iranian state, his reference to the Arabian Gulf instead of the "Persian Gulf" caused widespread outrage among ordinary Iranians, with #NeverTrustUSA trending on Twitter. The term Arabian Gulf was first used by pan-Arab movements in Iraq in the 1960s and then by nationalist Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser in reaction to Tehrans siding with Israel in its conflicts with Arab states.

Shortly after Trumps speech, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave a televised address in which he slammed the US president, urging him to be ethical and polite.

Mentioning Trumps use of the term Arabian Gulf, Rouhani said, I invite the US president to read more about history and geography.  How [has] a president not yet learned the name of a famous, historical and global gulf  the Persian Gulf, through which, unfortunately, American warships are constantly coming and going. He should have at least asked his military advisers how they write the name of this gulf on their maps.

Noting Trumps threats to kill the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the Iranian president said, As long as our rights are guaranteed, and as long as our interests require, and as long as we enjoy its benefits, we will respect the JCPOA within the framework of the interests of our nation. He added, [Trump] says that, in cooperation with Congress, he will amend the JCPOA. [Seemingly], he doesnt know that [it is not possible] to add any clause, article and paragraph to the JCPOA.

Hinting at Europes opposition to Trumps strategy toward Iran, Rouhani continued, The great people of Iran saw that for the first time the United States took a stand against a multilateral international commitment, and immediately, major countries of the world and the European Union took a stand against the United States. The US today is lonelier than ever on the JCPOA and its conspiracies against the Iranian nation.

On Oct. 14, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif joined Rouhani in condemning Trumps speech.

Mentioning Trumps assertion that Iran is not committed to its obligations under the nuclear deal, Zarif said in an interview on Iranian state TV, It has been mentioned in the JCPOA that the only center responsible for pursuing and determining Irans commitment to the JCPOA is the International Atomic Energy Agency. He added, The US domestic laws are not valid for us and [the Trump administration] is obligated to act within the framework of the JCPOA, which is [endorsed by] a resolution of the UN Security Council.

Zarif continued, We are taking appropriate measures in response to US actions. The Committee for Monitoring the JCPOA [an Iranian committee consisting of senior officials] will determine the necessary framework for responding to the US.

Zarif said, We have written nine letters [to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini as the coordinator of the JCPOA] about the US delay or failure in honoring its JCPOA commitments. He added that he will write a letter tomorrow or the day after tomorrow to Mogherini about Trumps remarks.

Zarif continued, If they revive the sanctions and we face an inability to use [the JCPOA] in oil, gas and shipping arenas, and for bringing our money to the country, [then] we have the right to make a decision about the continuation of our presence in the JCPOA.

Asked what will happen to Irans multibillion-dollar contract with US airplane manufacturer Boeing, Zarif said, In our view, there is no problem [regarding the deal], but if the US government impedes this contract, then they havent honored their commitments under the JCPOA.

Zarif also tied Trumps use of the term Arabian Gulf to Saudi Arabia and other neighboring Arab states, saying that the US president did it to please these states, referring to their status as major purchasers of US weapons.

In reaction to European officials remarks about the US presidents speech, Zarif said, The reaction of Mrs. Mogherini and European countries to the remarks of Trump is not limited to the JCPOA, but they are concerned about the [broader] behavior of the Trump government. [US] failure to comply with international obligations can create problems for the international order. Zarif added, This is a positive point for us because, previously, every time the US government decided to impose sanctions on us, Europe supported them, but today, the Europeans have stood against the US."

He added: We will see in the coming months to what extent Europe will resist the excessive US [demands], and this will demonstrate whether the JCPOA will continue [to remain in place] and whether Europe can play a role on the international stage.

Meanwhile, the head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, warned the United States, saying, If the JCPOA is scrapped, we will stop implementing the Additional Protocol, because we are implementing it voluntarily and it hasnt been ratified by parliament.

He stated, We are committed to the inspections [by the International Atomic Energy Agency] under the JCPOA, and we are pursuing these commitments within this framework, but we wont fulfill any other demand outside this framework.
October 13, 2017

Anyone communicating these days with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus most intimate associates comes away with the impression that Netanyahus mood is fluctuating between hubris and depression.

Indeed, the prime minister lives in a schizophrenic reality. On the one hand, Netanyahu has a dream-come-true American president who wont say the words two-state solution and is in the process of withdrawing from the Iran deal. The anti-Obama at its best. On the other hand, Netanyahu is increasingly tangled in police investigations. Reports by Israels Channel 10, for instance, raise new questions concerning the nature of the ties Netanyahu maintained with Israeli billionaire Arnon Milchan. Channel 10 reported at the beginning of October that the police are collecting testimonies in a new affair as part of the criminal investigation that Netanyahu received gifts or other benefits from several businesspeople.

The police are also investigating whether Netanyahu and Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes discussed a secret deal for positive coverage of Netanyahu in exchange for reducing the circulation of the free Israel Hayom newspaper (Yedioths main competitor). According to reports, in both cases police might recommend to the attorney general to indict the prime minister. Netanyahu is fighting for his political life, and he excels at it.

One of Netanyahus close associates told Al-Monitor that the prime minister is very confident about his political future. Netanyahu, he said, keeps warning his associates of the unprecedented dangers faced by Israel from the Iran-Hezbollah axis and the Hamas threat of hijacking the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. According to Netanyahu, his leadership is absolutely essential to guarantee the countrys security in such dangerous times.

The Israeli source added that the prime minister will make good use of the comprehensive US presidential backing for his policies and outlook. This backing will enable Netanyahu to engage in a policy that will fully galvanize his right-wing base behind him. Netanyahu believes, and wants his right-wing base to believe, that he is the one responsible for the change in President Donald Trumps views on the Palestinian issue and on Irans ambitions in the region, which is why his leadership at this point is of critical importance.

According to the source, Netanyahu will define an aggressive policy in several domains. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he described this aggressive approach as the indispensable Netanyahu policy.

The first of these domains would be advancing construction in settlements located in the Jerusalem area. On the issue of Palestinian national unity between Fatah and Hamas, he intends to stop talks on the renewal of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations until Hamas agrees to disarm its military wing.

The source explained that Netanyahu plans to meet with Trump to define common policies on the Palestinian issue and the fights against fundamentalist terror and Iran's nuclear and terrorist ambitions.

A senior PLO official close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reacted with great dismay at the Trump administration's policy moves, which have been perceived by the Palestinian leadership as advancing more extreme US policies in the region. Speaking on condition of anonymity, he estimated that the US president is not seeking to formulate a centrist and cautious foreign policy, as advised by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis. On the contrary. Trumps policy shift is deep, and not tactical in nature, abolishing everything that President Barack Obama stood for. The Paris climate change agreement, the Iran deal and a two-state solution are taboo. For Netanyahu, this is only a pretext to avoid negotiations and continue on the path to expand settlements and toward annexation, he added.

Given this situation, Abbas decided to turn over decisions on Palestinian issues to the Arab League, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The Palestinian official claims that greater national unity with Hamas would only serve as a basis for new policies leading to statehood.

These Palestinian policies would mean, according to the official, more Palestinian activity at the UN and international forums, while leaving the door open tacitly for an intifada this coming winter. It is hard to say whether this threat is of tactical nature or a real one. In any case, it seems that with Trumps more radical policy positions, both Israeli and the Palestinian policies are moving toward radicalization.
October 13, 2017

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip  Natural gas off the coast of the Gaza Strip under the Palestinian territorial waters in the eastern Mediterranean sea remains a prime focus of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

While the PA has tried to exploit natural gas in a step to strengthen the Palestinian economy through natural resources, the 10-year Fatah-Hamas division has undoubtedly obstructed these attempts. However, thanks to the Palestinian reconciliation efforts, the PA seems to be taking actions to extract natural gas from one of the gas fields off the coast of the Gaza Strip, known as the Gaza Marine gas field.

The Gaza Marine offshore gas field is located under Palestinian territorial waters about 30-36 kilometers (19-22 miles) off the shores of the Gaza Strip in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, at a water depth of 603 meters (1,978 feet).

The PA is seeking to supply the two power stations in Jenin and Gaza, which operate on natural gas. However, continued Israeli obstacles have led many international gas exploration companies to renounce previous agreements entered into with the PA.

In May, the Anglo-Dutch Shell company notified the PA of its desire to withdraw from an $800 million agreement it had signed with the Palestine Investment Fund. This development comes less than a year after Shell acquired British Gas (BG) on April 8, 2016, and its 55% stake in Gaza Marine.

Two gas fields were discovered in 1998: Gaza Marine and a smaller field known as the Border Field. In 1999, the PA awarded BG the gas concession, and the reserves in the two fields were estimated to be 1.4 trillion cubic feet, enough to cover the gas needs for 15 years in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, based on current consumption rates.

Palestinian media outlets have argued that Israel is blocking all Palestinian efforts to extract gas to keep the Palestinians dependent on Israeli imports.

The government of consensus headed by Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah is making major promises in this regard.

During his recent visit to the Gaza Strip, as part of the Palestinian reconciliation efforts between the West Bank-based PA and the Hamas government in Gaza, Hamdallah announced in a meeting on Oct. 4 that the PA reached an agreement with a Greek company a few weeks ago to invest in Gaza Marine. The announcement rekindled the hope of young Palestinians that the PA may advance the Palestinian economy.

Moreover, the PA Council of Ministers asserted in a statement issued Oct. 3 that the development of this field is a turning point and a fundamental factor for restructuring the Palestinian energy sector and imposing national sovereignty over the development and exploitation of Palestinian natural resources.

Also on Oct. 3, Al-Resalah newspaper indicated that the head of the Palestinian Energy and Natural Resources Authority (PENRA) in the Gaza Strip, Zafer Melhem, asserted that the Palestinian government is working on a plan to develop the Gaza Marine field.

According to Al-Resalah, Melhem indicated that PENRA is intensifying its discussions to develop the field to start the extraction of natural gas and is also working with the Palestinian Investment Fund and the government to complete the financial procedures and remove obstacles that prevent the start of gas extraction from the shores of Gaza. He also expected the extracted gas to be used in producing electricity in the two power stations in Jenin and Gaza, which he said will be ready to operate by 2020.

Maher Tabbaa, the director of public relations and media at the Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry, told Al-Monitor, Natural gas is one of the most important resources that Palestinians need, whether in the West Bank or in the Gaza Strip. This is especially true in light of the gas shortage and the Israeli control of gas quantities allowed into the Gaza Strip, causing an acute gas shortage at times.

He added, Gas exploration in Gaza Marine field  stalled since 1999  is one of the most important strategic issues for Palestine. Gas exploration will solve the power crisis crippling the besieged enclave for many years now. It will also trigger a great economic boom, provide employment opportunities for a large sector of unemployed youth and provide energy sources.

Tabbaa pointed out that after the Palestinian reconciliation is completed, gas exploration will be one of the most important issues to be subject to a Palestinian consensus. The Palestinian division has impeded exploration for years, but in light of the current reconciliation efforts, the government seems determined to explore the Gaza Marine field to overcome several economic crises, especially in the Gaza Strip, he said.

Palestine had previously claimed its rights to natural resources when President Mahmoud Abbas signed on Dec. 31, 2014, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea giving Palestinians their right to exercise their authority over their territorial waters as well as the right to explore and extract natural resources.

Meanwhile, Palestinians wait for the UN convention to actually be enforced on the ground and for the extraction of gas to begin.
October 13, 2017

The war is heating up in the Syrian region of Deir ez-Zor, where the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and forces loyal to the regime of President Bashar al-Assad are competing for Islamic State (IS) territory with threats of clashes increasing. There in the Badia region, which connects Syria with Iraq, Hezbollah is playing a prominent role alongside regime forces, according to a Hezbollah commander who spoke to Al-Monitor.

All eyes are on Deir ez-Zor. The region, which was captured by IS in 2014, has strategic importance. First, it holds large deposits of oil and gas. According to an article published in April 2014 by the Carnegie Middle East Center, Deir ez-Zor accounted in 2011 for a production of 100,000 barrels per day. Second, it neighbors Iraq, which means that it is a necessary pathway for Iran, Hezbollahs backer, should it seek to link Tehran to Beirut. In Iraq, Iran is relying on Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an armed Shiite faction, to create a supply route through Iraq to Damascus, running through a number of small Iraqi cities, including Qayrawan, according to a Reuters article published Sept. 22.

Securing the Syrian side of the border will be the task of Hezbollah, working alongside militias loyal to the Assad regime.

A Hezbollah commander told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that Mayadin and Bukamal, cities on the border with Iraq, are important because of the border security they provide "for Iraq and Syria, as well as Hezbollah. How [else] can we connect Iran to Lebanon?

More than 8,000 Hezbollah fighters are involved in eastern Syria, said the commander, who added that over 70% of the area has been captured. The Iranians and Russians agreed on the strategic decision to capture all of Badia, he said.

In recent weeks, Syrian government troops and allied militias have been racing for control of the Euphrates River region along with pro-regime militias crossing the river, which previously was a dividing line between those militias and the SDF. On Sept. 15, according to Kurdish news website Rudaw, the SDF declared it would not allow Syrian army forces to cross the Euphrates River in Deir ez-Zor province and would re-establish control over the area. That same day, Bouthaina Shaaban, Assads top aide, said in an interview with Hezbollahs Al Manar TV that the Syrian government would fight any force, including US-backed SDF forces battling IS militants.

But the Hezbollah commander indicated that the Lebanese militant group will not be involved in any fight against Kurdish forces. Kurds are not our enemies. They worked with us in many places, and I dont think [a war with them] is a possibility, he said.

The commander said Hezbollah forces in the eastern sector range from infantry, rocket launcher tank battalions, first-second battalion, operation forces, logistics and supply forces. We are an army, the commander said.

A joint operating room led by Iran, Hezbollah and the Syrian military runs the operation in Deir ez-Zor, he added, saying that Hezbollah is usually responsible for offensive operations and that its troops are generally followed by Syrian ones responsible for stabilizing various areas. Engineering units of Hezbollah decide as well on the establishment of headquarters and the division of tasks and decide on the number of logistics units required, he added.

The region has been a test of the Lebanese militant groups capabilities because of challenging weather conditions. The Badia is a difficult [landscape]. You can be somewhere and you find yourself someplace else because of the desert storms that suddenly appear. We lost 18 martyrs between Sukhna and Deir ez-Zor. IS encircled us. We were deployed on eight front lines. They used trucks of 1 ton to attack us, and our men ended up burned alive, said the commander.

Despite the ferocity of the fights with IS in Deir ez-Zor, Hezbollah made a deal with the extremist group Aug. 27, evacuating hundreds of IS fighters and their families from a pocket of territory on the northeast Lebanese-Syrian border into militant-held eastern Syria. This decision was completely justified, the commander said: As Muslims, we do not kill prisoners. Sayed Hassan [Nasrallah, Hezbollahs chief] is human. If the battle required a change of position, what is the big deal?

Besides eastern Syria, Hezbollah appears to be also silently working on another front line farther south. The Hezbollah commander said the organization is using the recent de-escalation deal to be implemented in south Syria to do reconnaissance work. His statement appeared to confirm what Al-Monitor had been told in a previous interview with a Hezbollah official. According to the Al-Monitor article, The official noted that even if Hezbollah were not present near the Golan Heights, it still retains a capability to strike at the Israeli front from Syria if tensions were to flare between the two rivals  adding that the movement has missiles with a range that could target Israel [from Syrian territory] without Hezbollah having to be physically present near the border area.

Hezbollah also appears to be reinforcing its presence in Lebanon. A source who is close to Hezbollah fighters and who spoke on condition of anonymity told Al-Monitor that the organization had sent some its fighters from Syria back to south Lebanon during the summer.

The source said Hezbollah has built a network of tunnels, bunkers and training camps in Lebanon's western mountains in the Bekaa Valley.

War, whether in Lebanon, Syria or elsewhere, remains at the crux of Hezbollahs lifelong mission. The war is not finished in Syria. I am still fighting, we will fight where we are needed  and we will go where the leadership sends us, said the commander.
October 14, 2017

In Turkish writer Kerem Isiks dystopian book, The Rated Carnival, each young couple gets a live-in family counselor to make sure their marriage endures and produces offspring. The book of short stories, published in 2015, describes how life in Turkey in 2043 revolves around "the sacred family," with people assigned to neighborhoods based on their civil status. The best neighborhoods, with parks and green areas, schools and recreational centers, are allocated to families with several small children, while singles and the divorced live in gender-segregated suburbs where they are forced to join state-supported matchmaking efforts to ensure they do not remain single for more than three years. In one story, the state censorship office urges a writer to change the end of her story on rape so that the raped woman can marry her rapist and live happily ever after.

For Turkey's Justice and Development Party government, the book might well foreshadow the perfect society. Isiks themes closely resemble the proposals of a parliamentary investigation commission on strengthening the family. The commissions report, dubbed the "divorce report" by Turkish media, was literally booed on the streets when it was first presented last year. But the report returned to the parliamentary agenda earlier this month, signaling that the government would not back down from its plans to make marriage easier and divorce more difficult.

The decision to revive the controversial report comes at a time when womens associations have taken to the streets to protest a new bill that would allow Sunni religious figures, or muftis, to conduct civil marriages. Government officials say this new practice would make it easier to get married, and exempt couples from waiting in line for a license. Womens organizations maintain that Sunni clerics conducting a civil ceremony is a violation of secularism. They also worry that the muftis would turn a blind eye to underage marriages.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Oct. 13 that the government would not back away from its mufti-marriage proposal. Speaking to his partys local chairmen, Erdogan said, This law will pass parliament whether you like it or not. People want both religious and civil ceremonies. They respect the muftis more than the civil authorities.

Womens groups have protested the bill in more than a dozen cities since Oct. 1. Now, as of Oct. 3, they've also added to their protests the revived divorce report. Do not stop divorce  stop violence and femicide, read various banners on the streets. Online protests continued under the hashtag #WeDoNotRecognizeDivorceCommissionReport.

The divorce report, whose formal and rather complex title is Parliamentary Investigation Commission Report on Preventing Negative Effects on the Family Unity, Factors for Divorce and Measures for Strengthening the Family, urges financial and housing subsidies for married couples, including considerable financial support to those who marry while at university. It recommends counseling before marriage by experts who are trained in traditional family values  a thinly veiled reference to local religious officers. Family counseling centers would also be tasked with providing counseling before and during the divorce to explore whether it is possible for the couple to reconcile. Judges would be able to send couples considering divorce to mediation sessions, and alimony payments would not exceed 10 years  a major deterrent for women who fear poverty after divorce. The report also urges television channels to respect family values in their programming and for the media to respect the unity of family in its news coverage.

The commission's report, which was finalized in May 2016, had been buried in parliament until early October 2017. On Oct. 3, it was presented, or rather, re-presented, to Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, the minister of family and social affairs, leading to a heated debate between parties. The opposition members accused the government of ignoring earlier criticisms of the report and skirting the main issues that lie at the heart of divorce in Turkey: domestic violence and forced marriages.

The problem of women in Turkey is not divorce  their problem is that they are unable to divorce, Fatma Kaplan, of the opposition Republican Peoples Party, said at the parliamentary sitting.

Kaplan was referring to the high rate of women who have been murdered by estranged husbands who would rather kill their spouses than let them leave. According to the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, a womens rights group that provides legal and social assistance to victims of violence, one in every three women killed in Turkey is killed by her estranged or ex-husband, either during or after divorce. In September 2017 alone, two out of 37 women reported murdered in Turkey were killed by their ex-husbands because they turned down requests for reconciliation.

The parliamentary commission's report provides a snapshot of family life in Turkey and reveals that divorce is not a major problem in the country: The rate of divorce is 1.67 in 1,000 marriages and is predicted to be 1.97 in 2023. It is a much lower rate compared with the United States (3.2 in 1,000) or Russia (4.5 in 1,000). Turks marry early compared with other Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, with 87% of Turks marrying before the age of 29, and 57% before the age of 24. The report does not mention the percentage of underage marriages, although experts believe it is one marriage out of three. The report does acknowledge that 51% of all marriages are arranged. The prospective spouses are not consulted in 10% of the arranged marriages, and 21% of divorced women report that they sought divorce due to domestic violence and ill-treatment. According to the report, many divorced women ask for state protection against their spouse, but few of them are adequately protected.

Women who want to divorce do so by risking their lives, Gulsum Kav, the chair of We Will Stop Femicide, told CNN-TURK. She said that the report's authors made no effort since the report's appearance a year ago to address critiques. The report has even kept the proposal to pardon men if they had sex 'without force or threat' with a minor and if they married the victim, she said. A bill to that effect was withdrawn from parliament in November 2016 after womens organizations rallied against it.

For many Turkish women, divorce is a hard process, said Sanem Kural, the Izmir chair of We Will Stop Femicide, in a phone interview with Al-Monitor. Many women ask for state protection during their divorce against their soon-to-be-ex-husbands. What is crucial is to increase the capacity to protect them. Turkeys issue is not to force reconciliation on couples. The priority is to protect the decision [of the women] when they do not want to reconcile.

Kerem Isiks story ends with the heroine, outraged by the conservative and suffocating advice of her live-in marriage counselor, joining a resistance movement to fight the government. This, too, sounds close to the situation in Turkey today, as more and more women take to the streets to protest.
The state board of education has begun sorting through how it intends to find the next state superintendent of education.

During their Oct. 12 work session, Vice President Stephanie Bell presented parameters for the board to consider and asked the board to set a time frame for the search.

Interim state superintendent Dr. Ed Richardson is being paid $24,000 to serve through Dec. 31 when his contract ends, but said he would be willing to continue to serve through a transition period, if needed.

Bell said the board could choose to conduct a state search or a national search, and could ask for assistance from the National Association of State Boards of Education.

"If you have the right kind of assistance, it can be very organized," Bell said. "It can be done very professionally."

Bell was critical of the process used after Dr. Tommy Bice retired in March 2016. "The last process just should never have been handled in house," Bell said.

That four-month-long process resulted in the appointment of Michael Sentance in August 2016. After a tumultuous year, Sentance resigned on Sept. 13, one day before a board meeting where the board was expected to fire him.

Jefferson County superintendent Dr. Craig Pouncey, a finalist when Sentance was hired, filed a lawsuit over the department's handling of an anonymous complaint, which he said cost him the top job last time. That lawsuit is still pending.

Richardson cautioned the board to choose a new superintendent carefully, saying it is "not good" that this next superintendent will be the third superintendent in two years. Education Week recently reported that the average state superintendent tenure is two years.

After telling the board last month they should decide on a set of three to five skills the next superintendent would need to be successful, Richardson offered to present his recommendations on what those skills should be at the Nov. 9 work session.

Board member Jeff Newman, R-Millport, is a former local superintendent and said he believed the opinions of Richardson and Dr. Joe Morton, both former state superintendents, were more valuable than those of a national search firm.

"We're totally different [in Alabama]," Newman said, referring to the state's school funding mechanisms, politics, and culture of local schools.

Richardson said he will meet Oct. 25 with members of the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss the K12 budget to be considered during the next legislative session, which begins Jan. 9.

The legislature controls state funding for both the state department and the K12 system.

Referring to the department's reputation with state legislators, Richardson said, "We're a zero right now over there, but we can fix that."

Richardson said getting the right person that has "credibility with a variety of groups" is crucial.

"I would just say to you that's going to be the most important decision you're going to make," he said. "Because if it's wrong, we're going to pay a price."
Ophelia is now a post-tropical storm -- but still a powerful one.

The National Hurricane Center said Ophelia had lost all its tropical characteristics but was still on a fast track toward Ireland and the United Kingdom with 85 mph winds.

Ophelia is expected to move near western Ireland on Monday and could bring hurricane-force winds to the island.

The National Hurricane Center said its 10 p.m. CDT (4 a.m. IST) advisory would be its last on Ophelia, which was located about 220 miles southwest of Mizen Head, Ireland.

Ophelia was racing to the northeast on Sunday as the sun set. That's Portugal and Spain on the right in the satellite image. (NWS)

Ophelia still had winds of 85 mph with higher gusts.

And its winds extend well beyond the hurricane center's forecast cone, forecasters said, so those in Ophelia's path were urged not to focus solely on where the storm's center is expected to come ashore.

Hurricane-force winds now extend up to 70 miles from the center of Ophelia, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 275 miles.

Ophelia is tracking to the north at 44 mph.

Gale-force winds are expected to begin across southern Ireland during the next few hours and gradually spread northward across the country during the day on Monday, the hurricane center said. Hurricane-force winds are forecast to reach the southern portions of Ireland by Monday afternoon.

Those winds could be even stronger in higher elevations. The hurricane center said wind speeds on top and on windward sides of hills and mountains could be up to 30 percent stronger than those closer to sea level.

Ophelia could also bring 2-3 inches (50 mm to 75 mm) of rain to western Ireland and Scotland, with isolated areas getting up to 4 inches (100 mm) through Tuesday.

Ophelia could also bring a storm surge along the coast and the hurricane center warned of "significant coastal flooding" near where the center of the storm makes landfall.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is joining other powerhouse campaign contributors and pro-business interest groups in backing out of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama.

In an email to AL.com Tuesday, Scott Reed, the senior political strategist with the national chamber, said the group plans to "spend the next 60 days working on job growth initiatives and tax reform."

"We have a process for non-incumbent races and plan to follow it in Alabama," Reed said in an email. "A candidates' stated priorities and positions on economic issues have great weight with the U.S.C.C. and the Alabama business community."

The chamber was among the major backers of Senator Luther Strange, who lost to former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore during the Sept. 27 GOP runoff.

Reed criticized the outcome of the race, blaming trial lawyers and low voter turnout for Moore's win.

"The Alabama trial lawyers and the 85 percent of eligible Alabama voters that did not vote gave us Roy Moore," Reed said.

His comments mirror those of the Business Council of Alabama's William Canary, who also criticized the low voter turnout last month. He called Moore's win "not a rebellion, but a surrender."

'Bad for business'

The lack of pro-business backing for the Republican nominee in the Senate race comes as Moore's Democratic opponent, Doug Jones, is raising questions about the potential harm the ex-judge could have on Alabama's economy. The two will square off in the Dec. 12 general election.

Organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign of Alabama, have said that pro-equality businesses may avoid Alabama if Moore continues with his social crusades. The ex-judge has made international headlines in times past for his positions opposing same-sex marriage. In 2005, he said that "homosexual conduct" should be illegal, and he's referred to Islam as a "false religion."

The Jones campaign notes that the chamber's stance marks the "third pro-business organization" that "refuses to support Roy Moore."

"We agree with those pro-business organizations that Roy Moore is bad for business in Alabama," the Jones campaign said in a statement. "We look forward to working with any group looking to create jobs and further economic development in the state."

The chamber's position comes after the Senate Leadership Fund, which spent almost $5 million to support Strange's campaign, said it was staying out of the race.

Marsh's endorsement

The Moore campaign did not respond to a request for comment. But the campaign, in a news release Thursday, praised the recent endorsement of Alabama State Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, who has been a darling within the state's business community.

The news release states that Marsh's endorsement "reflects the mounting support coming from all corners of the Republican Party" and notes that the GOP is uniting to defeat Jones.

Marsh, an Anniston Republican, called for unity behind Moore's candidacy.

"If Alabamians want to ensure that President Trump has another ally in the United State Senate, then it is imperative that they support the Republican nominee," Marsh said in a statement.

Steve Flowers, a former member of the Alabama Legislature and a current author whose weekly column appears in 60 newspapers around the state, said Marsh's endorsement shouldn't be perceived as future backing for Moore from pro-business groups.

"I would read into his position as being the business position," said Flowers. "What I perceive from Marsh's support of Moore is that it's a personal thing. I think he likes Moore."

Said Flowers: "The business community, it makes sense that they will sit on their hands in this race unless they seize some internal polling that there are, indeed, a significant number of Republicans who will support Doug Jones. It will come from the national business community, and they cannot afford to let this seat go into Democratic hands."

'Uncertain about Moore'

Most polls conducted since the GOP runoff show Moore with a 6-8 percentage point advantage over Jones. The general election polling has been tighter than the pre-runoff polling which showed Moore with more commanding lead over Strange.

Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, said a lot of national groups "are still assessing" the Alabama Senate race on whether to get involved or not.

"That includes national Democratic organizations and the sort of Democratic non-governmental apparatus, which is assessing this race and are not sure whether Jones is a good investment," Jillson said. "One other side, you have pro-business groups, the sort of McConnell-associated groups, the national chamber and the Alabama business council, who are uncertain about Moore and about whether officially backing him and contributing to him will boomerang against them if he does something extraordinary."

Jillson said the hyperpolarization of the American electorate will prevent groups like the chamber from backing Democrats, such as Jones.

Jess Brown, a retired political science professor at Athens State University, said he could see corporate leaders taking a "dose of Dramamine" and "quietly support Moore without enthusiasm."

"If they think he is really threatened, they will retrieve their checkbooks on his behalf to salvage a Republican vote in D.C.," Brown said.

Flowers said Moore is not a guaranteed supporter for business groups, and noted that while he was a judge on the Alabama State Supreme Court, he did not "tote the business line."

But with Moore, Flowers said, he is a "R" and not a "D," which carries plenty of weight among pro-business groups who do not want to lose a slim Republican majority in the Senate.

"He's only interested in social issues," said Flowers about Moore. "His record indicates he is not a business Republican."

Flowers added, "The only reason (pro-business groups) want him to win is he has a 'R' by his name and retails that 52-48 majority in the U.S. Senate. You will see them change their tune if they sense there is a chance Doug Jones can win."

'Costly lesson'

William Stewart, a professor emeritus of political sciences at the University of Alabama, said he's been surprised not to see the Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of Alabama taking a more active role in getting more electable candidates who back their positions.

Indeed, the Chamber of Commerce and the Senate Leadership Fund were routinely criticized by Moore during the runoff campaign.

Former White House Chief Strategist Stephen Bannon, the head of conservative Brietbart News, has lashed out against GOP groups that back Senate candidates loyal to McConnell.

Bannon campaigned on Moore's behalf while in Alabama last month. During a pre-runoff rally in Fairhope, Moore said that McConnell "needs to be replaced."

Moore didn't meet with McConnell or Alabama's other senator, Richard Shelby, when he visited Washington, D.C. earlier this month. Instead, he met with Bannon.

Bannon is reportedly pushing the candidacy of other insurgent Senate hopefuls ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. He's planning to target Mississippi Republican Sen. Roger Wicker, who has routinely received high pro-business scores by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Stewart suggested that Moore's uprising may not have happened had the pro-business groups been more active once Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey took office in April and called for the special election.

"If Ivey could have been persuaded to delay the Senate election rather than spend tight money on expensive primaries and a general election, Strange would probably have been easily elected," said Stewart. "Roy Moore as senator is unlikely to pay them any special favors. I think they have learned a costly lesson in Strange's defeat."
Hong Kong  When the British first arrived in Hong Kong in the 19th century, they came across a group of indigenous people on fishing boats and asked them what the place was called.

Hong Kong, those people replied.

The name stuck, but the culture and the language werent as resilient.

Hong Kong is the Tanka words for fragrant harbour.

The language is spoken by people who call themselves Soi Seung Yan, meaning those born of the water. They were the earliest inhabitants of the region in coastal southern China.

Fifty-year-old Ming Gor is one of the last fluent speakers of the Tanka language. Until 2004, he lived on a boat and was a fisherman just like his father and grandfather.

But stringent environmental laws and government policy made it difficult to earn a living on the South China Sea, forcing him to move to land with his family. He says its a familiar story in his community, which has been rapidly disappearing over the past few decades.

Lisa Lim is a linguistics professor at Hong Kong University and founder of the website linguisticsminorities.hk.

Her research found that discriminatory practices in the 18th century preserved the Tanka culture. The people were not allowed to marry in the community or live onshore, so they lived on small boats grouped together to form colonies.





However, she added that modern era posed the greatest challenges to them in preserving their heritage.

Younger generations have moved onshore, to urban areas, for better job opportunities and easier lifestyle.

Historically considered the lowest class of Chinese and outcasts, the Tanka were quick to shed their identity once they started assimilating with the wider Cantonese community.

But not Ming Gor. He now uses his boat for cultural tours to promote Tanka heritage and to promote the Tanka identity.

Tanka fisherman had such low social status in Hong Kong that their long history and contribution to society has been overlooked. I want this to change and tell the world that we once were here.

Bring back the Hakka

Its a similar story for the Hakka community, according to Lau Chun-Fat, a Hakka academic campaigning to preserve dialects and languages from extinction.

After studying to work as a biologist in Germany, he returned to his village in Yuen Long in 1993.

His dismay at finding out nobody spoke Hakka led him back to university to pursue a career as a Hakka scholar.

My village is a very small one, it has 100 inhabitants, he said.

In the whole village, Im the only one who speaks to my children in Hakka. The older generation know Hakka, but they speak to their children in Cantonese.

The Hakka came to Hong Kong about 300 years ago and settled in what was then rural New Territories.

Until 1945, they were one of four main native groups in the territory. That changed when the civil war in China sent more than a million Cantonese refugees across the border into the British colony between 1945 and 1951.

It was also during this period that the colonial government closed all village schools that were teaching in the various indigenous languages. They opened new institutions that only taught in Cantonese.

His first day of school was the first time he heard the southern Chinese dialect.

This, according to Lau, signalled a shift in their culture. Many parents felt their children would have better opportunities if they assimilated with the Cantonese.

Naomi Wong, 40, works for a trading company in the city but lives in the Hakka village house she grew up in with her parents.

Her 80-year-old father gets emotional when asked about the language. He told us that Hakka is a language full of wisdom and should not be forgotten. But his daughter says her generation find it easier to communicate in Cantonese.

Naomi and her group of Hakka friends can understand the language and use it when they talk to their parents and the older generation. In conversation with each other, they use Cantonese.

There is no official government campaign to promote or preserve indigenous languages.

The Hong Kong government does not differentiate among the various Chinese ethnicities, so there are no official records to document the different communities.

Lau is despondent when we asked about his efforts to revive Hakka language and culture.

I just want people to know that Hakka existed in Hong Kong and still exists in some parts. I know it is practically impossible to make Hakka last forever here, but I want to make it known to people that Hakka was once an integral part of Hong Kong and its culture.
Kala Shah Kaku, Pakistan  Malak al-Maut (the angel of death) was once, it is said by Islamic theologists, one of Gods favoured angels; a loyal servant who was entrusted with separating peoples souls from their bodies, when their time came.

To the righteous, it is said, the angel of death appears in a friendly form, a companion come to ease ones passage to the other side.

For those who have sinned, however, the angel appears as a terrifying beast, a demon come to wreak divine judgment and wrench their souls away to eternal damnation.

For most prisoners on Pakistans death row, he appears as Sabir Masih.

A family legacy

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Since 2006, Masih has been one of three executioners in Pakistans eastern city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab, the countrys most populous province. Although he says that he does not keep track, he claims to have hanged more than 250 people since he started work.

Masih comes from a family of executioners. His father, Sadiq, hanged prisoners for 40 years before retiring in 2000. Masihs grandfather and his brothers all did the same work, too. Indeed his granduncle, Tara Masih, hanged Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Pakistans first elected prime minister, in 1979.

Tara had to be flown from Bahawalpur to Lahore because the executioner at Lahores Kot Lakhpat jail  Sabirs father Sadiq  refused to hang the popular leader.

As a child, Sabir Masih always knew he would end up in the family business.

I knew that this was a family profession, the 33-year-old explains, sitting cross-legged in his maternal uncles simple home, about 25km outside of Lahore.

He was 22 the first time that he killed a man, a convicted murderer whose name he cannot recall.

I didnt know anything at that time. I had just seen a man hanged once in front of me, he says. I saw [my teacher] tie a noose once, the second time I did it myself.

When I pull the lever, I dont really think about it. You pull the lever, the man falls, he says. My focus is on the sign, from the jail superintendent.

It was his first day on the job.

I am killing people based on the law. The murderer has killed by their choice, but I am not killing by my own choice... I have not picked the convict to kill. by Sabir Masih, executioner

Within eight months, he says proudly, he had already executed 100 men, completing his century, as he puts it.

In 2008, however, Masihs work came to an abrupt halt, as the newly elected Pakistan Peoples Party government placed an unofficial moratorium on executions. That measure remained in place until December 2014, when armed men stormed a Peshawar school, killing more than 150 people, most of them children.

The attack shocked the nation, and the government quickly lifted the moratorium, as a warning to members of armed groups such as the Pakistan Taliban, known by the acronym TTP, and others who had attacked both state and civilian targets in a war that has lasted since 2007.

Within a matter of hours, Masih was en route to Faisalabad from his native Lahore, to keep an appointment with two men convicted of terrorism.

There were news reporters everywhere, he says, recalling the crowd outside his home when the moratorium was lifted. I sent a friend twice to go out and check  then I slipped out and went to Faisalabad.

Its nothing

Since then, Pakistan has executed at least 471 people, according to the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

Last year, it ranked fifth on Amnesty Internationals list of worldwide executioners, putting at least 87 people to death. Almost all of those cases were in Punjab province, with Masih carrying out many of them.

Why should I keep track? The jail keeps records. They have books to keep track of the black warrants, he says.

Masih takes an uncomplicated approach to the question of whether the death penalty is justified.

This is the law of our country, what am I meant to feel about it? he asks. It is nothing, it is just a job.

Further probing on the subject seems to elicit annoyance, a mild irritation at questions he thinks miss the point of what he does for a living.

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Its nothing. Only that minute or half a minute is urgent, when they are bringing the convict to be hanged. Other than that, its simple, he says, detailing how he measures out the length of rope and ties the knot based on the height and weight of the convict.

Sometimes, he concedes, he gets it wrong.

Youll see a persons body torn apart. Ive done it many times.

Masih speaks at an odd rhythm, as if just slightly out of time with the world around him. As he picks at his yellowing teeth with a matchstick, he complains that people seem to make more of his job than is warranted.

For the person who is observing it being done, it seems a huge thing to do  but its easy, its not a big deal for me.

Its nothing, he repeats throughout our conversation.

Fair trial concerns, however, have dogged Pakistans justice system, and specifically its use of the death penalty, for years.

Last year, the Supreme Court of Pakistan acquitted two brothers, Ghulam Qadir and Ghulam Sarwar, of murder, after they had spent more than 10 years on death row. The only problem? Qadir and Sarwar had both been executed at Bahawalpurs central jail in October 2015.

Masih had pulled the lever.

I didnt feel anything, he says, of when he heard the news of the acquittals. If anyone is going to feel tension about it, it would be the jail superintendent, or the deputy, or the chief minister. I didnt issue the black warrants, did I?

Its nothing.

Theyre finished from the inside

In a sense, Masih concedes, he sees prisoners at their most intimate, in a moment where there are no longer any pretences.

Yes, I see a face of theirs [that others do not], he says. At that time, they are crying. Either from the inside or the outside.

Some, he says, ask for forgiveness  from him, from the jail superintendent, from anyone who will listen.

Theyre finished, from the inside. The convict who has done it, they know that they have to accept their fate.

Others, however, exult in their deeds.

One execution that Masih says will always stay with him was that of two men convicted for facilitating a suicide attack on then Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf in 2004. They were hanged in December 2014.

They came to me 12 minutes before their hanging. They were raising slogans, and greeting each other happily as if they were at Eid prayers. They said that they were bound for heaven, he says.

They accepted that they had done everything that they had been accused of. They were happy about it.

What, then, does Masih see as the difference between himself and those men? Or, rather, between himself and all of the murderers that he has executed over the years? Is there one?

What I do, it is different, he says, emphatically. I am killing people based on the law. The murderer has killed by their choice, but I am not killing by my own choice. On my side, I have the whole state, all the way to the president. I have not picked the convict to kill.

Its nothing.
A mother and her three children killed by a herd of elephants in southern Coxs Bazar district, local official says.

Wild elephants have attacked a new camp where Rohingya refugees were sleeping, killing a woman and her three children in southern Bangladesh.

District forest official Mohammed Ali Kabir said a herd of elephants entered the Balukhali camp in Ukhiya town early on Saturday and trampled tents where several refugees were sleeping.

Kabir said that four other people were injured in the attack and many others fled to safety.

At the refugee camp, cooking utensils the family had brought from Myanmar lay crushed under a jumble of bamboo sticks and clothes.

Many trees on the forested hills of Balukhali in southern Bangladesh have been chopped down to house the massive influx of ethnic Rohingya escaping violence in neighbouring Myanmar.

Tarpaulin and bamboo shelters have been built on elephant walkways in some areas, sparking environmental concerns, as the country struggles to accommodate an unprecedented number of people.

It was the third attack by wild elephants on the refugees in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, which borders Myanmar. At least seven people died in the two previous attacks.

Abdul Sukoor, 30, whose tent on the edge of the camp was also trampled, said he and his family managed to escape when they heard the screams of other refugees as the elephants approached.

He is now moving to a tent further inside the camp, but said he was still worried. We have to be constantly alert at night, he said.

More than 530,000 refugees from Myanmar have fled to Bangladesh over the last two months since attacks by Rohingya militia on security posts triggered a Myanmar army operation that the United Nations has described as ethnic cleansing.
Somali president says flags to be flown at half-mast as country reels from deadliest single attack in its history.

The death toll from Saturdays truck bomb blast in Somalias capital, Mogadishu, has surged to at least 276 people, according to the countrys information minister.

Abdirahman Osman on Sunday said on Twitter that around 300 others were also wounded in the powerful explosion at a busy road junction, which flattened nearby homes and businesses and turned vehicles into burned wrecks.

He called the attack barbaric and said a number of countries, including Turkey, Ethiopia and Kenya, had already offered to provide medical assistance.

Turkey has kindly responded to the request from Somali leaders as they will send an air ambulance that will take the injured people to be treated in Turkey @olganbekar @TC_Mogadishu  Abdirahman O. Osman (@engyarisow) October 15, 2017

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo on Sunday declared three days of national mourning following the attack.

We will observe three days of mourning for innocent victims, flags will be flown at half-mast. Time to unite and pray together. Terror wont win, Mohamed said in a statement posted on the presidencys official Twitter account early on Sunday.

The president also urged residents to help those affected by the attack.

I call on our citizens to come out, extend help, donate blood and comfort the bereaved. Lets get through this together, Mohamed said.

READ MORE: Somalia massacre  The tarmac was covered in flesh

The blast, described by Mogadishu residents as the most powerful they had witnessed in years, also left dozens wounded.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Emergency services were overstretched and worked late into the night as they tried to rescue people who were trapped in the destroyed buildings.

The citys mayor called on residents to donate blood as hospitals were running out of blood.

I call on the Somali people to visit the citys hospitals and donate blood. Please, come to the rescue of your brothers, Thabit Abdi Mohammed, told reporters after donating blood at a local hospital.

The attack came 48 hours after both the defence minister and army chief of the country resigned from their posts without explanation.
Battle for Raqqa continues after some ISIL fighters leave their self-proclaimed capital in Syria under withdrawal deal.

A group of ISIL fighters has evacuated the Syrian city of Raqqa overnight, taking civilians with them as human shields, a militia spokesperson said, as the battle continued with fighters who stayed behind.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, said foreign fighters were not included under the withdrawal deal.

However, a member of the Raqqa Civil Council said that some ISIL foreigners did manage the leave with the Syrian ISIL group as they left their self-proclaimed capital in the countrys north.

The ISIL fighters took about 400 civilians with them as human shields, according to the SDF.

Omar Alloush, a member of the Raqqa Civil Council, would not say how many fighters remained in the city, where the Syrian Democratic Forces have hemmed them into a small enclave.

Talal Silo, another spokesperson for the SDF, said ISIL fighters who remained in the city would have to surrender or die.

The SDF on Sunday announced the final phase of the battle, saying its fighters had begun the operation to capture the last 10 percent of the city under ISIL control.

ISILs defeat at Raqqa would be a milestone in efforts to roll back the caliphate the group declared in 2014 in Syria and Iraq, where earlier this year it was driven from the major northern city of Mosul.

The group captured Raqqa in 2014, the first city to fall under its full control. Raqqa became synonymous with the worst of ISILs abuses, and infamous as a centre for planning attacks abroad.

Tribal leaders statement

The latest battle for Raqqa began in June, with heavy street-by-street fighting amid intense US-led coalition air raids and shelling. The battle has dragged on in the face of stiff resistance from ISIL.

The Kurdish YPG militia, which dominates the SDF, said on Saturday that ISIL was on the verge of defeat in Raqqa, and the city may be cleared of the groups fighters latest on Sunday.

Local tribal leaders issued a statement late on Saturday saying they had urged the SDF and US-led coalition to find a way to settle the status of Syrian ISIL fighters in the city and secure their exit.





The SDF agreed and prepared the mechanism to evacuate (them) to protect the lives of civilians who were taken as human shields, the statement added.

We as tribal leaders guarantee the lives of those who will be taken out.

The US-led coalition backing the SDF earlier announced a convoy would leave Raqqa on Saturday under a deal negotiated by local officials.

The arrangement is designed to minimise civilian casualties and purportedly excludes foreign Daesh terrorists as people trapped in the city continue to flee the impending fall of Daeshs so-called capital, the coalition said, using the Arabic acronym for ISIL.

People departing Raqqa under the arrangement are subject to search and screening by Syrian Democratic Forces, it added.

READ MORE: What is left of ISIL in Iraq?

ISIL now holds just a sliver of territory in Iraq, and is under attack from two separate campaigns by the SDF and the Syrian army and its allies in Deir Az Zor province.

On Saturday, Syrias army seized the former ISIL stronghold of al-Mayadeen in Deir Az Zor, in a campaign that is backed by President Bashar al-Assads ally Russia.
Debate simmers over whether to allow Islamic holidays after Thomas De Maiziere endorses idea on campaign trail.

Germans are debating whether to allow the celebration of Islamic holidays at the state level in areas where large numbers of Muslims live.

The discussions come after the interior minister endorsed the idea on October 10.

Thomas De Maiziere, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which won federal elections last month, made his comments during a campaign rally for state elections in Lower Saxony in the countrys northwest.

Im willing to talk about the possibility of introducing Islamic holidays, de Maiziere said.

According to the German constitution, all 16 states can decide on their own which religious public holidays are celebrated.

In areas where a lot of Catholics live, we celebrate All Saints Day, and in areas where not a lot of Catholics live we dont celebrate All Saints Day. So why cant we think about Islamic holidays as well? said de Maiziere.

Currently, for example, fewer than five states celebrate the Catholic Assumption of Mary holiday and the Christian Epiphany.

The only holiday under federal law  meaning all states must mark the occasion  is Germany Unity Day, during which the reunification of Germany is celebrated.

But in general, our holidays are Christian and that will remain like that, De Maiziere added. They shape us and it will remain like that.

Out of the question

Members of the CSU, the CDUs Christian conservative sister-party that only operates in the state of Bavaria, criticised de Maizieres stance.

Officially introducing Islamic holidays in Germany is out of the question for us, said Alexander Dorbrindt, leader of the CSU parliamentary members.

Other CSU members noted that Christian traditions  have shaped Germany over hundreds of years and that wont change today.

In an interview with the German newspaper Bild, Bavarias interior minister, Joachim Herrmann, disagreed with de Maizieres idea, saying he did not believe it would be implemented in Bavaria.

The far-right, anti-immigration AfD party, which made gains in Septembers election, blasted the interior ministers plan.

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CDU wants Islamic holidays. Thats the difference with AfD: we say NO! NO! NO! to that, said Beatrix von Storch, deputy AfD leader, writing on Twitter.

Sven Tritschler, who leads AfDs youth wing, posted an Islamophobic tweet.

So Islamic holidays? Day of stoning? Day of the lynched homosexual? Day of the burning church? What should it be? he said.

However, some politicians reacted positively to the plan.

Martin Schulz, head of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, told German press agency DPA that de Maizieres idea was worth thinking about.

Germany is home to 4.4 million Muslims, over five percent of the population, most of whom live either in Berlin or western cities.

The majority of Germanys Muslims hail from Turkey and arrived in the 1960s and 70s.
Baghdad says PKK fighters are among Peshmerga forces in disputed Kirkuk province, an allegation Kurdish officials deny.

The Iraqi government has accused Kurdish authorities of bringing fighters from Turkeys outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to the disputed province of Kirkuk, in a move it called a declaration of war.

The accusation was quickly rejected by Kurdish officials later on Sunday.

Thousands of Iraqi soldiers and allied militia are locked in a tense armed standoff with Kurdish forces in the oil-rich province amid a sharp dispute between the central government in Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq.

The National Security Council headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said it viewed as a dangerous escalation the presence of armed men not belonging to the regular security forces in Kirkuk, including PKK fighters.

It is impossible to remain silent faced with a declaration of war towards Iraqis and government forces, the council said a statement posted on the prime ministers official Twitter account.





The central government and regular forces will carry out their duty of defending the Iraqi people in all its components including the Kurds, and of defending Iraqs sovereignty and unity, it added.

Vahal Ali, a media assistant to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani, denied that any PKK forces were present in Kirkuk.

This is false, there are no PKK in Kirkuk, only Peshmerga, he told Reuters news agency, referring to KRG military forces.

General Jabar Yawer, secretary-general of the Peshmerga ministry, told AFP news that there are no PKK forces in Kirkuk, but there are some volunteers who sympathise with the PKK.

There were also other volunteers, independents and Islamists fighting Daesh since 2014, he added, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group.

They support the Peshmerga. They are irregular forces, Yawer said.

Rising tensions

The two sides have been at loggerheads since the Kurds voted overwhelmingly for secession in a September 25 referendum that Baghdad declared illegal.

On Sunday, Kurdish leaders rejected a demand by Baghdad to cancel the outcome of the referendum as a precondition for talks to resolve the dispute.

Barzani and other Kurdish leaders, who held talks in the town of Dokan, called for negotiations without preconditions, renewing an offer to resolve peacefully the crisis with Baghdad.





The outcome of the referendum will not be nullified, the Kurdish regions Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said following a joint meeting of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK)  the regions two main parties.

Talk of cancelling these results is out of the question and will not address the problems, he added at a press conference.

The Kurdish leaders rejected what they described as military threats from Iraqi forces against Peshmerga fighters, and pledged to defend Kurdish-held territory in the event of an attack.
Kurdish forces say many killed south of Kirkuk city as Iraqi federal forces retake airbase and international airport.

Iraqi forces have launched a major offensive over several fronts aimed at retaking the Kurdish-held city of Kirkuk, allegedly causing lots of casualties in fighting south of the city.

The federal army, backed by Shia militias, said they seized control of the citys international airport, in addition to an oil field, the strategic K1 military base and the Taza Khormatu district southeast of Kirkuk on Monday.

Kurdish forces known as the Peshmerga were digging in at the edge of the airport after withdrawing from their positions outside the northern city.

Hundreds of armed Kurdish residents were taking up positions inside the city anticipating an attack.

Residents of the multi-ethnic city, home to about a million Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Christians, stayed inside and reported hearing sporadic booms they said sounded like shelling and rocket fire.

The Kurdistan Region Security Council said in a statement that the Peshmerga destroyed at least five Humvee armoured vehicles being used by the state-sanctioned militias following the attack south of the city.

An Iraqi Kurdish commander said the fighting with Kurdish forces caused lots of casualties, without providing a specific figure.

Brigadier General Bahzad Ahmed said the Iraqi troops burnt lots of houses and killed many people in Tuz Khurmatu and Daquq, south of the disputed city.

His claims could not be independently verified.

Protecting national unity

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement that the offensive was aimed at protecting national unity.

It is my constitutional duty to work for the benefit of the citizens and to protect our national unity that came under threat of fragmentation as a result of the referendum that was organised by the Kurdish region, Abadi said.

The referendum came at a time where the country is fighting against terrorism that has come in the form of ISIL. We tried to urge (the Kurds) not to violate the constitution and to focus on fighting ISIL, but they did not listen They chose their personal interests over Iraqs interests.

The prime minister further assured Kirkuks residents that their safety was Iraqs priority, while calling on the Kurdish forces to align themselves with the federal army.

And we are only performing our duty in keeping the city safe for Iraqis various factions. We urge all citizens to cooperate with our heroic armed forces in implementing security in the area.

We call on the Peshmerga forces to perform its duties under the central command under the Iraqi armed forces, he said.

Unprovoked attack

The KRSC said in their statement that the Peshmerga will continue to defend Kurdistan, its people and interests.

This was an unprovoked attack following days of Iraqi military deployments to Kurdistans borders.

Iraqi forces/PMF now advancing from Taza in South of Kirkuk in a major op w/ intention to enter the city and takeover K1 base & oil fields.  KR Security Council (@KRSCPress) October 15, 2017

Hemin Hawrami, senior assistant to Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Masoud Barzani, also said on Twitter that Peshmerga forces had been ordered not to initiate any war, but if any advancing militia starts shooting, then they had the green light to use every power to respond.

Al Jazeeras Charles Stratford, reporting from Erbil, said Kurdish forces in and around Kirkuk have vowed to defend it to the last man. He added that the Kurdish governor of Kirkuk has reportedly called residents to arms, saying anybody with a weapon should take it up and defend the city.





The Iraqi army said the operation is being spearheaded by the 9th armoured division, the federal police and counterterrorism units, Stratford reported.

They are saying that thousands of Shia militias are very much in a supportive role, he said.

The launch of the operation followed a tense standoff between the two sides amid an escalating row in the wake of a controversial September 25 referendum on Kurdish secession.

It seems as if all diplomatic efforts have failed, said Stratford, calling the push a very worrying development.

Despite repeated denials by the Iraqi army that they were going to move on into the city and retake these oil fields, it seems very much as if that is happening now.

Rising tensions

Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of oil-rich Kirkuk after the Iraqi army fled a major offensive by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group in 2014.

Since then, there has not been an agreement between the KRG and the federal government in Baghdad about who should control the area  and also benefit from its vast oil wealth.

Kirkuk is hugely important for the KRG and the Iraqi federal government, said Stratford.

It is one of the two main oil-producing areas of the country, believed to have around four percent of the worlds oil resources.

Tensions between the two sides have been running especially high since Iraqi Kurds overwhelmingly voted for secession in last months referendum that Baghdad rejected as illegal.

The non-binding poll was held in areas under the control of the KRG and in a handful of disputed territories, including Kirkuk.





Shortly after the referendum, the Iraqi parliament asked al-Abadi to send troops to Kirkuk and take back control of the regions oil fields.

On Sunday, Kurdish leaders rejected a demand by Baghdad to cancel the outcome of the referendum as a precondition for talks to resolve the dispute.

So long as the Kurds were willing to remain within Iraq, who controls Kirkuk and the oil fields in Kirkuk was not as critical an issue, Feisal Istrabadi, director of the Center for the Study of the Middle East at Indiana University, told Al Jazeera.

After the referendum, when there is talk of independence while there is a de facto Kurdish presence in Kirkuk, the stakes became much higher  and this, unfortunately, is the result, he added, referring to the military operation.

READ MORE: A look into Iraqs disputed Kirkuk

Kirkuk province lies outside of the official borders of the Kurds semi-autonomous territory. It is home to Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen and Christians.

The vast majority of Turkmen and Arabs who have lived in Kirkuk for generations boycotted the referendum.

There are many Kurds who call it their Jerusalem, said Stratford, but theres also considerable opposition among the Arabs and the Turkmen about any idea with respect to Kirkuk being part of a future independent Kurdish state.

Later in the day, the United States called on the Iraqi and Kurdish forces to avoid escalation and turn to dialogue to resolve their differences.

We oppose violence from any party, and urge against destabilising actions that distract from the fight against ISIS and further undermine Iraqs stability, said Laura Seal, Pentagon spokeswoman.

We continue to support a unified Iraq, she added. Despite the Kurdistan Regional Governments unfortunate decision to pursue a unilateral referendum, dialogue remains the best option to defuse ongoing tensions and long-standing issues, in accordance with the Iraqi constitution.

Seal also urged all actors in the region to focus on the common threat of ISIL and avoid stoking tensions among the Iraqi people. Iraqi and Kurdish forces have both been trained and armed by the US.
Outgoing president Almazbek Atambayev to step down as former prime ministers expected to compete in runoff vote.

Voters in Kyrgyzstan are heading to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president in what is hoped to be the countrys first peaceful transition of power.

Outgoing President Almazbek Atambayev, who cannot seek a second term under the countrys constitution, will step down after six years in power.

Security has been heightened in the country due to Kyrgyzstans violent political history.

The first two leaders since the fall of the Soviet Union 25 years ago were removed following riots in 2005 and 2010, but the mainly Muslim nation has since changed its parliamentary system.

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Almost three million Kyrgyz will cast their votes for more than 12 candidates, but none of those running is expected to win an outright majority.

Many analysts are predicting a runoff between two former prime ministers: Sooronbai Jeenbekov  the presidents choice, and wealthy entrepreneur, Omurbek Babanov.

The Social Democratic partys Jeenbekov is a seasoned politician, while Babanov of the Respublika-Ata Zhurt (Fatherland) party has promised to bring dynamism and change in the country.

Al Jazeeras Robin Forestier-Walker, reporting from the capital Bishkek, said that voters in Kyrgyzstan have a real choice in the unprecedented election.

Tense campaign

The two frontrunners have engaged in a tense, tit-for-tat campaign in advance of the vote.

There has been a lot of mudslinging, said Forestier-Walker.

Babanov, who has spent a lot of his own money on the campaign, has drawn criticism for his mixed ethnicity.





This is a country where ethnicity is a big issue, said Al Jazeeras correspondent.

If you, perhaps, have come from a mixed background, then youre somehow considered not the man for the job.

Babanovs meeting with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev earlier in September also sparked an outcry from the government.

The diplomatic row between the two neighbours led to the closure of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border.

To eliminate voter and counting fraud, a digital voting system has been in place in the country in the last few years

Polls opened at 02:00 GMT on Sunday and will close at 14:00 GMT.

If a candidate fails to win more than 50 percent of the votes, a second round runoff will take place in November.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Mthwakazi Republic Party has said Zanu PF government's cabinet reshuffle is a reflection of a sinking struggling government that has run out of ideas to solve the country's problems.Party's secretary general Hloniphani Ncube said as Julius Malema have once said that Zanu PF comrades are fools and cowards, the recent cabinet reshuffle testifies to that fact."Robert Mugabe is now treated like a deity in Zanu PF and the followers are nothing else but desperate foolish worshipers of this old political cunning crook masquerading as a politician. The cabinet reshuffle would not bring anything new. However, it is the same old brutal tricks. This guy Robert Mugabe replaced the likes of demoted foolish former ministers like Lazaras Dokora Education minister and replaced him with the other clueless fellow. Dokora did nothing less than to take our education system to the pit, surprisingly the law of nemesis prevailed over the fellow. That is the character of Mugabe he turns the educated man into fools and when he is done using them he dumps them like a used chewing gum," he said."The introduction of the CIO Happyton Bonyongwe into the ministry of Legal and parliamentary affairs is there to silence the little justice that we have been testing. This guy coming from the group of trained killers is strategically put in place to send many opposition leaders to jail of cause without any criminal charge. He is there to ensure that, politicians who are a serious threat like MRP are punished to no avail by the justice system of vultures."Ncube said Mugabe brought Simon Khaya Moyo to the ministry of information and publicity because the guy is a toothless dog and a staunch worshiper of Mugabe, who would do anything to keep Mugabe."We are very sure we are going to see more propaganda being introduced to the Zanu PF station ZBC. The struggling Gukurahundist Mnangagwa's faction is highly suppressed this time around. All the ministers loyal to him were either shown the door or sent to useless ministries the likes Patrick Chinamasa whose job is now to moniter social networks and Dokola amongst others. May poetic justice prevail over these blood thirst politicians," he said."Mugabe did what everyone expected, he tried by all means to remove individuals that posed as a threat to him. This cabinet reshuffle was mainly to weaken the Mnangagwa faction which was coming up strongly, but their weakness was implementation of obvious and vivid approaches to the opponents in that case being the Zanu PF deity Mugabe. Robert Mugabe had to bring the crucial ministries to the so called G40 because he foresees that they are going to loose elections. This is an advantage to the struggle for self determination because our oppressors are highly divided. There is high probability that the axed ministers would not vote for Zanu PF come 2018 general elections."He said the other angle to this reshuffle might be to divert our discussions about the economic problems and focus on their fights."I know today many media houses would make a great fortune out of this useless event because it changes nothing. In fact this reshuffle is there to deepen the economic and political crisis. To our people let us be focused to our struggle and avoid being misdirected by these squabbles of the struggling ZANU PF. There is no guaranteed future with Mashonaland parties. It's high time we get out of them and shut them out of our lives," he said."We urge the young and the old in Mthwakazi to register and vote for the people's movement. It's high time we demand what is ours. We are for peace and justice in our life time."
An asteroid the size of a house passed close to Earth earlier in October. There are about 17,000 known objects that make passes near our planet, but the paths of many more are unknown.

An asteroid the size of a house passed close to Earth earlier in October. There are about 17,000 known objects that make passes near our planet, but the paths of many more are unknown.

NASA, the US space agency, has launched a new mission aimed at pushing asteroids away from our planet.

Al Jazeeras Jake Ward reports from San Francisco, US.
Catalan president has less than a day to clarify independence declaratin, with far left and Spanish PM urging action.

Barcelona, Spain  Catalan President Carles Puigdemont finds himself in a difficult position after the far-left Popular Unity Candidacy (CUP) party delivered a letter demanding he declare independence by Monday.

Only by proclaiming the republic will we be able to position ourselves as an actor willing to protect the civil and political rights of the population still seriously threatened, says the letter, which was released on Friday.

Puigdemont declared on October 10 an independent Catalan republic following the disputed referendum on October 1. Then, to the dismay of CUP and other nationalists, suspended the effects of the declaration after eight seconds.

According to Puigdemont, it was an attempt to foster dialogue with the national government in order to make a peaceful declaration of independence.

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Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy responded with an ultimatum. Puigdemont must clarify whether or not he declared independence by Monday. If he affirms the declaration, or declines to respond, Rajoy promises to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish constitution which will strip Catalonia of its autonomy.

Puigdemont responded on October 11 by tweeting: Ask for dialogue and they answer you by putting the 155 on the table. Understood.

No talks were known to have taken place.

Fundamental disagreement

The problem with talks is that there is a fundamental disagreement between the two sides about what the problem is, said Sebastian Balfour, emeritus professor of Contemporary Spanish Studies at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Rajoy claims he is open to discussing Catalonias autonomy. Spain comprises 17 autonomous communities, which have varying degrees of decision-making power within their borders and negotiating power with the Spanish state.

Catalonia, one of the richest autonomous communities, which accounts for 20 percent of Spains gross domestic product, has long decried Madrids handling of its tax contributions. Figures from 2014 show Catalonia paid Spain 9.89 billion euros more in taxes than it received in state spending.

Catalonia is also home to a distinct language and culture which has come under threat from Madrid numerous times over the past 300 years, most recently under the far-right Franco dictatorship that ruled Spain from 1939 to 1975.

One of Francos policies was to unify Spanish identity.

Catalan, as well as any other minority languages, were outlawed from being spoken in public. Dissidents were abused and killed often by the Civil Guard, a military police force.

Some Catalans, including members of CUP, who referred to the violence deployed by the military and police occupation, fear that Spain is once again using heavy-handed police presence to enforce its rule.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) also accused Spanish police of using excessive force to stop the October 1 secession referendum.

A question of political survival

With rights groups and European leaders criticising Madrids response and Puigdemont offering dialogue, it would seem possible that Rajoy would be open to talks.

But a de-escalation involving talks about independence would undermine the support he gets on the issue from the whole political spectrum from centre to right, Balfour explained.

Rajoy, who is from the right-wing Popular Party (PP), is leading a minority government after a 10-month political impasse that lasted from December 2015 to October 2016.

Spain held general elections in 2015 and 2016. Rajoy was only able to secure the premiership after the centre-left Socialist party abstained from voting.

Rajoys PP has been losing popularity to the centre-right Citizens party, who has taken a hardline stance on Catalan independence.

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Similarly, Puigdemonts centrist Catalan European Democratic Party (CDP) is the strongest party in the Together for Yes coalition, which leads a minority government in the Catalan parliament.

Puigdemont became president with the support of CUP, which is staunchly pro-independence.

Of the several possible scenarios next week, the withdrawal of support for [Puigdemont] by the CUP for [his] procrastination is one. This would mean new regional elections and a rise in votes for the CUP, Balfour said.

Both leaders are fighting for their political survival.

Neither is in a position to give way, Balfour concluded.

Madrid sees weakness

So, who is in the better position?

I think Rajoy feels strong both in terms of support from the EUs larger states and lack of opposition, said Josep Costa, a professor of political theory at Barcelonas Universitat Pompeu Fabra, in an interview with Al Jazeera.

Although European leaders have publicly criticised the police response to the referendum, a spokesperson for the European Commission, the EUs executive organ, said in a statement: The commission only has the powers which are given to it and when it comes to this position we have a position which goes back to 2004  we must respect the constitutional order and the legal framework of each member state.

According to the Spanish constitution, no autonomous community has the right to self-determination. Respecting Spains legal framework would block Catalonias national aspirations.

Similarly, the socialist opposition announced a motion against police violence and then it did not materialise, the professor continued. Their leader, Pedro Sanchez, also said the referendum has perverted the concept of democracy, signalling his opposition to Catalan secession.

Costa also said he believes Rajoy interpreted the Catalan governments offer to negotiate as a signal of weakness.

CUP members, the key to Puigdemonts minority government, seem to agree.

Doing anything other than declaring independence would be to endorse each and every one of [the Spanish governments] threats, contempt and repression, and would mean returning to the Spanish constitutional legality, their letter to Puigdemont states.

Puigdemonts international press officer did not immediately respond to Al Jazeeras request for comment Saturday.
After three years of strict ISIL rule, Mosul residents are working to revive the citys cultural traditions.

Three months after ISIL was pushed out of its Mosul stronghold, the northern Iraqi city is striving to reclaim its once-vibrant cultural scene.

Local university professor and photographer Ali al-Baroodi said the recovery thus far has been quick and lively, with residents eager to reject the ideology of oppression imposed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) armed group.

Mosul is known for its tolerance and open-mindedness, Baroodi told Al Jazeera.

It is the city that gathers the spectrum of Iraqi society in one place, he added, referring to the 2.5 million residents, comprising Sunni, Shia, Christian, Shabak, Turkmen and Kurds.

During ISILs three-year rule in Mosul, however, the citys quintessential culture was severely damaged.

Book burnings

Shakir Mustafa, a professor who grew up in Mosul and now teaches at Northeastern University in the United States, said the burning of libraries, cinemas, theatres and bookstores by ISIL was wielded as a deliberate weapon of wanton destruction.

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They burned libraries in mosques, regardless of the populations protests, and even when imams and other prominent members of the community informed them about precious manuscripts, including Quranic manuscripts, Mustafa said.

Equally horrifying is the manner in which ISIL terrorised the city in banning all cultural activities, like poetry recitations, music, dancing and singing, he said. Individuals and groups were summarily executed for what ISIL deemed offences, like exchanging film videos, music CDs, or for just listening to songs or watching television.

Tahseen Haddad, the head of the Artists Syndicate in Mosul, said that before the arrival of the ISIL gangs, the city hosted many cultural events, including exhibitions, performances and cinema screenings.

After the extremists and takfiris took over the city, they renounced anything that had to do with beauty and the arts, Haddad said, noting that most artists fled the city. Haddad himself only recently moved back to Mosul after living in Erbil, the capital of Iraqs Kurdish region, for the past three years.

Spiritual traditions

Mosul was built on solid cultural traditions and institutions dating back to the Middle Ages, Mustafa said.

Prominent houses were known for being salons for the elite and the public to gather together and celebrate writers, artists and intellectuals, whether locals or visitors from abroad, he said.

Among the most famous spots in Mosul was a book market on Najafi Street, comprising peoples own personal libraries.

Mosul has also traditionally been known for its pious character. The shrines, or maqams, of Mosul and Nineveh are more famous than many in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Diyala, Haddad said. Spiritual sessions used to be held every Thursday night, with music, prayers and chants.

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Under ISIL, Mustafa said, public gatherings were prohibited and were considered offences punishable by death. But that did not stop people from getting together to continue celebrating literature and the arts secretly.

Mosul University under ISIL

When ISIL overran the city in the summer of 2014, one of the groups first acts was to shut down Mosul University, an institution that was established a half-century ago and regarded as a top-ranking educational institution in Iraq.

When the university was first established, it was the biggest academic institution in the Middle East at the time, Baroodi said.

It had provided its services not just to researchers at the university, but to international and Arab students, such as those from Jordan, Palestine, Yemen and Sudan, who used to visit the university from the 1980s up until 2003.

ISIL eventually reopened the medical, pharmacy, dental and nursing schools because it needed their resources, especially in wartime. The group also began accepting students into two out of the 11 arts and humanities majors: Arabic language and history.

But student enrollment was so low  a mere handful in some cases  that ISIL was forced to shut the departments again.

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Abi al-Diwah Ji, the dean of Mosul University, told Al Jazeera that the central library used to be Iraqs best library in contemporary times.

It was home to books, blueprints, resources, scientific magazines collected over decades. It is without a doubt the biggest loss Mosul University has suffered, he said.

In March 2016, the library was targeted by US-led coalition air raids.

From the outside, the library looked like it was completely destroyed, Baroodi said. But inside we found an unexploded rocket, and two floors were undamaged.

Then, in January 2017, a few months after Iraqi President Haider al-Abadi announced the Iraqi army and US-supported operation to retake Mosul, ISIL set fire to the library.

It was part of a tactic to use smoke to visually impede the groups enemies, Baroodi said, noting that ISIL also burned libraries belonging to other colleges on campus. The libraries contained more than one million books.

Grand centre of learning

Using Mosul Eye, we launched a campaign to save what was left of the books in May, Baroodi said. We managed to save 36,000 books, the significance of which cannot be underestimated. However, the size of the loss was more than we expected.

An international campaign to collect donated books garnered support from the European Union, the Smithsonian, and universities in Europe, the US, Australia and New Zealand.

Im particularly attached to that library, because I taught for 11 years at MU and I witnessed its rise into a grand centre of learning, Mustafa said.

Before being pushed out, ISIL booby-trapped the universitys three campuses. The main one was completely destroyed, while the other two were restored with the help of volunteer groups.

Hasanain Abdulkareem, a 25-year-old translation student, has been back at school for almost four months.

My first and ongoing impression was being simply shocked that the University of Mosul, a beacon of knowledge and hope for many, was in a dire state, while little is being [done] by the authorities to rebuild it, he said.

Diwah Ji estimated that between 70 and 75 percent of the university has been damaged. He lamented the loss of its printing press, established in 1969  one of the finest in Iraq.

Cultural resurgence

Despite the years of violence, death and destruction, residents have been taking active steps to restore Mosuls cultural character.

The Artists Syndicate hosted its first conference on July 15, Haddad said, and a separate meeting was held to reunite artists after their three-year absence.

We discussed the role of the artist in fighting ISILs ideology through artworks and other creative endeavours, he said. Artists have been hosting a lot of events in places like the universitys stadium, schools and even in the streets, such as fine art exhibitions and musical performances.

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In August, Mosul held an international youth festival, followed by a childrens festival in early September. On September 9, a reading festival was held outside the central library.

It was the first inclusive venue to be held after liberation, said Abdelkareem, who attended the reading festival. The organisers tried their best to show how the city was still alive, and to show that [Mosul residents] refuse to give up.

Still, despite such positive developments, the devastation wrought by ISIL runs deep, he added.

No matter how much we try to keep our pride, we are all hurt on the inside, really broken for what happened here, and for the fact that nobody seems to care about it, Abdelkareem said.

According to Baroodi, literature will have a role to play in the healing process.

Literature is a reflection of society from its traditions, practices and events, he said. Authors from Mosul, such as Nozat Shamdin [who wrote about the plight of the Yazidis] and Ghada Rasoul reproduced life under ISIL in their novels.

I am confident that the Mosul literature will flourish even more and give birth to poets and writers that will express their reflection on what happened to their city.
Sooronbai Jeenbekov, the chosen candidate of Kyrgyzstans outgoing President Almazbek Atambayev, looked set for a surprise first-round victory in the countrys elections, according to preliminary results.

The central election commission said Jeenbekov had secured 54.22 percent of Sundays presidential vote based on a count from 97 percent of the polling stations.

His main opponent, oil tycoon Omurbek Babanov, trailed well behind with 33.47 percent, according to the same early data.

Polls had predicted a close runoff between Jeenbekov, a protege of Atambayev promising continuity, and Babanov, a youthful oligarch pledging to kick-start a chronically impoverished economy.

Both men served as prime ministers under Atambayev, who steps down after six years in power. The Kyrgyzstan constitution allows the president to serve only one six-year term.





Babanovs campaign office declined to comment on the preliminary results but said it would do so on Monday.

This election boils down to new power vs old power, between a man who spent millions of dollars of his own money on this campaign against an outgoing president determined to make sure his chosen successor enters office, said Al Jazeeras Robin Forestier-Walker, reporting from Kyrgyzstans, Bishkek.

He said that the vote was a test of democracy not just for Kyrgyzstan but for the whole of the region of Central Asia, which is mostly run by leaders who cling to power.

Voters used an electronic voting system designed to eliminate fraud and had a genuine choice: 11 candidates, with two frontrunners, said Forestier-Walker.

Security was heightened in the country due to Kyrgyzstans violent political history.

The first two leaders after the fall of the Soviet Union 25 years ago were removed following riots in 2005 and 2010, but the mainly Muslim nation has since changed its parliamentary system.
Syrian call made to save Damascuss face in public, senior MP says, adding Russia and Turkey are cooperating in Idlib.

A Syrian government statement demanding Turkish troops withdrawal from the northwest city of Idlib is made to feed the domestic public opinion and should not be taken seriously, a senior MP with Turkeys ruling party has told Al Jazeera.

Damascus on Saturday urged immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Turkish troops that have been deployed to Idlib to back the Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters, who are implementing a de-escalation zone deal agreed by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran in September.

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A Foreign Ministry statement carried on state media said the entry of Turkish forces in Idlib was a violation of international law and was not tied with the understandings that were reached between the guarantor states in the Astana process, referring to Russia, Turkey and Iran.

The Syrian statement was made to save the governments face in the eyes of the public there, Kani Torun, a senior MP and the deputy chair of the Turkish parliaments foreign affairs committee, said.

At the end of the day, foreign troops have entered the Syrian land and this has to be explained to the Syrian public in one way or another.

Russia, Turkey and Iran have agreed in the Kazakh capital of Astana in September to set up de-escalation zones for six months in various parts of the country.

Sergey Lavrov, Russias foreign minister, said on Friday that the de-escalation zones were conducted in the framework of the Astana talks with the participation of the three guarantor countries  Russia, Turkey and Iran  and assistance from US and Jordanian observers and UN representatives.

The Turkish army has started deploying troops and armoured vehicles to Idlib on October 8 and begun setting up observation posts in the city on Friday, according to statements by the countrys General Staff.

A video distributed by the army showed what the General Staff said a convoy heading to pass the Syrian border on Thursday night, with military vehicles travelling in the darkness.

Hayet Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by a former al-Qaeda affiliate, controls large parts of Idlib.

Close cooperation with Russia

Torun told Al Jazeera that the operation in Idlib was being implemented in close military coordination with Russia.

Russian forces are responsible for protecting the borders of the city of Idlib, while Turkish forces are in charge of the internal security, making sure that the city does not harbour terrorist groups and no violence occurs there. This is the deal, he said.





The role assigned the Russian forces role in the outskirts of the city prevents any possible intervention in Idlib by Syrian government forces.

Torun said that there might be other such operations in the future as Turkey and Russia agree on the implementation of the zones.

Damascus had condemned Turkish incursions to Syria in the past, labelling them as breach of Syrian sovereignty, such as the one made after Turkey and FSAs Operation Euphrates Shield launched in August 2016.

Turkey sent troops, tanks and warplanes into Syria in this major operation, which Ankara said, was aimed at pushing the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group away from the Syrian border and halting the advance of Kurdish fighters, whom Ankara views as an arm of the outlawed armed Kurdish fighters within Turkey.

Follow Umut Uras on Twitter: @Um_Uras
The devastating bombing, described as the deadliest single attack in Somalias history, has been universally condemned.

World leaders from the United States, UK, Turkey, Canada and France strongly condemned the weekend truck bombing in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which left at least 276 people dead.

Saturdays explosion  the worst single explosion in the East African countrys history  occurred at Zoobe junction, a bustling area of the city with many shops, hotels and offices. The deadly blast also left more than 300 people wounded.

USA

In a statement released on Sunday, Washington condemned the bombing in the strongest terms. The US will continue to stand with the Somali government, its people, and our international allies to combat terrorism and support their efforts to achieve peace, security, and prosperity, the statement released by the Department of State said.

UK

Boris Johnson, UKs foreign secretary, said London condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly attacks in Mogadishu, which have claimed so many innocent lives.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron said: Solidarity with Somalia. Support to the African Union against Islamist terrorist groups. France stands by your side, in a tweet on Sunday.

The Eiffel Tower also turned its lights off in solidarity with the victims of the attack.

La Tour Eiffel eteinte en hommage aux victimes de Mogadiscio https://t.co/3L23u0mUVU #AFP  AFP Afrique (@AFP_Afrique) October 16, 2017

Turkey

Ankara, which has recently built hospitals, schools and roads in the country, also condemned the heinous terrorist attack in Mogadishu.

My condolences to the government and the people of Somalia. We stand by Somalia in the fight against terror & will tirelessly continue to help it recover from such atrocious attacks, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkeys foreign minister, said on Sunday.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogans spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Ankara was sending planes with medical supplies, adding that the wounded would be flown to Turkey and treated there.

Canada

Meanwhile, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also condemn the mass murder in Mogadishu saying: The attacks in Somalia are horrifying & Canada condemns them strongly. We mourn with the Canadian Somali community today, in tweeted on Sunday.

United Nations

Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, also condemned the blast in a tweet posted Sunday.

Sickened by attacks in Mogadishu. I send condolences to the victims and urge unity in the face of terrorism and violent extremism, Guterres said.

African Union

The chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, asked the Somali government to show renewed unity at this critical time and overcome divisions, to rebuild cohesion at all levels of the federal institutions.

It said the pan-African body, which has deployed a peacekeeping mission in the East African country, would continue its support to the Somali government and people in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security.
OPEC+ group has agreed to its deepest cuts to oil production since the coronavirus pandemic, and the US is not happy.
Syrian Democratic Forces have launched a major operation against ISILs last stronghold in Syria.

When ISIL took control of Raqqa in 2014, the Syrian province became the first to fall under the armed groups full control.

ISIL fighters went on a rampage killing thousands of civilians and used Raqqa city to plan attacks overseas.

Now, three years later, the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces have launched, according to them, the final assault to take back Raqqa from ISIL. It is not clear how many ISIL fighters are still inside the city.

But an SDF spokesman says some ISIL fighters appear to be withdrawing from the provinces capital, using civilians as human shields. Others have been allowed to leave after a deal was brokered by tribal leaders on Saturday.

So, will the battle for Raqqa mean the end of ISIL in Syria?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:

Sami Nader  director of the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs

Sonia Khush  Syria director for Save The Children

Joshua Landis  director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

A political analyst Pedzisai Ruhanya has described first lady Grace Mugabe as now a defector President who order ministers to do things which is unlike the late Sally Mugabe who was humble and human in behaviour.He said Sally Mugabe once led Zanu PF Women's League too, in the 1980s."Here lie the differences with Grace; Grace is now de facto party and State President, orders ministers, permanent secretaries and state institutions like ZBC-TV to cover her live events something all the Vice Presidents," he said."Dead or alive Sally never did. Through the live televisions coverage she outlines government business and policies, dishes and wantonly attack gvt and party officials with reckless abundance."He said this projects and positions Grace as Mugabe's successor."What would be the purpose of this if not POWER? The role of the military and VP Emmerson Mnangagwa is overplayed. Hate or like her, Grace runs Zimbabwe and will most probably decide Mugabe successor or has already decided unless tectonic shifts occur swiftly," he said.
Chalk up the Harvey Weinstein sex scandal as one of the most unsurprising big media stories of the modern era. It's like when a magazine run by liberals and devoted to promoting and encouraging the "sex, drugs, and rock and roll" lifestyle flubs a story about campus rape. (And subsequently  and quite deservedly  gets sued into near oblivion.) In other words, almost no one should be surprised that a big-time Hollywood producer and film studio executive such as Harvey Weinstein is a sexual miscreant.

If you want to find a "rape culture," look no farther than Tinseltown. Hollywood is littered with men  and women  who are sexual predators and provocateurs ready and willing to take advantage of most anyone and any situation in order to satisfy their lust and greed. People who have no qualms about filling their movies and television shows with smut are also prone to filling their personal lives with smut.

I can think of no culture, no industry, no group of people less qualified to lecture anyone  especially the culture at large  about sexual immorality than the depraved, sex-crazed deviants that permeate Hollywood, USA. The smug Jimmy Kimmel  whose early claim to fame was as the co-host of Comedy Central's trashy The Man Show  should get nowhere near a compass of any sort, and especially not a "moral compass." Likewise, most every well known Hollywood actor, actress, producer, director, et al. has played a role in corrupting the sexual mores of America.

Thus, when these "nasty" Hollywood harlots, gigolos, pimps, perverts, and like-minded stooges in the general public (thank God, an electoral minority  for now!) don their vagina hats and Antifa masks and start howling about the sexual misconduct of President Trump  or any other politician or pundit of whom they disapprove (read: Christian, conservative, or Republican)  we know it's not really the sexual immorality that troubles them.

In spite of the claims of Hillary Clinton and her ilk, nothing President Trump has done in the sexual realm runs afoul of the sexual standards presented by Hollywood  which are the sexual standards of liberalism. It's not what President Trump "has said about women"  like many of us, in his worst moments he sounds like one corrupted by liberalism  that sets liberal snowflakes to melting. Rather, it's the threat that conservatism and Christianity present to their selfish, hedonistic lifestyles that really terrifies these Hollywood hypocrites.

Craving the power that big government affords them  and with little to no qualms about any perceived (or real) hypocrisy  these liberals take every opportunity presented them to go after Republican politicians  especially the president. Joy Behar recently explained this quite well when discussing Republican U.S. representative Tim Murphy. Murphy, from Pennsylvania and a member of the U.S. House Pro-Life Caucus, was caught encouraging his mistress to get an abortion. He is resigning next month, as well he should.

Addressing her aghast audience, Behar attempted to explain how Democrats like herself don't have a hypocrisy problem when complaining about the behavior of men like Tim Murphy. As she tellingly revealed, "the difference between me and the people who voted for [Murphy] is the Democrats are not the family of values[.] ... They're not hypocrites  they're just dogs. You see the difference?" Yeah, we got it. According to Behar's liberal logic, it's better to be a reliably immoral "dog" than a hypocrite.

Yet, in their TV monologues, protests, talk shows, political speeches, tweets, posts, and so on, as they attack President Trump and court the American electorate, liberals aren't presenting themselves as "dogs." Far from it. As they continue the Obama mission of remaking America into a nation our Founders would not recognize, the modern American left presents itself as wise, rational, reasonable, and compassionate. Leftists brazenly tell us they have the solutions we crave if only we would give them the power to act.

As long as President Trump acts on conservative  especially Christian conservative  principles, he is undermining the left's agenda and reminds them that, at least to some extent, they are losing their grip on the American culture. Thus, he must be politically destroyed.

Andrew Breitbart often declared that politics is downstream from culture. If this is to be believed, then the last decade has seen the culture  at least the voting culture  slip from the hands of the modern left. In addition to the federal courts, the U.S. presidency was the last firm grip liberals had on power in D.C., and until about 9 p.m. on November 8, 2016, they were quite sure they were going to control at least the executive branch of the U.S. government. When this was lost, an angry despair set in, one that has rarely let up since.

The more Trump appoints sound conservative judges and officials, the more he works at repealing Obamacare and building a wall, the more tax money he keeps out of the hands of abortionists, the more religious liberty is restored  the more the federal government operates according to the laws of the Law Giver, the more President Trump and his allies will be vilified and attacked.

Trevor Grant Thomas: At the Intersection of Politics, Science, Faith, and Reason.

www.trevorgrantthomas.com

Trevor is the author of the The Miracle and Magnificence of America.

tthomas@trevorgrantthomas.com
Do you remember 2004? That was when John Kerry suffered a massive blow in the press because of what happened when he was serving in Vietnam. In a nation full of men and women who avoid military service entirely, one would normally not hold a man's service against him. But Kerry built a career on claims about his courage in war. When a host of his former comrades came forward and said he hadn't been the gutsy warrior he claimed  in fact, he may have misrepresented his actions to get awards  his reputation suffered. Some would argue that the "swift boat" campaign cost him the office of presidency.

To this day, liberals call it "swift-boating" when people propagandize (in liberals' minds, unfairly) against an individual. They forget that in 2004, the campaign controversy about the candidates' valor began earlier, when Michael Moore produced Fahrenheit 9/11 and stirred gossip that George W. Bush had acted indecorously during his service in the Air National Guard.

Now, the issue of "bravery" is more rhetorical. One must note with some regret that the John Kerry syndrome has taken hold of people on the conservative side of the dial. October 7, 2017 marked one year from the disastrous breaking of a "scandal" about Donald J. Trump and Access Hollywood. In the flap that followed, a host of conservatives cast each other as "brave" for standing up to Trump and calling him out for immoral conduct toward women  at a time when all the polls were predicting a massive Trump loss and virtually the entire media, academy, and religious leadership were condemning Trump in a deafening chorus.

This was the first of four faux bravery events, all in one year. Let's take a look at them:

Bravely Insulting Trump

Paul Bond wrote in the Hollywood Reporter on October 7, 2016, "Conservatives (Mostly) Condemn Donald Trump after Lewd Recording Surfaces." Hugh Hewitt and Carly Fiorina, standing up to mean hordes of pro-Trump oppressors, joined other conservatives in calling for Trump to step down and allow Mike Pence to run as president. Bond rattled off a list of casualties: "Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will not vote Republican for the first time since 1983. John McCain also formally withdraws his support for Trump's candidacy."

Condoleezza Rice also joined the fray:

Condoleezza Rice wrote on Facebook that she thinks Trump should drop out of the race. "Enough! Donald Trump should not be President," she says in the post. "He should withdraw. As a Republican, I hope to support someone who has the dignity and stature to run for the highest office in the greatest democracy on earth."

A long list of people came forward, ranging from Kelly Ayotte to John Thune, to say they would explicitly not be voting for Donald J. Trump because of Trump's remarks in 2005 about touching women. Russell Moore gave an interview to Ana Marie Cox in New York Times Magazine, published on October 12, 2016, explaining why he would vote for neither Donald J. Trump nor Hillary Clinton.

In many media corners, people praised the independent thinking and courage of those attacking someone whom literally everyone on every side of the political spectrum was attacking. Lost in the maelstrom were some key points. The tape was eleven years old. Trump described touching women's genitals when they let him. Trump quickly stated that the conversation was wrong, it reflected nothing he had done in real life, and he was sorry for having made those remarks. The ethical dilemma of assassinating someone's character based on a hidden recording of his private conversation also seemed not to worry any of these "brave" people.

Bravely Destroying the Career of a Gay Sexual Abuse Victim

The thousands of famous gutsy people standing up to the twelve of us who defended Trump in the public square in October 2016 would find more opportunities to showcase their bravery four and a half months later. After Trump shocked the world and won the election that all his detractors had sworn he was bound to lose, America went into meltdown. Liberals went insane with hats evoking female genitalia, riots in Berkeley, and embarrassing nervous breakdowns on every major news outlet. At the center of the whirlwind appeared Milo Yiannopoulos, the British provocateur who'd been jumping from campus to campus facing down mobs of hateful liberals. It was his scheduled appearance that set off the most closely watched uprisings in Berkeley.

But then Milo suddenly became persona non grata because audio from a year earlier revealed that he joked about his having been sexually abused by a priest as a young teenager. As I pointed out in a podcast with other people familiar with the gay community, the initiation of pubescent boys into sex by older men is so common in the LGBT world that it's ridiculous to get incensed about it unless you are willing to stand against homosexuality itself (as I and my cohort do). It is common among sex abuse victims for the victim to remain scarred for life, often expressing contradictory feelings about his own abuse because he copes by rewriting the event and casting himself as far more powerful than he actually was. Milo seemed to acknowledge this conundrum and went public with statements clearly denouncing any form of sexual behavior with a minor. He had never claimed that as an adult he had engaged in sodomy with boys, nor did anyone present any evidence hinting that he had.

And yet the "brave" denunciations of Milo rolled in. He lost his book deal with Simon & Schuster, his speaking gig at CPAC, and his job at Breitbart within twenty-four hours. Lots of people who'd shown stunning courage in bashing Trump now lined up to bash Milo: David French, Erick Erickson, and a host of others. In a repeat of the Access Hollywood controversy, anti-Milo articles spurred comments commending those conservatives who were brave enough to stand up and finally do the right thing: destroy a man's career not because he said feminism was cancer or wanted to launch a scholarship for white males, but because he discussed his own past as a sexual abuse victim in the wrong way. Because if anything requires courage, it's saying you think it's wrong to sodomize children. And no act is more courageous than condemning someone being condemned in every imaginable corner of the universe.

Bravely Hating Nazis

The march of courage continued six months after Milo's fall from grace, when dueling rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia ended with a woman run over and killed by a white male driver believed to have neo-Nazi sympathies. Trump was not at the rally, and it was not a rally for Trump. Trump condemned racism, as he had many times previously. But press coverage moved rapidly from the issue of people who'd rallied around a Robert E. Lee statue to Trump, Trump, Trump.

A host of conservatives showed their fearless sides by jumping into the media fray and saying that white supremacy, Nazis, racism, and the murder of innocent people are wrong. They also showed no hesitation in stating that Trump was wrong for not demonstrating a vigorous enough hatred of white supremacy, Nazis, racism, and the murder of innocent liberals. The Los Angeles Times reported on August 15, 2017 that Evan McMullin, Marco Rubio, and Paul Ryan all stood up to the scary plague of racism sweeping over America. Sen. Orrin Hatch reminded us that his brother died fighting Hitler. Sen. Todd Young came forward to say we should not "encourage" or "embolden" groups of white racists who drive cars over innocent liberal protesters.

Again, the comments swirling on the internet cheered these ostensible acts of defiance by people standing up to something that virtually nobody endorses, not even the people who gathered in Charlottesville around the Robert E. Lee statue. To the end, the people who gathered for the right-wing rally denied that they hated other races or wanted to harm them. With the entire media united against Trump, the courage it took to make a tragedy about Trump was minimal, and it cost people nothing to condemn Nazis, who'd been defeated 70 years earlier, or white supremacy, which not even alleged white supremacists seemed to defend.

Bravely Calling Hugh Hefner a Creep

In Act IV of America's March to Bravery, we have courageous conservatives standing up to the corpse of a ninety-one-year-old man. On September 27, 2017, Hugh Hefner died of natural causes, some 64 years after launching Playboy. Naturally, conservatives came out of the woodwork to do what is appropriate and respectful when someone dies  they ignored every positive thing a person could note about Hugh Hefner (including his position on racial civil rights at a time when that really was brave) and pointed out that he was a promiscuous sleazebag.

Personally, I detest postmortem ad hominems, whether it's British Marxists singing "Ding Dong, the Witch Is Dead" about Margaret Thatcher or gay people rejoicing at Scalia's mysterious death. Having grown up in the LGBT community, I had to deal with lots of funerals for people who did unsavory things. You dig deep in your memories for something nice to say about them. In the LGBT world, you may have friends who infected their boyfriends and dozens of strangers with HIV, and then when they die of AIDS, you have to go and remember that they helped you redecorate your living room before a birthday party in 1989. I could battle this question out with other Christians citing Bible verses, but my general view is, it's too late to pick bones with people after they're dead. If you didn't state your objections enough when they were alive, shut up. If you did, then be satisfied with your past stances and just say nice things to the survivors.

Conservatives danced on Hugh Hefner's grave, in some cases arguing with theological certainty that he was in Hell, in other cases pitting their nasty remarks against a supposed straw man of massive praise for Hefner. It is true that some liberal media outlets presented rosy retrospectives on his life, but that's what they do when people die. Ross Douthat writes "Speaking Ill of Hugh Hefner: An Honest Obituary for a Wicked American." The Public Discourse, to which I have contributed many times, ran a piece arguing that "it's better to think of him as a coward."

As with the other cases of "courage" with scare quotes, the flood of anti-Hefner diatribes would be less grating were it not for the many comments on social media by people saying how great it is that someone finally "stood up" against the imaginary hordes of people trumpeting Hefner as a hero.

There Is No Such Thing as Bravely Pleasing the Crowd

There are times when we agree with majority opinion. There are times when the least costly and most widely accepted opinion happens to be right. But if we treasure courage in speech and deed, there ought to be an instinct within us to step away from bandwagons, especially harsh and condemning ones. Like John Kerry suddenly humiliated by people who remembered him as he was, we should beware performing bravery when our allies far outnumber the people we seek to combat. And when one's opponent is a small minority, a little bit of graciousness is good. If you must beat up on twenty people who are hated by three hundred million, do not do so with all the venom and spittle we'd show toward a tyrant. There's something...well, cowardly, in that. And dishonest.

Robert Oscar Lopez can be followed on Twitter.
After weeks of Egyptian-sponsored pre-talks, and a very short "cabinet meeting" in Gaza, "formal reconciliation talks" are now being held between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (P.A. or Fatah) in Cairo under the direct auspices of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

For some Middle East-watchers, the talks are a form of progress. There are presently three functional governments between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and this is about getting rid of one of them. Progress here is that Israel is not the government they're talking about getting rid of. Yet. This is about whether Hamas or Fatah will lead the Palestinians  whether to peace with Israel or to war with Israel is less important for them right now than simply who between them is top dog.

The factions are "optimistic," according to Palestinian sources in Cairo. To the extent they are, Israel and the West should be worried, because what they agree on is that Jewish sovereignty is illegitimate. What they don't agree on is who gets the bigger army. Scylla here is an 83-year-old despotic kleptocrat whose administration has impoverished and radicalized the people of the West Bank while begging protection from Israel against Charybdis  a terror organization that has impoverished and radicalized the people of Gaza.

Most of the world  the United States included  simply assumes that the legitimate party is Fatah. Hamas assumes no such thing. In the last Palestinian election (2006 if you're counting), Hamas won 76 of the 132 legislative seats; Fatah won 43. Hamas should have been allowed to form the cabinet, but the legislature was never seated  in part because Israel and the United States didn't want Hamas in the government any more than Fatah did. But it was, in fact, the result of the last thing that passed for a general election. The short, brutal civil war came in 2007. Mahmoud Abbas's term as president expired in 2009.

Hamas claims that it will turn the civil administration over to Fatah but insists that it will hold on to its army (25,000 fighters of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades) in what it calls a "Lebanon solution," a private militia outside the government. Hamas leader Ismayil Haniyeh told Egyptian television, "There are two groups of weapons. There are the weapons of the government, the police and security services[.] ... And there are the weapons of resistance. Regarding the weapons of the resistance, as long as there is a Zionist occupation on Palestinian land, it is the right of the Palestinian people to possess weapons and resist the occupation in all of forms of resistance."

P.A. president Mahmoud Abbas firmly rejected the Hamas proposal. "I will not accept or copy or reproduce the Hezb'allah example in Lebanon. Everything must be in the hands of the Palestinian Authority." His great fear is Hamas demanding that security cooperation between Fatah and the IDF, which protects the P.A., cease  leaving the field clear for a Hamas military takeover on the West Bank. That is Israel's nightmare as well.

Other than the threat of a military victory, Hamas holds few actual cards. Egypt keeps the Rafah border crossing in Gaza mostly closed as a means of keeping Hamas from joining forces with ISIS and other jihadist elements in the Sinai. Qatar has reduced its funding, and Iran has not made up the difference.

The P.A., on the other hand, is the recipient of international largesse  European, American, NGOs, etc. It is supposed to use the money for all the Palestinians, including paying Gaza government officials and workers, paying utility bills to Israel, paying teachers, etc. But it uses it instead to assert authority.

After the 2007 war, 70,000 P.A. employees in the Gaza Strip lost their jobs, but they remained on the P.A. payroll; many haven't been to work since. Recently, the P.A. cut the salaries of its own people in Gaza by 30 percent, hoping they would pressure Hamas. In April, the P.A. stopped paying for Gaza's electricity, resulting in shortages over the summer that simply made miserable people more miserable.

If Abbas wanted to strong-arm Hamas, he failed. Despite its apparently superior position, the electricity is back on, and the P.A. won no decisive battle against Hamas. It will now try to win in negotiations what it couldn't manipulate on the ground.

But while they try, keep in mind that a victory for Scylla is not a victory. The 70-nation Paris Peace Conference in January included in its final communique a scathing indictment of the P.A., noting that after 24 years of self-rule, it lacked "the infrastructure for a viable Palestinian economy" and had no capacity for "service delivery" and inadequate "civil society fora." To birth "Palestine" under the circumstances would be to birth South Sudan  a failed state for its own people and a chaotic one for the rest of us.
Trump's tax plan was enthusiastically accepted by the Republicans and got rejected by the Democrats. No surprises; the tug of the tax rope is a favorite public activity in Washington.

Trump's plan is a financial knockdown for states such as California, New York, and New Jersey. These states have a traditional Democrat majority, and consequently, these states have the highest tax rates in the U.S. According to Trump's plan, the payment of these taxes will not be considered when calculating federal taxes. Americans will have to pay taxes to the states in addition to, not instead of, the federal tax. This will hit hardest, of course, in the states with the highest taxes.

These states are the bastions of leftists in the U.S. and voted against Trump. If Trump's plan is adopted, these states will be in a stressful financial condition. The mass outflow of population from these states to the states with zero or small taxes (Florida, Texas) will accelerate, and the tax base of leftists will definitely decrease.

The long-term tax legacy in America is as such: the second and third items of the Communist Manifesto of Karl Marx  the progressive tax and the inheritance tax  are fully and legally implemented.

Trump's plan leaves the second item of the Communist Manifesto intact (a progressive tax with some modifications) but terminates the third item  the tax on inheritance.

Even now, few people think about why the tax rate in America is progressive  the more you earn, the higher the tax rate. Progressive taxes have been around since ancient times, but only the Marxists thought of weaponizing them and making them a tool for the political struggle. Today we use the phrase "progressive democrats" or "progressive humanity." However, the term "progressive" began from the idea of a progressive tax. It had nothing to do with technological or social progress, but only with taxes.

Progressive taxes in the U.S. have progressed only in one direction  in the direction of increasing the polarization of society. Bill Clinton's tax reform led to the emergence of a negative tax rate unheard of in American history. Currently, about 40% of Americans receive money from the federal government instead of paying.

As a result, the richest 10% of Americans pay 70% of all federal income taxes. The poorest 50% pay only three percent of all federal taxes. On the surface, a progressive tax on the rich looks like a simple mechanism for wealth redistribution. But in fact, the progressive tax is a mechanism of conscious corruption of the population, which is forced to turn to the state for financial help. It eventually becomes completely dependent  materially and spiritually  on the government.

The extreme level of progressive taxation in the U.S. leads to an artificial division of the nation into two classes: those who pay taxes and those who do not pay taxes.

What for? Divide et impera  divide and conquer  a slogan that has been tested for centuries. The slogan was inherited by the Washington senators from the senators of ancient Rome. The slogan enables Washington to force two groups of Americans to fight each other.

These two artificial groups of Americans are separated by a common Congress.

The idea of the inheritance tax is also borrowed by the "progressive" from ancient Rome. Emperor Augustus introduced this tax to pay pensions to his soldiers. Only the emperor could think of such a thing  to declare the property of a deceased Roman as the property of the state, but with the proviso that the relatives of the deceased can get it back by paying a new tax. As in ancient Rome, today no one calls this tax anything other than a state racket. It is not surprising that Marxists like this tax.

High taxes are also a form of a political state racket.

Politicians in all countries prefer high tax rates to gradually selling out to lobbyists the "exceptions to the rules" and create loopholes in tax legislation for companies or for entire industries. As a result, in the U.S., there are almost no companies who pay a predatory 35% tax on profits. The effective tax rate for most companies is much lower  about 20%. It is the 20% tax on companies' profits that is contained in Trump's tax plan, which in addition to the lower tax rate eliminates all loopholes without exception. The Trump concept leaves, of course, the Washington political election campaigns without its main source of corrupt financing.

This, in fact, is Trump's strategic tax plan. His plan eliminates one of the most odious and Marxist-favored taxes: the inheritance tax. It leaves the progressive personal income tax to the delight of Marxist "progressive humanity." In return, it demands significantly lower corporate tax.

Trump's plan is unlikely to radically improve the tax burden for most American citizens, but it will substantially revitalize the American economy and make it aggressively competitive on the global market. The complete abolition of the tax loopholes will shrink the army of lobbyists and tax lawyers. There is nothing catastrophic in this. Taxes were lowered by Coolidge, Kennedy, Reagan, and Bush. Each and every time, the American economy stood to win.

The progressive income tax has existed in our country for more than 100 years. There is no one alive today who remembers what America was like without an income tax. Four generations of Americans have grown up in the conditions of progressive taxation, and they do not even realize that the tax burden can be different.

The lie is that "the rich should bear the main burden of taxes."

The truth is in Reagan's wise words: "If you want more of something, subsidize it; if you want less of something, tax it."

Increasing the tax on the rich means closing businesses and mass layoffs. On the other hand, reducing the tax on the rich means increasing investment in production; reducing unemployment; increasing the tax base; and, as a result, increasing tax revenues.

What does America want?

If we want to eliminate the rich, then it is necessary to increase taxes. But the number of poor people will not decrease. On the contrary, it will increase until the entire population turns poor. This is the path chosen by the former Democratic (now the Socialistic) Party of America. The Soviet Union, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, and many other countries have already gone down this path.

There is another way. Four generations of Americans have heard nothing about alternative solutions, as they suffer from "tax amnesia." To many, this idea may seem revolutionary and even crazy.

How about leaving the rich alone and "eliminating" the poor?

Dr. Gary Gindler, Ph.D. is a conservative Russian-American blogger at Gary Gindler Chronicles.
Most people do not know that Barack Obama had a kind of "Office of Thought Control" and team of mind manipulation experts in his White House. And most know nothing of the sinister techniques Mr. Obama and his Progressive comrades used, and continue to use, to sway us.

This is how Progressive politics now works, and it has shocking similarities to Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel of a "benign" but brain-drugged totalitarian future, Brave New World.

Journalists said nothing of this when they reported in October that Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago has been awarded the Nobel Prize for his research creating the field of "behavioral economics."

Economists, ever since Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations in 1776, have assumed that people make decisions rationally and logically, based on their own enlightened self-interest. Thaler found that most people make decisions irrationally, but predictably, and that such decisions can be "nudged" in certain directions by outside influences.

Thaler explains how to use such influences in Nudge, a book he co-authored with legal scholar Cass Sunstein. Craig R. Smith and I lay out these disturbing techniques and document how the Obama administration used them in our book The Great Withdrawal.

To shape people's actions and decisions, Thaler and Sunstein write, one should frame a "choice architecture" that gives only limited choices as a way to herd people toward what you want. Apply peer pressure by claiming that neighbors and others are already doing what you secretly want. Use "priming," as we wrote, by "subtly programming the mind with trigger words, concepts, images and cues that can move a person towards a particular response and decision."

Such "nudges," we wrote, could be used openly and paternalistically to help people, as Thaler prefers. But they "could also be used for what MIT radical intellectual Noam Chomsky calls 'the manufacture of consent,' to manipulate people into assenting to whatever the State or ruling political party wishes. A 'nudge' is a kind of push, and this push could come to shove."

In 2008, Sunstein and Thaler assembled a team of behavioral scientists to help elect Obama. Sunstein headed Obama's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs from 2009 until August 2012. Sunstein's wife is Irish-born radical activist Samantha Power, who became Obama's United Nations ambassador.

During the 2016 election year, Power was involved in "unmasking" more than one American every day  thus using U.S. intelligence agencies, many suspect, to spy on members of Donald Trump's campaign staff.

The liberal media, meanwhile, tried to manipulate the presidential race by giving Trump $2 billion's worth of free airtime, according to The New York Times. By nominating what they thought would be the Republicans' weakest candidate, the media were trying to help elect Democrat Hillary Clinton.

In 2012, Democratic operatives directed candidates to push gun control with emotional techniques, not intellectual arguments. Even before he became Obama's attorney general, Eric Holder told a Democratic meeting that he was launching a campaign to "really brainwash people into thinking about guns in a vastly different way." "Brainwash" is another word for "nudge."

Sunstein has sought to make tax-paying a "celebration," writing, "You cannot be for rights and against government. ... There is no liberty without dependency." This is the kind of mind-twisting doublethink found in Big Brother's propaganda in George Orwell's novel 1984.

Sunstein also proposed sending secret agents into groups that fear Big Government conspiracies in order "to persuade, debias, or silence" them. Yes, he wrote "silence."

Sunstein seems not to understand that he is proposing exactly the kind of Big Government conspiracy people fear. Such is the arrogance of today's mind-controlling, politically correct, paternalistic Progressive intellectuals, politicians, and media. This is "democracy" of, by, and for the government, not the people.

Lowell Ponte, a former Reader's Digest roving editor and veteran think-tank futurist, is author or co-author of eight books. He can be reached at radioright@aol.com.
On October 4, a dozen Green Berets were on a routine mission in Niger, reaching out to local leaders about the growing danger of ISIS affiliated groups becoming more active in the region. As they were preparing to depart, approximately 50 terrorists ambushed the group. A fierce firefight ensued during which 4 Americans were killed.

The Americans were eventually rescued by French helicopters. But questions are being asked about why the US had no rescue aircraft in the vicinity and why it took more than an hour for the French to respond to the call for help.

CNN:

The attackers had rocket propelled grenades and machine guns, while the US troops were armed only with rifles and were in unarmored trucks according to officials. It had been considered 'unlikely' they would run into opposition and initial reports being reviewed indicate some locals in the area may have known an attack was planned, two officials said. The failure to anticipate an attack and the fact there were no US rescue and recover assets close by meant nearly an hour went by before the evacuation of the two wounded and three dead US troops by French Super Puma helicopters could be completed. Defense Secretary James Mattis said the rescue was timely stating: "I completely reject the idea that that was slow." But he did say an investigation will determine if changes are needed. "We will look at this and say was there something we have to adapt to now? Should we have been in a better stance." One indication of how unexpected the attack was: the unit in Niger "had actually done 29 patrols without contact over the previous six months," Joint Staff Director Lt. Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. told reporters. Officials who have read the initial after-action reports say there was confusion and uncertainty on the ground after what was a completely unexpected attack. The team was particularly vulnerable because it was in two separate locations when the attack began. Some were walking back from a meeting with local villagers. Others were waiting outside, guarding the vehicles that the US troops were using. While French helicopters were able to get the team to safety, the critical failure to find Johnson for another 48 hours has not been explained. His body was eventually found in a nearby area, but military investigators do not know why he was left behind during the French led evacuation and if he was alive even for a short period of time, US officials tell CNN. Military officials have acknowledged that the incident is under investigation and that security procedures for teams operating in Africa are in the process of being reviewed. But it remains to be seen if Trump will choose to weigh in on the failings that led to the deadliest combat incident of his presidency so far.

As far as a potential flash point, Niger was pretty far down the list. The former French colony has not been a target of ISIS or AQ, although it is 80% Muslim. The recent growth of groups swearing allegiance to ISIS precipitated the mission by Green Berets to help the local population fight and resist ISIS advances.

The reason we didn't have rescue assets nearby is unknown, but could have been because we had an arrangement with French forces with regard to support for the mission. Obviously, no one expected any trouble which means no matter how close the French helicopters might have been, they weren't prepared for a mission.

US Special Forces have been taking on more and more responsibility as the threat of terrorism continues to expand. We no doubt have units like the Green Berets in Niger in dozens of countries in Africa and Asia. We have learned a hard lesson that even in countries where trouble isn't expected, we have to be better prepared for the worst case scenarios.
During the Obama years, we warned Democrats that they would regret the day a GOP president sat in the White House. I remember telling a friend that the next GOP president could play this executive order game just as well. I followed by saying President Obama should request all of those changes to Obamacare, or even DACA, from Congress so that they would be the law of the land, not up to the discretion of the executive.

Maybe the Democrats believed their "demographics" theories too much and thought it would be impossible for a GOP candidate to win 270 votes. Perhaps they were all too busy buying their outfits for Mrs. Clinton's historic inauguration.

No matter what, the future is here, and President Trump is one by one by scratching those Obama executive orders.

At this pace, President Obama's resume will be a total blank under "accomplishments." It will simply say he was inaugurated in 2009, was re-elected in 2012 and left office in 2017. There will be very little in between because he did so much by executive order rather than laws passed by Congress. "The 'Blank' Presidency" may be the title of a future book about this time in office.

President Trump used his pen to delete the things President Obama added to the law without consulting Congress, as Betsy McCaughey, the author of Beating ObamaCare, explained:

Trump has now seized the initiative, after congressional Republicans fell flat on their faces and failed to address the pain ObamaCare is inflicting on consumers stuck in the individual insurance market. The president should keep going. What's next? Trump should use his discretion to stop enforcing the tax penalty on those who don't buy ObamaCare-compliant plans, including buyers of short-term plans. Then he should cancel the sweetheart deal his predecessor weaseled for members of Congress and their staff members. Even though the Affordable Care Act requires them to buy coverage on ObamaCare exchanges, Obama arranged for them to have a choice of 57 gold plans and have John Q. Public pick up most of their costs. It's an outrage. Once members of Congress are feeling the same pain as everyone else, they'll be more focused on repealing and replacing the dysfunctional health law. In the meantime, Trump is wisely providing relief where it counts the most  in people's wallets.

Yes, Trump has seized the initiative because so much of the law's burdens were imposed by executive order, from the contraceptive ruling to the subsidies to insurance companies.

President Trump's moves will not fix the problem until Obamacare is totally repealed. However, it is a lesson to all: govern by executive order, and the next guy will do the same thing and delete your executive orders!

PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter.
The flood of refugees that rolled over Europe in 2015 affected Austria more than any other country except its neighbor Germany. Today, Austrians go to the polls in parliamentary elections that could elevate a 31 year old nationalist to the chancellorship.

Sebastian Kurz, the charismatic leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP) left the coalition government with the Social Democrats when he was elevated to the party's top spot last May. The cause of the split was the ongoing debate over refugees in Austria, who have put a huge drain on government resources.

Austria is a conservative Cathloic country and it's politics has been dominated by right of center parties since the end of World War II. But the tide of nationalism that has swept Europe has brought to the fore not only the OVP, but also the far right Freedom Party (FPO), which is also set to make large gains in the election.

Reuters:

Kurz says he will shut the main migrant routes into Europe, via the Balkans and the Mediterranean. Many voters say Austria was overrun when it opened its borders in 2015 to hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere. We must stop illegal immigration to Austria because otherwise there will be no more order and security, Kurz told tabloid daily Oesterreich on Friday. Chancellor Christian Kerns Social Democrats (SPO) are in coalition with Kurzs OVP but Kurz ended the alliance when he took over his party in May, forcing Sundays snap election. Opinion polls show the conservatives ahead with around a third of the vote and a tight race for second between the Social Democrats and the Freedom Party (FPO), whose candidate nearly won last years presidential election. Immigration has dominated the campaign. Kurz plans to cap benefits for refugees at well below the general level and bar other foreigners from receiving such payments until they have lived in the country for five years. He also says he wants to shake up Austrian politics, which for decades has been dominated by a coalition between his party and the Social Democrats. His opponents say he is merely a new face on a party in power in various coalitions for 30 years. Leaders of all three top parties warned voters to be skeptical about polling in a bid to improve turnout. You should not pay attention to opinion polls. You should instead go by the atmosphere here, FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache told cheering supporters at a shopping mall in Vienna on Saturday. The FPO has accused Kurz of copying its ideas and Strache called him an impersonator.

A coailition between the FPO and OVP is a distinct possibility, although it is likely that Kurz will need the help of one or two of the smaller parties as well. But there's no doubt that Kurz has struck a chord with Austrian voters that Chancellor Kern and the Social Democrats cannot match. Pulling the OVP out of the coalition was a masterstroke since now, the onus for the refugee problem falls squarely on the Social Democrats.

Unlike in Germany and France where nationalist parties are demonized as the second coming of Hitler, conservative parties in Austria are considered mainstream largely because they offer little contrast to the Social Democrats when it comes to the welfare state. But in proposing to deny government benefits to refugees, Kurz will probably ride that issue to the chancellorship.
Porn magnate Larry Flynt is offering $10 million to anyone who has dirt on Donald Trump that would get him impeached. The offer appears in today's Washington Post as a full page ad.

The publisher of Hustler Magazine, who once offered $1 million to any woman who could prove they slept with a Republican legislator, hasn't been in the news recently, which must gall him to no end. So, to capitalize on the anti-Trump hysteria, Flynt is offering cold hard cash for anyone who steps forward with information that could ignite a scandal that would bring down Trump.

Fox News:

Hustler founder Larry Flynt is running a full-page ad in Sundays Washington Post offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the impeachment of President Trump, Fox Business reports. Anchor Liz Claman tweeted a photo of the ad, which reads: Larry Flynt and Hustler magazine announce a cash offer of up to $10 million for information leading to the impeachment and removal from office of Donald J. Trump. In the ad, Flynt airs several grievances about Trumps actions as president, including his firing of FBI director James Comey and his gross nepotism and appointment of unqualified persons to high office. Impeachment would be a messy, contentious affair, but the alternative  three more years of destabilizing dysfunction  is worse, the ad reads. Both good Democrats and good Republicans who put country over party did it before with Watergate. To succeed, impeachment requires unimpeachable evidence. Thats why I am making this offer. The porn producer notes in the ad that this is not my first rodeo, citing past rewards for information on Republicans like former Rep. Bob Livingston in 1999, who resigned from Congress after admitting to an extramarital affair, and Sen. David Vitter, who weathered a prostitution scandal in 2007.

I find it amusing that the Washington Post is so hard up for money that they would accept ad revenue from someone who shamelessly exploits women.

Flynt makes his money today in raunchy videos and on the porn internet - racist, misogynistic, content that shames even mainstream pornographers. But he is a leftist hero because, well, sex. The "if it feels good, do it" mantra of the left is embodied in Flynt's vulgar and worthless media.

Considering the sorts of low life, knuckle draggers who read or watch his porn, I doubt whether Flynt is reaching an audience that would have the faintest clue what an impeachable offense might be. For that matter. if Flynt believes appointing incompetent people to high office is an impeachable offense, he might be asked where he's been during the previous administration. Fortunately, naming idiots to serve in Washington is not a crime and is a common occurrence. Trump has no worries there.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has noted with concern the absence of commissioners of oaths at many Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) centres in the ongoing blitz to register voters across the country.ZimRights said reports gathered show that the commissioners of oaths are totally absent, arrive late or leave the centres while registration is still in progress, forcing people to either look for alternatives where they have to pay, or to leave the registration centres without registering for failure to fulfil the proof of residence requirement."These shortcomings are greatly affecting the voter registration process and unnecessarily compounding the challenges caused by the unfamiliarity of the new biometric system. ZimRights would like to emphasise that all eligible citizens have the constitutional right to register, in the ongoing BVR blitz as voters, for them to express their political preferences in the forthcoming harmonised elections in 2018," said the ZimRights."Any hindrances caused by the proof of residence requirement must be eliminated and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) should provide commissioners of oaths at all registration centres.The government of Zimbabwe has a duty to fund electoral processes and see to it that all personnel such as commissioners of oaths and stationery including VR 1 and VR9 forms required for voter registration are provided."ZimRights said it is also concerned with the exorbitant cost being incurred by political parties and other organisations in deploying observers due to the US$ 10 accreditation fee per person which has pegged the cost of deploying observers across the country out of reach."The observation process is at the heart of ensuring that all stakeholders are satisfied with the transparency and integrity of the voter registration process hence the cost of deploying observers must not be overpriced. ZimRights notes that the electoral commission is funded from public coffers and the accreditation process should not be a fundraising undertaking," said ZimRights.
A book that was written to make Americans uncomfortable about race relations is being removed from the reading list of a school in Biloxi, MS because "it makes people uncomfortable."

And I thought I had heard it all.

Indianapolis Star:

A Mississippi School Board's decision to strike the classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird" from the eighth-grade curriculum has reignited questions over when, if at all, a book should be banned from a classroom. After receiving complaints that some of the language in the book made some uncomfortable, the Biloxi School District pulled the book from Language Arts classes, the Clarion-Ledger reported. Harper Lee's tale of a racial inequality in a Southern town, was originally published in 1960. The book, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, is set in the 1930s, when Lee was a child, and uses language common for the time, including a derogatory term for African-Americans. Local author Barbara Shoup has some firsthand experience with books being banned. Her adolescent coming of age novel "Wish You Were Here" made the 1995 list of top 100 banned books. "I am appalled," Shoup wrote in an email, saying Lee's tale offers a realistic depiction of life in the South before Civil Rights. "If we are going to solve the racial problems we have in our country now, we must confront the truth of how we got to where we are. Good fiction, like "Mockingbird," brings history alive," she said. "If it is uncomfortable to read and discuss, so be it. Most things that matter deeply are."

A couple of choice reactions on Twitter.

Hmmm, doesn't the Bible make many people uncomfortable? Lord have mercy. https://t.co/FdCPuQwdTK  Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) October 14, 2017

If To Kill a Mockingbird makes you uncomfortable, you are the target audience.  Stan Lehr (@WIBC_StanLehr) October 14, 2017

Of all the crazy news over the past year plus, this may be the craziest. And exemplifies the dangers of 1Amend. assaults quite succinctly. https://t.co/0u6aQ24txA  Mack Overton (@snowmanmack) October 14, 2017

"Banned in Boston" used to be a badge of honor for publishers, who used the condemnation of a controversial book as a salacious selling point.

But "Banned in Biloxi"?

Most kids today have a hard time imagining an America where blacks couldn't sit at the same lunch counter with whites or were forced to cross the street if a white woman approached them on the sidewalk. They have no conception of the "separate but equal" standard where blacks had their own drinking fountains, their own restrooms, their own place to sit in a movie theater. Even relating some of these stories to southern kids is like describing what happened on an alien planet.

"To Kill a Mockingbird" is classic literature not only because it is beautifully written and tells a terribly interesting and important story. It is a classic because it captures a moment in time perfectly - how people really lived, how they loved, and what they really thought about an issue that still roils the country today.

Are there other books that deal with the same themes, the same issues? No doubt yes. But none captures the essence of what it was to be a southerner in a time of momentus change. That kind of value is incredibly rare and should be nurtured, not banned.
(ANSA) - Rome, October 13 - An Italian priest from the Rome diocese was kidnapped yesterday in Nigeria, sources said Friday, adding that the foreign ministry's crisis unit has already been alerted and the Rome prosecutor's office anti-terror unit has opened a probe.

Rome prosecutors are investigating a suspected terror crime, with Islamist terrorists Boko Haram suspected. Sources said the priest, Florence-born Father Maurizio Pallu, who will be 63 next Wednesday, was stopped with four other people on his way to Benin City in southern Nigeria yesterday. They were stopped by an armed group that stole all their belongings and abducted the priest who has been on a mission to Nigeria for three years.

Pallu graduated in history before setting off as a lay missionary around the world, for 11 years.

In 1988, when his father died, he joined a Rome seminary and in 1991 was ordained as a priest. Two years later, spent working as a chaplain, he was sent to the Netherlands.


Opinion / Columnist

When Grace Mugabe called out a shamefaced Kazembe Kazembe at a Zanu-PF Youth Interface Rally in Bindura earlier this year, to rebuke him over calls he made for Saviour Kasukuwere to resign, it was really part of a well-planned First Family strategy to humiliate, debilitate and silence an ambitious rival step by step and week in and week out. President Robert Mugabe has outsmarted scores of foes since 1975 and made his close colleagues rich and powerful men and women at the same time. So these bouts of repeated and embarrassing humiliations cannot be lost on the powerful securocrats who lead sophisticated lifestyles amidst increasing impoverishment. So when Emmerson Mnangagwa stands accused of threatening the First Family this will inspire communal displeasure among the men and women who owe much to Mugabe and have been with him for a long time.History has shown how strongman rule often leads to dynastic rule and the continual domination of a small class of economic and political elites. Omar Bongo, who ruled Gabon with an iron fist for 42 years and built a massive fortune for his 53 children, was succeeded by his son Ali Bongo in 2009. In Egypt a wealthy and high-powered Gamal Mubarak had been tipped to take over from President Hosni Mubarak before the Arab Spring of 2011 swept the longest serving Egyptian leader from power. Over in Angola it is not inconceivable that Isabel Dos Santos, the super rich daughter of former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos and the influential CEO of Sonangol, the Angolan national oil company, might one day become the first female president of the southern African nation.Voters often back famous political candidates. So political and economic actors will often coalesce around a brand name candidate in a meal ticket like scenario. That explains why a clownish ideological warmonger like George W Bush became the 43rd president of the USA in 2000 and an uninspiring, naive and error-prone Hillary Clinton ran for the White House last year on a Democratic Party ticket. Former US First Lady Michelle Obama could have an excellent run in US politics off the back of her surname. While Cristina Kirchner actually succeeded her husband as the president of Argentina in 2007. So can an inexperienced and gaffe strewn Mrs Mugabe. Perhaps that is why her husband does not trust that Mnangagwa will buy into his cryptic succession plans.Loyalty and trust can be worthless qualities in strongman politics. Mobutu Sese Seko played a leading role in the execution of a deposed Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba in 1961. And Blaise Compaore had President Thomas Sankara murdered for his Marxist ideals in a bloody coup in 1987. Every politician is expendable in the bigger scheme of strongman machinations. But colleagues who show no ambition for the highest office in the land and seemingly mind their own business within an authoritarian regime - people like Agriculture Minister Joseph Made, can thrive in humble silence.And although the alleged suspicions and fantastic ridicule engulfing Mnangagwa make for excellent media material and exact a measure of karma for his Gukurahundi and alleged Godfrey Majonga exploits, you cannot escape the fact that politics in Zimbabwe is laced with tomblike fear and dark intent that belie the peaceful democracy and significant well-being the nation has craved since 1980.Once Mnangagwa has been banished all efforts will be directed towards the 2018 elections and here is why the comrades can afford to have a playground fight real close to a crucial election period: the opposition has lost its mojo and run short of fresh ideas. See, you could do all that is right in this tough situation - such as run a clever campaign built on solid ideas and mobilise people to register to vote in numbers - but still lose the elections. The same underhand plans and resources that have been employed to render Mnangagwa a harmless and hopeless Crocodile Dundee comic character will be magnified a thousand times over and focused squarely on opposition forces.Only a fearless leader with a clear and fresh strategy and a sense of boundless self-sacrifice can help deliver a new and brighter Zimbabwe. Zanu-PF will accept a few losses here and there in the next elections, because of the economic situation, but still expect to win overall. Suffice it to say, such a victory will not resolve an economic quagmire and inspire fresh hope.What then will it take to force Zanu-PF to enact far-reaching media, security sector and electoral reforms in time for the next elections, especially when almost all external actors - this includes the AU and SADC, have grown numb to the political schisms that cause seismic challenges and disagreements within Zimbabwe all the time? People must embark on ceaseless legal and peaceful protests. Without colossal shows of unhappiness on the streets and the simultaneous application of targeted, lawful pressure on selected state officials the chances of realising positive changes will remain slim at best. And without a leader who is willing to give up all for a national cause and lead the people to the next phase of social, economic and political independence nothing will change and the nation might descend into a Venezuelan dilemma with no caution.Unless there is a candidate who can go toe-to-toe with the Mugabes in an extraordinarily hostile and lopsided climate and win the presidential election so convincingly well the victory will be incontestable in court things will head south again. American civil rights icon and peace activist Martin Luther King died on the battleground. But before he passed on he had proposed and led a host of huge, impactful and peaceful political campaigns that compelled a racist and rather reluctant government to enact fresh rights for much-repressed African-Americans. Zimbabwe will have to unearth its own Martin Luther King Jnr soon, if change is ever to materialise in the near future, or else "Her Excellency Grace Mugabe," with her supporters and securocrats in tow, will succeed her husband.
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Avaya Contact Center Upgraded by WEBTEXT with Facebook Messaging

Text messaging has replaced face-to-face contact as well as traditional phone calls. A preferred method of communication for a growing percentage of the population, it seems to be the easiest way to keep in touch with friends and family. Many businesses, including doctors offices have given the option to be contacted via text for promotions and appointment reminders.

Social media is also dominating the way that consumers express distaste for a product, as opposed to call-in complaints. Avaya took note of such changes and asked WEBTEXT to help integrate a P2P messaging service into its contact center platforms.

Today, over 75 percent of the public would rather text than call a contact center. WEBTEXT is committed to messaging innovation and is constantly seeking superior solutions to move voice traffic to messaging so the public, especially Millennials who dont use voice, can communicate in their preferred channel, said WEBTEXT CEO, AJ Cahill.

WEBTEXTs offerings include AI chatbots with automatic escalation to a AACC, ACCS, EMC and Oceana contact center live messaging agent. It also offers an option for voice calls to be diverted to Facebook messenger or SMS. The messages and SMS sent can include a URL, order number or Google Maps address to callers while still on the phone.

WEBTEXT texts offer creative and convenient solutions to many of todays communications challenges. Texts can be automated, agent initiated or customer initiated, and personalized for whatever the businesses needs happen to be.

Though texting may be the preferred method, there is something to be said about emotions getting lost in translation, which makes training critical to the success of text-based customer engagement.

Do your customers prefer messaging over phone calls too?

Edited by Erik Linask
AFRIQUE :: TONY ELUMELU FOUNDATION (TEF) WRAPS UP 2017 TEF ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM - LARGEST GATHERING OF AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURS

3RD ANNUAL TEF ENTREPRENEURSHIP FORUM WAS HELD ON OCTOBER 13-14 IN LAGOS. 1,300 AFRICAN SMEs, POLICYMAKERS, INCUBATORS FROM 54 COUNTRIES IN ATTENDANCE

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Africas leading philanthropy dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship, concluded its 3rd annual TEF Entrepreneurship Forum on 14th of October 2017 in Lagos.

The Forum hosted more than 1,300 participants from 54 African countries. The most diverse and inclusive gathering of African entrepreneurs on the continent, the Forum continued its strong tradition of showcasing innovation across sectors, including Agriculture, Technology, Healthcare, Fashion and Energy/Power Generation.

Launched in 2015, the Forum was born out of the Foundations $100 million commitment to identify, train, mentor and fund 10,000 African entrepreneurs, over a decade, through the TEF Entrepreneurship Programme.

During a powerful keynote address, Tony O. Elumelu, CON, the philanthropist and Founder who is also the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, spoke of his belief, that a vibrant African-led private sector is the key to unlocking Africas economic and social potential.

Africas development, which must be private-sector led and entrepreneurially driven, will have at its heart, young African innovators and their transformative ideas. Only they will create the millions of jobs Africa needs. The Forum has brought together Africas most important developmental force, her young entrepreneurs who will become catalysts for Africas economic liberation.

We have united the African entrepreneurship ecosystem, putting the entrepreneurs at centre stage. I want to thank those heads of government and other key policymakers, who have supported our firm

belief that the private sector is the engine for growth and the private sector players, who are models of our philosophy of Africapitalism  the idea that business will drive change and that change must deliver economic and social wealth he explained.

The two-day event, which involved plenary panels and masterclasses, provided the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurs with a platform to network and connect with business leaders, policymakers and investors.

Focusing on the Forums theme of training and mentoring, speakers discussed topics that educated, empowered and inspired the entrepreneurs, addressing the key stages needed to successfully launch a business.

The speaking programme emphasised the Foundations role of uniting entrepreneurs and policymakers, as a means of ensuring that private and public sectors work together to create the best possible operating environment for entrepreneurship to thrive. Political and private sector leaders from across Africa, including HE Aminu Bello Masari, Governor, Katsina state; HE Abdulaziz Abubakar Yari, Governor, Zamfara state; Mr. Lionel Zinsou, Former Prime Minister, Republic of Benin; Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Group; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote group, directly addressed the conditions needed for stimulating entrepreneurial growth, whilst senior members of global development institutions, including Wale Ayeni, Senior Investment Office, International Finance Corporation; Stephen Tio Kauma, Director Human Resources, Afrexim Bank and Andre Hue, Deputy Country Director, Agence Francaise de Developpement, spoke of a new paradigm, driven by the need for a private sector-led change.

The private sector working with the public sector can achieve so much by way of development. African governments should move beyond rhetorics and implement their ideas, Oba Otudeko enthused.

Addressing the 3rd cohort of TEF entrepreneurs the Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo said: This generation of young people will do the exceptional. You are the reason Africa will work. The length and breadth of display of talent have shown that there is indeed hope.

The Forum also witnessed multiple partnerships between United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Foundation, and between French bilateral development bank, Agence Francaise De Developpement

(AFD) and TEF. Commending both agencies for their commitment to promoting youth entrepreneurship in Africa, Elumelu called on other individuals and developmental institutions to partner with the Foundation and expand the scale of its impact. We call on friends of Africa to partner with the Foundation, to scale our impact beyond the 1,000 entrepreneurs a year. Real opportunity exists to tap into Africas potential and our entrepreneurs offer a gateway to participating in both economic success and creating social wealth.

TEF partners including Microsoft, Sage One and Greentec also held training workshops and side events aimed at approaches to strategically scale up business. The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has proudly supported the forum.

About TEF

Founded in 2010 by philanthropist Tony O. Elumelu CON, The Tony Elumelu Foundation is one of the foremost African philanthropic organisations. The Foundation believes that the private sector holds the key to unlocking Africas economic potential.
Rika is inspired by icons like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson who she believes cared about music and their lyrics were soulful.

17-year-old Chandrika Darbaris song No Need has made it to BBC Radio Ones pop of the week list. This half-Indian is already being compared to Ed Sheeran and Miley Cyrus by the radio channel.

Her voice is fresh, youthful and gentle even if the lyrics of her song are politely defiant. We are talking about her dance pop number, which instantly resonates in your head once you hear it. Her latest English single, No Need raced up to no 82 within 10 days release, on September 22 and is still climbing up the charts on the Indian Itunes platform. The 17-year-old old Chandrika Darbari was born to a Serbian mother, Andrea and an Indian father, Ravi. The teenager, who has rechristened herself Rika, grew up in North London. The teenager, who was subjected to the horrors of bullying and racism found solace in her music, where she hits out at her perpetrators through her intense lyrics:

You are so damn obsessed with the way I dress and talk, with the way I move and walk, when you shouldnt give a you are oh so out of line, with the way you spend your time asking what is yours versus mine, when you dont know where Ive been whom Im with, what Im doing...

They will find an instant connect with every teenager. There is an underlying sense of hurt that comes across in her raw yet powerful voice. The song has been influenced by incidents that have happened in my past. I was bullied a lot when I was younger, for my appearance and race. Thats why it was easy for me to write this song as the words came naturally to me. It goes out to anyone who has experienced racism or have been bullied, as they will be able to relate to it, confesses Rika.

Rika has already made it to the Brit Asia Artist of the Week list and her dance pop number with R and B influence is already a rage. And it all came to her one night when Rika had trouble sleeping, I went to my piano started playing around, came up with chords and began improvising, on it. I really like the way it sounded, developed the idea with my producer and co-produced the song in two days. I wanted it to appear youthful and colourful and yet project me in a slightly mature manner as I am still so young, says the soft spoken teenager.

Rika, who is currently in Serbia is blissfully unaware that her song is topping the charts in Britain but she shares her delight at having made it to BBC Radio Ones new Pop of the Week. They have placed me with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Miley Cyrus, she excitedly reveals.

Rika comes across as a sensitive and compassionate teen who yearns for peaceful world. Last year, she wrote a song  For Peace in Syria  after seeing images of kids suffering. In October last year I wrote that song, when I was 16. I was impacted by the graphic images of the children in Syria, who were hurt and starving. They didnt deserve to be a part of this mess and being a teenager myself, I wanted the children to have a better life. The music video raked up over 900,000 views on YouTube in just a few months of its release.

Rika is inspired by icons like Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson who she believes cared about music and their lyrics were soulful. I want to write meaningful songs. Today music has become so commercial, the song doesnt last for three minutes and pops on and off the radio, says the tender teenager who is strongly influenced by both her Indian and Serbian cultures.

I love the food and clothes from both countries and find that there is a lot of similarity between both cultures. I love the bright Indian outfits and have visited India several times, as my grandfather used to live in Delhi. He has passed away now, she says.

Rika comes from a close knit family and is gratified to have supporting parents. Im only here today because my parents are backing me. I wont feel complete without their support. Im really grateful that my parents love what I am doing. My mum is my biggest fan while my dad is my best critic. I have an older brother, Chandresh, who is 19. He helped me create the video for my Syria song. We created a UNICEF account because we wanted to donate that money to charity. He is extremely supportive and wants the best for me, says Rika who performed for the Indian community at Trafalgar Square, London as part of the Diwali celebrations. I also performed at the Miss Serbia contest as I like to support both cultures, she quickly adds. Rikas sole purpose in life is to create music with a social message. I want to connect with my audience. Im not hankering after money because it comes with fame, says the wise young lady, who hopes to be spread the message peace through her music.
The Department of Financial Services is assessing the capital needs of various banks based demands made by them, sources said.

he finance ministry is working on capital infusion strategy for the public sector banks (PSBs) and it is expected to be finalised by December.

New Delhi: The finance ministry is working on capital infusion strategy for the public sector banks (PSBs) and it is expected to be finalised by December, according to official sources.

The Department of Financial Services is assessing the capital needs of various banks based demands made by them, sources said.

There are various parameters which are being looked at for capital infusion exercise, including NPA ratio, credit growth, insolvency proceeding etc, sources said, adding that the second quarter result would also give clarity on the capital requirements for the current fiscal.

Various factors are being considered before arriving at the exact number and the final output is likely by next month or December, they said.

Besides providing capital for meeting regulatory requirements, the ministry is looking at providing capital to performing state-run banks to boost credit disbursement.

One of the options on the table is issuance of capitalisation bond for meeting their capital needs but no final decision has been taken yet.

The government followed a similar strategy in 2008 when it sold bonds worth about Rs 10,000 crore to subscribe to nearly 60 per cent of State Bank of India's rights issue.

Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government, faced with a 'catch-22 situation' over the issue of non-performing assets, is working on a plan to rebuild the capacity of India's banking sector so as to support growth.

Banks are facing mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore of which PSBs alone account for Rs 6 lakh crore. The bank NPAs are skirting the double digit mark at present and expected to grow further.

Although the Indradhanus scheme has assigned Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal, it may prove insufficient due to high provisioning requirement for bad loan resolution through various processes, including insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings.

Last year, the ministry provided capital to banks in two tranches. As many as 13 public sector banks together got Rs 22,915 crore in the first tranche announced in July 2016.

In the budget speech on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced capital infusion of Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal.
The 5-member GoM, under Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has also been tasked to revisit GST rates for restaurants.

A group of ministers on making the GST composition scheme more attractive held its first meeting on Sunday.

New Delhi: Within a week of being set up, the group of ministers (GoM) on making the GST composition scheme more attractive held its first meeting on Sunday.

The 5-member GoM, under Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, has also been tasked to revisit Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates for restaurants.

With only over 15.50 lakh businesses out of 98 lakh registered under the GST regime opting for the composition scheme, the GST Council decided to set up the GoM to examine ways of making it more attractive.

Businesses with turnover of up to Rs 1 crore can opt for the composition scheme and they can pay taxes in the range of 1-5 per cent and file returns quarterly.

The GST Council, chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and consisting of his state counterparts, had on October 7 constituted the GoM, which will submit its report by the end of November.

The other members of the GoM are Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal and Chhattisgarh Minister of Commercial Taxes Amar Agrawal.

The GoM has also been tasked with revisiting the tax structure of different categories of restaurants with a view to rationalising or reducing the rates.

Currently, GST is levied at 12 per cent on non-AC restaurants while it is 18 per cent for air-conditioned ones.

The GoM will examine whether the AC restaurants pass on the benefit of cost reduction under GST to consumers and if they are not, whether they should be disallowed input tax credit claims.

To make the composition scheme more attractive, the GoM would look into whether turnover of exempted goods can be excluded from the total turnover threshold for levying tax under the composition scheme.

It will also consider whether the scheme can be extended to taxpayers dealing in inter-state supplies of goods.

Besides, the panel will look at whether the manufacturers opting for the scheme can be given the benefit of input tax credit.

The GST Council, in its last meeting, hiked the threshold for availing of the composition scheme to Rs 1 crore, from the Rs 75 lakh set earlier.

The tax rate for traders of goods in the composition scheme is 1 per cent, while it is 2 per cent for manufacturers and 5 per cent for restaurants.
The RTI query was filed with the Department of Economic Affairs -- that deals with the policy formulation in respect of currency.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) refused to share details of a decision to put the logo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' on the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) refused to share details of a decision to put the logo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'clean India mission' on the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes, citing security concerns among other reasons.

Replying to an RTI query, the central bank also did not give a copy of the guidelines on the printing of advertisement - including promotion of central government-run initiatives - on the notes.

"The information on form, material, design and security features of banknotes, other than available in public domain, is exempt from disclosure in terms of Section 8 (1) (a) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005," the RBI said in response to the RTI application filed by a PTI correspondent.

The Section bars "information, the disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence".

The central bank was asked to give a copy of the order, communication, letter or note sheet in which a decision regarding printing of Swachh Bharat or clean India mission's logo (spectacle frame) and message of 'Ek Kadam Swachhata Ki Aur' (a step towards cleanliness) on Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes were taken.

To a question on providing the copy of guidelines or any other norms that prescribe standard operating procedures for printing of advertisement including the promotion on the currency notes, the RBI did not give a direct reply.

"Indian bank notes contain design elements such as guilloche, flora pattern, motifs and security features," the central bank said.

The RTI query was filed with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) -- that deals with the policy formulation in respect of currency, coins and security documents, and planning, coordination issues related to printing and minting currencies and coins - under the Finance Ministry.

The DEA had forwarded the application to the RBI for the response.

As per Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934, the design, form and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved by the central government after consideration of the recommendations made by the central board of the Reserve Bank of India.

Modi had on October 2 2014 launched the clean India mission to make the country open defecation free and eradication of manual scavenging among other cleanliness related goals.
The court said it was unable to agree with the contention of the probe agency as 'different persons react differently in a given situation'.

In its 273-page verdict acquitting dentists Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and Hemraj, it also said the prosecution 'miserably failed' to prove that the Talwars had destroyed material evidence and added that the finding recorded to the contrary by the trial court could not be maintained. (Photo: PTI)

Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court has castigated the CBI for its theory on the murder of domestic help Hemraj in the Aarushi murder case, saying it is an "impossible hypothesis" and "patently absurd".

In its 273-page verdict acquitting dentists Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and Hemraj, it also said the prosecution "miserably failed" to prove that the Talwars had destroyed material evidence and added that the finding recorded to the contrary by the trial court could not be maintained.

Analysing the prosecution case, a division bench of justices B K Narayana and A K Mishra refused to agree with the submission of CBI lawyer Anurag Khanna that the conduct of the dentist couple on finding their only daughter murdered, as noticed by the witnesses, was another circumstance which indicated their complicity.

The court said it was unable to agree with the contention of the probe agency as "different persons react differently in a given situation".

Justices Narayana and Mishra made the observations last week while allowing the appeals of Nupur and Rajesh Talwar against a Ghaziabad CBI court verdict sentencing them life term for the murder of 14-year-old Aarushi and Hemraj.

"The prosecution theory that the appellants had hidden the dead body of Hemraj on the terrace of their flat is patently absurd and improbable...," the court said.

It said this theory contemplated an "impossible hypothesis" that the body was hidden by the Talwars on their terrace with the intention of disposing it of on getting a suitable opportunity.

The court said the theory was based on the hypothesis that the Noida Police would not be able to find the body on the terrace on May 16, 2008 when Aarushi was found dead in her room in the Talwar residence by her parents with her throat slit.

Hemraj's body was found the next day. The Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe into the case from the Noida Police.

Coming down heavily on the prosecution, the court said on careful evaluation of the evidence of four police personnel, it transpired that the prosecution witnesses made material improvements in their evidence tendered during the trial.

Their testimonies during the trial were "conspicuous by their absence in their previous statements recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. (by the police)," it said.

The witnesses were the Superintendent of Police, Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Inspector Data Ram Naunaria and Sub Inspector Bachchoo Singh, the judges said, adding that contrary to his previous statement, Mishra had stated in court that Rajesh Talwar was reluctant to identify the body of 45-year-old Hemraj. Similar was the case with Naunaria and Bachchoo Singh, they said.

Justices Narayana and Mishra said the circumstances lent credence to another theory that the murder of Hemraj was committed on the terrace of the flat near a cooler. They said as the prosecution failed to pick up fingerprints of the persons who had put the cooler panel on the body of Hemraj, the court did not consider it proper to presume that the panel was put on the body by the Talwars in the absence of cogent evidence.

"In fact, the CBI has miserably failed to lead any evidence which may even remotely suggest that Hemraj was murdered in the bedroom of Aarushi and then his dead body was wrapped in a bed sheet and dragged from Aarushi's bedroom upto the terrace," the judges said. The court also said that the non-breaking of the terrace door lock was not on account of non-availability of the key of the terrace door but due to the negligent and callous approach of the Investigating Officer of the case, Data Ram Naunaria.

Moreover, the prosecution has failed to prove by any cogent evidence that the Talwar duo, despite being in possession of the key of the terrace door lock, had refused to make it available to the police, they said.

"The prosecution's allegation in this regard, therefore, is baseless and wholly irrelevant for fastening the appellants with the guilt," the court said.
Both Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are likely to be released from Dasna prison on Monday following their acquittal in the double murder case.

The two are lodged in the Dasna prison in Ghaziabad since November 2013 after they were awarded life sentence in the case. (Photo: PTI/File)

Dasna (UP): Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar will visit the Dasna Jail every 15 days to attend to inmates facing dental problems after their release following acquittal in the murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, jail authorities said.

The two are lodged in the Dasna prison in Ghaziabad since November 2013 after they were awarded life sentence in the case.

Both Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are likely to be released from Dasna prison on Monday following their acquittal in the sensational double murder case.

The dentist couple had helped revive the near "defunct" dental department at the prison hospital, a jail official said.

"We were concerned about the fate of our dental department after their (Talwars) release. They (Talwars) have assured us that they would visit jail to attend to inmates every 15 days even after their release," jail doctor Sunil Tyagi said.

Tyagi said besides prisoners, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar have also been treating jail staff, police officials and their children.

"Since Talwars have come here (prison), they have treated thousands of patients who are happy with their services," he said.

To manage rush of dental patients at the jail hospital after Talwars' release, prison authorities have also tied up with a Ghaziabad-based dental college

"The doctors from the dental college will also visit Dasna Jail twice a week to attend to patients so that inmates don't face problem," Tyagi added.

Since their acquittal by the Allahabad High Court, there has been a steady increase in patients wanting to consult the couple.

Sources in the jail said Rajesh Talwar's brother Dinesh Talwar, who is an ophthalmologist, would also visit the prison every 15 days along with his team to see patients.

The dentist couple had challenged the sentence in the Allahabad High Court, which acquitted them in the sensational double murder case earlier this week.
Bhamre, who was on a day-long visit to Jabalpur, had also reviewed the central security institutes earlier in the day.

Addressing a press conference here, Bhamre said India has been the biggest importer of defence equipment in the world, but efforts were underway to make the country self-reliant. (Photo: ANI)

Jabalpur (MP): Union Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said that from 2019, the maximum ammunition, which will be supplied to the army, will be manufactured in India.

He said said there was no shortage of ammunition for the armed forces.

"Such a situation was there in 2013, but not now," he said, responding to a question about reports on shortage of ammunition.

Addressing a press conference here, Bhamre said India has been the biggest importer of defence equipment in the world, but efforts were underway to make the country self-reliant.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants the country to become self-reliant in defence production through 'Make in India' campaign," he said.

The minister further said that indigenous weapon systems were also being developed, while adding that they are putting stress on transfer of technology from foreign countries through joint production to make the country self-dependent.

Bhamre, who was on a day-long visit to Jabalpur, had also reviewed the central security institutes earlier in the day.
Lashkar-e-Tayyaba commander Waseem Shah carried a reward of Rs 1 million.

During the encounter, violent protests broke out in the area leaving, at least, one person dead and 35 others injured. (Photo: H.U. Naqash)

Srinagar: A top Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) militant Waseem Shah and an accomplice was killed in a fire fight with the security forces in Jammu and Kashmirs southern Pulwama district on Saturday.

The police claimed that Shah was the main architect of 2016 unrest in south Kashmir and carried a cash reward of Rs 1 million on his head. During the encounter, violent protests broke out in the area leaving, at least, one person dead and 35 others injured.

While the police said that civilian was killed in the crossfire between the security forces and the holed up militants, the locals alleged that he was deliberately targeted by the security forces.

He died of bullet wound, said doctors. The police said that 31-year-old Shah and his bodyguard Nisar Ahmed Mir were trapped in a private house in Pulwamas Littar area when the security forces including the J&K polices counterinsurgency Special Operations Group, Armys Rashtriya Rifles and CRPF launched a cordon-and-search operation early on Saturday.

The militants opened fire at the search party and Shah who was known also as Abu Osama Bhai and Mir were killed in the ensuing gun battle, the officials. The house in which the duo was trapped suffered extensive damage in the fire fight. The officials added that this was the first encounter in Littar area, considered to be a hotbed of militancy, in four years.

The officials said that the duo had tried to break the security dragnet to escape but the security forces foiled their attempt and both were killed in retaliatory fire. Shah, a resident of Pulwamas Heff village, was a college dropout who joined militancy in 2014.

During the encounter, clashes broke out between surging crowds of locals, mainly youth, and the security forces during which one person Gulzar Ahmed Mir was killed. About three dozen people were injured in the security forces action during which pellet shotguns were also used, witnesses and hospital sources said.

In the evening, thousands of people attended the funeral of Shah at Heff and that of his accomplice Mir at Littar. The witnesses said that nimaz-e-jinaza or the funeral prayer of Shah was offered, at least, five times to accommodate huge crowds of people who relocated to Heff from near and far off villages.
Rahul Gandhi was responding to Trump's tweet that talked of America's evolving friendship with Pakistan.

Trump's tweet comes a day after the Pakistani security forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the clutches of the Haqqani terror network operative in Islamabad. (Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his claims of growing friendship between India and the United States, also sweeping US President Donald Trump and Pakistan away in a single stroke.

Responding to Trump's tweet that talked of America's evolving friendship with Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."

Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2017

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

Trump's tweet had come a day after the Pakistani security forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the clutches of the Haqqani terror network operative in Islamabad.

In a marked turnaround of sorts, Trump had earlier accused Pakistan of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately."

This was after Prime Minister Modi's June visit to the US wherein Trump's description of the former as a 'true friend' had set the tone for a successful bilateral meeting between the two nations, and rightly so, from their bear-hug to their praises for each other, everything reeked of a growing bonhomie between the world leaders.

The Congress had back then too downplayed the essentiality of the visit and its aftermath.

Meanwhile, several media reports have cornered Trump over his sudden claims of growing ties with Pakistan, accusing him of going back on his word and policies of counter-terrorism.

Read: Donald Trump to send lieutenants to Pakistan with message to curb terror

Reports also say that officials in India are now keen to see the follow-up actions of the US President.

The tweet is also likely to become a part of the discussions between Indian leaders and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, when he visits India in the last week of October.
On caste-based reservation, Mr Joshi said the reservation system should continue as long as the society needed it.

Bhopal: A day after Supreme Court expressed disappoint over an attempt by a section to give communal colour to its verdict banning sale of firecrackers in the National Capital Region, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Saturday observed that a balanced view on such sensitive issues should be taken.

All firecrackers do not cause pollution. Tomorrow, someone might oppose lighting of diyas (earthen lamps) on Diwali. The issue concerns age-old tradition of a vast population (of the country). A balanced view should be taken on such issues, RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi told reporters here.

He was addressing a news conference at the end of the three-day meet of the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakarini Mandal here.

The RSS leader strongly favoured deportation of Rohingiya refugees from the country in the interest of national security.

Influx of Rohingiyas into India appears a part of conspiracy. We need to have a close look into the developments triggering influx of Rohingiya refugees into India. We need to think why the refugees were driven out of Myanmar and why they were not accepted by Myanmars neighbours such as China and Indonesia. Backgrounds of those who have entered into India and who are supporting them need to be brought under scrutiny. Ultimately, the refugees will have to go back. It is an international practice that asylum seekers are settled near international borders and are returned in a time-bound manner, he said.

He also wondered why Rohingiyas were settled in two particular places, Jammu and Hyderabad.

On caste-based reservation, Mr Joshi said the reservation system should continue as long as the society needed it.
The governments at the Centre and in states have taken many steps for the security of women, she said.

Union Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj during an interaction with women and girl students at a Women Townhall in Ahmedabad. (Photo: PTI)

Ahmedabad: External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj has a diplomatic piece of advice for women needing to convince their families to take up jobs: use persuasion, just like India did with China in the Dokalam stand-off.

Speaking at a Mahila Town Hall, an interaction programme organised by the ruling BJP in the poll-bound Gujarat, Ms Swaraj was asked what should a woman do if the family did not allow her to work.

She said one should explain the benefits a working woman brings for the family.

If they (family members) are still not convinced, then persuade them the way India persuaded China on Dokalam issue, the Union minister said in a lighter vein, referring to the prolonged stand-off with China which was eventually resolved amicably.

Womens issues can be broadly divided into three categories  issues related to security, those related to independence and to empowerment, she said.

The first issue that concerns the security of girl child is, if the society will allow her to be born. I do not understand that in this country, where we worship woman as god, where two Navratria are celebrated, people (still) kill girl child in the womb, Ms Swaraj said. There are many laws, but the Prime Minister is of the view that a social campaign has to be launched (to effect change) as the laws alone will not be able to fight this evil. We have launched Beti Bacho, Beti Padhao programme in the country on a largescale, she said.

The governments at the Centre and in states have taken many steps for the security of women, she said.

The NDA government has also taken many steps to ensure financial independence for women, such as giving them loans without security under the Mudra scheme, the Union minister added.
The samples for the 'Touch-DNA' test are sent to UK as theres no facility in the country to carry this sophisticated scientific tests.

File photo of dentist couple Nupur Talwar and Rajesh Talwar, who were on Thursday acquitted by the Allahabad High Court in the twin murder case of her daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Even as the CBI maintained that its investigators collected all circumstantial and scientific evidence in the Aarushi-Hemraj double murder case to nail the accused, the CBI did not go for the crucial Touch-DNA as it was apparently expensive.

The samples for the Touch-DNA test are sent to UK as theres no facility in the country to carry this sophisticated scientific tests.

Rajesh Talwar had initially stressed the need for the LCN or Touch DNA test to establish his innocence in the case. The agency had approached four overseas laboratories for the test. There was only one UK-based lab that agreed to develop DNA from the exhibits with LCN technique. Due to the cost factor and experts opinion that the method is not foolproof, it was felt by the investigation agency to concentrate on the material at hand instead of embarking on a wild goose chase, sources said.

Touch-DNA is a forensic method for analysing DNA left at the scene of a crime.

Nine years after being accused and charged of murdering their daughter, Aarushi, the parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, were acquitted by the Allahabad high court on Thursday.

Neither the circumstances nor the evidence was enough to hold them (Talwars) guilty, said the high court in its order.

Incidentally, a section of top CBI officials were against spending around Rs 50 lakh for the tests claiming that the DNA samples had already been contaminated.

A smaller section in the agency, however, pushed for it but the overwhelming decision went against them, sources said.

In its 273-page verdict acquitting the dentist couple, the high court also said the prosecution miserably failed to prove that the Talwars had destroyed material evidence and added that the finding recorded to the contrary by the trial court could not be maintained.

Coming down heavily on the prosecution, the court said that on careful evaluation of the evidence of four police personnel, it transpired that the prosecution witnesses made material improvements in their evidence tendered during the trial.

Meanwhile, the dentist couple, who are expected to be released from Dasna jail on Monday, said they intend to return to the prison every fortnight to check their jail patients. The Talwars had helped revive the near defunct dental department at the prison hospital, said a senior jail official.

We were concerned about the fate of our dental department after their (Talwars) release. They have assured us that they would visit jail to attend to inmates every 15 days even after their release, said the official.
The tumour appeared on Haroon's leg when he was nine and engulfed his upper right leg by the time he was 30.

People in all parts of the world are plagued by rare conditions that leave them with life altering physical deformities. But while living with such disorders can be an ordeal, the stigma and discrimination they face in society due to lack of awareness can make life even more painful.

A 53-year-old from Bangladesh hasnt walked in the last 40 years because of a mysterious condition that has left him with a massive 38 kg tumour. The horrifying growth his upper right leg has forced Haroon Patwari to live as a recluse as children are scared of him.

He is completely dependent on his wife and two children to help him stand up and provide financial support. The tumours appeared on Haroons body when he was just nine and his parents relied on alternative treatment due to lack of awareness and poverty.

Haroon was given some local medicines which failed to stop the tumour that spread and engulfed his leg by the time he was 30. His wife is heartbroken as she has seen Haroon suffer for 33 years, while adults in the village have come forward to support him since he cant do anything on his own.

An activist named Mamun Biswas who raises awareness and funds for people with such conditions in Bangladesh on social media is also helping Haroon.
A stent, once implanted, remains in the body forever and hence, the quality of the device should be given prime importance.

A stent, once implanted, remains in the body forever and hence, the quality of the device should be given prime importance. (Photo: Pixabay)

With cardiovascular diseases becoming new epidemic in the country, affecting younger and older population alike, treatment modalities are evolving rapidly to improve clinical outcomes and help patients live an active and productive life post-treatment

Responsible for 25% of all deaths in the country, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have also become a leading cause of premature mortality in terms of years of life lost. From the year 1990 to 2010, early deaths, because of CVD in India, have reportedly increased by a staggering 59%.

By getting affected with heart conditions in working age, people not only lose out their productive years but also add to the overall economic burden of the disease.

According to a paper, published in the Journal of Harvard School of Public health, cardiovascular disease deaths alone give India the "highest loss in potentially productive years of life" of all countries in the world.

"Compounded with a steep rise in the number of young patients, in Rajasthan itself, CVD contributes to approximately 11 percent of the disease burden. I get around 15 percent heart patients below 45 years of age in a month. The major reasons contributing to the early onset of the disease are work-related stress, unhealthy lifestyle, family history, diabetes, and habits like smoking, drinking and lack of sleep. Fortunately, the continuous advancement in technology is changing the way cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed early and treated effectively. But the key to it lies in early recognition of the susceptible individuals and its prevention," says Dr. Sanjeeb Roy, Director, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Jaipur.

Along with these risk factors, the lack of preventive measures at the appropriate time sometimes leads to an elevated risk of having a cardiac disease. In this case, the patient might require undergoing a surgical procedure like stenting to treat the complication. The stent is placed inside the artery through a process called coronary angioplasty, also known as Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI).

While the type of stent used depends upon individual patient conditions, the most important thing to be kept in mind when choosing a stent is the quality of stent.

A stent, once implanted, remains in the body forever and hence, the quality of the device should be given prime importance. A bad quality stent might result in stent thrombosis and restenosis and can be fatal for the patient in some cases. This is why cardiologists always emphasize on using the highest quality stent.

"With other innovations in cardiac technologies, advances are also taking place in the sphere of devices. A clear example of this is the consistent evolution in stent technology, leading to the development of newer generation stents. However, whichever stents are chosen for placement, it is important to understand that quality plays a vital role in improvising overall patient outcomes. Preference should be given to a stent which has been backed by significant clinical data and has gone through stringent approval norms. In this regard, US FDA approved drug-eluting stents (DES) have been proven to be the most effective," says Dr. Prakash Chandwani, Director, Heart & General Hospital, Jaipur.

Thus, better quality stent technologies further help to improve the clinical outcomes and optimize the PCI.
Several people applauded the Detective's courage, Rick Garlin commented,

Several people applauded the Detective's courage, Rick Garlin commented, 'This girl is awesome!!' (Photo: Facebook/Leon County Sheriff's Office)

A female detective rescued a 9 foot-long Yellow Anaconda from the roadside with her bare hands after they received a call from someone who spotted the reptile.

Detective Emily Shaw from the Leon County Sheriff's Office in Florida rescued the snake even though it tried to wrap itself around her.

The footage shows Shaw picking up the snake by its tail and the furious reptile comes at the officer as she swiftly moves out of the way of its fangs.

The roller coaster footage shows the snake trying to bite Shaw's foot but after some struggle she manages to put it in a duffle bag.

But after a long tussle, she eventually manages to get the snake in to a zip bag.

The video was posted on Leon County's Facebook page.

Detective Shaw successfully captured the exotic snake that was found on the east side of Leon County, near Louvinia Drive..

Action Jax News reported the Sheriff's Office having said that Shaw has experience in handling exotic snakes and believes the anaconda was someone's pet that escaped.

The Sheriffs Office wrote in the Facebook post, If you own an exotic pet please be responsible. Make sure their cages are completely secure and if you decide you no longer want it, do not release it into the wild."

Several people applauded the Detective's courage, "

While Dale Swisher wrote, "I liked how the fella 'mansplained' how to do it while the lady just did it."

Jenni Ingram commended Shaw, "Awesome job detective! And done in heels no less!!"

While some joked, like Gordon Charles who wrote, "My anaconda dont want none unless..."

And Joshua Ballew completed the sentence for him, "It was probably looking for buns, hun."

Since the video was posted it has received almost 3.5 thousand shares and 375 thousand views.
The AAP has been vociferously opposing the Metro fare hike and Congress has also joined in the same recently.

AAP workers protest against the recent increase in the fares of Delhi Metro out the resident of Union minister Harsh Vardhan in New Delhi on Thursday. (Photo: Bunny Smith)

New Delhi: The ruling Aam Aadmi Partys agitation against the Centre on the recent Metro fare hike is unlikely to reap results as, according to the Delhi Metro Act, the fares can only be reduced if the state government gives subsidy to the consumers or if the public utility launches schemes to alleviate the burden for its consumers.

After the two successive hikes in the Metro fares, the Centre is under pressure  both from the public and the Opposition. Officials said that the Union government does not want to go against the rules to reduce the tariff as it will set a wrong precedent.

The AAP has been vociferously opposing the Metro fare hike and Congress has also joined in the same recently. Despite Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) being a joint venture between the Delhi government and the Centre, the political parties have blamed the Union government for the Metro fare hike.

The officials with the urban development ministry said that technically the decision for the Metro fare revision was taken by the independent panel, Fare Fixation Committee (FFC), seven months ago and was approved by the DMRCs board. However, the Delhi government did not oppose the decision then.

The recent hike in the Delhi Metro fares has blown up into a political issue. While AAP has been opposing the move in the strongest manner possible, Congress has taken up the issue to launch attacks on the Centre. Sources said that the ministry would not be issuing any instruction to DMRC on the hike in fare as it will go against the rules and the Delhi Metro Act.

They added that legally the ministry cannot take the decision to hike the Metro fares and so it is beyond its purview to reduce the fares too. However, they said that the Metro fares can only be reduced in two ways  either the Delhi government provides subsidy or the DMRC can start concessional schemes for the passengers.

Officials said that if the DMRC board agrees, in spite of the fare reduction, concessions can be provided to the commuters. The losses incurred by providing concessions, however, will have to be borne by the city government. This had already been pointed out by urban development minister Hardeep Singh in his letter to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The two notable fire temples of the Parsi community are feared to be disturbed by this tunneling work.

Several Parsis also staged protests outside their Fire Temple Bhika Behram well near Churchgate station in Mumbai to draw government's attention towards their plight. (Photo: ANI)

Mumbai: Members of Parsi community are mulling to move the High Court demanding the realignment of Mumbai's Metro III project fearing damage to their religious shrines.

Several Parsis also staged protests outside their Fire Temple Bhika Behram well near Churchgate station in Mumbai to draw government's attention towards their plight.

The construction of the Metro III line in South Mumbai has become a matter of concern for the community as one of its underground tunnels is going to pass under Jagannath Sunkersett Road, on which two fire temples- Wadiaji Atash Behram and Anjuman Atash Behram, are located.

The two fire temples of Parsi community are feared to be disturbed by this tunneling work.

The metro work doesn't only affect the over ground structure of their Fire temple but it also hurts their religious sentiments as it is being drilled just below their holy fire.

A major part of the tunnel will pass below the temples due to which the holy fire could be desecrated and the Bhikha Behram well could also be damaged.

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation's (MMRC) Metro III project is completely underground and will connect Colaba in south Mumbai to Bandra and Santacruz Electronics Export Processing Zone (SEEPZ) in the western suburbs of the city.
To reaffirm six former MNS corporators support for their new party.

The six defectors fate will be sealed after the Konkan divisional commissioner holds a hearing on the complaint filed by the MNS. (Photo: Asian Age)

Mumbai: Though the Shiv Sena has claimed that it has completed all legal formalities for the admission of six corporators from the Maharahstra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Sena will have to submit fresh affidavits to the Konkan divisional commissioner to reaffirm the corporators support to their newly joined party. To safeguard itself against any sabotage bid, the Sena has taken all its corporators to an unknown place, it is learnt.

According to sources from Konkan divisional commissioners office, the registration of the defected corporators has not been done yet. Their fate will be sealed only after the commissioner holds a hearing on the complaint filed by the MNS.

We have just received letter from these corporators asking for registration for a separate group. But the registration process has not been completed yet. All Shiv Sena corporators will have to submit a fresh affidavit, if these corporators have joined their party. But if they have formed a separate group, they will have to submit a separate affidavit stating their intent, said a senior official from the Konkan divisional commission.

In a bid to prevent a split in the party, MNS general secretary Shirish Sawant on Friday had written a letter to the Konkan divisional commissioner demanding that he should not recognise the new group. There are some political parties that are trying to encourage our corporators to form a separate group by offering bribes and temptations. Democratic values are damaged due to such malpractices. Before taking any decision in this regard, we should be called for discussion, Mr Sawant said.

Meanwhile, after losing six of its corporators, the MNS is also set to lose its party office in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters.

In the BMC, any party having a minimum of five corporators is given a post of a group leader and also a party office in the head office.

In the BMC general elections held early this year, the MNS had managed to win seven seats and was accordingly given a party office on the first floor of the annexe building of BMC headquarters.

However, with only one corporator now remaining with the party, it would be difficult to provide an office to the party. After the legal formalities are completed at the Konkan divisional commission, the MNS office space will be taken back by the BMC, said civic officials.
PLEASE NOTE!

Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate!

All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited!

(One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!)
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Sixty-six giraffes arrive in central China's Henan Province in the early hours of Sunday, on a chartered flight from Johannesburg, South Africa. [Photo/Henan Daily]

Sixty-six giraffes arrived in central China's Henan Province in the early hours of Sunday, on a chartered flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, according to local sources.

The giraffes, 22 males and 44 females, are all around two years old. Adult giraffes of this species can grow to 5.2 meters tall.

The animals will go through a health check and be quarantined for 45 days in the city of Jiaozuo, before being sent to zoos across China to meet visitors.

Sixty-six giraffes arrive in central China's Henan Province in the early hours of Sunday, on a chartered flight from Johannesburg, South Africa. [Photo/Henan Daily]

In August last year, Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, Henan's capital, received 63 giraffes from South Africa.

According to the Henan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhengzhou has received close to 10,000 imported animals since 2015, including giraffes and zebras from South Africa, polar bears from Russia, alpacas from Chile and dolphins from Japan.
The girl said she was willing to pay the amount for her documents, with which she would pursue an education in another field.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has asked a student who faked her caste certificate to secure medical admission to deposit Rs 10 lakh with the medical college she was studying in to get back her original documents  domicile certificate, SSC passing certificate, 12th passing certificate, etc.

The girl was asked to pay the amount as her admission was cancelled after it came to light that she had submitted a fake caste certificate at the time of admission to the medical course. The girl said she was willing to pay the amount for her documents, with which she would pursue an education in another field.

A division bench of justice Ranjit More and Prakash Naik was hearing a writ petition filed by Azmi Ishteyaque, a student of Lokmanya Tilak Medical College and Hospital in Sion seeking a return of her original documents that were submitted to the college when she secured admission in 2013. The petition said that as her admission was cancelled in the third year, she was willing to pay the amount as stipulated in the NEET prospectus for the seat falling vacant after three years. The petition further prayed for the return of undisputed educational documents as she wants to pursue an education in another college.

Ishtiyaque secured admission to the college in 2013 based on a caste certificate which showed her as belonging to the ST category. She passed the first and second year, and when she was in the third year, it came to light that she had submitted a fake caste certificate and hence her admission was cancelled. A first information report was filed against Ishtiyaque, and a Dr Abdul Mirza who she claimed is responsible for the entire episode. Ishtiyaque also claimed that she was innocent.

After hearing the petition, the court directed Ishtiyaque to deposit Rs 10 lakh with Lokmanya Tilak Medical College within the period of two weeks and also asked the college to return the original documents within two days of the amount being deposited.
US Secretary of State Tillerson has been in talks with China to enlist its help on getting North Korea to back down.

US Secretary of State Tillerson's comments on Sunday come amid soaring tensions between the United States and North Korea following a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang and a war of words between the leaders of the two countries. (Photo: File)

Washington: US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday that President Donald Trump had instructed him to continue diplomatic efforts to calm rising tensions with North Korea, saying "those diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops."

Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," Tillerson played down messages that President Trump had previously posted on Twitter suggesting Tillerson was wasting his time trying to negotiate with "Little Rocket Man," a derogatory nickname Trump has coined for North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump "has made it clear to me to continue my diplomatic efforts," Tillerson said.

Tillerson's comments on Sunday come amid soaring tensions between the United States and North Korea following a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang and a war of words between the leaders of the two countries.

North Korea has conducted a series of nuclear tests in recent weeks and ago and launched two missiles over Japan.

Tillerson has been in talks with China to enlist its help on getting North Korea to back down.

But Trump's recent Twitter messages appeared to undercut Tillerson's efforts, prompting the Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Corker to complain that Trump was publicly castrating Tillerson and hurting diplomatic talks.

Tillerson played down those tweets on Sunday, telling CNN that Trump and China's President Xi Jinping have an extremely close relationship and that China understands the US position.

"Rest assured that the Chinese are not confused in any way" about the American policy towards North Korea, he added.
The President thanked Pakistani leaders for cooperating with the US on many fronts.

Washington: US President Donald Trump said that he has started to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan, a day after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror network.

American citizen Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle along with their three children were rescued from the Haqqanis on Wednesday after an operation by Pakistani forces based on intelligence from the US authorities.

The President thanked Pakistani leaders for cooperating with the US on many fronts.

Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts, Mr Trump said in a tweet on Friday.

Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu said: On this I agree with Trump.

Pakistan is a critical ally in fighting against terrorists, he said in a tweet. Earlier in the day, US vice president Mike Pence also praised Pakistan in helping the US secure the release its citizens.
Responding officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound with non-life-threatening injuries.

Chesterfield Police say "police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the campus." (Representational | Photo: AFP)

Petersburg: Virginia State University remains on lockdown after a campus shooting that authorities say was an isolated incident.

University police tweeted on Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow.  VSU Police (@VSUPolice) October 15, 2017

The Chesterfield Police Department says in a statement the incident happened about 8:25 p.m. They say responding officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound with non-life-threatening injuries.

Chesterfield Police say "police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the campus."

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia school located about 24 miles south of Richmond was celebrating the final day of its homecoming.
Rana Sanaullah also demanded of the Ulema (clerics) to keep an eye on those using religion for their political motives.

Islamabad: Ahmadis cannot preach Islam in the country, a Pakistani minister said on Saturday.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said that religious liberty regarding preaching of Islam had not been granted to the Ahmadi community as they did not believe in Khatm-e-Naboowat (finality of the Prophethood).

Ahmadis have not declared themselves non-Muslims and pretend to be Muslims as they quote Quranic verses in their books, newspapers and digests for which they have not been permitted, said the law minister while addressing a news conference in Lahore.

He said it is also the obligation of Ahmadis to accept themselves as non-Muslims, adding that those not believing in Khatm-e-Naboowat could not be declared Muslims which is why Ahmadis are not Muslims.

It is clearly mentioned in our Constitution that Ahmadis are not Muslims, he said, adding that the Constitution promised complete protection of the civil and religious liberty given to all non-Muslim minorities.

The provincial minister said it was the states responsibility to protect the lives and properties of the minorities. He also demanded of the Ulema (clerics) to keep an eye on those using religion for their political motives.
The Supreme Court issued a statement as Sinha overnight left for Australia.

Chief Justice S K Sinha will face a probe for "grave" graft charges and moral lapses and accused for money laundering. (Photo: AFP)

Dhaka: Bangladeshs first Hindu Chief Justice S K Sinha will face a probe for "grave" graft charges and moral lapses, the Law Minister said Sunday, a day after he was accused of money laundering following his departure to Australia.

Minister Anisul Huq said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will investigate "almost all of the allegations" levelled against Sinha by the country's president Abdul Hamid.

"Nobody is above the law," Huq told reporters after the apex court issued the statement, sparking a media uproar.

He, however, said "it is the prerogative of the President to take (the subsequent) actions if the charges are proved".

The government's row with the judiciary sparked in July this year when the apex court delivered a verdict declaring void 16th constitutional amendment, scrapping parliament's authority over impeaching Supreme Court judges.

In an unusual move, the country's Supreme Court said Saturday the apex court judges earlier this month decided not to sit in the bench of Sinha over 11 "grave" charges brought to their notice against him by the President.

The Supreme Court issued a statement as Sinha overnight left for Australia, saying he was "embarrassed" over the controversy surrounding his July ruling. He also denied claims by the government that he was sick.

"I am not sick (as claimed by the government) and I am not fleeing either," Sinha said while leaving, adding that his departure was "temporary".

"What he (Sinha) said (ahead of his departure) is a lie," Huq said reading out Sinha's letter to the president in which he had conveyed to him about his sickness and willingness to go abroad.

Asked if Sinha could resume office on return after the one-month leave, Huq answered in negative, saying "he does not have the scope to resume office until the disposal of the allegations".

Huq, however, said since the Chief Justice's office is an "institution" nothing would be done in haste and all steps would be taken in adherence to the law of the land.

The Supreme Court statement said President Hamid on September 30 had invited all the five apex court judges to Bangabhaban presidential palace barring the Chief Justice and held a long discussion.

"The honourable president handed over to them the evidence of 11 specific allegations against Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha," it said, adding that it included some grave charges like money laundering, financial irregularities, corruption and moral lapses.

The five judges, it said, then met the Chief Justice at his official residence on the same day and raised the matter seeking his explanation. "But despite long discussion the five judges of Appellate Division didn't get any acceptable explanation or reply from him (Sinha) and so all of them clearly conveyed to him that until the disposal of those charges it will not be possible for them to share with him the bench to deliver justice," it read.

Sinha told them that "he will resign" but he would let them know about his final decision on October 2.

"(But) on October 2, 2017, without informing anything to those aforesaid judges, he filed an application to the honourable president seeking one month leave and the president subsequently approved it," the statement said.

The July verdict declaring void 16th constitutional amendment was hailed by lawyers as a crucial step towards a secular judiciary in the Muslim-majority nation.

The dispute grew in the subsequent weeks as several senior government leaders virtually attacked Sinha over his comments blasting the government for its reaction and referred to Pakistan's instance where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was stripped of his premiership under an apex court ruling.

Prime Minister Hasina accused him of defaming parliament and president and "humiliating" Bangladesh by referring to Pakistan's instance premier's removal saying "he (chief justice) should have quit (and) the most humiliating thing is the comparison with Pakistan which is intolerable".

Sinha, Bangladesh's first Hindu chief justice whose tenure expires in January 2018, in his written statement said he was a "bit worried about the independence of the judiciary".

He complained that the judge who became the acting chief justice to perform the "routine" job in his absence was encouraged by the government to bring changes to the Supreme Court administration soon.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh today launched a process to transfer several officials of the Supreme Court as part of a major reshuffle in the apex court's administration.

"In consultation with the Supreme Court, a process is being launched to transfer 10 of its officials, including the registrar general and the Chief Justice's private secretary," a law ministry official told PTI, preferring anonymity.

He said the officials of the Supreme Court registrar's office belonged to the country's lower judiciary and could be appointed as lower court judges while the others in the list were likely to be transferred to different offices of the apex court. to face graft investigation
On Jan 31, Saeed and his 4 aides were detained by Punjab govt for 90 days under preventative detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court that the government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention any more. (Photo: File)

Lahore: The Pakistan government on Saturday withdrew its request for extending the detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under the anti-

terrorism law.

On January 31, Saeed and his four aides were detained by the Punjab government for 90 days under preventative detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. They have been under house arrest since then.

Read: Pakistan extends Hafiz Saeed's house arrest by 2 more months

An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court that the

government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention any more.

"The provincial government does not require extension to the detention of Saeed, his aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - under the anti-terrorism law. Therefore it requests the board to accept withdrawal of extension to detention of Jamaat-u-Dawah leaders," he said.

The board accepted the government's plea and disposed off the matter.

Explaining as to why the government withdrew its application, a senior official of the Punjab government said that since the government has extended the detention of

Saeed and four others till October 24 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 it does not require to have them house arrested under the anti-terrorism law.

He said the government was to produce Saeed and others before the review board for their detention under 11 EEE (I) and 11D of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

"But since since all five of them are detained under the public order there was no binding on the government to produce them before the review board today to seek extension to their detention," the official said.

The Punjab Home Department issued an order extending the house arrest of Jamat-d-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and four other JuD men for another 30 days with effect from September 25 under the public order. The previous detention order issued on July 28 was expired on September 25.

The last two extensions were made on the 'public order'. The JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. The JuD chief carries a reward of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.
Representatives of Suu Kyi in Myanmar could not be reached to confirm the advisers comments.

Geneva: Aung San Suu Kyi has set out plans for a new humanitarian project to enable Myanmars Rakhine State to emerge as a peaceful and developed region, which a close adviser said showed her determination to fix the countrys refugee crisis.

Ms Suu Kyi said in a televised address on Thursday evening that she would invite aid organisations, business leaders and civil society to take part in the initiative, which aims to defuse the violence that has caused 5,36,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee from Rakhine State to Bangladesh in the past two months.

What shes interested in is how to fix this, how to... give the civilian government, as opposed to the military, the power to deliver aid, reconciliation and rebuilding, said the adviser, who briefed reporters, by telephone, on condition of anonymity.

Thats the task she has set for herself.

In her speech, Ms Suu Kyi said that although the government may not be strong, she hoped the strength and generosity of the people would turn the initiative, to be launched on Sunday, into a milestone in Myanmars history.

Representatives of Suu Kyi in Myanmar could not be reached to confirm the advisers comments. But two leading Myanmar experts confirmed to Reuters that the adviser was close to her.

The United Nations has called the violence in Myanmar a textbook example of ethnic cleansing, and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Suu Kyi has been widely criticised for failing to take action to stop it.
Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid rejected the accusation as propaganda by the Western governments that helped rescue the family.

This still image made from a 2013 video released by the Coleman family shows Caitlan Coleman and her husband, Canadian Joshua Boyle in a militant video given to the family. (Photo: AP)

Peshawar: A Taliban spokesperson denied on Sunday accusations by a Canadian man that one of his children had been murdered and his wife raped while they were being held captive by militants who kidnapped them in Afghanistan in 2012.

Joshua Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, were held by the Haqqani network, a semi-independent wing of the Afghan Taliban, before being rescued by Pakistani troops in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border, last week.

Boyle told reporters soon after he, his wife and their three children returned to Canada on Friday that their captors had murdered a fourth child had raped his wife.

Read: Canadian says child killed, US wife raped while in Haqqani captivity

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid rejected that as propaganda by the Western governments that helped rescue the family.

We strongly reject these fake and fabricated allegations of this Canadian family, now in the hands of the enemy, he said in a statement sent to media.

Whatever statement the enemy wants to put in their mouth, the family is forced to make it.

Boyle called on the Taliban to provide my family with the justice we deserve.

Mujahid said the couple was intentionally never separated in order to protect their safety.

He also denied that their child had been murdered, but acknowledged that one child became sick and died.

We were in a remote areas without access to a doctor and medications that led the loss of the child, he said.

Three children, all born in captivity, were rescued along with Boyle and Coleman.

The US government calls the Haqqani network the most lethal and sophisticated insurgent group in Afghanistan.

Its operational chief, Sirajuddin Haqqani, was named deputy to the Talibans newly appointed leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour in 2015, cementing the ties between the groups.

The Haqqanis previously held US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was freed in a swap for Taliban prisoners in 2014, and are suspected of holding two professors, an American and an Australian, who were kidnapped outside their university in Kabul in 2016.

A senior Afghan government official told Reuters that American and Afghan special forces launched two unsuccessful raids to try to rescue the professors in Afghanistan, but officials now believe the pair has been taken to Haqqani hideouts over the border in Pakistan.
In March, India had asked Pakistan to re-investigate the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and also put Saeed on trial.

Saeed has been accused by the US and India of masterminding the 2008 terror attacks on the Indian financial hub Mumbai that left 166 people dead. (Photo: AP)

Islamabad: Detained Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed is a step closer to complete freedom as Pakistan on Sunday dropped all terror charges against him.

However, government officials said he will remain under house arrest until at least the end of this month.

The dropping of terror charges against Saeed came as Justice Ejaz Afzal of the Supreme Court chaired a session of Federal Review Board, at the courts Lahore registry over the weekend.

Punjab province authorities on Saturday withdrew an application seeking to continue his detention under terrorism charges, paving the way for a possible early lifting of curbs on him.

Read: Pak withdraws request for extending detention of Hafiz Saeed under anti-terror law

Punjabs home ministry told the review board that the government had not extended a notification issued for the house arrest of Saeed under the ATA and it wanted to withdraw the application. The board accepted the plea and disposed of the application.

Saeed is now only restricted from movement under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law, said an official.

The house arrest order remains valid till the end of October. The terrorism charges have been dropped due to lack of evidence, he said.

Another official said the house arrest could be extended again under the MPO.

The government will review the situation and take a decision, he added. Saeed carries a US bounty of $10 million on his head.

Till late evening there was no reaction from the Indian government on the development.

In March, India had asked Pakistan to re-investigate the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and also put Saeed on trial.

The trial, against Lashkar-e-Tayyaba (LeT) commander Zaki-ur Rehman and six others, has been on in a court in Islamabad for the past eight years. The provincial government had earlier applied to extend the house arrest for the fifth time.

Saeed and his four aides have already challenged their house arrest under MPO in the Lahore high court. Saeeds lawyer AK Dogar had urged the court to order the release of Saeed and his aides since they were no longer facing charges under the ATA.

The JuD chief had been detained under Section 11-EEE(1) of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1977, on January 31.

Saeed has been accused by the US and India of masterminding the 2008 terror attacks on the Indian financial hub Mumbai that left 166 people dead. He, however, has repeatedly denied the allegation.

Next month will mark the ninth anniversary of the 26/11 attack. India blames Pakistan for delaying punishment to the suspects, but Pakistan claims India has not provided actionable evidence.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The Catholic Church has 35 new saints, people, said Pope Francis during the canonization rite, who "did not say yes to the love of God" just in words and for a while, but with their life and to the end. " The new saints are mostly martyrs and related to Latin America.

The greatest number of martyrs are in Brazil. Here, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Portuguese missionaries arrived in 1597 . In the following decades, with the arrival of Dutch Calvinist religion the persecution of Catholics began. It is in this context that two episodes occurred. On July 16, 1645, in Cunhau, while Father Andre de Soveral celebrated Mass, Dutch soldiers broke into the chapel and massacred the faithful. The second, October 3 of the same year, when Natal's Catholics were captured and together with their parish priest, Father Ambrosio Francisco Ferro, were mutilated and left to die.

Instead Cristoforo, Antonio and Juan, teenagers killed in 1527 and 1529 are Mexicans and considered the protomarters of the entire American continent. Cristoforo was killed by his father contrary to the young man's attempt to bring the Gospel among family members and acquaintances. Antonio and Juan, accompanying a missionary on his travels, were shot dead by a group of Indians.

Faustino Miguez is Spanish on the other hand. Born in Galicia on March 25, 1831 he was dedicated to the education of children and founded the Calasanzio Institute, Daughters of the Divine Pastor for the education of little girls. He died on March 8, 1925, at the age of 94 in Getafe.

The last saint is Italian: Angelo da Acri, Luca Antonio Falcone who was born in Acri (Cosenza) on 19 October 1669. Friar Minor of the Capuchins he was an untiring preacher who traveled to Calabria and southern Italy, giving spiritual exercises and popular missions. He also spent many hours in the confessional never tiring of listening to sinners. In Acri, a great Shrine keeps its body.

They are the ones who, in the Pope's words, have accepted the invitation and dressed in the bridal gown. Francis spoke to the 30,000 people in St. Peter's Square - including hundreds of priests - of the Gospel that "tells us of the Kingdom of God describing it as a wedding party (cf. Mt 22: 1-14). Jesus. The parable makes no mention of the bride, but only of the guests who were invited and expected, and those who wore the wedding garments. We are those guests, because the Lord wants to celebrate the wedding with us. The wedding inaugurates a lifelong fellowship, the communion God wants to enjoy with all of us. Our relationship with him, then, has to be more than that of devoted subjects with their king, faithful servants with their master, or dedicated students with their teacher. It is above all the relationship of a beloved bride with her bridegroom. In other words, the Lord wants us, he goes out to seek us and he invites us. For him, it is not enough that we should do our duty and obey his laws. He desires a true communion of life with us, a relationship based on dialogue, trust and forgiveness."

The Christian life, a love story with God

"Such is the Christian life, a love story with God. The Lord freely takes the initiative and no one can claim to be the only one invited. No one has a better seat than anyone else, for all enjoy Gods favour. The Christian life is always born and reborn of this tender, special and privileged love. We can ask ourselves if at least once a day we tell the Lord that we love him; if we remember, among everything else we say, to tell him daily, Lord, I love you; you are my life. Because once love is lost, the Christian life becomes empty. It becomes a body without a soul, an impossible ethic, a collection of rules and laws to obey for no good reason. The God of life, however, awaits a response of life. The Lord of love awaits a response of love. Speaking to one of the Churches in the Book of Revelation, God makes an explicit reproach: You have abandoned your first love (cf. Rev 2:4). This is the danger  a Christian life that becomes routine, content with normality, without drive or enthusiasm, and with a short memory. Instead, let us fan into flame the memory of our first love. We are the beloved, the guests at the wedding, and our life is a gift, because every day is a wonderful opportunity to respond to Gods invitation."

"The Gospel, however, warns us that the invitation can be refused. Many of the invited guests said no, because they were caught up in their own affairs. They made light of it and went off, one to his farm, another to his business (Mt 22:5). Each was concerned with his own affairs; this is the key to understanding why they refused the invitation. The guests did not think that the wedding feast would be dreary or boring; they simply made light of it. They were caught up in their own affairs. They were more interested in having something rather than in risking something, as love demands. This is how love grows cold, not out of malice but out of a preference for what is our own: our security, our self-affirmation, our comfort We settle into the easy chair of profits, pleasures, or a hobby that brings us some happiness. And we end up aging badly and quickly, because we grow old inside. When our hearts do not expand, they become closed in on themselves. When everything depends on me  on what I like, on what serves me best, on what I want  then I become harsh and unbending. I lash out at people for no reason, like the guests in the Gospel, who treated shamefully and ultimately killed (cf. v. 6) those sent to deliver the invitation, simply because they were bothering them."

"The Gospel asks us, then, where we stand: with ourselves or with God? Because God is the opposite of selfishness, of self-absorption. The Gospel tells us that, even before constant rejection and indifference on the part of those whom he invites, God does not cancel the wedding feast. He does not give up, but continues to invite. When he hears a no, he does not close the door, but broadens the invitation. In the face of wrongs, he responds with an even greater love. When we are hurt by the unfair treatment of others or their rejection, we frequently harbour grudges and resentment. God on the other hand, while hurt by our no, tries again; he keeps doing good even for those who do evil. Because this is what love does. Because this is the only way that evil is defeated. Today our God, who never abandons hope, tells us to do what he does, to live in true love, to overcome resignation and the whims of our peevish and lazy selves".

"There is one last idea that the Gospel emphasizes: the mandatory garment of the invited guests. It is not enough to respond just once to the invitation, simply to say yes and then do nothing else. Day by day, we have to put on the wedding garment, the habit of practising love. We cannot say, Lord, Lord, without experiencing and putting into practice Gods will (cf. Mt 7:21). We need to put on Gods love and to renew our choice for him daily. The Saints who were canonized today, and especially the many martyrs, point the way. They did not say a fleeting yes to love; they said they yes with their lives and to the very end. The robe they wore daily was the love of Jesus, that mad love that loved us to the end and offered his forgiveness and his robe to those who crucified him. At baptism we received a white robe, the wedding garment for God. Let us ask him, through the intercession of the saints, our brothers and sisters, for the grace to decide daily to put on this garment and to keep it spotless. How can we do this? Above all, by approaching the Lord fearlessly in order to receive his forgiveness. This is the one step that counts, for entering into the wedding hall to celebrate with him the feast of love".
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - In 2019 there will be a Synod for the Amazon region. Pope Francis announced today at the Angelus, shortly after the canonization ceremony of 35 new saints. "May the example and the intercession of these luminous witnesses of the Gospel - said the Pope in thanking those present at the rite - accompany us on our path and help us always promote fraternal and solidarity for the good of the Church and of the society".

"Welcoming the desire of some Catholic Bishops' Conferences in Latin America, as well as the voice of different shepherds and faithful from other parts of the world," he said, "I have decided to convene a Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Panamanian region, which will have place in Rome in October 2019 ".

"The main purpose of this convocation is to identify new paths for the evangelization of that portion of the People of God, especially the indigenous, often forgotten, and without the prospect of a serene future, also because of the crisis of the Amazonian Forest, for our planet. May the new Saints intercede for this ecclesial event, so that in respect of the beauty of creation, all the peoples of the earth praise God, Lord of the universe, and enlightened Him walk through the paths of justice and peace. "

"I also remember that the Day of Rejection of Poverty will be the day after tomorrow. Poverty is not a fatality; it has causes to be acknowledged and removed to honor the dignity of so many brothers and sisters on the example of the saints".
By Bates Gill, Professor of Asia-Pacific Security Studies, Macquarie University

On October 18, the 19th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will begin, and Chinas military will be in the spotlight.

As well as laying out the nations direction for the next five years and appointing its top political leaders, its expected that the Congress will confirm the wholesale change of Chinas military elite that has been underway for the past several years.

Read More: How the Chinese cyberthreat has evolved

This comes as the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) undergoes its most sweeping and comprehensive set of organisational reforms since the 1950s. These reforms and leadership changes are intended to give China military muscle commensurate with its growing political and economic influence.

A changing of the guard

Since assuming power in 2012, General Secretary Xi Jinping has established his control over the military by purging some of the top brass while promoting allies.

Xis anti-corruption drive has claimed several high-level scalps, including generals Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou. These two men, as former vice-chairs of the Central Military Commission (CMC), were the two of the most powerful uniformed military leaders in China.

More recently, two other CMC members, Fang Fenghui and Zhang Yang, reportedly came under investigation for corruption and disciplinary issues. Fang headed the powerful CMC Joint Staff Department, and was a frontrunner for CMC vice-chairmanship. Zhang served as the Director of the CMC Political Work Department, which looked after ideological education within the military.

This process has intensified in recent months. In 2017 alone, the four service heads (Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force) and the commanders of three of the five military Command Theatres (Southern, Northern and Central) have been replaced. The top leaders of nine of the CMCs 15 departments have also changed.

Promoting a new generation

As well as the purges, Xi has sought to tighten his hold on the military by promoting a generation of younger leaders.

Better educated and more familiar with advanced technologies and modern military thinking than their predecessors, we should assume that they are more adapted to the demands of modern warfare with its focus on information and joint operations.

Indeed, with some estimates suggesting that 87% of the militarys delegates to the Congress will be participating as first-timers, there will be plenty of new faces, voices and ideas at the top of the PLA and in the CCP Central Committee.

Capacity overhaul

No matter who makes up Chinas new military leadership, they will need to operate in an environment of significant ongoing reforms and challenges.

In recent years, Xi has pushed forward an ambitious agenda that aims to overhaul the military and improve its combat effectiveness. Most importantly, the responsibilities and relationships between the CMC and subordinate groups, including the five joint Theatre Commands (Eastern, Southern, Western, Northern, and Central), have been redefined to enhance coordination and joint operations. It may be years before this new system can operate as effectively as intended.

In addition, in late 2015, China established the Strategic Support Force to oversee military operations in space, cyber, electromagnetic and information domains. This highlights the importance of advanced technologies, information and connectivity to Chinese military planners in any future conflict.









Looking ahead

What will the Congress outcomes tell us about Chinas changing military?

Most importantly, the structure and makeup of the CMC will be a strong indication of Xis hold over the military. It can also give clues to Chinas military priorities.

Unverified reports suggest possible reform of the current 11-member CMC. One possibility sees Xi adding two vice-chairs to the CMC while cutting away regular members. This would likely strengthen Xis position by concentrating military power in fewer hands.

Another indicator to watch is the PLAs representation on key Party bodies, especially the Central Committee and the Politburo. However, given the Partys recent strong insistence on the Party controlling the gun, it is unlikely that the militarys political power will expand through increased representation.

Moreover, if Xi is able to push through key personnel appointments on the CMC and on other key bodies in favour of candidates aligned with him, he will go into his second term in a very strong position.

Read More: Five things to watch out for at the Chinese Communist Party congress

Ultimately, the new military leadership unveiled during the Congress will send a number of important signals to Chinas political elite, to the PLA, and to the world. It will offer clues on Xis standing within the Party, the state of Party-military relations, and likely priorities in the ongoing effort to fully modernise the Chinese military.

Looking ahead, expect Xi and the CCP to continue tightening their political control over the PLA while demanding advances in military capability, readiness, and professionalism.

Xis military reforms are wide-ranging and daring. If successful, they will increasingly enable China to compete with the United States and its allies for military predominance in Asia.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Originally published in The Conversation.
My newborn is a Ukraine citizen and I'm Australian citizen.



Intending to travel to Australia on a visitors visa (family sponsor) on my own without their mother to visit my family in Australia and in the same time while in Australia apply for Australian citizenship by descent while in Australian.



I've heard must visitor visa has a 8503 - no longer stay condition, and from boarder.gov.au website it states I can't apply for another visa.



But just wondered if applying for visa by descent is different to a visa.



Thought it would be easier to apply for citizenship for my newborn in Australia than in Ukraine.



Thanks in advance
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It can be so, so hard for Washington to do whats right
New information provided by the City of Bakersfield sheds light on the citys expenses and revenues when it comes to shutting down cannabis di
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Another day Saturday ended without a sign of Brady, the hound mix that broke out of a crate Wednesday prior to her Delta Airlines flight from Tampa International Airport.

Brady escaped from crate at Tampa airport Wednesday

Family arrived Friday to look for her

Family thanks community for all their help in searching for Brady

PREVIOUS STORY: Search continues for dog lost at Tampa International Airport

Christie Pennell said volunteers joined she and her family in putting up posters along Hillsborough Avenue and searching the area surrounding the airport.

"I think we really just underestimated what this would be like," Pennell said. "We're just going minute by minute at this point, we're just praying and hoping."

Brady was being flown to Bermuda to be with her family, who recently moved there. She was being loaded onto the plane when she escaped. There was a possible sighting Saturday at Stop In Tavern on South Avenue.

Pennell said she and her husband have barely gotten any sleep since the incident Wednesday. While he and her daughter have to return home Monday, she will be staying until at least Wednesday to continue the search.

Pennell credits online Lost and Found groups, who have stepped up to aid in the search. That includes "Lost and Found Pets of Hillsborough County," a community on Facebook with over 40,000 members.

"I can't even put into words what a help it's been," Pennell said.

A pet detective will also be joining volunteers on Monday with search dogs to try and pick up Brady's sent.

If you see Brady, do not chase after her, as she's scared and likely hurt. Call 441-704-7199, or Animal Control at 813-997-5307.

There's a $1,500 reward if she is found and returned.

Bloody cage leaves family concerned

The possible bar sighting and the endless support has helped keep hope alive for Pennell.

But one concern is the fact that Brady's crate was bloody when she broke through.



Christie Pennell shared this picture of Brady's crate, sent to her the night the dog escaped. When she got the crate back it had been cleaned. (Photo Courtesy of Christie Pennell)

Pennell got the picture of the crate Wednesday from Delta, after she was informed the dog had escaped. It appears the crate may have been chewed through.

Pennell said she requested the crate and the blankets back so they can be used in scent tracking. The crate arrived clean, and the blankets had been thrown out. Pennell says she was also told there was no video footage of the cargo area where Brady escaped, which she found odd.

Pennell says Delta and Tampa International Airport has been very helpful in the search, including paying for the flights back to Tampa and the hotel costs.

"Our first priority is finding Brady," Pennell said. "But after that there are definitely going to be questions."

i think we really just underestimated what this would be like. we're just going minute by minute at this point, we're just praying and hoping.

i think we really just underestimated what this would be like. we're just going minute by minute at this point, we're just praying and hoping.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Saudi Arabia's King Salman in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia October 5, 2017.[Xinhua]

Russia has given a hearty red carpet welcome to King of Saudi Arabia Salman bin Abdulaziz with Arabic and Russian greeting phrases on numerous billboards lining the road from Vnukovo International Airport to the center of Moscow, signaling the historic nature of the first king-level visit in the history of relations between the two countries.

The visit is not limited to its unprecedented royal character, nor can it be reduced to the billions-dollar deals struck in the visit's context, but it is exceptional due to the internationally anticipated "shift" it reflects in the two countries' relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin made ambiguous comments on the future of the U.S.-Saudi partnership to an energy forum in Moscow on Wednesday, prior to the four-day visit, in which he asked whether there really is anything in the world that is absolutely permanent.

This would raise eyebrows among all political analysts, from Washington to Tehran, including the countries affected by the changes in the international and regional scene, regarding the 70-year-old alliance between Washington and Riyadh.

It also signals that Moscow and Riyadh are likely to get over their divergences dating back to the Afghani war of the 1980s and the Chechen conflict in the 1990s up to the Syria and Libya more recently.

A quick trip back in the memory of the Russian-Saudi relationship seems sufficient enough to indicate the nature of the shift crowned by King Salman's visit. It started in 1938, when the Soviet diplomatic mission in Jeddah was closed and divergences in regional policies between the two sides emerged, with Saudi Arabia seeking alignment with the United States in the early oil era.

During the Cold War, Saudi Arabia, together with the CIA, backed the "Jihad against Soviet Communism" in Afghanistan, and later the Wahhabi kingdom was a source of the radical ideology that invaded Chechnya and some Central Asian republics, and even was the financier of the jihad wars which targeted Russia in that period.

The first serious thaws between Moscow and Riyadh, the world's two largest oil exporters, was in 2007, when Vladimir Putin was King Abdullah's guest on a first official visit for a Russian leader to the Kingdom. It was not long until both parties stood at variance over the heated conflicts in the Middle East and the Arab Spring especially in Syria, or even when Russia chose to partner with the nuclear ready Iran, counter to the Saudi hysteria and escalation against its Shiite foe.

However, the objective factors of the continued Russian-Saudi economic cooperation have made the two parties incapable of acting out the option of rupture, with both of them sharing interests in efforts to curb oil supplies and maintain stability of the oil markets.

By leaving the doors open for a prospective geopolitically strategic partnership with Russia, Saudi Arabia seeks protection against the storms of regional and international variables, if the balance of power stabilized in the form the master of the Kremlin desires.

Saudi Arabia, the biggest buyer of U.S. arms, felt it was betrayed by Washington's development of its shale sources at the expense of dropping oil prices and by the U.S.'s siding with the "nuclear peace" option with Tehran at the expense of its historical ally in the Middle East.

Riyadh probably realizes that unlike the U.S., Russia can play an important mediating role to reign in Iran and contain its influence in Syria, where Riyadh-backed rebels have failed and military efforts to topple President Bashar al-Assad have become futile, and in Yemen where Saudi Arabia is starting to consider rolling back from its unsuccessful and excessively costly military adventure.

Internally speaking, the transfer of the Saudi family throne from the king to the crown prince seems a matter of short time, which requires search for guarantees for the young prince, whose training on governing has so far been unsuccessful, as evidenced by the frustrations of the Yemeni war and the setbacks of the Syrian crisis.

In addition, the billions of dollars' worth of joint investment deals resulting from the visit, including buying Russia's S-400 air defense systems and cutting edge technologies and agreeing on infrastructure and energy projects, could be another reassurance to King Salman, who wants to fortify the crown prince's economic program, known as Saudi Arabia 2030, by finding a reliable economic partner.

Despite all that was mentioned above, one cannot be certain that the shift would be automatic as Riyadh's alignment options are still in the American orbit - as evidenced by the US$110 billion deal to sell weapons to Riyadh announced in May, and its differences with Moscow over regional issues are not that easy to be solved with a royal visit.

However, there is a rule that seems to govern cross-border relations based on Putin's statement that "everything's changing in the world."

Haifa Said is chief editor of Syria Arab News Agency.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
British police are investigating three further sex assault allegations involving Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, sources have confirmed.

The latest allegations made to the Metropolitan Police relate to sexual assaults in London in 2010, 2011 and 2015.

This follows another allegation, made against the movie mogul, passed to Scotland Yard detectives by Merseyside Police this week, relating to an alleged sexual assault in the capital in the late 1980s.

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The four allegations relate to two complainants.

A Met spokesman said: Officers from the Mets Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command are investigating the allegations.

There has been no arrest at this stage.
James Corden has come under fire for cracking jokes about Harvey Weinstein and telling people who dont like them they should probably leave.

The Late Late Show star was hosting an AmfAR charity gala in front of stars including Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks in Los Angeles when he said: Its a beautiful night here in LA. So beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage.

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In footage of the monologue posted on Twitter, it can be heard that the gag received a mixed reaction.

Corden responded by telling the audience: I dont know whether that groan was because you like that joke or you dont like that joke.

If you dont like that joke, you should probably leave now.

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He continued: It has been weird this week though, watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.

Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, its weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.

Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, but hell settle for whatever potted plant is closest.

When the last remark was met with loud groans, he can be heard exclaiming: Oh, come on!

The jokes were widely condemned on social media where one user said: If the problem is Hollywood not taking systemic sexual abuse seriously, the solution does not involve James Corden making light of the issue.

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Another said: Ive always made it my mission to tell every American I meet that we hate James Corden in the UK. Now they know why.

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Another said: If today is the day James Corden is exposed for being the talentless and unfunny sycophant that he is, then hurray.

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Cordens first big break in Hollywood came when he played Britains Got Talent winner Paul Potts in The Weinstein Companys film One Chance.

Last month the chat show host said he was disappointed in himself for cosying up to former White House press secretary Sean Spicer at the Emmy Awards, after a photograph emerged of him kissing Spicer on the cheek.
A British actress has revealed she told police Harvey Weinstein raped her as the organisation behind the Oscars expelled the producer over allegations of sexual abuse.

Lysette Anthony said she had told the Metropolitan Police she was attacked by Weinstein in her London home in the late Eighties.

Scotland Yard had previously said it had received an allegation of sexual assault without naming the producer.

The Hollyoaks actresss revelation follows several allegations of rape made by actresses in the US against Weinstein, all of which he has strenuously denied.

On Saturday some of the film industrys most powerful figures, including Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg, voted to expel the film producer from their ranks.

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Anthony, 54, told The Sunday Times she met the producer when she starred in 1982 sci-fi film Krull and the alleged assault occurred a few years later.

She said it was a pathetic, revolting attack that had left her disgusted and embarrassed.

On Wednesday Anthony tweeted that she had just reported a historical crime, adding feel sick so sad.

The Metropolitan Police said it was passed an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police the same day.

The allegation will be assessed by officers from Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, the force said.

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Dozens of actresses, including Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have made accusations of sex abuse against the 65-year-old movie mogul over the past 10 days, prompting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to call an emergency meeting.

In a statement they said the board had voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to expel Weinstein.

Actress Rose McGowan  one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment and who has since said he raped her  celebrated the Academys decision with a post on Instagram.

She wrote: We slay dragons.

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Through his spokeswoman, the movie mogul has unequivocally denied any allegations of non-consensual sex after three actresses said he had raped them in an article in The New Yorker.

Police in the US are also investigating allegations.

The Academy said they were expelling Weinstein not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of wilful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behaviour and workplace harassment in our industry is over.

It added: Whats at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.

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Bafta had already suspended the producer and on Tuesday Weinsteins wife, British designer Georgina Chapman, said she was leaving him.

Weinstein was labelled sick and depraved by his brother, Bob Weinstein, with whom he co-founded the companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company, on Saturday.

Bob told The Hollywood Reporter he had been aware his brother was unfaithful to Chapman but did not know the type of predator that he was.

He added: I have a brother thats indefensible and crazy. I want him to get the justice that he deserves.

The Writers Guild Of America West issued a statement on Saturday saying it stands in solidarity with the women who have spoken out while the Producers Guild announced they would be meeting to consider expelling Weinstein.
Ireland is set to bear the brunt of Hurricane Ophelia

Weather forecasters are warning of a potential threat to life as Hurricane Ophelia is set to batter Ireland.

A status red weather warning - the highest warning - has been issued for parts of Ireland on Monday, including Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry.

Northern Ireland has been issued with an amber weather warning.

In Dublin the National Emergency Co-ordination Group met on Sunday morning to discuss preparations for the arrival of the storm - described by Met Eireann as the most powerful hurricane xto have ever been this far east in the Atlantic on record.

School bus services have been cancelled to ensure child safety in the five western counties where status red alerts are in place.

The Department of Education has urged schools in those areas to consider not opening.

The hurricane is expected to cross Northern Ireland during Monday afternoon and evening bringing very strong winds.

The Met Office has warned of "potential danger to life".

"There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

"Flying debris is likely, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties. This leads to the potential for injuries and danger to life," the Met Office said.

Ophelia is on its way from the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean. The hurricane will be a storm when it hits the UK, exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 killed 18 people.

It is expected to bring severe winds and stormy conditions with winds of up to 80mph.

Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling to the airport.

Cork Airport said cancellations are likely, adding: "We ask all passengers to check flight status with their airline & to avoid travelling to @CorkAirport on Mon unless absolutely necessary."

Responding to passengers' questions, Aer Lingus said it is monitoring the situation closely and that so far no changes have been made to its schedule.

Ryanair said: "We will inform customers in the event of any changes to our flight schedule and the latest flight information will be posted on the Ryanair.com website."

Irish Defence Forces are on standby to deploy resources, including transport and engineering assets.

The public has been advised to stay off the roads during the height of the storm if possible and to avoid coastal areas.

Cyclists have also been warned not to go out on their bikes.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) said the storm is expected to hit Kerry at 6am.

Localised flooding is possible.

The storm front will track northwards on Monday night, leaving Irish coastal waters before midnight.

Red level wind warnings have been put in place for Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.

All schools in the red alert areas are to close.

The rest of the country is covered by an Orange level wind warning.

On Sunday night the Northern Ireland Executive said that all schools in the region should close as a precautionary measure.
Police treating arson attack on parked van in east Belfast as hate crime. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye Sunday 15 October 2017

Police treating arson attack on parked van in east Belfast as hate crime. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye  Sunday 15 October 2017

Police treating arson attack on parked van in east Belfast as hate crime. Photo by Freddie Parkinson / Press Eye. Sunday 15 October 2017

Police are treating an arson attack on a parked van in east Belfast as a hate crime.

It happened at Bramcote Street in the early hours of Sunday October 15.

The white Peugeot Boxer van was reported on fire to police at around 3.50am.

The van and a nearby parked car were seriously damaged as a result of the incident.

The incident is being treated as a hate crime by police.

Officers would ask anyone with any information about the incident to contact them at Strandtown on 101 quoting reference number 475 15/10/17 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Police investigating the murder of Natasha Carruthers in a crash in Co Fermanagh have made a fourth arrest - a 32-year-old woman.

She was arrested on Friday, October 13, on suspicion of withholding information and perverting the course of justice and is currently in police custody assisting officers with their enquiries.

The woman was released on Saturday evening on police bail pending further enquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Corrigan said: A week has now passed since the tragic incident which cost Natasha her life. We continue to focus our efforts to find out exactly what happened and who is responsible for Natashas death.

"Our investigation is moving forward at pace but I would still appeal to anyone with any information which could assist us with our enquiries to contact detectives on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 1852 07/10/17.

The 23-year-old was a front seat passenger in a car which crashed at Newbridge Road, Derrylin on October 7.

The incident was initially treated as a traffic accident, but around four days later it became a murder inquiry. Officers were given further time to question two men arrested in relation to the death.

A detective sergeant told Dungannon Magistrates Court during a hearing yesterday morning that extensive enquiries are ongoing, and phased interviews had still to take place with the men.

However last night both men were released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

A woman who was arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice was earlier released and a file has been sent to the PPS.

The detective explained that Serious Crime Officers took over the case at 3pm on Wednesday after it was deemed a murder investigation. This followed information which was received that claimed other vehicles were involved, which ramped up the nature of the investigation.

She confirmed that as well as murder, the offences being investigated are causing death and grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving, and there have been witness reports of ramming.

Along with the two suspects in custody, police believe a third man has fled to the Republic of Ireland, and enquiries are continuing into his whereabouts.

The court heard that the driver of the crashed car remains very seriously ill at the Royal Victoria Hospital and police have yet to speak to him, although it is hoped this could be imminent, depending on his condition.

The rear seat passenger, a woman, has since been discharged and is also still to be interviewed.

The detective said there is a vast area of Co Fermanagh to be trawled for evidence, including Derrylin, Newtownbutler, Enniskillen, Maguiresbridge and Lisnaskea, adding that this was going to take considerable time, along with interviewing processes.

A total of ten mobile phones have been seized for examination, as police believe there was a lot of communication prior to and after the incident.

Defence solicitors for both suspects confirmed that they were not objecting to the extended detention.

District Judge John Meehan granted the application and allowed a further 36 hours in custody.
Beachgoers have been warned after creatures that look like the venomous Portuguese Man o War were washed up on the British coast (Andy Reed/PA)

Beachgoers have been warned after creatures that look like the venomous Portuguese Man o War have washed up on the British coast.

With distinctive transparent bodies, the creature is often thought to be a jellyfish, but is actually a siphonophore  a colony of tiny specialised polyps and medusoids.

The UK Coastguard is warning people to stay safe after reports of jellyfish  which resemble the Portuguese Man o War  washing up on beaches in Dorset and Devon.

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The jellyfish have been reported at Dawlish, Lyme, Charmouth, Bournemouth, Swanage, Seaton, Hove and Portsmouth.

Chris Sallows from the UK Coastguard said: We are aware of these sightings after receiving multiple reports from members of the public yesterday and today.

Until an accurate identification is made, members of the public are advised to keep away from these jellyfish and report any sighting to their local council.

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The Coastguard has also advised the local councils of these recent sightings. Stings from Portuguese Man o War can be very painful and potentially harmful to humans and dogs alike.

Andy Reed, who tweets as his 14-month-old golden retriever @loabi_retriever, posted photographs of the creatures on Poole beach, writing: Ok smart people. What are these that I found washed up on #Poole Beach today?

Theyre about 15cm long and seemed inflated. Needless to say I only sniffed not ate.
Boris Johnson took an impromptu boat trip with the Czech Republic's deputy foreign minister Ivo Sramek despite desperate pleas from his wife to stay on dry land for fear they would be drowned (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

Boris Johnson has taken an impromptu boat trip with a foreign counterpart despite desperate pleas from his wife to stay on dry land for fear they would be drowned.

During a walk around the estate at Chevening House, the Foreign Secretary tried to encourage ministers from eight European allies to join him for a spin out in a rowing boat.

After Mr Johnson pushed the vessel out on to the water, wife Marina Wheeler tried to persuade him to head to the house with the delegation.

Taking him by the arm, the barrister said: Come on, they have got a programme. We dont want to drown we are not drowning the foreign ministers, come on.

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But Mr Johnson soon headed back to the boat where he suffered a wardrobe malfunction more commonly associated with builders while holding it steady for the Czech Republics deputy foreign minister Ivo Sramek.

Joining Mr Sramek in the dinghy, Mr Johnson said the paddle would be a tremendous success before spent a couple of minutes rowing round the lake.

As well as the Czech minister, Mr Johnson was hosting counterparts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia at the grace and favour house in Kent for talks on European security.

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He said: Our departure from the EU will make no difference to Britains unconditional and immovable commitment to the security and defence of Europe.

This meeting was a further demonstration that the UK is a vital partner in the security of our continent.
The DUP has said it "does not recognise" comments attributed to a party source that criticised the Chancellor Philip Hammond.

It comes amid reports that Chancellor Philip Hammond is preparing a revolutionary budget to get the Government back on track after weeks of speculation about his political future.

Cabinet ministers have been asked to come up with bold proposals after intentions for a safety first financial statement were dropped following weeks of Tory turmoil.

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Mr Hammond is under intense pressure after angering Brexiteers in the party by refusing to prepare for the possible failure of Britain and Brussels to reach an agreement over a Brexit deal.

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The Sunday Telegraph reports that the DUP, which props up the minority Tory government, have raised concerns that the Chancellor is trying to frustrate the negotiating process.

A party source told the newspaper: It is evident to us that he is winding people up and causing unnecessary division within the Conservative Party at a crucial time in the Brexit negotiations, and his behaviour is very unsettling.

One has to wonder what his motivation is. He appears to be at least highly sceptical about Brexit and one could conclude from his current position and his behaviour that he is trying to frustrate the negotiating process and to undermine the Prime Minister.

The DUP will continue to keep a close watch on the situation but we think that Mrs May needs to do something to rein her Chancellor in and to make it clear to him that this kind of behaviour has to stop.

It is not for us to dictate to the Prime Minister how she should manage her Cabinet but as informed observers with a vested interest in making Brexit work we are deeply concerned. If this behaviour continues the Chancellors position becomes untenable.

However the DUP has said they do not recognise the source.

A party spokesman said: "We don't recognise this anonymous and inaccurate briefing as coming from any DUP parliamentary source."

Mr Hammond is said to be looking at measures to boost housing, including urging Prime Minister Theresa May to agree to allow building on green belt as well as letting councils borrow more to help create new homes.

He is also considering writing off student loans and dropping opposition to borrowing to boost investment, according to The Sunday Times.

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A Government source told the newspaper: Philip has said that we have to have a radical budget, something that is a big offer to the nation.
Most Tory MPs do not want Philip Hammond to be sacked, a former Cabinet minister has insisted.

Brexiteers calling for the Chancellor to be kicked out when Theresa May carries out her next reshuffle are being self-indulgent, Nicky Morgan said.

The former education secretary also appeared to suggest Amber Rudd was appalled by the briefings against Mr Hammond.

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Revealing a very senior Cabinet minister had contacted her to criticise the behaviour of some in the party, Mrs Morgan went to described the figure as she, prompting speculation it was the Home Secretary.

She told ITVs Peston On Sunday: I think those who are saying that he should be sacked are incredibly self-indulgent. I should just say I have been contacted by this morning by a very senior Cabinet minister who is appalled at what she is reading in the newspapers this morning.

Its not on to have all of this. It is not helpful for anybody to have ministers being attacked, whether it is the Chancellor or the Foreign Secretary when something as critical as Brexit negotiations are going on.

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The majority of MPs in the parliamentary party do not want Philip Hammond to be sacked, she added.

Mr Hammond is under intense pressure after angering Brexiteers in the party by refusing to prepare for the possible failure of Britain and Brussels to reach an agreement over a Brexit deal.

The Chancellor is said to be preparing a revolutionary budget to get the Government back on track after weeks of speculation about his political future.

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Cabinet ministers have been asked to come up with bold proposals after intentions for a safety first financial statement were dropped following weeks of Tory turmoil.

Concerns the Chancellor is trying to frustrate the negotiating process have also been reportedly raised by the DUP, which props up the minority Tory government.

Mr Hammond is said to be looking at measures to boost housing, including urging Prime Minister Theresa May to agree to allow building on green belt as well as letting councils borrow more to help create new homes.

He is also considering writing off student loans and dropping opposition to borrowing to boost investment, according to The Sunday Times.

A Government source told the newspaper: Philip has said that we have to have a radical budget, something that is a big offer to the nation.
A man is fighting for his life after being stabbed outside the venue of a child's birthday party (PA)

A man is fighting for his life after being stabbed outside the venue of a childs birthday party.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the 53-year-old was attacked close to Chandlers Community Hall in Lambeth, south London at around 9.30pm on Saturday.

He was taken by ambulance to a south London hospital where his condition is critical, Scotland Yard said.

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A force spokeswoman said: The victim had attended a childs birthday party at the community hall and was stabbed outside the venue.

Detectives do not believe that the suspect had attended the birthday party.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Information about peoples health and lifestyles should be opened up to allow major advances to be made in developing artificial intelligence (AI), a report to ministers has recommended.

Industry experts called for the Government to set up a secure system of sharing data, claiming areas where the records are most sensitive are also often the ones where the greatest benefits can be achieved.

The public sector could benefit from the move as well as private technology companies, according to the Growing the Artificial Intelligence Industry in the UK review.

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It suggested the NHS could use facts and figures from supermarkets, transport organisations and town planning to work out ways to encourage healthier lifestyles.

The report highlighted how health app Your.MD wants access to data sets of anonymised personal health records from the health service in order to improve its free of charge advice service.

Matteo Berlucchi, chief executive officer, said a profound understanding of each individual persons medical profile was needed.

Therefore, access to reliable and consistent data sets of anonymised personal health records would give us a tremendous boost towards achieving this goal, he said.

We have tried to approach the NHS to see if there was a way to access some of this data but we have struggled to even find the right person to talk to. Navigating a complex organisation like the NHS is an unfathomable task for small startups like Your.MD.

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I strongly believe that the levelling and opening of the access to such vital data is fundamental for the creation and development of groundbreaking AI services in the healthcare sector.

Government is uniquely positioned to unlock this potential by creating the appropriate data-sharing environment.

The report makes 18 recommendations on how to make the UK a world leader in AI, including boosting skills through an industry-funded masters programme and increasing diversity in the sector.

It calls for the Alan Turing Institute, named in honour of the wartime codebreaker, to become a national centre for AI and said the Government should expand its support for businesses in the field.

Dame Wendy Hall, professor of computer science at the University of Southampton, who co-chaired the review, said: Im particularly keen to ensure that we use it to inform the establishment of initiatives and programmes to help us extract the most value from artificial intelligence for the country; that includes an emphasis on increasing and improving our skill levels to prepare the workforce for the number of jobs the industry will need for the future.

AI has been around for a very long time as a concept and this latest surge of technological development is likely to see automation continue to escalate and accelerate in every walk of life.

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Now is the time for us all  scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs and the Government  to come together and address the issues about how AI is going to impact society and seek ways to ensure that were able to deliver the great breakthroughs the technology has the potential to deliver.

Investment in research and development over the next four years has been increased by 4.7 billion by the Government.

Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said: I want the UK to lead the way in artificial intelligence. It has the potential to improve our everyday lives  from healthcare to robots that perform dangerous tasks.

We already have some of the best minds in the world working on artificial intelligence, and the challenge now is to build a strong partnership with industry and academia to cement our position as the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business.
Hurricane Ophelia is set to batter the UK and Ireland with gusts of up to 80mph, posing a danger to life and threatening travel chaos.

The Met Office issued severe weather alerts, warning of potential power cuts, and disruption to transport and mobile phone signal, while airports are advising passengers in Ireland to check the latest information.

The tropical storm has made its way across the Atlantic and Ophelias remnants are set to reach home shores on Monday, resulting in exceptional weather  exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 killed 18 people.

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Northern Ireland is covered with an amber warning  meaning there is a potential risk to life and property, issued when forecasters believe people need to be prepared to change their plans and protect themselves from the impacts of severe weather.

Very windy weather is expected across the entire region, while a yellow warning is in place for much of Wales, Scotland, north east England, north west England, south west England and the West Midlands.

Gusts of 55-65mph are likely across Northern Ireland with 70-80mph gusts in the far south-east, while a smaller area of very gusty winds is then likely to run across the region from the west with 65-75mph gusts possible for a short period of time in any one location.

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Forecasters are warning of flying debris, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown on to coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.

This leads to the potential for injuries and danger to life, the Met Office said.

Heavy rain is also possible in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland.

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Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said that while storms with these wind speeds tend to happen at this time of year, the one on its way is quite a substantial system, adding that he would describe it as pretty exceptional.

Mr Miall said Ophelia will have gone through a transition on its way across the Atlantic and will no longer be a hurricane, but will still bring hurricane-force winds.

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Met Eireann have issued a status red weather alert for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry, warning of severe winds and stormy conditions.

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Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: Defence forces being deployed in Red weather alert areas and on standby for further action tomorrow.

Please check in with older neighbours and those who need medical care.

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Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling to the airport.

Cork Airport said cancellations are likely, adding: We ask all passengers to check flight status with their airline & to avoid travelling to @CorkAirport on Mon unless absolutely necessary.

Responding to passengers questions, Aer Lingus said it is monitoring the situation closely and that so far no changes have been made to its schedule.

Ryanair said: We will inform customers in the event of any changes to our flight schedule and the latest flight information will be posted on the Ryanair.com website.

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The airline said, at the moment, it still intends operating a normal full schedule on Monday and Tuesday.

Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling to the airport.

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Bus Eireann said it will not run School Transport Scheme services on Monday in the counties of Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and Mayo.

Loganair in Scotland is offering free flight changes on routes that could be hit by the severe weather conditions.

The airline said at the moment it still intends operating a normal full schedule on Monday and Tuesday.

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The UK Military of Defence (MOD) has three battalions  1,200 personnel in total  permanently on standby to assist with contingencies.

But an MOD spokesman said it has not yet received requests from any local authority for assistance.

Meanwhile, bookmaker Coral cut the odds on this month being the wettest October on record in the UK into evens (from 3-1) following a flurry of bets on Sunday morning.

The firm is offering 6-4 that the wind speed reaches as high as 100mph in mainland UK next week and 2-1 for there to be snowfall in October.
The world of Thomas the Tank Engine has mostly been male-dominated, but Mattel wants to change that.

The toymaker is adding two female main characters to the Thomas & Friends TV series next year.

Nia and Rebecca will help fix the gender imbalance at the shed where Thomas and the other characters live.

Three of the seven engines at Tidmouth Sheds will be female, up from just one.

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Nia, who is from Kenya, will first meet Thomas in a movie next summer and join the TV series next autumn. She is mainly orange and has a stripe of colourful African print running across her.

Nia is adventurous and fun, according to Mattel, and teaches Thomas about friendship.

Like the other characters, Nia is based on a real engine: East African Railways ED1 class.

Rebecca, a yellow engine, comes from the Mainland near the fictional island of Sodor. Shell be first introduced in the TV series next autumn.

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Rebecca is not afraid to stand up for herself, Mattel said, and isnt intimidated by the older engines.

Her design is based on a Southern Railway West Country 4-6-2 Pacific engine.

The new series will also see Thomas visit real countries, such as China and Australia, for the first time.

Other changes include animation moving at a faster pace and a new theme song, while the narrator will be replaced by the voice of Thomas.

And oh, be prepared for more jokes on the show.
Soldiers were killed in the attack

Suspected Islamic State militants on Sunday attacked six checkpoints in the turbulent north of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, killing six soldiers and wounding 37, according to security and hospital officials.

The officials said the near-simultaneous attacks took place at and around the town of Sheikh Zweid, with dozens of militants using heavy machine guns and mortars.

Apache helicopter gunships were called in to repel the attackers, said the officials.

An army statement said 24 of the attackers were killed and two SUVs they used were destroyed.

The area was being combed by army troops in pursuit of the militants, said the statement.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media.

Egyptian security forces have for years battled militants in northern Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel.

But the insurgency there has gained momentum after the Egyptian military ousted an elected Islamist president in 2013.

The insurgency is led by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group.

AP
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Hillary Clinton has refused to be drawn on the parallels between the scandal engulfing film producer Harvey Weinstein and that of her husband during his time as US president.

The former US secretary of state and presidential hopeful was asked whether she was now more sympathetic to women coming forward with allegations about men in powerful positions.

She said that what happened to her husband when he was impeached and avoided being removed from office because of an affair he had with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky was in the past and instead criticised Donald Trump, the man who beat her to the White House.

The politician was in conversation with broadcaster Mariella Frostrup during an event at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to promote her new book, What Happened.

Ms Frostrup asked her: "You have described President Trump as a sexual assaulter and we have seen a lot in the news about Harvey Weinstein, a big Democrat supporter and a regular at the White House and now has been ejected by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts.

"All of these stories seem to come to the same conclusion which is that powerful men use that power in ways that are not always seen as being sexually manipulative but actually are.

"I'm a feminist and a huge fan of yours and if you've ever let me down it's been by not being sympathetic to the women that have talked about having been hit on by your husband, and in particular a young intern who was in a very vulnerable position.

"I just wonder now in the light of all the years, you feel more sympathetic?"

Mrs Clinton replied: "That was a very difficult time during which my husband was held accountable, both personally and politically. I am not going to revisit it and relitigate it. It was all litigated."

Miss Frostrup asked: "I am talking about as a woman, as a feminist, as probably the world's most famous feminist..."

Mrs Clinton replied: "Stories of the women coming forward now are reminders this is not limited to one person in one walk of life.

"It is so common and I think all of us have seen over the last 20 years how much more there has to be to support a story of the women coming forward."

Miss Frostrup went on: "I am asking you now is whether you would have responded in a slightly different way knowing, as you do now, women don't often come forward because they are not believed."

Mrs Clinton replied: "They are different circumstances and so let's leave what happened then for history and all that we know from it because I do think that although each individual incident has to be judged on its own, the pattern which is what I am focused on has to have a bright light shone upon it, so that it can be a focus of people not only supporting the women but sending a strong message to men, whether they are in power in Silicon Valley or powerful in entertainment or whatever that might be, that is too intolerable to people.

"I went through an election where a man admitted much worse than we often see and he talked about locker room talk and people that wanted to vote for him accepted it.

"I don't know if it is a turning point or not, I certainly hope it is. Young women, in particular, have to be given the confidence and the support not to be intimidated or fearful.

"The Trump example in the campaign, because you rarely get someone on tape admitting what they did, it could not have been any clearer.

"His dismissal of it put him in a different category in lots of ways."

Mrs Clinton said it was a problem to be seen as a successful woman.

"For men, professional success and likeability go hand in hand. In other words, the more successful a man becomes the more people like him," she said.

"For woman, it is the exact opposite. The more professionally successful we are, the less people like us.

"Women are also seen favourably when they advocate for others, unfavourably when we advocate for ourselves."

She described herself as an "authentically a reserved person" and said she faced an election last year which was the first reality TV contest.

"I am authentically someone who has watched, studied and known presidents and therefore have seen what they value is calmness and composure and a certain level of presentation so they wouldn't scare the children watching on TV," she said.

"Maybe it doesn't matter how real you are unless you are dancing on a table, insulting people, using every rude thing you say to tear down political correctness instead of being polite, maybe all that's gone?

"Barack Obama is a very controlled person, he talks slowly and thoughtfully and measures his words. When I do the same I am inauthentic.

"Part of that is being a woman because there is no overall image of what a woman president, commander in chief and head of state looks like. Woman are always judged more harshly."

Mrs Clinton also criticised the role Russia played in the election of Mr Trump, saying it was the leaking of emails from her campaign chairman that lost her the White House.

She said the "information warfare" launched by the Kremlin and the intervention of the FBI over her emails combined to create a "perfect storm".

"What we learnt about Russian interference about the election is even more alarming.

"It is a clear and present danger to western democracy and it is right out of (Vladimir) Putin's playbook," she said.

"The Russians are doing everything they can to turn Americans against each other.

"We are in the middle of a global struggle between liberal democracy and a rising tide of illiberalism and authoritarianism.

"Putin has positioned himself as the leader of a xenophobic movement that wants to break up the EU, break up Nato, weaken the Atlantic alliance and undermine democracy.

"Russia's weapons of choice are not the tanks and missiles, it is a new kind of cold war and it is just getting started.

"In the 21st century wars will be increasingly fought in cyberspace and America, the UK and our allies need to approach this threat with new courage."

She added: "There is no such thing as an 'alternative fact'.

"The Russian disinformation campaign was successful in part because American defences had been worn down over the years by powerful interests that wanted to make it harder to distinguish between fact and fiction."

Mrs Clinton criticised Mr Trump's denial of climate change in the face of scientific evidence and his refusal to accept how many people attended his inauguration as "insidious and divisive to democracy".

Later, Mrs Clinton appeared at the Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival, where she was interviewed on the Royal Festival Hall stage by broadcaster Jim Naughtie.

Mrs Clinton said Mr Trump is "still trying to please Putin", and got a laugh from the audience when she said she thinks that is because he "likes the whole authoritarian thing ... you know, the bare chest".

She added: "I think that's his aspiration."

Mr Naughtie asked Mrs Clinton about when she referred to Mr Trump as the "puppet" of Mr Putin during a presidential debate, and said to her that it did not seem that Mr Trump had understood her.

Mrs Clinton drew laughter and applause from the audience when she replied: "That was not the first time."

Asked about what she thinks Mr Trump thinks of her, she said: "I think he only thinks about himself."

She said anyone who contradicts him or raises questions about him becomes his "adversary", adding: "It's a psychological need he has to dominate and demean people."

The London Literature Festival runs to November 1.
The strained relationship between President Donald Trump and US secretary of state Rex Tillerson came under renewed focus on today, as the nation's top diplomat insisted Mr Trump has not undermined him even as he again refused to deny calling the president "a moron".

Tensions between the two men have grown while the nation faces a series of high-stakes international crises, including the threat posed by North Korea and fate of the Iran nuclear deal, and threatens to sow doubt about American allies as to whether Mr Tillerson can speak authoritatively for the United States.

The secretary of state insisted he has a strong working relationship with the president without any name-calling.

"I call the president 'Mr. President', he and I have a very, very open, frank and candid relationship.

"We have a very open exchange of views on policy," Mr Tillerson said during an interview with Jake Tapper on CNN's State Of The Union.

''At the end of the day, he makes decisions. I go out and do the best I can to execute those decisions successfully.

"He has assembled a very, I think, unconventional team," Mr Tillerson continued.

"He himself is an unconventional president. He's assembled an unconventional Cabinet. I'm an unconventional pick for secretary of state."

But Mr Tillerson would not answer repeated questions as to whether he called Mr Trump, as has been reported, "a moron" after a tense meeting at the Pentagon in July during which the national security team stressed to a sceptical president the need for a robust American presence around the globe.

First, Mr Tillerson parried: "I'm not going to deal with that kind of petty stuff."

Then he stonewalled: "As I said, Jake, I'm not playing."

Then he side-stepped: "I'm not making a game out of it."

And then he danced around it: "I'm not dignifying the question with an answer, Jake."

The firestorm around the "moron" comment, which was first reported by NBC, prompted Mr Tillerson to hold a remarkable press conference at the State Department earlier this month during which he pledged fealty to Mr Trump but did not deny using the word.

A State Department spokeswoman later denied that Mr Tillerson said it.

But the reports infuriated Mr Trump, who privately bashed his secretary of state to associates and publicly challenged Mr Tillerson to an IQ test.

"And I can tell you who is going to win," Mr Trump told Forbes magazine.

The White House later said he was joking.

But despite Mr Tillerson's efforts to move beyond the story, it has created a perception among many in Washington that the clash with Mr Trump has weakened the secretary of state's voice on the world stage.

Tennessee senator Bob Corker, a Republican who has recently become a vocal critic of the president, last week suggested that Mr Tillerson had been "castrated" by the president.

Mr Tillerson, a ranch owner, joked that he had not been gelded.

"I checked. I'm fully intact," he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to Mr Tillerson's interview.

Mr Trump visited his Virginia golf course for the second consecutive day on Sunday.

AP
Latest News Clawbacks, commissions discussed at FBAA conference Over 700 brokers attend successful Gold Coast event

CBA becomes an official partner of FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Bank's sponsorship boosts its strong support of female sport in Australia

The government has praised the banking and broking industries for coming together to tackle the Australian Securities and Investment Commissions (ASICs) ongoing broker remuneration review.Minister for Small Business Michael McCormack backed recommendations made by ASIC which urged industry rather than government to act on its six proposals including improving the standard commission model and shifting away from bonus commissions and soft-dollar benefits.I agreed with that approach  and Ive been encouraged by whats been happening since, he said in an address at the Credit Law Conference in Surfers Paradise on Thursday (12 October).The joint industry forum, which includes representatives from the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia ( MFAA ), the Finance Brokers Association of Australia ( FBAA ), and the Australian Bankers Association (ABA), was an important step forward, he said.This response will be taken into account when the government finalises its response to the review.McCormack also touched on the incoming Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), which is set to replace the Credit and Investments Ombudsman (CIO), Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), and Superannuation Complaints Tribunal (SCT) on 1 July next year.With more than 40,000 financial disputes lodged on an annual basis, the country needed a new approach to dealing with them, he said.Our current resolution framework is, unfortunately, a product of history rather than design. Simply put, theres too much duplication and too much confusion.AFCA will be an independent single body that can make binding decisions across all financial matters for consumers, small businesses and larger firms, he said. It will be industry-funded, have equal number of chairs from both industry and consumer backgrounds and will fall under ASICs oversight.
Latest News Clawbacks, commissions discussed at FBAA conference Over 700 brokers attend successful Gold Coast event

CBA becomes an official partner of FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Bank's sponsorship boosts its strong support of female sport in Australia

With greater numbers of borrowers seeking out mortgages and other products from non-banks, it's clear that the public now sees alternative lenders in a more positive light.Thanks to the vast array of information on the internet, consumers are more educated and more open to challenger brands, Homeloans general manager of third party distribution Daniel Carde told Australian Broker.He pointed to research done by Australian Brokers sister publication Mortgage Professional Australia (MPA) which found that 85% of consumers would consider a non-bank lending product.This trend is also prevalent amongst brokers with more now willing to consider products outside of the traditional banking realm for clients finance needs. With many non-banks operating through digital channels, this is where mortgage brokers come into play, he said.Consumers are still looking for that professional contact to help them make sense of the information available and also help them navigate the physical application process.One part of this shift is that the days of negative perceptions around this sector are behind us. Carde noted that while the public may have viewed non-banks in a negative light 10 years ago during the GFC, both non-banks and consumers have moved on.More and more consumers are seeing lenders like Homeloans as a genuine alternative to the banks and we expect to see this trend continuing well into the future.To support this growth, technology will play a major role in helping non-banks reach even more brokers with aggregator software becoming more intuitive and granular.However, technology cannot replace good old-fashioned sales and service, which is where a non-bank lenders BDM team comes into play, he said.
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Global financial and technology firms' quest for campus-size office spaces is fuelling the demand for Grade-A office space in Hyderabad, which has been witnessing higher absorption rates besides the launch of projects of a bigger scale on the back of lower property rates.
Naveen Jindal-promoted Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) is looking at a recovery after paying back more than Rs 10,000 crore in interest and Rs 6,000 crore in principal to its lenders since 2014. This is at a time when steel firms, barring three majors, are in a troubled phase.
Likely to be his last speech at a big public rally before the Election Commissions model code of conduct kicks in for Gujarat assembly poll, Prime Minister will address a massive public meeting in Gandhinagar on Monday.
Former Australia captain Ian Chappell says has the potential to become the match-turning allrounder India have craved since the legendary Kapil Dev retired.

Pandya has played an important role in recent times in the limited overs games for India.

" is potentially the fast-bowling allrounder India have craved since Kapil Dev retired," Chappell wrote in 'ESPNcricinfo'.

The Australian great has no doubt Pandya would strengthen India in Tests and contribute to their success in all conditions.

"A player like Pandya, who has the ability to bat in the top six and also produce deliveries clocked at 140kph, gives a Test side the flexibility that leads to success under all conditions. It affords India the opportunity to field a balanced attack of five bowlers no matter what the conditions."



Pandya not only has the skill to perform the role successfully but now that he is achieving consistency at international level, his confidence has soared."



The all-rounder rose to prominence during the 2015 IPL when he showcased his big-hitting ability and handy fast medium bowling.

"For India to be regarded as a truly great side, they need to perform well under tough conditions and against extremely competitive opponents like Australia and South Africa. If Pandya can adapt his bowling to succeed in those cauldrons - and there's no reason he can't - then India, with a strong batting line-up, are more likely to experience consistent overseas success.
Asserting that Indian IT professionals coming to America on H-1B visa are not illegal economic immigrants, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the US must decide appropriately while taking a decision on its visa policy.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations. It is the most sought after by Indian IT professionals.

"Those coming from India on H-1B visas are high-value professionals, who contribute immensely to the US economy. They are not illegal economic immigrants, about whom there is concerns in the US. They come here legally," Jaitley said.

Jaitley said he raised this issue in his meetings with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

Indian IT professionals deserve a different treatment, said the minister who is here to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"We conveyed our concerns to the US," he said in response to a question.

"These are very high quality, highly trained professionals. They've contributed immensely to the US economy. They add value to the US economy. Therefore, when the US decides its visa policy they must decide it in relation to these people appropriately," Jaitley said.

Indian technology companies depend on the H-1B visas to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations. The US market accounts for about 60 per cent of the revenue of the Indian IT industry.
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that Legislation should guarantee for providing service to peoples. He was addressing the gathering after releasing the book 'The Mavericks of Mussoorie' authored by Shri M. Ramachandran, here today. .

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The Vice President said that the book provides an opportunity to acquaint the general reader more intimately with how the Indian Administrative Service or the bureaucracy functions. He further said that the book also captures the professional competence, commitment to duty and hard work exhibited by the author in improving governance. Civil servants do face complex challenges in implementing policies of the government, he added. .

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The Vice President said that the central services have to act innovatively to ensure that there is maximum governance and minimum government. He further said that it has been described as the Steel Frame that holds the society together because it is supposed to be an objective implementer of the laws of the land. The higher civil services in the country have been one of the greatest contributors to nation building in the post-Independence India, he added. .

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To explain the reason for lower growth of GDP during past quarter in the country, the Vice President gave an example of a college which indulged in malpractices to get good results. When a strict Principal was appointed in the college, he stopped all the malpractices and the students failed in the examinations. Resultantly, the students, teachers, management have blamed the Principal. .

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Following is the text of Vice President's address: .

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"I am happy to launch The Mavericks of Mussoorie" written by Shri M. Ramachandran. This is a memoir or a chronicle of the experiences of a civil servant, who rose from a humble beginning to become a senior bureaucrat of the rank of the Chief Secretary in a State and Secretary at the Centre. .

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The book provides, in the authors own words, an opportunity to acquaint the general reader more intimately with how the Indian Administrative Service or the bureaucracy functions. .

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It is a candid account of his career spanning 38 years of his service. Dr. Ramachandran had held various positions in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, including the post of the Chief Secretary in Uttarakhand. He had also served at the United Nations Development Programme and was also Secretary to the Central Government. .

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This book while providing accounts of the challenges faced by a civil servant gives specific suggestions on how government needs to be improved in the larger interests of the common man. It makes pointed references to where governance changes are requiredsomething quite relevant in todays context when every effort is being made to make systems and procedures hassle-free for the common man. The book also captures the professional competence, commitment to duty and hard work exhibited by the author in improving governance. .

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Dr. Ramachandran made a mark through his actions and pro-active measures in the infrastructure sector as seen in his role in the newly-created Uttarakhand or as Urban Development Secretary when a series of urban reforms were initiated such as national urban sanitation policy, credit rating of cities and promotion of public transport through BRTS and Metros in cities. .

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Friends, no doubt, civil servants do face complex challenges in implementing policies of the government. Instead of routinely going about the task, the bureaucrats, especially those from the IAS and other central services have to act innovatively to ensure that there is maximum governance and minimum government. .

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The civil service has been described as the Steel Frame that holds the society together because it is supposed to be an objective implementer of the laws of the land. It has also been sometimes viewed in a negative light as too rigid and unbending. Sometimes it is also described as a steel frame that has got rusted because of inefficiency and corruption. While there are some aberrations and exceptions, I must say, the higher civil services in the country have been one of the greatest contributors to nation building in the post-Independence India. Most of them have been women and men of conviction, deep commitment and high level of competence. They have been creative translators of national policies. They have been innovative thinkers advising the political executive on policies and programmes. They have led from the front and provided India with the administrative leadership that the founding fathers like Sardar Vallabhai Patel had envisaged when they created the All India civil services in seventy years ago. .

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Memoirs of administrative leaders like Shri Ramachandran ji provide the younger civil servants a source of inspiration. This book will give all civil servants a feeling that they can achieve tangible results despite all the odds and formidable challenges. .

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The global and Indian governance contexts are changing rapidly. Like the transition from a colonial to a democratic regime necessitated a shift in emphasis, we are at the cusp of another change. We must move into a new managerial culture. The rising expectations of the people and the greater need for transparent, participatory and inclusive governance requires a shift in emphasis once again. .

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The focus is now on a more efficient, effective governance intended to serve the citizens, especially those who are marginalized. The philosophy of the Government also is taking care of suppressed, oppressed and depressed people to follow the policies of Mahtama Gandhi, Dr. Ambedkar and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya of serving he unnerved, reaching the unreached, funding the unfunded, banking the unbanked, and taking care of the last man in the line, that is what called as 'antyodaya', uplifting the poorest of the poor. That is the main objective of the government and the Prime Minister has given a call, a three line mantra, 'Reform, Perform and Transform'. This reformation is very much needed for the transformation of the great nation that has to be done at every level. People at every level of administration, political or administrative, they have to well equipped with new ideas and further the process. The need of the hour is innovative service delivery and speedier project execution. The task before the civil services today lies essentially in identifying and removing the bottlenecks to create a vibrant and responsive, results-based management system. The accent must be on outcomes and impact and the higher civil services must set the tone. They must create a culture of evaluation, constant reflection and improvisation and innovation. .

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Now the government is coming with service guarantee. The very fact that you need a legislation to provide guarantee for the service. Once the governments makes the law, the implementation part has to be taken care of by the bureaucrats, under the supervision of the political leaders. If the leadership is good, honest, dedicated you can do wonders. The scheme of Jan Dhan Yojana is one of such example. Within one year 26 crore people have opened bank account. No special staff, no overtime work, they did it with the commitment of the leadership. .

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Reasons for lower GDP growth during the past quarter. Imaging that you have appointed a Principal, director of a college which is notorious for poor quality of education. You find that most students cheat during the examination with support of the teaches and do well in exams. The result of the college has been always 90 per cent in recent years. You are a person with principles. And hence you have decided to eliminate cheating from the examination. You installed CCTV cameras in all examination halls and also take proper actions towards the students and the teachers mall practices. The results is that, cheating is totally stopped in the examinations. However, the performance of your college dips drastically and less than 50 per cent students passed. This has been a bad performance in the recent years. You know face flack from all sides. Students are angry because they failed due to your strictness, teachers are angry because their track record got spoiled because of your, trustees of the college are angry because the result of their college has taken a beating under your charge. That is what happening in India right now. .

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The ultimate objective, my dear friends, is to ensure that the benefits of the democratic governance are shared by all citizens and we leave no one behind. Our common endeavor is to transform Swaraj into Suraaj. I compliment the author on this excellent book that shows some of the ways in which this can be accomplished. .

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JAI HIND!" .

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Steel sector in India has emerged as a vivid example of sector turnaround in a short span of three years. The industry efforts were supported in equal measure by the Government of India, to provide a level playing field and enabling growth environment. .

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The Steel Minister, Shri Birender Singh has galvanized the steel industry with his call for Make in Steel for Make in India. All the major stakeholders in the steel industry are keen to contribute to nation-building. To channelize this energy, the Steel Minister with senior officials from Ministry of Steel has been meeting with key stakeholders of the steel industry in formal and informal settings. Continuing in this spirit, 2nd in the series of brainstorming sessions with industry stakeholders including PSUs under Ministry of Steel is being organized in Chandigarh on 16th October, 2017. .

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Steel companies, both PSUs and private sector, have been playing an important role in the development of core sectors of the economy. At the same time, due to rapid technological changes, changing economic scenario and increased competition, they are facing many challenges. Acknowledging the challenges and recognizing the need for rapid socio economic transformation of the country in keeping with the vision of New India-2022, there is need to re-align their working style and priorities through various initiatives and policy changes. .

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A similar day long brainstorming session was earlier organized in Surajkund and the next session is being organized at Chandigarh within a span of 2 months. .

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A multi-pronged agenda has been set for the brainstorming session in Chandigarh for generating some out of box ideas to revive and improve the performance of these companies on different aspects and develop the future strategy to enable their sustainable turnaround. .

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It is noteworthy that other forums like Steel Consumer Council, Regional Conferences for enhancing steel consumption in India, National Conference of Secondary Steel producers, customer-dealer meets are few other avenues which are being utilized by Ministry of Steel, for increasing awareness about steel usage in the country. .

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Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan will undertake an official visit to Japan from 16-18 October 2017including participating in the 6th Annual LNG Producers Consumer Conference. .

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The visit of Shri Pradhan is a follow up of the visit of Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe to India in September, 2017. The visit is important to enhance the bilateral engagements in the Oil and Gas sectors within the overall framework of India-Japan Energy Dialogue. The visit also aims to enhance cooperation in establishing a transparent, efficient, truly global and balanced LNG market. .

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The LNG Producer-Consumer Conference is a global annual dialogue to promote active dialogue among LNG producers, consumers and other stakeholders with a view to deepening shared understandings of market trends and to develop a global LNG market. The conference provides the right opportunity to brief on the Indian Gas sector and the recent policy reforms with the opportunities available for investment to the Ministers and leaders of global gas industry. Sh. Pradhan will be delivering a key note speech at the Ministerial Session on Developing LNG Market in Asia Government Perspectives". Energy Ministers from Qatar, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Japan and other leading hydrocarbon experts are scheduled to participate in the Conference. .

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During his visit, Shri Pradhan will meet with his Japanese Counterpart Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Japan Mr Hiroshige Seko to discuss issues of bilateral engagement in the hydrocarbon sector. A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) is scheduled for signing on establishing a Liquid, Flexible and Global LNG Market" between India and Japan. The MoC will provide a framework for bilateral cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply. .

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Shri Pradhan will also be meeting with representatives of Japanese Companies, including Osaka Gas, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Japex, and JERA for exploring areas of further engagement with the Indian companies. .

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In order to discuss the possibilities of cooperation in the skill sector, Sh. Pradhan is scheduled to have a meeting with Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan Mr. Katsunobu Kato. A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) is expected to be signed on the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)" which will pave the way for bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the area of skill development. Shri Pradhan is also scheduled to visit Kanto Polytechnic College, Oyama during the visit. .

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will need to defend its advantages in the payments business from encroachment by technology including Amazon.com and Apple, according to Chief Executive Officer Jes Staley.
Luxury German carmaker BMW is in talks to produce its Mini models in China in partnership with Great Wall Motor Co, the Chinese carmaker said on Friday.
The US on Saturday called for the Monetary Fund (IMF) to improve its operational efficiency and serve as a model on budget discipline and efficient use of limited resources.

"The should find ways to further enhance its operational efficiency," US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told a gathering of world finance ministers and head of central bankers in Washington.

As a public institution just like the member institutions it monitors and advises the should serve as a model on budget discipline and efficient use of limited resources, he said in his address to the annual meeting of the and World Bank.

"Achieving this goal will necessarily entail tough choices, potentially with regard to management and staff salaries and benefits," he said.

Asserting that the IMF plays an important role in the monetary system through the promotion of economic stability and global growth, Mnuchin said to best execute this role, the IMF must deliver on its core mandate.

It can do so by encouraging stable exchange rates that reflect underlying economic fundamentals, promoting sound public financial management and a market-oriented regulatory framework, and pressing for independent central banks to pursue transparent monetary policy, he said.

As the IMF moves into the post-global financial crisis period, Mnuchin urged it to structure its lending programmes to prioritise reforms that drive private sector-led economic growth.

In too many countries, a large public sector crowds out the private sector. In others, a burdensome and inefficient tax system or excessive regulatory barriers fail to create effective incentives for private sector capital and labour mobilisation, the US treasury secretary said.

The IMF must design programmes with the right policy reforms, in the right sequence, to support the private sector as the growth engine, he told the gathering.

"In this vein, we strongly approve of IMF efforts to reassess how the institution addresses corruption in member countries. Corruption at all levels of government wastes public resources and often deters private sector investment and growth," he said.

Observing that the IMF also has a key role to play in promoting stronger debt management processes, particularly in low income countries, he welcomed its work to strengthen the low-income debt sustainability framework.

The framework's effectiveness, however, depends crucially on accurate and complete debt data, he said.

"The IMF should press for timely, accurate, and comprehensive debt information from borrowers and creditors, including private sector and emerging market debt to improve transparency and reduce the negative outcomes of opaque lending," Mnuchin said.
South Korean military officials are readying for another possible missile launch by Pyongyang as they prepare for a joint military drill with the US on the disputed peninsula this week.
President Trump leaves little doubt about what he thinks of his predecessors top domestic and legacies. The health care programme enacted by President Barack Obama is outrageous and absolutely destroying everything in its wake. The nuclear deal with Iran is one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.
If the United States terminates the Iran nuclear deal or reimposes sanctions on Tehran it could result in Iran developing nuclear weapons and raise the danger of war close to Europe, Germanys foreign minister said on Saturday.
Parliament will block Britain from leaving the European Union without an exit deal, the opposition Labour Party's finance policy chief said on Sunday.

Negotiations are deadlocked between Prime Minister Theresa May's government and the EU on securing a divorce settlement and agreement on future relations, raising the prospect that Britain could walk away from talks without a deal.

But Labour's John McDonnell, leader Jeremy Corbyn's most senior ally, said he believed there was enough support in parliament to block such an eventuality.

"I don't think it's a realistic option, it's not going to happen. I don't think there is a majority in parliament for no deal," McDonnell told the BBC.

Currently, parliament does not have the power to block any decision to walk away. The government has promised to give parliament a vote on whether to accept a negotiated final deal, but that does not provide a means to block 'no deal'.

However, McDonnell said he thought there was enough support in parliament - where May does not have an outright majority - to amend legislation to include such a right.

"They haven't got a majority to get through a no deal situation in parliament. (If) we amend the legislation for parliament to have a meaningful vote, that will force the government to negotiate and come to their senses," he said.
Congressional lawmakers are not the only ones interested in collecting taxes on global profits that American corporations are hoarding overseas. European regulators, knee deep in a campaign to stamp out tax avoidance, have their own plans for that money.
A Muslim family in Rajasthan's Alwar has alleged that the state police took away their 51 cows on a complaint by few Hindu activists and handed them over to a village 'gaushala'.

However, the police have denied the allegations saying, they have no role in the incident and the locals had driven the cows to the gaushala.

For the past 10 days, the family has been struggling to get back its flock.

The accusations have been leveled by Subba Khan, 45.

Khan has also submitted an affidavit at the Kishangarh Police Station as well as the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Sunday demanded compensation from the Union Government in lieu of losses incurred by fire cracker traders in the Capital Region, after they were forced to discontinue the sale of fire crackers by virtue of the recent order of the Supreme Court.

In a communication sent to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the CAIT asserted that fire cracker traders in Delhi incurred huge losses with no fault of theirs.

"In furtherance of the order of the Supreme Court of September 12, they were issued licenses by the Competent Authority to sell fire crackers and accordingly, the traders procured requisite stocks of crackers in Delhi NCR. All of a sudden, on October 9, the Supreme Court imposed a ban on the sale of fire crackers in Delhi NCR, which has caused damage and loss to the traders concerned. The traders filed a review petition in the apex Court, but it has directed to maintain status quo on the order issued and keep the ban in practice," it said.

CAIT president B.C. Bhartia and secretary general Praveen Khandelwal argued that with the sale of fire crackers being a seasonal affair, most people involved in this work round the year and save money for this business which lasts only for about a fortnight. By savings, they procure goods and earn money to supplement their families. The savings of such people engaged in this business have been put at stake, they noted.

The union also argued that since the sale of fire crackers is a legitimate business, a duty is cast upon the government to compensate the unintended losses being caused by an order of the apex court where traders are not at fault. The principle of natural justice demands that traders must be protected from incurring losses and therefore such loss needs to be compensated, it argued.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court restored the ban on the sale of firecrackers till November 1, saying it wanted to test the effect of the ban on air quality after Diwali.

The apex Court, on October 6, had reserved its order on the review petition over lifting the ban on firecrackers. It had temporarily lifted its earlier order suspending licence for the sale of fire crackers on September 12, saying a complete ban would be an "extreme step" and a graded approach was needed to curb pollution.

The top court also allowed the Delhi Police to issue a licence to shopkeepers for sale of firecrackers, adding that the number of licences issued should not exceed 500.

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The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed that the Centre will be withdrawing seven companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and three companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), that are deployed in Darjeeling and Kalimpong from October 16.

However, a notification from the MHA said that the remaining five companies of the CRPF will continue in the Hills to aid the police force till October 20.

Since the unrest that began in June 12, companies of CRPF and the SSB were called in by the state government.

Although, earlier in the day, expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) leader Binay Tamang had requested for Centre's intervention in Darjeeling hills during his meeting with West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhawan, Kolkata.

"The issues related to the series of bomb blast and the recently recovered arms and ammunition in the Darjeeling Valley have been appraised in meeting. We have requested the Governor to appraise the Centre about the same", said Tamang in a press conference after the meeting.

The former GJM leader said, "We want to talk to the Centre regarding the matter and want their intervention in the area as it is a sensitive area."

"We want the central government to talk about all pending issues as well as the Gorkhaland issue," added Tamang.

In the last few months, Darjeeling has been witnessing indefinite shutdown over separate Gorkhaland by various hill parties which have been spearheading the agitation, including the GJM activists.
The China - Pakistan Economic Corridor or the CPEC is going to further escalate regional tensions according to an expert who has served with the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army's War College in Washington, DC.

Dr. Robert G. Darius, a former research professor at the Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College, said, "The CPEC passing through disputed areas is not only vulnerability, but an additional source of regional tension, which is not needed in an already tensed and unstable area of the world, where India is the only bastion of democracy and stability." In his assessment the CPEC could be a trigger point for a regional flare up as it's infrastructure passed over land which is disputed and is claimed by India to be part of the undivided state of Jammu and Kashmir.

This assessment by a former expert associated with the U.S. War College is important as it follows comments made by the U.S. Defence Secretary James Mattis who had indicated that the U.S. Could not support the CPEC as it passed over disputed territory. The U.S. Had also refrained from backing the One Road, One Belt summit held in Beijing as U.S. Government maintains that the needs multiple belts and multiple roads to integrate rather than one Belt and Road. The U.S and China do not agree on CPEC and this assessment by Dr Robert Darius is a stark reminder of the consequences of CPEC which South Asia could face if China continues with building infrastructure over the disputed land of Gilgit - Baltistan.

The views of Dr Robert Darius have been endorsed by Josephine Derks, senior research analyst at the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), a think-tank based in Amsterdam. Josephine Derks said " No longer can the international community turn a blind eye to the fact that the CPEC is running through a disputed territory, namely Gilgit Baltistan, a region legally part of the disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir. Nor can one ignore the fact that Gilgit Baltistan does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Therefore, this Corridor serve as a breach of International law and Pakistan's own Constitution."

Ms Derks added, "The abundant natural resources of Gilgit Baltistan, such as gold, copper, coal, iron and silver, will be exploited for the construction of this mega-project, while the people of Gilgit Baltistan will be heavily affected by the creation of this economic corridor, yet they have been excluded from any say in this project, indicating that the opinion of the indigenous people of the region are not taken into account.

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The death toll from the massive bomb blast witnessed outside the Safari Hotel in Somalia's capital Mogadishu has risen to 189 with more than 200 injured.

The blast is being called as the single deadliest attack in Somalia.

Many victims succumbed to death at the hospitals they were admitted in.

Security forces had been tipped off about the vehicle and were pursuing it in the busy K5 district of the city when the explosion happened, CNN quoted Col. Ahmed Hassan of the Mogadishu Police as saying.

According to reports, Somalia Government has blamed the al-Qaida-linked Al-Shabaab extremist group for the attack.

However, no group including Al-Shabaab has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Speaking to the state-run radio station, Somalia's information minister Abdirahman Omar said the blast was the largest the city had ever seen and "this is how merciless and brutal they are, and we have to unite against them."

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo condemned the attack and has declared three days of mourning in the country.

"Today's horrific attack proves our enemy would stop nothing to cause our people pain and suffering. Let's unite against terror. We will observe 3 days of mourning for innocent victims, flags will be flown at half-mast. Time to unite & pray together. Terror won't win. I call on our citizens to come out, extend help, donate blood and comfort the bereaved. Let's get through this together," President Farmajo said in a series of tweets.

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Dangal actress Fatima Sana Shaikh came under fire on social media over a selfie she posted on her Instagram account last week.

The actress is wearing a sari designed by Swati Mukund in the picture, which she captioned "Shameless Selfie".

The image created a stir among fans and trollers, who slut-shamed the 25-year-old, demanding the picture be taken down.

A user wrote, "She is becoming very shameless after only one film. Only god can handle her." Another user wrote, "Allah say toh Daro jahanoom he milega tume burkha pehnooo. (Fear Allah, you will be sent to hell. Wear a burqa.)"

Few, however, showed support to the actress.

"Ignore them dear. You look fabulous," wrote a user.

This is not the first time that the actress has been attacked on social media. Earlier in June, Fatima was slut-shamed for posing in a bikini during the month of Ramadan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said he would sanction a grant of Rs 60,000 crore for Kerala.

Gadkari, who was addressing the Jan Raksha Yatra here, said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) does not indulge in politics in matters conceding interest and promoted the idea of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.

"Our party does not indulge in politics in matters conceding interest. Tomorrow, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will be meeting me at 11a.m. I have announced a sum of Rs. 60,000 crore for Kerala. Whatever CPM, Congress and other opposition leaders have asked me to do, I have done it. The BJP believes in democracy. We were perceived as communal, but this is something that we are against. 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' is our motto, and going forward, we would like to promote the same. We are sure the BJP will flourish in Kerala as well, like the rest of the country," Gadkari said.

Gadkari also hit out at the Communist Party of India-Marxist CPI(M) and said their governance would soon end in the state.

"I can foresee the fall of the CPI(M). Their traces will be removed in entirety, and their defeat is assured in the upcoming elections. Mark my words, even the people of Kerala are rejecting their governance," he said.

The union minister also accused the CPI(M) of being 'promoters of violence' and urged the people of the state to dethrone the present government.

"In the case of China, Russia, and Hungary, communism and its ideologies have been rejected. Here too, the situation will be the same. In West Bengal, their leadership is being rejected; in Tripura, they are just present for namesake. The CPM is a promoter of violence, and resort to the same when opposed. This is why 120 of our workers were killed, and those who need to be taking care of law and order are supporting it. This is unfortunate for democracy, and the people of Kerala should oppose this government," the union minister said.

On countering terrorism, Gadkari stated that Pakistan, after being defeated three times by India, began exporting terrorism, due to which innocent people were being killed. However, due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan, Gadkari said, was isolated by the global economy.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mayor of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) Neema Bhagat on Sunday said that the department will soon set up a waste-to-energy plant to issue all the problems taking place from past few days at Ghazipur landfill site.

"We will set up waste-to-energy plant soon. There would not be any problem in future. I feel very sorry that people are suffering a lot from this and for the inconvenience. Our main focus is to find solution to solve the problem. I want to appeal to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to sanction amount of Rs. 9,145 crore to build compose plants," she told ANI.

A massive fire broke out yesterday evening at east Delhi's Ghazipur landfill site.

Five fire tenders were used to douse the flames, while no one was injured.

Earlier on September 1, a garbage mound at the Ghazipur landfill collapsed, killing two people and sweeping away many vehicles from the adjacent road.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Harvey Weinstein has been expelled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following the allegations of sexual harassment and assault against him.

The film academy voted overwhelmingly on Saturday to immediately expel Harvey Weinstein, reported the New York Times.

The decision was made by academy's 54-member board of the governors at an emergency session.

The academy in a statement said the vote was "well in excess of the required two-thirds majority."

"We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over. What's at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society," the statement read.

The academy said it would "work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all academy members will be expected to exemplify."

Sophie Dix, who starred with Weinstein in 'The Advocate', went public with allegations of a sexual assault in a hotel room when she was 22, reports The Guardian.

Several Hollywood actresses have come forward with accusations against the studio mogul, including Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cara Delevingne.

Weinstein has "denied" any "allegations of non-consensual sex" and has said that he is hoping to get a "second chance".

He is facing allegations from more than 30 women of sexual misconduct, including at least three of rape.

Weinstein has been fired by the movie and television studio he co-founded, the Weinstein Company.

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Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday that India has ceased to be a weak nation since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) formed the government at the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"Since Prime Minister Modi came to the Centre, you all would have noticed that India is not the 'weak India' anymore, but has become the world's 'strongest' India," Rajnath said, addressing the Akhil Bharatiya Lodhi Mahasabha in Lucknow.

The Home Minister added that the conflict with China over the stand-off at the Doklam plateau was also resolved because of India's image of a strong nation.

"Our issues with China have been resolved because China also understood that India is not the weak India anymore, but it's strong now," he said.

Singh claimed the killing of terrorists by the Army was a testament to India's strength in security.

"For the first time, the Indian army is now killing terrorist every day. Pakistan tries to send terrorists to our side, but we have succeeded in finishing off five to ten of them every single time," Singh said.

The Home Minister also asserted that the BJP-led government was dedicated to the betterment of the poor of the country, and enumerated the various schemes launched by the government towards the same.

"Modi ji is the first-ever Prime Minister of India, who decided that the right to enter big banks should not only belong to Tata, Birla, and Ambani, but also to the poor of the nation," Singh said.

Adding to the list of schemes for the poor, Singh also mentioned the Mudra Yojana, and the Centre's scheme to provide LPG gas cylinders to almost 5 crore poor households by the end of 2019, and added that over 3 lakh households have already been covered.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has downplayed Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi's aggressive election campaign in Gujarat by emphasising that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has greater chances of winning the assembly polls regardless of the latter's criticism of the Centre's economic policies.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, the finance minister, who was in the United States to attend the annual meeting of the IMF and the World bank, on Saturday said, "The result of the Gujarat elections will tell who people actually support. We contested UP elections post demonetisation and the result is out in the open," adding the anxiousness in the Congress camp over demonetisation was justified as curbing the menace of black money had never been the grand old party's intention.

Jaitley also slammed the Congress for changing its stand on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) despite having proposed it in the first place.

"Taking about the GST, it was the Congress' proposal and now they are trying to change their stand. The finance ministers of all Congress-run states back the GST, but the Congress being an opportunist party is opposing the tax reform. So I think the Congress' criticism has no strength."

The senior BJP leader further said that countries across the world were lauding India for having the guts to bring in major structural reforms like demonetisation and the GST.

"The world was in an economic slowdown for the past three years. India was growing and taking advantage of the situation. We implemented structural reforms," he added.

Rahul Gandhi has continually castigated the BJP at the Centre for demonetisation and roll out of the GST.

The Gandhi scion, eyeing to dethrone the ruling BJP in Gujarat, made a much-publicised visit to the state as part of the campaign for the assembly elections, and claimed that his party will outdo 22 years of the BJP government's developmental achievements in just six months.

The last Congress government in Gujarat was led by Chhabildas Mehta from February 17, 1994 to March 13, 1995.

The 14th legislative assembly elections in Gujarat are to be held by the end of 2017 as the term of 13th assembly ends on January 22, 2018.

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Another case of gang-rape in Uttar Pradesh has come to fore wherein a minor girl was allegedly gang-raped by six men she was alone at home in Hardoi District of the state.

The incident came to light when the victim, a 16-year old girl from Lonar district, filed a report against six men who allegedly abducted and gang-raped her, following which she was admitted to the District Women's Hospital for examination.

It is reported that the local police postponed the filing of the FIR several times. However, on understanding the condition of the victim, the police resorted to filing a complaint against the six accused.

In 2016, the accused had reportedly tried to kidnap and molest the victim, for which no action was taken. Subsequently, the victim's family took to the family court, where the case is still being investigated, which was confirmed by the police.

Earlier on Sunday, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested five persons in connection with a gang-rape of a minor, who committed suicide following threats by the accused in Bhagpat District.

An investigating officer has also been suspended in this regard.

The victim, 16, committed suicide on Saturday after the accused---who had gang-raped her in July---threatened to rape her again if she didn't withdraw her complaint.

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Nepal's Parliament turned Constituent Assembly (CA) completed its tenure on Saturday as per the constitutional provision and has dissolved from midnight leaving grievances of disgruntled parties on board.

On the occasion, the House Speaker Onsari Gharti Magar highlighted the achievements and works completed by the parliament turned CA since its transformation that dates back to 2015.

"Endorsement of two fiscal year budgets, election of the President , Vice- President, election for Speaker, Deputy House Speaker, election of two Prime Ministers, bills related to the implementation of the constitution as well as those necessary for the daily works, the essential bills for reconstruction after the earthquake is endorsed without delay and utmost priority. These completed tasks will have a long time impact," Magar claimed while making her farewell speech.

The Parliament turned Constituent Assembly have promulgated the first democratic constitution in 2015, but it tore the country into two parts.

"Regarding the implementation of the constitution we revised many bills as well as demanded for the amendment over the constitution. Whether to call it a fortune or misfortune, the play of three parties the amendment failed," Rukmani Chaudhary, Lawmaker from Federal Democratic National Forum said here.

"The tendency of pointing one another never addressed the demands and grievances of the Madhesi, Tharu and Indigenous groups by failed attempt of constitution amendment," she added.

The Madhesh based parties demanded more inclusion in the newly promulgated constitution and sought amendment over it and was failed though it was tabled lately and amended once.

As per the newly promulgated constitution the term of the incumbent parliament ends a day before the candidates file their nomination for the House of Representatives election.

The Government of Nepal under the rule of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has called for the election of the Provincial Center and the House of Representative in two phases i.e. November and December.

The Election Commission has asked the political parties to submit the list of candidates under the Proportional Representation electoral system till October 15.

The last date for filing candidacy under the First- Past- the- Post Electoral System is October 22.

Article 296 of the constitution has set January 21, 2018 as the date for the expiry of current parliament. It has also stated that the parliament will be dissolved if the election for the House of Representative is called before.

By Binod Prasad Adhikari

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Pakistan and Iran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve border security between the two countries.

The MoU was signed during the 21st two-day meeting of Pak-Iran Joint Border Commission in Gwadar, Radio Pakistan reported.

Joint proposals regarding the border situation, security matters, immigration and border trade between two countries came under discussion during the meet between the two sides.

According to the report, the two sides also expressed their firm determination to check drugs smuggling, intrusion of illegal immigrants and not allow use of their respective soils for terrorism against each other.

The Pakistani side was led by Provincial Chief Secretary Aurangzeb Haque while Deputy Governor, Sistan-Balochistan province, Ali Asghar Mir Shikari headed Iranian delegation in the meeting.

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The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief, Raj Thackeray, has accused Uddhav Thackeray of 'horse-trading' after six Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporators of his party walked over to the latter's Shiv Sena.

Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, Raj Thackeray said, "Uddhav and his men have played a dirty game using money."

Backing his claims of the deflected corporators being lured by the Shiv Sena, Thackeray alleged that the rival party gave Rs. 5 crore to each corporator and questioned, "Where did the Shiv Sena get Rs. 30 crore from?

Recalling Bal Thackeray, the founding father of the Shiv Sena, Raj said, "Balasaheb never taught this dirty politics to the Shiv Sena."

The MNS chief further mentioned that he had quit Uddhav's party because of the dirty politics the party has resorted to.

Raj stated, "The Shiv Sena has got nothing to do with Marathi. You know who they work for. They are more interested in acquiring the Mayor's house under the garb of making it Balasaheb's memorial."

He further warned Shiv Sena of consequences saying, "Now no clap, only slap."

Raj also informed that the MNS has also written to the Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau and other concerned authorities demanding a suitable inquiry into the matter.

The six BMC corporators of the MNS -Archana S. Bhalerao, Parmeshwar T. Kadam, Ashwini A. Matekar, Dattaram S. Narvankar, Harshala A. More and Dilip B. Lande - had drifted to the Shiv Sena, on Friday.

With the recent deflection, the Shiv Sena now has 91 corporators while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has 82 representatives in the 227-member BMC.

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A Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist was allegedly attacked by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) workers in Kerala's Kannur.

Nidesh, 28, was attacked by bike-borne persons at around 5:30 p.m. near the Muzhappilangad beach. He was immediately hospitalized.

The police said that he had suffered injuries on his hands and legs.

The local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit has alleged the attack was the handiwork of CPM workers.

The attack comes at a time when the saffron party is currently taking out a 'Janaraksha Yatra', protesting against attacks on its workers, allegedly by the CPM workers in Kerala.

The march, which was flagged off by BJP chief Amit Shah at Kannur on October 3, is scheduled to conclude at state capital Thiruvananthapuram on October 17.

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Russian Defense Minister Major Gen Igor Konashenkov accused United States of conducting the so-called carpet-bombing of residential areas in Syria's Raqqa.

"Carpet bombing of residential areas accommodated by civilians, which the United States and [the US-led] coalition carried out, along with deliberate destruction of all natural water sources in Raqqa have brought about nothing but several thousand victims among the 'liberated' population and vivid examples of that military operation's faulty planning," Konashenkov said, reported New Agency Tass.

Konashenkov asserted that US actions are a sign of 'deadlocK' in the US-led coalition command and a sharp contrast to the victorious offensive of Syrian government forces near al-Mayadin.

Earlier, Syria took over the town of al-Mayadin from combatants of the Islamic State terrorist group.

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Indian Railway PRO Anil Saxena on Sunday informed that a show-cause notice has been served on the catering contractor of Tejas Express---train running between Goa and Mumbai---after 24 passengers fell ill due to food poisoning.

He further said that strict action will be taken against catering contractor if found guilty.

"In Train no 22120 a case of food poisoning was reported while on run between Karmali and CSTM. A show cause notice has been served on the catering contractor and strict action is contemplated if found guilty. As reported by hospital no patient is in serious condition. Enquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause," Saxena told ANI.

At least 230 passengers were served breakfast on board. Initially, a group of seven passengers complained of nausea and were attended by on board supervisor. Meanwhile, two groups of passengers also complained for same. A passenger on board who is a doctor attended them.

The train was given an out of course halt at Chiplun where a railway doctor attended the ailing passengers.

The kitchen, where the food was prepared, was inspected by area officer Madgaon after the incident and samples lifted for testing.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) had earlier said in an official statement that 24 passengers were admitted at Lifecare Hospital in Chiplun, Maharashtra where they were given medical treatment.

The IRCTC also said that a probe has been launched to ascertain the source of food poisoning.

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The Virginia State University in on lockdown after a reported shooting on campus.

The University Police tweeted on Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

A second tweet said the police were still on the scene, and the campus was on a lockdown.

The local media reports say that at least one person was shot and has life-threatening injuries.

This was a homecoming weekend at the university, and the school was celebrating the final day of it.

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The Nigerian Police has confirmed that six people were killed and scores others injured following a predawn attack in the central state of Plateau.

Police on Sunday said that unknown gunmen, carrying sophisticated weapons, stormed the Taagbe village in the state's Bassa local area, Xinhua reported. The attackers also razed at least 10 houses.

Plateau state police chief Udie Adie said the authorities are investigating the motive and identities of the attackers.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Plateau state is situated in Nigeria's middle belt where the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south meet.

The state has witnessed some bomb blasts and constant rifts between Berom and Fulani herdsmen, with many, especially women and children, murdered in cold blood.

On September 7, around 19 people were killed and five others injured in an attack suspected to have been launched by armed herdsmen in a village in the Plateau state.

--IANS

amit

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Sixty-six giraffes arrived in China's Henan Province on Sunday on a chartered flight from Johannesburg, the media reported.

The giraffes, 22 males and 44 females, are all around two years old. Adult giraffes of this species can grow to 5.2 meters tall, Xinhua news agency reported.

The animals will go through a health check and be quarantined for 45 days in the city of Jiaozuo before being sent to zoos across China to meet visitors.

In August last year, Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, Henan's capital, received 63 giraffes from South Africa.

--IANS

ahm/mr

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While many are pleased with the courts verdict to acquit dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar over their daughters murder, filmmaker Manish Gupta, who made a film "Rahasya" inspired by the crime, feels there are many unanswered questions.

"In my view, till the Supreme Court passes a judgement, the case will remain open to debate. There is still ambiguity surrounding the case. It has not been proven as to who the actual murderer or murderers are. The servants have not been proven guilty," said Gupta.

The Allahabad High Court on Thursday acquitted the couple in the murder of their teenage daughter. They will be released from Dasna jail in Ghaziabad on Monday.

"The defence has been putting forward the narco analysis test of Krishna, the compounder, but a narco analysis test is not considered conclusive or irrefutable evidence in court," he said.

Aarushi, 14, and domestic help Hemraj were found murdered on May 16-17, 2008 in the Talwars' Jalvayu Vihar house in Noida.

"Also, there have been two murders, not one. There are so many people involved. The exact truth and exact sequence of events is not yet clear," said the filmmaker.

"Who killed whom? And in what sequence? Did one person kill both Arushi and Hemraj? This is a very difficult case to crack."

In fact, Gupta's film had been legally stopped by the Talwars from release in 2015.

Gupta and his producers Viacom18 Motion Pictures had to go through a long legal process and add a disclaimer that "Rahasya" was not about the Talwar murder case.

--IANS

skj/nn/mr

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Some 6.4 million Austrian voters began heading to over 10,000 polling booths on Sunday to elect the members of the National Council -- the lower house of the country's parliament.

Almost 900,000 voters asked for absentee ballots, which give voters the option of either sending their vote card in via post, handing it in person ahead of the election, or voting on the election day at any polling booth in the country, Xinhua reported.

The absentee votes will not be counted at the close of polling booths early Sunday evening, which means any close results may not be decided until a final result comes out later in the week.

Going by recent polling trends, the centre-right People's Party headed by Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz has got a good lead in most polls, while the Social Democrats and far-right Freedom Party could see a close finish for the second.

The minor parties, including the Greens, NEOS, and Peter Pilz, independent candidate and former member of the Greens Party, were also locked in tight competition attempting to clear the four-percent hurdle needed to gain representation in parliament.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern was among the first party leaders to cast his vote in the election, expressing optimism that his Social Democrats would perform well.

"We are anticipating extended celebrations," he said, adding that he would keep watching the results of the election on television until the close of polls.

Prior to Kern's vote in the morning, the Greens head Ulrike Lunacek and NEOS head Matthis Strolz were the first leaders to officially cast their votes, both of whom were expecting a good result.

Sunday's legislative election has been seen as another important test for the right-wing wave amid a migration crisis in Europe after the German elections.

--IANS

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Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday dismissed charges that the BJP was interfering with the Election Commission's work and said it was the up to the poll panel to announce election dates in the state.

"We are not interfering in the announcement of election dates. Let the Election Commission (EC) act at its own discretion," Rupani told India TV.

His remarks came amid a row after the EC did not announce election dates for BJP-ruled Gujarat while announcing the same for Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh. The Congress accused the Modi government of "grossest interference" in the working of the poll body.

Rupani said that elections would be held on time in Gujarat and that opposition should protest "had we been delaying the elections".

Responding to the charge that poll announcement was delayed to allow the Bharatiya Janata Party government to announce sops before the model code of conduct comes into effect, Rupani said: "If we implement government programmes, what is wrong with it?.

"We are not concerned with the dates of election, we will continue to serve the people and fulfil their demands.

"It is my duty to work for people till the last date. When the poll dates are announced, we will stop," he said.

--IANS

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British actress Lysette Anthony has claimed Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein raped her.

According to variety.com, she reported the assault to the police last week.

Anthony, who stars in the British soap opera "Hollyoaks", said the rape took place in her home here in the 1980s.

She described the attack as "pathetic and revolting" and said it left her feeling "disgusted and embarrassed".

Weinstein has denied previous accusations of criminal sexual harassment, rape and sexual assault.

A former Miramax employee has claimed Weinstein, the former boss of Miramax, raped her in the basement of his London office 25 years ago.

The unnamed British woman explained why she didn't report the assault. "I just felt mortified and ashamed - and that no one would believe me. He was incredibly well-connected, powerful and important - and I was just a nobody."

--IANS

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The first delegates from the far-away province of Inner Mongolia started arriving on Sunday for China's most important political event in five years: the 19th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The Congress could herald changes in leadership and pave a more powerful role for Chinese President and Party General Secretary Xi Jinping, reports Efe news.

Security was tightened in Beijing ahead of the Congress, which will start on Wednesday and normally lasts a week, although an official end date has not been announced.

Since the event is only held every five years, the approved decisions are significant and have long-term relevance.

A total of 2,287 party delegates are expected to attend the event at the Great Hall of The People at Tiananmen Square.

The CPC held a meeting on Sunday with smaller political parties in China and Xi called for better cooperation for the progress and development of the country, according to a party statement.

Analysts and diplomats were focusing on changes within the leadership of the party - which has ruled the country without opposition since 1949 - expected to take place.

The Congress has to elect a new central committee, which includes 205 full and 171 alternate members currently, before choosing a Politburo from the newly elected members.

Subsequently, the Politburo will choose the permanent committee, the true centre of power of the CPC and China, which is currently led by Xi Jinping and has seven members.

Speculation has been rife about possible additions to the central committee, although most experts consider Chen Miner, secretary of the party in Chonqing region and a trusted aide of Xi, as a favourite for inclusion.

Unless the rules are changed, five members of the committee are set to retire, including Wang Qishan, the chief of the anti-corruption committee, who has led a five-year-long campaign against corruption launched by the President.

Another key question is if the congress will elect a new Vice President who could be the heir-apparent to Xi, who himself emerged as the future leader in the 2007 Party Congress before his actual ascent to power in 2012.

The president is expected to emerge stronger in the Congress, since apart from the appointment of his supporters in the new structures, the gathering is also expected to modify the Constitution of the party.

Another important appointment is of the next President of the central bank after the incumbent Zhou Xiaochuan retires in January.

Foreign government and companies are watching out for the opening of the economy for private and foreign entities, a long-standing promise which has not been implemented.

Other matters to be tackled by the Congress include a reform in the giant state sector and possible changes in monetary and fiscal policy, including a reduction in corporate debt.

Official information and propaganda mechanisms have intensified their campaign in recent weeks ahead of the Congress, hailing the achievements of the country during Xi's regime and the reforms carried out by the CPC in the last few decades.

--IANS

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In a bid to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, culture and tourism, China's top alcohol brand Kweichow Moutai has signed an MoU with a visiting San Francisco government delegation.

Under the MoU signed on Saturday, Moutai will open an office in San Francisco to increase its sales in the city and further expand its market share in the US, said Kweichow Maotai Group chairman Yuan Renguo, Xinhua reported.

Edwin M. Lee, Mayor of San Francisco, said the MoU will further promote bilateral cultural exchange between future generations of China and the US.

In 1915, Maotai received its first gold metal at the Panama Pacific International Exposition held in San Francisco.

Maotai held an event on November 12, 2015, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of winning the award. At the celebration, Lee announced the day would be marked as San Francisco Moutai Day.

Distilled in the town of Maotai in southwest China's Guizhou Province, Moutai is considered the country's national liquor and often served on official occasions and at state banquets.

--IANS

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Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday flayed the Congress and said the opposition party could not see development since it was blind.

"Gujarat has developed tremendously under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Used to indulging in scams, the Congress can't see development. One needs eyes to see development, apart from intelligence," Chouhan said at a rally in Ankaleshwar in Gujarat's Bharuch district, where he participated in "Gujarat Gaurav Yatra'.

A press statement issued by the Madhya Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bhopal quoted the Chief Minister as saying that Gujarat had become a developmental model and many other states were drawing inspiration from it.

--IANS

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Himachal Cabinet Minister Anil Sharma on Sunday resigned from the government and the ruling Congress and joined the opposition BJP along with his father and former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram.

Even though an official announcement by the Bharatiya Janata Party on the matter was yet to be made, speculations were rife that senior Congress leader and Transport Minister G.S. Bali may also switch sides.

Anil Sharma said: "I have resigned from both the Congress and the government due to deliberate ignoring by the party. I and Pandit Sukh Ram ji were deliberately ignored at party Vice President Rahul Gandhi's Mandi rally."

"Later, in the constitution of the election committees by the Congress central leadership, my name was missing," he told reporters in Mandi town, his home constituency.

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh later told media persons: "Anil Sharma is a junior leader. He and his father Sukh Ram formed the Himachal Vikas Congress and supported the Bharatiya Janata Party government in 1998. Their departure will not affect Congress's prospects in the November 9 elections."

As rumours swirled about him, Bali said in a Facebook post: "People of Nagrota Bagwan (his constituency) are like my family and my relationship with you is emotional. I will be soon among you people. Will discuss things and then take any decision."

Hinting that Bali, a four-time legislator known for his flamboyance, was also likely to quit the Congress, the Chief Minister said: "The party will discuss the BJP's attempts at weaning away Congress members."

Anil Sharma was inducted into the Virbhadra Singh-led Cabinet in 2013 and allocated the portfolios of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and Animal Husbandry. He was also a Minister of State from 1993-97.

A three-time legislator and a Rajya Sabha member, he is currently a legislator from Mandi.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's foster sister Arpita is married to Anil Sharma's son Aayush.

BJP leader and two-time Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal has often hinted that Congress legislators were unhappy with Virbhadra Singh and were in touch with him.

While the Congress has named Virbhadra Singh, 83, as its chief ministerial candidate in case the party retains power, the BJP is still dithering. Dhumal and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda are top contenders for party leadership in the hill state.

"There is too much confusion over who will lead the party in the assembly elections," a senior state BJP leader, who did not wish to be identified, told IANS.

Elections to the 68-member Himachal Pradesh assembly will be held on November 9 and the votes counted on December 18.

--IANS

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The criticism of certain recommendations of the review committee on the new Haj policy -- including that of women performing Haj without 'mehram' -- is not valid, a vocal member of the committee has said.

Kamal Farooqi, a member of the committee, said the criticism is not valid as in some schools of Islamic jurisprudence, women can travel without a mehram -- her husband or a male relative like her father, brother and paternal and maternal uncles.

"In the Hanafi sect, women are not allowed to travel without a mehram for Haj and otherwise. But in some other schools, and in Shias, it is allowed. A woman can perform Haj alone if there is no mehram," Farooqi told IANS.

"But when we are forming a Haj policy, we are forming it for Muslims of all schools of jurisprudence, not just for Hanafis," he said, stressing that he himself is a Hanafi Muslim. "And above all, this condition is not binding on anyone. Nobody is forcing women to travel alone if they don't want to."

He explained that as per Saudi Arabian rules, a woman below 45 years of age cannot travel with a 'namehram' -- the opposite of mehram.

"It is totally opposite of the Hanafis' stand. They allow women to travel alone, but not with a namehram. So the Saudi government, in my view, should have no problem in allowing women above 45 years to perform Haj in a group of four," Farooqi said.

He said the committee travelled across the country as well as to Saudi Arabia and consulted a large number of stakeholders and scholars of different schools of thought before finalising their recommendations.

Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi has welcomed the recommendation.

"As per our maslak (sect) a woman can perform Haj alone. So the recommendation, if accepted, will allow Shia women to perform Haj all by themselves if they want," Naqvi told IANS.

He said that for those who do not want to travel without a mehram, the rule is not binding.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) had formed a committee consisting of prominent Muslims under the chairmanship of retired IAS officer Afzal Amanullah in February to review the Haj policy and suggest measures to improve the overall experience of the pilgrimage. The committee recently submitted its report to the Ministry.

One of the recommendations said that women above 45 years of age should be allowed to perform Haj without a mehram in a group of four. This has not gone down well with the majority of Islamic clerics of the Hanafi school who see the recommendation as going against the Sharia.

"We cannot understand the purpose of this recommendation because as per Islamic Shariat a woman cannot travel alone without a mehram," Maulana Niaz Farooqui of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) told IANS.

He added that apart from the Shariat prohibition, the safety and security of women during the travel and stay in a foreign country are also an issue.

"The government can make a policy but those who follow Shariat will not go without mehram," he said.

The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid, Maulana Ahmed Bukhari, too condemned the recommendation and said that an important diktat of Shariat was being ignored to garner some popularity.

"Women are not allowed to travel alone and there is no ambiguity in this. Now those who have this recommendation should come clear on whether this diktat of Shariat is no longer valid for an important religious obligation like Haj," Bukhari said.

He said the Saudi Arabian government will have to decide whether it accepts this proposal.

The other recommendations include abolishing the reserved category of applicants -- 70-plus of age and the fourth timers -- and the continuation of khadimul hajjaj (a person responsible for looking after a group of 200 pilgrims) should be reviewed.

The Ministry has not yet finalised what recommendations it is going to accept.

(Asim Khan can be contacted on mohd.a@ians.in)

--IANS

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Firebrand Patidar leader Hardik Patel on Sunday asserted that he was determined to work for the defeat of the BJP in the upcoming assembly elections in Gujarat.

"I am not working for the victory of the opposition Congress, but am committed to the legitimate rights of my community," Patel said at a conclave of India TV here.

"If the Congress party wins, it will be a vote against dictatorship."

Asked why he was shying away from saying that his Patidar movement was for the Congress, Patel said: "I have said earlier too that my fight is not for or against any political party, but against the system, against those who want to crush my democratic right to speak up for my rights."

"If the BJP agrees to give what we are demanding I will wrap up the agitation but not otherwise," he said, adding that their agitation will continue even if the Congress comes to power.

Asked what if the BJP came back to power, a smiling Patel said: "Wait till December (when the Gujarat elections are due)."

He also asserted that he and his supporters "are neither slaves of BJP, nor Congress".

He however also that maintained that "even now, if the BJP convinces us that it can give us reservation in accordance with the Constitution, we will end our movement. And if it does not, our movement will continue".

The Patidar leader also said that the Congress has offered 20 per cent reservation to Patel community, while the BJP government's decision of granting 10 per cent reservation was quashed by the Gujarat High Court last year.

"This time, we want to be very clear. Congress must explain how they can provide 20 per cent reservation in accordance with the Constitution," he said.

He also said that if demonetization and GST (Goods and Services Tax) can be enforced at the stroke of midnight, "why can't our legislature sit till midnight and sort out the reservation issue?"

Asked about why he welcomed Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi in Gujarat on social media, Patel replied: "If (Narendra) Modiji can meet Nawaz Sharif, why can't I welcome Rahulji in the spirit of 'Atithi Devo Bhava' (guests are gods)?"

Gandhi arrived in Gujarat on three day election campaign tour on September 25 and was welcomed by the Patidar leader.

Rejecting his "soft attitude" towards Congress Vice President, Patel said: "He (Rahul) is not the son of my mausi (aunt) that I am soft towards him."

--IANS

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Roger Federer defeated World No.1 Rafael Nadal to win the Shanghai Rolex Masters title here on Sunday.

Second-seed Federer took 71 minutes to claim a 6-4, 6-3 victory over the Spaniard, who made errors and looked physically exhausted, reports Efe.

"It was a very difficult match for me," Nadal said afterwards.

"He played very fast and he played well. I don't know how many unforced errors he made," the Spanish star added of the Swiss winner.

"He just played too good. That's my point of view. So congrats to him," Nadal added.

Sunday's victory meant that Federer has now won his 15th match out of 38 clashes against Nadal.

Federer, who has now won the 94th title of his career and his sixth this year, claimed the Shanghai title for a second time after winning in 2014.

Nadal has played in the final of the tournament twice.

--IANS

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Human development owes much to philosophical 'gadflies' who search for the 'truth' about us and our world - not only to discover it but also find if it conforms to what we believe it is. They can end up with surprising, contentious findings like French philosopher Michael Foucault whose quest led to him detecting a new approach to see the individual-society relationship and the prevailing ideas about madness, sex and criminality.

And these were among the many contributions of Foucault (1926-84), who was born this day (October 15) to a middle-class conservative family but didn't want to become a doctor like his father. He instead wanted to study philosophy, did so, and went on to become one of the foremost - and flamboyant - intellectuals of his time, despite having no other ambition than to become "a goldfish".

Also an influential historian of ideas, social theorist, cultural and literary critic - often with huge shifts in position over the years - as well as political activist, dissident and a philosophy icon (in his heyday), Foucault's primary focus was on the connections between power and knowledge over the years, and their use to control society. As he argues, what is claimed to be "scientific knowledge" is actually a means of social control.

And there were some unique places he contended this could be found in - mental asylums, in views of sex and its different kinds (he was homosexual himself), hospitals, jails, schools.

He was also keen to explore how humans historically became the subject and object of political, legal and academic discourses.

Chris Horrocks and Zoran Jevtic, in "Introducing Foucault: A Graphic Guide", term him "instigator of a method of historical inquiry which has had major effects in the study of subjectivity, power, knowledge, discourse, history, sexuality, madness, the penal system and much else..."

Among this was his idea of the author, as Foucault contended the function of authorship "resolved or hid many contradictions" and insisted that he was not merely "the author of a book but rather the author of a theory, tradition or discipline".

"We must dispense with our habit of looking for an author's authority, and show instead how the power of discourse constrains both the author and his utterances," he said.

Nevertheless whatever he may have thought of being an author, he went to break new ground in a range of works, beginning with "Madness and Civilization - A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason" (1960, English translation 1988) which dealt with the differing perceptions and sweeping changes in the treatment of the mad. It was followed by "The Birth of the Clinic" (1963, English 1973), extending the argument to medicine as a whole.

He went to propound his theory of transformation of academic disciplines and their "epistemes" or changes in approach - which he chronicles but doesn't seek to explain - in "The Order of Things: an Archaeology of the Human Sciences" (1966, English 1990), while in "The Archaeology of Knowledge" (1969, English 1982), he introduces his idea of "archaeology".

This he used to imply "an excavation of unconsciously organized sediments of thought", which differs from standard history of ideas in not assuming knowledge accumulates towards any historical conclusion and ignoring individuals for finding impersonal structures of knowledge.

"Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison" (1975, English 1977) shows his view of evolution of the penal system and calls for reform in their functioning, as he argues they did not arise as a form of punishment due to humanitarian concerns, but cultural shifts that emphasised power over the human body.

And its overarching concept of discipline can also be found elsewhere too, he says, asking: "Is it surprising that prisons resemble factories, schools, barracks, hospitals, which all resemble prisons?" However, he later admitted that he was somewhat overzealous about its social effect and amended his earlier ideas.

In his three-volume "The History of Sexuality" (Vol 1 1976, II-III 1984, English 1978, 1985) with the first's title "The Will to Knowledge" a homage to the influence of German philosopher Nietzsche, he went to perform the same analysis of power permeating views of sexuality in the western world, particularly criticising the hypocrisy and attempts at suppression.

Possibly his most influential work, it is the one which most energetically argues that sexuality is more modern than thought, and its various aspects, like homosexuality, more of a social construct than acknowledged.

Foucault, who had other works too but none so key, resisted being labelled post-structuralist or postmodernist, terming himself simply a critical historian of modernity.

While his own life (he was the first high-profile Frenchman to succumb to AIDS) and political activity are separate stories in themselves, history has not been very kind to his ideas. But their relevance remains in reinforcing how there can be alternative perspectives, no matter how radical, about social aspects of history to find what the real motivation is - it's scarcely likely to be people's (as opposed to "public") interest.

(Vikas Datta is an Associate Editor at IANS. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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Pope Francis on Sunday declared 35 new saints during a canonisation mass in the Vatican.

Among those being declared saints included the three "Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala (Mexico)", who were killed between 1527-1529 for converting to Roman Catholicism, as well as 30 Brazilians known as the "Martyrs of Natal", who were killed in 1645 at the hands of Dutch Calvinists.

Pope Francis also canonised two others at Sunday's ceremony -- a Spanish priest called Faustino Miguez (1831-1925) who was the founder of the Daughters of the Divine Shepherdess, and Italian priest Angelo da Acri (1669-1739).

The ceremony began with Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato, presenting canonisation requests to Pope Francis before reading a biography for each saint-to-be.

The Pope then went on to declare the 35 saints, speaking in Latin, and the relics of the new saints were taken to an altar.

Hundreds of Mexicans from Tlaxcala attended the mass to witness the event.

The three children who became saints were called Cristobal, Juan and Antonio, aged between 12 and 13 years old, and would become the patrons of Mexican childhood.

Pope John Pall II beatified the trio in Mexico on May 6, 1990, and the Brazilian martyrs on March 5, 2000, in the Vatican.

--IANS

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At least four people were killed and five others wounded on Sunday when four mortar shells slammed a neighbourhood east of the capital Damascus, the media reported.

The mortars, fired from rebel-held areas east of Damascus, slammed into the Qishleh street in the predominantly-Christian neighbourhood of Bab Touma east of Damascus, a medical source told Xinhua.

The attack is the latest in a string of intensified terror attacks the capital has been suffering from after a long period of lull.

--IANS

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On the 86th birth anniversary of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Sunday, veteran actor Anupam Kher said that he feels blessed to have spent some life-changing experiences with him.

To celebrate Kalam's birth anniversary, Anupam shared a photograph on Twitter in which he can be seen receiving the Padma Shri -- the country's fourth highest civilian honour -- from Kalam.

"Feel blessed to have met and spend some life changing moments with honourable A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ji. Remembering him on his birth anniversary," Anupam captioned the image.

Born on October 15, 1931, Kalam was President of India from July 25, 2002 till July 25, 2007.

Anupam, who can currently be seen onscreen in his maiden production venture "Ranchi Diaries", received the Padma Shri in 2004.

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Surprised to see firecrackers being sold in Busan: Bhandarkar

National Award-winning filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, who is currently in South Korea for the premiere of his short film "Mumbai Mist" at the Busan International Film Festival, was surprised to see firecrackers being sold in local markets there for Diwali.

Bhandarkar took to Twitter on Sunday to share a video in which locals in Busan can be seen buying firecrackers.

"Wow! Surprised to see firecrackers being sold for Diwali at local market in Busan, South Korea. Incredible India," Bhandarkar wrote alongside the video.

Featuring Annu Kapoor, "Mumbai Mist" is a part of "Where Has Time Gone", an anthology feature film showing five segments directed by five directors from Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It explores the theme of time and love through their own perspective.

The film was premiered at the film festival on Saturday.

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Father most precious person in my life: Jacqueline

Actress Jacqueline Fernandez says her father Elroy Fernandez is the most precious person in her life.

Jacqueline, who can currently be seen alongside Varun Dhawan and Taapsee Pannu in "Judwaa 2", shared a photograph on social media on Sunday in which she can be seen posing with her father.

"Can I have my turban back please? We only got one day together, but I always love seeing you daddy. The most precious person in my life," Jacqueline wrote alongside the image on Instagram.

The actress next has films like "Drive" and "Race 3" in her kitty.

--IANS

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A total of 136 all woman-managed polling stations would be set up in all the 68 assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh for the November 9 assembly elections, Chief Electoral Officer Pushpendra Rajput said on Sunday.

He said in order to motivate and ensure women's participation in the electoral process, the woman-run stations comprising two in each constituency have been set up for the first time in the state.

In these polling station, women police personnel and all women employees would be deputed for duty. The maximum are in Kangra district, the state's largest district.

There are a total of 7,521 polling stations with Kaa in Kinnaur having the minimum number of six voters.

The highest polling station is Hikkim, located at a height of 15,000 feet in Lahaul-Spiti district with 46 voters.

A total of 49.13 lakh voters will cast their votes in Himachal Pradesh, presently ruled by the Congress, on November 9 to elect its new 68-member assembly.

The result will be known on December 18.

--IANS

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As many as four houses were destroyed in a deadly fire in Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung's neighbourhood in Darjeeling's Patlebas, police said on Sunday.

"Gurung's house and the party office were not destroyed in the fire. The fire engulfed five houses opposite Gurung's residence," said Inspector General of Police, Darjeeling, Manoj Verma.

The gutted residences belonged to Gurung's supporters Dinesh Thing, Rajesh Thing, Prabin Subba, and Amit Chand.

Police said the fire broke out around midnight on Saturday and was brought under control around 3 a.m., adding the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

Eyewitnesses said Gurung's house was later vandalised.

While police claimed the fire could have been a deliberate attempt to destroy evidences against Gurung and his loyalists, pro-Gurung leaders, however, blamed associates of Darjeeling Board of Administrators (BoA) chairman and expelled GJM leader Binay Tamang for the incident.

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Tamang demanded a thorough investigation into the Patlebas fire, and urged police not to round up innocent people.

Gurung has been on the run for quite some time, with the state police slapping cases against him under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, as also for waging war against the government and organising terrorist camps.

The GJM, that has been spearheading the revived movement of Gorkhaland in the hills, is now a divided house, with a section of activists remaining with Gurung while another faction has shifted allegiance towards Tamang.

The fire happened soon after Friday's clashes between security forces and pro-Gurung GJM workers that left a Police Sub-Inspector dead and four other cops injured. Police had raided the area after a tip off that the GJM chief was camping along with boys of the party's militant wing Gorkhaland Personnel, on a river bed close by.

Police recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the camp and arrested one person but the GJM chief and his associates managed to flee to the neighbouring state of Sikkim.

--IANS

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Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo, popular for his onscreen character the Hulk, says though he cannot sing and dance, he can do performance-oriented roles in Bollywood.

Ruffalo, whose career spans about three decades in Hollywood and who has been seen in popular entertainers such as "Spotlight", "Shutter Island" and "The Kids Are All Right", is here to promote his upcoming Marvel Studios film "Thor: Ragnarok", which is set to hit the Indian screens on November 3.

Asked if the perception of Bollywood cinema being only about song and dance has changed, Ruffalo told IANS in a round table conference: "I saw a cool Bollywood film... A tough guy thing where there are rival gangs...'Scarface' characters... more like gangster character. I look forward to seeing what more Indian cinema can come up with."

But would he like to be a part of one?

"Why not? I can't sing and dance very well, but I can do some of the straight roles," he said.

Ruffalo, 49, will be reprising the role of Bruce Banner/the Hulk in the Taika Waititi's directorial.

"Thor: Ragnarok" will see the characters Thor and Hulk battling for the first time. Ruffalo says he has been waiting for this for the past six years.

"It was great to smash him (Thor). I have been waiting for six years to smash him... It was really fun. People always want to see Thor and Hulk fight and I've got to do it in this one," Ruffalo answered to a question from IANS.

But Ruffalo said he wishes that a stand-alone film could be made on his angry green character.

"I'd love that, but that's not going to happen because Universal (Universal Pictures) owns the rights to it," Ruffalo said.

The actor went to Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige to speak about the stand-alone Hulk movie.

"I went to Kevin Feige and he brought me into this. He said 'If you want to make a stand-alone Hulk movie, what would it be?' I said 'I'd like to do this...', and he said 'Let's do that in 'Thor 3', 'Avengers 3' and 'Avengers 4', we will spread it across over those three movies," said the actor.

Apart from being a part of the superhero genre, Ruffalo has worked in several movies including "Begin Again", "Normal Heart" and "Just Like Heaven". How does he balance between different genres?

"It's just more fun. I get bored very easily. So, for me to keep it interesting I like to do different kind of movies," he said.

The actor says that he would like to do theatre more.

"I'd love too (do more theatre work). One good thing about these movies is that it allows me to do these little things that I love," Ruffalo said.

(The writer's trip is at the invitation of Disney. Durga Chakravarty can be contacted at durga.c@ians.in)

--IANS

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India on Sunday issued yet another medical visa to a Pakistani woman seeking an urgent liver transplant.

"We are giving Visa for the liver transplant surgery of Ms.Farzana Ijaz in India," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted in reply to a request from M. Mohsin who describes himself as "a political student keeping a keen eye on day to developments" and made the appeal for his aunt.

This is the seventh such visa issued by India to Pakistani nationals this month.

Last month too, India issued a medical visa to a Pakistani child seeking open heart surgery in India.

On Independence Day, the External Affairs Ministry had announced that India would provide medical visas to all bona fide Pakistani patients.

As ties between the two countries soured over various issues, the ministry had announced in May that only a letter of recommendation by then Pakistan Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz would enable a Pakistani national to get a medical visa for India.

The action was termed "highly regrettable" by Islamabad, which said that asking for such a letter violated diplomatic norms and such a requirement had not been prescribed for any other country.

However, on July 18, a patient from Pakistan-administered Kashmir, seeking treatment in New Delhi for liver tumour, got a visa.

Sushma Swaraj then said that he needed no recommendation from the Pakistani government for a medical visa because the territory "is an integral part of India".

Since August 15, Pakistani nationals seeking medical treatment have not been denied visas.

--IANS

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The Iranian authorities on Sunday blocked its border crossing points with the region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq in response to controversial independence referendum held by the region last month, the media reported.

"Iran has closed its border crossings with the Kurdistan region since this morning," said the official website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a major Kurdish party in which the Iraqi President Fuad Masoum is a leading figure, Xinhua reported.

The Iranian authorities blocked the crossings of Pervez Khan, Bashmakh and Haji Omran, the website quoted Sirwan Mohammed head of the Kurdistan's regional Commerce Chamber in Sulaimaniyah province, as saying.

"The Kurdish authorities do not yet know why these crossings have been closed," Mohammed said.

Earlier, Baghdad adopted punitive measures that included suspension of international flights to the Kurdish region and blocked all the border crossings outside the control of the federal authorities and urged Turkey and Iran to help it implement its measures.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by most other countries, because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against Islamic State militants.

Iraq's neighbouring countries, especially Turkey, Iran and Syria, fear the Iraqi Kurdish independence move would threaten their territorial integrity, as large population of Kurds live in those countries.

The US has repeatedly warned the Kurds to postpone the referendum, saying such move could derail or confuse the war against the IS.

--IANS

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Most of India's pending issues with Iran, especially those relating to payment for import of Iranian oil, have been resolved, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

"There were several pending issues with Iran, particularly relating to the oil payment. Most of them have been resolved," he told reporters on Saturday following a meeting here with Iranian Finance Minister Masoud Karbasian.

Jaitley, who is on a week-long visit to the US, led the Indian delegation to the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, as well as associated meetings.

Jaitley also said that India, which continued to import Iranian oil even during the sanctions regime on Iran imposed by the West, has a very stable relationship with the Persian Gulf nation.

"It's very strategic for us, because the Chabahar port is not only going to service Iran, but also going to service Afghanistan," he said.

India and Iran have agreed to develop the strategic Chabahar port on Iran's southern coast, that will help Indian access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.

As per the agreement with Iran last year, India will equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with a capital investment of $85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of $22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, who is part of Jaitley's delegation, said Karbasian did not raise the issue of US President Donald Trump's latest pronouncements on the Iran nuclear deal during his meeting with Jaitley.

Accusing Iran of violating the international nuclear accord, President Trump, on Friday, threatened to pull the US out of the deal and put sanctions against Iran back into place.

He said he would not certify to the US Congress by Sunday's deadline whether Iran is complying with the accord, a certification the US President is required to make every 90 days.

The Iran nuclear deal was signed in 2015 between then US President Barack Obama's administration, Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the European Union and endorsed thereafter by the UN Security Council through a unanimous vote.

--IANS

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BJP President Amit Shah asserted here on Sunday that his son Jay had done no wrong in his commodities business and so filed a criminal defamation case over a news report against him, while he dared Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to move the court for several allegations made against his family.

At India TV conclave Chunav Manch, Amit Shah said: "Jay has filed a criminal defamation case of Rs 100 crore because he is doing business legally. It doesn't matter what Rahul Gandhi says."

He challenged Gandhi to file criminal defamation case over allegations on him and his family.

"Several allegations were made against him and his family. Did they file a single criminal defamation suit? Let him file," Shah said, alleging that they did not do so because the charges were true.

"Jay has himself gone to court without waiting for demand for inquiry," the BJP chief said.

Shah claimed that Gandhi did not even know the difference between turnover and profit.

"Rahul ji had alleged that Jay had made Rs 80 crore profit, whereas, the fact is it was turnover, and his company faced Rs 1.4 crore loss," he said. Similarly, referring to loans taken by his son, Shah joked that Gandhi did not even know that "there is difference between Line of Credit and loan".

Rejecting the allegation against his son, whose company had reportedly recorded an extraordinary spike in business after the BJP came to power at the Centre, as "without evidence", he said everyone has right to move court.

"My son didn't do any business with government and didn't take any government land and had no connection with contractors," he said.

Asked why Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was asked to address a press conference to defend his son, Shah said: "Piyush Goyal spoke as BJP leader, and not as a minister. We are in public life. Do we not have the right to defend ourselves in public? Do they (Congress) want that we should have remained silent?"

The BJP chief hit out at Gandhi and cautioned him for invoking the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in his poll campaign.

Replying to questions, Amit Shah alleged that the Congress insulted Sardar Patel the most.

"Nobody insulted Sardar Patel more than the Nehru-Gandhi Congress. They prevented him from becoming the PM, ministers were not allowed to attend his funeral, Bharat Ratna was not conferred on him until 1991. Even the Sardar Sarovar dam project was put on hold because it had its name. It was really vindictive."

On Rahul Gandhi's recent remark that it was "shameful" that Sardar's statue was being made in China, Amit Shah snapped back: "The world's tallest statue of Sardar Patel will be erected in Gujarat. People of Gujarat will not tolerate Rahul Gandhi for this joke. The voters of Gujarat will give a stinging reply to this joke."

To a question about the plethora of complaints on the Goods and Services Tax, he said it was the "world's largest tax reform" and there were bound "to be teething problems which are being ironed out".

Shah said that the GST Council has already addressed most of the grievances of traders, exporters and consumers.

He said that a high-level committee would be meeting again on October 20 to decide on some more ticklish issues relating to GST, and asserted that the Narendra Modi Government is fully sensitive to the concerns on GST and would not allow people to face problems.

He also rejected as "baseless" Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan's charge that demonetisation was done to benefit US companies in the guise of digitisation.

He also ruled out possibility of any "third alternative" in Gujarat. "After 1990, the voters of Gujarat had been consistently voting in favour of BJP both in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. There are only two main parties - BJP and Congress. There is no third formation in existence."

Shah expressed confidence that the BJP would get "three-fourth majority" in Gujarat this time, and "will form a government under the leadership of Vijay Rupani".

--IANS

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Employment creation, the global slowdown in investments and the possible impact that the US Federal Reserves move normalise monetary conditions can have on emerging economies are three major policy challenges, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

"The risks posed to emerging markets and developing economies by the US Federal Reserve's steps towards restoring normal monetary conditions, the global slowdown in investments and employment are the three policy challenges," Jaitley said at a discussion here of the International Monetary and Finance Committee (IMFC), according to a statement from the Finance Ministry on Sunday.

Monetary policy tightening in the US could cause capital outflows from emerging economies affecting their current account deficit, he said.

Jaitley also said the highest priority for the government is to create new jobs as millions of young people enter the workforce every year.

"India is currently one of the few large economies in the world in the virtuous phase of its demographic transition and the most important priority of the government is to find ways to provide employment to the 12 million young people entering the workforce annually," he said.

Jaitley, who led the Indian delegation to the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, said the short-term adverse impact of the Goods and Services Tax GST and demonetisation have been mostly overcome.

"Recent data in manufacturing sector indicate that India's growth story is soon getting back to its normal course," he said.

Addressing the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank here on Saturday, he called for urgent revision of the IMF quota in favour of dynamic emerging markets so as to reflect the ground realties of the world and hoped this could be accomplished as part of the 15th General Review of Quotas.

"There is an urgent case for revising quota shares in favour of dynamic emerging market countries in line with global economic realities to maintain fairness in the governance structure of the Fund," he said.

"We should make every effort to complete the 15th Review by the agreed timeline of 2019 Annual Meetings," he added.

Regarding the World Bank Group, Jaitley said the unanimously agreed Lima Roadmap had earlier envisaged a conclusion of the 2015 shareholding review by the Annual Meetings 2017.

"While we note that we failed to deliver it, given the progress that has been made so far, we strongly urge all to commit to deliver an equitable conclusion of this process for both the IBRD and IFC by the Spring Meetings 2018," he said.

"We look for an expeditious decision on capital enhancement through both selective capital increase (SCI) and general capital increase (GCI) for both the IBRD and IFC, by Spring Meetings 2018," he added.

The Indian Finance Minister warned that sudden reversal of monetary accommodation by advanced economies could increase policy strains in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs).

"The risks of growing populism and consequential loss in trade volumes will affect global recovery adversely, and it is incumbent upon all of us to foster cooperative multilateral efforts to boost fair trade practices," he said.

--IANS

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Mexico City will reinforce its earthquake alert system by installing between 800 and 1,000 new speakers on the streets, the government announced.

This comes days after the 7.1 earthquake on September 19 killed 228 people.

Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera told a press conference on Saturday that this expansion will be focused on placing speakers near schools and in vulnerable parts of the city, where people are calling for more support.

"We are carrying out a reinforcement we feel is necessary, above all because people are calling for it," Xinhua quoted Mancera as saying.

Around 8,200 speakers have been placed around the city, along with videocameras, since September 2015 to issue a loud alarm when an earthquake above magnitude 6 is detected.

While the Mayor did not state a cost for the project, he said the new speakers would be installed in the next eight weeks.

Authorities activate the alert to Mexico City residents when sensors along the Pacific Coast receive seismic waves, usually allowing for a minute's warning to the capital.

However, the September 19 earthquake hit far closer to the city, in the state of Morelos, giving no time for such an alert. It brought down 38 buildings and severely damaged around 1,000 more in the capital.

A total of 369 people died nationwide as it also struck the State of Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Guerrero and Oaxaca.

It also came on the heels of another earthquake in early September, which hit with a strength of 8.2 magnitude, killing 98 people in the south of the country and damaging over 100,000 buildings.

The Mexican government has explained that this earthquake has generated over 7,000 aftershocks due to the Cocos tectonic plate suffering an important crack.

--IANS

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Ghatkopar-based NMWS-run school was renamed as 'SIES Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial High School' on Sunday in the presence of 87 students -- the number representing the "87th birthday" of the former President.

The 'North Mumbai Welfare Society' (NMWS), running the school with 3,250 students, had merged with the South Indian Education Society (SIES), Matunga, which runs many educational institutions in Mumbai with over 25,000 students.

The 87 students present unveiled a life-size six-feet statue of Kalam at the school entrance.

Later, SIES President V. Shankar unveiled the renamed school plaque and inaugurated an exhibition "India at 70", which comprises 70 panels dedicated to topics like "Least known facts about India", "Things India has given to the world", "To make a modern India" and "Great achievers of India".

Kalam was the Principal Patron of SIES and also recipient of SIES Lifetime Achievements Award.

"In his honour and memory and in acknowledgement of the significant contribution he made to ignite young minds, we have decided to rename the newly acquired NMWS school after him," Shankar said.

Though satellite stations, roads, educational programmes, and a bacteria ("Solibacillus Kalami", by NASA) have been named after India's Missile Man, "ours is probably the only institution to name a school after Dr Kalam who was fond of children", Shankar said.

The school will showcase books authored by the late President, calling the collection 'Kalam Ki Kalam'.

A kiosk at the school entrance will have some of Kalam's quotes on display all day long, he added.

--IANS

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A senior rebel of the outlawed National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) was arrested on Sunday by security forces in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district, officials said.

Yugdi alias Dangche Cena, a Myanmarese national, was apprehended by personnel of Indian Army's Dah Division, based on specific intelligence about his presence in Longman village to terrorize and attempting extortion in Jairampur circle, said Kohima-based Defence spokesman Chiranjeet Konwer.

A pistol and ammunition was also recovered from his possession.

During preliminary investigation, Yugdi admitted to being active part of NSCN-K since 1984, and has been active member of its extortion network in Arunachal's Changlang and Tirap districts.

He also revealed that he had undergone three months weapons training in Myanmar.

Security forces has been carrying out aggressive operations in south Arunachal Pradesh and this apprehension has struck a blow to the extortion activities being carried out by the underground cadres of the group in the area.

--IANS

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There was never any talk by the Indian government about announcing a fiscal stimulus package for boosting the economy, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley asserted.

"I have not used that phrase (fiscal stimulus). I said we will respond to situations and your fraternity translated the word respond as meaning stimulus," Jaitley told reporters here on Saturday at the end of his week-long official visit to the US.

"So you are the ones who should be answering and not me," he said adding that since it was the Indian media which had mentioned fiscal stimulus, "you should ask them" about it.

Following a sharp fall in latest key macro indicators such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and industrial production, Jaitley, last month, hinted at a package of measures to boost the economy. But he refused to divulge details, saying the measures would be unveiled only after consultation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We have taken note of all the economic indicators that are available. This has been a pro-active government on the reforms agenda. I have had a series of discussions with ministerial colleagues and various secretaries.

"The government will take additional measures in the coming days after consulting the Prime Minister. Whenever the measures are taken, you will come to know of it," Jaitley told reporters in New Delhi following a meeting of the union cabinet.

Jaitley also told reporters here that there is much interest about India in the US and among its investors.

"There is great interest about India in the US and among its investors. Both those inside the government and the US companies have shown great interest in investing in India now," he said."

Jaitley, who led the Indian delegation to the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, also said that American companies are investing in India in a big way.

"You have Indians investing in the US, you have US companies investing in India. And, in November, a large contingent of US corporates is coming to India to invest," he said."

--IANS

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The nexus between politicians and Maoists was an open secret. It has now come to be further unravelled with the arrest by the NIA of former Minister Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Peter for the murder of JD-U legislator Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008.

Munda was killed by Maoist guerrillas at a public meeting on the outskirts of Ranchi. According to National Investigation Agency sources, the Maoists were given a Rs 5 crore contract for the assassination.

The murder mystery was unveiled after a Maoist commander, Kundan Pahan, carrying a Rs 10 lakh reward and allegedly involved in the killing, surrendered in May and divulged details of many other cases. The NIA then stepped into the picture.

Till now, the case was buried in the police files. Vikas Munda, the slain legislator's son, had sat on a hunger strike after Pahan surrendered.

"More people could be exposed for my father's murder. My father was killed by hatching a conspiracy. Nothing was done in the last nine years to solve the murder mystery. We want justice," Vikas Munda had said after Raja Peter's arrest.

Raja Peter had created history in January 2009 by defeating then Chief Minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren from the Tamar assembly constituency, whose seat fell vacant after Ramesh Singh Munda's murder. He then became a minister.

Along with Raja Peter, the NIA also arrested Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sheshnath Singh, Munda's bodyguard who allegedly passed on information about the victim to the Maoists.

The arrest of the ASI has also exposed the police nexus with the Maoists, sources said, adding Raja Peter's arrest could only be the tip of the iceberg.

Munda's is not the only political killing by Maoist guerrillas.

Sunil Mahto, the JMM's Lok Sabha MP from Jamshedpur, was gunned down by Maoist guerrillas in March 2007. The ultras killed CPI-ML legislator Mahendra Singh in January 2005. The police haven't been able to solve the two cases, one of which has been handed over to the CBI.

This apart, in October 2007, 20 people including the son of former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi were gunned down by Maoists at Chilkhari village of Giridih district when they were watching a cultural show. The main accused, Jitan Marandi, a Maoist commander, has been acquitted in the case.

Two IPS officers, Ajay Kumar and Amarjeet Balihar, have also been killed by the Maoists. There has been no breakthrough in both the cases.

Jharkhand Home Secretary S.K.G Rahate, when asked if the other political murders would be handed over to the NIA, told IANS: "We cannot comment now."

Sunil Mahto's widow, Suman Mahto, also wants to know the brain behind her husband's killing. The case was handed over to the CBI, which filed charge-sheets against some Maoists, including Ranjit Pal alias Rahul. Rahul surrendered before the Bengal police but the CBI could not obtain his remand.

The BJP has demanded a review of the cases relating to political murders.

"The political murders which had taken place should be reviewed by the state government. In none of the cases have the final findings come before the people. The state government should hand over the probe to a competent agency to unravel the reasons behind the murders," Deepak Prakash, the state BJP vice president, told IANS.

The Congress has demanded that investigation regarding Maoists be handed over to the NIA.

"All the political murders linked to Maoists should be handed over to NIA so that the truth comes before the people. The political patronage should also be probed," Jharkhand Congress general secretary Kishore Sahdeo told IANS.

More than 400 security personnel and more than 1,000 civilians have been killed since Jharkhand was created in November 2000.

(Nityanand Shukla can be contacted at nityanand.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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The number of North Koreans fleeing the isolated country to South Korea dropped almost 15 per cent in the first nine months of 2017, according to figures released on Sunday.

In total, 881 North Koreans defected to South Korea, down from 1,036 in the same period last year, a fall of 14.9 per cent, Yonhap News Agency reported citing statistics from the Unification Ministry.

There were reports of stricter surveillance and ramped up security on the border under the rule of leader Kim Jong-un, who took power in Pyongyang in 2011 on the death of his father.

Just over 31,000 North Korean defectors were registered with South Korea's Unification Ministry in September, 71 per cent of them women.

--IANS

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Pakistan and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sunday to foster improved border security management, Radio Pakistan reported.

The MoU was inked during the 21st two-day meeting of Pakistan-Iran Joint Border Commission, held in Gwadar port city on the southwestern coast of Balochistan, in Pakistan.

Joint proposals pertaining to the border situation, security matters, immigration and border trade between the two countries also came under discussion.

The two sides reiterated their firm resolve to check drugs smuggling, intrusion of illegal immigrants and not allow use of their respective soils for terrorism against each other.

Provincial Chief Secretary Aurangzeb Haque led the Pakistani side while Deputy Governor Sistan-Baluchistan province Ali Asghar Mir Shikari headed the Iranian delegation at the meeting.

--IANS

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Congress leader Randeep Surjewala on Sunday said the people of the country were fed up of the "political rhetoric" of Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and it would not work any more.

"There is a difference between jimmewari (responsibilty) and jumlebazi (rhetoric). Only bhashan (speeches), but no shasan (governance) won't work anymore," Surjewala said here at a conclave of India TV.

He said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had changed himself and no one should have any problem if he goes to temples.

"Worshiping religion and visiting temples is everyone's right. If Rahul Gandhi or any other leader visits temples, what is the problem? Temples or God cannot belong to anyone. Rahul Gandhi has strong beliefs in temples and God and he does not differentiate between different religions," he said.

Surjewala came down heavily on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath for his jibe that the Congress loses wherever Rahul Gandhi goes for campaigning.

"Yogiji is a Chief Minister in whose constituency deaths of around 60 children have taken place. Under his leadership, no community is safe. So, before targetting someone, he should see his own faults," the Congress leader said.

Adityanath attacked the Congress Vice President while campaigning in Valsad in Gujarat as part of the BJP's 'Gaurav Yatra'.

--IANS

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy after US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan, acknowledging its help in securing the release of an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror network.

"Modiji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug," Gandhi tweeted.

Along with the tweet, the Congress leader also posted a screen grab of Trump's latest statement that the US was "starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders", thanking Islamabad "for their cooperation on many fronts".

Trump had earlier lashed out at Pakistan, accusing it of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting".

Trump's criticism of Pakistan came after Modi's US visit in June. The Prime Minister was seen hugging Trump who described Modi as a "true friend".

--IANS

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Actor and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP says he might have been absent from an event that was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Patna but he is always there for the country's "biggest action hero".

Speculation is rife in political corridors on Shatrughan Sinha's exclusion. He said: "It's nothing like that. I am always there for India's biggest action hero, our beloved Prime Minister. It's just that the invitation to join him reached me a bit late."

Apparently, the invite for the Saturday event came to the actor at 10 pm on Friday.

Brushing aside the ifs and whys of the delayed invite, he said: "Whether I was there or not my wish to see Modiji and Nitish Kumarji (Bihar Chief Minister) on the same platform came true finally. I've been keen to see this happen for some time. I only hope the camaraderie between them is long-lasting."
Electric-car maker Tesla has fired hundreds of workers, including engineers, managers and factory workers, after a series of performance reviews over the week.

According to The Mercury News, Tesla said it regularly conducts annual performance reviews that often result in promotions or bonuses as well as dismissals.

"As with any company, especially one of over 33,000 employees, performance reviews also occasionally result in employee departures. Tesla is continuing to grow and hire new employees around the world," the American firm was quoted as saying.

Although Tesla confirmed the dismissals, it did not reveal the exact number.

The sacking came at a time when the automaker is trying to increase the production of its first mass-market vehicle, the Model 3 sedan.

The report pointed out the firings could indicate that personnel problems have contributed to the early troubles in manufacturing the Model 3.

With a sticker price starting about $35,000, the new car is designed to compete with several gasoline-powered sedans as well as electric vehicles produced by automakers such as General Motors and Nissan.

Tesla built about 25,000 vehicles in the three months that ended September 30 but only 260 of those were Model 3s -- considerably fewer than the 1,500 it had projected.

The automaker has attributed the low production rate of the new car to unexpected bottlenecks in its manufacturing system.

Meanwhile, a Tesla representative said the dismissals would not have an effect on Model 3 production and that a "vast majority" of the vacant positions would be filled with new hires.

The overall attrition rate of employees will be about the same as last year, the company was quoted as saying.

--IANS

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The discovery of three decomposed bodies late on Saturday in Bangladesh, thought to be of Rohingya refugees from a boat that capsized a week ago, raised the number of deaths to 34 in the accident, including at least 18 children.

The bodies were found by people in Shah Porir Dwip village, situated off the Bay of Bengal close to Galar Char - where a boat capsized on October 8 - Main Uddin, the officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station in southeastern Bangladesh, told EFE.

Uddin said the bodies were found when they washed ashore during low tide.

Although it was not positively confirmed, both the police and locals believed that the bodies were those of victims of a boat that capsized on October 8 while carrying refugees fleeing Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the refugee influx continued in Bangladesh.

According to the UN, around 536,000 Rohingyas have arrived in Bangladesh fleeing violence in Myanmar since the end of August.

--IANS

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Responding to high-profile #WomenBoycottTwitter protest, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has said that the company was now changing its policies around how it vets content.

In a series of tweets, Dorsey said that the social network would up its game when it comes to monitoring content and policing hateful and harassing tweets on the platform after the company took several critical decisions late on Saturday.

The response comes after thousands of Twitter users on Friday called for a boycott of the micro blogging site after it temporarily suspended the account of actress Rose McGowan who had tweeted about sexual assault and harassment in Hollywood, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

A movement began around the hashtag #WomenBoycottTwitter, encouraging women to avoid the platform on Friday, October 13.

Dorseyat that time wrote: "We need to be a lot more transparent in our actions in order to build trust."

"Twitter will take a 'more aggressive stance' regarding its rules involving 'unwanted sexual advances, non-consensual nudity, hate symbols, violent groups and tweets that glorify violence," Dorsey tweeted.

He said the changes would start going into effect in the next few weeks and that the company would provide more details next week.

--IANS

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Former Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela on Sunday said that people of Gujarat are now looking towards a "third alternative", as they are unhappy with both the BJP and the Congress.

"The people of Gujarat voted for Congress since 1960, but their expectations were belied. They have been voting the BJP to power for last 22 years. But now, the voters are looking towards a third alternative, and that is where (the recently-formed political forum) Jan Vikalp comes up," Vaghela said at India TV conclave.

Vaghela, who was Leader of the Opposition, announced his resignation from the Congress on his 77th birthday on July 21, which was soon followed by the resignation of six legislators who joined the BJP ahead of the August 7 Rajya Sabha election.

Vaghela had on September 19 announced his support to a third front - Jan Vikalp - in the state which was announced by Parthesh Patel, a former social media adviser to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and now to Vaghela. It has not been registered as a political party.

The former Congress leader also rejected the charges that he was trying to divide anti-BJP votes.

"Was Arvind Kejriwal trying to divide votes of Congress or BJP in Delhi? Was Mamata Banerjee trying to divide votes of Left and Congress in West Bengal?.

"The of third alternative works in the entire country. To say that ours is a B team of BJP or C team of Congress is incorrect," he said.

However, Vaghela sidestepped queries about the likely result of Gujarat elections, saying: "The people of Gujarat will win. But it will not be easy to defeat the BJP, because it is in power both at the Centre and in Gujarat."

He also claimed that the Congress could have achieved majority in 2012 elections. "But 28 candidates were changed half an hour before the closing of nominations. The High Command had intervened at the eleventh hour. We won 60 seats, and if we had won 28 more, we could have achieved majority mark in 2012," he said.

The senior Gujarat leader revealed that BJP had offered him a Lok Sabha nomination in 2014, but he refused. "I was not ready to sacrifice my self-respect."

Asked about what he told Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his ear after hugging him in 2014, Vaghela replied: "Well, it was I who started his hugging habit. He (Modi) then hugged (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, (the US President Barack) Obama, and now (Donald) Trump.

"But the issues that I had raised at that time remain. I had spoken about big expectations of people, return of Kashmiri Pandits to valley, Ram temple in Ayodhya and removal of Article 370. Nothing has been achieved so far," he said.

"As for what I spoke in Modiji's ear, that forever shall remain a secret," he added.

--IANS

aks/vd

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Weinstein Company has pulled actor Benedict Cumberbatch-starrer "The Current War" from its planned November release date. It has been pushed to an undecided 2018 release in the wake of Harvey Weinstein scandal.

"The Current War", directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, was originally scheduled to open in a limited number of theatres on November 24.

The film's writer Michael Mitnik also dropped out of a panel that was scheduled for Thursday night at the New York Film Festival. Sources said Mitnick decided it wouldn't be appropriate to promote "The Current War" due to the scandal surrounding TWC founder Harvey Weinstein, reports variety.com.

Weinstein is at the center of a still-unfolding scandal in which eight women were stated in a New York Times report as having received settlements from Weinstein after levelling sexual harassment allegations at the producer.

On Tuesday, a second report from the New Yorker worsened the crisis, adding three claims of rape to the allegations.

Since then, close to three dozen women, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, have come forward with instances of inappropriate behaviour from Weinstein, who was fired from TWC.

--IANS

nn/mr

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Consumer issues come last on regulators priority. Even the celebrated public intellectual Raghuram Rajan made only passing references to consumer issues, if at all, in his speeches. And so, it was startling to note that my rant over four that banks are cheating those taking floating rate loans found a loud echo in the Report of the Internal Study Group to Review the Working of the Marginal Cost of Funds Based Lending Rate (MCLR) System, headed by Janak Raj. Incidentally, the report has been on the RBI website for over nine days now, but the media has somehow ignored its importance.
AUDIT COMMITTEE



For rewards, get execution right



The Uday Kotak committee has further enhanced the role and responsibilities of audit committees by recommending:



Expansion of nature and type of disclosures such as long- and medium-term strategy and valuation reports in searchable and standard format

Focus on key deltas in financial indicators and their causes

Capital deployment details to be disclosed

Analysis and comments on audit qualifications

Enhanced quarterly disclosures, scope of internal controls and the need to establish guidelines for audit quality

Auditor credentials disclosure, fees and reasons for resignation

Source: Prime Database; Universe: 1,670 companies listed on NSE

More frequent audit committee meetings, with sharp agenda items on cyber security, the vigil mechanism, the quality and effectiveness of internal controls, enhancing the quality of disclosures and valuation processes for various purposes.

Longer meetings with a great deal of preparation. More than power points, a continuous engagement with the chief financial officer and company secretary will be crucial to bring about real change.

Very stringent processes for accomplishing the onerous tasks, requiring planning and engagement of a much higher order.

As a set of individuals involved in this very special task, all of us will have to raise our commitment, engagement and time spent. The rewards will be for those who get the implementation right. Boards will have to give enough time to audit committees to present their findings. Ultimately, I have no doubt that this will lead to better shareholder value creation.
Former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot is currently the in-charge of the Congress partys election preparedness in Gujarat. He tells Archis Mohan that the Congress is in the process of building a broad alliance with like minded leaders and parties in Gujarat against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Two days before Jharkhands former minister Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Peter was arrested for allegedly paying Maoists to kill his rival, two armed persons struck at Lachragad village in Simdega district, in another corner of the state.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting the Kedarnath shrine in Uttarakhand on Friday. He is also likely to spend Diwali with Indo-Tibetan Border Police troopers near the China border, but the schedule is yet to be finalised. The PM is scheduled to visit the shrine a day after Diwali and will inaugurate a number of projects, including a temple protection wall that would block 2013-like floods from hitting the shrine, party sources said.
On a one-day visit to Bihar, Prime Minister on Saturday said he and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would take the state to new heights of development even as he announced that infrastructure projects of Rs 53,000 crore were underway or completed in the state.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Sunday accused cousin Uddhav Thackeray and the Shiv Sena of "horse-trading", two days after six MNS corporators defected to the Sena.

"These municipal corporators have been bought over by Shiv Sena. Money was thrown to break these (MNS) corporators," Raj said, in the most direct attack on his estranged cousin till date.

Raj backed it up with a sensational revelation that the corporators were bought over "for Rs 5 crore each by Shiv Sena".

He claimed that the people were fed up with Shiv Sena's dirty and "it's because of Uddhav's low-level that even I quit that party".

He warned that people of the state won't forget this and "I shall also remember it".

The MNS chief also dismissed suggestions that he (Raj) had entered into a secret political deal with the Shiv Sena.

"I have not sent these six corporators... Why should I? If I wanted, I would have despatched all my seven corporators... The Shiv Sena is spreading canards against me," Raj said.

He admitted that he had always helped his cousin's party, "but this was not expected of the Shiv Sena".

On Friday, in a political development that shocked the MNS and Bharatiya Janata Party, six out of seven MNS corporators in BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) defected to the Shiv Sena.

With this, the ruling Sena strength in the 227-member shot up from 83 to 89. It also has the support of independents.

The strength of the BJP, which won a bypoll in Bhandup, shot up to 83. Two independents also support it.

After the Bhandup win, the BJP had claimed it would soon topple the Shiv Sena and install its own Mayor on the country's biggest and richest civic body.
There was a time when the name Sukh Ram, a Congress leader from Himachal Pradesh, had become synonymous with that of the archetypal corrupt Indian politician. In 1996, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had seized Rs 3.6 crore in cash stashed in suitcases from Sukh Rams residence. He was the communication minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government. The episode came to be known as the Telecom scam.
Congress vice-president on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his claims of growing friendship between India and the United States, also sweeping United States President Donald Trump and Pakistan away in a single stroke.

Responding to Trump's tweet that talked of America's evolving friendship with Pakistan, took to Twitter and wrote, "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

Trump's tweet had come a day after the Pakistani security forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the clutches of the Haqqani terror network, operative in Islamabad.

In a marked turnaround of sorts, Trump had earlier accused Pakistan of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately." This was after Prime Minister Modi's June visit to the U.S. wherein Trump's description of the former as a 'true friend' had set the tone for a successful bilateral meeting between the two nations, and rightly so, from their bear-hug to their praises for each other, everything reeked of a growing bonhomie between the world leaders.

The Congress had back then too downplayed the essentiality of the visit and its aftermath.

Meanwhile, several media reports have cornered Trump over his sudden claims of growing ties with Pakistan, accusing him of going back on his word and policies of counter-terrorism.

Reports also say that officials in India are now keen to see the follow-up actions of the U.S. President.

The tweet is also likely to become a part of the discussions between Indian leaders and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, when he visits India in the last week of October.
Twenty-four terrorists and six soldiers were killed today as armed forces foiled terror attacks in Egypt's restive North Sinai region, the army said.

One terrorist was also injured during the clashes, military spokesman Tamer el-Refae said in a statement.

The armed forces also destroyed two vehicles which were used by terrorists, the statement added.

The forces are currently combing the area of the incident and chasing the attackers.

North Sinai has witnessed many terrorist attacks since the January 2011 revolution that toppled ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

The attacks, mainly targeting police and military, increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by the military following massive protests against his rule.

Hundreds of police and army personnel have been killed since then.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twenty-six passengers on the Mumbai- bound Tejas Express from Goa fell ill today after breakfast due to food poisoning, a senior official of the Konkan Railway said.

The train was stopped at the Chiplun station in Maharashtra and all 26 people were admitted to the city's Life Care hospital. Their condition is not serious, Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told PTI.

Chiplun is nearly 300 km from Karmali in Goa, the departure station of the Tejas Express.

Railway Ministry Spokesperson Anil Saxena, however, said 22 passengers took ill after consuming breakfast.

"The train departed at 9 AM from Karmali and 230 passengers were served breakfast on board. A group of seven passengers complained of nausea and were attended to by the on-board supervisor.

"Meanwhile, two groups of passengers, numbering 15, also complained of nausea," he said in New Delhi.

Saxena said a show cause notice has been served to the catering contractor and "strict action is contemplated" if he is found guilty.

"An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause. The kitchen, where the food was prepared, was inspected by the Madgaon area officer after the incident and samples, including soup sachets, have been taken for testing," he said.

General Manager of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Arvind Malkhade has proceeded for Chiplun to coordinate the arrangements at the hospital and ensure that the victims were given proper care, he said.

Proper arrangements would also be made for their onward journey after their discharge from the hospital, Saxena added.

Tejas Express, one of the premium trains of the Indian Railways, connects Mumbai with Karmali.

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Three suspected drug peddlers were arrested and narcotics, including heroin, were seized from them in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said today.

Om Prakash, Wasim Shah and Manawar Farooq were "notorious" drug peddlers and were arrested during a vehicle check at Manjakote town last evening, a police spokesman said.

He said the trio, on noticing policemen, stopped their vehicle and tried to flee.

"The trio were arrested and a search led to the recovery of narcotics, including heroin, from their possession," the spokesman said.

He said a case under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against them.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three people have been arrested today in connection with the attack here on an auto-rickshaw driver and his friends by a group of cow vigilantes over suspicion that they were carrying beef, police said.

Those arrested have been identified as locals Lakhan, Dileep, Ram Kumar, a police official said, adding they were being questioned at the Assistant Commissioner of Police's office in Mujesar.

ACP (Mujesar) Radhshyam said the arrested trio was being quizzed and others involved in the case will be held soon.

On October 13 morning, the auto-rickshaw driver Azad along with his four friends was on their way from Fatehpur Billauch to Old Faridabad when 15-20 men intercepted their vehicle near Bajri village, the police said.

According to Azad, the group thrashed them and then called up the police. They handed Azad over to the police alleging that he was a cow-smuggler, a police official said.

The official said that based on the complaint of the group, initially a case was registered against the auto- rickshaw driver under the laws related to cow slaughter.

However, it emerged during the initial probe that it was buffalo meat that Azad and his friends were transporting.

"In the initial investigation, it was found that it was buffalo meat and not beef that was being transported. Therefore, a case under relevant sections was registered on the complaint of Azad. Further action will be taken after probing the matter," SHO, Mujesar police station, Vinod Singh, had said yesterday.

The meat has been sent to a forensic lab for further tests, he had said.

Earlier one Bittu Bajrangi, who identified himself as the chief of the 'Gorakhsha Bajrang Force', told the police that members of his group had suspected beef being carried in the auto-rickshaw.

According to Bittu, soon a crowd gathered at the spot which thrashed the five men, the SHO said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Ahead of Diwali, the food safety department of Uttar Pradesh conducted raids in two houses here today, seized 35 quintals of adulterated sweets and arrested one person.

Rajesh Kumar Agrahari, an officer of the food safety department, said the raids were conducted in Sangam Park and Adarsh Nagar of Khoda Colony.

The sweets were stored in unhygienic conditions, he said.

A part of the seized sweets was to be delivered to shops in Delhi and NCR.

A truck in which adulterated sweets were being transported to Delhi was also seized near Duhai village on the Delhi- Meerut road and its driver, Tehseen, was arrested, the officer said.

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Four paramilitary soldiers were killed and three others injured today in an improvised explosive device blast at a check-post in northwestern Pakistan, officials said.

The IED was planted by terrorists near the Pak-Afghan border in Kharlachi near Kohat region.

The security forces rushed to the site and cordoned off the entire area and started a search operation.

The blast came a few days after the Pakistan Army recovered a Canadian-American family in the agency from captivity.

Earlier, officials had said that the area was hit by landmine blasts.

Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border.

The region was claimed by the military to have been cleared of insurgents during an operation a few years ago. However, militants still carry out sectarian attacks and also target security forces occasionally.

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The Allahabad High Court has castigated the CBI for its theory on the murder of domestic help Hemraj in the Aarushi murder case, saying it is an "impossible hypothesis" and "patently absurd".

In its 273-page verdict acquitting dentists Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and Hemraj, it also said the prosecution "miserably failed" to prove that the Talwars had destroyed material evidence and added that the finding recorded to the contrary by the trial court could not be maintained.

Analysing the prosecution case, a division bench of justices B K Narayana and A K Mishra refused to agree with the submission of CBI lawyer Anurag Khanna that the conduct of the dentist couple on finding their only daughter murdered, as noticed by the witnesses, was another circumstance which indicated their complicity.

The court said it was unable to agree with the contention of the probe agency as "different persons react differently in a given situation".

Justices Narayana and Mishra made the observations last week while allowing the appeals of Nupur and Rajesh Talwar against a Ghaziabad CBI court verdict sentencing them life term for the murder of 14-year-old Aarushi and Hemraj.

"The prosecution theory that the appellants had hidden the dead body of Hemraj on the terrace of their flat is patently absurd and improbable...," the court said.

It said this theory contemplated an "impossible hypothesis" that the body was hidden by the Talwars on their terrace with the intention of disposing it of on getting a suitable opportunity.

The court said the theory was based on the hypothesis that the Noida Police would not be able to find the body on the terrace on May 16, 2008 when Aarushi was found dead in her room in the Talwar residence by her parents with her throat slit.

Hemraj's body was found the next day. The Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe into the case from the Noida Police.

Coming down heavily on the prosecution, the court said on careful evaluation of the evidence of four police personnel, it transpired that the prosecution witnesses made material improvements in their evidence tendered during the trial.

Their testimonies during the trial were "conspicuous by their absence in their previous statements recorded under Section 161 Cr.P.C. (by the police)," it said.

The witnesses were the Superintendent of Police, Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Inspector Data Ram Naunaria and Sub Inspector Bachchoo Singh, the judges said, adding that contrary to his previous statement, Mishra had stated in court that Rajesh Talwar was reluctant to identify the body of 45-year-old Hemraj.

Similar was the case with Naunaria and Bachchoo Singh, they said.

Justices Narayana and Mishra said the circumstances lent credence to another theory that the murder of Hemraj was committed on the terrace of the flat near a cooler.

They said as the prosecution failed to pick up fingerprints of the persons who had put the cooler panel on the body of Hemraj, the court did not consider it proper to presume that the panel was put on the body by the Talwars in the absence of cogent evidence.

"In fact, the CBI has miserably failed to lead any evidence which may even remotely suggest that Hemraj was murdered in the bedroom of Aarushi and then his dead body was wrapped in a bed sheet and dragged from Aarushi's bedroom upto the terrace," the judges said.

The court also said that the non-breaking of the terrace door lock was not on account of non-availability of the key of the terrace door but due to the negligent and callous approach of the Investigating Officer of the case, Data Ram Naunaria.

Moreover, the prosecution has failed to prove by any cogent evidence that the Talwar duo, despite being in possession of the key of the terrace door lock, had refused to make it available to the police, they said.

"The prosecution's allegation in this regard, therefore, is baseless and wholly irrelevant for fastening the appellants with the guilt," the court said.
In a blow to the Congress ahead of Assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Rural Development minister Anil Sharma today quit the Virbhadra Singh government and joined the BJP.

Sharma, son of former Union Communication Minister Sukh Ram, said, "I have quit the Himachal cabinet and joined the BJP today".

Sharma said he has been given a party ticket from Mandi.

"I have been given BJP ticket from Mandi and the party has informed me about this, he said.

Himachal Pradesh is slated to go to polls on November 9 and the development comes as a blow for Virbhadra Singh who was declared the party's poll face last week.

Sharma alleged that he and his father were being sidelined and ignored in the Congress party.

He alleged that the AICC General Secretary had invited Sukh Ram to attend the rally of Rahul Gandhi in Mandi but when he reached the spot, he was asked not to attend the rally.

Is Sukh Ram not a member of the Congress," he asked.

"I was not included in any of the committees for the assembly polls and when I asked about this from HPCC president, he said that my name was deleted at the higher level which hurt me and I decided to quit," he said.

The Mandi seat was represented by Sukh Ram from 1962 till November 1984, when he was elected to Lok Sabha and his protg D.D.Thakur won the seat in 1985 while the BJP wrested the seat in 1990.

In the 1993 Assembly poll, his son Anil Sharma won from Mandi but after Sukh Ram's name surfaced in the Telecom scam, he was expelled from the Congress and formed Himachal Vikas Congress which entered into a post poll alliance with BJP and joined the government.

While Sukh Ram won from Mandi, Anil Sharma was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998.

In the 2003 Assembly polls, Sukh Ram was the sole HVC member to win the election from Mandi but he joined the Congress ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Anil Sharma again won from Mandi in 2007 and 2012 as a Congress candidate and is set to contest as a BJP candidate this time.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Baghdad today said that PKK fighters were among Kurdish forces in a standoff with the Iraqi army in the disputed oil province of Kirkuk, in what it said amounted to a "declaration of war".

The National Security Council said it viewed as a "dangerous escalation" and a "declaration of war" the presence of "fighters not belonging to the regular security forces in Kirkuk", including fighters from Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

"It is impossible to remain silent" faced with "a declaration of war towards Iraqis and government forces", the council headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said in a statement.

"The central government and regular forces will carry out their duty of defending the Iraqi people in all its components including the Kurds, and of defending Iraq's sovereignty and unity," it added.

The statement came just hours before the expiry of a deadline for Kurdish peshmerga fighters to withdraw from areas they took in Kirkuk in 2014 during the fightback against the Islamic State jihadist group.

Crisis talks today made little headway in resolving an armed standoff between Kurdish and Iraqi forces in the province.

Tensions have soared between the central government and Iraqi Kurds since they overwhelmingly voted for independence in a September 25 referendum, whose results Baghdad has demanded be nullified.

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Bangladesh's first Hindu Chief Justice S K Sinha will face probe for "grave" graft charges and moral lapses, the Law Minister said today, a day after he was accused of money laundering following his departure to Australia.

Minister Anisul Huq said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) will investigate "almost all of the allegations" levelled against Sinha by the country's president Abdul Hamid.

"Nobody is above the law," Huq told reporters after the apex court issued the statement, sparking a media uproar.

He, however, said "it is the prerogative of the President to take (the subsequent) actions if the charges are proved".

The government's row with the judiciary sparked in July this year when the apex court delivered a verdict declaring void 16th constitutional amendment, scrapping parliament's authority over impeaching Supreme Court judges.

In an unusual move, the country's Supreme Court (SC) said yesterday the apex court judges earlier this month decided not to sit in the bench of Sinha over 11 "grave" charges brought brought to their notice against him by the President.

The Supreme Court issued a statement as Sinha overnight left for Australia, saying he was "embarrassed" over the controversy surrounding his July ruling. He also denied claims by the government that he was sick.

"I am not sick (as claimed by the government) and I am not fleeing either," Sinha said while leaving, adding that his departure was "temporary".

"What he (Sinha) said (ahead of his departure) is a lie," Huq said reading out Sinha's letter to the president in which he had conveyed to him about his sickness and willingness to go abroad.

Asked if Sinha could resume office on return after the one-month leave, Huq answered in negative, saying "he does not have the scope to resume office until the disposal of the allegations".

Huq, however, said since the Chief Justice's office is an "institution" nothing would be done in haste and all steps would be taken in adherence to the law of the land.

The Supreme Court statement said President Hamid on September 30 had invited all the five apex court judges to Bangabhaban presidential palace barring the chief justice and held a long discussion.

"The honourable president handed over to them the evidence of 11 specific allegations against Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha," it said, adding that it included some grave charges like money laundering, financial irregularities, corruption and moral lapses.

The five judges, it said, then met the chief justice at his official residence on the same day and raised the matter seeking his explanation.

"But despite long discussion the five judges of Appellate Division didn't get any acceptable explanation or reply from him (Sinha) and so all of them clearly conveyed to him that until the disposal of those charges it will not be possible for them to share with him the bench to deliver justice," it read.

Sinha told them that "he will resign" but he would let them know about his final decision on October 2.

"(But) on October 2, 2017, without informing anything to those aforesaid judges, he filed an application to the honourable president seeking one month leave and the president subsequently approved it," the statement said.

The July verdict declaring void 16th constitutional amendment was hailed by lawyers as a crucial step towards a secular judiciary in the Muslim-majority nation.

The dispute grew in the subsequent weeks as several senior government leaders virtually attacked Sinha over his comments blasting the government for its reaction and referred to Pakistan's instance where former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was stripped of his premiership under an apex court ruling.

Prime Minister Hasina accused him of defaming parliament and president and "humiliating" Bangladesh by referring to Pakistan's instance premier's removal saying "he (chief justice) should have quit (and) the most humiliating thing is the comparison with Pakistan which is intolerable".

Sinha, Bangladesh's first Hindu chief justice whose tenure expires in January 2018, in his written statement said he was a "bit worried about the independence of the judiciary".

He complained that the judge who became the acting chief justice to perform the "routine" job in his absence was encouraged by the government to bring changes to the Supreme Court administration soon.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union Minister C R Chaudhary today asked the chambers to act as facilitators to raise employability in the small scale sector.

"The government is working on three planks -- maximum production with quality, maximum employment and maximum export," Chaudhary, the junior minister for Consumer Affairs and Commerce & Industry said at the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce here.

"We are aiming at more production, more export, more investment and more employment," he said,



Expressing his government's resolve to encourage small enterprises, including start-ups, he said the government is committed to promote start-ups and financial incentives are being given to them depending on the viability of the project.

"The chambers can act as facilitators," he said and added, there is no dearth of brain in the country but the employability of the present generation needs to be ensured.

The minister felt demonestisation and GST, initiated by his government, will transform the economy.

"After the exporters talked about a problem with regard to GST, I requested the Union Finance Minister to sit for a meeting with them. In a series of discussions afterwards on October 6, this liquidity issue faced by the exporters was addressed and we are evolving a mechanism that may take just a couple of days' time," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Having trounced the BJP's nominee in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypolls, Congress leader Sunil Jakhar today said the saffron party must read the writing on the wall now.

Jakhar, who is the chief of Punjab Congress, defeated his nearest rival BJP nominee Swaran Salaria with a margin of 1,93,219 votes, poll official said.

"The BJP must read the writing on the wall now," Jakhar said after his emphatic win.

"People have rejected the BJP and also shown mirror to (their ally) the Akalis," he said.

As such the Akalis were wiped out six months ago when they were relegated to the third place in the Punjab assembly elections, he said.

"Now, I think this (Gurdaspur win of Congress) will be the beginning of disintegration of SAD because nobody has seen Prakash Singh Badal for the last six months. The new leadership under Sukhbir Singh Badal is on the verge of disintegration. I think the entire SAD is going to be reformed under some new leadership, I believe," Jakhar said.

To a question, Jakhar said Sukhbir Badal and other Akali Dal leaders had all along been saying that Gurdaspur bypolls will be a referendum on the six-month-old Congress government.

"Now, Sukhbir will have to eat his own words.Where will Akalis go and hide their faces now, people have reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of Amarinder Singh and at the same time expressed anguish at the NDA government led by Narendra Modi," Jakhar said.

Jakhar also gave credit for his victory to the people and Congress workers who tirelessly worked over the past several weeks to enable him register a thumping win.

"This victory is also a victory of the Congress party, this win is a win of Amarinder Singh's leadership as people have reaffirmed their faith in him," he said.

To a query, Jakhar said people of Gurdaspur had rejected the 'outsider card' which the opposition parties in Punjab had tried to play against him as he did not belong to Gurdaspur.

"I am thankful to people who gave me their overwhelming love and support. I thank the people for placing their trust in me and my party under the leadership of Amarinder Singh and the would-be president Rahul Gandhi," he said.

Crediting the people of Gurdaspur for the victory, Congress workers, senior leadership and chief minister Amarinder Singh for his huge win, Jakhar said he was well aware of the responsibilities this victory carries.

"I am very well aware of the responsibilities this victory carries and I think I will be quite able to raise people's concerns in Parliament," Jakhar said.

It was an early Diwali at the Congress office as party workers distributed sweets in Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar.

At Gurdaspur, Congress workers celebrated by distributing 'laddoos' as some workers could be seen dancing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The mysterious 'braid choppers' in the Kashmir Valley are emerging as an alibi for some people to get out of their troubles or settle scores, debunking the theory floated by anti-national elements that put the blame for the panic wave on central agencies, the state police said.

The Jammu and Kashmir police has detected cases where people have beaten up their business rivals, stalkers and even migrant labourers on suspicions of them being braid choppers.

The recent 'braid chopper' episodes that have triggered panic in the Valley are being claimed by the separatists as the handiwork of central agencies to divert attention from their anti-national agenda and demand of 'Azadi'.

However, in a number of cases the police have found that people have used the excuse to escape from their own troubles.

Director General of Police S P Vaid says it is a mass hysteria that is being generated by certain vested interests to whip up tension in the Valley.

"Some people are accusing security forces of braid chopping in the Valley only to create an unrest. We have formed teams in every area to provide assistance but people who make such allegations don't step forward for help.

"We have a team of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Deputy Superintendent of Police and a lady doctor in every district. We have to examine the victims who claim braid chopping. They have to step forward and allow us to carry out psychological analysis. But that does not happen," Vaid told PTI here.

He also said that in various cases it was found that some people who were beaten for being alleged braid choppers turned out to be cases involving either persons having a love affair or a business or a personal rivalry or the matter involved high charges for labour work.

"This trend has emerged and will not be tolerated. Police will take strict action in such cases," Vaid said.

According to a police FIR in Baramulla earlier this month, a boy identified as Nayeem Ahmed was severely beaten at Delina by an angry mob accusing him of being a braid chopper.

"Investigation into the matter also revealed that Nayeem was in a relationship with a local girl from Delina village and had gone to meet her when he was spotted and beaten up by locals there accusing him of being a braid chopper," the FIR said.

Vaid said "people are requested not to fall prey to rumours and let me make it clear that strict legal action will be taken against attention seekers in the garb of braid chopping. Rumour mongers and mischief mongers will also be brought to book who take advantage of the situation to disturb the peaceful atmosphere."



According to the police, nearly 103 such incidents have taken place, out of which 63 related to people who are either taking treatment for mental illness or under the influence of local god-men.

Recently a tailor at Nishat in the city was beaten mercilessly when he had gone to deliver a suit to his client.

"The victim was stopped by a mob and during his personal search, they found a pair of scissors on him. He was almost half dead when police team rescued him," said a police official.

In another case in Pulwama, four labourers hailing from Bihar were heckled and thrashed by a mob for being alleged braid choppers.

"It was found during investigations that the four had a tiff with their boss over wages and had left the work in middle. Their boss settled his score by indulging in such an action," the official said, adding that investigations into the case were on.

Four foreigners, who had gone for an evening stroll along the Dal Lake, were caught by a mob for being alleged braid choppers before police rescued them and whisked them to safety.

"Investigations into this case showed that the four had fallen victim to a personal rivalry between two hotel owners in the area," the official said.

Recently in Tral area of South Kashmir, two Sikh boys were beaten by a mob for being alleged braid choppers.

"One of two boys had gone to meet his lover, who happened to be a Muslim. They boy refused to give away the name and was beaten badly by the mob till police rescued them," the official said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
UnionMinister of State for Human Resources DevelopmentSatyapal Singh today said the Centre has been working in a strategic manner to transform 10 public and private universities into world-class institutions in coming years.

The statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced to give autonomy and Rs 10,000 crore to top 10 public and 10 private universities over the next five years to make them world-class institutions.

"No required focus was given to education sector (in previous decades). Without blaming any (former) governments, I would say not much attention was given in the area of education.

"It's fortunate for us that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the centre is giving special attention to this sector," Singh said in a press conference here.

The union minister was in Bilaspur city to attend 6th convocation ceremony of Guru Ghasidas Central University.

"Everybody knows that the Indian universities do not figure among top 500 institutions of the world except two IITs which too are ranked after 200.

"The country was once a centre for learning but now children were going outside for attaining education. Therefore, it has been decided to upgrade the Indian universities to international standards," he said.

The prime minister had yesterday announced that 10 government and 10 private universities will be made world-class in coming years.

For the purpose, the Centre has been working in a planned manner under a strategy, he said.

"We don't have dearth of talent. Our students and teachers are full of knowledge but we lack world-class facilities. Therefore, we are working on the strategy for a proper improvement in education sector," he added.

To a query on allegations of saffronising education, Singh said there is nothing wrong with saffron colour which symbolises culture, sacrifice and enlightenment.

"Some people started (saying) like this (referring to saffronisation of education)...saffron colour symbolises culture, sacrifice and enlightenment in this country.

"Why we pay obeisance to Sun, because its colour is also saffron. There is nothing wrong with the saffron colour. I wish saffronisation should be done not only in education (education) but wherever required," he said.

"In our life too, so that we could understand sacrifice, renunciation and enlightenment. We should learn from Sun to gain knowledge, sacrifice and enlightenment. If it would happen then the purpose of education will be achieved," said Singh.

When asked about naxalism, the IPS-turned-politician Singh said, there is no place for maoist ideology in the democracy and soon it will be wiped out from the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
More than 60 giraffes today arrived in China on a chartered flight from South Africa to be sent to various zoos, according to a media report.

Sixty-six giraffes -- 44 females and 22 males -- arrived in central China's Henan province from Johannesburg. The giraffes, which are around two years old, can grow up to 5.2 metres.

The animals will go through a health check-up and will be quarantined for 45 days in the city of Jiaozuo in northern Henan, before being sent to zoos across China, state-run Xinhua agency reported.

In August last year, the city airport in the province received 63 giraffes from South Africa.

According to the Henan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhengzhou, the capital of the province, has received close to 10,000 imported animals since 2015, including giraffes and zebras from South Africa, polar bears from Russia, alpacas from Chile and dolphins from Japan.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
An ambitious high speed train project in south India has been delayed after Chinese railways, that completed a feasibility study a year ago, did not respond, railway officials have said, suggesting that the "lack of response" may be due to the Dokalam standoff.

An internal brief of the Mobility Directorate on the status of nine high-speed projects of the railways, accessed by PTI, shows that the Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore corridor, a 492 km stretch, lies in limbo because the Chinese railways has failed to respond to the ministry's communiques.

"The Chinese company submitted the final report in November 2016 and after that the Chinese team has suggested for a face to face interaction. No date has been fixed from their side," said the note prepared by the Mobility Directorate.

On the reason for the delay, the brief states -- "lack of response" from Chinese railways.

The brief also states that the feasibility study by the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEC) was submitted to the Railway Board in November 2016 and after that the Chinese company had sought meetings with officials of the Board.

However, officials say that the Board has been unable to get in touch with officials of CREEC despite repeated communications sent to them via mails in the last six months.

"We have even tried to get in touch with them through their Embassy here, but we are yet to hear from them," said an official.

The ministry officials said that it was the standoff between the two countries in Bhutan's Dokalam area between June 16 and August 28 this year that seems to have derailed the project.

"The study began in 2014 and they submitted the report in 2016. The entire cost was borne by them. In fact they have shown so much interest in collaborating with us for other projects as well, so we think that it was the standoff that must have raised doubts," said a senior rail official.

An email to the Chinese Embassy by the PTI on the issue did not elicit any response.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Dokalam.

The brief, prepared by the department in charge of all the high speed corridors, also states that except the Chinese roadblock, work on the eight other projects was on track.

China had in fact not only pitched for the Mumbai- Ahemdabad high speed network, which was finally bagged by Japan, but also for the bullet project in the Mumbai-Delhi sector, which is yet to be finalised.

China is also training railway engineers in heavy hauling and it is with Chinese collaboration that India is setting up its first railway university.

The Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore corridor is one of nine such high speed corridors being developed by the ministry. The aim was to increase the speed from the present 80 kmph to 160 kmph.

While the Delhi-Agra route was made operational in 2016 with the country's fastest train Gatimaan Express running between the two cities, the work on rest seven of eight of 8 is going at a fast pace, the brief indicated.
Ocean clams and worms release a huge amount of harmful greenhouse gas into the atmosphere - almost as much as 20,000 dairy cows - a study has found.

Researchers from Cardiff University in the UK and Stockholm University in Sweden, have shown that the ocean critters are producing large amounts of the strongest greenhouse gases - methane and nitrous oxides - from the bacteria in their guts.

Methane gas is making its way into the water and then finally out into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming - methane has 28 times greater warming potential than carbon dioxide.

A detailed analysis showed that around 10 per cent of total methane emissions from the Baltic Sea may be due to clams and worms.

The researchers estimate that this is equivalent to as much methane given off as 20,000 dairy cows.

This is as much as 10 per cent of the entire Welsh dairy cow population and one per cent of the entire UK dairy cow population.

The findings, which have been published in the journal Scientific Reports, point to a so far neglected source of greenhouse gases in the sea and could have a profound impact on decision makers.

It has been suggested that farming oysters, mussels and clams could be an effective solution against human pressures on the environment, such as eutrophication caused by the run- off of fertilisers into our waters.

Researchers warn that stakeholders should consider these potential impacts before deciding whether to promote shellfish farming to large areas of the ocean.

"What is puzzling is that the Baltic Sea makes up only about 0.1 per cent of Earth's oceans, implying that globally, apparently harmless bivalve animals at the bottom of the world's oceans may in fact be contributing ridiculous amounts of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere that is unaccounted for," said Ernest Chi Fru, from Cardiff University.

"It sounds funny but small animals in the seafloor may act like cows in a stable, both groups being important contributors of methane due to the bacteria in their gut," said Stefano Bonaglia, from Stockholm University.

"These small yet very abundant animals may play an important, but so far neglected, role in regulating the emissions of greenhouse gases in the sea," said Bonaglia, lead author of the study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

To arrive at their results the team analysed trace gas, isotopes and molecules from the worms and clams, known as polychaetes and bivalves respectively, taken from ocean sediments in the Baltic Sea.

The team analysed both the direct and indirect contribution that these groups were having on methane and nitrous oxide production in the sea.

The results showed that sediments containing clams and worms increased methane production by a factor of eight compared to completely bare sediments.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hollywood star George Clooney has responded to the accusations made by his former "ER" co- star Vanessa Marquez, who claimed the actor helped perpetrators of sexual assault in Hollywood.

The actor took to Twitter claiming Clooney, 56, was to blame for her being "blacklisted" from the popular drama series in 1995, after she complained about sexual harassment on the sets.

Marquez, 48, retweeted an article in which Clooney spoke out against Harvey Weinstein and the many sexual misconduct allegations that have come out about him this week.

Clooney, who played Douglas Ross on the show, has now responded to her claims saying he did not even know Marquez was blacklisted in the first place.

"I had no idea Vanessa was blacklisted. I take her at her word. I was not a writer or a producer or a director on that show. I had nothing to do with casting. I was an actor and only an actor."



He continued, "If she was told I was involved in any decision about her career then she was lied to. The fact that I couldn't affect her career is only surpassed by the fact that I wouldn't."



Marquez played nurse Wendy Goldman on the first three seasons of the NBC show.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Chinese handset maker Comio is looking to sell 1.5 million smartphones and garner revenues of Rs 1,000 crore in the country by March 2018, a top company official said.

"This year we are targeting a sales of close to 1.5 million devices by March 2018. In value terms, it would be close to Rs 1,000 crore," Comio India CEO and Director Sanjay Kumar Kalirona told PTI.

Chinese original device maker Topwise Communication, which retails phones under the Comio brand and entered India in mid-August, is targeting the youth in non-metro areas and smaller cities, with a focus on the mid-segment smartphone category.

The company is positioning its devices in the Rs 6,000- 12,000 range that constitutes about 40 per cent of the market and is growing at a robust pace.

"Our strength is mid-segment smartphone market. In next three years, we are looking at having close to 12 per cent market share in the mid-segment category. We aim to sell approximately 7-8 million devices in three years," he said.

It will initially focus on the northern and western parts of the country and the devices would be available only through offline retail stores.

"In the next 3-4 months we will be looking at only north and west. Starting April, we will launch our products in other parts of the country.

"We are focusing on offline market because we see a gap in the market in the segment in which we are operating. Close to 65-70 per cent of the market is offline and we want to have our full focus there," he said.

The handset-maker plans to strengthen its brand presence with a network of 30,000 retailers, 800 distributors and over 800 after-sales touch points catering to 500-550 towns.

The company is looking at a total investment of Rs 500 crore in two years, with a marketing investment of Rs 250 crore.

Comio recently inked pacts for local assembly of smartphones with V-Sun and Hipad Technology and will invest Rs 150 crore over the next two years.

The two facilities combined will produce around one million devices over the next six months.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hitting back at the Congress, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani today accused the opposition party of having influenced the Election Commission's announcement of Gujarat Assembly poll dates in 2012.

He also refuted the Congress' charge that the poll panel delayed the announcement of Gujarat assembly election under the government's "pressure".

"In 2012 (Assembly election), the Election Commission ensured at the behest of the Congress that the model code of conduct was in force for a record time to prevent Modiji from working, because of which the state government could not take up development work," Rupani said at an election programme organised here by newschannel India TV.

The Chief Minister also denied the allegation that the BJP government was interfering with the Election Commission's decisions.

The EC had on Thursday announced that the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held in a single phase on November 9 and the results will be declared on December 18.

The poll panel did not announce the dates for assembly elections in Gujarat, but Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti said that the elections will be held before December 18.

The Congress had on Friday attacked the BJP for "pressuring" the EC to delay the announcement of Gujarat elections and alleged that "past practices, conventions and precedents" were being set aside to help the ruling party in the state.

The opposition party alleged that the "delay" in announcing Gujarat Assembly election schedule was to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act as a "false Santa Claus" to offer sops and use "jumlas" (rhetoric) during his October 16 visit to his home state.

The model code of conduct would have come into immediate effect in Gujarat had the poll schedule been announced, it added.

Countering the Congress' allegations, Rupani said, "Congress was complaining that the BJP will advance election because of the UP result...we are not interfering in the process of the Election Commission...we are not delaying elections".

"It is my responsibility to work for the public till the last day. Until the EC declares dates of elections, we will keep working for the public. There is nothing wrong in it. It is our right to work until the dates are declared," the chief minister said.

He said the opposition should raise an objection only when there is an interference in the election process.

"It is the right of the EC to declare model code of conduct...(the opposition) wants government to stop working. This is against democratic values," Rupani said.

Asked whether his party has lost the support of the Patidar community, the chief minister asserted it remains with the BJP.

"There is no place for Patidars in Congress. The community remains with us, they know where their interest lies. We are withdrawing cases against Patidars not to make them happy, but to resolve the deadlock by sitting with them, hearing their problems," he said, and exuded confidence that Dalits will vote for the party.

Rupani said his government took strong action against the people involved in thrashing Dalits in Una.

He said his government takes incidents of atrocities on Dalits seriously and immediate action follows against perpetrators.

On 'cow vigilantes', Rupani said his government does not support those doing wrong in the name of protecting cows.

"We do not support people who are doing wrong in the name of cow protection. We will punish them. And along with this, we are also working for cow protection, and have made the harshest law of life sentence for cow slaughter," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Congress today wrested the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat from the BJP with its Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar trouncing saffron party candidate Swaran Salaria by a whopping margin of 1,93,219 votes in the high stakes bypoll.

Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes, way ahead of the BJP candidate's 3,06,533, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Major General (retd) Suresh Khajuria finished a distant third, garnering a mere 23,579 votes.

Khajuria lost his security deposit.

Jakhar maintained the lead in all nine Assembly segments, right from start of the counting of votes at 8 am, in a contest that virtually turned out to be a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP.

Polling for the Gurdaspur seat, which had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MP Vinod Khanna in April this year, was held on October 11.

After the Congress's landslide win, it was early Diwali for party workers who distributed sweets. Celebratory scenes were witnessed at the party's offices at Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar apart from several places in Gurdaspur.

The bypoll was important as it was being seen as a barometer of the popularity of the six-month old Captain Amarinder Singh government in Punjab.

The chief minister hailed the victory as a "total rejection of the anti-people policies" of the BJP and its ally SAD and claimed it underlined the "political annihilation" of the AAP.

He said the Gurdaspur result had once again showed that the Congress was on the revival path across the country. The Congress had last won this seat in 2009 when Partap Singh Bajwa defeated BJP's actor-turned politician Vinod Khanna.

The actor's wife Kavita Khanna was among the front- runners for the BJP ticket, but the party chose businessman Salaria over her.

Vinod Khanna had won this seat in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014.

After defeating the BJP in its stronghold, the Congress was quick to claim that the win will set the tone for the 2019 general elections.

"With this victory, people have reaffirmed faith in the leadership of Amarinder Singh," said Jakhar who battled the "outsider" tag in the bypoll. Jakhar, who hails from Abohar in Fazilka, had lost in the 2017 Assembly polls.

"The BJP must read the writing on the wall now," Jakhar said after his emphatic win and added that the "people have rejected the BJP and shown mirror to the Akalis".

Congress communications incharge Randeep Singh Surjewla said the victory margin reflected the huge disappointment among the people towards the Modi government at the Centre.

The UPA has won all the four Lok Sabha byelections in 2017: Amritsar, Srinagar, Malappuram and now Gurdaspur, Surjewala said.

"This proves the disenchantment of the masses with the 'jumlas' of the prime minister and his all-talk-no-action approach. People of this country are ready for a change and these byelections are magnifying the rejection of the Modi brand of politics," Surjewala claimed.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa claimed that losing Gurdaspur by a huge margin was a great setback for the BJP ahead of state polls in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

The BJP-SAD combine and AAP alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling party in Punjab.

"Congress misused government machinery, there is no doubt. Everyone knows that even sarpanches owing allegiance to BJP and SAD were warned that they will be dealt with strictly if the two allies got a lead in their respective areas in the bypoll. Civic body officials too were warned in the same manner," alleged BJP's Punjab unit secretary, Vineet Joshi.

BJP candidate Salaria also accused the state government of misusing official machinery to influence polls.

Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and party MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra also termed the Congress victory in the bypoll as a "victory earned by the misuse of government machinery".

AAP's state unit president and party MP Bhagwant Mann said his party accepted the people's mandate and will introspect into the reasons for the defeat.

Mann also charged the Congress of misusing government machinery. AAP candidate Khajuria also accused the Congress of using "undemocratic means" in the bypoll.

Contrary to Congress's claim, Mann said that the outcome of Lok Sabha bypolls will not set the tone for 2019 general elections, while pointing out that in politics, equations keep changing from time to time.

Jakhar secured a lead of 6,801 votes in Sujanpur, 7,796 votes in Bhoa, 8,710 votes in Pathankot, 29,656 votes in Gurdaspur, 11,387 votes in Dina Nagar, 26,348 votes in Qadian, 26,255 votes in Batala, 32,296 votes in Fatehgarh Churian and 44,074 votes in Dera Baba Nanak.

A total 8,59,462 votes were polled in the bypoll and 7,587 voters opted for the None of the Above (NOTA) option.

The high-stakes Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll had recorded a 56 per cent voter turnout, lower than the 70.03 per cent recorded in the 2014 general elections.

The bypoll campaign had witnessed sharp attacks and counter-attacks by political parties.

For the Congress in Punjab, the bypoll victory comes after a stellar performance in the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, when it had stormed to power in the state in March this year winning 77 out of total 117 seats - over poll promises like farm debt waiver and free smartphones.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress will contest the local body polls in Uttar Pradesh on its own, party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said here today.

"Our party will contest the forthcoming local body polls on its own," Azad said while addressing a function to mark the birth centenary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The notification for the local body polls is likely to be issued before month-end.

Azad also said that the Congress was "optimistic regarding its prospects in the forthcoming Assembly polls especially in Gujarat, where BJP was in a panic mode."



"Modi government's popularity graph is going down and recent strategy to use UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath was an indication of this. This desperate move has also flopped," he claimed.

Azad said if prime minister Modi was such a "vote catcher then why was Adityanath being pushed in the campaign in the prime minister's home state."



He said the recent assault on a Muslim youth carrying buffalo meat by alleged cow vigilantes in Faridabad indicated that law enforcement in the country has gone out of the government's hand.

"Such incidents are continuing despite claims of the PM," he said.

Addressing the function, Congress' state unit president Raj Babbar said that, "it was ironical that UP chief minister Yogi Adaityanath was campaigning on the plank of providing better law and order in Kerala and Gujarat states while law and order in his own state is collapsing".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Undeterred by its little representation in Himachal Pradesh politics, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will field candidates on 30 out of the 68 assembly seats where elections will be held next month, a party leader has said.

The Left party is also tying up with different organisations to form an "anti-BJP and anti-Congress joint front" in the hill state, senior CPI (M) leader Rakesh Singha told PTI.

The Election Commission (EC) on October 12 announced elections in Himachal Pradesh. The voting will take place on November 9 and the results will be declared on December 18. The term of the current assembly ends on January 7, 2018.

While the main contest is considered between the incumbent Congress and the Opposition BJP, the CPI(M), which has so far had a minuscule representation in the legislative assembly, is keen on putting up a fight.

The state unit of the CPI(M) had on October 9 released a list of 14 candidates for the elections. The list included names of the former mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Sanjay Chauhan and Singha, a former MLA.

The party has also fielded Kuldeep Singh Tanwar from Kusumti Assembly seat, Vivek Kashyap from Rampur, Lokendra Kumar from Ani, Vishwanath Sharma from Nahan, Munish Sharma from Sarkaghat, Bhupinder Singh from Dharampur, Kunal Bharadwaj from Jogindernagar and Ajay Bhatti from Solan.

Other candidates chosen by the CPI(M) included Anil Mankotia from Hamirpur Assembly seat, Joginder Kumar from Sujanpur, Sudarshan from Lahaul and Spiti and Bittoo Verma from Palampur.

The Left party, which has a considerable hold in the Himachal Pradesh University and in Shimla, has had very little presence in the state legislative assembly since the birth of the present Himachal Pradesh after inclusion of hilly areas of Punjab in it in 1966.

The election of two CPI MLAs -- Paras Ram from Jaswan (Kangra) and Bansi Ram from Baijnath (Kangra) -- in 1967 was the highest presence of the Left in the state assembly. Later, K K Koushal from Kotkehloor in 1990 and Singha got an entry into the assembly from Shimla in 1993. But since then no Left leader got elected to the Assembly.

The rough patch continued till the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections in 2012, when the Left marked its presence with the election of Sanjay Chouhan as the mayor and Tike



der Kanwar as the deputy mayor.

But the CPI(M)'s success was short-lived. In the civic body polls this June, first-time councillor Kusum Sadret, backed by the BJP, was elected as the new mayor of Shimla, while Rakesh Kumar, who won as an Independent candidate and later joined the saffron party, was elected the deputy mayor.

Talking to PTI over the phone, an upbeat Singha said he has launched his campaign from Theog assembly seat, which is currently represented by Congress leader and state Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes.

Citing media reports which suggested that Virbhadra Singh may fight from Theog seat if Stokes (89) hangs up her politician's boots, Singha said he was keen on contesting against the chief minister.

Earlier this year, Virbhadra Singh, who has been active in electoral politics since 1962 and has been elected to Lok Sabha five times and state assembly eight times, sprang a surprise by offering his Assembly seat - Shimla (Rural) -- to his son Vikramaditya.

The six-time chief minister had said he would himself like to contest from a seat which the Congress has never won.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital rose to 189 with more than 200 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation, police and hospital sources said on Sunday.

Doctors struggled to assist horrifically wounded victims, many burnt beyond recognition. Officials feared the toll would continue to climb from yesterday's truck bomb that targeted a busy street near key ministries.

Sources for the death toll spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to reporters.

Ambulance sirens still echoed across the city as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives.

"In our 10 year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we haven't seen anything like this," the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted. Grief overwhelmed many.

"There's nothing I can say. We have lost everything," wept Zainab Sharif, a mother of four who lost her husband. She sat outside a hospital where he was pronounced dead after hours of efforts by doctors to save him from an arterial injury.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood for the wounded victims. "I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate," he said.

"The hospital is overwhelmed by both dead and wounded. We also received people whose limbs were cut away by the bomb. This is really horrendous, unlike any other time in the past," said Dr Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital.

Overnight, rescue workers with flashlights searched for survivors trapped under the rubble of the largely destroyed Safari Hotel, which is close to Somalia's foreign ministry.

The explosion blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel.

Somalia's government has blamed the al-Qaida-linked al- Shabab extremist group for the attack it called a "national disaster." However, al-Shabab, which often targets high- profile areas of the capital with bombings, had yet to comment.

"They don't care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children," Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said. "They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians."



Somalia's information minister, Abdirahman Omar, said the blast was the largest the city had ever seen. "It's a sad day. This how merciless and brutal they are, and we have to unite against them," he said, speaking to the state-run radio station.

The United States joined the condemnation, saying "such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism."



The US military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali military and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country.

Yesterday's blast occurred two days after the head of the US Africa Command was in Mogadishu to meet with Somalia's president, and two days after the country's defense minister and army chief resigned for undisclosed reasons.
The has refused to ban the controversial book--Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Vysyas are social smugglers) penned by prominent Dalit writer and intellectual Kancha Ilaiah, saying every author has a fundamental right to voice ideas freely.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud junked a PIL filed by a lawyer seeking direction to the government to ban the book.

The apex court said that any request to ban a book has to be strictly scrutinised because "every author or writer has a fundamental right to speak out ideas freely and express thoughts adequately", and that curtailment of an individual writer or author's right to freedom of speech and expression should never be viewed lightly.

"We do not intend to state the facts in detail. Suffice it to say that when an author writes a book, it is his or her right of expression. We do not think that it would be appropriate under Article 32 of the Constitution of India that this Court should ban the book/books.

"Keeping in view the sanctity of the said right and also bearing in mind that the same has been put on the highest pedestal by this court, we decline the ambitious prayer made by the petitioner," the bench said.

The order came on a plea filed by lawyer K V Veeranjaneyulu, who is also a member of Arya Vysya Officials Professionals Association, alleging that the writer had made "baseless" allegations against certain castes in his book and tried to divide the society on caste lines.

He said a criminal case had also been registered against him in Andhra Pradesh for hurting sentiments of people belonging to certain castes and urged the court to ban the book.
The Finance Ministry is working on capital infusion strategy for the (PSBs) and it is expected to be finalised by December, according to official sources.

The Department of Financial Services is assessing the capital needs of various banks based demands made by them, sources said.

There are various parameters which are being looked at for capital infusion exercise, including Non-performing asset (NPA) ratio, credit growth, insolvency proceeding etc, sources said, adding that the second quarter result would also give clarity on the capital requirements for the current fiscal.

Various factors are being considered before arriving at the exact number and the final output is likely by next month or December, they said.

Besides providing capital for meeting regulatory requirements, the ministry is looking at providing capital to performing state-run banks to boost credit disbursement.

One of the options on the table is the issuance of capitalisation bond for meeting their capital needs but no final decision has been taken yet.

The government followed a similar strategy in 2008 when it sold bonds worth about Rs 10,000 crore to subscribe to nearly 60 per cent of State Bank of India's rights issue.

Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government, faced with a 'catch-22 situation' over the issue of non-performing assets, is working on a plan to rebuild the capacity of India's banking sector so as to support growth.

Banks are facing mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore of which PSBs alone account for Rs 6 lakh crore. The bank NPAs are skirting the double-digit mark at present and expected to grow further.

Although the Indradhanus scheme has assigned Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal, it may prove insufficient due to high provisioning requirement for bad loan resolution through various processes, including insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings.

Last year, the ministry provided capital to banks in two tranches. As many as 13 together got Rs 22,915 crore in the first tranche announced in July 2016.

In the budget speech on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced capital infusion of Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal.
Expelled GJM leader and chairman of Board of Administrators (BoA) for Darjeeling, Binay Tamang today met West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi, and requested him to talk to the Centre to initiate tripartite talks to solve the impasse.

He also apprised the governor of recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition on Friday.

"We apprised the governor about the situation in Darjeeling, recovery of arms and the slow restoration of peace there," Tamang told newsmen after the meeting at the Rajbhavan.

He said today's meeting with Tripathi was a "courtesy call" after he was made the chairman of the BoA by the West Bengal government.

Tamang said he had urged the governor to apprise the situation to the Centre.

"We have told him that we are willing to talk to the Centre on the Darjeeling issue. The Centre must intervene as soon as possible and call us for talks on all the pending issues, including Gorkhaland.

"We have also apprised the governor that since 2015 there had been no tripartite talks involving the GTA," he added.

Describing the location of Darjeeling as "strategic" owing to its international borders with Nepal and Bhutan, Tamang said discussions should be held quickly keeping in mind the sensitivity of the place.

On the fire incident at Patlebas village in the early hours of the day, he demanded the police conduct a proper investigation and that no innocent persons be arrested.

Tamang along with party colleague and BoA vice chairman Anit Thapa had met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday. The leaders along with three GJM MLAs will meet her again at the state secretariat tomorrow.

"On Friday, we had met her (Banerjee) as representatives of GTA, not on behalf of the party (GJM). Tomorrow we will go and meet the CM as representatives of the GJM," he said.

The Mamata Banerjee government had last month formed a nine-member board of administrators instead of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to look into the development works in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills.

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Free legal assistance extended by a lawyer to the needy should be an important criterion while considering him for elevation as a judge, the government feels.

A senior government functionary said the guidelines laid down recently by the apex court outlining the importance of pro bono has "strengthened" the feeling in the government that "pro bono lawyering" be made a pre-requisite to become a judge.

Like getting the gown of a Senior advocate, pro bono activity can easily be a criterion for becoming a judge for those coming to the bench from active bar service, the functionary said.

Pro bono is something which is done for the public good without any payment or compensation.

On whether the government feels that pro bono service be made a criterion for becoming a judge of the Supreme Court or a high court, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad merely said, "Our government is keenly promoting pro bono lawyering. Exposure to pro bono lends its own weight."



The guidelines fixed by the Supreme Court for itself and the 24 high courts last week to govern the exercise of designating lawyers as Seniors, talk about pro bono activities undertaken by an advocate.

Under the new system, all matters related to designation of Senior advocates would be looked into by a committee which will consider the reputation, conduct, integrity of the advocate, including participation in pro bono work, reported judgement in which the advocate has appeared and the number of such judgements.

But the Supreme Court collegium -- a body of top five judges of the apex court which recommends the names it finds fit for appointment as judges -- will have to take a final call on the issue.

Free legal aid and service in India is primarily the mandate of National Legal Services Authority and State Legal Aid Services authorities which have a wide presence throughout the country.

However, the legal needs of people continue to grow, thus requiring meaningful contribution from the legal community.

But pro bono legal service as a concept has not gained much momentum in the country and remains more of an ad hoc, individualised practice lacking an institutional structure.

"Many lawyers provide the poor and underprivileged clients with valuable legal advice and support without seeking any professional fee. Unfortunately, this laudable tradition of public service has not received any deserving recognition... ," the department of justice in the law ministry has said in a note.

Now, the department of justice intends to create a database of lawyers willing to provide their services to litigants.

It has already written to all bar councils and bar associations across the country to provide information of lawyers who are engaged in providing pro bono legal services to the poor and those who otherwise cannot afford legal representation.

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A probe has been ordered into the alleged disrespect of the national anthem by a government officer at a school in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said today, calling on people to maintain peace in the area.

Students and teachers alleged that Assistant commissioner revenue (ACR) M S Khan, who had gone to the school on Thursday in Kishtwar district on an inspection, did not respect the national anthem playing there.

"An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The people, especially students, are advised to maintain peace and not play in the hands of vested interests who want to vitiate the atmosphere," District Development Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana told PTI.

Rana said Khan visited the school as part of a raid in the district to check absenteeism.

"He was checking nearly a dozen offices and was ordered to ensure prompt inspection. He was in a hurry, moving from one place to another. He was told to submit his report within the shortest possible time," Rana said.

The official has been accused by the students and teachers of moving into the principal's office during the inspection while the national anthem was being played at the school.

Some teachers raised the issue, leading to protests by students.

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Congress general-secretary Ashok Gehlot today hailed the party's massive victory in Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll in Punjab, saying the mandate was against the "anti-people" policies of the BJP-led central government.

The Gujarat unit in-charge of the Congress party also praised ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) for retaining the Vengara assembly seat in Kerala in a byelection.

He termed the victory in Gurdaspur a mandate against the "anti-people" policies of the BJP government at the Centre, and a victory of Congress' policies under Rahul Gandhi's leadership.

Gehlot said the BJP should take lessons from its defeat.

"It is clear that people have understood that promises made by the government were all lies," he said in a statement, adding that the "countdown" for the BJP has begun.

The Congress party wrested the Gurdaspur seat from the BJP today. Its candidate Sunil Jakhar trounced BJP's Swaran Salaria by a huge margin of 1,93,219 votes in the bypoll.

Rajasthan Congress chief Sachin Pilot said support for the BJP was on a decline and people were now seeing "hope" in his party.

He said in a statement that the party would soon announce its candidates for by-polls on Ajmer and Alwar parliamentary constituencies in Rajasthan.

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American cult bike manufacturer Harley-Davidson plans to open its skills centre, which it calls the 'Harley-Davidson University', in India to train its employees and dealership staff.

Apart from technical training, the Harley-Davidson University also offers a variety of courses ranging from management to finance and branding.

Currently, the US-based firm has three such universities in the Asia Pacific region. It is planning to open the fourth here at the national capital.

"We will continue to invest in people and resources here (India). An example of that is Harley-Davidson University which we are going to open here in Delhi in next few weeks," Harley-Davidson India and China MD Peter MacKenzie told PTI.

The upcoming entity would offer both technical and non- technical training to its employees and dealership staff from across the country, he added.

"Our university caters only to the Harley-Davidson community," MacKenzie said.

When asked what kind of education would be offered at the university, he said: "There would be a technical course. Also, a variety of courses ranging from management to finance and branding would be offered as part of the non-technical training."



MacKenzie, however, did not share details of the number of faculty or people that will be employed at the institute.

Harley-Davidson has been present in India since 2009, selling a range of models, including Street 750 and Street Rod. Its current portfolio comprises 14 models which are retailed from 27 dealerships.

Commenting on the company's long term strategy for India, MacKenzie said the iconic bike maker wishes to be "more accessible and more relevant" in the market here.

With an aim to widen its reach, MacKenzie said the company is expanding its dealer presence here.

"Besides we continue to bring great products to enable both current and future customers to remain engaged with the brand," he said.

He added that the Harley-Davidson brand continues to grow in India and as part of future strategy the company is also focusing at non-urban areas to bring in more customers.

The bike maker has come up with various initiatives to achieve its goal to connect with prospective customers even in remote areas.

"Quite often there is large distance between the dealerships so we have a mobile truck which is basically a mobile store which we can take to remote locations and engage people to interact with the brand. We started doing it last year and continue to do this year as well," MacKenzie said.

The company also encourages its dealers to move to areas where there is no brand representation and do things like pop up stores, engage people and gauge their interest, he said.

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According to state law, fines, penalties, and license money shall be appropriated exclusively to the use and support of the common schools ... . An exception is fines for overloaded vehicles. Seventy-five percent of those funds go to state highways; 25 percent go to the county general fund where the fine or penalty is paid. Fifty percent of money forfeited or seized in enforcing drug laws goes to counties for drug enforcement. Vehicles seized in drug law cases may be used by law enforcement agencies or sold with the proceeds going to schools.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Saturday shot down media reports speculating that it was pushing for the Public Distribution System (PDS) to be replaced by the universal basic income (UBI) in India.

The reports emerged in a section of media after the IMF, in its annual Fiscal Monitor report, said the UBI will outperform the PDS in terms of coverage, progressivity, and generosity.

The IMF's observation was based on the results of a microsimulation analysis of a policy reform that replaces food and fuel subsidies in India with a UBI.

Director of Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF, Vitor Gaspar, said the report on India was just a case study on UBI and was carried out in order to demonstrate as to how a large but inefficient scheme can be replaced.

"We don't regard Fiscal Monitor as advocating for or against UBI. This is not the case at all," Gaspar said in an interview.

"No! The goal was not to advocate UBI. It was to use the UBI as an illustration of how one could replace existing large and macro economically significant schemes that are inefficient and inequitable," he said.

The top official said their report was based on the set of subsidy schemes, including energy subsidies and PDS schemes, that existed in India around 2011.

"We looked at these subsidies and we documented how a reform that would consider the replacement of these subsidies by the UBI would look like; then, we show that from 2011 to now, India has changed a lot," Gaspar explained.

"Hence the example that we present does not apply to the India of today. Today's India is a completely different place than what it was in 2011," the top official said.

Gaspar said the opted for India as a case study mainly because the UBI is particularly attractive when it replaces inefficient and inequitable public spending programs.

"And it turned out that the subsidy schemes that prevailed in India in 2011 were indeed inefficient and inequitable. And that's one of the reasons why they were so deeply reformed over time," he said.

"Doing a case study on India does not mean that the IMF is supporting the UBI in India," he reiterated.

Gaspar said that the IMF only intended to engage in a conversation that would allow it to collect facts and arguments relevant to policymakers and politicians and eventually help them make the best decisions for their countries.

"That's the type of conversation we thought was useful to engage them on, trying to look at what are the relevant facts and arguments so that we can have a meaningful policy conversation," Gaspar said.

The Fiscal Monitor is not advocating for specific reforms for individual countries, Gaspar said.

"Thats something that depends a lot on the particular circumstances of the country and we engage in that exercise year after year with countries in what we call 'Article IV consultations'," Gaspar said

"One should also take into account broader ramifications such as the public spending programmes that are being replaced and other financing sources," he said.

A UBI is equal cash transfer to all individuals in a country.
When did Lord Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, visit the Patna University and who designed the aesthetic buildings on its campus?



These are some of the questions on the Patna University's history and heritage that its administration is struggling to answer.

As a course correction, the country's seventh oldest university has decided to set up an "archive cell" so that it faces no such problem in the future.

The Patna University (PU), established on October 1, 1917, may have completed 100 glorious years but its historical documents and photographs "have not been properly archived over several decades".

On its centenary, however, the administration has decided to set up an "archive cell" to give the historical records on the varsity a permanent home.

"While doing research for our centenary souvenir and a book on its journey of 100 years, we realised the old records and photographs have not been properly documented," Vice Chancellor Rash Bihari Prasad Singh said



"We wanted to know which eminent personalities have visited the PU campus since its inception, and which famous events have been hosted here and any other important milestones. But, we had to look into scattered sources," he said.

The centenary souvenir committee found records about the visits of Sarojini Naidu, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and other personalities to the university but it could not access the archives related to the visit of Lord Mountbatten in late 1940s.

"We looked into the Silver Jubilee Souvenir published in mid 1940s and old college magazines and personal collections too. Now, we have realised the need for a proper 'University Archive Cell', which we wish to set up this year coinciding with its centenary," Singh told PTI.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially kicked off Patna University's grand centenary celebrations yesterday at a function held on the grounds of the prestigious Patna Science College, which incidentally turns 90 next month.

The iconic buildings of the Science College, a premier institution under the Patna University, was inaugurated in 1928 by the then Viceroy Lord Irwin.

The university celebrated its architectural heritage and the colonial-era buildings of Science College, the PU office, the Wheeler Senate House, the over 150-year-old Patna College, by beautifully lighting them up to mark the occasion.

The university is steeped in history. In 1936, Nobel Laureate Rabindra Tagore was given a grand public reception at the Wheeler Senate Hall.

The elegant building having Doric columns in its facade, was inaugurated by then Lt Governor of Bihar and Orissa Sir Henry Wheeler in 1926.

However, while putting together its centenary publications, the university faced with the problem of poor record-keeping of historical documents and pictures, and has not been able to trace any pictures related to many such landmark events, officials said.

"We are still searching for the old layout plan of the Patna University building and the Senate Hall, and details about the architect(s) who designed them," a senior faculty and a member of the core centenary committee said.

The university in its initial days was functioning out of a wing of the Patna High Court building, which was inaugurated in February 1916 by then Viceroy Lord Hardinge, said Jayshree Mishra, professor of the history department, Patna University.

"It later also had its office, housed in a colonial-era bungalow, which is currently in the premises of Magadh Mahila College, a part of the university," she said.

Mishra and two other authors have written a book on 100 years of Patna University which would be launched along with the souvenir during this period of centenary celebrations which culminates in January.

The administration was able to access the copy of the Patna University Act from the records kept at the Bihar State Archives. Some of the documents related to the PU are in fragile condition and in need of restoration.

"We have also rummaged through our collections on the central library for old documents and photographs. Many alumni members, teachers, retired professors have also contributed whatever they could trace," the Vice Chancellor said.

"We have planned at 'Centenary Building' on the banks of Ganga near the PU campus. Maybe the archives cell can be housed there once the modalities are complete for its creation," he said.

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Inclusion of consultancy services under Construction PEs, foreign firms engaged in construction activities in the country, is likely to impact the real estate sector, says a PwC report.

PE (Permanent Establishment) is a fixed place of business which generally gives rise to income or value-added tax liability in a particular jurisdiction.

As per the report, tax-related issues pertaining to Construction PEs are on the rise in relation to attribution of profits from offshore supply and splitting of consolidated contracts.

The report mentions that though offshore supply is not taxable in India, revenue authorities may raise a question about whether offshore and onshore (PE-related) contract values have been split correctly.

India's tax treaties provide for the constitution of a Construction PE if a foreign company undertakes activities in relation to a building or construction site, installation, assembly and connected supervisory activities, in India for a specified duration, it said.

In November 2015, the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) issued its Action Plans (APs) on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS).

In cognisance with one of the APs, the 'Multilateral Convention to Implement Tax Treaty Related Measures to Prevent Base Erosion and Profit Shifting' (MLI) was signed in Paris, France, on June7, 2017. India was one of the signatories.

The report said that according to the provisional list of India's reservations, submitted on the MLI, it has agreed to implement the suggestions of the MLI in relation to Construction PEs.

"Inclusion of consultancy services under Construction PE and the PPT (Principal Purpose Test) is likely to affect the real estate, construction and EPC sectors in India adversely.

"Foreign companies may need to revisit their arrangements in order to ascertain the impact of these changes," said the report.

Hitesh Sawhney, Partner Corporate and International Tax, PwC said PPT provides the conditions of when a contract can be considered to be artificially split to avoid constitution of PE and also includes 'consulting services' under the ambit of Construction PE.

"Since India has expressed its willingness to implement the suggestions of MLI, foreign Real Estate, construction and EPC companies need to be mindful of these while undertaking activities in India," said Sawhney.

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India's Ministry of External Affairs is working closely with the UAE government to resolve cases of exploitation and abuse faced by its migrant workers in the Gulf nation, a top official said here today.

"We work very closely with the UAE government to make sure that every single case that comes to us is addressed.

"We run a shelter for domestic workers, especially women who have faced problems are rescued and put in the shelter until we can obtain their passport or issue fresh travel documents to them so that they can safely go back to India," India's High Commissioner to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Navdeep Suri told PTI in an interview.

He said the Ministry of External Affairs is working actively with state governments to see how it can improve the scenario for migrant workers.

However, Suri highlighted that when one looks at the 2.7 million Indian population in the UAE, the percentage of people who face difficulties, harassment or abuse is minuscule, observing that it is not a country that habitually exploits people.

The High Commissioner inaugurated the India Pavilion at the WorldSkills Competition here. India has sent a 77-member strong contingent, including experts and interpreters, to compete in the event.

The country, which won a silver medal in 2009 and 5 medallions of excellence in 2015, is pinning hopes on winning gold and silver medals this time.

"We have been consistently improving our performance. We are on the learning curve. I think this year the squad, the youth who are representing us are much better prepared and a confident lot.

"We hope that they will do well. We do see a lot of medal prospects," said Rajesh Agarwal, Official Delegate - India at WorldSkills and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.

"Skills is an absolutely critical area for India's socioeconomic development. Our demographic dividend will come about only if we are able to upskill our people.

"The manpower deficits here (UAE) you see, India is perhaps the only country that can provide enough people who are skilled. The critical part for us is to acquire the skills, to establish ourselves as a major skill provider so that our demographic dividend feeds into the global requirement of skills," Suri said.

WorldSkills opened with a gala ceremony late last evening. The men from the Indian contingent wore blue blazer trouser combination and finished the look with a red stole around their necks while the women participants were beautifully dressed in traditional sarees.

Twenty eight young competitors from India are demonstrating their prowess in trades like jewellery design, beauty therapy, mobile robotics, automobile technology and cooking at the competition.

WorldSkills President Simon Bartley thanked the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the other leaders of the UAE for hosting WorldSkills in the Middle East for the first time.

"Their vision acknowledges that to transform and develop an economy you have to put skills at the very heart of your efforts," Bartley said while addressing the opening ceremony.

Close to 1,300 competitors, 10,000 international visitors, and 100,000 visitors from UAE are expected to attend, with around 80,000 UAE students registered to visit the event.

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The presidents of Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan held talks today to defuse an escalating crisis, after a deadline for Kurdish forces to withdraw from disputed positions was extended by 24 hours.

Thousands of Iraqi troops are locked in an armed standoff with Kurdish peshmerga fighters in the oil-rich province of Kirkuk, amid spiralling tensions following last month's vote by the Iraqi Kurds for independence.

The crisis is raising fears of fresh chaos in Iraq just as the country's forces are on the verge of routing the Islamic State group from the last territory it controls in the country.

Kurdish forces, who were key allies in the US-backed offensive against IS, are refusing to surrender positions they took during the fightback against the jihadists over the past three years.

Iraq's central authorities had demanded the Kurds withdraw from disputed areas overnight but the deadline was extended by a day following talks.

Iraqi President Fuad Masum, himself a Kurd, was meeting today with Iraqi Kurd leader Massud Barzani in Dukan in Sulaimaniyah province, officials said.

The peshmerga forces based in Kirkuk are mainly loyal to Masum's Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of party, a rival of Barzani's Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). Representatives of both parties were taking part in the talks.

Iraqi and peshmerga forces could be seen early today still facing off in positions on the outskirts of Kirkuk, though there were no signs of troop movements.

As well as heavily armed federal troops, members of the Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation forces, which are dominated by Iran-backed Shiite militias, have massed around Kirkuk.

Armed Kurdish civilians were seen gathering in Kirkuk overnight and Kirkuk governor Najm Eddine Karim, a Kurd sacked by Baghdad but who refuses to quit his post, warned: "Residents will help the peshmerga... we will not allow any force to enter our city."



Kirkuk, long claimed by the Kurds as part of their historic territory, has emerged as the main flashpoint in the dispute.

Polling during the September 25 referendum was held not only in the three provinces of the autonomous Kurdish region but also in adjacent Kurdish-held areas, including Kirkuk, that are claimed by both Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan.

The referendum, which was non-binding and saw voters overwhelmingly back independence, was declared illegal by Baghdad and held despite international opposition.

The Kurds control the city of Kirkuk and three major oil fields in the province.

The three fields produce some 250,000 barrels per day, accounting for 40 per cent of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil exports.

They would provide crucial revenue to Baghdad, which has been left cash-strapped from the global fall in oil prices and three years of battle against IS.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said this week that he was "not going... to make war on our Kurdish citizens" but has also rejected any negotiations until the independence vote is annulled.

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Leading basmati rice company LT Foods has set up a plant in the US for ready-to-heat organic rice with an investment of USD 5 million as it seeks to tap the huge market for this product in America.

The company is aiming to generate revenue of over USD 20 million in next five year from this product to be sold under organic food brand 'EcoLife', its CEO & MD Ashwani Arora said.

"We have set up a plant in the US to produce ready-to- heat organic rice. Trial run is happening and production will start from December. The total market size is USD 265 million in the US and growing at 14 per cent," Arora told PTI.

This plant, the company's fourth facility outside India, will produce 20 million pouches of ready to heat organic rice initially and expand to 70 million pouches by 2018.

On investment, he said the initial capital investment on the plant is USD 5 million and the company expects to generate revenue of USD 21 million in next 5 years.

"We already have a strong presence in the US through our Basmati rice brand 'Royal' and we will be leveraging our strong presence and experience to grow our US market even further," Arora said.

LT Foods basmati rice brand 'Royal' is largest brand in the US with a market share of more than 40 per cent, he added.

The company, which posted a turnover of about Rs 3,300 crore during last fiscal, is continuously diversifying its product portfolio.

Besides, selling basmati rice under many brands, including 'Daawat', LT Foods has been focusing on organic food and rice snacks.

"Keeping a pulse on changing consumer trend to innovate and bring out products that is relevant to the change is one of the core strengths of LT Foods," Arora said.

"Changing consumer lifestyles, including longer working hours and multi-schedule household, is leading to unstructured meal times. Convenient, ready to heat rice options appeal to millennials," he said.

LT Foods' US plant will import all required ingredient from India, including basmati rice.

"The US is a big market for the company as it contributes Rs 1,000 crore to overall turnover," Arora said.

Earlier this month, LT Foods announced foray into healthy snacks market and will invest USD 5 million (about 32 crore) on launch of rice-based snack products.

The company has partnered Japans Kameda Seika to launch premium rice based snacks brand Kari Kari in India.

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The BJP-led Maharashtra government has appointed over a dozen private advertising agencies to publicise its policies and schemes effectively, especially on social media.

A Government Resolution (GR) issued on October 12 said that private agencies have been appointed to ensure that welfare schemes, development initiatives and policies of various departments are conveyed properly to the common man.

These agencies have been tasked with formulating and implementing "a result-oriented comprehensive social media promotion strategy" for government campaigns, the GR said. They will work for the Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR).

The agencies will upload videos, infographics, cartoons, animation on social media, post blogs related to government campaigns and send bulk text messages, among other things.

"The government will complete three years soon. So these agencies have been appointed to reinstate people's trust in the government and improve the image after the implementation of decisions like demonetisation and GST roll-out," a senior minister said.

"A special emphasis will be on social media, because it has become the main tool for the criticism of government. Advertising firms have been specifically asked to use hash-tags on social media to create positive trends," the minister said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

But engaging private firms for the job of government publicity itself has come in for criticism.

Asked about the move on the sidelines of an event in Mumbai yesterday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the government is misusing people's money to counter its detractors.

"Earlier the same work was done by the DGIPR. By appointing event management companies, the government is misusing people's money to answer those who speak against it," said Pawar, a former chief minister.

"The government has realised that the social media which helped them win elections has now turned against it," Pawar added.

State Congress chief Ashok Chavan termed it a "wasteful expenditure".

"I have heard that the government is spending Rs 300 crore only to publicise itself, fearing people's backlash over ineffective policies. This is unacceptable as it shows it does not trust its own (publicity) machinery," Chavan told PTI.

"On one hand the government is levying exorbitant surcharge on fuel in the name of farmers, but farmers are under severe stress as the government claims it has no money for granting loan waiver. How can it spend such a huge amount on publicity?" he asked.

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A 24-year-old man has been apprehended for allegedly carrying a live bullet in his bag while entering a metro station here.

An officer involved in metro security said the incident was reported at about 3:00 pm at the Lal Quila metro station.

A CISF personnel detected a bullet-like object in a bag screened at the X-ray machine.

The bag belonged to a man identified as Sonu(24), a resident of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. A live bullet round was recovered from the bag, the officer said.

The man was handed over to the police after he failed to furnish legal documents for possessing the ammunition, the official said.

The man claimed that his brother worked as a constablewith the Haryana Police and the bullet might be his.

Carrying arms and ammunition in the Delhi Metro is banned under the law of the land.

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A 25-year-old Indian-origin woman was left to die in a blazing car by her driver following a fiery crash in the US, police said.

Harleen Grewal was burned to death on Friday after Saeed Ahmad, 23, slammed his luxury Infiniti 35G into a concrete barrier on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the New York Daily reported.

The driver left the woman passenger to die in the fireball after hailing a cab to take himself to a hospital, it said.

When firefighters put out the flames, they found a badly burned woman in the passenger seat. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

While the car was still in flames, Ahmad took himself to Maimonides Medical Center, police said. He was being treated there for burns to his arms and legs, the report said.

Cops caught up with him at the hospital and charged him with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and speeding.

His arraignment was pending in Brooklyn Criminal Court, the report said.

Ahmad had been allegedly driving in and out of the traffic on the expressway before his car hit the barrier, it said.

Ahmad, who lives in Flatlands, admitted to having a few drinks before the crash but was not legally drunk when his blood was tested at the hospital, police said.

Ahmad's brother Waheed, however, claimed that his sibling had tried to rescue the passenger.

"He said the girl that was in the car was stuck in there and he tried to get her out, thats why his arms were burned."



The grieving boyfriend of Grewal, who worked for a catering company, said she was a selfless soul who always looked out for others.

"She would do anything for people," Karan Singh Dhillon was quoted as saying.

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Mutual fund players' total assets under management (AUM) from the North East have grown 65.76 per cent in a year to Rs 14,454 crore as of August this year, spurred by aggressive marketing and awareness campaigns by the industry.

Markets regulator Sebi mandates mutual funds (MFs) to set apart 2 basis points of their AUM for investor education. Half of this amount has to be shared with the industry body AMFI for better fund utilisation.

The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) kick- started a new media campaign in March to position MFs as a preferred investment option for potential investors.

The cumulative AUM from the seven NE states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and the Himalayan state of Sikkim rose to Rs 14,454 crore, according to the Amfi data.

Among the Seven Sisters, as the NE states are popularly known, the largest state Assam has emerged at top with the highest AUM of Rs 8,960 crore up from Rs 5,025 crore a year ago. It is followed by Meghalaya (Rs 1,700 crore), Tripura (Rs 1,007 crore) and Sikkim (Rs 984 crore).

The fifth largest AMC SBI Mutual Fund has emerged as the largest player in the region in the AUM sweepstake with an AUM of Rs 4,664 crore, followed by Reliance MF - Rs 1,455 crore, according to the Amfi data.

SBI MF attributed the tremendous trust that its parent State Bank enjoys in the region for this huge growth.

"People have got lots of trust in brand SBI and we are lucky to have penetrated the NE market," SBI AMC executive director DP Singh told PTI.

"We'll continue to have our focus on the NE state and other similar markets," he added.

Reliance MF chief executive Sundeep Sikka attributed the growth to the concerted effort that the company had in the region with more focus on marketing and making people aware of the benefits of MF investments.

"We held many investor awareness campaigns in the North Eastern region and now we can confidently say that though at a very nascent stage, our efforts have started bearing fruit," he added.

The other AMCs that have made it big in the region include Birla Sunlife (Rs 924 crore), ICICI Prudential (Rs 907 crore) and HDFC (Rs 766 crore).

The data for August showed that Maharashtra contributes more than 40 per cent or close to Rs 9 trillion (Rs 9 lakh crore) of the total industry AUM of over Rs 20.8 trillion, which shows the tremendous growth potential for the sector.

It is followed by Delhi with around Rs 2 trillion; Karnataka at Rs 1.5 trillion; Gujarat Rs 1.33 trillion and Bengal Rs 1.1 trillion as of August.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
COLUMBUS  Her name is Margot. She is a 2012 Nissan Altima and she is mine.

I was biding my time on Facebook last week when I saw a long-lost friend was selling her car. Ive known this friend, Jamie, since I was 4 and she is now a collections lawyer in Kansas City. I figured she would be the best and also most dangerous person to do business with.

Either way, I contacted her three minutes after she posted what she called The Grey Beauty." About three hours later I got my name on a loan.

As Ive mentioned before, the car that brought me to Columbus was no better than an empty soda can. So now was the time to invest in a full soda can, if you will.

Im from Missouri, we say soda.

The whole deed was done in a very modern way. Jamie and I texted and emailed each other all the details we needed. Heaven knows a phone call would have been out of the question.

A phone call may have been interesting now that I think on it. The last time I saw Jamie she was in high school and I was in third grade.

When my family and I got back from Germany, we settled in this little town west of Jefferson City called California. We lived there for about two years. In that time I remember having picnics with the neighbor girl under a tree in my backyard. I cant remember going to her house, she always came to mine. This neighbor girl was the aforementioned Jamie.

I dont remember who moved first. All I know is my folks and I ended up in this little bungalow across town. Our new house stood alone on a short street that was more or less hidden from the rest of town. The east side of our property was lined with four pine trees that shed what seemed like feet of needles year-round. Westward was a huge period-style house that looked like it was ripped from the pages of "Anne of Green Gables."

The white, two-story house was planted in an off-centered fashion on the property. Surrounding this behemoth of a house was nearly an acre of untouched land that somehow seemed out of place.

For the 12 years we lived in our little hideaway house, the huge, white house next door was either a library or a home for misfit adolescents. First, The Wood Place Library occupied the first floor of the huge house, and the second floor was furnished into an apartment.

One day I was about to go outside to play and I saw a little boy already on my swing set. I am an only child and weird about my things. Ive grown out of my possessiveness for the most part, but when I was 6, my fury was a raging fire when I saw people touching my stuff.

I distinctly remember standing on the back porch and puffing my chest out to prepare for the throwdown. I wasnt going to hurt the little boy, but I was sure going to yell at him.

I was on my way to the swing set when I heard a familiar voice yell, Timmy! Get back here!"

It was Jamie, the picnic girl. I guess her mom had another kid since I saw them last.

At any rate, Timmy was always welcome over, as was Jamie. Our picnics were replaced with coloring maps and having sandwiches while watching Full House together. Jamie moved again after a short time.

My folks put me in this Christian academy that was on the outskirts of town. Speaking of skirts, the girls had to either wear those or jumpers as part of our uniforms. It was pretty hardcore about that stuff. Lesson plans didnt exist, we were given demerits when we were being unreasonable, and our folks had to pay tuition. That was a little out of the norm where Im from. I was one of the first 13 students to attend the school, and so was Jamie.

As the dust was settling on this car deal, I thought about how I essentially followed her around California, Missouri, when I was what she called a young pup." So when I saw her nice-looking car listed for a nice-looking price, I figured she was safe.

Kylee and I set out for road trip No. 2 to get my new wheels. Four hours of singing off-pitch to whatever came on the radio later, we find my lawyer friend who happened to have my car. We all piled into the car I named Margot and took her for a spin.

She drives like a dream. Compared to my first car in Nebraska, anything drives like a dream. This is all beside the point. Margot is a safe wagon and that is what I need. Maybe later in life I can pretend Im Mad Max and get me something with spikes and barrel across the Sahara.

After an hour and a-half of catching up with Jamie, Kylee and I found a pizza place to eat at and collapsed in. Four hours is a ways to go on a Sunday, especially when you have to drive back the same day.

But we did.

Since Sunday I have driven to and fro, here and there, with my nose set just a bit higher. I feel classy and important. You could say pompous, but I dont like the arrogance that accompanies the word. Maybe its because this is yet another adulty thing I did and Im proud of myself. I think thats fine. Then there comes the reason why I named her Margot.

The Morales side of my family has always been a bunch of wanderlusts. We kind of cannot stay put. That may have started with my grandparents, John and Margaret. I was very close to my grandmother. I spent afternoons with her on the front porch listening to her travel stories  New Zealand, Panama, random cruises around Europe and Cape Horn. The way she would tell the stories made me feel like I was with her and the tales she wove made me wish I was.

I dont know where this car is going to take me, but I find it appropriate to call her Margot after my grandmother. That way were always traveling together, just like I always wanted.
The home ministry has ordered withdrawal of as many as 1,000 paramilitary personnel, including 300 women, deployed in Darjeeling to maintain law and order during the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state.

In a communication, the ministry said seven companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including three women companies, and three companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel would be withdrawn from Darjeeling from tomorrow.

One company of paramilitary comprises 100 personnel.

The paramilitary personnel were in deployment in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, an official said.

However, five additional companies of the CRPF will be in the hills to assist the state police force.

The situation in Darjeeling has improved in the past few weeks.

The Mamata Banerjee government had last month formed a nine-member board of administrators, headed by Binay Tamang, instead of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to look into the development works in Darjeeling and Kalimpong.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is is visiting his home state Gujarat tomorrow where he would address a gathering of BJP workers at a village near Gandhinagar, state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said today.

The prime minister will address the 'Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan' being organised by the state BJP to celebrate the conclusion of the saffron party's 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatra' (march for Gujarat's honour) today.

"I bow to the people of Gujarat for blessing BJP for decades. We will always fulfil the dreams of every Gujarati with full strength & vigour," Modi tweeted.

Modi, who has been frequently visiting the poll-bound state, said in another tweet the two 'Gujarat Gaurav Yatras' "showcased the spirit of Jan Shakti & reflected Gujarat's strong faith in politics of development & good governance".

Senior leaders of the party joined the 15-day march, which was launched on October 1. The march covered a distance of around 4,471 kilometres, spread over 149 of the 182 Assembly constituencies in the state, Vaghani said.

"Tomorrow, the prime minister will give his guidance to around seven lakh BJP workers at the Gujarat Gaurav Mahasammelan to be held in Bhat village," he said.

Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, BJP national president Amit Shah and many other leaders of the party would be present, he added.

Last week, Modi had visited Gujarat to inaugurate and lay foundation stones of various projects in Rajkot, Vadnagar, Gandhinagar and Bharuch. He had also held a roadshow in his hometown Vadnagar on October 8.

Assembly elections are due in Gujarat later this year.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley today said Iran needs to be held accountable for its "support to terrorism" and violations of the Iran nuclear deal as she defended the new Iranian policy of President Donald Trump who has threatened to terminate the landmark agreement.

In a hard-hitting speech from the White House on Friday, Trump condemned Iran as a "fanatical regime" and said it has "committed multiple violations" of the nuclear deal which among other things allows Tehran to continue and advance its nuclear weapons programme.

Trump announced that he would not continue to certify the agreement to Congress, but stopped short of immediately cancelling US participation in the deal and left its fate in the hands of Congress.

Haley, America's Permanent Representative to the UN, told ABC that this new policy sends a perfect message to North Korea that if it enters a deal with the US, it should adhere to it and that the US will not tolerate its violation.

The Indian-origin top US diplomat acknowledged that Iran is in compliance with the part of the nuclear deal.

"But what we're saying is, is America still safe? Are we still OK with them doing all these other bad things? And what you're seeing is, everybody is turning a blind eye to Iran and all of those violations, out of trying to protect this agreement.

"What we need to say is, we have to hold them accountable. They can't be continuing to support terrorism around the world, like we're seeing they do. They can't continue to test ballistic missiles, which will lead to a nuclear Iran. They can't continue to do arms smuggling in the way that they're doing," Haley said.

"We're not saying they're in breach of the agreement. What we're saying is that, of sites inspected, no, they're doing exactly what they claim to do. But all sites have not been inspected," she claimed.

In his policy announcement, Trump said that he would not certify the Iranian nuclear deal.

Haley said that decertifying implies that there are many things in the UN resolution that are not happening.

"Those are total violations. They're violating every single one of them. So, US law is not just part of the agreement. US law talks about everything else. And it's good that it does," she said.

Haley said now the US Congress is going to be fully engaged on the threats of Iran.

"These are all lessons learned from North Korea, every single one of them. Had this been done with North Korea over the last 25 years, we would not be in this situation. What you see is, the president is trying to make sure that Iran doesn't become the next North Korea," she said.

The new Iranian policy, she said, sends the perfect message to North Korea, which is, the Trump administration is not going to engage in a bad deal.

"Should we ever get into a deal, we're going to hold you accountable. We're not going to look the other way, just because we think we have made a deal and we're not going to continue to watch it. We have to watch it," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he "leads from the front" and takes responsibility for success and failure alike.

"The most important thing in running a government is to provide leadership. It is very important to lead from the front for any leader who is running a government. Narendra Modi is such a leader," he said.

"As a former MP, I have seen many PMs who hesitated in leading from the front. During the Congress regimes in the country it was also seen that some people got credit for achievements which were never theirs while others received brickbats for failures which they could not be blamed for. Things are different under Modi," the JD(U) chief said.

Kumar made these comments at the release a book 'Sava Arab Bharatiyon Ka Sapna' authored by senior Gujarat-based journalist Uday Mahurkar.

The Bihar chief minister lauded the prime minister for having taken "courageous" decisions like demonetisation, GST and surgical strikes, which were criticised by opposition parties. Kumar said he always supported these measures, which were tough but necessary for the welfare of people.

Defending his decision to quit the 3-party Grand Alliance, Kumar said, "There can be no compromise with corruption. The decision was taken keeping the interest of Bihar in mind".

Kumar's JD(U) had quit the "Mahagathbandhan" - comprising the Congress and Lalu Prasad's RJD in July this year. He quit the alliance and joined hands with the BJP after the RJD rejected his suggestion that Prasad's son and the then deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav give an explanation in public over corruption cases lodged by the CBI against the father-son duo in the hotels for land scam.

After Kumar resigned as the chief minister, the BJP immediately offered support for forming a new government which he accepted.

Speaking at the same function, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi praised both the prime minister and Kumar, saying "I see very little difference in their style of functioning. Our chief minister has rich experience in governance and he has taken many praiseworthy decisions".

BJP national secretary general Anil Jain lamented that the Modi government was coming under attack through various campaigns like "Vikas pagal ho gaya hai (development has gone mad)" on social media which was recently used by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi to target the prime minister.

Nitish, while delivering his speech, told Jain, "Have courage. Do not get perturbed by such campaigns. Those who act courageously always succeed".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that most of the pending issues with Iran particularly relating to the oil payment have been resolved.

Jaitley, who is here on a week-long visit to the US to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, made the remarks after a meeting with his Iranian counterpart Masoud Karbasian.

"There were several pending issues with Iran particularly relating to the oil payment. Most of them have been resolved," he told reporters yesterday.

India is Iran's second biggest oil buyer after China and was among a few which had continued to import crude despite Western sanctions against Tehran.

Jaitley said India has a very stable relationship with Iran.

"It's very strategic for us, because the Chabahar port is not only going to service Iran, but also going to service Afghanistan," he said.

India and Iran had in 2003 agreed to develop strategic Chabahar port, located in the Sistan-Balochistan province in the energy-rich Persian Gulf nation's southern coast. The port is easily accessed from India's western coast, bypassing Pakistan.

An agreements on the Chabahar port was inked by the two sides in May 2016 after detailed discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

As per the pact, India is to equip and operate two berths in Chabahar Port Phase-I with capital investment of USD 85.21 million and annual revenue expenditure of USD 22.95 million on a 10-year lease.

Ownership of equipment will be transferred to Iranian side on completion of the 10-year period or for an extended period, based on mutual agreement.

The development of the port will help Indian companies enhance engagement in Iran and gain access to Afghanistan & Central Asia. In the long run Chahabar will also serve as the point of origin for the proposed Iran-Oman-India pipeline.

According to Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, the Iranian minister did not raise the issue of US President Donald Trump's new Iran policy during his meeting with Jaitley.

"We discussed more on Chabahar port, the trilateral agreement and expediting that kind of work," Garg said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nepal's main opposition leader and CPN-UML chief K P Oli has strongly objected to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's move to induct eight more ministers that took his Cabinet strength to a record 64, calling it a violation of the election code.

Former premier Oli, who was addressing parliament's last meeting yesterday, came down heavily on Prime Minister Deuba for "blatantly breaching the election code and instructions from the Election Commission (EC)".

He termed the prime minister's move as "unconstitutional, unethical and immoral".

Eight new ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party were inducted into the Deuba Cabinet.

"We have a serious objection to the prime minister's move of adding new ministers at a time when the election processes have already started and the government is being converted into a caretaker one," said Oli, asking Deuba why he expanded the Cabinet size to 64.

The number of ministers in the Cabinet is now over 10 per cent of the 601-member Parliament.

Parliament has ceased to exist from yesterday as per the constitutional provision that states the term of the House would end a day before the nomination of the candidates for the election to the House of Representatives.

Oli asked Deuba to withdraw the names of the proposed ministers before they are sworn in.

The prime minister, however, said since he has already received the "go ahead" for Cabinet expansion from both the EC and the president, his plan to expand the Cabinet and other processes would move ahead smoothly.

Oli accused the prime minister of expanding the Cabinet despite that the EC writing to the government twice asking it not to do so as such a decision would directly violate the election code.

Oli also told Parliament that he had drawn the president's attention towards the matter.

"I have told the president that this (Cabinet expansion) is objectionable and is in violation of the election code," the former prime minister said.

Deuba described the Cabinet expansion as a regular constitutional business of a prime minister.

"The number of ministers may sometimes increase while it may also decrease as needed. You may hear about decreasing the number of minister in a few days," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One person was killed and four others, including a woman, were injured in a clash between two groups over possesion of a land in Bihar's Nawada district, the police said today.

The incident occurred at Islampur village when two groups clashed over ownership of a land injuring five persons of which one succumbed to death at a Primary Health Centre last night.

The injured were being treated at the same health facility, they said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As 'Vidhana Soudha' -- the state legislature -- completes 60 years, Karnataka Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad today said the concerns raised by the opposition on the floor of the house should not be ignored since rival parties should be seen as a "shadow government."



The Karnataka legislature has been functioning smoothly without disruption for the last four years as all opportunities had been given to the Opposition to voice their concerns, he said.

Assembly polls in Karnataka are due next year.

Koliwad, however, said that there is still scope for improving the quality of debate, for which training programmes are being conducted from time to time.

There are also plans to come out with a separate TV channel to broadcast the proceedings, he added.

In an interview to PTI here, the Speaker said: "The Opposition will have its own say. You must give an opportunity to them. The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) is the shadow of the chief minister. The Opposition must be very strong in a democratic set up."



The government will run on the right path if the Opposition is strong. "I give them enough opportunity to criticise the government," he said.

Stating that the House functions without any hindrance now, Koliwad said, "This is also because we have amended the rules. The adjournment notice is considered only in the afternoon session after question hour, zero hour and other important subjects."



Among other reforms, he said members earlier were allowed to raise questions 15 days before the start of a session, but now they can raise round the year.

To ensure good attendance of legislators, the Speaker said, "They have to sign the attendance register both in morning and afternoon sessions. Earlier, they were to sign only in the morning session."



Asked about trouble-making members, he said, "I have made them sober. I do not find anyone difficult to handle."



Observing that the quality of debate still needs to be improved, the senior Congress leader said, "It will improve only by taking interest in the proceedings of the House and by reading. There is still scope for improvement."



Training programmes are being conducted to educate them on the house proceedings and how to raise questions in the interest of people, he said.

A five-time MLA, Koliwad said there has not been any hurdles in conducting the sessions at two places -- Bengaluru an Belgaum. However, accommodation issues need to be addressed in Belgaum, which the government is looking into. The winter session is scheduled from November 7-17 in Belgaum.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Congress and CPI(M) leaders today visited the house of slain police sub-inspector Amitabha Malik, who was killed in a firing allegedly by the supporters of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung in Darjeeling.

While visiting Malik's residence at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Chowdhury said the police personnel should have been given adequate protective gear.

"With the chief minister having pointed towards links between the troublemakers in Darjeeling and some terrorist outfits in the north-east, the police personnel should have been given adequate protective gear, including bulletproof vests and head gear," he said.

The Congress leader offered condolences to Malik's father.

Malik was killed and four other policemen were seriously injured when GJM supporters, loyal to Gurung, allegedly fired at a police team in a forest area in Darjeeling district on Friday.

CPI(M) MLAs Sujan Chakraborty and Tanmoy Bhattacharya also visited Malik's residence in the afternoon.

Chakraborty called for a tripartite meeting to solve the Darjeeling issue.

"We do not want to do politics over death. The state government should go for tripartite talks to solve the Darjeeling issue. Our party will play a positive role if such an effort is made," he said.

In the evening, Malik's neighbours and others took out a candlelight march in the area to mourn the death of the sub- inspector. They demanded an exemplary punishment for those involved in his killing.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Pakistan and Iran today agreed not to let their territories be used for terrorism against each other as the two neighbouring countries signed an MoU to improve border security management, a media report said.

Pakistan shares a 900-kilometre-long border with Iran which in the recent months has expressed concern over militants operating along the Pakistani border.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the 21st two-day meeting of Pakistan-Iran Joint Border Commission in the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan province.

The joint proposals pertaining to border situation, security matters, immigration and border trade between the two countries were discussed, Radio Pakistan reported.

The meeting expressed firm determination to check drugs smuggling, intrusion of illegal immigrants and not let use of their respective soils for terrorism against each other, the report said.

Provincial Chief Secretary Aurangzeb Haque led the Pakistani side while Deputy Governor Sistan-Balochistan province Ali Asghar Mir Shikari headed the Iranian delegation, it added.

In July, an Iranian drone was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force fighter jet in the restive Balochistan province.

In April, nine Iranian border guards were killed by militants in a cross-border attack on the frontier with Pakistan. Following the attack, Iran had summoned the Pakistani envoy to protest the attack.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Page Content





Speaker: Mikel Landabaso Alvarez, Director, Strategy and Corporate Communication, European Commission





In response to recent political developments, the European Commission has launched a new corporate communication approach in order to improve the understanding of the European Union by citizens. This approach consists of three communication strands: the EU delivers, the EU empowers and the EU protects. These strands build on initiatives like the Investment Plan for Europe and communication milestones such as the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty. Implementation of the first strand is well underway with a corporate communication campaign on EU investments, showing how EU action delivers tangible results on the ground, in particular through EU funded projects.





Join Mikel Landabaso Alvarez, Director for Strategy and Corporate Communication of the European Commission for a lunchtime briefing where he will explain the details.





Date: Tuesday, 28 March 2017



Time: 12.30-14.00 Place: European Committee of the Regions, Rue Belliard 101 Jacques Delors building, JDE 51 (5th floor)





Welcome:, Director of Communication, European Committee of the Regions
The upcoming Mumbai Metro-III project has caused consternation in Parsi community as the underground corridor will pass below some of their ancient and most revered fire temples in the island city.

Members of the community today gathered near ancient Bhikha Behram Well, located adjacent to Azad Maidan, which Parsis consider a sacred place of worship, in south Mumbai.

The Metro 3 tunnel will also pass below the Dadysett Agiary at Hutatma Chowk in Fort besides the Behram Well.

One of the underground tunnels of the ambitious project will pass under Jagannath Sunkersett Road, on which two fire temples are located. Community members feel the holy fire could be desecrated due to the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz line or Metro-3 and the Behram Well may get damaged.

Once completed, the 33.5-km long line will be the first underground metro line in Mumbai. The metro line will connect Cuffe Parade business district in the extreme south of the city to SEEPZ in the north-central with 26 underground and one at-grade station.

The Zoroastrians are demanding that the route of the project, being implemented by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC), be changed to avoid any damage to their Agiaries.

Demanding a change in the metro route at Girgaum in south Mumbai, the community recently generated an online petition raising objections to the alignment passing below their fire temples.

"Two fire temples are going to be affected by this project. The metro which will go through here (underneath the Behram Well) should not spoil the streams of water," said one of the protesters Farokh Gutla.

An MMRC spokesperson had earlier said that the tunnelling for Metro III is not directly below the well.

The metro project is facing protests from environmental activists who are opposing the construction of Metro Car Shed on the area of Aarey Milk Colony, a green lung in western suburbs. A petition is also being heard in the Bombay High Court against the proposed metro car shed.

In her article, senior journalist Bachi Karkaria has proposed a balanced view over the objections raised by Parsis.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
One week since a three-year-old Indian girl vanished during an alleged incident of bizarre late-night punishment meted out by her Indian foster father, police in Richardson are yet to find a clue as to what happened to her, US media reports said today.

Sherin Mathews vanished last Saturday after her father Wesley Mathews told police he left her outside at 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Mathews claimed that when he went to check on her around 3:15 am she was gone. Police said he waited five hours before reporting Sherin missing.

During an interview with detectives, Wesley Mathews said he checked around his home for Sherin and then went back inside to do laundry. He was released from jail last Sunday after posting his USD 250,000 bond.

Neighbours of the Indian-American couple have turned the tree across the backyard alley from Sherins home in Richardson in Dallas, Texas into a memorial to the little girl. People have left teddy bears, balloons, angel figurines, a box of written prayers, and even a single gallon of milk, WFFA TV reported.

It is the tree where her father Wesley claims he left the girl as punishment. He claims that when he came back to get her she was gone.

Wesley has since been arrested, and bonded out, on a charge of child endangerment and ordered to wear an ankle monitor as the investigation continues. But after a week, with searches that included the help of the FBI, Richardson police tell 8 on this 8th day of her disappearance that they have no new information to report.

US Child Protective Services has taken custody of the couples older 4-year-old daughter and neither Wesley Mathews nor his wife have talked publicly about what happened.

Police are still looking for any surveillance video or information that will help show them where the familys SUV went when it disappeared for an hour that morning.

So far, tips from the public have not led to any definitive clues that could lead police to Sherin.

"I pray every night, but I more pray the mama say the truth because this baby need to be in peace, and the people feeling bad need to be in peace too, said a local resident Silvia Johnson.

Police are asking people to check surveillance footage for a maroon Acura SUV they say left the home an hour after Sherin disappeared.

"We would like to thank those who have provided tips and video up to this point. We are diligently working our way through all of the material. We continue to request businesses and residents within a 30-minute drive of the 900 block of Sunningdale to check your video systems to see if there is any footage that may have captured a 2013 maroon Acura MDX SUV on Saturday, October 7th, between 4AM and 5AM, Richardson Police Department said recently in a Facebook post.

Police have not said how they know the car was missing or who was driving. Investigators removed three of the family's cars, including the Acura SUV, from the home earlier last week for analysis.

Detectives have not said whether Wesley Mathews is a suspect, but they have cleared his wife Sini Mathews. Police previously said she was asleep and unaware her husband had made their daughter stand outside as punishment.

"She is distraught. As you are all aware, they adopted Sherin, and they love Sherin," Sini's attorney Kent Starr said. "All she wants is for her daughter to be returned.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today hailed the police for taking Pakistan-sponsored proxy war and terrorism head-on and said the department was playing a pivotal role in ensuring peace in the state.

He also congratulated the police personnel for upholding and enforcing law to protect the citizens of the state.

After inaugurating a two-day 'Diwali Mela', organised by the Jammu and Kashmir police wives welfare association, he told reporters, "The way police has taken the proxy war and terrorism head-on is appreciable. I congratulate the department for that."



He said that police administration was playing a pivotal role in upholding and enforcing law to protect life, liberty, property, human rights and dignity of the common man.

"The credit for ensuring peace in the state goes to police personnel, who have offered supreme sacrifices," Singh said.

The deputy chief minister also paid rich tributes to all the security personnel and civilians who lost their lives in the fight against terrorism.

The Diwali Mela, the first-of-its kind fair, is aimed at providing police officers and their families an opportunity to socialise on the occasion of festivals.

Congratulating the organisers, he said that such events provide police personnel a break from the monotonous routine and create positive and happy environment.

It also strengthen police-public relationship, he added.

Singh, meanwhile, also launched a mobile phone application of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank which would help police personnel in getting a loan of up to Rs 20 lakh, an official spokesman said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A lockdown has been lifted on Virginia State University campus following a shooting that left one person injured, authorities said today.

Virginia State University Police said via Twitter that "Police have cleared the scene. Officers will remain vigilant. Campus lock down has been lifted."



The incident happened about 8:25 pm yesterday, according to a statement released by the Chesterfield Police Department.

Police said responding officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound with non-life-threatening injuries.

Chesterfield Police said "police believe this is an isolated incident" and were still seeking the shooter.

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia school located about 24 miles south of Richmond was celebrating the final day of its homecoming yesterday.

An investigation is ongoing. No further information was immediately available.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today said the Union Territory has been accorded status on par with states by the Finance Commission enabling it to receive funds like any other state.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "As a result of our sustained efforts the Centre has now treated Puducherry on par with states by including it in theCentral Finance Commission enabling the Union territory to get devolution of funds on par with States."



All along Puducherry was kept out of the ambit of the Central Finance Commission, he said.

The allocation of funds by the 15th Finance Commission for Puducherry would be 42 percent of the total budgetary allocations of Puducherry as is the case for States, he noted.

Narayanasamy said the territorial administration has been incurring a revenue loss of Rs 40 crores per month ever since the Goods and Services Tax was enforced in July this year.

"Although the Centre had earmarked Rs 40 crores for the loss suffered in July after GST was enforced I hope the compensation for subsequent months would be available without break," he said.

Charging the Centre with adopting a different yardstick towards Puducherry, the Chief Minister said, "the Centre should implement its promises given in the past to meet shortfall in plan and on plan allocation of funds without any discrimination."



He said, President Ram Nath Kovind had given "very good" suggestions at the recent conference of Governors and Lt Governors in New Delhi asking the incumbents of gubernatorial posts to function as bridge with the governments.

The bridge as envisaged by the President should be "a sound structure and should not be rickety and a damaged one," Narayanasamy, whose government had been at loggerheads with the Lt Governor Kiran Bedi said in a veiled reference to ongoing tussle with the latter.

On October 12, the President had said that Governors can provide a new dimension to the development of their states by communicating with legislators and deliberating on subjects related to public well-being.

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Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi today over Donald Trump's remarks about improving ties with Pakistan, saying that the US president "needs another hug".

Trump had said yesterday that Pakistan took "tremendous advantage" of the US over the years, but the two countries are now "starting to have a real" relationship.

Posting a snapshot of Trump's tweet, Gandhi said, "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."



The Congress leader's remarks were in reference to the visible bonhomie between Trump and Modi with the two leaders exchanging hugs during the prime minister's last visit to the US.

"Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts," Trump had said in a tweet yesterday.

Trump's comments had come a day after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror group.

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President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led the nation in remembering the 'Missile Man' of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, on his 86th birth anniversary.

In his home state Tamil Nadu, the birth anniversary of the former president was marked by planting of trees and floral tributes.

At Kalam's memorial in Peikarambu near his home town Rameswaram, his family members and people from various walks of life, including students, paid floral tributes.

Kovind described the Missile Man as one of the greatest visionaries who ignited young minds, while Modi praised Kalam saying his personality inspired millions.

Speaking with a group of children who arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus 'Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020', Kovind said he saluted Kalam and his monumental achievements as a scientist, a scholar and as the president of India.

"One of the best ways of building the character of the youth of any country is to inspire them to read biographies of great personalities," he said.

The president said Kalam was one of India's greatest visionaries and is fondly remembered as 'Missile Man of India' and 'People's President'.

The Kalam Sandesh Vahini bus presents the life story of the former president in a very interesting manner, he said.

Earlier, Kovind paid floral tributes at the portrait of Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Modi in a tweet said, "Remembering our beloved former president, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary. His endearing personality inspires millions".

The prime minister shared a short video containing glimpses from the life of Kalam and his own (Modi's) earlier speech praising the late scientist.

In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the state in remembering Kalam.

Purohit paid floral tributes to a statue of Kalam at the Raj Bhavan here, an official release said.

At Peikarumbu, students, government representatives and public thronged his memorial to pay their respects.

The memorial, construction work on which began on his last birth anniversary, was inaugurated by the prime minister in July this year.

Family members of Kalam, Tamil Nadu Information Technology Minister M Manikandan, Ramanathapuram District Collector S Natarajan and others paid their tributes at the memorial.

Students of the Mandapam Panchayat Union Primary School, where Kalam had studied, remembered him and took a oath to uphold his ideals.

In Chennai, at a function held at the Adyar Cancer Institute, its chairperson and Padma Vibhushan awardee V Shanta planted a sapling to mark Kalam's birth anniversary.

"We cannot have a more inspiring leader than what we have had (in the past)," she said.

Film actor Vivek, an ardent supporter of Kalam, took part in various functions where saplings were planted across the city on the occasion.

Kalam was born on October 15, 1931. He was a popular head of state between 2002 and 2007. Kalam died on July 27, 2015.

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President Ram Nath Kovind today remembered the 'Missile Man' of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, on his birth anniversary, describing him as one of the greatest visionaries who ignited young minds.

He was speaking with a group of children who arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus 'Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020'. These children had called on the president.

Kovind said he saluted Kalam and his monumental achievements as a scientist, a scholar and as the president of India.

"One of the best ways of building the character of the youth of any country is to inspire them to read biographies of great personalities," Kovind said.

The president said Kalam was one of India's greatest visionaries and is fondly remembered as 'The Missile Man of India' and 'People's President'.

He has made momentous contribution to India's scientific heritage through his involvement in varied fields ranging from nuclear technology to designing low cost stents for the heart or lightweight calipers for polio victims, Kovind said.

"India will never forget the remarkable contributions of Kalam. He had a great passion for teaching and education and truly ignited young minds with the power to think and innovate," the president said.

Kovind said former president Kalam enjoyed being with people.

"He was adored by people and youngsters. He loved students and spent his final moments among them," the president said.

The president said that the Kalam Sandesh Vahini bus presents the life story of the former president in a very interesting manner.

"He appreciated the effort. He said he was sure that a large number of Indians, especially the young people have benefited by seeing the mobile exhibition on the life, works and the vision of Kalam," Kovind said.

The Kalam Sandesh Vahini was launched by House of Kalam and Chinmaya University. The Vahini depicts various incidents from Kalam's life as well as key highlights of India's scientific achievements, with an aim to educate and inspire the masses.

It was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Rameswaram on July 27, 2017, during the inauguration ceremony of Kalam's memorial.

The Vahini has travelled from Rameswaram, through various states, to finally arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Kovind paid floral tributes at the portrait of Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Officers and staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan along with family members of Kalam also paid floral tributes on the occasion.

Born on October 15, 1931, Kalam died on July 27, 2015. He was a popular head of state between 2002 and 2007.

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BJP national general secretary Ram Madhav today gibed Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling by calling his SDF party a "Sikkim Dictatorial Front".

He said the BJP and regional parties would offer a stronger alternative after the assembly elections due in 2019.

"The Sikkim Democratic Front is not democratic at all, it is democratic for the sake of name only," he told reporters at the state BJP office in Singtam Bazar, about 30 kilometres from Gangtok.

"The SDF is Sikkim Dictatorial Front actually," Madhav said as he charged Chamling's party with terrorising the opposition in the state and preventing the creation of a strong alternative to his government.

The senior BJP leader, who is the party's in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, decried a lack of good governance in the state and said the BJP and other "like- minded" regional parties have decided to come forward to change the situation in the state.

"We have found good governance lacking in Sikkim... There is a lot of corruption and development is also lacking," he said, adding that the BJP wants democratic parties to come together in Sikkim to offer an alternative to the ruling SDF.

Former minister Balbir Subba and former Gangtok mayor KN Topgey and a number of political activists joined the BJP in Madhav's presence.

Earlier in the day, Madhav held a closed-door meeting with Chief Minister Chamling's younger brother and independent MLA R N Chamling at a hotel. They were said to have discussed a strategy to break the SDF's hegemony in Sikkim since 1993.

R N Chamling had won as an independent candidate from the Rangrang-Yangyang assembly seat in south Sikkim in a bypoll in 2014 after the chief minister vacated the seat upon winning from two constituencies.

Chamling's brother nurses chief ministerial ambitions and may seek the BJP's support to send his elder brother packing from the chief minister's post after the 2019 assembly polls, according to political commentators.

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will support the upcoming negotiations on the Renewable Energy Directive between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council. This event intends to create a thematically structured conference with up to 200 experts to discuss
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today said that he would appear before a presidential probe panel on the alleged Central Bank Bond scam which the Opposition has termed as the biggest financial fraud in the country's history.

Wickremesinghe said in a statement that since references have been made on him at the Special Presidential Commission, he was prepared to go before the Commission and make the necessary explanations.

The Opposition has accused the prime minister of being behind what they termed as the biggest financial fraud in the country's history.

Wickremesinghe has Central Bank of Sri Lanka under his charge.

It has been alleged that a primary dealer of the bank had benefited from insider information on two Central Bank Bond issued in February 2015 and March 2016.

Wickremesinghe said that since a majority of people had voted for his government in 2015 eyeing transparency and good governance, his intent is to keep that action forward.

In 2015, Wickremesinghe handpicked Arjuna Mahendran, a Singaporean national of Sri Lankan origin, to head the bank.

The primary dealer company of Mahendran's son-in-law was accused of making large profits in Bond issues with the use of insider information.

President Maithripala Sirisena ordered the presidential probe panel after a public outcry leading to the removal of Mahendran from the position.

Then foreign minister Ravi Karunanayake was forced to resign for links with the primary dealer firm while two other Wickremesinghe's ministers gave evidence before the probe panel.

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Rebel shelling on the Syrian capital Damascus killed four civilians today, a Britain-based monitor and a medical source said.

Shelling on the central district of Old Damascus killed four civilians and wounded seven others, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

A doctor receiving the casualties confirmed the death toll and said most of the injured were "gravely wounded by shrapnel".

State agency SANA said artillery fire killed two people and wounded nine others in the Bab Sharqi area of Old Damascus.

The Observatory said shelling today hit several areas of the capital including the eastern district of Tabbaleh.

It followed a drop in violence in Damascus since the implementation in July of a de-escalation zone in a rebel-held area to its east.

Eastern Ghouta is one of four such zones agreed at May peace talks on the Syrian conflict sponsored by rebel backer Turkey and regime supporters Russia and Iran.

SANA said four people were wounded yesterday when two mortar rounds hit the Absasiyeen Square in the centre of the city.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the country's conflict began in March 2011 with anti- government protests.

Damascus has been largely spared from the worst of the violence in the six-year war, despite being shaken by two bomb attacks in recent weeks.

On Wednesday, three suicide bombers killed at least two people near the main police headquarters in Damascus, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

IS also claimed an October 2 bomb attack at a police station in the capital that killed at least 17 people.

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Union minister Kiren Rijiju today said the rights of indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh would be protected and they would not be "let down" because of Chakma and Hajong refugees.

The Supreme Court had in 2015 directed the central government to grant citizenship to Chakma and Hajong refugees, mostly staying in Arunachal Pradesh. The nearly one lakh refugees came from the erstwhile East Pakistan five decades ago.

The Minister of State for Home Affairs called upon all stakeholders, including the state government and the apex student body All Arunachal Pradesh Students Union (AAPSU), to coordinate their efforts to solve the vexed issue.

"Though we are working in different fields, our sentiments for the interest of the state are same. We need to communicate properly to each other and work harder to solve the refugee issue," Rijiju said at the golden jubilee celebration of AAPSU.

He also blamed the erstwhile Congress government for bringing the Chakmas and Hajongs to the state during their tenure, and urged the AAPSU to play a key role in bringing communal harmony in the state.

In his speech, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal called upon the sister states of the northeast to work in close coordination to fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi's dream for making it a vibrant region.

"Let us all join hands for the development of our region and India," he said quoting the prime minister and appealed to the constituent states of the region to utilise their potential.

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Two rockets fired from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula crashed into the Eshkol region of southern Israel, without causing injury or significant damage, the army said.

Jihadists in the Sinai affiliated to the Islamic State group claimed the last such attack in April.

In August 2013, four Islamists preparing to fire a rocket at Israel were killed in an Egyptian air strike, according to the military in Egypt, one of only two Arab states to have signed a peace treaty with the Jewish state.

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The police today arrested a 19- year-old Rohingya man here on charges of illegally procuring an Aadhaar card and illegally staying in the country.

The Indian employer of the man, who had claimed to be his father in order to get him the Aadhaar card, was also placed under arrest, a police official said.

The Rohingya man, Mohammad Ajamuddin alias Molla Ajamuddin, and his employer Riyazuddin Molla (36), a native of West Bengal, were nabbed from the Burma huts in the Balapur area here, he added.

Both the men were in the garment business and had recently come to the city from Kolkata, the police said.

"Ajamuddin belongs to Myanmar and he and his family were living at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh as refugees. About a year ago, Molla went to Bangladesh for some work related to his garment business and got acquainted to Ajamuddin," the official attached to the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate said.

"Molla informed Ajamuddin that he could earn more money in India and gave his phone number to him. Subsequently, Ajamuddin came to Kolkata and met him. Since then, he has been working for Molla for a monthly salary of Rs 6,000. Molla was providing shelter to him illegally," he added.

Molla also allegedly helped Ajamuddin get an Aadhaar card by giving false information to the UIDAI authorities, stating that the latter was his son, and violated the provisions of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

He had recently brought Ajamuddin to Hyderabad, he added.

Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed the duo and seized their Aadhaar cards.

A case was registered against the two under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

Last month, the Rachakonda police had arrested a 20- year-old Rohingya man, who allegedly claimed to be an Indian citizen and applied for a passport to enable him to go to Dubai. The police had also seized a PAN card from him.

Scores of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state have been fleeing the restive region since August amid a fresh wave of violence, triggering a refugee crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh and India.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju had recently said the Rohingya Muslims were illegal immigrants and pitched for their deportation.

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The possibility of terrorist links of a section of Rohingya refugees, sheltered in Chittagong, could not be ruled out, a top official of Bangladesh said today and asserted that his country would not allow any group to use its soil for terrorist activities.

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, the media advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said that Bangladesh had already announced its policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

Chowdhury, who inaugurated a cultural event here, said that Bangladesh expected India to take a stand on the "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

"We have given shelter to 10 lakh Rohingyas from Myanmar on humanitarian grounds despite much constraint. They were forced to leave their country following an ethnic conflict. So, a sense of retaliation might prevail among a section of the refugees. We cannot rule out the possibility of their involvement with any terrorist outfit.

"But, we will not allow any terrorist group to use our soil. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced zero tolerance towards any kind of terrorist activity," he said.

Asked if Pakistani spy agency ISI had penetrated the Rohingya refugees, Chowdhury said that the country has its "own agenda".

"They (Pakistan) cannot forget their defeat in 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation War). So they might try to penetrate among the Rohingyas, but we are not aware of it. Even if ISI penetrates, it would be unable to survive because the Bangladeshi government is against this kind of activity," he said.

Chowdhury said though the United Nations (UN) has condemned the torture of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and called it "ethnic cleansing", India, China and Russia have maintained silence on the issue.

"We do not want that the relations between India and Myanmar become bitter on the (Rohingya) issue, but we expect India to take a stand for the solution of the problem," he said.

Bangladesh's economy is feeling the impact of the Rohingyas' stay and it wants the refugees to return to their homeland in Rakhine state in Mynamar and be properly repatriated.

"Can we force them to return if the situation is not normal? The Rohingyas were brutally tortured, their properties destroyed and their women molested and raped," he said.

On the Indo-Bangladesh relations, the official said those were very cordial. It has consolidated further with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs in India and Hasina in Bangladesh.

Chowdhury said the minority Hindus in Bangladesh were "very safe" now. "Over 30,000 Durga pujas were organised in Bangladesh this year, which is 777 more than last year."



Fourteen lakh Bangladeshis had visited India last year for different purposes including treatment and tourism, he added.

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The body of an unidentified Sadhu was found on tracks at Katra railway station in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said today.

Police is investigating whether the Sadhu, around 40 years of age, had committed suicide or hit by a train accidentally, the official said.

He said the decapitated body of the deceased was recovered yesterday from the track adjacent to the platform, shortly after a Jammu bound train left the Katra station.

Inquest proceedings have been initiated in connection with the case, the official said, adding police is trying to establish the identity of the deceased.

Thousands of pilgrims visit the famous Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the town daily.

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The Supreme Court has sought a response from the government on framing of guidelines for setting up a permanent mechanism for termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks in exceptional cases.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued notices to the ministries of health, women and child development and the Medical Council Of India and sought their reply in four weeks.

The apex court, however, refused to amend the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act which prohibits termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks, saying that the issue fell within the legislative domain.

"On a perusal of the reliefs sought, we find that as far as the prayer is concerned, that is in legislative realm, hence we are not inclined to address the said prayer.

"Issue notice, fixing a returnable date within four weeks," the bench said.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by Karnataka-based Anusha Ravindra seeking amendment of the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act for abortion of foetuses older than 20 weeks involving rape survivors and women with abnormal foetus.

The plea, filed through advocate Abhinav Ramkrishna, also sought constitution of a committee for setting up a permanent mechanism for expedient termination of pregnancies beyond 20 weeks in the exceptional cases involving rape survivors and women with abnormal foetus under safe medical facilities with adequate inputs from an association of professionals and experts.

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Aiming to become the first domestic missile integration company in the private sector, industrial explosives maker Solar Industries India Ltd (SIIL) is developing a missile assembly facility in Maharashtra which is expected to be completed by January next year.

The Nagpur-based company entered the defence sector over four years ago.

It has set up India's first plant for manufacturing the explosive HMX in the private sector, a large composite propellant plant and facilities for producing various other products like pyros and warheads.

"Since we are already manufacturing the key components for missiles like the war heads, propellants, explosives, among others, we thought we should go a step ahead and develop a facility to integrate all the components to develop a complete missile," the company's Managing Director and CEO Manish Nuwal told PTI here.

He said the work on the missile assemble factory is in the final stages and it is likely to be completed in January 2018.

"Currently we are looking for missile assembling for 'Pinaka' rocket launcher. But any job related to rockets can be done and going forward missile integration as well," Nuwal said, adding the transfer of technology agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is already in place.

"Once the construction is completed, we can then proceed for the assembling, subject to when the defence sector places orders," he added.

SIIL's facility in Nagpur manufactures HMX and HMX based compositions like Octol, Oma and Okfol for high explosive anti-tank ammunition and missiles like Akash, LR Sam, Invar and Konkur. It also manufactures propellants for BrahMos missile.

The company currently has a manufacturing capacity of 50 mtpa of HMX which it plans to enhance to 300 mtpa.

"Earlier we required less quantity of HMX, but now with the defence sector opening up, we will increase the capacity to 300 mtpa.

"Similarly, we will increase the capacity of all the other defence related products and also introduce some new solutions," the company's Chief Financial Officer Nilesh Panpalliya said.

He said the company, which already has an order book of Rs 140 crore in the business, plans to invest up to Rs 175 crore every year for the next 3-4 years to enhance its manufacturing capacities.

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Staying in the Iranian nuclear deal is in the best interest of the US, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today said, noting that President Donald Trump also agrees with this.

In a hard-hitting speech from the White House on Friday, Trump condemned Iran as a "fanatical regime" and said it has "committed multiple violations" of the nuclear deal which among other things allows Tehran to continue and advance its nuclear weapons programme.

Trump announced that he would not continue to certify the agreement to Congress, but stopped short of immediately cancelling US participation in the deal and left its fate in the hands of Congress.

"I do agree with that. And I think the president does as well," Tillerson told CNN when asked about a recent statement of Defence Secretary Jim Mattis that he believed that staying in the agreement was in the best interests of the US.

"That's why he (Trump) took the decision, let's see if we cannot address the flaws in the agreement by staying within the agreement, working with the other signatories, working with our European friends and allies within the agreement," he said.

The Secretary of State alleged that there have been a number of technical violations of the Iranian nuclear deal -- carrying too much inventory of heavy water, having materials that are used to construct high-speed centrifuges.

"Under the agreement, and this is part of the weaknesses and the flaws, Iran has a significant period of time to remedy those violations. So they have remedied the violations, which then brings them back into technical compliance," he said, adding that demonstrated pattern of always walking right up against the edges of the agreement are what gives some concern as to how far Iran might be willing to go to test the limits from its side of the agreement.

"Our response to that has been to work with the other parties and demand that we be much more demanding of the enforcement of the agreement, much more demanding inspections, much more demanding disclosures. And that's what we are shifting since we have taken our seat at the table of the joint commission," the top American diplomat said.

Tillerson said that the president wants a more comprehensive strategy to deal with Iran in its totality.

"For too long, and certainly the last administration really defined the Iranian relationship around this nuclear agreement. This nuclear agreement is flawed. It has a number of weaknesses in it," he said.

The president said throughout his campaign even, that he will either reform the agreement, either fix these flaws, or will have to have a different agreement entirely. His decision around the new policy is consistent with that, he said.

"Now we want to deal with the nuclear agreement's weaknesses, but we really need to deal with a much broader array of threats that Iran poses to the region, our friends and allies, and, therefore, threats that they pose to our own national security," he said.

The Iranian policy has three components, Tillerson said.

There is the nuclear agreement, which the US is going to undertake an effort to see if they cannot address the many flaws in the agreement, working with partners.

"It may be a secondary agreement. Maybe it's not within the existing agreement, but we may undertake a secondary agreement," he said, adding that there's a much broader array from threats from Iran, its ballistic programmes, its support of terrorist groups in the region, Lebanese Hezbollah, Hamas.

These are all very threatening organisations, he said.

The third element of this policy is about the regime in Iran, this revolutionary regime that, ever since it came to power, has been intent on killing and harming Americans and harming others in the region.

"We do not hold the Iranian people accountable for that. So, our effort is to support the moderate voices in Iran, support their cries for democracy and freedom, in the hope that, one day, the Iranian people will retake control of the government of Iran and restore it to its rich history of the past, reintegrate, and become a fruitful member in trade, commerce in the region," Tillerson added.

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Agro-chemical and seeds firm Syngenta today said it focuses on safe use of its pesticides and undertakes various activities for proper handling of its products by farmers.

It said reports alleging its product, Polo, to be "solely responsible" for loss of farmers' lives and hospitalisation of farm workers in the Yavatmal region in Maharashtra is "incorrect".

It is "incorrect and does not reflect the realities of the situation", the company said in a statement.

The company said it gives importance to the safe use of chemicals and undertakes a number of activities including doctors training, safe handling training and distribution of Personal Protective Equipment.

Earlier this month, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had ordered an inquiry into the deaths of farmers due to pesticide poisoning in Yavatmal district in the state's Vidarbha region.

Although the government did not specify the number of deaths, eminent farm activist from Vidarbha, Kishor Tiwari, and the Shiv Sena had said the pesticide exposure reported in Yavatmal district has claimed 18 lives so far.

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The second edition of the Indian Police Martyrs' Memorial Run, was flagged off by Andhra Pradesh and Telangana Governor ESL Narasimhan today on the Necklace Road here.

About 8,000 registered participants and also Police personnel from Central and different states, took part in three categories of the Run-- 2 km, 5 km and 10 km, organised by the Telangana Police in association with Central Armed Police forces and Central Police Organisations.

The Telangana State Police for the first time in the country had last year organised the Martyrs' Memorial Run, to pay tributes to martyrs of entire police force of the country.

The Governor along with Telangana Director General of Police Anurag Sharma, and senior Police Officials participated in 2K run and completed by reaching the finishing point.

Addressing the gathering, the Governor said the Run for Police Martyrs marks an important day.

Anurag Sharma said that martyrs sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

"Its a solemn occasion to show their families and world that all are one unit".

Telangana Home Department Principal Secretary Rajiv Trivedi, Hyderabad Police Commissioner M Mahendar Reddy were among those who attended the event.

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A Dalit girl was allegedly thrashed in a village here by four upper caste girls, sparking tension in the area, the police said today.

After the alleged victim's father, Ajay Singh, filed a complaint, the police registered a case against the girls, all class XII students, who allegedly belonged to the Jat community, Circle Officer Rajiv Kumar said.

According to the victim's father, the four beat up his daughter yesterday in Pachenda village, Kumar said.

Meanwhile, agitated Dalit residents of the village staged a protest and demanded a probe into the matter.

The security has been tightened in the village and extra police force has been deployed in the area to ease the tension, he added.

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Tibet has registered a double digit growth rate for the 24th consecutive year due to massive influx of tourism, natural resources and heavy Chinese investments despite slowdown of China's economy.

The first half of this year Tibet's GDP grew by 10.8 per cent keeping up with the momentum of the double-digit growth rate for the 24th consecutive year, state-run People's Daily reported today.

In the first six months, Tibet's GDP reached 55.54 billion yuan (USD 8.49 billion). The disposable incomes for urban and rural residents were 15,292 yuan (about USD 2500) and 3,210 yuan (about USD 525), up 10 and 13.9 per cent year- on-year, respectively, it said.

China has invested heavily in the infrastructure of Tibet, especially railway, highways and dams in the last three decades.

From 2011 to 2016, the total mileage of highways in Tibet grew from 63,100 kms to 82,100 kms, extending by 30 per cent. Now, there are 72 airlines flying between Tibet and 41 cities in and out of China, the report said.

Over the past five years China had built several hydropower facilities, including the Zam Hydropower Station built over Brahmaputra river, the Duobu Hydropower Station, the Guoduo Hydropower Station and the Pangduo Hydropower Station and transmitted a total of 824 million kilowatt hours of electricity to places outside the region, an increase of 150 per cent.

For the first time in history, the regions net delivery of electricity exceeded 200 million kilowatt hours. Also Tibet has become a major national and international tourist destination.

In 2016, the tourism sector generated over 33 billion yuan (over USD five billion) in revenue, accounting for nearly 29 per cent of Tibets GDP, Wang Songping, director of the Tibet Tourism Development Commission told the Daily.

Tibet received about 23.15 million domestic and foreign tourists, an increase of 14.7 per cent year-on-year. Tourism created jobs for 100,000 Tibetan farmers and herdsmen last year, he said.

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The Trump administration will "implement fully" all existing US obligations under the Iranian nuclear deal, National Security Advisor H R McMaster today said.

"What the president, though, has done is he has set out a marker, a marker to Iranians and to our allies and partners that we have to fix fundamental flaws in this deal," McMaster told Fox in response to a specific question on the issue.

The Iranian nuclear deal is a "weak deal" that is being "weakly" monitored, he said.

As such President Donald Trump has made clear that he will not permit this deal to provide cover for what is "a horrible regime" to develop a nuclear weapon, he said.

McMaster said one of the problems with this deal is that the US can't really say with confidence that the Iranians are complying.

"We know from their behaviour, their behaviour broadly in the region, and their behaviour within the agreement where they have walked up to the line, they have crossed the line several times in terms of the restrictions, that this is not a trustworthy regime. So, much more comprehensive monitoring is in order," he said, adding, the US is seeking implementation of the deal.

"It's just to implement the agreement by going to sites, to fully implement the inspections of sites, the monitoring of suspicious sites within Iran," he said.

Iran he said has to revisit it because otherwise "what you do is you just give the Iranians the opportunity" to develop the nuclear capability, he said.

"Their programmes can advance and then they can go to industrial scale enrichment of uranium within a very short period of time and then bridge into a weapon, and that is just an unacceptable risk in the world," he added.

He said Trump is not walking away from the deal just yet.

"So, if he sees some real change, if he sees the ability of the Congress within US law to address some of these problems associated with the deal. In our legislation, the domestic law about the deal was really flawed because it was really just about cost reporting to each other," he said.

Trump has asked Congress help fix this domestic legislation and work on as Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said, a deal that can lay alongside the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and address its fundamental flaws, he said.

Trump has laid out a strategy for dealing with Iran's destabilising and dangerous hate filled behaviour, its behaviour toward its own people and its behaviour towards the region, he said.

McMaster also said Trump will not allow North Korea to threaten the US with a nuclear weapon.

"Our president has been really clear about this. He is not going to permit this rogue regime, Kim Jong-un, to threaten the United States with a nuclear weapon," he said.

Trump is willing to do anything necessary to prevent that from happening and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should recognise this if he thinks the development of this nuclear capability is keeping him safer, he said.

"It's actually the opposite. It's having the opposite effect," he said noting that the options available with the US including the military one are constantly under refinement.

"We have a broad range of new capabilities coming into our armed forces, thanks to the president's focus on modernising the armed forces, addressing what had been a bow wave of deferred military modernisation," he said, adding the military are refining, improving plans every day.

"Plans we hope we don't have to use but we must be ready, we have to be ready. And so, all of our armed forces are getting to really a high, high degree of readiness for this mission, if it's necessary," McMaster said.

Responding to a question, he said Kim Jong-un doesn't understand how serious the US is about his behaviour and the behaviour of his regime.

"The president has been very clear on that and I think it's beneficial to the safety and security of not only the United States but our great allies in South Korea and Japan and the world," the national security advisor said.

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Two Myanmar nationals were arrested for carrying 305 grams of heroin near Dawn village in Lunglei district, a police report said today.

Lalrinmawia (24) and Lalfakawma (34), travelling on a motorcycle inside which the contraband was hidden, were arrested on Friday.

The seized contraband, worth around Rs 12 lakh in the local market, was suspected to have been smuggled from Myanmar.

The two accused were booked under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 and also under Foreigners' Act.

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A boarding school in south-east England will allow boys to stay in the girls' section if they identify themselves as transgender.

Gordon's School in Woking, Surrey, will also allow boys to wear skirts and light make up and be known by gender- neutral pronouns such as "zie" if they question their gender identity.

"Parents of pupils were surprised by how open-minded we have been. Most schools are having these issues,"Rob Pavis, the deputy head of the school,told The Sunday Times.

He said the school is drawing up guidance for pupils saying they can ask to wear the uniform of the opposite sex, be addressed by a different name and/or pronouns, use gender- neutral lavatories, grow their hair long if they are boys, change their accommodation and wear make-up and jewellery.

Several pupils have already explored their gender identity in the school, which has 10 boarding houses, five for boys and five for girls.

The school said it had acted because it had "become aware of students who would 'come out' after leaving the school" and wanted pupils to feel safe to do so while still in their care.

The UK's Boarding Schools' Association has issued guidance to schools saying that if a boy intends to change gender he should be offered the chance to sleep in the girls' dormitory and vice-versa.

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French President Emmanuel Macron has said that any undocumented foreigner who commits a crime will be deported, speaking two weeks after a Tunisian man stabbed two women to death in the southern city of Marseille.

"We will take the most severe measures, we will do what we must do," Macron said in a televised interview.

The assailant, Ahmed Hanachi, had been arrested for shoplifting two days before the October 1 attack in the eastern city of Lyon.

He was allowed to walk free the following day -- a decision the government's inspectorate general (IGA) said revealed "serious faults" in the handling of foreigners whose papers are not in order.

Hanachi, 29, fatally stabbed the two women at Marseille's Saint-Charles train station before being shot dead by police.

The attack was claimed by the Islamic State group, but French investigators have not found any evidence linking the attack to the jihadists.

But he was known to the police for drug as well as alcohol problems and had a history of petty crime, using seven aliases.

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Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey was today apprised of the steps being taken to combat dengue by the Tamil Nadu government, which also took up its demand for a central-aid of Rs 256 crore to tackle the situation.

In a meeting at his residence here, Chief Minister K Palaniswami briefed the union minister on the measures put in place to control the spread of the vector-borne disease and also handed over a copy of the state's request for the financial aid.

Tamil Nadu Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, Principal Secretary Health Department J Radhakrishnan and Chief Secretary Girija Vaidayanathan were also present at the meeting.

"We requested him to sanction Rs 256 crore and he has (Choubey) said that the central government will consider it," Vijayabaskar told reporters.

He said that the Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare was on a brief visit to the state to assess the situation.

The union minister also interacted with doctors, patients and attenders at the Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital and visited the special dengue wards, the Tamil Nadu Health minister said.

On an AIIMS for Tamil Nadu, Vijayabaskar quoted the Union minister as having said there would be "good news" in six months on setting up the institute in the state and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take part in its ground breaking ceremony.

On October 13, a five-member central team deputed to assess the dengue situation in the state had termed the 40 deaths since January due to the fever as "minimal" and had said there was no need to panic.

During discussions, the state government had sought Rs 256 crore from the Centre to enhance dengue control activities.

Meanwhile, the team today visited neighbouring Puducherry to take stock of the situation in the Union Territory.

They held discussions with Puducherry Health Minister Malladi Krishna Rao, Local Administration Minister A Namassivayam, Chief Secretary Manoj Parida and officials of the health department.

The team visited the Indira Gandhi Government General Hospital and some other health institutions, including peripheral health centres, besides interacting with patients.

Team head and Joint Director of the National Virus Borne Disease Control Programme Kalpana Baruah told reporters that the number of dengue cases in Puducherry and southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka was more this year when compared to previous years.

There was every need for community participation to effectively control dengue. "The role of the community is imperative although the health and other link departments were tackling the situation," she said.

Baruah said that the central government was sensitising state governments regularly and added that the Union Health minister had himselfwritten to chief ministers on action to be taken to curb dengue.

Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi thanked the Centre for sending the team.

"Thank GOI for accepting my request to send a Central team to assess Dengue sttus in Puducherry & guide us", she tweeted.

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US-backed Syrian fighters launched an operation to retake the last Islamic State-held pocket of the northern city of Raqqa today after some 275 militants and their family members surrendered.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said the operation will continue "until all the city is cleansed from terrorists who refused to surrender."



The SDF has been on the offensive in Raqqa since early June and now controls about 90 percent of the city that was once the extremist group's self-styled capital.

Most of the fighters who remain in the pocket are foreigners, according to the SDF and opposition activists.

The operation was named after Adnan Abu Amjad, an Arab commander with the SDF who was killed in August while fighting against IS in central Raqqa.

The loss of Raqqa would hand another major blow to IS, which has lost most of the territory it once held in Syria and Iraq.

Iraqi forces captured the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, the largest ever held by the extremist group, in July, and Syrian government forces retook the eastern Syrian city of Mayadeen, near the border with Iraq, yesterday.

IS still holds parts of Syria's Deir el-Zour province and Iraq's Anbar province, as well as small, scattered pockets elsewhere.

Yesterday, the US-led coalition and local officials said Syrian IS fighters and civilians would be allowed to leave Raqqa, but not foreign fighters. The evacuation appeared aimed at sparing the lives of civilians being used as human shields. As of last week, around 4,000 civilians were believed to still be in the city.

The SDF said the initiative by local tribesmen and members of the Raqqa Civil Council "succeed in evacuating civilians who were still in the city and the surrender of 275 local mercenaries and their families." It added that the ongoing offensive aims to "end the presence of mercenaries of the terrorist organisation inside the city."



Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said among the fighters who remain in Raqqa is an official who planned attacks in France that killed and wounded dozens of people. Abdurrahman said the man is either a French or Belgian citizen of North African origin.

Two Kurdish officials, Nawaf Khalil and Nasser Haj Mansour, said the evacuation took place early today, adding that some gunmen remained in a pocket they still control in Raqqa. Khalil said the civilians who left Raqqa included families of fighters.
Virginia State University is on lockdown after a shooting on the campus.

University police tweeted Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

A second tweet said police were still on the scene, the campus remains on lockdown and to continue to avoid the area.

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia school was celebrating the final day of it homecoming.
The Congress today accused the government of "arbitrarily" taking away the chairmanship of a parliamentary panel on personnel, public grievances, law and justice from it, and sought a rethink on such allocations.

In a strongly-worded letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad objected to the fact that the party was not re-allocated the chairmanship of the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice.

He demanded that the government reconsider the allocations.

The government, however, justified the reallocation on the ground that after the change of strength of parties in the Rajya Sabha following recent elections, the Congress could retain the chairmanships of two committees, and not three.

In his letter, Azad said, "In August, the government had informed that the Indian National Congress can retain the chairmanships of two committees in place of three in view of the changed party strength in the House."



"Though being the largest party in the House with a strength of 57, the Congress had reluctantly agreed to give up the chairpersonship of the committee on science and technology, environment and forests, and retain the chairpersonship of the committee on personnel, law and justice and the committee on home affairs," he added.

"The discretion to give up the chairmanship of a committee lies with us and the government cannot arbitrarily take away such chairmanship. This is against established parliamentary practices," the Congress leader said.

The Congress also disagreed with the argument of Ananth Kumar that the chairmanship of the law and justice committee had always been with the ruling party.

On this, Azad said, "You (the minister) have conveniently chosen not to mention the period between 2014 and September, 2017 when the chairmanship of the law and justice committee was with the INC as earlier agreed between the government and the principal opposition party."



Further objecting to the allocation of chairmanship of the committee on commerce and industry to the BJP's ally Shiromani Akali Dal, Azad said such reallocation could not be done as the SAD was part of the Union Cabinet.

"As per established practice, committees are allocated on the basis of strength of parties and not by clubbing together nominated and individual members," Azad said, demanding a reconsideration of the Rajya Sabha committee allocations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Weinstein Company (TWC) has pushed back the release date of Benedict Cumberbatch's film "The Current War" to next year in wake of Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment scandal.

The Alfonso Gomez-Rejon-directed movie was earlier scheduled to hit the cinema halls on November 24.

As per a report in Deadline, the climate in Hollywood has turned toxic due to multiple allegations of sexual abuse on Weinstein that was expected to kill the film.

Cumberbatch also blasted the media mogul for his misconduct, saying he was "utterly disgusted by the continuing revelations" of Weinstein's actions.

He added, "We need to collectively stand up and support victims of abuse such as the brave and inspiring women who have spoken out against him and say we hear you and believe you."



Weinstein was recently fired as TWC co-chairman following allegations of sexual harassment published in the New York Times.

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They fled in fear nearly a week ago. Now they are ready to go back.

While wildfires are still burning powerfully in parts of northern California, some of the tens of thousands of evacuees are getting antsy to return to homes that are not under immediate threat. Others want to see if they still have homes to return to.

But authorities are staying cautious in the face of blazes that have now killed at least 40 people and destroyed at least 5,700 homes.

"We're on pins and needles," Travis Oglesby, who evacuated from his home in Santa Rosa, said to Sonoma county sheriff Robert Giordano yesterday. "We're hearing about looting."



Although some evacuees were returning home in Mendocino County, the latest estimates were that about 100,000 people were under evacuation orders as the fires burned for a sixth day.

Plans were in the works to reopen communities, but they were not ready to be put into effect, said Dave Teter, a deputy director with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Douglas and Marian Taylor stood outside their apartment complex yesterday in Santa Rosa with their two dogs and a sign that said "End evacuation now".

Their building was unharmed at the edge of the evacuation zone with a police barricade set up across the street. The couple said they are spending about USD 300 per day to rent a motel and eat out, and they want to return home because the fire does not appear to threaten their home.

At an evacuation centre at the fair grounds in the Sonoma county city of Petaluma, volunteers sorted through mounds of donated baby wipes, diapers, pillows, shoes and clothing.

Randy Chiado and his wife, Barbara, evacuated on Monday from the Oakmont section of Santa Rosa. They stayed for several days with a friend in Santa Rosa but left yesterday when flames approached again and sought refuge at the fair grounds.

"After so many times of 'It's coming, get ready. It's coming, get ready,' it just gets nerve-wracking," Barbara Chiado said.

Life away from home has been difficult and dangerous. Randy Chiado said a man who may have suspected he was a looter tried to punch him through his car window and yelled for a friend to get a gun when the Chiados turned onto a residential street.

He said he was able to push the man off and drive away. The couple planned to spend the night with other evacuees in a room set up with cots. "It's like jail," he said.

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, though officials think they will locate most of them alive.

Most of the deceased are believed to have died late on October 8 or early October 9, when the fires exploded and took people by surprise in the dead of night. Most of the victims were elderly, though they ranged in age from 14 to 100.

"It's a horror that no one could have imagined," Governor Jerry Brown said, after driving past hundreds of "totally destroyed" homes with senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris.

From the sky, large subdivisions that burned to the ground looked like black and white photos. Each neatly outlined lot is full of ashen rubble. Cars are burned a darker grey. Trees still standing are charred black. Only streets look unscathed.

Brown, 79, and Feinstein, 84, said the fires were the worst of their lifetimes. The two veteran politicians reminded people that the blazes remain a threat and that people need to leave their homes when told to go.

No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility. In all, 17 large fires still burned across the northern part of the state, with more than 10,000 firefighters attacking the flames using air tankers, helicopters and more than 1,000 fire engines.

Signs posted in Sonoma thanked the firefighters. One declared them "heroes among us".

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Exactly a year after JNU student Najeeb Ahmed went missing from the campus following a scuffle with some other students, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had taken over the probe into the case from the city police, remains clueless.

The high court had first gone after the Delhi Police to solve the mysterious disappearance of Najeeb and since it was not satisfied with the progress made by the city police in the case, it transferred it to the central probe agency on May 16 this year.

Najeeb (27), a student of M.Sc Biotechnology, went missing from the Mahi-Mandvi hostel of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on October 15, 2016. His family members are still running from pillar to post to trace him.

Najeeb had an altercation with several students, allegedly affiliated to the BJP's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), according to his friends and family.

After over a month had passed since Najeeb went missing, his mother, Fatima Nafees, moved the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to the police to trace her son.

The high court had immediately directed the Delhi Police to "explore all angles" and "cut across political barriers" to trace the young man, saying no one could just vanish from the heart of the national capital.

However, as the police were clueless about Najeeb's whereabouts even after two months since he went missing, it had to face the ire of the court, which asked it to scan the entire JNU campus, including hostels, classrooms and rooftops, with the help of sniffer dogs.

However, the police failed to sniff out any lead even after pressing 600 personnel and several sniffer dogs into service.

This prompted the high court to suggest other methods such as lie detector tests of the nine students suspected to be behind Najeeb's disappearance as they had allegedly beaten him up before he went missing.

Though the police sent notices to the nine students, asking them to appear for a polygraph (lie detector) test, they ignored the same and subsequently, moved the trial court, challenging the step taken by the investigating agency.

Even as the nine students were opposing the lie detector test, Najeeb's family alleged in the court that they were being harassed by the Delhi Police, which was conducting pre- dawn searches at their house in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.

Dissatisfied with the lack of progress in the investigation, the family later demanded that the probe be handed over to some other agency.

In March this year, even the high court admitted that it was "foxed" by the lack of information on the missing student's whereabouts and demanded an answer from the police "one way or the other" on Najeeb's fate, saying that as far as the probe was concerned, the only thing happening was paperwork.

While the high court was monitoring the investigation, a magisterial court, on March 30, rejected the nine suspected students' plea against the police notice asking them to appear for a polygraph test.

A few days later, the decision of the magisterial court was stayed by a sessions court, which subsequently quashed it.

Continuing with its probe, the police filed a chargesheet against a man, who was arrested for allegedly making a ransom call to Najeeb's relatives, demanding Rs 20 lakh for his release.

However, his family kept urging the high court to transfer the probe to some other agency and finally on May 16, it was handed over to the CBI.

Two months later, on July 17, the probe agency sought more time from the court to investigate the case.

Nearly a month later, when the CBI failed to file a fresh progress report in the case, the high court rebuked it, saying the probe was not transferred to the agency "for fun".

On September 6, the court again directed the CBI to take steps to trace Najeeb.

On the same day, the agency filed a status report on the investigation in a sealed envelope.

The CBI counsel informed the court that the agency had examined 26 people, including JNU officials, staff, Najeeb's friends, colleagues and those who had issues with him, during its investigation.

The agency also told the court that the matter was widely publicised in 12 cities and that several mortuaries were also being monitored.

Apart from that, last one year's railway records of passengers of the same name and age as that of the missing student had been called for, it told the high court, which is slated to hear the matter tomorrow (October 16).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
RIYADH (Reuters) - The $23 billion Riyadh Metro launched an auction on Sunday for private companies to name and advertise in select metro stops when the system opens in 2019, an initiative that could generate millions of dollars to help cover operational costs.

Construction on the 176-kilometre (110 miles) metro began in 2014 after contracts were awarded to consortiums headed by U.S. construction giant Bechtel Corp, Spain's Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas and Italy's Ansaldo STS.

The metro's six lines and 85 stations are scheduled to be operational by the end of 2019. They will be served by electric, driverless trains in what officials describe as the world's largest public transport system currently under development.

Construction has pushed ahead amid speculation the project could be scaled back or delayed following a slump in Saudi Arabia's oil revenues. The metro is part of the country's ambitious programme to reform the economy and society.

Local and international companies licensed in the kingdom will be eligible to bid for naming and advertising rights at 10 stations, said officials from the state-run Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), which oversees the metro project.

Another 10 stations could be offered at a later auction. Bids must be submitted by Jan. 25 and winners will be announced by mid-2018, the officials said.

"(The revenues) will be allocated for running the train and supporting the public transit system in the city", said Alwalid Alekrish, Director of Construction Development Projects and Project Director of the Riyadh Metro.

He declined to specify how much the auction was expected to generate, but the potential is large. The metro in neighbouring Dubai has earned hundreds of millions of dollars with a similar initiative, according to local media.

Promotional materials suggested winning companies would have their logos plastered throughout the stations - at turnstiles, elevators, passageways and shopping areas.

(Reporting by Stephen Kalin, editing by Louise Heavens)

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This has been the year of . Its stock price has increased by around 50 per cent as it continues to assert its dominance in user activity and digital ad revenue. It undercut one of the companies trying to catch up with it, Snap, by adding a similar feature, Stories, to its increasingly dominant Instagram service. And scrutiny surrounding its role in the 2016 presidential election continues to grow, as politicians seek more information about Russias involvement on in the weeks and months leading up to last November.
The finance ministry is working on capital infusion strategy for the public sector banks (PSBs) and it is expected to be finalised by December, according to official sources.

The Department of Financial Services is assessing the capital needs of various banks based demands made by them, sources said.

There are various parameters which are being looked at for capital infusion exercise, including NPA ratio, credit growth, insolvency proceeding etc, sources said, adding that the second quarter result would also give clarity on the capital requirements for the current fiscal.

Various factors are being considered before arriving at the exact number and the final output is likely by next month or December, they said.

Besides providing capital for meeting regulatory requirements, the ministry is looking at providing capital to performing state-run banks to boost credit disbursement.

One of the options on the table is issuance of capitalisation bond for meeting their capital needs but no final decision has been taken yet.

The government followed a similar strategy in 2008 when it sold bonds worth about Rs 10,000 crore to subscribe to nearly 60 per cent of State Bank of India's rights issue.

Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the government, faced with a 'catch-22 situation' over the issue of non-performing assets, is working on a plan to rebuild the capacity of India's banking sector so as to support growth.

Banks are facing mounting non-performing assets (NPAs) or bad loans to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore of which PSBs alone account for Rs 6 lakh crore. The bank NPAs are skirting the double digit mark at present and expected to grow further.

Although the Indradhanus scheme has assigned Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal, it may prove insufficient due to high provisioning requirement for bad loan resolution through various processes, including insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings.

Last year, the ministry provided capital to banks in two tranches. As many as 13 public sector banks together got Rs 22,915 crore in the first tranche announced in July 2016.

In the budget speech on February 1, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced capital infusion of Rs 10,000 crore for the current fiscal.
Ending months of speculation, IndusInd Bank and the second largest microlender Bharat Financial Inclusion (BFIL) on Saturday announced largest merger in the MFI space in an all-share deal, which will help the private sector lender push its rural network and bring down credit cost for small borrowers.

The merger, which will add 6.8 million customers to IndusInd's 10 million now, and which comes amid a slew of similar announcements involving the urban-focused new age private sector lenders such as Kotak Bank and IDFC Bank, will also help reduce cost of lending for micro borrowers as cheaper deposits can be used to fund their credit needs.

"The biggest gain for us is the rural network. It will also us help reduce cost of funds by 3-4 per cent," IndusInd Bank managing director and chief executive Ramesh Sobti said.

Earlier this afternoon, the boards of both the lenders separately decided on the merger and approved the share swap ratio wherein BFIL shareholders will get 639 shares of IndusInd for every 1,000 shares held.

The balance-sheet of BFIL, including the entire capital, assets and liabilities will move into IndusInd, while the operation team will continue as a wholly owned subsidiary and work as business correspondents.

The combined entity will have 40,000 employees, Sobti said, stating all the 15,000 employees of BFIL will be absorbed and continue in the same role. However, the board of the Hinduja Group promoted bank will remain unchanged.

The IndusInd scrip closed 0.43 per cent up at Rs 1,750.15 on the BSE on Friday, while BFIL shares closed 0.38 per cent up at Rs 1,003.45.

Sobti conceded that there is a 12-13 per cent premium over the average stock prices in the past two weeks which BFIL shareholders will get, but justified it on the Rs 9,500-crore loan book which his bank gets and also the synergies that will deliver higher value going forward.

The merger, expected to take up to 10 months to consummate, will help the bank in its rural play, where it has only 250 of its 1,210 branches, Sobti said.

BFIL's network touches 1 lakh villages across the country and the merger will help it act as a full service bank rather than the monoline micro-loan provider, BFIL managing director and chief executive MR Rao said.

In the past few months, speculation has been strong about BFIL's suitor, especially after repeated attempts by the microlender which has survived multiple crises to turn into a small finance bank have failed. Many of its peers did manage to turn into the new-age entities.

PH Ravi Kumar, non-executive chairman of BFIL, said the merger is not "an easy one" for the MFI and shared a trivia by stating that the announcement comes on the seventh anniversary of the passage of the Andhra MFI Act, which had led to doubts over the very survival of the sector.

This regulatory overreach had forced BFIL, floated by the high profile Vikram Akula as SKS Microfinance, and taken to a historic IPO in 2010 making it the first MFI to go public, to even change to its present name. The Andhra law left every player bleeding for a few years and forced RBI to bring the sector under its purview.

BFIL feels only two areas of the banking segment -- the lower-middle class and those around poverty line --are the ones accretive to margins and when coupled with the full range of service offerings, the merger is a win-win.

Sobti elaborated saying that apart from reducing cost of funds, merger will help IndusInd not just achieve the priority sector lending sub-targets but also exceed them, making it a player in the PSL certificates market that is fee-accretive.

Because of the lower risk weights attached to lending by banks, it will help conserve capital as well, Sobti added, adding "the merger is value accretive from day one."

When asked about the structure of absorbing the balance sheet and keeping operations as a wholly-owned subsidiary, Sobti said it is in sync with past precedents which have been cleared by the regulators and will also help maintain the ethos of the company.

The merger, which comes amid a surge in agri loan losses by banks, will increase share of micro loans to 7 per cent of the loan book of IndusInd from 2.8 per cent now, Sobti said, but will dip to 5 per cent over the next three years.

Asserting that microloan segment is "high yielding and has low delinquency rates", Sobti said it will not lead to much troubles on the asset quality as BFIL has a 99.6 per cent repayment levels in this calendar year, after the note-bank hiccups stabilised.

Rao chipped in saying demonetisation led to a Rs 400- crore loan loss for BFIL, but it has been fully provided.

The deal will have to pass through a slew of regulators such as the Reserve Bank, National Company Law Board Tribunal and fair-play watchdog CCI.
Asserting that Indian IT professionals coming to America on H-1B visa are not illegal economic immigrants, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the US must decide appropriately while taking a decision on its visa policy.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations.

It is the most sought after by Indian IT professionals.

"Those coming from India on H-1B visas are high value professionals, who contribute immensely to the US economy.

They are not illegal economic immigrants, about whom there is concerns in the US. They come here legally," Jaitley said.

Jaitley said he raised this issue in his meetings with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

Indian IT professionals deserve a different treatment, said the minister who is here to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"We conveyed our concerns to the US," he said in response to a question.

"These are very high quality, highly trained professionals. They've contributed immensely to the US economy. They add value to the US economy. Therefore, when the US decides its visa policy they must decide it in relation to these people appropriately," Jaitley said.

Indian technology companies depend on the H-1B visas to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations. The US market accounts for about 60 per cent of the revenue of the Indian IT industry.
Liu Fucai, the former state-asset watchdog in Guangdong, played an important role in facilitating Guangdong Risings investments in Australia starting in 2008, sources said. Photo: Visual China.

A former state-asset watchdog in Chinas southern industrial hub, Guangdong province, has stayed abroad while facing graft inquires about his involvement in a local companys loss-making investments in Australia, sources close to the matter told Caixin.

Liu Fucai, the director of the Guangdong provincial State Asset Supervision and Administration Commission (Guangdong SASAC) between 2004 and 2012, is under scrutiny for backing a series of investments by state-owned Guangdong Rising Asset Management Co. in Australian mining projects. The investments resulted in losses of more than 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) as commodity prices slumped, separate sources told Caixin.

Liu, 65, who retired from the Guangdong SASAC in 2012, has been in Australia since April 2014 and refuses to return to China despite authorities requests, sources close to the matter said.

Liu and his son played important roles in facilitating Guangdong Risings investments in Australia starting in 2008, but it is unclear whether they accepted bribes in these deals, sources close to the matter said. Lius wife and son have long resided in Australia, sources said.

A Guangdong government-backed magazine reported in 2015 that the provincial SASAC has repeatedly asked Liu to return China to assist investigators since 2014. But he declined, citing health problems.

In October 2015, the provincial anti-graft agency announced the decision to expel Liu from the ruling Communist Party for discipline violations, a euphemism for corruption.

The agency said Liu long used official vehicles for personal use and asked a subsidiary company to make reimbursements for his personal spending totaling 160,000 yuan. Sources close to the matter said the company mentioned by the graft buster was Guangdong Rising.

Established in 1999, Guangdong Rising is one of the largest provincial government-owned companies in Guangdong with businesses covering mining, tourism, technology and property.

During Lius tenure as the Guangdong SASAC head, Guangdong Rising actively invested in Australias mining assets, including copper, coal and gold mines. Public information showed that between 2008 and 2015, Guangdong Rising spent more than 10 billion yuan in acquiring Australian mining companies including Perilya Ltd., PanAust and Caledon Coal.

Most of Guangdong Risings investments in Australia were made when commodity prices were on the rise and registered huge losses as prices fell, a person close to the Guangdong SASAC said.

The Guangdong SASAC launched an investigation on Guangdong Risings loss-making investments beginning in March of this year. In early September, the provincial anti-graft watchdog announced an investigation on Li Zezhong, former chairman of Guangdong Rising. Li left Guangdong Rising in March to take the post as the deputy party head of Zhuhai city in Guangdong.

On Oct. 12, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said Li Jinming, the predecessor of Li Zezhong who headed Guangdong Rising beginning in 1999, was arrested for alleged corruption.

Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com)
Farmers in Chinas southern Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region have used bank loans to establish a professional cooperative of farmers to raise rabbits. Photo: Visual China

China has pushed financial institutions to better serve those without access to basic banking services, such as savings and loans. But analysts say it is a formidable challengeand one in which the market, not the government, should play the leading role.

Since 2005, Beijing has stressed the need to develop inclusive finance, an initiative backed by the United Nations that calls for universal access at a reasonable cost to financial services including savings, payments, credit and insurance provided by sound institutions. In 2015, the central government designated expanding such services to those known as the underbanked as a national strategy, fitting in with its goal of boosting the growth of agricultural and small businesses.

This year, the central government called on large commercial banks to set up departments to promote inclusive finance.

Then in late September, the central bank announced it would lower the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 0.5 percentage points for some banks whose inclusive finance loans reach 1.5% of their new lending in 2017, a move that analysts expect will inject several hundreds of billions yuan into the economy.

These and other measures over the past decade have helped Chinas inclusive finance develop -- at least in official data. By the end of June, Chinese banks outstanding loans to the agricultural sector stood at 30 trillion yuan, up 9.9% from a year ago and more than 25% of the total outstanding loans of the banking sector. Loans to small and micro businesses rose 14.7% to 28.6 trillion yuan (about $4.3 trillion), or 25% of lending.

However, how much the government-led campaign has actually helped the underbanked is still in dispute, especially among the rural impoverish who have long been ignored by bank credit services. Some analysts contend the upbeat inclusive-loan data provided by institutions are in fact inflated due to an unclear definition of what constitutes inclusive finance. Meanwhile, most of the institutions and companies that flooded into the inclusive-finance businesses have struggled.

Internet-based finance technology has emerged as another possibility for the underbanked. Tech giants such Alibaba Group and JD.com, as well as new online-lending platforms, for example, have increasingly offered credit services to small-scale borrowers.

But as new players enter the lending market, effective risk control will become the major challenge, experts say.

If risk control cant catch up to the speed of internet-finance development, there will be great problems, said Yang Tao, a financial expert at the China Academy of Social Sciences.

In Nanning, capital of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the staff of the hongxiang rural funds mutual assistance club engage in a savings and loan business on behalf of local residents. Photo: Visual China

Digital technology will promote the development of inclusive finance, but the fundamental solution is institutional reform rather than technological progress, experts said.

The problems of inclusive finance will never be solved under the old supervision and operation model, said an industry insider, who argued that inclusive finance is best promoted by technological innovation and market forces rather than governmental regulations and policies.

The development of inclusive finance should be spontaneous, a regulatory official said. The proper role for regulators is to create a sound market environment for the market players to develop inclusive-financial services, he said.

No easy task

The Chinese governments efforts to broaden financial access to the underserved groups started in 2005 when a pilot program was launched to set up micro-loan companies in selected provinces. Since then 11,000 companies and 1,519 rural banks targeting small rural borrowers have mushroomed across China.

Yet, even though more institutions have been set up to help the underbanked, their performance has largely been disappointing. Most of the 1,500 rural banks targeting this niche were set up by large commercial banks, and only about one-third of them are profitable. Most of the rural banks rely on subsidies to survive.

Many of the banks have invested some of their deposits in non-agricultural projects to seek better gains. That, of course, departs from their mission to boost the agricultural sector. Since the beginning of this year, the China Banking Regulatory Commission--the countrys banking watchdog--has issued 200 punishment decisions against rural banks for violations in their lending, the official said.

Micro-loan companies are also struggling with shrinking business. Such lenders expanded quickly between 2009 and 2014, data show. But since then, the number of micro-loan companies has been declining and their total registered capital has slide from 846 billion yuan in 2015 to 827 billion yuan in June.

Xiang Weiguo, chairman of the China Micro-Credit Companies Association, attributed the micro-loan companies poor performance to the worsening liquidity of their small-business clients, fierce competition from private fundraising activities and weak management of most micro-loan companies.

The major risk for financial institutions in extending loans to small-business and rural borrowers stems from the lack of widely recognized collateral, such as property and land. These kinds of borrowers may have assets in other forms. For example, 70% of smaller business assets consist of such movable properties as accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, which arent the traditional kind of collateral accepted by lenders, a World Bank expert said.

Most banks are hesitant to accept movable properties as loan collateral due to risk concerns. This is partly because there isnt a national system to ensure movable properties arent used as collateral for multiple loans. Currently, movable properties owned by businesses are usually registered with different government departments, a bank source said.

Profitability is also a concern. The regulators said financial institutions should only seek to break even or achieve minor profit in their inclusive-finance services. As an enticement, governments offer subsidies, tax incentives and other supportive policies to such businesses.

But a bank executive said such government orders discourage healthy market competition and depart from business rules. Why are many institutions not willing to truly dedicate to inclusive finance? They only will when it makes money, the executive said.

Moreover, some local authorities have misused such supportive policies to benefit government-backed players, another financial industry insider said.

A lack of clarity about which businesses can qualify for these niche loans and related benefits has added an additional problem. Without a clear definition, many questionable companies have been able to use the inclusive finance program to gain preferential credit policies.

Inclusive finance is like a basket and you can put anything inside, a banking regulatory official said.

The Chinese model

The Chinese government has played a leading role in promoting inclusive finance. But that isnt true in most other countries, where non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are driving the effort to address the needs of the underbanked.

With the governments deep involvement, it is important to draw a clear boundary between it and the market in developing inclusive finance, said Wang Jun, an economist at the China Europe International Business School.

Financial institutions should be allowed to operate under market rules within a certain territory, while governments should offer infrastructure, proper supervision and set regulations rather than directly provide financial services or intervene in business operations, Wang said.

One of the urgent tasks for the government is to figure out the true demand for inclusive finance.

We have always talked about increasing the inclusive-finance supply, but no one knows clearly about the size of the targeted clients of such services and their real demands. Nobody has done careful research, Wang said.

It remains unclear how well Chinas inclusive finance market is doing, partly because players in this niche have a baked-in incentive to exaggerate achievements in the hopes of advancing their careers, Wang said.

Fang Xin, the deputy director of the central banks Chengdu branch, is among experts who believe the demand for inclusive finance services has been overestimated.

Based on a recent survey by the central banks Chengdu branch, the total amount of micro lending in China may be around 5 trillion yuan rather than the frequently cited tens of trillions of yuan, Fang said.

In many places, there might be oversupply, due to the perception of capital thirst by small business, Wang said.

Other experts and banking industry sources have called on the government to tighten oversight and promote market education on inclusive finance, as well as boost efforts to set up unified information-sharing and credit-scoring systems to help lenders.

But the government must be careful in deciding the scope of its role so that inclusive finance grows in a healthy way, Wang said.

If the government places itself at the wrong position, it will distort the financial market, waste public resources and hurt financial stability, he said.

Contact reporter Han Wei (weihan@caixin.com)
Paying for health care services is, for some, becoming as difficult as it is to read the medical bills.

Its complicated, and the lack of cost and billing transparency doesnt make it any easier for patients and physicians alike, according to Dr. Edward Zurad, president of the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians in Harrisburg, a professional member-driven association for more than 5,000 Pennsylvania family physicians and family medicine residents and students.

Some primary care physicians started offering fee-for-service systems, and more are gravitating to a direct primary care system.

According to Zurad, direct primary care, or DPC, is a model in which patients pay a flat monthly fee to have access to their doctor. The fee varies based on the doctor, but the fixed fee allow patients unlimited access to the physician for a full range of primary care services, including acute and urgent care, regular checkups, preventative care, chronic disease management and care coordination.

Direct primary care has been around for five to eight years now, Zurad said, explaining that patients can speak to physicians in person, by email, by phone and by texting.

The model also allows primary care physicians to bill patients directly, without having to depend on insurance company policies.

While currently only a small percentage of our membership is engaged in DPC practices, we expect the model to grow in response to high out-of-pocket deductibles now faced by many individuals and families in Pennsylvania, said Zurad, who also has an independent, solo practice in northeastern Pennsylvania. Studies have shown high deductibles are causing many to forego their primary care needs, which ultimately leads to preventable chronic conditions and associated high care costs.

Zurad, however, said its still important for patients to have insurance, including high-deductible insurance that can cover catastrophic events, hospitalizations and specialty care.

Even with only a high-deductible plan to fall back on, Zurad said this type of service model can help improve patient care. Physicians wont be glued to computers, worrying how to code treatment in order to get reimbursement from insurance companies.

The main appeal is that the relationship between physician and patient is restored, he said. (Billing) has become overwhelming for a lot of us.

Zurad said that with direct primary care, services  including lab tests such as MRIs  can be offered without prior authorization from an insurance company or concerns over denied services.

Direct primary care has been gaining more ground as a model in Pennsylvania and across the country. The state House of Representatives in late September unanimously passed House Bill 1739 that would give patients and doctors the right to directly contract for care. The state would recognize these arrangements and define them as being outside the scope of state insurance regulations, according to the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, whose members include nearly 80 percent of the states family physicians.

According to state Rep. Matt Baker, R-Tioga, who sponsored the bill, HB 1739 would add Pennsylvania to the list of 23 states that allow the use of a direct primary care model. In a news release announcing the bills passage in the House, Baker said the legislation is not intended to encourage the model, but rather remove the barriers for those providers who seek to offer the services to patients.

This legislation can be of benefit to those individuals with a high deductible on their health insurance plan, Baker said in a news release. Patients could also use their Health Savings Accounts to cover the costs of their care.

The bill will go to the state Senate for consideration. Zurad and the academy supports the legislation.
Beyond simply establishing that gerrymandering causes problems, Thursdays redistricting reform forum at Dickinson College also tackled two more difficult questions.

First was the question of how gerrymandering can be defined, especially in a legal sense pursuant to court challenges. Second was how advocates can convince politicians, especially those who are currently benefitting from gerrymandering, to think of the long-term consequences instead of short-term control.

The event, hosted by advocacy group Fair Districts PA, discussed the national and specifically state-level effort toward redistricting reform.

I would say that a good chunk of the frustration you feel in the political process today can be attributed to gerrymandering, said Bill Schneider of the Cumberland Valley chapter of Fair Districts PA.

Thus far, the U.S. Supreme Court has acknowledged that extreme partisan gerrymandering can, theoretically, exist, but there is no legal precedent to define it. Other forms of gerrymandering, such as redistricting with racial bias in mind, have significantly more case law behind them.

While the Supreme Court has said that extreme partisan gerrymandering can be unconstitutional, it has not decided what that would actually look like, said Dickinson political science professor Sarah Niebler, who moderated the event.

A case out of Wisconsin, Gill vs. Whitford, could force the court to do just that. The plaintiffs argue in the case that gerrymandering can be quantified through an efficiency gap measurement of the extent to which a party divides its voters to gain control of more districts, even if this means the districts must be drawn in geographically illogical ways.

A federal decision on Whitford is not likely for nearly a year. But in the meantime, advocates have pursued state and local solutions, including in Pennsylvania and Cumberland County.

Earlier this year, the Cumberland County commissioners passed a resolution endorsing state legislation to change the commission that draws Pennsylvanias boundary lines.

Theres no doubt in my mind that the only way we can right this wrong is by advancing this legislation, Commissioner Jim Hertzler said. Cumberland County has been treated as an afterthought in this process.

As Commissioner Vince DiFilippo noted, Cumberland County has nine state representatives. Three state Senate districts run through the county, along with six state House districts. But none of the senators live in Cumberland County. Their districts are centered elsewhere. This is the case with three of the six House seats, as well.

This is nothing against the legislators themselves whom DiFilippo said have done an excellent job responding to Cumberlands needs.

But its much different having to coordinate between nine officials, as opposed to having folks who are representing you specifically, DiFilippo said.

The redistricting clause in Pennsylvanias constitution states that county and municipal borders should not be cut by legislative districts unless absolutely necessary.

If this was adhered to, and the maps drawn to keep representation county-oriented, Cumberland should have at least four state representatives whose districts are entirely within in its borders, Hertzler said. But the definition of absolutely necessary is nebulous.

In fact, Silver Spring Township is split in two by a state House boundary. Even more egregiously, Mechanicsburg borough is split in two by a congressional boundary.

It makes no logical sense the way it has been done, said Nancy Kornhaus Griffe, chair of the Silver Spring Board of Supervisors.

Redistricting reform in Pennsylvania would most likely require an amendment to the states constitution, which specifies that redistricting be performed by a legislative commission, consisting of appointees of the states House and Senate majority leaders. Those four members then select a fifth member, who may be picked by the state Supreme Court in case of a deadlock.

Looking at Pennsylvanias districts over the years, one cannot help but notice that they have become increasingly oddly shaped in order to rope in pockets of reliable voters for either the Democratic or Republican party, thus solidifying their hold on a given seat.

The result, the commissioners believe, is that legislators have retreated to their party corners and played to their base, given their lopsided districts.

Our elected representatives are now worried about being primaried by someone further to their right or further to their left, instead of being worried about getting something done, Hertzler said.

The most recent reform proposal in Pennsylvania is a constitutional amendment that would create a commission of 11 citizens, none of whom hold elected office, to redraw the electoral maps after every census. The commission would include four members each from both of the states largest parties, plus three members registered as independents or with third-party groups.

None of the commission members could hold elected office or have family ties to political interests, said Fair Districts PA member Ron Skubecz.

Unlike in some other states that have enacted redistricting reform, Pennsylvania has no mechanism for voters to directly call for a constitutional referendum. The Legislature must approve a referendum first. Bills to bring the citizens commission proposal to referendum are logged as PA House Bill 722 and PA Senate Bill 22, both of which have attracted bipartisan support, but so far not a majority.

Time on the effort is short, as the Legislature would need to give an initial yes vote on the referendum by the end of 2018 for the change to occur by 2021, when the results of the 2020 census will be released for states to re-apportion their districts.

Otherwise, redistricting reform would be dependent on the courts. The League of Women Voters has a gerrymandering suit challenging the way that the redistricting commission drew Pennsylvanias map in 2011, based on the 2010 census allocation update. The case could be heard soon by the state Supreme Court.

Our case is filed as an objection under the Pennsylvania constitution, not the U.S. Constitution, said Suzanne Almeida, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Constitution, as is the case in several states, actually provides broader protection to voters than does the U.S. Constitution.

The leagues suit relies on three potential ways to define a measurable level of gerrymandering. The first relies on computer modeling to simulate all possible district boundaries, and then compares the compactness of these districts with those that have been drawn by legislators.

The second is a mathematical model known as the mean-median gap, and the third is the aforementioned efficiency gap, which is also being used in the Wisconsin case.

That model, Niebler said, measures the extent to which votes are being wasted by creating wide-margin and slim-margin districts through a technique known as packing and cracking.

An advantage is gained through gerrymandering when one can pack the opposing partys voters into a limited number of districts, which vote reliably in opposition, but whose total number of legislative seats is limited.

One then creates districts that have reliable majorities of ones own voters, but also include cracked portions of opposition pockets, in order to absorb opposition votes into districts that will still vote in favor of your own party.

The efficiency gap in Pennsylvania indicates that Republicans have packed and cracked Democrats to gain an advantage, Almeida said.

But the opposite is true in other states. The League is also representing a group of Republican voters in Maryland, where the statehouse maps have been gerrymandered in favor of Democrats, Almeida said.

Getting Republican legislators on board with redistricting reform in Pennsylvania is difficult because it helps them maintain a majority, even though it often requires them to divide Republican voters in bizarre ways in order to maximize their district coverage, as has been done in Cumberland County.

My concern, as a lifelong Republican myself, is that this process will come back to hurt my party as well, DiFilippo said.

If the redistricting process continues as is, with its blatant conflict of interest, the only recourse will be through the states Supreme Court, which has a liberal background.

If this continues to be deadlocked, its pretty clear where this is going to go, and you could just as easily see the tables turned, DiFilippo said.
Did You Know? Echidnas spend most of winter in underground in torpor (a kind of hibernation where an animal decreases physiological activity, usually by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate) and emerge in spring to breed. The train is a result of what scientists call ''trailing behaviour'', where a number of males follow a single female that is ''in season'' and looking for a mate. The love-struck males can follow a female for up to 10 hours a day and for several days until she decides to stop. Apparently, whoever is first in line is the male that gets to breed with her. Talk about a test of endurance!
Gaming Technologies Association chief executive Ross Ferrar said the ACT's pursuit of a separate set of rules for the casino had been "a source of great frustration", and unless $5 spins were abandoned, or the same restrictions were introduced citywide, poker machines would not be viable.
"They understand that these buildings are tired and old, we can't refurbish the buildings so we're on a journey to refurbish the school.
Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact.

Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here.

Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing.

You are our people. You Care. We Care2.
The 7-year-old girl, dressed in bright pink and holding one of her favorite stuffed animals, sees her mother for the first time in nearly a year. A brilliant smile spreads across Namata's face, punctuating her excitement.

She and her mother are speaking via Skype more than 7,400 miles apart. Namata, or Mata as she's known, talks from the home of her adoptive parents in Ohio. Her mother watches via a laptop in Uganda, in a quiet spot away from her village.

"Hello," Mata says. "How are you doing?"

Her mother laughs. She's in awe of laying eyes on the daughter she thought she'd lost forever. Mom holds a newborn, and Mata says she wants a closer look at her sister. Her mother stands and lifts the baby, cradling her over the computer screen.

Mata beams, as does her adoptive mom, Jessica Davis.

As the conversation continues, Mata wants answers. She wants to know why her mother gave her away.

By the time the call ends, Mata's radiant smile has turned to sobs. "My mom was tricked," she says. "My mom was tricked."

Her mother told her it was never her intent to give Mata up for good -- that she'd been deceived. She had been told that Mata would be given a great educational opportunity if she was sent away but that she would one day return. That Mom would always be a part of her daughter's life.

For Mata's adoptive mother, the revelation was earth-shattering. Devastating. Traumatizing. Every possible emotion rolled into one.

It also confirmed a gut feeling: that something was amiss about the story the Ohio-based adoption agency had told Jessica and her husband, Adam, about Mata's background. The agency, European Adoption Consultants, told them that Mata's father had died and that her mother neglected her and couldn't afford to feed her. The paperwork said Mata had never attended school.

But in the months after she arrived in America, as Mata's command of English improved, she spoke glowingly about her mother. How they cooked together, how they went to church together and how her mother walked with her to school.

The Skype conversation, on August 29, 2016, confirmed Jessica's suspicions. As she absorbed the news, Jessica realized that she didn't participate in an adoption at all but had unwittingly "participated in taking a child from a loving family."

And she knew what she had to do: return Mata to her mother.

'Pull the wool over their eyes'

The Davises shared their story exclusively with CNN, saying they believe that Ugandan children like Mata are being trafficked, with American families not knowing the real stories behind their adoptions.

An investigation by CNN into this alleged trafficking scheme found that children are being taken from their homes in Uganda on the promise of better schooling, placed into orphanages even though they aren't orphans, and sold for as much as $15,000 each to unsuspecting American families. CNN's investigation discovered that multiple families were duped this way.

Keren Riley of Reunite Uganda, a grass-roots organization that helps return trafficked children to their birth mothers, says facilitators on the ground prey on vulnerable moms, often widows, promising educational opportunities for their children.

The traffickers, she says, can include police and lawyers, teachers and local leaders. Complicating matters, there is no word for "adoption" in the language many Ugandan villagers speak, Riley says, so mothers are easily deceived.

"It's easy to pull the wool over their eyes," says Riley, who arranged the video reunion between Mata and her birth mother. Traffickers "know when somebody has lost a husband in a tragic way and is vulnerable and is not coping -- and then they get flagged."

That's exactly what happened in Mata's village, Riley says: A villager-turned-trafficker made a pitch at a local church and managed to get seven children into the adoption circuit, including Mata, who was sent to a place called God's Mercy, about a four-hour drive away. That's where the Davises met her: "She was at an orphanage. No toys. Bars on the windows," Jessica said.

According to an affidavit obtained by CNN, Mata's mother ultimately told a Ugandan family court that she was grief-stricken after her husband died in a vehicle accident March 28, 2014, and was told about a way to get Mata a good education.

"I had not realized that I had gone through a process to take away my parental rights completely," the mother said in sworn testimony September 8, 2016. "I had all along thought and understood that the child was going to be educated and returned back to me."

But the original orphan referral form that sent Mata to God's Mercy painted a different picture, saying the mother was "helpless" and "can't provide basic needs of the child for better growth."

The referral form is dated October 21, 2014 -- exactly one week after the Davises say they got a call from European Adoption Consultants telling them Mata was available for adoption.

At the time of that call, the Davises now believe, Mata wasn't an orphan at all but was still living at home with a mother who loved her. They believe she was pulled from her home and placed in the orphanage after the adoption agency found an American couple -- buyers, in a sense -- with money to adopt a child.

The Ugandan government would later determine that Mata's mother had been deceived, with a Ugandan court finding that the referral form had been forged and wasn't actually signed by Ugandan police.

Believing that the story in the referral form was false, the Davises began their own investigation and contacted the US State Department about the discrepancies.

"We were told her father was deceased, that she was being severely neglected at home and her mother was leaving her open to abuse, leaving her for days," Jessica Davis says. "It was a pretty dramatic file."

A woman named Debra Parris with European Adoption Consultants was the first person to tell the Davises about Mata, saying they needed to decide quickly whether they wanted to pursue the adoption.

Adam Davis says he's never forgotten that phone call because, amid the pain of hearing about Mata's background, there was a moment of joy: "When she said her name, it was so beautiful." It made the adoption process real.

Little did he know that it was the beginning of a heart-wrenching journey.

Shuttered business, elusive owner

The headquarters of European Adoption Consultants, or EAC, sits abandoned on a manicured lawn in a business park in Strongsville, Ohio, outside Cleveland. A glimpse inside its front windows reveals time cards still hanging on a wall and brooms sitting on the floor amid a smattering of office furniture.

The company logo remains emblazoned on the side of the building, but a letter is missing from its address along Alameda Drive.

"Alameda Dive," it says.

The building was shuttered in December after the State Department debarred the agency for three years -- meaning it could no longer place children in homes. The FBI has since raided the building, taking away boxes of materials, and the Ohio attorney general's office filed suit in June to dissolve the adoption agency altogether.

The State Department said EAC "failed to adequately supervise its providers in foreign countries to ensure" that they didn't engage in the "sale, abduction, exploitation or trafficking of children."

It said that EAC had exhibited "a pattern of serious, willful or grossly negligent failure to comply" with standards for international adoption and that it failed safety procedures that prevent "solicitation of bribes" and "fraudulently obtaining birth parent consent."

"EAC offered consideration to birth parents to induce them to release their children for adoption" and failed to take the proper steps to make sure birth parents consented to the termination of their parental rights in accordance with applicable laws, the State Department determined.

"Failure to provide adequate supervision contributed to many of the violations described above," the department said.

Four months after the State Department took action against EAC, the Ugandan government shut down God's Mercy orphanage, where Mata had been sent. It told CNN in a letter that the orphanage had been closed for "trafficking of children," "operating the children's home illegally" and "processing guardianship orders fraudulently."

The government also found that all of the guardianship orders processed for children from God's Mercy were done through a Ugandan law firm that was dealing directly with EAC, according to the letter, which was signed by Pius Bigirimana, permanent secretary for Uganda's Ministry of Gender, Labor and Social Development.

CNN was unable to reach anyone from the orphanage. But the lawyer who processed the adoptions for EAC at God's Mercy, Dorah Mirembe, denied any wrongdoing by the orphanage. CNN spoke to Mirembe by phone, and she insisted that children are not being trafficked in Uganda through orphanages and that neither she nor EAC ever trafficked children.

She also said Mata's birth mother knew that her daughter was being adopted and taken to America, despite the Ugandan court's finding that Mata's mother had been lied to. She said the same about another woman from the same village whose daughter, CNN learned, also was sent to God's Mercy and placed with adoptive American parents by EAC.

According to the Ohio attorney general's lawsuit, about 300 families had paid EAC for international adoptions that were in various stages when the agency was debarred. The State Department said that those cases would have to be transferred to other approved adoption providers and that it was helping guide a number of families through the process.

The State Department allegations effectively brought to a close an agency that had placed more than 2,000 children from overseas in homes across America since 1991 -- a dream that reportedly began after its founder, Margaret Cole, lost a child to SIDS. Cole said she already had four children, but after the death of her fifth child, a girl, she established the adoption agency and soon flew to Russia to set up contacts for adoptions, the start of what she said was her new life mission.

"The agency is the only good thing that's happened from my daughter's death," she told the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper in 1995.

The agency flourished. As EAC grew, it handled adoptions in more than a dozen countries, including Democratic Republic of Congo, Guatemala, Haiti, Russia and Uganda. Tax records from 2000 to 2015 show that EAC reported more than $76.1 million in revenue and more than $76.3 million in expenses over that period.

In a 2004 Cleveland Magazine story in which several families raised questions about their EAC adoptions, Cole was asked how she avoided crooks amid the shadowy business of international adoptions.

"I just have a radar," she said.

CNN wanted Cole to answer similar questions about the Davises' adoption and others, the State Department allegations and the FBI investigation. Was EAC purposely deceiving families as part of a scheme to traffic children for profit? Or was it simply negligent, unaware due to a lack of background checks that the children it was getting from Uganda were being trafficked? Could EAC also have been a victim of this apparent trafficking scheme?

CNN made repeated phone and email requests for comment to Cole, with no response. We visited seven properties associated with the EAC founder -- six locations in Ohio, one of which was raided by the FBI, and one in Florida -- but Cole was nowhere to be found. CNN reached out to one of Cole's daughters about speaking with her but never heard back.

However, we tracked down Parris, the woman who notified the Davises about Mata, who had identified herself to Mata's adoptive parents as the director of EAC's African adoption program.

In YouTube videos, Parris speaks of life-changing moments, of traveling with adoptive parents to Africa to meet children for the first time. "A lot of times, I take five or six sets of parents with me and get to see children experience their parents for the first time," Parris says in one video. "For us, that's something that is a reward at the end of the day."

But on a recent summer day, Parris was in no mood to talk. After trying to reach her by phone numerous times, CNN confronted her outside her son's home in Lake Dallas, Texas.

We asked whether we could talk to her for a moment about Uganda adoptions.

"No," Parris responded.

She went on to deny being EAC's Africa head and playing a role in organizing Ugandan adoptions.

Instead, she said "there were people in Uganda who did it."

We continued to press, asking whether the adoptive and birth mothers had been lied to.

"No. Absolutely not," Parris said.

No charges have been filed against Cole, Parris or EAC. The FBI declined to comment, saying its investigation is ongoing.

Not in it 'to buy a child'

Around the time the Davises realized that their adoption was a sham, a family in West Virginia made a similar discovery.

Stacey Wells and her husband, Shawn, had adopted a 7-year-old girl named Violah from Uganda using EAC. Parris, the family says, was their EAC contact for the adoption. Like Jessica Davis, Stacey Wells described Parris as aggressive on the phone, demanding an answer right away as to whether they'd take the child.

For the Wellses, questions began mounting in the year Violah lived with them. Things didn't add up. As her English improved, she'd talk about walking with her mother to church and cooking dinner with her -- not the story of abandonment the Wellses had been told by the agency.

Violah spoke of the day she and her sister were ripped away from their mother, with the girls screaming and crying. "Her experience in her home just did not match the paperwork," Stacey Wells says.

Then, one night in September, Shawn Wells went to the Facebook page of Reunite Uganda. It had the story of a woman who said her children were taken away against her will. Shawn called his wife over to the computer. They were shocked.

"That's Violah's mother," Stacey said. "That's her."

It's not uncommon in Uganda for American adoptive parents to be in court with a biological mother -- proceedings that happen quickly, often without translators, the birth mother not fully understanding what she's agreed to and the American parents equally confused about what's transpiring.

Such was the case with the Wellses, who were devastated after seeing the Facebook page.

"We were just sick," Stacey says, "because, really, the lie she had been given."

They already had two children when they took in Violah. They thought they were giving an orphan a home. Instead, Stacey says, "she was made an orphan."

"I just wasn't in it to buy a child."

Like the Davises, they began the extraordinary step of returning Violah, who hailed from the same Ugandan village as Mata and had been sent to the same orphanage, God's Mercy. The Wellses reached out to Reunite Uganda's Riley, who said Violah's birth mother was also lied to by local traffickers using the same false promise of education in America.

Violah was one of four girls taken from her mother. One was previously reunited with her; two others remain missing, believed to be in homes in America.

"They are getting the orphans because there is a dollar sign, you know. A market's been created," Stacey says. Like the Davises, the Wellses paid about $15,000 to EAC. They said they spent their life savings on the adoption. Both Jessica Davis and Stacey Wells have been interviewed by the FBI.

In November, Stacey Wells brought Violah back to her home village, an emotional moment that is forever seared in Stacey's mind. Violah's mother emerged from a little shop where she worked and sprinted toward them. She wrapped her arms around Stacey and then gave Violah a giant hug.

At her home, Violah was greeted by jubilant siblings. Her oldest brother took her by the hands and broke out in a dance, swinging her around in celebration.

"In that moment," Stacey says, crying, "I knew she was where she was meant to be."

Saying goodbye

After learning about Mata's background, Jessica Davis says, her mantra became "I want the truth for my child, because living a lie will never work."

Unsure how to proceed, she contacted the State Department.

Jessica said that at one point, the department told her, "you can just keep her if you want."

"I said to them, 'I didn't purchase her at Walmart.' "

She urged government officials not to notify the adoption agency, fearing that something could happen to Mata's birth mother in retaliation.

After a nearly three-year saga, Jessica and Adam Davis were exhausted, physically and emotionally. They'd spent about $65,000 on the adoption, flights to Uganda, fees and other expenses.

At first, adopting had seemed the right thing to do. It was in line with their strong Christian beliefs, and it allowed Adam to practice what he preaches as an associate pastor at a Methodist church in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Blessed with four children of their own, they believed that adopting an orphan who was in a desperate situation was a way of making something good happen in a difficult world.

They opened their home and their hearts, only to suffer the crushing blow of what really transpired.

"We unwittingly placed an order for a child," Adam says. "The only trauma this poor kid ever experienced was because we essentially placed an order for a child."

"They selected her for us," Jessica adds.

The Davises filed paperwork to have Mata's adoption vacated, and in September, the Ugandan government gave parental rights back to her birth mother.

With Riley's help, Mata's return was set in motion.

The family threw her a goodbye party before leaving America last fall. The Davises told their four other children to put on happy faces -- and try not to cry in front of Mata. Home videos provide a glimpse into the emotional scene.

"What's today?" asks Jessica.

"I'm going home," Mata says, smiling.

"Are you excited?"

"Yeah."

The first thing she'll do when she sees her mom, she says, is "hug her."

Soon, Mata and Adam were on a 14-hour flight to Uganda while Jessica and the rest of the family stayed home. Mata had lived with the Davises for a year, blending in well with their other children and adapting to life in America.

Returning her was not only the right thing to do -- in the Davises' mind, it was the only thing to do.

The day after landing in Uganda, Adam and Mata traveled to her village. As they approached her home, Adam told Mata that he loved her and was proud to have been her dad for the past year.

When Mata and her mother saw each other for the first time, Adam said, it was like the biblical parable of the Prodigal Son. Her mother rushed toward Mata, scooping her into her arms. They were laughing and crying, overwhelmed with pure joy.

"I've never seen anything like it," Adam says.

Mata was home.

Epilogue

The Davises still speak to Mata via Skype every couple of months. She's back in school in her village and enjoying her new sister. The Wellses have kept in touch with Violah, too.

Mata and Violah have become friends and have blossomed since returning home.

When asked how she felt since Mata's return, her mother said with a smile, "I'm very, very, very happy."

Violah's mother echoed that sentiment: "I'm very happy and very grateful."

Two of her daughters remain missing, however. Riley, of Reunite Uganda, says she has notified the two families in America who she believes adopted them. She has not heard back.

"Both families are aware of the truth," Riley says. "They appear to be continuing to live their lives and let the children believe what they've been told, which isn't true at all."

A study from 2015 by the Ugandan government, sponsored by UNICEF, found that Ugandan parents were being "bribed" and "deceived," often with financial incentives, and that the orphanages were complicit.

The report says orphanages don't always properly verify information about children's histories before taking them in. The findings of that study match up in many ways with what happened to Mata and Violah and support what CNN found.

CNN's Kerry Rubin and Ismael Estrada contributed to this report.
BMW is preparing to form a joint venture with Chinese automaker Great Wall in an effort to build vehicles in the country.



Speaking with Reuters, an unnamed BMW executive confirmed discussions are being had about the joint venture.

We are in discussions with Great Wall about setting up a joint venture to produce cars in Changshu, the executive said.

In addition to this, another source close to the talks says the joint venture wont be focused on petrol and diesel vehicles, suggesting that it will instead focus on the production of EVs in the Chinese city.

Analysts from Bernstein believe the joint venture could see BMW and Great Wall selling EVs throughout China under a new brand.

If an agreement were to be reached, wed expect an arrangement like Denza (Mercedes-BYD), or VW-JAC, Ford-Zotye to be the most plausible outcome, whereby a new brand is used to sell EVs, the analysts said.

It remains to be seen if BMWs ongoing joint venture with Chinese carmaker Brilliance China Automotive Holdings would be impacted by its collaboration with Great Wall.

On the back of the news, shares in Great Wall jumped by 20 per cent.

PHOTO GALLERY
The Dutch government has put forward a plan to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel models by 2030 in a bid to slash the countrys CO2 emissions.



By 2030, a coalition of the governments leading parties wants to see a 49 per cent reduction in C02 emissions from 1990 levels and believes a ban on internal combustion engine cars will be one important way to achieve this goal.

The Netherlands is far from the only country to plan a zero-emissions vehicle mandate. In fact, France and the UK both intend on banning the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040 while China also intends to follow suit. Additionally, California could implement a similar plan to cut the states emissions.

Beyond the ban on certain vehicles, the country has also called for the closure of all coal plants in its borders by 2030.

Approximately 6.4 per cent of cars on Dutch streets are electric and thanks in part to generous subsidies, sales of all-electric vehicles increased by 47 per cent in 2016.

PHOTO GALLERY
I just wanted to add my two cents about the "insinuated" tax grab by the Liberals.



I am a person who was charged extra taxes, months after I sent in my taxes because I was getting a discount through my employer after I retired. After working for the company for 20 years, I received a bill from CRA for over $200 because I was getting a benefit after retirement!

The only party to charge me extra taxes 8 months after I filed my tax returns were the Conservatives not the Liberals.

I believe that interpretation came from Stephen Harper not this present government. All the wealthier people got benefits from Harper, not us "joe blow" workers!

Kerry Kozak


Photo: BC Wildfire Service Premier John Horgan announced a new award for those who went "above and beyond" during the 2017 wildfire season.

British Columbia's government is looking to recognize people who went out of their way to help when record-breaking wildfires tore through the province this summer.

Premier John Horgan was in Kamloops today where he announced the new "Above and Beyond" awards, which honour those who fought the flames, provided shelter for evacuees, or otherwise helped their community during the crisis.

Around 65,000 people were forced from their homes this summer as wildfires scorched more than 12,000 square kilometres, destroying homes and infrastructure in several communities.

People who helped out when floods hit the Okanagan last spring are also eligible for the recognition.

Horgan says the province wants to make sure that 2017 is remembered as a moment when British Columbians came together and supported one another.

Nominations for the award can be made online or by mail, and everyone who is nominated will receive a certificate of distinction, signed by the premier.
Photo: RCMP An 18-year-old woman has gone missing in Kamloops.

UPDATE: 6:30 p.m., Oct. 16

Police advise Taylor Lynn Wilson has been located. Police would provide no further details.

ORIGINAL STORY: Oct. 14

Police in Kamloops are looking for an 18-year-old woman who has gone missing.

Taylor Lynn Wilson, who also uses the last name Harris, was last seen by her family Thursday, and they are concerned about her safety.

Her family says it is not like her to go missing.

Police have asked anyone who has seen, spoken to, or knows anything about her whereabouts to call the Kamloops RCMP at 250-828-3000.
Photo: Associated Press - File photo Some parents are upset a new Winnipeg school has banned costumes on Halloween.

A new Winnipeg school's decision to stop students from wearing their costumes to class on Halloween has upset some parents, who argue its not fair to deny their kids the fun.

Ecole Sage Creek School principal Marc Poirier says since this is the Kindergarten to Grade 8 school's first year, staff debated what the costume policy would be.

He said teachers from schools where kids were allowed to dress up noted some kids wore scary or gory costumes that frightened younger children, or they carried props such as swords. Other costumes, he said, weren't age-appropriate.

Poirier said some parents who didn't support Halloween or trick-or-treating even kept their children home on Oct. 31 altogether.

"Although the schools did indicate guidelines for appropriate costumes, there were sometimes students who didn't follow those guidelines," Poirier explained.

"There was a discussion with those students about their costumes being inappropriate, and sometimes the students and the parents didn't agree with the view of the school."

Sage Creek administration decided, in consultation with a student committee, to have four different themed dress-up days during the week where Halloween falls. On Oct. 31, Poirier said it will be "tie and scarf" day.

Jay Myshkowsky, a parent of two boys at the school, said his eldest son is disappointed since he'd been attending a school where costumes were allowed for the past five years.

"I think there's things that kids don't realize have been taken away over the years, (like) Christmas concerts. There's so many rules and regulations now around Valentines Day in school, how you invite kids' classmates to birthday day parties  it's all uber-regulated," Myshkowsky said.

In 2013, parents at Hastings School in Winnipeg were also upset by a decision to cancel Halloween.

Hastings School vice-principal Susan Ciastko said the policy is accepted now, calling it a "non-issue."

News reports in Canada and the U.S. have noted some schools have experienced problems with students wearing culturally inappropriate costumes, such as ones that portray stereotypes.

Poirier, however, said that hadn't been an issue noted by his staff when they discussed their experiences at their former schools.

He said most parents agreed with the decision to replace Halloween costumes with something else, but acknowledges a few didn't.

"For many, they loved it as a child. And they felt their child also really enjoyed it in their previous school and didn't think that our reasons were valid," Poirier said.

He admitted a tie-and-scarf day didn't sound all that elaborate or related to Halloween, noting some schools choose to dress in black and orange. But he said it was the student committee's choice and he wanted to respect their decision.

Myshkowsky said it wasn't fair to make students at a new school pay for inappropriate costume choices at other schools. He said he's been talking with the school's administrators and parent advisory committee to get something more fun this year, but vowed to keep working to get the decision reversed for Halloween in 2018.

"These are good people but in my mind this is just a really bad decision," he said.
Photo: The Canadian Press Hundreds die in bomb blast in the capital of Somalia.

UPDATE 2:55 p.m.

The most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in Somalia's capital killed 276 people with around 300 others injured, the country's information minister said early Monday, making it the deadliest single attack in this Horn of Africa nation. The toll was expected to rise.

In a tweet, Abdirahman Osman called the attack "barbaric" and said countries including Turkey and Kenya had already offered to send medical aid. Hospitals were overwhelmed a day after a truck bomb targeted a crowded street near key government ministries, including foreign affairs.

As angry protesters gathered near the scene of the attack, Somalia's government blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group for what it called a "national disaster." However, Africa's deadliest Islamic extremist group, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital, had yet to comment.

Al-Shabab earlier this year vowed to step up attacks after both the Trump administration and Somalia's recently elected president announced new military efforts against the group.

The Mogadishu bombing is one of the deadliest attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, larger than the Garissa University attack in Kenya in 2015 and the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Doctors at Mogadishu hospitals struggled to assist badly wounded victims, many burned beyond recognition. "This is really horrendous, unlike any other time in the past," said Dr. Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital.

Inside, bleary-eyed nurses transported a man whose legs had been blown off. He waited as surgeons attended to another badly injured patient. Exhausted doctors struggled to keep their eyes open, while screams from victims and newly bereaved families echoed through the halls.

"Nearly all of the wounded victims have serious wounds," said nurse Samir Abdi. "Unspeakable horrors." The smell of blood was strong.

A teary-eyed Hawo Yusuf looked at her husband's badly burned body. "He may die waiting," she said. "We need help."

Ambulance sirens echoed across the city as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives. "In our 10 year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we haven't seen anything like this," the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted.

The country's Somali-American leader, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood. "I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate," he said.

Mogadishu, a city long accustomed to deadly bombings by al-Shabab, was stunned by the force of Saturday's blast. The explosion shattered hopes of recovery in an impoverished country left fragile by decades of conflict, and it again raised doubts over the government's ability to secure the seaside city of more than 2 million people.

The United States condemned the bombing, saying "such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism." It tweeted a photo of its charge d'affaires in Somalia donating blood.

The U.S. military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali military and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country.

The United Nations special envoy to Somalia called the attack "revolting."
Photo: The Canadian Press A priest shelters from the sun under an umbrella with Vatican colours.

Pope Francis, who often laments current persecutions of Christians, has given the Catholic Church 35 new saints, nearly all of them martyrs, from past centuries.

The latest saints were proclaimed Sunday during a Mass celebrated by Francis in St. Peter's Square and attended by some 35,000 faithful, many of them pilgrims from the homelands of those being honoured.

Thirty martyrs, including priests and lay persons, suffered anti-Catholic persecution in 1645 at the hands of Dutch Calvinists in Brazil, while three children, ages 12 and 13 who were indigenous persons in Mexico, were martyred in the 1520s for refusing to renounce their Catholic faith and return to their ancient traditions.

The other two new saints are a 20th-century priest from Spain and an Italian priest who died in 1739.

Since becoming pontiff in 2013, Francis has repeatedly paid tribute to Christians suffering or even dying for their faith in current times, especially in the Middle East.

At the end of the canonization ceremony, Francis hailed the new saints as "shining witnesses to the Gospel." In recent decades, the Church has stressed that the latest saints can serve as role models for today's Catholics.
Photo: Contributed

UPDATED: 1:30 p.m.

RCMP were trying to reach a man in a hotel room Saturday evening when he fell to his death from the seventh floor of the Best Western Hotel on Highway 97, according to an official press release.

On Oct. 14, at approximately 5 p.m., Kelowna RCMP received a complaint of a disturbance in a room at the hotel on the 2400 block of the highway.



Police said the man was known to them and was being sought under the Mental Health Act for an earlier matter when the incident occurred.



"Police officers gained entry to the locked seventh floor hotel room in an effort to apprehend the man under the Mental Health Act," said Staff Sgt. Annie Linteau, senior RCMP spokesperson in B.C.. "Officers found the room empty and the man's body on the grounds below."

The man was confirmed deceased at the scene and police do not suspect foul play.



The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO BC) and the BC Coroner Services are investigating.

Police say no further information will be released at this time.



Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the IIO BC at 1-855-446-8477.

ORIGINAL STORY 7:15 a.m.

Castanet has received unconfirmed reports someone may have fallen from one of the upper-floor balconies at the Best Western Hotel in Kelowna overnight.

News tips came in late Saturday that the incident happened earlier that evening.

There is no word yet on how the incident happened or if the person, believed to be a man, survived the fall.

The Best Western is an eight-storey, concrete construction hotel located at the corner of Leckie Road and Highway 97.

Both sides of the tower are surrounded by a grass courtyard, with concrete patios directly adjacent to the building.

Castanet will provide more details as they become available.
Photo: CTV An assault on the ISIS stronghold of Raqqa, Syria is said to be underway.

U.S.-backed Syrian fighters launched an operation to retake the last Islamic State-held pocket of the northern city of Raqqa on Sunday after some 275 militants and their family members surrendered.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said the operation will continue "until all the city is cleansed from terrorists who refused to surrender."

The SDF has been on the offensive in Raqqa since early June and now controls about 90 per cent of the city that was once the extremist group's self-styled capital. Most of the fighters who remain in the pocket are foreigners, according to the SDF and opposition activists.

The operation was named after Adnan Abu Amjad, an Arab commander with the SDF who was killed in August while fighting against IS in central Raqqa.

The loss of Raqqa would hand another major blow to IS, which has lost most of the territory it once held in Syria and Iraq. Iraqi forces captured the northern Iraqi city of Mosul  the largest ever held by the extremist group  in July, and Syrian government forces retook the eastern Syrian city of Mayadeen, near the border with Iraq, on Saturday.

IS still holds parts of Syria's Deir el-Zour province and Iraq's Anbar province, as well as small, scattered pockets elsewhere.

On Saturday, the U.S.-led coalition and local officials said Syrian IS fighters and civilians would be allowed to leave Raqqa, but not foreign fighters. The evacuation appeared aimed at sparing the lives of civilians being used as human shields. As of last week, around 4,000 civilians were believed to still be in the city.

The SDF said the initiative by local tribesmen and members of the Raqqa Civil Council "succeed in evacuating civilians who were still in the city and the surrender of 275 local mercenaries and their families." It added that the ongoing offensive aims to "end the presence of mercenaries of the terrorist organization inside the city."

Omar Alloush, a senior member of the Raqqa Civil Council, said the 275 fighters have been detained and are being interrogated to determine who should be referred to legal authorities.

Another Raqqa Civil Council official, Laila Mustafa, said all 275 fighters are Syrians. She added that foreigners were not part of the deal and cannot be "forgiven."

The activist-run Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently network said the SDF took the detainees to Hawi al-Hawa prison west of Raqqa. It said the prison is being run by the intelligence arm of the SDF.

Several hundred IS fighters are believed to still be in Raqqa, where many global terror attacks across were initially planned.

Rami Abdurrahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said among the fighters who remain in Raqqa is an official who planned attacks in France that killed and wounded dozens of people. Abdurrahman said the man is either a French or Belgian citizen of North African origin.
I am a political essayist, cultural critic, educator, and host of the podcast known as "The Chauncey DeVega Show"





I have been a guest on the BBC, National Public Radio, Ring of Fire Radio, Ed Schultz, Sirius XM's Make it Plain, Joshua Holland's Alternet Radio Hour, the Thom Hartmann radio show, the Burt Cohen show, and Our Common Ground.





I have also been interviewed on the RT Network and Free Speech TV.





I am a contributing writer for Salon and Alternet.





My writing has also been featured by Newsweek, The New York Daily News, Raw Story, The Huffington Post, and the Daily Kos.





My work has also been referenced by MSNBC, The Washington Post, USA Today, The Atlantic, The Christian Science Monitor, the Associated Press, Chicago Sun-Times, Raw Story, The Washington Spectator, Media Matters, The Gothamist, Fader, XOJane, The National Memo, The Root, Detroit Free Press, San Diego Free Press, the Global Post, The Lost Angeles Blade as well as online magazines and publications such as Slate, The Week, The New Republic, Buzzfeed, Counterpunch, Truth-Out, Pacific Standard, Common Dreams, The Daily Beast, The Washington Times, The Nation, RogerEbert.com, Ebony, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.





Fox News, Breitbart, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Juan Williams, Herman Cain, Alex Jones, World Net Daily, Twitchy, the Free Republic, the National Review, NewsBusters, the Media Research Council, Project 21, and Weasel Zippers have made it known that they do not like me very much.
Q: The maintenance guide in my 2015 Nissan Rogue calls for a brake fluid change at 10,000 miles under extreme conditions. Nissan considers expressway driving in Chicago extreme. I would say dangerous, but not extreme. Anyway, when I asked if not having it changed would void the warranty, the technician evaded answering. Is this just a way for the dealer to get money because of the free oil change and tire rotation service? What are they installing at the factory, milk?

 M.M., Chicago

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A: Milk may do a body good, but makes a lousy hydraulic fluid for your brakes. If your owner's manual states that the brake fluid should be changed, change it. If you don't want to give your money to the dealer, go somewhere else, but make sure you keep the receipt. It will be your proof should a warranty dispute arise.

Q: I have a 2013 Nissan Rogue. Starting at about 25,000 miles (it has 40,000), the car shakes when the air conditioning is on and I come to a complete stop. I asked the dealer and they said the idle needed to be adjusted. When that didn't work I received several answers such as Rogues are known for shaking with the air on, the hoses need to be cleaned out, or there is nothing I can do. Do you know what this could possibly be shaking from?

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 S.W., Pembroke Pines, Fla.

A: When the A/C compressor runs, it needs some power from the engine. To maintain a smooth idle, the engine speed must be increased. That is the job of the fast idle control device motor. Think of it as a computer-controlled throttle kicker. If it fails, the idle will be too low and the engine will shake. Should there be any bad motor mounts, the problem will be exacerbated.

Q: Somebody recently wrote complaining about loud blinkers. Are you kidding me? They should all be loud, or maybe they should get progressively louder the longer they are on. Maybe we wouldn't have so many people driving for miles with their turn signal on.

 R.L., St. Charles

A: Good point, but what about the people whose blinkers don't blink? Some folks claim that turn signals must be an extra cost option on BMWs. We can only advise that you check your blinker fluid often. (Editor's note: There is no such thing as blinker fluid.)

Q: Got a laugh from the question about the obnoxious noise level of the Buick blinkers. I have an Enclave and took it first to Best Buy where an audio tech removed the panel covering the speakers and stuck some gum over it. That lasted about three years and recently took it to my mechanic where he put some gauze over speaker.

 D.R., Chicago

A: We'll pass this tip along to the folks at Wrigley. We have a hunch Doublemint may be a good choice.

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Send questions along with name and town to Motormouth, Rides, Chicago Tribune, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Fourth Floor, Chicago, IL 60611 or motormouth.tribune@gmail.com.
Pianist Jon Batiste performed with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra on Saturday night in Orchestra Hall. (Kamil Krzaczynski / Chicago Tribune)

Let no one doubt that Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra aim to educate as well as entertain.

That much was inescapable from their residency over the weekend in Orchestra Hall, where Marsalis and friends kicked off Symphony Center's jazz series with rigorous examinations of the work of two jazz giants.

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Surely no performance ensemble has done more to champion music of the first jazz composer  Jelly Roll Morton  than JLCO.

On Friday evening, the ensemble reiterated the point with a program featuring Morton's music, plus original compositions by JLCO personnel. In effect, the evening spanned the history of jazz composition, from groundbreaking works by Morton  the first to prove that jazz could be written down  to contemporary pieces that would not have been possible without Morton's breakthroughs.

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Marsalis and the orchestra opened with Morton's "Sidewalk Blues," a landmark not only for the ingenuity of the composition but also for Morton's innovative recording of it, complete with spoken word and honking car horns. JLCO alto saxophonist Sherman Irby's arrangement celebrated the ensemble's signature robust sound, punctuated by a lusty, plunger-muted trumpet solo from Marsalis.

From this early Morton work, the band leaped ahead to the last, tragic years of the composer's career. Mostly forgotten by a jazz world he helped invent, Morton composed big-band compositions embracing the swing aesthetic of the late 1930s, but also personalizing it. These last works rarely are performed, but JLCO's rendition of "Mr. Joe" illuminated why they need to be. The sleekness of Morton's orchestral writing, the poetry of his themes and the idiosyncrasies of his phrasing show that the man had not run out of ideas, even if the music industry had lost interest in him.

The JLCO's tonal luster and naturalness of expression suggested that the band should consider making an album of all Morton's late-period orchestral scores. It could deepen our understanding of Morton's final years (he died in 1941).

Bassist Carlos Henriquez's radical re-conception of Morton's "The Crave" doubled down on Morton's love of what he called "the Spanish tinge." This brilliant arrangement included vast sections of dance music, thrilling passages featuring cascading horns and a surging rhythmic energy that held it all together.

Trombonist Chris Crenshaw's arrangement of "Jelly Roll Blues," the first published jazz composition (1915), epitomized period style and amplified it, thanks to clarinetist Victor Goines' trills and other ornate figurations and a high-flying solo from trumpeter Kenny Rampton.

The evening's non-Morton compositions offered other allures.

Marsalis wrote "Joe's Concerto" for JLCO baritone saxophonist Joe Temperley, who died last year. The work's fourth movement conveyed Marsalis' reverence for Temperley, with JCLO reedist Paul Nedzela taking the solo baritone part. Here was some of Marsalis' most soulful instrumental writing, Nedzela's ample vibrato and silken legato lines paying fitting homage to Temperley.

And the fourth movement of Sonny Rollins' "Freedom Suite," as arranged by Walter Blanding, cast a spotlight on the band's throaty reeds and testifying brass. Goines' blues lament on tenor saxophone was a high point of the evening.

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On this program, though, all roads led back to Morton. Among the other highlights: Ted Nash's exquisitely complex reinvention of Morton's "Black Bottom Stomp" and Goines' sensitivity to Crescent City rhythms in his arrangement of Morton's "New Orleans Blues." Both reminded listeners of the stature of Morton's art.

On Saturday evening, the musicians turned their attention to a more recent master, John Lewis. Though best known as pianist and musical director for the Modern Jazz Quartet, Lewis (who died in 2001) was a subtle jazz composer with a singular vision. The elegance, understatement and profundity we associate with his pianism, in other words, radiate from his scores for small and large ensemble.

Jon Batiste, bandleader for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," appeared with Marsalis and JLCO on the recent album "The Music of John Lewis," and that repertoire dominated this concert.

The buoyant swing sensibility of Lewis' "Animal Dance" showed his gift for conjuring propulsive rhythmic momentum in a large ensemble; the intricate counterpoint that trombonist Elliot Mason, trumpeter Marcus Printup and alto saxophonist Nash articulated in Lewis' "Delaunay's Dilemma" illustrated the composer's finesse with the intimacies of small-group improvisation.

Lewis' quasi-classical writing in his suite "The Comedy," inspired by Italian commedia dell'arte, attested to the man's erudition, as well as his ability to imbue practically any musical idiom with a compelling jazz aesthetic.

Howard Reich is a Tribune critic.

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hreich@chicagotribune.com

Twitter @howardreich

[ RELATED: Wynton Marsalis and JLCO celebrate 30 years  ]

[ Wynton Marsalis and JLCO swing their own tunes  ]

[ Wynton Marsalis' 'Blood on the Fields' returns  ]







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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 126 Woody introduces the gang to a homemade spork toy with self-esteem issues in "Toy Story 4." Read the review. (Pixar / AP)
At least 10 people were rescued from submerged vehicles Saturday in Lake Forest after heavy rain caused flooding, officials said.

No one was reported injured, a Lake Forest fire department spokesman said, but flood conditions prompted rescues on Illinois Route 41 near Deerpath Road and on Washington Circle. Some of those rescued were brought back to the local fire department to dry off and warm up, he said. A few homes in the area were also reported flooded.

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The Chicago Fire Department has heard reports of flooded viaducts in the city, a spokesperson said Saturday, though no motorists needed to be rescued from vehicles. City police have not responded to any reports of flooded vehicles, according to their office of News Affairs.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for portions of north-central Illinois and northeast Illinois, including Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties.

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Heavy showers and thunderstorms are likely to cause rises in local waterways, among them the Des Plaines, Du Page and Fox Rivers, according to the NWS.






A Logan Square father was repeatedly smashed with a 50-pound dumbbell after quarreling with his 33-year-old son over gang signs the younger man had drawn inside the apartment they shared, prosecutors said Saturday.

Carlos Duarte, 33, was not present for his hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building, where Judge Michael R. Clancy denied bail, largely due to the gruesome nature of his father Silvestre Duarte s slaying. It wasnt immediately clear why Duarte missed his hearing, but he is scheduled to appear in court next week.

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Duarte, of the 2900 block of North Gresham Avenue, was charged with first-degree murder in his fathers death.

Police and prosecutors said Duarte, a self-admitted Latin Kings gang member, admitted to choking the man until he stopped moving, punching and then smashing his fathers head five or six times with the weight inside their home. Duartes admissions were captured on a police body camera at the scene and later on videotape by detectives, authorities said.

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On Tuesday, father and son quarreled over the younger Duarte drawing gang signs. Carlos Duarte left the home, but returned two days later in the early morning hours, Assistant State's Attorney Jillian Anselmo said.

Silvestre Duartes death was discovered on Thursday when one of his co-workers called his daughter to say Duarte hadnt picked him up for work, Anselmo said. The daughter called her brother, but he wouldnt let her speak with their father. The woman went to her fathers apartment and went past her brother as he tried to distract her, prosecutors said.

The woman spotted blood on the bathroom floor and found her father unresponsive in the bathtub, Anselmo said. She ran to a neighbor for help and called police.

An autopsy Friday determined Silvestre Duarte died of blunt force head injuries from an assault and his death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiners office.

If convicted, Duarte faces life in prison.

wlee@chicagotribune.com

Twitter: @MidNoirCowboy
A Portage Park man with a history of offering rides to young men and boys, according to prosecutors, groped a 16-year-old boy after offering the teen a ride in August, authorities said Saturday.

Isa Harb, 55, was ordered held on $40,000 bail during a hearing before Judge Michael R. Clancy at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.

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Harb, of the 3500 block of North Lavergne Avenue, was charged with aggravated criminal sex abuse, and was ordered not to have any contact with the victim. He has a similar case involving a 14-year-old pending from early September, authorities said.

Dressed in a black windbreaker, Harb said nothing as he stood next to his private attorney, Michael Monaco.

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The teen, a high school junior, was walking home Aug. 23 when Harb approached in his car and asked for directions to California Avenue, Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Jillian Anselmo told the court. Harb then offered the youth a ride home and struck up a conversation during the ride.

When the car arrived in the 3400 block of West Addison Street and the boy tried to exit the car, Harb started the car, which he did at least twice more, Anselmo said.

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Harb began talking to the boy inappropriately and then touched him.

The boy pushed Harb's hand away and used a school folder to cover his lap. After being unable to open the door two or times, the teen reached through the open window and opened the door from the outside and fled home, where he told his grandparents and eventually his mother.

Harb was arrested Friday at a court hearing for the September case, Anselmo said.

In four other cases dating back to 2007, Harb similarly asked for directions and offered rides to males between 14 and 21, prosecutors said. In three of the cases, the victims accepted the ride only to have Harb turn the conversations toward sex and touching them.

Harb is expected to return to court next week.

wlee@chicagotribune.com

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Courtney Ann Graham Donnell had a successful career as a curator of 20th century painting and sculpture at the Art Institute of Chicago while dealing with multiple sclerosis for most of her life.

"She was an extraordinarily special asset to  the Art Institute," said Anne Rorimer, curator of modern and contemporary art at the Michigan Avenue museum in the 1970s and 1980s. "I could always depend on her totally for information and insights."

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Donnell, 72, died of complications from multiple sclerosis on Sept. 27 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, said her brother, John "Jeb" Graham. She had been a Streeterville neighborhood resident.

Born Courtney Ann Graham in Washington, D.C., where her father had been stationed as an Army officer, Donnell grew up in West Hartford, Conn., the daughter of John Courtney Graham, a legal counsel for Aetna, and Betty Burford Graham, a homemaker. Donnell attended Wellesley College, where she earned a bachelor's degree in art history in 1967.

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After college, Donnell earned a master's degree in architectural history from New York University and then worked at the Serge Sabarsky art gallery in New York. In 1974, Rorimer hired her to be a curatorial research assistant at the Art Institute.

Over the next three decades, Donnell rose within the Art Institute. In 1990, she was named associate curator of 20th century painting and sculpture.

Known for her meticulous research, Donnell created the accompanying catalog for a 1997 retrospective exhibit of the painter and Warrenville native Ivan Albright  an exhibit that after leaving Chicago was presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 86 Dick Orkin, an award-winning radio advertising creator for close to a half-century who was perhaps best known for his syndicated Chickenman spoof, which aired on Chicago stations, died on Dec. 24 in California. He was 84. Read more. (Handout)

Other work that Donnell was recognized for included contributing to the Bulletin of the Art Institute, writing the catalog essay in 2003 for a show of drawings by artist Alice Neel at the Arts Club of Chicago, overseeing the Art Institute's acquisition of Neel's painting "Ginny with Yellow Hat" and contributing to the 1988 publication "Master Paintings in the Art Institute of Chicago."

Donnell also undertook extensive research on painter, art collector and Art Institute donor Frederic Clay Bartlett, who in 1926 gave the Art Institute a collection of early modern masterpieces that included Georges Seurat's "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte  1884." Donnell worked closely with Bartlett's third wife, Evelyn, who died at age 109 in 1997 and remained a museum visitor until shortly after she turned 103.

John Craib-Cox, a longtime friend, recalled a meeting between Donnell and Evelyn Bartlett being steadily interrupted by a squirrel dropping acorns from an oak tree.

"There was something wonderful watching Courtney, the museum professional, the human with the sense of humor, talking about famous paintings and then an hour later laughing with the donor about being pelted with acorns by a squirrel on an oak tree," Craib-Cox said. "It's a wonderful dichotomy, and that was really her whole approach to life, including her battle with MS. The MS later on became a problem, but she didn't let it be a problem. She just dealt with it."

Donnell also performed research on Chicago lawyer and art collector Arthur Jerome Eddy, who was the subject of James Abbott McNeill Whistler's portrait, "Arrangement in Flesh Color Brown," which hangs in the Art Institute. She also was active in the Society of Contemporary Art.

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Donnell was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1975. The condition eventually began to limit her mobility, requiring her to commute to work using an electric scooter.

That prompted Donnell to become involved with the nonprofit group Access Living, on whose board she served for more than 12 years.

Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 100 Actress/singer Rose Marie is gleeful as director Carl Reiner, right, and Honorary Mayor of Hollywood Johnny Grant, present her with 2,184th star on the famed Hollywood Walk of Fame Oct. 3, 2001, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. Marie died Dec. 28, 2017, at age 94. Read more. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

"Courtney was a dedicated board member of Access Living because she lived our mission of changing the world so people with disabilities could fully participate in life," said Marca Bristo, Access Living's president and CEO. "She loved introducing new people to our work. She co-chaired our gala and helped raise the funds that enabled us to construct our green and universally designed building. She advocated for accessibility in her neighborhood and at the Art Institute and left a lasting impact on both."

Donnell was a national board member of the Wellesley College Alumnae Association and a member of the Wellesley Club of Chicago. She also was very active in raising funds for her high school and served for many years as class secretary.

Donnell was remembered for marking milestones or providing consolation in the form of notes and gifts to her many friends, said her ex-husband, Bill Donnell.

"Courtney was a lovely person with a great sense of style and a large circle of friends," Bill Donnell said.

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Lady Valerie Solti, the widow of the late Chicago Symphony Orchestra music director Sir Georg Solti, called Donnell "very much part of our Chicago life."

"She often used to show my husband and me the painting 'American Gothic,' which we weren't aware of in the same way, and I remember standing there in the Art Institute and her telling us all about the history of it with such enthusiasm," Solti said. "And I just think of her in that apartment in that marvelous, Mies-designed apartment, with the background with the windows there on Lake Shore Drive and the waves and the lake behind her, with these wonderful things that she made one aware of. She pointed our eyes in the right direction. She loved the world and she was so knowledgeable about the world of contemporary art."

Late in life, Donnell also enjoyed researching her extended family, including ancestors and second cousins, her brother said. Because her marriage to Bill Donnell ended in divorce, Donnell only counted her brother as an immediate survivor. However, she had found and met a number of second cousins of hers in Ohio, her brother said.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church, 1424 N. Dearborn Parkway, Chicago.

Bob Goldsborough is a freelance reporter.
If you are scheduled to have surgery this year, it's a good idea to do more than write the date for your surgery on the calendar. There are several questions you should ask your surgeon so that you are prepared for surgery. It is often helpful to write down your questions before visiting the surgeon so that nothing is forgotten. Some people like to have a friend or spouse with them to help process the information.

Here are five questions to get you started on becoming an informed patient.

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1. What is going to happen? You may be aware that you are having knee replacement surgery but do you understand the steps that are involved? Don't rely on a report from a relative who had the same procedure. A surgical plan can vary from patient to patient and each surgeon has his own technique. Ask your surgeon what he plans to do. If you don't understand a medical term, ask to have it explained. Ask about whether the anesthesia will be local, regional or general. If you have had uncomfortable experiences with anesthesia, request a meeting with the anesthesiologist before the procedure. Knowing where the incision will be, if you will be awake or asleep, and all the other details allows you to process the information ahead of the procedure.

2. Why are we doing this? You need to know exactly why the procedure is being done  whether it's to relieve pain, improve function or achieve some other medical benefit.

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3. What is the expected outcome? Ask your surgeon about the benefits of having the surgery and if these benefits are long term or short term. Some procedures require follow-up surgery in the future. It is better to know this ahead of time instead of finding it out later. Ask your surgeon to let you know what he expects to happen so you have realistic expectations.

4. Have you done this before? It is reasonable to ask how many times the surgeon has performed the procedure and how successful the procedure has been.

5. What will happen after surgery? Although you know what the outcome is supposed to be, you should also ask about recovery following surgery. Ask about the length of time you will be hospitalized and the amount of discomfort there may be. Find out if you will need therapy and how long it will need to be continued Ask about any limits that will be placed on your life including driving restrictions, time off work or movement limitations. Find out if you will need special equipment, or other assistance during the recovery process. By knowing in advance, you can have plans in place before you even enter the hospital.

Recover with less worry

When your surgeon recommends professional care following a medical event, he is trying to provide you with the best recovery experience possible. Glenview Terrace offers health care expertise combined with an unrelenting commitment to comfort, dignity and guest satisfaction, making it one of the area's finest choices for care following surgery or other medical event requiring a hospital stay. The experts at Glenview Terrace are dedicated to providing the highest standards of customer service and clinical care.

Glenview Terrace has earned a reputation for offering one of the best post-hospital care programs in the area. They provide one-on-one physical, occupational and speech therapies up to seven days a week with the goal of returning the patient home as quickly as possible. The expert nursing team and support staff are ready with round-the-clock care for every need that arises from wound care to pain management.

This specialized care is offered in an elegant environment. The well-appointed rooms and suites are filled with custom-designed furnishings and include a deluxe bathroom with a private shower. Post-hospital rehabilitation guests are pampered with a variety of amenities including attentive concierge service, morning coffee and newspaper delivered daily to the room, diverse menu selections and much more. The attractive grounds and tranquil fountain are just some of the extras that go into creating an inviting environment for recovery.

When looking for compassionate care with elegance, consider Glenview Terrace, where the goal is to quickly and safely get you back to your independent lifestyle. For more information or to arrange a tour, visit glenviewterrace.com or call 847-729-9090.
Traditional Indian costumes were seen everywhere Saturday night at Waubonsie Valley High School during the fourth-annual Diwali celebration offered by the city of Auroras Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board. (David Sharos/The Beacon-News )

For Indian children, the traditional holiday known as Diwali is like having Christmas in October and the countdown before its arrival seems endless.

"It's really fun, and I've been getting more excited as we got closer and closer to it," said Siri Desai, 9, of Naperville. "My mom lets me wear nail polish and a henna tattoo, and I have five new outfits to wear this week."

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The city of Aurora's Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board celebrated India's biggest festival of the year with its fourth-annual Diwali celebration Saturday evening at Waubonsie Valley High School.

The event included food provided by six restaurants, musical and dance performances, as well as an opportunity to visit with nearly 20 vendors offering everything from Indian costume jewelry and clothing to non-for-profit groups providing social services.

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Chairman Gautam Bhatia said the annual event has attracted anywhere from 3,500 to 4,000 people who, "come in groups throughout the evening."

"Some of the parents with little kids get here early as the children get tired later, but there is a steady stream of people throughout the evening," Bhatia said. "We see a lot of rotation throughout the night. This is all about fulfilling our mission, which is to educate more people about our culture, and with more than 25 percent of our attendees being of non-Indian descent, it speaks to the cultural diversity and inclusiveness of Aurora."

Naperville's Brian Boseo was one of many non-Indian attendees who said that his daughter's dance group, Midwest Edge, was invited to perform and would do an Indian dance.

"This is my first time here, but I think the event is great, and I love that my daughter and her friends who aren't Indian will be performing a dance from the Indian culture," Boseo said. "I want her to have as much cultural diversity as possible."

A special opening ceremony was provided this year as the Waubonsee High School acapella group Cloud Nine performed the national anthem, accompanied by 40 children representing Balvihar in Aurora who, Bhatia said, "offer a sort of Sunday school for kids that teaches about Indian culture and the Hindi language."

Siri's parents, Smita Mutalik-Desai and Chetan Desai, spoke about Diwali as being "the festival of light" that traditionally includes oil lamps being lit back in Indian homes.

"It's a representation of how good overcomes evil, and we enjoy coming here and celebrating with the community, and having the kids learn so many thing about their culture," Mutalik-Desai said.

"This is the culmination of events that started back as far as August," Chetan Desai added. "A lot leads up to this."

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Avantika Pandit, 15, of Naperville, who attends Metea Valley High School, was seen preparing herself and her costume, which included a string of bells. Her dance group was going to perform Kathak  a classical dance of India.

Pandit said this was her first time at the local festival and that "it was fun to see everyone here."

"This is a really big holiday in India, but it's going to be fun celebrating here with everyone and enjoying the Indian food," she said.

Her mother Sonali Pandit said the family immigrated over a decade ago from India, and that the immersion into American culture "has been wonderful."

"We lived in New Jersey first before coming here, and we participate now in a lot of local Indian festivals," she said. "The transition has been very smooth. Regarding Dewali. It's celebration time, with a lot of delicious foods and sweets. This week, we definitely put on some weight."

Jalal Khan of Naperville was enjoying a plate of vegetarian samosa along with his grandson Vetri Anand, 11, also of Naperville. Khan said despite Dewali's official celebration day Thursday, Saturday night's party was a great segue.

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"People enjoy the holiday so much, and we're celebrating early because the real holiday will be in the middle of the week," Khan explained. "I love this samosa that has vegetables and potatoes. People enjoy it all the time, and it's a very traditional dish."

Despite the rain, the event was scheduled to conclude with traditional fireworks that were organized through the efforts of Aurora's Oakhurst subdivision, which planned to begin launching them from its clubhouse area.

"People have seen these fireworks going off over the past few years, and they have actually attracted more people here to the festival to see what's going on," Bhatia said.

"That's what I'm waiting for," Anand said. "For me, it's about the fireworks and celebrating with family."

David Sharos is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
Elgin has filed a lawsuit seeking repair or demolition of the unfinished Bright Oaks Group senior housing project that stands partially built near the intersection of Route 20 and Nesler Road. (Mike Danahey/Courier-News )

Elgin filed a lawsuit last last month in Kane County seeking repair or demolition of the unfinished Bright Oaks Group senior housing project that stands partially built near the intersection of Route 20 and Nesler Road.

"The case was assigned to Judge David Akemann and has been set for an initial case management conference on Jan. 5," Elgin Community Development Director Marc Mylott said. "Once the owner has been served and has answered, or the time to answer has expired, the city will present an appropriate motion to bring the case before Judge Akemann on an earlier date."

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Bright Oaks Group CEO Nader Kameli said he was not aware Elgin had filed the case, but was not surprised the city had done so.

"The Elgin Memory Care project is alive and shall be. We have groups of investors that have come forward to take over the project, bring the needed financing, and get it completed," Kameli said. "They are in the final stages of their due diligence. I anticipate that we will have all the financing in place to get this project restarted before the end of the year."

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Kameli said Elgin had not reached out to Bright Oaks for an update on the project and had filed this case prematurely.

"We are ready and willing to fight this case in court should it become necessary," Kameli said.

Elgin has filed a lawsuit seeking repair or demolition of the unfinished Bright Oaks Group senior housing project that stands partially built near the intersection of Route 20 and Nesler Road. (Mike Danahey/Courier-News )

According to the lawsuit, on March 24, the owner submitted an application for a new building permit for the facility. On April 9, Elgin issued a plan review corrections report, setting forth additional information and revisions that were required with respect to the building permit application.

In the lawsuit, Elgin claims the owner failed to provide the additional information or perform the revisions with respect to its March building permit application. The lawsuit states that Elgin believes no work has been done at the facility since at least Dec 21, 2016.

Elgin's lawsuit notes four businesses have liens on the Elgin project. The lawsuit also asks the court to impose $750-per-day fines for the site violating Elgin municipal codes related to health and safety standard.

Mylott said the city has been following procedures set forth in the Illinois Demolition Act to address issues with the project. In July, the city sent the developer a notice giving 15 days to repair of demolish what has been built. Since nothing appears to have been done, the city turned to the courts, Mylott said.

The project was approved by the city in 2014. According to the Bright Oaks Group website, the Elgin facility is to hold 56 suites for assisted independent living and 25 suites for memory care living.

According to the lawsuit, the initial building permit for the facility was issued in August 2015 and expired on April 27, 2016. In June 2016, a building permit extension was approved and issued, with the extension expiring Dec. 21, the lawsuit said. With construction substantially uncompleted, on Dec. 22, the city's building official issued a demolition order that claimed that in addition to being far from finished, "building material being stored thereon presented risk of complete or partial collapse, constituted fire hazard, and was dangerous to human life and the public welfare."

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The owner appealed the order on Jan. 20, the lawsuit states. That led to the March hearing and the ensuing lawsuit.

mdanahey@tribpub.com
Only a few weeks after celebrating the organization's 20th anniversary last spring, Executive Director Tim Azinger and the L.I.F.E. Inc. Center For Independent Living Board of Directors had some tough choices to make after the Missouri Legislature approved deep budget cuts affecting it and other centers for independent living located throughout the state.

The 20-year-old center works with individuals with disabilities wanting to remain independent or to regain their independence is funded through a Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation grant and Medicaid fee for service program, along with private and corporate donations and fundraisers.

Suddenly, the non-profit's executive director and the board were forced to make deep cuts after it was confirmed the statewide program was getting hit with $2.5 million in cuts in the fiscal year 2017 state budget. Almost immediately, Azinger, announced employee layoffs, cut salaries, reduced the number of employees covered by health insurance and other benefits, and closed one of its two satellite offices.

"These cuts impacted our staff, and more importantly, those we serve who rely on us for the most basic health and safety needs," Azinger said. "The Independent Living Grant was cut by more than 40 percent, resulting in the L.I.F.E. Center having to create a waiting list for people served by this program.

"The most severely disabled clients who require help to live at home had their care reduced by 40 percent. And now access to home and community based services may be eliminated for as many as 70 people who we currently serve."

To help offset the cuts and with the hope of reinstituting some of its discontinued services, L.I.F.E. Center is planning a Masquerade Ball fundraiser that will be held from 6-11 p.m. Nov. 4 at Alexander's Hall, 200 W. First St. in Farmington.

Tickets for the event are $50 per person, $80 per couple or $350 per table. Businesses that reserve a table will also receive a table display of their company logo.

According to the L.I.F.E. Center's Stacey Wright, the event is going to be a glamorous one.

"We're wanting this to be a wonderful evening for everyone who attends," she said. "The event is a black tie event that includes a dinner and dance with live music provided by Stingray. There will also be a cash bar, photography services, silent auction, photo booth and both door and best dressed prices."

Wright noted that attendees are strongly encouraging to come to the event wearing masquerade dress and masks, but the costuming is optional.

"We're also going to have a raffle for $10,000 cash," she said. "The L.I.F.E. Center is only selling 200 tickets for $100 each. That means everyone who buys a ticket will have a one in 200 chance of winning. The center is also very excited that we are going to have a special guest who will be presenting the prize to the winner that evening  Miss America 2013, Mallory Hagan."

Wright said the L.I.F.E. Center is also looking for sponsorships to help offset the cost of the evening.

"We have several major sponsorships available," she said. "They include a Gold Sponsorship for those donating $1,000 or more; Purple Sponsorship for donations of $500-$999; and a White Sponsorship for those making $100-$499 in donations. We have other sponsorships, as well, that include promotion on our Facebook / Twitter pages and in our slideshow advertising."

For more information about the evening, the raffle or sponsorships, call Wright at 800-596-7273, ext. 35.
All votes in the CO-3 election won't be counted until the end of this week

Adam Frisch attending new member orientation in D.C., with the official outcome of the race between him and Boebert unclear
Steven Chapman has been travelling to China for 32 years. When he took over China operations for Cummins in 1985, Deng Xiaoping, the great reformer recognized an excellent American product and opened the floodgates for the diesel engine giant.

Since from then, under Chapman's helm, Cummins' China sales skyrocketed from 8 million U.S. dollars to a staggering 5 billion U.S. dollars last year.

Since from then, the Yale-educated China Cummins Investment (CCI) CEO had overseen the construction of 17 factories in China, several joint ventures with leading Chinese truck manufacturers, and his staff had mushroomed from eight to 10,000.

Chapman has interfaced with his Chinese counterparts so successfully that in 2016 he was awarded the China National Friendship Award - China's most prestigious award for foreigners.

But what landed the Cummins leader on center stage at Friday's 8th Annual U.S. China Energy Efficiency Forum (EEF) in Denver, is not only his achievements in past decades recognized by Chinese and American energy and government officials, but also his company's new joint project, Chinese version Super Truck.

In 2016, Cummins, in response to a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program, partnered with Peterbilt to make a Super Truck - featuring a Cummins engine and Peterbilt chassis that achieved 10.7 miles-per-gallon, twice the gas mileage of today's tractor-trailers.

With the DOE insisting on advanced and highly efficient engine systems, strict emissions containment, and high 18-wheeler safety and regulatory requirements, Cummins had a direction and China was on board.

As the new millennium dawned China's demand for fuel-efficient engines became deafening and Chapman responded again - managing the design of streamlined Cummins' engines - just for China.

This latest endeavor - using state-of-the-art technology in newly designed energy-efficiency diesel engines - and even an all-electric truck - has earned him recognition from the highest energy conservationists on Earth and restart a new around win-win business scenario.

By manufacturing highly efficient engines for Chinese consumers, Chapman has taken the Fortune 500 company -whose gross annual revenues are 19 billion U.S. dollars since 2014 - into cutting edge vehicle energy efficiency.

On the other hand, according to Chapman, his engines already command is 7 percent market share in China and that his new has been rebranded and introduced into North America where the designed for China product is selling well.

"U.S.-China collaboration is not only critical to our two countries but to the world and not just economic and political," the Yale-educated Chapman told Xinhua Friday.

In an exclusive interview, Chapman told Xinhua that he is currently engaged in "a couple of projects in China and is focusing on a 'Next Generation Truck' that will improve fuel efficiency up to 15 percent."

That is the Chinese Super Truck mentioned to Xinhua by Gong Yueqiong, Executive Vice President of Bei Qi Foton Motor Co., Ltd.

Last year, Chapman joined with the biggest commercial vehicle producer in China to design an all-electric truck with most advanced internet technology that if employed could screech China's air pollution problems to a halt.

Gong told Xinhua, the Super Truck aims at reducing oil consumption and carbon emission by 30 percent, increasing cargo transportation efficiency by 70 percent.

"It's not only a very important project for China's automobile industry, but also will change the face of logistics, " Gong said, adding that in field of energy, Super Truck could play a role more important than car.

His words echoed by Jon Creyts, Managing Director of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a leading think tank based in Colorado that monitors and projects energy trends worldwide.

Converting China's massive truck transportation fleet could reduce carbon emissions 60 percent by 2050, saving billions in fuel and transportation costs, Creyts told Xinhua at the forum, calling China the world leader in alternative energy pursuits and has desire for America' s technology.

Chapman was also eager to share this revolutionary technology with his Chinese partners.

"We need more cooperation between the U.S. and China, and less head-butting," Chapman told Xinhua.

"It is wonderful to do business in China," Chapman said, noting that successful business in China means face-to-face contact and open communication with his Chinese partners.

Chapman, who is fluent in Mandarin and conducts joint venture board meetings in rooms filled with high-powered Chinese businessmen, is all compliments about how the Chinese do business.

"We have had a tremendous ride there, and the cooperation we are having on the Chinese side is impressive," he said, adding "We look forward to continued growth in China in a number of areas, such as filtration, emission control, power generation products and systems."

No surprise, these are all key words in Sheraton Denver Downtown, the place hosting the forum.

It's a clean sunny day full of energy.
China Beiqi Foton Motor signs a memorandum with US Cummins in Denver, Colorado, US, on October 14, 2017. [Photo: China Plus]

The eighth US-China Energy Efficiency Forum has been held in Denver, in the US State of Colorado.

At the forum, both sides agreed that Sino-US cooperation is essential to the low-carbon and green development of the world.

Hosted by China's National Development and Reform Commission and the US Department of Energy, the US-China Energy Efficiency Forum is part of an action plan under the US-China Framework for the Ten Year Cooperation on Energy and Environment.

Speaking at the forum, an official from US Department of Energy, Daniel Simons said China and the US share great prospects in energy cooperation.

"Our countries are the world's two largest energy consumers. World-wide energy consumption is expected to continue rising through most of the 21st century. To meet our future energy demand, we have the opportunity to drive economic growth and create new industries, save consumers money, and reduce pollution."

China and the US are the world's largest economies, with the two accounting for 37% and 40% of the world's total economic output and energy consumption respectively.

According to National Reform and Development Commission official Ren Shuben, the two large energy consumers also share common goals in conserving energy and improving energy efficiency, and should tap into each other's strengths.

"The US has advanced technology in energy conservation and environmental protection while China has a large market. We hope China and the US can tap into our strengths and promote cooperation between enterprises and research institutions. We should also strengthen the trade and economic cooperation in energy conservation, equipment, products, and related services."

Ren added that related cooperation between China and the US has already set a model, with the forum witnessing the signing of 21 projects.

Cummins is the world's largest independent engine producer.

At the forum, the company signed a memorandum with China's Beiqi Foton Motor company, with plans to develop green power and smart trucks.

Cummins vice president, Steven Chapman, said their joint venture with Foton proved to be profitable for both sides, which convinced them of the potential for further cooperation.

"I would say we strongly support the cooperation between the US and China. It's really very critical it's critical to the world. You know not just economically but politically. And I think there are so many strong ties between the US and China."

Commenting on US government moves on Sino-US economic and trade ties, Foton's deputy manager, Gong Yueqiong said they shared a same stance with their US partners.

"All I've heard from our US partners are positive remarks. They even plan to communicate with their government. So in this regard, I believe we and our partners share a same stance. And we wish US government can be realistic and think for the longer term."
Great Wall Motor Co has confirmed that it is in talks with BMW to produce the latter's Mini brand cars in China, which analysts see as a prelude to the German carmaker's attempt to seize greater success in its largest market.

The talks are in a preliminary stage and the companies have not entered into any legal agreement to establish a joint venture in China, Great Wall said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange on Friday.

Great Wall said the two signed a deal in early 2016 to explore the feasibility of developing and producing electric and traditional cars and then another in February this year regarding Mini car cooperation.

BMW now has a joint venture with Brilliance China Automotive Holding, with the contract to expire by 2028, while Great Wall is among the few Chinese automakers without an international carmaking partner.

Patrick Yuan, an analyst at Jefferies Hong Kong, said it is understandable that BMW is seeking a new partner in a competitive market like China.

"We believe Brilliance is only a financial investor in the joint venture, contributing little to BMW's success in China."

BMW sold 383,976 cars in China from January to August, representing 16 percent growth, and coming second to its long-time rival Mercedes-Benz.

Yuan said the success of Audi in forging a second joint venture in the country earlier this year further boosts the confidence of BMW management.

Yale Zhang, managing director of Shanghai-based consulting firm Automotive Foresight, said Great Wall is more efficient than BMW's current partner Brilliance China Automotive in both production capabilities and expanding sales channels.

He believes that the Mini brand cars, because of their small number, might serve as an "appetizer", and that other models might follow if the project goes smoothly.
While Initial Coin Offerings (ICO) have been banned by Chinese authorities since Sept 4, experts, scholars, and companies from more than 40 countries gathered at a workshop in Beijing, the country's capital city, from Thursday to Friday, to chart a course for digital fiat currency issued by central banks.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, is very advanced in thinking about all the issues and aspects of digital fiat currency, said an expert from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in an exclusive interview with chinadaily.com.cn on Thursday.

Bilel Jamoussi, chief of the Study Groups Department at the ITU Standardization Bureau, praised the presentation of Yao Qian, director-general of the Institute of Digital Money at the PBOC, and said the workshop was impressive.

In Yao's speech, he noted the PBOC has completed trial runs on the algorithms needed for digital currency supply and has designed a prototype that can regulate the supply.

Jamoussi said China has unique advantages in deploying digital fiat currency.

"As there are so many electronic money transactions in China, the ingredients or the prerequisites for digital fiat currency are there, which gives China's central bank a very good reason to start thinking seriously about digital fiat currency," he said.

In addition, he said China, as the workshop's host country, should be proud of having all the stakeholders on board to discuss the need and the timing for digital fiat currency issued by central banks.

Compared to Bitcoin or other digital money issued by the private sector that is spawning concerns over financial risks, digital fiat currency, authorized and issued by a country's central bank, has the same legal tender status as the country's banknotes and coins.

David Wen, chairman of ITU Focus Group on Digital Currency, including Digital Fiat Currency (FG DFC), said the deployment of digital fiat currency can significantly benefit a country's financial system.

"For developing countries, digital fiat currency can be used to boost financial inclusion and solve the problems for regulatory compliance; for the developed countries, it can help reduce financial risks and make the financial system more resistant and transparent," Wen told chinadaily.com.cn on the sidelines of the workshop.

In addition, ordinary people's daily lives are expected to be improved by digital fiat currency.

"There are 2 billion adults in the world that do not have a bank account, though out of those 2 billion there are 1.5 billion that have mobile phones, so hence mobile phones could be the instruments to provide access to financial inclusion," Jamoussi said.

He proposed that if central banks issue digital fiat currency, these people can keep their digital currency on their mobile phones.

From Wen's perspective, he believes that although today's payment platforms using existing currencies, such as WeChat Pay and Alipay, are already very useful, there is even higher functionality when digital fiat currency can be built into them.

Both Wen and Jamoussi said they expect digital fiat currency will be deployed in developing countries first.

"Because in the developed countries, central banks try to use the digital fiat currency to solve a lot of more complex problems, but it would take time," Jamoussi said.

Wen believes the technologies are always the same, but the one who can use the technologies to solve simple problems will be the one that gets it first.

As different countries are developing different digital fiat currency platforms with various characteristics, the security, interoperability, and standardization of digital currency become an important issue, Wen said.

The workshop on standards for digital fiat currency was co-hosted by the Institute of World Economics and Politics of Chinese Academy of Social Science and the ITU.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, speaks at the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. The plenum was held from Oct. 11 to 14 in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

The four-day Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded in Beijing on Saturday with a communique issued.

Entrusted by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report at the meeting.

It was decided that the 19th CPC National Congress, a five-yearly event, will be convened from Oct. 18 in Beijing, according to the communique.

A report to be made by the 18th CPC Central Committee to the 19th CPC National Congress, a work report of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) to the congress, as well as an amendment to the CPC Constitution were discussed and approved.

It was decided that the three documents will be submitted to the upcoming congress for examination and deliberation.

The amendment to the CPC Constitution must include the key theories and strategic thought presented by the report to be delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Sept. 18.

The amended constitution must fully represent the latest sinicization of Marxism, new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies of the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as new experience in adhering to and strengthening Party leadership and in strict Party governance, it said.

The plenum was presided over by the Political Bureau.

Xi gave an explanation on the draft report to the 19th CPC National Congress, and Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, gave an explanation of the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution.

Altogether 191 members and 141 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting, with members of the CCDI and leading officials of related departments present as non-voting delegates.

Eleven new full members, who had been alternate members of the 18th CPC Central Committee, were admitted to the Central Committee during the plenum.

'Four Greats'

The plenary session comprehensively analyzed the current situation and tasks and conducted in-depth discussion on several important issues which focus on "Four Greats," making full preparation for the 19th CPC National Congress.

The issues under discussion include "engaging in the great battle with many new historical features, embarking on the new great project in Party building, advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and realizing the great dream of revival of the Chinese nation under new situations," read the communique.

The plenum fully affirmed the work of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee since the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee held a year ago.

The meeting reached consensus that the Political Bureau has held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and thoroughly implemented the spirits of the 18th CPC National Congress and ensuing plenums of the Central Committee.

The Political Bureau has followed the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, and thoroughly carried out the essence of Xi's series of important remarks and new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies, according to the communique.

The Political Bureau has united and led the entire nation to continue seeking progress while maintaining stability for its economic work, keep in mind both the domestic and international situations, continue to adopt an overall approach to promote economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress, as well as to advance coordinated development of the "Four Comprehensives."

It has been firm in implementing new development concepts, advancing difficult reforms, building a clean CPC and fighting against corruption, effectively dealing with various risks and challenges, and innovating and improving macro control.

It has also managed to coordinate work for stabilizing growth, promoting reform, adjusting economic structure, improving people's wellbeing, and preventing risks.

It has deepened military reform and construction, taken initiative in handling well the work involving the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan, carried forward a big country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in an all-round way.

It strengthened Party discipline comprehensively, maintained stable and healthy economic development as well as social harmony and stability, according to the communique.
China's national weather observatory on Sunday continued an orange alert for Typhoon Khanun, which is approaching the country's southern coast bringing rough gales and heavy storms.

At 5 a.m. Sunday, the eye of Khanun, this year's 20th typhoon, was above the South China Sea, 570 km southeast of Xuwen County, south China's Guangdong Province, packing winds of up to 38 meters per second, according to the National Meteorological Center (NMC).

The NMC said the typhoon is likely to hit the coast between Zhanjiang, Guangdong and Wenchang, Hainan Province in the early hours of Monday with winds of up to 40 meters per second.

It is expected to later weaken and turn southwest toward central Vietnam, according to the NMC.

The observatory also issued a yellow alert for storms Sunday morning as Typhoon Khanun is bringing heavy rainfall and strong gales.

From Sunday to Monday morning, parts of Zhejiang, Shanghai, Guangdong, Guangxi and Hainan will experience heavy rain, the NMC said. In some areas, precipitation is expected to be up to 200 millimeters.

China has a four-tier color-coded system for severe weather, with red being the most serious, followed by orange, yellow and blue.

In face of the approaching typhoon, China's State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has activated a level III emergency response, urging local authorities to make thorough preparations for possible disasters.

The headquarters warned that Khanun will be at its peak when it makes landfall and will bring serious threats to activities in coastal areas and waters along its path.

To avoid casualties and property damage, local governments should take precautions and suspend work, classes and transportation if necessary, the headquarters said.

It has already sent eight work teams to Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian and Shanghai to help prepare aid and relief ahead of the typhoon's arrival.

In Hainan, high-speed train services were suspended from early Sunday, while ferries on the Qiongzhou Strait, which connects the island province with Guangdong on the mainland, were suspended from Saturday morning, according to local authorities.
Three tourists from Taiwan were killed by falling rocks at a scenic area in central China's Hubei Province on Sunday morning, according to local authorities.

The accident happened at 9:45 a.m. in Yichang. Two others, who were injured, have been rushed to a local hospital, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of Hubei.

Local tourism authorities has asked for strengthened efforts to guard against possible hazards for the safety of tourists as the autumn flood season has begun and certain areas of the province are prone to geological disasters.
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A freight train carrying 123 new Volvo cars made in China arrives in Belgian port of Zeebrugge on June 30, 2017, marking a milestone in the history of cargo transport between the two countries.

"The Chinese people have arisen"  with these words Chairman Mao Zedong declared on October 1, 1949 not only the victory of the revolution, but also the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC). This historic date marked the birth of New China.

During the century or more leading up to that day the erstwhile flourishing ancient China suffered invasion, war, and civil war too. These disastrous events brought unimaginable hardship and devastation to the country.

During that time, China was one of the world's poorest countries, and suffered constantly from famine and exploitation. The average life expectancy of China's citizens was then 35, a figure that underlines the extent of their suffering during this period of Chinese history.

When the PRC was founded, the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the People's Liberation Army  the only two national organizations that remained intact  faced a mountain of obstacles. The country lay in ruins, transportation and traffic were at a standstill, agriculture had been more or less destroyed, and the irrigation system had been irreparably damaged due to the blasting of many river dams during the war.

But this suffering was not confined to the countryside. Owing to speculation and corrupt administration, the food supply lines in many cities were broken, leaving people literally starving to death on the streets.

Shortly after their victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the Communists switched their focus to the most urgent task of removing wreckage and remodeling society to match their aims. It was in this way that they laid the basis for the new, modern China that we know today.

Although, mostly due to lack of experience, mistakes were made and misadventures occurred, especially during the first years after the revolution, the CPC nevertheless successfully stabilized the foundations of the young nation, and made the people's advocacy of sovereignty an irreversible national principle.

However, no one at that time could possibly have foreseen the success story which China's economic and social development would tell.

Although soon after liberation the country still struggled with a series of difficulties and setbacks, the measures that Deng Xiaoping took in 1978 marked a crucial turning point. The success of the new reform measures and the policy of opening-up, although at first carried out cautiously, were clear from the outset.

Before long the resultant revitalization of the economy was clearly apparent. In the space of just a few years an inexorable dynamic had set in which made China a leading country among the world's most important economic powers.

The 19th CPC National Congress

The 19th National Congress of the CPC will take place on October 18, 2017. A communique, issued after the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in October last year, states that the 19th Party congress constitutes a crucial event in the political life of the Party and the State.

The CPC is China's guiding force, and also key to the country's success. With around 90 million members, the CPC is the world's biggest political party today. One of the CPC's essential characteristics is its strong anchorage in the hearts of all Chinese people. Its members emanating from all social strata and regions of the country, the CPC is a people's party in the most literal sense.

Currently, China once again stands on the threshold of a qualitatively new phase of its development, in both economic and social respects.

Although the CPC has focused mainly on growth and volume since the beginning of reform and opening-up, the Party remains aware of the different frameworks that have arisen in the post-industrial era.

As the country with the world's biggest population, China's development has now reached a level on whose grounds the old economic paradigms have reached their limits in many respects: Air quality has reached a critical, health-endangering level in some places, and many big cities suffer traffic gridlocks. The apparent blessing of development has thus become a hazard in many places.

It now becomes ever clearer how closely the people's living standards and life quality are connected to political and economic trend-setting decisions.

The CPC has meanwhile set ambitious goals for itself as regards the country's modernization and further development, but has maintained a clear focus, regardless of its complicated starting point.

Despite its great importance to the international community and the world market, China is still a developing country, although in the economic sense China has set its sights on becoming the world No. 1.

"Moderate prosperity for everyone" is the goal the CPC has formulated. As regards prosperity, China is still a country of huge differences, whether in regard to the disparities between urban and rural regions or between the highly developed eastern coastal regions and those in the west, whose development still lags behind.

The Chinese government, with President Xi Jinping at its core, is working hard towards leveling out regional disparities and strongly promoting development in the weaker regions of the country, strengthening them through new investment.

In 2021 the CPC will celebrate its 100th anniversary. By then, according to its plan, the country will have mainly overcome poverty.

An important precondition to reaching this goal is ensuring that China's economy continues to grow, and that its relatively strong annual growth  which according to forecasts will account for 6.5 percent or more in the coming years  is maintained.

Robust growth is mandatory to the projected increase of GDP and of the Chinese people's per capita income by the year 2021. The Chinese government is currently initiating a range of steps and projects aimed at reaching this goal.

The government plans, for instance, to reduce surplus production capacities and to optimize the country's economic structure, so lifting it to a higher level. One important focus is also that on the fight against corruption.

Strengthening the Supply Side in the Economic Circuit

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the CPC, William Jones, an American international affairs expert and director of the Washington office of the American journal Executive Intelligence Review, said in an interview with Xinhua News Agency that, under the leadership of the CPC, China walks the path of sustainable development and has achieved great success in this respect.

This, according to Jones, is an achievement no other person or country in the history of humankind has so far been able to match. "I think that the CPC deserves great applause for the performance it achieved and also for the enormous changes it has brought China and the Chinese people," Jones said.

Jones went on to say that the CPC has systematically analyzed the changing circumstances since the end of the Cold War. He observed that, through clever strategic changes, it has managed to lead the country along the path of sustainable development.

Jones cited the Chinese government's startlingly future-oriented project of reviving trade along the ancient Silk Road.

Just how flexible and effective China's government can be under the leadership of the CPC is particularly clear in the field of economic control, wherein a change of direction recently took place.

Lingering weaknesses in the global economy have also driven the Chinese government's search for new solutions. In the past, China's economic policy mainly focused on international trade and exports. It has now switched to domestic turnover and consumption.

These quantitative improvements are flanked by innovative and qualitative measures, among others, in fields like environmental protection and renewable energies. The growing use of green and renewable energy and the promotion of new-energy vehicles will have direct influence on air quality and the cleanness of Chinese cities.

Direct effects on life quality and people's health can be expected as a consequence, especially in the country's cities and economic conurbations.

Green development is a precondition for sustainable development. Under the slogan "Beautiful China," the Chinese government has for the first time included environmental protection as an integral part of its comprehensive development concepts of innovation, coordination, green development, opening-up and mutual benefits.

Its industry, agriculture, resource usage, lifestyle and energy guidelines thus meet the needs of the Chinese people and their desire for a better, more enjoyable life.

Chinese President Xi Jinping formulated on November 10, 2015, at the 11th Meeting of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs the new term "supply-side structural reform" as a counterpart to the demand side.

Through supply-side reform, China seeks to respond to the falling demand for Chinese products overseas.

The intended reforms will be based on five fundamental guidelines: stabilization of the macro-policy, refining of the industrial policy, revitalization of the micro-policy, implementation of the reform policy, and the underpinning of social policy.

As China News Service reported, the intended reform entails the abolishment of "zombie enterprises," cutting surplus production capacities, driving the development direction towards emerging and innovative fields, and formulating new approaches to economic growth.

By means of innovation, phasing out outmoded means of production, reducing debt and surplus production capacities, and reducing the tax burden, the Chinese government plans to reflate the market, and release new productive forces while at the same time strengthening their competitiveness. The government moreover plans to continue its active financial policy as well as its current moderate monetary policy.

The overall goal is to optimize the structure of China's economy. China thus seeks to ensure that it maintains a robust economic growth of at least 6.5 percent, even in difficult times.

Belt and Road Initiative

Another project through which the CPC has responded to the challenges of a growingly complex world, and which has gained a great deal of international attention in recent years, is the Belt and Road Initiative.

This groundbreaking initiative was initiated by President Xi Jinping in 2013 during his visits to Central and South Asian countries. Xi's vision consists in infusing new life into the ancient Silk Road, which for centuries connected Asia and Europe.

He proposed in his speech to students and teachers at Nazarbajev University in Astana, Kazakhstan's capital, the "mutual development of a new economic belt along the Silk Road" to "deepen existing contacts and cooperation between European and Asian countries." The initiative, Xi said, aims to bring all participants better prospects for future development.

The eventual goal of the initiative is to build the world's longest economic corridor  from China, over Central and Western Asia to Central, Eastern, and Western Europe.

A freight train traveling the 10,000 or more kilometers connecting China with the German city of Duisburg, for instance, is only one aspect of the immense Silk Road project.

All these measures are aimed at promoting trust and mutual appreciation among participating countries, and strengthening the bonds between them.

So far, more than 70 countries and international organizations have actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative. China has signed cooperation agreements with regard to production capacity with 20 countries, and built around 50 cooperation zones in countries along the new Silk Road.

President Xi pointed out in June 2016 at the Legislative Council of Tashkent in Uzbekistan that China has signed agreements on production capacity cooperation with 20 countries. He added that the country had established 46 foreign cooperation zones with 17 countries along the Silk Road.

Today, investments from Chinese companies amount to a total of US $14 billion in these regions. China's commitments have also created over 60,000 local jobs.

However, although China is the driving force behind the Belt and Road Initiative, the Chinese government sets great store on equal cooperation among all participants.

China aims at taking greater responsibility in a globalized and multipolar world and making even bigger contributions to the world economic system by virtue of its national economy while maintaining its opening-up policy.

The "Belt and Road" concept clearly aims at expanding China's on-going opening to the world at large and intensifying its cooperation with other countries on the basis of mutual benefit. The Belt and Road Initiative thus provides the world economy with important new stimuli.

The Belt and Road Initiative has inestimable potential, and not just in economic terms, but also in the fields of environmental protection, IT, and security. Concrete cooperation initiatives already exist between the countries of Asia and Europe. They are aimed, for instance, at the development of tourism and strengthening of academic and cultural exchanges.

While, on the one hand, gigantic new economic regions and markets are expected to drive economic growth and prosperity, deepened contacts on the cultural and interpersonal level will, on the other hand, promote security and mutual understanding among nations.

In the past several years the Chinese government has promoted in many ways stronger exchanges between cultures, and deepened mutual knowledge among peoples. In this way China makes a major contribution towards a more harmonious and peaceful world.

The Belt and Road Initiative should hence become not only an economic medium but also build a bridge between peoples of different countries and cultures.

Momentum and Stability for China and the World

In 2021, CPC will celebrate its 100th anniversary. As we have seen, despite its venerable age, the Party can hardly be bettered as regards its creative power, dynamism and inventiveness.

Under the CPC's leadership, the PRC has transformed from a poorhouse into a major economic power. After a century of foreign exploitation, the CPC has restored to China its unity, independence and dignity, and shown the whole world the potential of the country and its people.

At times of economic difficulty, China is a role model for stability and reliability, and a ray of hope for the global economy. The examples mentioned above demonstrate that the CPC will indeed succeed in further developing and stabilizing the country, and at the same time reach out to all countries and partners who are willing to participate in building a brighter future for the world on this basis.

Many decisions will be made at the 19th CPC National Congress that are of great importance to China's future development, and which the rest of the world will follow with great interest.

HELMUT MATT is a writer and sinologist based in Germany.
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Photo taken on Oct. 13, 2017 shows Turkish army vehicles deployed in Idlib province, Syria. Turkish army on Thursday started setting up observation positions in northern Syria's Idlib within the framework of Astana Process, Turkish General Staff announced on Friday. (Xinhua)

The Syrian Foreign Ministry on Saturday urged for the immediate withdrawal of Turkish forces from areas they entered in Idlib province, according to state news agency SANA.

The ministry said the Turkish "incursion" into Idlib is regarded as "a flagrant aggression, the Turkish regime will not be able to justify."

The statement comes a day after Turkish soldiers and armored vehicles crossed into Idlib as part of an operation Turkey says aimed at forcing a halt of battles in Idlib.

"This Turkish aggression is not related to any understanding between the countries involved in the Astana talks, but constitutes a violation to such understandings," the ministry said.

Moreover, the ministry charged that the Turkish incursion took place with the company of members of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, which is an evidence of the "close relation between Turkey and the terrorist groups."

The ministry said the Turkish forces should withdraw without any condition, adding that the Turkish government has had the "high hand in supporting the terrorists in Syria and cannot be credible by claiming to be fighting terrorism."

But a Turkish military statement claimed its forces would set up observation posts inside Idlib, saying its a part of an agreement with Russia and Iran, when the powers agreed to create a de-escalation zone in Idlib during the latest round of talks in Astana.

Idlib, in northwestern Syria, is largely controlled by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a jihadist umbrella, in which the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front is the striking force and designated as a terrorist organization.

Idlib is also close to the Kurdish-controlled Afreen area in the Aleppo province, an area Turkey has for long been trying to contain to put an end to the growing influence of the Kurdish militants.
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Virginia State University in Petersburg, in the U.S. state of Virginia, is on lockdown after an on-campus shooting Saturday night, authorities said.

At least one person was shot, with life-threatening injuries, according to local media reports.

Other reports said the person who was shot was rushed to a local hospital and the suspect is described as a male wearing a white jersey.

"Police scene still active and the campus remains on lockdown," the Virginia State University (VSU) Police Department said in a tweet Saturday night.

VSU police urged people to avoid the area.

The university said on its website that it was celebrating its homecoming weekend.
These people are hopeless. I thank dog every day that the majority of morons on here are baby boomers and they only have a few more years to **** things up. That the milennial sjws are taking themselves out of the gene pool and the majority of generation z knows how retarded they are.



This postmodernism is completely unsustainable but that's what they want. Look at th lbgqt2*#b. it has literally become a mockery of itself and is an excellent example of how foolish they are.



This is all by design.





It is sad really. Some people on here that I thought were above all of this brainwashing are apparently not. All they see is trump, trump, trump. You try and explain some very simple concepts to them but they just cannot grasp it.
US President Donald Trump on Friday officially disavowed the international nuclear deal with Iran, calling it weak and poorly constructed. He has given the US Congress days to decide whether to re-impose sanctions that had been lifted on Iran and said that he may seek to terminate the deal.

Iran responded strongly to his comments, with its foreign minister saying that it has the right to make a decision on its presence in the deal if the United States re-imposes sanctions.

If the US' actions lead to Iran resuming its efforts to develop nuclear weapons, it will plunge the Middle East into an arms race, and make the unstable situation in the region even more chaotic.

It is obvious that US' change in attitude on this question is also further estranging itself from its allies in Europe, as the leaders of Britain, Germany and France declared their backing for the deal and said it is in their shared interest.

The US government is showing no respect to the other signatories in criticizing the deal and is disregarding what the International Atomic Energy Agency has done in keeping an eye on Iran to ensure it abides by the deal.

An increasingly unstable Middle East and estrangement between the US and its European allies will considerably compromise the global efforts to fight international terrorism, which will very likely take advantage of the opportunity to become even more rampant.

Pulling out of the nuclear deal with Iran that took 13 years of international efforts to agree on will also greatly damage the reputation of the US. It would also deal a heavy blow to the international community's nuclear non-proliferation efforts and set a bad precedent that would make it even more difficult to peacefully resolve the Korean Peninsula deadlock.

To put it simply, it would make the world more unsafe and more chaotic.
WASHINGTON - As an open and inclusive platform, China's Belt and Road Initiative could help deepen international cooperation in development and faster economic integration in the region, a Chinese official said during the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank annual meetings.

"There are many profound changes under development now in the world. Interests of all countries are increasingly conversed. We are also facing problems in global development and economic globalization," said Shi Yaobin, vice-minister of China's Ministry of Finance.

Shi told Xinhua in an interview that this required international communities to strengthen cooperation, because a country alone cannot solve these problems. "This is why China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," said Shi.

The BRI is an open and inclusive platform, and cooperation is one of the best ways to deliver fruits under the initiative, according to the official.

The initiative is to promote infrastructure investment, facilitate trade and investment, and coordinate development strategies in the region, said Shi.

According to early estimate of the World Bank, the development of BRI will likely influence the foreign direct investment activity in developing East Asia and Pacific region, because the initiative involves more than 60 countries and a combined inward FDI stock of around $6 trillion.

The World Bank estimates also showed that trade in the BRI region would increase 13 percent at most, because the BRI will likely foster infrastructure connectivity in the region and reduce trade time by 26 percent on average.

When talking about cooperation with the World Bank, Shi said that World Bank has been a strong supporter for the BRI, because the initiative has overlaps with its development business in the region.

According to Shi, World Bank's support sets an example for other multilateral development banks (MDBs) in view of its leading role in the area.

The cooperation with the World Bank could mobilize participation of more MDBs, private sectors and other funding sources, and create all-win solutions, said Shi.
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BEIJING - The spokesperson for the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress will meet the press at 4:30 pm on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the media center of the congress announced Sunday.

Journalists from the Chinese mainland, the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and Taiwan, as well as other countries and regions have been invited to the event, the media center said.

The event will be broadcast live on China Central Television (CCTV).

The CPC national congress, a five-yearly event, will be convened in Beijing, starting Oct 18. A total of 2,287 delegates have been selected from across China to attend the congress. They started to arrive in Beijing Sunday morning.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, speaks at the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. The plenum was held from Oct 11 to 14 in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - The four-day Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded in Beijing Saturday with a communique issued.

Entrusted by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report at the meeting.

It was decided that the 19th CPC National Congress, a five-yearly event, will be convened from Oct 18 in Beijing, according to the communique.

A report to be made by the 18th CPC Central Committee to the 19th CPC National Congress, a work report of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) to the congress, as well as an amendment to the CPC Constitution were discussed and approved.

It was decided that the three documents will be submitted to the upcoming congress for examination and deliberation.

The amendment to the CPC Constitution must include the key theories and strategic thought presented by the report to be delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Sept 18.

The amended constitution must fully represent the latest sinicization of Marxism, new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies of the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as new experience in adhering to and strengthening Party leadership and in strict Party governance, it said.

The plenum was presided over by the Political Bureau.

Xi gave an explanation on the draft report to the 19th CPC National Congress, and Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, gave an explanation of the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution.

Altogether 191 members and 141 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting, with members of the CCDI and leading officials of related departments present as non-voting delegates.

Eleven new full members, who had been alternate members of the 18th CPC Central Committee, were admitted to the Central Committee during the plenum.
People's Daily launched an English-language news app on Sunday as it aims to reach more international readers.

"China has never been so close to the center of the world stage. A stronger China needs to present itself to the world, and the changing world is eager to know more about China," Yang Zhenwu, the paper's president, said at the launch ceremony in Beijing.

"The international community expects China to share its experiences, expound propositions, propose solutions, and contribute wisdom, which is an inevitable phase of its development."

People's Daily, the Party's official newspaper, launched a Chinese news app in 2014. Today, it has 200 million users.

The English-language version comes just three days ahead of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

"This is a timely opportunity to launch our English app," Yang said. "We will take this opportunity to provide to the world timely coverage on the congress, latest insights into the CPC and the new blueprint for China's development."

At the launch ceremony, the paper signed strategic cooperation agreements with the CPC Central Committee's International Department; the ministries of foreign affairs, education, commerce, and culture; the China National Tourism Administration and State Administration of Cultural Heritage; and Beijing's Palace Museum.

Zhang Yi contributed to this story.
In a giant, dark factory, thousands of young people sat in separate booths, each staring through a small glass rectangles at a bright white lamp on their tables looking for defects.

Each had a pile of the smartphone screens at their side, as well as several large bottles of eye drops, which they used every few minutes.

Zhang Zhengtao, 36, a scientist and Party representative from the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Automation, witnessed the scene at a quality inspection factory for smartphone screens in Dongguan, Guangdong province, two years ago.

Zhang Zhengtao

"I tried the work once, and my eyes got sore within a minute," he said. "It broke my heart seeing those young people doing such eye-scorching work, day after day for months, sacrificing their eyesight just so that we can have the latest phones."

Zhang specializes in precision measurement and equipment assembly, which involves measuring, controlling or making extremely small equipment often in the scale of a millionth or even a billionth of a meter.

Most of his work is used in national cutting-edge science projects, from spacecraft to nuclear energy, where accuracy is paramount. After seeing the factory, Zhang wondered if he could apply his skills to replace manual inspection with robotics.

"As a Party member, I have a duty to use what I have learned to help industry and its workers," he said.

But the problem was far more complicated than Zhang thought. "Most people thought producing phone screens was simple, so it could be done entirely by robots," Zhang said.

Though it's true that computers do most of the production work, machines don't have the thinking ability needed to detect the two dozen types of small defects, from cracks to dust to fingerprints, he said.

"Tiny defects from previous production procedures and can be pressed together with other defects, creating an illegible mess for computer scanners," Zhang said.

And computers have difficulty distinguishing between defects that are easily resolved, like dust or fingerprints, from serious ones like cracks or nicks, "because to a computer camera, they look very similar," he said.

Experienced workers can recognize complicated defects when they examine the glass screen under bright light, but they typically misjudge more than 5 percent of the products. Given the rising demand and tight working schedules, companies have no choice but to invest heavily in manual inspection, he said.

Last year, China produced about 2.1 billion phone screens and employed more than 150,000 inspectors. Manufactures spend more than 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion) a year on personnel, from salary to insurance, Zhang said.

"If we can replace manpower with machine, not only can we decrease the fault rate and cut cost by hundreds of millions, we can also keep of young adults from damaging their eyes," he said.

But creating a machine smart enough to detect various defects after the screen is finished is still too hard, Zhang said. So he decided to take it one step at a time, and in 2016, his team created China's first fully automated optical inspection machine for glass printing, a key step in making phone screens.

AOIs are most commonly used in checking for defects in printed circuit board. "It is essentially a highly sensitive camera that rapidly scans the object and then identify various types of defects using its vast database," he said, adding that Germany is leading the world in AOI technology, but they seldom apply AOI in cover glass production.

By focusing on defects found in a single manufacture step, Zhang was able to apply machine learning and artificial intelligence to analysis of a massive quantity of data, creating a "visual recognition database that can read glass printing defects like a human mind," he said.

This new machine has less than a 1 percent error rate for identifying defects. Since glass printing is an early production procedure, the machine reduces the workload and difficulties of quality inspection in the final stage, he said.

During testing, a single machine can help a factory save more than 650,000 yuan annually on glass printing defects alone, Zhang said. The machine has recently passed all testing and is available for industrial use.

"We will build similar 'AI+AOI' machines in the future and apply them to other phases of the phone screen production line, such as plain glass inspection, and possibly even branch out to other industries like electronics or energies," Zhang said.

zhangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn
Held at a key juncture ahead of China's two centenary goals, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China will play a vital role in mapping out guidelines for the coming decades and singling out the Party's key tasks, analysts said.

By 2020, China will complete building a moderately prosperous society. By the middle of this century, China should become a modern socialist country that is "prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious."

The CPC Central Committee raised the two centenary goals at the Party's 18th National Congress held in November 2012.

As the Party's 19th National Congress is set to open on Wednesday, the world is watching closely on how China moves toward its two centenary goals. The congress comes when China's endeavor to build a moderately prosperous society in all aspects has entered the decisive stage.

In all, 2,287 delegates have been elected from more than 89 million Party members to gather in Beijing to elect a new central committee.

"Whether we can raise comprehensive, strategic and foresighted guidelines [at the congress] concerns the development of the causes of the Party and the nation, the destiny of socialism with Chinese characteristics as well as the fundamental interests of the majority of the Chinese people," Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said in July while addressing the opening session of a workshop for senior officials.

In the five years since the 18th CPC National Congress, extraordinary developments have occurred in implementing the new concept of development, deepening reforms, enhancing the rule of law, advancing the building of an ecological civilization, pushing forward the modernization of national defense and the military and carrying forward major country diplomacy.

In the economic sphere, Xi has promised extensive supply-side structural reform, including reducing pollution and phasing out excess capacity. The country is seeking progress while maintaining stability and adapting to the new normal of economic development, by pursuing innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development.

China's rural population living in poverty has decreased from 770 million to 55.75 million between 1978 and 2015. An additional 12.4 million were lifted out of poverty last year, and China is aiming to lift all people out of poverty by 2020.

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

The past few years also marked China's transition from a player in global affairs to a leader of the global agenda. China hosted the BRICS Summit in September, the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May, the G20 Hangzhou Summit last year and the APEC Summit in 2014, prescribing remedies for global economic governance.

During the 19th CPC National Congress, the Party is expected to further elaborate on how to rule itself, how to lead the world's largest developing nation to lift more people out of poverty and advance key reforms as well as how to build a community of shared destiny for all humankind, observers said.

Zhu Lijia, a professor of public administration at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said that poverty alleviation, the construction of an ecological environment and development risks are major reform and development tasks in the five years after the 19th CPC National Congress.

Concrete achievements should be made to complete the tasks, which are important to the first centenary goal - building a moderately prosperous society, Zhu said.

"We are looking forward to the new ideas, policies and measures raised by the 19th National Congress," he said, adding that the congress will have deep influence toward the fulfillment of the second centenary goal.

Li Chengyan, head of Peking University's Center for Anti-Corruption Studies, said that the CPC has established an effective mechanism for self-supervision in the past five years and it is important that such measures be sustained after the 19th National Congress.

The congress will have long-term influence on the country, not only for the next five years, but also for decades to come, as it will make guidelines for the country's second centenary goal, he said.

Yan Jirong, a professor at the Peking University School of Government, said during the 19th National Congress, leaders will appraise the measures taken in the past years to decide which will be enhanced or adjusted.

The 2020 goals set by the CPC - all benchmarks of China becoming a prosperous country - are objectives without any "gray areas involved", said Shannon Tiezzi, an editor at The Diplomat magazine.

Zhou Jin contributed to this story.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, speaks on Saturday. MA ZHANCHENG / XINHUA

Delegates from across country to take up report, amendment, statement says

The four-day Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China concluded on Saturday in Beijing with a statement issued about the meeting.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report at the meeting, where it also was decided that the 19th CPC National Congress, which occurs every five years, will be convened on Wednesday in Beijing, according to the statement.

A report to be made by the 18th CPC Central Committee to the 19th CPC National Congress; a work report of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to the congress; and an amendment to the CPC Constitution also were discussed and approved.

It was decided that the three documents will be submitted to the upcoming congress for examination and deliberation.

The amendment to the CPC Constitution must include the key theories and strategic thoughts presented by the report to be delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Sept 18.

The amended Constitution must fully represent the latest Sinicization of Marxism, new governance concepts and thoughts and strategies of the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as new experience in adhering to and strengthening the Party's leadership and in strict Party governance, it said.

The plenum was presided over by the Political Bureau.

Xi gave an explanation on the draft report to the 19th CPC National Congress, and Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, gave an explanation of the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution.

In all, 191 members and 141 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting, with members of the CCDI and leading officials of related departments present as nonvoting delegates.

Eleven new full members, who had been alternate members of the 18th CPC Central Committee, were admitted to the Central Committee during the plenum.
I met a student from Africa on my first year of study in China. He was majoring in architecture at the time, and after conversations with him, I saw his ardent passion for his field. Living in China for more than 5 years, he showed evidence of how quickly China developed over a short period of time. He used to tell me that he often would take a photo of anempty lot, and would visit the same place a few months later to take another shot. To his constant surprise, the area had already been occupied by towering commercial or apartment buildings. This anecdote stuck with me from that day on, as I realized how lucky I am to witness the many changes that have happened in this vast country.

Chinas infrastructure growth is a leading example in the world. But apart from that, my personal observations of China involve Chinas massive contribution to the worlds renewable energy technology. Sure, I was amazed by the convenience of riding a high-speed train to another city, which I neverexperienced in my country. Nonetheless, I was more stunned by a particular view during my train travels. This was when I saw several structures of solar panels built on an enormous field as seen from the windowpane. It might be quite ridiculous or naive to express this, but only then did I realize the real wonder in Chinas efforts to improve the lives of the people and at the same time, fight climate change. As a former associate researcher at a climate change project in my country, this has filled me with awe and pushed me to learn more about Chinas carbon emission reduction struggles, as well as successes.

Chinas determination to dominate energy-saving technologies is far from unattainable. In fact, it is very possible that in the years to come, China will have the ability to transform the international landscape for carbon-free societies. A report by the Institute for Energy and Economics found that Chinas foreign investments in renewable energy and supporting technologies are significantly increasing, noting that this dominance is rapidly spreading overseas. China now owns five of the worlds six largest solar-module manufacturing firms, the largest wind-turbine manufacturer, the worlds largest lithium ion manufacturer and the worlds largest electricity utility, according to IEEFAs report. Furthermore, China is actively promoting a gradual shift away from the coal industry in order to implement air clean-up and reduce production of greenhouse gases.

I have witnessed Chinas struggles with pollution, which continues to taint its reputation in the world. However, one must not simply judge. With Chinas expanding economic growth, there is more reason to believe this country will be able to support more innovation and technologies to combat climate change. It is quite ironic that some people criticize China for pollution, yet they do not see that China a country with one of the biggest populations of bicycle riders. More so, bicycle users have ramped up through a shared bike system that is very convenient, encouraging more people to use bikes instead of gas-fueled cars. I, myself, have been convinced that electric bikes and cars are a surefire way to reduce pollution that other developing countries must aspire to improve. There is also news that the Chinesegovernment is planning to introduce innovative buses and cars that run on hydrogen fuel. Using this clean technology, vehicles can run on energy created when hydrogen is mixed with oxygen. As a result, the engines of such vehicles do not produce greenhouse gases.

I believe China is taking real responsibility, which means it is doing more action than what has been said in papers to fight climate change. There is no denying that China has had abundant carbon emissions in the past, but as a leading nation, China is taking responsibility for saving itself and the world from despair. There is continued hope for the present generation to succeed in advancing renewables and a cleaner environment, and such hope is reflected right in front of me, while looking through the glass windows of a railway train.
View of Canada's capital city Ottawa from the University of Ottawa. PHOTOS BY NA LI / CHINA DAILY

As an education destination that continues to welcome a large number of students from across the world, especially from China, Canada and its universities are forging more partnerships with their Chinese counterparts.

Chinese students' interest in a Canadian education is so strong that more Canadian universities and colleges are going on more education missions to China.

That collaboration will be on display in a mission on Oct 19 at the China-Canada Education Cooperation Forum, which will involve many Canadian university presidents promoting Canadian higher education.

"The demand for participation in missions to China is really huge. Right now, we are excited that more than 40 of Canada's universities are taking part; 50 percent of our universities are going on these larger missions," said Helen Murphy, director of communication, Universities Canada, one of the stakeholders in the Canadian Consortium for International Education.

"There will be some level of understanding and new partnerships, and we are trying to raise awareness with Canadian media about why we find partnerships are so important. This is the evolution of Canadian universities on the research side, and we are going to build capacities to operate as equal partners," Murphy said.

Another initiative is to support and increase student mobility in Canada back to China, with many Canadian companies in the private sector going after graduates who could speak Mandarin and have Canadian experience. That is so they could potentially help in operations and trading relationships, according to Andreas Weichert, executive director at International Education Global Affairs Canada.

"We are also sending a message domestically to our politicians about supporting foreign research collaboration now that a survey result showed 95 percent of Canadians support international research, and that we ought to do more in this regard," he said.

Jacques Fremont, president of the University of Ottawa, recognized the benefits of cooperation and collaboration of his university with several Chinese universities, for example, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

Jacques Fremont (centre), president of the University of Ottawa, recognizes the benefits of cooperation and collaboration between his university and Chinese universities.

"There is an intense relationship, especially in medical studies, engineering and education. We always have dozens of Chinese people coming under specific programs. Our agreements and collaboration with Chinese universities really make a difference. It is very important," Fremont said.

A couple of months ago, the university signed an agreement with the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai in systems biology, which he said will send both schools to the top tier in research worldwide.

"China is a very good and major player, and we are closer to China. A strategic partnership with China is certainly one of the most important relationships we have," Fremont added.

Canada is known for its world-class educational institutions, ranking seventh in international education, and for its friendly, relatively safe environment, said Gary W. Slater, associate vice-president of the University of Ottawa.

Dianne Taylor-Gearing (standing), president of NSCAD University, one of Canada's oldest independent cultural institutions, located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, discusses the university's strength of education and research in visual culture to Chinese international students on campus.

"The Canadian education system is of very high quality overall. We have many quality-control programs, and people know, and they come to Canada for the high-quality education we offer," Slater said, adding that the university does not normally talk about majors but emphasizes standards.

Slater said the university's physics and chemistry programs are highly ranked, and it also is known for its public administration, international relations and law programs in two languages. He said being located in Canadas capital also is a benefit.

McGill University is another prestigious university that has a long tradition of partnering with China. Its researchers are actively working in partnerships with China in areas such as engineering, architecture, neuroscience, genomics and biomedical sciences.
The "2017 Beautiful China-Journey along the World Heritage" promotional event kicked off on Thursday in New York, opening a window for the US and world to China's world heritage sites and promoting cooperation between the China and US travel industry.

Hosted by the China National Tourism Administration, a delegation from tourism bureaus of 18 provinces and municipalities in China exhibited popular tourist sites, as well as China's world heritage sites to participants.

"With a huge tourist market in place, China and the US enjoy great complementarity in tourist resources, a solid foundation for cooperation and great prospects for future development," said Wang Xiaofeng, vice-chairman of China National Tourism Administration, at the event.

Wang said last year, the two-way flow of visitors between China and the US exceeded 5 million. Each year, about 2 million Americans travel to China. And China remains the world's biggest tourist source market and fourth most visited destination.

"With the successful hosting of 2016 China-US Tourism Year, China-US tourism exchange has maintained sound momentum," said Wang. "The increasingly closer tourism exchanges between China and the US have enhanced the people-to-people bonds, built up our friendship and brought tangible benefits."

Wang said tourism is the most basic and the most effective area in state-to-state relations.

"Tourism is a very important part of the China and US relationship," said Zhang Qiyue, consulate general of China in New York. "Tourism and travel businesses are an industry, but it's really an industry of people, for the people and by the people as well, so the people-to-people exchange is the strong cornerstone for any state-to-state relationship."

"Since the beginning of this year, China-US relations have retained a positive momentum," Zhang added. "President Xi and President Trump have already met twice this year, and President Trump is going to China next month."

Zhang also mentioned that China and the US have set up four-dialogue mechanisms, one of which is called social and people-to-people dialogue, which was launched earlier and concluded on the Sept 28.

Tourism is one of more than 130 outcomes concluded in the China-US Social and People-to-People Dialogue.

"We have an opportunity and the obligation to expose US citizens to China and Chinese citizens to America because that single-handedly can change the fabric of this world," said Terry Dale, president of the US Tour Operators Association.

"By sharing our cultures, by providing greater understanding between our people, that's where peace happens."

Besides the 52 UNESCO natural and cultural heritage sites in China, Chinese traditional paper cutting and calligraphy demonstrations and ribbon dancing, as well as Chinese opera performances, were also presented to participants.

The event was the largest travel promotion event between China and US this year, Wang said. "By hosting this event, we hope to introduce China's world heritage sites to American tourists and provide an opportunity to deepen China-US tourism cooperation."

The next stop for the delegation is San Francisco.

ruinanzhang@chinadailyusa.com
NEW DELHI - India's main opposition Congress party Sunday won a crucial parliamentary by-election in northern state of Punjab, decimating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, who contested for the parliamentary seat, swept the by-election by trouncing BJP candidate Swaran Salaria by nearly 200,000 votes. Delhi's ruling, anti-graft Aam Aadmi Party, which had also put up a candidate, was also heavily defeated.

The Gurdaspur parliamentary seat in Punjab has fallen vacant after the death of Bollywood actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna in April. Khanna, a BJP parliamentarian, had won the seat for four consecutive terms.

Punjab is ruled by Congress party which came to power six months back, defeating a BJP-led coalition that ruled the state for 10 years.

State Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was among the first to congratulate Jakhar.

"Congratulations to @sunilkjakhar ji for his impressive win in #Gurdaspur bypoll... Assure people of #Gurdaspur that every single promise made by @sunilkjakhar will be fulfilled and all development works will be fast-tracked," he tweeted.

Jakhar said his win was a "referendum" on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's rule in India. "The people of Gurdaspur has sent a strong message of their resentment to the policies pursued by the Indian government," he told the media.

The BJP has not yet commented on its huge loss in the seat that was the party's stronghold in Punjab for years.

The general election in India is due in 2019.
Civilians evacuate from the scene of an explosion in KM4 street in the Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia October 14, 2017. [Photo/Agencies]

MOGADISHU - The death toll from Saturday afternoon's bombing at a hotel in Somali capital of Mogadishu has risen to over 85, sources in medical facilities confirmed to Xinhua on Sunday.

Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adem, director of the Amin Ambulance Service, told Xinhua by telephone that medical officers had so far counted 85 dead bodies after the attack in Mogadishu's Safari Hotel.

Adem said the figure could go higher while more than 250 victims of the attack were still receiving treatment at health facilities.

"This was the deadliest attack in Mogadishu in recent times" said Adem.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has declared three days of mourning as the Horn of Africa country came to terms with the deadly bomb explosion on Saturday afternoon.

The explosion happened at the KM5 junction that is usually busy in the afternoons.

Hospitals have already sent out appeals for blood to help save lives of the injured victims of the blast.

The Al-Qaida linked militant group, Al-Shabaab, which has carried out similar attacks before has not claimed responsibility for the latest one.
MOGADISHU  The Latest on explosion in Somalia's capital (all times local):5:20 p.m.

A senator says the death toll from a massive truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital has risen to 231.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed says 275 others were injured. He cites doctors at hospitals he has visited in Mogadishu.

Saturday's blast is the single deadliest attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation.

Many of the bodies in hospital mortuaries are yet to be identified.

Somali government forces and civilians gather at the scene of an explosion in KM4 street in the Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia October 15, 2017. Photo/Agencies)

3:05 p.m.Local journalists say one freelance journalist was killed in Saturday's massive bombing in Somalia's capital and several were injured.Voice of America says one of its reporters, Abdulkaidr Mohamed Abdulle, is among the injured.Police and hospital sources say the death toll from the truck bomb in Mogadishu has risen to 189 in what is the single deadliest attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation. Abdi Guled in Mogadishu.2:35 p.m.The death toll from a massive explosion in Somalia's capital has risen to 189 with over 200 others injured, police and hospital sources say, making it the single deadliest attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation.Doctors are struggling to assist hundreds of horrifically wounded victims, with many burnt beyond recognition.Somalia's government has blamed Saturday's truck bombing in Mogadishu on the al-Shabab extremist group, which has not commented. Abdi Guled in Mogadishu.1:25 p.m.The United States is joining the condemnation of Saturday's massive truck bombing in Somalia's capital that left scores dead.A statement by the U.S. mission to Somalia says that "such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism."The U.S. military this year has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia and often targets Mogadishu.1:20 p.m.The International Committee of the Red Cross says four volunteers with the Somali Red Crescent Society are among the dead after a huge truck bombing in Somalia's capital.A statement Sunday says "this figure may rise as there are a number of volunteers still missing."Security and medical sources say at least 53 people are dead after what Mogadishu residents call the largest explosion they've ever witnessed.Officials have pleaded for blood donations. More than 60 people are injured.Somalia's government has blamed the al-Shabab extremist group, which has not commented.10:45 a.m.Security and medical sources say the death toll from Saturday's truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital has risen to 53 as hospitals struggle to cope with the high number of casualties. More than 60 others are injured.Police Capt. Mohamed Hussein says many victims died at hospitals from their wounds.Somalia's government has yet to release the exact death toll from an explosion many called the most powerful they had ever witnessed in Mogadishu.Ambulance sirens still echo across the city as bewildered families wander in the rubble of buildings.President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood for the wounded victims.The al-Shabab extremist group often targets high-profile areas in the capital with bombings.




One week before Hurricane Maria ripped through Puerto Rico, 97-year-old Benigna Alers became something of a local celebrity in her small town.

The local newspaper celebrated Alers, whose grandchildren and their offspring number more than 100, for her youthful spirit and vibrant role in the community.

"It was pretty amazing, because I didn't even know those details about my grandmother," said one of those grandchildren, Iraida Brown, a La Porte native who lives in Houston. "We hear about all of this, and we're happy  and then the hurricane hits."

Maria destroyed homes, decimated crops, disrupted transportation and wiped out 95 percent of the island's power source, leaving its 3.4 million residents cut off from the rest of the world.

Brown and her extended family on the mainland United States waited anxiously for news, any news, of loved ones in Puerto Rico.

"Our phone calls would go unanswered. We would get that 'We're sorry, your call cannot be completed as dialed,' and just constantly hearing that and the anguish of not knowing whether the family is OK or not, it was scary and made me depressed," she said.

After one week of failed attempts to make contact, word finally came.

"They're doing fine, that's what they tell us," said Brown, 35. "They want to keep us from worrying about them."

But that was several weeks ago, and Brown and her father, Heriberto Martinez of La Porte, have since been unable to communicate with relatives in Puerto Rico.

For Brown, all she has is TV news images of devastation and rows of decimated homes. The silence from her family in Puerto Rico is deafening.

"When we see all the chaos in the news, it's really hard to put to sleep the words that they tell us," she said.

Brown's family in Puerto Rico includes her grandmother, uncles, aunts and cousins who live in the city of Mayaguez on the western coast of the island.

"It was one thing that led to another - not being able to hear from them, and then you finally hear from them, you get this breath of fresh air and when you want to help, you have to wait again," she said.

Brown and her dad and an aunt that lives in Deer Park tried in vain to get through, except for Facebook contact with one family member.

"My hands are tied, it's very stressful," Martinez said.

When he was finally able to hear his mother's voice for the first time since the hurricane, the relief was overwhelming, he said.

"It was like she was right here in front of me talking to me," he said.

Brown has been staying inside her home much of the time since Maria hit, just waiting.

"I felt like if I don't know what they're doing, or how they're doing.

"It really sucks when you feel so hopeless, and when they're feeling even more hopeless than I'm feeling," she said. "There are no words to describe that feeling."

Brown is from a family of six. When Harvey hit Houston, they were lucky and had no problems communicating with each other.

That storm, she said, "was such a different experience (than Maria) when it came to Puerto Rico."

The recovery for Puerto Rico will be different, too. Locked in a deep recession for more than a decade, Puerto Ricos lacks the resources of places on the mainland like Texas and Florida that were recently hit hard by storms.

Three weeks after Maria struck, millions of residents in Puerto Rico lack access to clean drinking water and officials warn of a continuing food shortage.

Brown worries most about her grandmother, who is living in her home despite the damage the area has suffered.

"I'm just thinking about whether she is able to get water, how she's getting around," she said.

The plan, said Brown, is to bring her grandmother to the mainland in late October or early November.

"Everything is still a big mess in the airports right now," she said. "We don't want to put our grandmother in that situation."

But Martinez is torn. His mother has been living in her house her whole life, and while it remains intact after Maria, the island is in shambles.

"I'm confused right now, because I haven't made up my mind if bringing my mom here is the right thing to do, because that's her home," he said.

Brown grew up visiting Puerto Rico and maintains a strong connection to the island, and all too often, she said, people living on the mainland forget that the territory is part of the United States.

"One of the things that was infuriating while I was not able to connect with my family was that there was the feeling that Puerto Rico is a forgotten (place)," she said. "With the mess we went through with Harvey, we were able to pick each other up and pull each other together, people from all over were coming through. It seems like Puerto Rico is just pushed to the side.

"I know that life goes on, but don't forget about those that are still hurting," she said. "While Puerto Rico is not necessarily connected to us by land, it's connected to us as Americans."

Martinez, 73, has lived in Texas for more than 40 years, but his Puerto Rican roots remain deep.

"I love Texas, I love the United States, but I am a Puerto Rican," he said. "I miss the people. They offer you whatever you have and treat you like family, and I feel so sorry for what they're going through."

For now, Brown's grandmother is still staying in her little pink house in Mayaguez with a relative and other family members are nearby.

Alers is not just matriarch of the family, her granddaughter said.

"She holds the whole family together," Brown said. "She's not in a wheelchair, still walks and cooks meals and plays bingo every Sunday and Monday. I have memories of her growing up; that woman made me laugh. If I have one thing to say about my dad's side of the family it's that even faced with trauma and heartache, we always joke it off with a laugh to keep going. If not, it will take us alive."
The latest round of layoffs in Texas, this time provided by Dallas-based Vistra Energy, is another sour point for 2017.

Friday, the energy firm announced it was shutting down two major coal-fired power plants and laying off some 600 employees.
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The Republican majority in Congress couldn't agree on how to repeal and replace Obamacare, so President Donald Trump has destroyed the program from within.

The president's decisions to stop marketing the health care program, to allow substandard plans across state lines and to cut off subsidies for the working poor will leave millions of Americans unable to afford insurance next year. Unless Congress acts quickly.

Trump promised that the Affordable Care Act would fail, and he's ensured that will happen on Nov. 1, when open enrollment begins for 2018, and those who rely on the federal exchange discover that plans cost too much, if there are any available at all.

Fewer insured Americans, though, doesn't mean fewer people will get sick. More uninsured Americans means more misery as people miss work because they can't get treatment. More uninsured means more people using emergency rooms and then not paying their bills.

More uninsured means higher premiums for those of us with insurance, and we will pay higher local taxes to cover those unpaid bills.

Many readers will rejoice at Obamacare's financial collapse. They repeatedly inform me that health care is not a right guaranteed under the constitution, and that if someone can't afford insurance or health care, that's their tough luck.

Such cruelty, ironically, often comes from senior citizens whose health insurance is guaranteed under a federal socialized medicine program called Medicare. In any case, they are also half-right. The constitution may not guarantee health insurance for all, but federal law requires emergency rooms to accept patients whether they can pay or not.

In America, we do not deny health care to people and let them suffer and die on the sidewalk outside of hospitals. The challenge for our elected officials, then, is to find the most cost-efficient method of providing health care to those who cannot obtain it through their employer.

Everyone knows that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Everyone knows that obtaining treatment in a hospital's emergency department is the most expensive care. When the working poor don't have routine access to a doctor who can help prevent illness, or treat a problem early, people end up extremely ill in the emergency room.

If the Republican majority in Congress were more concerned about spending tax dollars efficiently than worrying about whether poor people pay their fair share, the solution to our spiraling federal health care spending would be obvious. Spend a few dollars now to provide people with insurance rather than spend many dollars later for emergency care.

That's why former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, launched a program in 2006 to enroll every citizen in a health insurance plan. That Republican-backed program was the model for the Affordable Care Act. The system only works, though, by forcing everyone to sign up for health insurance to spread the risk, including the young and healthy.

Romneycare has boosted Massachusetts' economy, with not only fewer non-critical emergency department visits, but fewer personal bankruptcies due to medical bills, higher credit scores, less past-due debt and reduced third-party debt collections, according to a 2016 peer-reviewed study published in the American Economic Journal.

The problem, of course, is that Trump and his fellow Republicans have vilified the Affordable Care Act so much that many Americans have lost track of why it was passed.

If this were a battlefield question, politicians would promise to defer to the generals. So let's take a moment to see what health care's generals think about Trump's actions.

"These benefits help real people every day, and if they are ended, there will be real consequences," industry trade group America's Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association said. "We need constructive solutions that increase consumer choice, lower consumer costs, and stabilize local markets. Terminating this critical program will do just the opposite."

The American Medical Association said it was discouraged by Trump's actions.

"This most recent action by the Administration creates still more uncertainty in the ACA marketplace just as the abbreviated open enrollment period is about to begin, further undermining the law and threatening access to meaningful health insurance coverage for millions of Americans," the group that represents doctors said in a statement. "Our patients will ultimately pay the price."

Obamacare has many problems, and I have repeatedly called for Congress to address them. But indirectly repealing Obamacare without replacing it will hurt all Americans.

The best way to lower health care costs, without leaving the poor and ill to die, is to prevent serious health problems, treat illness early and provide care in the lowest-cost setting. Trump is trying to force Congress to act, and the best solution is a bipartisan plan will be practical, not ideological.

Unfortunately, there's no evidence to suggest Congress can pass such a law.
Recently, The Hechinger Report, in project partnership with The Atlantic, surveyed students about the role of education. One student commented about standardized testing:

"It's the same with how I think the public-school system really fails with standardized testing. You're just learning to take a test. You're not learning to actually be happy."

When students take a standardized test exit exam, it supposedly measures how well they mastered subject area concepts. Yet, notwithstanding the excellent class instruction they received, many times students perform poorly on these exams. This leaves students and educators asking the question "What went wrong?"

In specific testing areas, teachers feel pressure of attaining high passing rates for their students. Instead of teaching students how to creatively think and critically problem solve, many instructors only teach how to pass the examination using previously tested questions. As the respondent above correctly states, "You're just learning to take a test".

Yet, weighing and considering the weaknesses in standardized testing, should teachers feel guilty about this problem? They take the blame and receive condemnations if their students fail. Still, they cannot make students perform well on these examinations, but only give them the correct instruction.

Moreover, how much does standardized testing truly measure on testing day and reflect a meaningful score? Although experts claim high degrees of reliability and validity, still why do students graduate unprepared for advanced studies or the work force? Could these instruments honestly only measure a small fraction of human intelligence, and do academic personnel and concerned parents place too much emphasis on them?

As a possible substitute, some educators discuss student portfolios as an alternative to standardized testing. Students' work saved in these portfolios would show how they grow over a school year and at different grade levels. No one will claim this represents perfect testing, but it does offer a good option compared to the current system.

Undoubtedly, high school standardized exit exams cost an enormous amount of funds to administer each year. Yet, has the program functioned cost effective and produced better prepared students for college and the work force? Considering all of the remedial classes in English and mathematics that colleges offer, it appears that standardized exit exams fail their original purpose.

What should happen with standardized testing in the future? Should educators totally eliminate it as a learning measurement device? Should they de-emphasize it because it appears to only measure a small amount of intelligence at a given point in time?

Ultimately how much does it truly measure?
It may not be sexy, but Benton County officials say the local option levy renewal on the Nov. 7 ballot is necessary to maintain some critical services.

This is about 25 percent of our general fund revenue, noted Anne Schuster, chair of the Benton County Board of Commissioners.

Last approved by voters in 2012, the levy currently adds about $6.9 million a year to the county coffers, with the lions share of that money earmarked for specific services, mainly related to public safety.

If Measure 2-110 passes, it will renew the levy at current levels for another five years. At the maximum tax rate of 90 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, it would cost the owner of a $250,000 home $225 a year.

According to the official election filing, the levy would bring in an estimated $7.7 million in 2018, with the amount expected to gradually increase to $8.8 million in 2022, the measures final year.

Among other things, the levy pays for the rental of 40 jail beds, essentially doubling the capacity of the Benton County Jail, which is one of the smallest in Oregon.

Money from the levy also covers the cost to maintain round-the-clock patrol coverage by sheriffs deputies, rehabilitation services for jail inmates, transition programs for local and state inmates released back into the community, mental health crisis intervention, substance abuse treatment programs, counseling programs and detention capacity for juveniles, school resource deputies and the sheriffs street crimes unit.

In the District Attorneys Office, levy funds pay the salaries of two of the seven deputy DAs plus a paralegal to support them.

And in the Health Department, the levy helps provide infectious disease prevention and investigation, high-risk mother/child nursing, community health assessment and health improvement planning, and school-based mental health services.

While the county could technically backfill those services if the levy goes down at the polls by making cuts elsewhere in the budget, County Commissioner Annabelle Jaramillo said that would be breaking faith with voters.

They wont get the same level of service if the levy fails, she said.

Filling the gaps

The additional funding provided by the local option levy, county leaders say, is needed for two reasons: to make up for the loss of revenues that used to flow from timber sales on federally managed lands and to supplement property tax collections limited by statewide initiatives such as Measure 47/50.

Benton County voters first approved a three-year, 31 cents-per-thousand levy to fund jail bed rentals in the 2000 general election  six months after shooting down a $19 million bond measure to build a new jail and work-release center.

That levy was renewed for five years at a slightly lower tax rate (29 cents per thousand) in 2003, but on the same ballot voters rejected a renewal of a 1998 health and safety levy that was bringing in 47 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.

The county went back to the ballot in 2006, asking for 89 cents per thousand over five years to fund public safety and health services, and again the voters said no.

That loss forced the county to make some significant cuts to its public safety budget. Two prosecutor positions  a quarter of the District Attorneys Office legal staff  were left unfilled. Some juvenile detention beds were lost. A number of deputy positions were eliminated as well, bringing 24-hour sheriffs patrols to an end.

Those cuts were restored a year later, after voters said yes to a five-year levy to fund jail bed rentals, public safety and health services at a rate of 90 cents per thousand. The levy was renewed for another five years in 2012, but now its getting ready to expire once again.

County officials say they dont want to go back to the days of drastically reduced public safety budgets they experienced a decade ago.

Immediately we would lose 40 (jail) beds (and) 24-hour patrol service would end if Measure 2-110 fails, Sheriff Scott Jackson said.

That would mean more criminals on the streets and a lack of overnight protection for rural areas of the county and communities that lack their own police departments, such as Monroe, Alsea and Adair Village.

Its just a terrible situation, Jackson said. The last thing we want is people taking matters into their own hands.

District Attorney John Haroldson said losing levy funding would force him to cut two prosecutors from his already overworked staff at a time when his office is being asked to take on the additional task of reviewing body camera footage.

Losing 25 percent of our lawyers would be critical as we take on body cams, Haroldson said.

It would be devastating to us. It would be absolutely devastating.

Other services would suffer as well if the levy fails, Schuster added.

It helps fund one mental health counselor at every Benton County school, the commissioner said. That would be sad to lose.

Not a sure thing

County leaders say theyre hopeful the levy will be renewed for another five years, but they dont view it as a slam dunk.

Citizens for a Safe & Healthy Benton County, a political action committee formed to support the 2012 levy, has spent a little over $5,000 so far on printing, lawn signs and other efforts to promote Measure 2-110 and has almost $6,000 remaining in its war chest, according to the groups most recent contribution and expenditure filings with the Secretary of States Office.

Major contributors to the campaign include the Benton County Deputy Sheriffs Association, which has given $2,000 to the cause, and Schuster, Starker Forests and the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, who have kicked in $1,000 apiece.

Seven arguments in favor of renewing the levy appear in the official voters pamphlet for the Nov. 7 election, including appeals from all three county commissioners, all three Circuit Court judges, the deputies union and the local Democratic Party.

No arguments against the levy were filed for the voters pamphlet, and no organized opposition to the measure has appeared so far.

Still, the levy does have its detractors. John Detweiler, a Corvallis resident who has been a frequent critic of local government spending practices, said he simply doesn't trust the county commissioners to spend the levy funds wisely.

In a letter to the editor of the Gazette-Times, Detweiler cited the Bailey Branch right-of-way purchase and a $5 million health center deficit as examples.

"The issue with Measure 2-110 ... is not the Benton County criminal justice system's need for money," he wrote. "The issue is the Board of Commissioners' ability to manage our tax money."

As the only major money measure on the ballot, 2-110 has no direct competition for voters pocketbooks. But on the other hand, the lack of national or statewide elections is likely to depress turnout. That could work in favor of no voters, who might be more motivated to cast a ballot than those who support the measure.

Its really under the radar right now, Jaramillo said. Theres only three other items on the ballot, and its an off-year.

Jackson said he hopes residents who support the levy will take it upon themselves to vote.

What drew me to this community is its a great community to live and raise a family in, and we want to keep it that way, the sheriff said.

Decimating your law enforcement and justice system isnt the way to do that.
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The actor James Van Der Beek revealed Wednesday that he, too, faced sexual harassment early in his career, in the wake of mounting allegations of serial sexual harassment and assault against movie producer Harvey Weinstein.

In a series of tweets, the 40-year-old "Dawson's Creek" star denounced Weinstein's behavior as "criminal" and "unacceptable,"and said that as a young actor he "had [his] a-- grabbed by older, powerful men."

"I've had them corner me in inappropriate sexual conversations when I was much younger," he wrote.

"I understand the unwarranted shame, powerlessness & inability to blow the whistle. There's a power dynamic that feels impossible to overcome," he also tweeted.

The actor later attempted to tamp down speculation on the identities the people he alleges had sexually harassed him.

Van Der Beek wrote, "FTR, the harassment I tweeted about was by people 99.9% of you don't know. 2 were charged (by others) & punished. The other has since died."

More for you Amazon Studios chief suspended amid sexual harassment allegations

Van Der Beek currently plays a superstar DJ on the series "What Would Diplo Do?," which premiered in August.

Since allegations against Weinstein were first publicized in the New York Times last week, followed by a story in the New Yorker magazine and another Times article this week, many women in the film industry have come forward to condemn the disgraced Hollywood mogul and to share their personal experiences of sexual harassment. So far, 32 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault, according to a running list being kept by Vanity Fair. Among them are Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rose McGowan.

High-profile figures have also publicly denounced Weinstein in recent days, including Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Actor Ben Affleck similarly expressed his outrage at the allegations against Weinstein - only to come under scrutiny himself for having groped then "Total Request Live" host Hilarie Burton in the early 2000s. Affleck later apologized for his behavior.

Now, male actors have also come forward to accuse powerful industry men of sexually harassing them.

On Tuesday, actor Terry Crews shared his experience of being groped by a "high level Hollywood executive."

Crews said he was at a Hollywood funcation last year with his wife when the incident happened.

Crews did not confront his assailant immediately, fearing that an escalation could turn violent and land him in jail, he said. Ultimately, the 49-year-old "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" star decided not to pursue the incident because he worried about jeopardizing his career.

"I let it go. And I understand why many women who this happens to let it go," he wrote.

Both Crews and Van Der Beek zeroed in on the film industry's power dynamics that often make it possible for sexual predators to commit assaults with impunity.

"Hopefully, me coming forward with my story will deter a predator and encourage someone who feels hopeless," Crews wrote.

In the week since the allegations against Weinstein were first publicized, the 65-year-old Hollywood producer has been fired as co-chairman of the Weinstein Co., which he co-founded with his brother. On Tuesday, his wife of 10 years, Georgina Chapman, announced that she was leaving him. While Weinstein initially apologized for his behavior, he has also "unequivocally denied" any allegations of nonconsensual sex, spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister said in a statement to The Washington Post.
A Houston man was found shot to death in a ditch outside his south side home Saturday night, according to police.

It's not clear whether it was a fight or a robbery that led to the gunfire around 8:30 p.m. in the 3700 block of Alice.
A 17-year-old was shot in the neck in an apparent drive-by Sunday afternoon in Sunnyside.

Chaos broke out in the 5100 block of Clover around 2:25 p.m., when a dark-colored four-door vehicle cruised by some pedestrians and opened fire, according to Houston police.
"Are we true Mennonites if we don't carry our cider around all day?"

That's what Mennonite and Goshen College freshman Harrison Gingrich said to follow Mennonite Florence Regier as he debated whether to run out to his car to stash his recently purchased jug at the Mennonite Festival for World Relief Saturday at the Linn County Expo Center.

Regier, down from Salem, just laughed, and suggested to the younger Gingrich that he stash the stuff.

"It's a community thing," Regier said, when pressed about the significance of cider among Mennonites. "They announce it at the churches that they need apples and we'll all get together to make batches."

Gingrich said the significance is a matter of practicality.

"Mennonites are frugal," he said with a broad smile. "We use what we have on hand."

To be sure, the cider is the main attraction at the the annual festival, one of 44 held throughout the United States and Canada that raise an annual average of around $4 million. Last years Oregon event brought in $130,000.

As people lined up, cash in hand, to get their jug or two of cider, Gale Gingrich from Salem kept a steady supply coming, in wagon-loads of pints, half gallons and gallons. According to Gingrich (who bothered to look it up), there were 125 pints, 175 half gallons and 461 gallons of Mennonite cider for sale at the festival, made from nine 4-by-4-by-3-foot bins full of apples. A steady stream of patrons wielding jugs of the cider filed out of the hall.

"It's a staple!" said Kayla Jantzen, down from Portland for the event.

"Our cider doesn't even last a day," one kid was overheard to say as he stood in the long line.

Another major fundraising catalyst are the three auctions. Theres a childrens auction, a silent auction and a very large, classic auction. The funds ultimately go to augment ongoing relief projects across the globe.

While festival-goers browsed the yarn, crafts, used books, and food, a five-piece bluegrass group, Jericho Road and the Bethel Mountain Band, filled the hall with sounds from a ring of straw bales. They had a stand-up bass, two guitars, two mandolins and a banjo. Meanwhile, kids navigated a straw bale maze and played other games, while Regier and her friend, Sheila Kauffman from Hubbard, talked about getting a Whoopie Pie.

What's a Whoopie pie?

"I have no idea," Regier said. And then Kauffman leaned in and offered what sounded like a closely held secret.

"It's like a cookie that you put a filling in, only they're big," she said, almost under her breath. "The cookie is cake-like, and the filling is very sweet."

Cider, Whoopie pies, quilts and music. All good trade for world relief.
So far I have gotten two text messages and and an email from candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court asking me for campaign contributions. Can we just c...

4 days ago
In the days after Hurricane Harvey made landfall Aug. 25, Lake Conroe  built as a water supply source in the 1970s  steadily took on more and more water.

San Jacinto River Authority officials say they had no choice but to release the dam. They started slowly at first, and eventually reached a rate just shy of the average flow of Niagara Falls, releasing about 106 billion gallons of water.
The summers final Live on the Waterfront concert was held Wednesday evening at Prince Arthurs Landing. The popular series in Thunder Bay has completed nine weekly shows that began on July 13. Wednesdays concert was unique as it was held one hour later in the evening to mesh with the 10 p.
AKRON, Ohio -- Two girls who were injured in a house fire have died, according to the Summit County Coroner's Office.

The girls, 12-year-old Jada Snowden and 5-year-old Kymera Cody, were sisters, the coroner's office said.

The girls were taken to the hospital after a late-night house fire Thursday night, according to the Akron Fire Department.

The fire was reported shortly before 11:30 p.m. at a home on Seward Avenue in West Akron, east of Interstate 77 near Stoner /Hawkins Park.

Firefighters were able to find the girls who were unconscious in the burning home, according to a news release from Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan.

They were taken to Akron Children's Hospital in critical condition, the release says.

"My family, the Akron Fire Department, and the entire Akron community are profoundly saddened by this heartbreaking incident," Horrigan said in the news release. "While any loss of life is tragic, the loss of a child is truly devastating. My deepest sympathies and prayers are with the family and loved ones of these two precious girls during this time of great sorrow and grief. We pray for their strength and healing, and offer our support, in the difficult days to come."
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Sometimes in the art world, when you give, you get.

That's the case at the Cleveland Museum of Art where a new exhibit that opened Saturday focuses on a nearly 5-ton slice of a medieval Cambodian temple wall carved with a bas-relief sculpture of the 10-armed Buddhist Bodhisattva of Compassion, Lokeshvara.

The 12th-century wall, standing 9 feet high and 10.5 feet wide, most likely depicts Lokeshvara offering redemption to the souls of Khmer warriors who died in wars against the neighboring Cham people of present-day South Vietnam, said Sonya Rhie Mace, the museum's curator of Indian and Southeast Asian art.

Amazing loan

The wall is on loan as the result of an agreement following the Cleveland museum's decision in 2015 to return to Cambodia a magnificent sculpture of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman.

The museum restituted the sculpture after discovering that it probably had been looted from the Prasat Chen Temple at the Koh Ker archaeological site between 1968 and 1972, during the civil war that preceded the Khmer Rouge revolution and the bloody Pol Pot regime.

Clevelanders might have asked whether Cambodia would offer anything in exchange for the return of the Hanuman.

One answer is the current show.

"It really is a coup to get a great temple wall like this," Mace said.

First time outside Cambodia

The wall - never before shown outside Cambodia - is on view through Sunday, Jan. 7 in "Beyond Angkor: Cambodian Sculpture from Banteay Chhmar," a show that also includes photo murals, maps, a documentary video and 10 relevant objects from the museum's extensive collection of Southeast Asian art.

Mace played an instrumental role in events leading up to the loan.

It was her research that convinced the Cleveland Museum of Art that its Hanuman sculpture, which it purchased in good faith in 1982, probably had been looted.

In gratitude, Cambodian authorities negotiated a multi-part accord that included the invitation to select one object for a special exhibit in Cleveland. Aiming big, Mace chose the wall.

Nothing like it in the West

"It's very different from anything that we have," Mace said, "and in fact no other museum in the world beside the National Museum [of Cambodia] has a section of the temple wall."

The section on view in Cleveland is part of a 1,738-foot-long enclosure that surrounded the sacred inner precinct of a massive temple complex that covers 1.7 square miles now choked with jungle and brush.

Made of numerous stacked blocks of light gray sandstone the wall, partially eroded in areas, shows signs of having been exposed to the elements for centuries, along with scars and nicks from rougher handling more recently.

Armed looters

Looters armed with weapons and heavy machinery removed the wall and three adjacent sections in 1998, but trucks containing two of the four sections were interdicted at the Thai border and returned to the National Museum of Cambodia.

The location of the other two sections is unknown, Mace said, although it is believed they ended up in the hands of private collectors.

The recent book, "Cultural Property and Contested Ownership: The trafficking of artefacts and the quest for restitution," includes a chapter by Japanese scholar Keiko Miura describing how armed looters in 1998 fired shots that kept local villagers at bay during the month-long deconstruction of the four wall sections.

For Mace, the exhibition in Cleveland provided an opportunity for a new interpretation of the wall section on loan from Cambodia.

Her hunches are based on a recent digital photographic reconstruction of the sacred enclosure, most of which deals with images of war and conquest during the reign of Khmer Emperor Jayavarman VII from 1181 to 1218.

The segment on view in Cleveland occupied a climactic position at the West exit from the Temple, a direction that gestured toward the Buddhist Western Paradise, a mystical realm of rebirth, Mace said.

Redeeming warriors' souls

Within that context, the wall appears to deal with the problem of redeeming the souls of warriors who fought for an empire whose official faith at the time was Buddhism, which preaches nonviolence.

Lokeshvara, the 10-armed bodhisattva of compassion, was the answer, Mace said.

The wall shows Lokeshvara is shown standing proudly on a lotus blossom representing the Khmer people while at his feet are "suffering wretched, abject individuals," Mace said. She posits that the sufferers are fallen soldiers.

"The souls of the fallen heroes, through worship of Lokeshvara, can be redeemed," she said.

Also on view in the wall are ranks of defeated Cham soldiers, depicted in postures of submission.

Arrayed on either side of Lokeshvara are rows of nobles or gods who smile or wear somber expressions perhaps more appropriate to the occasion of saving souls.

Sacred symbols

In his 10 hands, Lokeshvara holds symbolic implements including an elephant goad, lotus blossoms, a bottle with the elixir of immortality and the vajra, a lightning bolt said to have been adapted from the weapon of Zeus, the Greek god introduced to the East during the 4th-century BC conquests of Alexander the Great.

Flying figures over Lokeshvara's head scatter flowers and garlands that rain down on him.

It's "overwhelming" to have the work in Cleveland, Mace said. "It's been years in the planning and it's amazing to finally have it here."
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- President Donald Trump's actions late last week on Obamacare and the Iran Nuclear Deal are wily, in the Wile E. Coyote sense, not the Merriam-Webster definition of the word.

Wile E. Trump on Obamacare.

As he had threatened, Trump announced he will strip the Affordable Care Act's subsidies to health insurance companies, which have helped defray the cost of coverage for low income people.

Just before announcing he would pull the plug on the subsidies, Trump allowed cheaper junk policies, with fewer benefits and protections, to now be offered in the ACA's marketplace exchanges.

Instead of stabilizing the marketplace, Trump's moves will destabilize it further. Premiums can be expected to soar and more insurance providers can be expected to leave.

Republicans joined Democrats in opposing Trump's actions. Florida Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen tweeted that Trump had "promised more access, affordable coverage. This does opposite." She wrote that "cutting health care subsidies will mean more uninsured in my district."

Trump will be hurting his own supporters. In interviews with ABC News, Trump voters in Kentucky and West Virginia said they had in fact benefited from Obamacare, with some saying they wouldn't still be alive without it.

Polls have shown Obamacare has grown in popularity and the majority of Americans favor keeping and repairing not repealing and replacing it.

You break it, you bought it.

Wiley E. Trump had long falsely claimed Obamacare was imploding. He's the one who has now wired it to explode. With his destructive changes to Obamacare, Trump has now assumed ownership of it. In his attempt to blow up the program that is benefiting millions of Americans, Trump may very well watch the Republican majority control in Congress blow up in his face instead.

Wiley E. Trump on the Iran Deal.

Speaking of explosions, Friday, Trump announced he would not certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear arms deal it reached with the United States and its allies, even though Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Iran has in fact been "technically compliant."

In decertifying the deal, Trump called for U.S. allies to renegotiate the deal and Congress to amend it, or he will withdraw the United States.

Defense Secretary James Mattis and Tillerson have argued it's in the United States best national security interests to remain in the deal. But the Moron-in-Chief thinks he knows better.

Britain, France and Germany issued a joint statement calling on the United States to stick to the deal it made and signed with them and Iran, calling it the "culmination of 13 years of diplomacy."

Congress amending the deal, or reimposing sanctions instead of it, would require 60 votes in the Senate, which would require Democrats to vote with Republicans. That's as likely as Iran agreeing to reopen negotiations.

Trump's action on the Iran Deal plays right into the hands of the hardliners in Iran who had opposed any talks, let alone a deal, with the U.S. and its allies in the first place. They will be able to point to Trump's attempt to renegotiate a done deal as proof that Trump and the United States cannot be trusted.

Trump's decertification of the Iran deal and threat to pull out of it, follows his withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord and threat to rip-up NAFTA. How can any country, friend or foe, trust doing a deal with the Trump-led United States?

While the U.S. is already in a tense crises with North Korea over nuclear weapons, Trump has recklessly reignited the nuclear crises with Iran. Why would North Korea trust doing any deal with Trump after seeing that he's trying to renege on the Iran Deal that took years to negotiate?

Instead of isolating Iran, Trump is succeeding only in isolating the U.S.

Wile E. Trump cited flaws in Obamacare and the Iran deal that motivated him to act, except the main issue he has with both --they are part of Roadrunner Obama's legacy he's obsessed with destroying.
Moplah rebels

Amidst an aggressive BJP and RSS in Kerala, especially state party chief Kummanam Rajasekharan, calling the famous farmers' Malabar rebellion of 1921, also known as Moplah rebellion, the first jihadi massacre, facts have come to light suggesting that a powerful Muslim family from Maharashtra which was helping the rebels was also funding the freedom struggle. A top site from Malegaon, contesting the BJP-RSS claim, has said that businessman Maulana Abdul Qadir Kasuri rushed his younger brother Abdullah Kasuri and two sons Mohiuddin Ahmed Kasuri and Mohammad Ali Kasuri to Calicut in Kerala to provide relief to the Moplahs and establish for them one of the oldest orphanages for the Moplah victims on over 50 acres of land but also funded the freedom movement.Born in April 1889, Mohiuddin Ahmed Kasuri, reveals the site, was not only a close associate of freedom fighter and Indias first education Minister Maulana Abul Kalaam Azad. Kasuri. Kasuri, who met Maulana Azad in July 1916 in Ranchi Jail, after which he was detained by the British government in Hoshiarpur till 1919, established businesses in Bombay.Says the site, "The profit earned from these businesses related to salt, textiles and leather industries were used to fund its charity institutions established in Calicut and Pune." Further, quoting historical sources, it notes, "The family donated for years Rs 100,000 annually to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad as fund to be used for Indias freedom struggle.It is quite another thing that after Partition, adds the site, "the Kasuri family moved to Pakistan", adding, "Former Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri in Pervez Musharrafs cabinet belonged to the same family."Rajasekharan's allegation, which led to a huge controversy across India, was made at the BJPs Jan Raksha Yatra even as it entered the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district in Kerala early this month.If it were an agitation against British rule, why were thousands of people butchered and temples destroyed? It high time we stopped glorifying this massacre depicting it as freedom struggle. If anyone is given pension on behalf of this rebellion, it should be given to those who had to flee their homes during the riot and the dependents of the victims of the jihadi massacre, the BJP leader said.The Malabar rebellion or Moplah rebellion of 1921 is widely considered and understood as an uprising of Muslims tenants against the British government and Hindu landlords, and the culmination of a series of revolts that recurred throughout the 19th century and early 20th century.During the rebellion, says the site in an article authored by its founding editor Aleem Faizee, "The Mappilas attacked and took control of police stations, British government offices, courts and government treasuries. The Hindus loyal to the British rule also came under attack."Faizee adds, "It is because of this the right wing Hindu extremists and biased British historians to sow the seeds of communal divide gave it a communal colour claiming 'fight against the British ended up as large-scale massacre and persecution of Hindus'.""According to the Kerala governments own admission, the British government put down the rebellion with an iron fist, British and Gurkha regiments were sent to the area and Martial Law imposed", says Faizee, adding, One of the most noteworthy events during the suppression later came to be known as the Wagon tragedy, in which 61 out of a total of 90 Mappila prisoners destined for the Central Prison in Podanur suffocatewd to death in a closed railway goods wagon, quoting a Kerala government website "The Moplah Muslims and others involved in the uprising were continuously in touch with the national leaders leading the freedom struggle. These leaders were shaken by the reports of the persecution of Moplahs at the hands of the British forces", Faizee says, adding, "They became restless and started searching for means to provide relief", something which came from the Kasuri family.
Last week, FINRA, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, issued an investor alert on financial advisers. FINRA is the largest independent regulator for all securities firms doing business in the United States.

The issue at hand is financial designations. If you look at your financial advisers business card, you might see some letters after his name, such as CFWE (Certified Financial Wellness Educator) or CFP (Certified Financial Planner)  or in my case, JD (Juris Doctor) and LLM (Master of Laws), which reflect education rather than a designation.

While FINRA does not approve or endorse any professional designation, it does provide a database of over 170 designations on its website. Working through the alphabet, they range from AAI (Accredited Adviser in Insurance) to WMS (Wealth Management Specialist).

The designations sound impressive. Should they be? Here is some context:

First, all consumers should know that designations (and titles) are not licenses that give individuals the legal authority to act as financial advisers.

The ability to provide financial advice and conduct sales activities in the securities and insurance industries requires registration with a regulatory body, quoting from the alert.

For example, brokers must be registered with FINRA, a state securities regulator or both. The Securities and Exchange Commission regulates investment advisers who manage $100 million or more in client assets, while state securities regulators have jurisdiction over advisers who manage up to $100 million. You can check out whether a broker or adviser is registered by going to FINRA BrokerCheck.

Second, all financial designations are not created equal, quoting the alert. Some involve fairly rigorous standards to earn and maintain the designation, allow investors to verify the status of anyone claiming to hold that designation and a few even have a formal disciplinary process. Others are relatively easy to earn and might be maintained by simply paying a yearly fee.

Third, as the alert points out, designations can be faked. FINRA has a rule (Rule of Conduct 2210) prohibiting financial advisers from referencing nonexistent or self-conferred degrees or credentials or referencing legitimate degrees or credentials in a misleading manner.

Fourth, some state regulators do not allow financial professionals to use a designation unless its accredited by the American National Standards Institute or the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. For more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/ycpldwzm.

Fifth, titles are also important to understand. As the alert notes, Financial Analyst, Financial Adviser (Advisor), Financial Consultant, Financial Planner, Investment Consultant or Wealth Manager are generic terms or job titles.

For the lawyers: Another term, Investment Counsel, is statutory, and for that reason is distinct. The Investment Advisers Act of 1940 prohibits the use of that term unless the adviser primarily provides investment supervisory services (that means that registered representatives of dually registered firms, such as large brokerage firms, would not be able to use the terminvestment counsel).

Finally, watch out if you are a senior. As the North American Securities Administrators Association points out, Bogus senior specialists commonly target senior investors through seminars where the specialist reviews seniors assets, including securities portfolios.

What should you conclude? As the alert states, A professional designation should never be the sole reason you select an investment professional.

A lot more is involved. Whats most important? From my perspective, its all a matter of assessing an advisers skill  the subject of future columns.

If you have questions about this topic, or have stories you can share, reach out to me. My email is readers@juliejason.com.

To read the investor alert, 3 Things to Know About Financial Designations, go to https://tinyurl.com/ydyoaozl. For a list and a description of professional designations, go to https://tinyurl.com/y9df8sgm.

Youll find NASAAs Senior Investor Alert: Senior Specialist Designations at https://tinyurl.com/y8lhoslo.

By the way, if you are a regular reader of this column, Id like to hear from you. Since my column will be celebrating a milestone next month (1,000 columns), Im especially interested in finding those who have been reading it for as long as Ive been writing it (since the fall of 1998). If thats you, please reach out to me  were planning a celebration. My email is readers@juliejason.com.

Julie Jason, JD, LLM, a personal money manager (Jackson, Grant of Stamford) and award-winning author, welcomes your questions/comments (readers@juliejason.com). To hear Julie speak, visit www.juliejason.com/events.
Photo: VOV



Vietnams attendance at the event affirms its active and proactive participation in multilateral parliamentary diplomatic activities, continues to uphold Vietnamese legislatures role and position at the IPU, contributing to promoting common State diplomatic efforts for national and regional interests.

The event will afford Vietnam a chance to learn about operating experience of parliaments worldwide and improve operations of Vietnamese law-making body.

In April 1979, Vietnam became a member of the IPU. Since then, the country has been an active member of the forum, which has been acknowledged by other countries. Through the IPU forum, relations between the Vietnamese National Assembly and other parliaments have been established and intensified.

In October 2007 at the 117th IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, Vietnam's NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee - the forums highest body - for the first time.

Vietnam was designated as IPU Vice President in 2009. In this role, Vietnam made effective contributions to the IPUs activities, optimising international support for Vietnam and its legislature.

Notably, in April 2015, Vietnam hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly with the Hanoi Declaration adopted, contributing to devising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development.

In October 2016 at the 135th IPU Assembly in Switzerland, Chairman of the NA Committee for External Affairs Nguyen Van Giau was elected to the IPU Executive Committee for 2016-2019./.
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With the future of Obamacare again in question after President Donald Trumps executive order this week to create new avenues for people to obtain insurance, Connecticuts state health exchange enters November with a tighter window for open enrollment but a widening number of ways for people to get help signing up.

On Thursday, Trump directed federal departments to find ways for association health plans to enroll more small businesses and individuals, with the goal of giving them sufficient membership numbers to leverage the purchasing power that large group plans are able to leverage, and to expand enrollment across state lines.

On Friday, state Attorney General George Jepsen signaled Connecticut would join a lawsuit attempting to block the Trump order. U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is among the critics of the executive order, stating those large group plans are spared an essential benefits stance under the Affordable Care Act that requires coverage of prescription drugs, maternity care and mental health among other benefits.

It amounts to another enrollment period with yet another round of confusion, coming off previous periods thrown into flux by court challenges and before that the overall newness of Obamacare.

The bills that were introduced had some immediate ramifications, but as of right now, nothing has changed, said Andrea Ravitz, director of marketing and sales in the Hartford office of Access Health CT. There could be changes in the near future, and as soon as we know what those are and when they will come, well let our consumers know. People should take some interest ... because it affects them and their families.

Two carriers, one or zero

With the Affordable Care Act created in 2010, a central provision did not become reality until 2013  state insurance exchanges meant to give residents an affordable option to comply with the laws mandate on having insurance. For those who do not, tax penalties come into play starting this year at $695 and increasing depending on circumstances like income.

The mandate has been effective in its main goal  prodding more people into getting coverage, with attendant implications for getting checkups and other services to catch and treat serious ailments before they get to a stage where medical costs spiral out of control.

From 286,000 Connecticut residents lacking insurance in 2013  roughly eight in every 100  as of 2017 about 125,000 people did not have coverage. In some cases, those individuals are immigrants who lack awareness of the law or fluency in English; in others, they are people who are at a gap in coverage for whatever reason, whether between jobs, aging off their parents plans or experiencing a financial crisis that gives them no recourse.

The Trump executive order reportedly would also threaten subsidies some receive to help defray their premiums under the Affordable Care Act.

As of last year, 75 percent of our total membership was getting some kind of financial help, Ravitz said. In some cases, it is dramatic.

But the other key tenet of Obamacare  bringing insurance premiums into check  has not come to fruition, with Trump and like-minded Republicans attempting to dismantle the law on fears those costs are on an upward trajectory that is unsustainable.

Insurance carriers, which remain the keystone of the health system under the Affordable Care Act, have been pulling out of state exchanges. Just two, Anthem and ConnectiCare, remain in Access Health CT heading into 2018  too few for a fully healthy exchange, Ravitz and others acknowledge.

We were planning for the three scenarios: having two carriers, having one carrier or having zero, Ravitz said. We are really happy to have them back.

Evidence of a flawed system

Heading into year five of Access Health CT, not all are happy with the service they have received under the exchange. This month on Access Health CTs Facebook page, Putnam resident Tracie Lombardy Renshaw dubbed a nightmare dealing with the health exchanges call agents, echoing complaints from others earlier in the year.

For her part, Windsor librarian Ann Binder called agents sincere but said there is continued evidence of a flawed system.

The computer system keeps generating letters for proof even after weve submitted the documents, Binder posted on Wednesday. I have received so many of these requests from the computer it would take a whole filing cabinet drawer to hold them all.

If it would take more than a few filing cabinets to hold all of the press clippings chronicling the Affordable Care Acts creation and subsequent challenges, plenty more space will be required in the coming months as the Trump administration sets out to knock out the underpinnings of Obamacare and pour its own foundation for U.S. health care in the 21st Century.

For now, it is business as usual heading into open enrollment, with information and eligibility requirements online at www.accesshealthct.com or via phone at 1-855-909-2428, and enrollment centers open as of Nov. 1 at the Bridgeport Public Library, the CIFC Greater Danbury Community Health Center, and Ferguson Library in Stamford. On Saturday, Nov. 4, an open enrollment fair is scheduled at Fairfield Universitys Faber Hall Dining Commons.

With all the noise on the federal level, its all the more important for Connecticut residents to know that here in the state, nothing has changed, Ravitz said. The question that we usually get is, what happens if something changes? And just like anything else, we will adjust to it.

Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman
Back in February, J.C. Penney said it planned to close down about 140 struggling stores. That might be just the beginning.

Analysts at System2 LLC, a big-data startup, have identified another 197 stores at risk. The outlets -- from San Bernardino, California to a suburb of Omaha, Nebraska -- have a more than 64 percent likelihood of closing.

How does System2 know? Its computers say so. Founder Matei Zatreanu threw aside a hedge fund career to test a simple theory: that crunching mobile phone pings, demographic information, credit-card bills and other unconventional data yields a better way to invest in real estate and other areas.

Using algorithms and machine learning, the company says it can determine which stores have a future and which ones will die -- and do it more accurately than investors that rely on conventional information. So far, it's only studied J.C. Penney Co., because its plans to shutter stores have been in the news, but it's ready to look at more retailers, Zatreanu said.

"There's new data that's out there," he said. "But then what we try to focus on is how do we use this data in a smarter way." Zatreanu last year left King Street Capital Management, which oversaw $19 billion as of January.

Daphne Avila, a spokeswoman for Plano, Texas-based J.C. Penney, declined to comment, citing a policy against commenting on market or industry speculation.

System2 is trying to sell commercial-mortgage bond investors on a kind of analysis that is foreign to many of them: scrutinizing every single retailer tied to mortgages in their securities, and figuring out how each company's fortunes tie into the health of a mall or mall-backed bonds. The edge that big data and artificial intelligence have given to money managers in equities may help commercial-mortgage bond investors too, according to Zatreanu.

Looking closely at individual loans backing a bond is more common among residential mortgage-security buyers. For commercial mortgages, less data has traditionally been available, and there can be more variables in any transaction because of the wide range of tenants and customers for the property, making forecasting much more difficult.

"There are so many idiosyncratic type events in CMBS securities," said Kin Lee, a money manager at Angel Oak Capital Advisors. "I don't think there's a good way to necessarily model that out," he said.

David Tawil, president and co-founder of Maglan Capital, a hedge fund that invests in distressed companies, said more sophisticated information can be a helpful tool for money managers.

"Big data will help us either weed out a bunch of potential investments down to a very select few that we'll then do research or, to the extent that we found one that we're very interested in and have a very solid thesis on, it will help us either confirm or debunk the thesis," Tawil said. He hasn't looked at System2's offering.

Traders have already bet a fortune on whether bricks-and-mortar retailers can survive a stampede out of their stores and toward online shopping. J.C. Penney's stock is trading near an all-time low and wagers against it climbed to 40 percent of shares outstanding in August, Markit data show. Meanwhile short positions on some of the riskiest slices of commercial mortgage-backed securities rose to more than $5 billion earlier this year.

About $760 million of mall loans that support these bonds have entered a form of default or near default known as special servicing since March, according to Wells Fargo research. Real estate investment trusts are also in the line of fire, with more than 20 percent of space in malls run by CBL & Associates Properties and Washington Prime Group exposed to distressed or shrinking retailers, according to a Moody's Investors Service report.

"It really does boil down to location, location, location," said Gary Greenberg, a money manager at Payden & Rygel. "You want to avoid the tertiary mall or the mall that's the weaker mall within an area that's still struggling economically."

Zatreanu by his own admission isn't reinventing the wheel; instead his team looks at the kinds of metrics that owners of J.C. Penney stock or the CBL REIT would consider to compile their list of the walking dead. That includes the number of people who visit each store, what a store's competition looks like, where it is located and whether there are vacant shops nearby.

But Zatreanu's edge is what he says are better ways to get data faster, and to interpret it. Take footfall. Investors don't have to just wait for data from filings about spending at malls -- they can get aggregated location pings from mobile phones to create a dynamic picture of which stores are being visited within a particular area or mall, and where those shoppers travel from. Average household incomes and home prices for that area can then be layered into this matrix, building up a profile of an individual outlet's customers.

Algorithms can almost instantly characterize a mall based on the stores in it, saving an investor the bother of scrutinizing thousands of shopping center directories themselves. And rather than send out an expensive investment professional to snap photos of vacant lots, why not crowd-source that labor from people living nearby?

System2 gathered this kind of information on existing and closed J.C. Penney outlets. Using machine learning, software was trained to determine what it was about the dead stores that doomed them. When System2 then ran this program for a set of open J.C. Penney stores, it showed nearly 200 shops faced an almost two-thirds chance of dying. The model updates as new data sets become available, which can be useful for investors in commercial mortgage-backed securities.

"There's no objective way of measuring that correlation, until now," said Zatreanu. "Once we know this kind of information about the specific malls in there, we can start modeling these CMBS tranches much better. This is just the tip of the iceberg."

---

Bloomberg's Lindsey Rupp contributed.
What does Theresa May have to do to satisfy Michel Barnier? A handstand? A somersault? Perhaps she could arrive at next weeks EU summit dancing the can-can.

The Prime Minister has moved heaven and earth  and even Bill Cash  to get the Brexit negotiations back on track. Shes agreed to an extensive transition period.

Shes confirmed Britain will meet our financial obligations in full.

Shes made a series of unilateral concessions on voting, intra-EU travel and other citizenship rights. And the EUs response has been a contemptuous Non. Then Nein. Then Ne.

The Prime Minister has moved heaven and earth  and even Bill Cash  to get the Brexit negotiations back on track - and the EUs response has been a contemptuous Non

Yes, some of the blame for this divide between a perception of British recklessness and the reality of European intransigence lies with Mrs May herself.

Where once she boldly stated No deal is better than a bad deal, she now stumbles and equivocates, as if embarrassed by her former forthrightness.

She shouldnt be embarrassed, because her stance was the correct one. Actually, its the only one. Britain has entered into a negotiation.

And any negotiation has to contain the possibility of withdrawal if acceptable terms arent met. Otherwise it isnt a negotiation, its a capitulation.

That the PM failed to ram home this basic fact when Jeremy Corbyn cravenly announced he would sign up to any deal regardless of its content further emphasised her current enfeebled state.

Nor has she been helped by the increasingly strange manoeuvring of her Chancellor. Philip Hammonds brave lobbying for an economically viable departure has seen him come under heavy fire from hard-core Eurosceptics.

Hes politically autistic, was a senior Brexiteers characterisation.

But criticism of his recent statements are justified. His Times article  since recanted  where he claimed resources were not being earmarked for a no deal scenario was a gratuitous assault on Eurosceptic ears.

As was his bizarre assertion that British holidaymakers would see their flights grounded the day after Brexit came into force.

That was Philip s**t-stirring, one Minister said. In reality, since the Election, the hard-core Brexiteers have been remarkably disciplined.

Brussels is allegedly demanding a 76billion divorce bill. That is a ludicrous figure, says Dan Hodges, and one Michel Barnier (pictured) and his colleagues must know is politically unsustainable

By and large theyve been well-behaved, one Cabinet Minister conceded. You have to see it from their perspective. With the transition period, that means almost five years from the Brexit vote to when we finally leave. And theyve signed up for that.

Which means the most influential advocates of a hard-Brexit no longer reside on the Tory backbenches, but in the chancelleries of Europe.

Its all about money, one UK Government negotiator said. Theyre trying to run down the clock and threaten us with no deal as a way of forcing us to put up more cash.

The recent abortive coup by Boris Johnson  which saw him scribbling then erasing red lines faster than a toddler with his first crayon set  focused minds on this Brexit divorce bill.

Johnson said the maximum he would accept was 10 billion. May hinted at a ceiling of 20 billion.

But, according to one Minister, the current tithe being demanded by the Brussels highwayman is a staggering 76 billion. That is a ludicrous figure, and one Barnier and his colleagues must know is politically unsustainable.

To give Barnier credit, he has managed the PR side of the talks with aplomb. May and her Ministers have been condemned for pursuing an overtly ideological agenda, while he has skilfully positioned himself as Brexits honest broker.

Trade minister goes extra mile for Brexit Trade Minister Greg Hands raised eyebrows when he tweeted a picture of himself with glamorous Estonian counterpart Urve Palo, pictured, sitting in what appeared to be a sauna. Both were fully clothed. I wont resile from any opportunity to get the best Brexit deal for Britain, he informs me. Not all heroes wear capes. Advertisement

As currently framed, the Brexit talks arent an exercise in diplomacy, but one of elegantly crafted sabotage.

One sticking point is a pedantic insistence British courts must have regard to ECJ rulings, rather than may.

A refusal to sign off a settlement on citizenship rights is merely a matter of political optics. If they do that, then the EU knows itll become clear theyre only interested in the money. And they cant allow that, said one Minister.

Despite his patrician air, Barnier is no honest broker. He may not be the enemy, as Hammond dubbed him.

But he is a hard-nosed bureaucrat attempting to strong-arm Britain to the European exit door in a way that sends the message: Cross us, and theres a price to be paid.

Maybe there will be. But it may not be levied in the way Barnier expects.

Brexit divisions continue to run deep. But there is a way of bridging them, and it is for the EU to continue on its current path.

British people hate blackmailers and bullies. Yes, there is a wariness in many quarters about where Brexit is heading. But there is also growing suspicion of the motivation of our erstwhile allies.

The core of the Eurosceptic case was always that we were prisoners of the European project, rather than willing partners.

And the way the negotiations are being handled  with the EU seeking to issue a punishment beating rather than an amicable separation  risks cementing that argument far more effectively than any number of dodgy bus adverts.

Downing Street remains optimistic a deal can be struck. They point to growing disquiet among European business executives about the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

But the cliff-edge is drawing closer. And at the moment it is Michel Barnier, not Mrs May or the hard-core Brexiteers, ushering us towards the void.
Photo taken on Oct. 13, 2017 shows the meeting attended by members of the WorldSkills International in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Members of the WorldSkills International voted Friday that the 46th WorldSkills Competition would be held in the Chinese city of Shanghai. (Xinhua/Su Xiaopo)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday sent a video message in support for China's bid to host the WorldSkills Competition before the vote in Abu Dhabi.

Xi said that on behalf of the Chinese government and people he firmly supports Shanghai's bid to host the 46th WorldSkills Competition in 2021, and gave his assurance that the city would be ready to host an innovative and influential event.

Members of the WorldSkills International voted Friday that the 46th WorldSkills Competition would be held in the Chinese city of Shanghai.

Xi said in his message before the vote that the competition would promote international exchanges and cooperation in vocational skills, drive the Chinese people especially nearly 200 million young people to take up new skills, and offer a chance for China to contribute to global skills development.

The Chinese government is willing to be involved across the board and will continue to make its contribution to global poverty reduction and sustainable development, Xi said in the message.

The bid team, including Yin Weimin, minister of human resources and social security, and Ying Yong, mayor of Shanghai, gave presentations.

The WorldSkills Competition dates back to 1950, when it was first held in Madrid, Spain. The biennial event seeks to increase the awareness and prestige of vocational and blue-collar professions. China first participated in the event in 2011.
My Kitchen Rules star Betty Banks has emotionally opened up about her mother's blindness - and revealed how cooking created a bond between the pair which transcends sight.

The 28-year-old Sydney chef, who rose to fame on the Channel Seven show this year, spoke to Daily Mail Australia about growing up with a mother who couldn't see her.

'I saw her as a superwoman... teaching and guiding me even though she was blind,' Betty told FEMAIL.

My Kitchen Rules star Betty Banks (pictured) says growing up with a mother who was blind made for a difficult childhood

The 28-year-old says she had to act as the 'eyes' for her mother while in the kitchen

'It was quite hard as I would always be her helper. But she cared for me just as much as I cared for her.'

Her Laos-born mother lost her vision completely when Betty was only three years old, to an inexplicable medical condition.

Betty describes the condition as a 'one in a million' and still holds onto the hope her mum's sight will naturally reappear, just as it disappeared without warning.

'She has done so many tests to figure out what happened, but at one point realised the exhaustion just wasn't worth it,' she said.

'It was like she was perfectly healthy one day and then disabled the next.'

Her Laos-born mother (pictured middle) lost her vision completely when Betty was only three-years-old to an inexplicable medical condition

Betty describes the condition as a 'one in a million' and still holds onto the hope her mum's sight will naturally reappear, just as it disappeared without warning

'Luckily she has adapted to a world of darkness... she counts how many steps she takes to get to the station. But she always says to me: "Betty, I've never even seen a movie".'

The MKR starlet explains her affinity with and passion for cooking stems from the relationship she fostered with her mother while in the kitchen.

'In the kitchen I would pass her the ingredients and utensils and essentially be her eyes while she used her taste and smell,' she said.

'When she first lost her sight it was so hard... going from 20/20 vision to just complete blackness. She says she almost gave up a few times.'

The MKR starlet explains her affinity with and passion for cooking stems from the relationship she fostered with her mother while in the kitchen

'In the kitchen I would pass her the ingredients and utensils and essentially be her eyes while she used her taste and smell,' Betty said

The brunette beauty says she dedicated everything she does to her beautiful mother

Betty has used her newfound fame and love for cooking to make her mum proud - as she says: 'Everything I do, I do for her.'

She specialises cooking Asian fusion meals inspired by Laotian cuisine, the food she grew up making and eating with her mother.

Betty has now partnered with eye-wear company Oscar Wylee and charity Sight For All to help give sight to people in developed countries.

To celebrate the company giving 100 per cent of its profits on World Sight Day, the stunning chef organised a 'Dinner in the Dark' to help showcase what it is like for those without vision.

'We walked into the room and I just teared up because I realised... this is what my mum sees,' Betty said.

Betty has used her newfound fame and love for cooking to make her mum proud - as she says: 'Everything I do, I do for her'
Milkshakes are a classic drink and staple cafe item that are often enjoyed by children and the young at heart.

But this Sydney cafe has taken the beverage you know and love and turned it on its head.

Taking milkshakes one step further, Banh Meat and Co are creating rich and over-the-top cake shakes that aren't for the faint of heart.

This Sydney cafe has taken the drink you know and love, milkshakes, and turned it on its head - by creating cake shakes with cake, ice cream, milk and ice (pictured)

Customers are told to pick a cake from that sits in the window display of the bakery, and it is then be blended into a cake shake before your very eyes.

The delicious cake options include chocolate brownie, lemon meringue, carrot cake and custard tart.

These are met with ice, milk and ice cream to create the thick and sweet beverage.

Customers are told to pick a cake that sits in the window display in the bakery, and it will then be blended into a cake shake before your very eyes (pictured)

The cake you choose is met with ice, milk and ice cream to create the thick and sweet beverage (pictured)

Although it is a new addition to the Banh Meat and Co menu, it is already creating division among commenters online.

'Why is this a thing.... why would you want to see something beautiful like a cake destroyed?! Oh the humanity,' one commenter wrote.

'Dear god... Whyyyyyy?!! That beautifully crafted cake, blended into a crumby milkshake,' said another.

The main gripe that these commenters seem to have is the fact that the milkshake takes a 'delicious' looking cake and blends it up.

The delicious cake options include chocolate brownie, lemon meringue, carrot cake and custard tart

Although it is a new addition to the Banh Meat and Co menu, it is already creating division among commenters online

Wacky food items like this always seem to create a little but of controversy but there are also people who seem eager to give the cake shake a go.

'This is what genius looks like!!!!!,' one eager woman has written.

Other people have enthusiastically tagged their friends on Facebook saying that they need to try it.
A library's social media team has left people in stitches, thanks to a tongue-in-cheek photo that they shared online.

The Facebook post from the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives in New Zealand's South Island has gone viral - and you'll be surprised to see why.

To mark the tenth anniversary of Keeping up with the Kardashians, the team decided to show everyone their sense of humour by recreating an iconic Kardashian photoshoot.

A library's social media team has left people in stitches, thanks to a tongue-in-cheek photo that they shared online - they decided to recreate an iconic Kardashian snap (pictured)

Mimicking the Hollywood Reporter cover that the Kardashians did earlier in the year, the team can be seen hilariously trying to replicate the shot.

'It has been 10 years since the Kardashians first graced our screens. To celebrate, our social media team decided to have a totally impromptu, definitely not planned, photo-shoot,' the caption reads.

At the time of writing, the Facebook post has received over 5,000 likes - with more than 4,000 appearing in less than a day.

Mimicking the Hollywood Reporter cover that the Kardashians did earlier in the year (pictured), the team can be seen hilariously trying to replicate the shot

At the time of writing, the Facebook post has received over 5000 likes and it had more than 4000 likes in under a day

On top of the thousands of likes and shares are hundreds of comments from people commenting on how much they love what they have done.

'You guys are the sexiest bunch of librarians working in one place that I have ever seen!! Even in a spoof shot lol [sic],' one woman wrote on the Facebook page.

'Note to self: Buy enough money to move to NZ and get a job at this library. Let my little librarian/PR heart live happily ever after. This is everything,' said another.

'Note to self: Buy enough money to move to NZ and get a job at this library. Let my little librarian/PR heart live happily ever after. This is everything,' one woman wrote

'You guys are the sexiest bunch of librarians working in one place that I have ever seen!! Even in a spoof shot lol,'said another

Of course, as always not all comments were positive, with one commenting to question why someone is paying six people to be a library's social media team.

The team was quick to clarify that the people in the photograph manage the social media for free, as well as their 'actual jobs'.

'We aren't hired to do it all. We do it because we love our library and we don't think that's idiotic at all.'

Of course as always not all comments were positive, with one commenting to question why someone is paying six people to be a library's social media team

When another called them out for being 'pathetic', the library team had this to say:

'Promoting our library to a new generation? We don't think there is much better we can do Gail. Unless you think Libraries aren't worth promoting?'.
Kate and William could be set to break with royal tradition and send their son Prince George to a co-educational school when he's completed his primary education at Thomas's Battersea.

The four-year-old may only just have started primary school, but it has already been reported that his parents may shun a single-sex school in favour of a mixed gender school like Brighton College.

A source told The Sunday Times: 'The word on the street is that his parents want co-education and boarding when he leaves prep school.'

This would mean George following in the footsteps of his mother Kate who attended co-educational boarding school Marlborough College, rather than his father William and uncle Harry who both attended the prestigious boys-only Eton.

Prince George arrived for his first day of school at the beginning of September at Thomas's Battersea

He was accompanied by his father Prince William - it's thought that George's parents may shun a single-sex school education when he finishes primary school

The Sunday Times reported that the most popular choice of senior education in recent years for Thomas's finishers has been Brighton College.

Figures from 2017 indicate that more leavers opted for co-educational schools than single-sex schools.

The headmaster of Brighton College told the paper that it would be 'groundbreaking' for the royals to make such a decision.

Royal tradition for single sex education Eton: Princes William and Harry both attended the prestigious all-boys boarding school in Berkshire. Gordonstoun School: The independent school set on a 150-acre estate in Scotland is the alma mater of Princes Philip, Edward, Andrew and Charles. It's now a mixed school, but became co-educational in 1972. Advertisement

He added that it reflected the 'feeling of modern parents who feel increasingly strongly that segregating their sons from their daughters is unnatural and not obvious preparation for a world where women and men are equal partners at work'.

The third in line to the throne followed in his father and uncle's footsteps attending Thomas's - accompanied by William on his first day.

Unfortunately it was just weeks after his mother Kate had announced her third pregnancy and was suffering from extreme morning sickness, so was unable to attend.

Kensington Palace confirmed George's place at Thomas's in March, surprising royal experts who had expected the youngster to follow in his father's footsteps by going to Wetherby.

Prince George has only just started primary school but there are already reports suggesting he could go on to a co-educational senior school instead of boys-only Eton like his father and uncle

The palace said in a statement: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will send their son, George, to Thomas's Battersea from September 2017 this year.

'Their Royal Highnesses are delighted to have found a school where they are confident George will have a happy and successful start to his education.'

George's new private school has insisted the future king will get 'no special treatment'.

BRIGHTON COLLEGE Founded in 1845, the prestigious independent school was voted the UK's Independent School of the Year 2013-2014. Academic results consistently place Brighton among the top 10 schools for boys and girls in England. However, the school is just as focused on instilling an ethos of equality among pupils. Last year, it announced it was axing its 170-year-old uniform code to meet the needs of youngsters who see themselves as the opposite sex from their biological gender. The school introduced a "trouser uniform" and a "skirt uniform" for pupils up to age 16. Girls who have gender dysphoria can now wear a tweed blazer, tie and trousers, while dysphoric boys can wear a skirt, bolero jacket and open-neck blouse. Advertisement

He spent his first day meeting classmates and teachers, finding his peg, desk and the toilet, before some games in the playground.

The school places an emphasis on making parents 'feel secure' about leaving their children, and laid on a drinks reception, a handbook, and workshops to show them what their reception-year offspring would be learning.

Parents are also be invited to watch lessons and learn how to help their children with phonics at home.
Although he is thrilled to support his wife every week in Strictly Come Dancing, it seems that Eamonn Holmes isn't a fan of the lengthy filming process required to put the show together.

The TV presenter, 57, who had a double hip replacement last year, has complained about the five plus hours the audience have to sit in the studio for as they watch the show being recorded.

Strictly is filmed at BBC Elstree studios and while the Saturday show goes out live, Sunday's episode is pre-recorded in the same night.

He told the Daily Star: 'It is a long day. People dont understand. I am like, "Why is this taking so long? They are now going to do this out of sequenceit is going to take even longer".

'She has got to change her clothes, he has got to change his clothes, Tess has got to get her hair done again and come down those stairs'

He added that UK studio audiences are treated like 'cattle' compared to the US where he's had a much better experience of filming.

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Eamonn Holmes was spotted front row of the Strictly Come Dancing audience, but he's said the filming process is extremely lengthy

The TV presenter was there to support his wife Ruth Langsford who performed a fantastic tango with her professional dance partner Anton Du Beke

MailOnline has contacted the BBC and a representative for Eamonn for comment.

Eamonn compared the taping of other British television shows he's attended to American versions - which he said were a much better experience.

He praised a quiz show he once filmed stateside saying it was 'marvellous' because the audiences were apparently paid $100 each to cheer along as it was part of their job.

'Whereas in Britain audiences are just treated like cattle. They are used and abused,' he added.

Eamonn was joined by their son Jack as they cheered on Ruth from the sidelines impressing judges with her routine

After the performance a happy Ruth waved over to her husband and son while Strictly presenter Tess Daly took her to speak to the judges

Ruth has been lingering towards the bottom of the leader board over the past four weeks but impressed the judges on Saturday night

Proud Eamonn has been supporting his wife Ruth Langsford every week of the dancing competition and was spotted front row in the audience for Saturday night's show.

Joined by their son Jack, they excitedly cheered Ruth on as she performed a stunning tango with professional dance partner Anton Du Beke.

The routine and Ruth's improved ballroom skills impressed judges, and awarded the This Morning and Loose Women presenter four sixes.
The Queen may be scaling back her royal duties but it appears the 91-year-old monarch gave her chauffeur the day off, as she was spotted driving her Jaguar back from a Sunday church service.

It's her first weekend at Windsor after returning from her summer holidays in Scotland, where she spent three months at her Balmoral residence.

The bespectacled sovereign was behind the wheel of the forest green car, a bright blue hat visible atop her head, accompanied by her security guard in the passenger seat.

Queen Elizabeth II was photographed today driving back from a church service. It's her first weekend at Windsor after returning from her summer holidays in Scotland

The Monarch is the only person in the UK who is not required to hold a driving licence and has often been photographed driving around her Sandringham estate

The Queen, who is a fan of driving and who doesn't legally need a license, has been seen on many occasions driving herself down the Long Walk in Windsor Great Park.

While she is always chauffeured during royal occasions, the Queen is in fact a capable driver, having learnt to drive while serving as a mechanic in the Women s Auxillary Territorial Service during the Second World War.

Over the years she has been photographed on numerous occasions taking to the lanes of her Sandringham estate in a trusted Range Rover.

Earlier in the week The Queen made her first royal appearance, since her summer break, at a glittering that event marked the Centenary of the Women's Royal Navy Service and the Women's Auxiliary Army Corp.

It came in the same week that she announced she was scaling back her royal duties - the decision is part of a gradual process of delegating certain regal responsibilities to the younger generations, mindful of the monarchs advancing age.

While she is always chauffeured during royal occasions, the Queen is in fact a capable driver

The Queen was in good spirits at the event on Thursday, marking her first royal engagement since returning from her summer break

The Queen was greeted by members of the armed forces at the glamorous event and spoke to women who had Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) during the Second World War, just as she did

During Britain's Remembrance Sunday commemorations, Ma'am will be attending them for the first time in her 65-year reign as a spectator.

Buckingham Palace announced she will watch the traditional 11am service at the Cenotaph alongside the Duke of Edinburgh on a Foreign Office balcony while the Prince of Wales lays a wreath to the fallen on her behalf.

Charles has taken on a number of extra duties at the Queens request in recent years, particularly those involving long-distance travel and major Commonwealth events.
Rare is the day that Jill Stein steps out of the shadow cast by her ex-husband Rick, the celebrity chef and television star.

But as their 32 million empire continues to grow  eight restaurants in Cornwall alone, and more recently four nearer London  she finally seems ready to step into the limelight. I am in a new phase of my life and I love it. Im very independent and Im very happy, she says.

Im my own person now, which is really good for me. Ive got my own family business, which is incredibly important to me. And Im quite a tough cookie, really. I must be. Its my Yorkshire upbringing. I am very determined, and a strong Northern lass.

We meet today in the latest restaurant, on the river in the London suburb of Barnes, which opened earlier this year. Jill, who (pleasingly) got an OBE in 2013, was responsible for the pared-down interior  glass lanterns, stylish dark colours and paintings carefully chosen to work with the light streaming in through the large river-view windows. In fact, Jill has done all the interiors for the newer restaurants.

Jill Stein, 70, (pictured) reveals how she was able to rise above her emotions after divorcing celebrity chef Rick Stein

She has also just launched a Cornish range of spa products, with packaging designed by her daughter-in-law. (It is worth mentioning here that it is her name and reproduced signature  not her ex-husbands  on the products.)

She reveals, with a bit of pushing, that she is a youthful 70. Seventy! She could easily pass for a decade younger and, looking at old pictures, is as trim as she was in her youth. Ive been going to spinning classes twice a week for years, she says.

Today she is stylishly understated: white Superdry pumps and wide black trousers, mixed with a few pieces of bohemian costume jewellery. Blessed with terrific bone structure, she hasnt had any cosmetic work done at all: Im terrified of needles so would never do Botox, but I have facials and look after myself.

Fifteen years have passed since she discovered unexplained international phone calls on Ricks mobile. For some time, hed been conducting a long-distance affair with an Australian publicist, Sarah Burns (Sas).

The affair was devastating for all the usual reasons  the betrayal, the grief, the lying  but it was also played out in public, with Rick oscillating between the two women, trying to give Sas up and trying to stay loyal to Jill, his wife of 31 years, mother of his three boys and, crucially, very much the co-founder of the restaurant empire.

When Jill saw them both in Padstow in the midst of all the trouble, she slapped Sas round the face with the flat of her hand and then Rick, too  a satisfying moment, but one which attracted a mountain of attention.

And yet 15 years on from their split, ten years on from their divorce and six years on from Ricks marriage to Sas, the business goes from strength to strength, in large part because of Jill.

The mind boggles at how she has managed to get over the betrayal and fury  she desperately wanted him not to marry again  and continue to work alongside her ex.

Rick Stein (pictured right) with his second wife Sarah Burns. Jill discovered his affair with Sarah through unexplained international phone calls

Its bad enough navigating divorce as it is, especially when there are children involved, but to have a job where every day is a reminder of what you have lost? Where every menu she picks up, every booking that is made, is in the name of Rick Stein?

No wonder it has taken Jill ten years before shes felt ready to step forward herself. I know its an unusual situation, she says, but it works. It really works. I think there has been effort on both sides.

Im a lot tougher than I used to think I was. The business, its really like a child to me, so thats why we made it work. Its my lifes work. I made a concerted effort and that is why I am sitting here today.

Im a lot tougher than I used to think I was. The business, its really like a child to me, so thats why we made it work. Its my lifes work.

Rick and I are good friends now. We are in business together and you dont take the moral high ground in business, you just do it.

Jill doesnt say it in so many words, but the business  what she calls their fourth child  is bigger than their divorce. And like a child in a divorce, it was fundamentally more important to her than bitterness.

By rising above her own emotional difficulties, she has helped to not only keep it going but expand it, too. Both she and Rick are providing a business for the future, for their three sons, all of whom now work with them in different forms.

Its a really big thing for me that there is now a second generation, she explains. Rick is very close to the boys. In a way, we are still together. The thing is we are still together, in business, which is a testament to our business and our relationship.

Weve just got a dynamic which is really good. We are still all together, but in a different form. It is a family business.

I think I am a different person now. I think as you get older you go through parts of your life, she continues. I am at a stage in my life now when I can look back and think about all that we have achieved. And I am still here to tell the tale.

Jill Stein (pictured centre left) getting her OBE with sons Charlie, 32, Ed, 38, and Jack, 37

(Rick has said of the break-up: I assumed that when it all collapsed this [the business] would collapse, too. I think it was Jill more than me really who kept it together. She just said: I am not letting this go. We have put so much bloody effort into it. )

Back when they met in 1968, of course, there was no business. I had arrived in Cornwall with a friend from Stockport to do some seasonal work, she remembers. And I met Rick. He then went to Oxford, aged 22, and I stayed in Cornwall.

While at Oxford, Jill left a note for him on his typewriter saying that although he was intolerable, she loved him.

Soon after, as he revealed in his 2013 memoir Under a Mackerel Sky, Rick crashed his Mini while drunk and almost killed her. Has he talked about this? she asks, admitting that she still hasnt read his memoir. But I will, I am going to read it.

I was married to him for a very long time. Yes, the business did eat us alive, but we didnt get out of it. We stayed in it. Its a bit of a drug, I think, really.

In the crash, Jill shattered her skull. Today, there is still a very large dent in her forehead  I could have had a plate put in, but I cover it with my hair  and she is deaf in her left ear as a result.

But she didnt blame him. We all drank a lot back when we were young, but no more than most people, she says.

The brush with death led to a realisation of what might have been lost and Rick proposed.

There followed years of grafting together: Rick laid the floor in the first restaurant, which actually we thought was going to be a disco. I did the laundry, I did the cooking.

I worked in the restaurants for 25 years and would rush back and put the children to bed. All that time Jill worked by Ricks side, watching him grow into the television celebrity he is today, happy for him to become the face and name of the brand  despite the fact she did at least 50 per cent of the work, and often of the un-glamorous kind.

Jill says turning 70 has brought a new lease of life and she is now very selfish

So its hardly surprising that his affair and their subsequent divorce instilled in her a determination that she was not going to lose her business. Even if was the business that had taken its toll on their marriage.

When I met Stein four years ago and asked why he thought the marriage had failed, he replied: The business ate us alive. He also talked of how Jill Stein was better off without me and that for years she had been in his shadow, coping with his difficult temper  sometimes directed at the customers  his inferiority complex and alpha personality (a product of his own difficult bipolar father) and his melancholia, not to mention his penchant for alcohol.

He said that together, neither of them had much confidence.

I repeat this to Jill and she laughs heartily. I know the story back to front, she says. I was married to him for a very long time. Yes, the business did eat us alive, but we didnt get out of it. We stayed in it. Its a bit of a drug, I think, really.

It is well known that Jill took the break-up badly. Who wouldnt? She suffered from clinical depression and was helped by anti-depressants.

In those early years after the split, Rick lived in a small cottage in Padstow, flying to Australia to be with Sas when he could. Jill remained in the big family house where she still is. Its a lovely home, our family home, she says. Ultimately, the old cliche is true: time is a great healer. Over the years, blame and bad feeling have petered away to be replaced by a delight in the present and a vision of the future for her sons.

Jill is a long way from being eaten up by regret for the past now. Thats all done and dusted, she says. And we just move on. Whatever happened in the past is the past. Now I pinch myself when I see the business. It helped me through those times.

Sometimes I do wonder how I did it, but it made me the person I am. I was determined to be successful in my own right.

I dont want to retire, I really, really dont want to. Its such an exciting time for us and I want to be part of it. I dont want to be at home. The fact that my children are grown up and now running the business with Rick and me, Im incredibly grateful for all of that.

Neither of us mention the second Mrs Stein by name, and it is patently obvious that it is not all cosy water-under-the-bridge socialising between the two women. (Rick has admitted they do not see eye to eye).

I see Rick when he comes home and we talk. Were good friends, Jill says diplomatically.

If turning 60 coincided with the devastation of divorce, turning 70 has brought a new lease of life. I am in a new phase now, she says. I am very selfish! After years, I only have myself to think of.

Surely the final piece in the jigsaw puzzle would be a new Mr Jill Stein? She laughs. Im actually very independent, she says. That would complicate things. I am my own boss and I can walk out of the door and not have to worry about anything.

I am not looking  if somebody came along, fine, but theyd have to be pretty special. Im not saying I wouldnt be in a relationship, but at the moment, no. I love my life. Im probably happier than Ive been for a long time.
She's thrilled fans with her decadent recipes and sumptuous desserts.

But it seems it's a far more humble food that perplexes Nigella Lawson - poached eggs.

The cook, who has just released her 11th recipe book, admitted to having a 'fear' of the breakfast staple.

Nigella, who has just released her 11th recipe book, admitted to having a 'fear' of the breakfast staple

She told the Cheltenham Literature Festival: 'One of the things I was convinced I could never do was poached egg and I had such a fear of egg poaching disproportionate to the task.

'But I have cracked it now, no pun intended.'

The 57-year-old was taken under the wing of a French friend who gave her top poached egg tips - including using a tea strainer and adding lemon.

She explained: 'I crack the egg into a tea strainer over a cup and all the very watery bits go underneath.

I then put it in another cup and I add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the white in the cup.

'Then I put it in the water, the water is almost turned off it's come the boil and then I just leave it there for three or four minutes.

'I can sometimes with my spotted spoon encourage the white to come up in that shape.

'If you want no straggly bits the best thing is to do the strainer. With egg poaching it depends how fresh the eggs are. As they sit in the shell the white gets watery and as that watery bit goes into the pan it goes straggly.'

Explaining why hotel poached eggs often come out uniform, she said restaurants often us scissors to cut of the 'straggly bit' of cooked egg before serving it to customers.

The cook - who has insisted she is not a chef - also revealed she once turned down an invitation to cook for Downing Street.

She explained: 'When Tony Blair was Prime Minister he asked me if I'd cook something and I said 'I'm not a caterer.'

'I will certainly come up with the menu but I'm not cooking it.

'I'm not trained. I couldn't cook for a huge number of people.

'I would say about home cooking is that it is about flavour and not technique. I am not mad about technique-led food.'

Miss Lawson, who has sold 12 million books, said her knife skills often make her feel embarrassed' and admitted she had eaten better lemon meringue pies than her own.

Asked what she was not very good at making, she replied: 'I feel I have eaten much better lemon meringue pies than I have made. I hope that

will change one day and it made me come up with a very good lemon meringue cake.'
The national capital's Diwali-eve sanitation crisis, sparked by over 11,000 east Delhi civic workers being on strike from October 11, is all set to get messier.

Encouraged by their doggedness in obtaining pending salaries, bonuses and arrears worth over `800 crore, their colleagues from the north and south municipal corporations will join the protest from Monday.

The development emerged a day after a Delhi High Court bench, led by acting chief justice Gita Mittal, directed the city government to clear the arrears and backdated overdue pay hikes of east MCD's sanitation workers from the year 2003 by the start of the week.

This is the third strike this year by sanitation workers over non-payment of salaries as well as issues with regularisation of jobs

While the standing counsel agreed in the court, it is unclear how the AAP government will fulfill this commitment and arrange `800 crore over the weekend.

EDMC deputy commissioner Atik Ahmad said: 'The ball is in the Delhi government's court now. They will have to see what can be done.

'We are going to receive an advance tax share payment of `108 crore from them by Monday, hopefully. With this, we will clear their Diwali bonus demands. Salaries have already been paid. But arrears are huge and it's not possible for the EDMC to clear it on its own.'

Indian rag pickers looking for useable items from heaps of garbage strewn on a road in New Delhi

A senior officer of the municipal corporation blamed the agency's past political and bureaucratic leadership.

He said: 'The regularisation of many thousand safai karmacharis was done before trifurcation. They had asked to be made permanent from that date.

'But the leaders, on an appeasement spree, decided to regularise them from a back date, without thinking how much of a financial burden it would create on the corporation.'

Rubbish piling up

The unified MCD was trifurcated in 2012, following which the east civic body has been in a dire financial condition with very little house tax and other revenue coming from poor areas such as Seemapuri, Nand Nagri and Bhajanpura.

North MCD is in a somewhat better shape while south MCD is doing well with posh areas like Vasant Kunj and Greater Kailash, which pay much higher property tax.

The arrears of the sanitation staff in north MCD amount to `600 crore, less than EDMC, though it has more such workers, as fewer people were regularised here.

The south MCD, on the other hand, has cleared all of its salaries, pension and Diwali bonus.

Strike action will mean a dirty Diwali for Delhi

Sanitation workers here are demanding cashless medical cards.

Commenting on the crisis in her corporation, north MCD mayor Preeti Aggarwal said: 'I am yet to figure out what can be done. I have called for a meeting on the subject tomorrow (Sunday). We are trying to find a middle ground so that the justifiable demands of safai workers can be met, and at the same time we don't have to give away `600 crore at one time.'

She also claimed that the AAP-led Delhi government owes the corporation `1,616 crore of tax shares based on the fourth finance commission's recommendations.

'I have already met Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal once, two months back, over the issue, and am constantly writing emails to him. If we don't get this amount, I am ready to sit on dharna outside his residence,' she warned.

A stray dog looking for scraps of food in the street

Altogether, 80,000 sanitation staff who make up the three MCDs, forming the backbone of the corporations as its main job is to transport garbage, clear colony drains, sweep roads and maintain hygiene in the city.

The workers have already gone on strike eight times in the past two years, the biggest of which was in January 2017 when streets from Laxmi Nagar to Mayur Vihar to Seemapuri remained littered with filth for days.

Sanjeev Java, president of the Swatantra Mazdoor Sanyukt Morcha, said: 'We are poor people. How long do we carry the burden of our organisation's poor financial health?

'We have been hearing that the north and east are cash-strapped for years. Why don't they at least merge east and south zone, if not completely unify the three, to overcome this crisis?'

In total, at least 30 safai workers' unions have threatened to come together to protest and strike from October 16.
BJP president Amit Shah has defended his son, Jay Shah, in the wake of recent reports that his Temple Enterprises benefited financially from his father's political influence.

Speaking at 'Panchayat Aaj Tak' in Ahmedabad, Shah said, 'There is no question of corruption in the business dealings of Jay (Shah).

'The business was of commodity trade which is a high value-low profit venture. If a company's turnover becomes Rs 1 crore, its profit does not become Rs 1 crore.'

Amit Shah (left) and his son Jay celebrate Shah's release from Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad in 2010

'After achieving a turnover of Rs 80 crore, his company suffered a loss of Rs 1.5 crore. Despite this turnover, he did not earn profit. All the payments were made through cheques. There is no question of money laundering,' said Shah, denying that Jay's company got an unsecured loan.

'It was not unsecured loan, it was a line of credit.'

On Gujarat

Shah said the law and order situation in Gujarat was worse when the Congress ruled the state.

He said people should recall the time when the Congress was in power in Gujarat.

BJP President Amit Shah was speaking at 'Panchayat Aaj Tak' in Ahmedabad

The BJP government in Gujarat improved the law and order in the state that led to flourishing commerce and trade making Gujarat the leading state in the country, he said.

Shah also said the Gujarat government under Narendra Modi provided 24-hour electricity supply in the entire state.

'Congress had failed to place electricity poles in the villages of Gujarat for 60 years,' he said.

'The Congress should first answer how they brought the 8.8% growth rate  handed over to them by the Vajpayee govt  to 4.4%

'Communal and caste clashes are the contribution of the Congress. The credit for making the country riot-free goes to the BJP.

'The BJP government has made a record for bringing development. Gujarat model of development is discussed all across the country. It is due to this Gujarat model that India chose to make Modi the PM,' he said.

On the question of declining GDP growth rate, Shah said, 'The Congress should first answer how they brought the 8.8% growth rate  handed over to them by the Vajpayee govt  to 4.4 per cent.

'The GDP growth rate of 5.7% was recorded in only one quarter. It will definitely improve.'

Calling Rahul 'shahzada' and 'Rahul baba', Shah sought to expose the lack of development in Amethi and present the statistics of governance in Gujarat.

Sharing his experience during his recent visit to Amethi  the Congress vice-president's Lok Sabha constituency  he pointed out that though Amethi has been a VIP constituency from the days of Jawaharlal Nehru to Rahul, it has lacked basic amenities such as water, electricity and roads.

Shah: 'Congress has failed to place electricity poles in the villages of Gujarat for 60 years'.

'You will be shocked to know that there is no office for the district collector in Amethi.

'The collector has been functioning from home. I performed 'bhumi puja' for the collector's office during my recent visit to Amethi,' he said.

Shah also pointed out that Amethi does not have a hospital for TB patients or Akashwani (AIR) centre and several villages are deprived even of electricity poles.

'The BJP government under Yogi is now introducing all these in Amethi,' he said, adding, 'After the shahzada made allegations about agriculture, I have come here to give an account of the progress Gujarat has made under the BJP govts since 1995.'

On Congress's 'Vikas gando thayo chhe (Vikas has gone crazy)' campaign, he said, 'Development for them is a way to ridicule people.

They are making fun of development but they are not aware that they are mocking Gujarat.

They are ridiculing the development activities such as providing toilets, bank account, power and water to the poor.'
(Xinhua) 08:57, October 15, 2017

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, speaks at the Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in Beijing, capital of China. The plenum was held from Oct. 11 to 14 in Beijing. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng)

BEIJING, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The four-day Seventh Plenary Session of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded in Beijing Saturday with a communique issued.

Entrusted by the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, delivered a work report at the meeting.

It was decided that the 19th CPC National Congress, a five-yearly event, will be convened from Oct. 18 in Beijing, according to the communique.

A report to be made by the 18th CPC Central Committee to the 19th CPC National Congress, a work report of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) to the congress, as well as an amendment to the CPC Constitution were discussed and approved.

It was decided that the three documents will be submitted to the upcoming congress for examination and deliberation.

The amendment to the CPC Constitution must include the key theories and strategic thought presented by the report to be delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress, according to a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on Sept. 18.

The amended constitution must fully represent the latest sinicization of Marxism, new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies of the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as new experience in adhering to and strengthening Party leadership and in strict Party governance, it said.

The plenum was presided over by the Political Bureau.

Xi gave an explanation on the draft report to the 19th CPC National Congress, and Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, gave an explanation of the draft amendment to the CPC Constitution.

Altogether 191 members and 141 alternate members of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting, with members of the CCDI and leading officials of related departments present as non-voting delegates.

Eleven new full members, who had been alternate members of the 18th CPC Central Committee, were admitted to the Central Committee during the plenum.

"FOUR GREATS"

The plenary session comprehensively analyzed the current situation and tasks and conducted in-depth discussion on several important issues which focus on "Four Greats," making full preparation for the 19th CPC National Congress.

The issues under discussion include "engaging in the great battle with many new historical features, embarking on the new great project in Party building, advancing the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and realizing the great dream of revival of the Chinese nation under new situations," read the communique.

The plenum fully affirmed the work of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee since the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee held a year ago.

The meeting reached consensus that the Political Bureau has held high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and thoroughly implemented the spirits of the 18th CPC National Congress and ensuing plenums of the Central Committee.

The Political Bureau has followed the guidance of Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of Three Represents and the Scientific Outlook on Development, and thoroughly carried out the essence of Xi's series of important remarks and new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies, according to the communique.

The Political Bureau has united and led the entire nation to continue seeking progress while maintaining stability for its economic work, keep in mind both the domestic and international situations, continue to adopt an overall approach to promote economic, political, cultural, social and ecological progress, as well as to advance coordinated development of the "Four Comprehensives."

It has been firm in implementing new development concepts, advancing difficult reforms, building a clean CPC and fighting against corruption, effectively dealing with various risks and challenges, and innovating and improving macro control.

It has also managed to coordinate work for stabilizing growth, promoting reform, adjusting economic structure, improving people's wellbeing, and preventing risks.

It has deepened military reform and construction, taken initiative in handling well the work involving the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan, carried forward a big country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in an all-round way.

It strengthened Party discipline comprehensively, maintained stable and healthy economic development as well as social harmony and stability, according to the communique.

LOYALTY TO PARTY

Senior officials should remain loyal to the Party and willingly safeguard the authority of the Party's central leadership and the unity of the Party, said the communique issued after the key plenum.

The Party's leading position should be ensured in all aspects and its role of overseeing all work and coordinating all parties should be guaranteed.

The Party principles should be upheld and its policies implemented, the document stressed.

All local authorities and departments should carry out the decisions of the CPC Central Committee in the first instance, it said.

Senior cadres should set an example for all Party members to keep the Party and the people at heart and be keenly aware of what should and should not be done.

They should display strong political and moral integrity, obedience to Party disciplines and resistance to corruption, the document said.

Being a party of more than 89 million members and the ruling party leading more than 1.3 billion people in the drive for reform and modernization, without the authority and centralized leadership of the CPC Central Committee and without strict political disciplines, rules and a clean political environment, the CPC would compromise its creativity, cohesion and effectiveness, weaken the foundation and ability of its governance and fail its mission, the document said.

The document called on all Party members to firmly safeguard the authority of the Party leadership, follow its lead and stay in accordance with the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core.

"CRUSHING MOMENTUM" CONSOLIDATED

China has gained and consolidated "crushing momentum" in its fight against corruption, read the communique, adjusting previous judgement made late last year at a Political Bureau meeting, which only stated that the fight "has gained crushing momentum."

Participants at the session looked back on the work of the 18th CCDI over the past five years, and agreed that discipline inspection commissions at all levels have fulfilled the duties endowed by the Party Constitution, and have comprehensively pushed forward the strict governance of the Party.

The discipline inspection commissions have been working hard to build a clean Party and fight against corruption, firmly upholding the eight-point frugality code, according to the communique.

The communique also stated that the commissions have made full use of their inspections, prioritizing discipline, and have deepened the reform of discipline inspection and the country's supervisory system.

Moreover, the commissions have built groups of cadres in discipline inspection and supervision that both the Party and the people can trust, while consistently improving the accountability system, uncompromisingly containing the spreading of corruption and purifying the political ecology within the CPC, the communique said.

The plenum endorsed a decision made by the Political Bureau to expel Sun Zhengcai and eleven other senior Party officials from the CPC.

"PROFOUND, FUNDAMENTAL" CHANGES

Summarizing progress made by the CPC over the past five years, the communique said China has witnessed profound and fundamental changes during the period, while its achievements are comprehensive and groundbreaking.

These historic changes and achievements indicate that China's development stands at a new historical starting point, which is of great and far-reaching significance for the cause of the Party and the country, according to the communique.

The plenary session summarized the work of the past five years since the 18th CPC National Congress and held that the five years was an "extraordinary" period.

China has made historic achievements in reform and opening up, as well as socialist modernization, it said.

Over the past five years, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core raised a series of new concepts, thoughts and strategies, formulated a string of important guidelines and policies and rolled out many significant measures, it said.

Many deep-rooted problems and issues that were too difficult to be resolved before have been addressed during that period, which promoted the historic changes for the cause of the Party and the country, according to the document.

"The country also saw major achievements in economic development and major breakthroughs in comprehensively deepening reform. Democratic and legal system construction has taken great steps. Ideological and cultural construction has made important progress. People's living standards have constantly improved," it said.

"The ecological environment has been remarkably improved. The building of a strong army has made new headway. New progress was made in work related to Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan," it said.
While potholed roads are being blamed for road deaths in the southern city of Bengaluru, roads without potholes close to the nation's Capital are no guarantee of a safe journey.

The shocking revelations on the dangers of certain roads in the region come from a study conducted by a road safety NGO in collaboration with police and the National Crime Records Bureau.

Yamuna Expressway, one of India's most expensive road networks, has also become one of its deadliest motorways.

There were 1,601 fatalities reported in 2016, up 100 percent from 800 in 2014

The Yamuna Expressway was built as a symbol of India's development in 2012

The eight-lane 165- km toll road that connects Greater Noida and Agra, reported 1,601 fatalities in 2016, up 100 percent from 800 in 2014.

According to the report, more than 73 per cent of the accidents on the Expressway were attributed to speeding and driving while under the influence.

While 54.1 per cent of the victims were in the age group of 15-34 years, the majority of accidents took place between 1 am and 5 am, when traffic is thin and road-side assistance is hard to come by.

'Speeding and drunk driving are the most common causes of accidents on this stretch where checks by police and highway authorities are almost negligible.

'CCTVs end up merely recording accidents but no follow-up corrective steps are taken by authorities,' said Prince Singhal, founder of the Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), which prepared the report.

While Aligarh part of the Expressway witnessed 396 deaths in 2016, the figures for Agra, Mathura, Noida and Hathras are 366, 358, 331 and 134 respectively.

In total, the deadly toll road witnesses 30 accidents every week on an average, according to the report.

Compared to this, number of deaths was 857 on NH-8 (Delhi- Mumbai), 816 on NH-24 (Delhi-Lucknow) and 845 on NH-9 (Punjab- Uttarakhand) in 2016.

The Yamuna Expressway was built as a symbol of modern development connecting the Noida industrial hub with Agra.

An ambitious project of the Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, it was formally opened on August 9, 2012. The road saw 2,194 accidents in the first three years itself.

The latest of the accidents in which four students of Greater Noida's Galgotias University lost their lives a week ago is a test case of the report's findings.

Ayush, Balram, Tushar and Salman, all aged between 19 and 22, were killed when their speeding SUV suffered a tyre burst, hit a divider and spun out of control.

The CADD report said nearly half of the fatalities were caused due to the driver's fault, and were thus avoidable with sustained awareness and training.

'What has been noticed is that although the permissible speed limit is 60kmph for trucks, buses and heavy vehicles, and 100kmph for cars and other four-wheelers, most drivers touch a speed of 120-140 kmph,' Singhal said.

According to Singhal, highways across the country should have mandatory breath tests which should be carried out by police patrols, NHAI and state highways authorities.

He said death caused by drunk driving should be treated as a non-bailable offence and errant drivers should be immediately arrested.

'Special focus should be there by enforcement agencies on luxury vehicles which are known to drive at high speed, commercial vehicles and 'car-o-bar' activities on this stretch,' he said.

Recently, after a series of accidents, UP traffic police said it has decided to take strict action, including suspension of licences, against rule breakers with special focus on speed violators.

Transport department of Gautam Budh Nagar in July decided to suspend licences of those found exceeding the prescribed speed limit.

It said 21,527 drivers were booked for such offences between April 1 and July 4. Two months ago, the district administration and the transport department had joined hands to bring down road accidents on the six-lane Yamuna Expressway.

The transport department had sought records of vehicles for the past three months from the Jaypee Toll Plaza in Jewar through which all vehicles moving on the Expressway have to pass.

Software has been installed at the Jewar Plaza to record the speed of every vehicle that crosses the toll road.
A recent report submitted to the department heads of the Delhi Police reveal that one police officer kills themselves every month.

Worryingly, in the past two and a half months, five police personnel have committed suicide, and in almost 95% of the suicide cases, the police personnel have turned their service pistol on themselves.

Keeping in view the misuse of the service pistol, the Delhi Police are likely to implement new rules for issuing weapons.

Delhi police are struggling with long working hours and anxiety

On Sunday, a Delhi Police constable committed suicide in the Sabzi Mandi area by jumping in front of a train.

No suicide note has been found from his possession.

Psychologists believe that more than 70% of the police personnel working on field are either suffering from depression or anxiety.

They say high stress levels, erratic working hours, financial problems, family issues and the thankless nature of the job are some of the reasons behind such an extreme step.

To curb such incidents, proper counselling sessions are organised for the Delhi Police personnel every month.

Rajiv Mehta, a consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, said: 'On paper, it's an eight-hour duty but the police officers have to be active 24x7.

'They are not paid for extra hours. Also, they have no social life as they spend maximum hours on duty, which adds to their frustration. It further leads to depression and then they tend to commit suicide.'

Sources told Mail Today that after three policemen committed suicide separately in the month of August, a report was asked by the top cop to ascertain the figures and reasons behind suicides.

Sources claimed the use of service pistol in each case forced the senior officials to look into the data.

Last week, a 29-year-old Delhi Police constable, Amit Khokhar, committed suicide inside the barracks at central Delhi's Daryaganj police station.

He did not leave a suicide note. Khokhar was stressed allegedly due to ongoing health issues.

In September, a 56-year-old Delhi Police sub-inspector took his life on the premises of Delhi Armed Police in northwest Delhi's Model Town.

Police said he was in his personal car that was locked from inside. A suicide note was recovered in which the sub-inspector has written that he was disturbed and was under stress because of family issues.

'It has also been learnt that in most cases where family issues are found to be the reason behind the extreme step is mainly due to erratic work schedule, including lack of leaves and job frustration,' said a senior official.

'The policemen have no fixed shift and it keeps changing on a daily basis. There is an utter need to fix the shifts and it should continue for at least three weeks,' Mehta said.

Psychologists believe that more than 70% of the police personnel working on field are either suffering from depression or anxiety

Speaking to Mail Today, a retired senior policeman, who didn't wish to be named, said: 'If a proper study of the suicide cases would have been done, then it would have helped to curb such incidents.

'But no such initiative is being taken by the department that is already short-staffed. Each policeman is overburdened with extra duty hours, and lack of leaves makes things worse.'

'However, to de-stress the policemen, Sampark Sabha is organised every month and it is headed by the DCP and sometimes by the joint CP.

'In these meetings, police personnel are free to discuss their problems and several preventive measures are suggested.

'Also, a police officer can meet Special CP (crime) once a week without any prior appointment if he has any problem. Policemen can also directly meet the commissioner of police, if he/she feels like,' said Madhur Verma, spokesperson, Delhi Police.

Since 2012, more than 50 suicide cases involving policemen have been reported in the Capital and the number is increasing at an alarming rate.
Tax is a necessary evil which most of us pay somewhat grudgingly. In theory, the more we earn the greater the tax that is taken from our pockets. Fair game.

Yet, a reluctance among politicians to tinker with the income tax rates that apply to basic and higher rate taxpayers has created pockets of unfairness in the taxation system.

It is an issue that mutual insurer Royal London is highlighting today. Analysis overseen by Steve Webb, its director of policy and a former Pensions Minister in the Coalition Government, shows that some 775,000 people pay more tax on each extra pound that they earn than a millionaire.

Some taxpayers are paying an effective income tax rate on some income of nearly 70 per cent

This is a result of reductions to child benefit, the tax-free personal allowance and the annual pension allowance which many taxpayers are now impacted by. In some cases, taxpayers are paying an effective income tax rate on some of their income of nearly 70 per cent.

Take for example a couple who have two children and the main breadwinner earns 50,000 a year. They will receive 1,789 of child benefit a year. But if they were to earn 51,000 instead, they would lose 10 per cent of their child benefit (179), pay an extra 400 of income tax and 20 more in National Insurance Contributions.

The extra 1,000 of income would be denuded by taxes totalling 599. In other words, a tax rate of 59.9 per cent. Some 375,000 taxpayers, says Royal London, are in such a position.

For those earning between 150,000 and 210,000, the reduction in their ability to fund a pension as a result of the gradual loss of their annual allowance results in them paying an effective tax rate of 69.5 per cent.

It is hard to believe this is a sensible way to run a tax system, says Webb. As part of his Budget, the Chancellor should be looking to rationalise the tax system so it is simpler, fairer and easier to understand.

Under pressure: Jeff Prestridge says he hopes Philip Hammond or the incumbent Chancellor at the time of the Budget (November 22) will address issues around the tax system

I trust Philip Hammond or the incumbent Chancellor at the time of the Budget (November 22) will address these issues.

Equitable Life is a business quietly preparing for the day it is no more. Although it still has 400,000 policyholders  average age of 54  some 20,000 are leaving every year, persuaded in part by a 35 per cent uplift to their pensions. Yet is does not mean the insurers focus on delivering satisfactory customer service is any the less. Indeed, its approach to complaints handling is one other financial brands should adopt.

Some 775,000 people pay more tax on each extra pound they earn than a millionaire

An emphasis on customer service has come in under the reign of chief executive Chris Wiscarson. It was prompted by a complaint he received about the way a death claim had been handled.

Upon investigating, he soon realised the mutuals approach had been too formulaic, putting unnecessary barriers in the way of making a prompt payment and lacking empathy at a time of loss. Procedures were overhauled.

Wiscarson now insists all complaints which reach his desk are discussed at board level  with all attendees receiving a copy of the complaint and his response. Changes to the way the insurer does things are made if necessary.

Wiscarson also insists on taking calls from customers with grievances who have expressed a wish to speak to him.

Of course, Antonio Horta-Osorio (boss of Lloyds Banking Group) and Ross McEwan (Royal Bank of Scotland) would never be off the phone if they adopted Wiscarsons approach.

But surely it is time the voice of the customer was taken into account in the boardroom. It would surely result in more consumer-focused businesses.

Irrespective of my support for a shared bank branch in every town, mobile banking is here to stay. It is revolutionising personal banking and some of the new digitally focused challenger banks look as if they could seriously disrupt a market poorly served by the big five. They enter unencumbered by legacy issues.

Leading the way is Starling Bank, provider of a free-to-use current account operated by app only. The bank is the brainchild of serial banker Anne Boden (ex-Royal Bank of Scotland and Allied Irish) and even for a luddite like me, the app is impressive. I tested it last week and loved some of its features  for example, how it categorises your purchases (too much spent at Pret a Manger in my case).

Boden has so far gone under the radar despite being a successful female banker in a male-dominant industry. But Starling Bank may well change this anomaly.
French car maker PSA is cutting 400 jobs from Vauxhalls Astra plant in Ellesmere Port  less than three months after taking over the brand.

Workers are to be briefed this morning on plans to axe one third of the workforce by the end of the year to boost competitiveness.

The move heightens fears raised during the 1.9 billion takeover about the future of Astra production at Ellesmere Port and further job cuts across Vauxhall and Opel, also bought by PSA, which employ about 4,500 in the UK.

French car maker PSA is cutting 400 jobs from Vauxhall's Astra plant in Ellesmere Port  less than three months after taking over the brand

And it comes despite intervention by Theresa May during the takeover to protect British jobs amid concerns roles would be moved abroad.

Last night PSA said while it was committed to Ellesmere Port, it was not yet in a position to consider longer-term investments.

A Vauxhall spokesman said manufacturing costs at the plant were significantly higher than other PSA plants in Europe.

It is believed the fall in the pound has pushed up the costs of some materials, while demand for five-door family cars is falling.

A PSA spokesman added: Vauxhall needs to adjust production volumes at its Ellesmere Port production facility to the current level of demand, to improve its performance and protect its future as the industry faces challenging European market conditions and a declining passenger car market.

The four millionth Vauxhall Astra rolled off the production line at the Ellesmere Port factory in September. The Astra is the sixth most popular new car for UK motorists this year, with more than 34,000 registered between January and July

PSA bought the loss-making European arm of General Motors  which included Vauxhall and Opel  in August. Amid frantic lobbying from unions and government in the UK, it pledged to stick to GMs existing production commitments in the UK.

That means it is committed to making the Astra in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, until 2021, while production of the Vivaro van in Luton will continue until 2025.

During a phone-call in February with PSA chief executive Carlos Tavares, Theresa May stressed the importance of manufacturing in the UK.

According to the company at the time, Tavares expressed his willingness to develop further the iconic Vauxhall brand for the benefit of its faithful customers.

The four millionth Vauxhall Astra rolled off the production line at the Ellesmere Port factory in September.

The Astra is the sixth most popular new car for UK motorists this year, with more than 34,000 registered between January and July.
Motorists are unnecessarily paying an extra $75 a year on compulsory third-party insurance because of dodgy injury claims for minor accidents by a dozen law firms.

Lawyers are litigating over trivial accidents like a 5km/h scrape in a shopping centre car park.

This is leading to huge average payouts of $60,000 for baseless claims which in turn pushes up CTP insurance premiums by $75 a year in New South Wales, The Sunday Telegraph reports.

Motorists are paying an extra $75 a year on compulsory third party insurance in NSW

Compulsory third party insurance bills are soaring because of dubious insurance claims

Police allege 22 law firms are submitting about half of the state's 6,000 CTP claims a year, with 12 of those suspected of making 'embellished claims'.

'Having a car accident is an unfortunate part of life but it shouldn't be seen as a small lottery win,' Fraud Squad Detective Chief Inspector David Christie told the newspaper.

The report said dubious lawyers are working with allied health professionals to sign off on fraudulent injury claims, including $10,000 paid out for the parents of a nine-month old baby who was asleep during a minor car accident.

Lawyers are also keeping for themselves half of their clients CTP payouts.

During the past nine years, numerous CTP claims have been filed for minor injuries sustained in insignificant accidents, with lawyers claiming post traumatic stress.
Rob Mokaraka (pictured) called emergency services and said an intruder was at his home but described himself

An actor who set up police officers to shoot him in a bid to commit suicide has spoken out about the day he wanted to die.

Rob Mokaraka made a call to emergency services and told them an intruder was in his home on July 27, 2009. He then described himself.

'I wanted to die,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I called the police because I thought I deserved a violent death.'

'I provoked them to shoot me dead. I had a meat clever and a soup ladle dressed up in a tea towel to look like a weapon.'

Initially police believed they were responding to an alert from a concerned local that an 'angry man' was on the loose, however Detective Superintendent Rod Drew confirmed two days later police telephone records indicated it was Mokaraka who drew police to his home with false reports of a violent domestic incident.

'It is now apparent that, having given a distinctive description of the 'angry man' he said was armed with a concealed firearm, the man dressed himself to fit the description and waited for police to arrive,' Mr Drew said, The Australian reported.

In 2009 Mokaraka 'called the police because he thought he deserved a violent death' (footage from the day of the emergency call)

He was carrying a meat cleaver and a soup ladle disguised as a weapon (pictured)

'They shot me, almost killed me, it was a kill shot - luckily I lived,' he admits.

It had been an 'emotional roller coaster breakup' with a girlfriend that triggered him to want to end his life in such horrific way.

'All my past started to swirl up, all the past that I had been suppressing, since I was a young boy, was starting to come up and I didn't know what was happening. All I knew was that I wanted the pain I was in to end.'

After three surgeries and multiple court cases he went into therapy where Mokaraka found out he was suffering from depression.

'I didn't realise but I was part of a huge club, and I call that club the secret sad club. There's hundreds of thousands of people in it, if not millions.

'From that incident, over seven years, I have created a tool for healing.'

Officers shot Mr Mokaraka (pictured) in the chest but he survived and is sharing his story

'I've used that story to rise from the ashes, to use it as an experience for learning for myself and for communities.'

His circumstance was likened to a 'boiling pot' with the lid on that was about to explode by former comedian and mental health advocate Mike King.

In hindsight he says he didn't know what he had to celebrate in his life: 'I thought I was going crazy.'

After three surgeries and multiple court cases he went into therapy where Mokaraka (pictured) found out he was suffering from depression

Mokaraka made headline news on the night of the incident and although he survived, the police couldn't let him off without penalty.

'I wasn't hurting anybody, but I was acting in a crazy manner so I went through the courts, I ended up doing 400 hours community service.

'I was charged with possession of imitation of firearm - which was the soup ladle dressed up in a tea towel, and grievous bodily harm.'

His life has now flipped and Mokaraka is a campaigner for mental health and suicide prevention.

He is touring New Zealand with a show 'Shot bro: Confessions of a depressed bullet' which promotes conversation around depression and coming out of low points.

He believes the first step is to talk about feelings with no boundaries and engaging other who are going through tough times

'Now I realise what is like to survive so I can help people who are going through depression and feeling suicidal to open it up in a safe way and for family members who are dealing with the loss of someone who has killed themselves, they get an insight and an understanding too.

'It doesn't heal the wounds, but does off a layer of guilt.'

He believes the first step is to talk about feelings with no boundaries and engaging other who are going through tough times.

'Normalise the conversation and I am not the only one saying this I am one of many.

'Crying is better than dying. There has been some weird unspoken rule passed down by our ancestors. But we need to talk about it. Crying is better than dying.'

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.
Hardline Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to create a 'revolutionary government' amid fears he is trying to establish a dictatorship.

Duterte issued the warning during a bombastic speech on national television in which he attacked all opponents - from his communist rivals to the EU.

The president said he would arrest all of his opponents and go 'to full scale war against the reds' if they attempt to destabilise his term in power.

It came as the Army announced a final push to retake the island of Marawi from ISIS after four bloody months of fighting that has left 1,000 people dead.

Rodrigo Duterte threatened to create a 'revolutionary government' if insurgent communists try to destabilise his term in power - raising fresh fears he is trying to create a dictatorship

Military bosses had set a deadline of Sunday to eradicate the Islamic extremists as fresh bombing raids were carried out, but later revised that, saying only that fighting would be over 'very soon'.

As the battle rage on Friday night, Duterte spoke to his political rivals from the capital, saying: 'If your destabilisation is taking place and there is chaos already, I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term.

Duterte has previously threatened to impose martial law, which led to the establishment of the last Philippines dictatorship, in response to ISIS attacks.

But unlike martial law, a 'revolutionary government' would not require the approval of congress, allowing him to seize a vast amount of power at the stroke of a pen.

Duterte cited the precedent set by Corazon Aquino, who established a revolutionary government soon after leading a 'People Power' uprising in 1986 that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

Aquino sacked all elected officials, abolished Congress and tore up the 1973 constitution in favour of a provisional charter.

She handpicked a commission to write a new constitution, which was ratified by plebiscite in 1987 and paved the way for elections. She is revered by many Filipinos who continue to see her as a heroine of democracy.

Under the constitution she approved, presidents are limited to one term of six years.

He spoke as the army said it expects fighting in Marawi, which was captured by ISIS four months ago, to end 'very soon' (file image)

Duterte's critics fear the 72-year-old is intent on dragging the country back into dictatorship and allow himself more freedom in prosecuting his drug war.

Duterte was elected last year largely on an incendiary law-and-order platform in which he promised to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing 100,000 people.

Since he took office 15 months ago, police have reported killing 3,850 people in anti-drug operations while thousands of others have been murdered in unexplained circumstances.

Many Filipinos continue to support Duterte, seeing the charismatic politician as a saviour fighting corruption and crime.

But opposition has started to build, with the influential Catholic Church and leftist groups taking a prominent role in speaking out against his drug war.

Rare street protests broke out last month after police involved in the drug war killed two teenagers in controversial circumstances.

The Philippine military, which backed Marcos until the last days of his dictatorship, did not respond to AFP's request for comment on Duterte's warning.

Pro-IS gunmen occupied parts of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23.

Since then 822 militants, 162 government forces and 47 civilians have been killed, Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the force battling the militants, said.

The insurgents have withstood a relentless US-backed bombing campaign and intense ground battles with troops that have left large parts of Marawi resembling devastated cities in war-torn Syria and Iraq.

Military commanders last week set a target of October 15 to end the fighting and President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the battle was 'almost over'.

Twenty soldiers were wounded on Saturday in a sign troops were pushing hard to end the battle, Brawner said.

He said 40 militants remained in the conflict area including leaders Isnilon Hapilon, who is on America's list of most wanted terrorists with a $5 million bounty, and Omarkhayam Maute, whose group had pledged allegiance to IS.

There were also 100 civilians in the zone including hostages and families of the militants, he added.

'Women and children are now forced to fight together with the Maute-ISIS fighters. These are desperate measures the Maute-ISIS are doing. This is their last defensive stand,' Brawner said, using another acronym for IS.

Duterte on Thursday warned against celebrating the eventual liberation of Marawi, citing the deaths and devastation there.

'When we leave Marawi, we go quietly. We do not want to show any kind of celebration or happiness,' he said.
A man has been rushed to hospital with stab wounds following a brawl in a Kmart carpark in Sydney's west.

Police were called to the Alpha Street carpark around 3.15am on Sunday morning after reports of a fight between two men.

Officers from Blacktown Police Area Command attended the scene to find a man with stab wounds.

Police were called to the Alpha Street carpark in Blacktown around 3.15am on Sunday morning after reports of a fight

A man was taken to hospital with stab wounds after he was involved in a fight at Blacktown Kmart on Sunday morning (stock image)

The man was treated by paramedics at the scene before being taken to Westmead Hospital.

His age and condition is unknown.

Another man was arrested and is currently assisting police with their investigation.

Anyone with information related to this incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Six serving MPs and members of the House of Lords are working for lobbying companies, despite attempts to crack down on the controversial industry's access to Parliament.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal that an ex-Minister, the current chairman of a powerful select committee and a former senior Downing Street aide have roles at lobbying firms as well as being paid politicians.

Our investigation has discovered that:

Some of those paid by lobbying firms have asked questions in Parliament that could benefit their paymasters

The lobbying industry's own code of conduct bans firms from hiring sitting MPs

Only four of the MPs and peers exposed by the MoS have signed up to an official list of lobbyists set up amid concerns about the access they have to power

Conservative Bob Neill MP (pictured) is paid 278 an hour to work for Cratus Commuications, whose clients include top property developers

Last night, there were calls for a complete ban on politicians working on behalf of corporate clients who pay to influence UK law and policy.

Sir Alistair Graham, former chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, told this newspaper: 'MPs and Peers should be banned from being paid by lobbying companies because it is a massive conflict of interest.

'Lawmakers should be concerned about what is best for the public not what is best for the profits of lobbying companies and their clients.'

The first official lobbying watchdog was set up by the Government in 2015 to tackle what David Cameron warned was 'the next big scandal waiting to happen'.

There were widespread concerns that major companies were secretly influencing Government by paying slick consultants to hold private meetings with Ministers, special advisers and civil servants.

Tory MP Paul Scully (pictured) set up lobbying firm Nudge Factory Ltd in 2011 and received 4,000 in dividends from the company last year, despite claiming he has not worked there since 2015

The Register of Consultant Lobbyists now names 123 people who work for firms that make 'direct communications personally' with Ministers or senior civil servants in order to affect law or policy on behalf of a client, 'in return for payment'.

Extraordinarily, the list now includes several MPs who work for lobbyists at the same time as debating and voting on legislation. There are three current MPs on the register.

Bob Neill, a former Local Government Minister who still chairs the powerful Justice Select Committee, is paid 278 an hour to work for Cratus Communications, which has property developers among its clients.

The company's website says it helps its clients 'target resources and priorities to maximise effectiveness'.

In 2015, the year after he joined Cratus's board, Mr Neill  Tory MP for Bromley and Chislehurst  asked two questions in Parliament about building on brownfield land.

He also helped table an amendment to a planning law so that landowners would get early compensation if councils bought up their sites.

Cratus last night confirmed Mr Neill sits on its board as a director but insisted he did not represent any of its clients personally.

Mr Neill said last night: 'I am a non-executive director and do not handle the accounts of any of Cratus's clients. Cratus enters any relevant clients on the register.'

Labour MP Barry Sheerman (pictured) founded Policy Connect, a company that organises parliamentary meetings with outside clients

Paul Scully, Tory MP for Sutton and Cheam, set up a lobbying firm called Nudge Factory Ltd in 2011, four years before he was elected as an MP in 2015.

He remains a director of the company and owns a 40 per cent stake in it. Last year, he received a 4,000 dividend from the firm.

Nudge Factory's website boasts: 'We use our experience to assist our clients to influence policy and opinion.

From local communities to Parliament and from town halls to Whitehall, our bespoke strategies help some of the biggest names in the corporate world to win hearts and minds.'

Its clients include property firms developing land in and around his South London constituency, and last year Mr Scully tabled a question in Parliament about the time it takes to bring derelict land back into use.

His office last night confirmed he was a non-executive director of Nudge Factory but claimed he had not worked for the firm since 2015.

'Paul is not paid to lobby, nor does he lobby, on behalf of Nudge Factory or any of its clients,' a spokesman said.

Barry Sheerman, Labour MP for Huddersfield since 1979 and a former Education Select Committee chairman, founded an organisation called Policy Connect that has recently been forced to join the lobbyists' register.

The firm helps to arrange All-Party Parliamentary Group meetings which bring together paying clients and sitting MPs and Ministers to discuss topical issues. The meetings are held in Parliament.

Conservative MP James Duddridge is paid 400 an hour to help firms in Africa expand

Policy Connect describes itself as a 'think tank' but it now has to officially declare itself as a lobbying firm after an investigation by lobbying watchdog and former Royal Mail executive Alison White.

Earlier this year, she ruled that Mr Sheerman and Policy Connect should be defined as a lobbyist because the firm is paid by clients who are then given the opportunity to meet Ministers at the All-Party Parliamentary Group events.

Mr Sheerman was paid 2,200 a month for 20 hours' work a month for Policy Connect. He claimed to donate the money to charity  but the charity in question was a pet project of his, which maintains a cottage once lived in by the poet John Clare.

Last night, Mr Sheerman said he no longer receives any payment from Policy Connect, and is chairman of its board and so does not represent any clients.

A fourth current MP has taken up a lucrative role with a consultancy firm but is not on the lobbying register.

James Duddridge, Africa Minister until last year, is now paid 400 an hour to work as an adviser for a company that helps firms expand across Africa.

Brand Communications represents a number of African banks, energy firms and pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

The firm's website states that it provides clients with expertise in public affairs, government relations and political communication. A press release issued at the time of Mr Duddridge's appointment in January said he would help their clients 'stay ahead of the curve on Brexit'.

Last night, a spokesman for Brand Communications claimed the Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East 'has never been asked to engage in any lobbying on behalf of Brand Communications or for any of its clients'.

Baroness Kate Fall (pictured) is a partner for communication firm Brunswick Group, which counts Facebook among its clients

Several members of the House of Lords also have key roles with recognised lobbying firms.

Kate Fall, one of David Cameron's most trusted advisers, was handed a peerage in 2015 and has since landed a job as a paid partner of PR and lobbying firm Brunswick Group.

The appointment was cleared by parliamentary authorities. Brunswick has worked closely with some of the world's leading corporations, including social media giant Facebook.

But this fact has not been declared by Baroness Fall, 50, who is a member of the Political Polling and Digital Media Committee, which is currently investigating social media's influence on political polling.

She has declared her job at Brunswick but has not mentioned the firm's work for Facebook.

Lord Robin Teverson (pictured) is on the board of Barry Shearman's firm Policy Connect

Last night, a spokesman said Baroness Fall did not lobby for the firm's clients and said the company did not represent Facebook in the UK.

It can also be revealed Lord Teverson, a former Liberal Democrat MEP, is on the official lobbying register. He sits on the board of Policy Connect, chaired by Labour MP Mr Sheerman.

A spokesman for the firm said he was an unpaid member of the board, adding: 'Lord Teverson does not represent any of the organisations that fund Policy Connect.'

Although the MPs and peers say they do not personally lobby on behalf of clients, the two main industry bodies for lobbying firms say they should not hire MPs and peers under any circumstances.

Francis Ingham, director general of the Public Relations and Communications Association, said: 'It's unethical and disgraceful for MPs to be lobbyists.'

Paul Bristow, chairman of the Association of Professional Political Consultants, added: 'If you are a lawmaker you should not be working for a lobbying company, whether that is in a paid role or on the board. It doesn't pass the sniff test  it stinks.'

Last night, Labour's Cabinet Office spokesman Jon Trickett said: 'There needs to be a complete overhaul of the current system. We need full transparency.'

The Committee on Standards in Public Life is to publish a report on outside interests for MPs next year.
A relaxed-looking Gareth Southgate shook hands (pictured left) with young adoring England fans outside St George's Park today as his Three Lions World Cup squad (pictured inset below) boarded the team bus today ahead of their flight to Qatar. Despite the weight of a nation's expectation on his shoulders, the England manager appeared calm as he waved to hundreds of flag-waving schoolchildren as he boarded the bus at the team's St George's Park base in Staffordshire. It comes as Prince William (pictured right) last night shared the message 'we are all rooting for you' as he visited the England squad ahead of the team's trip to Qatar. The Prince of Wales joined a private team meeting and presented the players with their jersey numbers on Monday evening, as the Three Lions prepare to fly out to the Middle Eastern country later today. Video footage from the event showed William posing for photos with the players. He told the squad: 'I'm really here to point out that the rest of the country is behind you. We are all rooting for you, enjoy it.' England's World Cup squad will land in Qatar on a Gay Pride jet (pictured inset above) in a show of defiance over the host nation amid concerns over the treatment of LGBTQ + people at the tournament. The 26-man squad, led by manager Gareth Southgate and captain Harry Kane , will make the seven-hour flight to Doha on a 'Rain Bow' Virgin Atlantic A350 Airbus. The aircraft features a picture of Oscar, a cartoon man holding a Union Jack flag while wearing rainbow-coloured trainers, beneath the cabin, The Sun reports.
With a strong development momentum, the Chinese economy contributes a lot to the global economic growth, Maurice Obstfeld, chief economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) gave his thumbs up to Chinese economy.

In its latest World Economic Outlook released Tuesday, the IMF expected the Chinese economy to grow 6.8 percent this year and 6.5 percent next year, both 0.1 percentage point higher than its previous forecast in July. It also predicted a strengthening economic growth across the world.

It is the fourth time this year that the fund has upgraded its China forecast, following that in January, April and July.

According to IMF, the upward revision to the 2017 forecast reflects "the stronger-than-expected outturn in the first half of the year underpinned by previous policy easing and supply-side reforms."

The World Bank, in its latest East Asia and Pacific Economic Update report released on October 4, also raised China's growth forecast for 2017 from 6.5 percent to 6.7 percent.

Their bullish bet on Chinese economy was agreed by Asian Development Bank, Citibank, and the Singapore-based ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO), who also upgraded their outlook for Chinas economic growth recently.

China will continue to be a pillar of global growth. We expect Chinas role in the global economy to increase in the longer term, James Daniel, IMF Mission Chief for China, told the Peoples Daily.

China is by far the biggest driver to global growth and I think that will continue for a seeable future, said Fred Bergsten, senior fellow and director emeritus of Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Chinas growth has great impact on the world economy, according to Bergsten, also founding director of the institute.

He explained that China by itself is growing about twice as fast as the US and Europe.

Chinese economy is very large, and China has a lot potential, commented Yukon Huang, Senior Fellow of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in a belief that the country will continue to grow for a very long period of time if dealing with challenges effectively.

The structural reforms carried on by Chinese government will further stimulate its economic growth, said Huang, who was formerly the World Banks country director for China.

Daniel also suggested the Chinese government continue to pursue reforms that rebalance the economy in a more sustainable direction.

Indeed impressive progress has been made to transform and upgrade the Chinese economy, but the progress has been uneven on rebalancing and reforms, he explained.
Patients are twice as likely to die from sepsis in some hospitals as they are in others, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

A study by eminent hospital death rates expert Sir Brian Jarman suggests a postcode lottery of care is consigning hundreds or even thousands of patients to an early grave.

It also reveals a stark North-South divide, with poorly performing hospital trusts concentrated in the North of England.

A tale of two hospitals: Patients are twice as likely to die from sepsis in some hospitals as they are in others. At Tameside General Hospital (pictured) deaths from sepsis have been more than 50 per cent higher than expected over the past three years

At Tameside Hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, deaths from sepsis have been more than 50 per cent higher than expected over the past three years, given the population it serves.

But at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, sepsis deaths have been almost 40 per cent lower than predicted.

When compared, it means the chance of dying from sepsis in Tameside Hospital is about twice that of a similar patient treated at the Dorset site.

The condition, which can be triggered by minor infections, is responsible for 40,000 deaths a year across the country.

At the Royal Bournemouth Hospital (pictured), sepsis deaths have been almost 40 per cent lower than predicted

Experts believe at least a quarter of cases could be prevented with a course of antibiotics, if detected in time. But if left, blood infection can trigger a massive over-reaction by the immune system, and sometimes result in death.

At Tameside, 141 sepsis deaths were recorded over a three-year period  55 per cent higher than the expected figure of 91.

In contrast, the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust recorded 126 sepsis deaths, 37 per cent lower than the expected figure of 202.

Dr Alyson ODonnell, medical director of the Royal Bournemouth, said its low death rates were the result of a high-profile campaign and training programme.
When Tory MP Robert Halfon went on television to call anti-May plotter Grant Shapps knuckleheaded, Shapps could be forgiven for blowing a gasket: Halfon has been brooding about Mays leadership since she sacked him in a reshuffle.

Tory MP Robert Halfon referred to Grant Shapps as knuckle-headed despite brooding about May's leadership since his sacking

So was it a guilty conscience that led Halfon to sidle up to Shapps in the Commons last week and apologise? Halfon was overheard saying: Sorry Grant, I thought you wouldnt mind. Shappss expression indicated otherwise...

Nadine Dorries left fellow Tory MP Bob Neill incensed when she accused him of being an anti-May plotter.

Deciding a simple denial was just not enough, the normally mild-mannered Mr Neill  chairman of the Commons Justice Committee  decided to give Nadine both barrels. Shes in fantasy land. She should go and lie down in a darkened room and engage brain before mouth.

With the Cabinet split over Brexit, the plotters unable to land a blow against Mrs May and no fresh face emerging to save the party, Tory MPs are struggling to rationalise their political limbo.

One brainbox backbencher  who came to the Commons after a stellar career in the City  has made the best effort to sum up their situation, telling MPs in the tearoom: We are, Im afraid, trapped in a state of sub-optimal equilibrium.

Will kinky boots Rosie step into Bettys shoes?

John Bercow is said to be backing novice Deputy Speaker Labour MP Rosie Winterton as his successor.

With her background as a strict ex-whip and penchant for kinky boots, below, Raunchy Rosie is being hailed as the new Betty  a reference to fellow Northern lass Betty Boothroyd, the former Tiller Girl dancer turned greatest modern-day Speaker.

'Raunchy' Rosie Winterton is said to have John Bercow's backing to succeed him as speaker, writes Black Dog

Battling Labour MP Paul Flynn, 82, whose Private Members Bill to legalise cannabis for medicinal purposes passed its first Commons hurdle last week, is no quitter. Some of my campaigns take 25 years  and I hope to be here to see them all become law, he says. That means he may need to carry on as an MP until he is past 100. Why not? he flashed back.

Spinning up a storm

When the Great Storm of 87 struck 30 years ago, No10 claimed PM Maggie Thatcher took immediate charge of the rescue  even though she was 6,000 miles away in Vancouver, Canada.

Former prime minister Margaret Thatcher is said to have been tearing her hair out when the storm of 87 struck

Now a veteran Whitehall insider says it was all piffle and that she was tearing her hair out because No10 didnt pick up the phone for hours amid all the chaos. Never let the facts

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has talked of suffering from the black dog of depression, the term coined by Winston Churchill to describe his own bouts of darker moods. With all due respect to Dr W, he may find that a regular dose of this Black Dog every Sunday morning may relieve the symptoms of his other black dog.
The lone survivor of a murderous attack that left four of his family members dead recalls how he was able to survive one of the most traumatic night's of his life.

Todd Holston said that on Wednesday, October 11, something felt off when his wife, Stacey, didn't answer the phone as he made his way back home from work.

Trusting his instincts, he phoned his wife's parents who agreed to check-in on her. Arriving at the house, they made a grizzly discovery.

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Todd Holston (right) is the lone survivor of a murderous attack that left four of his family members dead Wednesday evening

Suspect Arron Lawson, 23, is escorted into the Lawrence County Courthouse, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017

'(Stacy's mother) screamed, "Oh my God" and I heard a gunshot, and the phone hung up,' Houlston remembered during an interview with the Columbus Dispatch.

After a two day manhunt, police apprehended Aaron Lawson, 23, and charged him with one count of aggravated murder and three counts of murder in the shooting deaths of 28-year-old Stacey Jackson, 50-year-old Donald McGuire, 43-year-old Tammie McGuire and Jackson's son, 7-year-old Devin Holston.

But before authorities arrested Lawson on Friday, Holston would come face-to-face with a man police say executed a savage massacre against his family.

At 7pm, Holston arrived home to find his door ajar and Lawson inside, a man he had known for the past 10 years, wielding a pocket knife and appearing 'possessed.'

Shorter, and half Holston's 300 pounds, Lawson lashed out, stabbing the family man at least 10 times about the neck, temple and arms.

Courtesy ABC 6

Lawson (left) is accused of killing 28-year-old Stacey Jackson, 50-year-old Donald McGuire, 43-year-old Tammie McGuire and Jackson's son, 7-year-old Devin Holston (pictured right)

'He was quick,' Holston remembered, but 'I beat the living crap out of him.'

After a short struggle, Holston managed to wrestle the knife away from Lawson and lock himself inside the home. It was only then, however, that he discovered the bodies.

The suspect had known 28-year-old Stacey Jackson (pictured) and her family for years

'I don't know why he did what he did,' Holston told the Dispatch. 'He was down at my house almost every day. We'd make him meals.'

Holston recalled during the knife attack that Lawson told him: 'There are people breaking into homes and I thought that you were one of them.'

'His whole body shook like he snapped out of something. He looked like he was possessed.'

Holston managed to save his two-year son, Braxton, whisking him away from danger as he flagged neighbors for help.

Lawson was arrested and taken into custody in southern Ohio on Friday after fleeing into woods near the trailer where Holston's family was murdered.

Lawrence County Sheriff Jeff Lawless said that Lawson is an outdoorsman and hunter who liked being in the woods, but 'I think he was just plumb worn out from being out in the elements' during a manhunt that spanned two cool nights.

Holston was stabbed over 10 times during a fight with the suspected killer (Pictured: 50-year-old Donald McGuire and 43-year-old Tammie McGuire)

Brooke McCain, left, and Brandon McGuire, right, break down during a media conference on the deaths of four of their family members Friday, Oct. 13, 2017

A county prosecutor said on Saturday he'll pursue the death penalty against Lawson if he's found guilty of the homicides.

The suspect was arrested roughly 12 miles (19 kilometers) south of where authorities found Holston's wife, son and in-laws.

Around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, deputies spotted Lawson in a blue truck in Ironton, about 15 miles south of where the victims were found, the sheriff said.

Deputies chased Lawson before he crashed his vehicle into a ditch and ran into the woods, the sheriff said.

A few relatives of the victims said after the arrest that they had seen no sign or warning of such violence by Lawson, who lived up the road from the trailer home.

Lawson, according to The Dispatch, was a relative of Holston's in-laws and had been familiar with the family for years.
An anti-war group has been accused of trying to 'indoctrinate' children by encouraging schools to hand out 'white poppies' to their pupils.

The Peace Pledge Union (PPU) has won the backing of the National Union of Teachers in its plan to get schools to endorse the pacifist symbol.

The organisation, which was formed in 1934, believes red poppies are part of a culture of 'sanitising, simplifying or even glorifying war'.

The Peace Pledge Union (PPU) has won the backing of the National Union of Teachers in its plan to get schools to endorse the pacifist symbol, pictured

The group said in a post on its website that introducing white poppies to schools was intended to 'promote a culture of peace' rather than 'sanitising war'.

But Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, called the plan 'misguided'.

He told The Sunday Telegraph: 'I think it is perfectly reasonably for schools to discuss different political perspectives, but they should not be indoctrinating children with a left wing political agenda.'

It is selling packs of 100 white poppies for 60, alongside leaflets explaining their purpose, with the suggestion they are handed out for free.

Colonel Richard Kemp, who commanded British forces in Afghanistan, called the plan to encourage white poppies 'misguided'

There was controversy in 2015 when Jeremy Corbyn hinted he was planning to wear a white poppy during Remembrance Day commemorations at the Cenotaph.

The Labour leader was tackled by his own MPs for the suggestion, which he later rowed back on.

Symon Hill, from the PPU, said: 'The last thing we want to do is indoctrinate children or impose our views on them.

'We want young people to have the chance to consider a range of views.'
Dominic Richardson, 23, and the mystery woman were caught on camera as they romped at Hackney Downs station

A psychology student filmed having sex with a woman at a train station says he only realised his encounter had gone viral when his mother told him about the video.

Dominic Richardson, 23, said he had been on a 12-hour drinking session before the 7am romp at Hackney Downs station with an older redhead hed met at the pub.

The student, from Ipswich in Suffolk, said he only realised the incident in east London had been filmed when his mother asked if it was him having sex in the 90-second clip.

'The first thing I knew about the video was when my mum phoned me, asking me if it was me,' he told the Mirror Online.

'I had no idea I was being filmed. I thought other people were too far down the platform.'

Facing relentless mocking for the video's short duration since it surfaced online, Richardson claims he took the older European woman home to carry on after starting at the station.

'People have been saying I only lasted 90 seconds but thats not true. I stopped because the train was coming,' he said.

'I regret it. It was 90 seconds of madness.'

This shameless couple romped enthusiastically at Hackney Downs station in east London before readjusting their clothes and casually strolling across the platform to board a train

He says he swapped numbers with the woman, who he thinks was aged 'about 45', but police still have his phone after he was given a 60-day drink ban on October 9.

The second year student at the University of East London confessed to police but added that it was out of character because he had 'been drinking all day and night'.

Richardson told officers that he had not been socialising much with his friends and had been drinking substantial amounts of rum.

A member of the public recorded the display on her mobile phone and said she was 'shocked' and 'outraged' by what she had seen so early in the morning.

Richardson has previous convictions for drink driving, but not for 'similar matters'.

British Transport Police have issued an appeal to try and trace the red-headed woman but are yet to find her.

They said today there has been no update in the investigation in 'the Hackney Down incident' and urged members of the public to come forward with information.

Footage of the couple went viral online, with images shared by thousands of Twitter users and uploaded to YouTube.

They were filmed by a woman as they stripped off for sex on August 26, Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court heard.

Zara Khan, prosecuting, said: 'A member of the public has recorded this on her mobile phone which shows an incident between the defendant and an unknown female.

A Tweet of the graphic video (above), posted yesterday at 1.20pm, has attracted more than 4,200 retweets - and hundreds of comments from disgusted viewers

'They were having sexual intercourse on the platform. The lady that took the video footage said that she was shocked an outraged.

'Certainly, the offence takes place early in the morning, there were members of the public in and around the location.

'It was daylight and it was during the school holidays and on a route that takes you to Stansted Airport.

'Subsequently Mr Richardson was arrested and he did make certain admissions in interview.

'He said that he had been drinking that day. He said, 'I have not really been drinking much recently but I have had too much, I was drinking all day and night.'

Miss Khan said that Richards accepts his lewd behaviour was appalling.

She added: 'I can say that there is nothing similar on record. There is, however, some driving matters and that is driving while intoxicated.'

Davis Jones, defending Richardson, said: 'He has obviously pleaded guilty from the outset and I would ask you to credit him.

'He gave a full account to the police and an explanation. What he says today is that he is mortified and ashamed.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: 'We are investigating reports of a couple engaging in sexual activity on a platform at Hackney Downs station'. The copulating couple casually caught the train just moments after the incident

'He does not seek to hide behind the fact that he was drunk but he simply seeks to use it as an explanation.'

Mr Jones said that Richardson was working 50-hour weeks on top of his university education and wanted to unwind over the bank holiday weekend.

He met the girl in a nearby pub and 'bumped' into her before they went to the train station.

Mr Jones said: 'He says that the area was not where he usually frequents. What has happened has happened and he accepted he took part in it.

'He said it was unlike him and not something he has ever done before.'

Richardson only found out he was an internet sensation when his mother and friends informed him of the video circulating online.

Mr Jones continued: 'Most people know of this matter.

'He says that he cannot turn anywhere without people talking to him because of this moment of madness. Thankfully others were not there.'

Magistrate Linda Logan said: 'We are going to give you a community order and an alcohol abstinence programme of 60 days.

'That tag will be fitted with a piece of equipment but it can detect whether you have had any alcohol to drink.

'You cannot drink alcohol for 60 days. If the tag goes off that will get reported back to the court and you may receive a different type of sentence.'

Richardson admitted outraging public indecency.

He was also ordered to pay 85 court costs and a victim surcharge of 85.
Fast-moving fires spread by shifting winds in California Saturday as the death toll rose to 38 - the deadliest in state history, with hundreds of people still missing.

Thousands more Californians were forced to evacuate their homes on Saturday, as officials said of the 38 confirmed fatalities 20 of those dead are in Sonoma County.

Some 100,000 people have been forced from their homes, including 3,000 evacuated on Saturday from the city of Santa Rosa, about 50 miles north of San Francisco, and another 250 from nearby Sonoma city.

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An aerial view shows the devastation of the Coffey Park neighborhood after a wildfire swept through Saturday in Santa Rosa, Ca. Most of the homes in the shot are completely gone

Another aerial view shows the devastation of the Coffey Park neighborhood. Homes have been reduced to ashes, while all that remains are the remnants of cars

An exposed gas line shoots out flames on a wildfire-ravaged property Saturday in Sonoma

About 10,000 firefighters supported by air tankers and helicopters overhead were battling 16 major wildfires, some encompassing several smaller merged blazes, in areas north of San Francisco that have consumed nearly 214,000 acres over seven- an area larger than New York City.

'This is truly one of the greatest tragedies that California has ever faced. The devastation is just unbelievable. It is a horror that no one could have imagined,' California Governor Jerry Brown told a news conference in Santa Rosa.

The fires have damaged or destroyed about 5,700 structures, reducing homes and businesses to ash. The fires' death toll surpassed the 29 deaths from the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile a man walking to escape the fires stopped in his tracks when he saw a tree burning from the inside out.

'I've definitely not seen anything like this before,' Matthew McDermott, who's lived in Sonoma for 10 years, told CNN. 'We wanted to know the escape routes in case we needed them. The route to Poloma was open. I just stopped on the side of the road and the whole ridge is on fire.'

Matthew McDermott was escaping the wildfires but was stopped in his tracks at the sight of a tree on fire from the inside out

McDermott saw this burning tree scene while escaping the fires, pictured with his face covered so as not to inhale smoke (right)

A home burns after being destroyed by a wildfire in Sonoma, California on Saturday

A large commercial building ravaged by a wildfire is seen along highway 101 Saturday in Santa Rosa

Firefighters walk along a containment line as a wildfire burns Saturday in Sonoma

Homes gone as far as the eye can see in this aerial view of the Coffey Park neighborhood after a wildfire swept through

'It's an unwieldy beast right now,' fire information officer Dennis Rein said at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, the main staging area for the so-called Nuns Fire in Sonoma County, a world-renowned wine-producing region.

At least a dozen Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries were damaged or destroyed, throwing the state's wine industry and related tourism into disarray.

For the picturesque Napa Valley town of Calistoga, the winds were a double-edged sword. The town was spared by hazardous winds when they shifted, Mayor Chris Canning said, though he warned a resurgence could pose a new threat.

The town of roughly 5,000 people had been evacuated, he said.

A helicopter drops water over a wildfire burning behind a winery Saturday in Santa Rosa

Firefighters work to defend homes from an approaching wildfire in Sonoma Saturday

Firefighters work to defend homes from an approaching wildfire in Sonoma on Saturday

Firefighters from states including Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Colorado and Nevada have joined crews from California to battle the blazes.

From the air, some 70 helicopters and large aircraft including a 747, two DC-10s and about a dozen air tankers doused flames across the sprawling affected area with fire retardant, officials said.

On the ground, prison inmates were helping firefighters - sometimes digging lines to help contain fires, other times preparing meals at command centers, always watched over by guard.

In an area largely dependent on immigrant farm labor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they would temporarily suspend routine operations during the emergency, 'except in the event of a serious criminal presenting a public safety threat,' spokesman James Schwab said in a statement.

Ground crews gained on the wildfires on Friday, but drier weather and fast-shifting winds complicated efforts on Saturday, sparking a large new wildfire in Lake County, officials said.

The Nuns Fire, which had killed at least one person, was only 10 percent contained with winds threatening more residential areas, Cal Fire spokesman Antonio Negrete said.

But the more deadly Tubbs Fire, which killed at least 17 people in Sonoma County, was 44 percent contained, which officials considered a victory.

'It's cautious optimism, but it's optimism,' Negrete said of the Tubbs Fire.

With wildfires still raging across Northern California's famed wine regions the impact of which is still unmeasured, local people give their views on the ongoing disaster.Pictured: Ray Signorello, vineyard owner

With wildfires still raging across Northern California's famed wine regions the impact of which is still unmeasured, local people give their views on the ongoing disaster

With wildfires still raging across Northern California's famed wine regions the impact of which is still unmeasured, local people give their views on the ongoing disaster

With wildfires still raging across Northern California's famed wine regions the impact of which is still unmeasured, local people give their views on the ongoing disaster.Pictured: Pierre Birebent, winemaker

With wildfires still raging across Northern California's famed wine regions the impact of which is still unmeasured, local people give their views on the ongoing disaster.Pictured: is some of the damage in just a small area around the prime grape growing area of Napa Valley with many vineyards experiencing close calls

Cal Fire had estimated the fires would be contained by Oct. 20, but Rein said they may need to revise that date because of the winds that kicked up.

U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat from California, at the news conference with the governor in Santa Rosa pledged more federal aid to the region to help it through the devastation.

Whole neighborhoods of Santa Rosa have been reduced to landscapes of ash, smoldering debris and burned-out vehicles.

Some victims were asleep when flames engulfed their homes, and many survivors had only minutes to flee.

As parts of Santa Rosa were devastated, Calistoga, about 12 miles (20 km) to the northeast, faced hazardous winds that were forecast to push the Tubbs Fire toward town.

Mayor Canning said the shifting winds kept the flames at least two miles (3.2 km) from the city limit.

'If the winds shift and come back again, that's a big concern,' he said in a telephone interview.

All but 12 of the city's 5,200 people heeded evacuation orders and left, Canning said.

'Nobody was confrontational,' Canning said. 'When the police or firefighters knocked on doors, most people were already ready to go with their bags packed.'

With 235 people still missing on Saturday in Sonoma County alone, and rubble from thousands of incinerated dwellings yet to be searched, authorities have said the number of fatalities from the North Bay fires would likely climb.

The year's wildfire season is one of the worst in history in the United States, with nearly 8.6 million acres burned, just behind 2012, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Radicalised and violent students could soon be banned from the classroom in a major overhaul of school safety laws.

Legislation is expected to be introduced into the New South Wales parliament this week which will force students who pose a 'significant risk' to enrol in distance education.

Under current laws, principals are unable to take action against any pupil who commits a crime away from school grounds and outside school hours.

A student at a Sydney high school who was recently stopped from flying to Syria where he planned to fight for ISIS was allowed to continue attending classes because his actions weren't related to the school, The Daily Telegraph reported.

Radicalised and violent students could soon be banned from the classroom in a major overhaul of school safety laws (stock images)

Legislation is expected to be introduced into the New South Wales state parliament this week which will force students who pose a 'significant risk' to enrol in distance education. Pictured, notorious Australian terrorist Khaled Sharrouf and boys believed to be his sons

The proposed changes will see principals given the power to ban violent or radicalised pupils from attending class - whether the student's criminal behaviour took place in or outside school.

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes said the major shake-up is designed to bring the three-decade-old Education Act in line with modern-day threats.

'These are common sense changes to the Education Act that bring us into line with other jurisdictions,' Mr Stokes said, according to the paper.

'It's a sensible solution to dealing with modern-day problems that were not anticipated when the Education Act was drafted almost 30 years ago.

A member of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces removes an Islamic State flag in Syria

The proposed changes will see principals given the power to ban violent or radicalised pupils from attending class (stock image)

'The measures in this Bill are being put in place to uphold the public's expectation that schools remain safe, secure and collegial environments for both students and staff.'

The announcement has been met with a mixed reaction on social media, with many suggesting the proposed changes are well overdue.

'It's about time,' one wrote, while another said: '30 years too late'.

Others argued the proposal will only serve to further alienate students prone to radicalisation.
The DUP MPs propping up the Conservative government have told Theresa May she must 'rein in' Chancellor Philip Hammond over Brexit or his position will become 'untenable'.

Senior members of the Northern Irish party - which is backing Mrs May in a confidence and supply arrangement - said Mr Hammond is 'causing unnecessary division' in the Tory Party.

One source said the chancellor is 'winding people up' with his 'very unsettling' behaviour.

Theresa May (pictured today arriving for church with husband Philip) is facing calls from her DUP allies to rein in the Chancellor

Senior members of the Northern Irish party - which is backing Mrs May in a confidence and supply arrangement - said Mr Hammond is 'causing unnecessary division' with the Tory Party

Speaking to The Telegraph, the source explained: 'The DUP will continue to keep a close watch on the situation but we think that Mrs May needs to do something to rein her chancellor in and to make it clear to him that this kind of behaviour has to stop.

'It is not for us to dictate to the prime minister how she should manage her cabinet but as informed observers with a vested interest in making Brexit work we are deeply concerned.

'If this behaviour continues the chancellor's position becomes untenable.'

The DUP source also said that Mr Hammond seems to be 'highly sceptical' of Brexit and explained the party's MPs had held talks with Conservative backbenchers displeased with his attitude.

Mr Hammond appears to be 'trying to frustrate the negotiating process', the politician added.

A series of other Tory grandees also told The Telegraph they were unhappy with the chancellor's performance, with one adding: 'Hammond is a s***'.

The chancellor is battling to keep his job in No. 11 after business leaders and Tory figures rounded on him for being an 'Eeyore' over Brexit.

Earlier this week the PM slapped down Mr Hammond after he publicly said he would not release all the money needed to prepare for a no deal Brexit until the last possible moment.

A series of other Tory grandees also told The Telegraph they were unhappy with the chancellor's performance, with one adding: 'Hammond is a s***'

He has been criticised for appearing to be unwilling to spend cash on preparations for a no-deal outcome in talks with the EU.

There is also speculation that Mr Hammond has concerns about Mrs May's plan to introduce a price cap energy firms.

Nigel Lawson, who served as chancellor under Margaret Thatcher, said Mr Hammond's predictions are 'very close to sabotage' and that he should be axed from the cabinet.

Asked whether he should remain as chancellor, Lord Lawson told BBC2's Daily Politics on Friday: 'I fear not. I fear that he is unhelpful.

Chancellor's charge sheet Times the Chancellor has undermined the Prime Minister, or Brexit: July 12, 2016 Within days of the referendum, Philip Hammond claims it could take six years to leave the EU. October 4, 2016 He warns the Tory Party conference of a 'roller coaster' ride and 'turbulence' as Britain leaves the EU. October 19, 2016 The Chancellor is slapped down by Mrs May for suggesting international students could be taken out of the Government's net migration target. November 20, 2016 He warns that Britain faces higher inflation, slower growth and 'unprecedented uncertainty' because of the Brexit vote. April 4, 2017 Straying again from government policy, Mr Hammond says that leaving the EU without a deal is 'ridiculous'. June 22, 2017 The Chancellor warns businesses are not investing in the UK because they fear a 'cliff edge' Brexit. July 27, 2017 He enrages Number 10 by claiming 'literally nobody' wants migration to fall sharply after Brexit. July 28, 2017 While Mrs May is abroad, Mr Hammond announces the Brexit transition period will last three years. September 25, 2017 He refuses four times to say Mrs May should fight the next election. Advertisement

'He may not intend it but in practice what he is doing is very close to sabotage.'

Meanwhile Marcus Dolman, the British Exporters Association, said Mr Hammond is being too 'negative'.

And Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng, an aide to the chancellor, admitted Mr Hammond has a 'temperament' issue which can make him appear gloomy.
An Australian man is facing 15 years behind bars after being named a suspect for allegedly bringing a mixture of marijuana, tobacco and prescription-only drugs into Bali.

Joshua James Baker is currently facing charges of drug importation, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years, and drug possession, which is a 12 year maximum jail term.

Mr Baker was apprehended by police at Ngurah Rai airport on October 8 with an alleged 28 grams of marijuana and 37 pills of diazepam, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Joshua James Baker (pictured) is facing up to fifteen years behind bars in an Indonesian jail

The 32-year-old is being held by police in Bali after drugs were allegedly found in his luggage

Bali police spokesman Hengky Widjaja said that the 32-year old, who was born in Mount Isa, Queensland, had been named a suspect but remained under doctor's observation.

In the Indonesia's justice system, naming someone a suspect in means that authorities believe they have enough evidence for charges to be filed.

The minimum sentence in Indonesia for drug possession is four years, and five years for importation.

Mr Baker previously evaded Balinese police for 10 hours by allegedly escaping from a toilet window as they watched TV after he was arrested at the airport.

He was finally detained by police after they allegedly caught him trying to bring antidepressants into the country.

Police say the man managed to borrow a staff member's phone at a nearby mini-market before he got a taxi to visit a friend,The West reported.

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Mr Baker, from Mt Isa in north Queensland, has been officially declared a suspect by police

Mr Baker, who reportedly escaped custody while the police 'were too excited watching television', caught the taxi to a fake home address to throw off police.

However, the Queenslander's freedom was short-lived as he was caught by authorities while he was having lunch at a hotel in Kuta, a two-and-a-half hour drive from the airport.

'Apparently Baker is smart ... he pretended it was his house, like trying to open the gate, but apparently he went away once the taxi was gone,' the deputy director of the narcotics directorate at Bali police, Sudjarwoko, told the publication.

Mr Baker, who was stopped by customs in Bali on Sunday for a holiday, reportedly told police he took the drugs from Australia and believed he is not guilty because it is legal to use marijuana in Australia.

The Queensland man is in custody at a Balinese police hospital but has not yet been officially declared a suspect.

Ngurah Rai Customs and Excise chief Budi Harjanto told the publication his officers became suspicious of Mr Baker after his luggage was scanned.

Inside his bag officers allegedly discovered 36 grams of marijuana mixed with loose tobacco and 37 Diazepam anti-depressant pills, Mr Harjanto said.

Police claim 36 grams of marijuana was found in Mr Baker's bag when he arrived from Thailand

Police claim they also discovered 37 Diazepam anti-depressant pills in Joshua Baker's luggage

Mr Harjanto claimed the marijuana tested positive in a narcotic test.

'He said he brought it only for individual use, for himself. He said the drugs were planned to be used by himself. But we don't know the truth,' Mr Harjanto said.

Customs officers handed Mr Baker over to police on Monday to be interviewed but the 32-year-old allegedly escaped after asking to visit the toilet.

Police are still conducting tests on the Diazepam, Deputy Director of the Narcotic Directorate of Bali Police, Suwardjoko, told News.com.au.

'He said that it is an antidepressant. He said he is sick, that he got depression, so he needs the medicine,' he said.

'We haven't conducted intensive interrogation of him. We will check it in the lab first, after that, we will conduct intensive interrogation.'
A recently baptized mother of two shot and killed both her sons before killing herself (Pictured: Esbeidi Sanchez, 25)

Just days after receiving a baptism from her local church, a Florida mother of two shot and killed her sons before turning the gun on herself.

Authorities in Bascom say that on October 6, Esbeidi (pronounced Es-Betty) Sanchez waited for her two young sons to walk through the door after school and shot them both in the head.

After killing Ronaldinio 'Ronny' Ramirez-Sanchez, 7 and critically injuring Gustavo 'Angel' Ramirez-Sanchez, 5, she used the gun on herself.

Her husband, Thomas Sanchez, came home to discover the gruesome scene, frantically placing a call for help with local police, according to USA Today.

'Angel' Ramirez-Sanchez was airlifted to a nearby hospital in Tallahassee, where he pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

Pastor John Smith, head of the First Baptist Church in Malone, said the community is still in shock over the incident, struggling to reconcile with the events of last week.

Esbeidi Sanchez is said to have waited for her two young sons to walk through the door after school (Pictured: Ronaldinio Ramirez-Sanchez (R), 7, and Gustavo 'Angel' Ramirez-Sanchez, 5)

'Everybody's flabbergasted,' Smith said. 'She was a very beautiful lady and seemed like she had a real sweet personality. She didn't indicate that anything was wrong whatsoever.'

Police said that Sanchez, 25, had left a suicide note, detailing the hardships in her life. She failed, however, to convey why she chose to take the lives of her young children.

'The note that she left does indicate that this is what she wanted to do,' said Capt. Scott Edwards of the Jackson County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office..

Her husband, Thomas Sanchez (pictured) came home to discover the gruesome scene and called for help

'Basically it was describing some incidents that occurred in her past that probably led up to this. It mentions the kids, but it doesn't mention why she would do that to the kids. It's probably one of the things we'll never know.'

As for Thomas, one neighbor told USA Today that 'he's accepted it... but just like everybody else, he doesn't understand it.'

Esbeidi Sanchez was said to be highly involved with her children's studies and regularly attended church with Pastor Smith.

On October 1, she was baptized at her church, which was attended by her children and husband.

'When you go down in the water, it's like Jesus being buried in the tomb,' Smith told USA Today.

'And when you come out of the water, you're resurrected to a new life. And from that point on, you're walking with Jesus.'

Teachers at her sons' school were equally stunned over the news, who saw Esbeidi Sanchez as a caring parent.

'Mama was very involved in the school,' said Bryant Hardy, Malone Elementary assistant principal.

'We loved their whole family. Two very sweet kids, always smiling. Every time I walked by them, they always had a hand stuck up in the air to give me high five. Everything was good to them. They were just good kids.'
More and more women are participating in political affairs in China. (Photo by Xu Ye from Peoples Daily)

A total of 551 female delegates have been elected to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to be started on October 18th in Beijing, accounting for 24.1% of the total 2,287 representatives.

The ratio is 1.1 percentage points higher than the figure 5 years ago when the CPC held its 18th National Congress.

The proportion rise came as more and more Chinese females have scored success after engaging in political careers.

Hua Chunying, who has been selected as a delegate in this years National Congress, is one of the spokespersons of Chinas Foreign Ministry. Zhang Qiyue, Consul General of China in New York, has been elected as a delegate of the 16th,17th and 18th CPC National Congress.

Womens participation in political affairs is an important index to measure a countrys democratic progress. The changes can be attributed to Chinas great efforts in recent years to promote gender equality and protect womens rights and interests.

The anti-domestic violence law implemented by China starting from March 2016, for instance, has provided the women with a new weapon to protect their personal rights.

By the end of this June, a total of 322.11 billion (about $49 billion) of female-exclusive start-up loans has been granted to about 5.89 million women.

In addition, China has conducted free cervical cancer screening for more than 60 million rural women and free breast cancer screening for over 10 million rural women.

With improved protection over their rights and interests, Chinese women are playing a more important role in national development.

The average life expectancy of Chinese women reached 79.43 years in 2015, increasing by 2.06 when compared with that in 2010. Whats more, maternal mortality rate stood at 20.1/100,000, lowered by nearly 10% when compared with the figure in 2010.

Females accounted for 42.9% of the total employees in China, and 55% of the Internet entrepreneurs were women.

Besides, 66% of the Chinese medalist in Rio 2016 Summer Olympics were female athletes.

The country will make more efforts in the future to solve the existing problems for women in marriage, employment, social security, land rights and interests, as well as personal rights, vowed Shen Yueyue, president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF).
Officials at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph have issued a shelter-in-place order after a stolen vehicle with three people inside slammed through a fence Saturday.

The Air Force said two civilians in the vehicle were arrested as a third since fled the scene and is believed to be on base, according to a MySanAntonio.com report.

Officials are currently searching for the third individual. No injuries have been reported.

Spokesperson for Joint Base, Dan Hawkins, said the incident is currently under investigation.

A shelter-in-place order has been issued for Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph after a stolen vehicle with three people inside slammed through a fence Saturday

Joint Base San Antonio issued an official statement on the matter to Facebook Saturday evening

Details on the crash location and intent of the three suspects have not been specified. The suspects in custody were not armed.

'Right now they have two people detained, and we are being assisted by local officials, including the Bexar County sheriff,' Hawkins said in a statement.

'I know there was a police helicopter in the air, but I don't know who it belongs to and right now we are currently looking for one individual we believe is on the base.'

Joint Base San Antonio issued an official statement on the matter to Facebook Saturday night.

The incident is currently under investigation, spokesperson for Joint Base, Dan Hawkins said

'ALL RESIDENTS: Security Forces is looking for 1 x African American male, last seen in a black and white t-shirt and blue jeans. Approx 26 years old and skinny, about 5-9 to 6 ft tall. Believed to be UNARMED.

'He is running and likely tired. Will more than likely try to enter a house and hide,' the statement read.

'All residents, shelter in place and lock all windows and doors until Giant Voice gives an all clear.

'Stop check and pass will be on-going at the Randolph gates until the suspect is captured.'

Anyone with further information has been asked to contact emergency personnel.
A loving brother has captured the moment that one of his sisters flew all the way from London to Melbourne to celebrate their sibling's milestone 30th birthday.

The man is sitting at a table in a cafe with the birthday girl last Saturday when her sister comes up behind her, pats her on the back and says, 'Happy birthday.'

The woman is so shocked that she looks between her brother and sister for a moment, totally speechless, before pushing back her chair and standing up to hug her sister.

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Visible shocked but delighted, she jumps up from the table at the sound of her sister's voice

A surprised 30-year-old hugs her sister, who flew from London to Melbourne for her birthday

'Are you f*cking kidding?' she finally says, holding onto her sister who says, 'I flew halfway across the world to be with you.'

As the girls' brother films their embrace, the birthday girl breaks down in tears and hugs her sister again.

'You didn't really think I'd miss it, did you?' her sister asks, while the woman looks between her siblings and demands to know if her brother knew about this.

'I brought you a present and everything,' the woman says, while her speechless sister continues to cry, before finally realising she is being filmed.

The woman's sister walked up behind her and tapped her, giving her the shock of her life

The woman can't believe her sister flew 16,900 to celebrate her 30th birthday in Australia

The lucky sister can't believe what her family has arranged for her, and starts crying in a cafe

'We grew up on the Gold Coast as the happiest family in the world,' their brother explained.

'When I was younger my Dad passed away and our Mum raised us. Unfortunately, our Mum got sick a few years ago so now it's just me and my two sisters.

'My sister has never had a proper birthday party before and has been planning her 30th for months [so] I flew to Melbourne for my sister 30th and my other sister surprised her by coming to Melbourne, Australia from the UK.'
Harleen Grewel died in the car crash in Brooklyn on Friday morning

A New York City driver who police say fled his burning car leaving his friend behind to die, is now being hailed a hero by his brother.

'He did not just run away from the scene. He lost his phone in the car [and was] unable to call the ambulance,' Waheed Ahmad, 21, said about his brother Saeed Ahmad, 23 to the New York Post.

Saeed was arrested at a hospital where he was being treated for burns to his arms and legs following the crash in Brooklyn Friday after leaving his friend Harleen Grewel, 25, burning inside the passenger's seat according to police.

'He tried to get her out. That's how his hands and his legs and his neck got burned. He couldn't get her out. The fire got too crazy. It just burned so quick,' said Ahmad's brother.

It was in the early morning hours that Saeed crashed a 2007 Infiniti G35 sedan into a concrete barrier, he hailed a cab while leaving behind Grewel.

Saeed 'was in pain' and since 'the ambulance wasn't coming' he asked the taxi to take him to Maimonides Hospital in Borough Park, his brother told the Post.

Saeed Ahmad faces charges including criminally negligent homicide and leaving the scene of an accident

Footage captured at the scene shows a tailback forming as the burning car sits in the middle of the lane

Grewel was pronounced dead at the scene after her charred body was found in the front passenger seat by firefighters.

'Everything is chaos right now. We are shocked. It's horrifying for the girl and her family,' said Waheed.

He added, 'He's emotionally distraught. Every time they ask him about what happened, he's crying and screaming. His friend burned alive.'

Saeed was allegedly weaving in and out of traffic on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway before his 2007 Infiniti G35 hit a barrier.

Other motorists on the highway were forced to swerve to avoid crashing into the fireball before emergency services rushed to the scene at 4am.

Footage captured at the scene shows a tailback forming as the burning car sits in the middle of the lane.

Saeed admitted to police that he had been drinking alcohol before the crash but a subsequent blood test revealed he was not legally drunk.

He was charged with criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and speeding.
Religious believers will be vulnerable to discrimination suits and some could lose their jobs if same-sex marriage is legalised, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney says.

Anthony Fisher supported the 'no' vote in the postal survey during his homily at mass on Sunday, telling worshippers the government should 'keep out of the friendship business and out of the bedroom'.

'The state has no business telling us who we should love and how, sexually or otherwise,' he told the St Mary's Cathedral congregation on Sunday.

Anthony Fisher, the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, says religious believers will be vulnerable to discrimination suits and some could lose their jobs if same-sex marriage is legalised

Supporters of same-sex marriage are pictured at the Post Your Yes Vote Street Party in Sydney last week

'The only kind of friendship the state has a proper interest in recognising and regulating is heterosexual marriage, because that's what leads to children - new citizens - and gives them the best start in life.'

Archbishop Fisher said it was best for children to have a mother and a father, and that's what marriage was about.

He said the vote had implications for religious freedom and it wasn't unreasonable for people to say they couldn't support a change to marriage laws until protections were in place.

'If overseas experience is anything to go by, if marriage is redefined it will be very hard to speak up for real marriage anymore - in schools, at work, socially,' he said.

Archbishop Fisher told worshippers the government should 'keep out of the friendship business and out of the bedroom'

'The state has no business telling us who we should love and how, sexually or otherwise,' he told the St Mary's Cathedral congregation

'Traditional believers will be vulnerable to discrimination suits and other kinds of bullying for their beliefs. Some may lose their jobs, promotions, businesses, political careers.'

Archbishop Fisher previously weighed into the marriage debate last month when he and Dan White, the executive director of Sydney Catholic Schools, sent parents a letter encouraging them to vote 'no' in the postal survey.

The result of the voluntary postal survey will be announced on November 15.
Virginia State University in on lockdown after a shooting on campus.

University police tweeted on Saturday night, 'Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow.'

A second tweet said police were still on the scene, the campus remains on lockdown and to continue to avoid the area.

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Virginia State University in on lockdown after a shooting on campus reportedly leaves one person in critical condition

University police tweeted on Saturday night 'Shooting on Campus'

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia school was celebrating the final day of homecoming.

According to CBS affiliate WTVR 6, one person was shot and rushed to VCU Medical Center in serious condition.

The shooting occurred on the 1 block of Hayden Street at around 8.25pm at a hip-hop concert.

In the wake of the shooting, according to WTVR 6, several fights erupted at the concert.

VSU police said they are searching for a possible suspect they describe as a black male wearing a white jersey with blue number 23.

If you have information that could help officers, contact Chesterfield Police at 804-748-1251 or 804-524-5411.
A glamorous model and heavily-tattooed clothing store owner have been caught up in a string of criminal offences ranging from drug supply to possessing valuable stolen art.

Sara Hughes, 26, is an aspiring model and up until recently was living the dream bohemian lifestyle Byron Bay is famous for.

Ms Hughes, also known as Sara Alida, was spending time with another Byron local, 49-year-old Adam Morgan, who was suspected by police to be one of the biggest drug dealers in the area.

Their relationship broke down when Mr Morgan allegedly harassed her at a rented luxury apartment and tried to run her car off the road,' the Daily Telegraph reported.

Mr Morgan was arrested in July for a string of alleged offences involving drugs and violence.

Ms Hughes has also been charged with possessing stolen goods in an unrelated incident.

Sara Hughes (pictured) is an aspiring model and up until recently was living the dream bohemian lifestyle Byron Bay is famous for

Ms Hughes was spending time with another Byron local, 49-year-old Adam Morgan (pictured), who was suspected by police to be one of the biggest drug dealers in the area

Their relationship broke down when Mr Morgan allegedly harassed her at a rented luxury apartment and tried to run her car off the road'

Ms Hughes, a private school student from Victoria who describes herself on her Instagram page as '69% feline', had been living in Byron Bay working as a model and living the accompanying indie lifestyle.

Locals say the two had been spotted all around town, dining in exclusive restaurants and staying in boutique hotels.

However, the relationship changed when the aspiring model approached police on July 20 claiming the clothes store owner had harassed her while staying in a luxury apartment. She then alleges he attempted to drive her car off the road.

Ms Hughes (pictured), who describes herself on her Instagram page as '69% feline', had been living in Byron Bay working as a model and living the accompanying indie lifestyle

Mr Morgan (pictured) had told friends he was helping Ms Hughes overcome a drug addiction

She was unaware that Mr Morgan had been arrested a day earlier, believed by police to be one half of a cocaine-supply ring.

Police allege Mr Morgan and his partner, 36-year-old Daniel Smith, would move up to a kilogram of the drug at a time.

Both have been charged with drug-supply charges, while Mr Morgan is also facing charges for his alleged conduct towards Ms Hughes, including predatory driving.

To further complicate the troubled relationship, Ms Hughes was discovered to be in the possession of stolen artwork, one piece costing $6,000, at a warehouse where she allegedly lives.

She has been charged with possessing stolen goods but was released on bail.

There is no suggestion Ms Hughes had any involvement in Mr Morgan's alleged drug-supplying.
A farmer in north-eastern Victoria has captured the moment he stumbled upon a brown snake eating a black snake.

John Northey was taking his dogs for a walk on his Bethanga property on Thursday when he came across the rare sight.

The farmer said snakes were common on the property but he had never seen such a scene.

Victorian farmer John Northey was taking his dogs for a walk on his property when he saw a brown snake eating a black snake

Mr Northey said he came across the reptiles as the brown snake was halfway through eating the black snake

'He was halfway through it by the look of it,' Mr Northey told told The Courier.

'But I couldn't tell you how long the other half was.

'I just thought it was something different, something you don't see everyday.'

Mr Northey said he kept his dogs and himself away from the snake, but the reptile only had eyes for its meal.

'I just thought it was something different, something you don't see everyday,' Mr Northey said

Senior Scientist from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Nick Clemann said snakes were coming out of their winter hibernation earlier, due to the warmer weather.

'Snakes are more common around the urban fringe or in rural parts of Victoria, but they can also be found close to cities and towns, particularly around watercourses and parkland,' Mr Clemann said.

'Tiger Snakes and Lowland Copperheads are the most frequently encountered snakes near the coast, while Eastern Brown Snakes are more common in drier areas. In some areas Red-bellied Black Snakes are also common.

'It is rare for these snakes to bite people, however they are all dangerously venomous.'
The beloved pet of a Perth family has made a miraculous recovery after being baited with poison in his own backyard.

'He couldn't walk, he couldn't stand up, he couldn't function,' tearful owner Carolyn Banks told 7News on Sunday.

She was told by the vet that the Dutch had most likely been poisoned, and has ingested a 'caustic substance' that burned his windpipe and stomach.

Dutch the Jack Russell is recovering from a suspected poisoning attack with a breathing tube

He is now using an air tube to breathe, but the damage was so severe that the 11-year-old dog may need further surgery to make the breathing tube permanent.

The pup has been in intensive vet care for the past three days, but now looks to have made a wonderful recovery.

The Jack Russell is already something of a miracle g, having survived a truck crash pet that killed his original owners in 2012.

Owner Carolyn Banks (right) is warning pet owners to be vigilant and always check their yards

The number of pet baitings that have been reported to the RSPCA is on the rise - there have been 31 cases between July and October this year, compared to just 17 in the same period last year.

Pet owners are warned that people are poison baiting both dogs and cats, and that it can happen anywhere.

'Be vigilant. Check everything that's different in your yard, and don't trust people walking past,' Ms Banks warned.
A woman who died after the bus she was travelling on rolled over in Victoria has been identified as 71-year-old Carmel Mitchell.

Mrs Mitchell was travelling home from a lawn bowls tournament, along with 29 elderly people, when their bus rolled and landed on its side on the Sunraysia Highway on Saturday.

The bus was reportedly travelling from Mildura to Ballarat when the accident occurred around 3.10pm, police said.

The driver lost control of the vehicle before swerving off the highway and rolling down an embankment.

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Mother-of-three Carmel Mitchell, 71, identified as the woman killed following a bus crash in Victoria on Saturday

Five others were in a critical condition after the bus rolled and landed on its side 200km north-west of Melbourne, Victoria

Mrs Mitchell was a mother-of-three and grandmother to seven, The Courier reports.

She was a prolific member of the community, having twice been elected as the ladies president for the Mt Xavier Bowling Club.

She also had over 30 years of involvement at the Creswick Lions Club, serving as president, secretary and treasurer.

Club secretary Pat Tacey described Mrs Mitchell as a 'wholehearted contributor to everything she did'.

The accident occurred about 3.10pm Saturday, on the Sunraysia Highway near Moonambel, police said

Ambulance helicopters took several patients with serious injuries to hospital

The driver lost control of the vehicle before swerving off the highway and rolling down an embankment

'People are in a state of disbelief that this could happen to someone who has been an integral part of our community for 40 years,' Mr Tacey told the publication.

Ambulance helicopters took three patients to Melbourne following the crash on Saturday, with two people in critical condition transported to The Alfred and a third taken to Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Three others were also in a critical condition, with 12 people in serious condition also taken to hospitals in Ballarat and Bendigo, Ambulance Victoria Spokesperson John Mullen told Daily Mail Australia.

A relief centre was opened in Avoca, with 11 people transported there in a stable condition.

Twelve people in serious conditions were taken to hospitals in Ballarat and Bendigo

A relief centre was opened in Avoca, with 11 people transported there in a stable condition
Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice tweeted a short but stinging response to one of the most powerful pro-Israel lobbying groups in the nation after the organization praised the President's latest speech on Iran.

Rice, who served in the Obama administration, tweeted 'BS' to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) praising Donald Trump's remarks following a speech on Iran, which they said 'accurately outlined the history and continued dangers of Iran's aggression.'

During the speech delivered on Thursday, Trump said that Barack Obama's signature foreign policy agreement was no longer in the US's national security interest.

Former Security Adviser Susan Rice tweeted 'BS' to pro-Israel group AIPAC after they praised the President's decision to decertify the Iran nuclear deal

The group had said that Donald Trump had 'accurately outlined the history and continued dangers of Iran's aggression' during a speech earlier this week

The deal is designed to stop the Islamic Republic nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanctions relief

'I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification,' Trump said.

'We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout,' he continued.

The Iran nuclear deal, which was struck between Iran and the P5+1 (US, UK, China, Russia, France and Germany) in the summer of 2015, set limits on the Islamic Republic's nuclear aspirations in exchange for sanctions relief.

The deal was also designed to halt Iranian nuclear proliferation for 10 to 15 years.

The President, however, stopped short of declaring the US's complete withdraw from the agreement, instead leaving it up to congress to place higher benchmarks for the Iranians to meet in order to avoid future sanctions.

The UK, France and Germany released a joint statement criticizing Trump's decision, saying that the deal is in 'our shared national security interest'

Shortly after the speech, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May said in a joint statement that preserving the Iran deal 'is in our shared national security interest,' according to The Hill.

'We encourage the U.S. administration and Congress to consider the implications to the security of the U.S. and its allies before taking any steps that might undermine the [deal], such as re-imposing sanctions on Iran lifted under the agreement,' they added.

One leader who praised the President, however, was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described Trump's decision to decertify the agreement as 'courageous.'

'Trump has just created an opportunity to fix this bad deal, to roll back Iran's aggression and to confront its criminal support of terrorism,' said the premier, who has long argued that the 2015 accord must be 'fixed or nixed,' The Jerusalem Post reported.

Netanyahu was one of the deal's most vocal opponents before terms were reached in July 2015, going so far as to speak in front of the US Congress without the President Obama's approval in an effort to stop the deal.

AIPAC is one of the most influential lobbying groups in America, helping advance Israel-American policy decisions in Congress.
Future cloud computing will be a game between China, US: Alibaba

"The Computing Conference 2017" was held in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Oct. 11, 2017. Themed as "Apsara Intelligence", this year's conference ran until Oct. 14. (Photo: Peoples Daily Online)

The global cloud computing sector in the future will be a game between China and the US, a chief of Chinese internet giant Alibaba said Thursday at a conference.

In the next 6 to 12 months, Alibaba Cloud, the subsidiary of Alibaba Group, will face the same difficulties and challenges its American counterparts have encountered, said Hu Xiaoming, President of Alibaba Cloud, at the "Computing Conference 2017" in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

Cloud computing will be applied to every industry because of increasing dependence on the internet in this digital era, said Hu, adding that it will bring more opportunities for firms engaged in digital transformation.

Alibaba Cloud is now the worlds third largest cloud computing company following Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Corp.s Azure.

The US has advantages in the cloud computing market as first comer, but with more driving engines, China will realize digital transformation at a pace faster than the US, Hu added.

Besides Alibaba, other leading tech runners like Baidu, Tencent, Huawei, Ucloud and Lenovo have joined the cloud computing ecosystem as well.

Of those industrial giants, Baidu focuses more on a combination of cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), while Lenovo eyes for digital transformation and industrial upgrade by integrating cloud computing and big data.

Hu said that a new research institute named DAMO Academy has been established by Alibaba to deal with the challenges emerging in the industrialization process of the cloud computing.

We hope the investment could be a long-term process so that the industrial partners can launch closer cooperation, he explained.

The DAMO Academy, formally established on Wednesday, will conduct studies on fundamental science and disruptive technology innovation. DAMO stands for "discovery, adventure, momentum and outlook".

Alibaba also has pledged to invest over 100 billion yuan (about $15.2 billion) over the next three years in advanced technology development.

The3A group, covering Alibaba, AWS and Azure, led the global cloud computing sector in 2016 in terms of market share, according to a report released by authoritative research institute Gartner in late September.

China should work out the standards for cloud data as soon as possible, encourage domestic service providers to explore overseas market, and offer high-tech supports to countries along the Belt and Road and globalization process of Chinese companies, industrial experts suggested.

Hosted by Alibaba, the Computing Conference is a major worldwide event in the field of cloud computing.

In this years meeting, about 450 tech firms exhibited their latest innovation-oriented products covering AI, visual intelligence, computing chip, quantum computing, cloud computing, big data, driverless system, smart home and city management.
An elderly woman has allegedly been robbed, raped and forced to shower by a teenager during a horrific home invasion.

The 84-year-old was the victim of the sexual attack in her Perth home on Friday morning and police had been searching for her assailant.

Police have arrested a boy, 15, at a home on Sunday and he has been questioned by detectives over the incident.

Police have arrested a boy, 15, at a home on Sunday and he has been questioned by detectives over the incident

An elderly woman was allegedly robbed, raped and forced to shower by a teenager during a horrific home invasion

The 84-year-old was the victim of the sexual attack in her Perth home on Friday morning and police had been searching for her assailant

The elderly woman is reportedly badly injured and severely traumatised after the boy allegedly broke into her Waikiki home and attacked her.

The incident occurred just after 5am. She was sleeping at the time of the break-in.

She was home alone when the teenager allegedly smashed their way into the house, pinned her on the ground and sexually assaulted her.

The elderly woman is reportedly badly injured and severely traumatised after the boy allegedly broke into her Waikiki home and attacked her

Forensics attended the house throughout Friday attempting to find DNA of the male, who allegedly forced the woman to shower after he raped her

The 84-year-old was taken to hospital where she was treated but has since been released.

Forensics attended the house throughout Friday attempting to find DNA of the male, who allegedly forced the woman to shower after he raped her.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be identified, was arrested and taken in for questioning by WA Police Sexual Assault Squad.

He remains in police custody.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has stared down threats from North Korea after they issued a chilling warning to Australia for supporting the US and South Korea.

Earlier this week the Pyongyang regime criticised Australia's 'dangerous moves' and said that if they continued it will not be able to 'avoid disaster'.

But on Sunday Ms Bishop said the remarks instead strengthened Australia's resolve to find a peaceful solution.

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Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (pictured) has stared down threats from North Korea after they issued a chilling warning to Australia for supporting the US and South Korea

'Australia is not a primary target and North Korea has made threats against Australia before,' Ms Bishop told reporters in Sydney.

'North Korea's threats only strengthen our resolve to find a peaceful solution to the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula caused entirely by North Korea's illegal, threatening and provocative behaviour.'

However, the government expects that the rogue state's provocative pattern of behaviour, which has included nuclear weapon tests, will continue.

The Korean Central News Agency published the threats after Ms Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne met their South Korean counterparts in Seoul last week.

Earlier this week the Pyongyang regime criticised Australia's 'dangerous moves' and said that if they continued it will not be able to 'avoid disaster' (pictured is North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un)

Ms Bishop said that Australia is not a 'primary target' and that North Korea had made threats against Australia before, with the latest warnings strengthening Australia's resolve to find a peaceful solution (pictured is a test fire of a rocket in North Korea)

Attributed to a spokesman for North Korea's Foreign Ministry, the statement warned Australia against joining the US in putting pressure on their regime.

'Should Australia continue to follow the US in imposing military, economic and diplomatic pressure upon the DPRK despite our repeated warnings, they will not be able to avoid a disaster,' it read.

The statement also mentioned Ms Bishop, saying she 'personally expressed her support for the stand of the US to consider all options including the use of force towards the DPRK'.

'Turning Australian territory into a front-line base for the US invasion of the DPRK and sending its troops as the 'shock brigade' for the war of aggression pursued by the US are tantamount to a suicidal act of bringing back the misery that Australia had gone through during the past Korean War.'

The Korean Central News Agency published the threats after Ms Bishop and Defence Minister Marise Payne (second left and far left respectively) met their South Korean counterparts in Seoul last week

Attributed to a spokesman for North Korea's Foreign Ministry, the statement warned Australia against joining the US in putting pressure on North Korea's (leader Kim Jong-Un pictured) regime

Pyongyang has seemingly set out to embarrass China with escalating behaviour while it's largest ally was the centre of international attention, Ms Bishop says.

The Australian government expects the provocations to continue, she added, noting China will again be in the global spotlight later this week.

'There may be another provocative act by North Korea around the time of the 19th Party Congress - we hope not - but this seems to have been a pattern of behaviour,' she said.

Ms Bishop recently toured the village of Panmunjom within the demilitarised zone which separates North and South Korea.

The Foreign Minister called for a 'peaceful diplomatic solution' and said she stood by South Korea and the US in trying to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table.

Ms Bishop (left) recently toured the village of Panmunjom within the demilitarised zone which separates North and South Korea alongside Ms Payne (right)

Labor Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said her party supported the government in standing with allies against the 'greatest risk to stability and peace in our region'.

'What we do need to do is respond calmly and soberly and stand with the international community resolutely against this risk,' she told 2GB radio on Sunday.

Labor frontbencher Ed Husic said North Korea not only represented a threat to the region but also global security.

'Clearly we're not going to respond favourably to the type of statements that have been expressed by the North Koreans,' he told ABC television.

'The time is for sober and calm talk, not talk that makes things harder to deal with.'

The Australian government expects the provocations to continue, around the time of China's 19th Party Congress (pictured is a North Korean ballistic rocket launch)

Nuclear strikes on Australia could cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, with a projected blast radius for Sydney pictured

US President Donald Trump's continued threats of military action against Pyongyang have fuelled fears of conflict on the Korean peninsula.

But military intervention against North Korea would have 'devastating consequences', NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Friday, after Trump said diplomatic efforts had failed.

Recent tests show missiles fired by the rouge regime are now capable of hitting northern Australia, and some of the country's largest cities could even be in range.

Nuclear strikes on Australia could cause the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, according to calculations based on North Korea's latest weapons.

Almost 150,000 people would die if Sydney was hit, and landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge would be destroyed.
Chancellor Philip Hammond is plotting a 'big offer' that could include billions on housing and student loan write offs, it was claimed today.

The embattled Chancellor will deliver his Budget on November 22 amid calls for him to be fired over his downbeat approach to Brexit.

And Mr Hammond is drawing up his plans against a backdrop of troubling economic data and while needing to find billions to fill hole in his March Budget.

Reports today revealed a raft of ideas that could be included in the new plans.

Chancellor Philip Hammond (pictured on Friday in Washington) is plotting a 'big offer' that could include billions on housing and student loan write offs, it was claimed today

Brexit Secretary David Davis is lobbying for old student loan debts that are never likely to be paid down being written off, the Sunday Times reported.

Borrowing could also be increased to fund new housing plans.

Groups of MPs are calling for other measures, including a new extension of the fuel duty freeze and a reversal of an increase to duty on Scotch whisky.

The measures could include:

Chancellor's charge sheet Times the Chancellor has undermined the Prime Minister, or Brexit: July 12, 2016 Within days of the referendum, Philip Hammond claims it could take six years to leave the EU. October 4, 2016 He warns the Tory Party conference of a 'roller coaster' ride and 'turbulence' as Britain leaves the EU. October 19, 2016 The Chancellor is slapped down by Mrs May for suggesting international students could be taken out of the Government's net migration target. November 20, 2016 He warns that Britain faces higher inflation, slower growth and 'unprecedented uncertainty' because of the Brexit vote. April 4, 2017 Straying again from government policy, Mr Hammond says that leaving the EU without a deal is 'ridiculous'. June 22, 2017 The Chancellor warns businesses are not investing in the UK because they fear a 'cliff edge' Brexit. July 27, 2017 He enrages Number 10 by claiming 'literally nobody' wants migration to fall sharply after Brexit. July 28, 2017 While Mrs May is abroad, Mr Hammond announces the Brexit transition period will last three years. September 25, 2017 He refuses four times to say Mrs May should fight the next election. Advertisement

A green light for councils to borrow more to invest in new housing

Extra central government borrowing for investment

Write offs of old student loans that would be considered 'bad loans' in the private sector

A cut in air passenger duty

A freeze in alcohol and fuel duties

A senior government source told the Times: 'Philip has said that we have to have a radical budget, something that is a big offer to the nation.

'It means memorable stuff that changes thinking and changes peoples' futures. Pre-conference there was very much a view that it had to be a safety first budget.

'Now the view has galvanised that this budget has got to be big, it's got to be powerful, it's got to be revolutionary.

'Saying it's got to be brave is really understating it.

'People are very clear that this is basically the last chance.'

Brexit Secretary Mr Davis is said to be lobbying inside Government for write-offs of old student loan debts.

The veteran businessman is said to believe the loans are not being paid off anyway but are still holding back young people.

Sources familiar with his thinking told the Times: 'With such a low repayment ratio, if the student loans book were an independent company its credit rating would be low and auditors would insist you write down the debt.

Doing so will help the younger generation get mortgages and would give them more money to spend, which would raise tax revenues for the Treasury. The mythical debt depresses everything.

He would urge the Treasury to start with the answer and look at the financial structures to see if there was a better way for students that doesnt leave the debt to hang over their entire life.'

Theresa May (pictured attending church with husband Philip today) needs the Budget to go well on November 22

An unnamed minister piled new pressure on the Chancellor in today's Sun on Sunday - warning there must not be a repeat of March's humiliating error on national insurance that prompted a major U-turn within days.

The minister said: 'The pressure on him is huge. His second Budget must not end in a mess like his first.

'Even then, his enemies will pick away at it to find fault. He has to cast aside his gloominess and deliver an upbeat Budget for Brexit. Otherwise he is finished.'

Mr Hammond endured a week of public calls for him to quit before making a huge gaffe on Friday when he branded the EU 'the enemy'.

It was claimed today the DUP, which props up Mrs May in Downing Street, are 'very concerned' about Mr Hammond's behaviour.

The embattled Chancellor will deliver his Budget on November 22 amid calls for Mrs May (pictured together at Tory conference) to fire him over his downbeat approach to Brexit

A party source told The Sunday Telegraph: 'It is evident to us that he is winding people up and causing unnecessary division within the Conservative Party at a crucial time in the Brexit negotiations, and his behaviour is very unsettling.

'One has to wonder what his motivation is. He appears to be at least highly sceptical about Brexit and one could conclude from his current position and his behaviour that he is trying to frustrate the negotiating process and to undermine the Prime Minister.

'The DUP will continue to keep a close watch on the situation but we think that Mrs May needs to do something to rein her Chancellor in and to make it clear to him that this kind of behaviour has to stop.

'It is not for us to dictate to the Prime Minister how she should manage her Cabinet but as informed observers with a vested interest in making Brexit work we are deeply concerned.

'If this behaviour continues the Chancellor's position becomes untenable.'
Saturday Night Live has skewered the president's top counselor once again, depicting Kellyanne Conway as Pennywise the clown from Stephen King's 'It'.

Played by Kate McKinnon, 'Kellywise the Dancing Clown' lurks in the sewer like the evil clown and lures CNN's Anderson Cooper (Alex Moffat) with the promise of a 'crazy, crazy quote'.

The SNL digital short opens with Cooper at the CNN studio, asking who's free for interviews and dismissing a producer who tells him that Conway is 'making the rounds'.

Cooper trudges out into the rain dressed in a yellow slicker, like the boy Georgie Denbrough, and the wind blows an important document from his hand.

Before he can catch it, it blows into a storm drain, where he finds Kellywise lurking creepily.

You never know where Kellyanne could be lurking. #SNL pic.twitter.com/PjETkon9nz  Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) October 15, 2017

CNN's Anderson Cooper, as played by Alex Moffat, leaves the studio in a rainstorm

He finds Kellywise luring in the sewer with 'toned down' makeup. 'I'll give you quote. I'll give you crazy, crazy quote,' she says

Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway is seen earlier this month. She has brushed off past parodies in good humor, saying 'Things that aren't true don't bother'

'What'd you do to your makeup,' Cooper asks the clown-faced counselor.

'I toned it down,' replies Kellywise, flashing a grin and then demanding to be put on television.

Cooper begs off, but Kellywise persists: 'I'll give you quote. I'll give you crazy, crazy quote.'

Switching from her Pennywise voice to a Conway impression, the character goes on: 'Ok, so Puerto Rico actually was worse before Hurricane Maria and the hurricane actually did blow some buildings back together, and I don't know why Elizabeth Warren won't tweet about that.'

'That's insane,' responds Cooper.

The short is a parody of Stephen King's 'It', the horror classic featuring Pennywise (pictured)

Cooper looks on in disbelief through the storm drain as Kellywise offers a 'crazy' quote: ''Ok, so Puerto Rico actually was worse before Hurricane Maria and the hurricane actually did blow some buildings back together, and I don't know why Elizabeth Warren won't tweet about that'

Kellywise taunts Cooper with a vision of the CNN anchor's worst nightmare

You'll Float Too: Kellywise transforms into a monster to drag Cooper into the sewer

Kellywise persists, offering the resistant Cooper another quote.

'Secretary Tillerson did not call the president a moron they were sharing a sundae and the president asked if he wanted more sprinkles and the secretary said "More on!"' says the deranged Kellywise.

As with Georgie in the book and film, things do not end well for Cooper.

The bit echoed a February short in which McKinnon played Conway as bunny-boiling film villain Alex Forrest from 1987's Fatal Attraction.

Conway took that portrayal in good humor, saying at the time: 'Things that aren't true don't bother.'

After McKinnon won an Emmy for her work on SNL, Conway commented: 'I am so happy Kate McKinnon was able to get her Emmy. I know she thanked Hillary Clinton, but it had to be much more fun to play me.'
Many were young, powerless and afraid to speak out in case their careers were ruined.

For nearly three decades their accusations remained bottled up, some suppressed by pay-offs.

More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the man once described as 'God' of the film industry.

The accusations, including from some of the world's most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape.

Here is a list of those who have come forward so far.

Kate Beckinsale In an Instagram post the Underworld star said Weinstein made a move on her when she was just 17.

'When I arrived reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting.I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not.'

Teen assault: Kate Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to ply her with alcohol and met her in his bathrobe when she was just 17

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star said that when she was 22, Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in a hotel bedroom before she started shooting the 1996 Jane Austen adaptation Emma. She told the New York Times: 'I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified'.

Paltrow (pictured with Weinstein in 2002) told the New York Times that when she was 22 Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in the bedroom

She said she told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt about the incident and he confronted the mogul. She said Weinstein then told her not to tell anyone and she feared getting fired.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, is an American actress, singer, and food writer who made her name starring in Seven (1995) and Emma (1996).

Angelina Jolie

The actress told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998 and chose never to work with him again. She said she warned other women about him.

She said: 'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did.'

Angelina Jolie, 42, is cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982).

Jolie (pictured speaking ahead of a screening of her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey) told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998

Cara Delevigne

The model wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

She wrote: 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn't and wouldn't be for a bit and I should go to his room.

'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....i thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....i was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave.He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room'.

Cara Delevigne, 25, is an English fashion model and actress. She signed with Storm Model Management after leaving school in 2009.

Eva Green

Green's mother says Weinstein sexually harassed her during a meeting at his suite in Paris.

The Bond Girl, 37, managed to escape however after being summoned to the movie mogul's hotel room, her mother Marlene Jobert said in a radio interview on Friday.

'He operated with her the exact same way he acted with all the others, under the pretext of a professional meeting, of a script that had to get to her with a nice part into the bargain,' said Jobert.

'Since his office was also in his hotel suite, she [Eva] followed him, and the exact same thing happened to her as to the others. She managed to escape, but he threatened to destroy her professionally.'

Jobert added: '[It was] the usual scenario, the same pattern he used for all the other victims.'

Weinstein allegedly harassed French actress Eva Green in his suite in Paris

Lea Seydoux

The French actress accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her.

She wrote in The Guardian: 'We were talking on the sofa when he suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. Hes big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. He tried more than once. This was never going to be about work. He had other intentions  I could see that very clearly. All throughout the evening, he flirted and stared at me as if I was a piece of meat.

The French actress (pictured in Spectre) accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her

'It was hard to say no because hes so powerful. Im an actress and hes a producer. We are in the same industry, so its impossible to avoid him. Ive seen how he operates: the way he looks for an opening. The way he tests women to see what he can get away with. Thats the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything. It's unbelievable that hes been able to act like this for decades and still keep his career.'

Lea Seydoux, 35, starred in Bond film Spectre and was nominated for the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her role as a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (2012).

Minka Kelly

The Friday Night Lights star said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career.

Kelly said that she agreed to the meeting but refused to go to Weinstein's room, and instead met him at the restaurant inside his hotel with an assistant.

'He bulls*** me for 5 minutes re: movies he could put me in, then asked the assistant to excuse us,' said Weinstein.

'As she walked away, he said, "I know you were feeling what I was feeling when we met the other night and then regaled me with offers of a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes etc.

'IF I would be his girlfriend.'

Kelly posted a photo of a cross stitch alongside her post that read: 'Boys will be Boys.'

The second 'boys' was crossed out at the bottom however, and stitched in was 'held accountable for their f***ing actions.'

Kelly claimed the alleged encounter was the day-to-day b***shit of being an actress.'

Minka Kelly said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career

Tara Subkoff

The actress claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of his movies in the 1990s.

She told Variety: 'That night I was offered the role, and I went out to a premiere after party that was also at.

'He motioned for me to come over to him, and then grabbed me to sit me on his lap. I was so surprised and shocked I couldnt stop laughing because it was so awkward.'

She said he could then feel him getting an erection.

'It was implied that if I did not comply with doing what he asked me to do that I would not get the role that I had already been informally offered,' she added.

'I laughed in his face as I was in shock and so uncomfortable. I left the party right after that.'

After denying his advances, Subkoff claims she was stripped of the part.

Tara Subkoff claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of her movies in the 1990s. She is pictured in 2017

Asia Argento

The Italian actress has accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21.

She told the New Yorker: 'He terrified me, and he was big. It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare.' She said she went on to have consensual sex with him over the years that followed. She documented the alleged attack in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva.

Asia Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model, and director, best known for the role of Yelena in the action film xXx (2002).

Asia Argento (left with Weinstein during 2004 Cannes Film Festival) accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21

Zoe Brock

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances.

She wrote on Medium: 'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage. Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position. He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced. Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out.'

Zoe Brock is a model and actress who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Australia.

'Ducked and dived': Claire Forlani said she refused Weinstein on multiple occasions

Claire Forlani

The Meet Joe Black actress appeared in the 2000 Miramax film Boys and Girls. She says she escaped Harvey's advances five times.

'I had two Peninsula Hotel meetings in the evening with Harvey and all I remember was I ducked, dived and ultimately got out of there without getting slobbered over, well just a bit.

'Yes, massage was suggested. The three dinners with Harvey I don't really remember the time period, I was 25.

'I remember him telling me all the actresses who had slept with him and what he had done for them.'

I wasn't drinking the cool aid [sic], I knew Harvey was a master manipulator.

'He also announced to me at the last dinner I had with him at Dominic's that his pilot knew to be on standby because he could never get me to sleep with him, to which I did what I always did, make light of the situation, a joke here or there and moved on.'

'I'd had a fair amount of experience. Sometimes I got angry, really angry. I wondered why I had Prey stamped on my forehead but this I kept to myself.'

Louisette Geiss

The actress said she was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe and told her he would green light her script if she watched him masterbate. She left the meeting.

Geiss made her accusations in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred on October 10.

The star was born in Miami, Florida. She is an actress and producer, best known for Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001).

Geiss was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe

Judith Godreche

The French actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996, the NYT reported.

Judith Godreche, 45, is a French actress and author. She has appeared in more than 30 films and will soon star in an HBO comedy about a French woman moving to Los Angeles.

Judith Godreche (pictured at the premiere of Nasty Baby in 2015) says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996

Dawn Dunning

The actress says she was called to a meeting about future film projects in 2003 aged 24. When she arrived she says Weinstein presented her with three scripts for his next three movies which he would let her star in, only if she had three-way sex with him. She fled the hotel, she told the NYT.

Dunning is a former actress turned costume designer best known for her role in Alias: The Roughest Cut (2006).

Tomi-Ann Roberts

The aspiring actress was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables as a college junior in 1984. She says he told her to meet him at his home. When she arrived, she says, he was naked in the bath and told her she would give a better audition if she was nude. She says she refused and left, reports the NYT.

Tomi-Ann Roberts was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables

Katherine Kendall

The Swingers actress was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993.

He changed into a bathrobe and told her to massage her, she said. When she resisted she said the mogul returned naked and chased her, reports the NYT.

Kendall, 48, is an American actress from Tennessee. She made her name in Doug Liman's Swingers (1996).

Kendall, 48, was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993

Lucia Evans

The actress, formerly known as Lucia Stoller claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. Speaking to the New Yorker, she said that she suffered years of trauma after the incident which occurred in a 'casting meeting' in a Miramax office in Manhattan. He reportedly called her late at night after the incident.

Mira Sorvino

The Mighty Aphrodite actress told the New Yorker that Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.

He then went to her home in the middle of the night but she called a male friend to protect her, she claimed. She said turning down the mogul adversely affected her career.

Sorovino, 50, is an American actress who came to prominence after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mira Sorvino (pictured starring in Intruders in 2014) said Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room

Rosanna Arquette

The actress also said her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein's advances in the early 1990s. At a hotel meeting he tried to put her hand on his erect penis, she claims in the New Yorker.

Rosanna Arquette, 58, is an American actress, film director, and producer. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1982 TV film The Executioner's Song.

Rose McGowan

The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he assaulted her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (left) and actress Rose McGowan arrive to the premiere of "Grindhouse" at the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Ashley Judd

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower.

She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.'

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower

Emma De Caunes

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010. Soon after he told her he had a script he was producing based on a book with a strong female character. Weinstein offered to show her the script, and asked her up to his room at the Ritz in Paris, where he began to take a shower.

He then emerged naked and with an erection, asking her to lay down with him on the bed and telling her that many had done so before, she told the New Yorker. 'I was very petrified,' said de Caunes. 'But I didnt want to show him that I was petrified, because I could feel that the more I was freaking out, the more he was excited.'

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010 and he invited her to his room

Sophie Dix

The British actress was 22 when she was invited up to his room at The Savoy after being cast in The Advocate alongside Colin Firth. Weinstein tried to massage her and started pulling at her trousers before he started masturbating.

Harvey Weinstein is accused of accosting Sophie Dix in a hotel room

'As soon as I was in there, I realized it was a terrible mistake. I got to the hotel room, I remember talk of a massage and I thought that was pretty gross. I think he showed me his big back and I found that pretty horrid.

'Then before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying, No, no, no. But he was really forceful. I remember him pulling at my trousers and stuff and looming over me and I just sort of  I am a big, strong girl and I bolted  ran for the bathroom and locked the door.'

'I was in there for a while, I think. He went very quiet. After a while I remember opening the door and seeing him just there facing the door, masturbating, so I quickly closed the door again and locked it. Then when I heard room service come to the door, I just ran.'

She said the incident left her bed bound with depression for six months and she decided to end her movie career.

'I decided if this what being an actress is like, I dont want it.'

Lauren O'Connor

The former creative executive at The Weinstein Company, told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT reported.

A former creative executive at The Weinstein Company told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company'

Ambra Battilana

The Italian actress and model, 24, told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana, 24, alleges that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and put his hand up her skirt

Jessica Barth

Weinstein reportedly pressured Jessica Barth (pictured) to give him a naked massage

Weinstein reportedly pressured the actress to give him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel in 2011.

Jessica Barth, 39, is an American stage and film actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCaferty in the film Ted and its sequel.

Laura Madden

A former production assistant and the Weinstein company, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge.

Emily Nestor

Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins was an assistant of Weinstein's based in London. Aged 25 in 1998, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court.

She said she was subjected to inappropriate requests or comments in hotel rooms.

Zelda Perkins reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court

Elizabeth Karlsen

Produced Karlsen told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads.

Karlsen, 57, is the Oscar-nominated British producer of Carol and The Crying Game.

Liza Campbell

A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him.

Campbell, 58, is an artist, calligrapher, columnist and writer, born in the north of Scotland and currently living in London, England.

Campbell, 58, (pictured in 2004) said that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London

Lauren Sivan

The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007.

He allegedly took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post.

Sivan is now a TV reporter in Los Angeles and was a local journalist in New York 10 years ago when her encounter with Weinstein allegedly occurred.

Former Fox news host Lauren Sivan said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007

Jessica Hynes

Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job.

British actress Hynes, 44, formally known as Jessica Stevenson, is best known for her roles in the Bridget Jones movies and for co-creating and co-writing the sitcom Spaced.

Jessica Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job

Romola Garai

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18 in which he was in a bathrobe.

Garai, best known for her role in Atonement, said she had already been hired for a part but was told to audition privately with the Hollywood mogul because 'you had to be personally approved by him'.

'Like every other woman in the industry, I've had an 'audition' with Harvey Weinstein,' she told The Guardian. 'So I had to go to his hotel room in the Savoy and he answered the door in his bathrobe. I was only 18. I felt violated by it'.

Garai, 35, is an English actress, writer, and director. She is known for appearing in the films Amazing Grace, Atonement, and Glorious 39.

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18

Florence Darel

French actress Florence Darel has claimed that she was harassed by the producer in 1993.

Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer's 'A Tale of Springtime' in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress.

She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein's company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy 'A la mode' in which she appeared.

The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel, where he he asked her to be his mistress 'a few days a year'.

Actress Florence Darel, 49, revealed on Thursday to French media that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress

Unnamed assistant

Weinstein allegedly behaved inappropriately toward a woman employed as his assistant in 1990. The case was settled out of court.

Another unnamed assistant

In 2015, Weinstein reportedly pressured another assistant into giving him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel, where he is also said to have pressured Barth.

Unnamed Miramax employee

At one point in the early 1990s, a young woman is alleged to have suddenly left the company after an encounter with Weinstein. She also settled out of court.

Unnamed woman

A woman who did not wish to be named because she feared Weinstein's connections told The New York Times that the producer had summoned her to his hotel at an unknown date and raped her.
An overhaul of Thomas the Tank Engine will see two male engines turfed out to make way for female characters.

Henry and Edward will be moving out of Tidmouth Sheds to make way for Nia, an orange engine from Africa, and Rebecca, a yellow-coloured engine.

They will join Emily, the other female engine, as well as the boys Thomas, Percy James and Gordon.

And the tradition of Liverpudlian narration - which first began with Ringo Starr - will disappear, as well as the theme tune with its roll-call of engine names.

Thomas the Tank Engine will be leaving his home for half the the 26 new episodes as he embarks on adventures throughout the world

But the the most dramatic change will be Thomas leaving his home on the Island of Sodar as he embarks on adventures across the globe.

Mattel, the US toy giant that owns rights to the much-loved show, collaborated with the United Nations to help meet the organisation's Sustainable Development Goals.

The storylines have been written to meet five of the goals: quality education, gender equality, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, and life on land.

Mattel said the changes are a 'groundbreaking refresh' and is based on extensive market research with hundreds of parents and their children.

Nia, an African engine who will teach Thomas a lesson about the meaning of friendship, will join the show for the new series

The show had previously come under fire and was criticised as sexist, classist and anti-enviromentalist.

But its creators have introduced small changes in recent years, including the addition of Japanese engine, Hiro.

The overhaul, which begins in 2018, is the most significant transformation since the TV version first broadcast in 1984.

The shows are based on the books of Rev Wilbert Awdry, who made up the stories to entertain his son, Christopher, who was ill with measles.

Series producer Ian McCue said the team could not 'sustain' episodes that were based in Sodor any longer

However, Thomas and Friends is today facing competition from US cartoons, meaning the show has to evolve.

The new series, which airs in 2018, will 'break the fourth wall' as Thomas narrates the series himself and talks directly to the viewer.

Series producer Ian McCue said the team could not 'sustain' episodes that were based in Sodor any longer.

'We wanted him to disover new things, and for the first time he will be leaving Sodor and England,' Mr McCue told the Telegraph.

'We couldn't have him encountering a new animal in Sodor every week, but now he can meet kangaroos in Australia, tigers in India, pandas in China.'

Mr McCue said that while other female engines had featured on the show previously, they had 'disappeared into the background'.

'We're not making these changes for the sake of it. We know that a lot of girls love the show. The audience on [Channel 5's] Milkshake is 50:50,' he added.

It comes after Labour MP Mary Creagh complained that Thomas was perpetuating 'negative sterotypes'  arguing it needed more female engines.
A Muslim woman who hunts wild animals and butchers them for meat is teaching her four children the same trade.

Single mother-of-four Kadeja Assaad, 36, takes to bush land in regional NSW to hunt goats, foxes, rabbits and deer before lugging the carcasses back home and preparing the meat for her children's dinner.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, Ms Assaad revealed she whispered an Arabic prayer every time she pulled the trigger.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, Ms Assaad (pictured) revealed she whispered an Arabic prayer every time she pulled the trigger

'I hunt them in the bush, and if they're too big to hold the whole carcass (in the car), I butcher them on the land and bring back as much meat as I can,' Ms Assaad (pictured with blood on her face) said

'Before I shoot I say a blessing, thanking God for the food,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

She also prayed to Allah after the kill.

'I thank God and thank the animal for giving its life away to provide for us,' she said.

'I just sit and hold the animal and I stroke it.

'It's an indescribable feeling you get afterwards. Not happiness, but gratitude.'

The former hair stylist and beauty therapist, who dubs herself a 'proud hunter', boasts of her hunting prowess online, uploading photos of herself in Islamic headdress alongside her kills

Ms Assaad (pictured) said hunting was her passion, and she saw the animals as a 'blessing'

The former hair stylist and beauty therapist, who dubs herself a 'proud hunter', boasts of her hunting prowess online.

Photos show the huntress crouching alongside her kills with rifle in hand.

Ms Assaad said hunting was her passion, and she saw the animals as a 'blessing'.

She also revealed she appreciated the animals' beauty and sometimes sat and watched deer rather than hunting them.

'Sometimes when I'm bored I drive out there and just watch them. They're glorious creatures,' she said.

Ms Assaad revealed she mainly hunted deer because she loved halal venison.

Photos show the huntress crouching alongside her kills showing them off to the camera

Ms Assaad (pictured) said she was extremely proud to pass her passion onto her children

Ms Assaad said she was extremely proud to pass her passion onto her children.

'I teach my children hunting is a blessing. It's not a game,' she said.

'My son is really looking forward to becoming a shooter when he turns 12 next year.

'I like to show my kids that you've got to work hard to achieve in life, including their food.

'If they choose to do it, by all means. But I've never forced them into doing anything. It's their choice.'

Ms Assaad said she was extremely proud to pass her passion onto her children. While her two oldest daughters wanted to become lawyers, she said her son wanted to become a target shooter

'I kill with one shot to the head or heart, an instant kill. If it's a doe and I can tell she's pregnant I don't shoot no matter what,' Ms Assaad said

Ms Assaad pictured (left) with her four children who she says respect her passion for hunting

The Sydney mother maintained she hunted ethically.

'I kill with one shot to the head or heart, an instant kill. If it's a doe and I can tell she's pregnant I don't shoot no matter what,' she said.

Ms Assaad said she never shot more than what she needed for food.

'There's no wild hunting or killing spree,' she said.

She said her weapons of choice included a Tikka T3 Hunter 243 and a Savage 22 Magnum.

She said she used a handmade Russian Kizlyar knife to butcher the animals for meat once they were dead.

Ms Assaad (second from left) post pictures of herself with fellow hunters - all of whom she says hunt ethically

The Sydney woman said she did everything herself from start to finish.

'I hunt them in the bush, and if they're too big to hold the whole carcass (in the car), I butcher them on the land and bring back as much meat as I can,' she said.

'I sometimes prepare the hide to make it into a rug.'

According to Islamic Law, Muslims are allowed to hunt non-meat eating animals such as deer and wild rabbits

According to Islamic Law, Muslims are allowed to hunt non-meat eating animals such as deer and wild rabbits.

While Muslims are permitted to hunt, Islamic law sets out some very strict rules.

'The name of Allah must be pronounced when the hunting weapon is discharged',' the law states.

The law also prohibits hunting for sport.

The person must also be 'sane'.

'Game hunted by a pagan or an insane person is not lawful (halal),' the law states.

In keeping with halal, the law states 'if the hunted game is still alive, it must be slaughtered straight away'.
An easyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing after some crew members and passengers were overcome by a 'smell event', the airline said.

The plane, travelling from Palma, Mallorca, to Luton Airport had to be diverted to Paris where doctors and paramedics boarded the aircraft and the first officer was taken away in an ambulance.

One passenger told The Sunday Times the co-pilot had to be given oxygen from a tank while in the air and that she saw a child 'vomiting in the back'.

An easyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing after some crew members and passengers were overcome by a 'smell event'

Once the plane was boarded an official came on board to check the air quality in the cabin before everyone was ordered to disembark.

EasyJet said engineers examining the aircraft later found 'a leakage of hydraulic fluid' which it believes caused the overwhelming scent.

A spokesman for the airline described the incident, which took place on October 3, as a 'smell event'.

He said: 'We can confirm the captain took the decision to divert to Paris due to some passengers and crew feeling unwell. He took the decision as a precaution only and the aircraft landed routinely.'

Last week an easyJet flight travelling from Glasgow to Berlin had to request an early landing slot after reports of a smoke smell in the cabin.

The aircraft was reported to have descended 'at high speed'.

An easyJet spokeswoman said passengers disembarked normally after landing and engineers were brought on board to resolve the issue.
Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott parked his Renault at the HQ in Maidstone, Kent, Wednesday - but forgot to put his handbrake on, causing the car to roll on to a road

A bungling police commissioner was given 'words of advice' on how to park his car after after he forgot to put his handbrake on, causing the vehicle to roll out of the car park.

Kent's Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott had parked his silver Renault at the HQ in Maidstone on Wednesday - but had forgotten to put his handbrake on.

After stepping out of the vehicle and locking the doors, the car rolled backwards out of the entrance, turned and crossed a foot path on to a grass verge, narrowly missing a lamppost.

Adrian Harper, of the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner's office, notified Kent Police and requested officials review the incident.

A spokesman for Kent Police said that Mr Scott had been given 'words of advice' by officials.

He told the BBC: 'Officers have reviewed an incident involving a car which rolled backwards after being left unattended at Kent Police Headquarters on October 11 and have determined that the matter will be dealt with by providing the driver with words of advice.'

Mr Scott was elected as Kent PCC after the controversial former PCC, Ann Barnes, announced she would not run for re-election in 2016.

Mr Scott was elected as Kent PCC after the controversial former PCC, Ann Barnes (pictured), announced she would not run for re-election in 2016

Mrs Barnes, 70, came to national attention when The Mail on Sunday uncovered foul-mouthed comments made online by her youth PCC, teenager Paris Brown.

Her replacement was then suspended over a 'close friendship' with a married councillor.

This newspaper also revealed Mrs Barnes spent 15,000 of her budget on a minibus with 'Ann Force One' paintwork and was accused of behaving like a 'diva'.

She later appeared in a disastrous fly-on-the wall TV documentary which led to calls for her to quit her 85,000-a-year post and she had to apologise to Kent Police.

In another incident that happened, while in office, Barnes was using her husband's soft top Mercedes SLK on official business when she was in a collision with another vehicle and crashed into a tree.

She claimed she was insured but police checks revealed she was not covered for business use.

She had just been to a Kent Police stand in the Bluewater shopping centre and was on her way to meet the leader of Dartford Borough Council when the accident happened.

She was also accused of making a waitress cry when she was accidentally charged for three glasses of wine instead of two.
Madeleine McCann, then three, vanished in May 2007 while on holiday with her family in Portugal

The parents of Madeleine McCann have been targeted in a 'cruel hoax' by a psychic - a week after being bombarded with hate mail when police were given an extra 154,000 in the continued hunt for their daughter.

Kate and Gerry McCann have reported psychic Susan Kelly to the police after she claimed to know 'the truth' about Maddie's whereabouts.

She said she knew what happened to the missing girl in three 'visions' and demanded payment from the McCanns before she gave any clues about what she had seen in her 'dreams'.

Kate and Gerry's spokesman Clarence Mitchell described the extraordinary offer as an 'extortion scam' and 'cruel hoax'.

He said: 'It causes Kate and Gerry more unnecessary pain and I've alerted them and the police.'

The psychic had contacted the McCanns asking the couple for payment for the 'visions'.

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She claimed she had three significant 'dreams' about Maddie, who was snatched as a three-year-old from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz in May 2007.

She wrote: 'I kept these dreams under wraps since that time as I was not sure that what I had dreamt could be relied upon as fact. I am now ready to reveal the dreams.'

She asked Kate and Gerry to bid for her visions, saying: 'If you are interested, please make me an offer for each of 3 dreams individually.'

Kate and Gerry McCann have reported psychic Susan Kelly to the police after she claimed to know 'the truth' about Maddie's whereabouts

The psychic doesn't divulge where she lives or if she is British but complains she and her daughter are broke and currently homeless while she is trying to sell some flats and staying in a hotel.

She wrote: 'I am now short of cash and can't pay my bills. I am not doing this just for commercial reasons. I don't want any publicity.'

She claims she can see 'hidden' clues which do not come 'on demand', saying: 'God gave me the privilege of seeing the truth.'

Mr Mitchell, who received the rogue email at his work address, said: 'She claims her dreams came in bursts and she has relevant information about Madeleine and needs payment.

'It's complete blatant lies and a potential extortion scam. It causes Kate and Gerry more unnecessary pain and I've alerted them and the police. Operation Grange has logged the information.'

He added: 'Anyone waiting more than 10 years to come forward having had dreams, allegedly, in the first week Madeleine was taken and now asking for money to divulge information seems very dubious. But it is entirely a matter for the police.

'Her offer of help to Kate and Gerry has been sent to Operation Grange and they will be taking a look at it.'

He said the couple have had thousands of psychic tips over the past decade which 'have all come to nothing.'

Madeleine had been left alone sleeping with her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining in a nearby tapas restaurant

The psychic's message comes after it was revealed Madeleine's parents had been barraged with hate mail after the Home Office announced it was adding money to Scotland Yard's 12m search budget in order to trace a 'critical witness' to the youngster's disappearance 10 years ago.

On the official 'Find Maddie McCann website' the couple said they had been inundated with abuse.

They posted: 'We've been barraged with hate via Facebook.'

Mr and Mrs McCann spoke out just two months ago begging people to stop trolling them, saying it was 'so awful and upsetting'.

A family friend said: 'Kate and Gerry are angry and upset that people continue to write false and malicious things against them.

'Every time a positive story appears the trolls kick in with even more abuse. It's been going on for 10 years.

'They are extremely grateful for the continued support by the Home Office and the Met Police, and they receive many positive messages from wellwishers.

'But the trolling spoils it and whilst they try and ignore it they can't always.'

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'This is a sensitive topic and the Operation Grange team are not prepared to discuss any lines of enquiry whilst the investigation is ongoing.'

Three-year-old Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz in May 2007

The couple from Rothley, in Leicestershire, hold onto a glimmer of hope their daughter could still be alive after nearly 10 and a half years. She would now be aged 14.

Met Police have failed to unearth any clues during their six-year inquiry but are chasing one final potential lead.

Despite trawling through thousands of tip-offs and potential sightings, police have not confirmed that a single one was her.

The extra 154,000 brings the total spent in 2017-18 on Operation Grange to 309,000 and the overall cost to around 11.5million.

Senior detectives expect the investigation into her disappearance will now continue until at least March.

The Portuguese investigation of Madeleine's disappearance was criticised by the British authorities as being not fit for purpose. Scotland Yard began an investigative review into the disappearance in 2011, on the orders of then-Prime Minister David Cameron.

However it is understood Met detectives have been relying on Portuguese transcripts of key interviews with British witnesses, rather than conducting their own.

Operation Grange has conducted no formal witness interviews with Gerry or Kate McCann or the seven friends they dined with on the night Madeleine disappeared.
Yang Zhenwu, president of People's Daily, addresses the ceremony.

People's Daily, the official newspaper of the CPC Central Committee, announced Sunday the launch of its English language news app, marking a key step to advance the integration between traditional media and new media and to better "connect China and the world."

The launch comes ahead of this week's 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Beijing. More than 100 representatives from relevant ministries, the diplomatic corps, media and academe attended the launch at the People's Daily's headquarters in Beijing.

People's Daily President Yang Zhenwu said, "China has never been so close to the center of the world stage. China's development remains a huge opportunity for the world, and cannot be separated from the common developmental aspirations of all countries. A stronger China needs to present itself to the world. The changing world is eager to know more about China. The international community expects China to share its experience, expound on its propositions, propose solutions and contribute its wisdom, which is also an inevitable phase of its development."

In recent years, People's Daily has followed the guidance of President Xi Jinping and decisions made by the Party to make a coordinated strategy of offering information for domestic and international readers, Yang said. "We are making it more user-friendly and have made remarkable achievements in improving our global presence and international influence."

Established three years ago, People's Daily's Chinese language app has reached 200 million users, he said. Launching the English language version is a step forward for the People's Daily's international outreach.

Yang added that the People's Daily will also adopt high standards for its English language app and integrate resources to make it a platform which attracts English language users through quality content and multiple functions.

"The 19th CPC National Congress will open in Beijing three days from now to worldwide attention. This is a timely opportunity to launch our English language app. This app has bright prospects. We will take this opportunity to provide timely coverage on the Congress, the latest insights of the CPC to the world and the new blueprint of China's development," Yang said.

The English language app, aimed at "connecting China and the world," is aimed at creating better storytelling and an international communication platform from an official Chinese media outlet. The English language news app will become a platform for international users to know news, viewpoints, and concepts about China. What's more, the app's "service" section will take on a major role inside the platform, providing a window for overseas users to explore China.

At the launch, People's Daily signed Strategic Cooperation Agreements with the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Culture, the National Tourism Administration, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Palace Museum. The app will serve as a uniform platform for news and to provide information services, including consular and cultural ones.

Lu Xinning, deputy editor-in-chief of People's Daily, used the English word "will" four times to highlight her understanding of the app: need, wish, resolution and future. She also discussed the background behind the creation of the English language app, and expressed her optimism.

"In the future, this app will not only be People's Daily journalists telling the story of China and the world, but will also include the efforts of our strategic partners, and will deliver vivid and diverse stories on China to the world," Lu said.

Wang Yibiao, deputy editor-in-chief of People's Daily who hosted the ceremony, said the English language app is a new step forward for People's Daily in developing international communication.

"We will not only only build an information center but also establish a service platform for global English users. We will accelerate cooperation with relative departments to improve the performance of the People's Daily English language app," Wang said.

Vice Minister of the State Council Information Office Guo Weimin, Vice Minister of the International Department of CPC Central Committee Guo Yezhou, Deputy Head of the Cyberspace Administration of China Zhuang Rongwen, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education Du Zhanyuan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Commerce Gao Yan, and senior Party official of the Ministry of Culture Yu Qun attended the launch. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and envoys of the relevant countries and senior diplomats also expressed their expectations and warm wishes for the English language app.
Many were young, powerless and afraid to speak out in case their careers were ruined.

For nearly three decades their accusations remained bottled up, some suppressed by pay-offs.

More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the man once described as 'God' of the film industry.

The accusations, including from some of the world's most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape.

Here is a list of those who have come forward so far.

Kate Beckinsale In an Instagram post the Underworld star said Weinstein made a move on her when she was just 17.

'When I arrived reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting.I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not.'

Teen assault: Kate Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to ply her with alcohol and met her in his bathrobe when she was just 17

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star said that when she was 22, Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in a hotel bedroom before she started shooting the 1996 Jane Austen adaptation Emma. She told the New York Times: 'I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified'.

Paltrow (pictured with Weinstein in 2002) told the New York Times that when she was 22 Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in the bedroom

She said she told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt about the incident and he confronted the mogul. She said Weinstein then told her not to tell anyone and she feared getting fired.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, is an American actress, singer, and food writer who made her name starring in Seven (1995) and Emma (1996).

Angelina Jolie

The actress told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998 and chose never to work with him again. She said she warned other women about him.

She said: 'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did.'

Angelina Jolie, 42, is cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982).

Jolie (pictured speaking ahead of a screening of her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey) told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998

Cara Delevigne

The model wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

She wrote: 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn't and wouldn't be for a bit and I should go to his room.

'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....i thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....i was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave.He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room'.

Cara Delevigne, 25, is an English fashion model and actress. She signed with Storm Model Management after leaving school in 2009.

Eva Green

Green's mother says Weinstein sexually harassed her during a meeting at his suite in Paris.

The Bond Girl, 37, managed to escape however after being summoned to the movie mogul's hotel room, her mother Marlene Jobert said in a radio interview on Friday.

'He operated with her the exact same way he acted with all the others, under the pretext of a professional meeting, of a script that had to get to her with a nice part into the bargain,' said Jobert.

'Since his office was also in his hotel suite, she [Eva] followed him, and the exact same thing happened to her as to the others. She managed to escape, but he threatened to destroy her professionally.'

Jobert added: '[It was] the usual scenario, the same pattern he used for all the other victims.'

Weinstein allegedly harassed French actress Eva Green in his suite in Paris

Lea Seydoux

The French actress accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her.

She wrote in The Guardian: 'We were talking on the sofa when he suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. He's big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. He tried more than once. This was never going to be about work. He had other intentions  I could see that very clearly. All throughout the evening, he flirted and stared at me as if I was a piece of meat.

The French actress (pictured in Spectre) accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her

'It was hard to say no because he's so powerful. I'm an actress and he's a producer. We are in the same industry, so its impossible to avoid him. I've seen how he operates: the way he looks for an opening. The way he tests women to see what he can get away with. That's the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything. It's unbelievable that he's been able to act like this for decades and still keep his career.'

Lea Seydoux, 35, starred in Bond film Spectre and was nominated for the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her role as a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (2012).

Minka Kelly

The Friday Night Lights star said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career.

Kelly said that she agreed to the meeting but refused to go to Weinstein's room, and instead met him at the restaurant inside his hotel with an assistant.

'He bulls*** me for 5 minutes re: movies he could put me in, then asked the assistant to excuse us,' said Weinstein.

'As she walked away, he said, 'I know you were feeling what I was feeling when we met the other night' and then regaled me with offers of a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes etc.

'IF I would be his girlfriend.'

Kelly posted a photo of a cross stitch alongside her post that read: 'Boys will be Boys.'

The second 'boys' was crossed out at the bottom however, and stitched in was 'held accountable for their f***ing actions.'

Kelly claimed the alleged encounter was the day-to-day b***shit of being an actress.'

Minka Kelly said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career

Tara Subkoff

The actress claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of his movies in the 1990s.

She told Variety: 'That night I was offered the role, and I went out to a premiere after party that was also at.

'He motioned for me to come over to him, and then grabbed me to sit me on his lap. I was so surprised and shocked I couldn't stop laughing because it was so awkward.'

She said he could then feel him getting an erection.

'It was implied that if I did not comply with doing what he asked me to do that I would not get the role that I had already been informally offered,' she added.

'I laughed in his face as I was in shock and so uncomfortable. I left the party right after that.'

After denying his advances, Subkoff claims she was stripped of the part.

Tara Subkoff claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of her movies in the 1990s. She is pictured in 2017

Asia Argento

The Italian actress has accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21.

She told the New Yorker: 'He terrified me, and he was big. It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare.' She said she went on to have consensual sex with him over the years that followed. She documented the alleged attack in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva.

Asia Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model, and director, best known for the role of Yelena in the action film xXx (2002).

Asia Argento (left with Weinstein during 2004 Cannes Film Festival) accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21

Zoe Brock

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances.

She wrote on Medium: 'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage. Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position. He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced. Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out.'

Zoe Brock is a model and actress who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Australia.

'Ducked and dived': Claire Forlani said she refused Weinstein on multiple occasions

Claire Forlani

The Meet Joe Black actress appeared in the 2000 Miramax film Boys and Girls. She says she escaped Harvey's advances five times.

'I had two Peninsula Hotel meetings in the evening with Harvey and all I remember was I ducked, dived and ultimately got out of there without getting slobbered over, well just a bit.

'Yes, massage was suggested. The three dinners with Harvey I don't really remember the time period, I was 25.

'I remember him telling me all the actresses who had slept with him and what he had done for them.'

I wasn't drinking the cool aid [sic], I knew Harvey was a master manipulator.

'He also announced to me at the last dinner I had with him at Dominic's that his pilot knew to be on standby because he could never get me to sleep with him, to which I did what I always did, make light of the situation, a joke here or there and moved on.'

'I'd had a fair amount of experience. Sometimes I got angry, really angry. I wondered why I had Prey stamped on my forehead but this I kept to myself.'

Louisette Geiss

The actress said she was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe and told her he would green light her script if she watched him masterbate. She left the meeting.

Geiss made her accusations in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred on October 10.

The star was born in Miami, Florida. She is an actress and producer, best known for Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001).

Geiss was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe

Judith Godreche

The French actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996, the NYT reported.

Judith Godreche, 45, is a French actress and author. She has appeared in more than 30 films and will soon star in an HBO comedy about a French woman moving to Los Angeles.

Judith Godreche (pictured at the premiere of Nasty Baby in 2015) says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996

Dawn Dunning

The actress says she was called to a meeting about future film projects in 2003 aged 24. When she arrived she says Weinstein presented her with three scripts for his next three movies which he would let her star in, only if she had three-way sex with him. She fled the hotel, she told the NYT.

Dunning is a former actress turned costume designer best known for her role in Alias: The Roughest Cut (2006).

Tomi-Ann Roberts

The aspiring actress was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables as a college junior in 1984. She says he told her to meet him at his home. When she arrived, she says, he was naked in the bath and told her she would give a better audition if she was nude. She says she refused and left, reports the NYT.

Tomi-Ann Roberts was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables

Katherine Kendall

The Swingers actress was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993.

He changed into a bathrobe and told her to massage her, she said. When she resisted she said the mogul returned naked and chased her, reports the NYT.

Kendall, 48, is an American actress from Tennessee. She made her name in Doug Liman's Swingers (1996).

Kendall, 48, was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993

Lucia Evans

The actress, formerly known as Lucia Stoller claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. Speaking to the New Yorker, she said that she suffered years of trauma after the incident which occurred in a 'casting meeting' in a Miramax office in Manhattan. He reportedly called her late at night after the incident.

Mira Sorvino

The Mighty Aphrodite actress told the New Yorker that Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.

He then went to her home in the middle of the night but she called a male friend to protect her, she claimed. She said turning down the mogul adversely affected her career.

Sorovino, 50, is an American actress who came to prominence after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mira Sorvino (pictured starring in Intruders in 2014) said Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room

Rosanna Arquette

The actress also said her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein's advances in the early 1990s. At a hotel meeting he tried to put her hand on his erect penis, she claims in the New Yorker.

Rosanna Arquette, 58, is an American actress, film director, and producer. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1982 TV film The Executioner's Song.

Rose McGowan

The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he assaulted her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (left) and actress Rose McGowan arrive to the premiere of 'Grindhouse' at the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Ashley Judd

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower.

She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.'

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower

Emma De Caunes

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010. Soon after he told her he had a script he was producing based on a book with a strong female character. Weinstein offered to show her the script, and asked her up to his room at the Ritz in Paris, where he began to take a shower.

He then emerged naked and with an erection, asking her to lay down with him on the bed and telling her that many had done so before, she told the New Yorker. 'I was very petrified,' said de Caunes. 'But I didn't want to show him that I was petrified, because I could feel that the more I was freaking out, the more he was excited.'

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010 and he invited her to his room

Sophie Dix

The British actress was 22 when she was invited up to his room at The Savoy after being cast in The Advocate alongside Colin Firth. Weinstein tried to massage her and started pulling at her trousers before he started masturbating.

Harvey Weinstein is accused of accosting Sophie Dix in a hotel room

'As soon as I was in there, I realized it was a terrible mistake. I got to the hotel room, I remember talk of a massage and I thought that was pretty gross. I think he showed me his big back and I found that pretty horrid.

'Then before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying, 'No, no, no.' But he was really forceful. I remember him pulling at my trousers and stuff and looming over me and I just sort of  I am a big, strong girl and I bolted  ran for the bathroom and locked the door.'

'I was in there for a while, I think. He went very quiet. After a while I remember opening the door and seeing him just there facing the door, masturbating, so I quickly closed the door again and locked it. Then when I heard room service come to the door, I just ran.'

She said the incident left her bed bound with depression for six months and she decided to end her movie career.

'I decided if this what being an actress is like, I don't want it.'

Lauren O'Connor

The former creative executive at The Weinstein Company, told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT reported.

A former creative executive at The Weinstein Company told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company'

Ambra Battilana

The Italian actress and model, 24, told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana, 24, alleges that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and put his hand up her skirt

Jessica Barth

Weinstein reportedly pressured Jessica Barth (pictured) to give him a naked massage

Weinstein reportedly pressured the actress to give him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel in 2011.

Jessica Barth, 39, is an American stage and film actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCaferty in the film Ted and its sequel.

Laura Madden

A former production assistant and the Weinstein company, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge.

Emily Nestor

Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins was an assistant of Weinstein's based in London. Aged 25 in 1998, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court.

She said she was subjected to inappropriate requests or comments in hotel rooms.

Zelda Perkins reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court

Elizabeth Karlsen

Produced Karlsen told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads.

Karlsen, 57, is the Oscar-nominated British producer of Carol and The Crying Game.

Liza Campbell

A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him.

Campbell, 58, is an artist, calligrapher, columnist and writer, born in the north of Scotland and currently living in London, England.

Campbell, 58, (pictured in 2004) said that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London

Lauren Sivan

The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007.

He allegedly took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post.

Sivan is now a TV reporter in Los Angeles and was a local journalist in New York 10 years ago when her encounter with Weinstein allegedly occurred.

Former Fox news host Lauren Sivan said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007

Jessica Hynes

Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job.

British actress Hynes, 44, formally known as Jessica Stevenson, is best known for her roles in the Bridget Jones movies and for co-creating and co-writing the sitcom Spaced.

Jessica Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job

Romola Garai

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18 in which he was in a bathrobe.

Garai, best known for her role in Atonement, said she had already been hired for a part but was told to audition privately with the Hollywood mogul because 'you had to be personally approved by him'.

'Like every other woman in the industry, I've had an 'audition' with Harvey Weinstein,' she told The Guardian. 'So I had to go to his hotel room in the Savoy and he answered the door in his bathrobe. I was only 18. I felt violated by it'.

Garai, 35, is an English actress, writer, and director. She is known for appearing in the films Amazing Grace, Atonement, and Glorious 39.

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18

Florence Darel

French actress Florence Darel has claimed that she was harassed by the producer in 1993.

Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer's 'A Tale of Springtime' in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress.

She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein's company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy 'A la mode' in which she appeared.

The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel, where he he asked her to be his mistress 'a few days a year'.

Actress Florence Darel, 49, revealed on Thursday to French media that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress

Unnamed assistant

Weinstein allegedly behaved inappropriately toward a woman employed as his assistant in 1990. The case was settled out of court.

Another unnamed assistant

In 2015, Weinstein reportedly pressured another assistant into giving him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel, where he is also said to have pressured Barth.

Unnamed Miramax employee

At one point in the early 1990s, a young woman is alleged to have suddenly left the company after an encounter with Weinstein. She also settled out of court.

Unnamed woman

A woman who did not wish to be named because she feared Weinstein's connections told The New York Times that the producer had summoned her to his hotel at an unknown date and raped her.
Boys at a top private school will be allowed to wear skirts and sleep in a girls' boarding house if they question their gender identity.

Youngsters at Gordon's School in Woking, Surrey,  whose patron is Elizabeth II  will also be allowed to be known by gender-neutral pronouns, such as 'zie' and use gender-neutral lavatories.

The school's deputy head, Rob Parvis, said it had already allowed a boy to wear make-up, attend his prom in a dress and be addressed by a girl's name.

'Parents of pupils were surprised by how open-minded we have been. Most schools are having these issues', he told the Sunday Times.

Youngsters at Gordon's School in Woking, Surrey, will also be allowed to be known by gender-neutral pronouns, such as 'zie' and use gender-neutral lavatories

The voluntary aided school, where some pupils pay 15,000 a year for school meals and boarding, decided to act after becoming aware of students who would 'come out' after leaving  and wanted pupils to feel safe while in their care.

It comes after Andrew Fisher, the headteacher of Frensham Heights in Farnham, allowed a schoolgirl who was unsure about her gender to sleep in the boys' dormitory.

Increasing numbers of children are today questioning their gender identity, with more than 2,000 under 18s having been referred to the Gender Identity Clinic in Tavistock, London, compared to just 100 eight years ago.

Guidance from the Boarding School's Association advises that if a boy wishes to change gender then he should be offered a chance to sleep in the girls' dormitory and vice versa

Parents at Highgate - a coeducational London private day school - received letters from head teacher Adam Pettitt, apologising for the introduction of gender-neutral lavatories

Guidance from the Boarding School's Association advises that if a boy wishes to change gender then he should be offered a chance to sleep in the girls' dormitory and vice versa.

However not all parents are happy about the rapidly-changing landscape of gender and identification.

Parents at Highgate - a coeducational London private day school - received letters from head teacher Adam Pettitt, apologising for the introduction of gender-neutral lavatories.

He admitted that some younger pupils felt 'less comfortable and happy at school' as a result.
A failed Taliban bomber was caught with a lorry packed with bombs hidden under boxes of tomatoes as he drove through Kabul.

Afghan police shot and wounded the jihadi carrying 30 yellow and orange plastic containers filled with explosive material and two bombs weighing 100 kilogrammes each.

The man was caught after he failed to stop at a security checkpoint late Saturday, the interior ministry said.

A would-be Taliban bomber is presented to the media after being captured near a check-point in Kabul, Afghanistan

The insurgent was found with 30 yellow and orange plastic containers filled with explosive material and two bombs weighing 100 kilogrammes each

A Western security source claimed that each 20-litre drum contained ammonium nitrate, which is also used to make fertilizer.

The containers were connected by yellow electric cables, photographs showed.

The only thing missing was the device to detonate the explosives, he said.

Security in the Afghan capital has been ramped up since May 31 when a massive truck bomb ripped through the city's diplomatic quarter, killing about 150 and wounding around 400 people, mostly civilians.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack - the deadliest in the city since 2001 - that Western officials say was caused by more than 1,500 kg of explosives packed in a sewage truck.

The government has blamed the Taliban-allied Haqqani Network for the bombing. Taliban militants rarely claim responsibility for attacks that kill large numbers of civilians.

Following outrage over the attack authorities increased the number of police checkpoints in the diplomatic zone and installed special barriers to prevent trucks from entering the centre of the city.

An official inspects unexploded bombs and explosive devices which were seized from a Taliban insurgent last night in Kabul

The insurgent walks in chains after he was shot and captured by Afghan police in Kabul

Scanners to check lorries wanting access to the area where embassies and international organisations are located were also being used.

In August Afghan intelligence seized a truck in Kabul carrying more than 16 tonnes of explosives hidden in boxes marked as poultry feed.

But despite the enhanced security measures insurgents have continued to carry out carnage in the capital.

In the most recent major attack a suicide bomber disguised as a shepherd blew himself up near a Shiite mosque in Kabul last month killing six people.

Ordinary Afghans have borne the brunt of the 16-year insurgency, with more than 26,500 civilians killed and nearly 49,000 wounded as a result of armed conflict since January 2009, according to UN figures.

Suicide and militant attacks have been particularly deadly. Between January and September 1,584 civilians were killed and wounded in such incidents, the UN says, accounting for 20 percent of casualties over the nine-month period.
Woody Allen has defended Harvery Weinstein over dozens of allegations of sexual abuse and rape, describing the situation as 'sad'.

The director, who worked with Weinstein a number of times, said he was upset 'for everyone involved' and lamented the fact that Weinstein's life 'is so messed up.'

While he hoped the investigation into alleged abuse would provide some respite to victims, he added that he worries about a witch hunt against men.

Woody Allen says he is 'sad' for Harvey Weinstein as he faces dozens of allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Allen's own son, Ronan (right), was instrumental in bringing the claims to light after he interviewed 13 women who said they were abused and harassed

He told BBC Arabic: 'The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved.

'Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up. There's no winners in that, it's just very, very sad and tragic for those poor women that had to go through that.'

He hoped the victims can find 'some amelioration' now the allegations have come to light, but added: 'You also don't want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself. That's not right either.'

Weinstein was credited with reviving Allen's career after he was accused of abusing Dylan Farrow, the daughter he adopted with then-wife Mia, when she was seven.

Allen collaborated with Weinstein several times including on 1995 film Mighty Aphrodite (pictured at the premiere)

The claims emerged in 1993 after Farrow split with Allen, having discovered he was having an affair with her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn.

An investigation was launched but later dropped with no charges made against Allen. He has always vehemently denied the claims.

Dylan repeated the claims in a 2014 blog post, and was supported by brother Ronan Farrow who also criticized the media for not questioning Allen more closely.

Ronan was also instrumental in bringing the allegations against Weinstein to light, interviewing 13 women who alleged he had harassed or attacked them.

Allen and Weinstein collaborated several times over the years, including on the Oscar-winning film Mighty Aphrodite.

The star of that film, Mira Sorvino, is just one of the actresses to come forward with claims against Weinstein.

It was during a promotional tour for that film, in 1995, that she alleges Weinstein began massaging her shoulders while they were alone in a hotel room.

Allen said it is 'tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up.' Pictures is Allen (right) on the set of 1992 film Husbands and Wives with Lysette Anthony (left) who has accused Weinstein of raping her

Allen (pictured at the premier of Wonder Wheel earlier this year) was accused of sexually abuse Dylan Farrow, his adopted daughter with ex-wife Mia Farrow, which she was seven. He was never charged and vehemently denies the allegation

He then became 'more physical', she told the New Yorker, chasing her around before she managed to get away.

'I have lived in vague fear of Harvey Weinstein for over 20 years, ever since those incidents,' she later told Time.

Lysette Anthony, a British actress who once starred in Woody Allen's 1992 film Husbands and Wives, is just the latest star to go public with allegations of sexual abuse by Weinstein.

She claimed the movie mogul 'grabbed' her during a visit to his Chelsea home in the late Eighties after years of friendship in which 'nothing untoward' happened.

After she fled, she claims he began stalking her before knocking at the door of her west London home around 10am.

Ms Anthony said she opened the door in her dressing gown and Weinstein threw her against the coat rack before raping her.

She said: 'As he ground himself against me and shoved inside me, I kept my eyes shut tight, held my breath and just let him get on with it.

'He came over my leg like a dog and then left. It was pathetic, revolting,' she told The Sunday Times. 'I remember lying in the bath, crying.'

Weinstein's lawyers said earlier this week: 'Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein.'
Hillary Clinton has claimed Brexit was won with a 'big lie' as she claimed quitting the EU without a deal would hurt Britain.

The losing Presidential candidate said the Brexit vote had been a precursor to her own defeat to Donald Trump.

In an interview broadcast for the first time today, Mrs Clinton told the BBC's Andrew Marr the link between the two historic votes was a breakthrough of 'false stories' in the media.

The ex-Secretary of State is in Britain promoting her book on why she lost the race for the White House. She collected an honorary doctorate at Swansea University yesterday.

Hillary Clinton (pictured on the Andrew Marr show, broadcast today) claimed Brexit was won with a 'big lie' as she claimed quitting the EU without a deal would hurt Britain

Mrs Clinton told Marr the Brexit vote had been a precursor to her own defeat to Donald Trump

Mrs Clinton told Marr: 'Looking at the Brexit vote now, it was a precursor to some extent of what happened to us in the United States.'

Referring to 'the amount of fabricated, false information that your voters were given by the leave campaign,' she said: 'You know, the big lie is a very potent tool, and we've somewhat kept it at bay in western democracies, partly because of the freedom of the press.

'Obviously there have always been newspapers who leaned right or leaned left and they kind of counterbalanced each other.

'But given the absolutely explosive spread of online news and sites that have sprung up that are very effective at propagating false stories, we've got some thinking to do ... there has to be some basic level of fact and evidence in our politics.

'Well, frankly, in all parts of our society.'

Mrs Clinton used the interview to take a swipe at President Trump and said he 'doesn't believe in trade'.

Failing to secure a Brexit deal with the European Union would put Britain at a 'very big disadvantage', Hillary Clinton has claimed

The former US secretary of state and presidential hopeful also said the Brexit result was a precursor to her defeat to Donald Trump in last year's presidential elections

Mrs Clinton, who was today presented with an honorary degree at Swansea University, took a swipe at President Trump and said he 'doesn't believe in trade'

Mrs Clinton told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show: 'I think it would be a very big disadvantage to Britain.

'I mean, no deal meaning no preferential trade deals, which means products in Britain would not have the kind of easy access to the European market that you've had under EU membership.

'It could very well mean that there would be more pressure on businesses in Britain, if not to leave completely, at least also have sites and employment elsewhere in Europe.

'I think that the disruption for Britain could be, you know, quite serious.'

President Trump has said it is 'possible' the US will pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) struck more than two decades ago with Mexico and Canada.

Asked about the UK's trading future with America, Mrs Clinton said: 'Well, yes, but you're making a trade deal with someone who says he doesn't believe in trade. So I'm not quite sure how that's going to play out over the next few years.

'He looks like he's on the verge of taking (us) out of NAFTA rather than reworking NAFTA. Our biggest trading partners in the world are Canada and Mexico. So these will have real world economic consequences.'

Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, she said: 'Looking at the Brexit vote now, it was a precursor to some extent of what happened to us in the United States'

Mrs Clinton was presented with an honorary degree at Swansea University on Saturday and was recognised for her commitment to promoting the rights of children around the world

Some protesters gathered outside the campus ahead of Mrs Clinton's visit on Saturday

Mrs Clinton was presented with an honorary degree at Swansea University on Saturday and was recognised for her commitment to promoting the rights of families and children around the world, a cause shared by the university's Observatory on the Human Rights of Children and Young People.

During her speech at the university, she called for 'empathy' on both sides of the Atlantic and highlighted the plight of children in the UK.

She said: 'Teachers and schools are reporting an outbreak of bullying and racially motivated insults.

'Here in the UK, divisive rhetoric and policy shifts are having their own effects.

'Right now, the residency rights of half a million children, including many who were born in the UK, are hanging in the balance.

'So there are reports of children being worried, feeling uncertain, even unsafe. Trying to make sense of their places in the world.

In the same interview Mrs Clinton warned failing to secure a Brexit deal with the European Union would put Britain at a 'very big disadvantage'

Mrs Clinton said no deal could mean more pressure on British businesses and the disruption could be 'quite serious'

'The children's commissioners for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have already raised concerns that children's interests are getting short shrift in the Brexit process.'

The former first lady said she continues to 'believe in the value of the European Union', adding: 'What's missing in both of our countries at the moment it seems to me, and what we need more than anything else, is empathy.'

Some protesters gathered outside the campus ahead of Mrs Clinton's visit on Saturday.

The university's college of law was renamed The Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law and she was presented with a book about her Welsh roots.
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Breathtaking images shared by David Attenborough have provided a glimpse into a world teeming with alien-like creatures.

The astonishing images come ahead of Blue Planet II's release later this month, for which at least 1,000 hours of underwater filming took place across the globe.

The much-loved TV nature expert is also urging the world to cut down on the use of plastics by 'tomorrow' to curb increasing dangers to the ocean.

Sir David told how his experience filming the second Blue Planet series showed him the threat that plastic causes to the underwater environment.

His comments came as he attended a Q&A about the show ahead of its broadcast on BBC One later this month, 15 years after the original series.

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Sir David released the astonishing images ahead of Blue Planet II. This picture, taken by photographer Matty Smith, shows the surreal Portugese man-of-war venomous jellyfish

A tiny hermit crab with super-sharp pincers which it uses to feed. The crabs take over the shells of mollusks to protect their vulnerable abdomens

A terrifying-looking fangtooth has the largest teeth of any fish in the ocean proportionate to body size. They are among the deepest-living fish and live in the murky depths of up to 16,000ft below the surface of the ocean

A cheeky green turtle is all smiles for underwater cameraman Jason Isley, who captures this adorable image while the Blue Planet team were filming in Sipidan, Borneo

The Blue Planet II team worked with several hi-tech submarines to reach the mysterious and alien depths

A mud volcano in the Gulf of Mexico, where bubbles of methane erupt from the deep-down seafloor, dragging plumes of millennia-old sediment with them as they rise

Asked what concerned him the most about the crew's findings, the 91-year old said: 'Two things. One of course is the rising temperature, and particularly in the last programme it is illustrated what happens if the temperature goes up by 1.5 degrees.

'The second thing is plastic. Plastic in the ocean. Now what we're going to do about 1.5 degrees rise in the temperature of the ocean over the next 10 years, I don't know, but we could actually do something about plastic right now. And I just wish we would.

'There are so many sequences that every single one of us have been involved in, even in the most peripheral way, where we have seen tragedies happen because of the plastic in the ocean.

'We've seen albatross come back with their belly full of food for their young and nothing in it.

'The albatross parent has been away for three weeks gathering stuff for her young and what comes out? What does she give her chick?

The Blue Planet team spend a thousand hours underwater across the world filming for the new series

An enourmous whaleshark, surrounded by countless number of tiny fish, glides through the sea off the remote Galapagos Islands

The enourmous size of the animal is made apparent as a diver is dwarfed next to the whaleshark. They can grow up to 39ft and weigh more than 20 tons

Three humpback whales pictured feeding off the coast of Monterey. The graceful animals migrate around 16,000 miles every year and feed mainly on krill and small fish

Rays of sunlight break through the canopy of a kelp forest. Macrocystis, also known as giant kellp, is found all along the west coast of North America

'You think it's going to be squid, but it's plastic. And the chick is going to starve and die.

'There are more examples of that. But we could do things about plastic internationally tomorrow.'

Explaining how he hoped the programme would encourage viewers to think about our impact on the environment, he continued: 'We have a responsibility. Every one of us. We may think we live a long way from the oceans but we don't.

'What we actually do here, and in the middle of Asia and wherever has a direct effect on the oceans and what the oceans do, then reflects back on us.

Scientist Steve Simpson uses a multi-directional hydrophone to record the sounds of the reef. It was revealed recently that many fish rely on sound at key stages in their lives

A dazzlingly colourful reef in Fiji is teeming with life as bright-orange fish sail past vibrant corals and anemones. Coral reefs are some of the most busy places in the world

A Sally Lightfoot crab keeps two beady eyes on the camera. These crabs also happen to be the favourite food of moray eels and octopus

Three large starfish scavenge for food in rock pools. They are the main predators of limpets in rock pools

An Atlantic puffin looking very pleased with itself after scooping up a beakful of food for its hungry chick

A Galapagos sea lion attacking a yellow-fin tuna that it has driven inshore. This hunting strategy only happens on the Galapagos and has never been filmed before

False Killer Whales off shore from North Island, New Zealand. The animals do bear a resemblance to killer whales, but are actually the fourth largest member of the dolphin family

'It is one world. And it's in our care. For the first time in the history of humanity, for the first time in 500 million years, one species has the future in the palm of its hands. I just hope he realises that that is the case.'

Sir David, who presents Blue Planet II, appeared on the Q&A panel with composer Hans Zimmer, executive producer James Honeyborne, series producer Mark Brownlow and producer Orla Doherty ahead of the programme's broadcast this month.

The programme is a a BBC Studios Natural History Unit production and filming took place all over the world, in locations such as South Africa, Egypt, Australia, Mexico, Japan and Norway. It will air on October 29.
Pressure mounted on Catalonia's leader on Sunday ahead of a Madrid-imposed deadline to decide whether to declare independence or back down and unleash the wrath of his separatist allies.

Spain's government has given Carles Puigdemont until 10am on Monday to clear up his ambiguous stance on secession after announcing last week that he was ready to declare the region 'an independent state' but called for more time for talks.

Anything other than a full climb-down is likely to be viewed by Madrid as a declaration of independence which would prompt the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to launch steps to take direct control of the region.

Puigdemont said last week that he had 'accepted' a mandate for independence based on the results of a disputed referendum, but that he wanted parliament to delay its implementation to open negotiations with Spain.

Catalonia's far-left CUP party demanded an unambiguous affirmation of Catalan independence from Puigdemont by the Monday deadline, threatening to withdraw support if he rescinds his independence claim.

The far-left CUP party demanded an affirmation of Catalan independence from regional president Carles Puigdemont by the Monday deadline given by Spain's central government

Laying a wreath at the tomb of former Catalan leader and separatist hero Lluis Companys, Puigdemont said his decision would be 'inspired by his commitment to peace, civility and serenity, but also firmness and democracy

Meanwhile, far-right groups are increasingly taking to the streets in their quest for Spanish unity, sparking fears they will grow stronger after decades on the margins, analysts say.

In central Barcelona on Thursday, xenophobic group Hogar Social, far-right party Vox and ultra nationalist group Espana 2000 rallied along with tens of thousands of families, couples and retirees for Spain's national day.

Not far off on Barcelona's mountain of Montjuic, several hundred other far-right supporters rallied, holding fiery speeches next to a stand selling memorabilia like Adolf Hitler's 'political testament' or items marked with 'SS', the insignia of the Nazi elite force.

Small groups of far-right supporters have gathered on other occasions in Barcelona, or further afield in Valencia or the Balearic Islands - parts of Spain with strong regional identities - sparking scuffles.

Historian Xavier Casals, who specialises in the far-right, counters that there is currently no political party with a brand strong enough to capitalise on the Catalan crisis.

But he adds that it is difficult to gauge what will happen as 'the situation in Catalonia is evolving rapidly, with unpredictable and changing scenarios'.

Spain's most serious political crisis in a generation has already prompted hundreds of businesses to start leaving the prosperous northeastern region, sparking fears it may damage the eurozone's fourth-largest economy.

Puigdemont is under intense pressure from Madrid and European neighbours to abandon his independence push.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy (pictured) has given him until Monday to clarify his position - and then until Thursday to change his mind if he insists on a split - threatening to suspend Catalonia's autonomy if he chooses independence

But he's also being squeezed by his separatist allies to deliver succession after a banned October 1 referendum on the matter saw those who voted overwhelmingly back independence.

'His commitment to the people who asked this of him on October 1 is very clear, which is why we believe he will go down this route,' Marta Pascal, a senior official in Puigdemont's party, said Sunday.

But polls indicate that Catalans themselves are divided over independence, and many voters stayed at home during the plebiscite.

Officials in Madrid are watching Monday's deadline closely, but it is thought the Catalan leader may deliver what the central government deems another non-committal response.

'If that's the case, that will show that he doesn't want dialogue and so the Spanish government will need to take necessary measures to return to normality,' said Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido Alvarez on Saturday.

Under article 155 of the Spanish constitution, the central government can take direct control of its devolved regions if it deems them to be acting against the national interest.

But such a move could spark further unrest in Catalonia.

At the same time, separatist groups have vowed to stage mass strikes and protests if Puigdemont backtracks.

On Sunday in Girona, a Catalan city where Puigdemont was once mayor, hundreds gathered in favour of independence, chanting the slogan: 'No turning back!'

CUP spokeswoman Nuria Gibert said the far-left Catalan party CUP would probably withdraw its support for his minority government if Puigdemont says he did not declare independence

But the regional president, a 54-year-old former journalist, is keeping his cards close to his chest.

Laying a wreath at the tomb of former Catalan leader and separatist hero Lluis Companys, Puigdemont said his decision would be 'inspired by his commitment to peace, civility and serenity, but also firmness and democracy'.

Puigdemont, who is holding consultations with local parties to prepare his decision, faces a tough dilemma.

If he says he did proclaim independence, the central government will step in.

If he says he did not declare it, then the far-left Catalan party CUP would probably withdraw its support for his minority government.

Such a move would likely bring down Puigdemont's government and force elections.

'Until there is (a declaration of independence), we don't see any sense in continuing normal parliamentary activity,' CUP spokeswoman Nuria Gibert said.

CUP had initially given Puigdemont a month to attempt talks with the Spanish government.

Puigdemont made a symbolic declaration of independence on Tuesday night, only to suspend it seconds later and call for negotiations with Madrid on the region's future.

Meanwhile, far-right groups are increasingly taking to the streets in their quest for Spanish unity, sparking fears they will grow stronger after decades on the margins, analysts say

He disappointed the party and the secession movement's grassroots groups when he wavered on making an outright declaration of independence.

Instead, Puigdemont asked separatist lawmakers to delay the declaration to provide more time for dialogue.

Gibert said Puigdemont's ambiguous position only creates 'confusion.'

While CUP upped the pressure on Puigdemont, his main ally appealed to supporters of secession to stop bickering and stand behind their leader.

'We must preserve the unity that is necessary to go all the way on this path to a republic,' Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras said.

Junqueras delivered his message to 200 members of his Republic Left party at its headquarters in Barcelona. The party forms a governing coalition with Puigdemont's conservatives in Catalonia's parliament.

Junqueras said the best way forward was for secessionists to show the world 'who wants to offer dialogue and who rejects it.'

Spain's conservative government, led by Prime Minister Rajoy, is also leaning heavily on Puigdemont.

Along with being flanked politically, Puigdemont has economic factors to consider. Banks and businesses are discussing relocating their headquarters from Catalonia to other parts of Spain over fears they would be out of the common European Union market if the region breaks away from the country.

The Spanish government has warned that the constitutional crisis in Catalonia is already hurting the economy.

In central Barcelona on Thursday, xenophobic group Hogar Social, far-right party Vox and ultra nationalist group Espana 2000 rallied along with tens of thousands of families, couples and retirees for Spain's national day

Puigdemont has asked for international mediation in the crisis, an idea Rajoy dismissed out of hand.

Madrid says it will not negotiate on a movement that violates the constitution, and EU leaders have presented a united front in favour of Spanish unity.

EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said that Catalan independence would create a domino effect for other secession-seeking regions in the bloc.

Separatists argue that Catalonia is shouldering an unfair burden by paying more in Spanish taxes than it gets back.

But since the referendum, hundreds of companies have started leaving, including Catalonia's two largest banks. Ratings agency Standard and Poor's has warned of a recession in the region if the crisis drags on.

Puigdemont claimed he had the mandate to declare an independent Catalonia after an overwhelming 'Yes' vote in a October 1 referendum that Spain's top court had suspended on grounds the vote was likely unconstitutional.

Only 43 per cent of eligible voters cast ballots amid a brutal Spanish police crackdown. Parties against secession boycotted the referendum.

Polls show roughly half of Catalonia's 7.5 million residents don't want to leave Spain. Pro-union forces have held large rallies in Barcelona this week.

The European Union supports a united Spain and no foreign country has voice support for Catalonia's separatists.

Under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, the central government in Madrid can suspend the political autonomy of a region if it breaks the law.

Not far off on Barcelona's mountain of Montjuic, several hundred other far-right supporters rallied, holding fiery speeches next to a stand selling memorabilia like Adolf Hitler's 'political testament' or items marked with 'SS', the insignia of the Nazi elite force

Demonstrators from Spanish far right groups watch on after burning a Catalan flag after marching from Barcelona's Plaza Espanya square on Thursday

This article, which enables Rajoy to sack the Catalan government and call a regional election, has never been activated since the constitution was adopted in 1978 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

As Catalonia faces potential independance from Spain, the nation's far-right, which has been on the margins for decades, has started to hold rallies in cities across the country.

While these types of incidents have happened in the past, some fear that the far-right could grow stronger if the face-off between Spain's central government and Catalan leaders who want to break away persists.

'The longer the polarisation (in Spain) and the harder it is to resolve the conflict, the more the potential for these groups to get organised and gain political influence, or take to the streets,' says political analyst Pablo Simon.

'There have never been such big protests with Spanish flags, and that's what these groups are taking advantage of to grow bolder and expand. They're becoming more visible.'

Unlike other European countries such as France or Germany, Spain's far-right is very much on the margin and 'has been hugely fragmented since the start of the 1980s,' says Jordi Borras, a photojournalist who has long studied the issue.

The country's national parliament has not had any far-right lawmaker since 1982.

After Spain transitioned to democracy in the 1970s, the far-right found itself unable to broaden its appeal beyond nostalgia for Francisco Franco's 1939-1975 dictatorship, says Borras.

Small groups of far-right supporters have gathered on other occasions in Barcelona, or further afield in Valencia or the Balearic Islands - parts of Spain with strong regional identities - sparking scuffles

Not only that, but many people who identify with the far-right vote for Spain's conservative Popular Party, which is currently in power, he adds.

But while issues such as immigration or Islamophobia federate the far-right in other countries, 'the catalyst for Spain's far-right is Catalonia's independence movement, because their main obsession is guaranteeing Spain's unity,' says Borras.

On Thursday in Barcelona, Manuel Andrino, leader of the Falange, a small far-right party, pointed out in an angry speech that Madrid was hosting its traditional national day military parade.

'I don't think there's any parade to celebrate, and even less in Madrid. Our army needs to be here, now, with our compatriots,' he shouted.

Sociologist Narciso Michavila says that while opinion polls show 'a rise of parties like Vox,' they still don't have much support.

But Catalan nationalist leaders, in his opinion, 'have spread xenophobia with regards to other Spaniards,' with themes such as 'Spain is robbing us,' in reference to a widely-used complaint that Catalonia pays more in taxes to Madrid than it gets back.

Michavila says this has contributed to the far-right's response to the Catalan crisis at a time of high political tension.

'At the end of the day, extremes need each other,' he says. 'They live off this radicalness and this confrontation.'

Borras, meanwhile, says he has 'been warning for a while that things will escalate.'

'It's very probable that there will be more incidents.'
A teenager is lucky to be alive after smashing every single bone in his face, losing three teeth and suffering a bleed on his brain in an accident on his BMX bike.

Grady Russell, 14, was at a local skate park in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, on his bike on September 29 when he collided face-on with a ten-foot ramp.

He crushed two vertebrates in his middle back and needed five hours of intensive surgery in a specialist theatre to treat his life-threatening injuries.

Mother Julie, 44, has urged all bikers to wear helmets and believes that Grady would not still be alive had he not been wearing his.

Grady Russell, 14, was at a local skate park in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, on his bike on September 29 when he collided face-on with a ten-foot ramp. He crushed two vertebrates in his middle back, smashed every single bone in his face, lost three teeth and needed five hours of intensive surgery in a specialist theatre to treat his life-threatening injuries

Grady said: 'I always wear my helmet but this has changed my life and now I'm always going to do it up.

'It was pretty scary, well, it was really scary actually - all my friends were really worried about me.

'It's scary realising that all of this has happened, but I do really want to cycle again soon.

'It's just what I do, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't cycle, I'd definitely be bored all the time if I couldn't - I know that I need to take a break for now because this has been quite serious.'

Grady, who is six-foot-two, was doing an air trick at Hillrise ramps when he collided and hit his face.

Grady had to have six metal plates screwed into his jaw, and a probe inserted into his skull. Pictured above is an X-ray of his skull after surgery, showing the metal plates

Mum Julie, who is a conveyancer at a law firm, rushed to the scene when she received a call from a panicked boy saying that Grady had had an accident.

She said: 'It's an absolute miracle that he's survived, I call him my little iron man because he's been so, so brave.

'The boy who called me was at the skate park with Grady and said that Grady had lost loads of blood and some teeth, it sounded terrible and I drove straight over.'

When Julie got to the scene one paramedic was already tending to Grady and his father, Stuart, 52, was calling for another ambulance.

Julie said: 'There was blood everywhere and his face was an absolute mess.

'Grady was saying over and over, "Am I dying? Am I dying?" The ambulance came and they put a neck brace on him, put him on a stretcher and into an ambulance.

'I got into the ambulance with him and he was blue-lite straight to hospital.

'Stuart drove in his car behind, he was seen straight away at the hospital and the doctor said that he'd need to see a specialist.

'I went with him to Addenbrookes where he has a CT scan and went straight into theatre.

'It was a life or death situation and I was terrified, I haven't left his side throughout- I have to thank The Sick Children's Trust for providing me with accommodation throughout the time Grady was in hospital.'

Grady was taken to Hinchingbrooke Hospital and was then transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital, in Cambridge.

He was put into an induced coma and was on a ventilator to breathe for him while he was recovering.

Grady fractured his eye sockets, cheekbones and his nose and split the roof of his mouth and both his upper and lower jaws.

Julie said: 'He had to have six metal plates screwed into various parts of his jaw and a probe inserted into his skull to check the pressure inside his head.

'He's been on morphine, muscle relaxants, everything- he's just come out today and he's made a fantastically quick turn around because he really is so, so fit.

'Grady spends every spare second of his on his bicycle and is desperate to get back on, but the doctors say that he needs to wait until at least the next year, and will have to wear a full face helmet if and when he does.

'He'd just has his braces taken out the day before the accident, and we've now learned that if he'd still had them in, he'd probably have lost more teeth.'

After five hours of surgery to restore Grady's facial structure, doctors are still unsure about the future for Grady but are amazed at his speedy recovery.

Grady was put into an induced coma and was on a ventilator to breathe for him while he was recovering. He fractured his eye sockets, cheekbones and his nose and split the roof of his mouth and both his upper and lower jaws

Julie said: 'When Grady's over 18, he'll be able to get porcelain teeth- we're just taking it step by step for now and everyday he's getting so much better.

'Obviously one of the main things that Grady is worried about is the permanent damage that will be done to his face, but he's getting better every day.

'Doctors have also alerted us to other possible future problems, like chronic fatigue and loss of concentration, which we have to warn the school to look out for.

'He'll have to be slowly introduced back into school in a few weeks, firstly just for shorter days and then for full days but with longer breaks.

'I'm so grateful that he was wearing his helmet, the doctors have said that his head injury would have been far worse if he was not wearing one..'

Julie said it feels that the council should put up advisory signs about the importance of wearing a helmet when using the ramps.

She looks forward to thanking the boys who used Grady's finger to unlock his phone and called her when he was injured.

Julie said: 'I would like to thank the two boys who thought really quickly to get my son's phone and get his fingerprint to call me and then call an ambulance.

'Their quick thinking has probably saved my son's life.'

Brother Harvey, 16, is relieved to have his brother, who is a pupil at St Ivo School, back in his family home in St Ives, Cambridgeshire.

A spokesman for Huntingdonshire District Council said: 'The council takes safety very seriously and we have signs to promote safety at the skate park in Hill Rise and all parks managed by the district council.

'We are very concerned to hear of this accident and wish Grady a full and speedy recovery.'

The spokesman added: 'We are happy to work with his parents to raise awareness of wearing helmets which do save lives.'
Matthew Carter, 45, Dereham, was jailed at Norwich Crown Court after admitting child sex offences

A 45-year-old man has been jailed for more than 11 years after his two-year-old victim became the youngest child to give evidence in a criminal case.

Matthew Carter, 45, from Dereham, was jailed at Norwich Crown Court after admitting child sex offences.

He pleaded guilty to one count of rape of a two-year-old girl and three counts of making indecent images of children.

He was convicted after his two-year-old victim became the youngest person to give evidence in a UK criminal case.

Hours after being attacked by Carter, a father-of-three, the girl told her parents.

A representative from the Ministry of Justice's register of intermediaries, which deals with minors giving evidence in court cases, came in to aid police with talking to the girl.

The intermediary advised the police about the best way to question the two-year-old, who was initially reluctant to engage with unfamiliar adults and clung to her parents.

The expert spent an hour playing with toys to win her trust, the Sun on Sunday reported.

The expert had brought some of the girl's favourite toys to the video interview, including a Monkey Tree, with animals falling from branches, and a range of Happy Land playthings.

All adult furniture, such as sofas and chairs, was taken out of the room. They were instead replaced by large fluffy rugs for everyone to sit down on.

Throughout the interview the expert and girl played with the toys on a rug while the officer sat alongside them and asked questions.

The questions put to her were short, simple and written down beforehand. They were designed to establish the who, where and when of the crime.

After winning her trust the little girl showed them on a paper gingerbread man where she had been abused.

When they needed to take a mouth swab from her, the girl initially was terrified of the site of a forensics officer wearing rubber gloves.

To counter this the MoJ expert made everyone wear gloves, and they spent a period pretending they were brushing their teeth, putting her at ease to give the sample.

Experts have warned sexual predators who target young children that they were wrong to think no one would give evidence against them.

The child's video testimony, passed to Carter's lawyers, was so compelling he confessed before a trial (file picture)

A spokesman for Intermediaries For Justice said: 'A lot of perpetrators think they can get away with offences on small children because they are too young to explain what happened.

'But this proves young people can give evidence that if acted upon quickly and handled correctly can lead to convictions.'

The child's video testimony, passed to Carter's lawyers, was so compelling he confessed before a trial.

Sentencing him on Tuesday, Judge Maureen Bacon said he had started by looking at indecent images of children for his own 'sexual gratification' before acting out his 'fantasy' and raping the girl.

She said a degree of planning had gone into his sexual assault on the child, as he had engineered the situation so he was left alone with the victim.

As well as being jailed for 11-and-a-half years, he was put on the sex offenders' register for life.

Lori Tucker, acting for Carter, said: 'He appreciates what he's done and the impact that he has had.

'He allegedly had long-standing mental health issues and had stopped taking his medication when he struck.

Speaking after his sentencing, Detective Constable Natalie Riseborough, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: 'Hearing a victim's account of the abuse they were subjected to is always distressing and this sentence highlights that we are committed to carrying out a full and thorough investigation to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

'We have dedicated officers who are specially trained to undertake difficult and emotive investigations on a daily basis.

'We would urge anyone who has been abused or sexually assaulted to come forward, safe in the knowledge that Norfolk Constabulary, together with our partners within child protection, will provide help and support, and do all we can to identify, charge and bring those responsible before the courts.'
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Pope Francis canonised 35 new Roman Catholic saints on Sunday, including three indigenous children martyred in 16th century Mexico and considered the first Christians killed for their faith in the New World.

Francis used the occasion to announce that he had decided to call a meeting of bishops, or synod, from countries in the Pan-Amazon region for October, 2019, to discuss the condition of the Church in the area and the plight of indigenous people.

The three children the pope canonised before a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square were of the Talaxcaltec people, an indigenous pre-Colombian group in what is now Mexico.

Pope Francis canonised 35 new Roman Catholic saints on Sunday, including three indigenous children martyred in 16th century Mexico, considered the first Christians killed for their faith in the New World

The region includes Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil.

The first child, Cristoforo, was converted to Christianity by Franciscan missionaries and was killed in 1527 by his own father, a tribal chief who spurned his son's attempts to convert him from paganism.

The boy was beaten and thrown into a fire when he was 13.

Two other indigenous children from the same area, Antonio and Juan, were killed by Indios in the village of Cuauhtinchan in 1529 as a result of their conversion. They are believed to have been 12 or 13 when they were beaten to death for helping Dominican missionaries.

The three children the pope canonised before a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square were of the Talaxcaltec people, an indigenous pre-Colombian group in what is now Mexico

The pope also canonised 30 martyrs who were killed for their faith in Brazil in 1645. They included two Portuguese missionaries and 28 followers killed by Dutch colonial soldiers during a period of persecution of Catholics.

In announcing the 2019 synod for bishops from the Amazon region, Francis said indigenous people there today were 'often abandoned and without the prospect of a bright future, even due to the crisis of the Amazon Forest, a lung of utmost importance for our planet'.

Francis, an Argentine and the first Latin American pope, has often linked his calls for social justice, particularly for indigenous people, to those for defence of the environment, saying the poor will suffer the most from the effects of climate change.

In 2015 he wrote a landmark encyclical, or papal letter, on defence of the environment and he has called for special protection for the Amazon region because of its vital importance to the planet's ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the Pope issued a stark warning against the dangers of the devil and the evils that 'worldliness' brings

In his comments on Sunday, the pope did not mention the role of the Church in suppressing native cultures in the New World.

But during a visit to Bolivia in 2015, Francis said 'many grave sins were committed against the native people of America in the name of God'. He asked forgiveness for the Church, for 'crimes committed against native peoples during the so-called conquest of America'.

On Sunday, Francis also canonised Father Faustino Miguez, a Spanish priest who lived in the 19th and 20th centuries, and Father Angelo d'Acri, an Italian itinerant preacher who died in 1739 after serving in some of the most remote areas of mountainous southern Italy.

Meanwhile, the Pope issued a stark warning against the dangers of the devil and the evils that 'worldliness' brings.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, he urged Christians to beware demons entering 'quietly' leading people to worldliness over religion.

Equating worldliness to straying from the path of righteousness, the Pope emphasised the way demons move stealthily to invade and corrupt people slowly, undermining Christianity.

Reporters at Townhall.com appeared to paraphrase the Pope's words on the VaticanRadio, writing: 'The Pope said the Lord asks us be watchful in order not to enter into temptation.

'This is why a Christians have to be awake, watchful and careful like a sentinel.

Reporters at Townhall. com appeared to paraphrase the Pope's words on the VaticanRadio, writing: 'The Pope said the Lord asks us be watchful in order not to enter into temptation

'Jesus was not narrating a parable but was stating a truth, i.e when the unclean spirit comes out of a man, he roams about in abandoned places looking for refuge and not finding any, decides to return to where he came from, where the freed man lives.

'Hence the demon decides to bring in 'seven other spirits worse than him.''

Pope Francis is understood to have emphasised the fact that the demons enter into man quietly, corrupting him slowly.

Paraphrasing, they said: 'The devil slowly changes our criteria to lead us to worldliness. It camouflages our way of acting, which we hardly notice. And so, the man, freed from the demon, becomes a bad man, a man burdened by worldliness. And that's exactly what the devil wants  worldliness, the Pope stressed.'

Adding: 'It means stopping for a while to examine my life, whether I am a Christian, whether I educate my children, whether my life is Christian or worldly?'

Pope Francis has divided the Christian population with some viewing him as a reformer and others too liberal

Equating worldliness to straying from the path of righteousness, the Pope emphasised the way demons move stealthily to invade and corrupt people slowly, undermining Christianity

Pope Francis has divided the Christian population with some viewing him as a reformer and other's as leaning too far away from traditional Christian values.

Advocating open borders and a sympathetic view towards immigration, the Pope has been the target of criticism from Conservative and right leaning thinkers who accuse the 80-year-old of being too liberal.

However, Pope Francis also hit out at Donald Trump for not being pro-life enough thanks to his stance on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

The Pope said: 'The President of the United States presents himself as pro-life and if he is a good pro-lifer, he understands that family is the cradle of life and its unity must be protected,'

Pope Francis also hit out at Donald Trump for not being pro-life enough thanks to his stance on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program

The Pope said: 'The President of the United States presents himself as pro-life and if he is a good pro-lifer, he understands that family is the cradle of life and its unity must be protected,'
(Xinhua) 14:12, October 15, 2017

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The spokesperson for the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress will meet the press at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the media center of the congress announced Sunday.

Journalists from the Chinese mainland, the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, and Taiwan, as well as other countries and regions have been invited to the event, the media center said.

The event will be broadcast live on China Central Television (CCTV).

The CPC national congress, a five-yearly event, will be convened in Beijing, starting Oct. 18. A total of 2,287 delegates have been selected from across China to attend the congress. They started to arrive in Beijing Sunday morning.
Glen Mitchell, 53, killed himself 12 weeks after he got tinnitus while listening to a loud band in a pub, wife Linda has said

A retired firefighter took his own life after suffering a mental breakdown as he battled severe tinnitus, his wife has revealed.

Glen Mitchell, 53, heard painful ringing, buzzing, and whistling sounds that made even the sound of a kettle boiling and her breathing too much to take.

He also suffered auditory hallucinations that meant country and western music played continuously in his head, depriving him of sleep.

Wife Linda said he was diagnosed with the condition after listening to a loud band in a pub, and just 12 weeks later he took his own life.

She said the couple felt ignored and belittled by doctors who offered little help despite his 'obvious' anxiety.

Linda, 45, of Duston, Northampton, said: 'I had been married to Glen for ten years but we'd been together for 22 and had a really happy life.

'He was a happy, healthy, fun loving bloke who was hard working, active and very fit. All that changed so quickly, it is almost hard to comprehend.

'It all started when my husband Glen and I went to our local pub to watch a live band.

'They played modern rock music like The Jam, that sort of thing, but they were very loud to the point where we just walked out.

'What followed was heart-breaking, frustrating and ultimately - unnecessary.'

She said the condition left him exhausted and unable to sleep because of the noises he was hearing an ear spasms he experienced.

Glen would pace the streets until 4am in a desperate bid to tire himself out to the point where he was able to fall asleep.

He also began experiencing anxiety that the tinnitus would never go away, which led to a 'rapid mental decline', she said.

'Eventually we went to our GP but we were too easily dismissed and not offered any support or advice about where to turn for the tinnitus or obvious levels of anxiety.

Linda said Glen suffered ear spasms, heard popping and whistling noises, and became so sensitive to sound even her breathing in bed was too much for him. He also suffered auditory hallucinations, she said, hearing country and western playing in his head

'Everyone just seemed disinterested and we felt very alone.

Despite his suffering, Linda recalled that Glenn held on to his sense of humour.

She added: 'My husband really liked his rock music and was into U2 and ACDC, but the funny thing was, he was hearing country and western in his head.

'There are more side-effects to tinnitus than just ringing in the ears, you can get whistling, buzzing, grinding and hissing sounds too and Glen had all of that.

'But also you can get musical hallucinations, hearing music that isn't playing, and Glen kept hearing country and western.

'He would say: "If I'm going to suffer from this, at least let me hear some decent rock and roll music".

Linda is now sharing her story for the first time four years on as part of the British Tinnitus Associations (BTA) 'Share Your Sound' campaign.

'I just want to make people aware of the issue because there seems to be a knee-jerk reaction from doctors that you should just get on and try and live with it,' she said.

'But it can cause so much devastation and it proved to be absolute torture for my husband - both psychically and mentally.'

'His death could have been prevented with the right level of psychological support and that is why it is so hard to take.'

'How a humorous, loving man, full of life could have got to that point so quickly is just devastating. I'm determined that lessons be learnt from Glen's death.

'It shouldn't and doesn't need to get to such a tragic point and I want to encourage anybody out there with tinnitus not to lose hope. There is help out there.

'I am really passionate about supporting GPs to become more knowledgeable about tinnitus and the potential impact the condition can have so they are more able to treat patients and improve their quality of life before things escalate.'
The leader of Austria's right-leaning People's Party has declared victory in a national election that puts him on track to become the world's youngest leader.

Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz, 31, claimed the win on Sunday night after projections gave his party a comfortable lead with more than 90 percent of the ballots counted.

He fell well short of a majority, but has not ruled out the possibility of forming a minority government once the final result comes in.

The young leader, dubbed Wunderwuzzi in his home country, which translates to Wonderkid, has pledged to cut benefits for all foreigners in Austria and has vowed to stop the European Union meddling in the country's politics.

Kurz, dubbed the Conservative Macron due to his age and his party reform, said: 'I would of course like to form a stable government. If that cannot be done then there are other options,' adding that he planned to talk to all parties in parliament but would first wait for a count of postal ballots that begins on Monday.

That count will settle the close race for second place between the Social Democrats and the far-right Freedom Party.

Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz, 31, claimed the win on Sunday night after projections gave his party a comfortable lead with more than 90 percent of the ballots counted

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, head of Austrian People's Party, arrives to the election party in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, October 15, 2017, after the closing of the polling stations for the Austrian national elections

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, head of Austrian People's Party, speaks during the election party in Vienna

Sebastian Kurz speaks to supporters, who are holding up signs reading 'Danke', which translates to thank you, during the party's election event

The fresh-faced Sebastian Kurz addresses his supporters after declaring victory in the elections

The leader of Austria's right-leaning People's Party, pictured waving, has declared victory in a national election that puts him on track to become the world's youngest leader

The projections had the People's Party getting 31.7 percent of the vote, a gain of more than seven percentage points from the 2013 election.

Final results will not be available until mid-week after absentee ballots and ballots cast by voters away from their home districts are counted.

The projections showed the centre-left Social Democrats receiving 26.9 percent and the vote and the anti-migrant, eurosceptic Freedom Party 26.0 percent.

In his victory speech, he said: 'I can only say, I am really overwhelmed. We campaigned for several months.

'We built a massive movement. We had a goal to be the first ones over the (finish) line on October 15.

'We have made the impossible possible. Thank you for all your work and for this historic success.'

'Today is not about triumphing over others. But today is the day for real change in our country. Today has given us a strong mandate to change this country, and I thank you for that.'

'We were handed a great responsibility from the voters, and we should all be aware of it. We should also be aware that a lot of people have put their hopes into our movement.

'I can promise you that I will fight with all my strength and all my commitment for change in this country, and I want to invite you all to come along this path together with me.'

What are the options now? New Austrian leader refuses to rule out taking power with a minority but coalition with far-right party emerges as most likely outcome With the right-leaning People's Party winning the election, but without a majority, the make-up of the Austrian cabinet is yet to be resolved. Austrian foreign minister Sebastian Kurz, 31, claimed the win on Sunday night after projections gave his party a comfortable lead with more than 90 percent of the ballots counted. He veered away from a commitment of a coalition, insisting every option was still on the table - including going into government with a minority. More likely is a coalition with either the far-right Freedom Party or the Social Democrats. With the Eurosceptic Freedom Party edging closer to finishing second in the election and with Kurz's policies on immigration shifting right, a right wing alliance is emerging as the most likely outcome. Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz (right), the leader and top candidate of the Austrian Peoples Party (OeVP), Austrian Chancellor and head of the Social Democratic Party (SPOe) Christian Kern (centre) and leader of the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party (FPOe) Heinz-Christian Strache (left) attend a TV interview in Vienna Centrist coalitions between the Social Democrats and the conservatives have dominated Austrian politics since World War Two, but many are deeply frustrated with the lack of progress in tax, pension, education and administrative reform. For the Freedom Party, forming a coalition with the conservatives would be a milestone in Europe. Here's what the two parties stand for: People's Party Cap basic welfare payments for refugees at 540 euros a month No inheritance tax and introduce 1,500 euros-a-month minimum wage Cutting income tax on annual earnings up to 60,000 euros Freedom Party Push for Brussels to hand more powers back to member states Shut sectors of economy to non-EU workers Cut proportion of foreign pupils in schools Deport foreign convicts Where they agree... Stop rescue missions of refugees in the Mediterranean Cut EU influence on the day to day governing of Austria Higher standards of integration before granting citizenship Foreigner benefits ban for five years Advertisement

Conservative Sebastian Kurz, 31, is set to take power and form an alliance with the far-right. He is pictured today with his girlfriend Susanne Thier

Miss Thier is a finance ministry worker who Mr Kurz met at the age of 18

Kurz has yanked his party to the right and is expected to seek a coalition with the far-right

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, head of Austrian People's Party, speaks during an interview in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, October 15

As well as his pledge on payouts to migrants, Kurz wants to slash Austria's red tape and keep the EU out of national affairs.

At 31, Kurz is young even by the standards of Europe's recent youth movement, which saw Macron enter the Elysee Palace at the age of 39 and Christian Lindner, 38, lead Germany's liberal Free Democrats (FDP) back into the Bundestag.

Kurz and Lindner showed that young new faces can inject dynamism into old establishment parties that have lost their way with voters.

Kurz rebranded the OVP as the New People's Party and changed its colours from black to turquoise.

Lindner used trendy black-and-white campaign posters that showed him staring at his smartphone to revitalise the FDP's image.

Macron, who formed his own political movement, was able to paint himself as a rebel outsider despite having served for four years under failed French Socialist Francois Hollande.

Austria's Foreign Minister and leader of Austria's centre-right People's Party (OeVP) Sebastian Kurz is made up ahead of a television debate about the Austrian general elections in Vienna on October 15, 2017

And in Italy, where the two top candidates in next year's election are likely to be Luigi Di Maio, the new 31-year-old leader of the upstart 5-Star movement and former prime minister Matteo Renzi, who at 42 looks old by Europe's new standards.

By taking a hard line on immigration that left little daylight between him and the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), 31-year-old Foreign Minister Kurz managed to propel his People's Party to first place and draw some support away from an FPO buoyed by Europe's migration crisis.

Both parties increased their share of the vote from the last parliamentary election in 2013, marking a sharp shift to the right. Chancellor Christian Kern's Social Democrats were in a close race with the FPO for second place.

Today Kurz was pictured voting in the Austrian capital Vienna alongside his girlfriend Susanne Thier - a finance ministry worker who he met at the age of 18.

Without revealing which way he was leaning on coalition talks, the 31-year-old told his supporters: 'It is our task to work with all others for our country.'

Austria, a wealthy country of 8.7 million people that stretches from Slovakia to Switzerland, was a gateway into Germany for more than 1 million people during the migration crisis that began in 2015.

Many of them were fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East and elsewhere.

Austria also took in roughly one percent of its population in asylum seekers in 2015, one of the highest proportions on the continent.

Many voters say the country was overrun.

Kurz's strategy of focusing on that issue appears to have paid off.

The People's Party is forecast to reap more than 30 percent of the vote with pledges to go tough on migrants and easy on taxes. Pictured is its leader Sebastian Kurz with his girlfriend Susanne Thier

An Austrian electoral official carries a portable ballot box. Polls close at 4pm today

Polls opened at 4am and will close at 3pm, with first estimates expected shortly afterwards

Some 6.4 million people are eligible to vote in the closely-watched ballot which is expected to be a tight race

Kurz, named party leader only in May, has been careful to keep his coalition options open, but he called an end to the current alliance with the Social Democrats, forcing Sunday's snap election.

He has pledged to shake up Austrian politics, dominated for decades by coalitions between those two parties.

While that would suggest he will turn to the anti-Islam FPO, he has also said there could be leadership changes within the losing parties, a possible hint at being willing to work with the Social Democrats if Chancellor Christian Kern were ousted as leader by Defence Minister Hans Peter Doskozil.

Kern, however, said he intended to stay on as party leader.

Asked if the loss would have an impact on his political career, Kern said: 'No, I have said I will stay in politics for 10 years and there are nine years to go.'

The resurgent far-right: How politics across Europe has taken a shift from the centre Austria's hard-right Freedom Party has a shot at sharing power after elections on Sunday, having narrowly lost out in a presidential vote last year. A far-right party has also had some success in Germany, in September becoming the first such party to enter the Bundestag since the end of World War Two, but their counterpart in France is faring less well. Here is a snapshot of some of the far-right parties in Europe. Austria The eurosceptic and anti-immigrant Freedom Party (FPOe) came close to winning the presidency in December, which would have made its leader the European Union's first far-right president. One of Europe's most established nationalist parties, it is forecast to come second or third in this weekend's vote and could become junior coalition partners to the favourites, the conservative People's Party (OeVP). Founded in 1956 by ex-Nazis, the party earned a stunning second place in 1999 elections with nearly 27 percent. Last year its candidate Norbert Hofer narrowly lost a presidential runoff against Greens-backed economics professor Alexander Van der Bellen. Germany The openly anti-immigration and Islamophobic Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the third-biggest party in the Bundestag after the September election, a political earthquake for post-war Germany. The party took nearly 13 percent of the votes, having failed in the 2013 election to make even the five percent required for representation in parliament. It has more than 90 seats on the benches of the parliament that meets for the first time on October 24. France Marine Le Pen's National Front (FN), founded by her firebrand father Jean-Marie in 1972, took nearly 34 percent of votes in the May presidential election run-off won by Emmanuel Macron. Marine Le Pen's (pictured) National Front (FN), founded by her firebrand father Jean-Marie in 1972, took nearly 34 percent of votes in the May presidential election run-off won by Emmanuel Macron This was double her father's 17.8 percent score when he reached the second round in 2002. In campaigning, Le Pen vowed to abandon the euro, reinstate control of the nation's borders and curb immigration if she won. But the party fared badly in June parliamentary elections, taking just eight seats out of 577. Tensions since then burst into the open when Le Pen's right-hand man Florian Philippot quit and looks set to go his own way. Hungary The Movement for a Better Hungary, known as Jobbik, is ultra-nationalist and eurosceptic. It is the second largest party in the legislature but has been outflanked by Prime Minister Viktor Orban's own hardline anti-immigration stance. Italy The Northern League is a 'regionalist' formation that evolved into an anti-euro and anti-immigrant party that secured 18 seats in the 2013 parliamentary election. The next general election must be held by spring 2018 and the party is hovering at around 14 percent of voter intentions. Greece The neo-Nazi Golden Dawn finished third in the September 2015 election, with seven percent of the vote and 18 MPs. One later defected and the party is now the fourth biggest in parliament. Sweden The anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders (pictured) in March became the second party in parliament, with 20 seats in the 150-member parliament The Sweden Democrats party, with roots in the neo-Nazi movement, made a breakthrough in September 2014 to become the country's third biggest party with 48 of 349 seats and nearly 13 percent of the vote. Netherlands The anti-Islam Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders in March became the second party in parliament, with 20 seats in the 150-member parliament. Bulgaria The nationalist United Patriots coalition entered government for the first time in May after coming third in a March election. It is the junior party in the governing coalition. Slovakia In March 2016 the People's Party Our Slovakia benefited from Europe's refugee crisis to enter parliament for the first time, winning 14 seats out of 150. Advertisement

Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern, pictured with his wife Eveline today, issued a final warning Saturday against a right-wing alliance, saying 'Austria was at the most important crossroads in decades'

Experts say a right-wing government could turn Austria into a tricky partner for the EU

The Social Democrats (SPO) have also opened the door to forming coalitions with the FPO, meaning the far-right party may be able to play the two parties off against each other during coalition talks.

But it is highly unlikely that the Social Democrats would ally with the FPO if the SPO came third.

A clear picture of the race for second place may not be available until Monday, given the large number of postal votes - roughly one in seven - most of which will not be counted until then.
A 'psycho b****' mum sent naked pictures of her married lover to his wife and kids when he dumped her - then demanded 6,000 to take them off social media.

Laura Arnold, 37, had an affair with her married lover for over a year before subjecting him to a 'despicable' barrage of embarrassment after he tried to break off their relationship.

Arnold, a then-married mother-of-four from Feltham, west London, shared screenshots of her messages with the man as well as nude photos of him showering with the caption 'lying, cheating c***'.

She posted them on Twitter and Facebook and messaged them to the man's adult children and wife, claiming 'good p**** always comes with a psycho b**** attached to it'.

Laura Arnold (pictured), 37, of Feltham, west London, had an affair with a married man for over a year before subjecting him to a 'despicable' barrage of embarrassment after he tried to break up with her

The next day Arnold demanded 6,000 in 'silence money' to take down the photos with a message that read 'peace is costly but it is worth the expense'.

Darren Watts, prosecuting, said: 'The background to this matter is from February 2016 the complainant started a relationship with the defendant.

'This was a relationship where both parties were having an affair, both were married at the time.

'During the start of that relationship they were sending each other explicit photographs.

'On 22 July this year the complainant was with his friends when he received messages from his wife. She told him she had been sent messages from the defendant.

'The messages were screen shots and included images of the complainant in the shower holding his genitals as well as a long message informing the complainant's wife about the relationship.

'One of the photos, which was a naked photo, had an emoji placed over his genitals.

'The complainant's wife also informed the complainant that his adult children had also been sent the messages and photos of their father.

Arnold, a then-married mother-of-four from Feltham, west London , shared screenshots of her messages with the man as well as nude photos of him showering with the caption 'lying, cheating c***'

'On 23 July a work colleague said he had seen a Facebook message which included an image of the complainant naked in the shower with the words "lying cheating c***" with "oops" written over his genitals.

'The complainant's wife was able to deactivate the Facebook account and the complainant did not see the content which was posted on Facebook.

'On Twitter she posted a photograph of him naked in the shower again with the words "lying cheating c***" with "oops".

'The defendant posted an image saying "enough is enough" adding "what or how much do you want this to end?" She followed it with a tweet saying "silence money".

'The complainant said he did not want any more images to be shown and she explained that the only way he could stop it was to ask how much money she would want to take it all down.

'The defendant replied I do not know, let me ask your wife what she thinks. She then sent a message to the complainant's wife saying, "It seems your husband is trying to silence me".

'She said, "Good p**** always comes with a psycho b**** attached to it".'

Arnold was sentenced at Uxbridge Magistrates Court and handed a 26-week sentence suspended for 18 months along with a two-year restraining order not to contact her victim or his family. She's pictured above with an unidentified man not believed to be involved in the incident

The prosecutor added that Arnold demanded 6,000 and said: 'Peace is costly but it is worth the expense.'

'The complainant did not pay any money and did not intend to pay any money,' the prosecutor said.

Arnold admitted one charge of disclosing a private sexual photograph without consent with the intention of causing that individual distress.

The mum, who is on benefits, was sentenced at Uxbridge Magistrates Court and handed a 26 week sentence suspended for 18 months along with a two-year restraining order not to contact her victim or his family.

She was also ordered to pay 85 in costs and a 115 victim surcharge.

Kiroulus Abadir, mitigating, claimed Arnold did not deserve to go to prison because she had censored the image with an emoji.

He said: 'Ms Arnold has admitted this offence however whilst a sexual image has been disclosed to a variety of sources Ms Arnold did censor that image, on a sliding scale I would submit that this is on the lowest end.

'Ms Arnold has expressed remorse. She is a mum of four and she is the only carer for those children.

'The photo was to show they had been in a relationship for over a year and she thought the best way to express that was to show the photos and text messages.'

Judge French said: 'This is a despicable offence. You set out to cause distress and embarrassment not only to your partner but also to his family, it is unforgivable.'
The billionaire businessman John Caudwell faces a high court showdown next week after being accused of forcing three women out of top jobs at his companies.

The Phones 4u founder is due to give evidence in person in the 15-day trial.

His daughter, Rebekah will also take the witness stand in the fiercely fought battle.

The billionaire businessman John Caudwell faces a high court showdown next week

The Phones 4u founder is due to give evidence in person in the 15-day trial

French wine heiress, Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe, 39, claims that she was 'robbed' of 15m worth of shares in the wealth management firm she ran with Mr Caudwell

French wine heiress, Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe, 39, claims that she was 'robbed' of 15m worth of shares in the wealth management firm she ran with Mr Caudwell.

She has also accused the tycoon of bullying, 'concocting' false allegations that she fiddled 33,000 of expenses to justify her sacking and of improperly avoiding VAT at the firm.

Mr Caudwell denies the allegations.

Earlier this year Chief Master Matthew Marsh of the High Court ruled Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe could include two other women in the case, due to start on Tuesday.

Tracy Gehlan, 49, an executive at Mr Caudwell's company Jatomi, which runs gyms in several countries, alleges she was sacked in 2016 four days before her 200,000 bonus was due. She alleges that her expenses were being investigated 'to find some evidence' to justify the sacking.

Suzette Burger, a marketing executive at Jatomi, claims she suffered a similar fate.

Nathalie Dauriac-Stoebe (pictured) claims shares worth 15m were taken from her

Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe was the youngest client partner at the Queen's bank, Coutts when she met Mr Caudwell.

In 2009 they founded Signia Wealth, both investing 300,000. Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe has said previously that Mr Caudwell was like a father to her. He is also her daughter's godfather.

When their relationship soured in 2014 Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe was accused of fiddling her expenses, using company credit cards for holidays and foreign shopping trips, something she denies.

Tracy Gehlan, 49, an executive at Mr Caudwell's company Jatomi, which runs gyms in several countries, alleges she was sacked in 2016 four days before her 200,000 bonus was due

Suzette Burger, a marketing executive at Jatomi, claims she suffered a similar fate

The mother of two officially resigned from Signia in January 2015 and started employment tribunal proceedings for the value of her shares.

This was halted when in 2015 Mr Caudwell launched a civil lawsuit in the high court accusing Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe of stealing money from the firm. Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe counter sued and the case is finally being heard next week.

Neither Mrs Dauriac-Stoebe nor Mr Caudwell wished to comment.
In an awkward on-air gaffe, Nicky Morgan (pictured today on Peston on Sunday) was a discussing private conversation with a 'very senior Cabinet minister' before referring to them as 'she'

Amber Rudd is 'appalled' by Brexiteer briefing against Chancellor Philip Hammond, senior Tory MP Nicky Morgan apparently revealed today.

In an awkward on-air gaffe, Ms Morgan was a discussing private conversation with a 'very senior Cabinet minister' before referring to them as 'she'.

Only the Home Secretary is likely to meet the description in Theresa May's current top team.

Ms Morgan said the minster was 'appalled' by the frenzy of briefing against Mr Hammond for being too negative about Brexit.

The Chancellor has endured a bruising week of calls for him to be sacked. Today's Sunday newspapers continuing the battering.

Mr Hammond was also humiliated on Friday when he had to apologise for branding the EU 'the enemy'.

Ms Morgan, the chairwoman of the Treasury committee, told Peston on Sunday: 'I think those who are calling for him to be sacked are incredibly self-indulgent.

'I have been contacted by a very senior Cabinet minister who is appalled at what she is reading in the newspapers this morning.

'It's not on to have all of this, it's not helpful for anybody to have ministers being attacked, whether it's the Chancellor or the Foreign Secretary when something as critical as Brexit negotiations are going on.'

Ms Rudd is the only 'very senior' female Cabinet minister apart from the Prime Minister.

The gaffe suggests Home Secretary Amber Rudd (pictured at Lancaster House earlier this week) is 'appalled' by Brexiteer briefing against Chancellor Philip Hammond

When pressed on whether which female she had been speaking to, she said: 'I'm not going to tell you who has been contacting me but I think they are talking for others in the Cabinet and the parliamentary party.

'The majority of MPs in the parliamentary party do not want Philip Hammond to be sacked.'

The Transport Secretary today denied the Chancellor faced the sack over Brexit but used a TV interview to dismiss the suggestion planes could be grounded.

Chris Grayling did not deny there were disagreements inside Government but said this was because ministers were 'not clones'.

He insisted there was a 'collaborative' approach that produced a 'coherent' Cabinet position.
Twitter handed the handles of 201 accounts linked to Russian attempts at influencing the 2016 presidential election over to the Senate intelligent committee. Donald Trump (pictured) won the 2016 election

Twitter has handed over to Senate investigators the profile names, or 'handles,' of 201 accounts linked to Russian attempts at influencing the 2016 presidential election.

The handover occurred this week, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly about it.

The company has stepped up its efforts to cooperate with investigators after it was criticized for not taking congressional probes seriously enough.

What remains unclear is whether posts associated with those accounts have been deleted from Twitter's servers.

Politico reported on Friday that the company had deleted the tweets in line with its privacy policy. Twitter had no comment on that report.

The company's policy calls for removing tweets that a user deletes on their own. But that policy also states that some tweets can survive the process.

The tech giant has said it might not be able to recover deleted tweets that could be beneficial to the committee's investigation. The app is pictured in a stock photo

For instance, retweets of deleted tweets will remain live if the retweeter added a comment.

Twitter also can't remove tweets that have been temporarily stored, or 'cached,' by services such as Google or reposted on other sites.

Twitter might be able to recover some information about any deleted tweets, according to another person familiar with the situation who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

That person added that the company is working with investigators to find information that's useful.

The account handles previously hadn't been submitted in part due to legal privacy issues, the person said.

Senator Mark Warner (pictured speaking to reporters) is the leading Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee. After Twitter's closed-door briefing with the committee last month, he said the company's findings were 'frankly inadequate ' and 'derivative' of Facebook's work

Twitter will appear in front of the Senate intelligence committee at a public hearing on November 1. Pictured is the company's headquarters in San Francisco

Twitter is set to appear November 1 before the Senate intelligence committee at a public hearing.

Both Facebook and Google have been invited to testify at the same hearing.

Twitter previously uncovered the accounts linked to Russia's Internet Research Agency  a notorious 'troll farm' known for pushing out pro-Russian positions via fake accounts  by using information provided by Facebook, which found 470 Russia-linked pages or accounts.

Russian operatives have been accused of using social media to influence the 2016 presidential election. Pictured is Russia's president, Vladimir Putin

After looking for patterns linking those accounts and pages to accounts on its service, Twitter said it had suspended 22 accounts that pushed divisive social or political issues during the 2016 campaign.

It found another 179 related or linked accounts and took action against those that violated its spam rules.

The company enforces an anti-spam policy against bots and human users that exhibit unusual behavior.

Such flags include having multiple accounts repeatedly retweet the same posts or having multiple accounts follow or block other users.

After Twitter's initial closed-door briefing with the Senate committee late last month, Virginia Senator Mark Warner  the top Democrat on the committee  called the company's findings 'frankly inadequate ' and 'derivative' of Facebook's work.
Comedian George Lopez was booed off the stage at a charity gala in Denver last week after the crowd reacted negatively to his criticisms of President Donald Trump, it was reported Saturday.

The incident took place October 7 at Denvers Carousel Ball, which was hosting a fundraiser to benefit those suffering from juvenile diabetes.

One of the events largest donors, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei, was sitting in the front row and asked Lopez to stop with the anti-Trump jokes, according to Page Six.

Maffei is also one of Trumps biggest supporters.

George was asked nicely to stop making Trump jokes by a man in front row [Maffei] who just donated $250K, a commentator on YouTube who was at the event said.

Comedian George Lopez was booed off the stage at a charity gala in Denver last week after the crowd reacted negatively to his criticisms of President Donald Trump, it was reported Saturday

The incident took place at Denvers Carousel Ball, which was hosting a fundraiser to benefit those suffering from juvenile diabetes

As the audience grew increasingly uncomfortable, Lopez said: Listen, its about the kidsI apologize for bringing politics to an event. This is America - it still is. So I apologize to your white privilege

George doesnt, continues. Gets booed.

Attendees at the fundraiser paid between $5,000 and $100,000 to help the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

According to Page Six, when Maffei asked Lopez to cut out the anti-Trump jokes, the comic responded: Thank you for changing my opinion on old white men, but it doesnt change the way I feel about orange men.

As the audience grew increasingly uncomfortable, Lopez said: Listen, its about the kidsI apologize for bringing politics to an event. This is America - it still is. So I apologize to your white privilege.

Lopez also reportedly cracked a joke about Trumps proposed border wall, saying: I guess you can get some Mexicans to do it cheaper and they wouldnt crush the tunnels underneath.

When the audience expressed disapproval, Lopez said: Are you El Chapo people?

One of the events largest donors, Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei (left), was sitting in the front row and asked Lopez (right) to stop with the anti-Trump jokes

Attendees at the fundraiser paid between $5,000 and $100,000 to help the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes

El Chapo is a reference to the nickname of Joaquin Guzman, a Mexican drug lord who was known for escaping from prison using underground tunnels.

After Lopez spoke to introduce a video segment, he did not return to the stage. The rest of the gala was hosted by a local Denver television newscaster.

A source close to Lopez denied that the comedian was asked not to resume hosting.

The former star of the sitcom George Lopez was only supposed to be four minutes, according to Page Six.

The event, which included a performance by rock star Lenny Kravitz, raised $1.65million.
A former Bega Cheese boss and convicted paedophile has warned nine victims and their families of his plans to fight their compensation claims.

Maurice Van Ryn was jailed for at least 13 years in 2015 after pleading guilty to assault offences of children between the ages of eight and 16.

And now the 62-year-old has allegedly said that he would force those affected to 'establish damages' by making them undergo medical examinations and be cross-examined in court.

Former NSW Bega Cheese boss and convicted paedophile Maurice Van Ryn (pictured) has warned nine victims and their families of his plans to fight their compensation claims

The threat is believed to have come from a letter sent from his jail cell that said the issue 'would be argued strenuously in court,' according to The Daily Telegraph.

Van Ryn told the Supreme Court in 2015 that he had $26,962, but he is believed to have an estimated worth from prior shareholdings of more than $9 million.

Such assets include shares along with his wife from Medical Developments International, which are worth an estimated $7.8 million.

As well as $646,000 in shares from Probiotec Limited, a salary projected to be in excess of $270,000 from Bega Cheese, as well as any potential shares he had in the company.

Van Ryn was jailed for at least 13 years in 2015 after pleading guilty to assault offences of children between the ages of eight and 16

With a compensation case due to begin in court next month, the 62-year-old has allegedly said he will force those affected to 'establish damages' by making them undergo medical examinations and be cross-examined

However, victims advocate Howard Brown told Newscorp that each victim could be expected to be awarded significant compensation, possibly into the millions of dollars.

Mr Ryn previously plead guilty to five counts of indecent assault, five of indecency and one count of assault with indecency.

He also plead guilty to a charge of persistent sexual abuse of a child, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The offences occurred between the decade of 2004 and 2014, with the compensation case due to begin in court next month.
This is the moment alleged sexual predator Harvey Weinstein was caught on camera arguing with a 'visibly distressed' woman on the streets of London

The images were captured outside a restaurant in Kinghtsbridge in 2003, while he was still married to his first wife Eve Chilton, but were not published at the time.

After noticing he was being photographed, Weinstein approached the photographer and pressed a wad of cash into his hand.

Harvey Weinstein was pictured arguing with a 'visibly distressed' blonde woman outside a restaurant on the streets of London in 2003

Weinstein was seen involved in the altercation while still married to his first wife, Eve Chilton

But unbeknownst to the media mogul, the entire incident was captured by a second paparazzi, who has now decided to release the pictures, the Mirror reports.

Weinstein is facing a wave of allegations of rape, sexual assault and harassment that date back at least as far as the 1980s.

Dozens of actresses from America and Britain, including Kate Beckinsale, Angelina Jolie and Cara Delevigne, have come forward to accuse him.

English actress Ysette Anthony has claimed Weinstein raped her in the hallway of her London home in the late 80s after stalking her beforehand.

She recalled she was friends with studio boss for years with 'nothing untoward' taking place, but that all changed one night at his Chelsea home when he 'grabbed' at her, but she managed to flee.

Ms Anthony said Weinstein then called at her home several times, eventually catching her alone as she opened the front door in her dressing gown.

After spotting a man taking pictures of the incident, Weinstein approached and pressed a wad of money into his hand, it is alleged

Unbeknownst to the trio, another photographer captured the whole scene. While the images were not released at the time, they have now come to light

She said he forced her inside, threw her up against a coat rack, and raped her before leaving without saying a word.

Meanwhile others have recalled how he used the most expensive suite at London's Savoy hotel as a sick base to carry out his attacks from.

Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, a butler - who wished to remain anonymous - said: 'He would use the room to audition girls. He always requested the most expensive room that overlooked the river.

'When work wasn't going the way he wanted, he would be in a foul mood and take it out on the female staff. He went up to the girls' faces and told them they were useless and incompetent.

'He called a couple of them ugly and really put them down.'

The butler also told how a member of staff once tried to help a female assistant of Weinstein's after he found her crying in the hallway, but was accused of 'interfering' by the Hollywood boss.

Kate Beckinsale and Sophie Dix, fellow British stars, have also told of how Weinstein attacked them at the hotel.

Dix said she was 22 and had just been cast in a film with Colin Firth when Weinstein invited her to the Savoy in order to practice scenes.

Weinstein is now facing dozens of allegations of rape, sexual abuse and harassment dating back decades, some of which occurred in London

It is not known why Weinstein was in London at the time, or what he was speaking with the woman about, though he frequently visited the city on business

Once she was alone with him, she claims there was 'talk of a massage' which she thought was 'pretty gross'.

He then showed her 'his big back' - something she found 'pretty horrid', she said.

She alleges that the evening then took a dramatic turn, explaining: 'Before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying "No, no, no". But he was really forceful.

'I remember him pulling at my trousers and stuff and looming over me and I just sort of  I am a big strong girl and I bolted ... ran for the bathroom and locked the door.'

She added: 'After a while I remember opening the door and seeing him just there facing the door masturbating, so I quickly closed the door again and locked it. Then when I heard room service come to the door I just ran.'

Beckinsale said in an Instagram post that Weinstein tried to assault her during a hotel room meeting early on in her career.

'I was called to meet Harvey Weinstein at the Savoy Hotel when I was 17. I assumed it would be in a conference room which was very common. When I arrived, reception told me to go to his room,' she wrote.

'He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed.'

Weinstein's lawyers said earlier this week: 'Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein.'
A mother had told how she and her young daughter were left covered in bedbug bites after getting on a British Airways flight.

Heather Szilagyi, 38, from Canada, said she was on a flight from Vancouver to London when she noticed the bugs crawling over her seat.

Ms Szilagyi said she told cabin crew twice that there was an issue but they could not move her, leaving her and seven-year-old Molly with dozens of painful lumps.

Heather Szilagyi, 38, from Canada, said she and her seven-year-old daughter Molly were left with dozens of bed bug bites after flying with British Airways

Ms Szilagyi said she informed cabin crew twice after seeing bugs crawling on her seat, but they were unable to move her, leaving her with dozens of nasty lumps

She told The Sun: 'It was about half-an-hour to an hour into the flight I saw one. It was coming out of the back of the TV screen.

'Our food came out and I went to put the tray down on my lap. I saw what was maybe a flax seed - but it started moving - it was a bug.

'Once we got to the Airbnb that we were staying in, we went to sleep. My daughter had a few bites on her thighs but when she woke up she was covered, she had them all over. It was just so bad and awful, my daughter was bleeding.'

The incident happened on Monday as the family were flying from their home in Canada to Slovakia, with a stop-over in London.

Ms Szilagyi said she was speaking out to shame BA into taking care of the problem, and questions whether she wants to fly with the airline on the return trip.

A BA spokesman said incidents of bedbugs on aircraft are very rare, but do happen 'occasionally' and are dealt with seriously.

The spokesman said the airline has apologised to Ms Szilagyi, her fiance Eric Neilson and her daughter.
The foreign ministry reiterated on Saturday Egypts position that the Middle East should be clear of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, one day after United States President Donald Trump said he would not certify the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement to Congress.



A foreign ministry statement said that Egypt shares Trumps concerns regarding Iranian policies that "lead to instability in the Middle East."

"Irans policies affect the national security of Arabian Gulf countries, and by extension Egyptian national security," foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said.

Abu Zeid also said that Egypt calls for respecting good neighbourly relations and not interfering in the internal affairs of Arab countries in order to boost the stability of the Middle East and to find sustainable solutions for the crises facing the region."

President Trump has been threatening to scrap the Iran nuclear deal, which was signed in 2015 between Iran, France, Germany, the UK, China, Russia and the US under the Obama administration.

The deal puts limitations on Iran's nuclear energy program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions on Iran.

Trump accused Iran of "not living up to the spirit" of the agreement and said that his goal is to ensure Tehran never obtains a nuclear weapon.

"We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Irans nuclear breakout," Trump said.

Trump's remarks drew praise from Israel, but were criticised by European allies including Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union, some of which have benefited economically from renewed trade with Iran, according to Reuters.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday on live television that Tehran was committed to the deal and accused Trump of making baseless accusations.

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Michael Gove was tipped as the next Chancellor today just hours after he was spotted gossiping with the last man to hold the post.

The Environment Secretary was cited by unnamed ministers in multiple press reports today as pressure continued to build on the incumbent Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Mr Gove was pictured drinking and talking with George Osborne - who now edits the Evening Standard - at the Cliveden Literary Festival last night.

Michael Gove was tipped as the next Chancellor today just hours after he was spotted gossiping with George Osborne (pictured) the last man to hold the post

Mr Gove and Mr Osborne were at the Cliveden House Literary Festival in Taplow last night (pictured)

The pair are rare among senior Conservatives for not having fallen out over Brexit despite fighting at the top of the opposing campaigns.

They were pictured together in Germany enjoying a trip to the Opera in August.

The new images could fuel speculation Mr Gove is in line for a move to No 11 Downing Street at the expected reshuffle.

Both the Sunday Times and Sunday Telegraph quoted unnamed ministers floating the idea today, revealing a desire for a pro-Brexit chancellor 'who is inventive and proactive.'

Mr Gove and Mr Osborne are rare among senior Conservatives for not having fallen out over Brexit despite fighting at the top of the opposing campaigns

Mr Gove was pictured drinking and talking with George Osborne at the Clivden Literary Festival last night (pictured)

Moving Mr Gove to the Treasury has also been endorsed by Conservative Home, an influential site for Tory members.

The reports come after a new week of bitter Cabinet infighting over Brexit and after public calls for Mr Hammond to be fired.

It also follows claims Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson should be sacked for his own dissent.

Moving both men would allow Prime Minister Theresa May room to completely overhaul her Government from the top down.

But the move would not come without extreme political risk in the aftermath of the general election result that left her clinging to Downing Street.

The reshuffle, which could come in less than a fortnight in the aftermath of next week's EU summit, will be the clearest signal of Mrs May's true strength since June 8.
On Sunday, President Trump took on the New York Times again, this time calling out a reporter by name who had written a piece suggesting the president had over-promised and under-delivered in his first nine months in office.

'The Failing @NYTimes, in a story by Peter Baker, should have mentioned the rapid terminations by me of TPP & The Paris Accord & the fast approvals of The Keystone XL & Dakota Access pipelines,' the president tweeted. 'Also, look at the recent EPA cancelations & our great new Supreme Court Justice!'

Baker had bylined a piece of analysis headlined online 'Promise the Moon? Easy for Trump. But Now Comes the Reckoning,' which appeared on the front page of Sunday's Times.

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President Trump started off his Sunday by calling out a New York Times reporter by name for penning a piece of analysis that suggested the president has under-delivered on his campaign promises

President Trump called out the New York Times' Peter Baker by name, suggesting he didn't list enough of the president's accomplishment in a story about the president under-delivering on his campaign promises

Baker pointed to some of Trump's rhetoric on the campaign trail, including calling the Iran nuclear deal 'one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into,' but then to Trump's reality: that he's taken half-steps on most of his agenda items, often leaving the real decisions up to Congress.

This happened twice last week, with Trump telling Congress and U.S. allies that he wouldn't recertify the Iran deal unless it was made more tough.

He also signed an executive order on health care, which would cut subsidies to insurance companies.

The latter move was called 'sabotage' by Sen. Sheldon White House, D-R.I., who was quoted in Baker's piece.

Trump made the move because his efforts to move the ball on an Obamacare repeal in Congress have fallen short, despite Republicans having a majority in both houses.

Baker's big question in the New York Times piece was whether these gestures would be enough to appease Trump's base.

A handful of the reporter's sources suggested that would not be the case.

'The gap between President Trump's ambitious promises and actual policies is large and growing,' William C. Inboden, a White House aide under President George W. Bush and now the executive director of the William P. Clements Jr. Center on History, Strategy and Statecraft at the University of Texas, told the Times.

Inboden continued by saying, 'This is weakening the institution of the presidency itself, which becomes diminished when presidents over promise and under deliver, or when responsibilities normally handled by the president become habitually shirked to Congress or other nations.'

Another source, Jacob Heilbrunn, the editor of the National Interest, a foreign policy magazine, called it 'classic Trump,' when Baker mentioned how Trump often speaks as if he's accomplished more than he has.

'Bluff and bombast substituting for actual deeds,' Heilbrunn told the Times. 'He's the political equivalent of the Washington Nationals  a choke artist at critical moments.'

Baker did quote a few Trump allies in the piece, including Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy, described as a friend of the president's.

'I am not surprised because Donald Trump is not an ideologue, he's a realist and a pragmatist,' Ruddy told the Times. 'During the campaign, he staked out some very strong positions maybe as a negotiating start point, or in other cases they were based on the facts he had at the time.'

'Trump is actually very open to feedback and criticism on his ideas,' Ruddy continued. 'Based on that he can easily adjust and change course.'

On the Iran deal, Trump's national security team had urged the president not to pull out, so now he's simply pushed it into a gray area instead.

And Baker pointed out Trump's critics believe even the small moves have been 'destructive' and that the president was 'effectively leaving initiatives like health care and the Iran deal wounded on the battlefield without allowing ambulances onto the scene.'

Chairman of the Eurasia Group Clifford Kupchan told the Times he didn't think Trump's tactics were wholly bad, but suggested they might not bring him lasting support.

'Trump's clearly got a theory of deal-making  demand the world, take the most you can, and then brag about it,' Kupchan told the Times. 'It's actually a pretty good tack that's often underestimated.'

'But the bottom line, so far in his presidency, is that he's been unable to deliver on overstated goals,' Kupchan said.
An Indian man who killed a 19-year-old nursing student Dean Hofstee in a hit-and-run in 2008 is still fighting extradition, saying 'authorities in Australia see me as a terrorist'.

Puneet Puneet, 28, was allegedly drunk and speeding when he hit and killed Mr Hofstee, who was 19.

Puneet told The Herald Sun the hit was 'unintentional' and the treatment he has received from Australian authorities, who have been trying to get him in front of a judge for nearly a decade, is 'harsh'.

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Puneet Puneet (left) allegedly hit and killed 19-year-old nursing student Dean Hofstee (right) while travelling 148 kilometres an hour

Pictured: The car Puneet was allegedly driving at the time of the 2008 crash

The man, who fled to India using another Indian man's passport in 2009, is claiming racism has played a role in the persistent demands he be extradited back to Australia.

'If instead of me it would have been an Australian guy in my place, I am sure the case would have been different,' he told the paper.

Puneet also coldly offered to apologise to Hofstee's family a second time - 'if it really matters to them'.

The man, who was also 19 at the time of the crash, was allegedly travelling along City Road in Southbank on October 1 at about 148km/h while under the influence of alcohol.

Puneet (pictured wearing a face mask) has said he does not want to be tried for his alleged crime in Australia because it is racist towards him

The man has offered to apologise to Mr Hofstee's family a second time: 'if it really matters to them'

Dean Hofstee (pictured) tragically died in the 2008 hit-and-run incident in Melbourne

He was charged at the time with culpable driving and negligently causing serious injury before he was bailed on strict conditions, including the surrender of his passport.

Puneet pleaded guilty in February 2009 - just months before he fled the country - but has since claimed he pleaded guilty out of stress and shock, and was actually framed for the crime.

In his most recent appearance in court, chief metropolitan magistrate Gurmeen Kaur said Puneet's lawyer's continued demands for adjournment were 'unacceptable'.

Puneet was warned this would be the 'last time' an adjournment would be accepted.
The private firm running scandal-hit Parklea Prison is set to get the boot after it was revealed prisoners were hiding ice, knives and razors as contraband.

GEO Group Australia currently manage the jail and its 973 occupants but that is set to change after Daily Mail Australia uncovered footage of inmate Carl Walton with violent weapons and drugs in July this year.

The new owners will have to deliver on 'value for money' and 'increase accountability in the delivery of services,' documents seen by the Daily Telegraph read.

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Walton can be seen in a video he filmed of himself holding up a 'slasher' razor while asking 'Why have I got a slasher?'

Walton claimed he had the drug 'ice' inside his jail cell at Parklea Correctional Centre in Sydney's west

Minister for Corrections David Elliot said the jails new private operators will be held accountable for prison accommodation, health-related services and hospital visits.

They will also be working towards reducing prisoner's reoffending rates.

While it is standard practice to look for new operators before the current contract expires, the GEO Group Australia still had occupancy until March 2019.

The news comes just months after criminal Carl Walton brandished a knife and apparently the drug ice in a video from inside Parklea Correctional Centre.

The 32-year-old has filmed himself holding a knife while in his cell inside Sydney's Parklea Correctional Centre as another inmate watches on

Filming himself on a mobile phone, Walton claims the contraband was given to him by prison guards.

'Recording inside of Parklea Correctional Centre. On a day-to-day basis this place is a dead set joke,' the 32-year-old can be heard saying in the video.

'Right now I'm in my cell, I've got a mobile phone. Why have I got a mobile phone? It's because screws are bringing mobile phones into the jail.'

He continues to question why he has been allowed to walk around his cell while showing off the contraband on camera.

'Why am I carrying around a knife? Why does that need to be in my hand at this point in time?' he asks.

The man claimed in the video he captured inside his cell the contraband had been given to him by prison guards

The prisoner is seen holding a metal bar which he said came from a television

'Why have I got a slasher? Why do I need to slash people?'

The prisoner continues to hold up a number of other items to the camera, including a metal bar which he says came off a television.

'That there alone will rip skin, damage ya [sic],' he said.

He then displays a small plastic bag which he says contains the drug 'ice'.

'Why have I got it, because I can,' the prisoner said.

In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Corrective Services NSW said they viewed the incident as a very serious breach of security and have immediately launched a multi-team investigation.

An inmate filmed his fellow cell mate while talking through the various contraband in the cell

GEO Group Australia currently manage the jail but that is set to change after Daily Mail Australia uncovered footage of inmate Carl Walton (pictured) with violent weapons

Corrective Services NSW said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia searches for illegal and banned items are conducted by centre staff on a day-to-day basis (stock image)

'Searches for illegal and banned items are conducted by centre staff on a day-to-day basis on prisoners, visitors, cells and all common areas, in addition to searches by the specialist Security Operations Group, including the K9 unit.

'Inmates go to extraordinary lengths to introduce contraband. Methods include internal secretion, visitor smuggling and lobbing of packages over perimeter fences. Any suggestions that contraband is introduced by staff are immediately investigated.'

In May, prison officers intercepted contraband which outsiders had tried to smuggle into the facility.

Corrective Services NSW say inmates go to extraordinary lengths to introduce contraband (stock image)

And the maximum security centre was embroiled in a staff attack at the beginning of 2016 when 40 prisoners attacked guards (Parklea Correctional Services pictured)

Four mobile phones stuffed inside a one lite carton of milk, tobacco, white powder and flick knives were among the items seized in the area between the centre's perimeter fence and the prison walls.

Three months earlier, a 27-year-old inmate at the Parklea Correctional Centre was rushed to hospital after he was stabbed in the neck by another prisoner.

The facility was also forced to change numerous locks throughout the complex after a prisoner allegedly stole a set of keys in December last year.

And the maximum security centre was embroiled in a staff attack at the beginning of 2016 when 40 prisoners attacked guards.

Officers had to barricade themselves inside a safe room while special ops detained the inmates.
Lamora Williams, 24, was charged with two counts of murder in the deaths of her two sons

A mom-of-three was arrested and charged with murder after two of her sons were found dead in their Atlanta home.

Lamora Williams, 24, faces two counts of murder in the deaths of her one and two-year-old sons Ja'karter and Keyante Penn.

The mom alleges she left her home at noon and returned around 11pm Friday to find the two boys dead.

She told police she left all three of her sons in the care of her cousin.

Only her three-year-old boy survived.

However, neighbors dispute Williams' story claiming she had left the children home alone before.

'She don't ever have anybody here with these children,' the neighbor said.

Police spokesman John Chafee said in a statement that they 'do not believe the children's mother left them with a caregiver'.

Keyante Penn, two, (pictured left) and Ja'karter Penn, one, (seen right) were found dead in their Atlanta home

Police said the children has obvious injuries and burns on their bodies. They were seen removing an entire oven from the home as evidence

The mother said she left her three sons home for 11 hours with a cousin watching them, though police and neighbors believe the children were left home alone

Police said the children had obvious injuries on their bodies which included burns, possibly from a stove.

A neighbor gave a reporter from WSB-TV a photograph showing police removing an entire oven from inside the apartment.

Police found the boys around 11.30pm when they responded to a person injured call.

Neighbors said the apartment 'smelled like death'. Investigators said the smell indicates the bodies may have been inside for a few days.

The boys' father Jameel Penn said: 'I ain't got no soul no more. Ja'karter, Keyante, my world, my everything. I'm lost.'

Penn was at a vigil with friends and family Saturday night, holding his only surviving son in his arms.

He said the last time he saw his two toddlers was last month.
Raudha Athif was a beautiful cover model who grew up in the Maldives before moving to Bangladesh to study medicine, but was found dead in her college dorm room 18 months later.

Bangladeshi authorities said the 21-year-old model took her own life, but her father Mohammed Athif maintains she was murdered.

Professional opinion also suggests he might be correct ,a 60 Minutes report found.

Raudha Athif was a beautiful cover model who grew up in the Maldives before moving to Bangladesh to study medicine

Raudha Athif was studying to become a doctor at the Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi, in the country's west, when she was found dead seven months ago.

She planned to transfer to Perth, Australia, to join her family the following year.

While studying full-time, Ms Athif was also modelling on the side.

The young Maldivian woman shot to international fame when a photo of her standing in water, with piercing blue eyes, went viral online.

The photo was the beginning of her journey to becoming Vogue cover girl, a dream that became reality in October 2016.

While the Vogue front cover (pictured) was the peak of her modelling career, some believe it was the reason Ms Athif died

'Some people were saying she belonged to Muslim country and she should not do that,' her father said

While it was the peak of her modelling career, some believe it was the reason she died.

'Some people were saying she belonged to Muslim country and she should not do that,' her father said.

Her modelling clashed with strict Islamic values, a human rights lawyer said.

'I know that comments had been made to Raudha in the months leading up to her death about her decision to model, about some of the clothes she decided to wear,' she said.

The Islami Bank Medical College, where Ms Athif was a student, has previously been linked to extremist-related groups.

When police raided the college before her death, 29 men were arrested for involvement in extremist activities, 60 Minutes reported.

'I know that comments had been made to Raudha in the months leading up to her death about her decision to model, about some of the clothes she decided to wear,' a lawyer said

Raudha Athif was studying to become a doctor at the Islami Bank Medical College in Rajshahi, in the country's west, when she was found dead seven months ago

When she moved to Bangladesh to study, Ms Athif's father said she was forced to change her life-style to fit in with the culture.

He said she started to wear clothes that fitted in with a strict Muslim dress code, including a head dress, despite the fact she was a more moderate Muslim.

Ms Athif's father said he strongly believes a raft of evidence shows his daughter was killed, and that her death was covered-up as a suicide.

Ms Athif's college dorm, where she was found dead, remains a crime scene seven months after she died.

According to reports, Ms Athif was cooking a curry and part-way through a cup of tea when she is supposed to have taken her own life.

When she moved to Bangladesh to study, Ms Athif's father said she was forced to change her life-style to fit in with the culture

There were also signs of a struggle, with glass mirror and glass table broken.

Ms Athif reportedly took her own life - but the validity of the police report has been questioned.

Photos of Ms Athif, taken after her death, showed significant bruising around her neck - bruising some professionals believe was caused by fingers around her throat.

With police reports stating she was found with a scarf around her neck, forensic professionals claimed the injury suggested something much harder, like a belt, was used.

With questions unanswered, and little consideration from Bangladeshi authorities, the Athif family hired a human rights lawyer.

'I don't think it looks like suicide, in my opinion, it looks like she was killed,' the lawyer said.

The lawyer said there was also suspicion surrounding Ms Asthif's close friend.

Ms Athif's father said his daughter suspected a friend tried to poison her in the days before she died.

There were also reports Ms Athif's social media account was hacked.

Ms Athif's father vowed he would not give up until the truth came out and there was justice for his daughter.

'I know my daughter's been killed already, I know I won't get her back, but as a father I will get rest only when I get justice to her. That is what I'm doing, and to my last breath I will fight for justice for my daughter. Until my last breath if need be,' he said.

For confidential support call the Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14.
The doctor behind Mob Wives star Renee Graziano's massive butt boost has been charged with 29 counts of negligence, fraud, incompetence and other wrongdoings by a New York state oversight board.

Dr. Ayman Shahine, 54, is a New York gynecologist turned celebrity plastic surgeon, but authorities say he is incompetent.

Eight women allege mistreatment by the doctor, who has been sued for malpractice 15 times since 2013.

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Dr. Ayman Shahine, 54, has been charged with 29 counts of negligence, fraud and incompetence

Shahine performed the surgery on Graziano without any anesthesia

In one case, Shahine allegedly performed liposuction on a 34-year-old woman without first checking blood-test results that showed she was pregnant, according to the New York Post.

She had a 'Brazilian butt lift', a technique of Shahine's own invention. He removed fat from her abdomen, back, and inner thighs and injected it into her rear end, but allegedly 'falsely documented' the amount of fat removed.

New York state law limits how much fat can be removed at locations other than a hospital.

Lisa Pressman, a woman from Manhattan, claims she spent five weeks in intensive care due to septic shock after a butt lift gone wrong in 2014, according to a 2015 malpractice complaint which has been settled.

Pressman alleges Shahine did not use gloves, a mask or a gown during the surgery and was on his cell phone during the procedure.

Shahine (left) performed a 'Brazilian butt lift' on Mob Wives star Renee Graziano (right)

Another case involves a 65-year-old woman who had surgery to fix her breast implants.

According to state documents, Shahine performed the surgery in his midtown office without monitoring the women's vitals or documenting blood loss.

None of the eight women have been named, but Shahine is also accused of doing 'unnecessary and invasive' tests on three women.

Shahine started as an OB-GYN in Brooklyn, but thanks to a loophole in New York state law he was able to open the NY Beauty Surgeon office in Manhattan. The law allows for any doctor to perform cosmetic procedures, even without an anesthesiologist or a nurse.

The surgery involves removing fat from other areas of the body and injecting it into a person's rear end

The NY Beauty Surgeon office is located in the midtown neighborhood of Manhattan

Graziano's butt lift was performed without any anesthesia, according to a video clip of the procedure.

'A little discomfort but nothing to write home about. It's good,' Graziano is seen telling Shahine during the surgery.

'I wanted more ass so I went to Dr. Shahine,' she said during a 2014 interview.

If the board can substantiate the 29 charges, Shahine's license will be suspended or revoked.
A man has survived a fall from a balcony of a fifth-story luxury flat to pavement below - less than a mile from where another man died falling from same height

A man is in critical condition having survived a fall from a balcony of a fifth-story luxury flat to pavement below - less than a mile from where another man died falling from same height.

The extent of his injuries are also not known but he is said to have suffered a major trauma.

A police spokesperson said: 'Merseyside Police can confirm that emergency services are in attendance in Liverpool City Centre following reports of a man being found injured this morning, Sunday October 15.

'At around 9.30am, police and ambulance were called to Great George Street at the junction of Sankey Street to a report that a man had fallen from a flat.

'A man in his 30s has been taken to hospital where his condition will be assessed.

'A scene remains in place as officers investigate the circumstances, and carry out witness and CCTV enquiries.'

The incident comes just weeks after a man in his 30s, named locally as James Balshaw, was found lying inside a gated courtyard.

An area below the luxury Elysian fields complex in Colquitt Street, Liverpool, was cordoned off with a green tarpaulin sheet covering a car and another hanging over the fourth floor balcony.

A full police investigation is being carried out after Mr Balshaw was rushed to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital but pronounced dead shortly after.

Two people were arrested during the investigation and subsequently released.

More to follow
Many were young, powerless and afraid to speak out in case their careers were ruined.

For nearly three decades their accusations remained bottled up, some suppressed by pay-offs.

More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the man once described as 'God' of the film industry.

The accusations, including from some of the world's most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape.

Here is a list of those who have come forward so far.

Kate Beckinsale In an Instagram post the Underworld star said Weinstein made a move on her when she was just 17.

'When I arrived reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting.I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not.'

Teen assault: Kate Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to ply her with alcohol and met her in his bathrobe when she was just 17

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star said that when she was 22, Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in a hotel bedroom before she started shooting the 1996 Jane Austen adaptation Emma. She told the New York Times: 'I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified'.

Paltrow (pictured with Weinstein in 2002) told the New York Times that when she was 22 Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in the bedroom

She said she told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt about the incident and he confronted the mogul. She said Weinstein then told her not to tell anyone and she feared getting fired.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, is an American actress, singer, and food writer who made her name starring in Seven (1995) and Emma (1996).

Angelina Jolie

The actress told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998 and chose never to work with him again. She said she warned other women about him.

She said: 'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did.'

Angelina Jolie, 42, is cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982).

Jolie (pictured speaking ahead of a screening of her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey) told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998

Cara Delevigne

The model wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

She wrote: 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn't and wouldn't be for a bit and I should go to his room.

Delevigne wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....i thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....i was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave.He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room'.

Cara Delevigne, 25, is an English fashion model and actress. She signed with Storm Model Management after leaving school in 2009.

Eva Green

Green's mother says Weinstein sexually harassed her during a meeting at his suite in Paris.

The Bond Girl, 37, managed to escape however after being summoned to the movie mogul's hotel room, her mother Marlene Jobert said in a radio interview on Friday.

'He operated with her the exact same way he acted with all the others, under the pretext of a professional meeting, of a script that had to get to her with a nice part into the bargain,' said Jobert.

'Since his office was also in his hotel suite, she [Eva] followed him, and the exact same thing happened to her as to the others. She managed to escape, but he threatened to destroy her professionally.'

Jobert added: '[It was] the usual scenario, the same pattern he used for all the other victims.'

Weinstein allegedly harassed French actress Eva Green in his suite in Paris

Lea Seydoux

The French actress accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her.

She wrote in The Guardian: 'We were talking on the sofa when he suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. He's big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. He tried more than once. This was never going to be about work. He had other intentions  I could see that very clearly. All throughout the evening, he flirted and stared at me as if I was a piece of meat.

The French actress (pictured in Spectre) accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her

'It was hard to say no because he's so powerful. I'm an actress and he's a producer. We are in the same industry, so its impossible to avoid him. I've seen how he operates: the way he looks for an opening. The way he tests women to see what he can get away with. That's the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything. It's unbelievable that he's been able to act like this for decades and still keep his career.'

Lea Seydoux, 35, starred in Bond film Spectre and was nominated for the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her role as a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (2012).

Minka Kelly

The Friday Night Lights star said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career.

Kelly said that she agreed to the meeting but refused to go to Weinstein's room, and instead met him at the restaurant inside his hotel with an assistant.

'He bulls*** me for 5 minutes re: movies he could put me in, then asked the assistant to excuse us,' said Weinstein.

'As she walked away, he said, 'I know you were feeling what I was feeling when we met the other night' and then regaled me with offers of a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes etc.

'IF I would be his girlfriend.'

Kelly posted a photo of a cross stitch alongside her post that read: 'Boys will be Boys.'

The second 'boys' was crossed out at the bottom however, and stitched in was 'held accountable for their f***ing actions.'

Kelly claimed the alleged encounter was the day-to-day b***shit of being an actress.'

Minka Kelly said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career

Tara Subkoff

The actress claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of his movies in the 1990s.

She told Variety: 'That night I was offered the role, and I went out to a premiere after party that was also at.

'He motioned for me to come over to him, and then grabbed me to sit me on his lap. I was so surprised and shocked I couldn't stop laughing because it was so awkward.'

She said he could then feel him getting an erection.

'It was implied that if I did not comply with doing what he asked me to do that I would not get the role that I had already been informally offered,' she added.

'I laughed in his face as I was in shock and so uncomfortable. I left the party right after that.'

After denying his advances, Subkoff claims she was stripped of the part.

Tara Subkoff claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of her movies in the 1990s. She is pictured in 2017

Asia Argento

The Italian actress has accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21.

She told the New Yorker: 'He terrified me, and he was big. It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare.' She said she went on to have consensual sex with him over the years that followed. She documented the alleged attack in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva.

Asia Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model, and director, best known for the role of Yelena in the action film xXx (2002).

Asia Argento (left with Weinstein during 2004 Cannes Film Festival) accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21

Zoe Brock

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances.

She wrote on Medium: 'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage. Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position. He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced. Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out.'

Zoe Brock is a model and actress who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Australia.

'Ducked and dived': Claire Forlani said she refused Weinstein on multiple occasions

Claire Forlani

The Meet Joe Black actress appeared in the 2000 Miramax film Boys and Girls. She says she escaped Harvey's advances five times.

'I had two Peninsula Hotel meetings in the evening with Harvey and all I remember was I ducked, dived and ultimately got out of there without getting slobbered over, well just a bit.

'Yes, massage was suggested. The three dinners with Harvey I don't really remember the time period, I was 25.

'I remember him telling me all the actresses who had slept with him and what he had done for them.'

I wasn't drinking the cool aid [sic], I knew Harvey was a master manipulator.

'He also announced to me at the last dinner I had with him at Dominic's that his pilot knew to be on standby because he could never get me to sleep with him, to which I did what I always did, make light of the situation, a joke here or there and moved on.'

'I'd had a fair amount of experience. Sometimes I got angry, really angry. I wondered why I had Prey stamped on my forehead but this I kept to myself.'

Louisette Geiss

The actress said she was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe and told her he would green light her script if she watched him masterbate. She left the meeting.

Geiss made her accusations in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred on October 10.

The star was born in Miami, Florida. She is an actress and producer, best known for Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001).

Geiss was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe

Judith Godreche

The French actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996, the NYT reported.

Judith Godreche, 45, is a French actress and author. She has appeared in more than 30 films and will soon star in an HBO comedy about a French woman moving to Los Angeles.

Judith Godreche (pictured at the premiere of Nasty Baby in 2015) says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996

Dawn Dunning

The actress says she was called to a meeting about future film projects in 2003 aged 24. When she arrived she says Weinstein presented her with three scripts for his next three movies which he would let her star in, only if she had three-way sex with him. She fled the hotel, she told the NYT.

Dunning is a former actress turned costume designer best known for her role in Alias: The Roughest Cut (2006).

Tomi-Ann Roberts

The aspiring actress was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables as a college junior in 1984. She says he told her to meet him at his home. When she arrived, she says, he was naked in the bath and told her she would give a better audition if she was nude. She says she refused and left, reports the NYT.

Tomi-Ann Roberts was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables

Katherine Kendall

The Swingers actress was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993.

He changed into a bathrobe and told her to massage her, she said. When she resisted she said the mogul returned naked and chased her, reports the NYT.

Kendall, 48, is an American actress from Tennessee. She made her name in Doug Liman's Swingers (1996).

Kendall, 48, was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993

Lucia Evans

The actress, formerly known as Lucia Stoller claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. Speaking to the New Yorker, she said that she suffered years of trauma after the incident which occurred in a 'casting meeting' in a Miramax office in Manhattan. He reportedly called her late at night after the incident.

Mira Sorvino

The Mighty Aphrodite actress told the New Yorker that Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.

He then went to her home in the middle of the night but she called a male friend to protect her, she claimed. She said turning down the mogul adversely affected her career.

Sorovino, 50, is an American actress who came to prominence after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mira Sorvino (pictured starring in Intruders in 2014) said Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room

Rosanna Arquette

The actress also said her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein's advances in the early 1990s. At a hotel meeting he tried to put her hand on his erect penis, she claims in the New Yorker.

Rosanna Arquette, 58, is an American actress, film director, and producer. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1982 TV film The Executioner's Song.

Rose McGowan

The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he assaulted her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (left) and actress Rose McGowan arrive to the premiere of 'Grindhouse' at the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Ashley Judd

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower.

She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.'

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower

Emma De Caunes

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010. Soon after he told her he had a script he was producing based on a book with a strong female character. Weinstein offered to show her the script, and asked her up to his room at the Ritz in Paris, where he began to take a shower.

He then emerged naked and with an erection, asking her to lay down with him on the bed and telling her that many had done so before, she told the New Yorker. 'I was very petrified,' said de Caunes. 'But I didn't want to show him that I was petrified, because I could feel that the more I was freaking out, the more he was excited.'

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010 and he invited her to his room

Sophie Dix

The British actress was 22 when she was invited up to his room at The Savoy after being cast in The Advocate alongside Colin Firth. Weinstein tried to massage her and started pulling at her trousers before he started masturbating.

Harvey Weinstein is accused of accosting Sophie Dix in a hotel room

'As soon as I was in there, I realized it was a terrible mistake. I got to the hotel room, I remember talk of a massage and I thought that was pretty gross. I think he showed me his big back and I found that pretty horrid.

'Then before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying, 'No, no, no.' But he was really forceful. I remember him pulling at my trousers and stuff and looming over me and I just sort of  I am a big, strong girl and I bolted  ran for the bathroom and locked the door.'

'I was in there for a while, I think. He went very quiet. After a while I remember opening the door and seeing him just there facing the door, masturbating, so I quickly closed the door again and locked it. Then when I heard room service come to the door, I just ran.'

She said the incident left her bed bound with depression for six months and she decided to end her movie career.

'I decided if this what being an actress is like, I don't want it.'

Lauren O'Connor

The former creative executive at The Weinstein Company, told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT reported.

A former creative executive at The Weinstein Company told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company'

Ambra Battilana

The Italian actress and model, 24, told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana, 24, alleges that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and put his hand up her skirt

Jessica Barth

Weinstein reportedly pressured Jessica Barth (pictured) to give him a naked massage

Weinstein reportedly pressured the actress to give him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel in 2011.

Jessica Barth, 39, is an American stage and film actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCaferty in the film Ted and its sequel.

Laura Madden

A former production assistant and the Weinstein company, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge.

Emily Nestor

Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins was an assistant of Weinstein's based in London. Aged 25 in 1998, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court.

She said she was subjected to inappropriate requests or comments in hotel rooms.

Zelda Perkins reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court

Elizabeth Karlsen

Produced Karlsen told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads.

Karlsen, 57, is the Oscar-nominated British producer of Carol and The Crying Game.

Liza Campbell

A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him.

Campbell, 58, is an artist, calligrapher, columnist and writer, born in the north of Scotland and currently living in London, England.

Campbell, 58, (pictured in 2004) said that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London

Lauren Sivan

The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007.

He allegedly took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post.

Sivan is now a TV reporter in Los Angeles and was a local journalist in New York 10 years ago when her encounter with Weinstein allegedly occurred.

Former Fox news host Lauren Sivan said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007

Jessica Hynes

Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job.

British actress Hynes, 44, formally known as Jessica Stevenson, is best known for her roles in the Bridget Jones movies and for co-creating and co-writing the sitcom Spaced.

Jessica Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job

Romola Garai

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18 in which he was in a bathrobe.

Garai, best known for her role in Atonement, said she had already been hired for a part but was told to audition privately with the Hollywood mogul because 'you had to be personally approved by him'.

'Like every other woman in the industry, I've had an 'audition' with Harvey Weinstein,' she told The Guardian. 'So I had to go to his hotel room in the Savoy and he answered the door in his bathrobe. I was only 18. I felt violated by it'.

Garai, 35, is an English actress, writer, and director. She is known for appearing in the films Amazing Grace, Atonement, and Glorious 39.

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18

Florence Darel

French actress Florence Darel has claimed that she was harassed by the producer in 1993.

Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer's 'A Tale of Springtime' in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress.

She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein's company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy 'A la mode' in which she appeared.

The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel, where he he asked her to be his mistress 'a few days a year'.

Actress Florence Darel, 49, revealed on Thursday to French media that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress

Unnamed assistant

Weinstein allegedly behaved inappropriately toward a woman employed as his assistant in 1990. The case was settled out of court.

Another unnamed assistant

In 2015, Weinstein reportedly pressured another assistant into giving him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel, where he is also said to have pressured Barth.

Unnamed Miramax employee

At one point in the early 1990s, a young woman is alleged to have suddenly left the company after an encounter with Weinstein. She also settled out of court.

Unnamed woman

A woman who did not wish to be named because she feared Weinstein's connections told The New York Times that the producer had summoned her to his hotel at an unknown date and raped her.
With a little probing, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson responded to Sen. Bob Corker's complaint that he had been 'castrated' by President Trump on the world stage.

'I checked. I'm fully intact,' Tillerson told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday.

On Friday, Corker, the retiring Tennessee Republican who has been feuding with President Trump all week, told the Washington Post he was the 'most exercised about' the president's treatment of Tillerson, who Corker complimented for making great strides with China, only to be undercut.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was asked about a comment made Friday by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., in which the Republican suggested President Trump was 'castrating' his secretary of state on the world stage

'I checked. I'm fully intact,' Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (left) told CNN's Jake Tapper (right) on Sunday when asked if he felt 'castrated' by President Trump's behavior, which often seems to undercut him

Earlier this month when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in Beijing, President Trump (pictured) sent out a series of tweets that suggested Tillerson shouldn't bother finding a diplomatic solution to deal with North Korea

'When you jack the legs out from under your chief diplomat, you cause all that to fall apart,' Corker said. 'Us working with [Beijing] effectively is the key to not getting to a binary choice,' he continued, speaking about the North Korean threat.

'When you publicly castrate your secretary of state, you take that off the table,' Corker said.

Earlier this month, during Tillerson's trip to Beijing, Trump interrupted the negotiations with a series of tweets suggesting diplomacy wasn't going to work with North Korea.

'I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man...,' Trump tweeted. 'Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!'

Later in the day Trump wrote, 'Being nice to Rocket Man hasn't worked in 25 years, why would it work now? Clinton failed, Bush failed, and Obama failed. I won't fail.'

During today's sit-down on State of the Union, Tapper asked Tillerson about those tweets, suggesting that Chinese officials and North Korean officials could be lead to believe that 'Secretary Tillerson doesn't really speak for President Trump.'

Tillerson responded by pointing to the close relationship between Trump and President Xi of China.

'But don't tweets like that undermine you?' Tapper pressed.

Tillerson said Trump wanted to make it clear to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that the U.S. had military preparations 'ready to go'

'The president has also made clear to me that he wants this solved diplomatically. He's not seeking to go to war,' Tillerson said.

Tapper then asked, 'So he doesn't think it's a waste of time?'

Tillerson gave a 'no, sir.'

'He has made it clear to me to continue my diplomatic efforts, which we are, and we will, as I have told others, those diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops.'

Later in the interview, Tapper brought up Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and asked Tillerson about Corker's 'castration' comment.

Tillerson attributed Trump's behavior to him being 'an unconventional president.'

'He uses unconventional communication tools. He uses unconventional techniques to motivate change,' the secretary of state said.

'And for people that have been around Washington a long time, this is a place that  you know better than I  you have been here longer than I have  this is not a place that likes to change. It actually enjoys that status quo,' Tillerson continued.

Tillerson added that he was 'fully committed to his objectives,' repeating a promise he had made earlier this month after returning to Washington from Beijing and being confronted with an NBC News report that said he had wanted to quit and had called President Trump a 'moron' at a Pentagon meeting.

He still wouldn't fully deny he used the term during his sit-down with Tapper today.

'I'm not dignifying the question with an answer, Jake,' after several rounds of back and forth.'

Tapper tried to pin Tillerson down on the 'castration' question too, pointing out that he owned cattle and had a cattle range.

'You don't want to say anything about the senator suggesting you have been gelded before the world?' Tapper asked. 'That's not anything that bothers you?'

And with that Tillerson told Tapper that he had checked and everything was A-OK, causing the CNN newsman to laugh.

'I did not expect that answer,' Tapper said.
Twin car bombs were detonated in central Mogadishu on Monday, with the Somali government saying Al-Shebab is responsible

Egypt has condemned the two bomb blasts that struck the heart of Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Monday killing over 180 people.

The Egyptian foreign ministry issued a statement on Sunday condemning the attacks and saying that Egypt backs the east African country in its fight against terrorism.

"Egypt affirms that its government and people will stand by the government and people of Somailia to confront terrorism," the statement read.

On Monday, a truck bomb detonated in a busy central area of Mogadishu lined with government offices and hotels. Two hours later, a second bomb blast struck the city's Madina district.

The twin attack is among the deadliest since an Islamist insurgency began in the country in 2007.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Somalia's government has blamed the Al-Qaeda-linked extremist grou Al-Shebab.

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Britain First's deputy leader has been arrested during a rally for violating terms of her bail, the far-right party says.

Jayda Fransen was arrested yesterday at the protest in Sunderland after making a short speech among the crowd.

She can be heard saying: 'I'm sorry I can't get up there but, as you may have noticed, the police have got some issues with me.'

It comes after she and leader Paul Golding were charged last month with causing religiously aggravated harassment.

Jayda Fransen was arrested yesterday at the protest in Sunderland after making a short speech among the crowd

She was seen being led away from the scene by officers and the far-right party claim she was arrested

Both are required to present themselves weekly at a police station as part of their bail arrangements  but they have spent recent weeks touring far-right events throughout Europe.

On Friday, Ms Fransen conducted a phone interview with Radio Aryan, whose tagline is 'save the fatherland'.

She said: 'We're away against our will if you like, I'm actually desperate to get home - I've got so many activities to organise and carry out in Britain and at the minute I literally can't come home because if I do I'm going to be arrested and detained.

Paul Golding, 35, and Jayda Fransen, 31, the leader and deputy leader of far-right group Britain First (pictured here in 2016)

Britain First's Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen have spent recent weeks attending various far-right events in Europe

'The whole 'fugitive' status is not as fun as it may seem.'

She appeared shortly after the show aired part 35 of a retelling of Hitler's Mein Kamph.

Yesterday, footage of a the Sunderland protest was shared by Britain First and shows chaotic scene unfold as police struggle to hold back supporters.

Images also show Ms Fransen being led away by police.

Britain First tweeted: 'Our Jayda being arrested in Sunderland yesterday. She's being held at Southwick Police Station, Sunderland.'

It comes after she and leader Paul Golding were charged last month with causing religiously aggravated harassment

The pair have been charged by Kent Police after allegedly distributing leaflets as four men stood trial for gang rape. They are pictured here at a Britain First demonstration this year

Northumbria Police refused to confirm or deny whether the far-right leader was arrested when contacted by MailOnline.

Last month, Paul Golding and Jayda Fransen were charged by Kent Police after allegedly distributing leaflets as four men stood trial for gang rape.

The trial involved three Muslim men and a teenager who were eventually convicted of rape and jailed.

Golding and Fransen, both from Penge in south-east London, were arrested on May 10.

They were investigated over their alleged behaviour during the trial of four men for raping a teenage girl above the 555 Pizza takeaway in Ramsgate.

Shershah Muslimyar, 21, Tamin Rahmani, 38, and Rafiullah Hamidy, 24, were sentenced to 14 years each in prison while a teenager was jailed for seven years after brutally attacking the girl in September last year.

Fransen was been charged with four counts of causing religiously aggravated harassment, and Golding three counts. They are pictured here at a rally in Rochdale in July

As the men stood trial in May, Golding and Franser are said to have distributed leaflets in the Thanet and Canterbury areas, and posted online videos during the court proceedings.

Shortly before entering the police station, Golding and Fransen filmed themselves vowing to 'never give up' on 'standing up for the British people'.

Golding said in the Facebook Live footage: 'It doesn't matter what happens today or what happens in the future, you can rest assured that you have two political party leaders here who will never give up under any circumstances.

'We will fight to the bitter end for our country and we will never surrender, we will never give up.'

Fransen has been charged with four counts of causing religiously aggravated harassment, and Golding three counts.

Both have been bailed to appear before Medway magistrates on October 17

The maximum penalty on conviction of religiously aggravated harassment is two years' imprisonment.

Both have been bailed to appear before Medway magistrates on October 17.

Britain First says it is not a racist but a loyalist movement.

The group, which is opposed to all mass immigration, has staged a number of demonstrations around Britain, usually attracting a few hundred protesters.
A black man who was photographed using an improvised flame thrower against white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia this past summer was arrested on Friday.

Corey Long, 23, of Culpeper, Virginia, faces charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct.

An Associated Press photographer snapped a picture of Long just as he used a lighted spray can toward a group of white supremacists, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Soon afterward, the photograph went viral.

Charlottesville police say that the disorderly conduct charge applies to Longs use of the flame thrower.

A black man who was photographed using an improvised flame thrower against white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia this past summer was arrested on Friday

Corey Long, 23, of Culpeper, Virginia, faces charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct

Long (seen left with an unidentified person in this undated file photo) was released Friday on an unsecured bond after he appeared before a magistrate. He said he was acting in self-defense after an armed white protester fired a gun that nearly left him wounded in the foot

The assault and battery charge is related to a separate altercation that took place during the rally.

Long was released Friday on an unsecured bond after he appeared before a magistrate.

He said he was acting in self-defense after an armed white protester fired a gun that nearly left him wounded in the foot.

At first it was peaceful protest, said Long.

The alleged incidents occurred during a number of clashes between alt-right white supremacists and anti-racist counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Virginia on August 12

The alt-right gathered in Charlottesville that weekend to protest plans by the city to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee

Until someone pointed a gun at my head. Then the same person pointed it at my foot and shot the ground.

Long said that moments earlier a white supremacist threw the spray can at him. He then took a light to the spray paint and turned it into a flame thrower, according to The Root.

He claims that he used the flame thrower to protect another counter protester, an elderly white man, who is seen in the photo standing next to him.

Long says he was shielding the man who became fearful amidst the chaos, something he claims the police failed to do.

The cops were protecting the Nazis, instead of the people who live in the city, Long said.

The cops basically just stood in their line and looked at the chaos. The cops were not protecting the people of Charlottesville. They were protecting the outsiders.

Long is being represented by an attorney who has been accused of extremism.

Malik Zulu Shabazz, the national president of Black Lawyers for Justice and the former head of the New Black Panther Party, has been described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a racist black nationalist.

Long is the second black counter demonstrator to be arrested. DeAndre Harris (pictured), a 20-year-old black man who was beaten at a white nationalist rally in August, turned himself into police Thursday morning

On his Facebook page, Long shared a post written by Shabazz which reads: Getting arrested is no dishonor if you are standing up against hatred and injustice.

Getting shot while on the battlefield is sometimes a necessary reality if you are a true soldier operating against enemy fire in enemy territory.

He is the second black counterprotester to be arrested in the past two days for alleged crimes committed during the white nationalist rally on August 12.

Charlottesville police said in a statement that 20-year-old DeAndre Harris turned himself in Thursday morning and was served a warrant charging him with unlawful wounding.

The statement says Harris was taken before a magistrate and released on an unsecured bond.

Photos and video that were widely shared online showed Harris being beaten by a group of men inside a parking garage. In addition to Harris, three men have been charged in the attack.

Harris' attorney has said that Harris did nothing wrong and that authorities don't have probable cause to charge him.

The Charlottesville Police Department issued a statement on Monday, saying that the unnamed victim went to the magistrate's office and complained of being beaten by Harris in the brawl.

The magistrate's office called the police department to confirm the facts, and they then issued the warrant.

Harris attorney, S. Lee Merritt, told the Washington Post that the warrant is 'clearly retaliatory'.

He described the victim as a member of a white supremacist group and maintained that his client did not instigate the fight.

The attack was caught on video and by photographers. Harris is seen on the ground as multiple white men attack. An arrest warrant was released after a victim complained that Harris had attacked him in the brawl

Pictures of Harris' bloodied face went viral after the march in August

Merritt said it was 'highly unusual' for a victim to go to the magistrate instead of the police, suggesting he tried and failed to convince cops to arrest Harris first. The police dont have sufficient probable cause to charge Harris, his lawyer said.

The alleged incidents occurred during a number of clashes between alt-right white supremacists and anti-racist counterprotesters.

The alt-right gathered in Charlottesville to protest plans by the city to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

One woman, Heather Heyer, 32, died after she and over a dozen others were rammed into by a suspected neo-Nazi who drive his car into a crowd.

President Donald Trump ignited an uproar when he later said that 'both sides' deserved blame for the rioting and that there were 'fine people' among the alt-right protesters.
Boris Johnson today welcomed senior politicians from eight crucial EU allies to his country retreat at Chevening to make the case for Britain's security role after Brexit.

The Foreign Secretary indulged in a high stakes photo opportunity to take his Czech counterpart Ivo Sramek rowing on a lake in the grounds of the lavish residence.

In a moment which risked holing his foreign office career below the waterline, Mr Johnson held up a rowing boat for photographers.

He then took to the water and seized control of the oars.

Mr Johnson's high profile appearance on the eve of a major EU summit comes after week's of Cabinet infighting triggered by the Foreign Secretary's incendiary Brexit essay.

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Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson indulged in a high stakes photo opportunity to take his Czech counterpart Ivo Sramek rowing on a lake in the grounds of the lavish residence

Mr Johnson and Mr Sramek were at the Foreign Secretary's country retreat at Chevening to make the case for Britain's security role after Brexit

Representatives from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia were present at the talks.

The meeting - intended to underline Britain's continued commitment to securing Europe against threats from Russia, comes ahead of a crucial EU summit next week.

Theresa May spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel today to initiate what she hopes will be a meeting in Brussels that could unlock the deadlocked Brexit talks.

Speaking after his summit today, Mr Johnson said: 'Our departure from the EU will make no difference to Britain's unconditional and immovable commitment to the security and defence of Europe.

'This meeting was a further demonstration that the UK is a vital partner in the security of our continent.'

In a moment which risked holing his foreign office career below the waterline, Mr Johnson attempted to hold up a rowing boar for photographers.

The meeting was intended to underline Britain's continued commitment to securing Europe against threats from Russia

After the gathering, Mr Johnson said the meeting was a 'further demonstration that the UK is a vital partner in the security of our continent'

A No 10 spokesman revealed the details of Mrs May's call with Mrs Merkel earlier today.

They said: 'They looked ahead to next week's Council, agreeing on the importance of continued constructive progress in the UK's exit negotiations.'

The talks also covered Donald Trump's decision not to re-certify the Iranian nuclear deal.

The Downing Street spokesman added: 'They discussed Iran and President Trump's decision not to recertify the nuclear deal. They agreed the UK and Germany both remained firmly committed to the deal.

'They also agreed the international community needed to continue to come together to push back against Iran's destabilising regional activity, and to explore ways of addressing concerns about Iran's ballistic missile programme.

'They agreed to discuss further at the European Council in Brussels next week.'
Hustler publisher Larry Flynt took out a full page ad in the Washington Post Sunday, offering $10 million for information that could lead to President Trump's impeachment.

Flynt made the argument that Trump's election was 'illegitimate,' but worse  that his first nine months in office  have proven that he's 'dangerously unfit' for the job.

'Impeachment would be a messy, contentious affair, but the alternative  three more years of destabilizing dysfunction  is worse,' Flynt argued in the ad.

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Hustler publisher Larry Flynt (left) said he'd pay $10 million for information that would help get President Donald Trump (right) impeached

Larry Flynt articulated his offer in a full-page ad in Sunday's Washington Post, arguing 'impeachment would be a messy, contentious affair,' but it would be better than three more years of Trump

The porn mogul laid out six 'charges' against Trump, including colluding with the Russians, inciting violence using 'racial-dog whistling' in the aftermath of Charlottesville, having conflicts-of-interest with his business empire, 'telling hundreds of bald-faced lies,' 'gross nepotism' in the hiring of his family members and 'sabotaging' the Paris climate accord.

'But most worrisome is that, long before climate-change apocalypse strikes, Trump might trigger a nuclear world war,' Flynt wrote, noting how Trump's foreign policy decisions are marked by 'thin-skinned emotion and erratic ill-advised tweets.'

Flynt than referenced an anecdote MSNBC's Joe Scarborough told viewers in August 2016  that Trump had asked advisers three times why the U.S. couldn't use nuclear weapons.

'Given his impulsive blustering and megalomania (actually equating himself with Lincoln), this is truly horrifying,' Flynt said.

Flynt, a liberal Democrat who had supported Trump's rival Hillary Clinton, called on both Democrats and Republicans to come together and choose country over party, pointing out how it had been done before during the Watergate era.

President Richard Nixon ultimately resigned.

'To succeed impeachment requires unimpeachable evidence,' he continued. 'That's why I'm making this offer: Buried in Trump's top-secret tax returns or in other records in his far-flung investments there may be a smoking gun.'

'Did he make some financial quid pro quo with the Russians? Has the business of the United States been compromised to protect the business of the Trump empire?' he continued.

'We need to flush everything out into the open,' he added.

Flynt has used this tactic before, sometimes successfully and sometimes not.

In the ad he reminds readers that his rewards for information led to the resignation of House Speaker-elect Bob Livingston, who had spearheaded impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton.

Flynt had offered up $1 million for dirt on Republicans in Congress, ensnaring Livingston who admitted to an affair.

Flynt had also offered $1 million for Mitt Romney's unreleased tax returns in 2012, which never turned up.

The prominent porn publisher said he was upping the ante to $10 million for the current crisis, adding 'just because you pay for information doesn't mean it's not good,' Flynt said.

'Sure, I could use that $10 million to buy luxuries or further my businesses, but what good would that do me in a world devastated by the most powerful moron in history?'
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Sightseers are still larking around for snaps on cliffs at Seven Sisters in East Sussex - despite the death of a 23-year-old South Korean tourist who ignored warnings about the dangers of the 200ft high cliffs.

Tourists are still taking pictures dangerously close to the edge of the cliff despite countless pleas to learn from Hyewon Kim's fatal mistake.

This is the sixth successive day sightseers have been seen posing on the crumbling cliff edge.

Ms Kim, 23, had asked a stranger to take her picture but lost her footing as she landed and toppled over the cliffs.

Pictures found on her mobile phone showed the student happily posing with her back to the cliff-edge in the seconds before her death.

She asked a stranger to take her picture on June 22, but as she jumped in the air for the shot she lost her footing and fell 200ft (60m).

The court heard Ms Kim, from South Korea, suffered catastrophic injuries in the fall.

A couple take a picture on the crumbling cliff edge at Seven Sisters in East Sussex despite warnings against doing so

Members of the public continue to endanger themselves by taking pictures and selfies on the 200ft high Seven Sisters

An elderly man peers down the sheer drop today as sightseers continue to take pictures on the cliff edge

A man takes a selfie with his feet hanging off the cliff edge in Seven Sisters where a South Korean tourist died in June

The site has become a hot-spot for thrill seekers and despite numerous signs warning of the dangers, tourists regularly teeter on the edge for photographs

The cliffs at Birling Gap have experienced possibly the worst coastal erosion in the UK, yet people continue to flock there for photos

A group of children and an adult peer down the steep drop at Seven Sisters cliffs, in East Sussex this afternoon

A mixture of storms and high seas has seen the chalk face cliffs disappear beneath the waves

People continue to take pictures while perched dangerous high on the 200ft high cliff edge at Seven Sisters

A couple perch on top of the cliff where a South Korean tourist slipped and fell to her death in June this year

A man creeps precariously close to the cliff edge at Seven Sisters in East Sussex despite repeated warnings

Two tourists link arms and pose for a photo despite signs and warnings about the instability of the cliffs

A woman takes a picture of her friend on top the cliff edge at Seven Sisters today despite warnings about the dangers

A man poses for a dangerous picture on top of the Seven Sisters cliff edge in East Sussex today

A group of friends in hiking boots leave their rucksacks, maps and camping mats on the ground as they lie on their stomachs to peer down at the rocks below

A man lies on his side and plays on his phone as the waves crash into the beach below with a seagull and a couple standing on the cliff's edge

South Korean student Hyewon Kim (pictured), 23, plunged 200ft to her death after jumping in the air for a photograph on a crumbling clifftop, an inquest was told

Despite repeated warnings from experts and the coroner who presided over her inquest, daredevil tourists are still running the risk of falling to their deaths by posing for pictures dangerously close to the edge.

More than 350,000 people visit the cliffs at Birling Gap and Seven Sisters cliffs each year.

The site has become a hot-spot for thrill seekers and despite numerous signs warning of the dangers, tourists regularly teeter on the edge for photographs.

The cliffs at Birling Gap have experienced possibly the worst coastal erosion in the UK.

In 2005 it was noted they had retreated nearly 300 feet from where they had stood in 1873.

Over the years several cottages have disappeared as the cliffs have gradually been eroded.

A group of friends lie down on their stomachs at Seven Sisters, just east of Brighton in East Sussex today

Reckless sightseers are still posing for pictures on the edge of a cliff where a 23-year-old student fell 200ft to her death despite countless pleas to learn from her fatal mistake (pictured: on Saturday)

Another woman plays with her hair and dangles a leg over the edge of a cliff at Seven Sisters (pictured: on Saturday)

A woman leans right over the cliff with her selfie stick as she tries to get the perfect shot of the iconic landmark in East Sussex, days after a tourist's death

Her husband gawps down at the drop as he examines 200ft the drop down from the top, undeterred by the recent tragedy

Tourists visiting the iconic Seven Sisters chalk cliffs near Birling Gap, East Sussex, get dangerousy close to the crumbling edge, one of whom looks quite nervous

Despite repeated warnings from experts and the coroner who presided over her inquest, daredevil tourists are still running the risk of falling to their deaths by posing for pictures dangerously close to the edge

Hyewon Kim had asked a stranger to take her picture but lost her footing as she landed and toppled over the Seven Sisters cliffs (pictured, sightseers pose by the cliffs today)

The site in East Sussex has become a hot-spot for thrill seekers and despite numerous signs warning of the dangers, tourists regularly teeter on the edge for photographs. Above, people taking risky selfies today at the cliffs

Tourists are still defying safety warnings about the dangers of climbing the Seven Sisters cliffs despite the death of a 23-year-old student there in June

The inquest at Eastbourne Town Hall heard Ms Kim had handed her mobile phone to a group of three other South Korean tourists who she did not know and asked them to take her picture at the cliff edge.

Detective Sergeant Tod Stewart from Sussex police told an inquest in Eastbourne: 'There were six photos of her close to the cliffs.

'They were showing her jumping in the air extremely close to the edge.

The cliffs at Birling Gap have experienced possibly the worst coastal erosion in the UK. In 2005 it was noted they had retreated nearly 300 feet from where they had stood in 1873. Above, another person seems oblivious to the danger

One woman is pictured trying to take photos at the very edge of the clifftop where Hyewon Kim fell to her death in June

'Her concentration is not on anything other than what she is doing. The expression on her face shows nothing but enjoyment.'

Coroner Alan Craze said: 'She landed with one foot beyond the cliff edge and only her other foot landing on the cliff edge.

'Every one of the photos shows her looking away from the cliff edge.

'A lot of South East Asians like to visit because the Seven Sisters refer to the seven daughters of the Chinese deity, the Jade Emperor.

'If people do things which put them in extreme and obvious danger, there is a limit to which they can be stopped.'

A statement by witness Young Choi, 24, said: 'I went to the Seven Sisters for tourism. Another Korean girl, who I did not know, was there and she asked me to take photos.

Over the years, several cottages have disappeared as the cliffs have gradually been eroded. Earlier this month the steps leading down to the beach below the iconic chalk cliffs were closed due to a recent increase in cliff falls

'As I was taking photos, she fell down. We all tried to find someone to call 999. After the 999 call, I called the Korean Embassy.'

Jin Gyeong Jang, another witness, said: 'I saw her standing then heard sound of a bang, then she was not there. At the space where she was standing, there was just a bag.'

Fireman Richard Harrison revealed what he saw when he attended the scene. He said: 'We discovered the body of a young female, face down. I estimated the cliffs to be between 150 to 200ft high.'

A post-mortem examination concluded that Miss Kim died from catastrophic head injuries on June 22.

The death came a day after a major rock fall further along the Sussex coast.

Mr Craze said: 'This is a very poignant and sad case. I want to express my profound sympathy and condolences to her family.' No family members or embassy staff attended the inquest.

The coroner said he would welcome further research into methods of preventing further deaths at the tourist spot.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Mr Craze said: 'This death is not unique.

The South Korean, who had come to Britain to improve her English, suffered catastrophic head injuries after falling from these cliffs (tourists walk by the cliff edge, today)

The coroner presiding over the 23-year-old's inquest said: 'A lot of South East Asians like to visit because the Seven Sisters (pictured) refer to the seven daughters of the Chinese deity, the Jade Emperor. If people do things which put them in extreme and obvious danger, there is a limit to which they can be stopped.'

Coroner Alan Craze added: 'This is a very poignant and sad case. I want to express my profound sympathy and condolences to her family.'

'Very sadly, whatever is done by way of signage, we should be lucky if this is the last one.'

He said he would encourage the National Trust, who own the stretch of cliffs, to look into improved warnings and fencing along the edge.

Signs warning about the instability of the cliffs are in place approaching the area.

An option for more signs in foreign languages was considered by Seaford Town Council in July 2017 but was rejected.

An Asian tourists is pictured trying to get a selfie on the extreme edge of the cliffs in East Sussex where Hyewon Kim died

The young woman seems intent on getting the perfect shot despite the repeated warnings issued by experts in wake of the 23-year-old's death

The steps leading to the beach below the cliffs (pictured) were closed recently due to an increase in rockfall
A three-year-old girl died after she fell into a grease pit at an Alabama ice cream shop and drowned.

The girl's body was pulled Saturday from an in-ground container used to trap cooking grease at Bruster's Real Ice Cream in Auburn, the Opelika-Auburn News reports.

She drowned in the sludge, police say.

A 3-year-old girl was pronounced dead at a hospital after she fell into a 6-foot-deep grease pit at Bruster's Real Ice Cream in Auburn, Alabama and drowned

The death appears to be an accidental drowning, Lee County Coroner Bill Harris said in a news release.

He said video evidence from the scene showed the girl playing with siblings when she apparently fell through a lid covering a grease pit on the ice cream parlor's property on Saturday afternoon.

The girl had been missing for no more than 10 minutes when she was found inside the 6-foot-deep grease container, Harris said.

She was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Harris said no foul play is suspected.

The ice cream shop wrote on Facebook that it would be closed for the rest of the day

The girl's name was not immediately released.

In a Facebook post, the shop wrote: 'Brusters Auburn will be closed today!', along with a broken heart emoji.

A sign outside the shop read: 'Closed for today, sorry for the inconvenience.'
A county attorney wants to reconvene and question jurors over concerns that the jury forewoman hugged a man acquitted of negligent homicide.

The jury in Lancaster, New Hampshire acquitted Randy Baillargeon, 34, on September 22 on charges such as negligent homicide involving the 2016 death of Berlin resident Kristen Black.

Police said Baillargeon drove erratically as Black, 34, clung to the outside of his truck, causing her to fall or jump off the vehicle and die of a head injury.

At trial, Baillargeon's defense attorney argued that Black had met him only the night prior and developed a sudden, intense infatuation with him.

The defense claimed that she had jumped into the rear of his pickup truck as he was leaving after spending the night with her, and then clung to his rear-view mirror while pounding on the driver's side window.

Now four members of the jury have come forward to say that they saw the jury forewoman stop her car in the courthouse parking lot and hug Baillargeon and his family members immediately following the trial.

Randy Baillargeon, 34, was acquitted of negligent homicide on September 22. Now the prosecutor says that the jury forewoman hugging him after the trial raises issues

Kristen Black, 34, died in August 2016. Police say she was hanging off the outside of Baillargeon's pickup truck and fell while he drove erratically

'She then got out of her car, walked quickly to the defendant and his family. As she neared them, she opened her arms, as if to hug someone. She then hugged the defendant, his mother, and a man that I am guessing is his father,' one juror wrote in a statement.

Coos County Attorney John McCormick said in a motion that the hug created a 'spectacle' and said it shows the jury could have been tainted or biased, the Union Leader reported.

He has asked the judge to reconvene the jury and question the jurors over the incident.

Baillargeon's attorney is fighting McCormick's motion and said it's based on pure speculation.

According to the defense attorney, the forewoman did not know Baillargeon or his family before the trial, and the hug had no significance or bearing on the verdict.

'The state's motion is based purely on speculation involving any misconduct,' the defense motion read, according to WMUR.

After a trial that lasted three and a half days, Baillargeon was acquitted after jury deliberations that lasted just over two hours.
A round-the-clock watch outside a block of flats which are covered in potentially flammable cladding is being carried out by firefighters - sparking fears among residents they could be at risk of a Grenfell-style fire.

There has been a 24/7 watch outside Nova House, Slough, Berkshire, since it was found the block had coating which was deemed potentially dangerous following the fire in West London three months ago.

The constant watch involves at least one fire engine and three firefighters on standby outside the flats, costing at least 1,500 a day.

Firefighters are on a constant watch outside the Nova House block of flats in Slough, Berkshire

The seven-storey building, managed by property company The Ringley Group, was visited several times over the last fortnight by The Daily Star Sunday.

Yet the constant watch and the fact a fire station is less than a mile away has raised concerns among the 200 residents, living in 68 flats, with some believing their lives could be in imminent danger.

One woman who lived in the block said: 'We are glad the fire engine is constantly outside, but it does make you uneasy about what could happen.

'We've all seen those dreadful photos of Grenfell Tower being engulfed in flames.

'Knowing that we are in a block with similar cladding, it is impossible not to put yourself in those poor people's shoes.'

One firefighter branded the underground car park underneath the Nova House flats a 'death trap' and explained that there was absolutely no fireproofing in their whatsoever.

The council is footing the 1,500-a-day bill as it feels 'responsible' for residents in the privately-owned block

There are at least 200 residents living in 68 flats at the Slough property

The firefighter explained: 'The car park has also been completely closed off.

'There's no fireproofing whatsoever  and electrical cables haven't been covered to help minimise potential hazards.

'Although we are happy our presence gives residents peace of mind, most of the men and women would rather spend the time between call-outs at the station, where there is more for them to do in between jobs.'

Slough Borough Council explained they were footing the bill for the vigil outside the privately owned block as they felt 'responsible' for the residents.

However the council has since begun talks to buy to the building from the firm so they can carry out the necessary fireproofing of the building.

A council spokesman said: 'There's a lot of work to be done, and we want it done as soon as possible.

'We do not think [the current property management company] have the capacity to do the work, so we are aiming to take over the building.'

A spokesman for the firm said they were taking all necessary measures to ensure safety measures were up to scratch.
WH Smith makes more money from its airport, train station and motorway stores than its shops on the high street - sometimes charging more than double normal prices.

The chain's 'travel' branches made 96million in the last year - 60 per cent of its total business.

Trading profits in the group's travel arm increased from 87million.

The figures do not come as a surprise, as commuters continually find a large disparity between the cost of goods on the high street and at transport hubs.

WH Smith made more money at its travel stores in stations (pictured), airports and motorway service stations in the last year than on the high street

At Manchester Airport for example, a 190g bag of Bassett's Wine Gums is 2.99, whereas a 10 minute journey away in Stretford Mall, Smiths are selling them for a 1, reports The Sun.

The WH Smiths at Birmingham New Street station was selling packs of Cadbury's Boost bites for 2.99. But just 430 yards away in a city centre store the same packet was only 1.29.

At Birmingham International Airport a 355ml can of Red Bull costs 2.89, nearly double the 1.49 a customer could pay at the Acocks Green store 10 minutes away.

Similarly, a pack of 200 Post-It notes at Tamworth's Ventura Park shopping centre branch will cost you 3.99, 20 per cent less than the 4.99 charged at the nearby service station on the M42.

Over in Bristol city centre, a 75cl bottle of Buxton spring water costs 1.49, while at nearby Gordano Services on the M5 the same bottle comes in at 2.

The chain's branches at Bristol Temple Meads station and Bristol International Airport  both a short drive away  charge 1.89.

At Reading station, the Buxton water was 1.89, and at the town's M4 services.

But at the nearby high street store, the same bottle cost 1.45. Surprisingly, it was the same price at Heathrow Airport.

At WH Smiths in Manchester's Arndale Centre, a 500ml bottle of Buxton water was 99p, whereas a five-minute walk away in Piccadilly station, the same product was 1.49.

Stephen Clarke, the company's chief executive said its High Street stores performed worse partly due to the extra 3million in costs from higher wages and the apprenticeship levy.

Consumers have found a huge disparity in prices between travel stores and those on the high street. The company say items like souvenirs make airport branches more lucrative and the extra cost of wages lowers high street profits

He also said that travel outlets have excelled partly because they stock items such as souvenirs and travel accessories that appeal to international tourists.

The firm has 582 shops at UK transport hubs and 815 overall, including 233 overseas.

During the year, WH Smith opened 15 stores in the UK, including three in airport locations, five in railways and six in hospitals.

A WH Smith spokesman told MailOnline: 'Retail space in Travel is often very constrained, it varies substantially by channel and location and is expensive.

'We seek to maximise the return from every square metre of this space through our detailed analysis of the space and category elasticities of each square metre of display space.'

A spokesman also told The Sun: 'Prices in our travel locations reflect higher rents and operating costs, which are significantly higher than on the High Street.

'We do, however, run a number of special promotions across all of our categories, including bottles of water, confectionery and books.

'We also offer a popular 3.99 meal deal which includes a sandwich, a drink and a piece of fruit or packet of crisps, which is not available in our High Street stores.
A former close associate of Harvey Weinstein denied accusations this week he procured women for the disgraced movie mogul who stands accused of harassing or assaulting over two dozen actresses.

Fabrizio Lombardo, who once headed Miramaxs operations in Italy, has been accused by four women of acting as a fixer for Weinstein by taking care of his women needs, among other things.

Miramax is a film production company founded by Weinstein and his brother, Bob Weinstein.

I have decided to make a denial, it is all fake news, Lombardo told the Italian newspaper La Stampa on Thursday.

Lombardo repeated the denials he gave to other media outlets this week about his role in enabling Harvey Weinsteins alleged harassment and assault of women.

Fabrizio Lombardo (right), who once headed Miramaxs operations in Italy, has been accused by four women of acting as a fixer for Harvey Weinstein (left) by taking care of his women needs, among other things. Lombardo this week denied the accusations

Asia Argento, an Italian actress and director, says that Lombardo brought her to Weinsteins room in 1997 during the Cannes film festival

This week, Argento alleged in The New Yorker magazine that Weinstein orally raped her during an encounter in 1997. It is unclear, however, if Lombardo helped arrange that meeting. Argento tweeted a photo of herself on Sunday she says was taken a few months before the incident

I did not hunt for him, Lombardo told The Guardian.

It is not my style  it is not my relationship with Weinstein.

Weinstein stands accused of sexual midsconduct against 30 women. Three women have come forward to accuse him of rape.

He has unequivocally denied any allegations of non-consensual sex and has said he is hoping to get a second chance.

Lombardo has been accused by four women of facilitating Weinsteins alleged crimes against them, according to The Wrap.

Australian model Zoe Brock also wrote this week in a blog post that Lombardo arranged a meeting between her and Weinstein. At that meeting in a hotel in Monaco, Weinstein allegedly got naked in front of her and asked her for a massage

Brock said that when she told Lombardo about what transpired in the hotel room, the Italian executive was very apologetic and kind'

Brock then says that two weeks after the incident with Weinstein, she spent the night sleeping on a sofa in Lombardo's home in Rome

Asia Argento, an Italian actress and director, says that Lombardo brought her to Weinsteins room in 1997 during the Cannes film festival.

Fabrizio Lombardo brought me to Weinstein's room when I was 21 in '97, Argento tweeted on Tuesday.

He told me it was a Miramax party. Only Harvey was there.

Earlier this week, Argento accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her during an encounter in 1997.

It is unclear if the encounter allegedly set up by Lombardo is the same one in which the alleged rape occurred.

Argento told The New Yorker that she did not speak out about it until now because she was afraid that Weinstein would crush her.

I know he has crushed a lot of people before, Argento said.

Thats why this story - in my case, its twenty years old, some of them are older - has never come out.

Lombardo emphatically denies Argentos allegations, according to The Guardian.

Zoe Brock, the Australian model, wrote a blog post in Medium in which she corroborates Argentos claim that Lombardo acted as a fixer.

Brock told DailyMailTV earlier this week that when she was 23 years old, she was tricked into being left alone in a room at the Hotel du Cap in Monaco with Weinstein in 1997.

She said she needed to lock herself in a hotel room bathroom after Weinstein disrobed in front of her and asked her for a massage.

A third woman, Sacha Voski, also described how Lombardo relentlessly stalked her on Weinsteins behalf. Voski is a model who lived in Italy at the time of her encounters with Lombardo

[Lombardo] is the man who helped fix this meeting for HW and made me feel safe and secure, Brock wrote.

I believe he was a fixer for HW and is responsible for helping procure women.

I believe he was a friend of my agent.

Brock said that when she told Lombardo about what transpired in the hotel room, the Italian executive was very apologetic and kind.

I saw Fabrizio later that week and he claimed to have no idea and was very apologetic and kind to me about what happened, Brock wrote.

She then described the awkward circumstances of her visit to Lombardos home in Rome just two weeks later.

He had a really lovely girlfriend called Claudia Gerini and they both invited me to visit them in Rome a couple of weeks later, she wrote.

Sharon Waxman is a journalist who first learned of Lombardo's alleged 'fixer' role back in 2004

I arrived late in the day and discovered they had only had one bed.

When I made it clear I was not going to be their third wheel I slept on a sofa and had to endure the sounds of them having really loud sex.

It was too late to train back out, I was too broke to get a hotel and too scared to sleep on the streets.

Lombardo, however, told the Guardian that he could not recall having ever met Brock.

He also said it wasnt plausible for someone to serve as an enabler for another mans sex crimes.

So you cant complain with the driver or with the doorman of the hotel who sends the woman up, you see what I mean? Lombardo said.

Lombardo also disputed the notion that Weinstein needed him to arrange meetings with women.

He can pick up the phone and have lunch or dinner with whoever he wants, Lombardo said.

A third woman, Sacha Voski, also described to The Wrap how Lombardo relentlessly stalked her on Weinsteins behalf.

Voski is a model who lived in Italy at the time of her encounters with Lombardo.

He just kept coming after me..calling me 12 times a day..convincing convincing convincing me.offering me one of his many empty apts he just happens to have laying around Milano, Voski wrote in an email to journalist Sharon Waxman.

And the good life to go along with itconsidering I had no aquaintence with him, this all was quite psycho in my eyes. I was definitive with my nos.it just didnt matter.he just kept coming.

A fourth woman, a film producer, preferred to remain anonymous, telling The Wrap that Weinstein and Lombard were seen every year at the Venice Film Festial.

It was learned this week that Russell Crowe (seen far left with Weinstein and Renee Zellweger in Venice in 2005) and Matt Damon called Waxman to vouch for Lombardo as a legitimate film producer at the behest of Weinstein

Waxman endorsed comments by Damon (seen center with Weinstein and Terry Gilliam in 2005) stating that he had no knowledge of the allegations against Lombardo and Weinstein. Waxman also supports Damon's claim that he made no effort to kill a story that contained allegations against Weinstein

That was his playground, she said of Weinstein.

He and Fabrizio set up court at the Excelsior Hotel bar. Girls would come by.

After Lombardo issued his denials, Argento and Brock reacted angrily on Twitter.

'You saw this?' Argento tweeted to Brock.

'Unbelievable. He denies everything. And his lawyer tries to shame me.'

'He helped Harvey and Rick Schwartz trick me to Harvey's room at the Du Cap also,' Brock replied.

'He is a disgusting little Italian sadist and pervert.'

In 2004, Waxman was a reporter for The New York Times who wrote a story that Miramax Films, which at the time was owned by the Walt Disney Company, sued Lombardo because he was on the studios payroll even though he had a full-time job elsewhere.

The original story did not mention Lombardos alleged role in procuring women for Weinstein.

It was only after women came forward to accuse Weinstein did Lombardos alleged role come into clearer focus.

After Lombardo issued his denials, Argento and Brock reacted angrily on Twitter

Earlier this week, Matt Damon and Russell Crowe came under fire after it was reported that they had called Waxman in an attempt to bury the article she was writing about Lombardo.

Waxman wrote in The Wrap last week that Damon and Crowe called her after she managed to get multiple sources stating on the record that an Italian man being paid $400,000 by Weinsteins company, who turned out to be Lombardo, knew little about film and was better known for the 'evenings he organized with Russian escorts.'

Waxman says the actors called her to vouch for Lombardo and the allegations about Weinstein were stripped out of the piece by her editors.

Lombardo denied the allegations at the time. However, the claim the article was quashed has led to a scourge of bad press for Damon, with actresses like Jessica Chastain and Rose McGowan - one of the alleged victims - calling him out on Twitter.

On Tuesday, Damon spoke with Deadline Hollywood to set the record straight - saying he didn't know about the decades of abuse and would never have tried to cover up such a story.

Damon told Deadline that he was asked to speak about Lombardo, who he worked with on The Talented Mr Ripley, because Waxman was writing a negative story about the Miramax Italy head.

'Harvey had called me and said, theyre writing a story about Fabrizio, who I knew from The Talented Mr. Ripley. He had organized our premiere in Italy and so I knew him in a professional capacity and Id had dinner at his house.

'Harvey said, Sharon Waxman is writing a story about Fabrizio and its really negative. Can you just call and tell her what your experience with Fabrizio was. So I did, and thats what I said to her,' Damon said.

He says he had no idea the serious allegations Waxman was investigating.

'For the record, I would never, ever, ever try to kill a story like that. I just wouldnt do that. Its not something I would do, for anybody,' Damon said.

Waxman has since spoken out to say that she 'endorses' Damon's side of the story, tweeting Tuesday that he 'wasn't informed' on the sexual harassment allegations.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry spoke early on Sunday by telephone with his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Al-Safadi about the latest developments concerning last week's Palestinian reconciliation agreement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry announced.

According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry's statement, the two ministers also discussed the impact of the reconciliation on prospects of resuming the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, which last broke down in 2014 over the continued construction of Israeli settlements.

Shoukry and El-Safadi also discussed Jordanian-Egyptian bilateral relations.

Last week, rival political Palestinians factions Fatah and Hamas reached an agreement of reconciliation after months of Egyptian talks with Hamas in Cairo.

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A victim of the Las Vegas massacre who was left with severe brain damage after being shot in the head has left her coma and taken her first steps.

Tina Frost, 27, was left in a coma after she was shot through the eye by a gunman who rained bullets on the Route 91 Harvest country music festival on October 1 - but she woke on Friday and is already making an impressive recovery.

'She sometimes taps to music and also took her first steps today with the assistance of the nurses - 3 steps to the chair and 3 steps back to the bed,' her mother, Mary, wrote on her GoFundMe page.

'She's obviously anxious to get her wobble back on.'

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Tina Frost (seen left with boyfriend Austin Hughes and right with mom Mary) was shot in the eye in the Las Vegas attack, and only came out of her medically induced coma on Friday

The attack (memorial pictured) left Mary with bullet fragments in her brain. But she has already taken six steps and can breathe unaided, and has even given a thumbs-up to Austin

Tina, a San Diego resident originally from Maryland, was with her boyfriend Austin Hughes when Stephen Paddock, 64, from his vantage point on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

The certified public accountant was struck in the head by one of the thousands of bullets fired at the 22,000 festival-goers.

The bullet lodged itself in her right eye socket, also damaging the brain matter behind it.

The bullet shattered the bones in Tina's forehead, and damaged the frontal lobes of her brain, Dr Keith Blum told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Wednesday.

He removed as many fragments as he could and cut away some of the bone so the brain could swell without causing further damage.

Her survival was 'miraculous,' he said.

Tina and Austin were at a music festival when they were fired on by the killer. Doctors are now working out how Tina can continue to get bette

Mary also told the paper: 'She'll have pieces of the bullet in her brain forever. But her vitals are stable. And she's breathing on her own a little. Sometimes she hears me when I talk and squeezes my hand.'

Tina remained in a medically induced coma until Friday, although on Thursday her family noted that she had made some recovery, being able to sit up for six hours, and breathing without a machine for two hours.

But it was on Friday that her strength and determination to get well really showed.

'Today has also been a big day for our TT - she is now waking up!' Mary said.

'She opens her left eye just a lil and looks all around the room at us, taps her feet whenever music is playing, continues to squeeze our hands, and even gives Austin a thumbs up when asked.'

She added that Tina had also managed to breathe without a ventilator for six hours.

The way forward for her is still being decided, her mom said, but she is moving to a new facility, and is expected to undergo further surgeries.

Hughes said shortly after the shooting that she was still conscious after she was struck by the bullet but they got separated when she was rushed to hospital.

She was put into a medically induced coma following her surgery.

He was subsequently able to locate her as her family rushed to the emergency unit.

Mary Frost's GoFundMe page for her daughter has raised $545,000 so far - almost 11 times its original goal.
Many were young, powerless and afraid to speak out in case their careers were ruined.

For nearly three decades their accusations remained bottled up, some suppressed by pay-offs.

More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the man once described as 'God' of the film industry.

The accusations, including from some of the world's most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape.

Here is a list of those who have come forward so far.

Kate Beckinsale In an Instagram post the Underworld star said Weinstein made a move on her when she was just 17.

'When I arrived reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting.I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not.'

Teen assault: Kate Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to ply her with alcohol and met her in his bathrobe when she was just 17

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star said that when she was 22, Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in a hotel bedroom before she started shooting the 1996 Jane Austen adaptation Emma. She told the New York Times: 'I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified'.

Paltrow (pictured with Weinstein in 2002) told the New York Times that when she was 22 Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in the bedroom

She said she told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt about the incident and he confronted the mogul. She said Weinstein then told her not to tell anyone and she feared getting fired.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, is an American actress, singer, and food writer who made her name starring in Seven (1995) and Emma (1996).

Angelina Jolie

The actress told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998 and chose never to work with him again. She said she warned other women about him.

She said: 'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did.'

Angelina Jolie, 42, is cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982).

Jolie (pictured speaking ahead of a screening of her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey) told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998

Cara Delevigne

The model wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

She wrote: 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn't and wouldn't be for a bit and I should go to his room.

Delevigne wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....i thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....i was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave.He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room'.

Cara Delevigne, 25, is an English fashion model and actress. She signed with Storm Model Management after leaving school in 2009.

Eva Green

Green's mother says Weinstein sexually harassed her during a meeting at his suite in Paris.

The Bond Girl, 37, managed to escape however after being summoned to the movie mogul's hotel room, her mother Marlene Jobert said in a radio interview on Friday.

'He operated with her the exact same way he acted with all the others, under the pretext of a professional meeting, of a script that had to get to her with a nice part into the bargain,' said Jobert.

'Since his office was also in his hotel suite, she [Eva] followed him, and the exact same thing happened to her as to the others. She managed to escape, but he threatened to destroy her professionally.'

Jobert added: '[It was] the usual scenario, the same pattern he used for all the other victims.'

Weinstein allegedly harassed French actress Eva Green in his suite in Paris

Lea Seydoux

The French actress accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her.

She wrote in The Guardian: 'We were talking on the sofa when he suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. Hes big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. He tried more than once. This was never going to be about work. He had other intentions  I could see that very clearly. All throughout the evening, he flirted and stared at me as if I was a piece of meat.

The French actress (pictured in Spectre) accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her

'It was hard to say no because hes so powerful. Im an actress and hes a producer. We are in the same industry, so its impossible to avoid him. Ive seen how he operates: the way he looks for an opening. The way he tests women to see what he can get away with. Thats the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything. It's unbelievable that hes been able to act like this for decades and still keep his career.'

Lea Seydoux, 35, starred in Bond film Spectre and was nominated for the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her role as a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (2012).

Minka Kelly

The Friday Night Lights star said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career.

Kelly said that she agreed to the meeting but refused to go to Weinstein's room, and instead met him at the restaurant inside his hotel with an assistant.

'He bulls*** me for 5 minutes re: movies he could put me in, then asked the assistant to excuse us,' said Weinstein.

'As she walked away, he said, "I know you were feeling what I was feeling when we met the other night and then regaled me with offers of a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes etc.

'IF I would be his girlfriend.'

Kelly posted a photo of a cross stitch alongside her post that read: 'Boys will be Boys.'

The second 'boys' was crossed out at the bottom however, and stitched in was 'held accountable for their f***ing actions.'

Kelly claimed the alleged encounter was the day-to-day b***shit of being an actress.'

Minka Kelly said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career

Tara Subkoff

The actress claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of his movies in the 1990s.

She told Variety: 'That night I was offered the role, and I went out to a premiere after party that was also at.

'He motioned for me to come over to him, and then grabbed me to sit me on his lap. I was so surprised and shocked I couldnt stop laughing because it was so awkward.'

She said he could then feel him getting an erection.

'It was implied that if I did not comply with doing what he asked me to do that I would not get the role that I had already been informally offered,' she added.

'I laughed in his face as I was in shock and so uncomfortable. I left the party right after that.'

After denying his advances, Subkoff claims she was stripped of the part.

Tara Subkoff claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of her movies in the 1990s. She is pictured in 2017

Asia Argento

The Italian actress has accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21.

She told the New Yorker: 'He terrified me, and he was big. It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare.' She said she went on to have consensual sex with him over the years that followed. She documented the alleged attack in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva.

Asia Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model, and director, best known for the role of Yelena in the action film xXx (2002).

Asia Argento (left with Weinstein during 2004 Cannes Film Festival) accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21

Zoe Brock

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances.

She wrote on Medium: 'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage. Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position. He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced. Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out.'

Zoe Brock is a model and actress who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Australia.

'Ducked and dived': Claire Forlani said she refused Weinstein on multiple occasions

Claire Forlani

The Meet Joe Black actress appeared in the 2000 Miramax film Boys and Girls. She says she escaped Harvey's advances five times.

'I had two Peninsula Hotel meetings in the evening with Harvey and all I remember was I ducked, dived and ultimately got out of there without getting slobbered over, well just a bit.

'Yes, massage was suggested. The three dinners with Harvey I don't really remember the time period, I was 25.

'I remember him telling me all the actresses who had slept with him and what he had done for them.'

I wasn't drinking the cool aid [sic], I knew Harvey was a master manipulator.

'He also announced to me at the last dinner I had with him at Dominic's that his pilot knew to be on standby because he could never get me to sleep with him, to which I did what I always did, make light of the situation, a joke here or there and moved on.'

'I'd had a fair amount of experience. Sometimes I got angry, really angry. I wondered why I had Prey stamped on my forehead but this I kept to myself.'

Louisette Geiss

The actress said she was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe and told her he would green light her script if she watched him masterbate. She left the meeting.

Geiss made her accusations in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred on October 10.

The star was born in Miami, Florida. She is an actress and producer, best known for Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001).

Geiss was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe

Judith Godreche

The French actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996, the NYT reported.

Judith Godreche, 45, is a French actress and author. She has appeared in more than 30 films and will soon star in an HBO comedy about a French woman moving to Los Angeles.

Judith Godreche (pictured at the premiere of Nasty Baby in 2015) says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996

Dawn Dunning

The actress says she was called to a meeting about future film projects in 2003 aged 24. When she arrived she says Weinstein presented her with three scripts for his next three movies which he would let her star in, only if she had three-way sex with him. She fled the hotel, she told the NYT.

Dunning is a former actress turned costume designer best known for her role in Alias: The Roughest Cut (2006).

Tomi-Ann Roberts

The aspiring actress was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables as a college junior in 1984. She says he told her to meet him at his home. When she arrived, she says, he was naked in the bath and told her she would give a better audition if she was nude. She says she refused and left, reports the NYT.

Tomi-Ann Roberts was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables

Katherine Kendall

The Swingers actress was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993.

He changed into a bathrobe and told her to massage her, she said. When she resisted she said the mogul returned naked and chased her, reports the NYT.

Kendall, 48, is an American actress from Tennessee. She made her name in Doug Liman's Swingers (1996).

Kendall, 48, was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993

Lucia Evans

The actress, formerly known as Lucia Stoller claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. Speaking to the New Yorker, she said that she suffered years of trauma after the incident which occurred in a 'casting meeting' in a Miramax office in Manhattan. He reportedly called her late at night after the incident.

Mira Sorvino

The Mighty Aphrodite actress told the New Yorker that Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.

He then went to her home in the middle of the night but she called a male friend to protect her, she claimed. She said turning down the mogul adversely affected her career.

Sorovino, 50, is an American actress who came to prominence after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mira Sorvino (pictured starring in Intruders in 2014) said Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room

Rosanna Arquette

The actress also said her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein's advances in the early 1990s. At a hotel meeting he tried to put her hand on his erect penis, she claims in the New Yorker.

Rosanna Arquette, 58, is an American actress, film director, and producer. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1982 TV film The Executioner's Song.

Rose McGowan

The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he assaulted her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (left) and actress Rose McGowan arrive to the premiere of "Grindhouse" at the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Ashley Judd

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower.

She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.'

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower

Emma De Caunes

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010. Soon after he told her he had a script he was producing based on a book with a strong female character. Weinstein offered to show her the script, and asked her up to his room at the Ritz in Paris, where he began to take a shower.

He then emerged naked and with an erection, asking her to lay down with him on the bed and telling her that many had done so before, she told the New Yorker. 'I was very petrified,' said de Caunes. 'But I didnt want to show him that I was petrified, because I could feel that the more I was freaking out, the more he was excited.'

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010 and he invited her to his room

Sophie Dix

The British actress was 22 when she was invited up to his room at The Savoy after being cast in The Advocate alongside Colin Firth. Weinstein tried to massage her and started pulling at her trousers before he started masturbating.

Harvey Weinstein is accused of accosting Sophie Dix in a hotel room

'As soon as I was in there, I realized it was a terrible mistake. I got to the hotel room, I remember talk of a massage and I thought that was pretty gross. I think he showed me his big back and I found that pretty horrid.

'Then before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying, No, no, no. But he was really forceful. I remember him pulling at my trousers and stuff and looming over me and I just sort of  I am a big, strong girl and I bolted  ran for the bathroom and locked the door.'

'I was in there for a while, I think. He went very quiet. After a while I remember opening the door and seeing him just there facing the door, masturbating, so I quickly closed the door again and locked it. Then when I heard room service come to the door, I just ran.'

She said the incident left her bed bound with depression for six months and she decided to end her movie career.

'I decided if this what being an actress is like, I dont want it.'

Lauren O'Connor

The former creative executive at The Weinstein Company, told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT reported.

A former creative executive at The Weinstein Company told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company'

Ambra Battilana

The Italian actress and model, 24, told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana, 24, alleges that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and put his hand up her skirt

Jessica Barth

Weinstein reportedly pressured Jessica Barth (pictured) to give him a naked massage

Weinstein reportedly pressured the actress to give him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel in 2011.

Jessica Barth, 39, is an American stage and film actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCaferty in the film Ted and its sequel.

Laura Madden

A former production assistant and the Weinstein company, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge.

Emily Nestor

Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins was an assistant of Weinstein's based in London. Aged 25 in 1998, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court.

She said she was subjected to inappropriate requests or comments in hotel rooms.

Zelda Perkins reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court

Elizabeth Karlsen

Produced Karlsen told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads.

Karlsen, 57, is the Oscar-nominated British producer of Carol and The Crying Game.

Liza Campbell

A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him.

Campbell, 58, is an artist, calligrapher, columnist and writer, born in the north of Scotland and currently living in London, England.

Campbell, 58, (pictured in 2004) said that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London

Lauren Sivan

The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007.

He allegedly took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post.

Sivan is now a TV reporter in Los Angeles and was a local journalist in New York 10 years ago when her encounter with Weinstein allegedly occurred.

Former Fox news host Lauren Sivan said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007

Jessica Hynes

Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job.

British actress Hynes, 44, formally known as Jessica Stevenson, is best known for her roles in the Bridget Jones movies and for co-creating and co-writing the sitcom Spaced.

Jessica Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job

Romola Garai

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18 in which he was in a bathrobe.

Garai, best known for her role in Atonement, said she had already been hired for a part but was told to audition privately with the Hollywood mogul because 'you had to be personally approved by him'.

'Like every other woman in the industry, I've had an 'audition' with Harvey Weinstein,' she told The Guardian. 'So I had to go to his hotel room in the Savoy and he answered the door in his bathrobe. I was only 18. I felt violated by it'.

Garai, 35, is an English actress, writer, and director. She is known for appearing in the films Amazing Grace, Atonement, and Glorious 39.

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18

Florence Darel

French actress Florence Darel has claimed that she was harassed by the producer in 1993.

Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer's 'A Tale of Springtime' in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress.

She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein's company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy 'A la mode' in which she appeared.

The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel, where he he asked her to be his mistress 'a few days a year'.

Actress Florence Darel, 49, revealed on Thursday to French media that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress

Paula Wachowiak

Paula Wachowiak, who is now 62 and lives in Buffalo, New York, has revealed that Weinstein exposed himself to her in a hotel room while filming the horror movie The Burning in 1980

Paula Wachowiak, who is now 62 and lives in Buffalo, New York, claims Weinstein exposed himself to her in a hotel room in 1980 while filming one of the first movies he produced, The Burning.

Wachowiak was a 24-year-old single mother at the time who was studying at University of Buffalo.

She told the Buffalo News that she had reached out to try and intern for Weinstein - who was a local concert promoter and producer - and he offered her a job working as a personal assistant to the film's accountant.

Wachowiak said the accountant asked her one day to take several checks to Weinstein in his hotel room to have them signed.

'When I got into the room I realized that he was holding a hand towel around his waist,' she said.

Lysette Anthony

The British actress, who starred in films alongside Hugh Grant and Michael Caine, claims she was raped by Weinstein at her London home in the late 80s.

Anthony said she was friends with Weinstein for years before the alleged attack, and never felt like anything 'untoward' was about to happen.

Lysette Anthony (left this year, and right in 1983) claims Weinstein raped her at her home in the late Eighties

But that all changed after a night at his house in Chelsea, where she says he 'grabbed' her but she managed to get away.

After that he began stalking her, she claims, before calling at her house at 10am when she answered in her dressing gown.

Anthony says Weinstein forced his way inside, pinned her against a coat rack and raped her before leaving.

Unnamed assistant

Weinstein allegedly behaved inappropriately toward a woman employed as his assistant in 1990. The case was settled out of court.

Another unnamed assistant

In 2015, Weinstein reportedly pressured another assistant into giving him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel, where he is also said to have pressured Barth.

Unnamed Miramax employee

At one point in the early 1990s, a young woman is alleged to have suddenly left the company after an encounter with Weinstein. She also settled out of court.

Unnamed woman

A woman who did not wish to be named because she feared Weinstein's connections told The New York Times that the producer had summoned her to his hotel at an unknown date and raped her.
Students walked out of class after an English teacher told them that men and women 'are fighting for your right to speak American' after she caught them whispering in Spanish.

The moment was captured in a Snapchat video at Cliffside Park High School in New Jersey and has been shared on social media more than 20,000 times.

According to a student who witnessed the altercation, the teacher asked students whispering in Spanish to stop several times before making the comment.

The video begins recording as the teacher says, 'Men and women are fighting. They are not fighting for your right to speak Spanish. They are fighting for your right to speak American.'

Snapchat video caught the moment a teacher spewed a racist comment when she told students to stop speaking Spanish to each other

The teacher told the students that men and women 'fight for your right to speak American'. This prompted some students to walk out of the classroom

This happened at a school with a diverse community and a large Spanish-speaking population.

One student responds to the teacher and says, 'You're being racists. I know how to speak English'.

That's when the students walk out the classroom as the female teacher points to the door repeatedly saying 'bye'.

The video has incited students' and alumni reaction.

'This school is not a negative school,' said Carmen Benitez, a senior at Cliffside Park H.S. 'You know there are a lot of different cultures in our school. There's a lot of teachers who respect us.'

Alumni Marvin Moreno told Pix 11, 'You go to school to learn, you don't go to feel attacked by someone you believe is an educator.'

This happened in a math class at Cliffside Park High School in New Jersey

While others are defending the teacher online as a 'great person' and 'wonderful teacher'.

The teacher, who normally teaches English, was substituting for a junior and senior level math class.

Ironically, the English teacher incorrectly mixed the English language with 'American language' in her comments.

The principal called an assembly Friday to discuss the incident as some student brought the flags representing their heritage with them to school.

It's reported that other teens are planning a walk-out Monday morning.

Those who walked out of the classroom in the video were not reprimanded.
An 11-year-old boy has died after being found 'covered in blood' from cuts police believe may have been the result of an attack by the family dog.

Police have launched an investigation after Ryan Busa was found with 'lacerations to the head' at around 12pm yesterday and rushed to hospital where he died shortly after.

A resident who lives near the scene in Queen's Avenue, Newtonabbey, County Antrim, said she saw the youngster 'covered in blood' as he was carried out of his house on a stretcher and treated by paramedics.

Today, his school paid tribute to the 'adorable' pupil and said 'a little light has gone out'.

Police have launched an investigation after Ryan Busa was found with 'lacerations to the head' at around 12pm today and rushed to hospital where he died shortly after

Forensics attend the scene at Queen's Avenue in Newtownabbey after Ryan was killed

Flowers left at the scene by mourners as forensics attend Queen's Avenue in Newtownabbey

An 11-year-old boy was found with 'mystery cuts to the head' in Queen's Avenue, Glengormley in Northern Ireland around midday yesterday

A statement from his school, given to The Sun Online, read: 'The Principal, Staff, Board of Governors & Children of Ashgrove Primary School are greatly saddened by the tragic loss of one of our adorable P7 pupils.

'A little light has gone out; he will be greatly missed.'

Police are still in the area of Glengormley where the incident happened, which locals have described as a 'generally quiet' estate.

The BBC has reported that the 'police line of inquiry is that the family's German Shepherd may have killed the 11-year-old boy around midday'.

A 38-year-old man who is believed to be the boy's father, Polish-born Marek Busa, is assisting with police inquiries, according to The Sun.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course.

Neighbours in the area of County Antrim where the 'shocking' incident took place said they saw the youngster 'covered in blood' as he was taken out of his home on a stretcher

The boy, 11, died shortly after he arrived at hospital. There are reports he was 'killed by the family's German Shepherd'

Noreen McCelland, a Socialist Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) councillor in the area has been at the scene for several hours today.

She told Belfast Live: 'This is tragic news. I am sure the whole community is grieving and the family, I'm sure, are distraught.

'There are just no words. The local community will be trying to take in this dreadful news.'

The road where the boy was injured has been cordoned off by police and forensic teams have been seen entering his house this evening

People have taken to social media to express their shock and sadness at the 'utterly heart-breaking news'

She claims distraught neighbours had watched as the child was taken out of the house by paramedics on a stretcher.

'They said there was a lot of blood. It is just horrible, a terrible tragedy.

'How do you deal with something like that.

'Everyone is really upset. We don't know yet what has happened.'

Forensic teams have been seen entering the family home this evening as they investigate the circumstances of the boy's death.

People have taken to social media to express their shock and sadness.

One Twitter user called Leah wrote: 'Utterly heartbreaking news from Glengormley this evening.'

Democratic Union Party Senior Parliamentary Assistant Phillip Brett wrote: 'Huge shock and sadness across Glengormley today following this tragic news. Police investigation underway.'

A 'Love Antrim' account wrote: 'Sad news that young boy has died in Glengormley. PSNI arrested a man in connection with his death. Thoughts and go out to family & friends.'

Newtownabbey's Glengormley Integrated Primary School posted: 'Oh my goodness. How tragically sad. Feeling already numb and shocked without even knowing any more.'

Forensic investigators were tonight seen searching the 11-year-old boy's family home

Lisa Mason wrote on Facebook: 'I know the whole community will be shocked and grieving! Queens Park really had become an estate that families felt safe in and has been a close knit community

Thoughts and prayers to the family and friends closest to the young boy'

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: 'Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of an 11 year old boy at a house in the Queens Avenue area of Newtownabbey on Sunday, October 15.

'There are no further details at present.'

Forensic officers are on scene this evening as they investigate whether the boy's death was the result of an attack by the family dog
This is the dramatic moment a dog being swept out to sea is rescued after it was spotted by a coastguard helicopter on a training flight.

Footage shows a cockapoo swimming desperately in the Moray Firth, north-east Scotland at 10.45am on Sunday.

It was on the verge of drowning after being in the water for 40 minutes when a coastguard helicopter crew which was training in the area spotted it.

The dog (pictured with its rescuer) was on the verge of drowning after being in the water for 40 minutes when it was saved

Footage shows a cockerpoo swimming desperately in the Moray Firth on the north-east coast of Scotland at 10.45am on Sunday

The crew then alerted the Moray inshore rescue boat crew, based at Findhorn, who plucked the dog from the water in the nick of time.

A coastguard spokesman said: 'An emergency call was made reporting a dog which had ran into the water and started swimming out to sea near Cumminston, Moray.

'Coastguard Rescue Officers were immediately sent from Burghead along with the Moray Inshore Rescue Boat from Findhorn.

'The Coastguard arrived and working alongside a helicopter that had been training in the area, spotted the dog and guided the rescue boat to it.

'The dog was rescued, exhausted and having nearly drowned, and taken back into harbour where the crew and Coastguard Officers provided first aid until the owner could arrange to attend a local vet. Happily, the dog is doing well.'

He added: 'Never follow animals into the water, they are much better swimmers than humans and generally can stay alive a lot longer than us and usually can make their own way out.

'Dial 999 for the coastguard instead and keep an eye on the animal so we can direct resources straight to it when they arrive.'

The dog's owner called the Coastguard at 10.39am after she lost sight of the beloved pooch while out for a walk on the coast.

The dog was in the water for around 40 minutes before rescuers managed to get it back to dry land into the arms of its owner at around 11.21am.

Other than appearing 'bedraggled' and 'wet', rescuers said that it appeared to be in an 'ok' condition.

A spokesman for the MCA said: 'The woman was panicking because she lost sight of the dog.

Other than appearing 'bedraggled' and 'wet', rescuers said that it appeared to be in an 'ok' condition

A spokesman for the MCA said: 'The woman was panicking because she lost sight of the dog'

'It ran into the water and she lost sight of it. We got the lifeboat team and rescue boat to assist and it was spotted by the helicopter.

'It hovered over the area and that way the coastguard could get to the scene. We got there quickly and rescued the dog.'

Rescuers managed to get to the dog and transported it back to its owner at Hopeman, who was waiting to take it to the vet.

The spokesman added: 'The owner met up with the lifeboat and took the dog to the vet for a check-up.

'The dog was ok  just wet. It was just a bit bedraggled. It was a lucky dog. If the helicopter didn't see it, it was unlikely the dog would've been found.

'This is the first time we've had a dog rescue at sea for a while. Dogs are good swimmers.'
The Florida man who was arrested after an officer thought flakes of glaze from his leftover Krispy Kreme doughnuts were crystal meth has reached a settlement with the city of Orlando.

Daniel Rushing, 65, sued both the city and the manufacturer of the drug kit that incorrectly identified the glaze as meth over the false field test.

He received $37,500 from the city this week, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Rushing said the ordeal has ruined his chance to start a new business.

Daniel Rushing treats himself to a Krispy Kreme doughnut once every two weeks. In December 2015, a police officer mistook leftover glaze from one such doughnut in his car for crystal methamphetamine. He was arrested and charged. The charges were later dropped. He has reached a $37,500 settlement with the city of Orlando, Florida over the ordeal

The officer, Shelby Riggs-Hopkins, was given a written reprimand. She had not been trained in how to use the department-issued roadside drug kit that incorrectly identified the glaze as meth. Rushing had also filed suit against the manufacturer of the drug kit

The arresting officer, Shelby Riggs-Hopkins, was given a written reprimand for making the improper arrest when she took Rushing into custody in December 2015.

Rushing, a retiree who worked for the Orlando parks department for 25 years, was arrested in December 2015 when Riggs-Hopkins spotted flakes of glaze in his car.

He had just dropped off a neighbor at a hospital for a weekly chemotherapy session. He had then driven to 7-Eleven to pick up an elderly friend who needed a ride home.

Riggs-Hopkins was staking out the area for drug activity at the time and thought they were pieces of crystal methamphetamine.

Rushing told the officer it was likely sugar from Krispy Kreme doughnuts he'd eaten. He also informed officers he had a concealed weapons permit and agreed to let them search his car.

'I kept telling them, "That's ... glaze from a doughnut... They tried to say it was crack cocaine at first, then they said, "No, it's meth, crystal meth,", he told the Sentinel at the time.

Rushing had been arrested and spent 10 hours in jail before being released on bond. Weeks later, the charges were dropped

But roadside drug tests were positive for the illegal substance.

He was charged with possession of methamphetamine with a firearm and spent 10 hours in jail before being released on bond.

A state crime lab test cleared Rushing several weeks later and charges were dropped.

Despite the ordeal, Rushing told reporters after the settlement was reached that he still treats himself to a Krispy Kreme doughnut every two weeks.

In Rushing's arrest report, Riggs-Hopkins wrote that she noticed a 'rock like substance' on the floorboard of his car.

'I recognized through my eleven years of training and experience as a law enforcement officer the substance to be some sort of narcotic,' she wrote.

Orlando police said in a statement at the time that the arrest was lawful.

An internal affairs report released this past February by the Orlando Police Department found no evidence that Riggs-Hopkins acted in bad faith, the Sentinel reported.

The report says the department never trained its officers to use the department-issued roadside drug tests.
Many were young, powerless and afraid to speak out in case their careers were ruined.

For nearly three decades their accusations remained bottled up, some suppressed by pay-offs.

More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the man once described as 'God' of the film industry.

The accusations, including from some of the world's most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape.

Here is a list of those who have come forward so far.

Kate Beckinsale In an Instagram post the Underworld star said Weinstein made a move on her when she was just 17.

'When I arrived reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting.I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not.'

Teen assault: Kate Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to ply her with alcohol and met her in his bathrobe when she was just 17

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star said that when she was 22, Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in a hotel bedroom before she started shooting the 1996 Jane Austen adaptation Emma. She told the New York Times: 'I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified'.

Paltrow (pictured with Weinstein in 2002) told the New York Times that when she was 22 Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in the bedroom

She said she told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt about the incident and he confronted the mogul. She said Weinstein then told her not to tell anyone and she feared getting fired.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, is an American actress, singer, and food writer who made her name starring in Seven (1995) and Emma (1996).

Angelina Jolie

The actress told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998 and chose never to work with him again. She said she warned other women about him.

She said: 'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did.'

Angelina Jolie, 42, is cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982).

Jolie (pictured speaking ahead of a screening of her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey) told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998

Cara Delevigne

The model wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

She wrote: 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn't and wouldn't be for a bit and I should go to his room.

Delevigne wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....i thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....i was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave.He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room'.

Cara Delevigne, 25, is an English fashion model and actress. She signed with Storm Model Management after leaving school in 2009.

Eva Green

Green's mother says Weinstein sexually harassed her during a meeting at his suite in Paris.

The Bond Girl, 37, managed to escape however after being summoned to the movie mogul's hotel room, her mother Marlene Jobert said in a radio interview on Friday.

'He operated with her the exact same way he acted with all the others, under the pretext of a professional meeting, of a script that had to get to her with a nice part into the bargain,' said Jobert.

'Since his office was also in his hotel suite, she [Eva] followed him, and the exact same thing happened to her as to the others. She managed to escape, but he threatened to destroy her professionally.'

Jobert added: '[It was] the usual scenario, the same pattern he used for all the other victims.'

Weinstein allegedly harassed French actress Eva Green in his suite in Paris

Lea Seydoux

The French actress accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her.

She wrote in The Guardian: 'We were talking on the sofa when he suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. Hes big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. He tried more than once. This was never going to be about work. He had other intentions  I could see that very clearly. All throughout the evening, he flirted and stared at me as if I was a piece of meat.

The French actress (pictured in Spectre) accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her

'It was hard to say no because hes so powerful. Im an actress and hes a producer. We are in the same industry, so its impossible to avoid him. Ive seen how he operates: the way he looks for an opening. The way he tests women to see what he can get away with. Thats the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything. It's unbelievable that hes been able to act like this for decades and still keep his career.'

Lea Seydoux, 35, starred in Bond film Spectre and was nominated for the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her role as a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (2012).

Minka Kelly

The Friday Night Lights star said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career.

Kelly said that she agreed to the meeting but refused to go to Weinstein's room, and instead met him at the restaurant inside his hotel with an assistant.

'He bulls*** me for 5 minutes re: movies he could put me in, then asked the assistant to excuse us,' said Weinstein.

'As she walked away, he said, "I know you were feeling what I was feeling when we met the other night and then regaled me with offers of a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes etc.

'IF I would be his girlfriend.'

Kelly posted a photo of a cross stitch alongside her post that read: 'Boys will be Boys.'

The second 'boys' was crossed out at the bottom however, and stitched in was 'held accountable for their f***ing actions.'

Kelly claimed the alleged encounter was the day-to-day b***shit of being an actress.'

Minka Kelly said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career

Tara Subkoff

The actress claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of his movies in the 1990s.

She told Variety: 'That night I was offered the role, and I went out to a premiere after party that was also at.

'He motioned for me to come over to him, and then grabbed me to sit me on his lap. I was so surprised and shocked I couldnt stop laughing because it was so awkward.'

She said he could then feel him getting an erection.

'It was implied that if I did not comply with doing what he asked me to do that I would not get the role that I had already been informally offered,' she added.

'I laughed in his face as I was in shock and so uncomfortable. I left the party right after that.'

After denying his advances, Subkoff claims she was stripped of the part.

Tara Subkoff claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of her movies in the 1990s. She is pictured in 2017

Asia Argento

The Italian actress has accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21.

She told the New Yorker: 'He terrified me, and he was big. It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare.' She said she went on to have consensual sex with him over the years that followed. She documented the alleged attack in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva.

Asia Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model, and director, best known for the role of Yelena in the action film xXx (2002).

Asia Argento (left with Weinstein during 2004 Cannes Film Festival) accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21

Zoe Brock

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances.

She wrote on Medium: 'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage. Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position. He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced. Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out.'

Zoe Brock is a model and actress who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Australia.

'Ducked and dived': Claire Forlani said she refused Weinstein on multiple occasions

Claire Forlani

The Meet Joe Black actress appeared in the 2000 Miramax film Boys and Girls. She says she escaped Harvey's advances five times.

'I had two Peninsula Hotel meetings in the evening with Harvey and all I remember was I ducked, dived and ultimately got out of there without getting slobbered over, well just a bit.

'Yes, massage was suggested. The three dinners with Harvey I don't really remember the time period, I was 25.

'I remember him telling me all the actresses who had slept with him and what he had done for them.'

I wasn't drinking the cool aid [sic], I knew Harvey was a master manipulator.

'He also announced to me at the last dinner I had with him at Dominic's that his pilot knew to be on standby because he could never get me to sleep with him, to which I did what I always did, make light of the situation, a joke here or there and moved on.'

'I'd had a fair amount of experience. Sometimes I got angry, really angry. I wondered why I had Prey stamped on my forehead but this I kept to myself.'

Louisette Geiss

The actress said she was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe and told her he would green light her script if she watched him masterbate. She left the meeting.

Geiss made her accusations in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred on October 10.

The star was born in Miami, Florida. She is an actress and producer, best known for Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001).

Geiss was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe

Judith Godreche

The French actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996, the NYT reported.

Judith Godreche, 45, is a French actress and author. She has appeared in more than 30 films and will soon star in an HBO comedy about a French woman moving to Los Angeles.

Judith Godreche (pictured at the premiere of Nasty Baby in 2015) says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996

Dawn Dunning

The actress says she was called to a meeting about future film projects in 2003 aged 24. When she arrived she says Weinstein presented her with three scripts for his next three movies which he would let her star in, only if she had three-way sex with him. She fled the hotel, she told the NYT.

Dunning is a former actress turned costume designer best known for her role in Alias: The Roughest Cut (2006).

Tomi-Ann Roberts

The aspiring actress was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables as a college junior in 1984. She says he told her to meet him at his home. When she arrived, she says, he was naked in the bath and told her she would give a better audition if she was nude. She says she refused and left, reports the NYT.

Tomi-Ann Roberts was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables

Katherine Kendall

The Swingers actress was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993.

He changed into a bathrobe and told her to massage her, she said. When she resisted she said the mogul returned naked and chased her, reports the NYT.

Kendall, 48, is an American actress from Tennessee. She made her name in Doug Liman's Swingers (1996).

Kendall, 48, was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993

Lucia Evans

The actress, formerly known as Lucia Stoller claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. Speaking to the New Yorker, she said that she suffered years of trauma after the incident which occurred in a 'casting meeting' in a Miramax office in Manhattan. He reportedly called her late at night after the incident.

Mira Sorvino

The Mighty Aphrodite actress told the New Yorker that Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.

He then went to her home in the middle of the night but she called a male friend to protect her, she claimed. She said turning down the mogul adversely affected her career.

Sorovino, 50, is an American actress who came to prominence after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mira Sorvino (pictured starring in Intruders in 2014) said Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room

Rosanna Arquette

The actress also said her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein's advances in the early 1990s. At a hotel meeting he tried to put her hand on his erect penis, she claims in the New Yorker.

Rosanna Arquette, 58, is an American actress, film director, and producer. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1982 TV film The Executioner's Song.

Rose McGowan

The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he assaulted her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (left) and actress Rose McGowan arrive to the premiere of "Grindhouse" at the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Ashley Judd

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower.

She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.'

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower

Emma De Caunes

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010. Soon after he told her he had a script he was producing based on a book with a strong female character. Weinstein offered to show her the script, and asked her up to his room at the Ritz in Paris, where he began to take a shower.

He then emerged naked and with an erection, asking her to lay down with him on the bed and telling her that many had done so before, she told the New Yorker. 'I was very petrified,' said de Caunes. 'But I didnt want to show him that I was petrified, because I could feel that the more I was freaking out, the more he was excited.'

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010 and he invited her to his room

Sophie Dix

The British actress was 22 when she was invited up to his room at The Savoy after being cast in The Advocate alongside Colin Firth. Weinstein tried to massage her and started pulling at her trousers before he started masturbating.

Harvey Weinstein is accused of accosting Sophie Dix in a hotel room

'As soon as I was in there, I realized it was a terrible mistake. I got to the hotel room, I remember talk of a massage and I thought that was pretty gross. I think he showed me his big back and I found that pretty horrid.

'Then before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying, No, no, no. But he was really forceful. I remember him pulling at my trousers and stuff and looming over me and I just sort of  I am a big, strong girl and I bolted  ran for the bathroom and locked the door.'

'I was in there for a while, I think. He went very quiet. After a while I remember opening the door and seeing him just there facing the door, masturbating, so I quickly closed the door again and locked it. Then when I heard room service come to the door, I just ran.'

She said the incident left her bed bound with depression for six months and she decided to end her movie career.

'I decided if this what being an actress is like, I dont want it.'

Lauren O'Connor

The former creative executive at The Weinstein Company, told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT reported.

A former creative executive at The Weinstein Company told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company'

Ambra Battilana

The Italian actress and model, 24, told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana, 24, alleges that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and put his hand up her skirt

Jessica Barth

Weinstein reportedly pressured Jessica Barth (pictured) to give him a naked massage

Weinstein reportedly pressured the actress to give him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel in 2011.

Jessica Barth, 39, is an American stage and film actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCaferty in the film Ted and its sequel.

Laura Madden

A former production assistant and the Weinstein company, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge.

Emily Nestor

Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins was an assistant of Weinstein's based in London. Aged 25 in 1998, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court.

She said she was subjected to inappropriate requests or comments in hotel rooms.

Zelda Perkins reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court

Elizabeth Karlsen

Produced Karlsen told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads.

Karlsen, 57, is the Oscar-nominated British producer of Carol and The Crying Game.

Liza Campbell

A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him.

Campbell, 58, is an artist, calligrapher, columnist and writer, born in the north of Scotland and currently living in London, England.

Campbell, 58, (pictured in 2004) said that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London

Lauren Sivan

The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007.

He allegedly took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post.

Sivan is now a TV reporter in Los Angeles and was a local journalist in New York 10 years ago when her encounter with Weinstein allegedly occurred.

Former Fox news host Lauren Sivan said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007

Jessica Hynes

Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job.

British actress Hynes, 44, formally known as Jessica Stevenson, is best known for her roles in the Bridget Jones movies and for co-creating and co-writing the sitcom Spaced.

Jessica Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job

Romola Garai

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18 in which he was in a bathrobe.

Garai, best known for her role in Atonement, said she had already been hired for a part but was told to audition privately with the Hollywood mogul because 'you had to be personally approved by him'.

'Like every other woman in the industry, I've had an 'audition' with Harvey Weinstein,' she told The Guardian. 'So I had to go to his hotel room in the Savoy and he answered the door in his bathrobe. I was only 18. I felt violated by it'.

Garai, 35, is an English actress, writer, and director. She is known for appearing in the films Amazing Grace, Atonement, and Glorious 39.

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18

Florence Darel

French actress Florence Darel has claimed that she was harassed by the producer in 1993.

Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer's 'A Tale of Springtime' in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress.

She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein's company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy 'A la mode' in which she appeared.

The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel, where he he asked her to be his mistress 'a few days a year'.

Actress Florence Darel, 49, revealed on Thursday to French media that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress

Paula Wachowiak

Paula Wachowiak, who is now 62 and lives in Buffalo, New York, has revealed that Weinstein exposed himself to her in a hotel room while filming the horror movie The Burning in 1980

Paula Wachowiak, who is now 62 and lives in Buffalo, New York, claims Weinstein exposed himself to her in a hotel room in 1980 while filming one of the first movies he produced, The Burning.

Wachowiak was a 24-year-old single mother at the time who was studying at University of Buffalo.

She told the Buffalo News that she had reached out to try and intern for Weinstein - who was a local concert promoter and producer - and he offered her a job working as a personal assistant to the film's accountant.

Wachowiak said the accountant asked her one day to take several checks to Weinstein in his hotel room to have them signed.

'When I got into the room I realized that he was holding a hand towel around his waist,' she said.

Unnamed assistant

Weinstein allegedly behaved inappropriately toward a woman employed as his assistant in 1990. The case was settled out of court.

Another unnamed assistant

In 2015, Weinstein reportedly pressured another assistant into giving him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel, where he is also said to have pressured Barth.

Unnamed Miramax employee

At one point in the early 1990s, a young woman is alleged to have suddenly left the company after an encounter with Weinstein. She also settled out of court.

Unnamed woman

A woman who did not wish to be named because she feared Weinstein's connections told The New York Times that the producer had summoned her to his hotel at an unknown date and raped her.
Many were young, powerless and afraid to speak out in case their careers were ruined.

For nearly three decades their accusations remained bottled up, some suppressed by pay-offs.

More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the man once described as 'God' of the film industry.

The accusations, including from some of the world's most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape.

Here is a list of those who have come forward so far.

Kate Beckinsale In an Instagram post the Underworld star said Weinstein made a move on her when she was just 17.

'When I arrived reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him. After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting.I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not.'

Teen assault: Kate Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to ply her with alcohol and met her in his bathrobe when she was just 17

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star said that when she was 22, Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in a hotel bedroom before she started shooting the 1996 Jane Austen adaptation Emma. She told the New York Times: 'I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified'.

Paltrow (pictured with Weinstein in 2002) told the New York Times that when she was 22 Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in the bedroom

She said she told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt about the incident and he confronted the mogul. She said Weinstein then told her not to tell anyone and she feared getting fired.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, is an American actress, singer, and food writer who made her name starring in Seven (1995) and Emma (1996).

Angelina Jolie

The actress told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998 and chose never to work with him again. She said she warned other women about him.

She said: 'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did.'

Angelina Jolie, 42, is cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982).

Jolie (pictured speaking ahead of a screening of her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey) told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998

Cara Delevigne

The model wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

She wrote: 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn't and wouldn't be for a bit and I should go to his room.

Delevigne wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....i thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....i was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave.He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room'.

Cara Delevigne, 25, is an English fashion model and actress. She signed with Storm Model Management after leaving school in 2009.

Eva Green

Green's mother says Weinstein sexually harassed her during a meeting at his suite in Paris.

The Bond Girl, 37, managed to escape however after being summoned to the movie mogul's hotel room, her mother Marlene Jobert said in a radio interview on Friday.

'He operated with her the exact same way he acted with all the others, under the pretext of a professional meeting, of a script that had to get to her with a nice part into the bargain,' said Jobert.

'Since his office was also in his hotel suite, she [Eva] followed him, and the exact same thing happened to her as to the others. She managed to escape, but he threatened to destroy her professionally.'

Jobert added: '[It was] the usual scenario, the same pattern he used for all the other victims.'

Weinstein allegedly harassed French actress Eva Green in his suite in Paris

Lea Seydoux

The French actress accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her.

She wrote in The Guardian: 'We were talking on the sofa when he suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. Hes big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. He tried more than once. This was never going to be about work. He had other intentions  I could see that very clearly. All throughout the evening, he flirted and stared at me as if I was a piece of meat.

The French actress (pictured in Spectre) accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her

'It was hard to say no because hes so powerful. Im an actress and hes a producer. We are in the same industry, so its impossible to avoid him. Ive seen how he operates: the way he looks for an opening. The way he tests women to see what he can get away with. Thats the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything. It's unbelievable that hes been able to act like this for decades and still keep his career.'

Lea Seydoux, 35, starred in Bond film Spectre and was nominated for the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her role as a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (2012).

Minka Kelly

The Friday Night Lights star said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career.

Kelly said that she agreed to the meeting but refused to go to Weinstein's room, and instead met him at the restaurant inside his hotel with an assistant.

'He bulls*** me for 5 minutes re: movies he could put me in, then asked the assistant to excuse us,' said Weinstein.

'As she walked away, he said, "I know you were feeling what I was feeling when we met the other night and then regaled me with offers of a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes etc.

'IF I would be his girlfriend.'

Kelly posted a photo of a cross stitch alongside her post that read: 'Boys will be Boys.'

The second 'boys' was crossed out at the bottom however, and stitched in was 'held accountable for their f***ing actions.'

Kelly claimed the alleged encounter was the day-to-day b***shit of being an actress.'

Minka Kelly said she met Weinstein at an event and soon after was asked by her agent if she would be willing to meet him at his hotel room to discuss her career

Tara Subkoff

The actress claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of his movies in the 1990s.

She told Variety: 'That night I was offered the role, and I went out to a premiere after party that was also at.

'He motioned for me to come over to him, and then grabbed me to sit me on his lap. I was so surprised and shocked I couldnt stop laughing because it was so awkward.'

She said he could then feel him getting an erection.

'It was implied that if I did not comply with doing what he asked me to do that I would not get the role that I had already been informally offered,' she added.

'I laughed in his face as I was in shock and so uncomfortable. I left the party right after that.'

After denying his advances, Subkoff claims she was stripped of the part.

Tara Subkoff claims Weinstein sexually harassed her when she was up for a part in one of her movies in the 1990s. She is pictured in 2017

Asia Argento

The Italian actress has accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21.

She told the New Yorker: 'He terrified me, and he was big. It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare.' She said she went on to have consensual sex with him over the years that followed. She documented the alleged attack in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva.

Asia Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model, and director, best known for the role of Yelena in the action film xXx (2002).

Asia Argento (left with Weinstein during 2004 Cannes Film Festival) accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21

Zoe Brock

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances.

She wrote on Medium: 'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage. Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position. He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced. Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out.'

Zoe Brock is a model and actress who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Australia.

'Ducked and dived': Claire Forlani said she refused Weinstein on multiple occasions

Claire Forlani

The Meet Joe Black actress appeared in the 2000 Miramax film Boys and Girls. She says she escaped Harvey's advances five times.

'I had two Peninsula Hotel meetings in the evening with Harvey and all I remember was I ducked, dived and ultimately got out of there without getting slobbered over, well just a bit.

'Yes, massage was suggested. The three dinners with Harvey I don't really remember the time period, I was 25.

'I remember him telling me all the actresses who had slept with him and what he had done for them.'

I wasn't drinking the cool aid [sic], I knew Harvey was a master manipulator.

'He also announced to me at the last dinner I had with him at Dominic's that his pilot knew to be on standby because he could never get me to sleep with him, to which I did what I always did, make light of the situation, a joke here or there and moved on.'

'I'd had a fair amount of experience. Sometimes I got angry, really angry. I wondered why I had Prey stamped on my forehead but this I kept to myself.'

Louisette Geiss

The actress said she was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe and told her he would green light her script if she watched him masterbate. She left the meeting.

Geiss made her accusations in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred on October 10.

The star was born in Miami, Florida. She is an actress and producer, best known for Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001).

Geiss was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe

Judith Godreche

The French actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996, the NYT reported.

Judith Godreche, 45, is a French actress and author. She has appeared in more than 30 films and will soon star in an HBO comedy about a French woman moving to Los Angeles.

Judith Godreche (pictured at the premiere of Nasty Baby in 2015) says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996

Dawn Dunning

The actress says she was called to a meeting about future film projects in 2003 aged 24. When she arrived she says Weinstein presented her with three scripts for his next three movies which he would let her star in, only if she had three-way sex with him. She fled the hotel, she told the NYT.

Dunning is a former actress turned costume designer best known for her role in Alias: The Roughest Cut (2006).

Tomi-Ann Roberts

The aspiring actress was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables as a college junior in 1984. She says he told her to meet him at his home. When she arrived, she says, he was naked in the bath and told her she would give a better audition if she was nude. She says she refused and left, reports the NYT.

Tomi-Ann Roberts was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables

Katherine Kendall

The Swingers actress was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993.

He changed into a bathrobe and told her to massage her, she said. When she resisted she said the mogul returned naked and chased her, reports the NYT.

Kendall, 48, is an American actress from Tennessee. She made her name in Doug Liman's Swingers (1996).

Kendall, 48, was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993

Lucia Evans

The actress, formerly known as Lucia Stoller claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. Speaking to the New Yorker, she said that she suffered years of trauma after the incident which occurred in a 'casting meeting' in a Miramax office in Manhattan. He reportedly called her late at night after the incident.

Mira Sorvino

The Mighty Aphrodite actress told the New Yorker that Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.

He then went to her home in the middle of the night but she called a male friend to protect her, she claimed. She said turning down the mogul adversely affected her career.

Sorovino, 50, is an American actress who came to prominence after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mira Sorvino (pictured starring in Intruders in 2014) said Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room

Rosanna Arquette

The actress also said her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein's advances in the early 1990s. At a hotel meeting he tried to put her hand on his erect penis, she claims in the New Yorker.

Rosanna Arquette, 58, is an American actress, film director, and producer. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1982 TV film The Executioner's Song.

Rose McGowan

The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he assaulted her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (left) and actress Rose McGowan arrive to the premiere of "Grindhouse" at the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Ashley Judd

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower.

She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.'

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower

Emma De Caunes

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010. Soon after he told her he had a script he was producing based on a book with a strong female character. Weinstein offered to show her the script, and asked her up to his room at the Ritz in Paris, where he began to take a shower.

He then emerged naked and with an erection, asking her to lay down with him on the bed and telling her that many had done so before, she told the New Yorker. 'I was very petrified,' said de Caunes. 'But I didnt want to show him that I was petrified, because I could feel that the more I was freaking out, the more he was excited.'

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010 and he invited her to his room

Sophie Dix

The British actress was 22 when she was invited up to his room at The Savoy after being cast in The Advocate alongside Colin Firth. Weinstein tried to massage her and started pulling at her trousers before he started masturbating.

Harvey Weinstein is accused of accosting Sophie Dix in a hotel room

'As soon as I was in there, I realized it was a terrible mistake. I got to the hotel room, I remember talk of a massage and I thought that was pretty gross. I think he showed me his big back and I found that pretty horrid.

'Then before I knew it, he started trying to pull my clothes off and pin me down and I just kept saying, No, no, no. But he was really forceful. I remember him pulling at my trousers and stuff and looming over me and I just sort of  I am a big, strong girl and I bolted  ran for the bathroom and locked the door.'

'I was in there for a while, I think. He went very quiet. After a while I remember opening the door and seeing him just there facing the door, masturbating, so I quickly closed the door again and locked it. Then when I heard room service come to the door, I just ran.'

She said the incident left her bed bound with depression for six months and she decided to end her movie career.

'I decided if this what being an actress is like, I dont want it.'

Lauren O'Connor

The former creative executive at The Weinstein Company, told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT reported.

A former creative executive at The Weinstein Company told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company'

Ambra Battilana

The Italian actress and model, 24, told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana, 24, alleges that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and put his hand up her skirt

Jessica Barth

Weinstein reportedly pressured Jessica Barth (pictured) to give him a naked massage

Weinstein reportedly pressured the actress to give him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel in 2011.

Jessica Barth, 39, is an American stage and film actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCaferty in the film Ted and its sequel.

Laura Madden

A former production assistant and the Weinstein company, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge.

Emily Nestor

Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins was an assistant of Weinstein's based in London. Aged 25 in 1998, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court.

She said she was subjected to inappropriate requests or comments in hotel rooms.

Zelda Perkins reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court

Elizabeth Karlsen

Produced Karlsen told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads.

Karlsen, 57, is the Oscar-nominated British producer of Carol and The Crying Game.

Liza Campbell

A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him.

Campbell, 58, is an artist, calligrapher, columnist and writer, born in the north of Scotland and currently living in London, England.

Campbell, 58, (pictured in 2004) said that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London

Lauren Sivan

The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007.

He allegedly took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post.

Sivan is now a TV reporter in Los Angeles and was a local journalist in New York 10 years ago when her encounter with Weinstein allegedly occurred.

Former Fox news host Lauren Sivan said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007

Jessica Hynes

Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job.

British actress Hynes, 44, formally known as Jessica Stevenson, is best known for her roles in the Bridget Jones movies and for co-creating and co-writing the sitcom Spaced.

Jessica Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job

Romola Garai

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18 in which he was in a bathrobe.

Garai, best known for her role in Atonement, said she had already been hired for a part but was told to audition privately with the Hollywood mogul because 'you had to be personally approved by him'.

'Like every other woman in the industry, I've had an 'audition' with Harvey Weinstein,' she told The Guardian. 'So I had to go to his hotel room in the Savoy and he answered the door in his bathrobe. I was only 18. I felt violated by it'.

Garai, 35, is an English actress, writer, and director. She is known for appearing in the films Amazing Grace, Atonement, and Glorious 39.

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18

Florence Darel

French actress Florence Darel has claimed that she was harassed by the producer in 1993.

Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer's 'A Tale of Springtime' in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress.

She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein's company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy 'A la mode' in which she appeared.

The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel, where he he asked her to be his mistress 'a few days a year'.

Actress Florence Darel, 49, revealed on Thursday to French media that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress

Unnamed assistant

Weinstein allegedly behaved inappropriately toward a woman employed as his assistant in 1990. The case was settled out of court.

Another unnamed assistant

In 2015, Weinstein reportedly pressured another assistant into giving him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel, where he is also said to have pressured Barth.

Unnamed Miramax employee

At one point in the early 1990s, a young woman is alleged to have suddenly left the company after an encounter with Weinstein. She also settled out of court.

Unnamed woman

A woman who did not wish to be named because she feared Weinstein's connections told The New York Times that the producer had summoned her to his hotel at an unknown date and raped her.
The Clinton Foundation told DailyMail.com it will not return as much as $250,000 in donations from Harvey Weinstein, saying on Sunday the money had already been spent on the organizations programs and used for charitable purposes.

The foundations decision comes as politicians and philanthropic groups grapple with whether to return donations they have received from Weinstein, after numerous women stepped forward this month to accuse the movie mogul of sexual assault, harassment and rape.

Over a dozen Democratic politicians have said they will give back or donate Weinsteins campaign contributions to charity.

The Clinton Foundation faced questions about Weinsteins funding after Hillary Clinton said last week she would re-gift his campaign donations to charity.

Weinstein was a major bundler for Clinton, hosting fundraising events with deep-pocketed Hollywood donors, and personally contributed over $35,000 to her 2016 presidential campaign.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (left) and former President Bill Clinton (right) leave the Madison Park Technical High School at the beginning of a day of Community Service with the Clinton Global Initiative University in Boston

Clinton arrives to speak with students at Clinton Global Initiative University Day Of Action as more than 600 young people prepare to participate in the Day of Action activiteis throughout the city of Boston

The Clinton Foundation told DailyMail.com it will not return as much as $250,000 in donations from Harvey Weinstein, saying on Sunday the money had already been spent on the organizations programs and used for charitable purposes

The foundation said on Sunday the money had already been spent on the organizations programs and used for charitable purposes

On Sunday, Bill and Chelsea Clinton attended CGIs Day of Action for community service in Boston, where students participated in mural-painting and volunteered in low-income housing projects

The Clinton Foundation has downsized since the 2016 election. Earlier this year it laid off a number of its employees and said it was retiring the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual conference where corporations pledged funds for commitments combatting problems like hunger and poverty

But the foundation went ahead with its planned Clinton Global Initiative University conference in Boston this weekend, a spin-off of CGI aimed at college students

A spokesperson for the Clinton Foundation told DailyMail.com that the group will not return Weinsteins donations, which totaled between $100,000 and $250,000.

He said Weinsteins last contribution to the group was in 2014.

The spokesman said the foundation already spent the money on its programs, such as lowering the cost of HIV medication and supporting women and girls in developing countries.

The foundation said it supports commitments to combat human trafficking, and runs the No Ceilings Project which aims to advance the full participation of girls and women around the world through data-driven analysis on gender inequality, an in-depth conversation series, innovative partnerships, and CGI commitments.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh tweeted a photo of himself addressing student leaders as Chelsea Clinton (far left) and Bill Clinton look on

The explanation comes after foundation board member Chelsea Clinton (seen above with students in Boston on Sunday) ducked questions about Weinsteins money from a DailyMail.com reporter while attending a Clinton Global Initiative University event

The explanation comes after foundation board member Chelsea Clinton ducked questions about Weinsteins money from a DailyMail.com reporter while attending a Clinton Global Initiative University event at Northeastern University in Boston on Saturday.

The former first daughter hustled out a side door after the event, evading a reporter as she rushed to her car surrounded by aides and security.

The Clinton Foundation and a spokesperson for Hillary Clinton had previously declined to comment on the Weinstein matter.

Organizations have been divided on whether to return money to Weinstein, who gave to numerous political and philanthropic causes over the years.

Rutgers University said last week it would not return $100,000 given by Weinstein to support the schools Gloria Steinem Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies.

The University of Southern California said it would return a pledged $5 million donation from Weinstein (seen last month in New York) to fund a program for female filmmakers. Neither of these gifts had been spent prior to the news about Weinsteins sexual assault scandal

However, the University of Southern California said it would return a pledged $5 million donation from Weinstein to fund a program for female filmmakers. Neither of these gifts had been spent prior to the news about Weinsteins sexual assault scandal.

Previous scandals have prompted organizations to return donations under similar scenarios. Last year, the University of Ohio gave back $500,000 in donations from former Fox News CEO Roger Ailes and removed an honorary plaque in its college newsroom after he was accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Ailes passed away in May.

WEINSTEIN ACCUSERS Kate Beckinsale Gwyneth Paltrow Angelina Jolie Cara Delevigne Eva Green Lea Seydoux Minka Kelly Tara Subkoff Asia Argento Zoe Brock Claire Forlani Louisette Geiss Judith Godreche Dawn Dunning Tomi-Ann Roberts Katherine Kendall Lucia Evans Mira Sorvino Rosanna Arquette Rose McGowan Ashley Judd Emma De Caunes Sophie Dix Lauren O'Connor Ambra Battilana Jessica Barth Laura Madden Emily Nestor Zelda Perkins Elizabeth Karlsen Liza Campbell Lauren Sivan Jessica Hynes Romola Garai Florence Darel Paula Wachowiak Lysette Anthony Unnamed assistant 1 Unnamed assistant 2 Unnamed Miramax employee Unnamed woman, America Unnamed woman, London 1 Unnamed woman, London 2 Advertisement

Spelman College returned a donation from Bill Cosby to fund an endowed professorship in 2015, after dozens of women came forward to accuse the comedian of drugging and raping them.

The Clinton Foundation has downsized since the 2016 election. Earlier this year it laid off a number of its employees and said it was retiring the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual conference where corporations pledged funds for commitments combatting problems like hunger and poverty.

But the foundation went ahead with its planned Clinton Global Initiative University conference in Boston this weekend, a spin-off of CGI aimed at college students.

The CGI University conference brought together thousands of student activist to discuss issues ranging from sexual assault to sustainable energy, and included keynotes and panel discussions with Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton and Madeleine Albright.

Bill Clinton spoke on Friday night and held a panel discussion with the first American Muslim female Olympic medallist Ibthaj Muhammad, race relations expert Daryl Davis, and Thomas Cade Edwards, a high school senior who helped rescue victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Clinton said race relations in the U.S. have largely improved, but the 2016 election brought underlying bigotry to the surface.

By any objective measure the election notwithstanding, the country is less racist, homophobic, religiously bigoted, and sexist than it ever has been before, said Clinton. Its just all hanging out there now, for obvious reasons.

He called on participants to meet with and engage people they disagree with, and praised Davis, a race relations activist, for giving speeches to members of the Ku Klux Klan and challenging their views.

I wish we had a thousand African Americans like you who would go seek out Klan members. Because most of [the KKK] are just following the crowd, said Clinton.

And there is some good there that could be much better. And you give them a chance and they give you a chance.

A spokesperson for the Clinton Foundation told DailyMail.com that the group will not return Weinsteins donations, which totaled between $100,000 and $250,000. He said Weinsteins last contribution to the group was in 2014. Weinstein and Hillary Clinton are seen in 2004

Clinton did not take questions during the event, and press access was tightly restricted.

On Sunday, Bill and Chelsea attended CGIs Day of Action for community service in Boston, where students participated in mural-painting and volunteered in low-income housing projects.

Hillary Clinton faced criticism during the election for accepting millions in donations from foreign governments while she was serving as secretary of state, including Qatar, Algeria and Oman.

Critics said the donations created a conflict of interest and were a potential violation of an ethics agreement Clinton signed with the Obama administration that placed restrictions on the foundations foreign government funding.

In 2006, the Clinton Foundation also accepted $25,000 from billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting sex acts from a minor in 2008, after an extensive FBI investigation that looked into multiple allegations involving Epstein and underage girls.
Iran on Sunday shut its border crossings with Iraq's Kurdistan in support of measures taken by the Iraqi government to isolate the Kurdish region, the Iraqi foreign ministry said.

"At the request of the Iraqi government, the Islamic Republic of Iran closed today the border crossings with the Kurdistan region of Iraq,'' the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement in Baghdad.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi had indirectly dismissed claims these crossings were shut. ''As far as I know, nothing new has happened in this area,'' the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) quoted him as saying.

An Iranian MP Mohammad-Javad Nobandegani said Tehran did not want to publicise the closing of the border.

"There is no need for explicit publicity," the MP was quoted as saying by Iran's ILNA news agency. The closure would negatively impact residents who depend on border trade, he said, adding that ''national interests sometimes require us to act this way."

Iran last month halted flights to and from Kurdish regions in northern Iraq over the independence referendum by the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Tehran also carried out war games at the Kurdish border in September.

Tehran fears the spread of separatism to its own Kurdish population, which is around 8 million.

Iran backs Shia groups which have been ruling or holding key security and government positions in Iraq since the 2003 U.S-led invasion which toppled Saddam Hussein.

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Samantha Murray-Evans (pictured), 44, has been jailed for falsely accusing a hero police officer of rape when he rejected her after their one night stand

A mother who falsely accused a hero police officer of rape after a one night stand has been jailed for 27 months.

Samantha Murray-Evans, 44, told the 'wicked lie' in revenge at being rejected by PC Paul Morgan after they met on the dating website Plenty of Fish.

A court heard Mr Morgan broke off their fling when she sent him sordid messages and pictures of her breasts after their first and only date.

When Murray-Evans felt she had been spurned by the officer she went to the police and accused him of raping her, Swansea Crown Court heard.

Mr Morgan, 52, who won a bravery award for saving a woman from drowning in a river, was arrested at home by his own colleagues, held in a cell for 24 hours and suspended for five weeks while the allegation was investigated.

He even considered suicide. He may well have been convicted of rape were it not for the discovery of flirtatious WhatsApp messages sent by Murray-Evans after their one-night stand three years ago.

PC Paul Morgan (pictured), 52, was arrested after the allegations came to light. He was held in a cell for 24 hours and even considered suicide

The court heard she thanked him, saying 'the sex was great' and that he had made her toes curl.

She then turned up at his home the day after their date, but sent him aggressive messages after he asked her to leave.

Prosecutor Catherine Richards said: 'The messages led police to believe this was a false allegation and the matter against him was dropped.'

Murray-Evans, a mother of two from Swansea, was jailed last Friday after admitting carrying out acts intending to pervert the course of justice.

She wept as Judge Paul Thomas QC said her 'planned, persistent and callous' lies had ruined Mr Morgan's career and left him depressed and suicidal.

Judge Thomas said: 'It is difficult to think of a much more wicked lie than to accuse someone of rape.

'You felt rejected by Mr Morgan after a very brief sexual encounter. It is clear you wanted more  you wanted a relationship with him so you decided to get your own back in the most vicious way.'

He added: 'The worrying fact is that had you not sent the WhatsApp messages it would have been your word against his with an unpredictable outcome.

'You knew this would have a devastating effect on him, especially as he is a serving police officer  that was very much in your calculation.

'He underwent five weeks of torment, there was embarrassment and fear for his career and liberty, and he contemplated suicide.

'His future career is very much in the balance, all as a result of what you did.'

Murray-Evans was told that her false allegations had undermined genuine victims of sex attacks.

Mr Morgan, who was in court to watch Murray-Evans sentenced, gave a victim impact statement describing the trauma of being arrested by police at his home at 11.40pm.

Murray-Evans was handed 27 months behind bars at Swansea Crown Court (pictured)

He said: 'They woke me up by shouting my name. I opened the front door and seven police officers said they were there to investigate me.

'I was in shock, these are people I know. Spending 24 hours in police custody was hell. I was suicidal  the only reason I didn't go through with it was that my parents are still alive.'

The career police officer, who is off work with anxiety and depression, said he had been called a rapist in the street and was considering moving home.

After the hearing he said: 'I will never be able to go on frontline duty and I will struggle to do whatever job they give me now.

'I am on medication and have been since the allegation was made and I see a counsellor regularly. The last three years have been sheer hell.

'What Murray-Evans did is horrendous. When someone runs a check on my name an arrest for rape comes up, that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

'When I go through airports I don't know what's coming up on the check. I have been stopped and waited a longer time when most people pass through. You're paranoid all the time.'

His fiancee, who he met since his brief fling with Murray-Evans, was in court with him. The pair are due to marry next year.
A teenage has been rushed to hospital after having corrosive substance thrown in his eyes in South London.

Police were called to Penge Lane, Penge, at around 1.30pm, where staff at a nearby restaurant helped to wash the substance out of the 17-year-old's eyes.

The young boy was screaming that 'my life is gone' as staff at the Himalayan Kitchen tried to get the liquid out of his eyes with bottled water.

A teenage boy had acid thrown in his face on Penge Lane, South London

A worker at the restaurant told the Evening Standard: 'I was talking to my customers and the man ran up, he was shouting "my life is gone, call my mum".'

'It's terrifying, very scary. It is not a nice thing to happen, so cruel.'

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said they believed substance may have been ammonia.

Police and the London Ambulance Service were rushed to the scene.

The victim was taken to a South London Hospital where his condition is believed to be stable.

His injuries were described as not life threatening and while the boy was treated in Accident and Emergency, records show that he was not admitted to hospital.

No arrests have been made and inquiries continue.
Soaring numbers of schools are switching to smarter blazers and ties and dropping the casual sweatshirt and sweater look, according to a new report today.

For the latest research shows that three in four of the 3800 secondary schools in the UK now adopt a blazer as part of the uniform along with four in five of the 2100 academies.

Department of Education data backs up the trend revealed by schoolwear supplier Trutex and report an upsurge of 40per cent in past ten years in the number of schools requiring pupils to dress in a more formal manner.

Figures show virtually all secondary schools - 99per cent - demand a uniform along with a school logo and 80per cent of primary schools have a standard dress code.

Three in four UK schools are now opting for blazers instead of more casual sweatshirts. File image used

While blazers, shirts and ties are increasingly popular, changing fashions has meant the wearing of hats is on the decline with fewer than 10 per cent of schools insisting on a hat today.

Short trousers are becoming less popular at primary level with more than three in five schools preferring long trousers and the pinafore dress is falling out of favour.

Fewer than one in five schools require girls to have pinafore dresses and these are mainly found at primary level.

One third of parents said their child's uniform had changed during the time they had been at primary or secondary school.

Half of them said the change had been minor while the other 50per cent said they had needed to purchase several items of new clothing because of major changes to the school's look.

The study carried out for schoolwear supplier Trutex reveals ties are worn at 85per cent of academies.

Ties are also becoming more popular at junior level with 20 per cent of primary schools requiring pupils to have branded neckwear. PE kit is required in almost every school.

The rise has been the result of new style academy schools preferring blazers as they 'instill a sense of pride'. File image used

Over three in four parents said they recognised the value of having a school uniform and thought them good value for money, the study found.

The growth of schools having a smart blazer, shirt and tie comes as head teachers look to use a standard uniform as a way of instilling pride in their school.

Education research shows that results improve with a strictly enforced uniform policy.

Several schools around the country also report that pupils had requested changes in their dress.

Matthew Easter, managing director of Trutex said: 'There has definitely been an increase in recent years for schools to adopt a more formal look, especially among new style academies who want to stand out and reinforce their identity and that can mean having students looking smart and well disciplined.

Educational research has shown that results improve when a strict dress code is introduced

'A few years ago we were seeing a lot more polo shirts and sweatshirts but that had definitely changed.

'Having a dress code acts as a social leveller and makes it easier for children to integrate with each other. It also improves the image of the school outside the school gate.'

Research for Trutex also shows that wearing a school uniform helps reduce bullying and contributes to a more focused and happier classroom.

Trutex is one of the oldest manufacturers of school uniforms in the UK. Based in Clitheroe, Lancashire, it has been able to chart the changing trends in school uniforms since it began weaving fabrics over 150 years ago.
Theresa May sat down for a crucial dinner with top Eurocrats tonight as she stepped up a major diplomatic push ahead of an EU summit on Friday.

The Prime Minister is going head to head with Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and EU negotiator Michel Barnier.

The talks - which were kept a secret until late last night - come after Mrs May made a round of crucial phone calls to the leaders of France, Germany and Italy.

Tonight's dinner is supposed to be private but Mr Juncker has already joked the 'post mortem' will emerge tomorrow.

Britain is making a huge effort to break a deadlock in the Brexit negotiations before a two-day summit of EU leaders convenes in Brussels on Thursday.

The group will exclude Britain on Friday's session to decide whether 'sufficient progress' has been made in divorce talks to trigger negotiations on trade.

Mrs May will hope her whirlwind effort will at least produce a commitment for the EU side to draw up its own position in writing ahead of talks starting later.

But she will make no new concessions at tonight's dinner, No 10 said today despite Mr Barnier warning last week he was 'disturbed' by the 'deadlocked' talks.

Theresa May appears to have been shopping ahead of her trip to Brussels today, having been photographed returning to No10 carrying a Jo Malone bag

Mrs May was carrying her ministerial red box and a gift bag from the luxury perfume and cologne brand as she returned to No10 from her constituency this morning. She later left the building bound for Brussels

Mrs May and David Davis looked in good spirits as they left for the Brussels dinner tonight

The meal at the EU headquarters, which is expected to last around 90 minutes, comes after Mrs May made a personal appeal to German Chancellor Angela Merkel to intervene to break the deadlock.

She has also spoken to EU Council President Donald Tusk and Dutch PM Mark Rutte and discussed Brexit with French President Emmanuel Macron this afternoon.

The frantic diplomatic efforts are gearing up for a crunch EU summit in Brussels on Thursday when leaders will assess the state of play on the Brexit talks.

Draft conclusions for this week's summit suggest the EU could adopt a more conciliatory tone in response to Mrs May's Florence speech, when she offered to hand over at least 20billion to plug a hole in the EU budget after the UK leaves.

But Berlin and Paris are thought to be pushing for references to the start of trade talks to be watered down.

Mr Juncker has also made it clear he expects the UK to pay much more.

THE STICKING POINTS IN BREXIT TALKS There are still serious disagreements between Britain and the EU in areas where Brussels has demanded progress before trade talks can start. THE DIVORCE BILL: Michel Barnier made clear last week that there was a 'disturbing' deadlock on the scale of a divorce bill. The EU wants the UK to give a broad commitment to meeting all liabilities - including elements such as pension for Eurocrats - for years after we leave. The PM has refused to go that far, despite floating a 20billion contribution during a transition and offering a limited promise on liabilities. CITIZENS' RIGHTS: Mr Barnier has insisted the UK must accept the EU courts will enforce the rights of EU citizens in Britain after Brexit. Mrs May has said she cannot accept the ECJ being solely responsible, although there have been signs a compromise with joint jurisdiction could be in the offing. Advertisement

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson today stepped up calls for the EU to shift and allow talks on a post-Brexit trade deal to begin.

'We think in the UK that it is time to get on with these negotiations, that it is time for the great ship to go down the slipway and start some serious conversations about the future,' he told reporters as he arrived for a meeting in Luxembourg this morning.

Downing Street is hoping the dinner tonight, also due to be attended by Mrs May's chief advisor Oliver Robbins and Mr Juncker's powerful chief of staff Martin Selmayr, will go better than the previous gathering.

That meeting at No10 in April ended acrimonously, and sparked a wave of poisonous briefing from Brussels claiming Britain was clueless and completely unrealistic about its approach to Brexit.

No 10 said the dinner was expected to run for 90 minutes from 5.30pm UK time.

The private talks are set to cover the whole scope of the EU Council agenda  including immigration, counter terrorism as well as Brexit.

Mrs May's official spokesman said: 'If you look back over the course of the past month or more, there has been a series of engagements between the PM and European leaders.

'This dinner is part of the wider programme of engagement.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, pictured arriving for a meeting in Luxembourg today, stepped up calls for the EU to shift and allow talks on a post-Brexit trade deal to begin

Downing Street will be hoping the dinner tonight goes better than the last gathering at No10 in April (pictured), which was followed by a spate of poisonous briefing from Brussels

'We think the Florence speech created the momentum the Prime Minister was looking for.'

Mrs May spoke to Mr Macron and Irish Premier Leo Varadkar before the talks tonight.

RISK OF NO DEAL WITH EU HAS NOT RISEN, SAYS HAMMOND Philip Hammond today insisted the risk of 'no deal' with the EU has not risen - because it is 'blindingly obvious' that everyone needs to agree. Asked in an interview with CNBC whether he thought the prospect was becoming more likely, Mr Hammond said: 'Personally I don't think so.' 'It is so blindingly obviously in the best interests of both the UK and the European Union 27 that we do reach a deal so we can continue trading together.' Advertisement

No10 said it did not expect the contents of the discussions to be leaked this time. However, Mr Juncker mischievously commented to reporters this afternoon that they would get the 'post mortem' tomorrow.

In public at least, Mr Juncker has show little sign of being ready to make concessions.

In an extraordinary intervention last week, he said Europe was grateful for Britain's help in the war but would not accept the UK leaving without handing over a massive sum.

He added: 'They must pay. They must pay.'

Mr Barnier concluded the fifth round of Brexit talks with Mr Davis last week with a gloomy assessment that talks were 'deadlocked'.

He said there had been a 'disturbing' lack of progress on the divorce bill.

Mrs May yesterday telephoned the German Chancellor to urge her to drop her opposition to agreeing to start trade talks at this week's summit.

David Davis, pictured at a meeting of the joint ministerial council with representatives from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland today, is due to be at the dinner with Mrs May tonight

Mr Davis, pictured right at the joint ministerial council in No10 today, has been trying to find a way through the negotiations with the EU

Berlin, the largest contributor to the EU budget, is believed to be acting as a major roadblock by demanding the UK commit in writing to pay a divorce bill running into tens of billions of pounds before talks can turn to trade.

A Downing Street spokesman said the Prime Minister and Mrs Merkel had agreed on 'the importance of continued constructive progress in the UK's exit negotiations.'

DINNER SET TO TEST WHETHER RELATIONS HAVE WARMED UP Downing Street is hoping the dinner with Jean-Claude Juncker tonight will go better than the previous gathering. That meeting at No10 in April ended acrimonously, and sparked a wave of poisonous briefing from Brussels claiming Britain was clueless and completely unrealistic about its approach to Brexit. Mr Juncker's chief of staff Martin Selmayr was widely blamed for leaking snide details, including the fact that the commission president left '10 times more sceptical'. The briefing led to an angry response from Mrs May on the steps of Downing Street in which she warned that 'there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed'. Asked whether Mrs May had demanded assurances that there would be no repeat of the leak after Monday's dinner, the PM's official spokesman told reporters: 'The Prime Minister has had a number of constructive conversations with Jean-Claude Juncker. We expect this to be a constructive dinner.' Advertisement

Mrs May is under pressure from Eurosceptics to pull the plug on Brexit negotiations if the EU refuses to countenance a move to trade talks by the end of the year.

Former Brexit minister David Jones yesterday said the time was fast approaching to abandon the talks.

Government sources admit there is little hope of EU leaders declaring 'sufficient progress' has been made in divorce proceedings to move on to trade.

Senior figures are privately hopeful that trade talks will begin by Christmas. But they are desperate for progress this week to maintain momentum and demonstrate the negotiations are not failing.

Failure to achieve a breakthrough this week will pile pressure on ministers to start making preparations for the UK to leave the EU without a deal in March 2019.

Downing Street denied tonight's trip showed the talks were in crisis, saying it had been in the diary for 'weeks'.

Also attending the dinner are Number 10 Brexit adviser Olly Robbins and Mr Juncker's chief of staff Martin Selmayr.

Mr Selmayr was widely blamed for leaking details of a previous private dinner at Number 10 in April, when Mr Juncker reportedly said he left '10 times more sceptical' than when he arrived.

The leak led to an angry response from Mrs May on the steps of Downing Street in which she warned that 'there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed'.

David Davis (left) and Michel Barnier have been engaged in gruelling negotiations over Brexit
Traps are being set in far north Queensland as the hunt for the crocodile ensues

Police found human remains and the woman's walking stick near Mowbray Creek

Anne Cameron, 79, is believed to have gotten lost and eaten by a crocodile

Traps are being set in far-north Queensland as the hunt for a crocodile believed to have eaten an elderly grandmother continues.

Anne Cameron, 79, was last seen in Port Douglas, in Queensland's tropical far north, near an OzCare Aged Care facility on Tuesday afternoon.

Her remains and walking stick were found by police next to Craiglie Creek, connected to Mowbray River, less than two kilometres from the aged care facility.

Baited traps are being set along the creek, and searchers believe the crocodile is lurking in muddy waters near mangroves.

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Anne Cameron, 79, was last seen in Port Douglas, in Queensland's tropical far north, near an OzCare Aged Care facility on Tuesday afternoon

Baited traps are being set along the creek, and searchers believe the crocodile is lurking in muddy waters near mangroves

Video footage shows the baited traps being set along the Mowbray River on Sunday.

Queensland environment and heritage protection wildlife director Michael Joyce said they will be targeting the entire 2.3km length of Craiglie Creek.

'The traps will be baited with a portion of a pig's carcasss, and we will also continue our attempts to do direct capture methods.

'What we're trying to do is entice the crocodile with a range of methods to maximise our chances of catching the target animal.'

Mr Joyce asked people to stay away from the area while the search is ongoing.

Queensland environment and heritage protection wildlife director Michael Joyce said they will be targeting the entire 2.3km Craiglie Creek

Ten wildlife officers who are 'experts in crocodile behaviour' and 10 other environment and heritage protection staff are assisting with the search.

'We believe she's wandered in there [a crocodile infested area] and gotten lost, it's our theory that she's become disorientated and walked through that area,' he said.

The Queensland Government is facing calls for stronger crocodile management measures, including culling.

The Katter's Australian Party has renewed their calls for both sides of parliament to introduce more stringent management of crocodiles through their Safer Waterways Bill, which includes culling.

Police believe Mrs Cameron 'wandered in there [a crocodile infested area] and gotten lost'

A pile of clothing was found next to a small creek connected to Mowbray River, believed to be less than two kilometres from Mrs Cameron's aged care facility

The bill would establish an authority to oversee a crocodile cull, egg harvesting and immediate removal or euthanasia for animals considered a threat.

The Queensland Government is legally allowed to kill a crocodile involved in a fatal attack, but must gain federal approval.

Earlier this year, Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg backed the calls for a tighter culling legislation.

'In my book human life comes first and crocodiles second,' he said, the Courier Mail reports.

The Queensland Government legally allowed to kill a crocodile involved in a fatal attack, but must gain federal approval

'Such action properly considered and carried out would have my full support.'

One Nation party leader Pauline Hanson told Sky News the animals are 'clearly a problem'.

'We will lose tourism, we will lose lives, animals are being taken by the crocs,' she said.

Together with the Katter's Australian party, both minor parties support a cull to ensure similar accidents don't occur again.

'In north Queensland we face the risk and sometimes the ultimate price because governments are weak on this issue,' party leader Bob Katter said.
Malcolm Turnbull's government has slipped in the Newspoll for the 21st time in a row, while Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party has increased its support.

Labor leads the Coalition 54 to 46 per cent on a two-party preferred basis despite major government policy announcements in the past three weeks on private health insurance, domestic gas supply and funding for critical prescription medicines.

Mr Turnbull's standing as preferred prime minister has dipped one percentage point to 41 per cent while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten moved up two points to 33 per cent, according to the latest Newspoll published in The Australian.

Malcolm Turnbull's government has slipped in the Newspoll for the 21st time in a row, while Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party has increased its support

Mr Turnbull's (right) standing as preferred prime minister has dipped one percentage point to 41 per cent while Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (left) moved up two points to 33 per cent

The minor parties continue to gain ground, with the Greens up one percentage point to 10 per cent, helping Labor to keep its lead on the coalition after preferences are distributed.

The One Nation Party increased its support from eight to nine per cent in the same period.

Cabinet minister Darren Chester rejected suggestions the government was in a 'death spiral'.

'I think it's a ridiculous proposition,' he told ABC TV on Monday.

Bill and Chloe Shorten arrive at the John Curtin Research Centre's inaugural annual dinner at Crown Casino in Melbourne last week

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Monday

Mr Chester said governments, unlike oppositions, had to make tough decisions.

'Within the culture of politics right now, I think the Australian people are quite happy to give their members of parliament a clip behind the ears to make sure we stay on our toes,' he said.

Cabinet colleague Mathias Cormann put the latest poll in perspective, noting there was no election in the offing.

'Obviously, we'll be focused at the right time when we go to the next general election to put to the Australian people our track record and plans for the future,' he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy attend the Garma Festival in northeast Arnhem Land in August

Turnbull (left) and Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews are seen during a signing ceremony at a special meeting on counter-terrorism earlier this month

'We'll explain why in our judgement the alternative agenda is not in the best interests of Australia.'

The latest Newspoll will put Mr Turnbull under more pressure inside the federal Liberal Party.

He cited Tony Abbott's loss in 30 consecutive Newspolls as the reason for rolling him as prime minister two years ago.

Cabinet minister Mathias Cormann put the latest poll in perspective, noting there was no election in the offing
German supermarket giant Kaufland has started scoping for new sites in most Australian cities after announcing it had paid $25 million for a site in Adelaide.

Advertisements listed on Seek by the company detail the need for property developers in major capital cities across Australia.

Kaufland, the world's fourth-largest retailer, has begun seeking sites in Melbourne, Sydneys Parramatta and western suburbs, Brisbane and Adelaide.

The supermarket requires developers to 'research, seek out, negotiate, and finalise suitable property development sites for future Kaufland retail stores'.

German supermarket giant Kaufland is opening its doors in Australia for the first time, with a new store set for Adelaide

Kaufland stocks thousands of household brands and products, from chocolate to car supplies and televisions

The company is also seeking retail executives to join the fast-growing chain, which hopes to break into Australia's $90 million grocery sector.

Kaufland, a warehouse style supermarket, is five times bigger than Coles or Woolworths and is similar to Costco.

The supermarket is part of the Schwarz Group, which owns Lidl, and has never opened in an English speaking country.

Kaufland stocks thousands of household brands and products, from chocolate to car supplies and televisions

Kaufland, a warehouse style supermarket, is five times bigger than Coles or Woolworths and is similar to Costco

The German giant is extremely popular in eastern and central Europe countries with more than 1230 stores.

The Adelaide store, on the Anzac Highway in Forestville, will stock around 60,000 products and covers around 36,000 square metres.

While other German competitor Aldi mainly stock their own brands, Kaufland stocks thousands of household brands and products, from chocolate to car supplies and televisions.

Kaufland, the world's fourth-largest retailer, has begun seeking sites in Melbourne, Sydneys Parramatta and western suburbs, Brisbane and Adelaide

Aldi currently holds a $9.3 billion share in the Australian grocery market, and retail experts claim Kaufland will need to open 20 stores to make a viable investment.

Kaufland was given $50 million by the Schwarz Group to begin profiling possible Australian sites, The Australian reports.

The move is set to put pressure on the already declining shares of both Coles and Woolworths.
Relatives of a Royal Naval commander at the centre of a submarine sex scandal have blamed the pressure of life in the Forces for the collapse of his first marriage.

Commander Stuart Armstrong is said to have had a fling with Sub-Lieutenant Rebecca Edwards, 25  a first-class honours physicist who dressed in the captain's uniform during boozy horseplay.

She wore his gold epaulettes as she fooled around in the officers mess on board their nuclear submarine.

Sources said Sub-Lieut Edwards, a Bristol University graduate who is facing demotion or a fine for her role in the scandal  also entertained officers on HMS Vigilant by barking out joke orders while in the uniform.

Sub-Lieutenant Rebecca Edwards (pictured) had an affair with Commander Stuart Armstrong on board a nuclear submarine carrying Trident missiles

Cmdr Armstrong (pictured), 41, reportedly broke up with his wife because of the 'pressure of being in the forces', his relatives have said

Cmdr Armstrong, 41, and Sub-Lieut Edwards were ordered off the Vanguard-class submarine, which carries Trident missiles, when it docked in the United States last month.

Cmdr Armstrong has been in charge of HMS Vigilant only since February after serving on HMS Artful from December 2015. He met Sub-Lieut Edwards following the collapse of his marriage to Sally Young.

He married Miss Young  a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy Reserve  in 2005 and had moved around various ships before working for Nato in 2012.

The marriage ended, according to a source close to her family, because of the strains of Navy life.

Ms Edwards, 25, is pictured with her mother Anne and her partner Collin Dallas. Her grandfather has condemned Cmdr Armstrong for 'preying on' a younger girl

'There was no-one else involved on either side. If anything, it was the pressure of being in the service,' the source said. 'I think that in their first six years of marriage, they spent six months together.

'In nuclear submarines you can send an email one way  wife to husband  and that's it. A 20-word email or whatever. What can you say? How can you maintain a marriage through that?'

Before going into the Navy in 2014, Sub-Lieut Edwards lived with her 50-year-old father, who is also thought to have a background in the Armed Forces, in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

Her whereabouts were unknown last night. But her grandfather has condemned Cmdr Armstrong for allegedly preying on a junior crew member.

Thomas Walker, 75, said: 'Surely the opportunities to play about are in abundance in a job like that without doing it at sea and at work.'

He added: 'So it is a bit poor really. He should have shown more responsibility towards a young girl like that.'

Military chiefs were dispatched to the nuclear submarine to deal with claims after a whistleblower at the vessel's Faslane base reported concerns about an 'inappropriate relationship' between two naval crew.

Five officers had reportedly threatened to quit over love affairs among crew, with the vessel's second-in-command also caught up in the scandal.

Lieutenant Commander Michael Seal, 36, has also been flown home amid claims of a relationship with another female crew member.

Speaking at their home in Kirkcaldy, Fife, at the weekend, his wife Jennifer, 36, told reporters he was not there and that she did not know when he would be returning.

Ms Edwards is pictured taking part in a Royal Navy Remembrance parade in Glasgow

The 25-year-old faces a lesser punishment than her lover as he is ranked higher in the Navy

The captain, along with his second in command, are the only officers on board the sub with access to a grey safe which contains a 'letter of last resort' from the Prime Minister containing guidance and orders to be followed should the UK be attacked with nuclear weapons.

Women have served on Navy surface ships since 1990 but it was not until three years ago that they were allowed on submarines.

Navy officials are investigating the claims of inappropriate relationships.

As a senior officer, Cmdr Armstrong is expected to face a greater punishment than Sub-Lieut Edwards should he be found to have breached social conduct regulations.

A Royal Navy spokesman said the incident had not affected submarine operations. He added: 'It would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

'Any allegations of wrongdoing are taken very seriously and will be dealt with appropriately.'
Rebel shelling on the Syrian capital Damascus killed four civilians on Sunday, a Britain-based monitor and a medical source said.

Shelling on the central district of Old Damascus killed four civilians and wounded seven others, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said.

A doctor receiving the casualties confirmed the death toll and said most of the injured were "gravely wounded by shrapnel".

State news agency SANA said artillery fire killed two people and wounded nine others in the Bab Sharqi area of Old Damascus.

The Observatory said shelling on Sunday hit several areas of the capital including the eastern district of Tabbaleh.

It followed a drop in violence in Damascus since the implementation in July of a de-escalation zone in a rebel-held area to its east.

Eastern Ghouta is one of four such zones agreed at May peace talks on the Syrian conflict sponsored by rebel backer Turkey and regime supporters Russia and Iran.

SANA said four people were wounded on Saturday when two mortar rounds hit the Absasiyeen Square in the centre of the city.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the country's conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.

Damascus has been largely spared from the worst of the violence in the six-year war, despite being shaken by two bomb attacks in recent weeks.

On Wednesday, three suicide bombers killed at least two people near the main police headquarters in Damascus, in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

IS group also claimed an October 2 bomb attack at a police station in the capital that killed at least 17 people.

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Terrified passengers on board an AirAsia flight have criticised the cabin crew for screaming and sparking mass panic as the plane suddenly plunged 20,000 feet.

Flight QZ535 from Perth to Bali turned back to the Western Australian airport just 25 minutes after take-off, when a problem with pressure inside the cabin saw the plane plunge to 20,000 feet.

With tensions already high, those on board have blamed the hysteria that followed on the AirAsia staff, who were reportedly screaming, crying and looking shocked.

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Passengers onboard an AirAsia flight forced to make an emergency landing on Sunday, claim they 'couldn't understand' instructions from the flight crew as the plane fell out of the sky

Total panic: Passengers were forced to put on oxygen masks when the cabin lost pressure mid-air (pictured) and plunged to 20,000 feet

Clare Askew told CNN affiliate Seven News Australia: 'The panic was escalated because of the behavior of the staff, who were screaming and looked tearful and shocked.

'We look to them for reassurance and we didn't get any. We were more worried because of how panicked they were.'

Videos taken by shocked passengers of the moment the plane began to plummet show oxygen masks falling from the ceiling crew members yelling at passengers to 'get down, get down!'

Although is is claimed these measures are routinely used on flights, another passenger Mark Bailey told Seven News: 'They went hysterical. There was no real panic before that. Then everyone panicked.'

Another complaint that was passengers 'couldn't understand' instructions from the cabin crew as the plane fell out of the sky.

After landing safely back at Perth International Airport passengers slammed the handling of the chaotic situation by the AirAsia crew, claiming the only instructions they received in English were to 'brace' and put their seatbelts on.

Merv Loy claimed that as the mid-air incident unfolded, cabin frantic crew added to the hysteria of passengers with their lack of instruction.

'We didn't understand a word they were saying. It was pretty scary,' Mr Loy told Perth Now.

Also unable to understand the potentially life saving instructions being given by the crew, Glenyce Regan was left with no other option than to pray.

'It (the advice) was all in Asian or Thai or something,' Ms Regan told The West.

'We couldn't understand anything that was coming over the loudspeaker.'

'I thought we were gone. I really, really thought we were gone. My life flashed in front of me.'

Other passengers also described the momentary panic as 'terrifying' as they thought they were going to die.

Merv Loy (pictured) claimed that as the mid-air incident unfolded, cabin frantic crew added to the hysteria of passengers with their lack of instruction

'I actually picked up my phone and sent a text message to my family, just hoping that they would get it,' Perth woman Leah told Nine News.

'We were all pretty much saying goodbye to each other. It was really upsetting.'

Leah went on to say that passengers were not informed about the imminent danger, and instead just watched frantic flight attendants rushing down the aisles of the plane.

In a video released by a couple on the flight, a loud siren-type noise can be heard as passengers are seen waiting patiently with their oxygen masks on.

The couple, Malcolm and Janet Canning, look anxiously on and embrace each other.

Leah went on to say that passengers were not informed about the imminent danger, and instead just watched frantic flight attendants rushing down the aisles of the plane

Leah went on to say that passengers were not informed about the imminent danger, and instead just watched frantic flight attendants rushing down the aisles of the plane

The aircraft landed safely and the 145 passengers on board will be allocated to later flights.

In a statement, Air Asia said its engineers at Perth Airport were assessing the plane.

'The safety of our guests is our utmost priority,' the statement said.

'AirAsia Indonesia apologises for any inconvenience caused.'

This isn't the first time an Air Asia flight has failed to launch from Perth Airport.

Passengers described the momentary panic as 'terrifying' as they thought they were going to die (Air Asia plane pictured)

In June Flight D7237 departed Perth on its way to Malaysia but was forced to turn back when the engine 'seized up' less than two hours into the trip.

In terrifying on-board footage, the AirAsia captain was heard asking passengers to stay vigilant.

'Please pay attention and also please listen to everything, our survival depends on your cooperation,' he said.

Passenger Sophie Nicolas said she could tell the situation was 'really bad' judging by the cabin crew's reaction.

'He said 'I hope you all say a prayer, I will be saying a prayer too and let's hope we all get back home safely',' she said at the time.
The maximum stake on crack cocaine gambling machines should be slashed from 100 to 2, an aide to Philip Hammond has said.

In a damning report published today, Tory MP Chris Philp backs a crackdown on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

The study, by the Respublica think tank, reveals Britain is the only country in the developed world which allows gamblers to stake 100 every 20 seconds on casino-style games on the high street.

A damning report has suggested a crackdown on fixed odds betting terminals, saying they do 'disproportionate harm' to poor areas

It warns 1.5million people in Britain  or one in 40 of the population  now use the machines and that they cause disprorportionate harm to poorer areas.

The reports co-author, Phillip Blond, a leading conservative thinker, says Theresa May should prioritise controlling the machines which he described as like a sink hole on the high street.

He condemns the changes to gambling law made under Labour which led to the proliferation of fixed odds terminals on the high street and says that controlling them is a truly Conservative cause.

Conservatives should not support a piece of New Labour legislation that has wrought destruction throughout some of our most disadvantaged communities, he said.

The report  and Mr Philps comments - will be seen as a further sign ministers are poised to act against high stakes machines. A review into the machines was due to be published later this week but is now not expected until after the Budget.

It is expected to set out a range of different options for reducing the maximum stake, including to 2, but also higher levels. Ministers are yet to settle on a final decision about what level the stake should be set at.

The Mail has long campaigned against the machines, which offer casino-style games including roulette and poker in betting shops.

Philip Blond called fixed odds betting terminals a 'sink hole' on high streets and called on the prime minister to take action

Mr Blond, the think tanks director, warned the machines are destroying the high street.

Streets that once flourished as centres of growth and community are now dominated by these shops, he said.

In some communities, the situation has got out of hand. The sheer number of these shops acts as a kind of sink hole on their high street, sucking in the vitality of everything else around them.

He argues that regulation of the betting machines is a truly Conservative cause.

If you care about thriving high streets, economic prosperity, or the social fabric of families and local communities, then it is clear that the spread of gambling machines in understaffed shops in some of our most deprived neighbourhoods has had a harmful effect on our country.

This should be at the top of the to-do list for a Prime Minister has placed social reform at the heart of her agenda, pledged to help people just about managing, and who has spoken eloquently about the importance of mental health.

Mr Blond said that cutting stakes should be top of prime minister Theresa May's priorities

In his foreword to the report, Mr Philp, the MP for Croydon South, blamed the machines for damaging peoples lives, economic prosperity and the fabric of our communities.

He says cutting the stake would help provide a gambling climate in which prosperity can return to the lives of people and their communities.

The report finds one in three problem gamblers earn 10,400 a year or less. Under the current rules, they could stake their entire months income in three minutes.

It points to links between problem gambling and worklessness, households in debt and family breakdown.

One high street in the London Borough of Newham has a fixed odds machine every 120 metres.

According to one study, the numbers of problem gamblers have increased by 50 per cent in recent years to more than 430,000.

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A young man has been rushed to hospital after he was gunned down by a random assailant while in his garage.

Police are still hunting for the gunman after he shot the 25-year-old man at his home in Westminster, Perth at about 8.10pm on Sunday.

The victim was in his garage when he was first shot at.

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A young man has been rushed to hospital after he was gunned down in his garage

When he tried to flee the garage he was shot again in the ankle and hip.

He was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

The offender managed to flee after he shot the man three times.

Poynings Street remains blocked off to traffic.

Detectives and forensic police continue to investigate the scene.

Detectives and forensic police continue to investigate the scene (pictured)
White supremacist and leader of the alt-right movement Richard Spencer revealed that he doesn't think women should have the right to vote during a recent interview. He is pictured in Alexandria on August 14

White supremacist and leader of the alt-right movement Richard Spencer revealed that he doesn't think women should have the right to vote during a recent interview.

Speaking to a Newsweek reporter, Spencer said he's not 'excited' about voting in general.

But what he has a bigger problem with, he explained, is that women get to play a role in choosing the leaders of the country.

'I'm not terribly excited about voting in general,' he said.

'I think that mass democracy is a bit of a joke to be honest. [But] I don't necessarily think that that (women's right to vote) is a great thing.'

He didn't go into any further explanation of how Americans would choose a leader without the right to vote.

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Speaking to a Newsweek reporter, Spencer said he't not 'excited' about voting in general. But what he has a bigger problem with, he explained, is that women get to play a role in choosing the leaders of the country

This isn't the first time Spencer, who has been at the head of many 'unite the right' rallies, has said that women shouldn't play a role in politics. Pictured is Peter Cvjetanovic (right) with two other Neo Nazis, Alt-Right and White Supremacists encircling counter-protesters at the base of a Thomas Jefferson Statue on August 11 during a 'unite the right' rally

The question came up after he expressed admiration for the American Naturalization Acts of 1790 and 1795 - which set out rules for the United States and limited naturalization to only free white men with good moral standing.

When it was pointed out that the country is much different now than it was when those acts were written, he suggested that the country may have been better off back then.

This isn't the first time Spencer, who has been at the head of many 'unite the right' rallies, has said that women shouldn't play a role in politics.

During the 2016 presidential campaign Spencer came out swinging against Hillary Clinton.

Specifically he said that he thinks it would be dangerous for the United States to have a female commander- in-chief.

'Crazy Hillary threatened a nuclear response to a cyberattack (sic),' he Tweeted in February, clearly pushing the rhetoric that women are both emotional and unstable, and thus unfit for office.

'Women should never be allowed to make foreign policy. It's not that they're "weak." To the contrary, their vindictiveness knows no bounds.'

During the 2016 presidential campaign Spencer came out swinging against Hillary Clinton. Specifically he said that he thinks it would be dangerous for the United States to have a female commander- in-chief

In response to those opinions about women's voting rights, Fordham University associate professor of political science Christina Greer just laughed.

'My first question is, what did your mother do to make you feel like this?' she wondered.

Statements like this made by alt-right leaders like Spencer don't shock her, she said, but do need to be taken seriously given the type of agenda that groups is currently pursuing.

'It's not just Roe V Wade,' Greer explained, referring to the desire by conservative groups to restrict access to choose to have an abortion.

'They want to roll back the entire 20th century on us.'
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Hurricane Ophelia is sweeping havoc across Britain after claiming three lives in Ireland - where it also left 120,000 homes without power, ripped roofs off buildings and forced flights to land.

A woman in her 50s died when her car was struck by a falling tree in Waterford, while another tree killed a man in Ravensdale Dundalk, and a man in his 30s was killed in a chainsaw accident in County Tipperary.

What could be its worst storm in 56 years then caused havoc as it battered Wales and the west of England, and it is now moving its way across the UK.

Images in Manchester showed serious damage caused outside shops in the city's Northern Quarter area, shop facades coming off and smashing down onto the crowded streets.

Several airbourne flights were forced to land at Liverpool John Lennon Aiport after 'smoke smells' were reported inside the cabin, which carriers British Airways, Easyjet and Auringy all confirmed were linked to the weather.

The remnants of Ophelia, which made its way across the Atlantic Ocean, are resulting in 'exceptional' weather - exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 killed 18 people.

Damage outside Slice in Stevenson Square in the Northern Quarter, Manchester this afternoon after a facade above a cafe called Chai Latte fell down in high winds

Tables and chairs were turned over in the chaos as the huge gusts swept over Manchester this afternoon. The facade fell at around 3.45pm

Crowds gaver to watch as massive waves crash over the lighthouse at Porthcawl, Wales, as storm Ophelia passes

A car drives through sea foam whipped up by the wind of Hurricane Ophelia at Trearddur Bay, in Holyhead, Wales, earlier today

Huge waves whipped up by Hurricane Ophelia batter the coast at Porthleven in Cornwall this afternoon

The storm came from Ireland, where high winds caused the Derrynane Stand at Turners Cross Stadium, home of Cork City Football Club, to collapse today

Sahara Dust on top of a car in West Bay, Dorset as the tail end of Storm Ophelia hits the UK

A family risk getting swept into sea for the sake of a bit of fun on Dawlish seafront in Devon today

A woman and her dog get soaked as big waves crash into the Penzance seafront in Cornwall this afternoon

Surfers making the most of the storm surf generated by the high wind speeds on the tailend of Hurricane Ophelia at Langland Bay near Swansea this afternoon

Hurricane Ophelia is captured by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) as seen from space today

Douglas Community School's sports hall roof which was ripped off during Storm Ophelia in County Cork, Ireland

Winds batter the harbour as Hurricane Ophelia hits Cork, Ireland, in this still images obtained from a social media video

Motorists on the M77 in western Scotland faced lengthy tailbacks as a lorry overturned in high winds at about 8.30am and blocked the southbound lane for more than a hour.

But in South East England conditions were remarkably different, with the area enjoying the UK's second warmest October day in the last six years as a high of 74.3F (23.5C) was recorded in Manston, Kent.

A yellow warning for high winds is in place for much of Wales, Scotland, north-east England, north-west England, south-west England and the West Midlands. Parts of Scotland and Wales have been upgraded to amber.

Forecasters have warned of flying debris, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown on to coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.

'It will be gradually easing up into Scotland overnight and into Tuesday morning, it's weakening as it goes,' Met weather forecaster Grahame Madge said.

'Parts of England, areas like the North West, are covered by a warning. The impacts will be felt in northern England into Tuesday.'

In Britain, the Met Office said Ophelia's gusts are forecast to make it the UK's strongest ex-tropical storm since Hurricane Katia in September 2011, which had 81mph low-level gusts and caused one death and travel chaos.

Winds of more than 81mph would make the storm Britain's strongest ex-hurricane since Hurricane Lili's 92mph gusts in 1996, said AccuWeather.

Meanwhile Brittany Ferries has announced it has abandoned today's sailing between Plymouth and Roscoff. The Scillonian ferry service between Penzance in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has also been cancelled.

Three huge trees have fallen on Clontymon Lawn in Ballinlough, County Cork, with one hitting a car today

Corrugated iron has been blown across Pearse Street in Kinsale, County Cork, as Ireland is hit by 92mph winds today

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A couple decided to have their wedding photos done in the high winds on Ramore Head in Portrush, County Antrim

A loose trampoline is seen being blown away by strong winds as Hurricane Ophelia approaches in Cork, Ireland

A man take selfies in waves and high winds at Lahinch in County Clare on the West Coast of Ireland today

A woman surveys the scene as Ophelia begins to make landfall at Baltimore on the coast of County Cork in southern Ireland

Storm Ophelia batters the Atlantic coast of Ireland at Lahinch village in County Clare this afternoon

Tree damage across Ireland in Ballylangley, Bandon (left), and on the Killumney to Crossbarry Road (right) in County Cork

Rays of sunlight shine through dark clouds as storm Ophelia hits the County Clare town of Doonbeg in Ireland this morning

A woman walks her dog in the coastal village of Carrigaholt on the West Coast of Ireland as Hurricane Ophelia arrives today

But in South East England conditions were remarkably different, with the area enjoying the UK's second warmest October day in the last six years. A woman is pictured here in a very calm St James's Park, London

Ireland was hit by the worst of the weather, with schools closed, around 130 flights cancelled at Dublin Airport and 120,000 homes without power.

Gusts of up to 97mph hit Roche's Point Lighthouse in Cork as Ireland's schools closed early, flights were grounded and bridges were shut.

Troops were placed on standby in Ireland and many public services closed amid fears about the impact of winds. Elsewhere there were 1,300 customers without power in Northern Ireland and another 200 in Wales.

Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has urged the public to stay safe, saying: 'The advice is: stay indoors until the storm passes. Whether that is at work, in their home or some other home, stay indoors.

'Check on neighbours and relatives. Bear in mind it is coming your way and it is a national red alert. It is a very dangerous storm. The last time there was a storm this severe 11 lives were lost.'

Waves crash into the Longships Lighthouse at Land's End in Cornwall, as high winds hit the area today

A ship at anchor off of Carrigaholt on the West Coast of Ireland as Ophelia hits the British Isles with gusts of up to 80mph

Waves crash against the shore at Baltimore in West Cork this morning as Ireland braces for wind gust speeds of up to 80mph

Dark clouds gather over the Irish Sea and Dublin as Ireland braces for the passing of the storm Ophelia

Ten-year-old cocker spaniel Lily (background) and two-year-old Italian Spinone Lottie on a windy walk in Land's End, Cornwall

A man collects sandbags to protect homes from a storage shed on the Dublin Bay coast on the outskirts of the city

ESB, the Republic of Ireland's electricity network, warned that more outages were expected and that repairs would take several days.

Met Eireann has issued a 'status red' weather alert for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry, warning of severe winds and stormy conditions.

Sarah Kavanagh, who lives in Cork, where the storm is hitting first, tweeted a video of birds flying away at about 8am, saying: 'Ummmm... think they know there's something big coming? #Ophelia #Mondays.'

Earlier today, thousands of people were stranded by Ophelia after cross-Channel ferry companies cancelled services because of dangerous sea conditions.

Irish government forecasters said the storm could be the most severe weather to hit the country since 1961 - when Hurricane Debbie made landfall.

Mr Varadkar said that the National Emergency Coordination Group will be meeting throughout the course of the day. Met Eireann said the strongest winds have not yet hit the country.

Trees and power lines were down across Kerry and Cork as the storm made its way across Ireland.

HMS Forth on the Firth of Clyde in choppy waters by Holy Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland, as the winds pick up today

A tree down by Hamilton High School in Bandon, County Cork, as strong winds approach the Republic of Ireland today

A tree down between Mount Uniake to Killeagh in County Cork in southern Ireland this morning as the storm approaches

A lighthouse is seen as storm Ophelia approaches South Stack in Anglesey, Wales, today

Emergency services are on the scene after a tree fell down in Maryborough, County Down, this morning

Trees down on the Carrigaline to Donnybrook Road (left) and a road blocked from Ballincollig to Blarney (right) in County Cork

The head of Corporate Affairs at ESB said earlier widespread power outages are expected.

Ophelia brings an eerie red sun to England Hurricane Ophelia brought an eerie red sun to parts of England as a blanket of orange cloud swept in. A bright red sun glows in the sky over Bristol The storm is believed to have picked up dust from the Sahara and debris from forest fires in Spain and Portugal as it travelled towards the UK. This caused the sun to appear red and created an atmospheric orange glow across the West Country and Bristol. Bristol resident Simon Gallowway tweeted: 'Weird Sun over Bristol right now. Looking like something from Star Wars.' Emma Cope wrote: 'Urmm I don't want to alarm anyone but the sun is pink! Is this the end of the world?' The Met Office is investigating several reports of the mysterious phenomenon. A spokesman said: 'We're getting reports from Devon and Cornwall and to see this kind of report from Bristol is very interesting. 'It's something we're investigating, it could well be the cause for this.' Advertisement

In Ireland, schools, nurseries and colleges have been closed, court sittings postponed, numerous hospital outpatient appointments cancelled and the Defence Forces put on standby.

Businesses have been urged to consider whether opening would pose a risk to employees.

Schools have also been advised to close in Northern Ireland while many college classes have also been scrapped. The Lord Chief Justice also advised the judiciary to cease all court hearings at 12.30pm.

Across the island, many ferries, trains, buses and flights have been cancelled. The storm hit the south-west coast on Monday morning and is due to sweep up through the island.

Met Eireann has issued a status red weather warning across all of the Irish Republic. It has described the storm as the most powerful to have ever been this far east in the Atlantic on record.

Forecasters have warned of a potential threat to life and advised the public to stay off the roads and away from the coast during the height of the storm if possible.

Counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal are bearing the brunt of the winds. The Met Office has issued an amber weather warning for Northern Ireland and warned of 'potential danger to life'.

The differing severity of alerts north and south of the border is more due to differences in the way Met Eireann and the Met Office rate threats, rather than an indication that Northern Ireland will not be hit as hard.

In regard to Northern Ireland, the Met Office said: 'There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage.

'Flying debris is likely, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown on to coastal roads, sea fronts and properties. This leads to the potential for injuries and danger to life.'

Irish Defence Forces are on standby to deploy resources, including transport and engineering assets.

Yesterday, the Department of Education in Dublin said that all Irish schools, colleges and other education institutions are to stay closed today.

The decision was taken following a special meeting of the government task force on emergency planning.

Barrelling north: The hurricane is heading towards Ireland and today is set to hit with 80mph winds at 11am this morning

Potentially deadly: A satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Ophelia overnight

This satellite image shows Ophelia over the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday. By the time it hits the UK it will bring 80mph winds

This satellite image issued yesterday afternoon shows Ophelia on Friday as it made its way towards the British Isles

This graphic shows the path of Ophelia as it makes its way towards the UK today and tomorrow

The storm follows a weekend of unseasonably warm weather with some areas in the South reaching high temperatures

Authorities in Northern Ireland have faced criticism after announcing closure advice to schools late on Sunday night, giving parents limited time to arrange childcare.

Ophelia 'brings burning incense smell to Britain' Hurricane Ophelia was blamed for bringing a bizarre phenomenon when it smashed into the British Isles on Monday today - a strange smell. People in Cornwall reported a smell of burning candles or incense, with the whiff seemingly particularly strong in coastal areas. There were reports along the coast from Portreath to Hayle and a woman in Penzance said she could smell incense as the strong winds started to whip up around the town. Lisa Anne Marie Nicholls, from Wadebridge, said: 'There's loads of people saying there is a burning smell outside. Reports as far as Devon to the Lizard. Weird' Tricia Harper gave the following explanation: 'This is tropical air that has a different odour than we're used. 'Trees in the tropics produce oxygen just like our trees in the UK. The smell is typical of tropical air and is a result of high humidity and the oxygen produced by trees based in the tropics. 'If you have ever been to the tropics you will have noticed this smell constantly in the air. I love it.' A Met Office spokesman said forecasters were looking into it. Advertisement

Some 30 years ago, weatherman Michael Fish famously told the UK that a hurricane 'was not coming' just hours before the country was battered by 115mph winds.

But the 73-year-old has now admitted that Hurricane Ophelia 'looks nasty' and said the timing of the storm was a 'terrible coincidence'.

The gales today are set to batter the UK exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 which killed 22 people, destroyed around 15million trees and caused 2billion damage.

The whole of Ireland has been placed on a red alert as the storm continues to approach the country this morning.

It comes as swarms of deadly jellyfish have been seen washed up on beaches across the south coast after being blown ashore by the hurricane.

The UK Military of Defence has three battalions - 1,200 personnel in total - permanently on standby to assist with contingencies. But an MoD spokesman said it hasn't yet received requests from any local authority for assistance.

In Ireland, schools, government buildings and courts are closing today, with the Met Office issuing severe weather alerts, warning of potential power cuts, and disruption to transport and mobile phone signals.

A yellow weather warning has been issued for much of the West of the UK with a more serious amber warning issued for Northern Ireland, which is expected to take the brunt of the storm.

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said that while storms with these wind speeds tend to happen at this time of year, the one on its way is 'quite a substantial system', adding that he would describe it as 'pretty exceptional'.

Mr Miall said Ophelia will have gone through a transition on its way across the Atlantic but will still bring 'hurricane-force' winds.

The Met Office also warned: 'Some damage to buildings, such as tiles blown from roofs could happen, perhaps leading to injuries and danger to life from flying debris.'

A spokesman told MailOnline: 'Hurricane Ophelia is slowly edging its way closer to us. The centre of the storm will hit south west Ireland first, at around 11am.

Families brave the high winds and huge waves on Newgale Beach in Pembrokeshire, West Wales, as Storm Ophelia hits today

A surfer makes the most of the choppy seas off of the coast of Bournemouth in Dorset as the stormy weather picks up

People on the beach as the stormy weather begins in Bournemouth in Dorset today

The sea is whipped into foam at Porthleven in Cornwall this morning

A man takes a swim at Sandycove on the Irish Sea coast in County Dublin this morning

'There has been a red warning issued for the whole of the Republic of Ireland - which is something I've never seen before and there are likely to be 80mph winds there.

Ophelia blocks Clinton Northern Ireland visit Storm Ophelia has forced former US president Bill Clinton to postpone a planned intervention in Northern Ireland's political stalemate. Mr Clinton had been due in the region today to meet the region's warring political parties as they continue to struggle to reach a deal to restore the collapsed Executive. But the visit was called off at late notice due to the severe weather warnings. It is understood the visit may still take place tomorrow. According to Stormont sources, Mr Clinton planned to take the meetings ahead of an official event in Dublin tomorrow, when he will receive an honorary doctorate from Dublin City University. The face-to-face talks were aimed at encouraging former government partners Sinn Fein and the DUP to work through their differences and restart powersharing. Advertisement

'Later in the day there will be 70mph winds hitting west Wales and the Isle of Man. There will be potential flooding in south west Scotland and there could be some coastal issues because of the storm.'

Tomorrow, the windy weather is expected to spread across to the North and southern Scotland with a yellow warning remaining in place for these areas. The wind is expected to ease to sub-warning levels by the evening.

Meanwhile in the Republic of Ireland weather forecasters are warning of a potential threat to life as a red weather warning - the highest of its kind - was issued in several western states, including Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry. The rest of the country is on amber alert.

In Dublin the National Emergency Co-ordination Group met this morning to discuss preparations for the arrival of the storm while school bus services have been cancelled to ensure child safety in the five western counties.

Irish Defence Forces are on standby to deploy resources, including transport and engineering assets.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: 'Defence forces being deployed in Red weather alert areas and on standby for further action. Please check in with older neighbours and those who need medical care.'

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has asked the public to avoid using GP services during the storm except for emergencies.

While hospital emergency departments remain open, the IMO has also urged the public to ensure that these are reserved for genuine emergencies.

Nick Dixon was battling the elements in County Kerry as Ophelia threatened to blow him away on ITV's Good Morning Britain

A bright red sun glows in the sky over Bristol this morning ahead of the arrival of Ophelia over the British Isles

Martin Galvin and his son Adam prepared themselves for Ophelia yesterday at Courtmacsherry Bay near Cork, Ireland

In Kerry, Ireland, emergency response volunteers unload sandbags in preparation for the storm. Ireland could be hit the worst

Dr Padraig McGarry, chairman of the GP Committee of the IMO, said that while most GP surgeries will remain open today, they want to ensure GP members are free to deal with genuine emergency cases rather than with more routine business.

In respect of Emergency Departments of Hospitals, Dr Peadar Gilligan, chairman of the Consultant Committee said: 'We expect emergency departments to be particularly busy over the coming 24 hours and we would urge the public to respect the fact that these should be reserved for genuine emergencies only.'

Watch out for flying debris, drivers are told Motorists have been warned to avoid unnecessary travel as Storm Ophelia batters parts of the UK -threatening flying debris, fallen trees and large waves along coastal roads. The AA issued emergency advice to drivers to be prepared for disruption and road closures. Spokesman Vince Crane said: 'Those in the worst-affected regions such as Ireland, west Wales, the North West and Scotland should avoid unnecessary travel. 'For those on the road, expect disruption and drive to the conditions. This may mean slowing down so that sudden gusts don't blow you as far off course.' The storm is expected to move across to Wales, northern England and Scotland into Tuesday. Advertisement

The public has been advised to stay off the roads during the height of the storm if possible and to avoid coastal areas. Cyclists have also been warned not to go out on their bikes.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management said the storm is expected to hit Kerry at 6am. The storm front will track northwards tonight, leaving Irish coastal waters before midnight.

Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling.

Meanwhile, airports are advising passengers in Ireland to check the latest information, with a number of Aer Lingus flights cancelled due to severe weather and the prospect of further cancellations with other carriers.

Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling to the airport, while Cork Airport said cancellations are likely.

Ryanair said: 'We will inform customers in the event of any changes to our flight schedule and the latest flight information will be posted on the Ryanair.com website.'

Bus Eireann said it will not run School Transport Scheme services on Monday in the counties of Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and Mayo.

In Scotland local airline Loganair is offering free flight changes on routes that could be hit by the severe weather conditions. The firm said, at the moment, it still intends operating a normal full schedule today and tomorrow.

Loganair managing director Jonathan Hinkles said: 'Weather forecasts indicate that high winds and rain will impact the West of Scotland from Monday afternoon through to Tuesday lunchtime.

Members of Cork City Council hold a crisis management team meeting this morning ahead of Ophelia making landfall

Group chairman Sean Hogan speaks to the media after a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination group in Dublin

Met Eireann forecaster Evelyn Cusack at the meeting yesterday. Weather forecasters are warning of a potential threat to life

Storm timeline 1pm Winds move through Wales, around Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire and up through the north. 2pm The storm is now raging over Ireland and Northern Ireland, and across North Wales, as well as southern and central England - including areas around Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. 3pm By this time winds will be moving up the UK, travelling through the midlands into the north, around Cheshire and Derbyshire. 4pm Now winds will start to hit the West of Scotland but the full extent won't hit until midnight. 5-6pm Gusts will be rushing through the north of England, with the extreme weather then travelling to Ireland and Northern Ireland. The storm is then expected to batter Scotland and northern England. Advertisement

'The possibility of weather disruption to our flights is increased, and we're therefore offering customers booked to travel on certain routes on Monday and Tuesday the opportunity to voluntarily re-arrange their travel without charge.

'If you hold a confirmed reservation on any of these routes on Monday or Tuesday, you can change your reservation to any available Loganair flight within the next seven days.

'There will be no change fee or difference in fare payable. If you're booked to travel out on Monday or Tuesday, your return flight can also be changed.'

The storm follows a weekend of unseasonably warm weather across the British Isles with some areas in the South reaching highs of 71.7F (22C) on Saturday.

And the warm weather remained in the region yesterday with 69F (20.7C) temperatures in Suffolk.

The persistent winds have already caused huge numbers of jellyfish to be washed up on beaches from Bournemouth in Dorset to Barmouth in North Wales.

In Sussex, Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and south Wales dozens have been spotted being blown ashore in the winds.

A spokesman for the Sussex Wildlife Trust said: 'The gas-filled bladder acts as a sail. Their long tentacles can result in a painful sting so please don't touch if you see one.'

The Portuguese man o' war, which is not a jellyfish but a colonial organism, has tentacles reaching out an incredible 160ft (49 metres).

Despite its similar appearance, the Portuguese man o' war isn't actually a jellyfish. It is a siphonophore - a type of an animal that is made up of a colony of organisms working together.

Dr Peter Richardson, head of ocean recovery at the Marine Conservation Society, said: 'Portuguese man o' war are ocean-going animals, propelled by the wind on their inflatable sail as they fish the depths with their stinging tentacles.

A deadly Portuguese man o' war washed up on a beach near Shoreham-by-Sea in West Sussex

A Sea Trust Wales spokesman said: 'Children need to be made aware that these dangerous but attractive animals are capable of giving an extremely powerful sting'

Experts have issued warnings to stay away from the Portuguese man o' war as their tentacles can deliver a sting fatal to humans

The Portuguese man o' war, which is not a jellyfish but a colonial organism, has tentacles reaching out an incredible 160ft

TIMELINE OF HURRICANE OPHELIA'S JOURNEY TO UK October 9 - The US National Hurricane Centre issue an advisory after a tropical depression was found in the Atlantic. At that point, the storm had not been named and was referred to as 'Tropical Depression Seventeen', with winds of 35mph being recorded in its position 875 miles to the west of the Azores. The advisory said: 'Some strengthening is forecast, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today or tonight.'

The US National Hurricane Centre issue an advisory after a tropical depression was found in the Atlantic. At that point, the storm had not been named and was referred to as 'Tropical Depression Seventeen', with winds of 35mph being recorded in its position 875 miles to the west of the Azores. The advisory said: 'Some strengthening is forecast, and the depression is expected to become a tropical storm later today or tonight.' October 9 - The depression does strengthen into a tropical storm and is given the name Ophelia - the 15th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The depression does strengthen into a tropical storm and is given the name Ophelia - the 15th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. October 10 - The NHC record tropical-storm-force winds more than 100 miles from the centre of the storm and say 'gradual strengthening is forecast.' The centre expect it to be reclassified as a hurricane by the following day. The storm is still around 800 miles west of the Azores, travelling towards the southeast at 3mph.

The NHC record tropical-storm-force winds more than 100 miles from the centre of the storm and say 'gradual strengthening is forecast.' The centre expect it to be reclassified as a hurricane by the following day. The storm is still around 800 miles west of the Azores, travelling towards the southeast at 3mph. October 11 - Ophelia becomes a hurricane - the 10th of the season - as it is tracked 760 miles south west of the Azores. The NHC report it is drifting to the northeast and is expected to gather pace on Friday. Winds have increased to 65mph.

Ophelia becomes a hurricane - the 10th of the season - as it is tracked 760 miles south west of the Azores. The NHC report it is drifting to the northeast and is expected to gather pace on Friday. Winds have increased to 65mph. October 12 - The maximum winds from Ophelia are recorded at 105mph, with two to four inches (50-100mm) of rain forecast to fall in the Azores on Saturday and Sunday. The NHC says: 'Some slow weakening is forecast to begin Friday night but Ophelia should remain a hurricane for the next couple of days.'

The maximum winds from Ophelia are recorded at 105mph, with two to four inches (50-100mm) of rain forecast to fall in the Azores on Saturday and Sunday. The NHC says: 'Some slow weakening is forecast to begin Friday night but Ophelia should remain a hurricane for the next couple of days.' October 13 - Ophelia is moving at 20mph in an east-north-easterly direction with maximum sustained winds of 100mph.

Ophelia is moving at 20mph in an east-north-easterly direction with maximum sustained winds of 100mph. October 14 - The storm is given a Category 2 status by the NHC, who add: 'Little change in strength is expected today, followed by slow weakening on Monday and Tuesday. However Ophelia is still expected to remain a powerful cyclone for the next couple of days as it approaches Ireland.' The NHC later upgrade the hurricane to a Category 3.

The storm is given a Category 2 status by the NHC, who add: 'Little change in strength is expected today, followed by slow weakening on Monday and Tuesday. However Ophelia is still expected to remain a powerful cyclone for the next couple of days as it approaches Ireland.' The NHC later upgrade the hurricane to a Category 3. October 15 - The NHC say Ophelia is 'now taking aim on Ireland', with maximum recorded gusts of 105mph, travelling at 35mph. The centre adds: 'Some additional weakening is expected today and on Monday, but Ophelia is forecast to become a powerful post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds as it approaches Ireland on Monday.' Advertisement

It lurks inches below the surface and just one sting can leave a swimmer in agony and even kill a small child.

A Sea Trust Wales spokesman said: 'Children need to be made aware that these dangerous but attractive animals are capable of giving an extremely powerful sting and dog owners need to keep their pets well away.

'Surfers will also be vulnerable wherever exposed skin such as their faces may come into contact with long stinging tentacles.'

Experts are predicting more could be washed up with the approaching storm set to hit the country.

People enjoy the autumn sunshine and warmer temperatures at Kensington Gardens in London this afternoon

Xanthe Lewis-Hall, two, and her mother walk through a tunnel of trees on an old Roman road in Halnaker, West Sussex, today

A silhouette of a tree overlays a gorgeous sunrise at Castle Hill near Huddersfield yesterday morning as if paint had been daubed across the sky

Victoria Tower overlooka a grogeous skyline yesterday morning light as the sunrises from Castle Hill near Huddersfield, Yorkshire

'It's the tentacle-like polyps that can give an agonising and potentially lethal sting. Recent persistent winds have blown them from the Atlantic onto our shores.

Top UK temperatures for October 2017: 23.5C (Manston, Kent, today) 2016: 22.2C (Trawscoed, Dyfed; 31st) 2015: 22.7C (Braemar, Highlands; 1st) 2014: 23.6C (Gravesend, Kent; 31st) 2013: 23C (Skegness, Lincs; 8th) 2012: 18.8C (Holbeach, Lincs; 1st) 2011: 29.9C (Gravesend, Kent; 1st)* * Highest on record in UK for October Advertisement

'Because a stranded Portuguese man o' war looks a bit like a deflating purple balloon with blue ribbons attached, children will find it fascinating bug the stings can be unbelievably painful and in rare cases, fatal.'

He said the sudden invasion is now the biggest mass Portuguese man o' war stranding since 2012.

Anyone who spots a Portuguese man o' war on the beach has been asked to report the sighting to the Marine Conservation Society website so a more accurate picture of the invasion can be formed.

Meanwhile, bookmaker Coral cut the odds on this month being the wettest October on record in the UK into evens (from 3-1) following a flurry of bets yesterday morning.

The firm is offering 6-4 that the wind speed reaches as high as 100mph in mainland UK next week and 2-1 for there to be snowfall in October.

'TWISTER seen in Dublin': Irish social media users whip up a storm of memes as Hurricane Ophelia hits their coast Advertisement

Ophelia hits on 30th anniversary of the Great Storm of 1987: The force of nature that decimated the British Isles after a TV weatherman famously told worried viewers 'don't worry, there isn't one coming'

The Great Storm of 1987 (pictured) hit southern England overnight on October 15 and caused damage estimated at 1billion

The storm in 1987 brought unprecedented levels of destruction that swept across Britain. Pictures is a caravan park that has been wrecked by the powerful storm

A man and woman walk past a tree in London that was uprooted by the powerful winds during the frightening storm of 1987

Life carried on as normal as bus passengers get on with their day amid a scene of destruction wrought by the powerful 1987 storm

The storm of 1987, which struck overnight on October 15, brought winds of up to 100mph and led to 18 deaths.

BBC weatherman Michael Fish has never lived down his forecast assuring Britons that a hurricane was not heading our way.

Some 15million trees were uprooted, trains derailed, and parts of the country plunged into darkness as pylons were toppled.

Weather expert Dennis Mersereau said the UK was 'in line for a rough couple of days' as Ophelia rolls through, with the possibility of power cuts, fallen trees and flooding.

BBC weatherman Michael Fish has never lived down his forecast assuring Britons that a hurricane was not heading our way

A wrecked garden strew wood across this garden in London in 1987, left, and right, a police office inspects damage to a building in Soho Square in 1987

An elderly woman walks past a scene of devastation following the 1987 storm. Ophelia is feared to be one of the worst storms to strike Britain in 10 years

Writing on the website Popular Science, he described it as a 'weird' storm, having formed out in the Atlantic 'where hurricanes usually go to die'.

Alex Burkhill, a Met Office forecaster, said cold sea temperatures mean Ophelia will not be strong enough to be categorised as a hurricane when it hits Britain.

But it will certainly bring an abrupt end to what is expected to be a warm weekend during which temperatures could hit 72F today and 75F across the South tomorrow, with similarly unseasonal figures further north. Temperatures in London could potentially be up to 10C above the average for October.
Donald Trump Jr. blasted Woody Allen for saying he feels 'sorry' for 'messed up' Harvey Weinstein who has been accused dozens of times of sexual abuse and rape.

The president's first son and oldest child took to Twitter on Sunday shaming Allen for speaking out to defend Weinstein, whom he has previously collaborated with.

'OMG... he feels 'sad' for Harvey? Are you fricken (sic) kidding me? #hollywood', the 39-year-old father-of-five tweeted.

Don Jr. also slammed Allen for saying he hopes the investigation into Weinstein's alleged abuse does not cause a 'witch hunt' against men in Hollywood.

'It's not a 'witch hunt' when it's actually happening and if you think it's not after the past two weeks I have to question your motives.',' Don Jr. tweeted in response to Allen's comments.

Donald Trump Jr. (above) blasted Woody Allen for saying he feels 'sorry' for 'messed up' Harvey Weinstein who has been accused dozens of times of sexual abuse and rape

The president's first son and oldest child took to Twitter on Sunday shaming Allen for speaking out to defend Weinstein

Don Jr. also slammed Allen for saying he hopes the investigation into Weinstein's alleged abuse does not cause a 'witch hunt' against men in Hollywood

The businessman also questioned if Weinstein will go into hiding like French film director Roman Polanski who was accused of rape last week by a fourth woman

The businessman also questioned if Weinstein will go into hiding like French film director Roman Polanski who was accused of rape last week by a fourth woman.

'How long till we find out that he's in hiding and not coming back a la Polanski???' Don Jr. tweeted.

His comments come as dozens of politicians and celebrities have weighed in on the Weinstein scandal since it begun.

But Allen was one of the few who defended the disgraced movie mogul and described the situation as 'sad.'

The director, who worked with Weinstein a number of times, said he was upset 'for everyone involved' and lamented the fact that Weinstein's life 'is so messed up.'

Woody Allen says he is 'sad' for Harvey Weinstein as he faces dozens of allegations of sexual assault and harassment. Allen's own son, Ronan (right), was instrumental in bringing the claims to light after he interviewed 13 women who said they were abused and harassed

He told BBC Arabic: 'The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved.

'Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up. There's no winners in that, it's just very, very sad and tragic for those poor women that had to go through that.'

He hoped the victims can find 'some amelioration' now the allegations have come to light, but added: 'You also don't want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself. That's not right either.'

Weinstein was credited with reviving Allen's career after he was accused of abusing Dylan Farrow, the daughter he adopted with then-wife Mia, when she was seven.

Allen collaborated with Weinstein several times including on 1995 film Mighty Aphrodite (pictured at the premiere)

The claims emerged in 1993 after Farrow split with Allen, having discovered he was having an affair with her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn.

An investigation was launched but later dropped with no charges made against Allen. He has always vehemently denied the claims.

Dylan repeated the claims in a 2014 blog post, and was supported by brother Ronan Farrow who also criticized the media for not questioning Allen more closely.

Ronan was also instrumental in bringing the allegations against Weinstein to light, interviewing 13 women who alleged he had harassed or attacked them.

Allen and Weinstein collaborated several times over the years, including on the Oscar-winning film Mighty Aphrodite.

The star of that film, Mira Sorvino, is just one of the actresses to come forward with claims against Weinstein.

It was during a promotional tour for that film, in 1995, that she alleges Weinstein began massaging her shoulders while they were alone in a hotel room.

Allen said it is 'tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up.' Pictures is Allen (right) on the set of 1992 film Husbands and Wives with Lysette Anthony (left) who has accused Weinstein of raping her

Allen (pictured at the premier of Wonder Wheel earlier this year) was accused of sexually abuse Dylan Farrow, his adopted daughter with ex-wife Mia Farrow, which she was seven. He was never charged and vehemently denies the allegation

He then became 'more physical', she told the New Yorker, chasing her around before she managed to get away.

'I have lived in vague fear of Harvey Weinstein for over 20 years, ever since those incidents,' she later told Time.

Lysette Anthony, a British actress who once starred in Woody Allen's 1992 film Husbands and Wives, is just the latest star to go public with allegations of sexual abuse by Weinstein.

She claimed the movie mogul 'grabbed' her during a visit to his Chelsea home in the late Eighties after years of friendship in which 'nothing untoward' happened.

After she fled, she claims he began stalking her before knocking at the door of her west London home around 10am.

Ms Anthony said she opened the door in her dressing gown and Weinstein threw her against the coat rack before raping her.

She said: 'As he ground himself against me and shoved inside me, I kept my eyes shut tight, held my breath and just let him get on with it.

'He came over my leg like a dog and then left. It was pathetic, revolting,' she told The Sunday Times. 'I remember lying in the bath, crying.'

Weinstein's lawyers said earlier this week: 'Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein.'
Philip Hammond was slapped down by a Cabinet colleague yesterday for claiming flights could be grounded if Britain left the EU without a deal.

Chris Grayling said the Chancellor was wrong to suggest there might be 'no air traffic' between Britain and the EU following Brexit in March 2019.

The Transport Secretary said that travellers could 'go ahead with confidence and book' flights and holidays.

Philip Hammond was slapped down by a Cabinet colleague yesterday for claiming flights could be grounded if Britain left the EU without a deal

The rebuke is the latest setback for the beleaguered Chancellor, who has angered fellow ministers with his gloomy pronouncements on Brexit and reluctance to release cash for contingency planning.

But former education secretary Nicky Morgan hit out at his critics, saying he 'hasn't done anything apart from his job'.

The opponent of Brexit also hinted that Home Secretary Amber Rudd has weighed in behind the Chancellor, telling ITV she had been contacted by a senior female minister who was appalled at Mr Hammond's treatment.

She added: 'The majority of Tory MPs don't want Philip Hammond to be sacked.'

Sources close to Miss Rudd declined to comment in detail but said the Home Secretary 'doesn't want to see briefing against Cabinet colleagues of any hue'.

Chancellor's 2nd meeting with Osborne Mr Hammond held a second face-to-face meeting with George Osborne in the run-up to a major government announcement on Brexit, it emerged yesterday. The Chancellor was reported to have met his Treasury predecessor in the Commons before Theresa Mays Florence speech last month. It was late at night in the Commons  I had to do a double take because I didnt expect to see Philip meeting up with George at all  let alone in Parliament, a Tory MP told the Sunday Express. Mr Hammond was accused at the weekend of plotting with Mr Osborne to thwart Brexit after the Mail revealed the pair had been spotted enjoying a lobster lunch at a Chelsea restaurant. Mr Osborne, who now edits Londons Evening Standard, has frequently criticised the decision to leave the EU. Advertisement

Last week, former Tory chancellor Nigel Lawson called for Mr Hammond to be sacked for conduct that was 'very close to sabotage'. Mr Hammond was also forced to make a humiliating apology to Brussels after describing the EU as 'the enemy' as he tried to dismiss claims he wanted to frustrate Brexit.

Theresa May's DUP allies are reported to have raised concerns about Mr Hammond's tactics, with one source accusing him of 'winding people up and causing unnecessary division within the Conservative Party at a crucial time'.

Mr Hammond angered fellow ministers last week when he became the first member of the Government to raise the prospect that all flights to and from Europe could be suspended if Britain left the EU without a deal.

The Chancellor insisted he considered it only a 'theoretical possibility'  but his intervention led to a wave of damaging interventions.

In a thinly-veiled swipe at Mr Hammond, Mr Grayling said nobody in the aviation industry was predicting problems with maintaining existing aviation agreements after Brexit.

'Flights will carry on. In most of the world, planes fly without open skies agreements,' he told the BBC's Andrew Marr show.

Chris Grayling (pictured on Sunday) said the Chancellor was wrong to suggest there might be 'no air traffic' between Britain and the EU following Brexit in March 2019

'People will be able to carry on booking their holidays. Does anybody seriously think the Spanish government, which would see hotel bookings collapse in 2019, is going to intervene to stop the planes flying? Of course they're not.' Mr Grayling said British Airways and easyJet were clear that they would 'carry on flying'. And he pointed out that Air France and Dutch airline KLM have just spent 220million on buying a major stake in Virgin Atlantic.

'They would not have done that if there was the remotest danger of the planes stopping flying,' he added. Mr Grayling, one of a handful of pro-Brexit Cabinet ministers, yesterday insisted: 'The Chancellor and I and the whole Cabinet are united on wanting the best possible deal for Britain.

'We need to be upbeat about the prospects of the United Kingdom.'

He played down reports that Mr Hammond could be sacked within weeks, saying that the Chancellor would deliver next month's Budget.

Two pro-Remain cabinet ministers were yesterday reported to have joined Brexiteers in suggesting Mr Hammond should be sacked in an autumn reshuffle. One said: 'Philip is an inept political operator in quite a crowded field.'

Farmers will be encouraged to grow more food if Britain leaves the EU Farmers will be encouraged to grow more food if Britain leaves the EU without a trade deal. Chris Grayling said they could help keep prices down by increasing production to plug any shortfall in EU imports. The Transport Secretary said retailers would be able to look to suppliers from outside the bloc for more of their produce. Some supermarkets fear a 'no-deal' Brexit could raise prices and even lead to food rotting at the border in trucks delayed by customs checks. The EU accounts for about 70 per cent of Britain's food imports and is also a lucrative export market. Sainsbury's chairman David Tyler has claimed a no-deal exit could result in an average 22 per cent tariff on food imported from the EU. But other experts believe leaving the EU's Common Agricultural Policy will lower food prices in the long term. Asked about the potential for shortages in the wake of a no-deal Brexit, Mr Grayling said: 'What it would mean would be that supermarkets bought more from home, that British farmers grew more and that they bought more from around the world.' He insisted the EU's desire to continue food exports to the UK made it more likely that a deal would be struck. Mr Grayling's comments were likened to the Dig for Victory campaign during the Second World War when families were encouraged to grow their own food. Jenny Chapman, Labour's Brexit spokesman, said: 'Ministers appear to be telling us to dig for no deal.' Advertisement

Another senior Tory said the Chancellor 'deserves to be kicked not only out of the Cabinet but all the way down Whitehall'.

The Prime Minister's chief-of-staff Gavin Barwell is said to be urging her to move both Mr Hammond and Mr Johnson for airing Cabinet splits over Brexit.

But chief whip Gavin Williamson has warned that a major reshuffle could destabilise her fragile government.
She's the PR queen known for her lavish lifestyle.

And Roxy Jacenko has admitted that she won't be holding back - or going low key - for her second wedding to husband Oliver Curtis.

Speaking to Fairfax Media on Sunday, the 37-year-old said: 'It'll be over the top. We are not known for subtle. Less is never more.'

'Less is never more!' PR maven Roxy Jacenko says she and husband Oliver Curtis will have 'over the top' second wedding

But while the Sweaty Betty boss wasn't shy about describing the lavish plans the pair have for their big day, she also revealed that it wouldn't be happening any time soon.

The blonde beauty said that the couple have 'no plans at the moment' for their second wedding.

'Oliver does look handsome in a three-piece suit, but not yet,' she told the publication.

Then added: 'We have been together now for seven years, maybe we'll do it for our 10-year anniversary.'

'Oliver does look handsome in a three-piece suit, but not yet': The 37-year-old revealed that she has 'no plans at the moment' for her second wedding

Happy family! Roxy and Oliver have two children together, Pixie, six, and Hunter, three

Oliver proposed to Roxy for the second time in July.

The couple have two children together, Pixie, six, and Hunter, three.

On Friday Roxy attended the Bistro Moncur Ladies Luncheon in Sydney in strapless white jumpsuit.

White hot! PR queen Roxy Jacenko shows off her cleavage in a snappy strapless jumpsuit as she leads star arrivals at ladies luncheon in Sydney

Stunning! Roxy looked incredible in an off-the-shoulder white jumpsuit on Friday as she attended the Bistro Moncur Ladies Lunch in Sydney

Looking stunning, she took to Instagram ahead of the event to reveal details of her outfit and chosen accessories.

Taking the picture in her office before leaving for the event, Roxy showed a hint of cleavage.

Cutting her head out of the image to show off her extravagant necklace, Roxy tagged Paspaley Pearls in the selfie, noting that the layered necklace was from the jeweller.

Having a laugh: Roxy was in good spirits as she posed in front of the media wall
He's the actor best known for his roles as Alphonse Gangitano in Underbelly and Neville Bartos in Chopper.

And although Vince Colosimo is in the midst of a court case involving driving on a suspended licence while under the influence of drugs, his new SBS series, Sunshine, is set to air this week.

The 50-year-old actor hasn't let his personal difficulties effect his work though and the director of Sunshine, Daina Reid, has described him as a consummate professional in an interview with the Sun Herald.

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Showing support: On Sunday, director of SBS series Sunshine revealed although Vince Colosimo is in the midst of a court case involving driving on a suspended licence under the influence of drugs, he's been nothing but professional

'He's so experienced and he really embraced these very new actors,' she said.

'He was very supportive on set.'

Daina also revealed that she chose Vince to star in the series as it was a role he'd never played before.

His new role: 'He's so experienced and he really embraced these very new actors'

Playing a father of a young girl who's put into a coma, his character Tony Messina suddenly becomes a vulnerable powerless parent.

'That's not Neville Bartos in the film Chopper, he's a father who is used to having power and now he has none and its how he responded,' shared Daina.

Sunshine comes amidst Vince's court battle after being caught driving on a suspended licence under the influence of ice back in March.

SBS Sunshine: Playing a father of a young girl who's put into a coma, his character Tony Messina suddenly becomes a vulnerable powerless parent

According to AAP, Vince was stopped on March, 5, after his licence was withheld from February 24th from an accumulation of too many demerit points.

The charges came two months after the father-of-two was fined $1000 for possessing ice inside a small sunglasses case while driving around North Fitzroy.

Although Magistrate Ross Maxted confirmed Vince wasn't required to be in court for his August hearing, he seemed disgruntled that the 'relatively simple case' was not processing.

'Justice delayed is justice denied. We should progress this,' said the magistrate.

'It sets a poor example. I don't want to be playing favourite to anybody.'

The case was adjourned for a contest mention in early November.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that any undocumented foreigner who commits a crime will be deported, two weeks after a Tunisian man stabbed two women to death in southern Marseille.

"We will take the most severe measures, we will do what we must do," Macron said in a televised interview.

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She has fronted national weather forecasts for ITV since 2012.

And Lucy Verasamy, 37, proved she looks just as glamorous off screen as she does on as she looked outstanding in a black all-in-one with lace detailing at the Breast Cancer Now Pink Ribbon Ball event on Saturday.

Held at the Dorchester Hotel in London, the weather girl showed off her incredibly toned figure in a plunging V-neck jumpsuit.

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All-black: ITV's Lucy Verasamy, 37, looked outstanding in a black all-in-one with lace detailing at the Breast Cancer Now Pink Ribbon Ball event on Saturday

Lucy paired her chic outfit with plain black stilettos and a rough textured clutch.

She smiled from ear to ear as she opted for peachy makeup tones, which accentuated her pretty facial features.

The Good Morning Britain regular wore a faint rose lip and a touch of rouge blush to her cheeks as posed for the camera on the red carpet.

Weather girl: The Good Morning Britain regular wore a faint rose lip and a touch of rouge blush to her cheeks as posed for the camera on the red carpet

Confident: Lucy paired her chic outfit with plain black stilettos and a rough textured clutch. She smiled from ear to ear as she opted for peachy makeup tones, which accentuated her pretty facial features

Lucy became a weather expert as part of the ITV Racing team.

She was joined by curvaceous model Vanessa Williams, who looked sensational in a figure hugging midi dress.

Vanessa was definitely body confident as her dress was held by thin string straps.

Model behaviour: Lucy Verasamy was joined by curvaceous model Vanessa Williams, who looked sensational in a figure hugging midi dress

Jazzed up in diamonds, the raven-haired beauty paired her dazzling studs with a sparkling body chain, which fell between her bosom.

With her hair tied in an elegant top-knot, her choice for pink shades in the makeup department brought out her cool undertone.

The model is signed to Bridge Models agency in London.

Figure hugging: Vanessa was definitely body confident as her dress was held by thin string straps. Jazzed up in diamonds, the raven-haired beauty paired her dazzling studs with a sparkling body chain
She works hard to get her fantastic figure.

And Kim Kardashian put her signature curves on display while touching down in a new city.

The 36-year-old reality star was spotted out and about in San Francisco alongside her sisters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian on Thursday.

Fashionable flare: Kim Kardashian put her signature curves on display while out in San Francisco on Thursday

Tremendous trio: The 36-year-old reality star was joined by her sisters Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian

Kim looked incredible in her figure flattering ensemble as the trio enjoyed a ride on the world famous cable cars.

The mother of two flaunted her flat stomach in a skintight charcoal turtleneck, adding black biker shorts with matching knee-high boots.

Kim carried her large black Hermes Birkin bag as she exited the jet.

She styled her platinum dyed in waves, center parted and loose; she sported nude lips and a touch of eye shadow on her lids.

Kim recently confirmed she's expecting a third child with her husband Kanye West via surrogate in teaser clip she shared of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

The beauty entrepreneur and the rapper, 40, are parents to two kids together: daughter North, four, and son Saint, who turns two in December.

Futuristic: Kim looked incredible in her figure flattering ensemble as the trio enjoyed a ride on the world famous cable cars

Wow factor: The mother of two flaunted her flat stomach in a skintight charcoal turtleneck, adding black biker shorts with matching knee-high boots

Sweet ride: The trio enjoyed a spin in one of the world famous cable cars

Kourtney slipped on silky blush and black pajamas-inspired clothing for her head turning arrival.

The mother of three's trousers had a loose fit while the top featured a fabric belt.

The stunner pulled her dark locks back into a bun with shimmery eye makeup and contoured cheeks.

Back-up plan: They were joined by a muscular security guard

Watch your step: Kim carefully hopped into the public transport

Although not with them on the trip, their younger sister Kylie Jenner is also reportedly pregnant.

The 20-year-old is 'five months pregnant with a baby girl,' according to TMZ.

She has been in a relationship with rapper Travis Scott, 25, since April.

In a snap: Khloe and Kourtney made sure to take a photo of the picturesque scene

Kim posted a Snapchat on Friday revealing that she and Kourtney will be appearing on One Voice: Somos Live!, which is a benefit concert for Puerto Rico.

She said that she will be answering phones with Kourtney at the Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Anthony hosted event to raise money for disaster relief.

The telethon and concert special will be filmed both in Los Angeles and Miami; funds raised will go to various charities, including Feeding America, Unidos Por Puerto Rico, United Way, UNICEF, Save The Children and Habitat For Humanity.

It is set to air on NBC on Saturday evening at 10/9 C.

Bonding: It seemed to be a fun afternoon of family bonding

While in San Francisco, Khloe shared a Snapchat inside a San Francisco restaurant.

She was enjoying a meal with Kourtney and Kim when the alarm inside the building went off.

Khloe told her followers that the people inside the restaurant told her 'it was a test' although the alarm sounding told patrons to leave due to an emergency.

She used Snapchat filters on herself and her sisters as they appeared to wait it out with other customers.

Beaming: While in San Francisco, Khloe shared a Snapchat inside a San Francisco restaurant

Interrupting their meal: She was enjoying a meal with Kourtney and Kim when the alarm inside the building went off; Kourtney pictured

Explaining the situation: Khloe told her followers that the people inside the restaurant told her 'it was a test' although the alarm sounding told patrons to leave due to an emergency

Taking a minute: She used Snapchat filters on herself and her sisters as they appeared to wait it out with other customers; Kourtney pictured

Kim also posed for a quick selfie for her Instagram story.

The KKW Beauty founder also posted a snap of her Alexander Wang X Judith Leiber studded money band inspired clutch, which retails for $4,995; it has 10,263 Swarovski crystals.

Kim revealed in her stories she and her siblings took a private midnight tour of Alcatraz Island to see the abandoned prison.

It served as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963; prior to that it was a military prison from as early as 1861 during the Civil War.

Al Capone served time at the penitentiary, as well as criminals Frank Morris, Robert Franklin Stroud and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly.

Incredible: Earlier in the day, Khloe shared a stunning view of the city

Always time for a photo: Kim also posed for a quick selfie showing off her stunning looks

Eerie: Kim revealed in her stories she and her siblings took a private midnight tour of Alcatraz Island to see the abandoned prison

Here we go: Al Capone served time at the penitentiary, as well as criminals Frank Morris, Robert Franklin Stroud and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly.

Views: It served as a federal prison from 1934 to 1963; prior to that it was a military prison from as early as 1861 during the Civil War

Impressive: as a snap of her Alexander Wang X Judith Leiber studded money band inspired clutch, which is worth $5,000
Kim Kardashian modeled a slinky pair of sheer black thigh-high stockings while stepping out in San Francisco Friday evening.

The 36-year-old reality TV icon showed off her knockout legs in a teeny-tiny black blazer dress, letting her platinum blonde hair fall over her shoulders.

She was joined by her cleavage-baring elder sister Kourtney Kardashian and their younger sister Khloe Kardashian, who is rumored to be pregnant.

She looks fabulous: Kim Kardashian modeled a slinky pair of sheer black thigh-high stockings while stepping out in San Francisco Friday evening

After being photographed emerging from their hotel, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians stars headed to local restaurant Kokkari Estiatorio.

Kim's clutch, designed to look like a roll of cash, was a $4,995 collaboration between Alexander Wang and Judith Leiber.

Despite its diminutive size, there are 10,263 Swarovski crystals speckled over it.

Troika: She was joined by her cleavage-baring elder sister Kourtney Kardashian and their younger sister Khloe Kardashian, who is rumored to be pregnant

Making an exit: The glam sisters were photographed emerging from their hotel that evening

Only the best: Kim's clutch, designed to look like a roll of cash, was a $4,995 collaboration between Alexander Wang and Judith Leiber

Swank: Despite its tiny size, there are 10,263 Swarovski crystals speckled over Kim's bag

Her legs resembling the lamp in A Christmas Story, Kim balanced on a pair of stilettos as she went for a meal with her family.

Kourtney, 38, wore a black full-sleeved cocktail dress with a hemline cut at mid-thigh and a neckline that fell to her enviably flat midriff.

A huge smile on her face, she accented the look with a pair of black stiletto boots and had flung a striped black blazer casually over her shoulders.

Chowing down: The Keeping Up With The Kardashians stars headed to local restaurant Kokkari Estiatorio

Meanwhile, Khloe had wrapped herself in a black coat that fell to mid-calf, wearing a pair of thigh-high boots of her own over a similarly black getup.

Letting her blonde hair down, the smiling Khloe carried a large black handbag.

After dinner came a nighttime tour of one of the city's most infamous landmarks - Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, which hasn't functioned as a prison since 1963.

Chic: Kourtney, 38, wore a black full-sleeved cocktail dress with a hemline cut at mid-thigh and a neckline that fell to her enviably flat midriff

Bright spirits: A huge smile on her face, she accented the look with a pair of black stiletto boots and had flung a striped black blazer casually over her shoulders

Gals on the go: Kourtney had wrapped her hair up into a ponytail

Off the shoulder: Meanwhile, Khloe had wrapped herself in a black coat that fell to mid-calf, wearing a pair of thigh-high boots of her own over a similarly black getup

The jail has played host to such notorious figures of criminal history as Al Capone and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly.

For the sisters' jaunt out to the retired slammer - which sits on an island in the San Francisco Bay - they'd slid into looks more casual than their dinner outfits.

To shield herself from the cold, Kim had pulled on a voluminous off-white coat, popping a fossil grey beanie over her hair.

Setting out: After dinner came a nighttime tour of one of the city's most infamous landmarks - Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, which hasn't functioned as a prison since 1963

Keeping warm: To shield herself from the cold, Kim had pulled on a voluminous off-white coat, popping a fossil grey beanie over her hair

Fun evening: Kim's pale grey sweater appeared to have a hood and matched her socks

Dressed for the trip: White stripes streaked over Kim's dull yellow shoes, and she'd pulled on a pair of thick stone-blue sweats for the late-night outing

Her pale grey sweater appeared to have a hood and matched her socks.

White stripes streaked over her dull yellow shoes, and she'd pulled on a pair of thick stone-blue sweats for the late-night outing.

Kourtney was far more dapper, playing up her taut legs in a pair of black and white pinstriped trousers that complemented her black leather jacket.

The white top she was wearing under the jacket featured large cuffs that poked out from beneath the ends of her wrap's sleeves.

Chic to the last: Kourtney was far more dapper, playing up her taut legs in a pair of black and white pinstriped trousers that complemented her black leather jacket

Smiling ear to ear: The white top she was wearing under the jacket featured large cuffs that poked out from beneath the ends of her wrap's sleeves

Ready to embark: Khloe had pulled up the hood of her midnight blue jacket, matching her black leggings with a pair of black sneakers

She'd completed her look with a glinting pair of black shoes.

Khloe had pulled up the hood of her midnight blue jacket, matching her black leggings with a pair of black sneakers.

At a different point during their trip, Kim sizzled in a gleaming pair of black thigh-high boots when she and her sisters were glimpsed leaving their hotel.

Hoofing it: At a different point during their trip, Kim sizzled in a gleaming pair of black thigh-high boots when she and her sisters were glimpsed leaving their hotel

She played up her famous curves in a pair of black cutoff leggings, draping her trim torso in a grey turtleneck sweater.

Kim was glimpsed heading down the stairs with Khloe and Kourtney.

Kourtney wore a pajama-esque pale pink ensemble that included a flowing top with massive lapels and a hem that fell nearly to the knee.

Her wide-set high-waisted bottoms were cinched in at her trim waistline.

Pretty in pink: Kourtney wore a pajama-esque ensemble that included a flowing top with massive lapels and a hem that fell nearly to the knee

The 38-year-old mother of three had left her top open to reveal her lacy black bra-lette, slicking her hair back into a tight bun.

Khloe, meanwhile, modeled her own pair of black thigh-high boots over a skintight pair of faded jeans.

Her blonde hair swept into a high ponytail, she'd bundled up in a stylish black overcoat, leaving a couple of buttons of her black top undone.

Wearing these same outfits, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe were also spotted clambering onto one of the city's iconic trolleys.

All aboard: Wearing these same outfits, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe were also spotted clambering onto one of the city's iconic cable cars

The three sisters sat next to each other on the trademark form of transport, with a man holding what appeared to be a large camera standing next to them.

There has been speculation since last month that the 33-year-old is carrying her firstborn child by her Cleveland Cavalier boyfriend Tristan Thompson.

Tristan and his ex-girlfriend, model Jordan Craig, welcomed a son called Prince Thompson in December of last year.

The Kardashians' 20-year-old half-sister Kylie Jenner is also rumored to be pregnant by her own boyfriend Travis Scott.
He's the fiance of social media sensation Pia Muehlenbeck who announced their engagement on Tuesday via his Facebook.

But little did Pia know that Kane Vato was documenting the lead-up to his proposal, which he has now shared in a two-part video posted to the couple's Kane and Pia YouTube channel.

Part one of the video begins with Kane explaining that although his 26-year-old girlfriend thinks they are travelling to Paris for a job, it's actually so he can ask her to marry him.

'I'm going to ask her to marry me!': Pia Muehlenbeck's fiance Kane Vato shares video of lead-up to the couple's engagement

'She (Pia) thinks we're just there for a job but in actual fact, I'm going to ask her to marry me,' Kane revealed.

'I'm pretty certain she's going to say yes because we've been together for ages, so this is going to be really great.'

After having a stop-over in Dubai before flying to Paris, Kane explained that he was nearly busted by Pia after his bag went through the X-ray machine and one of the customs officers was interested in one item - the ring - that was in his luggage.

'I'm pretty certain she's going to say yes because we've been together for ages': Part one of the video begins with Kane explaining that although his 26-year-old girlfriend thinks they are travelling to Paris for a job, it's actually so he can ask her to marry him

Exploring: The couple arrived in Paris where they rode a booster board with content creator Sam Evans, who Kane explains would later film his proposal to Pia

After a gruelling 25-hour flight, the couple finally landed in Paris where they were quick to check into their hotel so they could put their bags down.

The couple then explored Paris, riding a booster board with content creator Sam Evans, who Kane explains would later film his proposal to Pia.

Boarding the ship that Pia originally thought the pair were there for, the end of the video cuts and reveals that a part two is coming soon.

While the 26-year-old has chosen not to share the news with her 2,000,000 Instagram followers, her boyfriend's friends were told on Wednesday.

Wedding bells! Former lawyer turned Instagram megastar Pia Muehlenbeck as announced her engagement to longtime boyfriend Kane Vato

The low-key announcement took the form of a simple Facebook relationship status update, which read: 'Kane Vato got engaged to Pia Muehlenbeck.'

It seems the timing was right for Kane, who joins Pia on her often all-expenses-paid bikini tours of Europe as her official photographer.

The busty beauty's decision not to share the news on her much more popular Instagram accounts indicates she may be preparing to make a big announcement.

Secret's out! While the 26-year-old has chosen not to share the news with her 2,000,000 Instagram followers, her boyfriend's friends were told on Wednesday

But with Kane unable to contain his excitement, word of their impending nuptials quickly spread.

The former lawyer left the corporate world in pursuit of a career in modelling and blogging in 2014, and has never looked back.

Pia and Kane have been dating for several years, and are expected to announce further details of their exciting news over the coming days.
Kumail Nanjiani addressed racism during his opening monologue on Saturday Night Live.

The 39-year-old Pakistan native delivered his anti-racism message looking sharp in a Todd Snyder suit while hosting the show for the first time.

Nanjiani during his monologue referenced his 2017 romantic comedy The Big Sick that he both starred in and co-wrote with his wife Emily Gordon from North Carolina.

Hosting debut: Kumail Nanjiani made his hosting debut on Saturday Night Live and tackled racism during his opening monologue

The Silicon Valley star said he got an online message from a man who wrote that he watched the 'whole movie' but just doesn't 'like race mixing'.

'First of all, nobody good ever uses the phrase race mixing,' Nanjiani said.

'The other thing, why did you watch the whole movie? Were you hoping for a twist at the end?

'Did you think at the end I would rip off my mask and ''ha ha - it's me, Chris Pine, I'm a white person'',' Nanjiani said.

Hit movie: The Pakistan native brought up his hit 2017 movie The Big Sick while looking sharp in a Todd Sndyer suit, shirt and tie

The actor said his Twitter feed also was filled with posts after the film telling him 'go back to India'.

He pointed out that he has never been to India.

The Franklin & Bash star also said that prejudice against Muslims has been surging.

Wrong country: Kumail said his Twitter feed was filled with posts telling him to 'go back to India' even though he's never been there

'Islamophobia is really on the rise right now. It never really went away, but it's really having a moment right now,' Nanjiani said.

'Islamophobia is kind of like Will & Grace. It was huge awhile ago and then we thought it was gone and done, but now it's back and bigger than ever Thursday on NBC. ...They made me say that,' Nanjiani quipped.

He also joked that his main problem with racism was its 'inaccuracy'.

The talent: The Silicon Valley star was joined by Pink as the musical guest on the NBC show

'That's what bugs me,' he said. 'Do the research, put in the work, you will see the benefits.'

Nanjiani said he wouldn't pay any mind to a racist telling him 'go back to India', but he'd pack his bags if someone told him 'go back to Pakistan, which was part of India until 1947 and is now home to the world's largest salt mine.'

'Just because you're racist doesn't mean you have to be ignorant. An informed racist is a better racist,' he joked.

The show opened with Alec Baldwin bringing back his impersonation of President Donald Trump.

He's back: Alec Baldwin opened the show with his impersonation of President Donald Trump

A skit spoofed the horror film It with Kate McKinnon playing Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway as sewer clown 'Kellywise' tempting CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, played by Alex Moffat.

The show also tackled the Harvey Weinstein sexual harrassment scandal in a sketch and during the Weekend Update segment.

Pink was the musical guest.

Saturday Night Live will return on November 4 with Larry David, 70, as host and Miley Cyrus, 24, as the musical guest.

Horror spoof: Alex Moffat played CNN anchor Anderson Cooper in an It spoof

Gutter talk: Anderson was tempted by Kelly Anne Conway's Kellywise played by Kate McKinnon

That's scary: Kellywise bared her fangs at Anderson

Sex scandal: SNL addressed the Harvey Weinstein in a sketch
Many were young, powerless and afraid to speak out in case their careers were ruined.

For nearly three decades their accusations remained bottled up, some suppressed by pay-offs.

More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, the man once described as 'God' of the film industry.

The accusations, including from some of the world's most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape.

Here is a list of those who have come forward so far.

Kate Beckinsale

In an Instagram post the Underworld star said Weinstein made a move on her when she was just 17.

'When I arrived reception told me to go to his room. He opened the door in his bathrobe. I was incredibly naive and young and it did not cross my mind that this older, unattractive man would expect me to have any sexual interest in him.

'After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed. A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting.I realized he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not.'

Teen assault: Kate Beckinsale says Weinstein tried to ply her with alcohol and met her in his bathrobe when she was just 17

Gwyneth Paltrow

The star said that when she was 22, Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in a hotel bedroom before she started shooting the 1996 Jane Austen adaptation Emma. She told the New York Times: 'I was a kid, I was signed up, I was petrified'.

Paltrow (pictured with Weinstein in 2002) told the New York Times that when she was 22 Weinstein touched her and suggested having joint massages in the bedroom

She said she told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt about the incident and he confronted the mogul. She said Weinstein then told her not to tell anyone and she feared getting fired.

Gwyneth Paltrow, 45, is an American actress, singer, and food writer who made her name starring in Seven (1995) and Emma (1996).

Angelina Jolie

The actress told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998 and chose never to work with him again. She said she warned other women about him.

She said: 'I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth, and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did.'

Angelina Jolie, 42, is cited as Hollywood's highest-paid actress. She made her screen debut as a child alongside her father, Jon Voight, in Lookin' to Get Out (1982).

Jolie (pictured speaking ahead of a screening of her new film In the Land of Blood and Honey) told the New York Times she had to turn down advances from Weinstein in 1998

Cara Delevigne

The model wrote on her Instagram page about a meeting with Weinstein in which he 'asked her to kiss another woman.'

She wrote: 'As soon as we were alone he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room. I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn't and wouldn't be for a bit and I should go to his room.

'At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn't want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation. When I arrived I was relieved to find another woman in his room and thought immediately I was safe. He asked us to kiss and she began some sort of advances upon his direction. I swiftly got up and asked him if he knew that I could sing. And I began to sing....i thought it would make the situation better....more professional....like an audition....i was so nervous. After singing I said again that I had to leave.He walked me to the door and stood in front of it and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room'.

Cara Delevigne, 25, is an English fashion model and actress. She signed with Storm Model Management after leaving school in 2009.

Lea Seydoux

The French actress accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her.

She wrote in The Guardian: 'We were talking on the sofa when he suddenly jumped on me and tried to kiss me. I had to defend myself. Hes big and fat, so I had to be forceful to resist him. He tried more than once. This was never going to be about work. He had other intentions  I could see that very clearly. All throughout the evening, he flirted and stared at me as if I was a piece of meat.

The French actress (pictured in Spectre) accused the mogul of jumping on her and trying to kiss her

'It was hard to say no because hes so powerful. Im an actress and hes a producer. We are in the same industry, so its impossible to avoid him. Ive seen how he operates: the way he looks for an opening. The way he tests women to see what he can get away with. Thats the most disgusting thing. Everyone knew what Harvey was up to and no one did anything. It's unbelievable that hes been able to act like this for decades and still keep his career.'

Lea Seydoux, 35, starred in Bond film Spectre and was nominated for the Cesar Award for Best Actress for her role as a lady-in-waiting to Marie Antoinette in the film Farewell, My Queen (2012).

Asia Argento

The Italian actress has accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21.

Asia Argento (left with Weinstein during 2004 Cannes Film Festival) accused Weinstein of forcibly performing oral sex on her when she was 21

She told the New Yorker: 'He terrified me, and he was big. It wouldn't stop. It was a nightmare.' She said she went on to have consensual sex with him over the years that followed. She documented the alleged attack in her 2000 film Scarlet Diva.

Asia Argento is an Italian actress, singer, model, and director, best known for the role of Yelena in the action film xXx (2002).

Zoe Brock

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances.

She wrote on Medium: 'Harvey left the room, but not for long. He re-emerged naked a couple of minutes later and asked if I would give him a massage. Panicking, in shock, I remember weighing up the options and wondering how much I needed to placate him to keep myself safe.

Model Zoe Brock was 23 when she allegedly had to lock herself in a hotel bathroom to escape Weinstein's advances

'I told him I was uncomfortable and that I was angry that I had been tricked into this position. He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced. Harvey chased me, d**k, b**ls and all, and banged on the door with his fists, pleading with me to come out.'

Zoe Brock is a model and actress who was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, and raised in Australia.

Louisette Geiss

The actress said she was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe and told her he would green light her script if she watched him masterbate. She left the meeting.

Geiss made her accusations in a press conference with high-profile attorney Gloria Allred on October 10.

The star was born in Miami, Florida. She is an actress and producer, best known for Wishmaster 3: Beyond the Gates of Hell (2001).

Geiss was called to a late night meeting with Weinstein in 2008. He allegedly emerged in a bathrobe

Judith Godreche

The French actress says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996, the NYT reported.

Judith Godreche, 45, is a French actress and author. She has appeared in more than 30 films and will soon star in an HBO comedy about a French woman moving to Los Angeles.

Judith Godreche (pictured at the premiere of Nasty Baby in 2015) says Weinstein tried to massage her and pull off her sweater after asking her up to his Cannes suite to see the view in 1996

Dawn Dunning

The actress says she was called to a meeting about future film projects in 2003 aged 24. When she arrived she says Weinstein presented her with three scripts for his next three movies which he would let her star in, only if she had three-way sex with him. She fled the hotel, she told the NYT.

Dunning is a former actress turned costume designer best known for her role in Alias: The Roughest Cut (2006).

Tomi-Ann Roberts

The aspiring actress was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables as a college junior in 1984. She says he told her to meet him at his home. When she arrived, she says, he was naked in the bath and told her she would give a better audition if she was nude. She says she refused and left, reports the NYT.

Tomi-Ann Roberts was 24 when she met Weinstein while serving tables

Katherine Kendall

The Swingers actress was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993.

He changed into a bathrobe and told her to massage her, she said. When she resisted she said the mogul returned naked and chased her, reports the NYT.

Kendall, 48, is an American actress from Tennessee. She made her name in Doug Liman's Swingers (1996).

Kendall, 48, was told Weinstein had to stop off in his apartment to pick something up after a screening in 1993

Lucia Evans

The actress, formerly known as Lucia Stoller claims Weinstein forced her to perform oral sex on him in 2004. Speaking to the New Yorker, she said that she suffered years of trauma after the incident which occurred in a 'casting meeting' in a Miramax office in Manhattan. He reportedly called her late at night after the incident.

Mira Sorvino

The Mighty Aphrodite actress told the New Yorker that Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room at the 1995 Toronto International Film Festival.

He then went to her home in the middle of the night but she called a male friend to protect her, she claimed. She said turning down the mogul adversely affected her career.

Sorovino, 50, is an American actress who came to prominence after winning the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a hooker with a heart of gold in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995).

Mira Sorvino (pictured starring in Intruders in 2014) said Weinstein tried to massage her in a hotel room

Rosanna Arquette

The actress also said her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein's advances in the early 1990s. At a hotel meeting he tried to put her hand on his erect penis, she claims in the New Yorker.

Rosanna Arquette, 58, is an American actress, film director, and producer. She was nominated for an Emmy Award for her performance in the 1982 TV film The Executioner's Song.

Rose McGowan

The actress, who made her breakthrough in 1996 in the Weinstein-produced slasher revival movie Scream, reportedly sued Weinstein after he assaulted her in 1997 at the Sundance Film Festival.

She signed a non-disclosure agreement at the close of the suit and has only referred to him obliquely in social media since. On Sunday she referred to being abused by a 'monster' and has previously referred to being raped by a studio head.

Producer Harvey Weinstein (left) and actress Rose McGowan arrive to the premiere of "Grindhouse" at the Orpheum Theatre on March 26, 2007 in Los Angeles

Ashley Judd

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower.

She was one of the women who spoke out to The New York Times this week, saying: 'Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly.'

Judd says that during filming for 1997 thriller Kiss the Girls Weinstein repeatedly asked her to watch him shower

Emma De Caunes

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010. Soon after he told her he had a script he was producing based on a book with a strong female character. Weinstein offered to show her the script, and asked her up to his room at the Ritz in Paris, where he began to take a shower.

He then emerged naked and with an erection, asking her to lay down with him on the bed and telling her that many had done so before, she told the New Yorker. 'I was very petrified,' said de Caunes. 'But I didnt want to show him that I was petrified, because I could feel that the more I was freaking out, the more he was excited.'

French actress Emma de Caunes said that she met Weinstein in 2010 and he invited her to his room

Lauren O'Connor

The former creative executive at The Weinstein Company, told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company' after one of her colleagues told her that Weinstein had pressured her into massaging him while he was naked, the NYT reported.

A former creative executive at The Weinstein Company told executives there in the fall of 2015 that there was 'a toxic environment for women at this company'

Ambra Battilana

The Italian actress and model, 24, told the NYT that in March 2015 Weinstein invited her to his New York office. There, she said, he asked if her breasts were real before grabbing them and putting his hands up her skirt. She reported the alleged incident to police, but they did not press charges. According to the NYT, Weinstein later paid her off.

Italian actress and model Ambra Battilana, 24, alleges that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and put his hand up her skirt

Jessica Barth

Weinstein reportedly pressured Jessica Barth (pictured) to give him a naked massage

Weinstein reportedly pressured the actress to give him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel in 2011.

Jessica Barth, 39, is an American stage and film actress, known for portraying Tami-Lynn McCaferty in the film Ted and its sequel.

Laura Madden

A former production assistant and the Weinstein company, she told the NYT that Weinstein had asked her to give him massages from 1991 onwards, while they were both in London and Dublin. 'It was so manipulative,' she told the NYT. 'You constantly question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?' Weinstein denied knowledge.

Emily Nestor

Nestor was a temporary employee of the Weinstein Company for just one day in 2014 when Weinstein approached her and offered to boost her career in exchange for sex, the NYT reported.

Zelda Perkins

Perkins was an assistant of Weinstein's based in London. Aged 25 in 1998, she reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court.

She said she was subjected to inappropriate requests or comments in hotel rooms.

Zelda Perkins reportedly confronted Weinstein after she and 'several' others were harassed and later settled out of court

Elizabeth Karlsen

Produced Karlsen told The Hollywood Reporter on Sunday that almost 30 years ago an unnamed young female executive who had worked at Miramax with Weinstein had found him naked in her bedroom one night. The exec was in a house rented by Miramax at the time to cut its overheads.

Karlsen, 57, is the Oscar-nominated British producer of Carol and The Crying Game.

Liza Campbell

A freelance script reader, she told the UK's Sunday Times that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London before telling her to get in the bath with him.

Campbell, 58, is an artist, calligrapher, columnist and writer, born in the north of Scotland and currently living in London, England.

Campbell, 58, (pictured in 2004) said that Weinstein had summoned her to his hotel room in London

Lauren Sivan

The former Fox news host said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007.

He allegedly took her to a closed restaurant beneath a club she had visited and attempted to kiss her, then when she refused he cornered her and made her watch him touch himself, according to The Huffington Post.

Sivan is now a TV reporter in Los Angeles and was a local journalist in New York 10 years ago when her encounter with Weinstein allegedly occurred.

Former Fox news host Lauren Sivan said that Weinstein trapped her in a closed restaurant and masturbated in front of her to completion in 2007

Jessica Hynes

Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job.

British actress Hynes, 44, formally known as Jessica Stevenson, is best known for her roles in the Bridget Jones movies and for co-creating and co-writing the sitcom Spaced.

Jessica Hynes said she was invited to audition for Weinstein when she was 19 - in a bikini. She said she refused to wear the skimpy item - and lost the job

Romola Garai

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18 in which he was in a bathrobe.

Garai, best known for her role in Atonement, said she had already been hired for a part but was told to audition privately with the Hollywood mogul because 'you had to be personally approved by him'.

'Like every other woman in the industry, I've had an 'audition' with Harvey Weinstein,' she told The Guardian. 'So I had to go to his hotel room in the Savoy and he answered the door in his bathrobe. I was only 18. I felt violated by it'.

Garai, 35, is an English actress, writer, and director. She is known for appearing in the films Amazing Grace, Atonement, and Glorious 39.

British actress Romola Garai said she felt 'violated' following a meeting with Harvey Weinstein in his London hotel room when she was 18

Florence Darel

French actress Florence Darel has claimed that she was harassed by the producer in 1993.

Darel, 49, who first came to notice in Eric Rohmer's 'A Tale of Springtime' in 1990, told French media that Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress.

She said she first had to beat off his advances after Weinstein's company Miramax bought the 1993 fashion industry comedy 'A la mode' in which she appeared.

The following year, pushed by her agent, she agreed to meet Weinstein in a Paris hotel, where he he asked her to be his mistress 'a few days a year'.

Actress Florence Darel, 49, revealed on Thursday to French media that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein had promised to help make her big in America if she became his 'part-time' mistress

Unnamed assistant

Weinstein allegedly behaved inappropriately toward a woman employed as his assistant in 1990. The case was settled out of court.

Another unnamed assistant

In 2015, Weinstein reportedly pressured another assistant into giving him a naked massage in the Peninsula Hotel, where he is also said to have pressured Barth.

Unnamed Miramax employee

At one point in the early 1990s, a young woman is alleged to have suddenly left the company after an encounter with Weinstein. She also settled out of court.

Unnamed woman

A woman who did not wish to be named because she feared Weinstein's connections told The New York Times that the producer had summoned her to his hotel at an unknown date and raped her.
As the son of one of the media industry's most famous moguls he's no stranger to being on a television set.

And Eric Cowell, three, certainly seemed at home as he helped his famous father Simon Cowell, 58, during the tense Six Chair Challenge on Saturday night's episode of the X Factor.

The toddler was briefly seen handing out some oranges to his dad and the front row, before Simon appeared to ask the youngster - who he shares with girlfriend Lauren Silverman - for advice on who to put through.

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TV star: Eric Cowell, three, certainly seemed at home as he helped his famous father Simon Cowell, 58, during the tense Six Chair Challenge on Saturday night's episode of the X Factor

Viewers went wild over the glimpse of Eric, taking to Twitter to post: 'Awww Simons son Eric is so cute giving him oranges #xfactor', 'OMG how cute is little Eric @SimonCowell #XFactor #SixChairChallenge', 'Let's be honest, Eric is stealing the show #XFactor #SixChairChallenge'.

'Only part of #XFactor that didn't make me angry tonight was @SimonCowell 's son taking the oranges off him. #Adorable #Eric #MiniSimon', 'Let's be honest, Eric is stealing the show #XFactor #SixChairChallenge,' 'Oh my god baby Eric #XFactor'.

'Aww wee Eric giving Simon the thumbs up #XFactor', 'Why did I just cry at how cute Eric and Simon are together? #XFactor #cuteness', 'I'm sure he just asked Eric who he should put through', 'Eric wearing a headset has to be the cutest thing Ive ever seen #XFactor.'

So sweet! The toddler was briefly seen handing out some oranges to his dad and the front row, before Simon appeared to ask the youngster - who he shares with girlfriend Lauren Silverman - for advice on who to put through

Elsewhere in the episode, fans were also left outraged as Simon split up one of the groups.

The music mogul brought Ash from girl group NQ - who failed to gain a seat - back to join 'New Girl Band', consisting of soloists who had been initially rejected from the process but brought back to form a new group a la One Direction.

Fans were quick to comment that Ash had 'snaked' her friends, writing: 'Ash left her friends in the dust!'

Adorable: Viewers went wild over the glimpse of Eric and claimed he 'stole the show'

Right at home: As the son of one of the media industry's most famous moguls Eric is certainlu no stranger to being on a television set

Simon brought back the songstress, noting that her voice would fit in well with the newly formed girl band.

The girls were given just a minute to teach Ash their harmonies from their cover of Hey Mama by David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, which they had only been given 24 hours to prepare for themselves.

After rehearsing on the stage quickly, Ash learnt how to fit into the group seamlessly.

Drama: It was X Factor's eagerly anticipated Six Chair Challenge round for the groups on Saturday night, and true to nature, the show was not without drama, as Simon Cowell brought in a twist which sent Twitter fans into meltdown

Twist: The music mogul brought Ash from girl group NQ - who failed to gain a seat - back to join 'New Girl Band', consisting of soloists who had been initially rejected from the process but brought back to form a new group a la One Direction

Mogul: Simon brought back the songstress, noting that her voice would fit in well with the newly formed girl band

Turnaround: The girls were given just a minute to teach Ash their harmonies from their cover of Hey Mama by David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj, which they had only been given 24 hours to prepare for themselves

Snaked: Fans were quick to comment that Ash had 'snaked' her friends, writing: 'Ash left her friends in the dust!'

Users found Ash's apparent betrayal of her band hilarious, commenting:

'God bless the X Factor. Manufacturing bands and destroying friendships since 2004... The loyalty... It's like X Factor meets TOWIE... Turncoat...

'Imagine asking her to betray her friends on TV... Hahaha she's gonna snake out her friends...

'She's snaking out her girl group girlll do you!... Ash just dropped her ex band mates like a bag of cold sick...

'Meanwhile Ash's band are back stage, hailing a cab after having lost their place, band mate and probably friend...' (sic)

Hilarious: Users found Ash's apparent betrayal of her band hilarious

Fix? However, the performance was so seamless that it caused Twitter fans to be convinced that the whole segment was a 'fix'

However, the performance was so seamless that it caused Twitter fans to be convinced that the whole segment was a 'fix'.

'So planned! The 'made up' girl group goes through. As Always. Shocker! So damned fake it's unreal...

'This was more of a set up than the Montreal Screw Job... Staged to f***...

'So staged girl comes on from behind stage lol... Ash just happened to be skulking about backstage in a full Girl Band outfit. That was handy...' (sic)

MailOnline has contacted representatives of X Factor for comment.
'Hot Felon' Jeremy Meeks showed off his chiseled physique when he splashed about shirtless at a Malibu beach during a Saturday photo-shoot.

The 33-year-old model recently filed for divorce from the wife who'd stayed married to him through his prison sentence.

With the button of his trousers undone, Jeremy was glimpsed Saturday lounging on the sand and giving his best smoldering stare to photographer Jim Jordan.

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Dashing: Jeremy Meeks showed off his chiseled physique when he splashed about at a Malibu beach during a Saturday photo-shoot

Jim, who was also shirtless that day, just so happens to head up White Cross Management, to which Jeremy got signed while serving time.

TMZ reported on July 11 that Jeremy had filed for separation from Melissa Meeks, who'd been married to him eight years and who has a seven-year-old son by him.

Photos emerged in June of Jeremy and the zaftig 26-year-old Topshop heiress Chloe Green locking lips on a yacht off the Turkish coast - to the heartbreak and wrath of his loyal, long-suffering wife.

The ensemble: The 33-year-old 'Hot Felon', who's now embarking on a modeling career, wore skintight torn trousers folded up nearly to the knee

Chloe posted an Instagram photo of herself and Jeremy captioned: 'Just the beginning...We appreciate all the love and the hate,' before making her account private, and Jeremy's deleted photos on his Instagram that'd featured Melissa.

DailyMail.com ran pictures early in July of his return to his Manteca, California house, where cigarette-gripping Melissa appeared to argue with him from the porch.

Melissa soon told The Mail On Sunday that she intended to divorce Jeremy, and she tore into Made In Chelsea starlet Chloe for her part in the marriage's rupture.

Sizzling: With the button of his trousers undone, Jeremy was glimpsed lounging on the sand and giving his best smoldering stare to photographer Jim Jordan

What sort of woman would do something like this to another woman? My marriage wasnt perfect but I thought it could be saved, until this happened,' Melissa fumed.

'Of course Im angry at her. What she did is unforgivable. And Im angry at him too. What they did destroyed my entire world,' said the nurse, who's five years Jeremy's senior and who's got an 11-year-old son from a previous relationship.

Did either of them think about the children and how this will affect them? Theyre the innocent victims in this,' Melissa noted, adding for good measure: 'And so am I.'

High-five: Jim, who was also shirtless that day, just so happens to head up White Cross Management, to which Jeremy got signed while doing time

On October 5, TMZ reported Jeremy had finally filed for divorce, with an eye to joint custody of Jeremy Jr.

After a string of far less renowned mugshots, Jeremy began his latest justice system imbroglio back in 2014, resulting in the mugshot that made him a star.

The Stockton Police Department had embarked on a gang sweep that June, bringing Jeremy in for five weapons offenses and two gang membership offenses.

He was finally sentenced in February of 2015 on one of the gun charges, and was released from prison last March, remaining under house arrest until last July.
She was enjoying a getaway with her sisters Kim and Khloe.

And Kourtney Kardashian made sure to stand out from her famous siblings.

The 38-year-old stunner proudly put her cleavage on display in two different outings in San Francisco on Thursday and Friday.

Wow factor: Kourtney Kardahsian proudly put her cleavage on display in two different outings in San Francisco on Thursday and Friday

Tremendous trio: The 38-year-old reality star was joined by sisters Kim and Khloe for the trip

Perhaps the raciest look for the mother of three came on Friday evening as she headed out to restaurant Kokkari Estiatorio with Kim and Khloe.

She wore a black full-sleeved cocktail dress with a hemline cut at mid-thigh and a neckline that fell to her enviably flat midriff.

A huge smile on her face, she accented the look with a pair of black stiletto boots and had flung a striped black blazer casually over her shoulders.

Stunning: She rocked the raciest look as the trio headed to restaurant Kokkari Estiatorio

Gorgeous: A huge smile on her face, she accented the look with a pair of black stiletto boots and had flung a striped black blazer casually over her shoulders

Happy times: She wore a black full-sleeved cocktail dress with a hemline cut at mid-thigh and a neckline that fell to her enviably flat midriff

The previous day, Kourtney once again put her bountiful bosom and toned tum on display in silky blush and black pajamas-inspired clothing.

She untied the belt for the top as she revealed her lacy black bra as the trio took a ride on San Francisco's famous cable cars.

It has been an interesting time in the family as both Kim and Khloe are rumored to be expecting.

Quite the exit: No doubt the girls demanded attention as they exited their hotel

What a gent: A worker opened the door for the lovely ladies

Khloe, 31, is reportedly three months pregnant with her first child according to TMZ.

Kim recently confirmed she's expecting a third child with her husband Kanye West via surrogate in teaser clip she shared of Keeping Up With The Kardashians.

The beauty entrepreneur and the rapper, 40, are parents to two kids together: daughter North, four, and son Saint, who turns two in December.

Sleep: The previous day, Kourtney once again put her bountiful bosom and toned tum on display in silky blush and black pajamas-inspired clothing

In a snap: The sisters enjoyed a ride on San Francisco's famous cable cars

Leading the way: They were joined by a buffed bodyguard

Safety first: The reality star sisters made sure to hold on to the cable car bars

Although not with them on the trip, their younger sister Kylie Jenner is also reportedly pregnant.

The 20-year-old is 'five months pregnant with a baby girl,' according to TMZ.

She has been in a relationship with rapper Travis Scott, 25, since April.

Kim posted a Snapchat on Friday revealing that she and Kourtney will be appearing on One Voice: Somos Live!, which is a benefit concert for Puerto Rico.

Strolling: She untied the belt for the top as she revealed her lacy black bra

Capturing the moment: They made sure to post about the trip on social media

Mind the gap? The trio got their own personal cable car

Tapping away: Kourtney made sure to document the trip

She said that she will be answering phones with Kourtney at the Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez and Marc Anthony hosted event to raise money for disaster relief.

The telethon and concert special will be filmed both in Los Angeles and Miami; funds raised will go to various charities, including Feeding America, Unidos Por Puerto Rico, United Way, UNICEF, Save The Children and Habitat For Humanity.

It is set to air on NBC on Saturday evening at 10/9 C.

Bundled up: Later on in the night the trio enjoyed a tour of Alcatraz
Her parents hail from Puerto Rico.

So it's little surprise that Jennifer Lopez led the charge to raise money for the storm damaged territory at the One Voice: Somos Live Concert on Saturday night.

And the 48-year-old Selena actress certainly didn't disappoint, as she brought five different costumes to wear over the course of the night.

It's personal: Jennifer Lopez led the charge to raise money for the storm damaged territory at the One Voice: Somos Live Concert on Saturday night

She started the evening in a silvery glittering number that featured sequins, tassels and long sleeves.

Matching sparkly tights and thigh high silver boots completed her shimmering ensemble.

She parted her long caramel locks in the middle, and allowed them to flow down past her shoulders.

When she transitioned into hosting the event, she underwent a wardrobe change that saw the Grammy winner don a black strapless top, black belt and huge, billowy watermelon skirt.

Shiny lady! She started the evening in a silvery glittering number that featured sequins, tassels and long sleeves

Complementary: Matching sparkly tights and thigh high silver boots completed her shimmering ensemble

Eye-catching: When she transitioned into hosting the event, she underwent a wardrobe change that saw the Grammy winner don a black strapless top, black belt and huge, billowy watermelon skirt

Of course the skirt also featured an elaborate and exceedingly intricate tropical floral pattern that slashed diagonally down the garment.

Another costume made its debut for her second performance of the evening.

That outfit consisted of a brilliantly gleaming red sequined leotard, which included a massively plunging neckline.

Glittering gal: Her final costume consisted of a brilliantly gleaming red sequined leotard, which included a massively plunging neckline

Leggy: Silver tights and silver high heel booties rounded out the memorable look

Passionate: J Lo looked like she was enjoying herself on stage

Toning it down: A thigh high split was the main feature of her navy blue number

Business casual? A white jumpsuit with sheer panels at the shoulders was her final look

Slick: Ex Marc Anthony, 49, opted for white shirt and blue trousers

Silver tights and silver high heel booties rounded out the memorable look.

Her two additional outfits were far more demure, and included a navy blue dress with a split up the left leg, and a white jumpsuit with sheer panels at the shoulders.

Ex Marc Anthony, 49, and new beau Alex Rodriguez, 42, also shared time, with the former opting for white shirt and blue trousers, and the latter going with a blue velvet blazer.

Unique: Demi Lovato, 25, took the stage at one point, and belted out one of her hits in a pink lace frock with baggy sleeves

Back to basics: Fellow pop sensation Selena Gomez, 25, kept things far simpler, opting for an oatmeal-hued sweater and dark bluejeans for her appearance

All crossed up: Selena did her best behind the phones

Steely: Mary J Blige, 46, wowed in a silver number with a plunging neckline and matching scarf

Ageless: As usual Gwen Stefani, 48, turned some heads thanks to her multicolored tassel-heavy shirt, black miniskirt and black thigh high combination

Other major A-listers were also present to lend a hand to the fundraising effort.

Demi Lovato, 25, took the stage at one point, and belted out one of her hits in a pink lace frock with baggy sleeves.

Fellow pop sensation Selena Gomez, 25, kept things far simpler, opting for an oatmeal-hued sweater and dark bluejeans for her appearance.

Mary J Blige, 46, wowed in a silver number with a plunging neckline and matching scarf.

Impeccable style: Reality queen Kim Kardashian, 36, also kept things reasonably simple with a grey ribbed spaghetti strap dress

Friends: High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens (right), 28, also kept things simple with a white blouse with a v-neck

Happy to help: Actress Ruby Rose, 31, chose a white piped blazer for her turn behind the phones

Themed: Body Party songstress Ciara, 31, looked relaxed in a white tank and pink kimono with an undersea design. She was accompanied by husband Russell Wilson

As usual Gwen Stefani, 48, turned some heads thanks to her multicolored tassel-heavy shirt, black miniskirt and black thigh high combination.

Reality queen Kim Kardashian, 36, also kept things reasonably simple with a grey ribbed spaghetti strap dress.

Actress Ruby Rose, 31, chose a white piped blazer for her turn behind the phones.

High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens, 28, also kept things simple with a white blouse with a v-neck.

Studious: Avatar beauty Zoe Saldana, 39, kept things low key in a black tank top and stylish red specs

Rebel with a cause: The multi-talented Jared Leto, 45, brought some intensity to the proceedings, choosing to brood in a moody leather biker jacket, flannel shirt and jeans

Meaningful: Gina Rodriguez, 49, was no doubt very moved by the scene, as she also has family of Puerto Rican descent

For a good cause: Actor Jesse Williams was one of the many celebs manning the phones

Body Party songstress Ciara, 31, looked relaxed in a white tank and pink kimono with an undersea design.

Project Runway's Heidi Klum, 44, seemed quite chic in a black and gold number that was partially sheer.

Avatar beauty Zoe Saldana, 39, kept things low key in a black tank top and stylish red specs.

Favorite look? Fast and the Furious star Vin Diesel, 50, chose a classic black v-neck and black trouser mix

Participant: Victoria Justice, 24, looked as though she enjoyed being part of the effort

The multi-talented Jared Leto, 45, brought some intensity to the proceedings, choosing to brood in a moody leather biker jacket, flannel shirt and jeans.

Gina Rodriguez, 49, was no doubt very moved by the scene, as she also has family of Puerto Rican descent.

Fast and the Furious star Vin Diesel, 50, chose a classic black v-neck and black trouser mix.

Old School: Mary Steenburgen, husband Ted Danson and TV vet Debra Messing were on hand

That charity show! Wilmer Valderrama 37, chose a shirt emblazoned with a tiger
Egypt exported $1.19 million in precious stones and jewellery to the Emirates between January and September 2017, according to a new industry report

The United Arab Emirates was the biggest importer of Egyptian jewellery and precious stones between January and September 2017, according to a new industry report.

Egypt exported $1.19 billion to the UAE out of a total $1.62 billon in exports for the sector, the Export Council for Building, Refractory and Metallurgy Industries said in its monthly report on Sunday.

State-run news agency MENA published extracts from the report, stating that Egypt exported jewellery and precious stones to 79 countries since the start of 2017, including 23 countries for the first time.

Egypt's new foreign markets in 2017 include Tunisia, Rwanda, Belgium, Ireland, Ethiopia, Iran and Malaysia.

The report also stated that Switzerland came in second place after the UAE, with $229 million in exports, compared to $344 million in the same period in 2016, showing a decline of 34 percent.

Overall, however, exports rose by 186 percent during the same nine-month period, with $107 million in exports, compared to $37 million in the same period during 2016.

Exports to Lebanon dropped by 61 percent, from $207 million last year to $82 million in 2017.

Exports to the Southern African market dropped by a huge 95 percent, recording just $7 million in 2017, compared to $137 million in 2016.

The Saudi Arabian market came in sixth place, but also showed a decline of 82 percent, dropping to $4 million in 2017 from $20 million during the same period last year.

However, Germany showed a marked increase in 2017, with $2 million in exports, compared to $62,000 in 2016.

The Italian market increased its imports of Egyptian jewellery and precious stones from $17,000 in the first nine months of 2016 to $172,000 in the same period this year.

Egypt's exports to Jordan also increased by 41 percent between 2016 and 2017, rising from $123,000 to $87,000.

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Exes Blac Chyna and Tyga have kept their rapport amicable enough to take their son to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles together.

The pair were spotted at the theme park on Saturday with their little tyke King Cairo Stevenson, who will be five years old on Monday.

The trio were joined by a group including Dream Kardashian, Chyna's 11-month-old daughter by her by her ex-fiance Rob Kardashian.

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Day out: Exes Blac Chyna and Tyga have kept their rapport amicable enough to take their son King Cairo Stevenson to Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles together

Chyna, 29, modeled a splashy sweater-dress with a hem cut off at mid-thigh and a festive multicolored pattern sprawled all over it.

A strip of solid red - framed by black stripes - wound its way about her outfit's hemline, as well as about its neckline.

She wore a watch at one wrist and a couple of bracelets around the other, perching a pair of spectacles onto her face.

Bringing up baby: The trio were joined by a group including Dream Kardashian, Chyna's 11-month-old daughter by her by her ex-fiance Rob Kardashian

Bright: Chyna, 29, modeled a splashy sweater-dress with a hem cut off at mid-thigh and a festive multicolored pattern sprawled all over it

The erstwhile exotic dancer born Angela Renee White carried what appeared to be Gucci's Gigi Marmont velvet shoulder bag, which retails online for $1,980.

Her platinum blonde hairdo fell to her waist, and she completed the ensemble with a pair of white-fringed bright red boots.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Tyga had clasped a couple of necklaces on over his white and green T-shirt over a pair of black and white striped trousers.

Garnishing the look: She wore a watch at one wrist and a couple of bracelets around the other, perching a pair of spectacles onto her face

Only the best: The erstwhile exotic dancer born Angela Renee White carried what appeared to be Gucci's Gigi Marmont velvet shoulder bag, which retails online for $1,980

He complemented his white socks with a white and sky blue pair of sneakers, and he had popped on some stylish black sunglasses for his day out with his son.

Like Chyna, Tyga - born Michael Ray Stevenson - also wore a watch encircling one wrist and multiple bracelets at the other.

While little King Cairo ambled about on his own two feet, little Dream was sat in a stroller being pushed along by a woman who walked near Chyna.

The look: Meanwhile, 27-year-old Tyga had clasped a couple of necklaces on over his white and green T-shirt over a pair of black and white striped trousers

Coordinated: He complemented his white socks with a white and sky blue pair of sneakers, and he had popped on some stylish black sunglasses for his day out with his son

On her Snapchat Story that day, Chyna uploaded sweet posts showing her daughter settled in her stroller. Halloween being nearby, filter added a ballerina skeleton.

Having split from Tyga in 2014, Chyna had been with her Rob & Chyna co-star off and on since early 2015, and she gave birth to Dream last November.

Rob and Chyna split in December - Rob posting a Snapchat video of himself wandering miserably through their empty house - but reunited soon after.

Celebratory weekend: King Cairo will be five years old on Monday

Scion: The four-year-old is Tyga's only child and one of Chyna's two children

On the go: While little King Cairo ambled about on his own two feet, little Dream was sat in a stroller being pushed along by a woman who walked near Chyna

This July saw their latest and most dramatic breakup, with Rob posting explicit photos of Chyna to Instagram during a rant that got his account removed.

In short order, Chyna lawyered up with Gloria Allred's daughter Lisa Bloom and won a restraining order against her rotund used-to-be.

Meanwhile, Rob chose for his attorney Robert Shapiro - who with Rob's father had been a member of O.J. Simpson's defense team during O.J.'s murder trial.

Proud mama: On her Snapchat Story that day, Chyna uploaded sweet posts showing her daughter settled in her stroller

The mother of Rob's child gave a press conference featuring Lisa, who has also co-starred in a press conference with Kathy Griffin, as well as one with Quantasia Sharpton, who claimed Usher exposed her to herpes.

Though Chyna has accused Rob of abuse, TMZ reported last month that she let that allegation drop as part of a deal that got her $20,000 in child support a month.

A day after reporting that child support figure, TMZ revealed Chyna was still gunning for a payout of at least $1 million by way of the revenge porn case.

In a bizarre twist, Tyga for some time dated Rob's now 20-year-old half-sister Kylie Jenner, who is rumored to be pregnant by her own current beau Travis Scott.
They're the new celebrity mothers who seem to have more than motherhood in common.

From first time mothers to ones who've done it before, Bec Judd, Megan Gale, Snezana Markoski and Tiffiny Hall all gave birth to healthy babies with the help of trusted obstetrician Dr Len Kilman in charge.

Taking to Instagram, the ladies have all praised the doctor who has over 30 years experience in the field and who also received an Order of Australia earlier in the year.

The celebrity baby deliverer! From first time mothers to ones who've done it before, Bec Judd, Megan Gale, Snezana Markoski and Tiffani Hall all gave birth to healthy babies with the help of trusted obstetrician Dr Len Kilman (second from right) in charge

Celebrity Parents: Bec & Chris Judd

Children Delivered: Oscar, 6, Billie, 3, Tom & Darcy, 1

After giving birth to her twin boys last September, mum-of-four Bec Judd took to Instagram to give the doctor a shout out.

'Shout out to the best Obstetritican in the world (and loveliest man),' she wrote.

'Dr Len Kilman and the awesome @midwifecath for delivering me 4 healthy babies in 5 years. These guys make an incredible dream team and I can't recommend them enough.

Big support: After giving birth to her twin boys last September, mum-of-four Bec Judd took to Instagram to give the doctor a shout out

He delivered all her babies: 'Dr Len Kilman and the awesome @midwifecath for delivering me 4 healthy babies in 5 years. These guys make an incredible dream team and I can't recommend them enough

And it seems the birth also left an impression on Dr Kilman who sent the boys a Happy Birthday last month.

'Happy Birthday Tom & Darcy. Can not believe it's been a year. Great work by Bec and Chris on a job well done.'

One year later: And it seems the birth also left an impression on Dr Kilman who sent the boys a Happy Birthday last month

Celebrity Parents: Megan Gale & Shaun Hampson

Children Delivered: River, 3, Rosie, two-weeks-old

After giving birth merely two-weeks-ago, Australian model Megan Gale took to social media to thank the doctor.

'Here we are, last Saturday on our way home from the hospital with Rosie but not without letting her have a cuddle with the man that helped me bring her into the world,' she wrote in the lengthy post.

Grateful: 'Here we are, last Saturday on our way home from the hospital with Rosie but not without letting her have a cuddle with the man that helped me bring her into the world'

'@drlenkilman we absolutely loved having you being part of our pregnancy, birth and parenting journey.'

Continuing on, the doting mother revealed he had helped deliver both her children and said she 'couldn't recommend him enough'.

A blessing: '@drlenkilman we absolutely loved having you being part of our pregnancy, birth and parenting journey'

She's hooked: Continuing on, the dotting mother revealed he had helped deliver both her children and said she 'couldn't recommend him enough'

Celebrity Parents: Snezana Markoski & Sam Wood

Children Delivered: Willow Wendy Wood, one-week

The newest celebrity baby arrival was that of 2015 Bachelor stars Snezana and Sam.

Welcoming their first child together, Snezana posted an adorable tender shot of her newborn in her hospital cradle.

His latest client: Welcoming their first child together, Snezana posted an adorable tender shot of her newborn in her hospital cradle

Tagging Dr Kilman in her photo, she said she couldn't love her bundle of joy any more.

'I could honestly stare at you all day little Miss Willow Wendy Wood,' she wrote.

'We knew before you were born we would love you but honestly words cannot do it justice.'

Couldn't be happier: Tagging Dr Kilman in her photo, she said she couldn't love her bundle of joy any more

Only love: 'We knew before you were born we would love you but honestly words cannot do it justice'

Celebrity Parents: Tiffiny Hall & Ed Kavalee

Children Delivered: Arnold, one-month

The second photo Tiffiny shared after giving birth last month was one with the Dr Kilman and his midwife.

Lying in her hospital bed 'seconds' after giving birth, the new family smiled happily.

Growing family: The second photo Tiffiny shared after giving birth last month was one with the Dr Kilman and his midwife

'Seconds after Arnold came into the world,' she revealed.

'Ed and I can't thank @drlenkilman and his magic team of midwifes enough for all their love, help and support. Never been this happy.'
She's a PR maven and mum to two adorable children.

And on Sunday, Roxy Jacenko spent some quality family time with Pixie, six, and Hunter, three, on a shopping trip at Sydney's Birkenhead Point.

The 37-year-old uploaded a series of pictures to her Instagram that showed how much fun the trio had on their outing.

'Doing what I do best!' PR Queen Roxy Jacenko takes children Pixie and Hunter out on an afternoon shopping trip in Sydney

Roxy captioned one of her photos 'Doing what I do best,' a reference to her self-awareness of over-indulgence in shopping for herself and her children.

The Sweaty Betty boss also took a selfie with Hunter while waiting in the elevator, in which the tot pulled a funny face.

'To the shops we go,' she captioned the picture.

Posing for a number of photos with Hunter outside the shopping centre, daughter Pixie was then snapped holding her mother's hand, as both children held Havianas bags from a long day of buying clothes.

'To the shops we go': Roxy posed for a series of photos outside the shopping centre with three-year-old son Hunter

Shopping trip: Daughter Pixie was then snapped with the pair holding her mother's hand, as both children held Havianas bags from a long day of buying clothes

Stopping for lunch at healthy organic cafe Sol Botannica, Roxy then showed off the food she ate with her kids, which consisted largely of vegan dishes.

Roxy then shared another photo of herself sitting outside the restaurant, on a decorative set of outdoor furniture, while Pixie and Hunter sat side by side and cuddled up close on a chair next to their mother.

'Best friends,' Roxy captioned.

Roxy wore a black shirt with a print of Australian hard rock band AC/DC, while she rounded out her image with a white mini-skirt and matching Converse sneakers.

Fine dining: Stopping for lunch at healthy organic cafe Sol Botannica , Roxy then showed off the food she ate with her kids, which consisted largely of vegan dishes

Her trademark beach blonde locks were tied back into a ponytail that hung effortlessly over her shoulders.

Son Hunter was dressed in a grey t-shirt imprinted with a crocodile, and had on a pair of black denim jeans.

He also sported a vest with thick padding, as his slick hair was styled to the right of his face.

Daughter Pixie was dressed in a light pink jumper and denim cut off short-shorts, and matched her mother with a pair of white hi-top Converse.

She accessorised with a stylish pink bow that firmly sat atop her head.

The young family was without husband and dad Oliver Curtis, who was released from jail earlier this year in June for insider trading.

'Best friends': Roxy shared another photo of her family sitting outside the restaurant, on a decorative set of outdoor furniture, with Pixie and Hunter sitting side by side and cuddling up close on a chair next to their mother




It was a night of many stars coming together for a good cause.

And Demi Lovato and Gwen Stefani stood out as they were among the few to put their talents on display to round up donations.

The two talented stars were two of the top performers in Los Angeles for the on Saturday night.

Touching: Demi Lovato and Gwen Stefani were two of the top performers in Los Angeles for the on Saturday night

They each showed their range as artists as they each did a short number for the multi-million dollar raising event.

Demi, 25, accentuated her curves in a clinging pink long-sleeved maxi gown as she performed her own rendition Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah.

Her brunette tresses were combed to the side as she let her natural looks show with minimal make-up.

Wow factor: Demi, 25, accentuated her curves in a clinging pink long-sleeved maxi gown as she performed her own rendition Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah

Stunning: Her brunette tresses were combed to the side as she let her natural looks show with minimal make-up

Hitting the right notes: It was an emotional performance

Gwen, 48, opted for a bit more color as she wported a fringed top featuring black, blue, green and red as she performed her hit Underneath it all.

She teamed the piece of couture with a black leather mini skirt, fishnet stockings, and thigh-high boots.

Her platinum blonde tresses were pulled back in a long ponytail as she contrasted her porcelain skin with a swipe of bright red lip.

Moving and grooving: Gwen, 48, opted for a bit more color as she wported a fringed top featuring black, blue, green and red as she performed her hit Underneath It All

Happy: She teamed the piece of couture with a black leather mini skirt, fishnet stockings, and thigh-high boots

Gorgeous: Her platinum blonde tresses were pulled back in a long ponytail as she contrasted her porcelain skin with a swipe of bright red lip

A-list stars were seen on the phone with donors during the fundraiser broadcast live in Spanish on Telemundo and Univision and delayed in English on NBC and MTV.

One Voice: Somos Live! was designed to help victims from recent natural disasters with funds going to Feeding America, Save The Children, Habitat For Humanity, Unidos for Puerto Rico, United Way and UNICEF.

The fundraising concert featured performances in both Miami and Los Angeles.

Red-dy for her close-up: Jennifer Lopez was one of the featured performers for the Miami portion

Former flame: Her ex Marc Anthony also performed

Wonder in white: Ricky Martin also sung

Joining Demi and Gwen were Maroon 5, Ricky Martin, and Colplay also all hit the stage in Los Angeles.

Marc Anthony, DJ Khaled and Daddy Yankee along with host Jennifer Lopez were among the performers in Miami at Marlins Park stadium.

Tribute: Stevie Wonder performed a Bob Marley classic

Another one: DJ Khaled spoke on stage while carrying his son

The alliance of artists was created by Jennifer and her ex-husband Marc to help natural disaster victims in the southern US, Mexico, Puerto Rico and other areas hit hard in the Caribbean.

The concert fundraiser marked the first time that Telemundo and Univision teamed up for simulcast programming.

Others stars who participated in the event included Zoe Saldana, Tyler Perry, Lauren Ash and Ellen DeGeneres.
She's the former Bachelorette, turned radio host, and now soap actress.

And last week, Sam Frost looked every bit up for the transition as she was photographed having a dramatic exchange with co-star Ada Nicodemou while filming scenes for Home And Away.

The pair were seen having a tense argument as they stood on a jetty at Palm Beach, on Sydney's northern beaches on Tuesday.

Not making new friends? Sam Frost has a tense exchange with Ada Nicodemou during filming for Home And Away

Sam rocked a girl-next-door look, wearing a pink shirt tucked into a pair of ripped denim shorts, and a pair of white sneakers.

Her blonde locks looked luscious and full of life as they fell freely across her shoulders.

The 28-year-old accessorised with a pair of rings, matching earrings and a pink-banded wrist watch.

Storming off: The pair were seen having a tense argument as they stood on a jetty at Palm Beach, on Sydney's northern beaches on Tuesday

New girl on the block: Sam rocked a girl-next-door look, wearing a pink shirt tucked into a pair of ripped denim shorts, and a pair of white sneakers

Gorgeous: Her blonde locks looked luscious and full of life as they fell freely across her shoulders

Girl next door: The 28-year-old accessorised with a pair of rings, matching earrings and a pink-banded wrist watch

Meanwhile, Ada was dressed slightly less casual, as she strapped on a pair of brown heels.

The actress - who plays Leah Patterson-Baker on the show - wore a figure hugging grey top, tucked into a pair of striped shorts that displayed her very toned legs.

The 40-year-old had her hair pulled back tightly in a high ponytail, and wore a light application of make-up with a pink lip.

Why so glum? Meanwhile, Ada was dressed slightly less casual, as she strapped on a pair of brown heels

Stunning physique: The actress - who plays Leah Patterson-Baker on the show - wore a figure hugging grey top, tucked into a pair of striped shorts

Putting on an impressive display: Ada's shorts showcased her stunningly trim and tanned pins

Upset: Ada's character appeared to be upset by the exchange with Sam - whose character is rumoured to be named Jasmine

Acting up a storm: Sam looked up to the task of transitioning into an actress during Home And Away filming

Ada's character appeared to be upset by the exchange with Sam - whose character is rumoured to be named Jasmine, and set for the screens in 2018.

A number of other Home And Away stars were involved in the day of filming at Palm Beach, including Jake Ryan, George Mason, Georgie Parker and Ray Meagher.

Jake appeared to be in good spirits as he engaged in a play fight with George on a cliff face.

The pair wore similar casual outfits that included baggy chino pants, black shoes and singlets that showcased their muscly biceps.

And that's a wrap: Former Bachelorette Sam broke out in a beaming smile during a break in filming

Debut: Sam's character - believed to be called Jasmine - is set to make her on-screen debut in 2018

The whole gang: A number of other Home And Away stars were involved in the day of filming at Palm Beach, including Jake Ryan (left), George Mason (right), Georgie Parker and Ray Meagher

Playing around: Jake appeared to be in good spirits as he engaged in a play fight with George on a cliff face

Guns out! The pair wore similar casual outfits that included baggy chino pants, black shoes and singlets that showcased their muscly biceps

Jake was then seen suited and booted as he shot a scene with Home And Away veterans Georgie and Ray.

Jake and Georgie's characters appeared to have a pleasant exchange, while Ray's character Alf Stewart looked on with concern.

Georgie wore a blue and grey singlet, blue jeans and a pair of black flats with a white sole.

She also wore a wide-brimmed straw hat and wore her brunette locks loosely.

Different look: Jake was then seen suited and booted as he shot a scene with Home And Away veterans Georgie and Ray

Trouble brewing? Jake and Georgie's characters appeared to have a pleasant exchange, while Ray's character Alf Stewart looked on with concern

Different looks: Jake cut two very different figures during he day of filming on Sydney's northern beaches

Another day at the office: Georgie wore a blue and grey singlet, blue jeans and a pair of black flats with a white sole
He plays the world's greatest hitman in his latest movie Killing Gunther.

But Arnold Schwarzenegger proved he was a family man at heart when he was supported by his daughters at the special screening in Los Angeles on Saturday.

Flashing his killer smile, the 70-year-old Expendables star wrapped his arms around his beautiful children Katherine, 27, and Christina, 26.

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He's got killer style! Arnie Schwarzenegger, 70, was supported by his beautiful daughters Katherine, 27, and Christina, 26, at the special screening in Los Angeles on Saturday

Hollywood's action man showcased his muscular frame in his form-fitting baby blue shirt, worn with the top button undone.

The Predator star smartened up his look with a navy dinner jacket, teamed with formal trousers for a perfect match.

It proved to be quite the family affair as the silver fox was in the good company of his daughters whom he shares with his 61-year-old estranged wife Maria Shriver.

Arnie's eldest Katherine flaunted her eye-popping cleavage in the scooped neckline of her flared jumpsuit.

It's a family affair: The 70-year-old Terminator star wrapped his arms around his beautiful children Katherine, 27, and Christina, 26, as they posed up a storm on the red carpet

Going for an edgy vibe, the star threw a leather biker jacket over her shoulders.

For the finishing touches of glamour, the Los Angeles born beauty boosted her height with towering platform heels.

Katherine's younger sister Christina also opted for a black ensemble, showing off her incredibly tiny waist as she tucked her slinky top into her slim-fit trousers.

She added to her height in very glamorous sky-high stilettos for the special screening.

Movie role: He plays the world's greatest hitman in his latest movie Killing Gunther in his latest film which tells the story of assassins who plot to kill off his character

Arnie's latest movie Killing Gunther tells the story of assassins who plot to kill off Gunther (Arnold) when they become fed up of him.

But in a series of exciting plot twists, the world's greatest hitman always appears to be one step ahead of them.

The movie star established himself in Hollywood as an icon in James Cameron's The Terminator in 1984.

He went onto reprise the role that made him famous for the franchise's later installments.

As well as Hollywood's action man, the actor is quite the family man as he raises five children.

Hunk Arnie married Maria in a romantic ceremony in Hyannis, Massachusetts in 1986.

But after 25 years of marriage, the broadcast journalist moved out of their Brentwood mansion.

The estranged couple share four children: Katherine, Christina, 24-year-old Patrick, and 20-year-old Christopher.

Arnie also raises his son 20-year-old Joseph Baena with Mildred Patricia Baena.
Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) is a proud mother to two children, Rocket Zot and Racer, with actor husband Sam Worthington.

And the model's mother proudly took to Instagram on Sunday, wishing her youngest grandson Racer, a happy first birthday.

Alongside a heartfelt message and a Winnie the Pooh graphic, Sharon Bingle gushed of the toddler bringing 'such joy' to their lives.

'Such joy': Lara Bingle's mother Sharon celebrated grandson Racer's first birthday, with a heartfelt message shared to Instagram on Sunday

A black and white image of the popular cartoon character clutching a balloon, was captioned by Sharon: 'Happy 1st birthday Racer,' tagging in the tot's famous mother Lara, 30.

Numerous hash-tags were also added, including #grandson, #special, #suchjoy, #love, #rayofsunshine and #happiness.

Following on was a touching message that read: 'On the day you were born surely a star danced in heaven.

Precious: Sharon (pictured with eldest grandson Rocket Zot), shared to the social media site a black and white image of Winnie the Pooh clutching a balloon

Heartfelt: Sharon captioned the post 'Happy 1st birthday Racer,' tagging in the tot's famous mother Lara, before going on to share a touching message

'Out of all the moments in my life and there have been many, those spent with you are the ones I most cherish.

'You have made the happiness in my life so super sized. The reason of my pure delight is YOU.'

Sharon finished off the post with a series of balloon and love heart emojis.

High-profile: Lara married actor Sam Worthington, 41, in 2014

Growing brood: The pair gave birth to their first child Rocket Zot (now two), the following year

Lara married Sam Worthington, 41, in 2014, giving birth to their first child Rocket Zot (now two) the following year.

In October 2016, the couple welcomed boy number two, keeping with the 'R' name theme by calling him Racer.

Lara, who founded skincare and tanning company The Base, told The Sydney Morning Herald in February this year, that she feels incredibly fulfilled as a wife and mother.

Birthday boy: In October 2016, the couple welcomed boy number two, keeping with the 'R' name theme by calling him Racer

'It's the most rewarding thing ever': Lara told The Sydney Morning Herald in February this year, that she feels incredibly fulfilled as a wife and mother

'It's amazing. Two children under the age of two definitely keeps us busy, but it's the most rewarding thing ever,' she said.

Relocating from Sydney to New York, Lara previously told Australian Harper's Bazaar that she's happy to lead a low-key life that revolves around her family.

'Being able to raise the boys here, I haven't had as much scrutiny as I probably would back home.'
They were the long-rumoured lovebirds who just confirmed their romance at Lisa Wilkinson and Peter FitzSimons's vow renewal ceremony last week.

But now the appearances are coming in thick and fast for Richard Wilkins and new flame Virginia Burmeister, who attended the Sydney premiere of Thor: Ragnarok on Sunday night.

The pair appeared to be relishing public life together as they walked the red carpet for the second time in one weekend, following their appearance at the commercial radio awards on Saturday.

Thick and fast! Richard Wilkins and new flame Virginia Burmeister step out for their second red carpet event of the weekend

Richard, 63, and Virginia, 50, looked smitten in each other's company, and even wore matching all-black ensembles.

Virginia was seen wearing a black leather jacket on top of a low cut, black top with a choker strap.

She also wore a pair of skinny black jeans that ran into a pair of open-toe leather heels.

Meanwhile, her hubby Richard wore a black blazer with a white pocket square, on top of a collared shirt, black jeans and boots.

The pair were all smiles as they posed for the cameras along with Richard's son Christian Wilkins and Andrew Kelly.

Loved up: The pair appeared to be relishing public life together as they walked the red carpet for the second time in one weekend, following their appearance at the commercial radio awards on Saturday

Smitten: Richard and Virginia looked smitten in each other's company, and even wore matching all-black ensembles

Happy family: The pair were all smiles as they posed for the cameras along with Richard's son Christian Wilkins and Andrew Kelly

Just a day earlier, both looked stunning in classy formal wear and appeared blissfully relaxed in one another's company at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Melbourne.

As a veteran of TV and radio, Richard showed the attendees how it was done, looking dapper as ever in a tuxedo.

But his new squeeze Virginia is no stranger to glamorous events herself, looking the part in an off-the-shoulder black frock.

The dress hugged her slender frame and featured see-through paneling along the hemline.

New love: Just a day earlier, both looked stunning in classy formal wear and appeared blissfully relaxed in one another's company at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards in Melbourne
She the stunning DJ known for her fashion forward choices.

And DJ Havana Brown turned heads on Sunday night as she stepped out in a stunning shoulderless floral frock at the Thor: Ragnarok premiere in Sydney.

The 32-year-old teamed her outfit with a simple pair of nude peep toe heels and gold jewellery.

Blooming beautiful! DJ Havana Brown showcases her slender physique in shoulderless floral frock at Thor: Ragnarok in Sydney

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Havana flaunted her slender physique in the form fitting dress.

The recording artist and producer accessorized her bold look with a gold choker-style necklace, hoop earring and a few rings.

She let her long blonde locks down in messy waves as she posed at the media wall.

Golden lady! The recording artist and producer accessorized her bold look with a gold choker-style necklace, hoop earring and a few rings

She kept her makeup flawless with a defined brow, smokey eye and pink lip.

Havana added a pop of colour with a bright red polish on her toes and fingers.

Recently, Havana made a surprise midnight appearance at a VIP, event hosted by super premium vodka brand Belvedere to, to help celebrate the launch of the new illuminated magnum The Midnight Sabre.

The dancer showed off her moves to the crowd, as she assisted with the grand reveal of the Belvedere House installation at Ms Collins, officially open to VIP guests from midnight.

Blonde beauty: She let her long blonde locks down in messy waves as she posed at the media wall

Flawless: She kept her makeup flawless with a defined brow, smokey eye and pink lip

Hyping up the crowd! Havana made a surprise midnight appearance at a VIP event hosted by super premium vodka brand Belvedere
He's the former AFL star turned radio host who recently underwent surgery on an injured leg.

But it didn't stop Brendan Fevola from tearing up the red carpet at the Australian Commercial Radio Awards on Saturday.

The 36-year-old was in high spirits as he attended the event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre with his new three-wheeled knee walker scooter in tow.

Tearing it up! Former AFL star Brendan Fevola takes to the red carpet at the ACRAs with a knee walker scooter after busting his leg

The former Carlton forward had to improvise with his outfit at the formal event because of his heavily bandaged leg.

The top half of his outfit - a black jacket on top of a white collared shirt with black trimming - looked at home on the red carpet.

However the bottom half of his ensemble was a casual combination of grey denim shorts and tan boot-like sneakers.

The shorts exposed his wounded leg, which was thickly bandaged and strapped following surgery last week.

But Brendan appeared to enjoy himself with his latest accessory - a shiny new three-wheeled knee walker, which allowed him to move freely.

Seeing the funny side: The 36-year-old was in high spirits as he attended the event at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre with his new three-wheeled knee walker scooter in tow

Mixed ensemble: The top half of his outfit - a black jacket on top of a white collared shirt with black trimming - looked at home on the red carpet

Keeping things casual: The bottom half of his ensemble was a casual combination of grey denim shorts and tan boot-like sneakers

He rested his wounded leg on its knee pad and pushed himself forward with his other leg, as he made his way around to speak to various media.

His fellow Fox FM radio host Byron Cooke appeared to be amused with the mobility accessory as he stood alongside Brendan and pointed to it.

Brendan took to Instagram to express his joy since picking up the scooter on Thursday.

He posted a video showing him 'burning around on' the 'grouse' scooter in his house.

Under the knife: The shorts exposed his wounded leg, which was thickly bandaged and strapped following surgery last week
A new exhibition opening in Atlanta encourages visitors to abandon their preconceived notions about Africa and explore the creative efforts of people using design to bring about change on the vast continent.

"Making Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design" opens Saturday at Atlanta's High Museum of Art. It defines design broadly and delves into the continent's diversity and vibrancy through more than 200 works by more than 120 artists from 22 countries.

Too often people associate Africa with problems like hunger or corruption, but the exhibition seeks to broaden the view by focusing on people who use design to provide solutions, High Museum curator of African art Carol Thompson said.

"I want people to see Africa in a new way and appreciate the creativity of artists on the continent, past and present," she said, adding that "the exhibition doesn't deny that there are challenges on the continent but rather addresses those problems head on."

Immediately upon entering is a display of Kenyan artist Cyrus Kabiru's "C-Stunners," a collection of wearable eyeglass sculptures crafted from everyday objects  wires, screws, shoe polish tins. The pieces are not corrective eyeglasses in the literal sense but are meant to help "correct" the perception of Africa, Thompson said.

A collection of biting comic-style images mocks stereotypes and common perceptions. One by South African comic artist Anton Kannemeyer shows a white man in a Superman outfit, with "SR" emblazoned on his chest, handing a sack of money to a black African boy who's saying "Thanks, Super Rich Man!"

One of the most captivating pieces in the exhibition is a collaborative project by South African artist Mikhael Subotzky and British artist Patrick Waterhouse. It captures Ponte City, a 54-story circular apartment building in Johannesburg, South Africa. A posh address when it was built in 1975, it has become rundown, though still inhabited, since the end of apartheid.

The two artists photographed every television set, door and window view in the building between 2008 and 2010 and put the 600 photos together in three tall lightboxes in the same order as they were in the building. The result is a captivating glimpse into the tallest apartment building on the continent.

A chair by Malian designer Cheick Diallo was made from metal wire used in the fishing industry with nylon thread wrapped around it. Colorful stools and tables were made mostly from recycled plastic by Bibi Seck, an artist who was born in Paris and grew up in Paris, London and Dakar, Senegal.

A set of pocket handkerchiefs from fashion label Ikire Jones, recreates 18th century textiles and tapestries but inserts African people into them. An embroidered silk cape, paired with a boldly patterned silk shirt and trousers from London-based Nigerian designer Duro Olowu combines prints and colors in a way that is very characteristic of African fashion, Thompson said.

Technology also fits into the exhibition's interpretation of "design." A brick-sized device, called BRCK, made by the Kenyan company Ushahidi, is a self-powered mobile Wi-Fi device that allows other devices to access the internet, which has been vital for change in Africa, allowing Africans to connect with each other and the rest of the world.

There are also dozens of videos and digital displays, so many that they can't possibly all be viewed in a single visit.

The exhibition, which was organized by Vitra Design Museum in Germany and the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Spain, runs through Jan. 7 at the High. It is also slated to be shown at the Albuquerque Museum in New Mexico, Feb. 3 through May 6, and at the Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas, Oct. 14, 2018, through Jan. 13, 2019.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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Speculation that their relationship is heading for marriage has reached fever pitch in recent months.

And Meghan Markle is said to have quit her highly successful role on Suits amid claims she will announce her engagement to Prince Harry before Christmas, reports The Daily Star Sunday.

The American actress, 36, who found fame as feisty paralegal Rachel Zane on the popular US drama is 2011, has reportedly told TV bosses that she will not be returning for the show's eighth season next year.

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Romance: Meghan Markle is said to have quit her highly successful role on Suits amid claims she will announce her engagement to Prince Harry before Christmas, reports The Daily Star Sunday

Hit role: The American actress, 36, who found fame as feisty paralegal Rachel Zane on the popular US drama is 2011, has reportedly told TV bosses that she will not be returning for the show's eighth season next year

A source told the website: 'Meghan knows she can't really act at the same time as being a princess and is happy to make this career sacrifice.

'She really enjoys her charity work with Unicef and will broaden out her charity commitments when she becomes a full-time royal.'

The brunette beauty will reportedly wrap up filming next month, with the couple said to announce their plans to wed before the festive period.

Mail Online has contacted Meghan's representatives for comment.

Hotting up: A source told the website: 'Meghan knows she can't really act at the same time as being a princess and is happy to make this career sacrifice'

This comes after royal sources exclusively told the Daily Mail that the couple are house-hunting in Oxfordshire and are particularly interested in high-end properties tucked away in the rolling Cotswold hills.

A good friend of Harry's says the Prince, whose father's residence, Highgrove House, is in the south Cotswolds, has a long-standing affection for the area, while Meghan is said to be entranced by its rustic charm.

'He is searching for a new home in the area,' the friend reveals.

'Before Meghan, he was vaguely looking in Norfolk, but didn't find what he wanted. Now, with her input, he's renewed his search.'

Big plans: This comes after royal sources exclusively told the Daily Mail that the couple are house-hunting in Oxfordshire and are particularly interested in high-end properties tucked away in the rolling Cotswold hills

Smitten: A good friend of Harry's says the Prince, whose father's residence, Highgrove House, is in the south Cotswolds, has a long-standing affection for the area, while Meghan is said to be entranced by its rustic charm

The couple have tested the water with two mini-breaks, in February and July, at Soho Farmhouse, the private members' club-cum-hotel in Great Tew, which has become a haven for stars who want to go under the radar.

With the show primarily filmed on location in Canada Meghan was reportedly considering her future last week as her relationship with London based Harry, 33, gathers momentum.

A source told The Sun: Meghan loved playing Rachel and feels she owes so much to Suits. But Harry cant move to Toronto, so shell have to move eventually if they want to be together.

Decisions:With the show primarily filmed on location in Canada Meghan was reportedly considering her future last week as her relationship with London based Harry, 33, gathers momentum

Her decision to give up the biggest role of her career would mean a lot.'

Meghan's relationship with Harry has become increasingly serious over recent months, with the actress - who lives in Toronto - making frequent transatlantic flights to spend time with the Royal at his Kensington Palace home.

Speaking to Vanity Fair in September, she publicly acknowledged their romance for the fist time, admitting they had been dating for months before it was first reported in 2016.

'We're two people who are really happy and in love,' she said. 'We were very quietly dating for about six months before it became news, and I was working during that whole time, and the only thing that changed was people's perception.'

The couple made their first public appearance together at Harry's Invictus Games - a paralympic sporting event for wounded, injured or sick army veterans - in October.

And separate sources claim they already have their wedding plans locked down and are as 'good as engaged'.

Opening up: Speaking to Vanity Fair in September, she publicly acknowledged their romance for the fist time, admitting they had been dating for months before it was first reported in 2016.

Speaking to E! the well-placed insider revealed the couple have been discussing the idea of marriage for some time.

The source said: While Meghan may not be wearing a ring or a formal engagement announced, it's fair to say they're as good as engaged now.'

'They've spoken about their marriage plans openly with each other, and friends and family around them are pretty much thinking about wedding attire already!'

MailOnline has contacted a representative fro further comment.
He gained half a million dollars after winning Australian Survivor.

But Jericho Malabonga lost a large portion of body weight after spending 55 days in isolation, he has revealed.

The 25-year-old took to Instagram on Saturday to show the dramatic weight loss from his time spent on a Samoan beach competing on the show.

'Help me get back into shape!' Australian Survivor winner Jericho Malabonga shows off his dramatic weight loss after spending 55 days on a Samoan beach

'Before and after survivor #no filter,' he wrote on Instagram.

'Fitness peeps help get me back into shape! TAG A PT!!' he added, before including the hashtags '#transformation' and '#survivorisreal'.

The before and after shot showed the full and muscular physique Jericho had before competing in the reality series.

And alongside was a topless image of Jericho looking slender since he returned home $500,000 richer, but many kilos lighter.

Upon his return, the Qantas international flight attendant moved back in with his parents, he told Wednesday's Kyle and Jackie O Show.

Transformation: The 25-year-old took to Instagram on Saturday to show the dramatic weight loss from his time spent on a Samoan beach competing on the show

'I had to move back in with my parents': Upon his return, the Qantas international flight attendant (pictured with fellow contestant Luke Toki) moved back in with his parents

'I went to (Australian) Survivor, I got back. I was without pay, so I was (still) paying rent,' Jericho explained to co-hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson.

'I came back and I was like, 'You guys I gotta go back to my parents,'' the reality star continued with a laugh.

'I got to a point where I was like, I've actually got no money left.

'I wasn't broke. It was more like I'll just go back to Dad. We got back (from Survivor) and I was without 55 days of rent while on the island,' Jericho went on to explain.

Highly emotional: Jericho beat 32-year-old Tara Pitt to win the show on Tuesday's grand finale episode

The comments come shortly after Jericho told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential that he won't quit his job at Qantas because he loves it too much.

'I love my job. I don't think I would let this prize money change something I worked really hard for,' he told the publication.

Jericho beat 32-year-old Tara Pitt to win the show on Tuesday's grand finale episode.

The young man from the Philippines outlasted 23 other contestants to win the title of Australian Survivor 2017, after spending 55 days on the island of Upolu.

'I love my job': Despite Jericho winning $500,000 in cash prize money, he previously told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential that he won't be quitting his job as a Qantas international flight attendant
They are settling into their new life as husband and wife.

Three months later, Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne looked closer than ever at the My Little Pony: The Movie screening at the Ham Yard Hotel in London on Sunday.

Casually-clad Jacqueline, 24, showed she was reaping the rewards of her new found happiness as she held hands with her life-long partner and their daughter Ella.

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Closer than ever: Jacqueline Jossa looked trendy as she cosied up to Dan Osborne at the My Little Pony: The Movie screening at the Ham Yard Hotel in London on Sunday

The EastEnders star flashed a glimpse of her toned tummy in her baby pink Bardot crop top teamed with distressed black jeans which featured rips on the knees.

Layering up, the actress smartened up her chic look with a pastel pink jacket as she welcomed the breezier autumnal season.

The soap star looked positively glowing, accentuating her features with deftly touches of make-up and letting her brunette hair down in a loose fashion.

Family affair: Casually-clad Jacqueline, 24, showed she was reaping the rewards of her new found happiness as she held hands with her life-long partner and their daughter Ella

She's got style: The EastEnders star flashed a glimpse of her toned tummy in her baby pink Bardot crop top teamed with distressed black jeans which featured rips on the knees

London born beauty Jacqueline cosied up to her hunky husband Dan at the screening for the movie.

The former TOWIE star proved to be on trend as ever as he wore a trendy shirt unbuttoned over the top of a form-fitting T-shirt.

Keeping his look casual, the television sensation completed his look with torn blue jeans and loafers.

Love daddy more than...! The trio looked every inch the perfect family as they cradled each other on the red carpet

The newlyweds proved to be the picture perfect family unit as they were in the good company of their two-year-old daughter Ella.

Little Ella donned a sweet outfit declaring her affection for Dan as her top was emblazoned with the phrase 'I love dad more than...mermaids, glitter, unicorns'.

Dan's three-year-old son Teddy, whom he shares with former flame Megan Tomlin, was noticeably absent from the family affair.

Mother like daughter: Jacqueline embraced her maternal instincts as she wrapped her arm around her two-year-old

The Only Way Is Essex heartthrob was fresh out of a relationship with Megan when she discovered she was pregnant with his child.

He didn't go public with his affections for Jacqueline until June 2014, with the pair previously denying claims they were more than friends.

The happy couple, who are said to have started dating as early as 2013, went onto welcome little Ella into the world in February 2015.

Great fun! Little Ella was in high spirits as she got to work embracing her creativity while painting at the event

Jacqueline and Dan got married in a fairytale ceremony at Gary Barlow's former stately home worth 7.25 million in Cheshire in July 2017.

Of the big day, she told OK! magazine: 'I loved my make-up  I felt like I was a Snapchat filter on the day! Daniel always says he prefers my hair up and out of my face.

'Although that wasnt the reason I wore it that way  the dress had to be seen in all its glory!

Of her relationship with Dan, she added: 'It feels like we've fallen in love all over again.'



Show pals! Jacqueline was joined by the great and the good of the showbiz world including her EastEnders' co-star Steve McFadden and his family at the event

What a figure: Imogen Thomas showcased her gravity-defying cleavage in a plunging form-fitting grey top teamed with jeans

All-black: Glamour model Nell McAndrew cut a casual figure in skinny black jeans and a trendy blouse

Model figure! Naomi Isted wrapped her arm around the kids as she posed up a storm on the red carpet in a thigh-skimming denim miniskirt

Must be love! Jasmine Guinness caught the eye with a scarlet striped top
He's the male model of the moment, known just as much for his wild antics as his runway credits.

And Jordan Barrett appeared carefree and relaxed, during a night out with racy artist and photographer Alana O'Herlihy, in New York on Friday.

The 20-year-old dressed down in all-black attire, puffed on a cigarette alongside his more animated gal pal.

His own runway: Fashion's 'bad boy' Jordan Barrett, 20, puffed on a cigarette a during night out with racy artist Alana O'Herlihy, in New York on Friday

Jordan swapped high-fashion for a low-key look while strolling the streets of the Big Apple.

The Byron Bay native sported a black Nike hooded jacket, Adidas sweatpants and slip-on trainers.

Keeping accessories to a minimum, Jordan wore a gold necklace and a statement ring.

Appearing relaxed, the social media sensation puffed on a cigarette.

Casual: Jordan swapped high-fashion for a low-key look while strolling the streets of the Big Apple. The Byron Bay native sported a black Nike hooded jacket, Adidas sweatpants and slip-on trainers

She's not shy: The model's more animated gal pal, Alana O'Herlihy, dressed in a white Fila tracksuit, pulled an animated pose for cameramen

Jordan's gal pal, Alana O'Herlihy was more on the animated side, playing up for the cameras.

Dressed in a white Fila jacket, the zipper partially undone to show off her delicate decolletage, the artist and photographer teamed the look with coordinating sweatpants.

Pristine white sneakers, a black Bun Bag, dice earrings, a khaki cap and sunglasses, worked as accessories.

Carefree: Jordan appeared relaxed, puffing on a cigarette as he took to the streets

Antics: Jordan and Alana are firm friends, their antics shown on one another's Instagram feeds

In a rather energetic mood, Jordan's companion leaned forward, pulling an expression.

Jordan and Alana are firm friends, their antics shown on one another's Instagram feeds.

Back in July, the pair found themselves in trouble with security at a Paris fun fair, kicked off a children's carousel.

Alana was pictured grabbing her chest on the merry-go-round, while Jordan stood on his mechanical horse, a brazen act of rule-breaking which likely upset the locals.

Appeal: It is unclear if the pair are close friends or something more, but Jordan certainly has a well-deserved reputation as a ladies' man. He has been romantically linked to a string of high-profile female celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Lara Stone, Hailey Baldwin and Sofia Richie

It is unclear if the pair are close friends or something more, but Jordan certainly has a well-deserved reputation as a ladies' man.

Jordan has been romantically linked to a string of high-profile female celebrities, including Paris Hilton, Lara Stone, Hailey Baldwin and Sofia Richie.

Most recently, it was rumoured he was dating US model Bella Hadid.

However, she later clarified they were just good friends.
He has starred in The Only Way is Essex for nearly four tumultuous years, joined by girlfriend Georgia Kousoulou.

And after it was claimed Tommy Mallet had quit the hit ITVBe reality show in a bid to escape the 'ag' and focus on his professional life, the Essex lad took to Twitter to deny the reports.

The star took to Twitter to post: 'Just been alerted to today's press. Im currently back filming @OnlyWayIsEssex and am happy / grateful to be doing so right now.'

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No truth: Tommy Mallet has DENIED claims he quit TOWIE in a bid to escape the 'ag' and focus on his professional life

Reality romance: Speculation arose when the 25-year-old reality star told the Daily Star Sunday, 'I owe a lot to the show and I will always be part of it but its time to concentrate on my businesses'

His fans were quick to chime in, expressing their delight by posting, 'phew was starting to panic a bit there' and 'So you are not leaving thank goodness you and Georgia are the best x'.

Speculation arose he was leaving when the 25-year-old reality star told theDaily Star Sunday: 'I owe a lot to the show and I will always be part of it but its time to concentrate on my businesses.

'Im working two jobs and Im in big important meetings one day and on Towie the next getting ag, swearing and calling someone something too rude to print!'

The hunky star has recently branched out from the world of reality and is now a fully fledged trainer designer.

The star took to Twitter to post: 'Just been alerted to today's press. Im currently back filming @OnlyWayIsEssex and am happy / grateful to be doing so right now'

Show of support: His fans were quick to chime in, expressing their delight

Reasons: He continued: 'Im working two jobs and Im in big important meetings one day and on Towie the next getting ag, swearing and calling someone something too rude to print!'

Expletive: The star has had a rocky time of late on the show after clashing with Megan McKenna and tweeted about his fury to his 313,000 followers last month. He wrote: 'After watching that scene...The only way is Essex can go f**k themselves... That's all I'm saying.'

Fury: He later wrote: 'Big up Towie.... Little snakes (sic)'

It was reported that Tommy's girlfriend of three years Georgia wouldn't following her beau out of the door and will remain on the show.

She told the website: 'I joined the show on my own so I will definitely stay. I love filming and I love getting involved.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Tommy, Georgia and TOWIE for comment.

The star has had a rocky time of late on the show after clashing with Megan McKenna and tweeted about his fury to his 313,000 followers last month.

Close: The hunky star has recently branched out from the world of reality and is now a fully fledged trainer designer

He wrote: 'After watching that scene...The only way is Essex can go f**k themselves... That's all I'm saying.'

He later wrote: 'Big up Towie.... Little snakes (sic)'

He and girlfriend Georgia had come under fire after she made Megan cry by claiming she had 'no friends', and the abuse he received after his remarks has led to him launching a foul-mouthed rant.

After he erased his tweet, he quickly followed it up by sharing the quote: 'People are blind to reality and only see what they want to see.'
She's been through an eventful past year, with husband Oliver Curtis in prison, a breast cancer diagnosis and a second marriage proposal.

And in a candid chat with Whimn, Roxy Jacenko, who often creates divided opinion, opened up on her public perception.

'I don't give a f**k what everyone things,' the 37-year-old, before going on to say that she and her partner have moved past their mistakes.

'I don't give a f**k what everyone thinks': Roxy Jacenko, 37, opened up on public perception and moving past her and husband Oliver Curtis' mistakes, in a candid chat with Whimn

Roxy told the publication: 'I don't know what it is about me. I must have a sign on my forehead that says, "Give me your opinion" because I have people who want to give me their opinion on everything.

'I don't give a f**k what everyone things. If I worried about everyone else's opinion, I wouldn't have the successful business I have. I wouldn't have the wonderful family I have.

'You know, I've made mistakes, Oli has made mistakes and we've put them behind us. So, no, I don't give a f**k,' the mother-of-two continued.

The mother-of-two said: 'You know, I've made mistakes, Oli has made mistakes and we've put them behind us. So, no, I don't give a f**k (on what people think)'

Roxy, who boasts 198,000 Instagram followers, is no stranger to receiving comments online when it comes to the events of the past year.

The author and entrepreneur became a single mother, with husband Oliver serving time behind bars for conspiracy to commit insider trading.

During Oliver's time behind bars, Roxy discovered she had breast cancer, and was to undergo radiation treatment.

Challenging times: Roxy became a single mother, with husband Oliver serving time behind bars for conspiracy to commit insider trading

Health concerns: During Oliver's time behind bars, the author and entrepreneur discovered she had breast cancer, and was to undergo radiation treatment

She was also seen in an intimate embrace with ex-boyfriend Nabil Gazal, who she just recently admitted to being in a relationship with, during her husband's imprisonment.

But following Oliver's release from Cooma Correctional Centre in July this year, the couple put on a united front, with the father of her two children proposing for a second time at the Four Season's Hotel in Sydney.

Roxy and Oliver appear stronger than ever, frequently sharing loved-up photos to Instagram.

Getting back on track: But following Oliver's release from Cooma Correctional Centre in July this year, the couple put on a united front, with the father of her two children proposing for a second time at the Four Season's Hotel in Sydney
She's currently in the midst of filming the movie A Second Chance.

But on Saturday, Tara Reid took a break from the set to attend Mint Swim's spring/summer 2018 runway show.

The 41-year-old dressed in a leather pullover jacket and skinny jeans for the presentation, which took place in West Hollywood.

Beaming beauty: Tara Reid took a break from the set to attend Mint Swim's spring/summer 2018 runway show on Saturday

The actress styled the jacket with the zip pulled down low, revealing a hint of cleavage.

The piece featured studded detailing along the sleeves and on the collar.

The pretty actress flaunted her slim figure in her fitted black denim, which she tucked into her heeled boots.

Tara carried a small black clutch and added diamond heart earrings and a matching necklace.

Chic arrival: The 41-year-old dressed in a leather pullover jacket and skinny jeans for the presentation, which took place in West Hollywood

The American Pie star pulled her blonde tresses back into a high ponytail.

Tara painted her pout a pink hue, adding shimmery eye shadow and kohl liner on her lids.

The Dr. T & The Women star glittered two days earlier at the premiere of American Satan in Universal City.

Sultry: Tara painted her pout pink, adding shimmery eye shadow and kohl liner on her lids

Shining star: The Dr. T & The Women star glittered two days earlier at the premiere of American Satan; seen on October 12 in Universal City

Tara, who began acting at age six, became a household name after starring in the 1999 film American Pie.

She went on play her character Vicky in the franchise's follow up films: American Pie 2 and American Reunion, although she did not appear in American Wedding.

The screen siren also also starred in the hit TV film Sharknado in 2013, as well as its four sequels.

Tara currently has six films in post-production and two in pre-production; her film Party Bus To Hell is set to be released on October 30.

For the movie A Second Chance, Tara stars alongside Brittany Underwood and Vivica A. Fox.

Blast from the past: Tara, who began acting at age six, became a household name starring in the 1999 film American Pie; pictured in the film with co-star Natasha Lyonne
She's the mother of two young boys, Zachary, 9 and five-year-old Leighton.

And Stacey Solomon looked in her element as she waved off children alongside beau Joe Swash on the Dreamflight charity trip to Florida at London's Heathrow Airport on Sunday.

The former X Factor star, 28, couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she greeted nearly 200 sick and disabled children from across the UK as they prepared to jet off to the US.

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Good cause: Stacey Solomon, 28, looked in her element as she waved off children alongside beau Joe Swash on the Dreamflight trip to Florida at London's Heathrow Airport on Sunday

Stacey ensured to put on a striking display for the heartwarming event, as she stunned in a black top with a panel of white lace across the front.

She teamed it with a cream-coloured midi-shirt and towering heels.

Stacey was joined by Joe who put on a trendy display himself in a button down shirt and black skinny jeans.

The couple proved to be in high spirits as they waved off a large group of children as they embarked on their dream trip to Florida.

Having a good time: The former X Factor star couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she greeted nearly 200 sick children from across the UK as they prepared to jet off to the US

Beaming: The couple proved to be in high spirits as they waved off a large group of children as they embarked on their dream trip to Florida

Stacey is mother to two children from previous relationships: Zachary, nine, with Dean Cox, and Leighton, five, with her former flame Aaron Barnham.

The television sensation has put her heartache behind her as she has moved on with Joe Swash, her boyfriend of almost two years.

Her partner shares a nine-year-old son Harry with his ex-fiancee Emma Sophocleous.

This comes after Stacey, who recently took part in Loose Women's body confidence campaign, admitted that she still suffers securities.

Motherly instincts: The charitable cause proved to be a natural for Stacey as she's the mother of two young boys, Zachary, 9 and five-year-old Leighton

'Thank God for Barbra Streisand': This comes after Stacey confessed to 'hating' her nose when she posted an honest Instagram post on Saturday

Last week she took to Instagram with a close-up picture, as we shared with her fans that she 'hates' her nose in a candid Instagram post on Saturday.

The songstress teamed her heartfelt words with a side profile shot of her pretty face which put the focus on her nose - the feature which Stacey admitted she is 'most insecure' about.

Alongside a side profile snap, she wrote: 'Sometimes the things we are most insecure about can become our best friends.

'I used to hate my side profile because of my nose and be so sad I didn't have a smooth cute button pixie nose (which is what I thought was the ultimate sign of beauty).

Revealed: The queen of the jungle took her hat off to Barbra Streisand (pictured in New York, April 2017) and Bette Midler for celebrating their flaws

Gorgeous: The Loose Women panellist (pictured in London, October 2017) confessed she felt 'insecure' because she didn't have a conventionally beautiful 'cute button pixie' nose

'Even the emoji is smooth but now I feel like I'm unique with lots of different bits and bumps that make me, me.'

The queen of the jungle took her hat off to Barbra Streisand and Bette Midler for celebrating their flaws and drawing strengths from their insecurities.

She added: 'Thank g-d for Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, and many more people who I look up to and have been rocking their amazing noses since day one!

'#filter #makeup #beauty #different #sideprofile #loveyourself #wearealldifferent #beautiful' (sic).
They appeared together in the 24th installement of the James Bond series, Spectre, in 2015.

And Daniel Craig, 49, reportedly wants Italian actress Monica Bellucci back as his love interest for Bond 25, set for release in November 2019.

Monica, who delivered an outstanding performance as widowed Lucia Sciarra in the flick, remains the oldest Bond girl ever at the age of 53.

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Dynamic duo: Daniel Craig, 49, is pictured with Monica Bellucci, 53, at the 2015 Spectre film premiere in Rome. It is reported that the 007 star wants the Italian actress to make a return as Bond girl in the next film

According to sources from the Sunday People, the actor definitely 'wants Monica Bellucci back, thats for sure.'

Film insiders claim that the film will be inspired by ideas from Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX.

'Bond needs to keep up with the times and will be looking into Elon Musks world, spacecrafts, planes that can fly across the earth in an hour, cars turning into submarines', the insider teased.

MailOnline has contacted Daniel's representatives for comment.

Sensual: According to sources from the Sunday People , the actor definitely 'wants Monica Bellucci back, thats for sure'

This comes shortly after Daniel Craig confirmed his return as 007 in August, with a rumoured $135million (100million) pay day.

Craig, who is the second longest serving Bond after Roger Moore, previously suggested he was done with the franchise after his fourth appearance as the iconic spy in Spectre.

During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in August, he was asked if he would be playing the iconic role for a fifth time.

As fierce as ever: Monica, who delivered an outstanding performance as widowed Lucia Sciarra in the flick, remains the oldest Bond girl ever at the age of 53

He replied: 'Yes. I couldn't be happier. I've been quite cagey about it.'

'I've been doing interviews about it all day and people have been asking me and I've been kind of coy but I kind of felt like, if I was going to speak the truth, I should speak the truth to you.'

The star admitted he 'always wanted to return' to the role, but confirmed the next Bond movie will be his last.

He added: 'I think this is it. This is it. I just want to go out on a high note, and I can't wait.'

I spy: Daniel confirmed he will return as Bond during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in mid August

This comes after reports claim James Bond is set to get married in the upcoming film, in a huge move for the famous womaniser - although his beloved wife is said to be killed leading to a Taken-style revenge twist.

The New York Post's Page Six reports that the British actor is set to wed in the next installment, hot on the heels of James' romance with Bond girl Lea Seydoux's character Madeleine Swann in the last movie.

The much-anticipated film, which will see Daniel reprise the role of the iconic British agent, with a surprising plot twist, according to a Hollywood insider, who has claimed Bond will quit the secret service and marry the woman he loves.

A source told the column: 'Bond quits the secret service, and he's in love and gets married.' The insider added Bond will return to the secret service after his wife is killed.'

In Specter Craig's main love interest was played by French actress Lea - one of many stunners to capture the character's eye.

And as the new movie opens, the duo will already be a married couple. The source explained: 'The film's like 'Taken' with Bond.'

Latest Bond girl: In the most-recent Bond movie, 2015's 'Spectre', Craig's love interest was played by French actress Lea Seydoux




She married businessman Jose Baston in May of 2016.

And more than a year later, Eva Longoria and her husband look happier than ever while heading to lunch in Beverly Hills.

The 42-year-old beaming actress, who held hands with Jose, kept it casual in leggings and a gray cardigan.

Grinning ear to ear: Eva Longoria and her husband Jose Baston look happier than ever while heading to lunch in Beverly Hills on Friday

The former Desperate Housewives star slipped on simple black leggings with a matching hued Henley top.

Eva covered up in a long knitted cardigan with an asymmetrical hemline.

The Texas-born TV star kept it casual in black and white sneakers and coordinating sunglasses.

Eva styled her dark locks into a half ponytail with waves.

Absolutely giddy: The 42-year-old beaming actress, who held hands with her handsome beau, kept it casual in leggings and a gray cardigan

So sweet: The former Desperate Housewives star slipped on simple black leggings with matching Henley top; pictured with her husband Jose Baston

Jose, 49, looked handsome in his dark cargo bottoms, adding matching top and sneakers.

Eva and Jose revealed their engagement in December 2015; the twosome tied the knot in Mexico on May 21, 2016.

One day before their lunch, the beautiful actress hit the carpet for her fundraising gala for the Eva Longoria Foundation.

Only eyes for him: Jose, 49, looked handsome in his dark cargo bottoms, adding matching top and sneakers

Heart of gold: One day earlier, the beautiful actress hit the carpet for her fundraising gala for the Eva Longoria Foundation; pictured on Thursday

Her foundation focuses on education and entrepreneurship for Latina teens and children.

She posed up a storm at her gala in her plunging black jumpsuit, which featured fringed sleeves and a fitted hemline.

Eva also reunited with her former Desperate Housewives co-star Felicity Huffman at her charity event.

The actresses starred in the hit ABC show from 2004 until 2012 for eight seasons.

Eva played housewife Gabrielle Solis while Felicity starred as Lynette Scavo in Desperate Housewives.

Showstopper: She posed up a storm at her gala in her plunging black jumpsuit, which featured fringed sleeves and a fitted hemline; seen on Thursday in Beverly Hills at the event

So supportive: Eva also reunited with her former Desperate Housewives co-star Felicity Huffman at her charity event; pictured together on October 12 at the Four Seasons Hotel
The Panorama of the European Film's 10th edition, which will take place between 8 and 18 November, will expand its outreach this year by holding screenings in 10 cities across Egypt.

The annual festival was founded by Misr International Films and is organized by Zawya, Cairo's arthouse cinema.

Spanning 11 days, the event brings to Egyptian audiences a selection of the latest award-winning European feature, documentary, and short films, while also highlighting several European classics.

The Panorama further offers a program of workshops, classes, and talks with international filmmakers.

Zawya Cinema and Zamalek Cinema will serve as Cairo's two primary venues, while the Goethe Institut and the French Institut will host free screenings for select films.

In Alexandria, screenings will be held at Amir Cinema, in Port Said at Rio Cinema and at the Arkan Cultural Center, and in Ismailia at Dunya Cinema.

Assiut, Mansoura, Zagazig, and Damietta will also feature single screenings as part of the Panorama.

According to a statement by organizers, this year's program boasts over 50 films, all yet to be announced.

For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture

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She's a regular at church with her three children.

And Jennifer Garner turned up at the Community United Methodist Church in the posh Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday.

The 45-year-old was closely followed by her estranged husband, Ben Affleck, also 45, who arrived separately.

She's a regular: A somber Jennifer Garner arrived at the Community United Methodist Church in the Pacific Palisades district of LA just before estranged husband, Ben Affleck, on Sunday

The Batman star may have some praying to do following his admission that he groped former One Tree Hill star and MTV correspondent Hilarie Burton during an MTV TRL appearance in 2001.

But a somber Jennifer appeared to be standing by her ex on Sunday.

She looked fresh as a daisy in a knee-length skirt with a colorful flower pattern teamed with a black sleeveless top and killer black high heels.

Her center-parted chestnut tresses flowed over her shoulders and she protected her eyes from the bright sunlight with shades.

Filling up: The 45-year-old actor, who is in the middle of a groping scandal, carried an iced coffee to church

Meanwhile, Ben wore a light blue shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, grey pants and black shoes.

The couple, who share Violet, 11, Seraphina, eight, and Samuel, five, split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage and filed for divorce in April.

A source told E! News on Thursday that Jennifer 'is very annoyed' with Ben 'because it just means more attention on her and the kids.

Putting on a brave face: The actress, 45, looked fresh as a daisy in a knee-length skirt with a colorful flower pattern teamed teamed with a black sleeveless top and killer black high heels

With her brood: The actress was followed by two of the children she and Ben share, Sam, five, and Seraphina, eight

Keeping things normal: Ben chatted to Violet, 11, as they left the church. Jennifer hopes to shield their children from his groping scandal by keeping their routine as normal as possible

Precious moment: Violet, who was wearing a Je T'Aime New York, reached for her dad's hand as they strolled along

'She tries to shield them from any and all publicity and scrutiny. As far as they know nothing has changed and all is well. That is always her goal but she's been pretty frustrated with him.'

Hilarie made her allegations on Tuesday night, just hours after Ben took to Twitter to condemn Harvey Weinstein for his alleged sexual assault and harassment scandal.

In it, Ben said he was 'saddened and angry' over the 'sickening' claims.

Caffeine hit: The Batman star, who carried an iced coffee, has admitted that he that he groped actress and MTV correspondent Hilarie Burton during an MTV TRL appearance in 2001

Casual outfit: Ben looked dapper in a light blue shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, grey pants and black shoes

His statement was slammed by a number of people on Wednesday - including Weinstein's accuser actress Rose McGowan who called Ben a liar.

The same day make-up artist Annamarie Tendler took to Twitter to claim that Ben 'grabbed her a**' at a Golden Globes party in 2014 and demanded an apology.

Ben was quick to reply, tweeting: 'I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize.'

Called out: On Tuesday Ben Tweeted this statement about Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct saying it 'made me sick'
She's been at the centre of a media circus after being accused of having an affair with Mel B's estranged husband Stephen Belafonte.

But Lorraine Gilles seemed to take some time out for herself on Saturday, as she ran through the waves on a Los Angeles beach.

The 26-year-old showcased her incredible figure in a fitted black swimsuit as she enjoyed some time in the California sun.

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Time away: Mel B's former nanny Lorraine Gilles, 26, showcased her incredible figure in a form-fitting black swimsuit as she enjoyed some time on a Los Angeles beach

The former nanny was careful not to drop her phone in the water as she took a late-minute call while paddling in the waves.

Lorraine kept her blonde tresses loose for the outing, with her amazing body on full display in the simple, form-fitting swimsuit.

The German beauty was spotted chatting to a male companion on a sun lounger, although it was not clear whether it was her husband Michael LeBleau.

Rear-ly good! Lorraine looked amazing in the simple swimsuit, keeping her a blonde tresses loose

Fabulous: Lorraine seemed to enjoy her time in the Los Angeles sunshine, taking a break from the media storm surrounding her and former boss Mel B

Don't drop it! Lorraine was careful not to get her phone wet as she took a call while paddling in the waves

Company: Lorraine seemed to chat with a male companion on the beach, although it was not clear whether it was her husband Michael LeBleau

Lorraine has been at the centre of a media storm during Mel B's divorce, after releasing a 128 page dossier detailing how she was forced to film the former Spice Girl and her husband engage in threesomes on a regular basis.

Mel has accused Lorraine of having an affair with Stephen, with Lorraine allegedly being paid to have an abortion after falling pregnant with Stephen's child.

In the lawsuit, Lorraine wrote: 'My sexual and employment relationship with Melanie continued for approximately seven years until September 2016.

'During my time with Melanie, she and I had sex sporadically, sometimes having sex multiple times in a week.

Beach babe: Lorraine showed off her curvy figure on the beach in thong-style swimsuit that put her pert behind on full display

Accused: Lorraine has been at the centre of a media storm, after being accused of having an affair with Mel B's husband Stephen Belafonte

Innocent: In a legal dossier released in August, Lorraine claimed she was forced to film threesomes with Mel and her husband, and denies ever being pregnant with Stephen's child

'On the other hand I never had any sexual relations with Stephen without Melanie's instruction and without Melanie's actual or apparent consent. At no point did I represent to Melanie that I was pregnant with Stephen's child.'

Mel has reportedly spent thousands of pounds to silence Lorraine and keep the lawsuit out of court.

The America's Got Talent judge's legal representatives submitted 403 pages of legal dockets in a bid to urge Judge Dalila Lyons of Los Angeles Superior Court to rule the suit 'null and void under California law.'

Head to head: Mel, who filed for divorce from Stephen in March, alleged that Lorraine (pictured above in Ibiza last year) fell pregnant by her husband and then had an abortion

Avoided: Lorraine (right) ducked out of a tell-all deposition in her ex-boss's divorce case claiming she had 'food poisoning'
It's been a busy week for Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Yarbrough.

They made their first red carpet appearance together on Friday, then Karl went public with his feelings for his 33-year-old girlfriend in The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.

And on Monday, Woman's Day made shock claims that the Today host has not only proposed to the blonde beauty, but the pair are also planning on starting a family.

Wedding bells AND babies? Magazine claims Karl Stefanovic has proposed to girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough and the pair are planning to start a family

The magazine's surprising report claims Karl was absent from Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson's second wedding at the beginning of October because he whisked 'Jasmine off to Paris in order to pop the question'.

The publication also alleges that the pair have been 'doing their best to keep the news quiet.'

The report goes on to claim that the pair are also planning on starting a family.

'He's aware Jasmine wants a family of her own and is ready to give her what she wants, despite swearing he was done with kids after his third, River, ten years ago,' a 'source' allegedly told the publication.

'She is back from LA now. It is one step at a time and it's about doing whatever we do in a respectful way' Jasmine recently moved back to Australia

'Doing their best to keep the news quiet?' The magazine's surprising report claims Karl was absent from Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson's second wedding at the beginning of October because he whisked ''Jasmine off to Paris in order to pop the question'

However Karl's brother, journalist Peter Stefanovic, seems to be unaware of the engagement as a 'source close to the family' told Yahoo Be: 'If they did get engaged Pete knows nothing about it.'

Karl split from Cassandra in September last year, the former couple share three children together, daughter Ava, and sons Jackson and River.

Karl was spotted canoodling with Jasmine in February, after the two met on a Sydney boat party in December.

They maintained a long-distance relationship until earlier this week, when Jasmine announced her return to Australia.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph on Sunday Karl gushed about Jasmine and said: 'There is a lot of love in my life. She's a very strong and passionate person.'

'She is back from LA now. It is one step at a time and it's about doing whatever we do in a respectful way. Life is good, we are moving forward, taking baby steps.'

'There is a lot of love in my life. She's a very strong and passionate person' Karl went public with his feeling for Jasmine in an interview with The Daily Telegraph
He's one of the strongest in this year's competition, receiving his highest score to date for a passionate Viennese Waltz.

But fans were stunned to see Eastenders' star Davood Ghadami in the Strictly Come Dancing bottom two in Sunday's results show, along with his partner Nadiya Bychkova.

The 35-year-old actor competed in the dance-off for the judge's votes against Good Morning Britain host Charlotte Hawkins and her partner Brendan Cole.

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Shock: Fans were outraged on Sunday when Eastenders' Davood Ghadami, 35, ended up in the dance-off opposite Good Morning Britain's Charlotte Hawkins

Viewers took to Twitter to express their outrage at seeing Davood dancing again, proclaiming that he did not deserve to be in the bottom two.

Ahead of the couples going head-to-head, one supportive fan tweeted: 'Don't worry Davood you'll make it through. It's an injustice for you to be in the dance-off.'

Another wrote: 'I am truly gutted to see Davood in the dance-off.'

Solid: Davood received a respectable score of 29 points for his Viennese Waltz in Saturday's live show

Outrage: Fans took to Twitter in droves to express their disappointment that the soap star was in the dance-off

Talented: Davood has been one of the stronger dancers in this year's competition, and viewers were shocked to see him in the bottom two

Survivor: Davood made it through this week's dance-off, after the judges unanimously voted to send him through the next week's show

Devastated: The favourite had to perform again with his partner Nadiya Bychkova

Frontrunner: The soap star has been pinned as one of the favourites, after his intense performances with partner Nadiya

Seriously? One fan tweeted a 'shocked Joey' GIF in response to the dramatic show

A third fan exclaimed: 'No way is #Davood going home...' while another fan added: 'Davood did not deserve to be in the bottom 2. No way! I don't understand that at all #strictly.'

One fan went as far to tweet a 'shocked Joey' GIF in response to the tense show.

The Strictly judging panel were similarly shocked to see Davood in the dance-off, choosing to save him after watching the performance for the second time.

Judges Craig Revel-Horwood, Darcy Bussell and Bruno Tonioli unanimously chose to send Davood through to next week's show, with head judge Shirley Ballas also agreeing.

Surprise: The judges were similarly shocked at the results, and made the difficult decision to send Charlotte home

Ahead of Saturday's live show, fans were awash with worry that Davood may not even perform, after being taken ill during rehearsals.

Practising his Viennese Waltz to Jessie Ware's Say You Love Me, the actor reportedly had to stop his routine due to experiencing dizziness.

A Strictly source told The Sun: 'All the spinning of the Vienesse Waltz has left him with dizzy spells and sickness.

'He has been fine up until this point in the competition but this has knocked him for six.

'Producers hope he'll be OK for the big show.'

Despite concerns, Davood was fine to perform on the big night, tweeting: 'Its show day!!!! Really looking forward to tonight!'

We're through! The judges all voted to save Davood, with Bruno Tonioli noting that he had improved on his previous performance
Actors are routinely turning up for filming not knowing their lines, Bill Nighy said.

The British actor, 67, claimed it has become 'fashionable' to not learn the script and arrive for rehearsals unprepared.

He said many actors make 'millions of dollars' simply by 'standing still and keeping a straight face'.

The actor, who suffered from 'paralysing' stage fright, told the Cheltenham Literature Festival: 'I used to agonise on stage, having conversations with myself, move your left hand, take it out of your pocket, well I can't move it, yes you can, f***ing move it, walk across, I can't f***ing move, yes you can.

'It went on for years and years and years.

'Then I discovered if you stood still and kept a straight face  many people's careers are based on this  you can be mistaken for an inner life. People make millions of dollars doing this.'

Asked by an audience member for advice for budding young actors, the Love Actually star remarked that many aren't bothering to learn their lines.

Billy Nighy (pictured), 67, has revealed it's becoming 'fashionable' for actors to turn up on set without having learnt their lines

He said: 'If you're doing anything, if it's a play, or a film, or whatever it might be, learn every single word that you have to say backwards, forwards and sideways before you go into a rehearsal room - and obviously before you go on a film set.

'That might sound like an obvious thing, but it's not currently. There is a fashion for not knowing your lines.

'It's been invented by people who don't want to do their homework, obviously, and even as a creative choice.'

Mr Nighy didn't begin his film career until 1981, and started his career as a jobbing theatre actor.

He graduated from school with just two O-levels - both Ds.

On actors choosing to rehearse 'spontaneously' without learning the script, he added: 'That's a piece of b****** from people who don't do their homework.

Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, the Love Actually star (right) also admitted he had chronic stage fright. He is pictured with ex-wife Diana Quick

'You can't rehearse with a book in your hand, and you can't go be on the sides of a film set and not know your lines until someone turns the camera on.

'You can try it, but there is no lightning, nothing is going to strike. Rehearsal is not the enemy of spontaneity.

'The process is you say the lines over and over again until you can give the impression that you've never said them before and that it's just occurred to you.

'That's the gig, any other version is just people who don't want to do their homework.

'But it's entered the language in a very deep way, professionals would advise young actors not to learn s***. It's got that bad.'

Mr Nighy was married to actress Diana Quick for 28 years before their divorce in 2008.
The gunfight is the latest in a string of deadly shootouts between Indian forces and suspected insurgents during an upsurge in violence in restive Kashmir

Government forces in Indian-administered Kashmir said they had killed a top commander from a Pakistan-based militant group after a fierce gunfight in the disputed region Saturday that sparked violent protests.

The gunfight is the latest in a string of deadly shootouts between Indian forces and suspected insurgents during an upsurge in violence in restive Kashmir, where local groups have for years demanded that the region be given independence or merged with Pakistan.

The suspected rebel commander, named as Waseem Shah of the pro-Pakistan militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was killed after soldiers and special police forces acting on a tip off surrounded the southern village of Litter.

"In the ensuing gun battle the LeT commander and his bodyguard were killed," a police officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Hundreds of local people took to the streets as news of the deaths spread, with some protesters pelting government forces with stones and shouting slogans for Kashmir's independence from Indian rule.

Security forces responded with gunfire that left one dead.

"One man died on way to hospital after he was hit with a bullet," another police officer said, adding that at least 15 others were wounded during the clashes.

Kashmir has since 1947 been divided between rivals India and Pakistan, which both claim the region in full.

Rebels groups including LeT have been fighting for decades against Indian soldiers deployed in the territory. The fighting has left tens of thousands, mostly civilians, dead.

LeT has been blamed for being behind bloodshed in India, most notably the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 when heavily armed gunmen battled commandos on the streets of the financial capital, killing 166 people.

Hours after Saturday's gunbattle suspected rebels attacked a police convoy in the southern Kulgam area, leaving one policeman dead.

"Reportedly three militants attacked. We retaliated. Our driver received a hit and later succumbed to injuries," inspector general of police, Munir Ahmed Khan told AFP.

The area was cordoned off as authorities searched for the attackers, Khan said.

Earlier this year the Indian army launched an offensive dubbed "Operation Allout" to hunt down anti-India militants.

At least 166 militants and 59 security personnel have died so far this year.

India maintains presence of roughly 500,000 soldiers in its controlled part of Kashmir, deployed in villages and towns as well as along its de facto border with Pakistan.
Iranian women walk past the former US embassy in Tehran on November 3, 2016

Iranians responded with anger and mockery on Saturday to the bellicose speech against their country by US President Donald Trump and his threats to tear up the landmark nuclear deal.

"I was so angry last night," said Layla, 42, who runs an artisan shop in Tehran.

"This person hates Iran so much that even if we don't support the ideas of the regime, we find ourselves supporting them and the Revolutionary Guards."

Like millions of other Iranians, she spent Friday night watching Trump reel off a list of grievances committed by the "Iranian dictatorship, its sponsorship of terrorism, and its continuing aggression in the Middle East and all around the world".

He threatened to "terminate" the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers unless Congress passed stringent new sanctions.

But for many, Trump's biggest insult was the use of the term "Arabian Gulf" rather than "Persian Gulf" -- a big no-no in a country with a fierce nationalistic streak.

2015 Iran nuclear deal

"Everyone knew Trump's friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is too," wrote Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Twitter, referring to the US alliance with Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia.

Most countries and international bodies still use "Persian Gulf" as the conventional name for the region's waterway, despite pressure to change it from the Arab Gulf monarchies.

- 'In Iran's favour' -

"Trump's statements are so ridiculous that it actually works in Iran's favour. Speaking about the 'Arabian Gulf' is taken very badly by people here," said Abbas, a 40-year-old banker on his way to work.

"The reaction of the Europeans shows that the United States is isolated, and only Saudi Arabia and Israel have supported Trump," he added.

The other signatories to the nuclear deal -- Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- have called for its preservation, saying that Iran is clearly sticking to its commitments.

US President Donald Trump reignited America's decades-old feud with Iran by calling into question the future of a 2015 deal limiting its nuclear programme

In an interview with the US television channel CBS News, Zarif said Trump's assault on the nuclear deal sealed under his predecessor Barack Obama had served to undermine US credibility on the international front.

"Nobody else will trust any US administration to engage in any long-term negotiation because the length of any commitment, the duration of any commitment from now on with any US administration would be the remainder of the term of that president," Zarif said.

Trump's efforts to reach out to ordinary Iranians, who he referred to as the "longest-suffering victims" of the Islamic regime, also appeared to have fallen on deaf ears, with many recalling the travel ban he slapped on them earlier this year.

His Instagram page was inundated by more than a million comments, mostly from jeering Iranians.

"Trump stopped Iranians going to the US. How can he say he's on our side?" said Layla.

For all the bluster, Trump's strategy was not as tough as many had predicted.

It placed new sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guards, but did not designate them a foreign terrorist organisation as trailed in the run-up to the speech.

- 'We will stand together' -

The hardline Kayhan newspaper spun this as a victory, saying Trump had not "dared" to do so after the Guards warned the US would have to move its regional bases out of reach of Iranian missiles.

President Hassan Rouhani had pushed back against the Revolutionary Guards' deep involvement in the economy after winning re-election earlier this year.

But Trump's threats have brought a new solidarity among Iran's often bitterly divided institutions.

"We have dissatisfactions, for example there are economic problems," said Bahram Siavoshi, 36, as he walked to work at a private finance firm in Tehran.

"But if it comes to it, we will stand together to the end, and will defend even the Guards. Their efforts cannot be ignored. If it wasn't for them we would be like Syria or Yemen."

Rouhani took to the airwaves shortly after Trump's speech on Friday night, dismissing it as "nothing but the repetition of baseless accusations and swear words".

"He has not studied international law. Can a president annul a multilateral international treaty on his own?" Rouhani said.

Nonetheless, the deal's future hangs in the balance as the US Congress has 60 days to decide how to tighten sanctions, or possibly introduce new red lines that would trigger a US response.

"If the Congress goes ahead with new sanctions, then the deal is dead and Iran will restart its nuclear programme and move forward full-steam ahead in all fields," Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran, told AFP.

"Iran will probably invest even more than before in order to show the Americans that they can't get away with destroying the agreement."
Iraqi troops guard a military position retaken from Kurdish forces in the Kirkuk province town of Taza Khurmatu on October 13, 2017

Baghdad has set a pre-dawn Sunday deadline for Kurdish forces to abandon positions in the disputed oil province of Kirkuk they took during the fightback against the Islamic State group, a senior Kurdish official said.

The reported ultimatum comes as thousands of Iraqi troops and allied militia are locked in an armed standoff with Kurdish peshmerga fighters near ethnically divided but historically Kurdish-majority Kirkuk.

Tensions have soared between the erstwhile allies in the war against IS since a Kurdish vote for independence last month, drawing urgent appeals for calm from the US-led coalition supporting the campaign.

"The deadline set for the peshmerga to return to their pre-June 6, 2014 positions will expire during the night," the Kurdish official told AFP, asking not to be identified.

Asked at what time, he said 2 am on Sunday (2300 GMT Saturday).

The official's comments came as Iraqi President Fuad Masum, who is himself a Kurd, was holding urgent talks with Kurdish leaders in the city of Sulaimaniyah in the south of the autonomous Kurdish region.

No statements have emerged from the meetings.

On Friday, Iraqi troops took over formerly Kurdish-held positions in the south of Kirkuk province, including in the mainly Shiite Turkmen town of Taza Khurmatu.

In June 2014, IS fighters swept through vast areas north and west of Baghdad, prompting many Iraqi army units to disintegrate and Kurdish forces to step in.

They did so primarily in historically Kurdish-majority areas they had long sought to incorporate in their three-province autonomous region in the north against the strong opposition of Baghdad.

The Kurds currently control the city of Kirkuk and three major oil fields in the province which account for a significant share of the regional government's oil revenues.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that Washington was working to reduce tensions between Iraqi federal and Kurdish forces, urging them to remain focused on the war against jihadists.

"We are trying to tone everything down and to figure out how we go forward without losing sight of the enemy, and at the same time recognising that we have got to find a way to move forward," he told reporters.

"Everybody stay focused on defeating ISIS. We can't turn on each other right now. We don't want to go to a shooting situation," he added, using an alternative acronym for IS.
Caitlan Coleman (L) and Joshua Boyle (R) shown holding their children during their captivity, in an undated still image from a video provided by the Site Intelligence Group

Freed Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering his baby daughter and raping his wife during his family's years-long captivity by the Haqqani network, a Taliban-affiliated group operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Boyle leveled the accusations in a terse statement he read on arrival in Toronto late Friday with his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, and three children, who were freed on Wednesday by Pakistani troops.

He condemned the Haqqani network's "stupidity and evil of authorizing the murder of my infant daughter" in "retaliation for my repeated refusal to accept an offer that the miscreant of the Haqqani network had made to me, and the stupidity and evil of the subsequent rape of my wife."

He said the rape was not the action of a lone guard but aided by the captain of the guard and a Haqqani commander he identified as Abu Hajr.

The Haqqani group is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader.

The faction has long been suspected of having links with Pakistan's shadowy military establishment.

- A 'secure sanctuary' -

Boyle said both incidents had taken place in 2014, some two years after he and Coleman, who was "heavily pregnant" at the time, were kidnapped in a remote Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan.

He said they were in Afghanistan as "pilgrims" helping poor villagers when they were captured.

The three children who survived the ordeal were all born in captivity.

"Obviously it will be of incredible importance to my family to build a secure sanctuary to call a home, to focus on edification and to regain some portion of the childhood they have lost," he said.

The Canadian government welcomed the family's arrival.

"Today, we join the Boyle family in rejoicing over the long-awaited return to Canada of their loved ones," a foreign ministry statement said.

"Canada has been actively engaged on Mr. Boyle's case at all levels, and we will continue to support him and his family now that they have returned," it said, asking that the family's privacy be respected.

The Pakistani forces that freed the family said the US intelligence services tipped them off that they had been moved into Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal areas from across the border in Afghanistan.

Residents in the tribal districts of Kurram, where the operation took place, and North Waziristan told AFP they had seen drones flying in the skies above them for several days before the operation.

"We sent our troops, traced the vehicle on the basis of intelligence sharing ... and recovered the hostages," Major General Asif Ghafoor, spokesman for the Pakistani military, said in televised comments late Thursday.

- Family ties -

Before marrying Coleman, Boyle was briefly married in 2009 to Zaynab Khadr, the sister of Canadian-born Omar Khadr, who was captured in battle as a teenager in Afghanistan in 2002 and held for a decade in the US military at Guantanamo Bay.

Boyle was active in the campaign to win Khadr's release from Guantanamo and his transfer to Canada in 2012. He was freed on bail in 2015.

On Thursday, Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Boyle was not a target of any investigation.

Boyle returned to Toronto from Islamabad by commercial airlines, traveling via London. He denied reports he had refused to be flown home aboard a US military aircraft.
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British actress Lysette Anthony has told police that Harvey Weinstein raped her, the Sunday Times reported, becoming the fifth woman to level such accusations against the disgraced Hollywood mogul.

The 54-year-old actress, who currently appears in British soap Hollyoaks, told Metropolitan Police last week that she had originally met Weinstein in New York, and agreed to meet him later at his rented house in London, according to the paper.

"The next thing I knew he was half undressed and he grabbed me. It was the last thing I expected and I fled," she told the Times.

Anthony, who appeared in Woody Allen's 1992 film "Husbands and Wives", said that Weinstein then began stalking her, turning up unannounced at her house.

"He pushed me inside and rammed me against the coat rack," she said of the attack in the 1980s. "He was trying to kiss me and shove inside me. Finally I just gave up."

Harvey Weinstein faces another rape claim

Weinstein has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled Weinstein on Saturday amid mounting accusations of sexual harassment, assault and rape.

An avalanche of claims have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behaviour by Weinstein dating back decades.

The producer's wife, English fashion designer Georgina Chapman, has said she plans to divorce him.

Weinstein's films have received more than 300 Oscar nominations and 81 statuettes, according to The Weinstein Company, which he co-founded after selling Miramax.
The newly uncovered temple in Abusir necropolis helps piece together the activities of Ramses II in the Memphis area

Parts of a temple to King Ramses II (1213-1279 BC), along with reliefs of solar deities, have been uncovered by an Egyptian-Czech mission during excavation work in Abusir necropolis in the the governorate ofGiza

Mohamed Megahed, deputy to the mission director, told Ahram Online that the temple is located in an area that forms a natural transition between a terrace of the Nile and the floodplain in Abusir.

He added that the temple is 32 by 52 metres and behind it was a large forecourt along with two identical and considerably long storage buildings to the right and left side of the complex.

Studies carried out so far, Megahed explained, show that it can be assumed that stone columns lined the side walls of the court, which was enclosed by mud brick walls that were in at least some places painted blue.

The rear end of the court, a ramp or staircase leads to an elevated stone sanctuary whose back part was divided into three parallel chambers.

The remains of this building, which constitutes the very core of the complex, were covered with huge deposits of sand and chips of stone of which many bore fragments of polychrome reliefs, Professor Mirsolave Barta, director of the Czech mission, told Ahram Online.

He pointed out that the fragments not only show the decorative scheme of the sanctuary, but also function to help date the entire complex.

A relief on which is engraved the different titles of King Ramses II was also found, as well as another connected to the cult of solar deities such as Re, Amun and Nekhbet.

The discovery of the Ramses II temple provides unique evidence on building and religious activities of the king in Memphis area and at the same time shows the permanent status of the cult of sun god Re who was venerated in Abusir since the 5th Dynasty and onwards to the New Kingdom, Barta asserted.

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China will convene its 19th Party Congress on Wednesday when Xi Jinping is excepected to cement his stature as one of the most dominant rulers in decades

Chinese leader Xi Jinping is expected to tighten his grip on power at a Communist Party conclave this week, cementing his stature as the country's most dominant ruler in decades.

The five-yearly congress, which opens Wednesday, will give Xi an opportunity to enhance his control over the world's second largest economy by stacking the halls of power with loyalists.

The 64-year-old supremo will undoubtedly be granted the customary second term as general secretary of the Communist Party, but analysts will watch for signs that he may try to hang on beyond 2022.

Xi's clout has drawn parallels with Mao Zedong, modern China's founder, and Deng Xiaoping, who spearheaded economic reforms as paramount leader from the late 1970s to early 1990s.

"We can basically describe there as being three eras: The era when Mao was in power, Deng Xiaoping's era, and now the 19th Party congress is in some sense the complete opening of the Xi Jinping era," Chinese political expert Chen Daoyin told AFP.

China's role on the global stage has expanded under Xi, and despite huge differences, he has forged a relationship of sorts with US President Donald Trump

During his first term, Xi has already accumulated titles, nurtured a cult of personality and launched crackdowns on activists. Notably, the government let the country's most prominent dissident, Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, die of cancer in custody in July.

Party officials, including potential rivals, have fallen under his sweeping campaign against corruption, and he has reshuffled the military leadership.

On the global stage, Xi has used China's economic might to bring more countries into the Asian giant's orbit. While he has championed globalisation, the United States and Europe still complain of huge hurdles to enter the Chinese market.

He has even managed to build a rapport with Donald Trump, who has called Xi a "friend", visiting the US leader at his Florida resort and inviting him to Beijing after the congress in November despite differences over trade and how to handle North Korea.

All of it has been backstopped by a buildup of military muscle, as the leader has revamped the People's Liberation Army, opened the country's first overseas base in the Horn of Africa and aggressively asserted claims to the disputed South China Sea.

- Risks to China's success -

In addition to general secretary, Xi also has the traditional jobs of president and chairman of the central military commission.

In addition to general secretary, Xi also has the traditional jobs of president and chairman of the central military commission, but has added a slew of other titles, including "core" leader, earning him the nickname "Chairman of everything"

Unusually, he has added a slew of other titles, including "core" leader, earning him the nickname "Chairman of everything".

One clear signal that the age of Xi has begun is if he is able to fill the new Politburo Standing Committee with his allies.

Five members of the seven-person council that rules over China are set to step down in line with an unofficial retirement age of 68, leaving only Xi and 62-year-old Premier Li Keqiang.

But Xi may break with convention and lobby to retain his 69-year-old right-hand man Wang Qishan, the mastermind of the massive anti-graft campaign that has toppled a number of Xi's potential rivals.

China leadership timeline

If Wang stays on the committee, it would suggest that Xi is above the rules and also create a precedent for him to remain in charge of the CCP even after he himself turns 69 in 2022.

"The results of the party congress will show us just how powerful Xi has become," said Carly Ramsey, an associate director at global consultancy Control Risks.

"Regardless of the motivation," she said, "Xi risks weakening the crucial foundations of China's success and stability by undermining key (Communist Party) norms, namely placing elite cohesion and pragmatism above ideology."

- Xi in the 'pantheon' -

Xi may also use the occasion of the congress to designate an heir apparent.

One potential successor, former Chongqing city head Sun Zhengcai, was kicked out of the party in September after being ensnared in the anti-corruption drive.

The city's new chief, Chen Miner, is a Xi ally and could be seen as a contender if he ascends to the party's higher echelons.

Xi's clout has drawn parallels with Mao Zedong, modern China's founder

Another name to watch is Hu Chunhua, 54, the top official of the prosperous southern province of Guangdong.

Pekinologists are also waiting to see if Xi's name is added to the constitution alongside his political "thought" -- an honour bestowed only on Mao and Deng before him.

To Bill Bishop, Washington-based author of the Sinocism China Newsletter, "that would be a sign that he has really joined the pantheon".
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (L), who said increasing World Bank capital is "not the solution," and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who termed doing so "urgent"

The growing split between the United States and the rest of the world spilled into the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Washington this week.

The US administration showed a diminished view of the Bretton Woods institutions that shaped a US-led order after World War II, rejecting efforts to expand their activities, and defending its attack on free trade pacts as part of President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda.

And at the same time, the US continued to stymie China's ambitions to elevate its global role via an expanded stake in both the IMF and World Bank.

The Trump administration spelled out its view by rejecting a capital increase that the World Bank wants to expand its global anti-poverty mission.

"More capital is not the solution when existing capital is not allocated effectively," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement Friday, one day after Bank President Jim Yong Kim said he believed the Trump administration was now supportive of the move.

There was also no movement on the IMF's long-planned boost in its lending resources that would come with a shakeup of its shareholder quotas. Last year, the Republican-controlled Congress effectively vetoed the move, and the Trump administration has not supported bringing it back to life.

- US questions IMF, Bank pay -

Instead, Mnuchin took aim at the IMF and World Bank bureaucracies, calling them inefficient and suggesting their staffs are overpaid -- a longstanding view among many US conservative critics of both.

"We see scope for further budget discipline, especially with respect to compensation and the Executive Board budget," he said of the World Bank.

The new US stance on globalization under the Trump administration also came through in the meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank chiefs that took place during the IMF-World Bank meetings.

In the past, the group regularly raised the alarm over protectionist and anti-free-trade sentiment.

But this week the Trump administration -- which this year killed the Trans-Pacific Partnership with Asia-Pacific nations, stalled talks on a transatlantic free trade zone, and forced a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement -- appeared to stifle such talk.

After presenting a tepid G20 statement with no mention of trade or protectionism, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble quipped that the G20 lacks expertise in the matter. Because of that, he said, "at this time, global discussions are much more relaxed."

- Schaeuble challenges US -

The US differences with its allies were not evident on the surface, and the nearly week-long meetings of the two giant multilateral institutions went off smoothly.

The World Bank's Kim and IMF chief Christine Lagarde kept the focus on the need for countries to reform for the long term while global growth is strong, and to address growing inequality, especially in the most developed nations.

But in statements to the steering committees of the two institutions, many countries made clear their differences with the United States.

Most said they backed a capital hike for the World Bank. Schaeuble called it "urgent."

He also was tough on the trade issue.

"We should all be concerned about slow global trade growth and increased anti-free-trade rhetoric. Both are a threat to our common economic prosperity," Schaeuble said.

"Protectionist measures will only harm growth and harm those they claim to protect," he added.

In its formal statement, China called the lack of progress on increasing World Bank capital "regrettable."

- 'Climate change' restored -

It is a crucial issue for Beijing, which sees that a larger shareholding in both the IMF and World Bank, both dominated by the United States, would recognize its status as the world's number two economy and a political superpower.

"We hope that all parties will provide more political impetus from the perspective of increasing the legitimacy and effectiveness of the World Bank's governance structure... so as to increase the representation and voice of emerging market and developing countries," China said.

The US push for both to curb compensation met unenthusiastic reactions. In a closing statement, the Bank's steering committee blandly pledged support for a compensation review.

But the IMF bristled. "The Fund is highly cost-conscious and in fact we have been operating under a flat budget in real terms for six years in a row," a spokesperson said. "Salaries and benefits are reviewed on a regular basis by our Executive Board."

But one notable change suggested the Trump administration was not always getting its way -- or was changing its stance.

In the April IMF-World Bank meetings, the final Bank statement was bereft of any mention of climate change, reflecting Trump's refusal to accept it as a key global challenge.

In the statement released Saturday, climate change was reinstated as one of the world's key challenges.
Solar Team Eindhoven's "Stella Vie" was hailed as the future of sun-powered motoring as the 3,000-kilometre World Solar Challenge wrapped up

A futuristic Dutch family car that not only uses the sun as power but supplies energy back to the grid was hailed as "the future" Sunday as the World Solar Challenge wrapped up.

The innovative bi-annual contest, first run in 1987, began in Darwin a week ago with 41 vehicles setting off on a 3,000-kilometre (1,860-mile) trip through the heart of Australia to Adelaide.

Dutch car "Nuna 9" won the race for the third-straight time, crossing the finish line on Thursday after travelling at an average speed of 81.2 kilometres per hour (55.5 mph).

It was competing in the Challenger class, which featured slick, single seat aerodynamic vehicles built for sustained endurance and total energy efficiency.

But there was also a Cruiser class, introduced to bridge the gap between high-end technology and everyday driving practicality.

German team HS Bochum was the first to arrive Friday with its stylish four-seater classic coupe, featuring sustainable materials such as vegan pineapple leather seats.

But another Dutch team, Eindhoven, was set to be crowned overall champion based on a system taking into account design, practicality, energy efficiency, and innovation, organisers said.

Their family car, "Stella Vie", carried five people at an average speed of 69 kilometres per hour, with event director Chris Selwood saying it was a practical demonstration of what the future might look like.

"These incredible solar cars have been designed with the commercial market in mind and have all the features youd expect in a family, luxury or sporting car," he said.

"Team Eindhoven are to be congratulated on their achievement to date -- clearly the most energy efficient solar car in the field, capable of generating more power than they consume.

"This is the future of solar electric vehicles. When your car is parked at home it can be charging and supplying energy back to the grid."

Cars in the race were mostly developed by universities or corporations, with teams hailing from around the world.

They were allowed to store a small amount of energy but the majority of their power had to come from the sun and the vehicle's kinetic forces.

Team Eindhoven said its vision had been to build a family car with a balance between aerodynamic, aesthetic and practical design.

"We think we succeeded very well with a car that is more efficient than its predecessors and includes some state-of-the-art technologies to not only generate energy but also supply it back to the grid," they said.

"Through a smart charging and discharging system she charges the battery when the demand of energy from the grid is high and vice versa. Any surplus energy generated can easily be supplied back to the grid."

Of the 12 Cruiser class cars that started, six finished.

As well as the German and Dutch entrants, vehicles from Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States also crossed the finish line.
The corporate apology, where company bosses bow deeply at a news conference, has become all-too-frequent in Japan as a reputation for quality erodes

Embarrassing scandals at Kobe Steel and Nissan have tarnished the reputation of Japan Inc for quality, as once-mighty industrial world-beaters battle fierce global competition and shrinking profit margins.

Once again, the image of a corporate boss bowing deeply in apology before the cameras has been splashed across Japan's newspapers and sparked a fresh bout of national soul-searching.

Kobe Steel's chief admitted his firm had falsified quality data in products shipped to about 500 clients, including carmaker Toyota, aircraft manufacturers and defence contractors.

The news that the affected parts were also used in Japan's "Shinkansen" bullet trains deepened the humiliation for the "Made in Japan" brand that was once a byword for quality.

The revelation wiped $1.8 billion off its share price over the past week -- a drop of more than 40 percent -- as the scandal deepened and widened to other products such as steel wires, a key company product.

The Kobe Steel news came just days after Nissan recalled more than one million vehicles in Japan after admitting that staff without proper authorisation conducted final vehicle inspections before shipping them to dealers.

"Once the Japanese way of manufacturing won the praise of the world. But now jobs are being outsourced and factories are sent overseas. Things have changed," said Koji Morioka, professor emeritus at Kansai University.

Intensifying global competition and an unending drive to cut costs have resulted in a situation in developed countries like Japan where workers keep quiet to protect themselves even if they see wrongdoing, added the expert.

"As globalisation continues, companies are expanding local production, and emerging economies are becoming ever more competitive," Morioka said.

- Indian, Chinese pressure -

The admissions came as the global industry landscape goes through sweeping transformations, experts said.

Costly workers in mature economies like Japan are directly pitted against cheap factory staff in emerging markets in a competition for jobs.

Experienced workers with stable contracts are being replaced by temporary novices, while management demands higher productivity from all employees.

Meanwhile, industry newcomers are taking market share away from traditional corporate giants.

In the steelmaking sector, for example, Indian and Chinese giants have steadily expanded, pressuring their Japanese rivals.

And the Japanese auto manufacturing behemoths have expanded overseas production, rather than exporting vehicles from Japan.

The Kobe Steel and Nissan scandals are the latest in a string of negative headlines for Japanese industry that used to be the envy of the world.

Airbag maker Takata went bankrupt this year after spending years dealing with defective products that were linked to 16 deaths and scores of injuries worldwide.

Mitsubishi Motors last year admitted that it had been falsifying mileage tests for years.

Sadayuki Sakakibara, chairman of the powerful Keidanren business lobby, said that "global confidence and trust in Japanese manufacturing were based on unrivalled quality that overwhelmed other countries."

"These acts were so serious that it could have an impact" on trust in Japanese manufacturing.

- 'Spread like mould' -

Corporate scandals are of course not limited to Japan. The 2015 "dieselgate" affair, where Volkswagen admitted to equipping its diesel cars with devices to evade emissions tests, caused great embarrassment for German industry, also a watchword for quality.

General Motors in 2014 also started recalling millions of vehicles over ignition defects that were linked with 124 deaths, after hiding the problem for more than a decade.

But analysts said that ironically, super-stringent quality controls in Japan could be part of the problem.

Eyebrows were raised in the Nissan scandal when it emerged that checks by more qualified officials were required for the domestic market but not for vehicles destined for exports.

Nobuo Gohara, a corporate compliance lawyer who has helped restore a number of firms after serious scandals, said many such affairs stem from excessive safety or quality standards.

Misconduct begins when employees consider that meeting these standards is a mere formality rather then a requirement and start hiding it from internal audits, he said.

Such a culture can spread like "mould" through an organisation, Gohara told AFP.

"If you leave these situations untreated, the organisation as a whole becomes numb to regulations," he said.

Younger employees in Japan tend to be more sensitive to compliance requirements, Gohara said, adding that repeated surveys of workers by outside experts can encourage whistle-blowing.

But whistle-blowing does not function properly when the misconduct is routinely and systematically conducted by many people, including potential whistle-blowers themselves, he added.

In addition, there is no formal protection for whistle-blowers in Japan and a culture of respect for hierarchy prevents many workers from speaking out, observers say.

"I suspect many small acts of misconduct happen in many places," Gohara said.
A treasure chest of millions of rubies worth an estimated half a billion dollars are said to be lying beneath the people of the disputed Pakistan side of Kashmir.

But efforts to transform the area into a significant player in the gem industry are being held back by archaic tools and a lack of investment in infrastructure and techniques.

Pakistani Kashmir has just one mine and one exploration site, where miners dig to assess the potential of the jewels below.

Pakistani Kashmir has just one mine and one exploration site, where miners dig to assess the potential of the jewels below.

But the region has proven reserves of more than 40 million grams of rubies, and inferred resources of nearly 50 million grams, according to geological surveys commissioned by the provincial executive.

'We have rubies that are at least as good as the Burmese, but their mining techniques are more sophisticated', says Huma Rizvi, a dealer in precious stones.

Muhammad Azeem spends four months a year toiling in the Chitta Katha mine on the slopes of the Himalayas, which requires an eleven hour drive and then two hours walking to reach from Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir.

Experts believe tapping into the gem reserve could transform the fortunes of a region home to four million people largely living off modest incomes.

'I drill in the mine before the explosives are placed for blasting... It's a very hard job,' the miner told news agency AFP, using an old-fashioned perforator at the bottom of poorly ventilated tunnels.

It is back-breaking work with only occasional rewards - last year workers discovered a ruby the size of an egg.

Experts believe tapping into the gem reserve could transform the fortunes of a region home to four million people largely living off modest incomes. Yet precious stones currently account for less than one percent of Kashmir's tax revenues.

Pakistani Kashmir has just one mine and one exploration site, where miners dig to assess the potential of the jewels below.

The federal authorities that administer this disputed territory do not have the funds to buy new machinery or to build more mines, explained Shahid Ayub, director general of the Azad Kashmir Mine and Industry Development Company (AKMIDC), a public company responsible for developing the local industry.

'Mining is done manually or by small blasts - and we lose 40 to 50 percent of the value of the stones,' he acknowledges. 'Due to lack of investment, we are not making the most of our resources.'

For Pakistani Kashmir's rubies and other mineral resources - such as copper, gold and silver - to contribute more to Pakistan's economy, there must be more investment in local expertise and development of a legal framework to support the mining sector, dealer Rizvi says.

The jewellery industry in Pakistani Kashmir is still in its infancy, and limited by the fact that transportation of rough cut precious stones is prohibited in the region as a measure against smuggling.

But private firms are discouraged by the very rugged terrain and proximity to the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border with India, where cross-border firings and scuffles are frequent.

Even the major international mining companies are reluctant to invest in Pakistan, which has been plagued by legal disputes over major copper and gold concessions in the southwest of the country.

Another issue is the lack of regulation, Rizvi explains.

Major international mining companies are reluctant to invest in Pakistan, which has been plagued by legal disputes over major copper and gold concessions in the southwest of the country.

'You are never sure you are paying the right person. Every area has different rules,' she adds.

The current approach is erratic and while the region's rubies are sought after due to their garnet colour, the stones extracted are of irregular quality.

'It's your luck,' explains Mir Khalid, owner of one of the only gem stores in Kashmir. 'Once you cut it, either you find a beautiful stone, or it is damaged and cracked.'

Behind the wooden counter of his tiny stall, he keeps buried in the hollows of newspaper sheets and dusty plastic bags a handful of rough cut emeralds, a few pink rubies hardly polished, and tourmaline at various stages of finishing.

The jewellery industry in Pakistani Kashmir is still in its infancy, and limited by the fact that transportation of rough cut precious stones is prohibited in the region as a measure against smuggling.

Many gems are sold on informally and processed in Thailand or India, explains Imran Zafar, the director of a government centre set up to teach and train Muzaffarabad artisans.

Around him, a dozen craftsmen are busy around the saws and faceting machines attempting to shape the stones into desirable gems.

Under the skillful fingers of Abdur Rahmane, a small dull nugget turns into a bright pink gem.

'My favorite stones are ruby, sapphire and tourmaline,' smiles the young graduate, who now earns his living by trimming jewels on demand.

He says: 'With some practice, we'll shortly be able to compete on the international market.'
Desperate lovers are taking up meditation to have 'better sex', claims an expert in the ancient Buddhist philosophy.

The trendy practice, championed by Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie, has rocketed in popularity in recent years as scientists uncover its benefits.

It holds that the problems and worries of everyday life can be eased by paying greater attention to what is happening in the present, combined with careful breathing.

And due to its soaring popularity, meditation studios will crop up 'on every block' as the trendy practice becomes mainstream, spiritualists predict.

The trendy practice, championed by Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Angelina Jolie, has rocketed in popularity in recent years as scientists uncover its benefits

Meditation holds that the problems and worries of everyday life can be eased by paying greater attention to what is happening in the present, combined with careful breathing

Emily Fletcher, an ex-actress who now teaches meditation, has seen her business grow by 4,600 per cent since she started in 2012.

Ms Fletcher told AFP: 'Either they want to speak better, please their boss, want to make more money or have better sex.

'If you actually practice you will start enjoying your life more, your brain will function better, your body will feel better, you get sick less often.'

Lodro Rinzler, 'chief spiritual officer' of Mndfl, a New York-based meditation studio, predicts the trend will follow that of yoga, which has doubled in recent years, figures suggest.

Popping up on every block

He told AFP: 'I am sure they are going to be exactly like yoga studios, you are going to find them on every block.'

Mr Rinzler said business is 'going well' after opening two new studios in New York in two years.

Emily Fletcher, an ex-actress who now teaches meditation, has seen her business grow by 4,600 per cent since she started in 2012

THE BENEFITS OF MEDITATION Meditation can be traced back to as early as 5000 BC. It is associated with some philosophies and religions but is practiced as a secular, stress-relieving activity more and more. A new study published today has revealed that meditation can reduce one's risk of heart disease by decreasing risk factors that can lead to the illness. Specifically, it found that the practices can lower one's blood pressure and their anxiety and depression levels. It can also help people quit smoking, which can lead to a fatal heart attack. Experts are warning that healthy lifestyle changes such as being more physically active are still the surest way to ward off the disease, but adding that meditation can also decrease one's chances. Advertisement

Proven benefits

People are increasingly turning to meditation as a success tool, as a host of research has shown it can improve your focus and give you a competitive edge at work.

Meditation, which encompasses mindfulness, has also been proven to reduce inflammation, which can in turn improve your immune system.

And researchers last month revealed that spending a few minutes meditation each day could slash someone's chances of dying from heart disease.

But no such studies have shown a direct link to meditation having the power to boost someone's sex life.

Indirect trials have shown it can fight off stress and make adults more empathetic, which some link to being more passionate beneath the sheets.

Figures estimate that 18 million Americans use meditation, but statistics are unsure how many people use the technique in the UK.

Meditation: The origins

Its popularity in the West is owed in part to the Beatles, who promoted the practice on their return from India in the late 1960s.

Now meditation can be found in all areas of life -- from hospitals exploring its benefits for patients with serious illnesses, to schools who recommend it for children and television shows.

The craze is a result of many factors -- waning attendance at places of worship, lives spent submerged in smartphones, not to mention neuroscientists' confirmation of the benefits.

As a result, demand is spreading across the world - perhaps a natural continuation of the yoga craze, which firmly embedded the search for nirvana in the health and wellbeing industry.
Afghan security forces are being equipped with US-60 Black Hawk helicopters, like the one seen here hovering over the site of a Taliban suicide attack in Kandahar on August 2, 2017

Parked at a military runway in Afghanistan near other aircraft used in the fight against the Taliban, the grey-green helicopter appears unremarkable at first blush.

A second look at the UH-60 Black Hawk reveals a vital distinction: the US Army's insignia has vanished, replaced by the triangular logo of the Afghan security forces.

The fully refurbished chopper arrived here at Kandahar Airfield last month, the first of 159 the United States plans to give the Afghans to help turn the war in their favor.

"What you have here is a tried and true capability," US Air Force Colonel Armando Fiterre told reporters on a recent visit to the Kandahar air base in southern Afghanistan.

With the Afghanistan war turning 16 this month, the United States is looking to flip what officials have been calling a "stalemate" with the Taliban into a winning strategy that will force the insurgents to the negotiating table.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of more than 3,000 additional troops, on top of the 11,000 already there, to train and advise Afghan security forces.

And Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has overseen a loosening of restrictions on when the US military can attack insurgents.

But key to any durable gain is the ability of the Afghan security forces to lead the fight, instead of relying on guidance from the US and NATO, and a big part of that is a US-funded, seven-year modernization of their air force.

- Replacing Russian helicopters -

The plan to modernize the Afghan air force will provide vital firepower and mobility to the Afghans, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews told AFP.

These are "significant offensive factors" enabling the Afghans to "break the stalemate with insurgents."

In the past, Aghan security forces have relied on the coalition for air support.

"While the coalition is still present, (the Afghans) can also rely on their own countrymen overhead," Andrews added.

Under the program, the Afghans will phase out their 45 or so Russian Mi-17 helicopters and replace these with Black Hawks, a US military workhorse first produced in the 1970s.

The US says parts for the Russian choppers are hard to source, and US politicians want American aircraft to be used.

The helicopter Fiterre showed off is a training vehicle, but the Afghan Black Hawks eventually will include 58 of the attack variants that can be fitted with rocket pods and machine guns.

Others will be used to ferry troops, cargo and aid.

This "becomes a sustainable capability to increase the Afghan government's forward presence in a lot of these isolated locations," Fiterre said.

Between now and 2024, the Afghan Air Force will more than double their fleet of aircraft.

Some of this buildup could be seen at Kandahar, with a couple of US-provided Super Tucano attack planes taking off for combat missions in the Taliban heartland only 30-minutes away.

- Growing capabilities -

Over the past year, the Afghan air force has increasingly taken on combat missions to provide air support to ground troops and conduct surveillance.

But fighting an insurgency where the Taliban operate from civilian areas comes at a high cost.

On October 1, an "erroneous" Afghan air strike killed 10 security forces in volatile Helmand.

The number of civilians killed and wounded was at a record high in the first nine months of 2017, a new UN report shows, made worse by the Afghan air force carrying out its own air strikes along with US forces.

The UN mission report documented 466 civilian casualties -- 205 deaths and 261 injured -- a significant increase in air strike casualties compared to the same period a year ago.

The report found 62 percent of these casualties stemmed from Afghan air strikes, and most of the casualties were women and children.

US Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie insisted the Afghans' performance "was only going to improve" as additional US trainers and advisors flow into Afghanistan under Trump's plan.

"It's not going to be easy, because that's a tough place to operate aircraft... but I think we are on a positive trajectory," he said.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis hailed the Trump-era loosening of rules that make it easier for US air power to proactively target the Taliban, but insisted standards to protect civilians had not been diminished.

"We will never fight at any time, especially in these wars among innocent people, without doing everything humanly possible to protect the innocent that the enemy purposely jeopardizes," he told senators.

Afghan pilots who will fly a Black Hawk will undergo a six-week pilot training program, followed by another 10 weeks of mission training, meaning they will start conducting operations next year.
Freed Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle talks on the phone outside the Boyle family home in Smiths Falls, Ontario, Canada, on Saturday

A bomb Sunday killed four Pakistani soldiers as they searched for militants linked to the kidnapping of a US-Canadian family who were freed last week.

The incident happened near the Kharlachi checkpoint in Kurram district in the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

The family were being held by the Taliban-allied Haqqani network in the tribal area until they were rescued during a Pakistani military operation Wednesday.

"Four security force troops including a captain embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while three others sustained injuries when an improvised explosive device went off," the military said in a statement.

"The troops were part of a search party for handlers of the rescued foreigners," it added without offering further details.

Officials told AFP the search party belonged to the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force that provides security in Pakistan's tribal belt.

Joshua Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network, a notorious militant group that operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The Haqqani network is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader.

In a chilling statement on the family's arrival in Toronto, Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife, Caitlan Coleman.

Pakistan, which has long been accused of having links to groups such as the Haqqanis, has faced increased pressure from Washington to crack down on militants after it was lambasted by US President Donald Trump in August.

Following the family's release, Trump tweeted that relations were improving and thanked Pakistan for "their cooperation on many fronts".
Smoke billows from houses after bombing by Philippine planes in Marawi last month

Philippine troops Sunday bombed militants loyal to the Islamic State group who have held out for over four months in a southern city and the military said the conflict would be over "very soon".

The army previously set a target of Sunday to end the fighting in Marawi, which it said has killed more than 1,000 people. Troops have missed previous deadlines to flush out the militants whom authorities said intended to establish a local IS caliphate.

On Sunday FA-50 fighter jets flew over Marawi as soldiers fought the militants house-to-house in an area which has now shrunk to about five acres (two hectares), a military spokesman said.

"We are hoping that we will end this Marawi siege very soon," Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the task force battling the militants, told reporters.

Pro-IS gunmen occupied parts of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23.

Since then 822 militants, 162 government forces and 47 civilians have been killed, Brawner said.

The insurgents have withstood a relentless US-backed bombing campaign and intense ground battles with troops that have left large parts of Marawi resembling devastated cities in war-torn Syria and Iraq.

Military commanders last week set a target of October 15 to end the fighting and President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the battle was "almost over".

Twenty soldiers were wounded on Saturday in a sign troops were pushing hard to end the battle, Brawner said.

He said 40 militants remained in the conflict area including leaders Isnilon Hapilon, who is on America's list of most wanted terrorists with a $5 million bounty, and Omarkhayam Maute, whose group had pledged allegiance to IS.

There were also 100 civilians in the zone including hostages and families of the militants, he added.

"Women and children are now forced to fight together with the Maute-ISIS fighters. These are desperate measures the Maute-ISIS are doing. This is their last defensive stand," Brawner said, using another acronym for IS.

Duterte on Thursday warned against celebrating the eventual liberation of Marawi, citing the deaths and devastation there.

"When we leave Marawi, we go quietly. We do not want to show any kind of celebration or happiness," he said.
Bangladesh has stepped up security along its frontier with the state of West Bengal after claims Rohingya Muslim refugees are being steered into its territory by Indian border guards.

Officials said on Sunday that in recent weeks hundreds of refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar have been pushed into Bangladesh at the western border.

'We have stepped up surveillance and patrols so that no Rohingya can be pushed into our territory,' Lieutenant Colonel Hakim told news agency AFP.

Rohingya refugees from Myanmar in southeast Bangladesh: now Dhaka is trying to block arrivals from India

Tariqul Hakim, an area commander of the Border Guard Bangladesh, said Rohingya could be seen gathering opposite the Putkhali frontier post, where just a narrow river divides the two countries.

Our directions are very clear, and that is to push all Rohingya into Bangladesh Indian border guard in West Bengal

There are 40,000 Rohingya in India but the Indian government wants them deported, telling a top court last month they pose a security threat.

Hakim said Rohingya communities inside India could be trying to reunite with their families in southeast Bangladesh, where more than half a million Rohingya refugees have arrived since August from Myanmar.

A Rohingya boy cries as hundreds of Rohingya refugees walk through water in a paddy field at Bangladesh's border as they flee from Budichong, Myanmar

An estimated 536,000 refugees have crossed since August 25, fleeing violence in western Myanmar described by the United Nations as ethnic cleansing.

An Indian border guard in West Bengal told AFP that patrols had previously turned over all Rohingya intercepted at the frontier to local police.

'But now our directions are very clear, and that is to push all Rohingya into Bangladesh,' he told AFP on condition of anonymity.

A Rohingya boy displays an identity card processed by the Bangladesh government

'We are trying to accomplish our task with active local support'.

A Bangladesh border guard official, Abdul Hossain, said villages along the frontier were on high alert, with newly-arrived refugees saying they had been encouraged by Indian guards to cross the border.

'We've been patrolling the border day and night to prevent their entry. Local villagers have also joined us in the patrols,' Hossain told AFP.

More than half a million Rohingya have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh in just over a month, the largest refugee crisis to hit Asia in decades

Local council member Nazrul Islam said more than a dozen Rohingya who crossed at a southwestern part of the frontier Friday reported Indian guards opening a section of barbed wire to allow them to pass easily.

Bangladesh already hosts at least 800,000 Rohingya, including those who fled earlier crackdowns in Myanmar, and does not want to accept any from India.

It is trying to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar. But the stateless Muslim minority are reviled in the mainly Buddhist nation and considered to be illegal immigrants.

The unprecedented influx of refugees has put immense pressure on Bangladeshi authorities and charities, who have described the crisis as one of the world's most pressing humanitarian emergencies.
Qatar has asked the World Trade Organization to set up a dispute panel to adjudicate on its row with the United Arab Emirates, Qatar said in a document published by theWTO on Thursday, escalating a trade complaint it lodged with the WTO in July.

The initial complaint, which also included Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, triggered a 60-day window to settle the issue in talks without entering years of litigation.

But on Aug 10, Qatar received a communication from the chairman of the WTO's dispute settlement body stating that the UAE would not engage in consultations with Qatar, the Qatari submission to the WTO said.

"As a result of the UAE's refusal to engage in consultations with Qatar, the dispute has not been resolved," it said.

The document did not mention Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and it was not immediately clear if Qatar would also ask for adjudication in its complaints against them.

They cut ties with Qatar - a major global gas supplier and host to the biggest U.S. military base in the Middle East - on June 5, accusing it of financing militant groups in Syria, and allying with Iran, their regional foe, allegations Doha denies.

They have previously told the WTO that they would cite national security to justify their actions against Qatar, using a controversial and almost unprecedented exemption allowed under theWTO rules.

Adjudication of the dispute is not automatic. Under the WTO's rules, the UAE is allowed to reject Qatar's first request for a dispute panel, so Qatar has to ask two meetings of the dispute settlement body before a panel will be set up.

It said it would make the first request at the next meeting on Oct. 24.

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A displaced Iraqi woman walks past tents at the Hasan Sham camp east of Mosul on July 15, 2017

Nearly 700,000 Iraqis from the former jihadist stronghold of Mosul and nearby areas are still displaced despite the city's recapture in July, the Norwegian Refugee Council said Sunday.

"One year since the start of the battle to retake Mosul from the Islamic State group (IS), some 673,000 Iraqis from the city and its surroundings remain displaced and unable to go back to their destroyed neighbourhoods," it said.

"More than half of them may have lost their official civil documents -- from birth certificates to property deeds -- which will make rebuilding their lives even harder," added the humanitarian group, which operates in Iraq.

Mosul was seized by the jihadists in 2014 during an offensive that saw them take control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria.

The nine-month offensive to recapture Iraq's second city left many neighbourhoods in ruins.

"The battle of Mosul is over, but for hundreds of thousands who fled the city, their suffering and despair continues," said the NRC's Iraq country director Heidi Diedrich.

"People we work with are still missing some of the most basic necessities and have no idea if they will ever be able to go back to their homes."

She called on the international community "to stand in solidarity" with the displaced Iraqis and for the government to ensure their rights "are at the forefront" of reconstruction efforts.
Iraqi forces drive towards Kurdish peshmerga positions on October 15, 2017, on the southern outskirts of Kirkuk

Baghdad said Sunday that foreign Kurdish forces were present in the province of Kirkuk in what amounted to a "declaration of war", dramatically raising the stakes in its dispute with Iraq's Kurds.

Kurdish officials denied Baghdad's claim that forces from Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were among its peshmerga fighters in an armed standoff with Iraqi troops in the oil-rich province.

But the National Security Council headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said PKK fighters were among "fighters not belonging to regular security forces in Kirkuk", a move it called "a dangerous escalation".

"It is impossible to remain silent" faced with "a declaration of war towards Iraqis and government forces," it said in a statement.

"The central government and regular forces will carry out their duty of defending the Iraqi people in all its components including the Kurds, and of defending Iraq's sovereignty and unity," it added.

General Jabar Yawer, chief of the peshmerga ministry, rejected the Iraqi claims. "There are no PKK forces in Kirkuk, but there are some volunteers who sympathise with the PKK," he said.

Iraqi forces on the roadside as they head towards Kurdish peshmerga positions on the southern outskirts of Kirkuk

Baghdad's statement came just hours before the expiry of a new deadline for Kurdish peshmerga fighters to withdraw from disputed areas they took in 2014 during the fightback against the Islamic State jihadist group.

Crisis talks on Sunday made little headway in resolving the standoff between Kurdish and Iraqi forces in the province, three weeks after a contested Kurdish independence vote.

- Fruitless talks -

Iraqi President Fuad Masum, himself a Kurd, met with Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani in Dukan in Sulaimaniyah province for several hours, after an overnight deadline for Kurds to withdraw was extended by a day.

A statement after the talks made no mention of the call to pull the peshmerga back, instead renewing an offer of dialogue and warning that "military intervention or troop movements" by Iraqi forces would wreck hopes of a peaceful solution.

Iraqi President Fuad Masum (L) meets with Iraqi Kurdish president Massud Barzani in Dokan, some 70 kilometres northwest of Sulaimaniyah

Hemin Hawrami, an adviser to Barzani, said in a tweet that the main Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), had agreed to "reject any demands to nullify the referendum results" and to "refuse preconditions" on talks.

Baghdad has demanded the Kurds scrap the results of the September 25 non-binding referendum that produced a resounding "yes" for independence for the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Tensions have soared in the wake of the vote, with the crisis raising fears of fresh chaos just as the country's forces are on the verge of routing IS from the last territory it controls in Iraq.

- Oil fields contested -

In Taza Khormatu, a town just south of Kirkuk, an AFP photographer saw tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery deploying on Sunday.

A Kurdish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said about a dozen Kurdish homes were torched in Taza Khormatu, blaming Turkmen units based in a nearby town.

As well as heavily armed federal troops, members of the Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation forces, which are dominated by Iran-backed Shiite militias, have massed around Kirkuk.

Long claimed by the Kurds as part of their historic territory, the province has emerged as the main flashpoint in the dispute.

Polling during the referendum was held not only in the three provinces of the autonomous Kurdish region but also in adjacent Kurdish-held areas, including Kirkuk, that are claimed by both Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan.

The referendum was declared illegal by Baghdad and held despite international opposition.

The Kurds control the city of Kirkuk and three major oil fields in the province that produce some 250,000 barrels per day, accounting for 40 percent of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil exports.

A Kurdish peshmerga fighter holds a position on the southern outskirts of Kirkuk city in an area where Iraqi forces are deployed on October 14

The fields would provide crucial revenue to Baghdad, which has been left cash-strapped from the global fall in oil prices and three years of battle against IS. Iraq is also demanding the return of a military base and a nearby airport, according to the Kurds.

Abadi said this week that he was "not going... to make war on our Kurdish citizens" but has also rejected any negotiations until the independence vote is annulled.

A member of the Iraqi forces stands next to a tank as an army convoy drives towards Kurdish peshmerga positions on the southern outskirts of Kirkuk

Tensions have also risen between the Kurds and Ankara and Tehran since the independence vote, which both countries fear will stoke the separatist ambitions of their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Iraq's foreign ministry said Iran on Sunday closed its border crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan at Baghdad's request. A local Kurdish official confirmed the crossings were closed, though Tehran earlier denied the move had been taken.
The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces say they have begun the battle to capture the last 10 percent of Raqa under jihadist control

US-backed forces announced Sunday the "final phase" of the battle to retake Syria's Raqa, after the city was evacuated except for foreign Islamic State group fighters and their families.

More than 3,000 civilians fled Raqa on Saturday night under an evacuation deal that left just a few hundred foreign IS fighters and some of their relatives in the handful of positions they still hold in their one-time Syrian stronghold.

Commanders said the way was now clear for a final assault by the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-Arab militia alliance that broke into Raqa in June and has since captured 90 percent of the city.

SDF spokesman Talal Sello said the 3,000 civilians had evacuated to areas controlled by the SDF under a deal negotiated between local officials from the Raqa Civil Council and Syrian IS fighters.

"Raqa is now empty of civilians who had been taken as human shields," he said.

Raqa: IS group's last pocket of resistance

"Only 250 to 300 foreign terrorists who refused the deal and decided to stay and fight until the end remain in the city, and relatives of some members are with them," he said, without specifying the number of civilians.

Sello said a total of 275 Syrian IS fighters and family members had also left jihadist-held parts of the city and were with SDF fighters.

He declined to specify where those jihadists and their families would go.

With the deal's implementation, the SDF announced what it said was the last phase of the fight to capture the city.

- Contradictory reports -

"We are now in the final phase of the battle for Raqa," Jihan Sheikh Ahmed, spokeswoman for the SDF's Raqa campaign, told AFP.

In a statement, the SDF said that the last phase of the fighting would "end the presence of the terrorist mercenaries inside the city".

"The battle... will continue until the entire city is cleared of terrorists who refuse to surrender, including foreign terrorists."

There had been speculation for days about a deal to allow the SDF to capture the last parts of the city while preventing further civilian casualties.

A picture taken on October 14, 2017 in the Kurdish town of Kobane in northern Syria shows people mourning during the funeral of a Kurdish fighter, who was killed in clashes against Islamic State (IS) group fighters in the city of Deir Ezzor

But there had been contradictory reports about whether the deal would allow foreign IS fighters to leave, something that has been strongly opposed by the US-led coalition supporting the SDF.

The Raqa Civil Council issued a statement Sunday afternoon denying that foreign IS fighters had been allowed to leave the city, after one of its members said "a portion of the foreigners have left."

The RCC said "for clarification and accuracy, the foreign Daesh (IS) are not at all the concern of the Raqa Civil Council and the tribal leaders and they cannot be pardoned."

"Those who have surrendered are only Syrians, and they number a total of 275 including their families."

The US-led coalition had on Saturday announced a convoy would leave the city, specifying that it would not include foreign IS fighters.

"We're very adamant about not allowing foreign fighters to leave the city," coalition spokesman Colonel Ryan Dillon told AFP on Sunday.

- 'Surrender or fight' -

"Our stance was they either stay and fight or they surrender unconditionally."

"The last thing we want is foreign fighters to go free so they can return to their countries of origin and cause more terror and more havoc," he added.

But Dillon said local officials had not been asked for guarantees.

"This is a local solution," he said.

Kurdish militiamen carry the coffin of a fighter killed battling the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, at a funeral in Kobane on October 14, 2017

"While we may not fully agree with our partners sometimes, we have to respect their own solutions to their issues."

IS captured Raqa in 2014, and under its rule the city become synonymous with the jihadist group's worst abuses, and was transformed into a planning centre for attacks abroad.

The loss of Raqa would be only the latest blow for IS, which has suffered a string of setbacks in recent months.

It was driven from its largest Iraqi stronghold Mosul in July and now holds only a sliver of territory in the country.

In Syria, its presence is largely confined to the eastern province of Deir Ezzor, where it is under attack by both the SDF and a Russia-backed Syrian government campaign.

On Saturday, Syria's army seized the former IS stronghold of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor.

IS seized large parts of Syria in 2014, taking advantage of the chaos of the country's civil war that started three years earlier.

On Sunday, rebel shelling killed four civilians in Damascus, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor and a medical source said.

It came after a drop in violence in the capital since the implementation in July of a de-escalation zone in the rebel-held area of Eastern Ghouta to its east.
Residents of the southern Moroccan town of Zagora wait to fill containers with water from a public well as they face water shortages.

Residents angered by persistent water shortages in southern Morocco have taken to the streets in a series of "thirsty protests" that has grabbed the attention of the country's king.

Since the start of the summer, inhabitants in the region of desert town Zagora have been left parched and furious as water supplies are cut off for hours -- or even days -- at a time.

"The situation is critical. It means daily suffering for the people in this region," Jamal Akchbabe, head of an environmental group in the town, told AFP by phone.

"Families are going for days without tap water, while others don't have any for several hours each day. And this water is undrinkable."

In a bid to express their discontent over the crisis, residents began organising regular peaceful protests in the town of some 30,000, around 700 kilometres (430 miles) from the capital Rabat.

At first they were tolerated by the authorities, but then on September 24 security forces stepped in to break up a rally and arrested seven people for taking part in an "unauthorised demonstration", local rights activist Atmane Rizkou said.

The situation only got worse when residents tried again to march on October 8, activists said.

The attempt descended into violence as police boxed in the town and used force to break up the gathering and detained 21 people, said Akchbabe.

"The protesters were subjected to repression, insults and humiliation," he said.

"The town is in a state of siege."

- Watermelons to blame? -

Residents put the shortages roiling this arid region down to the overuse of sparse resources for agriculture, especially the cultivation of watermelons.

Akchbabe says locals accuse the ministry of agriculture of allowing this water-intensive production "which provides profit for big farmers to the detriment of the inhabitants".

University professor Abdelmalek Ihazrir, who has written about Morocco's water policy, says that rare rains have led to the overexploitation of ground water across the country.

"The rains are scarce and strong heatwaves lead to evaporation from water at the source, above all in the south," he told AFP.

"We need to develop a new, more rational policy and alternative measures."

Officials appear to have heeded the anger -- but so far their response has entailed mainly just words.

At the end of September Prime Minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani promised "emergency measures" after the national water and power authorities admitted there were "constraints" hindering the system.

A few days later the country's powerful monarch Mohammed VI called for the establishment of "a commission that will look at the issue with a view to finding an adequate solution in the coming months".

- Sensitive timing -

The protests come at a sensitive time for Morocco as the authorities are desperate to avoid a repeat of social unrest that has seen months of demonstrations rock the long-marginalised Rif region in the north.

But the water issues roiling the country are common across North Africa and the Middle East where access to the precious resource has long been a problem.

The World Bank estimates that over 60 percent of people there live in areas that suffer from a scarcity of water, compared to a worldwide figure of just 35 percent.

In neighbouring Algeria to the west, water shortages in 2000 and 2013 erupted into violence clashes.

Meanwhile in Tunisia, where residents are especially reliant on winter rainfall to fill up dams, droughts caused supplies to be cut in summer 2016 for periods that sometimes lasted weeks at a time.
A grab taken from a video released by CBC News on October 14, 2017 shows freed Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle

The Taliban on Sunday rejected claims by freed Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle that his kidnappers had killed his child and raped his wife during the family's captivity, saying the woman had a "natural miscarriage".

Boyle and his American wife Caitlan Coleman were seized by the Taliban while hiking in Afghanistan in 2012, and then turned over to the group's affiliated militant Haqqani network in Pakistan.

The couple and their three children born in captivity were freed Wednesday in a Pakistani military operation triggered by US intelligence and are now back in Canada.

After landing in Toronto on Friday Boyle accused his captors of killing his baby daughter and raping his wife -- accusations which the Taliban said were "fake".

In a statement read on his arrival Boyle condemned the Haqqani network's "stupidity and evil of authorising the murder of my infant daughter" in "retaliation for my repeated refusal to accept an offer that the miscreant of the Haqqani network had made to me, and the stupidity and evil of the subsequent rape of my wife".

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Boyle and Coleman were never separated during their captivity, "precisely due to the fact that the mujahideen did not want to incite any suspicion", but he admitted a baby had died.

"During a period of detention an incident did take place when the woman became ill. The area was remote, no doctors were present and due to this severe condition, the woman had a natural miscarriage of a girl," Mujahid said in a statement.

"The allegations floating around in the media have nothing to do with the reality because the said people are now in the hands of our enemy."

The Haqqani group is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader.

The faction has long been suspected of links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment.

Providing few details, Boyle said the death of his daughter and his wife's rape occurred in 2014.

That was two years after he and Coleman, then "heavily pregnant", were kidnapped in a remote Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan.

He said they were in the war-torn country as "pilgrims" helping poor villagers when they were captured.
Yemeni students attend a class on the first day of the new school year in the capital Sanaa, on October 15, 2017

Classrooms in Yemen's capital and rebel-held north remained largely empty on the first official day of school Sunday, as war, hunger and an economic collapse leave millions struggling to survive.

"The future of 4.5 million students hangs in the balance," Rajat Madhok, spokesman of the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Yemen, told AFP.

A union strike over the suspension of teachers' salaries has ground education in areas controlled by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels to a halt, three years into a war between the Iran-backed rebel alliance and a government backed by Saudi Arabia.

UNICEF estimates 13,146 schools, or 78 percent of all of Yemen's schools, have been hit by the salary crunch, many of them unable to open for the first day of school.

Nearly 500 schools have been destroyed by the conflict, repurposed as shelters or commandeered by armed factions in a war that has killed thousands and pushed the country to the brink of famine.

Schools in the capital Sanaa and across northern Yemen were forced to delay the September 30 start of the scholastic year by two weeks after the rebels failed to pay teachers' salaries.

In government-held parts of Yemen, however, most schools this year opened as scheduled on October 1.

- 'Starving' teachers -

In Sanaa, 13-year-old Bashar al-Zaraji went to his school to register for classes on Sunday, but found himself looking straight at a locked door.

"I asked the school guard where everybody was. He told me the teachers were still on strike. They want their salaries," Zaraji told AFP.

"So we're living in a country where we can't study and nothing works," he said in exasperation. "What are we supposed to do?"

AFP reporters in Sanaa said younger pupils were in tears after waiting hours for their teachers to arrive, only to be left disappointed.

A handful of schools did open their doors to allow students to register for the year.

Others have taken to replacing teachers on strike with administrators loyal to the Huthi rebel movement, a measure education experts say is far from sufficient to meet children's right to education.

Yemeni students attend a class on the first day of the new school year in the capital Sanaa, on October 15, 2017

"It is not only the issue of whether the schools open, but the quality of the teachers," said UNICEF's Madhok.

Nearly three quarters of Yemen's educators have not been paid for 12 months, according to UNICEF.

Teachers who struggled through a year with little to no pay say they will hold firm to their strike in the year to come.

"We're starving to death and they want us to teach?" said Abdel Hakim, a teacher in Sanaa.

"It's better to leave teaching and go look for work to feed my kids," he told AFP.

Others have been moonlighting in other professions or looking to shift vocations altogether.

"For the past two years, I've gotten paid just half my old salary every two months," said teacher Mohammed Abdelrabb.

- Children at risk -

A bleeding education sector poses a major threat to the well-being of children, who are at increased risk of being recruited into militias, forced into labour or married off young, Madhok said.

The Huthis had promised teachers would be back in the classroom this school year.

The Iran-backed Huthis in 2014 drove the government out of Sanaa and south into Aden, hometown of beleaguered President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

The Hadi government last year pulled the central bank from rebel-held Sanaa to Aden, a move the UN said deprived more than one million civil servants -- including teachers -- of their salaries and pushed families toward starvation.

One principal in Sanaa said she decided to open her doors to her students on Sunday, regardless of whether any teachers actually showed up.

Yemeni students attend a class on the first day of the new school year in the capital Sanaa, on October 15, 2017

"If they stay home that won't stop us from receiving students," she said.

But some longtime residents of Sanaa said they were at their wits' end with the crumbling of the country's infrastructure, culminating in the paralysis of education.

"Since the Huthis came to Sanaa our salaries have been stolen, so has our health care, electricity and water" said Fahmi al-Sharabi, a 35-year-old resident of the capital.

"And now our children are being robbed of their education."
Larry Flynt questions the legitimacy of President Donald Trump's election and lists offenses ranging from alleged collusion with Russian meddling in the US election to the sabotaging of the Paris climate accord

Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt offered $10 million Sunday for dirt to help remove from office US President Donald Trump, in a full page ad in the Washington Post.

"I do not expect any of Trump's billionaire cronies to rat him out, but I am confident that there are many people in the know for whom $10 million is a lot of money," he said in the ad.

The porn magazine founder noted that he had used million dollar cash rewards before to elicit information that helped upend the careers of two Republican politicians.

"For the current crisis, I have upped the ante to $10 million," he wrote. "Make no mistake, I fully intend to pay this entire sum."

The top of the ad, written in all caps, reads simply: "$10 MILLION FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF DONALD J. TRUMP."

It goes on to question the legitimacy of Trump's election and lists offenses ranging from Trump's alleged collusion with Russian meddling in the US election to his sabotaging the Paris climate accord.

"But most worrisome is that, long before climate-change apocalypse strikes, Trump might trigger a nuclear world war," he wrote.

"Impeachment would be a messy, contentious affair, but the alternative -- three more years of destabilizing dysfunction -- is worse."

The ad lists an email contact and a hotline, which the Post reported would be staffed on weekdays, 8:30 am to 6 pm, for the next two weeks.
US President Donald Trump has set about dismantling Barack Obama's accomplishments on all fronts -- climate, trade, health care, immigration and foreign policy

Brick by brick, the demolition job has begun: since taking office less than a year ago, Donald Trump has launched an all-out assault on the legacy of Barack Obama.

Climate, free trade, health care, immigration, foreign policy -- the 45th US president has set about undoing just about everything done by the 44th.

All new presidents, of course, break with their predecessor once in the Oval Office, especially if they come from a rival political party.

But what is striking is how systematic the hammer blows to Obama's legacy have been.

And rather than throw his weight behind new policies or projects, Trump has shown a willful desire to unpick, shred and erase everything his predecessor accomplished.

It's worth noting that each time he buries one of the reforms of the man who sat before him at the "Resolute desk," Trump sounds more like a candidate than a president.

- 'Ridiculous trade deals' -

Former US president Barack Obama, seen here in Germany in May 2017, has largely kept silent as Trump moves to undo his legacy

The Trans-Pacific Partnership? Within days of taking office, Trump signed an order pulling America out of the free trade accord, the fruit of eight years of negotiations between 12 Asia-Pacific countries, from Chile to Canada and Japan.

"We're going to stop the ridiculous trade deals that have taken everybody out of our country and taken companies out of our country, and it's going to be reversed," Trump said.

Paradoxically, in signing off on the project's demise, Trump was aligning himself more with the left wing of the Democratic party than with the Republican mainstream.

The Paris climate accord? Obama played a leading role in attaining that milestone in the effort to combat global warming.

Trump pulled out of the agreement signed by 195 countries, claiming that it "punishes the United States" and declaring: "I was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris."

What about Obamacare, the signature legislative achievement of Obama's first term? After trying in vain to get Congress to repeal it, Trump is now working to bring about its collapse through the regulatory process.

And the Iranian nuclear accord? The bid to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon in return for a lifting of sanctions more than any other bore came to represent Obama's approach to world affairs.

"This deal will have my name on it," the Democratic president said shortly before it was concluded. "Nobody has a bigger personal stake in making sure that it delivers on its promise."

While Trump has stopped short of tearing up the Iran deal, as he threatened on the campaign trail, on Friday he warned he could do so "at any time," raising doubts about the fate of an accord born of years of painstaking diplomacy.

- A break at any price -

How to explain the fixation on destroying Obama's legacy at all cost?

Trump has held high his determination to fulfill his campaign promises, and give form to a simple slogan: "America First."

And his team recalls, with reason, that Obama acted by decree many times when thwarted by Congress. What has been decided by the stroke of a pen can be undone by the stroke of a pen.

Historian Jeffrey Engel, however, sees no equivalent in recent decades to Trump's systematic application of the simple principle that "if the other guy liked it, it must be bad."

To Engel, the explanation is that Trump's electoral base "never accepted fully Barack Obama as their president."

"There was a move among Obama's opponents to delegitimize him and to say that this man is not really president and consequently anything that he did, Trump's base is ready to get rid of," said Engel, who heads Southern Methodist University's center for presidential history in Dallas, Texas.

A notable fact: Obama has until now remained largely silent as his legacy is demolished.

American tradition, which is generally respected, holds that a former president should remain above the fray.

But, in thinking about his place in history, Obama is also playing the patience card.

"I think that Obama understands that his legacy ultimately will be defined by how America reacts to Trump in the long term and how Trump's successors act," said Engel.

On November 7, 2016, on the eve of the US elections, Obama warned voters "it all goes out the window" if they were to send Trump to the White House.

That attempt to rally Democratic voters now seems prophetic.
The US government launched a $10 million project to improve access to wastewater treatment and water for Palestinian farmers in the Jericho area of the occupied West Bank

The US government on Sunday launched a $10 million project to improve access to wastewater treatment and water for Palestinian farmers in the Jericho area of the occupied West Bank.

A top aide to US President Donald Trump, Jason Greenblatt, was among officials launching the project in the historic city near the Dead Sea.

Greenblatt has been among Trump's aides seeking to restart Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. US officials have spoken of improving the Palestinian economy and infrastructure as part of their efforts.

At Sunday's event, Greenblatt did not comment on White House peace efforts, which have been met with heavy scepticism from many analysts.

He also did not speak about a unity deal signed last week between Palestinian rival factions Fatah and Hamas aimed at ending their decade-long division.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah is in power in the West Bank, while Islamist movement Hamas runs the Gaza Strip.

The project announced Sunday aims to increase the number of homes connected to the Jericho area's wastewater treatment plant previously built with Japanese assistance by about 10,000 residents.

That would leave some 70 percent of Jericho residents connected, according to the US consulate in Jerusalem.

Recycled wastewater would then be available to Palestinian date farmers in the area, it said.

"The US administration and President Trump personally remain committed to a just and lasting peace between Palestinians and Israelis, and a central element of that peace is a thriving economy and real opportunities for Palestinians throughout the West Bank and Gaza," US Consul General Donald Blome said.

Palestinian Water Authority chairman Mazen Ghunaim said "this project will have a positive and direct impact on creating jobs and economic growth."

Dry conditions lead to regular water shortages in the Jericho area, while Palestinians and rights groups say Israel has allocated much of the water resources in the Jordan Valley, where the city is located, to Israeli settlements.
Kurdish Peshmerga fighters rejected a warning from an Iraqi paramilitary force to withdraw from a strategic junction south of Kirkuk, which controls the access to some of the region's main oilfields, a Kurdish security official said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, an Iranian military official arrived in Iraq's Kurdistan region for talks on the growing crisis between the Kurdish authorities and the Iraqi government following last month's Kurdish independence referendum.

Major General Qassem Soleimani is the commander of foreign operations for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards who provide training and guns to Iraqi paramilitary groups backing the Shia-led government in Baghdad, known as Popular Mobilisation.

The top Kurdish leadership met on Sunday to discuss the crisis and rejected the Iraqi government's demand that it cancels the outcome of the independence referendum as a precondition for talks to resolve the dispute.

The vote delivered an overwhelming 'Yes' for independence.

The meeting was attended by Kurdistan Regional Government President Masoud Barzani, Iraqi President Fuad Masum, a Kurd who hold a largely ceremonial position in the Iraqi federal state, and Hero Talabani, the widow of Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani who died this month, a Barzani aide said.

They rejected what they described as "military threats" and pledged to defend Kurdish-held territory in case of an attack.

Popular Mobilisation had given the Peshmerga until midnight local time (2100 GMT Saturday) to leave a position north of the Maktab Khalid junction, a security official from the Kurdistan Regional Government said.

Ali al-Hussaini, a spokesman for the paramilitary groups known as Hashid Shaabi in Arabic, told Reuters the deadline had expired without giving indications about their next move. "We are waiting for new orders. No extension is expected," he said.

The Kurdish position north of the junction controls the access to an important airbase and Bai Hassan, one of the region's main crude oil fields, the KRG official said.

The city, the airbase and their immediate surroundings, including the oilfields, are under Kurdish control.

There were no clashes reported 17 hours after the deadline but tension remained high with both sides mobilised.

Kurds see Iraqi "Threats"

The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the Shi'ite-led central government in Baghdad are at loggerheads since the Sept. 25 vote and its loud call for Kurdish independence.

Kurdish authorities said on Friday they had sent thousands more troops to Kirkuk to confront Iraqi "threats." Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has repeatedly denied any plans to attack the Kurds.

Popular Mobilisation is a separate force from the regular army and officially reports to Abadi. It is deployed alongside the army south and west of Kirkuk.

Kirkuk, a city of more than one million people, lies just outside KRG territory but Peshmerga forces were stationed there in 2014 when Iraqi security forces collapsed in the face of an Islamic State group onslaught. The Peshmerga deployment prevented Kirkuk's oilfields from falling into jihadist hands.

The Baghdad central government has taken a series of steps to isolate the autonomous Kurdish region since its vote for independence, including banning international flights in and out.

Baghdad's tough line, ruling out talks sought by the Kurds unless they renounce the breakaway move, is backed by neighbours Turkey and Iran - both with their own sizeable Kurdish minorities, and in Turkey's case, a long-running Kurdish insurgency.

In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday the situation had the full attention of the United States, which was working to ensure it does not escalate.

The United States has taken the side of the Iraqi government in refusing to recognize the validity of the referendum.

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President of Burkina Faso Captain Thomas Sankara was assassinated along with 12 comrades in a putsch that brought his close friend Blaise Compaore to power

Hundreds of demonstrators in Burkina Faso marked the 30th anniversary of Thomas Sankara's assassination by demanding truth and justice on Sunday for the assassinated revolutionary leader.

The young army captain, nicknamed "Africa's Che Guevara,", was cut down in a hail of bullets on October 15, 1987 on his way to a special cabinet meeting.

Demonstrators wearing T-shirts bearing the likeness of the anti-imperialist crusader chanted "Truth and justice for Thomas Sankara," with some waving signs that read "Shame on rotten prosecutors and corrupt judges."

Sankara was assassinated along with 12 comrades in a putsch that brought his close friend Blaise Compaore to power. Compaore ruled Burkina Faso until October 2014, when he was ousted by a popular uprising.

Compaore, who is in exile in Ivory Coast, is the subject of an international arrest warrant in connection with Sankara's killing.

About a dozen people have been charged in connection over the assassination including soldiers from the presidential security unit.

"No one... Burkinabe or not, who was involved in these killings should be able to escape punishment," said Bernard Sanou, president of the Thomas Sankara International Memorial Committee.
US aid worker Jeffery Woodke, reportedly in his 50s, was seized at gunpoint on the evening of October 14, 2016 from his home in Abalak in the Tahoua region of Niger, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) from capital Niamey

A small central city in Niger on Sunday called for the "unconditional release" of a longtime US aid worker abducted in 2016, whose fate is unknown a year later.

"We demand the unconditional and immediate release of Jeffery Woodke," a statement from the residents of Abalak read on national television said.

"Those who abducted him did not kidnap an American, but one of us," the statement read.

Woodke, reportedly in his 50s, was seized at gunpoint on the evening of October 14, 2016 from his home in Abalak in the Tahoua region of Niger, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) from capital Niamey.

According to local officials, "two armed men in turbans" stormed in and grabbed him, killing his bodyguard and a member of the national guard.

His fate remains unknown and his kidnappers have still not been identified. But Niamey suspects the al-Qaeda linked Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), of being behind the kidnapping and believes the American is being held in Mali.

"Our thoughts are with Jeffery's wife and two children: we share in your grief, we share in your hope that one day he will be back with us," the statement said.

"Whatever happens, Jeffery Woodke remains one of our heroes".

The aid worker -- who speaks the local language Tamasheq fluently as well as Fula and Arabic -- had run the aid group JEMET since 1992, helping the local Tuareg community.

Jihadists, including those of the Islamic State, have established a presence in southwestern Niger near the border with Mali -- where they have carried out a wave of bloody bombings, shootings and kidnappings.

On October 4, four US soldiers and at least four Nigerien troops were killed in the area in an ambush thought to be carried out by a regional affiliate of the IS group.
"The current reduction deal is sufficient to achieve the desired purpose," of rebalancing the oil market, Kuwaiti oil minister Essam al-Marzouk said

Oil producers may not need to roll over a deal to cut production beyond March if all members fully comply with their pledges, the Kuwaiti oil minister said Sunday.

"The current reduction deal is sufficient to achieve the desired purpose," of rebalancing the oil market, Essam al-Marzouk told reporters after opening an oil conference.

Although "the compliance level to the cuts has reached an unprecedented 116 percent", this was mainly due to the fact that some countries were making higher cuts than pledged.

"Our focus now is centred on making all member states fully comply with the cuts to reach an even better percentage and therefore not need a new extension," Marzouk said.

Marzouk, who heads a joint ministerial committee monitoring compliance, said it was too early to say if a new extension was needed and that "OPEC will take a decision next month".

The oil cartel is holding a key ministerial meeting in Vienna on November 30.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers struck a historic deal a year ago to cut crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day for six months.

The deal was extended by nine months until March. It has boosted oil prices to above $55 a barrel and reduced record high inventory levels.
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) - A fifth day of desperate firefighting in California wine country brought a glimmer of hope Friday as crews battling the flames reported their first progress toward containing the massive blazes, and hundreds more firefighters poured in to join the effort.

The scale of the disaster also became clearer as authorities said the fires had chased an estimated 90,000 people from their homes and destroyed at least 5,700 homes and businesses. The death toll rose to 35, making this the deadliest and most destructive series of wildfires in California history. The deaths were briefly tallied at 36, but authorities said one was double-counted.

In all, 17 large fires still burned across the northern part of the state, with more than 9,000 firefighters attacking the flames using air tankers, helicopters and more than 1,000 fire engines.

Two firefighters watch for spot fires Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, near Calistoga, Calif. Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

"The emergency is not over, and we continue to work at it, but we are seeing some great progress," said the state's emergency operations director, Mark Ghilarducci.

Over the past 24 hours, crews arrived from Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North and South Carolina, Oregon and Arizona. Other teams came from as far away as Canada and Australia.

Since igniting Sunday in spots across eight counties, the blazes have reduced entire neighborhoods to ash and rubble. The death toll has risen daily as search teams gain access to previously unreachable areas.

Individual fires including a 1991 blaze in the hills around Oakland killed more people than any one of the current blazes, but no collection of simultaneous fires in California ever led to so many deaths, authorities said.

People remained on edge, worried about the wind shifting fires in their direction, said Will Deeths, a Sonoma middle school principal helping to supervise volunteers at Sonoma Valley High School, now an evacuation shelter.

"In the afternoons we start looking up at the flag pole and we start looking to see, is the wind blowing? Is the flag moving?" he said. "It's been really crazy."

Video was released of body camera footage on the first night of the fire, showing an unnamed deputy braving wild flames and thick smoke to clear out a community already being devoured by the flames.

"Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!" the Sonoma County deputy yells to drivers who are hesitating and moving slowly as they flee.

The deputy, wheezing and coughing, runs to several doors shouting "sheriff's office!" for anyone who may be in earshot.

He then comes across another deputy with a woman in a wheelchair right next to a house that is burning and lifts her into an SUV to take her away.

On Friday dozens of search-and-rescue personnel at a mobile home park in Santa Rosa, also in Sonoma County, carried out the grim task Friday of searching for remains. Fire tore through Santa Rosa early Monday, leaving only a brief window for residents to flee, and decimated the park, which was known as Journey's End and was home to hundreds of people.

Workers were looking for two missing people who lived at the park. They found one set of remains, mostly bone fragments, and continued looking for the other, said Sonoma County Sgt. Spencer Crum.

To help in the search, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office near San Francisco sent specialized equipment, including drones with three-dimensional cameras and five dogs trained to sniff out human remains.

Authorities have said that some victims were so badly burned they were identified only by metal surgical implants found in the ashes that have ID numbers on them.

The influx of outside help offered critical relief to firefighters who have been working with little rest since the blazes started.

"It's like pulling teeth to get firefighters and law enforcement to disengage from what they are doing out there," CalFire's Napa chief Barry Biermann said. "They are truly passionate about what they are doing to help the public, but resources are coming in. That's why you are seeing the progress we're making."

In addition to manpower, equipment deliveries have poured in. Crews were using 840 fire engines from across California and another 170 sent from around the country.

Two of the largest fires in Napa and Sonoma counties were at least 25 percent contained by Friday, which marked "significant progress," said Ken Pimlott, chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. But he cautioned that crews would face more gusty winds, low humidity and higher temperatures. Those conditions were expected to take hold later Friday and persist into the weekend.

Smoke from the blazes hung thick over the grape-growing region and drifted south to the San Francisco Bay Area. Face masks were becoming a regular accessory, and sunsets turned blood-red from the haze.

"It's acrid now," said Wayne Petersen in Sonoma. "I'm wearing the mask because I've been here two or three days now. I live here. It's starting to really affect my breathing and lungs."

Fire officials were investigating whether downed power lines or other utility failures could have sparked the fires, but they say they are far from determining how the blazes began.

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Gecker reported from San Francisco. Associated Press writers Janie Har in Sonoma, Olga R. Rodriguez and Daisy Nguyen in San Francisco and Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz also contributed to this report.

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Follow the AP's complete wildfire coverage here: https://apnews.com/tag/Wildfires .

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017 file photo, people walk past a fallen transformer and downed power lines on Parker Hill Road in Santa Rosa, Calif. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. shares plummeted 10.5 percent, after regulators directed the company to preserve any evidence of failed poles or other equipment that might be connected to Northern California wildfires that killed dozens of people. (Nhat V. Meyer/San Jose Mercury News via AP)

Laura Castellanos comforted by neighbor Mike Fisher, Friday, Oct., 13, 2017, after learning that her home was destroyed by the massive wildfire that swept through the hills near Oakville, Calif. Firefighters continue to battle blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country. Fishers home was sparred by the fire. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Healdsburg Wiley Valley, right, and Mike Dwyer are engulfed in smoke from a wildfire along a mountain road Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

A Sonoma City firefighter walks in front of flames during a backburn operation Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen , Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Firefighters huddle confer as flames from a massive wildfire burn along a mountain top near Oakville, Calif, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Firefighters continue to battle the blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

A firefighter monitors flames from a blackburn operation Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

A Sonoma City firefighter sets a backburn on a hillside Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, in Glen Ellen, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Smoke from a massive wildfire blanket Highway 9 near Oakville, Calif., Firefighters continue to battle the blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Grapes are harvested from a vineyard as smoke from a massive wildlife fills the air near Oakville, Calif Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. Firefighters continue to battle the blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

A row of chimneys stand in a neighborhood devastated by a wildfire Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, near Santa Rosa, Calif. Firefighters gained some ground on a blaze burning in the heart of California's wine country but face another tough day ahead with low humidity and high winds expected to return. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Latest on the Las Vegas shooting (all times local):

5 p.m.

The coroner in Las Vegas says the body of the man who unleashed the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history has been sent to Stanford University for study.

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 2, 2017 file photo, drapes billow out of broken windows at the Mandalay Bay resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip, following a deadly shooting at a music festival in Las Vegas. Two hotel employees had called for help and reported that gunman Stephen Paddock sprayed a hallway with bullets, striking an unarmed security guard in the leg, several minutes before Paddock opened fire from the resort on a crowd below at a musical performance, killing dozens of people and injuring hundreds. (AP Photo/John Locher, File)

Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg (FYOU'-den-berg) said Friday that an autopsy was completed on 64-year-old Stephen Craig Paddock, but a finding on a cause and manner of his death is not expected for several months.

Fudenberg says it will await the results of multiple forensic analyses at Stanford, including a neuropathological examination of Paddock's brain tissue.

The coroner says the bodies of all 58 victims in the Oct. 1 shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert on the Las Vegas Strip were returned to next-of-kin by Oct. 6.

Fudenberg says Paddock's body will be returned to his family after forensic test results are known.

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2:30 p.m.

The tragic shooting in Las Vegas was on the minds of former Vice President Al Gore and other speakers at a national green energy conference at a hotel-casino on the Strip.

Gore gave the keynote address Friday at the National Clean Energy Summit hosted by ex-Nevada Sen. Harry Reid and Gov. Brian Sandoval at the Bellagio Resort and Casino. It's about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) from the Mandalay Bay where Stephen Paddock was perched on the 32nd floor when opened fire Oct. 1.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports Gore, Sandoval and MGM Resorts Chairman and CEO Jim Murren each addressed the attack in their opening remarks.

The governor said it has "wounded us deeply, but it has also brought us together."

Gore referenced the "Las Vegas Strong" slogan and said, "We're all with you." He said the entire country is grieving with Las Vegas "and holds you in our hearts."

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11:35 a.m.

Las Vegas authorities say they stand by their timeline of the deadliest shooting in modern U.S. history, which has been disputed by the hotel where the gunman opened fire.

Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters Friday that Stephen Paddock rained down bullets on a concert crowd starting at 10:05 p.m. Oct. 1. He has said that six minutes earlier, Paddock sprayed 200 rounds from his Mandalay Bay room into the hallway, hitting a security guard in the leg.

That timeline released earlier this week differed from a week ago, when authorities said the guard was shot after Paddock opened fire on the crowd.

The changes led to questions about why police and hotel security weren't able to stop Paddock sooner.

Lombardo pushed back against criticism over the timeline, saying he was "absolutely offended" over any suggestion that authorities bungled the response.

Mandalay Bay officials have disputed whether six minutes actually passed between the first gunfire in the hallway and the start of the concert rampage.

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11:30 a.m.

Authorities say the Las Vegas shooter had no visual abnormalities in his brain.

Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters Friday that Stephen Paddock that an autopsy found nothing unusual during a visual inspection, but his brain was shipped to a facility to look for any minute problems.

Authorities haven't determined why Paddock opened fire on a concert crowd, killing 58 people before shooting himself. Some believed an autopsy could shed light on any medical problems that could have contributed.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Aaron Rouse says investigators have found no signs that Paddock had ideologies or connections to any groups.

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11:15 a.m.

Authorities say the Las Vegas shooter fired at aviation fuel tanks "with intent."

Sheriff Joseph Lombardo told reporters Friday that Stephen Paddock shot at the fuel tanks at McCarran International Airport near the Mandalay Bay hotel, where he opened fire onto a concert crowd below.

Paddock killed 58 people before shooting himself.

Lombardo says the airport is reviewing safety measures and has contacted experts in fuel storage but that there's a low probability aviation fuel could be ignited by gunfire.

The sheriff says 45 people injured in the massacre Oct. 1 remain hospitalized in critical condition.

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12:20 a.m.

Nearly two weeks after the Las Vegas mass shooting, authorities have yet to sort out the basic facts.

Las Vegas police are expected to release new information about the case Friday after a week that has seen the timeline of the shooting shift almost daily, raising questions about whether authorities could have done more to stop the gunman before he killed 58 people.

On Monday, police said Stephen Paddock sprayed 200 rounds into the hallway, wounding an unarmed security guard in the leg. They said six minutes later, he unleashed his barrage of bullets on the festival crowd and then took his own life.

MGM Resorts International, which owns the Mandalay Bay, said Thursday it was no more than 40 seconds between the time the guard called for help and Paddock opened fire on the crowd.

FILE - This undated file photo provided by Eric Paddock shows his brother, Las Vegas gunman Stephen Paddock. Police initially said Stephen Paddock stopped firing on the music festival concert crowd below to shoot through his door and wound a Mandalay Bay security guard who was outside. On Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, they said the guard actually was wounded before Paddock started the massacre. (Courtesy of Eric Paddock via AP, File)

FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 file photo, Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo discusses the Route 91 Harvest festival mass shooting at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters in Las Vegas. On Monday, Lombardo said Paddock shot and wounded the security guard outside his door and opened fire through his door around 9:59 p.m. - six minutes before shooting into the crowd. That was a different account from the one police gave last week: that Paddock shot the guard, Jesus Campos, after unleashing his barrage of fire on the crowd. (Erik Verduzco/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP, File)
Here's your look at highlights from the weekly AP photo report, a gallery featuring a mix of front-page photography, the odd image you might have missed and lasting moments our editors think you should see.

This week's gallery includes images of the devastation from massive wildfires in California's wine country; police detaining protesters in St. Petersburg, Russia; and a Swiss air force fighter jet breaking the sound barrier.

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Todd Caughey hugs his daughter, Ella, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, as they visit the site of their home destroyed by fires in Kenwood, Calif. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through California wine country sending thousands fleeing. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

This gallery contains photos from the week of Oct. 7-13, 2017.

See the latest AP photo galleries: https://apimagesblog.com

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Follow AP photographers on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers

Follow AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images

Visit AP Images online: http://www.apimages.com http://www.apimages.com/

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This gallery was produced by Patrick Sison in New York.

Homes destroyed by fire are seen in an aerial view in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2017. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through California wine country sending thousands fleeing. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Streams of solidified melted metal reach out from a destroyed vehicle parked at a home Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017, after a wildfire near Napa, Calif. Wildfires whipped by powerful winds swept through California wine country sending thousands fleeing. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Firefighters stand at the site of the previous day's gas tanker explosion in Accra, Ghana, on Sunday Oct. 8, 2017. The deputy information minister said a pair of explosions at the gas-filling station has caused casualties and hospitalized dozens in the Legon suburb in northwest Accra. (AP Photo/Richmond Brentuo)

This photo provided by the Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets, which has been authenticated based on its contents and other AP reporting, shows Civil Defense workers and Syrian citizens gathering after an airstrike hit a market in Maaret al-Numan in southern Idlib, Syria, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. Activists and residents of Maaret al-Numan in southern Idlib said the airstrike in the town's market, killed and wounded several people. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP)

Riot police officers detain protesters during a rally in St. Petersburg, Russia on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. Supporters of opposition leader Alexei Navalny rallied across the country on Saturday, heeding his call to pressure authorities into letting him enter the presidential race with a wave of demonstrations on President Vladimir Putin's 65th birthday. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Women wearing Belarusian traditional clothing sing a song as they take part in a national festival marking the end of harvest collection in the town of Smolevichi, Belarus, 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the capital Minsk, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

Iranian worshippers walk past a painting of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini and Basij paramilitary force members, at the conclusion of a Friday prayer ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Oct. 13, 2017. On Friday, a spokesman said United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres "strongly hopes" the Iran nuclear deal will remain in place, after U.S. President Donald Trump accused Iran of violating the accord and said he might pull the U.S. out. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Palestinians waving national and Egyptian flags celebrate the reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah in Egypt, in Gaza City, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. The rival Palestinian groups reached a preliminary agreement Thursday that could return the Gaza Strip to President Mahmoud Abbas' control and ease a decade-old Israeli-Egyptian blockade of the coastal territory, but past attempts at unity have foundered on key issues that remain unresolved. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

A Swiss Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet performs a high-speed flyby breaking the sonic barrier as pilots demonstrate their skills in the Swiss Alps above Axalp Ebenfluh on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. At an altitude of 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, spectators watched the performances at the highest air force firing range in Europe. (Christian Merz/Keystone via AP)

Sailboats participate in the 49nd edition of the traditional "Barcolana" regatta in the Gulf of Trieste, northeastern Italy, Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017. The annual sailing race is described by the organizers as "everybody's regatta." More than 2,000 boats participated this year. (AP Photo/Paolo Giovannini)
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - They had seen the images of Rohingya Muslim refugees arriving hungry and exhausted after traveling days without food to reach Myanmar's border with Bangladesh. They had heard the stories of gunshot wounds and midnight escapes from angry mobs and soldiers.

So when the rickshaw pullers, tea stall vendors and other villagers in northern Bangladesh's Mymensingh district were asked to give, they did - in days raising $10,000 to donate to hospitals and refugee camps helping those who fled in what is now Asia's largest refugee crisis in decades.

"They came forward with whatever they had, whatever they could give us," said Mohammad Abdullah-al-Kafi, who helped collect the donations and then traveled to a refugee camp to hand them out. "I could not hold my tears when we got there and saw their suffering. We cried, and they cried as we distributed money."

FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2017 file photo, Rohingya Muslims walk towards shore after arriving on a boat from Myanmar to Bangladesh in Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh. The country was caught unprepared when some 500,000 began pouring across the border in late August to escape attacks by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs, a crisis the United Nations has described as "textbook ethnic cleansing." Some in the low-lying delta nation are worried that the staggering influx of people, if allowed to stay, could push the country's resources and economy to the brink. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)

The sheer need of the Rohingya Muslims has inspired similar grassroots campaigns across Bangladesh, a Muslim-majority nation in which there is great sympathy for the Rohingya's tales of persecution and abuse in largely Buddhist Myanmar. The government also has stepped up to provide aid, including building more camps to house the estimated 536,000 refugees who have arrived in just seven weeks, fleeing what the United Nations has described as "textbook ethnic cleansing."

Some in this already impoverished and crowded nation, however, have begun to worry that the staggering influx of people could sap Bangladesh's resources and push the economy - and those already struggling to compete in it - to the brink.

"We are glad to shelter them for the sake of humanity," said Mohammed Zakaria, who cheered Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Dhaka's international airport upon her return this month from the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "But when I think deeply, I feel uncertain. Is it good for my country? Is it OK? I don't know."

Hasina has played down such fears and said that if her country has the ability to feed its 160 million citizens, surely it can find food for less than a million more.

"If necessary, Bangladeshis will eat one full meal a day and share the rest with Rohingya," she said last week.

Still, the humanitarian effort has come at a steep financial cost for Bangladesh, where nearly a third of people live in poverty on less than $2 a day. The country had already been sheltering hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees who had fled earlier rounds of violence in Myanmar and the new arrivals quickly pushed existing refugee camps along the border beyond capacity.

United Nations representatives in Dhaka said last month that handling the Rohingya crisis would require at least $200 million over the next six months - but since then, the number of Rohingya arrivals has increased by another 100,000.

"The figure we get from the U.N. is huge, and only a portion is coming from aid agencies and international community," said economist Khondaker Golam Moazzem, research director at the independent think tank Center for Policy Dialogue. "What will Bangladesh do for the rest?"

It's unclear exactly how much Bangladesh has already spent sheltering the Rohingya, but the government has said the forests it cleared for new refugee camps were worth $18 million alone.

The worry is making its way to the streets of Bangladesh. While some are nervous about security and concerns that some Rohingya could be involved in terrorism, the greater fear is economic. There is anxiety that if the Rohingya stay they could, take jobs from Bangladeshis.

"If a Bangladeshi charged 10 takas for a work, they will do that work for 5 takas and we will be in more trouble," said businessman Wasim Iftekhar.

Another businessman, Robiul Islam Palash, shared similar concern.

"From the economic perspective, the Rohingya Muslims will not be able to join any workforce" officially, he said. "We will not be able to ensure their food, clothing, housing and medical facilities. What we can do is help them temporarily, but I don't think this is a permanent solution."

Paramedic Mohammed Ali Siddiki was blunter in his assessment, saying ultimately the Rohingya would have to return to Myanmar.

"Otherwise, chaos could break out," he said.

The prime minister has insisted that the current situation is only temporary, and demanded that Myanmar allow the Rohingya to return peacefully to their homeland in Rakhine state. Myanmar has assured Bangladesh that it is working on a return policy, but it has given no timeline or details about when or how that will happen.

Allowing the Rohingya back into the country would seem to undercut Myanmar's main assertion: That there is no such ethnic group as Rohingya and those living in the country have illegally migrated from Bangladesh.

Despite the uncertainty about what the future holds, everyday Bangladeshis continue to pitch in. From villages to mosques to schools, citizens have been collecting everything from cash to food to candles to spare clothing to distribute to the refugees.

"My daughter was very happy to donate the goods as her teacher explained the plight of the Rohingya to them," said Shushama Chowdhuri, after her daughter came home from her third-grade class. "She told me many children like her are suffering there. We must help."

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Follow Julhas Alam at www.twitter.com/Julhas_Alam

FIEL - In this Sept. 23, 2017 file photo, Bangladeshis crowd an tuk-tuk on a street with a billboard in appreciation of Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for sheltering Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar, in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. If necessary, Bangladeshis will eat one full meal a day and share the rest with Rohingya," Hasina said on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, declaring that her impoverished and overpopulated country would shelter and share what they had with the traumatized Rohingya Muslims fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar. But some in the low-lying delta nation are worried that the staggering influx of people, if allowed to stay, could push the country's resources and economy to the brink. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2017 file photo, a Rohingya Muslim man, who crossed over from Myanmar into Bangladesh, builds a shelter for his family in Taiy Khali refugee camp, Bangladesh. The country was caught unprepared when some 500,000 began pouring across the border in late August to escape attacks by Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs, a crisis the United Nations has described as "textbook ethnic cleansing." Some in the low-lying delta nation are worried that the staggering influx of people, if allowed to stay, could push the country's resources and economy to the brink. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File)
ABINGDON, Va. (AP) - Vice President Mike Pence flew into Virginia to throw his weight behind Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie.

The Washington Post reports Pence stumped at the Washington County Fairgrounds in southwest Virginia on Saturday telling a half-filled exhibition hall, "The president sent me here to ask the people of Virginia to do everything in your power to elect Ed Gillespie as your next governor of Virginia."

The coal-county constituents came out in droves for Trump during the election last year, giving him 75 percent of the vote.

Vice President Mike Pence, left, joins Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie onstage during a campaign rally at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Abingdon, Va. Establishment figure Gillespie is in a neck-and-neck race against Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam. (Andre Teague/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)

Establishment figure Gillespie is in a neck-and-neck race against Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam.

Theirs is the nation's only competitive governor's race this year.

Some see the race as a possible early referendum on Trump and a preview of next year's congressional midterm elections.

Vice President Mike Pence points to Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie at the end of a campaign rally at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Abingdon, Va.Establishment figure Gillespie is in a neck-and-neck race against Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam. (Andre Teague/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)

Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie speaks at a campaign rally at the Washington County Fairgrounds, saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Abingdon, Va. Establishment figure Gillespie is in a neck-and-neck race against Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam. (Andre Teague/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)

Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie speaks at a campaign rally at the Washington County Fairgrounds, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in Abingdon, Va. Establishment figure Gillespie is in a neck-and-neck race against Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam. (Andre Teague/The Bristol Herald-Courier via AP)
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - American Pat Perez won the PGA Tour's CIMB Classic, claiming a four-shot victory over compatriot Keegan Bradley on Sunday at TPC Kuala Lumpur.

He sealed his first title in almost a year despite carding a modest three-under 69 in the final round, courtesy of a strong start with three birdies in the first four holes.

The 41-year-old only managed to make par on the back nine, but did enough to finish the tournament with a 24-under 264 to take home the $1.26 million prize purse and 500 FedEX Cup points.

Victory also earned him an automatic entry for next year's Masters in April.

Perez's feat comes after a long recovery from a shoulder injury last year that threatened to derail his career.

The bulky golfer admitted he never expected to reign supreme in the sweltering conditions in Kuala Lumpur.

"Unreal. I think I'm the last guy that expected to win this week, to be honest with you. I did not think I was going to win this week," Perez said. "I really can't explain it, it's been an amazing 12 months. I can't explain it, but I hope it continues."

Perez also confirmed he'll be back to defend his title next year.

"I'll be here every year. Every year of the tournament, I'll be here. It's been very good to me. The tournament's been fantastic," he said.

Bradley took home the runner-up spot after he carded an unblemished five-under 67 to finish at 20-under 268.

Xander Schauffele, who started the round in second place, faltered with four bogeys to finish tied-third alongside South Korea's Kang Sunghoon at 17 under.

Defending champion American Justin Thomas finished tied for 17th place.

Thomas had been in terrific form coming into the event, but failed to lift his game in his mission for a "three-peat."

"I was definitely low on gas. It's been a great but long year, for sure," Thomas said.
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) - The most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in Somalia's capital killed at least 231 people with more than 275 injured, a senator said Sunday, making it the deadliest single attack in this Horn of Africa nation. The toll could continue to rise.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed cited doctors at overwhelmed hospitals he visited in Mogadishu a day after a truck bomb targeted a crowded street near key government ministries. Many of the bodies in mortuaries had not yet been identified, he said.

As angry protesters gathered near the scene of the attack, Somalia's government blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group for what it called a "national disaster." However, Africa's deadliest Islamic extremist group, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital, had yet to comment.

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Angry protesters gather near the scene of Saturday's massive truck bomb attack, near the presidential palace, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital rose to at least 231 with more than 275 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in this Horn of Africa nation, a senator said Sunday. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

The Mogadishu bombing is one of the deadliest attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, larger than the Garissa University attack in Kenya in 2015 and the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Doctors at Mogadishu hospitals struggled to assist badly wounded victims, many burned beyond recognition. "This is really horrendous, unlike any other time in the past," said Dr. Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital.

Inside, bleary-eyed nurses transported a man whose legs had been blown off. He waited as surgeons attended to another badly injured patient. Exhausted doctors struggled to keep their eyes open, while screams from victims and newly bereaved families echoed through the halls.

"Nearly all of the wounded victims have serious wounds," said nurse Samir Abdi. "Unspeakable horrors." The smell of blood was strong.

A teary-eyed Hawo Yusuf looked at her husband's badly burned body. "He may die waiting," she said. "We need help."

Ambulance sirens echoed across the city as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives. "In our 10 year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we haven't seen anything like this," the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted.

Grief overwhelmed many.

"There's nothing I can say. We have lost everything," wept Zainab Sharif, a mother of four who lost her husband. She sat outside a hospital where he was pronounced dead after hours of efforts by doctors to save him.

The country's Somali-American leader, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood. "I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate," he said.

Mogadishu, a city long accustomed to deadly bombings by al-Shabab, was stunned by the force of Saturday's blast. The explosion shattered hopes of recovery in an impoverished country left fragile by decades of conflict, and it again raised doubts over the government's ability to secure the seaside city of more than 2 million people.

"They don't care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children," Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said of the attackers. "They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians."

Rescue workers searched for survivors trapped under the rubble of the largely destroyed Safari Hotel, which is close to Somalia's foreign ministry. The explosion blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel.

The United States condemned the bombing, saying "such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism." It tweeted a photo of its charge d'affaires in Somalia donating blood.

But the U.S. Africa Command said U.S. forces had not been asked to provide aid. A spokesman told The Associated Press that first responders and local enforcement would handle the response and "the U.S. would offer assistance if and when a request was made."

The U.S. military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali military and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country.

The United Nations special envoy to Somalia called the attack "revolting," saying an unprecedented number of civilians had been killed. Michael Keating said the U.N. and African Union were supporting the Somali government's response with "logistical support, medical supplies and expertise."

The spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack and urged all Somalis to unite against extremism and work together to build a "functional" federal state.

Saturday's blast occurred two days after the head of the U.S. Africa Command was in Mogadishu to meet with Somalia's president, and two days after the country's defense minister and army chief resigned for undisclosed reasons.

Amid the chaos, the stories of victims began to emerge. Amino Ahmed said one of her friends, a female medical student, was killed on the eve of her graduation. The explosion also killed a couple returning from a hospital after having their first child, said Dahir Amin Jesow, a Somali lawmaker.

"It's a dark day for us," he said.

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Associated Press video journalist Mohamed Sheikh Nor in Mogadishu, Somalia contributed.

Somali women react at the scene of Saturday's blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital rose Sunday to at least 189 with more than 200 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation, police and hospital sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

EDS NOTE: GRAPHIC CONTENT. A Somali woman reacts as she stands by the remains of victims of Saturday's blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital rose Sunday to at least 189 with more than 200 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation, police and hospital sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Angry protesters gather near the scene of Saturday's massive truck bomb attack, near the presidential palace, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital rose to at least 231 with more than 275 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in this Horn of Africa nation, a senator said Sunday. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Angry protesters gather near the scene of Saturday's massive truck bomb attack, near the presidential palace, in Mogadishu, Somalia, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital rose to at least 231 with more than 275 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in this Horn of Africa nation, a senator said Sunday. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis remove the body of a man killed in Saturday's blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis help a civilian wounded in Saturday's blast, at Medina hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis remove the body of a man killed in Saturday's blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somali security forces and others gather and search for bodies near destroyed buildings at the scene of Saturday's blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis help a civilian wounded in Saturday's blast, at Medina hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somali security forces and others gather and search for bodies near destroyed buildings at the scene of Saturday's blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis help a civilian wounded in Saturday's blast, at Medina hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somali security forces and others gather and search for bodies near destroyed buildings at the scene of Saturday's blast, in Mogadishu, Somalia Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The death toll from the huge truck bomb blast in Somalia's capital rose to over 50 Sunday, with more than 60 others injured, as hospitals struggled to cope with the high number of casualties, security and medical sources said. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis gather and search for survivors by destroyed buildings at the scene of a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis remove the body of a man killed in a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

A Somali gestures as he walks past a dead body, left, and destroyed buildings at the scene of a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

A Somali gestures as he walks past a dead body, left, and destroyed buildings at the scene of a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

EDS NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT Wounded and dead lie in the street at the scene of a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis gather and search for survivors by destroyed buildings at the scene of a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

EDS NOTE GRAPHIC CONTENT - Somalis remove the body of a man killed in a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis help a man wounded after a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

A Somali soldier helps a civilian wounded in a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)

Somalis walk past the wreckage of vehicles at the scene of a blast in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. A huge explosion from a truck bomb has killed at least 20 people in Somalia's capital, police said Saturday, as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast they'd heard in years. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh)
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghan police say they have foiled a major bombing in the capital after arresting a suspect whose truck was loaded with explosives.

Mohamed Salem Almas, the head of criminal investigations in the Kabul police, told a press conference Sunday that the truck carried more than 2,700 kilograms (3 tons) of explosives. He says police ordered the suspect to stop and then shot and wounded him when he tried to escape.

Almas says the Taliban-linked Haqqani network was behind the attack, which was to be carried out in a crowded part of the city.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain.

The Spanish government has given Carles Puigdemont until Monday morning to clarify if he did or didn't actually declare independence earlier this week.

Puigdemont told Catalan lawmakers Tuesday that he had "accepted" a mandate for independence based on the results of a disputed referendum, but that he wanted parliament to delay its implementation "for a few weeks" to give one last chance to open negotiations with Spain.

A man wearing the traditional cup or "barretina" plays his trumpet during a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's separatist movement is being threatened by infighting over strategy to culminate its long-held desire to break away from Spain. Die-hard separatists are pushing for a definitive declaration of independence in the next few days. AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

If Puigdemont replies "Yes" to Madrid on Monday, then Spain's government has given him until Thursday to back down or else Catalonia's ample self-rule could be temporarily suspended.

But if Puigdemont replies "No," he will likely face rebellion from hardliners inside the secessionist camp which could topple his government and force a regional election for Catalonia. The far-left CUP party said on Saturday that it will withdraw its key support from Puigdemont's government if he fails to make a firm statement for a declaration of independence and deliver on that promise in the regional parliament.

Puigdemont gave no hints on what his answer will be when he briefly spoke on Sunday at a traditional memorial to former Catalan leader Lluis Companys, who was executed in 1940 by the troops of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco.

"In place like this and on a day like this, my government wants to reiterate its commitment to peace. and democracy ahead of the decisions we must make," Puigdemont said after placing flower arrangements at the site where Companys was shot and at his tomb in Barcelona.

Moderates in the secessionist bloc are backing Puigdemont's attempt to talk with Madrid, despite its repeated rejections of even considering the possibility of Catalonia splitting away.

The European Union supports a united Spain and no foreign country has voiced support for Catalonia's separatists, meaning a declaration of independence would likely only garner a robust response from Spanish authorities.

"It's not too late to rectify the situation," Spain's Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said Sunday. Zoido asked Puigdemont "not to be carried away by the radical minority he has as a partner in government that has pushed Catalonia to the edge of the cliff."

Puigdemont is also under intense pressure from worried business leaders, and roughly half of Catalonia's 7.5 million residents that polls in recent years have shown don't want to leave Spain.

Puigdemont claimed he had the mandate to declare an independent Catalonia after an overwhelming "Yes" vote in a Oct. 1 referendum that Spain's top court had suspended on grounds that it was likely unconstitutional. Spain's Constitution says that matters of national sovereignty are the jurisdiction of the Spanish parliament. Parties against secession boycotted the vote on grounds that it was illegal and lacked basic guarantees such as an independent electoral board.

Only 43 percent of eligible voters cast ballots amid a Spanish police crackdown that Catalan officials said injured hundreds. Videos footage showed police officers pushing and striking civilians. Spanish authorities said the police response was proportionate and that hundreds of officers were also injured in the violence.

Long silent compared to the well-organized secessionists, pro-union forces have held large rallies in Barcelona over the last week.

The political crisis has also led to an exodus of business and banks from the prosperous northeastern region. Hundreds have relocated their headquarters to other parts of Spain to avoid being cast out of the European common market.

Barcelona newspaper La Vanguardia published an editorial Sunday urging Puigdemont to desist in his quest to establish a Catalan republic.

"Independence may be the No. 1 desire of many people, but it doesn't justify the deterioration of the economy, and even less so a conflict that divides Catalans," La Vanguardia wrote.

Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont addresses to the media after a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain. The Spanish government has given Carles Puigdemont until Monday morning to clarify if he did or didn't actually declare independence earlier this week.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

A man holds a flag reading "Independence" during a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

A couple take a selfie in front of a Former President of Catalonia Lluis Companys' tomb during a ceremony commemorating his 77th anniversary of his death at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's separatist movement is being threatened by infighting over strategy to culminate its long-held desire to break away from Spain. Die-hard separatists are pushing for a definitive declaration of independence in the next few days. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Two men, one wearing a Spanish flag, left, and the other wearing an estelada' or independence flag, talk during the celebration of a holiday known as "Dia de la Hispanidad" or Spain's National Day, in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. Spain's celebrates its national day amid one of the country's biggest crises ever as its powerful northeastern region of Catalonia threatens independence. (AP Photo/Santi Palacios)

Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont, right, attends a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont attends a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's separatist movement is being threatened by infighting over strategy to culminate its long-held desire to break away from Spain. Die-hard separatists are pushing for a definitive declaration of independence in the next few days. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
DAKAR, Senegal (AP) - Gay rights activist Joseph Achille Tiedjou is worried every day that he will be harassed or arrested in Cameroon.

Defending LGBT rights can be dangerous in Africa, where many countries have laws against homosexuality. But in recent years activists have stepped out of the shadows, empowered by the support of the Obama administration and the international community.

Now many fear the Trump administration will undermine those gains, and that their exposure could make them more vulnerable if support fades.

FILE- in this Oct. 2013 file photo, Alhaji,who fled Gambia after being beaten, tried, and persecuted for being gay, poses for a picture in front of the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal. Defending gay rights can be dangerous in Africa, where many countries have laws against homosexuality. But activists in recent years stepped out of the shadows, empowered by the support of the Obama administration and the international community. Now many fear the Trump administration will undermine those gains, and that their exposure could make them more vulnerable. (AP Photo/Jane Hahn, file)

"I have so many worries with the new administration," the 32-year-old Tiedjou said, pointing out Trump's ban on transgender people in the U.S. military. "Obama was known to be very engaged. Hillary Clinton was a champion of LGBT rights and made many guarantees in addressing these issues specifically."

Obama's administration made LGBT rights a major domestic and foreign policy, though some in Africa saw it as pushing "Western ideals." The Obama administration also created a special envoy position on LGBT rights. The Trump administration has said it will keep the post, but concerns remain.

"The difference with the previous administration was that the rights of LGBT people were explicitly part of foreign policy. So LGBT groups around the world could absolutely rely on the moral and, indeed, material support that came from the U.S. government and that made a huge difference," said Graeme Reid, director of Human Rights Watch's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program. "Under this administration, we are no longer going to be seeing that proactive engagement around LGBT rights."

Though the Trump administration's overseas policies on LGBT rights remain to be seen, the erosion of domestic advances directly undermines the authority of the U.S. to speak out internationally, Reid said. He cited the pushback against federal protections and the appointment of "openly homophobic officials" to senior government positions.

The U.S. recently joined a dozen other countries to vote against a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that urged countries not to use the death penalty for specific forms of conduct, including consensual same-sex relations. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the vote was made "because of broader concerns with the resolution's approach in condemning the death penalty in all circumstances" but said the U.S. "unequivocally condemns the application of the death penalty for conduct such as homosexuality."

Same-sex acts are illegal in more than 33 African countries and can lead to death sentences in parts of at least four, including Mauritania, Sudan, northern Nigeria and southern Somalia, according to Amnesty International.

Homosexuality is criminalized in the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. In Tanzania, authorities recently stopped health providers from non-governmental organizations from providing services to LGBT people.

In Cameroon, a strong ally of the U.S. in the fight against extremism, Human Rights Watch has documented high levels of arrests of LGBT people.

Colonial-era anti-gay laws are still in place in Ghana and are implemented from time to time, and a high level of social intolerance and family violence exists against the LGBT community.

In Gambia, where former leader Yahya Jammeh made "aggravated homosexuality" punishable by life in prison, activists are waiting to see whether new President Adama Barrow will amend the law.

In Senegal, violence is directed at LGBT communities, along with arrests, according to Human Rights Watch.

"In practice the act is criminalized so it can be used broadly to detain people based on their orientation," said Francois Patuel, a West Africa researcher for Amnesty International.

But despite setbacks in some countries there have been some gains, Patuel said.

The African Commission on Human and People's Rights in 2014 adopted a resolution condemning violence and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. South Africa's constitution specifically protects the rights of LGBT and allows same-sex marriage.

The United States has provided support for HIV/AIDS and other programs that indirectly have enabled gay rights groups to form in some sub-Saharan African countries. Patuel urged that such support not be revoked under the Trump administration.

In Mali, activist and journalist N'Deye Traore said social media has been used to incite hatred against the LGBT community, discouraging people from publicly advocating change and forcing many to live in hiding and at risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS.

Traore said she worries about the example set by the Trump administration.

"It is the life of human beings that is at stake and must be respected!" she said. "I urge the American president to seize and at least tolerate this community for sustainable development in America and around the world."

___

Associated Press writer Rodney Muhumuza in Kampala, Uganda contributed.
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - Early returns from municipal elections being watched as a test of Macedonia's new left-wing administration indicated Sunday night that voters are backing the government.

Results from 30 percent out of the country's 3,480 polling stations showed the Social Democrat-led led coalition of Prime minister Zoran Zaev leading in 44 of Macedonia's 81 municipalities, including the capital of Skopje. Candidates from the conservative VMRO-DPMNE led in 13.

In the last local elections in 2013, the conservatives won 56 of 81 municipalities, while the Social Democrats won four.

"This is a strong punishment for VMRO-DPMNE," political analyst Gjorgi Spasov said on local TV channel 24.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev addressed supporters in front of the government building early Monday, claiming victory and congratulating people for contributing to a "free and fair" vote.

VMRO-DPMNE's leader, former Prime minister Nikola Gruevski, told supporters at his party headquarters late Sunday that an "atmosphere of fear and intimidation was created and we have reports of voters being bribed." He added that his party would file complaints alleging voting irregularities.

But he also hinted at a likely resignation as party leader. "The elections are not over yet and the biggest responsibility for the results goes to the leader," Gruevski said.

Police said that there were some reports of irregularities during voting Sunday but that the overall process was peaceful.

"The voting process was generally peaceful, without serious disturbances," police spokesman Toni Anglovski told The Associated Press after polls closed.

Police and local observers reported at least 26 cases of voting irregularities, such as family voting, photographing ballots and bribery attempts. Police said nine people had been detained in connection with irregularities.

According to election authorities, about 60 percent of the more than 1.8 million registered voters cast ballots.

The Social Democrats came to power five months ago amid a political crisis following a decade of conservative rule.
SHANGHAI (AP) - Roger Federer extended his winning streak over Rafael Nadal this year to four matches after beating the top-ranked Spaniard 6-4, 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.

The Swiss 19-time grand slam winner, who still trails Nadal 23-15 in their overall head-to-head record, didn't face a break point and started and ended the match with service breaks.

"I don't know what my expectations were going in," Federer said. "I thought I might struggle early on because it was a late finish last night.

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Marin Cilic of Croatia during their men's singles semifinals match in the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center in Shanghai, China, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017 (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

"I had no nerves before the match, surprisingly. I think I was pretty clear about how I wanted to play the match. I started off very well and relaxed from then on."

Despite his dominance in 2017, Federer doesn't rate his chances of catching Nadal in their head-to-head record.

"It's not going to happen. We don't have enough years left on the tour. We ranked too good so we play each other only in finals at the moment... You can't win them all against Rafa, to be honest. He's too good of a player," Federer said.

Federer took advantage of three of seven break point opportunities in the match to snap Nadal's 16-game winning streak, which included his China Open victory last week.

Federer, who has won the last five encounters between the pair dating back to the 2015 Basel final, also beat Nadal in the Australian Open final, a round of 16 match at Indian Wells and the Miami final this year.

"Have been a very difficult match for me," Nadal said. "He played very fast and he played well.

"Of course was not the best match for me of the week. When somebody plays better than you, sport is not very difficult. That's the real thing, no? When you play against somebody that is better than you in most of the things that really matters in this sport, in this kind of surface, then it's tougher."

The Shanghai Masters is Federer's 94th career title, moving him into a tie with Ivan Lendl in second place on the Open era list.

Nadal arrived on court with a bandage under his right knee, the same leg he twice smacked with his racket after losing his serve for the first time this week in the semifinal.

Federer said he was surprised to see the wrap and didn't feel Nadal was struggling with his movement.

In his post-match press conference, Nadal elected not to discuss the knee injury, saying, "I don't want to talk about that now, sorry, but after losing final is not the moment."

When asked if he would play upcoming tournaments in Basel, Switzerland and Paris, Nadal refused to confirm his participation.

Federer took advantage of a third break point in the first game of the match with a winning backhand passing shot. He broke Nadal's serve again on a second break point in the fifth game of the second set when Nadal sailed a backhand crosscourt wide. In the final game, Nadal netted a forehand at 15-40 to end the 72-minute match.
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - The Latest on the Spain-Catalonia political crisis (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

Spain's interior minister has called for Catalonia's separatist leader to respect the Spanish Constitution and desist in his push for independence for the northeastern region.

Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont attends a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Juan Ignacio Zoido has said "it is not too late to rectify the situation" and asks Catalan president Carles Puigdemont to "not be carried away by the radical minority he has as a partner in government that has pushed Catalonia to the edge of the cliff."

The Spanish government has given Puigdemont until Monday morning to clarify if he did or didn't actually declare independence earlier this week.

If he answers "Yes," Madrid has given him until Thursday to back down or else Catalonia's ample self-rule could be temporarily suspended.

___

11:35 a.m.

Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain.

The Spanish government has given Carles Puigdemont until Monday morning to clarify if he did or didn't actually declare independence earlier this week.

Puigdemont told Catalan lawmakers Tuesday that he had "accepted" a mandate for independence based on the results of a disputed referendum, but that he wanted parliament to delay its implementation to give one last chance to open negotiations with Spain.

If Puigdemont replies "Yes" to Madrid on Monday, then Spain's government has given him until Thursday to back down or else Catalonia's ample self-rule could be temporarily suspended.

But if Puigdemont replies "No," he will face rebellion from hardliners inside the secessionist camp.

A man holds a flag reading "Independence" during a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont addresses to the media after a ceremony commemorating the 77th anniversary of the death of Catalan leader Lluis Companys at the Montjuic Cemetery in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. Catalonia's president is facing a critical decision that could determine the course of the region's secessionist movement to break away from Spain. The Spanish government has given Carles Puigdemont until Monday morning to clarify if he did or didn't actually declare independence earlier this week.(AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
SUBIC BAY, Philippines (AP) - Filipino and Australian naval forces darted across the sea and landed on a Philippine wharf in a disaster-response drill Sunday that reflects their deepening security ties in a region prone to calamities, piracy and territorial rifts.

Lt. Col. Daniel Turner of the Australian Defence Force said the naval maneuvers in Subic Bay, northwest of Manila, will strengthen the two countries' ability to jointly respond to typhoons and other disasters when roads, bridges and ports are damaged or destroyed.

The drills reflect the strengthening security relations between the two U.S. allies despite Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's often antagonistic stance toward American security policy. Australia and the United States have deployed surveillance aircraft to help Filipino troops quell a disastrous siege by pro-Islamic State group militants in southern Marawi city.

The Royal Australian Navy HMAS Adelaide crueses alongside landing crafts with Philippine Marines and Australian troops as they conduct a joint Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise off Subic Bay in northwestern Philippines Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017. The HMAS Adelaide, along with another Australian Navy ship, the HMAS Darwin, a guided missile frigate, are here for a goodwill visit aimed at strengthening relations between the two navies as well as maritime security and stability in the region. (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez)

During the maneuvers, more than 100 Philippine marines and Australian naval personnel took off from an Australian navy ship, the HMAS Adelaide, on board troop carriers then rushed to a port at Subic Bay, a former U.S. naval base. Two Associated Press journalists were allowed to witness the exercises from a helicopter.

When typhoons and floods happen, "traditional infrastructure is damaged and the only way we could get to the affected area is through helicopters and landing craft," Turner said. "Our militaries can operate together, support those affected people."

Australia signed a 2007 accord that allows its forces to train in the Philippines. Australia is the only country aside from the United States with which Manila has forged such a defense pact, commonly known as a status of forces agreement.

Subic Bay faces the South China Sea, where China, the Philippines and four other governments have long-unresolved territorial disputes, but Australian officials stressed that Sunday's exercises were aimed only at improving the ability of Australian and Philippine forces to deal jointly with natural catastrophes.

Australia does not take sides in the disputes, but Captain Jonathan Earley, commanding officer of the Adelaide, said his government has an interest in keeping regional stability and the rule of law.

"What that includes is our ability to conduct freedom of trade, so trade is unimpeded, and that countries do have that ability to exercise freedom of navigation," Earley said.

___

Associated Press videojournalist Iya Forbes contributed to this report.
WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Prosecutors in Poland say an Armenian man who was shot in the head in Warsaw has died.

The man suffered the fatal injury while getting into a car in east Warsaw on Saturday.

East Warsaw prosecutors' spokesman Michal Sadus said Sunday that the wounded man was known to Poland's police.

The car's driver was shot in the arm.

Police are searching for the gunman and questioning witnesses. A murder charge could bring a lifetime prison sentence.

Warsaw is considered a safe city and shootings are unusual. It saw international gang activity during the political and economic transformations of the 1990s, but police say they have neutralized the gangs.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the North Korean crisis "will continue until the first bomb drops."

That statement comes despite President Donald Trump's tweets a couple of weeks ago that his chief envoy was "wasting his time" trying to negotiate with "Little Rocket Man," a mocking nickname Trump has given the nuclear-armed nation's leader Kim Jong Un.

"I think he does want to be clear with Kim Jong Un and that regime in North Korea that he has military preparations ready to go and he has those military options on the table. And we have spent substantial time actually perfecting those," Tillerson told CNN's "State of the Union."

FILE - In a Friday, Oct. 13, 2017 file photo, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson answers a reporters question while greeting Organization of American States Secretary-General Luis Almagro at the State Department, in Washington. Tillerson said Sunday, Oct. 15, in a television interview that President Donald Trump wants a diplomatic solution to the North Korean crisis and is not hankering for war with the nuclear-armed nation, despite past tweets that America's chief envoy was ``wasting his time'' trying to negotiate with the North's leader.(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

"But be clear: The president has also made clear to me that he wants this solved diplomatically. He's not seeking to go to war," Tillerson said.

Recent mixed messaging from the top of the U.S. government has raised concerns about the potential for miscalculation amid the increasingly bellicose exchange of words by Trump and the North Korean leader.

Trump told the U.N. General Assembly last month that if the U.S. is "forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea." Trump also tweeted that Korea's leadership "won't be around much longer" if it continued its provocations, a declaration that led the North's foreign minister to assert that Trump had "declared war on our country."

Tillerson acknowledged during a recent trip to Beijing that the Trump administration was keeping open direct channels of communications with North Korea and probing the North's willingness to talk. He provided no elaboration about those channels or the substance of any discussions.

Soon after, Trump took to Twitter, saying he had told "our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man ... Save your energy Rex, we'll do what has to be done!" Trump offered no further explanation, but he said all military options are on the table for dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

Analysts have speculated about whether the president and his top diplomat were playing "good cop, bad cop" with North Korea, and how China might interpret the confusing signals from Washington. Beijing is the North's main trading partner, and the U.S. is counting on China to enforce U.N. sanctions.

"Rest assured that the Chinese are not confused in any way what the American policy towards North Korea (is) or what our actions and efforts are directed at," Tillerson said.

Asked if Trump's tweets undermined Tillerson, the secretary said: "I think what the president is doing is he's trying to motivate action on a number of people's part, in particular the regime in North Korea. I think he does want to be clear with Kim Jong Un and that regime in North Korea that he has military preparations ready to go and he has those military options on the table and we have spent substantial time perfecting those."

He added that Trump "has made it clear to me to continue my diplomatic efforts, which we are, and I've told others those diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops."

North Korea has launched missiles that potentially can strike the U.S. mainland and recently conducted its largest ever underground nuclear explosion. It has threatened to explode another nuclear bomb above the Pacific.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - As the buildup to the 2018 election begins to accelerate, Idaho's 30-year-old ethics laws are facing scrutiny as top candidates wrestle with how much of their finances they should disclose to voters.

Idaho is one of just two states that don't require elected officeholders to disclose any of their personal financial information. This means the state's elected officials can weigh in on public matters without sharing whether their wallets might benefit from them.

Overhauling the system has become just as elevated as other traditional talking points - such as health care, education and job creation - in the race for governor. With Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter announcing he won't seek a fourth term, the race is expected to be Idaho's most competitive of 2018.

FILE - In this Monday, Jan. 9, 2017, file photo, Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter delivers his State of the State address inside the house chambers at the state Capitol building, in Boise, Idaho. The race for Idaho's open gubernatorial seat has swerved to focus on each candidate's financial ties despite the state's lack of disclosure requirements. Idaho is one of just two states to not require elected officeholders disclose their income, employer, property holdings and board memberships. Yet the three top Republican candidates running for governor have touted their promises to be transparent if elected. No Democratic candidate has filed to run for the top seat. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter says he's not running for a fourth term. (AP Photo/Otto Kitsinger, File)

Political newcomer and GOP gubernatorial candidate Tommy Ahlquist recently released his economic assets to fulfill a campaign promise that he would disclose any potential conflicts of interests. The release wasn't as detailed as federal economic disclosure requirements, but the move was still considered significant because Ahlquist is the first Idaho candidate in recent history to voluntarily hand over financial information.

Ahlquist has vowed Idaho's lack of disclosure requirements will come to an end if he's elected.

Opponent U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador has been quick to point out Ahlquist failed to mention possible liabilities - which is required for congressional members. Labrador has been required to submit a much more vigorous personal-asset disclosure since being elected to the House in 2010.

Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Brad Little's campaign team confirmed Thursday Little plans to release his economic assets in the coming weeks.

Little and Labrador have voiced support for more transparency in government, but neither has specifically championed changing Idaho's personal disclosure laws.

"It makes sense to put a focus on transparency as an outside candidate," said Jaclyn Kettler, a Boise State University political scientist. "And while it puts some pressure on the other candidates, I think it's important to look at the presidential election and see that voters still elected Donald Trump even though he didn't hand over his tax returns."

Unlike Idaho, most state legislatures have passed laws requiring elected officeholders to file some type of financial disclosure. Michigan is the only other state that lacks such rules after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed an ethics reform bill earlier this year.

Disclosure requirements typically involve revealing income sources, business associations and property holdings. The minimum amounts on what must be disclosed vary from state to state.

For example, Ahlquist's campaign has pointed to Utah as its model of what Idaho's disclosure laws should look like. Utah requires lawmakers to reveal employer information and job title, income sources of $5,000 or more annually, as well as investments worth $5,000 or more.

Idaho passed its Ethics in Government Act in 1990. The law directs lawmakers to declare a conflict of interest, but it does not ban them from voting on an issue that may personally benefit them. Failure to disclose a conflict is a civil offense that carries a fine of up to $500.

Separate from the political races, the Idaho Legislature has tasked a bipartisan panel with submitting recommendations on possible changes for lawmakers to consider during the 2018 session. The panel has focused on campaign finance reforms, but Republican Rep. Tom Loertscher of Iona has suggested legislation that would mimic Utah's personal financial disclosure requirements.

The panel meets later this month to consider Loertscher's proposal. But even if the Idaho Legislature advances a proposal in 2018, the law wouldn't take effect until July - after the May GOP primary, the more competitive election in Republican-dominant Idaho.
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) - Nigeria's government says it has no plans to start issuing visas on arrival for all Africans.

The African Union's political affairs office had tweeted on Friday that Nigeria announced the plan at a retreat for permanent representatives to the continental body.

Nigeria's information minister Lai Mohammed told The Associated Press on Sunday: "It is not true that we have any such plans."

Africans need visas to travel to 55 percent of the continent, according to AU figures, and officials say that hurts trade.

The AU has advocated for a single African passport and for abolishing visa requirements for all African citizens in all African countries by 2018. Ghana, Rwanda, Mauritius and the Seychelles already issue visas on arrival to all African passport holders.
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump blames the Senate's GOP leader for the health overhaul failure, hints at tantalizing deals with Democrats and watches his former strategist work to bulldoze the Republican establishment on Capitol Hill.

There's no need for air conditioning at the White House with that chill in the air when Trump, a public official since January, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, first elected to Congress in 1984, meet on Monday.

"Mitch McConnell's not our problem. Our problem is that we promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, and we failed. We promised to cut taxes and we have yet to do it," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a member of Congress since 1995. "If we're successful, Mitch McConnell's fine. If we're not, we're all in trouble. We lose our majority and I think President Trump will not get re-elected."

FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2017, file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Congressional leaders and administration officials in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Trump and McConnell are scheduled to meet Monday, Oct. 16. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Steve Bannon, back at Breitbart News after helping Trump win the presidency and serving in the West Wing, is committed to dumping McConnell, R-Ky. In a speech to religious conservatives Saturday, Bannon put on notice some of those incumbents who are at risk of a challenge from his flank of the party. He said the lawmakers possibly can avoid that wrath if they disavow McConnell and meet other conditions.

"This is our war," Bannon said. "The establishment started it. ...You all are gonna finish it."

Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine moderate who just passed up a run for governor and was a pivotal "no" vote on health care, said Bannon's rhetoric is exactly what the American people are tired of. "They don't want this hyper-partisanship. They want us to work together. And they want us to get things done," she said.

Collins, who's served in the Senate since 1997, added that Bannon's "over-the-top rhetoric is not helpful. Mitch McConnell is the Senate majority leader. The president needs him. I'm glad they're working together on tax reform and a lot of other issues. And I'm glad they're meeting this week."

McConnell responded to Trump's Twitter barrage after the failed health care effort by saying that the challenges of governing should come as no surprise.

"A lot of people look at all that and find it frustrating, messy. Well, welcome to the democratic process. That's the way it is in our country," McConnell said at a GOP event in Kentucky this summer.

Trump, a former Democrat himself, cut a deal with Democratic leaders on raising the U.S. borrowing limit and keeping the government running into the winter. The president has also talked about future arrangements, though his recent list of immigration demands soured Democrats who had seen an earlier opening for legislative progress.

Hard-right conservatives frustrated by the stalled agenda in Congress wrote in a letter last week during the Senate's break that McConnell and his leadership team should step aside. The senators' weeklong recess also drew criticism from the White House: "They're on another vacation right now. I think that we would all be a lot better off if the Senate would stop taking vacations, and start staying here until we actually get some real things accomplished," Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders had said.

Meanwhile, a McConnell-backed political committee spent millions to support Alabama Sen. Luther Strange and Trump endorsed him in a recent primary election, but Bannon-backed Roy Moore prevailed. Moore, a former judge, has defied federal court orders, described Islam as a false religion and called homosexuality evil.

Senate Republicans had been upbeat about adding to their 52-48 edge in the chamber, especially with Democrats defending more seats next year - 10 in states Trump won in last year's presidential election. But the Bannon challenge could cost them, leaving incumbents on the losing end in primaries or GOP candidates roughed up for the general election.

"If we don't cut taxes and we don't eventually repeal and replace Obamacare, then we're going to lose across the board in the House in 2018. And all of my colleagues running in primaries in 2018 will probably get beat. It will be the end of Mitch McConnell as we know it. So this is a symptom of a greater problem," Graham said.

He added that Bannon "can't beat us if we're successful. And if we're not successful, it doesn't matter who tries to beat us, they'll be successful."

Collins spoke on ABC's "This Week," and Graham appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation."
LONDON (AP) - The Latest on sexual assault and harassment allegations against movie producer Harvey Weinstein (all times local):

2:30 a.m.

Actress Alyssa Milano is getting thousands of responses on Twitter to her request that people reply to her on the social network with "me too" if they have been sexually harassed or assaulted.

FILE - In this April 28, 2017 file photo, Harvey Weinstein attends the "Reservoir Dogs" 25th anniversary screening during the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. On Saturday, Oct. 14, 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revoked Weinstein's membership. The decision, reached Saturday in an emergency session, comes in the wake of recent reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker magazine that revealed sexual harassment and rape allegations against him going back decades. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

Milano, 44, received "me, too" responses from "Will and Grace" star Debra Messing and Anna Paquin, the Oscar-winning actress from New Zealand.

Milano says on her Twitter account that she got the idea from a friend. Milano says her friend told her such a tweet "might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem."

In another tweet that links to a blog post, Milano, who was one of the stars of the long-running sitcom "Who's the Boss," writes the following about film producer Harvey Weinstein: "While I am sickened and angered over the disturbing accusations of Weinstein's sexual predation and abuse of power, I'm happy - ecstatic even - that it has opened up a dialogue around the continued sexual harassment, objectification and degradation of women. "

___

8:20 p.m.

French President Emmanuel Macron says that he wants to revoke Harvey Weinstein's Legion of Honor award over the multiple accusations of sexual assault and harassment against the Hollywood titan.

Macron said in a national television interview on Sunday that he has "started the procedures" for such a removal.

Weinstein was given the prestigious French award in 2012 by then-President Nicolas Sarkozy after the French film "The Artist" won multiple Oscars. Weinstein's company produced the film.

Macron also says he wants to speed up the legal procedures for investigating and prosecuting sexual harassment to encourage more women to come forward. French actresses are among those who have accused Weinstein of sexual wrongdoing.

Legion of Honor titles are given to a wide range of French people and foreigners. Another American is among the few people to have lost the distinction: disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.

___

3:40 p.m.

British police are investigating three new allegations of sexual assault against film producer Harvey Weinstein, all made by the same woman.

London's Metropolitan Police force said Sunday that the woman reported being assaulted in London in 2010, 2011 and 2015. The force said officers from its Child Abuse and Sexual Offenses Command are investigating.

The woman's name has not been made public. The force also did not name Weinstein, in keeping with its policy of not identifying suspects who have not been charged.

But it said the allegations involve a man against whom another accusation was made Wednesday. That alleged assault is reported to have taken place during the late 1980s.

British actress Lysette Anthony says she reported to police on Wednesday that Weinstein raped her in her London home in the late 1980s.

FILE - In this March 2, 2014 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles. Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been revoked by its board. The decision was reached Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in an emergency session. It comes after recent reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker that revealed sexual harassment and rape allegations against Weinstein going back decades. The move by the Academy is virtually unprecedented. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

FILE- In this Feb. 22, 2015 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. On Saturday, Oct. 14, 2016, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revoked Weinstein's membership. The decision, reached Saturday in an emergency session, comes in the wake of recent reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker magazine that revealed sexual harassment and rape allegations against him going back decades.(Photo by Vince Bucci/Invision/AP, File)

French President Emmanuel Macron is seen before his first long live television interview on prime time at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Sunday Oct. 15, 2017. (Philippe Wojazer, Pool via AP)
PARIS (AP) - The Latest on France President Emmanuel Macron's first national television interview (all times local):

9:50 p.m.

French President Emmanuel Macron is criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line position on Iran but says he doesn't find Trump dangerous or worrying.

French President Emmanuel Macron is seen before his first long live television interview on prime time at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Sunday Oct. 15, 2017. (Philippe Wojazer, Pool via AP)

Macron said in a national television interview on Sunday that he urged Trump not to "tear up" the international accord that curbed Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for resumed trade.

Trump stopped short of pulling out of the nuclear deal in a speech Friday, but accused Iran of violating the accord and held open the possibility of a U.S. withdrawal.

Macron says he told Trump his hardened policy toward Iran is a "bad method." The French leader pledged his support for the nuclear accord and says he plans to visit Iran soon.

Asked if he was concerned about Trump's erratic leadership and its impact on international affairs, Macron insisted that he's not worried and that "The U.S. is our ally."

___

9:45 p.m.

French President Emmanuel Macron has given his first national television interview since his election as he tries to win back public support.

Macron appeared both combative and defensive while pressing his vision for an "economic transformation" of a stagnant France in the Sunday interview on TF1 television.

He defended his use of the term "lazy" to describe people resistant to the kind of labor reform he is carrying out and insisted he wants to make France more "effective."

The president says he is trying to improve the lot of French workers who are losing out in the 21st century.

Macron's poll numbers tumbled over the summer amid anger at laws ending some of France's renowned worker protections and his clumsy handling of internal politics.

French President Emmanuel Macron is seen before his first long live television interview on prime time at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Sunday Oct. 15, 2017. (Philippe Wojazer, Pool via AP)

Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) union's general secretary, Laurent Berger, right, poses with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Friday Oct. 13, 2017. Macron is launching step two of his campaign to rethink French labor law, this time focusing on unemployment benefits and job training. (ludovic Marin, Pool via AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron is seen before his first long live television interview on prime time at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, Sunday Oct. 15, 2017. (Philippe Wojazer, Pool via AP)
The Justice Department is sending a federal hate crimes lawyer to Iowa to help prosecute a man charged with killing a transgender teenager last year.

The case involves 23-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez. He is charged with killing 16-year-old Kedarie Johnson in Burlington, Iowa, in March 2016.

His family and friends had disclosed that he was gay, identified as both male and female and went by the name Kandicee.

The Justice Department is sending a federal hate crimes lawyer, Christopher Perras, to Iowa to help prosecute the killing of a transgender person last year. The case involves 23-year-old Jorge Sanders-Galvez. He is charged with killing 16-year-old Kedarie (Kandicee) Johnson in Burlington, Iowa, in March 2016

A Justice Department lawyer, Christopher Perras, will act as the prosecutor on the case.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive.

But Johnson's relatives tell local news outlets they believe the shooting was a hate crime.

'This is just one example of the attorney general's commitment to enforcing the laws enacted by Congress and to protecting the civil rights of all individuals,' said Devin O'Malley, a spokesman for the Justice Department, to the New York Times.

Authorities have not disclosed a motive. But Johnson's relatives tell local news outlets they believe the shooting was a hate crime

LGBT advocates have long been skeptical of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' pledge to prosecute acts of violence against transgender people

The Sanders-Galvez trial will start on October 24.

LGBT advocates have long been skeptical of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' pledge to prosecute acts of violence against transgender people.

But the rare move, outlined in recently filed court papers, is a sign he intends to do so even as the Trump administration has taken other steps to erode the rights of transgender people broadly. The New York Times first reported the decision Sunday.

In October, Sessions rolled back on an Obama-era policy aiding in the protection of transgender folks in the workplace that existed under the Civil Rights Act.

And while he has vowed to focus on hate crimes involving transgender people, Sessions did rescind a policy allowing them to use the bathroom they desired.
Most Tory MPs do not want Philip Hammond to be sacked, a former Cabinet minister has insisted.

Brexiteers calling for the Chancellor to be kicked out when Theresa May carries out her next reshuffle are being self-indulgent, Nicky Morgan said.

The former education secretary also appeared to suggest Amber Rudd was appalled by the briefings against Mr Hammond.

Revealing a very senior Cabinet minister had contacted her to criticise the behaviour of some in the party, Mrs Morgan went to described the figure as she, prompting speculation it was the Home Secretary.

She told ITVs Peston On Sunday: I think those who are saying that he should be sacked are incredibly self-indulgent. I should just say I have been contacted by this morning by a very senior Cabinet minister who is appalled at what she is reading in the newspapers this morning.

Its not on to have all of this. It is not helpful for anybody to have ministers being attacked, whether it is the Chancellor or the Foreign Secretary when something as critical as Brexit negotiations are going on.

We are the party that makes a clear commitment to the next generation - that they will be better off than us. We will not let you down.  Philip Hammond (@PhilipHammondUK) October 2, 2017

The majority of MPs in the parliamentary party do not want Philip Hammond to be sacked, she added.

Mr Hammond is under intense pressure after angering Brexiteers in the party by refusing to prepare for the possible failure of Britain and Brussels to reach an agreement over a Brexit deal.

The Chancellor is said to be preparing a revolutionary budget to get the Government back on track after weeks of speculation about his political future.

Cabinet ministers have been asked to come up with bold proposals after intentions for a safety first financial statement were dropped following weeks of Tory turmoil.

Concerns the Chancellor is trying to frustrate the negotiating process have also been reportedly raised by the DUP, which props up the minority Tory government.

Mr Hammond is said to be looking at measures to boost housing, including urging Prime Minister Theresa May to agree to allow building on green belt as well as letting councils borrow more to help create new homes.

He is also considering writing off student loans and dropping opposition to borrowing to boost investment, according to The Sunday Times.

A Government source told the newspaper: Philip has said that we have to have a radical budget, something that is a big offer to the nation.
Maria Sharapova has clinched her first WTA title since returning from a drugs ban after beating Aryna Sabalenka to win the Tianjin Open.

The five-time grand slam champion, a tournament wildcard, overcame Belarusian teenager Sabalenka 7-5 7-6 (10/8) in a straight-sets victory on Sunday.

Sharapova, who made her comeback in April, is celebrating her first title since she won the Italian Open back in May 2015.

Maria Sharapova

Sharapova trailed world number 102 Sabalenka 4-1 and 5-1 in the first and second sets. But the 30-year-old Russian, who did not drop a set en route to Sundays final, fought back on each occasion to claim her first title in 29 months.

Sharapova served a 15-month ban after she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.

The former world number one was denied a wild card for the French Open, before missing Wimbledon through injury. She was granted a wild card for the US Open and reached the fourth round before losing to Latvias Anastasija Sevastova.
The Catholic Church has been given 35 new saints, proclaimed during a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peters Square, Rome.

Thirty of the saints proclaimed on Sunday are martyrs, including priests and lay people, who suffered anti-Catholic persecution in 1645 at the hands of Dutch Calvinists in Brazil.

Three more were children in 16th-century Mexico who were martyred for embracing the Catholic faith and refusing to return to their ancient conditions.

(Andrew Medichini/AP/PA)

The remaining two saints were a priest in Spain in the last century and an Italian priest who died in 1739.

Francis, who became pontiff in 2013, has repeatedly paid tribute to Christians suffering or dying for their faith in current times, especially in the Middle East.
Mauricio Pochettino admits Tottenham had to win ugly against Bournemouth ahead of a crunch week for his side in the Champions League.

After beating the struggling Cherries 1-0 to secure their first Premier League victory at Wembley, Spurs now turn their attention to a mouth-watering tie against Real Madrid on Tuesday.

They will have to play better than they did against Bournemouth, who missed chances to take the lead before Christian Eriksens second-half strike proved the difference.

Bournemouth win was vital said Spurs boss Pochettino

Its so important for us to win, get the three points. I think it wasnt a great performance but it was enough to win, Pochettino said.

We were better than Bournemouth. The first half was so difficult, they played deeper and we struggled to find the space and break them down, their organisation.

I think our performance in the second half was good and we created chances to win. I think we deserved the victory.

Ben Davies missed the match through illness, meaning Jan Vertonghen was pushed out to left-back, with Danny Rose still not fit enough to play following a knee injury.

Pochettino said Davies is unlikely to be available for the clash at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Its difficult. I dont believe so, Pochettino said.

I hope that he can be involved again as soon as possible but we need to assess him. But I am not so positive.

Spurs are in a strong position to make the Champions League knock-out stages, having taken maximum points from their opening two games against Borussia Dortmund and Apoel Nicosia.

We are going to play one of the best teams in the world, Pochettino said. We need to recover well after the two weeks with the players all away from us.

 Despite the result, it was good to be back at Wembley...#afcb  pic.twitter.com/woRzRtrrCX  AFC Bournemouth  (@afcbournemouth) October 15, 2017

Bournemouth, meanwhile, remain 19th in the Premier League table and without a point from what is now four away fixtures this season.

Defender Steve Cook said: If we were performing poorly and getting battered each week, wed be concerned but Im very confident we will turn this around.

Now is not the time to be concerned. We have to stick together, the players, the fans. Weve been in this position before and weve always found a way to turn it around.
Beachgoers have been warned after creatures that look like the venomous Portuguese Man o War have washed up on the British coast.

With distinctive transparent bodies, the creature is often thought to be a jellyfish, but is actually a siphonophore  a colony of tiny specialised polyps and medusoids.

The UK Coastguard is warning people to stay safe after reports of jellyfish  which resemble the Portuguese Man o War  washing up on beaches in Dorset and Devon.

Coastguard warn beachgoers to #staysafe after reports of Portuguese Man O War #jellyfish on south coast beaches https://t.co/ItQ7QEpRWj pic.twitter.com/XrL44V3DDD  Maritime and Coastguard Agency (@MCA_media) October 15, 2017

The jellyfish have been reported at Dawlish, Lyme, Charmouth, Bournemouth, Swanage, Seaton, Hove and Portsmouth.

Chris Sallows from the UK Coastguard said: We are aware of these sightings after receiving multiple reports from members of the public yesterday and today.

Until an accurate identification is made, members of the public are advised to keep away from these jellyfish and report any sighting to their local council.

Man o War

The Coastguard has also advised the local councils of these recent sightings. Stings from Portuguese Man o War can be very painful and potentially harmful to humans and dogs alike.

Andy Reed, who tweets as his 14-month-old golden retriever @loabi_retriever, posted photographs of the creatures on Poole beach, writing: Ok smart people. What are these that I found washed up on #Poole Beach today?

Theyre about 15cm long and seemed inflated. Needless to say I only sniffed not ate.
Everton needed a late Wayne Rooney penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw at Brighton.

The struggling Toffees were staring at another defeat when Anthony Knockaert fired Brighton ahead eight minutes from time.

But Seagulls captain Bruno was penalised for fouling Dominic Calvert-Lewin with two minutes remaining and Rooney tucked home the equaliser.

Wayne Rooney spared Everton's blushes (Gareth Fuller/PA)

 | See Ronald Koeman's verdict on the 1-1 draw with Brighton. pic.twitter.com/ZAaabZOCvI  Everton (@Everton) October 15, 2017

However, the goal is unlikely to lift the pressure on Everton manager Ronald Koeman, whose out-of-sorts side are still without an away win since January.

The under-fire Dutchmans latest bid to solve their goalscoring problems saw him select Rooney in attack, but until the penalty the former England captain had barely had a shot in anger.

Behind him Gylfi Sigurdsson flitted around creating little, while Calvert-Smith was largely ineffective stationed out on the left wing.

Despite a television-friendly kick-off slot the match was not actually screened anywhere in the UK  although bizarrely it was live in India.

Unfortunately for the viewers on the subcontinent there was little spice until the final 10 minutes of an otherwise forgettable encounter on the south coast.

Sigurdsson did set up one first-half opportunity, combining with Nikola Vlasic before Idrissa Gueye struck a low drive which Mathew Ryan had to tip past his post.

The points are shared after a frantic final 10 minutes!#BHAEVE pic.twitter.com/9OH3eJMgCI  Premier League (@premierleague) October 15, 2017

Having soaked up Evertons early pressure Brighton became more adventurous and only a brave goal-line clearance from Michael Keane denied Lewis Dunk from six yards out.

Dunk wanted a penalty but the ball clearly hit Keanes chest first as he slid in to clear.

In the second half Everton right-back Mason Holgate darted into the penalty area and his fierce cross-shot was palmed away by Ryan.

Calvert-Lewin then planted a header straight at Ryan before Vlasic turned Davy Propper on the edge of the area, only to slice his shot horribly wide.

Koeman will be judged by results,this was another poor one & poor performances v very poor side.

I ask have any players improved under him?  Joe Anderson (@joeando58) October 15, 2017

Koemans face was a picture of frustration when Calvert-Lewin met Rooneys cross with a weak shot which Ryan dealt with easily.

Frustration turned to despair when lively Brighton sub Jose Izquierdos drive rebounded into the path of Knockaert, who smashed it past Jordan Pickford to give the hosts the lead.

But Brunos clumsy elbow into the neck of Calvert-Lewin in a crowded penalty area earned Everton a reprieve as Rooney stepped up to roll in the spot-kick.

The visitors almost snatched a winner at the death but Ryan pulled off a fine double save to deny Kevin Mirallas.
Boris Johnson has taken an impromptu boat trip with a foreign counterpart despite desperate pleas from his wife to stay on dry land for fear they would be drowned.

During a walk around the estate at Chevening House, the Foreign Secretary tried to encourage ministers from eight European allies to join him for a spin out in a rowing boat.

After Mr Johnson pushed the vessel out on to the water, wife Marina Wheeler tried to persuade him to head to the house with the delegation.

Taking him by the arm, the barrister said: Come on, they have got a programme. We dont want to drown we are not drowning the foreign ministers, come on.

Hosted talks today at #Chevening w/ counterparts from 8 EU partners         on European security ahead of #FAC tomorrow pic.twitter.com/qGb6cdCtsA  Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) October 15, 2017

But Mr Johnson soon headed back to the boat where he suffered a wardrobe malfunction more commonly associated with builders while holding it steady for the Czech Republics deputy foreign minister Ivo Sramek.

Joining Mr Sramek in the dinghy, Mr Johnson said the paddle would be a tremendous success before spent a couple of minutes rowing round the lake.

As well as the Czech minister, Mr Johnson was hosting counterparts from Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia at the grace and favour house in Kent for talks on European security.

Boris Johnson

He said: Our departure from the EU will make no difference to Britains unconditional and immovable commitment to the security and defence of Europe.

This meeting was a further demonstration that the UK is a vital partner in the security of our continent.
Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker have said efforts to find an agreement in the Brexit talks should accelerate in the coming months.

Following talks in Brussels, the Prime Minister and Mr Juncker issued a joint statement describing their meeting as constructive.

The Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission reviewed the progress made in the Article 50 negotiations so far and agreed that these efforts should accelerate over the months to come, they said.

The working dinner took place in a constructive and friendly atmosphere.

The meeting came after the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier warned last week that the discussions remained deadlocked over Britains divorce bill.

He made clear he could not recommend to other EU leaders that they were ready to move on to the second phase  including a free trade deal - when they meet in the Belgian capital on Thursday.

Theresa May leaves after a meeting at EU headquarters in Brussels (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo)

But while there were few details of the discussion between Mrs May and Mr Juncker, the upbeat tone of the statement will encourage hopes among British officials that the talks can make progress before the end of the year.

There has been intense frustration on the British side that Mr Barnier - who was also present with Brexit Secretary David Davis - has been unwilling to move forward until there is greater clarity on the so-called withdrawal issues, including the Irish border and future citizens rights.

EU negotiators in turn have complained that while Mrs May promised in her Florence speech the UK would honour its outstanding financial obligations, Mr Davis has so far refused to put a figure on the proposed financial settlement.

Ahead of her meeting with Mr Juncker, the Prime Minister spoke by telephone with two other key players  French president Emmanuel Macron and Irish premier Leo Varadkar.

Downing Street said Mrs May and Mr Macron had agreed to go over next steps in the margins of this weeks summit while she reiterated Britains commitment to maintaining a soft border with Ireland when she spoke to Mr Varadkar.

Joint statement from PM, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron following Donald Trump's statement on US Iran strategy. https://t.co/KKZvH3FlkQ  UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 13, 2017

In their statement, Mrs May and Mr Juncker said they had had a broad, constructive exchange on a range of issues - including the need to preserve the Iran nuclear deal following US President Donald Trumps latest threat to withdraw.

It was in marked contrast to a previous private dinner at Number 10 in April when Mr Junckers chief of staff Martin Selmayr was blamed for leaking details, including a warning by the commission president that he left 10 times more sceptical than when he arrived.
Mauro Icardi scored a stunning hat-trick to condemn AC Milan to a 3-2 defeat in a thrilling Derby della Madonnina.

The Inter Milan skipper, who had twice given the home side the lead, converted a 90th-minute penalty at the San Siro to pile the pressure on Milan boss Vincenzo Montella.

Icardi put Inter ahead with a deft 28th-minute finish and then, after Suso had levelled with an equally adept finish, dispatched an improvised 63rd-minute volley.

Mauro Icardi completed his hat-trick with a dramatic late winner (Niall Carson/PA)

Montellas men thought they had claimed a point when keeper Samir Handanovic could only carry Giacomo Bonaventuras 81st-minute shot into his own net, but Icardis late heroics after Ricardo Rodriguez had been penalised for a foul on Danilo DAmbrosio condemned them to a fourth Serie A defeat of the new campaign.

Unbeaten Inter moved into second place as a result of their seventh league win of the campaign, two points behind leaders Napoli and 10 clear of their city rivals after just eight games.

Sampdoria launched a second half blitz to come from behind and beat Atalanta 3-1 at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris.

Trailing at the break to Bryan Cristantes opener, they struck three times inside 12 minutes through Duvan Zapata, Gianluca Caprari and Karol Linetty to claim the points.

The perfect way to celebrate a new arrival in the household! The pride of Poland!  pic.twitter.com/Wy6cREAOoV  Sampdoria English (@sampdoria_en) October 15, 2017

Luca Rigonis strike ultimately made the difference as Genoa won for the first time this season in a five-goal thriller at Cagliari.

Andrey Galabinov handed the visitors an eighth-minute lead which was doubled by Adel Taarabt with 10 minutes of the first half still remaining.

Leonardo Pavoletti hit back for Cagliari three minutes after the restart, but Rigonis 75th-minute effort was enough to clinch a 3-2 victory after Joao Pedro scored from the penalty spot four minutes later.

Cyril Thereau came back to haunt former club Udinese as they lost 2-1 to Fiorentina.

Thereau, who spent three years at Udinese before moving to Fiorentina in the summer, opened the scoring after 27 minutes from close range and then doubled his tally shortly before the hour.

Samir pulled one back for the visitors with just under 20 minutes remaining, but Fiorentina saw out the remainder of the match to end a three-game winless streak.

Lorenzo De Silvestri scored a dramatic late equaliser to salvage a 2-2 draw for Torino at Crotone.

Andrea Polis opener and an own goal from SPALs Bartosz Salamon were enough to secure a third successive Serie A victory for Bologna despite Mirco Antenuccis late consolation strike, while Sassuolo and Chievo played out a 0-0 draw at the Mapei Stadium.
PARIS, Oct 14 (Reuters) - France has started the process of stripping Harvey Weinstein of his Legion of Honour, France's highest civilian distinction, after allegations of sexual harassment against the film producer, President Emmanuel Macron's office said on Saturday.

"The French Presidency has started discussing this case with the Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur," a spokeswoman said. "A decision will be taken after this discussion."

The move follows detailed claims by numerous women that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them over the past three decades.

"The Presidency considers that this behaviour is in contradiction with honour," the spokeswoman said.

Weinstein has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.

The producer of Oscar-winning films including "The Artist" had received the Legion of Honour, "Chevalier" grade, from President Nicolas Sarkozy in March 2012.

The Grande Chancellerie de la Legion d'honneur is the body in charge of the decoration, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte. (Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau and Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
BEIJING, Oct 15 (Reuters) - China's ruling Communist Party on Wednesday opens its 19th Congress, at which President Xi Jinping will map out his ambitions for the country for the next five years and beyond, likely to be high on aspiration and short on concrete details.

Here are some key factors to watch out for:

- Will Xi resurrect the position of party chairman? Xi is currently the party's general secretary, but not its chairman, a title Mao Zedong and his two successors, Hua Guofeng and Hu Yaobang, both held. Becoming party chairman would put Xi at the same level as Mao and could allow him to effectively end three decades of collective leadership, giving him unparalleled power.

- What will happen to chief corruption-buster Wang Qishan? Speculation has swirled that Wang, 69, could be asked to stay on past an unofficial retirement age limit, either in his current role, or possibly in a new position with an economic portfolio.

- Who will be on the new Standing Committee, the apex of power in China? Currently made up of seven men, most of whom are expected to retire and be replaced by new faces. Possible names include Li Shulei, Wang's deputy at the anti-corruption watchdog; the Chongqing party chief Chen Miner, who is close to Xi; and the provincial party boss of Guangdong, Hu Chunhua.

If Xi becomes party chairman the significance of the Standing Committee would become diminished, as power would be concentrated in Xi's hands rather than in the Standing Committee.

- A series of new personnel appointments, like the foreign minister and central bank chief, will be decided, though some may not be formalised and announced until the annual meeting of parliament in March.

- Changing the party's constitution. Some sort of reference to Xi and his theories will be included in the revised constitution - a further sign of his tightening grip on power.

- Bolstering the anti-corruption and security systems. A new National Supervision Commission, which would combine the roles of several party and government bodies that currently combat graft, will likely be set up.

- The National Security Commission, already headed by Xi, could also get new powers, potentially making it more important than the Central Military Commission, which runs the People's Liberation Army. That would give the National Security Commission more power to tackle domestic and foreign threats. The exact role of a more powerful Commission is still unclear, including if it will have overall command of both the military and the domestic security forces.

- Whether Xi will anoint a successor. Xi's rise to the top was confirmed at the 2007 Congress, when he first joined the Standing Committee and then became vice president the following year. Any successor would have to join the Standing Committee at this Congress and be young enough to serve at least three five-year terms. If there is no obvious successor, it will increase speculation that Xi could stay on in power after 2022, when the next Congress occurs, and when Xi should, according to precedent and age limits, step down after two terms in office.

- Whether Xi reaffirms 2013 reform pledges to let market forces play a "decisive" role in the economy, a catchphrase rarely mentioned now. Signals on new reform initiatives will be important, especially concerning state-owned enterprises, the fiscal system, property taxes and land rights. Also important is if there are any fresh measures to tackle industrial overcapacity and debt issues. Any fresh measures to tackle overcapacity and debt issues.

- Any hints on policy priorities for the next five years, both monetary and fiscal, though analysts don't expect the Congress to unveil any major policy changes. Economic and policy agendas for 2018 will be set at the annual economic work conference later this year.

- New expressions on the economy and reforms, following Xi's use of the terms "new normal" to describe the more moderate pace of economic growth, and "supply-side structural reform".

- How the punishing war on pollution is affecting China's business and government leaders as they prepare for a tough winter campaign aimed at meeting politically sensitive smog reduction targets. Fighting pollution is now a key criterion on which the performance of officials will be judged. (Writing by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Philip McClellan)
By Elias Glenn and Natalie Thomas

BEIJING, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Wang Qin, 59, collects scrap at a demolished residential district on the outskirts of Beijing, working 15 hours a day and struggling on her own to pay for her granddaughter's education.

She worries that her own home, a small illegally constructed shack where she lives with her granddaughter and mentally ill husband, might also be bulldozed by local authorities.

The family lives off the 1,500 yuan ($228) a month Wang makes selling scrap and receives no assistance from the Beijing government.

As migrants from another province, they are not recognised as residents of the capital despite having lived there since 2014. Since she is not registered in Beijing, Wang has to pay more for things like school and medical care - a hardship for migrants in cities, where costs such as housing are also far higher than in the countryside.

"Every month you still need to live, I still need to pay the school fees for the child, and her food and drink every day," said Wang, who came to Beijing to try escape the grinding poverty of her village in Henan province in central China. "I can't take it, my whole body aches, I can't earn the money."

Wang's plight is a common one among millions of poor migrants in China's big cities, as well as in the rural areas from which so many of them come, highlighting the challenges of the government's campaign to wipe out extreme poverty by 2020.

President Xi Jinping made the campaign one of his signature policy issues after pledging in 2015 that China would lift the 70 million people living under the poverty level at the time out of poverty by 2020.

The campaign has been ratcheted up as the Communist Party prepares to hold a twice-a-decade leadership meeting on Wednesday.

"The country is placing an unprecedented amount of effort on alleviating poverty," Liu Yongfu, head of the government's Leading Group of Poverty Alleviation and Development, said at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday. "President Xi Jinping is personally in command, and has visited all of the areas of concentrated poverty" in China.

He added: "With the active participation of all parts of society, it can be said that the battle against poverty has achieved significant results."

Asked by Reuters about people like Wang, the scrap collector, Liu said migrants could receive benefits in their hometowns, noting that city dwellers were covered by urban social security programmes.

Beijing has pledged to spend 86 billion yuan on poverty alleviation this year, 30 percent more than last year, according to the Ministry of Finance. Liu said direct spending by central and local governments on poverty alleviation from 2013 to 2017 totalled 461.2 billion yuan, adding that other types of government spending also had an impact.

The funds are used for infrastructure projects, as well as subsidies for education, health care and rural agriculture.

The government's poverty line is income of 2,300 yuan per year, and by the end of 2016, 43.35 million people were still officially below it. The government's goal is to lift 10 million out of poverty this year, and at that rate the country by 2020 should, at least officially, be rid of serious poverty.

The programme is credited with increasing the attention given to the countryside and improving things like rural infrastructure.

The president of the World Bank, Jim Yong Kim, on Thursday said China's achievement in lifting 800 million people out of poverty since 1990 was "one of the great stories in human history".

But many researchers and social workers say the campaign doesn't address the most serious problems facing China's poor.

"I personally don't really agree with the government setting this 2020 poverty alleviation target," said Yang Lixiong, a professor at Renmin University in Beijing who has studied the issue. "The supportive policies can relieve poverty in the short term, but from a long-term perspective, they will easily fall back into poverty."

Yang said up to half the residents lifted from poverty in some western regions would slip back under the poverty line if government support was removed.

Yang said not enough attention was being paid to long-term issues such as access to schools and health care.

"Poverty can only be reduced over a very long period of time. And you can't say poverty is eliminated, it's impossible to eliminate," said Yang.

Central government officials acknowledge the challenges, which they say include poor implementation of policies and misuse of funds at the local level.

They also say the programme is narrowly focused in order to address the most pressing problems of the poorest rural residents, but insist that much effort is going into improving health care and education.

"First we need to win this battle, resolve the current problems," said Liu, responding to a question from Reuters about whether the programme would continue beyond 2020.

Wu Chen, founder of the Beijing-based Social Resources Institute, which works in Dalinggou, a village in Hebei province, said development of rural areas faced challenges like the emptying of the countryside as people move to cities looking for work, environmental destruction, and lack of capital.

Dalinggou is plastered with slogans calling for the village to win the war on poverty. With that aim in mind, the local government built a new paved road to the village and last month installed solar-powered street lights.

Wu said there had been a huge improvement in rural infrastructure, but a wide information and culture gap between the rural poor and urbanites remained a major challenge.

"Can these villagers not only escape poverty in terms of income, but also information and ability poverty?"

($1 = 6.5785 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Elias Glenn and Natalie Thomas; Editing by Philip McClellan)
Oct 15 (Reuters) - Pat Perez stayed cool in broiling hot conditions to cruise to a four-stroke win at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia on Sunday and grab his second PGA Tour victory in a year.

American Perez teed off with a four-shot lead at the TPC Kuala Lumpur and a three-under 69 proved enough for the bulky 41-year-old to close out his third Tour win at the $7 million co-sanctioned event.

Perez, who won the OHL Classic in Mexico last November, finished with a 24-under total of 264, four ahead of runner-up Keegan Bradley.

The late-blooming Perez rolled in four birdies in the front nine and with none of his nearest challenges making a charge, he coasted to victory with 10 straight pars. (Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
BAGHDAD, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani has arrived in Iraq's Kurdistan region for talks about the escalating crisis between the Kurdish authorities and the Iraqi government following the Kurdish independence referendum, a Kurdish official said on Sunday.

Soleimani is the commander of foreign operations for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, a military corp providing training and weapons to Iraqi paramilitary groups backing the Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad.

(Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; writing by Maher Chmaytelli; editing by Louise Heavens)
By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Pope Francis canonised 35 new Roman Catholic saints on Sunday, including three indigenous children martyred in 16th century Mexico and considered the first Christians killed for their faith in the New World.

Francis used the occasion to announce that he had decided to call a meeting of bishops, or synod, from countries in the Pan-Amazon region for October, 2019, to discuss the condition of the Church in the area and the plight of indigenous people.

The region includes Guyana, Suriname, French Guyana, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil.

The three children the pope canonised before a crowd of tens of thousands in St. Peter's Square were of the Talaxcaltec people, an indigenous pre-Colombian group in what is now Mexico.

The first child, Cristoforo, was converted to Christianity by Franciscan missionaries and was killed in 1527 by his own father, a tribal chief who spurned his son's attempts to convert him from paganism.

The boy was beaten and thrown into a fire when he was 13.

Two other indigenous children from the same area, Antonio and Juan, were killed by Indios in the village of Cuauhtinchan in 1529 as a result of their conversion. They are believed to have been 12 or 13 when they were beaten to death for helping Dominican missionaries.

The pope also canonised 30 martyrs who were killed for their faith in Brazil in 1645. They included two Portuguese missionaries and 28 followers killed by Dutch colonial soldiers during a period of persecution of Catholics.

In announcing the 2019 synod for bishops from the Amazon region, Francis said indigenous people there today were "often abandoned and without the prospect of a bright future, even due to the crisis of the Amazon Forest, a lung of utmost importance for our planet".

Francis, an Argentine and the first Latin American pope, has often linked his calls for social justice, particularly for indigenous people, to those for defence of the environment, saying the poor will suffer the most from the effects of climate change.

In 2015 he wrote a landmark encyclical, or papal letter, on defence of the environment and he has called for special protection for the Amazon region because of its vital importance to the planet's ecosystem.

In his comments on Sunday, the pope did not mention the role of the Church in suppressing native cultures in the New World.

But during a visit to Bolivia in 2015, Francis said "many grave sins were committed against the native people of America in the name of God". He asked forgiveness for the Church, for "crimes committed against native peoples during the so-called conquest of America".

On Sunday, Francis also canonised Father Faustino Miguez, a Spanish priest who lived in the 19th and 20th centuries, and Father Angelo d'Acri, an Italian itinerant preacher who died in 1739 after serving in some of the most remote areas of mountainous southern Italy. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg)
DUBAI, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Iran's Foreign Ministry on Sunday denied reports that Tehran had closed a border crossing with northern Iraq in response to an independence referendum in Iraq's Kurdish region last month, the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported.

"As we announced earlier, we blocked our airspace to the Kurdish region on a request from the central government of Iraq, and as far as I know, nothing new has happened in this area," ISNA quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi as saying. (Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
MOSCOW, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Politicians from North and South Korea will not hold direct talks in Russia on Monday about Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme despite attending the same event and being urged to do so by Moscow, Russian news agencies said on Sunday.

Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, is due to discuss the missile crisis in separate talks with a deputy head of North Korea's legislature and the head of South Korea's parliament on the sidelines of a congress of parliamentarians in St Petersburg on Monday.

Moscow has called on the two countries to use the opportunity to have their own direct talks to try to narrow their differences.

But the RIA news agency on Sunday cited Piotr Tolstoi, the deputy speaker of the Russian lower house of parliament, and an unnamed member of North Korea's delegation as saying there would not be any direct talks.

The unnamed North Korean delegate was quoted as saying that U.S. pressure on Pyongyang and U.S. and South Korean military exercises meant preconditions for such talks had not been met.

Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the upper house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, said Moscow would try again on Monday to encourage the two delegations to hold face-to-face talks despite the lack of progress.

Russian news agencies quoted him as saying that the North Korean delegation had so far declined to hold such talks, while the South Korean delegation had said it was ready for such a meeting.

"We will definitely not try to coerce or talk somebody into anything," the Interfax news agency cited Kosachyov as saying.

"(But) it will be pity, both on the human and political level, if another opportunity to de-escalate tensions in relations between North Korea and South Korea is missed."

North Korea's nuclear tests and missile launches have stirred global tensions and prompted several rounds of international sanctions at the U.N. Security Council.

A de-escalation plan, backed by Russia and China, would see North Korea suspend its ballistic missile programme and the United States and South Korea simultaneously call a moratorium on large-scale missile exercises, both moves aimed at paving the way for multilateral talks. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
By Parisa Hafezi

ANKARA, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Iranians quickly closed ranks against a hawkish new U.S. approach to Tehran, but Iran's powerful hardliners are set to exploit the latest dispute with Washington to weaken domestic rivals who are open to the West, analysts and insiders say.

President Donald Trump's warning on Friday that he might ultimately terminate a landmark 2015 nuclear deal sets the stage for an eventual resurgence of political infighting within Iran's complex power structures, officials said.

If the accord signed by Iran and six major powers does start to fall apart, anyone who strongly promoted it, such as pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani, could face a career-damaging backlash.

That could leave Iran's security hardliners unchallenged at home, enabling greater Iranian assertiveness abroad that could worsen tensions in the Middle East, analysts say.

For the moment, solidarity within the Islamic Republic's faction-ridden political elite is the priority.

"What matters now is unity against the foreign enemy," a senior official told Reuters on condition of anonymity, like other figures contacted within Iran because of the sensitivity of the matter.

"Our national interest is a priority for all Iranian officials."

But Rouhani and pragmatists and reformist allies who promoted the deal, which lifted sanctions in return for Tehran rolling back technologies with nuclear bomb-making potential, may become increasingly politically vulnerable at home.

"GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY" FOR ROUHANI'S CRITICS

Trump on Friday defied both U.S. allies and adversaries by refusing to formally certify that Tehran is complying with the accord even though international inspectors say it is.

"The growing tension with America is a golden opportunity for hardliners to clip Rouhani's wings," said a Rouhani ally, who was involved in the 18-month nuclear talks.

Iran's top authority, hardline Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, guardedly backed Rouhani when he opened the door to nuclear diplomacy with world powers, but has repeatedly expressed pessimism about Washington remaining committed to it.

For Rouhani the stakes are high: His rapprochement with the world won him enhanced popularity at home and prestige abroad, dealing a setback to Khamenei's hardline allies, who oppose both detente with the West and domestic liberalisation.

Now the tables may be turning.

"Hardliners will use Trump's threat as a Sword of Damocles over Rouhani's head ... While enjoying the economic benefits of the deal," said Tehran-based political analyst Saeed Leylaz, referring to the lifting of tough oil and banking sanctions.

"Rouhani and his detente policy with the world will be weakened if the deal does not survive," another senior Iranian official said.

"And of course an aggressive regional policy is inevitable."

Under Iran's unique dual system of clerical and republican rule, the elected president is subordinate to the unelected Khamenei, who has in the past reasserted control when infighting threatened the existence of the Islamic Republic.

Trump's policy will play into the hands of hardliners eventually, said an ally of Khamenei. "What matters is the Islamic Republic and its interests."

TIT-FOR-TAT STEPS

In reaction to Trump, Rouhani signalled Iran would withdraw from the agreement if it failed to preserve Tehran's interests.

The survival of the deal now is up to the U.S. Congress, which might try to modify it or reimpose U.S. sanctions on Iran. But even if the Congress refuses to consider sanctions, the deal could still be in jeopardy if Washington and Tehran resort to tit-for-tat retaliatory steps.

"As long as both sides only exchange words, business will continue as usual," said Leylaz.

Since the lifting of sanctions, Rouhani has started to repair an economy ravaged by a decade of restrictions on its vital oil industry and issued warm welcomes to global investors.

But major European investors could think twice about involvement in Iran if tension mounts with the United States and uncertainty grows over survival of the accord.

"If European companies don't have the comfort of a political agreement endorsed by the Americans they will say stop," said a senior French diplomat.

Among European firms that have announced big deals in Iran since the deal took effect are planemaker Airbus AIR.PA, French energy group Total TOTF.PA and Germany's Siemens SIEGn.DE.

REGIONAL CHAOS

Trump enraged Tehran by saying that the Revolutionary Guards, which have fought Iran's regional proxy wars for decades, was Khamenei's "corrupt personal terror force and militia". Rouhani said Iranians would always stand by the Guards.

Several officials agreed that Trump's hostility would not change Iran's regional behavior, determined by Khamenei. But if Trump somehow made good on his threats, "then Iran will adopt a harsher and aggressive regional policy," said one of the officials familiar with Iran's decision-making policy.

Iran and its rival Saudi Arabia accuse each other of fuelling regional tensions. The Sunni Muslim kingdom is at odds with Tehran's revolutionary Shi'ite leaders in struggles across the Arab world, including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon.

On social policy, Rouhani's scope to loosen restrictions on individual freedoms and rights would be crushed by hardliners if he loses political prestige. Hardliners control the judiciary, security forces and state media.

"Whenever pressured abroad, the regime increases pressure at home to silence any opposition," said a former moderate official. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Saul in London and John Irish in Paris; Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean and Giles Elgood)
Sri Lanka experienced strong growth at the end of its 26-year conflict. This was to be expected as the post-war reconstruction tends to bring new hope and energy to a country.

And Sri Lanka has done well5 percent growth is nothing to scoff at.



However, Sri Lanka needs to create an environment that fosters private-sector growth and create more and better jobs. To that end, the country should address these six pressing challenges:



1. The easy economic wins are

almost exhausted

For a long time, the public-sector has been pouring funds into everything from infrastructure to healthcare. Unfortunately, Sri Lankas public sector is facing serious budget constraints. The islands tax to growth domestic product (GDP) ratio is one of the lowest in the world, falling from 24.2 percent in 1978 to 10.1 percent in 2014. Sri Lanka should look for more sustainable sources of growth. As in many other countries, the answer lies with the private sector.



2. Sri Lanka has isolated itself from global and regional value chains

Over the past decades, Sri Lanka has lost its trade competitiveness. As illustrated in Figure 1, Sri Lanka outperformed Vietnam in the early 1990s on how much of its trade contributed to its growth domestic product. Vietnam has now overtaken Sri Lanka where trade has been harmed by high tariffs and para-tariffs and trade interventions on agriculture.



3. The system inhibits private sector growth

Sri Lankas private sector is ailing. Sri Lankan companies are entrepreneurial and the countrys young people are smart, inquisitive and dynamic. Yet, this does not translate into a vibrant private sector. Instead, public enterprises are the ones carrying the whole weight of development in this country.

The question is, why is the private sector not shouldering its burden of growth?



From Figure 2 you can see how difficult it is to set up and operate a business in Sri Lanka. From paying taxes to enforcing contracts to registering property, the entrepreneurs have the deck stacked against them.



Trading across borders is particularly challenging for Sri Lankan businesses. Trade facilitation is inadequate to the point of stunting growth and linkages to regional value chains. The chart explains just why Sri Lanka is considered one of the hardest countries in the world to run a trading business. Compare it to Singaporeyou could even import a live tiger there without a problem.



4. The right kind of foreign investment isnt coming in

Another concern is the need for investment. When you drive around Colombo, you can see all these construction trucks and sites creating traffic jams -- even on the weekend.



Construction has been the sector attracting the largest share of foreign investment in the last five years. But this is not the kind of investment Sri Lanka needsthe country needs foreign companies to set up shop here, bringing jobs and access to international markets.



The truth is, foreign investment to Sri Lanka has been lower than in peer countries despite its prime location. And only a relatively small proportion of foreign investment reaches the sectors of the economy that are associated with global production networks.



5. Small and medium enterprises are hitting a glass ceiling

We look around and wonder why the local companies are hitting a glass ceiling. Are small and medium enterprises staying that way because business registration, taxes and bureaucratic headaches make it difficult to expand?



Currently, Sri Lanka ranks 110 in the Ease of Doing Business index. The recent Vision 2025: A Country Enriched document articulates the countrys ambition of improving its rank to the 70th position through legislative and regulatory changes.



We can see there is a high degree of informality in the Sri Lankan economy. There are a bunch of small and medium-sized enterprises out there and they could be the unicorns and gazelles, the most successful companies, of the future. To get there, the state needs to champion these companies as they pay taxes, create jobs, generate profits and bolster the economy. Improvements in trade policy and facilitation, investment policy and an environment that supports business are critical to this happening.



6. Trade facilitation reform and private sector growth in Sri Lanka are linked

Going forward, Sri Lanka needs growth that is driven by better productivity. Trade is the answer, offering a sustainable, viable solution. Trade can actively promote technology absorption, skill upgrading and increased competitivenessall crucial to Sri Lanka right now. Currently, Sri Lanka ranks 90th in Trading Across Borders (Doing Business Ranking) and 89 out of 160 in Logistics Performance.



For workers, more trade can mean more and most crucially, better jobs. Consumers will benefit from lower prices, better quality goods and more choice. Producers can expect world-class inputs at competitive prices. And the government will benefit from higher revenues and an improved trade balance. By integrating into regional and global value chains, Sri Lanka can leverage its unique location to overcome the economic disadvantage generated by its small size.



By supporting the growth of its private sector, Sri Lanka has a better chance of realizing its ambitions of becoming a high-income country.



(Tatiana Nenova is a Programme Leader for Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the World Bank, responsible for financial markets, trade and competitiveness, macro and fiscal, governance and poverty)
With the arrival of monsoon rains, Sri Lanka is just seeing the end of the drought that impaired many parts of the country. However, its negative effects continue to be felt by the affected communities. Unfortunately, droughts are not the only natural disaster Sri Lanka has seen in the recent past; the country has been wrecked by a series of floods and landslides alternatively, during the past few years, while Sri Lanka is at risk for such calamities in the future too.



The economic costs of these climate-induced natural disasters are immense and the government spends a significant amount of funds on disaster relief activities alone. The Disaster Management Ministry provided more than Rs.117 million to district secretariats just for the disasters that occurred in 2016. Additionally, the Defence Ministry has spent around Rs.60 million for immediate search, rescue and relief operations. As such, an efficient and effective approach to build resilience to disasters is both vital and urgent.



In terms of the number of affected people, droughts, floods cyclones, tsunami, heavy rains and landslides are the most important natural disasters recorded in Sri Lanka, as per the DesInventar database managed by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The number of people affected by disasters has been steadily increasing from 1960s until now (Figure 1).



Disaster management policies in Sri Lanka

There are two major conceptual fields with separate policy and institutional frameworks governing the handling of climate-induced natural disasters in Sri Lanka. These are disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate adaptation. The main agencies for DRR include the Disaster Management Ministry and its supporting agencies. The Meteorology Department is responsible for providing disaster-related data and information. Meanwhile, the Mahaweli Development and Environment Ministry and Climate Change Secretariat under the ministry, serve as the focal points for climate adaptation.



There are several policy documents that deal with climate-induced natural disasters, namely the Sri Lanka Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (SLCDMP) 20142018, National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for Climate Change Impacts in Sri Lanka 2016-2025, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Sri Lanka Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) - Floods and Landslides May 2016.



There have been several donor-funded projects aimed at disaster mitigation measures in the country as well. As DRR is an important cross-cutting issue, it is linked to many agencies that deal with various aspects related to DRR. Thus, sectoral policies have clear linkages with DRR, though such linkages may not be explicitly stated in the policy documents. There are many policies and regulations with direct reference to DRR, such as the Mahaweli Authority Act, Flood Ordinance and National Land Use Policy.



Issues and gaps

On a positive note, Sri Lankas policy framework for disaster risk management covers all the necessary aspects of disaster risk management. The subject has been evolving and gaining momentum following the significant disasters that affected the country. The international initiatives and mechanisms and Sri Lankas commitments to them have shaped the disaster management framework to a considerable level. However, even though sufficient thought has been put towards disaster resilience, significant gaps remain in relation to coordination and integration.



As disaster management is a cross-cutting issue, it is essential to mainstream and integrate disaster management aspects in development policies and planning. This is a highly considered area in Sri Lankas policymaking and certain steps have been taken to integrate disaster management in development activities. However, it needs further improvement. If not, the absence of a common and shared framework constraints donor investments in DRR.



Aspects of disaster risk management have to be streamlined to sectoral policies and regulations to be effectively implemented. Involvement of the sectoral agencies, facilitated by a proper coordination mechanism, is a must in DRR activities. For instance, the National Physical Plan lacks focus on natural disasters and other climate change-related issues, although it is now being revised to incorporate these.

Sri Lankas disaster management system is now more geared towards DRR, shifting away from the previous approach of emphasizing relief interventions after disaster events. The government investment on risk reduction and disaster mitigation has shown an increasing trend over the years.

However, there is enough evidence to prove that post-disaster activities have distributional and targeting issues.



Vulnerability maps for droughts, floods, cyclones, landslides, lightning and coastal hazards have been finalized by the DMC, in collaboration with the relevant technical agencies. These are being used at present on pilot basis for project-related activities. However, the high resolution maps, required for planning activities to evaluate disaster risks for specific sites are still not available.



There are gaps in the existing social protection system, particularly in disaster-related social protection schemes. Crop insurance/climate insurance have a key role in this regard, given that agriculture is one of the sectors highly affected by floods, droughts and landslides as highlighted by an International Policy Studies (IPS) study. However, these insurance schemes operate far below their potential.



What needs to be done?

Resilient development should synergize DRR and climate adaptation at national level. A collaborative mechanism should be in place to coordinate the actions taken under DRR and climate adaptation. DRR should not be a standalone sector in the overall development framework of Sri Lanka. Currently, there are signs of mainstreaming the important aspects into sectoral policies and plans.



DRR aspects should be further strengthened using both physical measures and socio-economic instruments. Meaningful involvement of stakeholders, including the local communities, is a must in designing such interventions. Proper attention should be paid towards the implementation of necessary measures, based on the recovery needs identified by the PDNA and other policy documents.



Enhancing the social protection system to address the medium and long-term recovery needs should be an important element in this regard. To this end, the implementation of an effective disaster insurance mechanism to cover vulnerable sectors has been highlighted by both international initiatives and national policy documents.



Reliable and timely data and information on disasters provide the foundation for many disaster risk management initiatives. It is highly opportune to develop a comprehensive mechanism for sharing data and information among all users. This should be coupled with effective capacity building of data generating agencies.



(This article is based on a chapter written for the recently launched Sri Lanka: State of the Economy 2017 report, IPS annual flagship publication)

(Kanchana Wickramasinghe is a Research Economist at the IPS. To talk to the author, email kanchana@ips.lk. To view this article online and to share your comments, visit the IPS Blog Talking Economics - http://www.ips.lk/talkingeconomics/)
India and Sri Lanka on Saturday vowed to find a permanent solution to the vexed fishermen issue at the earliest. The two sides held ministerial-level talks on the issue during which various aspects related to it were discussed. the Times of India reported.

The talks were held between Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Radha Mohan Singh and Sri Lanka's Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

"The Ministers agreed that a permanent solution to the fishermen issues should be found at the earliest," the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

The ministerial-level meeting was followed by the third meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries on Friday.

"The Indian side was satisfied with the progress on release of apprehended fishermen and detained fishing vessels in the recent past, while reiterating the release of all the remaining Indian fishing vessels in Sri Lankan custody," the MEA said.
OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) has loaned an additional US$ 18 million to Sri Lanka for the Kaluganga Development Project (KDP), a Finance Ministry communique said.



KDP is currently being implemented by the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment with the financial assistance of Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and OFID.

Kaluganga Reservoir has a capacity of 265 million cubic metres (MCM) of water and will divert 100 MCM annually to Moragahakanda Reservoir. Under this project, it is expected to develop new irrigable lands of nearly 3,000 ha in the Kaluganga Basin. Unforeseen geological conditions in the foundations and necessary design revisions have led to cost escalations and it is noted that the funds available from the above donors is not sufficient to complete the balance work of the project. Sri Lanka has already entered into an agreement with KFAED to finance a part of the balance of the shortfall. The balance part of the shortfall is to be obtained from SFD.
Minister Mangala Samaraweera in discussion with MCC Regional Deputy Vice President for Europe, Asia, Pacific and Latin America, Fatema. Z. Sumar

Finance and Mass Media Minister Mangala Samaraweera met with Millennium Challenge Corporations (MCC) Regional Deputy Vice President for Europe, Asia, Pacific and Latin America, Fatema. Z. Sumar to review the progress of its 5-year Grant Compact to Sri Lanka.



The meeting took place in Washington on the sidelines of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund annual meeting, which concluded this weekend.



In December 2016, MCCs director board selected Sri Lanka to develop a compact. Sri Lanka became eligible for assistance after passing 13 out of 20 indicators on MCCs policy scorecard.



MCC is an independent agency working to reduce global poverty through economic growth.

Sri Lanka is at the receiving end of approximately US$ 700 million within a period of 5 years from the MCC to invest in three priority areas policy stability, access to land and transport.



A delegation from the U.S. governments MCC led Sumar, visited Colombo in July to advance progress on the development of the MCC compacta 5-year grant programmewith the Sri Lankan government that aims to reduce poverty and promote economic opportunity for Sri Lankans. The visit saw MCC signing a MoU with Treasury Secretary Dr. R.H.S. Samaratunga. Thereafter, MCC announced Rs.1.1 billion (US$7.4 million) in funding to Sri Lanka to support the development of a compact, including identifying and analyzing specific projects for potential investment.

The Sri Lankan government has established a project management unitthe Sri Lankan Compact Development Teamwithin the Prime Ministers office to work with MCC on the compact. The goal is to develop a high-quality, evidence-based and sustainable compact aimed at addressing these economic challenges in a way that drives growth and reduces poverty.



MCC holds partner countries accountable through rigorous oversight, monitoring and evaluation.
By Chandeepa Wettasinghe

The Sri Lankan apparel sector finally appears to have started realizing the benefits of the recently reinstated Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) facility with the European Union (EU) with double digit growth in exports, while the exports to the US market too saw an uptick.



Yes, this is the gain we were expecting from GSP Plus. Were expecting the trend to get even better by the end of the year. The order books are filling up, Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association President Felix Fernando told Mirror Business.



According to data published by the Joint Apparel Associations Forum (JAAF), apparel exports to the EU this August expanded 14.29 percent year-on-year (YoY) to reach US$ 192 million.



Fernando said that based on the positive outlook of manufacturers on future orders, the industry may have the potential to create growth in excess of 20 percent during the first 12 months of experiencing GSP benefits, ending June 2018.



During the same period last year, apparel receipts from the EU fell 2.91 percent to US$ 1.89 billion, due to Brexit and other political upheavals in the region, coupled with some major European department stores and retailers that sourced apparel from Sri Lanka downsizing their operations.

The EU market would indeed have to grow at over 20 percent to exceed the US$ 500 million target the industry has set for itself during the first year of GSP Plus.



But even if growth remains at the current 15 percent or so, its still good, Fernando said.

The EU market expansion began in earnest this Julyone and a half months after officially receiving the GSP benefit, due to delays in receiving orderswhen export growth reached 10.34 percent YoY.

Despite the strong July and August performances, the growth in the EU market for the first eight months of 2017 remained at a negative 1 percent YoY, registering US$ 1.34 billion in export earnings, which represented 42.58 percent of Sri Lankas total apparel export earnings for the eight months.

Sri Lanka regained the duty-free GSP Plus facility after the government showed commitment to uphold human rights in the country. Sri Lanka lost the preferential trade benefits in 2010 due to accusation of violating of human rights during the final stages of the civil war.



GSP Plus came at a crucial time, since EU trade officials who visited Sri Lanka last year noted that while the EU importers had remained mostly loyal to Sri Lankan apparels, despite the higher prices, a significant change in sourcing apparel for the EU could take place if Sri Lanka failed to regain GSP Plus status.



Sri Lankan apparel exporters too had made significant investments in regional countries to produce apparel at a lower cost, due to rising Sri Lankan labour costs.



Fernando said that he is hoping for the EU market to keep growing even after the effect on the base numbers wear off in July 2018.

It can do better, provided that we manage to utilize our full capacity by finding the required labour, he said, reminding of the continuous complaints the apparel sector has made to the government on the labour shortage issue, and the numerous pleas made to allow the importation of foreign labour.



The government appears to have received these requests in a positive light, with a minister last week saying that plans are afoot to streamline labour mobility.



Meanwhile, the US market too recorded gains in August with a 5.52 percent YoY growth, hauling in US$ 172 million in earnings, after posting a stronger performance of this July with an 8.11 percent YoY growth to US$ 200 million in receipts. Fernando noted that challenges in the US markets still remain, and that this boost could even be a temporary phenomenon.



Theres no particular reason for this as far as I know. We will get a better feel on whether it is a trend once we see the September figures, he said. For the first eight months of this year, apparel exports to the US fell 4.28 percent YoY bringing US$ 1.38 billion in revenue. Apparel exports to all markets increased 9 percent YoY this August, bringing in US$ 412 million in export earnings, while from January through August, the earnings fell 1.96 percent YoY to US$ 3.14 billion.
A Turkish family living in the Pakistani city of Lahore was abducted from its apartment in the early hours of September 27 by men in civilian clothes who claimed to be police officers. More than two weeks later, their whereabouts are unknown. Pakistani authorities have dragged their feet as far as efforts to relocate them and find their abductors are concerned.

The incident has only added to a list of insurmountable troubles that many Turkish citizens are facing in Pakistan. Last year, under pressure from Ankara, the Pakistani authorities had agreed to deport those working in schools and civil society organisations believed to be close to the transnational social movement called Hizmet, also known as the Gulen movement. The deportation plan was aborted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which intervened and granted political asylum to the Turks on the ground as they face serious risk of torture and other ill-treatment if handed over to Turkey.

Since December 2013, the Turkish government has been pressing governments worldwide to crack down on institutions affiliated with the Hizmet movement. This campaign intensified following the highly controversial coup attempt in Turkey in 2016, in which 250 people died.

The Turkish government pins the blame for the putsch on Fethullah Gulen, the leader of the Hizmet movement, and has come down heavily on his sympathisers in Turkey. However, Gulen strongly denies any involvement and the Turkish authorities have failed to provide hard incriminating evidence against him.

In May this year, two Turkish citizens working in Hizmet-inspired institutions in Malaysia were similarly whisked away, allegedly by Malaysian intelligence officials and later handed over to Turkey.

As far as Malaysia is concerned, this wasn't the first incident. Two other Turkish teachers were extradited to Turkey from Malaysia in October 2016, where they were arrested upon arrival.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ties with Malaysia

Turkish government's ties with the Malaysian government have been under the scanner for quite some time now. Following the December 2013 arrest in Turkey of billionaire gold trader, Reza Zarrab, who holds dual Turkish and Iranian citizenship on charges of bribery and money laundering, it was revealed that his Iranian boss by the name of Babak Zanjani laundered more than three billion dollars in banks in Malaysia and Turkey.

Babak Zanjani has been sentenced to death in Iran for money laundering and other crimes, and Reza Zarrab has been rearrested in the United States on charges similar to the ones made by Turkish prosecutors after being released in Turkey.

Along with Zarrab, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan's four former cabinet ministers and his son are also embroiled in this controversy. His former economy minister, Zafer Caglayan, has been indicted in the US and Bilal Erdogan, his younger son, was named in a money laundering probe in Italy, widely believed to be connected to the original charges against Zarrab and others in Turkey.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The involvement of Erdogan's family and his close circle  and of Malaysian banks in the international fraud schemes of Zanjani and Zarrab  clearly smack of deeper relations between the ruling elites of Turkey and Malaysia. This significantly explains why Malaysia has been at the forefront of cracking down on dissident Turks at the request of Ankara.

Traditional ties with Pakistan

Pakistan too, on the other hand, has been working in tandem with the current Islamist regime in Turkey. Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif enjoyed warm personal relations with president Erdogan, who would refer to him as a "dear friend". And it was he who took the decision to deport Turkish teachers from reputed Pak-Turk schools, before being disqualified from office after the Supreme of Court of Pakistan found him guilty of corruption.

More importantly, the foreign policy of both countries has been traditionally aligned and their military establishments too have the same stance on many issues. They have been backing each other on international platforms  for example in the United Nations, Turkey fully endorsed Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir dispute, whereas, on its part, Pakistan supports Turkey's position on Cyprus.
Ahmadi Muslim. The two words I am not allowed to put together if I write for a publication in Pakistan, or speak on national television. Once, it was simply the details of the punishment meted out to Ahmadis for practising Allah's name that I had listed - an ordinance of the Pakistan Penal Code and not my personal opinion - which were edited out from an op-ed I wrote for a national daily. Another time, during a talk show on a leading news channel, my comments on the persecution of Ahmadis were not bleeped out - the whole portion, in fact, was edited. Media folks are scared. And justifiably so.

Ahmadis are not Muslims, however, is a sentence that is readily accepted as a declaration, a judgment and a verdict. It is a sentence against an entire community, an entire set of people, an entire set of beliefs, positioning the Ahmadi identity in an unchangeable box of rigidity and bigotry, marking them as the outsider in their society, finalising their isolation in their own country. Pakistan - cleaved from India in 1947 in an effort to provide a new country for the safeguarding of the rights of one particular group of Indians, that is Muslims - in 2017 has ensured that it is not a country for anyone who is not a Muslim, or is the "wrong" kind of a Muslim.

Faith is deeply personal. Faith is between an individual and God. Faith connects human to the divine. And only God is to be the judge of the veracity, or lack thereof, of that connection.

The white in Pakistan's flag, ostensibly there to establish the existence of "minorities", is so deeply discoloured that no amount of empty words and all-Pakistanis-are-equal rhetoric would bring back its original pristine hue. There are too many stains of blood, too many memories of injustice, too long a trail of persecution.

Nobel laureate Abdus Salam died in Oxford, Cambridge on November 21, 1996, and was buried in Bahishti Maqbara, an Ahmadi cemetery in Rabwah, Pakistan. Photo: Reuters

Recently, one of the worst attacks on Ahmadis came in the form of a speech by none other than Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar, the son-in-law of the three-time prime minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif. Amidst the overwhelming backlash his words received on social, print and electronic media, it is important to understand that his words are not mere electoral bombast or a point-gaining orotundity. His hate speech is the blatant manifestation of the narrative of sidelining, isolation and outright ostracisation of not just those who are considered not Muslim despite being Muslim, but of all those who belong to other faiths and religions.

It is about the monopoly of those belonging to one faith over all others.

It is about the blatant distortion of Mohammad Ali Jinnah's fight for a state for Muslims that was not based on theological principles. It is about convoluting a just fight for rights of Muslims into a monolith of bigotry that declares all who are not Muslim as outsiders, pariahs in their homeland.

It is about the audacity of holding a man-made decision of a constitutional amendment higher than a divine order. It is about Pakistan being the country that is only for Muslims despite weak protestations to the contrary.

While Safdar's abominable remark attacking Ahmadis' patriotism - "...enemies of the finality of Prophet Muhammad should not be inducted in armed forces and key posts... Ahmadis, Qadiyanis are enemies of the nation" - was repudiated in categorical words by Lt Gen Asif Ghafoor, DG ISPR. Safdar's words, like the effects of a chemical attack on a hapless community, did deep damage. General Ghafoor said: "We are a Muslim-majority state but the white part of our flag stresses that Pakistan is for all irrespective of one's sect or religion." Ghafoor also showed pictures of some of the most important minority personalities in Pakistan. "They work for Pakistan and not because they belong to a different sect or religion. They are all Pakistanis."

Safdar, during his speech/spewing of venom, called for "reversing the name of Professor Abdus Salam Centre for Physics in Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad to its original name... If the name associated with Dr Abdus Salam Physics department is not changed, I will protest against it daily."

The response from the Quaid-e-Azam University was quick and courageous, like the sentiments of millions of Pakistanis who reacted against Safdar's callous words. "We strongly condemn obtuse and brainless demand by MNA Cpt (R) Safdar to change the name of Dr Abdus Salam Centre for Physics. We cherish Nobel laureate's achievements and are honoured to host the centre at QAU."

Forced to live abroad after his self-exile from his country for his personal faith, the faith for which an individual is answerable only to God, Abdus Salam remained a fiercely patriotic Pakistani and a staunch Muslim. And in 1979, he became the first Pakistani to be co-awarded - along with American theoretical scientists Steven Weinberg and Sheldon Lee Glasgow - for "developing the theoretical framework that led to the apparent discovery of the subatomic known as Higgs Boson" and more popularly as the "God Particle". Salam's name became immortalised with the word God.

The Nobel laureate died in Oxford, Cambridge on November 21, 1996, and was buried in Bahishti Maqbara, an Ahmadi cemetery in Rabwah, Pakistan. In 2014, his grave was desecrated to remove the word "Muslim". The world still reveres him as the man who discovered the God particle.

The history of Ahmadi persecution is long and bloody. Religious oppression is often a by-product, a side-effect, an auxiliary of political dynamics of hegemony, of controlling society, of the exploitation of masses. The protests and condemnations against the Ahmadi faith were the perfect decoy to maintain the self-proclaimed position of the guardian of Islam many political and religious leaders in Pakistan had apportioned for themselves after the creation of Pakistan, which they insisted was made as a fortress of Islam.

The 1974 Second Amendment of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's parliament sealed the fate of Ahmadis, thus labelling them non-Muslims in the Constitution. I cannot think of any constitution in which the state decides who gets to be a Muslim, Jew, Christian, or Hindu. No country comes to mind, notwithstanding its treatment of its "minorities" - the word I refuse to use for a smaller number of people of a particular faith in a country whose bigger number prays in a different way.

In 1984, Ordinance XX, promulgated by General Zia-ul-Haq's regime, ensured Ahmadis became not just "non-Muslims" and pariahs in their own country but also criminals. They were legally prohibited to "practise Islam and the usage of Islamic terms and titles." It also made it illegal for Ahmadis to "recite the six Kalimas, the shahada (declaring belief in the oneness of God and the prophethood of Muhammad), from building mosques, calling the azaan, undertaking Muslim modes of worship, worshipping in non-Ahmadi mosques or public prayer rooms, and making any citations from the Quran and Muhammad's hadith."

Punishment for anyone convicted of doing any of the above is imprisonment of up to three years in addition to a fine.

On October 12, 2017, three Ahmadis in Sheikhupura district, Punjab, were sentenced to death on a blasphemy charge. The accusation: in 2014, in their village, they tore down posters that urged the villagers to boycott Ahmadis. The posters, reportedly, were inscribed with Islamic verses.

The persecution is deep, and it is nothing less than a genocide. Killing is not just of the body, it is also of the spirit. Ostracisation, punishment, beating, prohibition on profession and practising one's faith, desecration of mosques and graveyards and killings. Methodically, consistently, Ahmadis are being erased from Pakistan, and the law-enforcement agencies and government abet it all. Silence always does.

Ahmadis are persecuted in the name of Allah, his prophet, whereas there are various hadith and narration of Prophet Muhammad's actions that challenge most theories that endorse such persecution.

"Whoever says, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah', faces our Qibla [Mecca] during the prayers, prays like us and eats our slaughtered animal, then he is a Muslim, and has got the same rights and obligations as other Muslims have." (Bukhari) One day, as Prophet Muhammad was sitting with few people, a man came to him and asked: "O Allah's Apostle, what is belief?" The Prophet said: "Belief is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Apostles, and the meeting with Him, and to believe in the Resurrection." The man asked: "O Allah's Apostle, what is Islam?" The Prophet replied: "Islam is to worship Allah and not worship anything besides Him, to offer prayers perfectly, to pay zakat and to fast the month of Ramadan." (Bukhari)

Prophet Muhammad "repeatedly cautioned that judging someone's truth or sincerity to their claim of Islam was a prerogative of God alone". When the renowned general Khalid bin Waleed said to the prophet, "there were many people who outwardly professed Islam while there was no faith in their heart," the latter simply responded: "I have not been commanded to pierce through the hearts of people, nor to split their bellies [to look what is inside them]." (Muslim)

Another oft-recited incident is that of a Muslim killing a non-Muslim during a battle, and that was after the man had recited the Kalima. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on finding out became angry. The soldier's words were "O Messenger of Allah, that man read the Kalima merely to protect himself from our sword," to which Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) reprimanded him: "Did you open his heart and look inside it?"

And Allah says in the Quran, the fundamental and final authority for Muslims:

"The Arabs of the desert say, 'We believe.' Say, "You have not believed yet; but rather say, 'We have accepted Islam,' for the true belief has not yet entered into your hearts." (49:14)
Taylor Lamb had just decided to postpone a panel of LGBT speakers of color when a call went out for proposals for funding from the University of Virginia. A small grant, Lamb thought, would help her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho, try to hold the event again.

UVas Flash Funding project was announced at the beginning of September. The grant was awarded to projects that work toward Achieving the Culture and Environment We Value, with preference for ideas for programming that address unconscious bias and racial tension.

Immediately, proposals began pouring in, said Archie Holmes, vice provost for academic affairs. About a month after the call went out, Holmes said he has awarded all of the $100,000 available to eight projects. He even asked Provost Tom Katsouleas to shunt a little bit more money so that he could fully fund the final grant.

Sometimes, you just need to get something started, Holmes said. This money allows them to get started.

Holmes said he and other university leaders first got the idea for a diversity project about a year ago. The particular idea for the grant came in August, after seeing a funding initiative from the Association of American Colleges & Universities.

They decided to seek projects that would connect the city and the university and tackle racial bias. Holmes didnt directly choose any of the projects, but he said he appreciated the three chosen that involve the community.

Those were the ones that gave back the most to me, he said.

***

Christine Mahoney, director of UVas social entrepreneurship program, proposed one of those partnerships. The New Vinegar Hill project  developed by Mahoney, UVa professors Bevin Etienne and Elgin Cleckley and City Councilors Wes Bellamy and Kathy Garvin  aims to help the city have a community-driven checklist for approaching future redevelopment projects.

There is a history in Charlottesville, and in lots of cities, that when redevelopment happens, its top down, Mahoney said. The destruction of Vinegar Hill and relocation of those communities to Friendship Court and other areas was not a community plan; the communities were subject to that plan.

She already had been working with community leaders and thinking about possible ways to harness social entrepreneurship classes toward racial justice initiatives. When the call came from the provosts office for projects, Mahoney said it provided the impetus and ability to put a proposal together.

All eyes have been on Charlottesville, in a bad way, but maybe theres a silver lining where people maybe are thinking about how to move beyond divisions, Mahoney said.

Mahoneys project aims to use the architectural concept of design thinking to generate and refine ideas for community redevelopment.

Design thinking, said Cleckley, an assistant professor of architecture and design thinking, describes the process of doing research, talking to lots of people, prototyping ideas and suggesting solutions.

Theres a way to form relationships here. This new way of thinking is very inclusive, Cleckley said. Were at a time of new types of conversation. One thing that everyone has is a desire to talk and to be listened to.

***

Over the next year, high school students will reach out one-on-one to community members and ask for ideas for development of a vibrant and economically thriving mixed-income neighborhood. Those suggestions will be honed and refined through another round of outreach by university students. By the beginning of next summer, Mahoney hopes, the community will be able to vote on a few of the best suggestions, which will then be presented to the Charlottesville City Council.

There was a light shed on racial disparities in August, and then again this month, and I think that might convince people to get involved, Mahoney said.

Mahoney received $25,000, money she plans to put toward research efforts and parties to kick off and close the project.

Other approved projects include a creative-writing project, a hackathon for underrepresented genders and ethnicities and anti-bias training for teachers.

Lambs sorority wanted to address a perceived gap between African-American and LGBT communities. She discovered the local LGBT Speakers Bureau, and she and her sorority sisters decided to host a panel with LGBT speakers of color.

The sorority requested, and got, $200 to buy snacks for the panel, and Lamb said they hope to hold the event in November.

In the wake of Aug. 11 and 12, a lot of people were trying to specifically address the events, Lamb said. But creating a more inclusive environment also helps. The Nazis were marching against everyone who has a marginalized identity, and we cant get separated. Events like these help to bridge the gap.
ROANOKE  The Jefferson Pools, a popular bathhouse in the aptly named town of Warm Springs, was shut down Thursday after an inspection found the buildings unsafe for public use.

Rotting wood, structural deficiencies and cracks in the foundation forced officials at the Omni Homestead Resort, which owns the popular attraction, to close it until further notice.

Its in really bad shape, said Bath County building official Andy Seabolt, who recently inspected the property.

The twin bathhouses  one for men and one for women  form circles around natural springs that feed the pools of warm, bubbling water, which draw up to 20,000 visitors a year.

We couldnt have people going in and out, Seabolt said.

Lynn Swann, a spokeswoman for the Homestead, said the resort is working with historic groups and local and state officials in hopes of finding a way to bring the pools back into compliance with building requirements.

We are evaluating all options to ensure their long-term viability, she said.

The two buildings, dating back to the early 1800s, have been repaired over the years but have never undergone a major renovation, which Seabolt said they need.

When you have boards that are in a hot, steamy environment, it doesnt matter if they are cypress or cedar or whatever, eventually they are just gone, he said.

Seabolt said he did not issue a formal condemnation notice for the buildings, describing their closure as an agreement between the Homestead and the Bath County Building, Planning and Zoning Department.

The octagonal, white buildings, which have holes in the roofs to allow steam to escape from mineral-rich water known for its therapeutic power, have drawn visitors from across the country for centuries, according to the Homesteads website.

Patrons pay $19 for a dip in the pools, where swimsuits are optional during designated hours.

By 2010, the bathhouses deteriorating condition led Preservation Virginia to list them among the most endangered historic sites in Virginia.

The pools are named for Thomas Jefferson, who, according to the Homestead, sojourned here in 1818 to spend three weeks relaxing within our Virginia mountain spa. Soaking in the Gentlemens Pool House three times a day, Jefferson proclaimed the spring waters to be of the first merit.

Last year, the Homestead announced a historic structures report on the pools and bathhouses that would be a first step in the preservation process.

Swann said there is currently neither an estimate on how much it would cost to restore the buildings nor an estimate on how long the work would take.
Dear Las Vegas,

On Oct. 2, I awoke to the news of the tragedy in your city. The magnitude of the evil that visited you, the victims, the families and friends and your citizens is beyond belief. There can be no equivalent to the grief, disbelief, shock among the emotions that have blanketed such a great city.

My heart is broken again, and my prayers are that you will find a common effort to mourn, to bind together as a community and to recover.

My city, Charlottesville, Virginia, recently was the victim of an attack of terror, an incident in which the citizens, beyond the anger of witnessing hundreds of heavily armed men flaunting a message of treason, felt betrayed by the institutions we trusted. And with the echo of freedom of speech reverberating constantly during the run-up to Aug. 12, we felt powerless. We knew what was coming, but we couldn't convince a federal judge what was coming; and members of the legal community and legal academics were unable to acknowledge the threat. When the militias left, our frustration turned inward.

Both of these tragedies have their own unique circumstances, but they do have one after-the-fact common denominator: a search for someone to blame, someone close, someone the critics can get their hands on.

For now, for your community, there was one individual responsible. Please don't let your shock and anger turn inward and tear your city a second time.

I wish I could share advice on how to navigate your path ahead, but I can't and I shouldn't. It's your path. Your citizens are as strong, intelligent and resilient as Charlottesville's. You will find your way, but it will take time.

My city is still finding its footing two months later. Please remember, we don't live our lives in anticipation of overwhelming acts of violence and hate. Our lives are, for the most part, mundane, repetitious and innocent. But a bag not checked thoroughly, a barrier across a road temporarily moved for a delivery and then forgotten, a notation on a report lost in the avalanche of notations any bureaucracy produces, all are innocent acts through which evil can rush.

Your city manager or executive, your police chief and others will deal with the present, and then they will have to deal with a second, more enduring attack that questions their actions before, during and after the initial attack: Why didn't they do this? Why did they do that? They should have done this. These and more questions after the fact, removed from the chaos and fear and hopelessness.

This is a dark side of human nature and unavoidable in many respects. It's as if a psychosis will envelop you. But I'm hoping that some consideration on the part of your citizens (and my friends and neighbors, as well) might lessen the civic damage this will cause.

Bob Fenwick is a member of the Charlottesville City Council but is writing as a private citizen.
I am writing to agree with Steve Landes that he should not be running for re-election to the House of Delegates. In 1996, in his first months in office, he co-sponsored an amendment to the Virginia Constitution to implement term limits for members of the General Assembly (House Joint Resolution 178, Jan. 22, 1996). The proposed amendment to Article IV would have limited delegates to "six consecutive terms in the House.

At that time, Mr. Landes thought six consecutive terms in office was enough for any delegate. Now, after more than 20 years in Richmond, he is running for his 12th consecutive term. By his own standard, this is beyond what we should accept.

The voters of the 25th District can help Mr. Landes honor his original commitment to term limits by voting for Angela Lynn.

George R. Leaman

Albemarle County
Reliance Industries has exited the last of its overseas oil and gas assets after it relinquished two blocks in Myanmar. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Reliance Industries has exited the last of its overseas oil and gas assets after it relinquished two blocks in Myanmar.

"Relinquishment of Myanmar Block  M17 and M18 on completion of study / others technical evaluation assessment period," RIL said in an investor presentation post announcing its second quarter earnings.

With this, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate is left with no conventional oil and gas property overseas. It has just two shale gas assets in the US.

Earlier this month, it sold one of the three shale oil and gas blocks it had in the United States for USD 126 million, a third of the price it paid seven years ago.

RIL held stakes in three US shale gas ventures - 45 per cent with Pioneer Natural Resources in the Eagle Ford shale play; 40 per cent with Chevron and 60 per cent with Carrizo Oil & Gas in the Marcellus Shale play.

"Reliance signed agreements to divest all of its interest in the upstream shale gas assets operated by Carrizo," it said in the presentation. "Transaction is expected to close by the end of 3Q FY18."

The billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led firm had in 2007 set up Reliance Exploration and Production (REP) DMCC primarily for acquiring overseas assets.

It had steadily acquired 16 conventional oil and gas assets, including four in Peru, three in Yemen (one producing and two exploratory), two each in Oman, Kurdistan and Colombia and one each in East Timor and Australia. It last bagged two oil and gas exploration blocks in Myanmar in 2014.

But the company slowly exited most of its international assets.

It last withdrew from Block 39 in Peru. RIL held 10 per cent interest in the block. Anglo-French oil and gas company Perenco held 55 per cent stake in the block while PetroVietnam of Vietnam held the remaining 35 per cent.

The Myanmar exploration blocks were awarded to RIL in March 2015. It held 96 per cent stake in each of the two blocks with the remaining 4 per cent being with a local company.

RIL's domestic oil and gas business portfolio, which at one point of time comprised of 42 blocks or fields, has shrunk to five conventional oil and gas assets and two coal-bed methane (CBM) blocks.

As part of its upstream (hydrocarbons exploration and production) portfolio rationalisation, the company has been exiting those assets which it feels are not going to give good return on investment.

According to RIL's latest annual report, the company's present domestic portfolio comprises the flagging KG-D6 block in the Krishna Godavari basin, Mahanadi basin block of NEC-25, CB-10 in Cambay and GS-01 in Saurashtra basin.

Besides, it also has stake in Panna/Mukta and Tapti oil and gas fields in the Arabian Sea. However, Mid and South Tapti fields have been abandoned after production tapered.

Also, it has two CBM blocks in Madhya Pradesh.

RIL had in February 2011 announced a "transformational" deal when UK's BP picked up 30 per cent stake in its 23 oil and gas blocks for USD 7.2 billion. However, in August that year the government allowed them to form a partnership in only 21 blocks.

Since 2012, RIL and BP have been pruning their portfolio, shedding not so viable acreage. They are now left with just three blocks -- the producing KG-DWN-98/3 or KG-D6 block in Bay of Bengal, gas discovery areas of NEC-OSN-97/2 (NEC-25) and CB-ONN-2003/1 in Cambay basin.
Washington: A "different India" is ready to benefit from a strong global economic recovery after a series of reforms including demonetisation, goods and services tax, easing of regulations and procedures, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

In first public appearance at the IMF headquarters here after his arrival in the city, Jaitley echoed International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, who have said that the world is experiencing a strong economic recovery.

"After several years of disappointing growth, the global economy has begun to accelerate," Kim told reporters earlier.

In a separate news conference, Lagarde later said she expects higher global growth this year and next.

By all indications there is a "more positive mood around the world" as far as economy is concerned, Jaitley said while participating in a seminar at the IMF headquarters organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

"Obviously as an economy which is globally integrated, if world economy moves on consequential impact on demand, the Indian economy would also follow. And I do see, that as one of the various reasons why in the coming months and years India economy is also probably destined to move up," he said, while admitting that the last three years had been extremely difficult.

India, he argued, now offers bright opportunities.

"The first factor in the opportunity is do we allow people to come in. Obviously as a country which has realised the virtues of more investment into the country, we have systematically liberalised our policy over the years and probably one of the more liberal economies in the world," he said, adding not only India has liberalised, it has also made the procedures of entry very simple.

"But it is also a harsh reality that merely we have a door wide open that's not enough for people to enter. When they enter they must feel more comfortable. And they may feel that India is an extremely comfortable place to do business with," the finance minister said.

Noting that there are more factors that stand out, he said, "And in that sense, it is a different India."

The first is irrespective of the federal and multi-party character of India there is now a feeling both in the center and different state governments, without exception, that each one wants investment to come to his or her state, he said.

Therefore, each one is bent upon creating an environment which is more friendly, he added. "This augurs quite well for an opportunity in India," he noted.

Secondly, India has cut short most of its procedures. And as ease of doing business year after year indicated, land and building is one area where India needs to improve, he said.

Jaitley said a lot of state government are putting their house in order and the government desecration have substantially ended. "This has brought down if not eliminated the stigma of corruption which was once a stigma to India," Jaitley said, adding that people have now realised that India in many parts is much cleaner place to do business.

That itself adds to the opportunity of doing business in India. And then comes the factors of great availability of human resources in India, a large market in India and the ability of India to reform, the minister observed.

He said after coming to power, the Modi government has taken a series of steps to integrate the formal with the formal, to assault the shadow economy, and then take all consequential steps one after the other all aimed in one direction to expand India into a far, cleaner, bigger and better economy.

This was one of the objects of the series of reforms that culminated in demonetisation itself, he said.

GST experience has shown that governments in the center and the state are willing to take steps, Jaitley said.

Considering these sets of reforms there is a huge amount of opportunity in various sectors of Indian economy like the infrastructure sector, he added.

"I think there is a huge amount of opportunity as far as India is concerned," he said. "It's quite comforting for us to find that investors view India as a country where they see a lot of activity going on," Jaitley added.
Washington: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) shot down media reports speculating that it was pushing for the Public Distribution System (PDS) to be replaced by the Universal Basic Income (UBI) in India.

The reports emerged in a section of media after the IMF, in its annual Fiscal Monitor report, said the UBI will outperform the PDS in terms of coverage, progressivity, and generosity.

The IMF's observation was based on the results of a microsimulation analysis of a policy reform that replaces food and fuel subsidies in India with a UBI.

Director of Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF, Vitor Gaspar, said the report on India was just a case study on UBI and was carried out in order to demonstrate as to how a large but inefficient scheme can be replaced.

"We don't regard Fiscal Monitor as advocating for or against UBI. This is not the case at all," Gaspar told PTI in an interview.

"No! The goal was not to advocate UBI. It was to use the UBI as an illustration of how one could replace existing large and macroeconomically significant schemes that are inefficient and inequitable," he said.

The top IMF official said their report was based on the set of subsidy schemes, including energy subsidies and PDS schemes, that existed in India around 2011.

"We looked at these subsidies and we documented how a reform that would consider the replacement of these subsidies by the UBI would look like; then, we show that from 2011 to now, India has changed a lot," Gaspar explained.

"Hence the example that we present does not apply to the India of today. Today's India is a completely different place than what it was in 2011," the top IMF official said.

Gaspar said the IMF opted for India as a case study mainly because the UBI is particularly attractive when it replaces inefficient and inequitable public spending programs.

"And it turned out that the subsidy schemes that prevailed in India in 2011 were indeed inefficient and inequitable. And that's one of the reasons why they were so deeply reformed over time," he said.

"Doing a case study on India does not mean that the IMF is supporting the UBI in India," he reiterated.

Gaspar said that the IMF only intended to engage in a conversation that would allow it to collect facts and arguments relevant to policymakers and politicians and eventually help them make the best decisions for their countries.

"That's the type of conversation we thought was useful to engage them on, trying to look at what are the relevant facts and arguments so that we can have a meaningful policy conversation," Gaspar said.

The Fiscal Monitor is not advocating for specific reforms for individual countries, Gaspar said.

"Thats something that depends a lot on the particular circumstances of the country and we engage in that exercise year after year with countries in what we call 'Article IV consultations'," Gaspar said.

"One should also take into account broader ramifications such as the public spending programmes that are being replaced and other financing sources," he said.

UBI is equal cash transfer to all individuals in a country.
British actress Lysette Anthony has told police that Harvey Weinstein raped her, the Sunday Times reported, becoming the fifth woman to level such accusations against the disgraced Hollywood mogul.

The 54-year-old actress, who currently appears in British soap Hollyoaks, told Metropolitan Police last week that she

had originally met Weinstein in New York, and agreed to meet him later at his rented house in London, according to the paper.

The next thing I knew he was half undressed and he grabbed me. It was the last thing I expected and I fled, she told the Times.

Ms Anthony, who appeared in Woody Allens 1992 film Husbands and Wives, said Weinstein then began stalking her, turning up unannounced at her house. He pushed me inside and rammed me against the coat rack, she said of the attack in the 1980s. He was trying to kiss me and shove inside me. Finally I just gave up. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled Weinstein on Sunday amid mounting accusations of sexual harassment, assault and rape.

The decision was reached in an emergency session by the academy, the worlds top movie organisation and home to the Oscars. The expulsion was effective immediately.

An avalanche of claims have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behaviour by Weinstein dating back decades.

Meanwhile, the British police said they are investigating three new allegations of sexual assault against the film producer.
Sanam Shetty, who is 15 films old in all south languages, and worked with the likes of Mahesh Babu and Mammootty, turns producer with an intriguing dark comedy titled Magie. In this female-centric film, Sanam plays the lead role of a girl hailing from North East and her character has dual shades. The highlight of the film is that it will be the first Tamil cinema, which will be shot in Meghalaya.

Mukul Sangma, the Chief Minister of the state, will be reportedly launching the film. Magie is extensively shot at Mawlynnong, which has the credit of being Asias cleanest village. Sanam talks to DC, in an exclusive, on turning a producer, her image make over and more..

At a time when Tamil cinema is going through a lean patch where even veteran producers hesitate to kickstart new projects, what gave her the confidence to bankroll one, we ask her. Sanam responds, I wont say that my number of years in the industry correlates with me getting into production. I know a lot of assistant directors, who have good ideas, but dont get an opportunity to go ahead with them. A family friend of mine, Thirukumaran, who is passionate about Tamil films, wanted to venture into production. I thought of giving it a try with me being a co-producer and choose a script where I can essay the lead protagonist.

The Ambuli actress adds, In fact, we sat through for the narration of 60 scripts and finally zeroed down on Magie (tentative title) by Radhakrishnan, the ace dialogue writer for many films including Darling 2, Drohi, Aranmanai and Yamirukka Bayamey. I strongly believe that content is the king and if everything else falls in place, it would turn out to be a good product.

On choosing Meghalaya she says, The story revolves around me and there are two different shades to her. I am essaying the titular role with a new look  a girl, who is born and brought up in Meghalaya, a challenging character that is new to Tamil cinema.

VJ Ramya, whose Bharatantyam version of Jimmiki Kammal became viral, says that she started following Malayalam cinema closely post Bangalore Days. She states, I am a fan of Malayalam cinema mainly because I love the scripts they write. I follow their films quite closely now. I feel that Mollywood operates in a way that is completely different from Telugu, Kannada or Tamil for that matter. Its because their films are not hero-centric  theyre story centric! We dont get a feel that artistes from Kerala are out of reach or anything like that; they are not portrayed as super heroes with over the top punch lines.

She also says that the way the women are portrayed is very commendable  Manju Warrier, in spite of her age, is considered as a superstar there. We cant expect that in other industries. Also, women are portrayed very positively in Malayalam movies  they are not misogynistic or sexist.

Sharing with us about why even songs like Jimmiki Kammal are receiving overwhelming responses, she says, Malayalis have a lot of creative expertise, which reflect in their songs and in the way they picturise them  everything looks different and attractive for from outside. Just before Onam, I was in Cochin and Jimmiki Kammal was played everywhere even before I could watch the video, I could connect with the song and was eagerly waiting to see how it would be picturised in the film. Even if you remember the Pista song from Neram, it went viral and crazy. Its because most of their songs are very simple and also spread a lot of positivity.

On the other hand, filmmaker Jayaprakash Radhakrishnan feels that this phenomenon is not very new and people are getting to know more about this mainly after the advent of social media. When I was in school, I remember watching Oru CBI Diary Kurippu in a theatre in Avadi  I think the film ran for over 100 days here. Similarly, the film Chinna Thambi was a huge hit in Kerala. I dont think this is necessarily a new trend. But the likes of Maheshinte Prathikaram and Premam are getting a good reach because of the social media  multiplex audiences are the ones who mainly engage in discussion about good films. When it comes to songs, they have managed to become a rage only because of social media.

Meanwhile, popular photographer Ganesh Toasty, who also did his own version of Jimmiki Kammal, echoes Ramyas thoughts to some extent. He adds, Its very true that Malayalam pop culture has started becoming a very big part of Tamil pop culture  in fact, the song Jimmiki Kammal became a bigger hit in Tamil Nadu than in their state itself! But its not only the Kerala culture thats finding a space here  social media has enabled everyone to embrace every culture. The Tamil crowd has now started singing a lot of Hindi songs and in my music cafe, two Telugu people came over and sang Tamil songs. People are now more willing to explore everything.

(With inputs from Merin James)
Its safe to say that the Malayalam pop culture is increasingly becoming an integral part of the Tamilian lifestyle too. Initially, movies like Bangalore Days and Premam became a sensation of sorts in our state  Nivin Paulys sartorial choice in the latter was lapped up by namma ooru youngsters and the songs from these films dominated in school and college cultural events. Soon, quirky cover versions of songs like Jimmiki Kammal and Im a Mallu were also equally embraced by the Tamil millennials.

While social media has paved the way to this trend, many feel that the main reason for such a huge reach is because Malayalam films are progressive and positive. But a few also argue that this is not a new phenomenon at all.

Actress Anupama Parameshwaran, who has become audiences favourite post her appearance in Premam, feels, I think the reason why Malayalam films and songs are becoming a craze in Tamil is because they are very unique. Most of the songs are simple, but have got catchy lyrics and are also shot beautifully.

There will not be many over-the-top performances by actors too; everything is subtle and are to the point. Even the composers in the Malayalam film industry are experimenting with the lyrics and songs these days.

The actress, who was seen in Dhanushs Kodi, states that Malayalam films have been watched with a lot of excitement by Telugu and Tamil audience  Ive noticed Telugu and Tamil people following Malayalam films very closely and are updated about Mwoods developments.

Sanam adds, Were canning most part in Mawlynnong village. When the heroine encounters certain predicament, she travels to Chennai and what happens from there forms the crux of the story. Tharshan, a Sri Lankan model, debuts as the hero. A host of actors like Pandiayarajan, Ramesh Thilak, Karunakaran, Abhishek, Arjunan comprise the rest of the cast.

The Srimanthudu actress says that locations where they are shooting are almost a character in the movie  We are shooting in Kadenkala, Borhill, Riatarlong and Dawki which are virgin locales untouched by Indian cinema.

Sriram Santhosh, an assistant to PC Sreeram, cranks the camera and Sam CS has been roped in for music. The movie will go on floors next week at a grand event, where the Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Mukul Sangma, is set to take part.

As a banner, Reeling Bucks is committed to make quality films in future, Sanam signs off.
The recipient had moved to stay in Delhi since the past two months after his health deteriorated rapidly (Photo: AFP)

New Delhi:

Doctors at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute performed a life-saving heart transplant in a 50-year-old male from Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh.

This eight heart transplant at FEHI was made possible when a 21-year-old male, a resident of Jaipur, was declared brain dead at Eternal Heart Care Center Hospital in Jaipur after being on life support for three days.

The harvested heart was flown down to Delhi by an Air India flight and landed at T3 at 2.40 pm on Saturday. A green corridor was created covering a distance of 21.3 kilometers over 30minutes at 2.55 pm, primarily due to heavy festival rush on the route.

The 50-year-old recipient who got the heart of less than half his age, suffered from a condition called Cardiac ischemia. It's the term given to heart problems caused by narrowed heart arteries which prevents adequate blood and oxygen reaching the muscles of the heart. It also often causes chest pain or discomfort known as angina pectoris.

"The recipient had undergone stenting twice, the first time in 2008 and subsequently in 2010. He also had an ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) or a pace-maker recently in 2016. However, his condition continued to deteriorate rapidly and by now his ejection fraction (EF) was barely 15% as compared to a normal heart that has an EF of 55-60%," explained Dr Z S Meharwal, Director, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgeon, FEHIwho conducted the intricate transplant.

The recipient had moved to stay in Delhi since the past two months after his health deteriorated rapidly.

The recipient was under the treatment of Dr Vishal Rastogi, consultant and incharge, Heart Failure & Left ventricular Assist Program, FEHI for his heart failure. This was the eighth heart transplant which was conducted by Dr Z S Meharwal, Director, CTVS, FEHI who explained how this transplant was made possible. The donor heart became available for transplant when the family of the donor consented to donate organs; i.e. heart, kidneys, and liver following informed counselling.

The Cardiac Transplant Team from FEHI flew down to EHCC Hospital, Jaipur and retrieved the heart from the donor at 1pm on Saturday. The Police and Traffic authorities immediately created a green corridor for immediate transfer of the harvested heart in both the cities. The heart was carried from Jaipur to Delhi in a passenger flight.

Dr Ashok Seth, Chairman, Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and medical governance board recognised the effort of donor family and said, "There has been a slow but steady growth to the cause of organ donation across India owing to an increased awareness. This is a good sign as many lives are being saved with the available deceased donor organs. It is an absolute honour to be a part of a healthcare network which has been working dedicatedly for the cause of organ donation across various centers."

Dr Kousar Ali Shah, Zonal Director, FEHI, said, "We've come a long way since we conducted our first heart transplant at this unit in January 2015. We are humbled by the donations made by donor families to save so many lives, despite their time of grief. We are indebted to the support from NOTTO,

Clinicians & Nursing staff, Police & Traffic authorities and the kin of donors, who make each transplant a reality."
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Dogs like Neapolitan Mastiff, St. Bernard, Siberian Husky, Bull Mastiff and Shih Tzu are widely seen in tropical Kerala. But veterinarians say over the last several years due to harsh climatic conditions and the import license restrictions imposed by the Union government, the numbers of these exotic breeds have drastically come down. Thiruvananthapuram city is often rated as the puppy capital of India by leading veterinarians. Even high-rise apartments have started relaxing their rules enabling the pet lovers to have trophy dogs like a Chihuahua and smaller breeds like Pug, Dachshund, Lhasa Apso and Pomeranian. But a majority of the pet lovers has a fancy towards exotic dog breeds.

From the name Siberian Husky itself, it is evident that this thickly furred double coat sporting exotic breed originally belongs to north-eastern Siberia in Russia. But these days Siberian Huskies have become ubiquitous to the state, where the temperature reaches almost 37 degrees and sometimes more during the peak summer season. S. Sathish Kumar, a leading dog breeder at Ooruttambalam, in the suburbs of the capital city has got 30 breeds ranging from Rottweiler, Doberman, French Bulldog, Miniature Pinscher, German Shepherd, Siberian Husky, to Pug and more.

Rearing exotic dog breeds is always difficult. Initially, I had to put them in air-conditioned rooms full time. Later on, they were put in air-conditioned rooms only from 11 am to 4 pm when it is mostly warm. By six months, they got acclimatised, said Mr Kumar, who is also the former secretary of Kennel Club of India's Thiruvananthapuram chapter He is helped in the business by his wife Tushara who quit her state government job to take care of the vast breeds they keep. The St. Bernard is a breed of a very large working dog from the western Alps in France, Switzerland and Italy often considered as rescue dogs in hilly terrains. A young city techie currently based in Chennai who wish to remain anonymous as he is awaiting his breeder license has almost all the leading exotic dog breeds. He told Deccan Chronicle that it is easy to rear a child compared to bringing up a St. Bernard.

St. Bernard requires airy kennel so that it can breathe easy. It should be allowed to move freely in its kennel and should not be restricted. They are sweaty and sensitive about their hygiene. So it is always easy to keep them on the free surface, said the breeder who has over 15 years of experience rearing exotic dog breeds. He owns three St. Bernard dogs, and from his experience, he says that the female dog will not be in a correct heat because of the tropical climate here. When he says that St. Bernard dogs get highly sensitive if the food drips from their mouths and not washed or brushed properly actually shows their predicament they are in, while living in a tropical climate. He warns that breeds like St. Bernard and Siberian husky should not be given chicken as it is usually not considered lean meat and is mostly warm. At the same time, he says, beef gives them allergies.

So, ideally it is better to give them mutton. If these exotic breeds do not get proper food intake, it will experience skin ailments and the coating will not be correct. Always use bathing soap which has a high content in glycerine or dog shampoo as prescribed by the veterinarian. Oil massage with either coconut oil or gingelly oil should be given to them once a week, he added.Recently, another breeder in the capital, B. S. Amal Raj, acquired Diana, a three-year-old St. Bernard from Bengaluru for `80, 000 after its first owner could not care for it the way it should have been. He says that during the summer season, he strives hard to see Diana chirpy and agile.

Or else, Diana will have discharge from eyes, and I make her stay cooler. At the same time, she should not be feeling wet, or else skin rashes will occur, said Mr Raj. Dr M. Ramesh Kumar, a retired additional director at animal husbandry directorate and Kennel Club of Indias Thiruvananthapuram chapter president, told DC that it is always challenging to maintain exotic breed dogs with lots of restrictions. Most of the exotic breed dogs are not coming from within the state. They mostly come from neighbouring states in air-conditioned carriages and only during show timings, they are brought to the venue, said Dr Kumar.

There are pet lovers like Vipin Nair who owns Leah, a Great Dane and Laddoo, a boxer at his home at Vattapara in Thiruvananthapuram, who is peeved with the mushrooming of breeders. He recalled to Deccan Chronicle about a Bull Mastiff which was given a shoddy treatment with no proper care. I wanted to get a Bullmastiff and was directed to a puppy mill in the interiors of Vembayam in Thiruvananthapuram district. The poor dog had not been to outdoors for ages and just fed and allowed to breed. It is an apology to a real dog for not allowing it to be in its real self, said Mr Nair. Not many exotic dog breeders can provide air-conditioners to them 24X7.

Dr E. K. Easwaran, former president, Indian Veterinary Association, advises pet owners against going for exotic breed dogs if they do not have time to groom them every day. Nothing comes cheap these days including labour. Most of these exotic breed dogs should be put in air-conditioned kennels which would result in less life span for them. But how many pet owners can provide them with air conditioners 24x7?" said Dr Easwaran.With pet dogs being considered as stress busters, it relaxes the family members and the pets alike. But at any time, a breed which suits the tropical climate of Kerala would make the pet dog and its owner a happy and a life without hassles.

Pat for pets made him quit cushy job

The first thing that you notice when you enter Green Park at Thaliyil near Karamana here is the Vechur calf named Nandini. But that is not the only domestic animal Aravind Kurup has at his home. There are not only yellow-bibbed lories, cockatiels, exotic finches and more than ten pet dogs in his collection. They include hunting dog Weimaraner, Labradors, Dachshunds, Smooth Fox Terrier, Indian breed Caravan Hound et al. The 47-year-old is an instrumentation engineer by profession previously based in Iran, Brazil and Germany with Siemens, a German conglomerate. But his love towards pets made him chuck away his cushy job and ended up in his native city a few years ago. Several days in a month, Mr Kurup is travelling across the country taking his pet dogs to shows.

His sitting room is cramped with trophies and mementoes his furry pets have won him from almost all the major pet shows in India. His around five-year-old Labrador, Steel Rock, has been adjudged the best Labrador of 2016 -17 in the country. Steel Rock has been directly qualified to contest in Crufts, the worlds largest dog show held during March 8-11, 2018, in Birmingham, UK. It is basically a beauty show where the judges would be looking for the best stud dog which should be moving freely. They will check whether the bites are organised, ears and eyes placement and so forth, he said. Son of the late K. H. Sivankutty Kurup, a former ISRO employee, and homemaker Radha Kumari Amma, he fondly remembers his maternal grandmother Late Devaki Amma who instilled in him the love for all creatures. He is keen on importing American Akita or Great Japanese Dog, a powerful Spitz type hound originating from Japan, not USA as the name suggests. What is interesting about him is that he is not interested in breeding commercially, so all his dogs look healthier and happy in their big kennels where all live in utter camaraderie.

Their handler is Vishwanathan Mallaya, and the kennel manager is Egmel Berry aka Bipin, a Vettucaud native. Two of his exotic breeds are based in Bengaluru - Chill, a British Shetland Sheepdog who is a champion dog and Kerry, a Kerry blue terrier which recently passed away. He has reasons to accommodate them in Bengaluru. Obviously, the colder climate. Once in awhile, I take all my dogs to our property near Aruvikkara dam on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram where they have a rollicking time running around. I do not bring them up as guard dogs. They are happy here, and that is what matters most, added Mr Kurup who is the nephew of the late critic-actor Narendra Prasad.

It looks like Mr Kurup is also following his maternal uncles footsteps as he recently launched Cytrus Production House and he is all set to produce a Malayalam film by a leading hitmaker. His wife, S. Sindhu, and school going children, Malavika and Mekha, keep asking him, Who do you love most, us or your pets?" Cleverly, he evades their prodding and pets his dogs instead, with a twinkle in his eyes.
MARQUETTE, Mich: A university in Michigan is offering an unusual degree  in marijuana.

Northern Michigan University in Marquette began its medical plant chemistry program this semester, with about a dozen students in the first class, the Detroit Free Press reported . The program combines chemistry, biology, botany, horticulture, marketing and finance.

Its an unusual program. Other universities offer classes on marijuana policy and law. And places such as Oaksterdam University, Cannabis College, and Humboldt Cannabis College, all in California; and THC University, the Grow School and Clover Leaf University in Denver offer certificates in a variety of disciplines. But Northern Michigans program is unique because the university is offering a four-year degree addressing the science and business behind growing marijuana.

When they hear what my major is, there are a lot of people who say, Wow, cool dude. Youre going to get a degree growing marijuana, said Alex Roth, a sophomore in the program. But its not an easy degree at all.

Brandon Canfield, an associate chemistry professor at Northern Michigan, said students dont grow marijuana plants in the program, but instead look to other plants that are traditionally recognized with medicinal value but arent illegal to grow. Students learn how to measure and extract the compounds in the plants that can be used for medicinal purposes, then transfer that knowledge to marijuana, which has been used to treat a variety of illnesses, including chronic pain, nausea, seizures and glaucoma.

Canfield said he got the idea while attending the American Chemical Societys annual meeting in San Diego last year. It was my off day and I saw there was a cannabis chemistry group that was putting on a whole series of talks, he said. I heard all about the need for analytical chemists and all sorts of interesting talks. That was the initial spark.

University officials say the program fills a need because 29 states have legalized medical marijuana, including eight states where marijuana is also legal for recreational use. Many of the states are legalizing different substances and theyre really looking for quality people to do the chemistry and the science, said university trustee James Haveman. And its the universitys responsibility to produce those kinds of students for those kinds of jobs.

In Michigan, voters in 2008 approved the use of marijuana to treat certain illnesses, but the law has confused many and has led to significant legal disputes, including over how to obtain and store the drug. The state is developing a new regulatory system aimed at increasing oversight and imposing new taxes on the industry. Applications for licenses will be available on Dec. 15.
On Saturday, a British tourist died after he fell 30ft from the edge of a terrace at Lakshmi Temple, in Orchha, Madhya Pradesh while he was taking a selfie, according to a report by the Metro.

58-year-old Roger Stotesbury was on holiday with his wife Hilary when the tragic incident occurred at the 17th century Indian temple.

Witnesses said Roger "suddenly slipped and fell from a height of 30ft" at around 4 p.m., the report revealed.

He was immediately rushed to the Ramraja Hospital where he sadly passed away. "The man (Roger) got seriously injured in the fall and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance," DD Azad, city police inspector, is quoted as saying by the Metro. "But he died during the course of treatment. We have started the legal proceedings in the case," he revealed.

The couple, reportedly from Buckingham (UK) had embarked on a world trip in November 2016.

Gina Rozner, a cousin of the Rogers wife Hilary, told Metro: "We dont really know what happened but he took photographs, he then put his iPad carefully down on a ledge and somehow he fell but he definitely did not take a selfie." Adding, "He was the sweetest man."

After their tripe in India, the couple were due to head back home at the end of October.
Strange incidents in different parts of the world often trigger superstitious beliefs and rumour mongering among people. But in the absence of an explanation for such mysterious occurrences, it becomes hard to separate truth from fiction.

Stories about ghosts, witches and monsters have often made headlines in India, and now a tiny village in Telangana seems to be getting attention for the same. Only women live in Kasiguda since all the men fled after the story of a female ghost attacking only male residents spread in the area.

The tale emerged after three men including two brothers were killed in three months and people started claiming that they were strangled by the female ghost. Most of the houses in the village are abandoned and people who stayed back sleep as soon as the sun sets and dont leave home before sunrise.

Women say that no woman was attacked by the ghost, while people have refused to return until the village is free from the female ghost.
During 2016's presidential campaign, the publisher dangled $1 million to anyone who could turn over footage showing Trump misbehaving. (Photo: AFP)

Washington: Pornography publisher Larry Flynt is offering "up to $10 million" to anyone who produces information that leads to President Donald Trump's impeachment and removal from office.

He lays out the offer in a full-page ad in the Sunday edition of The Washington Post.

During last year's presidential campaign, Flynt dangled $1 million to anyone who could turn over video or audio capturing Trump behaving in an illegal or sexually demeaning manner. That followed the release of the 2005 "Access Hollywood" video in which Trump bragged of imposing himself on women.

In Sunday's ad, Flynt asks for any "smoking gun" that is fit to publish and drives Trump from office.

The White House didn't comment.
In a land of a billion people, a million customs and hundreds of law treatises, deciphering the ancient texts and drawing up a common law to govern and make sure all are governed by the same rule, is no simple task. A legal luminary from Karnataka did it in the 11th century and has become a hallowed name in the annals of legal history but in Martur, his native village near Kalaburagi, a project to set up a research centre in his name has fallen into bad times, forgotten and ignored by those in power. K.N. REDDY highlights the monumental neglect of a legend, who should have been one of Karnatakas leading lights of all time.

Former SC judge Markandey Katju says Mitakshara was accepted as an authoritative text on Hindu law not through any promulgation by a sovereign authority, but due to the scholarship, logical analysis and sheer intellectual force of its author.

Martur ironically, remains what it has always been - sleepy and calm, undisturbed by the presence of the Vijnaneshwara Bhavan and Research Centre in its midst. Built in memory of the 11th century legal luminary, Vijnaneshwara, who wrote the famous Mitakshara that became the basis of Hindu law and Indian jurisprudence, the Bhavan opened its doors here in 2009 with the promise of becoming one of the major law universities and research centres of the country.

But approach the building that houses it and you see that all is not well. The watchman, a man in his late fifties, who opens the gate, explains while glancing at the name board with all its letters erased, Everything is gone due to the rain Sir.

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Step inside and you see more signs of neglect. The grass is overgrown in the lawns around the Bhavan and the bushes in the six acre park in front of it seem far too many. Ask the watchman how many people work at the centre, and his response is shocking. Only two sir, myself and a lady, who is a sweeper, he says.

Probe more and he admits gingerly, You are right sir, but for the occasional visit by some law professor or retired judge and the organising of NSS camps by local institutions, not much activity takes place here.

It was only in the early 20th century that Martur's link with Vijnaneshwara was revealed. Little was known about where and when he lived, and the place he penned his Mitakshara until Prof P.B. Desai of Dharwad wrote in the journal, " Prachina Karnataka: Hosa Belaku" (Ancient Karnataka: New Light), on February 1, 1932, about a stone inscription in the Kalingeshwara Temple in Martur, which disclosed that Vijnaneshwara was a Kannadiga born in Masemadu village of Bhalki taluk in Bidar district.

The watchman of Vijnaneshwara Bhavan and Research Centre

And it was only recently that the famous epigraphist, Sitaram Jagirdar, took a paper impression of the Martur inscription, and published its contents. Going by Dr Jagirdar the stone inscription, which dates back to 1124 AD, says it was at Martur that Vijnaneshwara wrote his famed legal treatise and was gifted lands and honoured by Emperor Vikramaditya the VI of the Chalukya dynasty in recognition of his merit and contribution.

Visitors at Vijnaneshwara Bhavan

Until the Martur inscription came to light, it was believed that Vijnaneshwara was born in the Kalyan region of Maharashtra. The revelation was a feather in the cap of Karnataka as the laws in India relating to the Hindu joint family, distribution of property, property rights, stree dhana (women property), and succession are still governed by Mitakshara. Though written 10 centuries ago in the south of the country by a Kannadiga, its authority spread all over India, except Bengal and Assam where the Dayabhaga prevailed. Today it is accepted as the authoritative text on Hindu law from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

A former judge of the Supreme Court, Markandey Katju says the Mitakshara was accepted as an authoritative text on Hindu law not through any promulgation by a sovereign authority such as a king or parliament, but due to the tremendous scholarship, logical analysis and sheer intellectual force of its author.

The importance of the Mitakshara lies in the fact that it made traditional Hindu law secular. Until it came into existence, Smritis and commentaries were largely religious and not secular. It was the Mitakshara which made the laws on property and inheritance secular, Justice Katju observes, also noting that it liberalised the law on women, providing for maintenance of not only a chaste wife but also of an unchaste wife or widow. Due to Vijnaneshwaras progressive views, women also became entitled to hold and inherit property, he recalls.

Greatly impressed by the earliest translations of Mitakshara by H.T. Cole Broke of the UK (1867), and by Prof J.R. Gharapure of Pune (1912), that he came across while writing his book, Legal and Constitutional History of India in 1970, former Governor, M Rama Jois, who also served as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, took the initiative to build a Bhavan in Martur in memory of the great man. The project cost one crore, which he put together with donations from philanthropists and aid from the government. A local farmer, Gundappa Kambar donated half-an-acre for the centre. Besides sanctioning six acres of land for a park, the then Yeddyurappa government in the state also released Rs 1.30 crore for its development.

Senior Journalist, Srinivas Sirnoorkar, who authored the book Mitakshara of Vijnaneshwarana, is unhappy about the Bhavans neglect and the lack of research on its campus despite the fanfare surrounding its opening. Recalling that the state government had started a law college in Martur in Vijnaneshwaras memory, he laments that it has now been shifted to the Gulbarga University due to lack of facilities in the village.

In addition, a Vijnaneshwara Study Chair on Mitakshara and Human Rights has been established and a PG course started in Dharmashastra on him. But unfortunately all the academic and research activity here has come to a standstill, Mr Sirnoorkar regrets, suggesting that the Bhavan should be taken over either by the Gulbarga University or the state Law University and upgraded to an international centre.

In the course of a thousand years, Vijnaneshwaras prophetic wisdom and striking logic have remained infallible, standing up to the persuasive arguments of innumerable legal eagles.

But in Martur, at the Vijnaneshwara Bhavan surrounded by bushes, theres nothing happening to remind anyone that Karnataka is doing its bit to give its great son the prideful place he deserves in history.
A separate agency under the aegis of the Youth Services Department will monitor the flowchart of the Unemployment Stipend Scheme. (Representational image)

Vijayawada: Keeping in mind the failure of UPs model of the Unemployment Stipend Scheme, the AP government has taken great care in designing the strategy and guidelines of a similar scheme for the state.

The announcement of this scheme for unemployed youth will be made just before the inauguration of the YSRC Chief, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddys padayatra, according to Secretariat sources.

It may be recalled that soon after taking over the reins in UP, the then Chief Minister, Mr Akhilesh Yadav, decided to implement the scheme entitling the targeted jobless segment to Rs 1,000 every month.

With about 1.50 lakh youth registering themselves with the state's employment offices already, the number has shot up to nearly 18 lakh within three days of the announcement by Mr Akhilesh Yadav, in anticipation of the Samajvadi Party delivering on its promise.

The figure swelled to 25 lakhs over the next week, as jobless graduates made a beeline for various district employment offices in the state. But scamsters, along with the alleged connivance of government officials crowded the scheme, according to UP reports, which the state government is deeply pondering over.

In fact, the Planning Commissions Vice- Chairman, Dr C. Kutumba Rao, is making all efforts in his team, to meticulously frame guidelines for the eligibility criteria, of the unemployment stipend.

We have examined the UP framework for the unemployment stipend and are taking every step to prevent any flaws in the designing of the scheme, said, Dr. Kutumba Rao.

The Planning Commission, in association with the Board of Secondary Education, Board of Intermediate Education, Board of Higher Education and Technical Education will get the exact data required. The same data will be fed to a separate server to dismiss the possibility of duplications or any other mischief.

The Chief Minister, Mr. N.Chandrababu Naidu, wants the scheme to be implemented right from December, said Dr. Kutumba Rao.

However, sources in the party close to the CM are saying that he wants the message to be passed to the masses, even before the Padayatra of the opposition leader begins, to dilute the impact of Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy on the youth. The success of Anantapurams YSRC Yuva Bheri is worrying leaders in TD circles.
Nuzvid IIIT student D Rama Devi committed suicide by jumping from the first floor on Saturday, making this the third incident this week and the second in Nuzvid IIIT.

VIJAYAWADA: Students committing suicides in Krishna district is becoming commonplace now and a source of worry and concern.

Nuzvid IIIT student D Rama Devi committed suicide by jumping from the first floor on Saturday, making this the third incident this week and the second in Nuzvid IIIT.

Parents, college authorities as well as the government are expressing concern and grief over the incidents.

According to Nuzvid CI Ram Kumar, the girl Rama Devi was suffering from illhealth for last few days.
The SIT team released the sketches of suspects in murder of Gauri Lankesh at CID Office, in Bengaluru on Saturday (Photo: KPN)

Bengaluru: Over a month after noted journalist and activist Gauri Lankesh (55) was gunned down at her residence in Rajarajeshwari Nagar by a lone gunman, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder, has released on Saturday, not just the sketches of suspects involved in the act, but a crucial video of the killer, taken from CCTV footage that records him driving past Ms Lankesh's home exactly four hours before he came back and shot her dead.

We have identified two suspects based on information from our technical team as well as locals in the area and the account of eyewitnesses," IGP (Intelligence) B K Singh, who heads the SIT, said at the long awaited media briefing on Saturday. Investigators were unwilling to reveal the identity of the eyewitnesses they had spoken to.

09-07-2017 Tue 16.03.45: Four hours before Gauri Lankeshs murder, one of the suspects caught on CCTV camera doing a recce of the area

While the SIT has been unable to put names to the faces, by releasing the three sketches of two suspects prepared by professional artists based on different eyewitness accounts and crucial footage from CCTV cameras, and the video of one of the suspects on black and red Pulsar bike, carrying out a recce of area surrounding Ms. Lankeshs house just four hours before she was shot dead, the SIT has shown that, contrary to public perception, they were making progress.

Police said that based on the CCTV footage that they had obtained and which tracked the men a full week prior to the shooting, the suspects seemed to be aged between 27 and 35.

Mr. B.K Singh IGP (Intelligence), who heads the SIT, ruled out professional rivalry angle as the motive behind the murder and said that all the other angles including activism and personal rivalry were also being thoroughly probed. He also maintained they had found no link, so far, between the murders of Ms. Lankesh and other prominent rationalists Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi, has been established.

Speaking at a press meet where the SIT released three sketches of the gunman and a crucial video, he said : We are yet to receive the bullets from agencies investigating the murder of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and MM Kalburgi. In Ms. Lankeshs case, the assailants used country-made 7.65 mm pistol."

On reports linking the murder to particular organisations, Mr. Singh clarified that the theories had been floated by the media and that SIT did not back them till now. Commenting on one of the suspects sporting a tilak and wearing an earring, Mr. Singh said that based on that, the religion of the suspect could not be ascertained as there was a possibility he could have done it to mislead the investigation.

Describing the sketches quite accurate, Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) MN Anucheth who is main Investigation Officer, said that the sketches were not computer generated but painted by professional artists. These sketches were far better than that of the suspects released after the death of MM Kalburgi. It is said that each sketch took more than 48 hours to complete.

However, the SIT so far has proceeded cautiously, claiming it has not yet laid hands on any concrete evidence nor does it have any solid clues in the case and is still seeking information from the public to nab the accused.

Ms. Lankesh was shot dead at her residence on September 5 following which the government set up an SIT to investigate the case.
Bengaluru: The city is drowning, its infrastructure is coming off at the hinges and eight lives have been lost over the last fortnight, including six on Friday night, but CM Siddaramaiah and BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa chose to trade charges against each other on Saturday as they went around the city, visiting rain-affected areas and families of the deceased.

Yeddyurappa criticised the Siddaramaiah government, saying the chief minister has failed in his duty, and added that the people will teach the Congress-led government a lesson. "If the government had completed the stormwater drain works on time, such tragedies could have been averted," he said.

BJP leader Yeddyurappa meets Vasudev Bhats family

When questioned about these charges, Mr Siddaramaiah lost his cool with the reporters and said, "It is unfortunate that people have lost their lives. Priority should be to give relief to the affected and not play politics over deaths of people."

Mr Siddaramaiah visited the family of temple priest Vasudev, who was washed away in a stormwater drain, and consoled his wife and assured her a government job. The CM said that the government will bear the education expenses of the couples child.

When confronted by reporters after coming out of the victims house, he asked why only the Congress government should be held responsible for the rain havoc. There are 100 BJP corporators in the BBMP... there are many union ministers representing the city. What about the mistakes committed by the previous BJP government?

He walked away saying, I am not here to play politics over the deaths of innocent people.

Mr Yeddyurappa, who met the family of the mother-daughter washed away by rains, said that he was saddened by the deaths. This only reflects how corrupt the Congress-ruled government is. People will teach them a lesson, he said.

Mr Deve Gowda too visited the family and handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh. The BJP is now blaming the Congress government for reducing Bengaluru to this state. But what were they doing when they were in power for five years before the Congress," he asked.
Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey, on Sunday, met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy and discussed the ongoing dengue situation in Tamil Nadu. (Representational Image)

Chennai: Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Ashwini Kumar Choubey, on Sunday, met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palanisamy wherein he discussed about the ongoing dengue situation in the state.

Choubey said the dengue patients are getting good treatment in Madras Medical College and that the government is working hard towards making the state dengue free.

"I have just come after visiting the dengue patients, and can confidently say that they are getting a good treatment here, the Minister said while addressing the media.

"The machine that they are using for platelets, gives the results in about forty seconds while there are about 830 more machines taking care of other issues and hence I am very confident that the doctors are taking good care for the dengue patients here," asserted Choubey.

The Minister also said that the government has sent a team to search and work upon dengue cases.

A five-member team of the Centre was sent to review the outbreak of dengue cases in Tamil Nadu, on Friday.

Earlier on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, along with other All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leaders like Munusamy, Manoj Pandian and Maitreyan, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wherein the recent outbreak of dengue in the state was discussed.

"The Prime Minister has assured to depute a medical team to look after the dengue fever outbreak in the state," Panneerselvam had said, adding that the state government has assigned adequate doctors and medical staff to contain the outbreak.

Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan had earlier said that 35 persons died due to dengue in the state.
At a seminar Vijayan said those behind such fake news have no regard for the lives and livelihoods of the people of Kerala. (Photo: PTI | File)

New Delhi: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had a terse message on Sunday for the BJP after it ended up in fourth place in the Vengara assembly bypoll -- "don't mess with Kerala".

Vijayan also taunted the BJP's Jan Raksha Yatra, saying the month-long campaign's results appeared to be negligible as the people of Kerala spoke against it in one voice.

He accused the BJP and the RSS of carrying out a "malicious campaign" to tarnish the image of the state and damage its tourism industry.

"A boycott Kerala campaign is being run with the call to bring tourism in Kerala to its knees. People of other states are asked not to come to Kerala so as to bring our tourism industry to a standstill," Vijayan claimed.

At a seminar on 'Democracy in Danger', organised here by journalist associations, Vijayan said those behind such "fake news" have no regard for the lives and livelihoods of the people of Kerala.

Vijayan said the BJP had even routed its yatra through the Vengara constituency but the victory of the Indian Union Muslim League had put paid to its efforts.

"Despite dirty tricks and attempts for communal polarisation, BJP has been relegated to the fourth position with a much-reduced vote share. This is a pointer and strong warning to the BJP that they can't mess with Kerala."
The Rohingya man, Mohammad Ajamuddin alias Molla Ajamuddin, and his employer Riyazuddin Molla (36), a native of West Bengal, were nabbed on Sunday. (Representational Image)

Hyderabad: The police, on Sunday, arrested a 19-year-old Rohingya man on charges of illegally procuring an Aadhaar card and illegally staying in the country.

The Indian employer of the man, who had claimed to be his father in order to get him the Aadhaar card, was also placed under arrest, a police official said.

The Rohingya man, Mohammad Ajamuddin alias Molla Ajamuddin, and his employer Riyazuddin Molla (36), a native of West Bengal, were nabbed from the Burma huts in the Balapur area in Hyderabad, he added.

Both the men were in the garment business and had recently come to the city from Kolkata, the police said.

"Ajamuddin belongs to Myanmar and he and his family were living at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh as refugees. About a year ago, Molla went to Bangladesh for some work related to his garment business and got acquainted to Ajamuddin," the official attached to the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate said.

"Molla informed Ajamuddin that he could earn more money in India and gave his phone number to him. Subsequently, Ajamuddin came to Kolkata and met him. Since then, he has been working for Molla for a monthly salary of Rs 6,000. Molla was providing shelter to him illegally," he added.

Molla also allegedly helped Ajamuddin get an Aadhaar card by giving false information to the UIDAI authorities, stating that the latter was his son, and violated the provisions of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

He had recently brought Ajamuddin to Hyderabad, he added. Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed the duo and seized their Aadhaar cards.

A case was registered against the two under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

Last month, the Rachakonda police had arrested a 20-year-old Rohingya man, who allegedly claimed to be an Indian citizen and applied for a passport to enable him to go to Dubai. The police had also seized a PAN card from him.

Scores of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state have been fleeing the restive region since August amid a fresh wave of violence, triggering a refugee crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh and India.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju had recently said the Rohingya Muslims were illegal immigrants and pitched for their deportation.
Union Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has a word with minister S.P. Velumani during the inaugural of the Mudra loan campaign on Saturday.

Chennai: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman has urged the Tamil Nadu government to implement the Centres Mudra Yojana in the districts in a big way and ensure people benefited from the scheme.

On her maiden visit to the city after becoming the Defence minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said under this scheme one could obtain loans without producing any collateral, including gold ornaments. We say from Delhi that there is a Mudra scheme. But every state has a specific industry. Like the crackers business in Sivakasi. My request is that it (the scheme) should go to the deserving people, she said.

Addressing a huge gathering after inaugurating the Mudra loan campaign here, she said there was a need to conduct an awareness campaign about this yojana in all the district and urged the State government to accord priority to the districts having specialised industries. For instance, mat made in Pathamadai near Tirunelveli or the fishermen community.

Over 75 of every 100 beneficiaries of Mudra loans are women which shows the Centres concern for them the poor are hesitating to visit banks as they lack confidenceI request the minister (Municipal Administration & Rural Development S.P. Velumani who was present on the occasion) to take steps to implement Mudra scheme for the benefit of the lower middle-class people, she said.

Speaking on the occasion Velumani said, right from the time the Prime Minister implemented Mudra loan scheme in 2015, lakhs of aspiring entrepreneurs in the state were able to successfully start and develop businesses.

About 45 pavilions were put up by various banks explaining the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY). The campaign was jointly organised by Rural Development and Panchayat Raj department, government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai district administration and SLBC.
Bengaluru: After citizens came together to solve their own long lasting problem of identifying modes of last mile connectivity from metro stations in the city, five innovative solutions were launched in the city on Saturday.

The Station Access and Mobility Program (STAMP) had invited smart solutions from citizen groups, entrepreneurs and academic institutions to participate in the prelims of the challenge in May earlier this year from which five innovative ideas were selected and later mentored with access to real time data from BMRCL.

The winning teams, as part of the programme jointly organised by BMRCL, World Resources Institute (WRI) India, Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) and Bangalore Political Action Committee (B.PAC), have been awarded research grants to implement last mile connectivity solutions to Namma Metro.

The finalists, including three start ups, one student group, and a citizen group, demonstrated their pilots scooter and motorbike rentals, services for carpooling, parking aggregation and reservations, on demand auto rickshaws, and a transport accessibility index that evaluates the quality of access to metro station, to commuters at Baiyappanahalli and SV Road Metro Stations.

Launching the initiative, BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola said, We are a step closer to integrating metro services with all other modes of transport to resolve long-lasting connectivity issues.

Pawan Mulukutla, Head-Integrated Mobility, WRI India, said over 600 million man-hours are lost in the city every year due to congestion. Last mile connectivity is a necessity and comfortable urban mobility is necessary, he said.
Chennai: Civic authorities have been imposing fine on owners of unclean premises. In case of Chennai, the corporation authorities have started imposing fine of Rs 2,000 and in case of municipal areas, a fine of Rs 500 is collected from residents if they were found encouraging mosquito breeding in their property. However, activists and opposition MLAs cry foul over the fining process of civic authorities.

Both the corporation and health department are inefficient and there are garbage stagnation in several areas. As a MLA, I am concerned over the poor sanitation in my constituency, rued Thiru Vi Ka Nagar MLA Thayagam Kavi.

Meanwhile, nodal officers and district collectors on Saturday intensified their field visits speeding up anti dengue measures. Senior bureaucrat P. Amutha, nodal officer for Kancheepuram, interacted with the residents of Pallavaram municipal area and requested public not to store fresh water for long duration as it would promote mosquito breeding. In Kancheepuram every health worker has to visit daily 50 houses covering 300 houses in a week. In Chennai the corporation authorities have covered 1,22,320 houses and close to 600 houses were served notices for enabling mosquito breeding.

There are mounds of garbage left in the streets and abandoned plots, but the corporation is fining public. Who will fine the corporation for not clearing garbage that breeds mosquitoes and rodents," asks Madras HC advocate C. A. Prabhakar of ward 58 coming under Egmore constituency.
The Gaushala reportedly belonged to a local BJP leader who is up pradhan of panchayat samiti. Representational image

Jaipur: Cow vigilantes have changed their strategy. Smarting from the past experience instead of direct attacks on members of minority community, they have apparently adopted new tactics of harassment and attacking their livelihood.

The latest incident in Alwar is an indication where close on the heels of controversial clean chit to accused of Pehlu Khans murder, Alwar police have once again been accused of playing into hands of Hindu rights.

A Muslim family has alleged that local police snatched their cows and handed over to a Gaushala. The Gaushala reportedly belonged to a local BJP leader who is up pradhan of panchayat samiti.

Subba Khan, 45, has alleged that local police forcibly took away his 51 cows at the behest of Hindu activists on October 3. For past 12 days, he has been running from pillar to post to get back his cows. This is despite written statement in his favour by the villagers.

Nearly 17 calves that were at Khans house are now fed with milk bottles. He has given an affidavit at the Kishangarh police station that all the cows were milking and their calves are at his home.
Hyderabad: A circular was issued by the authorities of the University of Hyderabad (UoH) banning the sale of food by outside vendors in order to protect the interests of the vendors on campus.

Events took an ugly turn when security officials, including T. V Rao, the head of security, reportedly destroyed the wares of fruit sellers who had set up small stalls outside the main gate of the campus. The vendors were selling seasonal fruits such as custard apples and grapes.

A group of students organised a flash protest demanding compensation for the fruit sellers who belong to the Lambada tribe. We sleep at Gachibowli Stadium every day at night, and we go to collect fresh fruits from wholesale markets in the morning. We have suffered losses because of the damage to our fruits. My baskets alone contained fruits worth Rs 6,000, said one seller.

The protest was successful at attracting the attention of the university authorities who tried to negotiate with the fruit sellers, and when their attempts failed, the police had to be called.

K. Naveen Kumar, the Sub-Inspector of Gachibowli, says, The head of security claims that the fruits had to be removed to ensure that no accidents occurred near the main gate. No case has been registered, but we have asked the university authorities to replace the fruit baskets and pay the sellers Rs 20,000 as compensation.

Security officials claim that the vendors have been selling their wares outside the university for the past six months. Despite the Vice-Chancellor repeatedly requesting them to clear the area, they refuse to budge because they get a lot of business from students.

Mr Rao, said. At 11 am, I asked them to leave and I took their wares into the campus. They followed me, so I gave back the wares and asked them to set up shop on the other side of the road. The next thing I hear is students claiming that I destroyed the fruits. The fruit sellers asked for Rs 50,000 as compensation. Each basket must have contained fruits worth Rs 500 only.
Hyderabad: The state governments high revenue growth is working against it while claiming compensation for the loss caused by the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax

The state has experienced a revenue loss of nearly Rs 400 crore on account of GST so far. As per GST norms, states with less than 14 per cent revenue growth rate are eligible for compensation. TS has been witnessing over 20 per cent growth rate.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao will take up the issue with the Centre since the government is facing financial crunch since GST launch.

Mr Rao is planning to visit New Delhi after Diwali and meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union finance minister Arun Jaitely in this regard.

The CM held meetings with finance minister Etala Rajender and officials of the finance and commercial taxes department at Pragathi Bhavan twice last week and obtained reports over the impact of GST on state finances and to explore possibilities of seeking compensation from Centre to this effect.

In the GST Council meeting held last week, Mr Rajender took up the issue of TS suffering revenue loss after GST.

Majority of the states are eligible for GST compensation as their revenue growth is less than 14 per cent. Only 4-5 states including Telangana state have growth rate above 14 per cent. Though we raised this issue, we could not get any clarity or assurance from Centre on claiming compensation. We could not exert pressure on Centre for compensation as majority of states, which are eligible for compensation remained quiet, he said.

The minister met Mr twice after the meeting and explained him about how the state finances were strained after GST following which the CM said that he would visit Delhi soon and take up the issue with the Centre.
Visakhapatnam: The birth anniversary of former president late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, regarded as peoples president, was celebrated at Andhra University here on Sunday. The day was observed as International Students Day.

Speaking on the occasion, Andhra University Vice-Chancellor Prof. G. Nageswara Rao said Abdul Kalam proved that poverty need not be a barrier to achieve big.

His hard work and dedication helped him to achieve great things. The unanimous selection of the scientist as President highlights his honesty and intelligence. Youth should draw inspiration from the life of Kalam, who became a national pride. Students should develop reasoning before accepting facts and also develop positive attitude as advised by Kalam, he said.

Prof. Rao appreciated research scholar of the varsity D.A. Naidu, who developed A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Memorial Park near Arts College in Andhra University.
Visakhapatnam: Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham on Saturday set December 6, the death anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, as the deadline to know the state government stance on reservations for Kapus. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao considered the Pulse survey report in just one day. AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has not yet asked for any report based on the Justice Manjunatha Commission, he said.

Mr Padmanabham said Mr Naidu was never serious in granting BC status to Kapus but was trying to derive political mileage from the promise.

He said, We are demanding bringing the the economically backward people of the Kapu fraternity under the BC category. We are not seeking from the 49 per cent reservation meant for BCs, SCs and STs. We are asking to include the economically backward Kapus in the 51 per cent of the unreserved category.

Three years after coming to power, the AP government has failed to provide reservation to Kapus. We will again state protests if the Chief Minister doesnt fulfill his promise, he said while interacting with mediapersons here on Sunday.
We welcome this step as Diwali is a festival of light not sound. Hyderabad must incorporate something similar. We have tried to raise awareness in our colony, said Major Shiva Kiran, a resident of Methodist colony. (Representational image)

Hyderabad: Following the ban on the sale of firecrackers in the NCR region by the Supreme Court, a similar order has been sought in the city to arrest the pollution level.

We welcome this step as Diwali is a festival of light not sound. Hyderabad must incorporate something similar. We have tried to raise awareness in our colony, said Major Shiva Kiran, a resident of Methodist colony.

PCB officials stated that Diwali adds several tonnes of pollutants to the air, making it difficult for sensitive groups to breathe.

Last year, PCB readings showed PM2.5 levels at 70-100 range in the city in November. During the winter, air flow reduces. So, it will stay for longer, said Professor BV Subba Rao.

However, some residents disagreed with the soft target set by PCB.

The PCB has set a standard of 125 decibels for crackers. This is managed at the manufacturing stage, said Ms Anju Nair, a resident of Gachibowli.
New Delhi: With Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani saying on Sunday that the Narendra Modi government was trying to resolve problems being faced by small businesses in the aftermath of the GST implementation, speculation is rife that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could lower the cap of Goods and Services Tax (GST). In Gujarat, the ruling BJP is worried that the traders were upset following GST issues and might switch their allegiance to the Opposition, particularly the Congress. Mr Rupanis comments were directed at the traders community in Gujarat, which is considered a vote bank of the BJP. He said there have been some disruptions because of the GST but the Modi government is trying to resolve all issues facing people.

He claimed that traders had been asking for GST for a long time since they believe that it is good for business. They understand that there are always issues when a new system comes in. PM Modi had said that he would review the GST in three months and he did so. In the last GST Council meeting, the government took note of concerns of traders and came with solution, Mr Rupani said. He said that the Centre was again looking at steps to ease the burden on the small traders in the implementation of GST.

In Delhi, a committee under Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma set up to look at various options to make composition scheme for the small traders more attractive met on Sunday. Presently, small traders who opt for the composition scheme can not send their goods to others states. The committee is looking at giving option of inter-state trade to businesses who opt for the composition scheme to make it more attractive. Under composition scheme the compliance burden on traders is less and they have to pay a nominal tax on overall income. Traders availing composition scheme have to just pay 1 percent tax on the income.
The report says that the negligence of prison staff and the violation of human rights in prisons are leading to an increase in the number of mentally unstable prisoners.

Hyderabad: A recent survey of mentally unstable prisoners across the country by the National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) has revealed that the South Indian states have the most such prisoners.

Karnataka and Kerala top the list with 383 and 305 such prisoners respectively, while Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are third and fourth with 144 and 133 mentally unstable prisoners respectively (Figures are for 2016).

The report says that the negligence of prison staff and the violation of human rights in prisons are leading to an increase in the number of mentally unstable prisoners.

Inspector General of Prisons, Akula Narasimha, said that the director-general of prisons of Telangana, Vinoy Kumar Singh, had identified one of the main causes for this condition being addiction to alcohol, drugs and smoking. He banned these in the state prisons state two years ago.

After banning of restricted items like ganja, alcohol, cigarettes, beedi etc, inside prisons, the number of deaths came down and the mental condition of prisoners improved. Yoga and meditation were also introduced, Mr Narasimha said.

Mr Narasimha said that compared to other states, Telangana has more manpower, with one staff for every eight prisoners.

We are providing counselling by psychologists and psychiatrists to first time offenders to help stabilise their minds and prevent them from feeling isolated. Prominent consultants regularly visit Telangana prisons and provide treatment to such prisoners. Some prisoners are sent to the Institute of Mental Health at Erragadda and 133 prisoners got treatment last year at the hospital, he said.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Law Minister A. K. Balan on Saturday ruled out giving solar commission report to anyone before tabling it in the Assembly. The minister said there was no rule which prescribed that report should be given to the seekers before placing it in the Assembly. The content of the commission report was the right of the Assembly. Mr Balan said the government had time of up to six months to present the report before Assembly and the government would take steps accordingly. His response came in the wake of former chief minister Oommen Chandy filing an RTI before the chief secretary to get the report findings in full.

The law minister said there was no strength in the arguments and the issues being raised in connection with the commission findings. It is totally baseless to say that the commission had transgressed the terms of reference. The opposition had alleged that the findings announced by the Chief Minister were at variance with terms of reference of the commission. As per Commission of Enquiry Act, the terms of reference of the panel are set and accordingly the report has to be filed.

The minister said; when Oommen Chandy government finalised the terms of reference, the LDF had clearly pointed out that the issues to be probed by the commission were deficient. At that time the then chief minister had assured the House that the issues raised by the opposition would also be taken into consideration. The commission probed the matter on that basis."

Mr Balan said Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala's allegation that law secretary's opinion was not taken on the findings of the report was absurd and baseless. Advocate General's is one of the highest constitutional posts in the state and even law secretary sought his opinion, he said. The UDF leadership had earlier alleged that both AG and director general of prosecution were political appointees hence the government should have taken the opinion of the law secretary as well. With the government refusing to provide the full findings of the commission, the former chief minister's and other Congress leaders' legal fight against the findings is likely to get delayed.
KOLLAM: Indirectly referring to the trolls on the social media against his statements, Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam on Sunday said it was the jobless Malayalees who create them. The Minister also said that the people in Kerala are narrow-minded who mostly think only of their own families and not of others who lack money. Mr Kannanthanam was speaking to mediapersons in Pathanamthitta. "Only 1% of the citizens used to pay taxes earlier. There is the resistance when the government starts to curb such illegal activities, and there are now even chances for a financial slowdown. Such hurdles are usual for any such revolutionary changes. I will reiterate the issues including the lack of toilets and the education issues of the poor children ignoring the trollers. I take them lightly," he added.

The Minister had earlier said the extra income earned from the petrol price hike could be used for activities including the construction of toilets. Addressing the Janaraksha Yatra in Pathanamthitta, Mr Kannanthanam said the country was safe for religious minorities and that no mosques were attacked after Modi government came into power. Anything that portrays the Central government in the bad light is part of the propaganda used by the opposition parties during elections, he said.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar who addressed the public at the BJP march in Kottarakkara said it is a "stubborn" government that rules the state of Kerala and the people should strive to change this "bad"image. "While the Central Government aims at the development of the country, the Pinarayi-led Government here is trying to create panic. The Malayalees who are culturally elevated should disrespect the violent politics of CPM," he said.

Referring to the political murders that took place in the state, Mr Parrikar said he was advised to step up security during his visit to Kerala. "It points at the image of the state in other parts of the country." The BJP march in the district which concluded at Cantonment ground in Kollam also had the presence of Central Minister Nithin Gadkari. Meanwhile, Union Defence minister Nirmala Seetharaman who was scheduled to take part in the march did not turn up.
KOCHI: The income of the private bus services operating in the metro corridor has shown a marked decline after the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) has extended the service to MG Road comprising the central business areas in the city. There is a sharp fall in the `7 minimum category of tickets in the past few days, says MB Sathyan, president of the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation. The metro services to the MG Road has commenced on October 3. The reports received from bus owners have shown that the decline in the `7-category is around 150-200 tickets per bus per day in vehicles operating Aluva-MG Road stretch, he said.

In the longer stretch also decline has been noticed, but it would take a few more days to collect a tangible data in this regard, he added. Some people say a decline of 5-10 tickets per day in Aluva-Kalamasserry or Aluva-Edappally sectors, he said. According to Mr Sathyan around 70 buses are operating in the Aluva-MG Road stretch, which also happened to be the metro corridor. The experience of the past ten days after the introduction of the metro to MG Road shows that the bus owners are facing a bleak future, he said.

We need to have a stable revenue stream. Otherwise many people will be forced to abandon the services, he added. But so far no operator has stopped the services due to the fall in income. The situation is similar to the one that prevailed following the introduction of JNNURM buses. Many operators quit the business gradually as the JNNURM services started eating into the revenue stream, he said. A section of bus operators is hoping that the much-talked feeder services by KMRL may help them to tide over the present situation by deploying the vehicles forced to stop the regular services.
Hyderabad: Deccan Chronicle and Andhra Bhoomi were the two newspapers that pro-Telangana activists followed during the 1969 statehood agitation, home minister Naini Narasimha Reddy said. Speaking at a meeting organised by the 1969 Telangana Udyamakarula Sangham in Mahbubnagar, Mr Reddy said that those memories were fresh in his mind.

People used to form queues in Hyderabad to obtain copies of DC and Andhra Bhoomi. Both these papers gave ample coverage of the agitation and people in Telangana districts depended on these papers as well as radio at that time, the minister recalled.

Commenting on TJAC chairman Prof. M. Kodandarams arrest on Saturday, he said the police had information that Maoists were supporting his activities. He said he had given directions to the police not to allow Prof. Kodandaram to tour the districts.
In his policy announcement on Afghanistan on August 21, US President Donald Trump had roasted Pakistan for aiding and housing terrorists who fought the US forces in Afghanistan, as he urged India to do more by way of development activity in Afghanistan. He gave the impression of publicly undercutting Islamabad in the Afghan theatre, in particular, and boosting Indias locus standi. But now the American leader has done an about turn. Last week, a day after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian couple from the clutches of the Haqqani group after they spent a harrowing five years in captivity, Mr Trump tweeted to say that the US had now started to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. He noted that he wanted to thank Pakistans leadership for their cooperation on many fronts.

Some commentators have quibbled over whether this amounted to a policy statement, or whether it was an ejaculation of a temperamental leader after a specific event  the help in rescue of an American family. This supposed nuancing overlooks the fact that recently US secretary of state Rex Tillerson, who is expected in New Delhi later this month, observed after meeting Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif recently that Pakistan was crucial to stability in the region. Pakistans all-weather friendship with China is relatively recent but its deep-going relationship with America goes back six decades. When this very structural relationship comes under strain, the Pakistanis hand the US the equivalent of a lollipop, which in this case was the rescuing of an American man and his family.

This pattern has repeated itself and there is no surprise here. The surprise is that the Indians should begin to look upon America as a friend. This appears to have been the case with the present government, and the sense was strengthened with Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to the US in June this year where he attempted to give Mr Trump as tight an embrace he could. But a bear hug does not necessarily denote warmth in diplomacy, in the practice of which interests of nations alone matter. For a country like America, with vital interests strewn around the world, it is unlikely that in any region it will choose one country over another specially if these are in conflict.

There are two lessons straightaway. To combat terrorism, India must not count on any other nation. And in its dealings with Afghanistan, New Delhi must stand on its own feet and look out for itself.
Its a time-worn tradition that now multicultural London celebrates all major Asian festivals  and with an Asian origin mayor, Sadiq Khan, its de rigueur. Specially with his forthcoming visit to India, he would like to undoubtedly make a big splash of his love for Diwali. As earlier, this year too there was a kaleidoscope of vibrant and colourful performances from bhangra to desi pop  and the mayor formally lit up Trafalgar Square on this Sunday to announce the festival of lights. Its open entry and anyone feeling nostalgic can get a full dose of Bharatiya Sanskriti  fusion style.

However, this year an additional fillip has been added with the lighting up of London Eye as well. In recent years, London Eye has been illuminated specially at various occasions, to highlight particular celebrations or events  and on this Sunday the organisers asked a variety of inspirational figures to launch the Diwali lights at the London Eye. One of the chief guests, to our pleasant surprise, was none other than my better half, Meghnad Desai. So hopefully his magic touch will make the Thames glow It is amazing how much the knowledge about Diwali has spread. No longer do Indians celebrate quietly at home! Indeed this is a self-assertive community that is welcoming Lakshmi to the UK and she is much needed here right now!

Considering the number of women Harvey Weinstein has allegedly assaulted or tried to molest or rape, it is very disappointing that most of the well-known actresses waited for years before disclosing this distressing fact. When the casting couch is talked about, obviously it is also part of a time honoured tradition (however bizarre and demeaning) followed by producers, all over the world.

Alarmingly, Weinstein is not a cheap third-rate producer  in fact he has either produced or been the executive producer for many sensitively made films  such as Shakespeare in Love and The Kings Speech, and yet his behaviour towards actresses is appalling. So the conclusion is that you can be very talented and bright  and an alleged rapist as well!

Why did these wonderful and brave women not speak up all these years? Even now it would be difficult for them, of course, but nonetheless their silence has meant that many other women had to suffer at the hands of Weinstein. Quite a few, sadly, might have dismissed it as an occupational hazard because even when it crossed all limits  they did not immediately expose him. And a few who said they had complained said that no one believed them. Now the Labour Party in the UK has asked that Weinsteins CBE be scrapped. A few senior Tory leaders have joined the call, but the Prime Minister has maintained that it is up to the independent committee (which gives the awards) to decide.

However, as now there are British actresses who had been allegedly attacked by Weinstein, it is possible that there will be a change in the attitude  and some action might eventually be taken.

Right now Weinstein has lost his company, and his wife  and has also been removed from some very prestigious organisations. But there might be more retribution ahead as there are many who feel that rich and influential people like him get away lightly.

And now there are many with regrets  such as actor Colin Firth, who had been informed about an attack on a young actress ages ago  but admits he only showered some sympathy on her and did nothing else.

For years she has been a real trouper  not missing a single official occasion. But now it seems that age is catching up with the Queen, and she will finally give the Remembrance Day ceremony in which she used to lay a wreath on November 12, a miss. But she will be watching from a nearby balcony, at the foreign office, as Prince Charles takes over this duty, as indeed he is taking over others as well.

It seems that the last time, too, she had asked for a wreath that weighed less, as it was probably difficult for her to carry. In her long reign, she has only skipped the ceremony six times  twice when she was pregnant and at other times as she was travelling abroad! So this is quite a record!

Will he? Wont he? And if he does  what will we do? These are the questions everyone is asking about Donald Trumps visit, that has everyone agog.

There have been protests by 1.8 million people with Sadiq Khan also remaining firmly opposed to it. His example is being followed by others  but even if it is a truncated visit, Mr Trump is undeterred as his only dream and desire is to sleep in one of the rooms in Buckingham Palace and to meet the Queen  though I am not sure whether both actions can be simultaneous.

Come on  it seems a simple enough agenda. Let the poor chap into the UK, for at least one night!
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is in the United States, on Sunday said that the relationship between the two countries was a 'mature'one. (Photo: ANI)

Washington: There is a great interest about India in the United States and among its investors, said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday, adding that the relationship between the two countries was a "mature" one.

"There is a great interest about India in the US and among its investors," Jaitley told reporters as he winded up his week-long visit to the US during which he had meetings with US treasury secretary and the commerce secretary, addressed students of the Columbia and Harvard Universities and interacted with investors and American corporate leaders in New York, Boston, and Washington DC.

"Both, those inside the government and the US companies, have shown great interest in investing in India now," he said.

Jaitley, who led a high-powered Indian delegation to the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, said that the US companies are investing in India in a big way.

"You have Indians investing in the US, you have US companies investing in India. And, in November, a large contingent of US corporates is coming to India to invest," he said.

According to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) figures, India was US' ninth largest trading partner with the total two-way trade of USD 67.7 billion last year

It is loaded in favour of India, which runs a surplus of USD 24 billion.

Jaitley said the relationship between India and the US on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was a "mature" one.

"..and expansion of key sectors like aviation and defence would play a key role in increasing the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion per annum," he said.

The finance minister said India was among the largest recipients of FDI since it had "one of the most open policies as far as investment is concerned."

"I'm quite sure that we will continue to get the benefit of that investment," he said.

"I think it's a strategic relationship which is bound to be further consolidated," he said.

During his week-long visit, the minister had more than a dozen meetings in addition to his bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings.

The finance minister said that India's capacity to undertake structural reforms even in a globally adverse environment was being appreciated globally.

"This is a fact which almost the whole body of investors and also a large number of my counterparts in other parts of the world acknowledges," he said.

"If areas like defence, civil aviation, which are very high investment areas, if you see investment pouring into those areas, it is obviously going to have an impact," he said.
Virginia school located about 24 miles south of Richmond was celebrating the final day of its homecoming. (Representational | Photo: AFP)

Petersburg: Virginia State University remains on lockdown after a campus shooting that authorities say was an isolated incident.

University police tweeted on Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow.  VSU Police (@VSUPolice) October 15, 2017

The Chesterfield Police Department says in a statement the incident happened about 8:25 p.m. They say responding officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound with non-life-threatening injuries.

Chesterfield Police say "police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the campus."

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia school located about 24 miles south of Richmond was celebrating the final day of its homecoming.
Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt offered $10 million on Sunday for dirt to help remove from office US President Donald Trump, in a full page ad in the Washington Post.

I do not expect any of Trumps billionaire cronies to rat him out, but I am confident that there are many people in the know for whom $10 million is a lot of money, he said in the ad.

The porn magazine founder noted that he had used million dollar cash rewards before to elicit information that helped upend the careers of two Republican politicians.

The top of the ad, written in all caps, reads simply: $10 million for information leading to the impeachment and removal from office of Donald J Trump.

It questions the legitimacy of Mr Trumps election and lists offenses from alleged collusion with Russian to sabotaging the Paris deal. But most worrisome is that ... Trump might trigger a nuclear world war, he wrote.
Austrias political whizz-kid Sebastian Kurz, 31, looked on course on Sunday to become Europes youngest leader, likely in coalition with the far-right, after his conservative party was projected to come first in elections.

Projections put Mr Kurzs Peoples Party (OeVP) on 30.2 per cent, followed by the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) on 26.8 per cent and incumbent Chancellor Christians Social Democrats (SPOe) on 26.3 per cent.

Mr Kurz, nicknamed wunderwuzzi, is expected to form a coalition with the anti-immigration FPOe of Heinz-Christian Strache, 48. It would be the first time it has entered government since 2000 under Joerg Haider.

Another option for Mr Kurz would be another grand coalition with the SPOe, but after 10 acrimonious years governing together  ended early by Mr Kurz in May  this is seen as less likely.

The FPOes return to power in the wealthy EU member would be a fresh headache for Brussels as it struggles with Brexit and the rise of nationalists in Germany, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere.

Like the Alternative for Germany, which last month became the third-largest party in the Bundestag, and Frances National Front, the FPOe has stoked concerns about a record influx of migrants into Europe.

The party was founded by ex-Nazis in the 1950s and is highly critical of the EU.
Home dept. of Punjab said that that the government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention any more. (Photo: AP)

Lahore: The Pakistan government on Saturday withdrew its request for extending the detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under the anti-terrorism law.

On January 31, Saeed and his four aides were detained by the Punjab government for 90 days under preventative detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. They have been under house arrest since then.

Read: Hafiz Saeed to remain under house arrest for 90 more days

An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court that the government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention any more.

"The provincial government does not require extension to the detention of Saeed, his aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - under the anti-terrorism law. Therefore it requests the board to accept withdrawal of extension to detention of Jamaat-u-Dawah leaders," he said.

Read: Pakistan extends house arrest of JuD chief Hafiz Saeeds by 2 more months

The board accepted the government's plea and disposed off the matter.

Explaining as to why the government withdrew its application, a senior official of the Punjab government said that since the government has extended the detention of Saeed and four others till October 24 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 it does not require to have them house arrested under the anti-terrorism law.

He said the government was to produce Saeed and others before the review board for their detention under 11 EEE (I) and 11D of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

"But since since all five of them are detained under the public order there was no binding on the government to produce them before the review board today to seek extension to their detention," the official said.

The Punjab Home Department issued an order extending the house arrest of Jamat-d-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and four other JuD men for another 30 days with effect from September 25 under the public order. The previous detention order issued on July 28 was expired on September 25.

The last two extensions were made on the 'public order'. The JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. The JuD chief carries a reward of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the government intends to unshackle universities, and announced a Rs 10,000-crore corpus to help 20 varsities emerge among the worlds best.



He lamented that no Indian university figures among the top 500 globally.



Addressing the centenary celebrations of Patna University here, he said measures like grant of central status were a thing of the past and his government has taken a step forward towards making 10 private and 10 government universities world class.



DH reported the governments move and notifiying guidelines for the scheme in September.



My government took an important step towards unshackling the IIMs, freeing them from restrictions and regulations set by the government. We intend to do the same for our universities and ensure that our centres of higher learning figure among the best 500 in the world, Modi said here.



In his little over 30-minute speech, the Prime Minister stressed on the need for universities to give more emphasis to learning and innovation and give up old teaching methods which focussed on cramming students minds with information.



We will provide an aid of Rs 10,000 crore to 10 private universities and an equal number of government ones for a period of five years. The universities have to prove their potential. he said.


Two people died after being thrown off the elevated expressway in South Bengalurus Hosur Road after a speeding car knocked down their motorcycle on Saturday afternoon, police said.



Mohammad Fakhruddin (37) and Zaheer Hussain (47) had set out from Neelasandra to Narayana Health hospital in Bommasandra where a relative was admitted for treatment.



Around 12.45 pm, as they reached the stretch of the expressway between Bommanahalli and Garvebhavipalaya, a speeding Maruti Suzuki Ritz attached to the cab aggregator Uber and bearing the registration number KA-01/AF 8965 went out of control and hit the side wall before crashing into the duos motorcycle.



The crash was so powerful that both Hussain and Fakhruddin were thrown off the expressway, and plunged 40 feet down near a Shell Petrol Pump. While Hussain died instantly, Fakhruddin was rushed to St Johns Hospital by passersby. But he didnt survive.



The driver abandoned the cab and fled the spot. The jurisdictional Madiwala traffic police seized the car and are trying to track him down with the help of some service bills found in the cab. They are also in touch with Uber officials to ascertain his identity.



A police team is working to trace the driver by Saturday evening, a senior police officer told DH. Only after apprehending him and subjecting him to a medical examination will we get to know whether he was driving under the influence of alcohol. In that case, we would book him under IPC section 304 for culpable homicide not amounting to murder.



However, at the time of going to press, police hadnt announced the arrest. Fakhruddin and Hussain were related to each other and worked as real estate agents.


Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar will visit the Dasna Jail every 15 days to attend to inmates facing dental problems after their release following acquittal in the murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, jail authorities said.



The two are lodged in the Dasna prison in Ghaziabad since November 2013 after they were awarded life sentence in the case.



Both Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are likely to be released from Dasna prison tomorrow following their acquittal in the sensational double murder case.



The dentist couple had helped revive the near "defunct" dental department at the prison hospital, a jail official said.



"We were concerned about the fate of our dental department after their (Talwars) release. They (Talwars) have assured us that they would visit jail to attend to inmates every 15 days even after their release," jail doctor Sunil Tyagi told PTI.



Tyagi said besides prisoners, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar have also been treating jail staff, police officials and their children. "Since Talwars have come here (prison), they have treated thousands of patients who are happy with their services," he said.



To manage rush of dental patients at the jail hospital after Talwars' release, prison authorities have also tied up with a Ghaziabad-based dental college. "The doctors from the dental college will also visit Dasna Jail twice a week to attend to patients so that inmates don't face problem," Tyagi added.



Since their acquittal by the Allahabad High Court, there has been a steady increase in patients wanting to consult the couple. Sources in the jail said Rajesh Talwar's brother Dinesh Talwar, who is an ophthalmologist, would also visit the prison every 15 days along with his team to see patients.



The dentist couple had challenged the sentence in the Allahabad High Court, which acquitted them in the sensational double murder case earlier this week.
Sixteen-year-old Kamini (name changed), a resident of Dodhankheda area on the outskirts of the state capital, was very close to her grandfather and had virtually gone into a shell after his death a few days back.



None, however, had any inkling that Kamini, a student of the 8th standard at a nearby school, could even kill herself.



Allegedly unable to bear her grandpa's death, Kamini, on Saturday immolated herself at the very place, where her grandfather was buried.



According to the police sources here, the teen was very much disturbed after her grandpa's death and had stopped meeting her friends. She also frequently absented from her school.



On Saturday, Kamini told her mother that she was going out to answer the call of nature. Police said that the teen reached the graveyard, which was at some distance from her residence and torched herself after pouring kerosene oil her body.



Some locals, who happened to be passing by, rushed to her help when they saw her in flames but the minor suffered extensive burn injuries before they could douse the flames. Police sources said that she was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead.



Police officials said that initial probe had revealed that the girl was very close to her grandpa.



''She was very close to her grandfather but we had never imagined that she would take such an extreme step,'' said Kamini's mother.



Sources said that Kamini's father had also expired a few months back and the grandpa used to take care of her and her brother after her father's death.
A 15-year-old girl, allegedly raped by five people four months ago and threatened by them last Friday, has ended her life, the police said today.



The police, which had initially claimed that it was a case of suicide, later arrested the five accused and started a probe.



Four months ago, on a complaint of the girl's family that she was raped, a case was registered and the five people were arrested. But they were let off allegedly owing to pressure from their family, a police official said on the condition of anonymity.



The SP has suspended the in-charge of the police station concerned on the charge of laxity in duty.



"Sonu, Monu, Rohit, Sagar and Pappu have been arrested. The in-charge of Ramala police station Sharad Tilara has been suspended for laxity in duty, and necessary departmental proceedings have been initiated against him," the SP said today.



According to the complaint by the girl's mother, around four months back she was abducted by the five people. After five days, the girl was found unconscious outside Ramala police station, the police said.



When she regained consciousness, the girl said that five people had abducted her, locked her in a room and raped her, they said.



On October 13, the same people threatened her with rape. She told her mother about it, but before they could approach the police, the girl ended her life by hanging herself, the police said.



She was cremated yesterday. The SP said, "The old case is being investigated upon. On what basis they were let off and final report submitted will be probed."
One week since a three-year-old Indian girl vanished during an alleged incident of bizarre late-night punishment meted out by her Indian foster father, police in Richardson are yet to find a clue as to what happened to her, US media reports said today.



Sherin Mathews vanished last Saturday after her father Wesley Mathews told police he left her outside at 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking her milk.



Mathews claimed that when he went to check on her around 3:15 am she was gone. Police said he waited five hours before reporting Sherin missing.



During an interview with detectives, Wesley Mathews said he checked around his home for Sherin and then went back inside to do laundry. He was released from jail last Sunday after posting his USD 250,000 bond.



Neighbours of the Indian-American couple have turned the tree across the backyard alley from Sherins home in Richardson in Dallas, Texas into a memorial to the little girl. People have left teddy bears, balloons, angel figurines, a box of written prayers, and even a single gallon of milk, WFFA TV reported.



It is the tree where her father Wesley claims he left the girl as punishment. He claims that when he came back to get her she was gone.



Wesley has since been arrested, and bonded out, on a charge of child endangerment and ordered to wear an ankle monitor as the investigation continues. But after a week, with searches that included the help of the FBI, Richardson police tell News 8 on this 8th day of her disappearance that they have no new information to report.



US Child Protective Services has taken custody of the couples older 4-year-old daughter and neither Wesley Mathews nor his wife have talked publicly about what happened.



Police are still looking for any surveillance video or information that will help show them where the familys SUV went when it disappeared for an hour that morning.



So far, tips from the public have not led to any definitive clues that could lead police to Sherin.



"I pray every night, but I more pray the mama say the truth because this baby need to be in peace, and the people feeling bad need to be in peace too, said a local resident Silvia Johnson.



Police are asking people to check surveillance footage for a maroon Acura SUV they say left the home an hour after Sherin disappeared.



"We would like to thank those who have provided tips and video up to this point. We are diligently working our way through all of the material. We continue to request businesses and residents within a 30-minute drive of the 900 block of Sunningdale to check your video systems to see if there is any footage that may have captured a 2013 maroon Acura MDX SUV on Saturday, October 7th, between 4AM and 5AM, Richardson Police Department said recently in a Facebook post.



Police have not said how they know the car was missing or who was driving. Investigators removed three of the family's cars, including the Acura SUV, from the home earlier last week for analysis.



Detectives have not said whether Wesley Mathews is a suspect, but they have cleared his wife Sini Mathews. Police previously said she was asleep and unaware her husband had made their daughter stand outside as punishment.



"She is distraught. As you are all aware, they adopted Sherin, and they love Sherin," Sini's attorney Kent Starr said. "All she wants is for her daughter to be returned."
The Taliban today rejected claims by freed Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle that his kidnappers had killed his child and raped his wife during the family's captivity, saying the woman had a "natural miscarriage".



Boyle and his American wife Caitlan Coleman were seized by the Taliban while hiking in Afghanistan in 2012, and then turned over to the group's affiliated militant Haqqani network in Pakistan.



The couple and their three children born in captivity were freed Wednesday in a Pakistani military operation triggered by US intelligence and are now back in Canada.



After landing in Toronto on Friday Boyle accused his captors of killing his baby daughter and raping his wife - accusations which the Taliban said were "fake".



In a statement read on his arrival Boyle condemned the Haqqani network's "stupidity and evil of authorising the murder of my infant daughter" in "retaliation for my repeated refusal to accept an offer that the miscreant of the Haqqani network had made to me, and the stupidity and evil of the subsequent rape of my wife".



Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Boyle and Coleman were never separated during their captivity, "precisely due to the fact that the mujahideen did not want to incite any suspicion", but he admitted a baby had died.



"During a period of detention an incident did take place when the woman became ill. The area was remote, no doctors were present and due to this severe condition, the woman had a natural miscarriage of a girl," Mujahid said in a statement.



"The allegations floating around in the media have nothing to do with the reality because the said people are now in the hands of our enemy."



The Haqqani group is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader.



The faction has long been suspected of links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment.



Providing few details, Boyle said the death of his daughter and his wife's rape occurred in 2014.



That was two years after he and Coleman, then "heavily pregnant", were kidnapped in a remote Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan.



He said they were in the war-torn country as "pilgrims" helping poor villagers when they were captured.
A day after three minor siblings were injured in heavy firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, senior government officials visited the forward areas to assess the prevailing situation.



An official spokesperson said Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Tariq Ahmad Zargar visited shelling affected areas to take the stock of damages to property and assess the situation prevailing on the forward LoC areas of sub division Mendhar.



The team of officers including SSP Poonch Rajiv Panday met with Mohammad Nasib the father of three children injured due to Pakistani shelling on Saturday night. The injured children were identified as five-year-old Saquib Naseeb, eight-year-old Rafia Naseeb, 15-year-old Tariq Naseeb and 17-year-old Tahira Naseeb, who have been shifted to a hospital for treatment.



Later, the team of officers also visited to other shelling affected areas Drana, Basooni, Balakote to get appraisal from the local regarding damages to properties and livestock due to heavy cross border shelling during the intervening night, the spokesperson added.



Eyewitnesses told DH over phone that Pakistani troops started firing mortars and bullets, directly targeting civilian areas including Balakote, Balakote Forward, Tarkundi, Langiot, Kanga, Sandiot, Khanetar, Dhar Galoon and surroundings in Balakote sector of Mendhar tehsil in Poonch district on Saturday evening.



The people, who were working in the fields while children playing outside their houses were caught unaware in heavy mortar shelling. The people took shelter in houses, bunkers and other available space, they said, adding that one of the mortar shells fired by Pakistani troops exploded in the house of Khan, a police constable, injuring his three children. Khan is posted in Jammu.



Security forces and local people braved heavy shelling and firing to evacuate injured from the forward village and shifted them to hospital, eyewitnesses said. The landing of mortar shells close to houses in border villages has created a wave of panic and fear among the residents. On Thursday, an Army personnel and a defence porter were killed while six others including five troopers were injured in firing by Pakistan army at Khari Karmara in Poonch sector.



A senior army officer said they expect the ceasefire violations to continue for some days as Pakistan has been relentlessly trying to push heavily-armed militants into India with nefarious intention of disturbing peace and cause casualties on security forces in the hinterland.



However, well aware of the new strategy of Pakistan we have strengthened anti-infiltration grid. Whenever the militants try to infiltrate, they would be either killed or forced to retreat, he added.
Indian Council of Medical Research has approved the much-hyped stem-cell treatment for 30 odd categories of diseases  mostly cancer  making it clear that other treatment claims by the healthcare agencies are to be considered with a pinch of salt.



At present, there are no approved indications for stem cell therapy other than the specific therapies for certain conditions, ICMR said in its new guidelines for stem cell research, released earlier this week.



The apex medical research agency listed 20 types of indications (diseases) for adults and another 13 categories of indications for children below 18 years, where stem cell treatment are permitted. Besides cancers, some complicated congenital diseases are on that list.



Every other therapeutic use of stem cells shall be treated as investigational and conducted only in the form of a clinical trial after obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, says the guideline.



If such cure is provided as treatment, that would be considered unethical and has to be prohibited, it noted.



The stern warning comes at a time when several doctors and healthcare industry offers stem cell treatment to unsuspecting patients without going through the rigours of the regulatory approval and clinical trial.



A medical researcher founding success with a possible stem cell therapy has to write to the ICMR director general with all the trial data so that the council can decide whether such a claim is tenable.



The apex medical research council asked the government to end banking of stem cell derived from sources like cord tissue, placenta, tooth extract, adipose tissue, dental pulp and menstrual blood.



At present there is no scientific evidence to substantiate clinical benefits with the use of stem cells. Yet, procurement and banking of these biological is increasingly becoming a commercial activity. Hence, care needs to be taken so that there is no exploitation and commoditization of the resources, says the ICMR document.



However, a Chennai-based company that does stem cell banking opposed the ICMR recommendations arguing they were against global best practices and not in sync with a decision taken by the Drugs Controller General of India.



We challenges ICMRs recommendation to suspend commercial banking of stem cells from cord tissue, menstrual blood and few other biological materials, said Mayur Abhaya, chief executive officer and managing director of LifeCell - Indias largest umbilical cord stem cell bank.



It is important to preserve these stem cells considering that it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and would stay protected when they turn into potential treatment opportunities. It is imperative that the government should impose a strict ban on the usage of these cells for treatments and ensure compliance but not restrict preservation for the future, he said.



ICMR also released two separate guidelines on the use of adults and children in the clinical trial.
President Ram Nath Kovind visited Africa earlier this month on his first official visit and the government rightly chose Djibouti and Ethiopia as his destinations. As the Ministry of External Affairs pointed out, Africa is chosen as the first destination of the Presidents overseas visit  an index of the importance attached to the African continent by the current government. The Modi government has been keen on expanding its profile in Africa, a continent with which India has shared historic ties and one where major powers today are scrambling for influence.



Djibouti is emerging as a key state in the Indian Ocean region. The construction of the Djibouti naval base  Chinas first military base abroad  has generated varied reactions around the world. The base is seen as a move pushing Chinas own limits to its foreign policy, and underscores its growing security profile in Africa. This new military foray in Africa, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at a press conference in 2016, was part of Beijings willingness to play a constructive role in the political settlement of international and regional issues, so as to create a more secure and stable environment for Chinas development overseas, and to take on more international security responsibilities.



Indeed, Chinas growing military profile in Africa is following its economic footprint on the continent. It is moving towards an ever more expansive definition of its global interests, as its business in Africa pushes it to create new mechanisms for securing those interests, including a growing military footprint abroad.



Djibouti has been very welcoming of Indian presence in the country and had helped India during the evacuation of our nationals from Yemen in 2015. With Ethiopia, India has had traditional ties and it remains the largest recipient of Indias concessional Lines of Credit in Africa. Both nations are key for Indias Africa outreach. President Kovind invited business stakeholders in Ethiopia and Africa to partner with India, underlining that India is now among the top three foreign investors in Ethiopia.



Indian investments in Ethiopia have had a significant presence in manufacturing and value addition to local resources. They have created jobs in this country and contributed to the prosperity of Ethiopian families, he said.



His visit saw the signing of two bilateral agreements, the first on trade facilitation and the second related to the information, communication and media sector. Addressing the Indian community in Djibouti, President Kovind, who became the first Indian leader to visit Djibouti, spoke about Indias high growth trajectory and said it is opening new opportunities for collaboration.



With the India-Africa summit in 2015, the Modi government had signalled its readiness to step up its engagement with Africa, a relationship which is centuries-old, bolstered by trade across the Indian Ocean and a million-strong diaspora across Africa. Shared colonial legacy and post-independence development experience have framed Indias relationship with Africa. Indias role as a champion of anti-colonialism and anti-racism after its independence in 1947 drew it closer to the African nations.



Since the end of the Cold War, and propelled by Chinas growing profile in Africa, India is re-invigorating its ties with the African continent. The cooperation framework agreed at past India-Africa summits and the Indian initiatives to scale up investment and aid to Africa have underscored Indias aim to foster a robust partnership between New Delhi and the African continent.



India today has growing stakes in Africa. With some of the fastest growing nations in the world, the Africa of today is not the dark continent of the past. The needs of its regional states are divergent and their strengths are varied. Indias focus over the last few decades has largely been on capacity building on the continent, providing more than $1 billion in technical assistance and training to personnel under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme.



India has committed $7.5 billion to African infrastructure, covering 137 projects in more than 40 countries. India has also offered duty-free market access to Africas least developed countries. But Indias trade with Africa remains far below potential.



Developmental partnership



India wants a developmental partnership with Africa to be the cornerstone of its economic ties with the region. This also allows India to differentiate itself from the principles on which countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the traditional donors of foreign aid, have based their relations with the recipient countries.



Beijings policy of using financial and military aid to secure oil fields in Africa has resulted in New Delhi losing out. The fierce competition between China and India for resources and energy to fuel their economies has been likened to the so-called scramble for Africa among European countries in the 19th century. This is a competition only in name, as India lags far behind China in Africa.



Where Chinas response toward the region has been well-coordinated across various government agencies, India has failed to project a united front. The Indian government will have to support its companies more proactively if it hopes to close the gap with China in terms of its economic profile on the continent.



Yet, India has its own strengths in its dealings with Africa. Its democratic traditions make it a much more comfortable partner for the West compared to China in cooperating on Africa-related issues. India is viewed as a more productive partner by many in Africa because Indian companies are much better integrated into African society and encourage technology transfers to its African partners. New Delhi will have to leverage its own strengths in making a lasting compact with Africa and regain its lost presence on the continent.



President Kovinds visit has underlined the continuing salience of Africa in Indias foreign policy matrix and New Delhis resolve to build long-term partnerships on that continent.



(The writer is a Distinguished Fellow at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi and Professor of International Relations, Kings College, London)
Karnataka will partner with Uttarakhand in a new marriage of states proposed by the Centre to promote understanding of each others culture, traditions, language, food and other practices.



The year-long cultural exchange programme, Ek Bharat, Shrestha Bharat (One India, Great India), will kick off on October 31 (birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel).



WB stays out



Every state, except for the Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal, has paired with another state to organise a host of activities for exchange languages, cultures, traditions and practices.



Many of these states have already signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with their partner state to organise common activities, official sources told DH.



Tamil Nadu has paired with Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab with Andhra Pradesh, Kerala with Himachal Pradesh, Telangana with Haryana, Rajasthan with Assam, Odisha with Maharashtra, Gujarat with Chhattisgarh, Delhi with Sikkim and Jharkhand with Goa.



Madhya Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland have come together to organise year-long cultural exchanges.



Uttar Pradesh has partnered with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya, while Bihar with Tripura and Mizoram.



A committee, comprising secretaries of six Union ministries, has been formed by the Prime Ministers Office to drawn up a list of suggested activities to be organised by the pairing states. The committee held its first meeting recently.



The Human Resource Development Ministry is the nodal ministry for implementation, while Information and Broadcasting Ministry will be in charge of dissemination of information on the programme.



The programmes will cover the spheres of music, drama, cuisine, language, history, tourism and other forms of exchange between the states. The year-long engagement is expected to result in an enhanced understanding and bonding between the states them, official sources said.
Reliance Industries has exited the last of its overseas oil and gas assets after it relinquished two blocks in Myanmar.



Relinquishment of Myanmar Block M17 and M18 on completion of study / others technical evaluation assessment period, RIL said in an investor presentation post announcing its second quarter earnings.



With this, the oil-to-telecom conglomerate is left with no conventional oil and gas property overseas. It has just two shale gas assets in the US.



Earlier this month, it sold one of the three shale oil and gas blocks it had in the US for $ 126 million, a third of the price it paid seven years ago. RIL held stakes in three US shale gas ventures - 45% with Pioneer Natural Resources in the Eagle Ford shale play; 40% with Chevron and 60% with Carrizo Oil & Gas in the Marcellus Shale play.



Reliance signed agreements to divest all of its interest in the upstream shale gas assets operated by Carrizo, it said in the presentation.




A team of scientists from the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS) will embark upon a rocket-building project with the sole intention of replicating Tipu Sultans Mysurean rockets, which had the British army running for cover over two centuries ago.



The scientists will try to reproduce wootz steel, a special type of high-carbon steel of the medieval times, to build this fire arrow, measuring one to two feet in height and 2.5 to 3.5 inches in diameter.



The plan is to test-fire it at the Challakere Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga district, in association with the Ministry of Defence and the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), to assess its performance.



Aerospace scientist Prof Roddam Narasimha, who is leading the team, wants to bust the two extreme myths prevalent in the present-day India through this rocket-building project. One, that India gave birth to all the scientific and technological developments; and the other  that India heavily borrowed its science from Europe.



This will be Prof Narasimhas third attempt at building the rocket, an idea which germinated three decades ago but never took off.



Interestingly, a theatre production, which is attempting to bring together three interdisciplinary themes  science, arts and technology  for a narrative on Indias military history and strategic culture, is giving a push to this rocket project.



Prof Narasimha told DH he was restarting the rocket-building project after NIAS agreed to incubate a historical play, Vanguard  The story of Mysore Rockets.



The two-and-a-half-hour play is being produced by the Bengaluru-based Actors Ensemble India Forum (AEIF), founded by theatre professional Mallika Prasad and playwright Ram Ganesh Kamatham.



Prof Narasimha said it would take anywhere between six months and a year to build the rocket. Its important to retell the story of the significance of Tipus Mysurean rockets and the metallurgy of the period, and how the technology was stolen by the British, inspiring big changes in Europe. Its ironic that the only available replicas are displayed in London museums, not here, he said.



Prasad and Kamatham, who have done extensive research on the subject under the Charles Wallace India Trust Research Scholarship, said one of the outcomes of Project Vanguard (aside from the play) would be an online video on Mysurean rockets.



They said they would produce a short film by documenting the entire artisanal process of building and firing of the rocket by NIAS. Replicas of the rocket for display purposes will be donated to interested museums, they added.



While the dates for the play are yet to be announced, a reading of the play has been organised at NIAS on October 23, between 5.30pm and 7.30 pm.




JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday urged Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar to take measures to grant recognition for the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) at the earliest in the interest of students.



KSOU has fulfilled all the conditions imposed by the University Grants Commission. The life and future of three lakh students who have taken admissions in the university are in jeopardy. The Union Minister should intervene on the issue and take measures to ensure that recognition is granted to the university, the JD(S) leader added in a letter to Javadekar.



Kumaraswamy termed as deplorable and condemnable the reported statement by Karnataka Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddi that the university may be wound up.




A major fire broke out on Sunday morning in fugitive GJM chief Bimal Gurungs village at Patlebas in the restive Darjeeling hills, destroying several houses, many of which belonged to his loyalists, police said.



The cause of the fire or casualties due to it are yet to be ascertained and investigations are on. Of the houses that were gutted, one belonged to Dinesh Thing, believed to be a close associate of Gurung.



The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chiefs house escaped the fire but was vandalised, locals said.



The police claimed that the houses were set ablaze by Gurungs supporters to wipe out evidence. The Gurung supporters, on the other hand, claimed it was the handiwork of the GJM faction loyal to Binay Tamang.



Restrictions have been imposed on entry to the village, a Gurung stronghold, and the police are conducting raids in the area.



Gurung has been on the run since August after the West Bengal government lodged cases against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his involvement in several bomb blasts in Darjeeling and adjoining areas.



Additional Director General of Police Siddhinath Gupta said the state police had asked its Sikkim counterpart to intimate them about anyone entering the Northeastern state from Bengal with injuries.



A West Bengal Police sub-inspector was shot dead and four policemen were injured in a gun battle between the police and Gurungs supporters near Patlebas on Friday. A few GJM supporters, too, received injuries in the firing.



The police had gone to the area looking for Gurung, following a specific information that the GJM supremo and those loyal to him were hiding there.


The home ministry has ordered the withdrawal of as many as 1,000 paramilitary personnel, including 300 women, deployed in Darjeeling to maintain law and order during the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state.



In a communication, the ministry said seven companies of the CRPF, including three women companies, and three companies of SSB personnel would be withdrawn from Darjeeling from Monday.



One company of paramilitary comprises 100 personnel.



The paramilitary personnel were in deployment in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, an official said. However, five additional companies of the CRPF will be in the hills to assist the state police force.



Meanwhile, an official of the West Bengal government said the state has shot off a letter to protest against the Centres sudden decision to pull out forces within two days.



The situation in Darjeeling has improved over the past few weeks.



The Mamata Banerjee-led government had last month formed a nine-member board of administrators, headed by expelled GJM leader Binay Tamang, instead of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to look into the development works in Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Two persons, including an engineering college staff, were killed in rain-related mishaps as heavy showers, accompanied by thunder and lightning, continued to pound Hyderabad-Karnataka districts on Sunday.



Avinash Hirolle (23), an employee of Basavakalyan Engineering College in Bidar district, was electrocuted when he came in contact with a live wire while clearing rainwater from an under-construction building of the college.



In the other rain-related death, a 40-year-old Shankrappa Chengeti was killed in a lightning strike at Mukhramba in Chincholi taluk of Kalaburagi district on Sunday. The incident occurred when he was working in his field.



The downpour that lashed Maski town in Raichur district on Saturday night left several houses and Urdu medium school inundated. More than 10 houses have suffered partial damage in the rain.



Many roads in Kottur town, Ballari district, were flooded following heavy showers on Saturday night. The overnight rain has thrown life out of gear in the town. Nimbalagere and Ujjaiani and surrounding villages were cut off owing to the overflowing streams.



Lakshmeshwar town in Gadag district witnessed heavy rain on Saturday night and Sunday. Several houses have suffered damage in the rain. BT Cotton, sunflower and other crops on a vast tract of land in the villages under Lakshmeshwar hobli have remain submerged.



Parts of Bagalkot district, including Banahatti town, experienced downpour on Sunday evening. Karwar town and several parts of Uttara Kannada district witnessed light to moderate showers throughout the day on Sunday.



Man killed



An elderly man was killed when a portion of tiled-roof caved in following an incessant rain in Malur taluk, Kolar district, on Sunday. The deceased, Thippanna, a resident of Kempanahalli, was sleeping when the roof collapsed. More than 10 houses have suffered extensive damage in the taluk.



Torrential rain for the past three days has breached Bittegowdanahalli lake in Hassan taluk on Saturday night. Water entered agricultural fields inundating ragi, maize and ginger crops causing loss to the farmers.
Karnatakas lawmakers will get 13-gram gold biscuits as gifts during the diamond jubilee celebrations of the Vidhana Soudha scheduled for October 25 and 26 if the legislature secretariat gets its way.



The secretariat, which has been severely criticised for drawing up a Rs 26.87-crore plan to organise the celebrations, proposes to give away the expensive gifts to MLAs as well as MLCs. Each gold biscuit will cost about Rs 55,000 and will be embossed with the coat of arms, the state emblem of Karnataka. A miniature model of the Vidhana Soudha will be gifted, too.



Yes, a proposal has been sent to the government to give away gold biscuits as gifts to legislators. Its part of the plan to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Vidhana Soudha. If the chief minister (Siddaramaiah) agrees, we will present the gifts, Legislative Assembly Speaker K B Koliwad said.



It has also been proposed to gift the secretariat staff, from the Upper and Lower Houses, silver plates worth about Rs 6,000 each. The secretariat recently invited President Ramnath Kovind to address a special joint session of the legislature on the occasion. Cultural programmes have been organised on both the days on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha.



Senior ministers recently expressed displeasure at the legislature secretariats unilateral decision to organise the celebrations. What irked them the most was that the secretariat started the preparations even before the government approved the plan to spend Rs 26.87 crore.



The Speaker lost his cool recently when journalists asked him why such a huge sum of money is being spent on the celebrations. He curtly refused to give any information.


With a focus on employability, the newly formed Bengaluru North University plans to introduce courses which are tailor-made to meet the needs of local students.



The university, which was formed after the trifurcation of Bangalore University, will come up in Amaravathi, near H Cross in Chikkaballapur. It recently got recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC).



The universitys jurisdiction covers the Assembly constituencies of KR Puram, CV Raman Nagar, Pulikeshinagar, Mahadevapura and Sarvajnanagar in Bengaluru Urban district. Hoskote, Devanahalli and Doddaballapur constituencies of Bengaluru Rural district and all constituencies in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts also come under the new university.



BNUs courses will take into account the aspirations of local students and opportunities for employment in these areas.



Registrar M Shankar Reddy said, Chikkaballapur is known for its mangoes and there are a large number of mango farmers here. Similarly, the Kolar APMC has one of the biggest tomato markets in Asia. Keeping this in mind, a course in food technology, preservation and pest control will give students the right skills. Students who have completed Bachelor of Science (BSc) can pursue a Postgraduate Diploma in food processing technology to gain the skills particularly required in the region. They can make their own products or help farmers make better use of their crop, he said.



We want to not only give students just degrees but the skills to make them employable, said Reddy.



The university officials also plan to invite owners of industries in Narasapura, Kolar, Hoskote and Bengaluru Rural for a meeting to understand what skills they look for in employees. Do they need commerce graduates or business graduates? Are technical courses in demand? Based on industry requirements, we will know which courses have more employment opportunities, Reddy said.



The university also plans to have a Masters in Political Science and Public Administration. Students in this region are very keen on pursuing a career in the Indian Administrative Services (IAS). But there are not many colleges here that offer public administration as a subject, Reddy said.



BNU has 209 colleges in its jurisdiction and four postgraduate departments in Kolar. In the 2018-19 academic year, the university hopes to start eight new postgraduate and three undergraduate courses. The new courses will be from the approved courses of the UGC.


Corporates hankering for quality and human resource development certifications dished out by global and Indian certifying organizations so far, are now making a beeline for 'eco-friendly' ones.



While 'bag-a-green certificate' trend is gaining momentum among corporates, the hottest one presently, seems to be 'Sustainable Management of Forests Certificate (SMFC)' issued by the Network for Certification and Conservation of Forests (NCCF).



Though this certification is mandated for export companies dealing in forest produce, many domestic trade companies are also applying for it too.



So far, 12 Indian export and domestic trade firms have applied, Avani Kumar Verma, NCCF member and retired Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, told DH.



Companies seeking certificates are keen on brand building and growing their markets. We have received applications from Channapatna Handicrafts and Toys Manufacturing Companies & Associations and Himalayan Drug Company are among them," Verma said.



"Infosys Foundation has sought that the Dandeli paper mills and other paper manufacturing industries submit the SMFC certificate copy before selling paper to them. Many other herbal and ayurvedic companies are also applying for the certificate, he added.



According to Verma, the need for this certification arose when central government realised that a lot of forestproduce like wood, medicinal plants, bamboo and other minor forest produce were being exploited from peripheries of forest areas.



Considering the clamour for herbal and ayurvedic products in the market, the central government is working on making SMFC mandatory for even domestic manufacturers and sellers.



The government decided to adopt the international model of certification and with Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, a German organisation under the programme for endorsement of forest certificates.



USA, Australia, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and all European countries demand this certificate from Indian firms before making purchases.



A lot of wood is used in making Chennapatna toys, lacquare and handicrafts. Bamboo is required for making incense sticks, wood pulp for the paper industry and natural ingredients for beauty and medicinal products. Now with this certification, all extraction and usage will be regulated, Verma explained.



Though NCCF was conceptualised 20 years back, it was officially launched in 2015. It was formed by retired forest department and MoEF officials from across India. Forest departments of Karnataka, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are part of NCCF. 'Enhanced Proliferation Control Initiative (EPCI), commerce ministry, agriculture ministry, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education and sister organisations also are partners. Forest Rating



As next step NCCF members are rating and certifying forest areas based on conservation, eco- tourism, agro- forestry, protected area management, afforestation, timber felling and sales, boundary demarcation and management plans.



On pilot basis, we studied Dandeli tiger reserve and its rating is not more than 60%. It lacks in bamboo revival, over crowding of area in guise of eco- tourism, afforestation and handling timber merchants association, Verma added.


Overnight rain continued to wreak havoc in the city again. Five people were killed till Sunday and rain created havoc, leaving many areas inundated and roads waterlogged. There were also incidents of tree fall and traffic snarls on major city roads.



Several localities were flooded, crippling normal life in the city. Water entered several houses in Bommasandra, Hongasandra, BTM Layout, HSR Layout, Yelahanka and other low lying areas.



People pump out water



Kendriya Vihar apartments at Kogilu Cross near Yelahanka was flooded. Water gushed into the parking area and into a few houses, where residents were seen pumping out water. More than 50 vehicles in the basement of the apartment were submerged.



Vehicles struggled to pass the flooded outer ring road in Bellandur. Some vehicles broke down, holding up traffic. A BMTC bus broke down on the waterlogged outer ring road near Ecospace and more than 20 passengers were rescued by BBMP personnel.



According to the BBMP control room, tree falls were reported behind the Cottonpet police station, Valmikinagar near Mysuru Road and at Siddalingaiah Circle near Vittal Mallya Road.



Fear for safety



Pratham, a resident of HSR Layout said, Since August 15, our houses are getting flooded by sewage water after every rain. We plan to move out fearing for our safety. Authorities are not concerned about people and make false promises.



Kumara P, a resident of Bommasandra said, I have been living in the city for almost 30 years. This is the first time I have seen this kind of rain. If this continues, there is a chance of bigger floods like in Chennai and Mumbai. Hence, authorities must wake up and act.



Traffic snarls on weekend



Though most people stayed indoors on Sunday, traffic was a nightmare.



Vehicles stranded at traffic signals waterlogged underpasses and potholed roads were a common scene.



The city traffic police kept updating citizens about traffic movement, snarls, potholes and waterlogged roads on twitter to help people take alternative routes.



Netizens on city rains



George had told, Bengaluru can handle flood better than New York. Here theyre not able to manage daily rain, leave alone floods.- @kp1292



Rain rain and rain in Bengaluru apart from horrible roads. Pray 4 the victims & pray that govt does its best.- @mysticmeeera



Rain Rain go away so that Bengaluru kids can light firecrackers and play While parents whine about traffic pollution and all the Rain - @UrvashiPrakash



With all #BangaloreRain God seems to ear plugged with the song We will we will Rock you..-@Shubhankar04



Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi - Same story. Inept infrastructure. Crumbling. Cant handle heavy rain. High time we got the basics right! - @manishvoswal



Unscientifically Planed City Bangalore Facing problems from Heavy Rain. Government should Follow The Malaysian Technology in Bangalore city. - @subhashwodeyar1
Two men drowned on Saturday evening when they had gone to place a net for fishing in the Nelligudde Lake near Bidadi, 35 km from Bengaluru.



The deceased have been identified as Umesh R (30) and Ravi N (18), both residents of Avaragere village near Bidadi. The fire and emergency services personnel fished out their bodies on Sunday morning.



According to the family members of the deceased, the duo used to go to Nelligudde Lake every day to place a net for fishing. They, however, didnt return home even after late in the evening on Saturday. Their mobile phones were also switched off. The family members feared that both had drowned in the lake and registered a complaint around 9.30 pm.



The police rushed to the lake and informed the fire and emergency personnel team. However, they could not carry out the search operation as it was dark and there was heavy rain on Saturday night.



The police said, The rescue operation started on Sunday morning and the bodies were fished out by 11 am. The postmortem was conducted at Sri Rajarajeshwari Medical College Hospital and the bodies were handed over to family members. The Bidadi police have taken up a case of unnatural deaths and warned the public not to get into the lake without safety equipment.



In yet another incident, a 38-old-farmer was washed away in Kanva canal near Melehalli near Ramanagaram while taking a video of the heavy flow of water on Sunday morning.



The police said, The deceased has been identified as Nandish, a resident of Aralimara Deddi village. On his morning walk, he noticed heavy water flow near Melehalli and went near the canal to shoot a video and reached the edge of the drain. The edge suddenly collapsed and he fell into the canal and was washed away.



The fire and emergency officials were searching for him till late in the evening but could not trace him. The search operation was stopped due to rain and poor light. A missing case has been registered in Ramanagaram rural police station.



Locals informed the police that due to illegal sand mining in the canals, there are big pits inside the canals which are hindering the rescue operation.
By Aida Chavez

13 October 2017

(The Intercept)  Nestled in the $36.5 billion disaster relief package the House of Representatives approved Thursday is $5 billion specifically for Puerto Rico to maintain basic government function after being devastated by two hurricanes, as economic activity on the island has come to a near standstill, and tax revenue collection is close to nonexistent.That the aid has come in the form of a loan rather than a grant has been galling to defenders of Puerto Rico. But House Republicans argue it would be unfair to just bail out the island, including House Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows who said that a grant Puerto Rico would be unfair to states that have been fiscally responsible.Its somebodys money, Meadows told The Intercept after a House vote on the aid package this week. Its different if you could just print money and it didnt come out of my pocket or your pocket. It comes out of the American taxpayers pocket  for them to suggest that its fair, for someone in another state to put forth money that is not just directed at relief, to bail out a government, whether it be Puerto Rico or Illinois or some other state, is not fair for a state thats been fiscally responsible and with their taxpayers, versus one that hasnt.Setting aside how appropriate the metaphor of a bailout is when Puerto Rico is still literally bailing itself out from catastrophic flooding, comparing Puerto Rico to a state has its own level of unfairness to it.Puerto Rico is not a state, even though it is controlled by the United States and its residents are American citizens. The islands financial troubles  the ones Meadows and others in Congress use to make the case for holding back aid  stem from an act of Congress itself. In 1996, Congress began phasing out Section 936, a tax break that lured manufacturers to the island. With no clout in Congress, Puerto Rican politicians were powerless to protect it. And, indeed, some on the island hoped that phasing out the tax break would bring the island closer to statehood.That hasnt happened, but the predicted financial devastation did arrive, leading to surging unemployment, stagnation and the fiscal crisis the island faced ahead of the storms.Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello originally requested over $4 billion in a letter to congressional leaders over the weekend, saying that in addition to its immediate humanitarian crisis the island is on the brink of a massive liquidity crisis that will intensify in the immediate future. []Republicans recognize that Puerto Rico isnt in a position to pay back debt but maintain that its the islands responsibility to handle their debt. We need to make sure Puerto Rico can stand on its own two feet, House Speaker Paul Ryan told reporters.When you get yourself in debt youve got to find yourself a way to get out of it, Republican Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., said. But hurricane relief is a different story. We owe them help  I think theres a lot more good in this bill than bad. Having said that, I share some concerns when someone gets themselves in debt, I dont like putting that debt on someone else so I think theres some legitimate concerns there.Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona called the loan ridiculous, saying that the opportunity should be used to give them the full relief but still doesnt consider funding to be the biggest issue at hand.More importantly, Im glad that were getting money back to Puerto Rico but the bigger issue of Puerto Rico is the current mess that FEMA and the Department of Defense have done to the island by not being quickly responsive, Gallego said. That has nothing to do with funding or the aid bill, that has to do with them being bad managers. [more]
By Sandra Lilley , Suzanne Gamboa, Daniella Silva, and Carmen Sesin

13 October 2017

(NBC News)  President Donald Trumps Twitter comments on Thursday threatening to pull federal resources from Puerto Rico as the U.S. territory grapples with the lack of basic necessities elicited shock and alarm on the island and the mainland.San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz urged every American that has love, and not hate in their hearts, to stand with Puerto Rico and let this president know we WILL NOT BE LEFT TO DIE.Gov. Ricardo Rossello tweeted that U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico were requesting the support that any of our fellow citizens would receive across our nation.There was worry over the impact of the presidents tweets; critics said that as head of the federal government, his statements could be interpreted as less than a full commitment to the islands recovery.If Im being told to do everything to fix this, but if I also hear I really dont want it fixed, its their fault, then youre not going to be willing to stand on that cliff and take that leap, said Nancy Santiago Negron, who held several senior positions in the Obama administration. Hesitation can cost us lives.With people drinking potentially contaminated river water, eating plants because of a lack of food and the official death toll mounting, Santiago Negron said Trumps comments left her petrified.When did we stop being America?  she asked.Isabel Rullan, the managing director of Puerto Rico non-profit ConPRmetidos said Puerto Ricans were still in dire need of basic necessities.
By Alison Durkee

15 October 2017

(Mic)  It has now been more than three weeks since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico and the island is still reeling from the devastation it caused.Despite an influx of federal and private aid, many on the hurricane-ravaged island are still without such basic necessities as potable water and electricity, and the death toll of Puerto Ricans killed by hurricane-related causes continues to climb.What happened in Texas and Florida were disasters, W. Craig Fugate, the FEMA administrator under former President Barack Obama, told the New York Times. What happened in Puerto Rico was a catastrophe.Here are the numbers to know about the ongoing devastation in Puerto Rico.

3.4 million

The population of Puerto Rico. As a U.S. territory, all Puerto Ricans are American citizens, and the island is more populous than 21 U.S. states, according to CNN.

9 percent

Percentage of Puerto Rican residents with electricity as of 13 October 2017, according to FEMA.

63 percent

Percentage of Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority customers who have potable water, according to FEMA. This means that more than 1.2 million citizens are still without water, CNN noted.The New York Times reported that finding water has been an ongoing struggle for Puerto Ricans in the wake of Hurricane Maria, with some even resorting to trying to obtain water at Superfund sites filled with hazardous waste.

76.1 percent

Percentage of cell sites that still remain out of service as of 12 October 2017, as reported by the Federal Communications Commission. The Puerto Rican government reported that as of Oct. 15, 59% of telecommunications services are currently operational, along with only 25.07% of cell phone antennas and 42.61% of cell phone towers.

392

Miles of roads in Puerto Rico that are open as of 12 October 2017, according to FEMA  out of a total 5,073 miles of roads.

90 percent

Estimated percentage of homes in Puerto Rico that were damaged by Hurricane Maria, according to CNN.

80 percent

Percentage of crops in Puerto Rico that were destroyed by Hurricane Maria, according to the Weather Channel, devastating the islands agricultural industry.

48

Official death toll of Puerto Ricans killed by the hurricane, as reported by the government. An additional 117 people, at least, also still remain unaccounted for.The actual number of deaths, however, is projected to be much higher. Vox has reported an additional 36 hurricane-related deaths in addition to the official tally, along with an additional 450 deaths where the cause is currently unknown.Just one week after Hurricane Maria, the Center for Investigative Journalism in Puerto Rico found that the majority of the islands hospital morgues were already at capacity. The Los Angeles Times also noted that 100 people died in the three days following the hurricane in Puerto Ricos Lajas region, which is twice the regions typical rate. [more]
The Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) has said the lack of clear information about how Microsoft uses the data that Windows 10 collects prevents consumers from giving their informed consent. The regulator said the operating system is breaking the law. To comply with the law, according to the DPA, Microsoft needed to get valid user consent: which meant the company must be clearer about the type of data it collected and how that data is processed. The regulator has also complained that the Windows 10 Creators Update did not always respect previously chosen settings about data collection. Microsoft introduced new, clearer wording about the data collection, in the Creators Update, though the language still was not explicit about what was collected and why. It also forced everyone to re-assert their privacy choices through a new settings page. In some situations, however, that page defaulted to the standard Windows options rather than defaulting to the settings earlier chosen. Though Microsoft has listed all the data collected in Windows 10's "Basic" telemetry setting in the Creators Update, it has not done so for the "Full" option, and the Full option remains the default. The Windows 10 privacy options continued to be a work in progress for Microsoft. The Fall Creators Update, to be released on 17 October, makes further changes to the way the operating system and applications collect data and the consent required to do so. The personal data Microsoft collects by default includes the URL of every website visited if the Windows 10 user is browsing the web with Microsoft's Edge browser (and has not opted out of full telemetry), as also about usage of all installed apps on their device - including frequency of use; how often apps are active; and the amount of seconds usage of mouse, keyboard, pen or touchscreen.








The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths:

- Bernie Breslin, Townalaghan, Barnesmore

- Minnie Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles

- Colm McIvor formerly of Ballyraine, Letterkenny







Bernie Breslin, Townalaghan, Barnesmore

The death has occurred of Bernie Breslin, Townalaghan, Barnesmore in Galway Hospice. Remains reposing at her late residence from 3pm until 7pm today. Remains leaving her residence on Sunday morning at 9.45am to St Agathas Church, Clar, for 10.30am mass with burial immediately afterwards in adjoning cemetery.

House private on Sunday morning please. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu to Galway Hospice

Minnie Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles

The death has taken place of Minnie Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles.

Her remains will be reposing at the residence of her son, Bill Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles today from 12 noon until 10pm and Sunday from 12 noon until 10pm. Removal from there on Monday at 1.30pm going to St. Johns Church, Inver for Service at 2pm, with burial afterwards in the adjoining Churchyard.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu if so desired to Inver Church or Strabane day centre c/o Gallaghers Funeral Home Mountcharles or any family member.

A one way system will operate at the wake, entry at the Gortward crossroads Inver and exit on the Doorin line.

Colm McIvor, formerly of Ballyraine, Letterkenny

The death has occurred of Colm McIvor, formerly of Ballyraine, Letterkenny.

His remains will repose at the residence of his son, Niall McIver, at Kiltoy, Letterkenny from 4pm until 10pm today, Saturday 14th October and from 4pm to 10pm tomorrow, Sunday 15th October.

Requiem Mass on Monday, 16th October at 11am, in the Church of the Irish Martyrs, Letterkenny, followed by interment in Conwal Cemetery.

House private please on the morning of the funeral.

If you wish to have a death notice included here, email us at editorial@donegaldemocrat.com. Please include a telephone number for verification.
The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths:

- Minnie Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles

- Colm McIvor formerly of Ballyraine, Letterkenny

- Daniel Lynch, Glebe, Linsfort, Buncrana

- Amanda McGlone (nee Innes), 41 Silverhill, West End, Bundoran

Minnie Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles

The death has taken place of Minnie Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles.



Her remains will be reposing at the residence of her son, Bill Coulter, Buncronan, Mountcharles today from 12 noon until 10pm and Sunday from 12 noon until 10pm. Removal from there on Monday at 1.30pm going to St. Johns Church, Inver for Service at 2pm, with burial afterwards in the adjoining Churchyard.

Family flowers only, donations in lieu if so desired to Inver Church or Strabane day centre c/o Gallaghers Funeral Home Mountcharles or any family member.

A one way system will operate at the wake, entry at the Gortward crossroads Inver and exit on the Doorin line.

Colm McIvor, formerly of Ballyraine, Letterkenny

The death has occurred of Colm McIvor, formerly of Ballyraine, Letterkenny.

His remains will repose at the residence of his son, Niall McIver, at Kiltoy, Letterkenny from 4pm until 10pm today, Saturday 14th October and from 4pm to 10pm tomorrow, Sunday 15th October.

Requiem Mass on Monday, 16th October at 11am, in the Church of the Irish Martyrs, Letterkenny, followed by interment in Conwal Cemetery.

House private please on the morning of the funeral.

Daniel Lynch, Glebe, Linsfort, Buncrana

The death has taken place of Daniel Lynch, Glebe, Linsfort, Buncrana. His remains will be reposing later this evening at his late residence. House private tonight and on the morning of the funeral.

Funeral Mass on Monday morning in the Star of the Sea Church, Desertegney at 11am with burial in adjoining graveyard.

Family flowers only.

Amanda McGlone (nee Innes), 41 Silverhill, West end, Bundoran

The death has occurred of Amanda McGlone (nee Innes) 41 Silverhill, West End, Bundoran.

Reposing at her late residence on Sunday, October 15th, from 11am until 9pm. Removal on Monday morning, October 16th, at 10.30am to arrive at the Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Bundoran for Mass of the Resurrection at 11am.

Burial afterwards in St. Ninnidh's Cemetery, Newtown, Bundoran. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if so desired to Benbulben COPD or North West Hospice, The Mall, Sligo in care of Conlan and Breslin Funeral Directors or by donation box at family home and Church. House private to family and close friends on Monday morning please.

If you wish to have a death notice included here, email us at editorial@donegaldemocrat.com. Please include a telephone number for verification.
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The HSE, in partnership with other organizations, is developing a Regional Suicide Prevention Action Plan for the Midlands, Louth and Meath area, and it is seeking public input in the form of a survey to help develop the plan.

According to the HSE website, Connecting for Life is Irelands national strategy with the aim of reducing suicide and self-harm by 10% between now and 2020.

The survey is open to everyone and all answers are anonymous. The link to the survey is here.

It says that in order to meet this target nationally, it needs every county in Ireland to develop a Connecting for Life Action Plan through broad-based consultation with service providers, service users and the public.

The HSE says that a key part of the development of the Action Plan is the consultation process - providing an opportunity for as many people as possible to have their say regarding what should be included.

Individual members of the public, service users, service providers and a variety of interest groups will be consulted with.

It believes that this process will ensure the national policy is translated into local actions that are consistent, efficient and effective.

To find out more about the Connecting for Life go here.
Louth IFA Dairy Committee Chairman Nicholas Cooney, has said that the announced 3 points jump in the Ornua PPI to 114.3 points, equivalent to 34.7cpl including VAT, shows that Irish trading contracts are catching up with the stronger September butterfat and cheese in EU MMO and spot price reports.

In the latest Louth IFA press release, it explains that latest EU average returns remained strong to end September at around 41c/l.

After a 5c/l processing cost is deducted, this would suggest a price equivalent of 36c/l + VAT, and as other European dairy farmers were continuing to receive increasing milk prices into October, it was well justified for Irish producers to expect at least 1c/l on September milk.

Friesland Campina will pay suppliers an extra 1.25c/kg for October, or a milk price equivalent to 37.65c/l at the Irish 3.3% protein and 3.6% butterfat standard.

"Arla too have increased their October milk price by 1c/kg, which for their UK producers will translate into 1.5ppl increase to 32.3ppl.

"Also in the UK, First Milk have also flagged an October milk price increase of 1 to 1.1ppl, Mr Cooney said.

Irish co-ops will be meeting from this week to decide on their September milk price, and I believe board members must ensure that suppliers get at least 1c/l more for their September milk, he continued.

Global milk production continues to grow a lot more slowly than expected.

"New Zealand is experiencing a very wet spring, which has resulted in a 1.56% decrease in August supplies (Fonterra collections were down 2.5%), a trend which has persisted into September, and which could damage their mid-October peak.

"While the US milk output is growing slightly faster at 2.1%, the EUs output growth is being held back by France and Germanys only very modest recovery.

Despite the 2.4% decrease in this weeks GDT weighted average auction price for commodities for sale to April, it remains a fact that butterfat and cheese returns continue at historical levels, and demand for butter and cheese outpaces supplies globally, he said.

In summary, markets remain strong despite some potential headwinds, and dairy farmers in Europe and further afield rightly continue to benefit in increased milk prices  Irish co-ops must make sure Irish farmers do not miss out, Mr. Cooney concluded.
The National Emergency Coordination Group on Severe Weather have just released a statement in relation to Hurricane Ophelia. Here is the statement in full.

Key Public Safety & Information Messages

All unnecessary travel should be avoided on Monday, while the storm is passing..

Dont travel in Red level warning areas during the height of the storm unless absolutely necessary, and take due care if travelling in all other areas. Listen to local radio and national media broadcasts regarding the current weather situation.

High seas predicted, the public are advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period.

Very strong winds are predicted making driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users, e.g., cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclist and high sided vehicles. Road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris.

Given anticipated weather conditions, tomorrow should be a no bike day.

Power outages are likely to occur in certain parts of the country, with contingency planning activated by the ESB. The ESB is advising the public to stay away from fallen cables that may have broken due to the high winds. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1850372999.

Bus Eireanns schools transport services will not be operating in counties covered by Red level warnings. Because of the duty of care owed to children and to avoid the risk arising from travelling, the Department of Education and Skills is instructing all schools to act on the Departments advice and remain closed. Creches and Montessori facilities should also remain closed tomorrow.

People are asked to check in on isolated and vulnerable neighbours today in advance of the oncoming severe weather conditions and again after the worst of the event has passed.

People are advised to remove patio furniture, rubbish bins and any loose items from around buildings, which can be turned into missiles by the wind.

The public are again reminded to monitor Met Eireann forecasts for their area and to be aware of the weather conditions and to heed safety warnings. Information is available across social media platforms and other traditional media sources.

Report of the National Emergency Coordination Group meeting

The National Emergency Coordination Group met today (15 October 2017) in anticipation of the arrival of Storm Ophelia.

The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is designated as the Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather emergencies at national level.

The Departments National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) Severe Weather Team has been meeting daily and working with Met Eireann, local authorities and other Government Departments and agencies since Thursday 12 October to review information regarding the storm and its predicted trajectory and intensity.

Updated information received from Met Eireann on Friday 13 October regarding the trajectory of the storm has identified the issues facing the country as being severe wind, coastal surge and heavy rainfall, with the potential for this to be a life threatening event with the likelihood of significant destruction in worst affected areas.

This has driven the decision to hold the National Emergency Coordination Group meeting today.

The objective of the meeting was to bring all Government Departments together to review and disseminate the latest information regarding the storm, review the current national preparedness arrangements and to formulate public safety messaging in anticipation of the storm reaching Ireland.

The NDFEM contacted all local authorities on Friday 13 October advising them to activate their severe weather teams.

These teams continue to be briefed by the NDFEM regarding Storm Ophelia and continue to prepare for this anticipated wind and potential flood damage through Local Coordination Group meetings.

Weather Outlook

Monday will see stormy conditions as Ex-Hurricane Ophelia moves up over the country. It is expected to arrive in Kerry for 6am on Monday.

Gale to storm force southerly winds will occur with severe and damaging gusts - winds strongest along southern counties with the risk of storm surge here, along with very high seas.

Structural damage is possible anywhere and these are life-threatening conditions. Rain will be widespread also, with the heaviest falls likely to occur in Atlantic coastal counties.

Localised flooding is possible with thundery falls. The winds will veer southwesterly as the low pressure system tracks northwards over western parts of the country. Highest temperatures will range 15 to 19 degrees Celsius.

The storm front will track northwards on Monday night, exiting Irish coastal waters before midnight.

Rain will gradually become confined to the west Connacht and west Ulster coasts and it will become dry in many parts with clear spells. Strong to gale force and gusty southwesterly winds will gradually abate.

Currently, there are Red level wind warnings in place for Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.

The rest of the country is covered by an Orange level wind warning and there are rainfall warnings in place for the country although this will vary.

Key Public Safety & Information Messages

All unnecessary travel should be avoided on Monday, while the storm is passing..

Dont travel in Red level warning areas during the height of the storm unless absolutely necessary, and take due care if travelling in all other areas. Listen to local radio and national media broadcasts regarding the current weather situation.

High seas predicted, the public are advised to stay away from coastal areas during this period.

Very strong winds are predicted making driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users, e.g., cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclist and high sided vehicles. Road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris.

Given anticipated weather conditions, tomorrow should be a no bike day.

Power outages are likely to occur in certain parts of the country, with contingency planning activated by the ESB. The ESB is advising the public to stay away from fallen cables that may have broken due to the high winds. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1850372999.

Bus Eireanns schools transport services will not be operating in counties covered by Red level warnings. Because of the duty of care owed to children and to avoid the risk arising from travelling, the Department of Education and Skills is instructing all schools to act on the Departments advice and remain closed. Creches and Montessori facilities should also remain closed tomorrow.

People are asked to check in on isolated and vulnerable neighbours today in advance of the oncoming severe weather conditions and again after the worst of the event has passed.

People are advised to remove patio furniture, rubbish bins and any loose items from around buildings, which can be turned into missiles by the wind.

The public are again reminded to monitor Met Eireann forecasts for their area and to be aware of the weather conditions and to heed safety warnings. Information is available across social media platforms and other traditional media sources.

The National Emergency Coordination Group is monitoring the situation and will meet again tomorrow morning, 16 October, to monitor the developing situation.
Rosie Watters who died on September 18 was a resident for 78 years of the close- knit neighbourhood of Mary Street North or as it is aptly called Happy Valley. She was the founder of and ran for many years the local senior citizens club as she contributed handsomely to the local community and to her local parish, being dues collector for 20 years for Saint Patricks..

She also was a lady who was steeped in the GAA who had an unwavering allegiance to her home club Clan na Gael.

Rosie was the daughter of Con and Mary ONeill, Castletown Road and was born on November 17th 1926. She had two brothers, Con and Gerry and one sister, Kate all of whom predeceased her.

The family moved to Market Street and then to 54 Mary Street North. Rosie spent her latter days in Saint Peters nursing home Castlebellingham.

Growing up she attended the Friary NS and at the age of 12 went to work in the local textile industry. She worked there for three years and then left to take up employment in the shoe trade in Rawsons factory and was there until the premises was destroyed by fire in 1967.

Her mother passed way when she was 18, and she took on the role of caring for her dad Con and brother Gerry. Sister Kate married and moved to live in Bray while brother Con emigrated to Australia in 1951.

She returned to work in the shoe industry in Castle Shoes for a two year period between 1967 and 1969. She left as she was expecting her first child, Majella. She had her second daughter Catherine the following year

However, she continued to do interlacing work at home, and was helped out by the family. She had a further spell working in the shoe industry between 1979 and 1985 in Clarks factory.

Rosie was a big Clan na Gael supporter and went to all GAA matches where she met husband, Jim Watters from Haggardstown and known fondly as Big Jim There was great banter over the years in their home regarding Rosies beloved Clans and her husbands home club Geraldines.

The couple would have celebrated their Golden Jubilee anniversary on September 25th this year.

She was a great knitter and made Aran jumpers. She started the senior citizens club in Seatown in 1975 and from then until 2005 ran it every Wednesday night hail, rain or shine.

Rosie loved bingo, attending sessions with her best mate Kitty Maguire RIP for 46 years five nights a week. Another close buddy from her days in Rawson was Peggy Tuft who is still hail and hearty at 95.

Rosie passed away surrounded by her family in the loving care of Saint Peter's Nursing Home, Castlebellingham which was like a second home to her, and the staff were wonderful to her family.

She is the last surviving sibling in her family, and was also predeceased by husband Jim eight years ago this month.

She is sadly missed by her daughters, Majella Keating and Cathy Cousins, sons- in- laws, Brian and Graham grandchildren Dan, Rosie, Rhys nieces and nephews and great friends.

She reposed at the residence of her daughter Majella, Mulholland Avenue on the Tuesday and was removed on the Wednesday to Saint Patrick's Cathedral.

Father Brian Slater CC was the celebrant.

Burial took place in Saint Patrick's Cemetery Dundalk.
Yes, you can transfer your domain to any registrar or hosting company once you have purchased it. Since domain transfers are a manual process, it can take up to 5 days to transfer the domain.

Domains purchased with payment plans are not eligible to transfer until all payments have been made. Please remember that our 30-day money back guarantee is void once a domain has been transferred.

For transfer instructions to GoDaddy, please click here.
When Carl Krumins was fired from a job cleaning floors, twenty years ago, the aspiring tech entrepreneur realised he would never achieve success unless he pursued his passion. Today, his brainchild  mobile messaging tech provider SMSGlobal  is an international success story.

With 70 staff across five offices (New York, Dubai, Croatia, Melbourne and Auckland), the company delivers over a million SMS messages, per day, for more than 400,000 clients (including IBM, Microsoft, Etihad Airways, Samsung and AFL) across 165 countries.

The SMSGlobal founder and CEO spoke to Dynamic Business about realising his garage fantasy, the power of SMS messages as a communications tool, using the GFC as a springboard to success abroad, and plans to stay ahead of the curve in an ever-changing landscape.

DB: What circumstances led you to create SMSGlobal?

Krumins: I have always had a strong interest in technology  in fact, at a young age I began pulling apart computers just so I could re-build and enhance them. That said, my first job wasnt in Tech. In 1998, aged 16, I cleaned floors at the Reject Shop. I lasted two weeks before being fired. It was at that point I realised two things  1) I would never be satisfied working for someone else and 2) I would never be successful unless I followed my passion.

This realisation that prompted me to start my first business. I brought together a team of people and we worked on a variety of tech ventures including web design and web hosting. We made some good money but as the industry became quite commoditised I decided it was time to try something new.

Having utilised SMS for my business, I was familiar with all the benefits and the technology. When I was considering my next business idea, it dawned on me that there was a huge opportunity to enter the SMS market with a price-advantage over competitors.

Like many start-ups, SMSGlobal was born in my garage. I launched the business in 2007 offering the most competitive prices on the market. Where our competitors were charging 25-30 cents for a message, I charged 10cents, which was unheard of at the time. Plus, our mindset from day one was to ensure everything we do and everything we offer is scalable. The success of these strategies launched SMSGlobal from a garage fantasy to a bricks and mortar office in South Melbourne, with a small but committed team of technicians.

DB: What are the pain points your technology addresses?

Krumins: The most common pain point our state-of-the-art APIs and cloud based messaging platform address is communication inefficiency  both internal and external. Inefficient communications processes can cost businesses hundreds, to thousands to millions of dollars each year. Most businesses approach us after experiencing difficulty reaching their customers via more traditional methods of communication such as phone or email. They may be spending thousands of dollars on call centers, with very low cut through, or losing time and money when customers fail to show up to appointments.

DB: Are businesses awake to the advantages of SMS?

Krumins: Most customers we speak with understand that SMS is one of the most effective means of reaching your target audience, but perhaps not to the full extent. Some surprising facts that customers are unaware of are that SMS has an open rate of 98%, with 95% of messages opened within the first three minutes of being received. Another interesting stat is that mobile and SMS coupons see a 1000% higher buy rate than print coupons.

DB: How big is SMSGlobals global addressable market?

Krumins: With offices in Australia, Dubai, Easter Europe and the US, and with customers in over 150 countries around the world, our addressable market is a global one. With the continued growth of unique mobile users, along with demand for mobile applications such as mobile banking, mobile payments and e-commerce, its a market that I certainly expect will grow. Recent research by Infoholic supports this, stating the global application to person (A2P) market is worth around 55.6billion and by 2022 it is expected to grow to $78.61 billion.

DB: What have been some of SMSGlobals greatest hits?

Krumins: Launching our first international office in Dubai and investing heavily in our first major tradeshow. Both developments took place in 2009, which was a defining year for us.

Our decision to open an office in Dubai was a practical one. Having a hub in the Middle East allowed us to engage with customers in the UK and Europe, which was a vital component in our vision for global expansion. What we never anticipated was the extent of the damage caused by the GFC in the city. As we were entering the Dubai, other multinational organisations were fleeing. While this presented a number of challenges, it also presented opportunities. We were able to secure a long-term deal on a prime office space and were able to help fill a gap that was left in the market. Within our first year in Dubai, we secured a deal with Etihad Airlines and many other government owned entities in the MENA region, which firmly established our credibility in the UAE.

Our second milestone moment in 2009 took place at one of the worlds biggest tech tradeshows, Gitex. Exhibiting at Gitex was a huge business decision for us given the size of the investment. It was a decision that would make or break us. For a very small company we took out a very big stand, next to some of the biggest names in the industry. For us, this was an opportunity to get some face time with senior technologists and other key decision makers. It was a risk that paid off as traffic to our website skyrocketed after the event and led to the establishment of major accounts, many of which we still work on eight years later.

DB: What has been the most challenging part of growing SMSGlobal?

Krumins: The ever-changing landscape of communications and the introduction of new platforms and software. Fortunately, SMS has remained relevant and is still the most effective way for businesses to connect with their audience. Nevertheless, its critical for us to always be ahead of the curve with new features and software in order to remain competitive.

DB: What continues to excite you about leading the company?

Krumins: What excites me most is that as a tech company we can build anything. As new problems arise, this provides with valuable insights for new offerings and products. One project Im particularly excited about is a new omni-channel product were developing in Croatia thats quite unlike anything else on the market. Were looking to launch that before the end of the year so watch this space.

DB: What other plans do you have for the remainder of 2017?

Krumins: Having recently launched our first office in the United States, our priority for the remainder of 2017 is to consolidate our team and ensure that all systems are in place to deliver an efficient and competitive service in keeping with our global standard. Once we have achieved the benchmarks demanded of us, we will potentially look to expand to the East Coast.
October 10, 2017 dubbed #1010 was the place to be last week as Sandara Park and Mario Maurer spearheaded the Head and SHoulders Supreme Series Philippines launch. Claiming itself to be first of its kind in the world the new premium Head & Shoulder Supreme Series Shampoo and Conditioner with Moroccan Argan Creme promises lusciously soft and 100% dandruff free hair.

Head & Shoulders latest innovation fuses its scalp-to-tip know-how with brand new ingredients to create a product that answers what women want and needs  beautiful, deeply moisturized, soft AND dandruff-free hair. The Head & Shoulders Supreme Series with Moroccan Argan Creme comes in two variants: Head & Shoulders Supreme Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner infused with orchid perfume; and Head & Shoulders .Head & Shoulders Supreme Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner leaves the hair touchably soft and intensely moisturized from root to tip. On the other hand, Head & Shoulders Supreme Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner leaves hair feeling super soft and smooth leaving locks perfectly polished all day. Both variants are infused with Argan creme and made with micro zinc technology that makes lusciously soft and 100% flake-free* hair a reality.

Designed to be used with the shampoo, the new Head & Shoulders Supreme Conditioner contains Behentrimonium Chloride (BTMAC) or Better Targeting Magnetic Attraction Compound which targets damaged areas on the hair fiber for better conditioning. BTMAC is a dual-functional molecule that helps restore the cuticle, gives softness to the hair, and enables ease of combing while retaining moisture for up to 24 hours. The conditioner is also blended with rich alcohols for enhanced conditioning benefits, and 0.5% ZPT for enhanced scalp benefits.

Head & Shoulders scientists have long known that an unhealthy scalp leads to unhealthy hair. In fact, scratching alone can cause damage to the hair fibre resulting to dull, lack-luster strands. Specifically, it was shown that oxidative stress leads to having an unhealthy scalp which then grows unhealthy hair. The best thing is that the new Head & Shoulders Supreme Series formula combines micro zinc technology and argan creme to effectively combat oxidative stress.

Saint Tiu, Principal Scientist, P&G Hair Care Asia Pacific comments; Research from Head & Shoulders reveals that an unhealthy scalp compromises the hair surface and effects how hair develop, meaning unhealthy hair is born from an unhealthy scalp. An unhealthy scalp will breed unhealthy new hair with damaged cuticles from the point at which the hair emerges, causing hair to be dry, dull and rough. With new Head & Shoulders Supreme with Argan Creme, scientists are able to give women beautiful, nourished and smooth hair, while at the same time caring for their scalp.

The Head & Shoulders Supreme Moisture Series has a blend of floral and fruity notes for a great scent right from opening the bottle. Its brand new packaging design includes its iconic swan-shaped shampoo bottle and never-been-see-before new tube-shaped conditioner bottle holds a lot of promise for users.

Aside from Sandara Park and Mario Maurer, local brand endorsers were also introduced at the event they are Chie Filomeno, Janina Manipol, An Estrada, En Estrada, Michelle Dy, Cha Ocampo, Haley Dasovich, Kianna Dy , Nico Bolzico, and Jeron Teng.

Heres a glimpse of what happened at the #HeadandSHouldersSupremeParty #1010



I havent tried the product yet but it smells really good!

Have you tried the new Head & Shoulders Supreme yet? How was it? I would like to know your experience!

Stay gorgeous everyone!
AmazonFresh adds selection from Booths

Amazon has announced that grocery products from Booths, the award-winning grocer with 28 stores across the North of England, are now available on AmazonFresh. This is the first time a comprehensive selection of Booths groceries have been made available to customers online. AmazonFresh customers are now able to enjoy a fantastic selection of ready meals, cheeses and deli products amongst hundreds of other Booths products.

Founded in 1847, Booths is a family owned and run business with a strong heritage in fresh food. Each Booths store has its own unique identity and the company is universally committed to offering its customers a first class shopping experience. It offers a wide range of groceries and is proud of its unwavering commitment to quality. The grocer recently won Decanter magazines coveted Supermarket of the Year award, 16 Gold International Cheese Awards for their Booths brand cheeses and six Great Taste Awards for their range of handmade ready meals and puddings.

We know customers love high quality ready meals, delicatessen and produce, and with Booths rich history and well-deserved reputation for providing the very best food, we think people across London and the South East will love what Booths has to offer, said Ajay Kavan, Vice President, AmazonFresh International. Our customers tell us they look for choice, value and convenience from AmazonFresh. Thats why weve added Booths to our great selection of products from Morrisons and Whole Foods Market as well as local shops and big name brands, brought together with same day delivery and the everyday low prices that Amazon is known for.

Booths has always been a Northern secret, but now our range of exceptional products will be available every day to a wide range of shoppers, said Edwin Booth, Chairman and CEO of Booths.This is good news for everyone. Its a win for Booths, as we have wider reach for our products and its a win for the customer who can now have a taste of Booths country delivered to their doorstep.

AmazonFresh is available in 302 postcodes across London, Surrey, Hampshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Customers benefit from fast and flexible delivery, with one-hour delivery slots available from 7am to 11pm, seven days a week, and customers ordering their groceries at lunch can have them delivered in time for dinner. Customers in selected postcodes have three different options for same day delivery, including 10am for 2pm delivery, 12pm for 5pm delivery and 4pm for 8pm delivery.

AmazonFresh has rapidly expanded its selection to more than 180,000 competitively priced items, adding more than 50,000 products over the last year. Customers can choose from tens of thousands of grocery items from major brands including Morrisons and Whole Foods Market as well as Coca-Cola, Kellogg's, Danone, Warburtons, Walkers, Yeo Valley and many more. In addition to fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood, baked goods, dairy and more, customers can choose from a wide range of home, electronics, pet supplies, toys, baby, health and beauty products. Customers can also enjoy breads, pastries and cookies from the AmazonFresh in-house bakery and shop from a selection of unique and exciting foods in the Foodie Trends curated store.

AmazonFresh customers can also shop from a broad selection of products from many of London's finest local producers, shops and markets including GAIL's Artisan Bakery, PRESS, C.Lidgate, Paxton & Whitfield, Forman & Field, Lina Stores, Konditor & Cook, and Chegworth Valley. These products are delivered as part of the customer's AmazonFresh order.

AmazonFresh offers everyday low prices across its entire selection. All perishable products have a guaranteed minimum shelf life and, with Amazon's Freshness Guarantee, customers can receive a refund if they are unhappy with the quality of the products they receive. If an ordered item is not available on delivery, customers will not be charged for the item and will receive a free substitute product in its place.

Prime members in eligible postcodes can sign up for a 30-day free trial of AmazonFresh. AmazonFresh is then available to Amazon Prime members for 6.99 per month with unlimited delivery for orders above 40. AmazonFresh is available via the Amazon.co.uk website or mobile app.

Amazon.co.uk has offered food and drink items for many years, having launched its Grocery Store in 2010, which features hundreds of thousands of ambient products including many niche, international and healthy options. In November 2015, Amazon.co.uk launched Amazon Pantry, a nationwide service exclusive to Amazon Prime members, offering more than 10,000 low-priced everyday essentials in everyday sizes, including food and drink, household supplies, baby and child care, pet supplies and health and beauty products.

A smaller range of fresh, chilled and frozen items is also available for Prime members through Amazon.co.uk's Prime Now service, which offers one-hour delivery or free delivery within a choice of two-hour same day delivery slots to customers in London, Hertfordshire, Surrey, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Manchester, South Yorkshire, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle, Glasgow and their surrounding areas. Prime members in selected postcodes in London and Hertfordshire also benefit from over 10,000 additional products from Morrisons, chemist John Bell & Croyden and Spirited Wines with Prime Now.
Trumps presidency will be saved and our safety net gutted if the Trump tax breaks become law

You know who understands how crucial the Trump plan to cut taxes for the rich is? The stars of Trading Places and heroes of everyone who doesnt want there to be a middle class in America  the Koch brothers.

The Boston Globe reports:

Its the most significant federal effort weve ever taken on, said Tim Phillips, president of Americans for Prosperity, a Koch-aligned group with offices in 36 states. The stakes for the Republicans, Ive never seen them this high. Many in the Koch network, a vast group of libertarian-leaning nonprofits and advocacy and political organizations, described the upcoming legislative push for a tax overhaul as an inflection point in modern political history, a do-or-die moment that would define whether their efforts over the years will pay off or not. The network leaders plan to dedicate much of their two-year $400 million politics and policy budget to the effort  though they wouldnt give an exact number.

Why do the Kochs love Trumps tax scam? Let us count the ways:

1. It could mean as much as $10 billion more dollars in their familys pockets.

If Trump and his family would get up to $1 billion in spoils from these cuts designed to enrich the wealthy donor class, you could assume that the Kochs  who are together worth almost $100 billion, 10 times the imaginary number Trump has assigned to his largely imaginary wealth  stand to rake in up to $10 billion themselves.

2. It validates their going all in on Trump.

The media downplays Kochs involvement in the 2016 elections because of their personal disfavor toward Trump. But the brothers political network spent hundreds of millions of dollars to keep the Senate. Their efforts helped sway key elections in Florida, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina  all states their candidates won by larger margins than Trump, possibly helping pull the GOP nominee over the finish line.

3. It pays them and their allies back for decades of investing in GOP politics.

Obviously. The reason that billionaires love the GOP is that its an amazing investment. We know that the brothers have spent millions personally and through their business on politics. This is when the billions in returns come home to roost. This isnt just another win; its a validation for a lifetime of striving. And these tax breaks are so skewed to paying off the donors that made it possible that even the Trump Administration cant hide that.

4. GOP majorities depend on this win.

If tax reform crashes and burns, we could face a bloodbath, said Senator Ted Cruz told a recent Gathering of the Kochs. We have the potential of seeing a Watergate-like blowout. This isnt because voters want these tax breaks for their overlords, which are less popular than Trump, the GOP and possibly even Harvey Weinstein. Its because their donors do. A limited GOP donor strike is now in effect. Without a major cash infusion and no Obama or Hillary to run against, the GOP is petty sure that the least popular new president in polling history is the kind of drag that could cost them even the most gerrymandered majority.

5. This isnt just about paying off the rich; its about destroying Medicaid and Medicare.

Im not just referring to the Senate 2018 budget resolution that paves the way for cuts of $470 billion in Medicare cuts on top of $1 trillion of cuts to Medicaid. We know what happens when we cut taxes for the rich at a time when the rich have rarely been richer  the economy languishes and everything else needs to be cut to pay for the tax breaks. Thats what happened in Kansas, where schools needed to be closed early so rich guys could afford extra private jet flights. Gratuitous tax cuts to the wealthy explode the deficit. How can they not when they have almost no stimulative effect? This seems like the fatal flaw in trickle-down economics, except the goal of trickle-down economics has become destroying anything the government does that people appreciate. After the Reagan tax breaks exposed the deficit-exploding reality of giveaways for the rich, the Starve the Beast theory came along to argue  according to Bruce Bartlett, one of the architects of the Reagan breaks  spending will only be cut when tax cuts increase the deficit so much that there is no alternative.

How do you destroy the most popular things the government does? You leave America with no choice.

We cannot underestimate how badly Trump and the GOP need this win nor the lies they will deploy to blind voters to the consequences of one of the largest if not the largest wealth to the richest in American history.

Trump has bumbled his way into a defining battle of a half century of conservative politics at a moment when his fate depends on the complicity of a GOP congress, who in turn depend on the tit-for-tat generosity of rich donors, who are demanding their tat now. If he gives those donors what they want, his presidency will be secured from any internal dissension and the programs tens of millions rely on to keep them alive will be doomed.

To find out more about the Trump tax scam and what you can do to defeat it, listen to our interviews with the Invisible Teams Chad Bolt and former Chief Tax Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee Lily Batchelder.

[Photo by Gage Skidmore| Flickr]
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To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020.
Producer Harvey Weinstein's infamous antics have cost him his Movie Academy membership as the Oscar club decided to ban him for violating Academy rules, after a meeting Saturday.

Owing to the string of sexual assault allegations that are riding on the Miramax co-founder, the officials in the Oscar club have voted to kick-out Weinstein's from Board.

In a statement released to Page Six, the prestigious group revealed Weinstein's expulsion from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Board of Governor. They said that the body has well in advance voted in excess of the required two-thirds majority to oust Weinstein.

"We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over," they said.

Women pressed charges of sexual assault on Weinstein and a New York Times report accused the movie mogul of decades of sexual allegations that involved settlements with more than 8 women.

The 54-member group of the Oscar club called for an emergency meeting on Thursday to decide on his alleged misconduct on women amid recurring sexual assault charges surfacing for over a week.

The motion picture academy added that it would work towards establishing ethical standards of conduct and would expect that all academy members to exemplify the rule which Weinstein had disregarded

Earlier, Weinstein had denied sexual assault and rape allegations and had acknowledged that his behavior had "caused a lot of pain" to women. He said he would learn to be a "better man" and released a statement to the effect through his lawyer Lisa Bloom.

The Academy has acted in the wake of new allegations as actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie have alleged misbehavior with them too.

Weinstein, 65, had earlier been ousted from his company and his wife of 10 years Georgina Chapmen joined the chorus revealing her plans to separate.

Apart from Weinstein, actor Carmen Caridi of Godfather fame was ousted from the prestigious group after reports of him sharing screeners of the films surfaced in 2004.
I would suggest you get yourself familiarize with the types of essays and how they are structured when you put together the ideas. Watch on Youtube. I cannot specifically state any channels but as long as you get study the pattern that each type of essay, it would benefit you in writing.I am doing the same as I have been falling short of 1 in my previous 2 attempts. I got significant increment in speaking compared to my first attempt (from 6.5 to 8.0). I would say the reason is that I was more familiar with the topics plus I substituted some complex words in my flow of speech. Try substituting your basic words with complex "Appropriate" words (without having the meaning changed)
CatherineAdair said: My husband and I are okanning to retire to Italy in 2 years with our five children. My question is what happens when they turn 18. Will they have to immediately leave the country? Click to expand...

Hi,This is a very generic question. Which will probably explain the lack of responses. You really need to give more background to the situation. What would their financial situations be, how many years would they have lived in Italy as minors by the time they are 18 etc.The best thing you can do is go to your local Italian consulate and ask for advice. Unless any Americans on here have other knowledge to share?Kenzo
Hi Chris,



We had the same thoughts as you when we moved to Benidorm several years ago. We could not speak Spanish very well and didn't want to struggle with all the different officials and paperwork.



There is a firm of solicitors in La Nucia who are English. We used them to sort out all that was required for us to become fully lawful residents. They sorted our NIE's, healthcare and padron. When the time was right they sorted out the Modelo 720 and did the paperwork for all our taxes. They advised us on what paperwork and information that was required throughout and they even ferried us to the different departments (at no extra cost) and did all the translation.



Now bearing in mind that we didn't have to do anything only sign a few papers and supply information, for both of us, they charged us less than 800 for everything I've mentioned.



They also contact us when anything needs updating or renewing.



I will PM you all the details as I can't advertise on the forum.



Steve.
We live on less than that...no mortgage, I work so state healthcare. We live in one of the poorest regions in Spain. Our lifestyle is not for everyone, we have no utilities as we are off grid. Our biggest outlays are Petrol, car and food. We do not eat or drink out very often, maybe once a month, drinking is done at home onthe finca. We have chickens, ducks, goats, two dogs and a cat... vet bills, parasite treatment etc.

Due to illnesses and deaths in the family we have had to travel back to the U.K. more often than we had bargained for... eating into that money. I do miss " going" on holiday, especially my trips to Florida, however them's the choices





Now, that sounds like I'm being a bit dour about it all. I'm not, you specifically said will I have to use my savings, I'm saying possibly who knows. My income covers my social security payments and goes towards my pensions and my healthcare rights as a pensioner here when I retire. My NHS pension gives us a small income and the rest we top up with the proceeds from the sale of our house in the U.K. Only you know what, if anything you can live without, give up, sacrifice whatever word one chooses. For us being able to get away from 50 hour working weeks, regardless of the country house, holidays and car, is priceless.





My advice.... some mock but.... my husband has written down everything we have spent down, from new furniture to cups of coffee. Everything is budgeted for, i.e. We know eventually solar batteries will have to be replaced, that money is accounted for and sits in an account, along with potential renewal of car, pumps, cooker etc. What's left is what's left. We know of too many people who have overspent on those euro coffees and 8 menus to find the hat they've spent a great deal of money on nothing in the first year.



BUT



Yep best thing we ever did
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After their mothers stroke last December, Jamie Hurt and her two sisters realized it was time for a change.

Their parents, Bill and Judy Miller, both are 74 years old and cant get around all that well any more. The couple live in Smiley  a 25-minute drive from the nearest hospital and more than an hour from Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, where Bill needs to go for regular appointments.

Thats a lot of travel for their daughters, who are spread out over a two-hour expanse of South Texas. Hurts driven the two hours from her house in Dilley to Smiley, spent the night, driven her dad an hour to San Antonio the next morning and back before driving two hours back home  six hours of driving for one appointment.

Weve realized our parents health is not in good shape, so weve got to step in, Hurt said.

Long-distance travel for medical care is becoming more of a factor for the 60 million Americans who live in rural areas as changes to federal subsidies under the Affordable Care Act and other programs force smaller, local hospitals out of business.

Since the ACA took effect in 2010, 82 hospitals have closed across the U.S. and others are on the brink of financial collapse, according to the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research at the University of North Carolina.

Texas leads the country with 14 closures  leaving families like the Millers with lengthy drives for basic care. The people of Crockett, about halfway between Houston and Dallas, became the latest casualties when the Timberlands Hospital shuttered its doors there at the end of June due to financial difficulties.

More than 40 percent of rural hospitals currently are operating at a loss, according to Chartis Rural Relevance Study, which analyzes data from the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that threatens to further exacerbate the problem by driving more uninsured patients through their doors. He also announced plans to cut subsidy payments to insurers. The latest attempt by Republicans in Congress to overhaul health care also includes deep cuts in Medicaid spending.

The ACA accelerated the demise of rural hospitals, said Maggie Elehwany, vice president of government affairs for the National Rural Health Association.

The law, which is on shaky footing as some insurers leave the program and Republicans try to dismantle it, was designed to make insurance affordable to people who had little or no access to coverage by placing requirements on coverage and pricing.

The ACA created exchanges for individuals to buy low-cost coverage, but it failed to create competitive insurance markets for Americans living in more remote areas of the country, Elehwany said. Trumps changes Thursday could further destabilize the insurance markets, American Hospital Association Executive Vice President Tom Nickels said in a statement.

The primary problem in the ACA is a reduction in federal aid to hospitals that provide charity care or reimbursements for patients who otherwise dont pay. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 worsened the situation by reducing hospital reimbursements for bad debt by up to 35 percent from 2012 to 2015, according to the Chartis study.

The bad debt is really like a magnifying glass being focused on kind of that first responder, the guys on the front line, that small rural hospital, Elehwany said. And that is really, really crippling so many hospitals in rural America.

That same problem faces one of the hospitals that Bill Miller uses. He recently spent three weeks at Frio Regional Hospital in Pearsall  about 110 miles from Smiley  in the same county where the Nix Community General Hospital in Dilley closed last year.

Thomas Grimert, the CFO of Frio Regional, said the unfunded population is the largest financial hurdle facing the hospital. The hospital and its associated clinics were unable to collect on $8.3 million of charges from 2013 to 2015, according to tax filings.

For us to get any collection from them is really difficult, Grimert said.

Nationally, rural hospitals serve a higher percentage of Medicare and Medicaid patients than do non-rural hospitals, said Michael Topchik, a national leader at the Chartis Center for Rural Health. Earlier this year, Chartis released a study showing the health-care bills proposed by Republicans in Congress would have worsened conditions for rural hospitals.

Anything that they do that is going to create a cut to Medicaid or Medicare is disproportionately going to effect rural hospitals, Topchik said.

In states like Texas that didnt expand Medicaid, the uninsured population generally is a higher proportion of the population than in those states that did expand. At 21 percent, Texas percentage of uninsured rural residents was the highest in the country in 2015, according to the most recent data available from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Advocates for rural hospitals say the current level of federal funding isnt enough to sustain the rural hospitals now operating.

If we just sat back and did nothing, we think we could lose 25 percent of hospitals in less than a decade, Elehwany said.

Bill Miller is no stranger to being far away from medical care. Theres no hospital in Smiley, and Miller said the nearest one is in Gonzales, about 25 minutes from his house.

We dont even have a (expletive) gas station, man, Miller said. What are you talking about, a hospital?

He has lived in Smiley for more than 60 years, and the isolation is just part of life for him and his family. However, those local hospitals are a source of comfort.

It really doesnt concern me that hes far away from the city, Hurt said. Im pretty confident in the hospitals in the small rural areas, as long as theyre run right.

Both Hurt and her father praised the care they received at Frio Regional, which is about 100 miles away from his home.

I cant say enough good about the Pearsall Hospital, said Miller, who needed a pacemaker. The hospital staff nursed him until he was strong enough for the surgery. They took care of me like I was a baby. They have a wonderful staff, very friendly. Im talking about everybody, from the CEO down.

Even in communities where the local hospital is operating well, rural patients do not have access to the same types of care found in more urban settings. Grimert said its hard for people who have never lived isolated from health care to understand just what is facing rural Americans.

Voter Guide: What to know for the midterm election Your guide to the Texas and San Antonio races and candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot.

You just take for granted that you have access to care. Just to get to a dermatologist, even if you have funding, is not easy living in a small city, and the things that we just assume are there in San Antonio and larger cities arent here, Grimert said.

Rural hospitals really never have stood on their own. Many were created following the Hill-Burton Act of 1946, which provided government grants and loans for constructing and modernizing hospitals. Frio Regional came along in the 1960s, with nearby residents raising money for the hospital with baked goods sales, Grimert said.

They faced a similar death spiral following the implementation of a prospective payment system for Medicare in 1983, Elehwany said.

We saw literally hundreds of rural hospitals close across the country in the 80s and early 90s, Elehwany said.

The hospitals were stabilized with the introduction of different payment systems for Medicare-dependent hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals in 1997, Elehwany said.

The closure of the Dilley hospital has made Frio Regional Hospital eligible for this designation by leaving it as the only hospital within 35 miles. As part of the designation, Frio will have to remain under the 25 hospital bed maximum.

Well get paid on a cost basis for our Medicare patients, so a big revenue gain for us, Grimert said.

Some rural hospitals get significant funding from sources other than patient care. Frio Regional, for example, gets tax revenue from a hospital district within Frio County, which Grimert is working to expand now that Frio is the closest hospital to Dilley. Topchik said one hospital he works with is funded in part by a private foundation.

Advocates say these rural hospitals should be supported because they support the whole medical infrastructure of the town.

When rural hospitals close, they almost always close for good, Elehwany said. And were really seeing some of these medical deserts forming because almost always the doctors are hospital based in rural hospitals, so if the hospital closes, the doctors leave, the nurses leave, the pharmacists leave. And thats really, again, a death spiral for the rural community.

Topchik agreed.

They are so critical that, in the absence of their existence, all of those local clinics will dry up and blow away, Topchik said.

In addition to funding troubles stemming from various ACA policies and the looming possibility of Medicaid cuts from Congressional Republicans, cuts to Medicare have also hit rural hospitals bottom lines. All of these different pressures leave the impression that rural hospitals are being disregarded, Elehwany said.

It really seems like a lot of members (of Congress) have forgotten why those unique payments exist, why theyre so incredibly important, Elehwany said. It really seems that in the last decade or so theyve been whittling away at those payments, and thats where we say its really a death by a thousand cuts.
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SEGUIN  Betty Matthies was among locals here quick to recognize the accused, Hollis Reid Daniels III, yet unable still to reconcile the friendly lad they recall with the charge that he murdered a Texas Tech University officer last week.

I know it happened, but I cant believe it, said Matthies, a former mayor who served four years on City Council here beside H.A. Danny Daniels II, the suspects father. My heart is just broken, not only for the policeman but for the whole (Daniels) family.

Something must have snapped in his head, she said Thursday of Daniels, 19.

Authorities say Daniels shot Officer Floyd East Jr. on Monday evening at the campus police offices in Lubbock, where Daniels was taken after drugs were found in his dorm by East and another officer. The two were dispatched to the dorm to conduct a welfare check on Daniels at the request of a suite mate.

The 2016 graduate of Seguin High School fled the shooting scene but was arrested less than two hours later after approaching his dorm as officers from several law enforcement agencies swarmed the locked-down campus.

Hollis Daniels stated to officers that he was the one that shot their friend, says a report prepared by Lubbock police.

Daniels was charged with capital murder on Tuesday.

Matthies, who left office in 2012, recalled receiving a warm and polite greeting from Daniels months ago during a chance encounter in a doctors waiting room.

I said, How very nice that you remembered me and he said, I used to come to the meetings when Dad was on council. He said, You and my dad always worked so well together, said Matthies, 83.

He was just such a polite, well-mannered young man, said Matthies, who theorizes something must have happened to Daniels if he committed the crime hes charged with. I cant imagine the young man I visited with doing that.

But the police assertions about Daniels didnt shock Charlotte Boyett, who says she sensed he had issues in the fall of 2016 when she was hired to tutor him by Danny Daniels and wife, Janis Turk Daniels, a travel writer.

Im not surprised at all, by Reid Daniels arrest, Boyett said Thursday. There was something off about him, that mom and dad had to go to such great lengths and bend over backwards and to try to set him up to prevent failure. He just didnt seem like he had any motivation to do it on his own.

Boyett, who first shared her account Tuesday on a Lubbock call-in program on KFYO radio, said she wound up holding only two sessions with Daniels, who then was enrolled in an alternative admissions program run by Texas Tech with South Plains College.

Designed for students initially denied admission to Texas Tech, the program lets them live and study at the university while officially enrolled in South Plains College so they can transition into Tech, as Daniels did to become a freshman this fall. He had been studying mass communications.

Daniels missed several appointments and acted put upon at the two sessions held, said Boyett, so tutoring was discontinued.

It was almost like he was an undetermined high schooler or middle schooler, she said Thursday. He seemed antsy. He never did anything volatile or weird. I just wondered, Why is this kid here in Lubbock?

Boyett said Janis Daniels, with whom shed met and later exchanged emails, described her son as very intelligent but having difficulty adjusting to college life in a distant city.

I said, Why did you send him to Tech, so far from home? and she was like, I thought maybe it was better if he got out of our area, recalled Boyett. She was very focused and attentive and was really trying her best to make this work.

Authorities say Janis Daniels on Monday contacted a Tech counseling center to express concern that her son was armed and suicidal. Its unclear when the call was made, but the message was relayed to police while Daniel was still on the run Monday evening.

At a news briefing Thursday. Lubbock Police Chief Greg Stevens said Daniels had been stopped and searched about 1:20 a.m. Monday by officers responding to a call about a threat and theft on Sunday of a .45-caliber handgun in the city.

Daniels was released after refusing officer requests to search his vehicle, which matched the description of the suspects vehicle, said Stevens, noting a federal charge of possession of a stolen firearm was later filed against Daniels.

Stevens wouldnt say if the gun recovered with Daniels on Monday night was the stolen weapon, nor if it was used to kill East. Tech officials are conducting an internal review to try to determine how Daniels accessed a gun while being booked by East on a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

The alleged crime spree and charges against Daniels prompted expressions of disbelief on Facebook by hometown acquaintances, including the mother of his prom date who described him as one of the sweetest boys I know.

Waking up this morning with such a heavy heart. I still cant seem to wrap my head around this whole situation, she wrote Tuesday.

Similar sentiments were heard from Steve Tschoepe, treasurer of the Seguin Conservation Society, which in 1997 purchased from the Daniels family the Texas Theatre, one of two local theaters theyd operated here for decades. They still own the Palace Theatre.

The whole town is just hurting and in disbelief over the whole incident, Tschoepe said Thursday. Sorry for the officer and sorry for the Daniels family.

He recalled Reid Daniels volunteering to act in the Texas Theatre production of Its a Wonderful Life in 2015 after the person cast as Mr. Potters assistant dropped out.

He was always respectful and a good kid, Tschoepe said. He was never loud and rowdy.

After leaving St. James Catholic School in Seguin, Daniels attended New Braunfels Christian Academy in 2013-14 before enrolling in February 2015 at Seguin High School, sources said.

His parents, who are active in the community, were members of Emanuels Lutheran Church, where parishioners also were stunned by the crime.

Our minds are full of endless questions, church leaders said in an Oct. 10 letter to congregants that urged prayers for the East and Daniels families, and offered pastoral counseling.

The depth of the communitys shock over Daniels arrest was plumbed by Don Keil, the citys current mayor and a longtime friend of Danny Daniels.

This whole thing is just totally inexplicable, Keil said Thursday. Its really just a nightmare scenario that came out of the blue.

Attempts to reach the Daniels family were unsuccessful.

A fellow cast member in the 2015 theater show said shed prayed for Reid Daniels safety upon hearing Monday night that Tech was on lockdown due to a shooting, unaware he was the person police were searching for.

I could not have been more surprised when I saw later that night that he was the suspect, said the woman, who asked not to be identified due to concerns about being attacked on social media.

A lot of us have seen him grow up. He used to dress up as superheroes and play with kids in my family here, she said. He was always nice and always polite and the kind of kid that you would want your daughter to date.

Daniels was always willing to volunteer help if a need arose, she said, noting he was often found in past years working the concessions at the Palace Theatre.

His arrests have given her a new perspective on news reports about other horrific crimes where the friends or family of the suspect refer to them as a good boy or a good person.

Ive always thought, How could they be (a good person)? she said. Now, were on the other side of that.

zeke@express-news.net
Expressing displeasure over the affidavit submitted by Kannur University, the HC asked how did the screening committee evaluate Priya's eligibility documents.
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Opponents of a plan to remove the Cenotaph from Alamo Plaza held a rally beside the nearly 60-foot-monument Saturday.

The large crowd protested the City Councils approval earlier this year of an Alamo master plan, which calls for a major makeover of the plaza and relocation of the granite Cenotaph  possibly to a small park by Market Street, near a site where Alamo defenders bodies are said to have been burned.

This sits in in the correct spot, Lee Spencer White, president of the Alamo Defenders Descendants Association, which organized the rally. Why would you think it needs to go to a funeral pyre site? This is an empty tomb. Its commemorating the defenders. I dont want it moved an inch. Its right where it needs to be.

Many in the crowd held Dont Move the Cenotaph and Save the Alamo placards.

The Alamo master plan seeks to bring reverence and historical authenticity as well as aesthetic and pedestrian improvements around the Shrine of Texas Liberty. The plans approval begins a review process for the closure of portions of Alamo and Crockett streets and the Cenotaphs relocation.

The plan was developed by the city, Texas General Land Office and nonprofit Alamo Endowment.

The Cenotaph is always going to remain, Lori Houston, assistant city manager, said in an interview Friday. But no final decision on its location has been made.

The Cenotaph was commissioned during the centennial of the Battle of the Alamo. Italian-born sculptor Pompeo Coppini conceived and executed the sculptural parts of the Spirit of Sacrifice monument.

Bryan Preston, spokesman for the General Land Office, which manages the Alamo, said the master plan is part of the effort to recapture the battlefield and creating as close as possible what it was like in 1836.

But the final resting place of the Cenotaph is really going to be up to the city, Preston said Friday.

Those attending Saturdays rally say relocating the Cenotaph messes with Texas history.

Its time to replant our boots in the ground and say enough is enough  leave our history alone, said Brandon Burkhart of the nonprofit This is Texas Freedom Force, which is focused on protecting the states history. Dont remove this Cenotaph. Leave it right where it stands.

Rick Range, chairman of the Save the Alamo Committee, said the memorial to the Alamos defenders is in the perfect spot.

Cenotaph means empty tomb, Range told the crowd. Its like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It has nothing to do with burning bodies or any of that other hokum. Where they want to put it is not where the bodies were burned anyway. If youre going to put it down where they were really burned, youd be hanging it mid-air over the San Antone river extension. So thats just a lot of hooey.

Stephen L. Hardin, a Texas historian who teaches at McMurry University in Abilene, said the Cenotaph has become part of the Alamo story given that it has been at the plaza for more than 80 years.

The fact that it wasnt here in 1836, OK, we acknowledge that, Hardin said. But so what? This is where people can see it when they visit the Alamo.

pdanner@express-news.net

Express-News archives contributed to this report.
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Fethiye Times Charity News  our pick of recent news and events from local charities.

A generous donation from the Uzumlu Group

Wasim is an eight-year-old boy with Cerebral Palsy (CP).

What is Cerebral Palsy?

CP is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). CP usually is caused by brain damage that happens before or during a babys birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a childs life.

This brain damage also can lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, and speech problems; and learning disabilities.

There is no cure for CP; symptoms vary from person to person, but treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery can benefit children who are living with the condition and enable them over time to learn to communicate, do things for themselves, walk and even work.

Raising and caring for a child with cerebral palsy takes patience and understanding. In the UK there is a multitude of free resources available for parents who have a child with cerebral palsy. These resources include government programs, financial assistance and early intervention programs that provide free treatment for children with cerebral palsy who arent in school yet. There are also numerous support communities where parents can talk to people who have gone through what they are experiencing.

Meet Wasim

Wasim and his family do not have the luxury of benefitting from the support that a lot of us take for granted. They fled their home in Syria and took refuge here in Fethiye, a strange town in a country where they didnt know anyone and couldnt speak the language but where a relatively small Syrian community has settled in the past couple of years.

People living locally with the support of their friends have and continue to provide help and assistance that has enabled many of these newcomers to assimilate into their new homes and the wider Turkish community. This has included supporting Wasim to undergo an extensive and lengthy medical assessment that led to enrolment in a state school which he attends twice a week and has greatly improved his communication and motor skills and ability to undertake tasks like feeding himself independently.

A second outcome of the assessment entitles him to two 45 minute sessions of physiotherapy per week. However, because there is no local state provision he attends a private therapy centre which has to be paid for as this service does not extend to non-Turkish citizens. The physiotherapy is making a huge difference to Wasim and is helping him to overcome physical limitations by strengthening his leg and arm muscles, increasing mobility and self-confidence and laying the groundwork that will in time with perseverance enable him to walk instead of continued dependence on a wheelchair.

Wasims twice-weekly, 45-minute therapy costs 60tl per session (120tl or approximately 25 per week in total) and that includes return transfer from Karaculha to the Ozel Nursel Ozdemir Ozel Egitim Okulu in Patlangc where the therapy sessions take place.

These sessions are paid for by generous local people and their friends.

A generous donation

On Thursday the Uzumlu Group (Paddy Distin, Susan Meighan, Linda Edwards, Jo Braggins, Pat White) and Dilek Dincer, the Director of FETAV, went along to meet Wasim, his therapist Aslhan Kocatepe and Nichola Chapman who attends the physiotherapy sessions with Wasim

The Uzumlu Group wanted to help Wasim and made a generous donation of 1000TL towards his therapy.

The money was raised at a Retro Night  a 50s 60s 70s 80s night with fancy dress from your favourite decade, great music, and a prize draw.

The group also had an opportunity to have a look at the therapy room and see some of the activities and exercises that are included in Wasims therapy.

Wasim  a therapy session from fethiyetimes on Vimeo.

The Uzumlu Group

The Uzumlu Group (formerly known as the Uzumlu Ladies Group) holds fundraising events to help children in Uzumlu and the surrounding area.

They dont have a shop and donations are mostly sold via their monthly Cake & Bake events held at the Wine House Uzumlu on the last Friday of every month and are very well supported by the people of Uzumlu.

If you would like more information please visit them on Facebook or email them at: theuzumlugroup@outlook.com

Do you want to help?

Wasims family would like to extend a massive thank you to the Uzumlu Group for their very generous donation.

If you would like more information or to make a donation to Wasims therapy, please contact Nichola Chapman
The Fashion Hong Kong Month, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is being celebrated with an array of international promotional events in the entire month of October, to bring Hong Kongs fashion designers and their collections to Japan and the world during the Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo Spring/Summer 2018 during October 16-22, 2017.This event is also one of the celebratory events of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Regions (HKSAR) 20th Anniversary.

The Fashion Hong Kong Month, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), is being celebrated with an array of international promotional events in the entire month of October, to bring Hong Kong's fashion designers and their collections to Japan and the world during the Amazon Fashion Week Tokyo Spring/Summer 2018 during October 16-22, 2017.#

The Fashion Hong Kong Show and After-show Party are scheduled on October 17. Apart from Harrison Wongs label of HARRISON WONG and Polly Hos LOOM LOOP, Meiking Ng and design duo Yi Chan and Lary Cheung, will showcase the latest collections of their labels MEIKING NG and HEAVEN PLEASE+ in the show, presenting dynamic Hong Kong designs on the global fashion stage.A total of 14 Hong Kong fashion and accessories brands, including the four Fashion Hong Kong Runway Show designers and 10 accessories brands, will be presented in the Fashion Hong Kong Month from October 1 to November 2. Aside from fashion show and after-show party, the Fashion Hong Kong Showroom will be set up to facilitate potential collaboration opportunities between Hong Kong designers and overseas counterparts, while displays and pop-up stores will also be in place at various locations in Tokyo to further enhance the exposure of Hong Kong designs.The runway collections of the four designer brands, together with 10 accessories brands, will not only be available for sale at the pop-up stores but also at Goxip, a Hong Kong online fashion shopping start-up, as part of the See Now, Buy Now trend.On the technology front, Fashion Hong Kong has partnered with local fashion tech start-up, Casetify to present a Fashion Hong Kong x Casetify promotion. The four designers designs will be available for print on Casetify phone cases, allowing the latest trendsetters to wear Hong Kong designs on all fronts.Supported by a series of promotions, the HKTDC will introduce Hong Kong fashion designs to all industry players participating in Amazon Fashion Week TOKYO. Fashion Hong Kong is an initiative created by the HKTDC to promote local designers and labels in international fashion events in support of Hong Kongs economic growth and creativity. Since its debut in 2015, Fashion Hong Kong has staged numerous world-class runway shows in Tokyo Fashion Week, New York Fashion Week and Copenhagen Fashion Week.Another highlight in Tokyo is the Asia Fashion Collection  Tokyo Stage, scheduled on October 16, 2017. Hong Kong young designer Key Chow will showcase his latest collections of KA WA KEY and work with designers from Japan, Korea and Taiwan to present a vibrant fashion show. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), representing professionals in the industrial, graphic, garment, textile, electronics, packaging and commercial printing communities, and NAPCO Media, a business-to-business media company, have formed a partnership to offer print service providers and industry suppliers an unrivalled platform to connect.The platform  PRINT United, the next evolution of printing expositions in North America  combines the largest printing trade show in North America with the leading producer of multi-channel content for the print community.

The Specialty Graphic Imaging Association (SGIA), representing professionals in the industrial, graphic, garment, textile, electronics, packaging and commercial printing communities, and NAPCO Media, a business-to-business media company, have formed a partnership to offer print service providers and industry suppliers an unrivalled platform to connect.#

Over the last 20 years, the print and graphics industry has seen unprecedented changes and consolidation. According to the US Department of Commerce, printing establishments in the United States decreased from 35,016 in 2000 to 24,096 in 2015, a decline of 31.2 per cent. At the same time, however, print shops have expanded their range of services. The Idealliance 2016 State of the Industry Report notes that in 2000, 86.8 per cent of print shop revenue came from lithographic (offset) print technology. By 2016, that number had dropped to 42.3 per cent as print shop owners looked to new technologies digital, inkjet, packaging, mailing, industrial  to increase their revenue and profit.Todays printing industry is driven by this convergence of technologies and capabilities, a blending and blurring of market segments and specialties. PRINT United, a brand-new event, focuses on the opportunities this convergence presents. The PRINT United experience will include an expansive and comprehensive display of printing technologies and supplies, education, programming and services to take any printing business to the next level. PRINT United will give print providers integrated access not only to North Americas biggest trade show for the print industry, but also to NAPCO Medias deep expertise and focused strategy for the print market.For print industry suppliers, the partnership offers even more value as it will leverage NAPCO Medias commercial, in-plant and package printing audiences and provide a one-stop exposition for all technologies and markets within the graphic and visual communications industry.PRINT United reflects what we understand is taking place in the larger community of print. It is supported by anecdotal reports from exhibitors and printers and is backed up by research across all of the print segments, said Rich Thompson of Ad Graphics, chairman of the SGIA Board of Directors. The convergence of technology and capabilities underway is leading printers to expand their services and products into adjacent markets very rapidly, creating new opportunities and growing their businesses as a result. PRINT United will present a broad vision of these opportunities under one roof as well as the means for printers to expand their businesses.PRINT United will be launched in Dallas, Texas, during October 2325, 2019. It will focus on the opportunities presented by the convergence of printing technologies and markets. PRINT United will have a broader range of printing and finishing technologies and media on the Expo floor, covering industry segments from garment to graphic, packaging to commercial, and industrial.PRINT United is a strategic response to what the industry has been asking for, said Ford Bowers, CEO and president, SGIA. It's about the wealth of opportunities for printers and suppliers that result from the convergence of markets and technology.Our partnership truly creates a new platform, which helps attendees, suppliers, and channels to connect in a way thats not been possible before, said Mark Subers, president/CRO  Printing and Packaging, Publishing, NAPCO Media. Its this integrated approach  offering access to all printing technologies in one place  which suppliers will find not just compelling, but absolutely necessary to reach print service providers in the graphic and visual communications industry. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk  India
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) has fired hundreds of employees this week even as the electric vehicle maker plans to boost production of its new mass-market Model 3 Sedan, the San Jose Mercury News reported Friday. The report quoted a Tesla spokesman as saying that the employee departures were a result of performance reviews and the company continues to hire new employees around the world. Most of the dismissals were said to be outside of manufacturing, involving administrative and sales positions. Former and current Tesla employees told the San Jose Mercury News that employees of the Model X, Model S and former SolarCity operations seemed to have been targeted in the dismissals. Workers estimate that between 400 to 700 employees have been fired by Tesla. They also reportedly said there was little or no warning to these employees ahead of their dismissals. Tesla has missed targets for producing the lower-cost Model 3 sedan. In the recent third quarter, the company produced only 260 Model 3 sedans despite having the vehicle a waiting list of more than 450,000 customers. However, Tesla has emphasized that there are no fundamental issues with the Model 3 production or supply chain. Tesla said on Thursday that it is recalling about 11,000 Model X sport utility vehicles due to a possible issue with their second-row fold-flat seats. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
DOHA, Qatar, October 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

The Legatum Institute released its 10th annual global Prosperity Index in November, a survey that ranks the most prosperous countries in the world. One of the big components of the ranking is how healthy a country's people are, the study ranked the best healthcare systems worldwide, with Qatar featuring at number 15.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/582326/Primary_Health_Care_Corporation_Logo.jpg )



According the Legatum Institute, three key components identified as a measurement of the quality of healthcare system include the country's basic mental and physical health, health infrastructure, and the availability of preventative care.

Commenting on the article http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/16-countries-best-healthcare-world-a7976626.html , Dr Mariam Abdul Al Malik, managing director of Primary Healthcare Corporation in Qatar said, "This ranking marks the remarkable effort being made in Qatar to ensure that we are delivering excellence in health care services to all of our citizens, in line with the vision of our wise leadership HH The Emir SheikhTamimbin Hamad Al Thanito drive a national effort towards making Qatar a healthier community.

"We are also honored by the leadership HH the Father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa, which saw the launch of the first 5 year National Health Strategy, driving the country towards sustainable development in healthcare by presenting a pragmatic framework to build a successful healthcare system that meet the needs of Qatar's population."

Following PHCC's participation in Annual International Primary Conference hosted by RCGP, Dr Abdul Malik added, "The PHCC leadership has always been keen on placing high standards as a benchmark for our services to ensure that quality is at the heart of the service we deliver.

"Qatar National Vision 2030, under the leadership of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad highlights on the significance of building a healthy community for sustainable development. This has inspired excellence in our healthcare system, securing Canadian Diamond Accreditation earlier this year. The accreditation award underlined the significance of primary care as a foundation of the whole health system, highlighting the quality and excellent service that was experienced in Qatar."

During a meeting between Dr Abdel Malik and Dr Terry Kemple, the President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr. Kemple commended the PHCC's efforts to deliver a service that reflects the corporation's values, providing caring, patient centric healthcare services and its innovative response to community needs.

Dr. Kemple also recognized the significant platform created by PHCC at the 3rd International Primary Healthcare Conference due to be held in Doha between 17-19 November. The conference will be host to distinguished medical figures from the UK, Canada, USA and Qatar including Lord Darzi, Professor Salman Al Rawaf and Dr David Smith from the UK; Professor Michael Kidd of the University of Toronto; Dr Maureen Topps and Professor David Topps of the University of Calgary - Alberta in Canada; Dr Tom O'Callaghan from USA; Consultant Ahmad Al Shatti from Kuwair and several others Qatari professionals to be announced in the coming days.

About PHCC

Primary Health Care Corporation is the main provider of primary care in Qatar, delivering a comprehensive, integrated, patient-centered and affordable health and well-being services across health centers in the country.

The corporation aims to drive forward the nation's vision of a healthy population, focused on promoting healthy lifestyle, prevention, early diagnosis and the provision of long-term support to patients and their families.

For more information, contact PHCC on PublicRelationsandMedia@phcc.gov.qa +974-5509-3146
DUBAI, UAE, October 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Master Online Advanced Oncology Program of Ulm University goes in eight rounds

In October 2017, the Vice President for Teaching of Ulm University welcomed the eight cohort of students of the Master Online Advanced Oncology program. The home countries of the students (Australia, Canada, Belgium, Brazil, Ecuador, Egypt, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Tunisia and United Arab Emirates) reflect the world-wide demand of this unique postgraduate program in Advanced Oncology.

Following the formal welcome address and enrollment ceremony, the students received an administrative and technical introduction for the proper conduct of the study program. As the program is mainly performed online, the contents of the introductory seminar focused on the structure of the learning platform, interactivity and e-Learning. Furthermore, the module coordinators provided an overview on the contents (Interdisciplinary Oncology, Clinical Research, Advanced Therapies and Integrated Concepts and Management). Overall, more than 130 online-lecture units supplied by 150 experts in the field are offered to the students.

The first attendance seminar was completed by a visit of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm. It is the main founding and cooperation partner of the Master Online Advanced Oncology program. Being one of the German "Oncological Centres of Excellence", it provides the basis for innovative and practice-related lectures. The students were impressed by the professionalism and internationality of the study program. Another profound partnership has been established with the European School of Oncology (ESO) that supports the study program and hosts the annual ESO-ESMO Masterclass in Berlin, Germany.

Gulf Conferences

Tel:+44 (0) 208 068 7312

+44 (0) 203 597 7034

info@wssep.com

http://www.wssep.com

http://www.gulfconferences.co.uk

http://www.gulfeducation.co.uk


WASHINGTON, October 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Qatar's economic outlook remains positive, according to the Qatari delegation attending the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington DC.

(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/583680/Minister_of_Finance_Qatar.jpg )



(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/583679/Minister_of_Finance_Qatar.jpg )



During the sessions, US private and governmental representatives were given an in-depth insight into Qatar's resilient financial and banking sector. Discussions also focused on the continuing and growing opportunities for US investors and businesses in Qatar, and bilateral trade relations between the two countries. Qatar remains one of the largest trading partners of the US in the Middle East region, with imports increasing by 29% in 2016.

New laws and regulations are also being introduced in Qatar to improve the business environment and further enhance private sector growth.

Qatar's Minister of Finance, H.E. Ali Shareef Al-Emadi commented: "Qatar's budget deficit is expected to decline over the next few years, and economic prospects remain promising. Qatar remains one of the most attractive markets for investors, with favorable investment opportunities across key sectors.

"Recent measures introduced by our government aim to support continued investment and promote incentives for private companies and international investors looking to expand to the region.

"Qatar and the US have long enjoyed a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, and our attendance at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank was an opportunity to further strengthen our relationship with US investors and stakeholders and highlight the avenues for collaboration," he concluded.

Last June, neighboring countries imposed an air, sea and land blockade on Qatar, which remains in place more than four months later. However, according to Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani, Governor of the Qatar Central Bank, the embargo has not adversely affected the nation's economic fundamentals.

"The Qatar Central Bank took timely and decisive action in mitigating the impact on banks' balance sheets through liquidity injection and increasing public sector deposits when the blockade was imposed," he said. "Macroprudential indicators for the banking sector remain healthy."

The Qatari delegation was led by H.E. Ali Shareef Al-Emadi, Minister of Finance and included H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani, Governor of Qatar Central Bank, and members of Qatar's financial sector.
I am not a Witch is a poignant, if often inexplicable and exasperating, debut from Zambian-born Welsh director Rungano Nyoni. Equally strange and alluring, the movie tells the story of the nine-year-old orphan girl, Shula, played by Maggie Mulubwa, who is identified as a witch by the local community and banished to a government-run camp.

Through her telling of the story, Nyoni delivers a scathing comment on dogma, prejudice and corruption in Zambia. Shulas farcical tale is told in a deadpan style, with many events remaining unexplained. But the debut is strikingly original and easy to admire, especially from a distance.

The movie begins with a shot of a tourist van as it goes towards a witch camp to the loud, jarring score of Vivaldi. At the camp, the tourists see witches with white paint on their faces. But even more bizarre is the white ribbon running from their backs to a spindle which is to keep them from flying away. The witches seem to be a local attraction staged by humans for humans.

When a young woman drawing water from the river slips and falls, she blames Shula for the event. During many of these early scenes, Mulubwa does not have many dialogues  she neither denies nor accepts the allegation that she is a witch; she is probably too terrified.

The police officer investigating the allegation makes a call to Tembo (John Tembo), a government official, who seizes the opportunity and puts the girl in a witch camp. While the ribbon, a symbol for slavery and superstition, is attached to Shula, she is told that if she cuts it, she would instantly be turned into a goat. She is given a false choice  to be a goat or a witch  and left alone for the night. Predictably, Shula agrees to become a witch the next morning.

What follows is the farce: Shula is paraded in front of the media by the opportunistic government official and a line of eggs is released in her name. She is, in a memorable sequence, asked to identify thieves, a task which she is so obviously ill-equipped to do. At the camp, Shula is embraced by the older women, who take her under their wing and shower her with unconditional love and affection.

Mulubwas Shula is a not your ordinary nine-year-old. She is not especially expressive, charming, playful or mischievous, which makes her harder to like. Through much of the movie, she is shy, quiet and reserved. What she makes of her life and the way it is so shockingly hijacked by others remains a mystery. Mulubwas painstaking portrayal suggests that the child has turned indifferent to suffering because she can do little to alleviate it. Nyonis direction asks us to assess the childs plight, not love the character itself.

When Tempo is introduced in the movie, he is in the bathtub and we see only his back for several seconds. The sequence is quite comical and Tempo is shown as a bumbling clown whose erroneous ways and beliefs affect Shula adversely.

In another impressive sequence, Shula locks herself in a van, and refuses to admit Tempo into it. This is a rare act of defiance from Shula, who in the most of the scenes, seems to falls in line with the schemes plotted with her at the centre.

There are many sequences in which the witches are shown as being objects of hatred for the community at large. Even Tempos wife is a witch, which prevents her from even doing simple acts like shopping.

There is a smattering of English in the movie, mostly spoken by Tembo, who asks the witches not to become 'allergic to comfort.' In his eyes, the governments role in exploiting the witches is justified. But the women are often seen in the movie doing backbreaking work in a quarry or field. The ignorance to the plight of the witches is appalling, but we are not asked to sympathise. Nyoni spent time in a real-life camp before coming up with the script. She does not intellectualise the problem and is content to state her case; we are allowed to draw our own conclusion.

The cinematography by David Gallego is vital to the elevation of the movie. The various shots of the ribbons attached to the witches are a surreal touch. His camera work is flamboyant at command and highly stylistic.

The movie, which runs to 95 minutes, was screened at the Directors Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival and is part of the International Competition section at the Jio MAMI 19th Mumbai Film Festival. In this section, the first time fiction and documentary features of directors are shown.
Producer Hema Rukmani of Thenandal Studios Limited, is in the midst of spearheading a comprehensive promotional strategy for TSL's 100th production Mersal  and tackling the various roadblocks that come up in the days before a film's release. The producer sat down for a chat with Firstpost about the last-minute issues surrounding the project, Vijay's readiness to walk the extra mile, and director Atlee's portrayal of women characters.

"Regardless of the budget of a film, we always go through this pre-release tension. It's all part and parcel of the process. Just because it's a big budget film, it's magnified. The problem depends on how big the budget and the target is. Every producer faces hell and heaven before the film hits the screens. And, everybody is in touch with us; we are all friends and working towards it. Lakhs of people have put in their efforts for the film, and we have all their support," Hema Rukmani told Firstpost.

Even if you hardly follow Tamil film industry, the odds are that you might have stumbled upon some of the promotional campaigns of Team Mersal. In fact, the film marks a lot of firsts for the southern film industry. Mersal is the first South Indian movie to trademark its title. It also has a character emoji curated by Twitter for various movie-related hashtags.

"Since it is our 100th film, we decided to do something as innovative as possible. We have a very young and vibrant team, and Murali (Murali Ramasamy, CEO of Thenandal Films and Rukmani's husband) is very passionate about doing things differently. He contributed a lot of ideas himself, and I executed some of those. Today we are glued to Facebook and Twitter, so instead of us trying to market our film, we decided to give that happiness to Vijay sir's fans, because they celebrate Vijay sir more than anyone. Now they are promoting the film, and it's a tremendous team working for the film's success," said Hema.

Although a lot of issues plague the release of the film, Hema says actor Vijay is quite upbeat, in a positive frame of mind and is calmly looking forward to the movie's release on 18 October, in time for Diwali.

"Vijay sir is thrilled with the kind of comfort we as a production company provided him, the support his fans lent during the audio launch, the amount of work Atlee has contributed and Rahman sir's music. He is delighted and looking forward to the Diwali release," said Hema.

Hema said Vijay didn't have starry airs at all and was very cooperative on set. She was part of the entire Europe schedule, where significant portions have been canned, as the on-site producer.

"Vijay sir liked the serenity of Europe. The hotel we stayed was above a shopping mall, and he even asked us if there's any good shop to purchase things. But I don't think we gave him the time to shop [smiles]. He was very cooperative and always there on time for the shoot, every single day. Irrespective of how strenuous the previous day was, he had never asked us to reschedule or postpone the shoot. Rain or shine, he was there," recalled Hema.

The off-screen to on-screen transformation of Vijay has surprised a lot of his co-stars in the past. Hema Rukmani, who watched him perform at close quarters in Europe, was taken aback by the firebrand performer in him the moment the camera started rolling.

"In Chennai, I mostly had to witness his performance live on the monitor since hundreds of people will surround him. But in Europe, I got the chance to behold the magic. It was such a revelation for me when the calm Vijay would transform into something else after the word 'action'. If there were any technical glitches and we ask him for one more (shot), there would always be a lovely improvisation. And his sense of continuity was unbelievable. For others, we have to remember the shot, but for him, it was never needed," said Hema.

Vijay's equation with children has been a favourite theme to explore for filmmakers who have worked with him over the years. Atlee, who sketched his debut collaboration with Vijay (Theri) on a father-daughter equation, has written a magician's role in the film for the star, which is said to be a major attraction for kids.

"Vijay sir insisted that he would do the magic tricks himself. There were three magicians on the set. Raman, an Indian-Canadian magician, was utterly zapped and said that Vijay sir learned the tricks faster than he did. He said he was glad that Vijay sir was not in this profession [laughs]. He possesses the style, so it was just a cakewalk for him. I guess there are around 16 magic scenes and no CGI was employed; Vijay sir entirely did the sequences by himself," revealed Hema Rukmani, about one of the three roles essayed by Vijay in the film.

Prod her about the most talked-about panchayat head role played by Vijay in the film, Hema said, "When we saw him on the sets with the rudraksha and holy ashes, we seriously felt like greeting him in respect. I told him a hundred times that it's his best look. A mass hero should be an excellent performer for the audiences to believe that he is larger than life. Vijay sir is one such performer. Whenever a superstar takes on a villager's role, we like it a lot. There is some naivety about him in that part, with innate goodness."

In Mersal, Vijay will be seen opposite Nithya Menen in the 50-minute flashback portion of the film. He also co-stars with Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Kajal Aggarwal, who are teaming up with him for the third time.

"I think the star couple of this movie would be Vijay-Nithya Menen. Even after the film gets over, their sequences will linger in your mind. Nithya Menen represents every innocent married woman. Kajal and Vijay sir will be bubbly and cute together onscreen. It will be kind of a classy portion. Sam and Vijay sir's sequence have much importance in the film. Despite her wedding preparations, Samantha has dubbed in her own voice and done a great job," concludes Hema.
Editor's note: In a prolific career spanning nearly four decades, Satyajit Ray directed 36 films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts. His films have received worldwide critical acclaim and won him several awards, honours and recognition  both in India and elsewhere. In this column starting 25 June 2017, we discuss and dissect the films of Satyajit Ray (whose 96th birth anniversary was this May), in a bid to understand what really makes him one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century.

It is now well-known that before he became a filmmaker, Satyajit Ray had had a brief professional career with the British advertising agency named DJ Keymer in the 1940s, working as a junior visualiser for the firm. Rays stint with the company was hardly a happy one, and it was perhaps drawing from his experiences with the futility of the rat race in such corporate firms that he decided to adapt a novel on the same subject by renowned Bengali writer Mani Shankar Mukherjee. In 1971, therefore, Ray made Seemabaddha (Company Limited), which went on to win the National Film Award for Best Feature Film that year.

Shyamalendu Chatterjee is a sales and marketing manager in Hindustan Peters  a British-run electric fans and lights manufacturing company  heading their fans division. He is a promising young man, extremely ambitious, and is quite popular within the company. He is due for a promotion to the level of director, but vying for the same position is his colleague and rival  the sales and marketing manager of the lights division. The company pays him an exceedingly handsome salary and has given him a sprawling apartment in a posh neighbourhood in Kolkata, where he lives with his wife. His seven-year-old son studies in a boarding school in Darjeeling, and owing to a company policy, his parents live in a separate apartment in the other part of town. Shyamalendu has had modest beginnings, and in the beginning of his career, he was an idealistic teacher. But the glitter and glamour of the corporate world have corrupted him and he is now a smart and shrewd man with his eye on a place among the board of directors of the company.

When Shyamalendus wifes sister comes visiting them from Patna, he takes an instant liking to her. For the first time since he met her many years ago, he notices young Tutul as a woman, rather than as a little girl. Tutul too is extremely fond of her brother-in-law and is secretly envious of her sisters luck. She looks up to Shyamalendu, who used to be her fathers favourite student and a principled young man with a taste for the more refined aspects of life. But now, things have changed. Tutul goes around with her sister and her husband as they show her around the city, dining at fancy restaurants and clubs, betting on horses at the racecourse and shopping at upmarket stores. This stark change in her sisters lifestyle startles her, but she takes it all in good spirit, enjoying all of it without once letting go of her small-town sensibilities. And through the days that pass, she cant help but admire her brother-in-law all over again, this time in a new light, as a hard-working, intelligent and successful man. Little does she know that to earn his promotion, her brother-in-law can stoop to unthinkable lows. When she does find out, she is shattered, and Shyamalendu, despite having secured the much sought-after promotion, is left ashamed, dissatisfied and disillusioned, having lost the respect of the young woman who once thought the world of him.

In Seemabaddha, Ray highlights the unbridled greed that often tends to creep into the lives of successful corporate executives. He also speaks against being too ambitious. In a rather poignant scene from the movie, an old and wise Tamil gentleman, who is soon to retire from Hindustan Peters salary division after several decades of service, quotes Joseph Conrad to warn Shyamalendu  All ambitions are lawful except those which climb upward on the miseries or credulities of mankind. Ray is careful to show Shyamalendu as an extremely deserving candidate for the promotion he seeks so dearly, at the same time showing him as weak and afraid at the crossroads of life, when a moral and ethical dilemma challenges his character. As Shyamalendu himself admits, most of the things he has to do in his life are like Geography  a subject he hated in school, but one which he was forced to study, since it was in the syllabus. Not once does Ray show his protagonist as a villainous character. It is almost as if he is forced to do the things he does to reach the top. It is another matter, of course, that his love for the summit makes him so blind, that he fails to see what he has become in the end.

Like a masterful captain completely in command of his craft, Ray extracts skilled performances from each and every one of his actors. Sharmila Tagore is fabulous as the small-town girl who virtually worships her sisters husband. She delivers a largely muted performance, with just the right hint of feeling out of place in a world that is so alien to her  a world of cocktail parties, fancy salons, letching old corporate bigwigs and cabaret shows, a world where a sudden and unannounced visit by Shyamalendus old parents in the middle of a party becomes a situation of embarrassment for everyone. In a powerful scene, Tagores character finds herself in the middle of a party, jumping in shock as a war between the police and a group of Naxalites rages on in the streets outside, with not a single man or woman at the party paying any trace of attention to the sounds of explosion and gunfire, the lively piano music drowning out the sound of death and destruction outside. The contrast portrayed between the haves and the have-nots is disturbing, to say the least. In another beautiful scene, as her brother-in-law takes his time to admire her and flirt with her, she calmly walks around the room, gently pulling a book out from the shelve, turning it around and plugging it back in, in its proper position. The scene is a perfect example of show dont tell, describing the decay in the otherwise spic and span and glamorous life of Shyamalendu Chatterjee  who is a post-graduate in English literature, a gold medallist, but who now does not even care to notice the disarray among his favourite books 10 feet away from his eyes.

Barun Chandas performance as the rising but flawed young executive is nothing short of Rays other, more celebrated antihero  Arindam Mukherjee of Nayak. Chanda injects into the role of Shyamalendu a much-needed human touch, making us like him and loathe him in the same breath. We like him because there are certain undeniably admirable qualities he possesses. Even within the heartless jungle of greed and selfishness, he has managed to keep certain principles alive  for instance his sympathetic attitude towards the cause of the rebellious young men and women of the city. And at the same time, we abhor his conscious sacrifice of all moral principles and ethics, when it comes to the point that he might lose a long-fought battle to his rival. In the end, Barun Chandas biggest achievement in the film is that in Shyamalendu Chatterjee, he succeeds in making us find a bit of ourselves. Satyajit Rays biggest achievement, on the other hand, is to remind us that even after we have achieved everything we have ever desired, we may still find ourselves to be lonely, dejected and discontent.

Bhaskar Chattopadhyay is an author and translator. His translations include 14: Stories That Inspired Satyajit Ray, and his original works include the mystery novels Patang, Penumbra and Here Falls The Shadow.
Back in 2001, when SJ Suryah directed Khushi with Pawan Kalyan in lead role, it went on to become the biggest hit ever in the actor's career. SJ Suryah became an overnight sensation in Telugu cinema, and having already made his mark in Tamil cinema, he was touted as one of the most interesting filmmakers to watch out for in South Indian cinema. But little did anyone expect that he had no plans to stick to directing films for the rest of his life. No, he had something else on his mind  the dream of becoming a lead actor.

Back in the '90s, no one was ready to cast me as a lead actor or produce my films. So I had to direct films to make a name for myself, SJ Suryah recounts with a laugh. With his terrific performance in AR Murugadoss Spyder making a solid impression, its hard to forget his laughter even in the midst of a casual conversation. In Spyder, he kills people for fun and derives sadistic pleasure when he hears others cry, and breaks into laughter. Its this psychopathic streak of the character (Bhairavudu), SJ Suryah admits, that caught his attention. The role was quite intense and on top of that, hes a psychopath. Its a challenge for any actor, and at the same time, whenever you get a chance to do something unusual, you feel all charged up. I figured out that the role is going to be quite challenging when Murugadoss began narrating the story. I was on a high, he recalls.

In mid-2016, Suryah was on the verge of directing the Telugu remake of Veeram with Pawan Kalyan in the lead role. However, just before the film was supposed to go on floors, SJ Suryah shocked everyone when he opted out of the project to focus on his acting career. No one had guessed that he was quite serious about his plans, and looking at the way he has been flooded with offers, especially in Tamil cinema, its evident that he has finally found his groove. Before I turned director, I was scared that I would end up becoming an unsuccessful actor or remain as a junior artiste for the rest of my life. Thankfully, that didnt happen [laughs]. Now, I couldnt be happier with the way things are going on. I have three more films where Im playing a lead, and at the moment, I have no plans to direct a film, he says.

Post-Spyder, SJ Suryah is betting big on Atlees Mersal, which will also release in Telugu as Adhirindhi. I spent the last few months juggling between the sets of Spyder and Mersal (Adhirindhi). The switch between the two characters was also a big task and it was a great opportunity for me to explore two extremely different characters. While I played a dark role in Spyder, when it comes to Adhirindhi (Mersal), Im playing a very stylish role and my look is going to be very classy. Like Daniel Craig! Youll have to watch the film to see why I loved the role so much. The flashback episode is going to be amazing, he explains.

Although he had made up his mind that he would continue playing lead roles after earning rave reviews for his role in Karthik Subbarajs Iraivi, SJ Suryah admits that he made an exception for these two films. I admire both Murugadoss and Atlee a lot. Moreover, the concepts they told me were quite interesting. I also felt that playing such negative roles will help me to take a big leap in future when I play lead roles. For instance, take Shah Rukh Khan  I feel that his performances in films like Baazigar and Darr helped him a lot when he became a hero. Both Murugadoss and Atlee were very clear about what they wanted, and they have immense faith and respect for other technicians. I was in safe hands [laughs]. I pretty much made an exception for these two films, but I wont mind doing such negative roles again provided the the character is powerful and exciting enough for me. Otherwise, theres no point. Ill continue to play lead roles.

In Mersal (Adhirindhi), SJ Suryah is pitted against Vijay. The two had previously collaborated in 2000 when the SJ Suryah directed Vijay, Jyothika-starrer Kushi which went on to become a huge hit. And 17 years later, they are back together in the same fold, although in different avatars. Hes become a huge star now, but at the same time, his stardom hasnt changed him as a person. He has become all the more focused as an actor and humble as a person. The film will be a testimony to his star power and Im confident that the Telugu version too will be received very well by the audiences. Youll see a brand new Vijay in the film. Atlee is a wonderful actor too and he is very particular about what he wants from his actors. So, he would enact every scene during the narration. That helped me a lot. I adapted a lot of his body language to play my role, he says, adding, Ive often been asked if I find it tough to just stick to acting and not interfere in the directors ways nowadays. The truth is, I follow the designation quite strictly [laughs]. If Im an actor, I will not unlock my creative knowledge beyond what is expected from me. I became a director to make SJ Suryah an actor. And I wont do anything to change that equation now [laughs].

Of late, a string of poorly written roles for villains had a ripple effect on the film experience itself. Why would you root for a hero if his nemesis isnt strong enough? Under these circumstances, an actor like SJ Suryah has made a sea of difference. AR Murugadoss has already showed us what the actor is capable of doing, and now, all eyes are on Atlee. The biggest take away after doing a villainous role in Adhirindhi (Mersal), SJ Suryah says, has been that when you approach a scene with a subtle performance, whether its dark or stylish, it reaches people a lot more than when you do a loud character. You have to truly believe in what you are doing and also, avoid doing cliched stuff. These days, people arent really bothered about what you do. They care about how you it and how well you play that role. Look at Aamir Khan  he might have done a lot of action and romantic films, but in Dangal, he played an old man, who loses against his own daughter, and then in the climax, he barely has a role to play. But everything he did in the film won him a lot of respect and appreciation. Its by backing such good scripts that you become a true hero. You dont have throw in a few punches and kick the goons.

Sometimes, all it takes is to laugh and laugh when others cry. Or you could be a cool dude who matches a superstar eye to eye, and still make an impression as a villain. Whatever the case maybe, SJ Suryah is living his dream at the moment. Period.

Mersal (Adhirindhi in Telugu), directed by Atlee, is slated for release on 18 October.
By Sharanya Gopinathan

Victoria & Abdul focuses on the (mostly) true story of the warm friendship between 68-year-old Queen Victoria (Judi Dench), and Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal), a young Indian Muslim servant brought to England to participate in the Queens golden jubilee celebrations in 1887. Based on the book by the same name by Shrabani Basu, Victoria & Abdul shows how Karim surprisingly rose through the ranks to become Victorias trusted confidant, long-term Urdu teacher (or "munshi"), and the target of the ire of the Queens racist (and weirdly powerful) household staff.

But if you look at Queen Victorias life, Karim's rise isn't so surprising after all. Because, you see, Karim wasnt the first unlikely friendship Victoria had made since her husbands death, nor was it the first time weve seen evidence of the strength of her passions. It seems since her beloved husband Prince Alberts death in 1861, Victoria tried to cope with her grief by frantically making firm and often controversial friendships, friendships so strong theyre being immortalised in books and movies a hundred years later, and are, perhaps, her greatest redeeming feature. Long before Abdul Karim ever arrived on English shores, she became great (and controversial) friends with John Brown, an outdoor servant at one of her residences, who was also soon hated by her personal staff for his informal manner and his quick rise to become the queens most favoured attendant (she was even buried with his letters and a lock of his hair).

Victoria & Abdul is meant to be an unofficial sequel to director Stephen Frears' Mrs Brown, which told the story of Queen Victoria and John Brown and won Judi Dench a BAFTA 20 years ago. The only reference to John Brown in Victoria & Abdul is a scene where the Queen breaks down in front of Karim at the Isle of Wight, telling him that everyone shes loved has died, and mentioning how much she misses John Brown even before she gets to her beloved Albert.

Her friendship with Karim then, four years after the death of John Brown, only reaffirms the kind of woman Victoria was: Always looking outward at the people and things the world had to offer, hunting for solace and happiness in her old age. Karim seemed to fit into the mould of what the ageing, grieving queen wanted from a friend and confidant at that time  a loyal outsider who'd be blunt with her, an intelligent person who could give her the information about India she wanted, and provide a worldview she herself could not have (she explains that shes never been to India, but then again, she was also the first reigning British monarch to set foot in Spain). They take long walks together where he explains to her what a mango tastes like (like a combination of an orange and a peach), the situation of the people in India (which he slightly misrepresented once by falsely painting Muslims more favourably than an explanation of the Mutiny warranted, with bad consequences), and about his own family back in Agra. She, in turn, is an animated and interested student of Urdu, and anything else Kareem has to teach her  about carpets, the Quran, the way the Mughals do things in India, the last of which inspired her to build a durbar room, an homage to all things Indian, at one of her own residences (I am, after all, Empress of India).

Read on Firstpost  Victoria & Abdul: The story of the unlikely friendship between a queen and her munshi

Naturally, none of this was well received by the royal household, or by her son Bertie (future King Edward VII, played by Eddie Izzard), who all hatch elaborate plans to have Kareem fall from grace. They say (behind her back) that theyll leave the household if Karim isnt kicked out, and Bertie says hell have her certified insane. This brings out the absolute best in Victoria: She calls them all racialists, dares the staff to tender their resignations to her face, scares her son into scuttling away with a few firm words, smoothly sails over everyones objections to Karims seating and sleeping arrangements, invites his wife and his mother-in-law over and generally shows you how its done, while Karim mostly just stands.

Some early reviews of the movie have pointed out that the power dynamics of the Raj are rather neatly reflected in the casting and performances  that Judi Denchs performance as Queen Victoria blows Ali Fazals Abdul Karim out of the water, and that Karim feels like a one-dimensional, servile and smiling caricature of a personality rather than a real character that explains this unlikely friendship. Others have also pointed out that the movie skims over mysterious crucial moments that would have really explained what was so unique about Karim that cemented this friendship.

But I wonder if this is fair. It isn't really improbable that Karim was wide-eyed, smiling and ingratiating in the presence of Queen Victoria, the Queen of England and Empress of India in 1887. More importantly, I just cant shake the feeling that this friendship had more to do with Queen Victorias unique personality and circumstances than Abdul Karims. Sushila Anand, a biographer of Abdul Karim, wrote that the Queen's own letters say that "her discussions with the Munshi were wide-ranging  philosophical, political and practical. Both head and heart were engaged. There is no doubt that the Queen found in Abdul Karim a connection with a world that was fascinatingly alien, and a confidant who would not feed her the official line.

The more I find out about these friendships, with Karim and John Brown, the more I feel that they reveal really lovely things about Queen Victorias personality, and her interest in what the world has to offer her. She looked high and low for friends, from Alfred Lord Tennyson (whom she befriended and offered a baronetcy when she read In Memoriam AHH because his grief over his friend Arthur Henry Hallum's death resonated with hers over Prince Alberts) to John Brown and Abdul Karim (whose photo she kept in the dressing room of her home, and to whom she wrote letters signing off as your loving mother).

She was the kind of person who would stand down her entire household and her own children for her buddies. Her unlikely friendships and ways of dealing with grief paint the picture of a Queen who was still passionately interested in the world and what it had to offer, and was ready to put herself and her soul out there. And Queen or not, theres something inherently wonderful about a person who hasnt given up on the world.

The Ladies Finger (TLF) is a leading online womens magazine
The 19th edition of the Jio MAMI film festival is finally here, and there is so much to look forward to if you're a cinephile with unusual tastes! From off-beat Indian stories to international films that you may never have heard of, the festival can expose you to many types of cinema.

The lineup is extensive, and the thought of checking out each film can be exhausting, so Firstpost will provide you with a list of must-watch films that will help you narrow down your choices, every day.

Last Flag Flying

Richard Linklater's ode to war veterans stars Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston and Laurence Fishburne in leading roles. The story revolves around Richard "Doc" Shepherd (played by Carell), whose son is killed in combat during the 2003 Iraqi War. Doc does not want to be left alone for his funeral at Arlington National Cemetery, which is when he and his old friend Sal (played by Cranston) set out on a journey to find the third member of their group, so that they can bury Doc's son, together. The dramedy was the opening film at the 2017 New York Film Festival and received mixed to positive reviews.

Summer 1993

Directed by Carla Simon, Summer 1993 is a Spanish film which revolves around a 6-year-old girl, Frida, who goes to live with her uncle once her parents die of AIDS. Told through her eyes, the film captures Frida's moving struggle, as she tries to adapt to a whole new environment, while still dealing with the loss of her parents. The drama was selected as the Spanish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 90th Academy Awards.

Patang

Winning the National Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi in 1993, Patang boasts of a stellar cast comprising of Shabana Azmi, Om Puri, Shafiq Syed and Rabi Ghosh. A Goutam Ghose directorial, the film captures the lives of illegal slum dwellers. The film also fetched its lead actress the Best Actress Award at Taormina Film Fest.

The Song of Scorpions

This Irrfan Khan and Golshifteh Farahani starrer had its world premiere at the 70th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland. Shot across the parched lands of Rajasthan, the film is follow-up to Qissa, Anup Singh's haunting drama. A traditional tale replete with folklore, the film is a twisted tale of love, revenge and redemption.

A Fantastic Woman

A Chilean drama directed by Sebastian Lelio, A Fantastic Woman was selected as the country's Best Foreign Language Film entry at the 90th Academy Awards. If not for anything else, one must catch this film for Daniela Vega, a trans actor who plays a trans woman in the film, too. From being called a "stunning revelation" by The Hollywood Reporter, to being compared with Meryl Streep and Judi Dench, Vega's big breakthrough might make history, if she becomes the first transgender actress to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar.
Allahabad: The Allahabad High Court has castigated the CBI for its theory on the murder of domestic help Hemraj in the Aarushi murder case, saying it is an "impossible hypothesis" and "patently absurd".

In its 273-page verdict acquitting dentists Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and Hemraj, it also said the prosecution "miserably failed" to prove that the Talwars had destroyed material evidence and added that the finding recorded to the contrary by the trial court could not be maintained.

Analysing the prosecution case, a division bench of justices BK Narayana and AK Mishra refused to agree with the submission of CBI lawyer Anurag Khanna that the conduct of the dentist couple on finding their only daughter murdered, as noticed by the witnesses, was another circumstance which indicated their complicity.

The court said it was unable to agree with the contention of the probe agency as "different persons react differently in a given situation".

Justices Narayana and Mishra made the observations last week while allowing the appeals of Nupur and Rajesh Talwar against a Ghaziabad CBI court verdict sentencing them life term for the murder of 14-year-old Aarushi and Hemraj.

"The prosecution theory that the appellants had hidden the dead body of Hemraj on the terrace of their flat is patently absurd and improbable...," the court said.

It said this theory contemplated an "impossible hypothesis" that the body was hidden by the Talwars on their terrace with the intention of disposing it of on getting a suitable opportunity.

The court said the theory was based on the hypothesis that the Noida Police would not be able to find the body on the terrace on 16 May 2008 when Aarushi was found dead in her room in the Talwar residence by her parents with her throat slit.

Hemraj's body was found the next day. The Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe into the case from the Noida Police.

Coming down heavily on the prosecution, the court said on careful evaluation of the evidence of four police personnel, it transpired that the prosecution witnesses made material improvements in their evidence tendered during the trial.

Their testimonies during the trial were "conspicuous by their absence in their previous statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC (by the police)," it said.

The witnesses were the Superintendent of Police, Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Inspector Data Ram Naunaria and Sub Inspector Bachchoo Singh, the judges said, adding that contrary to his previous statement, Mishra had stated in court that Rajesh Talwar was reluctant to identify the body of 45-year-old Hemraj.

Similar was the case with Naunaria and Bachchoo Singh, they said.

Justices Narayana and Mishra said the circumstances lent credence to another theory that the murder of Hemraj was committed on the terrace of the flat near a cooler.

They said as the prosecution failed to pick up fingerprints of the persons who had put the cooler panel on the body of Hemraj, the court did not consider it proper to presume that the panel was put on the body by the Talwars in the absence of cogent evidence.

"In fact, the CBI has miserably failed to lead any evidence which may even remotely suggest that Hemraj was murdered in the bedroom of Aarushi and then his dead body was wrapped in a bed sheet and dragged from Aarushi's bedroom upto the terrace," the judges said.

The court also said that the non-breaking of the terrace door lock was not on account of non-availability of the key of the terrace door but due to the negligent and callous approach of the Investigating Officer of the case, Data Ram Naunaria.

Moreover, the prosecution has failed to prove by any cogent evidence that the Talwar duo, despite being in possession of the key of the terrace door lock, had refused to make it available to the police, they said.

"The prosecution's allegation in this regard, therefore, is baseless and wholly irrelevant for fastening the appellants with the guilt," the court said.
Dasna (Uttar Pradesh): Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar will visit the Dasna jail every 15 days to attend to inmates facing dental problems after their release following acquittal in the murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, jail authorities said.

The two are lodged in the Dasna prison in Ghaziabad since November 2013 after they were awarded life sentence in the case.

Both Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are likely to be released from Dasna prison on Monday following their acquittal in the sensational double murder case.

The dentist couple had helped revive the near "defunct" dental department at the prison hospital, a jail official said.

"We were concerned about the fate of our dental department after their (Talwars) release. They (Talwars) have assured us that they would visit jail to attend to inmates every 15 days even after their release," jail doctor Sunil Tyagi told PTI.

Tyagi said besides prisoners, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar have also been treating jail staff, police officials and their children.

"Since Talwars have come here (prison), they have treated thousands of patients who are happy with their services," he said.

To manage rush of dental patients at the jail hospital after Talwars' release, prison authorities have also tied up with a Ghaziabad-based dental college.

"The doctors from the dental college will also visit Dasna jail twice a week to attend to patients so that inmates don't face problem," Tyagi added.

Since their acquittal by the Allahabad High Court, there has been a steady increase in patients wanting to consult the couple.

Sources in the jail said Rajesh Talwar's brother Dinesh Talwar, who is an ophthalmologist, would also visit the prison every 15 days along with his team to see patients.

The dentist couple had challenged the sentence in the Allahabad High Court, which acquitted them in the sensational double murder case earlier this week.
Both before and after Thursdays hearing in Allahabad, I was asked a reporter-to-reporter question by many of my colleagues in the media. It was: Where is Shyam Lal?

Shyam Lal is the trial court judge who convicted Rajesh and Nupur Talwar to life imprisonment in 2013, for the murders of their daughter Aarushi and manservant Hemraj. His 200-odd page ruling would, in my opinion, be the lead essay in the Incoherent Fiction category in the (yet to be published) Trials of India series.

If that sounds gratuitous, I would encourage you to read the document. Much of it is incomprehensible, but it seems to speak to you in at least two voicesone perverse, the other aspirationaloften simultaneously.

My colleagues thought I knew Shyam Lals whereabouts because they might have read a section of Aarushi devoted to an interview with him and his son. Having retired as a judge less than a week after his verdict, advocate Shyam Lal was setting up practice in the Allahabad High Court when I met him in his home in March 2014.

His home was in a middle-class neighbourhood in Allahabad, and I arrived there late evening as the dust from the small bungalows under construction settled. His chamber suggested the beginnings of a new practicethe law journals were still in their plastic covers. On other racks, Fali Nariman, Justice V Krishna Iyer and Chetan Bhagat leaned comfortably against each other.

I recall one refrain from the conversation. Shyam Lal kept telling me I have command over both English and Hindi. And as he told me his resume, his preferred link word was mean-the-while.

I had seen samples of his writing during the trial, well before his judgement came. Here is an excerpt, from a harsh order against the Talwars:

Undaunted by their unsuccess in the Supreme Court, they have now approached the High Court [the Talwars were challenging one of Lals orders]. The application has been oppugnated by CBI tooth and nail on the fulcrum of putting unwarranted roadblocks in the surge of an urge for expeditious trial...Procrastination is the thief of time...Sir Francis Bacon in his aphoristic style said hope is a good breakfast, but is bad supper.

Just in case you did not understand, the judge was telling the Talwars to stop challenging his orders and delaying the trial. Several of my friends in the media understood him clearly. Some of them said: Man, this judge can write. (I kid you not.)

It is easy to lampoon such a man. But I also wanted to know how he got where he was. He had gotten into judicial service after a couple of failures, despite a masters degree. Over the years, he had developed a reputation for firmnessa conviction judgethat he quite enjoyed. In Ghaziabad, the lawyers called him Saza Lal.

As he narrated different phases of his career, reeling off the towns he had served in, he told me about his shortest posting. This was in Mohammedabad, Uttar Pradesh, and Lal was there just for a month and a half.

I asked why. There was no English medium school there, he said. This was important for his sons education. He himself had been denied this privilege, so he asked for a transfer.

I began to understand Shyam Lal perhaps a little more because of that nugget of information. And I had the chance to meet his son as well.

Ashutosh was a lawyer too, practising in Allahabad. We had a stunning three-way conversation during which two things emerged. The first was that Ashutosh had helped his father write the Aarushi judgement, and second that they had begun work on it even before the Talwars lawyers started their final arguments.

Shyam Lal told me that it hardly took him ten minutes to write a page. I asked him how long it took him to write the 210 pages of the Aarushi judgement when his son weighed in, saying hed traveled to Ghaziabad to start writing more than a month before the verdict. It was he, along with his father and a typist that drafted the first few pages. Shyam Lals judgement convicts the Talwars in its first few lines by saying that there was no possiblity of outsider entry into the flat.

I asked them why it took so long. Ashutosh said: Because certain good words had to be used.

Some samples of the good words were Shyam Lals various synonyms for penis. Hemrajs pecker was swollen for instance. And his willy was turgid.

This was how Shyam Lal filled out the fantasy that the CBI had presented to him as evidence. Mean-the-while, he also deliberately ignored critical evidence that pointed to the Talwars innocence; and made up some evidence of his own.

The wrongs of Ghaziabad have been corrected in Allahabad, where a division bench struck the order down as it set the Talwars free.

In some ways, Shyam Lal got as good as he dished out. Justice Mishra, the junior judge on the bench had this to say about him.

He began sagely: Some reflection need be made upon the style and approach of the trial judge.

And then went on: The learned trial judge has aberrated and by dint of fallacious analogy and reasoning has surprisingly assumed fictional animation of the incident as to what actually took place inside and outside the Flat L 32 Jalvayu Vihar, and in what manner he has tried to give live and colourful description of the incident in question and the whole genesis of the offence was grounded on fact that both the deceased Hemraj and Arushi were seen by Dr. Rajesh Talwar in fla-grante and thereafter like a film Director, the trial Judge has tried to thrust coherence amongst facts inalienably scattered here and there but not giving any coherence to the idea as to what in fact happened. The learned trial Judge forgot as to what is issue in hand."

And went further:

"It is apparent that the trial Judge was unmindful of the basic tenets of law and its applicability to the given facts and circumstances of the case and failed to properly appraise facts and evaluate evidence and analyze various circumstances of this case. It can by no means be denied that the trial judge, perhaps out of extra zeal and enthusiasm and on the basis of self-perception adopted partial and parochial approach in giving vent to his own emotional belief and conviction and thus tried to give concrete shape to his own imagination stripped of just evaluation of evidence and facts of this case."

Shyam Lal had concluded his verdict with some the harshest things anyone can say to a human being, leave alone a parent. Its time to say Omega, he wrote, before describing the Talwars as freaks of nature and fiends.

We must unfiend them now. Its about time.

Avirook Sen is the author of Aarushi, an account of the murder investigation and ensuing trial.
New Delhi: IIM Kolkata, Aligarh Muslim University and Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College for Women are among 4,739 institutions and NGOs that have not disclosed to the government their foreign funding and expenditure for 2015 -16, according to the Home Ministry.

According to the ministry documents, the 4,739 institutions and voluntary organisations have not filed their annual returns for 2015-16, thus failing to submit details of their annual income and expenditure for the year.

All these institutions and voluntary organisations are registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 and it is mandatory for them to file returns every year.

Those which have not filed returns for 2015-16 include IIM Kolkata, IIM Lucknow, Aligarh Muslim University, Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi College of Engineering, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Delhi, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre For Arts, Delhi.

Others in the list include Vivekananda Foundation, Mysore, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, and Nehru Indira Rajiv Memorial Association for Needies, Koraput, Odisha.

The Modi government, which has tightened the rules for NGOs, has already cancelled registration of more than 10,000 non-governmental organisations in the last three years for alleged non-filing of annual returns as mandated in the FCRA.

In addition, renewals of more than 1,300 NGOs have been denied for allegedly violating various provisions of the FCRA.

The home ministry has also asked nearly 6,000 NGOs to open their accounts in banks having core banking facilities and furnish details for real-time access to security agencies in case of any discrepancy.

The move was initiated after it was detected that many NGOs have their bank accounts in cooperative banks or state government-owned apex banks or banks which do not have core banking facilities.

In November 2016, the government had directed more than 11,000 NGOs to file applications for renewal of registration by 28 February, 2017, and many of them had failed to do so.
Raipur: The police on Sunday arrested four Naxals during a search operation in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district.

Three firearms, an improvised explosive device (IED) and a cache of other Maoist-related items, including material used in making explosives, were recovered from them, a police official said.

The cadres were apprehended from Alparas village under Koyalibeda police station area, around 200 kilometres from Raipur, when a composite squad of personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF) and district force was out on a search operation, Kanker's Superintendent of Police K L Dhruv said.

The arrested cadres were identified as Nar Singh (25), Mani Ram Markam (22), Sunder Singh (30) and Sukku Ram (35), he said.

Three muzzle-loading guns, a 2kg IED, some explosive powder, splinters, electric wires, Maoist pamphlets and literature were recovered from their possession, the SP said.

On 5 October, four Naxals, including a couple, were arrested and two firearms were recovered from them in Panidobir village in Koyalibeda area of Kanker.
Lucknow: Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the country's borders were "completely safe" and China has also understood that "India is no more weak".

Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a powerful country and its prestige at the international level has grown.

"India's borders are completely safe, and China has started to understand that India is no more weak. Its strength has grown," he said.

Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, was addressing people at a programme organised here by the Bhartiya Lodhi Mahasabha.

"Since the formation of government at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has become a powerful country in the world. India's prestige at the international level has grown," he said.

The Union home minister also hit out at Pakistan for "sending terrorists" to India.

"It (Pakistan) tries to break India, but our security personnel every day kill two to four terrorists," he added.
Rajkot: Former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela on Saturday demanded an investigation into the claims made in a media report that the turnover of a firm of BJP president Amit Shah's son Jay grew manifold after the saffron party came to power at the Centre in 2014.

The charge has been rejected by the BJP and Jay Shah, who has termed the report as "false, derogatory and defamatory". "I do not believe in personal allegations, but when a report talks about his (Jay Shah's) role (corruption in business dealings), then a probe should be conducted against him," Vaghela said. The former Congress leader, who has joined a new outfit, the Jan Vikalp Party, was responding to reporters' queries on the controversy surrounding Jay Shah's company.

Jay Shah recently moved a court in Ahmedabad against 'The Wire', the news portal which published the report. Asked about his stand on upcoming Bollywood film 'Padmavati', the Kshatriya strongman said its director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, should not "tamper" with history.

"Some members of the Kshatriya community met me and said that Bhansali had tampered with history in his upcoming film. I have not seen the film, but Bhansali should refrain from tampering with history as that would amount to a cheap publicity stunt," Vaghela said. The septuagenarian leader reiterated that he was not going to contest the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls.
Kolkata: Expelled GJM leader and chairman of Board of Administrators (BoA) for Darjeeling, Binay Tamang on Sunday met West Bengal governor KN Tripathi, and requested him to talk to the Centre to initiate tripartite talks to solve the impasse.

He also apprised the governor of recovery of a large cache of arms and ammunition on Friday.

"We apprised the governor about the situation in Darjeeling, recovery of arms and the slow restoration of peace there (Darjeeling)," Tamang told newsmen after the meeting at the Rajbhavan.

He said Sunday's meeting with Tripathi was a "courtesy call" after he was made the chairman of the BoA by the West Bengal government.

Tamang said he had urged the governor to apprise the situation to the Centre.

"We have told him that we are willing to talk to the Centre on the Darjeeling issue. The Centre must intervene as soon as possible and call us for talks on all the pending issues, including Gorkhaland."

"We have also apprised the governor that since 2015 there had been no tripartite talks involving the GTA," he added.

Describing the location of Darjeeling as "strategic" owing to its international borders with Nepal and Bhutan, Tamang said discussions should be held quickly keeping in mind the sensitivity of the place.

On the fire incident at Patlebas village in the early hours of the day, he demanded the police conduct a proper investigation and that no innocent persons be arrested.

Tamang along with party colleague and BoA vice chairman Anit Thapa had met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday. The leaders along with three GJM MLAs will meet her again at the state secretariat on Monday.

"On Friday, we had met her (Banerjee) as representatives of GTA, not on behalf of the party (GJM). Tomorrow (Monday) we will go and meet the chief minister as representatives of the GJM," he said.

The Mamata Banerjee government had last month formed a nine-member board of administrators instead of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to look into the development works in the Darjeeling and Kalimpong hills.
Darjeeling: As many as four houses were destroyed in a deadly fire in Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) chief Bimal Gurung's neighbourhood in Darjeeling's Patlebas, police said on Sunday.

"Gurung's house and the party office were not destroyed in the fire. The fire engulfed five houses opposite Gurung's residence," said Inspector General of Police, Darjeeling, Manoj Verma.

The gutted residences belonged to Gurung's supporters Dinesh Thing, Rajesh Thing, Prabin Subba, and Amit Chand.

Police said the fire broke out around midnight on Saturday and was brought under control around 3 am, adding the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

Eyewitnesses said Gurung's house was later vandalised.

While police claimed the fire could have been a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence against Gurung and his loyalists, pro-Gurung leaders, however, blamed associates of Darjeeling Board of Administrators (BoA) chairman and expelled GJM leader Binay Tamang for the incident.

Speaking to reporters in Kolkata, Tamang demanded a thorough investigation into the Patlebas fire, and urged police not to round up innocent people.

Gurung has been on the run for quite some time, with the state police slapping cases against him under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, as also for waging war against the government and organising terrorist camps.

The GJM, that has been spearheading the revived movement of Gorkhaland in the hills, is now a divided house, with a section of activists remaining with Gurung while another faction has shifted allegiance towards Tamang.

The fire happened soon after Friday's clashes between security forces and pro-Gurung GJM workers that left a Police Sub-Inspector dead and four other cops injured. Police had raided the area after a tip-off that the GJM chief was camping along with boys of the party's militant wing Gorkhaland Personnel, on a river bed close by.

Police recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from the camp and arrested one person but the GJM chief and his associates managed to flee to the neighbouring state of Sikkim.
New Delhi: The home ministry has ordered withdrawal of as many as 1,000 paramilitary personnel, including 300 women, deployed in Darjeeling to maintain law and order during the agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state.

In a communication, the ministry said seven companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), including three women companies, and three companies of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel would be withdrawn from Darjeeling from Monday.

One company of paramilitary comprises 100 personnel.

The paramilitary personnel were in deployment in the hill districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong, an official said.

However, five additional companies of the CRPF will be in the hills to assist the state police force.

Meanwhile, an official of the West Bengal government said the state has shot off a letter to protest the Centre's sudden decision to pullout forces within two days.

The situation in Darjeeling has improved in the past few weeks. The Mamata Banerjee government had last month formed a nine-member board of administrators, headed by Binay Tamang, instead of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) to look into the development works in Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Jammu: A probe has been ordered into the alleged disrespect of the national anthem by a government officer at a school in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Sunday, calling on people to maintain peace in the area.

Students and teachers alleged that Assistant Commissioner Revenue (ACR) MS Khan, who had gone to the school on Thursday in Kishtwar district on an inspection, did not respect the national anthem playing there.

"An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The people, especially students, are advised to maintain peace and not play in the hands of vested interests who want to vitiate the atmosphere," District Development Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana told PTI.

Rana said Khan visited the school as part of a raid in the district to check absenteeism.

"He was checking nearly a dozen offices and was ordered to ensure prompt inspection. He was in a hurry, moving from one place to another. He was told to submit his report within the shortest possible time," Rana said.

The official has been accused by the students and teachers of moving into the principal's office during the inspection while the national anthem was being played at the school.

Some teachers raised the issue, leading to protests by students.
As the counting of votes in the Gurdaspur by-election comes to a close on Sunday, Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar has won the election by well over one lakh votes over his nearest rival, BJP's Swaran Salaria.

As Jakhar's victory drew closer in the bypoll necessitated by Vinod Khanna's death, he said on Sunday that the counting trends show the people's resentment towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, according to media reports.

Ppl of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modi Ji led Centre: Sunil Jakhar #GurdaspurByPoll pic.twitter.com/6JMxqdHK0k  ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

Jakhar is a seasoned politician from Punjab, having been a member of the state's Legislative Assembly three times in the past from Abohar. He was appointed the Punjab Congress chief in May, and is a close confidant of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.

Last month, Jakhar beat former Gurdaspur MP Partap Singh Bajwas wife Charanjit Kaur Bajwa to the nomination as state party chief, though Bajwa was said to be bargaining hard for the seat, according to The Tribune.

Jakhar was the leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha between 2012 and 2017.

Jakhar had lost the last Assembly election held earlier in 2017, and the 2014 parliamentary election from Ferozepur, according to Hindustan Times. After long rounds of discussion with Sonia Gandhi, Amarinder Singh went ahead to give Jakhar the ticket for the Gurdaspur bypoll because of the strong support he enjoyed from the majority of Congress' rank and file, the report said.

In the last Punjab Assembly elections, Jakhar had lost to relatively inexperienced Arun Narang of the BJP from his pocket borough of Abohar, The Times of India reported. However, Jakhar continued to be a key non-Jat leader of the party in the region, the report added.

Jakhar is not new to politics as he comes from a family of long political history.

His father, farmer-turned politician Balram Jakhar, served twice as the speaker of the Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1989. He also served as Union agriculture minister in the PV Narasimha Rao government, and later as the Madhya Pradesh governor during the first UPA government, a Hindustan Times report stated.

Jakhar's brother, Sajjan Kumar Jakhar, is also a senior leader of the Congress in Punjab and has served as the vice-president of Punjab Congress in the past.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Sunday summoned India's deputy high commissioner for the third time this month over the alleged "ceasefire violations" by Indian troops along the Line of Control, claiming that two children were killed in the firing.

The foreign office, in a statement, alleged that Indian forces resorted to firing in Kotli/Nokial sector on Saturday which killed two children.

The foreign ministry said that it summoned the Indian envoy to protest the "unprovoked" violation of a 2003 cease-fire by the Indian forces.

"Despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations, it said.

"The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," it said.

It said that the "ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation".

It said that the Indian side should permit United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

India maintains that the UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Shimla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control.

Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh was earlier summoned on 2 October and 4 October over the alleged "ceasefire violations".
New Delhi: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had a terse message on Sunday for the BJP after it ended up in fourth place in the Vengara assembly bypoll  "don't mess with Kerala".

Vijayan also taunted the BJP's Jan Raksha Yatra, saying the month-long campaign's results appeared to be negligible as the people of Kerala spoke against it in one voice.

He accused the BJP and the RSS of carrying out a "malicious campaign" to tarnish the image of the state and damage its tourism industry.

"A boycott Kerala campaign is being run with the call to bring tourism in Kerala to its knees. People of other states are asked not to come to Kerala so as to bring our tourism industry to a standstill," Vijayan claimed.

At a seminar on 'Democracy in Danger', organised in New Delhi by journalist associations, Vijayan said those behind such "fake news" have no regard for the lives and livelihoods of the people of Kerala.

The chief minister said the BJP had even routed its yatra through the Vengara constituency but the victory of the Indian Union Muslim League had put paid to its efforts.

"Despite dirty tricks and attempts for communal polarisation, BJP has been relegated to the fourth position with a much-reduced vote share. This is a pointer and strong warning to the BJP that they can't mess with Kerala."
New Delhi: At a time when the Congress is trying to cobble together a coalition against the BJP, former president Pranab Mukherjee argued against sewing up alliances just for the sake of forming a government, insisting such attempts would only dilute the identity of the Congress party.

In his new book, 'The Coalition Years: 1996 to 2012', Mukherjee has said he disfavoured the Congress' 2003 decision to forge alliances to defeat the BJP in the 2004 General Elections. He said his view remains unchanged even today.

Mukherjee, who had a long innings in the Congress before becoming the president, advocated the go-alone strategy, saying that is the only way the Congress can keep its identity intact.

Referring to the Congress's decision at Shimla conclave in 2003 to enter into a coalition with secular parties to defeat the BJP, Mukherjee said, "The issue of being open to forming a coalition was certainly a change of tack from the Panchmarhi conclave where we had agreed that coalitions will be considered where absolutely necessary."

"At Shimla, inputs of all delegates were sought and heard. Most of them, including Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, seemed convinced that the Panchmarhi strategy had to change. I was the lone voice stating a contrarian view as I believed that sharing a platform or power with other parties would undermine our identity," Mukherjee says in a chapter titled 2004.

Mukherjee's latest book is the third in a series of political memoirs penned by him after "The Indira Years" and "The Turbulent Years".

The book was released in New Delhi on Friday at a high-profile event attended by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the major constituents of UPA I and II.

Explaining his anti-coalition stand, Mukherjee, who was the longest serving member of the Congress Working Committee, said he thought the party should not forsake its identity for the sake of forming a government.

"I maintained that the party should not forsake that identity for the sake of forming a government; there was no harm in sitting in the Opposition should that happen. I remain consistent with that view even today," Mukherjee says.

On the concluding day of the Panchmarhi conclave held between 4 and 6 September, 1998, the Congress had for the first time acknowledged the importance of coalition politics after having ruled India independently for many years.

Sonia Gandhi said at the end of this conference, "The fact that we are going through a coalitional phase in national politics reflects in many ways the decline of the Congress. This is a passing phase and we will come back again with full force and on our own steam. But in the interim, coalitions may well be needed."

At the book release function, Mukherjee reaffirmed his reservations about coalition politics from the dais as he introduced his new memoir.

"I always believed Congress is a coalition which brings together various ideas, personalities and groups of interests. To provide leadership to a coalition is difficult as the Congress has to then manage one coalition within and one outside," Mukherjee said.
Hyderabad: The police on Sunday arrested a 19-year-old Rohingya man here on charges of illegally procuring an Aadhaar card and illegally staying in the country.

The Indian employer of the man, who had claimed to be his father in order to get him the Aadhaar card, was also placed under arrest, a police official said.

The Rohingya man, Mohammad Ajamuddin alias Molla Ajamuddin, and his employer Riyazuddin Molla (36), a native of West Bengal, were nabbed from the Burma huts in the Balapur area here, he added.

Both the men were in the garment business and had recently come to the city from Kolkata, the police said.

"Ajamuddin belongs to Myanmar and he and his family were living at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh as refugees. About a year ago, Molla went to Bangladesh for some work related to his garment business and got acquainted to Ajamuddin," the official attached to the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate said.

"Molla informed Ajamuddin that he could earn more money in India and gave his phone number to him. Subsequently, Ajamuddin came to Kolkata and met him. Since then, he has been working for Molla for a monthly salary of Rs 6,000. Molla was providing shelter to him illegally," he added.

Molla also allegedly helped Ajamuddin get an Aadhaar card by giving false information to the UIDAI authorities, stating that the latter was his son, and violated the provisions of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

He had recently brought Ajamuddin to Hyderabad, he added.

Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed the duo and seized their Aadhaar cards.

A case was registered against the two under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

Last month, the Rachakonda police had arrested a 20-year-old Rohingya man, who allegedly claimed to be an Indian citizen and applied for a passport to enable him to go to Dubai. The police had also seized a PAN card from him.

Scores of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state have been fleeing the restive region since August amid a fresh wave of violence, triggering a refugee crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh and India.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju had recently said the Rohingya Muslims were illegal immigrants and pitched for their deportation.
India has the highest number of child brides in the world with numbers estimated to be touching over 230 lakh in 2016. It is estimated that 47 percent girls in India are married before their 18th birthday. The rates of child marriage vary between states and are as high as 69 percent and 65 percent in Bihar and Rajasthan respectively. However, while there are fewer girls marrying before the age of 15, rates of marriage have increased for girls between ages 15 to 18.

There are several factors that force parents to marry their daughters at a young age. Customary practice, growing poverty levels and concern for women's and girls' safety are forcing parents to marry below 18 daughters. Controlling a girls sexuality also plays an important role in child marriage as parents try and minimise the dishonour associated with improper sexual conduct causing marriages to be arranged as the girl enters puberty.

The Supreme Courts landmark judgment criminalising sex with a minor wife below the age of 18 states unequivocally that any child who has not attained 18 years is "a child and remains a child whether she is a married child, unmarried child or a divorced child or a separated child or a widowed child".

How exactly the SC wants to see this judgment being implemented is a moot point. The numbers involved are large and require a huge societal churning. Recent census data reveals that nearly 120 lakh children were married below the age of 10 years from which 78.4 lakh were females. Census data further revealed that 84 percent of these children were Hindus and that eight out of ten of these illiterate children who were married were girls.

With girls of 16 years and 17 years of age also being treated as children, the question of consensual sex with married girls under the age of 18 years no longer arises. The law, however, will be implemented in a prospective and not a retrospective manner.

The question before the Ministry of Women and Child Development is just how they expect to implement an order of this magnitude. Senior bureaucrats refuse to comment on the judgment saying that it needs to be studied in detail but Rishi Kant who is heading the anti-trafficking NGO Shakti Vahini believes that "law enforcement agencies will have to fight the evil of child marriage on a war footing across India and especially in the states of West Bengal, Haryana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar where this problem is rampant in the rural areas".

Kant cautioned: "The rape law is now a non-bailable offense and can result in a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The government will have to launch a massive educational scheme to inform the public at large about the serious consequences of this new law".

Said Kant, "The first respondents in a village are the Anganwadi workers who are the village backbone. Along with the village sarpanch and panchayat, they will have to be educated about this order. We will also need millions of young people from our towns, especially students of sociology and anthropology, to become veritable messengers of change to inform parents and their children about the new law. Urban India has to become the change makers and this must happen with a simultaneous strengthening of our educational system".

Examining the nitty-gritty of this judgment, Enakshi Ganguly, co-director of HAQ Centre for Child Rights welcomes the SC order by justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta who have resolved the earlier anomaly of Exception 2 in Section 375 where if a husband married a girl child between 15-18 years of age, he could have non-consensual sexual intercourse for which he would not be penalised. With the present judgment, this exception to 375 has been removed and the age of sexual intercourse raised from 15 to 18 years.

But Ganguly wonders whether this new directive has opened a fresh can of worms? Since the law on child marriage, the Child Marriage Prohibition Act 2006 remains the way it is, it also means that any under-age marriage that has taken place remains valid and voidable.

"We can only hope that doctors do not refuse to deliver children or offer medical help in case a girl in a child marriage comes to them, for fear of mandatory reporting? Who else will be responsible for mandatory reporting in case of sex within a child marriage  will it include the parents who may have been responsible for the child marriage in the first place? Will they be complainants because they disapprove of the relationship between their daughter and her partner?" Ganguly wondered.

Looking at the broader picture, Ganguly warned that there were major concerns with the age of consent being 18 as "far too many young people were getting caught in the criminal justice system for having had consensual sex. And with minimum sentencing, there is no escape for boys and young men from incarceration".

She further pointed out, "Child marriage is a social evil, and its forced and perpetuated by adults. They are the ones who must be penalised. And not the children. Unfortunately, simply criminalising sexual activity amongst young people ends up penalising the young people and not the perpetrators."

Akhila Shivdas who heads Centre for Advocacy and Research believes that the new law will require the government to come up with "a slew of administrative measures in the areas of education, child protection and job creation especially at a time when existing government entitlements are reaching fewer and fewer people".

Jaipur-based activist Kavita Srivastava points to the example of hundreds of girls between the ages of 18 and 20 years who are seeking to get their marriages annulled because they were forced into child marriage in the state of Rajasthan.

" These girls are using a loophole in the law and they approach the SDM, their local sarpanch or other lower-rung bureaucrats demanding their marriages be annulled. Of course, such a move has its own fall out within their village. The parents of the girl will be isolated. There will be a meeting of the panchayat to discuss this matter but ultimately if the girl is adamant, her parents have no choice but to accept her stand," said Srivasatava.

Srivastava recently addressed a meeting of 150 girls who were attending a camp organised by the NGO Urmul. "When I asked the girls belonging to Class 10-12 who were attending the camp what that they wanted to do in their lives, their replies were varied. They wanted to become teachers, astronauts, doctors, and so on. They said they would continue with their agricultural work but they were unanimous in demanding they be allowed to study and become economically empowered," said Srivastava.

Welcoming the SC judgment, Shanta Sinha, former chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights said forcing below 18 girls into marriage was akin "to snatching away their natural process of growth".

"As it is, many of these girls are highly anaemic because they come from economically deprived backgrounds. Their early marriages cause so much trauma. They have not even experienced adolescence and they are being forced into adulthood. After all, they are forced into sexual relationship and pregnancies for which they are ill-prepared," he says.

The new law is now in consonance with Protection of Children From Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the men will be tried under POCSO. Raping a child is an offense under POCSO and a child is defined as any person below the age of 18 years. As per Section 42A of the POCSO Act, the provisions of the act will effectively override the provisions of any other law. The earlier IPC had stated that married girls above 15 could not allege the specific charge of rape against their husbands. The recent verdict reads down this exception.

Sinha in the last twelve months had interviewed more than 80 girls who told him about their experiences as victims of child marriage. Each girl had revealed how she had faced tremendous amounts of violence from her husband and his family who forced her to work long hours without giving her adequate food or rest.

Activists emphasise that child marriage does not make for healthy mothers or for healthy babies. Sujata Madhok, a woman activist, said, "Child marriage is the most absurd form of arranged marriages."

Getting around entrenched mindsets is not an easy task. This was realised by the feisty Bhanwari Devi who in an effort to oppose child marriages in her village of Bhateri, located 45 kilometres south of Jaipur was gang-raped on 22 September 1992 by five upper caste Gujar men.

She has been fighting for justice ever since but in her own words, "I have not yet received justice with the district sessions court stating in his judgment that upper caste Rajput men rape lower caste men."

Her long and arduous fight for justice is symbolic of the task ahead for the government and society to change the entrenched mindset of the people.
Shimla: A sessions court in Shimla on Saturday granted bail to Ashish Chauhan, an accused in the Kotkhai Gudia rape and murder case.

He was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General Z H Zaidi on 12 July.

The court granted the bail on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and two guarantees of Rs 10 lakh each.

Chauhan was granted bail as the CBI failed to file the chargesheet within 90 days, it said.

Zaidi, Deputy Superintendent of Police Manoj Joshi and six other police officers were arrested by the CBI on July 29 and remanded to police custody till September 4 for the death of Suraj in police custody.

Zaidi was investigating the rape and murder of a minor girl in Kotkhai on 4 July, whose body was found two days later. The case later came to be known as "Gudiya" rape-and-murder case.

He had arrested six people in the case, but one of the accused - Suraj - died in police custody.

The case was handed over to the CBI on direction of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has sought a response from the government on framing of guidelines for setting up a permanent mechanism for termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks in exceptional cases.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra issued notices to the ministries of health, women and child development and the Medical Council Of India and sought their

reply in four weeks.

The apex court, however, refused to amend the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act which prohibits termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks, saying that the issue fell within the legislative domain.

"On a perusal of the reliefs sought, we find that as far as the prayer is concerned, that is in legislative realm, hence we are not inclined to address the said prayer.

"Issue notice, fixing a returnable date within four weeks," the bench said.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by Karnataka-based Anusha Ravindra seeking amendment of the 1971 Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act for abortion of foetuses older than 20 weeks involving rape survivors and women with abnormal foetus.

The plea, filed through advocate Abhinav Ramkrishna, also sought constitution of a committee for setting up a permanent mechanism for expedient termination of pregnancies beyond 20 weeks in the exceptional cases involving rape survivors and women with abnormal foetus under safe medical facilities with adequate inputs from an association of professionals and experts.
Yavatmal: Eleven new patients, allegedly affected by pesticide poisoning, have been admitted to the GMC hospital, a senior official said.

According to the dean of GMC hospital Manish Shrigiriwar, 11 patients of pesticide poisoning were admitted on Sunday taking the total number of indoor patients to 22.

Of these two are on ventilators, he said, adding, so far 21 deaths have been reported due to pesticide poisoning.

Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir, who visited the GMC hospital on Saturday, took stock of the treatment being administered to patients.

Meanwhile, district unit of Congress has proposed to take out a protest rally to the Collector's office on Monday under the leadership of AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Mohan Prakash and MPCC president Ashok Chavan.

The party is demanding Rs 10 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased and financial assistance to the affected families immediately.
Being rejected after an interview, being denied a promotion, and feeling out-of-place at the workplace may seem like normal occurrences to many of us who are part of India's workforce. They may seem like roadblocks that one simply needs to get over, or we may view them as challenges which make us want to become better at our jobs  both of which seem achievable and possible.

But what if you found that you weren't making progress in your career because of something you cannot change or do not wish to hide, such as your sexual orientation? What if your company, which is supposed to protect your interests, passes judgement? This, unfortunately, is a reality that scores of people live with every day, especially those who work in companies that are not accepting of LGBTI persons. But a set of global corporate standards launched by the United Nations to support businesses when it comes to tackling discrimination might prove to be a game-changer.

On 12 October, Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer at the UN, presented these standards which are seemingly easy to comprehend  respecting rights, eliminating discrimination, supporting colleagues  but they can go a long way. The presentation took place at the Godrej India Culture Lab in Mumbai. In order to understand why these standards are necessary, we need to take stock of the ramifications of not being LGBTI-inclusive.

Houdart said that not including LGBTI persons in a country's workforce can negatively impact its growth. He also mentioned that when an LGBTI employee feels safe and welcome in any workplace, they are far more productive than they would be in an environment that is hostile. The most surprising of these facts is that according to the UN's findings, the youth in India is not accepting of people from this community.

The problems that people face at the workplace and in the county, in general, are ones a cis-hetero candidate is not even likely to consider. Gauri Sawant, who is one of the most vocal voices on transgender rights and the face of a popular, touching Vicks ad, said that it is a matter of identity and of survival. "It is a shame that I need to knock on the doors of the Supreme Court to ask for basic rights. Honestly, I don't want to, but I will have to, so that we are treated with dignity," she said.

She also spoke about how trans parents are perceived by society as being heroes, when in actuality, they do not want to be treated as a marginalised or special community. Echoing this sentiment, Radhika Piramal, who is the executive director of VIP Industries, spoke about how there is no need to frame 'special' or 'extra' rules for people who are LGBTI, just that existing ones need to be framed such that they can prevent discrimination.

Meenakshi Ganguly, who is the South Asia director of the Human Rights Watch, said that talking about rights and claiming them makes people feel uncomfortable. "We claim to be 'okay' with gay and lesbian people. I have heard so many people say,'Why do they need to display it [their sexuality] in public, that is our only problem.'" She highlighted the fact that discrimination also manifests itself in the more subtle ways  the joke one may forward, the snide remark one may pass, or the judgments we pass. Nandita Das, too, spoke about how challenging the norm is unheard of India, a country where "there is no word for many people's sexual orientations".

She also shed light on how these standards fare when it comes to Indian law and the perception of the country internationally. "When I talk about India, I have to tell people that my country lives in many centuries. First we decriminalised Section 377, then we recriminalised it. We seem like a country that is confused about the issue," she says. But she emphasises that this law and India's stance on it is motivated by many factors, one of which is the need to have a permanent place on the Security Counsel of the UN.

Piramal stressed on the role that the private sector can play to ensure that these standards are followed, and that more people who identify as LGBTI can avail of opportunities. She credited this to the reputation of the private sector  built on its efficiency and ability to adapt  and said that it can lead the way and set the example. "I'm not a socialist. I'm an unapologetic capitalist," said Keshav, who added that one can think of profit and socially aware and sensitive policies as being mutually inclusive.

Radhika Piramal's advice to the LGBTI community and allies is that they must be optimistic. She says that apart from higher growth rates and productivity, being inclusive and accepting of LGBTI individuals at the workplace sets an example of how the company will handles an employee during their most vulnerable time.

Piramal also clarified that there is a misconception that one can be arrested for being gay or lesbian. She says that mere knowledge of one's sexual orientation cannot prompt an arrest, because the law clearly mentions that it is 'unnatural sex' that is illegal. "This means that HR companies and departments can safely have non-discriminative policies," she said.

Changing rules and setting up a new, non-discriminative system is far from being easy. Piramal says that she is the only one in VIP who has come out, despite setting up an inclusive system. Keshav Suri, Executive Director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group, spoke about how MNCs who have an LGBTI-inclusive policy in general can tend to alter it in country's where homosexuality is criminalised. He also mentioned that the voices in the community who are speaking out are doing so despite the fear of what the consequences may be. Still, these panelists have a strong resolve, and so far, they have not faced any backlash from the public sector or authorities or even allied businesses for being inclusive.

Suri recounted the experience of meeting Narendra Modi at a Niti Ayog event and asking him what the public and private sectors can do for the welfare of the LGBTI community. "My point was to talk to the other private players on the table and to get them to share points. In the end, I helped them draft policies based on the one we follow in my own company," he narrates.

All panelists said that leading by example and sharing personal stories can be very effective in ensuring that the organisation is effective. Parmesh Shahani, who heads the Godrej Culture Lab, said that by inviting the heads of departments and brands within Godrej for programmes on the LGBTI community, the company manages to set an example for the rest of the employees, who will look up to their heads and value such conversations as being important.

Suri is of the opinion that change trickles from top-down. He has strived towards ensuring that his chain of hotels become gender-agnostic; people are no longer forced to put down their gender when filling up forms to check in, and they are asked how they would like to be addressed. Apart from hiring people from the community, he has also created an environment where anyone who feels that they are being discriminated against can come and personally talk to him.

The most striking point made during this panel discussion was when Piramal said that engaging with people who are against LGBTI rights. "Talking to the resistance is my priority. I believe that we need to change impressions of the mainstream," she said.
Consent.

That most bandied about word acquired more layers of sleaze this week as Harvey Weinstein  the once powerful Hollywood movie mogul  claimed that he had never forced himself on any of the 30-odd women who accused him of sexual assault/harassment. He said that any sex they had was consensual. And he continued to say this even as the women went public with the minute details of his predatory behaviour.

Actress Rose McGowan is among the women who publicly accused Weinstein of rape. She tweeted to Jeff Bezos that she had repeatedly told Amazon studio bosses about Weinstein's attack, but was told 'it hadn't been proven'. "I said I was the proof," McGowan tweeted.

So the onus of proof was on her, the survivor and not on the alleged rapist because he was a rich and powerful man. Why are we not surprised? Because this happens again and again and the rich and powerful usually win even though the survivors story might make juicy headlines for a while.

And therein lies the problem. Rape is a dirty, secret act which is difficult to prove. It has nothing to do with sexual desire and everything to do with power play. Sex between two consenting adults is something very different from forced sex with a woman who has had to acquiesce to having intercourse with a man she find despicable, frightening or just plain repulsive. And if the man who forces himself on the unwilling woman is rich and powerful, proof becomes more elusive. (We're framing this in man-woman terms, but this holds true of all genders and sexualities.)

McGowan had initially been silenced with money. But after the New York Times story broke, she felt she had to speak out. The NYT investigation had unearthed a trail of emails, documents, legal records and details of at least eight settlements Weinstein had reached with various women over several decades. The abuse was well known right through the industry and even to the media, but the silence was all pervading because he was a man who could make or break careers. However, once the stopper was pulled, there was no going back. The stories of sexual assault spilled out like loads of slime.

Weinsteins reported technique was both sickening and predictable. He would call a young woman to his office or to his hotel room to discuss a script. Within moments he would disappear into the bathroom and reappear clothed only in a bath robe with a bottle of lotion in his hand and would ask the woman to get naked and massage him. If she refused he would force her into doing what he wanted, or ask if they wanted to see him take a shower. Some escaped. Others ended up massaging him/being forced to have sex. Their disgust, fear and shame silenced them effectively.

One of them was a 28-year-old woman who was trying to build up her career, when she was trapped in a room and overpowered by Harvey Weinstein. He was a 64-year-old world famous personality who owned the company in which she was working. She was nothing in the scheme of things. What could she have done, she asked, given the balance of power.

Rose McGowan described it more graphically. Now imagine his huge size, his monster face/body closing in on you. In one second, your life path is not yours. You have been stolen, she said. Many of the women broke down and wept and were traumatised for life by Weinsteins gross behaviour. But they all kept quiet for fear of the repercussions it would have on their careers.

So this is what Weinstein calls consent. And he is not alone. Other aging once-powerful men including RK Pachauri and AK Ganguly have preyed on their female colleagues and made sexual overtures to them despite being vigorously rejected. So what made them think that the no in these cases was actually a yes? What made them even imagine that these vulnerable young women on the threshold of their lives would find gross, old men attractive?

As one of Weinsteins victims said, women bought up in traditional homes where they are expected to obey and respect their seniors might freeze with fear, disgust and disbelief in such a situation. And this perhaps could be interpreted by as acceptance. Or in some cases a woman might consent to have a quid pro quo arrangement sex in return for career advancement or better wages. This could also be interpreted by a stretch of imagination as consensual sex.

One of Weinsteins victims describes how he forced himself on her though she kept shouting no, no, all throughout. Actress and director Asia Argento gave a more graphic account of the massage she was forced to give and the way in which she was raped. She said, however, she continued to have a relationship with Weinstein for years after that because she felt she had to. She added, After the rape, he won.

In sexual encounters which do not have the sanction of social legitimacy the trapped women are more often than not subjected to victim blaming. They may be chastised or scorned by society for not taking proper precautions or putting themselves in vulnerable situations or even of using their bodies to entrap men. And the blaming becomes worse if the woman is smart or educated. Why would she allow herself to be raped?

But what about women caught in relationships which have the full sanction of tradition and society and religion? Are they any safer?

What about child brides who are forced to consummate marriages into which they have been pushed? What about women who are trapped in marriages with men they find physically unattractive or violent? What about wives of alcoholics or sexual predators or criminals? Would they actually want to or consent to sleep with their husbands? What about young girls forced into marriages with old, visiting Arabs? What about the bought brides who are used like sex slaves in parts of our country where the sex ratios have dropped alarmingly?

And yet our courts hesitate to criminalise marital rape because according to our tradition, a woman who is married is assumed to have consented to having sex with her husband. In other words she does not even have the right to say No.

Even a woman who wants to opt out of a relationship which might have been consensual at one point of time has a tough time. How does she protect herself from sexual or other forms of physical assault by a person whom she once loved and trusted?

And to make matters worse, we now have a feeble no judgement from the Delhi High court. When Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui allegedly attacked a visiting American research scholar in his house she said she tried to resist him, but he was under the influence of alcohol and forced himself on her. Afraid that she would be brutalised, she said she stopped resisting and even feigned an orgasm to get him to stop.

In 2016 Farooqui was given a sentence of seven years imprisonment by a lower court, but Justice Ashutosh Kumar of the Delhi High Court overturned the conviction because he said it was not clear if Farooqui had actually understood that the woman did not want to have sex with him. This was in spite of the woman stating in court that she had not only resisted him but also said no several times.

Instances of woman behaviour are not unknown that a feeble no may mean a yes (sic), Justice Kumar said. He also argued that in an act of passion, actuated by libido, consent could be complex, and it may not necessarily always mean yes in case of yes or no in case of no.

Yes, consent is a very complex issue. But the fact remains that it cannot be taken for granted under any circumstances. Also while it is true that no sexual predator or violent partner is going to read the law books before forcing himself on an unwilling victim, we need properly elucidated laws which will offer proper support to those who have been assaulted.

As Supreme Court lawyer Karuna Nandy said, such a judgement only muddies the waters and will confuse a lot of the issues around consent. What the law says is that consent may be silent, it may be non-verbal, but it has to be unequivocal. And so when somebody says no  even when you think its feeble  and there is no subsequent unequivocal yes, then there is no consent.

And that is really the crux of the issue. Consent is one issue where there is no room for nuance.
Lucknow: The spotlight will be on the Gorakhpur and the Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls in Uttar Pradesh with the recent Amethi visits of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and BJP chief Amit Shah and the SP national convention in Agra setting the stage for a high-octane contest.

Though no date has been announced by the Election Commission (EC) for the by-elections, the two seats will go to polls in the near future as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya vacated them after becoming MLCs.

The BJP will put its best foot forward to ensure that it retains both the parliamentary seats, while the Congress and the Samajwadi Party will make every effort to wrest them in order to send a strong message before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

A win in the bypolls could also set the tone for the 2022 state Assembly elections.

Both the seats are significant as Gorakhpur has been a traditional stronghold of the BJP since 1991 while in Phulpur, the saffron party won for the first time in 2014 and will not like the constituency to slip out of its grip.

Expressing confidence that the party will perform better in the parliamentary bye-elections, UP BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla said, "Undoubtedly, the BJP will not only emerge victorious in both the by-polls, it will also improve its victory margin."

In Phulpur, Maurya had defeated his nearest SP rival by 3,08,308 votes, while in Gorakhpur, Adityanath had defeated his SP rival by 3,12,783 votes.

Asked what makes the party believe that it will improve its margin in the bypolls to the Lok Sabha seat, Shukla said, "The public welfare work which is being done by the UP government and that too in a short span of six months drops enough hints that the party will retain both the seats rather comfortably."

Taking a jibe at the Opposition, which has accused the BJP of not practising what it preached, he said, "The Opposition is only interested in BJP bashing."

"Even during 2017 UP Assembly elections, they had said the BJP will not be able to repeat the grand performance it had put up in 2014 Lok Sabha polls in UP. But, despite this we (along with our allies) were able to win 325 of the 403 Assembly seats," Shukla said.

Last week, the BJP's top leaders descended on "Nehru-Gandhi family bastion" Amethi, with party chief Shah questioning Congress Rahul Gandhi over development in his Lok Sabha constituency and slamming him for mocking Gujarat's development.

Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and the Uttar Pradesh chief minister had targeted Gandhi.

Earlier, Gandhi, during his Amethi visit, had accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re-inaugurating the projects launched by the previous UPA regime in the district.

Even though the Samajwadi Party had finished runners-up in both the seats last time, its electoral ally Congress has also made up its mind to contest the by-elections.

"We will definitely contest the Lok Sabha bypolls. Modalities in this regard are being worked out," party spokesperson Hilal Ahmad said.

Samajwadi Party has claimed that it was ready to contest the bypolls.

"Our preparations down to the booth level are almost complete and we are just waiting for the EC to announce the poll schedule," SP MLC and party spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan said.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav told the party's Agra convention last week that the two key by-elections will give his party a chance to gauge which way the wind is blowing months after it faced a rout in the Assembly polls.

Yadav has already said if results of the elections were in "our favour, it will give a message not only for the 2019 (Lok Sabha polls), but also for the 2022 (assembly polls)".

Exhorting party workers to strengthen the organisation, he had said the SP should emerge as a big force in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

In such a scenario, a split in opposition votes might help the BJP.

There was no word from the BSP so far as to whether the party will throw its hat in the ring.

Usually, Mayawati's party stays away from by-polls, but with the scenario different this time, nothing could be said right now, party insiders said.

During its hay days, Phulpur constituency was represented by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Congress leader Vijay Lakshmi Pandit.

In 2014, Maurya had bagged 5,03,564 votes (52.43 percent of the votes polled) to give BJP its maiden victory in the parliamentary constituency, which was earlier represented by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Gorakhpur saw Adityanath emerging victorious by securing 5,39,127 votes (51.80 percent of the votes polled) in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Adityanath started his winning streak in this Lok Sabha constituency from 1998 and continued it without break till 2014.
New Delhi: Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday dismissed charges that the BJP was interfering with the Election Commission's (EC) work and said it was the up to the poll panel to announce election dates in the state.

"We are not interfering in the announcement of election dates. Let the Election Commission act at its own discretion," Rupani told India TV.

His remarks came amid a row after the EC did not announce election dates for BJP-ruled Gujarat while announcing the same for Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh. The Congress accused the Modi government of "grossest interference" in the working of the poll body.

Rupani said that elections would be held on time in Gujarat and that opposition should protest "had we been delaying the elections".

Responding to the charge that poll announcement was delayed to allow the Bharatiya Janata Party government to announce sops before the model code of conduct comes into effect, Rupani said, "If we implement government programmes, what is wrong with it?.

"We are not concerned with the dates of election, we will continue to serve the people and fulfil their demands.It is my duty to work for people till the last date. When the poll dates are announced, we will stop," he said.
Aligarh: Congress will contest the local body polls in Uttar Pradesh on its own, party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Sunday. "Our party will contest the forthcoming local body polls on its own," Azad said while addressing a function to mark the birth centenary of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.

The notification for the local body polls is likely to be issued before month-end. Azad also said that the Congress was "optimistic regarding its prospects in the forthcoming Assembly polls especially in Gujarat, where BJP was in a panic mode."

"Modi government's popularity graph is going down and recent strategy to use UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath was an indication of this. This desperate move has also flopped," he claimed. Azad said if prime minister Modi was such a "vote-catcher then why was Adityanath being pushed in the campaign in the prime minister's home state."

He said the recent assault on a Muslim youth carrying buffalo meat by alleged cow vigilantes in Faridabad indicated that law enforcement in the country has gone out of the government's hand. "Such incidents are continuing despite claims of the prime minister," he said.

Addressing the function, Congress' state unit president Raj Babbar said that, "it was ironical that UP chief minister Yogi Aditya Nath was campaigning on the plank of providing better law and order in Kerala and Gujarat states while law and order in his own state is collapsing".
Ahmedabad: Hitting back at the Congress, Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday accused the opposition party of having influenced the Election Commission's announcement of Gujarat Assembly poll dates in 2012.

He also refuted the Congress' charge that the poll panel delayed the announcement of Gujarat Assembly election under the government's "pressure".

"In 2012 (Assembly election), the Election Commission ensured at the behest of the Congress that the model code of conduct was in force for a record time to prevent Modiji from working, because of which the state government could not take up development work," Rupani said at an election programme organised in Ahmedabad by news channel India TV.

The chief minister also denied the allegation that the BJP government was interfering with the Election Commission's decisions.

The EC had on Thursday announced that the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held in a single phase on 9 November and the results will be declared on 18 December.

The poll panel did not announce the dates for Assembly elections in Gujarat, but Chief Election Commissioner AK Joti said that the elections will be held before 18 December.

The Congress had on Friday attacked the BJP for "pressuring" the EC to delay the announcement of Gujarat elections and alleged that "past practices, conventions and precedents" were being set aside to help the ruling party in the state.

The Opposition party alleged that the "delay" in announcing Gujarat Assembly election schedule was to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act as a "false Santa Claus" to offer sops and use "jumlas" (rhetoric) during his 16 October visit to his home state.

The model code of conduct would have come into immediate effect in Gujarat had the poll schedule been announced, it added.

Countering the Congress' allegations, Rupani said, "Congress was complaining that the BJP will advance election because of the Uttar Pradesh result...we are not interfering in the process of the Election Commission...we are not delaying elections".

"It is my responsibility to work for the public till the last day. Until the EC declares dates of elections, we will keep working for the public. There is nothing wrong in it. It is our right to work until the dates are declared," the chief minister said.

He said the Opposition should raise an objection only when there is an interference in the election process.

"It is the right of the EC to declare model code of conduct...(the Opposition) wants government to stop working. This is against democratic values," Rupani said.

Asked whether his party has lost the support of the Patidar community, the chief minister asserted it remains with the BJP.

"There is no place for Patidars in Congress. The community remains with us, they know where their interests lie. We are withdrawing cases against Patidars not to make them happy, but to resolve the deadlock by sitting with them, hearing their problems," he said, and exuded confidence that Dalits will vote for the party.

Rupani said his government took strong action against the people involved in thrashing Dalits in Una.

He said his government takes incidents of atrocities on Dalits seriously and immediate action follows against perpetrators.

On 'cow vigilantes', Rupani said his government does not support those doing wrong in the name of protecting cows.

"We do not support people who are doing wrong in the name of cow protection. We will punish them. And along with this, we are also working for cow protection, and have made the harshest law of life sentence for cow slaughter," he said.
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The first reports of the counting results from Gurdaspur showed that Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar was leading by 68,172 votes over his nearest rival BJP contestant Swaran Salaria.

Congress' Sunil Jakhar leaves BJP's Swaran Salaria far behind as counting nears end

Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar is now leads by 1,08,230 votes. The BJP candidate is second while the AAP candidate is a distant third.

Counting as of 11 am

Meanwhile, AAP candidate Major General (Retd) Suresh Khajuria accused the Congress of using "undemocratic means" in the bypoll. "Ruling party used undemocratic means in these elections. People were scared and the youth was almost absent in the bypoll. If they (Congress) win then that victory will not be a respectable one," Khajuria alleged.

The Punjab seat was being held by the late Bollywood actor Vinod Khanna, who had won the seat our times for the BJP. He was first elected from the seat in 1998 and was reelected in 1999 and 2004. He lost the seat to Congress's Pratap Singh Bajwa in 2009 before winning it back in 2014.

"Despite huge investment in terms of time and money, he now finds himself trailing, bringing into question the role played by former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, who managed the poll campaign for the BJP-Akali Dal combine," CNN News18 reported.

After BJP defeat, Sukhbir Badal role is now under scanner

According to The Indian Express, former cabinet minister Sucha Singh Langah had contested unsuccessfully from this constituency in 2012 and 2017 Assembly elections. According to the report, Langah was booked in a rape case on 28 September, just at the beginning of the Gurdaspur election campaign. The attention of whole campaign got shifted to his alleged crime. This may have helped the Congress campaign.

While Congress looks set for a major win, AAP candidate Major General (Retd) Suresh Khajuria loses his deposit after crashing out of the race.

According to Hindustan Times, the Congress is heading towards a big victory in Gurdaspur bypoll. In the 12th round of counting, oarty candidate Sunil Jakhar lead by 1.7 lakh votes.

Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll recorded a 56 percent voter turnout on 11 October. While the battle was always expected to be high profile, the total turnout was lower than the 70.03 percent recorded in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

Majha region has always been Congress' stronghold

Jakhar is the current president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). He was elected for three consecutive terms from Abohar constituency between 2002 and 2017. Jakhar was a Leader of Opposition in Punjab Vidhan Sabha between 2012 and 2017.

The Congress party leads by 182160 votes. While Congress' Sunil Jakhar has bagged 456250 votes, the BJP-SAD alliance has 274090 votes in its kitty. AAP has managed a paltry 21509 votes, reports The Times of India.

During a road show in Pathankot for the Gurdaspur bypoll on 11 October, he said, "We will win this seat with a margin of over two lakh votes".

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday expressed confidence of winning the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha by-election by a big margin, saying his government has brought the state's economy back on track.

"Congress president Sonia Gandhi has approved the name of Sunil Jakhar as party candidate for the forthcoming Lok Sabha by-election from Gurdaspur Parliamentary constituency in Punjab," AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi had said in a statement.

According to various reports, Jakhar has won the Gurdaspur by-election by a margin of 1,93,219 votes. With this victory, the Congress party has wrested the seat from BJP.

"It is a great victory for Punjab government and Congress party. It is a curtain raiser for the bigger fight in 2019 Lok Sabha election. It is the mandate which is the testimony of the anger against the corrupt government of BJP-SAD in Punjab. It is also reflective of the anti-people policy of the Modi government like demonetisation," Bajwa told CNN News18.

"Even the BJP's traditional vote bank did not vote for the party. Modi government's economic policies are destroying the country," Jakhar said after winning the bypoll.

Punjab Congress: Jakhar's win a result of six months of hardwork

The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has nine Assembly segments: Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Qadian, Fathegarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak, Sujanpur and Batala.

Here is the final tally after counting is over

While Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar got 4,99,752 votes, his main rival, BJP's Swarn Singh Salaria could garner 3,06,503 votes only. AAP ended up being a distant third, losing its deposit.

According to various reports, Jakhar has won the Gurdaspur by-election by a margin of 1,93,219 votes. With this victory, the Congress party has wrested the seat from BJP.

"It is a great victory for Punjab government and Congress party. It is a curtain raiser for the bigger fight in 2019 Lok Sabha election. It is the mandate which is the testimony of the anger against the corrupt government of BJP-SAD in Punjab. It is also reflective of the anti-people policy of the Modi government like demonetisation," Bajwa told CNN News18.

"Even the BJP's traditional vote bank did not vote for the party. Modi government's economic policies are destroying the country," Jakhar said after winning the bypoll.

Heartiest congratulations to @sunilkjakhar ji for his decisive victory in the Gurdaspur bypoll! @capt_amarinder @INCPunjab

Congratulations to @suniljakhar and Punjab Congress workers for their win in #GurdaspurByPoll https://t.co/REzZLswHf1

#Gurdaspur was a BJP strong hold for decades. In 2014, it was here PM threw jumla of MSP to farmers. Today, Congress won by 1.9 lakh votes.

Congratulation to Sh @sunilkjakhar Ji for a spectacular win in #Gurdaspur2017 . This win marks 6 months of hard work under @capt_amarinder Ji pic.twitter.com/b0n0Zg6Fbx

Punjab Congress: Jakhar's win a result of six months of hardwork

The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has nine Assembly segments: Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Qadian, Fathegarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak, Sujanpur and Batala.

Here is the final tally after counting is over

While Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar got 4,99,752 votes, his main rival, BJP's Swarn Singh Salaria could garner 3,06,503 votes only. AAP ended up being a distant third, losing its deposit.

Counting of votes polled in the 11 October by-election to the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency began on Sunday.

The counting was being conducted in centres in Gurdaspur and Pathankot towns.

The fate of 11 candidates will be decided by Sunday afternoon.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Swarn Salaria, Congress' Sunil Kumar Jakhar, and Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Major General Suresh Kumar Khajuria (retd) are the main contenders.

Nearly 56 percent of the 15.22 lakh registered voters exercised their franchise for the seat.

The voter turnout was much lower than the over 70 percent polling in the 2014 general elections.

The seat fell vacant in April following the passing away of veteran actor Vinod Khanna, a four-time MP from the seat.

The fight is crucial for the BJP which is trying to retain the seat, the Congress which recently came to power in Punjab and the AAP which is trying to emerge as a strong contender.

With inputs from IANS
Bollywoods macho man and noted actor with a high glam quotient, Vinod Khanna passed away on 27 April this year, but his loss was truly felt by BJP on Sunday.

Punjab Congress president and three-time MLA Sunil Jakhar, also a close confidant of Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has won the Gurdaspur bypoll by 1.93 lakh votes. Polling for the election was necessitated by the demise of BJP leader and sitting MP, Khanna, who had represented Gurdaspur constituency in Lok Sabha earlier between 1998-2009 and 20142017.

Singh, who had endorsed Jakhar's nomination for the party ticket, tweeted:

The #Gurdaspur by-election marks another major step in the revival of @INCIndia, it's clear that party is on upswing ahead of 2019 LS polls  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 15, 2017

Undoubtedly, its a big win for Congress, but it would be too early to write-off the prospects of BJP in the 2019 General Election to Lok Sabha as Opposition sees it. Especially since the party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi had registered a landslide victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections by winning 282 seats for BJP.

Riding high on Sundays victory, the opponents have to hold their horses till 2019 before jumping to any conclusion.

Lets not forget, Congress won the Gurdaspur seat only after the demise of Khanna who had defeated the then sitting MP and Punjab state Congress president Pratap Singh Bajwa in 2014.

According to the locals of Gurdaspur, the actor-turned-politician like his tall and robust personality had acted like a wall in protecting his constituency from the opponents. It was he who had cracked the Lok Sabha constituency Gurdaspur comprising nine Assembly segments  Pathankot, Dina Nagar, Qadian, Batala, Fatehgarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak, Gurdaspur, Sujanpur and Bhoa  and once a Congress bastion, for BJP.

Despite strong anti-Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and anti-Badal sentiments, Khanna had won the Gurdaspur seat. It was then anticipated that barring BJP, either Congress or Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) would win. AAP had fielded its former state president Sucha Singh Chhotepur, who had strong chances to win, but all poll predictions failed in front of Khannas glam factor and public image.

This correspondent had the opportunity to cover the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in Punjab and in one of Khannas rallies in Gurdaspur, the moment the veteran actor appeared to address the public, voters requested him to narrate the lines from his 1971 superhit film Mera Gaon, Mera Desh  "Jabbar Singh ne do baatein seekhi hain. Ek, mauke ka fayeda uthaana. Do, dushmano ko naash karna (Jabbar Singh has learnt two things in life. One, to take advantage of the situation. Two, to destroy enemies).

And Khanna proved it during the polls by emerging a winner. It was his charismatic personality and the works he carried out in his constituency that went in favour of BJP. He was instrumental in building a dozen major and minor bridges on rivers Beas, Ravi and Ujh that connect Gurdaspur with the rest of Punjab and conducted medical camps to provide free heart surgeries for poor patients.

The loss of BJP in this bypoll has been more due to its ally SAD. During the previous Prakash Singh Badal regime, the drug menace grew exponentially in Gurdaspur, taking the form of a major social issue. The menace played an important role in turning the tide in favour of Congress, which saw Singh leading the party to power in the last Assembly polls.

Strong anti-Badal sentiments, public anger against SAD especially in Gurdaspur due to the drug menace and absence of Khannass charisma have added to BJPs loss in the bypoll.

"In Gurdaspur, we couldnt think of anyone other than Khanna. In the 2014 General Election to Lok Sabha, besides his charisma, people voted him in large number as Modi was leading the election. We wanted both BJP under Modi and Khanna to win, and it happened. His absence has left a huge vacuum and it made it easier for Congress to win Gurdaspur seat. Moreover, now its Congress government in Punjab and people have lots of expectations from Singh, Tejinder Singh Khalsa, a trader from Gurdaspur told Firstpost.

People of Gurdaspur think that BJP needs a heavy-weight candidate, who can fill up Khannas vacuum in future. Even today, the voters of this constituency have strong memories of how the veteran Bollywood actor had got his public projects sanctioned from the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and implemented them successfully.
Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Sunday lavished praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he "leads from the front" and takes responsibility for success and failure alike.

"The most important thing in running a government is to provide leadership. It is very important to lead from the front for any leader who is running a government. Narendra Modi is such a leader," he said.

"As a former MP, I have seen many PMs who hesitated in leading from the front. During the Congress regimes in the country it was also seen that some people got credit for achievements which were never theirs while others received brickbats for failures which they could not be blamed for. Things are different under Modi," the JD(U) chief said.

Kumar made these comments at the release a book 'Sava Arab Bharatiyon Ka Sapna' authored by senior Gujarat-based journalist Uday Mahurkar.

The Bihar chief minister lauded the prime minister for having taken "courageous" decisions like demonetisation, GST and surgical strikes, which were criticised by Opposition parties. Kumar said he always supported these measures, which were tough but necessary for the welfare of people.

Defending his decision to quit the three-party Grand Alliance, Kumar said, "There can be no compromise with corruption. The decision was taken keeping the interest of Bihar in mind".

Kumar's JD(U) had quit the "Mahagathbandhan" -comprising the Congress and Lalu Prasad Yadav's RJD in July this year. He quit the alliance and joined hands with the BJP after the RJD rejected his suggestion that Prasad's son and the then deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav give an explanation in public over corruption cases lodged by the CBI against the father-son duo in the hotels for land scam.

After Kumar resigned as the chief minister, the BJP immediately offered support for forming a new government which he accepted.

Speaking at the same function, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi praised both the prime minister and Kumar, saying "I see very little difference in their style of functioning. Our chief minister has rich experience in governance and he has taken many praiseworthy decisions".

BJP national secretary general Anil Jain lamented that the Modi government was coming under attack through various campaigns like "Vikas pagal ho gaya hai (development has gone mad)" on social media which was recently used by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to target the prime minister.

Nitish, while delivering his speech, told Jain, "Have courage. Do not get perturbed by such campaigns. Those who act courageously always succeed".
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday over Donald Trump's remarks about improving ties with Pakistan, saying that the US president "needs another hug".

Trump had said on Saturday that Pakistan took "tremendous advantage" of the US over the years, but the two countries are now "starting to have a real" relationship.

Posting a snapshot of Trump's tweet, Gandhi said, "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."

The Congress leader's remarks were in reference to the visible bonhomie between Trump and Modi with the two leaders exchanging hugs during the prime minister's last visit to the US.

"Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts," Trump had said in a tweet on Saturday.

Trump's comments had come a day after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror group.
Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray on Sunday accused cousin Uddhav Thackeray and the Shiv Sena of "horse-trading", two days after six MNS BMC corporators defected to the Sena.

"These municipal corporators have been bought over by Shiv Sena. Money was thrown to break these (MNS) corporators," Raj said, in the most direct attack on his estranged cousin till date.

Raj backed it up with a sensational revelation that the corporators were bought over "for Rs 5 crore each by Shiv Sena".

He claimed that the people were fed up with Shiv Sena's dirty politics and "it's because of Uddhav's low-level politics that even I quit that party".

He warned that people of the state won't forget this and "I shall also remember it".

The MNS chief also dismissed suggestions that he (Raj) had entered into a secret political deal with the Shiv Sena.

"I have not sent these six corporators... Why should I? If I wanted, I would have dispatched all my seven corporators... The Shiv Sena is spreading canards against me," Raj said.

He admitted that he had always helped his cousin's party, "but this was not expected of the Shiv Sena".

On Friday, in a political development that shocked the MNS and Bharatiya Janata Party, six out of seven MNS corporators in BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) defected to the Shiv Sena.

With this, the ruling Sena strength in the 227-member BMC shot up from 83 to 89. It also has the support of independents.

The strength of the BJP, which won a bypoll in Bhandup, shot up to 83. Two independents also support it.

After the Bhandup win, the BJP had claimed it would soon topple the Shiv Sena and install its own Mayor on the country's biggest and richest civic body.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Sunday verdict of the Vengara Assembly bypoll was most humiliating for BJP, which is on a mission to make inroads into deep south before the 2019 General Elections to Lok Sabha.

Many senior cabinet ministers, chief ministers (from BJP-ruled states) and national leaders have taken part in padayatras (foot marches) with its state president Kummanam Rajasekharan as part of the Janaraksha Yatra to save people (in Kerala) from red and jihadi terror. In fact, for the first time in an Assembly by-election in Kerala, BJP's top national and state leaders campaigned for party candidate K Janachandran Master expecting the roadshow to spin more votes, if not a sure win.

But despite a high-voltage campaign, Master could muster only 5,728 of the 122,623 votes polled, which was less than its tally of 7,015 in 2016 and 5,952 votes that the party had managed from this segment in the recent Malappuram Lok Sabha by-election.

Even more humiliating was the fact that the Social Democratic Party (SDPI), which is taking lessons from the hardline Hindutva politics that the BJP practises in Kerala, went away with more votes (8,648) mainly eating into the votes of KNA Khader, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate fielded by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

A missed opportunity?

Hindus constitute around 25 percent of the electorate of the Muslim-dominated constituency but they too appeared to have given a cold shoulder to BJP harping on the jihadi terror.

Its "development" slogan also failed to enthuse voters at large hit hard by the demonetisation fiasco. There was an increase of 1,590 in total votes polled this time, and the youngsters too seem to have ignored the Hindutva bandwagon.

Many feel that BJPs communally charged campaign helped the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) in a big way to make inroads into the IUML vote bank, unleashing a communal campaign that Muslims would be safe only under its protection.

Even some BJP supporters feel the party should stop Muslim bashing and instead engage with them constructively on issues like triple talaq and women empowerment and it should have fielded a non-Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) candidate.

"I feel BJP committed a mistake in understanding the Muslim mind. The party could have highlighted issues like triple talaq which others fail to take up," said KVS Haridas, political commentator, and former editor of BJP mouthpiece in Malayalam, Janmabhoomi.

"BJP had got its traditional votes, more or less. But I feel it lost a great opportunity to field a Muslim woman candidate and make a difference from others. It should have been a real experiment for the party that is trying to expand its base in Kerala."

However, Haridas feels that the BJPs anti-red and jihadi terror blitzkrieg with regular protest marches simultaneously on the AKG Bhavan and the CPM headquarters in the national capital is more targeted at the cowbelt than Kerala.

Muslims constitute 26.58 percent and Christians 18.33 percent in Kerala. People of all faiths live together in harmony in the state's villages and towns and has no history of communal riots.

"I have been telling the party time and again that you cannot go ahead without taking minorities into confidence in Kerala," he told Firstpost.

"I perceive this as a failure on the part of BJP. It has a lot of opportunities in Kerala joining hands with all democratic forces against the Communist tyranny, which is not allowing any political opponents function freely."

The electoral setback would not affect the ongoing statewide roadshow, said Haridas, adding that BJP national president Amit Shah will join the marchers on Tuesday, when the show ends in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

Shah had earlier skipped a show of strength in Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's village where many have fallen victims to revenge killings between the two groups, and speculations were rife that the BJP chief was upset with the poor response that the Yatra evoked.

It's UDF vs LDF

Abdul Nasar, a voter who runs a furniture business in Vengara town, said both CPM and SDPI of the militant Popular Front of India (PFI) benefitted from the feeling of insecurity that the BJP campaign created among the Muslims.

Both parties used the alleged lynchings by cow vigilantes in northern parts of India to whip up passions and accused Congress and its allies of a soft-Hindutva approach while BJP leaders like Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who also participated in the Janaraksha Yatra only strengthened the perception.

The warning of IUML candidate, a Communist Party of India (CPI) leader who switched sides some years ago, against the Communist dictatorship, came handy for CPM.

In the process, PP Basheer, the CPM candidate, cornered 41,917 votes, improving on his 2016 tally of 33,275, while Khader could bag only 65,227 votes, despite a sharp increase in the turnout, far below 73,804 votes his predecessor PK Kunhalikutty got.

The bypoll was necessitated after Kunhalikutty, a hugely popular leader in the district and a five-time state minister, got elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament, replacing E Ahamed, who died in February.

"The CPM launched a high-decibel campaign and it appears to have paid off a little," Nasar told Firstpost.

"But more than that, Basheer is a local boy whom Kunhalikutty defeated in 2016, while Khader was new to the constituency. Both are lawyers and former comrades."

Hawks like Welfare Party of India (WPI) of the Jamaat-e-Islami professing political Islam and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Abdul Nasar, an under-trial prisoner arraigned in the 2008 Bengaluru blasts, who had together received 3,336 votes in 2016, were absent in the fray this time.

Their votes too could have gone into the CPM kitty as both want IUML's decline so as to expand their base in the Muslim heartland.

Khader, upset at the reduced margin of victory, alleged that there was a flagrant misuse of power, and that communal forces were helping each other in "their own way" and the CPM had teamed up with BJP in their campaign for a "Congress-mukt Bharat."

"I will reveal more things in the Assembly," Khader told Firstpost, adding, "I see this as a victory of secular democratic forces against the Stalinists and rightwingers."

But the criminal investigation against popular Congress leader and two-time chief minister Oommen Chandy, who had spent a lot of time in the constituency campaigning for Khader, on the polling day came as an unexpected blow to the UDF juggernaut.

Acting in haste, Vijayan instituted a high-level police investigation, based on an unpublished 1073-page report that retired justice G Sivarajan had submitted two weeks ago into the allegations of receiving "bribe and sexual favours" from a woman. The police had arrested the woman ((when Chandy was Kerala chief minister) and charged her with cheating to the tune of Rs 6.75 crore offering solar solutions in 33 cases.

The announcement at a rare press briefing by Vijayan shocked the entire state for its unprecedented magnitude, prompting the soft-spoken senior leader AK Antony to describe it as a "cheap move that fourth-grade politicians make on the polling day".

Others describe it as an act of "tying someone to a pole and whipping and giving no room to respond" as the government rejected Chandys request for a copy of the report which even other members of the cabinet have not reportedly seen.

Analysts feel the CPM game plan using the solar case could backfire in the long run, which might not stand in a court of law and charges of sexual assault against Chandy might not go down well with the people.

"The BJP engaged in a blatant Muslim bashing and the question put to the people was whos the vanguard of the minorities. They shunned politics of violence," said KM Shajahan, a commentator and former private secretary of veteran CPM leader VS Achuthanandan.

"I think UDF had not lost much grounds to the CPM. But remember, Khader is not Kunhalikutty. I dont think cheap political games like trapping opponents in sex scandals would work," he told Firstpost.

The 67-year-old two-time legislator was pitted against his one-time protege, 50-year-old Basheer, and the CPM feels he had put up a great show by reducing his rivals winning margin.

"The good thing about this election is the fact that BJP is on the decline," Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram. "The increased vote share of SDPI is also a cause for worry," he added.

CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, who cut a sorry figure last time saying that the Malappuram by-election would be the peoples rating on its government, had refused to make any such claims this time.

Kunhalikutty had won the Malappuram by-election by a margin of 171,023 votes. In the Vengara segment, he got more than double (73,804) that his rival MB Faisal had polled (33,275), while the BJP candidate N Sreeprakash was a distant third.

In the 2016 Assembly polls, Kunhalikutty had defeated Basheer by a margin of 38,057 votes. He had garnered 72,181 votes as against Basheers 34,124 and 7,055 polled by BJPs PT Ali Haji.

In the 2011 General Elections to the state Assembly, LDF candidate KP Ismayil, fielded by Indian National League (INL), had polled only 24,901 votes against Kunhalikuttys 63,138.
tech2 News Staff

Samsung is expected to kick-off its annual Developer Conference later this week in San Francisco and we could expect a few surprises at the event. Latest reports suggest that the event could see the unveiling of Bixby 2.0, an improved version of Samsung's virtual assistant.

According to a report by DroidLife Samsung has replaced its head of development for Bixby, In-jong Rhee. He is now replaced by Eui-suk Chung as in charge of further developing Bixby though the company did clarify in a statement to the Korean Herald that Rhee will continue to oversee the service intelligence group.

This suggests that Samsung has been rather unhappy with the response to Bixby worldwide and will be looking to change things with future iterations of the assistant. According to the Korean Herald report, the Korean tech company's mobile business chief Dong-jin Koh said, We will supplement the incomplete parts of Bixby 1.0 with Bixby 2.0, at a media conference.

Outside developers will participate in the development of Bixby 2.0 although they could not for Bixby 1.0 due to time shortage, he added. Bixby 2.0 is also expected to expand to third-party services and products beyond smartphones, an approach which has borne fruit for Amazon's Alexa.
PTI

Cellular operators association COAI has favoured a steep hike in international termination charges to Rs 3.50 a minute against 53 paise per minute at present. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is currently in the midst of reviewing these rates, paid by foreign carriers for terminating international calls in India.

"Today, there is a 20:1 imbalance between incoming and outgoing international calls. In order to adjust the imbalance, you need to go to Rs 3.50 on a weighted average basis, to correct the arbitrage," COAI Director General Rajan Mathews told PTI. COAI has argued there is a need to bridge the gap between blended termination rate paid by Indian operators for outgoing international calls and the termination rates received by them on international incoming calls.

Mathews sought to draw a distinction between termination charge complexities that come into play for domestic and international calls. "International interconnect rates are not as simple as domestic because there are multiple countries with their own regulatory processes and they set their own rates...also there are currency fluctuations to deal with," Mathews added.

The blended termination rate paid by Indian operators is around Rs 3.50 a minute for outgoing international calls compared to 53 paise per minute termination rate received by them on incoming international calls, COAI has contended. "Therefore, we are saying that our operators are at a disadvantage because we end up paying precious foreign exchange out...the problem with international is that (Indian) regulator has no control on the other side (for outgoing call termination charges) so other side is free to charge whatever they want," he said.

TRAI will come out with a separate regulation on the international termination charges. The issue had formed a part of the consultation paper on Interconnection Usage Charges or IUC but was carved out for separate deliberations by the regulator.
tech2 News Staff

In an interview with French media company Konbini, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that it was better for students to learn to develop programs than to learn a second language. Cook's reasoning was that learning to code would allow the students to reach more people in the world than learning a second language would.

"If I were a French student, and I were ten years old, I think it would be more important for me to learn coding than English." Then Cook went on to clarify that "I'm not telling people not to learn English, but I think you understand what I am saying, is that, this is a language you can express yourself to seven billion people in the world."

According to Cook, coding should be required in every public school in the world, and indicated that Apple had done its part to make coding accessible by developing Swift, a programming language that is as simple to learn as Apple's products are easy to use. "It is the language that everyone needs," explains Cook, "Not just for the computer scientists, it's for all of us." Check out the interview below.

According to Quartz, learning a second language does have its benefits, including rewiring your brain in several advantageous ways, and improving your opportunities for finding employment. Cook also expounded on the benefits of mobile applications, which are democratising learning and allowing more people to access training for cheaper rates. An example Cook gave was how the cost of guitar lessons were high, and mobile applications allowed them to learn to play the instrument.

Closer back home school students typically study anywhere between two to four languages, apart from an outdated programming language.
tech2 News Staff

Catching up to other similarly priced plans by telecom operators, Vodafone India has rolled out a new plan for its prepaid customers, just ahead of Diwali.

Under the new Rs 399 plan, prepaid users can avail 90 GB of 4G data as well as unlimited calling for 6 months from the recharge date. The new 399 plan launched days before the festival season starts, will compete directly against Airtel and Reliance Jio's 399 plan which also offers similar data and unlimited voice calling options.

Airtel's 399 plan offers 1 GB of data per day and unlimited calling for 28 days to 4G handset users, while non-4G handset users enjoy marginally higher daily data consumption limits of 1.25 GB per day with the same validity. Reliance Jio's 399 plan, on the other hand, offers its 'Prime' users 84 GB of data for 84 days with the fair usage policy (FUP) set to 1 GB of data per day. Jio Prime users also get unlimited local, as well as STD, calls with the same 399 plan.

As part of its Diwali offerings, Reliance Jio is also offering its customers a chance to avail 100 percent cash back in the form of vouchers on recharging for RS 399. According to the company's website, these vouchers will arrive in denominations of Rs 50 and can be availed after 15 November.

(Disclosure: Reliance Industries Ltd is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd)
Ain Issa: Some foreign Islamic State group fighters have left the one-time jihadist bastion of Raqqa in Syria under a deal as the city's capture nears, a local official said on Sunday.

"A portion of the foreigners have left," said Omar Alloush, a senior member of the Raqqa Civil Council, when asked about a deal announced Saturday for IS jihadists to evacuate Raqa.

He could not confirm how many fighters had left the city on Saturday, or where they had gone. "They took civilians as human shields and left," he added.

On Saturday, Allouch said that a deal had been reached for foreign and Syrian IS fighters to leave Raqqa.

Earlier, the US-led coalition backing the assault on the city said a convoy would leave Raqa but specifically ruled out the exit of foreign IS fighters.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, has been battling since June to capture Raqqa.

They hold around 90 percent of the city, but have struggled to take remaining IS positions over fears of large numbers of civilians being held as human shields.

Raqqa was once the de facto Syrian capital of the Islamic State group's self-styled "caliphate" stradding Syria and Iraq.

Its loss would be the latest in a string of blows to the group, which has ceded large swathes of territory including Iraq's second city Mosul.
Vienna: Austrians were voting in a snap election tipped to see conservative Sebastian Kurz, 31, become the EU's youngest leader and form an alliance with the far-Right, in the bloc's latest populist test.

A rightward shift in the wealthy European Union member of 8.75 million people would be a fresh headache for Brussels, as it already struggles with Britain's decision to leave and the rise of nationalists in Germany, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere.

But all signs indicate that Austrians, fed up with a record influx of asylum-seekers, want to swap the gridlocked centrist rule for a more hard-line government for the first time in a decade.

The People's Party (OeVP)rebranded by Kurz as his "personal movement"is projected to reap more than 30 percent of the vote with pledges to go tough on migrants and easy on taxes.

The fresh-faced "whizz-kid" is likely to form a coalition with the eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPOe), forecast to place second or third with at least 25 percent. Founded by ex-Nazis, the FPOe almost won the presidency last year and topped opinion polls, before Kurz stole votes with his radical OeVP makeover in spring.

FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache, 48, railed against asylum-seekers and vowed to stop Austrians from "becoming a minority in our own homeland", at a rally the day before.

Meanwhile, embattled Chancellor Christian Kern, 51, and his once-mighty Social Democrats (SPOe) could be flushed into opposition after their promising campaign suffered blunders and scandals. Open hostility between the ex-railway chief and Kurz also makes any new attempt at ruling together seem unlikely.

Kern, in office since last May, issued a final warning against a right-wing alliance, saying "Austria was at the most important crossroads in decades". The OeVP and FPOe already shared power between 2000 and 2007.

At the time the alliance with the far-right -- then led by the late, SS-admiring Joerg Haider -- ostracised Austria. But its return may not trigger the same backlash now that

nationalists have gained ground across Europe. Polls opened at 9 am and close at 8.30 pm with first estimates expected shortly afterwards.

Some 6.4 million people are eligible to vote in the closely-watched ballot. The early parliamentary election was triggered after Kurz took over the OeVP in May and ended the bickering "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats.

For his turquoise movement, he drew young candidates from outside politics and vowed to put "Austrians first" again. "I am feeling optimistic," OeVP party volunteer Michael Brandstetter told AFP in Vienna.

"The way Kurz goes about things is what has captured people's minds." As foreign minister, Kurz claims credit for closing the so-called western Balkan migrant route in 2016, earning him praise at home.

Pushing far-right themes, the ambitious politician wants to cut benefits for all foreigners and shut Islamic kindergartens. Kurz and Strache also see eye-to-eye on lowering taxes, slashing Austria's red tape and keeping the EU more out of national affairs.

Experts say their union could turn Austria into a tricky partner for the bloc. Vienna will hold the EU's presidency in the second half of 2018, just when Brussels wants to conclude Brexit talks in March 2019.

Strache thinks Britain "will probably be better off after Brexit" and pushes for closer ties with eastern and central European countries. "The Freedom Party as a government partner will not make a good impression in Europe (and) Kurz is aware of that," commented Der Standard newspaper.

"But the question is whether there is any getting around Strache after this election."
Agartala: Bangladesh has given shelter to 10 lakh distressed Rohingyas fleeing Myanmar despite its economic and demographic problems and a longstanding row with Myanmar, a top Bangladesh official said.

"Bangladesh has (had) disputes with Myanmar for many years. Despite our economic and other burdens, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has decided to provide shelter to the hapless 10 lakh Rohingyas entirely on humanitarian grounds," Bangladesh prime minister's media adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury told reporters late on Saturday.

He said that after horrific atrocities, Myanmar Army evicted the innocent Rohingyas. "Systematic rapes, massacres, torture and setting fire to their homes and assets in Rakhine state" forced Rohingya Muslims to flee their traditional homeland.

"This cruel persecution (was) aimed at making Rakhine state a Rohingya-free zone."

Pointing out that over the past several years, five lakh Rohingyas had taken shelter in southeast Bangladesh, he said that in the past six weeks over 550,000 more Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh.

"If Bangladesh does not give shelter to the ill-fated Rohingyas, where would they go? However, our government and the security forces are alert so that in future no security threat emerges out of the large number of Rohingyas and their temporary camps," Chowdhury added.

The official said the minorities, specially the Hindus, were very much safe in Bangladesh with over 30,000 Durga Pujas, 777 more than last year, held this year in the Muslim-dominated nation.

Chowdhury, who was here on a two-day visit to attend a cultural meet, said bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh were regarded as historic and, of late, they have reached new heights due to the joint efforts of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina.

"Bangladesh aspires for further enhancing the long friendship with India. Despite the Teesta water dispute, India (has been) helping Bangladesh a lot and supporting the latter's causes, including the Rohingya issue."

The visiting official said the (Bangladesh) prime minister had already declared that the country's soil would not be allowed to be used by militants and other "inimical elements of northeast India".

"Currently, there is no militant camp or hideout of northeast India terrorist outfits (that) exists in Bangladesh territory."

He said people from both sides want improved relations between the two neighbours. Last year, 14 lakh Bangladeshis visited India for different purposes such as business, medical treatment and travel.

Five Indian statesWest Bengal (2,216 km), Tripura (856 km), Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km)share India's 4,096-km border with Bangladesh.
Lisbon: Britain and Ireland braced on Sunday for a lashing from Ophelia, the largest hurricane ever recorded so far east in the Atlantic Ocean, after it dumped heavy rains on Portugal's Azores islands.

As the storm passed near the Azores archipelago on Saturday it was classed Category 3, which means it packed winds of at least 178 kilometres (110 miles) per hour.

Though the storm will weaken as it churns toward Ireland and Britain, it still packs enough power to damage buildings and provoke "dangerous" sea conditions as well as potential flooding, authorities said.

Ophelia is the fifteenth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic season, which is expected to last until the end of November.

Three major hurricanes  Harvey, Irma and Maria  caused catastrophic damage in the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast.

According to meterologists, Ophelia is the most powerful hurricane recorded so far east in the Atlantic and the first since 1939 to travel so far north.

But by the time it reaches Ireland on Monday it is expected to weaken to a "post tropical storm" with severe winds and stormy conditions, according to the US National Hurricane Center.

Seven of the nine islands in the Azores were on high alert for the storm's passage, but it did not cause major damage, authorities told reporters.

Still, firefighters responded to calls of flooding and a downed tree on the island of Sao Miguel. Several flights between the islands or mainland Portugal were cancelled, affecting about 800 passengers.

Five counties in the west of Ireland will be placed on red alert for "severe" weather conditions from Monday morning to early Tuesday, the Irish Meteorological Service said.

People in those counties are advised "to take action to protect themselves" and their property.

As a result bus services have been cancelled on Monday for schoolchildren in the five western counties because officials fear the students "could therefore be exposed to severe elements", said operator Bus Eireann.

"Schools will make their own decisions on whether to open or remain closed," it said. "We are aware this decision may cause inconvenience, but safety of schoolchildren is our number one priority."

Mean wind speeds in excess of 80 kilometres per hour and gusts of over 130 kph are expected, the weather service said.

Parts of Britain, meanwhile, have been placed on yellow alert for Monday and Tuesday, the lowest warning level triggered by "serious" weather conditions.
Washington: Hillary Clinton says President Donald Trump's threat to pull out of the Iran nuclear accord is "dangerous," and she suggests her former campaign opponent is undermining the validity of the United States' promises to other nations.

Trump had accused Iran of violating the landmark 2015 accord, blaming the Iranians for a litany of sinister behaviour and hitting their main military wing with anti-terror penalties. Trump, breaking his campaign pledge to rip up the agreement, did not pull the US out or re-impose nuclear sanctions, though he left that option on the table.

Clinton, in an interview recorded Wednesday and set to air tomorrow CNN, said Trump's insistence on decertifying the deal, even though evidence has pointed to Iranian compliance, "makes us look foolish and small and plays right into Iranian hands."

"That is bad not just on the merits for this particular situation, but it sends a message across the globe that America's word is not good," said Clinton, who spoke in advance of Trump's announcement two days later.

"We have different presidents, and this particular president is, I think, upending the kind of trust and credibility of the United States' position and negotiation that is imperative to maintain."

Clinton, who as secretary of state for President Barack Obama began negotiations on the deal, did say Iran is engaging in other dangerous behaviour. For now, Trump is tossing the issue to Congress and the other nations in the accord, telling lawmakers to toughen the law that governs US participation and calling on the other parties to fix a series of deficiencies.

Those include the scheduled expiration of key restrictions under "sunset provisions" that begin to kick in in 2025, as well as the omission of provisions on ballistic missile testing and terrorism.

The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee also denounced Trump's bellicose language toward North Korea, believing his verbal aggression has rattled American allies. "We will now have an arms race: A nuclear arms race in East Asia," Clinton predicted.

"We will have the Japanese, who understandably are worried with missiles flying over them as the North Koreans have done, that they can't count on America."

She stressed that a diplomatic solution was preferred, suggested the inflammatory rhetoric played into Kim Jong-un's hands and bemoaned Trump's public undercutting of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he tweeted "Save your energy, Rex" after the nation's top diplomat had suggested negotiations.

"Diplomacy, preventing war, creating some deterrents is slow, hard-going, difficult work," said Clinton, who declined to answer when asked whether Tillerson should resign. "And you can't have impulsive people or ideological people who basically say, 'Well, we're done with you.'"

Clinton, who recently released a book that recounts her election defeat to Trump, has been an aggressive critic of the president. The White House did not immediately return a request to respond to her comments.
London: Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton cautioned Britain on Sunday over its push to secure a trade deal with US president Donald Trump after it leaves the European Union (EU).

Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate who lost out to Trump in last Novembers election, also said Britain would face serious disruption if it left the EU without a negotiated deal with Brussels.

The British government has talked up the prospect of bilateral trade deals with the United States and others as one of the major benefits of leaving the EU following last years surprise referendum vote to leave.

Asked about the prospects of a British-US deal, Clinton told the BBC: Youre making a trade deal with somebody who says he doesnt believe in trade, so Im not quite sure how thats going to play out over the next few years.

British prime minister Theresa May visited Trump in January to talk trade. The countries share $200 billion of trade each year.

But May has since intervened in a dispute between US aerospace firm Boeing and Canadian planemaker Bombardier, lobbying in the interests of Bombardier to try to protect jobs at its factory in Northern Ireland.

Clinton also said Britain would be at a very big disadvantage if divorce negotiations with the EU failed, and went on to compare the factors behind the Brexit vote to her own election loss.

Looking at the Brexit vote now it was a precursor to some extent to what happened to us in the United States... The amount of fabricated, false information that your voters were given by the Leave campaign, she said.

She said her own presidential campaign was subject to similar treatment, citing the spread of false stories by online news outlets, and warned that Britain and other countries must be alert to the risks of such new media.

The big lie is a very potent tool, she said.
Mogadishu: The death toll from twin bomb blasts that struck busy junctions in the heart of Somalias capital Mogadishu has jumped to 85, making it one of the deadliest attacks since an Islamist insurgency began in 2007.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo declared three days of national mourning and called for donations of blood and funds to victims of Saturdays attack. At least 100 others were wounded.

Police said a truck bomb exploded outside a hotel in the K5 intersection that is lined with government offices, restaurants and kiosks, flattening several buildings and setting dozens of vehicles on fire.

Two hours later, another blast struck the capitals Medina district.

"The number of dead has risen to 85. We know some 100 who were injured," Mohamed Hussein, a police official, told Reuters, giving combined figures of casualties. He said the toll was likely to rise. Police previously said 22 people had died.

On Sunday, police and emergency workers searched the rubble of destroyed buildings. They also recovered dozens of corpses the night before, most of which were charred beyond recognition.

Hundreds of people came to the junction in search of missing family members and police cordoned off the area for security reasons.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although the Islamist militant group al Shabaab, which is allied to Al Qaeda, stages regular attacks in the capital and other parts of the country.

The group is waging an insurgency against the UN-backed government and its African Union allies in a bid to topple the weak administration and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam.

The militants controlled Mogadishu between 2007 and 2011 but withdrew as fighting raged. African Union peacekeepers also drove them out of most other territory they controlled.
Rabat: Moroccan security services have arrested 11 people with suspected links to the Islamic State (IS) group, the Interior Ministry announced in a statement.

According to the statement issued on Saturday, the suspects were active in the neighbouring northern cities of Fez and Meknes in the economic capital Casablanca and in the central city of Khouribga, Xinhua reported.

Deeming the suspects as forming an "extremely dangerous" terrorist cell, the statement said that they were plotting terror attacks in the sensitive areas in coordination with an affiliate of the IS.

Police arrested the "suspected mastermind of the cell and one of his accomplices" in a raid in the cell's safe-house in Fez.

They also seized firearms, ammunition, knives, gas canisters, and chemical products used in bomb-making, the statement added.

According to Moroccan authorities, the security services have busted around 50 terrorist cells, including over 40 with links to the IS group, since 2015.
Marawi: Philippine troops bombed militants loyal to the Islamic State group who have held out for over four months in a southern city and the military said the conflict would be over "very soon".

The army previously set a target of Sunday to end the fighting in Marawi, which it said has killed more than 1,000 people. Troops have missed previous deadlines to flush out the militants whom authorities said intended to establish a local Islamic State caliphate.

On Sunday FA-50 fighter jets flew over Marawi as soldiers fought the militants house-to-house in an area which has now shrunk to about five acres (two hectares), a military spokesman said.

"We are hoping that we will end this Marawi siege very soon," Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the task force battling the militants, told reporters.

Pro-Islamic State gunmen occupied parts of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic Philippines, on 23 May.

Since then 822 militants, 162 government forces and 47 civilians have been killed, Brawner said. The insurgents have withstood a relentless US-backed bombing campaign and intense ground battles with troops that have left large parts of Marawi resembling devastated cities in war-torn Syria and Iraq.

Military commanders last week set a target of 15 October to end the fighting and President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the battle was "almost over".

Twenty soldiers were wounded on Saturday in a sign troops were pushing hard to end the battle, Brawner said. He said 40 militants remained in the conflict area including leaders Isnilon Hapilon, who is on America's list of most wanted terrorists with a $5 million bounty, and Omarkhayam Maute, whose group had pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

There were also 100 civilians in the zone including hostages and families of the militants, he added. "Women and children are now forced to fight together with the Maute-Islamic State fighters. These are desperate measures the Maute-slamic State are doing. This is their last defensive stand," Brawner said, using another acronym for IS.

Duterte on Thursday warned against celebrating the eventual liberation of Marawi, citing the deaths and devastation there. "When we leave Marawi, we go quietly. We do not want to show any kind of celebration or happiness," he said.
Kabul: The Taliban on Sunday rejected claims by freed Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle that his kidnappers had killed his child and raped his wife during the family's captivity, saying the woman had a "natural miscarriage".

Boyle and his American wife Caitlan Coleman were seized by the Taliban while hiking in Afghanistan in 2012, and then turned over to the group's affiliated militant Haqqani network in Pakistan.

The couple and their three children born in captivity were freed on Wednesday in a Pakistani military operation triggered by US intelligence and are now back in Canada.

After landing in Toronto on Friday, Boyle accused his captors of killing his baby daughter and raping his wife  accusations which the Taliban said were "fake".

In a statement read on his arrival Boyle condemned the Haqqani network's "stupidity and evil of authorising the murder of my infant daughter" in "retaliation for my repeated refusal to accept an offer that the miscreant of the Haqqani network had made to me, and the stupidity and evil of the subsequent rape of my wife".

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Boyle and Coleman were never separated during their captivity, "precisely due to the fact that the mujahideen did not want to incite any suspicion", but he admitted a baby had died.

"During a period of detention an incident did take place when the woman became ill. The area was remote, no doctors were present and due to this severe condition, the woman had a natural miscarriage of a girl," Mujahid said in a statement.

"The allegations floating around in the media have nothing to do with the reality because the said people are now in the hands of our enemy."

The Haqqani group is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader.

The faction has long been suspected of links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment.

Providing few details, Boyle said the death of his daughter and his wife's rape occurred in 2014.

That was two years after he and Coleman, then "heavily pregnant", were kidnapped in a remote Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan.

He said they were in the war-torn country as "pilgrims" helping poor villagers when they were captured.
Petersburg: Virginia State University was on lockdown after a shooting on campus. At least one person was injured in the incident, according to CBS News.

Reports say that the lockdown has now been lifted.

University police tweeted on Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

A second tweet said police were still on the scene, the campus remains on lockdown and to continue to avoid the area.

Shooting on Campus Update - Police scene still active and the campus remains on lockdown. Continue to avoid area.  VSU Police (@VSUPolice) October 15, 2017

The universitys website says the Petersburg, Virginia school was celebrating the final day of its homecoming.

With inputs from AP
Beijing: President Xi Jinping on Sunday called for more cooperation among the ruling Communist Party and non-Communist parties for achieving the 'Chinese dream of national rejuvenation' ahead of next week's key Congress where he is expected to get an endorsement for a second term.

There are eight non-Communist parties in the country in addition to the Communist Party of China (CPC). However, these parties have nominal presence.

Xi, who is also the general secretary of the CPC besides being the president and military chief, called for increased cooperation among the CPC and the eight parties to jointly strive for achieving the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

Xi met the leaders of the parties to solicit opinions on the draft report for the 19th CPC National Congress, a once in-a-five-year meeting which will be convened from 18 October.

The eight parties function in a low-key manner under the shadows of the CPC which is the sole ruling party since 1949.

These eight non-Communist parties are the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the China Democratic League, the China National Democratic Construction Association, the China Association for Promoting Democracy, the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, the China Zhi Gong Party, the Jiu San Society, and the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.

Founded between 1920s and late 1940s, the non-Communist parties have a membership mainly consisting of professionals and academics from different sectors, elites among returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, people with links to the former Kuomintang, or Taiwan residents, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The eight non-Communist parties are political organisations having connections with people of particular social circles.

These parties take part in the running of state affairs, which cover the formulation of major state policies, the election of government leaders, the enactment of laws and regulations, and law enforcement among others, the report added.
The push is underway in Congress for Republicans to pass President Donald Trumps proposed tax reform by 2018, a high-pressure endeavor thats only been amplified by the GOPs failure to deliver on its seven-year promise to repeal and replace Obamacare.

This is critical to the economy, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told FOX Business Maria Bartiromo. And I would hope that we get many Democrats voting with us.

Republicans have pitched their tax reform plan as an opportunity to increase jobs and growth in the country. Key parts of the reform include a tax cut for the middle class and a 15 percentage-point reduction in the corporate tax rate, which would reduce it from 35 percent to 20 percent.

Concerns recently emerged that Congress wont pass tax reform because of party infighting  President Trump and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) were just embroiled in a feud on Twitter  but Mnuchin said that would not be an issue in the upcoming vote.

I think the Senate understands the importance of this, he said. And I hope we get a lot of Democrats on board as well, because cutting taxes for the middle class and making business taxes competitive for jobs, I think thats something that Democrats understand as well.

Top Democrats have signaled that they will not support the legislation, deriding it as cuts for the wealthy. And meanwhile, some Republicans are embroiled in a debate about whether to eliminate state and local deductions, which are especially valuable to people living in high-tax states like New York, New Jersey and California.

Mnuchin said the administration currently is working with the House and Senate to find a balance between limiting the power of the federal government to subsidize state and local deductions, and being sensitive to those states economies.

I dont think its going to hold up the bill, Mnuchin said. And as you know, Ive had the opportunity to work with the president for over the last year and a half during the campaign on tax reform. Its been his top priority. Ive been working on this since January, and we understand the issue of state and local deductions.
If you applied for an extension to file your taxes this year, the new deadline is rapidly approaching.

Most taxpayers have until Monday, Oct. 16, to get all of their materials into the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in order to meet the extended cutoff date.

Here are some tips and what to know if you miss the extended deadline to file.

Taxpayers affected by hurricanes, wildfires

Individuals living in areas affected by one of the major hurricanes or the massive wildfires in California could be eligible for a lengthier extension. The IRS considers the affected taxpayers to be those who reside in the covered disaster areas, those who have been working to provide relief or assistance in the disaster areas, or individuals who visited the affected area and were injured as a result of the disaster. The IRS has specific guidelines listed for individuals to determine whether they are entitled to more time.

What happens if you dont file in time?

If you miss the tax deadline, it is in your best interest to file as soon as possible thereafter to avoid major fines and penalties.

In theory, people who filed for an extension still were supposed to have paid 90% of dues to the IRS back in April.

If taxpayers didnt pay enough in April and they miss the extension to file, they will owe both penalties and interest, Tim Speiss, partner at EisnerAmper Wealth Planning LLC, told FOX Business.

A penalty for filing late is 5% of the amount of unpaid taxes each month, up to a maximum of 25%. The penalty for paying late is 0.5% of the amount you owe each month up to a maximum of 25%. If both penalties are due in the same month, the failure to file penalty is reduced to 0.5%.

Starting last year, the State Department can also revoke the passport of a U.S. citizen who owes more than $50,000 in back taxes, Speiss pointed out.

Trumps tax and health care reform

The Trump administration has proposed major changes to both the tax code and the health care law that could, if approved by Congress, impact taxpayers moving forward.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump ended cost-sharing reduction subsidy payments to insurers, which, if left unchanged by Congress, could lead to people paying more out of pocket, which goes right through the tax returns, Speiss said.

When you talk about things that may not be deductible, health care costs may be among the top, he said.

But tax reform also could bring some changes in the form of carried interest, investment expenses and state and local tax deductions, Speiss pointed out, noting this will ultimately depend on Congress passing the legislation.

Speiss recommends speaking with a qualified professional about how your income and deduction patterns could change moving forward.
Tesla Motors fired hundreds of workers after completing its annual performance reviews, even though the electric automaker is trying to ramp up production to meet the demand for its new Model 3 sedan.

The Palo Alto, California-based company confirmed the cuts in a Saturday statement, but didn't disclose how many of its 33,000 workers were jettisoned. The San Jose Mercury News interviewed multiple former and current Tesla employees who estimated 400 to 700 workers lost their jobs.

The housecleaning swept out workers in administrative and sales jobs, in addition to Tesla's manufacturing operations.

An unspecified number of workers received bonuses and promotions following their reviews, according to the company.

Tesla is under pressure to deliver its Model 3 sedan to a waiting list of more than 450,000 customers. The company so far has been lagging its own production targets after making just 260 of the vehicles in its last quarter.

Including other models, Tesla expects to make about 100,000 cars this year. CEO Elon Musk is aiming to increase production by five-fold next year, a goal that probably will have to be met to support Tesla's market value of $59 billion  more than Ford Motor Co.

Unlike Ford, Tesla still hasn't posted an annual profit yet.

Despite the mass firings, Tesla is still looking to hire hundreds more workers.
On Friday morning, President Donald Trump announced that he would not recertify the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, one of the foremost foreign policy achievements under the Obama administration, in a blow that had been a long-time coming.

Though widely criticized by the other world powers who were a part of the deal, Trumps decision has been praised by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who once denounced the deal as a historic mistake.

Since the Iran deal was signed, Iran has been like a tiger unleashed from its cage, Netanyahu told FOX Business Maria Bartiromo. Its not joining the community of nations, its devouring nations left and right. Refusing to go along with a bad deal is a good thing, an important thing, even a historic thing thats certainly important for world peace.

The deal, long a point of contention, was made to prevent Iran from producing two components used to make nuclear weapons: plutonium and uranium. In exchange, crippling economic sanctions against Iran were reduced.

During the White House press conference, the president said Tehran was not living up to the spirit of the agreement, and suggested they might be working with North Korea on its weapons program, a so far unsubstantiated report.

But, the future of the deal ultimately remains to be seen: Trump kicked the issue back to Congress, which now has 60 days to determine its fate. Trump also warned that he could still cancel the deal. On Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said the U.S. would remain in the international deal for the time being.

Netanyahu said either option -- fixing the agreement or leaving it -- is an important step in stopping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

The goal is to prevent Iran from ever acquiring nuclear weapons, Netanyahu said. And you can achieve it either by fixing this bad deal, or by nixing it. I dont particularly care which one, but its the result that we want to have.
Comic George Lopez was booed off stage at a gala for juvenile diabetes in Denver last week, over an anti-Donald Trump routine that fell flat with the crowd.

Were told the flap began when Trump backer and Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei donated $250,000 but requested that Lopez cool it with the anti-Trump jokes at the Carousel Ball.

An attendee at the event  where tables sold from $5,000 to $100,000 to benefit the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes  commented on a YouTube video that George was asked nicely to stop making Trump jokes by a man in the front row [Maffei] who just donated $250K. But George doesnt, continues. Gets booed.

Were told that Lopez responded to Maffei, Thank you for changing my opinion on old white men, but it doesnt change the way I feel about orange men.

Trying to recover and sensing the audience turn, Lopez said, Listen, its about the kids . . . I apologize for bringing politics to an event. This is America  it still is. So I apologize to your white privilege.

Were told Lopez also told a joke about Trumps proposed border wall with Mexico, saying, I guess you can get some Mexicans to do it cheaper and they wouldnt crush the tunnels underneath.

When the audience did not respond well, he quipped, Are you El Chapo people? in reference to the drug kingpin who has used tunnels to evade authorities.

Lopez then announced a video segment  but he did not return to the stage, and a local newscaster took over the hosting duties.

TV host Chris Parente posted on Twitter, big controversy: host of HUGE charity #CarouselBall, @georgelopez, makes political comments about Trump, drops f-bomb and is escorted out. But a source close to the comedian insisted to Page Six that Lopezs segment was only supposed to be four minutes, even though he was listed as the nights emcee.

Lenny Kravitz performed at the gala, which raised $1.65 million.

Reps had no comment.

This article originally appeared in Page Six.
Disgraced Hollywood heavyweight Harvey Weinstein is facing new sexual assault allegations, and British authorities are investigating the mogul, according to reports Sunday.

A woman was the victim of three alleged assaults that took place in 2010, 2011 and 2015, according to Londons Metropolitan Police force.

On 11 October, Merseyside Police referred an allegation of sexual assault to the Metropolitan Police Service, a Scotland Yard spokesman told Deadline in a statement. It is alleged that a man sexually assaulted a woman (Victim 1) in the late 1980s in west London. On 14 October, further allegations were made against the same man. It is alleged that the man sexually assaulted a woman (Victim 2) in Westminster in 2010 and 2011, and in Camden in 2015."

Weinstein wasnt named by the police force, but British actress Lysette Anthony says she reported to police Wednesday that Weinstein raped her at her home in London in the late 1980s.

Have just reported an historic crime to @MerseyPolice ..feel sick.. so sad.., she tweeted Wednesday.

Speaking to the Sunday Times of London, Anthony claimed she was left feeling disgusted and embarrassed after the alleged attack.

A former Miramax employee also alleges that Weinstein raped her in a basement in 1992, the Mail on Sunday reported.

He grabbed me and he was so big and powerful. He just ripped my clothes away and pushed me, threw me down, the woman, who is now in her 50s, alleges.

That woman was reportedly considering making a complaint with authorities.

A spokeswoman for Weinstein told the Mail on Sunday that the mogul obviously cant speak to anonymous allegations, but he unequivocally denies allegations of non-consensual sex.

Other reports detailing Weinsteins alleged sexual misconduct toward women were published this month, including in the New York Times and in the New Yorker.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hollywood director Woody Allen spoke to the BBC about producer Harvey Weinstein, who has been recently accused of sexual harassment and rape.

The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved," the filmmaker said. Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that [his] life is so messed up.

According to the BBC, Allen said he hoped the disclosures would result in "some amelioration."

You also don't want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself, the filmmaker said. That's not right either.

HARVEY WEINSTEIN SEX SCANDAL: DETAILING THE ALLEGATIONS

But sure, you hope that something like this could be transformed into a benefit for people rather than just a sad or tragic situation, he continued.

No one ever came to me or told me horror stories with any real seriousness, Allen, who has long denied molesting his daughter Dylan Farrow, told the BBC. And they wouldn't, because you are not interested in it. You are interested in making your movie.

Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct toward women has been detailed in several New York Times reports, along with Ronan Farrow's Oct. 10 New Yorker expose. Farrow is Allen's son.

Weinstein has denied claims of non-consensual sex.
When the Iranian parliament chanted death to America" while unanimously voting "to increase spending on its ballistic missile program and the foreign operations of its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard," sophisticated diplomats may have pondered the symbolic meaning of "death to America."

After all, our wisest and most sophisticated analysts have reassured us, it couldn't literally mean "death to America." The New York Times has been on a campaign to convince Americans the phrase has lost its original meaning.

Here are examples from 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.

The same analysts reassure us that when senior Hamas leaders are quoted saying "not a single Jew will remain" in Israel, they are really communicating symbolically.

As a historian, I am always amazed at the sophistry of well-educated establishments that hide from reality through the use of convoluted thinking and clever language.

In my experience, dictators and revolutionary movements mean exactly what they say. In this case, the Iranians would like to destroy both America and Israel.

Thankfully, President Trump understands this reality better than many so-called experts.

The president did exactly the right thing Friday when he announced that he would renew sanctions on the Iranian regime and decline to certify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (also known as the Iran Deal) negotiated by President Obama.

President Trump has previously referred to the deal as an embarrassment to the United States, and called it one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into.

Since he was a candidate, the President understood that America is today with the Iranian dictatorship where it was in 1994 with the North Korean dictatorship. We now know that during 23 years of talking, posturing, and diplomatic maneuvering, the North Koreans simply kept building their nuclear weapon and missile programs.

As the president said Friday "History has shown that the longer we ignore a threat, the more dangerous that threat becomes."

The president saw that we are today faced with the same choice with Iran that we had in North Korea in 1994. He decided to show the courage to tell the truth and act on it.

This will be a big surprise to Iran  and North Korea. Having been conditioned by eight years of President Obama to assume that America will always posture and then cave, neither of these rogue nations knows how to deal with a super power that is serious.

The weaknesses of the Obama agreement with Iran are simply symptoms of the weakness and self-delusion behind the entire Obama team approach to the Iranian dictatorship and its revolutionary terrorist strategies.

Iran has proved that appeasement and negotiation fail time and again.

Starting in 1979, when Ayatollah Khomeini established a religious dictatorship that exported terror and saw itself at war with America ('the Great Satan") and Israel ("the Little Satan"), American policy became increasingly hostile to the regime.

During the 1979-1981 Iranian hostage crisis, which was itself a total violation of international law, the Jimmy Carter Administration attempted a rational negotiating strategy. It was completely rejected by the mullahs.

During the Reagan administration in 1983, truck bombs driven by Iranian-sponsored operatives killed 241 U.S. service personnel (220 marine and 21 other personnel) and 58 French paratroopers in Lebanon, and the United States quietly helped the Iraqis with intelligence and military equipment in their war with Iran.

From 1987 to 1988 the United States provided naval support to help Kuwaiti tankers get through the straits of Hormuz. In that process, the Iranians tried to mine the Persian Gulf, and an American warship shot down an Iranian airliner it thought was on a dangerous course.

Throughout the period of 1979 to 2008, the United States had a consistent policy of containing the Iranian dictatorship. It was clear that Iranians killed 19 Americans with a bomb at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia. Iran was consistently labeled the leading state sponsor of terrorism in the world by every administration (including Obamas).

President George W. Bush identified the Iranian dictatorship, along with Iraq and North Korea, as part of an "Axis of Evil." During our efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan the Iranians worked hard to establish their own zones of influence.

However, When President Obama came into office, nearly 30 years of hostility was replaced by a new vision of developing a relationship with the Iranian dictatorship. This is the delusional fantasy that has allowed Iran to dominate much of the Middle East, especially after Iraq was weakened by war. It also emboldened Iran.

Even after President Trumps historic and amazing United Nations speech when he condemned the JCPOA and said Iran is a "reckless regime  one that speaks openly of mass murder, vowing death to America, destruction to Israel, and ruin for many leaders and nations in this room," the Iranians responded by building more missiles.

Consider this report by Reuters titled "Defying Trump, Iran says will boost missile capabilities:

Iran will strengthen its missile capabilities and not seek any countrys permission, President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday rejecting demands from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Rouhani spoke at a military parade where an Iranian news agency said one of the weapons on display was a new ballistic missile with range of 1,200 miles, capable of carrying several warheads. 

In a speech broadcast on state television, Rouhani said: We will increase our military power as a deterrent. We will strengthen our missile capabilities ... We will not seek permission from anyone to defend our country.

For those who wonder how big the Iranian missile program is, AP reported that, Brigadier General Hossein Salami of the Revolutionary Guard boasted that the rate of our missile production is so high that we are faced with the problem of space to keep them in.

President Trump also realizes his administration must not consider the JCPOA in isolation.

The failure of the JCPOA is simply one component of a disastrous Obama policy which has enabled Iran to break out and begin to develop a hegemonic position across Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon (with a dangerous extension to Gaza).

For instance, Iranians have been desperate to build a land corridor to connect with Lebanon since the Reagan Administration was dueling with the Iranian-sponsored terrorists there. Obama's myopic policy of focusing only on the JCPOA gave Iran the opportunity it needed to gain that corridor.

As a result, we are currently faced with preparations for war on a scale the Middle East has not seen since the Yom Kippur War in 1973.

Hezbollah, the Iranian front group in South Lebanon, has more than 100,000 missiles that can be fired into Israel. As though that isn't enough of a threat, the Iranians plan to build missile factories in Syria and Lebanon. In addition, they are talking about developing an Iranian port in Lebanon.

The weakness and confusion America has shown in Syria has created a Russian-Iranian-Assad-Hezbollah alliance that will push the threat to Israel to a totally new and dangerous level.

Flush with money from Obama (including an airplane full of cash flown in like a drug cartel run), Iran has funded a proxy war in Yemen against the Saudis. More Iranian money has been sent to prop up Hamas after the various Sunni funders began to cut them off.

On every front, Iran is a dangerous nation seeking to build up its capacity to wage war, project power, and intimidate its neighbors.

Meanwhile, the JCPOA is another absurdity that illustrates how weak the Obama team was and how eager its members were to get an Iranian agreement to "something."

Congress should move forward with initiatives to strengthen it.

Under the current agreement, the Iranians have reserved the right to keep their military installations secret. Thus, international inspectors can look for violations anywhere except on military facilities. This means the inspections can have no validity, because inspectors will never know what they are not allowed to see.

Finally, the United Nations agreement limiting Iranian missile development is being blatantly and publicly violated. That strikes at the very heart of the Corker-Cardin requirement that Iran must be fully implementing the related agreements. Iran's failed launch of a missile in January (which was based on North Korean designs) and its faked launch in September, are a blatant violations of the agreement.

The terms of the Corker-Cardin Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA/ PL 114-17) require the president to certify Irans compliance with the JCPOA every 90 days.

Full compliance under this law requires the United States to certify that: (1) Iran is fully implementing the JCPOA and all related agreements; (2) Iran has not committed (or if committed, has cured) a material breach; (3) Iran has taken no action to significantly advance its nuclear weapons program; and (4) that continued suspension of nuclear-related sanctions is both appropriate and vital to our national security interests.

It is impossible to argue that criterion four has been met when Iran's behavior in its totality is taken into account. This is exactly the logic the president followed on Friday.

How can you take President Trump's strong, clear denunciation of the dictatorship and argue that continued suspension of sanctions on Iran is both appropriate and vital to our national interest? Its impossible.

Unlike President Obama, whose posture was all talk and no action, President Trump has begun to establish a pattern of taking real actions, creating real pressures, and insisting on real results.

President Trumps decision to decertify is a clear and forceful articulation of the comprehensive Trump policy toward Iran.

However, he didnt come to this decision alone. The President spent months working with his Cabinet to make this decision. Confronting the totality of the Iranian threat, while remaining in the JCPOA with an eye toward improving it, substantially reflects the influence of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. In helping shape a new Iran policy that better provides for Americas security interests, Tillerson has proved to be an able advisor to the president, and has de-bunked media myths about a Trump-Tillerson rift in the process.

The administration should continue to oppose Iran's aggression in the region and seek to eliminate the fundamental flaws of the nuclear deal (starting with the sunset clauses).

As United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley made clear in her recent speech at the American Enterprise Institute, certification and the US continuation of the JCPOA are two separate decisions. Decertification leaves the President with continued flexibility and a number of options. In fact, decertification will increase the Administration's leverage to fix the nuclear deal by clarifying that the US will not be satisfied to remain indefinitely in an agreement that is not in our national security interests.

Conversely, signing recertification would have undermined every strong signal we have sent about the Iranian dictatorship. They would interpret it as America flinching and pulling back. It would have made the Presidents powerful indictment of Iran and North Korea at the United Nations seem hollow.

President Trumps decisive refusal to recertify the JCPOA has drawn a line and communicated clearly that the rollback of Iranian influence has begun. It was a brave and historically necessary step.
With less than a month to go before Virginians elect their next governor, the two major-party nominees brought in some big-name campaigning help Saturday.

Republican Ed Gillespie was joined by Vice President Mike Pence at a rally in Abingdon, in the rural southwestern corner of the state.

Democrat Ralph Northam brought in former Vice President Joe Biden for an event in Reston, an upscale community just outside Washingtons Capital Beltway.

Pence minced no words in drawing a clear distinction between Gillespie and Northam.

Like Donald Trump, Ed Gillespie will put the safety and prosperity of the American people first, Pence told a crowd of about 400 people, Politico reported.

"Ralph Northam, the vice president noted, cast the tiebreaking vote against a bill in the state Senate against a bill to crack down on sanctuary cities.

The event was held in Washington County, an area that gave President Donald Trump 75 percent of its votes in November, the Washington Post reported.

Earlier in the day, Trump tweeted support for Gillespie, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

The Democrats in the Southwest part of Virginia have been abandoned by their Party. Republican Ed Gillespie will never let you down! the president wrote.

In Reston, Biden backed Northam  Virginias lieutenant governor -- before an audience of about 100 people. The roundtable-style event was not open to the public, the Washington Post reported.

The thing that I admire about Ralph  you can feel it, you can taste it  is the authenticity, Biden said, according to the Post.

Gillespie and Northam are vying to succeed Democrat Terry McAuliffe as Virginias governor. McAuliffe cannot seek reelection because Virginia law does not allow a governor to serve two consecutive terms.

Northam was leading Gillespie by 13 points in a recent poll, the Hill reported.

The election will be Nov. 7. Only Virginia and New Jersey will be electing a governor this year.
As the sexual abuse scandal surrounding disgraced Hollywood megaproducer Harvey Weinstein intensifies, former first daughter Chelsea Clinton would not say what the Clinton Foundation would do with its donations from the major Democratic donor.

Clinton on Saturday avoided talking to a DailyMail.com reporter in Boston about what would happen to Weinsteins donations. Instead of answering the reporter's questions outside a Clinton Global Initiative University event at Northeastern University, she bolted to her car, according to the website.

WEINSTEIN TIES TO CLINTON, OBAMA RUN DEEP

According to the Clinton Foundation website, Weinstein donated between $100,001 to $250,000 through June 2017.

The Daily Mail also reported it was blocked from asking former President Bill Clinton about Weinsteins donations the previous evening. He's the chairman of the foundation's board of directors; Chelsea Clinton is the vice chair.

Earlier this week, Hillary Clinton denounced Weinsteins behavior, and said it "cannot be tolerated."

"I was shocked and appalled by the relevations about Harvey Weinstein," Clinton said in a statement. "The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and the support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior."

Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct toward several women spanning decades. The allegations against him include rape, assault and harassment.

When asked a day later if she would be giving Weinstein back his donations, Hillary Clinton said that it wasn't possible, and instead would be donating them to charity.

HILLARY CLINTON SAYS SHE'LL GIVE HARVEY WEINSTEIN DONATIONS TO CHARITY

Weinstein contributed $46,350 to Clinton during her 2016 presidential run, as well as to HILLPAC, a committee Clinton used to support other Democrats while she was a senator, The Associated Press reported.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is set to sit down with President Donald Trump Monday in a White House meeting that could help patch their relationship, which fractured in a big way over the summer, when the two leaders took shots at each other over health care reform and the effectiveness of Congress.

Back in August, Trump said he was very disappointed in Mitch, after McConnell said Trump had excessive expectations about the legislative process.

The meeting comes as conservative groups demand McConnell step down from his leadership role.

We call on all five members of the GOP Senate leadership to step down, or for their caucus to remove them as soon as possible, Ken Cuccinelli, the former attorney general of Virginia who now leads the Senate Conservatives Fund, said Wednesday on Capitol Hill.

McConnell will join the President and Vice President for a working lunch where they will discuss the fall agenda which includes completing the budget resolution, passing tax reform to help American families and workers, confirming well-qualified judicial and other nominees, and continuing to provide resources to communities affected by the recent hurricanes, the Senate GOP leader's spokesman David Popp told Fox News.

Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to Trump, said Saturday in a speech to religious conservatives that hes committed to dumping McConnell.

Bannon put on notice some of those incumbents who are at risk of a challenge from his flank of the party. He said lawmakers possibly can avoid that wrath if they disavow McConnell and meet other conditions.

"This is our war," Bannon said. "The establishment started it. ... You all are gonna finish it."

But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said, Mitch McConnells not our problem. Our problem is that we promised to repeal and replace ObamaCare, and we failed. We promised to cut taxes and we have yet to do it.

The senator added: "If we're successful, Mitch McConnell's fine. If we're not, we're all in trouble. We lose our majority and I think President Trump will not get reelected."

Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate from Maine who was a critical no vote on health care, said Bannons rhetoric is what Americans are tired of.

"They don't want this hyperpartisanship. They want us to work together. And they want us to get things done," she said.

Collins added that "over-the-top rhetoric is not helpful. Mitch McConnell is the Senate majority leader. The president needs him. I'm glad they're working together on tax reform and a lot of other issues. And I'm glad they're meeting this week."

In August, Trump tweeted blame for failure to repeal ObamaCare on McConnell, saying, Can you believe that Mitch McConnell, who has screamed Repeal & Replace for 7 years, couldnt get it done. Must Repeal & Replace ObamaCare!

McConnell responded to Trumps Twitter barrage by saying the challenges of governing shouldnt be a surprise.

"A lot of people look at all that and find it frustrating, messy. Well, welcome to the democratic process. That's the way it is in our country," McConnell said at a GOP event in Kentucky this summer.

Meanwhile, the senators weeklong recess also drew criticism from the White House.

"They're on another vacation right now. I think that we would all be a lot better off if the Senate would stop taking vacations, and start staying here until we actually get some real things accomplished," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said.

Recently, a McConnell-backed political committee spent millions and Trump endorsed Alabama Sen. Luther Strange in a recent primary election, but Bannon-backed Roy Moore prevailed. Moore, a former judge, has defied federal court orders, described Islam as a false religion and called homosexuality evil.

Senate Republicans had been upbeat about adding to their 52-48 edge in the chamber, especially with Democrats defending more seats next year  10 in states Trump won in last year's presidential election. But the Bannon challenge could cost them, leaving incumbents on the losing end in primaries or GOP candidates roughed up for the general election.

"If we don't cut taxes and we don't eventually repeal and replace ObamaCare, then we're going to lose across the board in the House in 2018. And all of my colleagues running in primaries in 2018 will probably get beat. It will be the end of Mitch McConnell as we know it. So this is a symptom of a greater problem," Graham said.

He added that Bannon "can't beat us if we're successful. And if we're not successful, it doesn't matter who tries to beat us, they'll be successful."

Fox News' Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Abdullah Hayee Mayeh was arrested October 12 following video footage that circulated showing him opening airplane passengers bags in the luggage compartment of a Jetstar flight and stealing the contents inside.

The 27-year-old airport worker was caught on CCTV opening passenger bags and helping himself to contents, the Mirror reported.

AIRPORT EMPLOYEE PUNCHES AN EASYJET PASSENGER WHO WAS HOLDING A BABY

Once the video started circulating online, Jetstar became aware of the incident and launched a full investigation into the thefts.

Jetstar is aware of a video circulating online and we are taking the matter very seriously, the airline said in a statement to news.com.au.

"We have launched an immediate investigation and will work with Airports of Thailand, our ground handler BAGS and our local security company to ensure the security of our customers property on-board our flights, the statement continued.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

Mayeh, who was employed by BAGS, a company that provides baggage services for nearly 100 airlines in Thailand, was arrested later at Phuket International Airport in Thailand.

Upon his arrest, Mayeh made a full confession and turned over a stolen Bluetooth, the Phuket Gazette reports. The authorties are reportedly trying to match any stolen item with the passenger from whom it was taken.
Police in Miami say an 8-year-old girl fell to her death Saturday from a cruise ship that had been docked there.

Carnival Cruise Line said the girl fell from an upper deck onto a lower deck in the interior atrium of the Carnival Glory at approximately 8:15 a.m.

Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll told the Miami Herald that the exact distance the girl fell had not been determined, but it could have been between 25 and 50 feet.

The girl was taken to a local hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries. It was not immediately clear what caused the fall.

Miami-Dade Police said Saturday afternoon that the ship had been turned back over to Carnival to resume normal operations.

Click for more from WSVN.com.
Halloween is still more than two weeks away, but in the San Francisco Bay Area, stores are selling masks almost as quickly as they can stock them.

Not Halloween masks, but protective face masks  the type that can shield your nose and mouth from taking in dirty air.

With wildfires raging in the wine country of Northern California, devices called N99 masks have become fast sellers throughout the Bay Area. N95 models arent selling bad, either.

Its just been so crazy, San Francisco hardware store owner Matt Rogers told the San Francisco Chronicle. We told people (who called) wed be getting them at 9 this morning, and there was a line out the door because the truck was a little delayed.

Rogers said the 300 masks that arrived Friday sold out in 15 minutes.

The N99 and N95 masks are so named because they can filter out 99 percent or 95 percent, respectively, of particulates in smoky air.

The blazes in Californias wine country have killed at least 40 people and destroyed at least 5,700 homes. Tens of thousands of residents have been evacuated from several counties in Northern California, including Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino.

"It's a horror that no one could have imagined," Gov. Jerry Brown said, after driving past hundreds of "totally destroyed" homes with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris.

Smoke and ash from the fires have been reaching San Francisco, Oakland and their suburbs, putting Bay Area air quality in recent days on par with notoriously polluted cities like Delhi and Beijing, Business Insider reported.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which monitors regional air quality and advises Californians on when they can and cannot use the fireplaces in their homes, has been issuing regular smoke advisories on its website as the fires have spread.

As the Environmental Protection Agency's air-quality website stated: Everyone ... should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion," especially "people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children."

It also mentioned that the site has been operating slowly lately because of high traffic from people seeking information about the fires.

As the fires have burned on, many Bay Area residents could be seen wearing masks as they walked the streets, Business Insider reported.

Yang Guo told the website that his girlfriend bought a mask for him.

It was the last one," he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
A California woman is warning pet owners to keep a closer eye on their pets after she found her cat mutilated and left for dead, its body parts scattered throughout her Sacramento neighborhood.

Georgia Israel, owner of 10-year-old Cookie, told Fox 40 she thought her cat mustve been wandering around as usual last Monday, and didnt really think too much of it.

She said she figured her cat could be in the backyard, she could be hiding somewhere.

But three days later, Israel said she grew suspicious when she saw a neighbors post on Nextdoor, a neighborhood social network, detailing that a cat's body parts turned up across their neighborhood.

FLORIDA PIT BULL DIES AFTER BEING LEFT FOR DEAD IN SUITCASE, STABBED 50 TIMES

The post said that earlier in the week, a cats leg was discovered in some bushes, and days later, a cats head and leg were found in a street, according to the report.

Israel said she reached out to the neighbor, who sent her very graphic photos of the dismembered cat, which she said she recognized right away.

I knew the second that I saw the pictures, you couldnt deny it, Israel told Fox 40.

The cat was so mutilated, Sacramento County Animal Control Services told Israel they didn't believe it was killed by another animal.

The body was laid out on display to get somebodys attention, Israel said.

This isnt the first time an animal has been found mutilated in Sacramento.

FAMILY DOG EMERGES ALIVE AND WELL FROM CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

In 2015, a number of animals  dogs, cows, fish, lambs, chickens, rabbits and goats  were found decapitated throughout the states capital.

And more recently, a sheep wrapped inside of a blanket was reportedly found dead last month. Police have yet to arrest anyone involved in the animal mutilations.
Oh, deer.

Shepherdsfield Church in Sisters, Ore., hosts Bible studies year round and weddings in the warmer seasons, according to KTVZ-TV. But because it sits on the Metolius Mule deer range, it might not be able to host the events anymore.

Churches are specifically prohibited from holding events on the deer range, KTVZ reported.

A hunting lodge has been permitted, a business office has been permitted, business storage has been permitted, plus all kinds of other things, John Shepherd, who started the church in 2008 with his wife, told KTVZ.

Since those things are allowed, churches have to be allowed, too, he argued.

The Deschutes County Planning Commission said it has received more than 30 letters from people asking it to reject the churchs request to continue with its events. It rejected the request last week.

"Churches have to be allowed, too."  John Shepherd

Allowing churches in the winter range sets a dangerous precedent for our wildlife, one complaint said, according to KTVZ.

Shepherd told the news station that his venue does, in fact, make concessions for wildlife. It has a large amount of land where the deer graze in the fall and winter, he said.

The Shepherds fight for the right to use the land isnt new. A law firm which specializes in issues of religious land use said in September 2016 that it won a case on behalf of the Shepherdsfield Church that permitted it the use of land.

The Shepherds initially hosted weddings on the property for members of their congregation, the Bend Bulletin reported in 2014. And even then Shepherd accused the county of being abusive.

The Bend Bulletin reported that the Shepherds were repeatedly denied permits for agritourism and commercial events and private parks.

Shepherd is prepared to sue the county for the use of the land, KTVZ reported.
A guard dog is on the mend Sunday after heroically protecting eight rescue goats and several small deer from the wildfires raging through California's Sonoma County.

Roland Hendel said he thought he'd never see Odin, a Great Pyrenees, ever again. He packed the car and escaped with his family as the ferocious wildfires were advancing on his home near Calistoga early last week.

Despite the sounds of exploding propane tanks, twisting metal, and the hot swirling winds, Odin refused to leave our family of eight bottle-fed rescue goats," Hendel said. Hours later when we had found relative safety we cried for Odin and our goats. I was sure I had sentenced them to a horrific and agonizing death.

Days later, he returned to his property, which had been decimated by the fire, fearing the worst.

We found a burned, battered, and weakened Odin, surrounded by his eight goats, and several small deer who had come to him for protection and safety, Hendel said.

FAMILY DOG EMERGES ALIVE AND WELL FROM CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES

Odin was weak, and limping, his once thick and beautiful coat singed orange, his whiskers melted. Even now as I write this, I am crying tears of gratitude and awe at his bravery and devotion.

Hendel had a brief scare Wednesday when Odin, his sister Tessa, and the goats disappeared.

They were located Saturday, KGO-TV reported.

"Oh blessed be. They are back," Hendel wrote on Facebook after they were found.

Hendel is appealing on a crowdfunding website for money to rebuild his propertys pumphouse and goat barn, The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported Sunday.
The remains of an Arizona kindergarten teacher who went missing after she bailed out a man from jail may have been found, police said.

Deer Valley Unified School District announced the death of Cathryn Gorospe, a kindergarten teacher, in a statement Saturday. Gorospe vanished last week after she bailed out a man from jail who police said she might have been involved with romantically.

Flagstaff police found the body of an adult woman who they believe to be Gorospe, the department said in a statement. The identity of the body is still awaiting a positive identification, police said.

The Flagstaff Police Department would like to express our condolences to her family and thank the public for their patience and assistance during the search for Cathryn, Flagstaff police said.

The cause of death and location of the body hasnt been revealed, the Arizona Republic reported.

Gorospe was reported missing by her roommate, who became concerned after the woman was gone for some time without making arrangements for her dog, according to the Arizona Republic.

The last known sighting of Gorospe was on Oct. 6 as she was leaving Phoenix after posting bail for Charlie Malzahn.

Malzahn was taken into custody on Oct. 9 and was charged with using Gorospes credit and debit cards. He was found with Gorospe's car, which police said had bloodstains in its interior, the newspaper reported.

After he was taken into custody, Malzahn committed aggravated assault on two police officers by putting his cuffs around one officers head and neck and by fighting with both officers causing injuries to both officers, according to court records.

A TEACHER BAILED OUT A MAN OUT FROM JAIL. THEN SHE DISAPPEARED.

The 27-year-old also was accused of physically assaulting a female Arizona State University student in her dorm room on Oct. 8, before his latest arrest, according to the Arizona Republic.

Malzahn was reportedly known to police in Williams, Ariz., with arrests related to assaults, theft and alcohol-related crimes. He is also the stepson of Williams' chief of police, the newspaper reported.

Loved ones held a candlelight vigil for Gorospe Saturday night where they wore green  her favorite color  and shared memories.

Cathryns friends and colleagues at Arrowhead School and throughout DVUSD had hoped and prayed for a different outcome, the school district said in a statement. During this difficult time, we feel fortunate to belong to a school and district family where we support and take care of each other.

The school district said it did not have details about a funeral service at this time.
When Virginia Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jeff Greenquist returned from a six-month deployment from the Middle East, he wasted no time fulfilling his first order of duty: asking his girlfriend to marry him.

Greenquist previously had been deployed alongside airmen representing the 1st Fighter Wing in Operation Inherent Resolve against ISIS.

Once at the Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, Greenquist popped the question to girlfriend Ashley Branham.

Luckily for Greenquist and his fiance, Staff Sgt. Carlin Leslie captured a photo of the heartwarming moment.

Click for more from Fox 29.
As a man in a wheelchair sat stuck on tracks with a train barreling toward him, a group of strangers leaped into action.

Several people rushed to help the older man and his wife, who was trying to push the wheelchair off the tracks, just moments before the train sped through, KTVI-TV reported.

Julie Flanders and her brother, Chandler Tourigny, were two people who helped the couple in Kirkwood, Mo., Thursday. Flanders said they were stopped at the tracks in their car when she looked up from her phone and saw a woman sprinting toward the tracks.

The woman was able to reach the couple and lifted the man off the tracks just seconds before the train came rushing through.

Flanders and her brother helped move the group further away from the train as their mother filmed the harrowing rescue on a cellphone.

It all happened [in] seconds, Flanders said. I was like, oh my gosh, are they going to make it? Are they not going to make it?

Flanders and her brother told KTVI that the first woman was the true hero in the story.

I want to applaud her, too, for being selfless, Flanders said. She definitely noticed and she went and helped somebody she didnt even know.

TRAIN DERAILS, CRASHES INTO ATLANTA HOUSE AND INJURES SLEEPING HOMEOWNER

The siblings  who are from Tennessee  did not get the good Samaritan's name before everyone left, KSDK-TV reported. But they said she deserves all of the glory from the rescue.

The Kirkwood train stations safety director said it has had a few close calls in just the past week with people not adhering to signals and signs, KTVI reported.

The man appeared to be okay after the near-accident, and he was checked by paramedics, according to KSDK.
The death toll has risen to 276, with more than 300 people wounded, after a truck bombing in Somalia that the U.S. government condemned Sunday as a "cowardly" attack.

"Such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism," the U.S. mission to Somalia said in a statement.

The U.S. military this year has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab, which is based in Somalia and often targets Mogadishu, the capital.

None of the roughly 400 U.S. troops in Somalia were hurt in the attack, a spokesman for the U.S. Africa Command told Fox News.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said four volunteers with the Somali Red Crescent Society were among the dead.

A statement Sunday said "this figure may rise as there are a number of volunteers still missing."

Hospitals in Mogadishu struggled Sunday to cope with the high number of deaths and injuries, security and medical sources said.

Ambulance sirens echoed across the city a day after the blast as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood for the wounded victims. "I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate," he said.

Many victims died at hospitals from their wounds, said Police Capt. Mohamed Hussein.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed, a senator, announced the number injured, citing doctors at hospitals he has visited in Mogadishu.

Somalia's government has blamed the Al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab extremist group for the attack it called a "national disaster." However, al-Shabab, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital with bombings, had yet to comment.

"They don't care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children," Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said. "They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians."

Somalia's information minister, Abdirahman Omar, said the blast was the largest the city had ever seen. "It's a sad day. This how merciless and brutal they are, and we have to unite against them," he said, speaking to the state-run radio station.

Overnight, rescue workers with torch lights searched for any survivors trapped under the rubble of the Safari Hotel, which was largely destroyed. The hotel is close to Somalia's foreign ministry. The blast blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel.

Fox News' Lucas Tomlinson and The Associated Press contributed to this story.


Culpeper County is unusual because it has only one town, which is located almost exactly in the center of the county.

But it does have villages, a concept once used by Board of Supervisors almost 20 years ago to direct growth in the countys comprehensive plan.

That growth, however, never materialized the way it was planned and today these villages, at least for the most part, continue to hold their rural charm.

Here are photos of three villagesBoston, Mitchells and Rapidantaken about 100 years ago.

Boston traces its roots back to the early 1800s, although Slate Mills, farther up the Hazel River, outshone its sister village until about 1900. It was, of course, named for the Massachusetts city.

According to an 1887 newspaper report, Boston was quite the bustling community as the 19th century was drawing to a close. James Popham operated a general store along Rocky Branch (which some folks called the community) and Mark Petty had a blacksmith shop along the small creek.

Pophams son, Albert, operated a steam-powered gristmill across from the store at the turn of the 20th century. By then, Otis Thornhill was running Pophams Store.

Dick Weaver ran the store and the post office (which opened in 1841) from 1914-48. Meanwhile, when the new Sperryville Pike bypassed downtown Boston, Carlyle Brown built his store, which still stands, on the new highway.

Popham, Weaver and Brown had competition from Burkes Store, located just up the hill near the Pikes intersection with Turkey Ridge Road, from the 1880s until the late 1970s. The photo here faces southwest.

Mitchells was named for a man named Billy Mitchell, who, according to historians, was allowed to name the train station as part of a deal to sell some of his land to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad in the early 1850s.

Tom Ross and E.D. Taylor ran the general store in Mitchells with competition from Oscar Clarke, who also has stores at Catalpa and in the town of Culpeper.

Harvey Carpenter ran the villages first garage in the early 1900s.

By the 1950s, Carpenters Seed Cleaning Plant and McMullans Store were the heart of Mitchells. Buck McMullan, a member of the county Board of Supervisors, was shot and killed in that store in 1978.

The remnants of Carpenters Seed Cleaning Plant still remain.

Mitchells Presbyterian Church moved to the community in 1867 and Mitchells High School changed to Mitchells Elementary School in the early 1940s. The elementary school closed in the early 1960s.

Rapidan, which dates back to the 1700s, is mostly in Culpeper County, but part of it is across the Rapidan River in Orange. It also has close ties with Madison County, just a mile or two up the road.

Rapidan, like Raccoon Ford, was a primary crossing on the Rapidan. In fact, it was originally known as Waughs Ford. Like Mitchells, Rapidan gained in importance when the railroad came through in 1853.

Rapidan had four general stores at the turn of the 20th century, as well as a blacksmith shop and a small hotel. At one time, it generated its own electricity.

But the backbone of Rapidan was for years the flour mill that operated on the Orange side of the river. The mill is still there, but no longer in business.

That river, which gave rise to the mill, has also flooded Rapidan numerous times.

These days, Rapidan is just a sleepy little village, but has one of the most active fire companies in the county.
Unrelenting rainfall. Historic flooding. Damage in the millions of dollars.

The phrases sound as if theyve been ripped from recent headlines. But those were the realities in Fredericksburg and Falmouth 75 years ago.

Nearly a week of heavy rain caused the Rappahannock River to rise as much as three feet an hour, finally cresting at 42.6 feet on Oct. 16, 1942.

Its muddy waters swept through downtown Fredericksburg, inundating buildings, the Embrey Power Station and the citys water filtration plant. Falmouth was also hard hit, with waters lapping at the second floor of some buildings and submerging the gas pumps at an Esso service station.

Adding to the destruction were fires and explosions that erupted after fuel spilled from tanks belonging to oil company plants along the riverfront.

Down river in Stafford County, tributaries claimed two lives.

William Gardner of Fredericksburg was killed when he drove a truckload of tomatoes into an underpass filled with water from Roachs Run. State Troopers found the body of John Underhill of Long Island, N.Y., after his car plunged into Little Falls Run.

An editorial in The Free LanceStar two days later called the flood the worst catastrophe to hit Fredericksburg since federal troops bombarded the city during the Civil War and left it a bloody battlefield. The deluge still holds the areas record for extreme weather, and is documented in a new 11-minute video at the Fredericksburg Area Museum, 907 Princess Anne St.

Fredericksburg Flood of 1942, 75th Anniversary features still photos and home movies shot at the time, along with stories culled from The Free Lance-Star and Mary Washington Colleges student newspaper, The Bullet. It will remain on view through April.

Museum volunteer and Falmouth resident Jim Gaston said that he got the idea for the video after seeing some of the pictures in a presentation that the Historic Fredericksburg Foundation Inc. did on old U.S. 1, now Princess Anne Street.

It dawned on me that this is the 75th anniversary of the flood, he said. I thought we ought to do something.

Gaston spent five months doing research in the museums archives, along with those of HFFI, the Central Rappahannock Heritage Center and the Central Rappahannock Regional Librarys Virginiana Room. Fredericksburg residents also helped him identify some of the people in the photos and video that he used.

I was shocked to find out that Kenmore Avenue flooded, he said, and that there was a dorm on Kenmore Avenue that had to be evacuated in the middle of the night.

MWCs cavalry unit would later be drafted as traffic directors and stationed where motorists needed to be warned of danger, according to the Oct. 18, 1942, edition of The Free LanceStar.

The historic flood was the result of a tropical storm that was never named, unlike the hurricanes that recently devastated Houston, much of Florida and all of Puerto Rico.

Rain started falling on Monday, Oct. 12. Two days later, the Kenmore Avenue area north of William Street had flooded to such an extent that Dr. R.N. Lanier, a local dentist, was able to take his children canoeing in his backyard. The City Council called a special meeting that afternoon to deal with flood conditions at a number of homes, a foretaste of what was to come.

Rain across the entire 1,600-square-mile Rappahannock River valley to the west had been streaming into the increasingly swollen Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers for several days. To make matters worse, a local cloudburst the evening of Thursday, Oct. 15, dumped nearly six inches of rain in about two hours.

The Rappahannock overflowed its banks, streamed into the city, and inundated street after street. Floodwaters also cascaded into the water treatment plant on Kenmore Avenue that night, contaminating the citys water supply. Fears of a typhoid outbreak prompted the Virginia Department of Health to administer typhoid vaccines, and residents were told to boil water for 10 minutes before drinking it.

The Rappahannock continued to rise all day Friday, knocking out power at the Embrey Power Station and prompting the evacuation of lower Charles Street and Kenmore Avenue. Eventually about 500 residents living there and on nearby streets were forced to flee.

All during the days and nights from Thursday until this morning, ambulances, fire trucks, police cars and military vehicles sped through the streets with sirens wide open answering dozens of distress calls, The Free LanceStar reported.

Shelters for whites were provided in the Presbyterian, Fairview Baptist and St. Georges Episcopal churches. Shiloh (New Site) Baptist Church opened its doors for blacks.

Across the river, a call went out for boats to rescue people stranded in Falmouth. Those who were able streamed across the Chatham Bridge into Fredericksburg, carrying their possessions by hand or crammed into cars and trucks. The flood had washed out an abutment on the Falmouth Bridge, so it remained closed for a week.

Fridays floodwaters also crashed into an oil tank farm at what is now City Dock, causing an estimated 408,000 gallons of gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel to catch fire, explode or be washed downstream. The oil companies loss at the time was estimated at $375,000, about $5.6 million in todays dollars.

Cleanup began on Sunday, Oct. 18. Armed soldiers patrolled Fredericksburgs streets as businesses began mopping up the mess left as floodwaters receded. Fire trucks pumped water into the citys water mains as fast is it could be treated by the filtration plant. Traffic resumed over hastily repaired roads.

The Rappahannock has overflowed its banks many times since the 1942 flood, most notably when Hurricane Agnes blew in on June 21, 1972, and in 1996, when Hurricane Fran caused the areas fifthworst flood since 1889.

Theres nothing to prevent it from happening again, Gaston said.
The disAbility Resource Center will hold its Halloween Charity Bash at the A. Smith Bowman Distillery from 711 p.m. There will be food, music and dancing, holiday games and activities, a Distillery tasting and a silent auction. Everyone is encouraged to wear a costume. Tickets are available now at drchalloweenbash2017.eventbrite.com or at the dRC office for $75 or two for $150. Call 540/373-2559 to become a sponsor, donate an item or for more information.
The Civil War Trust bestowed its highest honor on two Virginians at an event held in Spotsylvania County Friday night.

Trust President James Lighthizer presented House Speaker Bill Howell, R-Stafford, and Richmond businessman and philanthropist Bruce C. Gottwald with the trusts Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award.

The 50,000-member trust bestows its Bearss Award, named for the historian emeritus of the National Park Service, only when merited by a persons extraordinary and unusual effort, according to a news release.

Howell and Gottwald accepted the awards during the trusts 30th anniversary banquet at Stevensons Ridge, an inn and special events venue that is on part of the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield.

The trust had previously given Howell its State Leadership Award. Having represented Stafford and Fredericksburg since 1988, Howell will retire in January after 30 years in the House of Delegates, the last 14 as its speaker.

Quite simply, Bill Howell has been our champion in the General Assembly, Lighthizer said in the release. His public advocacy and behind-the-scenes support for Virginias Civil War history has made our success in the Old Dominion possible. Again and again, Howell has worked quietly to save Virginias battlefields from ruin.

The speaker is one of the founding fathers of the Virginia Battlefield Preservation Fundand has persuaded colleagues to keep sustaining it. It has provided $16 million in matching grants since 2006, helping save more than 8,800 acres of hallowed ground in the commonwealth. This dedicated reserve is one of only two such state funds for battlefield preservation in the country. In 2015, the Virginia fund expanded its scope to include Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields.

During the Civil Wars 150th anniversary, Howell chaired the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission, which inspired similar commissions in other states. Virginias observances drew 3.7 million visitors during the four-year commemoration, and resulted in $290 million in spending and $13 million in state and local tax revenue.

Howell also advocated strongly for the Virginia Land Preservation Tax Credit, which has helped save more than 741,000 acres across the commonwealthincluding the 208-acre Slaughter Pen Farm in Spotsylvania. The credit provided $4.4 million to buy what the trust called a heart and soul piece of the Fredericksburg battlefield. At $12 million, the propertys purchase remains the most ambitious private-sector battlefield acquisition in American history.

Bruce Gottwald, a member of the Civil War Trust board of trustees from 2011 to 2017, is the former chairman and CEO of NewMarket Corp. in Richmond. A dedicated philanthropist and history enthusiast, Gottwald has donated more to save Richmond-area battlefield land than any individual in U.S. history, Lighthizer said.

Bruce Gottwald and his family members have been preservation heroes for decades, Lighthizer said. They are deeply committed to Virginia history and to their community in the Richmond area. Bruces dedication can be seen in his efforts to preserve the antebellum Tredegar Iron Works on the James River, his support of the American Civil War Center, and at historic land bordering Richmond National Battlefield Park.

A 1954 graduate of Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Gottwald was a member of VMIs board of visitors and received VMIs top honor, the New Market Award, in 2014.

Possessing a vision for preservation and how it helps Virginias economy, Gottwald has been generous to the Civil War Trust. His first significant donation came in 2012, when he gave $1 million for Gaines Mill, to acquire the pristine route of James Longstreets attack in the 1862 battle.

But Gottwald is modest about what he does. He is unusually humble and low key in his giving, a longtime friend said. He gives quietly.

The trust was founded in Fredericksburg in 1987 by historians concerned with the loss of historic battlefield land, and began life as the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites. The national nonprofit land preservation organization primarily focuses on the acquisition of Civil War battlefields, but through its Campaign 1776 initiative, the trust also seeks to save the battlefields connected to the Revolutionary War and War of 1812.

To date, the trust has preserved more than 47,000 acres of battlefield land in 24 states, including 24,600 acres in Virginia.
On the banks of the Potomac River at Caledon State Park, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters recently presented Sen. Richard Stuart with 2017s Legislative Leadership Award in recognition of his support of key conservation measures during this years General Assembly session.

We simply would not have had the success we had in 2017 without Sen. Stuart on our side, said Michael Town, executive director of Virginia LCV.

Stuart patroned several of Virginia LCVs priority bills this session, including a measure mandating upgrades to the City of Alexandrias outdated sewer infrastructure that has for years sent millions of gallons of untreated pollution into the Chesapeake Bay.

The senator also helped to pass legislation aimed at ensuring safe storage of coal cash and to defeat bills that would have allowed oil and gas companies to keep secret from the public the chemicals they use during fracking operations.

The Republican Senators district spans portions of Westmoreland, King George, Stafford, Spotsylvania and Prince William counties. Stuart has served in the state Senate since 2008.
Fredericksburgs commissioner of the revenue is being challenged for re-election for the first time since she first won the position 20 years ago.

Lois Jacob, 66, had been the citys deputy treasurer for 10 years since she beat Ralph A. Tuffy Hicks for the post in 1997. She is facing 50-year-old E. Thomas Blalock II, a business banker in commercial banking at the First Citizens Bank, in the Nov. 7 election.

Both will take part in a meet the candidates event from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library headquarters, 1201 Caroline St.

The commissioner of the revenue oversees the appraisal and assessment of all real property in the city, administers the citys real estate tax-relief program and land-use program, assesses individual and business personal property, issues business licenses and administers local taxes.

Jacob said that her many years as commissioner make her uniquely qualified to continue serving in that position. She said she has improved the process of vehicle updates, saving taxpayer dollars and increasing efficiency, and implemented a program for tax compliance for the city.

She was president of the Commissioner of Revenue Association of Virginia from 201415, and is the 2017 recipient of the Sam T. Barfield Award for Excellence, which honors the accomplishments and professionalism of a commissioner in the commonwealth. She is on the citys software review committee, which is in the process of selecting a new software system.

Blalock began his career as a part-time teller at First Virginia Bank in the Spotsylvania Mall while attending the University of Mary Washington. After graduation, he was accepted to First Virginias management training program and eventually became a senior vice president with Union Bank & Trust.

He was hired as CFO of Radley Automotive Group in 2011, and later left to become a commercial banker at JP Morgan Chase.

Blalock said he wants to apply his banking and CFO experience and skills to the office, and conduct the citys business more efficiently through technology, modernization and improved access. He said a new software system would help the commissioners office better identify and assess sources of revenue.

I think with modernization, with an upgraded software and commuter system, the commissioner would be better able to identify and assess sources of revenue, which will ultimately provide funds to the city for needed projects, Blalock said.

He added that hed also like to work with Fredericksburgs Economic Development & Tourism Department to strategically look for and attract businesses to the city.

Both Jacob and Blalock are longtime Fredericksburg residents and active in the community.

Jacob is a trustee and sings in the choir of the Fredericksburg Presbyterian Church and has served on its endowment committee. She was also involved in the Parent Teacher Organization when her and her late husband James Jacobs daughters, Sarah and Erin, attended Fredericksburg public schools, and served on a principal selection committee, was an After Prom Committee chairwoman and a tutor.

Blalock has been a member of the Fredericksburg Rotary Club for 22 years and served as its president from 200506. Hes also a member of the Germanna Community College Educational Foundation, Community Foundation of the Rappahannock River Region, Fredericksburg Jaycees, Rappahannock United Way, Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and St. Georges Episcopal Church.
ON AUG. 16, President Trump signed the Forever GI Bill, a piece of legislation that the House and Senate passed in a rare unanimous vote.

Beyond the historic nature of that vote, the law stands out for its potential to help veterans and their family members secure good-paying jobs that draw upon their military skills.

The legislation also could be a boon for employers and universities seeking to tap the talents of members of the American military transitioning back into civilian life.

The successful transition of veterans is a priority for the George W. Bush Institute, since 1 million service members are likely to be returning to civilian life over the next five years. Their military service has required them to solve problems in intense situations, run supply chains across the world and work with people from diverse cultures, among many other duties.

Those experiences can translate into civilian life, if veterans are given the opportunity.

Beyond its historic nature, the law stands out for its potential to help veterans and their family members secure good-paying jobs that draw upon their military skills.

The Forever GI Bill stands upon previous efforts in Washington to help veterans enter the workforce. Before this legislation, Congress passed the Post-9/11 GI Bill. That law was a major update of the legendary GI Bill of Rights that sent so many veterans to college after World War II.

The Forever GI Bill builds upon these influential measures in several ways:

First, it removes the expiration date for veterans as they pursue education or training. By not having to finish their schooling by a particular date, veterans will be able to pivot and learn new skills as the economy keeps changing.

Second, the law expands benefits to more reservists and all Purple Heart recipients. Thats significant because these men and women served their country honorably in combat, but their time was cut short due to being wounded. This fulfills our responsibility to the service members who gave the most during these conflicts.

Third, the legislation will help students who are pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) degrees. Specifically, it will add an extra year of eligibility to open up the option for an advanced degree that will make veterans more employable.

Each of these reforms, along with other aspects of the bill, will reduce the financial barriers that keep too many veterans from returning to college or some form of post-secondary education.

A report by the Student Veterans of America and the Institute for Veterans and Military Families shows that student veterans are more likely to be older, married and have children. They also work full- or part-time, and are often the first generation in their family to attend college.

These variables make the cost of an education difficult to stomach, which is why the Forever GI Bill matters to the nearly 50 percent of service members who are entering higher education after their service ends. The law provides an inexpensive, or even free, path toward education or training.

Whats more, the STEM emphasis dovetails with the push by the Department of Veterans Affairs to invest in helping veterans pursue the fields of science, technology, engineering or math.

The cost of the effort, $3.5 billion, will look daunting to some Americans. But STEM degrees will pay off tenfold for veterans, expand the workforce in these dynamic parts of the economy, and lead to greater productivity for the country as a whole.

Proper certifications and technical training can also create pathways to opportunities. Welding, advanced manufacturing, plumbing and electricity are all fields that do not require college degrees, but have attractive starting salaries. These fields also have an aging population that is on the brink of retirement over the next 10 years.

The Forever GI Bill can help the country reckon with this shortage, while it benefits the 25 percent of veterans who are entering the workforce without a four-year degree. The measure provides an opportunity for veterans to enter an apprenticeship program that trains them for a job. The programs may be offered through an employer or a trade school, both of which could make them marketable.

Importantly, the legislation will finance parts of the apprenticeship or training. It also will pay the veteran an allowance for housing while in training. The lack of a place to live is a common problem with many apprenticeship programs.

The Trump administration is rightly pushing for apprenticeships and other training programs. That effort, along with the new legislation, could help with the Department of Defenses budget.

The Department of Defense must pay unemployment insurance to any service member who leaves service without lining up a job. A better strategy would be for the department to partner with trade schools to offer training while the service member is still on active duty.

That approach would offer real-world training for veterans and ensure they can make the best decision upon leaving the military. Whats more, the Department of Defense would not be stuck with a large unemployment bill.

We often talk about the military leading to greater socio-economic mobility. But what happens after that service if you cant climb the economic ladder?

Veterans have picked up a wide range of problem-solving skills through their military service. Employers and universities alike now have a new way to make sure they take advantage of those skills.

Jeffrey J. Cleland (USMC, retired) is the manager of research and policy for the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas. This is distributed by InsideSources.com.
Reader unfairly called out Rush Limbaugh

In his Sept. 21 letter titled There are hurricane heroes, and theres Rush Limbaugh, Joe Junod blasted Limbaugh for statements about television overhyping hurricanes to increase viewership and ratings.

I heard that broadcast.Limbaugh never said that hurricanes arent dangerous. He said that because of the hype, people buy protective materials, batteries and bottled water that are probably not needed. Limbaughs words were spoken post-Irma. Does anyone doubt this?

Then Junod berated Limbaugh for turning tail by leaving Palm Beach for safer ground before Irma hit.

The fact is that pre-Irma damage estimates were lowered by two-thirds after Irma came ashore. And Palm Beach issued a questionable mandatory evacuation order, which included Limbaugh.

Junod also said, in effect, that the man-made global warming denier ranks include Limbaugh.

The fact is that there is so much evidence of tampering and collusion by man-made global warming experts that it is amazing that anyone believes in it. Man-made global warming is a United Nations-enhanced THEORY that is being spread to cause a massive wealth transfer from rich industrial nations to the threadbare Third World.

Ronald Parsons

Fredericksburg
Sickened, disgusted by athletes taking a knee for anthem

I get sick to my stomach when I see athletes protesting those in our nation who run toward danger when everyone else runs away. I am disgusted by those kneeling to dishonor those that many times shield innocent victims with their own bodies.

Those players should get off their knees and get into the neighborhoods where innocent people are being slaughtered by gangs and thugs daily. Where were these kneelers when Tyshawn Lee (a 9-year-old shot in the head by gang members while visiting his grandmother in Chicago) was murdered? Or Lavontay Whyte Jr. (a 2-year-old shot by gang members while riding in the back of his mothers car)?

Please get off your knees and get into these areas to protest the violence taking the lives of innocent children and people daily. Or do only some black lives matter?

Dennis Ridgeway King George
Although Oregon is blessed with rich agricultural bounty, 1 out of every 6 Oregonians is fearful they will not have enough food for their next meal.

Oregon Farm Bureau members are fighting alarming trend, and two speakers will address the issue when the Benton County Republican Women meet on Oct. 23 at the New China Buffet, 1720 NW Ninth St. in Corvallis.

John Burt, who heads the Oregon Farm Bureau organization Farmers Ending Hunger, will explain the program.

Ryan McCambridge, director of Linn Benton Food Share, will speak about the need for food in our area and how people can help.

The public is invited to the meeting with a no-host meal and social time at 11:30 a.m. Speakers begin at noon.
Why is a U.S. House of Representatives panel still seeking a bill to justify supporting assault rifles, gun silencers, and armor-piercing bullets? Lets get real. How can you justify gun silencers, assault rifles, and armor-piercing bullets for protecting and enhancing opportunities for recreational hunting and shooting? It makes no sense to me whatsoever.

Of course the National Rifle Association lobbys director applauded the bill, which he said "will protect Americas hunters and recreational shooters and help preserve our outdoor heritage. The NRAs justification for silencers is to protect hunters' hearing since conventional earplugs are not adequate for todays assault rifles like the FIM-92 Stinger missile launcher.

As for armor-piercing bullets, are they really OK for hunting as long as the manufacturer claims that it is intended for sporting purposes? So now birds and other wild animals have no chance for survival when a sportsman raises his silencer-equipped assault gun and fires armor-piercing bullets. What is the sport in that?

I believe the recent attack using automatic weapons in Vegas only shows that silencers would make it easier for mass shooters. It is past due for sensible gun laws.

Fred E. Shaub

Corvallis (Oct. 8)
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Based on a per-capita rate, Danvilles 16 homicides last year outpaces every city in the state, including Richmond and Norfolk.

And this years count of fatalities seems to trend in the same direction, with homicides 11 and 12 coming within hours of each other beginning Sept. 29.

Causes

Danville Police Department Chief Philip Broadfoot pointed to street gangs and access to firearms as the lead causes of the homicide trend. All of the homicides from 2016 were shootings and several appear to be gang-related.

The killings and drive-by shootings in 2016 are mostly related to the Bloods organization trying to consolidate the disparate gangs, he said.

In previous years, Danville maintained a relatively low homicide count. From 2012 to 2015, the city averaged 4 people killed per year.

It wasnt until last year that the numbers spiked dramatically.

The police department has determined that five of the 16 homicides in 2016 were motivated by gang disputes. Another four were domestic incidents.

Street gangs, the chief said, have been an issue in Danville since 2003.

That year, investigators found 11 gangs of varying sizes based in the citys neighborhoods, though most of the gangs were not actually breaking the law.

Gang activity dropped to nearly nothing in 2007, however, and prevention efforts dropped with them, Broadfoot said. Since then, former gang members have cycled through the prison system and returned to Danville with more knowledge about the craft of being a criminal from incarcerated members, he added.

We estimate we have approximately 250 gang members in town, Broadfoot said.

By the numbers

To compare Danville with the rest of the state, the Register & Bee relied on the same formula used by the Virginia State Police, where the number of homicides reported on the FBIs Uniform Crime Report were divided by the estimated population of each area under scrutiny and then multiplied by 100,000 to even out the population numbers. This is known as the per-capita rate, a mathematical formula often used by statisticians to make disparate population centers more alike for comparison.

For example, Richmond  with a population of 221,679  had the greatest number of homicides among Virginia localities in 2016 with 57. But its per-capita rate of 25.7 per 100,000 people is well below that of Danville  with a population of 41,967  which had 16 homicides and a per-capita rate of 38.12 per 100,000 people.

It gives us a baseline to compare apples to apples, Averett University Criminal Justice Department Head and Professor Jim Hodgson said of the mathematical formula. It gives you the bigger picture to look at the national and comparative data.

The Register & Bee compared Danville to 14 other localities throughout the state. Some of those localities  such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Pittsylvania County and Harrisonburg  were chosen due to the similarity in population.

Charlottesville and Manassas, for example, each recorded a single homicide last year. Lynchburg, Pittsylvania County and Harrisonburg each recorded two. So its easy to see that Danville, with its double-digit count, surpassed those localities, especially with a rate that is adjusted for population.

Larger localities such as Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Hampton and Virginia Beach were chosen to give a wider comparison across the state.

While Richmond had the greatest number of homicides in 2016, Norfolk trailed close behind with 46. Hampton and Virginia Beach recorded 24 and 21, respectively.

Although those cities had more homicides, Danville still has a greater per-capita rate when adjusted for population. Norfolk, for instance, had a homicide rate of 18.6 per 100,000 people, about half of Danvilles rate.

Larger cities like Chicago, St. Louis and Greensboro, North Carolina, were chosen for a nationwide comparison.

Chicago, with 2 million people living within its borders, had the greatest rate last year with 762 homicides. When adjusted for population, however, Danville still has a greater per-capita rate when compared to the Windy Citys rate of 28.17 homicides per 100,000 people.

St. Louis, which led the nation in homicides when adjusted for population, is a different story. The city had a homicide count of 188 last year within a population of 311,404 people. When converted to a rate, the math comes out of 60.37 homicides per 100,000 people.

Broadfoot, when told of the Register & Bees analysis, replied: theres no question; 2016 was a record-breaking year in all sorts of measurements.

Community

In 2003, there was a Youth Violence Coalition with regular meetings that Broadfoot called effective. He also said parents speaking up about keeping their children out of gangs was also effective.

Crime starts in the community, Hodgson said. The only way to resolve crime is in the community. Its got to be a holistic approach.

Since late November, the police department also has executed more than 40 search warrants into gang activity, charged 23 people with gang-related counts and has been working with federal investigators.

In addition, there is a gang task force that is getting its feet on the ground, Broadfoot said. The task force was formed in February.

The city also applied for a $125,000 federal grant in August to create a comprehensive gang prevention program that would include hiring a coordinator to help with intervention efforts. City Manager Ken Larking said he recently learned that the city has not been awarded the grant. But city staff is still searching for other sources of funding to make the program happen.

The program would be designed after the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Preventions model, which was used in a study in Richmond 10 years ago to help form their gang prevention efforts.

The police department also has reassigned officers to their own internal task force dedicated to working on the homicides. That task force is sharing information with state and regional partners.

From a criminal justice and community standpoint, lets start working smarter, not harder, Hodgson said. Lets start looking at the root causes of violence. If we do that and start talking about solutions, thats going to make our community grow and prosper.
Teaching Vietnamese abroad: Ukraine, Japan, France

VietNamNet Bridge - For many years, teaching and learning Vietnamese abroad has been the concern of many generations of overseas Vietnamese as well as managers.Despite difficulties, there are still many bright spots thanks to efforts of teachers and overseas compatriots.













Opening ceremony of the 2016-2017 school year for Vietnamese children at Sen Village, Odessa, Ukraine





Ukraine

The Vietnamese community in Ukraine lives mostly in three cities: Kharkiv, Kiev, and Odessa.

Ms Hoang Thi Van, a Vietnamese teacher in Odessa, said teaching and learning Vietnamese for overseas Vietnamese is difficult because they are mostly born and raised abroad. They use Russian and consider Vietnamese aforeign language.

Although they are taught to read and write, its still hard for them to understand each word and sentence and Vietnamese grammar.

However, the teaching and learning of Vietnamese in Odessa has been maintained for more than a decade thanks to enthusiasm of overseas Vietnamese parents and the Embassy of Vietnam in Ukraine.

Books are brought from Vietnam so their bookcasesare quite diverse. With love for children, Van enthusiastically sticks to the class, constantly finding new teaching methods.

To date, 34 of her students including 18 in Grade 1, 11 in Grade 2, and 5 in Grade 3 are all at a good level.

Japan

Like Hoang Thi Van, Ms Bui Thi Oanh,a Vietnamese language teacher in Japan and her colleagues, have paid the rent for the classroom by themselves.

She organized the first Vietnamese class in Japan with the participation of 30 students. Despite many difficulties and shortages, her class still maintains a regular session per week.

France

There are about 300,000 Vietnamese living, studying and working in France. Nguyen Thi Song Huong, a Vietnamese language teacher in France, is pleased too see that some schools in France now offer Vietnamese language classes.

Vietnamese in France, despite regular contact with French culture, still preserve traditional Vietnamese culture. They are interested in the transmission and development of Vietnamese culture and language.

In Thailand, Nguyen Thi Thanh Son, a teacher of Vietnamese in Nakhon Phanom province, said that the third and fourth-generation Vietnamese in Thailand hardly speak Vietnamese.

However, with the motto"Tieng Viet con thi nguoi Viet con", for many years, the movement of teaching and learning Vietnamese has been responded to enthusiastically and deeply in provinces and cities.

Many training courses are available for Vietnamese language teachers

According to Nguyen Cong Hinh, head of the Department of Continuing Education at MoET, besides the successful compilation of two books "Tieng Viet vui" and "Que Viet", the government approved the project "Improving the effectiveness of teaching and learning Vietnamese for overseas Vietnamese".

To make teaching and learning Vietnamese abroad more effective, in the coming time, MoET will develop the Vietnamese language curriculum at six levels, and at the same time compile teaching materials on Vietnamese to overseas Vietnamese; and continue fostering teachers and volunteers for teaching Vietnamese to overseas Vietnamese.

Luong Thanh Nghi, deputy director of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, said that the committee will strengthen its activities to encourage overseas teachers and students.

For some disadvantaged areas, the committee will directly support and mobilize localities, organizations and enterprises to finance the construction or repair or renovation of schools and classrooms.

VNF/VNN
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GREENSBORO  Theres the bakery owner whos willing to summon a demon if it means better cupcake sales.

Then theres the couple experiencing a bad break as the world comes to an end.

And theres Brian, who raised Kelly from the dead. But shes different than he remembered.

These are a few of the complicated and creepy characters you will meet at Stage Fright, a series of one-act horror plays written by members of the Drama Centers Playwrights Forum at the Stephen D. Hyers Theatre at the Greensboro Cultural Center on Oct. 26-28. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 per person.

The Playwrights Forum was founded by Hyers, a longtime City Arts employee, 24 years ago. It gives local writers an opportunity to test out their fresh works.

The Playwrights Forum is a touchstone for writers in Greensboro, said member Gabrielle Sinclair, whose moody thriller Cling will premiere during Stage Fright. It is great to have a place to have a regular, consistent group who has heard a piece over the course of its development.

The group of a few dozen writers meets monthly to share their latest work. Actors often join to help with the readings.

Playwrights can bring pieces that they are working on and have them read by the group, so playwrights get to hear what they have actually put on paper to see what works and what doesnt work, said Jini Zlatniski, whose play Kookies, Kakes and Kaitlins Kontract will premiere at Stage Fright. It is a nice little group. I dont have to sit in a dark room writing things anymore wondering if it works.

The forum is a safe space for sharing, writers said.

Sometimes its scary to share what youve done. Its the old adage: your art is your baby. So sending it out in the world is very frightening. It helps you to be in a safe environment with people you see every month, said member Queen Meadows, whose play A Meeting with Rodney Dangerfield will be a part of Stage Fright.

Forum members also get a monthly writing assignment that prompts them to churn out some work and stay active. An assignment to write a short play set in a graveyard spawned many of the Stage Fight plays.

Meadows play, a comedy about a couple fighting amid a celebrity graveyard tour, is one of them. Pete Turners play Andy, Sandy and Mandy is another.

Turner, a city of Greensboro childrens librarian with professional writing and acting experience, is busy working on a two-act play. But he took time out to write the one-act for Stage Fright.

What is nice about that format ... is if somebody is a beginning playwright, it allows them a chance to write a beginning, middle and an end. To have something like that stand alone it has to have a dramatic arc because of the length. There isnt much room for filler, Turner said. Its a way to get people working.

Sinclairs full-length play, The Resolute, will be produced in New York City next year. But it was first performed in front of an audience as part of the Playwrights Forums Every Fifth Wednesday program, where one members full-length play is performed as a staged reading followed by an author talk-back session.

It was incredibly valuable in getting everyones responses and questions, Sinclair said.

The Playwrights Forum also puts on two nights of one-act plays annually. Only members may submit plays for consideration.
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Several weeks ago, North Carolina Rep. Justin Burr took to his Facebook page and advocated for a return of capital punishment. Opponents of the death penalty have hammered Burr ever since, not only on Facebook (where several responses are childishly profane), but also in the pages of this newspaper and Raleighs News & Observer. National magazines, including The Hill and Newsweek, have picked up the story.

But according to nearly every reputable poll, most North Carolinians continue to support capital punishment. This despite a relentless, years-long campaign against the death penalty from almost every mainstream news source.

What explains the majoritys stubborn, unrelenting support for capital punishment?

Maybe our priorities and those of the media elite are not the same. Among our top priorities is the preservation of order, which necessitates a reverence for and protection of the innocent and defenseless. The deliberate taking of such a life is incomprehensibly cruel and unforgivable. The ultimate punishment for such offenses is not only justified, but necessary: the offender receives punishment that is proportionate to his offense, and society sends a message that is unmistakable.

North Carolinas most recent execution (in 2006) provides a vivid example. In 1994, Samuel Flippen beat to death his 2-year-old stepdaughter, Britnie Nichole Hutton. Flippen was not executed until 12 years later.

Opponents of the death penalty are in the awkward (if not impossible) position of arguing that the execution of Samuel Flippen was, somehow, a miscarriage of justice. But one could argue that the only injustice in the Flippen case is that it took the state about a decade too long to carry out the sentence. Since 2006, legal challenges have effectively created a moratorium on the death penalty in North Carolina.

A recent case in Michigan reminds us that lenient treatment of murderers can have catastrophic consequences. Twenty-five years ago, Gregory Green stabbed his wife to death. She was seven months pregnant at the time. (The infant also died.) Green served 16 years, was released from prison, and remarried. In September 2016, he killed his two biological daughters, aged 4 and 5, and both of his teenage stepchildren. The latter pair were shot to death in front of their mother, Greens second wife, who was shot and stabbed, but survived. Maybe its time for Michigan to reconsider its ban on capital punishment.

And Rep. Burr is correct: North Carolina needs to resolve its legal quagmire and resume executions. Our death row is occupied by 145 people. The oldest, Blanche Taylor Moore, is now in her mid-80s, and has eluded justice for a quarter-century.

Despite the virtual moratorium on the death penalty, some prosecutors, including Assistant DA Robert Enochs, continue to seek the ultimate punishment. A local man, 29-year-old Garry Gupton, is on trial in Greensboro for the murder of Stephen White, 46, three years ago. As reported in these pages on Oct. 3, police believe Gupton beat White before setting him on fire in Room 417 of the Battleground Inn at 1517 Westover Terrace. Surgeons had to amputate both of Whites arms, and he died less than a week later.

Faith Harris-Green, Gregory Greens second wife, told her homicidal ex-husband at his sentencing hearing, Your justice will come when you burn in Hell for all eternity for murdering four innocent children. Its a shame that the state of Michigan is unable to expedite Mr. Greens long-overdue journey to Hell.
Back when I used to commission regular surveys of North Carolina voters, one of my favorite questions had to do with tax fairness.

The wording varied over time, but heres essentially what we asked: If someone earns twice as much as income as you do, what do you think is the fairest system: that person ought to pay less than twice as much in taxes as you do, that person ought to pay about twice as much as you do, or that person ought to pay more than twice as much in taxes as you do?

Almost no one offered the first response. Some people agreed with the third response. But most people agreed with the second approach, in which ones tax burden rises in proportion to ones income.

In policy speak, these alternatives are called regressive taxation, proportional taxation and progressive taxation. Politicians and analysts debate them all the time, but the terms dont always adequately serve to convey the underlying meaning or assumptions. And if you use these terms in survey questions, you arent likely to get useful insights.

Progressive sounds good and regressive bad, for example, because we certainly all want to go forward and not backward. But in this context, the terms really refer to horizontal lines on a distribution chart. As you go left to right in household income, does the share of income paid in taxes progress upward or regress downward?

The reason people tend to respond favorably to proportionality as a standard, I believe, is that it comports with their intuitions and experience. The religiously minded are familiar with the concept of tithing. Those who have more are expected to give more. But the tithe  the tenth of ones income  is a proportion.

In the voluntary context of a religious institution, to be sure, its a guide rather than a mandatory floor or ceiling. Government is different. You contribute  or else. Unless you are an anarchist, you believe that people ought to be compelled to help pay for government services. You probably also believe that the taxes people pay ought to be levied fairly, even if you havent explicitly defined the term for yourself.

Tax fairness exists in two directions: horizontal and vertical. If you and I have the same incomes but pay significantly different tax bills, thats a question of horizontal fairness. I happen to think some such differences are entirely fair and necessary, because they correct for what would otherwise be biases in the tax code over time.

For instance, if government taxes money that is invested and then also taxes the return on that investment, it biases the tax code. The ultimate return on that investment is taxed twice  once by reducing the original principal available, and then again by reducing the interest, dividend or capital gain on it. One or the other ought to be taxed, but not both. Thats the rule for individual retirement accounts. Its a good one.

The other form of fairness is vertical. What shares of income should people at different incomes pay in taxes? In this case, Im in favor of proportionality after an initial exemption of some income from tax  the policy governments already follow in offering standard deductions as well as personal exemptions or credits (which adjust for the size of the household). In effect, then, I think the overall tax system ought to be modestly progressive.

What system do we actually have? Ill use statistics from left-of-center think tanks, just to be fair. Among taxpaying households, the bottom 20 percent pays about 15 percent of their income in federal, state and local taxes. The next quintile pays about 19 percent. The middle quintile pays 23 percent. The fourth quintile pays 27 percent. The highest-income quintile pays about 32 percent, with the top 1 percent of taxpayers in income paying 40 percent of that income, on average, in taxes of all kinds.

Whatever you think about this, our tax system is clearly not biased against poor- and middle-income taxpayers.
A husband and wife who began their careers in Rockingham County now head up two of the top emergency communications organizations in the state.

Melanie Austin Neal was inducted Oct. 3 as president of the N.C. Chapter of the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, during its annual conference at Cherokee.

Her husband, Steve, became president of the N.C. Association of Fire Chiefs on July 29 at that organizations annual conference in Charlotte.

It is believed this is the first time a husband and wife have headed up two separate state organizations at the same time.

Both served as second vice president and first vice president of their respective associations prior to becoming president.

More than 1,200 members belong to the communications group and 1,600 to the state fire chiefs group.

APSCO International is the largest organization in the world dedicated to public-safety communications, Melanie said, noting they provide training for public-service communications for the 911 industry throughout the country.

Melanie is supervisor of the Guilford County 91l, a position she assumed in mid-2015. Steve has served as chief of Guilford County Fire District Station 13 for 21 years.

Both were born in Rockingham County; Melanie in Ruffin and Steve in Stokesdale.

Daughter of Billy and Coleen Austin, she graduated in 1984 from Rockingham County High School and attended Appalachian State University for one year before transferring to UNC-Greensboro.

While working full time as a dispatcher for the Rockingham County Sheriffs Department, Melanie earned basic law enforcement certification in 1994 from Guilford Technical Community College. She then worked in the civil and criminal process offices, earning a promotion to administrative sergeant in 1995.

Four years later, Melanie became a dispatcher with the Guilford County 911 Center and was promoted to an assistant supervisor 18 months later.

After the Guilford County and Greensboro 911 centers consolidated in the spring of 2007, she became one of four senior supervisors in early 2008. Two years later, Melanie was named operations manager over the Emergency Communication Division  one of three divisions of the entire Guilford Metro 911 Department.

In February of 2014, Melanie was tapped to be interim director of the entire department when then director Wesley Reid was named assistant city manager.

We manage and maintain the radio systems for Guilford County, Greensboro, High Point and Burlington, Melanie said of Guilford Metro 911 in a 2015 interview.

Melanie has been an APSCO member since 2001.

I am always looking to learn more as far as the industry goes, Melanie said. They have different sections on leadership, management performance appraisals and many other topics.

I am honored and humbled that the members of the North Carolina Chapter of APCO have entrusted me to be their president for 2017-2018, Melanie said. We will focus on increasing our membership and providing quality training to our members throughout the course of the year.

Son of Bobby and Margaret Neal of Stokesdale, Steve graduated in 1976 from Madison-Mayodan High School and earned his fire science degree from Guilford Technical Community College through Rockingham Community College. He completed paramedic certification at Alamance Community College.

He became a volunteer with the Huntsville Fire Department shortly after graduating from high school. After six months, Steve joined the Stokesdale Fire Department for nine years and served as captain, the rank he held when he moved to Eden and became a volunteer with the Eden Fire Department for five years. He also has volunteered with the Monroeton and Stoneville fire departments.

Prior to going to work in 1982 as a paramedic for the Rockingham County Emergency Medical Services, Steve worked on his fathers farm for four years. He also was the EMS training officer for eight years.

In 1988, he was named fire marshal of Rockingham County.

In 1996, he accepted the job as fire chief for Fire District 13 in northern Guilford County.

He semi-retired in 2011 but has remained as part-time fire chief over 21 full time and 32 volunteers working out of three fire stations. They run about 1,500 calls a year, Steve said.

While still the fire marshal in Rockingham County, Steve became a member of the N.C. Association of Fire Chiefs, a highly visible organization, dedicated to providing leadership and direction through a cooperative, informed, and progressive manner.

Steve is no stranger to heading up fire associations. He has served as president of the Piedmont N.C. Firefighters and the N.C. County Fire Marshals associations and was a member of the N.C. Fire/Rescue Commission Certification Board.

I have been very fortunate in that God put me in a career that is truly rewarding, Steve said. Being elected to be the president of the N.C. Association of Fire Chiefs is probably the pinnacle of my career.

This was only possible because of the support I have received from my family and all the people Ive worked with in both Rockingham and Guilford County.

The couple lives in northern Guilford County and has two children, Jacob, 21, a senior at Greensboro College, and Kacie, 19, a sophomore at the UNC-Chapel Hill. Steve has a daughter, Carla, 35, a UNC-Greensboro graduate, employed with Save-A-Lot.
REIDSVILLE  With Project Fuerza Mexico, one Reidsville teacher is hoping to help her native country recoup after a series of devastating earthquakes rocked Mexico in September.

Over the course of a month, three major earthquakes struck the United States' southern neighbor.

On Sept. 7, Chiapas endured an 8.1 magnitude earthquake with 98 confirmed deaths and injuring 300.

On Sept. 19, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake delivered a significant blow to the nations capital Mexico City with 369 confirmed deaths and leaving more than 6,000 injured.

Then, on Sept. 23, a 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit Oaxaca with 6 confirmed deaths and 7 injured.

To help support the victims of these earthquakes, Reidsville Middle School Spanish Teacher and Mexico City-native Gabriela Anaya-Barrera set up Project Fuerza Mexico and began accepting donations of supplies at the school to benefit the survivors.

The efforts of generous people all over the world have become very much important for all of us as Mexican and I really, really want the Reidsville community to get involved because Reidsville is like my second home, Anaya-Barrera said.

For Anaya-Barrera, the time that followed the Mexico City quake was rough.

I had to leave school because I couldn't communicate with my family in Mexico City, Anaya-Barrera said. I was not going to be at 100 percent with my students if I had stayed here. I just kept on receiving messages from friends and acquaintances and relatives on whether they were okay or not.

After her day of absence, she returned to tell her classes about the situation.

They were very understanding and they did not hesitate in asking how they could help, Anaya-Barrera said. I'm talking about students from sixth, seventh and eighth grade. Everybody wanted to chip in somehow.

Since then, Anaya-Barrera has made contact with family.

She learned that some people she knew died, but also that others were helping in the relief effort, removing rubble from the streets or traveling to places where government assistance has not yet reached.

This is the very first time in my very long 44 years of life, that I see the country of Mexico working together, she said.

She later added, I know exactly what it is like. I went through the same thing and it takes forever to get over the fact that you see your own city crumbling and going down.

Anaya-Barrera recalled surviving a similar earthquake herself on Sept. 19, 1985 in Mexico City.

She was in seventh grade.

I was in what we know as the patio of our middle school junior high school, if you want to call it that way, and we were receiving messages from our principal at a time when everybody was lined up with their own teachers and their groups, Anaya-Barrera said. Next thing I know, kids started moving, swaying from one side to another one. Trees, cables, ... telephone poles, I saw my own school collapse on one side, another part damaged.

Without a phone line, Anaya-Barrera couldnt reach her family.

Back then I was living in a different part of Mexico City, so it took me about an hour and a half to get to school every morning using public transportation, so my mom had to wait until everything got hooked up and public transportation was able to be reconnected to normality, but it was not until midnight that I was able to leave school, Anaya-Barrera said.

The same story repeated itself ... 32 years later, the same day, just couple hours of difference, she said.

To donate to Project Fuerza Mexico, bring donations to Reidsville Middle School and ask for the Fuerza (pronounced Foo-erh-sah) Mexico donations box.

So far, she is not yet sure how she will ship the supplies down, but remains adamant and is searching for solutions.
U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, is demanding an investigation into how President Donald Trump is handling hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

Blumenthal noted that Trump tweeted a video purporting to show successful relief efforts in Puerto Rico that was later shown to have been favorably edited to demonstrate a robust federal response.




Haiti - Politics : Senator Cantave in Mexico





Thursday, in Mexico for a parliamentary meeting in Guadalajara on the fight against tuberculosis, the Senator and Dr. Carl Murat Cantave, President of the Health Commission and Vice-President of the Education Commission, also visited Mexico City to meet with His Excellency Romero Hicks, Chairman of the Education Commission of the Mexican Senate, in the presence of the Ambassador of Haiti Guy Lamothe and Garvey Jn Pierre the Minister Counselor.



The two senators explored ways of cooperation, which according to a statement from the Mexican Senator's office "will result in legislative measures to promote the development and well-being of both countries."



Both men recognized the importance of continuing to work to stimulate bilateral trade and investment while giving priority to the energy sector. Concerning cooperation in the education sector between the two countries, "[...]senators discussed the possibility of analyzing new strategies so that more Haitian students can benefit from scholarship programs offered by Mexico [...]"



With 88 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Senator Juan Carlos Romero Hicks emphasized the potential of trade between the two countries. Carl-Murat Cantave sent an invitation to his Mexican counterpart for a visit to Haiti in order "to continue the dialogue and strengthen the ties between the two parliaments."



Senator Cantave also took the opportunity to participate in the celebration of World Food Day at the Mexican Chancellery where Ambassador Guy G. Lamothe was one of the panellists of : "Desarollo rural, combate a la pobreza y a efectos del cambio climatico."



At the end of the visit, Cantave met with the Directorate General of Latin America and the Caribbean of the Mexican Chancellery where he spoke of cooperation in education and the ratification of the agreement for the reciprocal protection and promotion of investments. He did not fail to highlight and to congratulate the initiatives of the Mexican Chancellery in the management of the migration file of the Haitians as well as their gradual insertion in the labor market, in particular in Tijuana and Mexicali in the Mexican State of Baja California https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-21654-haiti-mexico-in-tijuana-and-mexicali-nearly-77-of-haitians-regularized.html



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#FIFA World Cup Numbers confirmed for S. Korean players South Korea released squad numbers for their players at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday, with captain Son Heung-min getting his usual No. 7. The Korea Football A...

#BTS Seller of BTS member Jungkook's lost hat referred to prosecution Police on Tuesday referred to the prosecution a former foreign ministry employee accused of attempting to sell BTS member Jungkook's lost hat online, officials said. The suspec...




Haiti - Environment : Launch of Operation Fe Channmas Bel





Thursday at a press conference, the Mayor of Port-au-Prince, Ralph Youri Chevry, discussed the outlines of the agreement signed between the Municipality and the Ministry of Interior entrusting officially the control of the public places of the Capital to the Municipal administration https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22394-haiti-news-zapping.html



He took the opportunity to present the activity "Fe Channmas Bel" "This cleaning and maintenance operation reveals a profound symbolism, especially when we consider what the Champ de Mars represents for not only the inhabitants of the Capital, but also for the whole country," inviting all the population to take part in this great cleaning operation to be held on Place Dessalines, this Sunday 15 October.



Anne-Rene Louis, the Director General of the Town Hall, said that the choice of Place Dessalines on the eve of the 211st commemoration of the death of the Father of the Fatherland (October 17) will enable us "to put forward this hero of our history". She outlined the various steps taken to make this day a great success. While inviting all local elected representatives to take part in the day, she informed, inter alia, that the City Council has received donations from various private institutions, enabling it to reduce the budget allocated to this operation, amounting to 250,000 gourdes.



Mayor Chevry reiterated his great expectation of the participation of the citizens of the city in this great clean-up operation, launching "Port-au-Prince can and will do it !"



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Haiti - REMINDER : 211st anniversary of the death of Emperor Dessalines





Max Rudolph Saint-Albin, Minister of the Interior and Local Government, reminds all Haitian citizens that Tuesday, October 17, 2017 is dedicated to commemorating the 211st anniversary of the death of Emperor Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Jacques 1st (aka Papa Dessalines), the opportunity for the nation to gather in serenity, fraternity and respect for ancestors.



"[...] Impregnated with the solemnity of the event and aware of its responsibilities under the circumstances, the Government, in accordance with the promises made by the President of the Republic, His Excellency Jovenel Moise , intends to fulfill this duty of memory towards the hero of our national independence in the most respectable way.



In this context, the Ministry of the Interior invites all the active forces of the Haitian political space to make this day an opportunity to reconcile the nation with itself, to reaffirm our common will for the socio-economic development of the beloved Homeland and to maintain the course towards the consolidation of the rule of law [...]"



The Ministry reassures the population that, following the instructions of Prime Minister Lafontant, all steps have been taken to ensure order and peace throughout the national territory in the context of this commemorative day.



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Haiti - Humanitarian : Donation of $4M million from USAID for Food Security in Haiti





Haiti ranks third globally among countries most affected by extreme weather events. A well-prepared and immediate response is needed in order to prevent food shortages and hunger which can often follow a large-scale disaster.



The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded $4 million to the World Food Program (WFP) in Haiti, to help distribute food more quickly in the aftermath of a disaster. The support helps WFP cut out what can be a lengthy contracting process with stand-by procurement agreements with regional food suppliers who can rapidly stock WFP warehouses with enough commodities to feed as many as 150,000 people for one month.



U.S. Embassy Haiti Charge d'Affaires Robin Diallo thanked the Government of Haiti and WFP for continued collaboration with the U.S. government as she toured the WFP food warehouse in Port-au-Prince on October 13, 2017.



"We rely on the strength of our partnerships with the Government of Haiti and with organizations like the World Food Programespecially as we share common goals of achieving fast and efficient emergency response and increased social protection for Haitians during times of natural disaster and other crises," Diallo said. "The USAID Haiti Mission's Food for Peace (FFP) office has worked diligently on this significant award to WFP to help increase food security via better preparedness to reduce the time it can take to get food to those in need following a disaster," she said.



It should be noted that this response capacity was put to the test in October 2016, when WFP had to distribute food rations to more than 900,000 people affected by the passage of Hurricane Matthew. WFP had stocks in its warehouses ready to be distributed immediately during the first few weeks, but these stocks had to be completed. "Buying more than 10,000 tons of food quickly in Haiti was one of the challenges of Operation Matthew," says Ronald Tran Ba Huy, Director of the World Food Program in Haiti. "With this USAID donation, contracts will already be established with suppliers in Haiti and in the region, which will allow WFP to save precious time."



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Haiti - Jacmel : Special training for 45 artisans





From October 10th to 18th, at the Interpretation Center of the Carnival of Jacmel (CICAJ), 45 artisans of jacmel undergo a special training, an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and financed by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID). Two designers from the City of New York lead these training sessions: Mrs. Aviva M. Shulem, Professor at Parsons School of Design and Ms. Sheila J Meyer, Textile Expert under the technical coordination of Mrs. Tancrede Nathalie.



Friday, Minister of Tourism Emilie Jessy Menos visited these training sessions aimed at strengthening the capacity of artisans to create and produce handicrafts that meet international standards. "The tourism industry relies heavily on the contribution of craftsmen. We want make more efficient our designers who decorate the trip of each of tourists arriving in the territory," said Minister Menos.



For Minister Menos, the initiative to support crafts through training, is based on the Government's vision to involve all the links in the chain in the development of tourism in the country. "An inclusive tourism that does not distinguish and neglect anyone (Zafe Touris Se Zafe Tout Moun)."



As a follow-up to this training, the Ministry of Tourism will support the creation of a platform for the sale of craftsmen's products as well as their participation in trade fairs both nationally and internationally .



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By Panos Kotzathanasis | Published on 2017/10/14

HONG Ji-you and Kim Il-rhan's "2 Doors" dealt with the events that took place during the 2009 Yongsan tragedy, and in the process, made a clear accusation towards the then Lee Myung-bak administration, as the highlighted the corruption resulting from the connection of politics, the press, the police, and the judiciary. Despite their extremely thorough research, the directing duo was not satisfied with just that, and actually tracked the five demonstrators who were imprisoned as perpetrators for the deaths in the incident, during the next seven years, and present, through them, the aftermath of the events and the trial.

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"The Remnants" (Festival entry) is screening at London Korean Film Festival that will be on October 26 to November 19.

What becomes evident from this realistic, but heart-breaking, documentary is that the five individuals examined are left utterly broken physically and mentally after their unjust imprisonment and the events surrounding it. One of individuals has actually sustained an injury that has left him unable to work, another became an alcoholic, and another experienced fits of rage to the point when he had to turn to religion in order to find some kind of solace. The only one who seems less impacted by the events is one of the leaders of the initial movement, Chairman Park, who actually followed a different tactic than the rest in the trial, alienating himself from the other four, who actually blame him for that and as the man responsible for the consequences of the events in 2009.

Although all parties have become parts of groups that try to come to the truth of what really happened during the twenty-five hours of the strike, and particularly during the SWAT raid, the animosity between the four and Chairman Park is more than obvious. Their attitudes take a rather heated turn during a meeting where they all participate, with the four directly accusing him of both the aforementioned aspects, in one of the strongest scenes in the documentary. Hong and Kim present both sides through personal interviews, but the fact is that Park is not as persuasive as he would like to be regarding his role, and the fact that he seems to be in better state than the others does not help him.

Apart from that aspect, the blame on the government and its practices is more than evident as the victims still cannot "swallow" the fact that they were accused and convicted, despite the obvious, and that they were also victims. This aspect is what continues to ruin them, along with the truth of what really happened, although the committee for uncovering the truth helps greatly.

The footage from the incident is, once more, revealing, with the duo continuing their research and finding even more than they did in "2 Doors", in a work that actually seems relentless, as they seem not to have stopped at all during all these years. This element is mirrored in both the situation of the five, which is presented through each year, and the outcome of the area, which was supposed to be demolished in order for new buildings to be erected.

I found "The Remnants" even more shocking and revealing that "2 Doors" and a meaningful and very interesting documentary. Once more, though, I felt that it could have been a little briefer, since, at 133 minutes it is a bit difficult to watch. Nevertheless, I have to applaud the thoroughness and the relentlessness of the two directors in pursuing a subject that most would consider a lost cause for the victims, and presenting it with realism and artistry.

Review by Panos Kotzathanasis

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"The Remnants" is directed by Kim Il-rhan and Lee Hyuk-sang.
Incentives for Retirement Savings

by Tom Yamachika, President, Tax Foundation Hawaii

During the past few months, the Tax Review Commission, a group provided for in our state constitution that is supposed to meet once every five years, has been busy at work. The Commission is tasked with recommending changes to our tax laws, and its consultant has recommended limiting the pension exemption that we now have in our state income tax code so that it only exempts $25,000 per year.

Our current pension exemption only allows taxpayers to exclude pensions as the result of an employer contribution. So, it applies if an employer puts something away for its employees, but it doesnt apply if the employees put something away for themselves under a plan sponsored by the employer. For example, if I contribute $100 to my employer-sponsored 401(k) plan and my employer makes a matching contribution of $50, then when I retire and the plan pays me $180, only the one-third attributable to the employer contribution ($50 / $150 total) would be exempt from our state income tax.

Apparently, this rule was designed to take care of defined benefit plans, which many companies had in the old days and which our state government still has now. In modern times, however, people normally get, and employers normally offer, IRAs, Roth plans, 401(k) plans, and defined contribution pension plans. The distinction between the plans that are now taxable and those that are exempt is sketchy at best. If we as a policy matter want to encourage retirement savings, shouldnt we be encouraging it whether the employer puts something away for the employee or the employees put something away for themselves?

The federal income tax system also has an incentive for retirement savings in that it allows a deduction for contribution to some retirement accounts such as traditional IRAs, even if the contribution is made after the end of the tax year. (Hawaii mirrors this incentive, but generally taxes distributions from the accounts, like federal law.) President Trumps proposal for tax reform has not yet put this incentive on the chopping block.

This feature of our income tax system is particularly important because not all employers offer pension plans of any kind, and anyone can establish an IRA. One interesting story from one of our loyal readers illustrates this feature of our income tax system.

In February of one year, with the April 15 deadline fast approaching, father and son were at the kitchen table, with receipts, calculators, and tax forms strewn about the area normally occupied by plates, serving trays, and utensils.

Argh, says Son. It looks like Im going to owe money to the IRS. A little over $1,500.

And, says Father, you will need to deal with penalties for not paying enough in estimated tax.

Oh, no! I didnt think of that one!

And did you put aside money for your later years?

NoIm having a hard enough time with the bills I have today!

You know what? I have an idea.

What is it, Dad?

I am going to give you $4,000. Were going to open a traditional IRA for you and we will put the money in there. Put $4,000 on the IRA deduction line and see what happens.

I dont owe any more! If you do that, Dad, it would be really great!

But there is one condition.

Oh? Whats that?

Youre going to put the tax refunds you get into the IRA so you can take the same deduction next year. And the same goes for the year following. And so on.

I can do that. Deal!

That was a happy ending for Son, who escaped immediate financial troubles and was able to see a ripple effect from the savings; and for Dad, who encouraged his son to save money responsibly and was able to start teaching him how to invest it.
The president of Emily's List rose to the podium at a recent New York fundraiser to make a proud announcement: More than 18,000 women had contacted the group since Election Day, looking to explore running for office  "an explosion," she called it.

Of course, they're all Democrats. On the Republican side, there's been no such explosion. While a tide of anti-Trump activism has led thousands of Democratic women to consider runs for office, their Republican counterparts are where they were before the 2016 election  with little chance of improving their representation.

"Republican women look very much the same now as they did pre-Trump," says Jennifer Lawless, professor at American University and co-author of a recent report that examined the persistent gender gap in political ambition, on both sides of the aisle. "They're generally not interested in running for office, the overwhelming majority has not been recruited to run, they don't think they're qualified to run, and their levels of political activity and enthusiasm are the same as they have always been."

Lawless' report, called "The Trump Effect," also throws some cold water on the expectation that Democrats will see a seismic shift in numbers of women running; re-energized political activism doesn't necessarily translate into candidacies. But the new enthusiasm has been almost entirely on the left side of the spectrum, and some groups are trying to address that.

Erin Loos Cutraro, CEO of She Should Run, a nonpartisan group, says while the overall pace of adding women to elected office is too slow  women, after all, comprise just under 20 percent of Congress  it's clearly happening faster for Democrats.

Part of the problem: uneven institutional resources and support. "Feeling that you're not going at it alone makes a big difference," Cutraro says, "and it can feel really isolating for Republican women. They don't have the same networks, just in sheer numbers ... or the same level of institutional support. If you're a Democratic pro-choice woman, and you have Emily's List there to support you, that can be incredibly powerful. Republican women don't have anything that plays at the same level."

While a group like Emily's List lends concrete support to get a candidate over the finish line, She Should Run serves women seeking that first step. "'I don't even know where to start' is something we hear over and over," says Cutraro.

Rebecca Love is one of those women. A longtime Republican  she was even president of the Republican club in high school  Love, 38, woke up at home in San Diego the morning after Election Day wanting to get involved, somehow.

"I felt that my values as a Republican woman were not represented by the candidate who was elected," says Love, who has a young daughter and works in health care consulting. "I felt Republicans were better than this. It was a wakeup call."

So Love began Googling programs for women interested in politics. Most, she found, were for Democrats  and her experience had been that even groups calling themselves nonpartisan were populated mostly by Democrats, some not eager to engage with Republicans. Finally, Love, who identifies as a pro-abortion rights, moderate Republican, started working with She Should Run. She's learning the political landscape of her community, and expects to pursue a city council seat or something similar.

By now, Love says, she feels confident enough that she doesn't need to be "asked" to run. But she meets women who do: "I say to them, 'You should think about running,' and they say, 'Me?'"

Virtually any advocate working to get women into politics will say the same thing: Much more than men, women  of any party  need to be asked to run.

Julie Conway of VIEW PAC, which works to get Republican women elected to federal office, puts it this way: "You have to tell women, 'Hey, you'd be great,' and not only that, but you'd be the best, and now I'm going to have 10 other people tell you you're the best. Guys just say, 'Hey, I could do this.'"

It's a bipartisan issue, Conway notes. "Women  Democratic or Republican  need to be convinced that they know everything about everything," she says. "Because they don't want to fake it. Guys, you ask them about a question about a specific tax issue, and they say, 'Oh, we believe in lower taxes.' A woman will say, 'I need the exact details of how that works.'"

Adds Stephanie Schriock, president of Emily's List: "For years we've sat at kitchen tables, we've said, 'You can do this, you don't need five years of training  that dude has no training!'"

For Jinyoung Englund, getting asked  by a former boss  was a turning point. A daughter of Korean immigrants in Washington state, Englund got the bug for public service early, working on a congressional campaign and then on Capitol Hill while she was still in her 20s.

She hadn't planned to run herself, and her first response, she says, was that it sounded "kinda crazy. ... Women, like myself, are often, 'Hey, who am I to think I could run?'"

But she is now the Republican candidate in a much-watched special legislative election; Republican control of the state Senate hangs in the balance. At 33, she'd be the body's youngest woman.

Not every woman, of course, needs to be asked. Shantel Krebs, the South Dakota secretary of state and candidate for Congress, served 10 years in the state legislature  she was 30 when first elected in 2004, and had begun her legislative career at 17, as a page. Krebs says she hasn't encountered the obstacles some other women describe, perhaps because South Dakota has a long history of women in positions of political power. The incumbent in the seat she's seeking, Republican Kristie Noem, is running for governor.

"I think South Dakotans expect another woman in that position," says Krebs, 44. "They know that women compromise and they listen."

Like Republican male candidates, GOP women must consider where they stand on President Donald Trump, their party's polarizing leader. Depending on the district, it's not always easy.

"Some candidates find themselves in a no-win situation and it's not a great place to be," says VIEW PAC's Conway. "I'm not seeing a lot of candidates come through saying Trump's the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I also haven't met a lot of people running who are overly willing to speak against him either."

Asked about potential concerns among women voters about Trump's attitudes toward women, Krebs, of South Dakota, says her constituents aren't troubled by that. "I haven't heard from any of my constituents that they're concerned. The concern here is bigger issues. They want government to be accountable, to control spending."

Englund, in Washington state, says she wrote in a candidate for president. "I know part of the Democratic strategy across the country is to try to tie new candidates to the president," she says, "but in our district, and I think nationally, people looked at last year's election and thought, 'Wow, neither candidate really represents my values or my vision for America.'"

In Austin, Texas, Jenifer Sarver is already preparing for the "Trump question," even though she's not yet running for office.

"Certainly people have told me that saying you didn't vote for the president isn't a good thing," says Sarver, 41, who runs a communications consulting business and has been mentioned in the local media as a potential candidate to replace Rep. Michael McCaul  who in turn has been mentioned as a potential Trump Cabinet member. "There are going to be people who won't vote for me. But I believe I can attract people in the middle ... those who want to see that there are people of integrity and character running, who aren't afraid to stand up to the system."

Though a conservative Republican and an opponent of abortion, Sarver voted for Hillary Clinton, "in large part because of (Trump's) history with misogyny," she says. While she's always felt welcome in the Republican Party, Sarver has felt stymied by the lack of an infrastructure to recruit female candidates: "Either there's not the desire there, which I don't think is true, or there's not the support and infrastructure."

This election cycle, there's an additional concern for Republican women in Congress. Several aren't running for re-election, either because they're running for office elsewhere, or retiring. That could bring numbers of Republican women in Congress "down to numbers like we have not seen," says Lawless. "It's going to be very difficult for them to even maintain the numbers that they have."

And that means a setback for women across the board  if you care about overall female representation in Congress. Because even with all the energy on the left, Lawless says, "the Democrats will have to have a hell of a banner year in order to compensate."
NEWTON  The Hickory Daily Record recently discovered the 25th District Attorneys Office issued a letter to Capt. Jason Reid and Sheriff Coy Reid stating the prosecution will no longer be able to use (Jason Reid) as a witness for the state in any of the districts criminal cases.

A copy of the July 7 letter was obtained after the HDR submitted a Freedom of Information Act request (G.S. 132-1) to the DA David Learners office late Thursday afternoon.

The letter references the decision pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court Case Giglio v. United States (1972), which extends the Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland (1963) opinion, granting the district authority to impeach the credibility of a prosecutorial witness.

Giglio disclosures may be required if a witnesss conduct calls into question their credibility or truthfulness. It may also be required if evidence, an opinion or reputation regarding the witnesss character, suggests untruthfulness, according to the United States Department of Justice.

Disclosures also may be required if a witness has a record of prior inconsistent statements or information to suggest bias.

DA Learners letter contains three assertions about Jason Reid requiring Giglio disclosures in the district.

Learner said his office received information from Lincoln County prosecutors and one or more law enforcement officers regarding Giglio issues about Jason Reid and Aaron Kennemore. The issues led to the dismissal of 59 narcotics cases, according to the letter.

(Jason Reid) admitted (to) passing counterfeit currency at the Cubbard Express #7, according to Learners letter.

However, two law enforcement agencies investigated the allegation of Jason Reid passing a counterfeit $20 bill at the Hickory convenience store in 2005, and he was cleared of any criminal action.

In addition, I discovered that the Western District United States Attorneys Office will no longer prosecute cases that (Jason Reid) is involved in, according to the letter. (Jason Reid) failed to notify my office of what he knew to be pertinent information regarding his relationship with the U.S. Attorneys Office.

At the discretion of the DAs office, a law enforcement officer may be found to have a Giglio violation within the judicial district, Learner said Friday afternoon.

Learner said the first way a prosecutor can address a Giglio issue is by calling the witness and disclosing the information so the defense can cross-examine the witness regarding the Giglio issue in addition to the case.

The other way, which I think is generally preferable, is just dont call them as a witness; and thats the way that I have generally dealt with this, Learner said. This isnt something new; its something weve had to do on several occasions.

* * *

In an interview with the HDR on Saturday afternoon, Capt. Jason Reid denied the accuracy of the letter delivered to him and Sheriff Coy Reid on July 7.

The main issue (in the letter), as far as Im concerned, is (the counterfeit bill passing) in 2005, Jason Reid said. That was 12 years ago.

Two separate investigations were conducted about the counterfeit $20 bill and impersonation of a Hickory Police Department officer, one with the Maiden Police Department (Jason Reids employer at the time), and the other with HPD.

The initial HPD incident report from Jan. 11, 2005, states an unknown subject attempted to pass a counterfeit $20 bill and produced a gold police badge.

The subject was later identified as Jason Reid using surveillance video, according to an HPD case supplemental report obtained by the HDR via the DAs office.

Jason Reid walked in to a 16th Street convenience store and attempted to buy milk using a counterfeit $20 bill, according to the supplemental report.

The supplemental report references interviews with investigators stating Jason Reid received the counterfeit $20 bill as a part of narcotics special funds money, and Jason Reid confirmed Saturday afternoon the money was from the Catawba County Drug Task Force, which he served on at the time.

The clerk checked the bill for authenticity and discovered it to be counterfeit, according to the report.

Jason Reid then asked that the bill be returned before retrieving a police badge from his vehicle, according to statements from Jason Reid and the store clerk.

In multiple interviews, the clerk said an HPD badge was used, and the clerk told investigators that Reid told him he was doing stings at other stores and trying to pass counterfeit bills at other places, and the clerk was the only one who did not return the bill to him, according to the report.

Jason Reid told investigators he put his Maiden Police Department badge on the counter and told the clerk that he was an undercover narcotics investigator for Maiden and that he needed the $20 bill back for his special funds, according to the report.

When questioned by investigators, Jason Reid denied the possibility of him saying anything about presenting counterfeit bills to test store clerks.

(Reid) reiterated that he told the clerk that he was an undercover narcotics investigator from Maiden and that other places might not have caught the counterfeit bill, according to the report.

Jason Reid also told investigators the difference between the Maiden and Hickory badges should be apparent on the surveillance video.

In the investigators final interview with the clerk before the case was closed, the clerk maintained there was no misunderstanding in what Jason Reid told him, saying he said hed been to other stores, and I was the only one who didnt give it back. The clerk added that Jason Reid said he passed the test.

However, Jason Reid denied ever telling the clerk he passed the test in multiple interviews with investigators.

The HPD case was closed as unfounded Jan. 24, 2005, according to the supplemental report.

How could I not be charged criminally if I was criminally responsible for passing a counterfeit $20 bill? Jason Reid asked Saturday when discussing the letter with the HDR. How could Hickory Police Department and Maiden Police Department, the agency I worked for, find no criminal fault and no willful intent, but (Learner) is going to Giglio me because of that?

In an excerpt marked conclusions from the Maiden Police Department internal investigation regarding the counterfeit bill, Reid was cleared of any criminal intent.

The excerpt from the investigation, which was obtained by the HDR, is signed by former MPD Chief Troy A. Church.

Based on the manner in which Jason Reid came to be in the possession of the (counterfeit) note, there was no criminal intent on his part to possess a counterfeit note, Church said via the document. I can assure you that if I had been presented facts that supported commission of a surreptitious or criminal act, Jason Reid would no longer be a member of this agency.

If I thought, despite the fact that he was cleared, that (Jason Reid) had violated the oath of his office or compromised the integrity or reputation of the Maiden Police Department, I would remove him as a member of this department.

* * *

Capt. Jason Reid said he found the timing of the July 7 letter interesting.

It sure is ironic that I made a donation to Scott Reilly on May 26, who has already announced that hes running against David Learner, Jason Reid said Saturday afternoon. He makes a donation to me three or four days before this letter is issued to me, and its a week before I announced for sheriff.

If somebody had done this a year ago or two years ago, we wouldnt be having this conversation today.

Earlier this week, Learner told the HDR that nothing in the letter is politically motivated.

It is absolutely untrue (the letter is politically motivated), DA Learner said Friday afternoon. First of all, the letter speaks for itself. Secondly, Ive got evidence backing it up. Every word in this letter is true; if anybody tells you to the contrary, they are either misinformed or deliberately lying to you.

It has to do with making sure that the entire process has integrity; from day one, I have taken the position of removing even the appearance of impropriety in any case we handle. I hold people accountable.

Learner said he addressed the case like any other matter that comes into the DAs office.

I followed the evidence, Learner said. Wherever the evidence leads, thats where it goes.

In an interview with the HDR on Thursday, Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid said he believes the letter is politically motivated.

Its a political ploy to get me; he doesnt care about Jason, Coy Reid said. Whats Jason to him? He doesnt care about Jason; he wants to make me look bad.

Coy Reid said had he found anything of concern mentioned in the letter, he would have taken action.

If Ive got a crooked cop, I dont care if its my son, Ill get rid of him, and Ill deal with it. If he needs to be charged, Ill charge him, Coy Reid added. Do I think the public has a right to know about it? Yeah, theyve got a right to know about it, but it is lies so should they know about it? No, they shouldnt. But, its out there now.

Coy Reid continued, Now, why didnt he come ask the questions and we gave him the answers instead of us fighting, and the whole county knowing about it?

Hey, the sheriff and the DA are fighting, and we shouldnt be, Coy Reid said. We should be on the same team. But he doesnt want to be on that team.

Learner and Jason Reid confirmed to the HDR they did meet a few days after the letter was delivered.

I gave (Jason Reid) every opportunity to furnish me with any information or documentation that he felt I should have, Learner said via a text message Saturday afternoon to the HDR. He declined to provide anything.

Jason Reid said he had a reason for not providing any documentation at the July meeting.

I did not give him anything. There were several reasons why: one reason, I knew the investigator who did the investigation on me, Jason Reid said. And I knew that their investigation was not as thorough as mine, and I knew this was going to come up.

When asked to comment on the status of the letter and what came of the July meeting, Learner said the letter stands.

* * *

The HDR reached out to the Lincoln County District Attorneys Office, U.S. District Attorneys Office in Charlotte, and North Carolina Attorney Generals Office, but did not receive a response by press time.

In the coming days, the HDR will provide additional information pertaining to DA Learners letter to Jason Reid regarding a Giglio disclosure incident from Lincoln County and a federal Giglio disclosure incident.
The employees and residents of Kingston Residence of Hickory joined friends of Tony Llambias in a recent 60th anniversary celebration as a member of The Knights of Columbus. A special luncheon was held with Llambias and his guests in honor of that achievement.

The Knights of Columbus was officially chartered in 1882 as a fraternal benefit society. The order is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity and fraternity.

The Knights was formed to render financial aid to members and their families. Mutual aid and assistance are offered to sick, disabled and needy members and their families. Social and intellectual fellowship is promoted among members and their families through educational, charitable, religious, social welfare, war relief and public relief works.

Their charities encompass a wide variety of local, national and international projects. From international charitable partnerships with Special Olympics, the Global Wheelchair Mission and Habitat for Humanity to the Food for Families and Coats for Kids projects and other local charities, the opportunity to work together with fellow Knights and their families is virtually endless.

We were thrilled to be able to celebrate with our guest of honor, said Susan Allshouse, executive director at Kingston. Everyone here loves Tony and it was wonderful to share this special day. Its not often that we meet someone so dedicated in their beliefs and desire to do good works for others, that they remain with such a wonderful group as The Knights of Columbus for 60 years.
Eric Biter

Occupation: Musician

Age: 42

Education: High School

How long youve lived in Brookford:

Almost 13 years

Why are you running for council?

I am running for council to have a say in the decisions necessary to move Brookford forward, and as alderman, I can do just that.

What is your vision/platform?

I see Brookford as an area with great potential. With the right guidance and leadership, this area will hopefully grow to something that resembles its former glory.

What is the greatest challenge facing Brookford?

The greatest challenge facing Brookford is empty homes, vacant properties. I would like to see businesses in those vacant areas, and people in those empty homes. We have untapped potential in our little town, and it needs to be realized.

James Weaver

Occupation: Retired

Age: 66

Education: Fred T. Foard High School graduate, 1969

How long youve lived in Brookford:

35 years

Why are you running for council?

I have always been a people person. While talking to people, they tell me what they think needs improving in town. And if it is logical, I bring it before the board.

What is your vision/platform?

I would like to see more business come to Brookford; I would like to help the homeowners that need help getting their houses repaired. I am for everyone in Brookford, but especially the homeowners.

What is the greatest challenge facing Brookford?

I think the greatest challenge is attracting new business to our small town.

Evelyn Yount

Occupation: Retired

Age: 73

Education: Graduated 1962 from Hickory High School, entered U.S. Navy in 1963, serving five years and three months, receiving on-the-job training in communications and data processing.

How long youve lived in Brookford?

I grew up in Brookford, returning after serving during the Vietnam War, married and moved to Concord until 1998 when I moved back to Hickory.

Why are you running for council?

I would like to serve the community that raised me and pay back by giving time and maturity to make the community even better.

What is your vision/platform?

My vision is to make Brookford a better place for growth.

What is the greatest challenge facing Brookford?

The greatest challenge facing Brookford is looking for more businesses to enjoy our neighborhoods. It is keeping drugs and vandals from intruding our peaceful lifestyles.

Thomas Schronce

Occupation: Mayor

Education: N/A

Age: 72

How long you've lived in Brookford?

19 years

Why are you running for mayor?

When I first ran for mayor down there, I had some people come and ask me to run, and I told them that if I ran itd be for the people, and Im strictly for the people.

What is your vision/platform?

My vision is trying to work to get some business in the town. The way it is, City of Hickorys got us completely surrounded, and we do not have all that much room, but were trying to get some business to come in to help us out to build the town some.

What is the greatest challenge facing Brookford?

We do not have very much income coming in. Thats our greatest challenge, trying to get some businesses to get more income coming in.

The Hickory Daily Record did not receive questionnaires from Bill McGregor and Charles Bargsley, both of Brookford, or Patrick Laney and Jeffrey Hendren, both of Catawba.
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A 15-year-old victim of gang-rape committed suicide on Friday evening when the accused molested her again after allegedly being given a clean chit by the police following a two-month long probe in Kirthal village of Baghpat district.

Assistant superintendent of police, Baghpat, Ajay Kumar Singh said the girls father had lodged a complaint against five youths on Friday and investigation were on in the case.

The girls family had lodged a case of gang-rape against the accused two months ago at Ramala police station of the district.

After carrying out investigation for two months, the police filed a final report giving a clean chit to the accused. The investigating officer found no proof of a gang-rape and filed a final report in the case, Singh said.

The girls mother told the police that her daughter had gone to the market on Friday where the accused molested her.

She returned home and narrated the incident to her mother. Later, she locked herself in a room and hanged herself from the fan.

The father of the girl is a labourer and unable to plead the case.

A 20-year-old girl from Mathura had committed suicide allegedly over the failure of the police to solve her murder case of her parents.

The girl wrote in her suicide note that she was ending her life due to frustration over police inaction.

Her parents, Banwari Lal and Ravibala, were murdered on March 8-9 this year when they were sleeping in their house in Mathura.
If only the dead could speak. In case nature granted them this ability, I am sure Aarushi Talwar would come back from the dead and look Indias judiciary in the eye. She is likely to ask them some really tough questions. Even if the almighty had planned such a tragic end for me, isnt it the failure of our law and order machinery that nobody has a clue about my killer? Why did senior officers of the Uttar Pradesh police fail to make a breakthrough? Why has the CBI been unsuccessful in unmasking the murderer? Is it incompetence or sheer lack of will?

Aarushis murder also proves that an anarchist and immoral mob mentality prevails in the worlds largest democracy. It seems we are all living in a gigantic, loud and noisy drum-house where some people are trying to make a feeble but ineffective plea for truth and justice.

Today, when I dig into the inbox of my memories once again, I realise that since May 2008, a suspense thriller has been taking shape before us. One day comes the news that a 14-year-old girl has been found dead in her bedroom in her Jalvayu Vihar home. A probe begins to find out who killed her. By evening the police realise that Hemraj, the domestic help, is missing. Assuming that he was the murderer, the speculation starts. The next day Hemrajs body is found on the terrace of the apartment. The girl is killed in her bedroom and the domestic helps body on the terrace. There is no sign of a robbery. The neighbours next door dont have a clue about what happened. Who killed these two? When were they killed and why?

There was as much speculation, as there were questions.

At that time the Mayawati government was in power in Uttar Pradesh. She was very sensitive when it came to crime. Senior officers based in Lucknow began to apply pressure on the local police. Regional police chiefs from Meerut also jumped into the fray. Every day a new theory was floated. People talk about a trial by media. But all kinds of insinuations were being fed to them. Apart from character assassinating the murdered girl, even her parents and family friends were not spared. If you collate the newspaper clippings and news videos of that time, you would realise how our police apparatus is an expert in creating distortions and half-truths out of other peoples misery and how the gullible media plays the polices court jester.

In its own estimate, through some calculations, the Uttar Pradesh police had solved the case. But a number of questions were awaiting resolution. So the case was handed over to the CBI. The same CBI which wields the magic lamp, fears nobody and solves the most complicated mysteries like Sherlock Holmes. It is another matter that certain people prefer to call this efficient outfit a caged parrot.

The IPS officer assigned to solve the case was perceived to be brilliant. Being from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, it was believed that Arun Kumar would get to the bottom of the case and catch the culprits. But nothing came of it. The CBI submitted its closure report. It implied it had not managed to put together the evidence, but the court wasnt convinced. So the balance of justice began to tilt the other way. Today, when the Allahabad High Court has conceded that there is not enough evidence against the Talwars and they can walk free, the question is: Is there something that has been buried or suppressed somewhere?

Is there a conspiracy behind this? Or, have the police and the CBI proved to be ineffectual? Whatever be the reason, one cant deny that the death of a young dream and the transformation of a familys happiness into mourning has been a waste. Questions are bound to be raised about what the Talwars were punished for? They lost their daughter, spent years behind bars, their careers were destroyed and now after coming out of prison, are looking at the challenge of leading the remainder of their lives. It is sad that a number of officers who scripted this tragic tale were decorated in India and abroad. Better results were expected of them but what happened was the opposite.

Is it not a matter of anger and sorrow that the nations system which feeds on hard-earned taxpayers money treats them so cruelly? By this time, when this murder mystery has become an urban legend, if there is anybody who can lift the curtain on this murder, it is Aarushi herself or Hemraj. But what can one do? Unfortunately, the dead cannot speak.

Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief Hindustan

letters@hindustantimes.com
Amitabh Bachchans 75th birthday is, in many ways, a milestone for all of us. Having grown up watching the angry young fellow of the 70s and 80s metamorphose himself into the benign and genial Mr Bachchan of today, one cannot help but feel rather nostalgic.

What is evident is the fact that Bachchan has found his way deeper into our hearts with his present-day avatar as the Good Samaritan who hosts the popular show, Kaun Banega Crorepati. It is not as if he started off as a lout and has now become a saint, but it is the gentle transformation in the impression that he has created upon us over the decades which is worth analysing.

Amitabh was always a gentleman off-screen, from a cultured background, truly sophisticated and with a baritone that sounded even better when he spoke English. But it was when he let loose unforgettable dialogues in iconic films like Sholay, Deewar or even Shakti, and veritably seared the enemy with his fearsome and fiery gaze, that he truly created mass hysteria. He rarely played the amiable sorts on screen in those days, always ready to throw several punches at unsuspecting goons, and mouth irreverent, even embarrassing, dialogues.

So much so that my father, whose persona was a no-nonsense one, almost debarred me from watching ABs films. He considered the gangling actor to be an extremely poor influence on an impressionable mind. It was only when films like Anand or Chupke Chupke were screened on TV that my fathers opinion of Bachchan changed for the better.

He hardly knew how to dance, but effortlessly romanced all top actresses- Zeenat Aman, Hema Malini, Rekha and Parveen Babi. He often shared screen space with better-looking co-stars like Dharmendra, Shashi Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna and Vinod Khanna, but seldom came away playing second fiddle.

Indeed, his style, his panache and his unmatched personality became the gold standard for Indian heroes to follow and emulate.

What happened in the 90s was inevitable, though. As he grew older, his stock gradually dwindled. Anil Kapoor became the superstar of the day to be followed by the impressive Khans, some years later. Amitabh Bachchans aura was fading, ever so slowly, but it was surely fading.

His misadventures with politics and event management, as evidenced by the Miss Universe pageant fiasco, further dented his image and brand value. He has himself spoken publically of his efforts at reaching out to friends and benefactors in his time of crisis, with little or no result.

Kaun Banega Crorepati was launched in the year 2000 and it obviously came like a manna from heaven. A high-value contract was signed by him with its producers and his resurgence was palpable. Even his films started doing well again and his new look, with the grey French goatee, found acceptance with cinegoers who flocked to watch films like Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Mohabbatein.

We now found a more settled Mr Bachchan striding purposefully but calmly across the spectrum of Bollywood (a term he loathes) and even undertaking a rare foray into Hollywood with The Great Gatsby. His family came to the fore like never before. Abhishek and Aishwarya found success to varying degrees in their own careers, and his diminutive better half, Jaya Bachchan, too ventured to play meaty roles once more, though sporadically.

And today when we watch the towering figure of Amitabh Bachchan sit across the man or woman on the hot seat, we feel as if we are with him. He makes the commonest of folks with their inadequacies and hesitations flower into charming versions of themselves by the sheer dint of his warmth. The humaneness with which he brings out the true Indian on KBC is worth its weight in gold. We often feel as if the superstar on the show is not AB, but the insignificant other!

If inspiration is to be found in this era, older generations especially can find it in the forms of Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar. And the common quality which places these matchless icons upon the highest of pedestals is humility. We are truly fortunate to have them in our midst.

The writer can be contacted at vivek.atray@gmail.com

(Views expressed are personal)
The Uttarakhand government has finalised a policy to double income of small and marginal farmers in the next five years by encouraging them to adopt the best farm practices, with the overall plan of keeping a check on forced migration from hills.

The policy that we have formulated aims to ensure a paradigm shift in all practices relating to farm and horticulture so that income of small and marginal farmers can be doubled by 2022, agriculture and horticulture secretary D Senthil Pandiyan told HT in an interview. The broader aim of the new holistic farm policy is to check forced migration from the hills.

Other than providing insurance cover against crop failures in the event of natural disasters, Pandiyan said the policy also aims to ensure that farmers are provided best agricultural tools, fertilisers and pesticides to augment their produce

Its a detailed document that provides solutions to all kinds of problems affecting the hill agriculture such as its dependence on rain besides frequent climatic changes and different soil conditions, Pandiyan said, adding the farm policy, for instance, seeks to popularise rainwater harvesting techniques among farmers so that they could also sow crops off season.

Besides, it seeks to provide facilities for cluster farming, so farmers can be encouraged to grow different types of crops suitable to soil and agro-climatic conditions prevailing in different areas. For that, we have roped in experts from agricultural universities and institutes to prepare a databank of seeds of different crops that can be grown in accordance with requirements of soil types and agro-climatic conditions.

Similarly, soil of different areas would be tested and soil health cards provided to farmers. A clear understanding of which crop will suit which soil and agro-climatic condition will also lead to cost reduction in farm inputs like fertilisers, equipment, seed and energy.

All these scientific farm practices would be propagated among farmers by experts and extension workers. Those (farm practices) will also be mentioned in detail in handbooks which are to be distributed among farmers.

The policy would have its emphasis on integrated farm system model. That means farmers will be provided facilities so that they get additional income from allied activities like dairy farming, poultry, fisheries bee keeping and mushroom cultivation, Pandyan said, adding that mechanised farming equipment would be provided so that drudgery could be reduced.

Hill farmers would get facilities to take up organic farming in a big way. As it is, organic farming is traditionally practised in the hills as local farmers seldom use chemical fertilizers, he said, adding that post-harvesting management and marketing of farm produce would be other two key features of the farm policy.

Elaborating, the official mentioned as part of the post harvest management, farmers groups and federations would get facilities to set up collection centres. These (centres) will be equipped with facilities for storage of crops as well as semi-processing facilities so that farmers can easily market their produce.

Similarly, collection centres will be equipped with cold storage facilities so that high-value perishable (horticultural and agricultural) crops can be preserved.

All such facilities would enable farmers to sell their crops when their market price would be the highest. Under the new policy, farmers would be provided linkages with e-National Agricultural Market. That means local farmers will be able to market their produce anywhere in the country, wherever it fetches them best price, Pandiyan told HT.

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The use of chilli to smoke out the elephant that has gone missing in the Dehradun forest division for the past nearly a month has proved futile so far.

The forest officials maintained that the pachyderm was not poached, but expressed fear that it may have fallen sick after being separated from his two other group members  a juvenile and a sub-adult. Its unlikely that the missing tusker has been hurt by any human being that would have forced him to recede into forest cover, but illness cannot be ruled out, said Dehradun divisional forest officer (DFO) PK Patro. He added that the missing animal is too huge to be attacked by anyone easily.

Around 50-year-old and eldest in the three-member group, the tusker used to be seen at nearby villages on the eastern flank of Dehradun forest division till a month ago. The forest department has roped in Dr Rudra, an expert on elephant behaviour from Chhattisgarh, to search the missing tusker. Dr Rudra has resorted to the chilli formula to smoke out the missing elephant from its possible hideouts for 4-5 days, but in vain, according to sources in the Dehradun forest division.

According to the forest officials, efforts are on to find the missing tusker and force the other two elephants into the deep forest adjoining Rajaji National Park.

Efforts by Dr Rudra to use chilli smoke for forcing the elephants to retreat into deep forest cover has its impacts. He is likely to be joined by his 3-4 associates from Chhattisgarh in the next two days, but tranquilising option for other two tuskers is still open if they remain uncontrolled for too long and keep frequenting into villages, said Patro.

The DFO said preparations are on to trap the two pachyderms at Lachhiwala and Kaluwala forests by alluring them with heaps of food items that will be kept there. Both the elephants will be tranquilised and left inside elephant core areas of Rajaji National Park.

The two tuskers are frequently seen in the villages of Thano Range located on the eastern flank of Dehradun forest division, but their missing associate was last seen by the locals on September 21 at Kaluwala area. The two elephants were also spotted on Saturday by a forest patrolling team in the Bhopal Pani area.

The DFO said that the tuskers cannot enter into village areas as the forest patrolling teams have cordoned off the areas and fuming chilli sacs that have repelling effect on elephants.

Chilli fumes deter the tuskers away from the place and they do not return to the same place for a long time. More than 100 wet sacs of fuming red chilli have been hanged at locations where movement of the elephants is high, he said.
Uttarakhand minister Rekha Arya is engulfed in a controversy after a domestic help accused the BJP leaders husband of going back on his promise to give a house and handsome money for a kidney.

Sources said on Sunday the allegation put a question mark on Aryas career as the Opposition is already mounting pressure on her to resign from the state cabinet.

The accusation was brought by Naresh Gangwar, a man from Uttar Pradeshs Bareilly, who worked at the house of Aryas spouse Girdharilal Sahu.

Gangwar alleged in a letter to police that the politicians husband took him to Sri Lanka in June 2015 and transplanted his kidney on his first wife, Vaijyanti Mala. Sahu didnt keep his part of the bargain, he said.

Sahu, however, denied the charge.

Certainly, the BJP minister might end up losing her job if the crime is proved. Although she seems not to be directly or indirectly linked with the kidney transplant but she carries moral obligation, said Jay Singh Rawat, a Doon-based political analyst.

Indresh Maikhuri, a state committee member of CPI-ML, said: Police should immediately arrest Sahu, a criminal and the BJP, which speaks volumes on cleanliness, must sack his wife Rekha Arya from the ministry. The main opposition Congress demanded a high-level inquiry into the matter.

BJP leaders are mum on the issue since they find it hard to defend the minister owing to seriousness of the crime. The ministers fate depends on the partys central leadership, a BJP office bearer said demanding anonymity.

Arya, who holds women empowerment portfolio, chose not to comment on the issue. I am into politics. My husband has his own work... Sahuji will be in a better position to comment on this, she said on Saturday.

Sahu, who has more than two dozen cases registered against him in Bareilly, Udham Singh Nagar and Haldwani, had put Arya in a tight situation in the past, too.

A few months ago, Arya entered into a verbal spat with Almora district magistrate Savin Bansal, who had said he would not come under pressure to dilute the cases of the ministers husband. Bansal was transferred from Almora a few weeks after the spat.

When asked, Sahu said this was a case of Gangwars greed.

All procedures for kidney transplant were followed and Naresh, who is a relative of my (first) wife, had voluntarily agreed to donate his kidney. He is now taking advantage and levelling charges against me for monetary gains, said Sahu.

Gangwar, however, said it was a case of cheating. I was never apprised about the kidney transplant and was told that I needed to give blood for Vaijanti Mala.

I thought that it was a blood transfusion and I woke up after 48 hours with stitches and post surgical pains, I was cheated and it was not a voluntary decision to donate my kidney, Gangwar told HT on Sunday.

Based on Gangwars letter to him, Senior Superintendent of Police Janmejay Khanduri set up a probe under Haldwani inspector KR Pandey.

Anti-human trafficking activist Gyanendra Kumar told HT: It was a clear case of human trafficking defined in the section 370 of Indian Penal Code. The person was lured, moved inside India and finally kidney was transplanted in Sri Lanka. But the fact that crime was held in Sri Lanka doesnt lessen the crime. (With input from Anupam Trivedi in Dehradun)
Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar may finally be able to walk out of Dasna jail by Monday, after their lawyers submit all necessary paperwork for their release at Ghazibad court.

Jail sources said that during a meeting with prison officials on Sunday, Rajesh apparently expressed apprehensions about their safety and security.

The Talwars have been lodged in Dasna jail since November 2013 when a trial court in Ghaziabad sentenced them to life imprisonment for the murder of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.

The Allahabad High Court had on October 12 overturned the trial courts verdict and had acquitted the couple of the double murder charge.

We met Rajesh inside the jail on Sunday and he expressed apprehensions over their safety. Rajesh has already been attackd once at the district court complex, said Dasna jail superintendent BR Maurya.

Since there might be a large gathering outside the jail, including those of mediapersons, we have asked for additional personnel for security and to ensure that the Talwars can walk safely out of the jail, Maurya added.

In January, 2011, during a hearing of the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case, Rajesh was attacked with a meat chopper inside the Ghaziabad district court complex by a 30-year-old man, Utsav Sharma.

The police had then said that Sharma had sneaked inside the court with a weapon in guise of a mediaperson. He was arrested later.

Following the attack, police had provided security to the dentist couple whenever they arrived for hearings at the Ghaziabad court.

We will submit an application to the police asking for security for the Talwars till they reach home. There will be a huge gathering outside the jail on Monday and no untoward incident should take place. The application will be forwarded to senior superintendent of police on Monday morning, said Manoj Sisodia, the lawyer representing the Talwars at Ghaziabad court.

Dasna jail officials on Sunday also discussed with the Talwars the fate of a dental clinic that the couple was helping run in the jail hospital.

During the meeting, they said that they will like to visit the dental clinic either weekly or fortnightly, if the jail administration permits. They have been the backbone of the clinic inside the jail and revived it after they arrived here, said Anand Pandey, pharmacist at Dasna jail.

Officials said that on Monday, they expect the processed documents from Ghaziabad court to reach them by afternoon, following which the Talwars will be released as soon as possible.

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Outside the primary school in western Uttar Pradeshs Budaun, a seven-hour drive from Delhi, Talat Jalal an elderly school principal recalls the verse from Miltons Paradise Regained  The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.

In order to know the person behind Najeeb Ahmad, the JNU student who had disappeared from the university hostel a year to date (Sunday), HT went to the town where the 28-year-old MSc student had spent his childhood and went to school.

He was different, Jalal, the owner and principal of the Budaun Public School says, remembering Najeeb whom she taught when he was in the primary school.

He never shied of taking a stand. If he felt strongly about an issue he would be ready to take risks. When some kids indulged in mischief and I asked students who did it, Najeeb came forward and named the troublemakers despite knowing that it would earn him the wrath of his classmates, says Talat, remembering an incident when Najeeb was in Class 5. Najeeb studied at Talats school up to Class 8.

Talat Jalal, the principal of Budaun Public School, where Najeeb studies up to Class 8. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Mohammed Asim, who studied with Najeeb from lower kindergarten to the fifth standard, remembers Najeeb telling his friends that he would become a doctor.

Born to a carpenter and a homemaker, his classmates say that Najeeb had always wanted to be a doctor.

Maybe, it was also because he was born and lived in Vaidon Tola. The locality was once home to doctors and physicians in United Provinces, during the British rule. Hence, the name Vaidon, meaning a healer/doctor or a physician and Tola, which translates to a community or a home.

A month, before he went missing, another childhood friend Yasir had met Najeeb in the local market. We were not in touch for many years. At the market, we recognized each other. He told me he had got admission in JNU. It was a short meeting but he seemed fine.

Though HT was able to trace anecdotal memories of the young student, Najeebs life starts to become a blur once he leaves the village school. At Florence Public School, on the state highway leading to Budaun city, where Najeeb studied till Class 12, not one teacher remembers him. Everyone knew about Najeeb, the Budaun boy who went missing but nobody knew him as a student of the school.

Naveen Kumar Singh, who has been the school principal for past 12 years says, We did not know he studied here. Singh could not even recognize him, when we showed him Najeebs pictures.

A photo of Najeeb from the family album. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

After graduation in Bareilly, around 50 km from Budaun, Najeebs journey took him to the Jawaharlal Nehru University. But even in JNU, nobody knows man behind the name. He had only been in the university for less than three months before he disappeared at around noon on October 15, 2016. His classmates in the MSc Biotechnology programme, remember him as a quiet student who liked to keep to himself. His teachers say he was just one among the many faces they greet every year.

The only person who remember Najeeb beyond the narrative of the missing JNU student, is Mohd Qasim, his roommate at Mahi-Mandvi Hostel. I did not interacted with him much. We spent maybe just 10-15 days together, recalls Qasim.

Qasim says Najeeb was an introvert. He spoke of how Najeeb adhered to a strict schedule, which included attending classes, studying after the classes and talking to his mother.

He had no political affiliations, or even expressed any interest in joining any party. I remember I was talking about something, I dont remember exactly what now, but I had mentioned AISA (the left wing All India Students Association) in passing. He asked me Bhai, ye AISA kya hota hai? recalls Qasim.

While Qasim still holds onto Najeebs place at the hostel, in the hope of his return, others on campus are not as sure.

A professor at the School of Biotechnology, where Najeeb had been pursuing his MSc programme, says they do not discuss the case anymore. I think all of us (the faculty) at some level probably know he might not come back. So we do not discuss the case, even among ourselves, he says.

Outside the school in Budaun, Najeebs childhood friends and locals gathered again. The sight of cameras and hopes that a journalist from Delhi may have news of Najeeb brought them together. The influx of reporters in this otherwise nondescript locality since the last one year also irks a few residents. What is the use of giving interviews if you cannot find him? a local tells HT.

Asim Khan, a friend of Najeeb, who studied with him from lower kindergarten to Class 5. He remembers Najeeb telling his friends that he wanted to become a doctor. (Vipin Kumar/HT PHOTO)

Inside the school, Najeebs younger brother Mujeeb is talking to another group of journalists from Delhi.

Najeeb was the brightest among us all. He always ranked in the top five in his class. We had this firm belief that he would make it big some day. He was very excited when he got admission in the big and prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), says Mujeeb.

One of Najeebs childhood friends comes to us. He looks at Mujeeb to make sure he wont hear the conversation.

Then he asks carefully and softly, Do you think Najeeb is dead?
A day after a case was registered against self-styled cow vigilantes for resorting to violence against a group of people transporting buffalo meat, police late on Saturday night arrested three people and produced them in a court on Sunday.

The accused were identified as Ram Kishore (21) of Pali village, Dileep Kumar (19), and his brother Lakhan (24) Sons of Peer Colony in Faridabad district.

On Friday, an auto-rickshaw driver, Azad, along with his four friends was on their way from Fatehpur Billauch to Old Faridabad when 15-20 men intercepted their vehicle near Bajri village.

The self-styled cow vigilantes then had assaulted the five Muslim men on suspicion that they were transporting beef in their vehicle.

We have arrested three persons who were sent to judicial custody, said additional commissioner of police (ACP) Mujesar Radhey Shyam.

Efforts are being made to arrest others also, the ACP said.

Meanwhile, the police have sent sample of meat recovered for forensic examination to Hisar. The cops had said the veterinary doctor has reported that the meat was that of buffalo.

Earlier, the Mujesar police had registered case against Azad, Asan, Shehzad, Shakeel and Sonu under Sections 3(13)(1), 8 (13) (3) of the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015 on the complaint of Raj Kumar alias Bittu of Sanjay Colony, Sector 23.

Then the police made Kumar accused in the second FIR when they came to know that the meat recovered was that of buffalo not of cow.

The second FIR was registered against under Sections 148/149/341/323/506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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The Uttar Pradesh state government plans to equip all school examination centres with CCTV cameras by December this year to crack down on the use of unfair means by students.

Beginning next academic session, all examinations will be conducted under the watch of cameras. Buildings or premises that do not have cameras will not be made examination centres, chief secretary Rajive Kumar said on Saturday.

He said CCTV cameras should be installed at all the examination centres by December 2017. Mass copying by students has dogged Uttar Pradeshs government schools for a long time now.

The chief secretary, who was given a presentation on how to make the education system effective and provide quality education, asked officials to prepare an action plan for all primary and basic education institutions.

Stressing on the need to hold regular parent-teacher meetings to monitor the progress of students, he said the target should be set for 100% attendance for students as well as teachers to achieve good results.

The officials were asked to short list schools where the number of teachers was higher than students so that they could be deployed in schools which are short of teaching staff.

Kumar said steps should be taken to ensure adequate teaching staff at the 166 Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Model Inter Colleges when the academic session begins in April next year.

Officials were asked to make the maximum use of online system and make it effective, especially for issues related to affiliations. To provide quality education to students, necessary changes should be made in the syllabus. NCERT pattern should be adopted for UP to bring government school students at par with those in the CBSE-affiliated institutions, Kumar said.
The photo shows the handwritten draft of Byron's poem Love and Gold.[Photo/The Beijing News]

Original manuscripts by four great writers from the United Kingdom and Ireland will go on display at a museum in East China's Zhejiang province on Sunday.

The British Library has loaned the selection of rare and valuable manuscripts to China. They will be exhibited at Mu Xin Art Museum until January 14, 2018.

The works come from Lord Byron, Charles Lamb, Oscar Wilde and Virginia Woolf, four favorite writers of Mu Xin (1927-2011), a renown Chinese poet and artist, said Chen Danqing, director of the museum.

"Seeing these original manuscripts in person makes the reading experience much more real and rich. I'm sure these great writers would have loved to meet their Chinese readers," Chen said.

The exhibition is a part of a three-year programme of cultural exchange titled "The British Library in China: connecting through culture and learning".

A previous exhibition of literary treasures on loan from the British Library, which was held at the National Library of China in Beijing from April to June, was a great success.
It is 5 pm, otherwise known as rush hour in Manhattan. Julia Lyons, 31, finishes work and heads straight for her daily dose of peace and quiet -- half an hour at meditation studio Mndfl. Since April 2016, when she discovered the then-brand new studio, the investment bank employee has abandoned yoga and embraced meditation.

I have been meditating pretty regularly -- probably five times a week, 30-minute sessions, says Lyons, sipping a cup of tea on the studios sofa. I just need a moment to chill out. This city -- you are always running place to place and there are not a lot of quiet spaces, she explains.

I think its made me a lot happier and also just helped me make better decisions, more thoughtful decisions. Practiced by millions around the world, meditation promotes mental wellbeing through concentration, breathing techniques and self-awareness.

For a long time, those singing its praises were intellectuals, celebrities or people dedicated to spirituality. Its popularity in the West is owed in part to the Beatles, who promoted the practice on their return from India in the late 1960s.

But these days, meditation can be found in all areas of life -- from hospitals exploring its benefits for patients with serious illnesses, to schools who recommend it for children and television shows. The craze is a result of many factors -- waning attendance at places of worship, lives spent submerged in smartphones, not to mention neuroscientists confirmation of the benefits.

As a result, demand is spreading across American cities -- perhaps a natural continuation of the yoga craze, which firmly embedded the search for nirvana in the health and wellbeing industry.

As a result, demand is spreading across American cities -- perhaps a natural continuation of the yoga craze, which firmly embedded the search for nirvana in the health and wellbeing industry. (Shutterstock)

- $10 for half an hour -

Lodro Rinzler, Mndfls 34-year-old chief spiritual officer, opened his first studio in Greenwich Village at the end of 2015, and now owns two others in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Elsewhere in the US, studios can be found in Los Angeles, Miami, Washington and Boston.

Introduced to meditation as a child by his parents, who converted to Buddhism in the 1970s, he says business is going well. The people who come here are really a cross section of all New Yorkers, he explains. If the common denominator is, I am really stressed out, I need to know how to deal with my mind -- thats basically everyone.

Rinzler refuses to talk money, revealing only that classes are often full -- and the 75 numbered pads in his studios have been reserved online 70,000 times in just 18 months. The reason for success? A model offering a well-rounded introduction to this ancient practice for a reasonable price.

For years, Rinzler explains, Buddhist centers only offered long introductions -- sessions of several hours, or even seminars lasting a number of days and costing up to several thousand dollars.

With classes priced at just $10 for half an hour, and options for unlimited subscriptions, new studios in New York or Los Angeles hope to capture a wider audience. Their model is similar to gyms, but with zen in abundance -- including dimmed lights, plant walls, and unlimited organic tea.

- CEOs join, employees follow -

Companies are also reaping meditations benefits. More and more organizations in Silicon Valley and other sectors are introducing employees to the practice, convinced of the long-term benefits for the workforce.

Emily Fletcher, an ex-actress who has taught meditation since 2012, launched a special program for companies 18 months ago. Starting from 150 students in the first year, she now has over 7,000 -- and hopes to reach tens of thousands more with online courses, including in medium-sized cities such as Cleveland, Ohio or Tallahassee, Florida.

The most common way that I find myself teaching at companies is I teach the CEOs to meditate, and they start to benefit and they bring me on to do a talk with the company, Fletcher, CEO of Ziva Meditation, says. Employees take part on a voluntary basis, mostly for some selfish reasons, the 38-year-old explains.

Either they want to speak better, please their boss, want to make more money or have better sex...

But Fletcher insists she has no issue with people starting out of self-interest. If you actually practice you will start enjoying your life more, your brain will function better, your body will feel better, you get sick less often, she says. Those altruistic things will happen as a result of the practice anyway.

- Mobile meditation -

Another aspect of the industry gaining traction is meditation apps. One of the most popular, Headspace, had already been downloaded more than 11 million times in the spring -- and boasts over 400,000 paying users.

But meditations newfound popularity is of such high intensity, neither Rinzler nor Fletcher is concerned about competing studios popping up over time.

I am sure they are going to be exactly like yoga studios, you are going to find them on every block... Rinzler predicts. If you look at it as a business, there is competition, Fletcher reflects, adding, if you see it as a mission, there are colleagues.

There are not too many teachers when it comes to teaching four billion people in my lifetime!
The accused who abducted two persons and snatched an Audi A6 had a tough time dealing with technology. They failed to switch off and take out the SIM cards from victims iPhones and that helped the police to trace the ransom calls made by the accused.

The GPS tracker in Audi A6 also forced the abductors to abandon the car and the victims midway, victims Ishan Sharma and Michael, who are in their mid-twenties, told police.

The seven men were talking in Haryanvi and were confused about iPhones and the Audi A6s technology, said Sharma in his statement to police.

Though they blindfolded the victims, they needed the help of the victims to remove the SIMs from the mobile phones.

From Manesar, they took a road towards Jhajjar bypass to stay away from the highway. The accused, however, became frightened when they realised that the phones were being traced by police. One of the victims, businessman Sunit Puniya, who managed to escape, had called the police control room and the family members of the two other hostages.

The abductors kept asking Sharma and Michael whether the Audi A6 was equipped with a GPS which can be traced.

Sharma and Michael told the accused that they were not aware of the Audi A6s technology, a police officer said.

Also, the fuel in the car was low and, as a result, the car kept making an alert sound which further panicked the accused.

As they had never driven an Audi A6, they feared that the car was sending signals to police. After they abandoned the victims and the car, at two different spots, the victims first untied themselves and they went to a shop on Jhajjar road and informed Sharmas parents.

Police were also on the same road and, on receiving a call from Sharmas parents, they rescued the two men.

We have asked the victims to help us identify the culprits from our database. We will also prepare sketches in case the accused are not in our records, said Inspector, Narender Kumar, station house officer, IMT Manesar police sation.

Police made the victims sit in separate vehicles to identify the SUV used by the accused. The accused could not notice the make and registration of the vehicle as they were blindfolded, Kumar said.

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In anticipation of work commencing at the Bandhwari waste management plant, residents from wards 1 to 8, its residents welfare associations (RWAs), and officials of the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) held a meeting on Sunday to discuss ways to segregate waste at source and ensure its proper management.

Ecogreen Energy Pvt Limited, the concessionaire for developing Haryanas first Integrated solid waste management Project, also attended the meeting held in Sector 15 on Sunday.

According to the MCG officials, the success of the plant will depend heavily upon the participation of residents, who will be responsible for segregating waste at source in their homes and neighbourhoods.

Hence, for the new waste management project to be successful, the MCG officials met with residents and RWAs to understand the criteria for segregation.

The first step in segregation starts at home. Residents need to be made aware of what qualifies as wet or dry waste before dispersing them into separate bags. In turn, the RWAs also need to be informed about the process of collection from the society and transportation to the waste plant. SS Rohilla, public relations officer, MCG, said.

Apart from informing residents and RWAs on the modalities of the municipal solid waste management rules, 2016, and the directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the MCG officials also took their opinions and pointers into consideration for making the waste management system integrated at the grassroots level, Rohilla said.

On August 14, in the presence of Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, an MoU was signed between MCG, urban local bodies, the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) and Ecogreen Energy Pvt Limited for the solid waste management project.

Since then, MCG has been visiting areas across the city as part of its process of engagement policy.

As per schedule, the MCG is expected to complete the process by November and, subsequently, commence the door-to-door collection of waste from December.

The Bandhwari waste plant has been lying defunct for over four years now. During this time, the MCG has been making attempts to shrink the waste stockpile by introducing bioculture sprays at the plant. About 1,400 tonnes of waste is disposed of at the plant from Faridabad and Gurgaon daily.

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While addressing a public gathering at Begumpur Khatola on Sunday, Haryana Public Works minister Rao Narbir Singh said soon, Gurgaon will be connected New Delhi by five major roads.

Narbir Singh also gave the updates on the under-construction projects such as the Dwarka-Manesar Expressway, road-widening work Gwal Pahari, Southern Peripheral Road, Northern Peripheral Road and a 3km road connecting Ambience Mall to MG Road that will be a part of the National Highway.

Once the Dwarka-Manesar stretch is completed, Gurgaon and New Delhi will be connected by five major roads and these will reduce the load on the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, which is currently catering to a major portion of the traffic between the two cities, Narbir Singh said.

Narbir Singh said a 14km stretch of the Dwarka Expressway falls in Haryana while 4km are in New Delhi. It is the 4km stretch in New Delhi that is holding up the project as it is stuck in litigation.

Narbir Singh said he personally visited Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari for a solution, subsequent to which Gadkari declared the road a National Highway and sanctioned the work on the stretch falling in New Delhi.

The PWD minister added that the Haryana government will expand roads near Gwal Pahari, which is located on the cusp of Delhi-Gurgaon-Faridabad, making it a much-taken route for commuters. The expansion work will not only bolster development in the area, but also provide an alternative route to commuters looking to avoid clogged roads.

Speaking about the 3km Ambience Mall to MG Road stretch, Narbir Singh said the road will be given the status of a National Highway.

He also said the SPR and NPR will be connected at Narsinghpur soon as work has commenced on the same.

Aside from these projects, authorities have also proposed a 4km road from Ambience Mall to Nelson Mandela Marg, Vasant Kunj, in New Delhi.

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Several police vans will patrol the city on Diwali night in order to track and report bursting of hours past the stipulated hours. The police and district administration are gearing up to ensure compliance with the Punjab and Haryana high court order banning bursting of firecrackers except between 6.30pm and 9.30pm on October 19, Diwali.

The move is being seen as a measure to curb rising pollution levels in the city. Deputy commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh on Sunday released an order asking the police to depute PCR vans to patrol city areas in order to keep a check on the bursting of crackers.

A number of PCR vans will be deployed across the city for tracking people bursting crackers outside the stipulated hours set by the court. Compliance with the high court order is of utmost priority to the district administration and police teams across the city will keep a hawk eye on those lighting up crackers beyond the scheduled time.

The court order on October 13 said that residents could only burst crackers for three hours, from 6.30pm to 9.30pm in Punjab, Haryana on Diwali.

Every police station across the district has been informed in this regard and PCR vans will be deployed to ensure compliance. The court order will be implemented in letter and spirit. The plan will be shared in detail later, Ravinder Kumar, spokesperson for the Gurgaon police, said.

At present, the citys PM 2.5 level is more than 100 g/m, way above the permissible limit of 60 g/m.

Residents are worried as they find it tough to cope with rising pollution levels in the city.

According to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), pollution, last year, was mostly attributed to the burning of solid waste and bursting of crackers. The level of pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) was found to be abnormally high.

Keeping all this in mind, bursting of crackers has been limited to only three hours this Diwali. The administration has urged residents to help in our fight against pollution and improve the environment, a spokesperson for Gurgaon administration said.

Earlier, on October 9, the Supreme Court ordered a temporary ban on the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region during Diwali this year, inviting mixed reactions from across the society.

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The Gurgaon police on Sunday claimed to have rescued a businessman and his two friends and also recovered their Audi car from seven unidentified persons who allegedly kidnapped the businessman and snatched his car on Saturday.

Police said the businessman, Sunit Puniya, a resident of Sector 28 in Gurgaon, and his two friends  Ishan Shamra and Michael were going to a liquor shop near Sector-3, Manesar, petrol pump around 2.30am when seven men in an SUV held them at gunpoint and demanded the keys of their Audi A6.

Puniya and his friends were bundled into the Ford Endeavour SUV while one of the seven men drove the businessmans car, police said.

The gang also took away the phones and wallets of Puniya and his friends as soon as it took control of the car, police said.

The men asked Puniya about his status and background and then they demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crore to release Puniya, Ishan Shamra and Michael. They had more than five to six guns, the victims told police.

Sharma and Michael, both residents of Gurgaon, are pursuing law and are friends with Puniya who owns a firm in Manesar that deals in Marutis vehicle parts at Manesar.

Puniya told his abductors that his office is located in Sector 6, Manesar, and that he can give them the money from his office locker. They agreed and when to his office, where Puniya informed them that the locker has a password and he cant open it. While they were returning from his office empty-handed, Puniya alerted the security guards to nab the accused, however, they managed to flee, leaving Punya behind.

Meanwhile, the businessman called the police control room and informed them about the incident and also provided the Audis registration number to trace the car.

When they fled Sector 6, the abductors blindfolded Sharma and Michael who were still with them. They used Sharmas phone to call his parents and ask for a ransom of the Rs 5 crore for his release. His parents promptly informed the police about the call.

Acting swiftly, the police traced the phone call and found the victims and the car in Nayagaon area near Jhajjar bypass by early Saturday, around 7am. The abductors had tied the hands and legs of both men. As the Audi ran out of fuel they dumped the car and the victims. The accused are absconding and a search is on to arrest them, police said.

A case has been registered at the IMT Manesar police station under sections 363 (kidnapping) and 379 (theft) of the Indian Penal Code.

Investigation is still on and we are trying to nab the culprits soon, inspector, Narender Kumar, station house officer, IMT Manesar police station, said.

Vehicle snatching cases are on the rise in and around Gurgaon. Every day, more than half a dozen vehicle theft cases are registered with the police.

On May 23, an employee working with a private insurance firm, who was allegedly abducted from Subhash Chowk around 9.30pm, was rescued from near a police barricade in Pali, Rajasthan. Two accused, who were armed, allegedly abducted him.

The victim Samarth had left his office in his silver Honda City and he was allegedly abducted from near Subhash Chowk around 9.30pm. His phone was switched off after 10.30pm and transactions of Rs 10,000 were made thrice from different ATMs in Sector 14 after that.

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The sexual abuse accusations now deluging Harvey Weinstein have bubbled up before as inside jokes and sly asides, tributes to the movie producers capacity to inspire both fear and loathing in Hollywood.

US media have resurrected scenes from films and TV series, or interviews in which Weinsteins name and unsavory reputation are on clear display.

Through his representatives, Weinstein has asserted that all the sexual encounters revealed over the past week were consensual.

At the Oscars in 2013, comedian and writer Seth McFarlane joked after announcing the nominees for best supporting actress: Congratulations, you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein.

He explained Wednesday on his Twitter account that in 2011 the actress Jessica Barth, with whom he had acted in the Ted films, confided in him about Weinsteins attempted advances.

It was with this account in mind that, when I hosted the Oscars in 2013, I couldnt resist the opportunity to take a hard swing in his direction.

Make no mistake, this came from a place of loathing and anger, he wrote, even though he was smiling when he made the comment, which drew laughs from the Oscars audience.

In the New Yorker magazine, which on Wednesday published a long investigative piece about Weinstein, Barth said the movie mogul had asked her to give him a naked massage in bed.

- Three occasions... out of five -

In 2012, in an episode of the television series 30 Rock, the character played by actress Jenna Krakowski says, Oh, please, Im not afraid of anyone in show business. I turned down intercourse with Harvey Weinstein on no less than three occasions out of five.

The following season, her character says: I know how former lovers can have a hold over you long after theyre gone. In some ways, Im still pinned under a passed-out Harvey Weinstein, and its Thanksgiving.

Tina Fey, the series creator, has yet to comment on the scandal.

In 2007, the actor Maury Chaykin played the role of Harvey Weingard, a producer who is full of himself, angry and given to threats, in the HBO series Entourage, which tells the story of two young actors in Hollywood. The scriptwriters did not include any sexual indiscretions.

According to the British daily The Telegraph, Weinstein sent a message to the producers through one of the actors: Tell them if they ever mention my name again, theyre dead.

Instead, the show used the phrase in the next episode and Weinstein is said to have called the showrunners directly to say he was happy with it.

Italian actress and director Asia Argento told the New Yorker she was raped by Weinstein in 1997 in a hotel room on the Cote dAzur, which she described as a horrible trauma.

She said she had other sexual relations with the producer until 2002. Those were consensual but she said she nonetheless felt obligated to submit to his advances.

- Coercion -

She revisited the rape in a scene of her 2000 film Scarlet Diva. In it a producer asks a young actress played by Argento for a massage and them throws himself upon her. People would ask me about him because of the scene in the movie, she told the New Yorker.

In 1998, Late Show host David Letterman asked actress Gwyneth Paltrow if she had been coerced to come on the show.

Do you count Harvey Weinstein as a coercer, Paltrow replied, smiling.

I do all my movies for Harvey Weinstein, thats Miramax, and Im lucky to do them there but he will coerce you to do a thing or two.

Four years earlier, in a Los Angeles hotel suite, Weinstein asked Paltrow for a massage and tried to draw her into his bedroom, she told The New York Times.

The actress, who was 22 at the time, refused. She told her then boyfriend Brad Pitt, who later confronted Weinstein and warned him never to touch her again.

Harvey Weinstein, second left, celebrates alongside Gwynneth Paltrow after Shakespeare in Love won the best picture Oscar, in Los Angeles, March 22, 1999. (NYT)

The movie mogul was infuriated but Paltrow made up with him, and went on to win the Oscar for best actress in 1999 for her role in the Weinstein-produced Shakespeare in Love.

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British actor Lysette Anthony has told police that Harvey Weinstein raped her, the Sunday Times reported, becoming the fifth woman to level such accusations against the disgraced Hollywood mogul.

The 54-year-old, who currently appears in British soap Hollyoaks, told Metropolitan Police last week that she had originally met Weinstein in New York, and agreed to meet him later at his rented house in London, according to the paper.

The next thing I knew he was half undressed and he grabbed me. It was the last thing I expected and I fled, she told the Times.

This combination of pictures shows US producer Harvey Weinstein (L); (1st row from L) US actress Rose McGowan, US actress Angelina Jolie taken on in New York City, Italian actress Asia Argento, US actress Gwyneth Paltrow, US actress Ashley Judd, (2nd row fromL) French actress Lea Seydoux, US actress Mira Sorvino, US actress Rosanna Arquette, US actress Louisette Geiss, British actress Kate Beckinsale, (3rd row fromL) Television reporter Lauren Sivan, US actress Jessica Barth, US producer Elizabeth Karlsen, French actress Emma De Caunes, and French actress Judith Godreche, all of who have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment. (AFP)

Anthony, who appeared in Woody Allens 1992 film Husbands and Wives, said that Weinstein then began stalking her, turning up unannounced at her house.

He pushed me inside and rammed me against the coat rack, she said of the attack in the 1980s. He was trying to kiss me and shove inside me. Finally I just gave up.

Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled Weinstein on Saturday amid mounting accusations of sexual harassment, assault and rape.

An avalanche of claims have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behaviour by Weinstein dating back decades.

The producers wife, English fashion designer Georgina Chapman, has said she plans to divorce him.

Weinsteins films have received more than 300 Oscar nominations and 81 statuettes, according to The Weinstein Company, which he co-founded after selling Miramax.

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Dogs, snakes, cattle and wild animals killed 4,192 people in India between April and August this year, reveals data from the ministry of health and family welfare. This means an average of 28 people died every day across the country in five months.

While Madhya Pradesh had the most deaths (792), West Bengal and Maharastra were second and third with 576 and 439 deaths. In Maharashtra, 27 of the deaths were in urban areas. Between April 2016 and March 2017, the number of deaths owing to animal attacks across the country was 7,556, and Maharashtra accounted for 651 of these deaths. In Maharashtra, Amravati district had the maximum cases (47) followed by Mumbai and Pune, which had 26 deaths each.

In Mumbai, this year, there have been two snake bite deaths  one in July, when a 20-year-old woman died after being bitten while she was asleep and the second in October, when a six-year old boy living in Aarey Milk Colony died after being bitten while playing with friends. Also, on July 22, a two-year-old from Aarey was killed by a leopard.

We collated data from public and private hospitals across the country. But the data does not have details of which animals were responsible for the deaths, said an official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

According to our baseline studies, we estimate that 80% cases between 2015 and 2017 are owing to dog bites, 5% of snake bites, 3% of monkey attacks, remaining from wild animals such as jackals, leopards, wild boars, tigers, elephants, etc., and a small percentage of cases are of rat bites, bull, cow or other cattle attack incidents.

Experts were suspicious about the data, saying that it was not clear whether the deaths attributed to dogs were due to rabies.

These are very serious matters concerning human lives and there needs to be a detailed scientific analysis, especially in rural areas, because municipal or public hospitals are submitting data based on the dosage of medication. In some cases, one person is given five doses and it is accounted as five dog attacks whereas it is actually one. It is also not clear whether it is a stray or a pet dog, said Rahul Seghal, director, Asia and Africa, Humane Society International, an international organisation that works for animal protection.

Members of the Maharashtra State Animal Welfare Board said since most deaths were owing to dog bites, the health ministry should make rabies a reportable disease. Disease that are considered a public health concern have to be reported by doctors to the public health system so that preventive measures can be taken.

Rabies and snake bite deaths are the most preventable deaths and can be mitigated through basic anti-rabies programme. The central government needs to make rabies a notifiable disease and come out with specific data rather than accumulating individual deaths, said NG Jayasimha, member, Maharashtra animal welfare board. The reason why maximum cases have been reported in rural areas is because they leave the wound unattended and it slowly transforms into a disease and ultimately death.

Jayasimha said snake bite deaths are caused by fear psychosis rather than due to venom. There are five varieties of venomous snakes in India and therefore in a large number of cases, mostly in rural areas, villagers fall prey to these incidents during open defecation. Further, they have their own ways and means of treating these issues rather than looking for a hospital, he said. In most urban areas, the availability of anti-venom vials has increased in major public and private hospitals. There is need for more awareness and a detailed action plan is underway with the central government to mitigate these issues.

According to the Humane Society International (HSI), the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2000 had come out with a report that estimated 20,000 people die in India due to rabies and the main vector is the dog. However, recent central government reports have indicated that the deaths have reduced to 3,500 annually.

According to this data, it seems that rabies is not a concern for India anymore. However, this is not the case and rabies still exists as a prevalent threat to humans. There is need for on-ground data by scientists and the current animal bite segment is being given as a punishment posting from the health department to people that are coming up with this data, said Seghal.

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A mother of three children, injured in Pakistani firing in Jammu and Kashmir, was allegedly charged Rs 2,700 by an ambulance driver for ferrying her critical daughter from Rajouri to Jammu, a distance of about 150 km, on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

A sobbing Rahila Kousar, wife of policeman Mohammed Naseeb Khan, told HT that the driver was also careless and stopped the ambulance in between for tea and cigarettes between 11.30 pm on Saturday and 3.30 am on Sunday.

Rajouri district hospital superintendent, Dr Mehmood Hussain Bajjar, however, clarified that the amount of Rs 2,700 was fixed by the state health transport authority towards fuel charges for shifting patients between Rajouri and Jammu, and added that it would be reimbursed by the hospital.

He also said that the driver does not smoke.

Around 6.30 pm on Saturday, when her children were about to have food inside the kitchen, a mortar fired by Pakistani troops exploded in the verandah of their residence in Balakote of Poonch sector.

Rahilas children Tahira (16), Rafia (7) and Saquib (5), and another teenager Tariq Naseeb (17) were injured in the shelling, following which she rushed them to Mendhar hospital, where doctors referred Tahira, who was critical, to Rajouri district hospital, about 100 km away.

Doctors at the Rajouri district hospital administered two units of blood to Tahira and further referred her to Jammu, about 150 km away, around 11 pm.

While shifting to Jammu, Rahila told HT that the ambulance driver wasted precious time by having tea and smoking cigarettes.

He used to stop the ambulance and kept demanding money. Eventually, I paid him Rs 2,700, she said, lamenting that her other two kids were in Mendhar Hospital and none of them had eaten anything.

Expressing regret over the charging, which doesnt happen in emergency cases, Dr Bajjar said apart from cases under Janani Shishu Suraksha Yojana, there is no provision of free transport of patients.

The money was charged towards fuel expenses as per established norms and nothing has been done in contravention of any guidelines, he said.

Dr Bajjar said he had spoken to the victims family over phone and promised to reimburse their money out of hospital funds.

Its a harsh reality that there are no funds available with district hospital for shifting the injured in border shelling, he said, adding that he has requested the health department to take up the matter with higher authorities for arranging funds for the same.

Soon after reports of the allegations appeared in some sections of social media, deputy commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary directed the ADDC to enquire into the matter.

Rahilas husband Mohammed Naseeb Khan was on duty when the incident happened.

Poonch DC gives interim relief

Poonch deputy commissioner (DC) Tariq Ahmad Zargar handed over Rs 10,000 as interim relief and promised for extending every possible support to the family in this hour of grief. He also directed the revenue officers to immediately process the case of victims for further relief.

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Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday sought to play down the resignation of state Cabinet minister Anil Sharma saying that it would have no impact on the poll prospects of the Congress.

I had prior information about his quitting the party to join the BJP. But it would not impact the poll prospects of the Congress. If some other ministers also want to quit, they are free to do so, Chief Minister Singh said.

In what is being seen as a blow to the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Rural Development minister Anil Sharma today quit the Virbhadra Singh government and joined the BJP.

Sharma said he had been given a BJP ticket from Mandi.

Meanwhile, Transport minister G S Bali dismissed media speculation that he too could leave the Congress and categorically denied any plans of joining the BJP.

I am not leaving the party, Bali, who is camping in Delhi, said as he chided some TV channels for giving wrong news without confirmation.

The Congress election committee is meeting in Delhi to finalise the candidates. The chief minister also left for Delhi.

The BJP did not announce its list today as about five to six names are yet to be finalised and all 68 candidates would be announced in one go, senior party leaders said.
The legacy of the late president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam is more relevant than ever today. His words: Dream, dream, dream resound, two years after his death. He was an ace scientist and a missile technologist, but perhaps, he was best known as the Peoples President whose personality and humility were admired as much as his contributions to the country.

On Dr APJ Abdul Kalams birth anniversary, here are 10 things to know about him:

 Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 in a poor Tamil Muslim family in Rameswaram. He started earning at the age of 8 by selling newspapers in his neighbourhood, reported The Indian Express .

In his book, Kalam spoke about having a syncretic childhood in which, as a 10-year-old, he was witness to conversations between a temple priest, a reverend and his father, who was an imam at a mosque. The late president used to quote from the Quran and the Bhagavad Gita, although he did not observe religious rituals.

APJ Abdul Kalam is being conferred the 13th Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. (UNI File Photo)

 A graduate of the Madras Institute of Technology in Chennai, Dr Kalam studied physics and aerospace engineering. But his first choice wasnt to become a defence scientist. Kalam had dreamt of becoming a fighter pilot but secured the ninth position, when there were eight slots open for selection in the Indian Air Force.

 In his lifetime, he received doctorates from 48 universities, including the University of Edinburgh and the Carnegie Mellon University.

 Kalam joined DRDO as a scientist and started his career by designing a small helicopter for the Indian Army. In 1969, Kalam was transferred to ISRO and went on to be closely involved in the countrys civilian space programme and military missile development efforts, earning him the sobriquet Indias Missile Man.

Late president APJ Abdul Kalam died after collapsing during a lecture in Shillong. (File Photo)

He served as the chief scientific adviser to the Prime Minister and the secretary of the DRDO from July 1992 to December 1999.

 A Bharat Ratna-recipient before he was elevated as president, he succeeded KR Narayanan and served a full five-year term from 2002 until 2007 after he won the presidential election in what was a one-sided contest against Lakshmi Sahgal, a revolutionary of the Indian Independence movement. Kalam secured the backing of all political parties.

The bachelor president held strong beliefs against death penalty and had spoken out against it on at least on three occasions. Kalam was the only president to send back petitions from 50 death row prisoners to the government in 2005, listing out reasons why the UPA government should consider clemency in each case.

 He began a trust Providing Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA) and gave away all his salaries and savings to after he found out the government takes care of presidents, a Business Insider report said.

APJ Abdul Kalam with students in Lucknow. (Ashok Dutta/HT File Photo)

Dr Avinash Chander, former DRDO chief, recalled his association with the late president:

The human side of Kalams personality was as legendary as his scientific acumen. One of the scientists working with us was suffering from a life-threatening liver disorder. Kalam went out of his way to get clearances for the scientist to be treated abroad, he said, telling of Kalams nature.

 Kalam played a pivotal role in Indias Pokhran-II nuclear tests in 1998. To deceive American intelligence agency CIA, the teams mostly work night shifts and wore Indian military uniform as scientists in plain clothes at an army area could have raised suspicions. They also calculated the time CIA satellites would pass over India, according to the Insider.

Former prime minister AB Vajpayee, flanked by APJ Abdul Kalam and R Chidambaram inspects the site of the nuclear fission blast at Pokhran in Thar desert . (PTI File Photo)

 While working at DRDO, Dr Kalam -- a vegetarian -- had rejected the proposal to put glasses on a building because he was concerned it would be harmful for birds.

Kalam never owned a television and his personal possessions were books, a veena, a CD player and a laptop, according to a Times of India report.

 NASA scientists named an organism found only on the International Space Station (ISS) after the much-loved president. They named the organism, a type of bacteria, Solibacillus kalamii.

 Kalam often spoke to students about achieving dreams and aiming higher. During an interaction at the 2015 Jaipur Literature Festival, he said, Small aim is a crime, have great aim. It is perhaps of no wonder that in his 70s, Dr Kalam was nominated twice for the MTV youth icon.

Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi pays his last respects to former president APJ Abdul Kalam. (Reuters File Photo)

 At 83, APJ Abdul Kalam died in July 2015 after collapsing during a speech at the IIM Shillong, breathing his last at an educational institution.
Amid uncertainty and factional fights in the grand old party, octogenarian leaders chief minister Virbhadra Singh, 84, and irrigation and public health minister Vidya Stokes, 89, displayed an unusual bonhomie at his official residence Oak Over.

The veterans unusual display of bonhomie comes a day the ruling party received a major jolt from its rural development minister Anil Sharma, who along with his father and Congress vanguard leader Sukhram switched over to the BJPs side.

Both Sukhram and Anil Sharma had been unhappy over the treatment meted out to them particularly during Congress Vikas se Vijay rally in Mandi where AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi blew the conch for the elections. Chief minister Virbhadra Singh did not invite his onetime staunch rival Sukh Ram on to the dias. Anil Sharma too accused the CM of cold shouldering him. It was an insult to me. Congress rally in Mandi had given preference to insignificant leaders in the party while those who have been dedicated to the party for long were ignored, Sharma told Hindustan Times.

On Saturday evening, Sharma had tweeted his decision to join the BJP, even as speculations about his family member joining saffron party had been rife.

Stokes and Virbhadra came together for the first time after Virbhadra Singh decided to shift to Theog. Virbhadra Singh had announced just two days ago that he would contest elections from Theog, the bastion of Vidya Stokes who contested ten elections and won eight times.

Stokes and Virbhadra sat in the lawns of Oakover for long but the tension on their faces was evident even though the duo shared some lighter moments. Vidya Stokes publically invited Virbhadra Singh to contest from Theog along with Congressmen. Chief minister Virbhadra Singhs son Vikramaditya too was present at Oakover.

Stokes presented a shawl and a cap and to felicitate Virbhadra Singh. Its not for the first time that this is happening. Leaders keep coming and going. This happens more during election time, Virbhadra Singh commented on Anil Sharmas move to the BJP.

Virbhadra Singh whose political career spans over 50 years is fighting his last electoral battle. Virbhadra Singh has so contested elections from three different assembly segmentsRohru, Jubbal Kotkhai and Shimla rural.

Stokes decision to opt out of electoral politics right before polls too has not gone down well with Congress ranks in the area. Stokes should have consulted with her voters. During her last tour, she was campaigning for herself and announced that she would contest the election. Suddenly, she has offered Virbhadra her seat from Theog, said Rattan Mehta, a resident of the constituency.

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The Congress will observe black day on November 8 to mark the completion of one year of demonetisation, alleging that the BJP-led NDA governments move not only inflicted misery on people but also dealt a body blow to the economy.

The main opposition party is planning a nationwide protest to highlight the failure of the decision to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to weed out black money.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made the surprise announcement on November 8 last year.

Congress leaders and spokespersons will fan out across the country to inform the people about the impact of demonetisation on the economy.

The partys research cell is preparing a comprehensive data sheet and detailed documents to substantiate their claim that the note ban failed to achieve the desired results.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had termed the move a colossal disaster that cost innocent lives and ruined the economy. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, an economist, too had slammed the decision, calling it monumental mismanagement and a case of organised loot and legalised plunder.

On November 8 last year, the hard-earned money of the people turned into paper. The unanswered question is, where is the black money? Or was this the greatest money laundering exercise that free India has ever seen? Whatever it was, truth has a way of surfacing, Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan said.

The Youth Congress too will hold nationwide demonstrations on the day.

Our PM had asked for 50 days and promised that everything will be good. The people gave him 365 days, yet nothing happened. All that we hear is hollow promises, jargons and slogans, Youth Congress spokesperson Amrish Ranjan Pandey said.

The Congress attack on the PM sharpened after the RBI indicated that almost 99% of scrapped notes returned to the banking system, thereby indicating low efficacy of the recall of high-value currency notes that wiped Rs 15.44 lakh crore out of circulation. According to the RBI report, Rs 15.28 lakh crore returned to the system by way of public deposits. Thus, only Rs 16,000 crore of old notes didnt return to banks.

The opposition party has repeatedly demanded an apology from Modi. The PM should come out and apologise to the nation and the kin of all those who lost their lives standing in queue for exchanging old currency notes, Pandey said.

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For about a decade, life has been hell for 42-year-old Babulal Yadav.

The differently abled landless labourer in a desperately poor corner of Chhattisgarh has made countless trips to the local police station, answered questions by several investigators and lived in fear of random searches on his small shanty just outside the market in Kharora, around 50km from Raipur.

The irony: Yadav is not accused of any crime or conspiracy. He is one of 446 people, mostly poor carpenters, farmers and vendors, in whose name a senior state bureaucrat is accused of setting up fake bank accounts to allegedly launder crores of rupees.

Yadav has instructed his wife to not talk to inquisitive outsiders and the family of six spends its nights uneasily. His biggest regret is getting a PAN card in the late 90s that was allegedly used by a middleman to set up the bogus account.

When I go out, people taunt me with shouts of crorepati crorepati but I am a poor manmany days I dont even get any work, he said. HT spoke to 10 other villagers who said they have been called multiple times for interrogation and recording of statements.

The trouble began in 2006 when charges surfaced against IAS officer BL Agrawal of having allegedly colluded with middlemen and bank officials to open accounts in the names of villagers, and laundering money through them.

Agrawal was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation this February and also booked by the Enforcement Directorate.

During 2006-08, Agrawal with the help of Sunil Agrawal, a CA, opened 446 benami bank accounts in the name of poor villagers none of the account holders came to the bank in personthe drivers, mason, paan vendors, farm labourers, carpenters, milk vendors denied opening or operating the accounts, ED statement reads.

The case was first investigated by the state economic offence wing (EOW), then the ED and now the matter has been transferred to the Chhattisgarh police. At each stage, villagers say they were called. We are facing trouble. everyone thinks we are thieves when police come to our homes, said Guhe Ram, a farmer.

Both BL Agrawal and Sunil Agarwal are out on bail and deny the charges. The case is in court and I dont know about the case registered by the Raipur police. I am not related to Kharora or the case registered by the police, said BL Agrawal. Police said the FIR didnt name him because the money-laundering section was being probed separately by the ED. Sunil Agrawal could not be contacted for a comment.

The police admit that the villagers have battled a tough time without committing any crime.

We understand their pain and the problems but we are working as per law the residents of Kharora are the witnesses of the crime hence there statement was taken, said additional superintendent of police (Raipur) Vijay Agarwal.

The ASP added that the matter is yet to be heard by the court. We will put up the challan and then the witnesses will be again called by the court, which is the process which everyone will have to follow. Everything is going as per the law.

But Babulal doesnt understand such processes. He alleges that Sunil Agarwal, who was a trader in Kharora, asked him for some documents to get a PAN card made. I thought PAN card is important and hence gave it but later came to know that they opened fake accounts in my name, he said.

Others said every time they are summoned, they have to spend 300 travelling to Raipur  a big sum in one of Indias most under-developed regions.

We will demand compensation in futurethe torture we have faced is immense, said Tikeshwar Pansari, a small grocery shop owner.

But deep down, they know that the hard times will continue because the case is now in court. The police have told villagers that they would need to come to court at least twice, a number that could easily go up if the case dragged on. We know we will be called by the court. We are trapped now, said Baburam.

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The Supreme Court has refused to ban the controversial book--Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Vysyas are social smugglers) penned by prominent Dalit writer and intellectual Kancha Ilaiah, saying every author has a fundamental right to voice ideas freely.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud junked a PIL filed by a lawyer seeking direction to the government to ban the book.

The apex court said that any request to ban a book has to be strictly scrutinised because every author or writer has a fundamental right to speak out ideas freely and express thoughts adequately, and that curtailment of an individual writer or authors right to freedom of speech and expression should never be viewed lightly.

We do not intend to state the facts in detail. Suffice it to say that when an author writes a book, it is his or her right of expression. We do not think that it would be appropriate under Article 32 of the Constitution of India that this Court should ban the book/books.

Keeping in view the sanctity of the said right and also bearing in mind that the same has been put on the highest pedestal by this court, we decline the ambitious prayer made by the petitioner, the bench said.

The order came on a plea filed by lawyer K V Veeranjaneyulu, who is also a member of Arya Vysya Officials Professionals Association, alleging that the writer had made baseless allegations against certain castes in his book and tried to divide the society on caste lines.

He said a criminal case had also been registered against him in Andhra Pradesh for hurting sentiments of people belonging to certain castes and urged the court to ban the book.
Having digitized about 2.20 lakh manuscripts with 2.5 crore pages since its launch in 2003, the National Mission for Manuscripts (NMM) is facing acute shortage of webspace for its portal where it wants to upload these documents for public access.

As against its requirement of 1000 TBs (tetra bites) web space, it has been promised minuscule 50 TBs only by the government-run National Informatic Centre (NIC).

About 80,000 DVDs on which the NMM has stored up these documents remain stashed in corrugated cartons boxes and steel almirahs dumped in the corridors of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA).

NMM is Indias ambitious mission that aims at documenting, digitizing and preserving about 5 lakh decaying manuscripts.

We have a huge task of uploading the content of about 80,000 DVDs on our website www.namami.gov.in for which we require about 700 TB space immediately. In total, we may require about 1000 TBs for the entire mission. But we have been promised 50 TB only which does not solve our purpose, said a senior official working with NMM.

The official said that the very idea of allowing access to the manuscripts for the students, scholars, researchers, and authors was getting defeated as the mission was not able to upload the soft copies of manuscripts on its website for the want of webspace.

The NMM officials worry that since the DVDs have a definite shelf life, the material recorded on these DVDs could get washed off and DVDs may damage in time to come.

The NMM is also working on documenting and digitising manuscripts lying abroad and would need webspace for the same as well for uploading it on its website.

According to the NMM officials, about 60,000 manuscripts migrated to Europe and 1,50,000 to South East Asian countries a long time ago.

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Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the countrys borders were completely safe and China has also understood that India is no more weak.

Addressing audience at a programme organised in Lucknow by the Bhartiya Lodhi Mahasabha, the Union minister, who represents the constituency in the Lok Sabha, said, Indias borders are completely safe, and China has started to understand that India is no more weak. Its strength has grown.

Since the formation of government at the Centre under the leadership of PM Modi, India has become a powerful country in the world. Indias prestige at the international level has grown, he added.

The Union home minister also hit out at Pakistan for sending terrorists to India.

It (Pakistan) tries to break India, but our security personnel every day kill two to four terrorists, he added.
Finance minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday lashed out at criticism of the continuing slowdown in the Indian economy, saying its coming from those who normally dont see beyond their nose and are missing indicators of an impeding turnaround and those beset by immaturity, including some within the BJP.

Critics who were in the BJP are for some reasons not very happy today, (but) not for any ideological reasons but for reasons that I have already expressed myself in India and wouldnt like to reprise, Jaitley said at an interaction with reporters without specifying who he meant.

The finance minister and the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have faced stinging criticism at home after the economy posted yet another quarter of declining growth, 5.7% in the last, from members of the party such as former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, Subramanian Swamy and even the RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.

Responding to a question about continuing attacks on the governments record on growth, Jaitley said the criticism has come chiefly from two quarters. The Congress, first, which he said failed to carry out the kind of reforms this government has undertaken and had led the country to a policy paralysis. Those from the BJP, or those who were in the party earlier, were the second.

The immaturity of those reactions, the minister argued, was that they missed the key point that after growing between 7% and 8% for three years, the economy was in a position  there was enough confidence  to undertake the kind of structural reforms needed. You can slip by a percentage point or so for a quarter or two and then you can pick up again.

And that pick-up has started, which was being missed by those who normally dont see beyond their nose, he contended.

He was responding to a question about continuing criticism, essentially on account of demonetisation in November 2016 and then the implementation of the unified Goods and Services Tax regime that have been blamed for the slowdown, including by world bodies such as the International Monetary Fund.

The minister said indicators of an impending turnout are plenty and include positive PMI (Purchasing Managers Index, a measure of the health of the economy) both in manufacturing and services.

He also pointed out that the core sector growth has picked up, the Index of Industrial Production is up and exports had a huge jump of 26%, adding, these are all good signs.

The minister faced questions about the impact of demonetisation and GST at most of his public interactions that included events at Harvard and Columbia school and events organised by business and trade bodies.

His replies were almost always the same: structural reforms of this magnitude do come at a cost. But that cost, a slowdown, is transient and it must not be allowed to define the narrative.

The finance minister also pushed back against criticism that the government has tended to be populist. Populism would have been to not touch demonetisation and allow cash-dominance to continue, and to allow the shadow economy to continue. We struck a blow to that kind of economy, and thats not populism.
A day after a gang-rape victim committed suicide, the investigating officer of the case was suspended for giving clean chit to the five accused in just over 10 days, in West UPs Bhagpat district.

According to reports, the SHO of Ramala police station had submitted the final report in the gang-rape case after an investigation of merely ten days.

Emboldened by a prompt clean chit, five accused molested the victim in a local market on Friday. They also allegedly threatened to rape her yet again. The incident forced the teenage girl commit suicide the same evening.

The matter got highlighted after the family of the victim refused to perform the last rites till the accused were arrested.

The police arrested all five accused on Saturday night and a fresh case was lodged by the father of deceased girl.

Baghpats superintendent of police demanded explanation for submitting final report in a hurry and later suspended the concerned SHO.

The father of the victim, who is a labourer, said a rape complaint against five youths of the village was lodged two months ago.

SHO Sharad Tilara investigated the case and submitted a final report after an investigation of barely 10 days.

It was sheer negligence on part of the investigating officer and he has been suspended. Further investigation is being done in the case, said Jai Prakaah, SP, Baghpat.

He said all the named accused had been arrested and sent to the jail.
The BJP-led government in Gujarat is preparing to make the best of the opportunity offered by the Election Commissions (EC) decision to defer the announcement of election dates.

The state government, which already announced infrastructure and social welfare projects worth Rs 12,500 crore in October, is set to declare more schemes by the time the EC announces dates, bringing in force the model code of conduct (MCC).

On Thursday, the commission announced the poll date for Himachal Pradesh but chose not to fix the Gujarat election schedule. The ECs decision, which has raised many eyebrows, was taken in deference to the Gujarat governments plea that it needed more time to wind up ongoing relief and rehabilitation works undertaken after an unprecedented flood hit the state in July.

The EC, however, clarified that polling would be completed in Gujarat before December 18, the date of counting of votes in HP. It is an avoidable controversy, said former election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy.

The former CEC said the commission could have deferred the Himachal election by a week despite the possibility of inclement weather. Besides, the MCC does not prevent relief and rehabilitation work that can be carried out by the bureaucrats without the interference of the politicians... he said.

Official sources in Ahmedabad said inauguration of Rs 550 crore ferry service connecting the two shores of the Bay of Khambhat and the launch of the Garib Kalyan Mela in districts such as Porbandar, housing for the poor, and self-employment kits are in the offing the next week.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will address a meeting of party workers in Ahmedabad on October 16. The PMs scheduled speech ahead of the announcement of election dates has raised expectations in his home state.

On Friday, the Vadodara Municipal Corporation announced it would hold an event in which chief minister Vijay Rupani will announce projects worth Rs 800 crore.

Political watchers say the commission that won accolades for its tough stance during the recent Rajya Sabha poll in Gujarat needs to offer a more detailed explanation for not announcing poll dates for Gujarat.

I think there is a need for the commission to give a more comprehensive and comprehensible explanation for the decision. I have faith in the commission, but in this case more explanation is called for, Jagdeep Chhokar of the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) said.

The commission, he said, is answerable to the Constitution and through it to the people. The commission has to not only be fair but also appear to be fair; in this case, the decision appears to be under a cloud, Chhokar told Hindustan Times.

Sanjay Kumar, director of the Center for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), a Delhi-based think tank, described the decision as very unusual and indicative of pressure on EC. He said it also questions the ECs claims of preparedness for conducting simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, an idea the PM has been pushing for.

In this case it was a small challenge (completion of work); tomorrow it could be bigger constitutional challenges. How does the commission that cannot hold simultaneous elections for two states, assert that it can hold synchronised polls for the whole country? Kumar questioned.

Constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap, however, defended the ECs decision, pointing out that it was entitled to take into account the Gujarat governments request.

He said the ECs powers to take a call on the election schedule do not mean that it cannot consult the administration on logistical issues. The commission needs security forces, and administrative staff to hold elections. If a state government informs them about difficulties on the ground, the EC has to look at practical considerations, he said.
A probe has been ordered into the alleged disrespect of the national anthem by a government officer at a school in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said on Sunday, calling on people to maintain peace in the area.

Students and teachers alleged that assistant commissioner revenue (ACR) MS Khan, who had gone to the school on Thursday in Kishtwar district on an inspection, did not respect the national anthem playing there.

An inquiry has been ordered into the incident. The people, especially students, are advised to maintain peace and not play in the hands of vested interests who want to vitiate the atmosphere, District Development Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana told PTI.

Rana said Khan visited the school as part of a raid in the district to check absenteeism.

He was checking nearly a dozen offices and was ordered to ensure prompt inspection. He was in a hurry, moving from one place to another. He was told to submit his report within the shortest possible time, Rana said.

The official has been accused by the students and teachers of moving into the principals office during the inspection while the national anthem was being played at the school.

Some teachers raised the issue, leading to protests by students.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has refused to share details of a decision to put the logo of Prime Minister Narendra Modis pet project Clean India mission on the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes, citing security concerns among other reasons.

Replying to an RTI query, the central bank also did not give a copy of the guidelines on printing of advertisement -- including promotion of central government-run initiatives -- on the notes.

The information on form, material, design and security features of bank notes, other than available in public domain, is exempt from disclosure in terms of Section 8 (1) (a) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, the RBI said in response to the RTI application filed by a PTI correspondent.

The Section bars information, disclosure of which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the state, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence.

The central bank was asked to give a copy of the order, communication, letter or note sheet in which a decision regarding printing of Swachh Bharat or clean India missions logo (spectacle frame) and message of Ek Kadam Swachhata Ki Aur (a step towards cleanliness) on Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes was taken.

To a question on providing the copy of guidelines or any other norms that prescribe standard operating procedures for printing of advertisement including the promotion on the currency notes, the RBI did not give a direct reply.

Indian bank notes contain design elements such as guilloche, flora pattern, motifs and security features, the central bank said.

The RTI query was filed with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) -- that deals with the policy formulation in respect of currency, coins and security documents, and planning, coordination issues related to printing and minting currencies and coins -- under the Finance Ministry.

The DEA had forwarded the application to the RBI for the response.

As per Section 25 of the RBI Act, 1934, the design, form and material of bank notes shall be such as may be approved by the central government after consideration of the recommendations made by central board of the Reserve Bank of India.

Modi had on October 2 2014 launched the clean India mission to make the country open defecation free and eradication of manual scavenging among other cleanliness related goals.
An RSS worker was on Sunday hacked, allegedly by CPI(M) workers, at Muzhuppilangad near Thalassery in the politically volatile Kannur district of Kerala.

According to the police, the condition of Nidesh (28), the RSS worker, was critical and he had been shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital.

He had suffered injuries on his hands and legs, the police said.

The local BJP unit alleged that the workers of the CPI (M), the ruling party in Kerala, was behind the attack on Nidesh.

The police suspect that the attack was carried out by bike-borne persons at around 5.30 PM on a road near the Muzhuppilangad beach.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.

Kannur in north Kerala has a history of political violence between the workers of the CPI(M) and BJP-RSS.

The saffron party is currently taking out a Janaraksha Yatra, protesting against attacks on its workers, allegedly by CPI(M) workers, in the southern state.

The march, which was flagged off by BJP chief Amit Shah at Kannur on October 3, is scheduled to conclude at state capital Thiruvananthapuram on October 17. Shah is expected to be present in Thiruvananthapuram on that day.

State BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan is leading the march, which reached Kollam on Sunday.
A foreign national student was allegedly beaten up on Friday evening by four unidentified students near faculty of art intersection on the Banaras Hindu University premises. Ragging could possibly be the reason behind the incident.

According to police, which registered a case on Sunday, Munish Krushil, a native of Fiji, is a student of BA first year at the faculty of arts in BHU.

After attending classes, he was on way back to International hostel when a group of four students pushed him to the ground near Maitri guest house on the Universitys campus.

Krushil somehow managed to dodge them and ran towards his hostel. As he reached near the intersection of faculty of Arts, the same group of students stopped and thrashed him.

The student informed the Fiji Embassy and filed a written complaint with the BHU proctorial board.

Chief proctor professor Royana Singh immediately sent the complaint to the police, which registered a case against four unidentified students.

Prof Royana said the anti-ragging cell was also asked to probe the matter soon after receiving the complaint.

Station officer Lanka Police station Sanjiv Mishra said a case has been registered under Section 352 (punishment for assault), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the India Penal Code (IPC) against four unidentified students.

A team has been deployed to identify the students and senior authorities have been informed.
A notorious wildlife trafficker with international links, who was involved in smuggling body parts of 125 tigers and 1,200 leopards, was convicted by a Madhya Pradesh court along with four traffickers and awarded four-year rigorous imprisonment.

Madhya Pradesh forest departments special task force (STF) arrested Shamim, who hails from Kanpur, in February this year.

STF officials said he was involved in trafficking animal body parts in the international market via Nepal and Tibet.

Ritesh Sirothia, STF (wildlife crime) in charge, said Shamim, Badrilal Sapera, Mansingh, Prahlad and Raghuvir were convicted and sentenced to prison for four years along with a penalty of 10,000 each under provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

If they fail to pay the penalty, they will have to serve an additional jail term of 10 months each.

During questioning, Shamim admitted that he was involved in the trade of 125 tiger and 1,200 leopard hides in Indian and international markets, Sirothia said.

He added that Shamim was also arrested in UP in 2004 with 456 nails of tigers and leopards.

Sirothia said Raghuvir alias Kalicharan was arrested in 1988 with 129 animal hides from Guna district but he managed to get away.

In 2005, a case was registered against him in Ranthambore too. These convictions are a major success for us, he said

The court said the five were involved in organised wildlife smuggling of wild animals including pangolins, jackals, cobras, red sand boas, hyenas in MPs Narsinghgarh, Sehore, Guna, Rajasthan and Delhi.

According to principal chief wildlife warden (wildlife ) Jitendra Agrawal, the five traffickers were arrested by the STF with pangolin scales and a sand boa snake in January this year and later produced before the court

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Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his claims of growing friendship between India and the United States, also sweeping United States President Donald Trump and Pakistan away in a single stroke.

Responding to Trumps tweet that talked of Americas evolving friendship with Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug.

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

Trumps tweet had come a day after the Pakistani security forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the clutches of the Haqqani terror network, operative in Islamabad.

In a marked turnaround of sorts, Trump had earlier accused Pakistan of housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately. This was after Prime Minister Modis June visit to the U.S. wherein Trumps description of the former as a true friend had set the tone for a successful bilateral meeting between the two nations, and rightly so, from their bear-hug to their praises for each other, everything reeked of a growing bonhomie between the world leaders.

The Congress had back then too downplayed the essentiality of the visit and its aftermath.

Meanwhile, several media reports have cornered Trump over his sudden claims of growing ties with Pakistan, accusing him of going back on his word and policies of counter-terrorism.

Reports also say that officials in India are now keen to see the follow-up actions of the U.S. President.

The tweet is also likely to become a part of the discussions between Indian leaders and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, when he visits India in the last week of October.
Two suspected hawala traders arrested in Bhopal on Friday are Pakistani citizens living in Madhya Pradesh capital on a long-term visa (LTV), police said.

Bhopal police arrested Dayanand Kukreja, 48, and Ashok Bhadwani, 59, with Rs 80 lakh in hawala money while they were on their way to Mumbai to deliver the cash to a contact person there.

The money seized from the accused was in old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. Police said both claimed they were taking the money, belonging to certain businessmen of Bhopal, to Mumbai.

Additional superintendent of police Bhopal (zone 3) Rajesh Singh Bhadauria told HT the accused were running shops in Old Bhopal dealing in spices and date palms.

Kukreja has been residing in Bhopals Idgah Hills area since 1990 by periodically renewing his LTV, while Bhadwani has been living in New Sindhi Colony of the city since his arrival on a two-year visa in 2016, the police officer said.

Since June 2015, members of minority communities from Pakistan and Bangladesh have been extended certain facilities under the LTV.

The LTV for them can be up to 5 years at one go. Such visa holders are allowed to get their children admitted in schools, colleges, universities, technical/ professional institutions etc. without any specific permission from the state government/UT administration. The visa also permits them to take up employment in the private sector.

Usually, LTV for any foreign national if he or she is not a person of Indian origin is for six months.

The duo, who belong to Pakistans minority Hindu community, could extend their visas several times, as it can be easily done by submitting affidavits, vowing not to commit a crime or get involved in criminal activities, police source said.

We have now also booked the two accused for violation of visa norms under section 13 and 14 of the Foreigners Act. They are originally from Pakistans Sindh province. We are also looking into the documents recovered from them. If they are found to be faked, then we will also book them for forgery, the additional SP said.

Meanwhile, police are investigating the money laundering case to what they say expose the main people involved in the hawala racket.

Income Tax department has been already informed about the cash seizure.

(With agency inputs)

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More than one in three children in rural Rajasthan is not attending preschool, a latest study on early childhood education in the state has found.

The studys findings, presented at a workshop in Jaipur on Thursday, showed 33.3% of four-years-old children in rural areas are not attending any preschool - be it government or private.

UNICEF, Ambedkar Universitys Centre for Early Childhood Education and Development and Annual Status of Education Report Centre jointly conducted the study.

The study covered three states Assam, Rajasthan and Telangana. Among them the figures of students not going to preschool is the highest in Rajasthan. Figures for Assam is 10.9% and Telangana 6.1%.

The study covered a total of 14,000 children in the three states.

Furthermore, only one out of every five children of preschool age (4 years) in the rural areas of Rajasthan was attending a government preschool facility.

In the past couple of years, the women and child development ministry has taken a string of steps to transform anganwadi centres from just feeding centres to preschool learning centres.

Despite the efforts, Rajasthan still had the lowest figures among the three states. The percentage of four-year olds in rural Rajasthan attending government preschool was 21.3 while the same was 79.1 in rural Assam and 52.6 in rural Telangana.

Furthermore, 32% of the sampled children in Rajasthan were attending a private preschool. On the other hand, 12.3% of preschool age children in the state were attending a primary school.

This was the highest as compared to the other two states, where the figure was 0.3% (Assam) and 7.9% (Telangana).

There is a lack of awareness among the public regarding anganwadis. The people in the state dont know that the anganwadis are now prepared to provide quality early childhood education. What is needed is extensive publicity of the anganwadi learning centres, said KB Kothari of Pratham  an NGO working for education.

Kothari, who attended the workshop, said there was a need for regular training of early childhood education mentors, monitoring of the centres and regulation of the teaching-learning material.
Members of a Rajput outfit have said that if Sanjay Leela Bhansalis film Padmavati is released without being pre-screened to Rajput organisations, they will burn cinema halls and multiplexes screening the film.

Members of the Jai Rajputana Sangh on Saturday met the management of several cinema halls and multiplexes in Jaipur and warned them against screening the Shahid Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone-starrer film.

We wont tolerate any distortion of history and if any romantic relationship is shown between queen Padmavati and Alauddin Khilji, we will burn cinema halls screening the film, said Bhanwar Singh Reta, founder, Jai Rajputana Sangh on Sunday.

Our members are trained in handling a large array of weapons ranging from swords to AK 47 guns. We wont let anyone dishonour Padmavati and insult the people of Rajasthan, said Reta, who claimed that he holds an MBA degree and heads the Sangh, which has 2.65 lakh members.

He added that warning letters have also been sent to cinema halls outside Rajasthan in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Around 200 cinema halls in Rajasthan have been sent the warning letter, he said.

Our demand is that the filmmakers screen it to a panel of representatives from various Rajput organizations. We will only give them a go-ahead to release the film after we are satisfied that no scene insults queen Padmavati, said Reta.

The members of the Sangh also criticised Union Information and broadcasting minister Smriti Irani and burnt her effigy. Irani had said that the film will face no trouble during its release. We condemn this statement, said Reta.

Earlier, members of the Karni Sena had burnt posters of the film last month and demanded that it be pre-screened to Rajput and Hindu outfits.

The film, which is scheduled to release on December 1, has been facing threats from Rajput outfits who have said that no distortion of history will be tolerated.

In January this year, the sets of Padmavati in Jaipur were vandalized by members of the Karni Sena and its director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was allegedly manhandled.
A young widow who tied the knot a second time in a civil ceremony in 2014 will now go through the motions of marriage all over again  this time in a religious ceremony in Vrindavan on Monday to overcome resistance from society to her marital status.

Her marriage will be solemnised at Gopinath Temple on Monday after which she will move to Tilwada in Uttarakhand with her husband who is a driver.

After losing her first husband in one of the countrys worst natural disasters in Kedarnath in June 2013, Vinita Devi (23), a mother of two, remained confined to her in-laws house in Devlidhanigram in Rudraprayag district for two months.

She later left for her native village Kamodi in the same district.

As my mother was ill, I returned to my home but soon realised how difficult life is for a widow, Vinita told HT.

A year later I started living with a man, Rakesh Kumar. We got our marriage registered in the court but we did not get social acceptance, she added.

Resistance from the society, however, gave her courage. She decided to tie the nuptial knot with Rakesh in accordance with all Hindu religious and social customs.

My mother will attend the marriage for sure. I hope all my relatives come, said Vinita, who went shopping for her marriage in Old Delhi. She also has a brother.

Sulabh International which works for the welfare of widows in the country is organising the marriage.

Her marriage before the community is not just an act of courage but a learning that womens life does not end if she is left alone due to some reason, said Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International .

Vinita is educated till class 8 and is not employed as of now. We will try to provide her some vocational training so that she can contribute financially to her family and develops confidence, Pathak said.

Being a widow is not the end of life. This is the only message that thousands of widows want to give to the society, he added.

Over 500 widows from different ashrams in Vrindavan are expected to attend the marriage as part of Diwali celebrations.

Every woman has the right to live her life as per her wish. If a widow wants to remarry, no one should stop her. This will be a great Diwali for us, said Manu Ghosh, 90, a widow living at an ashram in Vrindavan.

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Wine tasters from Sweden toasted victory on Saturday after winning the fifth edition of an international blind tasting contest, leaving last years top contenders China and France in the dust, organisers said.

Held in Burgundy in Frances famed Cote dOr wine-growing region, the contest saw 24 teams from around the world vying against each other to identify a range of wines by country of origin, grape varieties, appellations and vintages.

They had to identify six white wines and six reds from around the world. The Chinese, who won last years contest in a triumph that organisers said hit the world of wine with a thunderbolt, came in ninth.

And the French team, which came second last year, finished 11th. The French tasters are excellent but they are more used to tasting (French) wines, admitted Denis Savarot, managing editor of La Revue du vin de France, the monthly wine magazine which organises the contest.

The Zimbabwean tasters, who took part for the first time this year, came in 23rd. Next years contest will take place in Languedoc in Frances deep south.

Follow @htlifeandstyle for more.
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut, seen as a Bharatiya Janata Party-baiter on Sunday claimed the Central government plans to bring in a law to control and regulate the social media.

In the recent past, the BJP has had trouble with social media platforms, getting more shrill on their criticism of the Modi government.

The Sena leader said, The social media helped the BJP win power in 2014. They [BJP] cant try to control the social media if it is not working in their favour. The right to freedom of expression needs to prevail as we are a democratic and independent country.

Raut indicated his party would oppose the law saying the Sena had opposed a similar attempt by the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government too.

The fresh development may also lead to public backlash against the BJP government.

The Supreme Court in March 2015 struck down section 66A of Information Technology Act that allowed action against offensive comments, terming it unconstitutional. The court found the section was being misused to arrest people posting comments critical of political leaders on social media platforms. The court had said such a law hit at the root of liberty and freedom of expression that are two fundamental pillars of democracy.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday hit out at the police for targeting 40 youths, who criticised the BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the PM. Pawar, who met the youngsters, said they were being trolled by right-wing netizens and declared his party would support the youth by providing them legal aid.
With no trace of Captain Rajesh Nair, a Virar resident, even 48 hours after a cargo vessel, Emerald Star, sank 280km off Philippines coast on Friday evening, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday promised to request the Japanese coast guard to continue the search mission.

Of the 26 Indians on board, 16 have been rescued. The search operations by the Japanese Coast Guard were to be called off on Monday.

Swaraj promised Nairs wife Reshmi that search operations will continue even after October 16, said Krishna Nair, the captains relative. We are yet to get any updates on the rescue operation from the Coast Guard and the Chennai-based shipping firm, Admiral Marine Services. We want the Indian Navy to help the Japanese Coast Guard in the search. We want to know where the 16 rescued crew members have been put up so we can ask them about Captain Nair.

Reshmi works as a traffic inspector with the WR in Churchgate and the couple has two children  Vedant, 8, and Ishita, 3.

Emerald Star was carrying minerals from Hong Kong to Indonesia, when it capsized. The ship had sent a SOS (distress signal) to ships in the vicinity. We will continue the search operations till October 16, said Nobuya Nishiyama, a senior Japanese Coast Guard official. We cant rely on social media, and are awaiting official news from the ministry, said Jaimin Patel, a close friend of Captain Nair.

The wife of Suresh Kumar, among the rescued, said they have been informed that Kumar was rescued by a passing ship from Turkey.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday warned his cousin Uddhav Thackeray that he would have to pay for indulging in dirty politics after six of his corporators in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) defected to the Shiv Sena.

He also alleged that the Sena bought his corporators at the price of Rs 30 crore with each corporator getting Rs 5 crore.

I never expected such dirty act from the Shiv Sena. I will never forget their act and they will realise the consequences in future, Raj Thackeray said at a press conference here.

Read more: Six corporators defection a huge blow for Raj Thackerays MNS

He said the Sena was deliberately spreading misinformation that he facilitated the entry of the six corporators to the Sena to counter the BJP. The Sena is feeling guilty and hence it is spreading such misleading information. Why six, I would have sent all seven to them. Balasaheb (Sena founder) never taught us such politics, he said.

He also questioned the Shiv Senas source of funds to get his corporators. Where did the Sena get this money to buy our corporators? he questioned.

The MNS on Friday suffered a severe setback as six of its seven corporators in BMC joined the Shiv Sena.

This came a day after the Sena lost the Bhandup by-election to the BJP where the later taunted it saying it was just matter of months, when it will displace the Sena and become numero uno in the BMC

Following the defection of MNS corporators, the Shiv Senas strength in BMC has gone up from 84 to 90 corporators. They also have the support of four independents. The BJP has 82 corporators in the BMC.
A bike rider was killed when a truck knocked him down in a hit-and-run accident at Sion-Trombay on Saturday .

According to the Trombay police, Loknatthan Naykar, 37, was riding the bike, while his friend Jayshankar Pillai, 35, was seated pillion. Naykar was wearing a helmet, which saved him from head injuries, but the truck went over his chest, police said.

The accident occurred at 12.15pm near Narmadeshwar temple in Mankhurd. Police said the truck driver was speeding and hit the bike from the back because of which Naykar lost control and fell. He sustained grievous internal injuries after the truck went over him and died in a nearby hospital minutes after being hospitalised. The truck driver then fled the spot. However, Pillai managed to see the trucks number plate. We have sought details from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to find the accused, said Sunil Gaokar, senior police inspector, Trombay police station. Pillai lives abroad and had to the city recently. he added.

The duo, both residents of Trombay, were heading towards Chembur to purchase goods for a puja. Both work in a private firm.

The police registered a case against the unidentified driver under sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code and sections 184 (driving dangerously) and 134 A and B (escaping from the spot without rendering help to the victim) of the Motor Vehicle Act.

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Last Monday, Mumbai enjoyed its cleanest air since June 2015, when the city began measuring air pollution. The air quality index (AQI) -- a standard measurement used across the world to measure air polluton -- on the day was 35 for PM2.5 (Particulate Matter, a mix of chemicals, organic particles, 2.5 microns in size or smaller, that can get lodged in the lungs, spurring infections).

An AQI level below 100 is good, a range between 101 and 200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor; anything above is hazardous. Mumbais air quality improved further three days later, falling to 32. One reason for the good air quality was the rains that have been washing away atmospheric pollutants.

Alas, the week of relatively fresh air could be the last this year. Diwali is around the corner and, as doctors and people with respiratory problems will tell you, the festival takes Mumbais air pollution to hazardous levels. As this newspaper reported, the AQI on Diwali 2016 (October 30) was 278. The next day, when pollutants from millions of firecrackers burst during the night hung in the air, the AQI was 315.

When the Supreme Court banned sale of fire crackers this month in the National Capital Region and Delhi, Mumbai residents, who have been campaigning for a cleaner Diwali, were hoping for a similar relief. The hopes were bolstered when the states environment minister said that Diwali celebrations should be firecracker-free. He said he would get the Maharashtra chief ministers support for the idea.

The backlash from other politicians forced the minister to withdraw his commitment. One politician, whose party is struggling to stop an exodus of its members, asked why there were bans only on Hindu festivals.

The politician got it wrong. Nobody is seeking a ban on Hindu festivals; they are asking for restrictions on practices that have become public health hazards. When the Supreme Court heard an appeal filed by firecracker traders and manufacturers against the ban last week, it said it knew some people were giving the court order a communal tinge.

Mahesh Bedekar, a doctor from Thane, who has filed petitions in the courts to enforce noise pollution rules, said, There is no question of religion. I celebrate Diwali and I tell my child that I had made mistakes  we used firecrackers in our childhood - and that we need to change, not because the Supreme Court says so, but for our own good.

Bedekar said politicians are wrongly assuming that people dont want change. People will understand. Use of firecrackers has reduced in the past 10 years, but it has to stop, he added.

Swati Patil, a social activist who successfully petitioned the courts to make dahi handi, where young children are enlisted to create unsafe human pyramids, safer, said politicians were being dishonest when they linked religion to hazardous customs during festivals. When she sought more safety regulations for the festival, her biggest opponents were festival groups led by politicians.

Politicians try to bring a religious angle to everything, said Patil. Firecrackers are used in all kinds of celebrations, not just Hindu festivals. It affects everyones health, but politicians are not bothered about common good.

There have been other instances where politicians have acted in complete disregard of public good. In July, the Maharashtra government wrote to the central environment ministry, asking for abolition of silence zones  areas around schools, hospitals and religious places, where there is a ban on use of loudspeakers. This request was made for Ganpati and Gokulashtami too.

Dr Narendra Dabholkar of Maharashtra Andhshraddha Nirmulan Samiti, who led a campaign for the enactment of theMaharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013, had told this reporter that the bill was being watered down to keep political parties happy. Dabholkar was murdered in August 2013.

I dont understand how any politician or leader can take a view which is totally against public health, said Bedekar.

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The VP Road police on Saturday booked a 50-year-old diamond trader for allegedly failing to pay his friend for diamonds worth Rs 38.99 lakh. He had not returned the diamonds to his friend Samir Shah either, said an officer from VP Road police station.

Shah a resident of Khetwadi in Girgaon works in a diamond trading firma and runs a business. Shah and the accused have done business in the past.

The officer said, Between June and August, they arrived at a business deal. The accused took the diamonds and promised to pay him after selling them. However, he neither paid him nor returned the diamonds. Shah has alleged that the accused used the diamonds for his own use.

Shad had long waited for the payment or the diamonds to be returned by his friend, said the officer. When he did not get the money, he filed a complaint earlier this month.

The VP Road police registered a first information report (FIR) under Sections 420 (cheating) and 406 (criminal breach of trust) of the Indian Penal Code. They said they would take action against the accused depending on investigation.
The district administration is going to keep an eye on government doctors who are involved in private practice. The move assumes significance, as the Uttar Pradesh government has decided to strictly enforce laws banning private practice by doctors.

Principal secretary Prashant Trivedi has written to the director general of health services, divisional commissioners and district magistrates, asking all the officials to take strict action against government doctors involved in private practice.

In this connection, the health department is also going to make surprise visits to the clinics and residences of doctors to check if they are involved in private practice. Teams from the district health department will also be visiting government hospitals to check whether the doctors are present during duty hours or are busy with their private practice.

The health department and the district administration is also going to ask residents to inform if there are any doctors running private clinics or doing private practice at their residence.

We have started keeping track of doctors who could be involved in private practice. We are also asking people to provide us information about such doctors. We will be making surprise visits to hospitals and residences to catch such doctors in the act, Dr Veer Bahadur Dhaka, acting chief medical officer, said.

The state government has made it very clear that strict action will be taken against errant doctors. Any government doctor found to be involved in private practice will be caught. We will send a report to the state government which will take the further course of action as per law, Dhaka added.

District magistrate BN Singh said, We have got the orders to identify government doctors involved in private practice. We will also ask people to inform authorities concerned if they find any government doctor doing private practice.

The letter has clearly said that strict and immediate action should be taken against private nursing homes run by government doctors. Government is going to recover the Non-Practice Allowance of such doctors, the officials added. Further, the UP government will approach the Medical Council of India (MCI) seeking cancellation of registration of doctors involved in private practice.
The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPCL) in Dadri on Sunday said that the company had not come to an agreement with any official or leader to provide jobs to those accused in Mohammad Ikhlaqs lynching in Bisada village.

The response from NTPC was issued in the form of a statement a day after some sections of the media reported that Dadri MLA Tejpal Nagar had allegedly helped the accused men get employment in NTPCs Bisada plant.

No agreement has been ever made to provide jobs to the accused in Ikhlaqs lynching and none of them have been employed. We have a professional procedure through which people are engaged on a contractual basis, said Pankaj Saxena, spokesperson of NTPCL, Dadri.

The village of Bisada shot in to the limelight in September, 2015, after Mohammad Ikhlaq, 55, was lynched by a mob on suspicion of slaughtering a cow and storing its meat for consumption. Ikhlaqs son Danish was also brutally beaten up during the incident and later admitted to a Delhi hospital.

Eighteen people were arrested for the incident later, all of who have procured bail from the Allahabad High Court in the past two years.

Ikhlaqs family was later provided accommodation in Delhi and stay in the National Capital. In the last two years, Ikhlaqs family members have never visited Bisada and their house stands locked.

Saxena said that NTPCL has provided employment to thousands of people since the inception of its plant in Bisada in 1986. Candidates are hired, based on their skill sets and the companys requirement, Saxena said.

We have acquired land froma s many as 26 villages for ithe plant. When we have a vacancy, we contact villagers from whom we have purchased our lands and based on their qualification, offer them jobs like those of a technician, machine operators, and casual labourers, Saxena added.

If employment is provided to the lynching accused, all due rules and regulations will be followed. We will focus on all legal aspects, the NTPC official told HT.

Meanwhile, MLA Tejpal Nagar, also denied the media reports. I am not aware of the matter, he said.

NTPCs statement also said, A contrac labourer, Neeraj, had recently committed suicide near the plant in Bisada after he was disengaged from services for being drunk during working hours. We made an agreement that the wife of Neeraj would be given Rs 8 lakh as well as employment. It was our only step, but it was misquoted.

NTPC further mentioned that under its corporate social responsibility, it takes various steps for the development of the villages in Dadri and include community development works.

Sanjay Rana, whose son Vishal Rana, 22, is accused and out on bail said, All the 18 men who are out on bail are sitting idle at home and have not been able to secure any jobs.
Extraordinary feats are achieved when ordinary people decide to speak out and act decisively. When we launched our non-violent war against child rape, sexual abuse and trafficking from the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on September 11 in the form of a Bharat Yatra, I was relying on the power of dreams, and the power of ordinary people.

Three weeks and more than 6,500 kilometres later, I am now confident that we will win this war. I can now dream of an India where children will be safe from predators and of an India where our loud collective voices sweep away the shackles of silence. Victims have decided to speak out; loudly and clearly. There are 300 core marchers, a majority of them victims and survivors who are a source of inspiration.

They have decided that silence is no longer an option. At a university ground packed with 8,000 people, 16-year-old Chanda stunned us all. So you want to know what happened to me in a public toilet? I will no longer keep quiet about it. I will no longer live in fear and shame, she declared.

It is Chanda and hundreds of victims marching along with me who are reawakening the slumbering conscience of our society. We refuse to accept an India where children remain unsafe, where children can be abused, raped and killed in schools, inside homes, child care centres, hospitals and in public spaces. We need a moral resurgence where the safety of children becomes a social, psychological and emotional issue that binds all of us. We want the safety of children as a defining political agenda.

Small gestures can make a big difference. I noticed a frail old man putting up posters in Kanyakumari. When I asked about him, he turned out to be Babaji from Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh who joined us at Kanyakumari without needing any invitation. He had marched with me in 1998 during our Global March Against Child Labour.

Equally significant has been the wholehearted support from senior members of judiciary in every state. Everywhere that we have gone , mosques, gurdwaras, temples and churches have welcomed us with wide open arms. What it made me realise is that Indians are angry at the way children are being treated. And they want change.

And change is possible. A few days ago, at a function in Delhi home minister Rajnath Singh gave a public commitment that a new law against child trafficking will soon be tabled in Parliament for legislation. We have been fighting for such a law for more than a decade.

But this war will not be won till our society changes. A bolder and more compassionate society would not have allowed the uncle of a 12-year-old girl to keep raping her till her pregnancy was so advanced that abortion was not an option. Child victims are shamed and abused repeatedly. They are abused first by predators. Then they are shamed by society. Finally, they are abused, shamed and harassed inside court rooms where cases take years to be decided. Isnt it a matter of horror that barely 5% of cases under POCSO result in conviction?

All the talk of demographic dividend is empty rhetoric if we allow thousands of children to be abused, raped, trafficked and murdered. If we truly want India to become a great nation, we must first make India safe for children. This Bharat Yatra is a moral crusade against a moral epidemic. Lets make this the last generation to witness the abomination of child abuse.

Kailash Satyarthi is Nobel peace laureate and founder, Bachpan Bachao Andolan

The views expressed are personal
In a rare instance, the academic world has caught up with grassroots activism and the rumble of politics on the ground. Through a set of riveting essays in a collection titled Dalit Studies (2016) edited jointly by Ramnarayan Rawat and K Satyanarayana, we now have compelling explanations for what animates and inspires several Dalit struggles in India.

Earlier, the electoral eclipse of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) had left many wondering if Dalits had indeed abandoned the quest for evolving their own political leadership. It was even argued that a majority of those who historically suffered from the stigma of untouchability were now increasingly comforted by Hindutva ideologies or overwhelmed by the desire for aspirational development rather than social justice. But soon a veritable explosion in caste violence across India, especially within universities, firmly ended such reasoning. A realisation that was made most palpable following the tragic death of young scholar Rohit Vemula.

The subsequent campaign against the poison of caste-based discrimination dramatically revealed how a range of radical Dalit ideologies and groupings had, in fact, already begun incubating in India. Notably through the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle (ASC) at IIT Madras, the Birsa Ambedkar Phule Students Association (BAPSA) at Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Ambedkar Student Association (ASA) at Hyderabad Central University, the eloquence of Jignesh Mevani from Gujarat or the muscular mobilisations by Chandrashekar Azad of the Bhim Army  a critical Dalit imagination had clearly begun consolidating. If anything, once again, there is a scramble to explain why the BSPs electoral failure has not meant a silencing of Dalit politics.

Dalit Studies, in fact, responds to this riddle by asking: How does one understand the flourishing in recent years of a vibrant Dalit intelligentsia despite their seeming electoral irrelevance. According to Rawat and Satyanarayana, the 1990s was an inflection point and a breakout moment for Dalits in India. The neoliberal turn in the Indian economy not only shook feudal domination in the countryside where Dalits lived in appalling servitude but this period of social churning also enabled them to make a big leap into the new market economy. While the subsequent exodus out of rural India allowed Dalits to make a grab for new economic opportunities in the cities, a large number went on to secure admission into the then expanding public university system. Dalits, thus, steadily began to gain a meaningful presence in higher education and used their learning to then piece together their own narrative over what constituted untouchability and what caste discrimination meant to them.

Dalit Studies explains this ideological rupture by arguing that todays Dalits are no longer prepared to be passive subject matter for academic scholarship. Instead, they now see themselves as empowered agents and actors in the production of knowledge. Towards which, especially in recent years, vigorous intellectual energies have re-conceptualised their pasts in order to argue that their unique travails, traumas and experiences of untouchability have not been ably captured in existing historical and sociological frameworks. That is, the Dalit story is not meaningfully told when modern Indian history is either viewed as simply the tension between British colonialism and Indian nationalism or when Marxist- and Left-inspired writings reduce the manifold suffering of untouchability to a side plot in the politics of class.

Rather, the frontline for this new scholarly thinking is aimed at crafting narratives that can speak forcefully to the Dalit quest for human dignity, self worth and self esteem. Put differently, the Dalits want to engage with their pasts in order to recover what they believe to be their own unique journey towards achieving and embracing modernity. This goes sharply against the Right-wing ideologues for whom the past is solely the search for ancient glory. This new sense of the past, for the Dalit, moreover, remains but a mere detour to a future in which their cultural, material and psychological humiliations are fully ended.

Ironically, just as Dalits have begun to outflank the orthodox thinking on untouchability, their access to education is under attack. Public universities and government-aided institutions for higher learning in India today are being marginalised with funding cuts and their intellectual freedoms curbed. Private universities, on the other hand  with no requirement to implement affirmative action or reservations for the socially discriminated  are being aggressively encouraged.

Dalit Studies, however, sternly warns us against any attempt to suppress an intellectually flourishing Dalit world.

Rohan DSouza is associate professor, Kyoto University

The views expressed are personal
Still struggling to get over the disappointment caused by Prime Minister Narendra Modis silence on its hope of securing the central university status for Patna university, its administration cannot be oblivious of the fact it had an an uphill task in meeting the challenge thrown at it by the PM.

With RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav and Congress MLC Ashok Choudhary backing CM Nitish Kumar in pressing for announcement of central university status for PU, the disappointment caused by the PMs silence on the subject was massive.

Instead of granting the wish, articulated strongly from the dais by the CM himself, Modi had asked PU to compete for becoming one of the top 10 government sector universities and become eligible for huge funding from the centre.

Sources said behind the PMs silence on the subject was a policy decision taken by the centre in 2015. The Ministry of human resource development has taken a policy decision not to convert state universities into central universities for reasons of legacy issues, adjustment of existing staff and disaffiliation of affiliated colleges, says the 2015 notification.

As the dust settled after the PMs visit, realization has started dawning upon the authorities that bring PU up to the challenge thrown by the PM is mammoth in the prevailing situation, given the huge gap between it and top universities of the country.

Though it is the smallest and best maintained among Bihars universities  academically as well as administratively  the fact is that it would require a Herculean effort and strong will on part of the government and the chancellor to prepare it for the competition.

PU has the legacy, but it would require the right stimulus to come up to the mark. If the PU get up looks improved, it is because the government spent Rs 4-crore to spruce it up ahead of the PMs visit, said PUTA president Randhir Kumar Sinha.

Sinha said that in the present situation, PU, with its vast infrastructural deficiencies, 30% teaching strength and lack of policy on non-teaching posts, including those lab technicians and demonstrators, competing for the top slot would be sheer wishful thinking.

This holds true not just for PU, but for all state universities in north India, he added.

Former PUTA president PK Poddar said public institutions working in a backward state needed encouragement to aspire for bigger goals. These institutions are running with fee structure of 1950s and girls education is free, but the colleges have to avail electricity through pre-paid electricity meters. When the money ends, power trips, plunging institutions into darkness, he said.

Poddar said he was the sole teacher of history in the department at Patnas BN College. Even political science, zoology and statistics departments have just one teacher each. The scenario is similar in other colleges, too. In a welfare state, universities cannot grow on their own, nor can private universities be the answer, he added.

At present, PU has just 316 teachers against the sanctioned strength of 815, which came down from 825 following the de-linking of intermediate course. Even maintaining the spruced up campus is tough owing to the huge shortage of non-teaching staff and resources, said an official.

JD-U spokesman Neeraj Kumar said Bihar had got two central universities  central university of Bihar and central university of South Bihar, after over six decades and relentless efforts of the state government.

We feel PU deserves the central university status and we will keep raising the demand at the right platforms. We will do what we can, he added.

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At 31, Vicky of Uttar Pradeshs Bulandshahr has already created a record of sorts. Since 2005, when he was arrested for the first time, he has committed 125 snatchings in the tricity.

The luck ran out for him on Saturday after he, along with his aides  cousin Usman Ali, 32, and friend Shakil Ahmad, 40, both hailing from old Delhi  were arrested by the anti-snatching, robbery and dacoity detection cell of Chandigarh Police crime branch from Sector 46 following a tip-off. Usman and Ali are working as tailors in Delhi.

The police recovered 13 gold chains and 4 two-wheelers from their possession.

Vicky is a serial snatcher and has been named as accused in 125 cases. He has been declared proclaimed offender in 45 cases, said superintendent of police (operation), Ravi Kumar.

Vicky was earlier arrested by the police in October 2016 and was released on bail in May this year.

He lives in a rented accommodation in Sector 46 and is fond of lavish lifestyle. He had invested money in property and has a house in Delhi where his wife and son live, said Pawan Kumar, deputy superintendent of police (DSP crime). He often organises cocktail parties for his associates.

Coming from a family of bootleggers, Vicky started selling illicit liquor but didnt find it lucrative enough and started snatching chains.

MODUS OPERANDI

Police said Vicky uses stolen two-wheelers for snatchings. He targets women, especially elderly, by enquiring about a location of the particular place. The motorcycles used in the crime have fake registration numbers and the number plate is changed after every incident, the police said.

HAD MORTGAGED TWO GOLD CHAINS

Finding it hard to sell snatched chains in Chandigarh, Vicky mortgaged a part of the booty and took gold loan from private finance companies in Delhi and Zirakpur.

Police said Vicky was arrested in October 2016 with his accomplice Dilshad, 24, of resident of Mauli Jagran, Chandigarh. Police had then recovered 18 gold chains along with three two-wheelers from their possession. He is a proclaimed offender in 45 cases and 100 cases of snatching, robbery, motor vehicle theft have been registered against him. Some of cases are in the trial stage. He has also been convicted in some cases but the jail term has been rendered as undergone. In 12 cases, charges were dropped against him and he has been acquitted in 47 cases.

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A triumphant Congress did not lose time in inflicting a blow to the Akali Dal-BJP relations after its landslide victory in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll on Sunday.

Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh addressed the media in the evening flanked by state president and now Gurdaspur MP Sunil Jakhar and blamed the Akalis for the combines defeat.

The Congress did well in five assembly seats contested by the Akalis as part of the alliance  Dera Baba Nanak, Fatehgarh Churian, Gurdaspur, Batala and Qadian. It shows people are fed up of the Akalis. BJP candidate Swaran Salaria was comfortable in the four seats which had Rajput votes, the CM said.

The verdict has proved that the SAD is an unwanted baggage for the BJP... its beginning of end of the coalition.

Jakhar added more insult to the injury by saying the verdict has proved that the SAD is an unwanted baggage for the BJP. The Gurdaspur verdict is beginning of dissolution of the coalition, he said.

While Amarinder chose to describe the victory as revival of the Congress and countdown to its returning to power at the Centre in 2019 general elections, Jakhar said it was beginning of the downfall of the BJP.

People have given their verdict against the policies of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. They were still reeling under impact of the noteban when the Goods and Services Tax too was forced on them. On the other hand, they have given their stamp of approval to Captains leadership in state, Jakhar said.

On whether he will re-contest from Gurdaspur in 2019, he said the party high command had made the decision now and so will be the case in 2019.

Amarinder said the bypoll wins in Kerala and Punjab come close on heels of Congress winning university elections in the country. These are all indicators that the winds of change ate blowing in favour of the Congress, he added.

Making of a minister

The CM and Jakhar heaped copious praise on Dera Baba Nanak MLA Sukhjinder Randhawa from whose seat the party scored the highest lead. He had also claimed a wicket that of his poll rival Sucha Singh Langah who was arrested on rape charges. The feat could see three-time MLA Randhawa make it to the cabinet when it sees an expansion.

Low voter turnout

While the SAD-BJP and AAP blamed fear created by Congress for the low voter turnout, Amarinder also saw the harvest season of paddy as one of the reasons.

Who is Majhe Da Jarnail?

With former Akali minister Bikram Majithia, famed as Mahje da Jarnail (general of Majha), failing to dent the Congress lead in Dera Baba Nanak, reporters wanted to know who is new holder of the title. Even I am, came the CMs reply.

Cabinets expansion after meeting Rahul

The CM again evaded the issue of cabinet expansion saying he would take a call on it after meeting party vice-president Rahul Gandhi. We had decided to do it after the bypoll and we will go ahead with it, he said.

Rana not guilty

On direct link of minister Rana Gurjit Singhs firms in funding the sand mines auctioned to his aides, the CM pronounced the minister not gulity. If I take money from Sunil (Jakhar) and invest in a company, what is wrong in it? he questioned.
The counting process for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll seat, which was witnessing a three- cornered race among the BJP, the Congress and the AAP, has ended with Punjab congress chief Sunil Jakhar getting a thumping victory.

The Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat has nine Assembly segments-- Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Qadian, Fathegarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak, Sujanpur and Batala.

Here are the highlights:

12: 45 pm: Sunil Jakhar wins by a margin of 1,93,219 votes.

12: 15 pm: After 13th round Congress gets 4,56,250 votes, BJP-2,74,090 and AAP-21,509.

11: 50 am: Amarinder Singh assures people of Gurdaspur of fulfilling every single promise made by Sunil Jakhar and said all developmental works will be fast-tracked.

Assure people of #Gurdaspur that every single promise made by @sunilkjakhar will be fulfilled and all development works will be fast-tracked  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 15, 2017

11: 48 am: Congress heads for big win in Gurdaspur bypoll, leads by 1.7 lakh votes.

11: 45 am: Punjab chief minister congratulates Sunil Jakhar, tweets, Congratulations to @sunilkjakhar ji for his impressive win in #Gurdaspur bypoll, its a victory for @INCPunjab policies & development agenda (sic)

Congratulations to @sunilkjakhar ji for his impressive win in #Gurdaspur bypoll, it's a victory for @INCPunjab policies & development agenda  Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 15, 2017

11: 35 am: Sunil Jakhar leading by 1,35,812 votes over his nearest rival BJPs Swaran Salaria. Congress-3,23,860 BJP-1,88,048 AAP-18,421 after ninth round.

#GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll: Sunil Jakhar leading by135812 votes. Congress-323860 BJP-188048 AAP-18421 after ninth round. NOTA 4th in Pathankot pic.twitter.com/6M3LLOKvsJ  Nikhil Sharma (@nikhilsharmaht) October 15, 2017

11: 32 am: This is a beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon, for our would be party president Rahul Gandhi, says Navjot Singh Sidhu: ANI

This is a beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon, for our would be party president Rahul Gandhi: Navjot Sidhu #GurdaspurByPoll pic.twitter.com/A5SRHoT6VB  ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

11: 20 am: People of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Narendra Modi led Centre, says Sunil Jakhar: ANI

11: 00 am: Congress now leads by over one lakh votes.

10: 42 am: Congs Sunil Jakhar now leads by 94,161 votes

10: 40 am: Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar calls it referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

10: 30 am: After the 5th round of counting, Congress takes a lead of 76,902 votes over nearest rival BJPs Salaria

10: 20 am: No public gathering of any political party outside the counting centre in Gurdaspur.

An outside view of the place where counting for Gurdaspur bypoll is taking place. (HT Photo)

10: 00 am: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate, Maj Gen Suresh Khajuria (retd) tells Hindustan Times that democracy has been hijacked by political gunda elements. Ruling party in Punjab has misused government machinery and used undemocratic means to ensure victory of Sunil Jakhar, he said.

Also Read | AAP concedes defeat day before Gurdaspur verdict, knives out

10: 00 am: Jakhar extends lead, now is ahead by 56,643 votes in all the nine assembly segments of Gurdaspur.

9: 40 am: Jakhar leading by 25,598 votes over his nearest rival BJPs Swaran Salaria.

#Gurdaspur bypoll: Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar leading by 25,598 votes over his nearest rival BJP's Swaran Salaria  Navneet Sharma (@navneetsharma_) October 15, 2017

8: 40 am: Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar takes an early lead.

8: 00 am: The counting before the Gurdaspur bypoll ahs begun.
Nearly 14,000 children who have lost one or both parents are among the more than half a million Rohingya refugees who crossed in Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar, an official said Sunday.

The UN says 536,000 mainly Rohingya refugees have arrived from Myanmars strife-torn Rakhine state since August 25, the majority of them children.

Bangladeshs social services department said 13,751 children without a parent or parents were identified in a survey of the crowded refugee camps along its border, where charities warn that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding.

The majority of them said they lost one or both parents in the violence in Rakhine, Pritam Kumar Chowdhury, a department deputy director, told AFP.

Others said they didnt know what happened to their parents, and they came to Bangladesh with relatives.

The UN has described the violence in Rakhine as a textbook case of ethnic cleansing, with displaced Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh describing whole villages being razed, gang rapes and massacres.

Those who survived and fled to Bangladesh include an estimated 320,000 children, one-third of whom are under five years of age.

Bangladesh is building the worlds largest refugee camp -- a sprawling three thousand acre (1,200 hectare) settlement -- capable of housing 800,000-plus Rohingya.

Last month a junior minister asked that 200 acres be set aside in the camp for childrens facilities.

Chowdhury said an orphanage would be built for unaccompanied minors, and those without a parent would be given extra assistance and familial support.

Aid agencies have warned there is a real concern that vulnerable children could be victims of abuse or trafficking.
A Taliban spokesperson denied on Sunday accusations by a Canadian man that one of his children had been murdered and his wife raped while they were being held captive by militants who kidnapped them in Afghanistan in 2012.

Joshua Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, were held by the Haqqani network, a semi-independent wing of the Afghan Taliban, before being rescued by Pakistani troops in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border, last week.

Boyle told reporters soon after he, his wife and their three children returned to Canada on Friday that their captors had murdered a fourth child had raped his wife.

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid rejected that as propaganda by the Western governments that helped rescue the family.

We strongly reject these fake and fabricated allegations of this Canadian family, now in the hands of the enemy, he said in a statement sent to media.

Whatever statement the enemy wants to put in their mouth, the family is forced to make it.

Boyle called on the Taliban to provide my family with the justice we deserve.

Mujahid said the couple was intentionally never separated in order to protect their safety.

He also denied that their child had been murdered, but acknowledged that one child became sick and died.

We were in a remote areas without access to a doctor and medications that led the loss of the child, he said.

Three children, all born in captivity, were rescued along with Boyle and Coleman.

The US government calls the Haqqani network the most lethal and sophisticated insurgent group in Afghanistan.

Its operational chief, Sirajuddin Haqqani, was named deputy to the Talibans newly appointed leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour in 2015, cementing the ties between the groups.

The Haqqanis previously held US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was freed in a swap for Taliban prisoners in 2014, and are suspected of holding two professors, an American and an Australian, who were kidnapped outside their university in Kabul in 2016.

A senior Afghan government official told Reuters that American and Afghan special forces launched two unsuccessful raids to try to rescue the professors in Afghanistan, but officials now believe the pair has been taken to Haqqani hideouts over the border in Pakistan.
President Xi Jinpings political thoughts are likely to be embedded in the constitution of Communist Party of China when top members of the party gather at a key meeting in Beijing later this week.

The 19th National Congress of the CPC, which will begin on October 18, will likely announce an amendment to the party charter to include Xis thoughts.

The five-yearly event will be attended by total of 2,287 delegates from across China.

It was decided that three documents will be submitted to the upcoming congress for examination and deliberation, a communique released by the CPC at the conclusion of a meeting in the run-up to the party congress said over the weekend.

A report to be made by the 18th CPC Central Committee to the 19th CPC National Congress, a work report of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) to the congress, as well as an amendment to the CPC Constitution were discussed and approved, the communique added.

The amended constitution must fully represent the latest sinicisation of Marxism, new governance concepts, thoughts and strategies of the CPC Central Committee since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as new experience in adhering to and strengthening party leadership and in strict party governance, an earlier CPC statement had said.

Its not clear what exact words could be used to include Xis thoughts in the charter; the specific amendment to the party constitution will only be revealed at the end of the congress.

But if the amendment is put in place, then it would be the latest sign of President Xis rapid rise in the country of 1.4 billion as one of the strongest Chinese leaders in decades. He took over as CPC chief in 2012.

So far, the CPC charter only has Mao Zedongs Thoughts and Deng Xiaopings Theory included in it by their names.

Beijing, meanwhile, has been put under several layers of security for the meeting with thousands of security personnel being deployed across the city of 21 million people.

As the 19th Congress approaches on October 18, its shadow over the internet and news media has grown darker, and security in Beijing and across the country is ramped up.

This congress is especially sensitive: In addition to changes to the CPC constitution, its decisions may signal Xi Jinpings intent to stay on as general secretary beyond the customary 10-year stint, Sarah Cook from advocacy group Freedom House told HT.

Thousands of police officers have arrived in Beijing to reinforce security, with many of them dispatched to patrol government buildings and check IDs in the subway in order to deal swiftly with petitioners, she said.

Reposts of a Xinhua news brief stating that the CPC constitution will be amended at the 19th party congress were scrubbed from social media in an apparent attempt to limit online commentary and speculation about potential changes to the document, Cook added.

The censorship apparatus is hard at work suppressing leaks and rumours about the party leadership, including a torrent of claims being posted online by Guo Wengui, the Chinese tycoon who has sought asylum in the United States, she added.
No free fruit in hotel rooms, no free hair cuts and no prawns on the menu - delegates at this weeks Communist Party Congress in China can expect austere treatment in keeping with President Xi Jinpings pledge to crack down on corruption and extravagance.

Part of Xis fight against deep-seated graft has been to ensure officials are not seen abusing their positions and wasting public money, after a series of scandals involving high-living bureaucrats ignited public anger.

Wang Lilian, who has helped oversee hospitality for delegates at three previous party Congresses, told state radio in remarks reported on Sunday that this time, things are going to be very different.

Delegates will, for example, find their hotels bereft of the large welcoming banners and displays of flowers common in previous years.

But the biggest difference will be with their rooms and food, Wang said.

There wont be any more fruit put out in rooms, whereas previously there were for delegates and staff. Theres none of that this time, he said.

The food was also going to be home-style and simple, Wang said.

Theres no sea cucumber, prawns or the like. Its all buffet style.

Delegates wont get free hair cuts or beauty treatments and there wont be any gift shops.

Theres none of these services this time, Wang said.

Xi himself has lead the way in promoting simple living, with state media widely reporting on the basic food he eats when on trips around the country, and giving extensive coverage to cases where officials are found to have hoarded gold, owned multiple houses or had a fondness for banquets.

Xi has warned, like others before him, that if corruption is not tackled it could affect the partys grip on power.

The once-in-five-years Congress opens on Wednesday with a major speech by Xi.
Donald Trumps decision to go it alone with rapid fire announcements on healthcare and Iran reflects his boiling frustration with the limits of presidential power, analysts say.

The US president made a brazen move on Thursday night to halt payments to insurers under Barack Obamas healthcare law. Democrats accused him of a temper tantrum and spiteful attempt to sabotage legislation he promised but failed to replace. Less than 24 hours later, he condemned the fanatical government of Iran as he decertified his predecessors nuclear deal , defying his own cabinet and disquieting European allies.

The one-two punch showed Trump straining to assail Obamas legacy but stopping short of terminating either the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, or the Iran nuclear accord. Both are back in the hands of Congress, a source of constant exasperation for the property tycoon turned novice politician, who finds himself isolated and lashing out.

The Congress has been frustrating to him, John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, told reporters on Thursday. Of course, our government is designed to be slow, and it is. His sense, I think, as a man who is outside the Washington arena, a businessman, much more of a man of action, I would say his great frustration is the process that he now finds himself [in].

Because, in his view, the solutions are obvious, whether its tax cuts and tax reform, healthcare, infrastructure programmes, strengthening our military. To him, these all seem like obvious things that need to be done to protect the American people, bring jobs back.

Since taking office 10 months ago as the first US president with no previous political or military experience, Trump has been given a crash course in the workings of government and the delicate balance of power between the White House, Capitol Hill and the courts. That his writ only runs so far has come as a rude awakening. His executive orders can only achieve so much, and frustrations have sometimes spilled out in impetuous speeches and tweets.

Rick Tyler, a political analyst and partner at Foundry Strategies, said: He is acutely aware of the limits of presidential power. Its not like being the CEO of a company where you just do what you want to do.

By using executive orders, Trump is making something happen on healthcare. Hes prevented from changing it himself, but will force another branch of power to react. Its the same on Iran.

A lone protestor demonstrates outside the White House wearing a Donald Trump mask in opposition to President Trump's announcement about the Iran nuclear deal and his policy towards Iran at the White House in Washington. (REUTERS)

Having repeatedly vented his anger at the Republican-controlled Senate for failing to repeal and replace Obamacare, despite seven years of promises, Trump has now thrown a spanner in the works by ending the so-called cost-sharing subsidies that help people on low incomes. The White House claims the government cannot legally continue to pay the subsidies because it lacks formal authorisation by Congress.

The president explained on Friday: Its step by step by step and that was a very big step yesterday  Were going to have great healthcare in our country. Were taking a little different route than we had hoped, because Congress forgot what their pledges were. So were going a little different route. But you know what? In the end, its going to be just as effective, and maybe it will even be better.

The intervention, however, could backfire. It was condemned by Democrats including the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, who told reporters: The president single-handedly decided to raise Americas health premiums for no reason other than spite and cruelty. Senator Chris Murphy tweeted: Trumps decision to stop ACA payments is nuclear grade bananas, a temper tantrum that sets the entire health system on fire. My god.

Doctors groups also warned of dramatic, if not catastrophic, increases in premiums across the country and millions of Americans losing coverage. Nineteen states plan to sue.

Trump has previously blamed the lack of healthcare fixes on Obama or Congress, but he now he risks being held personally responsible for cutting the system off at the knees. Robert Shrum, a Democratic consultant, said: The healthcare thing is madness in both policy and politics. Hes wilful, hes angry, hes clearly lashing out. He was better off leaving healthcare to Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray, the senators working on a bipartisan deal.

Trumps claim that Iran has not lived up to the spirit of the nuclear deal and his threat to terminate it also put him at odds with his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and his defence secretary, Jim Mattis. The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he welcomed what he called a courageous decision, but the leaders of Britain, France and Germany said they stood committed to the agreement.

Map and factfile on the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

Evan McMullin, a former CIA operative and independent presidential candidate, wrote via email: I think the presidents actions on healthcare and Iran are the latest examples of his standing political strategy, which is to throw red meat to his base in order to maintain his base, as evidence of his unfitness and inability to govern mounts.

If anything, his use of this tactic seems to be accelerating as it becomes increasingly clear, even to some of his closest friends and political allies, that he is failing.

This acceleration coincides with reports of a darkening in Trumps mood. A report in Vanity Fair magazine, citing two sources, claimed he had vented to his longtime security chief, Keith Schiller: I hate everyone in the White House! There are a few exceptions, but I hate them!

The journalist Gabriel Sherman also wrote that several people close to the president told him that Trump was unstable, losing a step and unraveling. Such concerns appear to be reaching a critical mass. NBC News reported that Tillerson had referred to Trump as a moron. The president insisted the story was false, but challenged Tillerson to an IQ contest.

Then Senator Bob Corker became one of the few Republicans on Capitol Hill to openly denounce Trump, though it is widely suspected that he speaks for many colleagues. During a Twitter clash last Sunday, Corker wrote: Its a shame the White House has become an adult day care center. Someone obviously missed their shift this morning.

In an interview with the New York Times, the senator from Tennessee said: I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, its a situation of trying to contain him  He doesnt realise that we could be heading towards world war three with the kind of comments that hes making.

He also told the Washington Post on Friday that Trump had  castrated  Tillerson with remarks about his attempts to talk to North Korea.

Thomas Barrack Jr, a billionaire who was the top fundraiser for Trumps election campaign, said he has been shocked and stunned by some of the presidents incendiary rhetoric and tweets.

He thinks he has to be loyal to his base, Barrack told the Washington Post. I keep on saying, But who is your base? You dont have a natural base. Your base now is the world and America, so you have all these constituencies; show them who you really are. In my opinion, hes better than this.

If anyone can get through to Trump, it may be Barrack, one of his oldest friends. Rich Galen, a Republican strategist, said: That got everybodys attention because hes buddy and spoke at the Republican convention. So there seems to be some change. Thats part of whats feeding it.

McMullin agreed that Trump seemed rattled by the recent criticisms from Tillerson, Corker and Barrack. He probably understands their remarks represent a new stage of acceptance setting in across the country, even among his supporters, that he is unfit and incapable.

That, I think, is inspiring his accelerated efforts to throw red meat to his base to shore up their support. I expect that to continue, if not intensify, and to result in increasing political challenges for the GOP as 2017 and 2018 elections approach and in years to come.
Philippine troops Sunday bombed militants loyal to the Islamic State group who have held out for over four months in a southern city and the military said the conflict would be over very soon.

The army previously set a target of Sunday to end the fighting in Marawi, which it said has killed more than 1,000 people. Troops have missed previous deadlines to flush out the militants whom authorities said intended to establish a local IS caliphate.

On Sunday FA-50 fighter jets flew over Marawi as soldiers fought the militants house-to-house in an area which has now shrunk to about five acres, a military spokesperson said.

We are hoping that we will end this Marawi siege very soon, Colonel Romeo Brawner, deputy commander of the task force battling the militants, told reporters.

Pro-IS gunmen occupied parts of Marawi, the Islamic capital of the mainly Catholic Philippines, on May 23.

Since then 822 militants, 162 government forces and 47 civilians have been killed, Brawner said.

The insurgents have withstood a relentless US-backed bombing campaign and intense ground battles with troops that have left large parts of Marawi resembling devastated cities in war-torn Syria and Iraq.

Military commanders last week set a target of October 15 to end the fighting and President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the battle was almost over.

Twenty soldiers were wounded on Saturday in a sign troops were pushing hard to end the battle, Brawner said.

He said 40 militants remained in the conflict area including leaders Isnilon Hapilon, who is on Americas list of most wanted terrorists with a $5 million bounty, and Omarkhayam Maute, whose group had pledged allegiance to IS.

There were also 100 civilians in the zone including hostages and families of the militants, he added.

Women and children are now forced to fight together with the Maute-ISIS fighters. These are desperate measures the Maute-ISIS are doing. This is their last defensive stand, Brawner said, using another acronym for IS.

Duterte on Thursday warned against celebrating the eventual liberation of Marawi, citing the deaths and devastation there.

When we leave Marawi, we go quietly. We do not want to show any kind of celebration or happiness, he said.
The veteran hit-maker is over next September...

Cliff Richard - the 'Sir' part is optional - is bringing his 58-18 = 60th Tour to Ireland next year for shows in INEC, Killarney (September 27); 3Arena, Dublin (29); and SSE Arena, Belfast (30). Tickets go on sale on October 30 at 10am.

We thought his maths had gone a bit wonky until we twigged that the numbers relate to the fact that Britain's answer to Elvis has been troubling the charts since 1956, with a vast cache of hits that includes 'The Young Ones', 'Move It', 'Living Doll', 'Congratulations', 'Wired For Sound', 'Mistletoe & Wine' and..., well, there's 123 of them in total.

He's had a tough a few years having to deal with false sex abuse allegations, but now totally exonerated he's getting back to what he does best; entertaining the masses.
The Father Ted co-creator and former Hot Press-er has called the service a "cesspool"...

Graham Linehan has taken to another social media site, Medium, to explain why he's deleted his Twitter account after sending over 148,000 messages and amassing nearly 700,000 followers.

Reason no. 1 is Twitter's failure to suspend Donald Trump after he threatened to wipe out North Korea, which is a clear breach of the platform's terms and conditions. Reason no. 2 is their blue tick-ing of Richard Spencer, the white nationalist who this week questioned whether or not women should vote in elections.

Linehan and his wife, Helen, were previously abused on Twitter after talking about their experience of fatal foetal abnormality and deciding, on medical grounds, to undergo a termination.

Here's what he has to say about closing down his account...

Goodbye, Toilet Town.

Right! Have been thinking about it for a while, but Im going to deactivate my Twitter account. With Twitter such a cesspool, the least I can do is rob @jack and @biz of one blue tick. I cant be complicit anymore.

Primary reason is Twitters refusal to suspend Donald Trump for his North Korea threat. This was so obviously a violation of their own ToS and they didnt suspend his account or even try to delete it. Meanwhile, the toilet denizens that brought us every harassment campaign of the last few years have been gaming Twitters algorithms in order to ban people for telling verified Nazis to go fuck themselves.

And thats the next reason. Not just Nazis but VERIFIED NAZIS. Richard Spencer who recently was seen seig heiling his little heart out and hes given a blue tick like hes Gwyneth Paltrow. Well, if people like him and Pizzagate lie-peddler Cernovich have a blue tick, I dont want one. I dont want to be a part of that club.

(Note To Twitter: Cernovich uses Periscope to smear people and then deletes the evidence. If I know that, how come you dont? And if you do know that, how on earth is he still active on your site, let alone verified?)

Apparently, we verified accounts get a 12 month period to change our minds after we deactivate. This is Twitters very sneaky way of dealing with celebrity flounces. They should ask themselves why people want to leave in the first place.

Thanks to all the kind words from people over the last few days! Dont worry, Ill see you all around somewhere. Maybe on Mastodon.

P.S Also, replies are broken. WHY WONT THEY FIX REPLIES
It's been a year since Margot Lee Shetterly released her New York Times best-selling book "Hidden Figures," which also inspired an Academy Award-nominated film, and she says it still feels surreal.

"It has been an incredible year," she said.

Shetterly's novel explores the lives of three African-American women, called "human computers," who calculated the flight paths that would allow men to orbit the Earth and walk on the moon.

In 2016, Shetterly's book and the movie were released almost simultaneously. That rarely happens, especially for a first-time author.

The 48-year-old former investment banker recently spoke to students at the University of Houston for the Provost Summer Reading Program. Shetterly was joined on stage by Ellen Ochoa, director of NASA's Johnson Space Center.In an interview with the Chronicle, Shetterly talked about writing the book, how she came up with the title and the Kevin Costner film scene that she gets asked about time and time again.

Q: When did you start writing the book?

A: I started the first interview in December 2010. I applied for some grants and sort of broadened the scope of the story because originally it was just about Katherine Johnson. Then it expanded to the other women. Then in the summer of 2013 is when I really amped things up and started doing more research. The book proposal sold in 2014, then a couple of months later, I heard movie producer Donna Gigliotti ("Silver Linings Playbook") got a copy of the book proposal and optioned the movie rights to the book.

Q: Were you still doing investment banking?

A: I was not. I was actually living in Mexico. My husband(Aran Shetterly, also a writer) and I had moved to Mexico. We founded a magazine. We were first in Oaxaca, then we were in Mexico City, then we were in a town outside of Mexico City called Valle de Bravo. We only just moved back to the United States last summer. We were there for 11 years and moved back largely because of this book. But also, it was time to come back home. Our families are here.

Q: Why did the "Hidden Figures" movie and book resonate with so many people?

A: These are really remarkable women. They were real women, though, so they didn't have to be a superhero that we hold on a pedestal. They worked hard. They were passionate about the work that they did. They faced their challenges squarely and jumped over them, so we get to applaud in the end.

Q: Why the title "Hidden Figures?"

A: It was not the first title. "From the Earth to the Stars" was one of the first titles. They were all a little bit more poetic, I guess. This was the one that fit. It just snapped into place. The women were literally hidden, and their work, their numbers, were hidden. More and more people are using the term now, so "Hidden Figures" has come to mean a person who has been lost to history but who contributed something important. That is remarkable to me. I get the "hidden figures" Google alert in my email, and it's all kinds of crazy stuff sometimes: the "hidden figures" of the tomato-farming industry.

Q: Did you know the women before researching the book?

A: They worked with my father (at NASA). They were in the same sorority as my mother. They were people, in some cases, who I went to school with their children or their grandchildren. They were members of the community, so that was really what I knew about them. I knew them more as Mrs. Johnson, my mother's friend, rather than Katherine Johnson, the person who calculated the trajectories for the early Mercury flights.

Q: Did your parents encourage you to write their story?

A: It was really a little bit of, "That's interesting that you're so interested" because it was really my husband who had the idea after listening to my father talk about the women and what they had done. None of us imagined that it would lead to this.

Q: What did you think when you heard Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae and Octavia Spencer were cast for the movie?

A: It was amazing. I never imagined that it would become a movie, much less a movie with that caliber of a cast. It was so meaningful that this was a movie about a group of African-American women and that it was able to cast and give work to this group of very talented African-American women.

Q: Is there anything in the movie that was embellished for Hollywood?

A: The scene where Kevin Costner sledgehammers the "Colored" sign over the bathroom door and says, "At NASA, we all pee the same color." People really want that scene to be true. It was very funny but very dramatic and memorable.

Q: How has your life changed?

A: The biggest thing is I am a professional writer now. I get a chance to write another book, which is really just the most thrilling thing ever.

Q: What will that book be about?

A: I'm just in the early stages of it. It will have to do with Baltimore and African-American entrepreneurs in Baltimore midcentury, same time period as "Hidden Figures."

Q: Do you think there are more stories, like "Hidden Figures," waiting to be told?

A: Absolutely. One of the motivations for writing this was to show the black America that I grew up in and that I think a lot of people grow up in. It's a community that sees itself as American, as normal as people getting up to go to work, as people hanging out with their families. I think there is this idea in popular culture that there is a super-different way of being, when in fact people are transcendent. They want the same things. They have their hopes. They have their dreams. They have their interests. They have their fears. They have things that they have to accomplish and challenges they have to face. So for me, it's a great humanizing project, an inclusion project.
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A teenage boy is dead after a fight ended in gunfire Saturday night in southeast Houston.

A group of teens started fighting around 8 p.m. near the corner of Broadway and Rockhill, according to police.

Someone pulled out a gun and shot one of the teens in the torso. The boy stumbled across the intersection as he tried to flee, leaving behind a trail of blood before he collapsed and died in front of an apartment complex.

"We don't have any motive right now. We do think that a fight came before this," Dustin Crowder, a Houston police investigator, told reporters. "We did speak to several witnesses that did describe an altercation that occurred - some sort of physical altercation - which obviously ended in a gunshot."

The shooter or shooters ran away and police could not immediately offer a suspect description.
Larry Flynt's ad in the Sunday edition of The Washington Post is hard to miss.

For one, it takes up a full page. And there are no pictures - just bold, all-caps text dominating the top third of the page:

"$10 MILLION FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF DONALD J. TRUMP."

Flynt, best known as the publisher of the pornographic magazine Hustler, outlined numerous reasons he felt President Trump needed to be removed from office, charging him with everything from "compromising domestic and foreign policy with his massive conflicts-of-interest global business empire" to "telling hundreds of bald-faced lies" to "gross nepotism and appointment of unqualified persons to high office."

That was why, Flynt wrote, he was seeking information from anyone who could provide a "smoking gun" - perhaps buried in Trump's tax returns or in some other investment records - that would lead to his impeachment.

"Did he make some financial quid pro quo with the Russians?" the ad states. "Has the business of the United States been compromised to protect the business of the Trump empire? We need to flush everything out into the open."

At the end of the ad, there is a toll-free number and an email address, along with a reassurance that Flynt fully intends to pay the full sum of $10 million for good information.

"Impeachment would be a messy, contentious affair, but the alternative - three more years of destabilizing dysfunction - is worse," Flynt wrote. " . . . I feel it is my patriotic duty, and the duty of all Americans, to dump Trump before it's too late."

Kris Coratti, a spokeswoman for The Post, declined to say how much a full-page ad costs or how far in advance one would have to notify the newspaper to run such an ad in a Sunday edition.

"We give advertisers wide latitude to have their say," Coratti said. "Generally, if the ads are not illegal or advocating illegal actions, we try not to place limits on speech or content."

On Saturday afternoon during a call to the hotline listed in the ad a man told The Post the number would be staffed on weekdays, between 8:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. PT, for the next two weeks.

The man declined to give his name but said he was not Flynt.

In a subsequent phone interview, Flynt told The Post that he expected to get information "within a few days" and said he would release any legitimate information right away. He also defended offering a cash reward for information.

"Just because you pay for it does not mean it's not any good," Flynt said. "I don't think you can live as recklessly as Trump has for 30 years and not leave some baggage along the way . . . I can't think of something more patriotic to do than to try to get to get this moron out of office."

It's not the first time Flynt, who endorsed Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in last year's presidential race, has offered a monetary reward with the aim of taking down a politician.

In 2007, he offered $1 million, also through a full-page ad in The Post, seeking evidence from anyone who had had an illicit sexual encounter with a member of Congress or other government official. He had done the same in 1998, and the information that emerged reportedly influenced the resignation of Republican Congressman Bob Livingston, who was in line to be speaker of the House.

In 2012, Flynt again dangled a $1 million reward in public, this time for then-Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's tax returns.
A coalition of death row survivors and murder victim family members is kicking off a two-week tour in Texas opposing capital punishment.

Dubbed the Texas Journey of Hope from Violence to Healing, the effort opens Saturday in Houston with a 7 p.m. screening of "The Gathering," a film focused on death row exonerees. It will be followed by a panel discussion at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory.

"These are the voices of experience on the death penalty," said Abe Bonowitz with Death Penalty Action.

A coalition of death penalty opponents launched the Journey of Hope back in 1993 with a tour through Indiana.

"For 17 days, we barnstormed that state and it actually made a difference," Bonowitz said.

Afterward, they took their tour to other states  anywhere they were wanted or needed.

This visit will be Journey of Hope's fifth swing through the Lone Star State since 1998.

"We feel that our message that the death penalty prevents healing and only creates more victims has helped reduce the desire for executions in Texas," Bill Pelke, Journey of Hope founder, said in a release. "Now, the vast majority of killers in Texas get the alternative sentence of life without parole. One thing we know from experience is that when there is no death sentence in your case, the healing process begins a lot sooner."

On Sunday, there's an 11:30 a.m. restorative justice presentation at First Congregational Church of Houston. Later in the day is a "From Fury to Forgiveness" panel discussion at 3 p.m. at the 6501 Almeda Road residence of the Houston Dominican Sisters.

On Tuesday at 7 p.m. is a question-and-answer session with murder victim family members and representation from the district attorney's office at the First Congregational Church of Houston.

Finally, on Wednesday there's a 5 p.m. film and panel discussion at Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law. The event coincides with a scheduled execution of a Houston serial killer, though the tour was planned long before the death date was set.

Some of the public events will be livestreamed on the group's Facebook page, and afterward the Journey of Hope will move on to Dallas and then San Antonio before ending in Austin.
AUSTIN - At the five-top table in the corner at Russell's Bakery, a northwest Austin restaurant and coffee bar, the conversation among the five women, all self-described as "recovering Republicans," veered from the signature cinnamon rolls and traffic to President Donald Trump and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.

"I have two questions I'd like to know the answer to: Is there any way for a Democrat to win a state office next year, and what would it take for some Republicans to lose in this state?" Chrys Langer, a 47-year-old tech consultant and mother of three, asked a reporter sitting at a nearby table. "Politics has taken a turn for the worse, in my opinion, in Austin with the bathroom bill and all kinds of other conservative-male nonsense and in the White House with - well, with Trump being Trump."

Recently, that means trouble as Trump's approval ratings have continued to drop to new lows, even in redder-than-red Texas to just above 50 percent.

The others at the table quickly nodded in agreement, a reaction similar on a recent morning to what other Texans voiced at other coffee shops in Austin, the place that longtime Republican Gov. Rick Perry famously called the blueberry in a bowl of tomato soup for its Democratic bent.

The same questions came up over coffee in solidly Republican Georgetown, in Pflugerville - an Austin suburb known for its progressive and libertarian tinges - and even in some places in the Houston area, which took on a blue tinge in a year when voters elected Democrats to county seats.

"I'm conservative and a Republican, but I just wonder why some of these issues they keep fighting over in Austin are so damn important," said Allen Cullen, 38, a consulting engineer, while sipping his morning joe at a Pecan Street joint. "I think a lot of people are getting tired of it. They want things to move ahead, get out of the ditch."

No hope for Democrats

Some Texas voters, it appears, seem to be asking the question more and more frequently, as if they are somehow unhappy with the Republican status quo of nearly two decades and may be yearning for a change in the way the GOP-led state government does its business. Or, they just want their flavor of Republicanism to win in the 2018 elections.

"There's almost no way Republicans can lose to Democrats next year, in a state as red as Texas, even if Buffy the Clown was running for governor, but the real fights will probably be between Republicans who are moderates and conservatives," said Lee Reed, 65, a Georgetown rancher who said he supports both Gov. Greg Abbott and Patrick on most issues and self-identifies as a "stick-in-the-mud" Republican.

In interviews with voters of both parties, from Houston to suburban San Antonio to Dallas to Austin, the question comes up time and time again, as does an underlying frustration with governments in both Washington and Austin.

Despite that, more than a dozen political scientists and consultants interviewed by the Chronicle said they see almost no chance that Republicans will lose hold of their 23-year grip on statewide elective offices during next year's elections, despite the fact that Democrats made notable inroads in Dallas and Houston a year ago when Trump won Texas by just nine percentage points - down from previous double-digit support of Republican presidential candidates.

"There isn't any way Democrats can win statewide office in Texas, short of some astounding collapse of the Republicans in Washington or Austin," said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Southern Methodist University. "Winning is a habit, and so is losing. The Democrats right now have no well-known candidate, no bench, their funding has evaporated, and they have no experience in their volunteer base. The Republicans have all of that.

"And at the end of the day, the Republicans who say they're not satisfied with things will vote for a Republican because, with the polarization of the political process in recent years, Democrats are now seen as enemies of the state, and they won't jump across and vote for them."

Weak competition

Jillson's sentiments echoed those of all the others, even with the so-called "Trump Factor" that Democrats are touting as a key to some unexpected victories in the November 2018 elections.

"Trump's approval rating would have to drop into the teens where it might hurt Abbott and Patrick and the other Republicans on the ballot in Texas, and even then I doubt the effect would be significant," said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston. "Even though the Democrats will try to tie Abbott and Patrick as close to Trump as they can, every time they get a chance, they can distance themselves from Trump because Texas voters in a midterm election pay more attention to state issues than Washington."

According to a recent Real Clear Politics national poll, Trump's approval rating has dropped steadily since January to an Oct. 10 rating of 55.4 unfavorable and 38.9 favorable. Another poll shows Trump's approval in Texas has slipped from 54 to just over 50 percent during the same period.

Add to that the slowly improving Texas economy, even with the recovery from Hurricane Harvey, and that creates a significant issue for Democrats, who have not announced the choice of party leaders to challenge Abbott. So far, only two relatively unknown candidates are running: Dallas leather bar owner Jeffrey Payne and San Antonio businessman Tom Wakely.

Both say they believe they have a chance by tapping into voter discontent with Republican incumbents over skyrocketing property taxes, the controversial bathroom bill and the passage of a ban on sanctuary cities among other issues. So does Kathie Glass, a Libertarian Party candidate for governor, who hopes to tap not only into that discontent among Republicans, but especially among small-government tea party activists who are disenchanted with the way Republicans have enlarged government during their years in control. One reason is that she thinks Democrats "are not feeling as disenfranchised in Texas as Republicans are" - especially with Trump in the White House.

"People who are sick of the way Republicans have been governing during their years in power, who are tired of the cronyism (and) who don't want more government, I am their alternative," she said over coffee in Austin. "Republicans have owned everything in Texas for 25 years, and they now own everything in Washington, so there can't be any more excuses."

Protest votes

Mark Jones, a political scientist at Rice University, said Glass could have the most to gain in the 2018 elections if Republicans cast protest votes for someone other than a GOP candidate, much as Trump caused Republicans to vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson in the 2016 presidential race. In the end, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton only did one percent better than Barack Obama, though Democrats won several local races in Houston and Dallas, he said.

"Donald Trump will definitely drag the Republican ticket down in Texas from where it would normally be, and Republicans should be worried about three congressional races (John Culberson in Houston, Pete Sessions in Dallas and Will Hurd in areas between San Antonio to El Paso)," Jones said. "Without the negative of Trump, it would be a traditional Republican win. Next year, Abbott will have the coattails that will help the other Republicans on the ballot, even though they won't be as long as they were in 2014."

But even if some Democrats think Trump may be their best friend against Republicans in the upcoming election, Jerry Polinard, a political science professor at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, said Republicans continue to have a wide lead over Democrats, who have yet to announce a top-tier, well-known candidate running for any statewide office in 2018.

Even so, while sipping coffee at a Starbucks in San Marcos, Tyler McAdams, a 27-year-old grad student at Texas State University, wonders aloud about when the GOP's control over Texas may end - and which party might replace them.

"That's the big question," he said.
Homeowners in The Woodlands' neighborhood called Timarron Lakes believe the flooding of 100 homes during Hurricane Harvey in August was most likely caused by a faulty drainage system that they had asked officials to overhaul after flooding in May 2016.

They helped organize a community meeting last week attended by 50 residents and are preparing to gather signatures on a petition stating their grievances. It's addressed to an obscure local government entity called the Harris-Montgomery Counties Municipal Utility District 386, which sends them and thousands of other Woodlands homeowners property tax bills for drainage, water and sewer services.

Frank Gore, a 68-year-old retired businessman who plans to sign the petition, can't hide his frustration, saying there's a "circular loop" between The Woodlands Land Development Co., which developed the neighborhood and created MUD 386 to finance the water, sewer and drainage infrastructure, and the MUD itself, which says it inherited a drainage system designed by the developer's engineers.

Hurricane Harvey is raising new questions about the role played by MUDs in flooded neighborhoods, their close ties to developers, and their accountability and transparency in dealing with the homeowners whose properties have been damaged or destroyed.

Howard Cohen, a partner with the Houston law firm that represents MUD 386, Schwartz, Page & Harding, said he knew of no evidence showing the drainage system had ever malfunctioned and that nothing could have prevented the flooding from Harvey. Tim Welbes, president of The Woodlands Land Development Co., a division of The Howard Hughes Corp., noted that Harvey caused flooding that was 36.8 percent greater than the flooding in 2016.

Identifying the problem

It was during the 2016 flood that Gore said he witnessed something that he found puzzling: While Spring Creek, behind his home, did not flood the neighborhood, water began rushing out of the storm drains into the street in front of his house and stopped within a few inches of his home. Six homes were flooded in Timarron Lakes and Timarron, the neighborhood next door. Gore and seven of his neighbors in the upscale development began investigating what had happened.

They ultimately concluded that the storm drains in Timarron Lakes had been inundated by water from Timarron, where Spring Creek had overflowed its banks. Timarron Lakes' storm drains had filled with water, Gore and his neighbors discovered, because a 10-foot-deep drainage ravine that had previously allowed water to flow back into the creek had been filled in during the neighborhood's development.

Earlier this year, months before Harvey, Gore and his neighbors asked the MUD to build a culvert where the ravine had been so that in a future flood, the water flowing into Timarron Lakes from Timarron could drain back into Spring Creek. But the MUD determined such a culvert would not make much of a difference.

After record rainfall during Harvey, Gore said, the neighborhood, once again, was inundated by water from the creek overflowing in Timarron, which had no way to drain away in Timarron Lakes. All told, 200 houses flooded in Timarron, and 100 flooded in Timarron Lakes, neighbors estimate.

"You're kind of incensed at first, and then you go back, and say, 'Folks, this is what we told you was going to happen,' " Gore said. "It's going to happen again if they don't do anything."

MUDs have powered the explosive development of Greater Houston. They have vast authority to sell tax-exempt bonds on behalf of developers to finance roads and parks and drainage, water and sewer systems, and then to levy property taxes on homeowners, who repay those bonds over 25 years, with interest.

There are about 950 MUDs across Texas, but as a mechanism for developing formerly rural lands, they are most concentrated in the Houston area, with about 620 MUDs in Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties alone. The Woodlands is located in Harris and Montgomery counties and is served by numerous MUDs.

Developers say MUDs have enabled growth and have helped keep housing prices low in Texas. But some taxpayers' advocates contend they are beholden to the developers who create them, not accountable to homeowners and at least partially responsible for higher property taxes.

MUD 386 was created in 2001 by the state Legislature at the request of The Woodlands Land Development Co., which was represented at the time by Schwartz, Page & Harding. The firm later stopped representing the developer and became the MUD's general counsel and bond counsel. Voters in 2005 officially approved the MUD as a government entity with taxing powers. The voters also officially elected the "temporary" board members picked by the developer.

Asking for a fix

These "elections" often involve a tiny number of voters paid by developers to temporarily reside on the land to be developed, often in trailers. Records show that two people voted in 2005 to authorize creation of MUD 386 with authority to sell up to $282 million in tax-exempt bonds. The MUD also has authority to sell an additional $293 million to refinance them. A resident doing research on the MUD recently showed the Houston Chronicle a picture of what he said was the mobile home where "rent-a-voters" lived temporarily on land to be developed so that they could vote.

MUD 386 initially covered 200 acres. But like a city, it has annexed land in The Woodlands since its creation and now spans 3,500 acres. The district has an estimated population of 17,006 and serves about 4,900 homes in some of the planned community's newest neighborhoods. To date, it has sold $157 million in bonds, through multiple sales, since its creation to reimburse the developer for its infrastructure costs. The district is scheduled to sell $10.8 million in November for more developer reimbursements and for water, sewer and drainage projects so that 510 acres can be developed.

After the floods in 2016, Gore began corresponding with MUD 386, concerned the obvious drainage problems could get worse in future floods. He and other homeowners wanted the MUD to build the culvert to channel water that overflowed from Spring Creek in Timarron back into the creek without threatening their homes.

In an email on Jan. 26, 2017, Gore asked Chad Abram, senior vice president of the MUD's engineering firm, Houston-based IDS Engineering Group, for a cost estimate for the culvert proposal. Gore wrote that he had spoken with Rich Jakovac, president of the MUD's board of directors, who "stated that the project appeared to be too costly for the MUD to take on without outside assistance."

In a Feb. 10 email to Gore with a copy to Jakovac, Abram wrote that the MUD board had approved spending $150,000 to regrade swales - land shaped with low spots between several houses to help floodwaters drain. He added that the board had tabled the two projects requested by residents - the culvert and a project to halt water in drainage pipes from backing up into Timarron Lakes.

"The District's existing drainage improvements are designed to accommodate 100-year storm events as required by Harris County. These potential drainage improvements would only engage during an event greater than a 100-year storm, which is beyond the District's current design standard," according to a statement from Abram's firm, IDS Engineering Group, which Abram attached to his email to Gore.

'No benefit at any cost'

In a Feb. 13 email, Gore replied that "we have seen at least two events in the past 32 years that significantly exceeded the 100-year criteria."

The following day, Abram told Gore in an email that the district initially thought a culvert "would be of benefit, but upon further review" concluded it would not carry enough water to Spring Creek. "Effectively no benefit at any cost," he wrote.

Abram never gave him a cost estimate for the culvert, Gore said. Abram didn't return messages seeking comment.

But Gore said in a recent interview that the culvert would have helped water inundating Timarron Lakes from Timarron drain back into Spring Creek.

"The culvert would have helped us a lot during Hurricane Harvey," said Gore. "I don't know if it would have solved the Hurricane Harvey problem, but it certainly would have mitigated it to a large extent."

Cohen, the lawyer representing MUD 386, said the MUD's board "is and has been actively engaged with its residents, consultants and other governing bodies (such as The Woodlands Township) in evaluating these flood occurrences and is working with those persons and bodies on possible District and regional solutions and funding to better address flooding within the area."

Asked if development of the area had altered the drainage system, Welbes, president of The Woodlands Land Development Co., replied in an interview: "In the development and platting process, there are regulatory requirements, and we certainly have met all of those standards."

He referred other questions to the MUD. Jakovac, president of the MUD's board, didn't return messages seeking comment.

Bernie Otten, 57, said he and his wife, Jeannie, moved into their home in December 2013 - his third house in The Woodlands over the past 24 years. He said his house, built on top of fill material, is above the 100-year flood plain and about 300 to 400 yards from the creek.

During Harvey, the creek sent four inches of water into his home - from the front and back.

Otten said the role of the developer and the MUD should be examined.

From 2012 through 2015, the district sold $85 million in tax-exempt bonds. Part of those proceeds were used to reimburse the developer for water, sewer and drainage projects in 30 sections of Creekside Park West, where Timarron Lakes and Timarron are located.

Each bond prospectus listed the district's engineers as IDS Engineering Group and LJA Engineering.

"The engineers have also been employed by the Developer in connection with certain planning activities and the design of certain streets and related improvements within the district," the documents state.

Otten, a former oil company manager, said he wanted to know whether the engineers who designed the drainage system were working for both MUD 386 and the developer.

Cohen, the attorney representing MUD 386, said he is "unable to answer engineering-related questions." The Chronicle requested comment from the developer, The Woodlands Land Development Co., but did not receive a response.

'Make residents whole'

Mike Giovinazzo, a 65-year-old businessman who lives in Timarron Lakes, said he believes MUD board members are trying to help residents affected by the flooding and have indicated "they can engineer, it but it will cost money." He said the developer should pay for changes to the drainage system.

Gore agreed that he and other homeowners who pay property taxes to MUD 386 shouldn't have to pay the bill for what he said was a drainage system that didn't work.

Gore, who moved into his home in 2014 with his wife Valerie, said he wants The Woodlands Land Development Co. to "make residents whole" by improving the drainage system. He said the developer now is referring questions from residents to the MUD.

"We paid a premium for these lots," Gore said. "I could have gone and built my house in Spring for a lot less money than in The Woodlands. We believe in The Woodlands brand and the cache that they do things right, and if they didn't get it right, they will do it again, because that's the way The Woodlands always has treated drainage and other things."

Asked if The Woodlands Land Development Co. would pay for drainage changes requested by residents, Welbes said: "It's a hypothetical, and we'll have to wait and see what comes."

MUD supporters often say that water districts are heavily regulated by the state, specifically the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which approves requests from MUDs to sell bonds.

But Brian McGovern, a TCEQ spokesman, said the state agency has "no jurisdiction to compel a water district or developer to improve or make changes to a drainage system."
SEGUIN - Betty Matthies was among locals quick to recognize the accused, Hollis "Reid" Daniels III, yet unable to reconcile the friendly boy they recall with the charge that he murdered a Texas Tech officer last week.

"I know it happened, but I can't believe it," Matthies, a former mayor who served four years on City Council here beside H.A. "Danny" Daniels II, the suspect's father, said Thursday. "My heart is just broken, not only for the policeman but for the whole (Daniels) family.

"Something must have snapped in his head."

Authorities say Daniels, 19, shot Officer Floyd East Jr. on Monday evening at the campus police offices in Lubbock, where Daniels was taken after drugs were found in his dorm by East and another officer.

The two were dispatched to the dorm to conduct a welfare check on Daniels at the request of a suitemate.

Daniels allegedly fled the shooting scene but was arrested less than two hours later after approaching his dorm as officers from several law enforcement agencies swarmed the locked-down campus.

"Hollis Daniels stated to officers that he was the one that shot their friend," according to a report prepared by Lubbock police.

Daniels was charged with capital murder Tuesday.

Differing impressions

Matthies, who left office in 2012, recalled receiving a warm and polite greeting from Daniels months ago during a chance encounter in a doctor's waiting room.

"I said, 'How very nice that you remembered me' and he said, 'I used to come to the meetings when dad was on council.' He said, 'You and my dad always worked so well together,' " Matthies, 83, said. "He was just such a polite, well-mannered young man."

Matthies theorizes "something must have happened" to Daniels if he committed the crime he's charged with.

"I can't imagine the young man I visited with doing that," she said.

But the police assertions about Daniels didn't shock Charlotte Boyett, who says she sensed he had issues in the fall of 2016 when she was hired to tutor him by Danny Daniels and his wife, Janis Turk Daniels, a travel writer.

"I'm not surprised at all," by Reid Daniels' arrest, Boyett said Thursday. "There was something off about him, that mom and dad had to go to such great lengths and bend over backwards and to try to set him up to prevent failure. He just didn't seem like he had any motivation to do it on his own."

Tutor had doubts

Boyett, who first shared her account Tuesday on a Lubbock call-in program on KFYO radio, said she held only two sessions with Daniels, who then was enrolled in an alternative admissions program run by Texas Tech with South Plains College.

Designed for students initially denied admission to Texas Tech, the program lets them live and study at the university while officially enrolled in South Plains College so they can transition into Tech.

Daniels missed several appointments and acted put upon at the two sessions held, said Boyett, so tutoring was discontinued.

"It was almost like he was an undetermined high schooler or middle schooler," she said Thursday. "He seemed antsy. He never did anything volatile or weird. I just wondered, 'Why is this kid here in Lubbock?' "

Boyett said Janis Daniels, with whom she'd met and exchanged emails, described her son as intelligent but having difficulty adjusting to college life.

"I said, 'Why did you send him to Tech, so far from home?' and she was like, 'I thought maybe it was better if he got out of our area,' " Boyett said. "She was very focused and attentive and was really trying her best to make this work."

Authorities say Janis Daniels on Monday contacted a Tech counseling center to express concern that her son was armed and suicidal. It's unclear when the call was made, but the message was relayed to police while Daniels was still on the run Monday evening.
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ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast - A cargo plane chartered by the French military crashed into the Atlantic Ocean on its approach to the international airport in Abidjan, killing four crew members from Moldova and injuring six others from Moldova and France, officials said Saturday.

Ten people were aboard the plane arriving from the capital of neighboring Burkina Faso, Lt. Issa Sakho, commander of the military fire brigade, said on national television.

The French Defense Ministry said the four French nationals included a civilian and three military personnel. It said the plane was chartered for operations in Western Africa. The French have forces in several Sahel countries, including Burkina Faso, to help combat extremists.

Moldova's foreign ministry said in a statement it was trying to determine whether the victims were Moldovan citizens.

The cause of the crash was not known. Earlier reports indicated the plane had taken off from Abidjan.

Ange Koutaye Ismael, a 19-year-old student, said he saw the four bodies carried out of the airplane, which had been broken in two in the shallow waters.

Ismael said he noticed a plane flying low over his neighborhood Saturday morning. When he heard a plane had crashed on the beach, he ran down to film it.

Stormy weather likely played a role, he said.

"There was winds yesterday and I saw how planes seemed to have difficulties in getting up," he said.

Chrisian Kouame, who also lives near the airport, said he was awakened before 7 a.m. by a loud noise.

"We thought at the beginning it was the waves of the sea in the rain, but the cries of our neighbors caught our attention," he said. "When we went out we saw the aircraft broken by the beach. Airport authorities were alerted, and rescue workers were immediately sent to help recover those wounded."

Hundreds of onlookers gathered at the beach looking at the debris on the shoreline. Rescue workers carried away corpses.
LONDON - Wind gusts of up to 80 mph may lash the United Kingdom and Ireland as the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia hit the British Isles, the two countries' weather services warned Saturday.

Ireland's Met Eireann weather service issued a "status red" warning for the western Irish counties of Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry. It said Ophelia could bring winds of 50 mph and gusts of more than 80 mph Monday, with the potential for structural damage, high seas and flooding.
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BEIRUT - The U.S.-led coalition and local officials said Saturday that Syrian Islamic State fighters and civilians will be allowed to evacuate Raqqa, a deal that signals the imminent capture of the city but flouts earlier U.S. protests of negotiating safe exits for the extremist group.

Foreign fighters will be excluded from the evacuation deal, the coalition said.

The U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces said the final battle for Raqqa was underway, apparently propelled by negotiation efforts that secured the surrender and evacuation of dozens of Syrian militants.

In a statement, the U.S.-led coalition said a convoy of vehicles was set to leave Raqqa following the deal brokered by a local council formed by their Kurdish allies and Arab tribal leaders.

The tribal leaders said they appealed to the coalition and the SDF to allow the evacuation of local Islamic State fighters to stem further violence.

"Because our aim is liberation not killing, we appealed to the SDF to arrange for the local fighters and secure their exit to outside of the city, with our guarantees," the tribal leaders said in a statement.

It was not clear how many evacuees there were or where they would go. Last week, there was an estimated 4,000 civilians still in the city.

With the push to liberate the Arab-majority Raqqa led by Kurdish-dominated forces, local officials fear a backlash once the city falls. The initiative appeared to be an attempt by local leaders to stem such tension.

The evacuation deal places the U.S. in a bind as it had earlier said that only surrender, not a negotiated withdrawal for ISIS fighters in Raqqa, would be accepted. Omar Alloush, a senior member of the Raqqa Civil Council, said Friday around 100 militants had surrendered.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. would accept the surrender of ISIS militants who would be interrogated for intelligence purposes.

"Right now, as the bottom drops out from underneath (ISIS), more and more of them are either surrendering - some are trying to surrender, and some amongst them - more fanatical ones aren't allowing them to," he said.
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WASHINGTON - Speaking to a gathering of conservative grass-roots activists in Tyler last month, Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz did little to hide his frustration with the Republican-controlled Senate.

His speech at a Grassroots America-We the People annual "Champions of Freedom Dinner" came just days after the failure of the GOP's last-ditch effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

"Texans are frustrated by Congress' inability to deliver on our promises," Cruz said, warning that failure to repeal Obamacare could make 2018 a "disastrous election" for Republicans.

In the leadup to 2018, it is clear that the Republican Party is at war with itself, and the opening salvos already have enveloped Cruz as he transforms from iconoclastic GOP outsider to champion of President Donald Trump's agenda.

Once booed off the stage at the Republican National Convention for his failure to endorse Trump, Cruz has been adopted by pro-Trump activists seeking the ouster of Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and his leadership team, which could include McConnell's second-in-command, Texas Republican John Cornyn.

Cruz has not joined the calls for McConnell to yield the Senate leadership. But an outside group affiliated with former chief Trump strategist Stephen Bannon is waging a public war against McConnell, mainly by helping Republican primary challengers taking on senators who back him.

Explicitly missing from Bannon's hit list is Cruz, who faces no significant primary challenge, so far, from the party's right wing.

Bannon left the White House in August to go to "war" against Trump opponents and now is committed to challenging every Republican incumbent in the Senate, "except Ted Cruz."

"We are declaring war on the Republican establishment that does not back the agenda Trump ran on," Bannon, chairman of Breitbart News, told Fox News host Sean Hannity a week ago. "Nobody is safe. We're coming after all of them, and we're going to win."

Bannon's first victim may have been Alabama Sen. Luther Strange, who succumbed to a GOP primary challenge last month by firebrand Christian conservative Roy Moore, who has vowed to oppose McConnell.

Growing fault lines

For Cruz, Trump's most bitter and long-lasting opponent in the 2016 Republican presidential primaries, Bannon's embrace has forced a straddle over a growing fault line in Republican politics.

Asked about Bannon, the Cruz campaign cited a statement the senator gave Texas reporters last week seeming to distance him from Bannon's campaign.

"My consistent policy has been to stay out of incumbent Republican primaries, and I intend to continue doing the same," Cruz said. "I trust the voters; the voters can make the decisions."

The Cruz camp did not respond to written questions about whether he supports efforts to oust McConnell as Senate Republican leader, one of the conditions for Bannon's support.

Some of the leading figures in Bannon's coalition, however, have been current or former Cruz allies, including influential conservative activist Brent Bozell, president of the Media Research Center.

Bozell, who endorsed Cruz's 2016 run for president, was one of a half-dozen hard-right conservatives who signed a letter Wednesday to McConnell attacking the Senate's lack of major accomplishments, including the failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

Copied on the letter were Cornyn and other members of McConnell's leadership team. Cornyn's office declined comment.

"It is time for you and your leadership team to step aside for new leadership that is committed to the promises made to the American people," the letter said.

Among the other signatories were former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who endorsed Cruz's presidential campaign, and Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin, another Cruz backer.

Another prominent Bannon backer is wealthy New York investment banker Robert Mercer, a mega-donor who put substantial financial muscle behind Cruz's presidential campaign.

Despite his high-test clashes with Trump last year, Cruz remains a favorite of the conservative movement, and has settled in with Trump - dining at the White House with their wives.

Although Trump and Cruz share much of the same conservative base, the 2017 version of Cruz also has sought out productive alliances in the Senate, the locus of the "Washington cabal" he ran against in the primaries.

Mixed messages

While Cruz once accused McConnell of lying, he sometimes is credited with being one of the key players in behind-the-scenes efforts to bring together conservatives and moderates on a health care bill the entire Senate Republican caucus could support.

"Senator Cruz has made a very strong effort to try to work within the Senate GOP caucus to help President Trump pass his promised agenda to the American people," said Texas tea party activist JoAnn Fleming, executive director of Grassroots America.

To some analysts, Bannon's public blessing could complicate Cruz's work in the Senate, even if it delights his grass-roots backers in Texas.

"Just as Ted Cruz is trying to ingratiate himself with the establishment, here along comes Bannon and says, 'This is my guy,' " said Cal Jillson, an expert on Texas politics at Southern Methodist University. "He had moved over to acceptability, but never close enough that he had to worry about his outsider image. Bannon has confused that a little bit."

Cruz's only declared Republican primary challenger so far, Houston energy lawyer Stefano de Stefano, said Bannon's endorsement of Cruz should give pause to traditional Republicans like himself.

"This is reinforcing the message I've had since the beginning," de Stefano said. "Cruz is on the extreme fringe. He's the face of why things don't get done in Washington."

Although Cruz has positioned himself as the president's champion in the Senate, some Trump supporters say his initial reluctance to support the latest GOP health care bill played a significant part in its demise.

"The bill lost momentum, and Cruz did not step up to the plate," said Houston GOP fundraiser Mica Mosbacher, a member of Trump 2020 National Advisory Board. She said her frustration has made her consider backing de Stefano in Texas' GOP Senate primary.

Any primary threat to Cruz, however, is more likely to come from the right than the center.

While other Republican entrants have been rumored, few conservative activists see the need.

"Cruz is strong in Texas," said Texas Constitution Party Chairman Scott Copeland. "Everybody knows it would be a waste of money to go against him."

Cruz's competition

Few also think that in a deep "red" state like Texas, Cruz would need Bannon's support to vanquish Beto O'Rourke, a congressman from El Paso who is trying to become the first Democrat to win statewide office since 1994.

If some conservatives see Bannon and Cruz as disruptive brothers in arms, long-time Cruz supporters remember Bannon as the mastermind behind a Trump campaign to savage Cruz and other Republicans in the primaries.

While the personal bruises have faded, frustrations have mounted inside the party as legislative victories have proven elusive and Trump has resorted to sniping on Twitter at McConnell and key Republican lawmakers.

"We won, but we're just not united," said Houston businesswoman Deborah Kelting, a "Never Trump" delegate at the 2016 convention who has helped raise money for Cruz..

Democrats see Bannon's war against centrists and moderates in his own party as a gift, an intramural clash that could result in unelectable Republican hard-liners going into general elections in toss-up states that could decide the balance of power.

Some cite Sharron Angle, the Tea Party heroine who ran unsuccessfully as the 2010 Republican nominee for the Senate seat in Nevada, or Christine O'Donnell, a conservative activist whose 2010 Senate campaign in Delaware collapsed amid reports of her past interest in witchcraft.

Republicans currently hold 52 seats in the Senate. That would seem like a slim majority to gamble, except for the fact that the 2018 Senate election map favors the GOP, with 10 Democratic senators up for reelection in states Trump won in 2016.

Activists' hopes

With high hopes of retaining their majority, some in the activist base say Cruz can play an inside game helping to push a conservative agenda in Congress, while Bannon mans the barricades outside for Trump.

"When we were on defense with President Obama, Cruz was non-compromising. He was 'No,' " Kelting said. "Now, he's not going to compromise the core principles of what Republicans promised, but he's kind of like, get in between, 'What can you live with? What can't you live with?' "

Kelting also reads Bannon's outsider challenge less as a threat than an effort to put pressure on the GOP - laying down a marker for who is helping the president and who is not.

"It's more of a message to the others," she said. "That if you don't go to Washington to do what you were sent to do, we're going to challenge you."
During the last two weeks of September, Azerbaijani police launched a violent campaign of "arresting and torturing men presumed to be gay or bisexual, as well as transgender women," according to Human Rights Watch and local advocacy organizations. On Oct. 2, by all accounts, police released all the detainees, officiallyacknowledging that 83 had been detained. Local advocacy organizations claim that beatings, electroshock, coercion, blackmail and other abuses were carried out based entirely on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Azerbaijan is "the worst place to be gay in Europe," the 2015 and 2016 Rainbow Europe reports by ILGA (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association) concluded. The LGBT community in Azerbaijan has no legal protection. But for the most part, the state leaves the community alone - except when police extort money from individuals, often sex workers. The state can ignore the community because families routinely and effectively stigmatize, discourage and punish deviations from societal rules. So when the state does intervene, as it did in September, there's usually a motive.

Why the September crackdown?

Early in September, an investigative journalism coalition called the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) released a report on something called the Azerbaijani Laundromat, apparently a slush fund that for two years laundered $2.9 billion in cash that helped Azerbaijani elites and officials buy luxury goods and that paid European lobbyists and politicians to support Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan reactedtothe report by attacking the OCCRP, linking it to American Hungarian financier George Soros. European politicians called for investigations.

Separately, on September 12, more than 20 international human rights organizations sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin calling for sanctions against the Baku chief of police for abusing political prisoners. The head of the Council of Europe called for legal action against Azerbaijan over its refusal to release one such prisoner, despite being ordered to do so by the European Court of Human Rights. On Sept.ember26, two U.S. congressmen introduced legislation charging Azerbaijan with human rights abuses and calling on the U.S. government to respond.

In response, Azerbaijan renewed its anti-Western campaign.

Why target the LGBT community?

Historically, Azerbaijan's anti-Western campaigns targeted civil society and pro-democracy groups. This time, the regime targeted the LGBT community, more vulnerable in the Trump era. The LGBT community is also widely disliked in Azerbaijan; it's a group no one is willing to defend.

Survey research in Azerbaijan is challenging because citizens self-censor and the government interferes. Nonetheless, when asked, Azerbaijanis express very negative attitudes toward LGBT people. In a 2012 nationally representative survey, 63 percent of adult Azerbaijanis said they would not like to have neighbors of a different sexual orientation, and 72 percent said they would not like to have neighbors who have AIDS. The World Values Survey, collected in Azerbaijan in 2011-2012, reports that 93 percent of Azerbaijani adults believe that homosexuality is "never justifiable," with a mean of 1.19 on a scale of 1 to 10. Similarly, a 2011 Pew study finds, that, when asked, 92 percent of self-identifying Azerbaijani Muslims say that homosexual behavior is morally wrong.

LGBT groups are seen as a symbol of the West's attack on traditional values. And no group is more symbolically associated with the West. As political scientist Emil Edenborg explains in his new book, LGBT rights have been characterized as the key difference between the West and more traditional societies such as Russia and Azerbaijan. After years of media framing, Edenborg argues, many in "traditional societies" conflate LGBT people with the West's imagined attack on traditional, national moral values.

That's how the Azerbaijani government is portraying the recent attacks on gay people and trans women. Pro-government media explicitly describe the raids as measures to "prevent acts contrary to national and spiritual values," associating these individuals with sex work. In an interview with Eurasianet, a Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesman said:

"The main reason for such raids was the numerous appeals from the residents of the capital. People complain that such people walk around us, walk in our streets, and sit in our cafes. 'These are people who do not fit our nation, our state, our mentality, please take action against them.'"

Gay men and trans women are framed as a health risk. Edenborg explains that LGBT people are characterized as not only a moral threat, but also a health risk. In Azerbaijan, much of the early officialresponseclaimed that nearly all detained have several sexually transmitted infections, although the most recent statement said that fewer than 40 percent had at least one. The Ministry of Internal Affairs spokesman said, "This once again proves that both our citizens' concerns and the actions we take about it are justified. It is important for the health of our people. Those who have diseases are being isolated from society."

Attacking LGBT people may shore up the government's relationship with the Muslim majority. Further, although Azerbaijan is an officially secular country, religiosity is growing - which the government considers one of the strongest threats to the regime. The LGBT raids let the regime display a commitment to protecting spiritual values and nod toward the country's Islamic religious groups, a faction with whom it has had achallenging relationship.

This is a particularly sensitive time for that relationship. Political commentator and religious history scholar Altay Goyushov notes that the LGBT raids come during Muharram, one of the holiest times in the Islamic calendar, which may be an effort to appease religious groups.

Finally, the LGBT raids are a boon to the government in that they further marginalize and divide the opposition. No one, not even human rights and pro-democracy groups, can afford to defend the LGBT community, according to Azerbaijani LGBT advocates, and the raids prompted heated social media debates between LGBT advocates and opposition figures. Creating drama within the opposition is a favorite authoritarian tool for social control, particularly in Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan, ironically, brandsitself "the land of tolerance," notoriously sponsoring op-eds makingthesame claim. By finding a hated and indefensible target, the regime wins. The domestic benefits of these raids profoundly outweigh any international costs.

- - -

Pearce is an assistant professor in the department of communication at the University of Washington. She studies technology and inequality in the South Caucasus. For other commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by a group of political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage
All you need to do is drive Interstate 10 across the San Jacinto River and glance out of your window to see one of the most toxic and dangerous pieces of property in the Houston area.

A small island alongside the freeway bridge is marked with ominous signs - "DANGER, PELIGRO, NGUY-HIEM" - warning about the hazards hiding in the water. Without the signage, you would never know the little patch of land beneath the bridge is the site of the infamous San Jacinto Waste Pits.

Homeowners have spent years fighting cancers and other unusual health problems they're convinced are linked to the carcinogenic dioxins buried under the river. And the companies responsible for the waste pits have fought efforts to clean out the site. Now the Environmental Protection Agency has come down on the side of the homeowners, and it's way past time the industrial concerns resisting the cleanup give up the fight.

A paper mill used this site for waste storage until the 1960s. As the decades passed, the pits were pretty much forgotten, and they were partially submerged by the shifting waters of the San Jacinto River. But in the 1990s, Texas Parks and Wildlife employees noticed that fish caught in the river were contaminated with rising levels of dioxin. In 2005, the long neglected pits were rediscovered.

By that time, a lot of people living around the area were suffering some debilitating health problems. Among them was the family of Jackie Young, a college student studying environmental geology, who began documenting a pattern of diseases residents of the nearby Highlands area believe were caused by contaminants from the site.

The San Jacinto Waste Pits were added to the EPA's National Priority List as a Superfund site in 2008. A trio of companies was tasked with taking care of the site, including the business that once operated the pits and the corporation that currently owns the paper mill. In 2011, a part of the site was capped with a concrete barrier that the companies argued would keep the dangerous dioxins safely sealed underground.

But county officials and environmental researchers said dioxin continued to leak from the site. The Harris County Attorney's Office won a $29.2 million judgment against two of those three corporations. Nonetheless, the companies have fought against the expensive option of clearing out the dioxins, claiming the cap was strong enough to withstand even the dangers posed by a hurricane.

Just as people who live around the river feared, the cap was breached during Hurricane Harvey. The EPA found dioxin in concentrations more than 2,300 times the level at which the government mandates a cleanup. So last week, after years of court action and citizen activism, federal regulators approved a plan to permanently remove the tons of toxic chemicals from this notorious Superfund site. County officials said the companies involved will have to pay an estimated $115 million.

Unfortunately, it appears that's not the end of the story and the EPA's order may only launch another round of litigation. At least one of the corporations, McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corp., opposes removing the dioxins, claiming the cleanup operation itself will endanger the river and areas downstream from the site.

Pardon our skepticism, but these companies claiming to know how to keep the San Jacinto River safe no longer have much credibility. For years they argued that the cap was strong enough to keep the carcinogenic dioxins safely buried, but Harvey proved them wrong.

The EPA has finally done the right thing by ordering those hazardous carcinogens removed from the riverbed. The companies tasked with the cleanup shouldn't fight the inevitable. What we all should fight for is a San Jacinto River that is safe, clean and environmentally sound for wildlife and for future generations of Texans.
Hurricane Harvey has reminded us that much of America's chemical infrastructure is in serious peril. The fires and explosions at the Arkema peroxide plant in Crosby, which sickened first responders and terrified the surrounding community, illustrate what happens when industry is allowed to operate for decades without effective safety oversight.

Arkema capitalized on the weakness of the current regulatory system, even as the company lobbied the Environmental Protection Agency to keep those rules unchanged. The current rules largely omit coverage for reactive chemicals like Arkema's peroxides - just as those rules still do not cover the fertilizer ammonium nitrate that detonated and leveled much of West, Texas in April 2013, killing 15 people.

Arkema filed its federally required risk management plans but did far too little to reduce the actual danger from an obvious and acknowledged hazard - the loss of power to the refrigeration systems needed to keep its highly reactive organic peroxides from decomposing explosively.

This highlights a fatal design weakness in current rules. Companies can substantively comply with the rules by generating paperwork showing that they have analyzed their chemical risks and possible worst-case scenarios. But these companies are under no obligation to actually reduce these risks to the lowest practicable levels by applying safer technologies and utilizing the most up-to-date industry best practices.

The U.S. approach is radically different from that of other developed nations. A number of overseas regulators require companies to develop what's called a "safety case" - a detailed report showing how each catastrophic risk is being reduced and establishing specific, legally binding requirements for each hazardous facility.

Each safety case report is periodically reviewed by government technical experts and may be rejected if it is found inadequate, which bars the facility from operating. And this system works: According to reinsurance industry statistics, overseas nations have an accident rate that is at least three times lower than the U.S. Here, California recently overhauled its regulations to bring them in line with the new international standard.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board, which investigates chemical disasters, has found time and again that major accidents at U.S. plants could have been avoided by following known safety practices. While serving as CSB chairperson in 2014, I wrote in The New York Times that the U.S. "is facing an industrial chemical safety crisis" and called for the federal government to mandate the use of safer chemicals and technologies and take other steps to minimize risk.

The article caused a furor among industry lobbyists, who used their considerable influence in Congress to undermine the CSB and to deflect potential regulatory changes. Large trade associations such as the American Chemistry Council dismissed the proposed rules, asserting that accidents primarily afflicted small "outlier" companies that did not participate in industry-sponsored voluntary safety programs. But major accidents at industry leaders such as Exxon, Chevron and DuPont belie those rosy claims.

A few weeks before his administration ended, President Obama's Environmental Protection Agency finalized a modest update to its risk management rules. The EPA's new leadership under Scott Pruitt has now frozen even these timid regulatory changes indefinitely, while the Trump administration has recommended to Congress that the CSB be eliminated due to "the duplicative nature of its work."

None of those actions will help Houston and all the other communities that depend on safe, reliable chemical operations. Instead, here's what should happen right away:

1Federal regulators should overhaul the current, antiquated system of safety rules governing oil and chemical plants. We need a modern framework for minimizing technological risks, based on the safety case system used widely overseas.

2The regulations need to be broadened to cover the full range of chemical hazards - not only reactive chemicals like organic peroxides and ammonium nitrate, but also dangerous chemicals used in upstream oil and gas production.

3The agencies tasked with developing and enforcing the rules - and investigating any mishaps - need far more personnel, technical expertise and resources. Competent inspectors need to be inside these plants every year.

4There needs to be much better public reporting of chemical facility fatalities, accidents, near-misses and other safety performance measures. Community groups and labor organizations need seats at the table in developing new laws, regulations and safety practices - because ultimately their lives are the ones at stake.

Moure-Eraso is a professor emeritus in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. From 2010 to 2015, he served as chairperson of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.
The notion that the Keystone XL pipeline project will create and protect jobs, as President Donald Trump likes to proclaim, is a myth that will likely come to an end in Port Arthur. If completed, the southern line of the 1,179-mile pipe will end in this city an hour and a half east of Houston, which has been forced to endure the broken economic promises and health impacts of living next door to refineries for decades. Although the pipeline's completion is sure to cause a surge in demand for oil refining, there's zero evidence that the project will magically restore jobs or otherwise revitalize this overburdened community. If the historic record is any guide, residents of Port Arthur can expect the exact opposite: further declines in employment, health and property values.

Hurricane Harvey provided a tragic reminder of the high cost of oil and gas expansion for communities like Port Arthur. In the current age of climate denial, the Trump Administration is seeking to roll back important environmental rules that protect communities most impacted by pollution and climate change.

Refineries owned by Motiva and other companies in Port Arthur released tons of air pollution during emergency shutdowns for the storm. An explosion and fire at the Valero refinery on Sept. 19, for example, released thick black clouds of toxic pollutants and forced local residents to stay indoors during a "shelter in place" order. Gov. Greg Abbott made matters worse by waiving pollution reporting requirements.

Port Arthur is a city that has been left behind by the industry that occupies its front yard. The three refineries here - owned by Motiva, Valero and Total - and nearly a dozen nearby petrochemical facilities have done nothing to stabilize the city's economy or otherwise improve residents' lives. Local elected officials lure industry to the area with lucrative tax abatements and other incentives, in exchange for largely empty promises to hire locally. Meanwhile, residents continue to see little to no improvement in their circumstances. The unemployment rate in Port Arthur is more than twice national and state averages.

The unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high despite the fact that capacity at the refineries has increased 85 percent since 1990. Due to increased automation at refineries, increased capacity no longer necessarily leads to job creation. The value of goods and services produced by the fossil fuel industry has increased from $120 billion in 1998 to $818 billion in 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Unfortunately, none of this has spurred job growth. In fact, the number of jobs within the industry has declined by 30 percent since 1990.

Increased refinery capacity and output does, however, lead to significant health risks. Cancer rates for African-Americans in Jefferson County, which includes Port Arthur - where blacks make up a plurality of the population - continue to be significantly higher than the overall cancer rate in Texas. Equally troubling is the fact that the cancer mortality rate for blacks in Jefferson County remains 40 percent higher than the state average.

Many are concerned that air pollution is at the root - or is at least a major contributing cause - of cancer among Port Arthur's residents. "I'd have to think hard to come up with a family who hasn't lost a loved one - and I mean recently lost a loved one - to cancer here," says Hilton Kelley, a long-time resident and activist.

The air pollution data is worrisome. From 2012 to 2016, state records indicate there were 230 unpermitted emission incidents from the three refineries in Port Arthur, many of which released air pollutants, including benzene, that are known carcinogens.

Should the Keystone XL pipeline be completed, Port Arthur's refineries will again expand their capacity to meet the new demand. Given the Trump Administration's attempt to roll back important environmental protections, I cringe to think what awaits Port Arthur: more cancer, more asthma and more economic and racial injustice.

The pipeline's beneficiaries will not be the residents of towns like Port Arthur; they will be oil and gas companies already flush with profits and hungry at the prospect of making even more money thanks to their ever-deepening ties to the White House. President Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt share a baseless view that environmental protection is incompatible with economic progress. It's a mindset that, if they get their way, will turn the clock back 50 years when it comes to protecting public health - and will leave Port Arthur suffering from the fallout.

Greene is deputy director of the Environmental Integrity Project and a co-author of a recent photojournalism project about Port Arthur, "The End of the Line for an Economic Myth," in partnership with the International League of Conservation Photographers.
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Zealand leaders may like to think of themselves as progressive when it comes to workplace diversity but businesses still have a long way to go before achieving true equality  as a recent report from NZX proves.The report shows that publicly listed companies have made barely noticeable headway in terms of rolling out diversity policies and getting more women onto their boards since 2015.Two years ago, there were 119 women on the boards of publicly listed companies, compared to 580 men. Now, there are 120 women on boards compared to 556 men.Somewhat more worryingly, just 47 per cent of listed firms said they have a diversity policy in 2017  a decrease of one per cent from 2015.While the figures are inarguably disappointing, the global HR head of Vodafone  one of the worlds pioneers in workplace diversity  says shes actually impressed with New Zealands approach.The impression I have is that the appetite from organisations in New Zealand is really high and theres a real desire and interest to engage on the topic of diversity, says Karina Govindji, group head of diversity and inclusion for the communications giant.Govindji  who is responsible for creating and overseeing diversity initiatives across Vodafones 130,000 employees  says she thinks the lack of improvement doesnt stem from a disinterest but rather delays in following through with initiatives.The real challenge is that the focus seems to be quite skewed on demonstrating a business case for why diversity matters and the emphasis is on that, rather than taking action, she told HRD.The pace of follow through is slowed down because leaders are too heavily focused on proving the business case where they should be focussing on a number of actions, seeing the benefit of those then building on them.Vodafone has been widely praised for its innovative diversity policies including its pledge to bring 1,000 women who have taken career breaks back into the workplace. In 2015, the company also announced a global maternity policy which offers at least 16 weeks paid leave to employees, regardless of their location.
"When I was around four years old my parents died at sea whilst fishing. After this I lived with my grandmother."

Linh* was six when a gang of men walked into her house uninvited. "I was very frightened," she told us, "they looked terrifying and aggressive. I began shaking and could not move." They demanded the money owed to them by her parents, and when Linh's grandmother pleaded that they had no money, they began to smash up the house before turning on the little girl and the elderly woman, beating them with broken furniture before leaving them bleeding and terrified.

The men returned a few months later, notching up the violence. They cut Linh and her grandmother with knives and broken plates before burning them with lighted cigarettes.

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Linh decided she had no option but pay off the debt. She packed her little bags and travelled to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, where she washed dishes for a pittance, saving everything she could.

After a few years, Linh was able to pay back some of the debt, but the loan sharks were not satisfied. When she was 13, they suggested that she cleared the debt by working directly for them. "I agreed as I could not continue living in fear when someone will come and beat me and my elderly grandmother."

Linh was taken on a long journey and woke up in China. There she was raped for the first time. "I felt so much shame, I was in pain. I thought I was going to die as I began to bleed."

From China she was taken to France, where she was also forced to work as a prostitute, before ending up in a brothel in the UK.

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Linh finally escaped only to be arrested and detained at Yarl's Wood IRC, the notorious women-only detention centre in Bedfordshire.

Locked-up and powerless in detention, Linh's demons were reawakened. "I felt as if I was back in the hands of the men who were forcing me to sleep with other men....it brought back all the memories and fears."

Linh's physical and mental health deteriorated quickly in detention. She lost weight and struggled to sleep; when she did manage to drift off, she was harassed with nightmares about her torturers.

Linh finally met a doctor in detention, who noted that she had mental trauma, and reported that her scars and wounds were consistent with her account. A caseworker replied to the report: Yes you suffered 'mistreatment and torture', she was told, but you 'did not demonstrate that the treatment you received was knowingly sanctioned or carried out on behalf of the government of Vietnam. A decision has been made to maintain your detention.' The wrong type of torture.

Shockingly, the caseworker was right. In September 2016 the Home Office removed safeguards for hundreds of victims of torture, with a brief comment in parenthesis advising medical practitioners that torture inflicted by non-state actors should not, in fact, be considered torture for the purposes of medical examinations.

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Along with Bhatt Murphy Solicitors and the charity Medical Justice, Duncan Lewis Solicitors immediately committed to bringing down the new policy. Was it a consolation for Linh to know that the loan sharks holding lit cigarettes to her skin were not state officials?

The absurd policy chillingly demonstrates the sophistry to which the Home Office will resort in order to detain vulnerable individuals.

On Tuesday the High Court unambiguously told the Home Office that their distinction between state and non-state torture, when assessing particular vulnerability to harm in detention, 'has no rational or evidence base.' Linh and the other claimants had been unlawfully detained.

For many the damage has already been done, but this important ruling will help prevent other victims of torture from being re-traumatised in detention, and one hopes the Home Office will now think twice before they seek to betray wounded men and women like Linh by locking them up in our rotten detention system.




iciHaiti - Security : International Day for Disaster Reduction





On Friday, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Haiti joined forces with the Directorate of Civil Protection and more broadly, with the National Risk Management System to celebrate the World Day for Disaster Reduction in Haiti.



This year's theme "Never as well as Home: Reducing Exposure to Risks and Forced Displacements" was a reminder that major natural hazards generate population movements that must be anticipated through increased knowledge of risk and planned through operational response mechanisms.



In this context, a conference-debate led by, among others, the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC), the National Center for Geographic Information (CNIGS), the Bureau of Mines and Energy (BME) was organized to Cap Haitien at the Departmental Emergency Operations Center (COUD).



In parallel, a traveling exhibition on seismic risk reduction takes place in the three northern departments from 10 October to 11 November. The event is an opportunity to raise awareness about this threat and the right reflexes to adopt.



IH/ iciHaiti


















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Imperial Valley News Center

Coup Attempt in The Gambia

Washington, DC - When a group of naturalized Americans from The Gambia tried to help overthrow the government of their West African homeland in 2014, they thought they would be hailed as heroes. Not only did they fail, they were charged in the United States under the Neutrality Acta little-known federal law that prohibits Americans from waging war against friendly nations.

Two Americans were killed in the failed coup on December 30, 2014. The next day, distraught Gambian-American Papa Faal entered the U.S. Embassy in neighboring Senegal.

He said, I need to get back to the United States. The Gambians are looking for me, said Special Agent Jeffrey Van Nest from the FBIs Minneapolis Field Office. When embassy staff asked why, Faal said he was part of the attempted coup. Thats when we got involved.

Soldiers in The Gambia seized military gear and weapons provided for the participants in the attempted coup in 2014. The equipment was paid for by a naturalized American and shipped to the country; some of it was stored in safe houses.

Embassy staff immediately notified the legal attachethe FBI special agent assigned to the U.S. Embassy. The legal attache interviewed Faal, quickly determined there was a possible violation of the Neutrality Act, and notified the Department of Justice and the FBI office in Faals hometown of Minneapolis; Van Nest was the squad supervisor over the investigation.

Faals cooperation led to conspirators in other U.S. states, requiring involvement from FBI field offices in Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, Louisville, Memphis, San Antonio, and Seattle. Agents also traveled to The Gambia, Senegal, and Germany. The FBI coordinated with other federal agencies, including the Department of State; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.

FBI agents interviewed subjects, searched their computers, and reviewed financial, travel, and phone records. The evidence helped agents piece together the conspiracy.

Members of the Gambian diaspora who had formed the Gambia Freedom League hatched the plan in 2012 to overthrow then-President Yahya Jammeh. The group included Gambians living in America, Europe, and Africa. Cherno Njie, a naturalized American who lived in Texas, planned to serve as the interim leader in The Gambia.

Njie also financed much of the operation and arranged for another conspirator to buy weapons for the coup. Njie kept meticulous financial records showing how much he paid for ammunition and weapons, as well as their serial numbers. The weapons were smuggled into The Gambia hidden by clothes inside 55-gallon barrels.

The attack plan, developed by a co-conspirator with U.S. military experience, had coup members meet at safe houses in The Gambia. Two teamsone of six men and one of fourarmed with the smuggled weapons and wearing military gear, attacked the Gambian State House.

Gambian soldiers killed several of the attackers, including two Americans; others escaped or were captured. Security forces also collected numerous weapons and military equipment.

As part of the investigation, FBI agents from Minneapolis received permission to travel to The Gambia to look at the evidenceand the bodies of the two Americans killed in the attack.

The trip into The Gambia was tense because President Jammeh initially believed the U.S. military was behind the attack. Gambian military and intelligence officials escorted FBI agents during the visit.

Coup Attempt in The Gambia

December 30, 2014

Five Americans were convicted for their roles in participating in the plot; two others were killed in the attempt.

Convicted of Conspiracy to Violate the Neutrality Act (ages as of 5/12/17)

Papa Faal, 48, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Also convicted of a firearms violation. Sentenced to time served.

Cherno Njie, 59, of Lakeway, Texas. Also convicted of a firearms violation. Sentenced to one year and one day.

Alagie Barrow, 44, of Lavergne, Tennessee. Also convicted of a firearms violation. Sentenced to six months.

Banke Manneh, 44, of Jonesboro, Georgia. Also convicted of a firearms violation. Sentenced to six months.

Convicted of Conspiracy to Export Defense Articles

Alhaji Boye, 46, (as of 3/27/17) of Raleigh, North Carolina. Sentenced to nine months.

Soldiers in The Gambia seized these weapons and ammunition from vehicles and safe houses used during a coup attempt in 2014. American participants were prosecuted under the Neutrality Act, a little-known federal law.

Agents identified more than 20 weapons purchased by Americans using money Njie provided. They also examined the cars used in the attack as well as the safe houses, and they took DNA samples from the two dead Americans.

The FBI has investigated only a handful of violations of the Neutrality Act. Despite the investigative complicationswith numerous conspirators acting in several states and overseasagents knew just how to proceed.

The steps in these investigations are the same as for most cases, said Special Agent Margaret Thill, who also worked the case from the FBIs Minneapolis office. You have a potential violation, you gather evidence, you build rapport with witnesses to elicit cooperation and information, and you work closely with the assistant U.S. Attorney who is prosecuting the case.

Five men ended up pleading guilty in the case: four were sentenced in 2016 on counts relating to the Neutrality Act, and a fifth was sentenced in March 2017 for buying weapons. None was sentenced to more than a year and a day in prison.

Short sentences notwithstanding, the successful investigation delivered several important messages, Van Nest said. Rapid identification, arrest, and guilty pleas of those responsible ensured continued safety and security of American diplomatic personnel posted to the region, he explained. More importantly, the U.S. government capably reinforced accountability to the rule of law in a part of the world which has been cursed by cyclical violence between warring factions for generations.

The Gambia
Imperial Valley News Center

Help a loved one overcome addiction

Scottsdale, Arizona - An intervention can motivate someone to seek help for alcohol or drug misuse, compulsive eating, or other addictive behaviors. Discover when to hold one and how to make it successful.

It's challenging to help a loved one struggling with any type of addiction. Sometimes a direct, heart-to-heart conversation can start the road to recovery. But when it comes to addiction, the person with the problem often struggles to see it and acknowledge it. A more focused approach is often needed. You may need to join forces with others and take action through a formal intervention.

Examples of addictions that may warrant an intervention include:

Alcoholism

Prescription drug abuse

Street drug abuse

Compulsive eating

Compulsive gambling

People who struggle with addiction are often in denial about their situation and unwilling to seek treatment. They may not recognize the negative effects their behavior has on themselves and others.

An intervention presents your loved one with a structured opportunity to make changes before things get even worse, and it can motivate him or her to seek or accept help.

What is an intervention?

An intervention is a carefully planned process that may be done by family and friends, in consultation with a doctor or professional such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor or directed by an intervention professional (interventionist). It sometimes involves a member of your loved one's faith or others who care about the person struggling with addiction.

During the intervention, these people gather together to confront your loved one about the consequences of addiction and ask him or her to accept treatment. The intervention:

Provides specific examples of destructive behaviors and their impact on your loved one with the addiction and family and friends

Offers a prearranged treatment plan with clear steps, goals and guidelines

Spells out what each person will do if your loved one refuses to accept treatment

How does a typical intervention work?

An intervention usually includes the following steps:

Make a plan. A family member or friend proposes an intervention and forms a planning group. It's best if you consult with a qualified professional counselor, an addiction professional, a psychologist, a mental health counselor, a social worker or an interventionist to help you organize an effective intervention. An intervention is a highly charged situation with the potential to cause anger, resentment or a sense of betrayal. Gather information. The group members find out about the extent of your loved one's problem and research the condition and treatment programs. The group may initiate arrangements to enroll your loved one in a specific treatment program. Form the intervention team. The planning group forms a team that will personally participate in the intervention. Team members set a date and location and work together to present a consistent, rehearsed message and a structured plan. Often, nonfamily members of the team help keep the discussion focused on the facts of the problem and shared solutions rather than strong emotional responses. Don't let your loved one know what you're doing until the day of the intervention. Decide on specific consequences. If your loved one doesn't accept treatment, each person on the team needs to decide what action he or she will take. For example, you may decide to ask your loved one to move out. Make notes on what to say. Each team member describes specific incidents where the addiction caused problems, such as emotional or financial issues. Discuss the toll of your loved one's behavior while still expressing care and the expectation that he or she can change. Your loved one can't argue with facts or with your emotional response to the problem. For example begin by saying "I was upset and hurt when you drank " Hold the intervention meeting. Without revealing the reason, your loved one with the addiction is asked to the intervention site. Members of the team then take turns expressing their concerns and feelings. Your loved one is presented with a treatment option and asked to accept that option on the spot. Each team member will say what specific changes he or she will make if your loved one doesn't accept the plan. Don't threaten a consequence unless you're ready to follow through with it. Follow up. Involving a spouse, family members or others is critical to help someone with an addiction stay in treatment and avoid relapsing. This can include changing patterns of everyday living to make it easier to avoid destructive behavior, offering to participate in counseling with your loved one, seeking your own therapist and recovery support, and knowing what to do if relapse occurs.

A successful intervention must be planned carefully to work as intended. A poorly planned intervention can worsen the situation  your loved one may feel attacked and become isolated or more resistant to treatment.

Consult an addiction professional

Consulting an addiction professional, such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, a social worker, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or an interventionist, can help you organize an effective intervention. An addiction professional will take into account your loved one's particular circumstances, suggest the best approach, and help guide you in what type of treatment and follow-up plan is likely to work best.

Often interventions are conducted without an intervention professional, but having expert help may be preferable. Sometimes the intervention occurs at the professional's office. It may be especially important to have the professional attend the actual intervention to help you stay on track if your loved one:

Has a history of serious mental illness

Has a history of violence

Has shown suicidal behavior or recently talked about suicide

May be taking several mood-altering substances

It's very important to consult an intervention professional if you suspect your loved one may react violently or self-destructively.

Who should be on the intervention team?

An intervention team usually includes four to six people who are important in the life of your loved one  people he or she loves, likes, respects or depends on. This may include, for example, a best friend, adult relatives or a member of your loved one's faith. Your intervention professional can help you determine appropriate members of your team.

Don't include anyone who:

Your loved one dislikes

Has an unmanaged mental health issue or substance abuse problem

May not be able to limit what he or she says to what you agreed on during the planning meeting

Might sabotage the intervention

If you think it's important to have someone involved but worry that it may create a problem during the intervention, consider having that person write a short letter that someone else can read at the intervention.

How do you find a treatment program to offer at the intervention?

An evaluation by an addiction professional helps determine the extent of the problem and identifies appropriate treatment options.

Treatment options can vary in intensity and scope and occur in a variety of settings. Options can include brief early intervention, outpatient treatment or day treatment programs. More severe problems may require admittance into a structured program, treatment facility or hospital.

Treatment may include counseling, education, vocational services, family services and life skills training. For example, Mayo Clinic offers a variety of addiction services and has a comprehensive team approach to treating addiction.

If a treatment program is necessary, it may help to initiate arrangements in advance. Do some research, keeping these points in mind:

Ask a trusted addiction professional, doctor or mental health professional about the best treatment approach for your loved one and recommendations about programs.

Contact national organizations, trusted online support groups or local clinics for treatment programs or advice.

Find out if your insurance plan will cover the treatment you're considering.

Find out what steps are required for admission, such as an evaluation appointment, insurance pre-certification and whether there's a waiting list.

Be wary of treatment centers promising quick fixes, and avoid programs that use uncommon methods or treatments that seem potentially harmful.

If the program requires travel, make arrangements ahead of time  consider having a packed suitcase ready for your loved one.

It also may be appropriate to ask your loved one to seek support from a group such as Alcoholics Anonymous.

How can you help ensure a successful intervention?

Keep in mind, your loved one's addiction involves intense emotions. The process of organizing the intervention and the intervention itself can cause conflict, anger and resentment even among family and friends who know your loved one needs their help. To help run a successful intervention:

Don't hold an intervention on the spur of the moment. It can take several weeks to plan an effective intervention. However, don't make it too elaborate, either, or it may be difficult to get everyone to follow through.

Plan the time of the intervention. Make sure you choose a date and time when your loved one is least likely to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Do your homework. Research your loved one's addiction or substance abuse issue so that you have a good understanding of it.

Appoint a single person to act as a liaison. Having one point of contact for all team members will help you communicate and stay on track.

Share information. Make sure each team member has the same information about your loved one's addiction and the intervention so that everyone is on the same page. Hold meetings or conference calls to share updates and agree to present a united team.

Stage a rehearsal intervention. Here, you can decide who will speak when, sitting arrangements and other details, so there's no fumbling during the real intervention with your loved one.

Anticipate your loved one's objections. Have calm, rational responses prepared for each reason your loved one may give to avoid treatment or responsibility for behavior. Offer support that makes it easier to engage in treatment, such as arranging child care or attending counseling sessions with your loved one.

Avoid confrontation. Deal with your loved one with love, respect, support and concern  not anger. Be honest, but don't use the intervention as a forum for hostile attacks. Avoid name-calling and angry or accusing statements.

Stay on track during the intervention. Veering from the plan can quickly derail an intervention, prevent a helpful outcome for your loved one and worsen family tensions. Be prepared to remain calm in the face of your loved one's accusations, hurt or anger, which is often meant to deflect or derail the conversation.

Ask for an immediate decision. Don't give your loved one time to think about whether to accept the treatment offer, even if he or she asks for a few days to think it over. Doing so allows your loved one to continue denying a problem, go into hiding or go on a dangerous binge. Be prepared to get your loved one into an evaluation to start treatment immediately if he or she agrees to the plan.

If your loved one refuses help

Unfortunately, not all interventions are successful. In some cases, your loved one with an addiction may refuse the treatment plan. He or she may erupt in anger or insist that help is not needed or may be resentful and accuse you of betrayal or being a hypocrite.

Emotionally prepare yourself for these situations, while remaining hopeful for positive change. If your loved one doesn't accept treatment, be prepared to follow through with the changes you presented.

Often, children, partners, siblings and parents are subjected to abuse, violence, threats and emotional upheaval because of alcohol and drug problems. You don't have control over the behavior of your loved one with the addiction. However, you do have the ability to remove yourself  and any children  from a destructive situation.

Even if an intervention doesn't work, you and others involved in your loved one's life can make changes that may help. Ask other people involved to avoid enabling the destructive cycle of behavior and take active steps to encourage positive change.
Imperial Valley News Center

Health care providers can apply individualized medicine to patient care

Rochester, Minnesota - Advancements in individualized medicine are offering health care providers new tools to quickly and accurately diagnose, treat, predict and, eventually, prevent disease. Keith Stewart, M.B., Ch.B., Carlson and Nelson Endowed Director, Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, today outlined five new ways individualized medicine has moved from the research lab into clinical care. Dr. Stewart made his statements during the opening of the 2017 "Individualizing Medicine Conference: Advancing Care Through Genomics" in Rochester.

Individualized medicine is no longer just a promise for the future. Every day, it is moving more deeply into the clinical practice throughout Mayo Clinic and beyond, says Dr. Stewart. This is transforming patient care by offering new tests and treatments shaped to each persons individual genome.

Here are the five new ways Dr. Stewart says individualized medicine has moved from the research lab into clinical care:

Advanced genomic tests for more precise cancer diagnosis and treatment

A new test developed at Mayo Clinic and available at the medical clinic can take the guesswork out of which cancer therapies are most likely to be effective. The test known as mate-pair sequencing identifies genetic defects and chromosomal breaks linked to cancerous tumors. This information can pinpoint exact disease-causing genes, opening up new possibilities of individualized therapies targeted to precise genetic mutations. Blood tests to find cancer and its recurrence at the earliest possible stage

Blood tests that identify pieces of DNA shed into the bloodstream by cancerous tumors are offering the hope of tracking cancer as early as possible  when it is most treatable. Mayo Clinic researchers and clinicians are working collaboratively to develop blood tests ranging from those that detect single changes (mutations) in single genes to those that look for thousands of mutations in hundreds of genes. The first test launched in the clinical lab detects a specific change in the BRAF gene, primarily linked to melanoma. This test is available to all health care providers, and results are available in days. The circulating BRAF test offers a convenient, less costly and potentially more accurate picture of cancer activity that can help identify appropriate targeted treatments for advanced disease. Follow-up clinical tests in colorectal cancer, lung cancer and breast cancer will be available shortly. DNA tests to predict disease Genomic testing is becoming more accessible to healthy people who want to better understand their own health and risk of disease

Whole-genome sequencing looks at a patients entire genetic makeup for information on inherited conditions, genetic variants that drive cancer, and links to disease. The cost for this test, half what it was just a few years ago, continues to drop. That puts this test within reach of more healthy people. Results can be used over the course of the patients life.With advancements in technology, genetic testing continues to become faster and cheaper. One day, in the not too distant future, I believe that whole-genome sequencing will become a common part of proactive health care  possibly even as common as cancer screenings and cholesterol tests, says Dr. Stewart. The test only needs to be done once. If entered into the electronic health record, it can, over the course of a lifetime, guide health care providers to an individual approach to predicting and preventing disease. Genetic tests for unexplained disorders

DNA sequencing is being used more commonly in clinical care to solve cases of unexplained medical conditions. Genomic sequencing has expanded beyond finding a diagnosis for rare diseases, to include conditions for which there is no definitive cause or cure like chronic liver disease and inflammatory bowel disease. Genetic testing is being used to find a cause and then develop personalized care plans. Gaining a better understanding of these conditions can identify targeted treatments to manage symptoms of these often complex disorders. Drug-gene testing for more precise medications

Pharmacogenomics uses DNA tests to determine which medications are most compatible with a patients genetic makeup. Over the past year, Mayo Clinic has led efforts to apply pharmacogenomics testing proactively to improve patient care broadly and in many subspecialties, such as pediatric gastrointestinal disorders, liver disease and neurosurgery.

Individualized medicine and how it can benefit patients are the key topics of "Individualizing Medicine Conference 2017: Advancing Care Through Genomics." This two-day conference at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester is bringing together leaders in the field of individualized medicine from around the world. Hundreds of health care providers, researchers and biotechnology innovators are attending.

Dr. Stewart is the Vasek and Anna Maria Polak Professor of Cancer Research Division of Hematology-Oncology, Mayo Clinic.

The Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine is hosting the Individualizing Medicine conference with support from the Jackson Family Foundation.
California Secures Additional Federal Aid for Butte, Lake, Mendocino and Yuba County Residents Impacted by Wildfires

Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that the White House has approved California's request for direct aid to individuals and families in Butte, Lake, Mendocino and Yuba counties who have suffered losses due to the fires. The Governor yesterday announced the same assistance for residents of Napa and Sonoma counties.

Survivors who primarily reside in these six counties can apply online for federal Individual Disaster Assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

More information on the federal Individual Disaster Assistance program is available here. In addition to the individual assistance for families, California has also secured public assistance for the counties of Butte, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Nevada, Orange, Solano, Sonoma and Yuba to help those jurisdictions remove debris and take other emergency protective measures.

Later today, Governor Brown and U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris will travel to areas impacted by this week's fires, attend a private briefing with local leaders and emergency management officials and hold a media availability before joining a community meeting in Santa Rosa, hosted by partners including the City of Santa Rosa Fire Department, Sonoma County Board of Supervisors, CAL FIRE, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services and the City of Santa Rosa.
President Donald J. Trump Proclaims October 15 through October 21, 2017, as National Character Counts Week

Washington, DC - President Donald J. Trump Proclaims October 15 through October 21, 2017, as National Character Counts Week:

PROCLAMATION

We celebrate National Character Counts Week because few things are more important than cultivating strong character in all our citizens, especially our young people. The grit and integrity of our people, visible throughout our history, defines the soul of our Nation. This week, we reflect on the character of determination, resolve, and honor that makes us proud to be American.

As President Reagan declared, "There is no institution more vital to our Nation's survival than the American family. Here the seeds of personal character are planted, the roots of public virtue first nourished." Character is built slowly. Our actions -- often done first out of duty -- become habits ingrained in the way we treat others and ourselves. As parents, educators, and civic and church leaders, we must always work to cultivate strength of character in our Nation's youth.

Character can be hard to define, but we see it in every day acts -- raising and providing for a family with loving devotion, working hard to make the most of an education, and giving back to devastated communities. These and so many other acts big and small constitute the moral fiber of American culture. Character is forged around kitchen tables, built in civic organizations, and developed in houses of worship. It is refined by our choices, large and small, and manifested in what we do when we think no one is paying attention.

As we strive every day to improve our character and that of our Nation, we pause and thank those individuals whose strength of character has inspired us and who have provided a supporting hand during times of need. In particular, we applaud families as they perform the often thankless task of raising men and women of character.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15 through October 21, 2017, as National Character Counts Week. I call upon public officials, educators, parents, students, and all Americans to observe this week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-second.

DONALD J. TRUMP
Border Patrol Agents Arrest 4, Recover Stolen Gun

Blythe, California - Border Patrol agents assigned to the Integrated Targeting Team in Blythe, California, stopped a vehicle near Ehrenberg, Arizona, Wednesday morning and learned that three of four occupants had warrants for their arrest.

Agents learned of the warrants after stopping the vehicle to conduct an immigration inspection. After taking the subjects into custody, agents searched the vehicle and found a loaded 9 mm pistol reported stolen in Eloy, Arizona, along with a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

All four individuals, identified as U.S. citizens, and the firearm were turned over to the La Paz County Sherriffs Department.

This is another example of the Border Patrol working with our law enforcement partners to keep our community and our country safe, said Chief Patrol Agent Anthony J. Porvaznik. In this case, a stolen firearm was taken off the street and the criminal violators were arrested on multiple charges and warrants.

Integrated Targeting Teams were established in Yuma Sector to enhance U.S. Customs and Border Protections counter network approach. They perform synchronized targeting of high-risk transnational and illicit criminal organizations.

Citizens can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers may remain anonymous.
FBI Seeking Individual Who May Have Information Regarding the Identity of a Child Sexual Assault Victim

Washington, DC - The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking the publics assistance with obtaining identifying information regarding an unknown female who may have critical information pertaining to the identity of a child victim in an ongoing sexual exploitation investigation. Photographs and an informational poster depicting the unknown individual, known only as Jane Doe 39, are being disseminated to the public and can be found online at the FBI website:

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ecap.

The video depicting the unidentified female, Jane Doe 39, shown with a child, was first noted by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in April of 2016; therefore, the video is believed to have been produced prior to this date.

Jane Doe 39 is described as an Asian female, likely between the ages of 25 and 35, with long black hair. At the time the video was produced, Jane Doe 39 was wearing a white, yellow, blue, and red floral dress. In addition, Jane Doe 39 could be heard speaking Vietnamese. Anyone with information to provide should submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov, or call the FBIs toll-free tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324). The public is reminded no charges have been filed in this case and the pictured individual is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

This case is being investigated as part of the FBIs Operation Rescue Me and Endangered Child Alert Program (ECAP) initiatives, both of which represent strategic partnerships between the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Operation Rescue Me focuses on utilizing clues obtained through in-depth image analysis to identify the child victims depicted in child exploitation material, while ECAP seeks national and international media exposure of unknown adults (referred to as John/Jane Does) who visibly display their faces and/or other distinguishing characteristics in association with child pornography images.

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/ecap/unknown-individual---jane-doe-39
USS Ponce Decommissioned after 46 Years of Service

Norfolk, Virginia - Following more than 46 years of honorable naval service, the afloat forward staging base (interim) USS Ponce (AFSB(I) 15) was decommissioned during a time-honored ceremony, today.

Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic, Rear Adm. Jesse A. Wilson Jr., provided keynote remarks. Other notable speakers included Commander, Military Sealift Command, Rear Adm. Dee L. Mewbourne; Commander, Naval Amphibious Force, Task Force 51/5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Brig. Gen. Francis L. Donovan; Maritime Administration Associate Administrator for Strategic Sealift, Kevin M. Tokarski; and the ship's commanding officer, Capt. Christopher Wells.



Wilson highlighted the significance of the ceremony and ship's significant contributions to national security.



"It is truly an honor to participate in this momentous and time honored naval tradition, as we remember the accomplishments, warfighting attitude, contributions and legacy of the USS Ponce and its Sailors over the last 46 years," said Wilson.



During the ceremony, Wells spoke about the ship's naval service and recent mission.



"After exceptional service to the Navy and nation for nearly half a century, it is bittersweet that the "Proud Lion" has returned to its homeport here in Norfolk for one last event, its decommissioning," said Wells.



"It is quite an honor for me and also for the whole hybrid crew, made up of dedicated, professional Sailors and civilian mariners, to take Ponce to sea and bring it home for the last time. I can't praise this team enough for the job they have done these last years, aboard this aged warrior, in the hot and hostile seas in Fifth Fleet."



The ship, commissioned in 1971, was the 12th and last ship in the Austin-class of amphibious transport dock ships. In 2012, the ship was refitted as an afloat forward staging base (interim). After being forward deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operation for the past five years, the "Proud Lion" returned to its homeport in September and was decommissioned today.



Named for the Puerto Rican city of the same name, Ponce served mostly in the Atlantic Fleet, completing 27 deployments in the North Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf.



Originally slated for decommissioning in 2011, the "Proud Lion" was refitted and reclassified, based on the USS Kitty Hawk's (CV 63) role as an afloat special operations staging base during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001. And, she was outfitted with a joint Navy - Military Sealift Command (MSC) crew.



Forward deployed for the past five years, the crew provided vital support to U.S. and allied forces in the U.S. 5th Fleet and Central Command, primarily during mine countermeasures operations, but also in international maritime command and control roles. In doing so, the crew launched, recovered and sustained multiple aircraft, riverine and other vessels.



Their actions led to the ship and its crew being awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, presented to Wells during the ceremony by Donovan.



"In the Navy and Marine Corps, one award clearly stands out," said Donovan. "It is the award that recognizes service in combat against an enemy."



"I am extremely proud, honored and humbled to award Ponce her first Combat Action Ribbon, in 46 years of service. They were well trained, knew their ship and her combat systems and were well led by a superior Navy captain and MSC master. They were ready. They represented the absolute best of our nation operating at the very tip of the spear."



The "Proud Lion" was relieved in U.S 5th Fleet by the expeditionary sea base ship USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3), the first ship built specifically for the purpose of serving as an afloat, forward-staging base.



In 2014, Ponce successfully deployed and operated the laser weapon system (LaWS) for the first time. This 30 kilowatt cutting-edge weapon significantly expands the Navy's viability of directed every weapons in an operational environment, something which will offer increased levels of precision and speed for naval warfighter at a decreased cost.



"You heeded the call of duty and had the remarkable opportunity to not just witness history, but to make history," said Wilson as he highlighted Ponce's commitment to innovation.



"I cannot be more proud of your accomplishments, what you achieved together and of your unyielding warfighting spirit. This ship will always be linked to the American resolve. The legacy of this ship will live on in our Sailors, our Marine brothers and sisters, and our civilian mariners."



During its 46-year journey, Ponce and its crews were lauded for their outstanding service, earning numerous individual and unit awards. Ponce now joins the inactive fleet and will be dismantled.
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Rose McGowan has claimed she was blacklisted from Hollywood because she was raped.

The actor, known for her role on long-running supernatural TV series Charmed, accused Harvey Weinstein of rape on Thursday, adding her name to the slew of women who have forward to accuse the Hollywood producer of sexual harassment and assault.

Jeff Bezos I told the head of your studio that HW raped me. Over and over I said it. He said it hadnt been proven. I said I was the proof," she said on Twitter.

"I love Amazon but there is rot in Hollywood. Jeff Bezos be the change you want to see in the world. Stand with truth.

During an interview recorded in January 2017 obtained by the Observer, McGowen said she did not report the rape to the police because a criminal lawyer told her she was not likely to be successful in her case.

She said: Also, I didnt want his name next to mine in my obituary; his name doesnt deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as mine when Im dead.

McGowan is one of more than 30 women who have come forward since the New York Times explosive article disclosed sexual harassment and rape allegations against the film mogul dating back decades. The Hollywood A-lister, who produced Oscar-winning films Shakespeare in Love, The English Patient, and The Artist, is now the subject of criminal investigations on both sides of the Atlantic.

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In the unearthed interview, McGowan claims that was she threatened with being expelled from Hollywood after reporting she was allegedly raped.

They threatened [me] with being blacklisted. I was blacklisted after I was raped, because I got raped, because I said something  but only like internally, you know, she said.

McGowan also said that she had between 150 and 200 people she would be able to subpoena to back up her testimony and referred to a legal document in relation to the alleged attack.

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She said: I actually have a signed document from the time of the attack. It was settled for a very small settlement, so thats an admission of guilt

The actor even suggested that she had other physical proof, saying: I had three surgeries on my wrist and elbow. I think thats fair enough.

McGowan condemned the film industrys attitude to allegations of sexual harassment and rape and argued victims were targeted rather than perpetrators.

They blame the victim, they do all that shit. People are bred to be scared. They are bred to put fear into people and thats what they do, theyre bred to put fear into the publishers and lawyers and they overreach it, and Im going to do what I can and come out as hard as I can, she said.

While the explosive New York Times article named McGowan as an accuser, the tweets she composed last Thursday were the first time she alleged that Weinstein raped her in the public domain.

It is unclear when the alleged incident occurred. The actress accepted a $100,000 (75,000) settlement from Weinstein after an incident in 1997, according to the Times but it was unclear whether this was linked.

In October 2016 - three months before the unearthed interview took place - McGowan addressed being raped by a studio head but did not name Weinstein. Adopting the hashtag #WhyWomenDontReport, she said she did not go to the authorities with the alleged crime because she gained legal advice that she could never win the case.

Last week McGowan was temporarily suspended from Twitter after speaking out against Weinstein. She was one of the first to condemn the producer after the alleged scandal exploded and has been encouraging her followers to support the women who have spoken out.

Women around the world boycotted Twitter in protest at the social media site temporarily suspending her account. Users of the site committed to not using it for one day, or more, in protest partly at the way it treated McGowan.

Dozens of women, including actresses Angelina Jolie, Kate Beckinsale and Gwyneth Paltrow, have gone public with accusations against Weinstein in the wake of the recent reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker detailing allegations of rape, sexual assault, and harassment.

Weinsteins longstanding reputation as one of Hollywoods leading executives has been left in tatters. He has been fired from his namesake company, expelled from the Oscars and had his wife leave him.

The producer has apologised for having caused a lot of pain but has denied all allegations of nonconsensual sex. He is believed to currently be in Arizona receiving treatment linked to his behaviour.

"Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein. Mr Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances," his spokesperson told The Independent in a statement.
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Woody Allen has said he feels sad for Harvey Weinstein as women in Hollywood continue to come forward with allegations of sexual assault against the producer.

Allen claimed he had heard rumours about Weinstein but not these horror stories.

Despite working with Weinstein on a number of films, the director said he had never heard about any allegations of rape or sexual assault.

No one ever came to me or told me horror stories with any real seriousness, Allen told the BBC. And they wouldnt, because you are not interested in it. You are interested in making your movie.

But you do hear a million fanciful rumours all the time. And some turn out to be true and some  many  are just stories about this actress, or that actor.

 Harvey Weinstein: The celebrities who have accused him of sexual misconduct so far

The Midnight In Paris director has faced his own sexual abuse claims; being accused of molesting his adopted daughter. Allen has always strongly denied the claims.

Weinstein was credited with helping Allen revive his career after he was accused of abusing Dylan Farrow, his daughter with actress Mia Farrow.

The allegation emerged in the early 1990s after the couple separated, after Mia Farrow discovered that Allen was having an affair with her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn.

The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved, he added. Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up.

Theres no winners in that, its just very, very sad and tragic for those poor women that had to go through that.

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Allen said he hoped the revelations, which emerged after an investigation by The New York Times, would lead to some amelioration.

You also dont want it to lead to a witch-hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself, he added.

Thats not right either. But sure, you hope that something like this could be transformed into a benefit for people rather than just a sad or tragic situation.

Allens son Ronan Farrow was one of the journalists who spoke to Weinsteins accusers, interviewing 13 women for The New Yorker who said the producer had sexually harassed or assaulted them.

Weinstein, 65, insists any sexual contacts he had were consensual.

His spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister said earlier this week: Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein.

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Estonia, the country which helped to create Skype and hosts Natos cyber-defence centre, is also trying to stay ahead of the pack in regulating robotics.

The nations economy ministry is working on legislation that would address the status of artificial intelligence in legal disputes, said Siim Sikkut, the official in charge of the governments IT strategy.

One proposal under consideration would create the term robot-agent, which would be somewhere between having a separate legal personality and an object that is someone elses property.

Mr Sikkut said he saw advantages to elevating artificial intelligence to the same judicial level as natural and legal persons. In any case, the ministry first needs to amass enough political support to press ahead with the legislation.

If we seize this opportunity as a government, we could be one of the trailblazers, Mr Sikkut said.

While increased automation is presenting many countries around the world with regulatory issues, including rules for self-driving cars and drones, Estonia has been embracing new digital technologies at a faster rate than most others.

The Baltic nation of 1.3 million has introduced paperless government, nationwide internet voting and remote access to Estonian digital infrastructure for foreigners, dubbed e-Residency. Still, officials would like to make it easier for companies to use digital technologies.

Robots and humanism

Driverless parcel-delivery robots of Tallinn-based Starship, set up by founding members of Skype, were authorised by Estonian parliament in June to move in traffic without human assistants at speeds up to 6km per hour.

The user of a self-driving robot is obligated to have liability insurance and the robot must be equipped with the users contact details.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

Lawmakers at the European Parliament adopted a resolution in February urging the European Commission to consider legislation and potential special status for robots, such as self-driving vehicles, to establish who is liable for damages they may potentially inflict.

Mr Sikkut said he isnt aware of any government currently preparing a robotics law outside Estonia, adding that the new rules can hopefully be implemented within a couple of years.

Estonia still has many hurdles ahead. Giving robots personal rights and responsibilities goes against Europes humanist history of law, noted Triniti, the law firm that prepared a legal analysis for the ministry on the issue.

We need to get plenty of myths and stereotypes out of the way early on, Mr Sikkut said. Like that robots are taking over everything or that were going too far with computerisation. Of course, these questions need to be addressed with all new technologies.

Bloomberg
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A young journalists gruelling work schedule, including a single month with 159 hours of overtime and just two days off, triggered the heart failure that killed her at age 31, Japanese labour regulators ruled.

Authorities officially attributed Miwa Sados death to karoshi  the Japanese word for a death due to overwork  according to information released this week by NHK, the public broadcaster that employed her.

Sado, a political reporter, had been covering elections for Tokyos government and the national parliament in the months leading up to her death in 2013. She died three days after the elections for Japans upper house.

Recommended Nurses too stressed to make ethical decisions about patient care

NHK had not released information regulators had compiled about the death until this week.

The determination that Sados death was caused by overwork has brought renewed scrutiny to the working culture in Japan, where hundreds, if not thousands of people are believed to work themselves to death every year.

One official with the public broadcaster told reporters her death was indicative of a problem for our organisation as a whole, including the labour system and how elections are covered.

Japans working culture, where long hours and after-work social engagements are typical, dates back decades, as The Posts Anna Fifield has reported. It began in the 1970s, when wages were relatively low and employees wanted to maximise their earnings.

It continued through the boom years of the 1980s, when Japan became the worlds second-largest economy and everyone was on the juggernaut. And it remained after the bubble burst in the late 1990s, when companies began restructuring and employees stayed at work to try to ensure they werent laid off.

Still, irregular workers  who worked without benefits or job security  were brought in, making the regular workers toil even harder. Now, no one blinks an eyelid at 12-hour-plus days.

In a Japanese workplace, overtime work is always there. Its almost as if it is part of scheduled working hours, said Koji Morioka, an emeritus professor at Kansai University who is on a committee of experts advising the government on ways to combat karoshi.

Its not forced by anyone, but workers feel it like its compulsory.

The country classified 189 deaths from overwork in 2015  93 suicides and 96 from heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses related to overwork  though experts believe the actual number may be much higher. In addition to long hours, vacation days routinely go unused. On average, employees used less than half of their leave time in 2015  about nine days a year, according to The Guardian.

A study of 10,000 companies in Japan released last year found more than a fifth exceeded an 80-hour per month overtime threshold. More than one in five Japanese workers work 49 hours or more each week, compared with 16.4 per cent in the United States, 12.5 per cent in Britain and 10.1 per cent in Germany, according to the Associated Press.

In Sados case, 159 hours of overtime averages to more than 5.5 hours a day over the course of a 28-day month. According to the Asahi Shimbun, Sado was busy covering candidates and their supporters, shooting footage of speeches and attending meetings during the election.

She was under circumstances that she could not secure enough days off due to responsibilities that required her to stay up very late, said a release from labour regulators, according to the newspaper.

It can be inferred that she was in a state of accumulated fatigue and chronic sleep deprivation.

Sado started work at the NHK in 2005, when she was in her early twenties, according to the Japan Times. NHK said it waited to make information about her death public out of deference to her family.

Even today, four years after, we cannot accept our daughters death as a reality, Sados parents said in a statement released by the broadcaster to Japanese media. We hope that the sorrow of the bereaved family will never be wasted.

The deaths of other young Japanese workers have brought renewed attention to the issue in recent years. In 2015, the despondent messages left on Twitter by Matsuri Takahashi, a 24-year-old who was working more than 100 hours of overtime a month at an ad agency, drew wide attention after she killed herself by jumping from a company dormitory.

Im going to die. Im so tired, she wrote in one message.

The companys president and chief executive later resigned, due in part to outcry over her death. Later that year, 34-year-old maintenance worker Kiyotaka Seriwaza killed himself after putting in 90-hour weeks at a company from which he had tried, unsuccessfully, to resign.

The government has been taking steps to change the culture around work to address the problem of karoshi, passing legislation to try and reduce the amount of employees working more than 60 hours a week and to entice employees to use their paid vacation time.

Early this year, a government spokesman told Bloomberg News that Japan needs to end of the norm of long working hours, so people can balance their lives with things like raising a child or taking care of the elderly. Companies have been joining the effort, taking steps to encourage workers to actually leave work, use their vacation days, and spend more time away from the office.

Dentsu has begun shutting the lights off in its headquarters at 10pm, and now requires workers take at least five days off every six months. Japan Post Insurance, a life insurance company, shuts off its lights at 7.30pm. Yahoo Japan has been considering a four-day workweek.

Sado had sent an email in the weeks before her death that warned of the toll her work was taking on her, the Asahi Shimbun reported.

I am too busy and stressed out and think about quitting my job at least once a day, but I guess I have to hang on, she wrote, according to the newspaper.

She was discovered in her bed, holding her cellphone in her hand.

 Washington Post
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A two-year-old has become the youngest person to ever give evidence after her testimony led to the conviction of a paedophile, it has been reported.

Hours after being abused by Matthew Carter, 45, the toddler told her parents about the incident  who then contacted the authorities.

An expert assessed the child to determine whether or not she would be capable to give evidence and outlined which questions should be asked.

Specially trained police officers set up a video interview and, after using some toys to build a rapport with the toddler, she demonstrated on a piece of paper where she had been abused, according to The Sun.

Very few questions were needed as the child was able to provide clear responses.

The evidence was so strong that, Carter, a father-of-three from Norfolk, confessed to the crime before the trial.

Detective constable Natalie Riseborough, of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, said: Hearing a victims account of the abuse they were subjected to is always distressing. We are committed to carrying out a full and thorough investigation to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

A spokesman for Intermediaries For Justice said: A lot of perpetrators think they can get away with offences on small children because they are too young to explain what happened.

But this proves young people can give evidence that if acted upon quickly and handled correctly can lead to convictions.

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The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. 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A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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Carter has been given an 11-and-a-half-year sentence for one rape charge of a girl under the age of 13 and three charges of making indecent images of children.
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A transgender diversity consultant was left gobsmacked when a printer reportedly turned down her order for business cards, because he believed her cause went against his Christian values.

Joanne Lockwood sought the promotional material for her consultancy SEE Change Happen, which offers companies advice on equality, diversity and inclusion for transgender staff.

But Nigel Williams allegedly refused to take the contract because it would make pressure worse for Christians whom he believes are being forced to accept trans people in society.

Campaign group Christian Institute jumped to his defence and insisted he should not have to promote causes that are flatly contrary to their own deeply held views.

The alleged stand-off started when Ms Lockwood emailed Mr Williams after they first met at a business conference and asked him would he print business cards for her consultancy.

But he refused to do the work at his company based in Southampton, Hampshire, according to a report in The Sunday Times.

In his response, he said: The new model of diversity is used (or misused) to marginalise (or indeed discriminate against) Christians in their workplaces and other parts of society if they do not subscribe to it.

Although Im quite sure you have no intention of marginalising Christians, it would weigh heavily upon me if through my own work I was to make pressure worse for fellow Christians.

Ms Lockwood, who has been living as a trans woman since January, described how she was gobsmacked by the response.

She said: I was not expecting a lecture. I disbelieved this could happen in 2017. I have been distraught and cried and my wife consoled me.

I think a point of principle is at stake. He wanted to make a point to me deliberately for his own motives. I have been the victim of some discrimination.

Christian Institute has backed Mr Williams over his decision to turn down the printing contract, adding that the row was chilling and unnecessary.

It said: It is a fundamental tenet of free speech and freedom of belief that people should not be forced to help promote causes flatly contrary to their own deeply held views.

It jumped to the defence of Mr Williams just a year after it supported a staunch Christian family in Northern Ireland who refused to make a cake in their bakery bearing a logo supporting same-sex marriage.

A court of appeal in October 2016 upheld a ruling which found that Ashers Bakery in Co Antrim had discriminated against a gay man who wanted the cake for an event supporting same-sex marriage.
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A third woman has contacted British police with sexual assault claims against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

Metropolitan Police are now investigating five allegations involving Mr Weinstein, sources have confirmed, dating back to the late 1980s.

On Sunday, an alleged victim said Weinstein assaulted her in Westminster in 1992.

Earlier, Scotland Yard confirmed three allegations were made relating to sexual assaults in London in 2010, 2011 and 2015.

This followed another allegation, made against the movie mogul, passed to Scotland Yard detectives by Merseyside Police this week, relating to an alleged sexual assault in the capital in the late 1980s.

Director Martin McDonagh, on the red carpet for the UK premiere of dark comedy Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, said he was pleased the revelations had surfaced against Weinstein  whom he referred to as a prick.

He added: I don't want to be in a place where those people are working, I don't want to be around it.

Any decent man or woman wouldn't want to be. Hopefully it's the start of something better.

The latest allegations, made to police on Sunday, came as more British women came forward saying they were raped by Weinstein.

Hollyoaks actress Lysette Anthony has told the Metropolitan Police she was attacked by the movie mogul in her London home in the late 1980s, while another unnamed former Miramax employee said he raped her in the basement flat of his London offices in around 1992  it is not known if she was the third complainant.

The woman, who is granted automatic anonymity as an alleged sex offences victim, said she has only confided in her husband about the attack within the last few days.

The woman, who said she chewed raw garlic and wore tatty clothes to repel Weinstein, told The Mail on Sunday: Even after all these years, I can still wake up screaming.

I wanted the opportunity to speak out, but I just couldn't see how.

The fresh allegations follow several made by actresses in the US against Weinstein  four of rape and more than 30 of sexual harassment  and come as the organisation behind the Oscars expelled Mr Weinstein.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday night he was moving to strip producer Weinstein of the prestigious Legion D'Honneur award  the highest decoration in France  while Bafta has already suspended him and Mr Weinstein's wife, British designer Georgina Chapman, said she was leaving him.

Ms Anthony, 54, told The Sunday Times she met the producer when she starred in 1982 sci-fi film Krull and the alleged assault occurred a few years later.

She said it was a pathetic, revolting attack that had left her disgusted and embarrassed.

On Wednesday, Ms Anthony tweeted that she had just reported a historical crime, adding feel sick ... so sad.

Fellow British star Kate Winslet also spoke of her recollections of Weinstein, saying it was absolutely deliberate that she did not thank the director when she won her best actress Oscar, despite the fact his company financed and distributed the film.

Ms Winslet, who won the Academy Award in 2009 for The Reader  in which she played a woman hiding her past as a guard at a Nazi concentration camp  thanked 19 people by name but deliberately excluded Mr Weinstein.

She told the Los Angeles Times: That was deliberate. That was absolutely deliberate.

I remember being told, 'Make sure you thank Harvey if you win'. And I remember turning around and saying, 'No I won't. No I won't'.

And it was nothing to do with not being grateful. If people aren't well-behaved, why would I thank him?

The fact that I'm never going to have to deal with Harvey Weinstein again as long as I live is one of the best things that's ever happened and I'm sure the feeling is universal.

On Saturday some of the film industry's most powerful figures, including Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg, voted to expel the film producer from their ranks.

Dozens of actresses, including Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have made accusations of sex abuse against the 65-year-old movie mogul over the past 10 days, prompting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to call an emergency meeting.

In a statement they said the board had voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to expel Weinstein.

Actress Rose McGowan  one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment and who has since said he raped her  celebrated the Academy's decision with a post on Instagram.

She wrote: We slay dragons.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA

Through his spokeswoman, Mr Weinstein has unequivocally denied any allegations of non-consensual sex after three actresses said he had raped them in an article in The New Yorker.

As the controversy showed little sign of halting, Woody Allen, whose estranged son Ronan Farrow was among those investigating the mogul, said he was sad for Weinstein.

The producer is widely credited with reviving Mr Allen's career after receiving abuse allegations of his own  something the filmmaker denies.

Of Mr Weinstein, Mr Allen told the BBC: No one ever came to me or told me horror stories with any real seriousness.

And they wouldn't, because you are not interested in it. You are interested in making your movie.

But you do hear a million fanciful rumours all the time. And some turn out to be true and some - many - are just stories about this actress, or that actor.

There was further controversy when James Corden came under fire for cracking jokes about Weinstein at a star-studded charity gala in Los Angeles.
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The Met Office has issued an amber severe weather warning as the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia hit the UK and Ireland.

It warned of "potential for injuries and danger to life" and predicted gusts of up to 80mph.

Flying debris such as roof tiles were said to be likely, along with large waves around the coast.

All schools and colleges in the Republic of Ireland will be closed on Monday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said.

Northern Ireland is covered with an amber warning  meaning there is a "potential risk to life and property"  a notice issued when forecasters believe people need to be prepared to change their plans and "protect you, your family and community from the impacts of the severe weather based on the forecast".

Very windy weather is expected across the entire region, while a yellow warning is in place for much of Wales, Scotland, north east England, north west England, south west England and the West Midlands.

Gusts of 55-65mph are likely across Northern Ireland with 70-80mph gusts in the far south-east.

A smaller area of very gusty winds is then likely to run across Northern Ireland from the west with 65-75mph gusts possible for a short period of time in any one location.

Longer journey times and cancellations are likely, as road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected as well as some bridge closures.

Heavy rain is also possible in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland.

The Republic of Ireland's Met Office has issued a red warning for Wexford, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford.

It forecast winds in excess of 80mph (130km/h) will hit coastal areas on Monday and is warning against unnecessary travel.

Gerald Fleming, head of the centre's forecasting division, told Irish broadcaster RTE: The track is very consistent [and] has been for days.

The strongest winds [will be] along the south coast.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA UK news in pictures 24 September 2022 Handout photo issued by Buckingham Palace of the ledger stone at the King George VI Memorial Chapel, St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2022 A climate change activist protests against UK private jets while lighting his right arm on fire during the Laver Cup tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London EPA UK news in pictures 22 September 2022 Woody Woodmansey, Lee Bennett, Kevin Armstrong, Nick Moran and Clifford Slapper attend the unveiling of a stone for David Bowie on the Music Walk of Fame at Camden, north London PA UK news in pictures 21 September 2022 A flock of birds in the sky as the sun rises over Dungeness in Kent PA

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said: "We do get these sorts of strengths of winds most winters. We generally get a few storms that will see these sorts of winds, but this is quite a substantial system because of where it's coming from as well.

"And to get that sort of south-easterly strength across the south east of Northern Ireland  you don't generally get that.

"You tend to get strong south-westerly winds because the systems come up across the northern half of the UK.

"So yeah I'd say it's pretty exceptional."

Mr Miall said Ophelia will have gone through a transition on its way across the Atlantic and will no longer be a hurricane, but will still bring "hurricane-force" winds.

By coincidence, Monday is the 30th anniversary of the Great Storm of 1987, which killed almost 20 people in Britain.

Former BBC weatherman Michael Fish, who infamously announced the UK would not be hit by the hurricane, has warned "we have Ophelia heading our way" and went on to say "it looks nasty."
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Data from patients health records should be shared with private firms to improve care using artificial intelligence, the Government is told today.

A study sets out how Britain should become a world leader in AI, to deliver benefits ranging from smarter scheduling of operations to hiring on-demand self-driving cars.

Industry experts call for the secure sharing of anonymised data about peoples health and lifestyles  arguing they, as well as well as private technology companies, will benefit.

Recommended Controversial Google deal for NHS records has legality questioned

The NHS should use facts and figures from supermarkets, transport organisations and town planning to work out ways to encourage healthier lifestyles, the report says.

However, it also highlights how the NHS is failing to exploit AI through data tie-ups with the likes of Your.MD, which offers immediate trustworthy healthcare advice via a mobile phone app.

It quotes Matteo Berlucchi, the firms chief executive, who appealed for access to reliable and consistent data sets of anonymised personal health records to push forward the project.

We have tried to approach the NHS to see if there was a way to access some of this data but we have struggled to even find the right person to talk to, he said.

The report, entitled Growing the Artificial Intelligence Industry in the UK, argues the security challenges holding up access to health data for AI can be overcome by agreements.

However, the recommendation is likely to revive previous controversies over data-sharing of health records, which forced the Government into retreat.

Last year, ministers scrapped the care data plan to link GP records after an outcry over whether the public had been properly informed and given the chance to opt out.

The Department of Health then promised that any new record-sharing system would come with a single and simple mechanism for individuals to opt out of their data being shared beyond their direct care.

However, draft plans last month appeared to suggest that even patients who opt out could see their information shared across services covering up to five million people.

Meanwhile, in July, the Information Commissioner criticised an NHS hospital that failed to use an appropriate legal basis to share 1.6 million patient records with Googles Deepmind AI firm.

The report makes 18 recommendations on how to make the UK a world leader, including boosting skills through an industry-funded masters and expanded expand support for businesses.

Other areas where AI is being used, but could be expanded, included:

* Banking  HSBC has created a chatbot, Olivia, who can assist customers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with their enquiries.

* Education  A platform called Century is helping teachers to provide more personalised education programmes and receive feedback.

* Legal services  AI is helping lawyers to do legal searches and to draft the best standard documents.

* Travel  Companies are developing fully autonomous operating systems that diagnose potential problems for driverless cars and identify the most logical routes.

Karen Bradley, the Culture Secretary, said: I want the UK to lead the way in artificial intelligence. It has the potential to improve our everyday lives  from healthcare to robots that perform dangerous tasks.
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David Davis is set to make an emergency trip to Brussels on Monday, as Theresa May faced a fresh setback in her hope of early post-Brexit trade talks.

The Brexit Secretary is expected to try to open up negotiations with key figures from EU member states, to break the deadlock before a crucial summit on Thursday.

The trip comes as The Independent learns of an attempt by Germany and France to toughen the EUs stance in demanding that Britain first agree to settle its so-called divorce bill.

A draft last Thursday appeared to offer the Prime Minister a chink of light by suggesting the EU could start planning for trade negotiations, albeit without involving the UK yet.

It said additional guidelines could be drawn up in December, moving onto trade and possible transitional arrangements  the Holy Grail for Britain.

The statement added that in order to be fully ready for such a scenario, the EU heads of government should start internal preparatory discussions.

But a fresh draft, put forward by the EUs two most powerful states, omits the section proposing additional guidelines at this stage, The Independent has been told.

The move is fresh evidence that Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, and French President Emmanuel Macron, are unwilling to go as far on future trade talks as EU officials.

Michael Barnier, the EU Commissions chief negotiator, had emerged as a possible ally for Britain, in pushing for a less rigid negotiating mandate.

In contrast, removing the immediate prospect of additional guidelines would put pressure on Britain to make a more generous offer on money  to the fury of Brexiteer Tories.

Downing Street is resigned to several drafts of the statement before the summit, when Ms May will join EU leaders for breakfast, before leaving the room.

Meanwhile, it emerged that Mr Davis is poised to make an unscheduled trip to Brussels  just four days after his fifth round of talks with Mr Barnier hit a wall.

He will not meet the chief negotiator, but is expected to try to open up a new front with likely friendly figures from both the Commission and member states.

The Prime Minister spoke with the German Chancellor on Sunday, primarily about Donald Trumps undermining for the Iran nuclear deal, but also about Brexit.

They looked ahead to next week's council, agreeing on the importance of continued constructive progress in the UK's exit negotiations, a No 10 spokesman said:

The first Brexit talks with ministers from across the UK for eight months will also be staged on Monday  but with little sign of any progress.

The Joint Ministerial Committee was set up to give Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland a voice, but they have protested that it is little more than a fig leaf.

Scottish nationalists will continue to push for the Government to give Scotland a legal say on the exit process and on leaving the EU's single market.

In advance, Damian Green, the Prime Minister's deputy, insisted he wanted the meeting to be positive and constructive  but said preserving the UK single should be the priority.
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A government watchdog is pushing ministers to enshrine a new constitutional right to equality in British statute to ensure anti-discrimination laws are not weakened after Brexit.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned that as things stand the UK will lose the safety net that European law currently provides when it drops out of the EU.

Without further action it would mean after Brexit, people could be in a weaker position in legal battles against employers or the state, where they believe they have fallen victim to race or sex discrimination.

The commission also wants the full EU Charter of Fundamental Rights retained in British law, to ensure British citizens rights are not watered down after we leave the European bloc.

It comes amid a row over the Governments Brexit legislation, with ministers overwhelmed by the number of amendments wanted by MPs concerned about the sweeping new powers it gives ministers to change existing laws without full scrutiny in Parliament.

EHRC chair David Isaac told The Independent Brexit was an opportunity to set out a positive vision for the kind of country we wish to be when we leave the EU.

The Government has said it will retain our domestic equality protections after Brexit, but as things stand, we will lose the safety net European law currently provides to ensure that our protections arent eroded, he said.

Thats why we want to see a new constitutional right to equality enshrined in the Withdrawal Bill.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA

Such an approach would provide a homegrown safety net as ministers would be required to explain how new laws comply with the right to equality and Parliament would scrutinise this. In short, it would give us the added protection that we otherwise lose.

The EHRCs suggested Constitutional Right to Equality would be a homegrown safeguard for protections on equality and non-discrimination currently encoded in Article 21 of the EUs charter.

It would mean ministers wishing to pass new laws, or carry out any state action, would have to tell Parliament how they are compatible with the new constitutional right. If they failed to do so their new laws could be exposed to judicial review. The right could also be called upon in tribunals and court cases by people who feel they have been discriminated against.

At the moment, the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights sets out the political, social and economic rights that European institutions  like the Council, Parliament and Court of Justice  must respect when making laws, deciding cases or acting in an official capacity.

Currently, member states like the UK need only respect these rights when they are implementing European Union law. While current withdrawal proposals will see the UK take European law on to the British statute book, the charter will not be retained.

The EHRC argues that transposing a complex body of EU law onto the UK books, while dis-applying the general principles that underpin them in the charter, creates significant doubt and unforeseen gaps as to how strong the protections in those laws will be in the future.

 Europe's chief negotiator Guy Verhofstadt: Britons should keep EU citizenship rights after Brexit

For example, female workers have the right to paid maternity leave under Article 33 of the charter, with European Laws relating to that issue referring back to it.

If the laws are brought into British statute, but without the force of the charter behind them, the protections could be weakened, the EHRC says, leading to the need for new equivalent rights enshrined in UK law.

A Department for Exiting the European Union spokesperson said: The UK has a longstanding tradition of ensuring our rights and liberties are protected and we have made a clear commitment that all protections in equality legislation will continue to apply once the UK has left the EU. The Charter of Fundamental Rights did not create any new rights. Instead it was intended to catalogue the rights that already existed in EU law  under the Withdrawal Bill this law is being converted into UK law on the point we exit the EU.

The Governments key piece of Brexit legislation has been delayed by several weeks due to a major push from MPs to force changes to it.

The EU Withdrawal Bill will now not be debated this week after some 300 amendments were demanded by MPs, with many of them thought to enjoy enough support among Conservative MPs.

At the heart of most concerns are the Herny VIII powers the bill permits, so-called because they allowed the despotic monarch to rule by decree.
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British farmers will be able to pick up the slack if food imports from the EU drop following Brexit, minister Chris Grayling has said, saying the UK will cope with a no-deal departure by simply grow[ing] more here.

The Secretary of State for Transport said that if Britain crashed out of the EU without securing a trade deal, British farmers would have to produce more.

Speaking on the BBCs Andrew Marr Show, Mr Grayling was asked to comment to claims by the head of Sainsburys that there would a 22 per cent increase in food prices if there was no deal with the EU.

Mr Grayling responded that Britain would succeed come what may, and that it was important to plan for all eventualities.

What we will do is grow more here, and will buy more from around the world. That will be bad news for continental farmers, which is why it wont happen. It is actually in their interest to reach a deal, Mr Grayling said.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The news comes as Labour said it would join the Conservatives to block a no-deal Brexit.

John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, said there were enough sensible people in the House of Commons to prevent the growing risk of a no-agreement exit.

He said Labour would put aside party interest to strike alliances with MPs in other parties, which would force the Government to come to their senses.

A key amendment has already been tabled, in part by former Tory Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, to give parliament the ability to veto an out come of no deal  or even a bad deal  outcome.

It demands that the Prime Ministers plan for a two-year transition period is written into the EU Withdrawal Bill, preventing Brexit if that transition is not agreed.
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For a man to call himself a feminist is ridiculous, according to Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Mr Rees-Mogg, who has been tipped as a potential Tory leader, was asked whether he was a feminist during a discussion at the Cheltenham Literary Festival.

He replied that women themselves should decide who could be called a feminist, reported The Daily Telegraph.

The MP for North East Somerset said he supported feminists but that he was not one himself.

Youve asked me to put a label on myself which, if I applied to myself, would make me sound ridiculous, said Mr Rees-Mogg.

When asked why it would make him sound ridiculous, he said because Im a man.

I think it has particular political connotations. I think men saying theyre feminists is slightly trying to take on something that its not for a man to be  I can say I support feminists.

Mr Rees-Mogg and Labour MP Ms Phillips were discussing friendship across the political divide, after their joint appearance in a Channel 4 programme revealed how well they get on, despite holding very different views.

At the Cheltenham Literary Festival event, Mr Rees-Mogg condemned the abuse Ms Phillips has received online. The MP for Birmingham Yardley received 600 rape threats in a single day last year.

This is something we should take really seriously. The abuse of women online for sharing their views is a disgrace.

It is a real disgrace of modern society and will discourage women politicians from going into it if they are treated the way Jess is. It is deeply outrageous.

He said such abuse was the responsibility of internet companies like Facebook and Twitter to eradicate, and that such companies such be subject to the same publishing laws as the UK press.

Ms Phillipss father, a member of the audience, asked Mr Rees-Mogg whether he believed his Conservative stance would allow him to fit through the eye of a needle.

Mr Rees-Mogg asked the crowd to applaud Ms Phillipss father for raising such a splendid daughter. The Catholic MP caused controversy last month when he revealed he opposed abortion, even when a pregnancy is the result of rape.

The following week, he said that the rise in food bank use is rather uplifting and shows what a good compassionate country we are. He attributed the rise to the fact that more people know about them, rather than increasing poverty.

Mr Rees-Mogg is one of the richest MPs in Parliament, where he represents North East Somerset.
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A former cabinet minister has warned Theresa May that most Conservative MPs oppose sacking Philip Hammond, as Brexiteers attacks on the Chancellor increase.

Nicky Morgan condemned sniping that Mr Hammonds time is up as self-indulgent, as Brexit storm clouds darken and a crucial Budget looms next month.

It came as the Democratic Unionist Party strongly denied a report that it blamed him for splitting the Cabinet over Brexit and wanted the Prime Minister to rein her Chancellor in.

Nevertheless, pressure on Mr Hammond is growing after his gaffe last week, when he was forced to apologise for calling the EU the enemy.

One minister told The Sunday Times that the Chancellor should be replaced by a Brexit-backing alternative, such as Michael Gove, who was at least inventive and proactive.

But Ms Morgan, the former Education Secretary, speaking on ITVs Peston on Sunday programme, said: Of course he shouldnt be sacked. I think those who are saying that he should be sacked are incredibly self-indulgent.

She said she had been contacted by a female cabinet minister  immediately assumed by many to be Home Secretary Amber Rudd  who was appalled by whats going on.

Its not on to have all of this. It is not helpful for anybody to have ministers being attacked, whether it is the Chancellor or the Foreign Secretary when something as critical as Brexit negotiations are going on, Ms Morgan added.

The majority of MPs in the parliamentary party do not want Philip Hammond to be sacked.

Hardline Brexiteers are gunning for him for refusing to spend huge sums of money now to show the EU that Britain is ready for a no deal Brexit, if necessary.

Meanwhile, other Tories are frustrated that Mr Hammonds Thatcherite caution is standing in the way of voter-friendly but costly policies that could revive the partys fortunes.

The Sunday Telegraph claimed the DUP believed the Chancellor was frustrating the negotiating process and that the Prime Minister should order him to stop.

But a source denied the claim, saying: We dont recognise this anonymous and inaccurate briefing as coming from any DUP parliamentary source.

It is thought the timing of the Budget  on November 22  makes it all but impossible for the Prime Minister to get rid of Mr Hammond, even if she wants to.

However, with Brexiteer Tories demanding his head as a quid pro quo if Boris Johnson is sacked, that could also make it impossible to shift her rebellious Foreign Secretary.

Over the weekend, business leaders gave their strong backing to Mr Hammond, in an attempt to bolster his position.

The Confederation of British Industrys president, Paul Drechsler, said: The Chancellor is working tirelessly with cabinet colleagues to get the best possible deal for the UK and should be supported in his efforts.

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: Personality politics and public division do nothing to shore up business confidence or instil faith that the economy is being put first.

And a spokesperson for the EEF Manufacturers Organisation said: The current Chancellor has so far done a good job of both highlighting the dangers and trying to offset the problems we face, by supporting common sense over dogma.
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The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalias capital Mogadishu has risen to 231 with more than 275 injured, a senator has said.

Police said a truck bomb exploded outside the Safari Hotel at the K5 intersection, which is lined with government offices, restaurants and kiosks, flattening buildings and setting vehicles on fire. A separate blast struck the Medina district two hours later.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed said the toll comes from doctors at hospitals he has visited in Mogadishu. Many of the bodies in hospital mortuaries have not yet been identified, he said.

It is the single deadliest attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation.

Somali Armed Forces evacuate their injured colleague, from the scene of an explosion in KM4 street in the Hodan district of Mogadishu, Somalia (Reuters) (REUTERS/Feisal Omar)

Dr Afzal Ashraf, assistant professor of international relations at the University of Nottingham, told The Independent the attack was likely a response to recent losses suffered by Islamist groups.

He said groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and Isis were increasingly on the back foot, particularly in Iraq and Syria, and feel they need to lash out.

More than 200 were injured in the explosion outside the hotel and hospitals are struggling to cope with the high number of casualties.

Officials feared the death toll would continue to climb. Many died at hospitals from their wounds, Police Captain Mohamed Hussein said.

Vehicles burn at the scene of a massive explosion in front of Safari Hotel in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia (EPA)

The Red Cross said four volunteers with the Somali Red Crescent Society are among the dead and warned this figure may rise as there are a number of volunteers still missing.

Overnight, rescue workers with torch lights searched for survivors trapped under the rubble of the largely destroyed Safari Hotel, which is close to Somalias foreign ministry. The explosion blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel.

Somali military officers evacuate an injured man from the scene of an explosion in Mogadishu (Reuters)

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood for the wounded victims. I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate, he said.

Angry protesters took to the streets in Mogadishu a day after the massive truck bomb attack.

Somalias government blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabaab extremist group for the attack it called a national disaster. However, al-Shabaab, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital with bombings, had yet to claim the attack.

They dont care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said. They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Somalias information minister, Abdirahman Omar, said the blast was the largest the city had ever seen. Its a sad day. This is how merciless and brutal they are, and we have to unite against them, he said, speaking to the state-run radio station.

The US joined the condemnation, saying such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism.

America has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabaab, which is also fighting the Somali military and the more than 20,000-strong African Union forces in the country.
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One of the world's most isolated outposts joined the 21st century on Saturday, when the British island of St Helena welcomed its first commercial flight.

As the inaugural plane from Johannesburg touched down on the forbidding volcanic island in the middle of the south Atlantic, the 68 passengers on board clapped and cheered.

I've never felt so emotional in all my life, said Libby Weir-Breen, a British travel operator who has been bringing tourists to the island, 1,200 miles (1,900 km) west of the African nation of Angola, for the last 12 years.

She had flown from Scotland to be on the plane, and dabbed away tears as it touched down on the spectacular cliff-side runway of what was once dubbed the world's most useless airport.

I never thought I'd see this day, she said.

The 4,500 people living on St Helena  a British colony since 1658 most famous as the windswept outpost where French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte lived his last years in exile  might also be forgiven for thinking the day would never come.

There was talk of building an airport on St Helena from the 1930s. The best site, one of the few flat spaces on the notoriously craggy island, awas ruled out because of a nearby breeding ground for the wirebird, an endangered species of plover.

An airport at the new site, on top of a valley filled in with 8 million cubic metres of rock, suffered numerous setbacks and delays as costs ballooned to 285m, to the horror of the British government.

The runway and terminal were completed in 2016 but the official opening was pushed back another year after test flights were buffeted by wicked cross-winds, making it unsafe for large aircraft to use.

With the UK suffering under austerity measures, the media was quick to condemn it as a white elephant, or the world's most useless airport, with a price tag of more than 60,000 for every one of the island's residents.

Before the opening of the airport, which will receive weekly flights to and from the South African commercial capital, the only way to St Helena was a five-night voyage from Cape Town aboard the RMS St Helena, a British postal ship.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

With the risk of wind-shear limiting the size of planes and numbers of passengers on Saturday's flight had room for 100 but only 68 on board due to weight restrictions, meaning the hoped-for tourist boom is unlikely to materialise.

Hotel capacity has jumped in the last few years from just a few dozen rooms to more than 100, but, with a maximum of 3,500 visitors a year, the island is unlikely to be weaned off the 53m pounds it receives in aid every year from London.

Besides Napoleona's old house, Longwood, and a cemetery holding some of the 6,000 Afrikaner prisoners sent there by the British during the Anglo-Boer wars in South Africa, St Helena offers scuba diving and walking in pristine natural wildernesses.

Governor Lisa Phillips dismissed the criticism and said that even before it accepted its first commercial flight, the airport had proved its worth in the last 18 months by enabling several life-saving emergency medical evacuations, including a newborn child.

I've seen the headlines about the world's most useless airport, but for St Helena, this has already been the most useful airport, she told reporters after greeting them on the tarmac. It's priceless.

Reuters
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Firefighters are still battling more than a dozen fierce blazes that are raging across northern California as the death toll soared to more than 40 and is expected to rise further amid the crisis.

Powerful shifting winds have left emergency service workers struggling to control the wildfires, while low humidity has dried up vegetation and turned vast areas into a tinderbox, officials said.

The number who lost their lives climbed over the weekend as massive flames engulfed built-up areas, forcing thousands to flee in one of the worst outbreaks seen in the state.

More than 10,000 firefighters and police have been deployed in a massive emergency operation where more than 100,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, with hundreds unaccounted for.

The numbers rushed out of their properties included 3,000 in the city of Santa Rosa, which lies just about 50 miles north of San Francisco.

California governor Jerry Brown, speaking in Santa Rosa in a crisis meeting with officials, said: This is truly one of the greatest tragedies that California has ever faced. The devastation is just unbelievable." Quoted in a report in the LA Times, he added: "It is a horror that no one could have imagined.

A total of 17 wildfires are raging across northern California. Fire crews overnight rushed to areas affected including in Sonoma County, Yuba County, Mendocino County and Napa County  where blazes engulfed neighbourhoods and claimed more lives.

 Deadly fires rage across California

Images in Napa County, where six died, showed whole streets reduced to charred debris. Rescue workers continue to pick through rubble in the search for further bodies in the tragedy.

Hillsides were left blackened and several wineries  the countys main industry  were burned down to remnants, with nothing but brick frames and melted equipment left after the blaze.

The raging fire  dubbed Atlas  has scorched more than 50,000 acres. Firefighters said it continues to threaten about 5,000 homes, but that they have contained almost half of it.

Twenty-two have lost their lives in Sonoma County where the Nuns fire has spread rapidly overnight, threatening the outskirts of the city of Sonoma and the Oakmont neighborhood in Santa Rosa. It was 10 per cent under control by yesterday, officials said.

High winds spread the fire across parts of the county  that was already devastated by the Tubbs fire earlier in the week  as police helped fire crews to evacuate the area.

"I don't think I've ever seen that many cop cars," CalFire spokesman Jeff Allen told the LA Times.

Rescue workers in Mendocino County, where eight people have lost their lives, said they had the raging Redwood wildfire 20 per cent under control.

The Pocket wildfire burns in the hills above Geyserville, California, U.S (REUTERS)

Officials said dry weather meant the conditions were ripe for further outbreaks of blazes across northern California. Low humidity has left vast areas vulnerable to further fires.

Its been drying out the mountains, National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson, according to a report in the LA Times. Its still going to be bone-dry out there overnight.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In Sonoma county, a school headmaster summed up the fears that the blaze could get worse, according to a report in The Guardian.

He said: In the afternoons we start looking up at the flag pole and we start looking to see, is the wind blowing? Is the flag moving? he said. Its been really crazy.
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A 48-year-old teacher has been acquitted of having sex with her pupil after claiming he was lying to help his mother win a case against the school.

Nichole Noel Thiels defence team argued that the teen had said having sex with a teacher was on his bucket list when questioned by police and said his mother had recently filed a claim against the schools operating body.

Prosecutors alleged that Ms Thiel had sex with the boy in late 2015 and 2016 when she was a 46-year-old culinary arts teacher at Lake Pend Orielle High School in Idaho and he was a 16-year-old student.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The defence team argued that a conviction would work in favour of the lawsuit against the Lake Pend Oreille School District and therefore he had a financial motive.

Speaking about the teens motive, Thiel's Defence Council, Attorney Michael Palmer, said: He has a massive incentive to get her convicted.

A jury of seven women and five men delivered a not guilty verdict after an hour of deliberation, according to the Coeur dAlene Press.

Palmer also said there were discrepancies in the teens account of the incidents, including over his claim that he stepped outside to smoke a cigarette which came under scrutiny after the defence argued Ms Theils balcony was not big enough for this.

Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall said he was disappointed with the jurys decision.

In his closing statement, Mr Marshall, said Ms Thiel was an adult with a moral and professional obligation not to engage in sexual activity with the teen and he was too young to give consent.

The verdict followed a three-day trial which centred, almost exclusively, on witness testimony meaning jurours had to make a decision based on each characters credibility.

Ms Thiel would have faced 25 years in prison if convicted of the sexual battery charge.
Taipei, Oct. 15 (CNA) The Fisheries Agency said Sunday it is confident that the European Commission will soon lift its "yellow card" against Taiwan, which was issued in 2015 as a warning that the country was at risk of being identified as uncooperative in the fight against illegal fishing.
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Hustler founder Larry Flynt is said to be offering up to $10 million for information that would lead to the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

An advert is reported to be running in the Washington Post on Sunday explaining the details of the offer.

The advert was tweeted by Fox Business anchor Liz Claman, with that tweet than being retweeted by Mr Flynts official account.

In the ad, Mr Flynt calls Mr Trump an illegitimate president who was installed only by the quirks of our antiquated Electoral College".

The advert says that impeachment would require unimpeachable evidence and said thats why a $10 million reward is being offered.

Mr Flynt then goes into detail about the reasons he believes Mr Trump should be removed from office. These include the Presidents Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey and his withdrawal of the United States from the Paris climate change agreement.

Recommended Democrats officially unveil articles of impeachment against Trump

Mr Flynt also describes what he calls Mr Trumps unconscionable defense of the KKK and neo-Nazis after the Charlottesville riots. Mr Trump received a barrage of criticism for giving a number of differing statements on the violence in Charlottesville at a rally attended by white supremacists and other groups protesting the removal of a confederate statue, which ended with a woman being killed after a car was driven through a crowd of counter-protesters.

Mr Trump said that there was blame on both sides before then specifically denouncing the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists, before again repeating the blame on both sides line.

In the advert, Mr Flynt also argues that Mr Trumps worrisome ability to trigger a nuclear world war is one of the more horrifying reasons Trump should be impeached. Mr Trump has been involved in an escalating war of words with the North Korean regime over their nuclear ambitions, while he has also refused to certify the nuclear pact signed between Iran and six world powers, including the US.

Impeachment would be a messy, contentious affair, but the alternative - three more years of destabilizing dysfunction - is worse, the advert states.

Hustler magazine had not responded to a request for comment by publication

Mr Flynt has made similar offers in the past, offering up to $1 million in October 2016 for audio or video recordings of Trump engaging in illegal activity or acting in a sexually demeaning or derogatory manner.
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A campaigner who was tortured in North Korea has issued a tearful plea to Donald Trump  urging him not to attack the rogue state because millions of innocent lives could be lost.

Robert Park travelled to Pyongyang in 2009 to highlight the human rights abuses there, but he was detained for 43 days and said his captors interrogated, drugged and sexually abused him.

But despite his ordeal he called on the US President not to target the secretive nation, because ordinary North Koreans have already endured and sacrificed too much under Kim Jong Un's regime.

He instead called for a peaceful resolution over the missile crisis, saying one way would be to support critics of the dictator who could stage an uprising to internally unseat him.

In an open letter to Mr Trump, which was reported in the South China Morning Post, he wrote: I sincerely beg  whatever you decide to do in concert with South Korean authorities and the international community  that none of the general people of both North and South Korea would ever get hurt, Mr Park wrote. Koreans have already endured and sacrificed far too much.

It came as both the US and South Korean military stoked further tensions with North Korea as they gear up to stage a fresh round of war exercises in waters off the coast of the peninsula.

Washington and Pyongyang have been at loggerheads for months as North Korea has repeatedly fired ballistic missiles over Japan in its bid to develop an arsenal of nuclear missiles.

The country has ploughed ahead with the tests despite threats by Mr Trump that the rogue nation would feel the fire and fury of the US military unless it stood down its arms programme.

But Mr Park warned that any military strike against North Korea would endanger millions of innocent lives on both sides of the border in the peninsula - and called for a peaceable solution to the crisis.

The Korean American missionary wrote to the US President: It centrally involves reaching out to the general populace of North Korea in sympathy and supporting their internal unseating of Kim Jong-un  one individual."

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

In his earnest, wholehearted and tearful plea to Mr Trump, he added: Mr President: please unconditionally preserve the lives of both North and South Koreas general population. Under no circumstances  if cornerstone international laws, norms and principles professing to safeguard these innocents most sacred right to life contain any substance  can the loss of their lives be countenanced.

It came after US B-1 Lancer bombers again this week carried out military training missions off the coast of Korea with South Korean and Japanese aircraft - in a move likely to have riled Pyongyang

Mr Trump also dispatched an aircraft carrier battle fleet, based on the USS Eisenhower, for the western Pacific to be within attack range of North Korea.
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Sydney's Archbishop Anthony Fisher has said the government should "keep out of the bedroom", while also urging people to vote against same-sex marriage.

Under current laws in Australia, marriage must be between a man and a woman, but the government is circulating a non-binding survey on the issue measuring support for reform.

Addressing parishioners in a congregation on Sunday, the archbishop said legalising same-sex marriage could result in religious believers losing their jobs and businesses.

Recommended Australia to be elected to UN human rights council amid criticism

The state has no business telling us who we should love and how, sexually or otherwise, he told the St Marys Cathedral congregation.

The only kind of friendship the state has a proper interest in recognising and regulating is heterosexual marriage, because thats what leads to children  new citizens  and gives them the best start in life.

The archbishop said it was better for children to have a mother and a father and this was what marriage was for.

He also claimed religious people faced discrimination if same-sex marriage was legalised.

Traditional believers will be vulnerable to discrimination suits and other kinds of bullying for their beliefs. Some may lose their jobs, promotions, businesses, political careers," he said.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 14 November 2022 Members of the hospitality sector demonstrate outside parliament in London. The head of the Confederation of British Industry is urging the UK government to relax immigration rules to help British companies with severe staff shortages, ahead of the chancellors autumn statement EPA UK news in pictures 13 November 2022 England celebrate winning the mens T20 World Cup in Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia AAP Image/Reuters UK news in pictures 12 November 2022 The City of London Pride Group take part in the parade during the Lord Mayor's Show PA UK news in pictures 11 November 2022 City workers attend a Remembrance Day ceremony at Lloyd's of London, in the City of London, to mark Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of the First World War PA UK news in pictures 10 November 2022 A grey heron lands on the river Dodder in Dublin on a sunny autumn morning PA UK news in pictures 9 November 2022 Australia and Spain play during the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup group A match at the Copper Box Arena, London PA UK news in pictures 8 November 2022 A migrant attempting to communicate with journalists is pinned against a fence by members of staff, before being taken out of view, at the Manston immigration short-term holding facility, located at the former Defence Fire Training and Development Centre in Thanet, Kent PA UK news in pictures 7 November 2022 Handout photo issued by Just Stop Oil of a protester who has climbed a gantry on the M25 between junctions six and seven in Surrey, leading to the closure of the motorway PA UK news in pictures 6 November 2022 A grey seal with its pup, at the Donna Nook National Nature Reserve in north Lincolnshire, where they come every year in late October, November and December to give birth to their pups near the sand dunes, the wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from across the UK PA UK news in pictures 5 November 2022 Demonstrators with placards calling for a General Election march near the Houses of Parliament AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 4 November 2022 A peacock is seen in the early winter sunshine in the Dutch Gardens in Holland Park AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 Florence Kasumba, Letitia Wright, Tenoch Huerta and Lupita Nyongo attend the European Premiere of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever in London Getty UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters UK news in pictures 1 November 2022 Englands Tara-Jane Stanley scores their sides seventh try against Brazil during the Womens Rugby League World Cup group A match at Headingley Stadium, Leeds PA UK news in pictures 31 October 2022 GBs James Hall competes during the mens parallel bars qualification at the World Gymnastics Championships in Liverpool AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 October 2022 People dressed in Halloween costumes paddle board along the river Avon in Christchurch, Dorset PA UK news in pictures 29 October 2022 Members of the public take pictures as police officers remove activists from a road during a Just Stop Oil protest, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 28 October 2022 A cosplayer attends the MCM Comic Con London 2022 at the ExCel Centre in London Reuters UK news in pictures 27 October 2022 98-year-old D-Day Veteran Bernard Morgan, whose story is among those featured on the giant poppy wall, during the launch of The Royal British Legion 2022 Poppy Appeal, at Hay's Galleria in central London PA UK news in pictures 26 October 2022 A meerkat explores a pumpkin in the enclosure at Wild Place, Bristol, where some of the animals are having pumpkin treats as part of their environmental enrichment PA UK news in pictures 25 October 2022 King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government PA UK news in pictures 24 October 2022 Rishi Sunak celebrates with Tory MPs outside the Conservative Campaign Headquarters after becoming the new leader of the Conservative Party Reuters UK news in pictures 23 October 2022 The Green Man at October Plenty, Borough Market's annual Autumn Harvest festival, in London, which returns for the first time post pandemic PA UK news in pictures 21 October 2022 Sculptor Peter McKenna puts the finishing touches to a pumpkin that will form part of the Planet A Hebden Bridge Pumpkin Trail in the West Yorkshire town PA UK news in pictures 20 October 2022 Britains Prime Minister Liz Truss delivers a speech outside of 10 Downing Street in central London to announce her resignation AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 19 October 2022 Salmon leap up Stainforth Force on the River Ribble in the Yorkshire Dales as they swim upriver to their spawning grounds during the annual Salmon migration PA UK news in pictures 18 October 2022 Just Stop Oil protesters continue their protest for a second day on the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, which links Kent and Essex and which remains closed for traffic, after it was scaled by two climbers from the group PA UK news in pictures 17 October 2022 Hundreds of students take part in the traditional Raisin Monday foam fight on St Salvator's Lower College Lawn at the University of St Andrews in Fife PA UK news in pictures 16 October 2022 A protester holds a placard during a march into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 October 2022 A member of the public drags an activist who is blocking the road during a "Just Stop Oil" protest, in London, Britain REUTERS UK news in pictures 14 October 2022 Germanys Womens double skulls during day one of the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals at Saundersfoot beach, Pembrokeshire PA UK news in pictures 13 October 2022 Family and mourners arrive at St Michael's Church, in Creeslough, for the funeral mass of 49-year-old mother of four Martina Martin, who died following an explosion at the Applegreen service station in the village of Creeslough in Co Donegal on Friday PA UK news in pictures 12 October 2022 Motorists in Coventry pass trees showing autumnal colour PA UK news in pictures 11 October 2022 A woman and her dog in the the North Sea at Tynemouth Longsands beach before sunrise PA UK news in pictures 10 October 2022 Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London PA UK news in pictures 9 October 2022 A drummer plays during the Diwali on the Square celebration, in Trafalgar Square, London PA UK news in pictures 8 October 2022 Timothee Chalamet attending the UK premiere of Bones and All during the BFI London Film Festival 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre, London PA UK news in pictures 7 October 2022 Two young male fallow deer lock antlers in Dublins Phoenix park as rutting season begins PA UK news in pictures 6 October 2022 The Princess of Wales during a cocktail making competition during a visit to Trademarket, a new outdoor street-food and retail market situated in Belfast city centre, as part of the royal visit to Northern Ireland PA UK news in pictures 5 October 2022 Greenpeace protesters interrupt Prime Minister Liz Truss as she delivers her keynote speech to the Conservative Party annual conference PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2022 Prime Minister Liz Truss and Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng wearing hard hats and hi-vis jackets, visit a construction site for a medical innovation campus in Birmingham AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2022 British artist Sam Cox, aka Mr Doodle, reveals the Doodle House, a twelve-room mansion at Tenterden, in Kent, which has been covered, inside and out in the artist's trademark monochrome, cartoonish hand-drawn doodles PA UK news in pictures 2 October 2022 Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring Manchester City's second goal against Manchester United at Etihad Stadium. Haaland went on to score a hattrick, his third of the season in the Premier League. City beat United 6-3. Manchester City FC/Getty UK news in pictures 1 October 2022 Protesters hold up flags and placards at a protest in London. A variety of protest groups including Enough is Enough, Don't Pay and Just Stop Oil all demonstrated on the day AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 30 September 2022 British Prime Minister Liz Truss, who has not been seen in days, leaves the back of Downing Street after a meeting with Office For Budget Responsibility following the release of her governments mini-budget Getty UK news in pictures 29 September 2022 The Virginia creeper foliage on the Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (Beyond the Bridge) Llanwrst, Conwy North Wales, has changed colour from green to red in at the start of Autumn. The building was built in 1480 as a residential dwelling but has been a tearoom for over 50 years PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2022 Criminal barristers from the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), demonstrates outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, as part of their ongoing pay row with the Government PA UK news in pictures 27 September 2022 David White, Garter King of Arms, poses with an envelope franked with the new cypher of King Charles III 'CIIIR', after it was printed in the Court Post Office at Buckingham Palace in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 26 September 2022 A gallery staff member poses next to a painting by Lucian Freud - Self-portrait (Fragment), 1956 - on show at a photocall for the Credit Suisse exhibition - Lucian Freud: New Perspectives at the National Gallery in London PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2022 Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer is interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg in Liverpool before the start of the Labour Party annual Conference which he opened with a tribute to Queen Elizabeth II and sang the national anthem PA

Discussion of same-sex marriage has become heated in Australia and in September the Senate passed legislation banning intimidation, threats and vilification during the vote, which runs until 15 November.

Some 16 million people are eligible to vote in the survey, but unlike Australian elections, the poll is voluntary, meaning participation is expected to be low.

Opinion polls put the Yes vote in the lead. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, whose government is divided over the issue, has urged Australians to vote in favour of reform.

I can assure you that if the postal vote delivers a Yes vote, and I encourage Australians to vote Yes and I will be voting Yes, then I have no doubt the legislation will sail through the Parliament," he said.
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A 15-year-old teenager has been arrested after an 84-year-old pensioner was robbed and raped in her home, police said.

The woman had been sleeping when an assailant smashed his way into the house in the Waikiki area of Perth, Australia before he pinned her to ground and sexually assaulted her.

He then forced the woman to wash herself in a shower in a bid to clean away any DNA evidence of the attack before he ransacked the property, according to reports.

The woman, who lives alone, was left badly injured and traumatised after the assault. She was hospitalised overnight but released the next day following the attack on Friday.

Police on Sunday arrested a 15-year old over the assault.

Forensics officers have been combing through the womans home for DNA evidence in order to build up a case for prosecutors.

Senior Constable Rulan Carr spoke out after the attack, warning elderly people who live alone to be vigilant.

She said in a report in ABC News website in Australia: "In relation to her welfare, we're glad to say she is doing well considering what she has endured and it is our hope that we can resolve this matter for her and for her family as soon as possible.

"It is an opportunity now to say to our community members of all ages, but especially the more vulnerable, that you can never be too safe.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. 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"If you are living alone, you are especially vulnerable so take the time to obviously keep your houses secure, keep an eye on each other, do the neighbourly thing and obviously report stuff that is suspicious to police.
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Spain is holding its breath as it waits for Catalan premier Carles Puigdemont to choose between refuting his unilateral declaration of the regions independence last week or facing direct intervention from Madrid.

The Spanish government has given Mr Puigdemont a deadline of 10am local time on Monday to answer the question of whether or not the region has declared independence.

Mr Puigdemont gave no indication in a short speech on Sunday whether he plans to backtrack on last Tuesdays declaration of Catalan independence, which was suspended immediately afterwards in a bid for a last-minute round of negotiations with Madrid.

Speaking at the annual homage to Catalan nationalist hero Lluis Companys, executed on General Francos orders in 1940, Mr Puigdemont made a somewhat vague appeal to dignity and courage and our duty to remember, as a people that will always search for the freedom of all its citizens.

Our decisions will be inspired by our faith in peace, civic responsibility, calmness and also steadfastness and democracy, he said.

He then accused the ruling Partido Popular (PP) party of trivializing the death of Mr Companys, a former regional president who briefly, and unsuccessfully, declared Catalan independence in 1934 before being incarcerated.

Last week a PP spokesperson, Pablo Casado, said Mr Puigdemont could end up like Companys, although he later clarified he meant in jail, rather than Companys subsequent death by firing squad.

The anniversary of Companys death is traditionally an emotional highpoint of the Catalan nationalists year, beginning with torchlit overnight marches to the site of his execution in Barcelonas Montjuic Park and culminating with the laying of wreaths at his nearby tomb.

But Mr Puigdemonts speech was notably more low key than his rousing address at last years tribute to Companys, when he insisted no courts or legal system can stop the will of the Catalan people.

This October, though, there is far more at stake. The Catalan premier currently faces intense pressure from inside the nationalist ranks to confirm the regions declaration of independence, and the hard-left CUP party has threatened to withdraw its support from Puigdemonts government if he fails to deliver on that promise.

But the European Commision president Jean-Claude Juncker has recently underlined Brussels opposition to Catalonia breaking away, more than 500 companies have now at least partly quit the region since the political turbulence began, and the ruling PP yesterday (Sunday) showed no sign of letting Mr Puigdemont do anything but backtrack.

The independence movement has spent too long being ambiguous, said a PP deputy for Congress, Javier Maroto. Tomorrow that time is is over.

The only practical answer [from Mr Puigdemont] is to say No to independence. Sometimes a well-ordered retreat represents a great victory.

Should Mr Puigdemonts response on Monday be one of continued defiance, however, the government will give him until Thursday to reconsider, before applying direct rule under Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution.

This would enable Madrid to call local elections, remove Mr Puigdemont from office and take control of the Catalan regional police force, whose chief, Josep Lluis Trapero, returns to a Madrid court today (Monday) together with two leading nationalist politicians on possible charges of sedition.

But there are fears, too, that using Article 155 could elevate civil unrest in Catalonia to unprecedented  and dangerously unpredictable  levels. Mondays response from Catalonia, therefore, constitutes the polticial equivalent of double or quits.
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Voters in Switzerland will decide whether to ban Muslim face veils including the burqa after a campaign by far-right groups to outlaw the garment which they say undermine the "dignity of women".

The public will get a chance to have its say in a referendum expected to be rolled out next year in the country where less than 5 per cent are Islamic in the largely Christian nation.

It was tabled after extremists gathered 100,000 signatures for the ballot, forcing officials to react under a rule in the country where voters decide the agenda in a system known as direct democracy.

Recommended Denmark set to ban the burqa

If the measure goes through, Switzerland would follow suit with other countries in Europe including France and Austria which have cracked down on full-face veils.

The measure was proposed by a group including MPs from the nationalist Swiss People's Party (SVP) that was also behind a ban on building minarets in Switzerland.

It came after the Italian-speaking Swiss region of Ticino brought in a ban last year, and offenders can be fined thousands of pounds for flouting the rule.

Officials brought in the policy in the Catholic area after a poll found that some 65 per cent of people supported a ban.

Walter Wobmann, an SVP politician campaigning for a country-wide ban, claimed in recent months that a crackdown would maintain public order and respect for the dignity of women.

Veils are an attack on integration in a free society, he added. The ban of religiously motivated coverings in public is proportionate and violates neither freedom of religion nor expression. It does not constitute discrimination.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Only around 350,000 of Switzerlands 8.3 million inhabitants are Muslim, but issues around religion and integration have become a key focus in recent months.

France and Belgium already enforce a bans on full-face veils, while Germany and the Netherlands are considering similar laws. Regions of Italy, Spain and Russia also regulate religious attire.

A recent survey by YouGov found the British public supported a universal ban on Islamic veils by an overwhelming margin of more than two-to-one.
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A Nepalese former living goddess has rejoined society after nine years in isolation.

Twelve-year-old Matina Shakya was anointed as a kumari, a living embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju, when she was three. She was taken from her parents, with their consent, to live as the Royal Kumari in a temple palace in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu.

The Royal Kumari is only allowed to leave the palace 13 times a year, on special feast days, when she is painted in elaborate make-up and attended by huge crowds of worshippers. She is always carried by others in public, as tradition dictates her feet must not touch the ground. The Royal Kumaris role includes blessing royals and government officials.

There are around 12 kumaris across the Kathmandu region, though only the most important ones are isolated from society. When a kumari nears puberty, she rejoins society as a former kumari and another pre-pubescent girl takes her place in the palace.

Twelve-year-old former 'living goddess' Matina Shakya in her new school classroom, weeks after leaving her role as Nepal's Royal Kumari (GettyGOPEN RAI/AFP/Getty Images)

Matina was replaced on 28 September by three-year-old Trishna Shakya, who was taken to the palace as her predecessor left through a rear entrance.

Matinas father Pratap Man Shakya told AFP he was confident his 12-year-old daughter would adapt to life as a former living goddess.

We hope now that she is going to school in a good environment she will become an even better student.

"Kumari is an ancient tradition so we need to continue it in a proper fashion, Mr Shakya told Chinese news site Xinhua.

Since it's a matter of national identity and culture, the state should seriously consider all aspects of its preservation."

The director of Matinas new school said: we are very proud to have the retired living goddess studying at our school.

Private tutor Laxmi Maharjan schooled Matina for three hours a day when she was the Royal Kumari. "She calls me miss but I still call her goddess. I feel very special and fortunate to be the teacher of a living goddess, Ms Maharjan told Xinhua.

I found her always eager to learn new things and she was very active in extra-curricular activities like drawing, painting, weaving and cooking. She also taught me so many things.

The tradition of the kumari, which derives from the Sanskrit word for princess, belongs to the indigenous Newar people of the Kathmandu valley.

Human rights activists, including the Nepalese Women Rehabilitation Centre (WOREC), condemn the kumari tradition for robbing young girls of a childhood. However, a Supreme Court action in 2008 concluded that the role did not constitute child labour and did not restrict the girls freedom of movement. But the ruling did introduce compulsory education for the kumaris.

Former Royal Kumari Rushmila Shakya published a memoir in the 1990s describing the difficulties of returning to normal life as a former living goddess.
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For the first time, Tony Blair has said he and other world leaders were wrong to give in to Israeli pressure to boycott Hamas after it won the Palestinian elections in 2006.

Mr Blair, who was Prime Minister at the time, supported President George W Bushs push to halt aid to and cut ties with the newly elected Hamas-led authority in Gaza unless it agreed to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

A year after Hamas rejected the terms. The boycott and Israels economic blockade of Gaza came into force, and remains in effect today.

 Tony Blair admits Jeremy Corbyn could become Prime Minister

Mr Blair was appointed special representative of the Middle East Quartet, which comprises the US, EU, UN and Russia, the day he resigned as Prime Minister.

In an interview with The Observer, the former Prime Minister said: In retrospect I think we should have, right at the very beginning, tried to pull [Hamas] into a dialogue and shifted their positions. I think thats where I would be in retrospect.

But obviously it was very difficult, the Israelis were very opposed to it. But you know we could have probably worked out a way whereby we did  which in fact we ended up doing anyway, informally.

The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child

Although Mr Blair did not elaborate on the nature of the British Governments informal contact with Hamas, he appeared to be referring to talks between MI6 and Hamas representatives to secure the release of a British journalist kidnapped in Gaza in 2007.

His remarks come as Hamas agreed to hold general elections in Gaza in order to bring about its long-running feud with the Fatah movement.

The rival factions signed a reconciliation deal in Cairo last week after two days of negotiations brokered by Egypt. The groups fought a short civil war in Gaza in 2007. Since then Hamas has governed the small coastal enclave.

Hamas has refused to recognise the state of Israel or denounce the use of violence but earlier this year changed its founding charter to suggest it would be willing to assent to a Palestinian state along the lines of the 1967 Green Line.
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Emmanuel Macron has said modern democracies need new political heroes and called for an end to the European civil war.

The French President said he wanted to renew the European dream and reawaken ambitions for it during an interview with German newspaper Der Spiegel.

His comments come days after the fifth round of Brexit talks closed with the EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, claiming the EU and UK were in a deadlock over Britains financial contribution.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Giving his thoughts on modern democracy, Macron said: I am a strong believer that modern political life must rediscover a sense for symbolism.

We need to develop a kind of political heroism. I don't mean that I want to play the hero. But we need to be amenable once again to creating grand narratives.

He went on to call on leaders to work together to achieve sovereignty, unity and democracy in Europe.

Let's put an end to this European civil war, the existence of which we don't want to admit, and stop constantly looking at whether we are better than our neighbouring country at this or the other thing.

The 39-year-old, who is approaching his sixth month in office after gaining a landslide victory over National Front leader Marine Le Pen in May, also played down fears of rising nationalism in Eastern European countries.

I was in Bulgaria in August. The people there are excited about Europe. We cant start dividing people up into categories, he said.

The President went on to say he was convinced that there is a desire for Europe.

It comes as voting gets underway in Austria for a snap election where conservative leader, Sebastian Kurz, looks set to become leader with a campaign characterised as being hard on immigration and soft on taxes.

Macron, who saw his approval ratings fall from 64 to 54 per cent this summer, will give his first live television interview on Sunday night, according to The Guardian.

In the interview, the President dismissed the suggestion that he was seen as aloof by the French public, saying: When I am with French people, I am not aloof because I belong to them.
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Just when you thought the world could not get any more surreal, Theresa Mays Government is reportedly thinking of signing us up to the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) as a fallback for failing to secure a deal with the European Union.

Of all the bad ideas that this Government has come up with on international trade, this may be the worst.

To begin with, no responsible Prime Minister should be contemplating leaving the EU without a new trade deal in place. Every business leader I have spoken to is adamant that abandoning our biggest market with no deal for the future is the worst outcome imaginable. No deal means throwing the British economy under the bus.

Then there is the reality of Nafta itself. Since coming into force in 1994, the agreement has locked the economies of Canada, Mexico and the USA into a free trade zone that has delivered none of the benefits that were promised  but a host of unwelcome effects.

 Trump Slams Bill Clinton's NAFTA as 'Worst Trade Deal Ever'

Like so many free trade deals before and since, Nafta was sold as a massive opportunity for working people and their prospects. Forecasts spoke of hundreds of thousands of new jobs in all three countries. The reality could not have been more different.

At least two million Mexican farmers lost their livelihoods, as a result of being brought into direct competition with heavily subsidised US industrial agriculture. The new jobs created in Mexicos maquiladora (manufacturing) sector were so badly paid that the minimum wage collapsed to just a fifth of the value it had enjoyed in the 1980s.

Academics argue over exactly how many hundreds of thousands of US jobs were lost as a direct result of Nafta, but trade unions representing US workers are in no doubt that it was a disaster. Donald Trump spoke to the experience of ordinary working people when he dubbed Nafta the worst trade deal ever made. Hillary Clinton was forced to agree that the deal has not delivered.

Its not just jobs that are at risk. Nafta has been responsible for a race to the bottom in standards across North America, with working conditions declining along with wages. Canada used to enjoy high social and environmental protections before Nafta, but these have been gradually watered down over the past two decades in order to conform to the lower standards of the USA.

One of the mechanisms responsible for this trend is in Naftas infamous Chapter XI, which was the first time the principle of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) was introduced to a major regional trade agreement. This system allows foreign investors to sue a host government in their own exclusive judicial system if they can argue their profits have been harmed by social or environmental regulations, and it has been successfully used by multinational companies against the public interest in hundreds of cases to date.

Brexit: the deciders Show all 8 1 /8 Brexit: the deciders Brexit: the deciders European Union's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier Getty Brexit: the deciders French President Emmanuel Macron Getty Brexit: the deciders German Chancellor Angela Merkel Reuters Brexit: the deciders Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker EPA Brexit: the deciders The European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt Getty Brexit: the deciders Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May Getty Images Brexit: the deciders Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond PA Brexit: the deciders After the first and second appointed Brexit secretaries resigned (David Davis and Dominic Raab respectively), Stephen Barclay is currently heading up the position PA

Canada has been particularly hard hit by ISDS cases under Nafta, and has seen crucial public health measures scrapped as a result. ISDS rulings have also undermined Mexicos attempts to protect fragile ecosystems, and even President Obama was faced with a massive $15bn (11.3) ISDS suit when he halted the construction of the highly controversial XL Pipeline on environmental grounds.

Back in the UK, the coalition government commissioned a cost-benefit analysis from the London School of Economics in 2013 as to what granting ISDS powers to North American firms would mean for our economy. Theresa May would do well to remind herself of the assessments conclusion: the UK would see no benefits from introducing ISDS  only costs.

Nafta may not even survive long enough for the UK to join it. This week sees the fourth round of renegotiation talks between the three parties in a desperate attempt to save what they can of the deal, and all signs point to an increasing distance between their positions.

Trump has threatened to tear up Nafta if Canada and Mexico do not grant him greater concessions, and the US Government is now proposing a sunset clause to terminate the agreement automatically in five years unless specifically extended. Mexico has stated that it will pull out of Nafta independently if it is in the national interest to do so  a stance that has the backing of major Mexican business federations.

Nafta is on life support, with some business leaders giving it no more than a 30 per cent chance of survival. Yet this is the dogs breakfast that Theresa May suggests could make up for the loss of our nearest and most important trading partners: the 27 remaining EU member states.

Never has a Government looked so clueless, and never have the consequences of its failure been so grave.

Barry Gardiner is a Labour MP and Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade
Forecasters are warning of stormy conditions as Ophelia sweeps across the UK

Hurricane Ophelia is to batter the UK and Ireland with gusts of up to 80mph, posing a danger to life and threatening travel chaos.

Schools, government buildings and courts are due to close in parts of Ireland on Monday, with t he Met Office issuing severe weather alerts, warning of potential power cuts, and disruption to transport and mobile phone signal.

Airports are advising passengers in Ireland to check the latest information, with a n umber of Aer Lingus flights cancelled due to severe weather and the prospect of further cancellations with other carriers.

Al l schools and colleges in the Republic of Ireland will close for the day as fears mount over the damage the storm could wreak.

The tropical storm has made its way across the Atlantic and Ophelia's remnants are set to reach home shores on Monday, resulting in "exceptional" weather - exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 killed 18 people.

Northern Ireland is covered with an amber warning - meaning there is a "potential risk to life and property", issued when forecasters believe people need to be prepared to change their plans and protect themselves from the impacts of severe weather.

Very windy weather is expected across the entire region, while a yellow warning is in place for much of Wales, Scotland, north east England, north west England, south west England and the West Midlands.

Gusts of 55-65mph are likely across Northern Ireland with 70-80mph gusts in the far south-east, while a smaller area of very gusty winds is then likely to run across the region from the west with 65-75mph gusts possible for a short period of time in any one location.

Forecasters are warning of flying debris, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown on to coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.

"This leads to the potential for injuries and danger to life," the Met Office said.

Heavy rain is also possible in parts of Northern Ireland and western Scotland.

Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said that while storms with these wind speeds tend to happen at this time of year, the one on its way is "quite a substantial system", adding that he would describe it as "pretty exceptional".

Mr Miall said Ophelia will have gone through a transition on its way across the Atlantic and will no longer be a hurricane, but will still bring "hurricane-force" winds.

Met Eireann have issued a "status red" weather alert for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry, warning of severe winds and stormy conditions.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar tweeted: "Defence forces being deployed in Red weather alert areas and on standby for further action tomorrow.

"Please check in with older neighbours and those who need medical care."

Dublin Airport and Shannon Airport are advising passengers to check the latest flight information before travelling to the airport, while Cork Airport said cancellations are likely.

Ryanair said: "We will inform customers in the event of any changes to our flight schedule and the latest flight information will be posted on the Ryanair.com website."

Bus Eireann said it will not run School Transport Scheme services on Monday in the counties of Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway and Mayo.

Loganair in Scotland is offering free flight changes on routes that could be hit by the severe weather conditions.

The airline said at the moment it still intends operating a normal full schedule on Monday and Tuesday.

The UK Military of Defence (MOD) has three battalions - 1,200 personnel in total - permanently on standby to assist with contingencies.

But an MOD spokesman said it has not yet received requests from any local authority for assistance.

Meanwhile, bookmaker Coral cut the odds on this month being the wettest October on record in the UK into evens (from 3-1) following a flurry of bets on Sunday morning.

The firm is offering 6-4 that the wind speed reaches as high as 100mph in mainland UK next week and 2-1 for there to be snowfall in October.
Storm Ophelia is expected to cause further disruption after three people died in hurricane-force winds and hundreds of thousands were left without power.

Scotland is braced for gusts of up to 70mph and flood warnings are in place on its west coast as the remnants of the hurricane batter the British Isles.

Ireland experienced the worst of the weather on Monday, with winds of almost 100mph damaging electricity networks and causing widespread disruption.

One man was killed in Ravensdale, Dundalk, when a car he was in was struck by a tree at around 2.45pm, gardai said.

In Cahir, Co Tipperary, a man in his 30s was killed in a chainsaw accident when he was trying to clear a tree downed by the wind.

Earlier, a woman driver in her mid 50s died when a tree fell on her car in strong winds near Aglish village in Co Waterford.

Prime Minister Theresa May spoke to Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar on Monday afternoon to offer support to affected areas.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "On Storm Ophelia, the Prime Minister expressed her sympathies for the loss of life and said the UK Government stood ready to provide any support if requested."

Around 330,000 homes and business were still without power on Monday night following the worst storm on record on the island of Ireland.

Help from Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK is expected to be drafted in on Wednesday to help restore power, ESB, the Republic of Ireland's electricity network, said.

Authorities in the Republic and Northern Ireland have said schools will remain closed on Tuesday to ensure the safety of staff and children.

The storm will track north overnight and could cause rush hour disruption in Scotland and northern parts of England, the Met Office said.

A yellow weather warning for wind covering Northern Ireland, southern and central Scotland, the north of England and north west Wales is in place until the morning.

Forecaster Steven Keates said commuters should expect "very gusty conditions", with winds of up to 70mph.

He said: "The strong winds will continue but should moderate a little bit compared to what we have seen throughout the course of today.

"There's still a risk of gales and it's still strong enough to cause disruption, but a little bit down on what we have seen."

The sun turned red over parts of England on Monday as ex-hurricane Ophelia pulled up air and dust from southern Europe and Africa.

But the phenomenon is unlikely to return on Tuesday due to a change in air mass.

Mr Keates said: "Whereas this morning the air mass was coming up from the south, picking up the smoke from Portuguese wild fires and Saharan dust, now the wind is coming in from the west.

"So it is a much cleaner air mass coming off the ocean."

Temperatures are also expected to be cooler, after a warm 23.5C (74F) was recorded in Kent on Monday.
One of the largest growers of pumpkins in Ireland, Lispopple Apples, will sell 25,000 pumpkins this year as demand for the squash grows.

And, according to Denise Buckley there is no such thing as a perfect pumpkin. Youll always have marks on pumpkins and Ive seen amazing and very imaginative carving with odd-shaped ones.

Denise, who runs the farm with her mother Maura, first started growing pumpkins in the North Co Dublin farm 25 years ago.

She has worked on the family farm, which has been in the Buckley family for three generations, since she left school and was looking for alternatives to grow.

We started with courgettes and then pumpkins, she says and today Lispopple Apples supplies SuperValu shops around the country.

It takes 9ac of land to grow the 25,000 pumpkins and the same soil can only be used for two years.

We plant the seeds in April indoors and then outdoors in May and harvesting begins from the end of September.

The pumpkins grew quite well this year, although we could have done with more sunshine.

While Denises favourite pumpkin dish is stirfry or roast pumpkin, she says there is no waste with them as her husband, who runs a sheep farm, takes any pumpkin waste there is for the sheep. Keelings also supply SuperValu who sell around 120,000 pumpkins from five Irish growers.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions. So too is the road to recovery. And at some point in the recovery process, the penitent returns to the fray, to restore lost trust.

Bernard Byrne, chief executive of AIB, was mere months into his new role as the pillar bank's chief financial officer when the State pumped more than 20bn into the lender to keep it afloat in late 2010.

It fell to figures such as former AIB chief executive Eugene Sheehy and former chairman Dermot Gleeson, to don the sackcloth and ashes and seek forgiveness for AIB's sins. Both men left their roles at the height of the global financial crisis in 2009.

But it is Byrne, the affable Dublin-born chartered accountant who took over the role of chief executive from David Duffy in May 2015, who is the public face of AIB's new phase: rehabilitation.

The initial public offering (IPO) of AIB last June, when the sale of a 28.8pc stake to stock market investors generated 3.4bn, was a landmark for the bank - and the Irish economy.

Investment bank Morgan Stanley hailed the partial relisting - which was more than four times oversubscribed - as the "crescendo" of AIB's rehabilitation. But Byrne insists that Ireland's largest bank is nowhere close to the end of the journey.

"The future of the bank is making sure that we have a proper social licence to operate," says Byrne who led AIB's IPO after a decade of turmoil and uncertainty that decimated the trust of its customers, shareholders and society.

Later this week Byrne and AIB chairman Richard Pym will host a major conference to facilitate what the lender describes as "a conversation on the need to align both commercial and social objectives to create real value in business and for society". An array of speakers including Bill McDermott, chief executive of SAP and Volvo's chief futurologist Aric Dromi, will descend on Croke Park to take part in a debate that is part of AIB's own efforts to win back public trust.

Byrne, whose bank has set aside close to 200m to compensate customers embroiled in the system-wide tracker mortgage scandal, knows that many may give short shrift to the thought of AIB - or any bailed-out bank - leading talks on sustainability. "We're not completely virtuous, we're not trying to pretend we are," says the budding triathlete. "Nobody trusted us and that was totally understandable. Big statements and big positions about how wonderful we're going to become have no credibility. What we had to do and must continue to do is prove by doing."

The sale by the Government of the first tranche of its AIB stake (the State maintains a 71pc ownership) followed a prolonged and painful restructuring of AIB's balance sheet.

It was a process which saw the bank shed almost a third of its branch network and saw its employee base shrink to some 10,000 from a peak of almost 26,000 in 2007.

AIB has emerged from the global financial crisis with a cleaner, healthier balance sheet. But with some of the highest exposures, relative to its European peers, to non-performing loans (NPLs), AIB has some way to travel before it completes its journey from perdition to redemption.

AIB's non-performing loans remain high in a European context: at some 19pc, they are well above the 5.4pc European Union average. And, at 12.1bn, they represent approximately 88pc of AIB's 13.8bn market cap.

With the spectre of the supervision arm of the ECB looming large over the Irish banking sector, Byrne is firmly within Frankfurt's sights as he seeks to reduce AIB's non-performing loans to 5pc by 2019. How fast and by what means, write-downs or loan sales to so-called vulture funds, can AIB run down the remainder of its bad loan book in two years?

AIB took steps recently to deal with some of its most embattled borrowers when it entered into a deal with David Hall of the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation (IMHO) to support a not-for-profit mortgage to rent scheme.

"Even Jesus Christ couldn't restructure these mortgages," said Hall, who believes the scheme, if adopted by other banks, could help up to 50,000 homeowners to stay in their homes. Byrne thinks the scheme, which is only open to people who qualify for social housing due to their low income - and who will have to undergo an affordability test - may ultimately help hundreds of borrowers in AIB's 'Come to Jesus' category. But he warns that unless banks or private-equity investors can realise their security in the form of repossessions or other means, the cost of credit will rise for all.

"If, long-term, people form a view that actually you can't exercise security, then fundamentally the cost of credit just rises," says Byrne, adding that he believes AIB can effectively sell its problem portfolios "if that's what we need to do".

The plight of thousands of tracker mortgage holders, some of whom gave harrowing testimony to the Oireachtas Finance Committee last week, has further dented the banking sector's rehabilitation efforts. In some cases, customers were moved off a tracker to a more favourable rate for a fixed period of time only to be refused the right to revert.

In other cases, customers were charged a much higher rate than stipulated in their contracts.

AIB has set aside 190m to deal with its tracker issues. To the outside world, the debacle, which could cost 1bn across the sector, bore all the hallmarks of a concerted scheme. Central Bank Governor Philip Lane has described the scheme as 'system wide'.

And although the regulator spoke to the gardai about the issue of tracker loans being wrongly taken from customers, the Central Bank has stopped short of describing the scandal as systemic.

Byrne says there is no one within AIB who set out to harm its customers. "We haven't found any systemic issue," says Byrne.

"What happened was as a result of the tracker being effectively suspended in 2008 because the market dislocated.

"It took quite a while to track through into a systems issue. So it effectively took quite a while. And remember 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, banking wasn't in the sort of position where people were thinking about these things - they were thinking about pure survival."

One issue Byrne is not apologetic about is the fact that AIB will pay no tax on profits for up to 30 years due to the huge losses it racked up over the course of the financial crisis.

In presentations given to investors in the run up to the IPO last June, the bank described how its deferred tax asset (DTA) of 3bn gave it advantages over many other listed banks, sending customers and commentators into further apoplexy.

"Can I offer a different perspective?" says Byrne, who explains that because the 3bn was part of AIB's capital structure, the State didn't have to put in 3bn. "If that didn't exist we would have had to put in another 3bn. The second point is we're selling the bank now, or the State is selling the bank, and it's realising more than tangible book value. And 3bn of that book value is deferred tax.

"Do you want the 3bn up front or do you want it over a time period? Which is better for the State: to get 3bn up front or on a very slow curve?"

Despite Brexit and renewed efforts at EU level to harmonise the bloc's corporate tax and other tax areas, Byrne - whose business mantra is 'don't panic' - is upbeat on the Irish economy.

AIB has deployed 21 'Brexit champions' around the country to help SMEs navigate the twin challenges of currency and competitiveness.

"We see our job as supporting those businesses. Some of those will reposition some of their activities into the UK in order to effectively take out the hedge position. But most of them will effectively end up looking for alternative markets to supplement what'll probably come from a changed position on the trades environment." Byrne sees no major threat to Ireland's 12.5pc corporation tax rate, but says we need to maintain a broader tax competitiveness to attract key overseas talent and multinationals to Ireland.

"We need to make sure Ireland is well positioned to encourage senior employment in the economy, because senior employment tends to attract junior employment," says Byrne. "Making sure that the economy is seen as an attractive location, not just for indigenous firms but for international firms and international players to exist."

A vastly-accelerated rundown of impaired loans will prime AIB for a full return to the stock market.It's a decision that falls ultimately to Finance Minister Paschal Donohue. But Byrne, who says last summer's IPO was "about as clean and textbook an IPO as you could possibly get", is aiming to wrest AIB from State ownership within two to three years.

AIB is "genuinely within touching distance" of repaying back all of the State's 20bn injection, says Byrne who spent the best part of his career in the State-owned electricity supplier ESB.

"Ireland Inc did well out of it [the IPO] because we were effectively internationally marketing Ireland and then the bank. Ireland first and then the bank," says Byrne.

"It's a good time. Those investors are still there and there's a broad pool who didn't participate who are interested in this story. So there's an opportunity in the shorter term rather than in the longer term to continue to run on it".

"AIB will need to start thinking about doing different things in a two to three year time frame as well," adds Byrne.

"Whether that's regulation, virtual integration of fintech - whatever it is. State ownership isn't necessarily the right ownership model when businesses have to start to think about the next thing."
'The mine, if granted approval, will intensify the focus on Ireland's prospectivity for gold.' Stock photo: Reuters

Minerals explorer Dalradian has agreed to raise CAD$85m (57.5m) to advance a planned gold mine in Northern Ireland.

The Toronto-listed company is raising the money from US mine finance company Orion and Canadian business Osisko Gold Royalties.

Dalradian has been preparing a planning application for the construction of a mine at the Curraghinalt project in Co Tyrone.

It has been carrying out exploration and appraisal work at the site for seven years. In a recent letter to residents Dalradian said it expected to create more than 350 jobs.

Dalradian chief executive Patrick Anderson said the deal was "a strong vote of confidence in both the Curraghinalt Gold Project and in Northern Ireland as an investment destination by two highly respected mining finance groups".

"Today's placement, together with all recent warrant exercises, will provide the company with additional equity funding in excess of CAD$110m.

"This means that the company is now well-funded to move Curraghinalt through permitting, while continuing to expand and improve the value of the project through further investment in exploration and engineering."

Another company called Galantas operates a gold mine nearby at Omagh.

Osisko chairman and chief executive Sean Roosken said it was "very pleased to participate in the advancement of one of the world's top undeveloped gold projects in a new emerging gold district."

Dalradian acknowledged that there has been concern expressed by the community at the prospect of the mine being built.

"The idea of a gold mine in our area has worried some people. We hope that through the application process, as people become familiar with details of the proposal, they will be reassured about our plans," the company said.

The mine, if granted approval, will intensify the focus on Ireland's prospectivity for gold.

Conroy Gold and Natural Resources - which has been the subject of a major dispute between its chairman and biggest shareholder - is among the companies with prospecting licences in the northern part of the country. The price of gold per ounce is up about 13pc so far this year.
'Singapore is driving an ambitious environmental agenda, with a target of 80pc of buildings to be green by 2030' Photo: PA

Like Ireland, Singapore has experienced dynamic growth and the opportunities and challenges that accompany it. Those challenges have been overcome through innovation, helping Ireland and Singapore to become known as 'innovation islands', hubs for world-class entrepreneurs and ecosystems that support the development of multinationals.

Irish companies with disruptive, value-adding solutions are carving out business opportunities in Singapore. At Enterprise Ireland's recent trade and investment mission to the APAC region, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald got to appreciate the links that Irish-owned SMEs have developed first hand. Sixty Enterprise Ireland client companies participated in the mission across two market legs - Singapore and Japan - with the goal of securing export business in the wider Asia region.

A tour of Singapore's tallest building was included on the second day of the mission, giving delegates a chance to observe the impact of Irish innovation on the city. The energy-efficient technology of Tanjong Pagar Centre towers over Singapore's Central Business District and is powered by Dublin-headquartered company Cylon Controls. As the developer Guocoland explained: "The brains of this building are Irish."

Opportunities in greentech are a particularly good fit for the capabilities of Irish companies. Singapore is driving an ambitious environmental agenda, with a target of 80pc of buildings to be green by 2030 (currently at 33pc) and to increase the number of green specialists from 15,000 to 20,000 by 2020. The government is providing a Zero Capital Partnership, enabling building owners to engage Energy Performance Contracting firms for energy retrofits with zero capital outlay.

Ireland's green-build cluster is supported by a sophisticated network of companies specialising in building energy-management systems, green-building materials, HVAC, lighting and energy technologies, as well as green architecture and engineering.

Major names include Zutec and Kingspan Insulated Panels, whose Singapore office was opened by the Tanaiste during the mission. Enterprise Ireland collaborates in this space, working with the Singapore Green Building Council to provide new solutions that help the markets to "go green together".

The aerospace and aviation sector also presents opportunities for Irish companies considering Singapore. Over the next 20 years, Asia-Pacific will have the greatest demand for aircraft.

Ireland is viewed as a global centre of excellence for aviation, with a proud history of pioneering developments and dynamic innovation. Irish companies including CAE, Eirtech Aviation and Aero Inspection are leading the way, securing aviation opportunities in the wider APAC region from bases in Singapore. To capitalise on opportunities in the sector, Enterprise Ireland will participate alongside clients in the Aviation Festival Asia in Singapore in February 2018.

There are good reasons for Irish business to look to the Asia-Pacific region. It has delivered an impressive 16pc year-on-year gain, making it the second-fastest growing region for Enterprise Ireland clients in 2016. Exports from Irish companies to Singapore and the wider ASEAN region are growing steadily.

The trade mission raised the profile of Ireland as a key supply base offering high-value solutions and created a number of partnership opportunities between Irish and Singaporean companies throughout the ASEAN region. The ASEAN office based in Singapore will expand resources over the coming months to further support Irish clients in their growth as they diversify through the region.

Ireland and Singapore work well together because of what we have in common, a history of economic growth based on a trading perspective, investment in education and training, support for innovation and R&D, and an ability to succeed in the global marketplace.

Smruti Inamdar is director ASEAN at Enterprise Ireland Singapore
'Staff at Aer Lingus have demanded that the supplementary pension, known as Pot B, be frozen until concerns around its wind-up are allayed.' Photo: Bloomberg

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty has contacted the chief executive of the Pensions Authority to express concern at how funds from a special 100m Aer Lingus pension pot are being distributed, this newspaper has learned.

Staff at Aer Lingus have demanded that the supplementary pension, known as Pot B, be frozen until concerns around its wind-up are allayed. Doherty has asked the authority to look into the matter and to contact the trustee, it is understood.

The trustee of the scheme has received as many as 400 complaints about the winding up of Pot B, from which 2,300 staff are due to receive a share. This newspaper has previously reported huge differences between what many fund members with similar age profiles will receive.

Independent TD Clare Daly, who as a former Aer Lingus employee is a beneficiary of the scheme, wrote to the trustee claiming she was aware of one staff member who would get less than 2,000 from the scheme, while a colleague would receive 61,000 - over 30 times more. "It is incumbent on you to explain the fairness of this staggering inequity," wrote Daly. The scheme was originally set up with a 34m Exchequer payment to compensate workers for the Aer Lingus flotation.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe did his best to stimulate home building in the Budget, but the markets are still betting on demand outstripping supply. Last week Glenveagh Properties made its debut on the stock market, making it the first Irish homebuilder to float in two years. It carries a valuation of 700m.

One of its founding directors, John Mulcahy, is one the country's longest serving property experts. Dubbed 'Mother' Mulcahy for his ability to nurse a deal, he claims to be one of the very few people to have called the property crash.

Expand Close Renowned designer Peter OBrien has joined up with Irish retail giant Dunnes / Facebook

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Whatsapp Renowned designer Peter OBrien has joined up with Irish retail giant Dunnes

The Dublin man joined Jones Lang Wootton in the early 1970s, going on to become the managing director and then chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle. During the crash, his expertise was called upon by Nama, where he devised 'a template for valuing the development loans'.

In 2009, he told the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance that it had been a bear for the previous four years. "We sold down our pension fund property assets, which was not a popular course of action at the time. One's speaking-engagement requests become very limited when one is a bear in the market."

This raised a few eyebrows at the time as he continued to be upbeat in 2006 and 2007 in several interviews.

With Glenveagh now listed we can only assume the bear has become a bull.

Will Fitzpatrick have to put up or shut up over One51?

One51 has long had a stock market listing in it sights but things just keeping getting in the way. The last attempt was thwarted by a number of shareholders, the main one being billionaire businessman Dermot Desmond.

With Desmond out of the way (he has since sold his holding to Canadian investors), it seemed that chief executive Alan Walsh could get the listing ambitions back on track. But now Cavan businessman Seamus Fitzpatrick is having a second go at buying the company, this first being in 2015.

I hear the co-ops are open to selling at the 2.50 price currently on the table. But unlike a listed company the normal put up or shut up rules do not automatically apply. This is when the Takeover Panel gets involved in setting deadlines. It would suit One51 and its shareholders to have some structure around the approach, which could easily drag on, so perhaps Walsh and his team will try to bring some timelines of their own.

* * * * *

It appears that Dunnes Stores ambitions for its fashion range continues to soar.

Its latest collaboration goes on sale next weekend  and this time one of Irelands most renowned designers, Peter OBrien, has joined up with the Irish retail giant.

OBrien has spent much of his career in Paris, where he worked at Christian Dior, Givenchy and Chloe. He was also creative director at Rochas, where he spent 12 years designing womens wear and accessories, and overseeing menswear.

OBrien returned to Ireland in 2004, working as a ready-to-wear designer as well as designing costumes for The Abbey and the Gate Theatre. Most recently, he created the lavish costumes seen in the Gates production of The Great Gatsby.

I hear that 21 pieces will form the collection, with prices ranging from 85 to 375. Dunnes clearly doesnt see Penneys as its competition but is nibbling away at the Brown Thomas and Arnotts customer base, where OBrien previously had a small capsule collection.

Shelbourne manager checks out of five-star Dublin hotel

Lot of people are checking in and checking out in the hotel business at the moment.

The long-serving general manager of Dublins Shelbourne Hotel, Stephen Hanley, has resigned.

I am told that Paul Downing of Marriott International will step into the role as interim GM until the vacancy has been filled.

Downing has managed multiple properties in different countries for Marriott International over the past 30 years.

Another senior member of the Shelbourne management team, Aidan Dempsey, is moving within the group  he has been promoted to a role at the Ritz Carlton in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Marie Chawke, who spent several years running Aghadoe Heights Hotel and Spa in Killarney, is joining the five-star Dromoland Castle Hotel in Co Clare.

The hotel recently unveiled a 20m upgrade, and after a successful summer period is clearing feeling optimistic about the hospitality market.

* * * * *

As banks retreat from their branch networks, it is good to see that the vacant buildings might be used to enrich some towns around the country.

I see that Wicklow County Council has just bought the former building owned by Ulster Bank (which announced in March that it was shutting 22 branches) at Upper Mall, Wicklow.

While many old city centre banks have been converted to pubs, this modern building over six floors on Main Street will be converted into a new high-tech library. Wicklow County Council has already had great success with its investment in Arklow, which has seen a phenomenal growth in user numbers since it opened in April 2016.

The new library in Wicklow town will replace the one at the rear of the Courthouse and it expects to replicate the high growth seen in Arklow.

Investment of over 3m is earmarked for the acquisition cost and renovations.

You could say the council is replacing bucks with books.
'In this paper's analysis, we examined how much worse off a multi-millionaire and a highly skilled IT professional will be next year than they were in 2006.' (Stock photo)

High earners are probably the biggest losers of the Budget measures announced since the recession. These people will come home with less pay after taxes next year than they did at the height of the Celtic Tiger in 2006.

"The Budget measures over the last number of years has had a greater impact on high earners - particularly individuals earning more than 70,000," said Alison McHugh, director of private clients in Deloitte.

"This is largely due to the Universal Social Charge which increases the overall effective rate of tax. PRSI is also significantly higher."

In this paper's analysis, we examined how much worse off a multi-millionaire and a highly skilled IT professional will be next year than they were in 2006.

Multi-millionaire: 3,991 a week worse off than 2006

You're a wealthy man in his early 50s with assets worth 50m. Those assets include about 40m worth of Irish property, 5m worth of Irish shares and 5m worth of other savings and investments. You are also earning a salary of 2m a year as chief executive of a major Irish firm. On top of this, you are earning about 500,000 in dividends and rental income. You are married and your spouse isn't working. You and your wife have three adult children who are no longer living at home.

At 1,204,649, your take-home pay will be 207,521 less next year than it was in 2006, according to Lisa McCourt, senior manager with PwC. You took home 1,412,170 after tax in 2006. So you're 3,991 a week worse off under Budget 2018 than you were at the height of the Celtic Tiger.

The main reason your take-home pay has dived so much since 2006 is the USC. Your high earnings mean you're getting hit for the top rate of 11pc. The USC didn't exist in 2006. The only tax levy that existed in that year was the health levy. You lost 50,000 to tax levies (that is, the health levy) in 2006. Next year, you'll lose 209,011 to tax levies (that is, the USC).

On the plus side, under Budget 2018, there has also been an increase in the amount you can earn before getting hit for the higher rate of income tax. At 40pc, you're also paying a lower income tax rate than the 42pc paid in 2006.

However, the impact of the USC on your pocket more than wipes out your gains from these income tax changes.

"While this man has seen improvements on income tax since 2006, the USC is considerably higher than the health levy which was in operation in 2006," said McCourt.

"PRSI has also had many changes since 2006 - which results in a much higher USC and PRSI bill for this individual in 2018. This man's PRSI bill has increased significantly between 2006 and 2018 due to a number of factors including the abolition of the PRSI earnings limit and weekly exemption, and the introduction of a charge to PRSI on 'unearned income' - that is, his investment income."

The PRSI earnings limit had previously restricted the amount of earnings which you paid PRSI while the weekly exemption allowed you to earn a certain amount each week without getting hit for PRSI. The abolition of both of these measures significantly increased the amount of PRSI paid by many workers.

Highly paid IT professional: 62 a week worse off than 2006

You're a 30-year-old single man earning 100,000. You're a highly skilled IT employee working for a big US multinational. You have no children. At 61,199, you'll take home 3,219 less pay in 2018 than you did in 2006, according to McHugh. This means you're 62 a week worse off than you would have been in 2006. This is largely due to the USC and the increases in PRSI. Punitive taxes on highly skilled workers such as this could damage Ireland's competitiveness as it could encourage them to work abroad.
The clear message in the run-up to Budget 2018 was that the Exchequer's books would be balanced for the first year in many, which meant limited 'fiscal space' and no surprises on the day. 300m was earmarked for additional spending and there would be a concerted focus on certain areas, particularly workers on middle incomes.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was unequivocal on the intention to "reward work and enterprise" and reduce the burden on those "who pay the highest rates of tax on far too modest incomes". However, there would be no visit from the ghosts of giveaway Budgets past.

And yet, when the fateful hour arrived, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe pulled a rabbit out of the hat and 300m became 1.2bn. A large proportion of the extra cash was allocated to badly-needed housing supply initiatives and Brexit support measures for affected businesses, to which there can be little objection. This still left more than 350m for income tax and USC reduction measures, an amount greater than the initial overall projected spend for the Budget.

How does this translate to helping the Taoiseach's 'squeezed middle'? In real terms, a single person on 45,000 a year is set to benefit to the tune of 22 a week. For the same person on 66,000 a year, it's 27 a week and there's no further benefit for anyone earning above this. So far so good - the changes proportionately benefit middle-income workers more than high earners. Clearly then, the USC rate cuts and the widening of the standard rate tax band are a step in the right direction for middle-income earners.

However, it's still hard to get away from the fact that workers in Ireland continue to enter the higher tax bands at relatively low levels of income. Comparisons with our European neighbours, all the more relevant in the context of a post-Brexit Europe, bear this out.

Even with this week's tax cuts taken into account, a single worker in Ireland continues to pay 44.5pc tax on income over 34,550. Move over to the Netherlands and that worker will pay less than 41pc tax on similar income. In Germany, a single person can earn over 57,000 before paying a tax rate of 44.3pc.

Further examples abound but what's clear is that we still have a long way to go if we're to create the Taoiseach's 'Republic of Opportunity'. Likewise, if we're to seriously compete with our fellow Europeans for business, talent and resources in the wake of Brexit, we'll need to see more progress on the entry points to our higher tax rates.

Talk of merging USC and PRSI into one social insurance payment may hold the key to addressing this but that's a matter for next year.

Keith Connaughton is a tax director with PwC
When Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe left the podium at the exclusive St Stephen's Green Club last Wednesday the reaction among the high-profile business people, economists and media types present was largely positive.

"He speaks like the CEO of a listed company," said one impressed businessman who had turned up for the early morning breakfast briefing to hear how Donohoe's first Budget will impact Irish business.

Businesses have largely been giving a cautious welcome to the Budget since Donohoe delivered a package that was uncontroversial and delivered no hostages to fortune.

As Donohoe spoke at length two days later to the assembled business people in St Stephen's Green, a well-timed Luas passed by on the newly-built tramline outside the window as if to underline economic progress, bringing a smile to the face of the former Transport Minister.

"A lot done, more to do," he might have quipped, if the slogan was not already taken.

But miles from the vibrant hustle and bustle of Dublin city centre, in the village of Finea, Co Westmeath, right on the border with Co Cavan, Bernard Coyle takes a somewhat more downbeat view of Donohoe's first budget.

Coyle's company, Mr Crumb, provides 100 jobs in the village in a modern food-processing plant that exports artisan bread crumb and stuffing products to the UK and Europe. Its brand can be found on the shelves of most of the major UK multiples and the business is the main employer in an area with very few alternatives.

For Mr Crumb, and many other similar small Irish food producers dependent on exporting to Britain, the threat of Brexit and the subsequent fall in sterling is placing a question mark over their very existence.

So where others may have been looking for a few euro extra in their pocket at the end of the month from the Budget, food producers such as Mr Crumb were looking for a lifeline.

"People over the years came to see budgets like Christmas and this is more of a balance-the-books type budget, which is probably as it should be," said Coyle. "But, that being said, for many of us in small companies, particularly in the food industry, it is something of a disappointment."

Perhaps, the standout announcement from the Budget for small business owners was the 300m Brexit loan scheme announced by Donohoe to help companies through the challenges ahead.

But, said Coyle, there was a distinct lack of detail as to how this will work in practice for prepared consumer food companies such as Mr Crumb, which operate on net single-digit margins and which send about 20pc of their total production to the UK - where they are now dealing with a 20pc drop in sterling.

"It seems like a very small sum of money to deal with the problems that lie ahead. There is little detail, for example, whether it will work through long-term low interest loans or, even better, whether it could be used to take preference shares in some of these companies.

"If they don't do something dramatic I have absolutely no doubt that a lot of companies in this sector will not survive the cliff edge that is approaching over the next 12 months."

Apart from the lack of detail around the Brexit loan scheme, Coyle believes the Budget has one very negative development for small exporting businesses, which, he said, were already 15pc less competitive than similar producers on the continent and in the UK.

"We have one of the highest minimum wage rates in Europe and that has just gone up again by 30 cent an hour.

"I understand this is an expensive country to live in but the government should be looking to reduce taxes for low paid people rather than increasing the minimum wage. If you keep pushing it up we just become even less competitive."

Coyle estimates that the latest increase will cost his company about 70,000 a year. "Where does the Government think that companies such as ours are going to magic up such sums of money?" he says.

"A lot of these companies are scattered around rural Ireland so the loss of jobs that is going to come inevitably, in my opinion, is going to be felt outside of the big cities in companies that employ five to 50 people."

Michael Carey, chairman of Bord Bia and managing director of East Coast Bakehouse, believes that there is a recognition of the needs of the sector.

"I think there's a realisation of the potential impact and the need for support. I would question the extent of it. Obviously more funds would be more useful for the companies and the extent of the funds that have been made available across such a wide scope of potential organisations is perhaps too limited," he said.

Lots of work has been undertaken regarding the extent of preparedness in the food industry and where the needs lie, said Carey. However, "there's an awful lot of work still to happen within individual businesses to develop specific marketing programmes for the UK and for new markets as the footprint of exports is broadened," he added.

"A lot of companies need a lot of support to get really ready to defend their position in the UK and to extend their export reach. In that sense there's still a lot of work to go in terms of being prepared for the impact."

Eoin O'Neill, president of the British-Irish Chamber of Commerce, believes that the Brexit loan scheme will be crucial to help smaller companies develop new markets. He highlights one largely missed detail that, at first glance, would seem to have little if anything to do with small, struggling Irish companies.

"The announcement of the additional 23m for foreign affairs and the announcement by Minister [for Foreign Affairs Simon] Coveney of the opening of five new embassies may not sound very significant to people. But I've been on the ground with ambassadors and I've seen the impact they have in a local market and their ability to start to open doors."

But for many SMEs struggling to keep the doors open, thoughts of new far-flung markets are remote indeed. Supermac's founder Pat McDonagh has spoken regularly about the problems faced by small businesses in Ireland, from planning to insurance to red tape.

"It's a neutral Budget, a fiver for everyone," he said, adding that he did not see many measures that would help SME owners that face unique difficulties.

"The big multinationals get incentives to come in here and get a good tax deal. Small business by contrast does not seem to be able to get through government to bring about the changes they need to help them," he said.

One such change that was widely touted ahead of Budget day was a possible cut in the 33pc rate of capital gains tax for entrepreneurs, but that did not materialise.

But one measure that could prove very beneficial to SMEs is the introduction of the Key Employee Engagement Programme, KEEP for short. It is a new share option scheme that will mean staff will pay less tax on share options from their company. Minister Donohoe highlighted the scheme as a boon to SMEs at the Budget Breakfast event, which was organised by INM.

Graeme McQueen, head of public affairs at Dublin Chamber of Commerce, said it was something that his body had been pushing for for a long time: "The only disappointment with it was that the rate of CGT that will be charged on it when you do eventually sell the shares is 33pc.

"The UK has a scheme where that rate is 10pc. What we always say as a Chamber is that we need our tax regime for SMEs to match or better, or certainly rival, what's in the UK.

"It's a welcome move but there's probably work we can do in coming years in coming Budgets to make that even more attractive for companies and for staff as well.

"We'd probably have liked to see more in terms of CGT improvements. We've made good progress on that in the last couple of Budgets but there was nothing really on that this year. So that's probably something that we'd like to see revisited next year.

"But overall I think we were fairly happy given it wasn't the most adventurous Budget. For business, I think we did OK."

Kildare-based accountant Pat Sutton agrees that the share option move is one with a lot of potential for the type of SME clients with which he deals regularly.

"That is something that SMEs might have a serious look at but there is a lot more that could have been done. It's a steady kind of Budget but there are a couple of areas that just were not addressed. "Leaving the entrepreneurial relief threshold at a 1m is a problem. Look at the UK, where it is 10m. I thought they would address that."

The self-employed earned income tax credit increased to 1,150. But, said Sutton, it should have gone to 1,650 to match the situation for PAYE workers.

"It penalises self-employed people yet again. It's no different than the 3pc USC surcharge on incomes over 100,000 for the self employed. What about PAYE workers earning over 100,000? Why the distinction between one and another?

"There is a fairness issue there that has not been addressed. They really could have done more for the self-employed," said Sutton.

Donohoe's key message since the Budget has been that his key priority was to return stability to the public finances and no one would argue that he has not achieved that. He has indicated that next year he will have room to do more of what people might want and the SME sector will be waiting and watching to see if he lives up to that promise.
The Irish consumer likes to know the face behind the business, the story behind the brand - and Oonagh OHagans warm and open character is well suited to the role.

One of Meaghers Pharmacys USPS [unique selling points] is that were a small family-run SME business, owner and managing director Oonagh OHagan told independent.ie.

Were not trying to be a multinational, we dont want to be cold or have a clinical feel - it is important to bring the personality to the fore.

I have no problem doing that because I know that our customers like to see me and like to talk to me in the stores whenever I go around.

The tale of how Oonagh fell in love with Meaghers Pharmacy on Baggot Street while doing a student internship with owner Pierce Meagher, so much so that she jumped at the chance of buying it several years later, is well known. Im not Oonagh Meagher - I like to tell the story of why keeping the name was important to us.

Since purchasing the community pharmacy, Meaghers fleet has grown by an additional seven stores across the Dublin area, including a unit based right inside the Mater Hospital.

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But the path of business success was not always smooth for the entrepreneur, and Oonagh had a steep learning curve when it came to pivoting the business to meet the ever changing needs and demands of the customer. Drastic changes in the business model were never more crucial than when the recession hit.

Our business took a nosedive at the time of the HSE cuts; at that point, our business was 80pc dispensary and 20pc retail, said Oonagh.

We knew whenever those cuts were happening, that the dispensary business was going to keep coming down and we had no control over that.

Despite the fact that it was only 20pc of our business at the time, I felt that our opportunity was in the retail aspect, it was something that we could control. If we were going to take a hit on margin or anything else, it would be our decision and it wouldnt be dictated by anyone else.

So Meagher's repositioned itself at a point where people really couldnt afford to spend 60 to go to the doctor and were taking preventative measures so as not to get sick, for fear taking time off work would lead to them losing their jobs.

Backed by the knowledge and innovation of her close-knit staff, Meaghers decided to pull their pharmacists out to act in a front facing role, utilising their expertise, and training up their front line staff to become technicians.

We recognised at the time that we had a team of people who were really highly trained, yet were in the dispensary putting labels on boxes, not interacting with patients, said Oonagh.

Our customers were telling us that the reason they came in was for the people - and to speak to a pharmacist. Yet, on the ground, the pharmacist wasnt available to speak to.

We werent capitalising on that at all, our best assets.

And it was this in-house wealth of expertise that was tapped into once more when Meaghers spotted a gap in the skincare market. The group sought out a number of Irish-owned nice beauty brands that some of the bigger pharmacies didnt stock, and soon became a go-to destination for customers to travel to.

We werent going head-to-head with the multinationals on the 3 for 2 deals; we didnt want that and we knew we could never win that game because they have a big marketing budget and we dont. So we felt there was a gap with those smaller brands, said Oonagh.

It wasnt too long before consumers wanted to order these products online and while the business was initially reticent to make the move it got to the point where we couldnt ignore it.

Eventually we took the plunge and launched the online store; it was an utter disaster from the get go, said Oonagh.

The look of it was wrong, the feel of it was wrong, the functionality was wrong, everything was wrong - we hadnt a clue what we were doing.

An online business is very different to a bricks and mortar business, thats one thing we learned. We didnt have the skills to do it in-house properly.

After undergoing a rebrand to reposition itself in the marketplace, the business decided that they would draw from their core values - we are day makers, not transaction takers - and that meant that their USP when it came to online would be around the packaging.

We wanted the arrival of a package from us to make our customers day. We worked really hard to get this right, from the wrapping to the free gift.

But bringing the personality of the business forefront was perhaps most effective when Meaghers moved to social media - namely Snapchat. Their digital presence allows their customers to, not only interact on how best to use a certain beauty product, but also educate them in terms of mental health, sexual health - and demystify any other general health queries that there may be a stigma around.

Our customers on Snapchat feel like theyre actually talking to the person behind the brand, they can see exactly whats going on - and Irish people like that, said Oonagh.

One of the big things we realised is that we were assuming that people knew what we know, but they dont necessarily know how to use a product, or how to take it or when to use it. That has been one of our key learnings in engaging in digital.

People could be coming in to us, nodding yes or no but they dont even understand the question. The responses weve had on social include: I never knew what that meant but I just always answered yes!

In addition to regular Snapchat consultations where Meaghers take things right back, a pharmacist is online once a week answering questions on topics such as the flu vaccination and the morning after pill.

People can understand now whats ahead of them and they dont have to be scared to come in. With the morning after pill, for example, youre not going to get quizzed about who you were with last night.

We are professionals; you will always be treated with respect.

Meaghers investment in online, and technology in general, is only set to continue as Oonagh believes that the potential for bringing additional services, more interaction and faster delivery for consumers is huge.

Weve found that technology is a real enabler for our business, so were looking at other technology that we can actually tap into to improve the customer experience and bring that expertise to life.

Were looking at various different options, and well definitely be moving with one of those in the near future.

Oonagh will be speaking at the IRDG annual conference on innovation in Croke Park on October 24.
BlackRock chief executive Larry Fink has warned that financial markets are ignoring underlying risks, which means there could be a "big correction" if a major surprise world event occurred.

Fink, head of the world's largest asset manager, said the amount of risk in the financial system is comparable to 2007 levels. He said that consistently low volatility in the stock market, as well as the overall strength of the global economy, may mean markets are not accounting for that risk as much as they did in the past.

"If there is a major event, which I don't foresee anything, but if there is one, we could have a big correction," he said at the annual meeting of the Institute of International Finance.

All three major US stock indexes have been on an extended rally this year, repeatedly setting new record highs, as investors anticipate expanded business activity thanks to a lighter regulatory road and potential tax cuts.

Fink spoke during a panel discussion alongside the ceos of JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley - Jamie Dimon and James Gorman. All three were generally optimistic about the economy, although they highlighted several significant risks.

Fink said there is no evident economic reason for a major spike in volatility in the near future. "Over the long horizon, I think the world is a great place to be," he said.

But all three ceos found ample room to criticise the White House and the US Congress for failing to take any major steps to boost that nation's economy.

Reuters
At mid-term, the Liberal government is stuck.A mid-term malaise is not rare, but no new government in recent memory had ascended to power with greater expectations than Justin Trudeaus Liberals.Now, it needs to recast itself as the progressive government Canadians thought they had elected in 2015, or face significant political threats on both of its flanks.This is the time in the life of a government when it must face the fact that lofty aspirations have flown head first into the rock face of reality, and much of that will be on display this week as Trudeau meets U.S. President Donald Trump.The handling of the bilateral Canada-U.S. file had been one of the triumphs of the Trudeau government, but all the strategic nurturing in the world hasnt stopped the U.S. from throwing NAFTA proposals on the table which many believe are poison pills meant to kill a deal, or from targeting the Canadian aerospace industry with a ridiculous 300 per cent tariff.Nowhere has the gap between expectations and delivery been wider than on Indigenous reconciliation, part of a sweeping series of pledges Trudeau made on the campaign trail.It has had two effects  it has helped elevate Indigenous issues in this country to the national conversation and has delivered a greater awareness of historic injustice, but it has also highlighted that Liberal gap.Despite a commitment to end all drinking water advisories on reserves within five years, the government says there were still 41 short-term advisories as of Aug. 31 and 103 advisories that have been in place for more than a year. The statistics do not include British Columbia.Symbolic measures have outnumbered substantive measures, but all Liberal efforts on the file will be overshadowed by the failings of the Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which, in a further sign it is not ready for prime time, announced its latest resignations on a Saturday in the middle of a long weekend.This should have been the lowest-hanging fruit when it came to Indigenous reconciliation.Another Liberal promise, electoral reform, was cynically tossed overboard after a long series of sham hearings and questionnaires.The early glow as Trudeaus government welcomed Syrian refugees has long ago faded. Now the debate revolves around those arriving illegally at land crossings and whether Trudeau oversold the welcoming nature of this countrys immigration system.Promised deficits of under $10 billion for two years before a return to balanced books was quickly punted and although this years deficit is smaller than forecast, there is no longer any timetable for balance.Two years after pledging that Canada would return to a peacekeeping role as a sign the country is back on the international stage, the plan is in limbo.Worse, this government can seem petty, whether moving to tax employee discounts (now apparently under government review), a measure that goes after low-paid retail clerks, not the 1 per cent, or spending more than $110,000 fighting an Indigenous girls $6,000 dental claim.It has spent more than $700,000 fighting a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal order that it cease discriminating against Indigenous children when it comes to health and social services spending.Trudeaus finance minister, Bill Morneau, has stumbled in trying to sell promised tax reforms, underestimating the opposition from small business and farmers and handing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and his Conservatives a ready-made cause.And, after playing with an empty net on the other side, Trudeau now faces two parties energized by new leaders, the Conservatives under Scheer and the New Democrats under Jagmeet Singh.A recent gaggle of polls show the Conservatives drawing even with the Liberals, but polling data two years from an election is largely irrelevant.The good news for the Liberals is that voters still appear to give Trudeau a long leash and he remains personally popular.What it does show is the Liberals can no longer glide along on the 2015 headwinds which kept them comfortably ahead of two parties without permanent leaders.It shows that this is a government still grappling with the tough work of governing, with too many ministers having to find their way in the first half of the mandate.But it is also a government with two years to regain its progressive footing, whether it be on the environment, a smooth roll-out of marijuana legislation or a meaningful foreign policy victory.Right now, the malaise means danger to the Liberal brand
'Despite being the newest entrant in what was already one of the world's most crowded mobile-phone markets, Jio has accumulated more than 138.6 million subscribers' (Stock image)

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, who upended India's mobile-phone market with free data and voice services a year ago, reported the business had made profit before interest and taxes as he began charging for data.

Reliance Jio Infocomm reported a 2.6 billion rupee (34m) profit before interest and taxes, the company said in a statement on Friday.

It's the first time Ambani, India's richest man, has disclosed earnings for the business. The company reported a net loss of 2.71 billion rupees.

Despite being the newest entrant in what was already one of the world's most crowded mobile-phone markets, Jio has accumulated more than 138.6 million subscribers and has triggered a shakeout in the industry by undercutting prices.

That has prompted existing carriers to slash their tariffs and pursue mergers to survive.

Industry leader Bharti Airtel said this week it would buy Tata Group's mobile-phone business, months after agreeing to acquire Telenor ASA's local operations.

Vodafone Group and Idea Cellular are in the process of merging their Indian operations to create the nation's largest carrier.

Reliance Communications had planned to merge with Aircel, but that deal fell apart in early October.

Shares of oil refiner Reliance Industries, which controls Reliance Jio Infocomm, rose 0.4pc to 876.45 rupees at the close of trading in Mumbai on Friday,

Jio, which already ranks fourth locally in terms of mobile subscribers, is planning further market share gains.

The company is offering a 19 mobile that offers 4G data plans that cost as low as 23 rupees (30 euro cents) for two days or 153 rupees monthly.

Bloomberg
US film producer Harvey Weinstein arrives for the Burberry Prorsum show during the 2014 Autumn / Winter London Fashion Week in London on February 17, 2014. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT

A former Irish film producer Laura Madden has been applauded for her bravery in being among the first to speak out against Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct.

Ms Madden, from Co Monaghan, was one of the original complainants to go on the record to the New York Times last week in a report which has snowballed into dozens of more complaints from women, his firing from his production company and removal of memberships from both the BAFTAs and The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences. The disgraced producer's wife Georgina Chapman has left him and more allegations of sexual misconduct are emerging daily.

Ms Madden worked as a producer at Miramax in Los Angeles in the early 1990s and she has since relocated from Los Angeles back to her native Monaghan, where she was most recently known to be running a country estate. She said the producer would ask for massages while he was staying at hotels in Dublin and London.

"It was so manipulative," she told The Times. "You consistently question yourself - am I the one who is the problem?" A former colleague of hers said that Madden locked herself in the bathroom of one of his hotel rooms and cried.

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Ms Madden's ex-husband Kevin Allen, a Welsh film producer, branded Weinstein a "repulsive bloke" and praised his ex-wife for her bravery in coming forward.

"Before actually meeting him, I'd heard things about him that would make your toes curl by virtue of my ex wife working as a Miramax production exec at the time, one of many women who have bravely stepped forward to blow the whistle on a litany of appalling acts he has committed," he wrote on Facebook.

"As for the abuse of his many victims - my ex wife included - yes, it was many years ago and I can completely understand how f***ed up it all must have been for a young woman starting off in the film industry - and I can also understand how so many of these young victims remained shtum for so many years."

Mr Allen goes on to criticise Hollywood's elite for its stony silence and those who "turned a blind eye" to the litany of sexual assault allegations over the course of his career. Weinstein also paid off a number of women who complained about his behaviour and then required to sign non-disclosure agreements.

"But, what I really dont get is how many grown up, seasoned professionals turned a blind eye and allowed this to happen on their watch. Some of whom I know quite well. People who were working very close to him and were fully aware of what he was up to. Its a disgrace. Just like all those who stood by and watched Saville do what he was allowed to do at the fucking BBC," he added.

Ms Madden did not respond to messages from Independent.ie this week.

Today, British actress Lysette Anthony has accused Weinstein of raping her in her home in the late '80s in what she described as a "pathetic, revolting attack" that left her "disgusted and embarassed" to the Sunday Times.

The 54-year-old said that she met the producer when she starred in 1982 sci-fi film Krull and the alleged assault occurred a few years later.

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Whatsapp Lysette Anthony attending the British Soap Awards 2016 at the Hackney Empire, 291 Mare St, London. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday May 28, 2016. See PA Story SHOWBIZ Soap. Photo credit should read: Matt Crossick/PA Wire

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"He pushed me inside and rammed me up against the coat rack... and started fumbling at my dressing gown," she told The Sunday Times. "He was trying to kiss me and shove inside me." The actress pushed him away but he was too heavy. "Finally I just gave up," she said.

On Wednesday, Anthony tweeted that she had just reported a historical crime, adding "feel sick... so sad". The Metropolitan Police said it was passed an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police the same day. "The allegation will be assessed by officers from Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command," the force said.

American actress Rose McGowan publicly accused Weinstein of raping her on Twitter on Thursday. In a never before published interview from January of this year, the former Charmed star said she was advised against filing a police report because a criminal lawyer told her she was unlikely to win.

"Also, I didn't want his name next to mine in my obituary; his name doesnt deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as mine when Im dead," she said. She says she was threatened afterwards and "blacklisted" from Hollywood.

"They threatened [me] with being blacklisted. I was blacklisted after I was raped, because I got raped, because I said something  but only like internally, you know," she said, according to The Guardian's Observer magazine.

Weinstein reached a settlement with McGowan, according to the report by The Times.

"I actually have a signed document from the time of the attack. It was settled for a very small settlement, so thats an admission of guilt, she said."I had three surgeries on my wrist and elbow. I think thats fair enough."

McGowan said she has been in touch with NYT reporter David Carr for years about her story, but didn't want to publicise it yet as she felt the "public consciousness is not there".

"All allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein," a spokesperson for Weinstein said.
The Queen and Prince Albert will clash in the series finale of ITVs Victoria on Sunday night.

The monarch, portrayed by Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman, is shown attempting to stop Albert (Tom Hughes) from heading to parliament to support the Prime Minister Robert Peel in a parliamentary debate in a preview clip released by ITV.

After Albert objects to her intervention, Victoria tells the childrens nanny he is making a terrible mistake.

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Viewers will also be wondering where the romance between Edward Drummond (Leon Suter) and Lord Alfred Paget (Jordan Waller), will go after last weeks kiss.

The finale, which will set-up a Christmas special episode, comes at the end of a second series which has focused on the Queen shortly after the birth of her first child, chronicling the pressures she faced trying to juggle her royal duties with her role as wife and mother.

:: Victoria airs at 9pm on Sunday night.
The wife says she wants to go to Dunkirk.

- What's wrong with Skerries? I ask her.

- You're gas, she says.

- The film.

- The new one about the Allies landing in Normandy?

She stares at me.

- Charlie, she says.

- What?

She's still staring at me. But it's one of those concerned stares, like she's auditioning for a part in Casualty.

- Did you hear what you just said? she asks.

- I think so.

- You said Dunkirk's about the Allied invasion.

- Yeah.

- You're the history buff, Charlie, she says. - You fall asleep every night with a book about World War Two parked on your head.

It dawns on me while she's still speaking.

- Christ, I say. - Am I after mixing up Dunkirk with D-Day?

- I'm afraid so.

- Oh God.

I have to sit.

It's one of those terrifying moments. I was once in a car crash - or, nearly in a car crash, if that makes sense. The car ended up on the path, my heart was expanding, contracting, expanding, expanding, expanding. It was minutes before I knew what had happened. I'd nearly been killed - I'd very nearly died.

This is worse.

- It could happen to a bishop, says the wife.

- F**k the bishop, I say. - It happened to me.

I look at her.

- I know what happened at Dunkirk, I tell her. - Blow by blow.

I know it like the names of the kids. Please, God, I pray, don't let her ask me to name the kids!

- I know, she says.

- I know the difference between an invasion and - what's the opposite of an invasion?

- Evacuation? she says.

- Is that not what you do before a colonoscopy? I ask her.

She knows: I'm messing. We're back to normal.

But we're not. Well, I'm not. I need reassuring. I go through lists in my head, the dates of battles and surrenders. I manage to remember all the kids' names, and most of the grandkids', without resorting to Google. I look out the kitchen window and name all the dogs, and their breeds. Rocky, half-poodle, half-boxer; Usain, half-dachshund, half-greyhound; Donald, half-schnauzer, half-gobshite.

I'm feeling a bit better, a bit sturdier in myself, after a day or two.

And anyway, we go to Dunkirk. We go in on the bus.

- Over a million men died at the Somme.

- Charlie.

- What?

- You can stop now.

- Okay.

- You're grand.

- I know. Still a terrible loss of life, but.

The film is shattering. I haven't been to the pictures in ages but this is more like being on the Dunkirk beach, in the water, under the water. The things they can do with a camera these days, and the noise - I've never experienced anything like it. There's just a few moments when you can remind yourself that you're only at the pictures. That's whenever Kenneth Branagh's head is on the screen; neither of us can stand him.

He's up there now, talking shite, so I take a quick look around me.

I nudge the wife.

- There's no one snogging, I tell her.

- Jesus, Charlie, she says. - It's not a bloody romcom.

- We got off with each other during The Exorcist, I remind her. - I don't remember you objecting.

- That was different.

- How was it?

- Shut up, she hisses. - It wasn't a war film.

- We were wearing each other so much during Full Metal Jacket, we never found out who won the Vietnam War.

- Shut up!

Sir Kenneth is gone, so it's back to the chaos on the beach, in the air, and on the sea. At one point, she grabs my arm and doesn't let go.

She grabbed the wrong knee once. Years ago, during the first of the Die Hards. She meant to grab mine, she told me, after she'd apologised to the lad on the other side of her - and his mott. We watched him limping out later, when the lights went up, but I don't know if he'd brought the limp in with him.

- You've maimed the poor chap for life, I told her.

- Count your blessings it wasn't you, then, she said.

- Did you see the puss on his girlfriend, by the way?

That was the thing: going to the pictures was always a bit of gas. It didn't matter how serious it was, between the couples kissing, the noise of the sweet wrappers, and the curtain of cigarette smoke, you never forgot that it was just a film.

This thing, though - Dunkirk. It's so real, so loud, so shocking, I'm surprised I'm not actually up to my neck in seawater. It's harrowing.

Your man from Wolf Hall, Mark Rylance, is up there on the screen. I know she likes him. She has that look - I've seen it when she's gazing at Don Draper from Mad Men.

I give her a nudge.

- It's not history you're watching now, sure it isn't?

- Shut up.
TV3 have scrapped footage from an episode of Blind Date after it was revealed a contestant has a criminal history.

David Mulligan (33) from Lucan, Co Dublin appeared on the first episode of the series last Sunday and during the week, it was reported that he was previously convicted of assaulting a man in his 50s in Sydney, Australia. He was originally given a 15-month suspended sentence, but the Court of Criminal Appeal deemed his sentence too lenient and he was instead ordered to spend a year in prison.

The presiding judge called for a sterner conviction after reviewing the CCTV footage, which showed him repeatedly punching a man in the face during the altercation.

The vicious assault left Mr Nissen, who is almost 60 years old, with a fractured eye socket, fractured jaw and a collapsed sinus that led to a lung infection, the local District Court heard.

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"The victim was a man approaching 60 inoffensively walking his dogs on a Saturday morning," Justice Ian Harrison said.

When his parole was revoked in 2014, Mr Mulligan fled, prompting a manhunt by New South Wales police.

A TV3 spokesperson told the Sunday World that his appearance on tonight's episode, which would have documented his date as a follow-up to last week's show, has been pulled and he will not appear in any repeat episodes.

"TV3 were shocked to learn of David Mulligan's assault conviction, which was not declared to the production company. All applicants were quizzed on whether they had any previous convictions or ongoing criminal proceedings during the vetting process and signed a declaration that they did not. In light of this information, we have pulled the repeat of this episode from our schedule and edited Mr Mulligan from Sunday night's episode."
Watching Al Porter as he hosted Blind Date (TV3) the other night, I couldn't help wondering if he's destined to become Ireland's answer to Larry Grayson or Julian Clary, or even Dale Winton. Dale who? Precisely.

I hope not because Porter is better than that, not just as a cheeky-chappie comedian but as an articulate and personable pundit on chat shows - he was full of sensible insights in the initial series of Brendan O'Connor's Cutting Edge (which has made a welcome return) and also recently as a panellist on TV3's The Tonight Show with Ivan Yates and Matt Cooper.

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On the Irish version of Blind Date, though, he reverts to amiable gay stereotype, seasoned with a sprinkling of mumsy Cilla Black, who hosted this show on ITV for the best part of 20 years.

The sexual innuendo, though, is more upfront than it was in her heyday, the host opting for Julian Clary mode when telling a former beauty contestant "I entered Mr Ireland. Well, he didn't seem to mind" and flirting with one of the male contestants.

Overall, it was harmless stuff and Porter handled it adroitly, but it's a tired old format and the fact that the lamentable Channel 5 has also chosen to revive it is proof of that. Let's hope Porter goes on to more interesting things. How about Brendan O'Connor making him a regular panellist?

"I'm scared that I'm losing my mind and even more scared that I'm not," said bewildered heroine Sarah in the third episode of Irish-Canadian thriller Acceptable Risk (RTE1). For myself, I was just losing the will to live as the script and acting got even ropier than in the fist two episodes.

But Mr Mercedes (RTE1) is the real deal and has been getting better as each episode progresses. It's the sign of a really good drama series when even the most minor of characters register vividly as people with a life of their own, and so it is here.

Brendan Gleeson's cranky and tormented ex-cop and Harry Treadaway's disturbed young killer are the main players (and Gleeson has never been better), but you're also intrigued by the subsidiary performers, not least Holland Taylor as neighbour Ida and Breeda Wool as quirky electronics store worker Lou.

The plotting (from Stephen King's novel) and the pacing are superbly handled, and if the series manages to hold its tone and its nerve, it will rank alongside the best seasons of Fargo and Better Call Saul.

Less impressive was the first episode of Snowfall (BBC2), a drugs drama partly written and directed by John Singleton. His 1991 debut film was the marvellous Boyz n the Hood, and here we were again in South Central, LA, this time as the crack cocaine trade of the early 1980s took hold.

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But too many storylines and too many characters muddled this pilot episode, which had the somewhat tawdry feel of an upmarket soap. In The Deuce (Sky Atlantic) you really feel you're inhabiting the 1970s world of Times Square hustlers, pimps and prostitutes, but here you felt like detached observers of an uninvolving drama.

By contrast, the opening instalment of Louis Theroux's Dark States (BBC2) brought you up close and personal with its unfortunate people. Subtitled 'Heroin Town', Louis visited Huntington in West Virginia, which has a population of 49,000 and is home to what Theroux called "the most deadly drug epidemic in US history".

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Once a thriving town of steel mills and factories, Huntington is full of people who, deprived of prescription painkillers, have succumbed to heroin instead. Theroux, who's come a long way since he made faux-naif mocking documentaries about Paul Daniels, Christine Hamilton and the like, brought all his bemused earnestness to bear on these addicts, eliciting stories that would be beyond the reach of more conventional interviewers.

"I feel weird watching you do something so dangerous," he remarked to a young woman who was shooting up in the room where they chatted. But she went on to tell of her life and of the abusive boyfriend who hovered nearby. "Where do you see the relationship going?" he asked. "Down the drain," she replied. Yet she needed him to get the heroin for her.

Other stories abounded in a documentary that portrayed a grim America, while also grim was the Tuvan town of doomed alcoholics that we encountered in Russia with Simon Reeve (BBC2).

Meanwhile, in the two-part Irish in Wonderland (RTE2), we only met people whose addiction was to wealth, status and bling. "I hate these programmes", Gerry from the Cooley peninsula said on Gogglebox Ireland (TV3), "they just make you realise how crap your own life is," but it was the programme itself that was crap.

Perky presenter Yasmine Akram visited Manhattan, the Hamptons and the Riviera, and was so awestruck by all the money-chasing Irish emigres she encountered that she never thought to question whether the flaunting of wealthy lifestyles was really a good thing. Insulting stuff.

In the second instalment of Tunes for Tyrants (BBC4), Suzy Klein related how Richard Strauss, Germany's most celebrated composer in the 1930s and the father-in-law of a Jewish woman, accepted an invitation to be president of Reich music, thus giving credibility to a Nazi regime that banned any performances of Mendelssohn and other composers tainted by Judaism.

It wasn't brave, it wasn't moral, Klein said, "but it's what real people do when living in a nightmare".

Then she turned her attention to Shostakovich, so terrified of incurring Stalin's wrath that he "lived with his suitcase packed" in case the Gulag awaited. An absorbing series.
The husband of Liz Dawn has revealed her final words before her death.

Beloved actress Dawn, who played the part of Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street for 34 years, died aged 77 on September 25.

At the time her family said they had been left devastated and heartbroken.

Her husband Don Ibbetson, 77, has now told how she held his hand moments before her death, saying: You dont know how much I loved you, Don. I did from the very first moment we met.

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Speaking to the Sunday Mirror, he said: It still feels a little unreal Liz has gone. Shed come through so many problems, so we all thought she was kind of unbreakable.

But she battled until the end. When she did go it was very peaceful. To the country she was Vera  and she loved that. But to all of us she was Liz  the most perfect wife, mother and grandmother. I will love her for the rest of my days.

Dawn first appeared in Coronation Street in 1974 before her character moved into number nine along with on-screen husband Jack, played by the late Bill Tarmey.

She had been diagnosed with the lung disease emphysema in 2001 and was written out of the show in 2008 at her request.

At her funeral, her son Graham, one of her four children, revealed that the family only learned recently that medics did not think in 2001 she would survive beyond five years.

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Cast members Samia Longchambon (Maria Connor) and Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs) delivered a joint tribute at her funeral, telling the congregation: Liz was undoubtedly a wonderful, kind, funny and considerate person, and someone whose generosity knew no bounds.

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Dawn was married to Ibbetson for more than 50 years and also left six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Untold stories: President Higgins and his wife Sabina at Hobart in Tasmania, where President Higgins spoke at the unveiling of the Footsteps Towards Freedom project by Irish sculptor Rowan Gillespie, seen here with Kate Warner, the governor of Tasmania. Photo: Maxwell's

Once considered the most-feared penal colony in the southern hemisphere, the wave-carved rock of Van Dieman's Land saw the arrival of President Michael D Higgins as he continued his state visit to Australia.

More than 14,000 Irish convicts were sent to Tasmania during the early to mid-1800s. Yesterday, President Higgins unveiled four statues in memory of the 'Banished Women', or Mna Dibeartha, who were sentenced to transportation.

These women were convicted for what would now be considered petty crimes such as theft, arson or even vagrancy.

Designed by Blackrock artist Rowan Gillespie, the Footsteps Towards Freedom artwork mirrors the famine memorial on Dublin's Custom House Quay, which he also sculpted.

Stressing the need to focus our historical gaze on women's voices, President Higgins said one of the greatest achievements of the 1916 centenary commemoration was "the welcoming of the untold women's stories into the main historical narrative".

By building these statues, he told the audience they had rescued the 'founding mothers' of Tasmania from obscurity.

President Higgins also said Irish people must acknowledge their responsibility in the persecution of the first occupants of Tasmania, the Palawa.

Speaking about the harsh treatment the women endured, he said it was also necessary to also focus on the atrocities inflicted by the Irish on those people.

"The Palawa occupied Tasmania for tens of thousands of years before the arrival of the Europeans; original occupants who were brought to the brink of extinction in the 19th Century. They are also victims who should be remembered."

He pointed out that it was necessary to acknowledge the "Irish participation in part of those experiences".

Earlier in the week, President Higgins touched on the matter while addressing the joint houses of Western Australia in Perth. He said: "We must acknowledge that while most Irish emigrants experienced some measure - often a large measure - of prejudice and injustice, there were some among the number who inflicted injustice, too."

Laen Mourant (29), from Hobart, one of the women Rowan Gillespie based a statue on, was at yesterday's unveiling. The figure is wearing a bonnet and cradling a baby in her arms. Mourant found watching the unveiling very emotional.

"Not only was the status modelled on me but that baby was modelled on my one-month-old son Harvey at the time," she said.

Yesterday, President Higgins also drew parallels with contemporary migration and the social and ethical responsibility we all shoulder.

"We Irish are a migratory people so much more than a sedentary one," he said. "It is reflected in every aspect of our being. It places responsibilities on us too, as to our response to contemporary migration."
For months now, the prospect of the United States pulling out of NAFTA has seemed like a bad dream.



President Donald Trump made the menace much more real this week, warning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the White House that the deal may be "terminated" if the U.S. doesn't get what it wants.



This is the nightmare scenario long feared by many Canadians after almost three decades of free trade with our southern neighbour.





Or is it?



Obviously, the end of the North American free-trade agreement  the foundation of Canada's relationship with the U.S. and Mexico  is not this country's preferred option. There would be economic pain and dislocation, at least initially. Untold numbers of jobs would be lost and investments delayed or cancelled if the world no longer perceived Canada as a gateway to the vast U.S. market. Complex supply chains, particularly in the auto sector, would be disrupted.



But it wouldn't have to be an economic catastrophe. If Canada plays its cards right, the death of NAFTA could become a catalyst for making the Canadian economy stronger, more outward-looking and less tethered to an increasingly unreliable partner.



"If NAFTA were to cease, I don't think it would be a complete disaster. And in some respects, it actually has a silver lining," argues David Emerson, a former lumber executive and federal minister of both foreign affairs and trade.



The troubled NAFTA talks are a "wake-up call" for Canada, says Mr. Emerson, who insists he's speaking for himself and not the numerous corporate boards and advisory groups he sits on. Among other things, he says, Canada should use this time to forge closer ties with China, Japan and other Asian nations, ease the regulatory burden at home and invest heavily in the kind of infrastructure that will make trade easier  all to hedge against the risk of an increasingly protectionist and inward-looking U.S.



"If it isn't Trump, it will be somebody else," Mr. Emerson warns. "There is a strong protectionist, self-serving sentiment that runs deep through the American legislative and regulatory process. Ultimately, we're going to have to diversify our economic linkages in ways that ensure our whole economy is not dangerously vulnerable to those protectionist, Make America Great Again actions."





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The prospect of having to pay astronomical legal fees has long been an obstacle for regular people seeking justice in Ireland's superior courts.

Win, and the other side usually has to pay your lawyers' fees. Lose, and you might have to sell your home or worse.

It was refreshing then to hear the new Chief Justice, Frank Clarke, tackle the issue in his first major speech since assuming office.

"It has increasingly become the case that many types of litigation are moving beyond the resources of all but a few," he told a gathering to mark the start of the new legal year, which began this month.

Lawyers are notoriously defensive about the fees they charge, as is the judiciary about its pay.

So, Mr Justice Clarke's comments were a rare acknowledgement that in our system of justice, the dice appear to be loaded in favour of the wealthy.

A general lack of information about civil legal fees has inhibited debate on the issue.

The legal industry in Ireland is big business, generating 2.3bn annually in revenue and supporting 18,000 jobs, but information on private fees is closely guarded.

During the financial crisis, a series of cuts were made to legal fees. These largely related to work in the criminal courts and civil work involving State bodies. In contrast, fees charges by lawyers for private work in the civil courts have been on the rise and have largely escaped scrutiny as they are more difficult to quantify.

Minimal disclosure

While public bodies have to disclose what they pay lawyers, private entities and individuals do not. Law firms and barristers are under no obligation to publicly reveal their earnings and there is little in the way of voluntary disclosure.

It is no wonder then that analysts at The Lawyer, a UK-based specialist legal publication, describe Ireland as the "least transparent jurisdiction in Europe" from a data collection perspective.

While it is encouraging the Chief Justice put the high cost of accessing justice front and centre, actual solutions may not be so easy to find.

The fledgling Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) is expected to bring forward measures to increase competition and drive down costs but it is still only in the process of being set up.

One solution advocated by many lawyers is to provide significantly more taxpayer funding to the Legal Aid Board. The board administers a civil legal aid scheme under which, in theory, people of limited means can get support from the State to vindicate their rights in court. In reality, this system is straining under the weight of demand, with long waiting times for consultations.

Many who could reasonably be classed as poor do not meet the qualifying criteria and those that do still have to make a contribution towards their legal costs. These rules gave rise to a shocking situation recently where a domestic abuse victim whose husband threatened to kill her had to represent herself in a family law case because she could not afford the necessary 130 contribution.

The slow pace of reform

However, despite considerable lobbying on issue, the Government has shown little appetite to significantly increase civil legal aid funding.

The judiciary, for its part, is focussed on reviewing procedures, many of which are seen as outdated.

Lawyers aren't the only ones being paid when someone goes to court and parties involved in cases had to spend 44m last year in fees just to lodge civil documents, fees the Courts Service can ill-afford to do without. But if there are to be changes, they won't happen any time soon as a review of the area, being led by High Court President Peter Kelly, is set to take three years.

It is also doubtful whether it will have any impact on fees charged by lawyers.

During the bail-out years, the Troika repeatedly criticised the high cost of legal services in Ireland.

In response, barristers in the criminal courts had their fees slashed, and bodies like the State Claims Agency sought better value for money by inviting tenders for legal services.

However, Ireland remains an expensive place to litigate and the price of legal services is going up rather than down, according to the National Competitiveness Council (NCC). Its 2017 Cost of Doing Business report found legal service prices were 8.3pc higher in the third quarter of 2016 compared to the same quarter in 2012.

Both the Law Society and the Bar of Ireland, which respectively represent and regulate solicitors and barristers, place a health warning on the NCC figures, due to the small sample size used to calculate them. However, the World Bank is also of the view that Ireland is a costly place to litigate, finding it to be the sixth most expensive place in the OECD to enforce a contract.

Law Society director general Ken Murphy said the body was pressing for the revision of court rules to minimise the burden on businesses and individuals. He said increased spending on infrastructure, such as online services, was also needed to speed up the administration of justice.

Bar of Ireland chief executive Ciara Murphy said the ability of courts to cope with caseloads was closely related to the number of judges available. A 2014 study found Ireland had the lowest number of judges in Europe per head of population.

But what about the legal fees charged by practitioners themselves?

A question of fees

A senior barrister prosecuting or defending a murder case is paid a "brief fee" of 7,127. This is a fee covering preparation of a case and the first day of a trial.

For every subsequent day the barrister is paid a "refresher fee" of 1,562. Solicitors receive the same brief fee and a refresher fee of 750 per day. Murder trial brief fees for junior barristers are 4,752.

Lower rates apply in the Circuit Court, but they are still generous. Senior counsel get a brief fee of 1,716 and refresher fees of 858 per day. The brief fee for junior counsel and solicitors is 1,144 and refresher fees are 572 and 418-per day respectively.

Ciara Murphy described the fees on offer as "moderate and well below those paid in other areas", saying they were now similar to levels paid in 2002, while the work involved is now much more complex and demanding.

While the rates paid by the State have been slashed in recent years, an analysis by Review of fees paid by 220 public bodies last year shows many practitioners still do very well. For example, one barrister, Emily Egan SC, earned over 1m working for State bodies last year. Most of her income came from the State Claims Agency. Four criminal barristers earned over 500,000 from prosecution and defence work. Anecdotally, the figures paid for criminal work pale in comparison with those earned by leading practitioners in the civil courts, where fees being charged are said to have increased significantly in recent years.

According to one barrister frequently engaged in litigation in the High Court, leading practitioners now charge a multiple of what they did a decade ago. A brief fee would have been up to 5,000 in 2006, but a senior counsel can now command up to 20,000 for this, while a junior counsel can charge between half and two-thirds of the senior's fee.

A refresher fee, which would have been up to 1,000 for a senior counsel a decade ago, could now be up to 5,000.

The rates are even higher in the Commercial Court. "In big money cases, a senior counsel could charge a brief fee of 45,000 and a junior up to two-thirds of that," the barrister said.

The Medical Protection Society (MPS), which provides indemnity cover for most Irish hospital consultants, told Review it had encountered cases where barristers' brief fees in Ireland were twice those in the UK.

It cited one short trial where a brief fee of 30,000 was charged, double the amount a queen's counsel would seek in England.

The MPS also said it had been involved in cases where the award made was dwarfed by the legal fees charged.

"For example, in a recent case relating to a misdiagnosis of malignant sarcoma where damages settled at 100,000, legal costs of 268,885 were sought," said MPS director of claims policy Emma Hallinan. "In another case relating to a delayed diagnosis of osteoarthritis where damages settled at 17,500, legal costs of 46,159 were sought. This is simply not right."

Data obtained by Review show that where disagreements on High Court costs occur, the quasi-judicial body which decides on such disputes regularly cuts bills. The Office of the Taxing Master has deducted 39.5pc of the value of bills it has adjudicated on since 2012.

Lack of transparency

However, the way in which it has operated has only added to the lack of transparency around costs in the courts system.

Although its hearings are open to anyone to attend, cases are rarely covered by the media and only a handful of determinations are published annually.

It also does not have a public register of determinations, creating a significant information deficit.

This will change when the office is to be replaced early next year under changes being introduced by the LSRA.

A new Office of Legal Costs Adjudicators will publish all of its decisions, and it is hoped this greater level of transparency will place downward pressure on legal costs.

It is just one measure, however, and much more needs to be done if we are to have a justice system open to all.

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Ireland will need more plastic surgeons and cosmetics specialists to cope with a booming demand for Botox injections and lip-filling procedures, new research has found.

Surgeons at Cork University Hospital (CUH) have discovered Ireland leads the way globally for the number of online searches for lip-fillers, and is third overall for the number of people enquiring about Botox.

Dr Ryan Sugrue, who headed up the research, said there was a correlation between the number of people who researched cosmetic procedures online and those who eventually had work done. He said this trend showed an explosion in Irish interests in cosmetic procedures.

The research demonstrates only UK residents showed more interest in lip-filling procedures than Irish clients between 2004 and 2017. Ireland has topped the charts for the number of people making enquiries about the injections since January 1 of this year.

Brazilians are most likely to consider getting Botox work done, followed by the people of St Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic. Ireland is third for the number of online Botox enquiries.

"Ireland is typically a more conservative country but what we have noticed is that since 2004 Ireland has been in the top five searches internationally for Botox and lip-fillers," said Dr Sugrue. "There is a cultural shift where there has been an acceptance of what we call non-surgical cosmetic procedures - Botox injections and filling injections."

However, there was still a general reluctance among Irish people to take more drastic measures. "If you look at invasive procedures, which are more serious, lead to longer stays in hospital and are more expensive, their numbers have remained stagnant for a decade. It shows there is still a stigma attached to 'going under the knife'. Patients are interested in Botox and fillers but not so much in tummy-tucks and nose jobs," Dr Sugrue said.

He carried out the research with CUH consultant plastic surgeons Jim Clover and Jason Kelly. Their findings were presented to the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons last week.

Dr Sugrue warned the demand will put pressure on surgeons. "The worry is there may not be enough cosmetic surgeons to keep up with demand for Botox and fillers.
Heartbreaking: Devoted 64-year-old twin sisters Ann and Margaret Kennedy, who have had extremely complicated medical histories, say they feel utterly hopeless and fearful of what the future might hold. Photo: Gerry Mooney

I woke at seven this morning, and I was crying. Im depressed and feel utterly hopeless. That often happens. Sometimes we think of ending it all; we are so terribly weary of fighting. These are the heartbreaking words of Ann Kennedy. Her comrade-in-arms is her genetically identical 64-year-old twin sister, Margaret. They have extremely complicated medical histories, and while these may differ in some respects, the fact remains, they are both unwell, in pain, disabled and extremely fearful of what the future may hold for them. On top of all that, they say they are struggling to get the professional help and support they believe their particular circumstances warrant. That, in turn, makes them feel even more depressed and dispirited. Nonetheless, their feisty spirit, innate intelligence and sardonic views give them the courage they need to keep going.

The devoted sisters share a modest house on a neat estate overlooking the sea in Greystones, Co Wicklow. Their home bears testimony to the challenges they face.

Wheelchairs, bathroom cushions, disability handrails and ramps are all part of the fabric of their daily routine. As is their endless struggle for survival in a world that is often short on services.

As children growing up in Killiney, they battled with a hearing impairment, caused by their mother having contracted rubella, during pregnancy. By their early 20s, they had already gone their separate ways. Ann was doing animation in London, collaborating on ground-breaking projects such as the Watership Down movie, and promotions for the iconic rock band Pink Floyd. Meanwhile, Margaret trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street Hospital, before moving on to social work.

In time, Ann returned to Ireland and became an accomplished artist and award-winning writer and illustrator of childrens books; while her sister forged an impressive career in England, fighting for the rights of young people with disabilities, especially deaf children, who had been abused. She did her doctoral thesis on clerical abuse, was awarded the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize (2004) for her work, and remained in the UK until her return to Ireland about 10 years ago.

When they were in their 40s, the sisters encountered health issues that began to impact on their general ability to function in the physical world.

My muscles began to shut down and I was falling all over the place, says Ann. I could hardly hold a paint brush. Meanwhile, Margaret was in a similar situation, in the UK. I was travelling all over the British Isles and Ireland, lecturing on the abuse of disabled kids, she says. But sometimes, I couldnt even walk. When lecturing, Id have to make sure they had a wheelchair.

Over the next few years, Ann and Margaret were tested here  and in the UK, because their case was deemed to be so complex. In time, it was found that some of their health problems included Parkinsons disease (they are both on medication for this); muscle myopathy (muscle wasting disease), which requires them to use wheelchairs most of the time; dystonia, which causes muscle spasms; and mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, which robs them of much energy.

We have had our condition confirmed as a heavy disease burden, explains Margaret. A top neurologist at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London said it was a multi-systemic neuro-muscular degenerative disease. Our condition includes four major diseases in one phenotype (presentation or collection of symptoms) never seen before. A neuro-geneticist at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle said we may be the only two in the world with our particular condition.

The main difficulty for Ann and Margaret right now is that their diagnosis is not complete, while many of the implications for them in the future are uncertain.

We know there is no cure for this, says Ann, but we believe there could be treatments if we had additional insights. The more you know about an illness, the better able you are to do something about it. You can then have an understanding of what the prognosis is. Right now, we just dont know what we are dealing with.

Both women agree that they need to go back to one of the centres of excellence for neuromuscular diseases in the UK. But in order to do that, they would need a neurology specialist in Ireland to support their application to be allowed to participate in the treatment abroad scheme (E112 form).

When they asked Beaumont if they could be seen by a specialist neurologist there,  the sisters are adamant that their case is so complex, (and UK consultants have confirmed this), that they need to be seen by a specialist, rather than a general neurologist  they were told they do not fall within the catchment area. According to the HSE hospital directorate, there are no catchment areas at a national hospital, says Margaret.

So, at the moment we have no neurologist, no neurology care, no treatment, no nothing, she adds. I am on Parkinsons medication, that urgently needs reviewing, but I have no neurologist. None of the care plan that was devised in the UK has been implemented here. The National Rehabilitation Hospital recommended on-going physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. We never got any. Weve got PAs and home help, but very little on a medical primary care level. We are now absolutely desperate.

Is this some kind of ageism? asks her sister.

Tom Clonan, a DIT lecturer, writer and activist for people with disabilities, whose teenage son Eoghan suffers from a rare neuromuscular disease says: The Kennedys represent a growing number of people whose needs are not being met by the health service. Were living longer, so more and more people have complex needs. Ireland is not a good place to be vulnerable right now.

Mags Rogers, executive director of the Neurological Alliance of Ireland, says: Neurology services in Ireland are in crisis. We have the lowest number of consultant neurologists in the whole of Europe, and so the waiting lists for a first-time appointment are growing. With our ageing population, more of us are developing conditions such as stroke, Parkinsons disease and dementia, and the increasing demand on neurology services is not being matched with investment. The pressure on individual neurologists is enormous.

A spokesman for the Department of Health says: Waiting times are often unacceptably long and the department is conscious of the impact of this on peoples lives. Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is a key priority. The National Clinical Programme for Neurology recommends an increase in the number of consultant neurologists, nurse specialists, and other healthcare professionals which would address waiting time issues.

All Margaret and Ann Kennedy ask, is to be allowed to go to the UK for an up-to-date investigation into their current state of health and for treatment not available in Ireland. Given the enormous suffering they both endure, around the clock, every day, it seems a small thing to offer these gutsy, 60-something, loyal and devoted sisters.

The Neurological Alliance, in partnership with the National Clinical Programme in Neurology, is launching a survey of outpatient neurology services later this month. For more information go to nai.ie/go/campaign/we need our heads examined
A grieving mum whose newborn baby passed away due to medical mishaps said that she still blames herself for what happened.

Krystle Hunt from Tramore, Co Waterford went into labour on October 18, 2016 at University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

Krystle, who was 41 weeks pregnant, said that as a first time mum she had no idea what to expect during labour with her son Eli.

"I had a very easy pregnancy and I was overdue. I found out earlier in my pregnancy that I had the Strep B infection but that it was common among women and that it could be treated with antibiotics," Krystle told Independent.ie.

"During my labour, there were a lot of missed opportunities. I developed sepsis and I had a high temperature. I had severe pain in my hips and tummy but as a first time mum I had no idea that this level of pain wasnt normal. I was never led to believe by doctors that anything abnormal was going on."

Despite the warning signs of developing sepsis, seven and a half hours passed before Krystle was taken to theatre for an emergency C Section.

"I knew when Eli came out that something was wrong. He had no heartbeat and wasnt breathing when he was born. He was rushed to Cork University Hospital where he died less than two weeks later."

An inquest found that hat Eli died from brain damage arising out of an inflammatory response due to ascending amniotic fluid infection arising from the Group B Streptoccocal infection.

The coroner heard that there was no doubt that warning signs were missed and that there were "missed opportunities" during Elis birth.

Krystle said that she and her husband Trevor were left devastated.

"For other first time mums I would advise them to just not accept that everything is going ok.

"Inform yourself as much as you can and ask questions. After I had Eli I was told about sepsis and the Strep B and how fatal it can be.

"I wish I had had known that before Eli was born. I would have picked up on the warning signs.

"I should have had an emergency C section once my sepsis was detected. Unfortunately all signs were missed.

"It was very hard for me and Trevor to hear that. Eli should be here. As a mum I did everything right, and this still happened. I still blame myself even though I know it wasnt my fault. The anger adds another layer to the grief."

She added that passing the Strep B infection onto a baby is preventable and that maternity services in Ireland should have mandatory testing for pregnant women.

"Mandatory testing could save a lot of babies lives," Krystle said.

Next week, Eli would have been celebrating his first birthday.

"He should be here. We should have a one-year-old running around. My husband and I are still trying to come to terms with it. The last few months have been very hard as we remember the milestones we were going through in my pregnancy this time last year.

"I cant mark his first anniversary because I feel guilty. Its very hard. I know Im not to blame for that night but I feel let myself down. As a mother, your natural reaction is that I should have been protecting my child.

"When Im having a good day, I feel guilty because Eli isnt here with me. I feel like I should be protecting him and be with him."

Krystle said she believes that all parents who suffer miscarriages, stillbirths or lose a baby feel the same sense of emptiness.

"Pregnancy is such an exciting time. We had the nursery ready with Elis cot, clothes and pram all ready to go. Its very hard to come back from the hospital and see all his stuff.

"I didnt expect to bring my first born child home in a tiny white coffin.

"We had to watch our baby turn blue and gasp for air, each time scared this would be it."

She added that it was very hard explaining to family members that Eli was perfect, but that he was going to die.

"It was very traumatic. Its like losing someone through a car crash or sudden illness.

"But its worse because you cant talk about it. Infant loss is hard to talk about. People dont give parents the chance to speak about it. Theyd rather avoid it.

"Eli was very much here and was very much a part of our family. People often wont say his name but theyll just refer to him as the baby. It makes us feel better when we can acknowledge his presence."

Krystle added that because she doesnt have any other kids, she finds it very difficult not being recognised as a mother.

"We would love more kids but we need to take time to heal for ourselves. What happened makes us more aware of the dangers and we want to make sure that we are ready."

The grieving mum praised the work of Feileacain, which aims to offer support to anyone affected by the death of a baby during pregnancy or shortly after.

The organisation was formed by a group of bereaved parents who supported each other after the death of their own babies and have now come together to formally offer support to other parents and families who find themselves in a similar situation.

"Feileacain were excellent. They provided us with beautiful memory boxes and a cuddle cot so we could take Eli home with us after he passed away.

"They also provided us with matching teddies so we could bury Eli with one and keep the other with us. They gave us precious time with Eli."

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article you can contact Feileacain at http://www.feileacain.ie/ or 085 2496464.
FIANNA Fail leader Micheal Martin has expressed concern at the opening of a vast new Church of Scientology centre in Dublin accusing the organisation of being a cult.

The new complex  which can host more than 1,100 people  opens in Firhouse today.

Its future purpose remains shrouded in mystery, and there has been speculation it could be used as a new European headquarters for the religion that counts actor Tom Cruise among its most famous members.

Mr Martin was asked about the new Scientology Centre as he gave a press conference at the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis.

He said: I would be very concerned about that. I think these type of cults can be very damaging to people, particularly young people.

However, he stopped short of calling for a ban on the religion, as some countries have implemented.

Mr Martin said: The best way forward to deal with that needs to be examined.

It may not be legislatively. Ultimately in situations like this its about education, its about informing the public, its about promoting self-esteem and self-confidence among people. W

Weve a whole range of issues that just dont lend themselves to a simple ban on a particular issue. It is more complex than that, he said.

Around 20 protesters, some wearing Scientology Kills t-shirts, have gathered at the site in Firhouse to protest the Churchs opening. The anti-Scientology campaigners distributed around 1,000 leaflets in the area on Friday and awaited local residents and councillors to join their efforts Saturday.

One protester had a sign saying 'Keep Tom Cruise out of Firhouse'.

Theyre backed by Fine Gael Cllr, Brian Lawlor who told independent.ie he doesnt want the Church targeting vulnerable people in our society.

He said: I was against it from the start. I got 100 emails from families all over Ireland who got involved (with the Church) and lost money.

If they start getting tracks in our community, we will stand up to them.

He said he will lobby to "outlaw" the organisation if they reel people into scams.

Fiona OLeary, founder of Autism Rights Together in Cork and organiser of Saturdays protest, described seeing busloads of scientologists arrive for the opening. She claimed she saw some wearing naval-style uniforms worn by so-called Sea Orgs  the Churchs most dedicated members.

She told independent.ie: Its really quite terrifying. The Irish flag is up there (by a stage for leaders to speak). There are barricades up on a public path.

Im here to protect children. Its a public health issue, she said referencing reports that some followers were duped into using bleach to treat autism in their children.

She added: Its not a religion. Its a scam, its a cult.

Protesters are worried the Church will use the building as a base for Europe. Its not just about Ireland, Ms OLeary said.

Ex-Church member, John McGhee, (39) from Meath joined in 2005 and by 2008 he had lost over 10,000 on treatments recommended by leaders.

He told independent.ie: I joined out of curiosity. I didnt think it was pure evil, I was looking for something different. It turned out to be very sinister.

He claimed Church leaders bully members into parting with cash, going so far as to convince people to re-mortgage their homes.

He said: Its smoke and mirrors. We want the public to ignore all (their) appeals. Hopefully (the protest) will renew interest.

He said the Church currently has 40-50 members in Ireland. Theyre expecting 1,000 scientologists to attend todays opening.
EMERGENCY measures will be taken in the next 48 hours as the country braces itself for a ferocious storm comparable with Hurricane Debbie, the most powerful cyclone ever to hit Ireland.

As Hurricane Ophelia approaches, a status red severe weather warning has been issued for coastal areas with an orange alert for the rest of the country.

The National Emergency Coordination has been meeting this morning, and it heard from Met Eireann that the eye of the storm may hit the south coast before it tracks up along the west coast.

The counties expected to be hit with the highest winds will be along the south coast from Wexford to Galway and Mayo, and flooding is expected in some areas, while there are also fears of structural damage in some areas.

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Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney has urged the public to take the severe weather warnings seriously.

The former Defence Minister wrote on Twitter: Anybody not taking storm Orphelia seriously should think again - I don't remember ever seeing a forecast for the south coast quite like this.

The weather service has warned this is the strongest hurricane to form in the Atlantic since records began.

A status red weather warning has been issued by Met Eireann - its highest warning - for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry.

It will come into effect at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.

A status orange warning is in place for the rest of the country.

Met Eireanns Gavin Gallagher said: As you can imagine this morning, theres quite a lot going on. Its quite unusual to have such a strong storm system in this part of the world. Its the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic on record in history.

(Met Eireann forecasters) just had a four-way conference call with the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, the National Weather Service in the US and the Met Office in the UK.

Mr Gallagher stressed that the hurricane will downgrade to a storm by the time it hits Ireland.

Met Eireann has compared Ophelia to Debbie, which hit Ireland in 1961, killing 15 people when it brought record-breaking winds and caused severe disruption.

"It has the potential to be as bad as Debbie," said Pat Clarke of Met Eireann. "The track is pretty much consistent now. These things can take on a life of their own but it certainly has the potential to be similar [to Debbie]."

At this stage, there is strong evidence from weather forecast models that the remnants of Ophelia will track close to or over parts of Ireland, but at present, there are still a wide range of possible outcomes.

The Department of Education has advised school closures in the worst hit counties along the western seaboard, while the ESB is on standby to deal with expected outages.

Met Eireann forecasters will be tracking Ophelia's evolution in the next 24 hours, with emergency response teams still hopeful the country will escape the worst of the storm.

The US National Hurricane Center said yesterday Ophelia had become a "rare category 3 hurricane south of the Azores", making it the "sixth major hurricane of the 2017 season".

"No significant change in strength is expected today, but gradual weakening should begin tonight or Sunday. However, Ophelia is still expected to remain a powerful cyclone with hurricane force winds for the next couple of days as it approaches Ireland," it said.

The issue of red level severe weather warnings is a comparatively rare event and implies that people take action to protect themselves and/or their properties.

This could be by moving their families out of the danger zone temporarily, staying indoors, or by other specific actions aimed at mitigating the effects of the weather conditions.

The Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence has taken a lead role in co-ordinating a response across State responders.

Ophelia is expected to pass Ireland tomorrow, with forecasters warning of severe disruption, coastal flooding and structural damage to buildings. People have also been warned of the risks posed by falling trees with transport infrastructure likely to be hit along the western seaboard.

Bus Eireann has already moved to cancel school bus services for students in counties Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Galway, where the storm is likely to cause most disruption. The company said it made the move to ensure the children would not be endangered in anyway. Some schools along the west coast may be forced to close because of the status red wind warning.

Environment Minister Denis Naughten yesterday warned that the country should prepare for more "very severe" storms which will "ravage through people's homes".

"You are going to see an increased frequency of extreme weather conditions like the 100-year floods happening every five or six years," Mr Naughten told the Sunday Independent.

"The climate change scientist won't relate any one particular event to climate change but the reality is we have seen in Ireland over the last decade very unusual weather incidents that would have been spread out over a much larger period up until now," he said.

The Department of Education advises that schools "should consider not opening where a Status Red weather warning related to wind is forecast to coincide with the period/s during which students and staff would be expected to be travelling to and from school.

"Whether the school should open later in the day where an improvement to the weather is forecast is a decision which should be taken in consultation with An Garda Siochana, the local authorities, school transport services and other appropriate agencies based in the school's area."

The Department said it had been informed by Bus Eireann school buses in Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Galway will not operate tomorrow due to the Status Red weather warning.
The Army has been placed on standby amid growing fears within government that communities could be severely impacted by Hurricane Ophelia.

A number of different parts across the country have been earmarked as specific bases for the defence forces in the event of emergencies, it has emerged.

Defence Minister Paul Kehoe told Independent.ie that the defence forces will offer support to civil authorities in areas hit by severe weather conditions.

Mr Kehoe said that the support from the Army will be concentrated out of Kilkenny for south eastern counties, Cork for the south and south west of the country, Limerick for the Mid West and Galway for the West.

We are monitoring and awaiting to assist in whatever way we can in which capability allows,the Wexford politician said.

He added that the most severe conditions are expected after midday tomorrow and into tomorrow night.
Hogwarts Express rescues family stranded in Highlands

14 October 2017BBC NewsA family stranded in the Scottish Highlands have been rescued by the "Hogwarts Express" steam train.Jon and Helen Cluett and their four young children were staying at a remote bothy (a small hut or cottage) in Lochaber when their canoe was swept away by a swollen river.Facing a long walk back to their car across boggy land, they phoned the police for advice.To their delight, they arranged for the steam train used in the Harry Potter films to pick them up.The train, called The Jacobite, is used for excursions on the West Highland Railway Line, crossing the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct that also features in the movies.The Cluetts and their children - aged six, eight, 10 and 12 - were enjoying a half-term break at the Essan bothy, on the south shore of Loch Eilt."You can get to it by quite an arduous walk in - or you can paddle for 10 minutes in a canoe across the loch from the road. We had a canoe so we paddled across the loch to the bothy," explained Mr Cluett."We were all in the bothy, warm and fed - all was good - but we'd moored the boat in a little burn behind the bothy, tied it to a wall, pulled high out of the water. My daughter woke up yesterday and says 'Daddy, Daddy - the stream is massive'."The burn was overflowing. The entire area was underwater. The rocks I'd tied the boat to were pulled apart and the boat was gone."The family weighed up their options for getting back to their car. A three-mile walk with small children across difficult boggy ground or along the nearby railway line were discounted as impractical or too dangerous."In the end I decided the only option was to phone the police and mountain rescue, ask if they have any local knowledge that could help us out," said Mr Cluett.The police came back with a magical solution. They arranged for the next train on the railway line that runs close to the bothy to make an unscheduled stop."The amazing thing was it wasn't just any train. The next train that was passing was the Jacobite steam train - the Harry Potter, Hogwarts Express steam train that goes up and down that line."The family hurriedly packed up their belongings and made their way to the line, about 400 yards way."We threw all our stuff into some bags and boxes and ran out of the door of the bothy at the same time as the train is coming around the tracks,' said Mr Cluett."The train is getting closer, we're running down, stuff bouncing everywhere, big smiles on the kids faces. It all started to be fun at that point."I'm slightly sad because I'd lost my boat - but the kids, when they saw the steam train coming, all sadness left their little faces and was replaced by excitement and fun - just the real joy of having an adventure and having the train stop right next to them."The family were dropped off at the next stop, at Lochailort, from where Mr Cluett was able to hitch a lift to retrieve his car.He reflected: "The kids have certainly had an adventure. We've all had an adventure - a big thanks to everyone who helped us."His only regret is that his canoe has still not turned up - although he remains hopeful someone will find it."I think it will still be bobbing around in the loch somewhere. A big red canoe - so if you see it, that would be helpful. That would make the last part of the story even better."
Senior civil servants have claimed the Government "misled the public" over plans to demolish the Department of Health's headquarters ahead of a major Dublin city centre redevelopment project.

A union representing senior health officials wrote to the department's secretary general, Jim Breslin, two weeks ago claiming there was a "lack of transparency" around the proposal to move staff from Hawkins House before razing the building.

The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) said a previously unpublished safety report commissioned by the Office of Public Works (OPW) contradicts a claim that the department's headquarters is unsafe for workers.

The report, seen by the Sunday Independent, suggests the building could be renovated and redeveloped while staff remained in place. However, civil servants are being moved to the former Bank of Ireland headquarters on Baggot Street in Dublin after it was agreed to demolish Hawkins House.

There has been resistance among senior staff over the move due to concerns about lack of parking and the open-plan design of their new office.

In the letter to Mr Breslin, AHCPS general secretary Ciaran Rohan said staff were told they had to leave Hawkins House because the building was in "such a state of disrepair" it was unsafe to remain in the premises beyond the winter of last year.

However, Mr Rohan said the OPW safety report, drafted two years ago, shows the building is "far from being in perilous state of repair". He said the report shows concerns about the structure of the department's headquarters, once voted Dublin's ugliest building, were nowhere as serious as suggested.

"The report clearly states the rehabilitation work could be carried out with the tenants in situ and therefore with little disruption to the work of the department," he said.

"The association has legitimate concerns regarding the move and its possible impact on the work of the department. I am writing to state the association's concern at the lack of transparency about the reasons around the move and the fact that our members, the staff in general and the public appear to have been misled as to the reasons for the proposed move," he added.

An Bord Pleanala recently granted planning permission for the demolition and redevelopment of Hawkins House and the adjoining Apollo House as part of a 50m redevelopment project.

The Department of Health said it would respond to the AHCPS in the coming days. "However, there is no question that the department misled either its staff or the public in relation to this matter.

"The department has at all times acted on the basis of the best available advice from the professional staff in OPW in relation to the future of Hawkins House and the broader issues around the department's longer-term accommodation needs. Hawkins House, having been built over 50 years ago, is approaching the end of its useful life."
Angus Bourke from Castlebar, Co. Mayo a member of Mayo Sailing Club preparaing his boat at Rosmoney, Westport, Co. Mayo before Storm Ophelia. Photo : Keith Heneghan / Phocus.

Pictured getting ready for hurricane Ophelia at Courtmacsherry Bay West Cork was Martin Galvin and his son Adam. Their seaside home at Lobster Cottage sits in Courtmacsherry Bay with County Cork expected to be among the worst effected counties. Picture Denis Boyle

HURRICANE Ophelia will be the most severe weather event to his this country since Hurricane Debbie hit in 1961 - resulting in 15 deaths - Met Eireann has warned.

This evening Met Eireann confirmed that a red weather warning has been extended nationwide.

Speaking on this evening's weather forecast, meteorologist Joanna Donnelly told viewers "this is not the remnants of a hurricane - this is a hurricane".

Every school and college in the country will remain closed tomorrow as a result, the Department of Education has said.

The public have been urged not to make unnecessary journeys.

Employers have also been urged to give their employees guidance how working arrangements have been affected in light of the national red warning.

Expand Close Met Eireann forecaster Evelyn Cusack at the National Emergency Coordination Centre today. Photo: Mark Condren / Facebook

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Whatsapp Met Eireann forecaster Evelyn Cusack at the National Emergency Coordination Centre today. Photo: Mark Condren

The issue of red level severe weather warnings implies that recipients take action to protect themselves and/or their properties; this could be by moving their families out of the danger zone temporarily; by staying indoors; or by other specific actions aimed at mitigating the effects of the weather conditions. It is the highest level of alert Met Eireann can issue.

Aer Lingus has said that over 50 flights have been cancelled so far. Affected passengers have been contacted by text.

Expand Expand Previous Next Close Latest guidance from the National Hurricane Centre. Bear in mind times shown are AST so add 5 hours. Forecast: Map showing predicted path of Ophelia / Facebook

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The army remains on standby to offer assistance in the event there is severe flooding or storm damage in affected communities.

Gardai have advised cyclists in all counties to use public transport or drive rather than cycle in the conditions.

Nearly all court sittings nationwide have also been cancelled.

This affects all Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High, Special, Circuit and District Courts sittings in the country.

Some Custody hearings of the District Court will go ahead via local arrangements, however it is hoped many of these can be conducted by video link.

People summonsed for jury duty for the first time or acting as a juror in an on-going trial should not report to courthouses Monday October 16th - but should instead report on Tuesday.

Officials have been holding a briefing at the National Emergency Coordination Centre today, with people being warned to stay indoors when the hurricane hits their area tomorrow.

The south, south west and west are set to be most-exposed to Hurricane Ophelia, including Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Galway and Mayo.

Met Eireann forecaster Evelyn Cusack told the briefing the weather event was almost unprecedented for this country.

The hurricane will hit the south west coast from around 6am tomorrow and will pass north east across the country.

It had been described as rapid moving and will have passed by Tuesday.

Sean Hogan, national director for fire and emergency management, said it was an extreme weather event.

The comparable weather event we are looking at is Hurricane Debbie in 1961, he said.

Everyone in the country needs to take heed of whats coming, he said.

Met Eireann has also warned that structural damage and flooding is possible.

"The swathe of the area affected by the storm may exceed 100km," Mr Hogan explained.

Ms Cusack said Met Eireann took the "unprecedented step" of issuing a status red warning more than 48 hours before a weather event.

"We issue very few red alert warnings and certainly, they are always within a 24-hour period," she explained.

She referred to weather charts showing the hurricane's predicted pass over Ireland, which she said looked "a little alarming".

"That's because it is an unprecedented weather situation," she said.

She described the fine weather of the weekend as "the calm before the storm."

She said only 15 hurricanes have passed within 200 nautical miles of the Azores since scientific monitoring began in 1851.

Farmers have been warned to ensure that any equipment they have is secured.

Soldiers have been mobilised in areas of the country including Kilkenny to help fill sandbags, while Defence Forces engineering assets such as pumps have also been stood up.

People have been warned to stay away from coastal areas tomorrow as the storm passes and also to avoid fallen cables.

"Following a special meeting of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning in response to the imminent Storm Ophelia, the Department of Education and Skills is now informing all schools in areas affected by Met Eireanns status red wind alert that they are to act on the Departments advice and remain closed tomorrow, Monday 16 October," the Dept said in a statement."

"For parents, this means that their children will not attend school tomorrow in any area where there is a status red wind alert already announced or announced in the intervening time.

Earlier, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney urged the public to take the severe weather warnings seriously.

The former Defence Minister wrote on Twitter: Anybody not taking storm Orphelia seriously should think again - I don't remember ever seeing a forecast for the south coast quite like this.

Met Eireanns Gavin Gallagher said: As you can imagine this morning, theres quite a lot going on. Its quite unusual to have such a strong storm system in this part of the world. Its the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic on record in history.

(Met Eireann forecasters) just had a four-way conference call with the National Hurricane Centre in Miami, the National Weather Service in the US and the Met Office in the UK.

Mr Gallagher stressed that the hurricane will downgrade to a storm by the time it hits Ireland.

"It has the potential to be as bad as Debbie," said Pat Clarke of Met Eireann. "The track is pretty much consistent now. These things can take on a life of their own but it certainly has the potential to be similar [to Debbie]."

At this stage, there is strong evidence from weather forecast models that the remnants of Ophelia will track close to or over parts of Ireland, but at present, there are still a wide range of possible outcomes.

Met Eireann forecasters will be tracking Ophelia's evolution in the next 24 hours, with emergency response teams still hopeful the country will escape the worst of the storm.

The US National Hurricane Center said yesterday Ophelia had become a "rare category 3 hurricane south of the Azores", making it the "sixth major hurricane of the 2017 season".

"No significant change in strength is expected today, but gradual weakening should begin tonight or Sunday. However, Ophelia is still expected to remain a powerful cyclone with hurricane force winds for the next couple of days as it approaches Ireland," it said.

The issue of red level severe weather warnings is a comparatively rare event and implies that people take action to protect themselves and/or their properties.

This could be by moving their families out of the danger zone temporarily, staying indoors, or by other specific actions aimed at mitigating the effects of the weather conditions.

The Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence has taken a lead role in co-ordinating a response across State responders.

Ophelia is expected to pass Ireland tomorrow, with forecasters warning of severe disruption, coastal flooding and structural damage to buildings. People have also been warned of the risks posed by falling trees with transport infrastructure likely to be hit along the western seaboard.

Environment Minister Denis Naughten yesterday warned that the country should prepare for more "very severe" storms which will "ravage through people's homes".

"You are going to see an increased frequency of extreme weather conditions like the 100-year floods happening every five or six years," Mr Naughten told the Sunday Independent.

"The climate change scientist won't relate any one particular event to climate change but the reality is we have seen in Ireland over the last decade very unusual weather incidents that would have been spread out over a much larger period up until now," he said.

The Department of Education advises that schools "should consider not opening where a Status Red weather warning related to wind is forecast to coincide with the period/s during which students and staff would be expected to be travelling to and from school.

"Whether the school should open later in the day where an improvement to the weather is forecast is a decision which should be taken in consultation with An Garda Siochana, the local authorities, school transport services and other appropriate agencies based in the school's area."

Age Action Ireland have urged people to do their best to ensure elderly relatives stay safe during the worst of the storm.

Justin Moran, Head of Advocacy and Communications with Age Action, said: Some of the reports are predicting the worst storm to hit Ireland in 50 years so we would urge older people, particularly those living in alone in isolated areas, to take every precaution.

They might like to consider staying with a relative for the next couple of days. They should certainly ensure they have enough food and fuel to be comfortable in case the roads become dangerous.

We would also urge the neighbours of older people to please make the effort to look in on them to make sure theyre okay if your community is particularly hard hit by the storm.

Even if theyre alright many older people get an enormous sense of comfort from knowing someone is keeping an eye out for them.
Stock Photo. An Aer Lingus jet prepares to land at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, in 2010. Photo: Tim Boyle/Bloomberg via Getty Images

We're monitoring airport, ferry, train and bus information for passengers as Hurricane Ophelia approaches Ireland. Here's the latest.

Airport Updates

Over 250 flights have now been cancelled throughout Monday.

Cork Airport:

The airport has advised avoiding travel to the airport on Monday "unless absolutely necessary".

With the weather expected to be most severe between 10:00 and 15:00, Ryanair, WOW, Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Regional have cancelled over 40 flights between them.

Passengers should check with their airlines regarding travel. You can also check live departures information from Cork Airport here. Arrivals here.

Dublin Airport:

Some 180 flights were cancelled Monday.

Check your flight status with your airline before travelling to the airport (although Dublin is not currently expecting any access issues for passengers).

Both of Emirates' Monday departures to Dubai are listed as cancelled, while KLM, Aer Lingus, BA, Vueling, Qatar and Air France have also cancelled various flights.

We ask all passengers to check flight status with their airline & to avoid travelling to @CorkAirport on Mon unless absolutely necessary. pic.twitter.com/xrC06fiJqy  Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) October 15, 2017

Ryanair has now cancelled 36 Dublin flights. Further info here.

CityJet has announced that it is cancelling all flights on its Dublin to London City route on Monday from noon. Normal service will resume Tuesday.

See live departure information for Dublin Airport here. Arrivals here.

Shannon Airport:

Check with your airline before travelling to the airport on Monday.

Several Aer Lingus Regional flights have been cancelled, including EI 3675/3672 from/to Edinburgh and EI 3639/3638 from/to Birmingham.

Aer Lingus's London/Heathrow EI381 and EI384 flights are also cancelled, and Ryanair has also cancelled several flights, including to Faro and Lanzarote.

This morning, a Delta Airlines flight diverted to Dublin, and United's UA25 from New York was cancelled. Delta's DL206 (11.50am) is postponed until Tuesday morning.

This evening, the airport said: We are beginning to see a slow improvement in the weather conditions and are cautiously optimistic that the backlog of delayed flights will now begin to resume throughout the evening and tomorrow."

Shannon's departures information is here. Arrivals here.

Ireland West Knock:

Ryanair has cancelled all schedule flights into and out of Ireland West Airport for Monday 16th October - to Liverpool, London Stansted, Luton and East Midlands.

Ireland West has also informed us that Aer Lingus's Gatwick flights, and Flybe services to/from Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh, have been cancelled.

Passengers should check with their airlines before travel, the airport advises.

Kerry Airport:

Due to weather conditions, flights EI3204 From Dublin, EI3205 to Dublin and EI3208 from Dublin have been cancelled Monday. Ryanair has also cancelled its Frankfurt, Alicante and London services for October 16.

Donegal Airport:

Donegal to Dublin operated Monday morning, but Aer Lingus Regional's 1.15pm and 7pm from Dublin are cancelled, as is the 5.25pm to Dublin.

Flights to and from Glasgow have also been cancelled for Monday. For updates or information, contact the airport on 074 954-8254.

Airline Updates

Aer Lingus:

The airline says over 90 flights have been cancelled as a result of Ophelia. Passengers affected have been contacted by text message to advise them of the cancellation. Passengers with queries regarding the status of their flight can check here for the latest updates.

"While we are planning to operate the majority of our schedule we have had to cancel a number of flights as a result of the anticipated operating conditions," a spokesman for the airline told Independent.ie.

"We continue to monitor the situation closely and will update the website and contact guests, via SMS, as soon as any new information becomes available."

"Guests with bookings on any Aer Lingus flights today who wish to postpone their travel, even if the flights are scheduled to operate, may change to another date of travel within the next three days free-of-charge on Aerlingus.com," it adds.

Ryanair:

Ryanair has now cancelled over 80 flights, including 36 to/from Dublin and several to/from each of Cork, Shannon and Ireland West (Knock).

Its live list of cancellations is here.

"Unfortunately, further flight delays and cancellations are likely and customers are asked to please monitor this notice which will be updated throughout the day."

Other airlines:

Emirates has cancelled its EK162 Dubai departure at 13.20 on Monday. EK164 (22.20) will operate with a planned delay of 20 hours on the afternoon of October 17, it says.

KLM, CityJet, Air France, BA and others have also cancelled flights. Check with your airline, or the airport departures information pages above, before travelling to the airport.

Aer Arann flights from Connemara are off.

Ferry Updates

Stena Line has now cancelled its Dublin/Holyhead and Rosslare/Fishguard sailings for Monday. The Belfast to Liverpool service is also cancelled.

You can check the latest on your specific sailing here.

Irish Ferries is listing its 08.45 and 14.30 Swift services from Dublin-Holyhead as cancelled "due to adverse weather conditions on the Irish Sea".

Its 20.55 Ulysses sailing is "in doubt".

Monday's Swift services from Holyhead to Dublin are also cancelled, as are most Inishmore services between Rosslare and Pembroke.

See the company's sailing updates here.

Shannon Ferries has cancelled its Killimer to Tarbert services from 9am.

Bus, Train & Luas Updates

Bus Eireann has cancelled all services nationwide from 05.00 to 14.00 on Monday. The situation will be reviewed and some services may resume in the afternoon, it says.

Dublin Bus:

Services will be withdrawn at 10am.

"We hope to return services from 19.00 or when we can safely operate our services. However, customers should be aware that services may experience delays and disruptions to service and service levels will be dependent on weather conditions."

Follow its updates here.

Irish Rail:

Updates on DART and InterCity services here.

All rail services, including DART, Commuter and InterCity trains, have now been suspended for the remainder of Monday, October 16.

"We plan to resume services from first trains on Tuesday 17th October on all routes. However, this is dependent on any fallen trees, debris or other damage being cleared from lines, and it being safe to resume," Irish Rail says.

"If you bought ticket for today & decide not to travel, we'll refund. Also change train time for any other train today for no charge," it has tweeted. Claim refunds here.

Luas:

"The Luas Red and Green Line services will be curtailed from 10am onwards today. Normal service will resume tomorrow Tuesday 17/10/2017 at 5.30am."

Airport Bus Services:

Airlink services will be suspended from 10am.

Aircoach has also cancelled many services from Cork, Dublin and Belfast today - see the full list here. "All other services are running as per schedule at present but we would advise extra travelling time," it says.

Other Updates

The Passport Office in Cork City will be closed Monday, October 16.

The Department of Foreign Affairs also says services at the Passport Office in Dublin "may be reduced and the situation will be kept under review".

The Passport Service can be contacted on 01 671-1633.

AA Roadwatch traffic updates are here.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?

Flight cancellation rights are covered under EC Regulation 261/2004.

If your flight is cancelled for any reason, and regardless of when you are notified, your airline must offer you the choice between:

1) Re-routing as soon as possible, subject to availability, free of charge.

2) Re-routing at a later date.

3) A full refund.

Am I entitled to care and assistance?

If your flight is cancelled and you choose to be re-routed as soon as possible, then you are entitled to meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation and transfers between the airport and hotel as required. If the airline does not provide these, and you end up paying yourself, keep the receipts - you are entitled to a reimbursement of reasonable expenses.

NB. A five-star hotel may not be a reasonable expense!

Bear in mind that if your flight is cancelled and you choose a full refund, then the airline's obligations to you end there and then.

Am I entitled to compensation?

Financial compensation depends on the flight length and the reason for the cancellation. It ranges from 250 (short-haul, less than 1,500km) to 600 (long-haul, over 3,500km).

For more on your passenger rights, read here or visit flightrights.ie.

NB: This story is being updated to reflect developments.

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A new direct flight has taken off between Ireland and Miami. Ryan Nugent hops onboard...

Set the mood

Hair and face blown back, sun beaming down and zipping past Will Smith's oceanside holiday home - yep, this is what Miami is all about.

If The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air doesn't tickle your fancy, how about some of his neighbours... David Beckham, Jennifer Lopez and Ricky Martin. Carmen Electra even has her own yacht (titled Electra) at the front of her mansion.

All of this can be seen while moving at speeds of 60mph on the Thriller boat ride (thrillermiami.com), a must for anyone who sets foot in South Florida - just don't sit down the back if you're wearing anything you might want to keep dry.

This was the 'save the best till last' part of the trip and really set the city apart... but there was lots more besides.

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Expand Close Loud and expensive: Ocean Drive in Miami with its iconic Art Deco architecture is a fantastic spot to enjoy the citys nightlife / Facebook

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Where to stay in Miami? That depends. Families might consider pushing away from Ocean Drive (above) towards Miami Beach, where many of the nicer hotels are. If you're young and want to party, forget about hotel comforts and stay around South Beach or one of the cheaper options around Washington Avenue.

Guilty pleasure

This is when it gets a little pricey, but if there's something you fancy splurging on, then don't waste it on a dress or new shoes in Miami. Focus on the food... and certainly don't forget about a couple of tasty cocktails along the way. At the Four Seasons Hotel on Brickell Avenue (fourseasons.com/miami), a food buffet includes fresh seafood, a full roasted pig and even an outdoor barbecue at a cost of $75/64. Add in the unlimited drinks deal, and that tots up to $100/85 in total. It's difficult to say whether it's worth the money, but the delicious food definitely makes it tempting.

Cheap kick

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This is as cheap as it comes - it's free. If you're planning a trip to Miami, you can't go there without spending time at the world-famous South Beach. Just soak up the sun along the strip; it's always buzzing and if you walk all the way along the coast, you'll have more than 3km of sugar-white sand to enjoy. A warning, though... don't forget the sunscreen.

Insider intel

Get out to Wynwood - it's the city's hipster 'hood, but you don't have to be a hipster to enjoy it. Take a bike tour or just walk around to see hundreds, even thousands, of funky murals. The district features the work of some of the world's best graffiti artists, and almost every shopfront has something artsy going on. If you're happy to walk around and admire, it's free; if you fancy a guide, then hook up with local graffiti artist Ryan the Wheelbarrow (miamisbestgraffitiguide.com; from $27/23pp for groups).

Glitches

Miami ain't cheap. If you want to really enjoy it, you need to splurge a little, if not a lot. Anywhere along Ocean Drive - where everything happens at night - will charge high prices: some for entry, others for expensive cocktails.

Get me there

Ryan travelled with Aer LIngus (aerlingus.com), which launched a new thrice-weekly direct flight from Dublin to Miami this September.

Fares start from 209 each way, when booked as part of a return flight. He stayed at the Grand Beach Hotel on Miami Beach (above, miamihotelgrandbeach.com; rooms from $170/145 per night). For more to see and do in the city, check out miamiandbeaches.com and visitflorida.com.

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In considering the clinical impact of the Eighth Amendment, it is important to define and understand what is meant by termination of pregnancy, defined as the "intentional procurement of miscarriage prior to foetal viability". Foetal viability is approached at approximately 24 weeks of gestation when sophisticated neonatal intensive care provides an approximate 50pc chance of foetal survival. Other factors also impact on the prospect of foetal viability, such as foetal size and the presence of foetal abnormalities. A baby who is born after viability has been reached and intensive care provided is defined as a delivery.

In Ireland, a woman qualifies for a termination of pregnancy if there is a real and substantial risk to her life that may be removed only by termination of pregnancy. The process that determines this qualification is cumbersome, and despite the fact that it relies on clinical judgment delivered in good faith to save a woman's life, it is framed in a criminal context in which an error may be punishable by a custodial sentence of up to 14 years for both the mother and her doctor.

In pregnant women with additional serious medical problems, such as cystic fibrosis or congenital heart disease, the added physiological burden of pregnancy can create significant maternal risk. It must be recognised that it is clinically difficult, if not impossible at times, to distinguish with certainty the difference between risk to health and risk to life. This is real-life medicine, but there is arguably no other circumstance in medicine where such risks to life are balanced in the shadow of criminality. The critical question arises as to how a substantial risk of mortality is defined. Is it a 10pc risk of death or an 80pc risk of death, or a requirement for intensive-care support? A woman will have a view as to what constitutes a substantial risk to her life, and her view deserves consideration.

In pregnancy, we deal with two lives inextricably linked by a complex physiology. This is dealt with in our Constitution by a balance of rights - the equal right to life of the mother and the foetus.

From a medical perspective, this provision creates difficulty in its presumption that the implications of a range of complex medical disorders can be reduced to a matter of right and quantifiable risk. Once foetal viability is achieved, we have the option of delivering the baby and attempting to save both lives. However, prior to foetal viability, we do not have the option of delivering a foetus because the foetus cannot survive, and if a pregnant mother dies, her baby dies, too. Therefore, prior to foetal viability this Constitutional provision makes no clinical sense, but its presence facilitates a real possibility that clinical decision-making may be delayed or distorted as clinicians ponder the law rather than medicine.

Unfortunately, approximately 2pc-3pc of all foetuses have a significant congenital abnormality. The specialty of foetal medicine is advancing in complexity and our ability to identify genetic and structural abnormalities in the foetus is increasing.

Foetal imaging has also improved, including enhanced ultrasound and MRI imaging. A scan performed at 18 to 22 weeks' gestation to detect foetal abnormalities is a standard of care, but one-third of units in Ireland do not provide this basic service, which is hard to justify in 2017.

The identification of a foetal abnormality before birth allows parents and medical teams an opportunity to prepare for birth and to optimise outcome where possible. However, in some cases an abnormality is so complex that a baby may die in utero or shortly after birth.

The realisation that a baby has a complex severe foetal abnormality is devastating for families. When a patient is given such a prenatal diagnosis, non-directive counselling is provided. This means that all options for management are discussed in a non-judgmental manner. One option for pregnancy management is to continue with the pregnancy and to provide perinatal hospice care. There are now national standards of bereavement care that address anticipatory bereavement with strategies including an individualised multi-disciplinary approach, memory making, bereavement support and advice for family members.

The alternative option in this situation is to not continue with the pregnancy, which means undergoing pregnancy termination outside of this jurisdiction. Patients who select this care pathway, after non-directive counselling, are supported to the extent that is permissible by our legislation. This includes providing contact details of foetal medicine centres in the UK. We do not make direct referral for pregnancy termination or advocate for one management option over another. Parents must make their own appointments and make their own travel arrangements. Parents also bear the cost of treatment in the UK, which can run to several thousand euro, including medical treatment, flights, accommodation, laboratory bills and the cost of bringing their baby's remains home.

More than 100 women attending our hospitals travelled to the UK for termination of pregnancy in the context of foetal abnormality in 2016. Parents frequently report feeling abandoned, and the tragedy of their loss is exacerbated by the practical difficulties of bringing foetal remains home, navigating a different healthcare system, being separated from their families at such a difficult time and the shame and stigma associated with travelling to the UK for termination of pregnancy.

From a clinical perspective, care between two different jurisdictions is inevitably disjointed and clinical risk is increased. It is far from an ideal that a complex medical diagnosis is made in one jurisdiction while treatment is provided in another without the capacity to make a formal appropriate clinical handover. Lack of continuity of care, incomplete evaluation of prenatal diagnosis and incomplete analysis of implications for future pregnancies are further hazards. We have direct experience of our patients having suffered severe complications while travelling for these purposes.

We believe that the issue of criminalisation of medical care relating to termination of pregnancy in the setting of foetal abnormality and maternal illness needs to be changed.

Secondly, we believe that doctors and hospitals in Ireland should be allowed to provide all pathways of care for our patients when a diagnosis of a complex foetal abnormality is made, without having to export our challenging cases to another jurisdiction to complete care.

We make these observations as clinicians facing real-life clinical challenges and as witnesses to the very difficult and complex clinical situations faced by our patients.

Professor Fergal Malone is Master/CEO of the Rotunda Hospital Dublin and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine.

Dr Rhona Mahony is Master of the National Maternity Hospital
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Britain's Prince Harry (R) arrives with girlfriend actress Meghan Markle at the wheelchair tennis event during the Invictus Games in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 25, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

Vogue Williams attends the Paul Costelloe catwalk show during London Fashion Week at The Waldorf London on September 18, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle applaud as they watch Wheelchair Tennis at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 25, 2017. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Irish designer Paul Costelloe has long-standing links to the British royal family: he was one of Princess Diana's favourite designers in the '90s and his pieces attract an elite clientele.

And the outspoken designer always has something interesting to say regarding the world's most famous women, in particular blue blooded ones. So when we caught in Dublin, I had to ask his thoughts on Meghan Markle, whose public debut with boyfriend Prince Harry earlier this month, was overshadowed by her - gasp! - ripped jeans and hand holding, which is proof enough she is ripping up the modern royal rulebook.

Expand Close Prince Harry and Meghan Markle applaud as they watch Wheelchair Tennis at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 25, 2017. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire / Facebook

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Whatsapp Prince Harry and Meghan Markle applaud as they watch Wheelchair Tennis at the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto, Canada. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Monday September 25, 2017. Photo credit should read: Danny Lawson/PA Wire

"This lady isnt for turning as Margaret Thatcher would say," Costelloe told Independent.ie Style.

"She's a self-made woman, therefore it has the potential to be good and bad. I wouldn't say she'll be taking instructions; she has her own business and career that has worked out. She is an attractive girl and I think they'll be a fun couple. People are now going more casual, it's comfortable. People want comfort and shes the example of that, she's not particularly standing out wearing that."

As for Pippa Middleton's May nuptials, the popular designer, who previously said her sister Kate was "no Princess Diana", praised her delicate Giles Deacon gown.

"I think it was very simple, I quite liked it," he said.

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"I honestly think that what she wore for her sisters wedding was more fun, a little raunchier. This was very feminine, very simple, got a good figure, delicate wasn't over the top, she wasn't trying to compete with her sister. It was playful, there was no shocks about it. That's what Pippa is - pretty low key."

Costelloe has been at Dublin's Sandymount Hotel all day promoting his latest jewellery collection Aurora, inspired by the Goddess of Dawn, meaning new opportunities, which is fitting as she has aspirations to expand his impressive line into off-the-rack bridalwear and hosting his own art show, to publicly display her personal passion for painting.

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"I'm looking at evening gowns, off the rack, they wouldn't be made to measure, and wedding dresses. In particular, working in linen has proven very successful and I quite enjoy evening wear. My favourite part is the designing and the creating, not the business side...if I can do that, without burning any bridges!"

He's fresh from a successful showcase at London Fashion Week in September and is preparing for another turn in February. At last month's show, he featured Irish model-of-the-moment with her own tenuous royal connection, Vogue Williams, on the runway.

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"She's a very good supporter of the brand," he explained.

"I asked her would she like to be in the show, I thought she might prefer not to, but it was great to have her on board. She's a gracious, humble and charming girl." As for any other 'it' girls, he's inspired by, he says: "Vogue is the one, shes the name. Im not sharing with anybody else! She's the person of the moment."

But his jewellery line, which he describes as "very feminine" features on-trend sheer designs and and proudly says it's "very discreet, sort of like mist walking through".

The 37-piece collection is available at www.paulcostelloejewellery.com.
A British actress has revealed she told police Harvey Weinstein raped her as the organisation behind the Oscars expelled the producer over allegations of sexual abuse.

Lysette Anthony said she had told the Metropolitan Police she was attacked by Weinstein in her London home in the late Eighties.

Scotland Yard had previously said it had received an allegation of sexual assault without naming the producer.

The Hollyoaks actresss revelation follows several allegations of rape made by actresses in the US against Weinstein, all of which he has strenuously denied.

On Saturday some of the film industrys most powerful figures, including Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg, voted to expel the film producer from their ranks.

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Anthony, 54, told The Sunday Times she met the producer when she starred in 1982 sci-fi film Krull and the alleged assault occurred a few years later.

She said it was a pathetic, revolting attack that had left her disgusted and embarrassed.

On Wednesday Anthony tweeted that she had just reported a historical crime, adding feel sick so sad.

The Metropolitan Police said it was passed an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police the same day.

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The allegation will be assessed by officers from Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command, the force said.

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Dozens of actresses, including Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have made accusations of sex abuse against the 65-year-old movie mogul over the past 10 days, prompting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to call an emergency meeting.

In a statement they said the board had voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to expel Weinstein.

Actress Rose McGowan  one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment and who has since said he raped her  celebrated the Academys decision with a post on Instagram.

She wrote: We slay dragons.

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Through his spokeswoman, the movie mogul has unequivocally denied any allegations of non-consensual sex after three actresses said he had raped them in an article in The New Yorker.

Police in the US are also investigating allegations.

The Academy said they were expelling Weinstein not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of wilful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behaviour and workplace harassment in our industry is over.

It added: Whats at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.

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Bafta had already suspended the producer and on Tuesday Weinsteins wife, British designer Georgina Chapman, said she was leaving him.

Weinstein was labelled sick and depraved by his brother, Bob Weinstein, with whom he co-founded the companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company, on Saturday.

Bob told The Hollywood Reporter he had been aware his brother was unfaithful to Chapman but did not know the type of predator that he was.

He added: I have a brother thats indefensible and crazy. I want him to get the justice that he deserves.

The Writers Guild Of America West issued a statement on Saturday saying it stands in solidarity with the women who have spoken out while the Producers Guild announced they would be meeting to consider expelling Weinstein.
Fire officials have said they are finally getting the upper hand against the wildfires that have devastated California wine country and other parts of the state over the past week, and thousands of people got the all-clear to return home.

While the danger from the deadliest, most destructive cluster of blazes in California history was far from over, the smoky skies started to clear in some places.

"A week ago this started as a nightmare, and the day we dreamed of has arrived," Napa county supervisor Belia Ramos said.

People were being allowed to return home in areas no longer in harm's way, and the number of those under evacuation orders was down to 75,000 from nearly 100,000 the day before.

Fire crews were able to gain ground because the winds that fanned the flames did not kick up overnight as much as feared.

"Conditions have drastically changed from just 24 hours ago, and that is definitely a very good sign," said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, who noted that some of the fires were 50% or more contained.

"It's probably a sign we've turned a corner on these fires."

The blazes were blamed for at least 40 deaths and destroyed some 5,700 homes and other structures.

The death toll could climb as searchers dig through the ruins for people listed as missing.

Hundreds were unaccounted for, though authorities said many of them are probably safe but have not let anyone know.

Many evacuees grew increasingly impatient to go home, or at least find out whether their homes were spared.

Others were reluctant to go back or to look for another place to live.

Juan Hernandez, who escaped with his family from his apartment on October 9 before it burned down, still had his car packed and ready to go in case the fires flared up again and threatened his sister's house, where they have been staying in Santa Rosa.

"Every day we keep hearing sirens at night, alarms," Mr Hernandez said.

"We're scared. When you see the fire close to your house, you're scared."

At the Sonoma fairgrounds, evacuees watched the San Francisco 49ers play the Washington Redskins on television, received treatment from a chiropractor and got free haircuts.

Michael Estrada, who owns a barber shop in neighbouring Marin County but grew up in one of the Santa Rosa neighbourhoods hit hard by the blazes, brought his combs, clippers and scissors and displayed his barbering licence in case anyone doubted his credentials.

"I'm not saving lives," he said.

"I'm just here to make somebody's day feel better, make them feel normal."

Lois Krier, 86, said it was hard to sleep on a cot in the shelter with people snoring and dogs barking through the night.

She and her husband, William Krier, 89, were anxious to get home, but after being evacuated for a second time in a week Saturday, they didn't want to risk having to leave again.

"We're cautious," she said. "We want to be safe."

Nearly 11,000 firefighters were still battling the 15 fires burning across a 100-mile stretch of the state.

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'On March 25, they killed five youths, and left a child wounded - he lost his arm," says Guimer Quiro, the leader of a small Afro-Colombian community which recently joined the ranks of Colombia's seven million displaced people. "After that, what with the wave of violence that is sweeping through the area, we decided we better move to the nearest city, Buenaventura."

Their story, and that of the other indigenous and Afro-descendent communities who live along the banks of the San Juan River, is the story of many millions of ordinary Colombians.

It is a story of unrelenting physical and economic violence, entrenched inequality, and the persistent failure of the state to deliver rule of law outside of major cities.

Looking out over the waterway, the busiest cocaine trafficking route in the world, Quiro adds with a certain resignation: "It's a strategically important channel - large quantities of drugs and weapons are trafficked here. The FARC used to be here, but now it is more the paramilitaries and the National Liberation Army."

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For these, the poorest and most marginalised sectors of the population, Colombia's newfound peace has had little impact. Some time has passed since the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, to give them their full name, were causing problems in the area, and for many, the withdrawal of FARC has only thrown open the door to paramilitary gangs.

When the Colombian government agreed a peace deal with the country's largest insurgent group last year, the international community offered enthusiastic congratulations. The accord was narrowly rejected in a plebescite, however, and despite being pushed through parliament with some hasty revisions, the deal is still regarded with either pessimism or outright hostility by many. Among the rank and file of FARC itself, and among its leadership, there is a strong sense that there is no turning back, however. Having decommissioned their weaponry, and decamped to 26 transitional encampments around the country, they have launched a new political party and are clearly determined to pursue their Marxist-Leninist political project by peaceful means.

"We are not demobilising," Gabriel Angel, one of the organisation's leading intellectuals, corrects me when we meet in Bogota. "Demobilisation suggests giving up the fight. If you read the Havana agreement from beginning to end, you won't find the term 'demobilisation' once."

Of course, reading the agreement is no small undertaking. At 360 pages, it dwarfs the Good Friday Agreement in terms of both scope and ambition, tackling everything from transitional justice to land redistribution and the rights of ethnic minorities. The level of detail in the accord is small surprise to those familiar with FARC, an organisation which has travelled a long road from its founding in the hills of Tolima half a century ago to its embrace of mainstream politics today.

Soaring poverty

The insurgency was born of an uprising against conservative and liberal elites that had agreed to take turns governing, rather than be held to account by an electorate, some 50 years ago. That elite's pursuit of large-scale industrial farming, forcibly evicting thousands of peasant farmers from their land, drove soaring poverty and popular anger throughout the 1960s, creating fertile ground for some form of armed resistance.

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Against this backdrop, a young communist activist called Manuel Marulanda Velez declared an independent "Republic of Marquetalia" in the foothills of the Andes in 1961. Three years later, when the new 'state' was crushed by a force of 16,000 Colombian soldiers, its core members retreated further into the mountains where they formed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. In time, FARC would become a sophisticated and formidable military and political actor, controlling an area of the country larger than Switzerland.

Before long, the conflict came to be characterised by ruthlessness and viciousness on both sides. While FARC's involvement in kidnappings, extortion and numerous human-rights atrocities fuelled popular outrage, its members would become both victims and perpetrator of serious abuses. Most notably, after agreeing to abandon violence and enter mainstream politics under a previous round of peace negotiations in 1985, over 4,000 members of the new party - called the Patriotic Union (UP) - were systematically exterminated by state forces and paramilitaries, leading to widespread suspicion that the talks had been little more than a ruse designed to draw them out of the shadows.

The extermination of the UP would also set a new marker in the noxious relationship between state security forces and paramilitary gangs that continues to afflict Colombia to this day. The rise of 'paramilitarismo' would reach its zenith under the administration of the hawkish Alvaro Uribe, who swept to power in 2002 on a promise to crush the FARC once and for all. Backed by billions of dollars in military and financial support from the US, the Harvard-educated politician led an aggressive and sustained military campaign that significantly weakened FARC.

As part of a devastatingly pitiless strategy, his administration actively promoted the development of private militias to combat the insurgents. These paramilitary gangs, generally answerable to nobody but their paymasters, would pursue a reign of terror in large swathes of the country, leading to a quagmire of brutality that many fear will be exacerbated now that FARC has dearmed. Indeed, the UN estimates that such paramilitaries are to blame for 80pc of the killings in Colombia's civil conflict, with the rebels being responsible for 12pc and state security forces the authors of the remainder.

Throughout his administration, Uribe was dogged by relentless accusations of ties to drug traffickers and paramilitaries, and numerous corruption investigations were opened against his regime. Perhaps the most notorious of the controversies was the 'false positives' scandal, which saw upwards of 3,000 innocent civilians - mostly children and youths - murdered by state security forces and presented as enemy combatants killed in battle in order to access incentives such as promotions and extra time off.

Current President Juan Manuel Santos dramatically veered away from his predecessor's bellicose policies when he took over in 2010. The pragmatically-minded Santos, recognising that military progress had largely stalled and that the underpinnings of the conflict would eventually have to be dealt with if a lasting peace was to be achieved, instead sought negotiations with FARC. The former defence minister, who was himself caught in the blast of an IRA bomb in London in 1974, had monitored Northern Ireland's peace process closely and opened the door for negotiators of the Good Friday Agreement to cross the Atlantic and share lessons learned.

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Over the course of four years of talks in Havana, a succession of politicians, activists, and negotiators from Northern Ireland and the Republic travelled to both the Colombian and Cuban capitals to help facilitate the talks. Of course, this wasn't the first time Northern Irish political actors had meetings with FARC. The 'Colombia Three' - IRA members Jim Monaghan and Martin McCauley along with Sinn Fein representative Niall Connolly - were arrested in Bogota in 2001 and charged with training FARC members in bomb-making. While the men succeeding in making a clandestine return to Ireland, a subsequent investigation by the US House of Representatives affirmed they were just one of a series of IRA 'delegations' that travelled to Colombia; a claim that was verified by former FARC officers in discussions with this journalist.

The IRA connection remains a toxic issue among the 'guerrilla', with many rank-and-file FARC members vehemently opposed to the strategy of targeting civilians through remote detonations.

While the Irish are now considered a more benevolent presence by all sides, not least due to the work of Eamon Gilmore, EU Special Envoy for the peace process in Colombia, the detente is far from secure. There is widespread concern over what might happen should Alvaro Uribe's ironically-named Democratic Centre Party, which campaigned vigorously against the deal, win power in general elections scheduled for next March.

"The peace is still very fragile - it's like a new tree; you plant it, you have to give it time to take root, and in its early days you have to have a wooden frame around it to protect it from the winds and make sure it grows," explains Mr Gilmore. "In a way that framework around the Colombian peace process is the support of the international community. We're very conscious of the importance of international support over the next year, particularly given the elections next year. It is quite possible that those elections may produce an administration that was on the 'No' side of the referendum."

Dubious claims

When the peace agreement was rejected, albeit by the narrowest of margins, in the plebiscite, it was widely observed that those who lived in more affluent urban areas, who were relatively untouched by the country's long history of violence, had rejected the deal, while the rural population, which had borne its brunt, had voted overwhelmingly in favour.

In the wake of the vote, it also became clear that some of the 'No' campaign's key claims were dubious at best. These included that that FARC members would not only go unpunished, but would also receive huge sums of public money, and that 'gender ideology' and 'homosexuality culture' would become a part of school curriculums. Indeed, one of the architects of the opposition campaign, Carlos Eduardo Velez, sparked a nationwide outcry when he admitted their strategy had been based on fuelling popular indignation rather than dealing with policy realities.

President Santos is now racing to advance implementation of the agreement sufficiently that any rollback would become politically unfeasible for whomever wins the forthcoming elections. Thus far, this has proved difficult, however, with opposition forces effectively impeding progress, and diluting the content, of the myriad legislative provisions required to implement the deal. Meanwhile, paramilitary violence against human rights defenders, and increasingly against former FARC combatants, is soaring.

"We've handed over our arms, and we're pursuing politics by legal means, but the Colombian people's problems and their needs remain unmet," observes former FARC combatant Leonardo Rojas when we meet in the Incononzo transition camp, a few hours outside Bogota. "If this isn't resolved, the problem of violence - the resistance of the Colombian people - may be reborn in other revolutionary armies.

"I don't even want to think about the possibility of the government failing to fulfil its commitments," he adds. "We've been at war for very a long time."

Four hundred kilometres away in heavy humidity of Buenaventura, a young indigenous man looks out over the river that paramilitaries will no longer allow him to fish, and expresses a similar weariness and apprehension. "You can tell the narcos' boats by the size of the engines, and by the times at which they pass," he says . "No-one else has engines that big, and no-one else dares to move goods down the river at night." It would be a mistake to confuse his fatigue for apathy, though. Straightening his back, he continues: "But we'll keep resisting; we've been resisting oppression here for 500 years."
President Emmanuel Macron challenged Donald Trump's hard-line stance on Iran and insisted on Sunday that "France is back" in the world arena.

But Mr Macron's real problems lay at home.

And in his first national television interview since his election, the 39-year-old leader struggled to claw back public support for his "economic transformation" of a stagnant France and to shed his image as a president of the rich.

Though he came into the presidency little-prepared to lead a nuclear-armed country, Mr Macron played on his international stature during his appearance on the TF1 network.

He suggested he helped persuade Mr Trump not to "tear up" the international accord curbing Iranian nuclear activities in exchange for resumed trade.

Mr Trump stopped short of pulling out of the deal in a speech on Friday, but accused Iran of violating it and held open the possibility of a US withdrawal.

"He wants to make things tougher with Iran ... I explained to him that for me that is a bad method," Mr Macron said.

"Look at the Korea situation. We broke off all negotiations with Korea. What is the result? A few years later we have a country that is about to have a nuclear weapon."

To drive home his support for the Iranian accord, the French leader pledged to visit Iran soon.

Asked if he was concerned that what critics see as Mr Trump's erratic leadership is dangerous or worrying, Mr Macron said no.

"The US is our ally," Mr Macron said, stressing the importance of military cooperation against Islamic extremists in Syria and beyond.

He defended the idea of multilateralism, instead of each country for itself, but he also insisted that France will not quietly bow to the US or other interests.

Mr Macron also pointed to French accomplishments since his election: the choice of Paris to host the 2024 Olympics and the victory of France's candidate to lead UN cultural agency, Unesco.

"We're here. France is back," he said.

The president showed no sympathy for Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who is facing a tsunami of allegations of sexual harassment and abuse.

"I have started the steps to withdraw the Legion of Honour award" bestowed on Weinstein in 2012 for his work on Oscar-winning French film The Artist, Mr Macron said.

He pledged new measures against sexual harassment, notably in public transport, and speeded-up procedures for investigating and prosecuting such acts to encourage more women to come forward when abused.

"The important thing is to talk. It's not the women who should be ashamed, it's the men," he said.

When it came to what matters most to the French, the economy and their jobs, Mr Macron appeared both combative and defensive.

He refused to apologise for blunt language about workers in a struggling factory "screwing everything up" instead of looking for work.

"I wasn't trying to humiliate. ... I take full responsibility for what was said," he said.

AP
Pope Francis at the end of the canonisation mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican (AP)

The Catholic Church has been given 35 new saints, proclaimed during a Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St Peter's Square, Rome.

Thirty of the saints proclaimed on Sunday are martyrs, including priests and lay people, who suffered anti-Catholic persecution in 1645 at the hands of Dutch Calvinists in Brazil.

Three more were children in 16th-century Mexico who were martyred for embracing the Catholic faith and refusing to return to their ancient conditions.

The remaining two saints were a priest in Spain in the last century and an Italian priest who died in 1739.

Francis, who became pontiff in 2013, has repeatedly paid tribute to Christians suffering or dying for their faith in current times, especially in the Middle East.

AP
Free Passage Deal For ISIS In Raqqa - U.S. Denies Involvement - Video Proves It Lies By Moon Of Alabama October 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - After free passage negotiations with the U.S. and its Kurdish proxy forces, ISIS is moving its fighters out of Raqqa city. When the Syrian government reached similar agreements the U.S. childishly criticized it. The U.S. coalition claims that it was "not involved in the discussions" that led to the Raqqa free passage agreement. A BBC News report shows that the opposite is true. Over the last two years the U.S. and its Kurdish proxy force in Syria made several deals with the Islamic State. In 2016, for example, they negotiated a deal with Islamic State fighters to move from Manbij to the Turkish border to avoid further casualties in the fight about the city. But when in August 2017 Hizbullah and the Lebanese and Syrian government negotiated a deal with some 300 besieged ISIS fighters and their families at the Lebanese-Syria border, the U.S. loudly protested . The U.S. military blocked and threatened to bomb the evacuation convoy over several days and the U.S. envoy McGurk ranted against it: 7:20 AM - 30 Aug 2017 - Brett McGurk @brett_mcgurk Irreconcilable #ISIS terrorists should be killed on the battlefield, not bused across #Syria to the Iraqi border without #Iraq's consent 1/2

Our @coalition will help ensure that these terrorists can never enter #Iraq or escape from what remains of their dwindling "caliphate." 2/2 Over the last months U.S. supported Kurdish proxy fighters besieged the city of Raqqa and fought to take it from ISIS. An immense amount of U.S. bombs was released to lower the casualty numbers of the U.S.proxy forces. The city was literally "destroyed to save it". Many of its civilian inhabitants were killed. During the last days rumors abounded that a deal was made between the U.S. and ISIS. It would give ISIS fighters free passage when leaving the city. Today these rumors were confirmed : [SOHR] received information from Knowledgeable and independent sources confirming reaching a deal between the International Coalition and the Syria Democratic Forces in one hand; and the Islamic State organization in the other hand, and the deal stated the exit of the remaining members of the Islamic State organization out of Al-Raqqah city. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirms that this agreement has happened, and confirms that all the Syrian members were gotten out already, and if some members remained until now it is because they are of the non-Syrian nationalities of whom the French Intelligence objects getting them out of Al-Raqqah city, where the French Intelligence considers that some of those involved in Paris Attack are present inside the city ... Other sources said that buses had arrived to take the leaving ISIS fighters towards the Syrian-Iraqi border area. Local officials say that foreign fighters with ISIS are also leaving. The U.S. coalition generally confirms the evacuation, but it denies any involvement: A convoy of vehicles is staged to depart Raqqah Oct. 14 under an arrangement brokered by the Raqqah Civil Council and local Arab tribal elders Oct. 12.

...

The Coalition was not involved in the discussions that led to the arrangement, but believes it will save innocent lives and allow Syrian Democratic Forces and the Coalition to focus on defeating Daesh terrorists in Raqqah with less risk of civilian casualties. The hypocrisy stinks to high heaven. A deal made by Hizbullah with besieged ISIS fighters and their families was condemned. The evacuation convoy was blocked for days in the desert by U.S. drones and air interdiction. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter Now the U.S. and its allies make a similar deal and let ISIS leave its besieged position. They bus those fighters towards the Syrian-Iraqi border where Syrian government forces are engaged in heavy battles against ISIS. What is next? CENTCOM providing ISIS with air transport to the Israeli border? There ISIS is free to openly train new forces . The area is safe from Syrian and Russian attacks. The Israeli airforce keeps anyone away who might be hostile to ISIS. The U.S. says: "The Coalition was not involved in the discussions". That is a lie. Only two days ago BBC News reported on the meeting where the deal was discussed and then made. Here you can see (vid) U.S. General Jim Glynn meeting on October 12 with Raqqa officials to negotiate the deal. While the General claimed at that time that no deal was made, later news and the situation today proves the opposite. ISIS convoys are moving out of Raqqa and the U.S. and its proxy forces are sitting tight and simply watch them leave. No U.S. air asset is blocking the convoy and no Brett McGurk is raving against the deal. The criticism of the Hizbullah deal in August by the U.S. military was unprofessional. The blockade of the earlier evacuation convoy was childish behavior. McGurks rants were puerile. To lie today about involvement in the deal making after having invited the BBC to film the negotiations is just utterly stupid. No grown-ups seem to be involved on the U.S. side of the Syria conflict. This article was originally published by Moon Of Alabama -
The Unraveling of American/Russian Relations

By Paul Craig Roberts

October 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - Dear Readers: I agree that the official Las Vegas story seems to be unraveling. A public mass shooting should be transparent, not opaque. I think we explored the story long enough to discover that without knowing the facts, we cannot arrive at an explanation with confidence.

It is time to move on to another unravelingthat of US/Russian relations. This unraveling is far more serious as it threatens life on earth. I have warned of the consequences of Washington threatening Russias security by breaking agreement after agreement, by placing missile bases on Russias borders, by orchestrating anti-Russian coups in former Soviet provinces, and by a continuing volley of false accusations against Russia. There is no act more reckless and irresponsible than to make one nuclear power fear nuclear attack from another.

Alert observers have become aware of the mounting danger. Canadian professor Michel Chossudovsky writes that Washington has taken nuclear war from a hypothetical scenario to a real danger that threatens the future of humanity.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader who worked with President Ronald Reagan to end the Cold War and the threat of nuclear Armageddon, has appealed to President Trump and President Putin to hold a summit meeting and bring an end to the rising tensions. Gorbachev wrote in the Washington Post that it is far from normal that the presidents of major nuclear powers meet merely on the margins of international gatherings. This is especially the case as relations between the two nations are in a severe crisis.

Gorbachevs warning could be an understatement. Last March, General Viktor Poznikhir, the deputy commander of the Russian militarys Operation Command expressed concern that Washington could be preparing a surprise nuclear attack on Russia. See https://dninews.com/article/moscow-us-missile-systems-europe-may-lead-sudden-nuclear-attack-russia and http://www.newsweek.com/russia-us-global-missile-defense-lead-nuclear-war-europe-591244 and https://www.yahoo.com/news/russian-officials-u-global-missile-192829855.html

Had any such statement from the Russian high command been issued anytime during the 20th century Cold War era, the President of the United States would have immediately contacted the Soviet leader and given every assurance that no such plan or intentions toward Russia existed. As far as I can tell, the Trump White House let this ominous announcement pass unremarked. If this is the case, it must have provided confirmation to the Russians conclusion.

For some time I have pointed out that the entirety of the West, both the US and its vassal states, continue to ignore very clear Russian warnings. Gilbert Doctorow has made the same point. https://www.strategic-culture.org/news/2017/10/10/deaf-ear-dire-russian-warnings.html

Perhaps the most clear of all was Putins public statement that Russia will never again fight a war on its own territory. If Washingtons EU vassals did not hear this clear warning that they are courting their nuclear destructionespecially the Poles and Romanians who have mindlessly hosted US missile basesthey are as deaf as they are stupid.

One Russian official told the idiot British government to its face that if the British threat to first use nuclear weapons is directed at Russia, if such an attempt is made, Great Britain will disappear from the face of the earth.

There is no doubt that that would be the case.

So why do Washingtons impotent vassals talk tough to Russia, a government that only desires peace and has threatened Britain in no way. Nor has the Russian government threatened France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, or any of the former Eastern European vassals of the Soviet Union that exchanged their captivity to the Soviet Union for captivity to Washington. Russia has not even threatened Ukraine, which Russia could wipe out in a couple of minutes. Why are all of these countries, apparently led by mindless, gutless two-bit politicians, aligned with Washingtons false propaganda against Russia?

The answer is money. The vassals are paid to go along with the lies. As Alain of Lille said as long ago as the 12th century, not God, not Caesar, but money is all.

What are the forces driving Washingtons provocation of Russia? There are three, and they comprise a vast conspiracy against life on earth.

One is the Neoconservatives. The Neoconservatives were convinced by the Soviet Collapse that History has chosen not the proletariat but American democratic capitalism as the socio-politico-economic system for the world, and that this choice by History conveys on America the status of the indispensable, exceptional country, a status that places America above all other countries and above international law and, indeed, Americas own laws.

America is so exceptional that it can torture people in total violation of both US law and international law. The government in Washington can, on suspicion alone without presentation to a court of evidence and conviction, confine US citizens indefinitely, torturing them the entire time, and can assassinate them at will without due process of law. This is the definition of a total police state tyranny. Yet Washington represents America as a great democracy, whose endless wars against humanity are bringing democracy to the world.

America is so exceptional that it can bomb other countries indiscriminately without officially being at war with those countries.

America is so exceptional that the separation of powers prescribed in the American Constitution can be totally ignored by the executive branch as, the Neoconservatives claim, the President has unique powers not limited by the Constitution, which, of course, is just another lie.

Russia, China, and Iran are targets of the Neoconservatives, as were Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, and provinces of Pakistan, because these countries have/had independent foreign policies and are/were not Washingtons vassals.

The Neoconservative doctrine states that it is the principal goal of US foreign policy to prevent the rise of Russia or any other state that can serve as a constraint on Washingtons unilateralism.

The New York Times under this headline on March 8, 1992, explains the Wolfowitz doctrine:

U.S. Strategy Plan Calls for Insuring No Rivals Develop

A One-Superpower World http://work.colum.edu/~amiller/wolfowitz1992.htm



Special to The New York Times

WASHINGTON, March 7 In a broad new policy statement that is in its final drafting phase, the Defense Department asserts that Americas political and military mission in the post-cold-war era will be to ensure that no rival superpower is allowed to emerge in Western Europe, Asia or the territories of the former Soviet Union.

A 46-page document that has been circulating at the highest levels of the Pentagon for weeks, and which Defense Secretary Dick Cheney expects to release later this month, states that part of the American mission will be convincing potential competitors that they need not aspire to a greater role or pursue a more aggressive posture to protect their legitimate interests.

The classified document makes the case for a world dominated by one superpower whose position can be perpetuated by constructive behavior and sufficient military might to deter any nation or group of nations from challenging American primacy.

Every state with an independent foreign policy is a constraint on Washington, especially states with nuclear capabilities such as Russia and China.

A second interest with incentive to provoke Russia is the US military/security complex. President Eisenhower, a five-star general, warned Americans in 1961 that the military-industrial complex was a threat to American democracy. Today the military/security complex is much more than a mere threat to American democracy. It has already taken over the US government and the Trump administration, which is run by generals, and it now threatens all life on earth.

The military/security complex has an annual budget of one thousand billion dollars. This sum is larger than the Gross Domestic Products of all but a handful of countries on earth. Such an immense budget conveying such power desperately needs a dangerous enemy for its justification. Russia has been assigned this role. Given the power of the military/security complex, the role assigned to Russia cannot be mitigated by Russian diplomacy. Moreover, the interests of the military/security complex and the Neoconservatives are in agreement.

The third powerful interest group leading to conflict with Russia is the Israel Lobby. In Washington the Israel Lobby is extremely powerful. If the Israel Lobby puts legislation or a resolution before Congress, it usually passes almost unanimously, as anyone who votes against it is likely to be eliminated in the next election.

The Israel Lobby is closely linked to the Neoconservatives, the principal figures of which are Zionist Jews tightly allied with Israel. Some are joint US/Israeli citizens. The Israeli influence in Washington is so strong that the Vice Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Bank is the former chairman of the Israeli Central Bank. Israel is so powerful in Washington that it even runs US economic policy.

The Zionists in Israel want to expand. Their doctrine is from the Nile to the Euphrates. That is the Zionist claim of the land that God gave to the Chosen People.

In pursuit of this goal, Israel twice sent the Israeli Army into southern Lebanon to occupy that part of the country in order to seize the Litani River, water resources that Israel desires.

However, twice the Hezbollah militia drove out the vaunted Israeli Army. Israel now fears to send the army again. Instead, Israel is using its power over the government in Washington to use the US military to put Syria and Iran in the same chaos as exists in Libya and Iraq. The reason is that Syria and Iran are the supporters of the Hezbollah militia. Deprived of support, Hezbollah can be defeated by Israel.

It is Israel, not the US government per se, that is driving the US to war with Iran. Israel, which almost always gets its way in Washington, is encountering difficulties. Washingtons EU vassals are opposed to renewing conflict with Iran. Europe is overwhelmed with problems, many of which stem from Washingtons wars, and doesnt need the Iranian one again. Neither does the US military, defeated in Syria and unable to win in Afghanistan after 16 years against a few thousand lightly armed Taliban. Washingtons defeat in Afghanistan on top of the defeat in Vietnam has destroyed any fear of Washingtons conventional forces, which is why Russia and China expect the next war to be nuclear.

Moreover, if Russia will not tolerate Washingtons overthrow of Syria, Russia certainly will not tolerate Washingtons overthrow of Iran. And it is unlikely that China will either as, according to reports, China gets 20% of its oil from Iran. Indeed, the Russian and Chinese interest in Iran is so strong that it is inexplicable that the Israel Lobby thinks it is so strong that it can drive Washington into war with Iran. The hubris and arrogance of the Neoconservatives and the Israel Lobby are the greatest the world has seen since Hitler marched off into Russia.

If the dumbshits in Washington repeat this folly, the lights on Earth will be turned off.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order .
The Courage of the Syrian Arab Army and Allies against US Backed Terrorism By Dr Bouthaina Shaaban The announcement by the Russian Ministry of Defence that US support for terrorists is a major obstacle to the elimination of the terrorist organisation in Syria is not a simple or transitory declaration. It is an important and dangerous declaration that must be carefully looked at. The successes of the Syrian army with the support of the Russian space air force in the rapid liberation of the Euphrates valley seem to contradict the plans of American colleagues, Russian Defence Ministry spokesman Igor Konashinkov said, noting that US forces did not allow the Syrian army to pursue terrorists in the al-Tanf area. It is understood, of course, that Russia does not want to initiate a conflict with the United States and to start a third world war, but such declarations and statements by the Russian Ministry of Defence, even if they are uttered in such de-escalatory terms such as American colleagues, represent a clear and explicit link between ISIS and US plans in both Syria and Iraq. This at the international level undermines the credibility of the United States, and undermines the impact of any American statements bragging about the fight against terrorism. Especially as Russian forces announced that the ISIS offensive relied on aerial reconnaissance that cannot be attained by the group unless provided by American reconnaissance planes. We support the comprehensive approach to combating terrorism, preventing the spread of terrorist ideology and funding illegal armed groups, and we call for a political renunciation of double standards in addressing the most serious threats of our time, said Russian President Vladimir Putin in a welcoming message to participants at the International Meeting of Heads of Security Services. Double standards have become synonymous with the United States, and the rise of Russia in the international system today is putting the final nail in the coffin of American unilateralism. This is what Russias policy depends on in its cumulative strategy, building on the shortcomings of the other, pointing to them and re-mentioning them whenever possible. While at the same time behaving differently from them, adhering to principles, values and norms in international relations. But the biggest victim of the US sponsoring of ISIS in recent years is Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Therefore, in addition to what the Russians are doing to draw the attention of the world to the sure link between ISIS and the United States, it is necessary to re-read all the unfolding events in Arab countries in the past seven years in light of these facts, which revealed certain close ties between ISIS, the United States, and the objectives that the Americans and Israelis hope to achieve in our countries. When we were watching dozens of American four-wheel-drive vehicles pass from Iraq to north-east Syria, we were wondering where ISIS got all these US-made cars from, while our countries could not buy medications to save childrens lives because of sanctions and boycotts. When ISIS pays the salaries of thousands of terrorists, one wonders how could it move all of this liquidity in US dollars, while countries cannot pay for the spare parts of their civil aircraft. The relationship between the Western and Zionist forces targeting of the Arab confrontation countries, and the Muslim Brotherhood gangs and their detachments from al-Nusra, ISIS, the Free Army, and others aggression on our countries is an old-new relationship, but for unknown reasons it remains in doubt despite the books written on this subject, by members of the same organisations such as Izzat al-Kharbawi. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter The thorough research and investigation into this subject is an urgent need today not only to prove the creation of these movements by the West as instruments to implement its agendas which it failed to implement by other means in our region, but also to liberate the Islamic religion from all these suspicious movements and all manifestations of extremism, and the violence that has afflicted on them. The proximate end of the fighting with an ISIS on the battlefield in Iraq and Syria can be an incentive and an opportunity for political elites and Arab intellectuals to work quietly today, and hope to re-study this phenomenon, its formation, its entry into our territory, the methods it followed, the tactics that it resorted to, and the networks that provided them with support, in order to reach firm conclusions that we can provide future generations with a factual and correct account of our history that they must depend on in forming their national outlook in the future. What we Arabs lack from our history is a study of the events we go through in a frank and in-depth manner, in order to draw lessons for the future in a timely manner; this is why we find ourselves experiencing the same turmoil more than once, and the tragedy is repeated throughout our lives in different manifestations without us learning one useful lesson that guides us in any similar experience we may encounter after a while. Thousands of martyrs have sacrificed their lives to reach this honourable stage in this battle, and thousands have been wounded so that the will of the free peoples triumphs. Is this victory a mere news clip in the media, or should we actually make a plan in order for researchers to study all the dimensions of these events and arrive at solid scientific conclusions that we can provide not only for our peoples, but to the international family so that those who promulgate lies in order to destroy countries and peoples become more reluctant in doing so. After these achievements in the field, we must spread research centres at the national level to honour all the sacrifices made and establish the foundations of a true and factual Arab history fit for the new world, which is rapidly taking shape, and guarantees us an honourable status at the regional and international levels. Dr Bouthaina Shaaban, Political and Media Advisor to Syrian President, Bashar Al Assad. This article was originally published by 21CentyryWire -
Why is the US at War in West Africa? By Eddie Haywood October 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - The October 4 killings of four US Green Berets in Niger has provided a rare glimpse into the far-reaching American military operations throughout the African continent which have been conducted almost entirely in secret. Pentagon officials on Friday told reporters that the ambush was carried out by a self-radicalized group supposedly affiliated with ISIS. The Pentagon additionally admitted that at least 29 patrols similar to the one that was fatally ambushed have been carried out by American soldiers in Niger. According to AFRICOM, the US military command based in Stuttgart, Germany, the US special forces deployed to Niger are tasked with providing training, logistics, and intelligence to assist the Nigerien military in fighting militants affiliated with Al-Qaeda in Mali and Boko Haram in neighboring Nigeria. AFRICOM has officially stated that its forces interact with the Nigerien army in a non-combat advisory capacity. The circumstances surrounding the ambush which resulted in the deaths of the four Green Berets expose AFRICOMs claim of non-engagement as a lie. The killings occurred during a joint patrol of elite American soldiers and Nigerien forces in a remote hostile region on the border with Mali known for frequent raids conducted by Islamist militants. Some 800 US commandos are deployed to bases in Niamey and Agadez making quite clear the offensive role that the American military is playing in Niger. Underlining the incident is Nigers configuration in Washingtons imperialist offensive across Africa. The expanding levels of US military forces arrayed across the continent have increasingly taken on the character of an occupying army. According to the Pentagon, there are a total of 1,000 American troops in the vicinity of the Chad River Basin which includes northern Niger, Chad, and the Central African Republic. An additional 300 troops are stationed to the south in Cameroon. After its establishment in 2008 as an independent command, AFRICOM has significantly expanded American military influence and troop deployments on the African continent. Measuring the breadth of US military expansion is the construction of a $100 million base in Agadez in central Niger, from which the US Air Force conducts regular surveillance drone flights across the Sahel region. Augmenting the special forces contingent in the region are military personnel stationed at several dozen bases and outposts including a US base in Garoua, Cameroon. The special operations units in Africa have their genesis in 1980, after the Pentagon created Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to conduct a raid on the US embassy in Tehran, Iran to rescue American hostages. Over the years, SOCOM has vastly broadened its scope, and currently has forces stationed on every continent around the globe. Made up of various units of the US military, including Green Berets, Delta Force, and Navy Seals, SOCOM carry out a broad spectrum of offensive operations including assassinations, counter-terrorism, reconnaissance, psychological operations, and foreign troop training. Under AFRICOM, these forces form a subgroup of SOCOM designated as Special Operations Command in Africa (SOCAFRICA). Between 2006 and 2010 the deployment of US special forces troops in Africa increased 300 per cent. However, from 2010 to 2017 the numbers of deployed troops exploded by nearly 2000 per cent, occupying more than 60 outposts tasked with carrying out over 100 missions at any given moment across the continent. The scale of the military expansion which began in earnest under the Obama administration is part of a renewed scramble for Africa, comprised of a reckless drive for economic dominance over Africas vast economic resources which threatens to transform the entire continent into a battlefield. The immediate roots of the Niger ambush can be traced to the 2011 US/NATO war in Libya which resulted in the removal and assassination of Libyas leader Muammar Gaddafi. Under the Obama administration, Washington cultivated and armed various Islamist militant groups with ties to Al-Qaeda as a proxy force to carry out its aim of regime change. The resulting US/NATO bombardment left Libyan society in shambles, and the Islamist fighters spilled forth and out across North Africa and south to the Sahel. In 2012, as a consequence of a US and French backed coup against the government in Bamako, Tuareg rebels in Northern Mali took advantage of the chaos resulting from the coup to stage a rebellion. After the Tuareg militants began taking control over cities and territory as it cut deeper into southern Mali, France with the Obama administrations backing deployed 4,000 troops to the country to neutralize the Tuareg rebels, eventually stabilizing the government it placed in Bamako. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter While the Tuareg rebellion may have been halted by the US-backed French offensive, Islamist fighters from Libya were pouring into Mali, with many taking up arms against the Western backed puppet government. The Islamist fighters largely united into one large group, declaring allegiance to Al-Qaeda in the Maghreb (AQIM). The military forces of Niger and Chad which participated in the US/French intervention in Mali have become frequent targets by the Islamist militants who began conducting cross-border raids and launched attacks on patrols and garrisons. The rise of these warring Islamist militias which have transformed West Africa into a battlefield is the end result of Washingtons decades-long strategy in cultivating these forces as a proxy army in its wars for regime change, at first, in the Middle East and Afghanistan, and subsequently in Africa. Underscoring Frances military deployment are the French economic interests it seeks to protect not only Mali, but throughout West Africa, the region which was once part of its colonial empire. In Niger, the French energy giant Arven has established mining operations extracting the countrys rich uranium resources. For its part, Washington has enlisted the participation of the military forces of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Mali in its drive for dominance of the Sahel and West Africa, with all of these countries featuring US outposts or bases. A key element of Washingtons military expansion in the region are the significant economic resources that it aims to secure for American corporate interests. On behalf of these interests, and complimentary to its military operation, Washington has constructed a $300 million embassy in Niamey. Washingtons military interventions in Africa must also be seen as an effort to offset Chinas growing economic influence on the continent. Beijing in recent years has secured investment deals with African governments in nearly every sector of Africas economy. China National Petroleum Company (CNPC) purchased the permit for oil drilling in Nigers Agadem Basin, and CNPC also constructed and operates the Soraz refinery near Zinder, Nigers second largest city. Deals by Beijing for the construction of pipelines traversing through Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Cameroon are currently in the development stage, causing no small amount of consternation in Washington. This article was originally published by WSWS - Copyright  1998-2017 World Socialist Web Site
Trumps Media Furore... US Democracy On Thin Ice By Finian Cunningham October 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - US President Trumps threats this week to shut down critical news media is an ominous sign of how fragile American democratic rights have become. For Donald Trump to impugn media freedom  albeit in his usual whimsical, boorish fashion  nevertheless shows how far democracy has been eroded in the land of the free. The latest furore followed a report this week by NBC in which Trump purportedly harangued his top Pentagon advisers for a 10-fold increase in the US nuclear weapons arsenal. Trumps outlandish demand was reportedly made during a high-level national security meeting back in July. It was the same meeting during which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is said to have scoffed at Trumps antics and called him a moron. Trump has reacted angrily to the reports, dismissing them with his characteristic jargon as fake news. But, adding to the furore, the president also went on to question whether the broadcasting license of NBC and other networks should be cancelled because of what Trump views as fake news. That is, the president is speculating on shutting down media outlets. Such a move by a president would be legally unviable, according to US laws. But it shows the kind of slippery slope that US media and democratic rights are on. Trumps latest musing about shutting down NBC and other channels drew predictable outcry from US media, who rightly to a degree, deplored his attack on democratic rights. The irony is, however, that the attack on American democratic rights has already been underway before Trump entered the White House, and without much protest from the same media outlets who are now railing against Trump over this rants. We can point to the increasing surveillance powers of federal intelligence agencies which have steadily encroached since the September 2001 terror incidents in New York and Washington DC. Media freedom in the US has been under assault for a long time. Trumps latest outburst is not a one-off anomaly. In recent weeks, the US government has moved to severely restrict the freedom of Russia-based news media operating in the country. A move that has so far not been reciprocated by Moscow on US media operating in Russia. Russian state-owned news channel RT has been forced to register as a foreign agent which will curtail how it carries out normal journalistic functions. Sputnik, another Russian state-owned channel, is also under investigation by US authorities over allegations of destabilizing American politics with fake news. The crimping of Russian news media is part of a wider campaign to suppress all alternative media outlets, including US-based websites, which are being labelled as agents of foreign interests because of merely posting articles sourced from RT and Sputnik. The willing participation of US internet companies, Google, Twitter and Facebook, in blocking news sources that are designated fake or interfering in US politics is another troubling sign of how citizens access to information is being curtailed. These gatekeepers of information are openly moving to restrict access to authoritative, respectable media outlets. Many of these respectable news outlets, such as the New York Times and Washington Post, have in the past been guilty of purveying outrageously fake news, like the weapons of mass destruction claims which led to the 2003 US war in Iraq that killed over a million people and unleashed on the world the ongoing scourge of jihadist terrorism. There is absolutely no credible evidence that Russian news media or alternative US-based sites are systematically engaged in an influence campaign to destabilize American democracy. Sure, there is plenty of false information on the internet available through platforms like Facebook, which most Americans now rely on for their news feed. But to lay the blame for this on Russian media is preposterous scapegoating. What really is the issue here is that US authorities and established media companies simply cant abide rival outlets that are providing an alternative, critical perspective. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter For example, Russias RT and Sputnik have given much critical coverage on the war in Syria, as well as conflicts in Ukraine, Yemen and elsewhere. Both channels have reported, with documentary evidence, on how the US government and its NATO and regional allies have been complicit in an illegal, covert war for regime change in Syria involving support for extremist militant groups. This is a critical perspective with grave legal and political implications for Washington and its allies. Just because the US government does not like this kind of unflattering coverage does not legitimize its opprobrium of fake news. The latter charge is brazenly being used as a pretext to censor discomfiting information. There are many other international issues where Russian media are giving a valid, alternative viewpoint. And because official US interests are offended by this critical perspective, the authorities are moving to ostracize Russian media with the spurious allegation of foreign agents and undermining American democracy. But the paramount issue here is that this is an audacious attack on American democratic rights of free media and freedom of speech, as supposedly enshrined in the US Constitutions First Amendment. All of the US established news media have propagated the bogus narrative of Russian influence and Russian fake news. This narrative plays well for political opponents of President Trump, primarily in the Democrat party. On this issue, Trump is right when he denounces as fake news the campaign to pillory Russia and to allege that the Kremlin directed state-owned media to influence the November presidential election in Trumps favor. There is simply no evidence that Russian news media were or are engaged in anything nefarious to destabilize US democracy. Russian media have and do give critical news coverage. If that destabilizes Washingtons illicit activities in overseas wars then thats what responsible journalism should be doing. To curb this journalism because it offends geopolitical interests is, frankly, censorship and the actions of a tyrant. Trumps latest threats to shutdown the American news channel NBC over alleged fake news are indeed menacing. The NBC report on Trumps nuclear weapons ranting appear to be credible in any case. But the outcry from US media over Trumps boorish threats are hypocritical. Their concern seems to be based on a superficial contempt for Trump as a loathsome individual  as opposed to a principled defense of democratic rights, and media freedom in particular. The US media outlets that are piously railing against Trump over his assault on the Fourth Estate are the same outlets which have piled on the pressure to suppress alternative media outlets like Russias RT and Sputnik, as well as other US-based independent information sources that are being demonized in McCarthyite fashion as foreign agents. And, again, much of this hostility towards alternative media is motivated by the fact that these alternative media have admirably exposed the hypocrisy and criminality of US authorities. Also exposed is the aiding and abetting by the servile establishment media who have long covered up for the US authorities and their illicit activities in overseas wars and against citizens at home. American democratic rights are indeed on thin ice. But that was the case long before the elephantine Trump arrived on the scene. His clumsy lurching is merely serving to illustrate how treacherously thin the ice has become upon which US democracy now stands. Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent. This article was originally published by Strategic Culture Foundation -
Trump Shoots the US in the Foot Over Iran

By Eric Margolis

October 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - President Donald Trump has put the United States on the course for war with Iran. That was clearly his objective last Friday when he refused to certify the international nuclear accord with Iran and proclaimed heavy sanctions against Tehrans powerful paramilitary Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Trumps move was also a clever ploy to deflect blame for abrogating the key 2015 Iran nuclear treaty that the US signed with Iran, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union.

Accusing Iran of terrorism and violating the spirit of the accord, Trump threw the Iran issue into the hands of the Republican-dominated US Congress. He had to. All of Trumps senior national security officials and those from the treaty partners and UN reported that Iran had kept its end of the deal.

So Trump trotted out the old song and dance about terrorism  which means anything Uncle Sam does not like. The same United States that supports the murderous Islamic State and its allies in Syria and Iraq.

There wont be much doubt about how Congress handles this hot potato. The leading senators and congressmen who will deal with the issue, like Bob Corker, Tom Cotton, and Marco Rubio, are all firmly in the pocket of pro-Israel lobbies.

The US vociferous ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, is almost a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Las Vegas gambling mogul and uber Zionist billionaire, Sheldon Adelson  who is also a key financial backer of Trump and Netanyahu.

In fact, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have more influence on Capitol Hill than President Trump. He used to show it off by humiliating former president Barack Obama.

Israel has just scored a major triumph by using Trump to sabotage the Iran nuclear pact. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long been adamant in insisting that the pact be scrapped. Having pushed the US to destroy its old foes, Iraq and Syria, Israel now has its big guns trained on Iran, the last regional power that can challenge Israels domination of the Mideast. Iran, we should remember, is also the only important Mideast power backing the Palestinians and calling for a Palestinian state.

Trump is surrounded by a coterie of ardently pro-Israel advisors and cronies aligned to that nations far right wing. So far to the right, in fact, that their Israeli opponents often call them fascists. Trump, with this Mussolini complex, fits right into this mind-set.

In addition, Trumps virulent hatred of Islam and his deep support from Americas evangelicals fuels his antipathy to Iran. The Israeli lobby and so-called Christian Zionists that make up his electoral base are beating the war drums against Iran.

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If the Iran nuclear deal is abrogated, America will have shot itself in the foot and shown the world it has fallen under the control of special interests for whom Americas national interests do not come first. Europe, already disgusted by the Trump carnival in Washington and its religious supporters, will pull further away from the US and closer to Russia and China. Who would trust Americas word after deal-break Trump?

Europe has lately signed billions in new trade accords with Iran, most notably and $18 billion deal with Airbus for the sale of commercial aircraft. Boeing wants to sell 80 aircraft to Iran worth $16 billion. Thus Trumps jihad against Iran will likely deny high-paid jobs to tens of thousands of American workers. This from the president who was going to create jobs, jobs, jobs.

Iran handed over ten tons of medium-enriched uranium as part of the nuclear deal. Will Tehran get this trove back if Congress scuppers the Iran deal? Doubtful. Iran destroyed many of its uranium centrifuges as part of the deal. Can it sue Washington for breach of contract?

Meanwhile, the US heads towards some sort of military conflict with Iran at a time when it may go to war any day with North Korea. Trump, who evaded the draft during the Vietnam War due to a trivial foot problem, is now clearly thrilled by all his new military toys. Many of Trumps close advisors fear Trump will trigger a nuclear war. It may be time for his top officials to step in and take away the presidents nuclear launch codes.

Israel is determined to destroy Iran so that it can never pose a military or political challenge to the Jewish state. Call it Iraq II. This means turning Irans nuclear industry and its civilian economy to ruins. And maybe even breaking up Iran  as was done with Iraq  into Iranian, Azeri and Kurdish mini-states.

Romes famous statesman Cato the Elder used to end every speech with Carthago Delenda Est  (Carthage, bitter rival and enemy of Rome, must be destroyed.) Now, its Irans turn.
The New Cold War Is Already More Dangerous Than Was Its Predecessor



Todays American-Russian confrontation is developing in unprecedented waysand the US political-media establishment seems not to care.



By Stephen F. Cohen Part 2 October 15, 2017 " Information Clearing House " - For several years, Cohen has argued that the new Cold War is more dangerous than its 45-year predecessor, which, it is often said, we barely survived. Here he updates and aggregates evidence for that argument. Meanwhile, many American participants and commentators continue to denyfor personal and political reasonsthat there is a new Cold War. Anyone doubting its existence needs only read leading US newspapers or watch television news broadcasts; or consult the growing number of declarations of Cold War against Russia, as, for example, a particularly extremist one produced recently by a professed bipartisan organization and co-authored by a former Obama Defense Department official, Evelyn Farkas. Cohen identifies six specific factors that make the new Cold War more perilous than the preceding one: 1. Its confrontational epicenter is not in faraway Berlin or what was then called the Third World but directly on Russias borders, from the Baltic states and Eastern Europe to Ukraine and the Black Sea, where NATOs military buildup is ever-growing in the form of more troops, weapons, war planes, ships, and, not to be overlooked, missile-defense installations. NATO now characterizes this vast Eastern front as its territory. No such foreign military power has appeared so close to Russiaand to its second city, St. Petersburgsince the Nazi German invasion in 1941. The perception in Moscow is understandable and predictable. Increasingly it is saidin the mass media and privately by high officialsthat this constitutes American aggression against Russia, and even that America is at war against Russia. Compare this alarm, Cohen suggests, with the Russiagate allegation that the Kremlin attacked America during the 2016 presidential election, for which there is as of yet no empirical evidence, with the tangible evidence Russian officials plainly see for Washingtons current aggression. And imagine the potential for hot waraccidental or intentionalin this widespread and growing Russian perception. The ongoing push in Washington to send more weapons to Kiev, which has vowed to use them against the Russian-backed rebels in Donbass, can only escalate those Russian concerns and the danger they represent. (Meanwhile, Kiev is shredding the Minsk peace accords by adopting incompatible legislation.) 2. The possibility of a ramifying US-Russian military conflict may be even more acute in Syria, where Russian-backed Syrian forces are close to decisively defeating anti-Assad fighters, several of them affiliated with terrorist organizations. Russias Ministry of Defense has made clear that it believes US forces in Syria are actively aiding and abetting anti-Assad fighters, while putting Russian troops there at grave risk, and has openly declared its willingness to strike against those American units in Syria. What, Cohen asks, will be the reaction in Washington if Russia kills any Americans in Syria? 3. Meanwhile, unlike during the preceding Cold War, when cooperative US-Soviet relations grew steadily after the Cuban-missile crisis of 1962, those ameliorating relations built up over decades are being shredded. Even more are now gravely endangered. Congress and the Trump Administration seem determined to shut down two Russian news agencies in the United States, RT and Sputnik. If so, the Kremlin may well adopt reciprocal measures in Russia, reducing public communication relations, however propagandistic on both sides. A veteran CNN correspondent reports from Moscow that  arms control is hanging by a thread . And the unprecedented seizure and search of the Russian consultant in San Francisco last month has convinced some Russian officials, not unreasonably, that influential forces in Washington want a complete rupture of diplomatic relations with Moscow. 4. During the preceding Cold War, no Soviet leader was demonized by the US political-media establishment as Russias leader, Vladimir Putin, has been for nearly a decade. Russia and relations with Moscow have been so Putinized that Russia no longer seems to have any legitimate national interests at home or abroad, whose acknowledgment is the first premise of negotiations. For a fresh example of this unprecedented factor, Cohen cites the relevant passages in Hillary Clintons recent memoir, What Happened. 5. Russiagate is also unprecedented. The ways it exacerbates the new Cold War are various and growing. Its multiple investigations increasingly imply that once customary relations with Russia may be collusion with the Kremlin, including financial ones. Similarly, antiCold War opinions are casually labeled weaponized Russian disinformation and pro-Kremlin propaganda. Not surprisingly, very few such opinions appear in mainstream American newspapers or on network broadcasts. (More dissenting views on official foreign policy appear in mainstream Russian media than can be found in their American counterparts.) Above all, perhaps, Russiagate has effectively paralyzed President Trump in any crisis negotiations he may have to conduct with Putin, no matter how existential. Imagine, for example, President John F. Kennedy so assailed as a Kremlin puppet during the Cuban-missile crisis. He would have been unable politically to make the compromises both he and the Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev did in order to end the crisis without nuclear war. However much US politicians and media loathe Trump, Cohen adds, they should fear the possibility of war with Russia more. No Advertising - No Government Grants - This Is Independent Media Get Our Free Daily Newsletter 6. And, also in sharp contrast to policymaking in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, there are virtually no antiCold War media, politicians, or politics in mainstream America today. Without effective opposition, including robust public debate, bad policy outcomes are more likely, even in democracies. To these largely unprecedented Cold War factors, Cohen adds three other new circumstances: One is the myth that post-Soviet Russia is too weak to wage a prolonged Cold War and will eventually capitulate to Washington and Brussels. This is, of course, the logic behind the tsunami of sanctions leveled against Moscow since 2014. Leave aside that several international financial monitoring institutions have recorded Russias significant economic recovery in the last two years or so. It is, for example, posed to become the worlds largest exporter of wheat. Leave aside Russias vast natural, human, and territorial resources. Recall instead that there is no such instance of capitulation in modern Russian history, no matter how devastating and costly the circumstances. Contrary to marginally representative Russian voices promoted to say otherwise, neither the nations elites nor its people will fundamentally change the countrys leadership or policies under Western pressure. Indeed, many mainstream Russian policy intellectuals and other commentators have already accepted that the new Cold War, for which they hold the West responsible, may be as long as the preceding one. Second is the lingering view in the US establishment, fostered by an aspiration of former President Obama, that Russia is isolated in world affairs. The number of foreign meetings and agreements conducted by Putin in recent years refutes this notion, but there is something else novel and important. The Soviet Bloc in Eastern Europe during the preceding Cold War was an alliance of the unwilling, crisis-ridden, and economically burdensome. Russias emerging allies and partners today are voluntary and profitable, from the smaller BRICS states to China. Indeed, it is the US sphere of influence that seems to be splintering today, as evidenced by Brexit and Catalonia (whose referendum additionally may put the 2014 Russian-backed succession referendum in Crimea in a somewhat different light). And how else can we interpret the growing rapprochement between NATO member Turkey and Russia or the historic recent visit by the Saudi king to Moscow, which resulted in agreements involving billions of dollars of purchases and investment in weapons and energy? Whose trajectory, historians may ask, was toward isolation in world affairs? Third, of course, is the role of China, a great rising power. During the preceding Cold War, it was a rival of the Soviet Union and thus a card to be played against Moscow. Today, it is Russias political, economic, and potentially military partnera joint Russian-Chinese naval exercise is scheduled to begin next weeka new circumstance that is likely to have a profound effect elsewhere, including in India, Pakistan, Japan, and even Afghanistan. Most of these new and substantially unprecedented Cold War factors go undiscussed in Washington, not only because of Russiagate hysteria. American triumphalism since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991 plays an important role, as does a lingering American provincialism sometimes termed exceptionalism. Meanwhile, the three gravest threats to American national securityinternational terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and cyber attacks that could inadvertently trigger nuclear wargo largely unattended. As does the essential truth that none of these can be diminished without a partnership with Russia. Even those kinds of realities were recognized during the 45-year Cold War and sometimes acted upon. This article was originally published by The Nation -
Niger Delta militants have threatened to renew fresh attack on oil pipelines in the region, the latest threat followed comments made by the World Bank president that President Muhammadu Buhari requested it to concentrate development in northern Nigeria.

The militants, who call their groups the Niger Delta Revolutionary Crusaders, NDRC and the 21st Century Youths of Niger Delta, made this declaration via a statement by Izon Ebi on Friday. They also condemned the armys Operation Crocodile Smile II.

Part of the statement read: The current revelation of the World Bank and the present NNPC scandal has given us no choice but to activate our digital strike team to swing into action to stop further exploration and exportation of oil from the Niger Delta.

For it is very obvious that this present administration is for the North only, without putting into cognizance that 90 per cent of the resources that sustain this nation is from the Niger Delta.

We want to warn that this deliberate provocation and intimidation by the northern oppressors to provoke the Niger Delta people would be counterproductive because we are going to resist them with the last drop of our blood and a devastating response.

The two groups said they were determined to commence attacks on oil infrastructures in the region. The militants said they would not allow their resources to be used to fund only the north and to intimidate them.

The antics of their divide and rule tactics would never work again in the Niger Delta in this 21st century because the world and all honest Nigerians have seen the antics and tactics of the federal governments insensitivity and insincerity after the adoption of the 16-point agenda of PANDEF on the 3rd of August 2017.

It is still very fresh in our minds the betrayal of Isaac Boro to keep Nigerian one, the killing of Ken Saro Wiwa and the Ogoni 9 and the dehumanization of their bodies with acid, the genocide in Odi, the genocide in Gbaramatu Kingdom, the groups said.

The militants also said they were unshaken by the military presence in the region.

We the NDRC and the 21st Century Youths and all affiliate organizations are determined to prove to the world that we are not cowards. The present military operation called Operation Crocodile Smile II that is currently going on in the Niger Delta would not deter us, neither would we be intimidated because the current agitators have succeeded in taking the struggle from analogue to digital.

We have successfully proven to our oppressors before the ceasefire that we have the capacity to stop the flow of our God-given resources as our clamour and fight is for equity and justice. We have also succeeded in educating our brothers that we do not have any problem with the military because the military is a victim of the northern political elite conspiracy because of our God-given resources.

It also flayed a seeming attempt to Islamise the nation.

We want to warn that the planned Islamization and conqueror approach by this present government would be resisted with the last drop of our blood in this 21st century. We advise our brothers to be calm and steadfast and avoid any confrontation with the army because we the 21st-century youths and other agitators have the ability to stop the flow of our oil in our backyards.

Our grievances and agitations are genuine and nobody can or would be able to intimidate us with whatever military operations because we already know their aims and objectives. We want to warn that we are closely watching their actions and inactions and would respond at the appropriate time as we still believe in the eminent members of the PANDEF that persuaded us to a ceasefire for sincere dialogue, for lasting peace for the rich, but impoverished people of the Niger Delta, the groups added.

Peace recently returned to the Niger Delta region after serial peace visits to the area by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo early 2017 to show the governments commitment to meeting the demands of the people of the region.
A bid has been launched by Nigeria for a re-election into the UN Human Rights Council, UNHRC, in Geneva for the 2018 to 2020 term at an election scheduled for Monday at the UN Headquarters, New York.

This was confirmed by Audu Kadiri, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN Office and Other International Organisations in Geneva, in New York at a reception/party to launch Nigerias re-election bid.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that UNHRC is a UN system inter-governmental body responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the world.

If re-elected, Nigeria, currently serving out its 2015 to 2017 term, would be among the four countries representing West Africa and the 13 countries representing Africa in the 47-seat Council.

Mr. Kadiri said: You are already aware that the Federal Government of Nigeria has presented its bid for re-election into the UN Human Rights Council for the 2018 to 2020 term.

Presenting Nigerias manifesto to a group of envoys, Mr. Kadiri said we solicit your firm support adding, Nigerias re-election bid for membership of UNHRC is informed by many considerations.

The Nigerian envoy said, We are motivated by the conviction that in representing Africa while serving the global community in the Council, Nigeria would advance the work of the Council.

The country will therefore retain the opportunity to continue to share best practices with other members of the Human Rights Council in the important task of the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Nigeria, Africa and the world.

He noted the increasingly turbulent and conflict-prone world, occasioning imminent and present dangers to upholding the dignity and safety of the human person as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms.

These worrisome developments, notwithstanding, Nigeria remains undaunted in striving to make its contributions to the preservation of the ideals, aspirations and core principles upon which the Council was founded.

Permit me to note that barely two weeks ago, we colourfully celebrated Nigerias National Day, here in New York.

It is important to observe in this regard that since its attainment of independence in 1960, the promotion and protection of human rights have provided the fulcrum for Nigerias foreign policy.

On the home front, Mr. Kadiri said Nigeria had put in place various institutions and policy measures to enhance the flowering and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country, as provided for in its Constitution.

He pledged Nigerias commitment to the international human rights agenda, noting that the country had illustriously served the global community on UNHRC for three terms  2006-2009, 2009-2012 and currently, 2015-2017.

The Nigerian envoy said, Throughout these terms, Nigeria endeavoured to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Council by approaching and dealing with human rights issues objectively.

He recalled Nigerias fulfilment of its pledges and commitments upon admission to the Human Rights Council in 2006.

Nigeria is on record to have issued a standing invitation to all, I repeat, all Special Procedures Mandate Holders to visit the country.

We have therefore continued to subject our country to the scrutiny of these independent human rights experts and representatives of treaty bodies, many of whom have commended Nigerias cooperation.

According to him, in doing so, Nigeria demonstrates its readiness to be held to a higher standard of human rights observation as a serving member of the Council.

We do not take lightly, the fact that, as a member of this hallowed body, we are required to comply fully with our human rights and international humanitarian legal obligations.

I wish to recall in this regard that only recently, the Nigerian Government set up a Judicial Commission to review compliance of the Nigerian Armed Forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement.

This is especially in local conflicts and the fight against terrorism in the country. The panel is also empowered to investigate alleged acts of violations of humanitarian and human rights laws.

This action, along with the fact that Nigeria had established human rights desk in its Defence Headquarters, demonstrate the extent to which the country takes seriously, its international human rights obligations.

We wonder how many countries have taken this path, the Nigeria Permanent Representative said.

Mr. Kadiri pledged that Nigeria would remain concerned with other evolving human rights-related issues, including the impact of climate change, violent extremism and intolerance, global inequality, illicit financial flows, inclusive growth and sustainable development.

We will continue to champion the cause of democracy in Africa and the cause of peoples of African descent. In light of the foregoing reasons, it is essential for Nigeria to retain its seat in the Human Rights Council.

If re-elected, through your invaluable support, Nigeria intends to continue its positive contributions to making the Council more effective and efficient in delivering its mandate on the global human rights agenda.

With a view to enabling the Human Rights Council to realise its core objectives in our increasingly polarised world, Nigeria has stood out as a voice for moderation.

This voice has brought the much-needed balance and credibility to the work of the Human Rights Council. With your support on Monday, we intend to continue doing this and more, Mr. Kadiri said.

Source : (NAN)
The National Committee for Disaster Management in Cambodia has revealed that about 72 people were killed by lightning in the country.

Lightning killed 72 people in Cambodia in the first nine months of 2017, A senior disaster control official said on Friday.

Nhim Vanda, first Vice President of the countrys National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), however, said the rate of lightning in 2017 was 28 per cent less compared to 2016 in the same period.

The official said during the celebration of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Day for Disaster Management in Phnom Penh that beside lightning fatalities, flash floods and storms also killed 33 others between January and September this year.

He added that although the fatal numbers from lightning has reduced, lightning remains the leading cause of death among deaths from natural disasters.

Lightning happens often during rainy season from May to October, he said, adding that to avoid the dangers of lightning, people should stay indoors whenever it was raining.
Nollywood actor Blossom Chukwujekwu and his beautiful wife Maureen are celebrating their first wedding anniversary today October 15, 2017. The always playful couple got married on Saturday, October15, 2016 and they seem not to have gotten enough of each other.

Maureen took to her Red Vigor page to make a list of what her actor husband has taught her in just a year of marriage to him while also noting the have 99 years more to spend together

She wrote: I once met an Aunty of B on my first Trip to meet his Parents officially. She looked at me and said in Igbo I always wondered what the woman that would win the heart of this man would look like and I asked why and she said also in Igbo This Man U see here has the rarest and the best kind of heart, God combined the heart of his Mum and Dad and gave it to him.

Fast forward to 1 Year Later and I will tell you first hand wat I have learnt from B. She then went on to make a list of all she has learnt from her husband in just one year of marriage.

She her post below for her list:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaQHgdwB9mk/?taken-by=redvigor

source: Naij.com
Four Pakistani soldiers were killed by a bomb as they searched for militants linked to the kidnapping of a US-Canadian family who were freed last week.

The incident happened near the Kharlachi checkpoint in Kurram district in the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan.

The family were being held by the Taliban-allied Haqqani network in the tribal area until they were rescued during a Pakistani military operation Wednesday.

Four security force troops including a captain embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while three others sustained injuries when an improvised explosive device went off, the military said in a statement.

The troops were part of a search party for handlers of the rescued foreigners, it added without offering further details.

Officials told AFP the search party belonged to the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force that provides security in Pakistans tribal belt.

Joshua Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network, a notorious militant group that operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The Haqqani network is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Talibans deputy leader.

In a chilling statement on the familys arrival in Toronto, Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife, Caitlan Coleman.

Pakistan, which has long been accused of having links to groups such as the Haqqanis, has faced increased pressure from Washington to crack down on militants after it was lambasted by US President Donald Trump in August.

Following the familys release, Trump tweeted that relations were improving and thanked Pakistan for their cooperation on many fronts.

Source: ( AFP )
Ex president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, has revealed that Africas richest man Aliko Dangote carried baby Davido home after he was christened.

The former Access Bank group managing director disclosed this to Mike Awoyinfa, a veteran journalist writing Dangotes biography in an upcoming Giants of Africa series.

Explaining Aig-Imoukhuedes description of Dangotes fear of God, he wrote;

With Imoukhuede, you can never run short of anecdotes. He remembers a day he was travelling with Dangote to Abuja. He needed to see his pastor urgently but found himself acting like Hamlet: to see or not to see.

Dangote instantly waded in, insisting: you must see your pastor! He even followed him to church, resulting in getting to Abuja very late.

He also recalls an incident many years ago in Atlanta, USA, when Dangote had to go to church and was the one who carried the baby Davido home after his christening. Today, Davido is an award-wining pop star and a household name.

That was why when Imoukhuede was hosting a 60th birthday bash for Dangote in his spacious Ikoyi office, he invited Davido to perform on that joyous night of dancing that brought together Dangotes inner caucus and close friends like Davidos father, the billionaire Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, the former Ogun State governor Aremo Segun Osoba, the former governor of Edo State Adams Oshiomole, the present governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki, the former Cross Rivers State governor Donald Duke, the Nigerian billionaire Femi Otedola and many other Dangote insiders.

Source: Naijaloaded
David fired Kamal and accused him of (in davidos words) juju. When people reached out to Ajiboye to get his reaction on the development of the broken business relationship, he didnt pick calls placed to his mobile phone nor did he reply his Whatsapp message.

Kamal had been Davidos manager for 4 years and he had never stayed silent on the social media whenever anything popped up with Davidos career!

His last Instagram post was a photo of himself almost 6 months ago. He was last seen at popular night club rumors in Lagos with Tiwa savage and her estranged husband.

If I Die Tomorrow, Remember Me For My Determination And Hunger

source: Ib9ja
The lawyer representing billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (popularly known as Evans), has accused officers of the Inspector General of Polices Intelligence Response Team of extorting money and valuables running into hundreds of millions of naira from his client.

PremiumTimes reports that Olukoya Ogungbeje, who petitioned the Police Service Commission on Friday, also accused the officers of sexually molesting Evans girlfriend, Amaka Offor.

The petition was also copied to the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and Amnesty International.

You recall, Evans pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping last August, and is currently at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison awaiting sentencing by a Lagos court.

But in this latest development, Mr. Ogungbeje accused the police, who detained him (Evans) for almost three months, before his first appearance in court, of forcefully collecting millions of naira as well as valuables and properties from his client.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is our secured brief that in the course of investigating our client while being detained in the custody of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the allegation of kidnapping, the following under-listed items were forcefully and corruptly extorted from our client. 1. The sum of N50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) cash.

2. Another sum of N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) sent by our clients wife as pressured by the above policemen.

3. Twenty-five (25) Mack Trucks forcefully taken but not listed as exhibits in the ongoing criminal trial of our client.

4. Brigade wristwatch worth One Hundred and Seventeen (117) Thousand U.S Dollars.

5. Pendant cross worth Seventy (70) Thousand U.S Dollars.

6. Necklace worth Twenty-Five (25) Thousand U.S Dollars.

7. Virtu Phone worth Thirty (30) Thousand U.S Dollars.

8. Virtu Signature Phone worth Seventeen (17) Thousand U.S Dollars.

9. Ten (10) Thousand U.S Dollars cash extorted by ASP Phillip Rieninwa.

10. Five (5) Pieces of Saphono Rucci Diamond Rings worth One Hundred (100) Thousand U.S Dollars.

11. Lexus 470 Jeep. 12. Grand Cherokee Jeep.

13. L 400 Mitsubishi Bus.

14. Toyota Highlander (Gold Colour).

15. Eighty-Five (85) Inches Samsung Television set worth 6.5 Million Naira amongst others. Our client also confided in us that one (Amaka Offor) his girlfriend was sexually molested and abused by the above policemen of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the petition read.

The petition urged the Police Service Commission to conduct an investigation into the incident and invoke appropriate sanctions including dismissal against the culpable police officers.

Jimoh Moshood, the Force Public Relations Officer, did not immediately respond to requests for comments, PremiumTimes reports.
Imo state governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday unveiled a giant statue of South Africa president Jacob Zuma in Owerri Imo state.

Zuma is on a two day visit to Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria. He was confered a traditional chieftaincy title by the state governor, a road was named after him and then, a statue of him unveiled in Owerri city.

Governor Okorocha also conferred on President Zuma, the Imo Merit Award, the highest award in the State conferred on distinguished personalities who have made a difference in the development of their communities and to humanity.

This has triggered fierce reactions from Imo state indigenes, Nigerians who took to social media to vent their disappointment and anger.

The visit of President Zuma, according to Imo State government, is for the signing of an MoU between Rochas Foundation with the Zuma Foundation.

Below are some of the reactions from Imo indigenes on social media:
The World Health Organisation has assured Nigeria that it would continue supporting the nation in its fight against epidemic diseases and in emergency responses especially in the North-eastern part of the country.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday said the organisation is ready to partner with the country to rebuilding the health systems especially in the North-east devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ms. Moeti who came on a two days official visit to Nigeria to assess the organisations humanitarian activities in the North-east reaffirmed the WHOs commitment to partner with Nigeria on matters of mutual interest regarding international health development in Africa and Nigeria in particular, especially on the current response to polio eradication and monkeypox outbreak.

Ms. Moeti who had flagged off an integrated polio and malaria campaign earlier in the day in Borno commended the government for its early alert of the WHO on cholera and suspected monkeypox cases in the country.

She said the early alert of cholera disease at the IDP camps helped in containing the disease and the number of deaths from reaching epidemic status

We have been supporting malaria policies as it has remained on of the child killer disease and we are ready to partner with the government in support with other international health agencies to rebuild the hospitals in the North-east as we are campaigning for Universal Health Care, she said.

In his remark, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said WHO has been of tremendous help to the country especially in humanitarian activities and containing the spread of diseases.

He said her visit is not only expected to strengthen support of WHO to Nigeria in her fight against humanitarian emergencies but also to advocate the effective implementation of the Transformation Agenda of the Regional Director.

Mr. Adewole said the organisation is not only focusing on the North-east but all other parts of Nigeria especially in epidemic control.

Though the aim of her visit is the North-east, the organisation however will be working across the country. She is also here to assess our policies on Universal Health Care and how far we have been in achieving this, he said.

Mr. Adewole also assured Nigerians that the country would soon be declared polio free as there has been no sighting of a new case since the last one that was reported at the north-east part of the county in 2016.

This set back the country from getting a polio free certificate from the health Organization.

Recent samples of the suspected monkeypox disease were taken to a WHO laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation and with the results still being expected.

Mr. Adewole said Nigeria will leverage on the visit to deepen the countrys collaboration with WHO.

Source: ( Premium Times)
Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha yesterday unveiled a giant statue of South Africa president Jacob Zuma in Owerri, Imo state.

Zuma is on a two day visit to Owerri, Imo State, South East Nigeria.

He was confered a traditional chieftaincy title by the state governor, a road was named after him and then, a statue of him unveiled in Owerri city.

Governor Okorocha also conferred on President Zuma, the Imo Merit Award, the highest award in the State conferred on distinguished personalities who have made a difference in the development of their communities and to humanity.

Source: ( Instablog9ja)
Three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have been shot dead by gunmen in Okene.

The Commandant of the NDLEA in Kogi, Idris Bello, told reporters on Sunday in Lokoja that the three operatives were gunned down while on patrol.

He said that they were killed at about 8:30 p.m. on October 13 by the gunmen, who emerged from nowhere.

Mr. Bello said that gunmen came on foot and that the incident occurred close to the main gate of the Federal College of Education, Okene.

He identified the operatives killed as Nicholas Onwumere, Ebun Peters and Abdulrahman Musa.

The commandant explained that the NDLEA officers were on duty alongside their three other colleagues when the gunmen struck.

Mr. Bello said that the officers died on the spot, while the three other colleagues escaped unhurt.

He said that the gunmen collected the rifles of the dead officers and vanished.

Mr. Bello said that other security agencies in the state had been contacted on the development, saying that efforts were being made to track down the killers.

The Kogi Government had in August established a Forward Operation Base in Okene in partnership with the Nigerian Army to check kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

However, the initiative has yet to yield the desired result, according to observers.

Analysts suggest that the latest killing may be the handiwork of the jihadist Boko Haram group, which has been striking at soft targets in northern Nigeria, having been degraded substantially by the Nigerian armed forces.

Kogi, regarded as the spiritual headquarters of the jihadist movement, has witnessed bloody attacks by Boko Haram in recent years.
The lawyer representing kingpin billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike (popularly known as Evans), has accused operatives of the Inspector General of Polices Intelligence Response Team of extorting his clients of money and valuables running into hundreds of millions of naira from his client.

Olukoya Ogungbeje, who petitioned the Police Service Commission on Friday, also accused the officers of sexually molesting Evans girlfriend, Amaka Offor.

The petition was also copied to the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and Amnesty International.

Our client has duly briefed us on the above captioned subject matter involving the police officers and policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team, read the petition captioned in part The Evans Case and Saga: Brazen Extortion, Corruption, Gross Misconduct, Indiscipline, Sexual Molestation and Human Rights Violation Against the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team Police Officers and Policemen.

Jimoh Moshood, the Force Public Relations Officer, did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

Evans pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and kidnapping last August, and is currently at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison awaiting sentencing by a Lagos court.

But in this latest development, Mr. Ogungbeje accused the police, who detained him (Evans) for almost three months, before his first appearance in court, of forcefully collecting millions of naira as well as valuables and properties from his client.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is our secured brief that in the course of investigating our client while being detained in the custody of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the allegation of kidnapping, the following under-listed items were forcefully and corruptly extorted from our client.

1. The sum of N50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) cash.

2. Another sum of N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) sent by our clients wife as pressured by the above policemen.

3. Twenty-five (25) Mack Trucks forcefully taken but not listed as exhibits in the ongoing criminal trial of our client.

4. Brigade wristwatch worth One Hundred and Seventeen (117) Thousand U.S Dollars.

5. Pendant cross worth Seventy (70) Thousand U.S Dollars.

6. Necklace worth Twenty-Five (25) Thousand U.S Dollars.

7. Virtu Phone worth Thirty (30) Thousand U.S Dollars.

8. Virtu Signature Phone worth Seventeen (17) Thousand U.S Dollars.

9. Ten (10) Thousand U.S Dollars cash extorted by ASP Phillip Rieninwa.

10. Five (5) Pieces of Saphono Rucci Diamond Rings worth One Hundred (100) Thousand U.S Dollars.

11. Lexus 470 Jeep.

12. Grand Cherokee Jeep.

13. L 400 Mitsubishi Bus.

14. Toyota Highlander (Gold Colour).

15. Eighty-Five (85) Inches Samsung Television set worth 6.5 Million Naira amongst others.

The lawyers added that, our client also confided in us that one (Amaka Offor) his girlfriend was sexually molested and abused by the above policemen of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), the petition read.

The petition urged the Police Service Commission to conduct an investigation into the incident and invoke appropriate sanctions including dismissal against the culpable police officers.

Sir, you would agree with us that these allegations are too weighty to be ignored by any right-thinking Nigerian.

There is no gainsaying the fact that it calls for prompt investigation, inquiry and appropriate sanctions. We are using this medium as our own way of galvanizing institutional sanity, cleansing and reform in the Nigeria Police Force as an institution.

As we speak, the brother in law and other relations of our client are still being detained and tortured by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) without being arraigned before a Court of law, the petition added.

Source: ( Premium Times )
As much as a majority of Americans support more sensible laws governing guns, expect the political realities governing Washington to easily squelch any serious discussions about making sensible changes.

No matter the body count (and injury count) last week in Las Vegas. No matter how many will die in the next U.S. mass shooting, which statistically is expected to happen today. No matter how long this madness keeps up, don't expect federal laws to help stem it anytime soon.

If anything, under this Republican-controlled government, expect laws to become more gun-friendly. Think broader permit-to-carry powers, plus remember President Trump already overturned a rule barring gun ownership for some who have been deemed mentally impaired.

To be clear, new laws alone cannot curb America's epidemic of mass shootings. And by no means should they overwhelm the Second Amendment. However, as the bodies pile up, it's crystal clear to common-sense Americans that they are but one part of a solution America must craft soon:

How can we identify people who pose risks and then make it difficult for them to possess weapons capable of firing massive amounts of ammunition in seconds?

That's why this board  along with most Americans  sees a good starting point being the long-proposed plan to require background checks for all gun purchases online and at gun shows. It's not the perfect answer alone. But it is a needed addition to existing laws.

Similarly, with an estimated 300-million-plus guns in the U.S. now  none of which were confiscated by a certain former president in the past eight years  federal lawmakers need to ramp up resources for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This agency essentially oversees firearms dealings and ownership, yet news reports since 2010 have noted it is woefully lacking resources.

The Detroit Free Press reported in 2016 the ATF has just 811 agents assigned to investigate industry operations, a number that has not changed much in the past 15 years even though there are 139,000 licensed gun dealers. And as The Washington Post has noted, the result is some gun shops can go eight years without an ATF review.

Can you imagine the outrage lawmakers would show if restaurants or airplanes were reviewed only once every eight years?

As for new laws, initial reports about the Las Vegas massacre already have revived debates on banning automatic rifles and accessories that can turn semi-automatic weapons into automatics. It is encouraging some Republican leaders (and powerful special interests) are willing to examine such accessories.

This board stated in 2015 that's worth a discussion, given rapid gunfire is common to so many mass shootings. Congress from 1994 to 2004 banned certain semi-automatic assault weapons and magazines holding more than 10 rounds. Did it help? Hard to say, but back then America was not averaging one mass shooting a day, either.

Speaking of bans, the U.S. Supreme Court late in 2015 did let stand a Chicago suburb's ban on semi-automatic assault weapons. The justification was the community simply took reasonable steps to protect all residents while still allowing individuals to own guns, whether for protection or recreation.

With federal lawmakers so paralyzed on this issue, perhaps more local control needs to be another factor in any solution.

Remember, though, the priority of any legislative package is to identify people who pose risks, not inanimate objects.

Maybe if federal lawmakers could reframe this issue in that context, they could actually do something to curb an epidemic their lack of action has only made worse the past decade.
A police sergeant identified as Nagbama Osakpamwan Eboigbe popularly known as Smally has beaten up the lover of his estranged wife and locked him up in the booth of his car.

The wifes lover identified as Ese Idehen was caught by the suspected thugs hired by Smally at a drinking bar along Muritala Mohammed Way in Benin City.

A video that has gone viral showed Ese being beaten up, his close torn and forced into the booth of a car.

Another video showed him confessing to sleeping with Smallys wife only once before he knew she was a married woman.

Ese in the video which showed bruises on his face said the lady was introduced to him by one Sandra.

However, estranged wife of Smally in an online video said their marriages was over for the past nine months.

She was silent on the affairs with Ese and promised to make it known in another video.

However, Counsel to Ese, Barrister Jefferson Uwughoren, has petitioned the State Commissioner of Police, Haliru Gwandu, that his client was abducted and forced to confess to things he didnt do.

Jefferson described the action of Smally as brazen impunity by lawless policeman.
The Nigerian Army on Friday commenced operation Crocodile Smile II in the South-west and Niger Delta region of the country.

The states include Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Cross River.

The Exercise according to the military will span 3 Divisions of the Nigerian Army (2, 6 and 81 Divisions) and is in line with the 2017 Training Directives which aims at training troops in the conduct of Internal Security Operations in aid of Civil Authorities across the various formations areas of responsibilities, based on Constitutional provisions.

According to the military, Exercise Crocodile Smile II is designed to further the gains and consolidate on the successes of Exercise Crocodile Smile I and is also designed to leverage on real-time intelligence to curtail insecurity, thereby fulfilling the armys operational objectives.

General Officer Commanding, 2 Division, Ibadan, Major General Chukwunedum Abraham during the flag off of the exercise in Sapele charged the troops to be of good conduct throughout the period of the operations.

Abraham who also represented the Chief of Army Staff allayed the fears of Nigerians over rumors of immunisation being conducted by the Nigerian army for school children in the South South and South Eastern regions of the country.

Source: ( Channels Television)
Governor Rochas Okorocha has come under severe criticism following his decision to erect a statue in honour of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in Owerri, Imo state capital. The governor unveiled the statue in the presence of the South African president and other dignitaries in a ceremony.

Nigerians have criticized the move saying that Zuma has done nothing for the country to deserve such an honour. Some others lambasted the governor over the timing for such an honour at a time when numerous Nigerians have been arbitrarily killed by policemen in South Africa with the President remaining silent over such atrocious acts.

Criticizing the move, vocal analyst and Professor of English at Carleton University, Pius Adesanmi wrote: President Jacob Zuma in Nigeria, awarded chieftaincy title in Imo. Wrong timing, wrong choice of foreign head of state to honour. He should have been taken to the graves of Nigerians murdered by South African police.

Theres been a resurgence of such killings of Nigerians by SA police recently. Mr. Zuma has not said a word but I dont blame him. If a foreign state suspects that the ordinary Nigerian citizen is of little value to the Nigerian state well, you handle a mans calabash the way he handles it himself.

On Twitter, Nigerians also lambasted Governor Rochas.

@GovernorRochas please what drugs have you taken recently?

Many Nigerians have lost their lives in brutal ways in SA yet this is happening? a Nigerian lamented on Twitter.

Another person added: Nigeria that fought & won freedom for SA hasnt been honoured with a statue of any Nigerian leader in SA, instead by serial murdering of Nigerians.

Read more below:

Source  Tori
Abuja Based popular former Beauty Queen, Nneze Richards Agu has emerged the winner of 2017 Face Of The World Nigeria at the grand finale of Best Model Nigeria contest held at the Four point hotel by Sheraton at Victoria Island Lagos. The colourful events which paraded top models and fashion designers had the pageant section that featured top contestants from other states.

The Chartered accountant specialist and Enugu state born Nneze Richards displayed gracefully during her appearances on stage to the excitement of the crowd. Her creative cultural costume arrested both the attention of the judges and unsettled to concentration of the audience. She effectively runs a foundation www.nnezerichardsinitiative.com to cater for the less privileged and orphanages in Nigeria and beyond. As the new Face Of The World Nigeria, she will be representing Nigeria at the global contest in the U.K

Source: Linda Ikejis blog
Nollywood actress Dorothy Njemanze wins case against the federal government at the ECOWAS Court in Abuja  The actress and two other ladies were arrested and detained by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and some force men  The court says there is no law prohibiting women from staying out late in the night and orders the FG to pay the actress and three others N18m The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, October 13, 2017, ordered the federal government to pay the sum of N18million to Nollywood actress Dorothy Njemanze and two other ladies. The other ladies the regional court ordered FG to compensate are Justina Etim and Amarachi Jessyford. This is because it has been proven beyond doubts that their rights were grossly violated by security operatives in 2011.

The court ordered the federal government to pay them the sum of N6m each for their unlawful arrest and detention after they were declared as prostitutes in Abuja. Justice Friday Chijoke Nwoke who delivered the lead judgment, said the ECOWAS court was satisfied that the plaintiffs were humiliated and dehumanised after they were arrested in an operation that was carried out by a joint task force that comprised of military men, police and officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board who claimed to have acted on federal governments directive. The court declared their arrest as arbitrary and unconstitutional, noting that the security operatives failed to prove that the plaintiffs were commercial s*x workers.

The court therefore said that federal governments action by declaring the three ladies as prostitutes amounted to gross violation of their rights to dignity since they were only arrested for being outside in the late hours. . The ECOWAS Court agreed with counsel to the plaintiffs, Bolaji Gabari, that there was no law in the Nigerian statute book prohibiting women from being outside in the late hours. Meanwhile, reacting to the judgment, the actress, Njamenze, who wept uncontrollably at the end of the proceeding, expressed her appreciation to the court for giving her justice. She expressed optimism that with the judgment, the government would reconsider some laws and policies that are discriminatory to women.

source: Naij.com
Australia have received stern warning from North Korea for showing dangerous moves of zealously joining the frenzied political and military provocations of the United States against its regime.

The provocations aggravate the situation of the Korean peninsula into a touch-and-go phase, the Norths Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, according to Yonhap news agency.

The Australian foreign minister personally expressed her support for the stand of the U.S. to consider all options including the use of force towards DPRK (Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea), KCNA said.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop and Defense Minister Marise Payne visited the truce village of Panmunjom and later held a meeting with their South Korean counterparts in Seoul.

The four ministers issued a joint statement on Friday calling on Pyongyang to refrain from provocative behaviour and to abandon all nuclear weapons and programmes.

North Koreas actions are illegal and Australia will play our part in supporting South Korea, our friends and allies, in deterring North Korea from further provocative acts and compelling it to return to the negotiating table, Bishop told reporters in Seoul.

Should Australia continue to follow the U.S. in imposing military, economic and diplomatic pressure upon the DPRK despite our repeated warnings, they will not be able to avoid a disaster, KCNA said.

The rogue state has threatened Australia in the past, including of nuclear retaliation in April.

In September, Australian prime minister said that the government was considering plans to evacuate its citizens from the Korean peninsula if threats from North Korea escalate.

Bishop said that the threat of war is now the greatest it has been in 60 years since the Korean War.

Source : (dpa/NAN)
Two suspected kidnappers have been killed by the Anambra State Police while the police were trying to rescue their victim.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Nkeiru Nwode, stated this on Saturday in Awka, the Anambra State capital, while addressing journalists.

Nwode, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the victim, simply identified as Nnamdi, was kidnapped by four armed hoodlums on October 11, at a filling station in Obosi, near Onitsha.

According to her, N20m was demanded as ransom but the detectives attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command trailed the kidnappers on their way to collect the ransom on October 13.

When the hoodlums got to know that they were being trailed, they started attacking the police but two of the kidnappers were killed, while others escaped with bullet wounds, Nwode said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that exhibits recovered from the suspects included one locally made pistol with two live cartridges, one cut-to-size single barrel gun, one unregistered Q-link motorcycle and a mobile phone.

Nwode assured members of the public that the police would not relent in securing lives and property in the state.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
The World Health Organisation has expressed its readiness to work with development partners to rebuild destroyed health facilities in the North-East.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, who spoke at a press conference in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Saturday, said it was time to scale up the intervention in the state and the rest of the North-East devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

She said the WHO, in collaboration with other international humanitarian agencies, had worked to combat the outbreak of diseases in the crisis region.

Moeti, who flagged off the integrated polio and malaria campaign, said the WHO had been supporting the treatment of malaria, which remains the major child killer disease, before the crisis in the North-East.

She said, We have been supporting the development of malaria policies and plans in defining the intervention to be put in place, including providing technical advice at the federal and state levels.

We have supported the overall health services in this emergency, to ensure that people have access to health care. We have mobilised 130 health teams to be deployed here to assist the state government to provide health services.

She added that with the crisis nearing its end, there was an urgent need to change the narrative and ensure the rehabilitation of destroyed health facilities.

The WHO official said the organisation would lead in advocating for the rebuilding of destroyed health facilities, working in conjunction with some international partners.

Moeti added, As the crisis is normalising, we expect development partners to take over and build on what has been achieved during emergency and as people go back home, to ensure that infrastructure destroyed are rebuilt, and with the state government ensuring that primary health care is re-established.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )
"These measures can help to lessen the impact," says Andrew Hall
Making Economic Sanctions on North Korea Work

The latest sanctions cap oil imports, ban textile exports, and penalize designated North Korean government entities. Following Kims response, sanctions should be tightened even further, to stop all trade with North Korea, including halting all fuel imports.

North Korea is one of the most insular countries in the world. That insularity is a curse for the long-suffering North Korean people, but an advantage for a sanction-based strategy, because only one country is needed to make it work: China.

From an economic perspective, China is the only country that really matters to North Korea, as it controls about 90% of the Norths foreign trade and supplies almost all of its fuel. Yet Chinas economy would barely register the effect of new sanctions: North Koreas annual GDP, at a meager $28 billion, constitutes little more than a rounding error for its giant neighbor.

The lack of viable commercial alternatives and the massive asymmetry of power between North Korea and those imposing sanctions mean that a stricter sanctions regime would push the country into a corner. The question is whether economic hardship would induce North Korea to change its nuclear policy. Though it is impossible to say for sure, a look at the economics of North Koreas nuclear program suggests that it might.

Contrary to popular perception, nuclear arms are weapons of the poor  extraordinarily cheap compared with conventional armaments. In fact, it was this rationale that drove the Soviet Unions massive nuclear buildup: Soviet leaders, recognizing that they could not compete with the much wealthier United States conventional weapons, focused their countrys limited resources on creating a potentially devastating nuclear arsenal.

Likewise, North Koreas focus on nuclear, rather than conventional, weapons may be enabling it to minimize the tradeoff between guns and butter. Indeed, there are reports of some vitality in the North Korean economy, with markets full of goods and new buildings under construction. Tighter sanctions are therefore needed to increase the economic price that the regime must pay for its nuclear program.

Even if North Korea does not change its policy, total economic isolation may bring about an end to its nuclear program, by sowing internal discord and, ultimately, triggering the regimes collapse. Yet China hopes to avoid precisely this outcome  which is a key reason why it has so far refused to escalate sanctions further.

China worries that the collapse of the Kim regime would fuel a major refugee crisis, with millions of Koreans pouring across its border in search of food, shelter, and security  and imposing heavy economic and social costs on China in the process. Moreover, Chinese leaders fear the loss of the North Korean buffer separating China from US troops stationed in South Korea. Given the widespread belief in Chinese policy circles that the US secretly hopes to re-fight the Korean war and establish a single US-allied Korea on Chinas border, the potency of this concern should not be underestimated.

US President Donald Trumps administration understands the central importance of China to any strategy to rein in North Koreas nuclear ambitions. But, so far, the US has relied on threats, such as halting $650 billion in bilateral trade, to persuade China to cooperate. This is not a stick, but a boomerang  one that will hit China and immediately return to smack the US.

What is needed instead are carrots. Persuading China to isolate the North economically will require the international community to establish some agreement regarding how regime collapse would be handled, with an eye to allaying Chinas key concerns.

For starters, the entire international community, but especially the US, must explicitly pledge not to attempt to change the nature of the North Korean regime. That means that if the Kim regime collapses, the US will not pursue reunification. Instead, China should exercise primary political custodianship of North Korea in the event that a political vacuum emerges. Come what may, US and South Korean troops would not cross the 38th parallel.

Persuading China to impose potentially regime-destroying sanctions will also require economic pledges, with the entire international community  especially the US, Japan, and South Korea  committing to share the mammoth costs of sheltering refugees and rebuilding North Koreas economy. While China would inevitably cover a substantial share of these costs, owing to its geographic proximity and historic ties to the North, it needs reassurance that it would not be left to shoulder the burden alone.

Admittedly, this approach is somewhat reminiscent of the one taken at the 1945 Yalta Conference, where leaders of the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, and the US carved out geopolitical spheres of influence in post-World War II Europe. Moral and ideological objections, therefore, are to be expected.

But its time to get real. The nuclear threat posed by North Korea is serious, immediate, and requires a bold response. This is not the time to be constrained by conventions and ideology; it is the time to do whatever is needed to defuse nuclear tensions and protect the lives of those in the Kim regimes crosshairs.

China is the only country with the power to force North Korea to change its nuclear policy.

Convincing the Chinese to wield that power must be world leaders top priority.
What Is Backward Integration?

Backward integration is a form of vertical integration in which a company expands its role to fulfill tasks formerly completed by businesses up the supply chain. In other words, backward integration is when a company buys another company that supplies the products or services needed for production. For example, a company might buy their supplier of inventory or raw materials. Companies often complete backward integration by acquiring or merging with these other businesses, but they can also establish their own subsidiary to accomplish the task. Complete vertical integration occurs when a company owns every stage of the production process, from raw materials to finished goods/services.

Key Takeaways Backward integration is when a company expands its role to fulfill tasks formerly completed by businesses up the supply chain.

Backward integration often involves is buying or merging with another company that supplies its products.

Companies pursue backward integration when it is expected to result in improved efficiency and cost savings.

Backward integration can be capital intensive, meaning it often requires large sums of money to purchase part of the supply chain.

Understanding Backward Integration

Companies often use integration as a means to take over a portion of the company's supply chain. A supply chain is the group of individuals, organizations, resources, activities, and technologies involved in the manufacturing and sale of a product. The supply chain starts with the delivery of raw materials from a supplier to a manufacturer and ends with the sale of a final product to an end-consumer.

Backward integration is a strategy that uses vertical integration to boost efficiency. Vertical integration is when a company encompasses multiple segments of the supply chain with the goal of controlling a portion, or all, of their production process. Vertical integration might lead a company to control its distributors that ship their product, the retail locations that sell their product, or in the case of backward integration, their suppliers of inventory and raw materials. In short, backward integration occurs when a company initiates a vertical integration by moving backward in its industry's supply chain.

An example of backward integration might be a bakery that purchases a wheat processor or a wheat farm. In this scenario, a retail supplier is purchasing one of its manufacturers, therefore cutting out the intermediary, and hindering competition.

1:38 What is Backward Integration?

Backward Integration vs. Forward Integration

Forward integration is also a type of vertical integration, which involves the purchase or control of a company's distributors. An example of forward integration might be a clothing manufacturer that typically sells its clothes to retail department stores; instead, opens its own retail locations. Conversely, backward integration might involve the clothing manufacturer buying a textile company that produces the material for their clothing.

In short, backward integration involves buying part of the supply chain that occurs prior to the company's manufacturing process, while forward integration involves buying part of the process that occurs after the company's manufacturing process.

Netflix Inc., which started out as a DVD rental company supplying TV and film content, used backward integration to expand its business model by creating original content.

Advantages of Backward Integration

Companies pursue backward integration when it is expected to result in improved efficiency and cost savings. For example, backward integration might cut transportation costs, improve profit margins, and make the firm more competitive. Costs can be controlled significantly from production through to the distribution process. Businesses can also gain more control over their value chain, increasing efficiency, and gaining direct access to the materials that they need. In addition, they can keep competitors at bay by gaining access to certain markets and resources, including technology or patents.

Disadvantages of Backward Integration

Backward integration can be capital intensive, meaning it often requires large sums of money to purchase part of the supply chain. If a company needs to purchase a supplier or production facility, it may need to take on large amounts of debt to accomplish backward integration. Although the company might realize cost savings, the cost of the additional debt might reduce any of the cost savings. Also, the added debt to the company's balance sheet might prevent them from getting approved for additional credit facilities from their bank in the future.

In some cases, it can be more efficient and cost-effective for companies to rely on independent distributors and suppliers. Backward integration would be undesirable if a supplier could achieve greater economies of scalemeaning lower costs as the number of units produced increases. Sometimes, the supplier might be able to provide input goods at a lower cost versus the manufacturer had it became the supplier as well as the producer.

Companies that engage in backward integration might become too large and difficult to manage. As a result, companies might stray away from their core strengths or what made the company so profitable.

A Real-World Example of Backward Integration

Many large companies and conglomerates conduct backward integration, including Amazon.com Inc. Amazon began as an online book retailer in 1995, procuring books from publishers. In 2009, it opened its own dedicated publishing division, acquiring the rights to both older and new titles. It now has several imprints.

Although it still sells books produced by others, its own publishing efforts have boosted profits by attracting consumers to its own products, helped control distribution on its Kindle platform, and given it leverage over other publishing houses. In short, Amazon used backward integration to expand its business and become both a book retailer and a book publisher.
Demand for botox and lip fillers in Ireland has seen a huge increase.

Surgeons at Cork University Hospital have discovered Ireland leads the way globally for the number of online searches for lip fillers.

According to a report in the Sunday Independent, cosmetic procedures have become increasingly popular and has lead to a need for more plastic surgeons.

The research also found there was a direct correlation between the number of people who researched cosmetic procedures online and those who eventually had the work done.
An Post have cancelled mail services in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Galway Clare and Limerick.

Bus Eireann has cancelled all services nationwide from 5am to 2pm.

ESB has warned of potential power outages of up to three days in some areas.

Heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding.

People should secure any garden furniture, bins and other outdoor equipment before the storm hits.

People are advised to stay indoors and make no unnecessary journies.

Airlines have announced flight cancellations and customers are advised to check online.

All schools, colleges and childcare facilities will be closed.

Met Eireann has warned of a possible risk to life.

A Red Weather Alert is in force for the entire country tomorrow.

People are urged to stay indoors and not to make unnecessary journeys.

People are urged to keep in mind their personal safety which is of utmost importance as Hurricane Ophelia approaches.

Update 12.09am:People have been urged to keep in mind their personal safety as Hurricane Ophelia approaches the country and is expected to bring winds in excess of 130km per hour.

People are advised to stay indoors and not to make any unnecessary journeys throughout the course of the day.

Met Eireann has extended the Status Red weather warning to the whole country as Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to track directly over Ireland today.

Advice from the National Emergency Coordination group and us to prepare for #Ophelia tomorrow @merrionstreet @emergencyIE pic.twitter.com/mjuiwlXNmq  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 15, 2017

The forecaster has warned of violent and destructive gusts with all areas at risk, in particular the southwest and south in the morning, and eastern counties in the afternoon.

Heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding, with a potential risk to lives, according to the forecaster.

The Department of Education and Skills has publicly informed all schools, colleges and other education institutions that they are to remain closed.

The HSE has said all hospital outpatient appointments are being cancelled. Patients do not need to attend or contact their hospital and they will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Bus Eireann has cancelled all services nationwide from 5am to 2pm due to the national Status Red weather alert and airlines have advised intending passengers to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.

Dunnes Stores announced the closure of its stores nationwide on Twitter and apologised for "any inconvenience caused" to its customers.

Due to storm Ophelia - all Dunnes Stores in ROI & Northern Ireland will be closed on Monday 16th October #Ophelia  Dunnes Stores (@dunnesstores) October 15, 2017

Update 10.47pm: Bus Eireann has cancelled all services nationwide from 5am to 2pm due to a national red weather alert.

The company said it will review the situation in the morning and attempt to provide some level of service in the afternoon,

However, it said it is likely that widespread disruption will continue.

"This unprecedented decision is taken in the interests of our customers and staff, and following careful consideration of the advice of agencies co-ordinating a response to Hurricane Ophelia," Bus Eireann said.

"We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption this will cause, but the hurricane is described as a life threatening event and both Met Eireann and the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group have advised people to stay indoors and not to travel.

"Bus Eireann have also informed their employees not to travel to work tomorrow before 2pm," it added.

Customers can check online for updates.

An Post have cancelled mail services in Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Galway Clare and Limerick.

A decision on the rest of the country is being deliberated by the mail service.

Irish Rail have also announced service disruptions.

Iarnrod Eireann have said there will be no services on Limerick Junction to Waterford or Limerick to Ballybrophy via Nenagh.

All other services are expected to operate, however with some delays.

Speed restrictions are in place on some routes and maintenance teams will be monitoring the network.

Customers are advised to check irishrail.ie for updates

All RehabCare and National Learning Network centres are also closed tomorrow due to imminent Storm Ophelia

Coillte have announced there will be no public access permitted to any Coillte forests until furthe rnotice.

Update 10.27pm: Aer Lingus has announced a number of flight cancellations.

Passengers can check the status of their flight online.

CityJet has also canelled all flights its schedule Dublin to London route tomorrow.

 A number of flights on Mon 16 Oct are cancelled due to severe weather. Live flight info is available at https://t.co/X9sMVK8t8y #Ophelia  Aer Lingus (@AerLingus) October 15, 2017

Shannon Airport will remain open tomorrow but have announced the following flight cancellations: Aer Lingus Regional EI3675/3672 from and to Edinburgh and EI 3639/3638 from and to Birmingham, and London/Heathrow EI381 and EI384 with Aer Lingus.

Airlines will continue to advise passengers of schedule changes and we advise intending passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport tomorrow," according to a spokeswoman.

"The safety of our passengers and staff is our first priority. We would ask passengers to contact their airline with regard to updates on schedule changes for tomorrow," she added.

Update 9.56pm: The HSE has said all hospital outpatient appointments are being cancelled tomorrow following the upgrading of the Red Weather Warning by Met Eireann to the whole country.

Patients do not need to attend or contact their hospital and they will be rescheduled as soon as possible.

Patients who are scheduled to have a planned procedure can contact the hospital in the morning to confirm if their procedure is going ahead.

In order to minimise unnecessary travel risks for patients, only urgent procedures will take place tomorrow and only essential community services will operate.

ALONE, the charity which supports older people in need, are urging older people to take extra care.

Sean Moynihan, CEO of ALONE commented, Following a status red weather warning from Met Eireann we are calling on all members of the public to remember their older neighbours living alone and to consider their needs.

"Were advising older people to be prepared by ensuring they have adequate heat, medication, food and to stay indoors where possible.

Those with concerns for an older person can contact ALONE on (01) 679 1032.

Update 8.22pm: Ex-Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to track directly over the entire country tomorrow, according to Met Eireann.

The forecaster has extended the Status Red weather warning to the whole country.

Violent and destructive gusts are forecast with all areas at risk and in particular the southwest and south in the morning, and eastern counties in the afternoon.

Heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding.

There is potential risk to lives, according to the forecaster.

In response to the imminent Storm Ophelia, the Department of Education and Skills is now publicly informing all schools, colleges and other education institutions that they are to remain closed tomorrow.

This decision has been made following discussions with members of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and in light of the advice from Met Eireann on this unprecedented storm.

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING LEVEL RED FOR IRELAND.https://t.co/9BeK3UcAwO  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 15, 2017

Update 8.01pm: Patients and public are being advised not to travel tomorrow for hospital clinic appointments or non-urgent elective/planned procedures, according to the HSE.

This includes day case procedures as services deemed non-urgent have been postponed.

All appointments affected will be rescheduled by the relevant hospital.

Hospitals affected are University Hospital Kerry Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, South Infirmary University Hospital, Mallow General Hospital, Bantry General Hospital.

If patients are unclear about whether to travel for their appointment, they should contact their hospital using the phone number on their appointment letter.

Update 6.46pm: The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection have cancelled all customer appointments for Monday in Wexford, Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford.

Customers should not to attend appointments at Intreo or other Department offices on account of the severe weather conditions and the Department confirms that there will be no impact on customer payments.

"The Department will follow up with all affected customers to reschedule appointments as required," it said.

"Customers in Status Orange counties should also exercise due caution before travelling to any Intreo or other Department appointments. Customers in Status Orange counties who are unable to travel due to the adverse weather conditions are asked to contact the relevant office to reschedule their appointment.

The primary concern of the Department is to ensure the safety of all customers during this severe weather."

Inner City Helping Homeless has criticised the National Emergency Coordination Group on Severe weather for providing no mention of rough sleepers.

"There is a genuine concern that more homeless deaths will occur with the onslaught of Hurricane Ophelia so Inner City Helping Homeless have reached out to the homeless NGO's and the DHRE (Dublin Regional Homeless Executive) to call an emergency meeting tomorrow morning at 11am to put a plan in place to prevent further deaths in the homeless community," ICHH said.

"Inner-City Helping Homeless is counting as many as 206 rough sleepers a night, a record high - and nothing is being done.

The fact that an emergency meeting was held today to put a plan of action in place for the onslaught of Hurricane Ophelia without any thought for our most vulnerable people sleeping rough every night across the country is outrageous," ICHH CEO Anthony Flynn added.

Update 6.04pm: The Taoiseach has confirmed members of the Defence Forces will be deployed to areas where red weather warnings are in place as Hurricane Ophelia approaches.

Colonel Dave Dignam said personnel have already been deployed to areas of Kerry and Cork.

"The Defence Forces yesterday deployed troops in Tralee, Co Kerry in response to requests from Kerry County Council and have been tasked with filling sandbags as a contingency measure in the event of localised flooding.

"We're also standing up engineering assets in Collins Barracks, Cork. This unit will include pumps, plant machinery, chainsaws, boats and generators all ready to deploy in the event there is a requirement for that kind of capability.

The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has urged farmers, fisherman and people in rural areas to take precaution during the storm.

"I urge farmers and all people in rural areas to ensure that they are ready for the approaching storm and ask them to follow closely the advice of the authorities particularly for those in the worst affected counties," he said.

"Priority is obviously the safety of people and I would reiterate the advice that only essential travel should be taken. For farmers they should ensure that their yards are secured by securing loose objects."

Update 5.11pm: ESB has said Storm Ophelia will cause disruption to the electricity infrastructure and loss of supply is expected.

ESB is advising customers to have "plenty of food and water" as well as "torches with spare batteries" available for the storm.

"If you come across fallen wires or damaged electricity network, never, ever touch or approach these as they are LIVE and extremely dangerous.

"Please report any damage to electricity infrastructure by calling 1850 372 999," it said.

In the event of a power cut, people are advised to take care using candles and other naked flames, and turn off "cookers, ovens and irons etc.".

As #Ophelia approaches you can find out how to prepare in case of a power outage here https://t.co/hUX3XFQU7R #Ophelia #staysafe #stayclear  ESB Networks (@ESBNetworks) October 15, 2017

People are also advised to use adequate ventilation if using gas heaters, and ensure that they know how to manual operate any electric gate they may have.

"Please check that elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours are prepared to be without electricity," ESB added.

UCC, CIT, GMIT, ITT, MIC, LIT, UL and WIT have all announced closures tomorrow.

Gardai are advising people not to make any non-essential journeys while cycling should be avoided completely.

"Drivers of high sided vehicles and motorcyclists should also be aware of the extreme danger posed by gale force winds as they are particularly vulnerable," a statement from An Garda Siochana said.

Gardai also warned of the risk posed by storm surge flooding in coastal areas.

"Please listen to local media/social media for updates on the progress of the storm and associated warnings and/or advice issued by the emergency services. Please heed this advice," it added.

Update 3.30pm: Bus Eireann will not operate school transport in Waterford, Wexford and Limerick tomorrow.

These counties join the list with earlier cancellation of services in Cork, Kerry Clare, Galway and Mayo.

The announcement follows the Department of Education advising schools in areas affected by the red wind warning to remain closed tomorrow.

Bus Eireann have advised passengers of likely disruptions to some other schedules services.

"While it is our current intention to operate most scheduled services there is a strong possibility that some of these may be cancelled  particularly in the southwest - in the event of a strong impact by Hurricane Ophelia" the company said.

Bus Eireann said it regretted any inconveniance this may cause but is taking the action out of fear for the safety of passengers and employees.

Further cancellations to school transport service & possible impact on road passenger services #Ophelia @LimLive95fm https://t.co/DYumSbpbsC  Bus Eireann (@Buseireann) October 15, 2017

Update 3.09pm: Following a special meeting of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning in response to the imminent Storm Ophelia, the Department of Education and Skills is now informing all schools in areas affected by Met Eireanns status red wind alert that they are to act on the Departments advice and remain closed tomorrow, Monday 16 October.

For parents, this means that their children will not attend school tomorrow in any area where there is a status red wind alert already announced or announced in the intervening time.

Schools in areas affected by a status orange alert should remain vigilant, and keep themselves appraised of any hourly and other updates from Met Eireann, and from their local authorities, local radio, and an Garda Siochana. In all events, and if in any doubt, schools should err on the side of caution.

Update 2.55pm: Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin has been critical of the guidance given by the Department around school closures as a result of storm Ophelia.

Speaking on The Week in Politics, Mr Martin said he was taken aback that despite CIE announcing there will not be buses there has been "nothing from the Department about whether schools should open or not."

"We can't be waiting for the last minute. Many children will not be able to get to school tomorrow. That is worrying in terms of other areas."

He has called on the government to give a "clear direction by close of business today".

Here is a link for those of you in Red Alert advisory areas and Dept of Education guidelines. https://t.co/s4C2JUDer8  Metalert Ireland (@MetAlertIreland) October 15, 2017

Update 2.30pm: Hurricane Ophelia is expected to be the worst storm to hit Ireland in over 50 years.

The National Co-Ordination Emergency Group has now extended the red weather warnings and is advising people to stay inside.

A red warning is now in place for Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, in addition to Galway, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Mayo.

An orange level warning is in place for the rest of the country, with the storm expected to bring winds in excess of 130 km per hour as well as coastal flooding.

Chair of the committee Sean Hogan said things were likely to be very serious.

"We are facing an extreme weather event in the country tomorrow. Everybody in the country needs to take heed of what is coming"

Sean Hogan, Chair of the NECG, urging the public to take notice of the public safety warnings being issued pic.twitter.com/EKcjRrlELQ  Office of Emergency Planning (@emergencyIE) October 15, 2017

The British met office have released the following video which shows the expected track of what tehy described as ex-hurricane Ophelia.

Here's the latest expected track of ex-hurricane #Ophelia. Wind & rain in some western parts while the south east stays dry but breezy pic.twitter.com/Y30C6mX9bU  Met Office (@metoffice) October 13, 2017

Meanwhile,

members of the public have been urged to heed the advice of the Coast Guard who have warned members of the public to avoid any visits or walks to coastal or cliff areas.

"The Coast Guard is reminding the public of the dangers of visiting exposed coastal areas and to adhere to the core message of; Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry."

The Coastguard have asked the public to dial 112/999 and ask for the Coast Guard if they see someone in difficulty in the sea or on the shore

Updated Status Red weather warning for West and South West coasts. https://t.co/sdlcsoYvxK pic.twitter.com/ZXWBsp8dXs  Irish Coast Guard (@IrishCoastGuard) October 14, 2017

For a summary of regionalised news and warnings as they emerge check out this SUMMARY

Dublin Airport have also warned passengers to expect some disruption to flights when Hurricane Ophelia makes land tomorrow.

Siobhan O'Donnell from Dublin Airport Authority says people should check online before making their way to the airport in light of a number of cancellations.

Cork airport has also urged passengers to check with their airline in advance of travel to and from the airport on Monday with Aer Lingus already confirming some cancellations.

We ask all passengers to check flight status with their airline & to avoid travelling to @CorkAirport on Mon unless absolutely necessary. pic.twitter.com/xrC06fiJqy  Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) October 15, 2017

Update 1.50pm: Met Eireann says it's extending the red weather warnings to Waterford an Wexford as the country braces for Hurricane Ophelia.

The National Emergency Group is outlining its plans this afternoon on how it will prepare for the worst storm seen in Ireland since Storm Debbie which killed 11 people here.

Schools in the worst hit areas will be closed for childrens' safety

In their latest warning, from 9am tomorrow to 3am on Tuesday, Met Eireann said Hurricane Ophelia is expected to transition to a post tropical storm as it approaches our shores on Monday bringing severe winds and stormy conditions.

It goes on: "Mean wind speeds in excess of 80 km/h and gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding."

Latest discussion from the National Hurricane Centre regarding #Opheliahttps://t.co/fYHReDhD6k

We are currently updating Ireland's warnings pic.twitter.com/V7VR3A61AR  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 15, 2017

Update 1.10pm: The Chairman of the National Emergency Coordination Group, Sean Hogan, has appealed for people to take care tomorrow in those counties affected by status red weather warnings.

Mr Hogan, speaking after this morning's meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Committee, also advised schools to close in those counties affected by status red weather warnings.

Met Eireann earlier told the National Emergency Coordination Committee that it expects the eye of storm Ophelia to impact the south coast and then track up along the west coast and is presently updating its weather warnings in line with latest information

Update 12.35pm: Met Eireann has told the National Emergency Coordination Committee that it expects the eye of storm Ophelia to impact the south coast and then track up along the west coast.

The Committee heard that coastal counties will experience the highest winds and heavy rain and storm surges may cause flooding in some parts.

Met Eireann have said they will be monitoring the situation closely and will update its warnings if required.

Sean Hogan, Chairman of the National Emergency Coordination Group is hosting a media briefing following this mornings meeting.

Jim Casey OPW listing the coastal areas that will be effected along the Western & other counties by sea surges pic.twitter.com/VLu5aHasIq  Office of Emergency Planning (@emergencyIE) October 15, 2017

Update 11.40am: The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney has urged the public to take the severe weather warnings around Hurricane Ophelia seriously.

The former Defence Minister suggested that anybody not taking storm Ophelia seriously should think again.

Writing on twitter he said: I don't remember ever seeing a forecast for the south coast quite like this.

Anybody not taking storm Orphelia seriously should think again - I don't remember ever seeing a forecast for the south coast quite like this https://t.co/DNeoeCQ4Ut  Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) October 15, 2017

Ophelia will weaken but grow much larger as it approaches Europe.

Hurricane-force winds could affect the whole of Ireland and Scotland. pic.twitter.com/OjEEvqjQFY  Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) October 14, 2017

Latest guidance from the National Hurricane Centre.

Bear in mind times shown are AST so add 5 hours.

Centre of low hits SW coast approx 11am pic.twitter.com/gCcQPa0TGh  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 15, 2017

A meeting of the national emergency planning committee continues this morning with a public briefing expected at 12.30pm.

Evelyn Cusack of Met Eireann briefs the National Emergency Coordination Group meeting on weather developments this monring. Pic: Office of Emergency Planning (OEP)

Update 11 am: The possible impact of Hurricane Ophelia as it makes land fall in Ireland tomorrow is being discussed at a national emergency meeting this morning.

The storm has already been categorised as the strongest hurricane to emerge so far east in the Atlantic.

The tail end of the storm is to hit our shores tomorrow morning around 9am, with warnings of high winds and sea swells particularly along the west and south west coasts.

Busy morning at Met Eireann HQ.

Conference call with @metoffice & @NWSCPC at 9am.

National Emergency meeting 10:30amhttps://t.co/LIC2EnKayX pic.twitter.com/qMyc6Ppkxm  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) October 15, 2017

The predicted path of hurricane Ophelia. Courtesy of national world weather service

Meanwhile, the Dept of Education have also outlined guidelines in the event of a status red warning.

Earlier: Met Eireann has this morning warned that the strongest and most damaging winds from ex-hurricane Ophelia are now forecasted to affect Munster and south Leinster, particularly the southwest, south and Irish Sea coasts.

The service has already issued a Status Red weather warning for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry as the powerful weather system heads across the Atlantic towards Ireland.

Hurricane #Ophelia forecast as per ECMWF model pic.twitter.com/mGDiBfe8Kv  Convective Weather (MASK UP) (@VijyaVijaya) October 15, 2017

In its most recent forecast at 4.30am this morning the service said that stormy conditions are expected to develop, in association with Ex-Hurricane Ophelia, on Monday.

It said rain will be widespread, with the heaviest falls likely to occur in Atlantic coastal counties, where there is a risk of thunder.

"At present, it looks as though gusty east to southeast winds will strengthen to storm force in the southwest by early afternoon, with strong gales developing along southern, eastern and some western coasts during the afternoon and evening.

"The winds will veer southwesterly as the low pressure system tracks northwards over western parts of the country. Flooding is threatened due to potentially heavy falls of rain and very high seas. Top temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees.

In an additional note Met Eireaan said at present, the strongest and most damaging winds are now forecasted to affect Munster and south Leinster, particularly the southwest, south and Irish Sea coasts with the heaviest rainfall accumulations in Connacht, west Ulster and west Munster.

"There are likely to be changes to the warnings which will be updated later this morning, pending the latest up to date guidance. This is an evolving situation and your patience is appreciated."

Yesterday Bus Eireann warned that School Transport Scheme services it operates in Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo & Galway will not operate on Monday.

Since 2015, the transport service has had a policy not to run school buses in areas affected by a Status Red weather warning to ensure school children are not endangered in any way.

School Transport services cancelled in areas affected by red weather warning https://t.co/xq5naEJIu4 for details #Ophelia @radiokerry  Bus Eireann (@Buseireann) October 14, 2017

"We are aware this decision may cause inconvenience, but safety of schoolchildren is our number one priority," a statement from Bus Eireann read.

"Schools will make their own decisions on whether to open or remain closed, but School Transport Scheme services will not operate in  or into  areas affected by Status Red.

"Services are expected to resume in these counties on Tuesday... please see www.buseireann.ie for updates in relation to this - and other service disruption"

Computer-generated projection of where the Ophelia weather system will be at 1pm on Monday, taken at 10.30pm on Saturday, Oct 14. Pic: earth.nullschool.net

A Status Orange Wind Warning is in place for the rest of the country.

Meanwhile, road users are being urged to be vigilant by the Road Safety Authority who advise checking traffic conditions before travelling, amid warnings from Met Eireann about possible storm-force winds and heavy rain.

The RSA is warning drivers to be aware of the danger of aquaplaning especially on roads with speed limits of up to 120 km/h, and to be careful of vehicles veering across the road in strong winds.

Brian Farrell, Communications Manager with the RSA, said cyclists need to be particularly careful.

According to NASA "Ophelia is likely to be the most potent storm to reach Ireland since Hurricane Gordon in 2006".

Meteorologist Joan Blackburn says windy conditions are expected across the country forecasting a generally wet and stormy day".

Generally across the country we are expecting mean speeds of 65-80kmp/h, with gusts of 110-130km/h, and then in those coastal counties of Cork to Mayo, we could well see gusts in excess of 130 km/h.

More as we get it but follow updates from Met Eireann here.
Burma's embattled leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has called for national unity and created a committee that will coordinate all international and local assistance in violence-hit Rakhine state.

More than 500,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from the state to neighbouring Bangladesh since August 25, when security forces responded to attacks by a militant Rohingya group with a broad crackdown on the long-persecuted Muslim minority.
The Trump administration came to office hoping it would be able to find a more cooperative basis upon which to work with Russia than previous U.S. administrations had. Of course, the Bush administration and the Obama administration tried to reset U.S.-Russia relations as well, to no avail. Less than a year into Donald Trumps presidency, it is already evident that not only has the U.S. failed to change the tenor of relations with Russia, but the relationship has worsened. As recently as March, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that the two sides were involved in a new Cold War, and after new sanctions were levied against Russia in June, Moscow promised retaliation. That retaliation is beginning to take shape.

The U.S. is the lone global superpower. On the one hand, that is a reflection of the tremendous economic and military might the U.S. can bring to bear. On the other hand, it means the U.S. has to take on many more problems than most countries do. This is a vulnerability, one that Russia can use to its benefit to try to push back against what it sees as a United States that is encroaching needlessly on Russias sphere of influence. As we look at Russias highly varied and extremely active foreign policy moves of the past month, it becomes clear that Russia is trying to use that vulnerability against the U.S., interfering where it can to gain leverage to disrupt U.S. strategy in other parts of the world.

Agent of Chaos The most prominent area where the U.S. is focused right now is North Korea. Russia cant shape events on the Korean Peninsula, but it can try to prevent the U.S. from reaching any kind of resolution that Washington would consider a strategic success. In August, Russia donated some 800 tons of grain to North Korea. During the first week of September, right after Trump accused South Korea of appeasement, South Koreas president traveled to Russia for a multinational forum and, in a joint press conference with Putin, said Moscow and Seoul saw eye to eye on how the North Korea nuclear issue could be solved. In the U.N. Security Council, Russia has joined with China to limit the efficacy of sanctions, and it has gone out of its way to respond to some of Trumps incendiary comments on North Korea, publicly questioning whether U.S. allies like South Korea and Japan ought to trust the U.S. any longer. Not to mention the many high-level meetings that have occurred between North Korean and Russian diplomats.

Russia just this week held naval drills with China in the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. These naval exercises are the second part of China and Russias 2017 Joint Sea Program, and as they took place, the U.S. and South Korea were carrying out naval exercises of their own in the region. Military exercises in and of themselves dont mean much geopolitically speaking, and there is still a great deal of distrust between Russia and China. Its not like Moscow and Beijing are entering into a formal alliance. That said, Russia and China share an interest in weakening the U.S. position on the Asian mainland, and there are things they can work together on to do just that. The U.S. and South Korea have held joint military exercises for decades, but that didnt prevent North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Chinese and Russian naval exercises in this part of the world at this particular moment are a powerful signal to the region that there is more than just one game in town.

Consider also Russias activities in more far-flung and less geopolitically relevant parts of the world. Russia has cultivated a relationship with Venezuela going back to the times of Hugo Chavez. As Venezuela slowly descends into anarchy, Russia has been increasing its involvement, providing Venezuela with lifelines in the form of loans to keep the government solvent. This isnt simple generosity  Russia is picking up shipments of crude oil and shares in state-owned oil assets in return. And unlike with its grain diplomacy in North Korea, Russia prefers to get paid for the 600,000 tons of grain it will be delivering to Venezuela in the next year, rather than simply offering it as a donation. Still, the motive here isnt ultimately about profit; its about Russia involving itself in the Western Hemisphere and propping up a regime that U.S. administrations of both parties have struggled to deal with. The character of the regime in Caracas matters little to Russia so long as Caracas is at odds with Washington.

Or consider Russias involvement in the Middle East, the one place where the U.S. and Russia have been able to cooperate in recent years. Earlier this week, Russia, Iran and Turkey agreed  without any input from the U.S.  to set up a safe zone in Syria, covering most of Idlib province and divided into different areas of responsibility run by each country. The U.S. is focused on destroying the Islamic State, and while the U.S. and Russia work together on that goal, Russia has an eye toward influencing what happens in Syria after IS has been destroyed. From its relationship with Syrian Kurdish groups to its support for the Bashar Assad regime and its continued deployment of limited but effective forces on the ground, Russia is ensuring that it will have a say in the future of the Levant. Syria itself is of little geopolitical significance to Russia (or the U.S., for that matter); what Russia wants is for the U.S. and others to treat it as an equal in order to make the country appear more powerful, at home and abroad, than it really is. Tanks take part in the joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2017 (West-2017) at a training ground near the town of Borisov on Sept. 20, 2017. SERGEI GAPON/AFP/Getty Images Plan for the Worst Meanwhile, Russia and Belarus are holding military exercises known as Zapad, or West, in Belarus. These exercises have spooked the region  on Sept. 20, Estonias defense minister said, for instance, that the drills were Russias preparation to intervene in Belarus. The Belarus issue should not be confused with the foreign policy moves mentioned above. Russias control over its traditional buffer zones has shattered. In contrast to the Middle East intervention, these buffer zones are a core Russian security imperative. The Baltics are already in the Western camp, and most of Ukraine is now under the control of a pro-West government that is regularly flirting with receiving new and advanced weaponry from the United States. Belarus is the only country in the buffer zone upon which Russia can still unequivocally depend. Belarus, for its part, has in recent years attempted to move closer to the West, but its economy is still far too dependent on Russia for such moves to be taken seriously.

But governments must hope for the best and plan for the worst. Russia cant assume Belarus will remain in its camp forever, particularly as Russias economic weakness diminishes its ability to buy allegiance. Russia is therefore using these exercises not just to demonstrate its power but also to test how far its military has come since the Georgian War (which revealed serious deficiencies in the Russian military), and how much further it has to go in order to defend what parts of the Eastern European buffer zone are left to it against what it sees as Western encroachment. This is where the roles shift, and where Russia becomes vulnerable if the U.S. were to involve itself more in places like Belarus, whether through nongovernmental organizations or formal policy statements.

Russia cannot shape outcomes, but it can complicate and prolong various conflicts, the goal being to keep the U.S. spread thin, fighting small fires around the world. The more the U.S. is tied down in smaller conflicts that dont affect Russia directly, the more freedom of action Russia has in its immediate periphery to hone its capabilities and defend its interests without having to worry about a potential U.S. response. As Russia makes headlines, keep in mind that often its goal is to distract the U.S., and that the broad scope of Russias moves actually belies Russias inability to secure its own interests on its own terms.

Russia is playing a weak hand  but it is playing it very well, and unlike the U.S. or even the Soviet Union, there are simply few things in the world that are of existential importance to Russia. The U.S. tries to be everything to everyone, everywhere. Russia settles for complicating U.S. designs and defining its goals very narrowly. When properly executed, this makes Russia a formidable challenge to the U.S. despite the large gap in hard power between the two.
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While the Helena mayors speech to what critics call an anti-Muslim hate group has raised questions about his stance on refugee resettlement, both mayoral candidates say the global refugee crisis is not a city issue.

Theres a minimal role for state government. Really, local governments are not part of the process, Mayor Jim Smith told the Independent Record last week.

Wilmot Collins, a Liberian refugee running against Smith for mayor, said, Helena doesnt have a role in addressing the refugee crisis.

Refugees are handled by the federal government and the nine agencies that have been given the authority to handle refugees, Collins said. No local government can do that.

Jim Smith

Smith has been criticized in the liberal-leaning blog The Montana Post, as well as some letters to the editor published by the Independent Record, for his speech at a meeting hosted by Virginia-based ACT for America last year in Helena. The Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center, a legal advocacy nonprofit that specializes in civil rights issues, has classified ACT as an anti-Muslim hate group because it pushes wild Muslim conspiracy theories, denigrates American Muslims and deliberately conflates mainstream and radical Islam.

Smith told the Independent Record he was not aware the organization was listed as a hate group when he attended the meeting, and said, Im not sure I agree with the views of either ACT or the SPLC.

The mayor said he was invited to the meeting by a friend, and he wanted to hear the groups concerns. He did not plan to speak at the event, he said.

It was noted by people in the audience that there was an elected official there, and they wanted to know what my thoughts were, and I felt like they were entitled to hear from me, he said.   I didnt go there knowing that I was going to say anything. I just mainly went to listen and try to learn something.

A March 31, 2016, tweet by Tim Ravndal, who was ousted as president of the Big Sky Tea Party Association in 2010 for making statements that implied he condoned violence against homosexuals, alleged that Smith told attendees he would not sign off on welcoming refugees to Helena.

Smith said he told the group he would not be comfortable sending a letter to the federal government offering to host refugees, which is something that members of the Missoula City Council and Missoula County Commission have done.

He told the Independent Record he doesnt believe Helena has the resources to become an official host city, noting that the state is able to provide only a limited amount of financial assistance to refugees for a short amount of time. He said it is important to have organizational and human infrastructure in place for refugees.

Helena is not Missoula, and vice versa. Missoula is larger, more populous, more diverse, more fluid, more cosmopolitan than Helena, he said. Missoula has a long history of working with refugees, going back to the 1970s and the resettlement of people from Southeast Asia. Missoula has an organization in place, Soft Landing Missoula, with the organizational and human infrastructure required to deal successfully with people coming there as refugees.

Smith added that Helena is already home to some refugees.

Helena is accepting refugees, he said. Theres a couple from Cuba here, a nice family. So if folks get here however, thats great.

Wilmot Collins

Collins settled in Helena and became an American citizen after fleeing Liberias civil war.

He has publicly spoken in the past about his experiences as a refugee, and how he is grateful to have a second chance. During a Lunch and Learn event hosted by the YWCA of Helena last year, Collins encouraged people to challenge those who speak negatively about refugee resettlement efforts.

Though Collins believes some people have misconceptions about refugees consuming too many resources, he said the federal government and the nine resettlement agencies across the United States are responsible for decisions about where they end up.

If an organization in Helena wants to be like Soft Landing and organize themselves in that way, they will then have to go to one of those nine agencies, he said, reiterating that the city is not involved in that.

When asked whether he would encourage the federal government to send refugees to Helena if elected as mayor, Collins said it would depend on the community.

If the community is willing to do that, Ill support what the community wants, he said. But Im not going to go forward with it unless the community wants to.

Collins declined to comment on Smith's speech to ACT for America, noting he wanted to keep his campaign clean.
Q: Why are empty school buses traveling west on Interstate 40 each morning and east every afternoon during heavy rush hour traffic from Kernersville to Winston Salem? The buses are traveling well below the posted speed limit in the right lane, causing the traffic to move to left lane in order to proceed without tailgating the buses.

E.L.

Answer: The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school system does have some empty buses that travel between Kernersville and Winston-Salem each day, according to Darrell Taylor, the systems director of transportation.

The reason for this is because as a district we offer magnet programs at multiple schools that students county-wide can participate in. We also offer schools of choice and in turn we offer transportation to those programs from multiple locations, Taylor wrote an an email to SAM.

With those buses in particular, we either are taking students to schools or returning them to their stops daily. We have seven staging areas within the county for the buses, four of those are at schools so what people are seeing are those buses traveling between staging areas for different types of pickups. Our buses run several routes, for multiple schools each day, he continued.

As for the speed of the buses, he explained, Our buses have no choice but to travel below the posted speed limit as state law does not allow school buses to travel over 45 mph.

Q: One of my friends said that her daughter is losing her job at Blue Cross here in Winston-Salem. She stated that customer service is moving to Mexico. I have not seen any notice in the Winston-Salem Journal or anything on TV. Is this a false rumor or is it true?

B.F.

Answer: Blue Cross NC is not actively outsourcing, or planning to outsource, any customer service jobs in Winston-Salem, or at any other Blue Cross location, to Mexico, according to Austin Vevurka, a spokesman for the insurance company.

Q: I live in Davie County and lately Ive been seeing lots of strange little bugs flying around that Ive never seen before. They look like white snowflakes blowing in the wind until you realize a) its too hot for snow, and b) you see them start moving if they land. What are these little critters?

A.W.

Answer: According to Mike Waldvogel, an entomologist at N.C. State University, what you are describing are woolly aphids, a type of aphid that has a covering of fluffy white wax.

They feed on a variety of hardwoods particularly apples, hawthorn, oaks, elms, alders, ash, and a few others, Waldvogel said. Depending on the species of woolly aphid, they may be on the trunks and twigs (look for the white fluffy masses), and leaves.

You can see and read more about them at the University of Maryland Extensions website, at https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/woolly-aphids-trees-and-shrubs.

As for getting rid of them, Parasitic wasps usually control woolly aphids, according to the extension website. However, if necessary large infestations can be reduced by spraying with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.
About 96,300 Triad Medicaid enrollees may be along for the ride if a day of reckoning arrives for Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions; its top executive, Richard Topping; and its 13-member board of directors over spending and noncompliance with state laws.

Thats how many individuals could be affected in Davie, Forsyth, Rockingham and Stokes counties involving services for mental health, developmental disorders and substance abuse.

Cardinal, as the largest of seven behavioral-health managed-care organizations, or MCOs, in North Carolina, oversees providers of those services and handles more than $675 million in annual federal and state Medicaid money.

When  if at all  that day of reckoning comes depends essentially on whether the states health secretary, Dr. Mandy Cohen, is willing to assert her oversight authority. By state law, only the Cardinal board and the state health secretary have the ability to replace Topping as Cardinals chief executive.

Two recent scathing state audits have questioned Cardinals financial status, in particular board-approved executive compensation and severance packages.

Cardinal posted on its website Friday that its board will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the DHHS audit. The meeting will be held in Cardinals headquarters at 550 S. Caldwell St., Suite 1600, in downtown Charlotte. Cardinal said Monday that although the meeting is open to the public, it expects to conduct most of it in closed session.

Dave Richard, the deputy secretary in charge of Medicaid for the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said Tuesday that state health officials, including legislators, were planning to attend Cardinals Nov. 17-18 board meeting to present members with its lists of compliance issues and observe whether the board is willing to resolve those issues.

Discussions at the Cardinal board meeting will likely determine which options will be on the table, said state Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, a co-chairman of the N.C. Senate Health Committee.

A bipartisan group of state legislators is urging Cohen to replace Topping and the board, and/or terminate Cardinals state Medicaid contracts, for noncompliance with state laws.

State health officials and legislators say they are not ready to predict what steps Cohen may take, which could include splintering Cardinals 20-county territory to one or more of the states other six MCOs. Cardinal also includes Alamance and Davidson counties.

All of the (secretarys) options are possible, said Krawiec, who is also a member of the General Assemblys Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Health and Human Services.

However, it is not likely that Cohen would approve resurrecting CenterPoint Human Services, which handled local behavioral-health oversight until merging  at state health officials and legislators urging  with Cardinal in June 2016.

State Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, a co-chairman of the health-care oversight committee, said that while it would be cumbersome to divvy up the Cardinal counties to other MCO who would absorb these services ... it can be done.

Counties can request, during a relatively brief period each year, to switch MCOs with the state health secretarys permission.

Three county managers  Dudley Watts of Forsyth, Lance Metzler of Rockingham and Rick Morris of Stokes  said their respective boards of commissioner have not discussed contingency plans in preparation for any action by Cohen on Cardinal.

We would not expect the state health secretary to take such an action without some type of transition period that would allow the county to make other arrangements for services, Morris said. In any case, we would take whatever actions were necessary to ensure services were continued for our county residents.

Dr. David Mount, a former CenterPoint board member and behavioral-health advocate, is calling for Cohen to remove all Cardinal board members, who are failing to provide strong oversight and undermining taxpayers ... with misaligned priorities.

This is not a time for playing a game of hot potato, Mount said. The balance of power with MCOs is problematic. Despite a host of recommendations and guidelines pushed up through community networks, organizations and individual stakeholders, everyday people once again are the biggest losers.

We are calling,, Mount said, for the formation of a human-services integration council charged with developing policy and providing oversight with attention to accountability, cultural competency and performance.

Raises concerns

An internal DHHS audit, released Oct. 1, determined that the salary and severance packages Cardinals board approved pose a substantial risk (to Cardinal) and may not be in the best interest of Cardinal, beneficiaries and/or the state.

This is excessive and raises concerns about the entitys solvency and ability to continue to provide services in the event of a significant change in its leadership team, DHHS said in a statement.

The main issue at hand is executive compensation and severance packages that Cardinal has committed to Topping and 10 other executives, which have been called excessive and unacceptable by legislators.

The Cardinal board approved two raises for Topping since he became chief executive in July 2015 that increased his salary  at least temporarily  to $635,000 a year. Cardinals board minutes are not available on its website, and Cardinal officials have a pattern of responding slowly to requests for those minutes.

Cardinal said that Topping has requested, and the board approved, lowering his salary to $400,000 a year.

That amount, however, still is more than double what Toppings peers in the other six MCOs make.

Richard said the DHHS is proceeding cautiously on acting on its authority to make major changes at Cardinal. Part of the caution comes from Cardinal suing the Office of State Human Resources, challenging the states authority to set executive-compensation limits on Cardinal.

Background

In 2014, at the urging of former Health Secretary Dr. Aldona Wos, CenterPoint began plans to merge with Partners Behavioral Health Management and Smoky Mountain Center for an MCO covering 35 counties and nearly 350,000 enrollees.

Smoky Mountain dropped out of the merger talks in November 2014 to pursue a regional care organization strategy centered in Asheville. It is now known as Vaya Health.

CenterPoint and Partners suspended their talks on Feb. 25, 2015. A key merger element never settled on who would run the combined MCO.

Until Tuesdays healthcare oversight committee, Cohen had been mostly silent on her stance on Cardinal executive compensation compliance with state law.

DHHS issued a statement Oct. 2 accompanying an internal audit of Cardinal in which it said the groups executive compensation and severance packages are excessive and raises concerns about the entitys solvency and ability to continue to provide services in the event of a significant change in its leadership team, the DHHS said. Cardinal should immediately bring its salary/compensation package for its CEO in line with the other MCOs, and shed its excessive severance offerings. DHHS will continue to monitor Cardinals performance.

Toppings current three-year contract provides severance payments for a broad range of reasons beyond termination of employment without just cause.

They include:

If Cardinal is taken over or ceases to be an independent entity.

If a majority of the board is replaced without the boards approval.

If the agency is materially affected by statutory or regulatory changes to its services, revenue, governance or employment practices.

However, since taking office, Cohen has tightened core performance requirements for the MCOs, including adding financial penalties for noncompliance.

These new contracts hold each organization accountable to meeting key performance measures to ensure high-quality care, Cohen said.

Krawiec said the executive compensation information about Cardinal is very disappointing and disturbing.

While Cardinal has obviously shown us how health services can be delivered at a cost savings, those savings have led to lavish expenditures by Cardinal.

Instead of returning the savings back into improving the system and providing for those in need, the funds have been spent in a very irresponsible manner.

Intervention?

Billy West, the director of DayMark Recovery Services, said the need for any legislative intervention into Cardinal business practices, much less talk of contract termination, is unfortunate.

My concern is that a terminated contract may be construed as an indictment of the public MCO model and diminish any potential role public MCOs could possibly have in the most recent Medicaid management proposal.

This entire thing is so disheartening because so many people are working very hard and doing very good work in the MCO and provider systems, West said. Acrimony like this serves no one, especially those we are suppose to serve.

In June 2016, the McCrory administration submitted a hybrid Medicaid reform plan that allows a role for up to three commercial insurers providing prepaid health plans (PHP) statewide and not-for-profit health groups supporting up to 12 regional provider-led entities (PLE).

The goal is taking a whole-body approach to providing health-care services to the states nearly 2 million Medicaid recipients. The states largest not-for-profit health-care systems have formed an entity as a vehicle to become one of the three PHPs.

During the 2017 regular legislative session, there was a lot of huffing and puffing about reining in MCOs, spurred primarily by bipartisan satisfaction with Cardinal.

However, the status quo held solid even after a scathing state audit on Cardinal.

The main reason why is key legislators, led by state Sen. Ralph Hise, R-McDowell, opted to spend much of the MCO bill discussion revisiting the previous three years of Medicaid waiver debate.

West said he believes the hybrid model shows the potential for success because it retains the current MCO model.

In the Triad alone, Cardinal is directly responsible for supporting a provider network that has provided thousands of walk-in services that could have otherwise gone to a local emergency room, he said. That includes more than 3,000 walk-in behavioral-health visits and more than 1,000 emergency-room diversions in fiscal 2016-17.

These type numbers can be shown in each public MCO area across the state, West said. A termination of any state and federal Medicaid contract could destabilize these type gains in a system that provides care to so many indigent, along with Medicaid-eligible patients.

It is my hope the concerns discovered in the Cardinal audits can be resolved without risk to the existing systems.
WFU professor awarded fellowship

The American Physical Society has elected Timo Thonhauser, a Wake Forest University associate professor of physics, among its 2017 society fellows, WFU said in a statement.

The societys fellowship program recognizes members who have made exceptional contributions to the physics enterprise, including physics research, important applications of physics, leadership in or service to physics, or significant contributions to physics education, WFU said.

Thonhausers research group at Wake Forest conducts research in theoretical and computational condensed-matter physics and materials science.

First-year class grows at Bennett College

GREENSBORO  Bennett College has experienced a 38 percent increase in enrollment in its first-year class from last year, officials have announced.

Officials attribute the increase to several factors, including increased marketing, a heightened social media campaign and streamlining the admissions process for prospective students, the college said in a news release.

We created a one-stop-shop environment by which we invited students to come on campus to move through the admissions process in a single day, said Gisele Abron, interim associate vice president for enrollment management/registrar.

WFU researchers

get grant

Ever put an unripe avocado into a bag with a banana to make it guacamole-ready?

Ripening in the avocado is driven by the plant hormone ethylene, which is a gas that is released from fruit and other plant tissues. This important hormone controls many other aspects of plant development.

Now, thanks to a $900,000 award from the National Science Foundation, Wake Forest University researchers are examining how this hormone affects growth and development of the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana, which is a genetic model used to provide insight into other plants, WFU said in a news release.

This collaborative grant brings together researchers in biology, computer science and mathematics.

UNCG honors first Reynolds Scholars

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first graduating class of Katharine Smith Reynolds Scholars at UNC Greensboro.

Since its inception, more than 500 Reynolds Scholars have graduated from the university, UNC Greensboro said in a statement.

Without this-life changing scholarship, I probably would not have attended UNCG, said Alyssa Sanchez, a Reynolds Scholar majoring in biochemistry (pre-pharmacy) who will graduate with full honors in 2019. Affiliation with the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation has provided opportunities for me to grow as a student and leader.

In 1962, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation trustees established a merit-based scholarship program at UNCG, then Womans College of the University of North Carolina, to commemorate the life and legacy of alumna Katharine Smith Reynolds  wife of R.J. Reynolds and mother of Z. Smith Reynolds.

New hub for Deacon students in D.C.

In the morning, Wake Forest University sophomore Jay Sherrill rides the D.C. Metro to Capitol Hill to work on trade policy briefs for a subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee. In the evening, he shares his first-hand experience with classmates in his U.S. Policymaking in the 21st Century class at the new Wake Washington Center.

Sherrill is one of 16 students in the inaugural cohort of the Wake Washington program, a semester-long program in the nations capital.

The Wake Washington Center opened this fall at One DuPont Circle as a new home base for the thousands of Wake Forest alumni who live in the area and the increasing number of students who plan to work or study in D.C. after graduation.

WFU President Nathan Hatch said that the center is an important part of the university.

Not only are we opening a new facility and providing extraordinary opportunities for our students, we are building important bridges between the campus and Washington, D.C., Hatch said.

Forsyth Tech online program earns honor

Forsyth Technical Community College is No. 1 in the nation for online entrepreneurship associate degrees, according to Best College Reviews.

The rankings were created using the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator database. The top 15 online associate degree programs were ranked by the following criteria  tuition, customization options and the wow factor, the college said in a news release.

Forsyth Tech is proud of its ranking as the top online entrepreneurship associate degree program in the country, President Gary Green said. Winston-Salem has a great, continuing tradition of entrepreneurship, and Forsyth Tech is building careers by building new businesses.
One man was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries after he was shot Saturday morning in Winston-Salem, authorities said.

Officers found Desmond Lemont Redd, 27, unresponsive with an apparent gunshot wound to the head in front of a business at 1804 N. Patterson Ave., police Lt. Eric Montgomery said. Police arrived at the scene shortly before 7:15 a.m.

Redd was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment, Montgomery said.

Investigators have suspects in the shooting, but no arrests had been made as of Saturday afternoon, Montgomery said. We have some people that we are looking at, he said. Im not sure what the motive is.

Investigators found shell casings fired from a handgun at the scene, he said. Officers blocked a section Saturday of the 1800 block of North Patterson Avenue as investigators searched for clues.

Winston-Salem Police Department is asking anyone with information concerning this investigation to call (336) 773-7700 or Crime Stoppers at (336) 727-2800.
Ken Burns and Lynn Novicks Vietnam documentary has me wondering: Why has John F. Kennedys Vietnam legacy remained largely unscathed?

Kennedy, as a member of Congress, felt the U.S. should support countries like Vietnam in gaining their independence against colonial powers. But as president, he saw Vietnam as a proving ground to thwart the spread of communism.

In 1961, Kennedy, after his disastrous Vienna summit with Soviet Leader Nikita Khrushchev, told New York Times reporter James Reston, Now we have a problem in making our power credible, and Vietnam is the place.

When author David Halberstam released The Making of a Quagmire, it was based on the Kennedy eras handling of the Vietnam. Under Kennedy, military advisors in Vietnam increased from roughly 685 in 1961 to more than 16,000 by the time of his death in 1963.

Kennedy sent Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield to Vietnam on a fact-finding mission in 1962. When Mansfield returned he offered a sobering report, stating: Its their country, their future thats at stake, not ours. To ignore that reality will not only be immensely costly in terms of American lives and resources, but it may also draw us inexorably into some variation of the unenviable position in Vietnam that was formerly occupied by the French.

Though prescient, Mansfields words were in tension with the widely accepted Domino Theory that held the rise of communism in one country would cause neighboring countries to follow suit, falling like dominoes.

In a Sept. 2, 1963 interview with Walter Cronkite, Kennedy appeared to echo Mansfields sentiments about Vietnam when he said: In the final analysis, its their war. They are the ones who have to win it or lose it.

But nine days prior to Kennedys interview with Cronkite, his administration had sent out what is commonly referred as Cable 243.

On Aug. 24, 1963, Undersecretary Roger Hilsman issued Cable 243 to Henry Cabot Lodge Jr., ambassador to South Vietnam, to discuss the possibility of supporting a coup against South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem. This cable, representing a major policy shift, was sent out on a Saturday while the president, vice president, secretaries of state and defense  along with the CIA director, national security advisor and attorney general  were out of town.

The memo was read over the phone to Kennedy, who was vacationing in Hyannis Port. Kennedy gave his consent, somehow believing that his key advisors were in support. But they were not all in support; it was a divided lot. When Kennedy and his key advisors did meet to discuss the cable, they concluded without a definitive answer to support or oppose a potential coup.

Because of ambivalence, the U.S. allowed South Vietnam generals planning the coup to decide its policy going forward. It wasnt until Nov. 1, 1963, when Diems palace was surrounded and the coup was about to commence, that the generals had assurance that the Kennedy administration would not interfere.

Diem was assassinated on Nov. 2, much to Kennedys chagrin. On Nov. 4, Kennedy dictated his thoughts about the coup, including his culpability.

Eighteen days later, Kennedy himself would be assassinated.

The coup that overthrew Diem on Nov. 1, 1963, lasted only until Jan. 30, 1964. Like Thomas Jeffersons observations of slavery, Vietnam became the wolf that America held by the ears, unable to hold on or safely let go.

In the public discourse, however, Vietnam is Johnsons baby. He was president when television brought the carnage into the nations living rooms, and when protestors chanted: Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?

The iconic photo of Johnson slumped in his chair, tormented by the reality of Vietnam, personifies the malfeasance of his predecessors.

In addition to Kennedy, Johnsons decisions regarding Vietnam cannot be divorced from President Harry Trumans support, in 1945, of the French returning to Indochina. Nor that of President Dwight Eisenhowers decision to not press for elections in 1954 to unify North and South Vietnam because of his fear the Ho Chi Minh, who was communist, would win in a landslide that was agreed upon in the Geneva Accords of 1952.

Many continue to surmise that, had Kennedy lived, Vietnam would have turned out differently. Perhaps, but history is not kind to armchair suppositions.

Johnson warrants criticism for escalating an enterprise that had failed before he became president. As much as Vietnam is the dark cloud that cloaks the Johnson administration, it was done so, in part, by ignoring the legacy of ignorance and arrogance by Kennedy and others to the quagmire that remains a stain on the American narrative.
So, youve inherited a farm; now what? Some answers and strategy are available from a workshop scheduled for Nov. 2 at Bridgeport.

The 2 1/2-hour workshop will begin at 9 a.m. at Prairie Winds Community Center. Cost is free, but advance registration is requested to insure enough handouts for the program. To register call the Morrill County Extension Office at 308-262-1022 before 5 p.m. Nov. 1.

Anyone who owns farmland may want to participate in this seminar for information and education about that ownership, as well as to learn management strategies.

Participants will hear answers to common questions: Am I keeping the farm, or selling it? How do I manage a farm? If leasing, what are key lease provisions? What legal considerations do I have with this decision? And, how do we manage family communications and expectations when other family is involved?

The program is being provided by Allan Vyhnalek and Jessica Groskopf, Extension Educators from Nebraska Extension, who provide farm land management education.

I am contacted monthly from citizens who have had their parents pass away, and now they are managing a farm for the first time in their lives, said Vyhnalek. They may have even grown up there, but havent been around for 30 or 40 years, and need to understand that farming practices and management concepts have changed.

This program is offered free and open to the public with funding provided by the North Central Extension Risk Management Education Center and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Award Number 2015-49200-24226.
Persons of all ages are invited to attend a Farm and Ranch Estate Planning Discussion hosted by Nebraska Extension on Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. at Western Nebraska Community College in Sidney.

Cost to attend is free, but please register by calling Cheyenne County Extension Office at 308-254-4455 to ensure that there are enough handouts and meals.

The presentation will focus on the decisions and situations that should be addressed when thinking about how your farm or ranch estate will be passed.

Topics will include the need for planning; proper family communications; who makes the decisions; concept of fair vs. equal; preparing to meet with an attorney; and much more. The presentation is designed to give some basic information to those that havent yet started to think about their succession or transition plan for their assets.

Allan Vyhnalek, UNL Extension Educator for Farm Succession, will be the presenter. He was just assigned to the Ag Economics Department to work on farm and ranch succession and transition.

Participants at previous events always report that they wished they would have started sooner, when asked about the value of attending the presentation. Not having an appropriate plan in place can jeopardize the financial stability and the future of the family. More importantly, we need to have our wishes known to others so the legacy of the farms and ranches can be passed to the individuals or entities intended.

For more information or assistance, please contact Jessica Groskopf 308-632-1247.
DIX  More than 80 high school students from around the Panhandle participated in the 2017 West Regional Land Judging Contest on Oct. 4, north of Dix. The contest was hosted by the North Platte Natural Resources District, South Platte NRD,and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Shawna Hill of Scottsbluff High School and RyAnne Blau of Bayard High School tied for first place, with a score of 280. Hill won with the tie breaker. Their score was nearly 18 points higher than last years top score. Payton Oliverius of Bayard placed third.

The Banner County FFA team of Seth Dvorak, Deven Sulllivan, Sierra Flores and Rylie Mason took the top team honors with a score of 726. Bayard High School took home second and third places. Second place went to Nicole Backer, RyAnne Blau, Carissa Wolfe and Shayley Petersen, and third place went to Tanner Rafferty, Dorry Cooper, Dawson Kriha and Payton Oliverius.

The top three teams, not from the same high school, automatically qualify for the state contest. The third qualifying team is from Scottsbluff High School (Ethan Aschenbrenner, Megan Rudy, Payton Flower and Eli DeLosSantos). The state contest will be held Oct. 18 in Dodge County.

David Wolf, information and education coordinator for the North Platte NRD, was excited to see higher scores and very close competition.

Both the top individual and team scores were noticeable higher than the previous year, Wolf said There were three points that separated the top three teams

Land Judging is a high school competition that challenges students to gain a better understanding of soil structure and land evaluation. Land judging enables each participant to learn how to recognize the physical features of the soil, determine land capability for crop production, and evaluate management practices needed for proper stewardship. This years contest was a partnership between NRCS, the North Platte NRD, South Platte NRD and University of Nebraska Extension.
The basics of QuickBooks financial software for farmers and ranchers will be taught in a series of workshops in late October and November in Kimball, Chadron, Mullen, Valentine and Scottsbluff.

Jerry Terwilliger of the Center for Rural Affairs teaches the basics of desktop QuickBooks, focusing on the record-keeping needs of farmers and ranchers. Participants will learn how to input transactions, use accounts, categories, inventories, invoices and run common reports.

Cost is $55 per participant, and the classes are limited to five participants per location.

These workshops are being offered by Nebraska Extension in collaboration with the Center for Rural Affairs Rural Enterprise Assistance Project and the SBA Womens Business Center.

Workshop locations, dates, times and registration information:

 Oct. 30, Kimball: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Kimball County Extension Office. To register call Aaron Berger 308-235-3122.

 Nov. 6, Chadron: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dawes County Extension Office. To register call Jack Arterburn 308-327-2312.

 Nov. 15, Mullen: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., location TBD. To register call Bethany Johnston, 308-645-2267.

 Nov. 16, Valentine: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Cherry County Extension Office. To register call Jay Jenkins, 402-376-1850.

 Nov. 27, Scottsbluff: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center. To register call Jessica Groskopf, 308-632-1247.
As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, one of the congressional committees investigating Russian interference in last years election, Charles Grassley is in a better position than most other Republicans in Congress to tighten the screws on the Trump administration.

So President Donald Trump raised eyebrows when he telephoned the senior senator from Iowa at the end of August. The topic of their conservation was not Russia, Grassleys office insisted  it was ethanol.

That the president would take the time to call a senator about a provincial issue amid a high-stakes investigation of international election meddling strained the credulity of some observers.

But the Iowa congressional delegation and the Environmental Protection Agency, led by Scott Pruitt, are indeed on a collision course over an issue central to the economic viability of biofuels  and to the farmers in Iowa growing the corn and other agricultural products that go into them. Over the past few months, the EPA has proposed weakened requirements for how much renewable fuel needs to be blended into the nations gasoline and diesel.

On Tuesday, Grassley told an audience at an Iowa biodiesel producer that the recent EPA proposals would drastically undermine biodiesel production and, most importantly, its contrary to statements made by then-candidate Trump and President Trump.

Whether its biodiesel or anything else, he said, I believe its a platform not just to run on, but to stand on.

Since 2005, with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan raging and desire for energy independence from the Middle East, the federal government has mandated that transportation fuel contain a certain percentage of renewable fuel derived from corn, soybeans and other foodstuffs.

So every year, the EPA sets the Renewable Fuel Standard, which under President Barack Obama required that an increasing amount of biofuels, including ethanol, be mixed into the gasoline and diesel supply.

And in every presidential election, promises to support that program have become a staple of campaign rallies and diner visits ahead of the first-in-the-nation caucuses in Iowa.

In many ways, Trump was an unprecedented candidate who made unprecedented promises. But on this issue he was utterly conventional  conventionally supportive, that is, of biofuels.

Ahead of Iowas GOP caucus in February 2016, Trump repeatedly slammed Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, over his ethanol stance. Like some other Republicans from oil and gas strongholds, the senator from Texas wanted to abolish the RFS.

Hes right now for the oil, Trump told a crowd at a rally at the end of 2015. But I understand because Big Oil pays him a lot of money. Hes got to be oil, right? The oil companies give him a lot of money.

In part because of Trumps remarks, Grassley began embracing Trump long before the rest of the GOP establishment did, appearing at a rally with him in January 2016.

We have an opportunity once again to make America great again, Grassley told a crowd in Iowa, echoing Trumps campaign slogan.

That promise to support ethanol helped Trump place second in the Iowa caucus and go on to win that and other Midwestern states in the general election, said Grant Kimberley, a corn and soybean farmer in Iowa and executive director of the Iowa Biodiesel Board.

That was one of the key factors in the Midwest, Kimberley said, noting that rural Americans elected Trump.

This year, during a campaign-style rally in Iowa, Trump reiterated that commitment to ethanol. By the way, were saving your ethanol industries in the state of Iowa just like I promised I would do in my campaign, Trump said. Believe me, they are under siege, folks.

Right now, though, the biofuel industry feels as if its under siege by the Trump administration.

At the beginning of the year, when Grassley and other Midwestern senators met separately with Pruitt and Rick Perry as they prepared to vote for them to run the EPA and the Energy Department, the pair of oil-state nominees promised  unprompted  to support ethanol.

We had a very clear indication from them, Grassley said, that they knew what the president has said.

In July, the EPA proposed reducing the amount of biofuel required to be blended into gasoline and diesel to 19.24 billion gallons for next year, but kept the total for conventional biofuels at current levels.

Biofuel industry groups were set on edge. So in August, Trump phoned Grassley to talk about ethanol. The president pressed the senator to tweet that Trump supported ethanol, and Grassley obliged.

He ran on a platform of supporting ethanol and he was still for ethanol, and he wanted me to tell the people, Grassley told me in an interview earlier this week.

But then in September, the EPA truly infuriated the biofuel industry by floating the idea of bringing the proposed total even lower and of revisiting other renewable fuel requirements for 2018 and 2019 finalized under the Obama administration.

The proposal is in line with what the oil and gas industry want (those energy producers think the RFS adds to the cost of refining petroleum and wants to see Congress rewrite the underlying 2005 law). Until Congress acts to address the structural flaws with the RFS, Frank Macchiarola of the American Petroleum Institute wrote in a letter to the EPA earlier this year, lowering the volume requirements in 2018 is the most effective short-term way for EPA to address the problems created by the RFS.

Yet in none of Grassleys conversations  with Pruitt, with Perry or with Trump  did the administration make specific assurances about RFS levels going forward, the senator said. It was just pretty generic, Grassley said in the interview of meeting with Pruitt and Perry. And Grassley spoke with Trump for only about two minutes during that August phone call, he said. Grassley said he spoke with Trump again about ethanol in late September.

Earlier this month, Grassley and 37 other senators from both parties wrote a letter to Pruitt urging him to grow blending targets. Midwestern governors are now preparing their own letter, too. Iowas two GOP senators, Grassley and Joni Ernst, along with other members, are scheduled to meet with Pruitt on Tuesday to discuss the RFS, said the senator, adding he will urge Pruitt to maintain the Obama numbers.

Grassley made a point of aiming his criticism at Pruitt, not Trump. Biofuel producers need certainty, Grassley said, and Pruitts actions would bring uncertainty to an industry that needs more capital investment, and thats bad for the industry.

That perception of a divide between Trump and Pruitt is shared by some in the agriculture sector. I think hes doing his own thing, Kimberley said of Pruitt. Our goal is to remind the president of his promises.

The senior senator from Iowa, which got more than a third of its electricity from wind in 2016, also recently dinged Pruitt for seemingly misunderstanding tax credits for wind energy.

While traveling in Kentucky when announcing the repeal of the Clean Power Plan, Pruitt called for the elimination of wind and solar tax credits. I would do away with these incentives that we give to wind and solar, Pruitt told an audience on Monday, even though both are scheduled to phase out over the next five years.

Grassley, who like the president likes to write his own tweets, responded to Pruitt on Twitter by noting that the wind tax credit is already on schedule to wind down:

I think what I would have to do is assume that Pruitt didnt know anything about the phasing out of the wind energy tax credit, Grassley told me, or he wouldnt have made that statement.

In contrast, Grassley said he was encouraged that Trump has backed away from bashing wind energy for killing birds, as Trump sometimes did during the campaign. Theres more birds killed by running into Trump Tower, Grassley said, than there is by wind energy.
The Wyoming Livestock Board reminds all Wyoming livestock brand owners that any brands due for renewal in 2017 which were not renewed will be transferred to an abandoned brand list in January 2018. At that time, all abandoned brands will be sold on a first come first serve basis to the public. You still have time to check the delinquent list on the Livestock Board website (wlsb.state.wy.us) in case you missed the renewal and need to pick up your brand. Those brands will be available to original owners postmarked no later than Dec. 31.
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FILE - In this March 28, 2005 file photo, "Sin City" co-director Robert Rodriguez, center, poses with Miramax co-founders Harvey, left, and Bob Weinstein at the Los Angeles premiere. Bob Weinstein, in an interview published Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, by The Hollywood Reporter, he said that he and Harvey have barely spoken in five years, explaining they ran separate divisions of their company from opposite coasts. Bob said he knew Harvey was unfaithful to his wife, but had no idea of the alleged acts of sexual harassment and assault. He says he feels "sick for the victims.Au (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
FILE - In this March 2, 2014 file photo, Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Oscars in Los Angeles. Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been revoked by its board. The decision was reached Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, in an emergency session. It comes after recent reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker that revealed sexual harassment and rape allegations against Weinstein going back decades. The move by the Academy is virtually unprecedented. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)
President Donald Trump accidentally referred to the US Virgin Islands' governor as their President during a speech Friday -- even though he is technically their President.

"I will tell you I left Texas and I left Florida and I left Louisiana and I went to Puerto Rico and I met with the President of the Virgin Islands," he told the audience of the Values Voter Summit in Washington.

"We are one nation and we all hurt together, we hope together and we heal together," he said, later adding, "The Virgin Islands and the President of the Virgin Islands, these are people that are incredible people, they suffered gravely and we're be there, we're going to be there, we have really, it is not even a question of a choice."

Trump appeared to be referring to Virgin Islands Gov. Kenneth Mapp, instead of the "President" who is Trump himself. The Virgin Islands is a US territory.

The White House did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. But in the official White House transcript after the speech, his reference to Mapp as President was corrected to "governor."

He was referring to how the US Virgin Islands was hit first by Hurricane Irma, then Hurricane Maria, which ravaged the island.
British Columbia Education Minister Mike Bernier pauses while answering questions during a news conference in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday January 14, 2016. Former education minister Bernier is dropping out of the race to become the next leader of the B.C. Liberals. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Martin Luther  a pious monk and fiery orator who became The Great Reformer  came from a humble, pastoral corner of Germanys heartland. Its a land of half-timbered villages, rolling hills and fanciful castles  and where Luthers bold attempts to reform the Catholic Church launched the Protestant Reformation. This month marks the 500th anniversary of this event, which, along with the Renaissance and as part of the rise of humanism, contributed greatly to the birth of our modern world.

On Oct. 31, 1517, Luther challenged Roman Catholic doctrine by posting his 95 Theses (discussion topics) on a church door. This started a chain of events that would split Western Christian faith, plunge Europe into a century of warfare, cause empires to rise and fall and inspire new schools of art and thought. In eastern Germany near Leipzig, three Lutherland destinations  Erfurt, Wartburg Castle and Wittenberg  are the top spots for a Luther pilgrimage, newly spruced up with loving attention.

OK, Ill admit it  Im a Lutheran. For me, coming to Lutherland is a bit like a Catholic going to Rome. But anyone who appreciates history will find the sights here interesting.

Start in Erfurt, a charming multi-steepled medieval town that Luther himself would still recognize. Young Luther enrolled at the university here and, after a lightning-storm epiphany in 1505, became a monk. Today, visitors can tour the Augustinian Monastery and Church, including the austere cell where Luther spent his formative years and the church where he struggled with theological demons.

Just west of Erfurt is another important Luther landmark: Wartburg Castle, perched over the town of Eisenach. When Luther spoke out against corruption in the Catholic Church, he made enemies of the pope and emperor. Luther was declared a heretic  outside the protection of the law  and could be captured and killed by anyone. While traveling nearby, he was kidnapped and dropped out of sight.

Days later, a man named Junker Joerg (Squire George) appeared at Wartburg Castle  a disguised Martin Luther, who had been taken by agents of his benefactor, Prince Frederick the Wise. Safely hidden behind Wartburgs stout walls, Luther spent nearly a year making his next stand against the Vatican, diligently translating the New Testament from original Greek sources (previous German Bible translations were done from Latin translations, so were not as accurate). Luthers text helped shape standard written German  making Wartburg, in a sense, the birthplace of the modern German language.

At Wartburg Castle, stop at the museum. A few opulent rooms were lavishly redecorated during a surge of German pride in the late 1880s, and paintings show how it looked before reconstruction. A highlight here is the humble Luther Room where Luther hunkered down to translate the New Testament.

Our last stop is little Wittenberg, Luthers adopted hometown, which has a gigantic history that belies its straightforward townscape. One of its top sights is the Church of All Saints (aka Castle Church), with Luthers modest tombstone inside, and where Luther posted his 95 Theses. The act wasnt quite as defiant as it sounds; the church door served as sort of a community bulletin board  but the strong arguments Luther made about church corruption were revolutionary.

Nearby is the Town Church of St. Mary, where Luther was married, where his children were baptized and where he preached more than 2,000 times. This is where what many consider to be the first-ever Protestant church service took place, on Christmas Day in 1521.

A few blocks further youll find Luther House, his former home. Its now an excellent museum displaying original paintings, manuscripts and other Luther-era items, including his pulpit, famous portraits of Luther and the other reformers by Lucas Cranach and Luthers original German Bible translations.

After he broke with Rome, the 42-year-old Martin Luther married 26-year-old Katherine von Bora, a former nun. It was here that she gave birth to six children (the couple also adopted four orphans). It was a happy marriage. Luther wrote, Marriage is a better school for the character than any monastery, for its here that your sharp corners are rubbed off.

Luther Houses centerpiece is the Lutherstube  the room with benches, a stove and the table where Luther engaged in spirited conversations with his colleagues. Notice the names scratched into the ceiling, left behind by visiting VIPs (on the door, protected by glass, is the John Hancock of Russian Czar Peter the Great).

After Luthers death in 1546, until the dawn of the 20th century, the Reformation helped open the way for fundamental changes in Western society. With a less controlling role of the church in everyday life, secular forces were free to flourish. Lutherlands sights are physical reminders of courageous accomplishments of the Reformation  and the enduring example Martin Luther set for those who dare to speak truth to power.

Rick Steves (www.ricksteves.com) writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.
Massive changes in our community have taken place over the past couple of decades, especially when Chrysler limped out of town. That moment ended Kenoshas last big link to Americas Industrial Revolution.

But a community changes at a glacial pace in many ways. Its beginning to feel like the land between 52nd Street and 60th Street, where the bulk of the AMC/Chrysler operation once stood, has been empty for a long time.

My parents married in the middle of World War II. I was the third of their five children and lucky enough to grow up on the far east side of Indianapolis in the 1950s and 60s. Our little part of America had an honest-to-God Wonder Bread bakery. Along a stretch of Shadeland Avenue stood a massive Chrysler plant, a Ford steering assembly factory and a mammoth Western Electric complex that punched out telephones by the millions.

On the rare occasions I get back to Indianapolis, I have observed whats left of those post-industrial giants. It looks like Hollywoods idea of a dystopian nightmare. The Ford plant was torn down just recently.

I mention that because the reality of my youth no longer exists, just as Kenoshans of my vintage recall the Motors, the Brass, Macwhyte and other long-gone industrial icons. Theres a fond nostalgia for those big-shouldered, world-dominating companies, even if we complain about cleaning up their environmental mess so many years later.

Will the young people of Kenosha in 2017 wax nostalgic with their grandkids in 2070? Will they talk about the halcyon days of Amazons distribution center? I have tried to envision a scene in which Gramps tells his granddaughter of the joy of coming home to find a smiling brown box on his porch. Or regaling everyone at Thanksgiving dinner with a story about his favorite robot coworker.

I didnt understand it in its moment, but our lives as young people in the time of Richard Nixon were tied to the commerce and economy around us, at least for me. The wall phone in our kitchen was made a few miles from my house. The steering column in my Mustang was assembled by my friends fathers.

In a few years, will the teenagers of this moment care at all that the screen on their iPhone 19 was made just up the road in Mount Pleasant? I doubt it. But that is one of the advantages of age  you can feel superior just for hanging around long enough.

Rex Davenport can be reached by email at rdavenport@kenoshanews.com, or by calling 262-656-6269. Follow him on Twitter @KenoshaBiz
Oct 14 (Reuters) - The end of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) would be negative for Mexico, but would create a short-lived downturn, the country's outgoing central bank chief said on Saturday.

In a question-and-answer session in Washington on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund/World Bank meetings, Mexican Central Bank Governor Agustin Carstens said the downturn in the country's economy would be "short term," after which the Mexican economy would again become competitive.

"I hope that NAFTA prevails, but if not, I think we will be resilient, look for other markets and see what the environment is to export to the U.S.," Carstens said.

Were the United States, Mexico and Canada unable to come to an agreement on NAFTA, Carstens said his country is prepared to again negotiate under World Trade Organization policies, "in the very worst scenario."

"The central scenario is still that we will reach an agreement and that we will move forward," he said.

The central banker also criticized the approach set forth by U.S. President Donald Trump during his presidential campaign that he would seek greater inflows to the United States from trading partners such as Mexico with which it has a deficit.

"I think the approach (of the Trump administration) is wrong," Carstens said, likening the U.S. trade relationship with Mexico to a customer and a butcher. "I think that the administration should look to operate in a multi-country world and it doesn't make sense to focus on your bilateral relationships."

Carstens announced last year that he would leave the Bank of Mexico and will take over as general manager at the International Bank of Settlements later this year.

(Reporting by Dion Rabouin, editing by G Crosse)
New Braunfels, TX (78130)

Today

A mix of clouds and sun during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 58F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 41F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
BEIJING, Oct 15 (Reuters) - China remains confident in its ability to fend off systemic risks in the economy and keep its fundamentals healthy and stable, the official Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday, citing a statement from the governor of the central bank.

Potential risk levels in China's financial sector have somewhat increased in recent years because of a slowdown in the country's economic growth, as well as structural adjustments and big fluctuations in international financial markets, Xinhua quoted Zhou Xiaochuan as saying.

But China's economy, the world's second biggest, is expected to be able to achieve its annual growth target of around 6.5 percent this year, Zhou was quoted as saying. The country will continue to maintain the stability and continuity of its macroeconomic policies, he added.

Risks in so-called shadow banking in China have somewhat eased, while non-performing loans are still at a relatively low level, Xinhua reported, citing the statement.

China will prevent systemic risks from increasing by de-leveraging and curbing asset bubbles while maintaining a modest growth of its economy, the statement said.

Zhou submitted the statement to a meeting of the International Monetary and Financial Committee, the steering body of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which was held in Washington over Oct. 13-14, Xinhua said.

(Reporting By Cheng Fang and Norihiko Shirouzu; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
CAIRO, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Egypt's agricultural exports rose 13.9 percent during the first nine months of 2017, reaching 4.1 million tonnes compared to 3.6 million last year, agriculture ministry spokesman Hamid Abdel Dayim said on Sunday.

Egypt's agricultural exporters have seen a surge in demand since the country floated its currency last November, allowing it to roughly halve in value as part of reforms tied to a three-year $12 billion International Monetary Fund loan agreement. Exports of potatoes, grapes and strawberries rose, Dayim said.

The export growth comes after a turbulent year for Egyptian produce, with a Hepatitis A scare in North America linked to Egyptian strawberries and a temporary ban on Egyptian fruits and vegetables in Russia, one of Cairo's major buyers.(nL8N1C31K5) (Reporting by Momem Abdelkhalek; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Louidr Heavens)
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Cloudy early with peeks of sunshine expected late. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High near 35F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

Mainly clear. Low 18F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
Director Pang Eun-jin holds up a picket sign that reads, "Apologize, Mayor Suh" at a BIFF event for her movie, "Method." Yonhap



By Kim Ne-mo

BUSAN _ The rain that began in the morning of the opening day must have been a concern for the organizers of this year's Busan International Film Festival (BIFF) especially as the opening ceremony took place at an open-air venue.

What was probably of a much greater concern, however, was the appearance of Busan Mayor Suh Byung-soo on opening night.

Although star-studded and glitzy on the surface, the 22nd edition of BIFF has so far been marked by signs of division among organizers and protests by filmmakers eager to voice their anger at unresolved issues affecting what is considered to be Asia's most important film event.

As the Busan Mayor strutted down the long red carpet, he was booed and heckled with shouts of "leave now" and "shame on you." Although a handful of people in the audience reached out for a handshake, the sudden change from loud cheers to booing was all too audible.

Several filmmakers, including Min Byung-hun ("The Emperor") walked the red carpet holding a protest slogan that read "You Should Leave" directed at Suh. Another director, Pang Eun-jin, held a picket sign "Apologize, Mayor Suh" at a BIFF event to promote her film "Method."

Many others chose to continue their official boycott of BIFF, including members of the Directors Guild of Korea, the Cinematographers Guild of Korea and the Federation of Korea Movie Workers' Unions.

BIFF woes began three editions ago. After fest organizers went ahead with the screening of an anti-government documentary in 2014, despite demands from Mayor Suh not to, targeted audits and drastic budget cuts ensued.

Then the prosecution and sentencing of festival director Lee Yong-kwan and deputy director Jay Jeon triggered the boycott by local filmmakers.

In May this year, while struggling to fill the gap left by Lee and Jeon, deputy director Kim Ji-seok suffered a fatal heart attack during a business trip to Cannes.

In August, 24 staff members, many in key positions, issued a public statement denouncing Kim Dong-ho, chairman of the festival organizing committee, and actress-turned-festival director Kang Soo-youn for being dictatorial and kowtowing to Mayor Suh.

The staff called for the return of BIFF's former leadership and also criticized Kim and Kang for promoting Hong Hyo-sook, a programmer said to belong to Kim and Kang's inner circle, to deputy director, citing "cases of violation of regulations" and "unethical behavior.

Hong has since left the festival and closed her SNS accounts. A day after the publication of the open letter, Kim and Kang announced they would step down from their positions after this year's event.

The names of the five BIFF programmers were conspicuous by their absence in the open letter, a fact that did not go unnoticed by local filmmakers. Sunhee Kim, producer of "The Truth Shall Not Sink With Sewol," the anti-government film that was the start of BIFF's troubled times, stated on her Facebook page that "the BIFF programmers also collaborated with the powers-that-be" and that she could not bring herself to forgive them."

As well as a clear majority of local filmmakers and those running BIFF on a day-to-day basis, local students have joined forces to demand an apology from Mayor Suh.

"I BIFF, I Belief," a student-led protest group of about 40 Busan students is staging daily protests outside the BIFF headquarters. The students are collecting signatures from passers-by and BIFF visitors that the students say they will take to Mayor Suh's office. As of day two of BIFF, they had collected nearly 1,000 signatures.

"We found out that Kim Ji-seok died after his two colleagues had to leave due to Suh's interventions," said Lee Seung-ho, 19, a film student at Dong Seo University, who heads the group.

"Many of us will turn 20 next year so we can vote. We'll show how we feel about this situation with our votes. Suh must apologize to the citizens of Busan and to everyone who loves BIFF for damaging it."

A taxi driver said, "I'm so angry with Suh for ruining BIFF. Busan with BIFF was Asia's Cannes, but thanks to Suh, we've become an international laughing stock. I feel ashamed."

Asked which BIFF films he had enjoyed over the years, he says he has never been to one, but that he would do so after Suh's term ended. The mayoral election is set for June 2018.

The 22nd Busan International Film Festival, which opened on Oct. 12, will close with Sylvia Chang's "Murmur of the Hearts" on Oct 21.
By Lee Hyo-sik



Korea is lagging behind other advanced countries in attracting foreign investment as it continues to fail to create a business-friendly environment for multinational companies, according to a local think tank Sunday.



The Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI) urged the Moon Jae-in administration to ease regulations and make taxes and other regulations more corporate-friendly to spur growth and create jobs.



The institute is affiliated with the Federation of Korean Industries.



The ratio of foreign direct investment (FDI) Korea attracted to its gross domestic product (GDP) stood at 0.8 percent in 2016, ranking 152nd among 237 countries surveyed by the United Nations, the institute said.



Among 34 OECD member economies, Korea ranked 23rd.



Last year, Korea produced goods and services valued at $1.39 trillion domestically and attracted $10.8 billion in foreign investments.



There are two types of FDI; green-field, investments to build plants and other business facilities, and mergers and acquisitions.



Luxemburg with $58.3 billion GDP topped the OECD list with 46.1 percent, with $26.9 billion in FDI, followed by the Netherlands with 12 percent, Britain with 9.8 percent, Ireland with 7.6 percent and Belgium with 7.1 percent.



Luxemburg's GDP is only 4 percent of Korea's, but it attracted nearly 2.5 times more in foreign investment.



KERI also said Korea was far behind other OECD members with similar size economies.



Canada's FDI-to-GDP ratio stood at 2.2 percent, with $33.7 billion in foreign investments. Its GDP reached $1.54 trillion in 2016.



Australia with $1.27 trillion GDP attracted $48.2 billion in FDI, pushing its ratio to 3.8 percent, 4.9 times Korea's.



"These statistics show Korea is less attractive than most of its global competitors in the eyes of multinational investors and companies," a KERI researcher said. "Investors look not only at the size of the market, labor costs and the availability of natural resources, but also taxation and other regulatory systems."



The GDP of Canada and Australia are similar to that of Korea, but they are far ahead of Korea because they are not only rich in natural resources, but also have fewer regulations and are friendlier toward foreign businesses.



"In this regard, Korea should double its efforts to create a business-friendly environment and offer more attractive incentives to foreign companies if it seeks to bolster growth and create jobs," the researcher said.



Also, militant trade unions have long been dubbed as a main reason for foreign capital shunning Korea.



Some unions at large conglomerates, especially in heavy industries such as automobiles, have carried out walkouts almost every year, affecting the companies' competitiveness.



In particular, critics have argued that trade unions have tended to be more hostile to foreign companies than homegrown ones.




By Park Hyong-ki



Korea is not likely to be branded as a currency manipulator in the U.S. Department of Treasury's foreign exchange report to Congress this month.



However, it is expected Korea will remain on the U.S. currency monitoring list due to the country's trade surplus with the world's largest economy.



This is because Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon has sufficiently explained to his U.S. counterpart Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin that Seoul has not intervened in the currency market to intentionally depreciate the won to boost exports, the finance ministry said Sunday.



The Bank of Korea has maintained it only sells and buys dollars and wons to stabilize the currency market.



Kim met Mnuchin on the sidelines of the G20 and International Monetary Fund's financial leaders' conference in the United States.



There, the finance minister also held meetings with three global credit rating agencies, explaining to them of South Korea's sound economic fundamentals in the face of growing risks on North Korea's nuclear program and South Korea's high household debt.



He said Korea's economy has maintained strong countermeasures that can withstand North Korean threats, and its household debt is "manageable."



The U.S. Treasury releases its currency report twice a year.



In April this year, Korea was able to avoid being labeled a currency manipulator, but the country remained on the U.S. currency watch list because of Seoul's "significant trade surplus with the U.S. and the undervalued won."



The report said that Korea's undervaluation has backed its large current account surplus.



President Donald Trump has criticized countries including China, Germany and Korea for manipulating their currencies to gain an export edge, and calling its free trade deals such as with Seoul a "job killer.



The U.S. is seemingly using its currency classification report as leverage in the renegotiations of the free trade agreement with Korea to get a better deal for the U.S. as part of Trump's America First policy.



The U.S. designated Korea a currency manipulator in 1988. Its bilateral free trade deal with Korea has been in effect since 2012.








Analysts show mixed responses to renewed currency deal



By Park Hyong-ki



Korea may be breathing a sigh of relief after it agreed to "renew" their currency swap deal with China, despite diplomatic tensions over the U.S. anti-missile system deployed here.



Shares of companies such as AmorePacific with significant business presence in China rebounded as the government announced the swap renewal three days after the Oct. 10 deadline.



The effect of the recent measure has earned mixed evaluations. But for now, pessimists still seem to outnumber optimists.



Many analysts say the conflict with China is far from over, and the government is being "too optimistic" that the currency swap will pave the way for a resolution over the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.



Sung Tae-yoon, an economist at Yonsei University, said the swap does not mean an immediate beginning of improved relations, nor an imminent end to the conflict as the government rosily projects. "The conflict is still out there. It would be too rash to assume the swap deal would end the dispute for both sides," Sung said.



Only the Korean government made the official announcement on the renewal, while China did not even bother to disclose the $56 billion deal.



There was no signing ceremony for the yuan-won swap this time, like in 2014 when they agreed to expand and extend the deal.



China's agreeing to the renewal is more of a signal to Korea that it is Seoul's turn to help maintain relations.



"It is not in the interest of China to see its relations with Korea deteriorate. Its swap renewal, however, is a signal, winking to Korea that it is now Seoul's turn to do something about it that can justify Chinese reason to maintain the deal and improve relations," said Kim Man-gi, a professor of Chinese business at Sookmyung Women's University.



"The swap renewal raises both hopes and concerns. Just as Korea, China wants to see the relationship changed and improved. The deal came as a reflection of this, and China is going to see what Korea will do to keep its end of the bargain."



Market observers say the swap has been "renewed," not "extended," despite the government claims it finalized the deal with China before it expired on Oct. 10.



China remains nonchalant to the swap, with foreign press assessing it did it to help internationalize the yuan as a key global currency, and nothing more.



Also from China's perspective, it does not make any difference as to whether it swaps the yuan with the won, as the Korean currency is not really useful outside this country in global trading or in crises.



The U.S. ended its swap with Korea in 2010, and Japan in 2015. The former ended it for economic reasons. The latter did not extend it for political reasons due to tensions over the Dokdo islets and Japan's wartime sex slavery.



Korea's $56 billion swap with China is significant because it accounts for nearly 46 percent of the country's total swap deals with other economies.



Without it, Korea's currency swap portfolio is weak as the country has no deals with major economies of key currencies such as the U.S. dollar, euro and Japanese yen.



However, there are also observers who think Sino-Korean relations will improve.



"The long-lasting tensions between Seoul and Beijing will not finish overnight. But Beijing showed it will cooperate with Seoul if necessary. It is a significant event," said Lee Sun-yup, a senior analyst at Shinhan Investment Corp. "I believe the worst is behind the two countries. There is room for the two to cooperate more in the future."




DarcMatter Founder and CEO Lee Sang-hwa speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at the Conrad Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, on Sept. 21. / Courtesy of DarcMatter



DarcMatter CEO strives to put alternative investments online



By Nam Hyun-woo



Observers ask big questions about private funds in which billions of dollars are traded daily between institutional investors without public notice. Even some wealthy individual investors looking for a place to put their money cannot get a share of the pie.



DarcMatter founder and CEO Lee Sang-hwa, who built a successful career as a BNP Paribas investment banker, dubs such a situation as "secret things happening in a league of their own." He said that infusing more transparency into alternative investments will help all businesses prosper.



"Historically, private funds were very difficult to access, very clandestine and all things were done offline, available to only a few institutional investors," Lee said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "But now, everybody is seeking alternative investment opportunities and wants to access private funds."



DarcMatter is an online platform that allows investors -- whether institutional or individual -- to directly invest in private funds, such as hedge funds, private equity and venture capital. Through the platform, they can access various private funds' strategy, performance and information, and invest online.



Founded in 2014 in New York, the fintech firm soon grabbed attention from global financial giants with its platform simplifying its fundraising process.



Now, more than $5 billion in assets are managed through the DarcMatter platform and more than 800 companies and investors are registered on it. Lee expects that not only his company but also the alternative investment industry will grow amid an increasing need for more diversified portfolios.



Lee described the process of the DarcMatter platform as "adding a lot of transparency in a very non-transparent field."



He meant that regulatory restrictions and complicated processes of investing kept a vast majority of investors from alternative investments through private funds.



"Let's say you want to invest in a hedge fund based in New York but how can you find one? You can't search for them online because they don't advertise through websites. Somebody from Korea has to fly to New York and meet them in person," Lee said.



"About 20 years ago, people didn't do alternative investments. But now, it is becoming very important for many especially after the 2008 global financial crisis awakened people to say you need real estate, venture and other things that aren't connected to the market," he added. "The need always goes from big institutions down to smaller investors. So it's like if that guy is doing it, I have to do it.'"



The global financial crisis has brought many notable changes to financial services and one of them is, according to Lee, a new paradigm in the theory of portfolio diversification.





Demise of conventional theory



For nearly 70 years, investments were largely made in stocks and bonds. The classic 60/40 theory led many people to believe filling 60 percent of their portfolio with shares and the rest with bonds is regarded a well diversified investment strategy. The theory still works, but after the crisis, voices have been growing that the 60/40 portfolio is dead and there should be ways to hedge risks coming from the market.



"So after everything went to zero -- except for Manhattan real estate -- people questioned themselves why this happened, only to find that it's because so many things were tied in ways that we could not recognize. And that's when a lot of discussions started over the necessity to add something else to the portfolio."



In 2005, alternative investment assets under management were $3.2 trillion globally, but this grew rapidly to $7.2 trillion in 2013 and about $9 trillion currently. Lee expects the volume will be $15 trillion by 2020 on a regular trajectory, but if platforms like his grow, the entire industry could do so even faster.



Along with the company's growth, it has won much recognition globally as a budding fintech leader. This year, DarcMatter was declared the Best Growth Stage Fintech Company by Next Money, a global network of fintech innovators. It was also chosen as Best Fintech Solution for Hedge Funds at the HFM Technology Awards.



Last month, the company held the DarcMatter Alternatives Conference 2017 at the Conrad Hotel and had more than 200 investors and fund managers attended. They included representatives from Morgan Creek Capital Management, Mexico Ventures, Concise Capital, Korea Investment Corp., the National Pension Service, Samsung Life Insurance and Mirae Asset Global Investments among others.



"Korea has become a market sought out by many global asset management companies and investors as one of the top-tier markets," he said.



Lee, 31, was born in Korea and moved to the U.S. at the age of four. After building his career at BNP Paribas, he turned into an entrepreneur and established an online investment platform, Return on Charge, in 2013. His entrepreneurship was also recognized -- he was named the "Under 30 CEO Entrepreneur to Watch in New York City." He was also featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Radio, CNBC and in a series of financial conferences.



Lee said setting up a good company is not about predicting the future; rather, it is about seeing the future that you wish for and to drive the future in a certain direction.



"For me, financial services have so many problems. I was an investment banker and found the whole industry was messed up," he said. "We picked alternative investment because it was the worst. If our technology works for something this poor, it will work across the whole industry and replace the traditional investment banking structure."



The company is named after "dark matter," which accounts for more than a quarter of the total of mass/energy. But it is not observable.



"The reason why we named the company DarcMatter is dark matter demonstrates how I view finance. It's scary, dark and nobody really understands but it's the most important thing. So you need to understand it and you need to be provided with better transparency," Lee said.




By Chyung Eun-ju, Park Si-soo

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is open to negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear program.

"We're going to see what happens with North Korea," he told reporters at the White House on Friday (local time). "That's all I can say. We're totally prepared for numerous things.

"If something can happen where we negotiate, I'm always open to that.
By Jung Min-ho

Korea seized two Chinese fishing boats for illegally fishing in its territorial waters near Heuksan Island, the government said Sunday.

According to the West Sea Fisheries Management Service under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, it seized two boats  a 149-ton boat and a 101-ton boat with a combined crew of 31  after they were caught fishing using illegal nets in Korea's exclusive economic zone.

The island in the Yellow Sea is located 97 kilometers from the port city of Mokpo in South Jeolla Province.

According to the ministry, the Chinese caught 360 kilograms of yellow croakers. In doing so, they used illegal 40mm-mesh nets. Only nets of 50mm-mesh or bigger are allowed for use there to preserve fish stocks.

The ministry said it has seized all the fish, which is worth about 5 million won ($4,500). They are also expected to face fines for violating Korean law.

"It is estimated Chinese fishermen illegally take in fish worth billions of won every day," an official of the management service said. "We will do our best to stop their illegal activities here."
Pyongyang shows signs of ICBM launch



By Yi Whan-woo



U.S. strategic military assets, including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and an attack submarine, will gather in South Korea this week, military officials here said Sunday.



This may increase tensions on the Korean Peninsula amid growing signs North Korea is preparing to conduct another missile test soon.



Some weapons will join the Seoul-Washington joint maritime drill scheduled from Monday to Friday while others will be featured at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX), an annual air show due Tuesday to Sunday.



The gathering of the cutting-edge U.S. weapons here will take place amid signs of North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) provocation possibly this week.



The South Korean military said a Navy carrier strike group led by the USS Ronald Reagan will enter South Korean waters, Monday, from Japan.



The USS Ronald Reagan, a Nimitz-class, nuclear-powered supercarrier, will carry 70 aircraft such as F/A-18 Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers and E-2 Hawkeyes.



The F/A-18 is a twin-engine, supersonic, multi-role fighter jet.



The EA-18G Growler is an electronic attack aircraft designed to provide tactical jamming and electronic protection for U.S. and allied forces.



The E-2 Hawkeye is an all-weather tactical airborne early warning aircraft.



During the joint drill, they will be joined by the South Korean Navy's 7,600 ton Sejong the Great destroyer and 70 warships in the East Sea.



In the West Sea, the U.S. special operations forces are expected to board a submarine belonging to the USS Ronald Reagan-led strike group and participate in a simulated counterattack against North Korean soldiers.



Some American weapons have already been in South Korea in preparation for the drill.



They include the USS Michigan, an Ohio-class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine that is capable of carrying Tomahawk missiles and can conduct a surgical strike on key North Korean military facilities. It made a port call at Busan, Friday.



During the ADEX at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, the F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jet will be put through its paces for the first time.



The fighter jet is anticipated to conduct a test flight in addition to that of the F-22 Raptor, also a stealth fighter jet.



On Sunday, the South Korean military sad it detected signs of Pyongyang's possible provocations this week using ICBMs.



Citing U.S. satellite images, it said several vehicles that can be mounted with missiles were seen moving to different places across North Korea after leaving their hangars.



"We detected such movements in late September and we wouldn't say they are immediate signs of an ICBM launch. But we continue to remain in a posture of thorough readiness," a military officer said.



White House chief of staff John Kelly assessed that Pyongyang is "developing a pretty good nuclear re-entry vehicle"



U.S. President Donald Trump plans to make a promise on guaranteeing the nuclear umbrella for South Korea and Japan during his planned trip to Seoul next month, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper.



If true, this means Trump is determined to follow the decades-long U.S. commitment of protecting its two Asian allies with nuclear weapons against their enemies, according to analysts.



His possible promise is also seen as a move to settle debates over whether Seoul and Tokyo should be allowed to develop their own nuclear weapons against North Korea's evolving military threats.



Trump has remained murky about nuclear arms policy, and during the 2016 presidential campaign, he even hinted about the nuclear armament of South Korea and Japan.



Citing its sources in Washington, D.C., the Tokyo-based Yomiuri Shimbun reported that Trump plans to make a promise on nuclear umbrella as part of his speech on North Korea.



Trump, who is also scheduled to visit Japan, China and Southeast Asia in November, will make his first Asian trip since taking office in January.



Also, he is likely to underscore that he puts Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missiles first among the key tasks faced by his administration, according to the newspaper.



He is anticipated to put maximum pressure on the Kim Jong-un regime and let it abandon its nuclear ambitions while ensuring protection of South Korea and Japan.



"It appears Trump has decided to renew the U.S. commitment of the nuclear umbrella and not cause any confusion among U.S. allies," said Shin In-kyun, president of the Korea Defense Network. "Trump appears to be fully aware of the risks of nuclear domino effects. And I bet Seoul can rely on his promise because it will be made officially, not on Twitter where he has stirred up controversy with unrefined thoughts."



Shin said Trump's speech will be a warning for South Korea's conservative politicians. They have been calling for the country's nuclear armament, and despite the U.S. Department of State's denial, they have urged Washington to redeploy its strategic nuclear assets here.




The parliamentary leaders of South Korea and Russia agreed Saturday to establish a consultative body to push for cooperation between the two legislatures.

Chung Se-kyun, speaker of the National Assembly, and Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the State Duma, issued a joint statement after their talks on the sidelines of the 137th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in St. Petersburg.

"We agreed to form a high-level committee to be co-chaired by the speakers of the two countries for close cooperation, including efforts to facilitate major projects in economy, trade and investment," they said in the statement.

The envisioned panel will convene once a year to discuss pending issues, the National Assembly said.

They expressed interest in arranging a meeting of parliamentary foreign affairs committees in PyeongChang in the near future.

They also agreed that Russian lower house representatives will participate in an international forum on Northeast Asian cooperation in Incheon, west of Seoul, on Nov. 25-27 and Korean lawmakers will attend an international meeting to prevent narcotics crimes in Moscow on Dec. 4. (Yonhap)
By Choi Ha-young

The largest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP) plans to ask former President Park Geun-hye to leave the party "voluntarily" this week, party officials said Sunday.

If Park rejects their request, the party can expel Park in 10 days under the LKP's membership rules.

Depriving Park of party membership is in line with the party's plan to merge with the minor conservative Bareun Party. Some members of the Bareun Party have vowed to rejoin the LKP if the party expels Park and her loyalists.

Last December, anti-Park lawmakers in the Saenuri Party broke away from the party and founded the Bareun Party, and the Saenuri Party became the LKP.

The LKP measure may divide the Bareun Party because the party's former presidential candidate Rep. Yoo Seong-min has rejected combining forces with the LKP. Against Yoo, those leaning towards integration have attempted to rejoin the LKP before the Bareun Party elects a new leader on Nov. 30.

They are justifying the integration citing the "reform" of the LKP as shown in its motion to abandon the disgraced ex-president and her staunch followers.












By Kim Hyo-jin



Doubts are growing over whether the National Assembly could hold a referendum on a constitutional revision in tandem with local elections slated for June next year as the Moon Jae-in government pledged.



The National Assembly's special committee to discuss a constitutional revision announced Wednesday it plans to draft a revision bill by February next year and put it up for a vote in the National Assembly by May, a timeline aimed to call a referendum in June in tandem with the local elections.



But on the same day, main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hong Joon-pyo strongly opposed the roadmap, renewing his call to hold them separately.



"It's only right to postpone the referendum after the local elections," he said.



He has expressed concerns that popular sentiment toward the constitutional revision could be influenced by local elections, and also claimed the Assembly needs sufficient time to discuss details of the amendment.



"We should review the broad aspect of the Constitution  from the preamble to the basic rights," Hong told reporters, Sept. 29. "The current constitution is the one for a divided country. It needs to be altered in preparation for a post-unification era."



Hong must be concerned his party's election campaign could lose steam if the constitutional revision becomes the center of public attention, political commentators say. The LKP is expected to launch an all-out offensive on the ruling bloc on security issues as its campaign strategy, amid growing concerns about Pyongyang's missile provocations.



If the 107-member LKP makes such a position as a party platform, it is unlikely the Assembly will pass a revision bill  which needs the support of two-thirds of the 299 legislators.



Further, the prospect of the legislature following the timetable is murky considering the chasm of opinions between lawmakers of rival parties on the Assembly's constitutional revision committee.



Over the task of fixing the "imperial" presidential system, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) members support a U.S.-style four-year, two-term presidency, while the opposition members are in favor of a parliamentary cabinet system or a semi-presidential system that empowers the prime minister to take control of domestic affairs.



According to a recent committee report on the main agenda for the constitutional revision, rival party members were on the same page on a mere 29 out of 62 issues.



They agreed on empowering local autonomous bodies, but are poles apart over what should be the extent of their authority.



While the DPK has called for a comprehensive review of the content including basic human rights, conservative opposition parties have mainly focused on limiting presidential power.



Meanwhile, the third-largest opposition People's Party is sticking to the position of discussing less controversial issues first and expanding topics of the talks gradually.



According to the roadmap, the committee plans to accelerate its discussions and open a process of collecting opinions from government bodies in November after the National Assembly audit.



The committee will devise a final draft of the revision bill by February, propose it after March 15, and go through Assembly voting before May 24.



If the President announces the referendum May 25, the vote will be held June 13, a ballot day for local elections.



"Through the constitutional amendment, we should realize the tasks of redistributing centralized power and boosting basic rights," National Assembly speaker Chung Sye-kyun, a passionate proponent of constitutional reform, said during a committee meeting Wednesday.



"It is urgent that the Assembly comes up with a revision bill that can be agreed upon and supported by the people."




By Yi Whan-woo





Kim Yi-su

President Moon Jae-in faces growing protest from opposition parties over advocating Kim Yi-su, the acting chief of the Constitutional Court who has been challenged on ideological grounds.

The largest opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), joined by the smaller People's Party and Bareun Party, criticized President Moon, Sunday, for "using Kim to have the Constitutional Court under his control."

The criticism came after the President advocated on Facebook for Kim while accusing the opposition bloc of boycotting the national assembly audit of the Constitutional Court, Friday.

The opposition said it would not be appropriate for Kim to testify before the National Assembly, as Moon tapped Kim as the Constitutional Court president but failed to win approval in the National Assembly in September.

Moon then wrote on Facebook that the boycott against Kim is "against national order." He did not comment on whether he plans to find a candidate to replace Kim.

"The acting chief of the Constitutional Court deserves respect as its head," he wrote. "It is against national order established by the National Assembly to refuse to listen to a briefing by Kim while calling him unjudicial."

LKP spokeswoman Rep. Jun Hee-kyung fired back, saying, "It's the President who turned the Constitutional Court into a distorted and senseless place."

She asked Moon to nominate a candidate to replace Kim, claiming the President is deliberately delaying the nomination to keep the Constitutional Court under his control.

"The Assembly audit on Friday was crippled because of Moon and Cheong Wa Dae. The President should not blame the National Assembly but instead choose a new Constitutional Court president immediately."

The People's Party also held Moon responsible for the Assembly's failure to convene a hearing, Friday, saying, "Everything will be settled if Moon promises to find someone to replace Kim."

The Bareun Party criticized Moon for "defying the Constitution by having Kim lead the Constitutional Court although the National Assembly voted down his confirmation."

Democratic Party of Korea chairwoman Choo Mi-ae defended the President.

"The opposition bloc made the boycott for senseless reasons," Choo said.

The opposition parties voted against Kim's confirmation in September by questioning his rulings and political beliefs concerning ideologically sensitive issues.
Safe evacuation measures for skyscrapers needed



By You Soo-sun





Lotte World Tower in Jamsil, Seoul.

The evacuation time for Korea's tallest building in case of fire was estimated to be over an hour.

Data from the National Fire Agency revealed it takes up to 63 minutes to evacuate the 123-floor-high, 555-meter-tall Lotte World Tower in case of fire, according to Rep. Jin Sun-mee of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Sunday.

As skyscrapers increasingly crowd major Korean cities, adequate evacuation guidelines are in dire need, the lawmaker said in a press statement.

In a training session the agency conducted jointly with citizens, it took up to 63 minutes to evacuate everyone using the emergency elevator and 60 minutes by stairs.

In a mock test on 2,936 citizens, the agency estimated the time needed to evacuate assuming a fire erupted on the 107th floor of the building. It calculated the time they took to get to the safety zones located on the 83rd and 102th floor of the building and then to the ground floor using the emergency elevator and stairs.

"A momentary lapse in judgment, inadequate response to emergency, or neglect in safety management could lead to catastrophic results," Rep. Jin said. "Considering there are over 10,000 employees and a floating population, I'm doubtful whether everyone can safely evacuate the building within an hour in such chaos."

Korea has are 107 buildings at least 50 floors tall and 15 additional ones under construction. Busan has the highest number of skyscrapers, with 28 such buildings and 13 more are being built. Seoul has 22, with two more underway.
Activists stage an anti-nuclear energy rally at Bosingak in Jongno, Seoul, Saturday. / Yonhap



Fate of 2 reactors to be decided Friday

By Jung Min-ho

The fate of two incomplete nuclear reactors  Shin-Kori 5 and 6  will be decided this week.

The decision, which will be announced Friday, is likely to profoundly affect the future of Korea's nuclear energy.

The review committee, which consists of 471 ordinary citizens, held the final discussion about whether to continue the construction of the two reactors, which has been suspended since July.

After voting, the members will report the results to the government, which vowed to accept it.

During his presidential campaign earlier this year, President Moon Jae-in promised to cancel the project and establish a foundation to phase out all of the country's nuclear power plants over the next 40 years.

Last week, Moon said he could not push ahead with his pledge because of a sharp division of opinions. Then he noted he will "follow the results no matter what."

Over the past three months, the members have collected opinions from experts in different areas and interest groups to examine the merits and demerits of building additional nuclear reactors.

Environmental groups have claimed the costs of nuclear risks and waste disposal are significant and yet they are not properly estimated.

They have also criticized that most nuclear reactors are situated in the southern part of the country, saying past administrations tried to secure energy for its capital region at the expense of the people's safety in the southern area. In fact, including the two reactors on hold, 10 are located near Busan and Ulsan, the two largest cities in South Gyeongsang Province.

With time ticking toward the final call, members of Friends of the Earth Korea and other environmental groups held rallies across the country to spread their messages.

Meanwhile, pro-nuclear experts have urged the government not to rush to a decision if it wants to avoid an energy crisis.

They have claimed the risks of nuclear energy have been exaggerated by environmentalists and the media.

They also consider nuclear reactors and technologies to build them as Korea's valuable asset, which can continue to provide "clean and stable" energy for its own people and beyond.

They say the government should not waste the country's highly competent technologies and skills with a radical energy policy shift, saying they should be exported to other countries in need of effective energy sources.

Today, Korea has 24 nuclear reactors in operation, from which it gets more than 30 percent of its power.
By Ngaire Woods



OXFORD  Free-market capitalism is on trial. In the United Kingdom, Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn accuses neoliberalism of increasing homelessness, throwing children into poverty, and causing wages to fall below subsistence level. For the defense, Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May cites the immense potential of an open, innovative, free-market economy. Similar "proceedings" are taking place around the world.



Just a quarter-century ago, the debate about economic systems  state-managed socialism or liberal democracy and capitalism  seemed to have been settled. With the Soviet Union's collapse, the case was closed  or so it seemed.



Since then, the rise of China has belied the view that a state-led strategy will always fail, and the global financial crisis exposed the perils of inadequately regulated markets. In 2017, few of the world's fastest-growing economies (Ethiopia, Uzbekistan, Nepal, India, Tanzania, Djibouti, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and the Philippines) have free markets. And many free-market economies are suffering from growth slowdowns and rapidly rising inequality.



Against this background, some politicians are no longer defending free-market capitalism in terms of economic growth or the gains from globalization. Instead, they focus on individual opportunity. May, for example, has credited the system with reducing infant mortality, increasing life expectancy, driving down absolute poverty, boosting disposable incomes, expanding access to education, and slashing illiteracy rates.



But these claims aren't in line with the facts. Start with maternal mortality. Much of the world has made great strides in making childbirth safer. From 1990 to 2015, Albania reduced its maternal deaths per 100,000 live births from 29.3 to 9.6. China, the poster child for state-led growth, reduced its rate from 114.2 to 17.7.



Meanwhile, the trend in the United States, the paragon of free-market democracy, has gone in the opposite direction, with maternal deaths per 100,000 live births actually rising, from 16.9 in 1990 to 26.4 in 2015. Equally shocking, the morbidity and mortality of white (non-Hispanic) middle-aged men and women in the US increased between 1999 and 2013.



The claim that free-market policies "slash illiteracy" is also misleading. In England, some 15% of adults (5.1 million people) are still "functionally illiterate," meaning that they have literacy levels at or below those expected of an 11-year-old. Scotland's most recent survey showed a decline in literacy, with less than half of the country's 13- and 14-year-olds now performing well in writing. In fact, if you Google "successful literacy campaign," the country with astonishing literacy gains that fills your screen is Cuba  hardly a free-market system.



The conservative case, eloquently articulated by May, is that a free-market economy, operating under the right rules and regulations, is the greatest agent of collective human progress ever created. If that claim is true, the only logical conclusion is that we are doing it wrong.



So what measures are needed to get it right? The practical solutions on offer seem to be fairly consistent across the political spectrum. Indeed, for all their furious positioning, the differences between left and right seem to have collapsed in this regard.



In the UK, the first suggestion is to ensure economy-wide investment and growth, which will require government intervention. Corbyn proposes a National Investment Bank and Transformation Fund to mobilize public investment and create wealth and good jobs. May, for her part, suggests an industrial strategy to promote "growth across the whole country," helping to "turn local areas of excellence into national export champions."



Second, private-sector leadership must change, in order to prevent short-term thinking, tax avoidance, and other forms of opportunism and personal enrichment. Here, Corbyn focuses on accountability in corporate boardrooms, while May calls for giving workers and shareholders a stronger voice in firms' decision-making and ensuring that the largest companies have incentives to think long term.



A third corrective is to improve employees' pay and working conditions. In Britain, even as the economy has grown, wages have been dropping  by 10% from 2007 to 2014. Corbyn promises to take action to stop employers from driving down pay and working conditions. For May, "all work should be fair and decent, with scope for development and fulfillment." Both make the case for improving vocational training and technical education.



Fourth, in Britain, the government must address the public-housing crisis. In the 1950s and 1960s, an average of some 300,000 houses were being built every year; that figure has now dropped to less than half. Corbyn proposes a review of social housing, rent control, and regeneration for the people. May has announced the creation of a 2 billion ($2.62 billion) fund for building more council housing.



Finally, Britain needs more effective rules and regulations to ensure that privatized utilities deliver cheaper, more sustainable services. Corbyn accuses companies of handing out large dividends to shareholders, while infrastructure crumbles, service deteriorates, and companies pay far too little in taxes. May promises to end "rip-off energy prices."



The orthodoxy established by Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan in the 1980s  to roll back the state, after a decade of profligate and bloated government  is guilty as charged. A new consensus is emerging that more active and effective government is required to boost growth and expand opportunity. The jury is still out, however, on whether governments will be given the tools and support they need to rehabilitate the defendant.





Ngaire Woods is dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Founder of the Global Economic Governance Program at the University of Oxford. Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate.




Former president should cooperate with future trials



Seoul Central District Court approved an additional arrest warrant for former President Park Geun-hye last week. Park was arrested in March and has been standing trial under detention in a corruption scandal that led to her early removal from office.



She has been jailed for the past six months on multiple charges of bribery and abuse of power.



The court recognized the arrest warrant sought by prosecutors last month for additional bribery charges involving Lotte and SK, which were not included in the first arrest warrant, citing possible destruction of evidence. Her detention will be extended for a maximum six additional months.



Prosecutors contended it was necessary to keep her in custody because there was a possibility she would refuse to attend hearings and try to fabricate evidence. The court's decision came amid new allegations about Cheong Wa Dae's forgery of documents related to the Sewol ferry sinking which took the lives of more than 300 passengers.



President Moon Jae-in's chief of staff Im Jong-seok disclosed documents in a briefing last week showing the presidential office under Park had changed the time the former president was first briefed about the disaster.



Im also said Cheong Wa Dae illegally changed the presidential guidelines on dealing with a national crisis, transferring responsibility for handling a national crisis from the National Security Office to the Ministry of Security and Public Administration in July 2014. The allegations have fanned public mistrust of Park.



Given Park's disregard for the law and the judicial branch, the court's decision is reasonable and necessary to speed up the trials. The decision also seems fair considering the court had extended the detention of other key figures of the scandal.



The court's decision to extend Park's detention should be respected by all, regardless of political inclinations. The court should not be swayed by public opinion or politics and proceed with trials based solely on the law.



Public opinion has been divided about the need to prolong Park's detention. Her supporters have been calling for her immediate release, saying she is innocent until proven guilty. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party criticized the court for succumbing to political pressure and violating her rights, while the ruling Democratic Party of Korea welcomed the decision.



Many Koreans who supported her impeachment agree with the court's approval of the additional arrest warrant because the ousted former president has shown disregard for the law since the corruption scandal erupted with her uncooperative attitude toward the investigation and trial proceedings.



Citing health reasons, she hampered the trials by visiting Seoul St. Mary's Hospital on two occasions to receive treatment for her back and toes.



Park should cooperate with the trials in the coming months if she has any dignity left as a former president and respect for the people who supported her during her political career.




By Andrei Lankov





Some 10 years ago I published a column which then led to some controversy. I stated that, contrary to the oft-repeated cliche, widely believed by Koreans themselves, the history of Korea prior to the mid-19th century was not a history of never-ending foreign invasions and ever-present external threat. To the contrary, if compared to other countries outside East Asia, until the mid-19th century Korea had an unusually peaceful and non-violent history. Indeed, in no European or Middle Eastern country of comparable size one can find centuries-long periods of completely unbroken peace.

If so, where does this perception of "eternal victimhood," nearly universal in Korea, come from? One of the sources seems to be a sour experience of the last 150 years when Korea indeed was an area where imperialist ambitions of collided empires. The traumatic period of 1860-1910, as well as following periods of colonial modernization and national division, produced a huge impact on the Korean psyche.

Who was fighting over Korea between 1860 and 1910? To start with, in the 1860s Korea was the only East Asian country which continued with the policy of self-isolation. The policy once was once common for entire region, but China was pressed into abandoning it by the British invasion of 1839-1840 and Japan gave in under U.S. threats in 1853-54. By 1860 it was clear that the forced opening of Korea by some imperialist power was merely a matter of time.

For a while, the French Empire looked best positioned to press Korea into openness (and then, perhaps, make it into a colony). Around that time it took over Indochina, and in 1866 staged a naval expedition to Korea, using bloody persecutions of the local Catholics as a morally sound excuse. France, however, soon dropped out of the competition, being undermined by a domestic crisis.

Korea was finally "opened" in 1876 by Japan. It was an unlikely candidate: Japan herself was just beginning to create modern economy and westernize itself. However, in those days being modern' also meant to be imperialistic, and Japanese strategists saw Korea as a natural springboard for their future expansion in Asia.

However, for the following two decades Japanese ambitions were checked by China. Korean was a Chinese vassal for centuries, but this did not mean much: dependency was largely symbolic. However, in the 1880s Chinese government was not satisfied by the symbolic dependency and tried to replace it with more conventional forms of control. In 1884 the Chinese troops were called by the local conservatives to suppress a reformist coup. They succeeded and since then for over a decade the Chinese (in the person of young Yuan Shi-kai, a future president of the Chinese Republic) were running the country. Chinese businesses enjoyed numerous privileges, and no important political decision could be made without prior consultation with Yuan Shi-kai.

However, 1894 a war between China and Japan erupted, provoked by the clash of their interests in Korea. The Japanese won a swift and spectacular victory. In Seoul they installed a pro-Japanese puppet regime which, however, introduced much needed reforms (including the abolition of slavery). The conservatives tried to resist and intrigue, but the Japanese suppressed them with great brutality. The conservative-minded Queen Min, King Gojong's consort, was killed by Japanese agents who stormed into the palace for this purpose.

The king, however, soon escaped to the Russian Legation, creating a unique situation: for a year he ran the country from a foreign mission, being protected by the international laws of extraterritoriality (well, the presence of Russian marines did not hurt either). Gojong had to return to the palace eventually, only to find Korea being torn by the rivalry of Russia and Japan. Their uneasy balance lasted until 1904.

The conservatives, having lost their faith in clearly powerless China, sided with Russia (Russia's autocracy looked quite attractive to them), while progressives, traditionally allied with Japan, began to worry about Tokyo's true intentions, so some of them began to drift towards Washington. However, on that stage the US involvement remained marginal.

The Russo-Japanese rivalry led to a military clash. The Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05 was fought largely in China and Korea, and ended, to almost everybody's surprise, by Japan's spectacular victory, the first victory of an Asian state in a modern war against a European government. Japan's triumph was widely applauded across Asia, but not in Korea: the Russian presence helped keep Japan in check. After Russia's withdrawal, Japan proceeded to the full annexation of Korea which took place in 1910. The independent Korea state ceased to exist, not to be reborn until 1948 _ only to found itself once again in the middle of great powers competition.

So does it comes as no surprise that Koreans see the outside world as a dangerous place?

Andrei Lankov (anlankov@yahoo.com) was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and teaches at Kookmin University in Seoul.
By Lee Hyo-sik



Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) plans to issue rights to raise 693.6 billion won ($620 million) to add ships to its fleet and purchase stakes in shipping terminals in North America and elsewhere.



Korea's largest shipping firm said Sunday it will offer 120 million new shares at 5,780 won each, stressing the money will be used to strengthen its core competitiveness.



HMM stocks closed at 8,040 won per share Friday, down 80 won, or 0.99 percent.



The company is the country's sole globally competitive shipper after Hanjin Shipping, once the world's seventh-largest shipper, went bankrupt in February under snowballing debts.



"As Korea's only long-distance shipping firm, it is necessary to raise capital to purchase more large container ships and acquire stakes in shipping terminals around the world," an HMM official said. "We will continue to work hard to enhance our core competence and cut costs to provide exporters and importers with optimal shipping solutions at affordable prices."



Since the company was split from Hyundai Group and signed a creditor-led restructuring program in 2016, it has been implementing a range of cost-cutting measures. It also sold aging ships and non-essential properties to prop up its financial health.



With cross-border trade showing signs of a rebound, HMM has begun adding ships to expand routes, and is exploring opportunities to buy stakes in overseas shipping terminals.



In September, it placed a 182 billion won order with Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction for two container ships with a cargo capacity of 11,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs).



The ships, which will be built at the shipbuilder's Subic Shipyard in the Philippines, are scheduled to be delivered in the first half of 2018.



HMM plans to use the ships for South American trade.



The shipper also signed a $420 million agreement with Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering for five very large crude carriers (VLCCs).



The 300,000-ton VLCCs, which are 336 meters long and 60 meters wide, are next-generation eco-friendly vessels equipped with high-efficiency engines and advanced fuel-saving systems.



The carriers will be built at DSME's Okpo shipyard on Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province, and delivered to HMM by the end of 2019.




By Park Jae-hyuk



Louis Vuitton has been the most counterfeited luxury brand in Korea over the past five years in terms of price.



In its report recently submitted to Rep. Park Myung-jae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, the Korea Customs Service (KCS) said it confiscated fake Louis Vuitton items worth 208 billion won ($183 million) between 2012 and 2016.



Rolex, Cartier, Chanel, Burberry and Gucci followed Louis Vuitton with 195.1 billion won, 146.7 billion won, 144.6 billion won, 92.4 billion won and 74.8 billion won, respectively.



The KCS said it found 461 counterfeit luxury bags worth 603.3 billion won and 204 imitation luxury watches worth 911.3 billion won.



The total value of fake watches fell to 35.2 billion won last year from 304.3 billion won in 2012, while the value of counterfeit bags soared to 110.4 billion won from 37.6 billion won in 2015.



Among 1,603 counterfeit items worth 2.82 trillion won, more than 90 percent of the products worth 2.54 trillion won were smuggled from China. Hong Kong followed with 108 items worth 190.9 billion won and Japan accounted for 44 products worth 33.6 billion won.



The KCS report showed the number of knockoffs fell to 181 items worth 332.2 billion won from 593 items worth 933.2 billion won in 2012.



The KCS uncovered 374 items worth 574.9 billion in 2013, 262 items worth 516.2 billion won in 2014 and 193 items worth 465.3 billion won in 2015.



However, the total value of Louis Vuitton imitations was 43.9 billion won last year, up from 10.3 billion won a year earlier.



In Korea, consumers have dubbed Louis Vuitton bags "three-second-bags," saying they are seen in the street every three seconds. From the perspective of critics, the brand is too common to be cool.



According to industry officials, Louis Vuitton's sales growth has fallen at major department stores in Korea over the past few years. Its sales even contracted at one department store last year, while Hermes and Chanel chalked up double-digit growth at the same store.



Consumer complaints have continued about poor after-sales service and pricing policies.



Louis Vuitton's leather bags cost almost as much as new ones to be repaired, while prices of new bags have gone up about 7 percent every year.



Louis Vuitton Korea also has been criticized for not revealing how much it gives in donations. Because it became a limited liability company in late 2012 it does not have to disclose its income statement and balance sheet.



Louis Vuitton Korea claims it has donated a substantial amount, but this cannot be verified.



However, a recent regulatory change is expected to prompt the company to disclose all the data beginning next year.




If you're working in corporate America, chances are you've experienced your fair share of stress. Whether it's meeting deadlines, managing projects, or dealing with difficult co-workers, the workplace can be a breeding ground for stress. reducing stress from completing a project Once you've identified your triggers, it's important to take a step back and assess the situation objectively. LewiLink.com provides an in-depth article on reducing the stress from meeting deadlines at work. Bong a la noi ma ta co the hoa nhip ban than vao, noi ma nhung cam xuc uoc dang trao, that tuyet voi khi xem bong a cung ban be va xem tai nhung kenh truc tiep tuyet voi nhat cakhiatv Chung toi noi khong voi quang cao, luon ua trai nghiem cua nguoi dung len hang au, truc tiep nhung tran bong kich tinh nhat e phuc vu cho tat ca fan bong a .
CelebrityMoviesPolitics

Oct. 15, 2017, 2:07 p.m. French president has taken steps to strip Harvey Weinstein of his Legion of Honor award

French President Emmanuel Macron is interviewed at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Sunday. (Philippe Wojazer / Pool)

In 2012, Frances then-president, Nicolas Sarkozy, awarded film mogul Harvey Weinstein with the Legion of Honor award, the highest military and civilian honor, after the Weinstein Co.'s The Artist won five Oscars. Now French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to revoke it, according to the Associated Press.

Macron said in an interview with TF1 television on Sunday that he has taken steps to strip Weinstein of the honor over the multiple accusations of sexual assault and harassment currently swirling around the Hollywood titan.

Yes, Ive begun the procedures to withdraw the Legion dHonneur, Macron said. Because his actions lack honor.

Weinstein has recently been ousted from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the Oscars. Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong is another American to lose the Legion of Honors distinction in recent years.
About 130 Los Angeles firefighters battled a large fire at a fabric plant in Boyle Heights on Saturday night.

Authorities were called to the 1600 block of Soto Street around 6:43 p.m., where they found French Fabrics, a 300-foot by 400-foot commercial building, engulfed in flames, the department said.

The department initially reported the location to be in the 1500 block of South Rio Vista Avenue but later updated the address.

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The fire was burning through the roof and firefighters were forced to conduct a defensive operation due to high voltage power lines nearby.

This is a fabric, textile type of business and they have vast amounts of fire load inside of it, said David Ortiz with the department. There was a lot of storage of those materials which meant that the amount of fire that was emitting from this building was too hot for firefighters to stay inside.

The fire was declared a knockdown around 8:58 p.m.

Boyle Heights commercial building fire sends black plumes of smoke into air. https://t.co/iipGr8ekf9 pic.twitter.com/b4okRK40QH  NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) October 15, 2017

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Death toll rises to 40 as firefighters continue to battle massive California wildfires

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UPDATES:

12:30 a.m.: Updated with KTLA reporting.

This article was first posted at 8:10 p.m.
As firefighters continue to battle one of Californias worst fire disasters, many people are wondering how they can help.

More than 15 fires have scorched 220,000 acres, destroyed an estimated 5,700 structures and caused at least 40 deaths in more than half a dozen counties since Oct. 8.

In Napa County, public officials said no one was allowed into evacuation areas Saturday because Caltrans was spending the day trying to restore the roads. Locals have been urged to avoid trying to help the cleanup. The county public health director declared a local emergency to bring in more resources for removing toxic ash and burnt remnants of homes and cars.

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Needs change quickly and differ among affected regions. For example, Napa County officials said they prefer money sent to the Napa Valley Community Foundation over in-kind donations. They said they have too much donated food.

Officials have asked the general public to stay off emergency phone lines and out of evacuation areas. Anyone needing to drive in affected regions is asked to stay out of the left lane so that emergency vehicles can easily pass.

Here are some other ways you can help:

Groups/lists

People can stay updated on fluctuating needs by visiting social media pages of affected counties and cities, or through Google lists and Facebook groups.

A Facebook group for the Tubbs fire has up-to-date information on evacuations, lost and found pets, rentals, resource lists, needs and how to help.

A Facebook crisis response page for the Tubbs fire includes updates, fundraisers and needs and offers of help.

An open Google doc has some wine country fire relief donations and help information, including in-kind and volunteer needs.

Another open Google doc has Petaluma volunteer, donation and evacuee information.

Local newspapers have also compiled help lists, including the Ukiah Daily Journal, the Napa Valley Register, the Sonoma County Gazette and the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

Donate or volunteer

GoFundMe has a list of verified fire relief crowdfunding campaigns. Among them is one to rebuild a burned nonprofit school in Sonoma for children with autism, and another to help a girl who uses prosthetic legs and whose family lost everything in the Santa Rosa fire.

Deborah Lauchner, the chief financial officer for the city of Santa Rosa, organized a fundraiser for local fire victims on the crowdfunding site YouCaring. The city is partnering with United Way to distribute the funds, to be used once insurance and FEMA money is exhausted.

Airbnb has waived service fees to allow hosts to offer their homes near the affected areas to those in need of shelter. People with spare rooms or homes can also add their information to a spreadsheet to become volunteer hosts.

Donations can go to organizations including United Way of the Wine Country, the Sonoma County Resilience Fund, North Coast Opportunities and the Salvation Army Nor Cal Wildfire Fund.

The Graton Day Labor Center and other advocacy groups established a fund to support undocumented families. Donations to the Undocufund for Fire Relief can be made online, at any Exchange Bank or checks can be mailed to P.O. BOX 1100 Sebastopol, CA 95473. The labor center is also asking for direct donations to support undocumented and low-income families who have lost work due to the fire.

Redwood Credit Union is accepting financial donations to help fire victims and aid relief efforts. Donations can go to any of the four most affected counties, or be distributed equally to all.

The Redwood Empire Food Bank is providing food to shelters for those displaced by the fire. Theyre asking for financial donations or ready-to-eat, nonperishable food donations brought to 3990 Brickway Blvd. in Santa Rosa for shelters that dont have kitchens.

The Red Cross is asking for donations and volunteers.

The Salvation Army has deployed trained disaster staff and volunteers to Northern California to provide food, hydration, clean-up kits, hygiene supplies, and emotional and spiritual support to first responders and survivors. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or visiting www.gosalarmy.org.

The Volunteer Center of Sonoma County is accepting donations and has a list of ongoing volunteer opportunities.

The Graton Day Labor Center and other advocacy groups established a fund to support undocumented families. Donations to the Undocufund for Fire Relief can be made online, at any Exchange Bank or checks can be mailed to P.O. BOX 1100 Sebastopol, CA 95473. The labor center is also asking for direct donations to support undocumented and low-income families who have lost work due to the fire.

The Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation and the Sonoma County Farm Bureau established a housing recovery fund for displaced agriculture workers and their families.The fund has an initial investment of $50,000 and will be used to help farmworkers find new places to live. Contributions can be made at www.scggf.org.

For Animals

Shelters and stores across the Bay Area are accepting monetary donations for pets that are displaced or in need. Facebook groups including Napa/Santa Rosa Animal Evacuations Info and Solano County Horse/Livestock Fire Evacuation Help Page serve as hubs for donation and volunteer information and pet/owner reunification.

The Napa Humane, Sonoma Humane and Marin Humane societies ask for monetary donations. The Napa County Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, at 942 Hartle Ave. in Napa, said volunteers can show up at their facility at 8 a.m. daily to help clean and organize. Checks can be mailed to the same address.

Individuals who can open their homes as a foster are asked to contact Deassa@JamesonRescueRanch.org. Many shelters say in-kind donations of animal supplies are no longer needed.

andrea.castillo@latimes.com

@andreamcastillo

UPDATES:

Oct. 21, 10:30 a.m.: This article was updated with information about additional participating organizations.

Oct. 20, 10:11 a.m.: This article was updated with information about additional organizations seeking donations.

This article was originally published Oct. 14 at 6:25 p.m.
Sarah Golightly stepped up to the telescope, its tripod legs planted in the gravel on the side of a two-lane road in Sonoma. The lenses were trained on a low-lying mountain ridge in the distance, blue in the dying light, where plumes of khaki smoke floated upward from multiple spot fires.

As cars whizzed by, Golightly peered at a magnified image of her home on Wood Valley Road, with no visible flames. Maps from Cal Fire showed that the fire zone had bookended their street but stopped short of their house. A lone firetruck was visible in the driveway.

The grass isnt burning! she said, turning to her husband, Graham Edwards. They must have hosed it down.

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The firefighters would have had to, she reasoned, because the sprinklers hadnt worked since the electricity shut off Sunday. That was when roughly three dozen families evacuated, fleeing to friends homes or hotels, not wanting to stray too far from their homes.

How come you got a firetruck, Sarah? joked Bob Gardner, her neighbor down the street, as he took another turn at the telescope. Another neighbor piped up: If he saves the house, he can have as many beers as he wants.

Gardner built his house on Wood Valley nine years ago, when he sold his home in San Francisco. Its all we ever wanted, he said, as he looked at the smoke billowing from behind the ridge.

Golightly fled the house Sunday with her husband and stepdaughter. They grabbed their three-legged cat and some chicks that were born the day before the fire started. On Saturday, they cheeped anxiously from inside their temporary home, a plastic storage bin in the back of the family car.

Police gave the family 10 minutes Monday to collect necessities from their house. Instead, Golightly and Edwards fed the 30 chickens they left behind and turned on their chain saws, trying to take down as many trees near the house as they could.

Anything to save the house, Golightly said.

laura.nelson@latimes.com
Corey Long, the black man who wielded an improvised flamethrower against white nationalists two months ago at a violent far-right rally in Charlottesville, Va.  an incident captured in a photo that went viral  has become the second black counterprotester in two days to be arrested in relation to the rally.

Charlottesville police investigators arrested Long, 23, of Culpeper, Va., Friday on charges of assault and battery and disorderly conduct  a move that is likely to draw strong criticism from anti-racism advocates who have accused law enforcement of not acting swiftly enough to quell the violence that broke out during the August rally or to arrest a group of white men who were videotaped beating another black counterprotester, DeAndre Harris.

Lt. Stephen Upman, a Charlottesville police spokesman, said the disorderly conduct charge is related to the makeshift flamethrower and the assault and battery charge is related to a separate skirmish during the rally.

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A series of confrontations took place in Charlottesville Aug. 12 when hundreds of white supremacists gathered for a Unite the Right rally to protest the citys plan to take down a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

After a 32-year-old woman, Heather Heyer, died and 19 were injured after a car rammed into a crowd of counterdemonstrators, President Trump provoked outrage by blaming some of the violence on anti-racist protesters.

What about the alt-left that came charging at, as you say, the alt-right? Trump said at a news conference at Trump Tower a few days after the incident. Do they have any semblance of guilt? ... You had a group on one side that was bad. And you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. And nobody wants to say that, but Ill say it right now.

Long, who was released on an unsecured bond Friday after appearing before a magistrate, declined to comment after his arrest and referred all questions to his attorney, Malik Zulu Shabazz, national president of Black Lawyers for Justice and former national chairman of the New Black Panther Party.

Shabazz, whom the Southern Poverty Law Center describes as a racist black nationalist, did not comment other than to say he would be at Longs court hearing Tuesday.

On Facebook, Long shared a post by Shabazz.

Getting arrested is no dishonor if you are standing up against hatred and injustice, it began. Getting shot while on the battlefield is sometimes a necessary reality if you are a true soldier operating against enemy fire in enemy territory.

In a previous interview with the Root, Long suggested he acted in self-defense, noting that a white man had shot at the ground in his direction.

At first it was peaceful protest, Long told the Root two days after the August rally. Until someone pointed a gun at my head. Then the same person pointed it at my foot and shot the ground.

In August, Charlottesville police charged Richard Wilson Preston, 52, with discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school, a crime punishable by up to 10 years in jail. A video, provided to the FBI by the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia, allegedly shows him drawing a pistol, pointing it at the crowd, and then quickly firing a shot at the ground.

Long was widely celebrated by anti-racism advocates after a photographer for the Associated Press captured him wielding a makeshift flamethrower, fashioned, he told the Root, by holding a lighter to a can of spray paint a white nationalist had thrown at him earlier.

This graceful man has appropriated not only the flames of white-supremacist bigotry but also the debauched, rhetorical fire of Trump, who gloated, earlier this week, that he would respond to a foreign threat with fire and fury, Doreen St. Felix, a staff writer for the New Yorker, wrote. The resistance has its fire, too.

Longs arrest came a day after Harris, a 20-year-old hip-hop artist who was so badly bludgeoned by a group of white men that he was hospitalized for a concussion and a head laceration that required 12 staples, was taken into custody Thursday for unlawful wounding.

Its very upsetting, his attorney S. Lee Merritt said after the arrest warrant was issued, insisting his client was innocent of the charge. It seems the judicial system in this case has bent over backwards to further assist in further victimizing DeAndre.

In August, two of Harris alleged attackers  Alex Michael Ramos, 33, and Daniel Borden, 18  were arrested after they were identified by activists through video and social media.

Earlier this week, activists celebrated the arrest of a third man: Jacob Goodwin, 22, whom they identified last month as allegedly involved in the attack on Harris.

Goodwin was taken into custody Tuesday by U.S. marshals on a felony warrant out of Virginia, according to the Sheriffs Office in Lonoke County, Ark., where he is from.

Jarvie is a Times special correspondent

UPDATES:

7:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the charges against Corey Long.

This article was originally published at 5:25 p.m.
As soon as the helicopter landed in the mountain community of Castaner, Puerto Rico, Nelson Marchand emerged with much-needed good news for residents gathered at a sandlot.

I bring water and food, Marchand, an officer with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, yelled in an effort to be heard over the helicopter noise.

Like many Puerto Ricans, people in this former indigenous Taino enclave  nestled between the towns of Lares, Adjuntas and Utuado in the islands central mountainous region  are struggling to secure their most basic needs.

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More than three weeks after Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, food, water, medicine and electricity remain scarce throughout the island.

The vast majority of Puerto Ricos 3.4 million residents lack power and many remain without running water. The number of deaths related to the hurricane reached at least 48, officials said.

Officials say water-borne diseases pose a growing threat, and the Environmental Protection Agency has warned people against trying to get water from sealed or locked wells at Superfund hazardous-waste sites.

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved a $36.5-billion measure that would replenish government disaster aid funds and help the U.S. territorys government keep working. The Senate is expected to take up the bill next week.

Marchand is part of a government and volunteer effort to help distribute supplies to the most isolated areas of Puerto Rico. He was part of a crew from a base near Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla to deliver provisions to the local fire and police teams who take over the distribution of goods.

We are not FEMA, we are not the military, he said Friday, referring to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. We are just trying to help out the best we can.

Marchand and others created a human chain to move cases of bottled water and boxes of food  tacos, meatballs and marinara sauce  from the chopper to a pickup truck for distribution to residents. Several dozen people waited in line.

Sgt. Carlos Saliceti of the Castaner police department told those who had come the day before for water and food to wait until the first-timers received provisions.

I need to deliver to those who are coming here for the first time and then, if there is some left, we distribute to those who have been here before, he said.

Saliceti said he would like every municipality to set up permanent distribution centers where officials could keep inventory. This way, each family could come once or twice a week to receive their rations, he said.

How many people in your family? he asked the next person in line.

Among the most fortunate at this particular distribution of goods was Wilmaris Feliciano, 27, a mother of three who went home with a pair of large boxes filled with food and a case of bottled water.

Feliciano said it was the first time she had received provisions. She had tried two weeks before but gone home empty-handed.

In the nearby town of Yauco, Maritza Pacheco collected water from a stream in the Rubios neighborhood. She had given up on the bottled water, trusting that the stream would not make her sick.

Pacheco said she was recovering from throat surgery, which took place a few days before Hurricane Irma missed her town in early September. She had not been able to attend her therapy appointments because many of Yaucos roads had been blocked by mudslides and tumbled trees.

Liliana Quinones said she was unsure about drinking water from the streams because the 21-year-old and her three children had just recovered from a week of diarrhea. She prefers using bottled water to cook but there are still times when she must resort to finding water in streams, she said.

Puerto Ricos water authority recently confirmed that power outages during the past three weeks caused thousands of gallons of sewage to be discharged directly into the stream of the La Plata River, which residents have used to bathe and wash their clothes.

At the Castaner distribution, Luz Mendez Santiago, 52, though struggling to carry her case of water uphill to her car, was happy knowing she would be able to share with some of the people in her neighborhood.

We dont have water, she said, and without it we cant live.

Carrero is a special correspondent.
Diana Litzenberg doesnt know when shell go home. She doesnt know when shell walk. She doesnt know when the nightmares of blood and bullets will stop, or when shell step into a crowd again without her breath racing and breaking down in tears.

I just want to be happy, says the Orange County woman, two weeks into treatment after losing feeling in her body as she dodged bullets and frantic concertgoers trampled her at the Route 91 Harvest festival. I dont know when that will happen.

Doctors treated hundreds after the attack in Las Vegas. Fifty-eight died, the shooter killed himself, and tributes to the dead led newspaper front pages. Of the more than 500 injured who were hospitalized, all but 45 have gone home. TV crews have packed their bags, and police have passed the investigation on to the FBI.

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Las Vegas and the nation have slowly regained normalcy.

But among thousands of largely unknown Americans who witnessed the worst mass shooting in modern American history, lives have been turned upside down, and recovery for many is a distant reach.

For Litzenberg, it will be at least weeks in the hospital hundreds of miles from home in Lake Forest. She faces months of counseling and physical therapy, tens of thousands of dollars in medical bills without insurance, and no guarantee that shell ever stand up again.

A 52-year-old wife and mother, she had the weekend off from her property management job when she went to visit a friend in Palm Springs. They drove to Las Vegas to see their favorite country act, Big & Rich, a duo that performed before Jason Aldean.

As bullets sprayed across the field that night, Litzenberg ran for cover under bleachers. She darted out to grab a young woman who was shot when a man rammed into Litzenbergs face, knocking her down as those trying to escape stomped over her.

She awoke in the hospital the next day unable to move the left half her body. Her daughter and sister drove in from Southern California, and have been at her side since. Her Palm Springs friend, Jennifer Hutchinson, got to safety without injury, as did another friend who joined them, Sue Buckley.

My mom was always smiling. Wed go to country concerts 10 times a year. Shed take rides on Newport Beach on her bike. She was always outside, walking, exercising. Shes always been so bubbly, says her 21-year-old daughter, Nicole Rapp. Now, shes a whole different person. Shes just sad and scared of everything.

Litzenberg with her daughter, Nicole Rapp, on Oct. 12. (Jaweed Kaleem / Los Angeles Times )

The recovery has had its share of lows, even in times when the family has tried to cheer Litzenberg up.

Last week, her daughter wheeled her to the lobby of Summerlin Hospital Medical Center to see the Stanley Cup, which was on display during a national tour. The crowd of fans gave Litzenberg flashbacks, and she started to cry.

Another day, her sister Cathy Hopkins was tapping her fingers on a wall as she passed the time in the hospital room. Litzenberg yelled at her to stop; the rhythm reminded her of bullets.

She used to love reality TV, and would binge on the Real Housewives series. Now she finds the plots too complicated, and her memory becomes blurry if she tries to keep up with them from her bed.

She spends four hours in physical therapy each day, usually leaning on a walker or held by a waistband as she drags her left foot behind.

But there have also been moments of progress and joy.

After a few days in the hospital, Litzenberg could move her fingers again. She got to cuddle up with a therapy dog, a black Labradoodle named Sophie. It reminded her of Beijou, her Shih Tzu back home. Last weekend, she regained control of her left arm. She spent last Sunday watching her favorite team, the Green Bay Packers, beat the Dallas Cowboys.

She tells her daughter to play the country music station on Pandora, and she still laughs and lights up she hears Big & Rich. A stranger from Washington state saw her GoFundMe page, and sent her balloons and a teddy bear.

A nurse left the hospital one day and came back with a bundt cake. It tasted like the best cake she had ever had.

Every day, Litzenberg goes over her story with her family. The music, beer and dancing in the sun, and the blood, pain and screams at night. Doctors say talking about it will help her mind recover. They say it keeps her from hiding the memories only to have them pop up unexpected as the years ago on.

At the same time, she doesnt want any reminders.

The city set up a center where victims could go pick up their belongings. Litzenberg had left her cowboy hat and boots behind that night along with silver Alex and Ani bracelets her daughter gave her as a birthday gift.

She ordered the family to not retrieve the items.

She tries to avoid the news. She knows a basic outline of the night. There was a man who shot from the Mandalay Bay. He killed people, he ruined lives, and nobody knows why he did it.

But sometimes, when her sister and daughter arent there to stop her, she cant help tuning in for a few minutes before shutting the TV off.

Theres so much. Everybodys got their different opinions and their different sayings and their different, you know, versions of it. Only the people who went through it and only the people who died know what really happened, she says. I know what happened. I dont need to go that way. I just need to look at myself.

jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com

Jaweed Kaleem is The Times national race and justice correspondent. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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I teach and write about public health in Africa. For years, something about Uganda stumped me.

Since 2000, health services have improved in most African countries, but Ugandas progress lags. Yet Uganda has a remarkable medical history. Well before colonial times, the Baganda, Ugandas largest tribe, could distinguish plague from smallpox; Baganda traditional surgeons performed caesarean sections in the 19th century, when Europeans considered them too difficult and dangerous. During the 1950s and 60s, Ugandans helped pioneer treatment for childhood cancers and malnutrition. When Singapore was looking to reform its health system in the 1960s, it sent a delegation to Uganda.

Today Ugandas health system is a shambles, even though American taxpayers plow hundreds of millions of dollars annually into medical projects there. Bats, snakes and other wildlife have taken up residence in once-functioning rural clinics. Ugandas children die at twice the rate of those in neighboring Rwanda and Kenya, and those who survive are among the least likely in the world to complete elementary school. The main referral hospital is so dysfunctional that women giving birth there are seven times more likely to die than when Idi Amin was Ugandas president in the 1970s. Meanwhile, Ugandas government spends $150 million a year flying the president and other elites out of the country when they need medical treatment.

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Its become clear to me that corruption, combined with the governments callous indifference to the plight of ordinary people, explains these problems. But why are the U.S., the World Bank and other donors still pouring our tax dollars into this terrible government?

After seizing power in 1986, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni formed a security relationship with the U.S. that has lasted through five administrations and seems to be holding strong under President Trump. In exchange for billions of dollars in economic and military aid, as well as powerful diplomatic support, Museveni has served as our proxy warrior, sending his troops around the region to weaken or topple other governments, particularly Islamic ones.

In return for a handful of military favors, America has tolerated not only Musevenis craven rule in Uganda, but also the chaos he has sown throughout the fragile region of eastern and central Africa.

In 1990, Museveni backed the rebel invasion in Rwanda that triggered the genocide there four years later. He wasnt following American orders, but the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations did nothing to stop him.

America has tolerated not only Musevenis craven rule in Uganda, but also the chaos he has sown throughout the fragile region of eastern and central Africa.

Around the same time, Museveni obliged Washington by funneling weapons to Sudanese rebels fighting their hard-line Islamist government. The war was brutal, its outcome disastrous. Breakaway South Sudan is now mired in civil war, with Museveni propping up its leader, whose army has been accused of genocidal acts against minorities.

In 1996, Uganda with Rwanda (now led by Musevenis allies) moved to oust Zaires Mobuto Sese Seko, installing a new dictator and precipitating two wars that killed millions. The Clinton administration not only greenlighted this march of folly, it also supplied equipment and training to brutal invading commandos. It turns out Mobutu had been making overtures to the Islamists in Sudan, and the U.S. likely wanted to ensure Zaires (renamed Congo in 1997) wealth of minerals  diamonds, gold, uranium, cobalt and coltan used to make cellphones  wouldnt fall into the wrong hands.

After the disastrous 2006 U.S.-Ethiopian invasion of Somalia, Museveni alone among African leaders sent peacekeepers to the ravaged nation. Instead of wiping out Islamic militants, the U.S. had undermined a moderate government and radicalized the youth militia Al Shabab, which went on to join the Al Qaeda network. America still relies on Ugandan troops to fight Shabab terrorists, which explains why we turn a blind eye to Musevenis abuses to this day.

In 2013, I met a remarkable Ugandan named Lawrence Kiwanuka Nsereko, who now lives near where I teach in upstate New York. Nsereko has been fighting to bring democracy to his country since he was 14 years old. In Uganda, he was a child soldier, a newspaperman and a political candidate. Hes seen his newspapers office ransacked, his party headquarters torched, his friends and colleagues killed. He was arrested, tortured and nearly assassinated.

Nsereko helped answer my question about Uganda and the donors, and he also helped me see that Ugandans cannot free themselves from Musevenis corruption and warmongering on their own.

Theyve tried mightily: Just last month, exasperated Ugandans launched a campaign to thwart Musevenis latest plan to extend his 31-year grip on power. Called Togikwatako, meaning Dont dare touch it! (a well-known parental warning in the vernacular), it refers to a clause in Ugandas Constitution limiting the age of the president to 75. Museveni claims to be 73, and he has no intention of leaving office in two years. After one of his henchmen presented a bill in Ugandas Parliament to scrap the age limit, Togikwatako demonstrations erupted across the country. Security forces responded with bullets, batons, tear gas and whips fashioned from the strips of car tires.

Courageous opposition members of parliament, and even members of Musevenis party, tried to filibuster the debate on the age-limit amendment by singing the national anthem over and over. Eventually a chair-throwing brawl broke out, and Musevenis plainclothes hit squad forcibly arrested nearly 30 Togikwatako MPs. Two of Lawrences friends were injured: Kampala Mayor Erias Lukwago, whose testicles were crushed by police as they arrested him, and lawmaker Betty Nambooze, now on crutches.

To many Americans, Africas conflagrations must seem like distant bonfires having nothing to do with us. When we care at all, we throw up our hands at ethnic conflicts and send humanitarian aid. But Nsereko knows  and now so do I that we can do far more because our government is propping up the architect of much of the pandemonium.

Museveni is like a giant tree that kills everything in its shadow, he told me. Get rid of it, and good things will begin to grow.

As we examine Americas commitment to democracy and human rights, its military actions, and the racism that has haunted it since its founding, we should also reckon with our treatment of Africa. The lives of its people matter too.

Helen C. Epsteins latest book is Another Fine Mess: America, Uganda and the War on Terror.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook
To the editor: While The Times Editorial Board rightfully stated that public access to the coast is guaranteed by the state Constitution, and property owners should accept it or live further inland, it failed to point out the most disturbing fact in this struggle. (Billionaires dont get to decide when and how Californians reach the beach, editorial, Oct. 7)

Billionaire property owners can afford the $11,000-per-day penalties indefinitely and treat them as a cost of ownership, thereby thwarting the law, the Coastal Commission and the publics right to access.

Venture capitalist Vinod Khoslas refusal to accept the Coastal Commissions and the courts orders to keep open an access road to Martins Beach south of San Francisco also means taxpayers must continue to bear the legal costs of continuing the fight. There should be a limit to the ability to appeal a legal decision, and courts should be able to force Khosla to comply or forfeit his property.

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Otherwise, we are allowing rich, entitled individuals to circumvent the law indefinitely at the publics expense.

Nora Hazi, Pacific Palisades

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California Senate leader Kevin de Leon on Sunday launched a bid to challenge fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein for her U.S. Senate seat, saying he is ready to wage a more aggressive fight against President Trumps conservative agenda.

Were overdue for a real debate on the issues, priorities and leadership voters want from their senator, De Leon said in an interview. I think California needs a senator not just fully resistant to Trumps presidency, but who understands the issues most Californians face every day.

De Leon announced his bid in an email to supporters and a video, where he painted a dire picture.

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We now stand at the front lines of a historic struggle for the very soul of America, against a president without one, he said. Every day, his administration wages war on our people and our progress. He disregards our voices. Demonizes our diversity. Attacks our civil rights, our clean air, our health access and our public safety.

De Leon (D-Los Angeles) said he will focus on improving quality of life, increasing educational opportunities, cleaning the environment and creating universal healthcare.

I am running for the U.S. Senate because you deserve a seat at the table..., he said. To achieve these goals, expand the California dream, and take the fight to Trump from California to Washington, D.C., I commit to working tirelessly to earn your vote here at home, and once elected, to do my part to work even harder to reunite this nation with a progressive agenda.

The announcement sets the stage for a bitter intraparty battle next year, pitting Feinstein, who epitomizes the Democratic old guard, against a member of the partys ambitious younger generation seeking to climb the political ladder. It also presages a costly and divisive fight at a time many California Democrats argue their energy and dollars would be better spent on several congressional races in the state that could determine who controls Congress.

Bill Carrick, Feinsteins longtime political advisor, described De Leons bid as wasting money and energy on what will turn out to be a rather difficult campaign for Sen. De Leon. Hes a virtual unknown. Hes a termed-out politician looking for a gig.

Carrick predicted Feinstein would do very, very well in the contest, noting her strength with female voters, her base in Northern California and her history of winning Los Angeles County.

If he sees an opening, its a mirage, Carrick said of De Leon.

Feinstein, who toured fire damage in Northern California with Gov. Jerry Brown and fellow Sen. Kamala Harris over the weekend, did not immediately comment about the challenge.

Earlier, Feinstein seemed unfazed about the prospect in an interview with The Times.

I am what I am; Im pretty well known, and people, I assume, will come after me any way they can. Thats up to them, Feinstein said. If thats of any value to people, Ill win; if its not, I wont.

She made the remarks as rumors about De Leon challenging Feinstein  who, at 84, is the oldest member of the Senate  crescendoed.

Unlike previous years, she has faced heated criticism of late from liberal critics who have said her measured approach is no longer representative of a state that has become home to the resistance to President Trump and his policies. Feinstein also drew rebukes from members of her party when she called for patience with Trump this summer, saying he could develop into a good president.

De Leon faces significant challenges in his effort to unseat Feinstein. She is a well-respected party elder who is among the most powerful Democratic forces in the state and the nation. When then-Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sought a detente during the 2008 election, it was hosted in her living room. She is also among the wealthiest members of Congress and could easily self-fund a campaign if she needed to. And since she was first elected to the chamber in 1992, she has earned seniority and bipartisan trust in a chamber where both are critical, especially for members of the party out of power.

De Leon said he is used to taking on tough battles.

Were taking on the establishment, there is no doubt, he said. But Ive taken on the establishment all my life, and Ive been told to wait my turn. Now is the time for change and I look forward to having this debate of ideas, of vision for the state.

Still, he seemed cognizant that he must tread carefully. When asked about policy differences, he said he wanted to be very respectful toward Feinstein, before pointing to the use of the military overseas.

Sen. Feinstein is an aggressive hawk on foreign policy matters and military intervention and a conservative incrementalist on domestic issues, he said, adding that he would take the opposite approach.

The biggest endorsement De Leon received following his announcement was from Democracy for America, the progressive political action committee formed by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in 2004. He was also backed by Assembly members Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher of San Diego and Kevin McCarty of Sacramento, and former state Sen. Dean Florez.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced on Sunday that it was backing Feinstein, not surprising since the group supports incumbents. She received several high-profile endorsements when she kicked off her reelection bid last week.

Political strategists say that although she enjoys institutional advantages, she cant take for granted that this may be her toughest race since 1994, at a time when segments of the Democratic electorate are agitating for change and grossly dissatisfied with the status quo. Making her case to younger voters who are unfamiliar with her record as well as the most liberal wing of the party that is hungry for a flame-throwing critic of Trump will be key.

It will be Dianne Feinsteins job to reassure voters who are concerned  that she is very much in tune with current issues and the current concerns of California, said Darry Sragow, a veteran Democratic consultant who ran her unsuccessful 1990 campaign for governor. He said this was particularly true for younger voters. The oldest of voters under 30, they would have been five when she was first elected [to the Senate]. They were watching Sesame Street, not Meet the Press. She has her work cut out for her.

Among De Leons greatest challenges is likely to be fundraising. As a state party leader, he has cultivated relationships with some of the most prominent donors in the state, but some might be wary of challenging a sitting senator. De Leon lacks a statewide donor base. And the roughly $3 million he has parked in state accounts cant legally be transferred to a federal race.

Other competitors may get in the ring, notably billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, who said Sunday he is considering a run. Feinstein is also being challenged by attorney Pat Harris, who announced a long-shot bid in August on a platform that includes support for single-payer healthcare and a pledge that he will only take campaign contributions from individual donors.

De Leons greatest strength could be his life story, which may appeal to voters hungry for change, noted Dan Schnur, a political communications professor at USC.

It would be an uphill fight for any challenger, but if anybody could pull it off, it would be someone with a personal and political biography like Kevin de Leon, he said.

The child of an immigrant single mother, De Leon, 50, spent much of his childhood trekking from his humble home in the Logan Heights neighborhood of San Diego to the citys wealthier enclaves, where his mother worked as a house cleaner.

His upbringing would prove influential in shaping the political career that was to come.

He worked on campaigns and for labor unions, and won a state Assembly seat in 2006. In 2010, he moved to the Senate and was elected leader of that chamber in 2014  the first Latino to hold that position in more than a century.

In the state Capitol, he has embraced high-profile legislative lifts, pushing state-sponsored retirement plans for low-income workers and background checks for ammunition purchases.

He has been a central figure in Californias efforts to combat climate change, including the setting of aggressive targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and extending the states landmark cap-and-trade program.

But his environmental advocacy has also led to high-profile setbacks. A 2015 proposal to slash petroleum use in the state by 50% by 2030 collapsed, and this year, his bill to phase out by 2045 all fossil-fuel use for generating energy sputtered in the legislative sessions final days.

He also has eagerly embraced positioning California as the heart of the resistance against Trump and the federal government.

That posture was most evident in his signature legislation of the year, the sanctuary state measure, which limits state and local law enforcements cooperation with federal immigration officials.

seema.mehta@latimes.com

melanie.mason@latimes.com

Follow @LATseema and @melmason on Twitter for the latest on California politics.

Californias Sen. Dianne Feinstein announces re-election bid: Theres still so much work left to do

Californias feverish political moment creates opportunity for a Feinstein challenge  or a few

California politics news feed

UPDATES:

12:50 p.m.: This article was updated with Steyer saying he might run.

11:35 a.m.: This article was updated with information about endorsements of De Leon.

10:55 a.m.: This article was updated with quotes from De Leon and Bill Carrick.

10:15 a.m.: This article was updated with details of De Leons announcement.

12:07 a.m., Oct. 15: This article was updated with details of De Leons clean energy measure this year.

This article was originally published at 10:55 p.m. Oct 14
Firing a politician, months or even years ahead of their next campaign for elected office, is the ultimate act of voter anger. And California voters gave themselves the power to do so 106 years ago this month.

In all that time, two things have stood out about recall elections: They rarely succeed, but when they do, its usually because of a political fight that goes far beyond the person whose name is on the ballot.

Its unclear whether those maxims will hold true for state Sen. Josh Newman (D-Fullerton), the Democratic freshman legislator whose fate may be decided by voters in his Orange County-based district early next year. Newman won an open seat last November by just 2,498 votes in what had been a Republican district.

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That also is part of the story of recalls. Theyre often launched by backers of the candidate who lost the last election by a razor-thin margin. In the case of the 29th Senate District, the gathering of voter signatures on a petition calling for a recall was almost solely paid for by the California Republican Party.

Not counting the Newman effort, there have been 163 attempts to remove California elected officials since 1913, but only nine whose backers collected enough signatures to trigger a special election. In the last 25 years, there are three of note. One  the 2003 recall of then-Gov. Gray Davis and the election of former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger  was a political milestone. The previous winning efforts came following a dramatic power struggle in the Assembly after the 1994 election, when two GOP lawmakers were recalled for helping Democrats retain control over the Assembly.

In 89 other instances over the last three decades, recalls failed to qualify for the ballot. In three other efforts, a special election happened but voters stayed with the incumbent, largely seeing the recall attempts as an overreach.

The successful recalls seemed to hinge on whether the politician in question was the symbol for a larger battle. The two Republican legislators who were removed from office had been painted as traitors to the larger GOP wave that swept the nation that year. In the case of Davis, reelected in 2002 with only a plurality of votes, there was lingering anger over a deep recession and Californias electricity crisis.

But the real fuel was from Davis decision to rescind a law that lowered vehicle license fees. The resulting increase, dubbed the car tax, was the fatal blow. The tax was easy for voters to understand and fed the narrative of government waste and overspending. Its an experience Republicans seem to be angling to use again in 2018.

Newman was a key vote in April for a $52-billion transportation plan funded by higher fuel taxes and a new vehicle registration fee. Activists circulated the recall petition while displaying signs that urged a repeal of the gas tax (which wont happen by removing Newman). More than enough signatures appear to have been submitted in the almost evenly split district, which runs from Cypress east to Chino Hills, though the process has been delayed by a law quickly crafted by Democrats this summer to help Newman.

If Newman loses and is replaced by one of the candidates who would be listed on the second part of the recall ballot, he would join a small but infamous California club. The bottom line, as its always been for a recall, is whether all public anger will translate into voter action.

john.myers@latimes.com

Follow @johnmyers on Twitter, sign up for our daily Essential Politics newsletter and listen to the weekly California Politics Podcast

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Its frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write. And people should look into it.

 President Donald Trump, Oct. 11

Eager as we always are to fulfill your wishes, Mr. President, we have taken some time to look into our ability to write whatever we want. It turns out there is a document called the Constitution that sets out the powers and limitations of the Congress, the judiciary, even  and this may come as something of an unwelcome surprise, Mr. Trump  the president.

The First Amendment, ratified shortly after the Constitution itself, reads, Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

How the heck did that get in there, you may ask? It turns out that even with these pesky limitations on federal power, some people at the time feared the Constitution would give the national government too much authority. So these anti-federalists insisted on specific protections for the rights of individuals against possibly tyrannical government actions like cruel and unusual punishment, seizure of property and forced self-incrimination. (Theres another one in there about the right to keep and bear arms that were pretty sure youre familiar with, Mr. President.) ...

But surely the author of that amendment didnt intend it to protect the press from saying mean things about the president, did he? Um, actually, yeah. It turns out thats exactly what James Madison thought the First Amendment means, as evidenced by his opposition to the Sedition Act that was passed during the John Adams administration to insulate the president and his allies from criticism.

It set out criminal penalties for those who published any false, scandalous, and malicious writing or writings against the government of the United States, or either house of the Congress of the United States, or the President of the United States, with an intent to defame the said government, or either house of the said Congress, or the President, or to bring them, or either of them, into contempt or disrepute; or to excite against them, or either, or any of them, the hatred of the good people of the United States.

And to be clear, the Adamsites had a pretty broad definition of false to include anything they didnt like; they thought everything was fake news, too.

Madison organized an effort in the Virginia legislature to condemn the Sedition Act as unconstitutional, saying it ought to produce universal alarm; because it is leveled against that right of freely examining public characters and measures, and of free communication among the people thereon, which has ever been justly deemed the only effectual guardian of every other right.

Later, he wrote that had the Sedition Act been in force forbidding every publication that might bring the constituted agents into contempt or disrepute, or that might excite the hatred of the people against the authors of unjust or pernicious measures  might not the United States have been languishing at this day, under the infirmities of a sickly confederation? Might they not possibly be miserable colonies, groaning under a foreign yoke?

Our ability as the press to write whatever we want to write, even and especially when it is critical of those in power, is not a runaway byproduct of our freedoms. It is the source and guarantor of them. If you find that disgusting, Mr. President, then it is the very underpinning of what made America not only great but even possible in the first place that you find disgusting.

One other note: If there is virtually no legal restraint on what we as Americans can say or write, there is a practical one. If we continually say things that are untrue, we will not be believed. If we do nothing but hurl invective, we will not be liked. And if we repeatedly offend our audience, we will be abandoned. Perhaps thats something you might consider next time you pick up the phone to tweet.

(Oh, and also, John Adams was a one-termer. Sad!)
Retired Police Chief Jay Johnson has reclaimed his position as leader of the Newport Beach Police Department while city officials search for the next chief.

The City Council on Tuesday voted 6 to 0 to approve a contract with Johnson that guarantees him hourly pay of $111.03 as interim chief. Johnson could work a maximum of 960 hours annually, according to the contract. However, city leaders expect the new chief to be selected within six months.

The city will not be responsible for the cost of Johnsons medical benefits and will not contribute further to his retirement, according to the contract.

This will provide the city with a savings during the period when there is no full-time, benefited police chief, a city staff report states.

Johnson, 50, officially retired in late December but offered to stay on as acting chief for the first several months of 2016 while the city selects his replacement.

The city charter requires officials to open the position to candidates both inside and outside the Police Department.

City Manager Dave Kiff, who ultimately will choose the next chief, with council approval, said the process will take at least two months and possibly as long as six months.

Kiff said he considered appointing one or more of the departments two deputy chiefs to fill Johnsons position for now, but decided against it because they likely will be candidates for the job.

For fairness, it makes a lot more sense to have Jay come back, Kiff said.

Deputy Chief Dave McGill, who oversees detectives, and Deputy Chief Jon Lewis, who heads operations, have expressed interest in the top post. Johnson has voiced support for one or the other becoming chief.

Johnson began his tenure as Newport Beachs ninth police chief in June 2010.

Before that, he was a commander in the Long Beach Police Department, where he spent most of his career. In his later years there, he oversaw the citys South Division, which included the downtown and harbor areas.

During Johnsons time in Newport Beach, the city saw record low crime rates in 2013 and 2014.

However, in 2015, crime levels began creeping up for the first time in about a decade. Johnson attributed the increase to legislation including the states prison realignment plan in 2011, which aims to move some offenders from state prisons to county jails; Proposition 36 in 2012, which relaxed the states three-strikes law; and Proposition 47 in 2014, which reclassified many low-level felonies as misdemeanors that carry lesser penalties.

Despite the uptick, crime is still below Newports five-year average, Johnson said.
Vanguard Universitys Veterans Courtyard of Honor and its new Veterans Resource Center welcomed around 75 guests for the sixth annual Veterans Day Celebration Thursday.

The Costa Mesa school held its celebration last week to recognize Veterans Day at a time the honorees would not be busy attending other events.

Its a way for us to show that those who serve are never forgotten and that we will continue to honor them, the resource centers Veterans Coordinator Brian Burlingame said. If it wasnt for their service, we wouldnt have the freedom that we currently have.

The school itself has a long history with the military, having been built on the land where the former Santa Ana Air Base stood. The university has also trained chaplains who have served in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Both the courtyard and the resource facility are located in Vanguards Scott Academic Center, which recently underwent construction adding 16,135 square feet.

The remodeling of the building allowed for the Veterans Resource Center to be relocated closer to the Career Center and to double in size.

This years theme for Vanguards Veterans Day Celebration was Honor the Legacy. Invest in the Future.

Were serious about investing in the next wave of veterans who are coming back, Burlingame said. We want to honor them and make sure they have the services needed to transition from military to civilian life.

The resource center offers a place for Vanguard students who are also veterans to seek career counseling and tutorial services.

The celebration opened with a ceremony honoring 10 World War II veterans. These veterans, who are acquaintances of Burlingames, are members of the Freedom Committee of Orange County.

Charles Monroe, a distinguished World War II Purple Heart veteran, was the ceremonys keynote speaker. He has also served as a pastor, educator and as dean of students for Vanguard.

A reception was held outside the Veterans Resource Center and guests could tour the new center, which includes a conference room, a lounge, a 65-inch television, a kitchen for commuting students to keep their meals in and a library.
Fountain Valley police shot and wounded a motorist who authorities said drove his vehicle at officers investigating a fatal traffic collision Saturday morning.

The incident occurred about 5:15 a.m. while officers were investigating the vehicle crash at Magnolia Street and Mint Avenue, according to a statement from the Fountain Valley Police Department.

The driver of a black Dodge pickup drove at the officers and through the collision scene, police said. He then turned around and drove at the officers a second time, and thats when police shot at the man, authorities said.

The suspect fled but was stopped by officers at Bushard Street in Westminster, just south of Edinger Avenue, where he was arrested, police said. He was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, authorities said.

No officers were injured in the confrontation.

No other information was available about what prompted the drivers actions.

Officers were originally called to the scene around midnight when the driver of a Lexus jumped a median and crashed into a Toyota sedan, killing one woman.

One nearby resident told KTLA that he heard both the crash and the police shooting from his home.

A little bit before midnight there was a horrible car accident right here. They were still assessing the situation and seeing what happened, Johnny Carr said. I tried to go back to bed and around 5 a.m. Im woken up by screeching tires and gunshots.

Video from the scene showed several bullet holes through the front windshield of the truck, which remained at the scene past 10 a.m.

Personnel from the Fountain Valley Police Department, Westminster Police Department and Orange County district attorneys office are involved in the investigation.

Lozano writes for the Los Angeles Times.
Players battled it out Saturday at the second annual Pacific City Ping Pong Challenge for Charity in Huntington Beach.

The event, held on the second level of the Pacific City shopping center on Pacific Coast Highway, is billed as the largest oceanfront ping pong tournament in the country.

Participants received prizes including gift cards to Pacific City businesses.

Event proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.
If youre traveling to Maui, you may worry that your pockets need to be as deep as the water surrounding this popular island. That theres no way to go to Hawaii without breaking the bank.

In my 25 trips to Maui in the last 25 years, I have accumulated some tips that let you achieve Maui wowee without your wallet saying Owie.

Visit the beaches  theyre all free

By state law all of Hawaiis beaches are open to the public, even the spectacular sands fronting the best luxury resorts.

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Snare the beach fronting the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa at Black Rock. (Bring your own snorkel or rent one weekly at Snorkel Bobs.)

At sunset, remain at the Sheraton to watch the free nightly torch-lighting ceremony and the remarkable cliff diver performance. From 3 to 5 p.m. at the hotels Cliff Dive Grill, prices drop: $5 draft beers, $6 wine by the glass, and $8 classic tropical cocktails.

After sunset, stroll the romantic Kaanapali Beach Walk that goes from the Sheraton to the Hyatt Regency. Yes, sometimes the best things in life are free.

Info: Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, 2605 Kaanapali Parkway, Lahaina; (888) 627-8114

Go natural

The coast line trail In WaiAnapanapa State Park Near Hana. (Education Images / UIG via Getty Images )

What else is free? Many of Mauis natural beauties, including valleys and waterfalls, are there for the enjoying.

Consider driving halfway to Hana and then heading back. Youll be delighted with jaw-dropping scenery.

Pack a picnic lunch and explore the funky vibe in Paia. If you prefer to go all the way to Hana, you can reserve a $99-per-night cabin in Hana on the black-sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park.

Besides lodging, you can picnic, shore-fish and hike. (And if youre like me, youll try to figure out where Oprahs house is in Hana.)

Info: Waianapanapa State Park, Hana; (808) 984-8109. Cabin reservations

Snag a local mag

For the most up-to-date deals pick up one of the free tourist guides, which offer plenty of bargains, discounts, coupons and two-for-one deals.

Make a smart check-in choice

Where to stay without breaking the bank? Maui does have Airbnb options, so an expensive oceanfront hotel isnt the only option.

But check out Maui Accommodations, which has a quarterly Maui Deals & Steals newsletter with good bargains. Travelers book directly with the property owners and managers for the best possible price with no service fees.

Info: Maui Accommodations

Have an evening adventure

One of Mauis best values is the dinner and comedy magic show at Warren & Annabelles in Lahaina.

Talented magician Warren Gibson wows audiences with his sleight-of-hand and hilarious clean comedy. On nights when Gibson is out of town, two magicians perform who also excel at comedy.

Book the Royal Flush package ($113 a person) offering the two-hour magic show plus two cocktails of your choice, a combination platter of four huge gourmet appetizers, an enormous homemade dessert and gratuity. Plus there is a 50% discount for admission on the Royal Flush package for anyone with an active military ID. (Military who have served in Afghanistan since 2003 get a 100% discount.) Book before you leave home because the show sells out.

Another excellent option is Hyatt Regency Mauis rooftop stargazing program Tour of the Stars. Youll learn all about the nights sky above the Pacific Ocean when thousands of stars are visible to the naked eye overhead.

Lahainas Front Street is the main downtown street. (Tor Johnson / AP )

Director of astronomy Eddie Mahoney identifies 1,000 objects in the sky including stars, planets, galaxies and nebulae. Tour of the Stars takes place nightly, depending on the weather. The show costs $30 per adult/non-Hyatt guest, $20 per child/non-Hyatt guest. Reservations are required.

Info: Warren & Annabelles, 900 Front St. A202, Lahaina; (808) 667-6244; Hyatt Regency Maui, 200 Nohea Kai Drive, Lahaina; (808) 667-4727.

Dine at reasonably priced restaurants

Its a shrimp-alooza at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. on Lahainas Front Street, where you can try coconut shrimp ($19.49) or Baja shrimp tacos ($13.99). The spectacular ocean view is free.

Cheeseburger in Paradise and Maui Tacos in Lahaina are other thrifty options.

Info: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., 889 Front St., Lahaina; (808) 661-3111; Cheeseburger in Paradise, 811 Front St., Lahaina; (808) 661-4855; Maui Tacos, 840 Wainee St., Lahaina; (808) 662-0717.

Eat during aloha hour

(Happy hour) for reduced prices. At Fleetwoods on Front St. between 2 and 5 p.m. for example, all drinks and wine are half-price; oysters on the half-shell are just $1 each.

If youre going to visit only one Maui restaurant, make it Ko at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort. But go during aloha (happy) hour to save big bucks and treat your taste buds.

Lava Flows and mai-tais are $10, and for the same price you can revel in the Hamakua mushroom pizza, Filipino spring rolls and stir-fried shrimp.

Or sample a local plate lunch. Its a Hawaii tradition: two scoops of rice, macaroni salad and a choice of meat at Aloha Mixed Plate (closed until early November for remodeling). It features chicken, fresh fish and teriyaki beef for $12.95.

Waterfront view of Front Street in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. (Tor Johnson / AP )

Info: Fleetwoods on Front St., 744 Front St., Lahaina; (808) 669-6425; Ko at the Fairmont Kea Lani Resort, 4100 Wailea Alanui, Wailea; (808) 875-2210; Aloha Mixed Plate, 1285 Front St., Lahaina; (808) 661-3322

Go ABC

Some folks say ABC Stores are a tourist trap, but I love em for the affordable  and mostly adorable  souvenirs and gifts.

Check out the locally made Maui Babe Browning Lotion, Bubble Shack made-in-Hawaii tropical soaps and lotions, and Mauicello, the islands lemon alternative to Italian limoncello.

Buy an inexpensive inflatable ring so you can make a splash anywhere. (ABC stores will blow it up for you.)

Info: ABC Stores. Locations throughout Hawaii.

Make Friday nighttime the right time

Maui County holds free rotating Friday town parties from 6-9 p.m. in Wailuku, Lahaina, Makawao and Kihei. Insider tip: Many of Mauis hotel workers live in Kihei, and the area is a great place to find budget-friendly restaurants and supermarkets.

The Friday-night festivities are filled with live music, food trucks, crafts and local artisans.

Info: Maui Friday Town Parties

Consider cultural attractions

The Shops at Wailea offer a wealth of fun free activities, from lei-making to ukulele lesson to a Polynesian show. Check the website for details, along with info on concerts and farm-fresh shopping.

Info: Shops at Wailea

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travel@latimes.com

@latimestravel
Austria picked a new conservative leader on Sunday who triumphed by promising to take a hard line on the tens of thousands of refugees who have poured into the country from Syria and elsewhere.

Sebastian Kurz, 31, who will become the youngest leader in the European Union, is expected to attempt to form a coalition with a far-right populist party that was long ostracized for its extreme nationalism.

Kurz led the conservative Peoples Party into first place in Sundays parliamentary election with 31.4% of the vote, according to preliminary results. That was an increase of 7.4 percentage points from the last election and put Kurz, who has been serving as foreign minister, on track to become the Alpine republics 12th postwar chancellor. Final results are not expected for several days until absentee ballots are counted.

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The countrys sharp tilt to the right after a bitter election campaign centered on migrants and taxes, reflecting both rising tensions toward a growing number of immigrants in Austria as well as growing support for far-right populists crusading to preserve national identities across Europe.

Demonstrators protest against Austrias far-right Freedom Party in Vienna on Sunday. (Alex Halada / AFP/Getty Images )

This is a clear mandate for change, said Kurz, a stylish dresser and flashy orator who wrestled control of the once-stodgy Peoples Party in May and quickly turned it into a vibrant movement, similar to that of Frances Emmanuel Macron, another young leader who molded his party largely on his own forceful personality.

Weve got a lot of work to do. We need to create a new political style and a new political culture, Kurz told cheering supporters in Vienna.

A wealthy country of 8.7 million people lodged between Germany and Italy, Switzerland and Slovakia, Austria served as a gateway into Germany for more than a million refugees fleeing Syria and other troubled spots over the last two years.

Austria took in about 100,000 refugees, equal to more than 1% of its population, before Kurz as foreign minister sensed public apprehension and designed a plan to shut its borders and stop the stream of refugees moving north.

Theres been a clear shift to the right in Austria and that shows in the issues that dominated the campaign: migration, Islam, border security and xenophobia, said Dieter Segert, a political science professor at the University of Vienna. The Peoples Party and the Freedom Party went all out to outdo each other in promising to cut benefits for refugees.

Kurz forced the snap election when he refused to continue in a coalition as a junior partner to the Social Democrats and quickly attracted voters by vowing to shut down the flow of migrants to Austria and limit benefit payments to refugees.

The far-right Freedom Party, led by unabashed populist Heinz-Christian Strache, had rather remarkably accused Kurz of stealing some of its anti-migrant demands. It finished second Sunday with 27.4% of the vote.

Now, Kurzs Peoples Party and the Freedom Party, which was founded by former Nazi party members in 1956, have more than enough support to form a hard-right coalition that would replace the left-center grand coalition that has ruled Austria for the last decade and that until now has been led by Chancellor Christian Kern, head of the ruling Social Democrats.

With a clear mandate to form a new government, Kurz refrained from making any immediate overtures to the Freedom Party, whose brief inclusion in the Austrian government from 2000 to 2005 caused the country to be scorned and sanctioned by the European Union. But Kurzs party was clearly revitalized by its lurch to the right, and its policies are now more similar to the Freedom Partys than to the Peoples Partys previous partners on the left.

Heinz-Christian Strache, left, of the right-wing Freedom Party and Sebastian Kurz, leader of the conservative Peoples Party, after a television interview Sunday in Vienna. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images )

Kurz and Strache share at least one biographical detail: Both are college dropouts.

The EU has changed since its blanket condemnation of Austria was lifted in 2005. Populist right-wing parties are now in power in some countries, such as Hungary and Poland, and winning sizable shares of the electorate in other lands, such as France and the Netherlands.

The Freedom Party are clearly cleaning up their act to make it past the election but there are no guarantees which way theyll go once in office, said Jackson Janes, president of the American Institute for Contemporary German Studies at Johns Hopkins University, who notes right-wing populist parties are gaining traction and clout across Europe. The EU may hope it can deal with a Kurz-led government and hold him accountable for right-wing agitation in the Freedom Party.

The Freedom Party narrowly missed out on winning Austrias presidency in December when Norbert Hofer was defeated by Alexander Van der Bellen of the Greens for the largely ceremonial office.

The Social Democrats suffered a humbling defeat in Sundays election, falling to third with 26.8% of the vote. Three smaller parties ended up with about 4% to 5% each and will play no role in the next government.

Weve made mistakes, said Kern, who has made it clear he will continue leading the Social Democrats in opposition. He decried what he called a brutal shift to the right.

Kirschbaum is a special correspondent.

UPDATES:

1:50 p.m.: This article has been updated with latest results, quotes, background.

This article was originally posted at 9:45 a.m.
CHICAGO  Its unclear if a deal will be reached to ensure that the young, unlawfully present immigrants known as Dreamers can stay in the country. What is sure is that, either way, Americans faith in their government will suffer another blow.

Lets face it: Anyone who really believed that passing a limited, smallish measure on immigration was going to be as simple as the verbal agreement that Republican President Donald Trump, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., made over dinner last month was kidding him or herself.

Trump is focused solely on reaping adoration for his actions in the moment  for the audience who happens to be in front of him at the time  regardless of what the consequences might be. His initial promise to extend protections for those covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program without requiring a border security package that included his wall demonstrates this perfectly.

Trump may have momentarily been enchanted by the opportunity to appear to reach across the aisle and make a deal. But when conservatives revolted, he backpedaled the next day, saying there was no finalized agreement to celebrate.

Now the presidents list of demands includes creating a merit-based immigration system that disfavors chain family migration, making the E-Verify system mandatory and withholding federal grant money from so-called sanctuary cities. These requirements  in exchange for a deal to protect the 690,000 or so DACA beneficiaries  have made his base happy while almost certainly making any deal a nonstarter for Democrats.

A barrage of attacks against Trumps wish list quickly hit reporters inboxes, describing the move as a cruel bait-and-switch.

Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, said in her statement: These proposals are simply a reprise of the worst aspects of the Trump campaigns anti-immigrant and anti-refugee scapegoating  reasserted, one assumes, to make Dreamers pawns in a power game. It is exactly why people hate Washington, D.C., politics: Instead of solving problems like what will happen to the ... young Americans covered by DACA  who are learning in, working in and completely woven into the country that is their home  they are held hostage as a way to make our broken immigration system even worse.

Its difficult to disagree with the substance of Weingartens critique, but it also gives Trump too much credit. Chess is a game of vision, strategy, planning and precise execution. Nothing that has come out of the White House in the past eight months smacks of the cunning necessary to actually play a chess game, let alone win it.

What Weingarten hit on the nose is that people despise D.C. politicians and have largely lost faith in our institutions ability to get anything done.

For years, Americans have increasingly viewed government as untrustworthy. Public confidence in government is now at a historic low, with only 4 percent of us believing Washington will do what is right just about always and 16 percent believing it would do so most of the time, according to the Pew Research Center.

And the current immigration drama is sure to disappoint great swaths of the electorate no matter what.

If Trump doesnt make good on his promises to take the hardest possible line on immigration and ends up reaching a compromise to shield DACA-eligible people from deportation, his base will feel betrayed and rebel.

If Democrats make the difficult choice to accept some or many of the items on the Trump wish list in exchange for protections for this small slice of the 11 million immigrants residing in the U.S. illegally, there will inevitably be enmity within the party and claims that it sold its soul.

Worse still, if the Democrats threat of a government shutdown backfires or they simply walk away from any potential compromise, it will reaffirm that elected leaders are impotent in moving forward on big issues.

In any scenario, the idea that government is broken and that the other side is to blame will only add to political polarization and what is quickly becoming learned helplessness on both sides.

The consequence of this high-visibility fight over DACA recipients will be that  whether our youngest, most idealistic and most Americanized immigrants are cast off or allowed to remain in some sort of imperfect status  well all lose.
Dane County and its partners did it.

The Beacon, a bright and welcoming day resource center to comfort and steer the homeless to better lives, is scheduled to open Monday.

At the same time, a key state Senate committee this month unanimously endorsed a pair of homeless bills that advocates have prioritized.

And theres more good news in the ongoing effort to help desperate people  especially families with children  find stable housing.

Madison is pursuing incentives for hundreds for affordable apartments. And on Wednesday, the second phase of the Union Corners redevelopment along East Washington Avenue in Madison will officially open. It will house 76 units targeted to families making well below Dane Countys median income.

The developer, Gorman and Co., credits partnerships with the city, county and state for making the $17 million Carbon project a reality.

Our generous community should keep the momentum going.

As the State Journals special report Homeless in Madison | A City Challenged showed last year, some 2,000 men, women and children are homeless on any given night in Madison. And statewide, that number swells to 20,000  enough to fill the Kohl Center.

Over the last decade, the number of homeless grew by 18 percent. And many are families with children. Madison School District alone counted about 1,500 students last school year as lacking stable housing.

The cost to society is enormous in lost potential and fractured lives.

But Dane County  with help from Madison, the United Way and Catholic Charities  will open The Beacon on Monday, one of the most concrete examples of progress so far. Just two months ago, a funding dispute threatened to delay  yet again the opening of the center, which will offer showers, laundry, restrooms, coffee, lunches, mail, lockers, a computer lab and offices for nonprofit services to an expected 150 people daily.

Congratulations to the partners for getting past the funding challenge to make the center at 615 E. Washington Ave. a reality.

Our belief is that it will give the homeless population a foundation from which to move out of homelessness and into stable housing, United Way president Renee Moe told State Journal reporter Dean Mosiman last week.

The Senate Committee on Workforce Development, Military Affairs and Senior Issues this month voted 5-0 in favor of creating an Interagency Council on Homelessness. Assuming the Senate approves and Gov. Scott Walker signs into law Assembly Bill 234, the council will create a state plan for fighting homelessness. The Assembly has already approved the proposal.

Another bill, AB 236, would prioritize the chronically homeless for state rent assistance programs.

State officials should finalize these good ideas.

Even when pooled together, all of these efforts wont solve Wisconsins homeless problem. More must be done. But the level of community engagement and commitment to improving desperate peoples lives is encouraging.
Gardai in Laois are investigating an an attack with an iron bar in Mountmellick overnight and a bag snatch in Portlaoise.

Gardai say that around 2am on Lord Edward Stree, Mountmellick on Sunday morning, October 15 a male was approached by male who had iron bar in his hand. The iron bar was swung in direction of the innocent party but it did not connect. The man with the bar fled the scene.

Meanwhile, on the Mountmellick Rd, Portlaoise at 1am also on Sunday morning a woman who was walking had her bag snatched. She was in shock and frightened after the incident.

Gardai are seeking a male who was wearing a blue jumper, red scaf and black pants. The jumper and scarf were later recovered in the area.

Any one with information on either incident can contact Gardai in Portlaoise, Mountmellick at any garda station or via the Garda Confidential line.

More on crime here
Irish Rail wants to use infra-red technology to help prevent bridge hits that can hold up traffic and disrupt train commuters in Laois and many other counties.

Iarnrod Eireann/Irish Rails Chief Civil Engineers Department is responsible for a railway network with circa 1,200 bridges with a public road and rail interface in Laois and right around the country.

The company says that every year there are multiple incidents of public road vehicles striking these bridges. While some technology has been introduced to try to prevent strikes, the problem still exists.

The current method for reporting bridge strikes is by phone. An information sign complete with Iarnrod Eireann (IE) contact details is fixed to each bridge and the reporting of the strike incident is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle in question or a witness to the incident.

In an attempt to come up with a better way to respond Iarnrod Eireann has sought applications to develop an innovative, prevention & pre-emptive bridge strike system in collaboration with Enterprise Ireland.

In a tender invitation Iarnrod Eireann says it wants proposals that address the following:

 Advance warning Infra-red vehicle height detection/scanning systems complete with warning & information VMS.

 Remote monitoring, communication and alert methods/systems

 Advance warning structures and/or signage.

 Traffic calming/warning solutions.

 Other; as proposed.

The company said all systems proposed should take account that Iarnrod Eireanns rail network and bridge locations are nationwide and in many circumstances located in remote locations therefore systems and technologies proposed should consider effective solutions for power requirements, operation, communication and equipment maintenance regime.

The company hopes to award a contracts in November 2017.
Bus Eireann will not operate any of its nationwide services from 5am to 2pm tomorrow (October 16th) due to the Hurricane Ophelia national red weather alert.

The company will review the situation in the morning, and will attempt to provide some level of service in some parts of the country in the afternoon, but it is likely widespread disruption could continue for most of the day.

This unprecedented decision is taken in the interests of our customers and staff, and following careful consideration of the advice of agencies co-ordinating a response to Hurricane Ophelia.

"We apologise for the inconvenience and disruption this will cause, but the hurricane is described as a life threatening event and both Met Eireann and the National Emergency Co-Ordination Group have advised people to stay indoors and not to travel," said Bus Eireann.

Bus Eireann have also informed their employees not to travel to work tomorrow before 2pm.

"We will be advising customers of any resumption of services in the afternoon on www.buseireann.ie and on social media @buseireann, and local and regional media will receive any updates," said the company.

The company said it is envisaged that most services will resume on Tuesday, but this will be reviewed and is dependent on the level of damage or flooding caused by Hurricane Ophelia.
The US National Hurricane Centre has updated its warning about Hurricane Ophelia saying the the storm is still on course to have a big impact on Ireland.

The Flordia-based centre said early on Sunday morning Ophelia is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone within 24 hours that is still on course to strike the country.

"Regardless of the exact timing, post-tropical cyclone Ophelia is forecast to remain a powerful storm with hurricane-force winds when it reaches Ireland on Monday," says the warning.

The centre, which had already described Ophelia as a 'Rare Category 3 Hurricane', says the storm system is forecast to interact with land, which should cause a faster rate of weakening in 48 to 72 hours.

"Although the center of Ophelia is not forecast to reach Ireland or the UK until Monday, strong winds and rains will arrive well in advance of the cyclone centre," it said.

LAOIS EMERGENCY SERVICES ON STANDBY - more here

The Centre says that although the satellite appearance of Ophelia has been slowly on Sunday morning, the cyclone remains "an impressive hurricane" due to it being over the relatively cool waters of the northeastern Atlantic.

While Met Eireann has issued a Red Alert for some counties on the west cost and an orange alert for the rest of the country, the US tracking agency does not distinguish the worst area of impact.

"The NHC model guidance remains in excellent agreement on Ophelia reaching the southern coast of Ireland in 24-30 hours, and then move across the remainder of the country Monday night, and then move across Northern Ireland and northern Great Britain on Tuesday," said its Sunday morning forecast.

The US forecasters advises residents in those locations to be hit by the storm to consult their local meteorological service for more information on local impacts.

READ MORE BELOW IMAGE

Hurricane Debbie was the most powerful cyclone on record to strike Ireland when it hit in September 1961. It claimed 18 lives and caused up to 50 million in damage. It is regarded as possibly the only tropical cyclone on record to ever strike Britain and Ireland.

Other notable Hurricanes to have an impact were Charley in 1986, Gordon in 2006 and Katia in 2011. More recently Storm Darwin wreaked havoc in Laois and other Leinster counties in 2014 while Storm Desmond was one of four high power storms in the 2015/16 winter.

Status Red and Orange Warnings have been issued by the State forecaster as Ophelia heads towards the island. The tropical storm is likely to hit Sunday night having its biggest impact on Monday.

Met Eireann has also said the storm is the strongest hurricane recorded on the eastern Atlantic.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group will meet today to discuss preparations for the arrival of Hurricane Ophelia.

A Status Red Wind Warning is in place for the west coast while the rest of the country has been placed on the second highest weather alert level - Orange.

Because of the storm's danger Met Eireann has consulted with their colleagues in the United States.

READ MORE BELOW IMAGE

MET EIREANN WEATHER WARNING SYSTEM EXPLAINED HERE

The Red Warning was issued for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry at noon on Saturday. This was extended to Waterford and Wexford on Sunday. Met Eireann says ex-hurricane Ophelia is expected to bring severe winds and stormy conditions on Monday.

The forecaster says mean wind speeds in excess of 80 km/h and gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding.

Meanwhile, a Status Orange Wind Warning has been issued for the rest of the country. Met Eireann again says that the storm is expected to bring severe winds and stormy conditions to all parts.

Mean wind speeds between 65 and 80 km/h with gusts between of 110 and 130km/h are expected, however some inland areas may not be quite as severe. However, structural damage and disruption is also possible with the potential for flooding.

Both Red and Yellow warning is valid from Monday morning, October 16 9am to Tuesday morning, October 17 3am.

The forcaster has advised the public that it is crucial to keep a close eye on the forecast as Ophelia's direct course could vary by up to 100km. This would mean that the Red Alert area could widen. Among the expected impacts are likely tree falls added the forecaster.

CHECK OUT THE US NATIONAL HURRICANE ADVICE ON OPHELIA HERE

CHECK OUT THE US NATIONAL HURRICANE FOR GENERAL HURRICAN INFORMATION HERE

ROAD SAFETY ADVICE FOR DRIVING IN STORMY WEATHER HERE

MORE FROM MET EIREANN ON HURRICANE OPHELIA HERE

READ MORE BELOW IMAGE



Hurricane Ophelia Discussion Number 25

NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL172017

500 AM AST Sun Oct 15 2017

Although the satellite appearance of Ophelia has been slowly degrading this morning, the cyclone remains an impressive hurricane due to it being over the relatively cool waters of the northeastern Atlantic. A testament to Ophelia's strength is a late arriving buoy Report 25 nmi southeast of the center of the eye from around 0200Z, which indicated that the pressure in the southeastern portion of the large eye or eyewall was 970.9 mb. However, Dvorak intensity estimates have been steadily decreasing since that buoy report, so the intensity has been lowered to 90 kt for this advisory.

Ophelia continues to accelerate and the hurricane is now moving 050/30 kt. Water vapor imagery indicates that a deepening trough just to west of Ophelia is moving quickly eastward, and that the cyclone is now well embedded within the deep-layer southwesterly flow on the east side of the trough. As a result, Ophelia is expected to turn toward the north-northeast by tonight and be accompanied by a slight increase in forward speed. The NHC model guidance remains in excellent agreement on Ophelia reaching the southern coast of Ireland in 24-30 hours, and then move across the remainder of the country Monday night, and then move across Northern Ireland and northern Great Britain on Tuesday.

Ophelia is forecast to become a post-tropical cyclone by 24 hours when extratropical transition should be completed, although the transition to an extratropical cyclone could occur as early as 12 hours. Regardless of the exact timing, post-tropical cyclone Ophelia is forecast to remain a powerful storm with hurricane-force winds when it reaches Ireland on Monday. The system is forecast to occlude and interact with land, which should cause a faster rate of weakening in 48 to 72 hours, with dissipation expected shortly thereafter.

Although the center of Ophelia is not forecast to reach Ireland or the UK until Monday, strong winds and rains will arrive well in advance of the cyclone center. Residents in those locations should consult products from their local meteorological service for more information on local impacts.

KEY MESSAGES from US HURRICANE CENTRE:

1. Ophelia is expected to be a powerful extratropical cyclone with

hurricane force winds Monday while it moves near Ireland and the

United Kingdom. Direct impacts from wind and heavy rain in portions

of these areas are likely, along with dangerous marine conditions.

For more details on the magnitude, timing, and location of impacts

from post-tropical Ophelia, residents in Ireland should refer to

products issued by Met Eireann, and residents in the United Kingdom

should refer to products issued by the Met Office.
Roscrea native George Cunningham who has helped libraries in Laois and other counties as been bestowed with a Honorary Doctorate by the University of Limerick.

In addition to publishing more than 100 books and articles, George Cunningham has collected over 25,000 volumes but has given away more than three times that to schools and other institutions.

Recipients of his books include Colaiste Phobal Ros Cre, the Tipperary, Offaly and Laois library services and the University of Limericks Glucksman Library.

Born in Roscrea in 1940, George Cunningham was awarded a secondary scholarship to St Flannans College in Ennis, County Clare. George then went on to graduate from St Patricks College, Drumcondra as a primary school teacher in 1961.

George went on to successfully lead a campaign for the preservation of Damer House, a Queen Anne townhouse built within Roscrea Castle in 1720, before opening it to the public as a national monument. Following this, George spearheaded many restoration projects including the Damer House Annex and Roscreas round tower.

George retired from teaching in 1987, and in the same year he founded the Roscrea medieval conferences, which brought together national and international scholars to present on learned aspects of Early Christian Ireland and the later Middle Ages.

George served on the UL Governing Authority from 1992 to 2009 and fulfilled the role of deputy chairperson from 2003 to 2007. As chair of the Library Development Committee and a member of the Library Building Committee, his campaign to champion the librarys expansion culminated in the opening of the 9,170 square-metre Glucksman Library in 1998.

UL President, Dr Des Fitzgerald said: The bestowing of a UL honorary doctorate represents the opportunity to honour those who have inspired, and worked tirelessly to make great contributions in their fields of endeavour. Today, we honour two such men who have made unique and powerful contributions to history and the arts in this country.

George Cunningham has spent his life preserving and creating books, he fosters a love for literature in everyone around him.

George Cunningham and Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO) Chairman Michael Buckley were conferred Honorary Doctorates of Letters in Plassey House at the University of Limerick.
An Taisce has come out in support of Kildare County Councillors who want strategic open space maintained at Donaghcumper demesne in Celbridge.

The heritage body, which regularly comments on planning matters, was commenting following the issue of a draft Directive by the Minister for Housing.

The An Taisce submission is one of 214 received by the Council by the September 29 deadline.

On September 13, the Minister, Damien English TD, told the Councils chief executive, Peter Carey on September, that he was considering issuing a direction the Council to change the Celbridge Local Area Plan 2017-2023, which the Council had agreed.

The Minister said he had formed the provisional opinion that the Council did not take account of all matters.

He is taking issue with the Council decision to reject a Town Centre extension to Celbridge at the historic Donaghcumper demesne and a zoning at Crodaun on the edge of the town.

An Taisce,the National Trust for Ireland, agrees with the Minister that new house zoning land at Crodaun should be left out of the plan but that Donaghcumper should remain open space.

The conservation and protection of our natural and built heritage for future generations is supported by a number of government policies, objectives and guidelines at national, regional and local level, said its Planning Officer, Doireann Ni Cheallaigh.

Cllr Anthony Larkin, who proposed the motion against the town centre proposal, said he was very disappointed with the Ministers direction.

Cllr Larkin has responded with to the Minister, in relation to both Donaghcumper and Crodaun.

Cllr Larkin said, while sequential development makes sense in many locations, Donaghcumper Demesne forms an important part of the landscape and the setting around Castletown.

I believe that there must be more emphasis placed on the landscape characteristics when balancing the competing priorities.

I am worried that planning for towns is far too focused on development and does not balance this with amenity considerations. I am also worried that given that the landowner gifted part of the demesne lands to Kildare County Council that by continuing to drive the zoning agenda, the process has been compromised.

The Minister said Donaghcumper site is centrally located and is the most appropriate location for a town centre zoning for future commercial, retail and other related facilities.

Historic

An Taisce said it had outlined the importance of the Donaghcumper site in two submissions to the Celbridge LAP this year.

It said the demesnes of Castletown, St Wolstan's and Donaghcumper collectively form the landscape setting of Castletown House and its grounds.

The value of this landscape is much greater than the sum of its individual parts and warrants protection and preservation.
Four creative 12 year olds demonstrated their generosity in a colourful way all in aid of Enable Ireland Kildare.

The quartet  Joseph Carter, Hughie Doyle, Shane Keogh and Robert Molloy  dyed their hair bright colours to raise funds for a fully accessible playground at the Enable Ireland centre in Jigginstown, Naas.

Each of the boys dyed their hair a fantastic bright colour in this unique fundraising initiative.The boys attend Rathmore NS with Emily Fitzsimons, who attends Enable Ireland in Kildare.

Emilys mother Mary said: It is amazing see a group of young boys using their own initiative and doing something for such a wonderful organisation like Enable Ireland. They werent asked to do it, they did it of their own accord. They get the bus to school with Emily and they know her challenges and the support she gets from Enable Ireland. It shows true kindness and generosity at a young age and it is lovely to see.

Founded in 1948, Enable Ireland provides services to over 5,500 children and adults with disabilities from 40 locations in 14 counties.

Services for children and their families cover all aspects of a child's physical, educational, and social development from early infancy through adolescence.

EI provides a range of services to adults with disabilities, which includes day care training, personal development, supported and independent living, and social and leisure activities.Enable Ireland is part funded by the HSE and other statutory agencies.

Every year EI requires over 2 million in additional funding to meet the costs of delivering its services. Without this additional income from shops and fundraising some facilities could not be provided. It says the demand for its services continues to increase.
The promotion of the Grand Canal as an amenity in Sallins is a priority for the community, according to the Tidy Towns adjudicator w ho assessed the town in this years competition.

Sallins is fortunate to have the canal in the centre of the town, said the judge. The town has started a Sallins Goes Wild Project and is working with schools and organising walks and talks along the canal, with wildlife at the centre of these.

Ivy growth on a wall in the centre of the town was noted and provides a natural habitat for wildlife and more planting of wild flowers here is recommended.

A project to reduce the amount of waste generated by the community is underway and a survey has been carried out in conjunction with the residents, which was described as positive.

There was criticism of litter along the canal but it was acknowledged that tackling this is a difficult task.

Some signs in the canal area were not clean on adjudication day.

Houses on the main street and near the railway station were praised as was the Bridgewater Inn, Flanagans Mill and Cafe Grange.

Overall Sallins was awarded 282 marks, and this is eight more than it received in 2016.
A young orphan girl named Rosanna Fleming would have recieved a travel box when she left Athy workhouse for Australia in the 1840s to escape the Great Famine.

In that box was an item of clothing for her so she could look her best when she arrived, a bible, a needle and thread and a good health and character reference. Perhaps this was her last link to home.

SEE ALSO: Lotto funding for Shackleton's cabin coming to Athy in 2018

Rosanna (19), from Ballyadams, was the oldest of the 34 orphans girls who left the greater Athy area with their travel box under their arms as part of an emigration scheme, intended both to alleviate overcrowding in Irish workhouses, while at the same time lessen the gender imbalance in the Australian population.

To commemorate the young girls sent to Australia from Athy Workhouse in the mid-1840s, the Athy Heritage Centre was presented with a replica famine travel box on Tuesday, September 26.

The historic box bears the name Rosanna Fleming and was presented by the Committee for the Commemoration of Irish Famine Victims, and the Arbour Hill Prison Authorities.

It was made as part of the Famine Travel Box Project, which has seen replica orphan emigration travel boxes made in the prison presented to President Higgins, the United Nations and museums in Australia.

The travel boxes were born from the idea that they symbolised emigrants and their travels to foreign shores to start new lives away from Ireland. They were given to women who went to Australia from workhouses all over the country. Made locally, or in the workhouse, there are no original examples left in existence, so the new boxes are described as being an interpretation of those originals.

Women and young girls, some as young as 10 or 11, were encouraged to emigrate to Australia to seek new opportunities. This practice was known as assisted emigration.

In the box was an item of clothing that was paid for by the Poor Law unions. This was to make sure the girls arrived at their destinations in good order and with enough clothing to start anew.

The Rosanna Fleming travel box will form part of Athys permanent local history exhibition in the Heritage Centre, to remind visitors of the terrible effect that the great famine of 1845- 1849 had here.

Local historian Frank Taafe said that when he approached the two groups they generously agreed to make a travel trunk for presentation to Athy Heritage Centre.

It is fitting that Athy Heritage Centre is to be the recipient of a famine travel trunk as here in Athy we have participated in the National Famine Days commemorations with a ceremony each year in St Marys famine cemetery.

Mark O'Brien with Arbour Hill explained that every box made is as unique as the person who would have carried it.

He added that the Athy box is representative of the goods carried by women leaving the greater South Kildare area prior to, during and after the immediate famine era.

There was a time in Australia when people learned of their convict past and it brought shame. Some even employed officials to destroy documents. Now it is a badge of honour for many Australians and now they are coming home to find their ancestors, both convict and non-convict emigrants. We should be here to help that.
Co Leitrim farmers are being forced to sell stock due to insufficient fodder resources and more are facing problems with feed supplies over the coming months because of poor silage harvests.

Poor weather conditions have left many farmers with little option but to house stock months earlier than usual, using up already scarce fodder resources.

James Gallagher, Leitrim IFA County Chairperson, has called for an Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme top-up to assist farmers.

At the October meeting of Leitrim Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) County Executive representatives said IFA should look for an immediate top-up on payments.

Mr Gallagher went on to say many farmers are having extreme difficulty in conserving essential fodder for their animals and financial support is needed in order to allow them to purchase much-needed supplies.

In addition, many have been forced to house their animals much earlier than normal, thereby using up already scarce fodder that will be needed later in the year, he added.

Some farmers in the county have their cattle in since early August. Many farmers have no fodder and others (made) no second cut of silage.

There may well be a need for a separate fodder scheme to address the current crisis, however, the ANC Scheme provides a quick and efficient way of getting support to those farmers who are most in need, he said.

Mr Gallagher points out financial supports will also ease pressure on farmers being forced to sell animals due to insufficient fodder, sales which are also having a negative impact on beef prices.

Leitrim IFA Executive is calling on the Government to ensure all direct payments to farmers are paid on time. The Executive is also asking banks to re-structure loans to ease repayments.

Mr Gallagher is advising farmers to contact their local Teagasc Advisor to work out a feed plan for the winter months in a bid to avoid further difficulties.

IFA is continuing to call for flexibility to ensure farmers who need to spread slurry this winter, are not penalised and IFA is writing to both the Departments of Agriculture and Local Government to highlight this problem in advance of the deadline this week.
The Cups Against Cancer Afternoon Tea takes place on Friday 20th October from 4-6pm.

The fundraising event is being organised by Aine Shanley from Focal Point Opticians who told the Observer "Along with all of you who would like to support the ICC and Breast Cancer Research we would really like to see those people who have been affected, directly or indirectly by Cancer to avail of this experience."

Cups Against Cancer is the October campaign by the Irish Cancer Society to help fight Breast Cancer and raise awareness. Aine said "By hosting a Cups against cancer event we are supporting patients with breast cancer and their families. The donations from our afternoon tea will fund research and support services for breast cancer patients across Ireland!

"I am privileged to welcome our guest speakers, who volunteer to attend events such as this on their own time.

"Our first speaker is cancer survivor and renowned author of two inspiring books - " Not The Year You Had Planned" and "Stronger Than Yesterday" Cathy McCarthy.

"Cathy who lives in Dublin is originally from Athlone, she will be speaking about her personal experience, her journey through treatment and post treatment and how her books have inspired others who find themselves, or a family member in that situation.

"Both of Cathys' book have received excellent reviews, one quoting "Brilliant resource for anyone under treatment for cancer, whether chemotherapy, radiotherapy and recovery. Many case studies and wide experience of the author."

The next speaker Michael Reilly is from Roscommon, he will be representing the Irish Cancer Society (ICC) and in particular the "Care to Drive" transport Plan which was put in place by the ICC and St. Vincents Uni. Hospital.

These volunteer drivers transport cancer patients to and from hospital appointments, collecting them at their door, bringing to appointment and home again.

In the first year 96 of these wonderful volunteers covered a total of 34,000km over 1,132 journeys. Michael himself has been a volunteer since October 2015 and has completed nearly 100 drives to date!

Aine added "We will also have local lady Antoinette Tivnan present on the day with a new initiative she has come up with called "The Cancer Care Pack" This is a pack for both male and female patients who are undergoing treatment at present, she will speak about the products included and how patients will benefit from them.

"It is nice to have the opportunity to give something back to a wonderful charity like this, the work they do in supporting patients and their families is invaluable and so inspiring."
For over 50 years, credit unions in Ireland have been trusted to meet the financial, economic and social needs of their local communities. They are central to the everyday lives of millions of members.

Credit unions remain popular and continue to succeed because we have stayed true to our values and ethos. While the future will bring opportunities for growth and innovation, we will be at the heart of communities, serving members best interests.

On Thursday, October 19, Irish credit unions will join credit unions in other communities around the world to celebrate International Credit Union Day.

This years theme, Dreams Thrive Here celebrates how credit unions serve as catalysts to make personal choices and career paths real.

Credit unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that provide an effective and viable alternative to for-profit financial institutions for over 231 million members in 109 countries worldwide.

More than 68,000 credit unions exist globally, providing a plethora of financial services for their members, recognised as a force for positive economic and social change.

Credit unions are unique because they are not-for-profit, democratically controlled, member-owned cooperatives.

Credit unions pool their members assets to provide low-cost loans and other financial services in the best interest of the members, not to earn shareholder profits.

Credit unions play a vital role in the economic development and stability of the communities they serve, helping people improve their lives through access to affordable financial services and making the world a better place to live.

Across the island of Ireland, 3.5 million people enjoy the benefits of credit union membership. This International Credit Union Day, we hope everyone will join us in celebrating the credit union difference, our proud cooperative heritage and the wonderful opportunities credit unions and cooperatives offer members every day.
All schools in Co. Leitrim will be closed tomorrow after Met Eireann issued a status red weather alert this evening for the entire country due to the arrival of Hurricane Ophelia in the early morning.

Ex-Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to track directly over Ireland during daytime Monday. Violent and destructive gusts are forecast with all areas at risk and in particular the southwest and south in the morning, and eastern counties in the afternoon, Met Eireann said on its website.

Also heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding. There is potential risk to lives.

The Department of Education said that as a result of the warning all schools, colleges and other education institutions are being told to remain closed.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Michael Creed T.D. this evening urged farmers, fishermen and people in rural areas to be extra vigilant and take precautions as Storm Ophelia approaches the country.

"I urge farmers and all people in rural areas to ensure that they are ready for the approaching storm and ask them to follow closely the advice of the authorities particularly for those in the worst affected counties. Priority is obviously the safety of people and I would reiterate the advice that only essential travel should be taken. For farmers they should ensure that their yards are secured by securing loose objects."

The Minister also reminded landowners of the dangers of fallen trees in particular the impact this can have on electric wires. The assessment of damage in such circumstances should only be carried by appropriately trained professionals from the electricity companies.

Shed doors should be securely fastened and older slat roofs sheds avoided. If you have to check on livestock, bring a family member or neighbour and in more exposed and remote areas, wait until the storm abates.

The Minister also asked people to check on elderly neighbours in rural areas and importantly avoid any risks.
A YOUNG man who assaulted two prison officers at Limerick Prison was this week sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

Frank Ryan, aged 22, of No Fixed Abode, pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to an incident at the prison on January 3, last.

Limerick District Court was told the defendant, who has a long history of drug abuse, attacked one prison officer near the door of his cell and that the second guard was injured when he tried to assist his colleague.

Sergeant John Moloney said one of the prison officers sustained three fractured ribs and well as injuries to his eye socket and nose.

The second, he said, sustained bruising to his head and back.

Both men, he added, had declined to make Victim Impact Statements.

Solicitor John Herbert said his client, who has 25 previous convictions, had been returning to his cell when other prisoners began chanting to suggest he was in possession of illicit drugs.

He said Mr Ryan reacted badly when one of the prison officers approached him and indicated he was to be searched for contraband.

Mr Herbert said his client admits hitting the first prison officer near the door of his cell but that he does not know how the second officer was injured given the confined space of his cell.

Judge Mary Larkin was told the defendant, who is originally from Tipperary Town, did not have any drugs in his possession and that no disciplinary action was taken by the prison authorities in relation to any contraband.

He reacted very badly, he didnt want to be searched, said Mr Herbert.

The solicitor told the court Mr Ryan believed he would be stripped naked and placed in a padded cell for days claiming that is a regular practice at Limerick Prison.

When Judge Larkin described the allegations as extraordinary Mr Herbert stood over them insisting they were true: Its a fact not an allegation. Thats what he was afraid of, he said.

Mr Herbert added his client is now on remand in Cork Prison awaiting trial before the circuit court for serious drugs offences in County Tipperary.

Imposing sentence, Judge Larkin commented the reaction of the defendant to potentially being searched was extraordinary and over the top.

Noting the contents of medical reports which were submitted to the court, she said it was clear both prison officers had been subjected to an assault.

She added that the actions of the defendant had necessitated both attending the accident and emergency department at University Hospital Limerick for examination following the incident.

She imposed consecutive prison sentences totalling nine months.
UNIVERSITY Hospital Limerick is breaching HSE guidelines and is being described as a black spot, as hundreds of patients have been left waiting for months for a routine colonoscopy.

According to a quarterly national performance report, UHL failed to see more than 30% of cases for a routine colonoscopy within the target time of 13 weeks, as set out by the HSE.

As of September 21, there were 1,481 patients waiting for this procedure, with 594 left on a waiting list for more than 13 weeks. As a result, UHL was classed as code black for its performance.

Code black is the highest level of escalation, which the HSE indicates that prolonged underperformance puts quality, safety and financial sustainability at risk.

A spokesperson for the UL Hospitals Group said that it is one of six hospital groups not meeting the HSEs targets, and that it has performed slightly above the national average.

She said that because UHL is the only model 4 hospital in the Mid-West, there are additional demands to facilitate prompt discharging of inpatients who require colonoscopy as part of their diagnostics. This can place increased pressure on outpatient waiting lists during periods of high inpatient demand.

But Fianna Fail Deputy Niall Collins has said that attempts by the hospital to spin away the scandalous backlogs will not go unnoticed by the public.

The fact that 40% of all colonoscopies at the hospital are not taking place within the designated 13 week time period, irrespective of what is happening in other hospitals across the country, should act as a wake up call.

UHL is a black spot according to the HSEs own criteria. Attempting to spin this fact away by comparing to other hospitals and hospital groups is a facile attempt at hiding from the fact patients are simply waiting too long to have their diagnostic procedure.

He added that it is a weak response to say that the situation is worse in other hospitals.

[It] ignores the risks patients in Limerick are facing because they arent getting their procedures as quickly as they should.

He said that the HSE needs to provide a funded plan to reduce waiting times for colonoscopies.

Everything else is a distraction from whats happening on the ground, the Fianna Fail TD told the Limerick Leader.

In 2016, a total of 2,136 people had a colonoscopy procedure carried out at University Hospital Limerick. And 1,091 people received this procedure between January 1 and July 15.

The spokesperson said that after recently carrying out 60% of cases within the target, the hospital saw an 8% improvement on August figures.

Referrals for colonoscopy are received from a variety of sources, including patients, GP referrals, consultant referrals, outpatient clinics, and both surgical and medical assessment units.

The UL Hospitals Group continues to meet targets on urgent colonoscopies, with no patient waiting any longer than four weeks so far this year.
THE OWNER of a private solid fuel company in Limerick is calling on a government minister to divest the States interest in Bord Na Mona, as he believes funding it is anti-competitive and detrimental to other businesses in the market.

Pat OSullivan of Galtee Fuels, Barrigone, believes that the investment by Bord Na Mona for its new smokeless coal plant in Foynes is in breach of EU competition law, as it is getting an unfair advantage in its preparations for a potential smoky coal ban.

Mr OSullivan wrote to the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, calling for more transparency about the funding Bord Na Mona will receive for the new 20m West Limerick development.

Writing as a taxpayer and also as a competitor, Mr OSullivan outlined his dissatisfaction that Bord Na Mona is receiving a head start, to the detriment of smaller locally-owned businesses.

There are companies like us competing with Bord Na Mona in the marketplace. If the government were to ban coal, then in effect, they are saying we are going to give Bord Na Mona 25 million to prepare for after the ban.

This is giving an unfair advantage to a semi-state company, Mr OSullivan told the Limerick Leader.

He also said that the state should not be importing coal or solid fuel products at all, if it is to promote the use of alternative fuels.

It should divest itself completely of its interests in Bord Na Mona, and leave that business to the private industry.

The government is contradicting itself by talking about clean air while it still imports and markets peat, wood and bituminous products, he said.

Mr OSullivan also said that the government should first look to ban wood and peat, which produce more smoke than bituminous coal. He also said that legitimate small fuel businesses are already struggling due to the huge black market for solid fuels.

In his letter, the businessman called on the minister to seek written authority from the EU to provide such funding to Bord Na Mona. He asked that the minister not allow Bord Na Mona to commence or expend any funding on these projects without the prior written approval of the EU.

Mr OSullivan wrote that he is making the request because he believes that the planned investment by Bord Na Mona in the development of a plant at Foynes to produce manufactured coal products is anti-competitive and is in breach of EU competition law.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment did not respond to a request for comment.
CHE Guevaras visit to Limerick in 1965 was romanticised by many.

But, 52 years later, and with the benefit of hindsight, do the people of Limerick still see him as an iconic figure deserving the privilege and status of being put on an Irish stamp?

The 50th anniversary An Post 1 stamp which has caused much controversy this week, features a famous image of Guevara designed by Dublin artist Jim Fitzpatrick.

Guevara, originally of Irish descent, helped Fidel Castro overthrow the US backed dictator Batista. He has been described by many as a terrorist and murderer while others have said he was a freedom fighter and a hero.

Jimmy Griseto, who is originally from the United States but has been in Limerick since 2000, has a personal interest in this story.

I have a Cuban friend who emigrated to my hometown of Chicago at the end of the revolution and when I told him about the stamp he became upset, he explained.

At 10 years of age and after the revolution, Mr Grisetos friend left Cuba to emigrate to his uncles in Chicago and didn't see his parents again until he was 21 years of age.

I had to explain the Irish connection to my friend, he just couldnt understand why somebody in another country would put Guevara on a stamp, as he is not a type of figure to be looked up to, he was a scary guy.

Mr Grisetos friend maintains Castro and Guevara were filling the decks as many of those killed were teachers, solicitors and doctors who posed a threat to the revolution, but there was no threat as the revolution was over.

Mr Griseto believes that Guevara is overly romanticised.

"I think this guy is way over romanticised, it's unbelievable that nobody ever speaks about what this man did. I realise he does have an Irish connection but I can think of 100 other people that can be memorialised on a stamp. I cant believe that An Post didn't hear any of these stories and that they would disregard them.

Limerick Cllr Emmet OBrien has described the commissioning of the stamp as a national embarrassment.

I think it's outrageous that a mass murderer, terrorist and Marxist who has no connection to this country would be put on a stamp of this country,said Cllr OBrien.

He believes that the decision to commission this stamp is a sign of cultural Marxism that needs to be stopped.

It sends out a mixed message to American investors which employs over 9,000 people in the Shannon region from foreign direct investment. I know it's very trendy to be fan of Che Guevara but when you investigate what he did he was a very brutal man who executed people.

But Limerick Sinn Fein senator Paul Gavan has issued a strong defence for the commissioning of this stamp

We should be very proud of the fact that Che had Irish ancestry. He is a hero not just in Cuba but to oppressed people throughout the world. He forged a new society in Cuba that despite huge economic obstacles and financial terrorism from the US has managed to deliver health and education system systems that rank with the best in the world."

"People complaining about this new stamp have no idea about the nature of the Batista dictatorship which Che helped to overthrow. They also ignore the huge love and respect in which both Che and his comrade Fidel Castro continue to be held by the Cuban people. He was and is a hero to the Cuban people, and to millions of people around the globe. We should be very proud to have his image adorn our national postage stamp, he said.

Cllr Cian Prendiville believes that the historic link between Che Guevara and Limerick is something that should be commemorated and celebrated.

He not only opposed injustice from the US and capitalism, he also criticised the dictatorships in the Soviet Union and its only right that he should be commemorated, commented Cllr Prendiville.
A BOMBSHELL was dropped last July on Limerick breast cancer survivors when the HSE disclosed cuts to products entitlements.

They announced a new allowance of 68.50 every two years. The value a woman with a medical card would have got ranged from 100 to 300 per year. They were allowed a breast prosthesis every two years and two surgical bras every year. The cost of a prosthesis is between 150 and 200. It is approximately 50 for a surgical bra.

After the story hit national media, Minister for Health Simon Harris said the HSE had no authority to make a policy decision to cut the supports of women who had breast cancer surgery. A review commenced.

Valerie Murphy, of Valeries Breast Care in Askeaton, set up a petition opposing the cuts which received over 1,400 signatures and over 400 comments. The specialist in prostheses and support wear for breast cancer patients requested a meeting with the minister as she felt a responsibility to her clients and everyone that supported the petition.

It was facilitated by Deputy Tom Neville. It was held last week in Leinster House and also in attendance were high ranking officials from the Department of Health.

I wanted answers to relay to the women. I felt it important to have a face to face meeting with the people making the decisions, said Valerie.

As a business that works across eight counties, dealing with survivors daily, I felt my input would be beneficial. Also, I was concerned that the expert working group, who had come up with the figure of 68.50, was the same group working on the new policy, she continued.

Valerie told the meeting about the stress the changes have put survivors under, and the impact physically and mentally if they do not receive their products.

And the impact on our services who will find it hard to remain open if adequate funding is not given to survivors. This will result in more overcrowding in hospitals and more work for breast care nurses. I spoke about the emotional impact on survivors if they do not have a relationship with the mastectomy services, and the very unique relationship I have with my clients. Department of Health officials showed a concern for the women which I felt was important.

I believe the outcome will be positive. I predict there will not be a huge change in the Limerick area. I hope that women will still get their breast prosthesis every two years and two surgical bras every year, said Valerie. A decision on entitlements will be made by the end of the year and implemented at the beginning of 2018.

Deputy Neville organised a meeting because, he said, it was imperative to allow people directly involved to speak to the Minister and powers that be.

We are talking about real people in real situations who have gone through traumatic circumstances. They deserve the dignity and the respect of living the rest of their lives in comfort, and being able to go about daily tasks in the least impaired way as possible, said the Gine Gael TD.
THE NATIONAL Hurricane Centre in Florida has urged all those affected by the Hurricane Ophelia to make preparations to protect lives and property as it approaches Limerick and the Irish west coast on Monday morning.

After Limerick was issued an orange alert this Saturday, it is likely that Met Eireann will upgrade it to a red alert this Sunday night.

Met Eireann confirmed this weekend that Ophelia is the most powerful Atlantic storm to hit this far east, as it tracks close to or over Ireland between 6am and 6pm.

The storm could affect hundreds of Shannon Airport passengers, as it has now asked people to check flight status with your airline before making your way to the airport.

Please check your flight status with your airline before making your way to the airport.



More updates to follow.  Shannon Airport (@ShannonAirport) October 15, 2017

The National Hurricane Centre, based in Miami, said in a report this morning that a powerful post-tropical cyclone is expected to hit Ireland.

Affected areas will see maximum winds of between 105kph and 165kph it said.

Gale-force winds are expected to begin across southern Ireland by early Monday morning and gradually spread northward across the country during the day. Hurricane-force winds are expected to reach the southern portions of Ireland by Monday afternoon and spread inland across the country into Monday night. Preparations to protect lives and property should be rushed tocompletion by this afternoon, it said. It added: A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.

MetAlert Ireland, an independent weather awareness group, said that it considers Limerick will join the list of red alert counties this Sunday.

It added that flooding, power outages, felled trees and road debris are expected throughout the day.

Limerick City and County Council have installed flood barriers, in advance of the storms arrival. It is understood that council officials are keeping a watching brief and will be guided by the National Emergency Team, as it discusses the matter this Sunday.

 Met Eireann has issued a Level Orange severe weather alert (Wind). Valid from 09:00 Mon. 16/10... https://t.co/s1Xe0aOVFb  Limerick Council (@LimerickCouncil) October 14, 2017

Just in case people are wondering in Limerick. Strong winds on Monday are expected to reach its apex (max 140kph) between 3pm and 6pm.  Fintan Walsh (@FintanYTWalsh) October 14, 2017

All schools in Clare are expected to close for the day, following Met Eireanns red alert warning this Saturday.

Parteen National School contacted parents this weekend, stating: School will be closed on Monday, October 16th due to the Red Weather Warning relating to wind that is in place in Co Clare. If the weather warning is downgraded and we can open up, we will be notified tomorrow.

Department of Education guidelines around red wind alerts say that schools should consider not opening. If a school decides to re-open, they must consult with the gardai, public transport or local authority.

Croom Family Resource Centre, which includes pre-school and after-school, will be closed on Monday.

The National Hurricane Centre has advised people in Ireland to keep a watchful eye on Met Eireann updates, and it will provide an update at 4pm on Sunday.
MET Eireann has officially upgraded Limericks weather status to a Red Alert this Sunday afternoon, as a powerful post-tropical cyclone hits Ireland this Monday.

On top of a 'Red' wind warning, Limerick will also experience a severe 'Code level orange' for heavy rain at times throughout the day.

As a result, an exhaustive list of services are expected to close for the day. This includes community centres, schools, creches, public transport, and many other services.

Bus Eireann confirmed shortly before 11pm this Sunday that no services will run until Monday afternoon at the earliest.

All services cancelled nationwide from 0500-1400 tomorrow. Situation will be reviewed and some services may resume in the afternoon #Ophelia  Bus Eireann (@Buseireann) October 15, 2017

Court sittings scheduled for Monday have been postponed with the Courts Service saying it will review the situation regarding Tuesday.

The Department of Social Protection says all of its offices will remain closed while the UL Hospitals Group says all outpatient appointments, day surgery and elective procedures in University Hospital Limerick, University Maternity Hospital Limerick, Nenagh Hospital, Ennis Hospital, Croom Orthopaedic Hospital and St Johns Hospital have been cancelled.

Injury Units will remain open in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals from 8am to 8pm and in St Johns Hospitals from 8am to 6pm and the Emergency Department in UHL remains open 24/7.

In response to the weather warning, Limerick City and County Council has issued a number of tips for people to stay safe as the Hurricane passes through.

Gardai have also issued a Road Safety Alert ahead of the expected high winds.

"People living in areas where a Red level weather warning has been issued should not make any non-essential journeys. There should be no cycling in RED zones and avoid where necessary elsewhere," said a spokesperson.

Drivers of high sided vehicles and motorcyclists are being urged to exercise caution and to be aware of the extreme danger posed by gale force winds as they are particularly vulnerable.

Limerick City and County Council has confirmed that all meetings scheduled for tomorrow have been cancelled while the Department of Justice is urging those due to travel to Dublin for a citizenship ceremony not to do so.

All .@LimerickCouncil meetings scheduled for tomorrow Monday are cancelled due to #StormOphelia #Ophelia  Limerick Council (@LimerickCouncil) October 15, 2017

Minister for Education Richard Bruton has said that all schools 'Red Alert' areas, including Limerick, should remain closed on Monday.

He said that in response to the imminent arrival of Storm Ophelia, the Department of Education and Skills "is now informing all schools in areas affected by Met Eireanns status red wind alert that they are to act on the Departments advice and remain closed tomorrow, Monday 16 October.

"For parents, this means that their children will not attend school tomorrow in any area where there is a status red wind alert already announced or announced in the intervening time."

#OPHELIA Minister for Education @RichardBrutonTD has said all schools in 'Red Alert' areas, including Limerick, should be closed tomorrow pic.twitter.com/NOpW9Jf5zM  Fintan Walsh (@FintanYTWalsh) October 15, 2017

Met Eireann has issued a Level Red severe weather alert (Wind). Valid from 09:01 Mon. 16/10/20... https://t.co/ju1TmXNtN1  Limerick Council (@LimerickCouncil) October 15, 2017

ESB Networks says it is now at Red Weather Preparedness Level and that all internal resources are on alert and will be deployed to respond to all electricity outages once it is safe to do so.

"We continually monitor the forecasts and real time events on the electricity network and will deploy resources safely to these events. Updates will issue over the course of the storm," said a spokesperson.

Crews from ESB Networks will be dispatched to the affected areas without electricity supply, making the electricity network safe and assessing the damage, so that they can restore power as quickly and effectively as possible.

Meanwhile, in an alert this Sunday afternoon, Met Eireann said that Hurricane Ophelia is expected to transition to a post tropical storm as it approaches our shores on Monday bringing severe winds and stormy conditions.

Mean wind speeds in excess of 80 km/h and gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding."

The Metropolitan Mayor of Limerick, Cllr Sean Lynch has urged the public to take extra caution if they are travelling.

"Look out for your neighbours, be cautious. I know the local authority are aware and they have the floor mechanisms in case we have any type of severe flooding. They will be on-call, and we will be ready to rock and roll. But individuals will have to take a responsible role as well. And if it is going to be severe as we have been led to believe, then we really have to exercise caution. Just be careful out there."

Hundreds of Shannon Airport passengers are expected to be affected by the severe weather.

A spokesperson issued a statement at 8.52pm, confirming that flights to and from Edinburgh, Birmingham and London/Heathrow have been cancelled. Shannon Airport will, however, continue operations otherwise.

Shannon Airport will remain open tomorrow, Monday 16th October. The safety of our passengers and staff is our first priority. We would ask passengers to contact their airline with regard to updates on schedule changes for tomorrow. However, at this point we are aware of the following flight cancellations: Aer Lingus Regional EI3675/3672 from and to Edinburgh and EI 3639/3638 from and to Birmingham, and London/Heathrow EI381 and EI384 with Aer Lingus.

Airlines will continue to advise passengers of schedule changes and we advise intending passengers to check the status of their flight with their airline before travelling to the airport tomorrow," the spokesperson said.

The airport has taken to Twitter to urge customers to check your flight status with your airline before making your way to the airport.

Please check your flight status with your airline before making your way to the airport.



More updates to follow.  Shannon Airport (@ShannonAirport) October 15, 2017

The HSE told the Limerick Leader this Sunday that the principal response agencies in Limerick of the Local Authority,An Garda Siochana and HSE are in consultation regarding contingency plans for the adverse weather indicated for Monday.

We continue to take advice from the National Co ordination Centre and other sources.

Limerick City and County Council has activated its flood barriers in the city and county, and has advised the public to urge caution.

All schools and colleges are to remain closed tomorrow.

Mary Immaculate College will close its Limerick and Tipperary campuses in response to the severe weather while LIT and UL will also remain closed.

"Students and staff are advised to remain at home and monitor alerts circulated by Met Eireann," said a spokesperson for Mary I.

AA Roadwatch and the Road Safety Authority are appealing to motorists not to make unnessary journeys tommorrow.

People living in areas where a RED level weather warning has

been issued should not make any non-essential journeys #StormOphelia  RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) October 15, 2017

For people who are going to be affected by Hurricane Ophelia, here is a list of useful numbers

Emergency services - 999/112

Limerick City and County Council - 061 556000

Limerick Council (out of hours) - 061 417833

ESB Networks emergency line - 1850 372999

Gas Networks Ireland - 1850 205050
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. To do so, first type the original number into the text box. Then click on the "Scientific Notation" option located at the top of the floating window. Finally, click on the "Standard" button found beneath the text box to display your result. This program is useful for scientists and engineers working with decimal-based numbers. It provides easy access to those who need to convert those numbers into more compact forms without having to do heavy math calculations first.

Scientific notation is a way to express very large or very small numbers. It is used in physics, chemistry and other fields where large numbers are common. Those numbers are written as a power of 10 followed by a number with an exponent. For example, 1,000,000 (one million) is written as 1  103. The exponent shows how many zeros are after the first digit. For example, 1,000,001 is written as 1  102. Scientific notation is a useful tool for making calculations easier. You can use it to write down very big or very small numbers in one step instead of writing out both the large and small numbers separately. You can also use it to express large or small numbers in terms of other units like centimeters or millimeters.

Scientific notation solver is an online tool that can be used to convert any number into scientific notation. Simply enter any number to the left of the decimal point and it will automatically convert it into a scientific notation equivalent. This web tool can be very helpful when you need to convert a large number into scientific notation. However, please note that this online tool can only convert numbers that are in scientific format. For example, it cannot convert a non-scientific number like "1,085" into a scientific notation equivalent. It is also important to keep in mind that this web tool only works when converting numbers from one particular format to another. For example, if you want to change a non-scientific number like "1,085" into standard format, then you will have to use another online tool like NumberFormatting.com.
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Lynne Anderson Powell died while fleeing the Tubbs Fire that tore through her Santa Rosa neighborhood early last Monday. She was 72. She is survived by her husband, George. Ms. Powell had been the principal flutist for the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra for 17 years.

Every morning, the Powells walked their four working border collies on the miles of trails near their home on Blue Ridge Trail in Santa Rosa.

In the afternoon, George Powell took two of his three dogs to ranches to herd sheep, and Ms. Powell prepped hers for agility trials.

Thats one of the ways we kept in condition, George Powell said.

The Powells took their last morning walk together more than a week ago.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

She always had my back, George Powell said. She tried to make life OK for me, regardless of what she was going through.

Before he went to bed on Sunday, Powell thought he smelled fire and saw ash in the air.

There seems to be something going on, he told his wife of 33 years. We need to be ready to go.

Weve smelled this before, she said. Then she rolled over and went to sleep.

A neighbors car horn roused George Powell from sleep at around 1 a.m., he said. When he looked at the window, all he could see was a red glow. There was a wall of fire rolling toward their house.

I said, Lynne, get out, George Powell recalled.

She jumped up and grabbed her dog, who always slept next to her, and scooped up a laptop on the way to her car. She was supposed to turn right on Mark West Springs Road, because that was the escape route they had made.

She left about 10 minutes before he did, because George Powell wasnt going to leave without his three dogs.

I didnt care if I died with them, he said. It was OK, because I thought my wife was out. I thought she was going to be safe.

Lynne Powell never made it to Mark West Springs Road. Apparently blinded by smoke and flames, she drove off the side of the road.

What I didnt know is I had passed her, said George Powell, 74. She was down in a ravine. And I had no idea she was down there. If I had known that, I wouldve gone down with her. I wouldve gone to try and find her.

The couple, who have no children, moved to Santa Rosa from Oregon 10 years ago to be closer to Lynnes late parents, who lived in Palo Alto. Her mother was Jean Jenkins, a well-known enamelist and goldsmith.

Ms. Powell met her husband through mutual friends in Los Angeles, where he worked as a photojournalist at El Camino Community College in Torrance.

The first time I saw her, I was in love, Powell said. We connected so quickly. We met in December, and we were married in February.

They settled in Albuquerque. He found work at a television station. After the New Mexico Symphony folded in 2011, Lynne got a secretarial job at Sandia National Laboratories. They both retired and moved to Eugene, Ore., before settling in Santa Rosa.

Lynne Powell had been recovering from mouth cancer, her husband said. She had to feed herself on a stomach tube for eight months.

Still, she was up every morning to walk.

Funeral arrangements are not yet set, George Powell said.

Otis R. Taylor Jr. is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: otaylor@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @otisrtaylorjr
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Note: This story has been updated to reflect a change in program due to a shipping problem. The Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 programs have switched. The Oct. 16 double-feature isnow Murder By Contract at 6 p.m. and 9:25 p.m., and The Crimson Kimono at 7:45 p.m. The Oct. 23 triple-feature has House of Horrors at 6:30 p.m., The Amazing Mr. X at 7:50 p.m. and Soul of a Monster at 9:20 p.m.

Methought I heard a voice cry, Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep  the innocent sleep, Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care, The death of each days life, sore labors bath, Balm of hurt minds, great natures second course, Chief nourisher in lifes feast.

 Shakespeares Macbeth, Act 2, Scene 2

Nazis in America. An attempt at a government takeover by a foreign power. Uneasy race relations. Paranoia around every corner.

Sound like modern times? Thats the point of Elliot Lavines latest I Wake Up Dreaming noir series at the Castro Theatre, screening on Mondays in October. Although the 11 films that contain these plotlines span the years 1941-1962, theres a definite menacing nod to the Trump era.

That we now live in an increasingly paranoid time where uncertainty is the norm and then shudder collectively at the notion that a dark menace, originating in Russia, would strive to undermine and ultimately desecrate the American system of democracy, to me, smacks of 100-percent pure-bred film noir, said Lavine from his home in Vancouver, Wash., where he recently relocated from the Bay Area. That was the starting point for this series. ... Yes, it was most certainly inspired by the dangerously dark nightmare of a Trump presidency.

This edition of I Wake Up Dreaming is subtitled Sleep No More! That was Don Siegels original title for his 1956 zombie classic Invasion of the Body Snatchers, a paranoid science fiction thriller made as a reaction to the McCarthy Era communist witch hunts. That warning to future generations about herd mentality and mindlessly following orders serves as one half of the perfect ending to the festival on Oct. 30.

The other half: The Manchurian Candidate (1962), in which Laurence Harvey is brainwashed by a foreign power and becomes a pawn in a Communist plot to take over the presidency.

The festival begins Monday, Oct. 2 with Blues in the Night (1941). It might be the only noir musical, a film about jazz musicians that Lavine calls a distressingly familiar picture of how certain classes (and races) are easily and conveniently consigned to secondary status.

Indeed, Blues in the Night is a terrific find, aggressively directed by Anatole Litvak, starring Richard Whorf, Betty Field, the great character actor Jack Carson and a young Elia Kazan, before he became a great (and controversial) director. Think of it as a gangster film  except instead of gangsters, theyre blues musicians, handling pianos and trumpets like Cagney handles Tommy guns.

That gem is packaged with Phantom Lady (1944), in which Franchot Tone is a relentless narcissist capable of grotesque psychopathic behavior  and Elisha Cook Jr. turns in the most erotic drum solo in movie history.

Then Oct. 9 is fighting-Nazis night  perhaps the most purely entertaining evening of the series. Vincent Shermans delirious, over-the-top All Through the Night has Humphrey Bogart, William Demarest and Jackie Gleason (!) doing battle with Nazis Conrad Veidt, Peter Lorre and Dame Judith Anderson in New York City. Across the pond in London, Ray Milland stumbles into a fascist plot of his own in Fritz Langs visually striking 1944 adaptation of Graham Greenes Ministry of Fear (the film also screens at Berkeley Art Museums Pacific Film Archive on Oct. 28 as part of a series of Greene adaptations).

Other highlights include The Crimson Kimono (Oct. 16), Samuel Fullers 1959 tale of a two L.A. cops, one Asian (James Shigeta) and one white (Glenn Corbett) both in love with a white woman (Victoria Shaw) as they try to solve a strippers murder  tt plays with Irving Lerners hitman thriller Murder By Contract (1958).

Make room on your calendar for an amazing, Halloween-themed B movie triple feature on Oct. 23. First, the distinctive Rondo Hatton, whose monster mask required no make-up  he had a pituitary disease  stars as The Creeper, his signature role , in House of Horrors; a charlatan (Turhan Bey) poses as a psychic in The Amazing Mr. X (cinematography by noir specialist John Alton), and an irresistible cheapy The Soul of a Monster.

The 11 films in this series, taken as a whole, can be seen as a tricked-out version of the world we presently inhabit, Lavine said.

In other words, do a double-take on your way out of the theater. You might be followed, or worse, hopelessly ensnared in the web of a sinister plot, with no way out.

Dont trust anyone.

G. Allen Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ajohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BRfilmsAllen

I Wake Up Dreaming 2017: Sleep No More!: Monday, Oct. 2 through Oct. 30. Castro Theatre, 429 Castro St., S.F. (415) 621-6120. www.castrotheatre.com. $13 per double feature.
Samantha Russell is in her senior year at American University. And in her time on the Washington, D.C., campus, so much has changed.

To start with, when Russell arrived as a freshman in fall 2014, a program known as Empower AU wasn't even around.

As someone who helps educate her peers about staying well, she can tell you all about Empower AU: It involves students working with fellow students, teaching about consent, boundaries and what resources are available. It began a few years ago, during a time of increased national attention on the issue of campus sexual assault - a time of sweeping change and vocal concern across the country.

"Freshmen come in, and it's almost an icebreaker with them, meeting their now-peers but also learning these new topics and learning that it's OK to talk about sex, it's OK to be open about this stuff, it's OK to ask questions," said Russell, an international relations major from Scituate, Massachusetts.

In recent years, a subject once consigned to the shadows - sexual abuse, along with its victims and perpetrators - has moved into the spotlight. It remained a focus at the start of this school year as students arrived on campuses and the Trump administration announced changes to guidance on Title IX, the federal anti-discrimination law.

"Students all across the country are going to take this issue on as one to champion," said Felicia McGinty, vice chancellor for student affairs at Rutgers University at New Brunswick in New Jersey. "They don't want us to retrench. They want us to move forward and continue to embrace our commitment around these issues.

"For those people who read political tea leaves, I think they've got it wrong if they think this generation of students is just going to say, 'Hey, OK, that's last year's issue. We've moved on to something else.' I don't think so."

At George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, the work to combat campus sexual assault begins before students arrive in the classroom. At this year's freshman convocation, students heard the university's president talk about the importance of taking care of themselves and one another, said Rose Pascarell, vice president for university life. They also learned about student rights and responsibilities and went through training on how to intervene in situations that appear troubling.

By reaching first-year students, schools can build a foundation of knowledge about the topic, said Samantha Skaller, a master's degree student at McGill University in Montreal who is involved in the "It's On Us" sexual-assault awareness campaign.

"And then your second year, you get to learn more, and your third and fourth year, you get to continue to learn more," she said.

Skaller, who went to Syracuse University as an undergraduate, recalls her freshman experience with sexual-assault prevention education. "We had to do some tutorials about consent, but no one took it seriously. No one watched it," she said.

Skaller didn't watch, either. But twice, she said, she was the victim of rape while at Syracuse. She never reported the allegations to law enforcement, but the second time, she went to theuniversity with a formal Title IX complaint.

The process was draining, and the result was disappointing: The man was found not responsible.

But while at Syracuse, Skaller also became an advocate working to change the campus culture. She saw the It's On Us campaign spread. Students signed pledges. Professors mentioned it in class materials.

"We have a lot of progress to make," she said, "but in five years, I have such a good feeling that the passion is still going to be there and we're still going to be creating small movements of change."

Surveys show how often sexual assault occurs on campuses. A 2015 Association of American Universities study found that more than 20 percent of female undergraduates at prominent universities were the victims of sexual assault or misconduct.

That same year, a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey reached a similar conclusion, reporting that 20 percent of current and recent female college students experienced sexual assault.

The Association of American Universities, a group of research universities in the United States and Canada, followed up on its 2015 survey with a report in April that pointed to increased staffing, training and student support.

All the responding schools had changed (or were working to change) education and training for faculty and students in the past three academic years. The reportindicated that schools were dedicating more attention to training their campus communities on how to step in during troubling situations.

"There is no magic bullet," the report said, "or one-size-fits-all approach: Universities have undertaken a wide variety of actions including increased and targeted training, greater awareness-building, better coordinated data collection . . . and greater levels of collaboration within institutions and their communities."

In its short time at the institution, for example, Empower AU has already become a point of pride at the school, which was recently lauded for its sexual-assault prevention efforts.

Mickey Irizarry, director of American University's student wellness center, pointed to the 2011 "Dear Colleague" letter thatlaid out guidance for schools on handling sexual-assault complaints as a turning point. At the same time it came out, she said, there was a push from students who had a "desire to hold their university accountable to do this type of programming" and do work around the topic.

"They were asking for more resources, asking for more support, asking for policies and for more transparency," she said.

Julian Williams, vice president for compliance, diversity and ethics at George Mason, called the 2011 guidance a "game changer."

"It spurred colleges and universities to develop what I call a Title IX infrastructure, which means, OK, so how do we do this in a way that recognizes that we want to create a campus that's free from sexual assault, dating violence and stalking," he said.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spoke on George Mason's campus in September, delivering remarks vowingto replace a "failed system" of campus sexual-assault enforcement. Later that month, the Trump administration rescinded the Obama-era guidance.

Even with the changes, Pascarell, George Mason's vice president for university life, said she did not expect her institution or others in higher education to backtrack, a sentiment Williams echoed.

"With the advocacy that we've seen and the commitment that institutions have made to their students, they're not going to let us go backward, even if folks wanted to," Williams said. "The cat's out of the bag a bit here, in terms of this being the expectation that students have when they arrive on campus."

---

The Washington Post's Emily Guskin contributed to this report.
BEIRUT - The last of the few dozen Islamic State holdouts inside the militant group's de facto capital in Syria were mounting a final stand on Sunday, after a stream of militants surrendered under a deal brokered by local officials.

A U.S.-backed alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, said that 275 militants had left Raqqa's city center, along with their families, and that they would be interrogated and sent to court if they were suspected to have participated in killings.

The battle for the Islamic State's most famous stronghold began in June, and SDF forces have advanced with the support of heavy U.S.-led coalition airstrikes as the city has been turned into a virtual ghost town. The Islamic State has lost all but a sliver of territory in Raqqa. At least 90 percent of the city is believed to be under SDF control, with de-mining squads combing the streets for explosives laid to deter advancing forces.

"There are around 100 foreign fighters still inside a small part of the city," said Mustafa Abadi, a spokesman for the Kurdish-dominated SDF.

Footage broadcast by the ANHA news channel showed the surrendered militants limping out, some of them on crutches, before being herded into a single hall.

The Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently monitoring group, run by former residents of the city, said the detainees had been taken to Hawi al-Hawa prison west of the city, a facility that it described as being under the control of the SDF's intelligence arm.

The U.S.-led international coalition against the Islamic State has distanced itself from the locally brokered surrender. Critics have likened it to a widely derided deal between the Islamic State and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia under which militants and their families were given safe passage from Lebanon to their last stronghold in Syria's eastern border region of Deir al-Zour.

Hundreds of civilians have been evacuated from the city in recent weeks, many of them in pitiful condition after months without adequate food or water. In a video filmed by the Turkey-based Kurdish Mezopotamya news agency on Saturday, people can be seen stumbling toward an SDF meeting point, some of them laughing, some crying uncontrollably.

Many face an uncertain future, packed in camps for residents displaced from territories recaptured from the Islamic State.

Mustafa said several of the group's key operators remained inside Raqqa on Sunday night, including Salah al-Fransi, a French jihadist believed to have masterminded attacks on the French capital in November 2015 that killed 130 people.

Although Raqqa no longer holds strategic significance for the Islamic State, the loss of its most famous stronghold would deal a deep symbolic blow to a group already on the back foot.

It still holds parts of Deir el-Zour province and Iraq's Anbar province, as well as small, scattered pockets elsewhere. But a self-declared Islamic caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq lies in tatters with the extremist group reduced to a skeleton force across the two countries.

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remains at large, suspected to be hiding in Syria's eastern borderlands. Those, too, are under pressure from competing U.S.- and Syrian-backed forces racing to rout the group from Syrian territory.

---

Heba Habib in Stockholm and Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report.
Dorothy Beck Simmons Robbins made an effort to learn a new word each day to improve her vocabulary. She loved working crossword puzzles, reading the newspaper and traveling.

Robbins died Oct. 9 in her home in San Antonio. She was 96.

Born on her familys farm in Missouri, Robbins helped her father tend to various farm duties and enjoyed riding her horse Nellie to and from school.

One of her favorite things to do was taking horses into town with her girlfriends and ride them all around the town square, her son Wayne Simmons said..

More Information Dorothy Beck Simmons Robbins Born: March 26, 1921, Buffalo, Missouri Died: Oct. 9, 2017, San Antonio Survived by: Two sons, Wayne Simmons (wife Helen) and Jerel Simmons; four grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren Services: 6 p.m. visitation Monday and 12 p.m. funeral Tuesday at Sunset Funeral Chapel. See More Collapse

In 1941, Robbins moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where she met her first husband Earl Wayne Simmons, who was stationed there in the Air Force.

Her sister Rosalie was dating my fathers friend (George Remington) and wanted to use his vehicle, her son said. My father allowed George to use the vehicle under the conditions that he went with him, paid for the gas and gave him $20.

My mother went along, and they had a double date, he added. Afterwards, my father gave him back the $20 and said it was the best thing he did.

They were married in 1941 during WWII and had two sons, Wayne and Jerel Simmons, who they both showed great support for throughout their lives.

My parents put together a dance class in the cafeteria to teach my sixth-grade class how to dance music of the Big Band era. Dances like the jitterbug, said Wayne Simmons.

She later opened a beauty shop and went on to win several competitions in hair design.

In 1972, they moved to San Antonio, where she got a real estate brokers license and worked for W.T. Connolly Real Estate. She also owned and operated several businesses.

Her husband Earl Simmons died in 1981. After 10 years later, she married William Robbins, who died seven months before her.

She was like a sister, another mother and a partner in crime. She will be very missed, said daughter-in-law Helen Simmons.

Dorothy and her aunt visited Russia, she said. She was always up for an adventure and new experience.

We had a boat in Europe and wanted to sail it back to the states, she said. Her response, while in her 90s, was Ill go, and it didnt faze her one bit.

caleman@express-news.net
A nations response to a tragedy is a telling sign of the heart of its people.

Our nation is reeling from recent events. On Oct. 1, innocent concert-goers in Las Vegas became victims of one of the most heinous, senseless acts of violence our nation has ever seen. More recently, violence struck in our own state when a 19-year-old Texas Tech University student fatally shot a police officer.

Texas leadership immediately offered their heartfelt condolences and prayers. Gov. Greg Abbott stated, Texas mourns and prays for the victims of this tragedy, and the entire Las Vegas community, in this time of unimaginable pain.

I also reached out to the Nevada Republican Party leadership to see how Texans could offer assistance to their hurting people.

As the victims in Vegas were still being counted, I was disappointed to see Democrats attacking Republicans who believe in the constitutionally protected right to own and bear arms. A CBS executive made the heartless statement that the concert-goers did not deserve sympathy, as they were likely Republicans, and was promptly fired.

Following the shooting at Texas Tech, the Democratic Party of Texas sent out a tweet blaming concealed carry on college campuses, ignoring the fact that the murderer was already ineligible for a concealed carry license, and forcing it to send a correction with an apology.

When tragedies strike, such as what we saw in Las Vegas and Texas Tech University, this is not the time for divisiveness. We should grieve with our fellow man and never become callous to the loss of life by any means. We should desire to comfort the hurting and to serve them.

Tragedies should never be politicized by our leaders. That only increases the pain and hinders the healing.

It is equally important in times like these to not allow heightened emotions to dictate policy when it could have lasting negative effects on our rights. The most basic, God-given right is the right to life, and the right to defend life must be protected.

As Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, himself a victim of a mass shooting, said recently, The problem is not that there are too many guns. Its that there are people that will go out and break the law, whether its a gun or some other weapon or a bomb.

Scalise continued, The only thing that gets reported are the tragedies. But it rarely gets reported when somebody actually uses their Second Amendment right with a gun to protect themselves against a criminal.

What we experienced as a nation these past few weeks was terrible and tragic. At this time, motives for the two senseless acts of violence remain unknown. What is known is that the loss of life is always a tragedy, with real, grieving families affected.

We can and will respond with compassion by reaching out in any way we can to help heal the hurting. We extend our heartfelt condolences to those affected by these horrific acts.

We will also respond with truth by honoring the constitutionally protected right of the people to keep and bear arms, which serves a necessary purpose. Not only is it the right by which all other rights are protected, it also makes us more secure in a world where people would do harm to others.

James Dickey is chairman of the Republican Party of Texas and former chairman of the Travis County Republican Party.
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San Antonio has decided not to throw its hat into the Amazon ring  a point that has understandably disappointed some in the community.

The prospect of being home to Amazons second headquarters and all those six-figure tech jobs is tantalizing.

Cities have been falling over themselves to stand out  but were standing out for sitting out.

Thats really not such a big deal. If San Antonio had gone forward with a bid, we would have been supportive but also realistic.

San Antonio has much to offer, but our chances were slim to none. We lack the workforce, transportation and higher education opportunities that Amazon or any other tech behemoth would deem essential.

But we didnt bid, so now what?

This moment should be treated as a wake-up call.

Forget about the merits of bidding on Amazon or not. Thats a distraction. And stop this constant hand-wringing about San Antonio International Airport, which is a convenient scapegoat.

Yes, our airport could be improved. Yes, we want more direct flights, too. But the airport is not the source of our economic development problems. Its a reflection of our challenges. Namely an uneducated workforce, a lack of transportation options and a local flagship university that is not graduating nearly enough students.

Address those issues  and the airport will follow.

Lets remember what Amazon wanted.

It wanted access to rail. We have no rail. We dont even have a credible, near-term plan for rail. And we know we need one.

As a community, we are overly reliant on vehicles and roads. City and county leaders repeatedly say we cant just build more roads to ease congestion  and yet we are still waiting for that rhetoric to morph into action.

We have to do more to get people efficiently moving in this town. Its a pressing issue with our expected growth.

Amazon wanted excellent institutions of higher education.

We love the Roadrunners and are very impressed with UTSAs new president, T. Taylor Eighmy. But we have to be frank here. University of Texas at San Antonio, our largest university, is atrocious at graduating students. Just 18 percent of its students graduate in four years, and just 36 percent graduate in six years. This is not remotely acceptable.

Yes, Trinity University is a jewel of a private school. And University of Incarnate Word and Our Lady of the Lake University serve our community well in many ways. But they likely dont fit Amazons bill. Along with UTSA, none is a Tier One research university.

Not surprisingly, we lack an educated workforce. Just a quarter of San Antonios population, age 25 and older, has a college degree.

UTSA aspires to be that local Tier One university, and we support that effort. But like rail, its always in the distant, vague future. University officials have also acknowledged Tier One is a significant reach.

An Amazon headquarters would have come with significant community challenges. The addition of 50,000 more workers would have crowded roads, intensified gentrification and reordered the city in ways that are hard to fully grasp.

As the saying goes, everything that glitters isnt always gold.

But if this community wants to be a destination for outside talent and a place that grows its own native talent, then we must be honest. To compete, we must excel. And for too long, we have not excelled on these core issues and have lagged on important indicators.
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Met Eireann has detailed criteria for the issuing of Status Red weather warnings - one of which comes into effect in Longford and nationwide in the next few hours.

A Status Red wind warning will come into effect nationwide from 6am on Monday.

The issue of Red level severe weather warnings should "be a comparatively rare event and implies that recipients take action to protect themselves and/or their properties; this could be by moving their families out of the danger zone temporarily; by staying indoors; or by other specific actions aimed at mitigating the effects of the weather conditions".

The criteria for a Status Red wind warning is:

Mean Speeds in excess of 80 km/h

Gusts Speeds in excess of 130 km/h

"Violent and destructive gusts are forecast with all areas at risk and in particular the southwest and south in the morning, and eastern counties in the afternoon," Met Eireann have said.

They concluded by saying, "There is potential risk to lives."

You may also be interested in reading:

#Ophelia Alert: Status RED Weather Warning extended to entire country including #Longford
Digitalization is spurring on Germanys switch to renewables and away from nuclear. Power-generating homes, smart grids and new forms of clean energy storage are enabling Germans to go even greener.

At first glance, it looks as if a shiny black space station has landed in central Berlin.

Unfathomable gadgetry is visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the cubic structure, which is surrounded by historic and post-war buildings more typical of the German capital.

On closer inspection, the unusual structure is clearly not intergalactic. It is, however, seriously futuristic. It is a prototype for a smart home, designed to help move Germany down the road to a decarbonized future.

Subtly disguised photovoltaic solar panels lining the roof and exterior generate renewable energy for its inhabitants  and their clean green transport. Wireless charging strips near the entrance enable an electric car and e-bike to be parked and left to charge, free of plugs and cables.

Its like a mini power station, said Nikolas Klostermann-Rohleder, an expert at the Hamburg-based think tank Center for Energy, Construction, Architecture and the Environment, who was involved in the project.

F87, as the house is called, is a smart home, which means that as well as generating its own power, it uses wifi or bluetooth to control temperature, lighting and the powering of appliances. Its one among many high-tech ventures helping to carry forward the Energiewende, or Germanys transition away from nuclear and fossil fuels. The country has pledged to source at least 80 percent of its electricity from clean sources by 2050.

Small ideas with big impact

At present, Europes largest economy generates around 35 percent of its power from renewables  a figure that rises on weekends when electricity demand eases off.

Wind power, biomass and solar photovoltaic have all boomed thanks to lavish state support  currently more than 20 billion euros per year (despite recent reforms that limited the expansion of wind power). But theres more to the transition than money.

Germany continues to rely heavily on nuclear power, which is slated to be phased out over the next five years, and lignite coal  a notorious climate culprit  which still generates around a quarter of all electricity.

The share of renewables in the energy mix is rising quickly but there is not yet enough clean green power to run the entire economy. Moreover, fossil fuel and nuclear power are still used as a backup for energy from intermittent and unpredictable sun and wind. That is where innovations such as F87 come in.

The house is kitted out with a generous power storage facility  recycled from used e-car batteries  allowing its inhabitants to tap into homemade clean energy, even when the sun is in hiding.

During its test year  when a family of four lived within its well-insulated walls  it even generated surplus energy. When fed back into the grid, this was worth almost 1,600 euros ($1,881).

Wireless charging strips mean electric cars can be charged without cables or plugs

Tipping point

Despite its prototype label, Klostermann-Rohleder says F87 is no longer just a model project. Smart features rolled out in the state-of-the-art house have already been incorporated into more than 30 new homes across the country.

Bjorn Grindberg, from Berlin-based Climate-KIC, a public-private organization working to move more quickly to a zero-carbon future, describes the Energiewendes track record as a mixed bag but says such technical innovations have pushed it to a tipping point that will shake up how we use energy in the future.

Connected devices in the past have been poorly designed gadgets for nerdy early adopters but smart-home devices are on the verge of becoming mainstream, said Grindberg.

Thats reflected in surveys. According to German market research institute GfK, some 72 percent of Germans polled find the idea of a smart home appealing, with 51 percent being particularly interested in smart energy and lighting solutions.

Smart grids

Among the companies disrupting the traditional electricity industry is Munich-based Tado, a producer of smart thermostats and air conditioning control devices, which can be remotely operated from users smartphones to slash energy waste.

Other firms offer storage systems for renewable power and increasingly customers can hook up to smart grids, which use digital communications to balance supply and demand in new ways and on smaller scales.

As Germany moves away from nuclear power and fossil fuels, electricity production is becoming more decentralized

In practical terms, this enables smart meters on washing machines, fridges or factory machines to be connected to a grid, meaning they can be programmed to access electricity when it is at its cheapest. For example, when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing.

This is why experts see such smart grids as a key step in unlocking the potential of intermittently powerful renewable sources: They adjust demand to supply, rather than the other way around.

The spreading of smart meters and smart energy management systems can accelerate the German energy transformation, Andreas Kraemer, founder and director emeritus of the Berlin think tank Ecologic Institute, told DW.

Energy autonomy

A leading player in this revolution is energy storage system maker Sonnen. Founded in 2010 in Wildpoldsried, a Bavarian village that now runs entirely on renewable energy, the business has been named by Financial Times as one of the thousand fastest growing companies in Europe.

It has created smart grids that link customers into communities, enabling those in one part of the country to access cheap renewable energy from others elsewhere, thereby helping offset regional weather variations.

With advertising slogans like its time to declare your independence, the company has attracted a lot of business from consumers seeking energy self-sufficiency.

The first phase of the Energiewende in the early 2000s was based on hardware but the next steps cant be done without smart information technology [IT], Sonnens managing director sales and marketing Philipp Schroder said, referring to the countrys bid to wean itself off coal and nuclear.

We think the future of energy will look pretty much like our sonnen Community: A virtually connected network that consists of thousands and later of millions of decentralized power producers, prosumers, [those who both consume and produce power] storage systems and consumers.

Thomas Klaas, who lives with his wife in a red wooden house in the quiet village of Leegebruch, north of Berlin, is among them. He has 52 solar panels on his roof, and recently hooked them up to three Sonnen batteries he keeps stacked in a cupboard.

It feels good to know that we are autonomous, he said, adding that his decision was validated earlier this year when heavy rains triggered a power cut in his area. Neighbors popped round to see if our power was off too. Turns out, we were the only ones left with our lights on.

This is the first report in a series that looks at the constructive steps Germany is taking to combat climate change. Global Ideas and the Grimme-nominated online medium Perspective Daily will bring you in-depth stories each week in the run up to 23rd Climate Conference taking place in November 2017 in Bonn.
It can start with the best of intentions. A person hears about something from a friend or family member and thinks that others need to know immediately, so they share it. They talk about it on Facebook, shoot out a tweet on Twitter or sent out text messages. The problem comes when that fact, the issue they were sure was accurate, turns out to be fake.

The Magna Vista community encountered this problem on Friday. Earlier in the week, a student at the school had made a comment to a classmate that quickly spiraled out of control. Lets be clear, the first statement was, according to the Henry County Sheriffs Office, not a threat nor made in a threatening manner. Everyone agrees that this was not a case of a student looking to attack the school or harm anyone. But regardless, by Thursday that students words had been turned into something totally different. It became a rumor that the student planned to get revenge on their classmates. Then through social media, that became a threat that people heard the student instead was going to hurt people at the school. By Thursday night, Facebook posts had popped up, claiming they heard this student was going to shoot up the school on Friday.

Better safe than sorry, said one person who called the Bulletin about this situation. The person didnt have kids at Magna Vista, but they shared that rumor, for the good of the community. Other people told us that they didnt want another Las Vegas. After the latest mass shooting in this country, where we still dont know why the shooter committed that crime, its understandable to take that mindset, to share information and do what we can to make sure something like that doesnt happen here. Nobody wants to look back after an incident and wonder what they could have done differently, how they could have stopped it.

Does sharing something to social media help stop a potential problem? Social media has made it easier than ever to communicate with each other, theres no denying that. We can post information and one second later, its seen by hundreds of our friends and family. Then they can share it with hundreds more. But when it comes to rumors, its hard to say whats true and whats not. Sure, we may have heard it from a good friend, but where did they hear it? Where did the rumor start and are we sure its the same as the original statement? And are we actually helping when we share things or just causing a bigger problem? In the hours after the Las Vegas shooting, we saw this happen multiple times. People shared pictures of the shooter, but it wasnt the right guy. These were all just Americans who had the same name as the shooter, but they were getting death threats because someone came across their name on Facebook and didnt check to see if they were the right age or anything. Instead of posting rumors to social media, we would suggest an alternative.

For cases like this, we go back to childhood and reflect on a comment from Fred Rogers. In addition to being the host of a childrens tv program, he was also outspoken on how people and kids could help in a crisis. In a 1986 newspaper column, he wrote that when I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. In cases like this, those helpers are the school resource officers at the schools, the investigators at the sheriffs office or police department. Yes, our first instinct is to reach out to other people, to see what theyve heard in a case like this, but if we want to help, then we need to talk to the authorities first. We need to tell them what we know and then let them work. No, that doesnt always mean a quick result. Yes, it may take them several days to find the answer. But its better than the alternative.

The Bulletin Editorial Board consists of Brian Carlton, Ben R. Williams and Trisha Long.
SPRINGFIELD -- In advance of Saturday evening's 74th season-opening concert by the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Kevin Rhodes aptly described Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16 as a "jaw-dropping Olympiad for piano."

The evening's guest soloist, Claire Huangci, called the piece "gargantuan....a soaring melody over complex counterpoint that can appear at first glance as a mass thicket of notes." She promised "a no-holds barred performance" that would "show the listener the sense of immense tragic beauty this piece conveys."

And she did just that, delivering a mind-boggling account of the fiendishly difficult work. Under her fingers, the first movement's spare melody sang plaintively above filmy string chords, snaking through jazzy harmonies that eventually morphed into an austere A-minor march, contrasting angular, peevish gestures with softly seething chromaticism. She tossed off a thunderous, cacophonous cadenza, drawing dogged melodic threads through storm-clouds of notes, and then suddenly dissolved back into the resigned distance of the movement's opening texture.

During the Scherzo: Vivace, a perpetuum mobile, Huangci's precision and lightness of articulation were astonishing. Again, a sense of jazziness was perceptible - a sort of "Russian in Paris" character to the music.

Low brass moans ushered in the Intermezzo, reminiscent of the "Ox-Cart" movement from Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition." Huangci draped madcap arabesques over the lugubrious brass. The finale, marked "Allegro tempestoso," presented a "just when you thought it was safe!" moment for pianist, orchestra, and audience alike. It seemed that nothing further could be expected from a human musician, then the composer demanded another five minutes of keyboard-spanning figurations, arpeggios, scales, glissandi, and through it all, melancholy melody singing its heart out.

Only one other concerto soloist in recent years has demonstrated this kind of mastery, elegance, emotional depth, and stamina. Coincidentally, it was employed in the performance of another Prokofiev Concerto, the Second Violin Concerto, played by Yevgeny Kutik with Rhodes and the SSO in 2014.

Huangci's exquisite performance ignited an immediate and lengthy standing ovation. Rhodes brought out red roses to congratulate the pianist, and she responded with a florid encore paraphrase of the theme from "Beauty and the Beast."

While the SSO gave an equally superb rendering of the Prokofiev, it was in the surrounding works, Rossini's "Thieving Magpie" Overture and Brahms's Second Symphony, that the orchestral musicians got their chance to shine. Each jocular solo in the Rossini was crisper and more characterful than the last, and Rhodes maximized extremes of dynamics and tempo to full comic effect.

The sunny Brahms Second was elegantly, tenderly played by all, and figured in the debut of a new technology in Symphony Hall, called Real-Time Concert Notes. Interested patrons were invited to move to the uppermost balcony, and join a text-message group with their cellular phones, receiving text messages during the performance of the Symphony. These messages introduced structural elements of the piece, drew relationships between successive themes, and added points of interest pertinent to the style and context.

Developed by High School of Commerce Director of Bands and SSO board member Matt Bertuzzi for the Meet the Musicians: High School Edition educational program that brings area high school students into Symphony Hall to experience an open SSO rehearsal, Real-Time Concert Notes brings process of listening to a symphony into the 21st century.

According to Bertuzzi, "the program notes and blurbs that the audience can read before the concert are great, but this experience will be giving them the same type of information and targeting it to the exact time in the music that it becomes relevant."

Over 100 of the evening's 1620 patrons took advantage of the Real-Time Concert Notes. The information conveyed was general, concise, timely, and illuminating, and its delivery did not interrupt enjoyment of the music itself. Moreover, it oriented the listener within the form and texture in an engaging manner. After years of being asked to turn the cell-phones off, it will be interesting to observe how quickly this thoughtful employment of them in the actual listening experience catches on. It is part of Maestro Rhodes' "...quest to make the SSO more user-friendly." Apparently Real-Time Concert Notes will reappear during November's Viva America concert.
HARTFORD, Conn. -- For Adrian Albelo a tattoo is about more than just art.

"It's about making a connection with another person and finding a common ground, so that they trust you to put something on their skin that will likely be there forever," said Albelo, a tattoo artist with Forever Custom Tattoos, in Bridgeport.

Albelo joined nearly 235 tattoo artists on Saturday for the 6th annual Tommy's Tattoo Convention in Hartford, Conn. The three-day convention runs through Oct. 15 from noon to 8 p.m.

Tommy Ringwalt Jr., owner of Tommy's Supplies, which sells everything from tattoo machines, needles, ink and other studio supplies, started the convention six years ago as a way to expose the region to tattoo artists from across the globe.

"We have tattoo artists from Brazil, China and Europe as well as artists from across the country," he said.

Ringwalt said the convention is not only for people interested in getting a tattoo.

"People love tattoos because it means something to them. Many get tattoos to remember moments that have helped them cope with life," he said. "For those that don't want a tattoo, this is still a great event to have some fun and excitement. We have freak shows, comedians, musicians and even midget wrestling. There's a lot to do."

More than 4,000 people are expected to visit the convention by Sunday night. Tickets are $20.

For Mark Duhan, owner of Skin Deep Ink Tattoo in New Milford, the convention is not only great for visitors, but for artists as well.

"This is a change of pace. It gets monotonous tattooing every day in your home studio, but here there is also an opportunity to meet other artists," said Duhan, who specializes in color realism and has participated in Tommy's Tattoo Convention all six years. "Just walking around you pick up so many tips and tricks."

Albelo who has been tattooing since 2007 and specializes in black and white realism, said he learns something new every time he attends the convention.

"If I see someone doing something that I would like to learn I reach out to them. I don't like to say I've been tattooing since 2007, I've been learning since then, because there is always room for growth in this art from," he said.

All of the artists at the convention are willing to do tattoos on the spot, although visitors are encouraged to visit www.tommystattooconvention.com, to look at the artists work and have an idea of who they would want to book.
Westfield State University's WSKB-FM and "J.P.'s Talk About Town" will present two 1940s-style radio mystery plays live on-stage on Saturday, Oct. 21.

The plays - "The First Edition Matter, a Johnny Dollar Mystery," and "Death, Literally," an original comic murder mystery by Michael "Buster McMahon," will both be presented at the Westfield State's new Catherine Dower Performing Arts Center, starting at 7 p.m.

The performances will be recorded and broadcast on Friday October 27th on WSKB-FM at 6:30 a.m. The performances will also be uploaded to YouTube afterwards.

"The First Edition Matter" features the character of Johnny Dollar, made famous in a CBS Radio series that ran from 1949 until 1962. Johnny Dollar was billed as "America's fabulous freelance insurance investigator," and most episodes opened with Johnny getting a phone call from an insurance company official asking that he investigate a claim.

"The First Edition Matter" will feature some local notables, including Westfield News Publisher Patrick Berry, several Westfield Kiwanis Club members, and well-known radio personality Adam Wright.

"Death, Literally" is one of 30 short plays written by McMahon, "...mostly as a hobby because, I don't know," said McMahon, "You have to do something that somebody can say that you did in your obituary."

In the play, the lead character is a murder mystery author suffering from writer's block, who is confronted by his female creation who is poisoned at a dinner party. She doesn't want to die and wants to know who kills her, even though the author doesn't know yet. Together they confront the denizens of the story to figure out the logical conclusion to the book.

The cast of eight includes WSU alum business major Sue Fopiano (Smith) '92 in the lead female role of Cassandra LaPree.

McMahon recently pitched a sitcom to the FX network and NBC. He is currently pitching one to the Disney Channel as well.

Admission to the show is $5, with proceeds going to the Westfield State University Jazz Ensemble, which will provide the music during the performance.,
DEERFIELD - After searching for more seven hours for a suspect in a Springfield attempted murder, police have given up the pursuit.

Despite the effort that involved at least seven different police departments, a police dog, a drone and a helicopter, officers were unable to locate the suspect, Deerfield Police officials said.

Around 3:30 p.m. police reported the man may have left the town but continued the search after that.

"A Deerfield resident observed a person matching the suspect's description get picked up on Stillwater Road and leave the area," police said on the department's Facebook page.

Massachusetts State Police stopped the suspect, whose name has not been released, on Interstate 91 in Deerfield early Sunday morning. He then fled from troopers and jumped off the Stillwater Bridge into the river, Deerfield Police said.

Police have not released his name but said there is a warrant from Springfield for his arrest, charging him with attempted murder. Springfield Police officials did not immediately have information about the warrant.

Several people reported seeing a man that fit his description in the area of Mill Village Road and Interstate 91 after he jumped off the bridge Sunday. One reportedly saw him running through a corn field there, Deerfield Police said.

Massachusetts State Police and Deerfield Police were joined by the state Environmental Police along with officers from Whately, Northampton, Greenfield and Montague. Northampton Police also helped to search with a drone, the State Police Air Wing searched by helicopter and Montague Police provided a K-9, police said.
SOUTHBRIDGE - Police have charged two people with trafficking in cocaine and distribution of heroin and confiscated a sawed-off shotgun and more than $50,000 in cash following a major drug investigation in the area.

Clinton Ortiz, 33, and Ashley Dejesus-Cedeno, 24, both of 50 Elliot St. Apt. 3, Worcester, are to be arraigned Monday in Dudley District Court on a wide variety of charges. The two were arrested Friday, Southbridge Police said.

The arrest came after a months-long investigation by Southbridge Police detectives, working with Massachusetts State Police detectives and other area police, into a "major drug distribution organization" operating in Worcester County, police said.

The operation is believed to have been selling heroin, cocaine and crack cocaine throughout Southbridge and multiple surrounding communities, police said.

Police, who had set up surveillance in the area of 20-22 Foster St., where detectives learned Ortiz had rented unit B, and tried to pull over a car in connection to the narcotics investigation. Ortiz was the driver and Dejesus-Cedeno was a passenger in the vehicle, Southbridge Police said.

Ortiz, who allegedly has a suspended license, initially attempted to elude police but after a brief pursuit he stopped on Cisco Street. Once stopped, he tried to run from the car but officers managed to prevent that, police said.

Police initially interviewed Ortiz and Dejesus-Cedeno at the car and Sturbridge Police also assisted by bringing in a K9 trained in drug detection. In initial conversations and observations, Dejesus-Cedeno allegedly admitted she had narcotics in her possession and handed police a plastic bag containing about 70 grams of what is believed to be cocaine, police said.

The two were placed under arrest. After the dog indicated narcotics were present in the car, officers had the vehicle towed and applied for a search warrant, police said.

Once they received search warrants for the car and the Foster Street unit, police allegedly found cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin and human growth hormone of different amounts in the two locations. Detectives also uncovered a sawed-off shotgun, numerous live rounds of ammunition, narcotics distribution paraphernalia including baggie remains containing white powder residue, sifters and utensils containing suspected residue. In addition $50,000 in cash, about $12,000 of it in the car, were also found in the two locations, police said.

Ortiz, who is also known by the nickname Black, was charged with distribution of cocaine - subsequent offense, trafficking in cocaine over 36 grams, conspiracy to violate the drug law, possession with intent to distribute heroin-subsequent offense, possession of unlawful human growth hormone, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, unlawful possession of ammunition, operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license, failure to stop for police and negligent operation of motor vehicle, police said.

Dejesus-Cedeno was charged with trafficking in cocaine over 36 grams, conspiracy to violate the drug law, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, unlawful possession of ammunition and for knowingly allowing the operation of motor vehicle by a person with a suspended license, police said.

The two are currently being held at the Southbridge Police Department, police said.
DEERFIELD - State Police are searching for a man suspected of attempted murder who ran from troopers by jumping off a bridge into the Deerfield River Sunday.

Deerfield Police said they are are assisting State Police to search for the suspect.

The man is believed to be in the area between Mill Village Road and Route 91. Stillwater Road is currently closed because of the investigation, Deerfield Police said.

Northampton Police are also assisting the search with a drone, police said.

Massachusetts State Police Air Wing is also searching the area with a helicopter, Deerfield Police said.

Massachusetts State Police stopped the man on Interstate 91 in Deerfield early Sunday morning. He then fled from troopers and jumped off the Stillwater Bridge into the river, Deerfield Police said.

Springfield Police have a warrant for his arrest charging him with attempted murder, according to WWLP 22News.

The suspect has been spotted since he jumped from the bridge and was last seen in a corn field, 22News said.

Residents are advised to lock their doors and not to approach the suspect. He is described as black, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall, thin and wearing grey and black clothing, Western Mass News reported.

Massachusetts State Police officials were not immediately available to comment.

This is a breaking story. Masslive will update as more information becomes available.
Detectives continue to investigate a pair of shootings in Cambridge and Somerville that left two men dead within minutes Saturday morning.

Investigators are still working to determine if the two shootings are connected, but it was still unclear as of Saturday afternoon. Police are still searching for suspects in both killings.

The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said 28-year-old Ednilson Dacosta, of Dorchester, was shot in a motor vehicle on Windsor Street at Evereteze Way in Cambridge around 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Seven minutes later, a fatal shooting was reported on Canal Lane in Somerville. Police say 20-year-old Kevin Raymond of Somerville was shot in a parking lot. He was driven to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

CBS Boston reports Raymond was a student at Franklin Pierce University.
SHEFFIELD - A man was helicoptered to Albany Medical Center in upstate New York after receiving serious injuries in a car crash in Sheffield Friday afternoon, according to The Berkshire Eagle.

The hospital is located a short distance over the state line, about an hour drive from Sheffield.

The man was injured in a collision with another vehicle on Route 7 in Sheffield around 3:30 p.m. Friday.

Both drivers were headed south on Route 7 when one attempted to pass the other and struck the car it was passing. The car that was hit ended up rolling over onto the northbound shoulder of the road, Sheffield police said in a statement.

Though both drivers were injured, one sustained much more serious injuries than the other.

The man who had to be transported to Albany remained in critical condition Saturday morning, police said.

The other driver was treated for minor injuries at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington.

Police have not released any information further identifying the drivers or any additional information about the crash.
"For small to medium to national organizations, for events and fundraisers of any size, in any format  live, virtual or hybrid  the platform is built for scale."
Warm Springs Productions http://www.warmsprings.tv/ currently has over 125 employees in Missoula and Manhattan.

CEO Marc Pierce says that he creates a healthy social culture and its one of their secret weapons.

"Oh, we were off-the-chart excited to be recognized for this because its something weve taken seriously," Pierce said.

By Kenneth Webb  MTN News

http://www.kbzk.com/story/36597502/warm-springs-productions-named-one-of-best-workplaces-in-western-mt

***

Warm Springs Productions

Telling stories with mojo that matters.

We relentlessly pursue creativity and innovation at all levels. From the point our crew plans production to the moment we send the final tape to the networks, were constantly striving to thrill the viewer with the end product, while treating everyone we encounter along the way with honesty and respect.
Bullock renews call for bipartisan healthcare reform with input from states

Governor Steve Bullock today criticized the White House Executive Order on healthcare and urged the Administration and Congress to once again pursue an open and transparent process to find bipartisan solutions on healthcare reform.

"Undermining Americas health insurance marketplace with a reckless stroke of a pen is irresponsible at best and outright sabotage at worst," said Governor Bullock. "Instead of making partisan political statements  which have real-life impacts on Montanans and Americans  the Administration and Congress must work with states to find responsible and bipartisan ways to address healthcare reform."

http://governor.mt.gov/Newsroom/governor-bullock-on-healthcare-executive-order-a-reckless-stroke-of-a-pen
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For around one in 50 people, the condition can be severe enough to require chronic medication, which may in turn have potentially serious side effects.Studies of families and twins have shown that there is a strong genetic component to the disorder and led to the discovery of six genetic variants that increased the risk of developing the condition."We have studied the genetics of restless legs syndrome for more than 10 years and the current study is the largest conducted so far," says Dr Barbara Schormair from the Institute of Neurogenomics at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, first author of the study. "We are convinced that the newly discovered risk loci will contribute substantially to our understanding of the causal biology of the disease."Now, an international team of researchers has compared the genetic data from over 15,000 patients with more than 95,000 controls, and identified a further 13 genetic risk variants. The findings were then replicated in a sample of 31,000 patients and 287,000 controls."Restless legs syndrome is surprisingly common, but despite this, we know little about what causes it - and hence how to treat it," says Dr Steven Bell from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge, also one of the first authors on the study. "We already know that it has a strong genetic link, and this was something we wanted to explore in more detail."Several of the genetic variants have previously been linked to the growth and development of nerve cells - a process known as neurogenesis - and to changes in the formation of neuronal circuits. These findings strengthen the case for restless legs syndrome being a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins may go back to development in the womb as well as impaired nerve cell growth in later life."The genetic risk variants that we've discovered add more weight to the idea that this condition is related to the development of our nervous system," says Dr Emanuele Di Angelantonio, also from the Department of Public Health and Primary Care. "It also gives us some clues to how we may treat patients affected by the condition."Prof Juliane Winkelmann, who heads the Institute of Neurogenomics at the Helmholtz Zentrum as well as a restless legs syndrome outpatient clinic at the Klinikum Rechts der Isar in Munich, adds: "Our genetic findings are an important step towards developing new and improved treatment options for our patients."One particular biological pathway implicated by the findings is known to be a target for the drug thalidomide. While the drug has a controversial reputation due to its previous use when treating pregnant women that led to serious birth defects in their offspring, it is now used to treat some cancers.Source: Eurekalert
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Identifying trendsBecause heat-not-burn tobacco products have only been sold in a handful of places around the world, little is known about their popular appeal or how they might fare in future markets such as the United States. How worried should tobacco control leaders be about this potential new fad?Ayers and colleagues turned to Google search trends to understand the devices' appeal in Japan, the first country with nationwide availability. Popular devices there include Japan Tobacco's "Ploom TECH" released in March 2016, Philip Morris International's "iQOS" released in April 2016, and British American Tobacco's "Glo" released in December 2016. The team focused on internet searches for heat-not-burn tobacco, including generic terms and major brands, analyzing their relative popularity to all searches from 2015 through August 2017.The team then compared the fraction of all Google queries for heat-not-burn tobacco in Japan to the fraction of all Google queries for e-cigarettes in the United States.The total number of heat-not-burn queries in Japan grew by 1,426 percent their first year on the market in 2015. Between 2015 and 2017, the number of queries grew by 2,956 percent. Projections based on forecasts from the observed trends suggest that heat-not-burn queries will continue to grow at a similar rate through 2018."Heat-not-burn products have quickly become insanely popular," said study coauthor Mark Dredze, professor of computer science at Johns Hopkins University. "Two years ago, there were essentially no queries in Japan for heat-not-burn tobacco, but now there are between 5.9 and 7.5 million each month."Moreover, the team found that interest in heat-not-burn tobacco in Japan is growing more rapidly than past interest in e-cigarettes when they were first introduced to market. This suggests that as heat-not-burn tobacco is introduced in new markets, its popularity may even eclipse e-cigarettes.A public health challengeMillions are seeking out heat-not-burn tobacco in Japan each month and demand is poised to surge across the globe as products are introduced into new markets, Ayers said. It's not clear if searches translate into actual demand, he said, but the team's previous studies of e-cigarettes first predicted the eventual rise of actual vaping rates."Tobacco companies try to outmaneuver public health protections by creating new products that make tobacco appear less dangerous and more appealing," said Theodore Caputi, an undergraduate researcher at the University of Pennsylvania and the study's first author. "People were caught off guard by e-cigarettes, for example. Our study is an early warning and a call to action for public health professionals to address heat-not-burn products now."The team noted that tobacco control researchers might already be behind the figurative eight ball. "In the entire PubMed database--which catalogs millions of public health studies--just 26 studies even mention heat-not-burn tobacco," said Eric Leas, an alumnus of SDSU's Graduate School of Public Health alum and currently a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford. "There is a tremendous amount we need to learn about heat-not-burn tobacco."Joanna Cohen, Bloomberg Professor at the Johns Hopkins Institute for Global Tobacco Control, added that many questions remain about the products' potential for harm. "Given heat-not-burn is a tobacco product, all existing policies to protect the public from other tobacco products should be enforced," she said.It is incumbent that tobacco control leaders appreciate the potential demand for new products like these and respond proactive, Ayers concluded."Tobacco control is at a new crossroads," he said. "Leaders can reasonably respond to these new data and ready themselves by setting an agenda or wait for big tobacco to set the heat-not-burn agenda for them."Source: Eurekalert
Ever since the trailer of 'The Punisher' came out last month, people have primarily been discussing two things  Marvel Comics and actor Jon Bernthal, whose character Frank Castle will be seen going to extreme lengths to avenge his family's murder.

While we were still recuperating from the action-packed dark trailer of 'The Punisher', Jon is already out with the next bone-chilling trailer of his upcoming release 'Sweet Virginia'. After flooring us with his performances in 'The Walking Dead', 'Baby Driver', 'Wind River' and 'Snitch'; Jon is all set to take us on another nightmarish ride where you will witness him unleashing his innermost demons.

 Oddfellows Entertainment

Although the trailer is slightly towards the milder side when it comes to showcasing brutality, it still has massive potential to mess you up both psychologically and emotionally. Based on Ben and Paul China's

'Black List' script, 'Sweet Virginia' revolves around Sam (Jon Bernthal), a former rodeo star who now runs a motel in Alaska. He soon befriends a mysterious guy, Elwood (played by Christopher Abbott), who is responsible for wrecking havoc and raising hell in the town. However, Sam is blissfully unaware about his friend being the one responsible for the bloodbath. As the truth starts surfacing and secrets are revealed, Sam finds his inner dark impulses overpowering him, something he had kept hidden under the garb of peace all this while.

Jon is at his usual best in the trailer and this movie is definitely special for him as he acknowledged in a tweet that this film is close to my heart.

Sweet Virginia - Official Trailer l HD l IFC Films.This film is my heart. I hope y'all dig it. Big. Love. J. https://t.co/kyH8JPLAeJ  Jon Bernthal (@jonnybernthal) 13 October 2017

Besides Jon, who has earlier showed his acting prowess and potential to be a badass guy, Abbott too has done a fabulous job in this nail-biting trailer. Although, we don't think his notorious avatar should come as a surprise, since he has earlier proved how terrifying he can be in 'A Most Violent Year' and 'It Comes at Night'.

Directed by Jamie M. Dagg, the movie also features Imogen Poots, Odessa Younng, Jared Abrahamson, Darcy Laurie and Rosemarie DeWitt. The movie is slated for a November 17 release and our excitement now knows no bounds.
Pals before gals, bros before * ahem * you know the word, bromance over romance. The movie industry loves celebrating the bond of male friendships and why shouldn't they? It's considered nothing less than sacred to men. I am sure you are guilty of secretly bailing out on your girl for a boys night out, chosen to take advice from your best friend instead of following what your girlfriend thought was right. Here is a legit reason for your behaviour. Turns out you are probably 'designed' to function that way. (sigh of sweet relief am I right?)

 CBS

A new study published on the basis of an extensive survey done by 'Men And Masculinity' shows that men usually prefer the emotional dependency on their bros over a romantic relationship. Having an intimate heterosexual friendship with fellow men has been the most normal thing in the history of humans. Relationships, romantic inclinations and even matrimonial alliances for that matter, have been the societal way of finding companionship and raising a family. The survey was conducted on over 30 men, mostly those who were pursuing graduation and had a girlfriend. The survey revealed that the increasingly intimate, emotive, and trusting nature of bromances offers young men a new social space for emotional disclosure, outside of traditional heterosexual relationships.

 Warner Bros

The main catalyst that led to men choosing their pals over their gals was the comfort that comes with the lack of judgement with their friends. Also, many subjects revealed that it was easier for them to open up to their male friends about their conflicts rather than their girlfriends. The study also highlighted something that you might be thinking while reading this. The rise of the bromances may not altogether be liberating and socially positive for women, according to the survey.

The authors also suggested that these factors sometime even influence where and with whom men end up living with in their early years of adult life. This feeling might resonate with you as well, however, one should remember that balance is the key to a happy life. Sure, bromance will save you on a rainy day any day, but that does not mean that you neglect the possibility of a blossoming romance in your life.
By PTI: (Eds: Adding details)

Mumbai, Oct 15 (PTI) Twenty-six passengers on the Mumbai- bound Tejas Express from Goa fell ill today after breakfast due to food poisoning, a senior official of the Konkan Railway said.

The train was stopped at the Chiplun station in Maharashtra and all 26 people were admitted to the citys Life Care hospital. Their condition is not serious, Konkan Railway Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Gupta told PTI.

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Chiplun is nearly 300 km from Karmali in Goa, the departure station of the Tejas Express.

Railway Ministry Spokesperson Anil Saxena, however, said 22 passengers took ill after consuming breakfast.

"The train departed at 9 AM from Karmali and 230 passengers were served breakfast on board. A group of seven passengers complained of nausea and were attended to by the on-board supervisor.

"Meanwhile, two groups of passengers, numbering 15, also complained of nausea," he said in New Delhi.

Saxena said a show cause notice has been served to the catering contractor and "strict action is contemplated" if he is found guilty.

"An inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause. The kitchen, where the food was prepared, was inspected by the Madgaon area officer after the incident and samples, including soup sachets, have been taken for testing," he said.

General Manager of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Arvind Malkhade has proceeded for Chiplun to coordinate the arrangements at the hospital and ensure that the victims were given proper care, he said.

Proper arrangements would also be made for their onward journey after their discharge from the hospital, Saxena added.

Tejas Express, one of the premium trains of the Indian Railways, connects Mumbai with Karmali. PTI ND ASG NRB NM PR SC BSA BSA

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By PTI: Peshawar, Oct 15 (PTI) Three paramilitary soldiers were killed and as many injured today in multiple landmine blasts at a check-post in northwestern Pakistan, officials said.

The security forces rushed to the site and cordoned off the entire area and started a search operation, officials said.

The three simultaneous blasts hit the Kharlachi check- post in Kurram agency near Pak-Afghan border, killing three Frontier Corps soldiers and injuring three others, officials added. PTI CORR UZM

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MIDDLETOWN - The Common Council has voided Mayor Dan Drews effort to withdraw the city from membership in the Connecticut Council of Municipalities.

Last month, Drew said he was revoking the citys involvement with the CCM, which serves as a lobbying arm for the majority of the states cities and towns. Drew said he was doing so because of the CCMs support for a Republican budget proposal and for what Drews said was CCMs increasing anti-union stance.

In a letter to CCMs executive director Joe DeLong, Drew said, I have concluded that continued membership no longer serves the interests of my community. It is my opinion...that CCM has drifted in recent years away from advocating for municipal interests and instead (has taken) on a series of positions that reflect a conservative ideology rather than a pragmatic approach to municipal governance.

However, the council, with both Democrats and Republicans joining forces, said Drew had exceeded his authority in attempting to unilaterally sever the link to the CCM.

Council Majority Leader Thomas Serra said Middletown was a founding member of CCM.

Drew said his decision was not colored by his on-going campaign for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2018. However, a number of councilors questioned that assertion, saying Drew had approved including $33,000 for the city's membership as part of his 2017-18 budget, which was approved in mid-May.

In a telephone conversation this past week, Serra said the $30,000 fee is non-refundable. He also said CCM represents 165 of the 169 cities and towns in Connecticut, and helps in a number of ways to make the job of elected officials a little bit easier.

We feel it provides us with a great source of information relative to budget numbers, possible laws and what is happening in other cities and town in Connecticut, Serra said.

Serra said he made frequent use of CCMs wealth of information both during his tenure as mayor and now in his work on the council. Drews attempt to revoke the citys membership in CCM was ill-conceived, Serra said.

He has no legal ability to do what he did, Serra continued. His actions were not representative of the feelings of the council and had a touch of grandstanding. This is an issue that should not be politicized.

Working with Minority Leader Sebastian Giuliano, the two leaders crafted a resolution which they presented to the council during this months meeting. The resolution was co-sponsored by eight of their colleagues.

The resolution said Drews letter was in contravention to the provisions of the city budget for fiscal year 2017-18. The membership was paid in full in July 19, 2017, the solution noted.

Therefore to withdraw from membership now would deny Middletown the benefits of a membership for which we have already paid, the resolution said.

The resolution proposed the city remain a member thereof, in good standing for the current year. It was adopted with one abstention.

Portland First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield is this year's president of CCM. After the Middletown council acted, Bransfield said, We welcome the city of Middletowns continued membership and participation in CCM.

This is the second time in two months the mayor has been chastised by the council leadership for an action he took.

Last month, Giuliano, Serra and Councilor Deborah Kleckowski expressed their upset with Drew for soliciting donations of $100 each for his gubernatorial campaign from city employees. In and of itself, councilors said, that was inappropriate. But more troubling to them was Drews decision to send the letters to the home of town employees, including police and fire personnel, whose addresses are protected by law from being made public.

Drew said he had made a mistake and withdrew the letter and said he would also return donations made to his campaign from any city employee.
Camp Lejeune Town Halls Aim to Help Those Exposed to Toxic Water. Heres How You Can Go.

Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune...
By PTI: Ghaziabad (UP), Oct 15 (PTI) Ahead of Diwali, the food safety department of Uttar Pradesh conducted raids in two houses here today, seized 35 quintals of adulterated sweets and arrested one person.

Rajesh Kumar Agrahari, an officer of the food safety department, said the raids were conducted in Sangam Park and Adarsh Nagar of Khoda Colony.

The sweets were stored in unhygienic conditions, he said.

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A part of the seized sweets was to be delivered to shops in Delhi and NCR. A truck in which adulterated sweets were being transported to Delhi was also seized near Duhai village on the Delhi- Meerut road and its driver, Tehseen, was arrested, the officer said. PTI CORR SMN

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SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, MI - On Saturday, Oct. 14 a group of volunteers set out in an Ypsilanti-area apartment complex with an important task: offer help to residents in light of a recent homicide.

The Interrupters are a volunteer group with the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office. They go door-to-door in neighborhoods around the county work on violence prevention or provide support to residents after a violent crime.

About 20 people on Saturday offered packets of information, including crisis hotlines, from the sheriff's office and county Community Mental Health to aid residents, especially children, after a homicide Oct. 8 in the apartment complex in Superior Township.

Deandre Willingham, 20, of Ypsilanti Township died in a shooting at the Sycamore Meadow Apartments, 1273 Stamford Court. James Freeman, 19, of Ann Arbor turned himself into police and has been charged with murder.

The shooting was in the mid-afternoon, and several people, including children, saw it and some residents administered CPR to Willingham, said Holly Heaviland, a volunteer and executive director of community and school partnerships for the Washtenaw Intermediate School District.

Packets in hand, volunteer Marion Hoey approached each resident with a kind smile.

"Everything has been taken care of," Hoey said, letting people know the sheriff's office had arrested someone in the homicide.

If no one answered, the Interrupters left the packets at the door.

Residents were grateful for the Interrupters' work.

"I'm really glad you guys are doing this," one said.

One young woman was a friend of Willingham's, and Heaviland connected her with mental health officials who would come talk to her about dealing with her grief that afternoon.

"This is amazing," the young woman said. "Thank you so much. I really appreciate it."

Another resident, who didn't want to be identified, said the problems in the neighborhood are not from residents, but come from people who visit the complex.

"That's where the trouble starts," she said. "We get tired of seeing it."

She often has difficult finding a place to park, she said.

Fading paint on the side of the apartment buildings showed where people had been shooting paint ball guns.

Although she and other residents have told police and the apartment complex managers, nothing changes, she said, frustrated.

"That's why we're here," Hoey said. "Please don't give up."
YPSILANTI, MI - U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell , D-Dearborn, will join local officials at a panel discussion on proposed cuts to Medicaid on Monday, Oct. 16 in Ypsilanti.

State Rep. Ronnie Peterson, D-Ypsilanti, and city Councilman Peter Murdock , Ward 3, will share how President Donald Trump administration's proposed changes to the health care system would affect constituents.

Kathy Grant, executive director of Community Alliance, a nonprofit that provides services for people with disabilities; and former state Rep. John Freeman also will participate in the panel discussion.

The proposed federal budget seeks to cut $700 billion from Medicaid.



The panel discussion will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Community Alliance of Southeastern Michigan, 301 W. Michigan Ave., suite 102, Ypsilanti.
DETROIT, MI - A Detroit Coast Guard air crew safely hoisted seven people Saturday evening from a grounded vessel on Buckeye Reef near Middle Bass Island in western Lake Erie.

The 28-foot vessel was hard aground with five adults and two children aboard, the Coast Guard Sector Detroit learned about 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14. A Coast Guard crew in a 25-foot boat out of Marblehead, Ohio, accompanied by a local, commercial salvage company, could not approach the vessel because of water depths, the Coast Guard reported in a statement.

"The (grounded) vessel was reported to be severely listing and one of the adults was experiencing a panic attack thought to be brought on by the situation."

A MH-65 Dolphin helicopter then left Detroit to make the rescue. The aircraft took four to the Middle Bass Island airport, where paramedics and local police met them. The crew returned and hoisted the remaining three people.

Medical personnel evaluated the seven people and reported no injuries. They were then taken on a 45-foot response boat to the Marblehead station, north of Sandusky and east of Port Clinton.

The owner was to remove the boat, possibly Sunday, depending on the weather.
DETROIT, MI - Detroit police are looking for a man wanted in connection with an August shooting that led to the recent death of a 25-year-old man.

Matthew Jessie Chappel, 26, was arguing with the other man about 1:15 a.m. Aug. 16 in a gas station parking lot at Eight Mile Road and Ward Street in the northwest part of the city.

Chappel then allegedly fired shots, striking the younger man in the body. He was in critical condition, but died of his injuries, Detroit police reported in a Sunday statement.

The suspect escaped in a dark Ford Explorer.

Detroit police also are seeking two women, ages 27 and 28 and a man, 27. The three are considered "persons of interest."

The police homicide unit can be reached at 313-596-2260. People with information can also call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Dime & Regal is moving to bigger digs along the Wealthy Street Corridor.

The shop will open at 656 Wealthy St. SE in November.

Owner Courtney Jones started the shop two years ago in a live-work space on Division Avenue where she makes her jewelry.

In the new space, she'll have a 1000 square feet. Nearly a third of the products in the shop will be made by her or her new partner, Samantha McIntosh. Both are metalsmiths.

The rest of the shop's products will come other West Michigan artisans. Most everything will be priced under $100. In addition to jewelry, there will be accessories such as scarves and handbags.

"Everything is handmade," said Jones, of the store's inventory.

She is planning a grand re-opening celebration on Nov. 11, and is providing updates about the event on Dime & Regal's Facebook page and at dimeandregal.com.

Scoring a storefront in one of Grand Rapids' popular retail corridors wasn't easy.

"It very much seemed like a dating game," said Jones, who discovered landlords were looking for a commercial tenant that is both different from other tenants and yet appealing to a similar demographic.

The new shop is a good fit with its neighbors, including popular restaurants, The Winchester and Donkey Taqueria. The long-time vacant building recently underwent significant renovations by new owner, Eric Wynsma.

Right now, it's challenging to find space in high-demand areas like the Wealthy Street corridor, said Chris Prins, a Colliers International | West Michigan retail associate, who helped Jones with her search.

"Everybody wants to be on the Wealthy, Cherry and Fulton corridors," said Prins, of the streets that are now home to a mix of breweries, restaurants and shops.

Prins' advice for people looking for commercial space is to get to know the landlords and the brokers. And be prepared to act quickly. A retail space can be gone in a few days.

Leases are going for $13 to $20 a square foot, depending on the space and build out, he said. That is pretty comparable to the going rate in downtown Grand Rapids.

"In the past two to three years, we have seen it go up," Prins said. "It goes back to supply and demand. Landlords have the ability to ask for more money."
GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Spectrum Health is behind a first-of-its-kind thermal bra for breast cancer survivors, designed to keep them warm.

The idea for the bra came from Jodie Faber, an employee of the Grand Rapids-based health care system.

"This is something that is going to increase the comfort of breast cancer survivors," said Faber, director of Spectrum Health United Lifestyles, the wellness and prevention program associated with Spectrum Health United and Kelsey hospitals.

In 2005, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy.

Soon after reconstructive surgery, she was swimming in Grand Traverse Bay on a sunny afternoon. When she came out of the water, she noticed her breasts were bright red.

The silicone in her breast implants became like ice packs, chilling the rest of her body because she no longer had tissue in her chest to provide a layer of installation for her core.

Lying out in the sun wasn't enough to warm her. She had to take a hot shower to get rid of the chills.

The experience had her looking for a better solution.

The most common recommendation were hand warmers. But they burned her skin, now sensitive after the removal of tissue and nerve endings.

'Someone listened to me'

A decade later, she relayed her idea for some kind of warming bra to Mike Czechawkyj, a nurse on Spectrum Health Innovations, a for-profit business venture the health system created in 2007.

The venture began as an initiative three years earlier to encourage a culture of innovation by providing a channel for employees to share ideas for improving care.

Faber connected with the Innovations team in 2015, during a "road show," when the team tours Spectrum facilities to let employees know about the programs and elicit their ideas.

"This is going to sound odd but here is my problem," Faber remembers telling Czechawkyj. "It felt like someone listened to me."

Spectrum turned to Central Michigan University's acclaimed fashion merchandising and marketing program for help with the project.

Faber was integral to the students' work. They put her in a special chamber that measured the temperature of her chest in relation to the rest of her body.

They listened when Faber said she didn't like an idea of a bra with wires and batteries that worked similar to a portable heating pad.

"The last thing I wanted when I went out was to have a battery back on my bra," Faber said. "I told them 'I just wanted to look and feel normal'."

So the students focused on textiles. Faber spent a lot of time trying on bras made with different materials.

Liberating is how she describes trying on the students' thermal bra prototype.

"It was one of the first times I felt normal," Faber said.

The bra is made of three types of material. The one closest to the body keeps in heat, the middle layer insulates and the top layer keeps out the cold.

Faber likes that the bra looks feminine and lacy. The product isn't considered a medical device or a garment.

"We want to market it as an everyday bra," Lazzaro said.

Faber would like to see a swimsuit version.

Currently, there are two versions: one for the cold months and another for the warmer months.

Testers needed

The thermal bra is expected to be available for sale in 2018, priced between $50 to $80.

"We want to look at best possible way to get it into the hands of women at the best possible price," said Anthony Lazzaro, a product development specialist with Spectrum Health Innovations.

The thermal bra is moving to a trial phase. They are looking for women, ages 40 to 70, who have had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after a cancer diagnosis more than a year ago.

Those who participate will get three bras for free.

The two-year development of the thermal bra is pretty fast compared to some of the Innovations team's other projects that can take take 7 to 8 years to get approval from Food and Drug Administration.

"We are here to solve problems," Lazzaro said.

Nearly all the Innovations' projects have been suggested by Spectrum Health employees.

The team sorts through about 1,200 ideas a year, with only about 1 percent making it through the commercialization process.

"This one caught our attention because it would help women right away," said Lazzaro of the thermal bra.

The Innovations team has grown to 11 employees with the addition of clinicians and engineers along with business development experts like Lazzaro.

He credits the clinicians for tripling the number of ideas. Faber says she felt comfortable talking to Czechawkyj because he understood her patient experience.

Patents went up after bringing on two engineers. The group has nine licenses and seven patents on products.

Innovations has partnered with several companies from Kalamazoo-based Stryker to Minneapolis-based Medtronic to bring products to the market.

The team also often works with students at Michigan universities such as CMU, Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, Michigan State, Hope College and Michigan Tech.

The four CMU students who developed the thermal bra prototype are being given the opportunity to take the project to the next level.

They are working to ready the bra for market as part of their own company, Elemental LLC, under a licensing agreement with Spectrum Health Innovations.

The students are Augusta Overy, Emily Austin and Haley Rusicka, who have since graduated, and Sue Wroblewski, a CMU graduate student is doing her thesis on the clincial trial that will involve 15 women testing out the thermal bra.

"It's pretty amazing," said Wroblewski, who runs the CMU research lab that tests thermo properties of textiles. "We are excited we found a solution that is working and we're going onto the next step."

Half the money from the licensing agreement will go to Faber.

"We want to encourage community collaboration," Lazzaro said. "We want to take care of employees and give them incentives to come up with ideas."
By PTI: Peshawar, Oct 15 (PTI) Four paramilitary soldiers were killed and three others injured today in an improvised explosive device blast at a check-post in northwestern Pakistan, officials said.

The IED was planted by terrorists near the Pak-Afghan border in Kharlachi near Kohat region.

The security forces rushed to the site and cordoned off the entire area and started a search operation.

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The blast came a few days after the Pakistan Army recovered a Canadian-American family in the agency from captivity.

Earlier, officials had said that the area was hit by landmine blasts.

Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border.

The region was claimed by the military to have been cleared of insurgents during an operation a few years ago. However, militants still carry out sectarian attacks and also target security forces occasionally. PTI CORR UZM

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Cairn Energy Chief Executive Bill Gammell (L) and Vedanta Chairman Anil Agarwal pose for a picture during a news conference in Mumbai October 11, 2010. Vedanta Resources said on Monday the open offer price for Cairn India's minority shareholders is the final price, but added that it cannot move forward with the offer until it gets regulatory approval. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS) - RTXTAN9

Mining mogul Anil Agarwal has said he will not seek a board position on blue-chip British miner Anglo American Plc even after becoming its largest shareholder and instead will support the management.

With over 21 percent stake in the company that owns the iconic diamond brand De Beers, he wants to push for joint venture or technical collaboration between Anglo and his own companies for prospecting for diamonds, copper and coal in India.

"It is a fantastic company. There cannot be any company better than that. It is a 100-year old company. We will support the management. We like the management," he told PTI.

The family trust of the chairman of diversified miner Vedanta has purchased about 9 percent more shares, worth up to 1.5 billion pounds, on top of 2 billion pounds spent in March for acquiring a 12.43 percent holding.

The stake has given him an indirect foothold in world's largest diamond producer, De Beers.

"It is a very big stake. I want to operate as a shareholder without a board position for now," he said.

Agarwal said he believes there is a synergy between Anglo and his firm Vedanta. "There can be joint ventures. They can work together," he said. "They (Anglo) have technology and India offer opportunities for mining of diamond, copper, coal etc."

The mining baron said he would push for collaboration with Vedanta and Anglo for mining, particularly of diamonds in India.

Last year, Agarwal had made an unsuccessful offer to merge part of his mining empire with Anglo American.

Agarwal said he believes that Anglo American, a company founded by the Oppenheimer dynasty in South Africa a century ago, is capable of getting technology and skilled people to India which will help in increasing domestic production of metals like copper, diamond and gold.

Anglo American is one of the world's top five mining groups, alongside BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto, Vale and Glencore and has copper mines in Chile, iron ore operations in Brazil and South Africa as well as De Beers, the iconic diamond producer.

An indirect foothold in De Beers would increase Agarwal's presence in one more commodity after zinc, aluminium, iron ore, copper, power, silver and lead.

On an average, De Beers sells rough diamonds worth about USD 5.2 billion every year, half of which are purchased by Indian diamantaires based in Surat, Mumbai, Antwerp, Hong Kong, South Africa and Dubai.

The diamonds sold by De Beers to its clients trickles down to the secondary market in Surat and Mumbai, where they are sold to small and medium diamantaires and even big companies.

India's diamond production is almost negligible and it is the largest consumer of rough diamond in the world, importing 80 percent of total world production with an import bill of about USD 15 billion.

Recently Rio Tinto, world's biggest mining company, exited from the Bunder Diamond mines in Madhya Pradesh due to delays in securing regulatory approvals. The Bunder mine has established diamond reserves.

Vedanta has made significant progress on its strategic priorities over the last year, including completion of the Vedanta Ltd-Cairn India merger, ramping up production from its portfolio of low-cost assets, increasing free cash flow, and optimising its balance sheet through two successful liability management exercises in January and August 2017, respectively.

De Beers, the world's leading diamond exploration, mining and marketing company, producing over 30 million carats of diamonds per annum, 35 percent of global rough diamond production.

Anglo, which is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges, has revenue of USD 23 billion, EBITDA of USD 6.1 billion and a market cap of USD 20 billion. Its operations extend across Southern Africa, North and South America, Australia, Asia and Europe and employ 113,000 employees worldwide.

Its portfolio of mining businesses includes precious metals and minerals, base metals and minerals  copper, nickel, niobium and phosphates and bulk commodities  iron ore and manganese, metallurgical coal and thermal coal.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected a GDP growth of 1.9 percent for India in 2020. With this subdued forecast, India is likely to record its worst growth performance since the 1991 liberalisation. But IMF has placed India as the fastest-growing emerging economies of the world. (Image: Moneycontrol)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) shot down media reports speculating that it was pushing for the Public Distribution System (PDS) to be replaced by the Universal Basic Income (UBI) in India.

The reports emerged in a section of media after the IMF, in its annual Fiscal Monitor report, said the UBI will outperform the PDS in terms of coverage, progressivity, and generosity.

The IMF's observation was based on the results of a microsimulation analysis of a policy reform that replaces food and fuel subsidies in India with a UBI.

Director of Fiscal Affairs Department of the IMF, Vitor Gaspar, said the report on India was just a case study on UBI and was carried out in order to demonstrate as to how a large but inefficient scheme can be replaced.

"We don't regard Fiscal Monitor as advocating for or against UBI. This is not the case at all," Gaspar told PTI in an interview.

"No! The goal was not to advocate UBI. It was to use the UBI as an illustration of how one could replace existing large and macroeconomically significant schemes that are inefficient and inequitable," he said.

The top IMF official said their report was based on the set of subsidy schemes, including energy subsidies and PDS schemes, that existed in India around 2011.

"We looked at these subsidies and we documented how a reform that would consider the replacement of these subsidies by the UBI would look like; then, we show that from 2011 to now, India has changed a lot," Gaspar explained.

"Hence the example that we present does not apply to the India of today. Today's India is a completely different place than what it was in 2011," the top IMF official said.

Gaspar said the IMF opted for India as a case study mainly because the UBI is particularly attractive when it replaces inefficient and inequitable public spending programs.

"And it turned out that the subsidy schemes that prevailed in India in 2011 were indeed inefficient and inequitable. And that's one of the reasons why they were so deeply reformed over time," he said.

"Doing a case study on India does not mean that the IMF is supporting the UBI in India," he reiterated.

Gaspar said that the IMF only intended to engage in a conversation that would allow it to collect facts and arguments relevant to policymakers and politicians and eventually help them make the best decisions for their countries.

"That's the type of conversation we thought was useful to engage them on, trying to look at what are the relevant facts and arguments so that we can have a meaningful policy conversation," Gaspar said.

The Fiscal Monitor is not advocating for specific reforms for individual countries, Gaspar said.

"Thats something that depends a lot on the particular circumstances of the country and we engage in that exercise year after year with countries in what we call 'Article IV consultations'," Gaspar said

"One should also take into account broader ramifications such as the public spending programmes that are being replaced and other financing sources," he said.

A UBI is equal cash transfer to all individuals in a country.
The dentist couple will visit the Dasna jail in Ghaziabad every 15 days to treat inmates with dental problems. Rajesh and Nupur Talwar were lodged there since November 2013.

By Press Trust of India: Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar will visit the Dasna jail every 15 days to attend to inmates facing dental problems after their release following acquittal in the murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj.

The two are lodged in the Dasna prison in Ghaziabad since November 2013 after they were awarded life sentence in the twin-murder case. Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are likely to be released from Dasna prison on Monday.

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The dentist couple had helped revive the near "defunct" dental department at the prison hospital, a jail official said. "We were concerned about the fate of our dental department after their (Talwars) release. They (Talwars) have assured us that they would visit jail to attend to inmates every 15 days even after their release," jail doctor Sunil Tyagi said.

Tyagi said besides prisoners, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar have also been treating jail staff, police officials and their children. "Since Talwars have come here (prison), they have treated thousands of patients who are happy with their services," he said.

To manage rush of dental patients at the jail hospital after Talwars' release, prison authorities have also tied up with a Ghaziabad-based dental college "The doctors from the dental college will also visit Dasna jail twice a week to attend to patients so that inmates don't face problem," Tyagi added.

Since their acquittal by the Allahabad High Court , there has been a steady increase in patients wanting to consult the couple. Sources in the jail said Rajesh Talwar's brother Dinesh Talwar, who is an Ophthalmologist, would also visit the prison every 15 days along with his team to see patients.

The dentist couple had challenged the sentence in the Allahabad High Court, which acquitted them in the sensational double murder case earlier this week.

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Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar has won the Gurdaspur bypoll in Punjab by 1.9 lakh votes.

20:41 Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today said construction of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya will commence soon and it will be ready to receive devotees by next Diwali.

Hurdles in the way of the proposed Ram temple are being removed, Swami said without elaborating.

"Construction of the temple is likely to begin sooner than later. This week

we will be celebrating Diwali and by next Diwali the Ram temple is likely to be ready to receive devotees," he said addressing a seminar in Patna.

20:31 Former Australia captain Ian Chappell says Hardik Pandya has the potential to become the match-turning all-rounder India have craved since the legendary Kapil Dev retired.

Pandya has played an important role in recent times in the limited overs games for India.

"Hardik Pandya is potentially the fast-bowling allrounder India have craved since Kapil Dev retired," Chappell wrote in 'ESPNcricinfo'.

20:26 More than 20 passengers aboard the Mumbai-bound Tejas Express suffered from food poisoning on Sunday, forcing the train to stop at Chiplun railway station, Maharashtra.

Passengers expressed unease and pain after having breakfast served on the train. They have been admitted to a nearby hospital in Ratnagiri. The Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) tweeted that 24 passengers had been admitted to LifeCare hospital for medical assistance.

18:53 Hockey: India beat Pakistan 3-1.

A one-sided match leading towards India, till the first 2 quarters before Pakistan scored a goal.

18:46 The US economy remains strong and the strength of the labour market calls for continued gradual increases in interest rates despite subdued inflation, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said on Sunday. "We will be paying close attention to the inflation data in the months ahead," Yellen said in prepared remarks at an international banking seminar in Washington. "My best guess is that these soft readings will not persist."Yellen also said she expected the US economy to exceed its long-term trend during the second half of the year and repeated the impact of recent hurricanes on the economy should be temporary.

18:07 Meanwhile, there are reports that 20 passengers have taken ill after consuming food on the Tejas Express



HT! The hooter goes as India head into the break leading on the back of @chinglensana29's superb strike.#INDvPAK #HeroAsiaCup pic.twitter.com/MnxWyow46x

 Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) October 15, 2017

India vs Pakistan Asia Cup Hockey Live update: India 1-0 PakistanAt half-time India leads Pakistan 1-0. Chinglesana hit a goal early in the second quarter. Both teams missed multiple chances in the last two quarters.

18:02 Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today wrote to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, demanding that the real estate sector be brought under the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

In a letter to Jaitley, Sisodia said if real estate comes under the new indirect tax regime, the exorbitant hike in land prices could be checked and the flow of black money curbed, says a PTI report.

18:00 Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi after US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan. Trump had acknowledged Pakistan's help in securing the release of an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror network.



Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts.  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2017



"Modiji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug," Gandhi tweeted. The Congress leader also posted a screen grab of Trump's statement that the US was "starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders", thanking Islamabad "for their cooperation on many fronts".

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

17:30 Union Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan Singh on Sunday said that he had directed scientists to develop zero-pollution firecrackers, causing no health hazard to children. The minister's remarks come days after the Supreme Court banned the sale of firecrackers in Delhi-NCR region until October 31. "Dr Harsh Vardhan told the gathering of students that the scientists have been asked to develop zero-pollution firecrackers that do not cause health hazards to children," the Union Environment Ministry said in a statement.

17:18 Hockey: India is playing against Pakistan at Dhaka.This is the 170 th hockey match between both the nations.

India has won 57, drawn 30 and lost 82.

The last match India-Pakistan match saw India winning 6-1 at the HWL in London.

17:12 Roger Federer brushed aside world number one Rafael Nadal 6-4 6-3 to win the Shanghai Masters

The Swiss world number two beat Nadal in the finals of the Australian Open and Miami Masters and in the last 16 at Indian Wells.

16:48 Parliament will block Britain from leaving the European Union without an exit deal, the opposition Labour Party's finance policy chief said on Sunday.

Negotiations are deadlocked between Prime Minister Theresa May's government and the EU on securing a divorce settlement and agreement on future relations, raising the prospect that Britain could walk away from talks without a deal

16:28 Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said the country's borders were "completely safe" and China has also understood that "India is no more weak".

Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a powerful country and its prestige at the international level has grown.

16:04 RECAP | North Korea's missiles have a range of starting from 150 kilometres to upwards of 10,400 kilometres. Its hunger for power is evident and it does have nuclear weapons in its arsenal. But how dangerous is the threat? Click here to find out.

15:47 India has called for the urgent revision of the quota of International Monetary Fund in favour of a dynamic emerging market so as to reflect the ground realties of the world.

Addressing the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley hoped that this can be accomplished as part of the 15th General Review of Quotas.

15:41 The death toll from two bomb attacks that tore through busy junctions in the heart of Somalia's capital Mogadishu has risen to 85, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the country since Islamist militants launched an insurgency in 2007.

15:38 The Pakistan government on Saturday withdrew its request for extending the detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under the anti-terrorism law.

Explaining as to why the government withdrew its application, a senior official of the Punjab government told PTI that since the government has extended the detention of Saeed and four others till October 24 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 it does not require to have them house arrested under the anti-terrorism law, stated a PTI report.

15:28 Asserting that Indian IT professionals coming to America on H-1B visa are not illegal economic immigrants, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the US must decide appropriately while taking a decision on its visa policy.

Jaitley said he raised this issue in his meetings with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ros, according to a PTI report.

14:58 Gold import surged by more than two folds to USD 16.95 billion during the first half of 2017- 18, according to the commerce ministry data.

Gold import, which has a bearing on the country's current account deficit (CAD), was worth USD 6.88 billion in April- September 2016-17.

In September this year, import of the precious metal dipped by 5 percent to USD 1.71 billion from USD 1.80 billion in the same month of the previous fiscal.

14:34 The combined market valuation of six of the 10 most valued Indian companies surged Rs 76,382.8 crore last week, with Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and TCS stealing the show with maximum gains.

While ITC, Maruti Suzuki India, ONGC and SBI suffered losses in their market capitalisation (m-cap) for the week ended Friday, RIL, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), HDFC Bank, HDFC, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) and Infosys saw gains.

14:11 The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has refused to share details of a decision to put the logo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pet project 'clean India mission' on the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes, citing security concerns among other reasons.

Replying to an RTI query, the central bank also did not give a copy of the guidelines on the printing of advertisement - including promotion of central government-run initiatives - on the notes.

13:43 A five-member ministerial panel set up by the GST Council is meeting today and is expected to look at a proposal for reducing tax rates on restaurants. The committees recommendations will be placed before the GST Council at its next meeting in Guwahati on November 9.

13:18 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has congratulated Jakhar on his big win. "The # Gurdaspur by-election marks another major step in the revival of @ INCIndia, it's clear that party is on upswing ahead of 2019 LS polls," he tweeted.

13:06 The Congress' victory in Gurdaspur is now official, with Sunil Jakhar comprehensively beating his rivals from the Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party. The seat was earlier held by the BJP's Vinod Khanna, whose death earlier this year had necessitated by the bypoll.

12:43 In Kerala, KNA Khader, the IUML candidate, has won the Vengara bypoll by 23,310 votes after defeating CPM candidate PP Basheer, who finished second.

12:16 The finance ministry is working on capital infusion strategy for the public sector banks (PSBs) and it is expected to be finalised by December, according to official sources.

The Department of Financial Services is assessing the capital needs of various banks based demands made by them, sources told news agency PTI.

There are various parameters which are being looked at for capital infusion exercise, including NPA ratio, credit growth, insolvency proceeding etc, sources said, adding that the second quarter result would also give clarity on the capital requirements for the current fiscal.

11:54 State minister Navjot Singh Sidhu says the Gurdaspur victory will be a Diwali gift for Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who will soon take over leadership of the party. "We have sent a beautiful Diwali gift packed with red ribbon to our would-be president Rahul Gandhi because it sets the tone.... It will be a shot in the arm for the Congress," said the former cricketer.

11:37 In Gurdaspur, Congress' Sunil Jakhar now leads by more than one lakh votes.

11:15 German auto major Volkswagen (VW) has set a target to garner 3 percent share in passenger vehicle segment in India, one of its key future markets, according to a senior company official.

The company is looking to enhance its brand awareness, while also gradually strengthen its range of products in India to fill gaps in its portfolio and tap fast-growing segments.

"For us, this (India) is one of the future markets and we need to strengthen our footprint in this market...We have a clear vision of where we want to go to and have a sustainable business in India," Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd, Director Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Steffen Knapp told PTI.

10:52 Gurdaspur bypoll update: Sunil Jakhar of the Congress has extended his lead to 94,161 votes.

10:30 China's ruling Communist Party has agreed to amend the party constitution, expected to embed President Xi Jinping's political thought, ahead of next week's five-yearly party congress in which Xi will tighten his grip on power.

The party's Central Committee, the largest of its elite ruling bodies, passed a previously announced proposal to amend the constitution which will now be put to the Congress for formal approval.

10:10 An update on the Gurdaspur bypoll: Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar is currently leading by 42,718 votes.

09:55 The BJP has accused the Opposition of levelling "mischievous" and "baseless" allegations that India's Global Hunger Index rank has slipped to 100th in 2017 from 55th in 2014.

BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the Opposition's "allegation" was a "scurrilous attempt" to tarnish the image of India and that "Rahul Gandhi and Congress party have been engaged" in this activity for over three years. For more on the original report that triggered the controversy, go here: DATA STORY: North Korea's children are hungry, but still better off than Indian kids

09:40 Counting is underway for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, which is witnessing a three- cornered race among the BJP, the Congress and the AAP.

The bypoll is seen as a barometer for the popularity of the six-month-old Congress government in Punjab.

The seat had fallen vacant following the demise of actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna of the BJP in April.

09:25 The big business story this weekend has been the merger between IndusInd Bank and Bharat Financial. In case you missed it, IndusInd Bank on Saturday confirmed its acquisition of microfinance institution Bharat Financial Inclusion after over a month of exclusive merger arrangement.

The share exchange ratio for the merger will be 639 equity shares of the bank for every 1,000 equity shares of Bharat Financial, the management of both the companies announced after the bank's board meeting on Saturday. Read the full story here.

09:05 Days after the International Monetary Fund lowered its growth forecast for the current and the next year, IMF chief Christine Lagarde has said the Indian economy is on a "very solid track" in the mid-term.

"Turning to India...we have slightly downgraded India; but we believe that India is for the medium and long-term on a growth track that is much more solid as a result of the structural reforms that have been conducted in India in the last couple of years," the IMF Managing Director Lagarde said.

Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. We'll bring you latest news and updates throughout this Sunday and recap all that's happened during the weekend so far.
Berkeley: Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi delivering a speech at Institute of International Studies at UC Berkeley, California on Monday. PTI Photo(PTI9_12_2017_000038B)

Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's elevation to the post of party chief would give him the "right entitlement" to lead the alliance that takes on the BJP in the 2019 polls, senior party leader Salman Khurshid has said amid strong indications of the Gandhi scion's promotion.

Khurshid also told PTI in an interview that Rahul Gandhi's taking over as the party's president would be a "psychological" boost, which would attract more youngsters and give an "additional splurge of energy" to the party.

Asked about his earlier comments that Congress president Sonia Gandhi would continue to play a major role in the country's politics even after the transition, he said, "It is more of a hope that a definite assertion or fact."

"She wouldn't want to crowd the new leader. They will work out, I am sure, a very interesting and a very useful relationship in terms of political presence," Khurshid said.

On whether the Congress should go it alone or strike an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the former Union minister told PTI "the practical view should be that sensible adjustment, accommodation and alliances should be considered" while noting that the next general elections would be a clash of ideologies.

However, he warned that alliances can be damaging if not done properly and should be struck with an objective and in a manner that strengthens the party.

Asked if Rahul Gandhi was the best choice to lead an alliance to take on the BJP in 2019, Khurshid said when the Congress vice president takes over as its chief, he will represent a party which would be the largest contributing part to an alliance.

"Therefore, I think he has the right entitlement or if you like, the right reason to be leading an alliance," he said.

Khurshid also cited the Congress' panIndia identity and said this will play a "very significant" role in this matter.

"But frankly, it will be his way and his decision, I don't think we should venture to speak too much about this," the senior Congress leader said.

Asked if some regional parties and leaders may oppose Rahul Gandhi's leadership for such a coalition, Khurshid said, "I hope not, but it will be negotiated amongst the leaders and he (Rahul) will be among the top leaders there."

He said the leaders forming the coalition will finally have to take a decision keeping in mind what is best while finding an alternative to the BJP.

"I see no reason why anyone should have a problem with a leader in Rahul Gandhi. He is experienced, people might think he has not been in government but I think that does not matter so much," the former external affairs minister said.

"We have had a prime minister who had not been in government. Chandra Shekhar was the prime minister, who had not been in government before," Khurshid said.

Congress workers and leaders are waiting in anticipation and with "some element of anxiousness" for the announcement of Rahul Gandhi's elevation, he said.

Sources in the party have already indicated that Rahul Gandhi could take over as the party chief from her mother after Diwali.

Asked if the Congress would announce the prime ministerial candidate for 2019 polls in a departure from tradition, Khurshid said "it goes without saying" that Rahul Gandhi's taking over the leadership role implies that he would be the prime ministerial candidate.

"He would be the boss, he would be the number one and that is a clear and obvious indication," he said.

The 64-year-old leader said the Congress has already started to change its position on the issue by naming the chief ministerial candidate for the Assembly polls in Himachal Pradesh.

Rahul Gandhi has announced that Virbhadra Singh would be the chief ministerial face of the party in the polls.

"I hope that what is implicit will become explicit because that is the kind of politics that we are dealing with nowadays," Khurshid said.

About Rahul Gandhi's leadership style, he said, "It seems his ideologies are more attuned to Indira ji's, I think. (Also) If you see his visionary approach to politics that has a lot of his father in it."
A former Chinese justice minister has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party following an investigation by the anti-corruption watchdog, the first time the government has announced that she was in trouble.

Wu Aiying, 65, was justice minister from 2005 until February this year, according to her official resume, and one of only a handful of senior female officials in China.

In a statement released late on Saturday following a four-day meeting of the party's Central Committee, the largest of its elite ruling bodies, Wu's name was listed as one of a number of officials to have been expelled from the party for graft.

While the other names listed, including former Chongqing city party boss, Sun Zhengcai, had been announced earlier, Wu's name had not been mentioned by the party in connection with any investigation.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection found that Wu had "serious discipline problems", the communique said using a euphemism for corruption, but gave no other details.

It was not possible to reach Wu or a representative for comment.

Wu had spent most her career working in the eastern province of Shandong, where she rose to become a deputy provincial party chief, before moving to Beijing in late 2003 to work at the Justice Ministry.

China's legal authorities have been one of the focuses of President Xi Jinping's crackdown on deep-rooted corruption, with powerful former domestic security chief Zhou Yongkang, and many of his allies and former associates, jailed.

It is not clear if Wu had any direct connection with Zhou.

The WeChat account of the state-run Beijing News, Political Matters, said that Wu was known to be a no-nonsense straight talker, once shouting at an underling when a mobile phone rang in the middle of a meeting.

The announcement about Wu comes a few days before the party opens a key, once-in-five-years Congress on Wednesday, which will see Xi strengthen his power and promote key allies and aides.
A boy holds a national flag as he watches an air show to celebrate the 70th Independence Day in Islamabad, Pakistan August 14, 2017. REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood - RC15DCB8EDA0

The Pakistan government on Saturday withdrew its request for extending the detention of Mumbai attack mastermind and JuD chief Hafiz Saeed under the anti-terrorism law.

On January 31, Saeed and his four aides were detained by the Punjab government for 90 days under preventative detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. They have been under house arrest since then. An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court that the government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention anymore.

They have been under house arrest since then. An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court that the government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention anymore.

"The provincial government does not require an extension to the detention of Saeed, his aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - under the anti-terrorism law. Therefore it requests the board to accept the withdrawal of extension to the detention of Jamaat-u-Dawah leaders," he said.

The board accepted the government's plea and disposed of the matter.

Explaining as to why the government withdrew its application, a senior official of the Punjab government told PTI that since the government has extended the detention of Saeed and four others till October 24 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 it does not require to have them house arrested under the anti-terrorism law.

He said the government was to produce Saeed and others before the review board for their detention under 11 EEE (I) and 11D of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997.

"But since all five of them are detained under the public order there was no binding on the government to produce them before the review board today to seek an extension to their detention," the official said.

The Punjab Home Department issued an order extending the house arrest of Jamat-d-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and four other JuD men for another 30 days with effect from September 25 under the public order. The previous detention order issued on July 28 was expired on September 25.

The last two extensions were made on the 'public order'.

The JuD has already been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the United States in June 2014. The JuD chief carries a reward of USD 10 million announced by the US for his role in terror activities.
A district court has restrained Skoda Auto India from using the name "Monte Carlo" for variants of its cars, reports the Times of India.

Monte Carlo Fashions, a Ludhiana-based clothing and apparel company, has claimed infringement of its trademark by the automobile firm.

The additional district judge Mukesh Kumar said that it was "crystal clear" that Skoda, by "launching a variant of its car" under "Monte Carlo", had committed infringement.

The court passed a temporary injunction. "The plaintiff has a prima facie case on merit and balance of convenience also lies in its favour. The plaintiff would suffer irreparable loss if the injunction is not granted," it observed.

Skoda's principal officers, partners and distributors are restricted from "advertising, manufacturing, selling and/or offering for sale, or permitting others to sell or offer for sale, directly or indirectly or dealing in any goods or services, whatsoever under the `Monte Carlo' mark."

Monte Carlo counsels Varun Lal and Rahul Singh claimed that they became aware of the development on September 15 after one of their clients pointed out that the car firm was using its trademark.

The Monte Carlo lawyers were quoted as saying that the firm is the registered owner of the trademark and that Skoda is unauthorised to use their trademark. They said that the trademark usage was in violation of the trademark rights of the clothing brand under the Trade Marks Act, 1999.

The clothing firm also said that bookings of the cars with their trademark have been made. However, the cars are yet to hit the roads in India.

Monte Carlo has claimed huge losses in terms of its business and reputation due to the "malafide and deceptive" usage of their trademark.
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Allies of Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont urged him to push ahead with his secession bid as a deadline set by Madrid for a final decision on independence approaches.

The central government has given the Catalan president Carles Puigdemont an initial deadline of Monday after he said last week he was ready to declare the region independent but delayed the move to allow negotiations with Madrid.

Puigdemont's number two Oriol Junqueras said that any dialogue with the central government "must have at its heart the formation of the (Catalan) republic and our commitment to independence".

"We need to be clear that the best way of achieving an independent republic is to talk to everyone, including the international community," Junqueras told members of his Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya party in Barcelona.

The wealthy region's drive to break away from Spain has unleashed the country's worst political crisis in a generation.

After staging a banned referendum on October 1, in which separatists say 90 percent of people voted for secession, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont said last week he had accepted a "mandate for Catalonia to become an independent state".

But his ambiguous announcement included a call for an unspecified delay to allow time for dialogue.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who has repeatedly said Catalan independence is not up for discussion, responded by giving Puigdemont a deadline to make up his mind.

The journalist-turned-politician now has until Monday morning to declare Catalonia independent or not.

If he does, he has until October 19 to change his mind or Rajoy has said Madrid will start taking direct control over the semi-autonomous region.

As the standoff drags on, dozens of companies have moved their legal headquarters out of Catalonia, and concerns are rising that the crisis will severely damage the region's economy and even dampen Spain's growth prospects.

Spain's deputy prime minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria warned Friday that if "there is no quick solution, we see ourselves having to lower economic forecasts for 2018".

The International Monetary fund has also voiced concern and rating agency Standard and Poor's said the region's economy risked sliding into a recession if the crisis persists.

Spain's Association of Registrars said Friday that 540 firms had sought to relocate their legal addresses from Catalonia from October 2-11.

Puigdemont is under pressure from Madrid and EU states to remain part of Spain but also from his allies in the Catalan parliament who want the region to break away immediately.

"Dialogue is impossible, mediation is impossible," said Nuria Gibert, a spokeswoman Puigdemont's far-left CUP government allies.

Adding to tensions, Catalonia is deeply divided over independence, and those who want to stay in Spain are increasingly making their voices heard, having staged two mass rallies in just five days.

Madrid is ready to invoke article 155 of Spanish law, a never-before-seen provision that allows Madrid to take direct control of its devolved regions if it deems them to be acting against the national interest.

The head of Rajoy's Popular Party in Catalonia, Xavier Garcia Albiol, said Friday that measures could include changing the structure of the local Mossos d'Esquadra police force, as well as imposing more direct rule over education. (AFP) .
The villagers are now rallying in support of Subba Mev's family and have written to the SDM clarifying that Subba Mev is a farmer, who has been grossly wronged in name of cow vigilantism.

By Dev Ankur Wadhawan: A day after five men were beaten in Haryana's Faridabad town on suspicion of smuggling beef, in a shocking incident from Rajasthan's Alwar- as many as 51 cows were snatched from a Muslim family and donated to a cow shed (gau shala).

The incident happened in the Kishangarh Baas area on October 3 with Subba Mev's family.

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Subba Mev and his son Nasru Khan allege that their cows were forcibly taken away by a mob of Hindu extremists who were accompanied by police and were given to the Bambora cow shelter.

Mev said, "We rear cows... are in business of milk production. They had come along-with police and took away our cows."

Commenting on this, conservator of district Meo Panchayat, Sher Mohammad said, "It is fast becoming difficult for Muslim families to rear cows".

The family also blamed the accused right-wing mob of trying to portray them as cow smugglers to legitimise their browbeating.

After the villagers wrote to the sub-divisional magistrate clarifying that Subba Mev is a farmer, who has been grossly wronged in name of cow vigilantism- the SDM ordered release of all 51 cows.

In addition, the SHO also submitted a report of the incident- including how Mev was falsely accused of being a cow smuggler.

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"The thought is that parents, grandparents, will bring their kids there to have fun, to use the trails, but also to understand the history of veterans' service in Towamencin," land planner Peter Simone
Jarrett Coleman goes from school board to statehouse with win in 16th Senate District race
Ever find it hard to find the right kind of movie to watch? This could fix that
By PTI: 2015-16: MHA

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) IIM Kolkata, Aligarh Muslim University and Delhis Lady Shri Ram College for Women are among 4,739 institutions and NGOs that have not disclosed to the government their foreign funding and expenditure for 2015 -16, according to the Home Ministry said.

According to the ministry documents, accessed by PTI, the 4,739 institutions and voluntary organisations have not filed their annual returns for 2015-16, thus failing to submit details of their annual income and expenditure for the year.

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All these institutions and voluntary organisations are registered under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act 2010 and it is mandatory for them to file returns every year.

Those which have not filed returns for 2015-16 include IIM Kolkaka, IIM Lucknow, Aligarh Muslim University, Delhis Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi College of Engineering, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Delhi, and the Indira Gandhi National Centre For Arts, Delhi.

Others in the list include Vivekananda Foundation, Mysore, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, and Nehru Indira Rajiv Memorial Association for Needies, Koraput, Odisha.

The Modi government, which has tightened the rules for NGOs, has already cancelled registration of more than 10,000 non-governmental organisations in the last three years for alleged non-filing of annual returns as mandated in the FCRA.

In addition, renewals of more than 1,300 NGOs have been denied for allegedly violating various provisions of the FCRA.

The home ministry has also asked nearly 6,000 NGOs to open their accounts in banks having core banking facilities and furnish details for real-time access to security agencies in case of any discrepancy.

The move was initiated after it was detected that many NGOs have their bank accounts in cooperative banks or state government-owned apex banks or banks which do not have core banking facilities.

In November 2016, the government had directed more than 11,000 NGOs to file applications for renewal of registration by February 28, 2017, and many of them had failed to do so. PTI ACB ASK ASK NSD

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By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 15 (PTI) The Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Police arrested two drug suppliers from Nagpada in south Mumbai and seized charas valued at Rs 41.88 lakh from their possession, police said today.

Acting on a specific information the Worli unit of ANC last night laid a trap near Jumna Masjid building in Nagpada and apprehended Samirbeg Shabirbeg Mirza (29) and Noman Gulam Haider Shaikh (24), an official said.

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Samirbeg and Noman, who hail from Ahmedabad had come to the city to supply charas to their customers.

"During their search we found two bags containing 10.4 kg charas, which they had brought to be supplied to their customers," Shivdeep Lande, Deputy Commissioner of Police said.

The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, he said. PTI DC RMT

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Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Scattered thunderstorms during the morning. Cloudy skies this afternoon. High 72F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Earlier this week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the agency will seek to repeal the Clean Power Plan  President Barack Obamas signature effort to combat climate change.

The announcement is the latest of the Trump administration's moves to unravel several nationwide and Texas-specific environmental regulations that would have required the state to slash industrial emissions that are linked to global warming, human illnesses and diminished visibility in Big Bend and other national parks.

Other regulations on the chopping block would have allowed the federal government to regulate small streams and wetlands so they dont leach pollution into larger waterways and to require automakers to increase fuel efficiency standards.

Scientists and environmentalists have bemoaned recent moves by the agency to repeal or weaken Obama-era regulations like the Clean Power Plan and the Regional Haze Rule. Last week the agency also missed a deadline for designating which U.S. cities are not in compliance with stricter ozone standards. San Antonio and El Paso were expected to join many of Texas' other major cities on the non-attainment list.

Meanwhile, the states' Republican leaders and some oil and gas and agriculture groups that sued over many of the Obama-era policies have cheered the efforts, calling them a win against federal overreach. But some of those same oil and gas industry groups and power generators  particularly those shifting to cheaper and cleaner-burning natural gas  are opposed to efforts to prop up the struggling coal industry.

I think were starting to see strange bedfellows like the oil and gas industry teaming up with renewables against some of these policy maneuvers and I think people forget that natural gas is one of the biggest winners from cleaning up air quality in the power sector, said Michael Webber, the deputy director of the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin. As they start to make their voice heard I think thats going to change the politics of it.

The EPAs efforts are sure to bring a torrent of lawsuits by environmental groups that could tie up the process for years. The courts have already blocked Trumps efforts to unwind a controversial Obama-era rule aimed at slashing methane emissions in the oil patch.

Many of the Obama-era policies are particularly relevant to Texas, which is the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide and coal-powered electric generation in the U.S. but also the top producer of wind energy. These are three of the policies the Trump administration is targeting:

Clean Power Plan

The CPP was a key component of the countrys commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement, from which the U.S. has since withdrawn under President Trump.

In March, he signed an executive order that called on the EPA to move to repeal the plan, which he repeatedly bashed on the campaign trail.

The war on coal is over, Pruitt, who sued over the plan as Oklahoma attorney general, said in a Monday speech to a group of Kentucky coal miners.

The plan would have required every state to slash carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 2030 however they saw fit, accelerating a shift from coal that started years ago. Carbon dioxide is a potent greenhouse gas that directly contributes to climate change.

For Texas  the nations top emitter of carbon dioxide by far  that would have meant cutting an annual average of 51 million tons of emissions, about 21 percent less than 2012 levels.

While Texas may no longer be mandated to meet that goal, Webber of the UT Energy Institute said it already was well on its way because we are rapidly ramping up on solar, wind and natural gas, displacing coal in the process and so our emissions were dropping, anyway.

Webber said the state stood to benefit economically from the power plan, which would've increased demand from less energy-abundant states for cleaner energy sources.

The Clean Power Plan was good for us economically and yet we fight against it, Webber said.

Texas and West Virginia led a coalition of more than two dozen states that filed lawsuits over the plan  which was never implemented as those legal challenges wound through the courts. The states Republican leaders and its grid operator, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, warned that the plan would bring higher electric bills and threaten grid reliability.

Its gratifying that our lawsuit against Obama-era federal overreach was a catalyst for repeal of the plan," Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement Tuesday. "We look forward to working with the administration to craft a new strategy that will protect the environment without hurting jobs and the economy.

No matter how many coal-friendly policies the Trump administration pursues, energy analysts say they are no match for market forces, which favor cheaper and cleaner burning natural gas and renewables. In the past week, Irving-based Vistra Energy and its subsidiary, Luminant, have announced plans to shutter three major Texas coal plants  Monticello, Big Brown and Sandow.

Regional Haze Rule

Last week, the Pruitt EPA unveiled a final version of a Texas-specific clean air rule that scientists and environmental groups say will allow the states power plants to emit more sulfur dioxide than they do already.

In December, the Obama EPA proposed a plan for Texas to comply with one prong of the nearly 20-year-old rule for reducing air pollution in national parks like Big Bend and other federal wilderness areas that lead to haze, which diminishes visibility.

The plan wouldve slashed sulfur dioxide emissions from power plants by at least 60 percent statewide, leading to significantly lower levels of harmful particulate matter, according to calculations by Rice University Engineering Professor Dan Cohan, who says the rule would have done more to clean up the air in Texas than the Clean Power Plan. Sulfur dioxide is known to impact not only visibility but also human health.

Under a 2012 consent decree struck with environmental groups that sued the EPA to encourage it to speed up the process, the agency was required to propose a final version of the plan by Sept. 9.

After an unsuccessful attempt to get the courts to extend that deadline, the Pruitt EPA unveiled a final version of the rule last week.

Unlike the rule the EPA proposed in December, which imposed emissions caps on individual plants, the new rule sets up a cap-and-trade program with a limit Cohan says is 14 percent above current emissions  which he said will do nothing to improve air quality.

Coal plants, he said, wont have to install any of the emissions-reducing equipment they wouldve needed to comply with the original haze rule. The cost of installing that equipment was expected to force the closure of many of the facilities, which already are struggling to break even.

By Pruitt scrapping the proposal that required actual pollution reductions, he is bending over backwards to help Texas polluters maintain a dangerous status quo," Chrissy Mann, who heads the Sierra Clubs Beyond Coal campaign, said in a statement.

Paxton, who sued over a separate but similar version of the federal implementation plan, said the rule would have imposed $2 billion in costs without achieving any visibility changes.

Clean Water Rule

Earlier this summer, the EPA moved to unwind an Obama-era clean water regulation that had irked Texas Republicans and the farm lobby, who painted it as an attack on private property rights and sued to block it.

The 2015 Waters of the U.S. rule  which Trump vowed to repeal on the campaign trail  was aimed at better defining the scope of bodies of water protected under the federal Clean Water Act. It would have allowed the federal government to regulate small streams and wetlands.

The Obama EPA said the agency had always believed its jurisdiction stretched beyond traditional navigable waters, like rivers and seas, to these smaller bodies of water that can impact them, but it didnt have a strong legal basis to prove it.

The updated definition would have clarified that authority, leaving ranchers and industry officials to wonder whether they would have to check with the federal government before using their own land and go through a lengthy and expensive permitting process.

Paxton said last year that the change would mean "virtually every river, stream and creek in the U.S. will come under the oversight of bureaucrats from the EPA."

In June, the Pruitt EPA, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, proposed a rule that would allow the EPA to go back to enforcing a guidance document from 2008 when deciding whether a waterway is subject to federal oversight for pollution control purposes.

We are taking significant action to return power to the states and provide regulatory certainty to our nation's farmers and businesses, Pruitt said in a statement at the time.

Like the Clean Power Plan, the rule never took effect after a federal court granted a nationwide stay as legal challenges, including from Texas, wound through the courts.

Regan Beck, director of governmental affairs for the Texas Farm Bureau, said the group is overjoyed by the EPAs move, although he acknowledges it could take a while.

We felt like WOTUS was one of the biggest federal overreaches we have ever seen and that it would be so invasive it would affect our members as well as anyone who had private property, he said.

Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin, Rice University and the Texas Farm Bureau have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors is available here.
By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 15 (PTI) The Anti Narcotics Cell (ANC) of Mumbai Police arrested two drug suppliers from Nagpada in south Mumbai and seized charas valued at Rs 41.88 lakh from their possession, police said today.

Acting on a specific information the Worli unit of ANC last night laid a trap near Jumna Masjid building in Nagpada and apprehended Samirbeg Shabirbeg Mirza (29) and Noman Gulam Haider Shaikh (24), an official said.

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Samirbeg and Noman, who hail from Ahmedabad had come to the city to supply charas to their customers.

"During their search we found two bags containing 10.4 kg charas, which they had brought to be supplied to their customers," Shivdeep Lande, Deputy Commissioner of Police said.

The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, he said. PTI DC RMT BAS

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Thousands of meals are heading to Puerto Rico thanks to a Longwood-based charity and thousands of volunteers from all over Central Florida.

Feeding Children Everywhere is packing food for Puerto Rico

Volunteers pack meals for island's Hurricane Maria victims

Volunteer event happening until Oct. 22

Since Oct. 6, Feeding Children Everywhere has led a massive food packing event for Hurricane Maria victims at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

The volunteers have packed up almost 2 million meals, with a goal of reaching 4.4 million. The meals contain a mix of non-perishable items, from tuna packets to crackers and fruit cups. The volunteers pack the meals into individual boxes and then help prepare them for shipping.

FEMA then distributes the meals to those in need.

"You get people who are so happy, they're dancing, they're screaming," said Krystal Rivera, the regional manager for Feeding Children Everywhere. "And then you have people that are so touched by what's happening in Puerto Rico and the fact that they can be a part of helping them out."

Orlando Cares: Hope for Puerto Rico will continue until Oct. 22.

If you want to help out, you can head to the Feeding Children Everywhere website and register to volunteer. It's a minimum two-hour committment and there are spots open all week through next Sunday.
GET OUR APP Our Spectrum News app is the most convenient way to get the stories that matter to you. Download it here.
By PTI: (Eds: Updating with fresh inputs)

Shimla, Oct 15 (PTI) In a blow to the Congress ahead of Assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Rural Development minister Anil Sharma today quit the Virbhadra Singh government and joined the BJP.

Sharma, son of former Union Communication Minister Sukh Ram, said, "I have quit the Himachal cabinet and joined the BJP today".

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Sharma said he has been given a party ticket from Mandi.

"I have been given BJP ticket from Mandi and the party has informed me about this,? he said.

Himachal Pradesh is slated to go to polls on November 9 and the development comes as a blow for Virbhadra Singh who was declared the partys poll face last week.

Sharma alleged that he and his father were being sidelined and ignored in the Congress party.

He alleged that the AICC General Secretary had invited Sukh Ram to attend the rally of Rahul Gandhi in Mandi but when he reached the spot, he was asked not to attend the rally.

?Is Sukh Ram not a member of the Congress," he asked.

"I was not included in any of the committees for the assembly polls and when I asked about this from HPCC president, he said that my name was deleted at the higher level which hurt me and I decided to quit," he said.

The Mandi seat was represented by Sukh Ram from 1962 till November 1984, when he was elected to Lok Sabha and his protAgA D.D.Thakur won the seat in 1985 while the BJP wrested the seat in 1990.

In the 1993 Assembly poll, his son Anil Sharma won from Mandi but after Sukh Rams name surfaced in the Telecom scam, he was expelled from the Congress and formed Himachal Vikas Congress which entered into a post poll alliance with BJP and joined the government.

While Sukh Ram won from Mandi, Anil Sharma was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998.

In the 2003 Assembly polls, Sukh Ram was the sole HVC member to win the election from Mandi but he joined the Congress ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Anil Sharma again won from Mandi in 2007 and 2012 as a Congress candidate and is set to contest as a BJP candidate this time.PTI PCL DV

--- ENDS ---
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Texas has its fair share of glorified horror stories.

From the Texas Chainsaw massacre to The Donkey Lady to La Llorona, there are not many urban legends that Texans havent heard.

But perhaps the real terror lies within the hundreds of small towns that are scattered throughout the Lone Star State.

RELATED: 12 eerie Texas ghost towns to visit this summer

Social website OnlyInYourState.com listed 12 scary houses in Texas that could be haunted earlier this month, and we decided to build on that by introducing other nightmare-inducing abandoned homes across the state.

While it is unknown if evil spirits actually haunt these houses, the abandonments are located on or near some pretty creepy properties.

For example, Ranger, a small town in North Texas  which has numerous abandoned homes that are photographed by Flickr users  was once seen as a hub for members of the Ku Klux Klan.

RELATED: Drone footage shows the creepiness of an abandoned West Texas water park

On the other hand, a school in Indian Gap that has been abandoned for over 50 years stands near a historic cemetery.

No matter the case, these fear-provoking homes are as eerie as they come and the perfect gateway to the upcoming Halloween season.

Click through the slideshow to view photos of abandoned homes across Texas.

rsalinas@mysa.com

Twitter: @RebeccaLSalinas
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An operation by undercover police ended with 44 people being charged in connection with a street-level prostitution ring in north Harris County.

The two-week operation brings the number of prostitution-related arrests in the county to nearly 300 since mid-August, a number that law enforcement officials have said is due to a new focus to stymie demand for prostitution in the region.

Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman heralded his office's work to deter crimes that he said are often connected to prostitution.

EARLIER RAID: Sex sting leads to 250+ arrests in August

"Street level prostitution is the driving force behind much of the demand for human trafficking," Herman said at a press conference Thursday. "This operation we feel may have rescued potential victims from the streets and prevented other crimes in Precinct 4."

Now Playing: Houston has long been known as a major hub for human and sex trafficking. Video: John-Henry Perera

The operation began after police said they received numerous complaints from residents and business owners in the area of FM 1960 and Interstate 45.

More Information site See More Collapse

Four of the 44 people arrested claimed they were victims of human trafficking and five were identified as pimps. One of the alleged pimps had a 2-year-old child and a stolen handgun in his car while he delivered a prostitute, police said.

The arrests follow multiple other crackdowns by police in Houston and Harris County this summer.

In mid-August, more than 250 people were arrested in a massive, weeks-long sting as part of the national, annual "National Johns Suppression Initiative" that this year included 37 law enforcement agencies in 17 states.

Another 138 were arrested in a similar sting last year.

While Herman could not say definitively Thursday if prostitution crimes were up or down in recent years, he noted that the department and other agencies have changed their approach to handling prostitution, opting to try to stymie smaller, street-level rings that can often include women forced into the trade.
In an interview to India Today, APJ Abdul Kalam spoke on the task of integrating the nation, leadership and his definition of politics.

By India Today Web Desk: APJ Abdul Kalam, India's Missile Man and People's President, was a boatman's son, born in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu in 1931. A student of Madras Institute of Technology, Kalam was responsible for making India a missile power by developing Agni and Prithvi.

APJ Kalam, who was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1997, became the 11th President of India on July 25, 2012. In an interview to India Today after being chosen as the ruling NDA's presidential nominee, Kalam spoke on the task of integrating the nation, leadership and his definition of politics.

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Here are the excerpts of the interview:

Q. What is your reaction to your selection as NDA nominee for President?

A. I am overwhelmed by the gesture. Being the President of India is an onerous task.

Q. Many say you are being made president because of your religion.

A. Really? To be honest I never thought of it that way at all. I have always regarded myself as an Indian.

Q. What sort of a role would you like to play?

A. For any president the major task is thinking of the best way to integrate the nation. While speaking to 3,000 children in Porbandar recently a young girl asked me what my message was to them. I told her that our minds should be embedded with thoughts of the nation and that the nation is always bigger than the individual. I think that message is relevant here too.

Q. Does being a scientist equip you in any way to perform your new duties?

A. No doubt, this will be a new type of mission. But essentially it is all about leadership and that is something we were trained for, even if the missions may have been different. We had a systems approach of careful analysis, design and integration that is relevant for any type of task. Also, we were not confined to conducting scientific research. We looked at the overall development of the nation.

Q. But you have never handled the intricacies of politics.

A. My own definition of politics is that it is all about creating leaders to evolve policies that will take the country to higher levels. It is a multi-dimensional leadership that focuses on the nation's economic, social and political development. If you look at politics through this perspective then everything falls into place.

Q. How do you view the current tensions between India and Pakistan?

A. I have not had time to study this thoroughly. All I would like to say at this moment is that India is a strong nation. That its strength doesn't come just from its weapons, but from its economic development and maturity in politics.

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Q. As president you would have to do things you never really enjoyed doing-like dressing formally and hosting formal dinners. Are you ready to change?

A. (Laughs) Let us say it will be a new experience. Besides, you can achieve a lot of work even while having dinner.

ALSO WATCH: Bible, Quran placed next to Abdul Kalam's statue following Bhagavad Gita controversy

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One week after a storm of wildfires ignited in Californias Wine Country, firefighters on Sunday were finally eyeing an end to the deadly siege as winds settled down and the unrelenting infernos weakened enough for some people in endangered areas to return home.

Underscoring the progress, authorities in Napa County lifted all evacuation orders in Calistoga in the afternoon. State officials predicted they would fully contain, or surround, every active blaze in Sonoma County by Friday, and the region was even due for a bit of badly needed rain at the end of the week.

A Kaiser Permanente hospital in Santa Rosa that was hurriedly evacuated in the first hours of the crisis planned to partially reopen Monday morning, allowing for appointments, walk-in care and pharmacy pickups. Meanwhile, some schools in the North Bay and beyond that closed last week due to heavy smoke will welcome children back.

Things feel good in our gut as firefighters, Bret Gouvea, a Cal Fire deputy chief, said Sunday afternoon at a news conference in Santa Rosa.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

But even as crews gained leverage in the sprawling burn areas, Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties still had the feel of disaster zones  with many roads closed and highway signs offering information on the nearest emergency shelter.

Authorities continued to identify the dead and search for the missing, and according to the latest tally, at least 40 people were killed in the worst week for wildfires in state history. In Sonoma County, authorities had received 1,734 missing-person reports since the swarm of fires erupted Oct. 8. As of Sunday, 174 people remained unaccounted for, but county Sheriff Rob Giordano stressed that many of the reports did not involve people likely killed by the fires.

The 45,000-acre Tubbs Fire, which killed at least 18 people as it raced from Calistoga into northern Santa Rosa, continued to burn most intensely Sunday on its northeastern border. But it was no longer threatening the tourist-magnet town of Calistoga in Napa County, officials said. It was 60 percent contained.

The largest of the past weeks blazes, the 51,000-acre Atlas Fire that destroyed homes and wineries near the Silverado Resort and Spa northeast of the city of Napa, was 65 percent contained.

Were not out of the woods yet, but weve made tremendous progress out there, said Chief Barry Biermann, Cal Fires deputy incident commander in Napa.

Erratic winds that had been whipping up the fires all week began to wane on Sunday, and humidity rose. The National Weather Service had issued a number of red-flag warnings  meaning weather conditions were critical  since the fires broke, but forecasters canceled those warnings Sunday morning.

The winds were expected to slow to as weak as 5 mph, the lightest in a week in the devastated areas. Wind speeds the night the fires exploded were clocked at up to 80 mph at higher elevations. Looking ahead, the first winter storm of the season is expected to bring rain by Thursday to the Bay Area, National Weather Service forecasters said.

Shortly after the evacuation order was lifted, many stores in downtown Calistoga were still dark Sunday. But there was one with its lights on: the local grocery store, Cal Mart.

Were back in business, said owner Bill Shaw as his girlfriend, Julie Ward, helped restock shelves with loaves of bread. Were grateful to be back for the community.

Shaw was allowed back in Calistoga a little earlier than residents, so he could start getting the store ready for customers who were told to pack their bags and hit Highway 29 on Wednesday.

Were not fully stocked yet, Shaw said. But well have shipments coming in through the week.

Only an hour after the evacuation was lifted, customers were trickling in with intentions to restock their cupboards and pantries and refrigerators. Light flurries of ash flakes still fell on the towns spas, gourmet restaurants and quiet neighborhoods.

In addition to Calistogas welcome news, all evacuation advisories for the city of Napa were lifted Sunday. Still, many places remained blocked off.

Of the fires burning in Wine Country, a 49,000-acre conflagration straddling Sonoma and Napa counties north of Glen Ellen  which contained about a half-dozen fires, including the Nuns Fire, that merged together  was receiving the bulk of the attention Sunday, according to firefighting officials. It was 40 percent contained.

The Nuns Fire is the top priority for us today, said Biermann, the commander.

Chief among his concerns was protection of Oakmont Village, a big retirement community surrounded by lawn bowling courts, golf courses and highly flammable forests along Highway 12 outside Santa Rosa.

According to Cal Fire, the south edge of that fire was holding along the highway, but flames were expanding east and north across Hood Mountain Regional Park toward the Napa side of the hills. There are some homes tucked into the hills of that endangered region.

Neighborhoods between Santa Rosas Rincon Valley and the winemaking town of Kenwood to the east were eerily quiet Sunday as residents continued to heed mandatory evacuation orders as a result of the big blaze that included the Nuns Fire.

That is, everyone except John Stewart, who was watering trees across the street from his still-standing house on the main thoroughfare, Highway 12.

I guess there was an evacuation, he joked. I must have been taking a nap at the time.

Stewart had stayed behind, hoping he could save his home. He remained despite a lack of power for five days. On Friday, at about 10 p.m., the lights came back on.

His wife, a nurse, had decided to stay in a hotel, and he was hoping she could return home Sunday. But it didnt look like the all clear was coming anytime soon.

Among the many parts of the fire zone where the danger was still acute was a key flank of the Nuns Fire, which continued to threaten neighborhoods east of Sonomas famed downtown square. Power remained out on the east side of the square, which contains the historic Mission San Francisco Solano, after the fire burned several homes on Saturday.

Late Saturday and early Sunday, firefighters prevented the flames from overtaking more homes, officials said.

The morning sky over downtown Sonoma was largely blue, and despite the faint haze and ubiquitous smell of smoke, birds were singing. Much of the eastern part of the city, including its hills where luxury homes come with breathtaking views, remained under evacuation as fire crews continued to tamp down the remaining blazes. Many burned homes and fields were still smoldering.

Tom and Sandy Peterson, who have lived in Sonoma for 21 years, strolled down Fourth Street East, Tom clutching an iced coffee from Cafe Scooteria in one hand and clothing in another. The police had just let them walk to their nearby house, which was evacuated Tuesday evening, to turn off their water and check on the neighbors chickens.

Its eerie, Tom said. Theres just no one here.

Added Sandy: It has been kind of a hellish week. Everyone in Sonoma is ready for this to end.

Firefighters conducted inspections on properties near the fire line, house by house and yard by yard, using neon pink tape to mark address signs outside homes that had been checked out.

To the north, in Mendocino County, officials began allowing residents evacuated from the 35,000-acre Redwood Valley Fire to return home for the first time since flames burned through. At least eight people were killed in the blaze that was 35 percent contained on Sunday.

And in Solano County, officials on Sunday lifted evacuation orders for the areas around Fairfield that had been threatened by the Atlas Fire.

Crews with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. continued restoring electricity and gas service to thousands of people affected by the fires. An estimated 310,000 customers lost power when the fires broke out, but by Sunday power had been restored to more than 92 percent of them.

Throughout the state, Cal Fire officials said crews made good progress overnight on 15 wildfires burning from one end of the state to the other. The fires of the past week have burned more than 200,000 acres and an estimated 5,700 homes, businesses and other structures. Tens of thousands of people remain evacuated.

San Francisco Chronicle staff writers Evan Sernoffsky, Jenna Lyons,

Jill Tucker and Jonathan Kauffman contributed to this report.

Tara Duggan, J.K. Dineen, Trisha Thadani and Kevin Fagan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com, jdineen@sfchronicle.com, tthadani@sfchronicle.com, kfagan@sfchronicle.com

Helping and getting help

FEMA is offering assistance to fire victims in Sonoma and Napa counties. For more information go to www.disasterassistance.gov/ or call (800) 621-3362.

The Red Cross is organizing relief efforts in the North Bay. Evacuees trying to connect with family and friends should post on the organizations Safe and Well website: www.redcross.org/safeandwell.

Community volunteers who want to help in relief efforts can sign up with the Red Cross at http://tinyurl.com/RedCrossVolOctober2017.

Donations to help those affected by California wildfires and other disasters can be made at www.redcross.org. People can also call (800) 733-2767 or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

People needing to report or ask about a missing person in Sonoma County can call the county Fire and Emergency Services Department at (707) 565-3856.

For tips on how to prepare for a wildfire, go to www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/wildfire.

For fire information in Sonoma County, call (707) 565-3856.

Donations to help fire victims can be made here: https://www.redwoodcu.org/.

To help Tubbs Fire victims, donate here: http://biturl.in/64.

Food donations can be made at the Redwood Empire Food Bank in Santa Rosa: http://refb.org/.
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Karen Aycock, 54, of Santa Rosa died Monday in the Tubbs Fire.

She loved animals, perhaps more than people, her friends said.

Ms. Aycock volunteered with animal rescue groups and had several cats, who meant everything to her, said Chad Hinden, Aycocks friend and former roommate.

She wouldnt have left her beloved animals behind even if her life were in danger, he said.

Even if she knew there was a fire, she more than likely would have perished trying to rescue them, said Hinden. She wouldnt leave the house without her animals.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Ms. Aycocks remains were found Thursday in the bathroom of her home in Santa Rosas Coffey Park neighborhood, Hinden said. She was one of many who have been confirmed dead from the fires that have raged through the North Bay.

Her family reported her missing earlier in the week, and on Tuesday her niece went out to Ms. Aycocks home on Dogwood Drive, which had been destroyed.

Her aunts charred blue Ford Mustang was still on the street. The family had hoped she made it out alive, but feared the worst.

Ms. Aycock wasnt much of a people person, Hinden said. She was timid, quiet. But she had a big heart, he said. If you needed anything, shed always be there to help you.

Hinden met Ms. Aycock when they were neighbors in Coffey Park in the mid-1990s, and they later were roommates for a time. He kept in touch with his old friend, visiting whenever he returned from his new home in Texas. When he heard about the fire that devastated his hometown, he was worried.

I tried calling her house and no response, he said. She probably got scared and hid in the bathroom and never made it out.

Staff writer Lizzie Johnson contributed to this story.

Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker
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Note: This article is no longer updated. See our Wine Country fires full coverage for the latest reports.

Wind-charged fires across California have ravaged homes, businesses, vineyards and farmland over the past week. As of Saturday, 40 people were confirmed dead. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency, and President Trump has issued a major disaster declaration.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Officials said efforts remain focused on saving peoples lives and trying to contain the infernos, so many details were not fully known.

What we know:

Forty people are confirmed dead  22 in Sonoma County, six in Napa County, eight in Mendocino County and four in Yuba County. More than 110 people were treated at hospitals, many for smoke inhalation but some for severe burns.

Sonoma County officials said Sunday that 172 people were unaccounted for. Napa County officials said 74 people there were unaccounted for.

Those looking for relatives and friends may file a missing-person report with Sonoma County at (707) 565-3856. In Napa County, the number to call is (707) 253-4501.

An estimated 5,700 homes and commercial facilities have been destroyed in the fires, which are burning in Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Lake, Nevada, Butte, Calaveras, Shasta, and Yuba counties. Those include several homes that were destroyed early Saturday a half mile east of the Sonoma town square.

In Santa Rosa alone, Mayor Chris Coursey said 2,834 homes and 410,000 square feet of commercial space had been destroyed. The city also lost a few fire station in the Fountaingrove neighborhood, as well as two sewage lift stations.

Fifteen California fires, including some that have merged, have together burned more than 200,000 acres. Nearly 75,000 people remained evacuated from fire zones on Sunday, down from an initial estimate of 90,000, according to Cal Fire. The majority of fires were located in Northern California.

Red-flag warnings posted by the National Weather Service for North Bay and East Bay hills expired at 8 a.m. Sunday, as winds across the region died down.

No new evacuation orders were issued overnight. Winds gusting up to 20 mph early Saturday prompted mandatory evacuation orders for about 3,000 residents of eastern Santa Rosa and more than 250 people in the eastern part of the town of Sonoma.

Some 11,000 firefighters are battling wildfires across the state, most in Northern California. Firefighting resources include 880 engines, 73 helicopters and 30 air tankers.

What remains unclear:

The causes of all the fires remain under investigation. Janet Upton, deputy director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said investigators were examining whether power lines falling down or electrical transformers exploding Sunday night may have sparked some of the wildfires.

It was not immediately known how many homes were destroyed early Saturday in the area east of the Sonoma town square.

Officials do not know how many people have been injured in the fires this week. Hospitals reported treating more than 100.

The exact number of damaged and destroyed structures was not known.

How much money and how many resources  including an exact number of firefighters  being devoted to firefighting was not clear. Hundreds of firefighters from as far away as San Diego and from other states were assisting in the efforts.

Annie Ma and Kimberly Veklerov are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com and kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15 and @KVeklerov
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On Saturday, Sonoma County alerted residents that if they spot $4 cans of cat food and $5 gallons of gas in areas affected by the fire, those price hikes dont represent savvy entrepreneurship. They may be illegal price gouging.

According to the online press release, once the state or federal governments declare a disaster, California Penal Code Section 396 forbids individuals and businesses from raising prices more than 10 percent.

The statute covers a wide range of goods, including emergency supplies, food for humans and animals, water, diapers, lumber, tools, and gasoline. Transportation, storage and repair services are also covered, and the statute applies to hotels and property owners. Find the full list on the countys website.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

The statute remains in effect for 30 days after a disaster is declared, or in the case of recovery supplies and services, for up to 180 days.

Price gouging after natural disasters appears to be common. According to the Broward County, Fla., Sun-Sentinel, for example, in September more than 8,000 residents reported price-gouging incidents to the state attorney generals office before Hurricane Irma had even left the state. In Texas, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, gas stations were charging as much as $20 a gallon for gasoline.

In California, violators of the anti-price-gouging statute may face up to a year in jail and fines or civil penalties that may be as high as $10,000. Vendors who have to raise their prices to reflect increased costs on their end will have to offer proof that they are not simply taking advantage of the situation.

Sonoma County recommended that people who experience price gouging contact the California state attorney generals office at (800) 952-5225 to file a report.

Have you seen any examples of egregious price gouging? Report them to the Chronicle through our secure news tips website, preferably with photographs to support your claims. The Chronicle will take extensive steps to verify any information sent to us. State and federal laws provide extensive protections for journalists who promise to keep confidential the identity of sources who provide information.

Jonathan Kauffman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkauffman@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @jonkauffman
Houston's hotel construction activity has declined after Hurricane Harvey, according to a new report.

Local hoteliers were under construction on 4,494 hotel rooms in September, a 15 percent drop from last year, according to STR.

Nationally, hoteliers were under construction on 188,479 rooms, a 6 percent increase year over year, according to the Tennessee-based hotel data firm.

RELATED: See inside downtown Houston's newest hotspot: Hotel Alessandra

"Outside of Houston, there wasn't a noticeable decline in activity around hurricane-affected markets," Bobby Bowers, a vice president with STR, said in the report. "There is still potential for that to change if damage to existing sites and increased material costs continue to remain a challenge."

U.S. hotel construction activity is up in 2017, but is increasing at a slower rate of growth compared with 2016. Despite the slowdown after Harvey, Houston still has a robust hotel construction pipeline with 16,266 rooms planned or under construction.

Hoteliers have opened several new luxury hotels in downtown Houston over the past year. Marriott Marquis, a 29-story, 1,000-room hotel, opened in December 2016. Hotel Alessandra, a 20-story, 223-room hotel, opened Oct. 1.
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BRIDGEPORT  An armed altercation at a Park Avenue barbershop Saturday evening left a local barber dead from a gunshot  the second murder in the city in four days, police said.

Deon Rodney, 31, of Wood Avenue, died at St. Vincents Medical Center from a bullet wound to the left abdomen, police said.

The death is the citys 22nd homicide this year. Police said they responded to calls of a man shot at 7:20 p.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Park Avenue. Officers determined the shooting occurred at the Just Right Cutz barbershop, located in a small shopping center near the I-95 overpass.

Bridgeport Police Lt. Christopher LaMaine said two armed men came into the barbershop and started an altercation with other people already in the shop. Rodney, a barber nearing the end of his shift, became involved in that argument and was shot by one of the armed men, LaMaine said.

I dont think (Rodney) was the reason they came in, LaMaine said. He got involved. They intended to shoot him after that but thats not the reason they came in.

LaMaine said about a half dozen people were in the shop when the armed men arrived. He said police are working to determine why the armed men came into the barbershop.

Police said Rodney told them he was shot by a male dressed in black and wearing a black ski mask over his face, and that the person fled southbound on Park Avenue.

A worker at the Rootsman Kitchen, located next door to the barbershop, said Sunday the area is not dangerous. The neighborhood is good, the worker said. This happens everywhere.

It is the citys second homicide in the space of a few days. On Wednesday, Jeri Kollock, 18, of Bridgeport, was a week away from his 19th birthday when he was shot and killed around 4:30 p.m. in the stairway of a building in the Green Homes housing project, police said. Kollock was forced to strip so he could remove jewelry, police said. He was than shot multiple times.

Av Harris, a spokesman for the police and Mayor Joe Ganim, said police are pursuing suspects in both of the recent murder cases.

There are suspects we have in mind, Harris said.We will get to the bottom of it.

The shooting Saturday evening at the barbershop is not the first time deadly violence struck the shopping center.

In 2015, Derrick Hill, 33, of Bridgeport was shot outside Rootsman Kitchen. Hill, who had just eaten at the Carribbean restaurant, ran back inside and more shots were fired, wounding a restaurant employee. Hill died at the scene.
The F4 Phantom, the P-63F Cobra, the Huey Helicopter, the Skyraider, the SB2C - all are names familiar to aviation history.

These iconic warbirds will take flight Oct. 21-22 in the 33rd annual Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Houston at Ellington Airport.

Every year, Bay Area and South Belt residents experience panoramic displays and sounds of U.S. aviation wartime past.

Whether watching from a distance or parked for a closer look on the side of the road, viewers can see that history come alive with rare aircraft from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Some, like the SB2C, a single-engine, bomb-carrying warbird, or the P-63F, are rare, the only ones left of their kind.

"This is history," said El Lago resident Wes Moore, the designated "warbird czar" for the show.

The event was not deterred by Harvey.

"We've been a Houston family tradition for 33 years, and in times like this, our show is a real boost for all us," said Bill Roach, the air show's director.

"The amazing U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds return under the direction of one of our own, native Lt. Col. Jason Heard from Sugar Land.

"We will have several new performers, a lot of our fan favorites, and some really fun ground activities including exotic cars and motorcycles.

More Information Want to go? What: Wings Over Houston air show Where: Ellington Airport, 11602 Aerospace Ave. Houston When: Oct. 21-22 Details: Gates open at 8 a.m. each day. Details: https://wingsoverhouston.com/ See More Collapse

"Of course, we also feature one of the largest assemblies of vintage aircraft of any show in the country."

Wings Over Houston plans its show around several themes each year, showcasing various types of vintage aircraft from different eras.

Moore, who has been a Wings Over Houston volunteer for 10 years, is in charge of tracking down planes that fits each theme.

The aircraft are owned and operated by Commemorative Air Force groups called 'wings' or air museums and private owners. Moore also finds interesting pieces of aircraft for viewers to visit and tour on the ground.

Wings Over Houston is expected to draw hundreds to watch the wartime re-enactments.

This year, Wings Over Houston will give visitors an aerial view of Vietnam formations and operations, while a static display will allow people to get an inside look of a MiG 17 and 21.

Some of the planes in the air will include two Cobras, a Huey helicopter, the L19 and O2 Cessna planes and a Skyraider.

During Vietnam, the L19 and O2 would search for pilots from downed planes, with the Skyraider poised nearby to take down enemy aircraft and the Cobras hovered nearby to clear a safe landing.

"There were a lot of moving parts involved in getting a person out of that situation," said Moore, 51.

Viewers will get to see that re-enactment take flight.

Moore, who was born on an air force base in Tennessee, developed his passion for wartime aircraft came from his father, an Air Force mechanic during the Vietnam War.

"I've been around airplanes all my life and I always wanted to work on them," he said.

Although he doesn't have a pilot's license, Moore loves to fly.

His favorite aircraft is a Piper L4, a low-flying plane that cruises between 60-75 miles per hour.

"It's the flying part for me," he said.

"It's just neat being up in the sky and you can see everywhere.

"It's just very calming to be up there."
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Mike Grabows passions were the outdoors and his friends. He worked, but his day jobs were a means to escape into the wilderness. When he was in town, he was usually drinking microbrews and socializing with his large group of friends.

Mr. Grabow died when the Tubbs Fire tore through his neighborhood on the north edge of Santa Rosa early Oct. 9, his father said Sunday. He was one of many killed in the inferno. He was 40.

He was a very outgoing person, Victor Grabow, 60, said. He developed a lot of friendships over the years. Hed do anything for his friends. Whenever they had an emergency hed be there to help them out.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Mr. Grabow was born in Idaho Falls, Idaho, but moved around the West Coast during much of his childhood. After his parents divorced, he lived with his mother in Hawaii before returning to Idaho, where he lived with his father in Boise to attend junior high.

In the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Grabow developed a love for the outdoors while working jobs in construction and landscaping.

He liked hunting and fishing. Those were his passions growing up, Victor Grabow said. Thats what he did to get away.

Five years ago, Mr. Grabow moved to California, first to Grass Valley (Nevada County) and then to Santa Rosa, where he lived at his familys second home on Michele Way off Mark West Springs Road.

In Santa Rosa, he amassed a tight group of friends, who along with him were microbrew enthusiasts.

He was enigmatic, said his friend Rachel Ingram, who was in tears Sunday morning after learning of his death. He was the light of everyones life. I dont really know how to put into words how he touched peoples lives without sounding like a cheesy novel. I loved him a lot. I still love him a lot.

Ingram last spoke to Mr. Grabow on Sunday night as the Tubbs Fire first became visible while it moved west from Calistoga toward his home. When loved ones didnt hear from him on Monday morning, they grew concerned.

Several spent the week visiting evacuation shelters, calling hospitals and digging through the ash heap that was once his home looking for their friend. Victor Grabow flew to Santa Rosa to help search for his son.

The Sonoma County coroners office notified Mr. Grabows family on Saturday night that his remains had been identified.

It was pretty clear what had happened. His truck was still parked in the driveway, Victor Grabow said. He just went to bed, and that was it.

Mr. Grabow is survived by his parents, two stepbrothers and a stepsister.

His family is working on funeral arrangements and plans to hold services in the Santa Rosa area.

Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky
Hillary Clinton lumped President Donald Trump in with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein during a TV interview taped Friday in Britain, saying that the problem of sexual assault is widespread.

"Look, we just elected someone who admitted sexual assault to the presidency," the former Democratic presidential candidate told Britain's Channel 4 News. "So there's a lot of other issues that are swirling around these kinds of behaviors that need to be addressed. I think it's important that we stay focused, and shine a bright spotlight and try to get people to understand how damaging this is."

Clinton was being interviewed about her new book, "What Happened," which chronicles her 2016 presidential campaign. In the book, Clinton includes a vivid description of her mind-set during a presidential debate with Trump last year, just days after The Washington Post reported on taped remarks in which Trump bragged about groping women without their consent.

During the Channel 4 interview, Clinton was asked whether she had heard rumors about Weinstein's behavior toward women before news reports this month detailed allegations of sexual harassment and assault dating back decades.

Clinton said she and her husband, the former president, have known Weinstein for years, and she attended numerous fundraisers organized or backed by the producer. She has said she was "shocked" and saddened by the allegations against someone she knew as a friend and that she supports the women who have come forward.

"No, I did not know," Clinton said in the interview.

She estimated that Weinstein had donated from $12,000 to $16,000 to her election campaigns. She has pledged to donate a commensurate amount to a women's charity.

Numerous women have accused the longtime movie executive and leading Democratic donor of abuse ranging from creepy insinuation to rape. He was fired by Miramax, the film studio he co-founded with his brother, last week. On Saturday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stripped Weinstein of membership.

In her book, Clinton brings up a particular moment during the debate when Trump began moving around the stage and loomed behind her as she answered questions. Narrating her interior conversation at the time, Clinton imagines telling Trump, "Back up, you creep."
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that Gujarat election will show who has the support of people on the issues of demonetisation and GST.

By India Today Web Desk: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has hit out at the Congress for opposing the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation. Jaitley said that the Uttar Pradesh election showed the BJP had the support of people on demonetisation while the Gujarat polls would prove who enjoyed the backing of people on the GST.

Speaking to news agency ANI in Washington, Arun Jaitley said, "Let it be decided in Gujarat once. When results of Gujarat election are announced, it will become clear who has the backing of people. Uttar Pradesh election was held after demonetisation, we have seen the results," responding to a question about demonetisation, GST and alleged irregularities in BJP president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's firm becoming election issues in Gujarat.

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Slamming the Congress for criticising demonetisation, announced November last year, Jaitley said, "There was a shadow economy in the country running with black money. There was a need to bring an end to that economy of black money. Demonetisation was brought to strike at the shadow economy. It was never the priority of the Congress to strike at the shadow economy based on black money. So, their concern is natural."

On the question of Congress's opposition to GST, Jaitley said, "It was the Congress, who had asked for the GST. Now, they are trying to change their stand. All their state finance ministers support it but the party, which is an opportunist party, opposes it. I feel it (the opposition to GST and demonetisation) is not a strong force."

#WATCH: FM Arun Jaitley replies to question on issues like GST, Jay Shah and Demonetisation being raised in Gujarat polls. pic.twitter.com/by6dMLCSo4- ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

'INDIA BROUGHT TIMELY REFORMS'

Earlier, Jaitley said that India carried out key structural reforms at the right time - when the growth rate was high - and it would serve the country well in the days to come.

Some of the key reforms, including demonetisation and the GST, were carried out keeping in mind their long-term benefits to the country's economy and as a result India's growth rate is now headed for a higher trajectory, he said.

"When the world was growing at two-and-a-half per cent, India was the fastest-growing major economy in the world. That was a time to really fix the roof. You dont have to wait for a downward slide in order to do it," Jaitley told a group of Indian reporters at a news conference here.

"I think, this was just the right time to bring about structural changes," he said.

JAITLEY SLAMS OPPOSITION

The finance minister took a shot at his critics who claim that demonetisation has hurt the Indian economy -- at least in the short-run.

"The fundamental question is: Does India continue to indefinitely be a cash dominated economy? To say it's a very risky proposition, it will have adverse consequences for a quarter or two, so let's not attempt it? Can India say, you will have de-stocking, so let's not attempt a GST," the finance minister asked.

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Among his critics were several leaders from the opposition Congress party; Jaitley said the BJP simply did what the Congress couldn't while they were in power.

"Populism is what we did not indulge in. We could have let people live in a cash dominated economy and let India continue to have a shadow economy and have everyone really prosper on that basis. (But) we struck a blow to that kind of an economy. That's not populism. That was the right economic policy to follow," he said.

SUPPORT FROM IMF, WORLD BANK

The Indian government has, however, received support from top leaders of the IMF and the World Bank who have called the slowness in recent Indian growth rate "an aberration" and a short-term one.

Jaitley said the positive responses and statements about the Indian economy by the world leaders had "increased the confidence of India".

"There is a global appreciation of the fact that India has the capacity and courage to carry out structural reforms like demonetisation and GST," he said.

Jaitley said the upgraded global growth projections should be a further help to Indias own growth rate.

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"Now that you have the global economy also improving, and that is the mood that I have seen at the IMF-Bank this time -- the IMF's own projection for the world economy this year is 3.6 per cent and next years is 3.7 per cent -- the global tailwinds will also give better impetus to domestic growth," said Jaitley.

"I think, we should be looking forward to a much higher growth trajectory (for India) in the days to come," he said.

Responding to a question on the next phase of reforms, Jaitley said the government would now focus on large-scale investment in the infrastructure sector and rural area.

"The government is working in that area," he said.

(With PTI inputs)

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STAMFORD  A man who was convicted in a 2010 fatal shooting was arrested Saturday on gun possession charges.

Police charged Lamar Taylor, 30, after officers said they found a weapon in his car.

An officer patrolling near the Elks Club on Mission Street, where police said they frequently get complaints of shootings, fights and drugs, saw 10 men loitering in the parking lot around 12:45 a.m. Saturday, police said.

The officer, Lt. Diedrich Hohn, believed the men were drinking and smoking marijuana, police said.

Police said Taylor put something in the drivers seat of his car. Taylor was wearing winter gloves in the humid weather, which tipped Hohn off that he could be hiding drugs or a weapon, police said.

Following a short struggle, the officer detained Taylor, police said. Police said they found a loaded .357 Smith and Wesson revolver underneath Taylors drivers seat. The gun was loaded with its hammer back and could have been used immediately, police said.

We believe that Taylor was intending on using that weapon imminently prior to Lt. Hohns arrival and most likely a tragedy was averted with his proactive work, the police department said in a prepared statement.

The Stamford Police Department continues to aggressively patrol hot spots within this city through numerous enforcement actions. Programmed patrols are one of our best assets and, along with our officers community policing efforts, we intend to keep Stamford the safest city in Connecticut.

Taylor was charged with criminal possession of a handgun and interfering with police. His bond was set at $100,000.

Taylor was convicted in 2013 on gun charges for his involvement in a Southward Square shootout in 2010 that left two men dead.

Taylor is also out on bond for another gun incident in Bridgeport in July, police said. He has been previously charged with gun possession, robberies, aggravated assaults, narcotics and failure to appears, according to the release.
Tom Marino is a four-term Republican member of the House who represents a district in northeastern Pennsylvania that has been hard-hit by the opioid crisis. Yet Marino also has been a friend on Capitol Hill of the giant drug companies that distribute the pain pills that have wreaked so much devastation around the nation.

Marino was the chief advocate of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which requires the government to meet a higher bar before taking certain enforcement actions.

The Drug Enforcement Administration fought against the bill for years, but finally relented last year after a leadership change at the agency. Marino is now President Donald Trump's nominee to become the nation's next drug czar.

The new law makes it virtually impossible for the DEA to freeze suspicious narcotic shipments from the companies, according to internal agency and Justice Department documents and an independent assessment by the DEA's chief administrative law judge in a soon-to-be-published law review article. That powerful tool had allowed the agency to immediately prevent drugs from reaching the street.

The law was the crowning achievement of a multifaceted campaign by the drug industry to weaken aggressive DEA enforcement efforts against drug distribution companies that were supplying corrupt doctors and pharmacists who peddled narcotics to the black market. The industry worked behind the scenes with lobbyists and key members of Congress, pouring more than a million dollars into their election campaigns.

Political action committees representing the industry contributed at least $1.5 million to the 23 lawmakers who sponsored or co-sponsored four versions of the bill, including nearly $100,000 to Marino. Overall, the drug industry spent $106 million lobbying Congress on the bill and other legislation between 2014 and 2016, according to lobbying reports.

Marino declined repeated requests for comment. Marino's staff called the U.S. Capitol Police when The Washington Post and "60 Minutes" tried to interview the congressman at his office on Sept. 12. In the past, the congressman has said the DEA was too aggressive and needed to work more collaboratively with drug companies.

Deeply involved in the effort to counter the DEA's tough enforcement campaign was the agency's former associate chief counsel, D. Linden Barber. While at the DEA, he helped design and carry out the early stages of that campaign, which targeted drug companies that were failing to report suspicious orders of narcotics that made their way into the hands of users and dealers.

When Barber went to work for the drug industry in 2011, he brought an intimate knowledge of the DEA's strategy and how it could be attacked to protect the companies. He was one of dozens of DEA officials recruited by the drug industry during the past decade.

Barber played a key role in crafting an early version of the legislation that would eventually curtail the DEA's power, according to an internal email written by a Justice Department official to a colleague. "He wrote the Marino bill," the official wrote in 2014.

Barber declined repeated requests for an interview to discuss his role in formulating the legislation.

Marino was a former county and federal prosecutor with deep ties to a hometown district that was reeling from the opioid epidemic.

On Feb. 18, 2014, Marino introduced the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which raised the DEA's standard for suspending drug shipments by requiring that the agency establish "a significant and present risk of death or serious bodily harm that is more likely than not to occur."

Nearly two months later, with the bill stalled, Marino confronted the nation's top law enforcement officer, then-Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Marino told Holder the DEA was treating the companies like "illicit narcotics cartels."

"This mind-set - it's extremely dangerous to legitimate business," Marino said.

He told Holder that he wanted the Justice Department to meet with industry executives. When Marino wrote to Holder three weeks later urging him to set up the meeting, the congressman added a handwritten note: "It would be great to work together on this. - Tom."

In a Sept. 18, 2014, congressional hearing, Marino tore into then-DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart. By then, the legislation had passed the House and had stalled in the Senate.

"It is my understanding that Joe Rannazzisi, a senior DEA official, has publicly accused we sponsors of the bill of, quote, 'supporting criminals,' unquote," Marino said. "This offends me immensely."

Marino told Leonhart that Congress was sending the DEA a message: "You should take a serious look at your regulatory culture and seek collaboration with legitimate companies that want to do the right thing."

Marino and Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., demanded that the Justice Department's inspector general investigate the remarks by Rannazzisi, who ran the DEA's diversion control office. They said he had tried to "intimidate" members of Congress. An investigation was launched. Rannazzisi was replaced in August 2015 and retired that October.

"That led to his undoing," said Matthew Murphy, a DEA official who worked with Rannazzisi in the diversion office. Rannazzisi had "very, very strong views" on what was happening on the street, Murphy said. "He wasn't going to change his opinion because of some heat."

Marino told The Post last year the conflict boils down to one person - Rannazzisi.

"We had a situation where it was just out of control because of (Rannazzisi)," Marino told The Post last year. "... His only mission was to get big fines. He didn't want to (do) anything but put another notch in his belt."

In April 2015, the House took up Marino's bill. On the floor of Congress, Marino said:

"This bill will bring much-needed clarity to critical provisions of the Controlled Substances Act. In doing so, we will ensure that the DEA's authorities are not abused and threatened by future legal challenges; foster greater collaboration, communication and transparency between the DEA and the supply chain; create more opportunities to identify bad actors at the end of the supply chain; and, most importantly, be certain that prescriptions are accessible to patients in need."

The House passed the bill by unanimous consent.

But it didn't make it through both houses of Congress until 2016, when Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah, negotiated final language with the DEA and Justice Department.

President Barack Obama signed the bill on April 19. The White House issued a one-page news release announcing its enactment.

Marino also issued a release taking credit for the legislation.

"With this law, our drug enforcement agencies will have the necessary tools to address the issue of prescription drug abuse across the country. I applaud the hard work of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress and President Obama for realizing the importance of this legislation."

With a few words, the new law changed four decades of DEA practice. Previously, the DEA could freeze drug shipments that posed an "imminent danger" to the community, giving the agency broad authority. Now, the DEA must demonstrate that a company's actions represent "a substantial likelihood of an immediate threat," a much higher bar.

"There's no way that we could meet that burden, the determination that those drugs are going to be an immediate threat, because immediate, by definition, means right now," Rannazzisi said.

Chief DEA Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney II agreed.

In his article planned for the winter issue of the Marquette Law Review, Mulrooney wrote: "If it had been the intent of Congress to completely eliminate the DEA's ability to ever impose an immediate suspension on distributors or manufacturers, it would be difficult to conceive of a more effective vehicle for achieving that goal."

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Video: As Rep. Tom Marino's Pennsylvania district was reeling from the opioid crisis, he sponsored a bill that, current and former Drug Enforcement Administration officials say, undermined the DEA's efforts to stop the flow of pain pills. (Video: Alice Li/Photo: Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

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NAIROBI, Kenya -- The death toll from two truck bombs in Somalia's capital soared to as many as 276 on Sunday as the deadliest attack in the country's decade-long war with Islamist extremists signaled that the insurgency is far from defeated despite years of U.S. counterterrorism operations.

Nearly all of the dead were killed by the first bomb, which exploded Saturday outside a popular hotel near a busy intersection in Mogadishu, sending a plume of smoke into the sky that could be seen across the city. The second truck bomb killed several more people nearby.

The Somali capital is a frequent target of attacks by al-Shabab, an extremist group linked to al-Qaida, but residents said they quickly discerned that the twin blasts were of a different order of magnitude.

The death toll continued to climb overnight. By Sunday night, officials said they were still trying to calculate the number of victims. In a radio address, the mayor of Mogadishu, Thabit Abdi, said, "We have lost more than 240 innocent people." Somalia's information minister said the death toll had risen to 276, the Associated Press reported.

A large swath of a city block appeared wiped out, and a tower of charred automobiles could be seen at the bombing site. A BBC reporter said people were trapped under the rubble of the Safari Hotel. Throughout Sunday, bodies were carried from the rubble.

Somalia's president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, declared three days of national mourning. The government blamed the carnage on al-Shabab, but the group has not claimed responsibility.

"Today's horrific attack proves our enemy would stop at nothing to cause our people pain and suffering. Let's unite against terror," Mohamed said on Twitter.

Medical workers spoke about the scale of the attack, which quickly overwhelmed the city's few hospitals.

"Today is the worst day of my life. We are overwhelmed by the high number of the casualties. I have been working at this hospital for more than seven years, and I never saw or heard this number of deaths,'' said Ahmed Osman, a nurse in Mogadishu's Medina Hospital, where many of the dead and wounded were taken.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said five of its volunteers were among the dead. One volunteer who survived, Abdiasis Mohamed, said he and his friends were drinking tea when one of the bombs exploded. When he regained consciousness, he said, he was covered in blood and several of his friends had been "burned to death."

"Thank God I am fine," he said.

Two of Hawo Ahmed's sons, both shopkeepers, were killed.

"They came home for lunch, and we had lunch together," she said. "They were innocent and the breadwinners for my family."

Last year, she said, her husband was killed in an attack.

Somalia has been battling al-Shabab insurgents since 2007, with the help of 22,000 troops from the African Union and a U.S. counterterrorism campaign that has expanded under President Donald Trump.

For years, drone strikes were the centerpiece of the U.S. military strategy, carried out with the expectation that the militant group would dissolve if its leadership was vanquished. That has not happened.

Although the U.S. and African Union operations forced insurgents from territory they once controlled, they have not curbed al-Shabab's ability to launch deadly and frequent attacks in Mogadishu, mostly targeting restaurants, hotels and places where officials gather.

Earlier this year, the White House loosened the rules governing U.S. operations in the country, declaring parts of Somalia to be an "area of active hostilities."

A one-star general was assigned to coordinate operations from a compound within Mogadishu's airport. The small, elite teams of U.S. Special Operations forces in Somalia were augmented with conventional Army troops who provide a variety of training for the Somali forces.

The Pentagon refuses to say precisely how many Americans are deployed to Somalia - believed to be a few hundred at most - but Defense Secretary Jim Mattis indicated earlier this year that the Trump administration would consider sending more personnel if asked by the Somali president.

It's unlikely, though, that the weekend's attack will result in any substantial American military buildup. As in other unstable parts of Africa, the U.S. strategy in Somalia has been to support allied forces by sharing intelligence, providing training and equipment, and conducting precision airstrikes - but not doing the fighting for them.

Mattis has characterized the objective in Somalia as "buying time" for the Somali government to assemble its own security forces. Still, the mission there remains dangerous. In May, a Navy SEAL was killed and two other U.S. commandos were wounded during a battle with militants west of Mogadishu. It marked the first U.S. combat death in Somalia since the early 1990s.

A number of officials were killed in Saturday's attack, including Mohamoud Elmi, the director general at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

In 2016, al-Shabab was the deadliest terrorist group in Africa, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset, killing 4,281 people.

Somalia has struggled to maintain a stable government or a defense force capable of challenging the Islamist militants. Last week, both the defense minister and the army chief resigned for reasons that remain unclear. Many analysts argue that Somalia's undeveloped security sector has made it easy for al-Shabab to penetrate the country's largest city with thousands of pounds of explosives.

Earlier this year, the country teetered on the brink of famine, in large part because of the fighting's effect on agriculture and the distribution of humanitarian aid.

In the wake of Saturday's attacks, one Mogadishu ambulance service underscored the scale of the bloodshed.

"In our 10 year experience as the first responder in Mogadishu, we haven't seen anything like this," Aamin Ambulance said on Twitter.

In a statement, the U.S. Mission to Somalia called the bombings "cowardly attacks" that "reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism."

As rescue teams continued their work at the site of the bombing, residents of Mogadishu took to the streets to protest al-Shabab, shouting, "We don't want bloodthirsty elements."

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Mire reported from Mogadishu. Andrew deGrandpre in Washington contributed to this report.

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Mire reported from Mogadishu. Andrew deGrandpre contributed from Washington.
A Maryland man arrested this week after authorities said they found child pornography on his cellphone worked for President Donald Trump's voter fraud commission, according to a senior administration official.

Ronald Williams II, 37, of Suitland, was a researcher for the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity, said the official, who requested anonymity to discuss a personnel matter.

Trump launched the commission after making unfounded claims that millions of fraudulently cast ballots cost him the popular vote in last year's election against Democrat Hillary Clinton. The commission is chaired by Vice President Mike Pence and co-chaired by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, R.

Williams was on secondment to the commission from the Office of the Special Counsel, an independent federal investigative and prosecutorial agency. His work with the voting commission was abruptly terminated this week, the senior administration official said. A spokeswoman for the Office of the Special Counsel declined to comment on Williams' status with that agency.

Williams faces 11 counts of possession and distribution of child pornography, officials said.

The Maryland State Police said its task force on Internet crimes against children received a tip of a possible distribution of child pornography from a certain Internet address. The tip came from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, police said.

Police searched Williams' home and later arrested him. A preliminary forensic look at Williams' cellphone found "multiple files of child pornography," according to state police.

Williams was taken to central booking for processing and an initial court appearance.

- - -

The Washington Post's Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) Avenue Supermarts, which runs the D-Mart supermarkets chain, today posted a 65.18 per cent jump in its net profit at Rs 191.02 crore for the quarter ended September 30.

The company had reported a net profit of Rs 115.64 crore in the corresponding quarter a year ago.

Its total income in the quarter under review stood at Rs 3,529.47 crore, up 26.65 per cent, against Rs 2,786.77 crore in the year-ago period, Avenue Supermarts said in a BSE filing.

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For the half year period ended September 30, 2017, the companys net profit grew by 56.3 per cent to Rs 366 crore, as compared to Rs 234 crore a year ago.

Its total revenue for the first half of this fiscal stood at Rs 7,106 crore as compared to Rs 5,431 crore during the period.

Avenue Supermarts listed on the stock exchanges with a blockbuster listing in March this year, making Radhakishan Damani ? the founder of the company and a low-profile investor ? a part of Indias richest 20 club.

At present, the company operates 136 stores in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, NCR, Punjab and Chhattisgarh. PTI SVK MKJ

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Dorothy Beck Simmons Robbins made an effort to learn a new word each day to improve her vocabulary. She loved working crossword puzzles, reading the newspaper and traveling.

Robbins died Oct. 9 in her home in San Antonio. She was 96.

Born on her familys farm in Missouri, Robbins helped her father tend to various farm duties and enjoyed riding her horse Nellie to and from school.

One of her favorite things to do was taking horses into town with her girlfriends and ride them all around the town square, her son Wayne Simmons said..

In 1941, Robbins moved to Shreveport, Louisiana, where she met her first husband Earl Wayne Simmons, who was stationed there in the Air Force.

Her sister Rosalie was dating my fathers friend (George Remington) and wanted to use his vehicle, her son said. My father allowed George to use the vehicle under the conditions that he went with him, paid for the gas and gave him $20.

My mother went along, and they had a double date, he added. Afterwards, my father gave him back the $20 and said it was the best thing he did.

They were married in 1941 during WWII and had two sons, Wayne and Jerel Simmons, who they both showed great support for throughout their lives.

More Information Dorothy Beck Simmons Robbins Born: March 26, 1921, Buffalo, Missouri Died: Oct. 9, 2017, San Antonio Survived by: Two sons, Wayne Simmons (wife Helen) and Jerel Simmons; four grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren Services: 6 p.m. visitation Monday and 12 p.m. funeral Tuesday at Sunset Funeral Chapel. See More Collapse

My parents put together a dance class in the cafeteria to teach my sixth-grade class how to dance music of the Big Band era. Dances like the jitterbug, said Wayne Simmons.

She later opened a beauty shop and went on to win several competitions in hair design.

In 1972, they moved to San Antonio, where she got a real estate brokers license and worked for W.T. Connolly Real Estate. She also owned and operated several businesses.

Her husband Earl Simmons died in 1981. After 10 years later, she married William Robbins, who died seven months before her.

She was like a sister, another mother and a partner in crime. She will be very missed, said daughter-in-law Helen Simmons.

Dorothy and her aunt visited Russia, she said. She was always up for an adventure and new experience.

We had a boat in Europe and wanted to sail it back to the states, she said. Her response, while in her 90s, was Ill go, and it didnt faze her one bit.

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A shelter-in-place order was issued Saturday evening for Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph after a stolen car with three people inside smashed through a fence, the Air Force said.

Two of those in the car were arrested in connection with the incident, while the third person escaped and was being sought by Security Forces personnel and was thought to be on base.

The three people involved are civilians and believed to be unarmed, officials said.

Traffic was being allowed in and out of the base.

Dan Hawkins, a spokesman for Joint Base San Antonio, didnt know what kind of vehicle was involved, but believed it went through the fence line on the east side of the base. He had no information on the two people in custody.

I dont have any more detail on the location or how or those kinds of details yet at this time, he said. Right now they have two people detained, and we are being assisted by local officials, including the Bexar County sheriff.

I know there was a police helicopter in the air, but I dont know who it belongs to and right now we are currently looking for one individual we believe is on the base, he added.

Hawkins said the shelter-in-place order was issued by Col. Tommie Minor of the 502nd Security and Readiness Group.

Shelter-in-place orders require those on an installation to lock their offices and homes until an all-clear is given. The orders are given via text message.

Col. Dee Witham, chief spokeswoman for the Air Education and Training Command, had few details about the incident and couldn't say if the person authorities are searching for was on foot, saying, Its so soon. I think its just within a few minutes of it happening.

Randolph, a flying training base that also serves as headquarters for AETC and a number of other Air Force organizations, was mostly closed,. But its commissary was open, and some people live on the installation.

Witham didnt know how many people live on the base or might have been affected by the shelter-in-place order.

Both she and Hawkins were trying to learn more about what had happened.

Its just kind of a really weird deal here, he said.

sigc@express-news.net
Across the state, homeowners are counting on taking out a home equity loan to finance major expenses such as college tuition and medical bills. Unfortunately, many homeowners are relying on antiquated rules in the Texas Constitution that will prevent them from getting that home equity loan  unless the constitution is updated.

Thats what Proposition 2 will do.

Heres a typical scenario. Rachel has a child who is about to go to college. Like most parents, shes wondering how shell afford to help her kid get an education. She isnt wealthy, but owns her own home and diligently paid down her mortgage for many years. Shes excited to learn that it may be possible to take out a home equity loan to help fund at least part of her childs education.

Unfortunately, some well-meaning rules in the Texas Constitution are about to make Rachels life very difficult.

The Texas Constitution protects home equity more than almost any other state. In Texas, you cannot borrow more than 80 percent of the value of your home, meaning 20 percent of a homes value is always protected. This consumer protection provision is one of the key factors of why Texas weathered the housing crisis as well as it did.

However, in this really important consumer protection, lenders are also prohibited from charging fees of more than 3 percent of the loans value. This sounds great but actually makes it very difficult for homeowners like Rachel to access their home equity because of what is included in that 3 percent limit.

In 2010, Rachel paid $200,000 for her home. She put 20 percent down and borrowed the rest. Today, she owes about $150,000 on her loan, and the property has increased in value to $225,000. This means that Rachel has about $75,000 in equity in her home. Because of the 80 percent loan-to-value provision, the most Rachel can borrow is $30,000, enough to get her child started at college.

Under current law, the most Rachels lender can charge to close the home equity loan is $900. This figure is a real challenge for lenders because of the items needed to take out a loan  appraisal, title insurance and property survey  can easily top that amount. The result is there simply isnt anyone willing to lend Rachel $30,000, effectively wrecking her plan to finance her childs advanced education.

This is a reality for many homeowners. Home equity loans simply dont work under the current antiquated system. The costs of appraisal and title insurance is completely outside of the lenders control, but, in many ways, are keeping homeowners from accessing their money.

Proposition 2 solves that problem by modernizing the Texas Constitution with a few tweaks.

Rather than a 3 percent cap that includes a lot of high-cost services, Proposition 2 lowers the cap to 2 percent, but removes things like appraisal, title insurance and property survey from the calculation. This means that on Rachels $30,000 loan, the lender would charge $600 to make the loan, and Rachel pays for the appraisal and insurance separately.

Where before Rachel couldnt get a loan to help her child go to college, under Proposition 2, she shouldnt have any problem.

This November, Texas voters have the chance to make it easier for more homeowners to access the equity theyve worked so hard to build. Best of all, nothing in Proposition 2 will weaken the vital consumer protections that Texans hold dear.

Vote for Proposition 2 this November and make sure that Texas homeowners have the ability to access their equity on their terms.

Yvette Allen is chairman of the San Antonio Board of Realtors.
Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press

SACRAMENTO  San Francisco, Berkeley and Oakland will be able to quickly build shelters for homeless people using extraordinary powers to bypass regulatory hurdles under a bill Gov. Jerry Brown signed Saturday.

AB932 by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, creates a pilot program allowing certain cities and counties to suspend state and local building standards for three years when a local shelter crisis is declared so that temporary shelters can be built on publicly owned or leased land. The pilot program, which will run between Jan. 1, 2018, and Jan. 1, 2021, applies to San Francisco, Berkeley, Emeryville, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Diego and Santa Clara County.
Over 1,600 deaths have been reported on the Yamuna Expressway in 2016, a rate that has gone up 100 per cent since 2014. Over-speeding, drunk driving are the main causes of these fatal accidents.

Expert says CCTVs merely record accidents and no follow-up corrective steps are taken by authorities. (Picture for representation)

By Harish V Nair: While potholed roads are routinely claiming lives in the southern city of Bengaluru lately, smooth, metalled surfaces are no guarantee to a safe ride, a study conducted by a road safety NGO in collaboration with police and National Crime Records Bureau has found.

Yamuna Expressway, one of India's finest road networks, has also become one of the deadliest motorways. The eight-lane 165-km toll road that connects Greater Noida and Agra, reported 1,601 fatalities in 2016, up 100 percent from 800 in 2014.

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According to the report, more than 73 per cent of the accidents on the Expressway were attributed to over-speeding and drunk driving. While 54.1 per cent of the victims were in the age group of 15-34 years, the majority of accidents took place between 1 am and 5 am, when traffic is thin and on-road help hard to come by.

"Speeding and drunk driving are the most common causes of accidents on this stretch where checks by police and highway authorities are almost negligible. CCTVs end up merely recording accidents but no follow-up corrective steps are taken by authorities," said Prince Singhal, founder of the Community Against Drunken Driving (CADD), which prepared the report.

While Aligarh part of the Expressway witnessed 396 deaths in 2016, the figures for Agra, Mathura, Noida and Hathras are 366, 358, 331 and 134 respectively. In total, the deadly toll road witnesses 30 accidents every week on an average, according to the report.

Compared to this, number of deaths was 857 on NH-8 (Delhi- Mumbai), 816 on NH-24 (Delhi-Lucknow) and 845 on NH-9 (Punjab-Uttarakhand) in 2016.

The Yamuna Expressway was built as a symbol of modern development connecting the Noida industrial hub with Agra. An ambitious project of the Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati, it was formally opened on August 9, 2012. The road saw 2,194 accidents in the first three years itself.

The latest of the accidents in which four students of Greater Noida's Galgotias University lost their lives a week ago is a test case of the report's findings. Ayush, Balram, Tushar and Salman, all aged between 19 and 22, were killed when their speeding SUV suffered a tyre burst, hit a divider and spun out of control.

The CADD report said nearly half of the fatalities were caused due to the driver's fault, and were thus avoidable with sustained awareness and training. "What has been noticed is that although the permissible speed limit is 60kmph for trucks, buses and heavy vehicles, and 100kmph for cars and other four-wheelers, most drivers touch a speed of 120-140 kmph," Singhal said.

According to Singhal, highways across the country should have mandatory breath tests which should be carried out by police patrols, NHAI and state highways authorities. He said death caused by drunk driving should be treated as a non-bailable offence and errant drivers should be immediately arrested. "Special focus should be there by enforcement agencies on luxury vehicles which are known to drive at high speed, commercial vehicles and 'car-o-bar' activities on this stretch," he said.

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Recently, after a series of accidents, UP traffic police said it has decided to take strict action, including suspension of licences, against rule breakers with special focus on speed violators.

Transport department of Gautam Budh Nagar in July decided to suspend licences of those found exceeding the prescribed speed limit. It said 21,527 drivers were booked for such offences between April 1 and July 4.

Two months ago, the district administration and the transport department had joined hands to bring down road accidents on the six-lane Yamuna Expressway. The transport department had sought records of vehicles for the past three months from the Jaypee Toll Plaza in Jewar through which all vehicles moving on the Expressway have to pass. A software has been installed at the Jewar Plaza to record the speed of every vehicle that crosses the toll road.

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There was drama at the Kwekwe Magistrates Court on Tuesday as the presiding magistrate had to scurry for cover after one of the accused persons went berserk threatening to manhandle him.

Albert Duche who was in the dock suddenly ran amok and threatened to beat up magistrate Story Rushambwa for continuously questioning him.

Duche had been arrested and arraigned before the courts facing unlawful entry and malicious damage to property charges.

Allegations against Duche are that, sometime in December, he went to Darren Coetzes house in Newtown where he unlawfully gained entry to the premises.

Upon entering, he started destroying property claiming that the owner of the house owed him money.

Police were called in and swiftly arrested Duche resulting in him being arraigned before Rushambwa.

Rushambwa repeatedly asked Duche why he committed the offence as he sought clarity from the accused.

This, however, did not go down well with Duche who turned violent, grabbed a microphone stand before throwing it towards the magistrate.

He grabbed the remaining parts of the microphone and sound equipment which he threw towards the gallery resulting in people in the gallery scampering for cover and stampeding at the exit.

Prison officers, however, reacted swiftly and apprehended the accused and whisked him away. He was remanded in custody in absentia to 16 January.

-Bmetro

Breaking News via Email
The life-saving surgery that a young Clonmel man needs to remove a cyst from his brain has moved a significant step closer.

170,000 required by Evan Hickey to fund the surgery at the Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles has been raised in just two months, thanks to an incredible show of support from across the community for the 24 year-old from Roaring Springs, Old Bridge.

A date for the two and-a-half hour operation to be carried by Dr. Hrayr Shahinian is expected to be confirmed in about a month's time, and it's hoped that the surgery will be performed before Christmas.

"People's generosity has been just amazing", says his father Joe Hickey.

"The generosity and kindness of everyone who has donated, sent get well cards and Mass bouquets, set up fundraisers and just had the time to listen has overwhelmed our family.

"Evan has become everybody's son and we're just so grateful for all that support, which has given him a great lift and is carrying him forward".

Evan became unwell almost a year ago in Vancouver, on Canada's west coast, where he had moved for a year with a group of friends. Because of the seriousness of his condition he returned home last February.

The surgery in Los Angeles has a 92% success rate and has fewer risks than if it was carried out in Ireland or anywhere in Europe.

Evan has constant headaches, which cause him excruciating pain, and because the cyst is pressing on his optic nerve he has no upward movement in his left eye.

He also suffers from dizziness, his sleep patterns have been greatly affected and he suffers from numbness in his left arm and left leg.

"As Evan says, he has bad days and worse days", says his father.

Joe says that he and his wife Honra and their other son Andrew, and his wife Annabel, have been on "an emotional rollercoaster" since Evan became ill.

Joe and Honra say that Evan's health is being continuously monitored and he remains stable. They say that he is both excited and fearful in the knowledge that he will receive the date for his surgery very soon.

"Most people are aware that donations made from now will go towards travel expenses, accommodation and living costs during our stay in Los Angeles", say Joe and Honra.

"More importantly, Evan will require costly aftercare, both after surgery and when he returns to Ireland, and follow-on treatments, which could last for between six months to a year.

"As a family we can only thank you for your ongoing support and the way you have taken Evan into your care.

"We can assure you that any surplus donations will remain in Evan's medical fund account and when he receives the all-clear these will be paid forward to a person or charity that may require similar support.

"We have heard so many comments on how organised we are and this is only because of the committed support of all family members.

"We also took advice from a local businessman regarding funding and transparency and have a chartered accountant working with us in an advisory capacity.

"If anyone is planning to start a new fundraiser please contact us first at 086-1290699 (Joe's number).

"We need to remain organised and to be fair to all concerned, especially those of you who are donating.

"Thanks again to everyone involved in giving Evan this wonderful opportunity to reclaim his life".
Vacant units in the Market Place shopping area of Clonmel should be available for letting shortly, it was announced at a meeting of Clonmel Borough District.

District Administrator Anthony Coleman said that property management company Savills would be appointed as the letting agent and they would also develop a marketing plan.

He said that Remcoll Capital Ltd., the owners of most of the shops, had recently started enhancement work, including painting, of the units.

Contact had also been made with Musgraves, the owners of the former SuperValu site, requesting them to undertake cleaning and maintenance works to the exterior of the building.

Cllr. Siobhan Ambrose asked if the owners of the units would consider appointing a local estate agent, as well as Savills.

In her view it wasn't helpful to announce that the agents letting the units could be contacted in either Cork or Dublin.

Cllr. Marie Murphy agreed that some local company should be appointed even as an agent for Savills.

Market Place has been affected by several shop closures in recent years, including anchor tenant SuperValu, which closed in January 2016.

Efforts to regenerate the area received a major boost the following July when the Valuation Office in Dublin significantly reduced the rates on the buildings in Market Place.
NATO Deputy Secretary General, Rose Gottemoeller, discussed the security and stability of the Western Balkans and partnership between Serbia and NATO in Belgrade today (12 October 2017) when she appeared onstage at the Belgrade Security Forum with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

Ms Gottemoeller also discussed NATOs mutually beneficial cooperation with Serbia when she met with students at Belgrade University. NATO fully respects Serbias neutrality and we will not put any pressure on Serbia to choose between partners, she said. I believe we have entered a new era of cooperation and partnership between NATO and Serbia. We are doing a lot together and  for NATOs part  we want to do more. Ms Gottemoeller added.

NATO wants a strong, democratic and prosperous Serbia because that is good for the stability of the Western Balkans. And if the Western Balkans are more stable, then we are all more secure, the Deputy Secretary General said.

The Deputy Secretary General also had meetings with President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Minister of Defence Aleksandar Vulin.

Serbia joined NATOs Partnership for Peace programme in 2006 and practical cooperation has been increasing steadily since then. NATO has supported Serbia in the reform of its national security forces and institutions. Serbian officers have received NATO training, preparing them to participate in peacekeeping operations. NATO has also helped Serbia dispose of over 2,000 tons of dangerous surplus munitions. Cooperation between NATO and Serbia also extends from scientific research through disaster response preparedness to participation in military exercises.
By India Today Web Desk: It is that time of the week again--- the elimination episode. Bigg Boss 11 host Salman Khan finally announced that godwoman Sshivani Durga will be leaving the house tonight. The five contestants who were unsafe from the elimination process were Hina Khan, Vikas Gupta, Sapna Choudhary, Jyoti Kumari and Sshivani Durga.

Sapna Choudhary, Jyoti Kumari or SsHivani Durga, which housemate will get eliminated. Find out tomorrow at 9 PM on #WeekendKaVaar. pic.twitter.com/vvWzyrE8zB- Bigg Boss (@BiggBoss) October 15, 2017

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While in last night's episode, Hina and Vikas had been saved from getting evicted after securing the maximum number of votes; the sword of elimination was still hanging over Sapna, Sshivani, and Jyoti's heads.

Sshivani, who had come with the agenda of changing the image of seers in the country, especially after Om Swami's antics last season, failed to make an impression on the viewers. Although the participant did have her moments on the show. (Remember when the contestants had alleged that she had used her 'magic' on Shilpa?) Sshivani also had a verbal spat with Jyoti Kumari after the latter had apparently been rude to the sadhvi.

Unfortunately, Sshivani was finally shown the door in tonight's episode of Weekend ka Vaar. Meanwhile, Jyoti and Sapna still have a chance to shine in the show. Will they make it to the finale?

Bigg Boss 11 airs everyday at 10:30 pm, and every weekend at 9 pm on Colors TV.

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A body found off Pala Temecula Road in Temecula, California, is that of a San Diego woman who went missing nearly two weeks ago, police confirmed Friday evening.

Alexandria Nicole Smith, 30, was last seen by her mother, driving down El Cajon Boulevard on the way to a party in National City on Oct. 2.

Smith's phone was discovered by a "dumpster diver" who was looking for recyclables and rummaging through trash.

Sherelle Martin, Smith's best friend of 18 years said she came to San Diego from Oregon to help search for Smith but Friday, they prepared for the worst. Martin spoke with NBC 7 before the family found out the news confirming Smith's death.

"It's been hell. It's been awful," Martin said in an interview earlier Friday. "Deep down, we think it's the worst and we're trying to mentally prepare ourselves for that."

She said Smith had recently gone through a rough patch but there is no way she would just disappear like this. Especially because Smith has a 10-year-old daughter.

"Everyone knew that she was going to this party, but no one knew where this party was," Martin said. "Somebody knows what happened to her and nobody's saying anything about it."

At approximately 12 p.m. Thursday, a body was found in the remote wooded area off Pala Temecula Road, the National City Police Department confirmed.

Although police said investigators were following leads related to a missing person investigation, the identity of the body was not released until Friday evening.
A food voucher giveaway event for victims of Hurricane Irma has been cancelled after police say scuffles broke out and people fainted from the heat while standing in long lines.

The Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program event at Amelia Earhart Park in Hialeah closed Saturday and remain closed Sunday in response to public safety concerns, according to Florida Department of Children and Families spokesperson Beatriz Lopez. Lopez said the program is expected to resume Sunday.

Lopez also said that residents waiting at the Tropical Park, Miami-Dade College North Campus and at South Dade Government Center locations since Saturday morning will receive assistance, but they will not process anyone else until Sunday.

Meanwhile in Broward County, programs were canceled for Sunday.

The events were canceled after becoming a public safety issue. Police said patrons required medical attention because they were overcome by the heat. Additional deputies were assigned to alleviate traffic gridlock and quell minor disturbances of frustrated participants.

DCF says they will work with BSO to come up with a better plan to ensure everyone's safety.

"We have seen a historic response that shows just how many families were affected by Hurricane Irma," Paige Patterson-Hughes said. "We have served nearly 1.1 million people in the state of [Florida] as of today."

The Food for Florida Disaster Food Assistance Program, which began Tuesday, has assisted individuals and families impacted by the storm. The program is being held at several locations, including Miami-Dade Colleges North Campus as well as Tropical Park in Southwest Miami-Dade and C.B. Smith Park in Pembroke Pines.

The program, running through Sunday, provides EBT debit cards loaded with benefits received after an application is filled out. A person may be eligible for benefits if they meet one of several conditions, including not already receiving state assistance, living or working in declared disaster areas or having expenses that include home or business damage, temporary shelter expenses, food loss or personal injury.

You can apply for benefits by either clicking on this link or visiting one of the relief sites. For a complete list of sites across the state, click on this link.
A man stabbed four people, including his wife and sister, at a home in Fair Lawn early Saturday morning, sending all four victims to the hospital, law enforcement sources told NBC 4 New York.

The man was apprehended after stabbing his wife, sister, niece and nieces boyfriend, the sources said.

The victims were stabbed at a house on Elizabeth Street around 2 a.m., according to the sources. All four of them suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to an area hospital.

Police are treating the stabbing as a domestic violence case and are investigating a motive behind the attack, the sources said.

The alleged stabber has not been identified, and police havent revealed what charges he may face.
California inmates serving life sentences for crimes they committed as juveniles will get a chance at leaving prison under one of several criminal justice bills signed into law Wednesday by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The legislation conforms state law to recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions banning mandatory life sentences for those under 18 convicted of murder.

SB394 automatically gives the offenders a chance at parole after 25 years, though there's no guarantee they will be released. State officials said about three dozen offenders will be eligible for hearings over the next three years.

The high court last year ruled that nearly all juvenile offenders should eventually have a chance at parole unless their crime reflects a "permanent incorrigibility." The justices, and lawmakers backing the bill, cited juvenile offenders' lack of development and potential for change.

A related bill expands the state's youthful parole program, which already requires that inmates who were under 23 when they committed their crimes be considered for parole after serving at least 15 years. AB1308 raises the age to 25. The age was just 18 when lawmakers passed the first youth offender parole law in 2012.

At the opposite end of the age spectrum, Brown also approved considering parole for inmates who are age 60 or older and have served at least 25 years.

Brown said in a signing message that AB1448 largely mirrors a 2014 federal court order designed to help reduce prison overcrowding. Both the court order and the new law exclude death row and other no-parole inmates, and the legislation further excludes cop killers and third-strike career criminals.

The Democratic governor said lawmakers should eventually expand the program.

He said the program saves money "that otherwise would be spent caring for geriatric prisoners who no longer pose a risk to public safety," adding, "I believe the pool of eligible inmates can and should be broadened. This can be done safely, as the current program has shown."

Two other bills address sentencing enhancements that the governor has criticized for adding years to prison terms. SB180 repeals the three-year sentence enhancement for repeat drug offenders. SB620 gives judges discretion whether to impose additional years in prison on offenders who use guns during crimes, instead of making the enhancement automatic.

The latter bill drew criticism from Senate Minority Leader Patricia Bates, a Republican from Laguna Niguel.

"Any criminal who used a gun to terrorize individuals, families and communities deserves the maximum sentence available," she said in a statement.

Three other bills seal certain criminal records for juvenile offenders and for adults who were arrested but never convicted of a crime. Other bills prohibit charging fees to families of youths in the juvenile justice system and require that offenders age 15 or younger consult with attorneys before waiving their rights.
An Amber Alert has been canceled after a missing girl in Prince William County, Virginia, was found safe, according to county police.

Virginia State Police and the county police department said the 16-year-old girl was abducted at 1:43 a.m. from a location in Woodbridge, Virginia. She and her alleged abductor, Roberto Medrano Segovia, 21, were located in the Woodbridge area.

Detectives are conducting interviews to determine what happened.

Police said she was last seen in the 14800 block of Danville Road in Woodbridge. They said she was taken against her will by Segovia, and the two may have been traveling in a dark Honda Civic, possibly a hatchback.

Investigators said the victim and Segovia were attending a party in Woodbridge when there was an argument, and they separated. They said the victim left the party location, and witnesses saw her being forced into a vehicle by Segovia.

CORRECTION (Oct. 15, 11:15 a.m.): The Amber Alert through the Virginia State Police described the victim as a white female. A press release from Prince William County police changed the description to a Hispanic female.
The FBI has joined the investigation after police evacuated a Civil War re-enactment site in Middletown, Virginia, on Saturday when a suspicious item was found.

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office said someone found the item at the Cedar Creek Civil War re-enactment about 4 p.m. Officers evacuated the immediate area and set up a safe zone, the sheriff's office said.

Several police and fire agencies responded to the scene as well as the Virginia State Police Bomb Squad, which "rendered the device safe," according to the sheriff's office. K-9 units continued to search the entire battlefield.

Police have not said what device was found. The FBI asked that anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity or information to contact them.

Due to this unfortunate situation, our event staff is unable to fulfill the required logistical needs to continue the event on Sunday. It is regrettable that a nice family event would be disrupted in this way, said Joe DArezzo, president of the Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation.

Someone said in a letter earlier in the week that they would harm "attendants of this event," prompting police to provide additional security.
A 15-year-old Nashua, New Hampshire high school student was arrested Saturday night for allegedly posting a threat on social media directed at Nashua High School North.

Police are not releasing the name of the student who was arrested.

Police say the threat was violent and not directed toward any particular students, teachers, or faculty at this time, but the investigation is ongoing. Meanwhile, school is still on for Monday.

In an email to parents, Nate Burns, principal at Nashua High School North, went into further detail about what happened:

One of our students saw the post and immediately notified one of his/her teachers. This teacher then notified the North administrative team and contacted the Nashua Police Department.

Investigators say they received the call at noon on Saturday, and the teenager was arrested nearly eight hours later.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nashua Police Department at 603-594-3500.

This is the second student arrested for making social media threats in just the last three days.

On Friday, a student allegedly threatened to bring a gun to Lowell High School in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Administrators contacted police before the threat ever had a chance to materialize.

Just like the case in Nashua, police are not releasing the name of the student who was arrested.
By India Today Web Desk: Bigg Boss 11's weekend episodes are always the most exciting. Because, Salman Khan. The host takes the contestants to task by questioning their behaviour throughout the week on the show. Here's what happened on the Weekend Ka Vaar episode last night:

Hina Khan and Vikas Gupta saved from getting evicted

Not that surprising of course, since these two contestants are the ones who are providing the fodder for TRPs with their antics. Plus, the two were pretty popular with the audience, even before they entered the Bigg Boss house. However, Sapna Choudhary, Jyoti Kumari, and Shivani Durga are still not safe from the eviction process. The result will be declared tonight by host Salman Khan.

Sapna Choudhary, Jyoti Kumari or SsHivani Durga, which housemate will get eliminated. Find out tomorrow at 9 PM on #WeekendKaVaar. pic.twitter.com/vvWzyrE8zB- Bigg Boss (@BiggBoss) October 15, 2017

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Salman Khan made Hiten Tejwani and Arshi Khan sit on the love couch

After teasing the participants about the new lovebirds in the house, Salman went on to pronounce Arshi and Hiten as the new couple in the house. This was of course done in humour, as Hiten is a happily married man. But Arshi has been after the actor (Hiten), trying her best to woo him. While the housemates expected Puneesh Sharma and Bandgi Kalra to grace the couch, Salman stunned everyone by taking Hiten and Arshi's names.

Arshi Khan, Shilpa Shinde, Hina Khan and Vikas Gupta defended themselves

Salman asked the aforementioned contestants to stand in the katghara to answer the allegations put on them by other housemates. Arshi said that she only misbehaves and uses foul language when provoked, while Shilpa claimed that TV vamps are better than Arshi.

Hina clarified that she doesn't think she is always right, contrary to popular belief, and Vikas accused her of being a bad friend as she had made fun of him in the second week, commenting that Hiten would sleep with Vikas, as he (Hiten) would have to give up his bed for the padosis. Both Hiten and Hina said that the comment was made in jest, and that Vikas is probably too sensitive.

Vikas was called kaamchor, and he explained that he has been unable to contribute to the household as he has an injury in his hand.

Vikas Gupta accused Shilpa Shinde of 'choreographing fights'

One of the biggest allegations of the night was made by Vikas against Shilpa. The former accused her of scripting fights. He said that Arshi, Shilpa, Puneesh and Akash sit till 3 am in the night and decide how to instigate and annoy their targets to evoke a reaction from them, so that they land in trouble by doing something stupid.

Shilpa said that she is an individual player, and that she annoys Vikas because she wants to, she also said that she had never participated in any kind of group discussion of the sort being claimed by Vikas.

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Salman Khan gave a lesson to Jyoti Kumari on sex education

Jyoti, who was a little taken aback when she learnt about the sexual preferences of a few housemates in the house, was given a lesson on sexual preferences of people. The host explained her what is meant by the terms metrosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual.

Basically, just like any other Weekend Ka Vaar episode, last night's show packed in a lot of drama and action for the viewers.

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Youth workers welcomed to One Church Norwich Youth workers welcomed to One Church Norwich

One Church in Norwich have welcomed Ian and Tabitha Sadler back to the city to oversee the children and young peoples work at the church.





Ian and Tabitha left Norwich in September 2014 to work in South Dakota in America amongst high school age students. Their role included training students to reach out to their peers with the gospel message and developing student leaders. The Sadler family has since grown, and Ian and Tabithas son Ezekiel was born in America.



The couple were invited by pastors Dominic and Catherine De Souza to spearhead One Churchs work with children, youth and students in the city.



Tabitha said, We believe that God has amazing plans for the city of Norwich. We really believe that the children, youth and young adults are a very key part of what He wants to do here.


By Online Desk

BENGALURU: As heavy rains continued to wreak havoc on Bengaluru city with water flooding through streets, today, a 16-year-old girl was washed away in an open drain in CV Ramanagar behind Bagmane Tech Park. The death toll in the city due to rains has now gone up to six.

The incident happened on Sunday morning when the girl, Narasamma, went for defecation next to the drain. The locals, who witnessed the incident, rushed to her rescue and located her body about 400 meters away after hours of search.

Yesterday, city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) along with the National Disaster Rapid Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Rapid Force (SDRF) intensified search and rescue operations. The corporation also evacuated people living in low-lying areas where the deaths had happened.

Residents at Kendriya Vihar apartments Kogilu are not able to get out of their apartment complex due to waterlogging. (Express Photo Service | Jithendra M)

The rescue personnel, today, recovered a body of a 22-year-old Pushpa, who along with her mother had been swept away in an open drain nearby their house in JC Nagar Kurubarahalli on Friday, from Kumbalagodu Rajakaluve.

Police have recovered the body of Pushpa who was washed away in the stormwater drain at Laggereat. Her body was found in Kumbalgodu. (Express Photo Service | Nagesh Polali)

A fire official said three teams who were in the search operation recovered Pushpas body at 11:30 am on Sunday, two days after she was washed away when the heavy downpour hit the city.

The efforts to search Pushpas mother are still on.

The priest of a temple near Kurubarahalli Circle, Vasudeva Bhat was swept away in a stormwater drain after water gushed inside the temple on Friday. His body was recovered yesterday, the police said.

Priest Vasudeva Bhat's body was recovered from a drain. (Express Photo Service | Nagaraja Gadekal)

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Development Minister KJ George who toured around the rain-affected areas faced the ire of the residents, who said there was no one around to save them when water entered their houses.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inspecting the spot where people went missing in the drain. (Express Photo Service | Nagaraja Gadekal)

A drain along the busy Hennur Cross junction is completely open, highlighting the danger pedestrians fduring heavy rain. On Friday, five people were washed away in such drains. Residents say they have complained to the authorities and the area's MLA, KJ George himself, but to no avail.

The open drain along the busy Hennur Cross junction poses threat to pedestrians. (Express photo Service | Nagesh Polali)

The fire department was also busy trying to pump out water to unclog water-logged areas and roads. In many areas, water was seen overflowing into buildings.

Fire department at work in inundated places following heavy rains. (Express Photo Service | Pushkar V)

Deaths caused by Potholes and poor roads were a huge issue in Bengaluru and the heavy rains only added to the worry. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had earlier ordered for all potholes to be taken care of in 15 days.

Potholes post the rain are posing a huge threat especially to pedestrians and motorcyclists. (Express Photo Service | Nagesh Polali)

The poor condition of roads has also severely affected traffic.

Road caved in Vyalikaval following the heavy rains. (Express Photo Service | Pushkar V)

Opposition parties slammed the lacklustre work of the ruling government. BJP state unit president BS Yeddyurappa, who visited the rain-affected areas blamed Siddaramaiah for the deaths.

Mayor Sampath Raj who has been visiting Kurubarahalli and other places since Friday night said that the Meteorological department has predicted heavy rains for the next two to three days.

(With inputs from PTI and Express News Service)

BENGALURU: As heavy rains continued to wreak havoc on Bengaluru city with water flooding through streets, today, a 16-year-old girl was washed away in an open drain in CV Ramanagar behind Bagmane Tech Park. The death toll in the city due to rains has now gone up to six. The incident happened on Sunday morning when the girl, Narasamma, went for defecation next to the drain. The locals, who witnessed the incident, rushed to her rescue and located her body about 400 meters away after hours of search. Yesterday, city civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) along with the National Disaster Rapid Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Rapid Force (SDRF) intensified search and rescue operations. The corporation also evacuated people living in low-lying areas where the deaths had happened. Residents at Kendriya Vihar apartments Kogilu are not able to get out of their apartment complex due to waterlogging. (Express Photo Service | Jithendra M) The rescue personnel, today, recovered a body of a 22-year-old Pushpa, who along with her mother had been swept away in an open drain nearby their house in JC Nagar Kurubarahalli on Friday, from Kumbalagodu Rajakaluve. Police have recovered the body of Pushpa who was washed away in the stormwater drain at Laggereat. Her body was found in Kumbalgodu. (Express Photo Service | Nagesh Polali) A fire official said three teams who were in the search operation recovered Pushpas body at 11:30 am on Sunday, two days after she was washed away when the heavy downpour hit the city. The efforts to search Pushpas mother are still on. The priest of a temple near Kurubarahalli Circle, Vasudeva Bhat was swept away in a stormwater drain after water gushed inside the temple on Friday. His body was recovered yesterday, the police said. Priest Vasudeva Bhat's body was recovered from a drain. (Express Photo Service | Nagaraja Gadekal) Meanwhile, on Saturday, Siddaramaiah and Bengaluru Development Minister KJ George who toured around the rain-affected areas faced the ire of the residents, who said there was no one around to save them when water entered their houses. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inspecting the spot where people went missing in the drain. (Express Photo Service | Nagaraja Gadekal) A drain along the busy Hennur Cross junction is completely open, highlighting the danger pedestrians fduring heavy rain. On Friday, five people were washed away in such drains. Residents say they have complained to the authorities and the area's MLA, KJ George himself, but to no avail. The open drain along the busy Hennur Cross junction poses threat to pedestrians. (Express photo Service | Nagesh Polali) The fire department was also busy trying to pump out water to unclog water-logged areas and roads. In many areas, water was seen overflowing into buildings. Fire department at work in inundated places following heavy rains. (Express Photo Service | Pushkar V) Deaths caused by Potholes and poor roads were a huge issue in Bengaluru and the heavy rains only added to the worry. Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had earlier ordered for all potholes to be taken care of in 15 days. Potholes post the rain are posing a huge threat especially to pedestrians and motorcyclists. (Express Photo Service | Nagesh Polali) The poor condition of roads has also severely affected traffic. Road caved in Vyalikaval following the heavy rains. (Express Photo Service | Pushkar V) Opposition parties slammed the lacklustre work of the ruling government. BJP state unit president BS Yeddyurappa, who visited the rain-affected areas blamed Siddaramaiah for the deaths. Mayor Sampath Raj who has been visiting Kurubarahalli and other places since Friday night said that the Meteorological department has predicted heavy rains for the next two to three days. (With inputs from PTI and Express News Service)
By Online Desk

Police have reportedly booked 22 Kanpur traders who put up hoardings and posters comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a bid to draw attention to an excess of coin currency on their hands.

The police have arrested Praveen Kumar for installing the hoardings and said others would be arrested soon.

Small traders in the city say that their businesses are floundering, as they are unable to exchange coins worth lakhs of rupees for notes with Kanpur banks, who say they do not have chests to store them.

The hoardings, which came up on Wednesday morning, have Kim Jong-un on one side saying he will rest only after he has destroyed the world and Modi on the other saying, "I will bring an end to businesses," the Hindustan Times reported late Friday.

Wholesale grocery traders have coins worth Rs 10 to 15 lakh each, while retailers have a stock of coins worth Rs 6-7 lakh each, on an average.

The excess of coins has forced traders to pay salaries to their employees with them, and they are in turn unable to use the money as banks and shopkeepers do not accept them, the newspaper said.

We all are Modi supporters. If the change (coins) is ruining us and our businesses what option did we have, Raju Khanna, a trade association leader who was among those booked, told the newspaper.

Kanpur traders, who have decided not to celebrate Diwali, have been reportedly agitating for about seven months. Their next agitation could involve dumping coins en masse at Gandhi state in Phool Bagh, the newspaper quoted Gopal Sardana, president of Kirana Vyapar Mandal, as saying.

On approaching BJP's Kanpur president Surendra Maithani, he told the newspaper that the traders should have gone to public representatives instead of attacking the PM "in the worst possible way."

Police have reportedly booked 22 Kanpur traders who put up hoardings and posters comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in a bid to draw attention to an excess of coin currency on their hands. The police have arrested Praveen Kumar for installing the hoardings and said others would be arrested soon. Small traders in the city say that their businesses are floundering, as they are unable to exchange coins worth lakhs of rupees for notes with Kanpur banks, who say they do not have chests to store them. The hoardings, which came up on Wednesday morning, have Kim Jong-un on one side saying he will rest only after he has destroyed the world and Modi on the other saying, "I will bring an end to businesses," the Hindustan Times reported late Friday. Wholesale grocery traders have coins worth Rs 10 to 15 lakh each, while retailers have a stock of coins worth Rs 6-7 lakh each, on an average. The excess of coins has forced traders to pay salaries to their employees with them, and they are in turn unable to use the money as banks and shopkeepers do not accept them, the newspaper said. We all are Modi supporters. If the change (coins) is ruining us and our businesses what option did we have, Raju Khanna, a trade association leader who was among those booked, told the newspaper. Kanpur traders, who have decided not to celebrate Diwali, have been reportedly agitating for about seven months. Their next agitation could involve dumping coins en masse at Gandhi state in Phool Bagh, the newspaper quoted Gopal Sardana, president of Kirana Vyapar Mandal, as saying. On approaching BJP's Kanpur president Surendra Maithani, he told the newspaper that the traders should have gone to public representatives instead of attacking the PM "in the worst possible way."
Newport, Portsmouth eye lower electricity bills with new program

The new programs, set to launch in May 2023, are the culmination of a multi-year effort involving six Rhode Island communities.
Saroj Pandey, who identifies herself as a national general secretary of the BJP, seemingly threatened to match violence with violence in Kerala.

By India Today Web Desk: The battle of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) over the political killings in Kerala has devolved into a battle of threats.

Saroj Pandey, who identifies herself as a national general secretary of the BJP, seemingly threatened to match violence with violence in Kerala.

Without expressly naming the CPM, Saroj Pandey said that if BJP or RSS workers faced violence, "we will enter their homes and gouge out their eyes."

Humne march ki shuruwat isliye ki hai ki aane wale samay mein agar bar bar humare: Saroj Pandey,BJP on BJP-RSS workers' killings in Kerala pic.twitter.com/s7Meos5L4b- ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

(cont) karyakartaon ke saath is tarah se aankh dikhaane ki stithi hogi to hum ghar mein ghuske aakh nikaal lenge, tay baat hai: Saroj Pandey- ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

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She was quoted making these comments by news agency ANI.

Her comments come against the backdrop of an increase in political violence in Kerala. The state has seen a number of attacks, deadly and otherwise, targeting workers of the RSS or the CPM.

The RSS and CPM accuse each other of being behind the murders of their respective cadre. Political violence has seen an increase of around 30 per cent in the last three years.

More than 600 CPM workers, nearly 300 RSS-BJP activists and over 50 Congress members are reported to have been arrested in these cases of violence.

Earlier this month, BJP President Amit Shah flagged off the two-week Jan Raksha Yatra, which went through 11 of the 14 districts of Kerala. The yatra was launched with the aim of highlighting the violence allegedly perpetrated by the CPM .

"This is the chief minister's constituency. The kind of response I saw today, I am confident that the people of Kerala are tired of Communist violence and the latter will have to answer for it," said Amit Shah told India Today in Dharmadom after flagging off the yatra.

--- ENDS ---
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. High 39F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snowfall around one inch..

Tonight

Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 29F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
By PTI: combat plan: Bedi

Puducherry, Oct 15 (PTI) Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi today said the central team which met her today on the dengue issue had pointed out "serious inadequacies" on part of the Union Territory in battling the disease.

In her Whatsapp message to media persons, she said, "Feedback from the team revealed serious inadequacies in our preparedness to prevent dengue".

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She said a dengue management team, comprising the district collector, director of medical services, director of local administration, commissioners of Puducherry and Oulgaret municipalities, chief engineer of PWD and general manager of Swachchta Corporation would be formed.

The team would meet daily for half an hour to review progress made and focus on the strategies to be followed, she said.

The former IPS officer said full mobilisation would be ensured by the DMT to prevent any further spread of dengue.

Earlier, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy had urged the Centre to give it Rs 30 crore to fight dengue and said the Union Territory was facing an "unprecedented" situation, mainly due to the influx of patients from Tamil Nadu.

He had told the five-member team of the Centre that Rs 30 crore was needed to equip government hospitals with adequate facilities.

He also said two persons undergoing treatment for dengue at private hospitals had died, while government hospitals had not reported any dengue deaths.

The team deputed to examine the dengue situation in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry had arrived in Chennai on October 13.

It had termed the 40 deaths due to the vector-borne disease in Tamil Nadu since January as "minimal" and said there was no need to panic.

Bedi, in another message, said the Union Territory would be a smart city when development is holistic, touching every part of Puducherry.

"We cannot have smart cities with dirty backyards and people suffering with filth around them. Smarty city should be smart for all by smart services," the former IPS officer said. PTI COR APR SRY

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Washington: There is a great interest about India in the United States and among its investors, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday said, adding that the relationship between the two countries was a "mature" one.

"There is a great interest about India in the US and among its investors," Jaitley told reporters as he winded up his week-long visit to the US during which he had meetings with US treasury secretary and the commerce secretary, addressed students of the Columbia and Harvard Universities and interacted with investors and American corporate leaders in New York, Boston, and Washington DC.

"Both, those inside the government and the US companies, have shown great interest in investing in India now," he said.

Jaitley, who led a high-powered Indian delegation to the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, said that the US companies are investing in India in a big way.

"You have Indians investing in the US, you have US companies investing in India. And, in November, a large contingent of US corporates are coming to India to invest," he said.

According to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) figures, India was US' ninth-largest trading partner with the total two-way trade of USD 67.7 billion last year

It is loaded in favour of India, which runs a surplus of USD 24 billion.

Jaitley said the relationship between India and the US on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was a "mature" one.

"..and expansion of key sectors like aviation and defence would play a key role in increasing the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion per annum," he said.

The finance minister said India was among the largest recipients of FDI since it had "one of the most open policies as far as investment is concerned."

"I'm quite sure that we will continue to get the benefit of that investment," he said.

"I think it's a strategic relationship which is bound to be further consolidated," he said.

During his week-long visit, the minister had more than a dozen meetings in addition to his bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings.

The finance minister said that India's capacity to undertake structural reforms even in a globally adverse environment was being appreciated globally.

"This is a fact which almost the whole body of investors and also a large number of my counterparts in other parts of the world acknowledges," he said.

"If areas like defence, civil aviation, which are very high investment areas, if you see investment pouring into those areas, it is obviously going to have an impact," he said.
New Delhi: At least 26 passengers on the Mumbai-bound Tejas Express suffered from food poisoning on Sunday, forcing the train to halt at the Chiplun station in Maharashtra.

The passengers complained of pain and felt nauseated around noon. They were served their breakfast between 9:30 and 10 in the morning. They were admitted to a nearby hospital in the Ratnagiri district.

Railway officials, quoting hospital authorities, said that all the passengers are out of danger. The Central Railways has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

In a series of tweets, the Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) said that 24 passengers had been admitted to LifeCare hospital for medical assistance.

The department also said that food samples had been collected for further investigation, adding that a total of 220 meals were served. "Director Catering service is proceeding to Mumbai to follow up the matter."
New Delhi: Two murders happen. The murderer leaves blood-stained palm prints at the crime scene and blood-stained finger prints on a scotch bottle. If you have read detective novels or watched crime movies, you would think this is enough for the police to nab the culprits. But in Aarushi and Hemraj murder case, Central Bureau of Investigation failed to produce any credible evidence nine years after the crime. Last week, as Allahabad High Court acquitted Aarushis parents, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar, who were jailed by a local court purely on the basis of circumstantial evidence, it also pulled up CBI for a botched-up probe.

On May 17, 2008 when Noida police reached L 32, Jalvayu Vihar, there were the following evidence to gather and secure  a scotch bottle with blood stains, bed sheet, mattress, pillowcases of the bed where Aarushis body was found, blood stains on the roof where Hemrajs body was found and the paint with which Hemrajs body was covered. Then there was also a cooler with bloody water, blood stains on the staircase leading to the roof, Aarushi and Hemrajs mobile phones.

Heres what Noida police did with the incriminating evidence. They collected the bed sheet, pillow cases, etc. and labelled them in such a way that the forensic results were totally confusing. They collected the scotch bottle, but could not get a clear finger print on it.

Later, it was established that the blood on the bottle was that of Hemraj. But was he drinking? Nobody knows. The mattress on which Aarushis body was found (which is what the Noida polices case diary says) somehow made it to the roof of the neighbour. Police have failed to explain how this happened.

Later, Noida Police said the same mattress was used to cover Hemrajs body on the terrace. Another bedsheet was found in the partition between the terrace of Talwars and the neighbour. Police failed to find out who did it.

Hemrajs body was found a day after Aarushis. The story of how his body was discovered on May 18 is a saga in itself. Talwars neighbours and many journalists who were present there pointed to blood stains on the staircase leading to the roof. Initially, police dismissed those as paan stains. The paan stains could have been his blood or that of the murderer(s), but those stains were cleaned and wiped.

No questions were asked as to why the roof was locked and where the keys were. When Hemrajs body was discovered on the roof, Noida police had already reached Nepal looking for him. And Talwars had left for Haridwar to perform their daughters last rites. Rajesh Talwar had to be called back to identify Hemrajs body. Soon after the body was discovered, Noida police allowed many journalists, including me, to walk all over the roof, click photographs, stand there and watch the police do their job  basically, they allowed us to trample with evidence on a crime site. The palm print on the area was contaminated beyond scientific recovery.

No questions were asked about why the terrace was locked, who had the keys. Cementing the inability and callousness of the police department in investigating the case, the CBI was brought in.

A month after the crime, the bureau went about opening water tanks on the roof. The CBI team was hoping to find the murder weapon and/or the phones of the accused. They collected bloodied water from the water cooler too. Next up, they scrapped the blood stains on the roof. All these clues were missed by Noida police earlier. The CBI said Rajesh Talwar had discouraged Noida police from going to the roof when he was asked to give keys to the lock. What, when and how that happened and why the police didnt insist on having it then and there is something that was never explained.

In case of the pillowcases in Aarushis room, Noida police initially claimed the blood stains matched Hemrajs. The defence said the pillow cases were from Krishnas room. The forensic scientist, however, clarified that the pillowcases with Hemrajs blood were actually from his own room and because of a typo, they were wrongly marked.

Dr Dahiya, the forensic scientist from Hyderabad who was brought in later, also clarified that only Aarushis blood and DNA was found in her room. The Allahabad High Court order almost indicts CBIs Additional Superintendent of Police AGL Kaul for pressurising Dr Dahiya to clarify the error.

Dr Sunil Dohre in his post-mortem did not mention any sexual assault on Aarushi. The High Court, however, noted that in his testimony, Dr Dohre added the bits about the open vaginal cavity. The HC also noted that Hemrajs post-mortem doctor  Dr Naresh Raj  presumed that his penis was swollen because he was in the middle of or about to have a sexual intercourse. The presumption of the doctor was not based on medical knowledge, but from his personal experiences. The HC calls the deposition of both doctors medical blasphemy.

The CBI also collected the clothes that the Talwars were wearing on the intervening night of May 16 and 17. The prosecution contended that the parents never hugged their daughter upon finding her dead and hence their clothes were devoid of any blood. Whats interesting, however, is that the Noida police never collected their clothes.

Then there was the question of why how the Talwars, sleeping just a few feet away from their daughter, did not hear her screams when she was being killed. Various theories were floated around that: the air conditioner being too loud for them to hear. The argument also circled around how Nupur Talwar had heard the doorbell ring on May 17 when the maid came. With the segregation of the two rooms being such an important aspect to the case, shouldnt the police have taken a sample section of the wall?

The narco analysis of Krishna and Raj Kumar was something that the CBI did not work on much. In narco analysis apparently, they confessed singing the same Nepali song that was being aired on TV at the time of the murder. But the CBI never tried to gather evidence based on their narco analysis. The CBI team said Krishna and Raj Kumar killed Aarushi and Hemraj but failed to gather strong evidence.

The files were then sent to another CBI team. This team's findings were in complete contrast to what their predecessors found. Just like Noida police, this new CBI team put the onus on the Talwars. What happens when the investigating agency has two contrasting theories about one case? The HC in its order has observed that prosecution has to stand on its own leg and cannot expect a weak defence to provide support.

The question that still remains unanswered is: Who killed Aarushi and Hemraj?
Lucknow: The bad spell for RSS-affiliated student body organization ABVP continues with yet another electoral loss. After being routed out of JNU and Delhi University in back-to-back elections, now they have been defeated by the Samajwadi Party students wing in the Allahabad University students union elections.

The Samajwadi Chatra Sabha (SCS) has won 4 out of 5 seats in the Allahabad University elections. Samajwadi Party National President Akhilesh Yadav congratulated the newly elected leaders in a tweet and thanked all students for the mandate.

The results on Saturday declared that SCS candidates had won the seats of Chairman, Vice-President, Joint Minister and Cultural Secretary, whereas ABVP won the General Secretary post. Around 45.50% students cast their votes between 8am and 2pm.

Samajwadi Chatra Sabha members were jubilant after the massive victory and having stripped ABVP leaders from the AU students body posts.

Avnish Kumar Yadav of SCS won the presidents post with 3,226 votes. Independent candidate Mrityunjay Rao Parmar came second with a difference of 552 votes.

Chandrashekhar Chaudhary of SCS bagged 2,249 votes defeating ABVP's Shivam Kumar Tiwari by a margin of 72 votes.

It was only ABVP's Nirbhay Kumar Dwivedi with 2,132 votes who managed to save face for the party by winning the post of General Secretary. He defeated Arpit Singh of NSUI by 61 votes.

Bharat Singh of SCS defeated Adarsh Shukla by 630 votes, while Awadhesh Kumar Patel Shanu won the Cultural Secretary post by 3,801 votes and defeated Abhishek Kumar Awasthi of ABVP with a huge difference of 1,012 votes.

The newly-elected President of Allahabad University Students Union, Avnish Yadav, who hails from a family of a farmers said that his win signifies that the people are not happy with the right-wing politics.

Yadav said, The youth of the country is now aware of the activities of the central government and the current state government. They are unhappy with the government and the historic win of the Samajwadi Chatra Sabha at Allahabad University will send across a message to the entire nation.

Yadavs father Bindeshwari Yadav is a farmer, while his mother Usha Devi is a homemaker. A native of Kathniyam village in Devariya, Avnish completed his schooling from Saraswati Vidya Mandir, after which he enrolled for a BA course at the Allahabad University. Currently he is in the second year of LLB at Allahabad University.
New Delhi: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at PM Narendra Modi on Sunday, asking him to hug US President Donald Trump after the latter posted a pro-Pakistan tweet.

It all started when Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday on improving ties with Pakistan after the country helped rescue a US-Canadian family from their Taliban captors.

Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2017

Posting a snapshot of Trumps tweet, Rahul Gandhi said may be the US President needed "another hug from PM Modi.

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

The Congress scions tweet comes weeks after the BJP accused him of criticising the government on a global platform during his visit to the University of California, Berkeley. The Grand Old Party hit back, saying it was the PM who started the tradition of attacking the opposition on foreign tours.

Rahul, who is tipped to be elevated as the Congress chief soon, has stepped up attacks on the government on the issue of demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
New Delhi: The National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) on Sunday denied reports that it had given jobs to the accused in the Mohammad Akhlaq lynching case.

This comes after reports that some people accused of lynching Akhlaq in Bisada village of Uttar Pradeshs Dadri in September 2015 got contractual jobs with the PSU after being facilitated by a local MLA.

"NTPC Dadri management categorically denies the content of various media reports regarding contractual employment in NTPC Dadri to the accused of Akhlaq lynching case of Bisahda village, as such reports are false and baseless," the NTPC's Dadri plant said in a statement to PTI.

It said no agreement has been made to give jobs to the accused of the case and no employment has been given to them. NTPC also said that under its corporate social responsibility policy, it is committed for the upliftment and development of the nearby communities of its plant.

Earlier, speaking to News18, local BJP MLA Tejpal Singh Nagar said that the family of Ravin Sisodia, one of the murder accused who had died in jail of multiple organ failure, is soon likely to get Rs 8 lakh compensation.

The boy who died (Ravin Sisodia), his wife will get a job in a primary school within a month and a compensation of Rs 8 lakh, of which Rs 5 lakh will be a single payment and the rest will come from collections made at local level, Nagar said.

Speaking about the fate of the other accused who are out on bail, Nagar said that they too will be accommodated with private firms working at Dadris NTPC plant.

(With PTI inputs)
Houston: One week since a three-year-old Indian girl vanished during an alleged incident of bizarre late-night punishment meted out by her Indian foster father, police in Richardson are yet to find a clue as to what happened to her, US media reports said on Sunday.

Sherin Mathews vanished last Saturday after her father Wesley Mathews told police he left her outside at 3 a.m. as punishment for not drinking her milk.

Mathews claimed that when he went to check on her around 3:15 am she was gone. Police said he waited five hours before reporting Sherin missing.

During an interview with detectives, Wesley Mathews said he checked around his home for Sherin and then went back inside to do laundry. He was released from jail last Sunday after posting his USD 250,000 bond.

Neighbours of the Indian-American couple have turned the tree across the backyard alley from Sherins home in Richardson in Dallas, Texas into a memorial to the little girl. People have left teddy bears, balloons, angel figurines, a box of written prayers, and even a single gallon of milk, WFFA TV reported.

It is the tree where her father Wesley claims he left the girl as punishment. He claims that when he came back to get her she was gone.

Wesley has since been arrested, and bonded out, on a charge of child endangerment and ordered to wear an ankle monitor as the investigation continues. But after a week, with searches that included the help of the FBI, Richardson police tell News 8 on this 8th day of her disappearance that they have no new information to report.

US Child Protective Services has taken custody of the couples older 4-year-old daughter and neither Wesley Mathews nor his wife have talked publicly about what happened.

Police are still looking for any surveillance video or information that will help show them where the familys SUV went when it disappeared for an hour that morning.

So far, tips from the public have not led to any definitive clues that could lead police to Sherin.

"I pray every night, but I more pray the mama say the truth because this baby need to be in peace, and the people feeling bad need to be in peace too, said a local resident Silvia Johnson.

Police are asking people to check surveillance footage for a maroon Acura SUV they say left the home an hour after Sherin disappeared.

"We would like to thank those who have provided tips and video up to this point. We are diligently working our way through all of the material. We continue to request businesses and residents within a 30-minute drive of the 900 block of Sunningdale to check your video systems to see if there is any footage that may have captured a 2013 maroon Acura MDX SUV on Saturday, October 7th, between 4AM and 5AM, Richardson Police Department said recently in a Facebook post.

Police have not said how they know the car was missing or who was driving. Investigators removed three of the family's cars, including the Acura SUV, from the home earlier last week for analysis.

Detectives have not said whether Wesley Mathews is a suspect, but they have cleared his wife Sini Mathews. Police previously said she was asleep and unaware her husband had made their daughter stand outside as punishment.

"She is distraught. As you are all aware, they adopted Sherin, and they love Sherin," Sini's attorney Kent Starr said. "All she wants is for her daughter to be returned.
Lucknow: The BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government has decided to deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants living in the state.

BJP spokesperson Shalabh Mani Tripathi has said that illegal migrants are often involved in terror and illegal activities and that only the Yogi Adityanath government had the courage to take strict action against them.

Due to the appeasement policies of some of the governments in Uttar Pradesh, the problem of illegal Bangladeshi people has become dangerous, he said.

Due to the policies of the governments, the security agencies could not do anything against these illegal citizens, and not all the illegal Bangladeshi people made their ration card and voter card, but they were also involved in all criminal and anti-national activities.

The government action has been intensified against all illegal Bangladeshi involved in crimes. At the same time, the terrorist organizations involved in anti-national activities have also suffered a major setback, he added.

Tripathi said that in such a situation, the initiative taken by the Adityanath government should be appreciated.

Meanwhile, president of Samajwadi Party and former UP CM, Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that it is wrong to take action on immigrants and some humanity must be shown by the state government in this issue.

Humanity should be above everything; these people need help rather than action against them. Such decisions are often politically motivated and taken on religious lines, which is wrong. Humanity is above everything and it should also be observed by the state government. These people need help and government should help them instead of taking action, he said.
Ali Fazals fans must be curious to know what their favourite actor would be busy doing on his birthday. Dont worry! News18.com has brought you an exclusive chat with the international star, who shared with us his plans for the special day, his reaction to Victoria & Abdul India opening and how he is dealing with the sudden fame he has achieved.

This is going to be your first birthday with Richa Chadha after you both made your relationship public. So, what are the plans?

I have a complaint to Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani. They both have given me such a tight schedule that I dont think Id be able to celebrate my birthday. I'm going to be working. I'll be working on Mirzapur (web series). I think she's also busy. I'm not going to be with her.

How do you generally celebrate your birthday?

I think working on birthdays has become a part of my thing. I was working on my last birthday as well. This year I'll be with a bunch of dudes with a lot of guns and doing some action sequences. So I wont be with my friends for sure. But hopefully for Diwali I might go out and do a belated celebration.

Anything special that you want to share with your fans on your birthday?

I really want to tell everyone that celebrate your birthday because it's really important. Theres a big problem with me. I can't invite people I have an OCD so my friends do it for me. I really admire those people who take out time to invite their friends to celebrate birthdays. I have always been fascinated with return gifts though.

Your film Victoria & Abdul received a mixed-response at the Indian box-office. Some of the critics are even calling it a racist film. Are you disappointed?

Its that one thing that we already expected from India because its this British hangover we have that we cant seem to accept anything nice happen to that whole era. The freedom struggle began much later and Im talking about after the mutiny in India... There was racism back then there is racism now but the whole point of the film was that in the middle of all that madness while India was going through so much and the British Empire was flourishing, there was this wonderful relationship that people forgot to see.

He was employed as a clerk under the British Raj. There were Indian soldiers who fought on behalf of the British army much after the films story. The problem is that people dont know History properly and they just lash out because they cant accept the fact that, wo queen aur ek Indian ke saath koi achchi cheez kaise ho gayi?

How are you dealing with this sudden rise in your career, where you have become this first Indian to do a lead role in a Hollywood film?

I feel good. Its a step forward for all of us and I feel very responsible and grateful. I think the world is getting smaller with Netflix and Amazon coming into India. There are going to be more chances. Im glad that Im a part of Victoria & Abdul. Hopefully tomorrow somebody else will be doing the film as big as mine or may be even bigger. Its a great time for actors and directors.
The process of electing president in China every five years is explained here. The CPC Congress will elect members to its multi-level organisational structure during its week-long meet in Beijing beginning October 18.

By Prabhash K Dutta: Observers of China's politics believe that reelection of Xi Jinping as the President of China during the 19th Congress, which begins on Wednesday in Beijing, is a foregone conclusion.

The Congress is held every five years in China. It is the biggest political event in China. The real mettle of the country's leadership is tested here.

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Even though there are reports that Jiang Zemin (former President) faction of the CPC is against Xi Jinping on many issues, there is no challenger in the ruling communist party to deny him second term. Xi Jinping has in recent months tightened his grip on the Communist Party of China and the government including the People's Liberation Army.

China elects its president behind fortified walls of the Great Hall in Beijing, where the delegates from all over the country will converge for the Congress on October 18 and hold deliberations for about a week.

STRUCTURE OF CPC

The People's Republic of China (the official name of the country) is a multi-party political system under one party's hegemony. According to Wikipedia, there are eight other parties than the ruling Communist Party of China, which was founded by Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao in 1921. Mao Zedong was one of the founding members of the party.

The CPC is a cadre-based party and only the members take part in the election process to choose its leader or the President of China. The election is held during the Congress. The cadres on the ground send their elected representatives to the Congress.

The CPC politburo and politburo standing committee are two of the most powerful decision making bodies of the ruling party. They are authorised to take all the decisions for China. The general secretary of the CPC is the President of China.

HOW DOES CONGRESS ELECT PRESIDENT?

Taking the Bharatiya Janata Party's claim - of being the largest political party of the world with over 11 crore members - into consideration, the Communist Party of China (CPC) stands out as the second largest political party. The CPC has a cadre base of over 9 crore forming the bottom of the pyramidal organisational structure of the party.

These 9 crore cadres of the CPC elect 2,300 representatives from all across the mainland China. The CPC Congress is a congregation of elected delegates, who meet at the Great Hall of Beijing. Reports from China suggest that 13 of the delegates have been barred from attending the CPC Congress. This means, 2,287 delegates would be attending the Congress 2017.

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The elected delegates vote for the members of the central committee of the CPC. There are 370 members in the central committee at present. Of them, 200 members are permanent while 170 are alternate members. The alternate members work under the permanent members.

The central committee members elect the politburo of the CPC, which is a 25-member body. Some reports say that there are 24 members in the politburo at present. There are speculations that Xi Jinping may push for increasing the strength of politburo during the upcoming Congress.

The politburo members elect its standing committee, which is the most powerful decision-making body under Chinese government. The standing committee has seven members, who form the supreme leadership circle of the CPC. These seven members are also the members of the CPC politburo.

The central committee members also vote to elect the general secretary of the CPC. The same person becomes the President of China.

POLITBURO, STANDING COMMITTEE AND XI JINPING

The outgoing politburo of the CPC has the dominance of the leaders of Hu Jintao (another former President) faction. Xi Jinping is said to have less than five loyalists in the politburo, which has more members of the Jiang Zemin camp.

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The Chinese president is the member of both the politburo and the standing committee. The politburo members hold the rank and title of vice-premiers. As per practice, the members of the standing committee retire after attaining the age of 68. This means that five of the standing committee members - except President Xi Jinping, 64, and Premier Li Keqiang, 62 - will be replaced during the Congress.

In the present standing committee, Xi Jinping has only one loyalist, Wang Qishan, 69. Premier Li Keqiang, though he has a good equation with Xi Jinping, is considered a Hu Jintao loyalist. Wang Qishan has been Xi Jinping's Man Friday in leading anti-corruption campaign and downing several opponents of the Chinese president over the past five years.

Under Wang Qishan's watch, more than 10 lakh officials and leaders were booked for corruption since 2012, when Xi Jinping became President. The anti-corruption campaign has helped Jinping strengthenhis grip over the CPC. Xi Jinping has been given the title of the "core leader" of the party. This title was conferred upon only Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping in the past.

During the Army Day celebrations in August this year, Xi Jinping was addressed as "chairman" by the soldiers of the PLA. Only Mao Zedong and his two successors Hua Guofeng and Hu Yaobang had been previously addressed with the title.However, it seems unlikely that the Congress would approve of the title of "chairman" for Xi Jinping.

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Observers say that Xi Jinping has gained more control over the PLA than even Mao Zedong. He succeeded in reorganising the PLA's administrative structure and thereby, even spreading out Jiang Zemin loyalists far and wide.

Xi Jinping has done his homework for the upcoming Congress, where he may push to fill most of the important positions with his supporters and proteges so that by the time of the next Congress, he could be in a position to enforce the Congress to approve an unprecedented third term for himself in 2022.

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Mumbai: Aparshakti Khurrana says, he learnt to be honest as a person and an artist from his Dangal co-star Aamir Khan.

The actor played a prominent role as Omkar, the cousin of Geeta Phogat and Babita Kumari in the Nitesh Tiwari-directed film.

Aparshakti says his takeaway from working on the hit 2016 film was that a jealous artiste stops growing over time.

"Nitesh Tiwari and Aamir Khan are very honest people".

What I have learnt from them is that you don't have to be a great artiste; you have to be a good human being to better your craft. If you are jealous and have a negative approach, you won't grow.

"Honesty brings a lot of positivity, hence it helps you to enhance your performance. What I have taken away from Dangal is honesty," he tells PTI.

Aparshakti says his life has changed drastically after playing Omkar in the movie but it is still a long way to go.

"Earlier, I would wait for calls from production houses or stand in long queues to give an audition that I don't need to do today.

"I won't say that I have arrived just yet as there is more to achieve and I wish to do justice to my anchoring projects as well as future roles."

He started his career working as an RJ and then switched to the TV as an anchor and made his film debut with Dangal, which will air on &Pictures channel tomorrow.

The anchor-turned-actor says he is in touch with the Dangal team, including Aamir and praises the superstar for his simplicity.

"What I like the most about Aamir is his simplicity.

Even after spending over 30 years in the film industry, he still behaves like a commoner. Many celebrities are arrogant and that's evident in the way they carry themselves."

Aparshakti is Ayushmann Khurrana's brother and he says the Shubh Mangal Saavdhan actor never helped him career-wise.

"My brother's approach towards life has been practical, simple and wise. After shooting to fame with Vicky Donor, he never offered to help me with my launch. Instead, he asked me to prepare myself by being active playing sports, singing jingles and performing in theatre. He always said, 'prepare yourself, Mumbai will automatically invite you'.

"It has taken seven years to reach where I am today. It's a natural thing that people will judge siblings and members of the same family," he adds.
New Delhi: Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief Amit Shah, met here on Saturday night to finalise the party candidates for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls, scheduled to be held on November 9.

The party's Central Election Committee (CEC) deliberated on the names of probables to contest elections for the 68-seat Assembly, for over two hours, and a list of candidates is likely to be announced on Sunday, a party leader said.

Two-time Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who also attended the meeting, and Union Minister JP Nadda, a member of the CEC, are being seen as the two most likely choices for the post of chief minister, with the latter being considered a favourite because of his clean image and proximity to the party's central leadership.

However, the party has not yet named any chief ministerial candidate.

The filing of nomination is scheduled to begin from October 16 and conclude on October 23.

The chief electoral officer of the state has directed political parties to adhere to the maximum expenditure limit of Rs 28 lakh in the upcoming state Assembly polls and make all payments above Rs 20,000 through Account Payee cheque. This expenditure includes public meetings and rallies, posters, banners, vehicles and advertisements in print and electronic media.

(With PTI inputs)
The Congress won a decisive mandate in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll with its candidate Sunil Jakhar romping home by over 1,90,000 votes. The BJPs Swaran Salaria was second, while the AAPs Major General (retd) Suresh Khajuria came third. Necessitated by the death of actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna, the bypoll was a being seen as a measure of the six-month-old Congress governments popularity in the state. Stay tuned for LIVE updates:

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress, after he saw former state party chief Ashok Choudhary at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's programme at Patna University.

"You have come to the programme in which the prime minister is on dais. This could lead to the party showing you the doors," Kumar said in his speech at the centenary celebration function at Patna University.

Choudhary was present at the function, along with his party colleagues and MLCs Dilip Kumar Chaudhary, Tanvir Akhtar and Ramchandra Bharti.

The Congress MLCs were inclined to the Kumar-led JD(U) after the disintegration of the grand alliance of the RJD-JD (U)-Congress in the state.

Choudhary who was education minister in the grand alliance government, described Kumar's comment as "just a joke by the chief minister".

Choudhary said he was an alumnus of Patna University and had come to attend its centenary celebration.

He, however, expressed "disappointment" over the prime minister not announcing central university status for Patna University which was demanded by the chief minister.

"I feel disappointed. The CM had made the demand for according central university status to Patna university, but it did not materialise," Choudhary said.

Interim Bihar Congress President Kaukab Kadri also refused to see politics in it.

"It reflected his (Kumar) personal relationship with him and no politics should be seen into it," Kadri told PTI.

Choudhary and Kadri factions are locked in intense fight within the state Congress after the former was axed as state party chief by party president Sonia Gandhi.

Kadri replaced him as interim state chief till a regular state president is named.
Ahmedabad: Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani on Sunday refuted Congress' allegations that the Election Commission had deferred the announcement of Gujarat Assembly election dates under "government's pressure".

Rupani alleged that it was Congress, in fact, that had influenced the commission's declaration of dates for 2012 assembly election to Gujarat assembly.

"In 2012 (Assembly election), the Election Commission ensured at the behest of the Congress that the model code of conduct was in force for a record time to prevent Modiji from working, because of which the state government could not take up development work," Rupani said at an election programme organised here by newschannel.

The Chief Minister also denied the allegation that the BJP government was interfering with the Election Commission's decisions.

The EC had on Thursday announced that the assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh will be held in a single phase on November 9 and the results will be declared on December 18.

The poll panel did not announce the dates for assembly elections in Gujarat, but Chief Election Commissioner A K Joti said that the elections will be held before December 18.

The Congress had on Friday attacked the BJP for "pressuring" the EC to delay the announcement of Gujarat elections and alleged that "past practices, conventions and precedents" were being set aside to help the ruling party in the state.

The opposition party alleged that the "delay" in announcing Gujarat Assembly election schedule was to enable Prime Minister Narendra Modi to act as a "false Santa Claus" to offer sops and use "jumlas" (rhetoric) during his October 16 visit to his home state.

The model code of conduct would have come into immediate effect in Gujarat had the poll schedule been announced, it added.

Countering the Congress' allegations, Rupani said, "Congress was complaining that the BJP will advance election because of the UP result...we are not interfering in the process of the Election Commission...we are not delaying elections".

"It is my responsibility to work for the public till the last day. Until the EC declares dates of elections, we will keep working for the public. There is nothing wrong in it. It is our right to work until the dates are declared," the chief minister said.

He said the opposition should raise an objection only when there is an interference in the election process.

"It is the right of the EC to declare model code of conduct...(the opposition) wants government to stop working.

This is against democratic values," Rupani said. Asked whether his party has lost the support of the Patidar community, the chief minister asserted it remains with the BJP.

"There is no place for Patidars in Congress. The community remains with us, they know where their interest lies. We are withdrawing cases against Patidars not to make them happy, but to resolve the deadlock by sitting with them, hearing their problems," he said, and exuded confidence that Dalits will vote for the party.

Rupani said his government took strong action against the people involved in thrashing Dalits in Una.

He said his government takes incidents of atrocities on Dalits seriously and immediate action follows against perpetrators.

On 'cow vigilantes', Rupani said his government does not support those doing wrong in the name of protecting cows.

"We do not support people who are doing wrong in the name of cow protection. We will punish them. And along with this, we are also working for cow protection, and have made the harshest law of life sentence for cow slaughter," he said.

(With PTI inputs)
Lucknow: The spotlight will be on the Gorakhpur and the Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls in Uttar Pradesh with the recent Amethi visits of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and BJP chief Amit Shah and the SP national convention in Agra setting the stage for a high-octane contest.

Though no date has been announced by the Election Commission (EC) for the by-elections, the two seats will go to polls in the near future as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya vacated them after becoming MLCs.

The BJP will put its best foot forward to ensure that it retains both the parliamentary seats, while the Congress and the Samajwadi Party will make every effort to wrest them in order to send a strong message before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

A win in the bypolls could also set the tone for the 2022 state Assembly elections.

Both the seats are significant as Gorakhpur has been a traditional stronghold of the BJP since 1991 while in Phulpur, the saffron party won for the first time in 2014 and will not like the constituency to slip out of its grip.

Expressing confidence that the party will perform better in the parliamentary bye-elections, UP BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla said, "Undoubtedly, the BJP will not only emerge victorious in both the by-polls, it will also improve its victory margin."

In Phulpur, Maurya had defeated his nearest SP rival by 3,08,308 votes, while in Gorakhpur, Adityanath had defeated his SP rival by 3,12,783 votes.

Asked what makes the party believe that it will improve its margin in the bypolls to the Lok Sabha seat, Shukla said, "The public welfare work which is being done by the UP government and that too in a short span of six months drops enough hints that the party will retain both the seats rather comfortably."

Taking a jibe at the Opposition, which has accused the BJP of not practising what it preached, he said, "The Opposition is only interested in BJP bashing."

"Even during 2017 UP Assembly elections, they had said the BJP will not be able to repeat the grand performance it had put up in 2014 Lok Sabha polls in UP. But, despite this we (along with our allies) were able to win 325 of the 403 Assembly seats," Shukla said.

Last week, the BJP's top leaders descended on "Nehru- Gandhi family bastion" Amethi, with party chief Shah questioning Congress Rahul Gandhi over development in his Lok Sabha constituency and slamming him for mocking Gujarat's development.

Shah, Union minister Smriti Irani and the Uttar Pradesh chief minister had targeted Gandhi.

Earlier, Gandhi, during his Amethi visit, had accused the BJP governments at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh of re- inaugurating the projects launched by the previous UPA regime in the district.

Even though the Samajwadi Party had finished runners up in both the seats last time, its electoral ally Congress has also made up its mind to contest the bye-elections.

"We will definitely contest the Lok Sabha bypolls.

Modalities in this regard are being worked out," party spokesperson Hilal Ahmad said.

Samajwadi Party has claimed that it was ready to contest the bypolls.

"Our preparations down to the booth level are almost complete and we are just waiting for the EC to announce the poll schedule," SP MLC and party spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan said.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav told the party's Agra convention last week that the two key by-elections will give his party a chance to gauge which way the wind is blowing months after it faced a rout in the Assembly polls.

Yadav has already said if results of the elections were in "our favour, it will give a message not only for the 2019 (Lok Sabha polls), but also for the 2022 (assembly polls)".

Exhorting party workers to strengthen the organisation, he had said the SP should emerge as a big force in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

In such a scenario, a split in opposition votes might help the BJP.

There was no word from the BSP so far as to whether the party will throw its hat in the ring.

Usually, Mayawati's party stays away from by-polls, but with the scenario different this time, nothing could be said right now, party insiders said.

During its heydays, Phulpur constituency was represented by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Congress leader Vijay Lakshmi Pandit.

In 2014, Maurya had bagged 5,03,564 votes (52.43 per cent of the votes polled) to give BJP its maiden victory in the parliamentary constituency, which was earlier represented by the Congress, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

Gorakhpur saw Adityanath emerging victorious by securing 5,39,127 votes (51.80 per cent of the votes polled) in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Adityanath started his winning streak in this Lok Sabha constituency from 1998 and continued it without break till 2014.
Ahmedabad: Over the past couple of years, three young leaders from the Patidar, OBC and Dalit communities have made quite an impact in Gujarat, so much so that the state BJP is worried and making notes to tackle them. While Hardik Patel, convener of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) and Jignesh Mevani, convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch have openly declared their anti-BJP stand, Alpesh Thakor, convener of the Kshatriya Thakor Sena, is yet to reveal his cards.

OBCs account for about 51 percent of the Gujarat population and are likely to impact as many as 110 seats out of the 182 in Gujarat Assembly.

The feisty Patidar youth has always maintained that he will not join any political party until his demand for reservation is met. However, it does look like the staunch supporters of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti is inclined towards the Congress as Hardik Patel and his supporters have made it very apparent that they will vote against the BJP in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

While the BJP government has tried everything to woo back the Patidar community, like that of withdrawing the police cases against Patidar leaders, PAAS continues to be adamant with its quota demand.

On the other hand, Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch convener Jignesh Mevani has a different issue to talk about. He maintains that apart from the BJP, no other political party in Gujarat or India speaks of a Hindu Rashtra, adding that the BJP is a political wing of the RSS.

"We will strongly oppose any attempt to tamper with the Preamble of the Constitution that classifies India as a democratic, socialist and secular republic," Mevani told News18.

He further stated that politically, Dalits and Muslims have always formed an axis and voted consistently for decades.

"Assuming that the pattern continues, Dalits and Muslims can have an impact on as many as 25 seats in the Gujarat Assembly elections. While Dalits constitute just 7 percent of the population in Gujarat and might appear politically insignificant, but nationally, we account for 17 percent of the population," Mevani said.

Asked if the three of them could ever join hands and work together towards a common goal, Mevani said, "Yes it is true that the Dalits have had problems with other OBCs and the Patels in the past, but as Dalits, we are willing to overlook them and work together.

When the demand for reservation by Patidars within the OBC quota was at its peak in Gujarat, the OBCs had voiced resentment at the idea as they would have to share the reservation pie with the Patidars. Similarly, Dalits have had problems with all other castes over the issue of discrimination and atrocities.

On the other hand, Alpesh Thakor, convener of the OBC, SC and ST (OSS) Ekta Manch and Kshatriya Thakor Sena, has remained non-committal so far about his political future.

The son of a local Congress leader, Alpesh addressed a huge gathering of people and launched his statewide de-addiction campaign for the OBCs in January 2016. This was followed by a large number of raids on gambling and liquor dens across the state.

"I will announce all my future plans, including my political plans on October 23 at the Janadesh Sammelan being organised at Gandhinagar. Our issues are not against any ideology or political party," Thakor told News18.

When probed on the differences between the OBCs, Patidars and Dalits over several issues and the three young turks coming together, Thakor said, "As Gujaratis, we are one. We can surely work together where common issues are concerned."
Malappuram: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) candidate K N A Khader won the Vengara by-election on Sunday, with a hefty margin of over 23,310 votes.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Khader got 65,227 votes, CPI(M) candidate P P Basheer came second with 41,917 votes followed by SDPI candidate K C Naseer and BJP candidate K Janachandran in the third and fourth positions.

A total of 502 voters pressed the NOTA button.

IUML chief P K Kunhalikutty, who vacated the Vengara seat and later won the Malappuram Lok Sabha seat earlier this year, said that though CPI(M) had used all its might, the outcome was known to them.

Kunhalikutty had also won the seat in the 2016 Assembly elections with a margin of over 38,000 votes.

Over 70 percent voter turnout was recorded at the Vengara assembly by-election here on Wednesday, officials said.

While the turnout was brisk at 7 am, when the polling started, the final turnout at the close at 6 pm was 71.2 per cent  above the the 70.7 per cent turnout in the 2016 Assembly polls. Polling was peaceful.

This is the first time that the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) is being used in all the polling booths in a constituency in Kerala.

The by-election was necessitated when sitting legislator and top Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader P K Kunhalikutty vacated the seat after he was elected from the Malappuram Lok Sabha constituency in April this year.

IUML - the second biggest constituent of the Congress-led UDF, has fielded two-time former legislator K.N.A. Khader, who expressed confidence that he will have a cakewalk.

His main opponent, the Communist Party of India-Marxist's P P Basheer, who is the only candidate among the six contenders hailing from this constituency, arrived with his entire family to cast his vote and expressed his own confidence of the outcome.

Considered as one of the strongest constituency for the IUML, in which Kunhalikutty won the 2016 Assembly polls with a record margin of 38,057 votes, one of the highest margins in the state, the CPI(M) was however expecting Basheer to put up a strong fight.

The Bharatiya Janata Party had fielded K Janachandran Master.

(With IANS inputs)
UDF candidate KNA Khader has won the Vengara Assembly bypoll in Kerala with more than 65,000 votes, trumping his nearest rival and LDF nominee PV Basheer. The SDPI took the third position, while the NDA came fourth. Heres a recap:

Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
By PTI: (EDs: Adding background info)

Lucknow, Oct 15 (PTI) Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today that the countrys borders were completely safe and China has also begun to understand that "India is no more weak".

Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has become powerful and its prestige at the global level has also grown.

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Addressing the gathering at a programme organised by the Bhartiya Lodhi Mahasabha here, Singh referred to the recent Dokalam stand-off and said, "Indias borders are completely safe and China has started to understand that India is no more weak. Its strength has grown."

The Union minister said that the dispute related to China has been resolved.

"Since the formation of the government at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a powerful country in the world. Indias prestige at the international level has grown," he said.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Dokalam.

Singh also hit out at Pakistan for "sending terrorists" to India.

"It (Pakistan) tries to break India, but our security personnel every day kill five to ten terrorists," he added.

The home minister said that participating in programmes organised by caste groups does not amount to indulging in vote-bank politics, and added: "We do not do politics only for votes. We do politics to build the society and the country."

Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, said that while assuming office Modi had made it clear that his government will be dedicated to the poor. He referred to schemes such as Jandhan Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana to stress his point.

"Allegations of corruption have been levelled on the Congress government and its ministers, but we can confidently say that in the last three-and-half years, no allegation of corruption has been levelled against us," he said.

He also lauded the BJP government for making cleanliness a mass movement and said the prime minister also aims to end poverty in the country by 2022.

"We will accomplish this within the time frame. Modi ji is the first prime minister who has ensured an easy access of the poor people to the banks," he added. PTI NAV ABN SMI ADS

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Kandhar: Parked at a military runway in Afghanistan near other aircraft used in the fight against the Taliban, the grey-green helicopter appears unremarkable at first blush.

A second look at the UH-60 Black Hawk reveals a vital distinction: the US Army's insignia has vanished, replaced by the triangular logo of the Afghan security forces.

The fully refurbished chopper arrived at Kandahar Airfield last month, the first of 159 the United States plans to give the Afghans to help turn the war in their favour.

"What you have here is a tried and true capability," US Air Force Colonel Armando Fiterre told reporters on a recent visit to the Kandahar air base in southern Afghanistan.

With the Afghanistan war turning 16 this month, the United States is looking to flip what officials have been calling a "stalemate" with the Taliban into a winning strategy that will force the insurgents to the negotiating table.

US President Donald Trump has ordered the deployment of more than 3,000 additional troops, on top of the 11,000 already there, to train and advise Afghan security forces.

And Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has overseen a loosening of restrictions on when the US military can attack insurgents.

But the key to any durable gain is the ability of the Afghan security forces to lead the fight, instead of relying on guidance from the US and NATO, and a big part of that is a US-funded, seven-year modernization of their air force.

Replacing Russian helicopters -

The plan to modernize the Afghan air force will provide vital firepower and mobility to the Afghans, Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews told AFP.

These are "significant offensive factors" enabling the Afghans to "break the stalemate with insurgents."

In the past, Aghan security forces have relied on the coalition for air support.

"While the coalition is still present, (the Afghans) can also rely on their own countrymen overhead," Andrews added.

Under the program, the Afghans will phase out their 45 or so Russian Mi-17 helicopters and replace these with Black Hawks, a US military workhorse first produced in the 1970s.

The US says parts for the Russian choppers are hard to source, and US politicians want American aircraft to be used.

The helicopter Fiterre showed off is a training vehicle, but the Afghan Black Hawks eventually will include 58 of the attack variants that can be fitted with rocket pods and machine guns.

Others will be used to ferry troops, cargo and aid.

This "becomes a sustainable capability to increase the Afghan government's forward presence in a lot of these isolated locations," Fiterre said.

Between now and 2024, the Afghan Air Force will more than double their fleet of aircraft.

Some of this buildup could be seen at Kandahar, with a couple of US-provided Super Tucano attack planes taking off for combat missions in the Taliban heartland only 30-minutes away.

Growing capabilities

Over the past year, the Afghan air force has increasingly taken on combat missions to provide air support to ground troops and conduct surveillance.

But fighting an insurgency where the Taliban operate from civilian areas comes at a high cost.

On October 1, an "erroneous" Afghan air strike killed 10 security forces in volatile Helmand.

The number of civilians killed and wounded was at a record high in the first nine months of 2017, a new UN report shows, made worse by the Afghan air force carrying out its own air strikes along with US forces.

The UN mission report documented 466 civilian casualties -- 205 deaths and 261 injured -- a significant increase in air strike casualties compared to the same period a year ago.

The report found 62 percent of these casualties stemmed from Afghan air strikes, and most of the casualties were women and children.

US Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie insisted the Afghans' performance "was only going to improve" as additional US trainers and advisors flow into Afghanistan under Trump's plan.

"It's not going to be easy because that's a tough place to operate aircraft... but I think we are on a positive trajectory," he said.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis hailed the Trump-era loosening of rules that make it easier for US air power to proactively target the Taliban, but insisted standards to protect civilians had not been diminished.

"We will never fight at any time, especially in these wars among innocent people, without doing everything humanly possible to protect the innocent that the enemy purposely jeopardizes," he told senators.

Afghan pilots who will fly a Black Hawk will undergo a six-week pilot training program, followed by another 10 weeks of mission training, meaning they will start conducting operations next year.
Madrid: Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont on Sunday called for calm less than 24 hours ahead of a deadline from Spain's central government for him to clarify whether he has declared independence for Catalonia or not.

Puigdemont made a symbolic declaration of independence on Tuesday night, only to suspend it seconds later and call for negotiations with Madrid on the region's future.

Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has given him until Monday to clarify his position - and then until Thursday to change his mind if he insists on a split - threatening to suspend Catalonia's autonomy if he chooses independence.

"The (Catalan) Government and I want to reiterate our commitment to peace, civility and serenity, and also to (...) democracy as inspiring the decisions we have to make," Puigdemont said during at a memorial event at Barcelona's Montjuic cemetery.

"In these difficult hours of hope in Catalonia, let's take a clear attitude against violence (...) in favour of civility, hope, serenity and respect."

Though Puigdemont did not indicate how he would reply to Madrid, public Catalan TV broadcaster TV-3 said he would not give a "yes" or "no" answer, but a more elaborate response.

The Spanish government has said it will take control of Catalonia if Puigdemont give an ambiguous reply.

"The answer must be without any ambiguity. He must say 'yes' or 'no'," Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido told Cope radio on Saturday.

Puigdemont, who is consulting local parties to prepare his answer, faces a dilemma.

If he says he did proclaim independence, the central government will step in. If he says he did not, the far-left Catalan party CUP would probably withdraw its support for his minority government.

The Catalan government says 90 percent of Catalans voted for a breakaway in an Oct. 1 referendum that central authorities in Madrid declared illegal and most opponents of independence boycotted, reducing turnout to around 43 percent.

Under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, the central government can suspend the political autonomy of a region if it breaks the law.

This article, which enables Rajoy to sack the Catalan government and call a regional election, has not been activated since the constitution was adopted in 1978 after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported on Sunday that if article 155 was invoked, the government would replace the Catalan government with a new set-up to manage the region autonomously, which could be run by politicians or technocrats. Within three months, elections would be held.
Copenhagen: The Helsinki airport says Flight 666 has arrived safely in HEL, the airport code for the Finnish capital, for the last time.

The Finnair flight took off from Copenhagen, Denmark, in the 13th hour of Friday the 13th, headed for Helsinki Vantaa airport.

Finavia, which operates Finland's 21 airports, says the flight landed eight minutes ahead of schedule at 3:47 p.m. local.

The flight started 11 years ago and has fallen on Friday the 13th 21 times with no reported ill effects.

Still, Finnair has decided to retire the flight number. As the carrier is switching around some flight numbers later this month, Flight AY666 will become AY954.
Washington: Hillary Clinton says President Donald Trump's threat to pull out of the Iran nuclear accord is "dangerous," and she suggests her former campaign opponent is undermining the validity of the United States' promises to other nations.

Trump had accused Iran of violating the landmark 2015 accord, blaming the Iranians for a litany of sinister behavior and hitting their main military wing with anti-terror penalties.

Trump, breaking his campaign pledge to rip up the agreement, did not pull the US out or re-impose nuclear sanctions, though he left that option on the table.

Clinton, in an interview recorded Wednesday and set to air tomorrow CNN, said Trump's insistence on decertifying the deal, even though evidence has pointed to Iranian compliance, "makes us look foolish and small and plays right into Iranian hands."

"That is bad not just on the merits for this particular situation, but it sends a message across the globe that America's word is not good," said Clinton, who spoke in advance of Trump's announcement two days later.

"We have different presidents, and this particular president is, I think, upending the kind of trust and credibility of the United States' position and negotiation that is imperative to maintain."

Clinton, who as secretary of state for President Barack Obama began negotiations on the deal, did say Iran is engaging in other dangerous behavior.

For now, Trump is tossing the issue to Congress and the other nations in the accord, telling lawmakers to toughen the law that governs US participation and calling on the other parties to fix a series of deficiencies.

Those include the scheduled expiration of key restrictions under "sunset provisions" that begin to kick in in 2025, as well as the omission of provisions on ballistic missile testing and terrorism.

The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee also denounced Trump's bellicose language toward North Korea, believing his verbal aggression has rattled American allies.

"We will now have an arms race -- a nuclear arms race in East Asia," Clinton predicted. "We will have the Japanese, who understandably are worried with missiles flying over them as the North Koreans have done, that they can't count on America."

She stressed that a diplomatic solution was preferred, suggested the inflammatory rhetoric played into Kim Jung Un's hands and bemoaned Trump's public undercutting of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he tweeted "Save your energy, Rex" after the nation's top diplomat had suggested negotiations.

"Diplomacy, preventing war, creating some deterrents is slow, hard-going, difficult work," said Clinton, who declined to answer when asked whether Tillerson should resign. "And you can't have impulsive people or ideological people who basically say, 'Well, we're done with you.'"

Clinton, who recently released a book that recounts her election defeat to Trump, has been an aggressive critic of the president. The White House did not immediately return a request to respond to her comments.
London: Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton cautioned Britain on Sunday over its push to secure a trade deal with US President Donald Trump after it leaves the European Union.

Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate who lost out to Trump in last November's election, also said Britain would face serious disruption if it left the EU without a negotiated deal with Brussels.

The British government has talked up the prospect of bilateral trade deals with the United States and others as one of the major benefits of leaving the EU following last year's surprise referendum vote to leave.

Asked about the prospects of a British-US deal, Clinton told the BBC: "You're making a trade deal with somebody who says he doesn't believe in trade, so I'm not quite sure how that's going to play out over the next few years."

British Prime Minister Theresa May visited Trump in January to talk trade. The countries share $200 billion of trade each year.

But May has since intervened in a dispute between US aerospace firm Boeing and Canadian planemaker Bombardier, lobbying in the interests of Bombardier to try to protect jobs at its factory in Northern Ireland.

Clinton also said Britain would be at a "very big disadvantage" if divorce negotiations with the EU failed, and went on to compare the factors behind the Brexit vote to her own election loss.

"Looking at the Brexit vote now it was a precursor to some extent to what happened to us in the United States... The amount of fabricated, false information that your voters were given by the 'Leave' campaign," she said.

She said her own presidential campaign was subject to similar treatment, citing the spread of false stories by online news outlets, and warned that Britain and other countries must be alert to the risks of such new media.

"The big lie is a very potent tool," she said.
Tehran: Iranians responded with anger and mockery on Saturday to the bellicose criticism of their government by US President Donald Trump who threatened to tear up the landmark nuclear deal.

Trump's use of the phrase "Arabian Gulf" rather than "Persian Gulf" particularly hit a nerve in a country with a fierce nationalistic streak.

"Everyone knew Trump's friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is too," wrote Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Twitter, referring to the US alliance with Iran's regional rival Saudi Arabia.

Everyone knew Trumps friendship was for sale to the highest bidder. We now know that his geography is too. 2/ Javad Zarif (@JZarif) October 13, 2017

No wonder supporters of Trumps inane Iran speech are those bastions of democracy in the Persian Gulf: KSA, UAE & Bahrain. 3/ Javad Zarif (@JZarif) October 13, 2017

Allegations, threats & profanity will never intimidate Iranians. Trump will eventually discover this; as every predecessor did. 4/ Javad Zarif (@JZarif) October 13, 2017

Despite pressure from the Arab Gulf monarchies, most international bodies still use "Persian Gulf" as the conventional name for the region's waterway, and many Iranians shared photos of US veterans' medals and graves referring to the "Persian Gulf conflict" of the 1990s.

In his White House speech on Friday, Trump reeled off a list of grievances committed by the "Iranian dictatorship, its sponsorship of terrorism, and its continuing aggression in the Middle East and all around the world."

He threatened to "terminate" the 2015 nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers unless Congress passed stringent new sanctions.

But as Iranians headed to their offices on Saturday -- the first day of the work week in Iran -- the reaction was often one of bemusement.

"Trump's statements are so ridiculous that it actually works in Iran's favour. Speaking about the 'Arabian Gulf' is taken very badly by people here," said Abbas, a 40-year-old banker who only gave his first name.

"The reaction of the Europeans shows that the United States is isolated, and only Saudi Arabia and Israel have supported Trump," he added.

The other signatories to the nuclear deal -- Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- have called for its preservation, saying that Iran is clearly sticking to its commitments.

Trump's efforts to reach out to ordinary Iranians, who he referred to as the "longest-suffering victims" of the Islamic regime, also appeared to have fallen on deaf ears, with many recalling the travel ban he slapped on them earlier this year.

His Instagram page was inundated by more than a million comments, mostly from jeering Iranians.

"I was so angry last night. This person hates Iran so much that even if we don't support the ideas of the regime, we find ourselves supporting them and the Revolutionary Guards," said Layla, 42, in her Tehran artisan shop.

"Trump stopped Iranians going to the US. How can he say he's on our side?" she added.

'Baseless accusations'

For all the bluster, Trump's strategy was not as tough as many had predicted.

It placed new sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guards, but did not designate them a foreign terrorist organisation as trailed in the run-up to the speech.

The hardline Kayhan newspaper spun this as a victory, saying Trump had not "dared" to do so after the Guards warned the US would have to move its regional bases out of reach of Iranian missiles.

President Hassan Rouhani had pushed back against the Revolutionary Guards' deep involvement in the economy after winning re-election earlier this year.

But Trump's threats have brought a new solidarity among Iran's often fractious institutions.

"We have dissatisfactions, for example there are economic problems," said Bahram Siavoshi, 36, as he walked to work at a private finance firm in Tehran.

"But if it comes to it, we will stand together to the end, and will defend even the Guards. Their efforts cannot be ignored. If it wasn't for them we would be like Syria or Yemen."

Rouhani took to the airwaves shortly after Trump's speech on Friday night, dismissing it as "nothing but the repetition of baseless accusations and swear words".

"He has not studied international law. Can a president annul a multilateral international treaty on his own?" Rouhani said.

Nonetheless, the deal's future hangs in the balance as the US Congress has 60 days to decide how to tighten sanctions, or possibly introduce new red lines that would trigger a US response.

"If the Congress goes ahead with new sanctions, then the deal is dead and Iran will restart its nuclear programme and move forward full-steam ahead in all fields," Mohammad Marandi, a professor at the University of Tehran, told AFP.

"Iran will probably invest even more than before in order to show the Americans that they can't get away with destroying the agreement."
London: Britain's finance minister Philip Hammond on Sunday faced mounting questions over his future weeks ahead of a budget announcement, finding himself at the centre of an increasingly fraught debate over Britain's departure from the European Union.

The EU last week declared a "disturbing deadlock" in talks with Prime Minister Theresa May's government on arrangements to leave the bloc, raising the chances of Britain quitting without a negotiated deal and increasing criticism of the government's handling of Brexit.

On Sunday an unnamed source from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) said May must warn Hammond he faces the sack unless he changes his approach to Brexit, the Sunday Telegraph reported. The DUP is a small Northern Irish political party which is keeping May's minority government in power.

"We are very concerned about Philip Hammond's behaviour," the senior parliamentary DUP source told the newspaper.

"It is evident to us that he is winding people up and causing unnecessary division within the Conservative Party at a crucial time in the Brexit negotiations."

A DUP spokesman later said the party did not recognise the "inaccurate" comments.

Hammond, 61, who is seen by many as May's most pro-EU minister, has become a focal point of criticism for Brexiteers, who say he is overly pessimistic about the impact of leaving the bloc and is damaging Britain's negotiating stance.

Last week Hammond warned Brexit was causing a "cloud of uncertainty" over the British economy that needed to be cleared as quick as possible. He has previously angered eurosceptics by calling for a lengthy transition out of the EU, during which there will be little change to rules on issues like immigration.

In a botched attempt on Friday to calm speculation over his future and play down the party's divisions Hammond described the EU as the "enemy" in negotiations. He later said he regretted his choice of words.

He had been expected to lose his job if May had won an increased majority at a June snap election, but the vote instead saw the Conservatives lose their majority and Hammond retain his position as May fought to maintain unity between pro-EU and pro-Brexit factions.

The June election also transformed the DUP, which only has 10 lawmakers in the 650-seat parliament, into an influential voice. May struck a deal with the party and is reliant on their support to pass legislation.
People practice stand-up paddleboard yoga also called SUP yoga, on the Adriatic coast in Verudela, Croatia. (Image: Reuters)
By PTI: By Simran Arora

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) Blaming power producers for low coal stocks at plants, Coal Secretary Susheel Kumar has asserted that there is no shortage of coal and plants should adhere to the Central Electricity Authoritys guidelines for stocking of the dry fuel.

"The sentiment that is being created by some people is just to meet their own ends ... so as to get more and more coal. This is not right. This sentiment should not be created. There is no shortage of coal," Kumar told PTI in an interview.

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Asserting that there was no shortage of coal, the coal secretary said that pit head stock of Coal India as on October 10 was at 30.3 million tonnes (MT).

"The root cause of all this problem is that many power plants have not followed the CEA (Central Electricity Authority) guidelines of stocking coal for 22 days. This is not the Ministry of Coal instruction. This is the Ministry of Powers instructions," Kumar explained.

The secretary said that if power plants do not stock dry fuel as per the guidelines of the CEA, then during monsoons there would be disruptions and they should face it.

"Now some of the Chief Secretaries and some of the Chief Ministers are also raising this issue. I have written to all of them saying when we mentioned in the month of June that you stock as per the CEA guidelines (as) there is a likelihood of disruption in monsoon and there was also looming threat of employees (Coal India) strike call....they didnt do it," Kumar said.

He said that people have to maintain discipline and adhere to the guidelines.

"See there is something called SOP (standard operating procedure)...So you will have to see your SOP. You have not followed your SOP and now why are you shouting," he said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had a few days back asked the Centre to ensure adequate supply of coal and early allocation of a coal block situated in Odisha to meet the severe fuel shortage being faced by power units in his state.

A fortnight back, Rajasthan Urja Vikas Nigam had said that power generation at thermal power stations has reduced by 2,700 MW due to shortage of coal, forcing it to resort to load shedding in the state.

The pit head stock as on March 31, 2017 was 69 million tonnes. PTI SID MR ABM

--- ENDS ---
A BULAWAYO-BASED company, Battlefront Investments which is constructing a $150 000 specialised state-of-the-art donkey abattoir in the city has so far purchased 170 donkeys which are now awaiting slaughter once the facility is completed.



Sunday News visited the feedlot in Manningdale where the company is keeping the donkeys. The caretaker at the feedlot, Mr Witness Ngulube, said more donkeys were being bought although they will scale down because the farm could not hold many.



On Thursday we received about 30 donkeys and now we have around 170 in total.

Some of them are in a very bad condition but they will pick up as time goes on because we had some donkeys that we thought would die when we bought them but now they are very healthy and strong, said Mr Ngulube.



He said the feedlot can only accommodate about 200 donkeys and they will scale down purchases until the abattoir is functional.



This area can only accommodate about 200 donkeys, I doubt that we can go beyond 300. I have already advised them to stop buying more because we will soon run out of space to keep them, he said.



The director of the company, Mr Gareth Lumsden, had said the abattoir will be completed by the end of the month. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Deputy Minister responsible for livestock, Cde Paddy Zhanda visited the abattoir last week and said the Government wanted assurance that the donkey meat will not find its way into the local market as it was taboo to eat donkey meat in Zimbabwe.





Mr Lumsden said the company expected to export the donkey meat as well as its offals and hides to Asia where there is a huge market for it.





The donkey abattoir will have a capacity to dress more than 70 animals daily.

However, some animal conservations have criticised the planned slaughter of donkeys for commercial purposes.





They argued that Zimbabwes donkey population estimated at 150 000 was too small to support such a project. Further there are fears that donkey meat will find its way into butcheries.





Meanwhile, the Government has said it will not allow the wanton slaughter of donkeys for commercial purposes.





Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made said the value of donkeys outweighed the love for meat or hides.





Conservationists are lobbying against opening of the abattoir; and in July Botswana became the sixth African country to impose restrictions on donkey exports following Niger, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Gambia.





Dr Made said, Donkeys are a major source of draught power in the agriculture sector and decapitating them will be a major blow for the smallholder farmer and agriculture sector. Zimbabwe wont allow draught power to be undermined. If the proposed slaughterhouse is already buying donkeys, it will be a major blow to the rural population which survives on donkeys for transport and draught power; we cant allow that. Government will not stand by to allow that to happen as donkeys economic, social and political importance far outweigh the interest of meat and skins. sunday news
Media groups and opposition parties are worried by the creation of the Cyber Security, Threat Detection and Mitigation ministry  which has raised fears that the government will clamp down on freedom of expression and social media, as Zimbabwe hurtles towards next years watershed elections.



This comes as President Robert Mugabe has asked former Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, who heads the new ministry, to learn the success stories of rogue nations such as North Korea in dealing with social media and so-called cyber threats.



It is believed that the creation of Chinamasas ministry will pave the way for the enactment of the Computer Crime and Cyber Crime law  which is currently at bill stage.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirais MDC has led the chorus in the condemnation of the new ministry, saying this has been created to muzzle free expression in time for the 2018 polls.



Mugabe loathes any form of public protest against his corrupt and incompetent regime. He will do whatever it takes to control and muzzle social media in order to suppress public discontent against his regime.



However, the good news is that this regime has got absolutely no capacity to suppress the use of social media.



Social media is the new normal in todays world, and thus Chinamasa will be just a lame duck minister in that portfolio. He will not be effective at all.



The Cabinet reshuffle was primarily targeted at ensuring that Zanu PF wins the 2018 elections by hook or crook, besides  of course  pruning (Vice President) Emmerson Mnangagwas influence within the State machinery, MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu told the Daily News on Sunday yesterday.



Media Institute of Southern Africa (Misa) Zimbabwe chairperson Golden Maunganidze also expressed the media industrys worries over the new ministry and the role it was going to play.



Misa Zimbabwe takes note that these unfortunate threats have resulted in self-censorship by the citizenry when engaging on topical issues affecting the country.



This censorship, is not only on individuals using social media, but also the media who have on occasion been chastised for incorporating developments and citizen opinion on pertinent socio-economic and political issues as expressed online in their reportage.



We therefore impress upon the government that citizens have the right to freely express themselves online and offline.



At the same time, the media has the right to truthfully report and inform the nation on events as they unfold, without fear and undue hindrances as constitutionally guaranteed, Maunganidze said.







On its part, the Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (Zinef) said Mugabes move was calculated to further impinge on media freedom in the country.





It is scary that there appears to be three full ministers to deal with the mainstream media, as well as alternative media and social media.





Although there are assertions and jokes that Chinamasa has been demoted, this is far from it. We take this appointment very seriously.





It is a calculated move to further impinge on media freedom, freedom of expression and

access to information.





It is again an attempt to trash the Constitution of Zimbabwe which guarantees media freedom, freedom of expression and access to information.





Chinamasa . . . will spend sleepless nights online to show all and sundry that he is not a lame duck minister. The media should be very, very afraid, Zinef national co-ordinator Njabulo Ncube said.





Spokesperson for the Welshman Ncube-led MDC, Kurauone Chihwayi, said Mugabe was keen to silence any form of dissent and the creation of the new ministry was definitely not an afterthought.





We are certain that the move is simply meant to clamp down on peoples freedom of expression in social media circles, in the realisation that Zimbabweans have found an alternative platform where they can freely express their views and mobilise against Mugabes misrule, he said.





During the swearing-in of new ministers at State House last week, Mugabe said he had created the ministry to deal with abuse and unlawful conduct in cyberspace. Daily News
Government has introduced an electronic database to produce paper bills detailing annual farm rental payments as well as document land use, boundaries and ownership of farms across the country.



The database is expected to be completed before the end of the year and will enable farmers to keep track of payments or arrears in farm rentals.



A2 farmers pay US$5 per hectare annually while A1 land holders are charged a flat fee of US$15 per year, with US$5 going to the rural council where the farm is located and US$10 to Government for land administration. A1 farms measure between six and 15 hectares while A2 farms vary between 15 hectares to 2 500 hectares. Government has been concerned over farmers failure to pay the annual rentals. As of April this year, Government had distributed 149 743 A1 farms and 19 472 A2 farms countrywide.





Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, Ambassador Grace Mutandiro said the ministry had already started verifying farmers details with the help of the Registrar-Generals Department to enforce payment.





We are tightening mechanisms to ensure farmers pay their rentals. We have introduced an electronic database where we will capture and verify farmers details, she said.

This database will then give us the muscle to enforce rental payments.





We are working with the Registrar- Generals Office to verify the details that we were given by farmers.





After verifying the farmers details, we will then bill the farmers electronically as well as give them invoices of amounts owed.

Recently, the minister said those who fail to pay their farm rentals risk having their farms repossessed.





Government can also take legal action against those who owe it. But at this stage, we want to use persuasive methods.





Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union president Mr Wonder Chabikwa said Government should consider charging land rentals according to the region the farmers operate.

The idea of rental paying is noble. However, Government should consider that land is in different regions across the country, he said.





One cannot compare Region Two where there is intensive crop agriculture and Region Five where there is mostly cattle ranching.





On a single hectare of land, a farmer in Region Two can get 3000kg of tobacco which can be sold for thousands of dollars. However,a farmer in Region Five cannot get the thousands of dollars from a single hectare. sunday mail
By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 15 (PTI) Chinese handset maker Comio is looking to sell 1.5 million smartphones and garner revenues of Rs 1,000 crore in the country by March 2018, a top company official said.

"This year we are targeting a sales of close to 1.5 million devices by March 2018. In value terms, it would be close to Rs 1,000 crore," Comio India CEO and Director Sanjay Kumar Kalirona told PTI.

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Chinese original device maker Topwise Communication, which retails phones under the Comio brand and entered India in mid-August, is targeting the youth in non-metro areas and smaller cities, with a focus on the mid-segment smartphone category.

The company is positioning its devices in the Rs 6,000- 12,000 range that constitutes about 40 per cent of the market and is growing at a robust pace.

"Our strength is mid-segment smartphone market. In next three years, we are looking at having close to 12 per cent market share in the mid-segment category. We aim to sell approximately 7-8 million devices in three years," he said.

It will initially focus on the northern and western parts of the country and the devices would be available only through offline retail stores.

"In the next 3-4 months we will be looking at only north and west. Starting April, we will launch our products in other parts of the country.

"We are focusing on offline market because we see a gap in the market in the segment in which we are operating. Close to 65-70 per cent of the market is offline and we want to have our full focus there," he said.

The handset-maker plans to strengthen its brand presence with a network of 30,000 retailers, 800 distributors and over 800 after-sales touch points catering to 500-550 towns.

The company is looking at a total investment of Rs 500 crore in two years, with a marketing investment of Rs 250 crore.

Comio recently inked pacts for local assembly of smartphones with V-Sun and Hipad Technology and will invest Rs 150 crore over the next two years.

The two facilities combined will produce around one million devices over the next six months. PTI DS RSY ABM

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The school is said to have moved the candidates to Bulawayo Polytechnic College where they sat for their paper 12 hours after other candidates had written the same examination.

Instead of starting the examination at 8AM, the pupils are said to have started the examination at 9PM finishing three hours later.



Parents who spoke to the Sunday News said they were left in the dark in regards to the whereabouts of their children when the fracas occurred.



Ms Farenca Maseko from Luveve suburb said she was shaken when her child who had left home at about 6AM was nowhere to be found by night.



My child commutes to school so it was worrying that she did not come home at the expected time. I couldnt sleep without knowing her whereabouts. I even called her granny who was also shocked as she didnt know where she was. She left yesterday at about 6AM (Monday) and arrived today (Tuesday) at 2AM.



What worries us even more is that there was no formal communication from the school on the problem, said Mrs Maseko.

She said the children were delivered door to door by the teachers.



Thats when we were told that there was an electrical fault at the school that disrupted their examination. They were writing a computers practical examination. So our children could not be released as the school had to look for optional centres for them to complete the examination, she said.



Mrs Maseko said the pupils were shifted to Bulawayo Polytechnic College where they started to write their examination at 9PM.



Another parent Mr Njabulo Ndlovu from Makokoba suburb said considering the time taken by the children to write the examination, it would be a miracle if they pass.



Some of our children left home without eating and they spent the whole day at school, this was cruel. I doubt they even passed the examination they were writing. What they did was just fulfilling a duty. But these are examinations that determine their future, said Mr Ndlovu.

Bulawayo acting provincial education director Mrs Olicah Kaira said the incident has not been communicated to her office.



But she acknowledged that Sobukhazi High School was experiencing power problems following an electric fault from the transformer supplying the school with electricity.



I dont have the communication of what transpired on what you are referring to. The head was not at school when I enquired.



But the district schools inspector confirmed that they have a challenge in power supplies, something burst at the school which affected them.



So today they were writing a metalwork examination and had to write it at Bulawayo Polytechnic College, she said. Sunday News FORM Four pupils at Sobukhazi High School in Bulawayos Mzilikazi suburb last Monday had to write their Zimbabwe School Examination (Zimsec) computers practical examination at night following an electrical fault at the school.The school is said to have moved the candidates to Bulawayo Polytechnic College where they sat for their paper 12 hours after other candidates had written the same examination.Instead of starting the examination at 8AM, the pupils are said to have started the examination at 9PM finishing three hours later.Parents who spoke to the Sunday News said they were left in the dark in regards to the whereabouts of their children when the fracas occurred.Ms Farenca Maseko from Luveve suburb said she was shaken when her child who had left home at about 6AM was nowhere to be found by night.My child commutes to school so it was worrying that she did not come home at the expected time. I couldnt sleep without knowing her whereabouts. I even called her granny who was also shocked as she didnt know where she was. She left yesterday at about 6AM (Monday) and arrived today (Tuesday) at 2AM.What worries us even more is that there was no formal communication from the school on the problem, said Mrs Maseko.She said the children were delivered door to door by the teachers.Thats when we were told that there was an electrical fault at the school that disrupted their examination. They were writing a computers practical examination. So our children could not be released as the school had to look for optional centres for them to complete the examination, she said.Mrs Maseko said the pupils were shifted to Bulawayo Polytechnic College where they started to write their examination at 9PM.Another parent Mr Njabulo Ndlovu from Makokoba suburb said considering the time taken by the children to write the examination, it would be a miracle if they pass.Some of our children left home without eating and they spent the whole day at school, this was cruel. I doubt they even passed the examination they were writing. What they did was just fulfilling a duty. But these are examinations that determine their future, said Mr Ndlovu.Bulawayo acting provincial education director Mrs Olicah Kaira said the incident has not been communicated to her office.But she acknowledged that Sobukhazi High School was experiencing power problems following an electric fault from the transformer supplying the school with electricity.I dont have the communication of what transpired on what you are referring to. The head was not at school when I enquired.But the district schools inspector confirmed that they have a challenge in power supplies, something burst at the school which affected them.So today they were writing a metalwork examination and had to write it at Bulawayo Polytechnic College, she said. Sunday News
GOVERNMENT will not allow the wanton slaughter of donkeys for commercial purposes, a Cabinet minister has said. Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Dr Joseph Made said the value of donkeys outweighed the love for meat or hides.



His statements follow the construction of a US$150 000 state-of-the-art donkey abattoir in Bulawayo.



Conservationists are lobbying against opening of the abbatoir; and in July Botswana became the sixth African country to impose restrictions on donkey exports following Niger, Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and The Gambia.





Dr Made said: Donkeys are a major source of draught power in the agriculture sector and decapitating them will be a major blow for the smallholder farmer and agriculture sector.

Zimbabwe wont allow draught power to be undermined. If the proposed slaughterhouse is already buying donkeys, it will be a major blow the rural population which survives on donkeys for transport and draught power; we cant allow that.





Government will not stand by to allow that to happen as donkeys economic, social and political importance far outweigh the interest of meat and skins.





Dr Made said slaughtering 2 100 donkeys monthly, as the abattoir has the capacity to, will have a negative impact on an estimated donkey population of 300 000. sunday mail
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Back in 1995, when they spent $800,000 on a work by impressionist painter Camille Pissarro in New York, Bruce Toll claims he had no idea the canvas had been looted by the Vichy regime during World War II. "I just know that I bought the painting from Christie's and that it had been sold by Sotheby's 30 years earlier," the New York art collector told the AP after a court hearing in Paris on Tuesday. "If it had been stolen during the war, it would not have been sold by Sotheby's, then Christie's. At least I would assume that. There was no way I should know that." La Cueillette des Bois was painted by Pissarro in 1887. French authorities confiscated the painting earlier this year, and it will remain in their custody until the case pitting the Tolls against the family of a Jewish collector is resolved.

French authorities seized the painting at the Marmottan museum after Simon Bauer's relatives found out it was on display in Paris as part of a Pissarro exhibition, on loan from the Tolls, and filed a lawsuit to have the work returned. A verdict will be issued next month, but the Tolls' lawyer said he will appeal if his client does not win. Bauer's collection of more than 90 paintings was confiscated in 1943 by the Vichy regime, which collaborated with the Nazis, and sold. After Simon Bauer's death in 1947, grandson Jean-Jacques began the search for the stolen art. He has recovered only a few pieces. A lawyer for the relatives says the painting is now worth about $1.75 million, the price paid by the Tolls for its insurance. He told the AP it was first bought by Vincent van Gogh's brother Theo, who purchased it from Pissarro.

(Read more painting stories.)
The question of whether the secretary of state called the president of the United States a "moron" remains open, with Rex Tillerson once again declining to put the matter to rest. On CNN's State of the Union Sunday, host Jake Tapper asked Tillerson about reports from last week that he had called Donald Trump a moron during a private conversation following a Pentagon meeting in July, a report Tillerson declined to deny during a press conference last week. Once again, Politico reports, Tillerson dodged the accusation, calling the discussion part of Washington's "destructive games." "I call the president 'Mr. President,'" Tillerson said. "At the end of the day, he makes decisions. I go out and try to implement those decisions."

Tillerson did, however, refute a recent claim made by Republican Senator Bob Corker that the secretary of state was being "publicly castrate[d]" by Trump on the issue of North Korea. Adding fuel to the fire of Corker's already weeklong war of words with the president, Corker told the Washington Post on Friday that he was worried that Trump's binary rhetoric on North KoreaTrump's way or warwas neutering Tillerson. "You cannot publicly castrate your own secretary of state without giving yourself that binary choice," Corker said Friday. But Tillerson assured Tapper no such castration had occurred. "I checked," he said. "I'm fully intact." (Read more Rex Tillerson stories.)
Eighth grade English teachers in Biloxi, Mississippi, will have to find a new book to teach this semester after the Biloxi School District abruptly pulled To Kill a Mockingbird from its curriculum last week. On Wednesday or Thursday, district administrators yanked the classic 1960 novel by Harper Lee after receiving complaints about the book's wording, in particular its use of the "n" word, the Sun Herald reports. There were complaints about it," Kenny Holloway, vice president of the Biloxi School Board, said. "There is some language in the book that makes people uncomfortable, and we can teach the same lesson with other books." A member of the school board said that the decision to drop the book from the curriculum came from the district's administrators and not the board.

To Kill a Mockingbird, which is part of the state's Common Core standards, was being used to teach the themes of the district's second-term languages arts classes, the golden rule and taking a stand. Superintendent Arthur McMillan released a statement Thursday saying, "There are many resources and materials that are available to teach state academic standards to our students. These resources may change periodically." To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the most banned books in America, PBS reports, having been challenged or banned more than 20 times since its publication. Just last December, the Accomack County School District in Virginia pulled the book from its curriculum and considered banning it outright following a complaint by a parent, the Los Angeles Times reports. (Read more To Kill A Mockingbird stories.)
A former South Texas juvenile justice department employee has been arrested for felony theft after authorities say he acknowledged stealing $1.2 million worth of fajitas over nine years, the AP reports. Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz tells the Brownsville Herald that Gilberto Escaramilla was fired in August and arrested after authorities obtained a search warrant and found packages of the Tex-Mex food in his refrigerator.

Investigators subsequently checked vendor invoices and determined he would intercept county-funded food deliveries and deliver them to his own customers.The scheme imploded when he missed work one day in August for a medical appointment and a delivery driver showed up with 800 pounds of fajitas, but officials said the juvenile department didn't serve fajitas. Escaramilla was arrested last week on the more serious felony theft charge.

(Read more Texas stories.)
In a sign that he is willing to fight for transgender people in certain areas, Attorney General Jeff Sessions has tasked the Justice Department with sending an experienced federal hate crimes lawyer to Iowa to assist in prosecuting a man charged with murdering a transgender 16-year-old, sources tell the New York Times. Kedarie Johnson, a high school junior, was shot to death in March of last year; two men, Jaron Narelle Purham and Jorge Luis Sanders-Galvez, have been charged with first-degree murder in the case, the Des Moines Register reported in March. Christopher J. Perras of the Justice Department civil rights divisions criminal section will serve as a county prosecutor in the trial for Sanders-Galvez, the Register reports. It's a rare move that, per the Times, sends a clear message on Sessions' part.

The attorney general has rolled back legal protections for transgender people as a group and has spoken out against same-sex marriage in the past, but he he has also brought several hate crime cases and has spoken out forcefully against those who commit them. "No person should have to fear being violently attacked because of who they are, what they believe, or how they worship," he said in June. As for his assignment of Perras to the Johnson murder case, "This is just one example of the attorney generals commitment to enforcing the laws enacted by Congress and to protecting the civil rights of all individuals," a Justice Department spokesperson says. Critics and supporters alike say Sessions is more likely to tackle civil rights matters individually, rather than systemically. State hate crime charges were not filed against Sanders-Galvez, per the Hill, but the Des Moines county attorney says the federal government is considering filing federal hate crimes charges in the case. (Read more Jeff Sessions stories.)
Media reports about jobs being given to the 15 men accused of lynching Mohammad Akhlaq in Dadri in 2015 are 'false and baseless', a news agency quoted the NTPC as saying.

The lynching of Mohammad Akhlaq had led to massive protests across the country (File photo)

By India Today Web Desk: The men accused of lynching Mohammad Akhlaq in Uttar Pradesh's Dadri in September 2015 have not been given jobs with the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC), the state-run power company said in a statement.

The NTPC was responding to recent media reports that 15 men who allegedly lynched Akhlaq over rumours of beef consumption had landed contractual jobs at the power company with the help of a Bharatiya Janata Party MLA.

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News agency PTI reported that the NTPC's Dadri plant released a statement refuting the reports.

"NTPC Dadri management categorically denies the content of various media reports regarding contractual employment in NTPC Dadri to the accused of Akhlaq lynching case of Bisahda village, as such reports are false and baseless," the statement reportedly read.

IndiaToday.in was not independently able to verify the veracity of the content of the NTPC's statement.

Incidentally, one of the media reports that spoke about the Dadri lynching accused getting jobs at the NTPC carried a statement from a spokesperson of the power facility.

However, the unnamed spokesperson's statement did not expressly confirm that the 15 men accused of lynching Mohammad Akhlaq had been given jobs. The spokesperson's statement merely said that the NTPC has agreed to give jobs to "unemployed youths of Bishahra", the village where Akhlaq was lynched.

A total of 18 people, including three minors, are accused of the deadly assault on Mohammad Akhlaq.

Akhlaq, along with his son, was attacked was sticks and stones on September 28, 2015 in Dadri's Bishahra over rumours that he had stolen and slaughtered a calf. Akhlaq's son survived the attack.

One of the adult accused died in judicial custody. The rest are currently out on bail.

--- ENDS ---
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The victim has been identified as Uttarakhand native Vipin Joshi.

By Press Trust of India: In a gruesome incident, a 26-year-old man was hacked to death and his dismembered body stuffed inside a fridge in south Delhi's Saidulajab area, police said today.

The victim has been identified as Uttarakhand native Vipin Joshi, they said.

Joshi was missing since two days, police said, adding his family members had, in search of him, reached his friend Badal Mandal's house here last evening.

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Though the house was locked, they were alarmed by a nauseating stench coming from the building, after which they called the police.

The police broke into the house and found the victim's body parts inside the fridge.

A case has been registered and efforts are on to trace Mandal, police added.

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi :

The goal of increasing the annual trade between the US and India to USD 500 billion is not a "distant dream" given the opportunities that New Delhi offers to American companies, particularly in aviation and defence sectors, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said.

Jaitley said the relationship between India and the US had evolved into a very strong partnership in the last fewyears and goals like 'Mission-500' outline and re-emphasise the objective of the partnership.

"If one sees the opportunities that the defence and aviation sector in itself offers, increasing annual bilateraltrade to USD 500 billion is not a distant dream," he told a Washington audience yesterday when asked if the USD 500billion bilateral trade target was achievable.

According to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) figures, India was US' ninth largest trading partnerwith the total two-way trade of USD 67.7 billion last year.

It is loaded in favour of India, which runs a surplus of USD24 billion. Jaitley said a lot of US companies had made investments in India and now a lot of Indian companies feel comfortable inmaking investments in America.

"It is an exercise which requires to be taken forward,"he said at an event organised by the Federation of IndianChambers of Commerce and Industries held at the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund.

Jaitley said one of the suggestions which was mooted in the meeting with US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross was thatthe two countries must get back governmental participation in private sector conferences.

For the first a different concept is taking place in November when a large number of American businesses aretravelling to India for the Global Entrepreneurship (GES), he said, adding that the exercise will probably be repeated inthe US next year.

"This would provide a great opportunity for Indian businesses here," Jaitley said. He said over the next decade or so India's aviation sector is all set for a huge expansion. "US companies are a natural investor in that particular sector," he said.

"We have taken a huge initiative in the defence sector and we want these companies in partnership with Indian companies to set up manufacturing facilities in India itself,"Jaitley said. Responding to a question on land and labour reforms, Jaitley said they were not an immediate problem to the reformprocess started by the government in these two sectors.

Meeting with the US Secy of Treasury Steven Mnuchin at IMF, Oct 12, 2017 pic.twitter.com/EJu5GPPKhs a Arun Jaitley (@arunjaitley) October 13, 2017

"We have allowed the State Governments to make whatever necessary changes they want to make in land acquisition laws," he said. Noting that the labour problem is overstated in India, Jaitley said the age of workers strike is long over in India.

There has not been any hurdle of substantial nature in several areas, for instance the reforms in the banking and aviation sectors, he said, adding that in the last three and a half years, the government has been broadly sticking to thefiscal deficit targets.

"We have realised the merit of trying to stick to that," he said. The government was on target on direct tax, Jaitley said,asserting that on GST, it was too early to discover a pattern because of a transition phase. "Our priority is to include fiscal prudence at a very high level," he said.

Jaitley said the government was trying to address the problem of non-performing asset on a very high priority. This has two aspects. One is to recover what is recoverable. For this the government has created new laws, amended laws and have created a new machinery, which willprobably take care of it, he said.

Jaitley said there was a need to strengthen public-sector banks so that their ability to lend in India is maintained. This issue is at a high priority area for the government,he noted.

"I can tell you that when you undertake structural reform of this kind, there could obviously be short term impact, onequarter, for two quarters or so.

"But these transient impacts should not be construed as any form of a long-term challenge because I do see that the med-term and long-term impact of all these changes is certainly going to be very positive," Jaitley said while responding to a question on stimulus.

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New Delhi:

In a ghastly incident, dismembered body of 26-year-old Vipin Joshi, a native of Uttarakhand, was found stuffed inside a fridge in south Delhi's Saidulajab area, police said on Saturday.

The police stated that family members of Joshi, who was missing since two days, reached his friend Badal Mandal's house on Thursday night in search of him.

Though the house was locked, they were alarmed by a foul stench coming from the building, after which they informed the police about the same.

The police broke into the house where they found the victim's body parts inside the fridge.

A case has been registered and efforts are being made to trace Mandal, police added.

(With inputs from PTI)
New Delhi:

A police constable from Ahmednagar district has been suspended after he allegedly shared a defamatory post on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a WhatsApp group, police said on Sunday.

According to the reports, Ramesh Shinde was serving as bodyguard to former revenue minister and Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat.

Police also stated that complaints against Shinde have been registered in the past too for showing political inclination and favouring political persons.

Read more: Trump tweet on Pakistan: Rahul Gandhi asks Modi to 'hug US president'

"The action was taken against Shinde yesterday after a detailed inquiry by the district police's cyber cell," Ranjankumar Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Ahmednagar, told PTI.
Los Angeles:

In a move virtually unprecedented, disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was revoked on Sunday by its board.

The decision was reached in an emergency session by the academy, the world's top movie organization and home to the Oscars. The expulsion was effective immediately.

It comes after recent reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker about sexual harassment and rape allegations against Weinstein going back decades. He has denied the accusations against him.

In issuing its decision, the academy stated "We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over."

"What's at issue here", the statement added, "is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society."

Read more: Kate Hudson reveals she panicked after shaving her head

The statement said the decision was reached by "well in excess of the required two-thirds majority" of the 54-member academy board.

Only one person is thought to have been previously expelled from the academy: Carmine Caridi, a character actor who had his membership revoked in 2004 for lending DVD screeners of films in contention for Oscars that ended up online.

The academy's swift and severe ruling against Weinstein may raise questions about other academy members who remain in good standing.

These include Roman Polanski, an Oscar-winner who in the 1970s pleaded guilty to drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl, and entertainer Bill Cosby, who has faced dozens of allegations of sexual assault.

Weinstein, himself an Oscar winner as a producer of the 1998 Best Picture "Shakespeare in Love", was ousted a week ago from The Weinstein Co., the movie and TV production company he co-founded with his brother Bob and which now is struggling to survive the scandal.

In an interview published by The Hollywood Reporter, Bob Weinstein called for his "sick and depraved' brother to be kicked out of the academy.

Speaking more broadly, Bob Weinstein added, "I want him to get the justice that he deserves."

On Wednesday, Harvey Weinstein' membership in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts was revoked.

For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

The bypoll results of Gurdaspur Lok Sabha and Vengara Assembly seats brought good news for Congress and its allies on Sunday.

Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar made a comeback by winning the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll by a huge margin after losing to BJP in 2014 elections.

While, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) a key partner of Congress-led UDF Opposition in Kerala retained the Vengara Assembly seat by defeating its CPI-M candidate in the bypoll.

In Gurdaspur bypoll, Jakhar, a close confidant of Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, trumped his BJP rival Swaran Salaria by a margin 1.93 lakh votes.

Polling for Lok Sabha seat was necessitated after the BJPs sitting MP Vinod Khanna died of cancer at a hospital in Mumbai on April 27 this year. The BJP leader had represented Gurdaspur constituency in Lok Sabha earlier between 1998-2009 and 20142017.

While in Kerala, IUML candidate K N A Khader won the Vengara seat defeating CPI-M's P P Basheer by 23,310 votes.

The constituency had recorded a 72.12 percentage voter turnout during the by-election held on October 11.

The by-election was necessitated for the seat after sitting MLA P K Kunhalikutty quit following his election to parliament from Malappuram Lok Sabha segment that fell vacant after the death of IUML leader and former union minister E Ahmed in February last.

Also read| Gurdaspur by-poll win a very good sign emerging on national scene' for Congress: Punjab CM



Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu after the result announcement said the win was a Diwali gift for Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.

Also read: Punjab by-election: Congress trounces BJP to take back Gurdaspur



"We have sent a beautiful Diwali gift packed with red ribbon to our would-be president Rahul Gandhi because it sets the tone, he said.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Lucknow:

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the countrys borders are completely safe and China has also started to understand that India is no more weak.

Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi India has become a powerful country and its prestige at the international level has also grown.

Addressing a gathering at a programme organised by Bhartiya Lodhi Mahasabha here, he referred to the recent Dokalam stand-off and said, Indias borders are completely safe and China has started to understand that India is no more weak. Its strength has grown.

The Union minister said that the dispute related to China has been resolved.

Since the formation of the government at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a powerful country in the world. Indias prestige at the international level has grown, he said.

Singh also hit out at Pakistan for sending terrorists to India.

It (Pakistan) tries to break India, but our security personnel every day kill five to ten terrorists, he added.

ALSO READ: Rajnath Singh blames Jawaharlal Nehru for Kashmir issue, says no power can stop its resolution

Further, he said participating in programmes organised by caste groups does not amount to indulging in vote-bank politics, and added: We do not do politics only for votes. We do politics to build the society and the country.

Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, said while assuming office, PM Modi had made it clear that his government will be dedicated to the poor people. He referred to schemes such as Jandhan Yojana and Ujjwala Yojana launched by the Centre to stress his point.

Allegations of corruption have been levelled on the Congress government and its ministers, but we can confidently say that in the last three-and-half years, no allegation of corruption has been levelled against us, he said.

He also lauded the BJP government for making cleanliness a mass movement and said the prime minister also aims at ending poverty in the country by 2022.

We will accomplish this within the time frame. Modi ji is the first prime minister who has ensured an easy access of the poor people to the banks, he added.

ALSO READ: Rajnath Singh terms people not appreciating economy 'anti-India'

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News:

An activist of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was brutally attacked by miscreants in Keralas Kannur a few hours after Vengara assembly bypoll results were declared on Sunday.

The Kerala BJP unit has claimed that the attack was carried out by Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI-M suuporters, at Muzhuppilangad near Thalassery in the politically volatile Kannur district of Kerala.

Police has identified the victim as 28-year-old Nidesh.

His condition is critical. The injured has been shifted to Kozhikode Medical College hospital. The RSS cadre has suffered injuries on his hands and legs, police said.

Kannur is the home district of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The district has a history of political violence between the CPI-M and BJP party workers.

According to police records 44 BJP party-workers have been killed since 2000 in the district. While, CPI-M has lost 45 cadres in the same period due to the political killings.

BJP earlier this month had taken out a rally Jan Raksha Yatra claiming to create awareness among people of Kerala against 'red terror'.

On the first day of Jan Rakhsha Yatra BJP President Amit Shah had said that If they dont come forward, the ruling party CPI (M) would continue political murders in Kerala.

Amit Shad then had said 13 workers have been brutally murdered in a short span of time.

We chose Kannur as most of the political murders took here, Shad had said.
New Delhi :

The Indian Union MuslimLeague (IUML), a key partner in the Congress-led UDFOpposition in Kerala, today retained the Vengara Assembly seatby defeating its nearest rival CPI-M candidate in the by-poll.

IUML candidate K N A Khader won the seat with a margin of23,310 votes over CPI-M nominee P P Basheer, a districtofficial said after the result was announced. BJP candidate K Jayachandran Master secured?5,728 votesand SDPI'S K C Naseer got 8,648?votes.

The UDF and LDF garnered 65,227 and 41,917 votesrespectively. The constituency had recorded a 72.12 percentage voterturnout during the by-election held on October 11.

However, the UDF's victory margin was less than itreceived in the 2016 assembly polls, in the segment consideredto be a stronghold of IUML. IUML leader P K Kunalikutty had won the seat with a hugemargin of 38,057?votes beating CPI-M's Basheer in 2016.

The BJP had polled 7,211 votes in the segment. Last year, UDF got 72,181 and LDF 34,121 votes. Reacting to the poll verdict, Leader of Opposition in theKerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala said even after LDF"misused" official machinery, the UDF candidate won theby-election. He also said even after LDF played the solar scam cardthey could not manage.

CPI(M) State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said theincreased vote share of LDF clearly showed that theprogramme's of the government led by Pinarayi Vijayan has thesupport of people. The victory of UDF is only "technical" and they were notable to maintain the lead they secured last year, he said.

The by-election was necessitated after sitting MLA P KKunhalikutty quit following his election to parliament fromMalappuram Lok Sabha segment that fell vacant after the deathof IUML leader and former union minister E Ahmed in Februarylast.

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New Delhi:

Odisha Police has arrested four rebels of banned outlawed outfit CPI-Maoist from Malkangiri district on Sunday.

Malkangiri Superintendent of police Jagmohan Meena said, The four were arrested from forested area near Rajalkonda and Elkanur village under Kalimela police station area.

The four were involved in killing an innocent village, Dambaru Nayak, at Kurup village on October 6 after branding him police informer.

Search operations are being carried out and more arrests in connection to the murder at Karup village will be made soon, added the SP.

He added that the arrested Naxal cadres have confessed to their crime.

Also read: Chhattisgarh: Security personnel injured in a gunbattle with Maoists in Dhantewada, encounter underway



On october 20 around 20 armed Maoists had dragged Nayak out of his residence and had tortured him prior the brutal murder.

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The demonstration was led by the Congress state unit chief Ajay Maken.

By Shalini Lobo: The Delhi Congress today organised a demonstration on Sunday to save the Delhi Metro.

The demonstration was led by the state unit chief Ajay Maken.

The protest was held against the AAP and BJP governments. The protest was flagged off at the Tilak Nagar metro station in the national capital.

A signature campaign was also held where metro users could add their names and numbers to the petition.

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The Congress blames the AAP and BJP for the condition of the Delhi metro that Maken says is one of the flagship projects of the Congress.

"Kejriwal and the BJP are fighting and the people of Delhi are caught in the middle. The recent fare hike has hit the final nail in the coffin. We will fight for the people of Delhi", said Ajay Maken.

The state unit of the Congress are visiting various metro stations in the national capital as part of their demonstration.

--- ENDS ---
New Delhi:

US President Donald Trumpas recent tweet on adeveloping relationship with Pakistana gave a reason to the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to take a jibe on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taking a dig on Modi, Gandhi tweeted, aModi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug.a

US President Donald Trump on October 14 had tweeted, aStarting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts.a

The tweet was made by Trump after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the Afghanistan-based Haqqani terror network.

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg a Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

Caitlan Coleman and his family were kidnapped in 2012 while on a backpacking trip in Afghanistan. Their three children were born while the couple was in captivity.

PM Modias had last visited US in June. The two leaders a Modi and Trump a have been photographed hugging A at least in two occasion.

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar then had said that the two leaders had also asked Pakistan not to allow usage of its territory be used to launch terror attacks.

India is yet to make a comment on Trumpas recent tweet.

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New Delhi:

At least 24 passengers travelling to Mumbai from Goa on Tejas Express fell ill on Sunday after consuming breakfast served by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

According to reports three passengers out of 24 are in the intensive care unit.

Konkan Railway officials confirmed the development and said, All passengers were deboarded at Chiplun and rushed to government and private hospitals.

According to officials, on learning passengers falling ill after consuming breakfast they were deboarded at Chiplun and rushed to government and private hospitals.

According to IRCTC about 290 passengers were served breakfast. Three passengers around 12 pm complained about feeling uneasy and started vomiting. A couple of minutes later more passengers complained of similar symptoms.

Dear Sir/Ma'am,

We understand your concern.We would like to assure you that all the passengers currently hospitalized are out of danger 1/2  IRCTC (@IRCTC_Ltd) October 15, 2017

Also read| Tejas Express between Mumbai and Goa flagged off: Suresh Prabhu terms it first step towards safer trains



IRCTC tweeted, Dear Sir/Ma'am, We understand your concern.We would like to assure you that all the passengers currently hospitalized are out of danger and the same has been confirmed by hospital authorities.

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New Delhi:

A 19-yr-old girl was allegedly kidnapped by a few men from Delhi-Agra Highway while returning from her uncle's home. The incident took place in Mathura district of Uttar Pradesh.A A The girl was allegedly molested in July too.

While talking to ANI, the victimas mother told that they were returning from her uncle's home when a few men, who were in car, pulled her out of the auto took her with them.

A senior police official informed that they have received a complaint and a probe is underway after examining the spot.A

We were returning from her uncle's home when few men, in car, pulled her out of the auto&took her with them. Couldn't recognize them: Mother pic.twitter.com/yPG0k8lOof a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 15, 2017

aWe received the complaint. We have examined the spot and our investigation is underway,a said Vinay Kumar Chauhan, Circle Officer, Mathura.

We received the complaint. We have examined the spot and our investigation is underway: Vinay Kumar Chauhan, Circle Officer, Mathura pic.twitter.com/BVOY6qIKqY a ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 15, 2017

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New Delhi:

Chinese satellite Tiangong-1 launched in 2011 might fall on Earth soon as it has lost it track and has become out of control, reported Chinese Space Agency.

The Chinese Space Agency has reported that the 8.5-tonne space station is expected to crash-land on Earth surface late this year or early 2018.

According to reports, Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell had said that the Chinese satellite Tiangong-1 after turning out of control is decaying fast and one can expect it will come down in few months from now.

However, McDowell did not say where the probable collision might occur.

Surprisingly even China too does not know where the possible collision may occur as scientists have lost track of the space lab module.

Tiangong-1 was launched in 2011 and was scheduled to orbit Earth and burn up in the air after completion of its mission. The space lab has performed several key operations including a series of docking of exercises in 2012.

The Chinese satellite was not a very big module and is believed that most of the debris will get burnt due to frictional force in the Earths atmosphere.

Also read: NASA's carbon-monitoring OCO-2 satellite: EL Nino caused record CO2 rise in 2015-16

According to scientists, if some residues of the satellite is left over it will shrink into a very small size but will it be moving at speed more than that of a bullet.

Also read| SpaceX Echostar 105/SES-11: 15th Falcon 9 launch successful, another recycled rocket landed

Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling, said Wu Ping, deputy director of the manned space engineering office, quoted Xinhua.

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New Delhi :

Launched in 2003 as NASA's Great Observatory for infrared exploration of the Universe, the Spitzer Space Telescope is the fourth and final of the NASA Great Observatories program.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) is on the lookout for people and organisations that will take over the operation of the Spitzer Space Telescope with non NASA funds as because NASA will discontinue the funding from march 2019.

Spitzer is expected to be able to support its current operations through September 2019, and operations beyond September 2020 should be possible for observing modes with the lowest data volume.

Spitzer has pushed the boundaries of space science and technology numerous times while exploring the universe in infrared light. From its prime "cold" mission, it transitioned to a "warm mission" in May 2009 when the liquid helium coolant that chilled its instruments ran out.

The cost for operating Spitzer for fiscal year 2018 is $14 million. Recently, Spitzer revealed the seven Earth-size exoplanets of TRAPPIST-1.

(With inputs from NASA)

For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Cairo:

Twenty-four terrorists and six soldiers were killed on Monday as armed forces foiled terror attacks in Egypt's restive North Sinai region, the army said.

One terrorist was also injured during the clashes, military spokesman Tamer el-Refae said in a statement.

The armed forces also destroyed two vehicles which were used by terrorists, the statement added.

The forces are currently combing the area of the incident and chasing the attackers.

North Sinai has witnessed many terrorist attacks since the January 2011 revolution that toppled ex-president Hosni Mubarak.

Read more: Somalia: Death toll in massive Mogadishu bomb attack mounts to 230

The attacks, mainly targeting police and military, increased after the ouster of Islamist ex-president Mohamed Morsi in 2013 by the military following massive protests against his rule.

Hundreds of police and army personnel have been killed since then.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
New Delhi:

US President Donald Trump is full of praise for Pakistan. This is following his harsh criticism of the Pakistani leadership for its alleged support to global terrorism.



Pakistan had helped in the rescue of an American-Canadian couple and their three children from the hold of the Haqqani network.



Our country is beginning to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their co-operation on many fronts, Trump tweeted.



To recall, Trump on Friday had said that Pakistan took tremendous advantage of the US over the years.



Yesterday, things happened with Pakistan...They are starting to respect the United States of America again, said Trump, expressing his gratitude to the Pakistani leadership.



Pakistan Army had on October 12 rescued Canadian citizen Joshua Boyle, his wife Caitlan Coleman, a US national, and their three children from the detention of the Haqqani network.



The couple was kidnapped in 2012 in Afghanistan while on a backpacking trip and their three children were born while they were in captivity.



Trump said the release of the couple was a positive moment for US-Pakistan ties.



US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said, I want to be clear on saying how grateful we are to the government of Pakistan. Without their assistance, this would not have been made possible. It was critical, and we will certainly not forget that.

(With Agency inputs)

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New Delhi:

Virginia State University is on lockdown after a shooting on campus, the university police department said on Saturday night.

The University police tweeted, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

A second tweet said police officials were still on the scene, the campus remains on lockdown and to continue to avoid the area.

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia School was celebrating the final day of it homecoming.

In the first week of October, at least 58 people were killed and more than 500 injured when a gunman opened fire on a country music festival in Las Vegas Strip, raining down bullets from the 32nd floor of a hotel for several minutes before he was shot dead by police.A A

Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow. a VSU Police (@VSUPolice) October 15, 2017

Some 22,000 people were in the crowd when the man had opened fire, sending panicked people fleeing the scene, in some cases trampling one another, as law enforcement officers scrambled to locate and kill the gunman. (With PTI Inputs)

Shooting on Campus Update - Police scene still active and the campus remains on lockdown. Continue to avoid area. a VSU Police (@VSUPolice) October 15, 2017

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
By PTI: manager suspended

New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) An IRCTC officer and a catering manager were placed under suspension after at least 26 people aboard the Mumbai-bound Tejas Express from Goa were taken ill today after consuming food served by the railways catering wing, a spokesperson said.

The area officer of the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) in Madgaon and the on-board catering manager have been placed under suspension pending a fact-finding committees report and results of test of food samples, railway spokesperson Anil Saxena said here tonight.

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The Mumbai-bound passengers complained of uneasiness and nausea after having breakfast served on the train, a railway official said.

They were admitted to a hospital.

The Tejas Express, one of the premium trains of the Indian Railways, connects Mumbai and Karmali in Goa. PTI ASG SMN

--- ENDS ---
When the rain comes a pitter-patter, Matt Spies wants to know how much of it there is. Ditto for the sleet and hail rattling against his windows or the snow sweeping in.

I go out every morning and stretch and check the rain gauge, said Spies, who lives in Brookfield. By 8 a.m, I have my input in.

Spies is the state coordinator for the Community Collaborative Rain Hail & Snow Network, better known as CoCoRaHS  a grassroots citizen science project thats trying to learn more about precipitation across North America.

Starting in 1998, the project spread from Colorado to all 50 states as well as Canada, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. There are more than 8,000 volunteer weather-watchers in the program, with about 98 in Connecticut.

Its phenomenal, said National Weather Service meteorologist Christina Speciale.

But Henry Reges, the networks national coordinator, said Western Connecticut has gaps that he would like very much to fill.

Were putting out the Help Wanted sign, Reges said.

School science programs and community centers can run CoCoRaHS stations, as well as individuals. To learn more about the program, go to its website at www.cocorahs.org

The work requires constancy. Volunteers must check the amount of rainfall in their gauges, then send their results in every morning. (If theres heavy snow, that requires a yardstick.)

But the measuring, gathering and sending is easy.

It takes me about five minutes, Spies said.

And once people start following the data, Reges said, they get hooked.

It can become addictive, he said.

With thousands of people collecting data and forwarding it to the networks website each day, meteorologists now have a much more detailed idea of the nations precipitation  or, in its absence, impending drought.

The National Weather Service uses CoCoRaHS data, as do federal agencies like the Department of Agriculture.

We dont have weather stations in a lot of places, said Speciale, who works in the weather service office in Albany, N.Y., which helps supervise the CoCoRaHS program in northwestern Connecticut. Without this, were blind.

Local meteorologists have learned how useful it can be as well.

Theres a lot of good data there, said Gary Lessor, director of the Weather Center at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury.

That data can help refine computer models, Lessor said, adding micro-events  cloudbursts and thunderstorms that soak Bethel but leave Newtown dry  to the mix. It can also show whether precipitation that appears on radar actually reaches the ground.

Forensic scientists have also learned to depend on at the CoCoRaHS website.

Im working on a case now that involved two cells of precipitation that fell in two places, Lessor said. We could see them on radar, but we couldnt see it on the ground. The CoCoRaHS data, he said, filled in those blank spots.

For forensic work, it can be gold, Speciale said.

The network had its beginnings in a specific event: an unexpected, violent downpour that caused flash flooding and serious property damage in and around Fort Collins, Colo., in 1997.

In the aftermath, the weather service realized it didnt have gauges to learn how much rain fell or where. But some people did, without knowing it.

There was rainfall gathered in buckets, in wheelbarrows, Speciale said. The National Weather Service realized it could use that information.

Deciding that citizens could help provide more accurate weather-watching, CoCoRaHS started the next year in Colorado. The program has steadily gathered steam ever since.

One of the reasons is that people everywhere are interested in the weather.

Spies said he had his own rain gauge up before he heard of CoCoRaHS.

I was interested in the rainfall, in how it affected the wet spots and the dry spots on my lawn, he said. I think I wrote my information down on a piece of paper on my refrigerator.

When he learned about the network in 2009, he quickly joined up, happy to add his information to a bigger base.

CoCoRaHS, still in its infancy, is proving its worth day by day, year by year. But like other nationwide citizen science projects  the National Audubon Societys 117-year-old Christmas Bird Count, for example  its the accumulation of data gathered over decades that could prove invaluable in letting researchers learn about changes in our weather and our world.

Long term, were defining the climate, Spies said.

Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com
By PTI: Raipur, Oct 15 (PTI) The police today arrested four Naxals during a search operation in Chhattisgarhs Kanker district.

Three firearms, an improvised explosive device (IED) and a cache of other Maoist-related items, including material used in making explosives, were recovered from them, a police official said.

The cadres were apprehended from Alparas village under Koyalibeda police station area, around 200 kms from Raipur, when a composite squad of personnel from the Border Security Force (BSF) and district force was out on a search operation, Kankers Superintendent of Police K L Dhruv told PTI.

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The arrested cadres were identified as Nar Singh (25), Mani Ram Markam (22), Sunder Singh (30) and Sukku Ram (35), he said.

Three muzzle-loading guns, a 2kg IED, some explosive powder, splinters, electric wires, Maoist pamphlets and literature were recovered from their possession, the SP said.

On October 5, four Naxals, including a couple, were arrested and two firearms were recovered from them in Panidobir village in Koyalibeda area of Kanker. PTI TKP GK BAS

--- ENDS ---
TORONTO, Oct. 14, 2017 /CNW/ - Spirits Canada welcomes the Supreme Court of Canada's decision to grant it intervener status in R. v Comeau. While the case specifically concerns an individual who was prosecuted after bringing alcohol across a provincial boundary, it may have much broader implications on interprovincial trade.

"Provinces have been known to regulate the importation, distribution and sale of distribution of beverage alcohol within their borders in a way that discriminates against Canadian beverage alcohol produced in other provinces," said Jan Westcott, President & CEO of Spirits Canada.

Spirits Canada has long history of promoting the benefits of a truly national domestic beverage alcohol market and believes the nation would be stronger if there were fewer barriers to internal trade.

Examples of measures that Spirits Canada has opposed in the past include those that:

provide reductions and/or rebates on liquor board product mark-up or provincial commodity tax rates exclusively to products of liquor manufacturers licensed within a province; restrict the sale of beverage alcohol to sales channels, whether framers' markets, grocery stores, or privately-owned liquor stores, solely to beverage alcohol products produced by manufacturers licensed within the province; permit provincially licensed alcohol manufacturers to deliver their products directly to licensed alcohol retailers and/or licensed premises for on-premise consumption, while requiring out-of-province alcohol manufacturers to distribute their products through provincially-mandated distributors; or allow in-province provincially licensed alcohol manufacturers to operate and/or have a financial interest in an establishment licensed for on-premise consumption of liquor (e.g. a "tied-house"), while prohibiting such business relationships for alcohol manufacturers licensed in other Canadian provinces.

"We support and accept alcohol regulation whose purpose is to minimize the negative effects related to the harmful use or misuse of alcohol. Our concern is regulatory measures that favour in-province products over out-of-province products in a way that provides a competitive advantage", explained Mr. Westcott.



Spirits Canada calls for fair and equal treatment that provides equal competitive opportunities and a level playing field for all Canadian beverage alcohol products across the country irrespective of the province in which they are produced.

SOURCE Spirits Canada

For further information: Jan. H. Westcott, President & CEO, Cel. 416 707 8851
The search for a missing Buffalo police diver entered its third day on Sunday morning, as crews from across the state resumed recovery operations.

Officer Craig E. Lehner, 34, went missing Friday during a training exercise in the Niagara River.

The missing Buffalo Police diver has been identified as 34-year-old Craig Lehner: https://t.co/z9j0WKtlrT pic.twitter.com/xDrx7LruUz  WGRZ (@WGRZ) October 14, 2017

Since then, officers and divers from 20 different departments, including those from Ontario and New York City, have searched exhaustively for their comrade. But as of 7 p.m. on Saturday, there had still been no sign of him, according to The Buffalo News.

"The search will continue until we find our officer," Buffalo Police Lt. Jeff Rinaldo told the paper.

Crews have used sonar equipment and robots with cameras to scour the bottom of the Niagara River. Divers have conducted searches, and cadaver dogs have been taken out in search boats to try to narrow down the area of the search.

Search for Buffalo Police Officer Craig Lehner resumes this morning on the Niagara River. pic.twitter.com/nQeyMCrige  Sharon Cantillon (@SharonCantillon) October 14, 2017

The underwater unit from the Rochester Police Department also arrived to assist. Their familiarity with the swift conditions in the Genesee River made them well-suited conditions on the Niagara River, Rinaldo explained.

Rinaldo said police can't speculate on what went wrong with Lehner's training exercise until they can locate the body.

Watch the WIVB-TV video report below.
CALIFORNIA -- Twenty employees and volunteers from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation traveled to California this morning to assist in firefighting efforts there, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office said.

The crew, including state forest rangers, will "be assigned where they are most needed," Cuomo's office said.

The team is expected to be in California for two weeks, with all travel and administrative costs paid for by the U.S. Forest Service or reimbursed to the state, according to a news release.

In addition to helping the state recover from the "devastating" wildfires, crews will gain experience in fighting wildfires should they ever erupt in New York, Cuomo's office said.

The blazes in Northern California have killed at least 40 people and destroyed at least 5,700 homes. This week, some of the tens of thousands of evacuees were hoping to return to their homes if they weren't under immediate threat.

Although some evacuees were returning home in Mendocino County, the latest estimates were that about 100,000 people were under evacuation orders as the fires burned for a sixth day.

Hundreds of people remain unaccounted for, though officials think they'll locate most of them alive.

Most of the deceased are believed to have died late on Oct. 8 or early Oct. 9, when the fires exploded and took people by surprise in the dead of night. Most of the victims were elderly, though they ranged in age from 14 to 100.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
TULSA, Okla. - Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., believes some of President Donald Trump's recent threats against the media run contrary to the Bill of Rights.

Unlike some Republican senators, you won't hear him question Trump's character or fitness for office as a result. But Lankford has not shied away from pointing out, if sometimes indirectly, where he and Trump diverge.

"I see that as against the First Amendment," Lankford said of Trump's recent tweet suggesting that TV networks'"licenses" should be revoked because of "fake news" reporting.

"I don't want anyone, from any party, deciding what the press can and cannot write," he said. "I would also say, first things first on it, the American people pick who is fit for office. I don't question his fitness for office based on a preference on how he communicates."

The 49-year-old senator, a widely respected up-and-comer within the GOP, is a prime example of how Republicans who disagree with Trump but don't want to alienate his supporters are navigating the president's latest controversial comments.

Lankford is savvy about the political risks of openly defying Trump, and he has done so carefully.

In June, he made headlines when he said Trump's conversations with former FBI Director James Comey about an investigation into Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn were "very inappropriate."

Trump's attack on the ACA portends new health-care battles on Capitol Hill

Later that month, when Trump called MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski as "Psycho Joe" and "low I.Q. Crazy Mika," Lankford said the tweets didn't "help our political or national discourse."

But his strategy of criticizing the president without naming him was most apparent after Trump blamed "both sides" for violence at the white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August that resulted in three deaths.

"Our words must not create confusion," Lankford said in a lengthy statement. "The supremacy of any race is abhorrent, un-American and should be condemned by everyone. Period."

Last week, Trump gave Lankford and other Republicans plenty to disagree with.

In an interview before a town hall here, Lankford said he disagreed with Trump's tweets Thursday suggesting that federal aid workers pull out of Puerto Rico just 3 1/2 weeks after Hurricane Maria hit.

But he was careful not to criticize Trump directly.

"Traditionally, we've stayed in a disaster zone as long as needed," he said. "I would expect there to be people on the ground from FEMA for at least two years in Puerto Rico."

Lankford went just far enough to indicate he's bothered by Trump's frequent tweeting, particularly when it comes to escalating threats toward North Korea and the president's recent criticism of Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn.

"I don't like the rhetoric," Lankford said. "I don't like the way it's coming out in a Twitter war back and forth."

Still, he took pains to be evenhanded about Trump's appeal.

"I know some people say, 'I don't like [Trump's] policies, or I don't like the way he communicates,' " he said. "There are also other Americans that love how he communicates."

The political reality in deep-red Oklahoma means Lankford has to be careful about crossing Trump.

The state went for Trump over Hillary Clinton last year by 36.4 percentage points, supporting him even more strongly than Mitt Romney, who won the state by 33.5 percentage points in 2012. A SoonerPoll quarterly survey released in September showed a majority of likely voters in Oklahoma still view Trump favorably, despite his record-low national approval rating. Denouncing Trump could, at some point, bring Lankford a primary challenge from his right.

Alienating Trump's supporters is not the only concern: a confrontation with the president and his allies could turn into a nasty, public brawl.

This just happened to Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., another younger GOP senator from a red state, who was outraged by Trump's latest comments on the press. In addition to questioning networks' licenses, Trump had said it's "frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write."

Sasse issued a public statement asking whether Trump was recanting his oath to preserve, protect and defend the First Amendment. His anger garnered praise from Trump critics on the right but also drew an attack from Fox News host and regular Trump defender Sean Hannity.

"One of the biggest mistakes in my career was supporting Ben Sasse," Hannity tweeted. "Just useless."

Sasse replied that it was Hannity who had changed, "not me."

"Some of us still believe in the Constitution. No President should play with censoring news they dislike," he tweeted.

Before Sasse, it was Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who came forward among Republicans to criticize Trump.

After the president went after him on Twitter, Corker, who is not running for re-election, responded by calling the White House an "adult day-care center," arguing Trump's recklessness has put the United States "on the path to World War III" and saying GOP senators were privately concerned about Trump's fitness for office.

Lankford said he hasn't heard Republican senators express concerns about Trump contributing to another potential World War and praised the administration's military posture toward North Korea, specifically the role of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

"I know the rhetoric, there might be disagreement with," he said. "What's actually been done on North Korea is pretty historic."

In a Senate Republican Conference fraught with conflict and showboating, Lankford is considered levelheaded. Elected in 2014 to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., the conservative Republican and member of the Intelligence and Appropriations Committees has built a reputation as a serious legislator.

He declined to answer directly when asked if he would cast another vote for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"Mitch McConnell is the leader in the Senate, period," Lankford said. "I anticipate he'll be the only one running in the days ahead."

McConnell's hold on the conference has steadily weakened after a wave of legislative defeats, criticism from the White House and most recently, the loss of his preferred candidate in Alabama's special Republican Senate primary runoff.

Lankford did offer muted criticism of McConnell's famously tight-lipped style.

"Mitch is historically known for keeping issues very close to the vest and that no one else in the Senate knows his plans. That is something that needs to open up," Lankford said.

The war within the Republican Party was far from the minds of the people who gathered to hear Lankford speak Thursday night in a historically black area of North Tulsa, where a prolonged and deadly race riot targeted residents in 1921.

At the under-renovation Big 10 Ballroom, a former music venue where talents like Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Count Basie played, Lankford let his background as a Baptist preacher show with exhortations to the crowd.

"Has your family invited a family of another race to your home for dinner?" he asked the roughly 250-person audience, about half white and half black. "I'm not talking about some structured something ... Just normal conversation so that you're developing friendships."

The crowd cheered a woman's question about universal health care and a man's comment that health insurance he received through the Affordable Care Act saved his life.

Lankford knew his audience, which included current and former Democratic officials, young people with questions about the Dream Act and several members of Moms Demand Action, a pro-gun control group.

Asked at one point why Republicans hadn't managed to enact a health-care plan, he deadpanned: "You're welcome."

Trump's name wasn't mentioned once - and Lankford never brought him up.
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NEW HAVEN  The citys bald eagles are locally famous, but the West River, which has been restored to its natural brackish state, has made the marsh and parkland on the citys west side a magnet for birds of all kinds, from black-winged blackbirds to double-crested cormorants.

Its been five years since Connecticut Fund for the Environments Save the Sound removed the old tide gates south of Route 1 to restore the natural flow of water between Long Island Sound and the river, which has become a magnet for wildlife, according to Martin Torresquintero, outdoor adventure coordinator for the city Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees.

The brackish river  a mixture of fresh and salt water  flows through West River Memorial Park and Edgewood Park to the west of Ella T. Grasso Boulevard and can rise and fall as much as 5 feet with the tides, Torresquintero said.

Theres more oxygen in the water and that allows more fish to come in here, he said. Allowing the water to be mixed, the key word here is flushed.  The water flows back and forth, back and forth, and it brings improved nutrients for fish  and other organisms, including small crabs and even eels.

We have a lot of raptors here. We have ospreys; we have egrets; we have eagles, Torresquintero said. There are at least 10 different species of hawks in here that I have spotted myself.

Raptors, which include red-tailed hawks and peregrine falcons, like tall structures, including the trees that are especially thick on the west side of the river.

Since they settled in to the area last year, the eagles have been refurbishing their nests, including one on a light standard at nearby Yale Field. Ospreys are often found on the top of the tall monuments in Evergreen Cemetery across the boulevard, whose pond is also host to flocks of ducks and Canada geese.

The ospreys like the tallest structure that is in the open.  They want something open so they can come at it from all directions, said Dennis Riordan, president of the Menunkatuck Audubon Society.

Menunkatuck, a chapter of the national Audubon Society that includes the shoreline from West Haven to Madison, has outfitted a camera on one of the four osprey platforms that have been set up in the West River. Bird watchers can go to menunkatuck.org for a view. Solar panels power the camera and the internet connection is supplied by Barnard Environmental Studies School nearby.

Theres high drama between the eagles and ospreys, Torresquintero said.

The eagles had kind of stayed here all year long, but the ospreys migrate. So when the ospreys come back in the spring they come to realize that the eagles had taken over their feeding ground and sometimes their houses.

In late March, when the ospreys return, its a battleground every day, he said.

Theres also competition over the fish in the river. Eagles are fish eaters but theyre not the greatest fish catchers, Riordan said. Ospreys are the greatest fish catchers. Sometimes the eagle will wait until the osprey catches a fish and then harass it until the osprey drops the fish, and theyll catch it out of the air and have a free meal.

The eagles are opportunists when it comes to nest building as well. Large nests built by monk parakeets, an invasive species, are Home Depot for the eagles, Riordan said. Theyre lazy, they really are. Theyd much rather take something than work for it.

The other thing about these eagles is theyre pretty tolerant of people, he said. These birds that are nesting here will let you get within 75 feet of the tree.

On the river itself, diving birds such as wood ducks and double-crested cormorants, as well as egrets, scan the water for fish.

While the river draws the water birds and fish-eating raptors, it flows through two parks that attract almost 200 species of birds, Riordan said, including American black ducks, belted kingfishers, chimney swifts, great crested flycatchers and hooded mergansers. The two parks combined are an important area for migrants, he said.

Weve got an urban oasis in here where weve removed invasive plants and put in native shrubs  trees and wildflowers, such as winterberry, shadbush, asters, cedar, bayberry and native grasses, he said.

Theyre all high-fat berries that will provide food for migrating birds to continue their journey, Riordan said. In the winter it keeps them fueled for surviving the cold.

He told of seeing bushes loaded with berries and the next day youll come back and theyre completely denuded. A flock of birds comes in and finished them off.

Among the projects are nesting boxes for tree swallows. We had seven of them occupied, all had nests and they fledged 28 young, Riordan said.

We put them up in April two years ago and the day after we put them up there were tree swallow investigating them and the day after that  they were bringing nesting materials in, Riordan said. They didnt waste any time.

Much of the work has been done under the umbrella of the New Haven Harbor Watershed Urban Wildlife Refuge Partnership, which includes city departments, schools, environmental groups and Yale University organizations such as the Urban Resources Initiative.

Because the two banks of the river are so different  meadow and marshland on the eastern riverbank and a more forested landscape higher above the water on the west, you get a completely different set of birds on each side, Riordan said.

Open-space birds like song sparrows and yellow rump warblers and American redstarts take to the meadowlands, while the woods attract Baltimore orioles, scarlet tanagers and woodpeckers. There are also red-winged blackbirds that harass the osprey mercilessly, Riordan said.

The park rangers, including Harry Coyle at the Barnard Nature Center in the West River park, have created a 2-mile loop trail for bird watchers. Theyre also planning to install a martin house near the nature center and a loudspeaker that will broadcast martin calls.

Riordan said that was set up in Guilford and in four years weve gone from zero martins to 30 pair with over 100 fledglings. So were hoping to pull off something like that.

Some of the things Audubon has done, as well as the park rangers, is educate the people, Torresquintero said. We have educated people so they can turn their backyards into a small urban wildlife place.  All I have to do is do the proper planting.

Meanwhile, as traffic whizzes by on the boulevard and youngsters play rugby in the park, the birds and other creatures are flourishing.

I wanted to come up with a theme for this area, said Coyle, who runs educational programs in the nature center and the park. This is more of an open space protected area  I equate it as a preserve for wildlife.

Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382.
Federal prosecutors in Washington appear willing to limit the scope of search warrants for the Facebook accounts of local activists connected to protests of President Donald Trump's inauguration.

The U.S. attorney's office for a District of Columbia told a judge Friday that the government has "little interest" in obtaining the names of thousands of people who "liked" the Facebook page of a political group that helped plan the Jan. 20 demonstrations, and agreed to narrow the timeline for photos the government is seeking as part of its investigation.

The statement from Assistant U.S. attorney John Borchert came during a hearing in which civil liberties attorneys said the warrants were too broad and would have a "chilling effect" on political organizing by revealing private information about individuals unrelated to the investigation.

More than 200 people were arrested and are facing felony rioting charges in connection to the Inauguration Day protests that injured police and damaged property in an area of downtown Washington.

D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Morin proposed limiting the searches to certain keywords and expressed concern on Friday about sweeping up irrelevant information, but he noted that another judge had signed off on the initial warrants, finding "probable cause" that the accounts contained evidence of criminal activity.

Morin pressed the prosecutor about why investigators would want access to the names of users who "liked" certain posts or photos in the lead-up to the inauguration.

"Explain to me the 'likes,' " Morin said, noting that he'd had a tutorial on the ins and outs of Facebook in advance of the hearing.

Borchert said that "likes" of certain posts describing criminal activity could in some instances suggest a person's criminal intent. The vast majority of likes would not be relevant and investigators are not, for instance, interested in "cat pictures." He said his office is "amenable" to some type of "minimization" of the searches.

"There is simply no risk," according to the government's court filing, that investigators could use the warrants "for compiling information about the account holders' political affiliations and private lives."

Sitting in the front row of the courtroom were two of the targets of the search, Lacy MacAuley and Legba Carrefour. The third warrant is for the Facebook page of DisruptJ20, the political organizing group moderated by Emmelia Talarico.

None of the three - all represented by the American Civil Liberties Union - has been charged by the U.S. attorney with Inauguration Day-related crimes.

The hearing raised questions about whether individual account holders could legally seek to block or narrow government searches of information they share on Facebook.

John Roche, a Facebook attorney, said in court that the company is "eager to protect these folks' privacy and their right to engage in political speech."

The company alerted the three users - MacAuley, Carrefour, and Talarico - to the warrants, after the government backed off their request to keep Facebook quiet about the searches.

Morin said he would rule quickly on the ACLU's request to intervene on behalf of the account holders and outline an approach for limiting the searches.
NEW HAVEN  The painting of Martin Luther and other leaders of the Protestant Reformation, produced in the late 17th century, had hung in a hallway of Yale Divinity School for decades, origin unknown, its paint flaking, its colors fading.

But the real message of the painting, The Fathers of the Reformation, went unnoticed until it was sent to art conservator Kathy Hebb of Guilford to be restored, along with other works owned by the seminary.

As far as we know, its been in the Divinity School, but no one really knew what it was, said Felicity Harley-McGowan, a lecturer in art history. It was fairly inconspicuous and looked even less colorful before Hebb worked on it.

The reformers are arranged around a table, much like Leonardo da Vincis painting of the Last Supper. Luther is in the center with an open Bible and a candle, representing the light of Christ and the Reformation, replacing the bread and wine of the Eucharist.

It clearly needed stabilization, said Hebb, who has owned Shoreline Painting and Conservation for more than 25 years. The paint was flaking off of it, so it was sort of an emergency fix, and it wasnt until I got it back to the studio and looked at it more closely that I realized it had overpaint. A lot of flaking actually turned out to be old fill, old fillings.  I would say at least four other people have worked on this painting in its lifetime.

But as Hebb researched the painting, one of several that may have been based on an etching made about 1640, she realized there was more to it than anyone had realized. Other versions included additional figures that symbolized a definite anti-Roman Catholic message.

Harley-McGowan said the caricatures hiding beneath the paint were a cardinal, a pope, a monk and a bull, which is a joke referring to bulls, the term for papal decrees.

Looking through her stereomicroscope at 40-times magnification, Hebb focused on the bottom of the painting, covered in gray overpaint.

When I saw the red of the cardinals vestments I knew it was all there, she said. It was really exciting. I could see where the pope is. I could see some of the yellow.  I could map it out. All you need is one little speck of color and you know.

Since then, Ive really just been focused on trying to free those little characters at the bottom, get them out into the light, Hebb said.

According to Harley-McGowan, These four figures are attempting to blow out the candle. The light represents Jesus, but also for viewers and followers of the Reformation, it would have reminded them explicitly of the words of Hugh Latimer, an English Catholic bishop who promoted reform of the church and was burned at the stake. He had referred to the reformers teachings as a candle by Gods grace, in England, as I trust never shall be put out, according to christianity.com.

This candle has this general symbolism about Christ is the light and so forth, but its clever because people would have connected it with Latimer and the deaths of those men who worked hard for the Reformation, Harley-McGowan said.

In the early 17th century or even early 18th century, that image would have been recognizable, but obviously in our contemporary culture the visual representation of what the reformers were all about didnt have currency anymore, she said.

Luther is considered the leading figure of the Reformation. He broke with Catholicism by holding up the Bible as the primary source of religious teaching and preaching that human beings earn salvation by faith, not by their deeds. He nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle church on Oct. 31, 1517.

Harley-McGowan said the reformers objected to a number of Catholic doctrines, including having anxiety about the Eucharist and the idea that the bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ during the Mass, known as transubstantiation.

The Protestants also worried about the worshipful veneration of the saints and the use of images within Christianity and what role they should play  whether images could distract people from proper worship of God.

Since Johannes Gutenberg invented movable type in the 15th century, the Bible could be printed and distributed, and text became paramount in the reformers minds, Harley-McGowan said.

The reformers dont generate art, so to speak. Theyre very much focused on the word of God [containing] the truth of God and images dont contain the truth, she said. The printing press enables  the mass circulation of text as well as images.

The reformers really milked this for their benefit, she said. They are circulating documents about the Reformation and instead of creating images of the saints  portraits of the reformers are circulated.

The men in the painting are from different generations of reformers and, Hebb said, the portraits are actually based on portraits that were made in the 1590s. Its  quite stylized but still historical. Even the positioning of the figures is significant. John Calvin, talking to a student, sits next to Luther but has his back to him, demonstrating the divisions among the reformers, Harley-McGowan said.

In other versions, including an engraving at the British Museum, there is text on the image, including the names of the reformers.

In addition to the gray paint on the table covering the Catholic figures, Im going to start on the background and all that writing is there, Hebb said.

Once Hebb has completed restoring the painting, it will be hung in the Divinity Schools library.

The image, which looks very pedestrian to us, is very clever and its a very powerful and radical anti-Catholic statement and, for some Catholics, I suppose, heresy, Harley-McGowan said.

It looks like a fairly banal bunch of white men sitting around talking about the Bible, but there are radical things afoot here that would have a huge impact on European history, she said.

Contact Ed Stannard at edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com or 203-680-9382.
NEW HAVEN  Fans of Thomas the Tank Engine looking to relive some of their favorite memories of the fictional anthropomorphized blue steam locomotive and his friends might thrill at synposes of 505 episodes to date listed on Wikipedia.

Those surfing Wikipedia with an interest in the research and bibliography of author, researcher and Sterling Professor Emeritus of English Annabel Patterson would not be so lucky.

However, Claire Bowern, professor of linguistics at Yale University and the universitys Women Faculty Forum chairwoman, is pursuing a project to make the online crowdsourced encyclopedia a better resource, with an eye for imcreasing its gender equity.

If we have a default idea of who is an authority, it has a spiraling effect on making women less cited, Bowern said.

Several times a month, the WFF hosts Wikipedia edit-a-thons to draw awareness to the scholarship of women, both by creating biographies for scholars  such as Patterson, who does not have a page despite reaching the highest rank for a Yale professor before her retirement  and by citing womens research on topics that are lean on citations in Wikipedia.

Wikipedia represents the interests of the people who make its pages, Bowern said. There are gaps in what is there.

Bowern said she drew the idea for the event from linguist Gretchen McCulloch, whose focus is on the language of the internet, at a Linguistic Society of America event.

Professors complain about their students just citing information from Wikipedia, but its often the first place they go before seeking other sources, Bowern said. Its a small thing, but were going to continue to do it.

One of WFF post-graduate associate Emily Starks recent edit-a-thon projects was to continue work on a biography for Patterson.

One of our goals is to make sure all female Sterling professors are represented on Wikipedia, she said.

Over the course of her research, Stark said, she learned Patterson was tied for first in her class with The Handmaids Tale author Margaret Atwood when receiving her degree, an interesting fact about two esteemed women writers.

Bowern said implicit bias can be a concern, as Wikipedia editors are less likely to see women professors as persons of stature.

WFF research fellow Najwa Mayer said it may not be apparent, but the sense that the knowledge presented in common spaces suchas Wikipedia is equal is untrue. Mayer, a doctoral candidate at Yale in American studies with a focus on cultural history, said edits to Wikipedia can give an understanding of how power is made and maintained.

If something is not present on Wikipedia, Bowern said, it may give the impression that its unimportant. If there is a page for synopses of episodes for Thomas the Tank Engine, but none for a language with only 1 million speakers in rural Vietnam, she said, it might make an entire language seem irrelevant.

As Bowern looked for stubs, or short articles being considered for deletion by Wikipedia editors, to flesh out, she happened upon a page for a language native to Papua New Guinea. As she searched for work done on the language on Google Scholar to salvage the article, she said she wasnt thinking every edit needed to be viewed through the lens of gender.

Its about improving the overall quality of Wikipedia, she said.
A car illegally carrying beer cans met with an accident near a tiny Gujarat village. What happened next probably will not surprise anyone.

A car illegally transporting beer cans met with an accident near the village of Dhumad in Gujarat (ANI photo)

By India Today Web Desk: A can of beer lying unattended on a road would probably escape the notice of passersby in most of India.

But then most of India, unlike the state of Gujarat, does not have to deal with laws that prohibit the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Which is why people in the village of Dhumad probably thought they were in for a treat when a car illegally carrying cases of beer met with an accident on the Vadodara-Ahmedabad Expressway.

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Out fell red-coloured cans of the brew and soon people, as news agency ANI put it, "pounced" on the car to "loot" the contraband.

#Gujarat: Car illegally carrying liquor met with an accident near Dumad in #Vadodara; villagers pounced on the car to loot the cans. pic.twitter.com/llbRIEtTB3- ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

According to a report in local daily Divya Bhaskar, a white Maruti Celerio had an accident with a black Mercedes-Benz car on the expressway that connects the industrial town of Vadodara to Gujarat's commercial Ahmedabad.

The accident took place near Dhumad, a tiny village located just north of Vadodara. Soon after the mishap, people were seen running towards the car to extract the many cans of beer, Divya Bhaskar reported.

There was no information available on what happened to the driver/occupants of the booze-carrying Celerio. In photos shared by news agency ANI, the car's registration plate was missing -- though it is possible the number plate fell off during the accident.

Gujarat, thanks to its prohibition law, is home to a thriving bootlegging business. Resourceful citizens in Gujarat are known to be able to arrange for alcohol when they need to.

Officially, the sale and consumption of alcohol has been prohibited in Gujarat, the home state of Mahatma Gandhi, for almost as many years as India has been independent.

Non-residents and tourists visiting Gujarat are allowed to buy alcohol from the very few licensed stores present in the state, but only after securing liquor permits.

Earlier this year, the Gujarat government made the state's prohibition law even stricter. Under the new law, anyone found manufacturing, selling, purchasing or transporting alcohol could be jailed for up to 10 years and/or be made to pay a fine of Rs 5 lakh.

--- ENDS ---
President Jacob Zuma of South Africa meets with Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state in Owerri

Governor Rochas Okorocha has come under severe criticism following his decision to erect a statue in honour of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in Owerri, Imo state capital. The governor unveiled the statue in the presence of the South African president and other dignitaries in a ceremony.

Nigerians have criticized the move saying that Zuma has done nothing for the country to deserve such an honour. Some others lambasted the governor over the timing for such an honour at a time when numerous Nigerians have been arbitrarily killed by policemen in South Africa with the President remaining silent over such atrocious acts.

The Jacob Zuma statue in Imo state

Criticizing the move, vocal analyst and Professor of English at Carleton University, Pius Adesanmi wrote: "President Jacob Zuma in Nigeria, awarded chieftaincy title in Imo. Wrong timing, wrong choice of foreign head of state to honour. He should have been taken to the graves of Nigerians murdered by South African police.

There's been a resurgence of such killings of Nigerians by SA police recently. Mr. Zuma has not said a word but I don't blame him. If a foreign state suspects that the ordinary Nigerian citizen is of little value to the Nigerian state... well, you handle a man's calabash the way he handles it himself." On Twitter, Nigerians also lambasted Governor Rochas.

"@GovernorRochas please what drugs have you taken recently?





Many Nigerians have lost their lives in brutal ways in SA yet this is happening?" a Nigerian lamented on Twitter.

Another person added: "Nigeria that fought & won freedom for SA hasn't been honoured with a statue of any Nigerian leader in SA, instead by serial murdering of Nigerians."

Read more below:
The officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are vowing to resist any attempt by the embattled ex-Minister o...

The ex-minister recently expressed her preference to face trial at home when she pleaded with the Federal High Court in Lagos to order the Federal Government to facilitate her return to Nigeria to face trial.She asked for an opportunity to defend allegations against her in a charge filed against a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Dele Belgore and former National Planning Minister Abubakar Suleiman.The prosecution said Mrs. Alison-Madueke allegedly shared $115,010,000 (about N35billion) to individuals in the 36 states ahead of the 2015 general elections.However, EFCC officials believe that the ex-ministers statement is part of a grand delay strategy to escape justice in London.It was gathered yesterday that the fear of getting the James Ibori treatment if tried in the United Kingdom was partly responsible for her call to face trial in Nigeria.Other reasons, according to EFCC sources, include the strict nature of the British anti-graft law, and the huge cost of hiring a defence team there which could further drain her already depleted financial resources.Ibori, ex-governor of Delta State was jailed by the Southwark Crown Court, London on April 17, 2012 after pleading guilty to ten counts of money laundering and conspiracy to defraud.He was jailed for 13 years and his assets including three buildings in the UK and South Africa seized.Also confiscated from him were a fleet of Range Rovers, a Bently Continental GT and a Mercedes-Benz Maybach 62.He was recently released from jail.Before Iboris London trial, he had been discharged and acquitted of a 107 count charge of corruption by a Federal High Court, Asaba.Sources also said the ex-minister is home sick.Her trial in London, is expected to commence soon, sources added and EFCC officials are upbeat that the trial will justify the extensive job they did in investigating her.They are shocked that she wants to return to Nigeria after the massive evidence they sent to the UK for her water-tight prosecution.We see her as making moves to frustrate the course of justice after we have hauled a lot of evidence to the United Kingdom, one source said.If she comes back, she will come up with frivolous applications up to the Supreme Court level to halt her probe. She might take advantage of the law to frustrate investigation and her arraignment in court.Intelligence also revealed that she is already afraid that she might face trial before some conservative judges who may strictly apply the UK law against corruption.So, she is just afraid of the long arm of the law catching up with her.The source said now that the EFCC has seized more than 56 houses from her, she should face trial in the UK which may further vindicate our findings or otherwise.The report of the US Department of Justice has already proved EFCC right on its investigation.US Department of Justice through its Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, is already seeking to recover $144m in assets from some associates of Diezani.We want her to face trial abroad in order to recover laundered funds before returning home for further investigation including the whereabouts of about $15.8 billion NLNG dividends between 2000 and 2014.An audit report sent to EFCC by the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), doubts whether the entire $15.8 billion due from 2000 to 2014 is still intact.NEITI added: The funds were neither paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation nor the Federation.Also, about US$7.85 billion out of the dividends was allegedly withdrawn in 2011 under the guise of funding Brass LNG Project.Another source said:The UK has spent much of public funds on Diezanis probe. She needs to spend more on the hiring of counsel.At the end of the day, if the laundered funds and assets are seized, whatever will have been expended on her probe will be deducted from forfeited assets.She will end up losing part of the looted funds. This is overwhelming her.Responding to a question, the source added: We learnt that Diezanis trial will soon begin in the UK, we believe she should not jump the gun.As at press time, it was learnt that Mr. Kola Aluko, one of the business associates of the ex-Minister, has gone underground.Aluko was implicated in the wiring of the part of the $1.5billion into a bank in Switzerland.Sources also said that Aluko may have sold most of the 19 choice assets traced to him in some countries.The source added: Detectives have been on the trail of Aluko but he cannot hide for long.A Federal High Court in Lagos had on June 24, 2016 invoked the Interim Forfeiture Order in the EFCC Establishment Act to seize the properties.The affected assets are mostly in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland and the United States.They are a plot of land in Mont Tremblant (Canada) and some houses in the United Arab Emirates including 4100 Le Reve Dubai Maria, Dubai; Unit 1402, PS 14th Floor located at Metro TECOM near Internet City Metro Station, Dubai; Unit 712, ES 7th Floor located at First Central, Off Sheikh Zayed, TECOM, Al-Barsha 3 Dubai; and Unit 512, 5th Floor located at First Group Marina Hotels, Al-Seba Street, Plot 394-426, Dubai AE-AJ.Those in Switzerland are at Colina DOro Montagnola, Switzerland; Via Magio 6 Montagnola 6926 Switzerland; and Vila Floridiana via Cantonale 17, 6948 Porza Lugano, SwitzerlandOthers located in the United States and the United Kingdom are 755 Sarbonne Road, Los Angeles, California 90077USA; 952 North Alpine Drive Beverly Hills, California 80210 USA; 157 West 57th Street New York 10028, USA; 1049 Fifth Avenue New York 10028, USA; 815 Cimal Del Mundo Road Santa Barbara, California 93108, USA; 1948 Tollis Avenue Santa Barbara California 93108; 1952 Tollis Avenue Santa Barbara California 93108, USA; 807 Cimal Del Mundo Road Santa Barbara, California 93108, USA; 32 Grove End Road, London NW8 9LI UK; and Flat D.03.01 One Hyde Park 100 Knight Bridge SW1X 7U, UK.Capping the list is the 63m Galactica Star which the US Department of Justice in the United States claimed that the ex-Minister had warned Aluko against buying.The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mallam Abubakar Malami( SAN) penultimate Wednesday told State House correspondents that the return of Diezani to Nigeria for trial might jeopardize the ongoing investigation in the UK.He said: Steps have been taken by the United Kingdom authorities on issues bordering on corrupt practices involving Nigerians.If Nigeria feels strongly that there is need to bring Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke here to face charges of corruption, government will not hesitate to do that.As things stand now, there is no need for that since the UK Government is already investigating her. Government will not take any decision that will jeopardize what the UK government is doing.Mrs Deziani Allison-Madueke is facing charges of money laundering and acquisition of properties in the United Kingdom.So it is more important to face the charges there than for her to come as a mere witness in a case in Nigeria.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said God had a purpose for the Nigeria with the kind of persons He put in positions of authority in the coun...

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said God had a purpose for the Nigeria with the kind of persons He put in positions of authority in the country at this time.He stated this at the Kingdom Summit 2017 of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Kings Court Parish, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday. Osinbajo, however, said that the strategic position God had placed the leaders would be meaningless if they failed to live by His gospel. I am so pleased and happy and I believe that the Almighty God has a plan for our nation by putting us in strategic positions in politics, business and everywhere.But, the strategic positions He has placed us, we will be of no effect there unless we are prepared to live by His gospel. There is no wisdom of man that can change men or change nations; it is the power and wisdom of God that can, he stated. The vice president, who titled his remark Neither Jew, nor Gentile noted that the gospel of the Lord was transformational, meant to turn the market place around by uniting Gods people. According to him, the only way to transform the nation is to obey the gospel and to do so that citizens must free themselves from the canal and simply return to the gospel in their practices.Osinbajo noted that sometimes people thought that God did not achieve His purpose in man because Gods gospel contradicted the purpose of man. He said that many times, Christians interpreted the gospel to suit their purposes, which explained why it was easy for them to pray against their enemies that prayed for them.This canal nature cannot save us; we are completely different from God because the gospel is not a canal word, he stated. The vice president pointed out that the Bible was not just a book but the wisdom of God, which could not be trampled upon. He noted that the power of the church lay in its unity. He traced the history of creation where God made man in His own image, and that man fell apart because of sin, but salvation still came when Christ was born.Osinbajo said that at creation, there was no difference in the nature of man and everyone related in an atmosphere devoid of tribe or other differences. The canal nature of man is that he places his tribe above others but the only basis for the power and unity of the church is that there is no Jew or Gentile. He advised the faithful to avoid divisive issues as much as they did to foolish disputes.He remarked that corruption in the country still existed because the church had failed to speak against it simply because those involved in graft had relationships with them. Osinbajo added that it was wrong to seek vengeance as the gospel did not give Christians the power to habour hatred.According to him, when the disciple, Stephen, was killed, if the Apostles had retaliated, there would not have been the gospel. The gospel of the Lord says you must overcome evil with good. Osinbajo prayed for the country and the people and asked God to grant Nigerians faithfulness to Him and give everyone the grace to avoid every form of disunity.NAN
More than 100 Nigerian students on scholarship in the United Kingdom universities could be deported home as early as this week except th...

More than 100 Nigerian students on scholarship in the United Kingdom universities could be deported home as early as this week except their fees are settled immediately, according to The Telegraph of London.The students are said to be sponsored by a regional agency and some of them are saddled with debts of up to 20,000.The name of the sponsor agency was not given in the report.The report described the students as some of the Nigerias brightest undergraduates.They have been told that they will not receive their degree certification even though many of them completed their courses in the last academic year.The newspaper said some of the affected students claimed they have been warned they could be deported by Friday, October 20.It said the Nigerian High Commission in London confirmed that 152 students had been caught up in the scandal, and that the sponsor agency had been left with a draught of funding due to a slump in Nigerias oil revenues.The High Commission said in a statement that additional funding had been approved for 87 students.There was no mention of how soon the bill would be paid.The universities of Leeds and Essex said they sympathised with the affected students but declined to say whether their visas would be revoked.They said that they were working closely with the Nigerian High Commission to resolve the dispute.The University of Sussex claimed it had allowed one student to graduate, but declined to comment on whether their transcript had been withheld. It added that it had been providing some financial assistance for living costs in cases of particular hardship.
The family of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has dismissed claims by Abia Commissioner of Police...

The family of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu has dismissed claims by Abia Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi that police recovered lethal weapons when, in a joint exercise with the Army, raided their compound at Afara Ukwu on October 8.

Kanus family spokesman, Emmanuel Kanu, told newsmen by telephone that if any weapon found within the premises must have been planted by security operatives.





The family accused Ogbizi of fabricating the story to justify the illegal raid and also to appear as if he was working.





His words: This new CP was the same man who came to our house two days after the September 14 invasion with two Hilux vans and his Prado SUV and pulled down the car porch and destroyed the vehicles parked outside.





This same CP hurriedly after the invasion on the October 8, issued a press release telling the whole world that they discovered bombs in my house. The army on the other hand, denied that there was no invasion and that they never went to my house, what a contradiction.





A house that there has not been any person inside except our guard who we asked to look after the house, all of a sudden they invaded the house and came back to say they found a den gun, double barrel gun and petrol bomb. Who manufactured them? Who kept them there? That is the question to ask.





The policemen came to our house and ransacked the entire compound including my mum and my fathers rooms, removing my mums boxes, our TV and generator sets, bags of rice and many personal belongings without knowing that we had a CCTV recording their activities in the house.





But when they got clue about the CCTV and in order to concoct whatever that they would present to the public to label our family bad, they came back and removed the CCTV from where they were hung.





I am telling the international community to prevail on this people. What the Police and other security agencies are doing in my house, my community, in my state and the entire Biafran Land is evil. It is clear that out of desperation, they are trying to cover their tracks and they have failed.





Nobody can tag IPOB a terrorist organisation. We dont carry arms and arms never solved any dispute. They should engage IPOB leadership genuinely. We are not violent. We dont give life and we cant take one. They have rubbished the name of the country called Nigeria, thats why we are called Biafrans.





They invaded the house and took away the CCTV now they said that they discovered petrol bomb and the rest of it, when we had only one person in the house. How possible is that? Who planted them?





Kanu further stated, If Ogbizi was serving in his Cross River State, he wouldnt have raided the palace of the Obong of Calabar under any guise the way he raids my fathers palace and boasted he would raid it again, this can only happen in Igbo land.





And let me tell you something, the reason they removed the former CP (Adeleye Oyebade) was that he knew that IPOB has been non-violent in their activities and he stood on the side of truth, he refused to be compromised that was why they removed him and brought this one from Cross River State who is on a mission he will never accomplish.




Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of Daar Communications, has intensified lobbies toward winning the support of key PDP stakeholders in hi...

Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the founder of Daar Communications, has intensified lobbies toward winning the support of key PDP stakeholders in his ambition to become the partys national chairman.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that Dokpesi, on Friday night, visited Chief Edwin Clark, the Ijaw leader, former Niger governor, Babangida Aliyu, and former FCT minister Ibrahim Bunu, at their residences in Abuja.





Dokpesi also visited Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former education minister and a rival in the PDP chairmanship race.

Clark, while receiving Dokpesi, described him as courageous, transparent, fearless and the right man the PDP needs to move forward.





Clark, who endorsed Dokpesi, said that he had been a dedicated PDP member, who did a lot for the party in 2015.





The party stalwart stressed the need for PDP to ensure internal democracy, pointing out that it was key to its success in the 2019 general elections.





For every election, PDP must ensure that there is internal democracy.





If 10 people want to be chairman in a local government, they should all be allowed to go for the election. That is how to do it, Clark said.





He said that impunity of the governors must be stopped, noting that the recent leadership crisis of the party was caused by such impunity.





Clark advised PDP members and leaders to see the December convention as an important project of the party that would open doors for a brighter future.

Aliyu, who also endorsed Dokpesi, said that the PDP needed a leader like him rather than those that will create negative image for the party.





After 14 months of leadership crisis, there is the need to rebuild, re-brand and rejuvenate the party, he said.





On his part, Bunu said that PDP was responsible for its current woes.





Borno PDP was made to remain in opposition for 18 years by PDP. The partys members kept undermining its chances over the years, he fumed.





He expressed confidence in Dokpesis capacity to lead the party, saying that he had demonstrated his commitment to fighting peoples causes.





Supporting your ambition is not for our individual selves, but for the party. We want PDP to succeed. We want the values of the partys founders sustained.





If these values were sustained, we would not have been where we are today, Bunu said. Dokpesi, in his separate responses, said that unity and sanity must return to PDP.





He said that PDP was in need of a visionary leader, who was committed to its ideals and values.





Dokpesi said that he had remained an unrepentant member of PDP and was a strong supporter of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led national caretaker committee, even at the peak of the party crisis.





He promised to build a fearless team that would prepare PDP for the 2019 elections.





Dokpesi had earlier visited Minna to seek the blessings of two former military heads of state, retired Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalam Abubakar.
The family of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has faulted claims by the police of recovering lethal ...

The family of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has faulted claims by the police of recovering lethal weapons during a raid on its compound at Afara Ukwu on October 8.Abia State Commissioner of Police Anthony Ogbizi claimed at a press briefing in Umuahia last Thursday that lethal weapons including petrol bombs and one double-barrel gun were recovered during the raid carried out with soldiers from 14 Brigade, Ohafia.But the spokesman of the IPOBs leaders family, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, in a telephone chat with journalists denied the family had any gun in the house.He said if the police found any gun, it was planted by them during the first raid.The family said: This new CP was the same man who came to our house two days after the September 14 invasion with two Hilux vans and his Prado SUV and pulled down the car porch and destroyed the vehicles parked outside.This same CP hurriedly after the invasion on the October 8 issued a press release telling the whole world that they discovered bombs in my house.The army, on the other hand, denied that there was no invasion and that they never went to my house, what a contradiction.Kanu added: A house that does not have any person inside except our guard who we asked to look after the house, all of a sudden they invaded the house and came back to say they found a den gun, double barrel gun and petrol bomb. Who manufactured them? Who kept them there? That is the question to ask.He accused the police of fabricating the story to justify what he described as illegal raiding of the compound.The younger Kanu said what the police came to do in the home was to remove the CCTV which he claimed had been recording what the military and police had been doing in the premises.The policemen came to our house and ransacked the entire compound including my mum and my fathers rooms, removing my mums boxes, our TV and generator sets, bags of rice and many personal belongings without knowing that we had a CCTV recording their activities in the house.But when they got clue about the CCTV and to concoct whatever that they would present to the public to label our family bad, they came back and removed the CCTV from where they were hung.He rejected the terrorist tag on IPOB, stating Nobody can tag IPOB a terrorist organisation. We dont carry arms and arms never solved any dispute. They should engage IPOB leadership genuinely.We are not violent. We dont give life and we cant take one. They have rubbished the name of the country called Nigeria, thats why we are called Biafrans.
Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Reverend (Dr) Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has reacted to the position of Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi O...

Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Oyo, Most Reverend (Dr) Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo, has reacted to the position of Cardinal Anthony Olubunmi Okogie on comment by General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, that RCCG will have as many branches as possible.

Okogie had noted that there is no Godliness in the decision, saying such churches in most cases are more like business houses.





For example, I heard that one of my colleagues, (Pastor Enoch) Adeboye, said that he would love to build churches everywhere so as to make it easy for worshipers to walk to them.





But for me, that is a useless statement. How can you say you will build churches everywhere?





He added: In order to bring us together and to get sanity back into this country, the fear of God must be number one. Nigerians of today dont care a hoot about God.





Reacting, Badejo said Okogie was right, lamenting that the church has lost focus.





One of our leaders, Anthony Olubunmi Cardinal Okogie, just addressed the issue (multiple branches). Many of these churches are business centres and shops, he told Tribune.





Why do you need five churches on a street? Is it right or wrong? Your guess is as good as mine.





But we have not done enough research on this matter that has shifted the attention of Christians from working hard to achieve a goal that is Christian from that to just praying and seeing visions.





The church has a role to play to make a positive difference. We must restate our commitment to getting our messages into the mainstream of public discourse, so that the Christian religion would not be rubbished in the mud as it is at the moment.





Meanwhile, Badejo has given reason why Muslims have a right to Islamise Nigeria.
The law firm of Fein & DelValle PLLC has announced that it, is drafting a criminal indictment against Nigerias President Muhammadu Bu...

The law firm of Fein & DelValle PLLC has announced that it, is drafting a criminal indictment against Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari and Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusfu Buratai, for genocide and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.

The firm said in a statement issued at the weekend in Washington, D.C. USA, that it is pursuing the case, on behalf of Biafrans who covet justice  the dead, the living, and those yet to be born.

According to the statement signed by renowned Attorney, Mr. Bruce Fein, and his Partner, Mr. W. Bruce DelValle, Buhari and Buratai are criminally culpable because of their command responsibility over security forces operating under their direction or control and who are terrorising tens of millions of Biafrans specifically because of their Christianity and ethnicity.





The crimes include extrajudicial killings, torture, and sister unspeakable horrors. They are the grisly signature of Buharis and Buratais ongoing military campaign in the South East region with the euphemistic moniker Operation Python Dance II.

The indictment being drafted by Fein & DelValle will be presented to Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Fatou Bensouda. It will be modeled after the genocide or crimes against humanity indictments returned against Serbias Slobodan Milosevic, Sudans Omar Bashir, Libyas Muammar Gaddafi, Chads Hissen Habre, and Cambodias Comrade Duch.





The overwhelming majority of Biafrans cannot speak for themselves without risking lethal retaliation by President Buhari or Lt. General Buratai. That fear explains the reason the United States District Court for the District of Columbia granted the motion of Fein & DelValle to reference their ten (10) Biafran plaintiffs anonymously in their Torture Victims Protection Act suit against sixteen (16) individual Nigerian defendants in Doe, et al. v. Buratai, et al., Civil Action No. 1:17-cv-0133.





Fein & Delvalle are gathering photographic, video, and testimonial evidence of the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity perpetrated by Buhari and Buratai against Igbos not only in the South East region, but also in northern Nigeria and elsewhere. There is no safe haven in Nigeria for them. Last June, Hausa Fulani youths in northern Nigeria (Arewa) with impunity threatened to evict eleven million Igbos from their homes and businesses in northern Nigeria by force and violence if they did not quit the area by October 1, 2017.





We are confident that 50 million Igbos in Nigeria were not born with saddles on their backs ready to be ridden by booted and spurred Hausa-Fulani with the grace of God. Criminal prosecutions of Buhari and Buratai before the International Criminal Court are the best way of teaching that gospel.





Mr. Fein and Mr. DelValle expressed optimism that,the prosecutions of Buhari and Buratai will prompt the United Nations Security Council to task the United Nations Electoral Unit to conduct a referendum on Biafran independence in the South East region; and, to operate a transitional government for a six-month period prior to the balloting to avoid any intimidation of the voters. It is no accident that South Sudan achieved independence on the heels of President Bashirs ICC indictment for genocide in Darfur.





Nigerias current borders were drawn by a racist British colonial master more than a century ago with no reference to the inhabitants. The boundaries are morally, legally, and politically indefensible.





The Government of Nigeria does not reflect popular will on that score. It rules under a 1999 Constitution that was decreed by a military dictator for the purpose, among other things, of holding Igbos in bondage to Hausa-Fulani terrorists.

Britain defaulted on its decolonisation obligation to permit self-determination referenda by each of the separate and distinct peoples of Nigeria. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514, December 14, 1960, provides: All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
PHILADELPHIA -- A 14-year-old girl who was reported missing from Florence Township a week ago was spotted by cops in Philadelphia when a man she was traveling with was arrested for trying to run over a police officer with his car, the girl's mother said.

Hannah Rose Jones was reported missing by her family last Sunday.

Jones' mother told NJ Advance Media that Jones sent videos of herself to friends through social media, and police tracked the device she was using to Philadelphia.

Saturday, around 11:30 p.m., deputies saw the car in which she was traveling in South Philadelphia.

The driver, Deven Harley, attempted to run down one of two deputies who were looking for Jones, according to a report.

Harley allegedly put the car in drive and pulled away near 7th and Bigler streets, striking one of the deputies with the vehicle, and breaking the driver's side view mirror, 6ABC reported. Harley and Jones ditched the car on the 900 block of Johnston Street.

6ABC reported that Harley was arrested a few blocks away and the officer suffered minor injuries.

Roaseanne Jones said her daughter eluded police, and her whereabouts are not currently known.

Florence Township Police and FBI are looking for Hannah Jones in the Philadelphia area.

Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Meanwhile, the BJP has blamed Gurdaspur loss on the Akalis.

By India Today Web Desk: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh looked elated while sharing the news of Congress' thumping victory over the BJP and AAP in the Gurdaspur bypoll.

Speaking to the media, Singh said, "Happy occasion for us, we have also won in Kerala. It is a very good sign emerging on national scene."

Meanwhile, the BJP has blamed Gurdaspur loss on the Akalis. BJP National Secretary RP Singh told India Today, "Yes in Gurdaspur we lost. But generally the ruling party wins in by-elections. And it was a rural belt. Also there has been certain expose of Akali leaders that ensure the loss. In Kerala, we have made great progress. Gurdaspur loss is not going to impact Himachal Pradesh. It's a corrupt government there."

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Notably, in Maharashtra Congress led by its state president Ashok Chavan on Thursday managed to halt the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) juggernaut in civic polls in Maharashtra by retaining its hold on the Nanded-Waghala Municipal Corporation (NWMC).

According to official sources in the State Election Commission Congress won 69 seats out of the 81 member civic body, a clear two-third majority. The poll swing in favor of the Congress is so huge that its ally in the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Musalmeen (MIM) failed to open their account. The Shiv Sena too saw its 2012 tally of 14 seats nosedive to just one seat.

Similarly in Kerala, In a major relief for the opposition in Kerala, UDF candidate, KNA Khader of Indian Union Muslim league (IUML) has won the by-election in Vengara constituency.

Khader outplayed his rival P P Basheer of CPI(M) with a margin of 23,310 votes. The NDA slipped to 4th spot as BJP candidate K J Janachandran Master managed to get only 5728 votes.

WATCH | Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll: Congress' Sunil Jakhar wins seat by 1.93 lakh margin

--- ENDS ---
NEWARK -- The city's former police chief, who retired last year amid an overhaul of Newark's police and fire departments, is set to receive a $453,725 payout for his 666 days of unused and owed time, NJ Advance Media has learned.

Anthony Campos began his 30-year tenure in the police department in 1986, working his way through the ranks and serving briefly as chief in 2006. He was re-appointed to the position in 2014 by Mayor Ras Baraka.

Campos, 51, who still resides in the East Ward, retired in June 2016 with an unused backlog of 50 vacation days, 33 holidays, 530 days of compensatory time and 53 days for his years of service, according to his retirement paperwork. Those days will be paid based on his $175,000 salary as chief, records show.

"This is something this gentleman accumulated over a 30-year period, he's not any different than any other police officer that retires," Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose told NJ Advance Media, adding that his payout was contractual.

"Born and raised in the East Ward of the city, he went through the ranks," Ambrose said. "He was very dedicated to the department."

"This is what I've done my whole life, I love it," said Campos, who began his career in the department right after high school.

Marc Pfeiffer, assistant director of the Bloustein Local Government Research Center at Rutgers University, said the $453,000 pay out "is probably within the range of others" with 30-year tenures and not out of the ordinary for someone retiring at the higher end of the pay scale.

"The way it has always worked is you get paid out at your final rate, despite when you earned the time," he said.

The New Jersey Local Finance Board, however, has proposed a rule that could change these hefty payouts. Pfeiffer said in August the board proposed requiring future payouts be based on the salary rate when the days were accumulated, unless a contract or municipal policy says otherwise.

An analysis by NJ Spotlight this March found public workers are owed $1.9 billion in unused time when they retire. And that number is only rising.

There have been bipartisan efforts in the Legislature to stop these accruals and six-figure payouts but most have stalled. In 2010 Gov. Chris Christie capped payouts at $15,000 but only for new school, county and municipal employees.

A 30-year tenure

During his time at the police department, Campos clashed with former Mayor Cory Booker and later sued Booker claiming he didn't receive promised raises and other incentives when he agreed to step down as chief and take a post as public safety director.

The case was settled for $25,000. As part of the settlement agreement, all investigations against Campos were closed with no administrative action, the agreement said.

Campos was briefly suspended by then-Newark police director Garry McCarthy for allegedly defying orders and rescinding personnel transfers. He was also accused of patronizing an illegal motorcycle club bar in the city.

Campos denied those allegations and said he never served a formal suspension.

After stepping down as chief in 2009, Campos was later named public safety director and then reassigned to the 5th Precinct as a deputy chief. Baraka appointed Campos as police chief again in 2014.

Campos will receive his $453,725 payout in several installments through 2018, including $5,000 for sick time and a $437 clothing allowance, records show. The payments are separate from his monthly pension allowance of $10,790, according to state pension records.

Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook.
READINGTON TWP. - A 32-year-old Jersey City man was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice after he tried to hide the fact his driver's license was suspended, police said.

Lt. John Insabella stopped a vehicle in the Kings Shopping Plaza at 2 p.m. on Thursday after the driver had parked in a no parking fire zone in front of the Rite Aid Pharmacy, police said.

The driver, later identified as Gary M Abalsamo, Jr., told police his name was Anthony Avalsamo, police said.

He also used a different date of birth and changed the spelling of his name, as well as provided different variations on his name, before being arrested, police said.

Abalsamo was also ticketed for driving while suspended and failure to exhibit a driver's license before being released with a pending court appearance, police said.

Raritan Township reported five arrests this week:

Deborah Walsh, 61 of Stockton, was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana following a stop on Meadowbrook Road by Cpl. Christopher Vallat at 8:07 a.m. on Monday, police said.

Walsh was initially stopped for speeding. She was also ticketed for speeding and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, police said. Walsh was released pending a court appearance.

Salil M. Naimo, 28, of Bloomsbury, and James M. Walther, 24, of Flemington, were both charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana after Sgt. Robert Landolina found them in the parking lot of Chili's off Route 202 at 11:40 a.m. on Oct. 7, police said.

Naimo and Walther were also each ticketed for possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. They were released pending a court appearance, police said.

Kenyatta Rodgers, 31, and Samantha Miles, 35, both of Bloomsbury, were charged with drug offenses following a stop on Routes 202-31 by Sgt. Robert Landolina at 12:38 p.m. on Oct. 6, police said.

They had both been previously arrested as part of Operation Downtown Shutdown.

Rodgers was initially stopped for an expired inspection sticker on the vehicle she was driving. She was charged with possession of hydrocodone and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Miles was charged with possession of Alprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia. Rodgers was also ticketed for possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle and Miles, the registered owner of the vehicle, was ticketed for unclear plates, police said.

Both were released pending a court appearance.
CAMDEN -- A 47-year-old Atlantic City man was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a cocaine distribution ring that operated in the Atlantic County-area, prosecutors said.

Kabaka Atiba, who also goes by Clarence Nixon, previously pleaded guilty in Camden federal court to distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Atiba was involved in a conspiracy to traffic more than 100 kilograms of cocaine, according to authorities. Atiba and others in the scheme used homes in Pleasantville and Absecon to store and package the drugs.

Authorities said Atiba's half-brother, Tozine Tiller, 43, of Absecon, supplied him with the cocaine along with other members of the drug trafficking operation.

Atiba distributed more than 840 grams of crack cocaine between February 2010 and December 2014, according to federal authorities.

A dozen people have been charged in the drug trafficking conspiracy and all but one has been convicted, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

FBI, Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Administration agents worked with Atlantic and Cumberland County authorities in the investigation.

Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc and on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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LOS ANGELES (AP) -- In a move virtually unprecedented, disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was revoked Saturday by its board.

Harvey Weinstein (Charles Sykes / AP)

The decision was reached in an emergency session by the academy, the world's top movie organization and home to the Oscars. The expulsion was effective immediately.

It comes after recent reports by The New York Times and The New Yorker about sexual harassment and rape allegations against Weinstein going back decades. He has denied the accusations against him.

In issuing its decision, the academy stated "We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over."

"What's at issue here," the statement added, "is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society."

The statement said the decision was reached by "well in excess of the required two-thirds majority" of the 54-member academy board.

Only one person is thought to have been previously expelled from the academy: Carmine Caridi, a character actor who had his membership revoked in 2004 for lending DVD screeners of films in contention for Oscars that ended up online.

The academy's swift and severe ruling against Weinstein may raise questions about other academy members who remain in good standing. These include Roman Polanski, an Oscar-winner who in the 1970s pleaded guilty to drugging and raping a 13-year-old girl, and entertainer Bill Cosby, who has faced dozens of allegations of sexual assault.

Weinstein, himself an Oscar winner as a producer of the 1998 Best Picture "Shakespeare in Love," was ousted a week ago from The Weinstein Co., the movie and TV production company he co-founded with his brother Bob and which now is struggling to survive the scandal.

In an interview published Saturday by The Hollywood Reporter, Bob Weinstein called for his "sick and depraved' brother to be kicked out of the academy.

Speaking more broadly, Bob Weinstein added, "I want him to get the justice that he deserves."

On Wednesday, Harvey Weinstein' membership in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts was revoked.
Congress has won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat with its candidate Sunil Jakhar defeating BJP's Swaran Salaria by a massive margin of 1.93 lakh votes.

By India Today Web Desk: After winning the Assembly election in Punjab early this year, the Congress today won the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat. Its candidate Sunil Jakhar defeated BJP's Swaran Salaria with a huge margin of 1,93,219 votes. Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes while Salaria polled 3,06,533, poll official said. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) nominee Major General (Retd) Suresh Khajuria polled 23,579 votes.

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The seat had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MP Vinod Khanna in April this year. The Congress had last won the seat in 2009 when Partap Singh Bajwa defeated BJP's Vinod Khanna. Khanna was a four-time MP from Gurdaspur and won the seat in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014. An elated Jakhar thanked voters for his resounding victory in the bypoll.

VICTORY FOR CONGRESS

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said it was a victory for the Congress' "policies and development agenda" and congratulated Sunil Jakhar. "Congratulations to @sunilkjakhar ji for his impressive win in #Gurdaspur bypoll, it's a victory for @INCPunjab policies & development agenda," Amarinder tweeted.

"We have sent a beautiful Diwali gift packed with red ribbon to our would-be president Rahul Gandhi because it sets the tone... it will be a shot in the arm for the Congress," said state cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. He said the victory was a slap on the faces of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia.

Punjab BJP secretary Vineet Joshi alleged that the Congress misused the official machinery in the bypoll. AAP candidate Maj. Gen. (Retd) Suresh Khajuria also accused the Congress of using "undemocratic means" in the bypoll.

IUML WINS VENGARA BYPOLL

Meanwhile, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) candidate KNA Khader won the Vengara by-election in Kerala today with a huge margin of more than 23,000 votes.

IUML chief PK Kunhalikutty who vacated the Vengara seat and later won the Malappuram Lok Sabha seat earlier this year said the CPI-M used all its might but IUML was sure of its victory. Kunhalikutty won this seat in the 2016 assembly polls with a margin of over 38,000 vote.

HERE ARE THE LATEST UPDATES:

The #Gurdaspur by-election marks another major step in the revival of @INCIndia, it's clear that party is on upswing ahead of 2019 LS polls&; Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 15, 2017

Congress's Sunil Jakhar wins by 1,93,219 votes.

Congress leads by 1,82,160 after round 13. The grand old party gets 4,56,250 votes, BJP 2,74,090 and AAP with 21,509 votes.

Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar with party leaders. Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar with party leaders.

Congress' Jakhar now leading by 1,82,000 votes after round 13 of counting.

Congress leading by 1,70,488 votes after 11th round.

Assure people of #Gurdaspur that every single promise made by @sunilkjakhar will be fulfilled and all development works will be fast-tracked&; Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) October 15, 2017

Congress candidate leading by 1,69,640 votes.

Congress' Jakhar leading by 1,43,538 votes.

This is a beautiful Diwali gift, packed with a red ribbon, for our would be party president Rahul Gandhi: Navjot Sidhu #GurdaspurByPoll pic.twitter.com/A5SRHoT6VB&; ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

People of Gurdaspur have sent a strong message of their resentment to policies pursued by Modi ji-led Centre: Sunil Jakhar

Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar leading by 1,34,000 votes.

Punjab: Congress workers and leaders celebrate as party leads by more than 1 lakh votes in #GurdaspurLokSabhaBypoll pic.twitter.com/gYlPec5EKG&; ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017 Congress candidate leading by 1 lakh votes.

Congress leading by 56,643 votes.

AAP candidate Major General Suresh Kumar Khajuria (retd) on the third spot.

Jakhar leading by over 8,000 votes from his nearest rival Swarn Salaria of BJP in third round of counting.

Congress's Sunil Jakhar extends lead, now is ahead by 42,718 votes.

Counting underway for Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll (Photo: ANI)

After completion of first round of Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll, Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar leads by 14,316 votes.

Congress leading, BJP second and AAP third. Counting underway

Counting of votes has begun.

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WATCH | Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll: Congress' Sunil Jakhar wins seat by 1.93 lakh margin

--- ENDS ---

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State Rep. Helena Moreno won an at-large seat on the New Orleans City Council in the election held Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. (Photo by Sarah Gamard, Manship School News Service)
After the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke out, French-speaking Twitter users who've faced sexual harassment or assault, have been speaking out using a hashtag which means "Expose your pig."

By Ganesh Radha-Udayakumar: "One day, I'm going to f*** you, whether you want it or not."

The man who spoke these words to Guilia Fois, a radio journalist, held her by the throat. And he wasn't just anybody. In a tweet she posted on Saturday, Fois says he was a "red chef," short for redacteur-en-chef, or editor-in-chief.

That tweet bore the hashtag #balancetonporc, which means or "expose (or out) your "pig."

Un red chef, grande radio, petit couloir, m'attrapant par la gorge : "un jour, je vais te baiser, que tu le veuilles ou non" #balancetonporc- Giulia Fos (@Giulia_Fois_) October 14, 2017

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But who was asking?

After The New York Times and The New Yorker brought to light Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's history of sexual harassment, French news reports said Sandra Muller, a journalist like Guilia Fois, created the hashtag and asked victims to speak out on Twitter

#balancetonporc !! toi aussi raconte en donnant le nom et les dtails un harclent sexuel que tu as connu dans ton boulot. Je vous attends- Sandra Muller (@LettreAudio) October 13, 2017

Thousands responded.

We've translated some of them for you.

"I'm 16 years old. I take my place in the bus, and an old man put his hand on my behind, saying "I'm going to teach you (about) life."

#balancetonporc J'ai 16 ans. Je m'installe dans le bus et l un vieil homme me met la main aux fesses en disant "je vais t'apprendre la vie"- Tina Jean (@TinaJean8) October 15, 2017

This woman says a top executive who tried to rape her a few years earlier, told her, "I've always been nice to you."

Grande radio, grand chef qui qq annes avant avait tent de me violer, me dit "J'ai pourtant toujours t sympa avec toi" #balancetonporc- valeria_e (@valeria_e) October 14, 2017

"I was 17 years old, by two guys, one held me and the other...Today I regret not having filed a complaint."

J'avais 17 ans, par 2 mecs,l'un me tennais et l'autre... Je regrette aujourd'hui de ne pas avoir port plainte. #balancetonporc- Maeva (@Maeva1429) October 15, 2017

One Twitter user invited male victims (or men who have helped women victims) to join the chorus.

"That will be be better than 'Not everyone's like that' " she said, perhaps to pre-empt whiny complaints by indignant men.

Jinvite les hommes #balancetonporc quils soient victimes ou aient aid une femme harcele. Partagez! Ce sera mieux que pastouscommea- Lyly_sig ?????????? (@Lyly_sig) October 15, 2017

On Sunday night in France*, #balancetonporc tweets were still pouring in.

Meanwhile, English-speaking Twitter users have been using the hashtag #myharveyweinstein to share their own horror stories.

For every woman sharing a #myharveyweinstein story consider there are hundreds more who cant bc shes at work w/him right now.- Jen Boo-harty ?? (@JenDFluharty) October 10, 2017

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According to a French Institute for Public Opinion study, one out of five women in France said in 2014 that they faced sexual harassment at work.

"Behind the numerous #balancetonporc testimonies, there is an ocean of things that can't be said because (they are) too painful," read one Twitter comment.

And a reporter for France Inter conveyed in one line just how painful such memories can be:

"When reading #balancetonporc brings you back to a moment of humiliation, powerlessness, and shame that twenty years haven't completely erased."

Quand lire #balancetonporc te ramne un moment d'humiliation, d'impuissance et de honte que 20 ans n'ont pas totalement effac.- Claude Guibal (@ClaudeGuibal) October 15, 2017

--- ENDS ---
The study looks at two smaller-scale projects that are in some ways predecessors to the Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, the $2 billion plan to slow land loss erasing Louisiana's coast. Construction on that project could begin as early as next year, while a similar one on the opposite side of the river known as the Mid-Breton Diversion could follow.
Clinton, in an interview set to air Sunday on CNN, said Trump's insistence on decertifying the deal, even though evidence has pointed to Iranian compliance, "makes us look foolish and small and plays right into Iranian hands."

Hillary Clinton suggests US President Donald Trump is undermining the validity of the United States' promises to other nations. (Photo: Reuters)

By AP: Hillary Clinton said President Donald Trump's threat to pull out of the Iran nuclear accord is "dangerous," and she suggests her former campaign opponent is undermining the validity of the United States' promises to other nations.

Trump on Friday accused Iran of violating the landmark 2015 accord, blaming the Iranians for a litany of sinister behavior and hitting their main military wing with anti-terror penalties. Trump, breaking his campaign pledge to rip up the agreement, did not pull the US out or re-impose nuclear sanctions, though he left that option on the table.

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Clinton, in an interview recorded Wednesday and set to air Sunday on CNN, said Trump's insistence on decertifying the deal, even though evidence has pointed to Iranian compliance, "makes us look foolish and small and plays right into Iranian hands."

"That is bad not just on the merits for this particular situation, but it sends a message across the globe that America's word is not good," said Clinton, who spoke in advance of Trump's announcement two days later. "We have different presidents, and this particular president is, I think, upending the kind of trust and credibility of the United States' position and negotiation that is imperative to maintain."

Clinton, who as secretary of state for President Barack Obama began negotiations on the deal, did say Iran is engaging in other dangerous behavior. For now, Trump is tossing the issue to Congress and the other nations in the accord, telling lawmakers to toughen the law that governs US participation and calling on the other parties to fix a series of deficiencies. Those include the scheduled expiration of key restrictions under "sunset provisions" that begin to kick in in 2025, as well as the omission of provisions on ballistic missile testing and terrorism.

The 2016 Democratic presidential nominee also denounced Trump's bellicose language toward North Korea, believing his verbal aggression has rattled American allies.

"We will now have an arms race - a nuclear arms race in East Asia," Clinton predicted. "We will have the Japanese, who understandably are worried with missiles flying over them as the North Koreans have done, that they can't count on America."

She stressed that a diplomatic solution was preferred, suggested the inflammatory rhetoric played into Kim Jong-un's hands and bemoaned Trump's public undercutting of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson when he tweeted "Save your energy, Rex" after the nation's top diplomat had suggested negotiations.

"Diplomacy, preventing war, creating some deterrents is slow, hard-going, difficult work," said Clinton, who declined to answer when asked whether Tillerson should resign. "And you can't have impulsive people or ideological people who basically say, 'Well, we're done with you.'"

Clinton, who recently released a book that recounts her election defeat to Trump, has been an aggressive critic of the president. The White House did not immediately return a request to respond to her comments.

--- ENDS ---
Council Bluffs has been selected with four other cities for launching a program that will bring together college students and local nonprofit organizations during an eight-week paid summer internship.

The Tyson Foods Summer Community Internship Program is providing a $200,000 grant to get this program off the ground, which will be administered by Campus Compact, a national coalition of more than 1,000 colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education.

The grant is given to us to administer the program and also to pay the nonprofits to pay the students directly, said Emily Shields, executive director of Iowa Campus Compact. Non-profits dont always have resources to pay interns, so to have this is beneficial.

This program will launch next summer in Chicago, and three Iowa cities  Sioux City, Storm Lake and Council Bluffs. This is a pilot program and, if it works well, it might be expanded to other communities, Shields said.

The Tyson program is new, while Campus Compact has been involved in student/nonprofit partnerships for more than 30 years, which includes helping students at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Shields said.

We see a lot of benefits for both students and the nonprofits, she said.

When nonprofits dont have funds for paid internships, this discourages students from applying, since they usually need paid summer jobs to fund their tuitions, Shields said.

Whats more, corporations look for college graduates with community involvement, she added.

Were hoping for big impacts all around, she said.

Approximately 40 non-profits from all four cities are to be selected in this program. They will then interview and select the student applicants that best fit their needs, Shields said.

For local nonprofits and college students interested in this program, they need to apply online by Nov. 17 at iacampuscompact.org.
The Council Bluffs observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month peaked Friday with the annual Pink Out event in the 100 block of West Broadway.

A key part of the observance is emphasizing that women should be sure to have routine screenings.

You know the mantra: Early detection is the best protection, Dr. Mike Zlomke, a surgeon at Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital, told the crowd that gathered.

In keeping with the theme, Superheroes Wear Pink, Zlomke spoke wearing not just a pink shirt but a pink cape, as well. Thats only fitting, because hes a superhero to his patients, said Tara Slevin, vice president of development and volunteer services at Jennie.

I believe Jennie Edmundson saved my life, said Marcia Antworth, a breast cancer survivor whose tumor was discovered during a routine mammogram. Had I not had the mammogram  had I not done it, had I put it off another year  I might not be here.

The Jennie Edmundson Cancer Center has served more than 17,900 patients since it opened, said Steve Baumert, president and CEO of Jennie.

For the second year in a row, Angels Care Home Health won the commercial window-decorating contest. The SilverStone Group came in second, and Homestyle Laundry & Dry Cleaning finished third.

As of Friday, Jennie staff and volunteers had sold 3,000 pink shirts, Slevin said. About $5 from each sale goes to the Spirit of Courage Charitable Patient Care Fund, she said.

Members of Abraham Lincoln High Schools DECA Club also contributed to the cause. The students raised $1,162.02 for the Charitable Patient Care Fund and held activities to heighten awareness of breast cancer among the student body, said Kristy Nickolisen, chapter sponsor. Members held a Hat Day, when students could pay to wear a hat at school; a Miracle Minute, when members handed out beads and collected donations; and a Jeans Day, when teachers and staff members could pay $5 to wear jeans to school, she said. They also held a door-decorating contest.

Nickolisen and several of the students had lost loved ones to cancer, so it was something that touched a lot of people, she said.

The club held an assembly Friday morning in the school auditorium to rally support. Holding a banner that said, DECA is Limitless in Our Support of the Superheroes Who Wear Pink, members did a brief reading that emphasized what cancer cant do: It cant defeat love, hope, faith or friendship, among other things.

In addition, two younger students who have faced cancer spoke.

These kids have fought the fight that were here for today, Nickolisen said.

Brady Jorgensen, 11, is currently fighting brain cancer and will soon be going to Iowa City to get an MRI scan to see if the tumor has grown, he said. Jennie honored him with a Spirit of Courage Award in 2009.

Gracie Hays, 12, was diagnosed with cancer when she was two and underwent five rounds of treatment, she said. She was honored with a Spirit of Courage Award in 2011. She recently celebrated being cancer-free for 10 years.

Slevin thanked DECA members for their donation.

What an impressive group of young men and women, she said. And, truly, you guys have done a great job with the awareness piece.
By Manjeet Sehgal: Police have found documents related to property worth crores, allegedly belonging to Honeypreet Insan, from bags seized from Gurusar Modia in Rajasthan.

These bags were seized by Haryana Police on Wednesday. On searching a grey bag, police found documents related to nearly a hundred properties, allegedly owned by Honeypreet Insan, Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's 'adopted' daughter.

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Police are getting the valuation of these properties done through experts. According to sources, these properties are located in Mumbai, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab among other places.

Police have also recovered several debit-cum-ATM cards from the bag, some of which belong to Honeypreet. Honeypreet was believed to be the second-in-command at Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh-led Dera Sacha Sauda and was the overall in-charge of Dera's finances. Most financial transactions at Dera required her signature.

Sources in the police said of the three bags found from Gurusar Modia, only one has been searched so far. The other two bags also contain documents but are yet to be scrutinised by police. During its investigation of the Panchkula violence, Haryana Police took Honeypreet to Bathinda in Punjab and later to Rajasthan, where Gurmeet Ram Rahim's close associate stayed during her 38-day hide and seek.

In another development, the two laptops that were recovered from the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa during a sanitation drive were examined by forensic experts. IT experts have recovered some documents from the laptops which contain details regarding properties. Police are now trying to match these details with the documents seized from the bag.

The files recovered so far are about some firms that were owned by Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Among the seven companies listed in one of the laptops, one company has been identified as a Delhi-based real estate firm.

ALSO WATCH: Congress leader facilitated Honeypreet's escape from Dera headquarters, sources to India Today

--- ENDS ---
Its hard to imagine the world we live in without the internet. This critical technology is now integrated into just about everything we do, all day every day. Yet as a consumer technology, the internet is fairly young and most of us remember a time before it even existed in our lives.

I also remember the extreme investing environment fueled by the promise of the internet in the late 1990s. In 1995, we all knew the internet was going to change everything, we just didnt know how.

The gaps in not knowing how this technology would ultimately impact our lives left plenty of room for speculation. This room for speculation led to actual speculation in the stock market as we all recall the wild dot.com trading days and the resulting stock market bubble of the 1998-2000.

The internet as it matures certainly did not fulfill every expectation. Now almost 20 years later in some ways the results such as smart phones are dramatically better than what was expected at the time, while much of the internet based e-commerce business models that held so much promise have simply gone away.

The first newspaper article I was ever involved in was in 1998 and involved the stock of Amazon.com. As I walk by this column now framed in our office, I often get wistful wishing I had handled that early investment a little differently. Oh well, I was young.

Now armed with an extra 20 years of experience I see a new opportunity forming in the ether. In my opinion while the opportunity from an investing point of view is not entirely new, the opportunity for this technology to fundamentally change the human experience and therefore the opportunity to create new wealth has only just begun.

The technology I am speaking of is course artificial intelligence (AI) particularly in the context of when it is combined with robotics. Artificial intelligence is the development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence such as visual perception, speech interaction and intuitive decision making.

As a sci-fi fan I was always expecting AI to lead to the singularity, or the moment that machines become self-aware and conscious from a human perspective.

Just as the internet however did not validate every initial expectation as the technology developed, I now believe AI will now not result in a moment or awareness, it will instead just continue to make technology in general and interactions with technology better and better over time. As this more intuitive and human focused computing is mated to quickly advancing robot technology the results are likely to change the planet in unforeseen ways.

Which leads us back to the 1990s. Just as the way the internet would ultimately impact society was open to speculation in that time period, the way AI when coupled with robotics will impact us going forward is also not clear.

As awareness of this technology and the opportunities it may create gains momentum, we would be smart as investors to remember the investing speculation that occurred in the late 90s and attempt to manage our actions and expectations around this experience.
Several local attorneys were recognized at the Indiana State Bar Association's awards luncheon Aug. 30 in Indianapolis. George Patrick was recognized for 25 years of service in the practice of law. Patrick is senior partner at the Crown Point firm George C Patrick and Associates. Benjamin Fryman of Valparaiso received an ISBA presidential citation for his contributions to the ISBA Social Media Focus Group, which helped guide the ISBA in its efforts to launch a public education campaign. Alfredo Estrada was presented the ISBA's Trailblazer/Abriendo Caminos award for his work supporting the advancement of other Latino attorneys. Estrada is an associate attorney at the Merrillville firm Burke Costanza & Carberry. He is the co-chair of the firm's immigration practice group and a member of the firms litigation practice group.
One recent morning, Munster resident Dima Sergiyenko awoke in a train compartment. The train, however, wasn't moving. It was stopped in an open field in Ukraine.

Rather than walk around and ask what happened, Sergiyenko picked up his camera and began talking to it and documenting this discovery. His speculation was the train had broken down. It was another section of his planned vlog on his trip from Warsaw, Poland, to Kiev, Ukraine.

"The train stopped in the open field is pretty normal," he remarked. "It was just crumbling old trains and infrastructure that didn't mix very well."

Eventually, he made it to Kiev, his original birthplace and where he lived until he was 5 years-old. Throughout that time, he documented images and videos of sights, food and experiences for his vlog and YouTube channel, Discover With Dima.

Sergiyenko started the channel in 2015 after returning from a family trip to South Carolina. He was inspired by other YouTube vloggers with followings such as Casey Neistat, FunForLouis and Mr. Ben Brown. As of this article's publishing date, he has 71 videos and 1,025 subscribers.

"At the time, I was really interested as to why someone would want to watch another individual go about their day and narrate it," he said. "But something had me come back. Maybe it was the realization that it was much more than them talking about their day."

Since then, Sergiyenko has jetted off to several countries and numerous cities, editing his images and audio together into informative vlogs. He likes to explore historic districts, architecture, monuments, parks and surrounding nature.

His travels have taken him far away to Barcelona, Spain, and Munich, Germany, but also U.S. destinations such as Boston and Key West, Florida. He'll even find the unique features of the Region through urban exploration in Gary's abandoned structures and hikes through the Dunes. Last year, he estimates he traveled about 25,000 miles through five different countries. His most recent trip took him to South America, where he visited Medillin, Colombia, and Lima, Peru. There's no particular way he chooses where to go  usually what proves most cost-effective at the time.

However, Sergiyenko doesn't credit this as typical, young wanderlust.

"To an extent, I've always been traveling throughout most of my life and like most people I took plenty of pictures and videos of my trips," he said. "I am trying to make it a way of life. Something I can eventually call a career and make a living off of."

Each trip also comes with its proper preparation. Aside from itineraries, Sergiyenko is mindful of costs with flights and where to spend his nights. He makes notes in his videos during his purchases of the currency he used equated with the exchange rate in U.S. dollars.

"For instance, instead of going out to eat every day, you can shop at a grocery store and make homemade sandwiches and drinks for much, much cheaper than it would be to go out," he said. "In some countries I am fortunate enough to be able to go out and spend money on food while in others I have to watch my costs more closely."

Language barriers also can prove frustrating, but Sergiyenko feels aided by his fluency in Russian and German.

"I can speak at most maybe a few words or phrases in Spanish, so coming to Colombia and Peru has definitely given me an interesting experience to say the least," he said. "But with a little bit of Google translate, luck, help from my friend, Mark, and some ingenuity, we've been able to get along with the people in South America very well."

Sergiyenko sometimes brings friends with him. One was Krista Zagar, a Munster native now living in Elkhart. Zagar joined Sergiyenko on an expedition to Vancouver and Victoria, Canada. The two met while they were students at Munster High School.

I was honored (to join him in Canada)," Zagar said. "When he came up with the idea, I was completely on board. Im constantly impressed with his progress, editing skills and how it gets better with each video. I think hes very informative. He likes to spit bursts of information throughout his vlog, and that keeps it interesting and hes not just lecturing the whole time."

Zagar also feels that taking advantage of travel opportunities while young is key.

"Its important for us as young adults to travel as much as you can and learn as much as you can," Zagar said. "Americas great, but you really get a different taste of the world by traveling."

Sergiyenko said he wants to do this for as long as he can, and that should future domestic responsibilities arise, he'll try to incorporate his vlogging as best as possible.

"I have been able to look back on my older videos from a year ago and remember exactly what I was thinking in that moment, the minute details of what I ate or even what kinds of conversations I had with people in my video," he said. "It's fun to look back and reminisce about the good times and adventures. I would want my audience to not only learn more about different cultures and places, but also be able to experience a place they might never get the chance to visit. You don't always have to travel outside of your own country to visit a new place  sometimes they are just a few hours or so away and you might not even know about it."
GARY  Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson was up to the challenge of joining others in sliding down the firehouse pole at a joyous reopening Friday of a long-closed fire station in the Tolleston neighborhood.

The reopening of the fire station is one of a number of capital and equipment improvements being made in both Gary and Hammond, which last week itself celebrated the opening of its first new fire station in decades.

Hammond Fire Chief Jeff Smith said Fire Station No. 8 is the first new fire station any of the current firefighters have seen in Hammond. The last new fire station to open in Hammond was in 1979.

The opening of the new fire station at 6350 Parrish Ave. means the old station about a block away will close. The old station was cramped and didn't have the modern amenities, including a workout area, that was built into the new station, Smith said.

The new station will provide a higher level of fire protection to residents by having room for a spare fire engine and ambulance. Now, Smith said, if there is a mechanical breakdown with a fire engine or ambulance, emergency workers can switch out to the spare equipment within minutes.

Previously, he said, firefighters had to go to another station to access a spare engine or ambulance, which could take them away from the area for 45 minutes to an hour  or longer if a train blocked their return to their home station.

Gariup Construction, of Gary, in 2016 was awarded the $2,899,500 contract to build the fire station, which Smith said came in under budget. Officials said earlier that they would pay for the structure through an installment purchase agreement using money from its Gateway Allocation Area.

Reopening after a long absence

The day after Hammond celebrated the opening of its new fire station, Gary on Friday celebrated the reopening of its remodeled Fire Station No. 3 at 1200 Roosevelt St.

Gary Fire Chief Paul Bradley said the fire station, across the street from Beveridge Elementary School, had been closed since 2007. Money generated from ambulance fees was used in covering the cost of remodeling the older structure, which included a new roof, new furnishings and other work. He estimated it cost about $200,000 to repair and remodel the facility.

Bradley said the reopening of the fire station will mean quicker response time to fires in that section of the city. He said engines from the station will be among the first to respond to the Methodist Hospitals Northlake Campus.

Freeman-Wilson said in addition to the school, hospital and residents, the new fire station will provide added protection for the many older and newer businesses along the 11th Avenue corridor.

"To have this firehouse back on line, right across from the school, in a vibrant neighborhood, means a lot," she said.

Bradley said he also hoped the Fire Department could start work next year on a new fire station to house firefighters who currently are housed at the Calumet Township Multipurpose Center, 1900 W. 41st Ave. City officials said they plan to use a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Section 108 loan program to cover the estimated cost of about $3 million for what would be Fire Station No. 5 in the 4900 block of Pennsylvania Street.
INDIANAPOLIS  When a federal judge recently struck down portions of a 2016 Indiana law limiting the right to abortion, she also set the stage for another six-figure state payment to the Indiana chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union.

The exact amount Hoosier taxpayers will send to the ACLU to cover attorneys' fees for its most recent constitutional challenge on behalf of Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky likely won't be determined until the appeal promised by Republican Attorney General Curtis Hill is concluded.

But a review of state auditor records by The Times Media Co. found that Indiana already has shelled out $2,831,532.99 in legal fees to the ACLU since 2011, including $302,889.87 during the 2017 budget year, $668,385.13 in 2016, and $433,675.92 in 2015.

Federal law allows judges to require the government to pay a plaintiff's legal fees in some civil rights cases as an incentive to challenge potentially unconstitutional statutes, while also deterring frivolous lawsuits, since only successful litigants are eligible for payment.

In recent years, the Indiana ACLU has been successful getting, in particular, abortion restrictions enacted by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and the state's Republican governors struck down in federal court.

The ACLU also prevailed last year on behalf of Exodus Refugee Immigration Inc., when then-Gov. Mike Pence, now vice president of the United States, attempted to bar Syrian refugees legally present in the United States from entering Indiana.

Ken Falk, Indiana ACLU legal director, laughed off the suggestion that the state is the largest donor to the Indiana ACLU.

"But in terms of what government entity (in the state) pays the most in attorneys' fees? It clearly is the state of Indiana," Falk said.

Successful challenges elsewhere

Hoosiers aren't alone in having to pay the lawyers who successfully challenge civil rights infringements.

Cook County, Illinois, agreed in 2013 to pay $646,000 to cover the ACLU's legal fees after a lawsuit filed by the organization prompted a federal judge and appellate court to strike down a state law, that was defended by the county, which barred individuals from audio-recording their encounters with on-duty police officers.

In June, Kentucky was ordered to pay $220,000 in ACLU attorneys' fees for a lawsuit spurred by a county clerk who refused to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage nationwide in 2015.

Similar state efforts opposing gay marriage cost Michigan $1.9 million for plaintiff legal fees, Pennsylvania $1.5 million, Wisconsin $1.05 million, Virginia $520,000 and Florida $493,000.

The national ACLU office did not respond to a request for comment on how Indiana's legal-fees tab compares to other states. But the ACLU's most recent annual report shows the group collected $5,422,660 in legal fees during 2016, and $3,842,201 in 2015.

Testing abortion limits

Hoosier lawmakers had no doubt, even as they debated the 2016 abortion proposal, that House Enrolled Act 1337 would end up in court, just as similar Indiana abortion measures have in prior years.

In fact, some legislators said they were hoping the latest statute would set a precedent for new limits on abortion access en route to eliminating abortion in Indiana altogether.

The Pence-enacted law prohibited a woman from obtaining an abortion if the decision to terminate her pregnancy was based on a diagnosis, or potential diagnosis, of fetal disability or abnormality, or due to the race, color, national origin, ancestry or sex of the fetus.

It also required abortion providers to ensure fetal remains not claimed by abortion patients were buried or cremated similar to dead bodies, rather than incinerated through sanitary medical waste disposal.

U.S. Judge Tanya Walton Pratt struck down the first component because she said the Supreme Court repeatedly has ruled that women have the freedom to choose abortion prior to fetal viability, for any reason, or no reason at all.

She concluded the second provision also failed to pass constitutional muster, because the state does not have a legitimate interest in mandating fetal remains be treated the same as other human remains, since the high court has made clear that a fetus is not a person.

Indiana's attorney general said he was disappointed by the judge's decision and vowed to appeal her ruling to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.

"This state has a compelling interest in protecting the dignity of the unborn and in ensuring they are not selected for termination simply because they lack preferred physical characteristics," Hill said.

Legal deja vu

Falk, of the Indiana ACLU, refused to criticize Hill's decision to appeal, since Falk said it is the right of every litigant to seek appellate review.

But Falk also said it is obvious that "this law was a frontal assault on law that has existed firmly in the Supreme Court since 1973."

"The Legislature is free to do what the Legislature does. But legislators took an oath, like I did, to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States," Falk said. "I would hope that they try and figure out what the Constitution says in this regard."

Hill believes that as attorney general he has an obligation to defend laws enacted by the General Assembly when they are challenged in court.

"The law reflects the collective will of the people, and as a representative of the people, I have a duty to protect the law from anyone who would seek to undermine the will of the people," he said.

Hill also indicated that his office works proactively with legislators to "enact strong, constitutionally sound laws from their very inception."

Falk remains skeptical that Hoosier lawmakers will quit seeking to limit the right to abortion any time soon, and correspondingly shut off the legal fees Indiana pays to the ACLU.

"Although I'm an optimistic person, and I would like to say I hope that this ends the state's efforts in this regard, I am not that optimistic  so we'll have to see what future legislative sessions bring," he said.
The police is yet to recover the laptop which was allegedly handed over to Vipasna Insan by Honeypreet on August 26, a day after violence broke out in Panchkula and Sirsa besides other towns.

By Manjeet Sehgal: Sirsa police has handed over two laptops, seized from Dera Sacha headquarters during the sanitisation drive, to the State Forensic Science Laboratory, Madhuban, Karnal.

Highly placed sources told India Today that most of the files stored in the laptops have been deleted. IT experts are now trying to recover the deleted files. The files recovered so far are about some firms that were owned by Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Among the seven companies listed in one of the laptops, one company has been identified as a Delhi-based real estate firm.

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Sources said Gurmeet Ram Rahim had invested Dera money in some real estate companies. One of such projects is based in Zirakpur. A Zirakpur-based developer is already on police radar for helping the rape-convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim on final judgment day. The real estate company owner had allegedly provided a fleet of vehicles to Gurmeet Ram Rahim's convoy on August 25.

HONEYPREET'S LAPTOP STILL A MYSTERY

The laptop in which Honeypreet had allegedly stored Panchkula guide maps and list of Dera functionaries who were entrusted the job of managing various pockets of Panchkula on or before the judgement day still remains a mystery.

The police is yet to recover the laptop which was allegedly handed over to Vipasna Insan by Honeypreet on August 26, a day after violence broke out in Panchkula and Sirsa besides other towns.

Sources said the laptops were recovered from Sirsa on September 8 besides 64 hard disk drives during a 12-hour sanitisation drive ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Incidentally, the laptops, currently with Haryana forensic lab, were found from a gunny bag on Friday. The police suspects that one of the laptops could be that of Honeypreet Insan.

AFTER MOBILE PHONE, NOW DATA FOUND MISSING FROM LAPTOPS

The iPhone owned by Honeypreet, which was handed over to Panchkula police on Friday was also found tampered. The police has yet to recover the video clips and maps from mobile phone and laptop which will establish Honeypreet's role in Panchkula violence.

The data from the two laptops was also deleted. The initial recovery attempts have only found some financial documents. The guide maps and deployment roaster are still beyond the reach of the police.

--- ENDS ---
HIGHLAND  Before police moved to their new station in early 2016, detectives often processed evidence at their desks.

These days, Highland police detectives have a secure evidence room at their new station on Ridge Road that includes storage, supplies and a fingerprint fuming chamber.

The Air Science Safefume chamber, which cost about $4,000, helps investigators move their cases along faster by allowing them to collect fingerprint evidence before sending it for analysis and possible identification, Detective Lee Natelborg said.

Local, state and federal crime labs often have a backlog of cases, requiring local police to be more selective in which pieces of evidence are sent for processing. By processing some evidence themselves, and seeking assistance only with analysis, Highland police can expedite cases, Natelborg said.

Investigators can try to bring out fingerprints on any surface small enough to fit in the fuming chamber, he said.

The Hammond Police Department, Lake County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police and FBI all analyze fingerprint evidence.

Investigators can use similar, less sophisticated methods to process evidence collected using the fuming chamber, Natelborg said. However, the chamber increases the likelihood that processing will produce quality evidence.

"This gives you better odds, especially if you've got a big case and you want to make sure you do it right," he said.

Natelborg said he recently investigated a burglary and used the chamber to gather fingerprint evidence from a small basement window he removed from the home.

He took the evidence to the Hammond Police Department for analysis, but a suspect has not yet been identified.

"It's not like on TV," Natelborg said. "Most people don't leave you a perfect thumbprint."

Natelborg is still waiting on a DNA analysis from the Indiana State Police lab, and the fingerprints will remain on file.

"Those fingerprints on the window aren't going anywhere," he said.

Cmdr. John Banasiak said the department's old detective bureau likely was as big as the evidence room at the new police station.

"This was our chance to get the most modern and up-to-date facility," he said.

The chamber offered a relatively affordable way to increase investigators' efficiency, officials said.

"We're never going to have our own crime lab," Nadelborg said. "We're just not that big of an agency. Plus, their experience alone is priceless."
For more than 25 years, the Friends have made it their mission to enhance and promote the use and enjoyment of both the Crown Point and Winfield Branch libraries. They provide direct financial assistance to the library through fundraising. They help to purchase materials and equipment not covered in the librarys general budget. They also fund cultural and educational programs, literacy and outreach initiatives and encourage gifts, endowments and memorials for the library.

They are a few ways to support the Librarys Friends group. First, join the organization and become involved in the many activities and events they plan. Second, support their fundraising events. One of their signature fundraising events is the annual literary luncheon held in the spring and fall. This luncheon is one of the ways they raise funds to support the library while providing an interaction between community members and quality authors.

The Fall Literary Luncheon is 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 11. Author Sharon Sultan Cutler will persent her nostalgic American bandstand book "Bandstand Diaries: The Philadelphia Years 1956 to 1963."

The event will take place at the Crown Point Community Library meeting rooms and will include the authors presentation, book signing, a sit-down lunch, special recognition of veterans and raffle drawings. Tickets to the event are $25 per person, $5 discount for veterans and include lunch and the presentation. Tickets can be purchased at the Crown Point Library.

For more information call 219-306-4599 or visit crownpointlibrary.org/about/library-friends/
When electricity came to Valparaiso, the Daily Vidette was a part of the story. The newspaper office at 157 Lincolnway, where Fluid Coffebar is located now, was the first to see the benefit of electrification.

A story about this was published in The Vidette-Messenger on Oct. 14, 1927, shortly after the Daily Vidette and the Evening Messenger merged.

We know about this because The Vidette-Messenger archives are now online and easily searchable. The Times acquired The Vidette-Messenger in 1995. Reading contemporary accounts of historical events aids appreciation of how events were seen by eyewitnesses before the benefit of hindsight.

You take electricity for granted now, because all you have to do is flip a switch, but that wasnt always the case.

Charles R. Talcott, who died in October 1927, was editor of the Daily Vidette when this 1883 experiment happened. The drama of that event comes through in the account published just days after Talcotts death.

A dynamo was hooked up to the engine that powered the printing press. The tension built quickly.

Talcott, game to the last, took the governors off the engine. At last, a light. The gauge showed 120 pounds. For 20 seconds it showed and then the boiler started to go through the ceiling. Everyone in the place thought they were doomed and there was a genuine scare. Everybody poohed and laughed. They wanted to know who would want such a light as that, the story said.

The next day, the dynamo was hooked up to a tractor engine, and enough light was generated to convince the mayor and the council to grant entrepreneur George Conover, who owned the citys telephone franchise, the right to generate electricity for the city as well.

Technology keeps improving, and the news business keeps pace, including with its archives.

On May 8, 1954, The Vidette-Messenger published an article saying the newspaper was preserving its back issues for posterity by having them microfilmed.

It is the custom of all newspapers periodically to have the daily paper bound into large awkward-handling files for future reference, the story said.

Thats no longer the custom, although microfilm still is.

But bound or microfilmed, researchers needed clues to narrow the dates before tackling the archives.

Now that is has been digitized, that microfilm is much more easily searched.

When our new online archives were launched, back issues of The Times  variously called The Hammond Times, The Lake County Times or simply The Times  were included. A collection of pages from The Vidette-Messenger was added, but that collection was incomplete and difficult to read.

So a few of us at The Times boxed up our microfilm collection from The Vidette-Messenger and sent it in to be scanned. The result is that large gaps were filled. Any issues or pages still missing are because we didnt have them in our own collection.

Making the microfilm archives searchable meant I could finally look up a story I wrote early in my career about a medical student from Valparaiso who was on the island country of Grenada when U.S. forces invaded.

Philip Kilmer, 29, was attending a medical school there when U.S. forces landed on the island. I interviewed him several times by phone during that military action. He told me that confused U.S. soldiers had poor-quality maps from the military, so he gave them directions and his motor club maps.

After Grenada, the Pentagon learned it had to provide better maps to troops on the ground, and the civilian population eventually got the benefit of GPS mapping as a defense spin-off.

Looking at old advertising can offer perspective, too. A few days ago I ran across an Oct. 19, 1942, ad that let readers know daily milk deliveries would cease because the dairies were under orders to conserve rubber for the war effort during World War II.

You can learn more about The Times online archives and explore them yourself at nwi.com/archives.
Since the 1970s, an important line of research shows children and youth from low-income families can succeed at high academic levels in public schools given the right support.

The research on two of those supports is now so compelling it would be difficult to find anyone who would dispute them.

High-quality early childhood education and high-quality school leadership are powerful levers for improving student learning. And they are even more powerful if they are implemented together, instead of separately.

Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman of the University of Chicago argues if we want to spend our educational dollars more effectively, early childhood programs are the place.

However, we also know placing children in early childhood programs will not by itself ensure learning. Its the quality of the learning experience that matters most.

If we want strong early childhood education programs, we have to prepare leaders for elementary schools and early childhood programs who understand the complexities of Organizing Schools for Improvement, the title of the influential book authored by Tony Bryks team at the University of Chicago.

It is no secret high quality school leaders hire and retain the right teachers, develop their ability to succeed with a schools particular population and work with families to support student success. This is as true for early childhood classrooms as it is for high school classrooms.

Nationwide, however, two of the most important ships in the educational fleet are manned by crews that dont often communicate with each other. Early childhood education and leadership faculty teach in separate university departments.

Most school principals have little or no early childhood education background and just as little leadership preparation for early childhood programs.

Fortunately, notable exceptions point the way to change.

University of Washington and University of Connecticut are invested in ambitious programs in P-3 Leadership development. In Illinois, the Ounce of Prevention Fund, Erikson Institute, Illinois State University and the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Education Leadership have been pioneering innovative leadership practices for improving teacher learning in preschool settings.

After more than a decade, the two largest principal preparation providers  New Leaders and University of Illinois Chicago, respectively  have produced more than 300 new principals for Chicago Public Schools. Illinois became the first state to replace its general school administrator certificate with a P-12 Principal Endorsement.

The results have been impressive. Since the advent of No Child Left Behind in 2001, Chicago Public Schools has posted the highest elementary school learning gains among the 55 largest school districts in Illinois in reading and mathematics. Moreover, actual achievement in Chicago is now about the same as or higher than nearly 50 percent of all school districts statewide, up from just 3 percent of districts in 2001. That is according to a study led by Paul Zavitkovsky of the University of Illinois Chicago Center for Urban Education Leadership.

Third-grade reading scores in Chicago now eclipse those for the rest of the state for each of the three major demographic groups. This is particularly important because third-grade reading scores are an accurate predicator of eighth-grade reading levels  which in turn correlate highly with high school graduation.

These examples remind us other districts and states have considerable power to work with higher education to produce school leaders who significantly improve student learning in schools as a rule, rather than as an exception to the rule.
"When you think you're going to lose somebody ..."

A lump welled in Dan Dempsey's throat, and he couldn't finish his sentence. Speaking to me last week about his wife Karen's battle with breast cancer, at times the burly, tattooed, retired Irish-American cop needed to stop just to take a breath.

Sitting at the kitchen table of his Highland home, Dan regained composure, then glanced at a photo of Karen from 2011. In it, a bald Karen Dempsey forms a dimpled smile, somehow her eyes still glinting in spite of sickening cancer treatments that partially balded her head, requiring the rest to be shaved.

The sight of the picture caused another breath-strained moment, but this time a smile broke through Dan's tears.

"She is the most beautiful woman with no hair I have ever seen," Dan, 52, told me.

It was that love  the ability of Dan to help her feel beautiful at her sickest, most desperate moments  that Karen credits with helping her survive a disease that kills more than 40,000 American women each year.

Dan's unwavering ability to support and reinforce his wife's spirits in the depths of suffering, in spite of his own fearful struggles, is a fittingly inspirational message during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Whirlwind of fear

The Dempseys will never forget the whirlwind that spiraled into a rapid descent of Karen's 2010 breast cancer diagnosis.

In December of that year, just in time for Christmas, Karen, now 51, noticed a lump in her breast.

She immediately scheduled an appointment with a local doctor who said nothing was wrong, Karen said.

A month later, the lump grew larger. So did the pain and discomfort.

"From there, it was a whirlwind," Dan said.

Doctors ordered a biopsy and ultrasound. Karen had cancer.

In a matter of three weeks, follow-up tests at a Chicago hospital confirmed an even more grim reality. What had presented as stage-two cancer just three weeks prior was now clearly stage-three cancer, the couple said.

"I wasn't as scared when I first found out," Karen said. "But a few weeks later, when it changed stages that quickly, then I got scared. It had already spread to the lymph nodes."

The treatment that followed was enough to literally take the couple's breath away.

Chemotherapy sickened Karen to a point of near immobilization.

For four months straight, 24 hours per day, four days per week, Karen was stricken with a sickness no anti-nausea medication could touch.

Seven weeks of radiation, five days per week, followed.

She lost her hair. She lost her breasts in a full mastectomy. She underwent six total surgeries in the treatment and reconstruction process.

Every Sunday during the chemo treatment became "cry day," she said.

"Every Sunday I fell apart," Karen said. "But Dan was always there to put me back together."

'My rock'

Make no mistake about it. Dan felt like breaking down at times, too.

"I remember one time upstairs, she was lying in bed, her hair was gone, and she just looked so sick," Dan said. "I had no idea what direction it was going.

"Watching her go through it was crazy hard. You just don't know what to do."

But Karen said Dan knew exactly what to do.

He constantly reminded her how beautiful she was, even in the sickest most despair-filled moments.

Aside from Sunday "cry day," Dan knew how to pick her up when she began to feel sorry for herself, Karen said.

"I remember when we were getting ready to get out of the house and see a show for the first time since treatment," Karen said. "I didn't want to go, but he made me feel beautiful all the time."

He also had a knack for injecting enjoyable moments amid the struggles.

When Karen was losing her hair, Dan organized a group head shearing, including shaving his own head and those of the couple's two sons, Danny, then a Highland High School junior, and Bobby, an eighth-grader at the time.

Dan was her nurse following the mastectomy and administered injections in her stomach when the treatment called for it.

But Karen said it was the heartfelt reminders of her beauty in times of sickness that made the most difference.

"My husband is awesome," she said. "He is my rock."

In one case, Dan went to literal great lengths to prove his bedrock of support.

Inspiration

In August 2011, amid sweltering Chicago heat, Dan walked 60 miles and became one of the top fundraisers in the city's charity walk for breast cancer research.

Photos of the ordeal show Dan's reddened, blistered and bandaged feet as he pushed himself to suffer in solidarity with Karen.

Sitting at their kitchen table last week, Karen giggled and shook her head in awe while browsing through photos of the event.

Today, Karen has all her hair back.

She has her health, her smile and is cancer free.

Modern medicine is to be lauded for breast cancer survival rates, as high as 99 percent after five years when the disease is diagnosed early.

Karen survived a highly aggressive strain, attributable in no small way to medical advances.

But for the scores of other women in the Region and nation who are battling, or someday face, a breast cancer diagnosis, Karen and Dan reveal a powerful lesson.

Nothing replaces the healing power of love and family support  the ones who remind sick loved ones that their beauty radiates at the times they least feel beautiful.
Marc Chase Editor Marc Chase is a veteran investigative reporter, columnist and editor of more than two decades. He currently leads The Times news staff as local news editor. He can be reached at 219-933-3327. Follow Marc Chase Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

In graduate school, I was an avid student of our nations response to domestic extremism and terrorism, writing my master's thesis on the effects of media coverage on such matters.

I never imagined an alleged perpetrator of political terrorism would be someone I knew, in some ways on a personal level.

It happened Thursday when the U.S. attorney and federal law enforcement announced felony criminal charges against Eric Krieg, 45, of Munster, accusing him of things that meet the very definition of domestic terrorism.

Who was Eric Krieg?

Before Thursday, I knew Krieg as a fringe Region political guy who regularly criticized the Northwest Indiana establishment.

Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. and his family frequently found themselves in Krieg's crosshairs, including Krieg's filing of formal complaints against the mayor's campaign that were promptly quashed by the Lake County elections board in 2013.

The Times also covered a defamation lawsuit filed against Krieg by a McDermott family member  one Krieg settled out of court for tens of thousands of dollars, according to a source close to the suit.

Many people referred to Krieg as a political gadfly, buzzing and stinging public officials who didn't align with his political philosophies, which swung to the right.

I knew Krieg this way as well.

But in the age of social media, I also knew him as an avid reader of my column who regularly would comment on my weekly opinion pieces on Facebook and sometimes through email.

Frequently, he would agree with my stances.

Other times, not so much.

Extreme position

In 2015, I wrote a column about another McDermott critic, Region tow-truck operator John "Lefty" Nauracy.

Much like Krieg was accustomed to doing, Nauracy filed past complaints questioning McDermott's campaign fundraising  filings that also were tossed after review by the elections board.

In my March 2015 column about Nauracy, I pointed out what many folks didn't know: In the mid-1990s, Nauracy was sentenced to about four years in federal prison after pleading guilty in Chicago federal court to mail fraud. The charge stemmed from allegations he was making false insurance claims on supposedly stolen vehicles, according to federal court records.

At one point, federal prosecutors in the case also alleged Nauracy threatened to kill the judge who sentenced him to 51 months in prison.

Krieg contacted me directly about that column, telling me he never would forgive me for questioning the veracity of Lefty.

I thought Id made a valid point in the column. Krieg thought it was "unforgivable." But we agreed to disagree.

Life went on, and Krieg became a regular commenter on my Facebook feed, often even posting friendly notes about projects I was doing around the house or a swing set I recently erected for my children.

Still, I never forgot what I always believed was a pretty extreme stance by Krieg. Who would be such an adamant apologist for a felon convicted of fraud and accused of threatening to kill a federal judge?

If Hammond federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents are correct in their most recent allegations, this wouldn't be the most extreme position taken by Krieg.

New allegations

Fast-forward more than two years, to Sept. 6, when a package carrying a pipe bomb exploded in the East Chicago post office, injuring a pregnant woman who worked there.

Federal authorities say the trail of evidence in the case led them to Krieg.

On Thursday, a caravan of white vans blocked off a 10-house area in Krieg's well-to-do Munster neighborhood, raiding his two-story brick home and seizing evidence over several hours.

Federal agents raided Krieg's place of business in Whiting, where he worked as an engineer, and impounded his car as coworkers looked on.

By day's end, Krieg faced federal felony charges of possessing an explosive device and transporting explosive materials. Additional charges could be coming, federal authorities said Thursday.

Add to all that the terror experienced during the past month by the people federal officials say Krieg targeted.

The bomb that exploded in East Chicago actually had been addressed to the home of a contracted vendor who did municipal work for the city of Hammond.

I spoke with him Friday, and he is neither ready to speak publicly nor to be identified. I'm honoring that in this column.

This man has a family at home  including children  who would have been in harm's way had the bomb not accidentally exploded in East Chicago.

What if the package had made it to the intended home? What if a child, or any other innocent person, had retrieved it and been injured or killed in a blast? What if the unassuming postal worker had suffered anything worse than injuries for which she was quickly treated and released from a local hospital?

If Krieg committed these crimes  and the U.S. attorney said Thursday Krieg has admitted his role in the case  I wonder if he thought about this possible scenario before he sent that package.

Krieg, after all, has a wife and children of his own. People who know him said he was active in various activities with his children.

It would take an awfully extreme position in life to overlook or ignore the potential consequences of such a pointed and deadly action.

The federal criminal complaint against Krieg also accuses him of mailing a threatening letter and bullet to another Hammond worker, with a message of, "The next one will be in the back of your head." The complaint notes that the victim was associated with online political blogs and discussion forums Krieg frequented.

Whats our recourse?

The curse of domestic terrorism seems to have enjoyed regular growth since two extremists plotted to blow up the Oklahoma City federal building with a fertilizer bomb in 1995.

On Thursday, the Region learned one of their own has been accused in what appears to be a growing  and sickeningly disturbing  trend.

It seems there is little we can do to fight such extremism.

Our only recourse is to marginalize hate, turn our backs on uncivil discourse in society and on social media and mindfully look over our shoulders.

If federal authorities are right, at least one person bent on extremism is locked safely way, pending trial.

But there will be others to take his place. How we meet that tragic truth as a society remains to be seen.
Bangladeshi security analyst Major General (Retd.) Abdur Rashid said that ISI created the Rohingya issue by using the Arakan militants to hinder the development activities of the opponent countries.

By Sahidul Hasan Khokon: Bangladeshi security analyst Major General (Retd.) Abdur Rashid has claimed that the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI has created the Rohingya issue because of their jealousy towards the developing countries including Bangladesh and India.

Claiming that militant organisation ARSA is conducting militant activities in the Arakan with the help of ISI, the former military official told India Today that ISI created the Rohingya issue by using the Arakan militants to hinder the development activities of the opponent countries.

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Rashid said, "Huge Rohingya influx is (sic) entering Bangladesh like sea wave after being killed and persecuted in their homeland Myanmar. And now it is very difficult for the country to ensure housing and support for such a huge number of refugees. Besides, there are different types of risks including economic, social security and also the possibility of increase in criminal activities."

The former military official also said that the issue of security should be kept in consideration. He further said that a Pakistani quarter is active to make Bangladesh unstable since its independence in 1971 and they will try to keep the Rohingya issue alive.

Q. Do you think Pakistani intelligence agency ISI is patronising Rohingya militant organisation ARSA?

Abdur Rashid: Yes. We have seen international media and also some of the organization who had been tracking the militants organization. There are reports that ISI is instigating the rise of the ARSA activities and also the 30 camps which had been attacked by them. I think it has ISI backing. ISI is not instigating only Rohingya militants, they are also instigating the other militants organization in Bangladesh as well as in India. So, we have to ensure that such intelligence organization must not find any place to work in this region.

Q. How you evaluate the Rohingya issue?

Abdur Rashid: Rohingya crisis has caused a tremendous problem, rather destructed the centre of the South Asian equation. So, in this context, I see the various economic initiatives like BBIN, BIMSTIC, BCIM --all have been struck by only one issue Rohingya at this moment. I see a change in the polarization in South Asia. Bangladesh is looking for just an exit how to solve this problem.

Q. Arakan militants are coming to Bangladesh with normal Rohingya people. Do you agree?

Abdur Rashid: Not necessarily. It is very unwise to think that all Rohingyas are militants. Militants may take a chance to get mixed up with them and come to Bangladesh. But, it is good that at this moment, Bangladesh regime is against terrorism. We have secular government in power and I am sure that they won't get any space in Bangladesh. That a good thing for the region. I consider Rohingya crisis not just a threat to Bangladesh, it may also cause, you know, problems for the region as a whole, to India, in a matter of fact for China also. So in that case, one should be careful that this problem is basically ethnic problem not a religion problem. In that case, we must be able to solve this crisis as soon as possible. Prolong the stay of Rohingya in the Bangladesh territory would certainly create sum scope for the militancy to grow.

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Q. Do you think Rohingyas can be involved in militancy using Bangladeshi soil?

Abdur Rashid: No. I don't agree with that. Because in Bangladesh, we have seen other militants organization also. They try to get some space in Bangladesh, but the govt and people have protested them. I told earlier that Bangladesh as a whole, the govt and people are not conducive to the militants and terrorism development.

Q. Can Rohingya militants be a threat for Bangladesh in future?

Abdur Rashid: Yes. It's a big question. Because it not only militant threat, there is other ramifications also. We are seen that it's a social problem, economical problem, environmental problem. I think Rohingya problem for Bangladesh will be long-term. For that reason, our security may be fragile. They will once again be involved in domestic and international militancy.

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Arrowheads, spear points, and historic Native American pottery were among the items presented to southeastern archaeologists during Saturdays Archaeology Road Show at Pioneer Park.

One of the archaeologists at the event, Ned Jenkins of Wetumpka, delighted in watching his 6-year-old grandson, Thomas Jones, inquire about arrowheads and other artifacts. Doing so prompted Jenkins to reflect on childhood memories of how he used to find historic artifacts that washed up in his front yard on Wares Ferry Road near Mount Meigs when the Tallapoosa River overflowed.

This is his first exposure to archaeology, Jenkins said of his grandson. I was about his age when I decided I wanted to be an archaeologist.

Flipping through a book used to help identify arrowheads, Jones expressed his excitement.

Theyre just so hard to find, he said. And theyre made out of rocks.

Celebration of Archaeology Week

Held by the Lee County Historical Society (LCHS) and Pioneer Park, the event was co-sponsored by the Alabama Archaeological Society in celebration of international Archaeology Week. Every second Saturday in each month, the LCHS hosts different events and the road show marked a first for the society, said Charles Mitchell, the societys president.

Another road show may commence in the future, depending on Saturdays success and general interest, he added.

This is a group of area archaeologists that have come together to help visitors identify old artifacts that they may have around their house or may have found, Mitchell said of the event, which attracted history seekers young and young-at-heart.

Nine-year-old Cameron Smedley accompanied his grandfather, Beulah resident Alton Hilyer, to the event as well, bringing a small box containing arrowheads and a geode, or a thick, multi-layered rock.

I think it was fun, Smedley said of his discussions with the archaeologists about the items, which his grandmother, Linda Hilyer, found and gave to him.

Besides visitors, the archaeologists themselves enjoyed the opportunity to meet, examine and share their knowledge with others.

People have brought a lot of nice projectile-point collections, said Annie Blankenship, an archaeologist with the United States Department of Agriculture  National Resource Conservation Service. Weve seen some from Pennsylvania, some from North Alabama and some local to the area. Its been fun. Weve even done some spear points that are Paleo-Indian in age, which means they were made during the last ice age.

Its a long tradition in Alabama to be interested in Indian history or Indian folklore, said Craig Sheldon, a retired archaeology professor who taught at Auburn University at Montgomery. Some of these collections that we looked at were gathered by these peoples grandparents and great-grandparents. They want to know what they have.

Robert Mims, who for years has shared a fascination with the Alabama tradition described by Sheldon, brought a large Native American grinding stone he found on the bank of where Bear Creek flows into the Alabama River in Autauga County.

Ive been doing this since I was a little boy in the 60s, looking for artifacts, Mims said. Its just amazing to find something and actually hold it in your hand  a part of history.
Mary Deborah East, 69, of Auburn, Alabama (formerly of Tampa, Florida), succumbed to breast cancer on Monday, October 9. Mary Deborah was born in Huntington, West Virginia to Charles William (deceased) and George Ann East. She graduated from HBPlant High School in 1965, attended Florida State University where she was a member of Tri Delta Sorority, and later attended the University of South Florida. She was a Headhunter for Medical Personnel, a Healthcare Educator, and organized many travel adventures, especially to Egypt. In 1999, Mary was moved to Auburn by her long-time friend Gloria Patterson Bowman and Teresa Ferrari. Gloria selflessly cared for Mary until Gloria's own cancer returned. Mary's life in Auburn was all about spiritual healing as she continued to deal with her bipolar disorder. She was a gifted decorator with an exceptional eye for visual beauty. Many thanks to all those who supported Mary during the last two years. She is survived by her mother and sister, Holly East, both of Tampa; her nephew, Pate (Hannah) Young and great nephew, Milo Emerson Young of Nashville, TN. A gathering of remembrance will take place at 3809 Heritage Place, Opelika on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at 10 AM. Friends and acquaintances of Mary who wish to honor her are all welcome. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice, the American Cancer Society or the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
My children and I usually watch the 7pm news to catch up with the national happenings and keep up with the latest developments.

I am always amazed by the questions and comments some of the news items elicit from the children. Clearly, children are able to distinguish what is good from evil, albeit requiring parental support to process.

Children can become socially conscious through either their parents or those they regularly interact with or the events happening around them. They might witness either their parents or others standing tall in times of infringements on the rights of others and will follow that example.

Such exposure often stays with them and might spur them to action when someone needs to stand up for a wrong being committed.

My friends daughter and son climbed Mt Muhavura to raise funds for Grace Villa, a home for orphans and vulnerable girls in Kabale district.

My friends children, Asante and Leo, 10 and 16 years respectively, are clearly socially aware of the inequalities that exist in society and the need to work towards a fairer world.

The two are already seasoned activists who have raised money for rebuilding their church, among other charity work, and we have their parents to thank for that. Such occasions are critical to ingrain deep values in our children that shape their worldview.

A story is told of the writer and activist, Grace Paley, who had a lot to say about war, race and women, among other things. In her essay, Traveling, she first described her mother and older sister traveling on a bus from New York to Virginia in 1927.

It was an express bus, and so it stopped only in Philadelphia and Wilmington before it picked up passengers in Washington, D.C. At that stop, the black people who had boarded in New York or Philadelphia rose from their seats, put their bags and boxes together, and moved to the back of the bus.

Paleys mother and sister, confronted for the first time with the practice of enforced racism, remained in their seats, which were near the back of the bus.

When the bus driver sighed and told her that whites had to move to the front of the bus, Paleys mother said, quite simply No He asked her again.

Again, she said, No. For the third time, he told her she had to get out of her seat, and while Paleys sister trembled, her mother said, calmly and without expression, No.

Fifteen years later, 20-year-old Grace Paley was on a bus from New York to Miami beach, where her husband was training to go off to war. Miles and miles, she rode, and somewhere in the South  she did not remember exactly where  a black woman carrying a sleeping baby boarded the crowded bus.

Paley was in the last white row, and offered the mother her seat. She looked to the right and left as well as she could, wrote Paley. Softly, she said, Oh no. I became fully awake. Paley then offered to hold her sleeping son.

While formal education and extracurricular instruction matter a great deal, it also matters that we raise children who are socially aware. The best way to do this is to model a life of compassion and engagement.

This takes time and effort, but the good news is that everyone, including the parent, benefits. Standing tall for something bigger than ourselves breeds an expectation that we will serve, and girds the spine for whatever life brings us.
Every man can have children in this world. Raising them to the level you want and get the projected results tomorrow is the unknown.

The way we bring up these children is what makes us great fathers. We all have big dreams for our children, the reason we toil tirelessly for them to ensure their tomorrow is brighter.

During this time in life, a lot of investment is done through all possible ways within your means to see that your children are healthy and educated to avoid being a laughing subject tomorrow.

One of the fundamental investments that every child gets from his/her parents from childhood is education. The only challenge in Uganda today is that education is becoming too expensive.

This has also become costly because some parents spend sleepless nights on the streets looking for money, while others have even sold their properties to meet all school requirements.

There is one parent from my village who challenged me with the way he made sure his children got better education.

When one of his sons was in senior five, this man never had all the school fees and the child was sent back home for fees. He had no money, but resorted to removing and selling the iron sheets on his houses roof, replacing them with dry banana fibres.

This was not only a laughing matter in the village, but it attracted every comment from all mockers. A lot was said, including how this parent was so stupid as to take such a decision for a child who may even fail at school.

To the villagers, it was a free-of-charge theatre episode of the time.

Today, this man is living like a king in the village as his six children have now successfully finished school. That very son is not only among the most educated and rich guys, but is well placed in public service, coupled with his wifes political appointment by State House. Poverty is no longer in the familys vocabulary.

Recently, these children organized a thanksgiving service for their parents who were also celebrating 50 years in marriage. It was time for them to prove to the villagers that laughing at their father was not just a mockery but also an insult.

They appreciated their daddy for the bold decision he made. They paid him back in full swing. It is worthy in life to give back where honour is deserved.

One element we ought to learn is that we dont forget where we have come from. The parents who have sacrificed a lot for us deserve better recognition for their efforts. When our children get to know that we appreciate what they do for us and they are aware of it, they too will be able to give back when we are old.

You harvest where you sowed. What we invest in our children today cannot all be in vain. There will be a payback at one time and thats what makes life more precious than having a lot but which you cannot share with even those who helped you to be where you are.

While we may have nothing to do about our past, there is a great deal we can do to achieve for our future. For one to be in his childrens memory tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today.

If you are already there as a child, give back to your parents who have gone through it all for your todays success and celebrate them now while they still breathe.
An RSS activist was hacked today in Kerala's Kannur, a district known for bloodshed and violent clashes between RSS and CPM members, Sunday night. Nidhish, the person who was attacked, has been shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital from a local hospital.

By India Today Web Desk: Kerala's Kannur district is infamous for bloodshed, courtesy the violent rivalry between Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)).

Over many years, there have been many party workers, belonging to the Right and the Left, who have been hacked to death in broad daylight, and it's said, often without the silent node of decision makers in both the parties.

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Latest victim of this dirty, violent political rivalry is 28-year-old Nidhish.

Photo courtesy: Twitter (@advaitakala)

Nidhish, an RSS activist was hacked Sunday evening by a group of unidentified people in Kannur's Edakkad. Nidhish was first taken to a hospital in Thalassery, but have now been shifted to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital.

Nidhish was attacked by a group of people, which now the BJP alleges to be CPI(M) workers. But the police is yet to verify and confirm this.

Here are a couple of photos from the spot -

Photo courtesy: Gopikrishnan Unnithan Photo courtesy: Gopikrishnan Unnithan

vPhoto courtesy: Gopikrishnan Unnithan

Saroj Pandey, who identifies herself as a national general secretary of the BJP, seemingly threatened to match violence with violence in Kerala.

It was only yesterday that Saroj Pandey, who identifies herself as a national general secretary of the BJP, threatened to match violence with violence in Kerala, while talking about the politically-motivated killings in Kerala.

(cont) karyakartaon ke saath is tarah se aankh dikhaane ki stithi hogi to hum ghar mein ghuske aakh nikaal lenge, tay baat hai: Saroj Pandey- ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

WATCH:

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Employees at the VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Health Care System kept an unauthorized, off-the-books waiting list for some Omaha mental health appointments, according to documents obtained by The World-Herald.

The secret list dodged requirements the Department of Veterans Affairs issued in July 2016 setting strict rules for establishing and maintaining waiting lists, according to a memo from the systems compliance officer to Director Don Burman dated Aug. 11. The compliance officers audit included two whistleblower complaints made about lists for appointments at the VAs mental health psychotherapy clinic in Omaha.

The VA declined to answer questions about the audit but issued a statement acknowledging the investigation and stating that no veterans were harmed.

Although no adverse patient outcomes occurred, some veterans waited longer for psychotherapy treatment, the statement said.

Local VA officials would not say how many local veterans were impacted, or why or by whom the lists were kept. Nor would they say how many employees were involved or what disciplinary action was taken against them.

Employees involved with this situation were held accountable; however, none was terminated from employment, the statement said. It said the situations brought to its attention had been fixed.

The unauthorized waiting list echoed a nationwide scandal that erupted in 2014 at the VA Medical Center in Phoenix, which showed that veterans there were dying while waiting months for medical care on lists that were kept secret.

In that case, an official list was shared with officials in Washington showing that the VA was providing timely appointments. But the real list, where wait times could exceed a year, was kept secret.

As a result, Congress that year created a program called Veterans Choice, through which a veteran who doesnt get an appointment within 30 days or who lives more than 40 miles from a VA facility is entitled to visit a therapist outside the VA, at the VAs expense.

The VA hasnt disclosed how many of its health care systems used unofficial waiting lists, but USA Today in 2016 tallied the VAs own investigative reports and found that schedule manipulation had been discovered at 40 medical facilities in 19 states and Puerto Rico.

Until recently, that tally had not included Nebraska.

The report obtained by The World-Herald is an audit conducted this year of the cases of 301 unnamed veterans from Nebraska and western Iowa who were added to the VAs official electronic waiting list between August 2016 and August 2017.

The audit showed that 160 of the cases were handled within 30 days, and 92 were handled within 10 days. It also showed that 68 veterans were added to the electronic waiting list twice for the same psychotherapy consultation, and five were entered three times. The memo didnt explain the significance of those findings.

The audit memo also includes several observations by the compliance officer, including that staffers appear to have delayed officially recording their first contacts with veterans. The memo said that may indicate another document source was being used for tracking.

The report also includes, but does not directly address, two whistleblower complaints.

In the first, dated April 29, 2015, an unnamed person called in to say that a VA mental health provider  whose name is redacted  kept a separate, apparently unofficial, waiting list. The caller alleged that the provider placed veterans referred by other departments ahead of those who called the mental health department directly, and told employees they were to disregard the patients already waiting for appointments and get the consults seen so they could meet metrics.

The caller also said the provider earned $59,400 in bonuses between 2012 and 2015, and that the bonuses were given because the unauthorized waiting list helped the provider meet performance measures. Its unknown whether any attempt was made to recover those bonuses.

In the second complaint, a VA employee produced a copy of paper waiting lists dating back to Jan. 1, 2014, containing the names of about 400 veterans who had requested psychotherapy appointments. The employee said the unofficial logs are used in place of the electronic waiting list.

The employee said the VA established therapy groups in order to meet the VAs standard of scheduling mental health appointments within 14 days. The employee said the veteran is asked to attend the group session to satisfy the requirement for a consultation. Then, as appointment times open, the patient is contacted and an appointment established or a message left.

Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., whose district includes the health care systems Omaha headquarters, said he had not been informed of the audit until being contacted by The World-Herald. He then contacted Burman, who has been the Nebraska-Western Iowa VA director since February 2015.

Bacon said afterward that Burman would not disclose details of the waiting list or the disciplinary action against those who kept it, but Bacon said he was satisfied with the VAs response.

A fake list that masks true waiting times at the VA is appalling, but I am glad that outrage is shared by Director Burman, Bacon said in a statement. I am supportive of the measures taken by Director Burman, who swiftly acted when concerns were brought to his attention.
The JNU administration on Saturday expressed concern that there is still no headway about his whereabouts despite widespread protests and public campaigns.

By Pooja Shali: A year has passed since Jawahar Lal Nehru University (JNU) student Najeeb Ahmed went missing from the campus after an altercation. The administration of the university on Saturday expressed concern that there is still no headway about his whereabouts despite widespread protests and public campaigns.

A statement released by the University on Saturday evening read, "The JNU community sympathises with and shares the insurmountable grief of the members of Najeeb Ahmed's family. The University has been and is putting all its efforts towards the search for Najeeb Ahmed."

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An MSc Biotechnology student, Ahmed disappeared from the university campus on October 15, 2016, days after he had an altercation with the student members of RSS-backed Akhil Bharatiya vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at his hostel. The student union pinned the blame on the ABVP for Ahmed's disappearance.

He hails from Badaiyun in Uttar Pradesh.

The JNU administration has been in touch with the investigating agencies but maintain they have not been informed of any new lead in the case.

On Friday, students and supporters of Najeeb Ahmed held a demonstration outside the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters in Lodhi Road. The Delhi High Court had in May transferred "with immediate effect" the investigation into the case of Najeeb Ahmed to the CBI.

Recently, the investigative agency had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone who could provide details about the missing JNU student.

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The University of Nebraska at Omaha will host a college aviation competition Monday through Friday.

UNO will compete in the seven-school regional tournament of the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Safety and Flight Evaluation Conference.

Three of the universities will send their teams to the national competition hosted next spring by Indiana State University.

The UNO Flying Mavs competed in their eighth straight national competition this year and finished 15th.

The regional competition involves a range of events that test students abilities on the ground and in the air.

Ground-based events for Region VI will be held at the UNO College of Public Affairs and Community Service. Air events will be held at the Council Bluffs Airport.

Sedition reading part of Academic Freedom event

The Academic Freedom Coalition of Nebraska will hold a reading of David Wiltses Sedition by Angels Theatre at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 28.

The reading will be at the Nebraska Union on the University of Nebraska-Lincolns City Campus.

Sedition is set in 1917-18 and involves the story of Andrew Schrag, an NU professor of German. Sedition is incitement or insurrection against lawful authority.

Discussion after the reading will provide historical background about the 1918 trial of professors by the NU Board of Regents.

There is no charge for the event, which is open to all, but AFCON would welcome questions for the discussion period. Contact David Moshman, AFCON president-elect, at dmoshman1@unl.edu.

The reading is part of the coalitions annual membership meeting.

Creighton students will do service, justice projects on break

More than 240 Creighton University students will spend a weeks recess at 30 sites around the nation.

The weeks recess from academic pursuits started Saturday and will run through Oct. 21.

The students will work with people on a variety of service projects or learn about the history of social justice movements and study peace and justice issues.

Opportunities in the Schlegel Center for Service and Justice Fall Service & Justice Trips include projects in West Virginia, Texas, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, Omaha and other places.
LINCOLN  Prison staff watched but did not intervene for more than an hour this spring as a solitary confinement inmate roamed the unit hallway at the Tecumseh State Prison, according to a new state report.

During that time, the report said, the inmate passed notes from cell to cell, encouraged vandalism by other inmates, tied bedsheets across the hall, covered the security camera and started a fire.

His escapade ended only when the smoke from the fire got thick enough that he went to the unit entrance to ask for medical help.

Now Doug Koebernick, inspector general of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, is questioning the response to the May 25 incident. He recently released a report on the incident in which he noted that the situation could have turned deadly for staff members and inmates.

An outside observer finds it difficult to believe that the appropriate response to an inmate roaming around a gallery for a period of time setting fires is to just let him do that, Koebernick said.

He called for the Corrections Department to review its policies on potentially dangerous situations and figure out whether action could have been taken sooner.

In a letter included with the report, Scott Frakes, the department director, said he accepted that recommendation.

He said staff members have reviewed how they could have responded differently, both to the inmates initial actions and when he started the fire.

I share the concern that every minute counts in an emergency situation, Frakes said, and agree that the timely response to these incidents is paramount.

Frakes also agreed with the recommendation to contact the local fire department and the State Fire Marshal about fires in state prisons.

Prison procedures require such contacts when a fire occurs. But Koebernick said neither was called about the May 25 fire.

And apparently no one contacted the Nebraska State Patrol about what may be a case of criminal arson, he said.

Corrections spokeswoman Dawn-Renee Smith said staff at the Tecumseh prison did not believe (the incident) rose to the level of external notification.

Not even the agencys central office was notified initially about the incident, according to Smith.

This has been addressed, she said.

The department, in turn, never issued a press release about the incident, as it has done in a number of other cases. Smith said that because of the delay in alerting the central office, it no longer made sense to issue a news release.

In the response letter, Frakes took issue with some of the inspector generals findings.

In one, Koebernick raised concern about the amount of time it took for prison staff to check on inmates living in the unit after removing the one who started the fire.

His report said staff entered the hallway and started checking on the other inmates at 8:09 p.m.  about 50 minutes after the fire began.

They took the first inmate to a medical area 10 minutes later. At least four and as many as 10 staff members escorted each inmate.

Eventually, eight inmates from the unit received medical attention. None of the inmates are named in the report.

The report does not say whether the smoke exposure caused serious health issues. Some inmates reported suffering trauma from being locked in a cell while there was a fire.

Koebernick said the medical response could be considered less than responsive or timely.

But Frakes said the inspector general had no evidence to support that finding. He said medical care was provided in a timely manner.

Frakes also said there was no evidence to support Koebernicks finding that Tecumsehs chronic staff shortages slowed response to the incident.

The inspector general said it took time to assemble five staff members, the minimum required to respond to the inmates initial actions.

Once the fire got going, the team needed to be increased to eight people because of the low visibility. That meant pulling staff from other areas of the prison, which caused additional delay, Koebernick said.

Frakes pointed to miscommunication among staff as the cause for the delay. The miscommunication involved who was supposed to be part of the response team.

The fire came during a troubled period for Nebraskas prison system. Recent problems include deadly riots, staff assaults, escapes, overcrowding and high levels of staff turnover.
By PTI: New York, Oct 15 (PTI) MRI brain scans can help identify children at high risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS) much before symptoms appear, which may lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment.

By the time multiple sclerosis (MS) is diagnosed in children, it may be difficult to prevent the disabilities and relapses that come with the disease.

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The study by researchers from Yale University in the US showed that the MRIs can reveal changes in the brain associated with MS before the clinical symptoms of the disease appear in children.

For the study, 38 children at 16 sites in six countries underwent MRI scans for other reasons, most commonly headache, but the MRIs unexpectedly revealed signs of MS.

Having MRI findings of MS without any symptoms of the disease has been termed radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS) and previously had only been seen in adults.

"For the first time we have proposed a definition of RIS in children," said Naila Makhani, assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine.

"Children with RIS may represent a high-risk group of children that needs to be followed more closely for the later development of clinical multiple sclerosis," said Makhani, lead author of the study published in the journal Neurology: Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation.

About 42 per cent of children in the study with MRI findings of MS developed the first clinical symptoms of the disease about two years after the abnormal MRI, which shows a faster development of the disease than has been reported in adults.

Children who had a specific marker in spinal fluid or who had MRI changes in the spinal cord, were at greatest risk of developing the clinical symptoms of MS.

Makhani said five of the children in the study received an approved treatment for multiple sclerosis to try to prevent the disease. This number is too small to accurately draw conclusions about the effect of treatment, she noted.

"We hope that our work will help inform expert guidelines for how to follow up children with RIS and help us accurately inform families of the risk of later developing multiple sclerosis, something we were previously unable to do," said Makhani. PTI MHN MHN

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ODN 15 Nov 2022

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says there was international condemnation of Russias war in Ukraine among G20 members at the G7..
By India Today Web Desk: Superstar Nagarjuna's Raju Gari Gadhi 2 is the big Tollywood release this week. Raju Gari Gadhi 2 trailer created quite a buzz on social media and clocked more than 6 million views on YouTube. Much to everyone's expectations, the film has opened to decent response from critics and fans.

Nagarjuna took to Twitter to thank fans for the success of the film. He wrote, "Thank u all for the love!! Raju Gaari Gadhi 2." The picture was taken during Samantha's wedding earlier this week.

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Raju Gari Gadhi 2 had good opening on Friday and is said to have grossed Rs 8.60 crore. In fact, fans were eagerly waiting to watch both Nagarjuna and Samantha on the screen.

Directed by Ohmkar, Raju Gari Gadhi 2, is a sequel to the blockbuster Telugu. The film reportedly collected Rs 24 crore through its satellite and other rights.

Tipped to be a horror-thriller, Raju Gari Gadhi 2 is said to be based on the Malayalam film Pretham that released last year. The film also stars Vennela Kishore, Seerat Kapoor and Ashwin Babu in important roles.

WATCH HERE: Raju Gari Gadhi 2 Trailer

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NEWS BLOCKS:

W Opens Hotel in Rome in 2021

W Hotels Worldwide announced its plans regarding the opening of W hotel in Rome. It will be the first time the iconic W brand appears not only in the city but in Italy in general. Developed by W together with Omnam Group, the new hotel will offer its unique vision of La Dolce Vita in the Eternal City. The hotel, which is set to open in 2021, will be located in two historic buildings conveniently located in the vibrant neighborhood of Via Veneto.



According to the hoteliers spokesman, they had no doubt in selecting the city for the first W branded hotel in Italy. Being one of the most stylish and trendy cities of the country, Rome has its own unique style that is perfect for the brand. Moreover, the company managed to find a fantastic location for the new hotel  near the Spanish Steps. Via Veneto has always been one of the best destinations for pleasure seekers and travelers interested in chic cafes, trendiest boutiques, and excellent nightlife.



Located in the central part of the vibrant area, the new hotel in Rome will have 19 comfortable guest rooms and suites. For special guests, the hotel will have the Extreme WOW suite (the version of the Presidential Suite by W Hotels). The roof of the buildings will be turned into a function place with two restaurants and a bar. The hotelier hopes that this will be one of the trendsetting places where guests will enjoy breathtaking views of the city as well as the signature menu. The infrastructure of the new hotel will also include FIT gym and spa. Of course, all guests will be provided with the unique Whatever/Whenever service that promises to deliver to guests whatever they want, whenever they want.



W Rome will be open in two adjacent buildings that date back to the 19th century. During their long history, the buildings were initially residential. Later, they were used as a hotel, turned into ministry offices, and headquarters for private companies. Omnam Group will carefully restore the buildings and reimagine their design while keeping the original atmosphere and historic elements.



The new announcement only proved the desire of W Hotels to grow their presence in Europe. Currently, the hotelier operates only seven properties in the region. However, ten more hotels are to appear in Europe in future, starting from a hotel in Tel Aviv in 2018. In 2019, W will open hotels in Belgrade, Madrid, and Algarve coast in Portugal; and in 2020, Prague and Budapest hotels will greet first guests. Finally, in 2021, W will open hotels in Edinburgh and Marbella in addition to the hotel in Rome. The company plans to grow its portfolio to 75 properties within three years.

15.10.2017Stay in touch with the latest news of a worldwide hotel industry. All up-to-date analytics, reports , and news about hotel business trends on OrangeSmile.com.
While Bihar ranked 26th in the country in the number of crimes against women, it was an ignoble second - after Uttar Pradesh - in dowry-related offences.

When a young man from his village came to him to help kidnap a girl to be his bride, it was just another job for Bakhtiarpur's deputy mukhiya Pappu Kumar. The girl, just 12, was abducted and forced to marry the youth. Pappu even coerced the child's father into signing a 'letter of acceptance'.

This wasn't the first time Pappu and his men had pulled off such a thing. But this time it didn't go right. On the alert, following chief minister Nitish Kumar's October 2 'declaration of war' against child marriage and dowry, the police promptly arrested him along with four accomplices.

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Nitish's new initiative aims to actively discourage the two illegal yet widely prevalent practices in the state. No stigma attaches to child marriage and there's hardly a nuptial where dowry, oftentimes including huge sums of cash, doesn't change hands. Nor do underage weddings raise many eyebrows in the state.

The Bihar chief minister is intent on changing that. "We will act against child marriage and dowry just as we did against liquor. This will complement and carry forward social changes that have begun taking shape because of prohibition," Nitish said, while launching his campaign on October 2 at Patna.

Consider the numbers: while Bihar ranked 26th in the country in the number of crimes against women, it was an ignoble second - after Uttar Pradesh - in dowry-related offences. This includes 987 dowry deaths and 4,852 cases of dowry-related atrocities, just in 2016. Child marriages account for a disturbing 39 per cent of all weddings solemnised in the state.

In fact, the widely prevalent dowry tradition in Bihar seems to have spurred instances where grooms are abducted and forced to marry. "The abduction of boys for marriage is a direct consequence of social evils like dowry. In a patriarchal society like in Bihar, marriages have long been money-minting enterprises for boys' parents," says a senior police officer. So families desperate to wed daughters, he says, often resort to unlawful means.

But following the chief minister's October 2 announcement, police and civil administration officials in the state are gearing up to battle the twin scourges. The instructions are clear: all marriages where the brides are under 18 years or grooms below 21, or where dowry has changed hands, have to be stopped. And having seen Nitish's success in imposing prohibition in Bihar, they believe he can do this too.

"Child marriage and dowry cases will see a massive drop in the next one year and the society and environment of Bihar will change," says Nitish. On January 21 next year, the state government will organise a 'human chain' against dowry and child marriage, just as it did in support of prohibition and deaddiction on the very day this year.

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By PTI: By Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Oct 15 (PTI) Nepals main opposition leader and CPN-UML chief K P Oli has strongly objected to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deubas move to induct eight more ministers that took his Cabinet strength to a record 64, calling it a violation of the election code.

Former premier Oli, who was addressing parliaments last meeting yesterday, came down heavily on Prime Minister Deuba for "blatantly breaching the election code and instructions from the Election Commission (EC)".

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He termed the prime ministers move as "unconstitutional, unethical and immoral".

Eight new ministers including Deputy Prime Minister Kamal Thapa of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party were inducted into the Deuba Cabinet.

"We have a serious objection to the prime ministers move of adding new ministers at a time when the election processes have already started and the government is being converted into a caretaker one," said Oli, asking Deuba why he expanded the Cabinet size to 64.

The number of ministers in the Cabinet is now over 10 per cent of the 601-member Parliament.

Parliament has ceased to exist from yesterday as per the constitutional provision that states the term of the House would end a day before the nomination of the candidates for the election to the House of Representatives.

Oli asked Deuba to withdraw the names of the proposed ministers before they are sworn in.

The prime minister, however, said since he has already received the "go ahead" for Cabinet expansion from both the EC and the president, his plan to expand the Cabinet and other processes would move ahead smoothly.

Oli accused the prime minister of expanding the Cabinet despite that the EC writing to the government twice asking it not to do so as such a decision would directly violate the election code.

Oli also told Parliament that he had drawn the presidents attention towards the matter.

"I have told the president that this (Cabinet expansion) is objectionable and is in violation of the election code," the former prime minister said.

Deuba described the Cabinet expansion as a regular constitutional business of a prime minister.

"The number of ministers may sometimes increase while it may also decrease as needed. You may hear about decreasing the number of minister in a few days," he said. PTI SBP KUN

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For the past 17 years, Roberta Vogel and seven of her closest friends have gathered once a month to update one another on their lives and discuss the issues of the day.

They call themselves the Dharma Sisters. Their friendships were forged through their work at local hospices and hospitals, and Saturday they had plenty to talk about.

FIRE CONTAINMENT: Here are the latest numbers on Northern California fire containment

We need each other now, more than ever, Vogel said as she stood outside the Finley Community Center in Santa Rosa waiting to be picked up by another Dharma Sister, Gina Osbeck. When Osbeck showed up there was a long, emotional embrace, and then the two set off to the home of another sister whose home was well outside the fires path.

The community center is a shelter for fire evacuees, and Vogel has been there since fleeing her Rincon Valley home late Sunday. She was the second person to register there.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

After being cooped up in the shelter for five days, Vogel admitted to a light case of cabin fever. But she had high praise for the Red Cross, Salvation Army and their small army of volunteers who have worked to accommodate the needs of those uprooted by the flames.

Everyone has been so generous and so kind, Vogel said. In a time of such mean-spiritedness in the world, its been restorative. The place is filled with love and caring.

CLEAN AIR: Here's where to go to breathe clean air in SF this weekend

About 185 people are sheltered at the Finley Community Center, said Roy Pitts, one of the Red Cross managers overseeing operations there. There is room to accommodate more evacuees if necessary, he said, and the center continues to accept donations of new clothing and bedding material.

Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com
As the sun set on Geyserville Friday evening, a glow of fire could be seen in the distance while plumes of smoke barreled into the air.

Officials ordered more mandatory evacuations in the grape-growing town of Geyserville  this time in Alexander Valley  as the Pocket Fire threatened to gain momentum with heavy winds in the forecast.

But even with an ominous glow of fire in the distance, repeated calls from family members and a knock on the door from a sheriff  residents like 73-year-old Robert Tankersley still refused to leave.

They have their merits, Tankersley said, while standing in his driveway, pointing at the ridges covered with smoke. But he wasnt budging because, he said, he felt that after the devastation in Santa Rosa, authorities were being overly cautious.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

Authorities have been adamant that the danger is severe and unpredictable and they have urged people to get out of evacuated areas.

In Geyserville, officials ordered a series of evacuations for parts of the town throughout the week. While many residents initially defied the evacuation orders, some were seen packing their cars Friday evening in Alexander Valley.

In downtown Geyserville  where there has only been an evacuation advisory, not a mandatory order  life seemed to go about as normal, with many businesses and restaurants still open.

Some even reveled in the spectacle of it all. On Friday, Dennis Betts and his friends sat with binoculars on the side of road near downtown, and watched as helicopters dumped buckets of water onto the smoke that blanked the ridges beyond the Russian River.

Were just watching to see where it goes next, Betts, who has come to the same spot throughout the week.

The Pocket Fire has already burned more than 10,000 acres of land since Monday, and was only about 5 percent contained Friday.

But back in Alexander Valley, about a 15 minute drive from downtown, Tankersely said he has it all under control.

Since the fires began Monday, hes been waking up every few hours at night to water down his roof and around his house. He is also constantly checking the direction of the wind.

The sheriff came by after the evacuation was ordered Friday and flagged his house, which means, if the fire comes when hes still in there  hes on his own.

Hes sure hell be fine, he said. But just in case, his truck is packed with medication, his passport, a checkbook and family pictures.

Ive been watching it since day one, Tankersley said, pointing at his back porch. When I see embers, then Ill take a hike  OK?

Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com
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The board of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has voted overwhelmingly to expel Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein over sexual assault allegations.

By Indo-Asian News Service: The board of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has voted overwhelmingly to expel Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein after the powerful media mogul was accused of sexual abuse and physical assault during the course of his career.

The 54-member Board of Governors of the Academy, the organisation behind the Oscars, made the decision at an emergency session late Saturday after discussing the allegations against Weinstein, and voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to immediately expel him from the Academy, reports The Washington Post.

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"We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of wilful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behaviour and workplace harassment in our industry is over.

"What's at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The Board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify," the Academy said in a statement. Weinstein, who was fired by the movie and television studio he co-founded, the Weinstein Company, has denied rape allegations while acknowledging that his behaviour "caused a lot of pain".

Weinstein's expulsion signifies an important break with precedent for the Academy, which for years insisted that someone's professional achievements were unrelated to any scandals he or she might be caught up in, which is why, for example, it refused to expel comedian Bill Cosby, accused of sexually abusing as many as 60 women, reports Efe news.

Nor did the Academy expel European director Roman Polanski, accused of abusing minors, or actor-director Mel Gibson, who in 2006 while under the influence is said to have made some racist remarks against Jews and in 2010 was investigated for domestic violence.

The Weinstein scandal came to light in early October, when The New York Times and The New Yorker magazine revealed the history of sexual harassment perpetrated for decades by one of the best-known and most powerful producers in Hollywood.

He reached at least eight settlements with women between 1990 and 2015. The list of actresses and models who suffered sexual abuse from Weinstein continues to grow and now numbers around 40. When the story came out, Weinstein denied some of the allegations, but also admitted that he had behaved improperly at times during his career.

ALSO WATCH: Brad and Angelina call it quits

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A few weeks ago, after that famed couple Kanye West and Kim Kardashian named their first child, North West, and their second, Saint West, and announced that their oncoming third would have a more normal name, it was mentioned in this space how cool that could be for Normal West  as in the high school.

Within a day, one reader wrote to ask, Does that mean, instead of Wildcats, they will become the Normal West Kardashians?

Ah, a reader after my own heart.

As one who began his career as a sportswriter, I used to stand on high school sidelines on Friday nights and think how towns and schools really dont capitalize on their their teams nicknames.

As an example, I spent most of boyhood in Olney, the Southern Illinois town world famous for its white squirrels, and landed my first newspaper job there.

Yet, are they the Olney White Squirrels, or Olney Albinos, or even the Olney Pink-Eyed White-Furred Yard-Mingling Fighting Rodents?

Ha! They are instead the Tigers.

Tigers? There hasnt been a Tiger in Olney since Barnum & Bailey passed through back in the 1960s or Tiger Woods possibly took a wrong turn off I-70 near Effingham.

It goes deeper, too, of course.

Take Normal Community High's Ironmen.

That's a great, unique name, but just what does Normal actually have to do with iron anyway? Iron will? An iron fist? Iron-poor blood?

Or the Maroons, as at Clinton High?

Just what is a Maroon  besides a color, a verb or a fifth of Adam Levine's (Maroon 5) ensemble?

How about the Clinton Lakes? Or the Clinton Nuclears? Or even, for the boys' teams, (please try to avoid anger here) the Clinton Bills and, for the girls, the Clinton Hillarys?

Fisher, the Ford County town?

They are in fact the Bunnies, a glorious name, but we prefer the Fisher Men or the Fisher Poles.

How about the Lincoln Continentals?

The Dwight Eisenhowers?

Just what is (Normal) U High a Pioneer at? How many (Bloomington) Raiders are Purple? Are there any original Indians left around Pontiac? And how many (Bloomington Central) Catholics are Saints anymore? (Please don't answer that.)

Consolidation notwithstanding, let's hear it instead for the Piper City Pied Pipers, the Forrest Trees, the Carlock Keys, the Rutland Potholes, the Panola Vegetable Oils and the Lostant Anduncles (you might have to sound that one out).

How about the Wellington Beefs? Or the Anchor Aways? ("Aways At Home Tonight," the headline would read.)

Peoria already has the Lions, Rams, Irish and Knights, but there are no Peoria CATs. That's its biggest employer! (Somehow, I believe the headline "CATs strike first" has a real ring to it.)

What about the Bloomington Insurers? Or the Central Catholic Popes or Cardinals?

How about the Weldon Hamburgers? The Morton Salts? ("When We Reign, We Pour.") The Washington Monuments? The Mahomet-Seymour Clearly Nows?

Let us not also forget the Gardner Tools, the Goodfield Crops, the Eureka Vacuums, the Wenona Ryders and the Metamora Phasis (sorry).

When it comes to local historical significance, how about the Robinson Heath Bars and the Centralia Paydays (those two Illinois towns are the birthplaces of those two hugely popular candy bars)?

What about the Rankin Files?

The Avon Callings?

The Cooksville Recipes?

There's also the Saunemin Half, Rantoul Snap-Ons and Thawville Ice ("Ice Lowers Normal Temps, Then Plows Gardner Tools").

Crisscrossing the state, we find the Macon Whoopees, the Flossmoor Teeth, the Champaign Bubbleys, the Vienna Sausages, the DuQuoin Pocket Change, the Paris Plasterers, the Momence Notice, the Lovejoy Handles and the Marion Couples.

There's the Granite City Rocks, Downers Grove Barbiturates, Sterling Silver, Sandwich Wrap, Elgin Watches, Mankato Kaelins, Arthur Godfreys and the O'Fallon And-I-Can't-Get-Ups.

Yes, I can hear what you're saying:

The Shirley Nots.

Eureka!
When it comes to the artful science of economics, most American farmers and ranchers are classic Ricardians, or followers of David Ricardo, an 18th century English stock trader whose influential book, On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, explained what he saw as the markets guiding lights.

Any ag econ student from the last 150 years can spot a Ricardian principle a mile away. Some of his classics include comparative advantage, the law of diminishing returns, opportunity cost, and the ever-useful theory of economic rent.

All, not coincidentally, fit snugly into most U.S. farmers and ranchers near-sacred belief that, given free markets and free trade, theyll out-produce everyone else.

Maybe, but production doesnt mean profit and free trade and free markets are ideals, not realities. In fact, there are huge barriers to both: over-the-moon land prices, soaring seed costs, market bubbles, currency manipulation, price inelasticities, monopolies, monopsonies, tariffs, weather, sanitary barriers, ongoing global conflicts 

Moreover, any of these external influences can lead to negative market consequences like market losses and even bankruptcy. Thats one reason why Ricardos economic principles are labeled theories, not truths or facts.

An even better reason, explains Richard Thaler, a non-Ricardian economist at the University of Chicago, is that humans are not always rational so, often, the markets they live and operate in wont always be rational either.

That makes sense. Why else would hardware stores put the cherry licorice display next to the checkout lane if they didnt want me to make a completely irrational purchase? Does anyone really need two pounds of chewy, artificially flavored fructose?

Irrational behavior, in fact, explains so many market consequences that the Nobel committee just awarded Thaler its 2017 Memorial Prize in Economics. In announcing the award, the committee not only honored his work on how people are economically irrational, but how they are predictably irrational  that they consistently behave in ways that defy economic theory.

Predictably irrational?

For example, Thaler explained to The New York Times, the theory of supply and demand clearly states that people will pay more for an umbrella during a rainstorm. In real life, however, many people will become angry if you charge more for one during a rainstorm. Most, in fact, wont buy it.

Thats predictably irrational: you really need an umbrella because its raining but refuse to buy one because, well, its raining.

We down-to-earth farm and ranch folks are predictably irrational, too. How else can you explain why some of us only buy green machinery and others only red?

Right  its complicated. And predictably irrational.

If thats complicated, how do predictably irrational people around the world design and implement farm and food policies that are effective both nationally and internationally?

Thaler, the newly minted Nobel laureate, might call on his fictional friend, Homo Economicas, to tackle that knotty problem. Econ Man, as Thaler calls him, is part of a group of highly intelligent beings that are capable of making the most complex of calculations but are totally lacking in emotions

In other words, Econ Man is always predictable and perfectly rational.

On one occasion, Thaler put Econ Man to work in his classroom after a group of high-achieving students averaged 70 points on an exam. When their bitter complaints over the test scores finally ebbed, Thaler assured the students that, on his grading curve, 70 still equaled a B. That meant nothing to the students; all they saw was 70.

Econ Mans solution was beautiful: Thaler raised the value of the next exam from 100 points to 137 points. As a result, the average score on this second exam hovered near 100, not 70. The relative letter grade, however, still was a B. The students didnt care; they saw 100, not 70, and were elated. Predictably irrational? In spades.

How would Econ Man score the 2018 Farm Bill?
Tri-County Financial Group, Inc., parent company of FIRST STATE BANK, has completed private placement of common and preferred stock yielding gross proceeds of $20,000,033. An affiliate of Castle Creek Capital is the sole investor in the offering. The company intends to use the proceeds from the offering to support the growth of First State Bank.

EASTLAND MALL is hosting a Holiday Job Fair from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Job seekers are encouraged to bring resumes, dress for an interview, and be ready to talk to potential employers.

Many full- and part-time positions are available. The job fair will take place near American Eagle. Appointments are not necessary and applicants will be seen on a first-come, first-served basis.

STREATOR ONIZED CREDIT UNION has opened membership to anyone residing or working in Stark, Peoria, Tazewell, Ford, Iroquois, Kankakee, Will, and Kendall counties in Illinois. The current field includes LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Grundy, Putnam, Woodford, McLean, and Bureau counties.

To open an SOCU membership, visit a branch in Streator, Dwight or Pontiac or visit socu.org.

JESSE LEMAN of Fairbury, part of Sealtite Insulation, competed in the 15th annual Americas Best Installer competition at the EXDO Event Center in Denver.
BLOOMINGTON  Sexual harassment can happen in any workplace, whether its a Hollywood studio or an office full of cubicles.

He was fired from Weinstein Co. last week.

As the scandal unfolded, more victims came forward with similar allegations: Weinstein used his power as a movie mogul to intimidate the women, but the victims were too frightened to speak up and jeopardize their careers.

Bloomington-Normal experts said delayed reports are common for victims of sexual assault, so businesses should educate employees on the topic to keep their workplaces safe.

Coming forward

Victims may not come forward because they may feel scared of being fired or receiving retaliation. Or they may not speak up for fear of not being believed, especially if the harasser has power over them, said Cinnamon Porter.

Porter said sexual harassment includes any unwanted or unwelcome sexual advances, including requests for sexual favors, or other verbal and physical sexual behavior.

For example, sexual jokes or comments can happen the most in the workplace, she said. Also common is the physical part, which can include brushes or touches that make someone feel uncomfortable.

Victims of sexual harassment should review policies and procedures at work surrounding harassment, said Porter.

If they feel comfortable enough, they should stand up to the person committing the sexual harassment. Let them know those behaviors are making them uncomfortable, said Porter.

The victim should report inappropriate behavior to a supervisor and, if needed, file a complaint through the company human resources department, she said.

Any employee also can file a complaint through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which states harassment is a form of discrimination.

According to www.EEOC.gov, harassment is illegal when it is so frequent or severe that it creates a hostile work environment.

Porter said reporting sexual behavior ensures a safe work environment for all employees.

If its happening to you, theres a good possibility this is happening to someone else as well. Reporting it could stop harassment from happening to others, she said.

Proactive education

Terry Lowe teaches business at Illinois State University, Heartland Community College and Lincoln College in Normal.

Lowe said he wont adopt a textbook for his courses if it doesnt include sections or chapters on sexual harassment laws and policies.

In higher education, we owe students a preview of the laws that will impact their expected behaviors in workplaces. This is particularly true with regard to sexual and other forms of harassment. They need to be informed on how to be professional and avoid allegations of improper conduct, said Lowe.

And once hired, we hope and assume businesses will provide them with an even deeper education on the laws and policies governing harassment.

If an employee experiences a form of sexual harassment, Lowe agreed they should immediately speak with someone in management or HR.

Businesses should then do whatever it takes to remedy the situation, he said. They should investigate the allegation by interviewing victims or harassers, finding witnesses and reviewing emails, texts or other documents that might help prove or disprove the complaint. From there, a decision can be made as to appropriate discipline while avoiding the need to involve outside agencies or legal representatives unless there is a clear need to do so.

Lowe said companies should train newly hired employees on workplace harassment policies as well as give refresher courses to management on a periodic basis. He said businesses should also "be very public about their position and policies," reminding employees that sexual harassment is not tolerated.

Employee training

ISU provides educational material and training to staff regarding its harassment and discrimination policies, said ISU spokesman Eric Jome.

If an allegation is filed, Jome said the ISU office of equal opportunity and access can conduct an investigation, follow up on the claim and file disciplinary action, including termination, depending on the findings.

For years, this has been an issue of grave concern for a lot of people. We want to make sure the workplace is considered safe and that employees are never subject to any harassment or discrimination, he said.
Sunday

Registration taken, Citizen Watchdog Training; 6-8 p.m. Oct. 23, First Presbyterian Church, 2000 W. College Ave., Normal; sponsors: League of Women Voters of McLean County and Better Government Association; registration required; 312-821-9031 or ahaider@bettergov.org ; www.bettergov.org .

Tickets available, Meadows Gospel Fest; 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Nov. 4, Christ Community Church of Gridley; with Southern gospel groups, A Natural High and Jakes Boys; soloist, Eugene the Talking Sax Peebles; $10, includes meal; tickets available at Chenoa Pharmacy; First Financial Bank of Gridley; Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, Chenoa; and Meadows at Mercy Creek, Normal; or at the door; 309-747-3628.
BLOOMINGTON  A group of women with Wesley United Methodist Church showcased their talents Saturday to raise money for local nonprofit organizations.

The biannual craft fair, hosted by United Methodist Women (UMW), featured tables of holiday crafts and decorations, a bake sale and lunch.

UMW focuses on empowering families, especially children and women, said Cindy Lorimor, church communication coordinator. The craft fair has also brought wonderful fellowship for the women of the church. Theyre able to pay it forward and enrich the lives of others.

Proceeds are distributed to groups like The Baby Fold in Normal, Cunningham Childrens Home in Urbana and Leslie Bates Davis House in St. Louis.

In 2015, the event raised $7,000 and organizers expected to raise even more this year.

We make slight adjustments on who we donate to based on their needs each year, said Karen Fleming, UMW president. I know the people of Bloomington-Normal want to help with disasters and local people in need, but sometimes they dont know how. This is a great way to give support.

Crafts included wool mittens, aprons, yard ornaments and indoor decorations for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. UMW leaders said women work for two years on their creations to prepare for the fair.

Church member Tricia DePew of Normal is one of several women who transform wool sweaters into mittens to sell at the event.

We donate every penny to the UMW missions. These places need more resources and were able to give it to them, said DePew. "I was fortunate to not need that assistance, but thats not always the case and its great that we have these resources in the community for families who need it."

Sisters Diana Evans of LeRoy and Dorothy Lilienthal of rural Bloomington eyed some rustic Christmas tree ornaments at the sale.

I like the homemade stuff and anything that catches my eye. Its nice that the church donates the proceeds to help others. Thats what it should always be about, said Evans.

Lilienthal said she appreciates the imagination that goes into many of the crafts.

People used to burn those wooden pallets and now look at how theyre being transformed into art, she said.

Elaine Stokes, co-chair of the event, said UMW raises $25,000 each year through various fundraisers for organizations in need.

The church is also hosting a fundraising event for disaster relief at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 502 E. Front St., Bloomington. The event will feature old gospel music by the CW Quartet and CW Sextet.
NORMAL  Normal Police continue to investigate an early Sunday-morning incident in which a shot may have been fired in an apartment after three females were seen fighting on social media.

Police Chief Rick Bleichner said NPD was notified after midnight about a Facebook Live stream in which two females appeared to be beating up another female in Normal.

The investigation took a while to figure out if it was real and the location because there was limited information as to where it might be, Bleichner said. We had a little footage of the hallway and there were folks who thought they knew where this was.

Around 2 a.m., officers went to the 200 block of Parkinson Street and as they approached the door, they thought they heard a gunshot, Bleichner said.

At that point, they decided for safety reasons, to bring the SWAT team and hostage negotiators in to contact the individuals inside, he said. We knew they were inside, but they were not responsive to us.

During the investigation, one man was arrested for illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, Bleichner said. That man is due in court Monday afternoon. The Pantagraph does not name suspects in such cases until they are formally charged.

There were no injuries, Bleichner said, and officials were still trying to determine if a shot had, in fact, been fired.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Normal Police Department at 309-454-9535.
There are practical people who arent practical enough to dream a little bit, observed Peoria attorney and conservationist William L. Rutherford at the inaugural meeting of ParkLands Foundation in the summer of 1967.

Luckily, Bloomington was home to Loring Merwin, a community leader who, though eminently practical, also dreamed big. How big? A leisurely walk through the Mackinaw River nature preserve that carries his name is testament to Merwins big and beautiful dream  to save and restore endangered natural areas in the buckle of the Corn Belt.

Straddling the Mackinaw River west of Lexington, the Merwin Nature Preserve features a rolling landscape of prairie, oak-hickory savanna restoration and bottomland forest. Its hands down one of the more delightful and sublime spots in all McLean County, and without the work of Merwin and others a half-century ago this bold vision wouldve never seen fruition.

Fifty years ago, back in 1967, Merwin spearheaded the establishment of ParkLands Foundation, a private land trust that acquires and helps protect and restore natural areas. Given the longstanding anti-tax sentiment in McLean County, and thus the lack of support for a county-wide park system, he effectively called upon private citizens to pool their resources together and purchase, on their own, parkland for public use.

Merwin well understood that the few remaining natural or undeveloped areas in McLean County, especially those along Mackinaw River, were in danger of being gobbled up by farmers and homebuilders, and if he and others didnt act soon thered be precious little left for future generations.

Sooner or later the public will adopt some continuing, tax-supported plan for ownership and maintenance of recreational lands, Merwin declared at the time. But we cant wait. Suitable lands are going off the map. The important thing today is for us to start preserving land the public will want someday.

Yet in the intervening decades there has been little interest in tax-adverse McLean County  either among county board members or the public at large for the acquisition and management of natural areas backed by a dedicated revenue stream. Thus ParkLands, best described as a privately owned public resource, has long served as the countys de facto park system. After all, the foundation manages more than 3,000 acres in McLean County  more than any other entity, public or private.

Loring Merwin, great-grandson of town of Normal founder Jesse Fell, served as publisher of The Pantagraph from 1937 to 1968. Known for his rather unassuming nature and aversion to the spotlight, Merwin was as well-respected and well-connected a community leader as anyone in McLean County.

During the decades after World War II, area Corn Belt farmers embraced mechanization, and in doing so clear-cut wooded tracts to increase row crop acreage. In addition, the rapid population growth of the ever-sprawling Twin Cities metropolitan area gobbled up additional open space.

In the year-and-a-half or so before publicly unveiling Parklands Foundation, Merwin laid the groundwork by inviting friend and foe alike to a private dining room off the cafeteria at the old downtown Bloomington YWCA. He knew just who to woo and how to woo them. Two things are obvious, he told guests at one such meeting. Potential outdoor recreation land here is disappearing under the plow and under plans for residential subdivisions; and the taxpaying public is not yet ready to act.

A half century later, McLean Countys taxpaying public is still not ready to act (as recently as the 1985, voters rejected a referendum to establish a conservation district). Other nearby Central Illinois counties, though, have taken a far less parsimonious role in protecting open spaces and natural areas. Champaign County, for instance, has a forest preserve district that manages more than 3,900 acres of land, while Macon County, with Decatur as the seat, has a conservation district that oversees around 3,300 acres of land.

Peorias Forest Park Foundation, which was led by Peoria attorney William Rutherford (see accompanying photograph), served as the model for Merwins vision of a McLean County-based land trust. Rutherford would later serve as head of the Illinois Department of Conservation and, in 1978, help establish Wildlife Prairie Park.

Merwins ambitious land acquisition project faced several obstacles, including suspicion among area farmers and business interests of any effort to purchase arable land for use other than agriculture or commercial development. Accordingly, ParkLands original trustees included not only Twin City leaders such as Timothy Ives, Sam Stern and Robert Underwood, but also those with deep ties to the soil and rural McLean County, including Ward Freitag, Ben Gildersleeve, Lafayette Funk and Clarence Ropp.

ParkLands first gift of terra firma came in September 1967 when sisters Elisabeth and Louise Stubblefield donated 5.22 acres of timber known as the Hougham property. Other acquisitions followed, and within two years ParkLands had obtained eight parcels totaling some 100 acres. But that was merely the beginning of much bigger things to come.

By the early 1970s, the foundation had pieced together a superb 430-acre tract in Tazewell County known as Lilly Orchard. In accordance with the organizations stated mission at this time, the land was then handed over to the public trust, in this instance the State of Illinois and the Department of Conservation.

Yet the state, to the consternation of ParkLands officials, failed to carry out the promised protections and hoped-for improvements of the natural area.

After that exasperating and disappointing experience, ParkLands shifted its mission to one of retaining ownership and management of its acquired acreage. Perhaps we cant trust public agencies to manage land the way we want to, recalled one board member of the Lilly Orchard debacle. Well have to do it."

Over the ensuing decades, the foundation has concentrated its efforts on the Mackinaw River from Colfax in McLean County to Congerville in Woodford County. Its holdings along the river have been likened to a necklace of pearls. The goal now is to complete the necklace, either through new land acquisitions or conservation easements.

Although Loring Merwin passed away in 1972, ParkLands continues to play an indispensible role in local conservation efforts. This summer, as the foundation celebrated its 50th anniversary, it announced the acquisition of a 69-acre tract along a more than half-mile stretch of the Mackinaw River in Woodford County. Known as the Hayes Woods Nature Preserve, its one of the more polished pearls in ParkLands Mackinaw River necklace.

By protecting our local natural heritage, we bring people closer to the natural places, says board member Angelo Capparella. We empower nature to do the work of ensuring that we have clean air and water, healthy soil, pollinators, functioning ecosystems, and a place for people to obtain that inner peace which comes from experiencing and protecting nature.
By PTI: (Eds: Adding fresh quotes, correcting a word in para 8)

By Sajjad Hussain

Islamabad, Oct 13 (PTI) An anti-graft court in Pakistan today postponed the indictment of ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Muhammad Safdar in Panama Papers case till October 19 due to protests by lawyers.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had registered three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, 67, his family members and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Islamabad Accountability Court after the Supreme Court disqualified him as prime minister on July 28.

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As the court was about to begin the proceedings, lawyers started protesting in the court room of Judge Muhammad Bashir against security arrangements which had "restricted their movement in the court premises".

Judge Bashir left the court room and later announced the postponement of the hearing till October 19.

Sharif skipped the hearing as he has not returned from London where he is busy looking after his wife Kulsoom.

A senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) said that Sharif had nominated a representative to appear before the court to face the indictment and deny the charges.

Maryam, while interacting with reporters, expressed concern over the unnecessary hurdles created for lawyers and asked the interior ministry to probe the incident.

"I dont know who created the problems for the lawyers. It should have been avoided," she said.

TV footages showed that Maryam and Safdar were present inside the court when lawyers created ruckus. They had also attended the previous hearing.

Meanwhle PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid said: "Nawaz Sharif today did not appear before the Accountability Court in Islamabad because he is in London to look after his ailing wife Begum Kulsoom".

Sharif may return on the next hearing but it depends on the condition of his wife, Rashid said.

The PML-N has not given a specific time frame for the return of Sharif.

"No time frame can be given at this stage as Mian sahib (Sharif) is busy in London looking after his wife. He may return to the country once the chemotherapy of Begum Kulsoom completes (after about three months)," a close aide of Sharif told PTI.

The court during the hearing on October 9 decided to separate the trial of Sharifs sons Hussain and Hassan from Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law.

It had also ordered to start the process of declaring Sharifs sons proclaimed offender for failing to appear before the court.

Hussain and Hassan have been given a 30-day deadline (till November 10) to appear before the court failing which they will be declared proclaimed offenders, the NAB has said.

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Sharifs wife Kulsoom, who is suffering from throat cancer, has undergone three surgeries in the UK so far.

The anti-graft body NAB had frozen the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court.

Sharif had failed to appear on Monday before the court as he was in London with Kulsoom.

Sharifs family has alleged that the cases are politically motivated. He may be jailed after the indictment.

He had to step down as prime minister and president of the PML-N party after being disqualified by the Supreme Court.

Sharif was re-elected as the president of the PML-N on October 3 and immediately demanded that those who disqualified him should respect the peoples mandate and democracy. PTI SH/MZ CPS

--- ENDS ---
Outspoken pop queen and PAPER cover star Halsey was nominated for this year's American Music Awards, and she took the opportunity to say she's disappointed with the overwhelming maleness of the nominee pool.

Billboard reports that she was nominated for Favorite Song in Pop/Rock and Collaboration of the Year with The Chainsmokers for "Closer," joining Ed Sheeran, Drake, Justin Bieber and The Weeknd as a nominee. However, she expressed how disappointed she is that more women weren't nominated, saying it was a missed opportunity. (Artist of the Year nominees were exclusively male, as were Video of the Year, Favorite Album for Pop/Rock and more).

Halsey was one of a handful of artists to be nominated for this year's American Music Awards, but she's speaking out on why she's disappointed with the largely male nominee pool, and how she thinks it was a "missed opportunity."

"Really honored to have received an @AMAs nomination but really disappointed to hear near exclusively male names... such a missed opportunity," she wrote. "So many incredible female artists have released this year. hoping the coming award shows give them the credit that is due to them.

Really honored to have received an @AMAs nomination but really disappointed to hear near exclusively male names... such a missed opportunity

 h (@halsey) October 12, 2017

so many incredible female artists have released this year. hoping the coming award shows give them the credit that is due to them.

 h (@halsey) October 12, 2017

The AMA's will air November 19 on ABC.

[h/t Teen Vogue]

Image via Getty
A group of civil society organizations has demanded that Apple remove from its app store games it said violated the tech firm's guidelines and promoted violence and killings commonplace in the Philippines' war on drugs.

Reuters further reports that "The group named several apps featuring characters based on Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and his national police chief, Ronaldo "Bato" dela Rosa, who engage criminals in gun battles and fistfights.

'These games valorise and normalize the emerging tyranny of Duterte's presidency and his government's disregard for human rights principles,' the Asian Network of People who Use Drugs (ANPUD) said in an open letter to Apple's Chief Executive Officer, Tim Cook." More

Imagine that, the police fighting drug dealers is wrong, my my. I guess this group would prefer cheering on the drug lords, like cheering on the Soprano's in the U.S. In July the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte went on the warpath vowing to "hound" drug dealers "to the very gates of hell"  during his State of the Nation Address.





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Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday, kicked off the centennial celebration of Patna University at Patna Science College campus by showering praise on Bihar and its glorious history while also lauding Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his 'undying commitment' towards the development of the state.

{gallery}newsimages2017/oct/101417_1{/gallery}Sharing the dais for the first time after Nitish Kumar buried the hatchet earlier this year by walking out of the Mahagathbandhan government in Bihar only to go back to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Prime Minister said that the NDA government has taken a pledge to make Bihar a developed state by 2022 by continuing to formulate and implement policies that were in the larger interest of the state.

"Bihar is blessed with Ganga and Saraswati. Now it's time to bring Goddess Laxmi here too. Bihar has a Chief Minister like Nitish ji who is equally committed to Bihar. Together, we will work hard to make Bihar a prosperous state," Modi, who is known for his soaring rhetoric in his speeches, said at the function attended by many MPs from Bihar, top government officials, educators and past and present students of Patna University.

Joking about the news that he was the first Prime Minister to ever visit Patna University, Modi joked that it appeared his predecessors left one hell of job for him.

Earlier, the PM was welcomed by Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik, the Chief Minister, a number of leaders from Bihar, and top bureaucrats at the Patna airport from where his motorcade, under heavy security cover, drove to the Patna Science College campus where he was welcomed by PU officials.

Nitish Kumar, in his speech at Patna Science College, welcomed the PM saying it was a red-letter day for Bihar as Modi was the first Prime Minister ever to visit the historical Patna University. Taking advantage of the occasion, Kumar made a fervent appeal to the Prime Minister to accord central university status to Patna University  a demand going back at least 40 years.

Modi, however, without directly turning down the CM's plea, said that he had even bigger plans for the university than just according it central university status.

"This demand for central status is passe in today's age. I want to make 10 universities each from private and government sectors and make them world-class universities. To achieve this goal, we will give an assistance of Rs. 10,000 crore to each of these universities and all they have to do is to make these universities into world-class universities in five years. I ask Patna University to take advantage of this offer," he said.

The Prime Minister also lavished praise on the university saying Patna University played a major role in the nation building and produced a number of great students who went on to earn laurels for both the state and the country.

"Bihar has produced the largest number of civil servants in the country. Today you cannot find a state where a Bihari is not in the top-five list of the bureaucrats," he said.

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik. Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi, senior BJP leaders and Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav, LJP President and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief and Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha, and PU Vice Chancellor Ras Bihari Prasad Singh were among many who were present on the occasion.

However, Patna Saheb MP and senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) President Lalu Prasad Yadav, both PU graduates, were conspicuous by their absence. Former Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) chief and Education Minister in the Mahagathbandhan government Ashok Kumar Chowdhary was seen in the VIP section of the guests.

On the occasion, a number of university officials were also recognized for their contributions in the area of education.
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The President of the Republic of Cote dIvoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, will from Monday, 16th October, 2017, begin a 2-day Official Visit to Ghana. The purpose of the visit is to deepen further the already strong relations that exist between the two countries, as well as explore other areas of co-operation to their mutual benefit.



This visit is a reciprocal one to the visit made to Cote dIvoire by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in May this year, at the start of his tour of the countries of West Africa.



The two Presidents and their respective teams are expected to hold bilateral discussions at the Flagstaff House on Monday, 16th October, 2017, after which the two leaders will address a joint press conference. President Akufo-Addo will, later that evening, host his Ivorian counterpart to an official dinner.



Prior to President Ouattaras departure, on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, the two countries will sign a bilateral agreement, and inaugurate a joint commission for the implementation of the recent judgement passed by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries of Ghana and Cote dIvoire.



May 5 Visit to Cote dIvoire



It will be recalled that earlier this year, from 5th May, 2017 to 7th May, 2017, President Akufo-Addo paid a 3-day visit to Cote dIvoire, at the commencement of his tour of the countries of West Africa.



During that visit, President Akufo-Addo revealed that the close co-operation between Ghana and Cote dIvoire will be facilitated by a new initiative dubbed An Agreement For a Strategic Partnership, that will be signed by the two countries.



This agreement, according to President Akufo-Addo, will bind Ghana and Cote dIvoire in even closer intimacy and go beyond the bounds of the concept of the Permanent Joint Commission, which is the conventional tool for co-operation.



President Akufo-Addo noted one of the areas of focus of this Agreement will be in the cocoa industry.



President Akufo-Addo was also decorated with the Highest National Award of Cote dIvoire, La Grande Croix dans lordre National Ivorien, at a State Dinner held in his honour by the President Alassane Ouattara.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The office of Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, has debunked claims that the Vice President has a convoy of 16 vehicles accompanying him on trips.



Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei, earlier this week, vowed to start a campaign against state officials to force them to reduce their convoy sizes.



He singled out the Vice President as having a large convoy that inconvenienced regular road users.



Citing a recent trip to Cape Coast to buttress his point, Prof Adei claimed the Vice Presidents convoy consisted of 16 SUVs.



But the Veeps office, in a statement signed by the Director of Communications, Frank -Twum, insisted that, Dr. Bawumia only used a maximum of seven vehicles on trips outside Accra and on this particular trip to Cape Coast, the Vice President used a total of 7 cars.



Below Is The Full Statement



VICE PRESIDENT USES A MAXIMUM OF 7 CARS, NOT 16 FOR TRAVELS OUTSIDE ACCRA.



The attention of the Office of the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been drawn to a recent media publication following comments by Professor Stephen Adei, former Rector of GIMPA, that the convoy of the Vice President on a recent trip to Cape Coast consisted of 16 SUVs.



The Office would like to make it clear that the Vice President and his team use a maximum of 7 vehicles on trips outside Accra and not 16. The 7 vehicles include a leading police vehicle, security detail, Protocol, the media team and an ambulance. On this particular trip to Cape Coast, the Vice President used a total of 7 cars.



It should, however, be noted that on many occasions (including funerals) while on a trip, several other people, including the Police Commander of the area, Ministers, MPs, MMDCEs, CEOs and party officials may decide to meet and accompany the Vice President on arrival.



Signed



Frank Agyei-Twum

Director of Communications

Office of the Vice President

Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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The decision by a Mississippi school district to pull "To Kill A Mockingbird" from a junior high reading list is drawing widespread ridicule - from both Democrats and Republicans.

The 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee includes language that "makes people uncomfortable," according to Kenny Holoway, the vice president of the Biloxi school district.

The book deals with racial inequality in a small Alabama town.

The Biloxi Sun Herald first reported Thursday on the school board's decision.

As news spread nationally about the book ban, it led to an uproar of protests - including from one of the country's former top educators.

Arne Duncan, who served as U.S. Secretary of Education from 2009-2015 under President Obama, commented twice on Twitter on Saturday about the school district's decision.

When school districts remove 'To Kill A Mockingbird' from the reading list, we know we have real problems. https://t.co/TF3fGZmvXp  Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) October 14, 2017

Let's help her and get her some books! https://t.co/HWKBvNqW8A  Arne Duncan (@arneduncan) October 14, 2017

"When school districts remove 'To Kill a Mockingbird' from the reading list, we know we have real problems," Duncan posted on the social media network.

Later, when Duncan received a tweet about a Chicago teacher seeking 80 copies of the book, Duncan retweeted with the comment, "Let's help her and get her some books."

The teacher's project was posted on donorschoose.org and was fully funded at $598.

On the Republican side, U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska commented twice Saturday on Twitter.

This is a terrible decision. It's one of our few shared stories -- in a nation with far too few shared stories right now. https://t.co/Um7QBiSkif  Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) October 14, 2017

Engaged parents should call the school district with the clear message: Our kids are tough enough to read a real book. https://t.co/g1FGXc3mfc  Ben Sasse (@BenSasse) October 14, 2017

"This is a terrible decision," Sasse posted. "It's one of our few shared stories - in a nation with far too few shared stories right now."

Sasse followed that comment on Twitter with this one: "Engaged parents should call the school district with the clear message: Our kids are tough enough to read a real book."

On Friday, the Sun Herald published an editorial under the headline "Please don't kill this opportunity to talk about racism."

"In the book, the Finch children, Scout and Jem, grow when they confront evil," the editorial said. "They discover prejudice and overcome it. And that is because their father, Atticus, treats them maturely and guides them in the right direction.

"The Biloxi school system should follow his example."

Last year, a Virginia school system also removed "To Kill a Mockingbird" from its curriculum as well as "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."
The Taliban says the claims of rescued Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle are "false and propaganda," according to an Associate Press report.

The Taliban said in a statement Sunday that Boyle's accusations that the organization murdered his child and raped his wife while they were being held in captivity in Afghanistan were "baseless and false." Boyle and his wife, Caitlan Coleman, of Stewartstown in York County, children were kidnapped by the Taliban in Afghanistan five years ago while on a backpacking trip.

While in captivity, the couple had three children. Boyle claims they would have had a fourth child, but the unborn was murdered by the Taliban. The Taliban says Coleman had a miscarriage and the unborn baby died as a result.

"No one has either intentionally murdered the child of this couple and neither has anyone violated or defiled them," said Zabihuallah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban.

Mujahid said Boyle was never separated from his wife while in captivity, noting that the freed hostage is in the hands of "the enemy" and could be pressured into saying anything, according to the report.
LEWISBURG -- The children cheered and the adults booed when Mike Glazer announced that woolly worms -- those brown fuzzy caterpillars -- are predicting a stretch of severe weather this winter.

The prediction is based on data collected by young judges who carefully examined caterpillars at the 21st annual Woolly Worm Festival Saturday in Lewisburg.

Mike Glazer, founder of the Woolly Worm Festival in Lewisburg, consults with chief judge Olivia Mahon before announcing a winter weather prediction.

"For about six weeks we are going to have severe weather," Glazer said after conferring with chief judge Olivia Mahon, a fifth grader from Lewisburg.

He did not say when the period of severe weather would occur but he got another cheer from youngsters when he said it would cause schools to be closed for several days.

The National Weather Service has yet to issue its winter forecast for central Pennsylvania but its preliminary one predicts milder than normal temperatures with an even chance of above or below precipitation.

The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts a cold and snowy winter for this part of the country.

A chilly winter with above normal snow is predicted by AccuWeather for the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.

Glazer, who founded the Woolly Worm Festival in 1997, brags that woolly worms are right 108 percent of the time. However, last year they predicted severe weather in January and February -- months that saw warmth that was well above normal. February was actually the warmest February on record.

Woolly worms predictions are based on their coloration. The job of the judges is to closely examine the ratio between 13 segments of black and brown rings on the woolly worms. The thicker the black rings, the more severe the winter, Glazer said.

Adults wearing white lab coats used to be the judges. The switch to youngsters was made when the adults commented the judging was so simple a 10-year-old could do it, Glazer said.

The woolly worm judging is part of a day-long festival in Hufnagle Park sponsored by the Buffalo Valley Kiwanis Club AM.
By PTI: Islamabad, Oct 15 (PTI) Pakistan and Iran today agreed not to let their territories be used for terrorism against each other as the two neighbouring countries signed an MoU to improve border security management, a media report said.

Pakistan shares a 900-kilometre-long border with Iran which in the recent months has expressed concern over militants operating along the Pakistani border.

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The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the 21st two-day meeting of Pakistan-Iran Joint Border Commission in the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan province.

The joint proposals pertaining to border situation, security matters, immigration and border trade between the two countries were discussed, Radio Pakistan reported.

The meeting expressed firm determination to check drugs smuggling, intrusion of illegal immigrants and not let use of their respective soils for terrorism against each other, the report said.

Provincial Chief Secretary Aurangzeb Haque led the Pakistani side while Deputy Governor Sistan-Balochistan province Ali Asghar Mir Shikari headed the Iranian delegation, it added.

In July, an Iranian drone was shot down by a Pakistan Air Force fighter jet in the restive Balochistan province.

In April, nine Iranian border guards were killed by militants in a cross-border attack on the frontier with Pakistan. Following the attack, Iran had summoned the Pakistani envoy to protest the attack. PTI CPS

--- ENDS ---
A new report from the Central Okanagan Foundation says the valley needs to attract more young people to keep the economy moving.
Thomas O'Donnell: A Comment on: A Trans-Atlantic Manifesto in Times of Trump  A German Perspective, by foreign policy experts

I read with interest the declaration: "In spite of it all, America: A Trans-Atlantic Manifesto in Times of Donald Trump - A German Perspective, " signed by a number of leading German foreign policy experts today in Die Zeit and translated in the NYTimes .

Point 10 is of particular interest and much welcomed as - at long last - a frank characterization in Germany of the Nord Stream 2 project for what it plainly is: "a geopolitical project:" Quoting:

10. Energy security policy  giving up Nord Stream 2 is in Germany's interest There is one more policy area in which the German government should reconsider its position to open the door for productive cooperation: energy security policy. The United States has identified Nord Stream 2, the planned pipeline running through the Baltic Sea to Russia, as a geostrategic project. They are correct. More important: This pipeline project is not in the joint European interest. Nord Stream 2 contradicts a policy of greater energy independence and undermines the envisaged European Energy Union. We should try to identify a joint approach with our European partners and the United States.

Further in the spirit of Trans-Atlanticism, which this manifesto embodies, I should point out that the recent US sanctions bill (enacted by Congress in retaliation for Russian interference in US elections, and to codify into law Obama's presidential sanctions orders stemming from Russia's East Ukraine and Crimean interventions, so that Donald Trump cannot easily reverse these) ... involved Congress meeting with EU and German diplomats and re-drafting the initial bill so as to take into explicit consideration European concerns.

These concerns were that US sanctions should not unfairly disadvantage European firms over US firms, and should not be imposed on EU firms in a "unilateral" manner, without close consultations with European allies such as were carried out by the Obama administration.

In fact, the final version of this bill explicitly requires the Trump Administration to decide to impose any new sanctions on participants in European pipelines or energy projects such as Nord Stream 2 only in "coordination" with the European Union.

The fact that the final drafting of this bill - which Trump was constrained to sign because it was 'veto proof' - involved US-EU active cooperation, both "without and against" President Trump, is a significant step in defense of Trans-Atlanticism and in defiance of Trump's anti-European "America First" policy and of his vision of US " energy independence " as jingoistic "US energy dominance."

Today's manifesto by influential German foreign affairs figures advocating further engagement with the USA in spite of (and de facto against) Trump, is a further positive step in this direction.

I should note that the Trump administration has missed the new sanctions bill's mandated deadline to report to Congress on these issues. Meanwhile, I am told (some two weeks ago) by reliable sources that "all work has been frozen" by Gazprom's European-partner firms involved in the NS2 project, awaiting clarity from the White House on what any new sanctions will be and then to understand the longterm impact on their participations.
Jared Adkins had a vision for his distillery: a sunny, inviting space, in a neighborhood where people could wander in to enjoy craft cocktails and learn about his spirits. As he explored the suburbs of Philadelphia in search of a home, his pitch was rejected four times.

Then he got to Phoenixville, where borough officials not only said yes, but put him in touch with the owner of a vacant building he'd seen on the way into town  and pretty much welcomed him with open arms.

Bluebird Distilling, which opened in 2015, was the first distillery in Phoenixville. But it's only one piece of a movement that has turned the borough of 17,000 into a destination for eaters and drinkers, especially beer lovers. One half-mile stretch of Phoenixville's downtown is now home to four breweries, three winery tasting rooms, Bluebird Distilling, and The Foodery, a store selling more than 1,000 choices of bottled beer.

Phoenixville is a robust example of a trend urban planners are seeing throughout the region and the country, said Karen Cilurso of the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission: community rebirth built around food and drink.

"We're seeing a food tourism sector now in more of these places," she said. "People want an experience, to sit outside and watch people walk by, and they want to enjoy something that's homegrown and affordable. The same way people don't want to drive an hour to work, they don't want to drive an hour to be entertained. And it's so contributed to the revitalization of places like Phoenixville."

Many such communities have blossomed outside of Philadelphia. Collingswood, N.J., is home to a restaurant boom years in the making, with more locally owned shops and eateries that draw customers from around the region. This year, West Chester was recognized by a national Main Street organization for its dining scene, which attracts food tourism and has powered that borough's economy. Kennett Square, Ardmore, Conshohocken, Media, and Doylestown have all benefited from a surge of new restaurant activity.

In Phoenixville, these new establishments have created jobs, given the downtown new vibrancy, and attracted new residents. Home values are rising, and new luxury apartment buildings are filling up, with 2,000 more residential units planned. Phoenixvilles population, about 15,000 in 2004, is on track to hit 20,000 in the next five years, said Borough Manager Jean Krack.

It didn't happen by accident or overnight. Borough officials, looking to revive the downtown and fill empty storefronts, years ago revamped their zoning laws and tax code specifically to encourage the development of restaurants and other businesses.

"When you sell a home, the number-one conversation at the closing table is the breweries," said Jennifer Daywalt, a longtime area real estate agent. "Which ones are coming, comparing them to one another."

More are on the way. The Conshohocken Brewery will expand to Phoenixville this year, and new brewery Rebel Hill plans to open as well. That's in addition to Stable 12, Root Down, Crowded Castle Brewing Co., and restaurants like Guatemalan Kitchen, Vecchia Pizza, and Downtown Bangkok Cafe. Sly Fox, the pioneering brewhouse launched in Phoenixville in 1995, is just outside of the downtown area.

Located about 45 minutes northwest of Center City, Phoenixville is a former steel town. After the 1987 shutdown of the Phoenix Iron & Steel Co., the jobs disappeared, families left, and storefronts along Bridge Street closed. Local developer Manny DeMutis, who grew up in town, remembers a time in the early 1990s when the borough couldn't afford to keep streetlights on at night.

Borough leaders hired a consultant to draft a plan aimed at supporting growth while preserving attractions like the historic Colonial Theater. Investors like DeMutis started buying property. By the late 1990s, Phoenixville had created a Main Street Development Corp. and begun a series of community programs like murals and First Friday events with live music.

In 2010, the borough rewrote its zoning code, simplifying the guidelines to attract new businesses, said Krack. The borough also started offering tax incentives to business owners who rehabilitated abandoned buildings.

Bluebird founder Adkins, who recently moved to Phoenixville, said that when he began searching, many municipal officials warned he'd face an uphill battle with zoning restrictions. "Instead of people being open to fitting it in somewhere, the response I got was, this won't fit in," he said. "Phoenixville had open arms."

Recent changes to state liquor laws also unlocked the market for smaller businesses in Phoenixville and other towns. In 2015, breweries were given the go-ahead to sell beer by the pint, and to create satellite locations, which has led to the opening of more brewpubs around the state. Micro distilleries were allowed to apply for affordable licenses to sell directly to customers, similar to the existing laws in place for wineries, which has ushered in a craft distillery boom.

Phoenixville's downtown sits where the French Creek and the Schulykill converge. It offers access to a paved trail along the river that runs for miles through Chester County and beyond, along with kayaking and fishing  experiences that are attractive to many of the borough's newcomers.

"A number of those same people have an interest in good food and beer, and that palate is now being met," Adkins said.

Since 2004, Phoenixville's assessed valuation has increased by almost $200 million, Krack said. Homes that could be bought for under $100,000 a decade ago are going for close to $300,000, according to Daywalt, and many storefront buildings that were once priced at $300,000 now cost more than twice that. The growth has led local leaders to start looking at whether enough affordable housing remains in the area.

But to many businesses, Phoenixville still offers relative affordability and an opportunity to spread out. At The Foodery, the first suburban outpost of the Philadelphia chain of craft beer stores, customers can sample beer on tap and browse the vast shelves of a 28-yard-long beer cooler.

"Everyone is pretty much amazed when they walk in," said general manager Nikita Borovik. "You couldn't fit this anywhere in a city."

Borovik said that Foodery patrons include everyone from construction workers to young working professionals to township employees. Krack often sees people working on laptops at the Iron Hill Brewery's bar. At other local brewpubs, Daywalt sees families brunching with young children.

"Years ago, you'd never take your kid to a bar. It would be taboo," she said. "Now a lot of these places have a different atmosphere; there's food for them to eat, it's encouraged."

Last month, a craft bar crawl among six establishments drew more than 800 people, Adkins said  so many that organizers ran out of the T-shirts promised to patrons who completed the event. On First Fridays, families and couples stroll in and out of restaurants and bars, go to movies or concerts, or browse the shops. During weekend festivals, Bridge Street is often closed to traffic to accommodate thousands of people and live music.

When Andrew Deery opened his BYOB, Majolica, in 2004, he had few neighbors on Bridge Street. He built a loyal following, he said, possibly because there were few similar options anywhere in the area. These days, Phoenixville has so many choices that customers sometimes have trouble parking. But he thinks the infusion of brewpubs and other eateries have made the borough well-rounded and more appealing to different types of people.

"We very much appreciate the availability of places for our patrons to get drinks before or after dinner," said Deery, whose restaurant is next door to the Black Walnut Winery's tasting room. "They complement our other businesses, and they add to the commerce downtown."

DeMutis, the developer and lifelong Phoenixville resident, said the key to the borough's newfound vitality is that quality brewpubs and restaurants have moved in, companies operated by craftsmen who stand behind their products.

"Phoenixville has developed very slowly over time and has been able to keep its character and charm," he said. "The businesses coming in see that, and as a result, everyone who comes here has become an investment partner in our town."
The womans mouth pain was so extreme, she told a doctor she didnt think she could live with it much longer. Read more

Elizabeth Starrels sat in the examining chair of a Washington ear, nose and throat specialist in October 2012, weeping in frustration and pain. For four months, Starrels, then 52, had been battling painful mouth sores that were getting worse.

Eating had become a near impossibility, and Starrels, who was largely subsisting on smoothies, had lost 20 pounds.

Her dentist and an oral surgeon told her she had thrush, a yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of fungi in the mouth that can result from antibiotics such as the ones she was given for a calcium "stone" in a salivary gland.

The rinses and medicines they prescribed worked only briefly or not at all. The ENT whom she saw next disagreed. He suspected that her problem was an inflammatory disease.

When Starrels, a registered nurse who works at MedStar's Georgetown University Hospital, broke down, telling the doctor she didn't think she could live with the pain, his response was brusque. "He told me I would have to learn to live with it  I had no choice," she recalls. The doctor offered to prescribe an antidepressant.

Starrels said that the ENT's reaction had a galvanizing effect: She didn't need an antidepressant, but she did need someone who seemed interested and willing to help her. "As a nurse," she said, "I could advocate for other people but not for myself."

Two months and several additional doctors later, Starrels received a new diagnosis as well as effective treatment. She also found encouragement online, through a support group whose help she considers invaluable. "I was so grateful to have a diagnosis and to know that there was a treatment," she said, adding that her pain is now gone.

Solution

In November, a few weeks after the ENT appointment, she traveled to Philadelphia to see an oral medicine specialist at the University of Pennsylvania. A week earlier, to her dismay, a spray of fluid-filled blisters had erupted on her chest.

The doctor peered into her mouth and told Starrels he didn't think she had lichen planus, the diagnosis she got from her Washington ENT. He suspected her problem was pemphigus vulgaris, a rare autoimmune disease, and urged her to see a dermatologist immediately to undergo a biopsy of the blisters, which could help confirm or refute the diagnosis.

Pemphigus vulgaris (and a related disorder called pemphigoid) is a serious and incurable disease that is usually caused by an overreaction of the immune system, which mistakenly attacks healthy skin cells, especially the mucous membranes.

It is not contagious, and is most common in middle age and beyond.

Starrels was able to undergo a biopsy the day after her appointment at Penn. The procedure was performed by a dermatopathologist  a doctor trained in both dermatology and pathology  who is a partner of Starrels' dermatologist. The biopsy yielded preliminary confirmation of pemphigus vulgaris, which was confirmed by pathologists at Johns Hopkins.

A few weeks later, at the recommendation of her dermatologist, Starrels saw Grant J. Anhalt, a professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins who specializes in treating blistering skin diseases.

"He basically said, 'There's no cure for this disease, but I have a very good treatment,' " Starrels remembers him telling her, to her great relief.

Starrels' case is typical, Anhalt said. It takes patients an average of six months to a year to receive a diagnosis, largely because the telltale symptom  mouth sores  has numerous causes and because pemphigus is rare. The frequent nosebleeds she had experienced, but hadn't thought much of, were a harbinger of the disorder.

Anhalt has increasingly relied on periodic infusions of rituximab, a drug approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers. Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration granted the drug, which is in a Phase III clinical trial, breakthrough therapy status, a designation that could speed its approval for pemphigus and facilitate insurance coverage.

Other drugs, including prednisone and CellCept, an immunosuppressant drug often used to prevent organ rejection, are also prescribed, sometimes in combination.

Starrels began taking prednisone and CellCept and then underwent the first of three rituximab infusions. Her insurance covered the first round, at $20,000, without difficulty. Coverage of the last round was initially denied, but it was covered after Starrels appealed.

Over a period of months, her sores and blisters cleared up and her pain vanished. Her first remission lasted 18 months. The average remission lasts 1.5 to 2.5 years, Anhalt said, but he knows of one patient whose remission has exceeded a decade.
TADOBA ANDHARI TIGER RESERVE, India  This was my fifth hour of riding in an open jeep along the rugged paths cut through the jungle in search of tigers.

By now, the early-morning chill had long faded. My long-sleeved T-shirt stuck to my back as a blistering sun pounded. I shoved aside my scratchy wool blanket and tugged at the stiff camouflage-print kerchief across my mouth and nose, tied bank-robber style. It was intended to filter out the dust, but the red powder still managed to find its way into every crevice. The jeep jolted along the cratered road, and my back ached.

I was tired. I was hungry. And I hadn't seen a single of the many dozens of tigers that roam the park  or much of anything else.

Not exactly what I had expected on my journey to rural, central India. Our group of 14 had set out from the rustic Irai Safari Retreat before dawn in several jeeps. It was now past 11 a.m., and I was ready to give up. But the guide ignored my whining. Onward! he insisted.

As we rumbled through a cloud of red dust from the wake of another jeep, I kept coming back to one nagging question: Is an Indian safari worth the trouble?

I had traveled to the Serengeti and Botswana, and this experience was proving to be nothing like that. There, safari was through open grasslands that delivered a plenitude of clear sightings. In India's jungles, it was much more a Where's Waldo/Tiger/Leopard/Anything Interesting experience, if one was even that lucky. Often, hours were spent seeing absolutely nothing more exciting than spotted deer, which are basically as common as crows at India's various reserves. Guides know that, because they barely slow down. One was furious that I wanted to linger over a troop of monkeys playing in the trees. "You'll miss the tigers," he chided. It was big game or nothing.

On this morning, it was the latter. The guide conceded, finally, that the trek was not going to produce any felines. Back at the lodge, I scarfed down lunch and contemplated whether to try again during the scheduled late-afternoon sojourn. My husband and son opted for R&R. I'm more of an if-at-first-you-don't-succeed type. I had to try again.

It was even hotter  and still dusty and bumpy. But the walkie-talkie crackled. Even though I didn't know the local language, I knew something was up. We approached a bevy of other jeeps and edged our way to the front.

"Leopard," the guide said. I scanned the tan grass and picked out the spots of a solitary big cat craning its neck. The guide pointed to the right, and my gaze shifted. A carcass of white bones, mostly picked clean, was on the ground. The smell of meat turning rancid hung in the air. It looked like the remains of one of those spotted deer.

After a while, the leopard ambled over to a stone wall, part of the remnants of a dwelling once inhabited by the tribal people who lived there. When the land became a national park, they were relocated. The leopard stretched out, and the jeeps  now a mob scene  closed in. It was noisy, more carnival than the library-quiet I was used to on safari. I was surprised the leopard wasn't spooked. But perhaps it was used to the fanfare.

Despite the commotion, I would have been happy to watch this beauty hang out. But our guide was eager to get on our way. Tigers awaited.

Or so I thought. Over the next couple of days, no luck. The only tigers our group saw were three clay ones on the lodge grounds. My family and I did see an impressive buck in shallow waters. And a crocodile. Others in our group, including my husband, came upon a sloth bear inching its way along the roadside. That sounded very cool. There were birds caught in glimpses as the jeep paused (kind of) on the search for tigers. But mostly, all of us drove around with trees for company.

On the last safari, the jeep I was in raced through the jungle. Of course, it was hot, dusty and bumpy. After a couple of hours, we headed for a lake. Dozens of jeeps had already staked out the spot, as though we were at an outdoor movie lot waiting for the flick to start.

Word had it that some of those who had arrived an hour earlier had seen a tigress and cubs emerge from the long grass on the far bank of the lake. We waited. And waited.

A peacock pecked at the ground. Some theorized that given the peacock's calm demeanor, it was unlikely any tigers still lurked.

And then, when hope was slim, a tiger mom appeared, walked a few paces, and settled on the bank. Most of the jeeps erupted in shouts and wild gesticulations. Mom rolled around in the grass. After several more minutes, an adolescent joined her. The tiger nuzzled with mom for a while and then retreated to the grasses.

After four days and too many hours to count, I saw Tadoba's famed tiger. I was awed. Once again, I considered that question: Is an Indian safari worth it?

The answer, it turned out, was sometimes.

Sometimes, you see a sated leopard lounging on an old stone wall. Sometimes, you see a sloth bear slowly making its way.

And sometimes, if you're very lucky and very patient, you see a tiger or two.

Email at Lkadaba@gmail.com. Follow @exinkygal
By PTI: Ara, Oct 15 (PTI) Police today seized 395 kg of ganja worth Rs 1.5 crore from Ghusariya village in Bihars Bhojpur district.

Superintendent of Police Avkash Kumar, said that acting on a tip-off, police raided four houses in Ghusariya village and seized 395 kg worth Rs 1.5 crore.

The police team was led by Ara Sadar Deputy Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar, the SP added. PTI CORR AR RG

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Weeks before Holly Glen Elementary would welcome students back in September, county health inspectors went on a walk-through, searching for signs that mold might be festering in the Gloucester County school.

They found plenty.

There were discolored, damp books and papers sitting on shelves in the school. Pipes in a classroom ceiling, visible because some tiles were missing, were dripping. A teacher who was preparing for the first day of school told them that she had to empty a dehumidifier tray in her classroom daily because of excessive moisture, a breeding ground for mold.

What followed is pieced together from a series of reports by state and county health authorities and an environmental consultant hired by the school district, as well as accounts from union officials and others, with some of them tracing the problem to January or even longer ago.

After that August walk-through, surfaces were wiped down and mold-stained materials were tossed. School opened as scheduled for 457 pupils in kindergarten through fourth grade.

But a month later, the mold problem had worsened, and then on Oct. 5, an environmental testing consultant recommended closing the school after mold was detected on ceilings, floors, walls, lockers, desks, and toys. Students were temporarily reassigned to other schools during the cleanup.

Within days, the district's five other schools were also shut down for the week as a precaution and tested for mold, district officials said. The closing affected 6,000 students and spawned a crisis that raised questions about whether the problems could have been fixed sooner.

"When it was brought to their attention that they had mold in these buildings, they didn't take it as seriously as they should have," said Ed Knorr, a private environmental health investigator and a former chairman of the Monroe Township Environmental Commission. "They knew over a year ago that there was mold growing in these buildings, and they needed to check further."

The school shutdown angered parents, who had to make emergency day-care arrangements. Four of the six schools are now scheduled to reopen next week, but some parents are still worried about missed school days and potential health dangers their children may have been exposed to. Mold can trigger respiratory issues.

"It was a very frustrating week, and I think it could have been prevented with routine maintenance and maybe with listening to parents' and teachers' concerns," said Nick DiFelice, an electrician from Williamstown who has a 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son in the district. "I'm glad their schools will reopen, but I would be happier if we could see the air quality test results before the kids are sent back into the classrooms.  The reports say it's safe and just trust us for now, but there's not a lot of trust yet."

School districts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have grappled with mold problems, which can run rampant in damp, older buildings with leaky pipes and poor ventilation. Neither state has regulatory standards for how much mold presents a health risk and each pretty much leaves it up to school districts to monitor problems.

"There are no education laws or regulations that specifically mention mold," said David Saenz, a spokesman for the New Jersey Department of Education, which is now monitoring the mold problem in Monroe.

In Monroe, district union officials say they had documented a mold problem at Holly Glen for as many as five years. David Sullivan, the district's director of plant operations, has said that he learned of the problem only in January and acted appropriately in calling in the state and county health departments three times since then.

Superintendent Charles Earling has not responded to email and phone messages seeking comment. The district, however, has released daily updates about the cleanup and school closings through a task force created last week.

After hearing about the problems in Monroe, neighboring Washington Township School District decided to check for mold and air quality problems at all of its 11 schools, spokeswoman Jan Giel said. She said a cleanup was performed Friday at science laboratories in the high school, where "porous cabinets" were found contaminated with mold. Other schools would be inspected over the weekend and later, she said.

Mold of various species is common indoors and out, experts say. Two of the most frequently found indoor molds, Aspergillus and Cladosporium, were identified at Holly Glen.

The district hired TTI Environmental after a school employee filed a complaint with the Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health unit in the state Department of Health on Sept.15. The school district was then directed to investigate, said health department spokeswoman Donna Leusner.

In the last 12 months, the unit has received 145 health and safety complaints, and about one-third involved schools, Leusner said. It was unknown how many complaints concerned mold. Although districts are not required to test schools for mold, they must meet state indoor air quality standards, remove any visible signs of mold, and fix what caused it to occur.

After employees and students at Holly Glen complained about odors and rashes, Sullivan, the district's plant operations director, sought help from the county health department in January. The department doesn't conduct air quality testing. An inspector walked through the school looking for visible signs of mold.

The county made 14 recommendations, and all but one were quickly completed by the district, including checking the roof for leaks and removing stained rugs and ceiling tiles. But a month later, state inspectors found new problems  mold on bulletin boards and stained ceiling tiles  which the district also corrected.

Just before school opened this year, county inspectors returned and noted new concerns cited by the district: moisture on desk tops and elevated humidity. That led to the employee complaint and eventual testing that confirmed the school had a mold infestation.

The 1960s HVAC system at Holly Glen is seen as a likely culprit in the mold problem. For the three months that it is expected to take to replace it, students are to be relocated to other schools.

Last year, the New Jersey Education Association, the state's largest teachers union, received complaints about mold in schools from more than a dozen districts, said spokeswoman Christy Kanaby. Among the schools in South Jersey were Clearview Regional in Mullica Hill, Charles Street School in Palmyra, Millville High, and Salem Middle, she said.

"Mold issues are not uncommon," Kanaby said, noting that on average, New Jersey's 2,500 public school buildings are at least 50 years old. And, she said, air quality standards only apply "to visible mold, not hidden mold  for example, mold growing behind walls."
Beth Grossman, who is running for Philadelphia District Attorney as a Republican speaks to a class at Temple Law School on Wednesday, ctober 11, 2017. Read more

Beth Grossman found herself surrounded.

The lone Republican candidate for Philadelphia district attorney, she had no one to debate before the May primaries, so she was invited to candidate forums with the seven Democrats.

It turned out her positions didn't deviate too much from theirs.

"You follow the law," said Grossman, who will face Democratic nominee Larry Krasner in the Nov. 7 general election. "This is a political race for a nonpolitical office."

On paper at least, Grossman, 49, represents the best chance for Republicans to win the city's top law enforcement post since 1985, when Ronald D. Castille was elected. Her opponent is a progressive defense attorney with no time as a prosecutor, at odds with the city's police union. Liberal billionaire George Soros spent $1.4 million to boost Krasner.

RELATED: Civil rights attorney Larry Krasner  DA's Office is 'off the rails'

Grossman said she never expected to run for the office where she spent 21 years as an assistant. Blame that on Seth Williams, a onetime boss, who will be sentenced Oct. 24 after pleading guilty to a federal count of bribery.

After moving to the Department of Licenses and Inspections in 2015, Grossman entered the race in January, itching to take on Williams. Her slogan: "Beth, not Seth."

Williams, a Democrat, was still seeking a third term, but dropped out in February and was indicted in March.

Philadelphia political corruption made Grossman a Republican, she said. She left the Democrats in 2013, returned in 2015 and went back to the GOP last year.

Though she said she was fed up with the way Williams operated, Grossman allowed that he made improvements. She praised his use of diversionary programs for nonviolent offenders and a move to assign the trial division geographically, putting prosecutors closer to neighborhoods.

In terms of style, however, Grossman would likely return the office to how it was run for 18 years by her mentor, Lynne M. Abraham, a Democrat who has given Grossman $500.

Abraham described her as "dedicated to the office and easy to get along with." As a veteran of the city's political scene, Grossman's former boss also knows how tough it is to run as a Republican.

"Anyone who says it's easy is a fool," Abraham said.

Grossman breaks with Abraham on one issue  she "didn't particularly like it" when the former district attorney punted political cases to other agencies, citing potential conflicts. She pledged to pursue public corruption herself.

She also said Williams allowed the office to become "management-heavy" and plans to review assignments.

Krasner, a defense attorney for three decades, is best known for suing the Philadelphia Police Department and representing protesters in civil rights cases. "This is not a learn-on-the-job experience," Grossman said.

Lodge 5 of the Fraternal Order of Police has endorsed Grossman, though she has said she will prosecute officers for misconduct.

"I have investigated and prosecuted police officers. I have no problem doing that," she said.

Asked for an example, Grossman cited the 2004 case of a 39-year-old officer who pleaded no contest to charges for an inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old at Roxborough High School, where he patrolled. The cop was sentenced to house arrest and probation.

Grossman, speaking to a group of GOP students at Temple University's School of Law Wednesday, said the local party is "staid and stale" but she hopes they will help reinvigorate it.

Grossman's most recent campaign finance report shows little support so far from the party.

She had just $5,643 in the bank and $26,886 in debt as of Sept. 18, hardly enough in a city where Democrats outnumber Republicans 7-1. The bulk of her debt was a loan she made to her campaign.

Grossman described herself as a "centrist Republican" and Krasner as a "far-far-far-left Democrat."

With a salty sense of humor, Grossman predicted that she'd have her "ass handed to me" if any of the six Democrats who lost to Krasner were running. Five had been prosecutors. One was a judge.

That, she said, gives her a chance.

Grossman grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and Huntingdon Valley. Her father ran a candy store in Kensington, under the El tracks. Her mother was a teacher who took time off to run it after Grossman's father died.

She graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in political science before earning a law degree at Temple, and interned with the U.S. Attorney's Office and the District Attorney's Office.

Elois Howard, who supervised Grossman when she worked in special investigations and narcotics, recalls a prosecutor who could navigate conflicts while others might seek "the spotlight" of combat.

"She's calm. She's thoughtful. And this may be a killer, but she's kind," Howard said.

Grossman now pitches a potential political liability as proof that she has the capacity to run the office: experience using civil-asset forfeiture as chief of the Public Nuisance Task Force.

That process allows authorities to seize homes and businesses thought to be connected to crimes like drug dealing without the higher bar of proof required in criminal cases.

The tactic prompted a 2014 federal class action lawsuit against the city, which in June proposed a voluntary permanent ban on using civil-asset forfeiture proceeds to fund law enforcement. Instead, they can be used only for programs like drug-abuse prevention and treatment.

"I reviewed every case," she said. "I didn't abuse the law."

Grossman said she attended hundreds of community meetings, where she met people who could not sit on their porches or let their children play outside because of crime-ridden neighboring properties.

That experience gave her working relationships with other city agencies, civic groups and business organizations, connections she said would help her as DA.
Yuval Yarden has stepped down as executive director of Philly Startup Leaders following a controversial panel discussion last week at the Black & Brown Founders Conference over the lack of diversity in a growing, largely millennial segment of Philadelphia's economy: tech start-ups.

PSL board president Robert Moore and chairman Rick Nucci made the announcement Saturday on the organization's Slack and Google group channels, writing that Yarden "exemplified behavior and made statements  that were disappointing, inappropriate, and unacceptable. We are sorry."

"While the statements do not represent the values of our organization, the fact that this occurred at all is a reflection of our poor efforts around diversity and inclusion. We have serious work to do. Now."

Yarden, hired as PSL's first full-time employee in March 2016, declined to comment Sunday, saying she's working on a statement.

"It's been a really difficult week," she said in a text.

Yarden and panel member Tayyib Smith got into a somewhat heated debate at Tuesday's conference. Smith, cofounder of Little Giant Creative and Pipeline Philly, was pointing out the shortcomings of diversity efforts in the tech community and at one point said Yarden was "whitesplaining." That caused Yarden to choke back tears.

"It is extremely difficult walking into a room where you're really one of the only white people," Yarden said later in the discussion. "I feel like I'm walking on such thin ice because anything I say or anything that I plan to be helpful, the response is that I don't get it."

Moore told the Inquirer and Daily News on Sunday that Yarden is "one of the most prolific and successful connectors of people and creators of good content in the start-up community" and said she'd be an "amazing hire" at many companies.

But, Moore said, PSL's growing base requires an executive director with CEO-level experience and judgment and the ability to handle a broader portfolio of responsibilities. Formed in September 2007, it started as a "ragtag group of aspiring entrepreneurs that would get together for happy hours and commiserate," Moore said in an April interview when the serial tech entrepreneur was named PSL's president.

The organization has since evolved into what Moore called "a force multiplier" for the community by providing mentoring, access to resources, and education "to help make sure we are building as many amazing companies here in Philly as we can." Its email listserv has more than 3,000 subscribers, Moore said Sunday.

Yarden's comments on the panel drew some bad press for PSL, including from Philadelphia Magazine business editor Fabiola Cineas, who on Friday called it a "sad and frankly pathetic exchange that demonstrates that the organization, as it stands, should no longer be regarded as a beacon of representation for Philadelphia's tech community."

Moore said Yarden resigned Thursday, and that the decision was not in response to any negative publicity. He acknowledged, however, that PSL has "a lot of work to do in taking input from the community around our diversity dinner event specifically and our efforts around diversity and inclusion in general and being held accountable."

Webjunto co-CEO Liz Brown, who was on Tuesday's panel with Yarden and Smith, said Sunday that while she disagreed with the way Smith made his points, she had recently been in touch with Yarden and her team about improving the 2nd Annual Philly Startup Leaders Diversity Dinner on Oct. 25. Brown said they were receptive to her feedback. The event is billed as "an opportunity to address the diversity gap in Philadelphia's tech community and within the nation. This dinner is an opportunity to talk about the challenges, share best practices, and celebrate the positive aspects of being an underrepresented group in the tech world."

"I do feel Yuval was trying her best and meant well, but was maybe not prepared for that kind of panel and those kinds of questions," Brown said.

In their letter Saturday, Moore and Nucci said they will "recommit ourselves to ensuring that all of PSL's signature events and activities are executed with a model and lens that increases diversity and inclusion and creates a stronger start-up community."
Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., has been critical of Donald Trump, but without mentioning the president by name. Read more

TULSA, Okla.  Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., believes some of President Donald Trump's recent threats against the media run contrary to the Bill of Rights.

Unlike some Republican senators, you won't hear him question Trump's character or fitness for office as a result. But Lankford has not shied away from pointing out, if sometimes indirectly, where he and Trump diverge.

"I see that as against the First Amendment," Lankford said of Trump's recent tweet suggesting that TV networks'"licenses" should be revoked because of "fake news" reporting.

"I don't want anyone, from any party, deciding what the press can and cannot write," he said. "I would also say, first things first on it, the American people pick who is fit for office. I don't question his fitness for office based on a preference on how he communicates."

The 49-year-old senator, a widely respected up-and-comer within the GOP, is a prime example of how Republicans who disagree with Trump but don't want to alienate his supporters are navigating the president's latest controversial comments.

Lankford is savvy about the political risks of openly defying Trump, and he has done so carefully. In June, he made headlines when he said Trump's conversations with former FBI Director James Comey about an investigation into Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn were "very inappropriate." Later that month, when Trump called MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski as "Psycho Joe" and "low I.Q. Crazy Mika," Lankford said the tweets didn't "help our political or national discourse."

But his strategy of criticizing the president without naming him was most apparent after Trump blamed "both sides" for violence at the white supremacist march in Charlottesville, Va., in August that resulted in three deaths. "Our words must not create confusion," Lankford said in a lengthy statement. "The supremacy of any race is abhorrent, un-American and should be condemned by everyone. Period."

Last week, Trump gave Lankford and other Republicans plenty to disagree with. In an interview before a town hall here, Lankford said he disagreed with Trump's tweets Thursday suggesting that federal aid workers pull out of Puerto Rico just 3 weeks after Hurricane Maria hit. But he was careful not to criticize Trump directly. "Traditionally, we've stayed in a disaster zone as long as needed," he said. "I would expect there to be people on the ground from FEMA for at least two years in Puerto Rico."

Lankford went just far enough to indicate he's bothered by Trump's frequent tweeting, particularly when it comes to escalating threats toward North Korea and the president's recent criticism of Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. "I don't like the rhetoric," Lankford said. "I don't like the way it's coming out in a Twitter war back and forth."

Still, he took pains to be evenhanded about Trump's appeal. "I know some people say, 'I don't like [Trump's] policies, or I don't like the way he communicates,' " he said. "There are also other Americans that love how he communicates."

The political reality in deep-red Oklahoma means Lankford has to be careful about crossing Trump. The state went for Trump over Hillary Clinton last year by 36.4 percentage points, supporting him even more strongly than Mitt Romney, who won the state by 33.5 percentage points in 2012. A SoonerPoll quarterly survey released in September showed a majority of likely voters in Oklahoma still view Trump favorably, despite his record-low national approval rating. Denouncing Trump could, at some point, bring Lankford a primary challenge from his right.

Alienating Trump's supporters is not the only concern: a confrontation with the president and his allies could turn into a nasty, public brawl. This just happened to Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., another younger GOP senator from a red state, who was outraged by Trump's latest comments on the press. In addition to questioning networks' licenses, Trump had said it's "frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write." Sasse issued a public statement asking whether Trump was recanting his oath to preserve, protect and defend the First Amendment. His anger garnered praise from Trump critics on the right but also drew an attack from Fox News host and regular Trump defender Sean Hannity.

Sasse replied that it was Hannity who had changed, "not me."

Before Sasse, it was Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who came forward among Republicans to criticize Trump. After the president went after him on Twitter, Corker, who is not running for re-election, responded by calling the White House an "adult day-care center," arguing Trump's recklessness has put the United States "on the path to World War III" and saying GOP senators were privately concerned about Trump's fitness for office.

Lankford said he hasn't heard Republican senators express concerns about Trump contributing to another potential World War and praised the administration's military posture toward North Korea, specifically the role of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. "I know the rhetoric, there might be disagreement with," he said. "What's actually been done on North Korea is pretty historic."

In a Senate Republican Conference fraught with conflict and showboating, Lankford is considered levelheaded. Elected in 2014 to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., the conservative Republican and member of the Intelligence and Appropriations Committees has built a reputation as a serious legislator.

He declined to answer directly when asked whether he would cast another vote for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

"Mitch McConnell is the leader in the Senate, period," Lankford said. "I anticipate he'll be the only one running in the days ahead."

McConnell's hold on the conference has steadily weakened after a wave of legislative defeats; criticism from the White House; and most recently, the loss of his preferred candidate in Alabama's special Republican Senate primary runoff.

Lankford did offer muted criticism of McConnell's famously tight-lipped style.

"Mitch is historically known for keeping issues very close to the vest and that no one else in the Senate knows his plans. That is something that needs to open up," Lankford said.

The war within the Republican Party was far from the minds of the people who gathered to hear Lankford speak Thursday night in a historically black area of North Tulsa, where a prolonged and deadly race riot targeted residents in 1921. At the under-renovation Big 10 Ballroom, a former music venue where talents like Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, and Count Basie played, Lankford let his background as a Baptist preacher show with exhortations to the crowd.

"Has your family invited a family of another race to your home for dinner?" he asked the roughly 250-person audience, about half white and half black. "I'm not talking about some structured something  just normal conversation so that you're developing friendships."

The crowd cheered a woman's question about universal health care and a man's comment that health insurance he received through the Affordable Care Act saved his life.

Lankford knew his audience, which included current and former Democratic officials, young people with questions about the Dream Act and several members of Moms Demand Action, a pro-gun control group. Asked at one point why Republicans hadn't managed to enact a health-care plan, he deadpanned: "You're welcome."

Trump's name wasn't mentioned once  and Lankford never brought him up.
In this Aug. 29, 2017 photo, fashion critic Pilar Castano, left, and designer Regina Bastidas dress a cardboard cutout of Pope Francis with the vestments he would wear during a visit to Colombia, in Bogota, Colombia. Read more

Pope Francis may have traveled around Philadelphia two years ago in a Fiat 500L, but when he's kidnapped in Jersey, he prefers a white Audi.

Police in Washington Township, Gloucester County, say someone absconded from St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church on Thursday evening with a life-size cutout of the pontiff  the same evening as a handbag bingo fund-raiser.

Coincidence?

A witness told police that Francis was taken by three women operating an Audi. One suspect was described as being approximately 70 years old and on oxygen.

"The church is asking that Pope Francis be returned safely," the police department posted on its Facebook page late Friday night.

On Sunday morning, however, the department edited the post with an all-caps update: "THE POPE HAS BEEN RETURNED."

A man who answered the phone at the Washington Township police department sounded unfamiliar with the case and said no one was available to comment.

Suffice it to say, another prayer answered.
The Waterfall of Detian in China and Ban Gioc in Vietnam

Do you know that there is a waterfall at the border of Vietnam and China is shared by both countries? The waterfall is known as Detian in China and Ban Gioc in Vietnam. It is located at the West border of China and East border of Vietnam.

We went to this place in 2013 from Nanning China. We took the local tour and it took us a couple of hours of bus ride from Nanning. We went there during winter and the weather was cold as it was hovering around 10 degree Celsius.

This waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Asia and in the world. The multi-tier waterfall is a tourist attraction among the locals and it also acts as the border of Vietnam and China.

Strange enough, you dont see many soldiers or border patrols in this area. However, you do find Vietnamese and Chinese traders selling stuffs here.

You need to take a bamboo raft to get close to the waterfall and along the way there will be many sellers approached you. Most of them are selling cigarettes.

There is a small market on top of the waterfall right at the border of China and Vietnam. You can many local products there.

This Waterfall of Detian in China and Ban Gioc in Vietnam is one of the hidden gems of China and Vietnam. You dont see many people promoting this place as it is quite laidback compare to other big attractions in China or Vietnam.

We were told the waterfall is prettier during spring and summer time but the weather is hotter too.

As we mentioned earlier we went there from Nanning so this is something you can consider visiting in the future.

Please take note that Malaysians are required to apply travel visa to China. Thank you for reading.

Wilson Ng A Father and traveler who enjoys to eat, shop, travel and taking pictures with Samsung S22 Ultra and Sony ZV-1. Im a full time blogger, youtuber and father for two. I used to travel around 17 International trips per year but now staying at home. Remember to follow us at www.instagram.com/placesandfoods and www.youtube.com/placesandfoods. For advertisements or features, contact me at [email protected] See author's posts
Photo: Getty Images

The trend of law enforcement policy-making around use of force has been to implement de-escalation policies and mandates. Many police chiefs and sheriffs are considering de-escalation policies, and some may have been politically influenced to implement them. Regardless of reason, de-escalation policies are a predominant topic in contemporary law enforcement.

While using tactics and communication to avoid having to use force options is nothing new in law enforcement, the trend of creating policy that mandates these measures be taken is. The origins of todays concepts of de-escalation derive from the evolution of crisis communications. Crisis communications, verbal judo, professional communications, all have their roots in decades-old concepts of hostage negotiations. The basic concepts of containing an individual while providing calm, clear communications to end hostage episodes peacefully have woven their way into todays street policing. While these concepts are practical and effective in some situations, they are useless and even dangerous in others.

High-profile force incidents in recent years have spurred national dialog on police force practices and have cultivated a movement for cementing the concepts of force de-escalation into policies. But are the results of making de-escalation part of police policy having an effect on officer safety? I set out to answer this question.

What is De-Escalation?

But before we discuss my research, we need to talk about some key concepts.

Ask for a definition of de-escalation, and you are likely to get a wide variety of answers. De-escalation itself does not have a uniform definition in terms of its application to policing, but in reviewing many current de-escalation policies, I have found there are two predominant directives written into policy:

Slow things down when faced with possible use-of-force incidents. Avoid or lessen your force options.

While this may seem good on paper, many street cops know this is not always entirely possible. Unfortunately, to those who perceive law enforcement as too aggressive, de-escalation seems like a very easy thing to do.

Use-of-force policies are commonly guided by the objectively reasonable standard. To place an impetus that an officer is generally expected to avoid or lessen force is using hindsight as 20/20, something the Supreme Court has ruled not to be feasible when analyzing an officers force option via Graham v. Connor. This creates a paradox of whether an officer's attempt to lessen/avoid force due to policy and ultimately needing to increase force later in the contact is indeed an objective application.

De-escalation policies could be confusing officers about when and how to use force in dealing with dangerous situations. An officer who has gone through several months of academy training, probationary on-the-job training with a veteran field training officer, annual in-service training, and more than 2,000 hours of annual experience on the street develops a strong sense of protective instinct. Telling that officer to pause and resist temptation to defend him- or herself generates confusion between instinctual safety and policy compliance.

What adds more complications to the de-escalation policy expectations are the training programs that officers are provided to meet policy expectations. Agencies are quick to send officers to the nearest de-escalation course in hopes of appeasing the public demand or to boast that their officers were "trained in de-escalation." But if their officers attended a basic police academy in their respective states, they already had a good dose of de-escalation strategies.

Law enforcement academies for years have integrated problem-based policing, Constitutional law, crisis communications, and force options training, all with a great deal of emphasis on when and how to use force that is objectively reasonable and how to effectively increase and decrease force options. By sending officers to de-escalation training courses, chiefs and sheriffs have risked these men and women becoming hesitant about using force. A review of several de-escalation courses revealed everything from very distinct reminders of tactical considerations of approach, dialog, and control concepts, to broad-based scare tactics that officers are being disciplined, fired, and sometimes charged for force applications. However, a message in the title of the course alone, de-escalation, makes it clear that officers are being encouraged to shy away from force.

Worse yet are those agencies that implement policies and offer little to no training on what is expected. Some chiefs and sheriffs will argue that the policy is only codifying what is already expected of the officer: to use as little force as possible. Yet the standard of force provided to us by the wisdom of the Supreme Court is not to use as little force as possible but the reasonably objective amount. To judge force by minimal increments is again an application of hindsight, or personal judgement. These chiefs and sheriffs may learn in the presence of a notice of claim, or courtroom, that while their policy had the best intentions it now has created a liability for their employers.

PERF's Influence on Policy

The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) produced a 2016 report titled Thirty Guiding Principles on Use of Force that suggested there should be a nationwide policy on de-escalation. This report argued that such a national de-escalation policy would increase officer safety. Yet PERF offered no quantitative evidence to support that claim.

PERF lacks the legal authority to create such a policy, but the organization's suggestions are no doubt being heard and implemented by those influenced by its report. In my home state of Wisconsin, some lawmakers have cited the PERF report in seeking a bill to create a statewide de-escalation policy and training requirement. Representatives have specifically cited the PERF report and the benefits to law enforcement safety, if such a policy existed. Discussions with those behind the state proposal reveal a general lack of understanding of what de-escalation is, how it may create confusion for the officer on the street, and how there is no evidence to support a claim that de-escalation policies increase officer safety.

What policy-makers need to know is that de-escalation is not the magic bullet suggested in the political rhetoric and the PERF "Guidelines." The implementation of a de-escalation policy has both a qualitative and quantitative effect. I believe the qualitative effect could be creating a culture in which officers fear using force because they could violate policy, or at minimum face an ambiguous system of being internally investigated on force applications driven more by politics than law.

The Supreme Court ruling in Graham v. Connor set the legal precedent for how an officers use of force is to be judged. PERF and agencies seeking to align with PERF have offered to create a "higher standard than the Constitution" through policy, but have failed to define what that is and how it is to be judged. Thus, leaving officers wondering what effect their force options will have not only on their careers but also their lives.

Quantitative Results

It's extremely difficult if not impossible to measure the qualitative effect on law enforcement officers caused by de-escalation policies. But we can measure the quantitative effect.

I have taken on the task of doing so by testing PERFs claim that these policies increase officer safety. To get an idea of the impact, I researched varying metropolitan police agencies in the United States that employed a total of more than 74,000 officers. Of these agencies, a comparison was done on agencies with and without de-escalation policies in correlation to data on officers killed during use-of-force incidents and officers injured during use-of-force incidents. I caution those citing my study to be clear that my results did not take into account factors such as crime rates, populations, demographics, and agency training. I was purely testing the presence of a policy and the data on officer safety. However, my results were concerning.

Five agenciesNew York Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Cincinnati Police Department, New Orleans Police Department, and Louisville Metro Police Departmentwere studied as agencies with de-escalation policies, or de-escalation policies implemented sometime during the past five years. These five agencies totaled 42,444 total officers. In comparing these agencies to a pre-, and post-de-escalation environment, it was determined that officers were more than twice as likely to be killed in the line of duty and 10 times as likely to be injured in the line of duty during years when de-escalation policies went into effect.

A simple formula was used to find these results. The formula required the formulation of what I termed a "danger factor" per department. A danger factor is the percentage of incidents divided by the total number of sworn officers per agency. The danger factor was used in two categories that could best measure the effects of officer safety, with one category representing officers killed in the line of duty from a force-related incident and the other being those injured from force-related incidents. Data was collected from each agency independently from open source records or public information requests. This was done to provide a more accurate collection of data of all harmful events during force-related incidents specific to the agency.

For example, Dallas has approximately 3,484 sworn officers. In the years researched from 2012-2017, the Dallas PD had a danger factor of zero in the category of officers killed, except for 2016 when 4 of its officers were murdered in a sniper attack. Thus the 2016 danger factor was .0011 (4/3484=.0011%). In that same year, the City of Dallas reported 234 officer injuries from arrest- or force-related incidents, making the danger factor .067 (234/3484=.067%).

When comparing the five named agencies in years with de-escalation policies, to those years without, the danger factor of officer injuries when de-escalation was in place was considerably higher, .37% to .03%. When it came to officer deaths, years without de-escalation policies cumulatively produced a danger factor of .00012%, but jumped substantially to .00028% when de-escalation policies were in effect.

I also examined a comparable group of agencies as a control. The control agenciesChicago Police Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Milwaukee Police Department, Tucson Police Department, San Diego Police Department, and Orlando Police Departmentemploy a total of 31,996 officers. While some of these agencies admittedly have de-escalation training, current policies specific to mandating de-escalation were either non-existent or had not yet been implemented at the time of my study.

A comparison of the first group of de-escalation agencies to the second group showed a significantly increased chance of death and injury for officers working with mandatory de-escalation tactics as policy. The "non-de-escalation agencies" had a cumulative injury danger factor of .085%, compared to the previously mentioned .37% injury rate for those with de-escalation policies in effect. The officer killed ratio for the de-escalation group was also higher, .0029% compared to .000073%.

I also compared both the de-escalation group and the control group to the national average of officers killed and injured. The national average for a five-year period was calculated using the FBI Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted (LEOKA) database. In the category of officers killed, agencies without de-escalation policies were very consistent to the national average, while those agencies with de-escalation policies in effect were 30% higher. In terms of injury rates, agencies without de-escalation policies were actually lower than the national average, while those agencies cited with de-escalation policies were 33% higher than average.

My investigation into the effects of de-escalation policies on officer safety was objective. I made no presumption about the data at the onset of the study. The agencies were selected predominantly due to their policy language and also the availability of records of officers killed and injured during use-of-force incidents. I am not attempting to ridicule or praise any agency in this study, and such factors as crime rates, populations, and demographics were noted variables but not recognized in my research. I believe my research should be expanded upon and its results debated to see if policy was the true impetus that increased officers killed and assaulted in these agencies. While I suggest the correlation of increased injuries and deaths consistently occurred during policy de-escalation years, I call upon other researchers to carry the torch to examine specific policy, training, or culture effects specific to each agency.

The Future of De-escalation

De-escalation practices have been used for generations in policing, but they have been historically applied on a case-by-case basis. My research is not to say that de-escalation as a concept should be avoided or dismissed. The practice of using ones mind and mouth to resolve a situation is conceivably more beneficial to the officer and the person they are dealing with during certain situations. However, policy-makers in policing must be incredibly cautious as to what they mandate in policy that tends to bind an officers training and instinct.

Critics of my research will undoubtedly point to shining examples of de-escalation cases that have saved lives. Others will argue that a larger study of more agencies should be done. I agree on both counts, but the numbers I have provided should sound an alarm to chiefs and sheriffs alike to consider if these policies impact the safety decisions their officers must make. Again, I need to remind everyone that my research is not and should not be considered an attack on de-escalation. Yet there are those who will subjectively view it as such.

In a recent discussion I had with one chief, he told me he disagreed with my findings and stated that my research should be ignored. I found this viewpoint to be very concerning. Chiefs and sheriffs should always be willing to objectively consider research when it comes to the safety of the citizens they serve and the officers they command.

Officers should not have to make a choice between compromising their own safety and complying with policy. As I have stated in my research, and in this article, I call for further research of de-escalation policies in the name of officer safety. While de-escalation is a tool in every officers toolbox, policy should not mandate that it be the first tool out of the box in all situations. Until more is known about the true impact on officer safety of de-escalation mandates, government leaders should be cautious in their blanket acceptance of these policies.

Brian Landers is a former police lieutenant who owns his own consulting company that specializes in use of force and expert testimony. He is also mayor of the City of Wisconsin Dells.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will visit Japan, starting tomorrow, to strengthen cooperation between the worlds biggest buyers of LNG in order to make import deals more affordable by leveraging their buying power and secure better prices.

Pradhan will visit Japan from October 16-18 to participate in the 6th Annual LNG Producers Consumer Conference, an official statement said.

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It will also serve as a follow-up to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes visit to India in September.

"The visit is important to enhance the bilateral engagements in the oil and gas sectors within the overall framework of India-Japan Energy Dialogue.

"The visit also aims to enhance cooperation in establishing a transparent, efficient, truly global and balanced LNG market," it said.

The LNG Producer-Consumer Conference is a global annual dialogue to promote active dialogue among LNG producers, consumers and other stakeholders with a view to deepening shared understandings of market trends and to develop a global LNG market.

"The conference provides the right opportunity to brief on the Indian gas sector and the recent policy reforms with the opportunities available for investment to the Ministers and leaders of global gas industry, it said.

Pradhan will deliver a key note speech at the Ministerial Session on Developing LNG Market in Asia ? Government Perspectives.

Energy Ministers from Qatar, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Japan and other leading hydrocarbon experts are scheduled to participate in the Conference.

During his visit, Pradhan will also meet with his Japanese Counterpart Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Hiroshige Seko to discuss issues of bilateral engagement in the hydrocarbon sector.

A Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) is scheduled for signing on "establishing a Liquid, Flexible and Global LNG Market" between India and Japan.

"The MoC will provide a framework for bilateral cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply," the statement said.

Pradhan will also meet representatives of Japanese Companies, including Osaka Gas, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Japex, and JERA for exploring areas of further engagement with the Indian companies. PTI ANZ SA

--- ENDS ---
Last year Paul Penzone, a retired Phoenix Police sergeant with 21 years of service, defeated Joe Arpaio to become sheriff of Maricopa County, AZ. Sheriff Paul Penzone (Photo: Allan Henry)

Arpaio, 84, had served since 1993 as sheriff of Arizona's most populated county and was known as the larger-than-life "Sheriff Joe" to both his detractors and supporters. His "tough on crime" image was built on policies such as housing jail detainees in a tent city, feeding them bologna sandwiches, and issuing the males pink underwear. He also took a local enforcement approach to immigration law that angered many of his constituents and was supported by others.

Since taking office, Sheriff Paul Penzone has had to grapple with the legacy of Sheriff Joe, deal with the usual headaches of running a large law enforcement agency, and also answer attacks from both his detractors and his supporters. His detractors paint the new sheriff as an open borders advocate because he didn't fight to keep Arpaio's policies involving illegal immigrants, which were shot down by a federal judge. His supporters are angry that he has not ended all cooperation with federal immigration officers in his jail. He answered both sides of the argument in an August commentary for the Arizona Republic newspaper: "As sheriff I am sworn to uphold all of the laws, not to make them and to judge them."

Penzone is well qualified to lead the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (MCSO). In his career with the Phoenix Police Department, he distinguished himself in patrol and investigations. The Phoenix PD named him Supervisor of the Year and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency honored him as Task Force Agent of the Year for his work on a team that busted a large-scale methamphetamine operation in Arizona.

POLICE Magazine Publisher Leslie Pfeiffer recently had an opportunity to sit down and speak with Sheriff Penzone about his career in law enforcement, the direction of the MCSO under his leadership, his advice for officers, and what it's like to be both an officer and a politician.

POLICE: What one lesson taught to you by your training officer would you share with fellow officers?

Penzone: Know your job. If you don't truly understand not only the responsibilities that you have but the importance of respecting the authority that you've been given, then you're not going to be good at your job nor deserving of it.

POLICE: What lessons from your time as a sergeant with Phoenix would you share with new sergeants?

Penzone: There are two very critical roles for sergeants. You are responsible for the oversight of the line level work that is done, so you have to be present and you have to be engaged to ensure that you are managing circumstances to the best possible outcome. Secondarily, you need to recognize that you are a mentor, that the example that you give to those who you're responsible to supervise will either position them for success in their careers or set them up for failure.

POLICE: With your background, wouldn't it have been much easier for you to become a chief and avoid politics or did you have a passion for a political office?

Penzone: I did not have a passion for political office. My pursuit of this office was because of what occurred here, and what I believe was a misrepresentation of who we are as a profession, that the priorities on behalf of this organization were not in alignment with what was our best interest. I was not looking to be the head of a law enforcement agency. I was just looking to be a difference maker anywhere there was a need.

POLICE: You ran for sheriff and lost by six percentage points in 2012. What lesson did you take from that experience that helped you win last year?

Penzone: The only lesson was having a better understanding of the political process. I actually had to learn about the process, but I didn't change at all. That same message I emphasized in 2012, I stayed true to in 2016. The difference, and I guess this would be what I learned, is I spent more time in front of crowds that could be deemed either as non-supporters or even adversarial. It's no good to run in the circles where people already support you or believe in you. So I spent more time in front of crowds where I needed to earn their trust and their votes.

POLICE: What steps are you taking to reduce crime in Maricopa County?

Penzone: Number one is to take the time to do evaluations to better understand not just trends in general, but for those communities that were responsible for it, what are they most impacted by, and then having some introspection, looking at this organization and determining if we truly have allocated our resources appropriately to address those needs

We have also created a fugitive apprehension team where we have, you know, 30,000 unserved felony warrants in Maricopa County. That's a big deal and I don't expect to find all 30,000 overnight, but people who are wanted in those circumstances more often than not are the repeat offenders.

The other part is rebuilding a relationship with the community. Our greatest asset to fight crime is to have a partnership with our community where they're willing to share information to help us serve them. I worked undercover narcotics and on the Federal Task Force while I was with Phoenix, and then I ran Silent Witness (www.silentwitness.org) and the lesson that I learned from that was that the community knows far more about crime than we do and who's responsible for it. And if you give them an avenue, and you earn their trust, and you empower them to be your partner in this effort, you're going to see greater success.

POLICE: What steps are you taking to improve the safety of your deputies?

Penzone: We have to invest in their mental and physical well-being, which we're doing. We have to invest in their training. We have a considerable amount of training because of the court orders that we're responsible to answer toand it's good training, but it does deplete your ability to train them in tactical areas. So we're trying to find ways to make sure that we're reinforcing their safety practices. The biggest challenge with officer safety is always going to be their skillset along with proper staffing.

When I got here, it seemed like there was a cookie-cutter mold to how we were staffing each district, regardless of the demand. We reevaluated that to determine if we need to bring more bodies from one particular area into another where there's a higher volume of calls for service or even crime or other issues.

We also have to do a better job of recruitment and retention of our employees. This is an agency, because it's been challenged with pay in the past, where someone may come here and work for a few years and move on to another agency where they get paid better. We can't have that. We have to be competitive in our pay.

POLICE: Your predecessor was criticized for conditions in his jails, specifically about treatment of mentally ill people. How are you improving these conditions?

Penzone: Weand a lot of these things did take place prior to my arrival, so I'm not going to take full credit for themhave Correctional Health Services, which is an independent body within the county that is responsible in the jails to address those issues. But we are the ones who have first point of contact all the way through the process and have a big responsibility over that.

How we treat others is not a reflection of who they are, what they've done. It's a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. So when you engage someone, be safe, take appropriate action when necessary, but ask yourself, if that was a loved one that you had who was incarcerated, and some complete stranger who was a deputy or a detention officer engaged them, what would you expect for that person? How would you want to see them treated?

That doesn't mean kid gloves. That means being professional and ethical.

POLICE: Is there any positive aspect of the previous administration that you plan to continue?

Penzone: There are many areas that are positive. It's just that, you know, can you improve on them and see if the value still continues. So what was termed in the past as the "chain gang," I'm still, you know, thinking about. So do we just change the name? Detainees who spend time in our jail can sit in a cell and do nothing for 24 hours a day and then be released when their time comes around or we can find a way for those who are deserving to take those idle hands and make them active, to put them out in the community to clean a park, or paint over graffiti, or whatever. I think that program is extremely beneficial both for the detainee as well as for the community.

POLICE: What do you see as the greatest concern of the men and women who serve in your agency?

Penzone: Instability, you know, they had one type of leadership for a quarter of a century. And, for many, that's the only leadership they've known. So they have legitimate concerns relative to their careers here, things such as benefits or salaries or where they're going, and what they can expect and promotional opportunities. And I have to establish that sense of consistent, fair leadership so that they know we're all investing in each other.

POLICE: Are there any technologies you want to add to MCSO and do you have the resources to do so?

Penzone: Yes, I do want to add a (Compstat) system to actually track crime trends within the county, calls for service, things of that nature. We need to see statistics so that we understand the trends. We need to understand what we're doing well and what we're not by having measurables.

POLICE: What is one piece of advice that you would offer to a fellow officer who wants to someday campaign for sheriff in his or her jurisdiction?

Penzone: Just make sure that your commitment is not because of your own pursuit as a person but it's because of your pursuit to make a difference in the community that you serve. I'm blessed to be the sheriff. Every time I speak, I'm not speaking just for myself, I'm speaking to represent every man and woman in this agency, this office, and this community. So if your intent is selfish because you want to have a title or you want to have the authority, then it's the wrong pursuit.

What's that saying? "Was the juice worth the squeeze?" You're going to get abused if you run for a political office, and if it's about you, then it's going to break you. If you make it about those you're trying to serve, it's a heck of a lot less painful because then it's no longer personal. It's about accomplishing something greater on behalf of others.

POLICE: How do you decompress? What do you do in your down time?

Penzone: I'm a man of faith. I pray. Im also very much a family man. I have a beautiful wife and we have two amazing grown sons so time with my family And we stay pretty active.
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Hillary Clinton explained how Trump is playing right into the hands of the North Korean regime and elevating Kim Jong Un with his tweets.

Video:

Clinton said, This is playing into Kim Jong Uns hands. I mean the idea that is going tit for tat with the American president, who is tweeting against him and calling him names. That is catnip to this guy, and what weve done is to build him up, give him more legitimacy than he deserves to have given how his people are being treated, and I think thats a very short-sighted and dangerous route to take.

US presidential elections have global consequences. If Hillary Clinton were president, the American people wouldnt have to be worried about if todays the day that Trump will start a war with North Korea. It is easy to say that Trump doesnt know what he is talking about or what he is doing, but when he is placed side by side with someone who clearly has depth, knowledge, and experience, the size of the mistake/crime that occurred when Trump won the election comes into focus.

The most isolated and backward regime on the planet owns the President Of The United States.

With each tweet, Trump legitimizes a nightmarish regime. It looks Trump is building up Kim Jong Un as a foe to give him justification for a new Korean war that he hopes will save his presidency.

Hillary Clinton schooled Donald Trump and revealed the contrast in competence between the two candidates that Republicans never wanted the voters to see in 2016.
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The following post, written by The Rev. Robert A. Franek, is a part of Politicus Policy Discussion, in which writers draw connections between real lives and public policy.

In a Moral Moment segment on AM JOY the Rev. Dr. William Barber exposed the public heresy of so-called Value Voters who value cash and not Christ and greed and not grace. We cannot continue to call these things Christian, Barber implored.

Dr. Barber made explicitly clear what most who have even a cursory understanding of Christianity already know when it comes to the values that are central to the biblical message for nations and political leaders. Barber said:

From Jeremiah 22 to Jesus and Matthew 25 Christian values for nations and political leaders has to do with love and justice, equality, stopping the exploitation of the vulnerable, caring for the poor, caring for children, welcoming immigrants, helping the sick and loving all.

Dr. Barber explained that the so-called values summit is not about Christianity but the values of a heretical extremism funded by a whole lot of money perpetuating a fraud on the American people. Their values are cash and not Christ, greed and not grace.

Donald Trump who is the first sitting president to address the Values Voters Summit, spoke of things that are anathema to Christian values. That he addressed this group at all is shocking because one of the sponsors of this summit is the Family Research Council which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for their views on homosexuality. It doesnt seem to be a regular practice for sitting presidents to be making speeches before hate groups and endorsing their agenda, but then this is Donald Trump, not our typical president.

As Barber explains Trump boasted of taking health care away from people. Thats not Christian. He boasted of taking subsidies away from poor people. Thats not Christian. And he boasted of saying Merry Christmas again while pushing policies that would hurt the Mary, Joseph, and Jesus of Christmas who were poor.

It is terrible enough that our sitting president is addressing a summit that is sponsored by a hate group and is spouting off policies that are nothing less than atrocities. He went on to promote arrogance and warmongering, which are clearly not Christian values. It is beyond disturbing then that the leaders at this so-called values summit applauded the very policies that are going to hurt their members. These so-called Christian leaders cheered for things that are anathema to the gospel. Barber is right for saying, It is high time we call this out.

Dr. Barber named the truth that these are not Christian values but the values of an extreme corporate oligarchy that is trying to use the values and claims of faith as a way to gain power.

It is not only in the statements made attacking gay people and Muslims, Barber noted, that is not Christian, but also their silence on health care, silence on racism, silence on voter suppression, silence on living wages, silence on public education, silence on the fundamental values of Christianity.

Dr. Barber declared again the fundamental truth that this is a public heresy that must be challenged.

Watch an excerpt of the Rev. Dr. Barbers Moral Moment here:

This twisting of the faith for greed and power and the promotion of public policies that are fundamentally in opposition to Christian values may explain in part the decline in recent decades of participation in Christian worship and community.

For too long this public heresy has been allowed to persist and prosper in our culture as a defining element of Christianity. Too often this is the only referent many people have to the faith and are instantly turned off by the incongruence between the values in scripture and the values being applauded by leaders and pushed for in public policies in Congress.

Christians need to challenge this public heresy and continue to lift up the values that are central to the biblical witness and thus to a neighbor-love ethic: love, justice, equality, caring for the poor and sick, welcoming the stranger, and ending the exploitation of the vulnerable.

These so-called values voters who cheer for atrocities have dominated the public square for too long. It is not only essential to call them out, but to speak up when and where they fall silent, especially now on matters of racism, sexism and misogyny, voter suppression, living wages, and ecological justice and climate change.

In the era of Trump, Christians cannot afford to be silent. Faith demands action in the public square working for public policies that promote justice and peace for all people in all the earth.
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When Trump turns on his TiVo to watch his favorite channel, he is going to find Democratic Senator Chris Murphy calling him a health care arsonist and a hostage taker for his sabotage of Obamacare.

Video:

https://youtu.be/Eo71CT3DeJ4?t=16m9s

Transcript via Fox News Sunday:

ROSEN: All right. Lets move to health care. You serve on the Senate, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The Trump administration, as you know, this past week, directed the federal government to stop payments of cost-sharing subsidies under ObamaCare. The president called it a payoff to the insurance industry.

Why do you and your fellow Democrats oppose doing away with that?

MURPHY: So, this is the equivalent of health care arson. Hes really literally setting the entire health care system on fire just because the president is upset that the United States Congress wont pass a repeal bill that is supported by 17 percent of the American public.

These subsidies going to the insurance companies help very low income people afford insurance. And without the subsidies, there will be many people who wont be able to provide insurance and afford it. And the other set of subsidies that go to individuals to access coverage will actually increase. Meaning that the deficit goes up, the amount of money that we spend overall on the Affordable Care Act goes up, because all that happens is the payments that used to be going to insurance companies now get substituted with increased tax credits for individuals to afford the coverage.

The fact of the matter is the president is trying to sabotage the American health care system, trying to put a gun to the head of our constituents by taking away their health care or raising their costs in order to force us to repeal a bill that the American public doesnt want us to repeal.

You can almost see the tweets writing themselves from Trump. As Trump loses touch with reality, Fox News has become his happy place, but Chris Murphy dropped a reality bomb on the President that should send him into a rage. Donald Trump isnt fooling anyone. Nobody wants Trumpcare. No matter what kind of healthcare terrorism Trump pulls, he will never be able to destroy the belief that people deserve access to quality affordable healthcare.
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A subpoena has been issued for all documents related to allegations of sexual assault against Donald Trump while he was a presidential candidate.

Buzzfeed News reported on a plaintiff who is suing Trump for defamation related to a sexual assault allegation:

They also asked for all documents concerning other women who have accused Trump of groping them, including Jessica Leeds, Mindy McGillivray, Rachel Crooks, Natasha Stoynoff, Temple Taggart, Kristin Anderson, Cathy Heller, Jill Harth, and Jessica Drake. The subpoena seeks all documents concerning any accusations that were made during Donald J. Trumps election campaign for president, that he subjected any woman to unwanted sexual touching and/or sexually inappropriate behavior. Last year, Trump tweeted a blanket denial, saying, Nothing ever happened with any of these women.

The downfall can come quickly for men like Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein when the fear and silence are finally broken through. The same thing could happen to Donald Trump. The President like Weinstein was caught on tape admitting that he has sexually assaulted women. A misogynistic corporate media culture quickly helped Trump bury the Access Hollywood story by allowing themselves to be duped by Trump and the Russians into obsessing over Hillary Clintons emails.

The skeletons arent staying buried in Trumps closet. Whether it is his history of illegal financial dealings, relationship with Russia, or sexual assaults, Donald Trump looks like a president living on borrowed time.

A society that enabled Trumps sexual assaults has a chance to do the right thing and hold this man accountable for his crimes.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Thunderstorms during the morning will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 72F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Scattered thunderstorms early, then cloudy skies after midnight. Low around 55F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
By PTI: (Eds: Adds tributes by PM; events in TN)

New Delhi/Rameswaram, Oct 15 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi today led the nation in remembering the Missile Man of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, on his 86th birth anniversary.

In his home state Tamil Nadu, the birth anniversary of the former president was marked by planting of trees and floral tributes.

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At Kalams memorial in Peikarambu near his home town Rameswaram, his family members and people from various walks of life, including students, paid floral tributes.

Kovind described the Missile Man as one of the greatest visionaries who ignited young minds, while Modi praised Kalam saying his personality inspired millions.

Speaking with a group of children who arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020, Kovind said he saluted Kalam and his monumental achievements as a scientist, a scholar and as the president of India.

"One of the best ways of building the character of the youth of any country is to inspire them to read biographies of great personalities," he said.

The president said Kalam was one of Indias greatest visionaries and is fondly remembered as Missile Man of India and Peoples President.

The Kalam Sandesh Vahini bus presents the life story of the former president in a very interesting manner, he said.

Earlier, Kovind paid floral tributes at the portrait of Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Modi in a tweet said, "Remembering our beloved former president, Dr A P J Abdul Kalam on his birth anniversary. His endearing personality inspires millions".

The prime minister shared a short video containing glimpses from the life of Kalam and his own (Modis) earlier speech praising the late scientist.

In Chennai, Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the state in remembering Kalam.

Purohit paid floral tributes to a statue of Kalam at the Raj Bhavan here, an official release said.

At Peikarumbu, students, government representatives and public thronged his memorial to pay their respects.

The memorial, construction work on which began on his last birth anniversary, was inaugurated by the prime minister in July this year.

Family members of Kalam, Tamil Nadu Information Technology Minister M Manikandan, Ramanathapuram District Collector S Natarajan and others paid their tributes at the memorial.

Students of the Mandapam Panchayat Union Primary School, where Kalam had studied, remembered him and took a oath to uphold his ideals.

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In Chennai, at a function held at the Adyar Cancer Institute, its chairperson and Padma Vibhushan awardee V Shanta planted a sapling to mark Kalams birth anniversary.

"We cannot have a more inspiring leader than what we have had (in the past)," she said.

Film actor Vivek, an ardent supporter of Kalam, took part in various functions where saplings were planted across the city on the occasion.

Kalam was born on October 15, 1931. He was a popular head of state between 2002 and 2007. Kalam died on July 27, 2015. PTI AKV VIJ CORR VS SRY

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STEWARTVILLE  A turning semi was rear-ended by a car Saturday, sending the car's driver to the hospital.

Markea Wyro, 18, of Rochester was driving northbound on U.S. Highway 63 at Interstate 90 when a 2015 International semi-tractor trailer turned in front of the car to head south at about 10:13 a.m. The Ford struck the rear portion of the trailer in the northbound lane, according to a report by the Minnesota State Patrol.

Wyro was transported by Gold Cross Ambulance to Mayo Clinic Hospital-St. Marys Campus with non-life threatening conditions. Scott Miller, 48, of Arnold, Mo., was not transported for inuries from the scene, the state patrol reported.

The Olmsted Sheriff's Department and Stewartville Fire Department also responded to the scene.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 15 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind today remembered the Missile Man of India, A P J Abdul Kalam, on his birth anniversary, describing him as one of the greatest visionaries who ignited young minds.

He was speaking with a group of children who arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020. These children had called on the president.

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Kovind said he saluted Kalam and his monumental achievements as a scientist, a scholar and as the president of India.

"One of the best ways of building the character of the youth of any country is to inspire them to read biographies of great personalities," Kovind said.

The president said Kalam was one of Indias greatest visionaries and is fondly remembered as The Missile Man of India and Peoples President.

He has made momentous contribution to Indias scientific heritage through his involvement in varied fields ranging from nuclear technology to designing low cost stents for the heart or lightweight calipers for polio victims, Kovind said.

"India will never forget the remarkable contributions of Kalam. He had a great passion for teaching and education and truly ignited young minds with the power to think and innovate," the president said.

Kovind said former president Kalam enjoyed being with people.

"He was adored by people and youngsters. He loved students and spent his final moments among them," the president said.

The president said that the Kalam Sandesh Vahini bus presents the life story of the former president in a very interesting manner.

"He appreciated the effort. He said he was sure that a large number of Indians, especially the young people have benefited by seeing the mobile exhibition on the life, works and the vision of Kalam," Kovind said.

The Kalam Sandesh Vahini was launched by House of Kalam and Chinmaya University. The Vahini depicts various incidents from Kalams life as well as key highlights of Indias scientific achievements, with an aim to educate and inspire the masses.

It was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Rameswaram on July 27, 2017, during the inauguration ceremony of Kalams memorial.

The Vahini has travelled from Rameswaram, through various states, to finally arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Kovind paid floral tributes at the portrait of Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Officers and staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan along with family members of Kalam also paid floral tributes on the occasion.

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Born on October 15, 1931, Kalam died on July 27, 2015. He was a popular head of state between 2002 and 2007. PTI AKV KIS

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People versed in the campus upheavals of the 1960s will recall its nadir at Cornell University in 1969, when black students armed with shotguns occupied the presidents office, and issued demands to which the university largely capitulated. (See Donald Alexander Downss copious account of this shameful episode in his book, Cornell 69: Liberalism and the Crisis of the American University.)

Something of a sequel (minus the shotgunsfor now) seems to be taking place at Cornell in recent weeks. William A. Jacobson of Cornell Law School, proprietor of the invaluable Legal Insurrection, reports that the Black Students Union at Cornell has issued a six-page list of demands that includes some predictable items, especially Maoist-style re-education camps for everyone:

We demand that all students, undergraduate and graduate, to have appropriate, ongoing, and mandatory coursework that deals with issues of identity (such as race, class, religion, ability status, sexual/romantic orientation, gender, citizenship status, etc.). We want this coursework to be explicitly focused on systems of power and privilege in the United States and centering the voices of oppressed people, assembled by professional diversity consultants and student leaders. Every Dean of every college should implement this requirement, and hire faculty to teach this work who are well equipped to do so.

But there was also this passage, which suggests that not all people of color are created equal, or at least not equally oppressed:

We demand that Cornell Admissions to come up with a plan to actively increase the presence of underrepresented Black students on this campus. We define underrepresented Black students as Black Americans who have several generations (more than two) in this country. The Black student population at Cornell disproportionately represents international or first-generation African or Caribbean students. While these students have a right to flourish at Cornell, there is a lack of investment in Black students whose families were affected directly by the African Holocaust in America. Cornell must work to actively support students whose families have been impacted for generations by white supremacy and American fascism.

Talk about a crash at the four-way intersectionality! Cornell admits too many Africans! The backlash has been amusing to take in, to say the least. One student wrote in the Cornell Sun:

While advocating for increases in admissions of African American students is pertinent and should be a priority for all universities, insinuating that Cornell is overrun with foreign and first generation black students and that they are taking away the spots of American black students suggests that there are only a set number of spots for folks with melanin, a quota that should only be filled by a certain kind of black person. The kind of black students who should be here, as per BSUs definition, are Black Americans who have several generations (more than two) in this country. Limiting the definition of black to only American students is treading xenophobic waters and unwittingly bolsters the misconception that black students are only admitted into Cornell because they are black. It implies that those not black enough have no right to be here, even if they have the qualifications to earn their admission.

In a follow up post Jacobson notes in droll fashion: I doubt the administration and the campus have the courage to seriously consider whether the quasi-religious obsession with diversity initiatives actually produces more harm than good.

Im sure this current Cornell job listing, posted just last week, will help a lot:

Tenure Track Assistant Professor Position The Africana Studies & Research Center (ASRC) and Feminist, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program (FGSS) at Cornell University invite applicants for a joint tenure-track position for scholars working at the intersection of gender, race, and environmental studies at the rank of assistant professor. We seek a candidate whose research and teaching focuses on some configuration of the following areas of inquiry: cultural geography, social and political theory, environmental inequality, eco-feminism and queer ecologies, biotechnology, bioethics, environmental sustainability (broadly and creatively defined) and/or histories of science. We are seeking interdisciplinary scholars whose work highlights methodologies and themes associated with environmental humanities with a focus on race, gender, sexuality and/or inequality as categories of analysis in the African diaspora.
Tim Marshall is the provost of the university known as The New School. A friend forwards Marshalls email on Curriculum Disruption Week with the assurance that this is not a parody. Its not a parody, but it is almost funny! One might also say the descent to hell is easy.

It turns out that we are in the middle of Curriculum Disruption Week. Provost Marshall announces:

Leading up to the 400th anniversary of the first Africans arriving in Jamestown, Virginia, we are encouraging the New School community to engage in evaluating how this affects us. From October 12-18, that effort, 400 Years Of Inequality, is propelled by a week of curriculum disruption in which classes throughout the university will be encouraged to take a break from business as usual and think of how the classs subject area relates to 400 years of inequality, an effort led by Mindy Fullilove, William Morrish, Robert Sember, and Maya Wiley. The diversity of perspectives and breath [sic] of the conversation will be transformative for us and we hope will launch a national engagement with this history and its implications. Here are just two examples of planned disruptions:  Margaret Samue, in her course Masterpieces of Art in New York, will look at famous works of art in New York City museums with her students and ask: What is a masterpiece? How has the idea of masterpiece changed over time? What factors contribute to a work of art being given masterpiece status, and who gets to decide?  Kevin McQueen will be looking at the original redlining materials in his Community Development Finance Lab under Milano. I encourage faculty and students to document their experiences over this week. A short video, photos of classes at work, tweets about youre learning, all would help us document and understand this important undertaking. You can follow the daily disruptions on the New School Twitter account, and for more information check out 400yearsofinequality.org. Let your voice be heard and join the conversation with #400YearsofInequality.

Here are some suggestions from the linked page for disrupting the curriculum. Again, this is not a parody:

Some stories that might inspire the design of a class or group meeting are these:  How the Freedom Riders broke the color bar on interstate buses  How Woodstock contributed a sound track for a generation  How queer people changed history at Stonewall  How pink hats took over Washington on January 20, 2017 The stories of defeat and set-back are, sadly, also common. Here are some worth revisting:  How the colonizers invented slavery and justified genocide of Native peoples  How whiteness emerged from Bacons Rebellion



 How the 3/5s compromise came to be law and all the consequences of that [Ed.: They clearly dont know.]



 How serial forced displacement has been justified as progress

I love the Orwellian shout out for diversity of perspectives. As the man (if I may use that term) said, let your voice be heard, but it is probably best to whisper to yourself.
So said our own Steve Hayward to a college Republican group in Minnesota last week. For your daily dose of schadenfreude, check out the New York Timess lament over Iowas swing to the right:

There is little to suggest a future for the [Democratic] party here in this once reliable Democratic stronghold, at least in races on the national level. President Trump easily carried this county in the 2016 election, and Iowa as a whole; the only counties Hillary Clinton won were in metropolitan areas or university towns. Iowas dramatic change has been both abrupt and a long time in coming. In 2008, the state propelled Mr. Obama to the White House. A year later, it was the first in the Midwest to legalize same-sex marriage. But last November, Mr. Trump won Iowa by a larger margin than he won Texas. And now Republicans control the governors office, the Legislature, both Senate seats and three of four in the House.

Was Iowa really a once reliable Democratic stronghold? It voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, but in 2004 it voted for George W. Bush. It went Democrat four times in a row from 1988 through 2000, but before that, from 1968 through 1984, it went Republican five times in a row. And four of Iowas last six governors have been Republicans.

The Times portrays Iowa as a sort of Appalachia of the Midwest, focusing on a river town called Clinton that has not fared well in recent years. The paper proclaims, with a straight face, that Iowa is turning red because its population is getting dumberits failing economy, exemplified by Clinton, drives away college graduates.

Like many towns in Iowa, they have been losing more college-educated voters than they retain, leaving a less educated and less mobile group of voters more likely to vote for Republicans, whom they see as more in touch with their lives and beliefs.

It is true that Iowa has slightly fewer college graduates per capita than the national average, but the Timess portrayal of the state as economically depressed is ridiculous. Between 2010 and 2016, Iowas real per capita GDP increased by 9.7%, compared with the national average of 7.0. If Iowa is turning red because economic decline is driving away college graduates, then we can expect such blue states as Delaware (1.3% per capita GDP gain over the same period), Connecticut (-.1%), New Jersey (3.7%), New York (5.4%), Minnesota (7.1% ), andhey, why not?the District of Columbia (-4.5%) to go Republican any moment now.

The reality that the New York Times cant face is that rural and small town America, from Florida to Alaska, has turned decisively against liberalism and the Democratic Party. The Democrats have been reduced to urban enclaves, of which there arent any in Iowa. For a more insightful analysis of what has happened in Iowa, see my post titled Democrats Struggle to Survive In Iowa, where I wrote, among other things:

The percentage of whites in Iowa increased after 2010? I dont think so. What did happen is that white voters grew increasingly tired of the Democrats endless yammering about white privilege, an idiotic concept that the Dems cant possibly sell to an Iowa farmer or implement dealer.

The Associated Press article on which I commented quoted one observer:

Its difficult to go into the rural areas of Iowa and find anyone who will admit to being a Democrat.

This is true across small town America. If the Democrats at the New York Times dont want to face reality, thats a good thing for the rest of us.
I dont think we have commented on President Trumps decision to withdraw the United States from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in protest of that outfits anti-Israel bias. My comment is: Great call.

President Trump is following in the footsteps of President Reagan. He took the U.S. out of UNESCO in 1984 because it was too susceptible to Soviet influence and overly critical of Israel. There was also the matter of UNESCOs legendary corruption.

Under President George W. Bush, the U.S. rejoined in 2002, after UNESCO instituted some reforms. In 2011, we substantially cut funding to UNESCO after the organization granted the Palestinian Authority full membership. President Obama asked Congress to restore funding, but instead we will now be pulling out.

The editors of National Review document UNESCOs anti-Israel bias:

In 2012, UNESCO declared the Church of the Nativity to be a World Heritage Site in Danger, ignoring the objections of the U.S., Israel, and the three churches that preside over it. That was a victory for the Palestinians, who claim Bethlehem as their own and say that Israel endangers the site. The next year, the organizations executive board issued six condemnations of Israel (and honored Che Guevara, the Communist mercenary). It announced in 2016 that the Temple Mount had no connection to Judaism, referring to it only as the Al-Aqsa Mosque: The Wailing Wall became the Buraq Plaza, and Israel the occupying power in Jerusalem. UNESCOs stated mission is to promote peace and security, but in practice it is just another international institution giving shelter to the worlds ugliest ideas.

At Power Line, we have called out UNESCO on similar grounds.

The State Department says it hopes UNESCO will reform itself so the U.S. can rejoin. Reform of its stance on Israel is highly unlikely, though. As the National Review editors say, opposing Israel seems to be in the organizations genes.
Question: As my late aunts nephew and executor of her estate, I am seeking information about the Rolex Precision wristwatch she received as a gift from an admirer during the 1950s or 1960s. It is 18K white gold with 34 small diamonds and a flexible white gold wrist band. Marks on the band and watch include CB750, Swiss Rolex Geneve, 18 jewel, 1401 and Montres Rolex 18K 1750. I would appreciate as much information as possible about Rolex, the watch and its value.  M.H., Ventnor

Answer: Watchmakers Hans Wilsdorf (1881-1960) and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, formed a London partnership, Wilsdorf and Davis, in 1905. In 1906, they introduced a practical and decorative watch with a matching, expandable metal strap that was offered as the first wristwatch.

Widespread popularity of the wristwatch led to its immediate acceptance as a replacement for the large, heavy, cumbersome pocket watches carried in vest pockets by Victorian and Edwardian men. Perceived as being both conveniently useful and ornamental in the early 20th centurys lively, changing society, wristwatches were produced in designs that accessorized dress and casual clothing as well as sportswear.

In 1908, Wilsdorf and Davis chose Rolex as the name for their company and by 1919 had moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where it was established as Montres Rolex S.A. At the same time, they retained a London branch office.

From 1927, Rolex was printed on Rolex watches, often appearing on the case and movement as well as on the dial.

Over the years, Rolex watches became status symbols renowned for their quality, reliability, precision, durability and design, whether made from stainless steel or precious metals and stones. Important Rolex watches include the waterproof, self-winding and perpetual Oyster models.

A working and accurate mid-20th century womans 18K white gold and diamond Rolex Precision wristwatch with flawless gold and all stones intact sold recently for $1,850.

Question: I have what I think may be a valuable Japanese print purchased for $12 at a yard sale. It is 19 inches high, 12 inches wide and shows a seated young woman in oriental attire with bowed head staring at her lap. It is signed Nakajima Kiyoshi in pencil. What can you tell me about it?  J.B., Maple Shade

Answer: You have described a Japanese woodblock print created by artist Nakajima Kiyoshi, known for his paintings, silkscreens, lithographs, illustrations of childrens books and a limited series of woodblock prints featuring contemplative, somewhat preoccupied young women.

Born in China in 1943, he moved to Tokyo in 1964 and spent a number of years there as an advertising artist and cartoonist until his relocation to Paris in 1971. Eleven years later, he became famously known as the wind painter when his works were combined as an exhibit that traveled throughout Japan.

Your 1980 Nakajima Kiyoshi woodblock print, published by Kiyoto Hanga-in, is titled Love Letter.

Congratulations! A same-sized Nakajima Kiyoshi Love Letter woodblock print in excellent condition sold this year for $460.
PM Narendra Modi needs to quickly give Donald Trump another hug, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said after the US president tweeted about developing a better relationship with Pakistan.

By India Today Web Desk: Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to 'quickly' hug the President of the United States Donald Trump, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi believes.

Gandhi, who in recent days has shown a surprising penchant for witty social media posts, made this observation on Twitter. The Congress VP, who is soon expected to take over as president of the party, did so while sharing a tweet in which Trump shows appreciation for the current Pakistani leadership.

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With his post, Gandhi was seemingly taking a sarcastic dig at PM Modi, who has often been pictured hugging world leaders, and his diplomacy, which government backers have credited for the US toughening its position on Pakistan and its support for terrorism.

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg- Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

In recent times, the Donald Trump administration in the US has increasingly called Pakistani out over its support for militancy. Senior Trump administration officials have directly accused Islamabad of not doing enough to combat terrorism and terrorist groups operating in and around its soil.

President Donald Trump himself had explicitly named Pakistan as among countries that provide 'safe havens' to terrorists and has warned Islamabad of negative consequences if it did not do its bit to fight terrorism.

In fact, when Prime Minister Modi paid a visit to Washington, India and US issued a joint statement that called on Pakistan not to allow its soil to be used to breed terrorism. Incidentally, Modi's trip to the US saw the prime minister hug President Trump at least three times, a detail that Congress VP Rahul Gandhi was playing on in his tweet.

PM Narendra Modi with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (File photo) Click here to Enlarge PM Narendra Modi with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (File photo)

The US ratcheting up diplomatic pressure on Pakistan over its support for terrorism was seen favourably in India. The US, mindful of the fact that it needs Islamabad to help it with the war in Afghanistan, has usually avoided publicly naming and shaming Pakistan over terrorism.

But, under Donald Trump, this seemed to be changing.

Then last week, the US President sent out a tweet saying, "Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts."

Trump's tweet came against the backdrop of Pakistani security forces rescuing an American woman and her family, who were held captive for five years by the Haqqani Network, a militant group believed to have links to the Taliban.

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The Pakistani operation to rescue the American woman Caitlan Coleman, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and three of their children was launched on basis on intelligence inputs provided by US agencies.

Click here to Enlarge PM Narendra Modi with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg (File photo)

The operation is being seen in the US as one that could lead uplift relations between Washington and Islamabad, something that would definitely ring alarm bells in New Delhi.

Does Trump's tweet really indicate that the US is warming up to Pakistan? That remains to be seen. Diplomats over the world are still figuring out the new paradigm introduced by Trump since entering the White House - Twitter.

The US president has often emotively tweeted about world affairs, but whether his comments on the social media website amount to actual changes in American foreign policy is far from clear.

--- ENDS ---
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/582570/Moorfields_Eye_Hospital_Dubai.jpg )

The award-winning hospital team comprising more than 70 staff met this week to celebrate together during the visit of Moorfields' Chief Executive Officer, David Probert, who described the success of the first overseas branch of the 200-year old London hospital as a blueprint for other world-class institutions interested in coming to the region.

Since 2007, Moorfields has established itself as an integral part of the healthcare community in the UAE and works with the public and private hospitals, referring primary physicians, and the insurance sector, as well as working directly with the staff and families of some of the major public and private sector organisations.

Over the last 10 years, the award-winning hospital has expanded from its original base in DHCC to open Moorfields Eye Hospital Centre in Abu Dhabi, and most recently has joined with Al Jalila Childrens' to manage the Paediatric Ophthalmology services from a clinical standpoint for the new hospital.

Since opening the hospital in Dubai in 2007, the Moorfields team has treated more than 150,000 patients of more than 200 nationalities, many of them are highly complex cases requiring the consultant-led care in which Moorfields specialises, as well as screening and preventive care for every member of the family.

Over the last decade, Moorfields has also contributed significantly to the development of Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), as a partner in attracting international patients to Dubai and also in supporting the aims of the DHCC by organising and participating in training programmes for ECPs and hosting international meetings and scientific events. Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai has won several international awards for its contribution to Excellence in Eye Care for both the local and the overseas community including countries within the GCC, Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Moorfields' 10Y highlights (list key milestones and achievements)

Most recent awards -

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai wins 'International Eye Care Clinic of the Year at the International Medical Travel Journal awards, 2017

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai wins 'Eye Hospital of the Year' at the 9 th World Healthcare Tourism Congress awards, 2016

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai wins 'International Eye Care Clinic of the Year at the International Medical Travel Journal awards, 2017 Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai wins 'Eye Hospital of the Year' at the 9 World Healthcare Tourism Congress awards, 2016 Established the clinical offering of Paediatric Ophthalmology Services in Al Jalila Childrens', 2016

Established Joint Venture - Moorfields Eye Hospital Centre Abu Dhabi, 2015

Hosted the World Association of Eye Hospitals meeting, 2014

Scientific and professional events - more than 15

Charitable activities - CSR, charity organisations, dozens of patients treated

Healthcare tourism - participated in DHCC outreach to Russia in 2013

in 2013 Healthcare insurance - Moorfields is a network member of over 20 insurance providers/ TPA's

Moorfields' CEO, David Probert, said: "We are extremely proud of Moorfields' success in the UAE and Middle East, which is based on Dubai's support and role as a regional - and increasingly global - hub for world-class healthcare services. We believe we have added a new dimension of eye care expertise across our three mission areas - patient treatment, teaching, and research - serving patients with our consultant-led treatment approach, with our physician team based permanently in Dubai. Our patient satisfaction rates are very high in Dubai and in fact our latest survey gave us the highest score ever (99%) for patient willingness to recommend the hospital to family and friends. This is the ultimate test of our care and a standard and a level that we aim to sustain into the future."

About Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai

Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai (MEHD) is the first overseas branch of Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the oldest and one of the largest centres for ophthalmic treatment, teaching and research in the world. Located at the Al Razi Medical Complex in Dubai Health Care City, the facility provides day case surgery and outpatient diagnostic and treatment services, for a variety of surgical and non-surgical eye conditions. MEHD will also raise standards for research and teaching in the region. MEHD is owned and managed by the NHS Foundation Trust, and maintains close links with London, to ensure that patients in the GCC receive the best eye care treatment in the world.

SOURCE Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai
(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/583680/Minister_of_Finance_Qatar.jpg )



(Photo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/583679/Minister_of_Finance_Qatar.jpg )



During the sessions, US private and governmental representatives were given an in-depth insight into Qatar's resilient financial and banking sector. Discussions also focused on the continuing and growing opportunities for US investors and businesses in Qatar, and bilateral trade relations between the two countries. Qatar remains one of the largest trading partners of the US in the Middle East region, with imports increasing by 29% in 2016.

New laws and regulations are also being introduced in Qatar to improve the business environment and further enhance private sector growth.

Qatar's Minister of Finance, H.E. Ali Shareef Al-Emadi commented: "Qatar's budget deficit is expected to decline over the next few years, and economic prospects remain promising. Qatar remains one of the most attractive markets for investors, with favorable investment opportunities across key sectors.

"Recent measures introduced by our government aim to support continued investment and promote incentives for private companies and international investors looking to expand to the region.

"Qatar and the US have long enjoyed a strong and mutually beneficial relationship, and our attendance at the Annual Meetings of the IMF and World Bank was an opportunity to further strengthen our relationship with US investors and stakeholders and highlight the avenues for collaboration," he concluded.

Last June, neighboring countries imposed an air, sea and land blockade on Qatar, which remains in place more than four months later. However, according to Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani, Governor of the Qatar Central Bank, the embargo has not adversely affected the nation's economic fundamentals.

"The Qatar Central Bank took timely and decisive action in mitigating the impact on banks' balance sheets through liquidity injection and increasing public sector deposits when the blockade was imposed," he said. "Macroprudential indicators for the banking sector remain healthy."

The Qatari delegation was led by H.E. Ali Shareef Al-Emadi, Minister of Finance and included H.E. Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani, Governor of Qatar Central Bank, and members of Qatar's financial sector.

SOURCE Ministry of Finance - Qatar
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Itanagar, Oct 10 : Myanmar-based National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) rebels on Tuesday attacked an Indian Army base in Arunachal Pradesh's Niausa area.

Kohima-based Army spokesman Chiranjeet Konwer said there was no casualty or damage to the Company Operating Base of the Longding battalion in the attack.

However, the NSCN-K via social media claimed that a combined operation group "inflicted heavy casualties of more than 40 Indian soldiers killed on the spot and many more injured".

Konwer said the firing took place at around 1.15 a.m.

"They fired five to 10 rounds of ineffective small arms along with a Lathode grenade. The rebels fled after alert sentries effectively retaliated."

Konwer said that the army was forced to control its firing keeping in mind the safety of the villagers in the vicinity. He said a search operation to nab the fleeing rebels was ongoing.

The NSCN-K said that it used rockets, 40 mm, mortars, explosives and assorted automatic weapons in the attack, claiming that the rebels reached their safe place without any casualty.

In response, Konwer said the NSCN-K's statement was only to create "sensationalism" and were "baseless and false".

Last month, the Indian Army had said it inflicted "heavy casualties" on NSCN-K rebels during a firefight in Myanmar's Langkhu village opposite Longwa village in Nagaland's Mon district.

India shares a winding 1,643-km mostly porous border with Myanmar. But there is a regulated movement of people up to 16 km on either side.

The NSCN-K, which unlike the NSCN-IM has broken the ceasefire deal it earlier signed with New Delhi, is known to have bases in Myanmar.
Mumbai, Oct 11 : A prominent school in the eastern suburbs of Mumbai will be renamed after late President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on the occasion of his 87th birth anniversary on October 15, an official said here on Wednesday.

The school in Ghatkopar suburb run by the North Mumbai Welfare Society (NMWS) recently merged with the South Indian Education Society (SIES), Matunga, and shall now be known as "SIES Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Memorial High School", said a trustee of the SIES.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will do the honours at the renaming ceremony and also a life-size statue of Kalam will be installed in the school premises on October 15.

Kalam, a renowned scientist, was the President of India between 2002-2007. He was conferred the country's highest civilian honour Bharat Ratna in 1997. He passed away after a cardiac arrest in Shillong, Meghalaya, on July 27, 2015.

To mark his 87th birth anniversary celebrations, Fadnavis will inaugurate an exhibition "India At 70" comprising 70 panels depicting least known facts about India, things India has given to the world, what India has to do to become a developed nation, to make a modern India and the great achievers of India.

Among the oldest educational institutions in Mumbai, the SIES has several schools and colleges with a student strength of around 25,000.

The newly-merged NMWS, Ghatkopar, has been in the education sector since 55 years with a student strength of 3,250.

"In his honour and memory, and in acknowledgement of the significant contributions he had made to ignite young minds, we have decided to rename the newly-acquired NMWS after him," said SIES President V. Shankar.

In the past, satellite stations, roads, educational programmes, a bacteria (Solibacillus Kalami by NASA) and others have been named in his honour, but this is probably the only educational institution to name a school after Kalam who was very of fond of children, Shankar said.

Interestingly, Kalam was the Principal Patron of SIES which he visited on several occasions and was also honoured with the "SIES Life Time Achievements Award" and "Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati National Eminence Award", said SIES spokesperson K. A. Vishwanathan.

Fadnavis will be received by 87 school students along with a guard of honour to be presented by the school NCC. Another group of 87 students will lead an oath to "make India a most formidable nation in three decades from now".
Two days after 6 of his corporators in the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation switched over to Shiv Sena, MNS chief Raj Thackeray attacked the Shiv Sena for "dirty politics".

By Kamlesh Damodar Sutar: Two days after 6 of his corporators in the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation switched over to Shiv Sena, MNS chief Raj Thackeray attacked the Shiv Sena for "dirty politics". Raj also targeted his cousin and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray and warned that he will never forget what the Shiv Sena has done.

Addressing a press conference at his residence, Raj said, "I never felt like reacting on the horse trading Shiv Sena indulged into. There is anger against the way money exchanged hands..."

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"But the Shiv Sena is deliberately spreading rumours that whatever happened is with my permission. Had I wanted to send my corporators to Shiv Sena, I would have sent all 7. Why just 6?" Raj questioned.

Reminding the Shiv Sena that he did not split the party when he quit, Raj said, "When I quit Shiv Sena I had informed Balasaheb, and I had quit only because of Uddhav's dirty politics. I had decided that I will not split the party when I quit. But today, Uddhav and his associates have played dirty politics. People of Maharashtra will not forget this, and I too will never forget this and they will realise this in near future".

Raj also accused the Shiv Sena of betraying Marathi manoos by engineering a defection in a Marathi party.

"Each corporator was paid Rs 5 crore, this means Rs 30 crore was paid to buy these 6 corporators. Where did all this money come from?" Raj questioned.

Raj also announced that, henceforth, there will be no handshakes with Shiv Sena, now it will be just slaps.

--- ENDS ---
Damascus, Oct 11 : At least one person was killed and six injured after three suicide bombers blew themselves up with explosive belts in the Syrian capital on Wednesday, the Interior Ministry said.

Two assailants detonated explosive belts outside a police station, an official from the Interior Ministry was quoted as saying by the state news agency SANA.

The official added that the third suicide bomber blew himself up behind the police station, reports said.

So far, no organisation has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

On October 2, the Islamic State terror organisation carried out a similar attack at a police station in al-Midan neighbourhood in central Damascus, which, according to activists, killed 16 people.
London, Oct 13 : The US and British police have launched investigations into sexual assault allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein.

The New York Police Department is looking into an allegation dating from 2004 and is reviewing whether there are any additional complaints, BBC reported on Thursday.

London's Met Police received an allegation of sexual assault in the London area in the 1980s.

Weinstein has "unequivocally denied" any allegations of non-consensual sex.

The New York Police Department said it was "looking to speak" to an individual who had made an allegation dating from 2004.

Assistant Commissioner J. Peter Donald said: "Based on information referenced in published news reports, the NYPD is conducting a review to determine if there are any additional complaints relating to the Harvey Weinstein matter.

"No filed complaints have been identified as of this time."

The force also appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

The Metropolitan Police, meanwhile, said it had been passed the allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police.

A Merseyside Police statement said it "can confirm a report was received on Wednesday of an alleged sexual assault in the London area in the 1980s".

The investigations come as more women publicly accuse Weinstein of inappropriate behaviour, sexual harassment or assault.

British actress Kate Beckinsale is one of the latest, saying she had an encounter with him aged 17, at the Savoy Hotel in London.

She said on Instagram she was told to go to his room, where he "opened the door in his bathrobe".

"After declining alcohol and announcing that I had school in the morning I left, uneasy but unscathed.

"A few years later he asked me if he had tried anything with me in that first meeting. I realised he couldn't remember if he had assaulted me or not," she said.

British actress and model Cara Delevingne also said he tried to kiss her as she tried to leave a hotel room.

Emma Thompson told BBC Two's Newsnight programme she found him to be a "bully" when his company Miramax owned the rights to her film Nanny McPhee.

She said she did not know about the allegations of sexual impropriety but added: "They don't surprise me at all and they're endemic to the system anyway.

"I don't think you can describe him as a sex addict. He's a predator. That's different."

Thompson said there are "many" others like him in Hollywood. "Maybe not to that degree. Do they have to all be as bad as him to make it count?"

US actress Jane Fonda told the BBC's Hardtalk programme that his alleged victims did not come forth sooner "because he's powerful, because they're scared".

"Most of these women were in their 20s when it happened. Vulnerable. Afraid that if they say anything or do anything that it'll ruin their career," she said.

She added that she wished she had been "braver" by going to the authorities when she first heard the allegations "about a year ago".
Ahmedabad, Oct 13 : Breaking his silence, BJP President Amit Shah on Friday rejected allegations of money laundering against his son Jay, whose company had reportedly recorded an extraordinary spike in business after the BJP came to power at the Centre, and asserted that it had not done any business with the government nor taken any kickbacks.

He also said that unlike the Congress, which had faced many corruption charges in the past, his son has shown courage to file a civil and criminal defamation suit on the allegations levelled against him and "invited a probe against himself" by this step.

"There is no money laundering involved in Jay's company. This company is completely in commodity business, where turnover is more while the profit is less. We have exported bajra, corn and rice while coriander was imported. And after doing a turnover of Rs 80 crore, they don't tell how much they made profit," Amit Shah said at an "India Today" event "Gujarat Panchayat" here.

Answering questions, he said that after making a turnover of Rs 80 crore, Jay made a loss of Rs 1.5 crore. "Where has money laundering been done? All the transactions happened through cheques and banks," he said.

Asked about Jay Shah filing a defamation suit against the publication, Shah said: "Before answering your question I would like to ask you one thing. After Independence, how many corruption charges have been made against the Congress?

"Please understand this is not corruption. Many allegations of corruption were made against the Congress. Did it ever file a civil suit or defamation suit? No. Why they lacked such courage? Today Jay has filed a defamation as well as civil suit and is demanding a probe himself. Those who have the evidence can submit it to the court, and then the court will decide," the BJP President said.

He said: "We have ourselves invited a probe and on the company issue I want to clarify that it has not done business with the government of even Re 1 nor taken any government land or tender. Neither has it received kickbacks as in the case of Bofors."

When asked about Jay's company securing unsecured loans, Shah said it was not unsecured loans. "It was a line of credit," he added.
Ranchi, Oct 13 : Jailed Maoist commander Kundan Pahan in his interrogation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has revealed that he was given Rs 5 crore to kill former Jharkhand Minister Ramesh Singh Munda in 2008.

According to sources in the police, Pahan admitted to taking a contract of Rs 5 crore to kill the then Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Munda. The contract was given by another former Minister Gopal Krishna Patar alias Raja Peter.

Raja Peter was arrested on Monday by the NIA in connection with the murder of Munda.

Munda was gunned by Maoist guerrillas in a public meeting on the outskirts of Ranchi in July 2008.

Sources in the police said the deal was struck between the politburo of the banned Maoist organization, Communist Party of India-Maoist, and Raja Peter.

Initially, Rs 3 crore was paid in advance and Rs 2 crore was paid after Munda was killed. The remaining Rs 2 crore could not reach the politburo of the CPI-Maoist as Maoist commander Balram Sahu escaped with the money. Balram was later arrested by police.

NIA is investigating how such a huge amount came to Raja Peter and who were the sponsors. Raja Peter is at present on NIA remand.

The sources revealed that the NIA is investigating the murder of Munda from many angles. The NIA is likely to interrogate more jailed Maoists to unveil the murder mystery.

Raja Peter had created history by defeating then Jharkhand Chief Minister and JMM chief Shibu Soren in the January 2009 by-election to the Tamar seat, which fell vacant after the murder of Ramesh Singh Munda. After Shibu Soren lost the poll, President's Rule was imposed in Jharkhand. Raja Peter was again elected from the seat in the November 2009 Assembly poll and later became Minister.

Along with Raja Peter, NIA arrested Assistant Sub Inspector Sheshnath Singh in the Munda murder. Singh was the bodyguard of Munda and he allegedly passed on information about the movement of Munda to Maoists.
Damascus, Oct 15 : Dozens of Islamic State (IS) militants are being transferred under the protection of the US-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the northern city of Raqqa towards Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, a media report said.

Citing activists, state news agency SANA said on Saturday the US-led coalition's warplanes are flying over Raqqa, the de facto capital of the IS, without conducting airstrikes over the past two days, Xinhua reported.

SANA said the US and the SDF had struck an agreement with the IS for their evacuation from Raqqa to Deir al-Zour, where the Syrian government forces are fighting the IS militants.

"This U.S.-Daesh agreement is not the first, as several similar agreements have preceded this one in the city of Tabqa, Mansura and Karama in the countryside of Raqqa, under which IS militants were transferred to areas the Syrian army is fighting the terror group," SANA said, suggesting that the US is supporting the IS.

The state news agency said the agreement sparks questions about the goal of the US and the SDF.

It said the US had evacuated tens of IS leaders from Deir al-Zour before the Syrian army reached their areas.

The state news agency said the new agreement came days after the Russian Defence Ministry accused the US forces in the Tanf area of lending a blind eye, while around 400 terrorists crossed the area where the US forces were stationed.

SANA also reminded of the US attack on Syrian military positions in the Tharda mountain last year, during which 90 Syrian soldiers were killed, and the IS managed to take over the area in the countryside of Deir al-Zour.

"All of these facts are pieces of evidence that the United States considered and still considers terrorism, whether IS or any other group, as a paper it manipulates to achieve its schemes to target Syria."

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights earlier said the foreign IS fighters were still inside Raqqa while the local militants of the terror-designated group were evacuated out of the city.

What hindered the transfer or surrender of the foreign militants is the opposition of the Western countries, mainly the US and France, according to the Observatory.

The coalition said earlier that 100 IS militants had left Raqqa.

The IS militants declared Raqqa as their capital in 2014, after announcing their self-styled caliphate.

Tens of civilians have died during the intense battles as well as in the airstrikes of the US-led anti-terror coalition.

On September 7, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 978 civilians had been killed in three months by the US-led airstrike and the shelling on Raqqa.
Caracas, Oct 15 : Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) Director Socorro Hernandez has announced that a group of 70 international observers will supervise Sunday's regional elections.

Speaking to the state-owned Venezolana de Television on Saturday, Hernandez said that members of the Council of Electoral Experts of Latin America (CEELA) had been invited by the CNE, Xinhua reported.

These observers will present a technical report to the authorities after auditing the CNE technological platform.

CEELA President Nicanor Moscoso said that at least 12 audits would be carried out and guaranteed the electoral process would be "transparent".

Moscoso said the members of each political party will participate in the audits, adding they will also sign a document stating their trust in the system.

"We are satisfied, confident that tomorrow the electoral process will take place with absolute transparency. The results will be the right ones."

On Sunday, over 18 million Venezuelans are invited to vote for 197 candidates running for the country's 23 Governorships.
Seoul, Oct 15 : The number of North Koreans fleeing the isolated country to South Korea dropped almost 15 per cent in the first nine months of 2017, according to figures released on Sunday.

In total, 881 North Koreans defected to South Korea, down from 1,036 in the same period last year, a fall of 14.9 per cent, Yonhap News Agency reported citing statistics from the Unification Ministry.

There were reports of stricter surveillance and ramped up security on the border under the rule of leader Kim Jong-un, who took power in Pyongyang in 2011 on the death of his father.

Just over 31,000 North Korean defectors were registered with South Korea's Unification Ministry in September, 71 per cent of them women.
Shimla, Oct 15 : In a setback to the Congress in poll-bound Himachal Pradesh, former Telecom Minister Sukh Ram's son Anil Sharma, who was a sitting cabinet minister in Virbhadra Singh-led present government, has joined the BJP.

Sharma's induction to the party would be announced officially later in the day in New Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party state spokesperson Ganesh Dutt told IANS.

"I have resigned both from the party and the government owing to deliberate ignorance by the Congress in the run-up to the elections," Sharma told reporters in Mandi town, his home constituency.

"Firstly, we were ignored at Rahul Gandhi's rally in Mandi and then later in the constitution of election committees announced recently by the party central leadership."

Sharma was inducted into the cabinet in 2013 and was allocated portfolios of rural development and Panchayati Raj and animal husbandry.

He was also minister of state from 1993-97.

Sharma, a three-time legislator and a Rajya Sabha member, is currently a legislator from Mandi.

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's foster sister Arpita is married to Anil Sharma's son, Aayush.

Himachal Pradesh, presently ruled by the Congress, will go to polls on on November 9 to elect its new 68-member assembly.

The result will be known on December 18.
New York, Oct 15 : A woman of Indian-descent was left to die in a car by the driver who left her behind after the vehicle caught fire in New York, according to media reports.

Firefighters found the charred body of 25-year-old Harleen Grewal early Friday morning, the New York Daily News reported.

The driver of the car, Saeed Ahmad, 23, whom the daily described as "heartless", flagged down a taxi near the scene of the incident to go to a hospital.

WABC TV broadcast a chilling video showing Ahmad stopping the taxi saying, "Can I get a ride?" while the vehicle was in flames.

The police caught him at the hospital, where he was being treated for burns to his arms and legs, and charged him with homicide and several other offences relating to the incident.

His driving licence had been suspended prior to the accident making it illegal for him to drive.

Police sources told the New York Daily News that Ahmad had a few drinks before the crash but a blood test showed he was not legally drunk.

He was seen weaving in and out of traffic before his 2007 Infiniti G35 car hit the road divider and caught fire, according to witnesses.

Ahmad told the police that he was dating Grewal, the daughter of Punjabi immigrants.

Ahmad's brother, Waheed, claimed that he had tried to rescue Grewal.
Mumbai, Oct 15 : Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Sunday accused cousin Uddhav Thackeray amd the Shiv Sena of "horse-trading", two days after six MNS BMC corporators defected to the Sena.

"These municipal corporators have been bought over by Shiv Sena. Money was thrown to break these (MNS) corporators," Raj said, in the most direct attack on his estranged cousin till date.

Raj backed it up with a sensational revelation that the corporators were bought over "for Rs 5 crore each by Shiv Sena".

He claimed that the people were fed up with Shiv Sena's dirty politics and "it's because of Uddhav's low-level politics that even I quit that party".

He warned that people of the state won't forget this and "I shall also remember it".

The MNS chief also dismissed suggestions that he (Raj) had entered into a secret political deal with the Shiv Sena.

"I have not sent these six corporators... Why should I? If I wanted, I would have despatched all my seven corporators... The Shiv Sena is spreading canards against me," Raj said.

He admitted that he had always helped his cousin's party, "but this was not expected of the Shiv Sena".

On Friday, in a political development that shocked the MNS and Bharatiya Janata Party, six out of seven MNS corporators in BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) defected to the Shiv Sena.

With this, the ruling Sena strength in the 227-member BMC shot up from 83 to 89. It also has the support of independents.

The strength of the BJP, which won a bypoll in Bhandup, shot up to 83. Two independents also support it.

After the Bhandup win, the BJP had claimed it would soon topple the Shiv Sena and install its own Mayor on the country's biggest and richest civic body.
Raju Gari Gadhi 2 starring Nagarjuna and Samantha has opened to good response from the audience.

By India Today Web Desk: Superstar Nagarjuna's much-awaited Raju Gari Gadhi 2 is in theatres. The horror-thriller film has opened to positive response from the audience. The critics particularly appreciated the performances of Nagarjuna, Seerat Kapoor and Samantha.

On Friday, Raju Gari Gadhi 2 witnessed 80-85% occupancy in theatres and raked in Rs 8.60 crore on its opening day. As per trade reports, the film fared well on Saturday and is said to have earned approximately Rs 6.50 crore.

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Raju Gari Gadhi 2 has raked in Rs 53 lakh from its premiere shows in the US. With positive word-of-mouth favouring the film, the Nagarjuna-starrer is expected to fetch enough moolah for the producers and distributors.

Telugu film #RajuGariGadhi2 starts well in USA... Thu previews $ 80,916 [? 52.36 lakhs] from 87 locations... @Rentrak- taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) October 13, 2017

Directed by Ohmkar, Raju Gari Gadhi 2 has reportedly collected Rs 24 crore through its satellite and other rights. The film marks Samantha Akkineni's first release after marriage. Raju Gari Gadhi 2 is said to be based on the Malayalam film Pretham that released last year.

Raju Gari Gadhi 2 also stars Vennela Kishore, Seerat Kapoor and Ashwin Babu in important roles.

WATCH HERE: Raju Gari Gadhi 2 Trailer

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Itanagar, Oct 15 : A senior rebel of the outlawed National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) was arrested on Sunday by security forces in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district, officials said.

Yugdi alias Dangche Cena, a Myanmarese national, was apprehended by personnel of Indian Army's Dah Division, based on specific intelligence about his presence in Longman village to terrorize and attempting extortion in Jairampur circle, said Kohima-based Defence spokesman Chiranjeet Konwer.

A pistol and ammunition was also recovered from his possession.

During preliminary investigation, Yugdi admitted to being active part of NSCN-K since 1984, and has been active member of its extortion network in Arunachal's Changlang and Tirap districts.

He also revealed that he had undergone three months weapons training in Myanmar.

Security forces has been carrying out aggressive operations in south Arunachal Pradesh and this apprehension has struck a blow to the extortion activities being carried out by the underground cadres of the group in the area.
Shillong, Oct 15 : Students and faculty members of the Indian Institute of Management-Shillong on Sunday paid homage to former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on his 87th birth anniversary.

Kalam had died while delivering a lecture at the institute on July 27, 2015 from apparent cardiac arrest.

The institute, which continues to treasure its affiliation with Kalam who was a guest lecturer there, marked the day with a 'Shradhanjali' programme where public was invited to pay tributes to the Missile Man of India and remember his impactful life and legacy. Scores of people came to pay homage.

The students came together to create a mosaic of Kalam. The activity engaged all the students and as the mosaic started taking shape, his iconic smile made the participants smile as well.

The students and the faculty of IIM-Shillong also wrote postcards to the armed forces, the sentinels of this nation, thanking them for their service.

These postcards were subsequently presented to personnel of the Assam Rifles in Shillong. It was an enriching experience for the students as the troops were enthralled to read the good wishes they received from the participants.
Kolkata, Oct 15 : The central government is working on mechanisms to further speed up the GST refund process for exporters, a minister said on Sunday.

"We are evolving a mechanism. We are trying to further reduce time for refunds," Minister of State for Commerce & Industry C.R. Chaudhary told the media here on the sidelines of the inaugural session of the 186th AGM of the Calcutta Chamber of Commerce.

In a relief to exporters, the government recently announced that it would immediately refund exporters for the month of July and August through cheques from October 10 and October 18, respectively.

Following a GST Council meeting, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters that this would be an interim relief, and as a long term measure e-wallets will be created for all exporters by April 1, 2018, to carry forward the refund process.

Chaudhary said large scale reforms like GST will often lead to hiccups and inconvenience during inception but it will be beneficial in the long run.

"Rise in export data for September shows that initial hiccups of GST roll out is stabilising," he added.
New Delhi, Oct 15 : Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the people of the state aptly responded to the BJP's polarising attempts in the state by relegating it to the fourth spot in the Vengara by-election result declared on Sunday.

He said the BJP and RSS were were trying to create communal tension and divide in the state with their "malicious" campaign and "dangerous statements" but the Sunday result of the by-election showed where the BJP stood in Kerala.

"Despite all these dirty tricks and attempts for communal polarisation, the BJP has been relegated to the fourth position with much reduced vote share. This is a pointer and stern warning to the BJP that they cannot mess up with Kerala."

K.N.A. Khader of the Indian Union Muslim league (IUML) won the by-poll defeating his rival P.P. Basheer of the CPI-M with a margin of 23,310 votes. BJP candidate K.J. Janachandran, at the fourth spot, got only 5,728 votes.

Addressing a seminar by the Delhi Union of Journalists, Vijayan said calls from some quarters to dismiss the Kerala government invoking Article 356 would gain momentum in coming days because the ruling BJP at the Centre was "in search for an opposition-free India".

"But the progressive, secular and liberal people of Kerala, and the country as a whole, will trounce such malicious efforts."

He said Kerala was being targeted by the BJP and RSS because the state "champions the values that strengthen secularism, democracy and socialism".

A month-long campaign was carried out across India that Hindus were threatened in the state, featuring the hashtag "Kerala killing fields" which was followed by the BJP's Janaraksha Yatra, he said.

"National leaders, including Chief Ministers of other states, resorted to a malicious campaign against the state. Leaders from states in which children and farmers were killed came in quick succession as if they are to rescue the people of Kerala," the Chief Minister said, referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath.

"Irresponsible and dangerous statements were made by BJP leaders depicting Kerala as the hotbed of Islamic terrorism... to disrupt the centuries-old communal harmony of the state.

"The people of Kerala have seen through this malicious campaign and have come out unitedly to oppose the RSS game plan."

He said the state was being targeted because Keralites had always stood up against the nefarious designs of the BJP and RSS -- "be it communalism, demonetisation, neo liberalism or crony capitalism".

"It is quite natural that those who at the helm of affairs get perturbed."

The Chief Minister recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an outlandish comparison of Kerala with Somalia during the 2016 election campaign. Modi had said that the "infant mortality rate among the scheduled tribe community in Kerala is worse than Somalia".

"Keralites across political divide and from around the world came together at that single stroke and ridiculed him... showed that it was in fact the state from which he (Modi) hailed (that) was a closer comparison to Somalia when it came to infant mortality rate."

Referring to the debate on growing intolerance, the Chief Minister said: "We live in times when there is a price to be paid for saying the truth. Voices of opposition or dissent are being threatened with dire consequences. We know how sedition charges were cooked up against our students.

"Cultural activists have also been threatened. The likes of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi, have even been murdered. In the recent past, even journalists have had to pay the price, like Gauri Lankesh and Shantanu Bhowmik did."

Calling Prime Minister Modi's demonetisation decision as "a foolishness beyond imagination", Vijayan said the move "ended up as a disaster".

"Demonetisation brought the whole economy to a grinding halt. It took away the lives of more than 100 Indians as well. It miserably failed in curbing black money."

He said that even as the people of Kerala resisted the anti-people policies of the central government, came a veiled attack on Kerala's cooperatives which were called "the reserves of black money".

"Then came the... ban on beef. Yet again, Kerala was in the forefront of protests against it."

He said that despite the campaign launched against Kerala, the facts about the state remain irrefutable as it "continues to lead the country in literacy and has furthered its enviable position in leading the Indian states on various counts".
Durg (Chattisgarh), Oct 15 : BJP General Secretary Saroj Pandey said on Sunday warned CPI-M cadres that if they continue to stare towards BJP-RSS cadres in Kerala, then their eyes will taken out in their own houses.

"If we have started this march, it is because if in coming days, they keep on staring at us, then we will barge into their homes and will take out their eyes," Pandey told reporters here in response to the killings of BJP-RSS workers in Kerala and West Bengal.

"Not only in India but all over the world, we have over 11 crore members and in Kerala, over 300 of our workers of different age groups have been killed. Everyone has his right to put his point," she said.

"But if there will be murder of democracy... it is not a big deal for us... We are ruling the country and if we want, we can sack the government but we have faith on democracy and the governments in Kerala or West Bengal should work accordingly. They should not work with any political bias," she said.

The BJP is holding Jan Raksha Yatra in the several parts of the country including Kerala to protest against the killings of its workers in the states ruled by the Left or where it has a strong presence. Pandey will join such a yatra in Delhi on Monday.
Ahmedabad, Oct 15 : BJP President Amit Shah asserted here on Sunday that his son Jay had done no wrong in his commodities business and so filed a criminal defamation case over a news report against him, while he dared Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi to move the court for several allegations made against his family.

At India TV conclave Chunav Manch, Amit Shah said: "Jay has filed a criminal defamation case of Rs 100 crore because he is doing business legally. It doesn't matter what Rahul Gandhi says."

He challenged Gandhi to file criminal defamation case over allegations on him and his family.

"Several allegations were made against him and his family. Did they file a single criminal defamation suit? Let him file," Shah said, alleging that they did not do so because the charges were true.

"Jay has himself gone to court without waiting for demand for inquiry," the BJP chief said.

Shah claimed that Gandhi did not even know the difference between turnover and profit.

"Rahul ji had alleged that Jay had made Rs 80 crore profit, whereas, the fact is it was turnover, and his company faced Rs 1.4 crore loss," he said. Similarly, referring to loans taken by his son, Shah joked that Gandhi did not even know that "there is difference between Line of Credit and loan".

Rejecting the allegation against his son, whose company had reportedly recorded an extraordinary spike in business after the BJP came to power at the Centre, as "without evidence", he said everyone has right to move court.

"My son didn't do any business with government and didn't take any government land and had no connection with contractors," he said.

Asked why Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was asked to address a press conference to defend his son, Shah said: "Piyush Goyal spoke as BJP leader, and not as a minister. We are in public life. Do we not have the right to defend ourselves in public? Do they (Congress) want that we should have remained silent?"

The BJP chief hit out at Gandhi and cautioned him for invoking the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in his poll campaign.

Replying to questions, Amit Shah alleged that the Congress insulted Sardar Patel the most.

"Nobody insulted Sardar Patel more than the Nehru-Gandhi Congress. They prevented him from becoming the PM, ministers were not allowed to attend his funeral, Bharat Ratna was not conferred on him until 1991. Even the Sardar Sarovar dam project was put on hold because it had its name. It was really vindictive."

On Rahul Gandhi's recent remark that it was "shameful" that Sardar's statue was being made in China, Amit Shah snapped back: "The world's tallest statue of Sardar Patel will be erected in Gujarat. People of Gujarat will not tolerate Rahul Gandhi for this joke. The voters of Gujarat will give a stinging reply to this joke."

To a question about the plethora of complaints on the Goods and Services Tax, he said it was the "world's largest tax reform" and there were bound "to be teething problems which are being ironed out".

Shah said that the GST Council has already addressed most of the grievances of traders, exporters and consumers.

He said that a high-level committee would be meeting again on October 20 to decide on some more ticklish issues relating to GST, and asserted that the Narendra Modi Government is fully sensitive to the concerns on GST and would not allow people to face problems.

He also rejected as "baseless" Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan's charge that demonetisation was done to benefit US companies in the guise of digitisation.

He also ruled out possibility of any "third alternative" in Gujarat. "After 1990, the voters of Gujarat had been consistently voting in favour of BJP both in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. There are only two main parties - BJP and Congress. There is no third formation in existence."

Shah expressed confidence that the BJP would get "three-fourth majority" in Gujarat this time, and "will form a government under the leadership of Vijay Rupani".
Rabat, Oct 16 : The seventh session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers will be held from October 25 to 26 in the Moroccan capital Rabat.

The Environment Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) member states as well as representatives of international and regional organisations will participate in the conference, Xinhua reported.

The conference to be held at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) here will discuss a number of documents concerning green cities, sustainable development and the establishment of the OIC Water Council.

Members of the Islamic Executive Bureau for Environment will be elected and the date and venue of the eighth session will be set.

The seventh session comes 15 years after the first session was held in Saudi Arabia in 2002.
Dhaka, Oct 16 : The United Nations has raised the number of newly arrived Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh fleeing violence in Myanmar to 537,000.

This is an increase of about 1,000 since the last UN report.

The report by the Inter Sector Coordination Group of the UN includes data up to October 14 and said the UN had been able to verify the arrival of 18,000 new refugees last week, Efe news reported.

The report also said that the makeshift settlements in Kutupalong and Balukhali in the Cox's Bazar area, which have joined together due to increasing arrivals, have received 374,000 persons.

Another 89,000 refugees have taken shelter with local host communities.

"The speed and scale of the influx has resulted in a critical humanitarian emergency," the report said.

The Bangladesh government had counted 27,825 families and the Ministry of Home Affairs had registered 161,963 refugees until now, which is around 28 per cent of the total refugee population, according to the report.

The UN said that all the recently arrived refugees were in need of food, medical services and housing, although only 37,000 families had received an emergency kit, which includes a tarpaulin for temporary shelter.

The crisis began on August 25 when a insurgent group of the Rohingya Muslim minority staged a series of attacks on the police and army posts in Rakhine state, to which the Myanmar military responded with an ongoing large-scale offensive.

According to eyewitnesses and human rights organisations, the Myanmar army has razed villages and shot and killed an undetermined number of civilians while clearing the area.

Although Myanmar maintains that the violence was triggered by Rohingya rebels, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has accused the military of ethnic cleansing.

Before the military campaign, an estimated one million Rohingyas lived in Rakhine state in Myanmar, where the government denies them citizenship.
Millions of people suffer from musculoskeletal issues that affect their quality of life. Chiropractic Care is the topic of discussion, with talented and prolific actor Rob Lowe as the host of this interesting episode and a part of the Success Files series. With the current health care situation being at the forefront in various debates, this show is crucial for prospective.

Chiropractic Care is a complementary branch of the health care profession that concentrates on manipulation of the musculoskeletal, to bring relief to individuals suffering pain in areas such as the back, neck, joints and shoulders. More people are searching for ways to eliminate symptoms, while avoiding invasive surgeries, prescription drug addictions and astronomical expenses. Some Chiropractors offer additional supplementation, including regenerative therapy, nutritional support, special exercise programs as well as advice for lifestyle changes. Others are willing to join forces with traditional doctors that are interested in integrated medicine. This piece endeavors to explore the benefits and challenges of Chiropractic Care.

Success Files hosted by Rob Lowe is circulated to public television, as well as PBS member stations. This award winning series has a remarkable team of individuals, producers, writers, thought leaders and more at the helm of this innovative and educational creation.
Opelousas General Health System (OGHS) and Allen Parish Hospital (APH) are excited to announce the initiation of a collaboration agreement that became effective July 1. This agreement will allow both organizations to come together in an effort to gain economies of scale and share best practices across the healthcare continuum. This collaboration agreement is not a purchase or an acquisition. Each organizations ownership, governance structure and employees will remain the same.

As healthcare moves from payments for volume to more value-based reimbursement, this affiliation will strategically position APH for continued success. The goal of this agreement is to implement a partnership that focuses on providing high quality, coordinated care to the residents of Allen Parish and its surrounding areas. OGHS will offer resources, technology, clinical protocols, and purchasing power. This alignment with OGHS will allow APH to deliver care more efficiently and cost effectively for patients, which in turn will lead to better patient outcomes, financial stability and long-term viability.

The collaboration between OGHS and APH will allow residents of Allen Parish and the surrounding areas to continue receiving excellent primary care and soon much needed specialty care minutes from their homes and work. Patients and their family members will save lost time from work and travel expenses. The collaboration will assist APH to create quality care by supporting our practices with resources for evidence based practices and guidelines, helping us to reduce cost, increase efficiency, and provide quality care for our community, APH CEO Jacqueline Costley-Reviel.

Like APH, Opelousas General Health System is a hospital service district. Both CEOs agree that this collaboration will benefit both organizations and its patients.

The goal of this collaboration is to enhance financial stability and operational procedures which will ultimately and most importantly benefit the patients we both serve in receiving the highest level of quality care available, said OGHS President and CEO Kenneth Cochran, FACHE.

About Opelousas General Health System

Since 1957, Opelousas General Health System has been dedicated to the provision of quality health care through its strong commitment and high standards. Central to the success of OGHS's commitment for excellence is the presence of an outstanding and highly qualified staff of physicians, nurses, technologists and other personnel who provide professional treatment in a caring environment. Serving as the region's referral medical center, OGHS is a 225-bed, full service medical center, and the area's most comprehensive community health care facility offering a wide range of medical specialties and state-of-the-art technology. Visit us at http://www.opelousasgeneral.com

About Allen Parish Hospital

Since 1969, Allen Parish Hospital has been providing healthcare service to the residents of Allen Parish and surrounding communities. APH is a 49 bed acute care service district hospital. It provides emergency, outpatient, inpatient, home health, behavioral health, Rural Health Clinic, and physical therapy services to the community. APH is committed to providing high quality, primary care and adding back specialty care services to the community. Visit us at http://www.allenparishhospital.com
This is not the first time when the refugees have been killed by wild elephants in the camp. Earlier, an elderly person and a child, who were sleeping too were trampled by the wild giants.

By Praveen Shekhar: Wild elephants killed four sleeping Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district Balukhali camp on Saturday, including three children and a woman.

Besides those killed, four more suffered injuries and are believed to be in critical condition.

Thousands of Rohingya refugees have set up makeshift shelters in the Balukhali camp since they fled violence across the border in Myanmar.

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This is not the first time when the refugees have been killed by wild elephants in the camp. Earlier, an elderly person and a child, who were sleeping too were trampled by the wild giants.

Around 5,36,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have fled to Bangladesh over the last two months.

WHY DID THIS HAPPEN?

According to reports, many trees on the forested hills of Balukhali in southern Bangladesh, where the incident took place, have been chopped to provide shelter to Rohingyas. But with greater influx of refugees, these camps are unable to accommodate new arrivals, who in-turn then camp in open or alongside roads.

The Bangladesh government has allocated 3,000 acres (1,214 hectares) of forest land to build shelters for the refugees but many have already set up their shacks.

The human-animal clashes in the area are now being deemed as "inevitable", for the campsites have been an abode to elephants for years now.

Moreover, the overcrowded camps in Bangladesh have also swelled in size, leading to fears of an outbreak of diseases.

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Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
The Malaysian low-cost carrier has transformed air travel in Southeast Asia by bringing it to the masses.

In the process, its founder, Tony Fernandes, has become a veritable rock star in the business world.

Fernandes, who spent several years during the mid-1980s as the financial controller at Virgin Communications, is also known for his close friendship with Sir Richard Branson.

Recently, the music executive-turned airline kingpin spent a morning with Business Insider in New York. Fernandes touched on several topics, including the conversation he had with Branson when Fernandes acquired a failed Malaysian government-run airline that would become AirAsia.

While at Virgin Group during the early days of Virgin Atlantic Airways, Fernandes told Branson that his decision to go into the airline industry was crazy and advised him to sell Virgin Record. It's something Branson remembered during the early days of AirAsia.

"One of the first people to call me up when I started AirAsia was Richard who said, 'I thought it was really stupid to start an airline'," Fernandes said jokingly.

As far as advice goes, it was pretty simple, yet profound.

"He just said have fun and make it a fun place which we've tried to do," the AirAsia Group CEO added. "But we would have done that anyway."

"Virgin was very informative in my whole cultural experience in that it was a fun place, it was a place where there were no suits, it was informal and ideas and innovation are encouraged," Fernandes said.

"That rubbed off on me."

According to Fernandes, this open and innovative culture has defined the company's success. For example, AirAsia encourages its employees to design their own uniform choices and to show off their personality as individuals.

"If they're comfortable coming to work, they'll be happier and more themselves," he said.

In 2007, Branson and Fernandes got together to launch AirAsia X, the low-cost carriers long-haul division with Virgin Group taking an initial 20% stake in the operation.
By PTI: advisor to Hasina

Agartala, Oct 15 (PTI) The possibility of terrorist links of a section of Rohingya refugees, sheltered in Chittagong, could not be ruled out, a top official of Bangladesh said today and asserted that his country would not allow any group to use its soil for terrorist activities.

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, the media advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said that Bangladesh had already announced its policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism.

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Chowdhury, who inaugurated a cultural event here, said that Bangladesh expected India to take a stand on the "ethnic cleansing" of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

"We have given shelter to 10 lakh Rohingyas from Myanmar on humanitarian grounds despite much constraint. They were forced to leave their country following an ethnic conflict. So, a sense of retaliation might prevail among a section of the refugees. We cannot rule out the possibility of their involvement with any terrorist outfit.

"But, we will not allow any terrorist group to use our soil. Our Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced zero tolerance towards any kind of terrorist activity," he said.

Asked if Pakistani spy agency ISI had penetrated the Rohingya refugees, Chowdhury said that the country has its "own agenda".

"They (Pakistan) cannot forget their defeat in 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation War). So they might try to penetrate among the Rohingyas, but we are not aware of it. Even if ISI penetrates, it would be unable to survive because the Bangladeshi government is against this kind of activity," he said.

Chowdhury said though the United Nations (UN) has condemned the torture of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and called it "ethnic cleansing", India, China and Russia have maintained silence on the issue.

"We do not want that the relations between India and Myanmar become bitter on the (Rohingya) issue, but we expect India to take a stand for the solution of the problem," he said.

Bangladeshs economy is feeling the impact of the Rohingyas stay and it wants the refugees to return to their homeland in Rakhine state in Mynamar and be properly repatriated.

"Can we force them to return if the situation is not normal? The Rohingyas were brutally tortured, their properties destroyed and their women molested and raped," he said.

On the Indo-Bangladesh relations, the official said those were very cordial. It has consolidated further with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the helm of affairs in India and Hasina in Bangladesh.

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Chowdhury said the minority Hindus in Bangladesh were "very safe" now. "Over 30,000 Durga pujas were organised in Bangladesh this year, which is 777 more than last year."

Fourteen lakh Bangladeshis had visited India last year for different purposes including treatment and tourism, he added. PTI JOY KK SMN SMN

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Earlier in my career just once, small time producer who asked to see my breast for a role I was auditioning for and I said NO and walked out," she told the BBC.

According to her, sexual harassment is common and cuts across everywhere, saying women face sexual advances from men in powerful positions.

Its unfortunate that its very common but it cuts across everywhere. Women are subjected to unwanted sexual advances from men in powerful positions especially who want to take advantage of their vulnerability," she said.

"In Africa where theres a lot of poverty and people are looking for jobs, they know how to feed on peoples desperation.

She also narrated a harrowing experience of a young lady who walked up to her to complain of sexual advances from movie producers.

An actress walked up to me and said shes been trying to break up into the industry for several years but every producer wants to sleep with her and they named some big actresses that they slept with before giving them roles and threaten them if they refuse to cooperate, Lydia Forson added.
The state police commissioner said the suspects were arrested after they were sighted with a suspicious bag.

They specialized in killing people for the purpose of using human parts for rituals. A team of Federal SARS sighted two men on motorcycle with a suspicious bag and were forced to stop and be searched. Recovered from their bag were fresh and dry human parts" the police boss said.

When interrogated, 36-year-old Mudasiru who claimed to be an Islamic cleric, said it was one of their former teachers who sold the human parts to them. He said they bought the human flesh, skull and about 12 teeth for N12, 000.

We were coming from Itoku to buy some of the ingredients. We didnt buy the human flesh at Itoku. We collected them from someone in Ijemo area of the town. We were aware of the contents."

"Human parts are used for money rituals. We actually wanted to use them for ourselves, to draw peoples attention to us and we have been in this job for about five years. We bought the parts from a cleric; the teeth are not costly."

"I dont know how many but we bought them for N2, 000; we bought all the human parts, including the skull and flesh, for N12, 000. We went to an Islamic school in Ijaye area of Abeokuta and we have been doing this, though we didnt learn this in the Islamic school."

"What we do is to burn the human parts, mix the charred remains with local soap and snail water and use it to bath. We havent done it before but that is what we were taught."
A section of This is Africa exhibit at the Hubei Provincial Museum in Wuhan included a lion growling in a photo was framed alongside the photo of a man with a similar expression, a chimpanzee with its mouth opened wide was also framed alongside a child who appeared to have a similar expression, photos of other animals were also framed side by side with those of humans wearing similar expressions.

READ MORE: Chinese museum sparks outrage by comparing Africans to wild animals

According to the website Shanghaiist.com, the special exhibit was portraying the works of Chinese photographer Yu Huiping, which are aimed at giving visitors a sense of "primitive life" in Africa through the interplay of humans, animals and nature.

Yu, the vice-president of Hubei's Photographers Association, has visited Africa more than 20 times over the past decade and says that he has a deep love for its people and wildlife, promoting the conservation of its natural resources and beauty.

According to the New York Times, a curator at the exhibit, Wang Yuejun, said the decision to hang the photos of people and animals together was his own idea, and not that of Mr. Yu.

The target of the exhibition is mainly a Chinese audience, Mr. Wang said in a statement, adding that comparisons between people and animals are common in China and often a compliment.

According to him, Chinese people relate to their animal familiars assigned by the Chinese zodiac and in Chinese proverbs, animals are always used for admiration and compliment.
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However, the Vice Chairman of the Defence and Interior Committee believes Ablakwa is only causing fear and panic since his comments could not be verified.

Issues they raised were not substantiated. The issues bothered on security matters and security matters are not like Makola or Kejetia matters where you can handle it anyhow, he said.

Some of us are considering dragging him to the privileges committee so that henceforth, such matters will be well handled as far as the legislature is concerned, he added.

According to him, Foreign policy is different from national security. He could talk about it, but not the manner in which he did. We need to double-check such facts before we put it out there to create unnecessary tension and create fear and panic.
According to him, the elephant size of the government may have also contributed to the early signs of corruption in the government, adding that there was a need for constitutional direction on the number of appointees the president can have.

A large Government means large corruption. So, we should have a constitutional direction, he said at a Public Lecture on the Corruption menace in Ghana, organized by the Christian Service University College(CSUC) in Kumasi.

READ MORE: Here are the politicians accused of corrupt practices in Ghana
President Nana Akufo-Addo and his counterpart will on Tuesday sign a bilateral agreement, and inaugurate a joint commission for the implementation of the recent judgement passed by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries of Ghana and Cote dIvoire.
The affected roads, the police said in a statement, include Kwame Nkrumah Avenue towards the Central Business District, Liberation Road towards Central Business District, and the Atta Mills Highway from James Town towards Osu.

Key on the agenda, ahead of Ouattara's visit is the signing of a bilateral agreement, and inauguration of a joint commission for the implementation of the recent judgement passed by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries of Ghana and Cote dIvoire.
The family were being held by the Taliban-allied Haqqani network in the tribal area until they were rescued during a Pakistani military operation Wednesday.

"Four security force troops including a captain embraced shahadat (martyrdom) while three others sustained injuries when an improvised explosive device went off," the military said in a statement.

"The troops were part of a search party for handlers of the rescued foreigners," it added without offering further details.

Officials told AFP the search party belonged to the Frontier Corps, a paramilitary force that provides security in Pakistan's tribal belt.

Joshua Boyle and his American wife and three children were freed after five years of captivity at the hands of the Haqqani network, a notorious militant group that operates on both sides of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

The Haqqani network is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader.

In a chilling statement on the family's arrival in Toronto, Boyle accused his kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife, b.

Pakistan, which has long been accused of having links to groups such as the Haqqanis, has faced increased pressure from Washington to crack down on militants after it was lambasted by US President Donald Trump in August.
This verse applies to so many of the things that Christians do without realising that these things have pagan origins.

They include:

Video games

A lot of people see these games as a wonderful distraction from the stress of life. However, Church of Satan members say that very few things are more Satanic than video games.

In the words of Satanist reverend John H. Shaw, You can build every little thing  put a torch where you want it, a tunnel, a walkway, a moat. Thats very Satanic. According to Satanists, these games provide the perfect opportunity for them to practice their virtues and tenets freely.

Halloween

This a celebration that is not observed by Nigerians but by Christians and others across the world. On the surface, it appears to be a fun excuse to play dress up. Still, there is a reason why it is called the devils holiday. According to Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan, I am glad that Christian parents let their children worship the devil at least one night out of the year. Welcome to Halloween.

This explains why John Ramirez, a former Satanist, says he is surprised that Christians Celebrate Halloween. Here is an excerpt from his article on Charisma News.

It reads, We think because we are not performing any demonic rituals or human sacrifices that we are on safe ground, but did you know that as soon as you dress up, whether you colour yourself or put on a costume, the enemy owns you? Because by doing so, you have turned over your legal rights, and you have dedicated yourself and your kids to celebrate the devils holiday. You have just made a pact with the enemy, and you are already sacrificing your children spiritually by dressing them up and changing their identity."

"As devil worshippers, Halloween was very special to us, and we looked forward to celebrating it because we knew the implications and the dark power behind the night. It is very different from every other night in the witchcraft world. It would be like me saying to believers today, How important to you are Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday? Halloween has that much weight and importance to those who dwell on the dark side.

Ramirez is now an internationally known evangelist, author and highly sought-out speaker.

New Years Day

This is a day that Christians spend at church. We go for vigils in order to usher in the new year. Yet, it has pagan roots. According to Aleister Nacht, it is a day that is set aside for coven celebration.

World Book states, Many ancient peoplesperformed rituals to do away with the past and purify themselves for the new year. For example, some people put out the fires they were using and started new ones. Reportedly, some people built sacred bonfires to honour their sun god on this day.
By India Today Web Desk: A day after Narendra Modi attended the centenary celebrations of Patna University, BJP MP from Patna Sahib constituency Shatrughan Sinha targeted the Prime Minister for not granting the varsity the status of a central university.

"Our people's expectations got a jolt when despite specific appeal by Bihar CM, no announcement was made by the hon'ble PM @narendramodi to give the status of Central University to Patna University. Nor was any announcement made to allocate the much expected crores of funds specifically for restoration of Patna University to its past glory," Shatrughan Sinha tweeted.

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The BJP MP, known for his tirades against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "There is now a sense of despondency in Patna and many have started asking if the huge expenditure incurred for the PM's visit to the university would not have been better spent on upgrading the facilities, laboratories and the overall infrastructure of the University".

There is now a sense of despondency in Patna & many have started asking if the huge expenditure incurred for the PM's visit to the Univ..1>2- Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) October 15, 2017

"Many of our people now say and believe that 'No Show is better than Poor Show'. However, I still salute @narendramodi for gracing the (occasion) and wish my university all the best. Hope, wish and pray that we are still able to do something to restore its past pride. Jai Bihar! Jai Hind!" Shatrughan Sinha tweeted.

...would not have been better spent on upgrading the facilities, laboratories & the overall infrastructure of the University...2>3- Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) October 15, 2017

On Saturday, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar urged Narendra Modi to grant central university status to Patna University. In his response, the Prime Minister said "issues like grant of central status have become a thing og past".

The Prime Minister said the Central government is taking a step forward to "provide an assistance of Rs 10,000 crore to 10 private universities and an equal number of government ones for a period of five years" to help them become world-class universitites. "I exhort Patna University to seize this opportunity," Narendra Modi said.

Many of our people now say & believe that "No Show is better than Poor Show". However, I still salute @narendramodi for gracing the &..3>4- Shatrughan Sinha (@ShatruganSinha) October 15, 2017

During his visit to Bihar, that lasted for nearly five hours, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed a rally in Mokama and launched four sewerage projects under the Namami Gange programme and four national highway projects worth Rs 3,700 crore.

ALSO WATCH: Land of unique legacy, Bihar is blessed with Gyaan and Ganga: PM Modi at Patna University

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Yet, The Telegraph reports that Saudi Arabias highest religious council, the Majlis al-Ifta al-Aala, is not jumping for joy.

This is because these scholars fear that this new rule will lead to no more virgins within 10 years of the ban being lifted.

They also warn that the removal of the ban would provoke a surge in prostitution, pornography, homosexuality and divorce.

Prof Subhi, one of the academics working in conjunction with Kamal Subhi, a former professor at the conservative King Fahd University, contributed to a report for the countrys legislative assembly, the Shura Council.

In his report, he was sitting in a coffee shop where all the women were looking at me. One made a gesture that made it clear that she was available.

He added that this is what happens when women are allowed to drive.

ALSO READ: Imam says using iPads to read sermons is disrespectful

They also want that pointed out that there will be a moral decline, the type that is already seen in other Muslim countries where women are allowed to drive.

Before the Royal decree issued by the King that removed the ban on driving, any woman caught driving in Saudi risked being arrested and fined.

No wonder, this new decree has received praise from around the world. US President Donald Trump called it a positive step towards promoting womens rights.

Campaigner Sahar Nassif told the BBC from Jeddah that she was very, very excited  jumping up and down and laughing.

Im going to buy my dream car, a convertible Mustang, and its going to be black and yellow!

Fawziah al-Bakr, a Saudi university professor who was among the 47 women that participated in the kingdoms first protest against the ban in 1990 told The New York Times that It is amazing.

Since that day, Saudi women have been asking for the right to drive, and finally it arrived. We have been waiting for a very long time, she added.

The countrys US ambassador, Prince Khaled bin Salman, said it was a historic and big day and the right decision at the right time.

The royal decree was read by an announcer on state television and signed by King Salman on Tuesday, September 26, 2017.
The decision was made on Saturday, October 14, after the board members voted to have the filmmaker stripped of his membership.

ALSO READ: Angelina Jolie alleges sexual harassment from film producer

The Academy revealed in a statement that the action which takes effect immediately was intended "not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over."

According to earlier reports, Weinstein has had his membership suspended in BAFTA, the British version of the Oscars, and faces separate action from the Producers Guild of America.

The academy's decision which was voted on by 54 of its board members in a special meeting is part of a larger attempt by the American movie industry to remove Weinstein from the film business.

According to the reports, Academy members have always been disciplined for violating rules but there are no laws against outsing a member in the face of a scandal such as this.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Weinstein's brother Bob, CEO of the Weinstein Co., said that Harvey "definitely should be kicked out" of the academy for his alleged actions.
Well, our usual busy lawmakers sat down to talk about the drug problem in the country on Tuesday, October 10, 2017. Specifically, the spoke on the use of codeine syrup by Nigerian youths.

"I am particularly worried about the drug menace in the Northern part of the country. It is the time that we recognize this problem and address it in a sensible manner.

"I will be pushing for the National Assembly to review all relevant laws on drug abuse. This will help to curb the widespread misuse of illegal and unsanitary substances. The Senate will engage with all relevant stakeholders as we initiate this process" tweeted the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Even Senator Remi Tinubu, the wife of APC leader Bola Ahmed Tinubu chipped in on the situation. "I have always advocated and I believe across Nigeria we should have drug rehabilitation centres so that children can quickly check themselves in," she said.

The Nigerian Senate is just coming to terms to what a lot of people know- drug abuse is on the rise. Pulse has written several articles on the drug problem in Nigeria.

'We are heading towards a disaster', and '' are two articles that touch on this problem.

In its sitting, the Nigerian Senate zeroed in on codeine syrup. According to the lawmakers, three million bottles of codeine are consumed daily in the Northern states of Kano and Jigawa. Though not verified, that's an alarming statistic.

The abuse of codeine started in Nigeria circa 2010, a time it was popular among American rappers. Lil' Wayne is notoriously linked to codeine. At his peak, it was hard to see Lil' Wayne without his Styrofoam cup, a visual indicator that he was sipping on that lean.

Lean is a combination of cough medicine (which contains codeine), soft drinks and flavoured hard candy. Lean is also known as sizzurp or drank in Hip-Hop.

Codeine is an opioid drug. The United States of America right now is going through an opioid crisis that is cutting life expectancy in the country.

In Nigeria, codeine is deep in youth culture and celebrity life also. In June 2017, actress Toyin Aimakhu confessed to taking drugs including codeine.

Apart from codeine, drugs like cocaine, Tramadol and Refnol are popular among drug addicts in the country.

Drug abuse has been left to eat deep into the fabric of youth culture in Nigeria especially in Northern Nigeria. With the recent happenings in Nigeria's music industry, more people are focused on this problem.

Hopefully, the Nigerian Senate does not end the story here. It shouldn't stop as a rhetoric. Like Senator Remi Tinubu said, Nigeria needs more rehab centres to deal with the drug addicts in the country.

Also, the narcotic arm of the Nigerian Police Force should be properly funded and equipped to deal with this huge problem. Anything short of these two things will lead to a disaster.
The patients daughter caught the altercation on tape as her mom scolded the physician, saying shed been waiting over an hour to be seen by him. Peter Gallogly, a physician at Gainesville After-Hours clinic, is reportedly under criminal investigation after snapping back at the patient and later appearing to grab the daughters phone out of her hands. Watch the heated argument for yourself:

Dealing with rude doctors is not out of the ordinary. But the story does raise a number of questionsamong them, why it often takes so damn long to get seen by a doctor.

Fortunately, there are three things you can do about it if youre seeking medical careeither by a doctor at a clinic or a physician at an emergency room. Unless it's urgent, you can get in contact with a doctor straight from your home. But if you really need to make an appointment, heres what you need to know about how to get seen the fastest:

1. Pick the first appointment of the day

As the designated spot for most non-serious illnesses, clinics are always highly populated. And if you go to a specialized clinic, it takes even longer to be seen since theres probably not that many around you. But just like an airline, opting for the first (or even second) appointment of the day will get you better service since they're not backed up yet, Bola Oyeyipo, M.D., a board-certified family physician told HuffPost for a story on cutting wait times at the doctor's office.

2. Request paperwork in advance

This is one of the easiest ways to slash your waiting time before you even get there. Instead of spending several minutes filling out paperwork when you arrive, request for the documents to be emailed or mailed to your home prior to the appointment. This also allows you to spend more time completing the questions and actually reading the fine print, Sarah OLeary, founder of Exhale Healthcare Advocates, told HuffPost.

3. Call before your appointment

Taking two seconds to call ahead to see if your doctor is running late will better prepare you for the prolonged wait time, O'Leary said in the same interview. And if you show up and see that it's going to take a while, it doesn't hurt to ask the receptionist if you can dip to go on a quick errand or snack run. And even if the schedule is off, always arrive on time so other patients aren't seen before you.

1. Avoid coming in on Monday

Unlike making an appointment at a clinic, getting seen at an emergency room is trickier because you can't schedule ahead of time. If possible, you can steer clear of coming in on Monday, which is the emergency department's busiest day, according to Jay Ladde, M.D., an emergency medicine physician at Orlando's Regional Medical Center.

2. Bring a list of your medical history and medications

Even if you've been to that hospital before, it'll help move the process along much quicker.

I think it helps expedite care," Dr. Ladde told Men's Health. "It also makes communication much better, it facilitates flow, it allows the triage process to be a little bit more smooth because a lot of times patients are not feeling well, so it's hard to communicate."

3. Have a good relationship with your primary care physician
The Commandant of the NDLEA in Kogi, Alhaji Idris Bello, told reporters on Sunday in Lokoja that the three operatives were gunned down while on patrol.

He said that they were killed at about 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 13 by the gunmen, who emerged from nowhere.

Bello said that gunmen came on foot and that the incident occurred close to the main gate of the Federal College of Education, Okene.

He identified the operatives killed as Nicholas Onwumere, Ebun Peters and Abdulrahman Musa.

The commandant explained that the NDLEA officers were on duty alongside their three other colleagues when the gunmen struck.

Bello said that the officers died on the spot, while the three other colleagues escaped unhurt.

He said that the gunmen collected the rifles of the dead officers and vanished.

Bello said that other security agencies in the state had been contacted on the development, saying that efforts were being made to track down the killers.

ALSO READ: NDLEA arrests 19 IDPs for illegal drugs

The Kogi Government had in August established a Forward Operation Base in Okene in partnership with the Nigerian Army to check kidnapping, armed robbery and other violent crimes.

However, the initiative has yet to yield the desired result, according to observers.

Analysts suggest that the latest killing may be the handiwork of the jihadist Boko Haram group, which has been striking at soft targets in northern Nigeria, having been degraded substantially by the Nigerian armed forces.
The police Public Relations Officer, Terna Tyopev, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos that the attackers, who invaded the village at 12 midnight, also burnt down 10 houses.

He said that those injured had been taken to various hospitals in Jos.

NAN reports that the killings took place a day after Gov. Simon Lalong imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew on the local government, as part of measures to curtail the attacks on the villagers.
Buratai, who was accompanied by Principal Staff Officers at the Army Headquarters, was received by the widow and children of the late general at his residence in Maitama, Abuja.

Thereafter, Buratai signed the condolence register and wrote: It is with heavy heart but with gratitude to Almighty God that I, on behalf of officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, condole with the family of my predecessor who passed away to the great beyond.

May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.

May Almighty God grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss, amen.
Obiago who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Sunday said compressed natural gas was used in power generation in industries.

He said that the state government provided the land at Kwale in Ndokwa East Local Government Area where the virtual gas plant had been built.

He said that government was equally providing the enabling environment including security to ensure ease of doing compressed gas business in the state.

According to him, the state government had also the responsibility to sensitise the potential consumers through various communication channels.

He said that unlike the conventional pipeline transportation of natural gas to industries, the company would convey the virtual gas to the industries.

We held a one-day summit on the project with the themed Enabling Nigeria Resource for Development as part of the initiative.

The summit was to expound the investment that could be done with compressed natural gas.

The summit expounded the kind of industrialisation process that could come from transporting compressed natural gas to industries instead of piping it to the locations, he said.
By PTI: Mumbai, Oct 15 (PTI) Aiming to become the first domestic missile integration company in the private sector, industrial explosives maker Solar Industries India Ltd (SIIL) is developing a missile assembly facility in Maharashtra which is expected to be completed by January next year.

The Nagpur-based company entered the defence sector over four years ago.

It has set up Indias first plant for manufacturing the explosive HMX in the private sector, a large composite propellant plant and facilities for producing various other products like pyros and warheads.

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"Since we are already manufacturing the key components for missiles like the war heads, propellants, explosives, among others, we thought we should go a step ahead and develop a facility to integrate all the components to develop a complete missile," the companys Managing Director and CEO Manish Nuwal told PTI here.

He said the work on the missile assemble factory is in the final stages and it is likely to be completed in January 2018.

"Currently we are looking for missile assembling for Pinaka rocket launcher. But any job related to rockets can be done and going forward missile integration as well," Nuwal said, adding the transfer of technology agreement with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is already in place.

"Once the construction is completed, we can then proceed for the assembling, subject to when the defence sector places orders," he added.

SIILs facility in Nagpur manufactures HMX and HMX based compositions like Octol, Oma and Okfol for high explosive anti-tank ammunition and missiles like Akash, LR Sam, Invar and Konkur. It also manufactures propellants for BrahMos missile.

The company currently has a manufacturing capacity of 50 mtpa of HMX which it plans to enhance to 300 mtpa.

"Earlier we required less quantity of HMX, but now with the defence sector opening up, we will increase the capacity to 300 mtpa.

"Similarly, we will increase the capacity of all the other defence related products and also introduce some new solutions," the companys Chief Financial Officer Nilesh Panpalliya said.

He said the company, which already has an order book of Rs 140 crore in the business, plans to invest up to Rs 175 crore every year for the next 3-4 years to enhance its manufacturing capacities. PTI PSK RSY ABM BAS

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Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo disclosed this at the 13th Esan Economic Empowerment Workshop organised by the Association of Esan Professionals at Uromi, Esan North East Local government area of the state on Saturday.

The workshop was tagged: Modernising Agri-business in Esan land for Economic Empowerment.

The governor said that massive investment in agriculture was necessary to improve food security, create jobs as well as boost economic activities in the state.

According to the governor, investment in agriculture is in line with his administrations focus in fulfilling my electioneering promises of creating 200,000 jobs for Edo people.

The importance of embracing agriculture as an administration via focusing on food security, large scale farming, and access to land, information and improved seedlings cannot be over emphasized .

Agriculture is now scientific and mechanisation will help us compete in the agricultural market, he said.

The governor said his administration has revamped the Edo fertiliser blending plant in Auchi to improve farmers access to fertiliser as well as the Colleges of Agriculture in the state to train manpower for the sector.

Obaseki added that Gelegele sea port was another important project in the life of his administration that when completed would help in the exportation of agricultural finished products.

Also, speaking the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said the workshop was apt and pledged the support of the Federal Government to ensure success of the programme.

The Minister, who was represented by the State Director, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Edo Office, Mr Omoragbon Wellington, said the Federal Government would support the group with capacity building and supply of processing machines at subsidised rate.

In his remarks, the president of the Association, Mr Mathew Egbadon said the association was a non-governmental organisation with the sole objective of providing platform for the Esan people to contribute their quota to the development of the Esan land.

Egbadon said the body was concentrating on strengthening the agriculture potentials of Esan land due to its vast expanse of land available for agricultural production.

He added that the body has launched a two year well researched documentary on Esan culture covering the entire kingdom in Esan land and was working on establishing a radio station that will broadcast in Esan language.
Adeosun said this in Washington D.C. at a Joint Media briefing with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, at the end of the 2017 Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.

She said that the Federal Government adopted an expansionary fiscal policy with an enlarged budget in order to deliver a fundamental structural change to the economy, thereby reducing the countrys exposure to crude oil.

Why are we borrowing? Mobilising revenue aggressively was not advisable, nor indeed possible, in a recessed economy. But as Nigeria now reverts to growth, our revenue strategy will be accelerated.

This is being complimented by a medium-term debt strategy that is focusing more on external borrowings to avoid crowding out the private sector.

This would also reduce the cost of debt servicing and shift the balance of our debt portfolio from short-term to longer-term instruments.

This government will be very prudent around debt. We wont borrow irresponsibly,she said.

Adeosun said that aside the World Bank/IMF meetings, she also participated in both the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) and Development Committee (DC) meetings, the two highest decision making organs of the Bretton-woods Institutions.

The two Bretton-wood institutions, according to her, urged commodity exporters like Nigeria, to pursue structural policy reforms to unlock their countrys potentials and stimulate aggregate supply as well as enhance the diversification process.

On the Development Committee (DC) meeting, she said members discussed the need to enhance the capacity of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)and International Finance Corporation (IFC) to support the financing needs of client countries.

At the DC where I spoke on behalf of Angola, Nigeria and South Africa, I urged the international community particularly the Bretton-wood Institutions to change the narrative on Africa which always portrays the continent as Low Income Countries (LIC).

Indeed, there are some Middle Income Countries represented by this constituency and so there is the need for the Bank to deploy instruments, policies and programs that will address the peculiar needs of these countries, she said.

Responding on the issue of investing in women, Adeosun remarked that the women remained the best investment any nation could make.

The multiplier effect of such investment is significant. We need to make more opportunities available to our women.

They are the economic drivers of our nation. We have enormous talents in Nigeria, and the Federal Government will invest in human capital, she added.

Also, the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, who also participated at the IMF and World Bank meetings, confirmed improvement in the Nigerias economy.

The fundamentals we are seeing show that there is a lot of stability in the foreign exchange market, and having come down from high level to the level we are now, and the currency is just fluctuating between N359 to N365 to dollar.

We think it is good level compared to where we are coming from.

We think it is important to note that as reserves get stronger, as economic fundamentals get stronger, there is no doubt that the naira will get stronger and we will see more appreciation in the currency, he said.

Emefiele said that the CBN would continue to focus on the banking system to ensure there were no significant threats that would affect the strategic health of the banking system.
Zuma also got a street named after him, received the title of Ochiagha di oha mma of Igbo Land (the peoples warlord) from Okorocha and was bestowed with the Imo merit award, the highest such honour in Imo State.

The Governors gifts to the South African leader have got everyone talking on social media. There are more boos than thumbs up for Okorocha and understandably so.

Zuma is no ones idea of a role model or shining example across the continent. Hes been accused of rape and corruption back home and says the darndest things. Hes been unable to halt xenophobic attacks on his watch. South Africans wont even consider him good enough for a statue back home. Why is a State in NigeriaAfricas gianterecting one in his honour?

What has been Zumas gift to the continent? What are the Zuma ideals that generations of Imolites or Nigerians can learn from or study in school, years from now?

But we shouldnt look beyond the character deficit of the awarding Governor to understand the mindset behind this distasteful gift. By most accounts, Okorocha is running Imo badly. This statue which reportedly cost N520M is being erected in Zumas honour at a time thousands of workers in Imo State havent been paid salaries dating back several months. Okorocha it was who asked that billboards of himself with former American President Barack Obama, be erected across Imo just to show he has arrived. Last month, Okorocha made a song and dance of receiving 27 cakes from women across Imoat a time most of the people he governs cant afford a meal.

Okorocha governs by documentaries and propaganda. He runs a shallow government that is predicated on nothing. On his watch, police officers recently raided a market and left a 10-year-old boy dead. The Governor is yet to sympathize with the family of the slain, weeks after.

There is a lot that this statue to a much despised African president tells us about the leadership deficit in Nigeria. For years, Nigeria has honoured those who have stolen the treasury dry. For years, Nigeria has suffered horrendous leadership from its political elite. The wrong values have taken root in Africas most populous country and it is little wonder that Zuma is being honoured where he should be despised and tongue-lashed.

ALSO READ:
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that two attackers on a motorcycle opened fire on the two policemen stationed at the gate of the residence at the about 8pm, but did not gain entrance into the house.

The attackers were however said to have escaped with the rifle of one of the policemen.

A neighbour told NAN on condition of anonymity, that the former IGP and his family members were safe.

The corpse of the deceased policeman has been deposited at the mortuary of Katsina General Hospital, where the other injured mobile policeman was receiving treatment.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the attackers, who invaded the village at midnight, killed six persons and injured scores of others.

The attackers also burnt down many houses. NAN counted 10 houses totally destroyed.

Among those killed were five adults and a teenager.

An eye witness, Mr Sunday Yari, told newsmen, who visited the scene, that the attack took place in the early hours of Sunday.

The attackers came with sophisticated weapons and moved from one house to another, unleashing mayhem on the locals.

They razed down a lot of houses and destroyed properties worth millions of naira, he said.

Yari wondered why the attacks were being casually carried out in spite of the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed 0n the local government by the Plateau government.

It took the grace of God for me to escape. From my hideout, I watched them killing my aged father and two younger ones. I couldnt act because I was not armed, he said.

Adie, who spoke with newsmen at the scene of the attack, described it very unfortunate.

We shall deploy officers and men to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

We shall also identify critical stakeholders within the area and work with them toward ending these attacks. We must find a way to end these incessant attacks on the locals.

For now, we shall keep our officers and men on ground to protect the area; we shall try to ensure that no one takes the law into his hands, he said.
Governor Yahaya Bello has not commissioned any road or water projects neither has his government done anything for Kogi people.

Under Governor Bello, Kogi has become the worst state in Nigeria

This is the narrative set by critics of the government on social media.

To a large extent, this narrative has affected the image of the state negatively.

In this age and time, people see a particular people or place through the eye of the media  mostly the social media.

It therefore became necessary for the Kogi state government to interact with players in Nigerias online media space.

This was achieved at the just concluded Kogi State Social Media Conference which took place at the Government House, Lokoja.

With the theme, , the two-day event had in attendance online journalists, social media influencers, public affairs analysts and other players in the industry.

The event featured a visit to the three major districts of the state  East, West and Central  and also an interactive session.

Some projects inspected include the Kogi state owned milling factory at Omi Agricultural Development Centre, Yagba West Local; the Ajaka-Ayingba road network, the construction of over 80 primary schools amongst others.

Speaking at the interactive session on Thursday, October 12, 2017, the special assistant to the governor on new media, Odaudu Joel Minister said that the summit was the first of its kind in Kogis political history and became necessary, due to the increasing influence of social media in todays politics.

Social media influencer, Ayobami Oyalowo said social media has become the fastest and cheapest means of informing the world of government policies and programmes.

Any government that neglect its power will have itself facedown. No government should be comfortable if it does not understand how to engage in the usage of social media, Oyalowo emphasised.

The Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba who stood in for his boss noted that the state was being underreported.

What most people are saying about us is not the truth, he began.

We need you to cross check before you broadcast and publish information so that the possibility of society being in trouble can be reduced. Even as journalists and media influencers, you can injure your existence through false information, he added.

The Director General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo declared the session a no-holds-barred meeting.

Reacting to questions, the chief of staff to the Kogi state government, Edward Onoja reels out some of the achievements of the administration 21-months after taking over office.

His words: This government has done excellently well in terms of infrastructure especial road construction. Not just road construction but the quality of roads being constructed. This government is constructing nylon-asphalt tarred roads with the recommended standard for this tropical environment. These twelve roads are evenly spread across the three Senatorial districts of the state.

On health, the governor would be commissioning our ultra-modern diagnostic center as part of activities to mark his two years in office.

On Education, there are about 80 standard basic education centers in the three districts. Because what we met are not fit to be called schools," he added.

In recent times, Kogi state has been widely reported as one of the states owing workers over 10-months salaries.

The strike embarked upon by the state chapter of ASUU and Labour further buttresses this point.

But the Chief of Staff shares a different perspective of the state salary story.

We may be owing workers but among states in this same situation, we are the most transparent. We have the names of all our workers on the website and if you know anyone that claims he has not received salary for 10-15 months, go to the website and check.

Weve had civil servants query themselves because they know you have been paid but you are telling a different story. The true story is that some persons keep hiding under the veil of oh, I have not been paid to avoid paying back loans and credits.

This is not to say that all persons have been paid. The number of months and reasons for non-payment is not being emphasized. All those who have not been paid had one issue or the other and it is not as if they wont be paid but they must have to reconcile these issues before theyre paid.

On the issue of confidence building, the news is changing because the Governor has asked that those that were on the not cleared list should be moved to cleared and we believe that before the end of the year, this noise of salary payment would have been completely erased.

When we came in, we printed forms for civil servants to authenticate by filling them. Over 9,000 forms that were given out never came back meaning that the number of workers wasnt 88,000 but slightly over 78,000. We discovered that Kogi states salary wage bill was in excess of about three billion.

Again, we agreed with the NLC to introduce clock in, clock out devices at government offices because there is nowhere in the world where you dont work but expect to be paid. That device also helped us to identify ghost workers. Soon, Labour went on strike. Because they were already used to a system of going to the office two out of the twenty-two working days still get their full payment.

Civil Service is not an NGO where you sit at home and collect money. The civil service is supposed to be the engine room of any society.

Thank God that the Federal Government has activated the no work, no pay law because you do not expect to stay at home and still earn money.

About the tertiary institution, they did not work for seven months but government paid them for those periods and yet, some said they will still not resume. So the Governor proscribed ASUU and gave a deadline and those who failed to resume were served letters. Right now, there are about 4,000 applications to fill those vacancies. Who wants to work should get the jobs.

One thing we must bear in mind is the fact that you do not change a system without these pains. It is just like surgery. You are ill and need to go through a surgery. If you avoid the pain, you may die with the ailment. But with surgery, you will have to endure the pain to be stronger afterwards, Onoja added.

The deputy governor speaks more on the verification exercise embarked upon by the state government to get rid of ghost workers.

When there is a new turn, it is difficult to drive it in. Before now, most of the employment in Kogi state came from replacement. If a father dies, they will approach the permanent secretary to replace the deceased with his son. This screening brought open all those malpractices.

Against every person who is not on the cleared list the reason for this is stated but no one would say it. We equally gave room for defense but most of them never came for defense. The news is that Governor Bello has refused to pay us our salaries.

But this administration has decided to put an end to all of these. We now publish all our expenditures on national dailies and also on our website. How many states are doing this? Achuba asked.

Here are his final words for critics of the Bello administration.

I am very sure that some of you came with bad mind towards us before but you must have repented, considering what you are seeing. You have been to places where works are ongoing and can tell the story better.

Although we are not perfect, we are not resting on our oars to bring this state out of its current woods. This is why we have opened our doors to people who want to make enquiries about this government, he added.
The ACF scribe, who wondered why the North is asking for eight years, called on the Northerners to abide by the agreement of the merger.

Abdulrahman also said that Nigeria does not belong to the North alone, adding that that mindset has to be changed.

The ACF scribe said The North and Buhari must get serious and behave themselves. Nigeria does not belong to the North because if you maintain the position, grandstanding that the North is powerful in Nigeria, you are wasting your time and Nigeria would collapse and crash.

Why is the North asking for eight years? It is because of incapability to put in a leader. After Buhari, the best is Buhari. I am telling you now; go and write it down.

The best the North can ever offer is Buhari. He failed three times woefully until the South West came and they had an alliance. Why are they trying to abuse that alliance?

Four years is enough for the North. Let us respect each other.

We must not lose sight of the fact that it was an alliance that brought him in, he added.
Reports say the soldiers had a camp fire to signify the official end of Operation Python Dance on Saturday, October 15, 2017.

The Deputy Director Public Relations 82 Division, Colonel Sagir Musa, in a statement said General Abubakar commended all the officers, soldiers and personnel of paramilitary organizations that collaborated, synergized and worked commendably throughout the one month period for the exercise.

ALSO READ:Ooni of Ife condemns proscription of Biafra group

The achievements recorded in the areas of attainment of the mission specific training objectives, improvement in peace and security, curtailing the menace of violent irredentist groups in the theatre of the exercise is remarkable, the statement said.
Somalia's government has blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group for the attack it called a "national disaster."

By AP: The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital Mogadishu rose to 231 with more than 275 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in this Horn of Africa nation, said a senator.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed said the toll comes from doctors at hospitals he has visited in Mogadishu. Many of the bodies in hospital mortuaries have not yet been identified, he said.

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Saturday's blast is the single deadliest attack ever in this Horn of Africa nation.

Doctors struggled to assist horrifically wounded victims, many burned beyond recognition. Officials feared the toll would continue to climb from Saturday's truck bomb that targeted a busy street near key ministries.

Footage of truck bomb attack in #Somalia capital #Mogadishu. The truck exploded in the midst of a traffic jam. pic.twitter.com/OoAHsDsLMk- Kevin W. (@kwilli1046) October 14, 2017

Video courtesy: @kwilli1046/Twitter

Ambulance sirens still echoed across the city throughout Sunday as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives. "In our 10 year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we haven't seen anything like this," the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted.

Grief overwhelmed many.

"There's nothing I can say. We have lost everything," wept Zainab Sharif, a mother of four who lost her husband. She sat outside a hospital where he was pronounced dead after hours of efforts by doctors to save him from an arterial injury.

My heart hurts today for the mother who has to sleep tonight without her husband, brother, sister or child. #Sadday #Somalia #mogadishu- ??? (@Najma_WonderW) October 14, 2017

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood for the wounded victims. "I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate," he said.

"The hospital is overwhelmed by both dead and wounded. We also received people whose limbs were cut away by the bomb. This is really horrendous, unlike any other time in the past," said Dr. Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital.

Overnight, rescue workers with flashlights searched for survivors trapped under the rubble of the largely destroyed Safari Hotel, which is close to Somalia's foreign ministry. The explosion blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel.

More photos of the scene of explosion. #MogadishuTruckBomb pic.twitter.com/uynMFQj9p2- Harun Maruf (@HarunMaruf) October 14, 2017

Awful scenes of destruction and chaos from #MogadishuTruckBomb tragic and heartbreaking - but this vile cruelty can be, and will be defeated pic.twitter.com/jh9KPuEkyA- Rageh Omaar (@ragehomaar) October 14, 2017

Somalia's government has blamed the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab extremist group for the attack it called a "national disaster." However, al-Shabab, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital with bombings, had yet to comment.

"They don't care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children," Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said. "They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians."

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Somalia's information minister, Abdirahman Omar, said the blast was the largest the city had ever seen. "It's a sad day. This how merciless and brutal they are, and we have to unite against them," he said, speaking to the state-run radio station.

The United States joined the condemnation, saying "such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism."

The US military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali military and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country.

Saturday's blast occurred two days after the head of the US Africa Command was in Mogadishu to meet with Somalia's president, and two days after the country's defense minister and army chief resigned for undisclosed reasons.

ALSO WATCH | Protest against al-Shabab in Mogadishu

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He gave the assurance on Sunday at St. Petersburg, Russia, while speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of the 137 Inter-Parliamentary Union(IPU) Assembly.

The deputy speaker, who is part of the Nigerian delegation to the assembly, said the reactions that followed the failure of devolution of power to scale through during voting on constitution amendment was an indication of how critical it is.

He said the resolve to re-visit the issue was in line with the 137 IPU theme  Promoting Cultural Pluralism and Peace through Inter-faith and Inter-ethnic Dialogue.

According to him, devolution of power has been part of the call for restructuring of the country to ensure adequate distribution of resources, which will in turn ensure peaceful co-existence.

He said the Nigerian parliament has been mindful of the things agitating the minds of the people. If you recall, about two months ago, we tried to amend some sections of the Constitution.

It was consequent upon that event that we now know that what is left in Nigeria today is to try to see how we can devolve power to different tiers of government.

We voted on so many items and people were able to screen through and said though we passed some items, the most important one, which is devolution of power did not scale through.

And to show that parliament in Nigeria has been up to the task, we promised that in the next few months, we are going to re-visit the issue so that we can have peace in our country.

On increasing conflicts in the world, the deputy speaker said all hands must be on deck to find lasting solutions to the problems that caused conflicts across the globe.

He added that in the last few years, we have been feeling the intense heat of extremism, Xenophobic attacks, the issue of racism has started rearing its head again and we also have the issue of intolerance.

These are the issues that the whole world is facing today and everybody is trying to find a way tosettle conflicts.

This is because it is in the midst of peace that we can have democracy and without democracy, it is very difficult to have development.

So, we have to first of all find a way of achieving peace, then from achieving peace we can begin to have development.

Lasun said that the 8 National Assembly was poised to making laws that would promote peace and unity, as well as take advantage of its oversight powers to dialogue with different sections of the country.

He further said that the national assembly would continue to engage the executive toward ensuring that it improved on its policies and programmes to enable the public to feel the positive impact of government.

On relationship between the executive and the legislature, Lasun said Nigerians had yet to come to the understanding that the parliament played an important role in governance.

He said the parliament that defined democracy ought to be recognised as integral part of governance, adding that Nigerians often criticised the parliament and assumed that it was by doing so that there would be good governance.

He added that by supporting the parliament to grow, you actually grow the democracy too because if you dont support parliament, you are not likely to be able to grow your democracy.

So, a lot of the people in executive do not understand the fact that it is parliament that defines democracy and whatever you want to do.

People must understand the fact that parliament is the most important part of democracy.
He made the call during General Debate at the 137 Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly on Sunday at St. Petersburg, Russia.

Saraki, who lamented the havoc caused by insecurity in the region, said while Nigerian government was doing its best to tackle the problem, international interventions were necessary.

According to him, convening an international conference like the one convened in London on Somalia and Syria will go a long way in finding lasting solution to the problem in the region.

He added that Nigerias North East region has suffered terribly as a result of the onslaught of Boko Haram insurgents.

Two million Nigerians are internally displaced or have fled to neighbouring countries like the Lake Chad region, where 4.4 million people are threatened by food insecurity.

Of the fund needed to address the problem, less than half has been raised. The UN has described the situation in the Lake Chad region as the most neglected humanitarian crisis in the world.

The 8th National Assembly is at the forefront of improved coordination efforts to overcome institutional and logistic impediments in the way of getting aid for those in need.

We have reached an advanced stage in plans for a development commission to tackle the crisis in the North East; incidentally, the region has the highest poverty rate in the country.

We have also made economic growth and greater investment the core of our legislative agenda.

The sooner we deliver economic reforms and greater prosperity to all Nigerians, the sooner we can achieve more inclusive society and minimise societal divisions and grievances.

Saraki further pointed out the need for government to attend to challenges in other parts of the country for sustainable peace.

According to him, Plateau in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria has been faced with ethnic and religious conflicts, with more than 7,000 people killed in the last decade.

He said that the challenge of climate change led to shrinking of the Lake Chad, which could no longer sustain thousands of displaced persons camped along its receding banks, especially in the North of Nigeria.

He emphasised among other things, the need to tackle youth unemployment, poverty, religious intolerance and marginalisation, which were major factors of restiveness in the country.

He added that the National Assembly believes that inter-faith dialogue, especially that driven by women and the media, can support the role of passing the message of religious tolerance among the younger generation.

This is because of their influential roles in the social cultural fabric of the society.

We also cannot overemphasise the special role education has to play in overcoming prejudices and uprooting stereotypes, promoting inter-denominational services, as well as cultivating and promoting shared values.

Parliamentarians can champion the IPUs core values of equality, inclusiveness, respect, integrity and solidarity as necessary tools for bringing about peace through cultural pluralism.

I urge us to adopt the Tirana Summit Declaration of 2004 for a world in which religious faiths will not only co-exist peacefully, but work actively to promote a sense of social cohesion and collective purpose.

On the theme of the 137th IPU  Promoting Cultural Pluralism and Peace Through Interfaith and Inter Ethnic Dialogue  Saraki said it was timely in view of the need to seek alternative to war in resolving conflicts across the globe.

He said the ethnic divide and religious antagonism across the world had opened up new theatres of conflicts leading to heightened humanitarian crisis; and something urgent must be done.

He added that according to the UN, 20 million people are at risk of famine in countries like Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.

140 million people in 37 countries are in need of aid; and earlier this year in the Dhaka Declaration, the 136th IPU Assembly called attention to food insecurity in Yemen, Afghanistan and parts of Africa.

Indeed, as the IPU President rightly observed, we are entering the age of famine.

Saraki expressed concern over increased cases of hate speeches directed at those who were considered to be different in culture, tradition and religion.

He said there were rising inter-ethnic clashes with many recorded fatalities and communities displaced.

He added that the diverse cultural, traditional and religious practice across Africa that ought to be its source of strength had turned out to be a threat to its existence.

According to him, the situation has led to bloodletting, like the case of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

He added that Nigeria had also experienced a civil war and lately experiencing increased spate of hate speeches and ethnic conflicts, which was threatening the unity of the country.

2017 has been a year of unremitting woes. There is no part of the world that is untouched by trouble and strife, conflicts created by apparent failure in all spheres to achieve peaceful co-existence.

In the U.S., white supremacists engage in pitched battles with anti-fascist and `Black Lives Matter protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia.

ALSO READ:Nigerian senate sets new record

The country has been boiling since then as the fault lines widen between the various segments of American society, giving vent to long simmering tensions.

In Spain, the reverberations of the Catalan independence referendum are being felt. Or is it the sporadic bursts of xenophobic violence in South Africa?.

We will also not forget the election-related unrest in Kenya, fractured along ethnic lines between the Luos and the Kikuyus.

We also see again and again the consequences of gaps in mutual understanding within communities.

In Myanmar, tensions between the Buddhist majority and the Muslim Rohingya sent a wave of human misery flowing to the border of Bangladesh, he said.
According to Daily Post, the Governor also said that the state will no longer accept any form of inhuman treatment.

Ikpeazu, who said that his administration is ready to help the soldiers achieve their aim, added that the people of Abia are law abiding.

He said While the state government has always indicated its preparedness to cooperate with all security agencies in their lawful operations within the state, we shall not condone a situation where the presence of the Army in the state becomes a platform to (trample on) the human rights of our people and subject them to inhumane and degrading treatments without any lawful excuse.

The Government of Abia State shall no longer condone this unwarranted assault on the people of the state. Our people, as law-abiding citizens, deserve their basic freedom and fundamental rights to life, personal liberty and dignity of the human person.

These rights are guaranteed under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the same law from which the Army derives its authority. These rights can only be tampered with in accordance with laid-down legal procedures and not according to the caprices of individual Army officers.
Boyle and his American wife Caitlan Coleman were seized by the Taliban while hiking in Afghanistan in 2012, and then turned over to the group's affiliated militant Haqqani network in Pakistan.

The couple and their three children born in captivity were freed Wednesday in a Pakistani military operation triggered by US intelligence and are now back in Canada.

After landing in Toronto on Friday Boyle accused his captors of killing his baby daughter and raping his wife -- accusations which the Taliban said were "fake".

In a statement read on his arrival Boyle condemned the Haqqani network's "stupidity and evil of authorising the murder of my infant daughter" in "retaliation for my repeated refusal to accept an offer that the miscreant of the Haqqani network had made to me, and the stupidity and evil of the subsequent rape of my wife".

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Boyle and Coleman were never separated during their captivity, "precisely due to the fact that the mujahideen did not want to incite any suspicion", but he admitted a baby had died.

"During a period of detention an incident did take place when the woman became ill. The area was remote, no doctors were present and due to this severe condition, the woman had a natural miscarriage of a girl," Mujahid said in a statement.

"The allegations floating around in the media have nothing to do with the reality because the said people are now in the hands of our enemy."

The Haqqani group is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is also the Afghan Taliban's deputy leader.

The faction has long been suspected of links to Pakistan's shadowy military establishment.

Providing few details, Boyle said the death of his daughter and his wife's rape occurred in 2014.

That was two years after he and Coleman, then "heavily pregnant", were kidnapped in a remote Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan.
According to the exit poll by state broadcaster ORF, Kurz's People's Party (OVP) will gain the most seats in the National Council, winning 57 out of 183.

CNN reports that the OVP is expected to form a coalition with the Freedom Party (FPO), which will win 51 seats, the poll reveals.

According to the reports, this would place a far-right party in an Austrian governing coalition for the first time in over 10 years.

The FPO which is headed by Heinz Christian-Strache has called for "minus migration" and a ban on "fascistic Islam."

Although exit polls are not the final results and the number of votes and seats given to each party may change, the result essentially makes the FPO a kingmaker, in a country which has chosen to move to the right less than a year after voting against a far-right presidency.

The election which was watched across all of Europe has seen a rise in populist far-right parties, many of which have campaigned on anti-immigration platforms.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)  Tesla Motors fired hundreds of workers after completing its annual performance reviews, even though the electric automaker is trying to ramp up production to meet the demand for its new Model 3 sedan.

The Palo Alto, California-based company confirmed the cuts in a Saturday statement, but didn't disclose how many of its 33,000 workers were jettisoned. The San Jose Mercury News interviewed multiple former and current Tesla employees who estimated 400 to 700 workers lost their jobs.

The housecleaning swept out workers in administrative and sales jobs, in addition to Tesla's manufacturing operations.

An unspecified number of workers received bonuses and promotions following their reviews, according to the company.

Tesla is under pressure to deliver its Model 3 sedan to a waiting list of more than 450,000 customers. The company so far has been lagging its own production targets after making just 260 of the vehicles in its last quarter.

Including other models, Tesla expects to make about 100,000 cars this year. CEO Elon Musk is aiming to increase production by five-fold next year, a goal that probably will have to be met to support Tesla's market value of $59 billion  more than Ford Motor Co.

Unlike Ford, Tesla still hasn't posted an annual profit yet.

Despite the mass firings, Tesla is still looking to hire hundreds more workers.
URBANA, Ill. (AP)  Officials at the University of Illinois have confirmed a student case of meningococcal meningitis.

The university says in a news release Saturday that the student was admitted Tuesday and is being treated at an Urbana hospital.

University officials are contacting friends and roommates of the student to identify others at risk. Dr. Robert Woodward is the medical director of McKinley Health Center on campus and says others aren't in danger unless they've had intimate or prolonged contact.

Meningococcal meningitis is a rare illness caused by bacteria, but it can be serious

Symptoms of meningitis include fever, headache and a stiff neck.
By PTI: New Delhi, Oct 14 (PTI) Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) Ltd (TTML) today said its board will meet on October 18 to consider a proposal for raising up to Rs 20,000 through issue of preference shares to promoters or via bonds.

The move comes just two days after Tata Group announced that the consumer mobile business of TTML as well as that of Tata Teleservices (TTSL) will be taken over by telecom giant Bharti Airtel on a debt-free, cash-free basis.

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"...a meeting of board of directors of the company is scheduled to be held on October 18 to consider the proposal to raise additional funds up to an aggregate amount of Rs 20,000 crore," TTML said in a BSE filing.

It, however, did not specify the purpose for the fund raising. E-mails sent to Tata Teleservices remained unanswered.

TTML said the fund raise will be done through issue of one or more types of instruments including redeemable preference shares to promoters, non-convertible debentures in one or more tranches, and/or inter corporate deposit/loans from the promoters and others.

Yesterday, TTML had made a similar filing stating that its board will meet on October 18 to "consider the proposal to raise additional funds up to an aggregate amount of Rs 6,000 crore".

Over 4 crore customers of TTSL and TTML in 19 telecom circles or zones will be taken over by Airtel from November 1. Airtel will also get access to 178.5 MHz of spectrum across 800, 1800, 2100 Mhz (3G, 4G) bands.

The deal will allow Bharti Airtel to close the gap with soon to be merged Idea-Vodafone combined entity.

While all of the Rs 31,000-crore debt will remain with the Tatas, Airtel will assume payment of close to 20 per cent of the Rs 9,000-10,000 crore deferred payments for the spectrum to the government. Tatas will pay the rest.

The deal is part of Tata Groups plan to find a solution for the troubled mobile business that was weighed down by huge debt, spectrum liability and monthly cash losses.

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran had recently conceded that the groups mobile business Tata Teleservices is in a "really bad shape" and that a "tough call" will have to be taken on the business in this financial year.

In April this year, the Delhi High Court had rejected the Reserve Bank of Indias objections in the Tata-DoCoMo dispute, clearing the decks for the Tatas to pay over USD 1.1 billion to NTT Docomo in a matter pertaining to the Indian telecom joint venture. PTI SR MBI MKJ

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A Connecticut-based photographer will present the culmination of 13 years of visits to Iowa in his first book, "Iowa: Echoes of a Vanishing Landscape," at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Davenport Public Library's Eastern Avenue Branch.

David Ottenstein, 57, traveled tens of thousands of miles and produced roughly 50,000 photographs, choosing 89 black-and-white portraits of the Hawkeye state. The book includes text by Alan Trachtenberg, of Yale University, and Jonathan Andelson, director of the Center for Prairie Studies at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa.

"To some degree, it was what are my favorite images, the images that are really strong," Mr. Ottenstein said. "From there, it was a matter of culling the images that told the story I'd been experiencing in Iowa over the years."

Based in New Haven, Conn., since he graduated from Yale in 1982, he's photographed many industrial buildings in the Northeast. About 2002, he read articles in The New York Times on the changing agricultural economy of the Midwest. "The way farming was happening was that it was leaving all these unused old farm buildings."

At his first visit to Iowa in 2004, "I fell in love with the place," Mr. Ottenstein said. "I find the landscape of Iowa to be just beautiful. It's subtler than the mountains of the American West, but I find it to be absolutely beautiful.

"I also found the people there were really wonderful, even though it took them a while to understand what it was I was doing there," he said. "My pursuit was of the remains of an era everyone there knew and understood. People in Iowa really liked, respected and appreciated somebody else from far away who kept coming back to photograph it."

Over 13 years, the photographer, who specializes in black and white, made more than 20 trips, averaging five to eight weeks at a time.

"Whether it's old structures in Iowa or the industrialized part of the Northeast, I had heard about the rate these things are vanishing from the landscape," Mr. Ottenstein said. "There's an urgency to document what's left, that this is really going to be gone in so many ways, it should be recorded.

"One of the most appealing features of Iowa is the rolling hills," he said. "I consider myself the ambassador for Iowa. I make sure Easterners know Iowa is not flat."

In his home state, he's already made many presentations and informally discussed his images, but this week will be the first time to the Iowa public.

"In Connecticut, where I talk to a lot of people, so many people have some kind of family connection, or roots, to farms, often in Iowa," Mr. Ottenstein said. "That landscape of the small single-family farm was something beautiful and admirable, absolutely worth preserving, even in pictures.

"I would say this work really resonates with people, the same way as it does for people in Iowa," Mr. Ottenstein said.

His photos of rural and small-town Iowa depict sweeping landscapes, abandoned farmhouses, grain elevators, section roads, ethanol plants and other discoveries he made while wandering Iowas back roads and forgotten corners, as Mr. Andelson described Mr. Ottensteins work.

The 10-inch by 11-inch hardcover, 144-page book was printed by Cannelli Printing in West Haven, Conn. The publisher is Prospecta Press, in Stratford, Conn.

Mr. Ottenstein grew up in State College, Pa., where, at 14 years old, he picked up a camera and was immediately hooked.

His commercial work includes architectural, product, editorial and people photography on location and in the studio. His clients have ranged from high-tech corporations to nonprofit organizations .

Mr. Ottenstein's photography is part of the Western Americana Collection at Yale Universitys Beinecke Library, the permanent collection of Grinnell College, Nelson-Atkins Museum of American Art in Kansas City, Mo., New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, Conn., Palmer Museum of Art at Pennsylvania State University and the Dubuque Museum of Art.

He's especially pleased to have 1,000 of his photos in the collection of his alma mater, Yale.

"When I was a student there we used to go to the Beinecke Library to look at photographs by great 19th century Western photographers. That was such an amazing treat to look first-hand at those images," Mr. Ottenstein said.

He favors B&W photos because, "by removing the color, you amplify the structure of a photograph. That, at the same tim,e forces one to think more clearly what this image is about," he said.

Mr. Ottenstein is working on a new book to photograph all 50 state Capitol buildings, and he's shot the one in Des Moines six times, while he's done the one much closer to home, in Hartford, just once. He has just two Capitols left -- Rhode Island and Maine.

"It's fair to say in many ways, I know Iowa better than I know Connecticut," he said.

To see some of his work, visit davidottenstein.com.
While Moline became the home of John Deere in 1848, Rock Island made its mark that year with the opening of a medical school, the first of its kind in western Illinois. However, it did not last long, and it employed the usual gruesome practices of the day.

The Rock Island Medical College opened its doors in fall 1848, and, during its brief tenure in the area, the college trained several dozen students for careers in medicine. The instability of the school, however, proved its downfall, and it never stayed in one place for long.

The charter for the school was obtained in Wisconsin, though the college operated in Illinois. The college consisted of eight faculty members, and 21 students graduated in its first year of operation.

For one faculty member, teaching at a medical school was no big deal. Calvin Goudy, who was appointed a professor in the colleges first year, lectured to some 80 chemistry students that winter, to considerable acclaim. Though he had earned a medical degree only four years before, another professor lauded his high reputation as a ripe scholar and accomplished physician.

While living in Jacksonville in 1837, Dr. Goudy and a brother began publishing The Common School Advocate, said to be the first journal created strictly for education in the Old Northwest, as the area was known. On Nov. 8, 1838, he was a passenger on the first steam train in the state of Illinois, taking a bumpy ride on the Northern Cross line near Meredosia in Morgan County.

After earning his medical degree in 1844, Dr. Goudy moved to Taylorville, where, according to one account, he survived a narrow escape from a pack of hungry wolves that pursued him at night across the prairie.

He was elected to the Illinois House in 1856 and helped spearhead a bill to establish a State Normal School, which was founded in 1857 and is now known as Illinois State University. Dr. Goudy later served for 16 years on the state board of education.

While faculty members like Dr. Goudy brought dignity to the Rock Island Medical College, a common practice of the time makes stomachs turn today. There was no legal way for medical schools to obtain corpses for study, so most resorted to grave robbing to fill the need. In many cases, the students themselves did the dirty work, as did those at the Rock Island school.

Decades later, one elderly area woman described the body snatching done by the school.

The students used to steal lots of bodies for dissection, she recalled. One time, the students robbed a grave and took the body to the old mill, and some (local) boys stole the body from the old mill and hid it in the old shoemakers shop, which was located in a cave along the Mississippi. Later, the local youths reburied the unfortunate soul somewhere in Moline.

Some medical colleges bought cadavers on the black market. In 1877, the body of John Scott Harrison, the son of President William Henry Harrison and father of President Benjamin Harrison, was swiped by grave robbers and sold to a medical school in Cincinnati.

This macabre practice was not a factor in the demise of the medical school in Rock Island. After only one year, it moved to Davenport, where it was renamed the College of Physicians and Surgeons of the Upper Mississippi. River.

Though its name was long, the school's stay in Davenport was short, as it moved again in 1850 to Keokuk, where it was affiliated for a time with the University of Iowa. The college also kept stealing bodies in Keokuk, resulting in several public scandals.
Today is Sunday, Oct. 15, the 288th day of 2017. There are 77 days left in the year.

1867 -- 150 years ago: Our principal streets and Market Square are crowded with teams loaded with grain and other farm products brought here for sale. The roads are excellent and business good.

1892 -- 125 years ago: Nellie Englin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Englin, received injuries when she was run down by a farmers team at the alley on 18th Street between 2nd and 3rd avenues.

1917 -- 100 years ago: Rock Island Elks in charge of raising of a tobacco fund for servicemen are J.A. Cahill, H.W. Tremann and W.L. Long.

1942 -- 75 years ago: Amelia Traenkenschuh, teacher at Rock Island High School, was one of the authors of "Cooperative Effort in School to Improve Reading."

1967 -- 50 years ago: The board of directors of the Rock Island Chamber of Commerce at its meeting last night authorized steps to prepare a 12 page color brochure on Rock Island and approved one new Chamber member. Planned are 10,000 copies of the brochure to highlight Rock Island, what it offers and its potential.

1992 -- 25 years ago: Residents along 7th Street in Moline are determined to keep the city from widening their street. At issue is an outdated sewer/water infrastructure the residents want replaced and a three-lane high-use street the city wants to widen by 7 feet. Illinois Department of Transportation figures show 11,000 drivers use 7th Street daily.
Lets all step back, take a deep breath, and consider the options.

I can understand the surge of activity on the left to impeach the president and remove him from office. The damage in the wake of his impassioned actions to eliminate All Things Obama ranges from the inconvenient to the catastrophic.

Those who value peace and our standing in the world have been shaken by his reckless dealings with other nations, especially his Im tougher than you are exchanges with North Koreas Kim Jong-un.

Only nine months into his first year, his own party is clearly divided over his stewardship of their agenda and appalled by the constant turmoil and turnover in the White House, although few are willing to talk about it in public

Is impeachment the solution? Would it make our government better or worse? Is it prudent or even possible?

After all, a president may not be removed unless convicted of Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors. There may be some wriggle room in that last category, but the process has to follow a formal procedure.

Currently there is a public argument among scholars as to whether crimes committed before one is sworn into office would be sufficient for impeachment. Needless to say, the thesis is strongly contested.

Whatever the circumstances, does Congress have the stomach for it? No matter how convincing a case one might make, the Republican Party would shred itself by voting to impeach Donald Trump.

Trump has a hold on a sizable segment of the population that is hard for many to understand. His television persona has given him near-mythic status that is completely at odds with the real person. He was telling the truth when he said, "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters.

But suppose something so compellingly criminal were proven, would removing him from office be good for the country?

Remember, he would be followed in office by Vice President Mike Pence, a man who would enable Congress to steamroll into law an agenda that a majority of Americans view as a disaster. Privatizing Social Security and Medicare, a priority of the far-right, would suddenly be possible; even inevitable, given the rubber-stamp approval of a compliant Supreme Court.

Trump has already delighted the countrys major polluters in appointing Scott Pruitt administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt is scuppering Obamas emissions standards rules by canceling the Clean Power Plan to cut emissions from coal-powered plants. Where he hasnt made active changes, he has simply reduced staff and budgets needed to enforce the rules that remain. And the 2015 Paris climate agreement is about to go.

In department after department, Trump has appointed people who are opposed to that agencys regulatory function, from Education to Interior to Energy, etc., corporate America now makes the rules.

Our president is giving fiscal conservatives what they want in regulatory changes, deriving his power from the alt-right, whose passions he feeds on twitter, while undercutting their real needs in jobs and health care.

The election of 2016 has put the country on edge, leaving our democratic republic teetering dangerously toward an oligarchy of great wealth, one more solidly entrenched than the Robber Barons of the late 19th century.

But not everyone is happy with the presidents choices. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, long an arm of the Republican Party, is trying to preserve some kind of orderly structure of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump wants to scrap it. And the ultra-rich will sweat until they get the tax cut they have paid for with campaign contributions.

With Trump as president, every day is an adventure, with some wins and some losses, depending on where you stand. With Pence, it would be almost all of the above, plus a full rollback of the New Deal and Great Society programs, which are an accepted part of life that no one anticipates losing.

So, what do you really think - or feel - about impeachment?
MOST IRJ interviews with senior railway managers are conducted in offices or at conferences, so it made a pleasant change to be able to interview the new CEO of MTR Express, Mr Mats Johannesson, during a journey on one of his trains from Gothenburg to Stockholm, even if it did mean a very early start to make the 06.00 departure.

The train was standing next to an SJ X2000 train highlighting the fact that MTR Express is operating in direct competition with Swedens national passenger operator SJ on the 455km Gothenburg - Stockholm corridor, which Johannesson described as SJs cash cow.

The current modal split on this important route between Swedens two largest cities is 50% road transport, 30% rail and 20% air. Despite concessioning of some regional services to independent operators and limited open access competition, SJ remains the dominant player in the Swedish main line passenger rail market with close to a 90% market share. Nevertheless MTR is keen to change this.

It took just 17 months from ordering a fleet of six 200km/h Flirt EMUs from Stadler, Switzerland, in November 2013 to the start of operation in March 2015. The contract was worth SKr 700m ($US 87.9m) and the trains are being leased through Credit Suisse. Norwegian State Railways (NSB) had ordered 50 trains from Stadler so we were able to add our trains on to that contract, Johannesson explains.

MTR had expected to be able to add its services to the SJ online booking system. We set up a project team with SJ to do this but then a new management team arrived at SJ and we were kicked out six months before the start of the service, says Mr Peter Viinapuu, CEO of MTR Nordic. This was a significant setback for MTR Express as people are familiar with the SJ website for booking rail travel in Sweden. Johannesson says Norway will not make the same mistake when it opens its passenger rail market to competition as the NSB train booking website will be separated from the national operator.

This forced us to develop our own website and app in a good way, says Johannesson. Indeed, the MTR Express website was voted the best in Sweden in 2016. MTR Express puts a lot of effort into marketing its brand and services. Its trains have clear messages on each side promoting the lowest fares, for example. Indeed, MTRs philosophy is to provide a high-quality, punctual service at lower fares than those offered by SJ.

We are trying to do something very different to get a good response from our customers, Johannesson says. Our biggest challenge is to make more people aware of the brand. We measure awareness weekly, and already 40% of people we ask mention MTR spontaneously. We are quite well-known among people in the 18-30 age bracket, but these people are quite price-sensitive. We want to get more people to buy higher-value tickets and we are trying to attract more business travellers.

First class

MTR Express offers first-class travel, and while seats are identical to those in standard class, passengers are provided with free drinks, a meal and a newspaper during the trip, as well as access to the MTR Express lounge at Stockholm Central station.

Johannesson admits that awareness of MTR Express among travellers decreases as age increases, so more work needs to be done to reach older people.

Johannesson says that MTR Express is more punctual than its rail and air competitors on the Stockholm - Gothenburg route. Our punctuality is 12-13% better than SJs, he says. Stadler maintains our trains, and we have never had to cancel a service because of a technical problem. Our availability is 99.5%. Punctuality is the main driver of customer satisfaction. Johannesson says this is currently at 90% on MTR Express while customer on-board experience is rated at 95%.

We have a very different company culture from SJ, Johannesson continues. Our staff is very customer-focussed. Our service attendants come from airlines, hotels and restaurants while some are first-timers.

MTR Express currently employs 120 operating personnel of whom 30 are drivers and 60 on-board service attendants. MTR has taken the initiative to start training drivers to address a national shortage of train drivers. A lot of drivers are retiring and there is a lack of training for new drivers, Johannesson explains. The first 30 trainees are now going through a 40-week course.

Another problem MTR Express faced when it started was that its first train of the day was allocated a path which it judged to be too early in the morning. This was subsequently changed through pressure from MTR Express. The track access path application process is not mature yet, Johannesson says, although it is quite fun to be the driver of this development.

Stepped-up

MTR Express currently operates 100 departures per week, with six trains in each direction on weekdays. This will be stepped up to 110 departures per week with the start of the 2018 timetable in December. MTR Express will also add a fourth intermediate stop at Alingsas and will cut journey times by 12 minutes following approval to operate at a maximum speed of 200km/h. Our journey times are 22-23 minutes longer than those of SJ because our trains do not tilt through curves, although our trains have better acceleration than X2000 so we can recover better from delays, Johannesson says.

Traffic has been increasing steadily from 276,000 journeys in 2015, to 568,000 last year and an estimated 739,000 this year. MTR Express annual revenue was around SKr 250m last year and it made a loss of SKr 90m which Johannesson says was according to budget. We have doubled annual revenue each year since we started, and we have an occupancy rate of around 65% which is quite OK, he says. 2017 will also end in red numbers, but we are heading and planning for black numbers in 2018.

As for the future, Johannesson says MTR Express needs to get into profit before taking the next step. MTRs philosophy is not to rush, but to build stability and profitability. But we are not here to operate just one route - we are sub-scale at the moment. But all the work we have done to build brand awareness we will get for free when we expand. We want to be the best train operator in the world.

Overseas expansion helps MTR achieve four-fold revenue growth in 10 years

MTR Corporation was set up in 1975 by the Hong Kong government as the Mass Transit Railway Corporation to construct and operate a metro network. MTR became a limited company in June 2000 after Hong Kongs special administrative region government sold 23% of its issued share capital to private investors in an initial public offering. MTR Corporation shares were listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in October 2000.

In 2007 the government decided to merge Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation with MTR to create a single railway in Hong Kong. The merged network comprises 10 lines as well as the Tuen Mun light rail network and the Airport Express line. MTR also operates a bus network in Hong Kong.

MTR has expanded into mainland China and now operates metro lines 4, 14 and 16 in Beijing, Longhua Line 4 in Shenzhen and Hangzhous metro Line 1.

In Britain, MTR runs TfL Rail in London in preparation for operating the entire Crossrail network as the Elizabeth Line in 2018, and has just taken over the South Western rail franchise in partnership with First Group.

In Australia, MTR is a 60% shareholder in the consortium which operates the Melbourne Metro commuter rail network. In September 2014 the Northwest Rapid Transit Consortium, of which MTR is a shareholder, was awarded the operation, trains and systems public-private partnership contract for the Sydney Metro Northwest project.

In Sweden, MTR holds concessions to operate the Stockholm metro and commuter rail networks and operates MTR Express.

MTR has a substantial property development and management business along with a station commercial business in Hong Kong. The company also provides consultancy services in cities in Asia, Australia and the Middle East.

MTRs expansion has seen a more than four-fold increase in annual revenue during the last 10 years from $HK 10.7bn ($US 1.37bn) in 2007 to $HK 45.2bn in 2016, while net profitability fluctuated during the same period, and dropped from $HK 15.8bn in 2014 to $HK 10.3bn last year. However, 2017 first half results show a substantial upturn with revenue up from $HK 21.3bn in the first of 2016 to $HK 30bn for the same period this year, while net profit jumped from $HK 5.2bn to $HK 7.5bn.
By PTI: By Aditi Khanna

London, Oct 15 (PTI) A boarding school in south-east England will allow boys to stay in the girls section if they identify themselves as transgender.

Gordons School in Woking, Surrey, will also allow boys to wear skirts and light make up and be known by gender- neutral pronouns such as "zie" if they question their gender identity.

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"Parents of pupils were surprised by how open-minded we have been. Most schools are having these issues,"Rob Pavis, the deputy head of the school,told The Sunday Times.

He said the school is drawing up guidance for pupils saying they can ask to wear the uniform of the opposite sex, be addressed by a different name and/or pronouns, use gender- neutral lavatories, grow their hair long if they are boys, change their accommodation and wear make-up and jewellery.

Several pupils have already explored their gender identity in the school, which has 10 boarding houses, five for boys and five for girls.

The school said it had acted because it had "become aware of students who would come out after leaving the school" and wanted pupils to feel safe to do so while still in their care.

The UKs Boarding Schools Association has issued guidance to schools saying that if a boy intends to change gender he should be offered the chance to sleep in the girls dormitory and vice-versa. PTI AK AMS

--- ENDS ---
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By PTI: (Eds: Updates with more quotes of Trump, background)

By Lalit K Jha

Washington, Oct 14 (PTI) Pakistan took "tremendous advantage" of the US over the years, but the two countries are now "starting to have a real" relationship, President Donald Trump has said, a day after Pakistani forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the Haqqani terror group.

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American citizen Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle along with their three children were rescued from the Haqqanis on Thursday after an operation by Pakistani forces based on intelligence from the US authorities.

The couple were kidnapped in 2012 in Afghanistan while on a backpacking trip. Their three children were born while the pair was in captivity.

Trump had slammed Pakistan for its continued support to terrorist groups and warned Islamabad of consequences if it continues to do so while announcing his Afghan and South Asia policy in August.

The president thanked Pakistani leaders for cooperating with the US on many fronts.

"Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts," Trump said in a tweet yesterday.

"Yesterday, things happened with Pakistan.

"I have openly said Pakistan took tremendous advantage of our country for many years, but were starting to have a real relationship with Pakistan, and theyre to respect us as a nation again, and so are other nations," Trump said.

"They are starting to respect the United States of America again," he said and thanked the leaders of Pakistan for "what theyve been doing".

He said that "in this administration, we will call evil by its name".

Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu said: "On this I agree" with Trump.

"Pakistan is a critical ally in fighting against terrorists," he said in a tweet.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis is scheduled to visit Pakistan soon, followed by a visit of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan.

The group is also blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people. PTI LKJ CPS AKJ CPS

--- ENDS ---
The strategic success of the surgical strikes has not matched their brilliant tactical achievement, says Shekhar Gupta.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com

Here are two sets of evidence as we assess the cost-benefit outcome of the surgical strikes last year.

The first of these is being presented by the military establishment at the say-so of the political leadership. It isn't being done through a conventional method like a press conference with a liveried general explaining the operation on a screen with a laser-pen and showing pictures or recoveries as evidence.

This is being done through the conventional news media.

The release of two significant books has been timed with the first anniversary of the strikes. Both are written by prominent defence reporters, well-connected in the military-political complex. Both sets of authors are trained in covering military affairs, so you'd rather take the works of both seriously.

Both assert that the strikes did take place. The primary evidence is first-person interviews with some of the young, unnamed special forces officers. These we should take at face value.

There are also impressive quotes from top generals and the political leadership, which should be seen in the larger perspective: Of the internal political intent of the strikes. This, let me state clearly, is a perfectly legitimate objective in a democracy.

Somewhat less convincing, even juvenile, has been the non-stop coverage of what we often describe as commando-comic channels.

There are 'interviews' with masked para-commando officers, red berets, shoulder badges, the winged-dagger, and the loop -- how angry we were over the Uri attack, how we planned the strikes, and how successfully we carried these out and returned unscathed!

Running on loop on the rest of the screen are hazy, typical pale infra-red green night-vision images of some military operation, so clumsily done that the camera covering good commando firing also catches the bad guy getting hit and neatly falling, like in Sunny Deol movies.

But even if these images are picked up from some juvenile commando videos, three facts do not change: One, that there is sufficient evidence that what is described as surgical strikes did take place.

Second, that the Indian special forces returned without serious casualties -- it is impossible to hide casualties, and India doesn't do it.

And third, nobody is claiming what these strikes achieved is beyond the satisfaction of a night of revenge.

There are two aspects of a military operation: Tactical and strategic.

Tactically, the surgical strikes were a success. While there aren't any specific claims of casualties and damage on the other side, it should be acknowledged that a very dangerous series of operations across the Line of Control were carried out with great professional panache and valour.

Because all of it worked to perfection, including the maintenance of secrecy before and after, so difficult in a cluttered theatre like Kashmir, we can declare it a success.

A larger, strategic objective of the strikes wasn't stated. Was it to just tell the Pakistanis that each time they do something like Uri, there will be a tit-for-tat?

Or, was it to deter them and their malevolent proxies from carrying out such attacks in future? The evidence of the past year tells us that none of the two has played out, definitely not the second.

My colleague Manu Pubby, who is among the finest defence reporter-writers in our country, has researched figures from official records, including Parliament questions, to show that rather than deter them into better behaviour, Pakistani mischief along the Line of Control increased in this year.

The number of ceasefire violations, for example, had reached 228 on July 11 this year. This is the exact equal of the number of violations in the whole of 2016.

But there is a big improvement in a different sector -- the International Border managed by the Border Security Force. The number here in the same period was just 23 against 221 in 2016.

But please note that this border is fundamentally different and distant from the LoC. Against a total of eight Indian soldiers killed along the LoC last year (not counting attacks like Uri deeper inside), the number, until 11 July this year, was four.

These numbers are from a reply given in the Lok Sabha by the minister of state for defence, Dr Subhash Bhamre. There have also been attempts at further Uri-type raids, but foiled by alertness.

In the Rajya Sabha, Dr Bhamre also gave some numbers on infiltration bids on the LoC foiled by the Army. As against 27 in 2016, the number had reached 16 by July 2017, so the average is being maintained.

The armed forces had more success as the number of infiltrators killed more than doubled (36 by July 2017 compared to 37 last year). This denotes success and improved LoC management. But the entire set of figures tells us that if deterrence was the objective of these audacious strikes, it hasn't been achieved yet.

It is in the nature of strategic sciences and military craft that radical new ideas do not emerge every other day, unlike a new software or app. There was a much-celebrated Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) over two decades ago, mainly linked to how warfare would change with new technologies.

Another came in 2005, with the publication of British General Rupert Smith's The Utility of Force (Knopf), hailed by some as a seminal treatise in the class of the work of Carl von Clausewitz, and by others as pop-military science.

Much debate in fact (six of some 10 most globally influential reviews I checked) was centred or began with his provocative first four-word sentence in the book: 'War no longer exists'.

It was a killer sentence. He said conventional, 'industrial scale' wars in which large bodies of men and machines clashed seeking one clear outcome were over. New wars, he said, would be between or with peoples.

It follows that these wars will be at lower intensity, and over scattered geographies and timelines. Large, heavy armies will not be able to bring these wars to conclusion and thereby not have the 'utility' to justify what nations continue investing in these.

It follows that such wars could be never-ending, as the Israelis have found even in their nearly stateless neighbourhood, or the Americans now in Afghanistan. In some cases, it gets further complicated when nations become involved with warring people, or, rather more specifically for India in Kashmir, when one nation (Pakistan) gets involved with people on both sides of the LoC.

This helps us understand why the strategic success of the surgical strikes has not matched their brilliant tactical achievement.

Terrorist lives lost do not bother Pakistan as they are an expendable and unlimited resource. To deter them militarily in this unconventional war, such strikes will need to be frequent and, necessarily, one-sided. Does such positive (military) asymmetry exist for India over Pakistan?

Two examples are popular in our country now: Israeli raids over Palestinian areas and American drone strikes over Af-Pak regions and now in the ISIS (Islamic State) zone.

Both work in an environment of total military asymmetry and air superiority. Without the latter, the most lethal -- and expensive -- drones will have their limitations as they can't survive a good air defence system.

An asymmetry can be aspired to, but India should ask if it is willing to increase its defence spending very considerably, maybe double it from the current sub-2 per cent of GDP.

Rajiv Gandhi had taken it to 3.38 per cent in 1987-88. He also gifted us the economic crisis of 1990-91. If this is the only way to counter this pestilence from the other side, India should take a deep breath and move with determination.

Are there more cost-effective ways? This is the debate India's strategic community needs to have, and not only ritually on the anniversaries of surgical strikes.

By Special Arrangement with ThePrint, and Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta.
The Allahabad high court has castigated the Central Bureau of Investigation for its theory on the murder of domestic help Hemraj in the Aarushi murder case, saying it is an 'impossible hypothesis' and 'patently absurd'.

In its 273-page verdict acquitting dentists Nupur and Rajesh Talwar in the murder of their daughter Aarushi and Hemraj, it also said the prosecution 'miserably failed' to prove that the Talwars had destroyed material evidence and added that the finding recorded to the contrary by the trial court could not be maintained.

Analysing the prosecution case, a division bench of justices B K Narayana and A K Mishra refused to agree with the submission of CBI lawyer Anurag Khanna that the conduct of the dentist couple on finding their only daughter murdered, as noticed by the witnesses, was another circumstance which indicated their complicity.

The court said it was unable to agree with the contention of the probe agency as 'different persons react differently in a given situation'.

Justices Narayana and Mishra made the observations last week while allowing the appeals of Nupur and Rajesh Talwar against a Ghaziabad CBI court verdict sentencing them life term for the murder of 14-year-old Aarushi and Hemraj.

'The prosecution theory that the appellants had hidden the dead body of Hemraj on the terrace of their flat is patently absurd and improbable...,' the court said.

It said this theory contemplated an 'impossible hypothesis' that the body was hidden by the Talwars on their terrace with the intention of disposing it of on getting a suitable opportunity.

The court said the theory was based on the hypothesis that the Noida Police would not be able to find the body on the terrace on May 16, 2008 when Aarushi was found dead in her room in the Talwar residence by her parents with her throat slit.

Hemraj's body was found the next day. The Central Bureau of Investigation had taken over the probe into the case from the Noida Police.

Coming down heavily on the prosecution, the court said on careful evaluation of the evidence of four police personnel, it transpired that the prosecution witnesses made material improvements in their evidence tendered during the trial.

Their testimonies during the trial were 'conspicuous by their absence in their previous statements recorded under Section 161 CrPC (by the police)', it said.

The witnesses were the Superintendent of Police, Mahesh Kumar Mishra, Inspector Data Ram Naunaria and Sub Inspector Bachchoo Singh, the judges said, adding that contrary to his previous statement, Mishra had stated in court that Rajesh Talwar was reluctant to identify the body of 45-year-old Hemraj.

Similar was the case with Naunaria and Bachchoo Singh, they said.

Justices Narayana and Mishra said the circumstances lent credence to another theory that the murder of Hemraj was committed on the terrace of the flat near a cooler.

They said as the prosecution failed to pick up fingerprints of the persons who had put the cooler panel on the body of Hemraj, the court did not consider it proper to presume that the panel was put on the body by the Talwars in the absence of cogent evidence.

"In fact, the CBI has miserably failed to lead any evidence which may even remotely suggest that Hemraj was murdered in the bedroom of Aarushi and then his dead body was wrapped in a bed sheet and dragged from Aarushi's bedroom up to the terrace," the judges said.

The court also said that the non-breaking of the terrace door lock was not on account of non-availability of the key of the terrace door but due to the negligent and callous approach of the Investigating Officer of the case, Data Ram Naunaria.

Moreover, the prosecution has failed to prove by any cogent evidence that the Talwar duo, despite being in possession of the key of the terrace door lock, had refused to make it available to the police, they said.

'The prosecution's allegation in this regard, therefore, is baseless and wholly irrelevant for fastening the appellants with the guilt,' the court said.
IMAGE: Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, centre, with State Cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and other party leaders showing his victory certificate as he celebrates after winning the Gurdaspur parliamentary bypoll, in Gurdaspur on Sunday. Photographs: PTI Photo



The Congress on Sunday wrested the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat from the Bharatiya Janata Party with its Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar trouncing saffron party candidate Swaran Salaria by a whopping margin of 1,93,219 votes in the high-stakes bypoll.

Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes, way ahead of the BJP candidate's 3,06,533, while the Aam Aadmi Party candidate Major General Suresh Khajuria (retd) finished a distant third, garnering a mere 23,579 votes. Khajuria lost his security deposit.

Jakhar maintained the lead in all nine assembly segments, right from start of the counting of votes at 8 am, in a contest that virtually turned out to be a direct fight between the Congress and the BJP.

Polling for the Gurdaspur seat, which had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MP Vinod Khanna in April this year, was held on October 11.

After the Congress's landslide win, it was early Diwali for party workers who distributed sweets. Celebratory scenes were witnessed at the party's offices at Chandigarh, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Amritsar apart from several places in Gurdaspur.

The bypoll was important as it was being seen as a barometer of the popularity of the six-month old Captain Amarinder Singh government in Punjab.

The chief minister hailed the victory as a 'total rejection of the anti-people policies' of the BJP and its ally Shiromani Akali Dal and claimed it underlined the 'political annihilation' of the AAP.

He said the Gurdaspur result had once again showed that the Congress was on the revival path across the country. The Congress had last won this seat in 2009 when Partap Singh Bajwa defeated BJP's actor-turned politician Vinod Khanna.

The actor's wife Kavita Khanna was among the front-runners for the BJP ticket, but the party chose businessman Salaria over her.

Vinod Khanna had won this seat in 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2014.

After defeating the BJP in its stronghold, the Congress was quick to claim that the win will set the tone for the 2019 general elections.

"With this victory, people have reaffirmed faith in the leadership of Amarinder Singh," said Jakhar who battled the 'outsider' tag in the bypoll. Jakhar, who hails from Abohar in Fazilka, had lost in the 2017 assembly polls.

"The BJP must read the writing on the wall now," Jakhar said after his emphatic win and added that the 'people have rejected the BJP and shown mirror to the Akalis'.

Congress communications incharge Randeep Singh Surjewla said the victory margin reflected the huge disappointment among the people towards the Modi government at the Centre.

IMAGE: Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes, way ahead of the BJP candidate's 3,06,533.



The United Progressive Alliance has won all the four Lok Sabha byelections in 2017: Amritsar, Srinagar, Malappuram and now Gurdaspur, Surjewala said.

"This proves the disenchantment of the masses with the jumlas of the prime minister and his all-talk-no-action approach. People of this country are ready for a change and these byelections are magnifying the rejection of the Modi brand of politics," Surjewala claimed.

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Pratap Singh Bajwa claimed that losing Gurdaspur by a huge margin was a great setback for the BJP ahead of state polls in neighbouring Himachal Pradesh.

The BJP-SAD combine and AAP alleged misuse of government machinery by the ruling party in Punjab.

"Congress misused government machinery, there is no doubt. Everyone knows that even sarpanches owing allegiance to BJP and SAD were warned that they will be dealt with strictly if the two allies got a lead in their respective areas in the bypoll. Civic body officials too were warned in the same manner," alleged BJP's Punjab unit secretary, Vineet Joshi.

BJP candidate Salaria also accused the state government of misusing official machinery to influence polls.

Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and party MP Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra also termed the Congress victory in the bypoll as a 'victory earned by the misuse of government machinery'.

AAP's state unit president and party MP Bhagwant Mann said his party accepted the people's mandate and will introspect into the reasons for the defeat.

Mann also charged the Congress of misusing government machinery. AAP candidate Khajuria also accused the Congress of using 'undemocratic means' in the bypoll.

Contrary to Congress's claim, Mann said that the outcome of Lok Sabha bypolls will not set the tone for 2019 general elections, while pointing out that in politics, equations keep changing from time to time.

IMAGE: Jakhar said the BJP must read the writing on the wall now. "People have rejected the BJP and also shown mirror to (their ally) the Akalis," he said.



Jakhar secured a lead of 6,801 votes in Sujanpur, 7,796 votes in Bhoa, 8,710 votes in Pathankot, 29,656 votes in Gurdaspur, 11,387 votes in Dina Nagar, 26,348 votes in Qadian, 26,255 votes in Batala, 32,296 votes in Fatehgarh Churian and 44,074 votes in Dera Baba Nanak.

A total 8,59,462 votes were polled in the bypoll and 7,587 voters opted for the None of the Above (NOTA) option.

The high-stakes Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll had recorded a 56 per cent voter turnout, lower than the 70.03 per cent recorded in the 2014 general elections.

The bypoll campaign had witnessed sharp attacks and counter-attacks by political parties.

For the Congress in Punjab, the bypoll victory comes after a stellar performance in the 2017 Punjab assembly elections, when it had stormed to power in the state in March this year winning 77 out of total 117 seats -- over poll promises like farm debt waiver and free smartphones.
In a blow to the Congress ahead of assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Rural Development minister Anil Sharma on Sunday quit the Virbhadra Singh government and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Sharma, son of former Union Communication Minister Sukh Ram, said, "I have quit the Himachal cabinet and joined the BJP today."

Sharma said he has been given a party ticket from Mandi. "I have been given BJP ticket from Mandi and the party has informed me about this, he said.

Himachal Pradesh is slated to go to polls on November 9 and the development comes as a blow for Virbhadra Singh who was declared the party's poll face last week.

Sharma alleged that he and his father were being sidelined and ignored in the Congress party.

He alleged that the All India Congress Committee general secretary had invited Sukh Ram to attend the rally of Rahul Gandhi in Mandi but when he reached the spot, he was asked not to attend the rally.

"Is Sukh Ram not a member of the Congress," he asked.

"I was not included in any of the committees for the assembly polls and when I asked about this from Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee president, he said that my name was deleted at the higher level which hurt me and I decided to quit," he said.

The Mandi seat was represented by Sukh Ram from 1962 till November 1984, when he was elected to Lok Sabha and his protege D D Thakur won the seat in 1985 while the BJP wrested the seat in 1990.

In the 1993 Assembly poll, his son Anil Sharma won from Mandi but after Sukh Ram's name surfaced in the Telecom scam, he was expelled from the Congress and formed Himachal Vikas Congress which entered into a post poll alliance with BJP and joined the government.

While Sukh Ram won from Mandi, Anil Sharma was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1998. In the 2003 assembly polls, Sukh Ram was the sole HVC member to win the election from Mandi but he joined the Congress ahead of the 2004 Lok Sabha polls.

Anil Sharma again won from Mandi in 2007 and 2012 as a Congress candidate and is set to contest as a BJP candidate this time.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday said construction of the proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya will commence soon and it will be ready to receive devotees by next Diwali.

Hurdles in the way of the proposed Ram temple are being removed, Swami said without elaborating.

"Construction of the temple is likely to begin sooner than later. This week we will be celebrating Diwali and by next Diwali the Ram temple is likely to be ready to receive devotees," he said addressing a seminar in Patna organised by the Bihar unit of Virat Hindustan Sangam, which he has floated.

The Rajya Sabha MP said for electoral success 'it is essential that the ideology of Hindutva is never lost sight of'.

Swami said VHS would make efforts for the construction of a grand temple dedicated to Lord Ram's consort Sita at Sitamarhi in north Bihar, believed to be her birthplace.

"It is impossible to think of Maryada Purushottam Sri Rama without his companion Jagat Janani Janaki".

Plans were also afoot by VHS to also set up a university there. The university will serve as a centre for Indian renaissance where ancient Indian learning will be promoted alongside imparting of contemporary vocational training, he said, adding the organisation also proposed to undertake similar projects at other places of historical importance in all districts across Bihar.
Manmohan Singh, reveals the former President, was keen that either P Chidambaram or Montek Singh Ahluwalia be the finance minister.

Archis Mohan reports.

Former President Pranab Mukherjee has said he was reluctant to join the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-I government in 2004, and had informed Congress President Sonia Gandhi about this.

Mukherjee has spoken about his political journey, especially the UPA years in the third volume of his autobiography, The Coalition Years: 1996 to 2012. The book was launched on Friday, October 13.

On his joining the UPA-I, Mukherjee writes: 'Some media commentators reported that I would not join the government because I could not work under Manmohan Singh, who had been my junior when I was the finance minister.'

At the launch on the book, Dr Singh had said Mukherjee had every reason to be aggrieved for not becoming the prime minister.

Among other revelations, Mukherjee writes that Sonia Gandhi wanted him to be the finance minister, but he told her that he would not like to given his ideological differences with Manmohan Singh.

He also told her that he would prefer the home portfolio over external affairs, and it was at the swearing-in that he got to know that he would be the defence minister.

According to Mukherjee, Dr Singh was keen that either P Chidambaram or Montek Singh Ahluwalia be the finance minister.

Sonia Gandhi wanted Mukherjee to hold dual responsibility -- a ministerial portfolio and Planning Commission deputy chairman. This was something he had been entrusted with in the P V Narasimha Rao government.

However, Mukherjee says Dr Singh wanted Ahluwalia, and finally his view prevailed.

According to the former Congress leader who had debuted in the Lok Sabha for the first time in his long political career in 2004, the Congress president insisted that he should join the government since he would be vital to its functioning.

On the UPA-II years, Mukherjee has said in an interview published subsequent to the book launch in the news magazine India Today that the downfall of that government was caused as much by the party's 'inflexibility' in those years such as its failure to manage coalition partners, particularly once he quit the government and shifted to Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mukherjee was the UPA government's preeminent crises manager.

He said it was difficult to handle West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and they had confrontations, and 'she (Banerjee) used to get very angry with me but nonetheless I could keep her in the coalition.'

Mukherjee shifted to Rashtrapati Bhavan in July 2012, he writes, and Banerjee quit the government in October.

The former finance minister has said the Congress thought its 200 seats were equal to 280 seats. 'So the flexibility of mind and flexibility to accept others' views was restricted.'

In his book, the former President also commented that another coalition partner, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar was also, by the middle of 2012, not satisfied on several issues.

But Mukherjee, in the interview, has said the Congress is bound to recover. 'You cannot simply erase a party with a history of over 132 years. It will recover,' he said.

On the slump in the gross domestic product, Mukherjee, who has had two stints as the country's finance minister, has said that his advice to the Prime Minister Narendra D Modi-led government would be a huge capitalisation of public sector banks, handle problems with resoluteness but without creating panic in the system by making too many changes too frequently, and provide stimulus in public spending in order to generate demand.

He has also written on the goods and services tax in his book: 'We must not forget the Constitutional challenge that awaits this game-changing reform. The legislation, in its present form, can be questioned by the Supreme Court as its affects the basic structure for tax imposition as envisaged in the Constitution.'

Mukherjee was shifted to the finance ministry in January 2009 after Chidambaram was made home minister in the wake of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.

At the finance ministry, the veteran Congress leader writes that Manmohan Singh did not agree with his views on modifying the financial structure, but was supportive of the initiative to set up the Financial Stability and Development Council, but the then Reserve Bank of India governor D Subbarao had some reservations.

Mukherjee writes he discussed the issue with Dr Singh. 'I pointed out that Subbarao, who was too much of a monetarist, had been thrust upon me.'

Dr Subbarao had been given a two year extension from September 2011.

'The much-publicised stand-off between the RBI and the government stemmed from the fact that (Subba) Rao had limited understanding of autonomy,' Mukherjee writes.

According to Mukherjee, Dr Subbarao maintained that his statutory appointment had authorised him legally to formulate the nation's monetary policy. 'However, in reality, the governor only enjoyed functional independence. Constitutionally, it was the finance minister alone who was accountable to the people.'

In his book, Mukherjee writes the Left parties had suggested his name for the post of President in 2007, but Sonia Gandhi had ruled his name out since she didn't have a substitute for him as Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha, and could not spare him from the Cabinet or from party matters either.

In 2012, Mukherjee met the Congress president on the evening of June 2. The Left parties and some others favoured that he be the Presidential candidate.

At the meeting, Sonia Gandhi asked Mukherjee if he could suggest a substitute, given the crucial role he played in the government's functioning.

Mukherjee replied he has always been a loyal party man and would discharge whatever responsibility is given to him.

'The meeting ended, and I returned with a vague impression that she might wish to consider Manmohan Singh as the UPA Presidential nominee. I thought that if she selected Singh for the Presidential office, she may choose me as the prime minister. I had heard a rumour that she had given this formulation serious thought while on a holiday,' he says.

Mukherjee recounts another incident that at least seemed to confirm to him in his mind that the Congress president might not want him to be President.

Mukherjee writes how he lost his cool in the Lok Sabha on an issue and Sonia Gandhi had passed him a glass of water to calm his nerves on the suggestion of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi.

'This is why you can't be President,' the Congress president had told him.

He has written Sharad Pawar was instrumental in influencing the Thackerays towards Mukherjee's candidature.

Mukherjee writes that he met Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray during his campaigning to gather support for his candidature despite Sonia Gandhi's disapproval.

Mukherjee felt that a man who had broken away from his traditional coalition partners, the BJP, to support his candidature should not feel humiliated.

Later, Mukherjee was told by a Congress leader that Sonia Gandhi and her adviser Ahmed Patel were upset that he met Thackeray.

The former President has also written how he had protested the arrest of Jayanendra Saraswati, the shankaracharya of Kanchi, on November 12, 2004 when the country was celebrating Diwali.

During the Cabinet meeting, Mukherjee criticised the timing of the arrest. He questioned whether the basic tenets of secularism of the Indian State were confined to only Hindu monks and seers.

'Would the state machinery dare to arrest a Muslim cleric during Eid festivities?' he asked.

M K Narayanan, then special advisor to the PM, also agreed with Mukherjee, who issued immediate instructions for the shankaracharya to be released on bail.

Mukherjee has written that in 1999, Pawar attacked Sonia Gandhi's foreign origins since after she became the party president she consulted P Shiv Shankar on all important issues rather than Pawar.

On the nuclear deal, Mukherjee writes that he tried to reason with the Left and sought the intervention of Jyoti Basu 'who was convinced about the merit of the nuclear deal.'

According to Mukherjee, Basu spoke to Prakash Karat (then the CPI-M chief) and suggested that there might be value in Karat meeting Mukherjee, which Karat did but continued to oppose the deal.

'His open defiance of Jyoti Basu and the Bengal lobby was quite surprising. I believe that Ramachandran Pillai and K Balakrishnan incited Karat to lead the Left agenda,' Mukherjee writes.

The Left withdrew its support to the UPA-I and voted against the government in Parliament.

IMAGES: TOP: Then prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Pranab Mukherjee after the latter's election as President, July 22, 2012. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

BOTTOM: Pranab Mukherjee with Dr Singh at the launch of the former President's book, The Coalition Years: 1996 to 2012 in New Delhi, October 13, 2017. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo
Despite the glittering victory, things are not looking good for UDF as the result shows descent in margin from 38,057 in 2016 general election to 23,310.

By P S Gopikrishnan Unnithan: In a major relief for the opposition in Kerala, UDF candidate, K N A Khader of Indian Union Muslim league (IUML) has won the by-election in Vengara constituency.

Khader outplayed his rival P P Basheer of CPI(M) with a margin of 23,310 votes.

While the veteran leader of IUML garnered 65227 votes, his CPI(M) counterpart managed 41,917 who was followed by SDPI's KC Naseer at 3rd spot with 8,658 votes.

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However, NDA slipped to 4th spot as BJP candidate K J Janachandran Master managed to get only 5728 votes.

Despite the glittering victory, things are not looking good for UDF as the result shows descent in margin from 38,057 in 2016 general election to 23,310.

The margin dropped by 14, 747 at a time when the total votes polled rose from 1,20,295 in 2016 to 1,22,623 this time.

BJP too served a huge setback as K J Janachandran lost their vote share as compared to 2016 general assembly election.

While P T Ali Haji managed to bag 7,055 votes for the saffron party in 2016, this time around the vote share dipped by 1,327 votes to 5,728.

The result is expected to create more ripples in the party as the result comes at a time when the national leadership is carrying out a full-fledged campaign against the ruling left front in Kerala.

CPM FOR THE SECOND SPOT

Though CPI(M) will have to settle for the second spot, they have more reasons to cheer than any other party. They have made significant inroads into the green bastion of IUML.

For the first time in the history of Vengara constituency, the runner-up has garnered more votes than the lead margin of the winner.

P P basher increased the vote share for the left party from 34,124 in 2016 to 41,917 this time, a spike of 7,793 votes.

Social Democratic Party of India bettered their performance from last time, as they stepped up from 4th of 3rd position with 8,648 votes.

The election results have already kicked off allegations and counter allegations between parties in the state.

While UDF claims that the result is a strong message to the poor performance of left government, CPI(M) highlights their increase in vote share in the green bastion.

BJP tries to defend their pathetic performance by charging Jihadi allegations against both LDF and UDF.

--- ENDS ---
The Indian high commission in London is making efforts to take the manuscript to India for display. Ashis Ray reports.

Photographs: Courtesy Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.

If diplomacy and persuasion succeed, there could be an historic homecoming, albeit temporarily, of the Bakhshali Manuscript -- the oldest recorded evidence of the origin of the zero symbol, an Indian invention.

A government source disclosed the Indian high commission in London is making efforts to take the manuscript to India for display. It remains to be seen if the Bodleian Library, owners of the priceless document, grants permission to ship such a precious item all the way to India.

Meanwhile, a folio from the manuscript was shown for the first time at a public exhibition as 'Illuminating India: 5,000 Years of Science and Innovation' opened at the Science Museum in London recently. The famous Bodleian Library is at Oxford University, which is Britain's most ancient seat of learning and one of the leading places of higher education in the world.

The Bakhshali Manuscript -- about 300-800 CE -- was unearthed in 1881 by a farmer near the village of Bakhshali, which after the partition of India in 1947 is a part of Pakistan.

The curator at the Science Museum said: "Researchers soon realised the manuscript was one of the most significant discoveries in the history of mathematics."

It is the earliest example of the numeral zero ever found. Although it tends to be taken for granted, without the concept of zero the entire system of mathematics -- and the technologies that depend upon it -- would not be possible.

Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum, described the Taj Mahal in India as 'the greatest unity of art and science ever created'. He added it was his ambition to exhibit an authentic replica of the monument at his renowned institution.

'Illuminating India' is a manifestation of the India-United Kingdom Year of Culture being celebrated in Britain to mark the 70th anniversary of Indian independence.

It portrays objects originating from the Indus Valley Civilisation in 3,000-2,500 BCE to a payload developed for launch this year by the Indian Space Research Organisation.

It depicts the renaissance of Indian mathematics and science during British rule, with the surfacing of Jagadish Bose, Satyendra Bose, S Ramanujan and C V Raman.

The exhibits are a mind-boggling tapestry of riches, which Indian diplomats have encouraged, but which the Indian government, other than underwriting the transportation of some items from India, has played no role in financing.

Indeed, the India-UK Year of Culture has been another glaring case of a disappointingly fulfilled commitment on the part of the Narendra Modi government.

The celebration was announced during Modi's visit to London in November 2015. But there was apparently no certainty about funding from New Delhi until Finance Minister Arun Jaitleys announcement in his Union Budget in February of this year.

Besides, the allocation eventually granted was reportedly one-third of the projected requirement, leaving the high commission and its cultural wing The Nehru Centre running from pillar to post to mount a respectable commemoration with help from British bodies and private sources.

Last but not the least, the actual conveyance of monies was delayed and the full transfer is said not to have taken place till date.

Some of the efforts have been commendable, such as Sukanya, an opera written by the late Ravi Shankar which is dedicated to his wife.

However, there's a hot debate about whether, overall, the 2017 India-UK Year of Culture has matched the 1982 Festival of India and if it has made the same impact on the British public.
University police tweeted on Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

By India Today Web Desk: Virginia State University in on lockdown after a shooting on campus.

University police tweeted on Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

A second tweet said police were still on the scene, the campus remains on lockdown and to continue to avoid the area.

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia school was celebrating the final day of it homecoming.

--- ENDS ---

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FALLS VILLAGE  The Sand Road Animal Hospital has turned to solar energy solutions to reduce their carbon footprint and avoid rising energy costs by switching to clean, renewable energy.

This project was started in October 2015, when Dr. David and Cindy Sandefer, the owners of Sand Road Animal Hospital LLC, decided to take the first steps in moving towards solar energy.

This project spoke to our core values which are, to protect and serve all animals by improving the world they live in not only today, but for many years to come, Dr. Sandefer said. This project started out in Phase I as a sweeping effort to replace light fixtures with LED lights and replace aging AC units to be more energy efficient. As we learned more we realized that we could have an even greater impact by considering generating our own solar power. This led to the second phase of the project, solar energy.

With the help of JK Energy Solutions, the installation of 275 solar panels was completed in early April 2017. Sand Road Animal Hospital is now able to supply 80 to 100 percent of their own energy needs through their installed panels. The panels are producing energy even on cloudy days, and the snow melts quickly off the panels in the winter, resulting in energy production year-round.

The panels at SRAH are estimated to generate close to 95,400 kWh per year. This is equivalent to 14.2 cars taken off the road for the year, 7.1 homes worth of energy use for a year, 7,544 gallons of gasoline avoided use for a year, and Carbon sequestered by 63.5 acres of forest per year. The solar panels will make quite a positive impact on the environment over their 30 year lifespan.

Sand Road worked with JK Energy Solutions, located in Thomaston. JK Energy Solutions also helped Sand Road secure funding for the solar project.

Dr. Sandefer said, We secured our funding thru the Connecticut Green Bank which has helped drive over $1 Billion worth of investment in Clean Energy in the state of Connecticut since its inception in 2011. It was awarded the Innovations in American Government Award by Harvard University in July of 2017. Harvard chose the Green Bank for being the first in the United States to offer a program of its kind with green financing innovation. Learn more at www.ctgreenbank.com.

When asked why Sand Road Animal Hospital decided to go solar, Dr. Sandefer said,We feel as owners and employees of the Sand Road Animal Hospital that we have a responsibility to protect and preserve our natural environment. We live in a landscape rich in natural beauty that can only be sustained if we take initiatives as a company to make a difference in our community for the benefit of all. We strive to be good stewards by making company decisions that benefit our employees, animals and clients. It is our mission to reduce our consumption of resources by making changes and investing in technologies that have a positive impact on both pets and people's lives. We align ourselves with other companies that share our values so together we can have an even greater impact on the planet.

To learn more about Sand Roads solar project and experience, please contact Cindy Sandefer by emailing clsandefer@sandroadanimals.com and include Solar Project in the subject line. To learn more about JK Energy Solutions, visit www.jkenergysolutions.net.

Story contributed by Sand Road Animal Hospital, Falls Village.
This fall, Alfred Angelo Bridal held a big sale at its warehouse in Deerfield Beach, Florida. The boutique wasn't courting brides-to-be however-individual gowns couldn't be purchased, though they were available in bulk. The top seller that day wasn't even a dress; it was the store's 2008 Ford Cargo Van, which went for $5,300.

This particular sale was a bankruptcy auction. Alfred Angelo, which once handled a well-respected corner of the U.S. wedding industry, filed for liquidation in July. Overnight, customers found their orders unfulfilled, leaving brides scrambling to find dresses in time for weddings that in some cases had to be called off.

The good news for Alfred Angelo was that it managed to raise about $250,000 to pay off creditors. The bad news was that its largest lender, a Connecticut asset management firm, had extended it $54 million.

Even before Alfred Angelo's sudden collapse, the bridal industry was in chaos. The old guard had been losing business to upstarts backed by Silicon Valley and legacy retailers seeking a chunk of a reliable market. David's Bridal, the longtime industry leader with a 25 percent market share, is writhing under a pile of debt. And it's not just about the dress: Signet Jewelers, owners of Jared, Kay, and Zales, is dealing with lackluster sales as bigger fish move into the engagement and wedding ring space.

Ratings firm Moody's shifted its outlook of David's from stable to negative in September. Raya Sokolyanska, an analyst at Moody's, said there's a new paradigm emerging in bridal retail. "The bride can buy a budget wedding gown online, or a white dress from any apparel brand instead of a traditional gown," she said. "That's increased competition for David's Bridal and other bridal retailers, especially at the lower end."

"The consumer," Sokolyanska said, "has more choices."

More choice may be good news for the soon-to-be-betrothed, but it's small solace for the little stores who for decades traded on a deep cultural fixation with wedding accoutrements. It also doesn't help that the overall pie is shrinking-marriage rates have fallen since the mid 1980s as more couples choose to live together before heading to the altar. The number of adults who never married has reached a record high of 20 percent, a cultural earthquake largely driven by millennials skipping the tradition entirely. In 1960, just 9 percent of adults aged 25 and older had never been married. This trend is expected to continue, with researchers forecasting just 5.8 marriages per 1,000 people in 2022, down from an estimated 6.4 marriages this year.

Even as wedding rates fall, a frenzy is underway to claim a foothold in the existing space. Gap has Weddington Way; Urban Outfitters has BHDLN. Nordstrom, Macy's, and Bloomingdale's are all taking a piece of the bridal business, selling everything from bridesmaid dresses to wedding bands.

Then there are the startups. Venture capital firms have pumped at least $490 million into the bridal industry in recent years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. There are new registry services such as Zola and Blueprint. Dress renters include Vow to be Chic and Brideside. All Seated handles seating charts while Paperless Post does invitations (with actual paper if you like). Diamond Foundry, backed by $100 million in venture funding, grows diamonds in a California laboratory for setting in engagement rings.

For some investors, their zeal paid off. When Gap acquired Weddington Way in December for an undisclosed sum, the bridesmaid dress startup, founded in 2011 by a former Bloomingdale's buyer, had already amassed $11.5 million in venture capital.

For decades, if you were getting married, chances are you bought everything for the wedding in the same way. You went to a one-stop shop with a few loved ones, and you'd get the personal experience of picking out a wedding gown, bridesmaid dresses, accessories, and shoes. The dress selection was unrivaled, and you could even score some bargain numbers for under $100.

David's Bridal was the ultimate provider of the bridal shoppe experience, and its ability to make money in a steady fashion didn't go unnoticed by would-be suitors. The first shop popped up in the 1950s as a single boutique in Florida, before founder David Reisberg sold it to an investor in 1972. The new owner expanded the boutique concept under the David's Bridal banner, opening both standalone outposts and shops within department stores. The chain slowly expanded until it was the biggest bridal seller in the country. In 1999, the chain went public. A year later, May Department Stores Co. acquired it for $436 million. Eventually David's was purchased by Leonard Green & Partners, a private equity firm. Then, in 2012, it was bought by another firm, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

But as David's Bridal bounced from one parent to the next, the 300-plus store chain began to accumulate debt. This included a $491 million senior secured term loan due in 2019 and $270 million in unsecured notes due in 2020. Its sales didn't kept pace. Earnings have declined 30 percent since their 2012 peak. The retailer currently has a revenue base of $738 million, according to Moody's-relatively small compared with general fashion retailers but imposing when placed next to wedding industry competitors.

Alfred Angelo had an estimated 3.1 percent market share while Kleinfeld Bridal, in New York City, has a 1.2 percent estimated market share, according to IBISWorld. When Moody's cut David's Bridal outlook, it cited a "heightened risk of a balance sheet restructuring" and an "untenable" capital structure. The world of bridal, it seems, had become ripe for disruption.

Almost any retail industry in the world of brick-and-mortar (or steel and concrete) is susceptible to attack by ecommerce. Bridal shops like David's have been pretty well insulated though, by dint of what they sell and how they sell it. Buying a wedding dress is traditionally an emotional, once-in-a-lifetime event. Not the sort of thing one does on Amazon.com. Many American brides will always want the full, in-person treatment, the industry reasons-in part since that's always been the case.

Department stores and fashion retailers with too much square footage saw an opportunity to convert extra space into their own version of this reliable moneymaker. So they jumped into bridal. And it worked.

Executives at Urban Outfitters, which also owns Anthropologie and Free People, regularly call out BHLDN (as in "beholden") for being one of its fastest-growing brands. The store sells both bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses, along with accessories, at its 16 locations and online. It plans to grow the label by opening more boutiques inside existing Anthropologie stores and expects annual revenue from just the bridal business to surpass $100 million over the next three to five years.

Ilana Stern, founder and general manager of Gap-owned Weddington Way, said she started her company because brides had so many issues coordinating shopping, especially for bridesmaid dresses. If all the bridesmaids are in one place, it's easy to go to a local boutique and get everyone their outfits. But if they're scattered far and wide, it's much harder. Under Gap, Weddington Way now has 10 physical boutiques tucked inside Banana Republic shops so shoppers can get style advice and dress fittings in person, even if they have to travel to the wedding.

Many other upstarts hope to win over brides, too. Dresses are a hot category, with such startups as Vow to be Chic, Union Station, Borrowing Magnolia, and Get the Gown offering designer dress rentals for brides or bridesmaids. Clothing rental pioneer Rent the Runway-much bigger than its specialized counterparts -has also gotten involved with its own online wedding shop, serving up styled looks for brides, bridesmaids, the mother of the bride, and guests.

With all this competition, there's at least a little good news for embattled bridal boutiques-not every new entrant to the arena succeeds. After a decade of trying to win a piece of the wedding business, J. Crew nixed its bridal line last year, and all signs of nuptials were removed from both its stores and website.

Representatives of David's Bridal and Signet didn't return calls seeking comment. As for Alfred Angelo, a bankruptcy lawyer representing the defunct boutique said she's trying to get customers their gowns.

"We have delivered dresses to 500 to 600 brides and bridal party members," the lawyer, Patricia Ann Redmond, said.
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One hundred and six.

Thats how many children and teens in Connecticut ended their lives from 2010 to 2016.

They ranged in age from 10 to 19.

Their deaths leave unsuspecting love ones puzzled with many questions and those who survive the attempts to end their lives admit they still face the same challenges.

John has tried three times since he was 11 to end his life. He tried at 12, again at 17 and a third time when he was 23. He said he still struggles with suicidal thoughts. John (the Register is not disclosing his real name to maintain his privacy) said he has dealt with depression since childhood and he still experiences feeling disconnected and out of touch with reality.

As someone who has attempted suicide, that doesnt go away, he said. Ill always have that piece of me. Im trying to work on being as optimistic as other people can be, but until I get out of my rain cloud, I dont know.

John, who is transgender, said he was the target of constant bullying and along with the deaths of his grandparents and the sexual assault he had experienced before he transitioned were among the factors that drove him to attempt to end his life.

But he said it was not something he could talk about at home and mental health was never taken seriously.

It was not an environment in which I could speak about my feelings, or how I was feeling toward other things, other people, John said. It just wasnt that kind of household.

He is not alone.

A study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that from 2010 to 2015, 1,878 teens 15 to 19 years old died or were hospitalized for suicidal behavior in Connecticut. More than two-thirds were young women, which experts from the Mayo Clinic say could be linked to higher rates of depression in women and the hormonal fluctuations they experience. United Way of Connecticut reports teen girls also constitute the majority of suicide and crisis interventions calls.

Hidden pain

Alexa Berman was in a crisis  but nobody knew.

A bright, talented young girl, her mother, Debbie Zegas Berman, said the Milford teen displayed all the signs of a typical teen: She said her daughter had the lead in the middle school play, was a teachers dream student, had the love of her family and the attention of a boy in her class.

But just as she was about to start high school, she ended her life.

She was just 14 years old.

Its not so important how she did it, Debbie Berman said. Its important that she did.

Nobody saw the damage that had been done until it was too late.

She was a perfectly happy girl, outgoing, incredibly bright, Berman said. You wouldnt look at her and think she didnt fit in.

But when Alexa was in eighth grade, she became the target of bullying by a group of girls, Berman said. They convinced Alexas best friend to stop talking to her and started excluding Alexa from their group. The girls would leave her sitting by herself in the lunchroom, Berman said. At school, they ignored her but would message her online about everything they were doing without her.

She didnt understand the cruelty, Berman said of the daughter she adopted from Russia when she was 3. This friend was so deep a connection, she couldnt heal.

Berman said doctors told her Alexa, who was quick to hug people  even strangers, suffered from attachment disorder.

At the time, Berman said she also didnt understand how these incidents affected her daughter.

Teen years

Too often, the issues teens struggle with are underestimated or arent taken seriously because of their age, said Amy Lupoli, program manager of specialized services at the Clifford Beers Clinic. A parent might tell their child to forget about it when they are teased at school or to walk it off when they fight with a friend.

They want to be heard and want people to listen, Lupoli said. Sometimes, they dont know how to be heard.

But these moments mean more in a teenagers life than an adult may realize, Lupoli said.

As adults, we kind of overlook the emotions that teenagers are feeling, which are so intensified, she said. Issues like fighting with a friend or breaking up with a girlfriend or a boyfriend are so much more impactful in these youths lives, but we sometimes brush it off because we kind of just see, as adults, that its not that big of a deal.

Dr. Jeffrey Deitz, associate professor of psychiatry at Quinnipiac University, said there is tremendous rewiring that happens in adolescent brains and this a time when people experience the most chaos emotionally. Thats why teenagers are so impacted by life events, he said. They are unstable and their emotions can flip one moment to the next.

The child who went to school this morning is not necessarily the same kid who came home, Deitz said. When you start taking away supports, you have someone who is emotionally collapsed. It starts to erode their confidence.

Schools play an especially important role in teens lives. Its where they spend most of their time and form many of their social connections.

But it also can be a place where teens feel lost and ignored.

Morgan High School Principal Keri Hagness tries to foster open communication so no student is left feeling alone.

Students need to have a voice in order to feel trusted, she said.

Talking about suicide is important in schools because its a place where teens can feel especially isolated. Hagness wants to give students an opportunity to have a connection with someone at school, whether its a teacher, a counselor or their peers.

Its on us to know what our students are feeling and what theyre saying to each other and taking that seriously, she said.

Getting teens to talk about suicide is taking place in high schools across the country  and Netflix may have opened the door with its series about teen suicide set in a fictitious high school in 13 Reasons Why.

It tells the story of a teenage girls suicide and depicts the trauma she experienced preceding her death. And a song about suicide  1-800-283-8255, named for the suicide prevention hotline  by the rapper Logic is soaring up Billboards Hot 100.

The graphic depiction of the characters death in 13 Reasons Why has made the series controversial because showing suicide can be a trigger for kids at risk and lead to suicide contagion, according to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline website.

The pain from losing a child to suicide never goes away. After 17 years, Debbie Morgia still carries the loss of her 18-year-old daughter Alicia with her.

Morgia said she didnt understand the signs of suicidal behavior.

We didnt know anything, she said. We never thought about it as happening to us.

Alicia had been sick with rheumatoid arthritis since she was in fourth grade, Morgia said. She had been a happy girl who loved to play the flute, but after her diagnosis, she changed and became bitter, Morgia said.

Alicia couldnt comprehend that she had what she thought of as an old persons disease.

The medication she took made her gain weight, she began to hate her body and became depressed, her mother said.

When she was 16, Alicia made her first attempt to take her life. Her mother admits she thought Alicia just wanted attention and put her in therapy.

Theres always those signs that you dont see until after understanding depression, Morgia said.

She tells others her story so people can start talking about the issue.

Im not going to lie about it, Morgia said. Im amazed at how many people are not comfortable talking about it, but I think a lot dont want anyone to know what their loved one did.

Berman said suicide is not the same as other losses, and some people react as if it is a shameful thing. But she continues to share her daughters story to help prevent more youth suicides through her website SheMattered.com.

Understanding

John said it does get better but its also a roller coaster, so its kind of cheap to say it gets better.

Its persistent, he said. But with the right tools, with learning to change your mindset, its possible to get better.

John said he isnt there yet. And when he hears of someone who took their life, he said his first thought is of the pain the person must have been going through and he empathizes instead of judging.

I dont advocate for people to do it, but I also understand, he said.

And understanding is what a person on the verge of suicide needs.

A young woman from a foster home who Lupoli treated at the Clifford Beers Clinic had no connection with her biological family. She had a history of trauma and had been hospitalized for self-harm and suicide attempts.

To get in touch with the trauma was just so painful, Lupoli said. To have to think about it and to have to live with it, she just felt like it was easier to die.

The girl didnt trust adults and when she entered a peer group for treatment, she expected confrontations, but the other members were just there to listen to her story.

And that was what she needed to help her begin to heal.

All she really wanted was somebody to sit with her while they listened to what she had to say with no judgment, Lupoli said. Our first instinct as adults is to quickly solve the problem or tell them the answer and they just sometimes want you to listen. And their peers do that the best.
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Its not often that Connecticuts top Republican has anything charitable to say about Richard Blumenthal, but hes calling on the state Democratic Party to follow the senators lead in cleansing itself of political cash he says is tainted by Harvey Weinstein.

The scandal-ridden Hollywood mogul has been a perennial top contributor to the Democratic National Committee, which subsidizes the state partys operating expenses to the tune of $7,500 a month.

With the growing number of rape and sexual harassment claims leveled against Weinstein, who owns a home in Westport and has given $300,000 overall to the DNC, state GOP Chairman J.R. Romano is criticizing that money trail.

While blaming Republicans for every social injustice across our state, they have taken tens of thousands of dollars from Hollywood sexual assailant Harvey Weinstein, funneled through $296,290 in political donations to the Democrat National Committee, Romano said Friday. Unless and until the Connecticut Democrats reject their endless supply of dirty money, their select moral outrage means nothing. It is time for them to put up or shut up about fairness, equality and common decency.

Several prominent Democrats have divested themselves of direct campaign contributions from Weinstein, who hosted a $35,800-a-plate fundraiser for Barack Obama in 2012 in Connecticut. Leigh Appleby, a state Democratic Party spokesman, said that was the appropriate response, but stopped there.

Weinsteins actions are sickening and inexcusable, but lets be very clear: only one party is serious about ending sexual assault in this country. Its not the Republicans, Appleby said in a statement.

Since the Weinstein bombshell dropped, Democrats have bristled at GOP barbs, mentioning Donald Trump and, now, the guilty plea of former Republican Party Treasurer Gary Schaffrick for child endangerment.

Schaffrick received a 10-year suspended sentence and five years of probation earlier this year after admitting to bathing in the nude with a young boy.

Look, we understand that J.R. is casting aspersions to catch up on fundraising to prove any value to statewide candidates, but hes not one to be taken seriously after keeping on payroll individuals who have been accused, charged, and ultimately pleaded guilty of inappropriate relations with a child, Appleby said.

Romano said Democrats have been trying to create a diversion.

Gary Schaffrick was someone that left our employment and this deflection isnt going to work, Romano said. They can bring up Gary Schaffrick all they want. At the end of the day, theyre still taking Weinsteins money and theyre not calling on their party heads to return it.

The state GOP boss also spurned comparisons between Weinstein and Trump, whose campaign was jolted last October by an Access Hollywood tape in which the future president was overheard bragging to show host Billy Bush about having his way with women as a celebrity.

Grab them by the p-y. You can do anything, Trump is heard saying.

These are not morally equivalent, Romano said. What Harvey Weinstein did is not morally equivalent. Over 20 women have claimed either rape or sexual assault, and remind them of that.

Blumenthal revealed last week that he would give $2,700 to the Connecticut Alliance to End Sexual Violence, matching the amount of a donation he accepted from Weinstein last year for his re-election campaign.

The senator told Hearst Connecticut Media last week that he was aghast to read about the pattern of alleged sexual harassment perpetrated by Weinstein on actresses and other women looking to get a toehold in the film industry. That was before multiple women accused Weinstein of rape and sexual assault.

U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the recipient of $1,000 from Weinstein in 1996, said she would give $1,000 the Domestic Violence Services of Greater New Haven.

In a CNN appearance Sunday on State of the Union with Jake Tapper, U.S. Sen Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said Democrats should probably give all the money they received from Weinstein back or to charity.

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By Ashish Pandey: In a major setback to YSR Congress, its senior leader MP Butta Renuka from Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh is all set to join the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Renuka is representing Kurnool Constituency of Andhra Pradesh in parliament by winning the prestigious seat by a huge margin. She is also the fourth richest MP with assets of over Rs 250 crore in 16th Loka Sabha.

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After the election Renuka's husband Butta Neelakantam, who is chairman and managing director of Butta Group, had joined the ruling Telugu Desam Party in the state, however, Renuka continued her support to opposition YSR Congress Party.

But recently she expressed displeasure over YSR party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's after the principal opposition party lost the Nandyal bypolls under Kurnool Loksabha consultancy.

Sources say that the stunning defeat forced Renuka to approach the ruling TDP in the state and after a meeting with party's general secretary Nara Lokesh who happens to be cabinet minister in state governments and son of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, she decided to join the yellow party in the state.

So far 21 YSR Congress party legislatures have joined the ruling party in the state in the last three years.

MANY MORE FOLLOW SUIT

Apart from MLAs, two Lok Sabha MPs SPY Reddy and Kottapalli Geeta and several senior leaders have already deserted the party with a 'fan' symbol preferring a ride on 'bicycle' symbol of TDP.

Sources say at least 10 more MLAs and 3 MPS are also in touch with the leadership of ruling party as they feel Party is not going to perform in next election though it has hired Prashant Kishore's (PK) Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) for strategising and ensuring win in 2019 election.

''The recent defeat in Nandyal by election which is believed to be the party stronghold has also creates panic among the leaders of YSR Congress,'' said a source who is aware about the development.

MASSIVE CAMPAIGN

The opposition party chief YS Jagan is scheduled to undertake a statewide massive six month long 3,000 KM 'Padayatra' starting from November 2 and sources say the fear of Party Leader deserting him has forced him to conduct one-on-one meetings with the leaders addressing and assuring them.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress has alleged that unable to face the people in wake of the growing anti-incumbency factor, TDP chief and Chief Minister Chandrababau Naidu desperately resorting to poaching of MLAs and MPs so that he can remain in power.

--- ENDS ---

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Friday is the deadline to nominate a company for consideration as the best place to work in the Richmond region.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch is searching to find the best places to work for its fifth annual Top Workplaces program.

But we need to know which area employers  private, public, government and nonprofit  should be considered for the recognition.

Nominations may be made at www.Richmond.com/Top-Workplaces or (804) 977-9367. Anyone can nominate a business, as long as the business has at least 35 employees.

The Times-Dispatch is partnering with WorkplaceDynamics, a Pennsylvania-based employee research firm that has conducted these types of surveys for dozens of newspapers, for the Top Workplaces program. The company surveyed 2.8 million employees at nearly 7,000 businesses in 2016.

WorkplaceDynamics will send a 24-question confidential survey this fall to employees of companies that agree to participate. The questions will be on numerous topics affecting their workplace life, from pay and benefits to training and work-life balance.

The Times-Dispatch and Richmond SHRM, a chapter of the national Society for Human Resource Management, will honor the Top Workplaces companies by presenting the Sterling Workplace Awards in May to shine a light on the top businesses in each size category.

The employers also will be recognized in a Top Workplaces special section.

Sixty companies were recognized this past May at the Sterling Workplace Awards ceremony.

At that program, the awards were based on company size: mega (1,000-plus employees); large (400-999); midsize (125 to 399); and small (124 or fewer).

Five companies were recognized in each of the mega and large categories, 20 businesses in the midsize category, and 30 firms in the small category.

The first-place winners for 2017 in their respective categories  and named the Sterling Workplace Award winner  were automotive retailer CarMax Inc.; wireless provider T-Mobile; financial planning software firm PIEtech; and medical eye care provider Commonwealth Eye Care Associates.
Online brokers are so keen to handle your money that most will set up a financial plan and review your portfolio at no charge.

They can also manage your investments, for a fee, or help with such things as estate plans and insurance.

Among the seven we surveyed  Ally Invest, ETrade Financial, Fidelity, Merrill Edge, Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade and Vanguard  Fidelity, Schwab and Vanguard take the lead.

Fidelity and Schwab offer an array of planning services and managed accounts.

At Fidelity, fees for separately managed accounts start at 1.20 percent annually but are reduced by credits for some of the costs in the portfolios fund holdings.

For clients with at least $25,000, Schwab offers tailored portfolios of ETFs, with an annual advisory fee of 0.28 percent (capped at $900 per quarter for high-value accounts).

Vanguard customers can get into a managed account with a $50,000 minimum investment. Annual fees are 0.30 percent. These accounts hold Vanguard ETFs and the Admiral share class of its mutual funds, which charge some of the lowest expense ratios in the industry.

ETrade, Merrill and TD offer managed portfolios, starting at 0.75 percent annually at TD, 0.85 percent at Merrill and 0.90 percent at ETrade.

All three firms provide plenty of choices, though, such as a supplemental income portfolio at TD and an aggressive-growth package at ETrade.

If you dont have much to invest, you could opt for a robo service. These portfolios of ETFs and mutual funds are automatically adjusted to maintain a fixed mix of stocks and bonds.

Investment minimums are as low as $2,500 at Ally but typically start at $5,000, with annual management fees of 0.30 percent at Ally, ETrade and TD. Fidelity charges a bit more, 0.35 percent to 0.40 percent, but its fees include underlying fund expenses. Vanguard does not offer a robo, but its Personal Advisor service is essentially the same thing.

Schwab offers a similar service, charging a management fee of 0.28 percent for a personalized portfolio of ETFs. Customers also can opt for Schwabs Intelligent Portfolios  baskets of ETFs that the firm selects and rebalances without charging a separate management fee.

The downside of these portfolios is that even the most aggressive ones hold 6.9 percent in cash. Maintaining that much cash can drag down returns in a strong market.

At the opposite end of the cost spectrum is Merrill, which charges a 0.45 percent management fee for its robo service. Merrill says the accounts are not just based on algorithms, however, and that customers have access to a human being whenever they need help.
ABINGDON  After spending months distancing his gubernatorial bid from President Donald Trump and federal politics in Washington, Republican Ed Gillespie embraced the president and his administration when campaigning with Vice President Mike Pence on Saturday.

Gillespie, who opposes Democratic Lt. Gov. Ralph Northam, thanked Trump and his administration for making strides on energy and tax reform and pledged, should he win in November, to work with the administration on numerous projects like building the Coalfields Expressway  a four-lane highway in Southwest Virginia  and improving Interstate 81.

Northam campaigned in Reston on Saturday with former Vice President Joe Biden and attended a protest at the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax.

At Gillespies event, coal was a common theme through the hour-and-a-half-long rally at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Like President Trump, Ed digs coal, Pence told the roughly 600 people in the audience.

Above all, Gillespie, a former Republican National Committee Chairman and aide to then-President George W. Bush, elicited the loudest cheers when he thanked Trump and Pence for repealing former President Barack Obamas Clean Power Plan  energy regulations that did not sit well with the coal-friendly crowd in Southwest Virginia.

On the campaign trail, Gillespie has pledged to reinstate coal tax credits, which Gov. Terry McAuliffe has vetoed three years in a row, citing the ineffectiveness of the tax credits offered to coal mine owners and coal-buying power companies. Northam has consistently supported clean energy policies like the Clean Power Plan and the Paris Climate Accord.

Shortly before the campaign rally kicked off, Trump tweeted support for Gillespie, which followed his initial endorsement this month.

The Democrats in the Southwest part of Virginia have been abandoned by their Party. Republican Ed Gillespie will never let you down! Trump tweeted.

Gillespie had downplayed Trumps endorsement, saying he was surprised that its news. He did not address Trumps most recent tweet during the rally. Pence doubled down on Trumps tweet, saying Gillespie and Trump share many goals. Both will uphold the Constitution, particularly the Second Amendment, drastically cut taxes and reform health care, he said.

Ed was right there standing shoulder to shoulder with me, campaigning with the Trump/Pence team all the way from Virginia, Pence said. Truth is, Ed Gillespies always been there. Thats why were here.

Throughout his campaign, Gillespie has been hesitant to comment on Trumps health care, immigration policies and more.

Northam has been largely critical of the Trump administration, even calling the president a narcissistic maniac.

Biden continued that theme in Reston on Saturday in his appearance alongside Northam during a roundtable discussion on workforce development.

The only hope for leadership we have is at the state level, Biden said. You have to win to ... give people hope we are not falling into this know-nothing pit.

Virginia is the only Southern state Trump lost in the 2016 election, and the presidents approval rating is below 40 percent in the commonwealth, according to recent polls.

Public polls have shown Northam is tied with Gillespie or has a slight lead.

Bristol resident Joe Hilliard showed up at the rally in a Make America Great Again hat. The 56-year-old Republican voted for Corey Stewart in the primary, but said he intends to vote for Gillespie on Nov. 7 because of the Republicans connections to Trump and Pence.

I think we need people who will work with Trump, not fight him, he said.

Before the rally, local Democrats held a protest in Abingdons quaint downtown. Backed by a towering, inflatable chicken with Trump-style hair, protesters waved signs reading, save our healthcare and Any friend of Trump is not a friend of Appalachia.

Pence said Trumps step-by-step actions on health care last week put the administration one step closer to scrapping Obamas signature health care achievement. Obama is scheduled to appear with Northam in Richmond on Thursday.

An estimated 800,000 Virginians could be without health insurance should the Affordable Care Act fail.

In addition to the meeting with Biden, Northam reiterated his calls for new gun restrictions while with a group of protesters outside the NRA headquarters.

Im a doctor, Northam, a pediatric neurologist, told a crowd of about 200 local gun control advocates. I appreciate it when someone says, Our thoughts and prayers are with you. But its time to take it a step further; we need to take action.

He spoke just as the NRA began airing television ads criticizing Northam.

Ralph Northam will not defend your gun rights, but Ed Gillespie will, says the narrator, noting that Northam has an F rating from the group while Gillespie earned an A.

The NRA plans to spend more than $750,000 on political advertising in the race between now and the Nov. 7 election.
Monday will be last chance to register to vote on Nov. 7

RICHMOND  The deadline to register to vote in next months election is quickly approaching: The Virginia Department of Elections says voters must be registered by Monday.

Any Virginian can check or update their registration information or register for the first time online. Registered voters can also preview their ballot or request an absentee ballot through the website.

You may also register at your local voter registration office. Opportunities are also available at DMV customer service centers and social service offices.

The election is Nov. 7. Voters will be choosing the next governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general. All 100 seats in the House of Delegates are also up for election. Democrats have a long-shot chance at taking back control of the chamber from Republicans.

Scientists say dead zones in Chesapeake up 10% over 16

GLOUCESTER POINT  Researchers say the total amount of oxygen-deprived dead zones in Chesapeake Bay this summer was the biggest since 2014.

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science also said last week that the total amount of dead zones this summer increased by 10 percent over last year.

The institute has used a three-dimensional forecast model since 2014 to gauge areas of oxygen depletion  or hypoxia  in which oxygen dissolved in water falls so low it no longer supports fish, crabs, oysters and other aquatic organisms. Pollution has been blamed.

Researchers estimated oxygen-depleted areas totaled 220 cubic miles this summer, roughly the same as in 2014. They estimated the dead zones totaled 199 cubic miles in 2016 and 181 cubic miles in 2015.

Lawmakers: Late payments jeopardize Veterans Choice

NEWPORT NEWS  The Virginia congressional delegation has sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin stating that the VA owes providers millions of dollars for veterans who sought treatment outside the VA system.

A letter the delegation sent on Oct. 3 urged Shulkin to develop a long-term solution aimed at ensuring that payments are made within 30 days of receiving an invoice, The Daily Press reported. The letter also points out that health care providers in Virginia are re-evaluating whether they can deliver services under Veterans Choice.

Veterans Choice allows former service members to seek care in the community if they have to wait too long for an appointment or live far from a VA facility. In August, President Donald Trump authorized $2.1 billion in additional funds for Veterans Choice.

Former Mason professor honored posthumously

FAIRFAX  George Mason University is honoring one of its former professors whose career stretched beyond academia into civil rights and journalism.

On Thursday, the school dedicated a plaza in the Johnson Center on its flagship Fairfax campus to Roger Wilkins, who died in March at age 85.

Wilkins won a Pulitzer Prize in 1973 along with Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein and cartoonist Herbert Block for coverage of the Watergate scandal. Wilkins was working as an editorial writer at the time.

He championed civil rights as an assistant attorney general in the Lyndon Johnson administration.

Wilkins served as a professor of history and American culture at Mason from 1986 until his retirement in 2007.
CHRISTIANSBURG  The long investigation into the finances of the now-defunct Friendship Baptist Church is looking into more than $140,000 in checks from the churchs bank account written to its former pastor. They total far more than his salary and other compensation, according to a search warrant filed last month in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Jonathan B. Thomas, who toured in a Christian rock band before becoming Friendship Baptists pastor in 2006, guided the church through a move from Radford to Riner and also led the church into increasing debt.

He resigned in January 2016 after bank officials began asking about checks cashed from the churchs account. Commonwealths Attorney Mary Pettitt said then that an anonymous letter, sent in March 2016 by a church member who questioned what happened to a $130,000 construction loan for a fellowship hall that was never built, had prompted her to ask the sheriffs office to investigate.

No charges have been filed in connection with the church finances.

Attempts to reach Thomas on Friday were unsuccessful.

The sheriffs office and Pettitt had no comments on the investigation Friday.

The only public insight about the investigation in the past year has come through occasional search warrants, offering glimpses of investigators review of church, bank and other records.

A search warrant filed last month by sheriffs office investigator Steve McMillan gives a figure for how much Thomas is said to have taken from church accounts during a period between August 2013 and December 2015.

Thomas salary, expenses, housing, insurance and vehicle allowance totaled $107,590, the warrant stated. But checks written to Thomas during this period totaled $253,517.19.

Thus the total overage amount for checks written to Jonathan Thomas during this time period is $145,927.19, the warrant said.

Investigators are seeking records from Appalachian Power Company to see if Thomas was paying the churchs power bill through his personal account, according to the warrant.

But McMillan already has been told by the churchs treasurer that Friendship Baptists account was delinquent by several thousand dollars as the church shut down in December 2015 and January 2016.

According to the warrant, Friendship Baptist Church trustees told investigators that they were concerned that Thomas was using the money for himself and not for the interest of Friendship Baptist Church.

The warrant described how Thomas would bring several blank checks at a time to church trustees to sign. When they asked Thomas what the checks were for, he would tell them utilities or something of the like, the warrant said.

The amount of money going to Thomas rose gradually until 2015, when it jumped sharply, the warrant said. By the end of 2015, Friendship Baptist Church was out of money and behind on its mortgage and bills, the warrant said.
A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind.
FREDERICKSBURG  Linda Upshaw was looking for bargains, not someone elses childhood memories.

But as she searched through an antique store in King George County, she spotted a book that made her look twice. It was Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, a widely beloved childrens novel about a family raising a filly born to a wild horse.

Upshaw always loved horses and had cared for those rescued from the racetrack at her home near Sneads Farm near Woodford in Caroline County. Also, Misty had been a favorite of her oldest child, Caroline Hughes, who had recently become a mother.

Upshaw thought the book would be a perfect addition to the growing library of Carolines daughter, Harper, who was born in May.

But there was another reason Upshaw couldnt leave Misty behind.

In the back of the book was a two-page inscription from a mother to her daughters, recounting their visit to Chincoteague Island for the annual penning of ponies. It was addressed to Kimmy and Cammy, dated July 1978 and filled with words of wisdom that touched Upshaw, a mother and new Grandmama, as much as the story itself.

The inscription read: All in all girls  always remember that our lives are lived, not in great sweeps of cosmic time, but in small, graspable, everyday moments. Love always, Mom

Those words would make many eyes misty in the days to come.

How familiar it felt

Caroline Hughes lives in Richmond and was spending a day with her mother in August. Upshaw had planned to present the book as a Christmas present, but just couldnt wait.

Over coffee at the kitchen table, Upshaw shared the story of the books discovery and how she paid $10 for it. Thats steep for a woman who follows her mothers mantra to never pay full price.

It made me tear up when I read it in the store, and I just couldnt leave it, Upshaw explained to her daughter, adding: I knew you were the type of person who would really appreciate the words in it.

Indeed, she did.

Hughes read the inscriptions account of the sisters, who tried to push each other off a picnic table as they stood on tippy toes to see the activity around them. It sounded like something she and her sister, Ann, would have done.

And the part about the father getting separated from the family  then discovered later, enjoying a tall Pepsi and a box of cookies, well, that could have been their father, Keith Upshaw, Hughes thought.

How familiar it felt, Hughes said about the episode. It could have just as easily been our family.

Like a Hallmark movie

Hughes agreed the book was too personal to leave in a store. But she wanted to take it another step and get it back into the hands of the original owners.

If this were my book, Id want it to be with my family, she said.

But almost 40 years had passed since the family had visited Chincoteague Island. At the bottom of the second page was a name tag that read: HELLO. My name is Cammy.

In a childs handwriting, the last name Robinson had been added in pencil.

Hughes wondered: Was it possible to find Cammy Robinson? Would she be interested in the book? Or did those kind of reunions happen only in Hallmark movies?

We were all crying

Hughes shared the Misty story on social media, and within 15 minutes, her friend and Facebook sleuth, Ryan Ellis, sent her a profile of a woman that looked to be the right age for Cammy Robinson.

Hughes sent Robinson a message, acknowledging this is kind of a long shot, and within minutes, the two were talking.

She called, crying and said, Thats my book, and before you know it, we were all crying, Hughes said.

Robinson, an attorney in Washington and Maryland, has no idea how the book ended up in King George County. She told Hughes about her mother, a psychologist who loved books and believed every good one deserved an equally good inscription. Her name was Dr. Jean Robinson, and she died May 2, 2016.

My mom was my best friend in the whole world, said Robinson, who lives in Northern Virginia with her three children. Its almost earth-shattering when you lose someone that close.

She says its miraculous that shes even still standing after the events of the last two years. Her mom suddenly got sick, Robinson got divorced after 15 years of marriage, and her older sister, Kimmy, developed dementia, and Robinson had to put her in a nursing home.

Afterward, she had gone through the private possessions of both women, sorting through items collected over the course of more than 40 years.

On the same day that Robinson heard from Hughes, she had come back from vacation to find that her mothers cat had gone missing. She and the kids put up posters and Facebook notices and were able to find the cat, seemingly out of nowhere, Robinson said.

Less than 10 minutes later, she got a message from a woman she had never met, saying she had found a book that may belong to her.

It was this unbelievable divine intervention that somebody would have gotten it in King George and been touched by it and then gone through all the trouble to locate me, Robinson said. I was not an overly religious person until my mom passed, but so many things have happened, I feel like theres something bigger out there.

Felt like karma

On her way home to Richmond the same day she learned about the book, Hughes had it shipped to Robinson. Hughes and her mother were thrilled to add another chapter to the story, one that helped a grieving daughter reconnect with a little piece of her mother.

It felt like karma, Hughes said. There are times in life when youre struggling and have a lot of challenges, and then little things happen, and they can be a ray of light.

Upshaw prefers to put it another way: My mom always said there are no coincidences in life, and I believe that, too.

The only part of the tale thats unfinished is that Harper Genevieve, whose middle name is the same as Upshaws late mother, doesnt have a book about Misty the Chincoteague pony among her collection.

Grandmama will take care of that at Christmas. And, shell be sure to write the perfect inscription.
Defiance permeated many reactions expressed by opponents of the Mountain Valley Pipeline after a federal commissions order approving the venture.

Protect Our Water, Heritage and Rights, or POWHR, issued a statement after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, in a split decision announced Friday, endorsed the 42-inch diameter buried pipeline, slated to transport natural gas extracted by hydraulic fracturing in the Appalachian Basin.

Hundreds of landowners, businesses, faith leaders and community organizations who have spent three years fighting the proposed fracked-gas Mountain Valley Pipeline are vowing to continue pressing federal, state and local officials to reject the project, the group said.

Opponents contend that a thorough analysis by Virginias Department of Environmental Quality of the pipelines impacts on water quality must yield recommendations to the State Water Control Board that it deny water quality certification for Mountain Valley.

This project is far from a done deal, said Roberta Bondurant of Roanoke County, a member of POWHR. With the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and other agency permitting still necessary, weve now begun a new phase of our challenge to protecting our waters, our farms and businesses and our future.

In separate decisions made public Friday, FERCs commission voted 2-1 to grant a certificate of public convenience and necessity to both the Mountain Valley Pipeline and the separate-but-similar Atlantic Coast Pipeline. Commissioner Cheryl LaFleurs dissent provided some encouragement and fodder for pipeline foes.

Commissioner LaFleurs unexpected dissent shows that even within FERC this pipeline is seen as harmful and unnecessary, said Greg Buppert, an attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, referring to the Atlantic Coast project.

The certificates propel both pipelines significantly closer to launching construction of the massive projects, which opponents say would cause lasting environmental damage, sink property values, threaten public safety and prolong the nations dependence on fossil fuels.

As proposed, the Mountain Valley Pipeline would be a 303-mile, $3.7 billion venture. It would begin in West Virginia and end at the Transco pipeline near Chatham.

The project has stirred fierce resistance along its route, which, in Virginia, would travel through the counties of Giles, Craig, Montgomery, Roanoke and Franklin en route to Pittsylvania County. But it has also garnered support.

On Saturday, pipeline proponents celebrated FERCs order approving the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Prosperity for each region is a priority for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, said Barry DuVal, chamber president and CEO. The FERC decision is an important step in the approval process in order to ensure the project is completed in an environmentally safe manner. Ultimately, the increased supply of clean natural gas will provide more economic opportunity for the entire region.

John DOrazio is president and CEO of RGC Resources, whose subsidiaries include RGC Midstream, a partner in the joint venture hoping to build the pipeline, and Roanoke Gas, a shipper of gas on the pipeline. DOrazio has said Roanoke Gas plans to tap the pipeline in Montgomery County and Franklin County.

We are pleased with FERCs decision to issue the certificate for MVP, he said. MVP will provide the capacity to meet the growing demand for natural gas in the Roanoke Valley and Southwest Virginia.

Natalie Cox, a Mountain Valley spokeswoman, said FERCs decision followed the agencys comprehensive review of the project.

Importantly, the MVP project teams looks forward to continued cooperation with federal, state and local agencies as we work toward satisfying all permitting requirements, Cox said.

Email alerts of the commissions certificate orders were distributed after 7 p.m. Friday. The timing surprised some observers more than the decisions. At least four anti-pipeline groups used the phrase rubber stamp when reacting cynically to FERCs orders.

Yet the commissions decisions werent a slam dunk. Commissioners Neil Chatterjee and Robert Powelson, both FERC newcomers nominated by President Trump, voted for approval.

In dissent, LaFleur, a Democrat who has been a commissioner since 2010, wrote, I cannot conclude that either of these projects as proposed is in the public interest.

She raised concerns about how FERC evaluates a projects needs and benefits, echoing observations made by former FERC Chairman Norman Bay. Bay had observed that private property advocates have alleged land is being taken by for-profit companies for projects that serve no public use. And he referenced the debate about which criteria FERC should examine to establish need, including considering whether agreements to reserve capacity on the pipeline are largely signed by affiliates.

For the Mountain Valley venture, all five shippers of natural gas are affiliates of companies building the project. LaFleur noted that the Atlantic Coast Pipeline provides specific evidence regarding the end use of the gas to be delivered on its pipeline but said there is less clarity about end users for the Mountain Valley gas.

She said Mountain Valley has agreements with two end users [Roanoke Gas and ConEd] for about 13 percent of the projects capacity and noted that the ultimate destination for the remaining gas...is unknown.

FERCs 141-page order granting the certificate to Mountain Valley dismissed concerns about agreements with affiliates. The order declared, We find that Mountain Valley has sufficiently demonstrated that there is market demand for its project and observed the fact that the project shippers are affiliated with Mountain Valley does not require the Commission to look behind the precedent agreements to evaluate project need.

LaFleur noted too that both pipelines appear to be receiving gas from the same location and delivering it to some markets in common. She said she is not convinced adequate analysis was completed of alternatives to two separate pipelines traveling separate routes from the Appalachian Basin to markets in the Southeast and mid-Atlantic.

Both the ACP and MVP cross hundreds of miles of karst terrain, thousands of waterbodies and many agricultural, residential and commercial areas, LaFleur observed. Furthermore, the projects traverse many important cultural, historic and natural resources, including the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

On Saturday, Ron Tipton, president and CEO of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, reacted to FERCs certification of the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

This poorly-planned pipeline will hurt the local economy, pollute central Virginias clean drinking water supply and scar the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Tipton said. Central Virginia does not need another pipeline to fulfill Americas energy needs, particularly one that violates local environmental laws and is strongly opposed by local elected officials and citizen groups.

Roanoke Countys board of supervisors, like boards in Giles, Craig and Montgomery counties, has opposed the Mountain Valley Pipeline. Richard Caywood, Roanoke Countys assistant county administrator, emailed a reaction from the county to FERCs certification.

Given the many unresolved issues and unanswered questions surrounding this project, we feel that FERC granting approval is premature, Caywood said. Over the coming days we will carefully review the 141-page FERC approval document in order to consider next steps. We will continue to work to minimize the impacts of this project on our citizens and to protect our irreplaceable water resources.

Carolyn Elefant, a former FERC lawyer who often represents plaintiffs fighting pipelines, said LaFleurs dissent highlights the problems with FERCs current practices.

However, because LaFleur did not go so far as to say that the practice of relying on precedent agreements [with affiliates] is unlawful, it may have a limited impact on challenging the merits of the approval, she said. That said, a dissent immediately gives opponents arguments substantial credibility and that is an enormous benefit before a court.

Elefant noted also that LaFleurs critiques could provide support for challenging the decisions via the National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA.

LaFleur criticized the rejection of alternatives like a single MVP/ACP pipeline because the [environmental impact statement] concluded that the single pipeline would not meet precedent customers needs, she said. Yet under NEPA an agency cannot so narrowly define the scope of a project as to foreclose consideration of alternatives.

Elefant is the attorney in a lawsuit filed by dozens of landowners and by Bold Alliance, a pipeline opposition group. The suit challenges FERCs authority to effectively grant private companies the power of eminent domain to take private properties. Carolyn Reilly, whose family farm in Franklin County is on the route of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, works with Bold Alliance.

Reilly said landowners will press on and persevere to defend and protect what is sacred.
A scenic and historic farm overlooking the James River in eastern Henrico County. A coveted swath of city-owned land at an interstate gateway into Richmond. A pocket of undeveloped land in the heart of the regional expressway system in Chesterfield County just beyond the city limits.

Those three properties are among 10 sites that Virginia will pitch next week to Amazon in the frenetic continental sweepstakes to land the second North American headquarters of the Seattle-based retail colossus, according to multiple sources involved in the state-coordinated effort in three metropolitan areas.

I think our chances are very good, said Hanover County Supervisor Angela Kelly-Wiecek, chairwoman of the board of directors at the Greater Richmond Partnership, which is coordinating the regional push.

Kelly-Wiecek did not confirm the three properties proposed in the Richmond area: Tree Hill Farm in Henrico, North Boulevard in Richmond and the former Galleria property in Chesterfield.

However, she said, We are going to put a very strong proposal together as a region and Im confident it will be well-received.

State officials also would not confirm potential sites that Virginia will offer to Amazon on Oct. 19, but praised the collaborative work of local governments in the three regions to determine the best prospects for what would be a blockbuster economic development project.

Virginia is not selecting the sites, Secretary of Commerce and Trade Todd Haymore said Tuesday as he prepared for a trade mission to Japan with Gov. Terry McAuliffe. Localities within the regions are coming together to select the sites.

Im going to commend the regions and localities for their willingness to work together as a region, Haymore said.

The Greater Richmond Partnership  the regional economic development arm of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Richmond  has worked with the state and its consultant, McKinsey & Co., to identify the best prospects for Amazon to consider.

In Hampton Roads, the regional economic development authority has put together a package of three potential sites: Town Center of Virginia Beach, Harbour View in Suffolk on the border with Portsmouth, and Fort Monroe in Hampton.

In Northern Virginia, local governments have been directly involved, rather than using a regional organization to lead the effort. They have identified four potential sites: the state-owned Center for Innovative Technology straddling the Fairfax and Loudoun county line, Potomac Yard along the Potomac River in Alexandria, and as well as two Arlington County properties in Roslyn and Crystal City.

Prospective sites in other localities also may emerge as independent bids to win the race launched by Amazon on Sept. 7 for a project with a potential payoff of more than $5 billion in capital investment, buildings covering than 8 million square feet, and creation of 50,000 jobs in the next 15 to 20 years.

The retail giant wants to create a second headquarters in North America on the scale of its home campus in Seattle, where it operates 33 buildings with a capital investment of $3.7 billion, employs more than 40,000 people and indirectly contributes an estimated $38 billion to the local economy on top of the direct payout of employee compensation and benefits.

Some of the companys stated preferences seem an unlikely fit outside of Northern Virginia, such as a location with access to mass transit and within a 45-minute drive to an international airport with direct daily flights to Seattle, New York and San Francisco.

But McAuliffe, who has worked closely with Amazon on its investments in data centers and other operations in Virginia, insists that the company wants Richmond and other regions of the state to compete for the project.

The Richmond region is working on a proposed package of three sites:

Tree Hill Farm, a 500-acre property along state Route 5 in eastern Henrico, near Interstate 295 and Pocahontas Parkway, that had been proposed for a mixed-used community before the recession hit;

North Boulevard, with more than 60 acres of city-owned land that includes The Diamond baseball stadium and direct access to Interstate 95 near its confluence with Interstate 64;

The 160-acre property formerly proposed for Galleria Mall snuggled between Powhite Parkway, Chippenham Parkway and Jahnke Road at Chesterfields border with South Richmond in what was historically known as Granite.

Although Hanover does not have a proposed site in the package, Kelly-Wiecek said there has been informal discussion of potential revenue-sharing among localities in the region if Amazon chose a site here.

Landing a facility like Amazon is transformational for the entire region, not just for the locality where it is physically located, she said.

We are working together, we are pooling our resources and we are making sure were always putting our best foot forward.
CHRISTIANSBURG  Helen Capobianco hasnt used her sewing machine for four years.

She said one day she just couldnt get the needle arm to lift up, making it useless. And thats how it stayed  until Saturday when she brought it to the first New River Valley Repair Cafe at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

There, about 40 volunteers staffed repair tables for computers, clothing, furniture, small appliances and knife and tool sharpening.

I want it fixed, so I can have it available for minor repairs to clothes, Capobianco said.

Tech senior mechanical engineering student George Waskowicz took the sewing machine apart and found the problem: a broken presser bar cam.

Its probably just a fatigue thing, Waskowicz told Capobianco. It got old and brittle from use, finally snapping in half.

They talked over the options and eventually decided Capobianco would order a new cam, and the repair staff would install it on another day.

The event, held from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., drew between 100 and 200 people, who brought in everything from fritzing computer monitors to torn Halloween costumes. The volunteers assessed the problems and scrounged parts  sometimes from the ReStore shelves, sometimes from nearby stores  to fix them.

The event fits right into Habitats mission, according to executive director Shelly Fortier.

Repairing stuff is what we do, she said.

Habitat volunteers often repair items donated to the store, which sells them to help fund construction of affordable housing. Habitat also provides space for the New River Valley Bike Kitchen, a nonprofit charity that fixes up bicycles for needy kids and adults.

The idea of both the ReStore and the Repair Cafe is to keep items out of landfills and reduce overall material consumption, Fortier said.

Repair cafes began in Amsterdam in the early 2000s. The movement has since spread to 32 countries and 18 U.S. states, according to figures from repaircafe.org.

Habitat and its partners held the New River Valleys first repair cafe during International Repair Cafe Week, which runs from Oct. 14-22.

To execute such large event, Habitat partnered with the New River Valley TimeBank and the Virginia Tech Myers-Lawson School of Construction.

TimeBank is a national movement that brings together people who want to trade their talents and labor. Volunteers offer services and bank those donated hours for trade with other volunteers. The NRV chapter was established last year. Areas of expertise offered through the network run the gamut from sewing and yard work to elder care and business services.

As the Repair Cafe event evolves, Dan Crowder of TimeBank said he hopes volunteers will be able to teach people how to fix their own items.

Im so glad youre doing this, Marjorie Modlin of Christiansburg said to Annie Pearce, as she dropped off a porch rocker with a less-than-safe seat.

There are no more places where you can get things repaired, Modlin said.

Pearce, a Tech building construction professor, organized the furniture repair station staffed by department faculty and students.

It drives me crazy when people throw things away that can be fixed, Pearce said.

Ten other Tech students educated homeowners on ways to reduce energy consumption and utility bills at a sustainability fair set up in the stores parking lot.

Pearce said the event gave students a chance to practice their classroom lessons.

They had to design a booth. They had to design outreach activities for adults and kids. They went out and got sponsors and donations, she said.

It was good practice for their careers, Pearce said. After all, planning, logistics and execution of complex projects is a major part of the construction industry they hope to join.

Other volunteers just wanted to share skills that had been passed on to them.

Four seamstresses, including TimeBank Coordinator Ellen Stewart and Blacksburg Sustainability Manage Carol Davis, sewed buttons on shirts, hemmed pants and stitched new life into little girl dresses.

Laura Drew of Blacksburg was one of three volunteers working at the knife and tool sharpening station. With whetstones, honing steels and a motorized bench grinder, they made blunt items useful again.

Mother taught me, Drew said of sharpening. She got me a little peanut [Case brand pocketknife], and I would sharpen that.

Crowder and Fortier said planning for the next event will get underway soon.
On Saturday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m., the Washington (D.C.) Toho Koto Society will provide a concert for the public at Celebration Hall in the Floyd Event Center at the EcoVillage. A reception will follow.

The celebrated ensemble plays classical stringed instruments of Japan, the koto and the shamisen. The performance is sponsored by Virginias Blue Ridge Music Festival (VBRMF), a nonprofit organization that promotes classical music and music education in the Blue Ridge, and is an affiliate of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra.

The Washington Toho Koto Society (www.kotosociety.org) has played for ambassadors, heads of state and an emperor. For 45 years it has led in the teaching and performance of classical Japanese music in the United States. It opens the annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival at the Tidal Basin.

The koto is an instrument a foot longer than a piano and 10 inches wide, and supports 13 strings in a hollow resonating chamber made of paulownia wood. The 17-string bass koto was introduced in 1921 and plays two to three octaves lower than the original one.

Traditional tuning for both versions uses the pentatonic scale  i.e., in five-tone intervals. But since the bridge for each of string is movable, tuning can be adjusted for the needs of each piece.

Both instruments were initially played only in the Imperial Court from the fifth century. By the 17th century music was written for royalty and for accompaniment with kabuki theater and bonraku puppet theater. In the traditional style, the performers also sang the parts of characters and narration while providing the instrumental background music. Vocal music will also be included in the ensembles performances.

The founder of the society, Kyoko Okamoto, will be leading the performances in Floyd. For 45 years she has taught beginning and advanced koto at the University of Maryland to students from across the United States and from around the world.

The Floyd EcoVillage is located at188 EcoVillage Trail SE. Tickets for the Oct. 21 program are $15 for adults and $5 for students (including college-age).

Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at the Virginias Blue Ridge Music Festival website, VBRMF.org.

 Submitted by Sara Dalton
October 12, 2017 Matthew Donald Zielke, 80, of Willis, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2017. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Shirley Zielke; and his parents, Albert and Jeanette Zielke. Matthew is survived by his children, Mark Zielke and wife, Kelly, Amy Zielke Huff and husband, Richard; grandchildren, Alexis and Victoria Zielke; and sister, Jeanette Millard. He was employed at the Chrysler Corporation in the Philadelphia, Pa. Zone Office for 43 years, a job which he took pride in and really enjoyed. The family will receive friends from 11 to 1 p.m. on Monday, October 16, 2017, at Our Savior Lutheran Church. The Funeral Service will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor Wanda Chiles officiating. Interment will be private at a later date. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.hornefuneralservice.com.
The military-style assault weapons used to take 58 lives in Las Vegas should not be in the hands of private armies at future rallies to save a Charlottesville statue.

Private militias that accompanied white supremacists to the base of the Robert E. Lee statue and then roamed downtown streets for several hours during violent clashes Aug. 12 should be barred from bringing back their guns and other weapons to the alt-rights promised return demonstrations.

Those are goals of a lawsuit joined by more than a dozen groups of citizens seeking to ban armed militias from public demonstrations. The neighborhood associations and businesses have joined a city lawsuit that seeks a court order prohibiting illegal paramilitary activity.

After hearing about the fear in our city and neighborhood, the Woolen Mills Neighborhood Associations board voted unanimously Oct. 9 to join similar groups across the city to seek a court injunction to bar private armies from joining future protests promised by white nationalists. City Council unanimously joined and filed the lawsuit Oct. 12.

We saw the firepower in Las Vegas. The same guns were here, Tomas Rahal, owner of Belmonts Mas Tapas restaurant, said at the Woolen Mills meeting after making an impassioned plea to join the lawsuit. One militia commander bragged that his group came armed with assault rifles that could put out 30 rounds in less than 3 seconds, the suit states.

The police told me face to face they dont want to be shot and killed by these people, Rahal said. For a little urban center of 48,000 people to have to deal with this, we are not equipped to deal with private armies coming in here. This would turn into Bosnia.

We are doing this on behalf of a broad cross-section of community members, and its not about politics, said lawyer Kyle McNew, who accompanied Rahal to explain the lawsuit to various neighborhood groups. Its just about taking this huge propensity for violence out of the equation, this private army thats unregulated, answerable to no one.

Georgetown Universitys Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection in Washington assembled an all-star legal team to help the city get an injunction banning private militia groups. No money damages are being sought in the bid for an injunction filed against rally organizer Jason Kessler and a long list of militia organizations and individuals.

University of Virginia History Professor Philip Zelikow provided some of the legal firepower to support the lawsuits chances of succeeding in Charlottesville Circuit Court.

Zelikow, who helped pioneer the case against private militias, said that armed paramilitary groups organized to intimidate people by shows of firepower, and not words, are banned by state law in Virginia.

He helped win a case against the Ku Klux Klan in 1982 when the Klan organized paramilitary groups to harass Vietnamese-American fishermen on the Texas Gulf coast. They wore Army-surplus-style clothes and gear. Working with the Southern Poverty Law Center, Zelikow represented the fishermen as they used a Texas law to ban military companies other than those authorized by the governor. Virginia has an even stronger law to shut down paramilitary activities by heavily armed men with assault weapons, Zelikow said. The state laws dating back to the 1800s passed in an era when people were more concerned about vigilantes, he said.

In 75 pages, the citys lawsuit spells out in lurid detail many instances of threats, violence and intimidation by planners of the Unite the Right rally around the Lee statue before, during and after the deadly violence on Aug. 12. The suit also reports many threats by participants to bring the private armies and many armed men back to Charlottesville repeatedly in coming months.

The suit outlines repeated threats and violent acts, including against counter-protesting clergy and women. They spoke of race war, killing black people and using vehicles to mow down counter-protesters.

The Alt-Right Defendants marched toward (Emancipation) Park in a show of military pageantry. They brought helmets, wore distinctive uniforms, wielded heavy shields, armed themselves with clubs, and carried flags and banners bearing the groups insignia. The lawsuit details how as clergy members sang and chanted about love, battle-ready alt-right groups roared in unison with such chants as F you, faggots!, Gas the kikes now!, Blood and soil!, Commie scumoff our streets!, White lives matter!, and Jews will not replace us!

After taunting the clergy, an organized phalanx slammed into them using shields, bats, and batons, wounding some clergy members, the suit states. The alt-right groups demonstrated willingness to rely on violence greatly unnerved the religious leaders. Defendant Jason Kessler, on the other hand, exalted the marchers aggression: Cornel West thought he could stop us. Nothing can stop us! Kessler said.

Lawyers representing the city and neighborhood groups and businesses detail how rally organizers used a private chat room to coordinate a massive show of force and planned for militaristic violence at the rally. Rally planners discussed orders that encouraged attendees to bring a weapon if they felt comfortable doing so.

In communications prior to Aug. 12, many participants welcomed the prospect of violence and prepared for militia groups to join them in a show of force. One posted a picture of a truck plowing through a large crowd: (adding) This will be us, the suit states.

That days fatal auto assault was a natural outgrowth of the Alt-Right Defendants militaristic mindset, the suit alleges. James A. Fields, Jr., who drove the car that killed Heather Heyer, in apparent imitation of an overseas terror tactic, attended Unite the Right within the ranks of Defendant Vanguard America, it states. He wore the groups uniform and carried a black shield emblazoned with Vanguards logo. Vanguard America is a white-supremacist organization that opposes the notion of a multicultural America.

Another militias leader later said he appreciated how hazardous the gathering had become, his men being fully armed with long guns, with sidearms, batons, knives and discussed the fear of people who had weapons such as loaded assault rifles and AR-15 semi-automatics pointed at individuals. Virginia law makes it a crime to hold a firearm . . . in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured.

The suit also states that militias threatened a black neighborhood in a tense confrontation and have pledged to return to Charlottesville as often as possible. Their goal is to provoke violence and then claim self-defense.

Its not something anybody in (the alt-right) can control, Rahal said. The mentality is: We dont go anywhere without our guns. Guns give us the ability to scare people and to them they equate that with free speech. They want to sort of create this sort of civil unrest and uncertainty.

Mary McCord, senior litigator with Georgetown Universitys Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, told City Council that military groups can only operate in Virginia under the government and the governor.

McCord, a former 20-year federal prosecutor who has a son who is a University of Virginia student, said Zelikow consulted with center attorneys and discussed a legal theory with solid court precedence under which the suit is being brought.

The most interesting thing about the lawsuit may be the specificity of the research that puts page after page of rally sponsors planning for violence on the court record and details the results such planning on the Aug. 12 mayhem in city streets.

Charlottesville does not want residents living in fear that hundreds of heavily armed men will return to accompany alt-right statue defenders using free speech to pretend they are not in the city to provoke and fight with, or kill, their political enemies. As one militia leader said, They werent there to protect the statue. They were there to fight. And it didnt take long.

You can read a copy of the lawsuit at http://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/centers-institutes/constitutional-advocacy-protection/upload/lawsuit-charlottesville.pdf.

Gibson is communications director and senior researcher at the University of Virginias Cooper Center for Public Service.




The world is not a global community but an arena where nations, non-governmental actors and businesses engage and compete for advantage. We bring to this forum unmatched military, political, economic, cultural and moral strength. Rather than deny this elemental nature of international affairs, we embrace it. [ This Kat is quoting from September 23rd issue of The Economist, since he does not have an on-line subscription to the Wall Street Journal. ]

This Kat has been fortunate to have his professional career track the Golden Age of IP. Whether or not that Golden Age is coming to an end one thing is certain: the Golden Age has gone hand in hand with internationalism. IP rights may be territorial, but IP, as part and parcel of internationalism and globalization, has seemed inexorable. At least, until now. Whatever ones politics, it cannot be denied that that the last few years have witnessed a sea change in the status of internationalism. The usual suspects begin with Brexit, America First and Catalonia, with an emphasis on national sovereignty at their collective core. The position was notably set out in aarticle published in May 2017 in the name H.R. McMaster , currently the U.S. National Security Advisor and Gary Cohn , the head of the U.S. National Economic Council, who wrote:To appreciate these words (a piece by Daniel Drezner incalled it the most extraordinary op-ed of 2017), we need to reach back a bit into history. Following the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, the various combatants to the bloody Thirty Years' War reached a series of agreements that had the effect of enshrining the notion of sovereign states, with non-interference as the norm and balance of power the means for insuring such co-existence, here. All of this worked reasonably well as sovereign states flourished and inter-state violence did not get terribly out of hand, even if the norm was that might makes right.However, the scope of the horror of World War I led a group of visionaries to contemplate the creation of international structures that would put a brake on the most destructive tendencies of sovereign states. The initial efforts were not overly successful, as World War II demonstrated, but the aftermath of that terrible war was to provide the basis for liberal institutional internationalism to take root, the broad contours of which are, at least for the moment, still in place today, here IP had been ahead of this game, with both the Paris and Berne Conventions already enacted before the end of the 19th century, creating an international framework within which the IP law of most sovereign countries could operate (with the US absence from the Berne Convention being a notable exception). But truth be told, all of this IP internationalism was a sideshow until the creation, enforcement and commercialization of IP rights became part of the expanding linkages in global trade that took off in the 1980s, culminating in the creation in 1995 of the WTO and, for IP, the enactment of TRIPS Agreement. It was the intertwining of the increasing globalization of trade with the transnational structures already in place for IP, all against the backdrop of post-World War II internationalism, which has defined IP practice as we have come to know it.But for how long? We witness this internationalism being challenged by a call for the return to the earlier form of national sovereignty (what Professors Oona Hathaway and Scott Shapiro call the Old World Order, here ), where internationalism (and by extension, economic globalization) and the values that they purport to have fostered will take a back seat, if not be wholly evicted, from the world political stage. And so the question: what will be the fate of IP? There are in principle two possible outcomes.First, IP will be unaffected. Internationalism was perhaps nice to have, but the creation of works and making of inventions will continue apace. The scope of supply chains may change, but invention and creation will continue, albeit perhaps more at the local level; IP activity is ultimately unrelated to whether nation states are more, or are less, integrated. As Arkady Volozh, the co-founder of Yandex, the Russian on-line giant, has observed : You can either go global in one service in which you feel good about, or you focus one market and do it really well. Whatever happens to IP practice going forward, it will not be due to a decline in internationalism (e.g., the challenge to the behemoths of social media will focus on data and privacy, not on classic IP).Or IP will be impacted, but what will be the vector remain to be seen. In principle, one can posit the impact as either positive or negative. It seems difficult to fathom how the contraction of internationalism will lead to more IP activity. That leaves the other alternative, namely a decline of IP activity, if for no other reason that the retreat of internationalism will bring with it more mercantilist tendencies together with an inward-looking national gaze and reduced potential for market scale. The nature and form of this contraction, and the implications for IP practice, remain open questions. Food for thought for those currently attending the AIPPA annual conclave, this year in Sydney, and those at similar gatherings.
The hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico has called attention to a series of unhappy facts. Namely:

Puerto Rico is poor.

Puerto Rico is losing employers.

Puerto Rico is losing population.

That was true before Hurricane Maria; its only going to get worse now.

Puerto Ricos population is already down 397,303 since 2000; some have predicted that as many as 1 million Puerto Ricans will move to the mainland over the next six months simply because the hurricane wrecked an already fragile economy.

If so, that would be a migration of historic proportions. The Dust Bowl of the 1930s prompted 3.5 million Americans to move west, but that was over an entire decade and involved people from nine states. A million people who relocate from a single territory in a short period of time would be unprecedented, and could remake the politics of wherever they move.

Even if that one million estimate  floated by the Miami-based Latin American commentator Fausta Rodrigez Wertz  is overstated, its clear that Puerto Ricans will leave their island simply because many already have. The Census Bureau says that more Puerto Ricans now live on the U.S. mainland than on the island. Three of the first disaster aid centers for Puerto Rico were set up in Florida  because thats where a lot of Puerto Ricans already live, and where a lot were headed in the storms aftermath.

Its worth re-stating something thats been true for a century now but which many Americans are just now discovering: Puerto Ricans are Americans. They need no special permission or paperwork to move. Puerto Rico may not be a state, but its just as much a part of the country as, say, Alaska and Hawaii were before statehood. The only substantive difference between Puerto Rico today and Alaska and Hawaii before statehood is that most of the islanders have Hispanic heritage. So?

Once people get past the immediate controversy over how quickly the federal government has responded, the real question going forward is what  if anything  will be done to rebuild Puerto Ricos economy?

That often comes down to two favorite words: Marshall Plan. As in this headline in Forbes magazine: Puerto Ricos calamity demands Marshall Plan-type recovery.

Forbes  not exactly a voice for government hand-outs  goes on to make this cold-eyed business case for federal intervention: If we dont take immediate steps to rebuild Puerto Rico, the exodus of young people seeking better opportunities will only intensify, exacerbating the islands woes for at least another generation. Investing in the economy now will create jobs that will persuade people to stay.

So what does this have to do with us, other than the fact that were Americans, too?

Its because Puerto Ricos economic situation is really no different than that of Appalachias. Puerto Rico is poorer and has a bigger out-migration, but those are differences only of degree.

Puerto Ricos median household income pre-hurricane was $18,626  significantly lower than that of the poorest state, Mississippi, which weighed in at $40,953. That would seem to put Puerto Rico in such a completely different category as to end any conversation about commonalities. However, lets look closer. When we do, we see the real similarities start to emerge. Virginias poorest locality is Buchanan County, in the coalfields. The median household income there is $29,626. Just across the state line is McDowell County, West Virginia, where the median household income is $24,921. Cross over into Kentucky and we find some counties that are even poorer. Bell County  which borders Virginias Lee County  has a median household income of $22,443.

Those are still higher than Puerto Rico, but not by much. Put another way, the Appalachian coalfields of Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia are basically a mainland version of Puerto Rico. They may not see themselves that way, but in economic terms  and population decline  they are exactly the same. They just dont have a hurricane that has ravaged them, only the decline of the coal industry.

Its not just the coal counties that resemble Puerto Rico, either. In Grayson County  far from any mine  the median household income is $29,942. That figure is a lot closer to Puertos Rico capital of San Juan than it is to Virginias urban crescent. The states wealthiest locality is Loudoun County where the median household income is $125,003. From the vantage point of Leesburg, much of Southwest Virginia probably does seem as different as Puerto Rico.

Its unclear whether any proposed Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico will be forthcoming, but the point here is not to resent the idea. Rather, its to make the case that Appalachia should be making common cause with Puerto Rico.

President Trump has been faulted by many for a slow-footed response to the worst storm to hit the island since 1928. That may be true when you measure the federal response to Puerto Rico in 2017 with how we responded to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010  a foreign disaster.

However, Trump has actually shown more concern for Puerto Rico than he has for Appalachia  a region that delivered record margins for him in last years election. Appalachias reward? Hes proposed to eliminate the federal agencies that have helped build economic development infrastructure in the region, starting with the Appalachian Regional Commission. Hes proposed to eliminate the federal program that maintains commercial air service to small airports in rural America  a service vital to businesses. Hes talked a lot about coal, but Appalachia is more than coal. Virginia has 33 localities officially listed as part of Appalachia; only six of those mine coal.

Technology entrepreneur Elon Musk says he can rebuild Puerto Ricos power grid with solar energy. Our power grid isnt broken but Appalachia could sure use the attention of the tech giants in other ways.

Never let a crisis go to waste, the saying goes. Puerto Rico right now has the publics attention, but doesnt have any political clout in Washington. Appalachia doesnt have the publics attention, but we do have representation in Washington. Yet both Puerto Rico and Appalachia have the same problems, and both are in need of the same solution  a Marshall Plan to build a new economy.

This seems a unique opportunity for two groups of fellow Americans to join forces. How shall we begin?
Consider what transpires between Washington and Havana because of injury to American and Canadian diplomats from mysterious sonic waves.

First, the U.S. stopped issuing visas to Cubans, not vice versa. That means Cubans on the islands cannot visit family in the USA. Harsh!

Second, the sonic attacks stopped. They were aimed at diplomats, not tourists. The latter infuse some $3 billion annually into the economy; the second source of foreign exchange.

Third, the FBI/CIA investigated the matter. This was the first time in over 50 years that the Cubans (knowingly) let them in. Even the Canadian Mounties flew down.

Fourth, the Canadians --strong allies of Cuba -- are also concerned that two of their diplomats were sonic victims but accepts that the Cubans did not target them.

Fifth, it is illogical that the Cubans would do this. What about the Russians, Iranians or North Koreans?

Sixth, Cuba needs tourism. U.S. tourists offset Venezuela's dwindling support.

Seventh, the Cubans deny doing this and have cooperated closely with our government since Obama negotiated embassy openings and a prisoner exchange.

Eighth, the sonic attacks were partially directed at hotels. Americans who stay at BnBs have nothing to fear. Staying in private homes also ensures Americans dont patronize hotels businesses with military ties.

Ninth, President Trump needs a foreign-policy victory; picking on Cuba does that.

Tenth, the Presidents appeal to a tiny base includes' little' Marco Rubio (Trump's term, not mine) supporters. Is this not preemptive 2020 GOP campaigning?

Eleventh, the U.S. Embassy has had a small Havana staff for 50 years. Nothing new here.

Twelfth, the U.S. Embassy remains open. The U.S. and Cuba have decades of diplomatic and international cooperation in repatriating rafters and drug running interdiction. Neither wants those to end.

Lastly, the Cold War ended. A big-stick approach may work with North Korea, but is heavy handed here. Cubas tourism can rebuild after Irma and develop a resilient economy.

Using fear to curtail travel will only hurt Cubans trying to make an honest buck.

JOSEPH L. SCARPACI

Executive Director

Center for Cuban Culture + Economy

BLACKSBURG
At least 240 people were killed and several hundreds seriously injured in a bomb attack blamed on militant group al-Shabaab in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

It is one of the deadliest terrorist attack in Somalia since the Islamist al-Shabab group launched its insurgency in 2007, according to reports

President Mohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the blast.

Rescue workers say that it would be difficult to reach a correct number of deaths as the intense heat from the blast could have burnt remains of many people.

Officials also confirmed that two people were killed in a second bomb attack in the Madina district of the city.

Mohamed Yusuf Hassan, the director of the Madina Hospital, said "Seventy-two wounded people were admitted to the hospital and 25 of them are in very serious condition. Others lost their hands and legs at the scene."

In a statement, the US Mission to Somalia said: "Such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Cindy Lange-Kubick Columnist Cindy Lange-Kubick has loved writing columns about life in her hometown since 1994. She had hoped to become a people person by now, nonetheless she would love to hear your tales of fascinating neighbors and interesting places. Follow Cindy Lange-Kubick Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

Jonathan Heil was in Utah heading west on foot, the end of his 4,500-mile, 3.5-mph journey in his sights.

And he was worried about water.

He was worried about carrying enough of it to keep him hydrated through the long, hot days in the desert, where the towns were few and very far between.

He was so worried that when he got to Provo, he checked out the online classifieds, and bought a stroller from a mom who no longer needed it  the perfect vehicle for pushing all of his gear and the many gallons of liquid hed need as he went.

She was actually bummed when she found out there wasnt going to be a baby in it, the 33-year-old Lincoln man said Friday, home at last from his trek across America.

But then she was pretty excited when she heard what I was doing.

Heil set off on his long walk March 19, leaving Lincoln on a bus bound for Delaware and his Cape Henlopen starting point.

A dip in the ocean at Point Reyes, California, on Oct. 1 was the exclamation point.

He feels good, he said. He feels cold.

I want to go back to California, he says, wearing a fleece jacket and a full beard.

Heil is staying with his mom while he plans his next move. He surprised her with his homecoming by pitching his tent in her backyard  so shed see it (and him) when she woke up in the morning.

The nylon shelter had been a Wheres Waldo when hed posted photos of his travels on Facebook for six months, Heil said, letting his followers know where hed set up camp for the night.

I first wrote about Heil two months ago, a 2002 Southeast graduate and Army guy whod left his job at Super Saver to embark on an epic adventure.

His life had gone south, he said then. Working long hours, heading home to his apartment to talk to the cats and party too much.

I quit all that cold turkey, he said in July. I basically said, This is stupid. Im not living.

He began walking as a form of meditation. To and from work and then farther, 5, 10, 15 miles a day.

He started dreaming about a longer walk. Buying clothes and boots and a tent, picking a route, giving his endeavor a name: The Discovering Why America is Great Tour.

He was on the outskirts of Pueblo, Colorado, when we talked this summer  having hiked in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, trekked along Missouris Katy Trail and marched across the Flint Hills of Kansas. Hed worn out three pairs of shoes and blown out his big toe. He talked as he hobbled toward Denver to crash with his brother for a few weeks.

He still walked 15 miles a day while he recuperated, Heil told me Friday, offering to share the one-minute video of his toenail removal. (Thanks, but no.)

His journey accelerated after he started wheeling his gear and he bumped his daily average up from 20 to 31 miles through Nevada and California, despite daily rain and heat.

I told my mom, now I know if I have a 100-pound baby, what kind of stroller to get. (Which is: a Baby Trend Expedition with upgraded tires.)

Nearly two weeks after the end of his grand adventure, Heil was still high on the accomplishment.

The goal was to get out there and explore and see what the United States was all about, to fully experience it, he said. I wouldnt change a thing.

Hed walked the Continental Divide. Dodged traffic on Highway 101. Stayed with cyclists in Missouri and Mormons in Utah.

His biggest takeaway  besides discovering a person could walk across an entire state without taking a shower  was trust.

In himself: It takes a little bit of getting over fear to change things up in your life.

And in us: Overall, my faith in humanity grew. I had to trust the people around me. I had to be vulnerable the whole time.

Since hes been back in Lincoln, hes visited the VAs job fair. He shared his story with a group of veterans.

Hes considering going back to school on the G.I. Bill.

Maybe something like a park ranger, he said. I would like to continue being a woodsy, mountain type guy.
Dear Editor,

But for the top shelf price tag of the two latest biographies of Samoan political figures, Prime Minister Tuilaepa S Malielegaoi and Taisi Olaf Nelson, I would by now, be the proud owner of copies of both.

But Im not so sure now, thanks to the views of Professor Fui Leapai Soo of our national university about Samoan history written by white men.

The occasion was the awarding of professorships (one professor and three associate professors)to four academic staff of our national university. And as reported in the Samoa Observer of Wednesday 11 October, Professor Soo saw the singular achievement as an opportunity for the national university to write our own books and prove that what has been written by white men were absolutely wrong Professor Lau Soo had singled out history for correction when he said, We grew up and read about Samoan history being written by white men.

The erstwhile professor did not say what history in particular is absolutely wrong, but presumably, he was referring to all history written by overseas writers and historians, which accounts for much of the more serious Samoan history thats been researched and written.

Which is a most unusual thing to say, given the caliber of people like J.W Davidson, R.P Gilson, Dr. Augustin Kramer, not to mention a host of missionaries, all scholars in their own right who also wrote about Samoa. The latter group in particular had been driven by a desire to record what they saw and experienced of Old Samoa before it was forever lost, from contact with the rest of the world.

In the process, they have left us a treasure trove of information and research work to further discover and add to and enjoy. I am no historian, but isnt the possibility of writing definitive history reached through the process of progressive approximation as suggested by Professor Davidson in his book on Samoas emergence as an independent nation Samoa mo Samoa?

In any case, there go my two copies of the latest bits of Samoan history written by white authors, one a woman and the other a man. All fake stuff to be debunked like the rest of white men and women written Samoan history, if the head of our highest institution of learning is to be taken seriously. But the subject of authenticity and history brings to mind what another white man turned writer of history said about writing history. His name was Sir Winston Churchill and he is reported to have said Let us leave it all to history; for Im going to write it or words to that effect. And write history he did in lengthy volumes with one of his works the History of the Second World War winning for him the Nobel Peace Prize.

Winston Churchill was no professor like our Vice Chancellor and his all-female award winners. In fact the only academic honour he acquired while at school was that of the class dunce, bottom of the class that is. For training as a writer and historian, he served as a war correspondent for the wars of empire the British fought in countries like Cuba, India, the Sudan and South Africa. But it is now history that Sir Winston not only became a part, a very big part of history in fact, but that he also wrote history as he said he would; in volumes.

The awarding of the four professorships at the National University this week was described by the head of the university as history in the making itself, with four females receiving the honour, after fourteen long years of the university going without anyone managing the feat. Congratulations are in order to our new academic luminaries.

May they write Samoan history if that is their itch, but not to prove anyone wrong, because there is nothing to prove. Do it because there is so much Samoan history yet to be researched and written about and enjoyed. And let there be no Don Quixote styled quest to fight foes that exist only in our heads and nowhere else. Not at taxpayers expense.

Historian Faaolioli
The Samoa Housing Corporation (S.H.C.) has donated $4,220.60 to the Samoa Cancer Society.

The donation is part of their contribution to Pinktober. The Chief Executive Officer, Matautia Rula Levi, said the money was collected through a number of activities that they had organized for the staff members and their customers.

We had a walkathon as well as a small box on our front desk for people to donate whatever, she said.

Matautia said they had a pink file where customers who applied for loan would make contributions to help with the initiative.

On Thursday as well, we had a small informal service where all our staff members get to share stories of their loved ones who had lost their life to cancer."

We had a poster on our wall where our staff members can put photos of their loved ones and the informal service was to honor our loved ones who had lost their fight, and those who are still fighting and those who defeated the killer disease, she said.

All the money collected from these events, she said, was donated to the Samoa Cancer Society as show of appreciation.

We want them to know that we are supporting them all the way and we are also wearing pink to support Pinktober, Matautia said.

But thats not all, the C.E.O. and the staff also gave a gift to Manamea Schwalger.

We have decided to present a gift to the strong Manamea Schwalger, its not much but its from our heart to help in anyway, said Matautia.

Vice president of the Samoa Cancer Society Board, Rev. Dr. Siaosi Salesulu, accepted the cheque with gratitude. He acknowledges the support from the Samoa Housing Corporation for going out of their way to support the society. He also acknowledges the support from the community and members of the public.
Senior electoral officials from Commonwealth Pacific Election Management Bodies (E.M.B's) are gathering in Samoa this week.

They are taking part in a workshop at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Hotel.

The workshop, part of the Commonwealth Election Professionals (C.E.P.) Initiative, will examine ways in which electoral democracy can be strengthened within the Commonwealth Pacific region, and for the regions E.M.B's to discuss some of the key challenges and opportunities in delivering credible, inclusive and transparent elections.

Starting tomorrow, the participants will discuss issues relating to institutional independence, womens participation, voter education, election observation, post-election assessment and technical support.

Secretary-General Patricia Scotland said: Democracy is one of the Commonwealths fundamental values. Electoral commissions play an essential role as the custodians of elections, protecting the inalienable rights of voters to participate in their national elections and deepening our democratic culture.

Samoas Electoral Commissioner, Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio said: As a member of the Steering Committee for the Commonwealth Electoral Network (C.E.N.), Samoa looks forward to hosting this regional event in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat. which will be an excellent forum to have an exchange of views with my fellow Pacific E.M.B. colleagues to explore opportunities to learn and help each other in strengthening our national electoral processes.

Also attending the event are seven Pacific E.M.B's who are not members of the Commonwealth but supported and funded by the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and Australia Electoral Administrators (P.I.A.N.Z.E.A.) Network.

The Commonwealth continues to work closely with P.I.A.N.Z.E.A. and other regional organisations to support elections in the Pacific.
Think a minuteIn the year 1830 Joe moved into a small community in Massachusetts, U.S.A. Even though Joe was a kind, honest and good citizen, from the day he moved to town he was rejected and ridiculed.

Wherever he went people laughed at him, and when they saw him walking their direction they would quickly cross to the other side of the street. Even the windows of his house were regularly broken by men throwing rocks in the night.

Joe continued to go his quiet way and ignore the insults. But one day as he was walking down Main Street he heard footsteps behind him. When he turned around to look, a group of men attacked him. Joe fought back, but they overpowered him and dragged him off to jail.

These men lied and told the authorities it was Joe who started the fight. But Joe refused to pay any penalty since he knew he had done nothing wrong, so they locked him in jail.

From his jail cell, Joe began to write letters to his family, telling them the truth of how the town was unfairly judging him. His son then sent the letters to a local newspaper, and soon newspapers across the nation were printing Joes story of persecution. The pressure from public opinion finally forced the town leaders to set Joe free.

Interestingly, years later Joe lived to see two U.S. presidents and men all over America do the exact same thing for which Joe had been wrongly judged and persecuted. For during that time in America, people believed that all respectable men were clean-shaven, and Joe Palmer had dared to wear a beard!

It is so true: You cannot judge a book by its cover. Unfortunately, some peoples beliefs go only skin deep. They just follow what others tell them is right and wrong, instead of thinking for themselves and looking deeper for what is really true and important in life. Joes town was a perfect example of the blind leading the blind. Fortunately, Joe knew better. He knew that the beard on his face was not the real person he was in his heart and character.

Dont let other people rent space in your head. Never let others rob you of your freedom to think for yourself, and choose what you believe is the true way to live. In fact, it is not just your right, it is your responsibility. We all are made in Gods likeness with a conscience and mind to think and a will to choose. So wont you take the time now to think through all the evidence of Jesus life, teaching, miracles, death and resurrection, and see that it clearly makes the best sense to live your Makers way. Just think a minute
Dear Editor

Re: Acting P.M. Tialavea on Blue Pacific

You are correct Leituala.

In 1998 the PM agreed to the break up of Customary land and its securitization with the Asian Development Bank.

The ADB said Samoans needed to borrow money to grow the economy.

They desired the transfer of Samoas customary land from the Aiga to Asian investors.

My land theft profit formula shows that at zero cost foreigners can loan corrupt politicians vast amounts of money all repaid by the citizens of a state through taxes, even as they are being robbed of their land rights.

The lure is infinite profit.

P = (A + NEA + EP) - / + UM x N (1, 2, 3)

P= Profit to Foreigners and Corrupt Elite

A = Assets (Land, Seas and natural resources)

NEA = Nurture and Enjoyment of the Assets

EP = Exponential Profit from Economic Activity

UM = Upfront Money loaned to Corrupt Elites to seize land

from the People and ongoing Blood Money to act as puppets for foreign interests, including loan monies and aid - initially a liability, then repaid by taxes on the people. (- / +)

N = Number of years from one to Infinity.

Aiga members lose all of their land, assets and resources.

They suffer as a result of this loss.

They suffer at the hands of those, who grow wealthy from the economic activity.

They pay ongoing tax to repay the loan and aid monies for which they received no benefit.

They wonder how they went from landowners to wage slaves and feel shame.

The traditional culture completely collapses, as they must work to eat all the days of their lives for sene.

Maua Faleauto
A pro-active approach and a co-operative response to solve a telecommunication problem has resulted in a positive relationship between the two Samoas.

Network interference originating from the telecommunication companies in American Samoa led Samoas Regulator Lefaoalii Unutoa Auelua Fonoti to pay a visit to the Territory.

This was confirmed in response to questions sent to the Regulator.

Yes I can confirm that I am here to discuss with the A.S. telecom companies a possible solution to an interference problem originating from American Samoa that is affecting our local network at the eastern part of Upolu (Aleipata Area), she said

The Regulator said the interference had affected the mobile broadband service of Bluesky Samoa and it was a possibility that it was affecting other providers as well.

American Samoas Regulator, which is the Federal Communications Commissioner, is based in America and according to Lefaoalii she had contacted them via email in May when they first detected the interference.

After waiting for six months with no response, I made a decision to come to American Samoa to discuss the issue with the two service providers in order to come up with solutions to rectify the problem, said Unutoa.

I was looking more at solving the issue the Samoan way of soalaupule and helping each other instead of going through other avenues given the different arrangements within the two countries.

Lefaoalii says the meeting has been fruitful discussions with Acting Country Manager of Bluesky AS Raj Deo and C.E.O. of American Samoa Telecommunications Authority, Puleleiite Liamatua Tufele.

And as a result of those meetings we agreed that we will all work together to eliminate the interference.

The agreement is based on coordination approaches where my technical team will work together with their technical teams to rectify the problem and because its a crucial issue, they agreed to my request to have the initial work start this weekend.

The Regulator commended the assistance provided by the two Chief Executive Officers for taking their time out from their busy schedules to meet and discuss the important issue.

And especially their willingness to work together with us on this matter despite us being under two different jurisdictions, said Lefaoalii.
All good things must come to an end. And so it was with the successful three-day Agriculture and Fisheries Show 2017 which concluded with a prize giving ceremony on Friday morning in front of the Government Building.

The prize giving was to award and recognize those who contributed towards the agriculture and fisheries show.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Lopaoo Natanielu Mua, acknowledged all the farmers who had contributed in this years show and congratulated the participants who were awarded.

We have come to the conclusion of a wonderful week of enhancing partnership to develop sustainable agriculture and fisheries and what a week it has been trying to produce the results we have set forth to achieve, said Lopaoo.

Beneath all this is the desire to improve the lives of our farmers, community, families, churches and nation.

As Samoans, we all grew up in an environment of hardworking people who say if you dont work, you dont eat, he said.

Food and money dont grow out of thin air; it is a result of hard work and determination.

Moreover, the Minister said in his speech, that he was confident agriculture was back in business.

I am most pleased to see agriculture and fisheries, stake holders and private sectors come out to display, showcase and sell their products and create display arrangements that attracted all kinds of buyers from all ages, the business community, families, farmers and aspiring farmers, he said.

With the increase of participants and commitments of the Ministrys staff, I am most confident that agriculture is back in business and once again becoming the backbone of the Samoan Government and soon to be the main contributor of social development and G.D.P. in the next few years.

I look forward to targets being achieved and especially in the private sector.

The Minister also acknowledged all those who had contributed to this years show.

I thank everyone who has contributed significantly in making this event a success through commitment to participate and be supportive, said Lopaoo.

Let us work together to achieve our goals for a positive business.

I am looking forward to doing more for the agriculture sector.

Keynote Address Official Opening of Agriculture & Fisheries Show




Matautia Rula Levi, the C.E.O. of Samoa Housing Corporation, has taken Pinktober into her own hands, scheduling a number of breast cancer awareness initiatives within her organisation.

Matautia is well aware of the challenges affecting cancer patients and their families, having herself been diagnosed and successfully treated for cancer earlier in the year, and having lost her own mother to cancer.

Throughout this week, Matautia is encouraging staff to share personal stories about family members affected by or lost to cancer.

Every day this week, staff gather for morning tea, donate money towards Pinktober, then share their personal stories and hang poster boards in their lunch room to celebrate and remember the lives of loved ones lost to cancer.

This initiative provides a safe environment for staff to share their experiences, learn from one another and increase their knowledge about cancer and the importance of early detection.

Under the leadership of Matautia, Samoa Housing Corporation is also organizing a walk-a-thon, with all proceeds to go to the Samoa Cancer Society, and a breakfast donation every morning this month.

The Samoa Cancer Society commends Matautia for this initiative.

It is a great example of how organizations in Samoa are embracing Pinktober and designing their own fund and awareness-raising events.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries through its Animal Production and Health Division (A.P.H.D.) has launched its Chicken Breeding Facility at the Ministrys Vaea location.

The $190,000 facility is equipped to assist in running the breeding programme, which the Ministry expects will contribute significantly to the development of a sustainable poultry industry for Samoa.

The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Lopaoo Natanielu Mua was on site to officiate the ceremony on behalf of the Government.

In his key note address he noted that the breeding facility is targeted to improve poultry farming standards. Secondly the Minister noted is to also boost production and distribution for the benefit of local farmers. And ultimately the mission is to improve livestock industry and food security efficiencies.

According to Lopaoo, another important component of the programme is aimed at developing new knowledge and experiences which are relevant to increasing quality national stock for production and consumption complemented by accomplishing national food security objectives.

He reiterated that the initiative will directly assist local farmers to recognize new possibilities as well as opportunities within cost effective assistance by M.A.F. in accordance with sustainable development.

The Minister in his remarks also touched on the long term objectives set out by his Ministry as a guideline for this project realizing that as they embark on this journey, they still have a long way to go in order for this programme to come to fruition. One of the long term objectives of this project is to ensure the achievement of a significant yet realistic programme that realises import substitution.

As you may know, Samoa is one of the largest chicken meat importers amongst the Pacific island countries, with annual imports and associated economic leakage costs, of about 10,000 tonnes of frozen chicken meat products and $20 million tala per annum, over the last 10 years.

It is also important to note that Samoa has less than 500,000 free range chickens at any one time. So we still have a long way to go in our ability to reduce chicken meat imports, however, this is a start.

The whole building together with its accessories were provided under the funding assistance from the World Bank through the Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project (S.A.C.E.P.).

S.A.C.E.P. continues to assist in the development of Agriculture to meet the national economic priority objectives of Samoas Development Strategy.
Think a minuteDuring the Korean War a South Korean civilian was arrested by the North Koreans and condemned to be executed. But when the young North Korean leader learned that the prisoner was not a soldier but the head of an orphanage caring for young children, he decided to let him live.

However, he ordered that the prisoners son be executed in his place. So the prisoners 19-year-old boy was shot and killed in front of his father.

After the war ended, the United Nations captured this young North Korean leader who had ordered such a terrible murder. He was put on trial for his war crimes and condemned to death. But before he was executed, the South Korean father whose innocent son had been brutally killed, asked for mercy for the man who had ordered his sons horrible murder.

The father said that the North Korean leader had been young when he ordered his son to be killed and had not fully understand what he was doing. Give him to me, said the father, and I will try to teach him a kinder, better way to live.

The United Nations granted this rare, amazing request of the father to take the murderer of his son into his own home and care for him. This fathers love completely changed the heart of that young, murderous North Korean leader into a kind and compassionate man.

The greatest force in the world is real, unconditional love that forgives and shows mercy even to our worst enemies. In fact, it is the only kind of love that has the power to change our human heart. A wise person said: The best way to defeat your enemy is to make him your friend. However, it is not natural for us humans to forgive like that, its supernatural. As the saying goes: To err is human, but to forgive is divine.

The only way we humans can fully and freely forgive our enemies is if God controls and rules our hearts. This is why that South Korean father, who was a true Christian and follower of Jesus, was able to forgive and love the North Korean leader who had murdered his son.

The power of forgiveness is almost irresistible. Almost! Because we can still refuse to ask and receive forgiveness. But then we pay the highest price for our pride and rejecting Gods forgiveness; because without it we cannot be freed from our guilt and live in a right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Our Creator has already paid the penalty for our wrong heart and sinful living with His own sinless life.

You need to sincerely ask Jesus to forgive you for your sins and living your own way. Then, He can start changing you from the inside out. He will even empower and free you to forgive others as He has forgiven you. Just think a minute
CITY COUNCILS

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad City Council will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in council chambers at 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive, when it will hear an update on the decommissioning of the San Onofre nuclear plant and consider a letter of support for H.R. 474, The Interim Consolidated Storage Act of 2017. The council will also consider a resolution denying authorization to Rouse Properties to file applications to develop part of the city-owned parking lot of The Shoppes at Carlsbad for residential use; and a resolution authorizing staff to request proposals for resources and/or services for its Homeless Response Plan. The city will consider the opportunity to provide a location for a microgrid demonstration site. A microgrid is a self-contained and managed energy system that serves a group of buildings and typically contains energy generation and storage. The California Energy Commission offers up to $5 million to an applicant who can demonstrate the effectiveness of a microgrid.

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DEL MAR

The Del Mar City Council will meet in special closed session at 2:30 p.m. Monday in City Council Chambers, 2010 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Suite 100, to discuss litigation and personnel. The council will meet at 4 p.m. in regular session to allow enough time to discuss agenda items, including an ordinance to regulate short term rentals, which will be discussed at 6 p.m. A proposal to establish policy on Complete Streets, a report on the recent KAABOO festival and discussion of a letter opposing any increase in oil or gas drilling off the California coast are also on the agenda.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas City Council will meet in closed session at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers, 505 S. Vulcan Ave., to discuss litigation and personnel. The council will meet in open session at 6 p.m. to discuss district maps as it prepares for by-district elections.

ESCONDIDO

The Escondido City Council will meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations and litigation at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers at 201 N. Broadway. In regular session at 4:30 p.m., the council will vote on whether to contract with Library Systems & Services LLC to operate the Escondido Public Library.

OCEANSIDE

The Oceanside City Council will meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations and litigation at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in City Council Chambers at 300 N. Coast Highway. In regular session at 5 p.m., the council will consider a resolution declaring a temporary shelter crisis from Nov. 1 through April 15, 2018, and suspending the zoning ordinance requirement to allow churches to shelter homeless persons without obtaining a conditional use permit. The council will also hear an update on its Organics Feasibility Study and consider a revised contract of $95,050 for HF&H Consultants for project management and analysis.

POWAY

The Poway City Council will meet in special session at 6 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive, to discuss property negotiations. In regular session at 7 p.m., the council will discuss proposed changes in sewer rates.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

CARLSBAD

The Carlsbad Unified School District board will meet in closed session to discuss personnel at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the district office, 6225 El Camino Real. In open session at 6 p.m., the board will discuss a proposal to approve the request by Carlsbad High School to rename the field at the stadium to Bob McAllister Field at Swede Krcmar Stadium.

ENCINITAS

The Encinitas Union School District is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the district office, 101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road.

FALLBROOK

The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session to discuss litigation at 5:45 p.m. Monday in Room 106 of the district office, 321 N. Iowa St. In regular session at 6 p.m., the board will approve revised board bylaws regarding Meetings and Notices, and Meeting Conduct.

RAMONA

The Ramona Unified School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Thursday at the district office, 720 Ninth St., and in open session at 7 p.m.

SAN MARCOS

The San Marcos Unified School District board will meet in closed session to discuss litigation at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Media Center of the North County Regional Education Center, 255 Pico Ave. In regular session at 6:30 p.m., the board will hold a public hearing on a petition to establish Pivot Charter School as a new charter school in the district. The district will also consider four possible new names for Alvin Dunn Elementary School: Sunset Park School, Rancho Los Altos School, La Mirada School and Rancho San Marcos School.

VISTA

The Vista Unified School District board is scheduled to meet in closed session at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Morris Vance Community Room, 200 Civic Center Drive, and in open session at 6 p.m.

OTHER

VALLECITOS WATER DISTRICT

The Vallecitos Water District will meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday at 201 Vallecitos de Oro, San Marcos. The board will discuss Senate Bill 555, which would require water suppliers to submit audits of water losses to the state Department of Water Resources.

laura.groch@sduniontribune.com
Theyre known as taphophiles  people with a passion for visiting graveyards  and now they have a new guidebook, 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, by Bay Area writer Loren Rhoads.

It has snippets of history, photos of eye-catching monuments, tips about what to look for on a tombstone  altogether a fascinating reminder of a time when more people understood that cemeteries are at least as much for the living as the dead.

Rhoads will be at Mysterious Galaxy on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

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Q: How did you get started visiting cemeteries?

A: It was entirely by accident. My husband and I were flying to Barcelona as the first Gulf War broke out and we missed a bunch of our connections and we ended up in London, where we had never planned to go. I was in one of the gift shops and I saw this book with all these beautiful cemetery photos. And since we didnt plan to be in London and we didnt have any guide books or anything like that, my husband said, Lets go take a look at that cemetery. And it turned out to be Highgate, which is just spectacular. It may be my favorite cemetery in the world.

Q: Did you see others on that trip?

A: We had planned on the second part of our trip to go to Paris. I had a friend whod been a student there and she said, You have to go to Pere Lachaise and see Jim Morrisons grave. So we had already kind of planned to do that. Between the two, Highgate is like over-the-top Victorian, with statues of angels and stuff like that. Pere Lachaise is full of famous people like Oscar Wilde.

So it was just one of those things where first I fell in love with them because they are beautiful. And then I got interested in them because of famous people. And its progressed to the point now where I think some of the most interesting graves are not famous people but everyday people. The stories you can learn from their graves are just fascinating to me.

Q: What kinds of things?

A: When you go to a cemetery, its pretty stark what people value. You see what connections they draw. You see what kind of people get the biggest graves, and which ones get the smallest. You see who has the most beautiful epitaph. You find that some objects put in cemeteries have changed meaning over time. You cant know everything about people in the past, but I find that dialogue between the living and the dead to be really interesting.

Q: What is the biggest public misconception about cemeteries?

A: People think going to the cemetery is weird. Thats a gross generalization, but its not common to go now. In the past, it was common. People stopped in cemeteries to take care of the graves of their loved ones. But a lot of us dont live where we grew up. We dont have the connection to the local graveyards.

So what were seeing these days is cemeteries doing programming to invite people in, whether its lectures or showing movies or theater performances. They are trying to connect with the community again.

The interest in genealogy has included a lot of people who have never been to a cemetery before. And once you go there, you cant  I guess you can, but its hard  you cant just find the grave you are looking for and then leave. Once youre there, you look around and you want to get a little of the context and some of the flavor and that gets you interested in the iconography and so on.

Q: What do cemeteries tell us that we might not otherwise know?

A: Its interesting to me to go to a cemetery and see if I recognize some of the names. Are some of the big streets in town named after people who are buried there? Why are they worthy of being commemorated that way?

You learn a lot from the groundskeepers, too. They show you things they think are interesting. How something was carved a particular way, for example. They tell you stories.

Q: What are some of your favorite cemeteries?

A: Thats hard. Picking 199 for the book was difficult because there were so many I had to leave out.

If were talking about Southern California, Im partial to Hollywood Forever. I visited it in the 1990s before it was sold and it was really in rough shape after the Northridge quake. There was a lot of damage. Monuments had toppled over. Things were broken. People were moving their loved ones elsewhere because the place was in such bad shape. Now its beautiful. Theyve done an amazing job with the restoration.

Q: You mentioned it was hard keeping the list to 199 cemeteries. How did you decide which ones to include?

A: I wanted to get something from every state in the U.S. and then as many countries around the world as I could. That meant in all of California, I could have only eight, which is the most of any state, but I had to leave out Gold Rush cemeteries. I had to leave our Forest Lawn. The same with New York City. There are a lot there that are really cool. I only have one (African Burial Ground National Monument).

I started with places I knew that I thought people would really want to know about. My daughter goes to an international school so I talked with parents there who are from other countries and asked them for recommendations. Then at the end I looked for places where I had gaps and tried to fill those.

Q: I couldnt help but notice there are no cemeteries from San Diego in the book.

A: Ive never been to San Diego. Im looking forward to seeing something when I go down there.

Q: If someone reading this wants to visit a cemetery, what do they need to keep in mind?

A: Behave yourself. You have to be respectful, not just of the monuments but of the other people who are there. They might not be tourists. They might be paying their respects to a loved one.

I try not to photograph mourners or anyone for that matter without their permission. I dont touch things or rearrange anything to make a better picture. If I see something thats broken, I let the groundskeepers or someone in the office know about it.

Q: With more and more people in America choosing cremation, what is the future of cemeteries?

A: One of my favorites in the book is one of the newest, Neptune Memorial Reef off Key Biscayne. Its owned by the Neptune Society, one of the largest providers of cremation in the U.S., which has partnered with an artist to take peoples ashes and sculpt them into cement figures that are put onto the ocean floor.

It kind of looks like the lost city of Atlantis, but its also becoming a man-made reef that attracts all kinds of fish and coral. Its not just a graveyard, its not just a wildlife refuge, its a combination of both. I love that idea.

Were also seeing so-called green cemeteries that are encouraging people to choose a tree or a boulder as a marker. So I think cemeteries are continuing, but theyre changing.

199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, by Loren Rhoads, Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers, 240 pages

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com; (619) 293-2236
The career death of Rear Adm. Brian Losey, the Navy SEAL leader being forced to retire after his promotion was blocked in the Senate, marks the most public punishment ever at the top rank of the elite SEALs, who are known for running below the radar with their combat missions and internal business.

Even more tension between Congress and the SEALs may be looming. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, said this week that he will oppose the nomination of Loseys replacement, Rear Adm. Tim Szymanski.

Hunter told The San Diego Union-Tribune that he has concerns about the incoming SEAL commanders past performance on contracting, training and acquisitions. He didnt elaborate on the alleged problems.

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Szymanski couldnt be reached for comment Friday.

Losey, who leads the Coronado-based Naval Special Warfare Command, was nominated for a second star in 2011. Then the Pentagons inspector general spent multiple years investigating him on complaints of retaliation when he was serving in Europe -- and eventually found wrongdoing. But Navy leaders disagreed with that conclusion and were set to give Losey his long-delayed promotion before the Senate intervened.

Some observers said Navy Secretary Ray Mabus championed Losey because the SEAL leader didnt raise a public fuss  unlike the Marine Corps commandant  when the Obama administration pushed U.S. military leaders to begin the process of opening all combat jobs to women.

Others discounted that theory, saying the inspector generals findings  that Losey tried to punish whistleblowers under his command  were enough to sour Loseys record with the senators who blocked his promotion during the past four months.

Still others said Losey touched off a feud with wealthy civilian backers of the SEAL-Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation, a Carlsbad-based charity devoted to helping SEAL families, when he cut the groups access to active-duty troops. Some of those civilians had the ear of Congress and let loose with complaints about Losey, according to a former board member of the foundation who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.

It was unique because [lawmakers] dont usually see that kind of vitriol coming back from constituents, the past board member said, referring to what are usually run-of-the-mill congressional confirmations of military promotions.

Losey, whose resume includes commanding the famed SEAL Team 6, is known as a respected operator with a reputed photographic memory. He declined to be interviewed for this story.

In the community of retired SEALs, some view him as the best of his generation of SEAL officers, who earned their commissions in the mid-1980s and were already in middle-management positions when the post-9/11 wars began.

Brian Losey is without question one of the finest officers Ive ever worked with. Ive known Brian for 30 years. Ive seen him in every possible leadership position, said retired four-star admiral Bill McRaven, the SEAL who led the U.S. Special Operations Command from 2011-14.

Its hard to see him go out with this cloud over his head, said McRaven, now chancellor of the University of Texas system.

Bob Schoultz, a retired Navy SEAL captain in San Diego, said The whole community is disappointed because Brians passion, his experience and his record wont be able to go on and serve our country.

McRaven, like several others interviewed for this story, cited politics as the reason for Loseys downfall. He said the whiff of reprisal against whistleblowers proved damning.

Meanwhile, a top defense official suggested that the Senates ire was aimed more at the Navy secretary. Mabus, as the longest-serving top Navy civilian leader since World War I, is unpopular in certain corners for actions ranging from advocating combat gender integration to supporting openly gay service members to making controversial decisions about ship programs.

Theres a well-known rift between Mabus and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a leading voice in Congress on defense issues and a frequent critic of Navy policies. McCain co-wrote a letter to Navy brass in January urging them to not promote Losey.

McCains office didnt respond to a request for comment.

Some former SEAL officers who know Losey said his biggest management failure was that he let his temper run wild as he attained top leadership positions. Others point out that the SEAL culture is rough-and-tumble by tradition and by nature, reflecting an environment where people are assigned to do lethal work.

But despite his prestigious wartime record, Losey is being forced into a rare, inglorious exit for a high-ranking SEAL. He is the first Naval Special Warfare commander since at least 9/11 to not achieve a second star, according to people in the elite community.

In recent history, SEAL officers have gone on to become military luminaries.

Adm. Eric Olson ascended from the SEAL headquarters in Coronado to lead the U.S. Special Operations Command, the entity overseeing all of Americas elite military units. McRaven, who also held top jobs in Coronado, followed Olson to lead the special operations command.

For years, Loseys career looked like it would follow a similar path. Then came his troubles with subordinates.

The chain of events started in June 2011 in Germany, where Losey was assigned to lead the special-operations component responsible for Africa.

Official accounts show the timing was crucial because turmoil in Libya and elsewhere meant the commands once-relaxed atmosphere  some have called it the wine-and-cheese circuit  was about to change. In fact, Losey had to testify before congressional committees about his decisions during the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, where insurgents waged an offensive against a CIA base and the U.S. consulate building there. Four Americans died in that incident, including three with ties to San Diego County.

Three employees  one military, two civilian  filed whistleblower complaints against Losey starting in 2011 for allegedly seeking to punish them. Losey had removed his chief of staff and two other staff members after anonymous complaints were filed with the Pentagons inspector general about a suspect travel violation.

The inspector general found the original accusations to be unsubstantiated, but Pentagon investigators determined that Losey sought reprisals against people he thought had filed the complaints. In an internal memo obtained by the Union-Tribune, Losey has insisted that he dismissed those employees because of poor performance at a time when he was trying to boost the Africa commands tempo.

The Senate approved the nomination to give Losey a second star in December 2011, but the promotion was delayed pending the outcome of the Pentagon investigations.

After the Pentagon inspector generals findings last fall, the vice chief of naval operations decided that Losey was acting within reason. The Navy did issue Losey a letter of counseling, according to a defense official and various news reports.

Loseys nomination then went to a Navy review board, which voted 3 to 0 to promote him, the defense official said.

But by then, the sentiment toward Losey had changed in Congress. When it became clear that key senators would stall other Pentagon nominations in protest of the planned promotion for Losey, the Navy announced last week that it would withdraw the promotion and the SEAL would seek retirement this summer.

jen.steele@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @jensteeley
A flotilla of small vessels set off into Mexicos Upper Gulf of California before daybreak on Friday, launching a daring and desperate quest to prevent the extinction of a species.

For the next month, biologists, veterinarians, technicians and four female U.S. Navy bottlenose dolphins from San Diego are slated to participate in this expedition aimed at locating Mexicos few remaining vaquita porpoises. Dubbed Vaquita CPR (Conservation, Protection and Recovery), the plan envisions not only capturing them, but breeding them in order to re-build the population. And hopefully, once conditions allow, releasing them back into the wild.

The chances of success? Nobody knows, because its never been done before. Scientists say its one of the most complex marine mammal rescue efforts put into operation, and the challenge is a big one: Fewer than 30 vaquitas are believed to exist, and they are shy and prone to stay away from boats. No vaquita has ever been captured alive, much less bred under human care.

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Yet if anyone is up to the task, this is the group that can do it: top dolphin and porpoise experts from Mexico, the United States, Denmark, Holland and New Zealand who are pooling their skills for this $5 million effort spearheaded by Mexicos federal government off the coast of Baja California.

If I didnt think it could be done, I wouldnt be here, said Grant Abel, an animal husbandry specialist from New Zealand who has worked with finless porpoise populations in Japan and China. The main challenge is the fact that this is the first time. Everything we do with these animals, were going to be looking at their behavior and responses to help guide us in our decision-making for the next step.

The plan is has been taking shape off the coast of San Felipe, a fishing community of some 30,000 residents that has been ground zero for vaquita rescue efforts for more than a decade. People here have been divided on the subject some working with government and environmental groups to remove totoaba nets and develop sustainable practices, though others have seen the protection measures as a threat to their livelihood.

Since 2015, when President Enrique Pena Nieto came to announce a ban on drift gillnets and other actions to protect the vaquita, fishermen have received compensation not to fish. Last week, Mexicos federal government took it a step further, announcing a no-navigation zone in the vaquitas habitat through Dec. 17 in support of Vaquita CPR.

The lights of San Felipe glimmered like polished jewels as the scientists left in the dark Friday for their first full day of searching. A small crowd gathered on a dock by the expeditions main dormitory and operations center, the cruise ship Pacific Monarch. It was a good beginning, with low winds and clear skies that promised smooth waters as they set off with nets, custom-made stretchers, and special carrier boxes designed to provisionally hold any captured vaquita being brought to shore.

Vaquita CPR

Vaquita CPR is an elaborately planned operation being envisioned in stages, and participants are divided into three teams. One is tasked with finding the vaquitas; the second with catching them, and the third caring for them in captivity. The aim is to catch as many as possible, and the hope is to capture at least two.

Each stage has its own leader and each step triggers the next step, with decisions being made along the way on how to proceed.

The daily operation involves six dozen people split among about eight vessels: three charged with spotting and tracking the animals; one to carry the Navy dolphins; two net-boats carrying lightweight nets designed to ensnare vaquitas without harming them; a boat to retrieve vaquitas, and finally a transport boat to carry the vaquita for monitoring at an on-shore vaquita care center set up under a tent with two pools, and ultra-violet filtration systems, veterinary facilities, and padding on the floor to muffle the sounds of footsteps.

Loren Fish shows a vaquita stretcher custom-made in Hong Kong . Fish is animal care manager at the on-shore vaquita care center where the animal would initially be monitored closely before being taken to an off-shore sea pen. (Sandra Dibble/San Diego Union-Tribune)

Weve seen complicated projects, but this is the most ambitious, because the population is tiny and theyve never been captured before, said Andy Read, a marine biologist from Duke University, who is participating in the catchphase of the effort. Veterinarians on the expedition will be watching closely for any signs of stress in the animal such as changes in breathing patterns or arching. The animals have never been out of the water before, theyve never been restrained before, this is a very stressful experience for them, Read said.

Last resort

The worlds smallest cetacean and most endangered marine mammal, vaquitas are porpoises that live in shallow waters of Mexicos biologically rich Upper Gulf. They measure up to five feet, weigh as much as 120 pounds, are identified by the dark rings around their eyes and lips, and travel only in small groups of two or three. Even when they surface to breathe, they are discrete, their dorsal fins briefly breaking the surface with little splashing.

The vaquitas numbers have been dropping for years, but a surge in the illicit demand for another endangered species endemic to the region, the giant totoaba fish, has been especially catastrophic to the species, as vaquita end up as catch in the totoaba nets and drown.

The expeditions lead veterinarian is Frances Gulland, senior scientist with the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito and a member of the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission. She has conducted necropsies on several dead vaquitas, more than half a dozen last winter and spring. Despite extensive efforts by government and environmental groups, she said were not stopping the deaths, theyre still going on.

Supporters of Vaquita CPR see the expedition as a last resort, saying efforts to eliminate the illegal totoaba fisheries have fallen short. More than two years after the gill net ban, the illicit totoaba trade has not gone away, with organized crime behind much of the activity, authorities say, and unrelenting demand driven by high black market prices in Asia for totoaba bladders, which consumers believe have curative powers.

None of us want to go out and catch these animals, said Randy Wells, director of the Chicago Zoological Societys dolphin research program in Sarasota, Florida who is heading up the catch phase of Vaquita CPR. We would just as soon that the environment be cleaned up, and be a perfect place for them to go on and live. But that isnt going to happen within the time frame that will allow them to survive.

Members of the International Committee for the Recovery of the Vaquita, an advisory group to the Mexican president, initially recommended against any plan to remove the animals from the wild. But in its most recent report, issued in May, the group concluded that that the risks of capture and captive maintenance are high, but these are greatly outweighed by the risk of entanglement in illegal gillnets in the wild.

CIRVAS chairman, Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho, is a marine mammal specialist with Mexicos National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change, and for years a leader in efforts to save the vaquita. He is now overseeing this latest vaquita rescue effort, working closely with the San Diego-based National Marine Mammal Foundation, which has been put in charge of coordinating the operation by Mexicos federal government.

If the totoaba black market hadnt exploded like it did, wed be in a different ball game, said Rojas-Bracho. But thats where we are now, so we have to deal with it.

The primary funder for the effort is Mexicos federal government, which last spring announced a $3 million contribution through its Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources. The Chicago Zoological Society and Marine Mammal Center have been key U.S. supporters. But there have been others as well  such as the owner of the Museo de la Ballena in La Paz, who has offered up the Pacific Monarch cruise ship and other smaller vessels to support the operation.

Still, the effort has come under fire from some environmental groups, who say the only solution should be eliminating corruption and strengthening rule of law in Upper Gulf, a vast and sparsely population region. But the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which opposed the Vaquita CPR plan, stopped short of criticizing it last week as the operation began. In a statement sent Friday, the groups leader, Capt. Paul Watson, urged the Mexican government to pass stricter laws with harsher sentences for totoaba poachers.

The World Wildlife Funds Mexico office, which like Sea Shepherd has worked to promote conservation of the vaquitas habitat and remove ghost nets, issued a statement praising Vaquita CPR, as a bold and necessary strategy within wider comprehensive efforts to save the vaquita.

The search is on

While vaquita are elusive, the scientists say their search is not a blind one. A key tool is an underwater acoustic monitoring system that relies on dozens of underwater CPODS to register the high-frequency clicks used by the vaquita to find their prey. Readings show hot spots where vaquitas are located.

The search vessels, staffed with a dozen expert observers divided among the 125-foot former fishing vessel the Maria Cleofas and two smaller boats who rely on high-powered binoculars to scour the horizon for vaquitas, are key. But for the first time, they will have some help from the Navys Point Loma-based Marine Mammal program, which uses trained dolphins to locate underwater items through echolocation and a their capacity for directional hearing beneath the waters surface. In a test last year, the dolphins showed themselves capable of detecting the presence of porpoises in San Francisco Bay.

The four female Atlantic bottle nose dolphins, ranging in ages from their late 30s to early 40s, were chosen based upon their calm, docile nature and because of their demonstrated adaptability and acumen for this unique mission, said Jim Fallin of the U.S. Navys Space and Naval Warfare Systems. They have been trained to detect, report and approach vaquita, but not to interact with them, he said.

Following close behind the U.S. Navy dolphins are two net boats staffed by six Danes with extensive experience catching harbor porpoises using lightweight nets that stay close to the surface.

I think weather will be our biggest challenge, said Mads Peter Heide-Jrgesen, a Danish biologist who hopes to apply his expertise at catching a species related to the vaquita  harbor porpoises that live off the coasts of Denmark and Greenland. It has to be dead calm, completely flat seas, and apparently that does not happen here so often.

Steep deline

Two decades ago, in 1997, the vaquita population was counted at 567. By 2008, it had fallen to 245. In 2016, it plummeted to 60. And last October, the survey showing 30 was the worst news yet.

I think this is our last chance, I dont think theyll make it through another totoaba season, said Barbara Taylor, a conservation biologist with the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, part of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. She is heading the efforts vaquita search team.

Taylor and others take heart from the fact that other threatened species such as the California condor and the black-footed ferret have been brought back from near-extinction through ex-situ, or off-site conservation.

How many captured vaquita are enough? Thats the million dollar question, Gulland said. The bottom line is one male and one female, but the real answer is that it depends on the genetic diversity in those individuals and we dont know the answer to that.

If the operation fails and vaquitas go extinct, the dilemma playing out in the Upper Gulf, will continue, Gulland said. If the vaquita goes, there is still going to be the problem of how to fish sustainably, how not to have this massive, illegal sunken fishery that kills everything.

sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com

@sandradibble
A man died Saturday after being stunned with a Taser by San Diego County sheriffs deputies during a confrontation at a store in San Marcos, authorities said.

The man appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was given Naloxone to treat a possible overdose, a sheriffs investigator said. He died soon after being taken to a hospital.

The mans name was not released. He was a Vista resident, according to a man who called The San Diego Union-Tribune and introduced himself as the mans brother.

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The encounter occurred at a Hobby Lobby store on Grand Avenue about 3:45 p.m., authorities said.

An employee at the store called the Sheriffs Department about a man who was staggering, appeared disoriented and possibly was under the influence of drugs, said Sheriffs homicide Lt. Rich Williams.

Deputies and a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team clinician got to the store a few minutes later. PERT clinicians ride with specially trained deputies and police officers to try to assist on calls involving people needing mental health care.

They tried to evaluate the man, but he became uncooperative, Williams said.

More deputies were called in and they tried to restrain him, but the man resisted and tried to leave, he said. Two bystanders tried to help the deputies.

At least one deputy shot the struggling man with a Taser, Williams said. He was subdued and put in hand and leg restraints.

The man continued to struggle and spit at the deputies after paramedics got there, Williams said. He was given a dose of Naloxone, which deputies carry to try to block the effects of opioid drugs.

The males condition deteriorated during transport and he arrived at the hospital in medical distress, Williams said in a statement. The man died about 4:30 p.m.

In Lemon Grove on May 20, 54-year-old Mark Adkins died after deputies used their Tasers on him several times. The county medical examiners office said Adkins died of heart failure caused by PCP and methamphetamine in his system and by the stun-guns used to subdue him.

pauline.repard@sduniontribune.com
Firefighters made significant progress Sunday on two of the biggest wildfires raging across Northern California, but officials cautioned that they still face major challenges.

The winds that bedeviled firefighters Saturday remained mostly calm, allowing them to go back on the offense after a day of new evacuations. Officials said they strengthened containment lines on the massive Tubbs and Atlas fires, which by Sunday evening were 60% and 65% contained, respectively.

Any day we dont have flareups and significant fire activity popping up unexpectedly in those communities that are affected is a good day, said Paul Lowenthal, assistant fire marshal for the Santa Rosa Fire Department. I would say today is a step in the right direction.

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By Sunday evening, residents of some neighborhoods, including parts of Larkfield-Wikiup, Calistoga and areas south of Lake Curry, were allowed to go home.

In Solano County, evacuations remain in place for the Berryessa Highlands, Circle Oaks and Green Valley communities, among other neighborhoods, but officials have changed their tone in describing the Atlas fire.

No longer are they emphasizing the risk of potential devastation to more homes, 303 of which have already been destroyed by the blaze. Instead, theyre pleading for patience while they mop up the fires hot spots and have crews repair roads and clear out scorched debris and fallen trees.

Firefighters on Sunday shifted their focus to the 48,000-acre Nuns fire, moving more than a dozen fixed-wing aircraft from the Atlas fire to fight that blaze. By Sunday evening, the Nuns, burning southeast of Santa Rosa, was 40% contained but remained active on its north end.

We have some areas out there that are just fighting us, they are bucking us, said Cal Fire incident commander Bret Gouvea. We have good resources on them, we have a lot of aircraft on them, but they are just bucking us back.

Another major concern is a wildfire near the Oakmont area of Santa Rosa. The fire, which has scorched 575 acres since igniting Saturday, is 15% contained.

The fires are among a series of blazes burning across Northern California that have scorched more than 220,000 acres and claimed at least 40 lives since they began Oct. 8. Twenty-two people have died in the Tubbs fire in Sonoma County, eight in Mendocino County, four in Yuba County and six in Napa County.

Sonoma County officials on Sunday released the names of four fire victims. They are Sharon Rae Robinson, 79, of Santa Rosa; Daniel Martin Southard, 71, of Santa Rosa; Lee Chadwick Roger, 72, of Glen Ellen; and Carmen Colleen McReynolds, 82, of Santa Rosa.

Many more people were being treated for burns, smoke inhalation and injuries suffered as they evacuated, including one person who was kicked by a horse and another who collided with a firetruck in the thick smoke.

As of late Sunday, 174 people were still missing in Sonoma County, according to the Sheriffs Office. Of 224 people initially unaccounted for in Napa County, 146 have been found safe, four have been identified as dead and 74 remain missing, Napa County spokeswoman Molly Rattigan said.

As many as 10,000 firefighters from throughout California and surrounding states have battled the fires around the clock.

I know a lot of you are hurting, bleeding, Gouvea of Cal Fire told firefighters at a Sunday morning briefing at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Its been a long road. You couldnt do any more for us, and I sincerely appreciate the effort. We are going to get this done, very shortly.

While some residents breathed a sigh of relief Sunday that their homes were spared, others whose homes are now rubble struggled with what to do next.

Daniel Crowell and his 9-year-old daughter, Iris, whose Coffey Park home burned down last week, got a rental van and filled it to the ceiling with donated boxes of toiletries, gallons of water and other supplies to take to people in Santa Rosa.

I felt helpless, and it felt like the best thing to do when you feel helpless is to help others, said Crowell, 43.

He woke up to the smell of smoke the night of Oct. 8 and rushed out of the house with his daughter and 6-year-old son as their front lawn began to catch fire. I knew right then, this is it. Its gone, he said.

After losing their home, the Crowells spent a few days in shock, grieving its loss. All that was left were Crowells car, two metallic folding chairs that peeked out of the rubble and ashes.

Eventually, they sought a distraction.

We have friends and family who have been supporting us and helping us, but I know there are people who dont have that, and I felt like I needed to do something just to kind of help make sure people get through this, said Crowell, who works at a school in Santa Rosa.

Next weekend, they plan to move in to a friends home in Santa Rosa thats two miles away.

Its smaller than what were used to, but at the same time we dont have any possessions, so I think itll probably work out pretty good, said Crowell, laughing.

Over the next few days, weather conditions are expected to improve significantly, said Charles Bell, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Winds from the southwest could bring cooler temperatures and more moisture.

There is a 70% chance of rain forecast for Santa Rosa on Thursday evening, with relative humidity in the area expected to increase to more than 90% ahead of the rain system, Bell said.

It will bring more moist air, which is extremely beneficial for the firefighters, he said. Its a big change thats going to happen.

Fire officials warned that although winds have died down, the fire could still behave erratically, sending embers up to a quarter-mile away to ignite new fires. They also said fire continues to threaten the outskirts of Sonoma.

Gov. Jerry Brown, center, and U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris, left, and Dianne Feinstein attend a community meeting at Santa Rosa High School. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times )

Officials believe the death toll will rise as searchers make their way through the neighborhoods in Santa Rosa that burned down as well as mountain communities across wine country.

Its delicate, sensitive work.

On Saturday, more than two dozen law enforcement officials converged in Santa Rosas Fountaingrove neighborhood, along a street where every home had been destroyed. Two officers opened the trunk of their patrol car, retrieved a drone and launched it above the wreckage.

The drone hovered above the crumbling walls and destroyed homes, slowly rotating in midair. Later, two officers stepped into the crumbling remains of a garage, where the burned-out shell of a car was barely visible from a distance. One officer knelt next to the vehicle and began delicately handing fragments from the scene to his partner. Officials with the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office later confirmed that one of two additional deaths reported Saturday had been found in Fountaingrove, but they did not say where.

Members of the public have been urged to avoid trying to help in the cleanup. The Napa County public health director declared a local emergency in order to bring in more resources to remove toxic ash and burnt remnants of homes and cars.

Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian in Los Angeles contributed to this report.

laura.nelson@latimes.com

joseph.serna@latimes.com

ben.poston@latimes.com

soumya.karlamangla@latimes.com

ALSO

At Napa vineyards untouched by wildfires, the grapes must still be picked

A Santa Rosa woman died in the fires, her neighbors survived. Here are their stories

Northern California is facing catastrophic wildfires more typically seen in the south. Experts arent sure why

UPDATES:

9:25 p.m.: This article was updated with new acreage and containment figures, as well as more information from fire officials.

6:15 p.m.: This article was updated to note that some evacuation orders were lifted.

4:25 p.m.: This article was updated with an interview with a man who lost his Coffey Park home.

3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and the St. Joseph Health hospital group.

2:30 p.m: This article was updated with new information regarding the identification of fire victims.

2:20 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials regarding evacuations.

2:00 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials.

1:25 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from the National Weather Service.

12:30 p.m. This article was updated with new information from fire officials.

11:20 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials

10:05 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire and weather service officials.

8:35 a.m.: This article was updated with new information from fire officials.

7:40 a.m.: This post was updated with new containment information.

This post was originally published at 7:30 a.m.
A classic example of the felony-murder rule is something like the following: Two guys go into a liquor store to commit a robbery. One has a gun and shoots the clerk, who dies as a result.

Because the killing occurred during the commission of a felony, both men can be charged with murder even though only one man pulled the trigger.

Its a scenario that plays out over and over in courtrooms throughout California  in cases in which a person acts as the getaway driver in a bank shootout or when someone stands as lookout during a violent home invasion.

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In either of those scenarios, if someone is killed, both the driver and the lookout can be viewed as murderers in the eyes of the law.

A case now pending in Humboldt County throws a newer scenario into the mix.

Four defendants, some with ties to San Diego, face murder charges in connection with a devastating explosion last year at a butane hash oil lab in Rio Dell, a Northern California city of about 3,300 people.

According to the North Coast Journal in Eureka, the explosion happened Nov. 9, 2016, in a small detached garage outside the home of Tamara and David Paul, who had rented the place to a man named Arron Mohr.

Mohr, Aaron Schisler and Xavier Renner were badly burned as a result of the explosion and fire that sent flames up to 40 feet in the air, according to the Journals reporting.

Renner, 21, died later at a hospital.

San Diego Unified School District records show that all three of the injured men had attended Serra High School in Tierrasanta. Eventually, they all ended up together at the garage in Rio Dell.

David and Tamara Paul have pleaded not guilty. So has Mohr. All three are being held in Humboldt County jail while the case is pending. As of last month, a warrant had been issued for Schislers arrest, but he remained at large.

Hash oil, also known as honey oil, is made by extracting the chemical compound THC from marijuana, using a solvent like butane, leaving the drug in concentrated form. The process, however, is dangerous. Butane gas is volatile and highly flammable.

Authorities say indoor labs like the one that caused the fatal explosion in Humboldt County are a growing problem around the country, including in San Diego County, where lab operators have been prosecuted on charges of drug manufacturing and arson.

Manufacturing hash oil is a felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison.

Earlier this year, the owner of a Los Angeles-based business that sold butane canisters to smoke shops, knowing it would be used to make hash oil, pleaded guilty in San Diego federal court to selling drug paraphernalia. He was placed on three years probation in April.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, the manufacture of hash oil using butane from defendant Bosco Kwons business alone had caused at least 54 fires and explosions, 29 serious injuries, and four deaths in California, Oregon, Nevada and Washington since 2011.

Murder prosecutions linked to hash oil lab explosions seem to be fairly rare. Aside from the Rio Dell case, there has been at least one other in California in recent years. In 2012, a couple from Livermore in Alameda County faced murder charges after their lab exploded and killed their partner, Paul Lom.

The defendants  Evan Aviles and Lexie Hutson  pleaded no contest to lesser charges, according to The Contra Costa Times. Aviles was sentenced to three years in prison for involuntary manslaughter. Hutson, an accessory to the crime, was placed on probation for five years and ordered to serve a year in county jail.

A search revealed a few hash-oil-lab murder cases in other parts of the country, including in Washington state, where a 2013 explosion destroyed an apartment building Bellevue and led to the death of 87-year-old Nan Campbell, that citys first female mayor.

While there have been injuries, so far there have been no reported cases in San Diego County in which someone died as a result of a hash oil lab explosion.

The District Attorneys Office confirmed this week that it hadnt charged any suspected hash oil lab operators with murder.

Not yet.

Staff researcher Merrie Monteagudo contributed to this report.

dana.littlefield@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @danalittlefield
As San Diego moves into a second week of operating a tent city for the homeless in Golden Hill, officials here can look to Seattle to gauge whether such temporary shelters are likely to be helpful.

The answer there appears to be yes.

Seattle was the first city in the country to use public land and public funding to support encampments. There are six there now.

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According to an analysis this summer of the first three camps, theyve attracted hundreds of homeless people who otherwise would be sleeping on sidewalks, under bridges or in parks.

Case managers at the sites were able to steer almost 40 percent of those exiting the camps into permanent housing or transitional housing.

And neighbors, initially fearful of the camps, have often embraced the newcomers, regularly donating food, clothing and other assistance. There was no evidence of an increase in crime.

Those findings provide benchmarks for San Diego officials who are grappling with a homeless crisis here amid an outbreak of Hepatitis A that has killed 18 people and sickened nearly 500 others.

The number of unsheltered people rose 14 percent (to 5,621) in the county and 27 percent (to 1,276) in the city last year. There was a 64 percent increase in the number of individual tents and hand-built structures on downtown streets.

Pushed into crisis mode, officials last week opened an encampment on a city parking lot at 20th and B streets that is designed to house several hundred people in small tents.

It is expected to be in use until the city opens three larger, $800,000 dormitory-style tents  holding up to 400 people each  later this year in East Village, Barrio Logan and the Midway district.

How those facilities will operate is still being worked out. Budgets havent been completed or approved. Already, some of the neighbors have expressed concern.

Which is why some eyes are turned north, to Seattle.

In August, several city officials traveled there to see how those encampments work. They toured a village of wooden tiny houses, which Seattle is increasingly favoring instead of tents.

They are places of safety and security, so they are better than living on the street, said San Diego City Council member Chris Ward, among those who visited Seattle. Its still a rough situation, not meant for long-term habitation.

But they seem to be serving as a bridge to get them on to bigger and better places.

The tiny model

Almost two years ago, Seattle mayor Ed Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine declared a state of emergency over homelessness there.

They had been seeing some of the same issues that have arisen in San Diego and other West Coast cities. People dying on the streets. More homeless children in local schools.

A count of the homeless in January found 11,643 in King County, with 5,485 of them unsheltered. About 70 percent of the homeless live in Seattle, including 3,857 of the unsheltered.

Tent cities have been allowed in Seattle for a number of years, but they had to be church-sponsored and on private land, and they had to move every 90 days. That kept the neighbors happy, but it frustrated the service providers and the camp residents.

The city passed an ordinance allowing encampments for up to 100 people each on public land, and allowed them to stay in place for one year, with an option for a second if there were no problems.

It also called for the creation of Community Advisory Councils of nearby residents and business owners, who meet monthly to review the operations and hear suggestions and complaints.

The camps have been a mixture of tents on platforms and tiny houses, with the emphasis now on the latter, according to Sharon Lee, executive director of the Low Income Housing Institute, which oversees the contracts for the camps and provides case managers.

Each tiny house is 8 by 12, about the size of a bedroom. Its insulated, heated and has electricity. One house costs $2,200 to build, Lee said.

Theyre cute, painted in attractive colors, and the neighbors seem to like them, she said. It looks more like a village than a camp.

Homeless people favor them over dormitory-style tents because they offer more privacy, quiet and security, she said. They can bring their pets. The villages have shared kitchens, showers and washers and dryers.

The smallest encampment in Seattle has 14 tiny houses, with 20 residents; the largest has 40 houses and 70 residents.

The housing institute and its partners, SHARE (Seattle Housing and Resource Effort) and Nickelsville (named after a former mayor, Greg Nickels), oversee the camps, but the residents are also involved  enforcing codes of conduct, holding meetings, working shifts in the kitchen and as security guards.

People have to put in a certain number of hours every week, Lee said. It creates a really good sense of community.

The impacts

The analysis done this summer looked at how the first three camps  Ballard, Interbay and Othello  did in 2016. It found that 467 people had been served there, with about half of them previously sleeping in places not meant for human habitation.

Sixty percent of the campers were male and 39 percent female (the others identified as transgender or refused to state). More than 90 percent were between the ages of 24 and 62.

Almost 60 percent of the campers were white, 19 percent were black, and 6 percent were American Indian or Alaskan natives.

Five percent of the homeless were veterans and 27 percent were chronically homeless. Almost half, 45 percent, reported having no income.

Average stay was about 88 days. Of those who left, 26 percent went into permanent housing, 13 percent into transitional housing, and 13 percent back to the street.

The analysis also looked at the impact of the camps on the surrounding neighborhoods, although it noted there is no consistent method for measuring things like donations, volunteers and meal preparation.

Still, according to the report, one of the most frequently mentioned positive outcomes is the increased neighborhood engagement and support. Community members visited to watch the operations and learn more about homelessness. The campers in turn picked up litter on surrounding streets.

When the camps were first proposed, neighbors resisted, but when it came time to renew the permits for a second year, there was a significant decrease in the number of phone calls, email messages and in-person meetings.

After those results, Seattle doubled the number of sanctioned encampments to six.

How temporary?

The camps in Seattle, as well as the ones planned for San Diego, are meant to be temporary. But no one can say for sure what temporary means.

Both cities are trying to implement the Housing First model, which gets the homeless off the streets into residences and then provides services (counseling, job placement, subsidies) to keep them there.

But that approach requires a housing stock not currently available. So even though homeless advocates fear tent cities will draw resources away from more permanent solutions, officials view them as necessary stop-gaps, especially as the number of homeless swells.

Ward, who chairs the citys Select Council Committee on Homelessness, said he was impressed by certain aspects of Seattles experiment  the advisory councils, the way camp residents work together to solve problems  but hes not convinced its cost-effective in moving people off the street and into long-term housing.

For now, San Diego has put its energy into the tent city in Golden Hill and the deployment of the three large dormitory tents later this year.

Tiny houses will have to wait.

john.wilkens@sduniontribune.com
A man died Saturday after being stunned with a Taser by sheriffs deputies during a struggle with them in San Marcos, authorities said.

A sheriffs homicide investigator said the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs and was given Naloxone to treat a possible overdose. He died soon after being taken to a hospital.

The mans name was not released. He was a Vista resident, according to a man who called The San Diego Union-Tribune and introduced himself as the mans brother.

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The encounter occurred at a Hobby Lobby store on Grand Avenue about 3:45 p.m. A manager at the store said he was not allowed by company police to discuss what happened.

Sheriffs homicide Lt. Rich Williams said an employee at the store called the Sheriffs Department about a man in the lobby who was staggering, appeared disoriented and possibly was under the influence of drugs.

Deputies and a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team clinician got to the store a few minutes later. PERT clinicians ride with specially trained deputies and police officers to try to assist on calls involving people needing mental health care.

When they tried to evaluate the man at Hobby Lobby, he became uncooperative, Williams said.

More deputies were called in. They tried to restrain him but he resisted and tried to leave, Williams said. Two bystanders tried to help the deputies.

At least one deputy shot the struggling man with a Taser. He was subdued and put in hand and leg restraints.

Williams said the man continued to struggle and spit at the deputies after paramedics got there. He was given a dose of Naloxone, which deputies carry to try to block the effects of opioid drugs.

The males condition deteriorated during transport and he arrived at the hospital in medical distress, Williams said in a statement. The man died about 4:30 p.m.

In Lemon Grove on May 20, 54-year-old Mark Adkins died after deputies fired their Tasers at him several times. The county Medical Examiners Office said Adkins died of heart failure caused by PCP and methamphetamine in his system and by the stun-guns used to subdue him.
About eight acres of brush and trees burned in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park Saturday afternoon, about a mile north of Green Valley Area Campground.

About 100 firefighters attacked the blaze with support from two air tankers and several helicopters, Cal Fire spokesman Kendal Bortisser said.

He said weather conditions were favorable, with the mountain temperature about 80 degrees and winds a mild 4 to 5 mph.

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The fire was reported about 1:30 p.m. north of the campground and on the opposite side of the highway, near a large paved turnout used by many trail riders to park their horse trailers.

It burned next to the turnout and into low hills covered in thick brush as well as pines and oaks, Bortisser said.

No structures were threatened and no one was injured. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Flames spread to five acres fairly quickly, but crews held the blaze at an estimated six to 10 acres within about two hours. More detailed mapping later set the fire at about eight acres.

They had the blaze 60 percent contained by about 8 p.m. Bortisser said firefighters would remain overnight and hope to fully contain the fire on Sunday.

Cal Fire crews were assisted by the U.S. Forest Service and the San Diego County Fire Authority.
A man who fired rounds from a pellet gun inside a busy Alpine library Saturday was tackled by a witness and later arrested when he tried to hide behind a restaurant.

The man who scuffled with the gunman suffered a cut on his face, but no one else was injured, sheriffs Sgt. Alex Navarro said.

Two pistols confiscated from the man were replica or pellet guns, Navarro said.

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People called 911 about 4 p.m. saying that a man was threatening to shoot visitors inside the library on Alpine Boulevard. One caller said the pistol was a toy and the library was full of people.

Next, Navarro said, the caller reported hearing three for four gunshots.

The shooter ran out of the library, toward Tavern Road, and threatened to grab a second handgun that was in his backpack, Navarro said.

A bystander grabbed the man to keep him from getting to the gun, Navarro said. As they wrestled, the victim was cut below his left eye and the gunman escaped.

Deputies checked the library to make sure no one inside had been hurt. They were told the pistol that was fired likely was an Airsoft-type pellet gun.

As deputies searched outside for the man, an employee at Mananas Mexican Restaurant directed them to some boxes behind the restaurant. Deputies found the suspected gunman hiding under the boxes and arrested him.

Jack Wadel, 60, was jailed on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, displaying a firearm and battery, Navarro said.
On Tuesday night, an unidentified Poway High School student texted some friends his plan. He was going to shoot up the school the next day.

Someone in the text thread took a screen shot of the conversation, which made its way to San Diego County sheriffs deputies. When they confronted the teen, he said it was just a joke.

A lot of young people say that after theyre caught, said a deputy district attorney who investigates school threats made by juveniles. Determining whether theyre telling the truth is a much more complicated endeavor.

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Anyone can say anything about their intent, and it doesnt mean its true, said Deputy District Attorney Andrija Lopez, who oversees all school threat investigations. We have to be very careful with these cases.

Lopez is on a special team of investigators that has worked for the last several years to better understand the nature of school threats and the people who make them.

The group formed in fall 2014 around the time a rash of threats began plaguing campuses across the county. Officials had to take each one seriously, panicking parents and students and burdening schools law enforcement agencies in the process.

The District Attorneys Office decided to crack down on offenders, but to do that, prosecutors needed to better understand who was making the threats.

Here is some of what theyve learned.

The District Attorneys Office has reviewed dozens of cases since November 2014 and prosecutors have filed charges in about 20 of the 30 or so cases forwarded to their office.

Of those, prosecutors found surprisingly few characteristics consistently shared by offenders. Most people who make threats are young, but thats basically where the similarities stop.

Theres no particular profile, Lopez said. Theres no particular gender or socioeconomic status or neighborhood. Its interesting to see that its not just at the high school level. Theyre in middle school and elementary school. Its all across the board.

While offenders may differ, investigators started to notice two distinct mindsets among the perpetrators.

The first group of juveniles appeared to make school threats as a sort of cry for help or as a prank, prosecutors said. These students often didnt have the means or the intention to cause harm.

The second type is more concerning. These are juveniles with a plan. An unidentified 17-year-old boy who was arrested in May 2015 was one such offender.

The teen was accused of threatening to harm individuals at Ocean Shores High School in Oceanside, specifically a teacher he didnt like.

A note was left on the teachers desk with her name and the word dead written next to it. Investigators also found a journal in the teenagers possession that contained a number of specific threats and drawings that depicted how he wanted his victims to die.

Lopez, who was the prosecutor assigned to the case, said at the time that there were so many red flags she didnt know where to begin.

There was a real concern because there was pretty clear evidence that he had access to weapons and had developed an idea of attacking the school much more carefully, said San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan.

Investigators sift through all kinds of information in order to determine what kind of juvenile theyre working with, including police reports, statements from witnesses and people who know the offender, school records and psychological reports.

These resources also help investigators determine how to best treat the underlying cause of the behavior.

Stephan said prosecutors want to keep schools and communities safe by holding offenders accountable. But they work just as hard at understanding the young people involved so they can offer assistance.

Sometimes that involves offering counseling or assistance with school matters. Other times its about working with parents to remove weapons from the home. In several cases, prosecutors have used restorative justice programs to help young people to understand better the impact their actions had on fellow students and their communities.

In every case, we try to ask, What does this youth, what does this family, need, so this doesnt become more of an issue? said Deputy District Attorney Lisa Weinreb, assistant chief of the offices juvenile division.

Threats have been reported at several schools in San Diego County over the past few years, including at West Hills High School, where a boy who said he was tired of being bullied called in a bomb threat in May 2015. That prompted a three-hour lockdown at the Santee campus.

In February of this year, a Ramona High School student reported overhearing a plan to shoot up the school but admitted eventually that hed lied, according to sheriffs authorities. A few months later, a student Steele Canyon High School student in Spring Valley was arrested after he was accused of posting a shooting threat on social media.

Not all cases are linked immediately to juveniles.

In May 2016, a series of threats on a single morning prompted lockdowns, evacuations and early dismissals at five local schools in Oceanside, Imperial Beach and San Diego. Many of those threats, some of which referenced bombs, came through computer-generated calls.

And earlier this year, the FBI began investigating a wave of hoax bomb threats made at Jewish centers and schools around the nation, including at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in University City where employees and pre-schoolers were evacuated.

Local investigators say they work closely with schools to communicate the serious nature of school threats to parents and students and the importance of reporting them.

This has become especially important since juveniles have been posting threats to SnapChat where, unlike Facebook or Twitter, messages eventually disappear.

Offenders are also getting better at masking their Internet Protocol or IP address, which helps investigators identify where the threat originated.

They cant help rehabilitate juveniles if they cant find them, prosecutors said.

Twitter: @LAWinkley

(619) 293-1546

lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com
A man suspected of stealing rare coins and Native American artifacts from a home near La Mesa was arrested in Rancho San Diego on Tuesday, sheriffs officials said Thursday.

Three men were seen carrying a large safe out of a home in an unincorporated area outside of La Mesa about 8:40 a.m. on Monday, sheriffs Detective William Kerr said. The burglars drove away in a white Nissan Maxima.

Among the items in the safe were Native American artifacts and a rare-coin collection, Kerr said.

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Detectives found a series of similar residential breakins and identified Anthony Joseph Kiryakoza, 30, as one of the suspected burglars with a criminal history including drug and weapons arrests, Kerr said.

He said investigators found out that Kiryakoza was expected at his parents Rancho San Diego home on Tuesday, and they pulled him over in a white Maxima at Hillsdale Drive and Vista Grande Road. Property taken in the Monday burglary allegedly was found in the car.

Kiryakoza was jailed on suspicion of possessing stolen goods, burglary, conspiracy, having drug paraphernalia and having or using tear gas. Bail was set at $50,000. His arraignment is scheduled for Friday.
Americans are dying at the rate of 175 a day from opioid overdoses, but President Trump has yet to deliver his promised strategy to end the crisis.

And so the people's representatives, in the absence of presidential leadership, did about the only thing they could do. They had a day of opioid karaoke.

There wasn't actual music. But it was open-mic day Wednesday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The panel invited members of Congress to take the witness seat and, in three minutes or less, sing a sad song about how the opioid crisis is ruining the lives of their constituents.

"In Oregon alone, more people died last year from drug overdoses than from car accidents," said Rep. Greg Walden (R).

"The opioid epidemic is having devastating consequences in my home state" of New Jersey, said Rep. Frank Pallone (D).

"There are enough bottles of painkillers in circulation for nearly every Hoosier to have their own," said Rep. Susan Brooks (R) of Indiana.

"Five-hundred and one New Mexicans died of drug overdose deaths," said Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D).

"Drug overdoses cause nearly four times as many deaths compared to traffic accidents" in Ohio, said Rep. Bob Latta (R).

"I can give you some statistics from Vermont," offered Rep. Peter Welch (D). And he did.

On and on it went, in bipartisan harmony. After 90 minutes of these elegies, I checked with staff to see how many performers remained; we weren't even halfway through the set.

Every one of them had an idea, many of the ideas were good and a few might even become law. But it's all of little use as long as the Trump administration is doing nothing. The president seems to be singing a different tune: "When You Say Nothing at All." This is what it's like when there's no functioning president.

Trump promised endlessly during his presidential campaign to solve the opioid crisis, and, by his own estimate, he won the New Hampshire primary (and, from there, the Republican nomination) "because New Hampshire is a drug-infested den." Now it turns out that, as with most everything else he promised, he had no plan.

He dumped the task on his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who is ill-equipped to handle it. He named an opioid commission and then ignored or dithered on its most important recommendations. Just this week, the commission chairman, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R), scolded Trump for failing to officially declare the opioid crisis a national emergency.

Worse, Trump is doing his best to roll back what little is being done to fight the epidemic, proposing or backing cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Medicaid program and eliminating the help provided to addicts under Obamacare.

That Trump has no plan is unsurprising. He had no plan to replace Obamacare, no infrastructure plan, no tax plan, no foreign policy.

But inaction on opioids is particularly ruinous, as the overdoses kill more people than car accidents and more than AIDS killed at its peak. In lieu of a plan, Trump has threatened to arrest more people, suggested kids say no to drugs and sent the first lady to West Virginia on Tuesday to tour an opioid addiction center for infants.

No wonder lawmakers are singing the blues. "Calamity," "Epidemic" and "Emergency" were their tunes Wednesday. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California, making a rare appearance before a committee, spoke of the "savage daily toll on the American people."

There is much they could do if they had a cooperative administration: restrictions on prescription quantities, training for prescribers, better treatments for addiction, alternative painkillers, reduced waiting times for treatment. Instead, with GOP threats to Medicaid and the like, things are headed in the other direction.

With this grim outlook, the members of Congress from both parties chose to reprise some of their greatest hits from the past -- congratulating themselves on legislation such as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act and the 21st Century Cures Act, enacted during the Obama administration. This was good policy but insufficient: All of $1 billion has been granted to the states under the Cures Act -- or 0.0003 percent of annual federal spending.

The money the lawmakers boasted of -- $6 million for this state, $125,000 for that program -- sounded like off-notes after the desperate (and true) dirges they sang for their constituents. The opioid epidemic is a tragedy. This response is a farce.
More than 80 percent of Puerto Rico is still in the dark, more than a third of its residents still have no clean drinking water, much of the island's infrastructure still lies in ruins -- and President Trump cruelly threatens to cut off federal aid. Doing so would be government by spite, and should be considered an impeachable offense.

Puerto Rico, as any fifth-grader knows, is part of the America that Trump promises to make great again. But the mayor of San Juan has had the temerity to criticize the Trump administration's response to the calamity of Hurricane Maria as slow and inadequate. For Trump, everything is always all about Trump. He desperately craves adulation.

The president complained Sunday on Twitter, "Nobody could have done what I've done for #PuertoRico with so little appreciation. So much work!" Note the use of "I" instead of "we" or even "my administration." For the record, what Trump has done personally for the people of Puerto Rico was to playfully toss rolls of paper towels into a crowd.

The administration has done much more, of course. But desperate people -- still facing critical shortages of food and water three weeks after the storm -- are demanding more action. This makes them "ingrates" in Trump's eyes.

Sadly, those are the kinds of words we've come to expect from this president. But on Thursday he went beyond his usual self-pitying, self-justifying blather to make an outrageous threat: "We cannot keep FEMA, the Military & the First Responders, who have been amazing (under the most difficult circumstances) in P.R. forever!"

That culminated a series of blame-the-victim tweets about how Puerto Rico faces "a financial crisis ... largely of their own making" and how "electric and all infrastructure was [a] disaster before hurricanes." The need to solve the island's debt problem and update its infrastructure is worthy of serious discussion, but not while people are having to collect unpurified water in buckets from mountain springs -- and not as some kind of justification for cutting off relief aid.

This may be the most un-American thing Donald Trump has ever said or done. I am serious that if he were to actually withdraw emergency assistance while Puerto Rico is still in such condition, Congress should begin impeachment proceedings.

Presidents do not get to pick and choose which Americans to help at times of disaster. We are one country, and we do what we must to help fellow citizens in need.

We saw it during this long, terrible hurricane season, in Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Texas, Florida -- strangers helping strangers, regardless of race, income, political views. We are seeing it now as firefighters from around the country converge on Northern California to attack the deadly blazes that are still burning out of control.

It is wrong to describe Trump as any kind of nationalist if he fails to grasp the most fundamental of nationalistic precepts: We leave none of our own on the battlefield.

The responsibility of the federal government is to keep FEMA workers, military personnel and other first responders in Puerto Rico as long as necessary. It is important to do so because their presence will save lives. It is also important because doing anything else would violate the American compact. If Trump really were to turn his back on Puerto Rico, he would be guilty of a "high crime" and disqualified to continue in office.

I know that President Trump delights in violating political norms and causing the commentariat to run around with its hair on fire. I know that he sometimes says provocative things on Twitter to distract from his administration's failures, to rally his base, to provoke his enemies or even just to blow off steam. I know that it's impossible to take any one tweet too seriously, since it may be directly contradicted by the next tweet.

But Trump actually went to Puerto Rico, and, while he did not see the worst of the devastation, he saw more than enough. He knows that recovery is going to be a long, massive and largely thankless job. But that is the job he signed up for when he took the oath of office. Congress must not allow him to shirk his duty.

To divide the country with rhetoric, as Trump so often does, is one thing. But to actually abandon 3.4 million Americans in their hour of need would not only be an unprecedented and shameful act. It would be grounds for removing an unfit man from the high office he dishonors.
FLORENCE, S.C.  The Ladies Philoptochos of Florence hosted Fall into Fashion, a fall fashion show and charity event to raise money for Help4Kids.

This was the groups first fashion show, and it was hosted at the Greek Orthodox Church on Saturday afternoon.

About 25 models walked down the runway to show off styles from Pretty n Bliss, Mainstream Boutique and Chicos.

Attendees shopped for boutique merchandise before and after the runway show.

All proceeds from tickets will go directly to Help4Kids, an organization that provides food to Florence County elementary students who are identified as food insecure on the weekends.

At the event, a giving tree was set up. Different donation amounts were written on leaves. Attendees could pick a leaf from the tree and donate that amount to Help4Kids.

Robin Gioldasis, fashion show chairwoman, said the Ladies Philoptochos is proud to be benefiting Help4Kids. She said the group could have raised money through a fundraising website, but they wanted to think of a creative and fun way to raise money. The group ultimately decided to host a fall fashion show.

Gioldasis said the fashion show took about a year to plan but has been worth the effort.

The Ladies Philoptochos does not know yet how much it raised in donations.

Live music played in the background as attendees ate snacks and mingled before the runway show. After the runway show, door prizes were given out.
The U.S. Secretary of Educations recent visit to Lincoln prompted interesting discussion from the Department of Education regarding Nebraskas self-proclaimed "choice state" in school choice.

Lincoln Public Schools Superintendent Steve Joel recently stated Nebraska is a choice state. Students can attend any school they want to  and do, adding that making Nebraska a "choice state" fosters competition.

With work from our education advocate as well as our board members, with decades of experience in deaf education, the Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing found questions stemming from the superintendents comments.

From recent Individual Education Program meetings our representatives have attended, parents with children who are deaf or hard of hearing have requested to send their child to a residential school setting at the Iowa School for the Deaf, which also serves Nebraska, and were told they cannot go. Reasons for denial have included lack of financial support or simply stating the current school provides a better choice.

Parents are told to utilize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act appeals process in an attempt to convince education officials that a residential school setting, or a different school of their choice, is best for their child. If the appeal fails, their children are thus not allowed to attend the school of their choice.

It would appear, then, Nebraska is not honoring a "choice state" in school choice for all students in Nebraska.

John Wyvill, Lincoln

Executive Director, Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Nebraska Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association respectfully disagrees with part of your editorial ("Legislature should focus on licensure reform," Oct. 10) regarding reducing educational requirements for some occupational licenses.

Our association has no issue with the basic concept of examining occupational licensing. However, we would like to point out that massage therapy is the only health care profession being considered for reduction of initial education requirements.

Over the last 20 years, the massage therapy profession has evolved into an integrative health care profession. As such, it is important for those seeking to enter the profession to have necessary initial education in massage therapy practice, as well as in anatomy, physiology and contraindications for massage. Surveys of why Americans seek massage clearly indicate that at least half do so for medical or health reasons, such as pain management; soreness, stiffness and spasms; injury rehabilitation; or overall wellness.

Massage therapy is singled out by a growing number of health care and governmental agencies as an important nonpharmacologic approach to pain management as a counter to the serious opioid epidemic in our country.

Nebraska Attorney General Douglas Peterson, just a few weeks ago, joined 36 other attorneys general in calling for insurance companies to prioritize nonopioid pain management options for chronic pain, specifically referring to massage therapy. The National Institutes of Health, The Joint Commission and the American College of Physicians include massage therapy as an important part of guidelines for nonpharmacologic approaches to pain.

Clearly, the massage therapy profession is one that needs sufficient educational standards for anyone who wants to enter the field. Our association seeks fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists throughout the country.

Nebraska should not reduce its requirements for massage therapy education but maintain them to ensure the public can rely on competent and professional massage therapists.

Becky Ohlson, Lincoln

American Massage Therapy Association, Nebraska Chapter President
The branch will be able to serve Nordic customers with more flexibility and a local contact, says the second and third generation managed company with headquarters in Bremen, Germany.

At the site in Turku, Marahrens will have its own production and warehouse facilities to handle orders. The team of experienced sign manufacturers will be supported by Bremen HQ.

Marahrens signage ranges from safety systems (LLL and IMO signs) to cabin signs, escape route plans, orientation signs (you are here) and including decorative signs, such as those used for shipboard restaurants and spa facilities.

The product portfolio includes standard and customized signs for the maritime industry as well as solutions for shore-based industries as well.

We are very excited to extend our European coverage with the branch. Since we have successfully executed projects in Finland in the past, an own branch was the next and logical step to intensify our activities in Finland, stated Janina Marahrens-Hashagen, group ceo.
Our Nebraska Sandhills region offers one of the best expanses of native grass in the country and fosters cattle raising and ranching. Birdwatching and general ecotourism have begun to develop. We need to afford protection to the Sandhills by leaving the area in its natural state.

In 2011, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback designated a Tall Grass Heartland area involving the Southern Flint Hills region in that state, stating that the area should be off limits for additional massive industrial wind power projects. At the same time, the governor's administration promoted an increase in ecotourism in the Flint Hills and preservation of the tallgrass prairie located there.

In Gov. Brownback's words, "The extreme rarity of this last large scale vestige of tall grass prairie located in the Flint Hills calls for extraordinary care and attention." The plan received broad support from area ranchers, conservationists, power companies, and government officials in Kansas.

Sen. Tom Brewer of Gordon introduced LB504 in the Nebraska Legislature in 2017 that provided for a two-year moratorium on wind turbine siting in the Sandhills and for a study of the effects of wind energy development to be completed during that period.

I urge the Natural Resources Committee to bring that bill onto the floor for further consideration by the Legislature. I also urge Gov. Pete Ricketts to use the Flint Hills plan as a model for a similar protection plan in the Sandhills, including the viewshed of the Niobrara National Scenic River.

Bruce Kennedy, Malcolm
A few weeks ago, I attended Kenoshas 20 under 40 soiree honoring 20 standout young people based on their success both professionally and civically for the community.

Glass, monogrammed trophies were bestowed to each local star at the posh banquet, with everyone looking as dapper and elegant as the meal served. Feeling encouraged hearing each noble recipients benefit to the city of Kenosha, it sparked my reflection on the many valiant young people Racine possesses.

Like Kenosha, Racine has budding professionals who profit the city through passion, philanthropy and performance. Each deserves a trophy and soiree to honor their dignified deeds, but being the kind-hearted, humble regals they are, they of course feel the fruit of their works serve as adequate accolades.

Here, they introduce themselves and share a little about what they do. If you see them around town, shake their hand and thank them for their service.

Im Devon Borst, I manage All Saints Foundation at Ascension All Saints Hospital, I am a Rotary Board member, Leadership Racine graduate, community volunteer and help plan an annual police appreciation event with my wife, Sara.

If you are a young leader in Racine, you have a unique opportunity to join many others in an effort to make our community better. Never aim for good enough  if we all push each other, we all rise together.

My name is Jason Meekma, I am the executive director of Focus on Community, where we help youth develop assets and life skills so they have the tools they need to avoid risky behavior and become successful adults. I also serve my city as the alderman of the 14th District. I sought the position of alderman because I truly believe our city is special  we have a rich past with much to be proud of and I want to do everything in my power to help us achieve our new potential.

Additionally, I am the co-founder of the sTRIve Triathlon Club, a member of the Racine County Youth Coalition, Young Professionals of Racine, the Racine Collaborative for Childrens Mental Health and the Board of Parks and Recreation, and am the father of the craziest 3-year-old I have ever met. Racine is like a seed that has been planted. The soil is fertile and watered, a bud has sprouted and a flower is going to bloom. Where else would you want to be when that happens?

My name is Alicia Schmitz and I work for CCB Technology, right here in Racine. I am a wife, a mother of three and am proud to call Racine my home. People are my passion and giving back to the community is very important to me. It is also something I work very hard to instill in my children as they grow.

I currently serve as the board president for Family Service of Racine, I am member of the Racine Founders Rotary Club and I also serve on other committees in the community such as Young Professionals of Racine (YPR). It is only together that we can continue to build on the blocks of community and continue to strive for a thriving Racine for generations to come.

Im Trevor Jung! As the community engagement coordinator for Visioning a Greater Racine, I work to reach out to the greater Racine community, connecting residents with an outlet to express their hopes for the future and resources to achieve their community-oriented goals.

I sit on the board of directors for Real Racine and the Root River Council. Racine is large enough where you can discover new things, yet small enough for one person to make a positive impact.

Im John Tate II, the alderman of Racines 3rd District and a clinical social worker at Family Service of Racine, one of Racines oldest mental health and human service providers.

As the youngest member of the City Council, (I believe) it is critical that young people be represented in our local government and engage in local politics, either by attending a meeting, contacting a representative, or, at a minimum, voting. Without a seat at the table, we are on the menu.

Im Danielle Johnson. I am the program associate at The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread and I am a member of Young Professionals of Racine (YPR), ArtRoot, Whats Up Racine and in this years Leadership Racine class.

I have an adventurous spirit so Im always looking for new places, restaurants and activities to experience. Greater Racine has so much to offer young people  we have a beautiful lakefront, outdoor activities like kayaking on the Root River, really cool and unique boutiques and art shops Downtown, fun community events and festivals, and a ton of opportunities to volunteer or get involved depending on what your passions and interests may be.

Im John Daniels, Im a chiropractor at Daniels Chiropractic Office, serve on the board of directors for Family Service of Racine and Racine Founders Rotary Club, and volunteer with many local nonprofit organizations.

Racine is my home and I enjoy serving with other like-minded individuals and organizations to improve our schools, families and community as a whole. I enjoy spending time with my wife and son exploring the Racine Zoo, festivals and lakefront!
Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

With the humidity dropping and the winds blowing, there could be trouble ahead for firefighters working to tame the Wine Country fires.

The North Bay fires have been fueled partly by dry air, and forecasters at the National Weather Service said that could get worse Saturday night and Sunday morning. Relative humidity levels are projected to plunge into the single digits in higher elevations of Sonoma and Napa counties.
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Everythings gone, Deb, Kevin Trainor told his wife over the phone as he stood in the middle of the 19-acre property that had been in his family for half a century.

Gone was the house that Trainors 84-year-old cousin, Janet Parker, lived in from the 1960s until she moved to a residential care home in 2010. Trainor had been taking care of the place on Wood Valley Road, just east of Sonoma, ever since, letting his dogs and cats roam the wooded grounds.

Gone were the 20 vintage motorcycles that Trainor had been restoring there: a Harley-Davidson and a few Yamahas and Kawasakis. The sliding glass doors of the garage that once housed them were a hardened puddle of melted green glass on the charred ground.

The shell of Parkers 1969 International Scout, which Trainor had been restoring, still stood but was badly burned. What was once a bright yellow exterior was now a muted blue. The paint mustve melted off to reveal the blue primer, Trainor surmised.

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The only thing left is a bag of tie-downs, Trainor, 61, told his wife.

Indeed, a small brown paper bag of tie-downs, used to tie tarps to cover motorcycles, was one of the only things in sight untouched by the flames. It sat on a green patio table, just where Trainor had left it.

It doesnt really matter, Trainor said of the losses. We got the animals out.

On Saturday morning, as the Nuns Fire raged on to the east of the town of Sonoma, Trainor returned to the property for the first time since he got his dogs and cats out on Tuesday morning. His dogs Dundee and Kip, and cats Ruby, Lucy and Sophie, were safe at Trainors home near downtown Sonoma, a few blocks outside of the evacuation zone. Lucy had been the hardest to catch.

Chunks of wood on the ground were still smoldering Saturday morning. Trainor remarked twice that his wood splitter was still there, though one tire had melted off. The pile of wood next to it that hed been preparing to split was now white ash.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Im numb, he said, trying to process the damage. You hope it bypassed you, but...

Trainor said at least now he knows. Hed been in limbo the last few days, not knowing what had happened, as information about which homes had burned was hard to get.

Trainor gestured to a spot just up the hill that overlooks the valley. The view there is beautiful, he said. When things settle down, he may build a house there.

Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho
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Its one of the riddles of travel: Ive seen the sunrise in Shanghai, but Ive never seen Shanghai. I had steak and pisco sours in Santiago, but Ive never been to that city. Ive wandered for miles in Frankfurt, but havent seen a single neighborhood.

Answer: Long layovers.

Its the maddening plot twist of spending five, seven, 10 hours in an airport while waiting for a flight  but not being able to experience the great city there. Sometimes, its possible to stow the luggage, secure the necessary paperwork, get into town and back, and return through immigration, customs and security in time.

But more often than not, its just not feasible.

Taoyuan International in Taipei was that way  its one of the more popular hubs for trans-Pacific flights and long layovers are common, but an hour-long (minimum) $45 cab ride each way into Taipei made it too pricey and time-consuming to go.

Until this year.

In March, officials launched the Taoyuan Metro, a direct rail line between the airports two terminals and Taipei Main Station. Its a 45-minute ride that costs about $5 each way. Once in the Main Station, travelers have access to the Taipei Metro system, by far one of the easiest ways to see a sprawling city with plenty of attractions and landmarks.

What follows is a loose guide on how to experience Taipei  attractions, temples, museums, restaurants and, if the timing is right, Taiwans best night markets  even if you only have a four- to five-hour window between flights. Nearly all of the sites are within a short walk of a Taipei Metro station; the system sells a Roundtrip Airport MRT ticket plus a 48-hour Taipei Metro pass for about $16-$17 (www.tymetro.com.tw/ticket/).

If you have more than 12 hours and have seen Taipei already, take the Metro to the Main Station, then catch a high-speed train to Tainan, the countrys former capital, home to the signature Danzai noodles and more than 1,600 temples. Taipei to Tainan is about two hours each way.

(Note: Obviously all times given are estimates; do not risk missing your flight by cutting it too close. Bring your passport and fill out the Taiwan entry-exit form at the airport. Check all times online, including for the Taoyuan Metro service.)

Spud Hilton is the editor of Travel. Email: travel@sfchronicle.com. Twitter and Instagram: @SpudHilton

4 to 5 hours (Option 1)

Din Tai Fung: No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Daan District; dintaifung.com.tw: +886 2 2321 8928. A Taipei landmark known for pork or shrimp xiao long bao (steamed soup dumplings). Its an international chain now, but this is the first. (If youre feeling rich, step up to the steamed truffle and pork dumplings.) Metro: Dongmen Station, Red Line. A block east on Xinyi Road. Duration: 20-30 minutes. The wait can look long, but they seat, serve and move customers efficiently.

Dongmen Market: No. 81, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Zhongzheng District; market.taipei; +886 2 2321 8209. Pedestrian alley full of vendors with traditional goods. Metro: Dongmen Station, Red Line. Duration: 10-20 minutes.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: No. 21, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District; cksmh.gov.tw. Palace-like monument dedicated to the military leader. Metro: CKS Memorial Hall Station, Red and Green lines. Walk one block northeast on Linsen South Road, right on Aiguo East Road to the side gate. Duration: 30 minutes covers climbing the stairs to the top of the hall and admiring the opera house and Freedom Square.

Lungshan Temple: No. 211, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District; lungshan.org.tw; +886 2 2302 5162. Popular temple honoring deities of both Buddhism and Taoism, built in 1738. Metro: Longshan Temple Station (spelled differently), Blue Line. Duration: 10-20 minutes.

4 to 5 hours (Option 2)

Taipei 101 Observatory: 89th Floor, No. 7, Xinyi Road Section 5 (ticket counter in Taipei 101 Mall, fifth floor); taipei-101.com.tw; +886 2 8101 8898. Observation deck near the top of what was once the tallest building in the world. Take a minute to see the massive damper that keeps the building from swaying. Metro: Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station, Red Line. Duration: 20-60 minutes. Standard ticket is $20; if theres a line and time is more important than money, buy the $40 VIP pass.

Din Tai Fung (at Taipei 101): dintaifung.com.tw; +886 2 8101 7799. Located in the base of Taipei 101, along with many other shops and restaurants. Metro: Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station, Red Line. Duration: 20-40 minutes. Consider getting it to go.

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall: No. 505, Section 4, Renai Road, Xinyi District; yatsen.gov.tw; +886 2 2758 8008. Cultural center and public park dedicated to the Chinese leader. Metro: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, Blue Line. Duration: 20-40 minutes.

6 to 8 hours

Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall: No. 505, Section 4, Renai Road, Xinyi District; yatsen.gov.tw. Metro: Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station, Blue Line. Duration: 20-40 minutes.

Xinyi Shopping and Dining District: Modern, new shopping and dining area directly northeast of Taipei 101 tower. Mostly international luxury chains. Metro: Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station, Red Line. Duration: 10 minutes to an hour.

Taipei 101 Observatory: 89th Floor, No. 7, Xinyi Road Section 5 (ticket counter in Taipei 101 Mall, fifth floor); taipei-101.com.tw. Metro: Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station, Red Line. Duration: 20-60 minutes. Standard ticket is $20; if theres a line and time is more important than money, buy the $40 VIP pass.

Din Tai Fung: No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Daan District; dintaifung.com.tw.Metro: Dongmen Station, Red Line. A block east on Xinyi Road. Duration: 20-40 minutes.

Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts.

Dongmen Market: No. 81, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Zhongzheng District; market.taipei. Metro: Dongmen Station, Red Line. Duration: 10-20 minutes.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: No. 21, Zhongshan South Road, Zhongzheng District; cksmh.gov.tw. Metro: CKS Memorial Hall Station, Red and Green lines. Duration: 30 minutes.

Lungshan Temple: No. 211, Guangzhou St., Wanhua District; lungshan.org.tw. Metro: Longshan Temple Station (spelled differently), Blue Line. Duration: 10-20 minutes.

10 to 12 hours (or more)

Ximending Shopping District: Bustling shopping and dining district heavy on small shops with traditional Taiwan goods and bites, as well as plenty of chain stores from Europe and the United States. Metro: Ximen Station, Blue and Green lines. Walk one block west. Duration: 20 minutes to 2 hours. Depends on your desire to browse (and your patience with gaggles of Taipei teens).

Dihua Street: Section 1, Dihua Street, Datong District; travel.taipei. Traditional shopping district since the 19th century, lined with older buildings, many of which have been restored. Metro: Beimen Station, Green and Blue lines. Duration: 20 minutes to an hour, depending on your browsing speed.

Bike the Tamsui riverfront: In some areas, bike lanes are common, but the easiest ride is on the riverfront; the Tamsui is lined with bike paths that connect promenades and parks, including Yanping Riverside park near Dihua Street, and Longshan Riverside Park closer to the Lungshan Temple. Ride from one to the other. (Bike-sharing system UBike (or YouBike) is widespread in Taipei. It helps to have a Taipei EasyCard, a pass for local transportation; otherwise you will need to put down a deposit with a credit card. If possible register at taipei.youbike.com.tw/en/ in advance and download the UBike-Taipei app.)

Lungshan Temple: See the four- to five-hour route.

Six- to eight-hour route: Get back on the Blue Line toward Nangang Exhibition Center and get off at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall Station.

Ningxia Night Market: Ningxia Road at Mingsheng West Road, Datong District. Tightly packed, block-long night market devoted to traditional foods (as well as a few inventive dishes, including one that can be described as blowtorch beef cubes). Plenty of seafood, both cooked and fresh. Metro: Shuanglian Station, Red Line. Walk two long blocks west. Duration: 20 minutes to an hour. Small enough to survey the whole market and eat small bites from three vendors in a short period.

Also near Metro

Postal Museum: No. 45, Section 2, Chongqing South Road, Zhongzheng District; museum.post.gov.tw; +886 2 2394 5185. Opened in 1965, the Postal Museum focuses on the exhibition of stamps, postal history and cultural relics. Metro: CKS Memorial Hall Station, Red and Green lines. Walk two blocks west on Nanhai Road.

Raohe Street Night Market: Raohe Street, Songshan District; www.travel.taipei; +886 2 2763 5733. Popular night market on the east side of Taipei City. Metro: Songshan Station at the end of the Green Line.

Taipei Confucius Temple: No. 275, Dalong St., Datong District; ct.taipei.gov.tw; +886 2 2592 3934. Metro: Yuanshan Station, Red Line. Two blocks west on Kulun Street. The Dalongdong Baoan Temple is nearby.
Why cant we have nice things?

Thats the question, if not exactly the phrasing, so many conservatives are asking these days.

Despite controlling the White House and both branches of Congress, the GOP cant get much done. Oh, House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have talking points pushing back on this widespread impression. Ryans argument has some merit: The House has passed a good deal of legislation  305 bills, according to the website GovTrack. Admittedly, a lot of it is minor, but theres some meaty stuff as well, including Obamacare repeal-and-replace.

The problem is that very little of it can get through the narrowly Republican-controlled Senate, the burial ground where the GOP elephant goes to die.

Much of the blame goes to McConnell, particularly when the blame is being cast by President Trumps biggest supporters. Whether thats fair is the subject of much debate. Though McConnell has made his share of mistakes, the scapegoating is often wildly overblown.

As Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., recently explained on my new podcast, The Remnant, the GOP simply is not an ideologically unified party. There is not one GOP but several. In a sense, thats always been true of Republicans  and Democrats.

Political parties always have different ideological and regional factions. The late Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone used to claim he was from the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party, by which he meant he was an authentic progressive. FDRs coalition included progressive and socialist Jews and African Americans as well as segregationist Democrats and progressive Republicans. Ronald Reagan unified movement conservatives and traditional East Coast Republicans as well as big swaths of conservative Democrats and even a few libertarians.

Part of the problem is that we dont think of parties as coalitions of disparate ideological and geographic interests anymore. For much of American history, if you asked someone whether they were a Republican or Democrat, youd have to ask a follow-up question to learn whether they were a liberal or conservative, never mind what kind of liberal or conservative they were.

Thanks to the trend of political polarization, we now expect ideological conformity to go hand in hand with party identification. And it does more than ever. For the first time in American history, party ID is more predictive of behaviors and attitudes than race, according to political scientists Shanto Iyengar and Sean Westwood (of Dartmouth and Stanford, respectively).

Partisanship, for a long period of time, wasnt viewed as part of who we are, Westwood told the New York Times this year. It wasnt core to our identity. It was just an ancillary trait. But in the modern era, we view party identity as something akin to gender, ethnicity or race  the core traits that we use to describe ourselves to others.

So from one perspective, dysfunction in Congress is a good sign because it shows that partisanship doesnt override all other concerns. But thats cold comfort for Republicans, whod like to fulfill the promises they campaigned on for years now that they control Washington.

But control requires consensus. The simple fact is that Republicans disagree  for good reasons and bad  on how to reform the tax code, fix health care and deal with immigration. In a Senate where Democrats are unified by nothing save their Trump hatred and where Republicans have only a two-seat majority, its virtually impossible to get agreement on any significant legislation, even under the arcane rules of reconciliation (which requires 51 votes instead of the 60 votes usually needed to override filibusters).

But because we see things through a partisan-tribal lens, dissent from the party line or the Trump agenda is cast as betrayal, particularly by the loud rump faction represented by people such as ousted White House adviser Steve Bannon. To listen to the Bannonistas, McConnells failure to deliver the votes for Obamacare repeal  or, soon, tax reform  is a personal betrayal of Trump. Never mind that the U.S. Senate isnt the British Parliament, and the majority leader has little to no power to force 52 independently elected senators to do anything. Also, no Senate majority leader can compensate for a president unwilling or unable to unify the party.

Bannon, a self-described nationalist who detests traditional conservatism and the establishment, is trying to turn McConnell into a boogeyman so that nationalist congressional challengers can topple Republican incumbents in primaries and advance Bannons (if not necessarily Trumps) agenda.

I think that effort will fail. But even it were successful, it would only perpetuate the dysfunction, because that agenda doesnt unify the party.

Nice things arent on the horizon.

 2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

Jonah Goldberg is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a senior editor of National Review. Email: goldbergcolumn@gmail.com, Twitter: @JonahNRO To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters.
When Gretchen Whitmer became the Democratic leader of the Michigan state senate in 2010, she found that there were more men named John (five) in the 38-member body than women (four).

Whitmer, 46, recalled that fact at a two-day San Francisco conference and candidate training session hosted this weekend by Emilys List  the 32-year-old organization that supports Democratic, abortion-rights female candidates across the country. But Whitmer and the other 100 female candidates in town for the training see signs that those gender disparities could slowly be changing.

In the entire 2015-16 election cycle, 920 women contacted Emilys List to express interest in running for office. Since President Trump was inaugurated in January, nearly 19,000 have reached out to the organization, which distributed $90 million to candidates in the last election cycle.

Emilys List has expanded its staff by 20 percent and will be supporting congressional candidates in more midterm races than ever, including several nationally watched battles in California. Not all of those women will be running for office next year, said Stephanie Schriock, the organizations president. But she hopes to help build a farm team of future female office holders for a Democratic Party that has lost more than 1,000 state and local seats over the past decade.

For literally 32 years, weve mostly had to go out and recruit candidates, Schriock said. Literally sit at their kitchen table and encourage  some might say beg  women to run for office. So when we saw saw all these women signing up, we felt that we had to respond. So we started with candidate training.

And some are learning how to weave their personal stories into their campaigns.

One of the women stepping up is Whitmer, who is running for Michigan governor next year. As she campaigns, she can explain first hand how the paucity of female officeholders can affect legislation by speaking authentically.

In 2013, the GOP-dominated Michigan legislature considered a bill that would have required women to buy additional insurance coverage if they chose to have an abortion  before they would need one including in cases where a woman was a victim of rape or incest. There was little public input.

Whitmer stood before the Senate and told her colleagues about how she had been raped 20 years earlier. It was a story she hadnt even told her father. But she couldnt hold back, as it was germane to legislation that could reshape womens lives in her state.

Thank God it didnt result in a pregnancy, Whitmer said on the Senate floor. Because I cant imagine going through what I went through and then having to consider what to do about an unwanted pregnancy from an attacker.

As a legislator, a lawyer, a woman and the mother of two girls, I think the fact that rape insurance is even being discussed by this body is repulsive, let alone the way it has been orchestrated and now shoved through the Legislature, she said. Despite her impassioned plea, the measure passed.

She hopes that with more women running for office, that type of legislation will be more rare.

Theyre doing this because theyre kind of like me  fed up with the environment where our voices arent heard, theyre not respected and where barriers to our ability to seek medical care are being discussed and erected every single day, Whitmer said.

Whitmers legacy of frankly sharing experiences that are rarely told publicly is living on in women like Katie Hill, a Democrat. The 30-year-old nonprofit leader is a first-time candidate who is challenging incumbent Rep. Steve Knight, R-Lancaster, for a Los Angeles County congressional seat Democrats think they have a chance at flipping.

This month, Hill released a three-minute-long online video in which she spoke frankly about how she had an unplanned pregnancy when she was 19 years old. She posted the video to her Facebook page on Oct. 6, three days after the GOP-controlled House passed a measure that would make it a criminal act to abort a fetus 20 weeks or older, unless it involved rape, incest or the mothers life was at risk. Knight voted for the measure.

In the video, Hill looks directly into the camera and frankly recalled the choices she faced.

Its not something I ever thought would happen to me, she said in the video. And if it did happen I thought I knew what I would do in that situation. Id always considered myself pro-choice . . . but what I didnt know was what it would actually feel like to be faced with that kind of choice.

As she was trying to make her decision, she had a miscarriage. Afterward, the choice reinforced to her that its a decision that only a woman in that situation can make, she says in the video. Her family cant make it for her. Her partner cant make it for her. And the government most certainly cant make it for her.

Hill strongly believed that she wanted to directly share her story with voters, because we have to connect it to the human element.

Still, Hill said she has heard questions on the trail along the lines of, You seem sweet, but will you be able to stand up to Steve Knight? that she doubts male candidates ever hear. Back in Michigan, Whitmer heard a stranger one: One voter asked, Are you going to run as a woman?

As you can imagine, I had to pause for a moment, Whitmer said. She responded that she is not only running as a mom, but a former prosecutor and the former Democratic leader of the state Senate.

Ive learned to see the question behind the question: Are you only going to talk about womens health issues?

Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli
This list is not comprehensive. Municipalities are listed as they appear on the criminal complaint. Suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. To see mugshots of the accused, visit www.journaltimes.com/gallery. Additional information about the complaints can be found at: journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-and-courts.

Daniel T. Ahles, 1400 block of Wisconsin Ave., Racine, personal identity theft for financial gain, manufacture/deliver marijuana, and possession with intent to deliver/distribute a controlled substance on or near a park.

Plaze E. Anderson, 3000 block of N. First St., Milwaukee, resisting an officer, bail jumping, carrying a concealed weapon, attempt escape, and manufacture/deliver cocaine.

Rafael N. Ayala, 900 block of Geneva Ave., Racine, manufacture/deliver marijuana.

Trevell L. Beals, 1500 block of W. Trumble Ave., Chicago, Ill., battery by prisoners, and assault by prisoners.

Jay R. Benz, 2000 block of Quincy Ave., Racine, disorderly conduct, and domestic abuse assessments.

Thomas J. Benz, 2000 block of Quincy Ave., Racine, disorderly conduct, and domestic abuse assessments.

David A. Cacciotti, 700 block of State St., Union Grove, cause injury/operating while intoxicated.

Rashaad E. Campbell, 200 block of Ohio St., Racine, disorderly conduct, domestic abuse assessments, and bail jumping.

Sheila S. Canady, 1800 block of Villa St., Racine, physical abuse of a child-intentionally cause bodily harm, and bail jumping.

Matthew M. Carranza, 2400 block of Green St., Racine, battery, domestic abuse assessments, obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct.

Sarah Carvajal, 1600 block of Mead St., Racine, escape.

Frederick D. Collins, 1100 block of Oakes Road, Mount Pleasant, battery, disorderly conduct, use of a dangerous weapon, and obstructing an officer.

Sheila A. Counard, 300 block of S. Rochester St., Rochester, uttering a forgery.

Jahlani D. Davis, 4400 block of N. 76th St., Milwaukee, trafficking of a child.

Jaquan L. Davis, 3700 block of 21st St., Racine, attempt first degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, and recklessly endangering safety.

Jacob L. Elder, 6100 block of 34th Ave., Kenosha, burglary of a building or dwelling, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.

Fidel S. Espinoza, 1800 block of Green St., Racine, disorderly conduct, and domestic abuse assessments.

Ernest D. Everson, 4200 block of Marquette Drive, Racine, possession of marijuana.

John T. Froelich, 1800 block of W. Wells St., Milwaukee, bail jumping.

Luis R. Gomez, 1800 block of Howe St., Racine, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and operating motor vehicle while revoked.

Angela M. Grecian, 1500 block of College Ave., Racine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and bail jumping.

Wynton D. Greene, 5200 block of Byrd Ave., Racine, obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct, and domestic abuse assessments.

Dealfonze R. Harper, 1800 block of Villa St., Racine, physical abuse of a child-intentionally cause bodily harm.

Darrell Hayes, 4500 block of Kentucky St., Racine, operating without a license.

Lucas R. Hefner, 800 block of N. Manor Drive, Silver Lake, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of narcotic drugs, and possession of methamphetamine.

Kelvin D. Howard, 400 block of Park View Drive, Racine, manufacture/deliver heroin, and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

Jaylen A. Hudson, 9400 block of W. Silver Spring Drive, Milwaukee, possession of marijuana, and disorderly conduct.

Sedrick I. Hunter, 5300 block of Biscayne Ave., Racine, intimidation of a victim, domestic abuse assessments, false imprisonment, battery, and disorderly conduct.

James Johnson, 5800 block of N. 40th St., Milwaukee, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

Maurice E. Jorden II, 1600 block of Winslow St., Racine, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, possession of a firearm by a felon, maintaining a drug trafficking place, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Renate A. Jordan, 500 block of Park Ave., Racine, recklessly endangering safety, use of a dangerous weapon, and domestic abuse-infliction of physical pain or injury.

Steven S. Kimura, 1400 block of Greenfield Ave., Burlington, bail jumping.

David A. Kives, 300 block of N. Lafox St., South Elgin, Ill., possession of drug paraphernalia, and obstructing an officer.

Daniel T. Kramer, 5600 block of Marsh Road, Wind Lake, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jennifer L. Kutzner, 1300 block of 51st St., Caledonia, operating while intoxicated.

Calvin L. Lockett, 500 block of High St., Racine, disorderly conduct.

Kyle H. MacDonald, 200 block of E. Main St., Palmyra, possession of narcotic drugs, and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a minor child in the vehicle.

Rodney C. Miller, 1300 block of N. Main St., Racine, obstructing an officer.

Byron M. Mitchell, 2700 block of Birchwood Pass, Cross Plains, operate motor vehicle while revoked.

Simon A. Morales, 600 block of N. County St., Waukegan, Ill., operate motor vehicle while revoked.

Danielle L. Nelson, 1800 block of Roosevelt Ave., Racine, criminal damage to property, and disorderly conduct.

Ilana-Troi G. Newell, 2400 block of N. 48th St., Milwaukee, fraud against a financial institution.

Paulette J. Ottmann, 900 block of Grand Ave., Racine, fraud against a financial institution.

Demetrice I. Patton, 1000 block of Mayfair Drive, Racine, disorderly conduct.

Christina L. Quinby, 1100 block of Oakes Road, Racine, obstructing an officer, bail jumping, operate motor vehicle while revoked, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and operating with prohibited alcohol concentration.

Giovanni L. Raimondi, 3700 block of 15th St., Kenosha, theft from a business setting.

Georgina F. Rank, 4900 block of Kinzie Ave., Racine, possession of narcotic drugs, possess/illegally obtained prescription, and child neglect.

Brando J. Segura, 4900 block of Parry Ave., Racine, battery by prisoners, and disorderly conduct.

Thor D. Thornton, 13000 block of Bell Road, Caledonia, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and carrying a concealed weapon.

Damien J. Wafford Jr., 1000 block of Patty Lane, South Bend, Ind., forgery.

Davion Wells, 3300 block of W. Lexington St., Chicago, Ill., uttering a forgery, and possession of marijuana.

Jamie L. White, 5100 block of 28th Ave., Kenosha, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of a controlled substance on or near certain places, possession of a controlled substance, possess/illegally obtained prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia, and bail jumping.

Andres L. Williams, 1200 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Racine, disorderly conduct, and domestic abuse assessments.

James A. Woitach, 3600 block of S. Elmwood Drive, Racine, battery, domestic abuse assessments, and disorderly conduct.
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State Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, who has been at the forefront of Democratic efforts in Sacramento to counter the policies of President Trump, rocked the national political landscape Sunday by announcing that he will challenge fellow Democrat U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein in next years election.

De Leon jumped into the race via an 82-second video online on his new U.S. Senate campaign website. In the video, de Leon talked about the hard work of his immigrant mother and his upbringing in a poor neighborhood. His campaign will contrast his modest background with that of Feinstein, the 25-year senator and resident of San Franciscos Pacific Heights who has a net worth of $79 million, who he says hasnt countered Trump forcefully enough.

We just have two very different world perspectives, de Leon said in an interview Sunday. The state has changed significantly over the past 25 years, and were overdue for a real debate on the issues.

Were taking on the political monarchy, but were ready, de Leon said.

The 84-year-old Feinstein is the Senates ranking Democrat on the Judiciary Committee and a mainstay of the partys Washington establishment. She has never faced a serious electoral challenge from another Democrat and hasnt even debated an opponent from either party since 2000, but her campaign said she would be willing to do so against de Leon.

Feinstein made no comment about de Leon on Sunday, but her leading political strategist, Bill Carrick, was dismissive  saying the Los Angeles Democrat, who will be termed out next year, was simply looking for a gig.

Progressives have been frustrated with Feinstein, saying she has not been tough enough on Trump in a state that is at the center of left-wing opposition to the president. She has voted to confirm half of his 22 cabinet-level and other top appointees, and said at a Commonwealth Club event in San Francisco last month that Trump has the ability to learn and to change. And if he does, he can be a good president. And thats my hope.

De Leon said that moment pushed him to challenge Feinstein.

Young Dreamers dont have the luxury of patience if (Trump) kills DACA, de Leon said, referring to the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for undocumented immigrants who arrived here as children. The severity of whats happening in Washington, D.C., is having a severe impact on the most vulnerable in California.

De Leon, 50, has put himself at the center of the states opposition to Trump. He sponsored a bill signed by Gov. Jerry Brown this month that restricts the ability of local and state law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal authorities seeking to deport undocumented immigrants. He is also the author of a bill that would require California to chart a course for obtaining all its electric power from carbon-free sources by 2045, legislation that is on hold until next year.

Recent public polls show a softening of support for Feinstein, including a survey by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies that found that only 45 percent of registered voters said they were inclined to re-elect the senator, compared with 41 percent who were not.

Still, de Leons challenge is steep. Feinstein has near-universal name recognition, a place in history as Californias first female senator and the backing of the party establishment. Her support is strong among women and in the voter-rich Bay Area and Los Angeles County.

Soon after Feinstein announced for re-election last week, fellow Democrats, including Californias other U.S. senator, Kamala Harris, endorsed her, and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti held a fundraiser for her. The United Farm Workers union also endorsed her, which could help counter de Leons strategy of running up votes among Latinos.

De Leon is also looking to assemble backing among African Americans, younger voters and those who support Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. He hopes to peel off Sanders fans through his backing of a single-payer, Medicare for all health care system, something Feinstein opposes.

Winning the support of the Sanders wing could result in a flood of small-dollar donations from outside California and grassroots support from inside the state. One influential progressive, Daily Kos online site founder Markos Moulitsas, said Sunday he was ready to volunteer for and donate to de Leons candidacy.

Kevin de Leon represents modern California  aggressively progressive, innovative and in touch with this states growth demographics, Moulitsas said. Dianne Feinstein has had an amazing run, but the California she thinks she represents  one in which were supposed to give Donald Trump the chance to be a great president  no longer exists.

But Carrick, Feinsteins political adviser, pointed out that de Leon supported Hillary Clinton over Sanders in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary.

And now, suddenly, hes the head of the progressive movement? Carrick said. Hes an establishment politician, and now hes masquerading as the leader of the progressive movement.

De Leon responded that progressives have gravitated to his leadership on issues like health care, the environment and education, where its not just that I voted. I led and shaped all of those policy issues.

Feinstein doesnt lack for support on the left. Stephanie Schriock, president of Emilys List, which gave $90 million in 2016 to female pro-choice Democratic candidates, said the organization will do what it takes to keep Feinstein in office.

Particularly right now, she is in such a critical place in the U.S. Senate, Schriock said. I know its hard to wait, and people have ambition. But youve got one of the best senators in the country, and shes at the top of her game.

De Leon has other problems. He is not widely known outside Sacramento and his Los Angeles district, and any Republican on the top-two primary ballot is likely to grab at least 25 percent of the vote, though no major GOP candidate has yet emerged.

Weve seen this from many people who try to run statewide from Sacramento, said Democratic strategist Andrew Acosta. Theyre running from a small base. There have not been a lot of people who have made it out.

De Leon was born in San Diego, the son of a maid who emigrated from Mexico. He was elected to the state Assembly in 2006 and to the state Senate in 2010, representing a district that includes downtown and East Los Angeles.

De Leon began the legislative session in December with an aggressive anti-Trump tone, saying California would lead the resistance to the presidents policies that target illegal immigration and government efforts to minimize climate change.

He led the Senate this year through major policies requiring two-thirds approval in both houses, including on a gas tax and vehicle registration fee to pay for the states transportation needs, extending Californias cap-and-trade program to combat climate change, and a new real-estate fee to pay for affordable housing.

Joe Garofoli is the San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer, and Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com, mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli, @MelodyGutierrez
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Many of the most powerful images coming out of the Wine Country fires last week depicted the wine industry as charred, its future threatened.

A generations-old winery engulfed in flames and reduced to rubble. Symmetrical rows of grapevines, backlit by a bright line of approaching fire.

Uncertainty and anxiety grip the wine community. And as the magnitude of the damage becomes clearer and missing loved ones are located, attention will turn to the scale of the devastation to the pastoral regions multibillion-dollar wine industry.

No one would compare the loss of wine with the loss of life. But wine is these communities lifeblood  economic, cultural and otherwise. As Sam Coturri, owner of Sonomas Winery Sixteen 600, put it: Saving our lives up here also means protecting our livelihood.

Now Playing: Wineries, schools, hotels and neighborhoods have been destroyed in the recent Bay Area fires. Video: Ted Andersen, SFGATE

Less than a week after the first fires hit, nothing is certain. Though the devastation to Napa and Sonoma communities is enormous  the lives lost, the homes destroyed  the potential effects on the wine industry itself are nuanced. Were not facing a decimated wine supply or a widespread destruction of vineyards. Of the hundreds of wineries in Napa and Sonoma, fewer than 20 had reported severe damage by Saturday afternoon , though others had superficial damage.

Right now, even though impacts may not be truly seen on wine shelves for years, vintners are reckoning with the future of their businesses  and their overwhelming sentiment is one of hope.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, 45,341 acres of grapevines are planted in Napa and 59,509 acres in Sonoma. Together, the counties employ more than 100,000 workers, and the business of wine is worth more than $27 billion to the local economies.

From a cultural perspective, from a heritage perspective, from an emotional perspective, Wine Countrys mark on Californias identity is indelible.

It is a place where business is fueled by parents handing down farming traditions to children, by neighbors lending each other equipment, by friends sharing bottles with friends. Napa and Sonoma may have worldwide renown, yet in many ways, they still feel like small farming towns.

That sense of community helped vintners remain optimistic this week, even as they watched with horror as the fires grew, and as many lost their own homes.

The first piece of good news is that the grapevines themselves are probably fine  or will be within a couple of years.

Fire doesnt kill vines, said viticulturist Daniel Roberts of Sonoma Countys Integrated Wine Growing. Fire can burn them back, and they wont have crop next year. But Ive brought vineyards back after fire.

In fact, vineyards served as highly effective fire breaks, guarding nearby buildings from blazes. Thats because a standing vine will have a moisture content of as much as 50 percent, even in a dry year, explained Joe Zicherman, a fire safety expert and owner of Zicherman Roemer Vineyard in Anderson Valley. For a vine to reach its fiber saturation point  where it could burn through  requires a prolonged heating period. And wildfires move fast, he said.

Looking at some of the affected areas, youll see fire around the vineyards, Zicherman continued, but I dont foresee a lot of damage to the vineyards themselves.

According to Roberts, you can tell whether a vine has been burned by cutting into its cane and seeing whether theres still green tissue. If the cane has died, the bud, which would eventually become next years grapes, has died, too. In that case, a vine would not bear fruit in 2018, he said, but he would expect it to come back the following year.

Roberts farms vineyards all over Napa and Sonoma counties, and many of them remained inaccessible at weeks end, so he still had not been able to assess the damage. Either way, he feels positive: Hes dealt with fire-damaged vineyards before. Even if we have to take a vineyard back to rootstock and graft the vines, he said, it would not have crop for two years but would rebound after that.

Still, visit some vineyards and the word salvageable does not come to mind. At Old Hill Ranch in Sonoma Valley, most of owner Will Bucklins 140-year-old vines were spared. Others were reduced to piles of white ash.

Coturri of Winery Sixteen 600 recalled the 1996 Cavedale fire, when Robert Kamens Moon Mountain vineyard, which his father Phil Coturri manages, sustained irrevocable damage.

The plastic irrigation hoses acted like wicks, Coturri said. So even if the vines themselves didnt burn, it burned a ring around the base of the trunks. That vineyard was replanted entirely.

The long-term effects on soil are unclear. Jake Neustadt, vineyard manager for Sonomas Bedrock Wine Co., expressed concerns about the possible effects of ash on soil pH. But Sam Coturri saw it differently.

Everyone just got a giant free load of biochar, Coturri said. Theres a whole bunch of charcoal out there. Its carbon matter; its good for the soil.

Then theres the question of last years wine, the 2016 vintage. Wineries whose buildings were destroyed face considerable inventory losses. Red wines usually age in barrels for one to three years before bottling, and many winemakers then hold on to bottles for a year or more before releasing them to the public. That means that wineries affected by the fire may not just be facing reconstruction of their buildings. They could also lose three or more years worth of product.

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This was the case at Signorello and to a lesser extent at White Rock, which lost at least 15 percent of its bottled wines. The amount of inventory stored at other destroyed wineries, such as Paradise Ridge, Frey, Oster, Roy and Segassia, is not known. Contrary to early predictions, the number of winery buildings destroyed by fire has remained relatively low.

A concern for the 2017 vintage is smoke taint, whereby grapes absorb lingering smoke in the air, resulting in an unpleasantly smoky wine.

Fortunately, not many grapes are still hanging and susceptible to smoke taint. The 2017 harvest was early  thanks especially to that Labor Day weekend heat wave, which sped up ripening considerably  and the bulk of this years crop was already picked. White varieties and early-ripening reds, like Pinot Noir, were virtually all harvested; mostly only later-ripeners like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah waited.

Ninety percent of the crop is in for the county, which is a very lucky thing, said Steve Dutton, co-owner of Dutton Ranch and one of the largest grape growers in Sonoma County. In Napa, White Rock Vineyards General Manager Heather Conlin said they were about 80 percent finished; Ray Signorello, whose namesake Silverado Trail winery burned to the ground on Monday, said only about 3 tons hung on the vines.

Its probably fair to say that the fruit thats still hanging will have some smoke taint, Conlin said, in which case they would not make the wine. From an optimal ripeness perspective, she added, At this point, the fruit has probably been hanging a little too long.

Though the fires largely halted harvest activity in Napa and Sonoma, especially since road closures kept employees away, some crews returned to the fields to pick what was left of the 2017 crop. Andy Beckstoffer of Beckstoffer Vineyards confirmed that his company had harvested fruit on Monday, and Pete Richmond of Silverado Farming Company said on Wednesday that his crews would be picking grapes.

Others, like Eppie Ordaz of Palo Alto Vineyard Management, said they would not send workers to pick when air quality was so poor.

Vineyards are one thing. Smoke taint inside wineries is another matter entirely  one that Napa and Sonoma winemakers had never confronted before this week.

Fermenting wines this week were left open to the smoke-tainted air within winery structures. Fermentations cannot be done in an airtight environment because they are producing carbon dioxide. Tanks full of fermenting wine have to be vented; many winemakers, in fact, opt for fermentation vessels with fully open tops.

I dont even know what happens to the vintage now, said Joe Nielsen, winemaker for Donelan Family Wines. On Coffey Lane in Santa Rosa, the Donelan winery is near the devastated Coffey Park residential neighborhood. The winery remains intact. But the smoke in the air is thick.

Nielsen had no idea whether the smoky air in the winery could infect the nascent wines.

This is a completely unprecedented situation, he said.

Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley
They arrived all day, parking in front of the modest building in Santa Rosa and taking a place in line. Some wore clothes theyd been wearing all week, or clothes theyd picked up at a shelter. Their faces betrayed a deep weariness, but they were upbeat, even those whose homes had been wiped out by one of Californias most damaging fires.

They came on Saturday to take part in a routine of life that had been lost.

They came to pick up their mail.

Were all trying to continue to go about our business, said one of the hundreds of visitors, 63-year-old Lynette Kronick, whose house east of Santa Rosa burned down, as did her brothers place in the Journeys End Mobile Home Park nearby. As horrible as this all is, were all pulling together.

Now Playing: Fire evacuees find some comfort in picking up their mail Video: San Francisco Chronicle

One by one, starting at 7 a.m., they stepped to the window of the Roseland neighborhood post office on Sebastopol Road and handed over their driver licenses to a worker, who passed them along to another worker, who in turn walked the cards into the back lot, which contained a nearly unfathomable sight: tens of thousands of parcels that would have been delivered to their postmarked addresses, had tragedy not struck.

Whos got East Shiloh? shouted Anita Rackerby, 55, reading off the address on the license in her hand as she waded into the mass of mail, which was being sorted and stacked on metal cages and orange hampers and, when those ran out, the beds of pickup trucks.

Over here, came the response.

These are all people who lost their homes or have been evacuated from their homes, said Rackerby, a 31-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service who is postmaster in Occidental and was running Saturdays operation. We cant get to them.

In the lot were postcards and magazines, envelopes holding offers of new credit cards and low-rate loans, Crate and Barrel kitchenware and Graco car seats, do-not-bend pouches and coupon books.

There were also disability checks, medication and clothes ordered online. Beyond the back fence, a few miles east, fires were still burning, forcing more evacuations of homes that carriers would no longer be able to reach.

Whos got Brighton Drive? Rackerby shouted. Old Redwood Highway?

Beside her, Kerry Adams, the 61-year-old postmaster for the community of Graton, was sorting and responding to requests.

Out of this chaos, he said, theres some kind of order.

Some of those sorting the fire victims mail at the Roseland office had been evacuated from their homes as well. That included Rackerby, who fled early Sunday from the deadly Tubbs Fire after it exploded west into Santa Rosa from Calistoga.

She turned her sprinklers on, grabbed her late mothers paintings and drove off at 2 a.m. She learned later that her home near the hard-hit Coffey Park neighborhood had somehow been spared, even as neighbors houses were ruined.

Letter carrier Bill Davis, who was handling one corner of the Roseland back lot, wasnt as fortunate. His Coffey Park home was reduced to ash, along with thousands of others in the area. Hes been staying with family members and at a hotel as he lines up an apartment.

A couple of people who live on my route lost their lives, Davis said. So you cant get too upset about your home.

Delivering the mail fosters an intimacy with customers, and the fires have been jarring. Entire routes in Santa Rosa are gone. Connections are lost.

So the task on Saturday carried some joy along with the pain. The workers put out cookies and drinks for the visitors. When Priest Morgan, a man credited with saving part of the Journeys End Mobile Home Park with a fire hose, walked in, he was given an ovation.

Its a bit of a comfort, said Donald Herring, 52, a contractor who has been out of his home in the community of Larkfield, north of Santa Rosa, since early Monday, staying with an ex-wife and at a motel.

Hey, not too many bills, he said, looking down at his letters. Unfortunately, its mostly junk mail.

Kathy Braly, 52, and her husband, Doug, 53, pulled in to pick up mail for family members. Not only did they lose their home in Coffey Park, but so did Kathys two brothers and a cousin. Two cats are missing. And on Saturday, Kathys sister was evacuated from the Skyhawk neighborhood on the east edge of Santa Rosa.

Its like we cant wake up from a nightmare, said Kathy Braly, who has been staying with her husband and son in a trailer on her parents 5-acre property in Santa Rosa.

As for her mail, she said, Theres some insurance stuff in here, and unfortunately some bills.

A big cardboard package was in the arms of Ken Sparks, 74, as he left the post office. The retired engineer had fled Monday morning with his wife from their home in Larkfield after hearing the roar of the fire  like bombers flying over, he said  and theyve been staying with friends until they can get back in.

This is just some junk I bought from Amazon, he said, beginning to laugh.

He continued, Its a log-splitting hammer. Its to split kindling to start fires. And with that, he laughed even harder as he leaned into his cane.

You know, life has to go on, and you just do your best, and my heart breaks for so many people, he said. You have to maintain the love and the humor.

Demian Bulwa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dbulwa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @demianbulwa

Watch the video

The mail still must go through, despite the fire.

http://bit.ly/FireMailPickup
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A smoky haze cloaked the hillsides around Sonoma as Drew and Fernanda Olin trudged up Lovall Valley Road, holding an empty cat carrier.

They were on a mission for Drews parents, who fled their home late Friday as the Nuns Fire overtook their neighborhood on the east side of Sonoma. In their frantic rush to get out, they had left behind their beloved orange tabby named Golden  whom they couldnt find.

Like any good son, Drew, 48, promised to go back to find Golden. On Saturday, he and his newlywed wife, Fernanda, 35, left their Petaluma home, drove 20 miles, then hiked along a warren of backroads to search for Golden.

They sidestepped a police line. They walked two miles. Then they reached the spacious ranch house on Lovall Valley Road.

Now Playing: Wine Country Fires Video: San Francisco Chronicle

It was about 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Only an hour before, a 40-foot wall of flames had rolled downhill toward the town, devouring several acres before it passed Drews parents house. The scene was still hot. Cinders were popping all around the house, tiny fingers of fire were crackling, and much of the yard was caked in smoldering ash. Inside the home, an alarm was bleating.

The house had survived the fire  and checking on the house was important, but almost secondary.

This treacherous trek was every bit as much for Golden. They love him. They had to try.

Golden, Golden! they called out, again and again, as helicopters dropped water nearby.

They looked under a wide deck.

There you are! Fernanda exclaimed with delight.

Golden was squatting under the deck  too far back to grab. But they could see his eyes peering out like two tiny flashlight bulbs.

For the next 40 minutes they cooed and coaxed. Finally, slowly, Golden tiptoed out. Drew cradled him with a big smile as he approached the cat carrier held out by Fernanda.

They were so close to completing their rescue.

But the sight of the carrier was too much for Golden  he bolted from Drews arms and ran away. Drew crossed his arms over his chest, closed his eyes, and tipped his head back for one long, frustrated moment.

Back the two went to sticking their heads under the deck.

Golden, Golden! Come here, Kitty! they called. Thats a good cat now. Come! Come!

They considered tearing up the boards of the deck, but rejected that idea. They thought of putting food at the edge of the deck, then realized that would take too long.

Just then, a helicopter dropped a huge load of water with a loud crash right next to their house, dousing out one of the hot spots.

Drew turned to Fernanda and said, Wed better go.

They lumbered back downhill with the empty carrier. At least they could tell Drews parents that Golden had made it.

I think they have a good eye on the fire, Drew said. Hell be OK for now. Well try tomorrow for sure.

Kevin Fagan and Rachel Swan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com
Those who lost loved ones, their homes or their businesses in the Northern California wildfires will struggle with the impact of the inferno even after the fires are extinguished and the smoke clears.

But the wildfires financial blow is likely to subside fairly quickly and be cushioned by insurance and government relief, and the region will soon resume business as usual, economists and other experts say.

The beauty and economic vitality of the area will be sustained, said William Silver, dean of the School of Business and Economics at Sonoma State University. Our economic base is diverse and strong. I think we will see a quick recovery.

Stephen Levy, executive director of the Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy, a private research organization, was equally optimistic.

There will be substantial asset losses, but two years from now, one year from now and even three months from now there will be no significant economic impact, he said. Three months after the (1989) Loma Prieta earthquake, there was no discernible economic impact.

That seems hard to believe as the somber tallies of lives lost, buildings destroyed and acres incinerated continue to mount. But its important to realize, said Silver and others, that Wine Country encompasses a massive area. Despite the fires sprawl, much of the region is unscathed. Its horrible to see these areas that look like war zones, he said. But the vast majority of homes  hundreds of thousands  are untouched.

Wine and tourism, major industries in Sonoma, Napa and Solano counties  responsible for one in four jobs  are, for now, disrupted, putting hundreds if not thousands of people temporarily out of work. But representatives of both industries said they expect to rebound fairly quickly.

Dozens of Napas hotels and restaurants remain open; about an equal number are closed, according to Visit Napa Valley. For now, many are serving evacuees, firefighters and PG&E line crews rather than tourists, sometimes for free or at steep discounts.

The 66-room Napa River Inn, for example, is offering free lodging to evacuees and first responders and is almost full, said General Manager Sara Brooks. Money is the furthest thing from our minds now, she said. Well take a hit and figure it out later.

The inns employees  who are wearing masks when they work outdoors  are on reduced schedules as many deal with their own housing issues or stay home with children whose schools are closed.

A few miles away at the 320-room Meritage Resort and Spa, also in Napa, some 150 evacuated families and a handful of firefighters are staying at special $99 rates, compared to the typical $300 to $500 a night.

The hotel turned a ballroom into a lounge for them to relax, eat meals, watch films and socialize, said general manager Michael Palmer. And it had extra room because several large groups canceled their October reservations. But he doesnt expect that trend to continue.

We had an earthquake here not long ago, and the exact same thing happened, he said. We had cancellations so we were able to house people whose homes were condemned. But we came back strong after the earthquake, and I think well come back strong after this disaster. This is an extremely resilient community.

As for the wine industry, some 90 percent of grapes were harvested before the fires and most vineyards have escaped damage, with many acting as natural firebreaks, said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers. She lost her home in Santa Rosas Fountaingrove neighborhood, but her small vineyard in Bennett Valley  an evacuation zone southeast of the city  was unharmed.

For small businesses, the hit from lost revenue is harder to absorb.

At Calistogas Wine Barrel Furniture, owner Paul Block was ecstatic on Friday because his shop hadnt burned down although the fires had come within 200 yards. I feel like the luckiest man alive, he said. He loses $2,000 a week in sales while closed, but he thinks that a year from now, hell barely remember.

This usually would be the busiest time for me, and business has come to a screeching halt, he said. I will lose money until the rains come and make the air safe to breathe. Hes hopeful that will happen within a week. On Friday, the National Weather Service issued a forecast for cooling showers as soon as Wednesday.

Most businesses  and all homes with mortgages  are insured against fire, meaning that owners will have money to rebuild. Once that construction commences, Wine County could see an economic boost that may cancel out short-term losses, as construction workers and suppliers pour in. At that point, the challenge will be finding available labor.

For most disasters, when alls said and done and the rebuilding is over, its a wash; youre back to where you started, said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moodys Analytics. He pegs the wildfires damages so far at $3 billion, with lost economic output of $200 million, but expects those numbers to rise significantly.

Typically (an area) gets a big hit, struggles, then rebuilding begins and economic activity picks up  you can get more growth than you otherwise would have, Zandi said. Id expect it to happen fairly quickly. California is a wealthy state and has been down this road before.

Of course, not everyone in Wine Country is wealthy. The people who pick the grapes, clean the hotel rooms and wash the restaurant dishes cant afford long periods of unemployment. Assistance from government and industry will be vital for this more-vulnerable population.

Disasters are always much harder on the have-nots than the haves, Zandi said. The haves have resources: insurances, savings, places they can go. The have-nots dont. Thats why government help is so important for them.

Tatyana Deryugina, a professor of finance at the University of Illinois, has studied the economic impact of disasters, especially Hurricane Katrina, the biggest U.S. disaster, responsible for some $143.6 billion in damages and $30.9 billion in lost productivity.

New Orleans ended up with a smaller population as people relocated to Baton Rouge and elsewhere rather than face the daunting task of dealing with uninhabitable neighborhoods, she said. Something similar could happen here with people relocating to relatively affordable places like Sacramento. But a big difference is that homeowners insurance generally excludes floods, which accounted for much of Katrinas residential damage, whereas it always covers fire. Another difference is that this area is more well-heeled.

In the short run, the wildfires will create a lot of economic disruption, force some people to relocate, cost some people jobs and obviously a lot of emotional pain, Deryugina said. In the long run, I think the effects will be minimal because it is such an attractive area. Even if people leave, others will take their place.

The tourism industry is already looking ahead to enticing people to return.

Once this has passed, well work out a strategy with the hospitality community to get the message out that its safe and were open for business, said Meritages Palmer.

More than ever, we need folks to come and support tourism here, said Kruse, of the Sonoma winegrowers group. This week, everyone is sending money to the Red Cross and emergency services. Next week, if you want to help, buy our wine.

Chronicle staff writer Wendy Lee contributed to this report.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid

Disasters toll
Facebook delivered 5,000 meals to the Napa Valley Salvation Army on Sunday morning, joining the efforts earlier in the week by food trucks, pit-masters, restaurants and other culinary organizations to feed evacuees stranded by the Wine Country fires.

According to the Salvation Armys Major Kevin Hanson, representatives from the social media company reached out on Friday after seeing a call for help the Salvation Army had posted on its Facebook page.
RACINE  State Rep. Cory Masons first experience in local government started when he was at Walden Middle School.

It was through that experience he got his first taste in government, helping students get their voices heard through town hall-type meetings. Interestingly enough, one of his teachers was John Lehman, who later went on to be a state senator.

Little did Mason, who is running for mayor on Tuesday, know then that he would follow in his teachers footsteps and one day go into local government himself.

That is where the seed was planted, said Mason, a Racine native who graduated in 1991 from Case High School.

Of course, his education about local government didnt end in the classroom. While his parents werent personally involved in local government, they cared about social justice and government issues.

One of his middle school memories consisted of his family driving to Washington, D.C., to march in protest of homelessness.

We have a responsibility to lift people up, Mason said he learned from his family.

That wasnt the only lesson he learned from his parents. His mother was a nontraditional student and attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside when Mason was growing up. His mother, Roseann, later went to work there.

I went to Madison, but grew up at Parkside, said Mason, who attributes that experience to why he cares so much about higher education.

At the same time, his father, Cory Mason III, worked at several area businesses, including SC Johnson and a small business development center, where he helped entrepreneurs create business plans.

It was from that, Mason said, he learned the importance of having a plan and executing it strategically.

Outside the classroom, Mason said, he enjoyed spending time in a canoe. His first experience was in elementary school at River Bend Nature Center, which he said helps him relax now and has given him a greater appreciation of the environment and natural resources.

It was those lessons and experiences that Mason took with him when he went to work for then-state Sen. Lynn Adelman, D-Waterford, and later when he ran for state office himself in 2006 against Van Wanggaard.

Now he hopes to take those lessons to City Hall.

Racine is home. Racine is family, Mason said. While we have challenges, I know that what is right about Racine can rise to meet those challenges and rebuild our middle class ... I want to make sure our kids, and all of Racines kids, have the same opportunity to make it into the middle class that I did.
The Berkeley Fire Department received the call for help early Monday morning. They sent an engine north to Santa Rosa to help with what they thought was a "large grass fire."

When the strike team, made up of both Berkeley and San Francisco firefighters, arrived in Santa Rosa before sunrise, they were stunned to see the scope of the already massive Tubbs Fire.

A video shot and edited by a Berkeley firefighter (above) shows the crew's reaction when they realized just how large the destructive fire had grown overnight.

WINE COUNTRY FIRES: Latest on fires' destruction and the fight to contain them

As the engine headed toward the Santa Rosa Kmart store where they were told to assemble, the firefighters could see flames in the hills.

"Wow, those are coming out of the structures," one firefighter says. "Oh my god."

A few seconds later, someone says, "It's starting to smell like houses burning."

The Berkeley firefighters started to realize this was something more than a grass fire. When the strike team arrived at the Kmart, they found a fire so extensive that it wasn't worth trying to save the building.

Down the road, they found a gas station that had gone up in flames.

The video then shows the firefighters arriving at a housing sub-division, which had been so thoroughly burned the team thought they were looking at an open field.

"I had no idea, guys. This is over 100 homes," says one firefighter. "This is like a freaking bomb went off."

All that was left were the homes' foundations and chimneys.

Ride along with the Berkeley firefighters as they arrived on scene by watching the video at the top of this story.

As the sun came up, the strike team arrived in a neighborhood where they were able to start fighting the fire and keep it from spreading from house to house. They later found out that one of their fellow Berkeley firefighters lost his home in Santa Rosa.

HOW TO HELP: How you can help people affected by the North Bay fires

The Tubbs Fire destroyed more than 2,800 homes, 400,000 square feet of commercial space, and took the lives of at least 19 people.

The fire was 60 percent contained Sunday morning.

Read Alix Martichoux's latest stories and send her news tips at amartichoux@sfchronicle.com.
NORTH TONAWANDA, N.Y.  First came the sucker punch to their 13-year-old son from an older boy outside a dollar store.

Then came the gut punch from police, who told the parents they were all but powerless to punish the 15-year-old attacker.

We were essentially told that, being a minor, there was nothing that could be done, said William Crago, whose son was left with a black eye. We actually heard that several times: Theres nothing we can do.

Not anymore.

This city just north of Buffalo is getting attention for a new law that lets authorities send parents of bullies to jail for up to 15 days and fine them up to $250.

The City Council voted Oct. 3 to amend an existing law to add bullying, harassment and underage drinking to the existing curfew violations for which parents already could be held accountable. Lawmakers also removed a provision that prevented anything more than a warning for a first offense, meaning parents can face a fine or jail right away.

A community coalition begun by Crago and his wife, Victoria, after the May 8 attack on their son pushed for the change, which was supported by police and schools in the 31,000-person city.

It will make a big difference with the hard-core problem groups, said City Attorney Luke Brown.

Typically, police drive misbehaving kids home or have their parents pick them up, sometimes writing the parents violations if the child has violated curfew, Capt. Thomas Krantz said. The law change, he said, is not aimed at parents who cooperate with the police and schools in trying to fix the problem.

Its for the parents ... who dont have the wherewithal to do what they need to do to get their kids in line, Krantz said, The ones who say, Its not my problem.

Carolyn Thompson is an Associated Press writer.
DALLAS  A neighbor was the first to tell Paige Cane that her landlord had posted an eviction notice on the door of her flooded apartment in Port Arthur, Texas.

The 26-year-old was more than 300 miles away with no car, sleeping in a Dallas shelter for evacuees escaping Harveys floodwaters. The mother of four had no way to get back in the five days the eviction notice gave her to remove her belongings before they would be heaped on the curb.

Rental housing has been a concern in many cities in Texas and Florida after hurricanes Harvey and Irma flooded tens of thousands of homes. Texas renters have complained of difficulties getting out of leases on damaged properties, short timelines for evictions, and trouble finding affordable rentals because landlords have a glut of tenants to choose from. In Florida, advocates worry rebuilding efforts after Irma are forcing out mobile home park residents who rent coveted land in the Florida Keys.

In Texas, advocacy groups in Houston, Port Arthur and other hard-hit cities are fielding complaints. Lone Star Legal Aid, which provides free civil legal services to low-income residents, has received dozens of complaints from renters.

Its unconscionable, but there were landlords who would not extend the rent deadlines, even as Harvey hit on Aug. 25, days before rent was due for many, said John Henneberger, co-director of the Texas Low Income Housing Information Service.

Texas statutes require tenants to take landlords to court for rent reductions or lease termination  something that can seem monumental when courthouses are flooded, cars destroyed and incomes lost, Henneberger said.

Jose Fons, advocacy director for Monroe County for the Legal Services of Greater Miami, said landowners have started evicting trailer owners or renters from their lots, saying they are having problems with access to utilities.

There is a fear that some of them will change the use of land, so that they are no longer mobile home parks, said Fons, a concern shared by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Not all of the trailers are uninhabitable.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner urged landlords to waive late fees for September and give more time to vacate uninhabitable apartments.

For Cane, Lone Star Legal Aid obtained an order prohibiting an apartment management company from putting her belongings on the street before she could get back.

Claudia Lauer and Adriana Gomez Licon are Associated Press writers.
A 10-month criminal investigation appears to have come to an end Thursday with a 26-year-old Racine man being arrested and thousands of "fentanyl-laced fake oxycodone tablets" being recovered after two Racine homes were raided, the Racine County Sheriff's Office said Friday. Officers reported they found 3,622 fentanyl-laced fake oxycodone tablets equaling 16 ounces of fentanyl and 2.4 pounds of marijuana at two Racine residences following the execution of search warrants.
Trump thinks the Iran nuclear deal, brokered along with five other nations besides the US and Iran, is a bad one even though he provides no details to this end. Here's a bad deal: Wisconsin's deal with Foxconn.

Some details: $3 billion dollars for  maybe  13,000 jobs. Now that's a whole lot of socialism granted here to a foreign corporation with no thanks to temporary Republicans Mason, Barca, and Wirch. All that money to a corporation that put up suicide nets at one of its factories since its working conditions were so abysmal.

There is no holding Foxconn accountable. The state gave them a fast track to the State Supreme Court in case of any legal challenge, with all injunctions suspended so work can continue. Legal experts have already noted these provisions may violate the state and federal constitutions.

State environmental regulations have been lifted on this company that every other successful business in the state of Wisconsin owned by US citizens must adhere to. Apparently, it can reroute and divert waterways and dump chemicals.

No protections or guarantees to the hosting municipality or county to recoup these tax losses, even if the plant goes bust.

There's no guarantee that state or local companies/workers will be used to build or service the plant.

The use of eminent domain to seize and demolish the homes of property owners to make room for Foxconn.

This deal is so sweet for Foxconn, one practically gets tooth decay just reading about it.

Mark Giese

Mount Pleasant
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If youre the sort of theatergoer whos always seeking the new, youll have heard instructions like these before. Formal, Victorian and period attire highly encouraged, but not required. Youll receive an email on the day of the show with further instructions, including the address of the venue, which is not a traditional theater.

Excepting the Victorian part, those directions could equally apply to The Speakeasy, the long-running immersive theater piece set during Prohibition in a secret venue on the border of Chinatown and North Beach. The chief difference with The Mariner, the fourth production by 3-year-old company Third Cloud from the Left, is that the secret venue is a private residence, the Forest Hill home of producers Carlos Barrera and Josh Pelham, who are also partners.

Barrera and Pelhams home itself is extraordinary. Enormous candles perch atop towering columns. Meticulously arranged dioramas of beaded dresses and dead flowers and colorful butterflies sit in glass display cases. Plush fabric covers everything. Its a little like being in a coffin  an apt introduction to a show about three sisters sitting vigil over a dead body.

For Barrera, who directs The Mariner and also translated Fernando Pessoas enigmatic 1913 play from the Portuguese, the idea to make theater in his home sprang from a love of hosting parties coupled with the feeling that, working as an actor on other producers shows, not every project was worth three months of his life.

Barrera also dislikes the assumption that a show must be over and you have to leave right when the lights turn back on. That cuts the magic, he says in his kitchen after the Friday, Oct. 13, opening night of The Mariner.

I love the conversations afterward, he says. And for audiences, even if they hated it ... theres the food. Preshow offerings include wine, cheese and charcuterie. Postshow a whole buffet is served, including miso beef short ribs, roasted Brussels sprouts with grape glaze and anchovies, pickled beets with honey tangerine, and white truffle macaroni and cheese. (Unlike The Speakeasy, all food and drink at The Mariner is included in admission, which makes the rush ticket prices in particular a relative bargain for a whole night out in San Francisco.)

The actual play takes place in Barrera and Pelhams basement. Descending steep stairs, youre greeted with a tableau of three watchers (Annie Larson, Bruna Palmeiro and Iris Stone) and one dead woman (Haley Roth-Brown), all with their eyes closed, all so still you involuntarily quell your own urges to stir. (The basement is a space so intimate you become acutely aware of who among your fellow 20 or so fellow audience members are mouth breathers.) The scene is as thoughtfully arranged, as highly stylized, as the dioramas upstairs, evoking a vision of death as a beautiful, feminine ideal. Makeup, by Kate Richards, hollows out eyes, evoking characters in a Tim Burton movie, an effect dramatically heightened by Nicholas Torres macabre lighting. Each sisters hands lie daintily, as if posed for a portrait. Dried flowers bloom everywhere, including from one sisters hair. (Diego Gomez did the sprawling wigs.)

The actors never move, not a flutter, except to speak or to shift their eyes. When Palmeiro utters the shows first words, it takes a few syllables to realize thats shes speaking English, so bottomed-out is her inflection, so elongated each ghoulish syllable.

The content, the meaning of words is always suspect in Pessoas play, which is more concerned with philosophical questions than with narrative. The watchers talk to wonder why they persist in talking. They think to attempt to grasp their dreams or the passage of time or their own stream of consciousness. Mentions of the dead body lying before them come only obliquely, especially at first, suggesting that even the shows apparent premise, of three women mourning the dead, is not at all certain.

Even in a play without narrative, Barreras direction could do more to distinguish what makes one sequence different from another. Steven Bolingers repetitive sound design grates, and toward the end, the performers moan like ghosts for what feels like minutes on end, when their more restrained performances earlier in the show were both sadder and creepier.

At their best, performers mine a mighty range out of that restraint. Larson, in particular, can go from sooty to piercingly clear in her vocals, and she has that otherwordly quality of the fully committed gaze. When her character sees a mariner in a dream, you instantly see him, too.

Characters wonder why they even bother recounting dreams and telling stories, when nothing is worth the trouble. But the Third Watcher, played by Stone, offers a wise answer, one that also encapsulates the joy of live theater: When somethings not worth doing, but you do it anyway, thats what makes it beautiful.

Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak

The Mariner: Written by Fernando Pessoa. Translated and directed by Carlos Berrera. Through Nov. 4. One hour, plus pre- and postshow conversation. $40-$65. Private residence near Forest Hill Muni Station, S.F. www.thirdcloudfromtheleft.com

To see a trailer: https://vimeo.com/236511921
VIENNA  Austrias 31-year-old foreign minister declared victory for his party Sunday in a national election that set him up to become Europes youngest leader and puts the country on course for a rightward turn.

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz claimed the win as final results announced by the Interior Ministry showed his Peoples Party had a comfortable lead with almost all the ballots counted.

Noting that his center-right party had triumphed over the rival Social Democrats only twice since the end of World War II, Kurz called it a historic victory.

Today is not the day of triumph over others, but today is our chance for real change in this country, he told cheering supporters.

Still to be counted are more than 800,000 absentee ballots and ones cast by voters outside of their home districts. The outstanding votes are due to be tallied by midweek.

However, the votes counted so far show that Austria, where moderate policies have been the norm for decades, will have a government with a harder line on immigration and Muslims.

Both Kurzs party and the right-wing Freedom Party  Kurzs most likely government coalition partner  campaigned on the need for tougher immigration controls, quickly deporting asylum-seekers whose requests are denied and cracking down on radical Islam.

Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said the Peoples Party received 31.4 percent of the vote, a gain of more than 7 percentage points from the 2013 election. Kurz described that as the biggest jump in support in the partys history.

The Social Democratic Party of Austria, which now governs in coalition with Peoples Party, had 26.7 percent, while the Freedom Party had 27.4 percent.

The election returns suggest a harder line on immigration resonated with voters more strongly than Social Democratic calls for social equality. Social Democratic Chancellor Christian Kern acknowledged as much, saying Sundays results reflected a push to the right.

The Social Democrats were also hurt by charges of dirty campaigning after Israeli political adviser Tal Silberstein, while under contract to the party, launched Facebook platforms crudely mocking Kurz and suggesting the young foreign minister was anti-Semitic.

George Jahn is an Associated Press writer.
LONDON  British police are investigating three new allegations of sexual assault against film producer Harvey Weinstein, all made by the same woman.

Londons Metropolitan Police force said Sunday that the woman reported being assaulted in London in 2010, 2011 and 2015. The force said officers from its Child Abuse and Sexual Offenses Command are investigating.

The womans name has not been made public. The force also did not name Weinstein, in keeping with its policy of not identifying suspects who have not been charged.

But it said the allegations involve a man against whom another accusation was made Wednesday. That alleged assault  reported to have taken place in west London during the late 1980s  also is being investigated.

British actress Lysette Anthony says she reported to police on Wednesday that Weinstein raped her in her west London home in the late 1980s.

Anthony, 54, who appears on the British soap opera Hollyoaks, told the Sunday Times newspaper that Weinstein raped her in the late 1980s after showing up at her London home. She said she was left feeling disgusted and embarrassed after the attack.

Dozens of women have made allegations of sexual harassment and assault against the movie mogul in recent days, some dating back decades. Weinstein denies non-consensual sexual activity.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took the almost unprecedented step Saturday of revoking Weinsteins membership.

Weinstein, who backed many British movies including Shakespeare in Love and The Kings Speech, also has been suspended by the British film academy.

Also Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron says that he wants to revoke Weinsteins Legion of Honor award.

Jill Lawless is an Associated Press writer.
MOGADISHU, Somalia  The death toll rose Sunday to at least 231 people killed in the most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in Somalias capital, making it the deadliest single attack in the Horn of Africa nation. The toll could continue to rise.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed cited doctors at overwhelmed hospitals he visited in Mogadishu a day after a truck bomb targeted a crowded street near key government ministries.

As angry protesters gathered near the scene of the attack, Somalias government blamed the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab extremist group for what it called a national disaster. However, Africas deadliest Islamic extremist group, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital, had yet to claim responsibility.

Al-Shabab earlier this year vowed to step up attacks after both the Trump administration and Somalias recently elected president announced new military efforts against the group.

The Mogadishu bombing is one of the deadliest attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, larger than the Garissa University attack in Kenya in 2015 that killed 148 people and the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 in which 224 died.

Doctors at Mogadishu hospitals struggled to assist badly wounded victims, many burned beyond recognition. This is really horrendous, unlike any other time in the past, said Dr. Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital.

Ambulance sirens echoed across the city as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives. In our 10 year experience as the first responder in Mogadishu, we havent seen anything like this, the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted.

Grief overwhelmed many.

Theres nothing I can say. We have lost everything, wept Zainab Sharif, a mother of four who lost her husband. She sat outside a hospital where he was pronounced dead after hours of efforts by doctors to save him.

The countrys Somali-American leader, President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood.

The U.S. military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali military and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country.

Abdi Guled is an Associated Press writer.
Metro Performance Glass will put its business under the microscope as the glass products maker's management faces blowback from shareholders unhappy with their ability to grow earnings.

Auckland-based Metro Glass said it will carry out a strategic review of all aspects of its business while trimming forecast capital expenditure for the current financial year by as much as a fifth.

"The strategic review will assess the companys present strategy, longer-term market assumptions, and how the groups business model should be tailored accordingly," chair John Goulter in a statement.

The review was sparked by "significant variations" in the timing of both residential and commercial work put in place in New Zealand between Metro Glasss assumptions and the actual market, he said. The company expects the review to be completed by March 2018.

The share price fell to a record low earlier this month and has been under pressure after the company warned dwindling work in Canterbury and Wellington would weigh on annual earnings, followed by a second steep drop in August on a flat outlook for the first half, despite owning Australian Glass Group for the entire six-month period. The share rose 1 percent to $1.03, having dropped 47 percent so far this year.

Today, Metro Glass said first-half net profit and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation to Sept. 30 was similar to the same period last year. The company reported a first-half profit of $11.5 million last year. It will release its first-half result on Nov. 27.

It also said, however, it continues to anticipate improved full-year results. Metro Glass delivered a $19.4 million net profit for the year to March 31.

The Auckland-based company said it now expects its capital expenditure to be "in the vicinity" of $20 million in the year to March 31 versus a prior forecast of up to $25 million. It expects to maintain both net debt and dividend payments to shareholders in the current financial year in line with the prior year. Net debt as at Sept 30 was slightly lower than the $95.4 million reported as at March 31.

(BusinessDesk)

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Sunday is the start of the end of the world, according to one conspiracy theorist.

Self-published author David Meade of Wisconsin said Earth will encounter a rogue planet named Nibiru, or Planet X, and the apocalypse will begin.

Meade originally claimed the prophecies in the Book of Revelation would bring disaster starting on Sept. 23, according to his work on Biblical numerology.

According to his latest astronomical data, catastrophe was set to start on Sunday, Oct. 15 -- 40 days after the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21.

"The actual event of the beginning of the Tribulation occurs on October 15," he wrote on his website. "That's when the action starts. Hold on and watch - wait until the middle of October and I don't believe you'll be disappointed."

On his website, Meade wrote that September is the "Sign Month" and it is possible that by the end of October, the world will enter into a seven-year period of tribulation followed by 1,000 years of peace.

When "Wormwood" -- a star mentioned in the Book of Revelations -- appears, expected solar flares and possible loss of electrical grid may occur.

This isn't the first time that Nibiru was projected to collide with Earth. Theorists suggested it would occur in 2003 and when nothing happened, they rescheduled the collision for 2012. Five years later, the same doomsday theories surfaced.

NASA addressed the apocalyptic rumors in a statement after the new apocalyptic dates resurfaced and again said the planet Nibiru poses no threat because it doesn't exist.

"Various people are 'predicting' that world will end Sept. 23 when another planet collides with Earth. The planet in question, Niburu, doesn't exist, so there will be no collision. The story of Niburu has been around for years (as has the "days of darkness" tale) and is periodically recycled into new apocalyptic fables," NASA wrote on their website.

NASA senior scientist Dr. David Morrison explained in a video: "If there were a planet headed into the inner solar system and it was going to come close to the Earth... it would be bright, it would be easily visible to the naked eye. All of us could see it."
By

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NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

HOUSTON -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi said he won't consider dropping Aaron Judge in the lineup, even if his strikeouts start to stack taller than the brisket they serve here.

That was after Girardi watched Judge get one hit in 20 at-bats in the ALDS, striking out 16 times -- a series record. And that was before Judge struck out once in Friday's ALCS Game 1 loss to the Astros, and another two times in a 2-1 Game 2 defeat at Minute Maid Park on Saturday afternoon.

Should that change? It's worth discussion.

Judge has been at the No. 2 spot all postseason and hasn't contributed much outside of a single Friday that should have scored a run -- Greg Bird got a bad jump from second base and was thrown out at the plate -- and a two-run double in Game 3 of the ALDS.

"It's a team game," Judge said. "It's all 25 of us on the same road. This whole year, we've picked each other up. If I don't have a good game, someone else has stepped up. That's what this team is made of. ... Just keep playing our game. We can't get down about it."

Gary Sanchez, hitting third, has been bad, too. He has struck out 15 times in 34 at-bats while hitting .176 this postseason.

"Definitely, I've missed pitches that I should have been hitting and there were some bad pitches that I've swung at," Sanchez said, "and that's the adjustment that I need to make."

The plan of attack on Judge, the 25-year-old shoo-in for AL Rookie of the Year and MVP candidate, has been painfully obvious: slow, breaking balls, low and away. It's how he's racked up an incredible 19 strikeouts in eight playoff games.

Girardi was asked early Friday afternoon why Judge hasn't adjusted if the book has been easier to read than Dr. Seuss.

Essentially, Girardi said: Tip your cap to the enemy arms.

"The pitches that you're going to swing at predominantly aren't pitches that are down and away on the black at the knees or a little bit below the knees," he said. "I mean, pitchers are making really good pitches on him and they know they have to be careful, and they're being careful, that's why you're seeing some walks in here, too.

"So I'm going to credit the pitching. I mean, I watched the location -- there aren't teams that are making mistakes on him, we have not seen a lot of mistakes on him, and they understand what happens."

Judge is hitting .129 in the playoffs in one of the most crucial spots in the order. The hitters behind him -- Gary Sanchez and Didi Gregorious -- haven't fared significantly better. Judge has fallen into yet another deep slump, and that could be affecting others.

"He'll adjust to them," Girardi said. "He will. He's a bright kid and he makes adjustments on the fly and he's working on stuff, so I am confident in him."

The Yankees, down 2-0 in the series, need that fix ASAP.

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.
Foreign bodies invited to observe polls

The Election Commission has invited chief election commissioners of South Asian countries to observe the upcoming federal and provincial elections.
Glaciers cause damage to Annapurna Base Camp

Melting glaciers have eroded huge swathes of land in the Annapurna Base Camp over the years, casting a shadow over the prospects of trekking in the world-renowned Annapurna circuit.
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ISIS, on the path to destruction.

The Islamic State group once drew recruits from near and far with promises of paradise but now bodies of jihadists lie in mass graves or at the mercy of wild dogs as its "caliphate" collapses.

Flies buzz around human remains poking through the dusty earth in the Iraqi town of Dhuluiyah, 90 kilometres (55 miles) north of Baghdad, at a hastily-dug pit containing the bodies of dozens of IS fighters killed in 2015.

"They should have ended up in the stomachs of stray dogs," local police officer Mohammed al-Juburi told AFP.

"We buried them here not out of love but because we wanted to avoid diseases."
Canberra's first citizen jurors were warned they had a long way to go as they took their first steps to weigh changes to compulsory third party insurance.

Fifty members of the citizens' jury met for the first time to examine the ACT's at-fault, common law compulsory third party insurance scheme and consider any adjustments at the weekend.

Isabella Buckley,18, from Griffith and 73-year-old Mark Dickerson from O'Connor brought their perspectives to the CTP citizen jury. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

Chief Minister Andrew Barr hoped the deliberative democracy exercise would be a "circuit breaker" to reform the scheme for nearly 300,000 affected motorists in the ACT after years on the political agenda.

But lawyers have criticised the jury process as "shambolic" and expressed alarm such an important matter would be considered in "such an ad hoc and disjointed manner".
India imposes GST on Nepali ginger

Ginger worth Rs5 million has been stranded in Mechi Customs Office after Indian customs officials imposed goods and services tax of 5 percent on the Nepali spice.
Good morning Canberra and happy Monday. We hope you had a great weekend.

The capital is expecting a top of 25 degrees to start the week, after an overnight low of 8 degrees.

It's going to be a warm week, with tomorrow expected to reach 26 degrees.

Here's the news you need:

Schools to be partially demolished due to asbestos
Depending on your perspective, the Treasurer is either taking on those greedy bankers, or our biggest businesses are fending off excessive state intervention. But here's the thing. Both the banks and ScoMo have every incentive to talk up just how big a change the new BEAR regime will be. The Treasurer wants to exploit the anti-bank sentiment by looking tough on the industry, while banks want to exaggerate the dangers of the BEAR in their push to have the laws watered down. The reality of the BEAR may be a little bit more sedate. The BEAR could also have some good aspects for banks.

Indeed, there are reasons to think the BEAR may not really change how much bankers get paid; it will have little bearing on some of the things ScoMo says people are so angry about; and in some ways it could actually be good for banks. Don't get me wrong, it's still a worthwhile policy. But let's not overstate its transformative effect. First, the changes on pay are hardly radical. Under the new regime, between 40 and 60 per cent of very senior bank executives' bonuses must be deferred for at least four years, so that they miss out if problems arise in several years time. Scott Morrison has argued the pay shake-up could cost executives ''millions''. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Westpac and Macquarie Group already comply with these conditions, the others should be able to get there without much trouble. The Reserve Bank on Friday said banks "largely" adhered to the proposed rules on deferred pay. So it's safe to assume BEAR probably won't cut how much top bankers are paid  if anything there is a debate about whether their base pay will rise to offset the changes on variable pay. APRA will get extra powers to intervene in remuneration where there are "inappropriate outcomes," and Morrison is right to say APRA will be able to insist on pay being clawed back where executives don't do the right thing. Yet boards already similar powers (though it's probably a good idea to encourage them to use them). So when it comes to pay, the BEAR is worthwhile, but it's hardly a dramatic shake-up.

Second, I wouldn't hold my breath for these laws to trigger big changes in how banks interact with customers. Why? Because as Australian Prudential Regulation Authority chairman Wayne Byres has been keen to stress, the BEAR will only apply to "prudential" concerns  those that affect the financial or reputational standing of a bank. APRA chairman Wayne Byres says the rules will only apply in certain cases. Credit:Louie Douvis That means falling foul of the BEAR will require pretty serious misbehaviour or sloppiness. Draft legislation says banks will be required to develop "accountability maps" that set out groups of the most senior executives, and detail exactly what they are responsible for.

Senior bankers included in these "maps" will need to "conduct the responsibilities of his or her position as an accountable person with honesty and integrity, and with due skill, care and diligence." Hard to argue with that. Bankers subject to the BEAR will have to take reasonable steps to prevent matters arising that would hurt a bank's "prudential standing or reputation". The banks have a fair point when they say that is very broad. Even so, it's pretty clear what won't be included in the BEAR  many of the public's day-to-day gripes, such as the "rate rises and the fees for everything" Morrison has highlighted. As Industry Super Australia argued in its submission to Treasury, it is not clear that the BEAR will significantly change "how banks treat customers or the broader community".

Besides, the BEAR could also have some good aspects for banks, alongside the extra compliance burden. PwC's leader for banking and capital markets, Colin Heath points out that in the United Kingdom, where a similar regime is in place, there are anecdotal reports of banks getting some commercial benefits from the change. That's because having a clearer idea of who is accountable can lead to fewer people being involved in complex company-wide decisions, such as those on anti-money laundering compliance or management of data. Involving fewer people improves efficiency, and may also lead to better decisions being made. "An increase in clarity around accountability within large organisations, and banks within that, does have the opportunity to lead to faster, better decisions, and consequently drive productivity and good customer outcomes," Heath says. The BEAR may even contribute to re-building the battered public trust in banks, if it changes the perception that people in the financial sector aren't always held accountable for misbehaviour.
We don't see Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev as the sort of person to sit back and ride out his final months in charge of our biggest bank  even as his chairwoman Catherine Livingstone rampages like a financial wrecking ball through his money-making machinery.

No ATM fees for non-bank customers. And now, can you imagine returning to a world where branch tellers are rewarded for service not sales  as the bank promised on Friday?

ANZ Group chairman David Gonski. Credit:AAP

But back to Narev. As we said, no one is suggesting he is losing interest in his day job ... but it is interesting to see that Narev  along with ANZ Group chairman, David Gonski  will be leading a business delegation to Israel later this month.

The Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce (AICC) trade mission will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Light Horse Charge at Beersheba (or Beer Sheva as the AICC refers to it), and attend the opening of the new Anzac Museum.
An under-the-radar tech advisory firm wants to raise $100 million to invest in Australian start-ups  another sign of the resurgence for the venture capital asset class in this country.

Not interesting enough? Well one of the key players in this plan is the mystery figure behind one of the more amusing parody Twitter accounts in Australian business.

James McKinnon is a 15-year veteran of the corporate tech industry, and like many people in that world, he juggles many roles.

A co-founder, together with his wife, of popular babysitting app Sittr, he's an active angel investor.
"It's like reconnecting with your lost youth," said David Watson, 38, a managing director at Deutsche Bank who has been mentored by Fernando Hernandez, 29, an engineer in the Wall Street bank's global markets technology division. He credited Hernandez with good tips for retaining young employees, like giving them more flexible work-from-home arrangements, and with helping him spot trends in the financial tech industry. "It's valuable information," Watson said. "When you're making decisions about budgets, or priorities, or hiring, you can actually put into practice what you learned." It was perhaps inevitable that older executives would turn to their young employees for advice. As technology has changed the way businesses run, it has also put power in the hands of digital natives, and left older, less tech-savvy executives angling for ways to keep up. If you can't get a 25-year-old to run your company, you can at least tell people your CEO is talking to 25-year-olds. Malcolm Harris, author of Kids These Days

Could these executives just ask their children for tech tips? Sure. But workplace programs allow executives to peer into the future of their industry and bond with a junior colleague simultaneously, with minimal embarrassment. Reverse mentoring - another name companies give to younger people training older workers - is not a new concept. Jack Welch, while chief executive of General Electric in the 1990s, required 500 of his top managers to pair up with junior workers to learn how to use the internet. But executives are especially eager to learn from millennials, whose dominance in Silicon Valley has given older workers a fear of obsolescence. 'Generational consulting' An entire cottage industry now peddles advice to youth-obsessed executives, with books like Understanding Millennials and events like "Millennial Week", a two-day festival meant to "promote and present ideas reflecting the impact of Generation Y on culture and society."

Millennial consultants now advise companies like Oracle, Estee Lauder and HBO, charging as much as $US20,000 an hour to give executives advice on marketing their products to young people. Overall, US organisations spent about $US80 million on "generational consulting" last year, according to Source Global Research, a firm that studies the consulting industry. Compared with the prospect of shelling out thousands of dollars for one of those outside consultants, many executives prefer the alternative of using the young people on their payroll. "It's a pretty smart thing for them to do," said Malcolm Harris, author of Kids These Days, a forthcoming book about millennials and the economy. "If you can't get a 25-year-old to run your company, you can at least tell people your CEO is talking to 25-year-olds." 'You can't send 10 emojis at once, that's not OK'

Tiffany Zhong, 20, began mentoring Kara Nortman, 41, a partner at the venture capital firm Upfront Ventures, after Nortman asked her for advice on dealing with a new generation of tech entrepreneurs. Zhong now texts Nortman almost daily, doling out cultural lessons and pointers. She's cautioned Nortman not to describe socially enlightened people as "woke", since tastemakers have mostly stopped using the phrase in earnest, and advised her on the proper usage of "Gucci", a slang term used by teens to mean "good". She has also gently corrected Nortman's texting etiquette. "I told her, 'You can't send 10 emojis at once, that's not OK'," Zhong said. For Nortman, who invests in and advises technology companies, Zhong's lessons are not just academic.

"We spend a lot of time talking about the psychology of a teen," Nortman said. "It's influenced a lot of perspectives around how to manage my own time, and how to invest." 'Educational' These mentoring arrangements can be initially awkward for executives who are accustomed to dispensing advice, not receiving it. When Watson, the Deutsche Bank managing director, was first paired with Hernandez through his firm's millennial mentoring program, he was sceptical that useful advice could come from someone nearly a decade his junior. But the experience opened his mind. Recently, he said, he had spent two hours having an impromptu chat with some younger workers in his division.

"To sit down with someone who's on the org chart six levels below me is educational," Watson said. "You learn about yourself, and how you differ from them." And the traditional mentoring benefit remains in place. "I can still learn from him, obviously," Hernandez said. "But I hope I can teach him some stuff." New technology Many of the new reverse-mentoring arrangements include lessons on new technology and emerging market trends.

Gerald Hassell, 65, chairman of Bank of New York Mellon, asked his millennial mentor, Darah Kirstein, a 32-year-old vice president at the bank, to help him streamline the information he got from the internet. She set him up on TweetDeck, a Twitter app that allows for custom filters, and installed Flipboard, a digital magazine app, on his iPad. Eventually, Hassell began asking Kirstein for her thoughts on the direction of the company, and she became a trusted sounding board. "A lot of our conversations were, how are millennials experiencing our organisational change? What advice do you have for better communicating?" Hassell said. Uniting generations For Todd Sachse, the 53-year-old chief executive of Sachse Construction in Detroit, one appeal of the reverse-mentoring program was the potential to unite employees of multiple generations.

Last year, Sachse paired 10 senior executives with 10 younger workers and assigned them to have monthly one-on-one conversations on topics like technology and stereotypes of younger workers, with a debriefing round at the end of six sessions. "The feedback was outstanding from both sides," Sachse said. "It dispelled some of the misperceptions of millennials." As reverse mentoring programs grow in popularity, some young workers still lack the traditional, top-down mentorship meant to help them rise in their careers. According to a 2016 report by Deloitte, the consulting firm, more than half of young workers said their leadership skills were not being fully developed in the workplace. "It really is the opposite of the mentorship offer that firms have historically made to young people," Harris said. "Now it's just, 'We want you to come work for us, and teach us how to do our jobs.'"

Still, many of the young mentors seem happy to dole out advice. For Kirstein, who works at Bank of New York Mellon's Pittsburgh offices, the extra attention from Hassell, who is based in New York, has been its own reward. "I definitely get special nods here and there," Kirstein said. "The last time Gerald was here, he called me out in a town hall in front of a lot of people. That makes you feel good." The rise of Gen Z Millennials, traditionally defined as those born after 1982, may not have the upper hand for long. Zhong, who started a consulting firm, Zebra Intelligence, to inform businesses about teenage attitudes, says she's already getting inquiries from people asking to be mentored by members of Gen Z, often defined as the cohort born after 1996.
Anticipating a visit to Israel by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull for centenary commemorations of the charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba on October 31, the Times of Israel has reproduced a re-enactment photograph showing horsemen bearing the Australian and Israeli flags side-by-side.

Quite apart from anything else the image is historically inaccurate since no such Israeli flag existed in 1917, nor the State of Israel itself. That would come 31 years later.

Ben Chifley said it "was not a matter of choosing between the bad and the good, but of choosing the least of a number of evils". Credit:National Archives of Australia

Why such an ahistorical embellishment of a sacred event in Australian military history should be necessary is a matter for the organisers, but it is difficult to escape a conclusion politics is involved at some level.

I'm with former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer when he says: "Historical recreations of the charge of the Light Horse at Beersheba are inaccurate if either the flag of Israel or the flag of the Palestinian Authority is incorporated."
But it is also interesting that the conservatives are so strong on terrorism (and having a role in its formation) but are so weak in dealing with the long-term very serious threat to Australia: climate change. Rod Holesgrove, O'Connor A very bad call It's hard to believe that the government seriously thinks that contracting out the Centrelink call centre function to a foreign-owned company (Serco) will result in better outcomes for the thousands of people who have to deal with Centrelink. Or is this just another tactic for making life hard for the aged, the disabled, the poor and marginalised, students and the unemployed? Can the minister please explain the terms of the Serco contract? What cost-benefit analysis was undertaken before proceeding down this path? What are the performance measurements? What will be the basis for cancelling the contract? Will the call centre be established in Australia, or will all these poor souls have to deal with a call centre in India or the Philippines? What remedies will Centrelink clients have if they are given inaccurate advice? What will happen to the present Centrelink staff (and their expertise) who currently mostly try their best to assist their clients?

Will the ALP commit to having a long, close look at this arrangement when it comes to government? And Serco, you will not be running a detention centre (out of sight, out of mind). You will be dealing with thousands of Australians, in full view of the rest of the community. Catherine Rossiter, Royalla, NSW A move too far I refer to Tom McIlroy and Doug Dingwall's story "Ned Kelly's run wants to host DFAT" (October 5, p2).

Moving the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to a northern Victorian town as part of the National Party-led decentralisation plan must be among the silliest suggestions made by the National Party. The embassies and high commissions, which do business with DFAT, are all located in Canberra. Would the diplomatic missions then be told to move to Wangaratta? With a government that's completely lost its way, the next election can't come quickly enough. John Milne, Chapman Laws of demand Jay Nauss (Letters, October 13) dismisses the federal government's plan to reduce power consumption during peak usage as a "brain snap" and, consistently with former prime minister Tony Abbott, contends that what Australians really need are "more coal-fired power plants". I suggest that demand side management (DSM) makes far more sense than coal for a variety of reasons, in addition to the obvious environmental benefits of reduced carbon emissions. Not only would DSM obviate the need to expend billions of dollars constructing new coal-fired power plants, it would also help to increase the efficiency of power grid infrastructure, given that currently 11 per cent of grid infrastructure is needed for only 1 per cent of the time (ie, summer afternoon peak airconditioner usage). DSM would also help to bring down power prices because increased grid infrastructure costs have significantly contributed to power price rises.

Given that the US has been relying upon DSM strategies ever since the first energy price shock in 1973, it is difficult to understand why Australia has taken so long to catch on. Bruce Taggart, Aranda Not so super, man Pull the other one, Peter Costello. You want to nationalise default superannuation ("Nationalise it ... Costello urges super overhaul" October 13, p9), but let's see how that would work  a burst of positive publicity for this embattled government, then our public service would spend many months and many millions creating new systems, educating the public, and training employers. Then, when initial hard yards have been travelled and the new fund reaches a couple of trillion dollars, the government will discover a deep concern for the returns being earned by the members. The answer of course would be outsourcing  to the private sector. And no, we cannot be told what commissions and management fees are being paid, because that would be commercial-in-confidence.

So Costello's wealth-creating cohort once again rides to the rescue, and as icing on the cake, they would probably ask the architect of the plan to be chairman. G.Williams, Gowrie A bitter pill Jeremy Hanson's intervention in the proposed "Australian-first pill testing trial at Canberra's Spilt Milk Festival" ("Denials of political influence on pill testing", October 14, p1) indicates that he and his Liberal Party is not interested in new ideas, no matter how beneficial they could turn out to be, and that they are are ideologically rooted in the past  that adjective could also be used to describe their electoral prospects. Roger Terry, Kingston

Uphill battle finding buses Spot on, Anne MacDonald ("A bus stop too far", Letters, October 12). The difficulty in accessing the new bus routes is compounded on the hilly west side of Captain Cook Crescent (Narrabundah and Griffith). Try walking up to 1.2km up a steep hill with little or no shelter in the heat or rain  especially if you have health or mobility issues, or you are pulling a shopping trolley or suitcase or pushing a stroller! These latest changes simply continue a trend: over many years buses have been moved further and further away from residents in the area. Never mind that the area includes public housing, aged care units and a nursing home. Making bus travel less accessible and convenient flies in the face of the government's policies of encouraging people to use public transport and providing a service to people without cars. G M King, Narrabundah

Fair go on trolleys The outcomes for supermarket trolley collectors from the Fair Work Ombudsman, a compliance partnership with Woolworths and an enforceable undertaking with Coles, seem highly equitable for the collectors, provided, of course that they are honoured ("Backpay deal for underpaid trolley staff", October 11, p22). Fair Work Ombudsman Natalie James spoke of the "two largest supermarket retailers now accepting a moral and ethical responsibility". The underlying legal responsibilities of the primary contractor, and the contractee or principal, across all industries, await establishment. Gary J. Wilson, Macgregor Get real about Bimberi

In what appears to be a suggestion that dilatory bureaucracy explains a 17-month delay in finalising an investigation into Bimberi's dysfunctional history ("Misconduct investigation at Bimberi drags on for 17 months", October 10, p.3) let me say a brutal encounter with reality is necessary. Nothing has changed since bleeding hearts entertained the illusion that improvements would occur when Quamby closed. Big, bad, brutal inmates emerging from thoroughly dysfunctional circumstances merely moved suburbs. As a former Quamby volunteer tutor, my assessment is that there is a failure to recognise the core dynamic of who populates places like Bimberi. Overrepresentation of Indigenous youth, lamented by John Stanhope et al, skirts the real question which is: "why are so many convicted?" Is it attributable to police allegedly focusing on them; or an inability to pay for legal advice? Or, are our local ideologues too frightened to speculate that total community dysfunction explains so much about Bimberi's intractable problems?

Patrick Jones, Griffith Our toxic culture I was astonished to read an article on friendship surviving a different opinion on the marriage vote ("One of my best mates is voting 'no' to same-sex marriage. Can we still be friends?"). An educated, intelligent, professional person, a counsellor on family relations, positing the view that her default response to dissenting opinion was that the friend was homophobic. Attitudes such as that explain the toxic culture in some workplaces, the absurd bitterness of family law and child welfare proceedings, the social coldness of some neighbourhoods, the loss of fundamental respect and decencies and courtesies and trust that should (and used to) underpin our liberal Australian society. Counselling! Spare us the medicine.

Christopher Ryan, Watson Health for dummies Does federal Health Minister Greg Hunt really believe consumers are so dumb that they will rush to take up private health insurance because he is providing the industry with savings of a billion dollars over four years on the one hand, while consumers will get a new "gold, silver, bronze and basic" medal health fund rating system on the other ("Health fund premiums to be reined in under sweeping Turnbull government changes", Canberra Times, October 13)? Given that we accept a five-star health rating system on packaged food based on what is supposed to be in the food, rather than what is, perhaps he does. John Richardson, Wallagoot No defending Pyne

It was disingenuous for Christopher Pyne to disavow that the government or its agencies has a responsibility to prevent the breach of the abysmally protected computer systems of a "minor" defence contractor. It is abundantly clear that the government indeed has the primary responsibility to vet the protective cyber security standards of all contractors involved in Defence or other sensitive projects well before any of them are awarded contracts. To do otherwise is to reveal ourselves, yet again, as the weak link in the alliance and therefore invitingcyber attack. It is highly unlikely that our allies share Pyne's insouciance. A Whiddett, Forrest AWM signs thoughtless While it has been a pleasure not to see advertising material hanging from the front of the heritage listed Australian War Memorial, we now have another exercise by the War Memorial director, Dr Brendan Nelson, in the form of redone signs at the entrance saying "for we are young and free".

These are words from the anthem and are nothing to do with the War Memorial. If the director was bent on putting his personal feelings on the signs he could have used a more appropriate line "here is their spirit in the heart of the land they loved". Could I remind the director that the AWM is not his personal property. He is the caretaker for all Australians. The Australian War Memorial deserves considered planning and thought. Keith Mitchell, Campbell

TO THE POINT TRUTH ROUNDED OUT Re letters Glenys Hammer (August 13). The earth is really flat, it is just our round eyes playing an optical illusion on us! Brian Hale, Wanniassa DAMAGE CONTROL

A good letter from Ross Kelly (Letters, October 13). I would only suggest one change. In the first sentence of paragraph 4, I think "mendacious damage control" would be nearer the mark than merely "audacious". Phil Jackson, Kambah QUESTION OF COST Now the Fair Work Commission and the Federal Court have "robbed" the weekend workers of part of their wages will we see the "small" business owners remove their weekend surcharges? Highly unlikely. L. Christie, Canberra

IGNORED ISSUE I look forward to Shane Rattenbury leading a rally through Civic calling for the government to ease homelessness in the ACT. Of the 105,000 Australians who experience homelessness daily, more than 1700 are in the ACT. Almost 300 aged under 12. John Milne, Chapman INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS Most people who criticise modern individualism are firmly individual and independently-minded themselves.

Rod Matthews, Fairfield, Victoria SPEED LIMIT CHECKS Can the government organise free safety checks of cars for people who intend to travel over the speed limit? Anthony Reid, Murrumbateman MENTAL GYMNASTICS

I was disappointed that Jill Murphy (Comment October 11, 2017) didn't detail any reasons her friend had to vote "No" on same-sex marriage while simultaneously not being a bigot or a homophobe. That's a hell of a trick and she didn't bother to explain how her friend managed to pull it off. Logan McLennan, O'Conner LEGISLATIVE INTENT The sad part about the recent massacre in America is that the weapon used would have borne little relationship to the guns available when the Second Amendment to the Constitution was adopted in 1791. I doubt if anyone still keeps such a weapon except as a historical object no longer able to be used. Their problems in this area would be solved if the legislation was strictly applied to the weapons the legislators would have had in mind.

Audrey Guy, Ngunnawal DIVISIVE HYPOCRITE Blackouts may, or may not, start, Owen Reid (Letters, October 13) but it is certain that Tony Abbott will remain a divisive, idiotic hypocrite! John Griffiths, Mayfield, NSW Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message eld, not as an attached le. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610.
Most of the people in Parliament on a sitting day don't work there. They're visitors, or they're lobbyists. The lobbyists walk around with these dinky orange "sponsored passes" around their necks, granting them access to every office in the building.

Those orange passes are the backstage tickets of the lobbying class.

The number of orange passes we give out is about three times higher than the number of people who are required to register as lobbyists.

The only ones who need to register their names  and in doing so need to agree to abide by the rules we have in place  are third party lobbyists.
For his underwhelming government, which has publicly set itself the task of resolving its long-gridlocked climate and same-sex marriage uncertainties before Christmas, the pressure will only intensify in these final weeks.

Federal Parliament commences its final sitting schedule from Monday to see out a fractious 2017.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull may find his way clear for policy the country needs. Credit:AAP

Malcolm Turnbull knows this only too well, having lost the Liberal leadership once already in his short but spectacular career.

The dying weeks of a parliamentary year can be dangerous for weakened political leaders.

Mr Turnbull has been cleverer in his second iteration as leader in drawing in senior conservatives such as Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann as his Praetorian Guard.

Mr Dutton observed last week that "unity is the new black" in Coalition politics. It is certainly true that unity is essential, but it should not be viewed as an end in itself, so much as a useful precondition for getting things done  to governing effectively.

Mr Turnbull, no doubt because of his searing 2009 experience, has been inordinately focused on keeping his own troops happy.

For all this outward "unity" however, the government has gone steadily backwards since its near-death election experience in July 2016.

Persistently bad polling, under-appreciated internal resistance to his small-l liberal tendencies, and an attention-grabbing insurgency under way by Tony Abbott, have conspired to make the Prime Minister look unusually powerless.
The costs of any new environmental or climate change schemes must be "proportionate" to the benefit they are trying to achieve, the Turnbull government says.

In the clearest signal yet that the government is about to walk away from chief scientist Alan Finkel's recommendation of a Clean Energy Target, senior ministers are stressing the Coalition will only adopt green schemes where the benefits clearly outweigh the costs they impose on the energy system.

Cabinet is expected to consider Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg's policy proposals on Monday, with the package to be taken to the Coalition party room as early as Tuesday. The government is expected to dump the CET - the main recommendation of Professor Finkel's energy system review - amid stiff opposition from the Coalition's right wing.

The government's package will instead emphasise prices and reliability.
Locals demand compensation after man drowns in pit

Locals and relatives of Govinda Bohara, who drowned in a pit at Mahakali Municipality-5, staged demonstrations in front of the municipality office with the body on Saturday. The area remained tense throughout the day.
The Age's economics editor, Peter Martin, wrote a really interesting story this morning about some new research that looks at how easy - or not - it is to break the cycle of intergenerational welfare dependency.

The research found children of parents on Centrelink benefits are almost twice as likely to be on benefits themselves by their early 20s as children who are not.

Researcher Deborah Cobb-Clark told Peter: "I think what is going on is that the disadvantage for kids whose parents are on disability benefits and single parent payments is just really intense, and it is manifested itself in all kinds of things happening to them before they are 26: they are more likely to be on unemployment benefits, they are more likely to be on the caring benefit themselves, they are more likely to be on disability benefits."

"It happens to a fairly small group of people, but if you are one of those people it looks very difficult to overcome."
Perhaps it is his progress in fixing the North Korea crisis via Twitter, that has emboldened Donald Trump to choose now of all times, to ratchet up tensions with Tehran.

Trump's derision of what he has previously called the "worst deal ever" is characteristically inconsistent.

Even the good bit. For example, balance his contemporary position on Iran against his contention that the crisis with Pyongyang should have been resolved before the rogue state had a nuclear capability. This makes sense. Yet Trump is blind to the argument's obvious application to Iran  a country that was on the path to a nuclear capability but has agreed to stop, in exchange for sanctions being lifted, and its international bank accounts unfrozen.

While there are concerns over Iran's behaviour (mostly outside the agreement's purview, but not entirely), its nuclear retreat is a real-time, real-world example of how coordinated international pressure, coupled with a willingness to recognise legitimate, sovereign, defence and economic aims, can enhance global security.
Fur. Whatever, right? Australia is a beach country with relatively mild winters. Fur is simply not part of our fashion culture in the way that it is in places like New York and Milan. Or Russia. Oh God, Russia. I once went to Moscow during winter, and the entire population seemed to be swathed in unholy amounts of the stuff. But, what does Australia, about to head into bikinis-and-boardies season, care if Gucci bans fur?

In fact, fur-trimmed accessories do seem quite popular here, and I saw a lot of puffer coats with fur trimmed hoods and rabbit fur gilets this winter. The Rome-based fur house Fendi entered the Australian market this year, opening stores in Westfield Sydney and Melbourne's Chadstone. While they sell ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes and accessory collections, fur remains the brand's raison d'etre. There are Fendi evening gowns made from shaved mink cut to resemble flower petals, and Fendi coats made from 'Persian lamb' (also known as astrakhan, it's the tightly-curled fleece of a fetal  or newborn lambs; gross), rare sable and lynx fur.

Not being modern is the kiss of death for fashion. Credit:AP

I know fur is fur, and cruel is cruel, but it seems particularly abhorrent to me that anyone could dream of wearing the pelt of the near-threatened lynx.

By saying fur is "not modern" last week, as the house pledged to ditch it by 2018, Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele has done something wonderful for those who disapprove of fur. He has rendered it instantly, devastatingly uncool. And cool matters desperately to fashion. Cool is what underpins the entire thing.
The passing of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner prompted both positive and negative eulogising. From one perspective, he was a revolutionary who helped to dismantle the long-standing secrecy and shame surrounding sexuality. And from another, he simply popularised the objectification of women for the gratification of men.

The most surprising detail to emerge after Hefner's death was that Brooke Shields had featured in a Playboy publication called Sugar and Spice when aged only 10 years old in 1975. Photographer Gary Grosse received $450 to take the photographs of the heavily made-up Shields posing naked in a bathtub. The Sugar and Spice series of books in which the images appeared promised "surprising and sensuous images of women" from contemporary photographers, coding them as "artistic".

Playboy founder and editor in chief Hugh Hefner receives kisses from Playboy playmates during the 52nd Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France in 1999. Credit:AP

The ongoing controversy about the images, particularly once Shields was old enough to realise that she did not want them in the public domain, affected Grosse's career as a fashion photographer and he eventually became a dog trainer. Yet the fallout from the exploitative images did not significantly tarnish the Playboy name or Hugh Hefner. Shields featured on the cover of Playboy in 1986 at age 21.

Today in the United States it is a felony in most jurisdictions to publish a nude photograph of a model aged under 18. However, laws about publishing images of minors were not as definitive historically and internationally, particularly if a model's parent gave consent.
Passengers on a Bali-bound AirAsia flight say they were left terrified after their plane suddenly lost cabin pressure and dropped 20,000 feet shortly after take off.

The flight from Perth to Bali with 145 people on board was forced to turn back only 25 minutes after take-off on Sunday morning.

Flight QZ535 passengers described how they were ordered to adopt the brace position and use their oxygen masks, with some saying they thought they would die during the ordeal.
"The city was asked to be lead agency in the bid for Sydney to be World Design Capital 2020," the spokesperson said.



"The lead agency would need to be prepared to underwrite the estimated $2.5 million costs, along with other time and resources realistically required if the bid did not reach its fundraising target or the project costs were greater than anticipated.



"While the city backed the bid and committed to supporting and participating in the event if it had been successful, the significant costs involved and short time frame ruled out the city's involvement as lead agency."

Despite praising the work of the City of Sydney council in their outline, Design Sydney's bid was only able to secure the support of City of Parramatta and City of Blacktown councils.

"We started the bid prep [sic] in October 2016 at an early meeting in Town Hall with some of the lord mayor's own team, who gave us advice on how to frame the proposal for council," Mr Horton said.

"From the start, we felt the bid would support the good work being done in the City of Sydney and we were guided by the councillors on the best way to align with the city's priorities. We worked not only with council staff, but also with the CEO, and the lord mayor's office via the chief of staff.

"When it came to confirming support, the City of Parramatta and the City of Blacktown backed the bid. It's true that the City of Sydney declined to formally support. This posed some understandable questions from the World Design Organisation  how could Sydney bid without the City of Sydney?



The Sydney bid received the backing of other local and state government organisations, including Urban Growth NSW, NSW Office of the Government Architect, Greater Sydney Commission and Tourism Australia.
An overwhelming majority of NSW residents support a law that would give the terminally ill the right to end their lives with a doctor's assistance, an exclusive poll has found.

About 70 per cent of NSW voters support changing the law to allow voluntary euthanasia for terminally ill people, a ReachTEL poll commissioned by Fairfax Media has found.

Trevor Khan read the bill into parliament. Credit:Mick Tsikas

The finding comes as the state's upper house prepares to vote next month on a voluntary assisted dying bill giving the right to people aged 25 or over with "unrelievable suffering" to choose to die with a doctor's help.

About 18 per cent of voters said they were undecided on the question; 13 per cent were opposed or strongly opposed, the poll found.
Two Brisbane men who allegedly pretended to be police officers have been charged after a violent early morning crime spree left two victims terrorised and injured.

The two men, an 18-year-old from Capalaba and a 22-year-old from Wellington Point, broke into a home at Manly in Brisbane's east around 2 am on Saturday, police said.

The two men allegedly impersonated Queensland police officers in a crime spree across Brisbane's east. Credit:Glenn Hunt

It's alleged a 43-year-old resident was assaulted after she confronted the intruders as they attempted to steal her car keys.

The two fled on foot and the woman was hospitalised with serious facial injuries.
Games like Sky appreciate the Apple TV 4K's performance boost, with support for Metal 2 graphics offering a 4x leap in graphics performance. The need for speed Apart from needing an Ultra HD screen, you also need enough bandwidth to get Ultra HD content into your lounge room. Sadly we're not all blessed with decent home broadband, but thankfully Apple's iTunes store can be more forgiving than Netflix when it comes to running over a slow connection. tvOS 11 is going for more of a Netflix feel, making it easier to find new content. Netflix demands at least 15 Mbps to watch Ultra HD content, along with a top-tier $17.99 p/m subscription, otherwise its impressive adaptive streaming dials down the picture quality.

Unfortunately the Apple TV's Netflix app doesn't support Ultra HD yet, but Australian streaming rival Stan (co-owned by Fairfax Media) does and Ultra HD might also be available via Amazon's upcoming Prime Video app. The Apple TV 4K's extra grunt also underpins the higher resolution of 4K and enhanced contrast of HDR. Freeze frame Unlike streaming services such as Netflix, watching movies from the iTunes store offers the advantage of buffering  which isn't a dirty word. Sometimes it helps for your video player to download the next few minutes of the movie in advance and store it in the "buffer", to ensure the movie plays smoothly even if there are fluctuations in your download speeds. There's only a problem if the buffer runs dry and the movie freezes, which is what people usually call "buffering".

Netflix doesn't keep a buffer in reserve so if your broadband connection fluctuates Netflix dials down the picture quality on the fly, which can be quite distracting. The picture will only freeze if your broadband really craps out. Traditionally the trade-off with buffering on an Apple TV is that when you rent a movie the box starts downloading the video immediately, but it won't let you press play until there's enough in the buffer that it's confident the movie won't freeze before you reach the final credits. On a fast connection the delay before you can start watching is only a few seconds, but if you're on a slow connection and you're prepared to wait longer then you can watch Full HD and Ultra HD movies from Apple at better quality than Netflix could run over your broadband. Quick Start These days Apple has added a "Quick Start" streaming option which is enabled by default on the Apple TV 4K. Like Netflix, this setting ensures that a movie starts playing immediately by dialling down the picture quality if your broadband can't handle the load.

While Quick Start is user friendly, thankfully you can disable it to ensure that you get the best possible picture quality if you're prepared to wait a little longer before the movie starts playing. To further complicate things, Apple says you can't "download" Ultra HD movies, only stream them, but that's referring to desktop and mobile devices. The Apple TV 4K still buffers Ultra HD movies to ensure smooth playback, you can see this in action if you watch the internet traffic running through your broadband modem. On 100 Mbps cable with Quick Start disabled you're still asked to wait a few seconds before the movie plays, while via your modem you can see that it's downloading at around 80 to 100 Mbps. Press pause on an Ultra HD movie rental from Apple and it clearly continues downloading in the background, while the onscreen timeline shows you how much is in the buffer. Meanwhile Netflix doesn't work this way because it doesn't buffer, so as soon as you press pause on a Netflix movie you can see that it stops downloading in the background. Put to the test

LG has lead the way in embracing Dolby Vision, making LG's 65-inch C7 Ultra HD OLED television a great choice for putting the Apple TV 4K through its paces. The iTunes Movie store now joins Netflix as one of Australia's few sources of Dolby Vision content, while we wait Dolby Vision to come to a new generation of Ultra HD Blu-ray players and discs  which shouldn't be far away as the first discs are appearing in the US. The good news is that Apple has struck deals with the major movie studios to offer Ultra HD and HDR movies in the iTunes store at HD prices, plus any movie you've already purchased or redeemed in HD will be upgraded to Ultra HD for free if it's available in the store. Dive into the Australian movie store and you'll find around 60 Ultra HD titles available to buy or rent, with new releases like Wonder Woman and Spider-man Homecoming as well as older titles such as The Martian and Deadpool. At least half are in Dolby Vision. Movie night

While the iTunes Movie store has always offered impressive picture quality compared to its online rivals, over the years the Apple TV's SD and HD movie rentals have still fallen short of DVD and Blu-ray quality. Remember there's more to picture quality than raw resolution. Online movie rentals tend to dial down the bit rate which can lead to murky pixelation and a loss of detail in the shadows compared to watching the same movie on disc. If you're fussy about picture quality and you've invested in a decent television then you'll appreciate the difference. Thankfully the Apple TV 4K's Ultra HD movies look fantastic  watch Wonder Woman, Pan or The Martian and the picture is vivid and the motion smooth, while even the darkest shadows still look clear. It's a testament to the Apple TV 4K's picture quality and the improvements in streaming codecs over the years. That said, if you really look very closely you can see how Apple's online movies still fall a fraction short of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Examine faces in darkly lit scenes, like young Diana's firelit chat with her mother, and you'll see the slightest traces of blocky pixelation compared to the disc. To be fair, even on a 65-inch OLED you need to be within 2 metres of the screen and really paying close attention to see the difference. Unfortunately I was less impressed with the Apple TV 4K's Dolby Vision performance. Wonder Woman in Dolby Vision on the Apple TV 4K looks no better than the Ultra HD Blu-ray disc using standard HDR10, even when studying the brightest and darkest scenes. Meanwhile Pan in Dolby Vision, coming from Apple, falls short of the Pan Dolby Vision test clips I've seen from Dolby on the same LG television. Once again, Apple's Dolby Vision looks no better than HDR10 on disc.
Up to 40 industry players, Defence, and federal and South Australian government representatives discussed how and from where Australia's private industry could launch rockets in the short to medium term. Elon Musk, and behind him a design for space transport, is seen during a presentation at the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide. Credit:AAP South Australia, which appointed a minister responsible for space less than a week before the conference, challenged Defence's claim that Woomera was completely locked up for four years. "We will be asking the federal government to sort Woomera out," said Martin Hamilton-Smith, South Australia's minister for defence as well as space industries. We will be asking the federal government to sort Woomera out. South Australian minister Martin Hamilton-Smith

"It is a big resource, one of the best in the world. It is big enough to handle a lot of customers and I think the challenge for the federal government is to figure out how they are going to balance military and civilian use. "It's historically been under control of Defence. There is now a question as to whether ... the [new Australian] space agency should play a leading role in the future of Woomera; because there needs to be a balance. The University of Queensland's "HyShot", a hypersonic "scramjet", blasts off from its launch pad at Woomera. Credit:AAP "Now, that might mean that some of Defence's other activities at Woomera need to find other homes so that they are not needing the Woomera precinct, so that we [as a nation] can concentrate on space. Alternatively, we need to find another location. Either way, it's a Commonwealth problem and I am sure it is being addressed by the review." Asked whether he believed Defence when they claim Woomera is booked out and unable to be used privately, Hamilton-Smith said, "I think that [claim] needs to be challenged".

Hamilton-Smith also noted his state had launched the South Australian Space Industry Centre, or SASIC, a move designed to demonstrate to the federal government that South Australia wants the recently announced space agency to be based locally. "The Commonwealth and the state of South Australia have [previously] reached an agreement on access to Woomera for mining; we have reached a formal agreement to allow miners access to the range. So, if we have agreed on that, surely, we can agree on civil access for space," he said. Woomera was opened for mining in 2014, with the federal government hoping providing access to it would unearth up to $35 billion worth of gold, uranium and copper. If Woomera cannot be opened for space, he said he was determined to find another site. "I think a better outcome would be, personally, to see shared use of Woomera," he said. "I know it is a busy site. It was recently upgraded with a very big investment."

In the meantime, Hamilton-Smith said South Australia was talking to the governments of the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory, and New South Wales about "alternative locations" as a plan B. A Defence spokesperson said it supported co-operation with industry on use of the area. "The Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA) provides Defence and its international partners with a unique capability for the testing and evaluation of new and emerging war materiel technology," a Defense spokesperson told Fairfax Media. "It is a critical element of Australia's national security infrastructure." Concessions have previously been made for mining, tourism and Aboriginal title purposes, the spokesperson said, but they add that non-Defence users will be excluded "for safety and security" during periods of testing. "A major program to upgrade much of the test range equipment and systems is also under way to support new capabilities," the spokesperson said.

Federal Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne said what Australia's space agency would do was yet to be decided. Asked if Australia would be sending people to space, Pyne replied: "The government hasn't got a desire to focus on the headlines in space." He suggested responsibility was best left for NASA rather than Australia, which has never delved into space this way. "We will be focusing on the practical applications of space and how it can assist us in our national security, in our economic growth, in creating jobs in investment, and in being good international citizens," Pyne said. UNSW Canberra has signed a $9.96 million contract with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Credit:Images courtesy UNSW Canberra The minister went on to say that Australia would focus on things such as "our capabilities in communications, in reconnaissance and surveillance ... in Defence Industry, and uses of space from an economic point of view, like agriculture and emergency services".

Already Pyne has announced one federal government project involving UNSW Canberra and the RAAF building several nano-satellites in collaboration with one another for maritime surveillance, with the first lifting off in early 2018. But unless a launch site is found locally, it is likely they will be launched from overseas. "We are giving that attention at the moment," South Australia's Hamilton-Smith told Fairfax of the unknown launch site of UNSW Canberra and the RAAF's nano-sats. "If Woomera isn't available, we would like to see another site in South Australia made available." Meanwhile, Fairfax asked Pyne if he was pushing his colleague Arthur Sinodinos  the minister responsible for Industry, Innovation and Science who is currently on leave having cancer treatment  for South Australia, his home state, to be Australia's space capital. "No, I'm not," Pyne responded.
Maoist Centre to continue support to Deuba govt

The CPN (Maoist Centre), Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba key coalition partner which has formed an electoral alliance with the main opposition CPN-UML, said on Saturday that it would neither pull out of the government nor recall its ministers.
WA's minister for mental health Roger Cook said on Wednesday the government had now made steps to implement three of the recommendations the committee handed down its 2015 report. "Today in mental health week we celebrate an important allocation of funds  much needed funds  to better understand the life of a FIFO worker and understand the mental health issues which impact on that FIFO worker," Mr Cook said. Health minister Roger Cook will oversee the construction of a medihotel next to Fiona Stanley Hospital. "Anecdotally we know FIFO workers come under a lot of pressure. We know that FIFO workers are predominantly young male labours, and represent a large cohort of young people who take their lives. "We want to have a better understanding about the sort of lives they lead and the impact that has on their mental health."

The new research will be undertaken by the University of Western Australia's Centre for Transformative Work Design, and will "seek to understand the range of workplace factors that contribute to mental health issues in FIFO workers and identify positive strategies that can be used by individuals, families and organisations in the FIFO environment". They're free but they get treated like prisoners. Graham Pallot, CFMEU It remains to be seen whether the government will yield any information that wasn't covered in the 200-page report after 10 months of research in 2015. The miners' union has reacted with frustration to the announcement, wondering how much more research needs to be conducted to fix the problems which were already known. "When the senate inquiry was first announced there was a general expectation that at long last, it's out there," Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union assistant state secretary Graham Pallot said.

"And people just thought that once people understood what was going on, just on humanity alone, people would be rushing to implement this, put it into place, and start to deal with it. "There was a sense of relief from the workers when I talked to them  at long last something was going to happen. "And then slowly but surely, particularly when someone from their family or work colleague or whoever was affected, there was a sense of frustration where they went 'hang on, everyone knows about this, why aren't they helping us?' "They're free but they get treated like prisoners." For a lot of fly-in, fly-out workers quietly turning the cogs in WA's multimillion dollar mining machine, the announcement does little to actually deal with fixing the circumstances that lead to poor mental health.

Lives destroyed by the black dog FIFO and mental health Credit:sbs.com.au "It's not like I sat myself down and had a pep talk or a mental health session. When you're at that borderline and you feel upset, you can't get the words out, you can't think, you can't breathe," former fly-in, fly out worker Samantha Bothamley says. The 27-year-old Rockingham woman still suffers from anxiety after she was 'demobed', which means she was sidelined from her job on WA's Wheatstone Project, in January 2016 due to her mental health issues. "It was like one day all of the passive aggressive, and aggressive, behaviour just clicked, and I had a breakdown. Panic attacks, anxiety attacks, depression all hit at once.

"On a mine site it's not like you can just go up to your boss and say I need to go home. You can't get away from it. You can't have a time out." "Miners are dying," is Andrew McMahon's stark assessment. He leads the suicide prevention initiative MATES in Mining. "Six men a day die from suicide, so it has to impact our industry. One in 500 of us will attempt suicide, and 3000 people die a year from suicide. "The problem is that there's no hard data. We know that one in four Australians have mental health issues, or have a mental illness. "You've got to imagine if relationships, finances and those kinds of things are some of life's biggest triggers for blokes, the [FIFO life] can make it really difficult."

Andrew McMahon, project manager for Mates in Mining, speaking to members of a NSW mine last month. Credit:Singleton Argus Support organisation Lifeline WA, a contributor to both the first and second research project into FIFO mental health in WA, says even two years on they still had no indication of how many workers are touched by mental illness or suicide on WA's mine sites. "It's hard to define. There's been studies, but they haven't necessarily been very clear," chief executive officer Lorna MacGregor said. "The Education and Health Standing Committee came to a conclusion that they're reasonably confident that the incidents of mental health issues among fly-in, fly-out workers was higher than the general population. "The general population is considered one in five people may at any time be experiencing a mental health issue, it's about 20 per cent.

"[They] accepted that that was probably about 30 percent amongst fly-in, fly-out workers. "But that hasn't actually been evidenced and quantified." Both Ms MacGregor and Mr McMahon are right: there is little to no data on FIFO mental health despite the 200-page inquiry that took the better half of a year to conduct. It even notes: "The inquiry struck several problem areas in relation to statistics.

"Clear data was difficult to find in the areas of: a definitive total number of workers employed in the Western Australia resources industry on a FIFO basis (on either construction or production sites); suicide statistics for FIFO workers; and the prevalence rate of mental illness among FIFO workers." While it is almost impossible to find statistics, records or data of mental illness in the fly-in, fly-out industry, there has been pages and pages of anecdotal evidence from fly-in, fly-out workers to suggest this problem is not only endemic of the industry, but was slowly worsening. WAtoday has spent months speaking to both former and current employees of the WA mining industry and investigating their claims. It has revealed toxic workplace cultures that have been marred by the extreme isolation, systematic bullying, intimidation, demobing and alcoholism and their contribution to depression and other mental problems stalking these 3000-strong construction villages. We will tell their stories over the coming weeks.
Ain Issa: A group of Islamic State fighters has evacuated the Syrian city of Raqqa overnight, taking civilians with them as human shields, a militia spokesman says.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces , an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias, continues to battle Islamic State jihadists who remain in the city, SDF spokesman Mostafa Bali said. Foreign fighters did not leave under an earlier withdrawal deal, he added.

A US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces fighter runs in front of a damaged building as he crosses a street on the front line, in Raqqa, Syria in July. Credit:AP

"The operations has finished and the battle continues," Bali said. "Last night, the final batch of fighters (who agreed to leave) left the city."

The final defeat of IS at Raqqa would be a milestone in efforts to roll back the theocratic "caliphate" the group declared in 2014 in Syria and Iraq, where earlier this year it was driven from the city of Mosul.
Mogadishu: As emergency crews continued to pull bodies from burnt cars and demolished buildings on Sunday after twin truck bombings killed more than 270 people, Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi donated blood and called for others to do the same.

Mr Mohamed declared three days of national mourning and called also for donations of money to help the victims of Saturday's blasts.

Somali children assist the effort to clear the bomb scene in Mogadishu by carrying away unidentified charred human remains in a cardboard box. Credit:AP

The blasts left at least 300 others wounded, and families scrambled to find missing relatives amid the rubble and in hospitals. The toll was expected to rise.

Officials said the explosions were one of the deadliest attacks to hit the capital, Mogadishu, since an Islamic insurgency began in 2007.
Virginia State University remains in lockdown after a campus shooting that US authorities say was an isolated incident.

University police tweeted on Saturday night, "Shooting on Campus - VSU is on lockdown. Avoid the area. Updates to follow."

The Chesterfield Police Department says in a statement the incident happened about 8:25pm. They say responding officers found a man suffering from a gunshot wound with non-life-threatening injuries.

Chesterfield Police say "police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the campus".

The university's website says the Petersburg, Virginia school was celebrating the final day of its homecoming.
In most IT textbooks new topics are often introduced with case studies. As a matter of fact, when I was introduced to Business Continuity Planning it was through a case study discussing the effects of Super Storm Sandy on the northeastern coast of the United States. While Hurricane Irma was far more powerful than Super Storm Sandy and the effects were much worse, this was not only because of the strength of the hurricane but also due to a lack of adequate business continuity plans.

The extensive and destructive force of Irma left the local governments and businesses on both sides of the island overwhelmed by the loss of electrical power, cellular phone service, internet access, transportation and even running water. Losing telecommunication, in particular, had a domino effect on the island which crippled governance and isolated the population.

Military personnel and local law enforcement officers who have come to rely on modern telecommunications were unable to coordinate their efforts to maintain order and enforce the curfew. This led to widespread looting and chaos along with delays in scheduling evacuations and requesting much-needed aid. On a larger scale, a lack of communication from official channels (government) also led to miscommunication and misinformation. Cooperation between the French and Dutch side was hampered. Meanwhile, false articles and photos spread through social media causing panic and damaging the islands image and tourism brand.

This is just a small sample of what stemmed from the loss of telecommunications. However, a great deal of the impact could have been alleviated with proper business continuity planning by government and telecom providers on both sides of the island. Business continuity can be defined as the ability of an organization to maintain its operations and services in the face of a disruptive event. This event could be as basic as an electrical outage or as catastrophic as a Category 5 hurricane.

Business Continuity Planning encompasses three main tenants namely Resiliency, Recovery and Contingency. Companies need to make sure their systems are resilient, this is usually done through fault tolerance and redundancy (removing single points of failure) which helps them keep going if any issues are encountered. Recovery is the ability to actually get the system back online in the event that its not resilient enough to skip over an issue or disaster. Recovery is achieved through back-ups, fault tolerance, failovers, etc. Contingency deals with your alternatives if you cannot bring that system back online. This usually means having more than one pre-established location so that operations can continue if the primary location sustains significant damage.

Business Continuity Planning begins with a Business Impact Analysis to understand the impact of the disaster on each area of the business and identify critical systems and components. Through the Business Impact Analysis, a cost is also assigned to each area of the business which helps determine how much it would cost to bring that area of the business back online in the event of a disaster.

The Business Impact Analysis also lays the groundwork for Risk Assessment and Risk Management. These are self-explanatory but it is important to understand this is a continuous process. It is important to periodically review and see if there are risks that were not noticed before or if advances in technology can provide better solutions at alleviating risks.

Companies like Amazon and eBay when assessing risk look at how much investing in a resilient network would cost, usually a few hundred thousand dollars vs. how it much it would cost to purchase and install new parts. Along with how much money they would lose if their site was down. For reference, in 2013 Amazon lost $66,240 per minute of downtime. Similarly, some investing in the Caribbean tourism industry have a similar way of thinking. Bird of Paradise Villas in Anguilla is built to sustain 200 mph winds. As a result, they suffered minimal damages from Hurricane Irma and resumed operations the following day.

At this point it should be obvious, having a resilient organization means recovery will be quicker, easier and more affordable. Imagine if this type of resiliency was implemented at the airports, utility companies and by our telecom providers as it is in larger countries. Our recovery efforts would move along much faster. In the long run, it is cheaper to invest in resilient architecture. The airport is a good example, the cost to construct the airport was 117 million dollars and post-Irma repairs are expected to cost over 100 million dollars. Wouldnt it have better to build a more resilient airport terminal building to begin with? Keep in mind that over 100 million in material damages does not account for the amount the airport lost every day it remained closed and the residual damage to our tourism-based economy.

Another benefit to Business Continuity Planning is that it can help us make better use of our natural resources. As an example, GEBE currently experiences frequent outages and relies on fossil fuels to service an island dubbed Sunshine City. A potential solution for GEBE could be to set up a program to rent and maintain solar panels to residents. This could be done for residents whose houses are built to certain specifications along with government buildings. As a precaution, the solar panels can be retrofitted for easy removal in case of a storm. Implementing these changes would result in a GEBE that is more resilient due to a reduced load and a distributed network while providing an avenue for the company to pivot into renewable energy and use fossil fuels as a backup. After GEBE becomes proficient with solar panel installation and maintenance they could even consider servicing neighboring islands.

Business Continuity Planning is not my idea or a new concept by any means, these are security best practices that are followed by most of the businesses where I have worked, mainly to prevent the loss of customers and damage to their brand. In St. Maarten/St. Martin governments and telecom providers on both sides have better reasons, they have an obligation to the people because their decisions affect the livelihood of the entire population.

Admittedly, this level of foresight and advanced preparation is not common to our leaders, some would even say they are shortsighted. Nevertheless, after Hurricane Irma passed, many politicians praised the resiliency of the people of St. Maarten/St. Martin. I know this might have just been political rhetoric, but in this case, I hope our leaders can adapt and learn resiliency from the people of their own country and put business continuity plans in place before the next hurricane or disaster.

Ramzan Juman
PHILIPSBURG:--- In a rare move, Member of Parliament, Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams, directed a personal and passionate letter to the Kingdom government, asking Prime Minister Rutte to consider separating the much-anticipated reconstruction aid from the Netherlands from the conditions imposed by the Kingdom government.

These conditions have been spelled out in a letter from the Minister of Kingdom Relations, R. Plasterk on October 13th. It is just recently that the Chairlady asked the local government if aware of these conditions and to spell them out.

Minister Plasterk has now made clear that the Integrity Chamber and border control are firm conditions attached to Dutch hurricane aid. My concern is that a standoff on these 2 issues jeopardizes the aid that should come to St. Maarten. Furthermore, other potential donor agencies and countries could look to the Netherlands for leadership, meaning they too could take on a wait-and-see attitude.

In her letter, the Chairlady of Parliament points out again, the magnitude of the storm, the immediate assistance given, and our peoples own willingness to rebound and come back stronger.She expressed her grave concern for what the coming weeks will bring if not addressed head-on and with conviction.

On a separate note, MP Wescot looks at the issues of integrity and border control (immigration).Not matters we should turn way from, but surely neither, to make the aid to St. Maarten dependent on.

The MPs 3-page letter makes her request and proposal to the Kingdom government clear and to the point. Make the funds available as soon as possible and put the most stringent control mechanism in place. She concludes with the assurance that integrity and immigration will not be swept under the rug, but should reach the highest echelon in our political system, namely the parliament of St. Maarten.

This body should debate in all openness these 2 topics and the effects on the relationship between St. Maarten and the Netherlands/the Kingdom.And finally, like I have stated in the past, this is a good time to review our immigration policies and laws.

For the full text of the MPs letter, visit her facebook page at www.facebook.com/Sarah-Wescot-Williams-Member-of-Parliament

Click here to view Chairlady of Parliament Sarah Wescot-Williams letter to the Netherlands.
COLE BAY:--- On the 6th of September powerful category 5+ hurricane Irma did not spare the underwater world with her large waves and strong underwater motion and surge. Scientific in-water Marine Research conducted the Nature Foundation including the Coral Nursery, Conch and Seagrass Research and the Acoustic Receivers are totally damaged or completely lost.

The Coral Nursery was part of a three year RESCQ project (Restoration of Ecosystem Services and Coral Reef Quality) funded by the European Union Best 2.0 Program in order to restore Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis) coral reef zones by growing coral fragments in a nursery and transplanting corals at selected restoration sites. Nine coral ladders were located at the dive site The Bridge filled with coral fragments. Out of the 255 fragments growing in the nursery, only two little fragments have been found back. The strong currents and surge probably pushed the coral ladders down or tore them apart, leaving them covered under sand and sediment. More than one year of intensive research efforts has been totally lost.

Recently the Nature Foundation started a juvenile Queen Conch growth experiment on native and invasive seagrass beds in order to determine nutrition differences for conch growth. The project was a collaboration with Ecological Professionals, Wageningen University and the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute and funded by Statia Terminals, NuStar Energy L.P. and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ). Research structures, temperature and light loggers and tagged conch are destroyed and disappeared from the research locations at the Dry-dock and Barrel mooring in Simpson Bay. Large amounts of mainly invasive seagrass and many juvenile conch have been stripped off, disappeared or killed due to the hurricane.

Eight acoustic receivers were located in St Maarten waters in order to detect the movement pattern of sharks. For this study, the Nature Foundation was collaborating with leading scientist Dr. Erwin Winter from Wageningen Marine Research and the Save our Sharks project funded by the Dutch Postcode Lottery. Since the hurricane, no acoustic receiver or its structures have been found back so far and all receivers are definitely lost.

Although the Nature Foundation has escaped large-scale damage to their infrastructure with the Office, Marine Park Patrol Vessel and Warehouse receiving minimal damage, the Research Projects are non-existent since the passing of Irma.

The Foundation is looking into major funding options in order to rebuild the marine research set-ups and restart reef and marine monitoring efforts. Especially the Coral Nursery is very much needed, as corals on the reef have been damaged and destroyed by direct and indirect impacts of the massive hurricane. Toppers Restaurant has generously opened a Go Fund Me page in order to help the Nature Foundation rebuild their Coral Nursery; www.gofundme.com/rebuild-st-maartens-coral-nursery

Nature Foundation Press Release
Continues Support of Hurricane Irma Relief and Rebuilding Efforts

PHILIPSBURG:--- CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank (CIBC FCIB) donated US$75,000 to the St. Maarten Red Cross, aiding in relief and rebuilding efforts on the island.

The funds are part of the USD$450,000, which the bank committed last month to be distributed through the Red Cross and other relief agencies to areas impacted by Hurricane Irma.

The bank continues to stand with the territories impacted by Hurricane Irma. We have seen great efforts made by the communities to help those in need and rebuild the countries. St. Maarten, in particular, has not seen such massive devastation in over twenty years. The progress made in the weeks following Irma is commendable and shows the resilience and strength of the island and its people, and CIBC FirstCaribbean is here to lend a hand in the rebuilding. said Pim van der Burg, Managing Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank.

St. Maarten is one of the seven islands where the bank has operations that were affected by the storm in September, however with dedication and hard work by management and staff operations have resumed at its Cole Bay branch and will resume at its new Emmaplein location on Monday, October 16th, 2017.

Caption: Left to Right: Garth Sherwood, Country Manager, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank, Nadjesca Gumbs, Manager, Red Cross St.Maarten, Pim van der Burg, Managing Director, Corporate and Investment Banking, CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank and Michel La Haye, Head of Mission, Red Cross St.Maarten.

CIBC FirstCaribbean Press Release
CASTRIES, St. Lucia:--- During the 5th Annual Caribbean Women and Sexual Diversity Conference, held during the first week of October 2017, on Saint Lucia, trans-men and women from across the region convened to form a new Transgender Caucus Group.

This year's CWSDC was the first time that such a representative group of transgender activists from different parts of the region were together in one location, and they made the most of the opportunity. Activists took the initiative to hold dialogue about moving forward during two lunch-time meetings during the conference. This was initially chaired by Alexus DMarco, the Caribbean representative of REDLACTRANS and Vice-Chair of PANCAP's Steering Committee on Youth Advocacy. Subsequently, an interim management team guided discussions.

The new management team is tasked with reaching out to potential members among transgender activists and advocacy groups in the region, community mobilisation and education of transgender persons and the wider LGBQ+ community. The team consists of some eight persons from The Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, Guyana, Antigua, along with an advisor from Fiji.

The initial CWSDC-5 group was constructed to give voice to transgender persons in the region and to ensure that discussions on human rights, social equality and sexual and reproductive health are inclusive of trans-men and transwomen's issues in the Caribbean.

"These persons now have a seat at the table of decision-making and visibility and are available for front line advocacy, Notes DMarco. There is now greater visibility and unity among trans-people in Caribbean and as a group we will be moving forward, upward, onward and together as one Caribbean voice. We may all be from different Caribbean countries, but as the meetings demonstrated, our issues are all the same."

The organisers of the CWSDC, which had as its theme, "Self-development for Community Empowerment", are pleased that the trans-persons in attendance made use of the opportunity to connect and took the lead with the establishing of this new group.

"At the CWSDC, we made the decision a long time ago to be as inclusive as possible and are proud of these individuals for seizing the moment to create this entity which will work towards improving the lives trans-persons across the Caribbean. We expect to hear great things from them in the months ahead and will definitely continue to support their efforts," Kenita Placide of the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality (ECADE) said.

The CWSDC was organised and executed by ECADE, a regional human rights organisation, with support from United and Strong of Saint Lucia and UWI IGDS Cavehill this year. It hosted some 50 plus activists and presenters from 20 countries.

ECADE Press Release
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Claim: Barack Obama said he would replace the U.S. national anthem with the song 'I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing.' Rating: About this rating False

Back in October 2007, one of the hottest e-mail forwards was a picture capturing Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama standing in front of a U.S. flag (at an Iowa political event) with his hands clasped in front of him during the playing of the U.S. national anthem (while other persons on the platform with him stood with their hands placed over their hearts). This photographic brouhaha soon mutated into a (false) claim that Barack Obama "refused to put his hand over his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance" and then into the (even more false) claim that "he refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance" at all (rumors which the Obama campaign soon provided evidence to negate).

While this controversy was all the rage on the Internet, political columnist John Semmens included a bit at the end of one of his satirical "Semi-News" columns (found on the web site of The Arizona Conservative) offering a mock explanation from Senator Obama about his non-hand-over-heart stance, poking fun at the candidate by having him voice the opinion that "the American flag is a symbol of oppression" and that the U.S. national anthem is too "bellicose" and should be replaced by something gentler like "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing":

Hot on the heels of his explanation for why he no longer wears a flag pin, presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama was forced to explain why he doesnt follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. According to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171, During rendition of the national anthem when the flag is displayed, all present except those in uniform are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. As Ive said about the flag pin, I dont want to be perceived as taking sides, Obama said. There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression. And the anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all. It should be swapped for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song Id Like to Teach the World to Sing. If that were our anthem, then I might salute it.

This bit of satire evidently came off as too believable to some readers, as it was excerpted from Semmens' column and forwarded via e-mail (without attribution) as a genuine statement from Senator Obama. However topical it might have been, it was just a bit of political commentary-cum-humor, not Barack Obama's own words.

In September 2008, this same piece began arriving in our inbox with extra text supposedly quoting Barack Obama on his plans to "disarm America" and "end hostilities" with Islamic nations, headed by the claim that it was derived from the 7 September 2008 airing of Meet the Press and naming the interviewer as "General Bill Ginn, USAF (ret.)":

Yes, he told us in advance what he planned to do. Few were listening. The following is a narrative taken from a 2008 Sunday morning televised "Meet The Press'. From Sunday's 07 Sept. 2008 11:48:04 EST, Televised "Meet the Press" the THEN Senator Obama was asked about his stance on the American Flag. General Bill Gann' USAF (ret.) asked Obama to explain WHY he doesn't follow protocol when the National Anthem is played. The General stated to Obama that according to the United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Sec. 171... During rendition of the national anthem, when the flag is displayed, all present (except those in uniform) are expected to stand at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. Or, at the very least, "Stand and Face It". 'Senator Obama replied: "As I've said about the flag pin, I don't want to be perceived as taking sides". "There are a lot of people in the world to whom the American flag is a symbol of oppression." "The anthem itself conveys a war-like message. You know, the bombs bursting in air and all that sort of thing." Obama continued: "The National Anthem should be 'swapped' for something less parochial and less bellicose. I like the song 'I'd Like To Teach the World To Sing'. If that were our anthem, then, I might salute it. In my opinion, we should consider reinventing our National Anthem as well as 'redesign' our Flag to better offer our enemies hope and love. It's my intention, if elected, to disarm America to the level of acceptance to our Middle East Brethren. If we, as a Nation of warring people, conduct ourselves like the nations of Islam, where peace prevails  perhaps a state or period of mutual accord could exist between our governments ..." When I become President, I will seek a pact of agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity, and a freedom from disquieting oppressive thoughts. We as a Nation, have placed upon the nations of Islam, an unfair injustice which is WHY my wife disrespects the Flag and she and I have attended several flag burning ceremonies in the past". "Of course now, I have found myself about to become the President of the United States and I have put my hatred aside. I will use my power to bring CHANGE to this Nation, and offer the people a new path. My wife and I look forward to becoming our Country's First black Family. Indeed, CHANGE is about to overwhelm the United States of America "

It goes without saying that Senator Obama wasn't among the guests on that day's Meet the Press program (which featured Senator Joe Biden and author Tom Friedman), nor did he make the comments attributed to him on that show or in any other forum. (Later versions of the message also falsely attributed its authorship to Dale Lindsborg of the Washington Post.)

The following (also fabricated) statement about flag burning purportedly made by Barack Obama was appended to later versions of the e-mail:
NRN conference kicks off

The 8th global conference and international general assembly of the Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), which is being attended by over 1,500 non-resident Nepalis (NRNs), kicked off in Kathmandu on Saturday.
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Claim: A special compound added to the water in swimming pools will reveal the presence of urine and catch those who pee in the pool. Rating: About this rating False

No matter what your parents might have told you, no magical chemical exists that when added to a swimming pool will reveal the presence of urine in the water by producing a brightly-colored cloud:

In 1958 I spent two weeks visiting my father in Sacramento, California. At the YMCA pool, I was told by fellow-children that this chemical (colour was red) was in the water. I was told the horrible embarrassment of being "discovered" peeing in the water had happened to a FOAF only "last week." I never tried it out, obviously. Too terrified to even THINK of it. Never saw red stains in the water, either.

As "Alan" at the Aqua Clear web site says, "There is no chemical that can function as an indicator for urine in a pool." Others in the industry concur: this belief is all chimera and no substance.

Those in the pool supply business are routinely confronted with requests for the "urine-indicator dye" (as the mythical substance has come to be known). The belief in such a chemical spans many countries, as does the juvenile certainty particular pools are spiked with it.

Experts on such matters say although a reliable urine-detecting dye could be produced, the trick would be getting it to react only to urine and to not trigger in the presence of similar organic compounds likely present in swimming pools. It's not a compound anyone appears to be working on either, and with good reason: who'd want it? Kids are kids, and their expected reaction to the news that pissing in the pool would produce bright purple or red trails would be to jump right in with the intent of putting that theory to the test. Especially in a public pool where one's indiscretions can be blamed on the fellow swimming by, what kid wouldn't avail himself of the naughty pleasure of invoking billowing clouds of dye?

Or, as one old-time Boston-area poolman put it, "If such chemicals did exist, every municipal pool in Boston would be bright purple." (A heartening thought, that. One could drown Barney, and the body wouldn't be found for days.)

Chalk this belief up as what it is: yet another sneaky parent trick meant to keep kids in check. A similar baseless rumor about naughty perpetrators being caught red-handed (so to speak) has to do with school fire alarms. A number of kids have heard these mechanisms are booby-trapped with a packet of red dye that will spray upon whoever pulls the lever, marking him as the one who did the deed. (Yes, dyes are sometimes used with fire alarms to help catch pranksters who take perverse delight in setting off false alarms, but those dyes have come into widespread use only fairly recently, and they are most commonly used as booby-traps set by investigators who have some idea who the perpetrator is or where he will strike next, not as a permanent feature of the alarms. Most kids who were told that all of their schools' fire alarms were set to mark anyone who triggered them with a special dye were being hoaxed with a bit of deterrent fiction.)

Sightings: Barbara Leaming's 1985 Orson Welles  A Biography claims Welles and his pal Charlie MacArthur pulled this "urine-indicator dye" prank on their friends around 1937 and were rewarded with raspberry-colored clouds billowing in the water around the guilty swimmers. In an episode of Nickelodeon's The Adventures of Pete & Pete ("Splashdown"), a substance called "Wee-Wee See" is used to catch a pool-peeing perpetrator. And the mythical urine-detecting pool chemical also makes an appearance in the 2010 film Grown Ups:
NRNA member arrested for duping Japanese prof

Former general secretary of the Japan chapter of Non-Resident Nepali Association has been arrested on charge of duping a Japanese national of Rs 60 million.
The First United Methodist Church in Stamford held the blessing of the animals on Saturday.
PMs move violates poll code but wont affect elections: EC

Amid widespread criticism of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for inducting eight ministers from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party on Friday, a day before the scheduled dissolution of Parliament,
Police arrests 3 with 15 kg marijuana

Mahottari police has arrested three individuals with 15 kg of marijuana on Sunday.
Prisoners of Kathmandu

The city has become a sponge that soaks in cultures, individuals, parties and spiritual questions
With the sun shining, clear skies above and a bit of wind, Panhandle area school bands marched down Broadway in Scottsbluff.

Friends, family, alumni and music lovers all gathered Saturday to watch as the bands marched in the Old West Weekend Parade and Band Competition.

The bands from the Scottsbluff and Alliance middle schools as well as Scottsbluff, Gering, Mitchell, Minatare and Alliance high schools gathered in the Star-Herald parking lot early in the morning for one final rehearsal for the competition.

Spectators lined the sides of Broadway with their lawn chairs, pets and blankets to see the bands march from 15th Street to 24th Street.

Some of the bands played traditional marching music, while others played excerpts from popular songs as well as classic rock.

Mitchell High School band chose to play a rendition of Victorious by Panic! at the Disco and Alliance High School played the opening riffs of Ozzy Osbornes Crazy Train.

Lindsey Schick, parent of a Bluffs Middle School band member, said she was excited about the parade. This is the second year Schicks daughter has played in the parade.

I am excited just for them to get down and have a good time. Theyre really cool to watch. I know shes very inspired by it, Schick said about her daughter.

After the morning parade, the Scottsbluff freshman band, high school band and the Alliance High School band all participated in the field competition.

For the field competition the bands played two to three songs each while showing off their intertwining marching skills.

One Alliance High parent said she was extremely proud of the students, specifically how well spaced out their marching was.

Frank Ibero, Scottsbluff High School band director, said the bands are rated on a 1 to 5 scale.

One being superior or the highest rating possible, two excellent, three good, four fair and five unprepared, Ibero said.

The Scottsbluff and Alliance middle schools both rated as superior. Minatare and Mitchell high schools were rated as excellent with Gering, Alliance and Scottsbluff high schools rated as superior.

In the field competition, the Scottsbluff freshman band rated excellent. Alliance and Scottsbluff high schools were both rated superior.
The Backaracks Bar and Grill is hosting the fifth annual Save-A-Rack event Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m.

Save-A-Rack is an auction of extravagantly decorated bras. The proceeds are donated to Festival of Hope, which pays the travel expenses for families of breast cancer patients.

Bob Scripter, owner of Backaracks, shared about the fundraising event, saying over the last four years they have raised $172,803.20.

Weve only been open for five years, Scripter said. We opened on Oct. 1, and we didnt have a bra auction then, but we had a sales representative from KNEB contacted me. His name is Steve Flower.

Flower had seen a bra auction at a Wyoming bar and restaurant and told Scripter about the idea.

We got a hold of Festival of Hope and we got them on board, Scripter said. And that is where all the proceeds go, to Festival of Hope. The money is not used for medical expenses; its used for family travel expenses and things like that for the people in the area.

Scripter said the first year they held the Save-A-Rack event, they raised over $17,000. He nearly doubled that the second year and in the third and fourth years they raised $64,000 each time.

Its pretty incredible how the thing has taken off, Scripter said.

Backaracks is still accepting bra submissions through Monday, Oct. 16.

Well take bras after that but its harder for us because we take pictures of them and put them on the big screen, Scripter said.

Scripter also talked about why they hold this event each year.

Just simply to raise funds for the Festival of Hope, he said. We thought it was a wonderful organization so we jumped on board to try to raise some money, and since then its just kind of snowballed into a phenomenal event.

The donated bras are all unique and vary not only in decoration, but also in material.

Scripter said one of the most unique bras he has seen donated was crafted completely out of leather.

There have been just some phenomenal bras that have come through, he said.

This years Save-A-Rack event also offers raffle prizes.

Weve got a tailgate package where we have a Grizzly Cooler and a little tailgate Green Mountain Grill and some other things that go along with it, Scripter said.

Other donated items will be auctioned off as well.

Scripter shared his thoughts on the goal for this years auction.

We always have kind of a number in our mind. Sixty-four thousand, I never thought wed get there but to do it two years in a row, Scripter said trailing off in disbelief. Well hope for the best and if we can get over $28,000 this year, thatll put us over $200,000 for five years.

The most a bra has gone for at the Save-A-Rack event is $12,600.

Its quite an auction and its a lot of fun, Scripter said.

The Save-A-Rack auction starts at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Backaracks Bar and Grill.
SCOTTSBLUFF  The Longfellow Boys Club members have found yet another way to serve their community.

Partnering with Walmart to use as a location, the fourth- and fifth-grade boys have been collecting winter coats, hats and gloves for others.

Ronnie Sims, fourth-grade teacher as well as mentor in the Boys Club, said there was a need that was not being met in the boys school and community.

We see a lot of kids here that dont have winter coats, winter hats or winter gloves. They cant afford them, Sims said. So we thought we could get out in the community and ask for those kinds of donations.

Sims said they have been asking people as they enter Walmart, to buy coats, hats and gloves and donate it to the Boys Club. He also said people could make a cash donation as well.

Then we would decide whatever sizes or materials we didnt get, wed go back and purchase those before winter hits, which its been pretty cold lately so weve been dispersing quite a few of those items already, Sims said.

Learning to care for the community is one of the main points the Boys Club teaches.

Were doing this just so the boys can understand that theres a need in our community as well as every community, Sims said. If were more than capable of helping our community, then thats what we want to do.

Sims said a community is like a house.

You live at your house and you want to take care of it. You want to make sure that its nice and everybody is happy, he said. So we kind of look at it like our community is our house; we want to make sure that if we can do something to help another person, were there to do that.

Sims said he hopes the boys will keep that mindset as they continue to grow up and mature.

Aside from caring for the community, Sims said the coat drive also serves as a lesson for the Boys Club.

I think the big picture of it is just to show our boys to start looking at life like what can I do for others instead of a me, me, me kind of thing, Sims said. A lot of these kids dont see the hardships that some of the kids go through everyday; theyre very fortunate. And I think they need to see that life isnt always going to be awesome for everybody. So if we can help in any way, thats always a good thing.

The Boys Club has collected roughly 60 coats and around 80 hats and gloves combined.

More new coats than used, but we have gotten quite a few used ones, which weve taken to the laundry mat and washed, Sims said.

Sims talked about working from Longfellow out into the community.

Our idea is to take care of our family at Longfellow, so the kids that need them here, he said. And as soon as we get all of those taken care of Id like to go out to the other schools in the district and take care of those needs as well.

The club has also raised $1,438 in cash donations.

If we determine that we need some more coats after weve given them all out, then, yes, well go purchase more and take care of those ones, Sims said. However, if there isnt a lot of need to spend that money, we do plan on using that money.

Sims said they plan to use the extra money to buy Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, as well as presents, for families who cant afford it.

We do want to say thank you, Sims said. Just for our community, to say thank you to everybody thats contributed. Because people are giving and I dont want that to go unnoticed. Its nice to just say thank you.
Editor's note: This is the ninth in a series of columns about the 100-year anniversary of the U.S. entry into World War I.

Bread was the topic of much conversation in in Iredell County in late January and February of 1918 during the First World War. Americas wheat production was good, and Americas land had not been ravaged by war, so American farmers had to help feed our Allies, whose lands were destroyed and whose men had been at war in Europe for more than three years.

President Woodrow Wilson, who had been re-elected on the slogan, He Kept Us Out of War, asked Americans to give up some of their meat and refined wheat bread in order to help feed our Allies, through Executive Order 2679-A of Aug. 10, 1917.

The front page of The Landmark of Jan. 29, 1918, told readers what to expect in a lengthy article titled, Now Eat War Bread. Basically, it meant Americans would be put on reduced rations by means of wheatless and meatless Days, through a rationing system implemented by President Wilson and the U.S. Food Administration, directed by Herbert Hoover. A large part of the program would be the making of "Victory Bread," as the Food Administration called it.

The reduced rations are asked for the purpose of creating a larger export surplus of food for the European Allies, stated The Landmark. The rationing system, as presented by the President in a proclamation and by Food Administrator Hoover in a list of regulations, forms the food administration's 1918 food conservation programme.

There were four main parts to the new programme, as it was spelled in 1918:

1. Effective immediately, baker's bread would contain a 5 per cent substitution of other cereals for wheat until a 20 percent substitution is reached Feb. 24.

2. Householders would have to purchase an equal amount of substitute flours for every pound of wheat flour purchased.

3. Sales by millers to wholesalers and wholesalers to retailers would be 70 percent of the amount of wheat flour sold in 1917.

4. The Food Administration would purchase for the army and for the allies, 3O percent of the nations flour output.

This would translate to a 196-pound barrel of flour being made from 264 pounds of wheat, which would be 74 percent flour, the rest being non-wheat flour. Furthermore, hotels and restaurants would be classified as bakeries and would be required to serve the new Victory Bread.

Also, there was to be no forcible limitation of purchases by householders. The government hoped that the program would work by means of the good will of and the willingness of the American people to sacrifice. ... We have but one police force  the American woman, and we depend upon her to see that these rules are obeyed by the small minority who may fail."

Mr. Hoover estimated that national, voluntary observance of the new regulations would save 15 million bushels of wheat a month for shipment abroad, which would enable the Allies to subsist, although their ration will be short.

"To provide sufficient cereal food, homes, public eating places, dealers and manufacturers should substitute potatoes, vegetables, corn, barley, oats and rice products, and the mixed cereal bread and other products of the bakers which contain an admixture of other cereal.

"In order that consumption may be restricted to this extent, Mondays and Wednesdays should be observed as wheatless days each week, and one meal each day should be observed as a wheatless meal.

"In both homes and public eating places, in order to reduce the consumption of beef, pork and sheep products, Tuesday should be observed as meatless day in each week, one meatless meal should be observed in each day; while in addition, Saturday in each week should further be observed as a day upon which there should be no consumption of pork products."

--

RECIPES FROM CELESTE HENKEL

Miss Celeste Henkel, the Iredell County home demonstration agent, offered Landmark readers some recipes using cornmeal, rather than refined wheat flour:

Corn Bread

First recipe: 2 cups corn meal; 2 cups sweet milk (whole or skim); 4 teaspoons baking powder; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 tablespoons fat (or shortening); 1 teaspoon salt; 1 egg (may be omitted).

OR

Second recipe: 2 cups corn meal; 2 cups sour milk; 1 teaspoon soda; 1 tablespoon sugar; 2 tablespoons fat (or shortening); 1 teaspoon salt; 1 egg (may be omitted).

Directions: Mix dry ingredients. Add milk, well-beaten egg and melted fat (or shortening). Beat well. Bake in shallow pan for about 30 minutes.

Corn Dodgers

2 cups corn meal; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 teaspoons fat (or shortening); 1 3/4 cups boiling water. Pour the boiling water over the other materials. Beat well. When cool, form into thin cakes and bake 30 minutes in a hot oven. Makes 14 biscuits. These crisp little biscuits are good with butter or gravy. Eat them with your meat and vegetables.

An Old Southern Recipe

Here is an old-fashioned soft spoon bread that Southerners like. With milk or syrup, it makes a satisfying meal.

2 cups water; 1 cup milk (whole or skim); 1 cup corn meal; 1 tablespoon fat (or shortening); 2 eggs; 2 teaspoons salt. Mix water and corn meal and bring to the boiling point and cook 5 minutes. Beat eggs well and add with other materials to the mush. Beat well and bake in a well-greased pan for 25 minutes in a hot oven. Serve from the same dish with a spoon. Makes enough for six.

Author's note: Miss Henkel would go on to become Iredell Countys only elected female school superintendent. The elementary school in West Iredell is named in her honor.
Here's a roundup of some of the best -- and worst -- of the week in Iredell and elsewhere:
Somalia: At least 137 dead in Mogadishu blasts

A massive bomb attack in a busy area of the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday is now known to have killed at least 137 people, police say.
Turkish Airlines marks four years of operations in Nepal

Turkish Airlines on Saturday celebrated 4 years of operations in Nepal. The carrier started offering its services in Nepal on September 2, 2013 with four weekly flights between Istanbul and Kathmandu.
"Saturday Night Live" this week addressed allegations that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted and harassed women, after facing criticism last week for not including any jokes about the unfolding controversy.

The NBC flagship comedy show first focused on the Weinstein allegations during "Actress Round Table." The recurring sketch has always focused on the mistreatment of women in Hollywood and representation of women in movies, but its gag is that Kate McKinnon plays Debette Goldry, an older actress who faced unspeakable treatment during the golden age of Hollywood, and makes kooky remarks.

On Saturday, Aidy Bryant introduced Goldry as "the winner of the Humphrey Bogart Good Sport award."

"In light of the news about Harvey Weinstein," Bryant asked in the sketch, "have you ever experienced sexual harassment in Hollywood?"

"But of course, yes," said Marion Cotillard (Cecily Strong)."Yes, absolutely," added Viola Davis (Leslie Jones).

"Have I ever been sexually harassed? Good Friday, where do you want me to start?" Goldry quipped. "Women being harassed is Hollywood. Everything old is new again - producers are abusing starlets, there's Nazis marching in the street, suddenly nude pantyhose are on trend - I've never felt more at home! When's polio coming back?"

Bryant then asked whether the actresses on the panel have ever had experiences with Weinstein or other producers - yielding the most brutal joke at Weinstein's expense.

"One time a producer asked if I was comfortable with nudity, but it turns out he meant his own," Cotillard said. Then Goldry chimed in:

"I actually did have one meeting with Harvey. I was invited to his hotel room, and when I arrived, he was naked, hanging upside from a monkey bar. He tried to trick me into thinking his genitals were actually his face. The resemblance is uncanny."

"Actress Round Table" only features women, so host Kumail Nanjiani didn't appear in it. But perhaps the show's writers saw this familiar construction - along with McKinnon's powerhouse comedic abilities on full display - as the best, and safest, way to talk about Weinstein and get laughs, even if the host was absent.

Later in the show, Weekend Update began immediately with Weinstein jokes.

"Apple announced it will add hundreds of new emojis to its iOS system including a person at a spa, a vomiting face and a shushing finger - finally giving emoji fans the ability to describe what it was like to work for Harvey Weinstein," Colin Jost said.

Jost then said Weinstein, accused by multiple women of sexual assault, is "reportedly going to Europe for sex rehab."

"Somehow I don't think that's going to help anybody. He doesn't need sex rehab. He needs a specialized facility where there are no women, no contact with the outside world, metal bars, and it's a prison," Jost said, to roaring applause.

A photo of Weinstein then appeared and co-anchor Michael Che said, "This is a tough spot for a comedian because it's so hard to make jokes about sexual assault, but it's so easy to make jokes about a guy who looks like this. I mean, he looks like chewed bubble gum rolled in cat hair."

Che added: "Weinstein told reporters 'that we all make mistakes,'" but "you assaulted dozens of women - that's not a mistake, that's a full season of 'Law and Order.'"

As the previous season has shown, "SNL" has become adept at incorporating late-breaking political news into its cold opens and Weekend Update segments. But they're often politically charged jokes aimed at President Donald Trump.

So when "SNL" lacked Weinstein jokes last week, some conservatives accused the show of a liberal bias, saying it was quick to skewer Trump but not Weinstein, a financial backer of Democrats and liberal causes.

"SNL" reportedly tried out some Weinstein jokes during a sketch and Weekend Update, but cut them during its dress rehearsal because they fell flat with the studio audience, the New York Times reported, citing "a person familiar with the preparations" for the episode. That person also said executive producer Lorne Michaels's comment that the Weinstein story was "a New York thing" referred to a belief that it was a media story that hadn't gained traction with a national audience.

The Times' first investigative piece was then three days old. It revealed numerous settlements with women and accusations of sexual harassment against Weinstein, including one made on the record by Ashley Judd. The following week, the New Yorker published its own bombshell report, which included more serious allegations, including rape.

Now, more than a dozen women have publicly come forward, detailing a similar pattern of abuse. Weinstein was fired from the company he co-founded, and the Oscar academy voted to expel him. The Washington Post, in interviews with 67 people, found three previously unreported allegations of sexual or physical assault, as well as a pattern of ruthlessness and manipulation, going back decades to the start of his career.

Weinstein's representative, Sallie Hofmeister, said regarding on-the-record allegations, Weinstein "believes that all of those relationships were consensual" and that "any allegations of nonconsensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein."
ST. LOUIS  About 200 protesters marched through the streets of downtown St. Louis Saturday afternoon, the day after police arrested five protesters in front of the Ferguson police station.

The Ferguson action marked the fourth week of protests after a not-guilty verdict in the murder trial of a former St. Louis police officer. During the St. Louis action on Saturday, police took a hands-off approach, diverting traffic in their cruisers as protesters fanned out across downtown streets.

On Friday night, Ferguson police told a group of about 50 protesters two or three times to move away from south Florissant Road before making the arrests about 40 minutes after the crowd gathered. Most in the crowd moved to the sidewalk, but a few remained, according to several people at the scene.

The five people arrested were taken to the St. Ann jail and were expected to be charged with impeding traffic, according to a police officer at the scene. As of midnight Friday, police had started releasing people after protesters had paid bail. Protest organizers said Saturday morning that all protesters had been released.

The protests were a continuation of a series prompted by the acquittal Sept. 15 of former Officer Jason Stockley in the fatal shooting of drug suspect Anthony Lamar Smith after a high-speed chase in 2011.

Several dozen people also marched in Ferguson a week ago, in the place that started it all according to Cori Bush, who has been among those leading the protests. The protests in Ferguson three years ago followed the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer there.

The protests have been mostly peaceful. In the early days after the verdict, there were several incidents of vandalism including smashed windows in the Central West End, the Loop and downtown. There have also been mass arrests including more than 120 in downtown two days after the verdict, 22 at the Galleria mall and more than 140 after a shutdown of Highway 40 on Oct. 3.

Blocking streets has been a common action among protesters because, if you dont inconvenience people, people wont listen, said Angelique Kidd of Ferguson. People will sit for hours in traffic for any other reason, but they cant sit in traffic while people talk about justice and inequality?

Kidd said she wasnt sure why police ordered people off the street Friday but didnt in a similar situation last week. She said there hadnt been any confrontations with drivers or other incidents.

From my experience protesting in Ferguson, (the police) are not consistent in any way, shape or form and they never have been, Kidd said.

The protesters generally do not block emergency vehicles or public transportation such as city buses when they are in the street.

Kidd said Friday that people can expect the protests to continue.

Its too easy to not talk about racism. The only way were going to effect change is to keep going, she said.

Authorities with the Ferguson Police Department could not be reached late Friday night for further comment.

Jack Suntrup of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
St. Clair County prosecutors have filed at least four complaints against Circuit Judge Ronald Duebbert with the Judicial Inquiry Board, the latest one filed Oct. 6.

The allegations in the new complaint are not specifically spelled out, but the complaint was filed with the board on the same day that St. Clair County States Attorney Brendan Kelly asked for the appointment of a special prosecutor to review allegations against a judge of battery and solicitation of a sexual act.

Daniel Fultz and Dedra Moore, Duebberts attorneys, both declined to comment.

The complaint letters to the Judicial Inquiry Board were obtained by the Belleville News-Democrat under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.

It would be inappropriate for me to add any comment to what has been provided in compliance with your FOIA request, Kelly said. The new complaint letter to the Judicial Inquiry Board included a copy of a police report, which Kellys office declined to provide to the newspaper.

Kelly did say that he had filed no complaints with the board against any other judge, besides Duebbert, since May 2013, when he filed a complaint regarding then-Circuit Judge Michael Cook, who was arrested, charged and later convicted of possessing heroin.

Kellys request for a special prosecutor stated that the subject of the investigation is a sitting circuit judge of the 20th Judicial Circuit. Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson approved the request.

David Robinson and Dave Neal, of the State Appellate Prosecutors Office, were already reviewing a request from the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis for charges of obstructing justice to be filed against Duebbert. The allegation involves the death on Dec. 30 of Carl Silas, who police say was shot by Duebberts former roommate.

The former roommate, David Fields, 21, faces murder charges in the death of Silas. Fields remained in the St. Clair County Jail as of Saturday.

Major Case Squad detectives sought an obstruction of justice charge against Duebbert after the judge told detectives that the last time he had communicated with Fields was about 8 p.m. on Dec. 29  the night before the killing. A search of Duebberts cellphone records by a detective found that the two exchanged nine text messages from 8:10 p.m. to 10:47 p.m. that night.

In 1999, Duebbert was charged with battery in connection with an 18-year-old mans allegation that Duebbert fondled him. The teen was in the St. Clair County Building to appear in court on a 1998 burglary charge. He alleged that Duebbert offered him a ride to his office in his Lexus then fondled him inside the car.

The disposition of the case is unclear because it is no longer listed on the circuit clerks webpage. Charges such as battery can be expunged from a persons court record with a court order.

Republican Duebbert, 55, beat former Chief Judge John Baricevic, a longtime Democrat, in the November election. After Duebberts election, Judge Gleeson, who became Chief Judge after Baricevics defeat, barred Duebbert from hearing criminal cases. Gleeson said he did so because Duebbert was living with Fields, who was required to register with state police as a requirement of his release from prison.

Fields spent six years in prison for an assault on a Belleville East high school student. The girl was pregnant and alleged that Fields beat and raped her.

After the Silas killing, Gleeson barred Duebbert from hearing any cases. Duebbert continues to receive his salary.

In a television interview given in May, Duebbert said he believed he was being targeted because he was gay and a Republican.
Oct. 6 was not a good day for civil liberties in America. That day Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a directive ordering federal agencies, whenever possible, to accommodate claims of a religious objection to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

Meanwhile, Foreign Policy magazine reported on its website that the FBIs counterintelligence division had strung together six unrelated incidents of attacks on law enforcement officers since the 2014 death of Michael Brown in Ferguson and decided they constitute a new threat: black identity extremists spawned by protests against police shootings.

The two actions openly pander to President Donald Trumps white conservative base. By limiting LGBT protections, Sessions fulfills one of Trumps campaign pledges to religious conservatives. By inventing the black identity extremist  the FBI uses the acronym BIE as if it were a real thing  the Justice Department creates a faux analog to the white supremacist movement.

On Dec. 5, the Supreme Court will hear the case of a Colorado baker claiming a First Amendment right to refuse to bake a cake for a gay wedding. Sessions jumped the gun by ordering federal agencies to accommodate religious objections to LGBT rights before the court rules. The Trump administration has promised an expansive reading of religious objections in claims of LGBT discrimination not only in government actions, but by private employers. Depending on how the directive is enforced, it could open a floodgate of litigation.

So could the FBIs intelligence assessment, which opens: The FBI assesses it is very likely Black Identity Extremist (BIE) perceptions of police brutality against African Americans spurred an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence. The FBI assess it is very likely this increase began following the 9 August 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the subsequent Grand Jury November 2014 declination to indict the police officers involved. The FBI assesses it is very likely incidents of alleged police abuse against African Americans since then have continued to feed the resurgence in ideologically motivated, violent criminal activity within the BIE movement.

To support this claim, the FBI cites six attacks or planned attacks, widely scattered geographically, on police officers, including the November 2014 arrests of two men in St. Louis in a far-fetched plot to blow up a police station. Attacks on police officers by white suspects, such as the killing of a campus police officer Oct. 9 in Lubbock, Texas, are the random acts by disturbed individuals. Attacks by blacks are a movement.

Foreign Policy asked a former senior counterterrorism and intelligence official to review the BIE assessment. He nailed it: This is a new umbrella designation that has no basis. There are civil rights and privacy issues all over this.
Each Saturday and Sunday well post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of buy, hold, or sell.

El Rey del Mundo is a famous Cuban brand with an often overlooked non-Cuban counterpart. This non-Cuban version was made at the Villazon factory in Honduras for many years, but apparently is now made at STG/General Cigars Danli factory. Made with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper and Honduran binder and filler, the five-inch Robusto has a thick ring gauge of 54. The cigar features black coffee, roasted nuts, sour bread, and cedar. Not overly complex but well-constructed, its a good value at around $6.

Verdict = Buy.

 Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys
Outrageous comedian Kevin Bloody Wilson returns to New Zealand this February with his Almost Awesome Tour, featuring special guest artist Jenny Talia from Australia.

Kevin Bloody Wilsons show is not just a concert  for many its a full-on special event, providing the chance to laugh and sing along again with a hilariously familiar friend.

For others, its the opportunity to tick see Australias most unique international comedy legend off their bucket lists.

Since releasing his first hugely popular album Your Average Australian Yobbo in 1984 and hit songs like Hey Santa Claus, Kevin Bloody Wilson has become a comedy institution around the globe, as testified by an extensive fan base stretching from the Australian Outback to Buckingham Palace.

Billy Connolly refers to him as the worlds funniest Australian. So many of his songs from over 21 gold and platinum albums released so far of politically incorrect irrepressible and irreverent musical humour quickly became the soundtrack to many childhoods, and have been covered by many other performers over the years. Although embarking on the first of his farewell tours a couple of years ago as he contemplated retiring, his fans will not let him so he is still performing an average of 120 concerts worldwide each year. His current Almost Awesome tour is already booked through to 2020.

Kevins journey to politically incorrect stardom started innocently enough - just a guy with too much time on his hands changing the words to other peoples songs, and writing a few of his own, purely for the fun of it, and at a time when people were still being arrested for using most four letter words in public.

Kevin Bloody Wilson found himself being ostracised for his rude and crude performances when he first started, but 30 years, countless live gigs and millions of album sales down the track, he has not only found his niche, hes grabbed a beer cooler and a deckchair and made himself really bloody comfortable in it! These days his recordings can be found everywhere from Outback Australia to Antarctica, from big-rig road trains to the console of Prince Charles Aston Martin. Even more remarkable is that his fame and many albums achieved platinum status with absolutely no traditional media support.

Reading through Wilsons autobiography, DILLIGAF (Do I Look Like I Give a F***) released in 2011, it is very interesting to see the sort of things that he sang and was arrested for three decades back. Today, these sorts of lyrics and words are commonplace and no longer censored on public television. Wilsons autobiography is both humorous and a lesson in the history of censorship in Australia.

Wilson is so well regarded that hes listed in the Whos Who and his entire body of work has been preserved for future generations with the National Film and Sound Archive in Canberra.

But when it all boils down, Kevin simply loves performing and the enjoyment of his audiences singing along with him to his much-loved songs. This latest concert tour promises all that and more together with featured guest, Jenny Talia from Australia (aka Kevins daughter who has inherited a big dose of her fathers humour genes). Two and a half hours of side splitting humour has to be the best value laugh in town and a must-see for anyone wanting to see absolute original Australian comedy.

Kevin Bloody Wilson will be playing at Baycourt Theatre on February 24, 2018. Tickets can be purchased at Ticketek, with shows restricted to 18 years and over.
The soldier killed during a counter-terrorism training exercise off the Coromandel Peninsula is being described as a an outstanding soldier, leader, father, family man, and friend to many.

Sergeant Wayne Taylor was the member of the Special Operations Force killed during an exercise on Friday morning.

He is survived by his wife and four children.

Wayne joined the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment as a member of the Army Reserve in 1993  joining the Regular Force in October 1997.

He served in East Timor and Afghanistan.

Many of the Regiment, both RNZIR and NZSAS, will remember him as an outstanding soldier, leader, father, family man, and friend to many, as well as being an all-round top bloke, says Major General Peter Kelly Chief of Army.

He was a consummate professional, who was known for his dedication and reliability  always upholding our core values in every endeavour, says Major General Peter Kelly Chief of Army.

I know that his family, friends and workmates will be keenly feeling the loss of a husband, father and friend. My thoughts are with them all over the coming days and weeks.

Waynes family are being supported by members of New Zealand Special Operations Force and the New Zealand Army.

Police are investigating on behalf of the Coroner.
1. Yes. The ordinance goes against state law and is not in the best interest of the cities.

2. Yes. At the very least, it should be amended to give police officers some discretion.

3. No. Voters approved the ordinance by large majorities; the councils cant ignore that fact.

4. No. The petition process has to be given a chance to work. Leave the ordinance alone.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say how the cities should move forward regarding the ordinance.

Vote

View Results
New Zealands two biggest publishers of news go to court today to try and overturn the competition watchdogs refusal to green-light a merger.

Fairfax Media and NZME declared themselves "surprised and disappointed" in May when the Commerce Commission rejected their proposed merger.

While the Commission concluded Fairfax Media - recently rebranded as Stuff - and NZME could save money and extend the life of some publications, it said one joint company would concentrate ownership of newspapers to an "unprecedented" extent.

It also said other major media outlets would not be able to compensate for the reduction in "plurality", or diversity of voices.

NZME owns the New Zealand Herald, Herald on Sunday, several North Island daily papers and several radio networks including Radio Sport, ZM and Newstalk ZB.

Fairfax Media New Zealand owns The Dominion Post, The Press, The Sunday Star Times, several magazines and the countrys most-visited news website Stuff.co.nz.

Fairfax and NZME said the Commerce Commission gave too much weight to plurality, which was referenced more than 300 times in the Commissions decision document.

The companies argued any loss of plurality should not be considered to be a detrimental effect and the Commerce Act 1986 did not give the Commission scope to determine the extent of it.

Fairfax New Zealand and NZME say the commission made "errors of fact and law."

In their notice of appeal filed with the High Court, the companies also said the Commerce Commission was wrong to conclude there were separate markets for online news, Sunday newspapers and community newspapers - and that competition would be substantially reduced.

They say the Commission failed to give sufficient weight to "the number, variety and nature" of small and large outlets providing news to New Zealanders - including the National Business Review, Otago Daily Times, and Bauer Media, which owns the bulk of New Zealands magazines.

"Bloggers, businesses, government entities, local and national politicians and other individuals and entities all provide news and commentary online," the companies said.

Google, Facebook, competition for ad revenue

Fairfax and NZME also insist the Commerce Commission was wrong to characterise platform publishers - such as Google and Facebook - as mere distributors of news rather than direct competitors for revenue.

Their notice of appeal says New Zealanders get a growing proportion of news on those platforms which are also "taking the large majority of the total online advertising revenue".

The companies also argue the decision process was unfair because the Commission considered anonymous submissions and granted confidentiality to third parties. They say these amount to "breaches of natural justice".

Since proposing the merger in 2015, Fairfax Media and NZME have stressed their financial positions makes the merger urgent. Many pundits predicted the cost of an appeal and the time it would take would dissuade them from pursuing one, but the companies lodged an appeal just a few days before the deadline.

The Commerce Commission considered the arguments in its draft determination last November, in subsequent submissions from Fairfax and NZME and at a special conference including both companies last December.

It is effectively asking the High Court to overturn the Commissions most significant conclusions and its interpretation of the Commerce Act.

Fairfax lawyer Sarah Keene argued plurality was not the Commerce Commissions business.

The 1975 Commerce Act had a public interest test which was applied in consideration of media mergers, she said, but the current Commerce Act passed in 1986 effectively revoked that.

"We say [protecting plurality] is the role of the government. Ultimately, the government can look at a range of behaviour in the market to figure out whether plurality is protected, including editorial charters ... and New Zealand On Air funding," said Sarah Keene.

Ten days have been set down for the hearings in the Wellington High Court.

David Goddard QC is representing both media companies.

-RNZ
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A house-sized asteroid flew by Earth earlier this week. Asteroid 2012 TC4 came close to our planet without causing much problem but the space rock could pose a real threat in the future.

Potential Impact On A Future Visit

The asteroid will return again in the future and the next visit could pose a dangerous threat. Passing by at an altitude of 27,300 miles, or just a few miles above the level of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, the asteroid flew by nearly twice as close as when it buzzed through our planet in 2012.

Recent models that aim to predict the future path of the asteroid have ruled out the possibility of an impact when Asteroid 2012 TC4 makes another close encounter with Earth in 2050. The visit in 2079, however, may come with unwanted consequences.

Researchers explained that the Earth's gravity alters the path of the asteroid every time it makes a close path and this may result in the asteroid hitting the planet in 2079. The odds of an impact happening 62 years from now are currently placed at about one in 750.

"We know today that it will also not hit the Earth in the year 2050, but the close flyby in 2050 might deflect the asteroid such that it could hit the Earth in the year 2079," said Rudiger Jehn of the European Space Agency.

Chicxulub Asteroid

The extinction of the dinosaurs is popularly blamed on an asteroid hitting Earth. A 2016 study based on rock samples that were taken from the Chicxulub crater in Mexico revealed the force brought about by the killer space rock when it crashed on Earth about 65 million years ago.

The asteroid ripped a big hole on the Earth's surface and formed a mountain range twice taller than Mount Everest in less than 10 minutes. The event is believed to have triggered earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wildfires and tsunamis.

Scientists have long been aware of the possibilities of an asteroid impact. Astrophysicist Alan Fitzsimmons, from the Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland, has said that an asteroid will possibly strike Earth in just a matter of time.

Asteroid-impact Early-warning System

Scientist now make preparations to prevent or at least minimize the impact of a collision and these include early detection of near-Earth objects, or NEOs.

Scientists said that the most recent flyby of Asteroid 2012 TC4 offered an opportunity to test the ability of a global asteroid-impact early-warning system.

"Asteroid trackers are using this flyby to test the worldwide asteroid detection and tracking network, assessing our capability to work together in response to finding a potential real asteroid-impact threat," said Michael Kelley, from NASA Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO).

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The common belief of today is that the last common ancestors of humans and apes were the size of chimpanzees. Now, researchers studying the human family tree found that the last common ancestors of early humans and apes are likely primates that are as small as gibbons.

Last Common Ancestor Of Humans And Apes

Tracing the origins of humanity is quite the complicated subject. It's difficult enough to map out the dispersal of hominids, and even more so to dig the roots of our lineage. The common understanding to date is that the chimpanzees are the likeliest candidate for the last common ancestor of humans and the great apes. However, a new study suggests that contrary to previous belief, a smaller primate the size of modern-day gibbons may be our likeliest last common ancestor.

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications details the study of a pair of researchers from the University of Tubingen and the University of Stony Brook in New York. By studying primate fossil samples from Africa, Europe and Asia, researchers found that the body mass of our last common ancestor suggests living in an environment favorable to a gibbon-sized creature. That is about 11 pounds (5 kg) and perhaps 17 to 25 inches in size, similar to modern gibbons.

Ancient Family Tree

Hominoids, including all great apes and eventual humans, separated from the lineage of New World monkeys about 25 million years ago, creating a line of hominoids and Old World monkeys. From there, the lineage continued to develop over the next millions of years.

"The lineage that led to the gibbons was the earliest hominoid to diverge from the group that led to the great apes and humans, about 17 million years ago," writes the statement from the University of Tubingen.

Body Mass Evolution

As suggested in their findings, the researchers state that contrary to the common belief that primates developed overhand hanging and swinging because they had become too heavy to walk on top of tree branches, it appears as though the swinging and hanging movements developed first before the body mass increase later on.

What's more, they believe that the common understanding that early human evolution involved only either staying the same size or increasing in size may not be so, as they also found evidence of size decrease in the process of our lineage's evolution. Such changes are believed to be possibly caused by a multitude of factors such as environmental factors, and others such as tool use and food availability.

Basically, the researchers found that the human evolution process did not come in a straight line and was not as simple as just getting bigger over time.

Learning From The Past

Though we continue to press forward into a vastly more technologically advanced future, knowing how our species came to be remains an important part of understanding humanity and how, perhaps, we are all related to each other and the creatures around us.

 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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News about Louisiana's coast is usually worrisome: more land lost, more lawsuits filed, more money needed.

But this past week, federal and state officials gathered on the north shore to tout a program they say is working  the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act. The federal law, spearheaded by former U.S. Sen. John Breaux, of Louisiana, was passed in 1990.

The act, known as CWPPRA, provides for federal funds to be coordinated through five agencies and funneled to Louisiana to pay for coastal restoration projects. In 1990, the amount was about $30 million a year. Now it's closer to $80 million.

Those federal funds pay for 85 percent of the cost of coastal projects; the state is required to come up with the remainder. Since its passage, officials said, the act has paid for 108 projects. Eighteen more are under construction, and 23 are being designed.

One of the projects highlighted Wednesday was the Bayou Bonfouca Marsh Creation Project near Slidell.

Coastal engineer Joe Guillory stood on the bow of an airboat and pointed at acres of shallow water dotted with sludgy heaps of mud. That mud had been dredged from Lake Pontchartrain about a mile away and pumped into the marsh, which was heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina.

Authority offers coastal Louisiana parishes financial help with restoration projects Louisiana parishes prepared to put up some money of their own for coastal restoration projec

The storm caused breaches in the lake's rim, allowing tides to rush into the marsh and wash it out, converting it into a giant open water area adjacent to the lake. Now, slowly, the area is being reclaimed by shallow marsh where vegetation and wildlife can flourish.

As Guillory spoke, heavy equipment nearby plunged a bucket into the marsh and brought up loads of clay, which was then piled on top of an earthen berm.

Farther away, water and mud poured out of the dredge pipeline. A few dozen egrets looked on, while other birds flew overhead.

When finished, the $28 million Bayou Bonfouca project will have created about 600 acres of marsh, officials said.

A few hundred yards to the north, Danny Breaux, the manager of the Big Branch National Wildlife Refuge, piloted the boat through the grasses of an established marsh known as Goose Point.

Katrina turned this section of marsh into open water as well, but it has since been filled in, thanks to a separate CWPPRA project. The fill enabled grasses and birds, especially ducks, to quickly recolonize the area, turning it into vibrant marsh.

That's the benefit Breaux hopes to see from the Bonfouca project.

The project near Slidell was one of seven spotlighted Wednesday at a gathering of federal, state and local officials. The others are in Plaquemines, Lafourche, St. James and Jefferson parishes, though officials toured only the Bonfouca project.

Johnny Bradberry, executive assistant to Gov. John Bel Edwards for coastal activities and chairman of the board of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said the CWPPRA money enables state officials to finance far more projects than the state could on its own.

"We have $217 million in projects going," he said of the current CWPPRA projects in the state. "The state's share is only $28 million."

Many of the relatively small projects don't draw as much attention as larger, sometimes billion-dollar restoration projects, but they often provide quicker, more tangible returns. Over the years, that's added up.

"They are very impactful," Bradberry said. "Especially on a cumulative basis."
On the Second Amendment, U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise remains principled. But he and other Louisiana Republicans in Congress have needlessly abandoned free-market principles regarding the Merchant Marine Act of 1920.

When asked recently about his views on gun rights, Scalise, who survived an assassination attempt by an anti-Republican gunman earlier this year, expressed continued support for that fundamental freedom. Even after spending months recuperating from the attack, Scalise understands that enforcing existing firearm laws, rather than passing new ones that impede self-defense, strengthens liberty. Even if draconian gun control measures would have spared him suffering, such measures tempt government to behave tyrannically.

Yet when also recently asked about what's commonly known as the Jones Act, which prevents foreign vessels from moving shipments among U.S. ports, Scalise who generally champions market-based policies, explained himself as a staunch supporter of the Jones Act ... a law that protects America from national security threats.

Other GOP delegation members have joined him in shunting aside free-market convictions on this issue. Last month, after President Donald Trump suspended the act for 10 days to assist in hurricane disaster relief, U.S. Reps. Ralph Abraham, Garret Graves and Clay Higgins, along with U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, voiced support for the law. Graves echoed Scalises rationale; Higgins said it protected American jobs and the merchant marine industry; and Abraham mentioned all of the above. Kennedy essentially said hed rather drink weed killer than repeal the act.

The only problem is, the national security argument is a red herring. If it's intended to prop up the costly American shipbuilding industry, which is bloated by higher labor prices for materials, in order to keep it strong in case of war, then the act has failed abysmally. Despite the law, hundreds of thousands of shipbuilding, longshoremen, and merchant marine jobs have vanished since the 1990s  as residents around Avondale painfully know. Additionally, it has made microscopic the once-mighty U.S. oceangoing commercial fleet, now accounting for about one percent of all such vessels, despite unprecedented growth in world trade.

Plus, the act helps make what little American shipping that still exists less competitive. Because of the inflated pricing involved, owners of transporters delay replacements, so shipping occurs on older vessels at greater expense. Ultimately, sellers of goods transported over water pass on these increased costs to buyers.

Jeff Sadow: Congress' recent mishandling of disaster relief points to need for flood insurance reform How Congress recently handled disaster relief shows why things need to change. Louisianas U

In short, the act spawns crony capitalism, using politics to transfer wealth from consumers to shipbuilders and unions, with some of those bucks trickling into campaign coffers of politicians who support these beneficiaries. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Scalise since 2013 received more campaign funds from sea transportation interests than any other member of the House of Representatives; Graves ranked fourth. In the Senate, Kennedy collected the third most sea transportation money and came in 17th in transportation union dough.

In reality, curtailing the acts reach, as proposed by a Senate bill introduced last month, or eliminating it entirely, would boost shipbuilding and help the public. With competition from foreign sources, unions  both the shipbuilding and water transportation industries have about three times the union penetration than for the American private sector as a whole  would be forced to modify their excessive wage demands, lowering shipbuilding and shipping costs. This would make water transportation by American vessels more competitive by stimulating shipbuilding and employment and also reduce prices for consumers.

Louisianans in Congress should understand that supporting the Jones Act helps only special interests, weakens American shipping and national security, and sells out the rest of their constituents. Lawmakers would serve the greater good by working to repeal it.
New Orleans' mayoral primary is finally over, and the runoff pairing is set. But before we embark on Phase Two of the race to replace Mitch Landrieu, here are some parting thoughts.

1) Money only goes so far. Former Municipal Court Judge Desiree Charbonnet, who finished a surprisingly distant nine points behind to City Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell, raised about as much as Cantrell and third place finisher Michael Bagneris combined. Given her high profile office, Cantrell in particular underperformed on the fundraising front.

But that doesn't mean that Charbonnet didn't have a fight on her hands. She had at least two, actually, both expensive attack campaigns by outside groups alleging that a Charbonnet City Hall would be a patronage pit, which the candidate strongly denied. One adversary was a PAC backed by some of the city and state's most prominent businesspeople, who stayed in the shadows until legally forced to reveal their identities. The other was a PAC with a single, very public face: Sidney Torres, the former trash contractor and reality TV figure who had considered running himself.

While Bagneris jumped into the fray too, Cantrell stayed on the sidelines. Still, she was an indirect beneficiary of the anyone-but-Charbonnet dynamic, which is likely to carry into the runoff.

One thing to watch for is a possible endorsement of Cantrell from Bagneris. Based on the way he and Charbonnet went after one another in the race's final days, he'd have a lot of explaining to do if he suddenly threw his weight behind her.

2) There was some expectation that Charbonnet, whose family has deep roots downtown, would dominate those precincts, and that Cantrell would perform best Uptown, where she represents City Council District B. Cantrell did indeed own the precincts above Canal Street, with the exception of some largely white areas that Bagneris won. But she also showed surprising strength in what was supposed to be Charbonnet's home base, where she won a quite a few precincts outright. That's got to be a concern to the Charbonnet camp.

3) The runoff won't just feature an upriver/downriver showdown. It will also offer some other obvious contrasts.

With a bucketload of endorsements and contributions from people who do business with the city, Charbonnet is the establishment candidate in the race. Cantrell, who collected few major endorsements other than from newspapers, came up through grassroots community organizing and is running more as a populist.

Charbonnet is a native who frequently mentions her New Orleans lineage, which stretches back generations. Cantrell is a relative newcomer (by New Orleans standards, anyway), who grew up in California and came to town to attend Xavier University and who calls herself a New Orleanian by choice.

And Charbonnet has a cool, lawyerly bearing, while Cantrell tends to be more demonstrative.

One distinction that won't come into play, obviously, is gender. No matter who triumphs on Nov. 18, New Orleans will mark its 300th birthday by swearing in its first female mayor.

It took a while, until well after Louisiana elected a female governor and senator, and Shreveport and Baton Rouge chose women as mayors. But it's certainly a milestone worth celebrating.
New Orleans' mayoral primary is finally over, and the runoff pairing is set. But before we embark on Phase Two of the race to replace Mitch La
Adam Saad has spoken to Trade Radio about the reasons behind his move back to Victoria.

He said the Suns were fantastic but in the end it was too hard to be separated from both his immeidate family and his large extended family.

"I signed a contract with Gold Coast last year and I had all the intention of doing those two years but a lot of things changed for me," he said.

"For me to be happy I had to come home and be with family again.

"The Gold Coast Suns have been unbelievable since the day I got there ... I thank them for everything they've done."

Saad said he felt "very isolated", especially during the month of Ramadan.

After spending most of his life breaking fast with his family, he said he felt especially alone waking up early to break fast by himself.

"I was breaking fast alone in my apartment ... I look back and it was a very tough time for me," he said.

"It sort of got to the point where I couldn't do that no more."

Saad said some of the players and staff, including Dean Solomon and Matthew Primus "embraced my culture and all my beliefs", including fasting with him at times, and he was grateful.

But the pull of family, especially in light of his mother not "feeling too well" last year, made it tough to stay on the Gold Coast.

"My brother came up for six months but he went back because it was pretty tough for him," Saad said.

He reiterated that he thanked the Suns for their efforts and the club had nothing to do with him wanting to return home.

Saad said he has spoken to John Worsfold about his role and competing hard for the team.
Geelong's compensation pick for Steven Motlop, which surprised even the club, has dealt the Cats a new and stronger hand to try to secure several players still in limbo as the trade period builds to an end on Thursday.

The Cats were given an end of first round pick for Motlop, selection 19, which was earlier than clubs had expected.

Done deal: Geelong coach Chris Scott may have an ace up his sleeve after Steven Motlop's move to Port Adelaide. Credit:Pat Scala

It is understood the Cats initial reaction was to go to the draft with the pick but the club is still trying to attract Melbourne's Jack Watts and do a deal with Gold Coast for Gary Ablett.

Early on they had interest in Jake Stringer but ruled him out in part because they had nothing to offer as a trade.
There may not be much to agree with in Tony Abbott's recent speech, "Daring to Doubt", delivered to the Global Warming Policy Foundation in London this week, but it's aptly titled.

Abbott's rambling discourse is full of the predictable sniping, undermining and wrecking that he vowed to spare us when ditched by his own party room in 2015, but some of his assertions are also pretty daring, no doubt about it. In fact, given the patent inaccuracy of his remarks, it's no surprise he had fly 10,000 miles to find an audience sufficiently receptive, or adequately ignorant of Australia's climate record, to actually listen.

Abbott manages to weave his passion for coal, border security and "moral order" with a loathing for environmentalists and marriage equality, but it doesn't take him long to seize upon the issue du-jour  the "breakdown of public trust"  and pronounce, without a hint of irony, that it's all down to leaders who blame everyone but themselves.

Thus, dispensing with the last vestiges of veracity, to say nothing of the opportunity for genuine self-reflection, Abbott goes on to lament to a posse of UK climate sceptics the lack of evidence-based policy and intellectual rigour pervading the current political discourse. Sigmund Freud would have had a field day.
This week, Victorian MPs will consider legislation that will accord a small number of people the choice to limit intolerable and untreatable suffering in the final weeks or months of their life. And this is key: the only people who would be able to access this choice are those for whom death is an immediate and inevitable reality. This is not about life and death, but simply a choice between two ways of dying.

The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2017 is in fact incredibly restrictive  the most conservative in the world  and aims to strike a balance between upholding the wishes of the individual, and ensuring their decisions are voluntary and informed. The safeguards then are not there to restrict autonomy over one's own life, but to ensure it. It is a point that has been forgotten by many in this debate.

At this, the eleventh hour, I would like to get back to what this legislation is really about.

Autonomy is a value that runs deep in my family. In 1939 my grandparents  Emil and Hannah  fled the Nazi regime in Europe and arrived on the shores of Australia as Jewish refugees, as young parents who had lost everything. Prior to arriving, my grandmother's only knowledge of Australia was that one could wear nothing but pure silk, and all the rivers dried up in the summertime.
Too much great art can damage your health. In the 19th century, French writer Stendhal staggered out of the Santa Croce in Florence (architecture by Brunelleschi; art by Giotto, Donatello and Vasari; burial tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, and Machiavelli) in a state of nervous collapse. "I was seized with a fierce palpitation of the heart," he wrote. "The wellspring of life was dried up within me, and I walked in constant fear of falling to the ground." This reaction  emotional exhaustion engendered by artistic genius  is known as Stendhal syndrome, and though not officially recognised, many doctors (especially in Florence) diagnose it.

Heaven knows what Stendhal would make of Amsterdam. This tiny city probably holds more artistic masterpieces per square metre than anywhere else on the planet. If you have a few hours to kill (and buy your tickets in advance), you can see masterworks by everyone from Rembrandt to Picasso, Vermeer to Van Gogh, Matisse to Mondrian, all housed within three beautiful museums, five minutes' walk apart. The Rijksmuseum, the 19th-century jewel in the crown, houses the greatest collection of art from the Dutch Golden Age on the planet; the historic-grandeur-meets-modernist-bathtub Stedelijk is a modern-art mecca; and the Van Gogh Museum is an establishment tribute to this ultimate outsider. Together with the Concertgebouw (home of world renowned Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, which holds free lunchtime concerts every Wednesday), these buildings form the compass points of the Museumplein  a kind of artistic meadow in central Amsterdam.

The Rijksmuseum holds 1 million objects. Credit:Alamy

If, like me, the thought of great art fills you simultaneously with enormous excitement and a strong desire to run screaming from the room, the very idea of the Museumplein is a mixed blessing. On one sunny morning, I walk through the Jordaan district (low-key historic cool amid the canals), eat a delicious and disconcertingly healthy breakfast at a cafe called Hummus Bistro and buy a large cheese at the Noordermarkt (a historic square lined with cafes, with a great fruit, veg and food market every Saturday). Thus fortified, I meet with Tim Zeedijk, head of exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum, to grapple with my issues.

"This exhaustion with great art is very common," he says reassuringly. "Especially somewhere like the Rijksmuseum, where the sheer volume of work can be overwhelming." The Rijksmuseum holds more than a million objects, with 8000 on display at any one time. The Rijksmuseum tried to address exactly this problem during its $560-million, 10-year renovation, which was completed in 2013. In the revamped Gallery of Honour, for example, you can see all the museum's most famous works (by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Franz Hals et alia) in a single cavernous space.
So how did Australia's biggest funds fall foul of HMRC? The problem relates to different rules over early access and preservation age, says Fiona Galbraith, policy director at the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA). In an effort to tighten up the multi-jurisdictional regime, HMRC introduced the pension age test, Galbraith says. "This effectively requires the preservation of QROPS money until age 55, with limited exceptions, such as ill health," she says. But here's the conflict. In addition to ill health, the Australian system can also allow early access for financial hardship and on compassionate grounds. This means Australian funds can't guarantee that members younger than 55 whose accounts include pension money transferred from Britain will only be given early access for ill health reasons. Despite the ban, Britain's position doesn't suggest that Australia's system is inferior, says David Haynes, senior policy manager at the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees. Rather, Australia is "collateral damage" of Britain's "broad brush" approach to address its concerns about more lax regulation around early access in other countries, such as Malta and Gibraltar, which also receive transfers. We live in an age where we have a global workforce and increasingly people will work overseas. Louise du Pre-Alba, AustralianSuper

Indeed, less than 1 per cent of Australians with super accounts are granted early access, according to ASFA. What does this mean for the hordes of Aussies who live and work in Britain  or the many British expats who emigrate permanently to Australia? The number of Australians employed in Britain hit a decade high this year, topping 103,000 between January and March, according to the British Office of National Statistics. The average number of Australians employed for the same period in the past 11 years sits at 88,000. I'm one of the thousands affected and in my case it means keeping track of more than 30,000 (about $50,000) in a pension on the other side of the world for the next 17 years, until I turn 55. That's what I built up in both employer and personal contributions (and subsequent growth) from time spent working in London between 2007 and 2010. My husband is in a similar boat. We planned to transfer when we got home and take heed of the industry's call to get our super in one place, pay one set of fees and benefit from compounding interest on the higher combined amount. But we didn't transfer immediately; the Aussie dollar was too strong and Britain was still reeling from the global financial crisis. Turns out, we waited too long. According to ASFA, in the lead-up to 2015 there were more than 12,000 QROPS accounts in Australia, totalling $1 billion. For individuals, this money means a lot. But it's a small slice of Australia's $2 trillion-plus super industry, says Nick Bond, managing director of British transfer specialists bdhSterling. And he believes political will to revert the situation is waning. "I don't think it's high on the priority list," he says.

While Australian officials ensured that transfers already under way following the rule change were completed, proposals to re-allow transfers for Australians younger than 55 have failed, says a spokesperson for financial services minister Kelly O'Dwyer. "The UK government remains unwilling to accept proposals that would allow Australian funds to regain QROPS status without making fundamental changes to Australia's own legislative regime," the spokesperson said. In a submission to the HMRC earlier this year, ASFA put forward options for "quarantining" or "ring-fencing" transferred UK money from being paid to an Australian member who has been granted early access for reasons other than ill health. Galbraith says UK draft legislation and policy papers appear to create a concept that could possibly allow this. One of the nation's biggest super funds, AustralianSuper, also supports this proposal, says its strategic policy advocate Louise du Pre-Alba. "We live in an age where we have a global workforce and increasingly people will work overseas," she says. "It's time to look at ways to make it easier for people to deal with their superannuation or pension money when they work in different countries." The British Pension Service didn't respond to requests for the number of Australians in a pension scheme. And although many employers do offer them, they won't become mandatory in Britain until 2018. Given this, Australians working there should think about how they manage and contribute to any scheme they enter. Retirement savings may not be top of mind for younger Australians living abroad. But they do add up. That's the point. On the positive side, my British pension might outperform my Australian fund at times. And Britain's existing preservation age of 55 means I can access it earlier than my Australian super, which could be beneficial. Still, I'd rather the option to get all of my retirement savings together now, in one account and in one country.

How the systems differ Your "preservation age" is the minimum age for accessing your super. Australia Superannuation Preservation age is 55 for anyone born before July 1960. Those born after July 1,1960, and before July 1964 have preservation ages of 56, 57, 58 or 59. For anyone born after July 1, 1964, it's 60. You also have to meet a "condition of release", most typically retirement.

Age pension The qualifying age is 65 years and six months. It will increase by six months every two years, to 67 by 2023. Britain Personal and workplace pensions Preservation age is 55 but there are government proposals to raise it to 57 by 2028. You can generally access the money without retiring.
A young girl who went missing on the Gold Coast has been found safe and well.

The 11-year-old was last seen in a residential street at Pimpama on Saturday night, wearing blue and white pyjamas.

Police were concerned for her safety due to her age and a medical condition.

Earlier

Gold Coast police are asking local residents to check their yards for an 11-year-old girl who has not been seen since Saturday night.
Brisbane has copped a drenching and there is plenty more wet weather on the way, with an upper trough combining with eastern troughs to cause dams to overflow as well as force the closure of beaches and the removal of shark nets.

Falls in excess of 30 millimetres were recorded in greater Brisbane on Sunday with Oxley receiving 32, Chandler picked up 21 and inner Brisbane saw 10-15 millimetres since 9am.

The rainfall was expected to peak in Brisbane during Sunday afternoon and evening. Credit:Harrison Saragossi

Heavy rainfall saw Poona Dam and Wappa Dam in the Sunshine Coast hinterland overflow, while nine other dams had risen above 85 per cent capacity.

The wet weather also generated dangerous surf conditions, which forced the closure of beaches on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and North Stradbroke Island on Sunday.
Experience in other places where euthanasia is legalised shows that the initial take-up can be slow. Just 24 terminally ill people took the option to end their lives in the US state of Oregon in 1998, after the state's Death with Dignity Act first came into force. Since then, the use of euthanasia has risen steadily most years, peaking at 218 deaths in 2015. It has been forecast that around 150 to 200 people in Victoria could eventually make use of future euthanasia laws each year, a figure extrapolated from the Oregon data. What Victoria's future euthanasia users would look like is another question. In Oregon, patients have ranged in age from 25 to 102. But there is a common picture also. The vast majority had cancer and were are older, white and educated - in fact, exceedingly so. More than 90 per cent of the 1127 Oregonians prescribed a lethal medication over almost two decades were aged 55 or above. Almost 97 per cent were white and 73 per cent per cent had some university education.

These statistics partly reflect the demographics of the Pacific Northwest state, but also could indicate how difficult some have found it to find a doctor willing to prescribe euthanasia drugs. Charles Blanke, a Portland oncologist whose patients are now only those seeking euthanasia, says in past years people had to wait as long as four months to get a doctor to write a script  and that process could take time, persistence and even computer literacy. Why are so few doctors willing to participate? "Some [physicians] are actively opposed," Professor Blanke says. "And others just cannot bring themselves to write a script for a medication that will kill a patient."

It is unknown how many doctors in Victoria might be willing to do this. All health professionals will have a right to conscientiously object to participating, and will not even be compelled to refer patients to others who are. Professor Brian Owler, a former national president of the AMA and chair of the ministerial advisory panel on voluntary assisted dying, is hopeful that when terminally-ill patients talk to their local GPs, oncologists or neurologists about a wish to end their life, it will be these professionals that step forward. It is thought that the involvement of people's trusted and long-time doctors will guard against scenarios where people have to go to euthanasia clinics, country patients are left out, or certain practitioners become known "death doctors". Professor Brian Owler is confident the proposed assisted dying laws have adequate safeguards. Credit:Janie Barrett Professor Owler says specialists may also emerge in some organisations, such as an oncologist within a cancer institution. "That person might be doing more assessments, and that may not necessarily be a bad thing, if that person does have that expertise," Professor Owler says.

He says doctors breaking the law would be quickly exposed, as every assessment for euthanasia, positive or negative, would be reviewed by the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. In Oregon, over 18 years, there have been 336 physicians willing to write deadly prescriptions, an average of 3.4 prescriptions each. But as many doctors have avoided the task, others have taken on more than their fair share. One doctor has written 71 prescriptions. Charles Blanke says he can't remember the exact number he's done, but it would be in the "high double digits". Speaking to Fairfax Media over email, Professor Blanke says he liked to give people control at the end of their life. He says when he first started writing scripts for Nembutal, secobarbital and, more recently, a drug cocktail involving Valium and morphine, he generally was not present when people died. But he almost always is now, as he finds his patients prefer it. He says that afterwards he feels "a little sad of course that we couldn't help in any other way - but, so happy to help the patient with their last desire."

Official statistics kept by the Oregon Health Authority show that around 90 per cent of euthanasia patients were concerned about losing autonomy and not being able to engage in enjoyable activities. They also worried about loss of dignity (77 per cent), losing control of bodily functions (47 per cent) and being a burden on their family and caregivers (42 per cent). Oregon does not allow doctors to administer the drug if the patients lose the physical capacity, as Victoria's proposed laws would. Under the planned Victorian laws, adults who are suffering with an incurable illness, have no more than a year to live, and still have decision-making capacity would be eligible for lethal medication, most likely to be a newly created concoction of drugs already approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. In order to qualify, a patient must make three requests (two verbal, one written) and must obtain approval by two senior doctors, including one who specialises in their illness.

Dr Simon Benson oversees the Victorian chapter of Doctors for Assisted Dying Choice. He believes there are about 40 local doctors in the group, actively advocating for legalised euthanasia. And last week more than 120 doctors signed a letter calling for parliamentarians to apply their conscience and vote in favour of the assisted dying legislation. Dr Benson was one of them. However he still believes numbers of willing doctors may be a bit of a challenge for any future legalisation, especially in the early days  as even those in favour of the law could be "sort of timid and afraid of the legal repercussions that might happen to start off with". "In metropolitan Melbourne where there are good medical services, it's not going to be an issue ... but much more so in regional and regional areas," Dr Benson says. The Footscray GP has previously talked publicly about giving patients, or their families, advice after they said they wanted to end their life. But it doesn't actually happen all that often he says  maybe once every couple of years.

It is possible more could be knocking on his door in the years to come if he becomes known as a doctor willing to have that conversation. "I would prefer that sort of thing not to happen, but if that happens as a side effect of this legislation going through, it's something I would be prepared to put up with for the greater good of the community," he says. In Oregon, the average length of the doctor/patient relationship in euthanasia cases is only three months, suggesting regular doctors were not always the ones writing the prescription. Fairfax Media understands that the management of one large palliative care service in Melbourne would be willing to offer assisted-dying services. Though they could be in the minority. No healthcare service (public or private) will be obligated to provide patients with euthanasia when they ask for it and Victoria's mammoth Catholic health providers are already set to become major no-go zones for the practice.

Mercy Health operates Werribee Mercy Hospital, a public hospital which offers palliative care, and two dozen residential aged care homes across the state. Mercy Health has confirmed that it will not allow its doctors to prescribe or administer euthanasia drugs. Its ethics committee is considering what new procedures and training would be needed for staff if euthanasia is legalised, though Adjunct Professor Stephen Cornelissen says Mercy Health "would not judge or deter any person, who following their own conscience, discusses available medical treatments with their general practitioner or wants to be transferred to another medical facility". St Vincent's Health Australia is taking a similar position. Whether Catholic providers will be able to completely eradicate euthanasia from their facilities is another question, especially when patients have already got the lethal drug. "If somebody is provided with some Nembutal, they've have got it at home, who is to say then that they don't get their spouse to bring it to hospital?" Dr Benson says.

Issues like this will continue to emerge if Victoria's assisted dying bill gets the nod later this year. Fiona Patten, the Reason Party leader who sat on the Upper House committee that heard harrowing accounts of sick, elderly people taking their own lives, says even if the bill passes she expects debate to continue, including over whether people with dementia should be given access. As it stands, dementia sufferers would be excluded. "It's just fraught and everyone understands it," Ms Patten says. "But there will also be other patients that will be suffering intolerable pain, with no future, yet may find it hard to get a doctor to say they have less than 12 months to live."

Fiona Patten has changed her views on dementia and euthanasia. Credit:Wayne Taylor Looking forward, there is also some concern pro-life activists could target doctors and pharmacists involved in euthanasia services, just as abortion clinic workers and visitors have been harangued and attacked by protesters in the past. Similarly, if assisted dying is legalised in Victoria, but not elsewhere in Australia, it's possible that the state could see cases of euthanasia migration. Consider the story of Brittany Maynard, 29, who after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2014, relocated from California to Oregon, in order to be eligible for a physician-assisted death. Brittany Maynard and husband Dan Diaz. Credit:Brittany Maynard Fund/YouTube

Victoria's proposed laws states people must "ordinarily reside in Victoria" to access euthanasia  which means that anyone interstate wanting to take advantage of the laws would have to permanently move - they could not simply pop across the border for a prescription. In Castlemaine, 120 kilometres from Melbourne, Dr Daniel Silver has been assisting patients to die for the good part of 40 years. Other people may not call it that, but that's how he sees it. "We palliate patients in hospital and that's literally putting them to sleep with narcotics so they don't end up coughing up the phlegm," he says "They eventually get bronchial pneumonia and die very peacefully with their family around them." But there is another group of suffering patients that the veteran GP says has not been able to help - those in the earlier stage of terminal illness and "in so much pain and discomfort".

Along with Simon Benson, Dr Silver has also put his hand up to prescribe and administer a euthanasia drug, if a patient was to ask him. "Yes once it becomes legal I will certainly do it in the cases where it is justified,' he says. Dr Daniel Silver and Dr Simon Benson strongly support Victoria's assisted dying legislation. Credit:Darrian Traynor Dr Silver says he has put down dogs that were dying in unpleasant circumstances, and wondered why he could not extend the same "humane" treatment to human patients. "We've all seen deceased patients and a number of us have actually watched a patient take their last gasp  and that's what we would be doing when we administer it," he says.
The husband of a 71-year-old woman killed in a bus crash north-west of Melbourne says he is devastated by the loss of his "best friend".

Carmel Mitchell, who has been described as a popular member of the bowls community, died when the bus she and 29 other players were travelling on crashed on the Sunraysia Highway at 3.10pm on Saturday.

Five others were critically injured when the bus rolled near Avoca, about 180 kilometres north-west of Melbourne. Three patients were airlifted from the crash and more than a dozen were taken by ambulance to hospitals across the state.

Two were flown to The Alfred hospital. By Sunday afternoon one remained in a critical condition and the other woman was in a serious but stable condition. One woman was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital and another was driven there later. By Sunday afternoon both were in stable conditions. Twelve women were taken to Ballarat hospital; one was later discharged. One woman was admitted to Bendigo hospital and was later discharged.
Melbourne Airport has been in breach of legislation that gives it authority to issue car-parking fines for at least two years, putting in doubt thousands of fines, a court has been told.

The breach was uncovered after hire car driver Tony Sheridan refused to pay four fines for illegally parking in a permit zone.

Hire car driver Tony Sheridan challenged four parking fines. Credit:Justin McManus

Mr Sheridan took the airport corporation to court, where Melbourne Airport was forced to admit it had not complied with federal legislation.

Two of the state's leading QCs are contesting the case in the Broadmeadows Magistrates Court.
Police have taken a 15-year-old boy into custody for questioning over a sex assault on an elderly woman in Perth's south.

The woman aged in her 80s was sexually assaulted, bashed and robbed during a burglary at her home in Waikiki early on Friday morning.

Officers spent Saturday searching for the boy. Credit:Georgia Matts

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Police located the boy at a house in Waikiki.
Asylum seekers at Spielfeld on the Austrian border in January 2016. Credit:AP For most of last year, the far-right populist Freedom Party surged in the polls to a clear lead. The party has a murky past: its first leader was a former Nazi and SS officer; its leader in the 1980s and '90s, Joerg Haider, was a friend of Muammar Gaddafi and courted controversy with comments seen as pro-Nazi or anti-Semitic. The Freedom Party is still stridently anti-immigration and anti-Islam. But under current leader Heinz-Christian Strache it has found unprecedented electoral appeal. Last year its presidential candidate, Norbert Hofer, won the first round of the election and came within just a few tenths of a percentage point of victory. Austrian soldiers erect fences to improve the procedure for arriving asylum seekers in 2015. Credit:AP During the asylum seeker surge, Austria took more refugees as a proportion of the population than Germany did  and without the buoyant economy to help absorb them. The Freedom Party played on the tensions this created, telling stories about schooling problems, security problems and refugee men harassing Austrian women.

In this election the party stands a good chance of ending up in government, probably as the junior partner. Heinz-Christian Strache, chairman of Austria's Freedom Party. Credit:AP And this is because of one man: Sebastian Kurz of the conservative People's Party. "Mr Kurz is the most significant political talent to emerge in Austria in the past decade or so," says Heinisch. Kurz's youth (he is 31, and was just 27 when he became the country's foreign minister in the current "grand coalition" government), charisma and intellect are reminiscent of Emmanuel Macron or Justin Trudeau.

But his politics are not. When his fellow ministers watched the refugees arriving they were determined to welcome them, or at least manage their welcome. Kurz, however, almost immediately expressed doubts. "Very early on he recognised that the refugee issue would be perceived more negatively in the future," Heinisch says. "He was one of the first in his own party to go against his party's mainstream, against his own government by drawing attention to the problem and the downside of all this." When he took control of the People's Party in July, Kurz brought hardline positions with him. He wants to strengthen the EU's outer borders and ban NGOs from rescuing refugees in the Mediterranean. He proposes to cut and cap benefits for migrants, he wants migrant children to take compulsory language classes, and he thinks there shouldn't be any "Islamic kindergartens". In New York last month, Kurz told the UN General Assembly "the world has never felt more insecure, at least not in my lifetime" (he was three when the Berlin Wall came down). Part of this insecurity was caused by the "migration crisis", he said.

"Uncontrolled migration leads to chaos ... Citizens need to have confidence that their governments decide who should cross the border." There was a huge public response. The People's Party, formally renamed for the election "The Sebastian Kurz List  the new People's Party", shot ahead in the polls, and appears very likely to win the most votes on Sunday. Strache complained in vain that Kurz's policies  not just on immigration, but on the economy, were virtually identical to his. In TV debates Kurz has been "superbly articulate", Heinisch says. "He has styled himself very much like a Macron, an outsider who is trying to be an iconoclast, breaking the mould of the current politics of his party.

"His composure and his style of rhetoric is very atypical for Austrian politicians, it's extremely polished. There's a cool kind of aloofness to him that's just the right touch, not too much and not too little." His policies have caused some outrage  the office of the UN's refugee agency denounced "xenophobic debates and exclusionary tendencies" in the election campaign. But they fit the national mood. This is a country that enacted a ban on face-covering veils this year despite protests from Muslim groups, lawyers and the country's own President. The Austrian Chancellor, Social Democrat Christian Kern, has tried to pin Kurz down on substantive policies, to drag him down into the trenches on matters where his youth might betray inexperience. "But he's made very few mistakes," says Heinisch. "Somehow he always escapes and stays above the fray."

This year each election in a European country has been seen as a marker on the barometer of far-right nationalism, to predict the political weather for the European Union as a whole. In France's presidential poll, the establishment parties were routed by a charismatic pro-Europe centrist who then easily beat Marine Le Pen  whose National Front party has been in turmoil ever since. In the Netherlands the far-right Geert Wilders lost by a significant margin, but left the other parties in such disarray that it took more than 200 days to cobble together a four-party government. In Germany, Merkel won another term in government, but the radical-right Alternative for Germany entered the Bundestag as the third biggest party. Austria, similarly, is in the mood to shake things up. "There is a strong sense in the public that they want change," Heinisch says.

And Austria may go one step further. If the current polls reflect the eventual result, then the Freedom Party is likely to end up in government. Both Kurz and the Social Democrats have ruled out another grand coalition. It might still happen, but it is much more likely that Kurz would choose a coalition of the right. Heinisch is cautious  he says a lot depends on how well smaller parties do. But the most likely scenario, he says, is that Strache will be the deputy chancellor in a Kurz government. These are two men who have been sparring during the campaign over who is more chummy with Hungary's Viktor Orban. They have already paved the way for coalition by settling some of their differences. Strache has toned down his anti-EU rhetoric and even claimed to be "pro-Europe" in an election debate.

But this will do little to calm nerves in Brussels. To add another concern to the mix, the Freedom Party is pals with the Kremlin: Strache visited Moscow in December to sign a co-operation accord with Vladimir Putin's United Russia Party, and says EU sanctions against Russia are "harmful and ultimately useless". If Kurz becomes chancellor, the country will discover whether his jump to the right was a political tactic or conviction, Heinisch says. Is he the "conservative Trudeau" of a few years ago, or has he hardened along with his rhetoric? "He started by being about change and modernisation, liberalisation, but lately he's talked so much about immigration and foreigners that one wonders where is his heart," Heinisch says. "I think there is more of a hard ideological right-wing element to him, perhaps, where he sees foreigners as a cultural threat and it's not just a tactic [to take votes from the far right]. "He sounded [in the campaign] much tougher, somewhat more Islamophobic than I would have thought possible given what he has said just a few years ago ... we are wondering how serious he really is on this.
Two Bryan High School marching band members attending a music competition in Katy were taken by ambulance to the hospital on Saturday to be treated for various heat-related illnesses.

Brandon Webb, spokesman for the Bryan school district, said two band members were transported to Texas Children's Hospital in Katy with heat exhaustion.

The students are participating in the 32nd Annual Katy ISD Invitational Marching Festival at Legacy Stadium.

According to parents who have contacted The Eagle, students attending the festival have become ill. Webb said several band members had reported symptoms of heat exhaustion, but only two were transported to the hospital.

The temperature in Katy was listed as 91 degrees as of 5 p.m., with a 98-degree heat index. According to a website for the marching festival, Bryan High School's band was scheduled to perform at 3:30 p.m. today. A&M Consolidated High School is also at the event.

Webb said the students became ill after the band had performed.

According to Chuck Glenewinkel, spokesman for the College Station school district, there have been no reports of A&M Consolidated students with heat-related illness.

This is a developing story. Stay with The Eagle for updates
According to College Station police, officers responded to the Northgate district on June 24, where a man had been assaulted and was lying unconscious in the street. Witnesses told police three men had fought the victim and one man knocked him out. While the victim was unconscious, police say Kevin Perez, 22, punched him the face, breaking his jaw. Police noted in their report that Perez sustained injured knuckles. Authorities spoke to the doctors who treated the victim and found he suffered a broken jaw, loosened teeth and a concussion. His jaw was wired shut for six weeks.
Several who have worked alongside former President George H.W. Bush, as well as a few experts on his administration, are scheduled to participate later this week in panel discussions that are open to the public.

The events, two of which require registration, are in recognition of the 20th anniversary of Bush's Presidential Library and Museum in College Station and are as follows:

 The Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M will feature authors of Called to Serve: The 20-Year History of the Bush School at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. Charles F. Hermann, the first director of the school, and Sally Dee Wade, former writing instructor at the Bush School, are expected to discuss the history of the school, as well as where some of its graduates have landed.

A dessert reception and book signing will follow at 7:30 p.m.; books will be available for purchase before and after the event.

 At the same location at 1 p.m. Friday, a "Sharing the Story: Researching the Bush Administration" panel will feature former Bush White House speechwriter and 41ON41 documentary executive producer Mary Kate Cary, along with fellow panelists Jeff Engel, founding director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University; Barbara Perry, director of presidential studies at the University of Virginia's Miller Center of Public Affairs and Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize winner and author of Destiny and Power: The American Odyssey of George Herbert Walker Bush.

 At 3 p.m. the same day, "Unlocking the Mystery: Declassifying the Bush Administration Documents" panel will discuss the classification and declassification of government information between University of Colorado-Boulder American diplomatic history professor Tom Zeiler, U.S. Department of State historian Stephen Randolph, George Washington University National Security Archive Director Thomas Blanton and Bush School senior lecturer James Olson.

Officials said topics will include the fine line between the public's right to know and national safety and security, and most importantly, the 25-year declassification rule described in Executive Order 12958, and what that means for Bush presidential records in January. A moderated question and answer session will follow.

Friday's events are free. To register, go online to http://bit.ly/bushpanel.

 Registration is not required for "Family Fest," which will be 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday with carnival games and bounce houses at the pond. There will be free admission to the museum where storyteller Bernadette Nason will share a two-story program, linked with President Bush's career. Organizers said it's perfect for age 4 and up. These will be in the orientation theater at 10:15 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

For information, visit Bush41.org.
A new building designed to centralize student services at Texas A&M University is scheduled to be built at the spot of Bizzell Hall on Military Walk.

According to the university, the $42.6 million, 95,000-square foot Student Services Building is expected to be open to students in 2020. Departments currently located in Bizzell Hall will be moved to the White Creek Complex location on West Campus this summer.

Interior demolition of the building, which was built in 1918 as a dormitory, began last week, and officials expect exterior demolition to be complete within the next two weeks.

"After Cain Hall was removed, student leaders were adamant that the new Student Services Building should be located in a central campus location, and we are excited that we honored these requests by constructing adjacent to Military Walk," said Daniel J. Pugh Sr., vice president for student affairs at Texas A&M, in a press release. "I am encouraged by the recent progress that has been made on the new Student Services Building, and pleased with its innovative design, which will allow our departments to more efficiently and effectively serve Texas A&M students."

Student services departments moved out of Cain Hall in October 2015 to make way for a parking garage and on-campus hotel/conference center. Since then, student services has been housed at the White Creek Complex.

Lake Flato Architects of San Antonio and PBK Architects will finalize designs early next year. Once the plans are approved by the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, Vaughn Construction will begin work that is expected to be complete by the 2019, when staff will move into the facility. Architects are designing ways to honor the history of Bizzell Hall.

"We intend to enhance and activate the communal core of campus by designing for ample daylight and shared spaces, and by providing clear pedestrian circulation and connectivity," the architects said. "We want this to be a welcoming destination that encourages interaction with students. It will be warm, highly visible and easily accessible."

The Offices of the Dean of Student Life, which manage nearly a dozen different programs ranging from health promotion and the Women's Resource Center to off-campus student services and new student and family programs, will inhabit the new space along with student counseling, disability services and residence life.

"It was critically important to student leaders and Student Affairs that we maintain centralized services -- student counseling, disability services, the Offices of the Dean of Student Life and residence life -- under one roof in the heart of campus, and we are delivering," Pugh said.

Visit sswc.tamu.edu to learn more about student services offered at the White Creek location.
WASHINGTON  Hypocrisy, one of the most damnable sins, has been rendered obsolete. When everybodys a skunk, nobody smells the stench. Or, more to the point, when everyones slurping from the same trough, whos a pig?

Today, hypocrisy is the smirk on Harvey Weinsteins face as he pursues therapy and asks forgiveness for his sexual transgressions. Well, I suppose one could say, at least hes not a hypocrite! Indeed, he isnt. Weinstein openly admits to bad behavior toward women, though he denies ever having had nonconsensual sex. I neednt bore you with the banality of his alleged gross exhibitionism and other impositions.

Weinstein, whose whiskered jowls and corpulent corpus are perfectly cast for the villainous character he plays in life, is but the latest in a lineup of high-profile (alleged) predators, including Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Bill OReilly and, long before, Bill Clinton. It bears mentioning that most of these men have never been charged formally or tried for sexual crimes in a court of law but recently been convicted in a trial by Twitter where the presumption of guilt overrides any considerations of due process. This isnt to defend any of them, but shouldnt we save a little of our outrage for these truncated expressions of justice?

Exceptions to the extra-legal rule are Clinton, who was impeached by the House of Representatives (and acquitted in the Senate) for perjury and obstruction of justice related to lying about sex with an intern; and Cosby, who had his day in court on a sexual assault charge that resulted in a deadlocked jury. The 80-year-old comedian faces a new trial next April.

Ailes, of course, left the company he created two weeks after former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson sued him for sexual harassment. They reached a settlement amount of $20 million, and he died soon thereafter. Justice doesnt get any plainer than that. OReilly left the same company after revelations that he had settled with five women who accused him of sexual harassment, though the dethroned king of cable news has said the claims had no merit. Even so, one neednt strain to recognize hypocrisy lurking in the corridors of the network that promoted family values while its boss and its highest earner were (allegedly) demanding sexual favors on the side. Settlements dont necessarily confirm guilt, but numbers of women and dollars might.

Both Hollywood and the broadcast world are especially tough on women. Foxs blend of sex(y) and news should have been scandalous (and was to many serious journalists), but Ailes knew his audience of mostly white, middle-aged men and sold them what they apparently wanted  ample leg and hint of bosom topped off with bee-stung lips and baby-doll eyes. No matter how many advanced degrees the Fox women have, Ailes set the stage for female objectification and created a prime-time bonanza that relied upon implicit and complicit exploitation. As long as everyone was living large, nobody complained.

Moreover, everyone sorta knew about these men, at least by reputation and rumor. Not everyone, obviously. Greta Van Susteren, who left Fox soon after Ailes, told me again last Thursday that she never had any idea what was going on. But many did, apparently, and they looked away, including some of the alleged victims, who kept silent for fear of retribution or, perhaps, because they were ultimately willing to suffer humiliation in exchange for advancement. This seems an obvious, if painful, truth.

If you want to move up, as Weinstein allegedly put it to his targets, this is the way it works. If women didnt want to play nasty with the boss, who could conjure dreams or nightmares with a phone call, they were finished.

To say that these women, some barely in their 20s at the time, should have just-said-no and walked out is to misunderstand the power dynamic between a young, inexperienced woman and a powerful, physically imposing boss. It is also to wish for a different world, which, as it turns out, is coming right along. The alleged predators in each of these cases belong to a fading generation and the James Bondian, 60s free-love, Playboy era. Soon enough, they, too, will be joining Hugh Hefner and Ailes.

And the futures power brokers will be at least equally women, who, in the aftermath of these buffoonish bullies, wont hesitate to speak up and speak out, setting an example for others not yet so brave. The panty party is over.

Now, about Twitter and the future of justice.

Kathleen Parkers email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com.
You have a character that goes through the scrutiny of being sexualised , and then an audience that does the same thing.
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DUNDALK, Md. - Luke Buckingham gazed hungrily at the motorcycle belonging to one of his fellow apprentices at Ironworkers Local 16. A brand-new Suzuki GSX-R1000 with a cobalt finish, glittering against the broken sidewalk.

"Oh man," he said. "That thing's a beast. Someday, someday . . . "

To Buckingham, a bearlike 25-year-old with buzzed blond hair, the bike was a symbol of the middle-class life he hoped to someday have - the waterfront house, the boat, the monogrammed bedsheets he imagined himself sliding between. It was why he dragged his 6-foot, 260-pound frame out of bed before dawn to climb along iron beams and weld columns for $21.36 an hour, minus the 4 percent union tithe. Someday, he'd get the superintendent position; someday maybe be a foreman, "just being the top dog."

It was his third year as an apprentice. Twice a week, he and two dozen other apprentices drove to this cinder-block shop just east of the Baltimore city limits to learn drilling, welding, rebar and the values of a union man.

Outside the shop, the country seemed to be at war over how much longer their kind of work would be around. Manual jobs were being edged out by automation and overseas competition. President Donald Trump had vowed to bring them back, extolling the working class, which somehow had become shorthand for white Trump supporters.

Local 16 apprentices saw something different. Mostly white but also African-American, Hispanic and from other ethnic groups, they reflected the true makeup of America's working class in 2017, which was closing in on half minority. As a Jewish American, Buckingham didn't fit the Trumpian mold, either.

The apprentices had more pressing concerns than politics, dogged by questions their elders never had to face. Would there be enough work to make their four years of training worth it? Was there still room in the United States for a blue-collar worker to make a good life?

They weren't going to wait on Trump. Instead, they were taking their futures into their own hands. Baltimore wasn't booming like Washington or New York, but there was one bright spot: the possibility of a major wind energy project that would create local jobs and help them get closer to their middle-class dreams.

Soon, the apprentices would head to the Maryland Public Service Commission to push for the plan to be approved. And they were counting on men like Jimmy Gauvin, who heads their apprenticeship program, to guide them.

- - -

Gauvin, 62, doesn't generally go in for sentimentality. But what had happened to Sparrows Point, he said, was "like a dagger in our heart."

He'd started working there in the 1980s, when the site buzzed with tens of thousands of workers. "You were always burning and welding, tearing something out, putting something in."

Back then, you'd see mill after mill after mill, each engaged in the steelmaking process. The tallest blast furnace pumped out smoke that was black, red or brown, depending on what was being made. Three times a day, the shift changes swallowed and disgorged thousands of men through the gates.

Local 16, a five-minute drive away, had 1,400 dues-paying members. But when Gauvin retired as a full-time ironworker in 2008, the Point was dying, and in 2012, it closed altogether.

"The steel industry shrank because the technology became out of date," said Thomas Kochan, co-director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan Institute for Work and Employment Research. "The old blast furnaces weren't replaced with new technology as fast as in China, Korea and India, and the U.S. industry became less competitive."

The union's meeting hall fell silent. To the apprentices, the Point became a landscape of gauzy nostalgia, a symbol of a time when ironworking promised a future.

Now, there were no promises. The system was top-heavy, with 300 active members paying for 600 retirees. They needed more apprentices, but the work was dangerous, and there was no guarantee of jobs.

Then, last year, the union's business agent heard about a proposal to build wind turbines off the Maryland shore.

The U.S. Energy Department has called for ramping up wind-powered electricity to 20 percent by 2030, and the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers has begun offering turbine training and certification. Bringing such a large project to Baltimore would be "a real cause for excitement," said Ahmer Qadeer, a Rutgers University researcher who works on energy and labor issues. "It represents a lot of work and . . . a growing industry."

Gauvin didn't want to get too excited. Still, it sat like a coin in his pocket, something to run his thumb over. If the turbines were approved, it would mean that when he retired from running the program in a year or two, he'd be leaving his apprentices with the prospect of steady work.

That, to him, would be a big step toward making America great again.

But Ocean City homeowners worried the turbines would ruin their views. So Gauvin went from classroom to classroom with a message for his apprentices.

Go, he told them. Go to the hearings and speak in favor of the turbines. Their futures depended on it.

- - -

Buckingham hadn't planned on being an ironworker. After high school, he started studying engineering at Frostburg State University before dropping out.

A local general contractor took him on, offering him a path to good money. He loved the job, but then his fiancee decided to move to Chicago, and he quit to join her. A week later, the engagement fell apart. "I came back to Baltimore and begged for my job back, but he said, 'No, you've got to learn your lesson.' "

He drifted for a couple of years, until a family friend suggested Local 16's apprenticeships. Gauvin let him take the entrance exam even though the program had started three months earlier.

For Buckingham, the union held a lot of the appeal of the fraternity he'd joined in college - the structure, the brotherhood, even the rules. As he and his buddies lifted a 616-pound I-beam or held a magnetic drill steady, he absorbed lessons on why it was worth it to pay dues and how a union man's work was higher quality and ultimately more lucrative than that of his nonunion counterparts.

Now, living in a basement room he rents in his father's Canton home, Buckingham's decision to quit the contractor job still gnaws at him. He knows he can be rash - he wasn't even sure whom he'd vote for in November until he stepped into the booth and picked Trump.

His father was outraged. But Buckingham liked that Trump was all about making money. That's what he wanted for himself.

Some of Buckingham's fellow apprentices razzed him. Trump was the worst kind of boss, they said, a rich man who hired nonunion workers, a racist.

The day after the election, Taaz Robinson, a fellow third-year, posted a picture on Buckingham's Facebook page of Trump as an infant being dandled by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Like Buckingham, Robinson, a square-jawed African-American man, had also made rash choices. After graduating from high school in Aberdeen, he turned down a college lacrosse scholarship, began dealing drugs and wound up in prison.

He was paroled in 2013, married and had a second and third child. Despite his record, Local 16 was willing to take him in. He felt, as he put it, "in a positive light for the first time in my life."

He and Buckingham had that gratitude in common, and though Robinson avoided talking politics at work, he could tease Buckingham. After he posted the Putin picture, Buckingham good-naturedly hit the "like" button.

Then in January, Local 16 received the news that it would be merging with Local 5 of Upper Marlboro, one of several mergers of ironworkers unions around the country. The Local 16 members felt blindsided. The union was part of their identity, like a tattoo. What kind of message did it send, that their union could no longer stand on its own?

Compared with this, national politics seemed distant. Ironworkers' fortunes rise and fall with the local construction economy, and for Baltimore workers, the more important vote was the one coming in the spring about the wind turbines.

- - -

On an overcast Saturday in March, Buckingham walked into the cafeteria of Stephen Decatur Middle School in Berlin, near Ocean City. The drive from Baltimore had taken over two hours on his day off, but he wanted to stand with Gauvin and his brothers.

Gauvin stepped up to the microphone. He recounted his ironworking journey, which began in 1978. "I was able to provide for my family, put my children through college, pay for their weddings." Noting the apprentices in the room, he said, if the turbines were approved, "these gentlemen would have the opportunity the same as I did."

Some men from Local 16 spoke, along with environmental groups, business organizations and other unions supporting the project. Homeowners spoke, too, about views and electricity rates, which, at least initially, can rise after a switch to wind energy.

Back in Dundalk, Gauvin treated the group to dinner at Chili's. Buckingham ordered a cheeseburger and two Budweisers.

He had liked the way Gauvin had threaded his life story together with those of his apprentices. Watching him, he'd thought, "Jimmy's the man!"

Two months passed. On a Tuesday in late May, as the apprentices filed in, Gauvin summoned them to the shop's central room.

They jostled for space along a horizontal I-beam. Gauvin raised a hand to shush them.

"I don't know if you all heard about the vote a few days ago on our offshore windmills," he said.

The room grew quiet.

"It went our way."

The men erupted in cheers and thumbs-ups.

Two companies had been approved to construct 77 turbines off the Maryland shore, pending federal sign-off. The Public Service Commission estimated the project would create nearly 9,700 jobs and spur more than $1.8 billion in in-state spending. The companies would be required to use local port facilities and invest in a steel fabrication plant. And they would have to fund nearly $40 million in port upgrades at the Point.

"So our little part in it, going down to testify, it worked," Gauvin said.

There was no telling how big this could be. It could spark a chain reaction, with buildings going up at the Point, turbines built and installed, windmill maintenance ongoing. However it fell out, he told them, "It's all man-hours for us."

Then he ordered them back to work.

It wasn't until later for Buckingham that the news began to sink in.

"It gives me job security, and it helps the guys that are coming in," he said. "The kids growing up in Dundalk and Edgemere and Sparrows Point, they're going to see that and they're going to go, 'Well, that's a job. Maybe I'll go do that.' "

- - -

On a breezy afternoon, trucks pulled into the union hall parking lot, and apprentices climbed out. They smoked cigarettes, and a first-year sat on a car trunk and strummed a guitar, singing, "The Weight" as a briny scent wafted in from the Point.

Fifty feet above, Buckingham and another apprentice stood in a manlift painting the union hall's flagpole. As part of the merger, they would eventually move from this building. But for now, it was still their home.

Buckingham was recently prequalified for a home loan; now he needed to save for the down payment. He had gotten an offer to work for a nonunion company, but he had quickly declined.

"I'd be missing the union, the sense of belonging, the value, the relationships," he said.

The manlift lowered him to the ground. The sun was low and golden, and Buckingham's clothes were splattered with paint. He stubbed out a cigarette and dropped it into an empty water bottle. He looked up at the flagpole, white against the blue sky. Then he crushed the plastic bottle with his hands and headed into class.
Members of Grand Island Area Retired School Personnel met Sept. 18 at Riverside Lodge with 25 members in attendance.

President Eldon Ervin led in saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing Battle Hymn of the Republic, accompanied by pianist Linda Dahlstrom.

Wanda Duennerman introduced speaker Jennifer Hagen, principal of St. Paul Public Schools. She provided the group with information about the C.A.R.E. program that the school is using to combat alcohol consumption in St. Paul Schools and community.

The next meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16, in the Woodland Room of Riverside Lodge.

The program will be presented by Mary Ingram with Volunteer Nebraska, a nonprofit organization with a mission to empower young people to become active in their communities through service projects.
After a 15-year absence from Grand Island, Hardees restaurant is returning.

Westar Foods, Inc., of Overland Park, Kan., is opening its 36th Hardees restaurant in Iowa and Nebraska in Grand Island. The new Hardees will be at 2220 N. Webb Road, and will be officially opening on Tuesday.

Grand Island is a great town to be in, said Westar Foods President Frank Westermajer. The people have been so great to work with, and the market itself is very progressive. Being here gives us an opportunity to grow in Central Nebraska.

The Grand Island Hardees will be Westars sixth restaurant in Nebraska.

Westar Foods has been a Hardees franchisee for more than 10 years. Westermajer said the companys standard of excellence, the commitment to provide quality food and outstanding customer service has helped it to double its store units since the original 18 stores were acquired in 2007.

Along with Westermajer, Westars business partners include Steven Barrett, Ronald Damiana and Wayne Glasser.

On Sept. 3, 1960, Wilbur Hardee opened a drive-in hamburger stand in Greenville, N.C., launching what would become Hardees Food Systems, Inc., the fifth largest fast-food restaurant chain in the United States.

Hardee, a former Martin County farm boy and World War II Navy cook, initially sold his charcoal-broiled hamburgers and milkshakes for 15 cents each, mainly to students at nearby East Carolina University. In 1961, Hardee took on two partners and opened a second restaurant in Rocky Mount. By 1963, the business had grown to a five-restaurant franchise.

Hardee lost controlling interest in the operation that same year during a card game with his partners. He later sold his remaining shares for $37,000. In 1997, St. Louis-based CKE Restaurants Inc., bought Hardees, which last year boasted more than 2,000 locations worldwide and $1.8 billion in revenue.

Westermajer invited the Grand Island community for the opening of the restaurant on Tuesday, with the doors opening at 10 a.m. The first 50 customers will be awarded a free biscuit once a week for a year. Hardees is known for its scratch biscuits that are made fresh every morning by a biscuit maker.

As part of the grand opening festivities, the burger chains famous Happy Star mascot will be on hand to welcome guests.

Prior to opening, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, followed by a check presentation donation to the Salvation Armys food pantry.

Hardees has garnered itself a reputation for good food, such as the Thickburger which is a one-third pound 100 percent Black Angus beef patty served on a fresh baked bun.

Hardees is also known for its hand-breaded chicken tenders that feature premium, fresh, all-white meat, hand-dipped in eggs and buttermilk and lightly breaded, along with its hand-scooped ice cream milkshakes that are blended with real milk then finished with whipped topping.

The $5 All-Star Meal box is a first for Hardees.

When asked the one menu item they would recommend to those who have never eaten at Hardees, Sam Oglesby, the CFO for Westar Foods, said, The one-third pound bacon cheese Thickburger with a hand-scooped chocolate shake. That order clearly sets us apart from the others.

Westermajer said, Its a tie.

On one hand, the hand-breaded chicken tenders are the best on the go, he said. And they are a great experience for a first timer. But if you truly want my opinion, the one-third pound Thickburger is the way to go. You just cant beat it.

Normal operating hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to midnght Friday and Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. There is free Wi-Fi and seating enough for 66.

Visit WestarFoods.com to learn more about the company. For more information or to find a Hardees store near you, visit Hardees.com.
A Grand Island artist who was among the first featured at the Stuhr Museum will be featured again, 50 years later.

Grant Reynard was born in 1887 and died in 1968. He studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and was nationally featured, including in the Saturday Evening Post.

Kari Stofer, curator at the Stuhr Museum, said its special to be able to feature Reynard again, especially during the time Stuhr is celebrating 50 years and Nebraska is celebrating 150 years.

Hes one of the first Grand Island natives to become a national presence on the professional art scene, Stofer said.

Stuhr will display about 30 Reynard pieces, Stofer said. The total Stuhr collection is about three-times that. Stofer said it was hard to decide which ones to display, as its always a tough choice when putting together exhibits. She said when his work was first displayed in 1967, Reynard was a big help in putting it together. She said the first exhibition was a retrospect of Reynards work.

We just thought 50 years later that it was only right that we would honor him again and bring his artwork out and display Grant Reynard, Stofer said.

She said a catalog was put out in 1967 featuring Reynards work. Stuhr updated it and the Nebraska Arts Council gave funding to do so. Stofer said outreach projects will take the Reynard exhibit into nursing homes.

We really tried to make this a well-rounded experience for the community, Stofer said.

The museum will also feature an exhibit from the Grand Island Art Club and the Grand Island Sketch Club.

They have come together for more than 50 years to show together an exhibit, Stofer said, which they always display at Stuhr.

About 50 pieces will be showcased in that exhibit on the second floor in the south gallery. The pieces are mostly two-dimensional, and include oil and acryllic paintings, some pastel paintings and some featuring alcohol ink. Stofer said there will also be a few glass pieces on display.

Its showcasing the talent that is around Grand Island, Stofer said.

A reception for the clubs exhibit will be Sunday from 2-4 p.m. at Stuhr.

Both exhibits will be on display now through Nov. 12.

I think the community support of the Stuhr Museum for the past 50 years is incredible, Stofer said. It has been a good year to celebrate 150 years of Nebraska and 50 years of Stuhr, and an eclipse. Who could ask for more?
Eagles rally, then get sloppy in 4th quarter as undefeated hopes end

Several observations from the Eagles' Monday night game against the Washington Commanders.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) The Hague, Netherlands  Sun, October 15, 2017 11:35 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249440c 2 Science & Tech windows-10,Netherlands,privacy,technology Free

Dutch authorities claim Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system is violating data protection and privacy laws, and warned they may impose fines on the US technology giant.

"Microsoft breaches the Dutch data protection law by processing personal data of people that use the Windows 10 operating system on their computers," the Dutch Data Protection Authority (DPA) said in a statement late Friday.

The company fails to "clearly inform" users of Windows 10 that it "continuously collects personal data about the usage of apps and web surfing behavior through its web browser Edge, when the default settings are used," the DPA said.

"It also does not clearly inform users about the type of data it uses, and for which purpose", while not providing a valid way "to consent to the processing of their personal data".

The authority said it had investigated several versions of Windows 10, which has been installed on four million active devices in The Netherlands since it was launched in July 2015.

Read also: Death of Windows phone confirmed by Microsoft exec

It found that "through the default setting" Microsoft "systematically charts information about app usage of users."

So the company could for example gather information about such apps being used as "a Turkish newspaper, or a magazine targeted at gay people, an app that indicates Islamite prayer times," the authority said in its report.

That would allow Microsoft to target the user with personalised recommendations and adverts.

"Microsoft has indicated that it wants to end all violations. If this is not the case, the Dutch DPA can decide to impose a sanction on Microsoft," the authority warned.

It also said that the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, set to be released globally on October 17, "falls short" and does not fully address the issues.

Microsoft said in a statement that it does not believe the Dutch findings "accurately reflect the data protection compliance of Windows 10."

But the company "will continue to cooperate with the DPA to find appropriate solutions," Microsoft devices group privacy officer Marisa Rogers said.
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Frankfurt am Main, Germany  Sun, October 15, 2017 13:37 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2497f56 2 Art & Culture frankfurt-book-fair,Frankfurt,protest Free

The presence of a leading member of Germany's far-right AfD party at the Frankfurt book fair triggered protests on Saturday, with police intervening to separate rival demonstrators.

Several dozen leftist protesters shouted "Nazis out" while counter-demonstrators responded with "Everyone hates Antifa" (the anti-fascist movement), DPA news agency reported.

The protests were sparked by leading AfD member Bjoern Hoecke's visit to the annual fair to attend the presentation of a book by the hard-right publishing house Antaios.

Elsewhere at the trade show, a reading by two right-wing authors had to be cancelled because it was drowned out by protesters, DPA said.

The tumult comes just three weeks after the Alternative for Germany party (AfD) won its first seats in the federal parliament after taking nearly 13 percent of the votes in a national election.

Hoecke is one of the AfD's most divisive figures. He made headlines earlier this year when he said Germany should stop atoning for its guilt over World War II.

Organisers of book fair, the world's largest publishing event, issued a statement condemning "the targeted provocations" between "left- and right-wing groupings".

"The Frankfurt book fair thrives on diversity of opinion and is a space for free dialogue," it said.

The presence of far-right publishers at this year's fair has been controversial, with critics accusing organizers of giving a platform to rabble-rousers.

Read also: Five things to do at the Frankfurt Book Fair

The small publisher Antaios, which describes itself as "new right", earlier this week complained that some of its books were stolen and others smeared with toothpaste and coffee in apparent protest actions.

It is the publishing house behind the bestselling book "Finis Germania", Latin for "The End of Germany", which news weekly Der Spiegel described as "extremely right-wing, anti-Semitic and historically revisionist".
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Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Dijon, France  Sun, October 15, 2017 18:07 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249cc6e 2 Lifestyle wine,wine-tasters,France,Sweden Free

Wine tasters from Sweden toasted victory on Saturday after winning the fifth edition of an international blind tasting contest, leaving last year's top contenders China and France in the dust, organisers said.

Held in Burgundy in France's famed Cote d'Or wine-growing region, the contest saw 24 teams from around the world vying against each other to identify a range of wines by country of origin, grape varieties, appellations and vintages.

They had to identify six white wines and six reds from around the world.

The Chinese, who won last year's contest in a triumph that organisers said hit the world of wine with a "thunderbolt, came in ninth.

Read also: The six mistakes you are making when pairing food with wine

And the French team, which came second last year, finished 11th.

"The French tasters are excellent but they are more used to tasting (French) wines," admitted Denis Savarot, managing editor of La Revue du vin de France, the monthly wine magazine which organises the contest.

The Zimbabwean tasters, who took part for the first time this year, came in 23rd.

Next year's contest will take place in Languedoc in France's deep south.
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Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta  Sat, October 14 2017

The renovation of old buildings in the citys Kota Tua (Old Town) in West Jakarta is targeted to be completed before the start of the 2018 Asian Games.

Kota Tua Zone Management Unit head Novriadi Setio Husodo said there were 12 old buildings planned to be renovated, and four of them are still under renovation.

We aim to finish the renovation before the 2018 Asian Games so the Old Town can become one of the tourist attractions for foreigners, Novriadi said Thursday, as quoted by kompas.com. The 2018 Asian Games is scheduled to begin on Aug.18 in Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatera.

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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh  Sun, October 15, 2017 20:35 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249e14c 2 World Myanmar,Bangladesh,Rohingya,refugee-children Free

Nearly 14,000 children who have lost one or both parents are among the more than half a million Rohingya refugees who crossed in Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar, an official said Sunday.

The UN says 536,000 mainly Rohingya refugees have arrived from Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine state since August 25, the majority of them children.

Bangladesh's social services department said 13,751 children without a parent or parents were identified in a survey of the crowded refugee camps along its border, where charities warn that a humanitarian crisis is unfolding.

"The majority of them said they lost one or both parents in the violence in Rakhine," Pritam Kumar Chowdhury, a department deputy director, told AFP.

"Others said they didn't know what happened to their parents, and they came to Bangladesh with relatives."

The UN has described the violence in Rakhine as a textbook case of ethnic cleansing, with displaced Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh describing whole villages being razed, gang rapes and massacres.

Those who survived and fled to Bangladesh include an estimated 320,000 children, one-third of whom are under five years of age.

Bangladesh is building the world's largest refugee camp -- a sprawling three thousand acre (1,200 hectare) settlement -- capable of housing 800,000-plus Rohingya.

Last month a junior minister asked that 200 acres be set aside in the camp for children's facilities.

Chowdhury said an orphanage would be built for unaccompanied minors, and those without a parent would be given extra assistance and familial support.

Aid agencies have warned there is a real concern that vulnerable children could be victims of abuse or trafficking.
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Linkedin Nina Lamparski (Agence France-Presse) Vienna, Austria  Sun, October 15, 2017 11:40 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249521f 2 World Austria,election,Far-Right Free

Austrians were voting Sunday in a snap election tipped to see conservative Sebastian Kurz, 31, become the EU's youngest leader and form an alliance with the far-right, in the bloc's latest populist test.

A rightward shift in the wealthy European Union member of 8.75 million people would be a fresh headache for Brussels, as it already struggles with Britain's decision to leave and the rise of nationalists in Germany, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere.

But all signs indicate that Austrians, fed up with a record influx of asylum-seekers, want to swap the gridlocked centrist rule for a more hardline government for the first time in a decade.

The People's Party (OeVP) -- rebranded by Kurz as his personal "movement" -- is projected to reap more than 30 percent of the vote with pledges to go tough on migrants and easy on taxes.

The fresh-faced "whizz-kid" is likely to form a coalition with the eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPOe), forecast to place second or third with at least 25 percent.

If Sebastian Kurz becomes Austrian chancellor he will be easily the youngest leader in the EU https://t.co/6GrVOXStwz pic.twitter.com/9u7aLIrlnJ  Jeremy Cliffe (@JeremyCliffe) October 13, 2017

Founded by ex-Nazis, the FPOe almost won the presidency last year and topped opinion polls before Kurz stole votes with his radical OeVP makeover in spring.

FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache, 48, railed against asylum-seekers and vowed to stop Austrians from "becoming a minority in our own homeland", at a rally late Friday.

Meanwhile embattled Chancellor Christian Kern, 51, and his once-mighty Social Democrats (SPOe) could be flushed into opposition after their promising campaign suffered blunders and scandals.

Open hostility between the ex-railway chief and Kurz also makes any new attempt at ruling together seem unlikely.

Kern, in office since last May, issued a final warning Saturday against a right-wing alliance, saying "Austria was at the most important crossroads in decades".

The OeVP and FPOe already shared power between 2000 and 2007. At the time the alliance with the far-right - then led by the late, SS-admiring Joerg Haider - ostracized Austria.

But its return may not trigger the same backlash now that nationalists have gained ground across Europe.

Austria to swing to the right Sunday with a conservative "Trudeau" leader & hard line on immigration?https://t.co/tcU0MUl3H5  M.Joseph Sheppard (@SHEPMJS) October 15, 2017
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Abidjan, Ivory Coast  Sun, October 15, 2017 11:20 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a2494253 2 World Crash,Africa,France,Ivory-Coast Free

Four Moldovan nationals were killed and three French soldiers hurt on Saturday when a transport plane chartered by France's army crashed off Ivory Coast, authorities said.

There was a storm over Abidjan early in the day, but it was unclear whether heavy weather had played a role in the Antonov aircraft going down.

A French military source said the plane was chartered as part of anti-jihadist Operation Barkhane, under which France maintains a 4,000-man mission in the region.

The operation aims to shore up fragile Sahel countries against Islamists who have carried out a wave of bloody bombings, shootings and kidnappings.

Four French nationals and two Moldovans were hurt, the French military source said, adding that three of the French injured are soldiers.

"There were 10 people on board, Moldovans and French people. The four victims who died are Moldovan nationals," firefighter Colonel Issa Sakho told local television.

The plane had taken off from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and crash-landed in the sea near Abidjan, breaking in half, he said.

Local forces were hoping to secure the wreck before it drifted away "so investigators can do their job", he said.

The wreck could be seen from the beach, where hundreds of onlookers gathered after the crash, an AFP reporter said.

The French military base in Abidjan provides logistical support for the operation which is headquartered in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad. French special forces are stationed in Ouagadougou.

Every year, around 100 sorties are flown out of Abidjan airport as part of Barkhane, often by former Soviet army pilots in Ukrainian-made Antonovs.

The planes frequently carry French military personnel and sub-contractors accompanying their cargo.

James Mobioh Aka, a rescue worker based near the airport, said he received a call around 0600 or 06030 GMT saying an aircraft had crashed in the sea.

"When we arrived, we saw the plane, and we saw there were bodies in the water," he said. "One young man went into the water, another followed, and they recovered three."

The fourth body was found further along the coast.
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Linkedin Fabio Benedetti-Valentini (Bloomberg) Paris, France  Sun, October 15, 2017 21:24 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249ebfd 2 World Iran,nuclear-arsenal,France,Emmanuel-Macron Free

France is determined to preserve the 2015 nuclear agreement in the face of a hardened US position as President Emmanuel Macron considers a potential trip to Iran.

Everything thats possible should be done to save the Iran nuclear deal, Defense Minister Florence Parly told CNews in a televised interview Sunday. Thats in keeping with comments by Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian published by Agence France-Presse late Saturday. France hopes that the US Congress will not jeopardize a good agreement because curtailing it would provoke an infernal and very dangerous situation, Le Drian said.

President Donald Trump disavowed the deal on Friday by refusing to certify that the Islamic Republic is in compliance with the multinational accord to curb its nuclear program, but stopped short of rejecting the pact. Just hours after Trumps declaration, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Macron issued a joint statement reaffirming the commitment to the accord.

While criticizing Trumps stance on the nuclear deal, Le Drian also called for tough discussions with Iran on other issues. We need to have a very clear explanation with the Iranians about their ballistic program and about their influence in the region, and particularly in Syria, he told AFP.

Macron, who had a call Friday with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, discussed with him a potential trip to Iran, which would be the first by a French leader since the 1979 revolution that toppled the Shah, according to AFP. Le Drian will travel to Tehran over the next weeks.

Separately, Parly told CNews that effective sanctions are needed on North Korea following its missiles launches. A dialog should be forged with North Korea, but we are not yet there, she said.
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States  Sun, October 15, 2017 19:43 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249df3d 2 World trump,Russia-meddling,US,pornographic-content,media Free

Hustler Magazine publisher Larry Flynt offered US$10 million Sunday for dirt to help remove from office US President Donald Trump, in a full page ad in the Washington Post.

"I do not expect any of Trump's billionaire cronies to rat him out, but I am confident that there are many people in the know for whom $10 million is a lot of money," he said in the ad.

The porn magazine founder noted that he had used million dollar cash rewards before to elicit information that helped upend the careers of two Republican politicians.

"For the current crisis, I have upped the ante to $10 million," he wrote. "Make no mistake, I fully intend to pay this entire sum."

The top of the ad, written in all caps, reads simply: "$10 MILLION FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE OF DONALD J. TRUMP."

It goes on to question the legitimacy of Trump's election and lists offenses ranging from Trump's alleged collusion with Russian meddling in the US election to his sabotaging the Paris climate accord.

"But most worrisome is that, long before climate-change apocalypse strikes, Trump might trigger a nuclear world war," he wrote.

Porn mogul Larry Flynt talks about the 40th anniversary of 'Hustler' magazine at his offices in Beverly Hills,California on Aug. 26, 2014. (Agence France -Presse/Mark Ralston)

"Impeachment would be a messy, contentious affair, but the alternative -- three more years of destabilizing dysfunction -- is worse."

The ad lists an email contact and a hotline, which the Post reported would be staffed on weekdays, 8:30 am to 6 pm, for the next two weeks.
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Linkedin Shin Ji-hye (Korea Herald/ANN) Seoul  Sun, October 15, 2017 10:23 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a248f611 2 Business #SouthKorea,#Samsung Free

Just hours after forecasting another quarter of record profits on strong chip sales, Samsung Electronics announced its chip leader would be resigning, which some viewed as a carefully timed move to offset possible market jitters.



The unexpected move, however, stoked speculation of a large-scale personnel reshuffle at the tech giant. It also prompted further concern over the management of the conglomerate in the absence of Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who has been jailed over bribery.



Samsung Electronics said its Chief Executive and Vice Chairman Kwon Oh-hyun resigned, the company said Friday, and would not seek re-election as a member of the board of directors when his term ends in March 2018. He will also resign as the chief executive officer of Samsung Display.



Kwon said in a statement, As we are confronted with an unprecedented crisis inside and out, I believe that the time has now come for the company to start anew, with a new spirit and young leadership to better respond to challenges arising from the rapidly changing IT industry.



Now the company needs a new leader more than ever and it is time for me to move to the next chapter of my life, he added.



Kwon has been steering the group in Lees absence and representing Samsung at events including a meeting with President Moon Jae-in. He has also been managing key domestic and global strategies.



Apart from Lee, he has been the only person holding a vice chairman title at the group since former Vice Chairman Choi Jee-sung, who is also jailed over bribery, resigned earlier this year.



According to Samsung, Kwon will soon notify Lee of his resignation. He will also notify the board of directors and recommend his successor.



Kwons departure will deepen concerns over a leadership vacuum at Samsung, which already faces an uncertain future with the absence of two top leaders. The tech giants ailing Chairman Lee Kun-hee has been hospitalized for three years, while his son Lee Jae-yong, the companys de facto leader, has been in jail for eight months over corruption charges.



Samsung Electronics will likely carry out a personnel reshuffle next month to fill in Kwons absence. Kim Ki-nam, president of the semiconductor business of the device solutions division of Samsung Electronics, is the most likely candidate to replace Kwon, according to industry watchers.



Kwon joined Samsung in 1985 as a researcher at the companys semiconductor research institute in the US. He also served as head of its semiconductor business before becoming chief executive of the company in 2012. He has served as the chief of Samsung Display since 2016.



He played a key role in bringing up Samsungs crown jewel semiconductor business and raising Samsungs NAND business to reach the worlds top in the market. With his engineering expertise, Kwon is also noted for leading the development of the worlds first 64-mega DRAM in 1992.

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This article appeared on The Korea Herald newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin Leila B. Salaverria (Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN) Manila  Sun, October 15, 2017 10:06 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a248c51e 2 SE Asia #Philippine,#Philippines,#Duterte,#Manila Free

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the dismissal of two officials of the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission (PRRC) for delaying the completion of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project.

These two really did bad. They delayed the project. We are rushing to give more mobility to the people of Metro Manila. But these two sat on it for almost one year, Mr. Duterte said in an interview on government television.

The delay caused the postponement of the original completion target by two years, or 2020, and Mr. Duterte blamed the delay on the two PRRC officials, saying I didnt like what they did.

Cabinet members are only allowed one month to act on papers. [Agency] directors only have 15 days. These two sat on the papers for almost one year, the President said.

The President did not disclose the names of the officials, who supposedly wrote him a formal apology with the assurance that it would not happen again.

However, the President said what the two officials did was unacceptable and was a violation of Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

Under RA 3019, public officials are prohibited from causing any party, including the government, undue injury.

The same law prohibits public officials from neglecting or refusing to act on relevant matters or requests before their respective offices without a valid justification.

While they sent me a letter apologizing for the delay, Im telling them nowhere on televisionI have fired you actually, he said.

The third stage of the Metro Manila Skyway is envisioned to be an elevated 14.82-kilometer tollway from Buendia Avenue in Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City.

The Skyway was also meant to connect the North and South Luzon Expressways, easing the vehicular traffic in major Metro Manila thoroughfares.

Topics :

This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
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Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) The Hague, Netherlands  Sun, October 15, 2017 18:21 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249d0c7 2 SE Asia Australia,TimorLeste,border,oil-and-gas Free

Australia and Timor-Leste have drawn up a draft treaty setting out their maritime borders, aiming to end a bitter dispute over lucrative oil and gas fields, officials said Sunday.

"Timor Leste and Australia have reached agreement on the complete text of a draft treaty" in confidential talks in The Hague over the past week, the Permanent Court of Arbitration said in a statement.

It "delimits the maritime boundary between them in the Timor Sea and addresses the legal status of the Greater Sunrise gas field," the tribunal added.

Without giving any details, the court hailed the draft treaty hammered out after a deal was reached in August as a "pathway to the development of the resource, and the sharing of the resulting revenue."

The two countries have been at loggerheads for a decade over the previous Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea (CMATS) agreement between them, which carved up future revenue from oil and gas reserves in the area.

Impoverished Timor-Leste and which gained independence from Indonesian occupation in 2002, relies heavily on oil and gas exports.

In 2006 it signed the CMATS treaty with Australia, which covers the vast Greater Sunrise gas field between the two nations that is worth billions of dollars.

But Dili later accused Canberra of spying to gain commercial advantage during the 2004 negotiations and demanded the treaty be ripped up.

Australia had argued the treaty was legal, binding and valid, but agreed to end it in line with Dili's wishes on January 9.

The governments in East Timor and Australia will now have to approve the treaty, with the two countries set to meet again before the end of November in Singapore aiming to set a date for a signing ceremony some time in 2018.

Peter Taksoe-Jensen, the head of a conciliation commission set up by the tribunal to help steer the negotiations, praised the "constructive" atmosphere of the talks.

Dili and Canberra were "standing together to ensure that the resources of the seabed are developed to the benefit of both peoples," he said.
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Sun, October 15, 2017 14:03 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a24984d2 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,United-Arab-Emirates Free

The Tourism Ministry is set to hold Sales Mission events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Oct. 18-19.

The impact of [Saudi Arabian] King Salmans 12-day visit to Indonesia is very huge, thats why we are going to hold Wonderful Indonesia Sales Mission in UAE, said the ministry's deputy minister for overseas promotion I Gde Pitana.

Among the destinations that will be highlighted at the event are Bali, Bandung, Jakarta and Lombok.

According to the ministry's deputy assistant for Europe, the United States, Middle East and Africa tourism promotion Nia Niscaya, UAEs market ratio is still smaller than Saudi Arabia and Oman, however the nation has a total population of 10 million. Only around 1.8 million of them are local residents while the rest are expatriates.

Read also: What makes Dubai, Dubai

Dubai is similar to Singapore where it hosts people from all over the world, said Nia.

Additionally, the spending of Middle Eastern tourists is above the average. In general, these tourists usually take eight-and-a-half-day vacation with an average spending of US$1,190.

In Dubai, our target is Middle Eastern families who usually take a summer break for two to three months and travel with family members, Nia added. (kes)
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Linkedin (Pesona Indonesia) Jakarta  Sun, October 15, 2017 16:02 1857 1f87594453bb792833e1ece3a249afd9 2 News Tourism-Ministry-Pesona-Indonesia,tourism-ministry-wonderful-Indonesia,Nias Free

Prior to the Nias tribes Yaahowu Party 2017 that will be held from Nov. 23 - 26 in Gunungsitoli, Nias, North Sumatra, the events official mascot has recently been launched and it will represent the event for the next five years.

The mascot is called 'Magiao' and bears the official tagline of Dream Island Nias.

The mascot serves for media interaction and promotion of Yaahowu Party as well as encouraging tourism business entrepreneurs to make an economic value out of the mascot, said Nias Regency Chiefs Communication Forum (Forkada) head, Lakhomizaro Zebua who is also the mayor of Gunungsitoli.

The word magiao is Nias native language of Nias parrot species.

It is said that Nias parrot is smarter than other parrot species, told Gunungsitoli deputy mayor Sowaa Laoli.

Read also: By Mentawai for Mentawai: How community-driven education can save a tribe

Magiao has a bigger body and wider wings compared to other parrot species. The color of its feathers is black with a hint of yellow feathers around the back of its head and under the ears.

Its very hard to find magiao birds these days, we are currently in partnership with Heidelberg Zoo and Taman Safari Indonesia for a captive breeding program of magiao, Sowaa added.

As for Magiao the mascot, it boasts the yellow color on its beak and at back of is head. The yellow color located around the neck area symbolizes the necklace usually worn by kings and royalties of Nias Island.

Meanwhile, the color red symbolizes bravery, unity and gotong royong (mutual cooperation) spirit whilst the black color, which is the primary color of Nias parrot, symbolizes prosperity and a fertile land where most of its people do farming for a living. (asw)
"Living in London is like a dream, coming to Classic FM is even better."

Over a hot chocolate at a cosy cafe in South Kensington, Isabel Esain recalls how she had the opportunity to play her instrument, the viola da gamba, on Classic FM. Over a hot chocolate at a cosy cafe in South Kensington, Isabel Esain recalls how she had the opportunity to play her instrument, the viola da gamba, on Classic FM.

Isabel, 19, from Zaragoza, Spain, began her journey playing the viola back when she was just seven years old.

Isabel, explains she took up the viola "because its the most important instrument from the Baroque period."

"It was the most important instrument in France during the 1650s, which was when France was the most important country in the world. So, the reason I play this instrument is theres so much repertoire".

Beginning in Rome around 1600, the Baroque period followed the Renaissance and the music style preceded the classical era.

Isabel, however, prefers baroque music to classical: "W

hen you go to classical music, you have more restrictions, so composers tell musicia

ns how they want instruments to be played. But for baroque music, you have to interpret it yourself. So you have to read so many books, you have to read so much about the background and the composers and why they play this way and different techniques, if you play French music you have to play one way, if youre playing German music you have to play in a different way."

"Its much more time consuming but very rewarding when you play it."

She puts down her mug and then with her hands explains the different playing styles. She plays the German way, holding the bow from below, whilst the French play holding the bow from above.

She later informs me how in the past, composers had to choose between quality and intensity and how in classical music, it is a case of a musician being in front of an audience, who simply listens. She describes this as "the main difference" between classic and her preferred baroque genre.

Whilst, Isabel speaks highly of the long list of baroque musicians, she's insistence that she wants to find her own unique style. I ask her who her inspiration is and she ponders for a moment before telling me, "

I cant choose one, I really cant choose one", before explaining,

"I dont want to be like someone, I dont want to play like someone."

It was this dedication to her art form that lead to her Classic FM appearance: "So I have quite an active Facebook account."

On this account, she shared a lot of her music: "From my tours and all my music gigs and all the things I do, and Ive always followed Classic FM, Classic is always one of my references in the music world, because they dont support just classical music, they also support baroque music."

Classic FM contacted Isabel as a result of these posts on her website: "They were really interested, so I sent them a video and they published it in their website, and it was a very successful post, so they invited me to the studio, and then I recorded some videos there.

"It was such an amazing experience, everyone in the studio was really nice, I had this tour through the studio, and with the live session, we did it, I was really happy because there was so many people interested in the instrument.

"There were people commenting 'I really want to learn this instrument', These people know like Bach and Mozart, but they dont know baroque, so this is like new music, so thats cool. The chance to show this to people was really, really enjoyable."

In addition to her life as a musician, Isabel is studying two degrees: Biochemistry and Music at Imperial College, London. She is clearly enjoying life in the capital:

"Im meeting people from all over the world, its been such a great experience, also having the chance to play French music with French people! Its cool and I dont know, in all aspects its amazing, I have nothing to complain about. Its really cool to live in this cultural background."

Whilst doing one degree can seem daunting enough, Isabel has no regrets doing two and encourages others considering doing the same to just go for it.

"Everyone in Spain was telling me not to do it.

"It doesnt matter what people tell you, because I remember only one person out of a hundred told me 'you can do it.'

"And here I am, Ive done my first year, Im really, really happy

"If you just want something, just go for it, no-one is going to stop you, youre the one who decides what to do with your life."

In addition to all this, Isabel continues to tour with her baroque group. She began playing with them in 2014 and has just toured Switzerland having previously played in Spain and Germany.

Her group has in the past featured other international musicians and has played with several guests, including the lead trombone player from the Berliner Philarmoniker.

Isabel's eyes light up talking about touring with her group: "Its a really good experience to play baroque music with international musicians from different countries with a different style, I really like it."

The tours are successful with shows selling out, the baroque world may be small but as Isabel agrees, it's full of passionate people, noting that the classical world is far bigger: "If you talk about Telemann (German baroque composer and multi-instrumentalist), people wont know who Telemann is but if you talk about Mozart, everyone knows who Mozart is."

Though, at the same time anyone could potentially pick up baroque music, as long as they understand the music and have the confidence to play, so according to Isabel, it has the potential to grow.

Lastly, after an action packed first year in London, what does the future hold for Isabel?

"I want to continue doing all my touring, and travelling all over the world with my music and everything and also at the same time work in a lab as a bio-chemist or neuro-scientist. Music is really crucial to the brain, the brain is something we dont really understand now, so in order to do it I think this could be the way, so I would really like to do music neuroscience, and to do this and tour all over the world. Thats my plan."

"Of course, I don't know what's going to happen", she admits before laughing, "but hopefully".

Throughout the course of our chat, Isabel's passion which has helped her succeed has been clear. Hot chocolate finished, interview over, me and Isabel walk back to the station, I ask her if she has any plans for the evening, the answer is predictably: "play music".
An airline has replied to a potential passenger nine years after he suggested it start flying to Hawaii.

It was back in May 2008 that David Raatz first tweeted Southwest Airlines to ask for the new route.

@SouthwestAir Can you pls enter the HI market (interisland & transpacific)? We are hurting for good fares! Mahalo!  David Raatz (@raatz) May 8, 2008

Now the airline has apologised to Hawaii-based Raatz for the delay, revealing it will be flying to the islands.

David, we know it's been awhile but we're going to Hawaii, and we want you on one of our first flights! https://t.co/SkrSN67fw8  Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) October 12, 2017

The airline wrote: David, we know its been awhile but were going to Hawaii, and we want you on one of our first flights!

The Twitter user had made an appeal to the airline requesting Southwest fly between the islands and to the mainland US, saying we are hurting for good fares!

The Dallas-based airline finally got back to him as it shared details of its intention to fly to Hawaii, following a company conference in California.

You heard that right. Were thrilled to share our intention to bring our world-famous hospitality and value to the Hawaiian Islands! pic.twitter.com/NoVNXlsSH7  Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) October 12, 2017

The airline has replied to several other potential passengers who had requested the airline shake up the market, but they are more recent tweets.

The airlines chairman and chief executive officer Gary Kelly said: Were ready and excited to address a request weve heard for years.

And in @Raatzs case, it really has been years.

Southwest still needs to gain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for the routes but tickets will go on sale next year, with full service details announced at a later date.

The airline currently flies to 99 destinations in the US and nine additional countries. It operates more than 4,000 departures a day and is the USs largest domestic air carrier based on Department of Transportation figures.

Its first flight was on June 18 1971.

And if youre wondering how Raatz responded to the news, he took it in his stride.
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Hiltebeitels devoted shishya Adluri and his chela Bagchee have edited a superb collection of papers by 12 Mahabharata (MB) scholars with Hiltebeitel at both ends. The theme is his proposition that sub-tales are not fringe episodes but are central to the MBs architectonics. Goldmans Foreword notes that thematic proximity characterises these stories.

Adluris fine Introduction happily titled, From supplementary narratives to narrative supplements, proposes that the tales are the best way to rethink the MBs encyclopaedic nature. Noting that upakhyana, as the MB calls itself, is a non-Vedic word first used here, Hiltebeitel lists 67 stories taking the reverberations between them as a kind of sonar with which to plumb the epics depths.

However, as Brobeck points out in his paper later, because of this treating the term as a technical genre is risky and depending upon colophons for the classification is erroneous as they were added much later. Unlike the oft-interrupted akhyanas,upakhaynasare unbroken major tales mostly addressed to Yudhishthira. Not just one, however, is narrated by a woman (Kunti to Pandu). Hiltebeitel overlooks Vidulas tale that Kunti tells Krishna.

He argues that the Shanti and Anushasana Parvas are part of the total design building up a nexus of values like non-cruelty, friendship, hospitality, gratitude. This is not so obvious in the Ramayana (R). Hiltebeitel writes that Parashurama demands Rama break Vishnus bow and Rama does. Actually, Parashurama challenges him to shoot an arrow with the bow, which Rama does. Rama meets all eight founders of Brahmin lineages, but how can issue-less Parashurama one?

Hiltebeitel argues that Valmiki went beyond the MBs Rama story (beginning with material from the Rs canto seven) to posit new values about dharmabased upon bhaktiof subjects for the king bolstered byVedic rishis. In calling for correcting the MBs Critical Edition which turns the 18 chapter Narayaniya section into 19, spoiling the ideal 18 paradigm, Hiltebeitel resorts to the higher criticism he usually condemns. Goldman argues that upakhyanas are instructive complementary narratives repeating motifs in the main story.

The Rs Uttarakanda is one such, encapsulating core components of the MBs central story to project Rama as the chakravartinachieving universal imperium through conquest like Yudhishthira whose sway, post-rajasuya, stretches from Antioch to China. But why should the Persian Empire be its inspiration? Yudhishthira does not lay waste to all rival kingdoms and commit wholesale slaughter for the rajasuya as Goldman states. Besides Bhavabhuti (eighth century BCE) who sought to remedy Ramas lack of imperial forays by adding the battle with Lava and Kusha, Jaimini did so in his Ashvamedha Parva.

Goldman suggests a probable chronology as Bharatas Pushkaravati and Takshashila were major towns of the Persian satrapy of Gandaris and under Alexander (circa fourth century BCE) and Menander (second century BCE). If their importance inspired the Rs authors to include them in the Kosalan Empire, why not the MB too, recited to Janamejaya in Taxila? Challenging guru Hiltebeitels views on variations in the Shakuntala story in the northern and southern recensions, Bagchee proposes a novel concept  southern scribes composed extra slokas restoring a better sequential order of chapters of Paurava genealogy to heal the breaches in the text based upon an architecture in their heads.

This is the very higher criticism he decries. In proposing a common source for both recensions he reverts to the German theory of an Ur-Mahabharata. Mahadevan, he states, mistakenly holds that Sukthankar chose the shortest text as the archetype being trained in the German school of Philology. By describing this as a case of Vorlage that makes a certain Vorgabe, Bagchee reveals his Germanic affiliations.

The lengthiest paper is Adluris claiming that Amba-Shikhandi represents Ardhanarishvara. While her name is that of the Devi-as-Mother, how does masculine rebirth recall Shivas gender ambiguity? Ardhanarishvara means not half-woman but the-half-womanGod. He argues that Arjuna and Shikhandi resemble the Purusha-Prakriti dyad.

However, Purusha is always a witness, whereas it is Arjunas arrows, not Shikhandis, that bring down Bhishma. Nor does Amba-Shikhandi remember to become the divine androgyne. The MB does not know the Ardhanarishvara. While listing female interventions altering Kshatriya dynasties, Adluri overlooks Kunti replacing Satyavatis bloodline by her own.

The point is well made that Ambas rejection creates the void in which the epic action occurs, a space that rapidly folds in on itself with her return, for she symbolises the laya(destruction) motif. The German approach to the New Testament informing the Critical Edition of the MB rears its head with Adluris reference to the Wirkungsgeschichte of this text.

Bailey shows how Markandeyas stories mirror the use of multiple and mixed genres in the MB besides providing a totalistic view of things. Krishna and he are the sole actors. The focus is on presenting to Brahmins a unified interpretation of dharma through tales of widely varied content. Examining the MBs Ramopakhyana and the Rs account of Rakshasas in the Uttarakanda, Sally Goldman shows that female sexual transgression and misogyny inhere in the demonic in Valmikis imagination, not in Vyasas.

She holds that the Ramopakhyana refashions the Uttarakanda to fit in with its views. Why should it not be the other way round when Hiltebeitel is certain that the Uttarakanda is later? Sullivan makes the excellent point that there is no reason to assign several centuries or a committee for the MBs size when Isaac Asimov, as a biochemistry professor, could write 500 books on multiple subjects. The Bhima-Hanuman encounter, he finds, is the only instance where Bhima mentions the unqualified supreme soul (nirgunah paramatmeti) and refuses food.

Bhima knows of Hanumans exploits in the R, but when the Pandavas hear the Ramopakhyana he does not mention the meeting, nor Hanumans presence on Arjunas flagstaff since the Khandava-burning, which the episode explains. So, was it added at the end of the composition? This encounter is appropriately placed in-between Arjuna and Yudhishthira meeting their fathers. Hanuman assuming his incomparable form to teach Bhima about dharma and the yugas, advocating puja with bhakti, is modelled on Krishnas Gita, as is both brothers begging forgiveness of the deities. Arjuna, Bhima and Yudhishthira alone can see the supernal forms of Krishna, Hanuman and Dharma. Hanuman being more divine here than in the R might indicate composition at a time when he was worshipped as a deity, but that comes much after 400 BCE. Alonso proposes that the committee writing the MB was presenting an answer to competing ideologies like Buddhism and bhakti after Alexanders invasion.

Focusing on the architectures of power and the role of Indra, he compares Gilgamesh who is also punished for misrule. Both epics have a divine plan of massacre, but in the MB this affects only Kshatriyas, not all humanity.

However, how is the good side degradedpaving the way for their slaughter, when the Pandavas are left unscathed with a resurrected heir? Nor do bad kings, or the absence of kings, imply attacks by demons, perversion of the social order and lack of yagyas. None of these occur during Duryodhanas reign, which the subjects extoll. An excellent insight is how sages contribute to the devas plan through rape, boons, curses and engendering. Indra is more a figurehead unlike Homers Zeus, with no place in the new bhakti ideology, his Swarga rejected for moksha. The tirtha stories show the devas overcome by rishis, asuras and even humans.

The MB-makers made it a war story so as to be inaccessible to competing groups like the Shramanas with their cycles of tales. To understand the Madhavi episode, Sathaye conceptualises the MB as a museum whose text panels guide audience-reaction.

The story provides a unique fusion of morality and political discourse, advocating gathering power through friendship, not conquest. Yayatis grandsons yagya is the MBs version of Rigvedic verse 10.179 by the same kings (Shibi, Pratardana, Vasumanas) ruling over Kashi, Ayodhya and Bhojapura, plus Ashtaka at Kanyakubja, all important Buddhist and Jain sites. Linking them through matrilocal genealogy is a new way of consolidating power, following the Mauryan collapse, through alliances instead of conquest. Focusing on obdurate pride leading to destruction, they show the audience the anxieties of post-Mauryan rulers when the MB is trying to push a new vision of moral rule (dharmartha), ruthless conquest no longer being a feasible option.

Bowles focuses on three ancillary tales about fish (not in Hiltebeitels list), doves and ingratitude. They are mirrors for rulers on the art of governance, resembling Buddhist Jatakas in which the fish tale occurs. They share Arthashastra concerns of proper alliances and right action. However, the ungrateful Brahmins tale is not the only instance of a Brahmin acting abnormally. Parashurama, Sharadvat, Kripa, Drona and Ashvatthama, all violate the Brahmin code.

Further, though this tale comes after the war, it precedes the Yadava massacre where, again, Brahmins are the harbingers of death. Dejenne deals with Biardeaus crucial contribution in highlighting ignored aspects of upakhyanas. Thus, she considers that Damayanti, a reflection of Draupadi and suffering earth, takes up the role of the avatara, adding a new dimension to the epic. Without these tales we would miss significant analogies.

Biardeau argued that the MB was an ideological instrument countering the prevalence of Buddhism in society. Unfortunately her major study of the MB is not available in English. Mahadevan studies Mudgala, the gleaning Brahmin and ideal ritualist of the Rigvedas Shakala branch in east Panchala and Kosala. Hiltebeitel presumed that these gleaners lived in small kingdoms like the Shungas (2nd century BCE), interfacing with Vyasa and writing the first draft of the MB.

Mahadevan finds Mudgala was a real person with a gotra identity, part of a distinct Rigvedic group of Purvashikha Brahmins migrating southwards around 150 BCE followed by the Aparashikhas (6th to 17th centuries CE), both carrying the MB. This gotra still performs complex soma rituals and narrates the MB in Srirangam, covering a history of nearly 3000 years. However, Rajendra Cholas 8th regnal year is cited wrongly as 1929-31 instead of 1022-23. Brodbecks is the sole study of the Harivansha (HV) upakhyanas. An upakhyanaless MB is not a bizarre idea, as the Indian retellings for children are precisely that.

Arguing that the HV is integral to the MB, featuring in its list of 101 parvas, to Hiltebeitels 67 upakhyanas he adds the HVs four. These serve as stepping stones through the text and are inter-related, suggesting a new approach to the upakhayanas. Thus, the Dhanya upakhayana, the last one, has the birth of Samba by Shiva-Umas boon, whose cross-dressing precipitates the curse destroying Krishnas clan.

In the final paper, Hiltebeitel studies the geography of these tales proposing that they fit the main story into the spatial and temporal geography of the MB. This is the first text projecting the Ganga-Yamuna doab as a total land and a total people, besides building its cosmograph into its geography.

Hiltebeitel asserts that the MB composers invented Kuru and his parents Tapati and Samvarana because the stories are especially dreamlike and elliptical  hardly an objective criterion! He shows how the story of Shakuntala accomplishes the devas plan by engendering the Bharata dynasty. So does the story of Yayati who divides the world among his five sons, assigning Puru the heartland. Another set of stories centres on Kurukshetra, implying familiarity with it on part of the Purvashikha Brahmins who may actually be writing a Mahabharata ethnography out of their own experience there circa second to first century BCE.

We have here a scintillating necklace of 12 iridescent gems with a Hiltebeitel solitaire at either end. It is a collection that no Mahabharata acolyte can afford to miss. The reviewer, a former additional chief secretary of West Bengal, specialises in comparative mythology
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan will leave on Monday for a three-day visit to Japan where he will also sign an agreement with the island nation to cooperate in jointly developing a liquid and flexible global LNG market sharing technical knowhow in the area, an official said on Sunday.

The visit is important to enhance the bilateral engagements in the oil and gas sectors within the overall framework of India-Japan Energy Dialogue, said a Petroleum Ministry statement here.

The Indian ministers visit will also serve as a follow-up to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abes visit to India in September, it said.

Pradhan will be in Japan from October 16-18 also to participate in the 6th Annual LNG (liquefied natural gas) Producers Consumer Conference, it added.

The visit also aims to enhance cooperation in establishing a transparent, efficient, truly global and balanced LNG market, it said.

The conference provides the right opportunity to brief on the Indian gas sector and the recent policy reforms with the opportunities available for investment to the Ministers and leaders of global gas industry, it added.

Pradhan will deliver the keynote address at the Ministerial Session on Developing LNG Market in Asia  Government Perspectives.

Energy Ministers from Qatar, Nigeria, Bangladesh and Japan besides leading hydrocarbon experts are scheduled to take part in the LNG conference.

Pradhan will also meet Japans Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko to discuss bilateral engagement in the hydrocarbon sector, the statement said.

Earlier this week, in yet another move to boost natural gas use in India, the Union Cabinet here approved signing of an agreement with Japan towards joint development of a liquid and flexible LNG market and sharing technical knowhow in the area.

The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan provides a framework to cooperate in facilitating flexibility in LNG contracts, abolition of Destination Restriction Clause and also explore possibilities of cooperation in establishing reliable LNG spot price indices reflecting true LNG demand and supply, a Petroleum Ministry release said.

Briefing reporters here after the cabinet meeting, Pradhan said the MoC would have a shopping clause that would allow the parties to swap supply contracts in order to save on transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) from overseas.

For example, we have some gas booked from Australia and Japan has an import contract with Ras Gas of Qatar this MoC will have a shopping clause whereby we can arrange for Japan to import from Australia, which is nearer, while India gets that gas from Qatar, he said.

The agreement also provides for sharing knowledge on LNG technology between India and Japan, which is the worlds largest importer of this clean fuel, he added.

The MoC will promote the bilateral relationship between India and Japan in the energy sector and will contribute to the diversification of gas supplies for India, the statement said.

During his visit, Pradhan will also meet representatives of Japanese companies, including Osaka Gas, Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL), Japex, and JERA for exploring areas of further engagement with the Indian companies, it added.
Delhi BJP on Saturday called the AAP protest a drama accusing the party of failing to strengthen an alternate public transport system vis-a-vis Delhi Metro

Leader of Opposition Vijender Gupta said that if the Arvind Kejriwal government was sincerely against the increase of Metro fare hike it should have done augment the public transport system as an alternative to Delhi Metro.

Kejriwal government did not take any step to strengthen the public transport system. Considering population of Delhi, there is an urgent need for 11000 buses while the availability of buses is only 3900. In last 30 months the government it has not been able to add even a single new bus in DTC fleet. Delhi government is answerable to the people of Delhi for this failure. They should tell the people how many new buses are being added and the time by which these buses will become available to the people, said Gupta.

Besides, he also termed Kejriwals direction to Chief Secretary (CS) to investigate increase in Metro fares, as a case of mental bankruptcy.

He said Chief Secretary is member of the Metro Fare Fixation Committee (FFC) and also the Board of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). As a member of FFC, CS represented Delhi Government in the matter of fare revision. How can he investigate his own decisions? Delhi Chief Secretary is, therefore correct in his refusal to investigate this issue, said Gupta.

On one side, AAP supported the increase in metro fares in FFC and on the other side when the fares increased on the recommendation of this committee, Kejriwal Government is now opposing the same, said Gupta.
Besides Durga Puja and Poila Baishak, Ilish season in monsoon is one of the three occasions when Bengalis turn spendthrifts. This is mainly due to their inexplicable inborn love for fish, especially the hilsa which forms an integral part of their rituals and traditions. In the past, the grooms family presented a hilsa wrapped in a red sari adorned with jewellery to the brides family. It was marked as an auspicious beginning to the wedding.

Every year, this dedicated love for this particular species of fish begins with dedicating a jodailish (pair of hilsa) as a sacred offering to Maa Saraswati, after which the fish is cooked and served to the family that waits in anticipation for this jewel of the sea. Among all the delicacies that favour Bengalis, hilsa tops the list of their gastronomical delights, particularly during the monsoon season. Bengalis are extremely emotional while dealing with the infuriatingly filled-with-bones but intensely flavoured fish, and it is officially declared King of Fish for its taste, texture and look. The King of Fish in Bengal is considerably expensive compared tp the pther varieties available in the market. Often the price of hilsa in Kolkatas markets has crossed Rs 1,500 per kg.

Despite the fact that they are not even as large as buyers would prefer them to be, the biggest is around 850 gms available today and that too only at specific locations. Hilsa is in great trouble currently as the modern demands for eating the fish throughout the year has led to a catastrophic depletion of the species. To cater to the high demand, fishermen are indulging in overfishing of the juvenile hilsa which is affecting the population at large.

The sharp deterioration in both the quality and quantity of the river water has been one of the factors behind the decline of the hilsa population. However, a ban on the fishing of hilsa during the breeding season of April, May and June can usher in a good catch later. Imposing strict fines on anyone buying and selling fish that weighs less than 300 gm can hopefully save the population. West Bengal State Government has passed a law empowering the Fisheries Department to arrest and fine anyone caught fishing the smaller species of hilsa. But it is of no use, as nobody has stopped illegal fishing and the average size of hilsa continues to shrink every season.

Padma ilish is the only variety available today and Ganga ilish is only becoming scarcer because of the polluted river water. A recent overturning of a loaded fishing vessel caused a loss of tonnes of hilsa in Namkhana, a fishing harbour on the Hatania-Doania river, 103 kms from Kolkata. The harbour is famous for exporting Hilsa, Loita (Bombay Duck), Pomfret, and Parshe. Namkhana situated near Diamond Harbour, though called a harbour is actually a fish loading site as it does not possess any facilities of a proper harbour. The area is in a dilapidated condition and prone to casualties for fishermen working at the loading and unloading site.

We had built this harbour 12 years ago and it is still being used in the same condition without any kind of renovation in the recent past. It had cost us Rs 25,00,000 to build it at that time, said Atal Maity, spokesperson of the Fisherman Union. Because of the poor condition of the fish loading site, the fishermen have to anchor the trawlers at a considerable distance while speed boats carry the fish back to shore.

The flimsy brick embankment can collapse any day resulting in casualties to both the fishermen and those working on the shore. When asked about the fishing of khokailish (baby ilish, less than 300 gms), Atal Maity explained how it gets stuck in the fishing nets making it impossible to separate from the catch of the day. The one kg hilsa is not available these days due to this unfortunate situation. Fishing in Namkhana is prohibited in the months of April and May as it is breeding season for the species. Maity has 250 trawlers under his union with 5,000 trawlers belonging to Namkhana and 10,887 trawlers to Kakdwip-Namkhana-Frazergung union.

During hilsa season which begins from 15 June, the harbour makes a business of Rs one crore each day. The fish caught are then taken to the wholesale markets of Diamond Harbour, Sealdah and Patipukur. The fishery union of Namkhana has sent a petition to Chandrakanta Sinha, Minister of Fisheries requesting a renovation of the harbour and improvements of the boats. We have left it all to Allah now, as we are tired of requesting the administration to help us in upgrading fishing technology and aid to rebuild the harbour, lamented Sheikh Abdul, Labour Union Secretary of Namkhana.

The fishermen have life insurance and their boats are equipped with GPS and registered under the union which maintains a logbook containing details of every fisherman that goes out to sea. However, they often face threats from Bangladeshi sea pirates who kidnap them and hold them for ransom to the Indian government. Kakdwip Harbour, about 15 kms from Namkhana is in a much better condition than Namkhana.

We go fishing eight to ten times in a month and get Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 per trip. Each trawler contains about 2000 kg to 2400 kg of fish. This year we have had a good hilsa season, said Dipankar Das a fisherman who was unloading the vessel Subhadra Narayan in Kakdwip. He however alleged that the owners are the only ones benefiting from the business while labourers like him are living in poverty. Kakdwip, unlike Namkhana, has an ice plant facility and cold storage. There are also many women daily wage labourers who sew fishing nets for their livelihood.

We stitch nets and get paid Rs 300 to Rs 500 per day. If they increase our pay by Rs 200, it would benefit us as it is difficult to bear household expenses on our current salary, said Purnima Das who supports her family by mending the giant nets used for fishing. People here are desperate for a stable source of income as demonstrated by Nila Das who is one such individual that has to bear all of her household expenses while worrying about the fate of her four daughters as she is the sole provider of her family.

Overfishing of the hilsa is a serious cause of concern and steps need to be taken to ensure that the species, which is a favourite delicacy for Bengalis, does not turn extinct. The writers are students, Statesman Print Journalism School
Though the visit was not according to exact seasonal timings, the habitats of the Keoladeo Ghana National Park (formerly the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) in Rajasthan put forth a bountiful welcome. Ones joy knew no bounds after finding a Crested Serpent Eagle after a brisk walk! The long metalled road constructed to the very depths of the sanctuary allows only eco-friendly human pedalled trishaws. From the entrance gate, both sides of the road are hemmed in by bushes and shrubs, big trees, swamps and wetlands.

An Egret perched on a kadam tree gave me a stern look as I passed too close! It was 2 pm but the scorching heat could not dampen my spirits. The trishaw puller acted as the guide and narrated what sorts of birds were occasional visitors in winter  Siberian Crane (critically endangered), Common Crane, Demomoiselle, Spoonbill, Pelicans and Flamingos among others. A brief look at the history of the park is much warranted.

Jath Sardar Surajmal founded Bharatpur town at the confluence of Ruparel and Bunganga rivers in 1730. In 1825, the British conquered the state although it maintained a friendship treaty. Within this kingdom an arid area measuring 28.73 sq km often remained inundated throughout the rainy season and became a duck shooting ground for Maharajas.

Actually the sanctuary came into being with the effort of Maharaja Brajendra Singh though hunting went on full swing. In 1964, it was Dr Salim Ali, the birdman of India, who raised his voice first against such wanton killings. In 1972, the menace was stopped by applying the Wild Life Protection Act. Crowned with the status of a National Park in 1982, the sanctuary was recognised as World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1985. Further it was also declared a Ramsar Site under Ramsar Convention in 1982.But why the name, Keoladeo Ghana National Park? The manager of the hotel clarified the myth. Deep inside the forest a temple of Lord Shiva (locally known as Keoladeo Baba) exists, so it is in his name.

Profusely perspiring, I entered the Salim Ali Visitor Interpretation Centre located within the park. Description and photographs of birds are so neatly presented that a patient reading will definitely enrich ones knowledge. The centre is well maintained.

The sanctuary records the visit of migratory birds from Siberia, Tibet, China, Afghanistan because it is positioned on the Central Asian Flyway. It acts as a shelter for about 366 bird species, 379 floral species, 50 species of fishes, 13 species of snakes and some other invertebrates. The centre pays a true homage to Indias most revered ornithologist.

The rainfall this year was highest in the last forty years and so large bushes were in abundant growth. Continuously chirping jungle babblers were too busy to acknowledge the presence of humans. I saw two large parakeets preparing their nest on a solar panel! Suddenly, the guide pointed to a bush. A hissing sound forced me to look at a viper with a wide open jaw confronting a large frog. A little onward, Sambars were chewing creepers and leaves in the dense bushes submerged in water.

Dusk covers the area within an hour and one was advised to make it quick. The wetlands were wider and numerous Painted Storks on top of large acacia trees came into view. Some were busy in arranging their nests and some in feeding their chicks. These storks prefer shallow sweet water wetlands and small fishes.

The nests are so well-knitted that they accommodate these heavy birds. Cormorants, in the fading sunlight, were cleaning their wings after a day-long hunt for food. It was time to go back but a Night Heron just woke up. This species of heron rests in the day and hunts at dark. A group of bird watchers from the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun pointed out a group of Pelicans flying in a v-shape.

We counted 18 of them and they were in search of a suitable location for their nest. Their presence is a signal for the arrival of migratory birds. Sir Peter Scott, founder of the World Wildlife Fund, adjudged the park as the worlds best bird sanctuary. One must also mention the Rajasthan Forest Department that manages the park. Their efforts in helping maintain the unique ecosystem has truly created an ideal home for the birds and other wildlife.
Most writers sit about feeling that they were robbed when they dont get it; Kazuo Ishiguro is probably the first writer, when he was told that he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, to suspect that it was some kind of hoax.

The same modesty is characteristic of him both as a writer and as a man. I had the pleasure of meeting him once at the offices of Faber and Faber, who had just brought out The Remains of the Day, perhaps his best-known work, which went on to win the Booker Prize in 1989. Hello, Mr Ishiguro. Ish, please. I loved your book. Oh, it was nothing. But I have been reading your book. He wanted to talk about my work, not his own.

Ishiguro can be compared, as regards his acquisition of the English language, to Joseph Conrad or Vladimir Nabokov. Like them he came at the language which would become his raw material from the outside. He doesnt act as if he truly owns it.

He is merely looking after it for a while, admiring it and polishing, and there is a proportionate care and precision in his treatment of words. Irrespective of the story he is telling, there is a poetic sensibility at work. Ishiguro was born in 1954 in Nagasaki to Japanese parents. But the family moved to England in 1960 when his father got a job as an oceanographer in Surrey.

When his butler protagonist Stevens in The Remains of the Day takes a road trip around the countryside of England, admiring the moderation of both climate and landscape, it is like Ishiguro himself taking a tour around the English lexicon. The author became a British citizen in 1982 but his approach to the language and the culture remains that if not of an outsider than certainly a connoisseur, a collector.

The making of Ishiguro as a writer was undoubtedly the University of East Anglia and the creative writing MA presided over by Malcolm Bradbury and Angela Carter. His dissertation went on to become his first novel, A Pale View of Hills (1982).

He was elevated to the realm of Granta Best Young British Novelists even before publishing An Artist of the Floating World(1986), which won the Whitbread Prize. Both of these first two novels have strong Japanese elements: in the first a Japanese woman, transplanted to England, is trying to come to terms with the suicide of her daughter. The second is actually set in Japan, in the post-Second World War environment, but it is a largely imaginary world, a tissue of memories and ideas, largely taking place in the head of the narrator/artist, Ono.

What immediately stood out about Ishiguros work was his stylistic minimalism, the kind of writing that Barthes characterised as degree zero. The austerity of style is often mirrored in the restraint and self-containment of the characters. Stevens, for example, never follows through on his passion for the housekeeper Miss Kenton out of a sense of duty. Obliqueness is combined with subjectivity in his narrators.

Ishiguro graduated from the University of Kent with a degree in English and philosophy and there remains a certain metaphysical dreaminess to his writing. The Nobel judges praised his work for revealing the abyss beneath our illusory sense of connection to the world.

Ishiguro is an anti-naturalist. He doses out delicate materialist details, almost out of respect for the texture of more classically realist narratives, but there is always a certain haziness or indeterminacy hanging over the truth-value of any descriptions. Nothing is quite what it seems at first glance. Dreams, delusions and deceptions predominate. Ishiguros habitual use of the first-person narrator is exemplary of his epistemology. There is no omniscient narrator.

Narrators are limited in their range of sympathies and knowledge of the subject that is at the core of his story. Philosophically speaking, Ishiguro approaches the classic British empirical stance in a spirit of scepticism. When you think you know, you dont know.

He who knows does not speak, he who speaks does not know. This gradual revelation of a state of ignorance underpins Never Let Me Go, named byTime magazine as the best novel of 2005.

The novel is a hybrid of horror, science fiction and coming-of-age narrative, darkly populated by cloning and involuntary organ donation. The Buried Giant, Ishiguros most recent work, represents another swerve in his trajectory, delving, perhaps allegorically, into the distant past of Arthurian Britain, with sword and sorcery, and introducing a third-person omniscient element for the first time.

But what persists is the sense that, as one of his characters says, the mist covers all memories, the bad as well as the good.

(The Independent)
The Election Commission has sounded the poll bugle for the Himachal Pradesh Assembly polls while the date for Gujarat polls is yet to be announced. No doubt that these two are important for both major national parties  the BJP and the Congress  as there has been a bipolar contest between the two in both states.

The BJP would like to end 2017 with a victory in both Gujarat and Himachal, in the run up to assembly polls in 2018 and the 2019 general elections. In the 2012 poll, the BJP won 114 out of 182 seats with a vote share of 47.85 per cent in Gujarat while the Congress bagged 61 seats with 38.03 per cent vote share. The BJP is facing strong anti-incumbency in Gujarat as it has been ruling the state from 1995, while the Congress faces this in Himachal. Of the two states, the BJP has higher stakes in Gujarat.

Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah hail from Gujarat. Modi won the 2014 Lok Sabha polls promising a Gujarat model for the whole country. He has been taking visiting foreign dignitaries like Xi Jingpin (China) and Shinzo Abe (Japan) to his home state to show off his achievements. The BJP wants to cash in on Modis popularity.

Secondly, money is no problem as Gujarat is the lifeline for Modi. Thirdly, a splintered Congress after Shankarsinh Vaghelas exit might help the BJPs fortunes. Fourthly, the BJP has made detailed poll arrangements allotting workers for each block of 250 homes. Also after the Patel agitation for reservation, the government has provided free education for upper castes. With Gujarat seeing three CMs in the past five years, the BJP leaders admit that it may be difficult to achieve Amit Shahs target of 150 seats.

The BJP has coined a new slogan Garje Gujarat (Roaring Gujarat). The Patidar agitation launched by Hardik Patel has loosened BJPs grip over the Patidars, an influential community that has largely supported the BJP in the past. Moreover, the impact of multiple agitations by the OBCs and Dalits has exposed the BJPs weakness. The traders, the backbone of the BJP, are also disenchanted after demonetisation and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax. The Centre announced changes to the GST recently to mollify businesses.

Also Modis Gujarat model heavily in favour of industry has failed to address the other economic concerns. As disenchantment with the Modi government grows, the Congress is trying to mobilize this discontent in its favour. Two generations of youth voters have only seen the BJP. If they are negatively disposed, the party will be in trouble.

Above all, after the exit of Amit Shah and Modi from the Gujarat scene, the BJP is bereft of a leader with mass appeal. Right now, the Congress aims to defeat BJP in Gujarat and retain Himachal Pradesh. This is indeed ambitious going by the dwindling Congress fortunes since 2014. The party will be fighting the polls for the first time under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, who is poised to take over command soon. The Congress campaign has started with an advantage as the Modi government is on the defensive about the economy. Last month Congress leader Ahmed Patel won his Rajya Sabha seat in a nail-biting contest.

Enthused by this success, the Congress has coined its slogan Congress Aave Chhe, (Congress is returning  to power). The BJP has countered it with its Naa Chale, (wont last!) campaign. The Congress has managed to get Hardik Patel and some Dalit leaders on its side and has promised seat adjustments. But not all is well in the party with seniors being unsure of their position in the Rahul regime. Secondly, it does not have a strong state leader in Gujarat to attract voters. Himachal will be a big test for the ruling Congress. In 2012 the Congress won 36 seats and the BJP 26. The Congress vote share was 42.8 per cent and the BJPs was 18.7 per cent.

Voting for the 68-seat Himachal assembly will take place on 9 November and the results will be declared on 18 December along with those of Gujarat. Since 1967, Himachal has witnessed a twoparty system of BJP-Congress, and since 1985, no party has been re-elected to power. Besides anti-incumbency, the corruption charges against Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh are a major poll issue. The Congress has failed to find a replacement for Singh who is a sixtime chief minister with a mass base.

There are many disgruntled Congressmen who are ready to jump ship. Last month, Virbhadra Singh met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi seeking a free hand. To woo the electorate, the BJP has announced sops like the Udan air service, 61 national highways in the state, and Amrit pharmacies for supplying low-cost medicines.

The BJP has not projected any chief ministerial face although Health minister J.P. Nadda is the likely candidate. Gujarat and Himachal polls will be a curtain raiser for next years Assembly and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The fortunes of both the BJP and the Congress depend on the results. Losing Gujarat will be a nightmare for Modi and Shah, as the impact of any adverse result in Gujarat will resonate beyond Gujarat.
An India Spend report has stated that the number of Indians suffering from mental illness exceeds the population of South Africa. At present, the mentally ill account for nearly 6.5 per cent of the countrys population and it is estimated that by 2020 this number will increase to a staggering 20 per cent. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that nearly 56 million Indians, that is 4.5 per cent of Indias population suffer from depression.

Thirty-eight million Indians or 3 per cent of Indias population suffer from anxiety disorders.. Many people suffer from both illnesses The abysmal state of mental health care in the country is a cause for great concern. Hence the nation cannot afford to ignore the stark realities. There are only some 43 mental hospitals in the country.

Most of them lack essential infrastructure and treatment facilities. Visiting private clinics and sustaining the treatment  usually a long drawn out affair  is an expensive proposition for most families. India ranks 11th in a list of 15 countries of the Asia-Pacific region in a study done to evaluate various indicators of mental health care.

According to a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare report, India faces a treatment gap of 50-70 per cent for mental healthcare. This implies that more than half of the population does not get the required treatment and medical facilities. Government data highlights the dismal number of mental healthcare professionals in India  3,800 psychiatrists and 898 clinical psychologists. A large number of them are in urban areas.

The WHO reports that there are only three psychiatrists per million people in India while in other Commonwealth countries, the ratio is 5.6 psychiatrists for a million. By this estimate, India is short of 66,200 psychiatrists. Mental health accounts for 0.16 per cent of the total Union Health Budget, which is less than that of Bangladesh, which spends 0.44 per cent.

The developed nations expenditure amounts to an average of 4 per cent. The National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 conducted by National Institute of Mental Health and NeuroSciences (NIMHANS) estimates that 13.7 per cent of the Indian population above the age of 18 suffers from mental morbidity, requiring active intervention. It also suggests that one in every 20 Indians suffers from depression. Nearly 1 per cent of Indians suffer from high suicide risks. Almost 9.8 million children in the age group of 13-17 years are suffering from mental health concerns and require active intervention.

A recent study published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry based on a survey of more than 700 randomly selected students found that almost half of them (53 per cent) were suffering from either moderate or severe form of depression. A 2016 survey of 6,000 youth conducted by Lokniti Centre for the Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) reveals that around one in every eight Indian youth reported feeling depressed very often and around four out of 10 who are currently studying felt regular or occasional depression/tension during the last couple of years. The World Bank has recently identified mental health as a Global Development Priority. This recognizes the critical impact mental health has on economic development and wellbeing. The economic consequences of poor mental health are equally significant.

A World Economic Forum/Harvard School of Public Health study estimated that the cumulative global impact of mental disorders in terms of lost economic output will amount to $16.3 trillion between 2011 and 2030. In India, mental illness is estimated to cost $1.03 trillion (22 per cent of economic output) between 2012-2030. A majority of these illnesses can be cured; individuals can lead fulfilling lives including going to school, working, raising a family, and being productive citizens in their communities.

Although mental illness is experienced by a significant proportion of the population it is still seen as a taboo. These barriers deprive people of their dignity. To make dignity in mental health a reality, it requires every member of society to work and take action together. In an effort to curb mental illness and create a conducive environment to address the mental well-being of the public, the Government of India repealed the archaic 1987 Act and passed the Mental Health Care Bill, 2016. Along with the promise to provide an international standard of care, the bill seeks to address the underlying social stigma and taboo attached with this disease.

A field-based research study in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet (by Pandit et al) concludes, Most Indians do not have community or support services for the prevention of suicide and have restricted access to care for mental illnesses associated with suicide, especially access to treatment for depression, which has been shown to reduce suicidal behaviours. Counseling has a great role to play in alleviating stress and helping depressed people improve their self-esteem and their ability to cope with despair. There have been some encouraging innovations in India led by voluntary organizations that are both impactful and replicable.

Dr Vikram Patel, who is a professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and co-founder of Goa-based mental health research non-profit Sangath has been in the forefront of community mental health programmes in central India. The programme is designed to establish sustainable rural mental health support to address issues relating to stress and tension that abet suicide, alcohol abuse and depression in the rural community.

It deploys health workers from within the community, some with no background in mental health. These workers are trained to raise mental health awareness and provide psychological first-aid. The program also includes counselors who are imparted mental health literacy. The third line of workers consists of expert psychiatrists, who are qualified to provide medications for more serious mental health disorders. The programme uses Primary Health Centres for screening and feeding people with mental illnesses. Dr. Patels vision has been the provision of superior mental healthcare to low-resource communities. He argues that 90 per cent of people affected by mental illnesses go untreated owing to the paucity of psychiatrists.

Importantly, his research has effectively demonstrated that evidence-based treatments for mental illnesses can be delivered in low-income countries by non-specialist healthcare workers. His work has been applauded by TIME magazine which featured him in its annual list of annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.

A lot of good programmes got their start when one individual looks at a familiar landscape in a fresh way. We increasingly have the tools; but we need to summon the will in the manner game-changers like Patel are doing. People like him have shown there are solutions if we think out of the box. And dont accept limits on how the world works.

(The writer is a Nagpur-based scholar and author of Village Diary of a Heretic Banker. He can be reached at [email protected])
Patnaik's close aides say that to understand him, one has to understand his empathy

By Pratul Sharma/Photos Sanjay Ahlawat
The fourth installment of erotic thriller franchise, Hate Story, will hit the silver screen on March 2, 2018.

The film, produced by T-Series and directed by Vishal Pandya, stars Urvashi Rautela as the leading lady along with Karan Wahi and Vivan Bhatena. The team recently released its movie logo along with Urvashi's look from the film.

The fourth installment promises Hate darker than ever. The actress who plays the character of Tasha says it is a unique and incredibly brave story.

Hate Story IV, directed by Vishal Pandya, is being shot in London currently following a short schedule in Mumbai.
Months after being trolled and slut-shamed for posing in a bikini during Ramadan, actor Fatima Sana Shaikh is once again under the scrutiny of trolls; this time for posting a selfie in a saree. Last week, the Dangal actor posted a selfie on Instagram. Giving credit for saree to Swati Mukund, the actor captioned the photo "Shameless Selfie".

While the picture was received well by many of her admirers and fans, trolls used it to shame the actor. A user wrote, Sharam n(a)hi aati kya tujhe. Besharam aurat. (Aren't you ashamed, shameless woman)". Another user wrote, Cheap stunt bt third grade actress...ag(a)r saree shameless h(ai) to ky(u)n p(e)h(a)n r(a)khi h(ai)....burkha p(a)h(e)n...(if saree is shameless then why are you wearing it...wear burkha).

However, among over 1,000 Instagram users who commented on the photo, many were Shaikh supporters. One fan wrote, You look awesome. Don't pay any attention to useless trolls." Another follower wrote, "Its a beautiful picture!! I cant see anything wrong!! Come on Fatima... forget trolls."

Shameless selfie credit for Saree @swatimukund  A post shared by Fatima Sana Shaikh (@fatimasanashaikh) on Oct 8, 2017 at 7:49am PDT

Of course, this is not the first time a famous woman is trolled for her choice of clothes.

Last month, Pink actor Taapsee Pannu faced the wrath of trolls for posting some stills from her film Judwaa2 on Twitter. She was wearing a turquoise blue floral bikini. Her photos triggered an avalanche of reactions on Twitter.

"When you are against the tide, it's YOU who needs to stand up for yourself......But don't forget the smile " #Judwaa2 #AaTohSahi pic.twitter.com/qIimdBSkHY  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) September 13, 2017

While mostly actors choose to ignore the trolls, Pannu decided to give it back to them in the most witty manner. When a Twitter user posted a rude comment, which was later deleted, on her photo: "K(a)m se k(a)m social media pe aisi g(a)ndi pic m(a)t upload k(a)riye...g(a)ndi g(a)ndi movie b(a)na ke desh ki young pidhi ko to b(a)rbad k(a)r hi r(a)hi h(ai) aaplog... (At least do not upload such dirty pictures on social media. Anyway by making dirty movies you all are ruining the next generation)", Pannu replied with:

Gndi??? I knew I should've washed that sand off me. Next time I will take care. I 'aaplog' for that  https://t.co/291ePztnlP  taapsee pannu (@taapsee) September 13, 2017

In the recent past, actor Priyanka Chopra was heavily criticised on social media for wearing a knee-length dress while meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Berlin. She was mercilessly trolled for showing her legs and crossing one leg over the other when she met the PM. While many people accused her of not being "sanskaari" enough, some claimed that her dress and posture shows her disrespect towards Modi.

A user wrote: "Priyanka please follow decency while talking or sitting in front of such a great person. Please give respect to Modiji. And follow Indian culture.

Chopra gave it back to trollers by posting a picture with her mother Madhu Chopra, both flashing more legs. She wrote: "Legs for days. #itsthegenes with @madhuchopra nights out in #Berlin #beingbaywatch.
How indistinguishable the Congress ideologically is from the BJP was the theme of the main edit page article written by French scholars Christophe Jaffrelot and Gilles Verniers in the Indian Express on October 5.

The editor grasped the heart of the matter and gave it an apt headline: Congress and the BJP, "Tweedledum and Tweedledee". The Jaffrelot-Verniers duo focused on Gujaraton how principal leaders have repeatedly swung from one side to the other like trapeze artistes in a circus.

I suspect this is the beginning of a wider research because the Tweedledum-Tweedledee image is applicable to all regions wherever there is some Congress presence. In most places it looks like the BJP's B teamand has conceded space to it for that very reason.

In recent decades there have been two distinct postures the Congress has struck towards the BJP. In Madhya Pradesh, under the leadership of Arjun Singh and Digvijay Singh, the party took the BJP head on. There was no other force to combat.

In Kerala, particularly under K. Karunakaran's chief ministership, the party turned to the Sangh Parivar, whenever help was required for electoral battles with the Left. In fact, Karunakaran was a master at ambidextrous politics. On one occasion in Kozhikode, he maneuvred the Congress, BJP and Muslim League on the same side to defeat the CPI-M's T.K. Hamza.

What has been the result of the Congress grappling with Hindutva in Bhopal or flirting with it in Thiruvananthapauram?

State and district-level Muslim Congress leaders I met last week in Indore, Dhar and Mandu painted a dismal picture of their circumstances. Their party's high command in New Delhi or Bhopal took them for granted. "TINA" (There Is No Alternative) factor applies to us, Mohammad Kamran, a Youth Congress leader, lamented. When a Muslim majority village was gutted, no "senior" (for which read "Hindu") Congress leader turned up.

Circumstances in Rajasthan are similar. When 10 Muslims were shot dead by policemen in Gopalgarh in 2011, an hour's drive from Delhi, neither Rahul Gandhi nor the then home minister P. Chidambaram, considered it worth their while to visit despite several delegations imploring them to do so. This was the first instance in the country of police firing inside a mosque.

In Kerala, the frequent Congress dependence on sectarian groups has had the effect of slowly opening the door just enough for Hindutva forces to make a bid for replacing the Congress. That this process has been slow is attributable to the state's distinct and enlightened social structure.

This did not deter Karunakaran from his efforts to "Brahminise" Rajiv Gandhi who, in his perception, would not graduate from the ranks of the "Baba log" without persistent "ang pradarshan" or ritual prayers at the Krishna temple in Guruvayur. Whether Rajiv Gandhi transited to becoming a Brahmin or even a Hindu is less than clear. What is certain is that he developed a taste for Guruvayur's famous rice and milk pudding and payasam, large quantities of which were made available for his extended family's New Year celebrations at Lakshadweep.

Rajiv Gandhi's unprecedented victory in the December 1984 elections (404 seats in a House of 514) was interpreted as Hindu consolidation in response to minority communalism which had resulted in Indira Gandhi's assassination. Even the party treasurer, Sitaram Kesari, non-communal to his fingertips, interpreted the mandate in majoritarian terms.

In 1986, V.N. Gadgil, among the more enlightened general secretaries of the Congress, told me in great confidence: "The feeling is widespread among Hindus that Muslims were being appeased."

This thinking guided subsequent Congress actions, making it just as indistinguishable from the BJP as Jeffrelot and Verniers found it in Gujarat. How "appeased" the Muslims were became clear in the Sachar Committee report on their social-economic conditions during 60 years of Congress rule. They had, in their social status, tumbled below the lowest dalits.

The Justice Ranganath Misra Commission's recommendations to help Muslims out of the plight described by the Sachar Committee was placed on the shelf where it gathers dust to this day.

The Srikrishna Commission, which named politicians directly involved in the Mumbai riots of 1992-93 in which 900 people (the majority of them Muslims) were killed and their shops and houses gutted, has remained a secret.

It would require amnesia of a very high order to heap all the credit for the brazen saffronisation at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's door. It would require magic or miracle to have advanced the Hindutva cause with such rapidity in three years. Frankly, the ground has been prepared over the past 70 years.

We must not forget, the Hindu Mahasabha, RSS, Akhil Bharatiya Ram Rajya Parishad and elements in the Congress were quite "indistinguishable" from the other all along.

The founder of the Hindu Mahasabha, Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya, was a four-time president of the Congress. His vision of India would not have been very different from that of the Banaras Hindu University, which he founded.

Rajeshwar Dayal, the first home secretary of UP, in his memoir, "A Life of Our Times", mentions an astonishing story about Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant, UP's first chief minister, and RSS supremo Guru Golwalkar. The RSS chief was found with a trunk load of incriminating evidence of extensive plans for communal violence in Western UP. The chief minister, however, enabled him to escape.

It all leads to the inescapable conclusion, argued in my book "Being The Other: The Muslim in India". Having accepted Mountbatten's June 3, 1947, plan for the Partition of India, the Congress de facto accepted the two-nation theory while publicly arguing against it. Dissembling was essential to keep Kashmir. On August 15, 1947, India seamlessly glided from British Raj to Hindu Raj. It could have been named Hindustan (just as the other country was called Pakistan). With a Hindu at the helm, a more honest bargain on sharing power would have been possible. The painful process of a second distillation for a Hindu Rashtra could have been avoided.

(IANS)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah will address the Gujarat Gaurav Maha Sammelan on Tuesday to culminate the fortnight-long Gujarat Gaurav Yatra, party said on Sunday. Addressing a press meet in Ahamedabad, BJP state president Jitu Vaghani also launched a blistering attack on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, calling him a 'migratory bird'.

Vaghani said Gandhi was not bothered about Gujarat and came to the state only during elections. He alleged that what Gandhi had been doing was just a show-off and that the Congress had been out of power in Gujarat for several years only because they were not bothered about the state.

Vaghani claimed that the Gujarat Gaurav Yatra was an overwhelming success. Without naming either the Congress or Patidar leaders, who have been demanding reservation under the OBC category, Vaghani alleged that some protests of showing black flags were out of frustration. Those were failed attempts, he said.

He exuded confidence that the people of Gujarat had made up their mind to elect the BJP with more than 150 seats. Without naming the campaign Vikas gando thayo che (development has gone berserk), Vaghani said that their yatra was an answer to the misguided campaign and that in the forthcoming elections Congress would be wiped off from the history of Gujarat.

The yatra covered 4,471 kilometers and 139 assembly seats and saw Union ministers and chief ministers of BJP ruled states campaigning at different places. Elections to the 182-seat state assembly are likely to be held at the end of the year.

Vaghani said over seven lakh people would attend the gathering on Tuesday. Before Modi and Shah address the convention, a rally of 10,000 youth will be taken out from various parts of Ahmedabad and will reach the venue near Gandhinagar.
The reason why the UP election results in May were a showpiece for the BJP was that they represented, in the party's opinion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's continuing forward march.

Yet, the overblown nature of this self-congratulatory assessment will be evident if the outcome of the five elections which took place at the time are taken into consideration.

A more realistic picture will be available if all the results are taken together, for it will show that the original verdict was 3-2 in the Congress's favour with an outright win in Punjab and emerging as the largest party in Goa and Manipur.

It is another matter that what the Congress won in the swings, it lost in the roundabouts because a nimble-footed BJP managed to lure away a sufficient number of MLAs to its side to rob the Congress of its no.1 position in the Goa and Manipur assemblies.

But if the BJP had been humble enough to look at the results in their entirety, then it might not have gloated over its success in UP. That election was one which the BJP could not but win because its principal opponent, the Samajwadi Party (SP), had shot itself in the foot via its internal factional battles.

It was the belief, however, that the BJP had decimated the opposition in the country's largest state which apparently made the party commit what may turn out to be a fateful mistake by choosing one of the most hawkish of the hardliners to be the chief minister.

True, Yogi Adityanath has toned down some of his utterances in deference to Modi's "development for all" rhetoric. But it is as an administrator that his inadequacies have come to the fore, thereby showing that devotion to the saffron cause may give a leg-up while climbing the official ladder, but it doesn't help in running the government.

Since law and order in UP has always been dismal, it will be unfair to blame the present government for its failures on this count. But what has attracted countrywide attention are the deaths of scores of children in the state's hospitals.

Considering that UP once witnessed a Rs 9,000 crore (over $1 billion) scam in connection with a rural health programme when two chief medical officers were killed and their deputy died in custody, the latest tragedy may appear to be a part of a dreadful pattern.

But its hurtful impact on the chief minister and his party cannot be denied.

To make matters worse, the upsurge of student demonstrations in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) over what the vice chancellor initially dismissed as an incident of eve-teasing has been seen as yet another evidence of dissatisfaction with the ruling dispensation.

The unrest in BHU has followed the defeat of the BJP's affiliate, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), in student union elections in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Hyderabad University, Gauhati University and elsewhere.

The vice chancellor's ouster has been sought by, among others, the National Commission for Women, but a BJP government can hardly be expected to remove someone with a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background.

There is little doubt, however, that episodes such as these have deprived the BJP of much of the sheen of its victory in less than six months.

The party will be wary, therefore, of the reports that the rift in the SP between Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav has healed. It is the rupture between father and son which had contributed largely to the BJP's success by undermining its biggest challenger.

But it isn't only the reconciliation which will be of concern to Yogi Adityanath and Co. Of even greater worry will be the possibility of the SP under Akhilesh teaming up with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to take on the BJP.

Akhilesh has been talking of such an alliance for quite some time although his father is against it. But now that the son is fully in control of the party, a tie-up between the SP and the BSP is a distinct possibility, not least because the two know that the BJP cannot be unseated otherwise.

The SP-BSP combination's advantage is that their combined vote share of 44 per cent in the last assembly electionthe SP 21.8 and the BSP 22.2is higher than the BJP's 39.7 per cent.

If the Congress's 6.3 per cent is added to the SP-BSP's 44, then the trio becomes a formidable force.

It was only to be expected, therefore, for Yogi Adityanath to turn to building a 100-metre tall statue of Lord Ram on the banks of the Saryu river to boost the BJP's fortunes.

Since he appears incapable of providing efficient governance, recourse to religion to consolidate the Hindu vote is the only way out for the chief minister and his party.

There are also reports that he will be fielded by the BJP as a campaigner in the upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat to rev up the party's position with a strong dose of Hindutva at a time when the economic slowdown has robbed Modi's 'vikas' (development) slogan of much of its appeal.

The BJP has probably never felt the need for a saffron hawk more than at present.

(IANS)
A jury said Friday it was near consensus but wont deliver a verdict before Monday on charges that a man planted bombs on New York City streets, including one that detonated and injured 30 people last year.

The Manhattan federal jury deliberated just over two hours before telling Judge Richard M. Berman that it wants to return on Monday.

The jurors are deciding the fate of 29-year-old Ahmad Khan Rahimi, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, who is charged with the use of a weapon of mass destruction, bombing a place of public use, destroying property with an explosive and using a destructive device to further a crime of violence, among other charges.

Prosecutors say Rahimi placed a bomb in Manhattans Chelsea neighborhood that went off, injuring 30 people. He also is accused of planting bombs in New Jersey that didnt hurt anyone.

The Afghanistan-born Rahimi did not testify. He was arrested two days after the September 2016 attacks following a shootout with police.

In closing arguments, Rahimis attorney, Sabrina Shroff, urged jurors to acquit Rahimi of three charges that could lead to a mandatory life prison term.

Shroff said there was no proof Rahimi intended for a bomb to explode that was left four blocks away from the bomb that detonated.

She said there are many reasons to doubt the governments case.

Shroff, an assistant federal defender, noted that no one from the defense team cross examined any of the dozen or so victims who testified during the two-week trial.

This is a difficult case for all of us because we are all New Yorkers, she said.

Shroffs surprise approach to focus on only a few charges in her closing seemed to catch prosecutors off guard, leaving them scribbling and whispering behind her as they seemed to realize the rebuttal summation they were about to deliver might need tweaking.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew DeFilippis said the fact that the second bomb never went off should not spare Rahimi from conviction on all eight counts of the indictment.

The prosecutor said Rahimi, inspired by the Islamic State group and al-Qaida, launched a cold and calculating attack when he left his home shortly after 5 a.m. on Sept. 17, 2016, with nine bombs, including seven in a backpack that were small enough to use like grenades if he wished. Defense lawyers later objected to the grenade reference.

Prosecutors said a pipe bomb from the backpack was placed along a Marine Corps charity race in Seaside Heights, New Jersey, while the rest were left the following day in the backpack near the Elizabeth, New Jersey, train station. A delay in the start of the race prevented anyone from being injured when that bomb went off. The others were discovered and did not explode, except for one that went off in safe conditions as bomb technicians worked to disable it.

(AP)
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

Mrs G.T. writes: We purchased a car from Empire Cars of Dewsbury for 5,000. The dealer asked us to pay 100 for Autogroup insurance. It said this would cover any fault. The following day the car did not work.

The dealer asked us not to contact Autogroup for a couple of days. When we spoke to the insurer we were told the vehicle was not covered as the problem was a pre-existing fault. On top of this the premium had not been passed on to Autogroup.

Tony replies: Buying a car that breaks down the next day is bad enough, but what makes things worse is that you knew there was a fault because you had already seen a warning light come on. You told me you agreed to buy the car on condition the fault was repaired first.

Faults: One reader has told how she is taking legal action against Empire Cars of Dewsbury

But what came next was quite unexpected. You tried to get the car repaired and were told that although it was advertised as a beautiful drive, it had been off the road for two years.

When you contacted Autogroup, which was supposed to have issued a warranty, it told you: We regret to inform you we have been unsuccessful in collecting payment for your policy from the selling dealer.

Autogroup was apologetic and even offered a generous discount if you wanted to pay again. Your next step was to ask Empire Cars for your money back, but you got nowhere.

At this point I should make clear that more than one business uses the name Empire Cars  but your problem is only with the firm located in Commercial Road, Dewsbury.

One reader was left bewildered after spotting that Ryanair had charged her for 11 she didn't remember spending

This raises a fresh problem. Empire Cars in Dewsbury is not a limited company. It is just a trading name. Legally, paperwork such as invoices or contracts must disclose the owners name so customers know who to sue if something goes wrong. You told me you dealt with a man named Mohammed Ismail, but when I contacted Empire Cars the reply came from Mohamad Ismaiel.

To complicate things further, records at Companies House show a separate business at the same address in the name of Mohamed Jawar Ismaiel. So, three different people? Two? Or just one man with three ways to spell his name and nothing on the paperwork to show which is right?

BAFFLED BY 11 RIDDLE AT RYANAIR Ms C.H. writes: I am contacting you about my customer experience with Ryanair, which has withdrawn money from my bank account but cannot explain why. I flew from London to La Rochelle, paying around 70 on my debit card. After I returned, I noticed Ryanair had also taken another 11. I bought a fizzy drink on the flight, but not for 11. When you queried the 11 debit, Ryanair replied: Regarding your claim, we wish to confirm that on the outbound flight, we have been retrieve [sic] a payment made by you, in the amount of 2.50. This amount represents the fee paid on the plane for what did you bought [sic]. For the rest of the amount, we have no records in our system. Setting aside the mangled English, this was not good enough. Your bank statement clearly showed that Ryanair helped itself to 11, so there must have been a reason. When I intervened, the company checked again and staff quickly found you also booked the airport bus through Ryanair. You thought you made that booking with the bus firm itself, but you have told me you now accept Ryanairs explanation and the 11 debit was correct after all.

Whatever the explanation, Empire Cars told me that although the engine management light came on during your test drive, it was not a pre-existing fault.

The dealer did not comment on Autogroups statement that the premium was unpaid. Empire Cars also insisted you knew the car had been off the road for two years. It told me: The length of time a car is off the road does not determine whether or not it can be described as a beautiful drive.

You have answered that you only discovered the car had been laid up when you asked a local garage for help and MoT records were checked. The garage also found other expensive faults.

Empire Cars would not reply to any more questions or give the proper name of its owner. I asked West Yorkshire Trading Standards  which polices the misuse of business names  whether it would take action over the businesss failure to name the owner.

Trading Standards declined to investigate. It told me: We need to prioritise investigations, given the available resources. An official added: There are other traders causing greater consumer detriment which we are addressing.

I sympathise over its lack of resources, but equally, I sympathise with any customer of Empire Cars who runs into trouble and cannot find the real name of the person running the business.

You are now trying to take legal action against whoever owns Empire Cars. Let me know how you get on and when the case comes to court I shall report it here.

Mrs P.P.D. writes: I am sending you a letter from Royal Bank of Scotland. It is addressed to a limited company, but we live in a private house. We have never had contact with the company or the bank. The letter is notice of assignment of a debt, but we owe nothing to anyone. Is this a scam or a mistake?

The letter is a mistake, but a scary one. The firm named owes 5,323 and the letter warns: Please ensure your payment reaches us by the due date. But you live in Oxfordshire, while a check with Companies House shows the firm owing the money is in West Sussex and has no connection to you, your husband, or your address.

I asked RBS to look into this and it soon said you are not connected to the invoice. A keying error was to blame when the demand was printed. Staff explained: The first line was right, but the town and postcode were wrong.

RBS has apologised and has sent you 100 to make up for the fright.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given.
Card sharp: Matthew Frenchman and wife Gemma use a WeSwap card for their trips to the South of France

Despite the collapse of Monarch Airlines and the cancellation of tens of thousands of winter flights by Ryanair, Brits will travel abroad in their millions between now and Christmas. They will either go in search of winter sun or embrace the cold with a European city break.

As a result, more than 9 billion is likely to be converted to foreign currency between now and December  more than 600 per trip.

But many tourists will squander money by using expensive plastic or relying on banks and airport vendors to buy currency.

Choosing wisely before departure means more to spend on arrival  with a smug holiday feeling thrown in for free. Here is how you can get the best deal for travel money.

CASH

Buying online is the cheapest route, even if you then collect it yourself from a branch. Comparison websites such as CompareHolidayMoney and MoneySavingExperts TravelMoneyMax will help you find the best online rates according to when you want the money and where it should be delivered  home or in store.

Turning up at a branch without having ordered online first will probably result in a poorer deal.

Peter Rudin-Burgess is financial director at currency comparison website CompareHolidayMoney.

He says: Frequently, rates offered in branches are not as good as they are online. The classic example of this is the Post Office.

Rip-off Avoid the bureau de change at an airport, where rates are terrible

Anyone buying uncommon currencies should always place an order online as it gives a bureau time to stock up.

Rudin-Burgess adds: Plan to buy your currency ten days before you depart. That allows enough time to place an order online and get delivery to your home. Suppliers tend to use Royal Mail special delivery as this is insured and requires a signature.

HOW TO BEAT EXCHANGE RATE PITFALLS Beware the cashpoint trap.If asked on screen at an ATM whether you want the withdrawal with conversion or without, choose without. Also, if asked by shops or restaurants whether you want to pay in pounds or the local currency, choose the latter. This means your card provider applies the exchange rate rather than the shop.

Avoid using a high street bank for currency exchange unless you are offered a special rate that compares favourably to offers elsewhere.

Remember zero commission has little value any more. It is a marketing ploy that easily masks a poor exchange rate.

Dodge the walk-up rate at airport bureaus. If you run out of time, buy online and collect at the airport.

For those wary of or without internet access, investigate in-branch rates offered by at least three local foreign exchange bureaux before settling on one.

Remember supermarkets often sell travel money as well as the Post Office. Preferential deals are sometimes available for loyal customers. For example, Sainsburys Bank offers a slightly better rate for Nectar card holders.

Do not rely only on a bank for currency. Shop around.

TRAVEL CARDS

Prepaid travel cards are used the same way as any other bank cards  with chip and PIN  and feature either the Visa or Mastercard logos. This means they can be used in most shops and restaurants worldwide.

Some cards can even be used with contactless technology, such as the Travelex and Post Office cards, which means customers can wave them over a terminal to pay rather than waiting to tap in a PIN.

Cards are topped up by transferring funds from a bank account, at which point the money is converted into a chosen currency.

The rate of conversion is usually more competitive than what is offered for cash at high street banks or bureaux.

Though adding funds to a card is easy, it does not have direct access to a customers bank account. So, if euros on a card are depleted, no more can be spent until the card is topped up again.

It the card is stolen, thieves can only take what is on the card. Some cards can be blocked as soon as a customer realises it is missing. Or a second card linked to the account can be used to withdraw all the cash before a thief gets their hands on it.

The most common cards are offered in euros, dollars or pounds. The latter can be used worldwide wherever the cards are accepted for payment.

A foreign exchange rate is applied on the spot rather than when the card is first topped up.

Brits will travel abroad in their millions between now and Christmas. As a result, more than 9bn is likely to be converted to foreign currency between now and December

Be mindful of fees, especially with sterling cards which tend to be more punitive. Inactivity charges may also apply when a card is not used for more than a year. Allow plenty of time before travel  at least two weeks  for cards to be ordered, delivered, activated and topped up.

Popular providers include WeSwap, FairFX, Caxton FX, Moneycorp, Travelex and ICE. All offer additional benefits. Travelex, Moneycorp and WeSwap allow you to hold multiple currencies all on one card. ICE Travellers Cashcard pays 1.5 per cent cashback on purchases over 50 euros, $50 or 50 depending on which type of card is being used.

Caxton FX cardholders can enjoy 40 per cent off at airport lounges and 25 per cent off a years membership with the Ski Club. WeSwap uses a customer-friendly mid-market exchange rate  the rate financial companies use when they trade with each other  but charges commission.

This amounts to 1 per cent if you are prepared to wait seven days for the exchange, 1.3 per cent for a three-day wait and 2 per cent for an immediate swap. By comparison, banks and foreign exchange bureaux may shout about zero commission but profit by offering a poor exchange rate.

Matthew Frenchman has wised up to the poor foreign currency deals offered by many providers.

He and wife Gemma, both 39, from Muswell Hill, North-West London, often take their two children on holiday to the South of France. Matthew, who works for video game company AppStart, says: I was fed up with seeing extra charges on my bank statements every time I used my card abroad. I would withdraw money from a cashpoint and get horrendous exchange rates.

He started using WeSwap, which brings travellers together from ten different countries who want to swap currency. It is a simple process, adds Matthew. I load the card with pounds, change it to euros and use it to pay in restaurants on holiday or take cash out of an ATM.

'I use my Revolut pre-paid all the time - it makes my bank look outdated' No fees: Joshua White uses his card at home and abroad Joshua White relied heavily on his bank card while overseas. As a result, he was repeatedly stung by fees and a poor exchange rate. He says: I knew airport exchange bureaux offered rubbish rates, but I thought I was safe with my bank card. I was actually charged about 6 every time I withdrew 100 euros. Last year, while planning a three-month trip to South America, the 23- year-old  from Camberwell, South-East London  changed tack and joined Revolut. It is an app that comes with a pre-paid Mastercard debit card. Customers can use it worldwide and each time it is used, the real mid-market exchange rate applies with no additional fee.The card can be used for spending and cashpoint withdrawals in more than 120 currencies. It can also be used in the UK with no additional fees  unlike other sterling- based travel cards which usually charge for use on home soil. Joshua says: A friend recommended it because you can spend abroad without any fees. I also liked the idea of being able to block the card instantly if I misplaced it. If two people have an account, they can send money instantly to each other for free. After returning from his travels, Joshua found using his old bank card to be outmoded, so he now uses Revolut as his primary card. He adds: It updates my balance in real-time, sends instant spending alerts after every purchase and I am able to see my spending on Uber and eating out. Most of my friends have it too, so we use it to split bills at the pub. Some Revolut customers were recently blocked from using their accounts due to technical problems. Though these were resolved, they serve as a reminder for travellers to take back-up currency just in case.

CREDIT CARDS

Using plastic to pay on holiday will please or punish, depending on which one you choose.

Using the wrong one can lead to a poor exchange rate and a layering of penalties  such as non-sterling transaction fees and withdrawal fees from cashpoints.

But good cards will secure the best exchange rate and have few or no charges attached. But you will need to pay off the credit card in full each month to benefit.

Overseas shops and cashpoints may apply their own separate fees for tourists using cards, which you should ask about before paying.

Top-pick cards include Halifax Clarity, Aqua Reward, Santander Zero, Post Office Platinum and Saga Platinum. These offer bank-beating exchange rates and there are no additional fees for purchases abroad.

LAST-MINUTE TRAVELLER

There is little point telling last-minute planners to be more organised and buy currency early.

But for leopards with no desire to change their spots, better choices can still be made at the eleventh hour. Most currency providers will deliver cash straight to your door the next day  and for free if above certain amounts, typically around 500.

If home delivery is not an option because of time restraints, use the click and collect option when comparing rates online. Better rates will be achieved by paying online then collecting in store. This option is available even if there are only a few hours left before departure.

It is also possible to collect cash from an exchange bureau based at the airport you are flying from  beating the walk-up rate.

Rudin-Burgess says: For common currencies such as euros and US dollars we have heard of people booking the rate online and collecting just an hour later.

You can also buy a Travelex currency card just before heading overseas. John Rayment, UK commercial director at Travelex, says: You can purchase a card from any store and for collection at any UK store.

If pre-ordered online, allow four hours before picking it up. When bought in store the card is activated straight away and can be used anywhere.

CLOSED CURRENCIES

Some countries prevent tourists from buying currency before departing the UK  for example, India, Ghana and Cuba. These are known as closed currencies.

There are also countries where the currency is not technically closed, but is hard to buy before landing at your destination because the exchange rate is so volatile.

Fee-free overseas credit cards or sterling prepaid cards are the best way to circumvent this problem. Use one of these cards to withdraw cash once you land or simply use as normal in shops and restaurants, especially if you are likely to be staying in built-up areas.

But for those twitchy about having no cash at the ready, use websites such as TravelMoneyMax, MyTravelMoney and CompareHolidayMoney to find bureaux that offer what you want. You may be able to order and then pick up at a UK airport.

Alternatively, you can take some cash in pounds and exchange a small sum at your destination, before using a prepaid card to withdraw any remaining sum needed to last the holiday.

For India, ICICI Bank offers a prepaid Indian Rupee travel card, which will likely be at a better exchange rate than when you finally land at an airport in India. Visit icicibank.co.uk or call 0344 412 4444.

Travelex has also announced it will make Argentinian pesos available for online orders imminently  a currency notoriously tricky to obtain before travel.
Fashion retailer SuperGroup used to suffer from a tempestuous relationship with the City.

Upbeat guidance on trading was mixed with less welcome news about unforeseen issues, and the shares yo-yoed for several years after floating at 500p in 2010.

Those times seem to have changed, particularly since chief executive Euan Sutherland took over in October 2014, just a month after Midas last looked at the stock, when the price was 1200p. Today, the shares are 1766p and will almost certainly continue to rise.

New focus: Womenswear now accounts for a third of revenues for fashion retailer SuperGroup

When Sutherland took the reins, he outlined a strategy for growth, based on expanding into new countries, beefing up the online offer and cutting the reliance on menswear.

Late last month, over two days with City analysts, he set out to show that the firm has delivered on every front.

Strong growth on the Continent and in the US has meant that the UK, which accounted for 70 per cent of revenues three years ago, now accounts for less than 40 per cent.

Sales in Britain have risen  just not as fast as elsewhere.

And its incipient business in China looks promising.

Online now accounts for a quarter of retail sales and there are 20 websites globally, most of them staffed by locals and written in local languages.

Attention has also been turned to womenswear, which now generates more than a third of sales.

There has been a concerted move into accessories and upmarket products, typified by a well-received collaboration with actor Idris Elba.

And Sutherland is beefing up the groups sportswear offer too, with clever ideas such as running jackets that light up in the dark.

Star power: Idris Elba's endorsement of Supergroup has helped to boost profits

Looking ahead, Sutherland hopes to continue expansion, focusing on innovation and quality, increasing profits along the way.

The company is also changing its name to Superdry  the familiar name of its brand.

Brokers seem impressed by Sutherlands record and plans, expecting sales to rise 15.5 per cent to 869 million in the year to April, with profits up 15 per cent to 100 million.

A dividend policy was introduced in 2016, when the firm paid an ordinary dividend of 23.2p and a 20p special.

In the year to April 2017, it paid 28p and 33p has been pencilled in for the current year, though there may well be another special payout.

Midas verdict: SuperGroup  soon to be known as Superdry  appears to be among the winners in a polarising retail market. Existing investors should hold. New ones could also buy for the long term.

Traded on: Main market Ticker: SGP Contact: supergroup.co.uk or 01242 586616
The publisher of magazines including Mens Fitness, Viz, Cyclist and The Week is for sale

The publisher of magazines including Mens Fitness, Viz, Cyclist and The Week is for sale, The Mail on Sunday has learned.

A trust set up by the late publisher Felix Dennis has appointed advisers from Livingstone to find a buyer for Dennis Publishing, which is likely to fetch about 150 million.

The proceeds will go to the Heart of England Forest charity, which was the brainchild of the media mogul who died of cancer three years ago.

Dennis Publishing, which has a group turnover of 115 million, declined to comment.
Britsh firms are urging the Government and the EU to push on urgently with agreeing a Brexit transition deal

Britsh firms are urging the Government and the EU to push on urgently with agreeing a Brexit transition deal, ahead of a meeting of European leaders this week.

Adam Marshall, head of the British Chambers of Commerce, has warned that the Government risks causing job losses and damage to the economy if Ministers do not secure a deal by December.

We have a lot of firms saying theyre drawing up contingency plans, Marshall said.

They have no wish to activate them, but if they dont get greater clarity on transition over the coming months they will feel obliged to act.

He added: Theres the potential to lose investment in plant, premises, training, and new jobs.

And car industry body the SMMT said securing a deal fast was crucial.

This is a critical sector, it employs hundreds of thousands, and its imperative that we restore confidence, it said.
In good spirits: Louise McGuane with Blaise Kelly, far left

A new Irish whiskey maker wants to take on industry heavyweights  with a shot or two of female business sense.

Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Company, founded two years ago by drinks industry veteran Louise McGuane, launches in the UK on Tuesday, but with a twist  the staff are all female.

The industry is dominated by men at the top, but McGuane said she wanted to shake things up.

Im a big believer in supporting women in the whiskey business and showing the next generation of women that any of us can make a difference and lead the industry, she said, adding: Your gender shouldnt matter as far as Im concerned, but it probably still does to quite a few people.

Armed with nearly 1 million from investors, McGuane started the firm on her own from her familys farm in County Clare, west Ireland.

She has now hired Blaise Kelly to spearhead a marketing push into America and plans to recruit another three women as Chapel Gate grows.

She has already launched her whiskey in Ireland, the US and Germany.

Now, McGuane is launching in the UK and has her sights set on Hong Kong and Singapore.

According to a report published earlier this year, Irish whiskey exports were 505 million last year and on track to double by 2020.

Chapel Gate Irish Whiskey Company, founded two years ago by drinks industry veteran Louise McGuane, launches in the UK on Tuesday, but with a twist - the staff are all female

McGuane set up Chapel Gate after 20 years travelling the world in marketing for the spirits giants Moet Hennessy, Pernod Ricard and Diageo.

How change is brewing slowly for drinks firms The drinks industry has been trying to target female consumers for more than a decade  but is still struggling to hit the mark. As long as five years ago Carlsberg chief executive Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen said women remained a huge untapped market for beer as innovations targeting them were gimmicky. But this year, Czech brewer Aurosa was forced to defend its marketing after launching a her beer in pink, marble effect bottles at 8 apiece. While more women are running drinks firms, the industry is struggling to get women brewing. Petra Wetzel, the head of West Beer, said the staff at her head office in Glasgow were mostly female but all the production staff were male. She added: There are quite a few women who have started their own breweries, but I would still say most of the staff who are doing all the dirty work in production are male. Petra Wetzel is the head of West Beer

After marrying, she decided it was time to settle down, though her husband Dominic works in London so they have to travel to see one another.

The couple dont have children, but McGuane is kept busy looking after her horse and dog.

Historically, there have been some interesting female characters in the whiskey world, but more recently its been quite male dominated, said McGuane.

Whiskey is still considered by many to be an older mans drink, but McGuane shrugs off such stereotypes and said she wanted the staff blending the whiskey to be women, as they have some of the best noses in the business.

Hiring women happened accidentally, but it made sense to me, she said, adding that men will, of course, be considered on equal merit as the business grows.

The interesting thing is the gender diversity of the people who drink whiskey has really changed. Its 50 per cent women, 50 per cent men now. But its not 50 per cent women making it.

The company is unique in other ways. Whiskey bonding, where whiskies are sourced elsewhere then matured and blended in Ireland, vanished in the 1930s, as Irelands economy collapsed, Scotch rose to prominence, and prohibition was introduced in the US.

But McGuane has brought back the lost art, becoming Irelands only whiskey bonder.

She has named the product after 1920s bonder and bootlegger JJ Corry.

My goal is to get to 50,000 cases, she said, but I cant get there fast because whiskey is a waiting game.
Dear Sir,



Each time I source the Internet for news from home, I come across heartbreaking reports.

The first one to hurt me was the cruel treatment dished out to Mr Geoff of Xanadu Boutique in Mbabane.



Geoffs only crime was being a local investor who wanted to fulfil King Mswati IIIs Vision 2022.

The second one was on how former Master of the High Court , Siboniso Dlamini was charged for E550 000 theft, something that left me wondering if justice in Swaziland will ever be on the side of widows.

The sad case that has dragged for years from 2001 - to date, of widow Phindile Ndzinisa, who never received the amount of E875 477 paid out as terminal benefits by the Swaziland Sugar Association upon the tragic death of her husband Mr Martin Musa Ndzinisa, is a clear indication that the law is not used as an instrument of justice. I say so because the widow has been frustratingly moved from pillar to post for years (High Court to Appeal and Supreme Court).

Despite the widow winning in all instances, the judiciary now wants to further drag the matter by taking it for review. The devious process is inevitably meant to have devastating results for the aggrieved widow, as it will result in the judges preference (the defaulting lawyer) and prejudicing the widow.



I now associate myself with sentiments once expressed by the law society, calling for a Judicial Commission of Enquiry in Swaziland as this cannot be allowed to go on.



By Dr Ntombenhle Gama

Cape Town.
MBABANE  One of the senior officials in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport stands accused of allegedly elevating some undeserving employees to senior positions.



Among other allegations, it is said the officer is accused of not only promoting those who have performed personal favours to the officer but the officer has recently been blamed for awarding a tender to a former retired senior government officer who happens to be a family friend.



According to information received by the Times SUNDAY, the tender was never advertised and the man behind the company is alleged to have been awarded the contract to draft regulations for one of the departments under the ministry.

It is alleged the contract was awarded without being put up for tender as per the normal procedure. Our sources allege that the accused official family friend set up the company hastily just for the said tender.



Another issue that seems to have upset other employees within the ministry was the promotions within Anti-Abuse Unit. It is said previously, the assumption was that the officers working in this department need to have some form of training on enforcement.



The sources also revealed to the Times SUNDAY that another matter pertains to a certain driver who knocked down and killed a pedestrian but the incident was swept under the carpet by the said officer .

It is alleged that the officer issued instructions that the vehicle be fixed and repaired of all defects without the compilation of a report which is expected to accompany a government vehicle before it could be repaired.

However, the fingered driver was later promoted from being a labourer to the position of roads overseer under unclear circumstances, the aggrieved source said.



The source said that left the other employees aggrieved because of the fact that the labourer rose within the ranks above other deserving and seasoned operators within the department. Responding to the allegations, the officer in question expressed shock at the fact that officers within the department harboured such ill will towards him.



The officer mentioned that he had an idea who the people who had leaked the information to the Times SUNDAY were. The fingered officer did not reveal their names, however.

in response, the said officer said it must be noted that all promotions in the ministry are a preserve of the Civil Service Commission according to the (Constitution of Swaziland, section 187). My office does not promote employees but CSC and committees who have been delegated by CSC do so.



The officer explained that heads of department present their officials to the principal secretary for his consideration with his team for action and or endorsement.
MBABANE  Eight high-ranking officers in the Ministry of Home Affairs could soon find themselves being investigated and put on the dock on charges of alleged corruption based on the roles they played in the influx of Asians into the country.



This could be an eventuality, only if the Report of the Probe of the Influx of Asian Nationals into the Kingdom could be adopted together with its recommendations.

According to some of the recommendations of the draft report, which the Times SUNDAY was partly shown, heads will have to roll into the ministry of home affairs.

The report is expected to be tabled on Monday in the House of Assembly by the Chairman of the Select Committee that was tasked to conduct the probe. The chairman is Zombodze Emuva Constituency MP Titus Thwala.

The other members of the committee are Mtfongwaneni MP Mjuluko Dlamini, Mbabane West MP Johane Shongwe, Nhlambeni MP Frans Dlamini, Manzini North MP Jan Sithole and Hhukwini MP Saladin Magagula. Others were MPs Mthokozisi Kunene, Patrick Motsa and Michael Masilela.



This publication was made to understand that it was recommended that a senior official in the ministry of home affairs (name deliberately withheld as the official has not been charged), a senior official at the Immigrations Department and six other officials in the same department should be suspended.



On top of the suspension, it was further recommended that the matter of the officials be handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for investigation and appropriate action to be taken.

Through its well-placed and impeccable sources, the Times SUNDAY learnt that indeed, the suspension of the eight was part of the recommendations. One of the senior sources further disclosed that the draft document was supposed to be signed last week by the Chairperson of the probe tea,m Titus Thwala and the Secretary Celumusa Khoza.



I can confirm that there are some of the recommendations that touch on the eight people you are talking about. However, there are also others who the recommendations finger, but we are yet to meet and go through the report before it could be presented to the House of Assembly, the source said.

Meanwhile, the committee chairperson confirmed that the document was complete but they were still to go through it and fuse in some of the presentations made by the last group that presented, this being the citizenship board.
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Troy

Much of the fretting about intolerance toward free speech on college campuses focuses on students  those supposed millennial snowflakes who don't want their feelings bruised. But sometimes the kids are all right and it's the administrators who want to quash inconvenient opinion.

That's been the case at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where the administration of President Shirley Ann Jackson has been trying to silence students upset by changes to the Rensselaer Union.

No, the fight isn't about civil rights or some other issue with broad societal implications. But the independence of the student-run union is important to many who attend RPI, and they should be free to express their objections loudly and frequently.

More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse

Yet when student Bryan Johns, following the guidelines set forth in the school's handbook, applied to hold a peaceful demonstration on the Troy campus during this weekend's homecoming celebration, the school denied the request.

Administrators claimed the protest would be disruptive and would stretch the school's ability to ensure security, given that the campus will be crowded this weekend.

Well, protests are supposed to be a bit disruptive. And protesters, you know, generally want people around to hear them.

The school's real motivation may have become clear early Friday morning, when the administration removed all the "Save the Union" posters from campus under the cover of darkness.

Interesting. Were the posters also a security threat? Or did officials not want arriving alumni to see that much of the campus was angry with Jackson?

I'm going with option two.

The controversy earned RPI a rebuke from a group devoted to protecting collegiate free speech. In a letter to Jackson, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education said the school is guilty of "unacceptable encroachment" on free speech and assembly rights.

While FIRE conceded that private institutions are not bound by the First Amendment, it found "a disconcerting pattern" of silencing protest at RPI despite the school having explicitly promised to protect student expression.

I'd add that colleges and universities have a special obligation to respect and promote free speech  and now more than ever, because it's under attack with an intensity that threatens the country's future.

On campuses, conservative speakers are routinely greeted by "shout downs" and even thuggery  behavior that is supported by more students than you might expect.

A recent report by the Brookings Institution noted that 51 percent of surveyed college students said "shouting so the audience can't hear" is an acceptable way to confront a controversial speaker.

So much for reasoned debate.

Meanwhile, 44 percent said the First Amendment does not allow so-called hate speech. (It does.) And 19 percent said violence is an acceptable way to silence speech. (It isn't.)

The survey is frightening, and it led Brookings to say that "college faculty and administrators have a heightened responsibility to do a better job at fostering freedom of expression on their campuses."

Brookings should FedEx the report to Shirley Ann Jackson.

It would be reassuring if disrespect for speech were limited to students who will presumably wise up with age. Or if it were limited to one side of the political spectrum.

That isn't the case. It's widespread. We even have First Amendment ignorance emanating from the White House.

"It's frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want," President Donald Trump said Wednesday with his familiar malice toward constitutional order.

Sorry Mr. President, but members of the press and all other Americans are free to say what they want about their government. The First Amendment is beautiful and wonderful and inspiring, not disgusting. It gave Trump the freedom to pound away at Barack Obama all those years and it gives every bumpkin the right to do the same to Trump now.

Journalists should strive to be fair and accurate, but government doesn't decide what's allowable. That's how they do it in fascist countries. Here, it's our commitment to messy free speech that keeps us free  which is why it is so troubling to see that commitment wavering.

But let's end with a hopeful scene.

RPI students refused to be silenced. Late Friday afternoon, hundreds gathered behind temporary fences that kept the sounds of dissent away from a black-tie gala being held for school VIPs.

The fences were odd. Was the administration that worried about a little criticism?

The students grew tired at being penned in like farm animals. They burst through the fencing and eventually streamed onto a grassy quad within view of arriving VIPs.

The protest was impassioned but respectful. The students didn't interrupt the gala but made sure they were seen and heard. The supposed snowflakes showed their grit and free speech won the day.
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ALBANY  When the state Comptroller's office asked the state Department of Health to hand over documents identifying all the subcontractors who would be working to build a medical facility with help from an $11 million state grant, one piece of information was never disclosed: One of the firms involved was facing charges in the upstate bid-rigging scandal.

The state Department of Health acknowledged that the project's principal contractor had failed to submit vetting documents to the agency earlier this year, even though Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's staff had asked the agency for all subcontractors' vetting documents for the grant.

As a result, DiNapoli's contract reviewers didn't know that a subcontractor for the Buffalo health care project was LPCiminelli, where three former top officials are facing federal bid-rigging charges related to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Buffalo Billion" initiative.

The $11.2 million grant was awarded by DOH to Kaleida Health, a nonprofit that is the largest health care provider in Western New York. The money supported Kaleida's construction of a children's ambulatory surgery center attached to the new John R. Oishei Children's Hospital on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

Kaleida's $18.1 million project began construction in August 2015, according to an article in the Buffalo News. Six months later, DOH awarded the company the $11.2 million.

As the Times Union reported last week, there are parallels between this project and two built in Orange and Rockland counties by Crystal Run Healthcare  a company that, like LPCiminelli, has been a major donor to Cuomo campaign.

As with the Buffalo development, the Crystal Run projects received their DOH funding ($25.4 million) about six months after the builders broke ground. The awards for both Kaleida and Crystal Run came on the same day in March 2016 and through the same pot of money, the Capital Restructuring and Financing Program.

In the case of Crystal Run, DOH failed to provide DiNapoli's office with the vetting document of another subcontractor that is facing state bid-rigging charges, Albany-based Columbia Development. The agency insists Columbia's vetting documents did not have to be turned over because the firm is not reaping any state money.

DiNapoli's office eventually approved the Crystal Run grants. But the Kaleida grant has been held up because the vetting documents were turned over for Kaleida's main contractor, Conventus Partners, whose owner is Paul Ciminelli, the brother of the indicted Louis Ciminelli and a frequent business associate.

In other words, the mere disclosure of the involvement of Paul Ciminelli  who is not facing any charges  was enough for DiNapoli's office to hold up payment of the $11.2 million grant to Kaleida. If the involvement of LPCiminelli, where three executives await trial, had been disclosed as a subcontractor, it surely would have raised even more questions.

Kaleida seems to be in good fiscal shape, at least as of 2015. Its president, Jody Lomeo, made $1.8 million in compensation that year, according to the nonprofit's tax return, and at least 16 other employees made upwards of $400,000  many far more. The nonprofit had $190 million in net assets as of 2015.

But Michael P. Hughes, a spokesman for Kaleida, said the holdup of the grant had caused problems for the nonprofit.

"It appears that the Children's Hospital is collateral damage in this issue," Hughes said. "This grant was awarded through an extremely competitive process  including competing against dozens of other hospitals across New York State. ... The delay in funding has caused a cash flow issue for our organization, which resulted in having us tap into operating cash reserves and draws on our line of credit to cover this budgeted and state-awarded grant. Once the issue is resolved between the agencies, we fully expect the state to honor its commitment and help us continue to serve this most deserving population."

There were 63 winners out of 396 total applicants that competed against one another outside New York City in the DOH-administered grant program. Kaleida's project scored 45th, while Crystal Run's scored 22nd and 23rd, according to scoring documents provided by the agency. The agency awarded grants in the exact order of the scoring, and whether a project was already going to be built without taxpayer money was not among the criteria considered.

Among the forms that winning government contract recipients are required to fill out are "vendor responsibility questionnaires," which require recipients as well as any subcontractors billing over $100,000 to answer questions about their business histories.

Among the questions asked: Has a contractor been under local, state or federal investigation over the prior five years, and have they been indicted?

In September 2016, LPCiminelli CEO Louis Ciminelli and his top two executives, Kevin Schuler and Michael Laipple, were charged by the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office in an alleged scheme to award SUNY Polytechnic Institute construction contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars to developers with ties to two former aides to Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

All eight defendants were indicted on Nov. 22, 2016. They maintain their innocence, and await two separate trials. In February, the Buffalo News reported that all three of the charged LPCiminelli executives had left the company.

The same day the Ciminelli officials were indicted, an official from DiNapoli's office rejected Kaleida's bid to secure the $11.2 million DOH grant because of the missing vendor responsibility questionnaires.

"Vendor Responsibility documents are required for all subcontractors upon re-submittal," the Comptroller's office wrote.

DOH eventually turned over the vetting documents to DiNapoli's office for Kaleida Health as well as Conventus Partners, the firm owned by Paul Ciminelli.

But documents related to LPCiminelli remained missing.

DOH maintains that the agency never received a vendor responsibility questionnaire from LPCiminelli, a document that would have disclosed to DiNapoli's office its presence on the project as well as its legal troubles.

Though it apparently never received the form, DOH was clearly aware that LPCiminelli was a subcontractor on the Kaleida project.

Agency officials had examined the fact that Conventus Partners had hired LPCiminelli as a subcontractor to make "leasehold improvements" for the surgical center, or renovations on a rented building to suit a particular tenant.

"Kaleida sought to open their clinic within a leased property" owned by Conventus, said DOH spokesman Ben Rosen. "Under the terms of the lease, the landlord must make all capital improvements on the premises. This means that Kaleida was precluded from choosing which company performed these construction services."

DOH conducted a "careful and thorough review of the estimated LPCiminelli project costs" and found them to be reasonable, Rosen said. In light of this review, the department determined that it was "appropriate to continue Kaleida's contract approval process," Rosen said.

The ambulatory surgery center is on the second and third floors of the Conventus building in Buffalo. Ciminelli Real Estate Corp., Paul Ciminelli's company, was the developer for the ambulatory care center, and Ciminelli's company is also the property manager and leasing agent. Ciminelli also owns Conventus Partners, which owns the building.

In October 2016, Paul Ciminelli signed a vendor responsibility form as the owner of Conventus Partners LLC that was then submitted to DOH.

Asked on the form if he had been the target of a federal investigation the prior five years, Ciminelli answered "no."

Paul Ciminelli was not accused of any wrongdoing in the bidding scandal, but did win business at Buffalo Billion projects that are at the center of the allegations against Louis Ciminelli. Both brothers were part of a bidding group that won the $750 million SolarCity contract,

The evidence log for the upcoming federal corruption trials states that the U.S. Attorney's office gathered thousands of pages of documents about Ciminelli Real Estate, Paul Ciminelli's firm, which is separate from Louis Ciminelli's former firm, LPCiminelli.

"When Paul signed that Vendor Responsibility Questionnaire, he was not then, nor has he ever been, a target of a criminal investigation," said spokeswoman Anne Duggan.

In January 2017, Daniel Sheppard, a deputy commissioner at DOH, signed off on Ciminelli's sworn vendor responsibility submission, certifying that he was a "responsible" vendor.

But the next month, the director of contracts for the comptroller's office, Charlotte Davis, wrote an email to DOH officials rejecting the Kaleida contract. While Davis raised a number of issues with the deal, the main focus was on Paul Ciminelli's background, and his ties to the upstate bidding scandal.

"Conventus Partners LLC is owned by the Ciminelli family, which is linked to the investigation by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in connection with the Buffalo Billion/SUNY Poly scandal," Davis wrote. "We have questions relating to the integrity, financial and legal capacity of Conventus due to this issue."

Davis raised questions about the awarding of the SolarCity contract and other matters, including Paul Ciminelli sitting on the board of the Empire State Development Corp. board while it steered contracts to his projects. (Ciminelli recused himself from voting on those matters.)

DOH never responded to the questions, according to the comptroller's office.

Duggan said that officials at Ciminelli Real Estate had never seen the comptroller's rejection letter until the Times Union provided it last week, and had not been asked by DOH to provide clarification to any of the comptroller's office's questions.

"We would have done so promptly, as there are many inaccuracies and misinformation, and will do so if asked by any involved agencies," Duggan said. "Despite this lengthy and thorough investigation, Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation, Paul Ciminelli and Conventus Partners, LLC have not been implicated in this matter."

LPCiminelli didn't return a request for comment.

Despite the $11.2 million in state money being held up by DiNapoli's office, the children's ambulatory surgery center in Buffalo is set to fully open in November  without the taxpayer subsidy.

DOH says it is continuing to work with DiNapoli's office concerning Kaleida's efforts to secure its grant.
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Popular cable channels like Nickeloden and Comedy Central were still on the air Monday after Viacom threatened that programming would go dark because of failed negotiations with Spectrum.

Variety reported Monday that negotiations continue between Viacom and Spectrum's parent company, Charter Communications. The channels remained Monday morning, although with the fake news crawl Viacom had put on them that asked customers to call Spectrum to demand they settle the dispute to keep programming going.

The deal technically ended Sunday, which could have meant mean Nickeloden, Nick Jr., MTV, Comedy Central, BET and CMT were no longer available to more than 16 million subscribers.

Viacom had been running advertisements last weekend on the channels asking subscribers to call Spectrum and complain.

Both companies claim unfair negotiation tactics on each side. Viacom is also using the dispute as an opportunity to blast Spectrum since it was created from the merger of Time Warner Cable and Charter last year.

"Since the merger, conditions for many Spectrum subscribers have worsened considerably. From unexplained price hikes, spotty service, deceptive consumer messaging, dismal customer service, and employee and labor disputes, Spectrum has consistently been in the news," Viacom says in a statement posted online about the negotiations.

Viacom is referencing a strike since March of 1,800 of members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 3 in the New York City area. The union has alleged Spectrum wants to gut its health care and retirement benefits, while Spectrum has filed a lawsuit alleging union members have committed acts of sabotage by cutting lines and disrupting customer service.

Viacom says as part of a negotiated deal to keep the channels, Spectrum wants to limit its available programming instead of providing savings in monthly cable bills. Spectrum, however, says Viacom is demanding too much money to broadcast their channels.

"Unfortunately, by threatening to pull their channels, Viacom is dragging you into the middle of their business negotiations," Spectrum posted in an online statement. "We are negotiating with them in good faith and are optimistic that a fair deal can be reached."
Former Labour Party Mayor of Nenagh Sandra Farrell was elected to the powerful Committee of 15 at this weekend's Fianna Fail Ardfheis in Dublin.

Ms Farrell was elected to the committee on the first count with 232 votes or 15.2 per cent of the poll. Aideen Ginnell from Westmeath topped the poll with 310 votes and taking the third spot was Roisin Bradley from Donegal on 227 votes. A total of 1,568 votes were cast and the quota was 192.

Ms Farrell, who is a director of a nursing home in Caherconlish in County Limerick, comes from a strong Fianna Fail background but chose to run for Labour in the 2004 local elections, and, then aged 26, became Nenagh's youngest mayor in 2008.

She is a niece of Independent County Tipperary county councillor Hughie McGrath, himself a former Fianna Fail councillor.

Ms Farrell took a break from politics in 2009 to concentrate on other areas and joined Fianna Fail in the past year. She had never been a member of the party previously.

She follows in the political footsteps of former Fianna Fail Tipperary TD and Junior Minister Maire Hoctor, who is a former member of the Committee of 15. Ms Hoctor was one of Ms Farrell's supporters.

Her decision to join Fianna Fail raised eyebrows in both Labour and Fianna Fail, with many feeling that her ambition would be to look for a nomination to contest the next general election or seek a Seanad seat.

However, with questions over what will happen to Brian Crowley's MEP seat, there is also the possibility the party may ask her to contest the European elections in 2019 to test her ability to attract votes in the northern end of Tipperary.

That result could decide her general election fate but may not go down well with sitting TD Jackie Cahill or Cllr Michael Smith in Roscrea, who is sure to seek a nomination now that Lower Ormond is back in the Tipperary constituency.
[October 15, 2017]

Minister Catherine McKenna Concludes a Successful Visit to London and Dublin Furthering Discussions on Climate Action and Clean Growth

DUBLIN, Oct. 15, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada remains committed to working with international partners to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy, which will create good middle class jobs and a sustainable planet for future generations.

Minister Catherine McKenna visited London and Dublin where she met with her counterparts and various global leaders to further discussions on climate action and clean growth. In both cities, leaders identified the role of investors and the financial sector as critical to achieving the Paris Agreement commitments.

During her visit to London, Minister McKenna met with Claire Perry, Minister of State for Climate Change and Industry and together they announced that Canada and the United Kingdom will champion a global alliance on the transition from traditional coal-fired electricity at the 23rd Conference of the Parties (COP23) in Bonn, Germany.

Minister McKenna attended a roundtable event hosted by Mark Carney, the Governor of the Bank of England, with leaders from financial institutions, investment banks, insurance companies and Canadian pension funds. They discussed the investment opportunity, worth trillions of dollars, that climate change presents to investors and the importance for businesses to proactively disclose any risks associated with climate change when seeking investment, which will provide greater certainty in the market.

Minister McKenna also had the opportunity to engage in stimulating discussions with students of the London School of Economics in London, and Trinity College in Dublin about the path forward on climate action and the economic opportunities it can create. She also spoke at the Chatham House Climate Change Conference in London about the need to take urgent action on climate change.

While in London, Minister McKenna also met with UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Michael Gove and Minister of State at the Department for International Development and Minister of State for Africa at the Foreign & Commonwealth Offie Rory Stewart. While in Dublin, she met with Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Denis Naughten, Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney.







In Ireland Minister McKenna met with businesses that are active in the clean technology sector there, including a Canadian fund that manages 1 billion in Europe's renewable energy assets. She also spoke to the Ireland Canada Business Association.

Minister McKenna ended her trip with a ?visit to the Marine Institute in Galway, Ireland where she witnessed first-hand the ground breaking work the institute is doing in areas of marine mapping, blue economy, sustainable fisheries, and climate action. This Institute is actively engaged in the work of the Atlantic Ocean Research Alliance, which in an international partnership between Canada, the European Union and the United States.

Canada understands the environment and the economy go hand in hand and businesses all over the world are seeing opportunities for clean growth and investing in clean innovation. They understand that tackling climate change is the right thing to do and it is good for business.

Quotes

"As Canada takes on a greater global leadership role on climate change, it's vital that we continue building on our international partnerships, so that we can pursue opportunities for cleaner growth, that will create good jobs at home and for our partners."

 Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

Canada is already home to more than 800 clean technology companies led by Canadian entrepreneurs

is already home to more than 800 clean technology companies led by Canadian entrepreneurs In 2015, more money was invested in renewable power ( US$325 billion ) than in new power from fossil fuels ( US$253 billion ).

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Associated Links

Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page

Environment and Natural Resources in Canada's Facebook page

SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada
[October 15, 2017] SWIFT tests shows blockchain has potential for global liquidity optimisation

New paper highlights initial findings from proof of concept to improve real-time Nostro reconciliation, part of SWIFT's gpi initiative SYDNEY, Oct. 16, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- SWIFT has published an interim report on the proof of concept (PoC) for real-time Nostro reconciliation using a SWIFT-developed distributed ledger technology (DLT) sandbox with 33 global transaction banks, as part of its SWIFT gpi service. The PoC is testing whether DLT can help banks reconcile Nostro accounts more efficiently and in real-time, while lowering costs and operational risk. The report provides an overview of the PoC to date, including technical objectives, early findings on the potential business benefits, as well as key challenges that still need to be addressed to achieve industry-wide adoption. Under the current correspondent banking model, banks need to monitor the funds in their overseas accounts via debit and credit updates and end-of-day statements. The maintenance and operational work involved represents a significant portion of the cost of making cross-border payments. Preliminary results of the PoC show that the SWIFT-developed DLT application can deliver the business functionalities and data richness required to support real-time liquidity monitoring and reconciliation. DLT provides real-time visibility to both the account owner and its servicer on the available and forecasted liquidity on the Nostro account and supports payment reconciliation and investigations by providing an enriched data model based on ISO 20022. "The DLT PoC supports SWIFT's goal of making cross-border payments more efficient -- a mission we have championed through SWIFT gpi, which offers customers fast, transparent and traceable cross-border payments," says Wim Raymaekers, Head of Banking Market and SWIFT gpi at SWIFT. SWIFT's DLT sandbox also demonstrated progress in DLT technology and helped identify issues that still need to be addressed to achieve industry-wide adoption. Specific challenges include the need to develop unique value propositions in response to the different levels of sophistication, auomation and past investments of banks. In addition, it is crucial that integration with legacy back office applications and co-existence with existing processes is taken into account.



"Preliminary results from the DLT PoC are positive for this use case," adds Damien Vanderveken Head of Research and Development, SWIFTLab and User Experience at SWIFT. Significant progress has been made, but it is still early days for the latest generation of Blockchain technology, and it will take time before it is mature and scalable enough for mission critical applications." SWIFT's DLT PoC started in April 2017 and will conclude in November 2017, with the final results available in December.

Please click here for a copy of the interim PoC report. For more information about SWIFT gpi, please click here. Note to the editor: An increase in customers' expectations and regulatory requirements related to international payments has led banks to focus on reducing transactional costs and increasing operational efficiency, whilst maintaining their competitive position. A lack of visibility and predictability on intraday in and out flows has led many banks to initiate projects to achieve real-time liquidity management. Real-time Nostro reconciliation, which requires timely matching of all movements on an account, is part of this process, providing banks with the ability to monitor intraday liquidity usage through real-time confirmation of entries on Nostro accounts, and to identify in real-time any potential issues. About the SWIFT PoC interim report SWIFT developed, as part of SWIFT's gpi strategic roadmap, together with 33 leading banks around the world, a proof of concept where a distributed ledger is used to provide real-time visibility on Nostro accounts. This initiative started in January 2017 and is due to end towards the end of the year. This interim report shares information on the proof of concept, its business and technical objectives, the DLT solution developed by SWIFT through a collaborative approach and the testing strategy. It also provides a summary of conclusions both at business and technology levels from the testing conducted so far by the 6 banks forming the founding group. The validation group with 27 participating banks have just started their work to further test the application and the data model. This report will be updated following completion of their testing with the consolidated feedback from the two groups and to draw the final conclusions. About SWIFT

SWIFT is a global member owned cooperative and the world's leading provider of secure financial messaging services. We provide our community with a platform for messaging and standards for communicating, and we offer products and services to facilitate access and integration, identification, analysis and regulatory compliance. Our messaging platform, products and services connect more than 11,000 banking and securities organisations, market infrastructures and corporate customers in more than 200 countries and territories. While SWIFT does not hold funds or manage accounts on behalf of customers, we enable our global community of users to communicate securely, exchanging standardised financial messages in a reliable way, thereby supporting global and local financial flows, as well as trade and commerce all around the world. As their trusted provider, we relentlessly pursue operational excellence; we support our community in addressing cyber threats; and we continually seek ways to lower costs, reduce risks and eliminate operational inefficiencies. Our products and services support our community's access and integration, business intelligence, reference data and financial crime compliance needs. SWIFT also brings the financial community together -- at global, regional and local levels -- to shape market practice, define standards and debate issues of mutual interest or concern. Headquartered in Belgium, SWIFT's international governance and oversight reinforces the neutral, global character of its cooperative structure. SWIFT's global office network ensures an active presence in all the major financial centres. For more information, visit www.swift.com or follow us on Twitter: @swiftcommunity and LinkedIn: SWIFT. Contacts:

Chatsworth Communications

Tel: +44 (0)20 74409780

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Police are looking for a suspect after a man was shot in the stomach Saturday evening. Police were called to the area of E. 7th and Indiana just after 7 p.m. on a reported shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they found a man with a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
65% OF LIKELY KANSAS CITY VOTERS WHO CAST THEIR BALLOTS IN THE GO BOND ELECTION EARLIER THIS YEAR ARE NOW AGAINST THE NEW AIRPORT PROPOSAL!!!

- 1/2 of likely voters don't believe claims that the airport won't cost Kansas City taxpayers.





- 3/4th of likely voters believe a new airport will increase ticket prices.





- 9/10 likely voters agree that the airport will cost more than initial projections.

Despite half a million bucks in campaign coffers alreadythe support of almost every big biz and top politico in town, Kansas City voters are largely unconvinced and mostly against the new airport.Now, in their RIGGED phone polling, even promoters of the new airport claim only a 50/50 margin at this point but the reality is that those numbers are much lower when they include likely voters from the GO Bond election.Here's the news . . .More info from this polling data set that was concluded in early September . . .These polling numbers are the last testament ofand part of consultant Steve Glorioso's legacy (R.I.P.) in local politics working under the name of an old subcontractor shell company that Pat Gray (Steve's legendary friend and biz partner) contracted.We suspect this data set might have been part of a pitch for Mr. Glorioso to win part of airport consulting money for the November airport push before his untimely death in late September.The exit polling and individual voter surveys are likely more accurate than robo-calls that now rule local politics and offer a peek into the mindset of voters who actually go to the ballots.And so . . .A bit of Sunday hope is thatfrom Kansas City corporations has yet to move the dial in terms of opinion and voter confidence in claims about the new airport remain sketchy at best.Developing . . .
Escorted by the Greek consul general in New York, Constantine Koutras, Galatoulas welcomed Quick at the offices of the Greek community of New York

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister for the Diaspora Terens Quick met in New York on Friday with the president of the Federation of Hellenic Societies of Greater New York, Peter Galatoulas, to discuss issues concerning the Greek diaspora.

Escorted by the Greek consul general in New York, Constantine Koutras, Galatoulas welcomed Quick at the offices of the Greek community of New York.

According to the foreign ministry, one of the issues discussed was how to promote further participation of younger generations of the diaspora in Greek-American organisations.

"I was very happy to hear from Mr. Galatoulas that he has encouraged young Greeks to become members of the federation's board," Quick noted after the meeting. He also said Galatoulas had proposed the founding of a Parliament of Young Greeks from Abroad, from global Greek communities. This would work along the lines of the existing Youth Parliament that encourages people of Greek descent from throughout the world to become active and responsible citizens.

Quick added that the foreign ministry wanted to expand the program of summer holidays in Greece organised by the general secretariat of overseas Greeks, which this summer had quadrupled in number of participants.

The Greek minister also visited the consulate in New York and met with Koutras, and then left for Chicago, where he will join Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' delegation for meetings with officials and community members of Greek origin in the area.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Rennett Stowe License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ANA-MPA
Ambassador Pyatt describes the visit as a symbol of commitment to the existing partnership and the readiness to further boost it

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras visit to the United States will be a success because of the close relationship between the United States and Greece and how closely their interests align in world affairs, U.S. Ambassador in Athens Geoffrey Pyatt said, in an interview with the Greek-American newspaper Greek News on Saturday just days before Tsipras' meeting at the White House with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Ambassador Pyatt describes the visit as a symbol of commitment to the existing partnership and the readiness to further boost it. He says the United States will be looking for ways to encourage more U.S. investment to Greece.

On Souda Bay he noted the two sides will explore ways to make enhanced use of this platform that has benefited both our countries since its establishment in 1969.

I can't emphasize enough the importance of Souda to regional and global peace and security, he underlined , clarifying that it only represents one of the pillars of our alliance. Greece plays a critical role in the EU, in NATO, in the Balkans and the Eastern Mediterranean, he added.

Read more here.

RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: BIONIC University License: CC-BY-SA

Source: ANA-MPA
Saudi Arabias facilities management (FM) market is flourishing amid steadily booming real estate, tourism, and retail sectors and is poised to reach $49.82 billion by the end of 2030, according to a report by the Middle East Facility Management Association (Mefma).



The report titled Facilities Management Role in Achieving Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, which investigates the industrys pivotal function in the Saudi Governments long-term economic diversification plan, was released on the sidelines of the recently concluded Saudi Arabia Confex 2017 in Riyadh.



Saudi Arabia has the largest market for FM services in the GCC to date, accounting for a value share of about 55 per cent in the regions FM market in 2016. The report was completed by TechSci Research.



Jamal Abdulla Lootah, the president of Mefma, said: "Saudi Vision 2030 is an all-encompassing economic framework that focuses on its non-oil sectors, including real estate, tourism, and retail, to name a few, to help reduce its reliance on oil revenues."



"Part of its objectives is to boost government revenues from $159.99 billion in 2016 to $1866.52 billion by 2030. The non-oil sectors are forecasted to experience significant expansion in the coming years in light of the governments full support and commitment to drive their growth," observed Lootah.



The role of facilities managers in this regard is going to be critical as they will be the key to ensuring the sectors smooth operational performance. The report navigates closely and deeply delves into this strategic role in a bid to guide regional industry leaders, players, and stakeholders to step up to the challenge and substantial contribute to the realization of the Saudi Governments vision, he added.



The report looked into several ways by which FM companies could significantly contribute to the kingdoms socio-economic expansion.



FM companies, said the report, helps increase the competitiveness of the local commercial and industrial enterprises by enabling businesses to focus on their core operations.



Additionally, capital infused by global FM companies could further catalyze growth in the local services sector and, thus, generate considerable employment opportunities. The report also states that the expansion of small to medium scale FM providers will help stimulate the development and promotion of KSAs small and medium enterprises, the report stated.



The study also tackles the local FM industry landscape to present many market opportunities. It notes, for instance, that the FM market in Saudi Arabia is highly cost sensitive and people consider FM essentially as a preventive maintenance process.



The FM market in Saudi Arabia and the region is highly dominated by demand for hard services. In the kingdom, the study says that the rapid consolidation of the FM market will boost local demand for soft services in light of the growing presence of new international FM companies in the country.-TradeArabia News Service


Dubai Holding, the global investment holding company, has appointed Deepak Padmanabhan as the chief executive officer of SmartCity Malta, thus reiterating its commitment to its ambitious project in the archipelago in the central Mediterranean region.



A long-term collaboration with the Government of Malta, SmartCity Malta will be a 360,000-sq-m business and technology park directly adjacent to the countrys Valletta Grand Harbour.



Khalid Al Malik, the chairman of SmartCity Malta and chief real estate officer of Dubai Holding, said:

"We are committed to the development of SmartCity Malta, and are pushing ahead with the next phase of the development. SmartCity Malta will become a vibrant community where people will live, work, and play."



"We have appointed one of our most experienced and accomplished executives to lead the development. Padmanabhan brings a wealth of expertise, including experience in mergers and acquisitions, strategy and business development, transformation and long-term value creation," he noted.



Padmanabhan is a respected figure across Maltas business community, having led the local telecommunications company GO as chairman for more than a decade. He has also served on the board of SmartCity Malta since its inception.



Al Malik said: "We are determined to create a central innovation hub, which will serve as the heartbeat for continued growth in Malta long into the future. This undertaking is a long-term partnership between Dubai Holding, the Government of Malta, SmartCity Maltas business partners, employees and stakeholders everywhere."



Since the announcement of the development, the local economy of Malta has matured considerably, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Metso, a major industrial company serving the mining, aggregates and energy sector, said it has signed a new distribution agreement with Arabian Supply Center (ASC) for its Qatari market.



As per the deal, ASC will be the sole entity to distribute its full range of crushing and screening products to the construction segment in Qatar.



A leading player in Qatar, ASC has been supplying spare parts, generators, pumps, lubricants, batteries, tyres and heavy equipment to the construction industry and transportation sector, since 2008.



Based in Doha, Qatar, ASC aspires to satisfy the needs of the construction industry by enhancing its customer's experience by delivering the highest level of value through engaged, knowledgeable and experienced staff.



On the new tieup, Josh Meyer, the senior VP for Middle East, Africa and Turkey said: "Metso is proud to welcome ASC to its expanding distributor community. We have already been working with ASC for some time and have been impressed by their industry experience and commitment to quality and customer success."



"We are delighted to know they will continue to provide Metso equipment users with first-class service and support," he noted.



Darwish Arigat, the commercial manager at ASC, said it was delighted to deepen its cooperation with Metso.



"Metso is an established manufacturer known for high-quality equipment and services. Complementing our offering with Metso's crushing and screening portfolio will help us continue to offer the best possible value to our customers," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Bahrain-based international aluminium smelter, said it has been appointed as an approved and licensed training provider for the course Managing Safely by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), UK.



The course by IOSH is designed to provide managers and supervisors the knowledge and tools required to manage their business environment safely, said a statement from the company.



Albas chief executive officer Tim Murray said: We are proud to be endorsed by IOSH, which is a globally renowned institution in occupational safety and health.



This certification will enable us to apply good industry practices in line with Albas 2017 expectation of Safety Tomorrowland, leading to better productivity, he said.



I commend our safety, health and environment team on this milestone that will elevate our companys safety culture, he added.



Alba is well-known as one of the top industrial companies in the Region with a strong safety culture. The Company undertakes numerous initiatives such as campaigns and workshops all-year-round to focus on prevention of work-related injuries and illnesses and maintain a high level of safety across the plant, it stated.  TradeArabia News Service
The Embassy of India in Riyadh, along with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah and VFS Global, has opened a new India passport and visa application centre in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.



The new initiative is aimed at offering enhanced services, facilities and benefits to residents of Jubail and Indian citizens residing in and around the city.



The centre was inaugurated today (October 15) by Ahmed Javed, Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, at a ceremony held on 15 October 2017.



The new centre is centrally located at Al Khater Business Centre 2, situated in the main commercial district of the port city of Jubail.



At the new centre, travellers to India can submit their visa applications, and the Indian community can experience proficient passport application and renewal services. Professionally managed attestation services for legalisation of certificates and documents are also available at the centre for added convenience to Indian citizens availing passport services.



The new centre, managed by well-trained VFS Global staff, will operate from Saturdays to Wednesdays to accommodate applicants who may find it a challenge to visit the centre on a working day.



Speaking at the launch, Javed said: With more than 3.2 million Indian diaspora in the kingdom, we have the distinction of serving the largest number of the diaspora in the whole world. It has been the constant endeavour of the Embassy to provide services to the diaspora as near as possible to their doorsteps. We have taken several steps to improve services. The opening of the India Passport and Visa Application Centre in Jubail today is another step in this direction. In view of the growing demand in Jubail and adjoining areas, passport, visa and other consular services have also been launched through this centre. We now have seven such centres in the jurisdiction of Riyadh and overall 11 centres all around the kingdom. Besides this, Embassy officers undertake regular tours to organise consular camps at far flung places in Saudi Arabia with the motto of Service at the Doorstep, a step that has been well received by the diaspora.



The launch of the centre in Jubail marks the 11th VFS Global centre in Saudi Arabia from where travellers to India can apply for a visa and enrol their biometrics. For passport application services, the launch marks the seventh VFS Global centre from where Indian citizens in Saudi Arabia can submit applications for new passports or renewals and avail attestation services.



Also commenting on the launch, Vinay Malhotra, COO  Middle East & South Asia, VFS Global, said: It is an honour to extend passport and visa application services, on behalf of the Government of India, to the Indian community in Jubail and to the residents of Saudi Arabia. With the provision of passport application services from this new centre, Indians will significantly benefit from the easy access to passport application, renewal, and attestation services. Travellers to India from Jubail can also submit their visa applications at the new centre and save on time and money from not having to travel out of the city. We are privileged to be a part of this initiative in partnership with our esteemed client government.



VFS Global has been present in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since 2005 and currently provides visa application processing services on behalf of 21 client governments across 9 cities in the country. For the Government of India, VFS Global currently provides visa application processing services from 11 Visa Application Centres in 9 cities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.



Key features and services:

 Convenient and central location

 Application submission for new passports and passport renewals

 Attestation services for legalisation of certificates and documents

 Visa application submission and biometric enrolment

 Range of value added services

 Dedicated website for easy access to information including requirements, documents checklists, applicable fees, application status updates and appointment bookings

 Dedicated helpline and email support to answer queries. - TradeArabia News Service


Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, October 15

The illegal sale of crackers is rampant in several parts of the district. The administration has not issued any licence in this regard so far.

During a random survey of the area, including Kharar and Kurali, a team of The Tribune found several cracker sellers doing business openly without any fear.

Shops were seen packed with crackers, displayed even outside the premises, at Kharar and Kurali. People were seen purchasing crackers to light up their Diwali with fireworks. Nobody from the police and the administration was seen around to check the illegal business.

We have an understanding with the police and the authorities concerned; we have no fear of any action, said a shopkeeper dong brisk business at Kurali.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued orders restricting the timings for bursting crackers and reducing the number of licences for the sale of crackers in a bid to check pollution.

The illegal sale of crackers has raised a question mark over the functioning of the authorities concerned.

Crackers are being sold openly in Mohali and the authorities are virtually sleeping over the issue, said a shopkeeper in the main market at Kharar.

Since the business is being carried out in the open, the police and officials must be hand in glove with the cracker sellers, alleged the shopkeeper. Similarly, the sale of crackers is on in Kurali, one of the major wholesale markets of crackers in the region. The market caters to hundreds of small-time cracker sellers and customers from several towns, including Mohali, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Ropar, Sirhind and Baddi.

Kurali sees a cracker business of hundreds of crores every year and businessmen here invest huge amounts in the trade every year. With Diwali just days away, we are left with no choice but to start the business or suffer huge losses, said a trader selling crackers at Kurali.

Another wholesale dealer said the court and the authorities should have taken the decision on the sale of crackers at least two months ago to save their business.

Only 2 applications for licences

The Mohali administration, which has earmarked 17 sites for the sale of crackers in Mohali district, has just received two applications for the issuance of licences so far. Last year, the administration had issued 90 licences. All those licences have been cancelled this year, said Charandev Singh Mann, Additional Deputy Commissioner. The draw of lots for the issuance of licences for cracker sale will be held on Monday at 5 pm at the Mohali Deputy Commissioners office.
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

Members of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) celebrated the victory of Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar in the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha elections by distributing sweets at the Students Centre in Panjab University (PU).

The NSUI termed the huge victory by a margin of 1.93 lakh votes, a clear sign that people of Punjab were happy with the performance of Capt Amarinder Singhs government. They added that voters rejected the decision of the Modi government to implement the GST and demonetisation.

This victory in Gurdaspur has only strengthened the message that the youth and the nation want the Modi government to hear. With the NSUI bagging the seats in Delhi University and Panjab University and now the Gurdaspur bypoll victory; it seems to a clear mandate in favour of both the NSUI and Congress, said Manoj Lubana, NSUI leader.

We will be coming back to power in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat too, he added.

Other NSUI leaders, Dr Chandan Rana and vice-president of PU Campus Students Council Karanvir Singh, were also present on the occasion.
Chandigarh, October 15

Panjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover and Dean of Alumni Relations Prof Anil Monga are heading for Vancouver, Canada, to attend a meet of the PUs alumni on October 22.

The pass-outs, who are settled in the USA and Canada, are expected to attend the event.

We have been told that the gathering will be of around 400-500 former students. This is the fourth such meet of the alumni there but for the first time, PU functionaries are attending it. We are going there on an invitation from the alumni association, said Prof Monga. A documentary on the PU would be screened there, he informed.

We want to strengthen our bond. People from many places are coming there. A lot of enthusiasm is being seen. Prominent personalities from politics and business are expected to come. Punjabi diaspora has a strong presence in Canada, he added. Besides, the VC is also expected to meet officials of the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University and the University of Fraser Valley. TNS
MK Bhadrakumar

MK Bhadrakumar

THE Press Trust of India featured a stunning report on October 5, quoting sources, that China maintains a sizeable presence of its troops near the site of the Doklam standoff with India and has even started widening an existing road at a distance of around 12 km from the earlier face-off site. Sources confided that China has been slowly increasing its troop level in the Doklam Plateau which could further escalate the current situation as India has reasons to be concerned over it. Even as the nameless sources whispered softly, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa, also admitted publicly on the same day: The two sides are not in a physical face-off as we speak. However, their forces in the Chumbi valley are still deployed and I expect them to withdraw as their exercise in the area gets over.

These reports meshed with what the Army Chief, Gen Bipin Rawat, insinuated exactly a month earlier on September 6: As far as the northern adversary (read China) is concerned, the flexing of muscle has started. The salami slicing, taking over territory in a very gradual manner, testing our limits of threshold is something we have to be wary about and remain prepared (sic) for situations emerging which could gradually emerge into conflict. It doesnt need much ingenuity to figure out that there has been some orchestration behind these synchronistic statements. Interestingly, the official Russian news agency Sputnik, too, reported from Delhi on October 5 that a Chinese troop buildup in Doklam has kept the Indian military on its toes, forcing it to stall the annual winter retreat from north Sikkim.

All in all, a strange thing is happening. The military, whom we expect as people who are precise and business-minded and from whom we get definite answers, is posing riddles. Fortunately, the Ministry of External Affairs promptly clarified on October 6: We have seen recent press reports on Doklam. There are no new developments at the face-off site and its vicinity since the August 28 disengagement. The status quo prevails in this area. Any suggestion to the contrary is incorrect. The General, the Air Chief, the sources  and Sputnik  were apparently put on the mat.

The sensational reports regarding fresh Chinese deployment to Doklam were timed to coincide with Foreign Secretary S Jaishankars visit to Bhutan for consultations on October 5 and the scheduled visit by the new Defence Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, to the Sikkim region the next day as part of her familiarisation tour of border areas. As Vladimir Lenin once asked: Who stands to gain? This is of a piece with General Rawats recent demand for an increase in the defence budget to enable the Army to fight two-and-a-half wars simultaneously.

The Chinese reaction to the hullabaloo is insightful. Beijing took a detached view. Surveying the media frenzy about a Doklam.2 in the offing, Chinese commentators made three pointed observations. First, unsurprisingly, an assurance was held out that China does not plan to precipitate a conflict; it was clarified that, in fact, India is not a major focus for Chinas international strategy currently. Nor is there any conceivable reason for China to regard India as its rival and, therefore, India has no need to work up such paranoia. Second, Beijing appreciated Sitharamans open display of goodwill toward the PLA soldiers on October 7 while visiting the Sikkim border and regarded her friendly gesture as an articulation of her hope for peace on the India-China border and her aversion toward a fresh standoff.

Third, and most important, in Beijings reading of the tea leaves, Sitharamans goodwill gesture faithfully reflects the realistic and responsible attitude of the Modi government. Beijing anticipates that a new era of crisis management is possible in India-China relations following the Doklam standoff. However, alas, while the two leaderships are exploring more cooperation and their focus and priority should be on avoiding friction and conflict, there is dissonance within India on this account. It is not only that the Army has corporate interests in bargaining for bigger budget allocation, the Indian public opinion too is distrustful of Chinas intentions  although only a maverick section of extreme nationalists demands military confrontation with China. Therefore, the path ahead is challenging for the Indian leadership to fix the stagnated ties with China.

It is difficult to quarrel with the above assessment of the Modi governments policy predicament vis-a-vis China. The government is riding a tiger. It is not possible to disown the Himalayan blunder of mid-June to walk into the standoff at Doklam. But the saving grace is that the Indian public, willingly, suspends its disbelief and accepts the denouement of end-August as victory. However, instead of moving on, a contrived attempt is being made by interest groups to recreate time past. There is a big question involved in all this, which must be asked upfront: Can we really afford to fight two-and-a-half wars? The grim realities speak otherwise.

In the 2017 Global Hunger Index released last week, the Washington-based International Food Policy Research Institute ranked India 100 among 119 countries, three places down from its last years position at 97. It means, shockingly enough, that more than a fifth (21%) of the children in our country are wasted, with stunted growth. India shares its 100th position with Djibouti and Rwanda. China is ranked at 29. Again, Shenzhen city in Chinas Guangdong province used to be a market town to the north of Hong Kong 40 years ago and today its GDP alone equals three-fourths of Indias. And, in the Xiongan New Area to the south of Beijing, China is just launching another mammoth Shenzhen over an area that is a third bigger than Delhi state. By the way, China added new steel-making capacity in 2016 alone, which equals half of Indias entire production. TN Ninan wrote recently:China expects to create 11 million urban jobs this year; for India, dont ask.

Clearly, China has no reason to view India as rival and has nothing to gain out of another war. China belongs to a different league than Indias and is fixated on the obsessive thought that by the centenary year of the communist revolution in 2049, it should transform as a moderately prosperous country. Arent we missing the plot? Doklam is a wake-up call that our foreign policy is far too militarised and has jettisoned its core agenda of creating a peaceful external environment for Indias rapid development through the crucial make-or-break period of the coming 15-20 years.

The writer is a former ambassador
Pritam Singh

Pritam Singh

IN Catalonia's latest stance on its independence move, the political leadership in Catalonia has demonstrated admirable maturity in dealing with the Spanish central government's opposition to Catalonia's demand for independence. Catalonia's parliament in its specially convened session on October 10 put on formal record that the referendum on independence organised by Catalonia's government on October 1 had 93% of voters voting for independence. The President of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont declared on that basis that Catalonia was an independent and sovereign state but then displayed remarkable political skill in not opting for immediate implementation of that declaration of independence. Instead, it opted for moving further with dialogue, deescalating tension and building consensus. In making this move, it scored a moral victory over Spain's central leadership which had chosen the path of confrontation by using heavy handed methods in opposing the referendum vote on October 1 and still failing to prevent the vote.

Catalonia morally right

If the Spanish government now retaliates by removing the existing regional autonomy of Catalonia and putting it directly under Spanish central rule, it will further weaken its moral case, even if it is formally right in legal and constitutional terms. Politically, such retaliation would prove even more costly because it will push even the reluctant nationalists among Catalonians in the camp of committed Catalan nationalism.

The sober and dialogue seeking decision by the Catalan leadership to put on hold its independence agenda, even if temporary, may disappoint some impatient elements in the independence movement but it is in tune with the growing global trend of resolving secessionist disputes through democratic means in the current era of democracy.

Conflicts in nations cause of new states

Many of the nation states in the developing world are products of the termination of European colonial empires after the World War II, but the new nation states that are emerging or are struggling to emerge both within the developing world and the developed world are now the products of nationalist conflicts within the existing nation states. In some cases, the boundaries of the existing nation states that were drawn by the retreating colonial powers were extremely unfair to some nationalist identities.

The Kurdish people splintered into four nation states  Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey  constitute perhaps the most unfortunate nation as a result ofthe arbitrary division of the Middle East by colonial powers. The Kurdish people have been waging armed struggle to carve up a unified Kurdish nation state for several decades but they are now moving towards a strategy of making use of democratic methods. The recent independence referendum organised by the administration in the Kurdish controlled region in Iraq is a clear step in that direction of seeking democratic legitimacy for their nationalist aspiration.

Movements for independence

The wider politico-economic macro environment that has given push to the movements for independence is paradoxically the result of globalisation which in the context of Europe manifests itself in the widening of the European Union. The economic dimension of globalisation and Europeanisation is the weakening of the geographical barriers of nation states in the unhindered pursuit of the mobility of capital, labour, technology, commodities and life styles. This process of globalisation may be viewed, legitimately to some extent, as leading to internationalisation and weakening of appeal to nationalism.

However, this process also carries within it the threat of global homogenisation which is perceived and experienced as a threat by minority cultures and identities. This threat, in turn, provides impetus to the strengthening of aspirations for national sovereignty to protect minority nationalist identities. The globalisation of economic transactions and the development of information technologyprovidefurther strength to smaller geographical spaces as nations because the economic viability in the global economic arena is no longer dependent on the geographical or population size of a nation state. For example, Scotland by withdrawing from the union with the UK or Catalan by seceding from Spain can still be a part of the European Union and thus remain economically viable.

Referendums settling disputes

What has dramatically changed the political landscape for independence movements is the method followed in the French-speaking Quebec province's aspiration for independence from Canada and Scotland's aspiration for independence from England. In both cases, the central government reached an agreement with the regional government to hold a referendum to settle the dispute about whether that region would gain independence or remain a part of the larger union. In both cases, the respective governments agreed to abide by the result of the referendum. In both cases, the vote went by a small margin against secession. The regional governments and political parties accepted the verdict and, in turn, the central governments in both cases did not insist that there could not be future referendum vote which might go in favour of secession. What was remarkable was the consensus that any such dispute need to be resolved through the democratic means of a vote and not either by armed rebellion by the independentists against the central governmentor by armed suppression of the independentists by the centralists.

The Catalan's regional government seems to have realised that there was one serious flaw with their referendum vote on October 1 in spite of massive support in Catalan for the right to vote which was endorsed even by those who were opposed to Catalan's independence from Spain.

This flaw was that this referendum vote was not organised by mutual consultation and agreement with the central government in Madrid. As a result, this did not have legal legitimacy. The Spanishgovernment too erred in not taking a lesson from the Canadian and British experience of following the consensual path and used repressive methods to thwart the vote. Those methods, or even more brutal than those, which are commonly used by most governments in the developing world are not compatible with the developed democratic culture of Europe with higher standards of human rights. That has landed the Spanish government in a weak spot- morally and politically. It will weaken itself further if it now spurns the Catalan offer of dialogue and abrogates the current autonomy Catalan enjoys by imposing central rule there.

Given the present impasse, the mediation by European Union is the only way forward to agree the negotiated path to resolve this dispute. The resolution may turn out to be neither complete independence for Catalan nor more centralised control from Madrid, but converting Spain into a confederation with increased internal economic, political and cultural autonomy to Catalan and perhaps to other regions too such as Basque and Galicia. The manner in which this conflict is resolved or not resolved is likely to be of significance far beyond Spain and Europe.

The writer is Professor of Economics at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
DIWALI, we are reminded, is a festival of lights. Firecrackers joined the party centuries later. Soon they intermingled to such an extent that any move to curb their noise or the pollutant indices on Diwali was met with retorts about interference in religious activity, leading to a new justification for the mindless bursting of crackers by those endlessly resourceful. The naysayers have a point when they say the catalyst for the spike in pollution around Diwali is not firecrackers alone. The others are vehicular emissions, construction dust and crop stubble burning. The courts are occupied with all these aspects. Therefore why not a relook at the bursting of firecrackers?

The mixed feelings about the Supreme Court ban for the NCR that the high court has expanded to the UT (Chandigarh), Punjab and Haryana are natural because the courts have not been consistent. Barely two years ago, the Supreme Court opposed curbs on firecrackers: dangerous situation if religious activities are curbed and the likelihood of chaos if it were to prescribe a time limit and designate public spaces. The sudden realisation about the harmful effects has also left firecracker traders in the lurch. Just like the ban on liquor outlets 500 metres from national highways, this order too fails to account for the crumpling of business plans.

The 2015 aberration apart, the curb on firecrackers is part of a decade-long endeavour by the courts to minimise the inconvenience to fellow citizens. The first crackdown took place on Navratri celebrations in Maharashtra followed by a decibel limit on loudspeakers atop mosques in Kolkata. Hopefully the courts will also take a look at the celebrations during Shab-e-Barat. Like Diwali, the competitive cacophony of crackers has blighted the soul of this holy Muslim night of contemplation and reflection. There is valid scepticism about the enforcement of the orders. But they are not about eliminating firecrackers altogether from festivities but a means to rouse civic consciousness. After Diwali is over, we will know whether firecrackers actually increase pollution. The results should lead to standards for their manufacturing and segregating the ones that unreasonably increase pollution.
Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 14

The local police have booked around 30 persons for thrashing five persons, including a physically challenged youth and a minor boy, here last evening. Cow vigilantes reportedly beat up them on the suspicion that they were carrying beef.

The police also registered a case under the Haryana Gosanwardhan Act- 2015 against the victims for allegedly carrying beef. They booked 30 unidentified persons today on a police complaint by the victims that they were beaten up mercilessly for carrying buffalo meat. The incident took place around 3.30 pm yesterday when Azad (28), a resident of Nehru Colony in Faridabad, was on his way to Old Faridabad from Fatehpur Taga village. He was stopped by some persons carrying lathis near Bajri village falling under the jurisdiction of Mujesar police station. Though Azad told the cow vigilantes that they were carrying buffalo meat and not cow meat, eight to 10 persons assaulted them, said Nawab, an uncle of Azad. He said Azad and a 13-year-old boy travelling in an auto-rickshaw were carrying bags containing meat. They were stopped and thrashed. Three others, including Ahsaan and Shahzad, were beaten up when they tried to save Azad and the boy. They could have died had the police not reached the spot soon, he added.

Nawab claimed that Azad was just transporting meat bags to Old Faridabad in his auto-rickshaw to earn a living and had never been involved in beef smuggling.

He alleged that the attackers, who claimed to be Bajrang Dal activists, forced the victims to chant Bajrang Bali ki Jai and Bharat Mata ki Jai before attacking them. While Azad has been admitted to the Civil Hospital with serious injuries, others have been discharged after first aid.

Hanif Qureshi, Commissioner of Police, said the police were trying to identify the attackers on the basis of CCTV camera footage. The victims were carrying buffalo meat and the assailants would be arrested soon, he added.

A case under sections 148, 149, 323, 341, 323 and 506 has been registered against the cow vigilantes. Qureshi said the case against the victims registered under the Haryana Govansh Sanrakshan and Sanwardhan Act would be probed to ascertain whether they were carrying meat legally or illegally.
Bijendra Ahlawat

Tribune News Service

Faridabad, October 15

The police have arrested three suspects booked in connection with the thrashing of five persons here on Friday on the suspicion of carrying cow meat.

The accused were released on bail after they were produced in court today. A case had been registered against around 30 persons after a complaint was lodged by the victims. A police spokesperson said the arrested were identified as Lakhan of Pali village, his brother Dilip and Ram Kumar of the same village. He said the accused were identified on the basis of a video clip prepared at the time of the attack. He said the police were likely to nab the other accused on the basis of information provided by the arrested.

Their release on bail within hours of their arrest was the result of registration of the case under sections under which the offence was bailable. Commissioner of Police Hanif Qureshi said the police would look into the loopholes that resulted in release of the accused on bail. Azad (28) of Nehru Colony, who was among the victims, claimed that he was beaten up just because he was a Muslim.

He asked why the assailants had forced him to utter Bajrang Bali ki jai and gau mata ki jai even after he told them he was carrying buffalo meat. He stated that the attackers had sprinkled petrol on him to set him afire, but he was rescued with the intervention of police personnel.
Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

Once honoured by the President and the Prime Minister for development works in his village, Jagdev Saharan, former sarpanch of Kaluana village in Sirsa district, today succumbed to his injuries. He had sustained injuries due to a fall from a police Gypsy after he was arrested on Friday in a case of misappropriation of funds.

The police said that Saharan tried to escape from the police custody and sustained a fatal head injury when he jumped from a running Gypsy. A police spokesperson in Sirsa said that a case under Section 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC was registered against him at Dabwali Sadar police station on January 10. On the way, he demanded water. While taking water from a bottle, he suddenly jumped from the Gypsy and hurt himself badly, he said. He said Saharan was immediately shifted to Sirsa Civil Hospital. He was later shifted to Delhi where he died today. The police had also lodged an FIR against him on Friday for trying to escape from custody, the spokesperson said. Saharans family members, however, are demanding an independent inquiry into the matter.

Saharan shot to fame in 2008-09 when during his tenure as sarpanch, Kaluana village topped the state for sanitation and also bagged an award for overall development activities in the village.

Saharan was honoured by then President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Kaluana panchayat received a cash award of Rs 25 lakh from the government.
Bhanu P Lohumi

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 14

The BJP ticket aspirants waited with bated breath for the declaration of candidates for the 68 Assembly seats of Himachal Pradesh as a meeting of the partys central parliamentary board continued till late into the night in New Delhi. The party high command, however, withheld the list till tomorrow.

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Earlier, the central election committee of the party met to finalise the candidates and sources said that names for more than 55 seats have been finalised. BJP circles were agog with reports that some Congress ministers and MLAs are likely to join the party, but there was no confirmation. Sources said the seats where the BJP did not have potential candidates might be offered to those aspirants. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6 pm but as Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived late, it got delayed.

The fate of BJP MLAs Narender Thakur and Dr Anil Dhiman, who won the bypolls from Sujanpur and Bhoranj, and Maheshwar Singh, the lone Himachal Lokhit Party MLA who merged the party with the BJP, is also hanging in balance. There are 28 MLAs of the BJP in the 68-member House, while three Independents have supported the party.

Sukh rams son joins BJP

The Himachal Congress received a jolt on Saturday with Panchayati Raj and Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma, son of Former Union Telecom Minister Sukh Ram, reportedly deserting the party and announcing the decision to join the BJP. Photographs of Anil Sharma wearing a BJP scarf went viral on social media. He confirmed the development in an interview with a TV channel. He said, I have been given the BJP ticket from Mandi and have also received intimation in this regard. Anil was upset as he and his father were sidelined.
Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, October 15

A day after joining the BJP, former Rural Development Minister Anil Sharma lashed out at Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, stating that it was his dictatorship that compelled him to leave the party.

Talking to The Tribune here today, Anil Sharma said the Congress had become the party of one family ruled by Virbhadra, who is also pressuring the high command to consider his demands. Referring to the weak Congress leadership at the national level, he said only Virbhadra loyalists could survive in the party.

Despite being a minister in the Virbhadra Cabinet, I was repeatedly ignored and had no power to transfer even a single employee in my constituency. The irony was that the transfers were made on the recommendations of Virbhadra loyalists, he said.

After winning the election in 2012, my name was on fifth number for the post of Cabinet Minister but after pressure of a few ministers, my name was placed on last number, he added.

He said, Being a senior leader, my name should have been included in the election campaign committee this time, but when I enquired about it, I came to know that my name was omitted from the list.

Despite all this, I was with the Congress but Virbhadra crossed all limits and humiliated my father former Union Telecom Minister Sukh Ram by not allowing him to attend Rahul Gandhis Mandi rally, which forced me to take a tough stand to protect the honour of my family he remarked. Sharma also raised questions on the functioning of the state government and alleged that there was a big lapse on the part of the government to handle the Gudiya rape and murder case in Kotkhai and mysterious death case of forest guard in Mandi. He added that it was the duty of the government to punish criminals and not provide them shelter.

After consulting my loyalist, I had decided to join the BJP and I was welcomed by the BJP top leadership and assured me to give party ticket from Mandi Sadar, he said. Anil Sharma said he would respect BJP workers and lead his campaign to defeat the Congress with their help.
Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 15

Buoyed by its massive Gurdaspur byelection win, the Congress today geared up for the upcoming Himachal Pradesh battle, scheduling the first meeting of the state election committee in New Delhi tomorrow.

Sources said the Congress might release its first list of candidates by October 18 or 19. History is in the making in Himachal Pradesh too, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh tweeted moments after Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar won Gurdaspur with a landslide margin of close to two lakh votes.

Himachal is yet to repeat a sitting government but the Congress today exuded confidence of bucking the trend, with top leaders saying the mood in the nation is decisively against the BJP.

Asha Kumari, Himachal Congress MLA and in charge for Punjab, said Jakhars win is a reflection of which side the wind is blowing. The BJP is losing across India. Where we had lost the 2014 Lok Sabha election in Gurdaspur by a margin of 1.40 lakh votes, we have won with a gap of around two lakh votes. This is a vote for Congress governance in Punjab and a vote to reject BJPs politics of division. This win will impact Himachal positively, said Asha Kumari, Congress Dalhousie MLA in Himachal.

Back in Delhi, the Congress began deliberations to pick winning candidates in Himachal. Asked if the Congress will implement the one family, one ticket rule it implemented in Punjab, Asha Kumari said election strategy cannot be based on the one size fits all dictum.

Every state is different and the criteria for ticket selection in every state will have to be made depending on local factors and conditions. Whether to give one ticket per family in Himachal is for Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to decide, she said.

CM Virbhadra Singhs son Vikramaditya Singh is a ticket seeker in Himachal as is senior leader GS Balis son among wards of some others.

A discussion on criteria for candidate selection will happen tomorrow when the Congress Pradesh Election Committee meets to lay down ground rules. The panel is headed by state Congress chief Sukhwinder Sukhu and has CM Singh as a member.

It also needs to be seen if the Congress would repeat all sitting MLAs or deny tickets to some. Early thinking is to reshuffle the constituencies of some sitting MLAs to infuse freshness. Also a discussion is on to figure out whether to repeat two-time losers.

After the state poll panel meets tomorrow, the three-member screening committee chaired by former MoS Jitendra Singh and comprising Sangrur MLA Vijay Inder Singla will also meet tomorrow to hold discussions on tickets.
Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, October 15

Even as veteran Congress leader Sukh Rams joining the BJP is being perceived as a major setback to the Congress but the saffron partys stand on zero tolerance towards corruption is being questioned as a majority are terming it as political opportunism.

According a red carpet welcome to 90-year-old Sukh Ram, who is convicted in a corruption case, will blunt the BJPs stand against corruption, especially when they wish to target Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, who is already under CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax scanner.

Proving that politics has no permanent friends or foes, the desertion by the Congress leader comes at a time when ruling Congress faces the challenge of taking on the BJP in the Assembly polls on November 9. Sukh Rams move to join the BJP will dampen Congress prospects, especially in Mandi district as he still has his pockets of influence.

The political career of Sukh Ram spanning over five decade has seen many ups and down with the veteran politician now joining the BJP that had stalled Parliament for several days when he faced corruption charges as Telecom Minister. It is the same BJP who had hounded Sukh Ram and termed him synonymous with corruption that has now opened its doors for Sukh Ram, his son Anil Sharma, a Minister in Virbhadra Government and his grandson, Ashray Sharma, a political fledgling with open arms.

It is with a very heavy heart that we left the Congress. Having suffered humiliation and slighting at every step in the last almost five years at the hands of Virbhadra, we were left with no option but to part ways, said Anil Sharma, who resigned as Rural Development Minister in Virbhadra Government. He said he had resigned as minister and he, his father and son had become BJP members by filling the form online yesterday. He added that despite being a Cabinet minister he had no say in his own segment as the CMs men called shots.

Though there had been speculation for some time that the Sukh Ram family could join BJP it is the insult meted out to Sukh Ram at Rahul Gandhis rally at Mandi on October 3 that proved to be the last nail in the coffin. Shinde ji asked my father to join the rally for which he came all the way from Delhi but at the last minute he called up and said he should not come as Virbhadra had threatened to stay away if Pandit ji (Sukh Ram) came there, revealed Anil Sharma.

Having started his political career as an independent MLA in 1962, Sukh Ram rose to great political heights when he was Telecommunication Minister in the Narasimha Rao government. He came very close to

becoming the Chief Minister in 1993 with the complete backing of party high command but lost in the race as his bete noire Virbhadra made it to the top post with majority of legislators supporting Raja.

Despite both being Congressmen, Virbhadra and Sukh Ram have always been arch rivals, never sparing an opportunity to hit out at each other. It was Himachal Vikas Congress (HVC), the political outfit floated by Sukh Ram in 1998 polls which was instrumental in keeping the Congress, led by Virbhadra out of power. It was with the help of five HVC MLAs that BJP formed a coalition government headed by PK Dhumal, keeping Virbhadra out of power. Those who won the election besides Sukh Ram were Mahender Singh from Dharampur, Prakash Chaudary from Bali, Ram Lal Markanday from Lahaul Spiti and Mansa Ram from Karsog. In the 2003 polls Sukh Rams party won only his own seat from Mandi(Sadar) and eventually he returned back to Congress in April 2004 though his relations with Raja have been far from cordial. Infact, Virbhadra still blames Sukh Ram for his wife Pratibha Singhs defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

THE SUKH RAM CLAN

SUKH RAM: Born on July 27, 1927. Became MLA for first time as an Independent in 1962 from Mandi seat.

Won in 1967, 1972, 1974 (bypoll), 1977 and 1982 on the Congress ticket. Became MLA in 1998 and 2003 on HVCs ticket. Became MP from Mandi seat in 1985, 1991 and 1996.

As Union Telecommunication Minister, credited with creating telecom infrastructure even in HP. Convicted by the court and an appeal against the sentence is pending in a Delhi court.

ANIL SHARMA: Born on April 30, 1956, Sharma is known to be a thorough gentleman. Being a reluctant politician, he was compelled to enter politics following his fathers arrest in corruption case.

He was first elected to the assembly in 1993 and became a Rajya Sabha MP in April 1998.

He again represented the Mandi seat in 2007 and 2012 and was a Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in Virbhadra cabinet.

ASHRAY SHARMA: Elder son of Anil, the third generation in the family is rearing to carry on the political legacy of his grandfather and father.
Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 15

At least 70 militants have infiltrated into Kashmir from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir so far this year.

According to the Multi-Agency Centre, 70 militants, mostly from the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad, had managed to sneak into the Valley this year, sources said. MAC is a nodal agency that comprises security and intelligence officials for assessing the ground situation.

Infiltration attempts are being constantly made. The Army has been able to eliminate at least 60 militants along the Line of Control in Kashmir. However, 70 militants have been able to sneak into the Valley, the sources said.

However, a senior Army officer said the ground input was that around 45 militants had managed to sneak into the Valley.

According to the Army and police assessment, around 45 militants have managed to infiltrate into the Valley. There is some discrepancy with the MAC figures and that is being looked into, the senior Army officer said.

However, he maintained that infiltration figures were less than last years.

At least 87 militants had managed to enter the Valley till September last year, and the number went to 112 till the end of the year, the highest since 2012.

The Army officer claimed that militants from across would be now be making desperate attempts to sneak into the Valley as snow closes the mountain passes along LoC in the region for the next five or six months of winter.

We are expecting more action along the LoC as more attempts will be made to push militants in the coming months, the officer said. We may also see BAT action close to the LoC and we are ready for the challenges. Recently, three BAT attacks were foiled along the LoC in Kashmir.

This year 166 militants, including top commanders of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish have been killed by the security forces this year so far. There are over 220 militants active in Kashmir.
Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 15

As dengue grips eight districts of the Jammu province, panic-stricken residents are shifting dengue patients to Punjab and Delhi for reliable treatment.

In Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, nearly 320 patients have been tested positive for dengue and the number is swelling every day. The situation is worst in the outskirts, where equipment for checking blood and dengue fever are not available.

Health institutes in the Jammu region appear to have failed in coping with the problem, making people go for traditional treatment methods or shifting patients to other states.

The reports of the GMCH is varying from the reports of a private laboratory, so I have decided to shift my cousin to Ludhiana for better treatment, said Rajesh Chalotra, a resident of Smailpur village, Samba.

The only hospital in Bishnah, which caters to the need of nearly 100 villages, including the border belt, is over-crowded, said Ajay Kumar, a resident of Bishnah.

Dr Gurjit Singh, Director, Health Services, said in the GMCH, 320 patients had been tested positive for dengue.

Sat Sharma, state BJP president, has also visited the GMCH to enquire about the facilities being provided to the dengue patients.

BJP MLAs tribute to son

While other politicians are busy issuing statements from their offices, Ramesh Arora, BJP MLA, has waged a war against dengue without any support from the party. For him, ensuring better treatment to the needy patients is a real tribute to his son, who died of dengue due to negligence last year. Arora is visiting the GMCH regularly to ensure that patients get better treatment. He has also brought matter to the notice of the Commissioner Secretary, Health, but nothing has been done on the ground. He regretted that the authorities were adopting casual approach in tackling the situation.
Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, October 15

As the police maintain silence over braid-chopping incidents, fear continues to grip the Kashmir valley. Residents feel insecure even inside their houses.

Braid-chopping incidents were first reported in south Kashmirs Anantnag and Kulgam districts in mid-September and have since spread to others districts of the region.

Almost every day, a braid-chopping incident or a failed attempt is being reported from some part of the Valley and protests are being held. One such protest was held in the Boniyar area of north Kashmirs Uri sub-district yesterday.

The panic triggered by the incidents is unprecedented, as residents feel unsafe even inside their houses. Night vigils being held by teenage boys and men armed with sticks and axes have now become a norm.

We stayed up all night. Some people reported that there were three to four braid choppers roaming in the area. Everyone came out of their houses and began searching for them, said Gulzar Ahmad, a resident of central Kashmirs Magam township.

The police have reported that more than 70 cases of braid chopping have been registered so far. The police, however, have failed to reach a conclusion so far, as volatile law and order situation is hampering the investigation.

Police officials say they are looking at multiple possibilities, including personal enmity and psychiatric disorders. The majority of the cases have a history of psychiatric ailment. It has also been found that they visit faith healers, a district police superintendent said.

Psychiatrists, however, say it is difficult to come to a conclusion without examining every case. It is difficult to conclude at this stage whether all victims are psychiatric patients. It is difficult to deduct a pattern, a psychiatrist said.

Without examining every case individually, we cannot come to a conclusion that it is a psychiatric phenomenon, he said.

Another psychiatrist said the polices announcement for reward has led to complications. We cannot come with an announcement that this is a psychiatric issue when the police are officially looking for some culprit, the psychiatrist said.

A large majority of fear-stricken residents, however, refuse to accept that the braid-chopping incidents can be linked to any psychiatric issue. It is a conspiracy of the government, 60-year-old Jawahira, a resident of citys Gulab Bagh, said. She based her arguments on the discussions with other women in the neighbourhood. We now keep our doors bolted entire day and open it only when we are sure that the person at the door is familiar, she said.

What police say

Police say they are looking at multiple possibilities, including personal enmity and psychiatric disorders

A district police superintendent says the majority of the braid-chopping cases have a history of psychiatric ailment. It has also been found that they visit faith healers, he claims

What psychiatrists say
Tribune News Service

Jammu, October 15

The Jammu and Kashmir Unity Foundation (JKUF) will observe black day on October 22 to remember lakhs of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims of the state who had sacrificed their lives to defeat the invasion of the Pakistan army in 1947, erroneously described as a tribal invasion.

A seminar titled Pakistans military invasion not tribal raid of Jammu and Kashmir will be conducted on October 22.

Addressing a press conference here today, Ajaat Jamwal, president, JKUF, along with advocate Ankur Sharma and Hari Dutt Shishu said tribals from Pakistan only constituted the front flank of the invasion to disguise the role of the Pakistan army.

He said the entire mobilisation of the tribals and the army was done in the name of jihad. It will be proper to describe the 1947 invasion of Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistan as the first jihad unleashed after the Independence of India, he said.

Advocate Ankur Sharma said it was unfortunate that the Union Government was still reluctant to recognise the violence unleashed in the state by Pakistan.
Actress Astha Agarwal, who is currently seen in comedy sitcom Kya Haal Mr. Paanchal had the greatest fan moment of her life. Astha lived her dreams from engineering days of meeting the Badshah of the Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan on the sets of the show. According to the sources, SRK was at the same studio for his personal shoot. Astha got excited when she came to know about Shah Rukh being on the set and waited for his one glance and to hug him. She is such a big fan of the actor, that she skipped her lunch just to meet him and was waiting outside her set for him.

Shares Astha, Shah Rukh Khan is my crush and have always dreamt about meeting him. When I got to know about him being at the same studio, I got so excited that I use to go out after every break for his once glance. I am a big fan of his and never miss a chance to watch his films. He is so humble that when I went to him and asked for a picture he said yes. I so love him and now my next wish is to work with him.
Aditya Sharma

Aditya Sharma

KUNDAN SHAHS tragi-comic body of work not only amused and informed, but also, more importantly, made the audience empathetic.

About two years ago, I went to seek Kundan Shahs advice on script writing at his Bandra office in Mumbai. I was then working with Readers Digest, but was contemplating writing for television and films. It was surprising that Shah had agreed to meet me. Usually, film directors give time to journalists only for interviews. Ask them for a little help and chances are you would be ignored. But, Shah was different  a towering creative figure with a heart of gold.

Dressed in a white shirt and dark-brown trousers, he shook hands with me warmly. His office was simple, with basic furniture and steel almirahs stocking hardbound files. I could see several novels, mainly by Russian writers, lined on one of the shelves. I couldnt help asking him who his favourite writer was. Dostoevsky, he said with a glint in his eyes, I have read all his books many times over.

Shah asked me a few questions about my background, indicating his interest in people. He made queries about Readers Digest, its editorial staff, office and circulation, before revealing his connection with it. In the 1970s, I too worked with it. My job was to type the names of subscribers and their addresses, he smiled, recollecting his unglamorous past. They used to pay me by the number of words I typed!

As I sought his advice on script writing, a cloud of seriousness hung on his face. I dont know what to tell you. Instead of being an art, films are getting increasingly commercialised. I have almost retired. Try your luck, but for all I know, you might end up becoming a ghostwriter. Shah had spent over 30 years in the film industry and the rot he had been witnessing, I guess, made him pessimistic.

When he learnt that I was carrying a pendrive, he said to me: You are a writer. Ill give you a few good articles to read. Soon, he was painstakingly transferring the data from his PC to my pendrive.

So far, he had discouraged any conversation about himself. When I told him how instrumental he was in shaping the sensibilities of innumerable people who grew up on his films and TV serials like Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, Nukkad, Ye Jo Hai Zindagi, Wagle Ki Duniya and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na, he listened patiently to me.

Someone said something similar to my wife recently, he said, Its nice to know that my work has been useful to others.

As I took a local train home, I couldnt help wondering why a genius like Shah had stopped working, and why his later films couldnt match the brilliance of what he had produced earlier. Is it because creativity peaks at a certain time in an artists life and starts waning suddenly, or is it because the market forces rob a talent to make his kind of cinema? Whatever it was, it is certain that his name would figure on the list of the best Indian directors.

Just a few months ago, when I got the chance to write a few episodes of a TV script, I was told that the writing credit would go to someone else. That someone only dictated ideas  harebrained at that. I took up the work, for I needed money. In retrospect, I realise how accurate Shah was. I had ended up becoming a ghostwriter.
Lucknow, October 15

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the country's borders were "completely safe" and China has also understood that "India is no more weak".

Singh said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has become a powerful country and its prestige at the international level has grown.

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"India's borders are completely safe, and China has started to understand that India is no more weak. Its strength has grown," he said.

Singh, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha, was addressing people at a programme organised here by the Bhartiya Lodhi Mahasabha.

"Since the formation of government at the Centre under the leadership of PM Modi, India has become a powerful country in the world. India's prestige at the international level has grown," he said.

The Union home minister also hit out at Pakistan for "sending terrorists" to India.

"It (Pakistan) tries to break India, but our security personnel every day kill two to four terrorists," he added.  PTI
New Delhi, October 15

The Supreme Court has refused to ban the controversial book --Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu (Vysyas are social smugglers) penned by prominent Dalit writer and intellectual Kancha Ilaiah, saying every author has a fundamental right to voice ideas freely.

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A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud junked a PIL filed by a lawyer seeking direction to the government to ban the book.

The apex court said any request to ban a book has to be strictly scrutinised because "every author or writer has a fundamental right to speak out ideas freely and express thoughts adequately, and that curtailment of an individual writer or author's right to freedom of speech and expression should never be viewed lightly.

"We do not intend to state the facts in detail. Suffice it to say that when an author writes a book, it is his or her right of expression. We do not think that it would be appropriate under Article 32 of the Constitution of India that this Court should ban the book/books.

"Keeping in view the sanctity of the said right and also bearing in mind that the same has been put on the highest pedestal by this court, we decline the ambitious prayer made by the petitioner," the bench said.

The order came on a plea filed by lawyer K V Veeranjaneyulu, who is also a member of Arya Vysya Officials Professionals Association, alleging that the writer had made "baseless" allegations against certain castes in his book and tried to divide the society on caste lines.

He said a criminal case had also been registered against him in Andhra Pradesh for hurting sentiments of people belonging to certain castes and urged the court to ban the book.  PTI
Washington, October 15

There is a great interest about India in the United States and among its investors, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Saturday, adding that the relationship between the two countries was a "mature" one.

"There is a great interest about India in the US and among its investors," Jaitley told reporters as he winded up his week-long visit to the US during which he had meetings with US treasury secretary and the commerce secretary, addressed students of the Columbia and Harvard Universities and interacted with investors and American corporate leaders in New York, Boston, and Washington DC.

"Both, those inside the government and the US companies, have shown great interest in investing in India now," he said.

Jaitley, who led a high-powered Indian delegation to the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, said that the US companies are investing in India in a big way.

"You have Indians investing in the US, you have US companies investing in India. And, in November, a large contingent of US corporates are coming to India to invest," he said.

According to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) figures, India was US' ninth largest trading partner with the total two-way trade of $67.7 billion last year. It is loaded in favour of India, which runs a surplus of $24 billion.

Jaitley said the relationship between India and the US on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) was a "mature" one.

"Expansion of key sectors like aviation and defence would play a key role in increasing the bilateral trade to $500 billion per annum," he said.

The finance minister said India was among the largest recipients of FDI since it had "one of the most open policies as far as investment is concerned."

"I'm quite sure that we will continue to get the benefit of that investment," he said. I think it's a strategic relationship which is bound to be further consolidated."

During his week-long visit, the minister had more than a dozen meetings in addition to his bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank meetings.

The finance minister said that India's capacity to undertake structural reforms even in a globally adverse environment was being appreciated globally.

"This is a fact which almost the whole body of investors and also a large number of my counterparts in other parts of the world acknowledges," he said.

"If areas like defence, civil aviation, which are very high investment areas, if you see investment pouring into those areas, it is obviously going to have an impact," he said. PTI
New Delhi, October 15

The 2002 riots in Gujarat were possibly the biggest blot on the government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and that could have cost the BJP the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, says former President Pranab Mukherjee.

In the third volume of his autobiography titled The Coalition Years 1996-2012, he also feels the ruling NDAs India Shining campaign spawned the opposite outcome and the Vajpayee government was routed in an election against most predictions that predicted a majority to the BJP-led coalition.

Throughout this period (of the Vajpayee government) the demand for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya had been building up. The heightened communal tension had a distressing fallout in Gujarat that witnessed a communal carnage in 2002.

The rioting began at Godhra, a small town in Gujarat, where 58 persons were burnt to death in a fire that engulfed a compartment of the Sabarmati Express. The victims were all Hindu kar sevaks who were returning from Ayodhya.

This provoked widespread riots in many cities of Gujarat. Possibly the biggest blot on Vajpayees government, it may have been Godhra that cost BJP the next elections, says Mukherjee in a chapter on the First Full Term Non-Congress Government.

He says Vajpayee was a consummate parliamentarian. With an excellent command over the language, he was a great orator who instantly connected with people and brought them together.

Vajpayees signature in politics was achieving consensus, and in this process he earned respect of his party, allies and opponents at home. Abroad, he projected a harmonious image of India and connected it to the world through his foreign policy outreach.  IANS
Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Gurdaspur, October 15

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar pulled off a stunning victory for the party today, winning the Gurdaspur parliamentary byelection by a record margin of 1.93 lakh votes, the highest ever. The margin stunned psephologists, who had said the lead would not exceed one lakh votes in view of the low turnout on October 11.

Jakhar polled 4,99,752 votes and his rival Swaran Salaria of the BJP 3,065,33. Securing a mere 23,579 votes, the security deposit of AAPs Maj Gen Suresh Khajuria (retd) was forfeited. He left the hall after the first round of counting.

Editorial: The Gurdaspur verdict

The BJP faced the ignominy of a 35 per cent drop in vote share. In 2014, its candidate Vinod Khanna had polled 4.62 lakh votes and won by 1.36 lakh votes. This means one-third of the electorate who voted for the BJP in 2014 either voted for another party or simply kept away.

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Jakhar swept all nine Assembly seats with convincing margins. The seven sitting Congress MLAs were asked by the CM to ensure an increase in lead in their Assembly segments, and that is what largely happened.

In Dera Baba Nanak, where sitting MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had won by a wafer-thin margin of 1,100 votes, the Congress won by 44,000 votes. In Fatehgarh Churian, where Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa had managed to win by a mere 1,300 votes, the lead this time was over 32,000.

Khajuria blamed the EVMs for his partys disastrous performance. Jakhar retorted: It is a perfect case of a bad workman blaming his tools. Why did AAP not pin the blame on EVMs when it won the New Delhi Assembly elections?

The Congress campaign was monitored by Sandeep Sandhu, OSD to the CM, who stayed put in Gurdaspur till the last.

The Congress chose to have Cabinet Minister Brahm Mohindra as the overall in-charge of the three Assembly seats in Pathankot district  Sujanpur, Bhoa and Pathankot city  where Hindu voters dominate. The Congress had a lead of about 7,000 votes in Sujanpur. Sitting BJP MLA Dinesh Singh Babbu had won this seat by 20,000 votes. In Bhoa and Pathankot city, too, the Congress managed handsome leads. But in Dinanagar, the seat represented by Aruna Chaudhary, the partys lead declined from 32,000 to 11,000.

Intelligence reports say the Langah episode saw the Jat Sikhs in Batala, Dera Baba Nanak, Fatehgarh Churian, Gurdaspur and Qadian turning their back on the SAD-BJP alliance. Also, sleazy photographs did immense damage to the BJP in Pathankot district.

The Sucha Singh Langah episode, GST and a disjointed campaign led to BJPs defeat. The first election since the imposition of GST, it has been proved that the BJP-led NDA government needs to re-think on the issue, said a beaming Jakhar.
Shiv Kumar

TIME and again, Uddhav Thackeray has proved to his critics that he is no pushover. Written off by even some of the most hardcore followers of his father and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Uddhav has regularly shown that he has what it takes to don the mantle of party chief.

The latest to feel Thackerays bite is none other than Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who desperately wants to dislodge the Shiv Sena from the Mumbai civic body. Just hours after the BJP won a bypoll to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to edge closer to the regional party, Thackeray moved to shore up the Shiv Senas numbers. His men worked the phones and by the next morning six of the seven corporators belonging to cousin Raj Thackerays Maharashtra Navnirman Sena were in the Shiv Senas bag.

The Shiv Sena now has 90 corporators in a House of 227 and will soon gain another after the Supreme Court set aside the election of an Independent corporator for producing a fake caste certificate.

The BJP with 82 corporators in the BMC is accusing Uddhav and his men of horse trading. BJP MP Kirit Somaiya told reporters that the Shiv Sena had offered as much as Rs 3 crore to the six MNS MLAs to switch sides.

Uddhavs comeback line bore the hallmark of his fathers humourous quips  donkeys should not complain of horse-trading!

Cong dreams of comeback

Down and clearly out after a series of electoral setbacks following the rout in the 2014 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, the Maharashtra Congress got the proverbial kiss of life from the electorate of Nanded town.

The Grand Old Party bagged 73 of the 81 seats, leaving just six for the BJP. The Shiv Sena and an Independent candidate made up for the rest.

While Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan was understandably preening at retaining his pocket borough, the state unit of the BJP has been badly shaken by the sheer scale of defeat. Chief Minister Fadnavis had extensively campaigned in Nanded and even risked the ire of the Shiv Sena by calling it the B team of the Congress party.

In the end, even the raking up of the Adarsh Housing Society scam, which forced Chavan to quit as Maharashtra Chief Minister, did not help Fadnavis and the BJP.

The sounds of glee were the loudest in the Shiv Sena camp. The Nanded civic election results only show us that the BJP can be defeated, Sanjay Raut told reporters here.

Rane in NDA

Shiv Sainik-turned-Congressman Narayan Rane simply did not make the cut with the BJP. Many in the saffron party see him as an uncouth lout, at best useful in needling the Shiv Sena. Rane, who has never hidden his ambition to return as Maharashtra CM, recently quit the Congress after accusing it of cheating him by denying him the top job.

Wary of letting Rane into their tent, the BJP leaders quietly worked to ensure that he was out of the Congress before shutting their doors on him.

As advised by his new-found friends, Rane has formed a regional party of his own and is looking forward to joining the NDA in the coming days.
Washington, October 15

Asserting that Indian IT professionals coming to America on H-1B visa are not illegal economic immigrants, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the US must decide appropriately while taking a decision on its visa policy.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations.

It is the most sought after by Indian IT professionals.

READ: Oil payment, other issues with Iran resolved: Jaitley

"Those coming from India on H-1B visas are high value professionals, who contribute immensely to the US economy. They are not illegal economic immigrants about whom there are concerns in the US. They come here legally," Jaitley said.

Jaitley said he raised this issue in his meetings with US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

Indian IT professionals deserve a different treatment, said the minister who is here to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

"We conveyed our concerns to the US," he said in response to a question.

"These are very high quality, highly trained professionals. They've contributed immensely to the US economy. They add value to the US economy. Therefore, when the US decides its visa policy, they must decide it in relation to these people appropriately," Jaitley said.

Indian technology companies depend on the H-1B visas to hire tens of thousands of employees each year for their US operations. The US market accounts for about 60 per cent of the revenue of the Indian IT industry. PTI
Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 15

Ahead of the Assembly elections in the key states of Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the Gurdaspur byelection result in favour of the Congress party sends a big message to Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP government at the Centre.

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As an initial unofficial reaction, BJP leaders attributed the setback in the constituency that BJP had held before this to local factors, although they agreed that elections to a Lok Sabha seat is more reflective of the national mood  in other words the Centre and its policies.

Read: Sunil Jakhar wins Gurdaspur Lok Sabha byelection with huge margin

BJP must read writing on wall after Gurdaspur defeat: Sunil Jakhar

CM Amarinder hails Congs landslide win

Several state BJP leaders also blame the controversy surrounding former SAD minister Sucha Singh Langah, and point out central leadership chose Swarnn Salaria to fight the elections for his resources, overlooking legitimate claims of late Vinod Khannas wife Kavita Khanna. Added to the issue were the economic and other factors, they say.

However, observers believe it is time that the BJP leadership stopped taking for granted its supporters, who now seem to be reacting to its decisions and prevailing economic situation, jobless growth and agricultural distress  among other things  by voting against the party.

The Congress in power in Punjab may have contributed to Sunil Jhakkars win but the fact that it was a constituency Khanna won in 2014 even when BJPs top leader Arun Jaitley lost Amritsar was telling of the prevailing mood on the ground, they say.

For its prospects in Punjab in particular, the huge victory margin is a clear indication that BJP's alliance with the Akalis is "no longer viable or favourable". The humiliating defeat is expected to increase the clamour in the state leadership for a divorce from the old ally.

For its prospects in Punjab in particular, the huge margin is a clear indication that its alliance with the Akalis is no longer viable or favourable. The humiliating defeat is expected to increase the clamour in the state leadership for a divorce from the old ally.
Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 15

State leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today blamed past decisions of the Delhi leadership and the alleged fear of police among voters for the partys loss. However, there was a difference of opinion among leaders on the matter.

Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Khaira said among other factors, the unceremonious removal of Gurdaspur leaders Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Gurpreet Ghuggi contributed to the partys downfall.

Khaira said: Ghuggi alone got 34,000-plus votes from Batala, one of the Assembly constituencies of Gurdaspur. The party has bagged 24,000 votes in all nine constituencies now.

He, however, added that Punjab had the culture of voting for the ruling party in the byelections. Of the 11 bypolls held in Punjab in last 10 years, the party in power has won 10, he said.

State convener Bhagwant Mann blamed the police misuse by the Congress. People were afraid to attend our meetings for the fear of implication in a case. The decisions on Chhotepur and others are a thing of the past. I dont see them as factors, he said.

Bhagwant said the party would introspect about the reasons of the crushing defeat. He, however, said the verdict could not be taken as a precursor of the 2019 General Election.

While congratulating Sunil Jakhar, he said they were hopeful that he would raise issues related to Punjab in Parliament.

Talwandi Sabo MLA Baljinder Kaur wrote on Twitter that the party should accept its defeat and not indulge in blame game.

Party sources said there was shock among the ranks. Though the party did not win a single seat in the region, none had imagined that they would get just about 24,000 votes. In the Assembly elections, the party got over 1.1 lakh votes in all nine segments under the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency.

They said questions were likely to be raised on the performance of the state leaders as they failed to build any momentum for the party.
A JAPANESE Mission headed by Viscount Ishii has been on a visit to the United States in connection with the war. The Mission was received in the Senate on August 30, when Viscount explained how the people of Japan appreciated the entry of the United States into the war of liberty. We all know, he said, you did not undertake this solemn task on the impulse of the moment but threw our weight into the struggle after exercising the most admirable patience, with the firm determination that the world should be made free from the threat of aggression and from that black shadow of military despotism wielded by a nation taught with its mothers milk that human right must yield to brutal might. Thus Japan as the rising Eastern power, has accepted the ideal of stamping out aggression and upholding the cause of right and justice.
MR. Gandhi's proposal of securing signatures of the people to a monster petition to be presented to the Secretary of State supporting the scheme of reforms submitted by the Indian National Congress and the Moslem League, has been earnestly taken up by the Gujrat Sabha, Ahmedabad. Members of this Sabha have formed themselves into deputations to several towns in various districts to which they are going, explaining the Congress League scheme to the people and obtaining their signatures to the printed memorial. These deputations hold small meetings and explain the reforms to the people. Sometimes the police attend and at other occasions no such notice is taken on their doings. The memorial is being signed by Hindus and Mahomedans in large numbers. Local volunteers offer to proceed to villages and explain the scheme to the rural population.
Mogadishu, October 15

A huge explosion from a truck bomb killed 200 persons with more than 250 injured in Somalias capital as shaken residents called it the most powerful blast theyd heard in years. Heavy toll of the blast made it the deadliest single attack ever in the Horn of Africa nation.

We have confirmed 200 civilians died in yesterdays blast. We understand the death toll is higher than that. Many people are still missing their relatives, Abdifatah Omar Halane, the spokesman for Mogadishu mayor, said.

The blast occurred two days after the head of the US Africa Command was in Mogadishu to meet with Somalias president, and two days after the countrys defence minister and army chief resigned for undisclosed reasons.

Doctors struggled to assist horrifically wounded victims, many burnt beyond recognition. Officials feared the toll would continue to climb from truck bomb that targeted a busy street near key ministries.

Ambulance sirens still echoed across the city as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives. In our 10 year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we havent seen anything like this, the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted.

Grief overwhelmed many. Theres nothing I can say. We have lost everything, wept Zainab Sharif, a mother of four who lost her

husband. She sat outside a hospital where he was pronounced dead after hours of efforts by doctors to save him from an arterial injury.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood for the wounded victims.

The hospital is overwhelmed by both dead and wounded. We also received people whose limbs were cut away by the bomb. This is really horrendous, unlike any other time in the past, said Dr Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital.

Overnight, rescue workers with flashlights searched for survivors trapped under the rubble of the largely destroyed Safari Hotel, which is close to Somalias foreign ministry. The explosion blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel.

Somalias government has blamed the Qaida-linked al-Shabab for the attack it called a national disaster. However, al-Shabab, which often targets high- profile areas of the capital with bombings, had yet to comment. They dont care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said. They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians.

Somalias information minister, Abdirahman Omar, said the blast was the largest the city had ever seen. Its a sad day. This how merciless and brutal they are, and we have to unite against them, he said, speaking to the state-run radio station.

The US joined the condemnation, saying such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism.

The US military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali military and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country.  AP
Ain Issa, Syria, October 15

US-backed militias said they had launched their final assault on Syrias Raqqa on Sunday after a convoy of Islamic State fighters left the city, leaving only a hardcore of jihadists to mount a last stand.

The battle will continue until the whole city is clean, said a statement by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias.

The SDF said earlier that a group of the jihadists had left in a convoy taking some civilians with them. But there were conflicting accounts as to whether the evacuees included both Syrian and foreign fighters.

Raqqas fall to the SDF now looks imminent after four months of battle. We still expect there to be difficult fighting, said Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the US-led international coalition backing the SDF in the war against Islamic State.

Raqqa was the first big Syrian city to fall to Islamic State as it declared a caliphate and rampaged through Syria and Iraq in 2014, becoming an operations centre for attacks abroad and the stage for some of its darkest atrocities.

But Islamic State has been in retreat for two years, losing swathes of territory in both countries and forced back into an ever-diminishing foothold along the Euphrates river valley.

Last night, the final batch of fighters (who had agreed to leave) left the city, said Mostafa Bali, an SDF spokesman.

Bali said only Syrian Islamic State fighters had evacuated in the convoy. But Omar Alloush, an official in the Raqqa Civil Council formed under SDF auspices to oversee the city, said some foreign fighters had also departed.

Neither said how many fighters had left or how many remained in the tiny, bomb-cratered patch of Raqqa still held by Islamic State. Before the convoy left, the coalition estimated that about 300-400 fighters remained. The convoy would head to the remaining IS territory in eastern Syria and included about 400 civilians along with the fighters, Alloush had said on Saturday.  Reuters

Jihadist capital

Raqqa was the first big Syrian city to fall to Islamic State, then known as Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, as it declared a caliphate and rampaged through Syria and Iraq in 2014. Raqqa sits on the Euphrates river around 90 km from the Turkish border in north central Syria.

The offensive

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of mostly Kurdish and Arab militias, began to advance towards Raqqa city in November 2016. After encircling the city, they launched the offensive to take it, facing tough resistance. The US-led coalition supports the SDF with air strikes and special forces on the ground

Toll on civilians

The battle for Raqqa has taken a severe toll on civilians. The United Nations said in March the city contained around 2,00,000 people, just under its pre-war population

Since late last year, fighting around and in Raqqa has displaced tens of thousands of people. Many have fled the city to camps in surrounding territory now under the control of the SDF

Civilians trapped inside the Islamic State enclave in the city have endured miserable conditions for months, lacking water, power, food and healthcare

Lost heritage
LOS ANGELES, October 14

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled producer Harvey Weinstein on Saturday, after allegations that he sexually harassed or assaulted a number of women over the past three decades, a sharp smack for a Hollywood mogul known for powering a string of films to Oscar gold.

The academy said in a statement that its 54-member board of governors "voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to immediately expel him from the Academy." A representative for Weinstein, Sallie Hofmeister, had no immediate comment.

The expulsion from the film industry's most prestigious organisation follows allegations reported by The New York Times and The New Yorker from a number of women that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted them in incidents dating back to the 1980s, including three who said they had been raped.

Reuters has been unable to independently confirm any of the allegations. Weinstein, 65, has denied having non-consensual sex with anyone.

For Weinstein, who made a name for himself and his studio with the critical and commercial success of a number of small-budget independent films, the expulsion was just the latest fallout  both professional and personal  from allegations that have rocked an industry that has often looked the other way when confronted by reports of sexual misconduct.

In announcing the decision to oust Weinstein, the academy said it was also telegraphing a broader goal.

"We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues, but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over," the academy said.

"What's at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society," it said. "The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify."

The New York Police Department said this week it was investigating an allegation of sexual assault from 2004 against Weinstein.

His accusers included the actress Gwyneth Paltrow, who told The New York Times that she was sexually harassed by Weinstein more than 20 years ago, and actress and director Angelina Jolie, who told the publication that she had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth and as a result chose never to work with him again.

Brother advocated expulsion

The academy's board gathered on Saturday to discuss the allegations against Weinstein and his inclusion in the organisation, which comprises 8,000 people from the film industry and invites members to join based on their contributions to film. Governors include such luminaries as director Steven Spielberg and actors Tom Hanks, Laura Dern and Whoopi Goldberg.

Weinstein is a member of the executives' branch of the academy and is also a member of the Producers Guild of America.

The PGA board is to meet on Monday to discuss whether to begin displinary proceedings against Weinstein, who would have 15 days to respond to any decision by the board, including an expulsion.

While Weinstein has driven numerous films to success at the Academy Awards over two decades, he has only won one Oscar himself, for producing best picture winner Shakespeare in Love in 1999.

The fallout from the allegations has been swift for Weinstein. He was fired at the beginning of this week from The Weinstein Co, the independent studio he co-founded in 2005 with his brother Bob Weinstein.

A spokesman for The Weinstein Co, in an email, cited Bob Weinstein's interview published on Saturday with The Hollywood Reporter, in which he said the academy should expel his brother.

Bob Weinstein said he was aware of his brother's marital infidelities, but said he had no idea about "the type of predator that he was", according to the industry publication.

Hachette Book Group, the US publishing house of French group Lagardere, terminated the Weinstein Books imprint on Thursday. People magazine reported on Tuesday that Weinstein's wife, Marchesa label fashion designer Georgina Chapman, was leaving him.

France has started the process of stripping Weinstein of his Legion of Honor, France's highest civilian distinction, President Emmanuel Macron's office said on Saturday.

Also this week, Weinstein was suspended from the British film academy BAFTA. Reuters
Washington, October 15

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that President Donald Trump had instructed him to continue diplomatic efforts to calm rising tensions with North Korea, saying those diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops.

Speaking on CNN's State of the Union, Tillerson downplayed messages that President Trump had previously posted on Twitter suggesting Tillerson was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man, a derogatory nickname Trump has coined for North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un.

Trump has made it clear to me to continue my diplomatic efforts, Tillerson said.

Tillersons comments Sunday come amid soaring tensions between the US and North Korea following a series of weapons tests by Pyongyang and a war of words between the two countries leaders. North Korea has conducted a series of nuclear tests in recent weeks and ago and launched two missiles over Japan.

Tillerson has been in talks with China to enlist its help on getting North Korea to back down. But Trumps recent Twitter messages appeared to undercut Tillersons efforts, prompting the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker to complain that Trump was publicly castrating Tillerson and hurting diplomatic talks.

Tillerson downplayed those tweets Sunday, telling CNN that Trump and Chinas President Xi Jinping have an extremely close relationship and that China understands the US position.  Reuters
Driving through downtown Tulsa during an afternoon rain storm, Noe Rodriguez parks his white SUV under an interstate overpass and watches in the rear-view mirror as a raggedly dressed man takes off in the opposite direction, briskly walking into the downpour and glancing over his shoulder to make sure Rodriguez isnt following.

He gets that reaction a lot.

They arent necessarily happy to see me, Rodriguez shrugs nonchalantly. They dont trust me.

But hes not here to see the man, anyway. Rodriguez has come looking for Amanda, a gaunt and frail-looking middle-aged woman who lives under a pile of blankets below the northwest corner of the Inner Dispersal Loop.

Rodriguez had talked to her the day before and promised to come find her again today. But she doesnt seem to recognize him as he climbs out his SUV and steps onto the sidewalk, where Amanda is sitting near a muddy puddle next to a giant concrete pillar.

Do you remember me? Rodriguez asks, but she only stares at him. You said I could come back today and help you get a birth certificate. Remember?

Working for the Mental Health Association Oklahoma, Rodriguez has recently begun doing full-time outreach  eight hours a day, 40 hours a week, searching the streets of Tulsa and offering to help find homes for chronically homeless individuals.

That process often begins with obtaining very basic personal documents. A birth certificate will help Amanda get an ID. And an ID will let her apply for subsidized housing. But first, she has to let Rodriguez help.

Can I fill out this form for you? he asks, squatting down with an iPad. How do you spell your last name?

The wind keeps blowing rain across his iPad screen. And to hear Amandas mumbled answer, Rodriguez has to lean in very close to her face. Shes wearing two hats and several layers of long-sleeve shirts and sitting under half a dozen filthy blankets and an old purple bathrobe, all of which smell like urine and sweat. But if it bothers Rodriguez, he doesnt show it.

Fifteen minutes later, he has the information he needs to obtain a birth certificate and promises Amanda that he will check on her again tomorrow. But she lies down without saying thank you or even goodbye.

I dont expect any gratitude, Rodriguez says, climbing back into the SUV. My why goes deeper than that.

An ordained Baptist minister, Rodriguez worked as a pastor at downtowns John 3:16 homeless shelter for eight years before moving to the Mental Health Association, where he worked as a case-manager supervisor for a couple of years. But his passion  his calling, as Rodriguez calls it  was never behind a desk. He wanted to work on the streets, face to face with the homeless. So he began doing homeless outreach full-time in April.

Because of his father

Rodriguezs father came back from Vietnam with a purple heart, silver and bronze stars, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Without psychiatric care, he tried to drown the symptoms with copious amounts of alcohol and lived alone for more than 20 years in a dilapidated house with no electricity, no heat and no running water.

He was a tough old dude, Rodriguez remembers. Theres no way he was ever going to feel like he needed anybody. He wouldnt let you carry him, if you know what I mean. He might walk alongside of you, if you let him have his dignity. But he wasnt going to let you carry him. He was going to take care of himself.

Finally, not long before he died in 2013, his father let Rodriguez help him navigate the bureaucracy at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which provided him with housing, health care and  ultimately  a funeral. But the help came two decades too late.

Now his father is why Rodriguez does the work he does.

Im trying to do for other people, he says, what I wish somebody had done for my father.

I was ready to change

Ronald Simpson calls himself Tramp. Now 62, hes been homeless off and on since he was 37.

Its like the way a red-headed guy might call himself Red, he says. You are what you are. And you might as well be able to laugh at yourself.

Rodriguez found him at a makeshift camp north of downtown Tulsa, where Simpson was begging for cash from motorists at Peoria Avenue and U.S. 75. Flying a sign, as people call it  writing messages on scraps of cardboard for drivers to read as they wait at stoplights.

Simpsons sign simply said Please help. And he had collected enough spare change to get drunk and pass out next to a campfire.

Sleeping a little too close to the flames, he woke up with his right shoe on fire.

I tried to get along on it for a few days, Simpson says. But the pain became unbearable, and he ended up in an emergency room before being admitted to a midtown hospital for skin grafts.

Then somebody offered to help him obtain Social Security benefits but instead ran off with his brand-new Social Security debit card, loaded with several months worth of payments.

By the time Rodriguez met him last summer, Simpson felt tired and depressed, resigned to dying on the streets.

Nothings going to change, Simpson told Rodriguez.

I can help, Rodriguez promised. Are you ready to change?

First, he reapplied for Simpsons Social Security, then helped him sign up for a one-bedroom subsidized apartment at a south Tulsa complex owned and recently renovated by Mental Health Association Oklahoma. Now Rodriguez is looking for a part-time job for Simpson.

This guy has really been a big help, Simpson says, sitting barefoot in a folding lawn chair in his freshly painted living room. I was done. I was ready to change the way I was living. I just didnt know how until he showed me.

You did it, Rodriguez tells him. I helped, but you did it. Youre the one who changed your life.

Since starting his current job six months ago, Rodriguez has helped nine people find housing, a number that makes him beam with pride. But he keeps a list of 106 chronically homeless people still living on the streets in Tulsa.

Simpson, when Rodriguez found him, was camping with several other homeless men. And Rodriguez made the same offer to all of them: Let me help you.

Simpson was the only one who said yes. The others walked away or said maybe later.

Why?

They dont trust me, Rodriguez says. Maybe they think I want something from them. Maybe I want them to stop drinking. But lots of people have drinking problems and have their own homes. Why cant these men have homes, too?

Rodriguez and the Mental Health Association take a housing first approach. Find a home for the homeless; then work on addiction, mental health and finances  because the other problems become a lot more manageable once the first problem has been taken care of.

But he cant force anyone to take his help.

Five minutes from Simpsons apartment, Rodriguez finds a man sleeping near a wooden privacy fence behind a south Tulsa QuikTrip.

Can I help you look for housing? Rodriguez offers. But the shakes his head and waves him off.

Ill come back, Rodriguez promises. You think about it, OK? And well talk again.
Driving through downtown Tulsa during an afternoon rain storm, Noe Rodriguez parks his white SUV under an interstate overpass and watches in the rear-view mirror as a raggedly dressed man takes off in the opposite direction, briskly walking into the downpour and glancing over his shoulder to make sure Rodriguez isn't following.

He gets that reaction a lot.

"They aren't necessarily happy to see me," Rodriguez shrugs nonchalantly. "They don't trust me."

But he's not here to see the man anyway. Rodriguez has come looking for "Amanda," a gaunt and frail-looking middle-aged woman who lives under a pile of blankets below the northwest corner of the Inner Dispersal Loop.

Rodriguez had talked to her the day before and promised to come find her again today. But she doesn't seem to recognize him as he climbs out of his SUV and steps onto the sidewalk, where Amanda is sitting near a muddy puddle next to a giant concrete pillar.

"Do you remember me?" Rodriguez asks, but she only stares at him. "You said I could come back today and help you get a birth certificate. Remember?"

Working for the Mental Health Association in Tulsa, Rodriguez has recently begun doing full-time "outreach"  eight hours a day, 40 hours a week, searching the streets of Tulsa and offering to help find homes for chronically homeless individuals.

That process often begins with obtaining very basic personal documents. A birth certificate will help Amanda get an ID. And an ID will let her apply for subsidized housing. But first, she has to let Rodriguez help.

"Can I fill out this form for you?" he asks, squatting down with an iPad. "How do you spell your last name?"

The wind keeps blowing rain across his iPad screen. And to hear Amanda's mumbled answer, Rodriguez has to lean in very close to her face. She's wearing two hats and several layers of long-sleeve shirts and sitting under half a dozen filthy blankets and an old purple bathrobe, all of which smell like urine and sweat. But if it bothers Rodriguez, he doesn't show it.

Fifteen minutes later, he has the information he needs to obtain a birth certificate and promises Amanda that he will check on her again tomorrow. But she lies down without saying "thank you" or even "goodbye."

"I don't expect any gratitude," Rodriguez says, climbing back into the SUV. "My 'why' goes deeper than that."

An ordained Baptist minister, Rodriguez worked as a pastor at downtown's John 3:16 homeless shelter for eight years before moving to the Mental Health Association, where he worked as a case-manager supervisor for a couple of years. But his passion  his calling, as Rodriguez calls it  was never behind a desk. He wanted to work on the streets, face to face with the homeless. So he began doing "homeless outreach" full-time in April.

***

Rodriguez's father came back from Vietnam with a purple heart, silver and bronze stars, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Without psychiatric care, he tried to drown the symptoms with copious amounts of alcohol and lived alone for more than 20 years in a dilapidated house with no electricity, no heat and no running water.

"He was a tough old dude," Rodriguez remembers. "There's no way he was ever going to feel like he needed anybody. He wouldn't let you carry him, if you know what I mean. He might walk alongside of you, if you let him have his dignity. But he wasn't going to let you carry him. He was going to take care of himself."

Finally, not long before he died in 2013, his father let Rodriguez help him navigate the bureaucracy at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, which provided him with housing, health care and  ultimately  a funeral. But the help came two decades too late.

Now his father is why Rodriguez does the work he does.

"I'm trying to do for other people," he says, "what I wish somebody had done for my father."

***

Ronald Simpson calls himself "Tramp." Now 62, he's been homeless off and on since he was 37.

"It's like the way a red-headed guy might call himself Red," he says. "You are what you are. And you might as well be able to laugh at yourself."

Rodriguez found him at a makeshift camp north of downtown Tulsa, where Simpson was begging for cash from motorists at Peoria Avenue and U.S. 75. "Flying a sign," as people call it  writing messages on scraps of cardboard for drivers to read as they wait at stoplights.

Simpson's sign simply said "Please help." And he'd collected enough spare change to get drunk and pass out next to a campfire.

Sleeping a little too close to the flames, he woke up with his right shoe on fire.

"I tried to get along on it for a few days," Simpson says. But the pain became unbearable, and he ended up in an emergency room before being admitted to a midtown hospital for skin grafts.

Then somebody offered to help him obtain Social Security benefits but instead ran off with his brand-new Social Security debit card, pre-loaded with several months' worth of payments.

By the time Rodriguez met him last summer, Simpson felt tired and depressed, resigned to dying on the streets.

"Nothing's going to change," Simpson told Rodriguez.

"I can help," Rodriguez promised. "Are you ready to change?"

First, he re-applied for Simpson's Social Security, then helped him sign up for a one-bedroom subsidized apartment at a south Tulsa complex owned and recently renovated by the Mental Health Association. Now Rodriguez is looking for a part-time job for Simpson.

"This guy has really been a big help," Simpson says, sitting barefoot in a folding lawn chair in his freshly painted living room. "I was done. I was ready to change the way I was living. I just didn't know how until he showed me."

"You did it," Rodriguez tells him. "I helped, but you did it. You're the one who changed your life."

Since starting his current job six months ago, Rodriguez has helped nine people find housing, a number that makes him beam with pride. But he keeps a list of 106 chronically homeless people still living on the streets in Tulsa.

Simpson, when Rodriguez found him, was camping with several other homeless men. And Rodriguez made the same offer to all of them: "Let me help you."

Simpson was the only one who said yes. The others walked away or said "maybe later."

Why?

"They don't trust me," Rodriguez says. "Maybe they think I want something from them. Maybe I want them to stop drinking. But lots of people have drinking problems and have their own homes. Why can't these men have homes, too?"

Rodriguez and the Mental Health Association take a "housing first" approach. Find a home for the homeless, then work on addiction, mental health and finances  because the other problems become a lot more manageable once the first problem has been taken care of.

But he can't force anyone to take his help.

Five minutes from Simpson's apartment, Rodriguez finds a man sleeping near a wooden privacy fence behind a south Tulsa QuikTrip.

"Can I help you look for housing?" Rodriguez offers. But the man shakes his head and waves him off.

"I'll come back," Rodriguez promises. "You think about it, OK? And we'll talk again."
Construction workers excavating the site for Tulsas new downtown arena in 2005 made a disturbing discovery: human bones.

They probably werent too surprised, though, because the construction company had been warned that an old cemetery was located at the intersection of Second Street and Frisco Avenue, behind what is now the BOK Center.

And people had been digging up human remains there for decades, Tulsa World reporter Nicole Marshall wrote on Sept. 9, 2005.

From 1882 until 1905, Tulsans buried about 300 of their dead in the cemetery. It may have served as an American Indian burial ground before that. Among those buried there were:

 Jeff Archer, a popular young merchant who built one of Tulsas first stores. He was killed in an explosion in 1895 when a drunken man shot into a barrel of gunpowder in his store. Archer Street is named for him. (He was later reburied at Rose Hill cemetery.)

 Outlaw John Yockey, who died with his boots on after being shot in 1894 by a man to whom he had sold a stolen horse.

 Two U.S. deputy marshals  William Moody and Frank Sennett  who died in the line of duty.

Burials at the old graveyard were discontinued after Oaklawn Cemetery at 11th Street and Peoria Avenue was designated as the official public cemetery in 1905. The city attempted to relocate the dead to Oaklawn, which was then considered out in the country, but many of the graves were unmarked. Also, some corpses were wrapped only in blankets, while others were placed in wooden coffins that had disintegrated.

Some years later, a homeowner digging a foundation for an addition found a mummified mother and child in a coffin. The city declined to pay for reburial, so the man dug them a new grave in his backyard.

In 1948, workmen excavating for a basement discovered six graves, including one of a child. A gold wedding ring was also found. One of the caskets had a glass top.

Other remains have been found since then. In 1995, landscapers at 202 S. Frisco Ave. discovered the bones of an adolescent boy.

Perryman Cemetery

Tulsas oldest private burial site was nearly lost to history as well.

The Perryman Cemetery at 32nd Street and Utica Avenue holds about 50 graves. It was laid out in 1848 and holds the remains of Perryman family members, including some Civil War veterans. Not all graves are marked. The oldest gravestone belongs to Lydia Perryman Beaver, who died in 1879.

The Perrymans were among the earliest families in Tulsa, having left Alabama and Georgia with other Creek Nation members after their political leader was murdered.

They arrived in Indian Territory in 1828, avoiding the Trail of Tears. George Perryman operated a 60,000-acre cattle ranch  part of the familys holdings which spread from what is now downtown Tulsa east to Broken Arrow, north to the Verdigris River and south to Mounds. Josiah Perryman established Tulsas first post office in 1879.

George and his wife, Rachel Perryman, were considered the first family of Tulsa, raising seven children of their own and taking in as many as 20 orphans. Their home at 38th Street and Troost Avenue was known as the White House.

By the 1950s, the 150-by-150-foot cemetery had suffered from neglect and damage by vandals. In 1958, attorneys representing some Perryman heirs drew up a plan to relocate the graves and create two housing lots.

The plan was shelved and the Perryman family deeded the land to the Tulsa Historical Society in 1971. The city of Tulsa agreed to maintain the property in 1988.

The historical society restored the cemetery, installing a new wrought-iron fence, sidewalks and landscaping. The Tulsa Monument Co. repaired damaged headstones without cost.

Spirits awakened?

While the dead at the Perryman property have slept undisturbed, those interred in Tulsas original public cemetery have been jostled, dug up and subjected to the intrusions of construction workers from time to time.

In 1967, Tulsa Tribune reporter Jim Downing visited the last vacant piece of the old cemetery at Second and Frisco, which was slated for re-development by Urban Renewal. He wrote:

The rains have cut gullies in the sandy soil. Here, rotted away is part of an old, green, high-button womans shoe. A flaking fake pearl lies nearby. In the weeds is the arm off a long-gone doll. A broken vase.

The site has been transformed substantially since the $196 million BOK Center opened in 2008.

When the sounds of rock music, applause and cheers fill Tulsas downtown arena, the spirits of those resting in forgotten places just might rise up to join the frivolity.

Hilary Pittman contributed to this story.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Three weeks of closed-door meetings have yet to yield a solution to the states budget crisis, which is threatening to reduce or end services to some of the states most vulnerable residents.

Lawmakers were called back to the Capitol in special session on Sept. 25 but recessed two days later pending budget negotiations that seem to have produced nothing of substance.

The biggest obstacles appear to be in the Oklahoma House, which has been unable to muster the supermajority needed to raise revenue. The lack of new revenue means targeted spending cuts and the use of one-time funds to plug budget holes.

Insiders say deep political differences and the states constitutional requirements for revenue bills have paralyzed the lawmaking process. Mired helplessly in political quicksand, the various factions have taken to blaming each other for the failure to produce a workable solution to a $215 million budget hole.

The latest accusations involved anti-abortion activists in the Legislature who supposedly said they would vote for House Speaker Charles McCalls revenue proposal in exchange for a statewide abortion ban.

Rep. Chuck Strohm, R-Jenks, said only three or four had explored that possibility.

The highest calling a legislator has is protecting human life, he said. A very small group of pro-life conservatives expressed a willingness in supporting the speakers (revenue) plan in exchange for a total ban on abortion in the state of Oklahoma.

This had nothing to do with the Platform Caucus. These were conservative, pro-life legislators that were not speaking on behalf of any particular group.

The formation of the Platform Caucus was announced in May by some lawmakers who said it was established to uphold the values in the Oklahoma Republican Party Platform.

Sen. Ervin Yen, R-Oklahoma City, said agreeing to vote for revenue-raising measures in exchange for a ban on abortion is ridiculous.

A ban on abortion would be immediately overturned by the first court that heard it and would get nowhere close to the U.S. Supreme Court, Yen said.

Several bills aimed at putting restrictions on abortions have been tossed out by the courts. Last year, the Oklahoma Supreme Court said a petition making abortion illegal would not proceed because criminalizing abortion is unconstitutional.

Our process is being stalled by ideology being placed ahead of the particular needs of everyday Oklahomans, said Sen. A.J. Griffin, R-Guthrie.

The upcoming gubernatorial race and local legislative elections are also playing a role.

House Minority Floor Leader Scott Inman, D-Del City, is running for governor. He has said his caucus will not support a $1.50-per-pack cigarette tax increase unless other revenue-raising measures, such as a hike in the gross production tax and income tax increases on high-wage earners, are also included.

Inman has held numerous press conferences on the budget challenges facing the state.

Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, said the Republican caucus has three different factions and cant agree on what to do.

It is not just Scott Inman, McBride said. We have to be at blame. It is just like a marriage and divorce. More than one person is to blame for it.

Inman could not be reached for comment.

But Rep. Cory Williams, D-Stillwater, said Inmans candidacy is not related to the budget standstill, adding that Republicans have yet to outline a plan.

Democrats months ago  during the regular session  made their plan public, which was politically risky for Inman, Williams said.

Republican political consultant Fount Holland said a law requiring a supermajority to pass tax increases has let the Democrats hold the state of Oklahoma hostage.

Holland is credited for flipping the House to Republican control.

Half the Senate, the entire House and all statewide offices are up for grabs next year. The filing period is April 11-13. Primaries are in June with runoffs in August. The general election is Nov. 6.

People who actually show up to vote in a Republican primary tend to be the hardest core conservatives age 55-plus, so that plays a factor in why there are so many anti-tax sentiments, Holland said.

The Capitol will be closed until Oct. 23 for an electrical upgrade. House leaders said there are no plans to meet at another location. The House is expected to return to the floor on Oct. 24, said House Majority Floor Leader Jon Echols, R-Oklahoma City.
There are two axioms were dealing with at this point: America, keeping you safe since 1945. And: America, keeping you jittery since 1945.

When the nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, bringing an end to World War II, the race to figure out how to make such weapons and then make a whole bunch of them was on. Although the Manhattan Project was kept secret by the U.S., it is likely that the Soviet Union already was working on developing its own. Some historians report that Joseph Stalin did not seem surprised when informed of the bombings in Japan. By 1949, the Soviets had developed and tested their first atomic bomb.

That arms race escalated, as did the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. In 1963, the U.S., Soviet Union and Great Britain signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which prohibited the testing of nuclear weapons in outer space, underwater or in the atmosphere. That pact was hastened by the 1962 Cuban missile crisis that nearly started World War III. By 1970, the historic Non-Proliferation Treaty had been signed by the U.S., Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France and China. Since then, at least 191 other countries have agreed, most of which have no nuclear arms. The only U.N. members to decline to sign and who have or are believed to have nuclear weapons are India, Pakistan and Israel. North Korea withdrew in 2003.

After all that, we now learn that President Trump, although he denies it, had requested that the U.S. have 10 times more nuclear weapons than in the current arsenal. He has threatened Kim Jong Un, the dictator of North Korea, with nuclear annihilation. Earlier this year he tweeted that any act by North Korea will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen. Exactly what any act would be is unclear In response, Kim has shot off more test rockets and claims to have the rocket power to land a nuclear weapon in the U.S. That prompted the University of Hawaii to send an email to students with the ominous line, in the event of a nuclear attack. It also had information about radiation emergencies and sheltering in place.

In the 1960s, it was find a fallout shelter, duck and cover or, in my case, see if your great-uncle had room in his backyard fallout shelter. My guess is that he didnt. Turns out that none of those things would have helped anyway.

Right now, the U.S. has 6,800 warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Russia has about 7,000. Those numbers are down because the U.S. and Russia have been reducing their stockpiles over the years. Still, its enough firepower to destroy the Earth several times over.

Last week, Trump announced that he would break the nuclear deal with Iran, negotiated by the Obama administration. He backed off on that slightly Friday, leaving to Congress the decision of resuming sanctions on Iran, wjhich would put U.S. allies in a tough spot. The deal with Iran was difficult. It required diplomacy and compromise. Yes, compromise, that thing that U.S. citizens have been insisting that Congress do. Unfortunately for many, compromise  which is crucial in any diplomatic encounter  is anathema when it comes to deals with foreign countries. After all, some believe, Americans dont have to agree with one another, but everyone else must agree with America.

Wolfgang Ischinger, the former German ambassador to the U.S., told Roger Cohen of The New York Times last week that Trump was showing total disrespect for American allies. Cohen believes, however, that disrespect would be least of the problem with ending the Iran deal. He said that it could be the rashest, most foolish act of the Trump administration to date. Thats saying something.

Im hoping cooler heads at White House Day Care, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chief of Staff John Kelly, can maintain some control over the president and make him understand just how provocative increasing the nuclear arsenal and wiping out the Iran deal would be. Can they make him aware that every time he threatens North Korea or Kim Jong Un that he plays right into the dictators hands? Does Trump realize that his threat of fire and fury would mean vaporizing more than 25 million people, including children? Does he know that it would be the first time a nuclear weapon had been used, other than testing, since 1945, when the U.S. also did it?

When I was a kid, I lived about 60 miles from Tinker Field in Midwest City. Tinker was said to be one of the Soviets first targets. During the Cuban missile crisis, I was 12 or 13, and for some time afterward, I would step into the front yard to see if there was a mushroom cloud anywhere in the distance. I dont know exactly what I would have done. Duck and cover, I suppose.

Trump is being reckless, provocative and, frankly, dangerous. We have enough to worry about. Nuclear war ought not be one.

So, how are you feeling? Safe? Jittery? Ready to duck and cover?
This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon!

Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page?
By Park Si-soo



More than 5,000 foreigners have been denied permission to board flights to South Korea since the government introduced a pre-screening system in April.

The counter-terrorism system preemptively identifies terrorists or other potential threats tying to buy tickets or board aircraft traveling to Korea.

The system became operational on April 1 and had identified 5,164 individuals up to the end of August, said Rep. Yoo Eui-dong of the minor conservative Bareun Party, quoting data from the Ministry of Justice, which is in charge of border control.

Chinese made up the biggest portion with 945, followed by Ethiopians (602), Uzbeks (330) and Americans (286).

Five were on Interpol's wanted list; 268 tried to buy tickets with passports people had lost; and 379 had been involved in serious crimes such as terrorism, drugs, sexual crimes or murder.

Yoo said the system had contributed a lot to heading off many external security threats, but there were still many loopholes.

"The system is applied only to air travelers," he said. "About 20 percent of foreigners enter the country on ships. But there is no such a system applied to them.

"The system's coverage needs to be expanded to make this country safer."
Kendallville, IN (46755)

Today

Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. High 38F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%..

Tonight

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the evening. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%.


Pasta, a staple of traditional Italian cuisine, is celebrating its own special day on Tuesday, Oct. 17, with National Pasta Day. To celebrate this special day, The Bootlegger Italian Bistro is hosting a pasta flight, including specialty pastas that can also be paired with wines.

Bootlegger Bistros pasta flight includes: Baci di Pasta con Aragosta Fresh pasta pouches filled with lobster tossed in a truffle cream sauce Tortelloni di Formaggio Filled with ricotta and parmigiano reggiano tossed in tomato and light cream sauce with smoked pancetta Fettuccine al Ragu di Vitello Ribbon pasta smothered in a veal and porcini mushroom sauce Guests can also enjoy a wine flight paired with the above menu. The wine flight includes: Cote Des Roses, France Carmenet Chardonnay Reserve, Sonoma Pio Cesare Barbera, Italia

The pasta and wine flights will be available on National Pasta Day, Oct. 17, from 3 p.m.  11 p.m. The pasta flight is available for $32 per person, and the accompanying wine flight at $10 per person. If purchased together, both flights are $39 per person. Reservations are encouraged.
A man helps push a dead motorcycle taxi on a flooded street in Bangkok on Oct 14, 2017. (Photo: AFP / Roberto Schmidt)

At least 55 major roads were flooded but most had dried up by the late afternoon, Bangkok Post said.

Bangkok authorities urged those with no urgent business to stay home as many roads are still inundated, Thailand's The Nation newspaper reported.

Affected areas included Din Daeng, Ekamai and parts of Sukhumvit Road, as well as tourist areas such as Chatuchak and the Wat Pho, Khaosod.com said.

Photos showed cars ploughing through water that reached up to their windscreens and vehicles waiting to cross "rivers" that had sprung up overnight on roads.

Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang apologised in the afternoon but said officials had done everything they could, Bangkok Post said.

I dont deny responsibility but the rain exceeded 200mm," he said, adding that the last time that happened was about 25 years ago.

Rainfall reached 203mm, with Phra Nakhon district receiving the heaviest rain, The Nation said. The hashtag #flood was trending on social media.
The adjective undone contains a host of possible meanings  distraught, fallen apart, unfinished, unaccomplished, ruined, destroyed  encompassing the uncanny nature of Nguyen Tran Nams most recent series of work.



The lacquer paintings mark a return to a medium from Nams formal training at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts (graduated 2003) after a lengthy stint producing a diverse body of multimedia work as one of Hanois second-wave of contemporary artists, yet his aesthetic and subjects continue in the vein of his more experimental work.



Dark and heavy, the series brutal beauty reveals the artists concern with both the dead and the living and portrays his obsession with the ruins of landscapes and life. Forming an imaginary realm unbound by truth, time or place, these are images of chases, riots, crushed faces prostrated on the streets, someones shadow just gliding through the darkness on the other side of a door. The depictions seem to pass by without reason, no beginning or ending, no explanation. And we humans are left to wonder about moments of insecurity in the past, and realize that they are not individual points in time but a permanent presence, that we have been in and will always be stuck in.

For Nguyen Tran Nam, drawing is a kind of journaling process, during which he unconsciously chronicles the ambiguity drifting in his mind as a result of stories he has heard, experiences he has been through and the character of life as well as philosophical metaphors, a general state of absurdity and obsessions with literature and poetry or myths. And whether these fragments of his mind were recorded accidentally or noted down intentionally, in the end they come together to turn into an untitled disorder that resembles an everlasting instant without beginning or ending.



Born in 1979, Nguyen Tran Nam is considered one of the second-wave contemporary artists in Hanoi closely associated with Nha San Studio (now re-named Nha San Collective)  one of the first artist-led experimental art spaces of Northern Vietnam.

Since graduating from the Vietnam University of Fine art in 2003, Nam has been producing a diverse body of multimedia work, which takes inspiration from his own experience coming from a working-class family, growing up in the countryside of Hung Yen province and later migrating to the capital to study painting.



At times dark and heavy, others playful and sarcastic, his work makes visible both past and present-day social, political and historical issues of Vietnam, while highlighting the individual tales of and human relationships among people of different social groups, especially the working class.



Selected exhibitions include Reunification-1 Journey; Mise-en-scene, Nha San Collective, Hanoi (2016), Broken Chapters solo show, Manzi Art Space, Hanoi (2013), Hinterland, Luggage Store Gallery, San Francisco (2012); Gap, Nhasan Studio, Hanoi, Vietnam (2010); Indefinitely, Ryllega Gallery, Hanoi, Vietnam (2008).



Entrance is free.
A piece of quartz stone is found at a mine in central Phu Yen Provinces Phu Mo Commune.  Photo vov.vn

The rush is not only threatening lives of the exploiters, who are not aware of the dangers while climbing the high mountain slopes, but also destroying the environment, according to a local authority official.

La O Cuong, head of ong Xuan Districts Phu Giang Ward, which is suffering from serious environmental devastation due to quartz exploitation, said most of the exploiters were local poor residents who had no jobs or stable income, and thus hoped that by exploiting quartz they could change their lives for the better.

Despite the local authority issuing a warning on the danger, and even banning quartz exploitation, the illegal action occurred without any checks, Cuong complained to vov.vn.

"Sometimes accidents, including landslides and stone mine collapses, occurred and the exploiters tried to handle the incidents themselves to avoid informing authorities," Cuong said.

Since the authority had forbidden exploitation, many did not dare to undertake this illegal action, however, there were some who continued to flout the ban, according to Cuong.

The exploitation sites are mostly on the Dut Ruong mountain ridge in Phu Mo Commune. Deep below the mountain is the Ky Lo River, whose banks have been ruined by the many illegal mining pits.

At the foot of the mountain, piles of bags containing sand with quartz stones harvested by locals were stocked to be sold to private traders.

Contrary to the rumours, the cost of quartz stone was actually over VN1,000 (US$0.04) per kilo, thus one person of average age could only earn just some

VN100,000-200.000 daily, while a healthy and young individual could earn between VN300,000 and VN 400,000, a local said.

Lo Thi Lep from Phu Mo Commune, who used to be a quartz stone miner and was lucky to survive a mine collapse accident, said the amount of earnings was not worth the risk.

The terrain of Dut Ruong Mountain was very dangerous and prone to landslides, Lep said.

There had been fatal accidents in the past with victims, including a woman from the same commune getting buried under the stone mine, leaving her two children orphaned.

Lep said she understood the consequences, and had thus quit the illegal job. She also appealed to others in her commune to follow suit to protect their lives.
The number of foreigners buying real estate products in Viet Nam has increased, but the domestic property market needs policies to attract more foreign investment.  Photo cafef.vn

Nguyen Trong Ninh, director of the Housing and Real Estate Market Management Department under the Ministry of Construction, said a policy on licensing foreigners buying and owning houses in Viet Nam was issued in 2008.

In 2014, the Ministry of Construction reviewed and evaluated this policy during its study of the amendment of the Law on Housing. According to the ministry, from 2008 to 2014, some 126 foreigners owned property products in Viet Nam. Therefore, it proposed to add conditions for foreigners to buy houses in Viet Nam. The amended Law on Housing 2014 including those proposals was passed in 2014 and came into effect in 2015, Ninh said.

Following two years of implementing the amended Law on Housing, the domestic property market has developed in the positive direction in the segment of selling real estate products to foreign buyers, and foreigners have supported the proposals, according to reports from localities sent to the construction ministry.

From 2015 until now, some 750 foreigners received housing ownership certificates, six times higher than the period from 2008 to 2014.

However, there are not many transactions involving foreigners buying property products in Viet Nam due to many reasons, including financial ability of foreigners, their jobs in Viet Nam, demand, location and price of houses, according to Ninh.

As a state management agency in the field of housing, the Ministry of Construction said in the current period, regulations on housing and policies related to housing in Viet Nam for foreign individuals and organisations had been open, including subject, conditions on ownership and the number of houses that can be owned by foreign buyers.

Meanwhile, regulations on the number of houses that foreign organisations and individuals can own in buildings and housing projects are in accordance with the actual conditions of Viet Nam and international regulations.

Nguyen Khanh Duy, Savills Viet Nams HCM City residential sales director, said a limit on the number of apartments owned by foreigners was very important to minimise and prevent negative impact on domestic socio-economic development.

Viet Nams Circular 19/2016/TT-BXD and Decree 99/2015/ND-CP regulate the number of houses owned by foreigners to tighten procedures on re-sale of real estate products and increase transparency in the process of implementing administrative procedures for these property products.

However, Duy said an adjustment that will create suitable quotas for certain kinds of property products, such as resorts or Grade A apartments, should also be considered carefully. The state should have flexible quotas to create a positive dynamic for the local property market because Viet Nam has 82,000 foreigners working and living here and more than four million overseas Vietnamese, who have high demand for buying housing products in Viet Nam

According to Savills Viet Nam, the 2015 amendment of the Law on Housing allowing foreigners to buy houses in Viet Nam was considered a positive change in policy. That action has promoted further development of the local real estate market.

It was expected to create more favourable conditions in stimulating development of investment, tourism and service in the real estate sector.

In fact, property projects and products attracting foreigners have been mainly in the high-end segment.

Markets attracting foreign buyers include HCM City, Ha Noi and Da Nang, according to Savills Viet Nam. However, there are a small number of red books or land use rights certificates that were licensed to foreign organisations and individuals buying houses in Viet Nam. The number is lower in comparison with the high demand from foreign buyers because foreigners are not yet clear about legal procedures in Viet Nam, while state administrative offices in some localities are not familiar with regulation related to foreigners.

For large investors, to find suitable property projects, they often choose to work with an international consulting firm that has a network of offices and branches in many countries to ensure that all questions related to legal and trading procedures will be explained satisfactorily. Sometimes, they do not need to pay more money for consulting services.

The big investors will choose a company with experience, reputation and ability to communicate well in many languages to save time and money.

However, in terms of customers, these investors should have specific requirements on the project to get the most detailed consultation information, Duy said.
Marching bands from DeKalb, Angola and East Noble high schools have qualified for semi-state competition Oct. 28.

All three bands earned gold ratings in regional contests Saturday. DeKalb and East Noble marched in Class B at Lafayette Jefferson High School. Angola competed in Class C at Chesterton High School.

At Chesterton, that competition was delayed for several hours by rainy weather and finally moved indoors, where all Class A and Class C bands performed without their full visual shows.

Baron Brigade put on another great show, said DeKalb band director Shanna Lank. The work these kids having been putting into this show is truly incredible. I really appreciate their hard work and dedication not only to the show but one another.

Only nine of the 14 Class B bands and just five of the 14 Class D bands earned gold ratings at Lafayette Jefferson. In Class D, Adams Central and Northwestern received visual distinction awards. No distinction awards were given in Class B.

The base score for with distinction is raised as we progress through the season, Lank said. Unfortunately, none of us were able to achieve that bar, but it gives us a good goal to strive for as we push through to semi-state.

The Baron Brigade will be competing in an invitational contest at East Noble High School on Saturday night.

We will flock the field at 8:15 prepared to put on another fantastic performance, Lank said. The bands competition show is titled Birds of a Feather Flock Together, with music from the songs Freebird, Blackbird and Birdland.

The Class B semi-state contest will take place Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. at Pike High School in Indianapolis. East Noble will perform at 3:49 p.m. DeKalb will be the final band to perform, taking the field at 5:59 p.m. Twenty bands will compete, and the top 10 bands will advance to the state finals Nov. 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Class C semi-state is scheduled for Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. at Decatur Central High School. Angola will take the field at 4:28 p.m. Twenty bands advanced to semi-state, and the top 10 bands in Class C also will qualify for the state finals.

Also in Class C regional competition at Chesterton Saturday, Garrett High Schools Railroader Regiment earned a silver rating. In Class D at Lafayette Jefferson, Eastsides Marching Blazer Pride earned a bronze rating.
VIROQUA  The cabbage has been harvested and shredded and Artisan Deli Foods latest batch of sauerkraut is fermenting in bins at the Food Enterprise Center in Viroqua.

Ursula and Barry Thomas have been making and packaging their raw fermented white cabbage sauerkraut at the Viroqua facility since 2015. They live in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Ill., and both have full-time jobs in that area.

Ursula, a native of Switzerland where her family had a sauerkraut company, and Barry, a Chicago-area native, started Artisan Deli Foods in 2013.

The business operated from East Troy, Wis., until the Thomases moved it to Viroqua in 2015 after hearing about the Food Enterprise Center at a food show.

Its great, Barry said of operating at the Food Enterprise Center, which houses several businesses that make food products.

Everything is done here, in the Viroqua region, Barry said. Its grown, produced and packaged locally and distributed from here.

An area Amish farm family grows the white cabbage that the Thomases use for their sauerkraut. This years crop was harvested and shredded at the Food Enterprise Center over two days in early September.

The shredded cabbage is salted before it ferments in special bins at the center for about eight to 10 weeks. No artificial preservatives are added.

We package it in our pouches every month or so, Barry said, typically starting around the end of October. The sauerkraut is sold in 16-ounce special ferment-vent pouches. Stored in a cool, dark storage space or refrigerator, it will last up to six months.

Barry expects to package about 5,000 pounds of sauerkraut made from this years cabbage crop. Sales continue to increase, he said. We continue to slowly grow market share, he added.

Artisan Deli Foods sauerkraut is high in fiber, gluten- and dairy-free, low in calories and is the perfect complement for healthy living, Barry said.

No herbicides or pesticides are used in growing the cabbage that Barry and Ursula use. Its raw, all-natural and organic, and is probiotic-rich, Barry said of their sauerkraut.

While the business now makes one kind of sauerkraut, Ursula said, We would like to expand our flavors to possibly include a white wine sauerkraut and a red cabbage kraut.

Artisan Deli Foods sauerkraut is sold in about 12 grocery and health food stores in Wisconsin and northern Illinois. In the La Crosse area, its available in Festival Foods stores in the Village Shopping Center in La Crosse and in Onalaska; Woodmans Food Market in Onalaska; Peoples Food Co-op in La Crosse and the Viroqua Food Co-op.

Ursula said she grew up working at her familys sauerkraut company in Switzerland. Her grandfather bought a small farm near Zurich in 1920 and began making sauerkraut.

Her father took over the family business in 1960 and throughout her childhood I was always in the factory helping out, Ursula said.

She first met Barry in 1981, while she was living in the Chicago area for a year, and they were married in 1988 in Switzerland.

Ursula and Barry both worked at the sauerkraut factory in Switzerland . We moved to the U.S. in 1992, shortly after my father sold the (Masshard Sauerkraut) business, she said.

The couple always wanted to own their own sauerkraut company, Ursula said, so they started Artisan Deli Foods.
Allen, Weinstein. Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Woody Allens estranged son, Ronan Farrow, has played a pivotal role in bringing to light the decades of sexual harassment and assault allegedly perpetrated by former studio head Harvey Weinstein; his New Yorker piece, published this past week, included allegations of rape from three women and audio of Weinstein coercing one of his accusers, Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, into his hotel room. Now Allen himself is weighing in on the disgraced producers fast fall from grace, most recently manifested in a revocation of Weinsteins membership from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. No one ever came to me or told me horror stories with any real seriousness, the Wonder Wheel director told BBC News. And they wouldnt, because you are not interested in it. You are interested in making your movie.

However, like many longtime Hollywood players, Allen admits he had heard whispers about Weinsteins alleged predatory behavior. But you do hear a million fanciful rumours all the time. And some turn out to be true and some  many  are just stories about this actress, or that actor, he explains. The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved, he added. Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that is life is so messed up. Theres no winners in that, its just very, very sad and tragic for those poor women that had to go through that.

Allen also expressed concern that the flood of accusations against Weinstein might signal a potential cause for concern for men in general. You also dont want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself, Allen remarks. Thats not right either. But sure, you hope that something like this could be transformed into a benefit for people rather than just a sad or tragic situation. In 2016, Ronan Farrow published an essay in The Hollywood Reporter revisiting sexual-molestation allegations leveled at Allen by Mia Farrows adopted daughter Dylan Farrow.

Update, October 16: Woody Allen has clarified his statement about Harvey Weinstein, saying that he doesnt actually feel sorry for the mogul producer. When I said I felt sad for Harvey Weinstein I thought it was clear the meaning was because he is a sad, sick man, Allen wrote in a statement to Variety. I was surprised it was treated differently. Lest there be any ambiguity, this statement clarifies my intention and feelings.

7 High-Profile Men Accused of Sexual Harassment Over The Past Year
In the past two years, the Baptist General Convention of Texas kicked out a local church for accepting LGBT members, McLennan County Commissioners chose not to add gender identity and sexual orientation to the county nondiscrimination policy, and a Waco justice of the peace said she would only perform opposite-sex marriages.

At the state level, lawmakers have pushed to force transgender people to use public bathrooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificate, though no such law has passed in Texas. At the national level, President Donald Trump has asked for a ban on transgender troops serving in the military, a policy now under review.

But Saturdays Out on the Brazos pride festival was about moving beyond the discrimination, organizers said. For the first time in about 10 years, the local LGBT community gathered in Cameron Park near Lovers Leap to celebrate and say now is the time to get involved and have their voices heard, organizers said.

Clearly, were under attack from the Trump-Pence administration right now, coordinator Deanna Leach said. Women are under attack, racial minorities are under attack and we have got to stay visible and stay active.

Anywhere from 200 to 400 people were expected throughout the day for speeches from Democratic political candidates, music, games, information booths and food. Organizers have been planning the festival for about a year. They started planning after billboards showed up locally referencing conversion therapy, Leach said.

Residents upset about the billboards started sending money to organizers to fight the display, but the boards disappeared before anything could be done, she said.

They had about $500, and the Rev. Charley Garrison, pastor of Central Texas Metropolitan Community Church, suggested a picnic. The idea grew from there, and he rolled with it, knowing that whatever they put together would be more than last year, Garrison said.

Something like this brings people together and gives them a voice to be able to say the LGBT community matters, Garrison said. So many people feel isolated and they feel overwhelmed. This will show them theyre not alone. Were all stronger together.

As a new-to-Waco freshman at Baylor University, the event offered Cordelia DeDecker a way to connect with people, she said. A Flower Mound native, she is used to attending pride festivals in Dallas but doesnt know too many LGBT students in Waco, DeDecker said. She learned about the event from a flier at Starbucks.

Im new to the area, so I dont know the nuances very well, but I havent felt under attack per se.  I always have to be very cautious of who I tell that Im dating someone, DeDecker said. Im dating a girl, so I always have to vet the people Im talking to on campus before I tell them because I dont want to be berated for being in a relationship.

Organizers havent received much backlash or criticism for hosting the festival either, they said. Garrison received at least one detesting voicemail, but more than open opposition, organizers noticed a lack of response when they invited other supporters to join in, they said.

The group asked for a proclamation for the event from Mayor Kyle Deaver, but Deaver said he didnt think it would pass through the city council. The group was thankful for a letter of support instead, Leach said.

Waco accepts and welcomes people of diverse backgrounds, Deaver wrote. I recognize that a diverse population leads to a more vibrant community, and I appreciate the contributions made by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community to the cultural, civic and economic successes of the city of Waco.

The group also invited Republican candidates to the event, but received no response, Leach said.

Im hoping people realize there is a large contingent of gay people in the Waco area, Leach said. Were not really cohesive in a lot of ways because we dont really have a place to meet all the time, but were going to change that, I think.

The group is establishing a Waco pride network, and is already making plans for next years event, possibly at Brazos Park East with vendors and food trucks, Garrison said. Theyre hoping Wacos pride festival can become an annual gathering, he said.

Whats really cool is its a grassroots, community-sponsored event, Garrison said. Its not just LGBT people that are making this happen. Different churches, Waco Friends of Peace, suicide prevention, Brazos Theatre. None of that stuff is specifically LGBT, but its all groups that are supporting us and I think thats really important to be able to see.
Thomas McKinley Criswell

Feb. 6, 1928 - Oct. 7, 2017

Thomas McKinley Criswell, 89, went home to be with the Lord on October 7, 2017.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, October 21, at Adams Funeral Home.

Thomas was born February 6, 1928 in Falls County, Texas, to Thomas Turner and Amelia (McKinley) Criswell. Thomas graduated from Marlin High School in 1945 and joined the United States Navy in March of 1946. After two years of active service, he attended Texas A&M and graduated with a Bachelors of Agronomy.

Thomas started Criswell Enterprises in 1977 and worked with his wife, Wanda, until her death. His son, Little Tom, worked with him for 30 years. He was very active in many organizations for several years including the Lions Club, the Marlin Masonic Lodge, the Knights Templer, Eastern Star, The Shriners, as well as others. Thomas was a member of the First Baptist Church for over 60 years and he taught Sunday School there for 20 years. Later, he helped at the disabled veterans home teaching Sunday school.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda Harper Criswell; brothers, JC Criswell, Glenn Criswell, Travis Criswell, Ray Criswell; and sisters, Mary Ruth Criswell and Myrtlene Criswell Tate.

Survivors include his children, Pam Fillip, Shannon Peck, Kathy Criswell, and Tom Criswell; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Children's Hospital, Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville, Texas or the charity of your choice.
Willie was born to Willie Kirk Ochoa Sr., and Debra Olsen Ochoa, in Waco, on August 27, 1984. He attended La Vega Schools. He worked at Heitmiller's Steakhouse, General Dynamics and helped construct McLean Stadium from the ground breaking until its completion in2014. Willie was also active with the Waco Haunted House near Ross and was very popular with the other workers there. He was known for his infectious smile and sense of humor. Willie loved a variety of music and his dog, Diamond. He was a member of Calvary Chapel where his cousin, Albert Fuentes, Jr. is the pastor.
Garrison Keillor, the folksy humorist one either loves or hates, has a knack for getting under folks skin. Thats his thing. Last month one of those people who got annoyed at Mr. Keillor was Bill McBride, who wrote a letter to the editor which was both funny and direct, punching back at Keillors barbs about Texas politics. It was interesting to me, as I have lived both places and loved them both. They are different (hot and cold, even), but both are remarkable, beautiful parts of this country  a nation that is stronger for its size and diversity from one end to the other.

One part of Mr. McBrides letter stuck with me. He ended with this: Why do people flock to Minnesota? For handouts. Why do people come to Texas? For jobs. I rest my case.

The problem is this isnt really true. It turns out there are more jobs in Minnesota and more handouts in Texas, though both boast vibrant, thriving economies.

As of August 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas had an unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, ranking it the 28th best in the nation. Minnesota was 13 spots ahead with a rate of only 3.8 percent unemployed. Those Minnesota jobs paid better, too  the median household income here is over $61,000, about $10,000 more than in Texas.

And about those handouts: Lets look at the reality. Its easy to compare enrollment rates for one of the most common handouts, which is food stamps. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program helps needy families in every state. In fiscal year 2016, only 9 percent of people in Minnesota received this aid. In contrast, 14 percent of Texans received it. There are hungry children everywhere.

Minnesotans do have fewer qualms about providing that aid perhaps. Its an ethic that permeates the place. My area has a large population of immigrants, including people from Cambodia, plus Somalis who fled the violence in that nation. They came because people of this state welcomed them, led by the Lutheran churches. For many of us, its a fulfillment of the biblical calling to welcome the stranger. Thats not a bad thing. Those immigrant groups have brought a new energy to the state, just as many immigrants have done in Texas cities from Houston to El Paso.

Yes, we do pay higher taxes here. There is a state income tax, for one thing, and thats something I noticed right away when I moved to Minnesota from Waco in 2010. More of my paycheck was gone and nobody likes that. But, and this is important, we also get a lot for that money. U.S. News actually ranks states by educational quality. Minnesota is No. 11. Texas is 30 places behind at No. 41.

Beyond raw rankings, though, there is an educational process here  made possible by those taxes and an unusual level of state funding for schools  that most people would associate with Republican ideology: a vigorous program of school choice. However, instead of creating private schools to create that choice, Minnesota does it with public schools. In short, if you dont like the public school your kid is at, you can enroll him in another one in a different school district. I live in Edina, an affluent suburb next to Minneapolis. Edina public schools are top-notch, among the best in the country. However, many of the students who attend our schools live in other districts, including Minneapolis. We welcome them. The schools are still great, even with that influx. Some of us would argue our schools are better for the mix of people that open enrollment brings into the classrooms, adding perspectives that might not otherwise be heard.

Oh, and we were all-in for Obamacare. Im sure many Central Texans disagree with that choice, and Texas took a different path. It hasnt been a disaster here, though. Headline in the Minneapolis paper a week ago about the consequences of embracing the Affordable Care Act: Stable, dropping insurance rates on tap for Minnesota. Its a good thing to see.

My point isnt that Minnesota is better than Texas. That would be a silly claim, given the states are so different. And lets be honest: the real problem for most people with Minnesota has nothing to do with jobs and handouts; its about cold and snow. Thats not for everyone.

And in that there is a point of connection between Texas and Minnesota, already linked by busy Interstate 35. To thrive in either place, you have to love it the way it is, with the heat or the cold. Texans and Minnesotans both love the outdoors, too, and revel in it all year.

This is a great country, from one side to the other, up and down. Im glad there is a Texas, just as it is, and Im glad for this place, too. In a world that is too often against us, we need each other, hot and cold alike.
Where to put a new landfill is possibly the most controversial issue the Waco City Council has faced in decades. The old landfill has somewhere between seven and nine years left and, given the time it takes to develop a new site, weve got to make a decision soon or buy some time. Unfortunately, the only decision placed before the City Council has come down to this: Put the new landfill at U.S. Highway 84 and Old Lorena Road or well, no other options have been made public yet.

The lack of a viable alternative site is really a dilemma of the citys making. Heres what they are using as site criteria: It must be 15 miles or less from the city center (randomly and erroneously defined as the intersection of Texas Highway 6 and Highway 84); it must not be in the flood plain or on a fault line; and it must have the appropriate hydrogeology underneath it (like a good clay soil that wont leach). While most of these criteria make sense, the 15-mile limit on the landfill proximity is artificial and arbitrarily imposed by our city. Its this stipulation that is the key to the entire problem. The simple solution is that its time to think outside the proverbial (trash) box.

One of us can assure you that, as a medical doctor, when faced with a problem without an obvious solution, we use a concept called best practice analysis. That is, we look around at how others have solved similar challenges and choose the approach that seems to fit the circumstances and produce the most satisfying solution. We propose we do the same for the Waco landfill debacle and, when looking around, we need not look any further than Hewitt.

Thats right, the small neighboring town of Hewitt is actually a growing, budget-conscious community and provides a great example of thinking outside the box. The city of Hewitt charges its residents $16.51 a month for trash services. For that price, they are able to ship most of their refuse 54 miles away to the remote outskirts of Itasca, where there is a very large private landfill in northern Hill County. (Less than 20 percent of their waste ends up in the Waco landfill.) The Itasca landfill is within our Heart of Texas Council of Governments region and is willing to accept Wacos trash  with a remaining lifespan of 174 years (which means it wont fill up till 2191 for those of you counting). Imagine how quickly we could solve our own problem simply by using this site, which would place Wacos trash out of sight, out of mind and out of everyones backyard.

The city of Waco, on the other hand, is not looking farther out because we cannot figure out how to move trash more than 15 miles from the city center without substantially raising our current utility rate of $14.24 a month. Waco has said it would cost $11 more a month to use a distant site, a number that is highly debatable and has not been substantiated since being announced.

But rather than try and figure out how everyone else does it, Waco is actually contemplating placing the landfill right at the city limits, a few hundred yards upstream from our drinking water and within a mile or two of an airport, two public schools, five churches, a busy school bus intersection and 1,500 homes within our city limits. Any rational person would look at that choice and say, there must be a better way.

Hewitt is not the only town that seems smarter than Waco. Just look to Georgetown, which for $16.50 a month ships its solid waste through the Austin metroplex to Creedmore 51 miles away. (Georgetown is raising its rate to $18.80 next month.) Or even Gatesville, which puts its trash in our current landfill, 30-plus miles away, for $12.86 a month. (Luckily, Gatesville is sending its sewer sludge to Temple at present.) We could go on, but there are many municipalities shipping their trash well away from their population centers for a utility price similar to what we are paying in Waco. Is it too much to ask, Why cant Waco do the same thing? Furthermore, since we accept waste from 11 other cities and counties, why make our own Waco neighborhoods a trash receptacle for the whole region and injure our own citizens while doing it?

Waco needs to solve the problem of how to economically put trash farther away. Then the problem of finding a landfill location suddenly becomes solvable instead of impossible. Even if using a remote location is only a temporary fix, it would buy us time to find a permanent solution everyone can accept. Now its true some of these other cities use private hauling companies and private landfills, and perhaps we in Waco should look at these options. We are not pushing privatization specifically, but this we know: If we cant figure out a place to put our trash (and all the trash from elsewhere brought to us) well away from our own drinking water, burgeoning neighborhoods and schools, then the city of Waco shouldnt be in the trash business.
As many politicians have remarked in the past when swimming against the political tide, polling doesnt necessarily yield good public policy. Yet Texas Republican lawmakers, if not the president of the United States, should consider the overwhelming consensus against rounding up and deporting young immigrants brought to the United States as children and now here illegally.

A newly released AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll suggests only 1 in 5 Americans favors deporting what are sometimes called Dreamers. That would indicate even many immigration hardliners have a soft spot for those who, through no fault of their own, were brought to our country illegally and, through the years, have been raised to the point theyre American in every respect but legally.

This should prompt all to think deeply about resolving this conundrum and, as we have stated previously, through the legislative branch, as President Trump has suggested. If children are to be blamed for the crimes of their parents, then we deport them. But many lawmakers know such a recourse is not only a hard sell legally  after all, are these children really guilty?  but it also runs counter to certain values we Americans hold.

Yet too many Republican lawmakers from Texas heap shame on us all by balking at fixing this problem, even now that President Trump has set the clock ticking on former President Obamas Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Thus far, Waco native Joe Barton, a longtime conservative Republican in Congress, has signed on as a co-sponsor of the 2017 DREAM Act, which would prevent deportation of these individuals. He and Republican Congressman Bill Flores, who represents Waco, are co-sponsors of the Recognizing Americas Children Act, which more narrowly defines conditions and protocols as it lays out a path to eventual U.S. citizenship. Other Texas Republicans have meanwhile made themselves scarce on the matter.

This shouldnt be a fiercely partisan issue, given the vulnerability of those now in the cross hairs. As Texas Democratic Congressman Beto ORourke said on Thursday while alluding to 22-year-old Melissa Martinez, a DACA recipient who expects to receive an applied mathematics degree from the University of Texas at El Paso next May: DACA recipients like Melissa from El Paso County are every bit as American as my three kids. They study in school, lead productive and successful careers, serve in our military and are a critical piece of the fabric of our communities. The DREAM Act has bipartisan, bicameral support and, if presented on the floor of the House today, it would pass.

That means the fate of DACA recipients lies in the hands of congressional leadership. Veteran lawmakers such as Barton and those such as Flores, former chair of the conservative Republican Study Committee, should be able to exert key influence here. It also means Democrats must be prepared to do some wheeling and dealing on other aspects of border security. To fail these young people now would prove Congress is truly dysfunctional, unworthy of the Article I powers conferred on them.
Humble salt could replace lithium-ion batteries as an energy storage source for a fifth of the cost, and without the ethical concerns, according to new research.

A Stanford University study into sodium-ion (Na-ion) battery technology has demonstrated the potential of these batteries to displace lithium-ion, which requires rarer, and more difficult to obtain materials.

The research has found a way to dramatically increase the energy efficiency of the new batteries to more than 87 per cent, but at less than 80 per cent the cost of lithium-ion batteries with equivalent storage capacities.

The new materials would also spare the ethical concerns that can come with lithium-ion due to the locations of mines for the raw minerals.
My father died in 1983. His was a medically assisted death. Whether or not he consented to that assistance I shall never know, but the circumstances are food for thought, especially now.

He had been diagnosed in 1982 and treated for cancer, which would in some months, or possibly years, have killed him. At the time of his death he was in his mid-60s. He was no longer working, but was walking, talking, eating and generally behaving like any retired man of his age.

He lived with his second wife, whom he had married in 1975. In early 1983, a few months after his diagnosis, my sister had visited from England. After a couple of weeks she left early. At the time she did not tell me why.

He died on a Sunday night. For some time I had been in the habit of visiting him and his wife on a Sunday afternoon, sometimes alone, sometimes with the children. At the time I had a full-time job, an active three-year-old, and a baby of four months. No mother will be surprised that I was usually pretty tired.
The hacking of an Australian defence firm has raised concerns in Washington, which has sought answers on how data from sensitive projects including the American-designed Joint Strike Fighter was so easily stolen, Fairfax Media understands.

It is understood that US officials have issued a "please explain" to Australia as to whether the information security measures used by the small company that was a subcontractor on several major projects involving sensitive US intellectual property were sufficient.

An official from the Australian Signals Directorate  the nation's defence cyber spies  revealed last week that hackers the directorate codenamed "Alf" after a Home and Away character, possibly backed by a foreign government, breached the firm in 2016 and stole 30 gigabytes' worth of data.

The data included commercially sensitive material on defence projects including the $14 billion Joint Strike Fighter program, the P-8 Poseidon surveillance plane and several naval ships.
Most people of faith would probably concede that worship usually takes place on Sunday, but author Mike Baer, creator of Work as Worship seminars offers a different perspective.

Baer, who also has more than 25 years of experience in organizational leadership believes that worship can be seven days a week. Furthermore, worship can be an integral part of our job. His upcoming seminar at First Free Church in Onalaska will highlight what he refers to as a believers calling, or vocational leadership.

Baer described the believers life as a series of concentric circles. Beginning at the innermost circle, you start right where you are, he said. Simply living out your faith in the workplace. From there you branch out, regionally and globally.

Also covered in the seminar is a Relational Element, the art of impacting people.

Businessman Charlee Dee of Onalaska who was instrumental in bringing Baer to the area first heard Baer as a conference speaker seven or eight years ago and liked what he had to say.

He was highly motivated as far as encouraging the business community in expanding the Kingdom, Dee said.

Dee pointed out that the approach of this months seminar is, using your nine to five job to live out the Christian life instead of just going in on Sunday.

Dee also said a video by Right Now Media called Work as Worship on YouTube summarizes the seminar theme. It can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=m06DYIAeCtU.

Baers seminars are a product of time, ironically surfacing out of the rubble of the old Soviet Union in the wake of its demise in the early 90s. Baer traces the roots back to the unlikely country of Kyrgyzstan.

In those days, the Soviets were dying for business, Baer said. So, he offered his services. I did a lot of health care consulting and was teaching at the Medical Institute in Kyrgyzstan after the collapse.

While teaching, Baer discovered that Christian persecution had been rife under the previous 70 years of communist control. About 90 percent of the Christian population was unemployed, he said.

So, Baer founded an organization to help the Christian community start businesses. Through his work, Baer arrived at one of his core principles.

In the business community you have a web of relationships, Baer said. We see the business community as a huge untapped resource for the kingdom.

As businesses began to spring up in Kyrgyzstan, the owners networked with their clients and the surrounding community. A web of relationships soon followed, many resulting in faith communities.

Weve started about 2,000 businesses worldwide that resulted in about 1,000 church plants  most in closed countries and among unreached people groups, Baer said.

Baer has also written a book titled, Business as a Mission in which he urges business owners to take an active role in influencing society. Rejecting the traditional secular/sacred separation, he shows how businesses that utilize Biblical principles can impact the world.

The seminar is 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 28 at First Free with doors open at 7:30 a.m. Lunch is provided during a simultaneous question-and-answer session. The cost is $25. Reservations can be made online at FirstFree.org/WorkasWorship or by calling the church at 608-782-6022.
China has drawn up secret plans to invade Taiwan with a Normandy-style beach landing by the mid-2020s, sparking a possible region-wide conflict that would likely draw in Australia, a new book claims.

The Chinese Invasion Threat, which has received praise from respected defence and diplomatic figures in Washington, uses leaked Chinese military documents to compile in discomforting detail the invasion plans, which have never before been publicly assessed.

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen (centre) reviews nautical charts aboard a Taiwan Navy ship. A new book claims Taiwan and China are the real Asian flashpoint, not North Korea. Credit:AP

While North Korea is the acute crisis sharpening leaders' minds around the world, the book argues China's designs on Taiwan ultimately pose a graver threat because they could bring great powers  the US and China  into conflict for the first time since 1945.

The US would likely come to Taiwan's aid in the event of an invasion and that could draw Australia in through the ANZUS alliance.
There is often much hand-wringing and tut-tutting after a particularly rowdy question time.

Think of the people watching at home, one MP will exclaim.

Another might accuse the showier ponies who enter the arena of being more concerned with scoring an appearance on the nightly news than making a thoughtful contribution to debate.

Inevitably someone gestures towards the public galleries filled with school students and asks people to think of the children.
Hundreds of screaming fans lined the red carpet to greet stars Chris Hemsworth and Mark Ruffalo and director Taikia Waititi for the Sydney premiere of Thor: Ragnarok at Hoyts Cinema, Moore Park, on Sunday evening.

Filmed on the Gold Coast, it was a celebration of Marvel Studios' latest superhero movie, but with all things Hollywood at the moment it didn't take long for talk to turn to Harvey Weinstein, who has been accused of decades of sexual misbehaviour, including allegations of rape.

"It's absolutely intolerable and people should be filing criminal complaints against him. It was a crime what he was doing," Ruffalo said.

"The more we make space for women to feel safe to come out, and us men have got to stand up and protect them and say it is wrong, the quicker kind of things like this will stop."
A man had to flee after being shot at three times at his Westminster property on Sunday evening.

Inspector Gerard O'Meara said a 25-year-old man was in his garage when an unknown man came up and shot him in the left ankle.

Mirrabooka detectives are at the scene of the shooting in Westminster. Credit:@GraemePowell3, Twitter

The victim tried to escape into the house, but was shot at a further two times with the bullets striking his hip.

The shooter then fled the scene.
Vienna: The leader of Austria's right-leaning People's Party has declared victory in a national election that puts him on track to become Europe's youngest head of government.

The Austrian Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz, claimed the win on Sunday night after projections gave his party a comfortable lead with more than 90 per cent of the ballots counted.

Mr Kurz managed to propel his People's Party to first place by taking a hard line on immigration that left little space between it and the far-right Freedom Party (FPO).

"I am truly overwhelmed," Kurz told cheering supporters at an election party after polls closed. "We made the impossible possible. Thank you very much for your commitment and this historic success."
On Sunday, Scotland Yard said it was investigating three new allegations of sexual assault against Weinstein, all made by the same woman. The alleged assaults occurred between 2010 and 2015. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took the almost unprecedented step on Saturday of revoking Weinstein's membership. It said it did so "to send a message that the era of wilful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behaviour and workplace harassment in our industry is over". Weinstein, who backed many British movies including Shakespeare in Love and The King's Speech, has also been suspended by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. French President Emmanuel Macron has begun procedures to strip Weinstein of his Legion d'Honneur.

Speaking later on Sunday at Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival in conversation with the BBC's James Naughtie, Mrs Clinton did not raise the issue of her prominent and now disgraced donor, nor was it put to her. Instead she said she wanted to be remembered as a "leader of a revolution" in women's rights. "I was a part of a revolution, I was part of a revolution for women's rights that began in the '60s with real intensity - continued up until the present day - and I became a leader of that revolution," she said. "It is the unfinished business globally of the 21st century to free women from the constraints and strictures that hold them back, that squash their dreams and to give every woman everywhere the chance to live up to her own God-given potential and that's what I believe in," she said to thunderous applause.

Mrs Clinton said she was working towards training women to run for politics in the 2018 mid-terms saying: "I think we can take back the House." She hit out her opponent, President Donald Trump, who she said was still trying to please his Russian counterpart President Putin. US intelligence, she said, had told her Mr Putin held a personal grudge against her, leading Moscow's widely-reported interference in the US elections. "I think that is both because he likes the whole authoritarian thing, you know the bare chest ... I think that's his aspiration," she said to laughter. "Now he doesn't like women very much, or at least that's been my impression, the way that he behaves around women, talks about women, and his dismissive, condescending, slightly insulting, comments," she said.
Four Rohingya refugees were trampled to death by an elephant in a makeshift camp in the Cox's Bazaar area of Bangladesh on Saturday morning.

A woman and three young children, who had fled violence in their home country of Myanmar, were killed when the animal stormed their temporary shelter in the Balukhali camp, where tens of thousands of refugees are living.

Rohingya Muslim man from Myanmar carries an elderly woman after they crossed the border into Bangladesh from Myanmar. Credit:AP

The deaths of the woman; two girls, 9 and 6; and a boy, 1; were confirmed by Abdul Khayer, the officer in charge of the Ukhiya police station in the area.

Six people, including the husband and a son of the dead woman, Taslima Siddique, were injured and admitted to a hospital. Siddique was the mother of one of the children killed, but authorities were not sure which child was hers.
Hundreds of Somalis marched in the streets of Mogadishu on Sunday to protest a truck bombing that killed more than 230 people in a busy shopping district in the countrys deadliest single bomb attack.

More than 370 were people were reported injured in the attack, when a truck carrying explosives detonated Saturday in a crowded street packed with cars and pedestrians, near government ministries and hotels.

Demonstrators Sunday included many women in flowing gowns, protesting an attack that the Somali government blamed on al-Shabab, the al-Qaida-linked Somali extremist group that has carried out many similar attacks in the past. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The death toll rose sharply Sunday as bodies were recovered, many of them burned in cars and nearby buildings.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed said the attack showed Somalias enemies cared nothing for human lives.

Todays horrific attack proves our enemy would stop (at) nothing to cause our people pain and suffering. Lets unite against terror, he posted on Twitter. The president declared three days of mourning and called on citizens to donate blood as hospitals struggled to save critically injured civilians.

After Mohamed visited Medina Hospital Sunday morning to give blood and comfort victims, hundreds more Somalis flocked to hospitals to donate blood.

Relatives of missing people arrived at hospitals Sunday desperate for news of loved ones. Others wandered around the ruins of buildings hit by the blast.

Many of the dead had not been identified, with dozens burned beyond recognition.

Theres nothing I can say. We have lost everything, Zainab Sharif told the Associated Press. A mother of four who lost her husband, she sat outside a hospital where he was pronounced dead after hours of efforts by doctors to save him.Among those killed were four Somali Red Crescent Society volunteers, according to the organization.

A freelance journalist was also killed, according National Union of Somali Journalists Secretary General Mohamed Moalimuu.

The U.S. has stepped up drone attacks on al-Shabab leaders in recent months but the organization has proven resilient, nimble and adaptable. It has lost territory and a string of leaders but still retains the capacity to mount regular attacks in the capital such as Saturdays blast, often targeting hotels and restaurants, particularly those popular with government officials and journalists.

It also carries out daily assassinations and drive-by shootings, often targeting government employees.

Shabab emerged in 2006 as an offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union and managed to gain control of much of the country, including Mogadishu. In 2011 African Union forces and Somali troops managed to drive Shabab out of the capital, but the group still retains territory, particularly in the south of the country.

A local media organization, Goobjoog News, sent reporters to all of Mogadishus main hospitals and reported that 237 people had died and 374 were injured. The report was consistent with information from a former interior minister and lawmaker, Abdirizak Mohamed, who visited two hospitals which reported 231 dead and 207 injured.

With Mogadishu hospitals overwhelmed, the Turkish government sent a plane to take patients to Turkey for medical treatment.

The blast was detonated near the entrance of the Safari Hotel. One of al-Shababs common tactics is to attack hotels, blasting through the main entrance with a vehicle bomb and following up with attacks by gunmen going from floor to floor, executing people.

Despite a blast wall, the hotel was shattered into piles of rubble.

The U.S. government condemned the cowardly attack.

We extend our deepest condolences to the families of those who perished and wish a speedy recovery to individuals injured in the blasts. The United States lauds the heroic response of the Somali security forces and first responders and Somali citizens who rushed to the aid of their brothers and sisters, the U.S. mission to Somalia, based in Kenya, said in a statement.

Such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism to promote stability and prosperity for the Somali people and their regional neighbors, the statement said.
Administered by La Crosse County, the For Goodness Sake program provides donated household goods to the needy.

The phone numbers listed are for local agency contacts, not the person in need. This week:

A woman needs small table and chairs, coffee table, love seat, night stand, dresser, TV stand, fans, kitchenware (pots, pans, etc.), book shelf and vacuum. Call Lacey, 608-785-6278.

Family needs sheets, full- and twin-size. Call Karlene, 608-789-8549.

WAFER food pantry needs mac-n-cheese, canned meat, canned vegetables. Donations can be dropped off at 403 Causeway Blvd., or call 608-782-6003.

A person who suffered a stroke would benefit from a hospital bedside table. Call Michael, 608-785-6203.

Needed: size 5X womens clothing. Call Kelly, 608-785-5846.

Salvation Army and Catholic Charities are partnering on Coats for Kids. Donated books and coats, gloves, hats and scarves in all kids and adults sizes are needed. Items can be new or gently used and dropped off through Nov. 10 at The Salvation Army, 223 N. Eighth St., all Kwik Trips in La Crosse, Onalaska, Holmen, West Salem and Stoddard, and at both Union State Bank locations in West Salem.
Mississippi man accused of threatening guests with rifle at LaCenter motel
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By West Kentucky Star Staff

Oct. 14, 2017 | PADUCAH, KY

By West Kentucky Star Staff Oct. 14, 2017 | 06:16 PM | PADUCAH, KY

Members of the Paducah Police Department have been recognized by Murray State University for advanced training on diversity awareness.



On Sept. 28, 2017, Police and the Murray State University College of Education and Human Services gathered at Murray State's regional campus in Paducah for the second annual certificate ceremony of the Cultural Leadership Academy, which was developed as a professional development opportunity.



At the recent ceremony, the second cohort of the Cultural Leadership Academy received certificates for successful completion of the program. These individuals from the Paducah Police Department included Sgt. Nathan Antonites, Sgt. Chris Bolton, Officer Chelsee Breakfield, Detective Justin Hodges, Officer Matt Hopp, Officer Matthew Jones and Capt. Matthew Smith.



The Cultural Leadership Academy operates as a stackable credentials model whereby officers who successfully complete the program may move forward to pursue University credit. Those credit hours may then be applied toward either a bachelor's or master's degree.



The program's roots date back to December 2014 when Paducah's Assistant Chief of Police Brian Krueger recognized the need for such a program following media coverage of the incidents in Ferguson, Missouri, and other related events. Krueger reached out to the College of Education and Human Services for training to help officers develop leadership competency in working with multicultural communities.



"For law enforcement in Kentucky," explained Krueger, "the question became: 'What could the content be for an educational platform that focused on improving the understanding of our community and the outcomes of day-to-day, street-level encounters for our officers?'"



An advisory council was formed in the spring of 2015 including faculty from Murray State's department of educational studies, leadership and counseling, who began meeting with members of the Paducah Police Department.



Dr. Teresa Clark, assistant professor, assumed the lead on this endeavor due to her experience with competency-based education and prior learning assessment. She partnered with Dr. Landon Clark, coordinator for the University's human development and leadership program, and the two faculty members maintained continuous communication with Paducah police throughout the academy's year-long development process. A pilot program graduated seven people in its first class in April 2016.



"The Paducah Police Department has continued its commitment to developing cultural competency among its members," Clark said. "At a time when law enforcement, as a field, is experiencing increased scrutiny, it is commendable to proactively prepare officers with soft-skills training in areas such as leadership and communication when interacting with the community."


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By Jim Waters, The Bluegrass Institute

Oct. 12, 2017 | LEXINGTON, KY

By Jim Waters, The Bluegrass Institute Oct. 12, 2017 | 05:14 PM | LEXINGTON, KY

Merit Pay for Teachers Merits Consideration - By Jim Waters



Hardin County Schools Superintendent Teresa Morgan at a recent town hall on public pensions bemoaned the fact that interest in vacant teaching positions has dropped in recent years from as many as 100 applicants per opening to as few as 10, with some openings in math and science-related fields nearly impossible to fill.



Her recruiting pitch is, "We can't say 'you will make $150,000,' but we can say we will pay you a living-wage salary and a pension that you will be proud of  one that you have earned and deserve."



But touting retirement benefits are an awkward way to recruit and retain teachers.



Instead, why shouldn't Morgan be able to offer a starting physics teacher a higher salary than, say, a new physical education instructor?



While Morgan is eager to defend extremely generous pension packages, she and her fellow Kentucky superintendents should also acknowledge the consequences of using a one-size-fits-all salary schedule as the primary mechanism for hiring teachers.



This approach shoehorns decisions about teachers' salaries into only considering numbers, not types, of degrees earned and years of experience.



There aren't nearly enough incentives to attract candidates for scarce skill areas.



A merit-pay policy could help.



Vanderbilt University recently released a new study claiming merit programs are more likely to accomplish what single-salary schedules based on simply having an extra degree and two decades in a classroom cannot: attract and retain high flyers to subjects where a shortfall exists and motivate current teachers in every area to improve, all of which positively impacts students' academic opportunities and achievement.



The study found a "statistically significant positive association between teacher merit pay programs and student test scores," amounting to four additional weeks of learning.



Pop quiz: Quick, name a pension benefit or sick-day policy that's added an entire month's worth of learning to a student's academic experience?



Common sense and the experience of other professions dictate the truth that too many teachers-union leaders and bureaucrats spurn: retaining high performers  especially those willing to accept harder-to-fill positions  requires recognizing some teachers simply perform better and contribute more to our children's education.



"Nothing demotivates a high performer faster than knowing that the employees who have contributed much less in the organization, have received the same pay increase or bonus," Susan M. Heathfield writes on The Balance while examining "The Advantages and Disadvantages of Merit Pay."



Heathfield writes about how merit pay affects professions in general, but it applies to the teaching profession at least as much.



Where are the stakes higher than when we're preparing future generations to lead this country and commonwealth?



Union leaders and sympathizers will generally circle the wagons faster than John Wayne when the discussion gets serious about merit-pay approaches that require evaluating teachers on a set of performance-related factors.



But they also have some legitimate concerns that must be addressed for a merit-pay system to work in Kentucky.



For example, including test scores in the evaluation process requires having a valid, reliable testing system that assesses students in the fall when they enter a new grade and then again in the spring  with results being available in a much-timelier manner than currently happens  to show the teacher's value and impact upon her classroom.



This allows a teacher assigned a group of struggling, disadvantaged students from low-income homes in the inner city an opportunity to reap rewards for improvement she brings to those in her class between August and June rather than basing the merit of her work on how she stacks up against teachers in a suburban school with kids from wealthier homes and lots of advantages.



Merit pay would offer Kentucky a chance to build a reputation of attracting the best and brightest into its classrooms  even with more modest pension benefits.



Jim Waters is president and CEO of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentucky's free-market think tank. Read previous columns at www.bipps.org. He can be reached at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com and @bipps on Twitter.
Ali Jandal, a La Crosse native who is studying to become a doctor and worked with refugees in Amman, Jordan, this past summer, insists that displaced people are not stereotypical, sick-looking victims who take and do not give back.

Jandal said he learned the opposite is true during his volunteer stint this summer in Jordanian refugee camps through the Center for Victims of Torture (www.cvt.org), which is based in St. Paul.

The CVT is all about sustainability, giving people a chance, Jandal said in a phone interview.

I say La Crosse is home, and I mean that, said the son of Daoud and Lina Jandal of La Crosse.

He attended Hintgen Elementary School, Longfellow Middle School and Central High School, where he excelled in long-distance running in track and in cross-country.

But I have another home in Amman, said Jandal, who is attending medical school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My extended family lives there, and I have great memories from the plethora of childhood summers there. I went to Amman because I wanted to give back to it.

Jandal credits La Crosse schools and medical school with instilling in him the desire to serve others.

I do that in Wisconsin when I can, through volunteering and free clinics and so on, but this summer was my chance to give back to my other home, he said.

Jordan is a stable country surrounded by instability, so it accepts a lot of refugees, he said.

The evacuees who gravitate to Jordan form a virtual melting pot of exiles, from Palestinians, Iraqis, Syrians and Yemenis to South Sudanese and Darfurians, Jandal said.

This summer was my chance to help to help my community abroad, he said. The Syrian refugees are the largest of our time.

More than 657,000 Syrians had been registered as refugees in Jordan by March, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, although reports indicate that more than 1.5 million Syrians are in Jordan, counting those who are not registered.

As a second-year medical student, Jandal said he did not have the skills to help refugees with PTSD and other illnesses associated with conflict, so he volunteered in the data and management department.

I used data collected to measure the effectiveness of the therapy the providers were giving, and I tried to discover areas of improvement, he said.

Although Jandal became acquainted with people who had been tortured and/or raped and are recovering with the help of the Center for Victims of Torture, he cannot talk about their cases in detail because that could place them in danger of retaliation.

They do therapy in groups  counseling sessions with 10 or so people at a time, and they do that so that the refugees can support each other. They do a very good job of that, too.

In CVT, the bulk is group healing, Jandal said. They can and they will get better, with group conversations. Psychologically, they get back into being a part of society.

As they rebound, the refugees are eager to help others, he said, adding, Many times, those who have experienced the worst gave back the most. Even though they are damaged, they give back.

Jandals ability to speak both English and Arabic provided an advantage, he said, adding, I was able to increase the understanding between the groups.

Often, actions as simple as being polite and smiling were almost as healing as medicine, Jandal said, recalling a positive interaction with one refugee in particular.

I had the sense that nobody had been kind to him in a long time, he said.
Ben Murphy aged one bounces back from year of surgeries and heartbreak as his mother is named Wexford Carer of the Year
PLUM ISLANDMartin Jaureguis roofing job has turned into a camping trip.

When he was hired to replace the roofs of historic buildings on an uninhabited island off the tip of the Door County Peninsula, the Fish Creek contractor and owner of Martin Roofing Improvement knew of the challenging logistics of the job beyond the steeply pitched roofs of the buildings constructed in the 1890s.

A car ferry from the Washington Island Ferry Line was used to shuttle his trucks, a four-wheel lift, an enclosed equipment trailer, air guns, compressors, power saws, generators and even a dumpster to the 325-acre Plum Island dock 1.8 miles from the Northport Pier.

But when Jauregui and his crew lost a day of work to high winds that prevented their commute from nearby Washington Island, they quickly realized that to complete the job of replacing the roofs of the life saving station and the light keepers quarters they were going to need a tent, sleeping bags and air mattresses.

Otherwise, I (was) never going to finish the job, Jauregui, 43, said during a brief break last week. The weather is unpredictable here. When youre on the mainland and you need something you can go to the store. Here theres nothing. We have to coordinate food, sleeping gear, working gear, everything.

Jauregui, his brother, Christian Jauregui, and Nelson Escobar, have pitched a dome tent inside the 1939 boathouse where they have coolers, a stash of food and more protection from the wind and cool evening temperatures. Outside they have a pair of portable toilets, a propane grill and stunning views of one of the most beautiful and historic regions of the state.

The roofing job is part of what ultimately could be nearly $7 million in improvements through a joint effort by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands (FOPPI). The goal is to preserve the structures on both islands that are part of the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge and create a visitor center, museum and research facility on Plum Island.

Were just kind of taking things a step at a time, said Tim Sweet, past president of FOPPI, who was on Plum Island last week. Lots of things need to be done.

In 2008, a new roof was put on the Pilot Island lighthouse that was built in 1858. However, the 3.7-acre island is a sanctuary for nesting doublecrested cormorants, herons, great egrets, gulls and white pelicans and is off limits to visitors.

Plum Island includes a network of hiking trails and, on its northwest side, a former U.S. Coast Guard boathouse and the only remaining Duluth-style rescue station quarters on the Great Lakes. On the southwest side of the island are the keepers quarters, a fog signal building and a pair of range lights that since 1897 have guided sailors through the Deaths Door Passage, one of the most treacherous spots on the Great Lakes due to its strong currents and shallow water.

The boathouse was repainted in 2010 followed by the renovation of the porch of the life saving station, the repair of the dock and the construction of an informational kiosk. The projects, including the $40,000 roof for the keepers quarters, were paid for by FOPPI. The nonprofit was formed in 2007 and has spent about $250,000 on projects. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is paying for the $75,000 roof on the life saving station and for about $25,000 in wall repairs to the building scheduled for next spring.

Steven Lenz, project leader at the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge and whose agency oversees Plum and Pilot islands, said no government money has been earmarked for further projects but he is submitting a proposal that would remove lead paint from the life saving station.

Ill know by next spring if my proposal is a winner, Lenz said. Youve got to play a lot of different widgets when you put the puzzle together on this. We would not be able to function without volunteers and the assistance from FOPPI.

Because of funding, it could take years or even decades to complete all of the work but Lenz said he would ideally like to see Plum Island become something similar to the state-owned Rock Island State Park where docents spend the summer living in the lighthouse, giving tours and taking care of the grounds. Lenz also envisions quarters in the Plum Island life saving station for academia to conduct bird and pollinator surveys and to study other wildlife and foliage of the area.

Sweet, 59, lives in Appleton and is a retired reading specialist from the Clintonville School District. He had been a volunteer with the Friends of Rock Island and helped restore the islands lighthouse before joining FOPPI, an organization with over 200 members who logged 3,766 hours of sweat equity this year.

Im being rewarded today, Sweet said as he watched Jaureguis crew work on the roof of the life saving station, a job that should be completed by this week. If this one doesnt get saved, its gone forever. This is very thrilling.

Getting to Plum Island is a trek.

The Northport Pier, where passengers and motorists can catch the ferry, is about a four-hour drive from Madison and about a one-hour drive from Sturgeon Bay if you take Highway 57 to Highway 42 in Sister Bay.

For those taking the scenic route via Highway 42 along the peninsulas west coast, budget at least 90 minutes from Sturgeon Bay and maybe more depending on the time of the year and the degree of traffic congestion in Fish Creek, Ephraim, Sister Bay and Ellison Bay.

Once to the landing, its a 30- to 40-minute ride on the car ferry to Washington Island where passengers get a good view of Plum Island. However, to access the island, visitors need to either rent a kayak, use their own power boat or take a private charter. Shoreline Scenic Cruises & Charters in Gills Rock also offers narrated tours around the island but drops customers off on the island only two weekends a year.

We want people to come out here and enjoy the cultural heritage of Wisconsin, said Dustan Hoffman, a ranger with the Fish & Wildlife Service. We want them to understand that the roots of Wisconsin came down these island chains. A lot of the shipwrecks in this area were hauling goods to Milwaukee and Chicago. So theres a lot of ties with the local communities here with the larger cities.

One of the most photographed parts of Plum Island is the rear range light that stands 65 feet tall and works in concert with the front range light, 1,650 feet to the southwest.

The front range light was originally mounted on a two-story wooden structure but was replaced with a steel skeletal tower in 1964. The rear range light is the most prominent and holds a Fresnel lens that allows the red light to be seen up to 13 miles away.

In 1895, Congress, under the recommendation of the U.S. Life Saving Service, agreed to fund the construction of the range lights, a combination life saving station and boat house and a keepers quarters for the range lights that became active in May 1897. The Life Saving Service was open initially for the shipping season with a crew of about 10 people and became the U.S. Coast Guard in 1915. Plum Island was staffed with a Coast Guard crew and boats until 1990, when the operation was moved to Washington Island where it is staffed seasonally.

The staff for the range lights was in place until 1955 when the lights were automated, said John Lauber, an architectural historian and historic preservation planner from Minneapolis. He has spent the last four years documenting and studying the structures on the island and was part of a tour last week that included climbing the 73 interior steps of the rear range light.

A ship captain would see the light on Pilot Island and then could immediately make a turn and start to align these two lights to plot the course through the Door passage, Lauber said. I took every element of the buildings, described what theyre made of, described their condition and eventually made recommendations for rehab along with some cost information. Were starting from the top down.
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Global Handwashing Day isnt the one-trick pony some other commemorative days are: Scarfing down doughnuts on National Donut Day comes to mind. Valentines Day can be covered with flowers, candy and a card. Mothers Day? Some sons and daughters get by with a phone call.

But todays handwashing celebration is intended to promote awareness of the importance of washing hands  every day of the year  to avoid spreading germs and the illnesses they cause, said Paula Silha, education manager at the La Crosse County Health Department.

Global Handwashing Day may not have registered on your radar in past years, but this is already the 10th annual observance.

Even Silha hadnt heard of it, until Carol Drury, the health departments environmental health/laboratory director, gave her a heads up last week.

I thought weve got to do something to highlight being healthy with such a basic way, Silha said, especially with recent concerns about E. coli in the county and with flu clinics at hospitals and schools ramping up next week.

The main emphasis this year is to use soap, which is much easier in the United States and other developed countries than in Third World countries without modern amenities, she acknowledged.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which encourages observation of the day, notes that about 1.4 million children younger than 5 around the world die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia  the top two causes of death among young children globally.

Using soap to wash hands can reduce diarrhea and respiratory infections cases among children in this age group by about 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively, according to the CDC.

Silha also mentioned the cleanliness challenges residents of Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands  especially the latter two  have faced during and after the hurricanes that have slammed them in recent weeks.

Were so very fortunate to have the infrastructure and availability of things we take for granted, she said.

The CDC describes handwashing as a do-it-yourself vaccine, with the five steps of wetting, lathering, scrubbing, rinsing and drying.

Regular handwashing, particularly before and after certain activities (preparing food, eating a meal and using the restroom) is one of the best ways to remove germs, avoid getting sick and prevent the spread of germs to others. Its quick, its simple, and it can keep us all from getting sick, according to the CDC.

Washing hands gets much more attention now than it did decades ago, especially after using the restroom. Silha recalled methods she used to drive home the message with her own children.

I used to ask the kids what color the soap was, or to smell their hands, she said of her favorite detective strategies.

While its relatively easy for men to observe whether other men wash their hands in restrooms, its more difficult for women.

Asked whether women monitor other women, Silha said, I would say that, if Im in a stall and somebody is in another one, and I dont hear the water running when they leave, its a concern to me.

In response to the suggestion that some adults might fake it, running the water and punching the drying machine, she said, Why even bother? That wastes water.

That said, she added, Im not going to be the handwashing police, but its irresponsible for people to forego the practice.

If you wont do it for yourself, at least (do it) to protect other peoples health, she said. Its the easiest way.

BTW: National Doughnut Day is always the first Friday in June, so youre outta luck for 2017. Better luck next year.

If you wont do it for yourself, at least (do it) to protect other peoples health. Its the easiest way. Paula Silha, education manager at the La Crosse County Health Department
The new owner of the Pizza Huts in La Crosse and Winona is replacing the Ward Avenue location with a new one in the former Radio Shack space in Shelby Mall on the South Side of La Crosse.

Remodeling began last week for the new Shelby Mall location. Mike Baird of Eagle Bluff Pizza Partners, LLC, in McKinney, Texas, said he hopes it will open by Jan. 1.

The Ward Avenue Pizza Hut will close once the new Shelby Mall location along Mormon Coulee Road opens, said Baird, who is one of Eagle Bluffs partners. Its an older store, he said. Were basically just trying to update. Were relocating that store to what we think is a better location, and it will be a new facility.

Mormon Coulee Road has higher traffic counts and Shelby Mall has more parking, he said.

The new Pizza Hut will have inside dining.

Bairds various pizza corporations operate 27 Pizza Huts, mostly in Texas. He said his son, Brian Baird, is majority owner of Eagle Bluff Pizza Partners, a new corporation that bought the two La Crosse and one Winona Pizza Huts about a month ago. Brian Baird recently moved to La Crosse to oversee the restaurants.

Besides replacing the south La Crosse restaurant, Mike Baird said, improvements are planned for the Pizza Huts at 2212 Rose St. in La Crosse and in Winona.

Oct. 29 will be the last day for retail sales at Wildwomans Vintage Apparel at 210 S. Water St. in downtown Sparta, owner Patricia Barnes said.

The business mainly sells vintage clothing, but also sells some new and slightly used apparel. Barnes is selling clothing for 50 percent off and is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Barnes opened the store in 2004 in Wilton, before buying the former Classic Theater building in Sparta in 2010 and reopening the store there in 2011.

Barnes, who is 72, said its time for a change. She said she is saving the best of her vintage clothing for professional photo shoots that will take place in her building in the future.

She will use the Wildwoman name in some form for that business, which she is starting with the help of Sparta professional photographer Rome Konig Gio. He will be the in-house photographer, and other photographers and art and film directors will be able to book times there as well.

For more information, visit www.wildwomanclothing.com or Facebook.

Best known for her Friday fish fry and homemade baked goods, Sharon Soppa opened Sharons Hixton Cafe on Sept. 28 in the former Hixton Blue Collar Cafe at 133 E. Main St. in downtown Hixton.

The Hixton native has cooked in cafes for many years and retired a few weeks ago from her job as a certified nursing assistant to open her cafe. She has operated two cafes in Taylor and another in Alma Center, and even was a cook in her current location years ago when it was known as the Hixton Cafe.

Its all homemade cooking, Soppa said of her menu. Her soups and baked goods  such as pies, cinnamon rolls, caramel rolls and fry cakes  are made from scratch. And we always have a daily special, Soppa said.

She runs the business with the help of her children, Bill and Tonja Holmes, and five grandchildren.

Hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a fish fry that begins at 11 a.m. on Friday, and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The cafe also is a senior citizen meal site from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

For more information, call 715-963-2212 or visit the cafes Facebook page.

The La Crosse office of independent insurance agency Robertson Ryan & Associates moved in August to 124 N. Sixth St. in a building thats undergoing a major renovation in downtown La Crosse.

The office (formerly Beadle-Ewing Insurance) had been next door at 602 State St. since the 1960s.

Tim Kakuska, who merged his Beadle-Ewing agency into Robertson Ryan in 2006 and now is a vice president and partner in Robertson Ryan, said he bought the building at 120-124 N. Sixth St. last October. He owned the State Street building and had it demolished about a month ago to create parking for businesses in the Sixth Street building.

The local Robertson Ryan office occupies most of the first floor in the two-story building, which was built for the Cameron Motor Car Co. dealership in 1926. The renovation includes restoring the large showroom windows, original brickwork and other interior and exterior features. Exterior construction work is expected to be completed by late November, Kakuska said.

With headquarters in Milwaukee, Robertson Ryan says it is the largest independent agency in Wisconsin and the 53rd largest privately held agency in the nation. For more information, visit www.robertsonryan.com.

Sheri Betz and Ya Sayaovang opened Little Feet & Helpful Hands Childcare and Preschool on Oct. 2 at 3900 Circle Drive in the Cedar Creek Business Park along County Hwy. OT in Holmen.

The daycare centers grand opening will be from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, with tours, a performance by Hans Mayer, face painting and more. The event is open to the public.

The center cares for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years and is licensed for 61 children. Hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Betz and Sayaovang both taught first grade for many years before resigning from their teaching positions this year to start the new business. Sheri has some experience working in the day care setting, Sayaovang said.

For more information, call 608-519-9200 or visit www.littlefeethelpfulhands.com or the centers Facebook page.
The days seem long, years go fast.

Susanna turned one-year-old this week. We celebrated with both sides of our families at Fergusons Apple Farm on Sunday which was a gorgeous fall day. At one-year-old, babies have no idea what a birthday is and they have more fun playing with the ribbons and boxes than any gift. So the birthday is more about the family than the baby!

But turning one means something else to me. It means I say goodbye to the infant stage  a stage that I appreciate but struggle with as a slight Type A personality who doesnt go with the flow very well. It means more routines and predictability. It means I gain my arms back and a little more breathing room.

Going into parenting a second time, I knew the first year of life would be difficult. I was a deer-in-headlights from zero to one with my first daughter. I recall feeling in survival mode most days and wondering what I got myself into.

But while I knew how hard that time was, I also knew that time would pass and there would be precious moments to take in because infants have an affection all their own. Theyre innocent, helpless and have simple needs. They love unconditionally and snuggle endlessly. But they cant tell you whats wrong  they simply cry. And as parents, we try to address those cries and keep on top of ever-changing milestones and routines while working, keeping our home orderly, laundry clean and bills paid. It is scary and hard to raise an infant.

So I say a bittersweet goodbye to the infant stage. Goodbye to constant changes. Goodbye to expensive formula. Goodbye to a big bulky diaper bag with all the just-in-case gadgets. Goodbye to sleepless nights (although I fully understand there will still be sleepless nights at times!).

And I also say hello to the next stage of life  walking, talking and more personality than we know how to handle! Hello to sisters who can interact and play together instead of us frequently doing things separately. Hello to us guiding our daughter to discover her likes and interests. Hello, one-year-old Susanna! Your life is just beginning to get fun!

Family Activities October 15-22

Thru October 21: SeptOberfest at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha https://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/septoberfest-events/

October 15

4  6 p.m. Healthy Kids Zombie Crawl at the Integrated Wellness Center, 10th & Main St. Winona, Minn., ages 5-12, register by October 14 www.winonahealth.org/healthy-kids

October 17

10:3011:30 a.m.: Grace Place Morning Music Program, located downtown Winona, pre-school aged children, donation of $2/family

October 21

7:30Noon: Winona Farmers Market, Midtown Foods parking lot (last month for every week)

10:3011:30 a.m.: Kids Cook! At Bluff Country Co-op, Spooktacular Veggie Skeleton & Dip, kids under 12, register at melissa@bluff.coop
Class sizes would stabilize.

Teachers would have more opportunities to collaborate on lesson plans.

And students would learn in the type of classrooms that modern-day education demands  open, flexible spaces where students can not only listen to a lecture but make their own discoveries through hands-on work and experimentation.

Those, district officials say, are among the benefits that students would reap under Winona Area Public Schools upcoming $82 million facilities referendum, on which residents will vote Nov. 7.

I think we have to do something differently, and we are, said Kelly Halvorsen, the districts director of learning and teaching. We have to teach kids differently. Can we do that in our current environment? Sure. Our teachers are doing their best with what they have.

But education is putting different demands on kids. We dont want them to memorize things anymore. We want them to be able to think. To have buildings that facilitate that type of teaching, that type of learning, it would be much more natural.

The referendum seeks to address Winonas long-held concerns about the districts fleet of elementary schools, a few of which were built in the 1930s and require many millions of dollars in deferred maintenance.

Washington-Kosciusko and Goodview elementary schools would be renovated and expanded under the plan, making room for as many as 575 students at each site.

Jefferson and Madison elementary schools would be closed and hopefully sold, district officials say  possibly to housing developers, as was the case with the old Winona Middle School. (Rollingstone Elementary, meanwhile, would remain a small-school option.)

Among the districts in Minnesotas Big Nine Conference, WAPS has the highest square-footage-to-student ratio and the highest cost-per-student ratio.

WAPS also has some of the oldest, most outdated elementary schools in the conference, a reality thats proved both financially and educationally impactful to the district.

These are what schools have looked like since the 1880s, Superintendent Rich Dahman said. You have square or rectangular rooms, kids sitting in rows. Thats what our schools look like. We really need a 21st century learning environment.

Under the referendum, W-K, Goodview and Winona Senior High School would receive major renovations to their classrooms.

The rooms would likely have something similar to barn doors, allowing different classes to share a larger, open space. There would be flexible, movable furniture. And study areas would replace traditional hallways.

Fewer elementary schools would also mean more stable class sizes.

If, for instance, one of the neighborhood schools has 52 students in second grade, the district would have two options: sort those students into three rather small classes, or into two rather large ones.

Dahman said that, given the choice, WAPS has leaned toward smaller classes. Thats resulted in the district hiring more teachers and support staff than it needs, which has drained the districts fund balance.

And, according to Halvorsen, larger schools would allow teachers of the same grade to have the same free periods. They would use that time to work on lesson plans meant to better reach both thriving and struggling students, she said.

Wed like to see our achievement gap get smaller, because wed be meeting the needs of every kid, she said. We want every kid ready for kindergarten, and we want every kid reading at grade level by third grade. At the secondary level, we want all cohorts graduating at a high rate. Thats every ethnicity, every special population.

Every decision we make, kids are at the forefront.

Community pushback

Residents who have spoken out at public meetings have some of the same goals in mind, chief among them: doing right by district students.

They simply disagree with the districts approach.

Their plan seems defective in some obvious ways  for one thing, its too expensive, said Emilio DeGrazia, a retired professor of English at Winona State University. DeGrazia and others recently formed the Save Our Schools Committee of Winona  a grassroots effort to sink the referendum and preserve the citys neighborhood elementary schools.

And Im not sure this plan will solve the districts problems, he added. It seems the problems resulted, in part, from the migration of students to parochial schools and charter schools. Public schools havent responded to these challenges, and theyre not establishing programs that are appealing.

The SLIP and STEM programs have been attempts to provide choice. But I think there are other possibilities. I think well see people coming to us if we can provide them with attractive (programming).

DeGrazia said the committee unanimously supports saving Jefferson and Madison  both for the perceived educational benefits of children attending neighborhood schools, and for the schools value as community gathering places.

I believe in neighborhood schools, he said. My kids attended Central and had very good experiences there. But this is as much a Winona issue as it is a school issue. Youd be disrupting neighborhood institutions and invalidating the possibility of creating community centers.

Allison Quam, a school board member who voted against the facilities plan, said she would like Jefferson and Madison to remain open because, from her perspective, smaller schools better serve struggling and low-income children.

As a parent, I want my child to go to a school where I know all the staff, where I know most of the students, and where I know many of the parents, she said. Larger schools tend to benefit only students from high-income areas. We need to make sure the students with the greatest needs are getting the help they need.

We need this now

The school board, which has strove in the past for unanimity on important votes, is split on the future of district facilities. They passed the current plan 4-3.

Jeanne Nelson, who voted in favor of the plan, said she sees the referendum as an opportunity to stabilize and expand district programs, preventing further cuts to education as the district continues to address its budget.

WAPS officials say the referendum would save the district, in the best case, $1.1 million annually.

Were spending money on square footage that could be spent on students and programming, Nelson said. If we have to run things so tight, how will we ever grow things?

Board members and district officials admit that the plan has weaknesses. Nelson said it might be the best the district can do, however, largely because of the balance it would create in a long, narrow district.

WAPS needs to decrease its square footage, she said, and that leaves only so many options.

Keeping W-K over Jefferson or Madison would leave a school on the citys east side, home to more than a third of WAPS elementary students.

Jefferson and Madison are neighborhood schools, but so is W-K, she said. If we were to close W-K, thats creating a desert. I just really feel that, to serve that half of the city, there needs to be a school there.

Nelson said a solution to the districts facilities issues is long overdue. And, she said, the longer it takes for the district and community to find a way forward, the greater the brunt that students will be asked to bear.

We need this now, she said. The longer we put this off, the longer these budget cuts are going to go on. Adults seem to have all the time in the world, and these things take a long time to figure out. But it takes a kid only four years to get through high school.
For more than a decade, Brice Prairie Conservation Association members have been releasing beetles to control the spread of an invasive flowering plant that is degrading regional wetlands and with them, wildlife habitat.

The BPCA is attempting to stop purple loosestrife across selected areas of Brice Prairie and Lake Onalaska, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Unfortunately, tracking whether their efforts are making a measureable impact on the invasive species is difficult without wadding across marshland and lakes to physically locate the plant and measure density.

That is until now.

UW-La Crosse student researcher Zach Woodcock received a summer research grant from the BPCA to use drones to conduct aerial surveys of purple loosestrife. The UW-L senior has learned how to operate the drones, as well as how to process the data and create maps for loosestrife identification and more. He has received help from his UW-L faculty mentor, Niti Mishra, an expert in using drones for remote sensing.

Since drones are just starting to be used for things like this, there is a lot of opportunity here, says Woodcock, who envisions a future career involving remote sensing. This is a great opportunity for me to be getting experience with it.

Over the last decade, drones  unmanned aerial vehicles that originated in the military  have seen immense technological developments and become more affordable, providing a variety of new applications from analyzing crop health to generating climate data. Using them for environmental monitoring and land management is an emerging and exciting field, notes Mishra.

Mishra, a UW-L assistant professor of geography and earth science, aims to find more partnerships with the university and in the community to assist with such drone applications while establishing himself and his students in the field.

If you mix the talent of the community and the talent of the university, you can get a lot of really good stuff done, says Marc Schultz, a member of the BPCA who is working with Mishra on the loosestrife project. Mixing those talents embodies the Wisconsin Idea.

Prepare for takeoff

During a drone test flight at the La Crosse River Delta near Bangor, yellow lights flashed and the drones mini propellers began to spin. The device lifted straight up 150 feet into the air hovering above the waters, collecting images of purple loosestrife that would be difficult and time consuming to get by foot.

Mishra explains that the most important part of the drone is its powerful cameras, including one that captures near-infrared wavelengths that the human eye cannot see. That will allow them to clearly distinguish the invasive plant from other kinds of vegetation. Data collected from the drone is analyzed using computer software to map and characterize not only the invasive species, but also information such as vegetation moisture stress, productivity, height and density.

The amount of data Mishra can collect and its accuracy is immense in comparison to even a few years ago, he explains. When he was in graduate school in 2010, his dissertation was related to detecting bush encroachment in savanna ecosystems of Kalahari in southern Africa. At the time, affordable, high-tech cameras that could be integrated with smaller drones were still under development. So, Mishra used satellite images and ground data developed image analysis methods for semi-automatically detecting invasive plants. Those satellite images; however, could contain cloud cover and lacked the resolution or pixel size detail the drone acquired imagery can provide, he says.

When Woodcocks summer research project was complete, results of the drone aerial shots were shared with the BPCA. The organization was impressed with the quality and utility of the results, and will continue to partner with Mishra to monitor again in future years and measure changes in the amount of purple loosestrife. If the organization finds progress with the beetles, it will be able to share the information with other land management agencies working to combat invasive species, says Schultz.

There is no comparison to this technology  you see how easy it is to observe just what you are looking for, says Schultz.
WASHINGTON  In the midst of a governing crisis, House Speaker Paul Ryan has once again risen to his role as the voice of bland complacency. Concerning the open warfare between President Trump and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Ryan advises these two gentlemen to sit down and just talk through their issues.

But what are Corkers issues? He has asserted that Trump requires constant handling to control his volatility: I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, its a situation of trying to contain him. Corker has accused Trump of lacking strategic thinking: A lot of people think that there is some kind of good cop, bad cop act underway, but thats just not true. Corker has called out Trumps routine deceptions: I dont know why the president tweets out things that are not true. Corker has talked of Trumps vacuity: He acts like hes doing The Apprentice or something. Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has expressed the fear that Trumps instability could lead to conflict: We could be headed toward World War III with the kind of comments that hes making.

So how does Ryan imagine that a Corker/Trump conversation might unfold? Over dinner, Corker accuses the president of being a chaotic, directionless, shallow liar who could start a nuclear war. Trump passes the peas and attacks Corker for being short. This is, after all, the way gentlemen resolve their differences.

GOP denial about Trump has generally taken Ryans form. The president may be eccentric and divisive, but Republicans need to lie back and think of tax reform. This assumes that the main challenge is to avoid distraction from essential tasks.

But the real problem has always been Trumps fundamental unfitness for high office. It is not Trumps indiscipline and lack of leadership, which make carrying a legislative agenda forward nearly impossible. It is not his vulgarity and smallness, which have been the equivalent of spray painting graffiti on the Washington Monument. It is not his nearly complete ignorance of policy and history, which condemns him to live in the eternal present of his own immediate desires.

No, Corker has given public permission to raise the most serious questions: Is Trump psychologically and morally equipped to be president? And could his unfitness cause permanent damage to the country?

It is no longer possible to safely ignore the leaked cries for help coming from within the administration. They reveal a president raging against enemies, obsessed by slights, deeply uninformed and incurious, unable to focus, and subject to destructive whims. A main task of the chief of staff seems to be to shield him from dinner guests and telephone calls that might set him off on a foolish or dangerous tangent. Much of the White House senior staff seems bound, not by loyalty to the president, but by a duty to protect the nation from the president. Trump, in turn, is reported to have said: I hate everyone in the White House. And also, presumably, at the State Department, headed by a secretary of state who apparently regards his boss as a moron.

It was once urged, Let Reagan be Reagan. Who, besides the oleaginous Sean Hannity, would say, Let Trump be Trump? The security of our country  and potentially the lives of millions of people abroad  depends on Trump being someone else entirely. It depends on the president being some wise, strategic, restrained leader he has never been.

The time for whispered criticisms and quiet snickering is over. The time for panic and decision is upon us. The thin line of sane, responsible advisers at the White House  such as chief of staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson  could break at any moment. Already, Trumps protests of eternal love for Kelly are a bad sign for the generals future. The American government now has a dangerous fragility at its very center. Its welfare is as thin as an eggshell  perhaps as thin as Donald Trumps skin.

Any elected Republican who shares Corkers concerns has a political and moral duty to state them in public. If Corker is correct, many of his colleagues do have such fears. Their silence is deafening and damning.

Brave men are all vertebrates, said G.K. Chesterton. They have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle. But these modern cowards are all crustaceans; their hardness is all on the cover, and their softness is inside.

More than anything else at this moment, the nation has need of Republican vertebrates.
TOWN OF THERESA  A person was seriously injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 41 at 4:56 p.m. on Wednesday in Dodge County.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office said Jill Zabler, 49, Lannon, has remained hospitalized due to injuries from the crash. Her exact condition is not known.

According to the Dodge County Sheriffs Office, Zabler's car was traveling north on I-41 north of Highway 28 and merged abruptly into the left lane before braking hard while approaching a crossover, a U-turn area for highway maintenance or law enforcement. The car was struck from behind by a pickup truck also traveling north driven by Brian Romanowich, 43, Appleton. Zabler's car then crossed into the southbound lanes and was struck by a straight truck traveling south on I-41, driven by Richard Pautz, 61, Milwaukee.

Zabler was flown from the scene by Flight For Life to an unspecified hospital. Romanowich and Pautz were uninjured.

Southbound traffic on the highway was closed until 7:50 p.m., Wednesday.

The Dodge County Crash Investigation Team is still investigating the crash.

Assisting at the scene were Lomira Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Dodge County Emergency Radio Team, Theresa Fire Department, Lomira Fire Department and First Responders, Brownsville Fire Department, Theresa EMS, Flight For Life, Fond du Lac paramedics, Mayville EMS and Knowles Fire Department.
President Donald Trump accuses the press of saying anything they want without any evidence. That's not how the journalists I know work, but that is what the president does.
After 20 years as a manufacturing production supervisor, Joe Pinnow wanted to change jobs.

But the transition hasnt been as successful as the 55-year-old Sun Prairie resident had hoped. In August he left a $70,000-a-year job only to find himself two months later driving for the ride-sharing service Lyft with no health insurance and dipping into his retirement savings.

For the past two months he has put in about 30 applications for management jobs with no luck. Many of the job openings Pinnow sees are for non-management jobs in the $12 to $14 an hour range  less than half what he was making. Recruiters tell him he wouldnt be a good fit for them because companies know he might leave soon for a management job.

Its hard, Pinnow said. I can make probably as much driving for Lyft as I can for a $12 to $14 an hour job with no health insurance.

The Wisconsin State Journal recently reported in its Workers Wanted series that employers are scrambling to find workers as unemployment dips to a near record low and the baby boomer generation retires in growing numbers. But just because job openings are plentiful doesnt mean everybody who wants a job can find the job they want.

For mid-career workers like Pinnow, finding a job can be a challenge as employers look to younger workers with more up-to-date training and lower pay and vacation requirements.

Nino Amato, president of the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups, said Pinnows predicament is illustrative of a growing problem for baby boomers still trying to work, but finding companies are letting them go or not hiring them because of reorganizations and cost-cutting measures.

Part of it is a stereotypical thing of Will they be satisfied in that job? Amato said. Others have found its pure age discrimination.

Amato said Wisconsin should look to a public-private collaboration in Minneapolis-St. Paul that connects older adults trying to find work or change jobs.

Absent of corporate CEOs working with both parties at the state level, its not going to happen by itself, Amato said.

Working with a disability

Whenever Wally Meyer and his son Bryce see the growing number of Help Wanted signs around Madison, it compounds their frustration about Bryces difficulty finding a job.

Bryce, 22, was diagnosed with a developmental condition similar to autism that affects his communication and social skills. Working with state and local programs that offer case management, placement and job shadowing services, he tried two retail jobs in recent years, making about $10 an hour. But he couldnt secure a permanent job.

From everything he was told he was doing a fine job, Wally Meyer said of his most recent position. When that expired they let him go, which is strange to me because they always have signs out saying theyre hiring.

Right now Im just looking for a job, period, Bryce Meyer added. Anything.

DeLora Newton, administrator for the Department of Workforce Developments Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, said Meyers case was closed before he had secured a permanent placement, which was not supposed to happen. It has since been reopened.

While that may be an unusual case  the agency has found permanent jobs for 25,000 individuals with disabilities over the past six years  there are others with disabilities who havent accessed the states job placement services, Newton said.

I think there are probably populations that could benefit that dont know about us, Newton said. Were trying to get the word out to employers about the great talent pool of employees we have.

In highlighting the states looming workforce crisis, Gov. Scott Walker has encouraged all workers to get off the sidelines and has promoted programs to assist those with disabilities, prisoners and veterans. He recently declared October Disability Employment Awareness Month and noted the states vocational rehabilitation program placed 9,500 disabled individuals in jobs over the past two years.

Dan Idzikowski, executive director of Disability Rights Wisconsin, applauded Walkers focus on helping those with disabilities, though hes concerned about Walkers effort to tie certain BadgerCare benefits to work requirements that dont exempt those with disabilities.

We need to make sure that we maintain the funding and support for individuals when they are truly unable to engage in competitive employment activity, Idzikowski said.

Language barrier can be a challenge

Katerin Guerrero, 24, a refugee from Honduran gang violence who moved here in 2012, said she sees many companies advertising job openings in Madison, but few willing to hire someone with limited English proficiency.

Guerrero has taken jobs in laundry service for $12 an hour, in a factory making $9.50 an hour and most recently in a bakery making $11 an hour. However she quit the most recent job because she wasnt making enough to pay her bills, which between rent, food, car payments, child care for her three-year-old daughter and health insurance total about $1,390 a month.

Guerrero now makes about $1,500 a month working for a frozen food company 35 hours a week. The single mother is studying English, caring for her terminally ill mother, who moved here 15 years ago, and trusting in God that everything will turn out fine.

I feel stress all the time; other times Im angry, Guerrero said. I want more money for savings for the future. But I need to pay rent. I need to pay bills. I need to buy stuff for my baby.

In her various jobs, Guerreros income has fallen below the threshold the United Way has identified as a survival wage, or $54,804 for a family of four and $31,200 for parent and child. A State Journal review of Job Center of Wisconsin data in August found more than half of the jobs that listed a low-end pay range fell below that threshold.

Deedra Atkinson, executive vice president for community impact and strategy at the United Way of Dane County, said the organization is pushing employers to offer workers at least $15 an hour. She disputes the criticism from opponents of raising the minimum that raising wages will result in job losses.

If we had $15 an hour, oh my god would it make a difference, Atkinson said. It would take people off of benefits. Would it be the doom and gloom of people losing jobs? Our retrospective looking at other communities was no, that doesnt happen. People dont lose jobs because of that. Theyre able to get into family sustaining work.

Black worker struggles

African-American workers also have faced challenges during the economic recovery. The Center on Wisconsin Strategys latest State of Working Wisconsin report found while overall unemployment in 2015 was 4.6 percent, for black workers it was 11.6 percent.

In 2015, black median household income was $29,223 while white median household income was $58,232. The black labor force participation rate was 61.2 percent compared with 67 percent for white workers, which the COWS report found was the second-largest gap in the country just ahead of Illinois.

The Rev. Alex Gee, founder of the Nehemiah Center for Urban Leadership Development, said part of the problem is that companies dont know how to connect with workers in the black community. The lack of outreach has led to talented, educated black people moving to other states with better opportunities, while black people trapped in generational poverty remain in Madison and Milwaukee.

I dont think employers are aware of some of the atmospheric changes they need to make to be welcoming to women and people of color, Gee said. They think if they have an opening, people will come. It doesnt quite work that way.

Gee pointed to the case of Harry Hawkins, 38, who moved here with his family from Atlanta in 2012 to take a job as a jewelry store manager, but eventually found himself out of work and struggling to find a management job despite having 10 years experience and a bachelors degree from the for-profit Colorado Technical University.

Hawkins said he was initially successful, tripling a poorly performing stores profits in the first year and making $81,000 annually. But in management meetings he would challenge the directives from supervisors and left in May 2015. After that he lost a sales job and couldnt land another management position.

Hawkins finally took a job as director of operations for Gees Justified Anger Coalition making about $50,000. He sees his experience as making a broader point about the still gaping disparity in unemployment rates among black and white people.

Theres this idea that if you work hard, get your degree youre going to be able to better yourself, Hawkins said. If this is an issue for an educated black man, then what kind of experience do you think someone who is formerly incarcerated, who doesnt have a degree, who may not even have a high school diploma has?
A woman who was on vacation with her friend, died after hanging herself out from a car while traveling on a highway, according to police in the Dominican Republic.

Punta Cana police said that they have arrested 32-year-old Ivanna Boirachuk, after being accused of driving under the influence of alcohol.

According to the police investigation, on Tuesday, at around 4:00 p.m., Boirachuk of Ukraine, was driving a red Kia Picanto while her friend, 37-year-old Natalia Borbina of Moscow, Russia, was sitting topless in the front passenger seat.

Borbina then hoisted herself out of the window and showed off her breasts to the camera.

Boirachuk was recording as her friend was hanging herself out of the car.

After just several seconds, a road sign struck Borbinas head.

She suffered severe head trauma and was taken to a nearby hospital, where she died.

The video of the incident was uploaded to the Internet, where it went viral.

Borbina left behind two young children.
Paul Edmunds and the migrant

By: Emily Lewis WorldWideWeirdNews.com

A man of the United Kingdom, said that he never saw his wifes mouth drop the way it did when they discovered a man hiding in their van.

The couple of Wales, returned from a four-day vacation in France, when the incident unfolded.

59-year-old Paul Edmunds said that he was unpacking his belongings from the back of his van when he spotted a white pair of sneakers that did not belong to him.

Soon enough, he discovered a young man lying in the van behind his stuff.

Edmunds has no idea, how or when the man snuck into his van. However, he said that the man may have climbed into his truck when he and his wife Janet had stopped at a gas station in Calais, France, for a bathroom break.

After the break, the couple traveled about 4 and a half hours to their home.

Edmunds said that the 22-year-old migrant who does not speak much English asked if they were in England, to which he replied: yes, were in Caersws, Wales.

When Edmunds asked where he was from, the migrant replied: Africa.

The migrant had a phone and was trying to contact someone in England after he was discovered.

Edmunds called police and gave the migrant water and chocolate as he waited for officers to arrive.
DETROIT (RNN)  A probationary firefighter took part in a tradition by bringing a gift to his fellow firefighters at Engine 55 at Joy and Smithfield.

Most guys bring doughnuts, WJBK reported, but Robert Pattison, 41, brought a watermelon topped with a pink bow, which got him fired.

Almost all the people who work at the station are black, and some of the African-American firefighters found the gift offensive, Fox 2 reported.

Watermelons have long been a racist symbol in America, taking back to the era of slavery.

WJBK talked to Pattinson on the phone, and he told the reporter it wasnt a joke, and he didnt intend to offend his colleagues.

But he definitely did offend some of them.

A trial @DetroitFire fighter was fired for bringing a watermelon as a gift to his new crew at engine 55. Told it was racially insensitive. pic.twitter.com/m0oLOlSXs1  Taryn Asher Fox 2 (@TarynAsherFox2) October 7, 2017

The fire commissioner issued an official statement saying that Pattison had been fired.

There is zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior inside the Detroit Fire Department, the commissioner said in a statement, calling the presentation of the watermelon unsatisfactory work behavior which was deemed offensive and racially insensitive to members of the Detroit Fire Department.

Second Battalion Chief Shawn McCarty said the gesture was offensive to some people, but he didnt think the recruit should have lost his job over it.

Between what he did and losing his job, there are a few things that could have been done, McCarty said. He said that some of the firefighters wanted him to be reinstated to inspire conversation about why the watermelon was seen as offensive by some of the African-Americans.

Since his dismissal, a change.org petition to reinstate Pattinson has gotten about 1,500 signatures.

Not long after his dismissal, Pattison received a big show of support from a number of black firefighters at Engine 55, according to WJBK.

Tadarius Spearman stuck up for Pattison on social media and added a photo of him with a group of African-American firefighters who were in his training class.

Click here to see the photo.

Just want to let everyone know hes a real amazing dude and it was all good intentions, he wrote. And our entire class (is) supporting him in this. Especially us African-Americans, and thats all that needs to be said. Stay up brother. #DFD.

Copyright 2017 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A local World War II veteran received special honors from Big Bend Hospice for her military service.

Friends, family and members of the "Valor Team" at Big Bend Hospice came to thank Corporal Virginia Cartee for her service. She joined the army in 1943 with the women's army auxiliary corps and later as a secretary to the air inspector's office.

Friday, the Valor Team presented her with several gifts, including a medallion, American flag, Veteran's pin, and a special quilt. After the ceremony, she explained what inspired her to get into the service.

"I was visiting my sister in Tampa, Florida, and I worked for the railroad for a short time, and I found out that wasn't for me," said Corporal Cartee. "I decided one day just on my very own that I was going to join the service, because I had three brothers in service, and one of my daughters served in the service -- and I wanted to be a great part of that."

The Valor Team also saluted Corporal Cartee and sang her a special song.

All in all, she said, it was a fantastic way to remember what she did for the country and we'd like to thank her for her service, too.
Suspects phones led Northwest investigators to carcasses in one of the biggest poaching cases theyve ever seen
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry welcomed the new strategy of US President Donald Trump on Iran and the nuclear deal with the Islamic republic.

"We have followed closely the American strategy with regard to Iran's policy, which is causing instability in the countries of the region and affecting Arab security and the security of the Gulf region."
The Israel Police dismissed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusation that they are responsible for "a tsunami of leaks" regarding the investigations against him, calling them "baseless attacks" and slamming him for undermining the rule of law.

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"The Israel Police is doing its work in accordance with the law and the state, and we will not be dragged into baseless attacks designed to disrupt the work of the police and undermine the legitimacy of the rule of law," a police spokesperson said Saturday night in response to Netanyahu's allegations.

Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh (L) and Netanyahu (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Netanyahu was unhappy with reports the police intends to continue investigating both cases in which he is suspected of bribery: namely, the investigation into the illicit gifts he allegedly received from rich donors (also known as Case 1000), and his talks with Yedioth Ahronoth owner Arnon Mozes on gaining more favorable coverage in return for promoting legislation against Yedioth's rival newspaper Israel Hayom (also known as Case 2000).

According to Channel 2 News, police investigators intend to question Netanyahu again, some time over the next two weeks. Netanyahu will also reportedly be required to testify in the submarines affair (also known as Case 3000)in which he is currently not a suspectat a later date.

(Photo: Gil Yohanan)

"When Police Commissioner Alsheikh started his term, he made two important decisions: that there would be no more leaks from police investigations, and that the police will not make recommendations (on indictment) anymore," Netanyahu said on Saturday night.

"Ever since political advisor Lior Horev was appointed as an external advisor to the policeat a cost of millions (of shekels) at the expense of the taxpayer and without a tenderthe illegal leaks became a tsunami and the decision not to make recommendations is as if it never happened."

Political Advisor Lior Horev commented that the reasons behind Netanyahu's allegations were obvious.

"I wasn't hired to be a commentator on the prime minister's posts, I do my work professionally and responsibly," Horev said, adding that "it is clear to everyone the reason for the timing of his accusations and both his direct and covert objectives (for making them)."

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan asked Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit to examine Netanyahu's allegations.

Former prime minister Ehud Barak responded to Netanyahu's attack, tweeting: "It's starting. Netanyahu is on his way out, ready to burn the country, a despicable and dangerous persecution of the state's institutions. When the law threatens Bibi, Bibi threatens the law."

In August, the police extended the gag order on information pertainig to the ongoing investigations against Netanyahu. When requesting the order, police revealed to the court that Netanyahu is suspected of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Syrian Islamic State fighters are set to abandon Raqqa in a withdrawal agreed with US-backed Syrian militias that have them surrounded, a militia spokesman said on Saturday, as the jihadists defeat in their former Syrian capital edged closer.

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Officials gave conflicting accounts on whether foreign fighters would also be leaving the city, where the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been battling to defeat Islamic State since June.

SDF spokesman Talal Silo said the foreign fighters would be left behind to surrender or die, without saying when the evacuation of Syrian fighters would take place.

But Omar Alloush, a member of Raqqas Civil Council, said the evacuation would include foreign fighters. He said it would take place overnight into Sunday. The jihadists would be taking some 400 civilians with them as human shields, he said.

The final defeat of ISIS at Raqqa would be a milestone in efforts to roll back the theocratic caliphate the group declared in 2014 in Syria and Iraq, where earlier this year it was driven from the city of Mosul.

Exuberant civilians greetings their Kurdish liberators in Raqqa

X

ISIS used Raqqa as a base to plan attacks against the West.

The Kurdish YPG militia, which dominates the SDF, told Reuters earlier on Saturday that Islamic State was on the verge of defeat in Raqqa, and the city may finally be cleared of the jihadists on Saturday or Sunday.

The US-led coalition against Islamic State said a convoy was due to leave Raqqa on Saturday, in an arrangement agreed by local parties. It described the arrangement as a civilian evacuation and said it would not condone any arrangement that allowed terrorists to escape Raqqa without facing justice.

Raqqa resident escapes into arms of Kurdish Peshmerga fighter

Coalition spokesman Col. Ryan Dillon said the coalitions stance was that ISIS fighters must surrender unconditionally, but added that he could not comment on who would be in the convoy. He said difficult fighting was expected in the days ahead.

The coalition statement said the arrangement brokered by the Raqqa Civil Council and local Arab tribal elders on Oct. 12 was designed to minimize civilian casualties and purportedly excludes foreign Daesh terrorists.

The coalition believed the arrangement would save innocent lives and allow Syrian Democratic Forces and the coalition to focus on defeating Daesh terrorists in Raqqa with less risk of civilian casualties, it said.

Tribal leaders from Raqqa said the SDF had agreed to allow safe passage out of the city for Syrian Islamic State fighters still inside, and they were organizing a mechanism for them to leave.

Its statement made no mention of the fate of Islamic States foreign jihadists, but said the remaining fighters in the city were only a small number besieged in one or more positions in the city, who have no choice but surrender or death.

Alloush earlier told Reuters that the ISIS fighters would go to remaining territory held by the group in Syria.

Buses Arrive

Negotiated withdrawals of combatants facing defeat have become a common feature of the six-year-long Syrian war.

An activist group that reports on Raqqa, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, said on its Facebook page that dozens of buses had entered Raqqa city overnight Friday from the countryside to the north.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organization that reports on the war, said Syrian Islamic State fighters and their families had already left the city, and buses had arrived to evacuate remaining foreign fighters and their families.

The Syrian army, which is supported by Iran-backed militias and the Russian air force, declared another significant victory over Islamic State on Saturday, saying it had captured the town of al-Mayadin in Deir al-Zor province.

The eastern province is Islamic States last major foothold in Syria, and it is under attack there from the SDF on one side and Syrian government forces supported by Iran-backed militias and Russian air strikes on the other.

Islamic State fighters had previously agreed to an evacuation last August, from an area on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

But as their convoy moved toward Islamic State-held territory in eastern Syria, coalition planes blocked its route by cratering roads, destroying bridges and attacking nearby Islamic State vehicles.
Fatah has reportedly demanded Hamas to stop efforts to launch terror attacks against Israel from the West Bank as part of their reconciliation agreement, a Palestinian source told Ynet on Sunday.

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Hamas, meanwhile, has set a condition of its own, demanding the Palestinian Authority stopped its arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank, the source said.

In another report that seems to support this thesis, Hamas sources told pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that one of the conditions of the agreement is that Fatah and Hamas will make decisions on important issues together, such as signing a peace agreement or launching a war against Israel.

Hamas and Fatah sign a reconciliation agreement (Photo: EPA)

Hamas deputy leader Saleh al-Arouri, who is in charge of terror attacks in the West Bank, signed the reconciliation agreement on behalf of the group, giving further credence to Hamas's commitment to stick to the terms of the agreement.

As part of the agreement, which was signed on Thursday, civil control of the Gaza Stripincluding control of its border crosseswill be transferred to the Palestinian unity government on December 1, 2017 after 10 years of exclusive Hamas rule in the enclave.

Israel criticized the reconciliation agreement, saying "Any reconciliation between the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Hamas must include honoring international agreements and the Quartet conditions, first and foremost among them recognizing Israel and disarming Hamas."

Israel set a series of additional conditions that must be met before it would recognize the agreement, including a halt in the digging of tunnels and manufacturing of missiles, an end to terror attacks against Israel, the immediate release of Israeli citizens Avera Mengistu and Hisham a-Said and the return of the remains of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin.
The state budget was finally signed into law on Sept. 21.

The spirited debate over how to solve Wisconsins well-documented transportation funding shortfall held up passage for nearly three months.

After all that time, consensus eluded our state elected officials once again. It took less than 10 days after enactment of the budget, however, for the first transportation casualty to surface.

On Sept. 29, Department of Transportation Secretary David Ross wrote the federal government and asked them to rescind their authorization to rebuild the 3.5 mile stretch of Interstate 94 in front of Miller Park, known as the East West Corridor. This boggles the mind.

Never mind the state and the federal government had considered this project one of the highest priorities. Never mind that it is almost 60 years old and needs replacement. Never mind that we have invested large sums of taxpayer dollars to rebuild the Marquette and Zoo Interchanges on each end of this corridor, only to walk away from the part in the middle. Never mind that we have already spent more than $20 million in engineering costs to garner federal approval. Never mind the years of inconvenience we all endured to complete the two interchanges. Never mind the companies that move goods through this corridor that have been begging for leadership.

Canceling the East West project may be the poster child for this budgets failure to address our transportation funding problems, but it will be far from the only poor result.

This budget didnt just punt when it came to transportation. We gave away significant yardage and then punted. When all is said and done, this budget cut funding for the state highway program by hundreds of millions of dollars.

The fund that is designed to keep our existing state highways in good condition  called the Highway Rehabilitation Program  was reduced by about $80 million. This may be the most troubling because it comes on the heels of a state legislative audit that found the condition of state trunk highways in Wisconsin to be the worst in the Midwest by a gaping margin. Those who thought pulling the plug on funding our ongoing freeway projects would mean more money for fixing the highways we currently have will be sadly disappointed.

There were three bright spots in an otherwise dismal transportation budget. First, local governments received an increase in state aid for local roads and bridges. There is a long way to go, but this began to reverse a trend of forcing more costs on to the locals. Second, for the first time in years, we did not issue more new debt than we can afford. Third, the often-delayed stretch of I-94 in Racine County will finally get moving again as part of the separate Foxconn legislation. The project will be funded with about $250 million in new bonds with the debt service paid out of the states general fund.

The Foxconn package made one point crystal clear for anybody who had missed it: access to a high-functioning freeway system is a necessity, not a want. Without that part of the package  no Foxconn.

Fortunately, the Legislature figured out a way to get that done. What should be even clearer is that we need a Foxconn-like treatment for our existing businesses in Wisconsin. They deserve far better than what they just got in the transportation budget.

We all do.
Pakistan's army says a roadside bomb near the Afghan border has killed four soldiers and wounded three others.

A military statement says the bomb went off Sunday on a mountainous route in the Kurram tribal region. It says the troops were taking part in a search operation for the militants who had held an American-Canadian family that was rescued last week.

Pakistani security officials said three bombs went off in the attack, which was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief reporters.

Pakistani forces, acting on intelligence supplied by the US, freed the couple along with their three childrenall born in captivity. The couple had been held by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network for five years.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's accusations against the Israel Police over leaks from the investigations against him have stirred up a political storm, as coalition ministers and MK's on both sides of the aisle, with some coalition members coming out against the premier.

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Kulanu MK Merav Ben-Ari and MK Roy Folkman, both members in the coalition, joined in on the police's denunciation of the accusations Netanyahu leveled against it.

"How are the tens of thousands of policemen supposed to feel about the constant attacks on their work? Public trust is the most difficult part of the legal system, and responsible leadership should strengthen it," Folkman tweeted.

MK Roy Folkman (R) and MK Merav Ben Ari (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Yuval Hen)

"Mr. Prime Minister, the problem is not with the police commissionerwho you choseor with police investigators who carry out their duties, or with leaks from investigations. The problem is with you," Ben-Ari tweeted.

Likud MK Nava Boker came out in Netanyahu's defense, attacking Ben-Ari for her comments.

"Merav apologize or resign! Your words are a perfect example of a fifth column, you are the opposition within a coalition. You'd better reconsider your position. "

In a tongue-in-cheek reply, Ben-Ari answered Boker with a GIF of a parrot with a caption that read: "Deal with it."

pic.twitter.com/7nd3NAvUV4     Merav BA (@meravi11) October 15, 2017

Meanwhile, Minister of Science, Technology and Space Ofir Akunis (Likud) shifted blame to the Left, claiming Netanyahu's comments were twisted to suit their agenda.

"There is no campaign against the police. There is, however, a campaign of politicians on the Left who say there is a campaign against the police," Akunis said, claiming that Netanyahu's comments were just "a very clear statement that leaks from the investigations are wrong."

"Every person is equal before the law, but tendentious leaks are unacceptable," he added. "I call on the (police) commissioner to implement his own policy regarding leaks and recommendations (on indictment). People should practice what they preach, as the police commissioner must do."

Ofir Akunis (L) and Nava Boker (Photo: Marc Israel Sellem, Motti Kimchi)

Construction Minister Yoav Galant called to remain neutral and stick to the facts.

"In the State of Israel, there are two things that need to be preserved; one is the presumption of innocence of all who are being investigated, and the second is the independence of the investigative bodies," Galant said. "In the background, of course, there is the media and politics, and everyone plays in his field. I do not get involved in that. The rest is less relevant. The significant things are what is happening and what isn't. Let things pass, these are meaningless things. What counts is the facts."

Yoav Galant (Photo: Miriam Zachi)

Netanyahu was unhappy with reports the police intends to continue investigating both cases in which he is suspected of bribery: namely, the investigation into the illicit gifts he allegedly received from rich donors (also known as Case 1000), and his talks with Yedioth Ahronoth owner Arnon Mozes on gaining more favorable coverage in return for promoting legislation against Yedioth's rival newspaper Israel Hayom (also known as Case 2000).

According to Channel 2 News, police investigators intend to question Netanyahu again, some time over the next two weeks. Netanyahu will also reportedly be required to testify in the submarines affair (also known as Case 3000)in which he is currently not a suspectat a later date.

"When Police Commissioner Alsheikh started his term, he made two important decisions: that there would be no more leaks from police investigations, and that the police will not make recommendations (on indictment) anymore," Netanyahu said on Saturday night.

"Ever since political advisor Lior Horev was appointed as an external advisor to the policeat a cost of millions (of shekels) at the expense of the taxpayer and without a tenderthe illegal leaks became a tsunami and the decision not to make recommendations is as if it never happened."

Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh (R) and Netanyahu (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Marc Israel Sellem)

"The Israel Police is doing its work in accordance with the law and the state, and we will not be dragged into baseless attacks designed to disrupt the work of the police and undermine the legitimacy of the rule of law," a police spokesperson said Saturday night in response to Netanyahu's allegations.

Political Advisor Lior Horev commented that the reasons behind Netanyahu's allegations were obvious.

"I wasn't hired to be a commentator on the prime minister's posts, I do my work professionally and responsibly," Horev said, adding that "it is clear to everyone the reason for the timing of his accusations and both his direct and covert objectives (for making them)."
Lets start with the obvious. The two people heading Israels law enforcement system are Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh and Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit.

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Both of them were appointed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Neither of them came from the circles of the Petah Tikva protestors. Neither was ever a leftist or associated with the Left. Neither belongs to the government workers who occasionally try out the Yes Minister games. On the contrary, they were political appointments to all intents and purposes. Netanyahu got exactly who he wanted.

So who the hell is the prime minister trying to blame for the investigations against him? He opened his statement Saturday evening with a declaration that, upon taking office, Alsheikh had made the right decision to stop the leaks. Hes right. And Alsheikh isnt the only one. Theres hardly a single body which hasnt made decisions of this kind. Benjamin Netanyahu himself has repeatedly made similar decisions. Has it helped? No, it was a wasted effort. There are leaks not only from the government, but even from the prime ministers bureau. A shower of leaks.

Netanyahu (R) and Alsheikh. The prime minister doesn't want us to believe the two people he appointed himself (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Most importantly, its unclear what the prime minister was so angry about. After all, the way he puts it, there was nothing. Just a Channel 2 report that the investigation is about to be resumed and that Netanyahu will be questioned again. It wasnt even a leak; it was simply an update on the obvious, nothing more.

But Netanyahu, who was just looking for an excuse to launch a war, eagerly seized the opportunity, trying to explain that the source of the report was a guy called Lior Horev, who was hired as an external advisor to the police. Hes the problem? Is Netanyahu serious? The prime minister has no interest in Horev. Hes not even a pawn and he likely has no clue about the actual investigation, just like Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan has no clue.

So whats changed? Theres no stain that can be placed on Alsheikh. After all, he was appointed by Netanyahu. So theres no choice but to stain him through a manipulation on his advisor.

Lets hope that all the suspicions against Netanyahu are refuted, that he provides an explanation for every allegation and that hes as clean as a whistle. But one thing is clear: The investigations arent being run by Meni Naftali or Eldad Yaniv; theyre being run by two of his personal appointments. And when he tries, directly or indirectly, to attack the media and now some media advisorhe is basically attacking Alsheikh and Mandelblit. And perhaps, even worse, hes threatening them. He doesnt want us to believe the two people he appointed himself.

Hes in the middle of a delusional, dangerous campaign aimed at undermining the publics trust in the police chief and in the attorney general. Its already working in some circles. Regardless of the conclusions the police reach and regardless of the decision the attorney general makes, the delegitimization is already underway.

Remember what Sara Netanyahu once said about the post-Bibi era? This country can burn. Its unclear whether Netanyahu has started doing that, but hes clearly playing with fire.
A convoy of Islamic State fighters left Syria's Raqqa with some civilians overnight, the US-backed militias fighting them said on Sunday, bringing the battle for their one-time capital near its end.

There were conflicting accounts of whether the evacuees included both Syrian and foreign fighters and it was unclear how many jihadists remained to mount a last stand in the city.

"We still expect there to be difficult fighting," said Colonel Ryan Dillon, spokesman for the US-led international coalition backing the SDF in the war against Islamic State.

Raqqa was the first big Syrian city to fall to Islamic State as it declared a "caliphate" and rampaged through Syria and Iraq in 2014, becoming an operations centre for attacks abroad and the stage for some of its darkest atrocities.
Iran has closed its border gates with northern Iraq in response to an independence referendum in Iraq's Kurdish region last month, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday.

"Considering the developments in Iraq's Kurdistan, Iran has closed its Bashmagh border gate with Iraq's Kurdistan," Tasnim said without giving an official source.

Iran last month halted flights to and from Kurdish regions in northern Iraq after the independence referendum by the autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Tehran also carried out wargames at the Kurdish border in September.

Tehran fears the spread of separatism to its own Kurdish population, which is around eight million. Iran backs Shiite groups who have been ruling or holding key security and government positions in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion which toppled Saddam Hussein.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told coalition leaders on Sunday that he plans to shut down the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC), but keep Israel Radio (Reshet B) on air.

Netanyahu, who has been trying unsuccessfully to shut down the IPBC even before it went live, cited low ratings and a waste of public funds as his reasons for the move.

According to the proposal, raised by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri in coordination with the prime minister, closing the IPBC would save taxpayers some NIS 500 million.

All party leaders, with the exception of Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu), expressed support with the move.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told coalition leaders on Sunday that he plans to shut down the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC), but keep Israel Radio (Reshet B) on air.

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Netanyahu, who has been trying unsuccessfully to shut down the IPBC even before it went live, cited low ratings and a waste of public funds as his reasons for the move.

According to the proposal, raised by Interior Minister Aryeh Deri in coordination with the prime minister, closing the IPBC would save taxpayers some NIS 500 million.

Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: EPA)

During a meeting of coalition party leaders, the ministers discussed ways to raise funds, among other things from KKL-JNF and from the Trans-Israel Pipeline.

"Take the IPBC for example," Shas leader Deri lamented. "We invest NIS 600-800 million a year for 1.5 percent rating. This (could be) a way to save."

Almost all of the ministers agreed, but noted it would be "a shame to close down Israel Radio."

Only Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) raised objections to the proposal. Netanyahu asked to continue discussing the issue with Kahlon in private, and it was decided the two would reach a joint decision.

In a tweet deleted shortly after it was posted, Communications Minister Ayoub Kara wrote shortly after the coalition leaders' meeting: "I was happy to receive the blessing of the prime minister to shut down the IPBC. An end to wasting public funds."

In a response to the planned move, the IPBC said it was "continuing operations as normal, according to the law and at full speed ahead with an increase of dozens of percents in ratings compared to the past, digital exposure to millions of people, providing a quality alternative to commercial broadcasting and saving hundreds of millions of shekels in public funds. We invite the viewers to enjoy five new shows starting this week and an independent and news broadcast, free of political and commercial interests."

The Union of Journalists in Israel slammed the move, saying: "The ink has yet to dry on the High Court's decision to freeze the strange, unnecessary and harmful law to separate the IPBC from its news division, and here are the prime minister and his people trying to deliver another blow in an effort to divert the attention from developments in investigations (against Netanyahu). This is another cynical move by the prime minister, who can't seem to kick the bad habit of abusing public broadcasting and its employees."

Netanyahu, who initially supported the establishment of the IPBC, changed his mind in March 2017, shortly before the new broadcaster was due to go on air.

He attributed his change of positions to a meeting he held with workers of the old public broadcaster, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA). "In the meeting, I listened to heart-wrenching stories about experiences and dedicated workers sent home because of the IPBC," he wrote in a Facebook post.

"In addition to that, it was revealed during the meeting that, contrary to data by the Finance Ministry, the cost of keeping the IBA running is tens of millions of shekels cheaper than erecting the IPBC. So what do we even need it for?"

This led to a dispute with Kahlon, with Netanyahu threatening to hold early elections if the political spat is not resolved.

A compromise was reach to separate the IPBC from its news division and creating two different bodies, but the High Court of Justice has since issued a temporary injunction against the move. The IPBC went live in early May after several postponements.
While the election of Audrey Azoulaya Jewish womanas next leader of the UN's cultural agency was welcomed by many in Israel, it has done little to dissuade its government from following in the United States' footsteps and leaving the organization over its "anti-Israel bias."

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Azoulay, formerly France's Culture Minister and a Moroccan Jew by origin, was entrusted to lead the organization after her surprise 30-28 vote win over Qatari candidate Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made the decision to instruct the Foreign Ministry to prepare for Israel's departure from the organization, and it does not matter who is elected CEO," commented Israel's Ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Shama-Hacohen.





New UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay (Photo: Reuters)

"Israel's position on the organization is determined by what happened on the ground, especially the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish decisions adopted by this organization in recent years," he explained.

Azoulay is now tasked with restoring the US's trust in UNESCO and building the organization's new budget , which has taken a serious hit in recent years due to the curtailment of US money transfers following the Palestinian Authority's accession to it.

"It's heartwarming," Ambassador Shama-Hacohen said of Azoulay's election. "Her test, and it is not easy, is to change the direction of this sunken ship that has truly reached an unprecedented low, especially toward Israel. We wish her success."

But Azoulay's election, or the withdrawal of the United States, will not automatically change the organization's activities or stances.

Azoulay with Israel's Ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Shama-Hacohen

"Now we have a heavy weapon placed on the table, we must not give it up," the ambassador added. "The pressure exerted by the withdrawal of the United States (from the organizationed) is equivalent to the endless campaigns of the State of Israel that can run in rounds of voting.

"The US' withdrawal is a tremendous blow, leaving the entire organization in shock. The whole world campaign we did, led by the prime minister at the end, led to the American decision to withdraw, with all the implications that it entails.

"Without the United States, it's like the Champions League without the English and Spanish League. They must return the US to the organization's board, to the organization's budget, and the US cannot be brought back without real reform that eradicates politicization against Israel. Our campaign got its way."

At Sunday's cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu commented on his decision to leave UNESCO, expressing doubt on its ability to change.

"Last week I instructed the Foreign Ministry to prepare for Israel's withdrawal from UNESCO, which has become a platform for delusional, anti-Israeli andin effectanti-Semitic decisions," he said. "We hope that the organization will change its ways but we are not pinning hopes on this; therefore, my directive to leave the organization stands and we will move forward to carry it out."
Reuven Shmerling, who was murdered on the eve of Sukkot in Kafr Qasim, was recognized Sunday as a victim of terrorism.

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According to the Defense Ministry, the decision was made based on the results of the Shin Bet's investigation, which found the murder was nationalistically motivated.

The Shmerling family will now be eligible for all rights and assistance given to terror victims' families.

Reuven Shmerling

Shmerling, 70, of Elkana, was found on Wednesday in a coal storehouse belonging to his family in the Kafr Qasim industrial zone, with signs of severe violence on his body.

It was initially suspected that workers from the territories who worked for him beat him to death over a monetary dispute.

But the Shin Bet said the evidence gathered pointed to an act of terrorism. Two Palestinian suspects from Qabatiya were arrested several days later.
BEIRUT  Syria's Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned the US administration of President Donald Trump for its position on the Iran nuclear deal, saying in comments to state media that it would increase regional tension and threaten security and peace.

"Syria condemns the aggressive policies of the US administration against the interests of the people, and which will increase the atmosphere of tension in the region and the world," state news agency SANA quoted an official source at the ministry as saying.

Trump refused on Friday to formally certify that Tehran was complying with the 2015 accord even though international inspectors say it is. He warned he might ultimately terminate the agreement.
In its zeal to undo the legacy of our 44th president, the Trump administration is now undoing the future of our children and grandchildren by repealing the Clean Power Plan, a policy designed to reduce the heat-trapping emissions that make our climate more and more inhospitable.

How inhospitable? Weve gotten a frightening glimpse of an altered climate recently with disasters fueled by warmer temperatures:

Hurricane Harvey turned much of Houston into a lake after dumping 50 inches of rain. Damage estimates have ranged up to $150 billion.

After flattening the Keys, record-setting Hurricane Irma roared up Floridas west coast, leaving most of the state without power and damage estimated to cost $100 billion.

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, leaving most of the islands residents without power or clean water. Recovery costs could easily reach $95 billion.

Out west, wildfires intensified by hot, dry weather have charred millions of acres, with the most recent fire in Santa Rosa killing at least 15 people.

Its clear our unstable climate is putting bigger and bigger burdens on our economy. Its also clear that the current White House is determined to remove regulations on the use of dirty fuels contributing to that unstable climate.

Those who cheer the EPAs move should remember that President Obama initiated the Clean Power Plan in 2015 in the face of Congresss inaction on climate change. Without effective legislation to combat climate change, a future president could just as easily go down the path of executive action and regulations again. The best answer here is for Congress to pass legislation putting the market to work on solving climate change.

The policy that finds favor across the political spectrum is a steadily rising fee on carbon with revenue returned to households. This approach uses the power of the market to hold fossil fuels accountable for the damage they inflict on our society. A straightforward carbon fee will drive investment and consumer behavior toward low-carbon energy and energy efficiency, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. By returning revenue from the carbon fee equally to all households, we can shield individuals and families from the economic impact of rising energy costs associated with the fee.

A study from the well-respected Regional Economic Models Inc. looked at a policy with a fee starting at $10 per ton of carbon dioxide that increases $10 per ton each year. In their models, all revenue was distributed evenly to every household. REMI found that after 20 years, CO2 emissions would be reduced 50 percent below 1990 levels. At the same time, 2.8 million jobs would be added because of the economic stimulus of returning revenue to consumers.

In other words, this policy is a win-win for both our environment and our economy.

For those despairing that Congress will never address the climate crisis, there is encouraging news. Two Florida congressmen from opposite sides of the aisle have formed the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House of Representatives. Membership in the caucus, which is evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, has risen from 18 to 60 since the beginning of the year. This bipartisan dialogue seeks common ground between the two parties for legislation that reduces the risks we face from climate change.

Across Capitol Hill, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham recently stated the need to address global warming and said his preference is a price on carbon. The Climate Leadership Council, led by former Secretaries of State George Shultz, James Baker and other influential conservatives, also advocates for a carbon pricing plan that returns revenues to households.

In repealing the Clean Power Plan, the Trump administration shows that its bent on removing government regulations around climate change. That means its up to Congress to make the market solve this problem instead. Failure to act will lead to the day when climate-related disasters outpace our ability to recover and adapt.
The cabinet approved Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and Tourism Minister Yariv Levin's "executive vote" on appointing deputy government ministry directors-general without tenders Sunday.

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The proposed bill, termed the " Job Law ," stipulates a director-general of any government ministry with more than 150 employees will be entitled to appoint a deputy, acting as the executive arm of both the director-general and minister.

Ministers Levin (L) and Shaked's bill on government ministries' deputy directors-general was approved by the government (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Yair Sagi)

"The government has proven today without a shadow of a doubt that governance and professionalism complement one another. People possessing managerial talents will finally be able to join the Civil Service," Shaked said.

"The decision will fortify governance and put an end to an absurd situation in which policy set by ministers is not implemented in full," Levin added.

"As of today, some ministries have deputy director-general openings, some of which are not staffed. This decision effectively evens out the field across all ministries by turning the role into a position of trust, born of the desire to increase ministers' ability to implement the policy for which they were elected," the government announced.

Cabinet approved the 'job law' Sunday (Photo: AFP)

"This will increase the ministers' ability to govern, while simultaneously increasing the ministry's director-general ability to carry out their own duties. The government's decision has no incremental budgetary cost as the deputy director-general's wages will be paid using the budget of the ministry staffing the position," the government's announcement concluded.

Critics of the proposed bill claim it will only lead to political appointments and the improper culture of ministers handing out jobs at key government positions.

Shaked and Levin claim, however, the move would increase governance as ministers will be able to avail themselves of the deputy director-general to better carry out the policy for which they were elected. The preconditions for the position, the bill stipulates, include six to seven years of experience in the ministry's area of operations, of which four or five years entail experience in a senior managerial position.

MK Livni said the job law takes the country back to the days of cronyism (Photo: Reuters)

"The job law approved by the government marks a return to the troubled times of cronyism, after righting a years' long wrong," protested MK Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union). "The message sent by the government today is that budgets, positions and anything civil, belonging to the public and meant to serve it has become partisan."

Job laws, Livni added, "are political corruption under the guise of governance and must be stopped. Let every citizen know Israel has no equal opportunities, and the success of their children depends wholly on their political connections rather than their skills."

Chairman of the Yesh Atid parliamentary group MK Ofer Shelah lent his voice to the harsh criticism of the law. "The job law passed by the government is a direct continuation of (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's unbridled assault on the police and its chief. Netanyahu and his cronies lash out at Israel's gatekeepers and professional ranks, while at the same time passing a law meant to provide cushy government jobs for their friends and political debtors," Shelah scathed.

MK Shelah said the law was only meant to provide government jobs to the prime minister's friends (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

"This is a liquidation sale on statism and public responsibility by people who have abdicated all morals, led by a man willing to destroy everything in his struggle to not face judgment," Shelah added.

Before voting on Shaked and Levin's proposal, cabinet members heard expert opinions that explicitly stated certain juridical obstacles stand in the way of approving the bid.

The Ministry of Justice's legal adviser Attorney Lea Rakover provided the cabinet with an expert opinion on the matter, saying the bill may lead to political appointment and a sweeping exemption from tenders.

PM Netanyahu deferred a previous decision on the bill after the cabinet could not agree on it (Photo: AP)

"In light of the marked differences between the political and professional ranksappointed by tender and freed of political influencesexempting a position from tenders, especially any full exemptions, would be suspected to be an attempt to leverage said position for political appointments," Rakover noted in her opinion.

The government debated the proposed bill in an acrimonious cabinet meeting two weeks ago, with Netanyahu announcing that due to the deadlock reached by the ministers, a decision on the bill would be deferred until after the High Holy Days.
Israel Border Policemen and the Israel Military Police arrested Sunday a 17-year-old Palestinian attempting to enter the Samaria Military Court while carrying in his underwear an explosive device.

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Security forces stationed at the entrance of the court prevented the suspect from entering and transferred him for investigation before police sappers were called to the scene.

Pipe bomb discovered

The suspect from Jenin arrived at the court in the morning at the checkpost and aroused the security guards suspicion when they were forced to ask him a number of times to undergo a body search which included the use of metal detectors.

Scene of arrest (Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson's Unit)

During the check, a pipe bomb concealed in his underwear was found on his body.

With the discovery of the bomb, the soldiers sealed off the entrance and sappers eventually neutralized the device with two controlled explosions near the site.
BAGHDAD  Iraq's Kurdish leadership rejected on Sunday a demand by the Iraqi government that it cancels the outcome of an independence referendum as a precondition for talks to resolve the dispute.

Kurdish leaders who met to discuss the crisis in the town of Dokan renewed their offer to "resolve peacefully" the crisis with Baghdad.

"The Kurdish parties are ready for talks between Erbil and Baghdad," they said in a statement, referring respectively to the seat of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq and the federal capital of Iraq.

"The talks between Erbil and Baghdad should be under the supervision of international parties," the statement added.
BAGHDAD/DUBAI  Iran on Sunday shut its border crossings with Iraq's Kurdistan in support of measures taken by the Iraqi government to isolate the Kurdish region, the Iraqi foreign ministry said.

"At the request of the Iraqi government, the Islamic Republic of Iran closed today the border crossings with the Kurdistan region of Iraq,'' the Iraqi foreign ministry said in a statement in Baghdad.

Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi had indirectly dismissed claims these crossings were shut. ''As far as I know, nothing new has happened in this area,'' the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) quoted him as saying.

An Iranian MP Mohammad-Javad Nobandegani said Tehran did not want to publicise the closing of the border.
The most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in Somalia's capital killed at least 231 people with more than 275 injured, a senator said Sunday, making it the deadliest single attack in this Horn of Africa nation. The toll could continue to rise.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed cited doctors at overwhelmed hospitals he visited in Mogadishu a day after a truck bomb targeted a crowded street near key government ministries. Many of the bodies in mortuaries had not yet been identified, he said.

As angry protesters gathered near the scene of the attack, Somalia's government blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group for what it called a "national disaster." However, Africa's deadliest Islamic extremist group, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital, had yet to comment.

The Mogadishu bombing is one of the deadliest attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, larger than the Garissa University attack in Kenya in 2015 and the US Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.
Joint List Chairman Ayman Odeh said Sunday that attacks on Israeli soldiers in the West Bank fall under the category of legitimate struggle against occupation.

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Israeli soldiers shouldnt be in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and people under occupation have the right to fight, Odeh told Israel Broadcasting Cooperation (Kan) Radio.

MK Ayman Odeh (Photo: Knesset)

A people under occupation has the right to struggle. The red line for me is harming civilians, Odeh continued

The chairman of the 13-strong Knesset faction, comprised of Hadash, the United Arab List and Balad, said it was up to the Palestinian people to choose what is legitimate and what is not.

I do not call on the Palestinian people how to resist, but certainly support any struggle that will not harm civilians, Odeh said.
Labor Party Chairman Avi Gabbay spoke about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a Dimona party conference, saying he was "unsure if there was a partner on the Palestinian side."

"I met a lot of people who negotiated with the Palestinians and asked them if there was a true partner to be found. Half of them said there was and half said there wasn't," he added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday evening he intends to establish a parliamentary committee to investigate the funding Israeli NGOs receive from foreign governments.

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Speaking to a gathering of Christian journalists in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said that the committee will probe "organizations that operate against" Israeli soldiers and promised to "put an end to this."

PM Netanyahu said a parliamentary group to investigate NGOs operating against IDF soldiers will be formed (Photo: Amit Shabi)

"Our soldiers keep us safe and we'll keep them safe," Netanyahu said after stating that "there is no army more moral that the IDF. That's a fact."

Israel already has a law, passed last year, which increases the regulation of many Israeli human rights organizations who receive foreign funding.

But Netanyahu's announcement Sunday highlights the hostility against those groups from Israeli hard-liners. It came after Israel convicted IDF soldier Elor Azaria this year for shooting to death a wounded Palestinian terrorist. That incident was caught on video by a human rights group.

Netanyahu's comments came at the Christian Media Summit in Jerusalem, the first such event Israel says it has hosted. His comments and the event itself reflect the close ties and staunch support for Israel in the evangelical world.

Evangelical Christians held a large international conference in Jerusalem over Sukkot

Netanyahu also told the assembled group of Christian media professionals that Israel has no better friend than the world's Christian communities.

That support has been magnified by the election of President Donald Trump. Trump counts white evangelicals among his strongest supporters. Trump has wooed them by repeatedly promising to protect the religious liberty of Christians and being strongly sympathetic toward Israel.

Attitudes in Israel toward evangelicals are evolving, from skepticism about Christian Zionist motives, to the realization that Israel cannot survive on the support of Diaspora Jewish communities alone.
The IDF identified two rocket launches from the Sinai Peninsula on Sunday evening after a Code Red alert was sounded in the Eshkol Regional Council near Gaza.

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One of the rockets exploded on open, uninhabited land and was located following the IDF's searches of the area. No casualties were reported. Earlier, residents in the region reported hearing booms after the sirens.

On Monday, the Islamic State group (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying the rockets were targeting Israel Air Force planes flying in the area, according to a report on Amaq, the terror organization's official news agency.

The rocket located in the Eshkol Regional Council (Photo: Eshkol Regional Council spokesperson)

"I hope this isn't the start of a new trend. The IDF needs to stop launches like this even when they originate in Sinai. We won't consent to a return to getting fired on every other week," said head of the Eshkol Regional Council Gadi Yarkoni in response to the rockets launched at his council.

Point where rocket fell in Israel (:  )

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Last week, the IDF destroyed a Hamas observation post in retaliation for a rocket launched from the Gaza Strip earlier in the evening.

Earlier in the day, suspected Islamic State terrorists attacked six checkpoints in the turbulent north of the Sinai Peninsula, killing six soldiers and wounding 37, according to security and hospital officials.

Photo: Eshkol Regional Council spokesperson

The officials said the near-simultaneous attacks took place at and around the town of Sheikh Zweid, with dozens of terrorists using heavy machine guns and mortars. Apache helicopter gunships were called in to repel the attackers, said the officials. An army statement said 24 of the attackers were killed and two SUVs they used were destroyed.

The area was being combed by army troops in pursuit of the terrorists, said the statement.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Photo: Eshkol Regional Council spokesperson

Egyptian security forces have for years battled terrorists in northern Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel. But the insurgency there has gained momentum after the Egyptian military ousted an elected Islamist president in 2013.

The insurgency is led by a local affiliate of the Islamic State group.
LONDON  British police are investigating three new allegations of sexual assault against film producer Harvey Weinstein, all made by the same woman.

In another blow to the Hollywood titan after he was ejected from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, France's president said Sunday he was working to rescind Weinstein's prestigious Legion of Honor award.

In the new British allegations, London's Metropolitan Police force said Sunday that the woman reported being assaulted in London in 2010, 2011 and 2015. The force said officers from its Child Abuse and Sexual Offenses Command are investigating.

The woman's name has not been made public. The force also did not name Weinstein, in keeping with its policy of not identifying suspects who have not been charged.
They always say that one is the loneliest number. As State superintendent for Wisconsins public schools and one of only two non-Scott Walker appointments on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, I know it all too well.

16-1.

Last week, every single one of my fellow Regents attending our most recent meeting voted to approve a dangerous anti-free speech proposal that will, without question, chill speech at college campuses across Wisconsin.

Under the proposal, which mirrors legislation drafted by conservative think tanks and is being advanced by conservatives in the Wisconsin Legislature, students would be expelled if found disrupting the free speech of others. The term disrupt itself is overly broad and gives the university the means to expel a student for participating in any sort of protest.

Expulsion is a serious matter  a punishment that UW System does not currently require for serious crimes like rape and sexual assault  and yet, Walker now wants to expel students for protesting. The proposal passed by the Regents does not even provide a definition for the word disrupt.

One of the reasons I voted No is because this policy goes against the Universitys fundamental mission, to serve and stimulate society by developing in students heightened intellectual, cultural and humane sensitivities, scientific, professional and technological expertise, and a sense of purpose.

Proponents of this anti-free speech legislation argue liberal biases have overwhelmed our college campuses, but they cannot provide one single example of a conservative speaker being unable to complete their remarks at any college or university in Wisconsin. Not. One.

College campuses across Wisconsin, like the rest of the country, are confronting real, critical issues like racism and racial inequality, sexual assault and gun safety. These debates are hard, but we must engage. Theyre complicated, and developing solutions requires an on-going, at times uncomfortable, dialogue between students, faculty, staff and the community.

The only political problem we have on our UW campuses is the politicians themselves. Some of my own colleagues on the Board of Regents even acknowledged this in their remarks on this proposal, hoping that passage of this resolution would strengthen the Board of Regents relationship with the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Scott Walker and the Republican-controlled Legislature have had an ax to grind with UW System since assuming power in 2011. They have cut hundreds of millions in funding from higher education, while at the same time spent millions of tax dollars to create a conservative research institution on UW-Madisons campus. They eliminated tenure for faculty  making it easier to fire professors who step out of line. Now that theyve succeeded in muzzling professors, they are going after the students.

As a proud alum of UW-Madison, I take this personally. I credit my UW education with giving me a sense of purpose  one that has guided me through a 40-year career in education. I am sick and tired of watching ideologues systematically dismantle an institution that has created tens of thousands of jobs and improved the lives of countless Wisconsinites.

As an educator and a parent, I have always empowered kids to use their voice. In the classroom, we teach our kids to stand up for themselves. We want them to ask the tough questions and learn about who they are and what they believe in. This is rooted in respect and civility. Something Scott Walker knows very little about.

Since the vote, Ive spoken with dozens of college kids from campuses across Wisconsin. Many feel like theyve been sold out, used or simply not heard. While I may have just been the only one at that table who voted No  I am proud I was able to be that one.
The latest ANZ/Property Council Survey for the December quarter shows a significant strengthening of the NSW property industrys confidence, growing from 139 index points in the September quarter to 147 in the December quarter.

Forward work expectations and economic growth expectations have increased over the quarter, showing an industry solidifying its position in an uncertain policy environment, said Jane Fitzgerald, NSW executive director for the Property Council of Australia.

She added that there was still robust capital growth expectations across the residential, office, industrial, and retirement living sectors, with the retail sector rebounding off a low base, indicating that future growth expectations are still strong.

There is also an easing in expectations around debt finance availability this quarter after three quarters of worsening sentiment, she said.

The most recent survey indicates that the NSW industry is resilient and has a confident outlook for the future.

There are currently 70 pieces of planning policy being considered by the government according to the Department of Planning website; policy that has been consulted on yet is awaiting a decision, Fitzgerald said. It is this policy that we must see decisions on in order to continue the strengthening of industry confidence and ensure economic and jobs growth continues.

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News

Tucson, Arizona - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Ajo and Nogales Stations arrested two previously deported gang members in southern Arizona on Friday and Sunday; both with criminal histories in the United States.

Arrested first was Angel Felix-Melendez, a 30-year-old Mexican national who had entered the U.S. illegally with four other men. Agents apprehended the group in the mountains north of Ajo, Arizona on Friday. Felix is a documented Sureno gang member with an extensive criminal history in multiple California cities.

On Monday, Nogales Station agents arrested Cesar Mozqueda-Orozco, a 41-year-old Mexican national, found in the desert west of Nogales after he entered the country illegally. Agents later identified Mozqueda as an MS-13 gang member, an aggravated felon with multiple convictions in California and Arizona.

Both men face prosecution for re-entering the United States and are currently awaiting disposition.
News

Rochester, Minnesota - A gathering of experts is meeting at Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, to talk about why a medication that works for one person may not for another. It's all in the genes. Individualizing Medicine 2017: Advancing Care Through Genomics is a two day conference hosted by the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine.

Topics range from genetic testing's value in diagnosing and treating a host of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular and neurologic conditions, to the growing practice of precisely matching specific medications to a body's ability to process them correctly to get their full benefit. "This is really a hot topic right now," says Dr. Timothy Curry, a Mayo Clinic anesthesiologist and researcher, who will speak at the conference.

The field of studying and applying the knowledge of genetic variations to the use of pharmaceutical drugs is known as pharmacogenomics. Dr. Curry says it could benefit virtually everyone. "What we know from early studies here at Mayo Clinic is that, if you looked at just five genes, 99 percent of people would have something in one of those genes that would affect their medications."

Understanding these individual genetic differences among patients may even be beneficial in preventing and treating opioid addiction  a problem that has been declared a national crisis.

"A lot of times, a patient's first exposure to a pain medicine like this is in association with surgery," Dr. Curry explains. "As an anesthesiologist, that concerns me because I'm the one that's prescribing those medications and giving them to them. So anything we can do to help minimize the exposure to opioids in general, but particularly during the perioperative period, may be helpful."
Arizona News

Gila Bend, Arizona - Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested nine illegal aliens caught with more than 400 pounds of marijuana Tuesday night worth more than $208,000.

Agents working in the desert west of Gila Bend, Arizona followed footprints leading north from the border. Agents caught up with the group that turned out to be drug smugglers carrying makeshift backpacks of marijuana.

Agents seized the drugs and arrested the individuals for narcotics smuggling. All subjects and drugs are being processed per Yuma Sector guidelines.

Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents effectively combat smuggling organizations attempting to transport people and contraband through southwestern Arizona and California. Citizens can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers may remain anonymous.
Arizona News

Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Doug Ducey announced the appointment of Maria Fuentes to serve as Director of the Governors Office of Youth, Faith and Family.

Fuentes is a native Puerto Rican who served six years in the Administration of President George W. Bush in the U.S. Departments of Labor and Justice. She also served in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives working to help states across the country develop and establish their own faith-based initiatives.

Following her time in the Bush Administration, Fuentes worked at Bnai Brith International and Casey Family Programs, where she furthered the foundations mission to safely reduce the number of children in foster care and improve well-being outcomes of children and families.

Im proud to appoint Maria to lead the Office of Youth, Faith and Family, said Governor Ducey. Her extensive background working with community and family-based programs and proven policy expertise will be great assets at the head of this important office. I look forward to working with her to further our priority of promoting healthier, happier Arizona citizens.

Its an honor to join Governor Duceys team, especially in a position to serve our most vulnerable children and families, said Director Fuentes. Im eager to start working with state and local partners to achieve common goals to support families in our communities.

The Governors Office of Youth, Faith and Family works directly with community partners and stakeholders to promote strong, healthy and connected families. The office provides programming, resources and expertise in a wide range of issue areas in order to improve the lives of all Arizona citizens.
Border News

Tucson, Arizona - Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents encountered two vehicles involved in human smuggling attempts during separate incidents late last week, resulting in the arrest of two U.S. citizens and nine illegal aliens.

Thursday afternoon, the Douglas Police Department requested assistance from Douglas Station agents after witnessing multiple people run from the desert and get into an older model Toyota Camry on State Route 80 near the border. The officer followed the Camry until the driver stopped abruptly and the passengers fled into the desert.

The officer detained the male driver, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen. When Border Patrol agents arrived, they arrested the man for human smuggling and searched the area until finding the five Mexican nationals, all illegally present in the country.

Friday morning, Casa Grande agents at the Federal Route 15 immigration checkpoint encountered a 1998 Oldsmobile with two visible occupants. During questioning, the female driver quickly drove off. Agents pursued the vehicle until the driver stopped and, along with the passenger, fled on foot. Agents searched the vehicle and found four adult Mexican nationals in the trunk.

Agents later found the driver, identified as a 22-year-old U.S. citizen, and arrested her for human smuggling. Agents also arrested the four Mexican nationals for immigration violations.

Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Border News

San Luis, Arizona - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Arizonas Port of San Luis apprehended a 19-year-old man Thursday morning after finding close to 15 pounds of methamphetamine in his vehicle.

As the man was returning from Mexico, officers referred him for a secondary inspection of the GMC Yukon he was driving. During the inspection, a CBP narcotics-detection canine alerted officers to the vehicles radiator where they found two packages of meth worth almost $44,000.

Officers arrested the man for narcotics smuggling and turned him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations. CBP officers also seized the vehicle and drugs.

Federal law allows officers to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless and until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CBP's Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked with an anti-terrorism mission at our nations ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.
Health News

Chicago, Illinois - The American Heart Association expressed deep disappointment with todays vote in Cook County, Illinois, repealing the countys sweetened beverage tax. The Association, the worlds leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke, believes commissioners were misled by false claims from the beverage industry.

According to Association and other thought leaders, the vote to repeal the tax - which would have saved the county more than $200 million in health care costs over the next ten years - is a step back in the continuing efforts to improve public health by encouraging residents to reduce consumption of sugary drinks, and will further result in significant budget cuts to critical public health and safety priorities.

Leaders are defined by the choices they make. We are deeply disappointed that beverage industry spin won out over the health of five million Cook County residents. Todays decision by the Cook County Commissioners protects beverage industry profits at the expense of kids and families said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. We are grateful to all the local American Heart Association volunteers, the Illinois Public Health Institute, and the numerous local organizations, medical professional, faith leaders and other visionaries, such as former New York City mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, for their significant efforts to protect people from the harmful impacts of sugary drinks. The American Heart Association will proudly continue the fight to pass sugary drink taxes across the country.

Following the passage of Cook Countys sweetened beverage tax in November 2016, the beverage industry launched a Can the Tax campaign to cast unfounded aspersions on the public health benefits of sugary drink taxes and downplay the devastating budget cuts that will hit county health and public safety budgets without the revenue. The sugary beverage industry has once again placed profits over people, said Brown.

Beverage companies continue to spend hundreds of millions across the country  $866M in 2013 alone  to advertise unhealthy drinks to consumers, disproportionately focusing marketing dollars and campaigns to target communities of color and youth. For example, according to the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, lower-income African-American and Latino neighborhoods have more outdoor ads for sugary drinks than lower-income and higher-income white neighborhoods.

A growing list of communities across the United States are realizing the health and economic benefits of sugary drink taxes. A recent evaluation of the tax in Berkeley, California, found that during the first year of implementation, sales of taxed sugary drinks dropped by 9.6 percent and sales of untaxed beverages increased by 3.5 percent, including a 15.5 percent increase in sales of bottled water. In Philadelphia, revenue from the tax has already funded an expansion of pre-Kindergarten to an additional 2,000 young children across the city, with thousands more will be able to attend for the coming years.

Despite todays setback in Cook County, we remain optimistic that more communities will choose to reap the health and economic benefits that sugary drink taxes provide, said Brown. The American Heart Association will continue to stand up against industry to support these taxes that further our mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Additional reaction from Cook County leaders mirrors the American Heart Associations disappointment over the repeal:

Karen Larimer, Ph.D., American Heart AssociationChicago Metro Board, President, Assistant Professor of Nursing, DePaul University

Big Soda is desperate to prevent these taxes from gaining momentum and spreading across the country. People dont need these drinks  its hurting their health and its hurting all of us with increased health care costs. Its irresponsible to agree on a solution for a fiscal, health care and public safety crisis and then back down without alternative solutions. Our community is suffering from chronic diseases and we are all paying the costs of their health care.

Clyde Yancy, M.D., American Heart Association past president, Chief of Cardiology, Northwestern University

Today we witnessed an unfortunate misstep in judgment. The repeal of the sugar sweetened beverage assessment commits our children to early childhood obesity and in turn early adulthood diabetes, hypertension and the consequences that follow. One cannot look away from the impact of this decision on the health of our children. Indeed, the resources from this assessment were earmarked for health and public safetyneeds that are quite legitimatebut in todays world, any increase in the assessments we face is unwelcomed. However, the focus has been and should still be the staggering problem of childhood obesity. The future long-term costs of this problem will far eclipse the modest short-term savings of this repeal. No one should celebrate todays repeal. We will never be all that the great citizenry of Chicago can be if we dont make an investment in the current and future health of our community. Though we are disappointed by this vote, we are emboldened that many more citizens in Chicago are aware of childhood obesity and as well, are aware of our sense of urgency in the public health community. Lets maintain that focus and find a solution. The future of our city depends upon our ability to bring forth a next generation that is fully equipped to support and lead this great city. Of all the tools the next generation will need, having good health will be among the most important.

Ms. Phalese Binion, Ph.D., Executive Director of the Westside Ministers Coalition

Every day I see firsthand how soda companies target our community with their ads and I see the impact it has on children. These kids are getting adult diseases  diabetes is rampant and dialysis centers are everywhere. We need to protect our children. Instead, it seems like we just handed the beverage companies our souls.
Latest News

Ajo, Arizona - Agents from the U.S. Border Patrol and Air and Marine Operations responded to a 911 call and a rescue beacon activation, resulting in the rescue of seven undocumented aliens stranded in Arizonas west desert Wednesday.

Agents assigned to Tucson Sectors Ajo Station received a 911 call from a man who said he and three other men had crossed the border several days earlier and were out of water. A helicopter from Air and Marine Operations Yuma Air Branch responded to the area and assisted Border Patrol agents in locating the subjects. After determining the subjects did not require medical care, they were transported to the Ajo Station for processing.

Later that evening, agents from the Casa Grande Station responded to a rescue beacon activation on the Tohono Oodham Nation and found three male Mexican nationals. After the men declined medical care, they were taken to the Casa Grande Station for processing.

All subjects are being processed for immigration violations, in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.

Border Patrol officials urge anyone in distress to call 911 or activate a rescue beacon before becoming a casualty. In fiscal year 2016, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents rescued more than 1,400 people.
It bears repeating. We have a terrible problem with weapons in this country, and the original meaning of the Second Amendment is not what is standing in the way of reducing that problem.

The issue in 1789 wasn't the individual right to have and use firearms under public regulation. That was already well established. It was the right of states to self-protection through state militias, avoiding the dangers of a standing army. The Second Amendment made explicit that state right.

The current nonsensical opinion has spread that the Second Amendment disallows regulation of private gun ownership and use, and even stranger, that it supports the development of private militias that can threaten and strike at the officials of our local, state and national governments.

We have a constitutional system of laws and politics precisely to avoid domestic warfare and mob rule. And we have had, in the past, effective regulation of firearms for basic community safety. We need to update regulation to meet current technology.

To shut down mass shootings we need to follow Australia and end the possession of semi-automatic long guns. We don't need them. And to reduce the vast numbers of murders, accidents and suicides we need to limit access to handguns through background checks, licensing, registration, insurance and other means.

We need to act like a responsible adult community on this. People can still have weapons but we have a right to control the damage. Have some guts on this.

David Ebbert, Viola
London: Former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton cautioned Britain on Sunday over its push to secure a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump after it leaves the European Union.

Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate who lost out to Trump in last November`s election, also said Britain would face serious disruption if it left the EU without a negotiated deal with Brussels.

The British government has talked up the prospect of bilateral trade deals with the United States and others as one of the major benefits of leaving the EU following last year`s surprise referendum vote to leave.

Asked about the prospects of a British-U.S. deal, Clinton told the BBC: "You`re making a trade deal with somebody who says he doesn`t believe in trade, so I`m not quite sure how that`s going to play out over the next few years."

British Prime Minister Theresa May visited Trump in January to talk trade. The countries share $200 billion of trade each year.

But May has since intervened in a dispute between U.S. aerospace firm Boeing and Canadian planemaker Bombardier, lobbying in the interests of Bombardier to try to protect jobs at its factory in Northern Ireland.

Clinton also said Britain would be at a "very big disadvantage" if divorce negotiations with the EU failed, and went on to compare the factors behind the Brexit vote to her own election loss.

"Looking at the Brexit vote now it was a precursor to some extent to what happened to us in the United States... The amount of fabricated, false information that your voters were given by the `Leave` campaign," she said.

She said her own presidential campaign was subject to similar treatment, citing the spread of false stories by online news outlets, and warned that Britain and other countries must be alert to the risks of such new media.

"The big lie is a very potent tool," she said.
New Delhi: Exactly a year after JNU student Najeeb Ahmed went missing from the campus following a scuffle with some other students, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had taken over the probe into the case from the city police, remains clueless.

The high court had first gone after the Delhi Police to solve the mysterious disappearance of Najeeb and since it was not satisfied with the progress made by the city police in the case, it transferred it to the central probe agency on May 16 this year.

Najeeb (27), a student of M.Sc Biotechnology, went missing from the Mahi-Mandvi hostel of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on October 15, 2016. His family members are still running from pillar to post to trace him.

Najeeb had an altercation with several students, allegedly affiliated to the BJP's student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), according to his friends and family.

After over a month had passed since Najeeb went missing, his mother, Fatima Nafees, moved the Delhi High Court, seeking directions to the police to trace her son.

The high court had immediately directed the Delhi Police to "explore all angles" and "cut across political barriers" to trace the young man, saying no one could just vanish from the heart of the national capital.

However, as the police were clueless about Najeeb's whereabouts even after two months since he went missing, it had to face the ire of the court, which asked it to scan the entire JNU campus, including hostels, classrooms and rooftops, with the help of sniffer dogs.

However, the police failed to sniff out any lead even after pressing 600 personnel and several sniffer dogs into service.

This prompted the high court to suggest other methods such as lie detector tests of the nine students suspected to be behind Najeeb's disappearance as they had allegedly beaten him up before he went missing.

Though the police sent notices to the nine students, asking them to appear for a polygraph (lie detector) test, they ignored the same and subsequently, moved the trial court, challenging the step taken by the investigating agency.

Even as the nine students were opposing the lie detector test, Najeeb's family alleged in the court that they were being harassed by the Delhi Police, which was conducting pre- dawn searches at their house in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh.

Dissatisfied with the lack of progress in the investigation, the family later demanded that the probe be handed over to some other agency.

In March this year, even the high court admitted that it was "foxed" by the lack of information on the missing student's whereabouts and demanded an answer from the police "one way or the other" on Najeeb's fate, saying that as far as the probe was concerned, the only thing happening was paperwork.

While the high court was monitoring the investigation, a magisterial court, on March 30, rejected the nine suspected students' plea against the police notice asking them to appear for a polygraph test.

A few days later, the decision of the magisterial court was stayed by a sessions court, which subsequently quashed it.

Continuing with its probe, the police filed a chargesheet against a man, who was arrested for allegedly making a ransom call to Najeeb's relatives, demanding Rs 20 lakh for his release.

However, his family kept urging the high court to transfer the probe to some other agency and finally on May 16, it was handed over to the CBI.

Two months later, on July 17, the probe agency sought more time from the court to investigate the case.

Nearly a month later, when the CBI failed to file a fresh progress report in the case, the high court rebuked it, saying the probe was not transferred to the agency "for fun".

On September 6, the court again directed the CBI to take steps to trace Najeeb.

On the same day, the agency filed a status report on the investigation in a sealed envelope.

The CBI counsel informed the court that the agency had examined 26 people, including JNU officials, staff, Najeeb's friends, colleagues and those who had issues with him, during its investigation.

The agency also told the court that the matter was widely publicised in 12 cities and that several mortuaries were also being monitored.

Apart from that, last one year's railway records of passengers of the same name and age as that of the missing student had been called for, it told the high court, which is slated to hear the matter tomorrow (October 16).
New Delhi: A parliamentary panel's report on demonetisation, which is critical of the government's note-ban decision, is likely to be tabled in the next session of Parliament.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, headed by Congress MP Veerappa Moily and of which former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is also member, had been looking into the issue of demonetisation.

The panel had also called RBI governor Urjit Patel and top officials of the Finance Ministry to deliberate upon the issue.

A draft of the report was prepared and circulated in previous tenure of the panel, but now the committee has been reconstituted so it will again be circulated, a member of the panel said on condition of anonymity.

The report is overall critical of the demonetisation decision and is set to be tabled in the next session of Parliament, another member said.

Some members of the panel had sought redrafting of the report as the RBI at that time had not provided some crucial details such as the quantum of the junked Rs 500 and 1,000 notes.

When contacted, Moily also confirmed that the report is likely to be placed in the winter session of Parliament.

The winter session is normally month-long and convenes from mid-November.

In an unprecedented move, the government on November 8 last year, banned old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in an attempt to weed out black money in the country.

The old notes were allowed to be deposited in banks, with unusual deposits coming under income tax scrutiny. In its annual report for 2016-17, the RBI had disclosed that all but about 1 per cent of the scrapped currency notes have come back into the system.
New Delhi: A detective from the Leon County Sheriff's Office in Florida showed immense courage when she rescued a 9-foot-long Yellow Anaconda from the roadside with her bare hands.

Detective Emily Shaw reached the location where the snake was spotted after receiving a call.

Even though the reptile tried to coil itself around her, Shaw made smooth maneuveres to avoid it.

The Leon County Sheriff's Office posted the amazing footage on their Facebook page showing how Detective Shaw picked up the snake by its tail and puts it into the bag lying a few feet away.

At many moments, the snake can be seen trying to attack Shaw and bite her foot, but in the end, Shaw manages to drive it straight inside the duffel bag.

At the point when Shaw manages to pick up the serpent's tail, the person behind the camera can be heard saying 'You are crazy!'

The exotic snake was found on the east side of Leon County, near Louvinia Drive. According to Daily Mail, Detective Shaw's fearless attitude comes from an experience in handling exotic snakes.

The Sheriff's Office also believes that the sperpent was probably someone's pet that might have escaped or released and requested owners to be more responsible and vigilant.

They wrote: If you own an exotic pet please be responsible. Make sure their cages are completely secure and if you decide you no longer want it, do not release it into the wild."

Since the video was posted, it has received more than 377K views and over 3,400 shares.
Faridabad: Five people were beaten up by self-proclaimed cow vigilantes on suspicion of carrying beef on Friday in Haryana's Faridabad.

The victims, who said they were carrying buffalo meat in a vehicle, were waylaid by a group of men and beaten up for allegedly carrying the prohibited meat.

"They stopped us and said you're carrying cow meat," said one of the victims, Azad, adding, that he was forced to chant 'Hanuman Ki Jai' and 'cow is our mother.'

However, when he refused, he was allegedly roughed up by the group, who allegedly told Azad that they belonged to Bajrang Dal.

Following the assault, Azad was left unconscious and was rushed to the hospital by the police.

The police on Sunday arrested three persons in connection with the case.

Just last month, the Supreme Court had asked the states for a compliance report over the incidents of cow vigilantism.

The top court's three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and comprising of Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said that all states are under an obligation to compensate the victims of cow vigilante violence cases.

The hearing in the matter is expected later this month.
New Delhi: An ambitious high speed train project in south India has been delayed after Chinese railways, that completed a feasibility study a year ago, did not respond, railway officials have said, suggesting that the "lack of response" may be due to the Dokalam standoff.

An internal brief of the Mobility Directorate on the status of nine high-speed projects of the railways, accessed by PTI, shows that the Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore corridor, a 492 km stretch, lies in limbo because the Chinese railways has failed to respond to the ministry's communiques.

"The Chinese company submitted the final report in November 2016 and after that the Chinese team has suggested for a face to face interaction. No date has been fixed from their side," said the note prepared by the Mobility Directorate.

On the reason for the delay, the brief states -- "lack of response" from Chinese railways.

The brief also states that the feasibility study by the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEC) was submitted to the Railway Board in November 2016 and after that the Chinese company had sought meetings with officials of the Board.

However, officials say that the Board has been unable to get in touch with officials of CREEC despite repeated communications sent to them via mails in the last six months.

"We have even tried to get in touch with them through their Embassy here, but we are yet to hear from them," said an official.

The ministry officials said that it was the standoff between the two countries in Bhutan's Dokalam area between June 16 and August 28 this year that seems to have derailed the project.

"The study began in 2014 and they submitted the report in 2016. The entire cost was borne by them. In fact they have shown so much interest in collaborating with us for other projects as well, so we think that it was the standoff that must have raised doubts," said a senior rail official.

An email to the Chinese Embassy by the PTI on the issue did not elicit any response.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Dokalam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese Army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Dokalam.

The brief, prepared by the department in charge of all the high speed corridors, also states that except the Chinese roadblock, work on the eight other projects was on track.

China had in fact not only pitched for the Mumbai- Ahemdabad high speed network, which was finally bagged by Japan, but also for the bullet project in the Mumbai-Delhi sector, which is yet to be finalised.

China is also training railway engineers in heavy hauling and it is with Chinese collaboration that India is setting up its first railway university.

The Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore corridor is one of nine such high speed corridors being developed by the ministry. The aim was to increase the speed from the present 80 kmph to 160 kmph.

While the Delhi-Agra route was made operational in 2016 with the country's fastest train Gatimaan Express running between the two cities, the work on rest seven of eight of 8 is going at a fast pace, the brief indicated.
New Delhi: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his claims of growing friendship between India and the United States, also sweeping United States President Donald Trump and Pakistan away in a single stroke.

Responding to Trump`s tweet that talked of America`s evolving friendship with Pakistan, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and wrote, "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."

Trump`s tweet had come a day after the Pakistani security forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the clutches of the Haqqani terror network, operative in Islamabad.

In a marked turnaround of sorts, Trump had earlier accused Pakistan of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting. But that will have to change, and that will change immediately." This was after Prime Minister Modi`s June visit to the U.S. wherein Trump`s description of the former as a `true friend` had set the tone for a successful bilateral meeting between the two nations, and rightly so, from their bear-hug to their praises for each other, everything reeked of a growing bonhomie between the world leaders.

The Congress had back then too downplayed the essentiality of the visit and its aftermath.

Meanwhile, several media reports have cornered Trump over his sudden claims of growing ties with Pakistan, accusing him of going back on his word and policies of counter-terrorism.

Reports also say that officials in India are now keen to see the follow-up actions of the U.S. President.The tweet is also likely to become a part of the discussions between Indian leaders and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, when he visits India in the last week of October.
Oh, the irony.

On the same Opinion page (Wednesday's Tribune) that Sister Karen Lueck advocates for the Coulee Council on Addictions, Vernal Hegenbart derides the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration because they are not Catholic enough.

Hegenbart cloaks his disgusting misogyny behind official Catechism, sacred scripture and tradition and authentic teachings.

While Sister Lueck does Gods work in the realm of social justice, Hegenbart longs for the days when women were barefoot and pregnant.

Thank you, Sister Lueck, for your advocacy, and thank you Mr. Hegenbart for another reminder as to why I left The Holy Roman Catholic Church.

Kevin Schaller, Onalaska
Jammu: Hours after the security forces killed a dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba-affliated terrorist Wasim Shah in an encounter in Ganderbal, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that militancy in Jammu and Kashmir was in its last phase and that militants are on the run.

They (militants) are on the run and are under tremendous pressure. I am sure that this is going to be the last phase of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, he told reporters in Jammu late on Saturday.

Singh was replying to a volley of questions on the recent killings of militants in Kashmir Valley.

Police and security forces are doing a commendable job. What is more praiseworthy is that the special operation group of J&K Police is cooperating and working shoulder to shoulder in these operations, he said.

The minister said that the security forces had been successful in effecting a positive change in the security situation. Life span of every terrorist has been shorten, he said.

Replying to a question about Pakistan making desperate attempts to keep the pot of militancy boiling in the state, Singh said, This speaks of their (Pakistan) helplessness and despair.

The longer Pakistan continues to remain in denial mode, the more it is risking its own security and its own existence, he added.

On the Supreme Court judgement on the issue of Rohingya immigrants, the minister said, As far as the BJP and its government are concerned, we are very clear about itThe security concern is the prime concern for all of us including those of us who have stakes in Jammu and Kashmir, where you have a sizable population of Rohingyas.

He said it was not the right interpretation to say that Rohingyas are not to be deported from India.

The Supreme Court has said that there was security concern and at the same time, there is a human angle that is to be kept in the mind, he said, adding that judicious view of the entire matter will be taken.

Reacting to the diktat of Majlis Shoura that boys and girls should not study together, the minister said, Without intruding into anybodys religious prerogative, as far as we are concerned, we believe in policy of justice for all and appeasement to none.

We live in a democratic country and heterogeneous society, where gender equality is inherent I think concerned agencies will take cognisance of it, he said.

To a question on separatist leader Asiya Andrabis photo being showcased in a government poster, he said, The government has taken serious view of it and taken action also. It is condemnable.

With PTI inputs
Thiruvananthapuram: Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) trust, which manages the Tirumala temple, has fired at least 243 barbers for allegedly taking tips from pilgrims.

According to media reports, the barbers were sacked after the temple authorities issued notices in this regard.

Barbers from Andhra Pradeshs Tirumala temple yesterday staged protests demanding the temple authorities to reinstate them.

According to reports, the barbers staged a demonstration in front of the administrative office of the TTD, which runs Indias richest temple in Andhra Pradeshs Chittoor district.

They demanded that they be re-instated on humanitarian grounds as the sacking would deprive them of their livelihood.

At least 943 barbers have been recruited by TTD trust, mostly on contract basis, to work in shifts round-the-clock at Kalyana Katta - the huge hair-cutting saloon complex located near the temple.

While the temple rules say that tonsuring has to be done free of cost, the TTD has received complaints from pilgrims that many of the barbers were asking for tips ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 50.
Gurdaspur: Counting of votes for the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat in Punjab where by-election were held recently is currently underway on Sunday.

The results of the Gurdaspur bypoll will be seen as a reflection of the six-month-old Congress governments popularity in the state. The bypoll was necessitated after the death of actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna. Congress' Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar, BJP's Swaran Salaria and AAP's Major General (retd) Suresh Khajuria are the main contenders to win the high-stake electoral battle here.

Here are the live updates:-

-Congress's Sunil Jakhar now leads by 94,161 votes, according to ANI.

-Congress's Sunil Jakhar extends lead, is now leading by 42718 votes, according to ANI.

-After completion of first round of counting, Congress' Sunil Jakhar leads by 14316 votes.

-As per reports, Congress is leading at the moment, BJP second and AAP third.

-Counting of votes has begun.

-There is tight security outside the two counting centres in the state.

-No hotel, restaurant, liquor shop or any eating joint, even with a licence, would be allowed to serve or sell liquor today.

-In view of the counting, the Election Commission has announced a complete prohibition on sale and supply of liquor in Gurdaspur.

-Counting centres have been set up at Sukhjindra College Gurdaspur for the six assembly constituencies and for the rest three constituencies of Pathankot district, it has been set up at the SD College in Pathankot.

-The Gurdaspur parliamentary seat has nine assembly segments  Bhoa, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Dinanagar, Qadian, Fathegarh Churian, Dera Baba Nanak, Sujanpur and Batala.

-Counting of votes to begin shortly.

Gurdaspur Lok Sabha bypoll: Counting of votes to begin shortly #Punjab pic.twitter.com/il53xC7yND  ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

A total of 56 percent of registered voters exercised their franchise on October 11 in the by-election to the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency, according to Punjab Chief Electoral Officer VK Singh.

Minor clashes were also reported between Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiromani Akali Dal workers in some villages, in which five to six persons were injured.

Nearly 15.22 lakh voters were registered to vote to decide the fate of 11 candidates, including BJP`s Swarn Salaria, Congress` Sunil Kumar Jakhar and Aam Aadmi Party`s retired Major General Suresh Kumar Khajuria.
Hyderabad: The Balapur Police have apprehended two persons, including a Rohingya refugee, for obtaining the Aadhaar card by providing false information to UIDAI, which is the mandated to issue Unique Identity - Aadhaar to all residents of India.

Two Aadhar cards and one passport have been seized from the accused.

#Hyderabad: Balapur police apprehend two persons including a Rohingya refugee for obtaining Aadhaar by providing false info to UIDAI pic.twitter.com/5f24D3xVOT ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2017

The refugee named, Mohammed Ajamuddin, and Indian national Riyazuddin Molla told the UIDAI authorities that the former is the son of the latter to avoid troubles and act as an Indian citizen.

The police confirm that in the process, Riyaz helped Ajamuddin in obtaining the Aadhaar card, and violated the provisions of the foreigners act.On credible information, the Balapur Police apprehended the accused persons.
New Delhi: Bigg Boss season 11 has had a lot of twists and turns, one of them being the ' Sultaani Akhaada' in which two contestants are given the opportunity to fight each other off, with Salman Khan instructing them what to do. This week Shilpa and Arshi were sent to the Akhaada and it was a lot of fun watching the two compete. Arshi won the competetion and Salman gave her the gold medal.

Gaurav Gera entered yet again as 'Mrs Bigg Boss' and entertained us with his outstanding comedy.

Popular television actors and good friends Rithvik Dhanjani and Ravi Dubey entered the Bigg Boss house and converted the place in a much-entertaining market.

Ritwik and Ravi asked some contestants to act as salesmen while some contestants became products that were to be sold. The contestants earned Bigg Boss money depending upon their marketing skills from which they could buy the personal stuff that they had sacrificed in the captaincy task.

There is good news for all the Vikas and Hina fans as the former apologized after which Hina got emotional.

It looks like Ritwik and Ravi's presence reminded the duo of the importance of friendship and we hope they soon resolve their differences.

As we already know, Shivani, Sapna and Jyoti were the contestants who were still nominated for eviction.

Shivani was the contestant to receive the least number of votes and she left the Bigg Boss house. Will you miss her inside the house? Do let us know in comments!

With nomination special coming up, we wonder who all are going to get nominated the next week.

Keep watchig this space for Bigg Boss updates!
Shahjahanpur: A Muslim woman has accused her husband of giving her divorce through "triple talaq" and demanding dowry in Shahjahanpur district, police said on Sunday.

Akrama, a resident of Udaipur Bhula village, has filed a complaint with the police in connection with the matter. She alleged that her husband Hashim and her in-laws beat her up and demanded a dowry of Rs 50,000 on August 7.

When she refused, he divorced her through "triple talaq", the police said.

The woman yesterday got an FIR registered against Hashim and three relatives at the Mirzapur Police Station.

The accused is absconding, the police said.

On August 22, the Supreme Court set aside the practice of divorce through 'triple talaq' among Muslims. The court held that 'triple talaq' was against the basic tenets of the Quran.
I recently received an e-mail that describes a bill pending in the Wisconsin Senate, Bill 169.

This bill would eliminate the requirement for training and background checks for those carrying concealed guns in public places. It would also lower the age for concealed carry from 21 to 18, and would prohibit schools from prohibiting guns on their property.

How does this make you feel about sending your kids to school? This bill is dangerous and thoughtless, for schools or anywhere that people gather. I genuinely believe we need to block this bill. High school kids getting shot in school or in the parking lot because some senior is mad at them? Really? Attending a large public event with 40 or 50 people who are carrying concealed weapons they haven't been trained to use? This bill creates a law that would help make dangerous things happen, and it's far removed from thoughtful application of Second Amendment rights.

I wonder if the next Senate bill will allow us to drive our cars around inside the Wisconsin Capitol building? "Hey. It's my right to own a car. I have the right to drive it anywhere, and stone-blind drunk if I want to. Anywhere -- with no driver's ed and no driving test. You can't take away my rights."

There's something dangerously wrong with that picture, folks.

Terry Schmeckpeper, Onalaska
Kolkata: Expelled Gorkha Janmukti Morch (GJM) leader Binay Tamang on Sunday requested for Centre`s intervention in Darjeeling hills during his meeting with West Bengal Governor Kesari Nath Tripathi at Raj Bhawan, Kolkata.

"The issues related to the series of bomb blast and the recently recovered arms and ammunitions in the Darjeeling Valley have been appraised in meeting. We have requested the Governor to appraise the Centre about the same", said Tamang in a press conference after the meeting.

The former GJM leader said, "We want to talk to the Centre regarding the matter and want their intervention in the area as it is sensitive area."

"We want the central government to talk about all pending issues as well as the Gorkhaland issue," added Tamang.

In the last few months, Darjeeling has been witnessing indefinite shutdown over separate Gorkhaland by various hill parties which have been spearheading the agitation, including the GJM activists.
California: The death toll from raging California's wildfires rose to 40 on Saturday, with more than 10,000 firefighters battling 16 large blazes and 100,000 people evacuated, the state's fire service said.

Around 335 square miles (864 square kilometers) of residential neighborhoods, forests and other property have been burned since Sunday, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire).

"These fires have been extremely destructive, with 5,700 structures estimated to have been destroyed. While crews continue their search for missing people, the death toll has risen to 35," the service said in a statement.

"Red flag warnings remain in effect across northern California due to strong north winds, which have already increased fire activity. Those winds are forecast through the day and expected to decrease by late tonight."

Pre-dawn winds in Santa Rosa have complicated the effort, pushing a blaze known as the Nuns Fire in two separate directions and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes near Oakmont and northeast of the city of Sonoma, Cal Fire said.

Numerous churches across the region -- in Santa Rosa, Napa, Sonoma, Petaluma and Novato -- were housing victims of the wildfires and serving as resting places for firefighters, according to the Sacramento Bee newspaper.

California Governor Jerry Brown announced the White House had approved a request for direct aid for families in four counties, adding to emergency funds promised to the devastated winemaking areas of Napa and Sonoma.

Brown`s office said he and Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris would meet community leaders and emergency management officials in the region later Saturday, with nine counties still under a state of emergency.

In Redwood Valley, a small town around 70 miles north of the Sonoma County fires that threatened world-renowned wineries, officials have been struggling with the gruesome task of naming victims.

At least eight people were killed late Sunday by a wildfire that "swept through the area so fast it engulfed moving cars," the Bee reported, adding that only three of the bodies had been identified.

The settlement`s 2,300 residents have been begging for information about missing friends and relatives as rescuers scour the charred remains of dozens of homes.

The last week has been the deadliest for wildfires in California`s history, according to officials.

The Griffith Park fire in Los Angeles County in 1933 killed at least 29 people, and 25 people died in the 1991 Oakland Hills fire.

Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano said Friday his department was continuing to track down people reported missing by family or friends.

The Sonoma County Sheriff`s Department had received 1,308 missing persons reports so far and 1,052 people have been located, Giordano said.

Evacuation orders were in place for several towns in Napa and Sonoma, where hundreds of people have already lost their homes to the fast-moving infernos.
Damascus: Three suicide bombers blew themselves up near the main police headquarters in Syria's capital Damascus today, killing at least two people, the interior ministry said.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released via the Telegram messaging app.

The assault was the second time in a month that suicide attackers have targeted the capital, which has been insulated from the worst of the violence in the war-torn country.

State news agency SANA quoted Interior Minister Mohammad Shaar saying both of those killed were police officers.

Two of the suicide bombers detonated their explosives in front of the police HQ on Khaled Bin al-Walid street in central Damascus, his ministry said in a statement carried by state media.

"The terrorist suicide attackers tried to storm the police command headquarters... The guards opened fire on them, forcing them to blow themselves up before they entered the building and achieved their goals," it added.

Police surrounded a third attacker behind the building who also blew himself up, the statement said.

The interior ministry said two people had been killed and six wounded in the attack, among them two children.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported five dead, not including the three attackers.

IS in its statement on Telegram said two attackers "entered the headquarters building and fought with those inside... Then detonated their explosive vests".

Damascus police chief Mohammed Khairu Ismail told reporters at the scene in the central neighbourhood of Qanawat that one of the dead was a policeman who tried to stop the bombers.

"One of our forces grabbed one of the suicide bombers and prevented him from entering the building, so he blew himself up, killing the sergeant," Ismail said.

It was the second time this month that suicide attackers have targeted police in the capital. At least 17 people were killed in an October 2 attack on a police station in the southern district of Midan.

That attack was also claimed by IS, which said three fighters armed with guns, grenades and explosives had targeted the station.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the country's conflict began in March 2011 with anti- government protests.

Damascus has been shaken by several bomb attacks, despite being largely spared from the worst of the violence in the six-year war.
Princess of Luxembourg, who separated from her husband Prince Louis in 2016, after marrying him in 2006, has been fighting off the accusations of being a 'gold digger'.

Princess Tessy, who belonged to a humble background, had recently decided to take her divorce settlement to the London court.

An article published in a tabloid accused her having her married into the Luxembourg royal family for her own financial motives. The article further described her a 'disgusting character assassination' and added that 'she will always remain the daughter of a roofer'.

Her legal counsel Deborah Bangay QC, however, rubbished the allegations and said, "My client had no wish to litigate and she made a very reasonable and sensible proposal, which was turned down. Therefore, she had no option but to pursue this in litigation."

"She is not a gold digger. Far from it. She is simply seeking a fair and proper settlement," Bangay added.

Princess Tessy had joined the country's armed forces at the age of 18 and rose to the rank of Corporal. In 2004, she served in NATO's peacekeeping force in Kosovo. It was here where she met her future husband Prince Louis.

Two years later, the couple had their first child, a boy and six months later, they tied the knot at a parish church in northeast Luxembourg. The couple went on to have another child soon after.

However, in January this year, the Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced their separation.
Amman: The Turkish army is expanding its deployment in northwest Syria with the goal of encircling a Kurdish enclave and reining in Russian strikes in the Idlib border province under a deal to reduce clashes, rebels and witnesses said on Sunday.

A convoy of Turkish army troops entered Syria near the Bab al-Hawa border crossing on Thursday in the first such deployment since last year when Ankara launched a major ground and air offensive to clear Islamic State militants from its last stretch of border with Turkey.

At least four convoys carrying scores of armoured vehicles and equipment have been stationed in several locations in the first phase of a deployment that is expected to deepen inside rebel-held Idlib, opposition sources said.

"Nearly 200 troops are now stationed in areas that separate territory under control of Kurdish groups and opposition groups," said Ibrahim al Idlibi, a military adviser in the opposition`s Free Syrian Army (FSA).

Witnesses said Turkish bulldozers were working around the clock, digging fortifications and setting up observation posts.

A new deployment of Turkish armored vehicles and personnel arrived along the Syrian border on Saturday, positioned on the Turkish side, witnesses said.

Turkey was expanding its presence in an area where it hopes to act as a barrier to Kurdish ambitions of uniting the isolated Afrin region, north of Idlib, with the rest of a self-declared autonomous Kurdish zone in the country`s north.

Turkish positions near Samaan castle in the Sheikh Barakat mountains of the fertile, olive-growing province put them just a few kilometres from Kurdish militia forces based in Jendaris.
Beirut: Syrian Islamic State fighters are set to abandon Raqqa in a withdrawal agreed with U.S.-backed Syrian militias that have them surrounded, a militia spokesman said on Saturday, as the jihadists' defeat in their former Syrian capital edged closer.

Officials gave conflicting accounts on whether foreign fighters would also be leaving the city, where the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been battling to defeat Islamic State since June.

SDF spokesman Talal Silo said the foreign fighters would be left behind "to surrender or die", without saying when the evacuation of Syrian fighters would take place.

But Omar Alloush, a member of Raqqa`s Civil Council, said the evacuation would include foreign fighters. He said it would take place overnight into Sunday. The jihadists would be taking some 400 civilians with them as human shields, he said.

The final defeat of IS at Raqqa would be a milestone in efforts to roll back the theocratic "caliphate" the group declared in 2014 in Syria and Iraq, where earlier this year it was driven from the city of Mosul.

IS used Raqqa as a base to plan attacks against the West.

The Kurdish YPG militia, which dominates the SDF, told Reuters earlier on Saturday that Islamic State was on the verge of defeat in Raqqa, and the city may finally be cleared of the jihadists on Saturday or Sunday.

The U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State said a convoy was due to leave Raqqa on Saturday, in an arrangement agreed by local parties. It described the arrangement as "a civilian evacuation" and said it would not condone any arrangement that allowed "terrorists to escape Raqqa without facing justice".

Coalition spokesman Col. Ryan Dillon said the coalition`s stance was that IS fighters must surrender unconditionally, but added that he could not comment on who would be in the convoy. He said difficult fighting was expected in the days ahead.

The coalition statement said the arrangement brokered by the Raqqa Civil Council and local Arab tribal elders on Oct. 12 was "designed to minimise civilian casualties and purportedly excludes foreign Daesh terrorists".

The coalition believed the arrangement would "save innocent lives and allow Syrian Democratic Forces and the coalition to focus on defeating Daesh terrorists in Raqqa with less risk of civilian casualties", it said.

Tribal leaders from Raqqa said the SDF had agreed to allow safe passage out of the city for Syrian Islamic State fighters still inside, and they were organising a "mechanism" for them to leave.

Its statement made no mention of the fate of Islamic State`s foreign jihadists, but said the remaining fighters in the city were only "a small number besieged in one or more positions in the city, who have no choice but surrender or death".

Alloush earlier told Reuters that the IS fighters would go to remaining territory held by the group in Syria.

BUSES ARRIVE

Negotiated withdrawals of combatants facing defeat have become a common feature of the six-year-long Syrian war.

An activist group that reports on Raqqa, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, said on its Facebook page that dozens of buses had entered Raqqa city overnight Friday from the countryside to the north.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based organisation that reports on the war, said Syrian Islamic State fighters and their families had already left the city, and buses had arrived to evacuate remaining foreign fighters and their families.

The Syrian army, which is supported by Iran-backed militias and the Russian air force, declared another significant victory over Islamic State on Saturday, saying it had captured the town of al-Mayadin in Deir al-Zor province.

The eastern province is Islamic State`s last major foothold in Syria, and it is under attack there from the SDF on one side and Syrian government forces supported by Iran-backed militias and Russian air strikes on the other.

Islamic State fighters had previously agreed to an evacuation last August, from an area on the Syrian-Lebanese border.

But as their convoy moved towards Islamic State-held territory in eastern Syria, coalition planes blocked its route by cratering roads, destroying bridges and attacking nearby Islamic State vehicles.
To celebrate its 100th anniversary as a civic organization, the Lions Club asked all its local affiliates to construct two legacy projects.

In Tomah, the first project was the lions mouth water fountain at Gillett Park. The second was dedicated Thursday.

Members of the Tomah Lions Club and local law enforcement employees gathered in front of the Tomah Police Department station to dedicate a Protect and Serve monument that was erected last month.

We are really proud to have this statue dedicated today for the people who serve our community, said Gwen Nelson, Tomah Lion and first vice-district governor, 27-2D.

Tomah Lions treasurer Jeff Cram said the project was launched in late 2015 and coordinated with Our Town Tomah, which develops projects to enhance and beautify the downtown area.

We wanted to figure out how what we could do to honor those who serve with a legacy project, Cram said.

He said Dr. James Blado, a member of both the Lions Club and Our Town Tomah, coordinated the efforts between the two groups. The Lions Club formed a Legacy Committee consisting of Blado, Bill Baxter, Chris Dawley, Art Tralmer, Vern Nauman, Steve Bissen and Julie Ducklow. The committee contracted with Tomah Concrete Co. to build the monument and raised $12,000 for its cost.

The monument depicts a police officer carrying a child. On the back, it lists the names of the 19 sworn police officers employed by the department at the time of dedication.

The police station was opened in 2008, and Tomah Police Chief Mark Nicholson said a space was left specifically for a monument. He said the police department was honored just to be considered for the legacy program.

This area was built for some kind of memorial or statue, Nicholson said. We really appreciate it.

The monument has special meaning for Cram, whose father, John Cram, worked for 34 years in law enforcement before retiring from the Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

I think it brings together the concept that we, as Lions, can serve because of those who protect and serve, Cram said.
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State Reentry Council to Hold First Meeting Wednesday, Chaired by DPS Secretary Erik Hooks

Contact: Ford Porter

Ford Porter govpress@nc.gov

RALEIGH: This week Gov. Roy Cooper will help launch the State Reentry Council Collaborative, an effort to help formerly incarcerated people successfully return to the community and become productive contributors to society.The group will hold its first meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 11 from 1-4 p.m. at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, located at 1924 Capital Blvd. in Raleigh.Gov. Cooper said.The State Reentry Council Collaborative, chaired by Department of Public Safety Secretary Erik A. Hooks, will examine the needs of people being released from prison and ways to help them successfully reintegrate into their communities. The group will also focus on increasing the effectiveness of local reentry councils, which provide direct support and case management services such as assistance with housing, job placement, transportation and referrals for mental health and substance abuse services for those leaving prison.The Reentry Council includes representatives from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, the Attorney General's Office, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Administrative Office of the Courts, the N.C. Community College System, non-profits, the faith community, and formerly incarcerated individuals.Members will work with community stakeholders including law enforcement to develop and carry out a Statewide Reentry Action Plan. This comprehensive plan will address the myriad of challenges and barriers that offenders face when they leave prison and return to society and outline specific reentry strategies for state and local government agencies, non-profit organizations, and community stakeholders.Supporting formerly incarcerated people who are working to transition back to communities is a priority for the Cooper Administration and ties directly to other critical issues facing North Carolina and the nation, including the opioid crisis and workforce development.said Attorney General Josh Stein.To help with reentry, Gov. Cooper's budget, Common Ground Solutions for North Carolina, recommended an additional $9 million for behavioral treatment, support for local reentry councils, and extending transitional housing for formerly incarcerated individuals.said Sec. Hooks.The Reentry Council's core membership is expected to meet quarterly with workgroups meeting more frequently to further develop recommendations for the Statewide Reentry Action Plan. Over the next several meetings, the SRCC will learn about ongoing reentry work in North Carolina, review model programs in other states, and discuss substantive strategies that can be successfully implemented.
The Democrat leadership has made constant, profound and incredible pronouncements that one's supportive vote for Republicans is tantamount to surrendering Democracy forever. Understanding their sincere thinking in their extreme position: How will you still vote on this election day?

Democrat; because the continuance of this Democracy from the existential threat of extreme Republicans is paramount.

Republican; the process of having a choice is the democratic method within what so called "Democracy" does exists.
In January 2018, Tomas Lopez will replace Bob Hall as Executive Director of Democracy NC. Hall, who led the group since it launched in 1991, takes credit for a number of election changes including Sunday early voting, same-day registration, teenage pre-registration and the now defunct public financing of judicial elections. Hall has announced recently that he plans to retire.Lopez is currently an attorney with the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law in New York City. The Brennan Center is a left-wing advocacy organization that has fought voter ID and other election reforms in numerous states.The Brennan Center has a great deal in common with Democracy NC. Both organizations promote the notion that voter fraud is not a problem and both organizations have a history of questionable research which they and other like-minded organizations rely on to bolster their positions. Case in point, the Brennan Center is widely cited for a 2006 survey they conducted that resulted in the claim that as many as 11 percent of U.S. citizens did not have current government-issued photo identification. Many leftist individuals and organizations used the study to fight election reform. Not surprisingly, other more credible studies and factual data , have determined the number is closer to 1 percent Democracy NC has chosen a new director who will move from New York City to North Carolina and will take up where Bob Hall leaves off - disparaging the good people of our state who believe in election integrity. Lopez will continue, if not ramp-up, the hate-filled rhetoric we've almost become accustomed to - calling us bigots because we believe voter ID is a commonsense ballot security measure being the primary example.Lopez's bio states that his "work with the Brennan Center's Democracy Program has placed him on the front lines of research, advocacy, and litigation in voting rights and election issues in the South and around the country."It's interesting that Lopez's work has focused on the South, since the Brennan Center is located in New York City.While Lopez is sure to launch campaigns against anyone who believes in election integrity, we should remember that he has been living in a state that requires a voter to have an excuse in order to vote an absentee ballot and is moving to a state which allows all voters to vote an absentee ballot - no excuse needed. He has been living in a state that doesn't allow early voting - at all, and is moving to a state that allows all registered voters to vote early during a 17-day period leading up to Election Day.Lopez is also moving from a state that doesn't allow voters to register and vote at the same time to one of only two states that allow voters to register and vote at the same time during the early voting period.Before joining the Brennan Center, Lopez worked for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).The SPLC is infamous for its "hate group" map . The map is derived from a list of groups the SPLC deemed hateful. In addition to the growing list of Nazi, KKK and white and black nationalist groups, the SPLC is now targeting pro-family, pro-life and marriage organizations as well as Christian and immigration reform groups to include in their hate list. Today Focus on the Family and the Family Research Council , as well as Alliance Defending Freedom and ACT for America are some of the groups that disagree with SPLC's worldview and are listed among SPLC's hate groups.It was 2012, while Lopez was working for the SPLC, when a gunman, inspired by the SPLC, entered the Family Research Council (FRC) headquarters in Washington D.C. and shot an unarmed security guard.The gunman, said he targeted FRC because it was one of the groups on the SPLC hate list under the category of "anti-LGBT" groups. FRC had recently announced their support of Chick-fil-A for their pro-traditional marriage stance. The shooter said that he intended to "kill as many as possible and smear the Chick-Fil-A sandwiches in victims' faces, and kill the guard." The shooter pleaded guilty to one count of committing an act of terrorism with the intent to kill, one count of intent to kill while armed, and one federal count of crossing state lines with guns and ammunition.Perhaps lobbying and local connections is the one area where Lopez may struggle.Bob Hall is one of the most well-known lobbyists in Raleigh and his relationship with the State Board of Elections is unmatched. In fact, in this Civitas article, ( Lobbyist Bob Hall and Gary Bartlett Planned Attack on Republican Legislature ), Hall is exposed as the "behind-the-scenes driving force at the State Board of Elections (SBE) - even to mapping out partisan attacks on Republican legislators to the extent that it is hard to tell where the SBE ends and Democracy NC begins."In another article, ( NC SBE, Who is Really in Charge and who do they work for ), Civitas used the public records law to determine how SBE staff made decisions. What we found was a decision process that was heavily influenced - and in some cases directed - by Bob Hall. The actions even included the drafting of materials paid for by taxpayers and the planning of legislative lobbying and media campaigns.Hall has his influential and powerful connections too. George Soros' Foundation to Promote an Open Society has granted Democracy NC at least $300,000 over the years. Of course, that amount is nothing in comparison to the more than $15 million that Soros' affiliated groups, the Foundation to Promote an Open Society and the Open Society Institute, have granted to the Brennan Center for Justice since 2004. Democracy NC and SPLC also have a monetary connection. North Carolina's own Triangle Community Foundation has donated $52,440 to SPLC since 2004 and more than $450,000 to Democracy NC in the same time period.Lopez's background and experience demonstrate that he is up for the challenge of replacing Bob Hall. In fact, some predict he will take Democracy NC's brand of activism to a new and even more extreme level.
Though Puerto Rican law prohibits ownership and bearing of most long-guns and especially semiautomatic weapons, the streets of the stricken US colony now throng with mercenaries in tactical gear bearing such arms, their faces masked. They wear no insignia or nametags and won't say who they work for, apart from vague statements in broken Spanish: "We work with the government. It's a humanitarian mission, we're helping Puerto Rico."

Rosa Emilia Rodriguez, head of Puerto Rico's Federal Prosecutor's Office, initially dismissed reports of the mercenaries, then, after reporters from the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo pressed her she said she'd "check it out."

After Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Erik Prince's Blackwater mercenaries flooded the city again, turning it into an "armed camp", after Brigadier Gen. Gary Jones, commander of the Louisiana National Guard's Joint Task Force announced "This place is going to look like Little Somalia. We're going to go out and take this city back. This will be a combat operation to get this city under control."

Erik Prince is now reportedly considering a senate run as a Trumpist candidate in Wyoming. His sister, Betsy Devos, has used millions from her husband's pyramid-scheme fortunes to fund efforts to destroy public education, and now serves as Trump's Secretary of Education.

Though the mercenaries in Puerto Rico won't identify their employers, there's good evidence that Blackwater (now called Academi) is or will soon be operating there, as well as other notorious mercenary gangs like Ranger America and the Whitestone Group.

Security firm Academi known by its former name, Blackwater, which won $21 million contract with the U.S. government to provide security services during the Iraq war in 2003 said that they already have offers from the local and federal government and by the Red Cross to come to Puerto Rico. "We're ready to go," said Paul Donahue, Chief Operating Officer of Constellis, Academi's parent company, in a phone interview with the CPI. He explained that if the government of Puerto Rico accepts the proposal made by Academi to respond to the government's offer, they would be providing security services for water transportation. The company already operates in the Caribbean islands of Dominica and St. Martin, where they arrived after Hurricanes Irma and Maria made landfall. This company, described as an army of mercenaries by investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill, has changed its name three times since its founding in 1997 by a former Navy Seal Officer (United States Marine, Air and Land Teams.)

Masked and Armed With Rifles: Military Security Firms Roam Streets of San Juan

[Joel Cintron Arbasetti/Latino Rebels]

(Image: Joel Cintron Arbasetti/Centro de Periodismo Investigativo)





(via Naked Capitalism)
Melissa Blake might be leaving the mayor's chair in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, but she's adamant she's not leaving Fort McMurray.

As she ends 19 years of public service in Canada's second largest municipality by size, she wants to extinguish rumours that she's packing up and moving to Calgary after her replacement is elected on Monday.

In an interview with CBC News, Blake confirmed she's not joining any exodus of residents, including one municipal councillor not seeking re-election, who have left or will be packing up after the May 2016 wildfire which decimated parts of the community.

"The one thing that has got under my skin is the folks that think I called somewhere else home," Blake said, leaning on the granite countertop in the kitchen of her home in the Fort McMurray subdivision of Timberlea.

"I never left the community," she said. "And people have this robust rumour that I live somewhere else, and it is just insane that people would not only believe that but continue to perpetuate that. So if you are one of those people that don't think I live here, stop it. It's just not right."

Blake announced last August she would not seek re-election, making way for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo's first new mayor in more than a decade.

Blake, who began her political career as a councillor in 1998 and then rose to mayor in 2004, gave one of her final interviews Thursday as a municipal politician. She is retiring as the regional municipality's longest-serving mayor.

The 47-year-old spoke about two events that catapulted the region and her into the international spotlight  the oilsands capital's economic boom and 2016's destructive wildfire.

Successes and a regret

The four-term mayor said one of her achievements was steering the region through its explosive boom times, which began in the late O.A.S. and ended in 2014 when the price of oil crashed.

Story continues

During the boom the region saw billions of dollars in investment, a ballooning population and municipal resources struggling to keep up with growth.

Blake, who described the boom times as like drinking from a fire hose, led the municipality and worked with the government of Alberta as subdivisions were built, roads and bridges opened and Highway 63 was twinned.

The expansion of MacDonald Island Park, a recreational facility which bills itself as Canada's largest community recreation, leisure and social centre, was one of her proudest achievements.

"I had such absolute resistance from people," Blake said, adding that the opposition was forgotten once the $278 million facility opened and became the hub of the community.

The project that fills the mayor with regret is the redevelopment of Fort McMurray's downtown.

"We had this downtown that was looking tired," Blake said. "And the downtown is ripe for development."

The municipality had plans to build a downtown arena, a walking bridge to MacDonald Island Park, and redevelop the city's waterfront. But falling oil prices, the project's projected cost and a lack of support from council put the plans on hold.

Survivor's guilt

During an interview before Christmas last year, Blake admitted she suffered from survivor's guilt following the Fort McMurray wildfire.

She said the weight of speaking to people who lost everything and who could not be in their homes for Christmas was so overwhelming she could not bring herself to put up a Christmas tree.

The wildfire caused Canada's costliest insured disaster destroying 1,958 structures.

But the mayor said the burden of guilt was lifted on May 3, the fire's one-year anniversary. In the midst of a busy day of events, hosting Premier Rachel Notley and provincial and national media, one moment stood out.

She saw a family pushing a baby in a stroller and writing a message on a card and attaching it to signs in Snye Point Park, where the main events were happening.

Blake read the message.

"And they were happy and excited and grateful," she said. "And for me it was that show of resilience and that honest-to-God character that keeps me so proud of my citizens."

Blake added: "As I say, when I woke up [the day after the wildfire anniversary] that day was over, and the rest of our life was ready to go."

No job or political prospects

Blake said once the mayor and council is sworn in she will be unemployed. She said she has no job or political prospects lined up.

However, the soon-to-be former mayor is looking forward to being a homemaker. Blake said she wants to focus on her boys, ages 8 and 13, her husband, Peter Jurak, and their pug, Louie.

She also plans to tackle the mess in her basement, which she said, makes her look like a hoarder.

"Day one of the new Melissa  it's a lot of house cleaning," she said. "I've got this large house that has 20 years of neglect for all the years I was in the office. I didn't have time to deal with this, that or the other thing."

Follow David Thurton, CBC's Fort McMurray correspondent, on Facebook, Twitter or contact him via email.
In the race to slow global warming, science has been exploring ways to manipulate the climate, but until recently the conversations have been confined to laboratories.

While the growing field of geoengineering offers promise, it also comes with all kinds of potential pitfalls, and that's what experts and policy-makers are discussing at a conference in Berlin this week.

Geoengineering can be as simple as planting trees to remove CO2 from the air or as complicated as trying to use giant mirrors to reflect the sun into space or using wind-powered pumps to refreeze parts of the Arctic that have been impacted by global warming.

The thinking is that simply reducing CO2 emissions may not be enough to slow climate change so there should be supplementary approaches researched and ready to deploy.

"I'm extremely frustrated by how slow it's been to get real action on cutting emissions," said Canadian scientist David Keith, who is an expert in solar geoengineering.

The idea behind his research is that fine particles scattered in the upper stratosphere could reflect some of the sun's rays and reduce or maintain global temperatures.

It's a concept that's similar to how big volcanic eruptions are able to lower global temperatures, such as the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Phillippines, says Keith, a professor of applied physics and public policy at Harvard University.

"If you reduce the solar input a little bit  we're talking one per cent or less than one per cent  you might reduce some of the climate risks, like global warming, like extreme storms, that come from the accumulated carbon dioxide," he said.

'We don't live in a risk-free world'

Finding ways to hit the global temperature targets set by the Paris climate accord is a significant challenge.

"We have the risk of accumulated carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, we can't wish that away  even if we eliminated all emissions tomorrow, it's still there," Keith said. "We don't live in a risk-free world."

Story continues

The risks are exactly what others are worried about.

Once you begin a solar geoengineering process, can you stop it? What happens if things don't go as planned? And what about the repercussions of CO2 emissions not related to global temperatures, such as ocean acidification?

Pat Mooney is concerned not only about the unforeseen impacts of geoengineering but also about the potentially reckless way governments and big businesses might leverage technology like Keith's solar interventions.

"These governments haven't done what they should have done for the last 40 years," said Mooney, of Ottawa-based ETC Group, a non-profit that looks at the impacts of emerging technology. "We're just giving them another reason not to do it. So, I don't see the plus side of that. I don't see the logic of letting them off the hook."

Maximize benefit, minimize risk

In New York, the Carnegie Climate Geoengineering Governance Initiative (C2G2) is trying to bring governments and policy-makers into the conversation.

"It's too important to leave to scientists alone," says Cynthia Scharf, senior strategy director with C2G2. "There are huge implications for almost any endeavour in society by using geoengineering."

She says those implications range from land use to ethical and religious concerns to debates about who should bear the brunt of the unintended consequences of climate manipulation. Leaders, from heads of states right down to local politicians, need to be part of conversations addressing those issues, she said.

"They need to be aware that these things are coming and look specifically at what it will take to maximize benefits  but, more importantly, minimize risks," said Scharf.

Those conversations are underway now at the second Climate Engineering Conference, where 250 experts have gathered to discuss, among other topics, a code of conduct for research, international rules governing the field and how climate policy should deal with fake news.

Keith says he recognizes the science of solar geoengineering is unproven, and it might not yet be the time to use it. But he is in favour of researching its potential.

"It's nonsense to claim wehaveto do it," he says. "But I think knowing more about something that is potentially really useful for reducing climate risks is very important."
'I think it would be devastating for our whole community': report raises local anxiety about Site C's future

Northern B.C. MLA Mike Bernier has announced he's dropping out of the provincial Liberal leadership race.

On Saturday, the former education minister confirmed he was ending his campaign. Instead, he said he will be backing longtime MLA Mike de Jong for leader instead as his campaign co-chair.

"He believes what I believe," Bernier wrote in a statement. "He has the financial track record that will build the prosperity we need to connect all British Columbians to the benefits that flow from a strong economy."

Bernier also thanked his family and campaign team for supporting him during his two-week run, which began Sept. 25.

Former transportation minister Todd Stone  also running for Liberal party leadership  thanked Bernier for his "dedication to B.C." in a tweet after the announcement. Other candidates also sent messages to Bernier over social media.

Remaining candidates for the Liberal leadership include Surrey MP Dianne Watts, Vancouver MLA Andrew Wilkinson and former Vancouver mayor and current MLA Sam Sullivan. Newcomer MLA Michael Lee and Terrace businesswoman Lucy Sager are also running.
Failed school trustee candidate who claimed to be victim of racist death threats charged under Election Act

The man whose name and photo were connected to online racist death threats against a Calgary school board trustee candidate says not only did he not do it, but he dated the woman he's accused of targeting.

Now, Calgary police confirm their hate crimes unit is no longer investigating the comments Shawn Street allegedly made to Ward 3 and 4 school trustee candidate Nimra Amjad back in August.

"I did not do this, I had nothing to do with this in any way shape or form," said Street, who was fired from his job following the media attention and public outrage around the story.

Street says he was told by Calgary police that Amjad was uncooperative with their investigation, refusing to provide a statement and failing to return the investigator's phone calls.

Police wouldn't go that far, but did say when the investigator asked Amjad for further information, it "was not immediately provided and the complaint was then withdrawn."

"Investigators are respecting the wishes of the complainant and the case has now been closed," said CPS in a written statement.

An email chain forwarded to CBC News by Amjad shows the lead investigator, Cst. Craig Collins growing impatient with the alleged victim.

The day after she cancelled a meeting with him 20 minutes before it was supposed to take place, Collins tells Amjad that he has "spent a considerable amount of time and effort in conducting this investigation, which the Calgary Police Service takes very seriously."

"I note that you have utilized the media in regard to this incident This investigation is reaching Day 6, and you have not provided any formal statement to the police, despite numerous attempts by the police to obtain your statement."

Amjad's story changes

In an interview with CBC News, Amjad changed her story numerous times.

She initially denied ever meeting or knowing Street, but by the end of an hour-long conversation she confirmed she'd met Street online and had gone on several dates with him.

Story continues

Amjad also claimed he used the name "John," though Street says he always used his real name with her.

"He just told me his name was John, at some point he said S-E-A-N," she spelled out. "[He said] 'some people in my family call me S-E-A-N' ... I never met a person who claims to be Shawn Street."

Street  who just learned this week police are no longer investigating  says he now plans to file his own complaint in hopes of identifying the person who used his identity to post the hateful messages.

Amjad says she absolutely did not create the Facebook account and make the posts.

She says the attention was a "setback" to her campaign and that she didn't want to be portrayed as a victim.

Street's account appears to be cloned

The account used to post the threats  which has since been deleted  appeared to be a clone of Street's Facebook page.

His original page is active and he has about 1,000 friends. The account which posted the messages used Street's name and photo, was created just months earlier and had no activity until a couple of days prior to the threats.

One post threatened that the neo-Nazi group Aryan Guard would find out where Amjad lived and told her to "beware."

Another post read: "You will be lying dead on the street like Heather Heyer," in reference to the woman killed when a car plowed into anti-fascist counter-protesters in Charlottesville, N.C., earlier this summer.

Street was fired over allegations

What doesn't make sense is; if Shawn Street was brazen enough to use his own name and photo, why would he start a second account to make the threats?

Street says he was "mortified" when he first learned his name was connected to the hateful, potentially criminal online posts. He went to Calgary police right away.

"I told them everything, I told them right from the beginning how we met; dinner, lunches, everything," said Street.

The day Street's name hit the news, he says he was called into his boss' office and fired from his job with an aircraft leasing company. He also says he had a panic attack and took himself to the hospital.

Amjad initially denied ever meeting Street or even recognizing his name or the photo from the Facebook account. After CBC confronted Amjad with evidence of text messages between her and Street  who provided the text history to CBC  she slowly began to concede much of Street's story was true.

'We never met in person'

First she said she'd never met him but "only had text message contact" with Street.

"I've never dated the guy, I've been seeing someone for a really long time," she said at first. "We never met in person."

Then Amjad said she may have met Street in a dark bar once, which is why she didn't initially recognize him.

Amjad flat-out denied ever being in Banff with Street, but was then told CBC News had evidence of a reference she made in a text message to being in the mountain town together.

At first, she said she'd been there with several people and couldn't remember if he was one of them, but eventually confirmed she had been there with Street.

Initially, Amjad denied meeting Street on the specific dating website he claimed to have used but later said it was true. She claimed that she was only on it to help her friend who was doing a sociological study.

When Amjad was asked why she did not pursue her complaint, she originally said investigators had attempted to talk her out of it. Eventually she said police "might be mad that I'm being uncooperative" but said it was because she was busy with her campaign.

Relationship 'waned off'

Amjad also says she decided not to pursue the complaint against the person who posted the racist comments because she wanted to take "a compassionate approach."

She also wants to make it clear that she did not initially want to make a formal complaint, rather she says it was friends and supporters who pressured her to go to police.

Both Street and Amjad confirm their relationship just kind of petered out; there was no drama, no big fight, no bad blood.

"It just waned off," said Street. "The communication just slowed to a halt."

As for whether Street is racist: "I'm not that kind of person. Never have been, never will be."

"I don't have a racist bone in my body," he said.
Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work.

.

..Gatestone Institute..15 October '17..Buoyed by the "reconciliation" agreement reached with President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority (PA), Hamas has announced that it seeks to unite all Palestinians in the fight against the "Zionist enterprise." In other words, Hamas views the agreement as a vehicle for rallying Palestinians behind it toward achieving its longtime goal of destroying Israel.When Hamas talks about the "Zionist enterprise," it is referring to the establishment of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people. Hamas is not only opposed to the existence of Israel on what it and most Muslims perceive as "Muslim-owned" land; it reiterates, at every opportunity, its desire to annihilate Israel.Those who think that the new "reconciliation" accord will have a moderating effect of Hamas are both blind and deaf to what Hamas itself has been stating both before and after the agreement. One has to give Hamas credit for being clear, honest and consistent about its goal of destroying Israel.
Altogether, more than 180 alleged homosexuals have been arrested in the three largely Muslim countries.





The U.N. has issued a stern rebuke against the recent harassment and arrests of LGBT people in three largely Muslim countries.





We are deeply concerned by a wave of arrests in Azerbaijan, Egypt and Indonesia of more than 180 people perceived to be [LGBT], said U.N. human rights spokesperson Rupert Colville.





Arresting or detaining people based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity is by definition arbitrary and violates international law.





In Azerbaijan, U.N. experts reported, some 80 people thought to be gay or transgender have been arrested in the past month.





Some reportedly have been subjected to beatings and electric shocks, with the heads of trans women forcibly shaved.





In Egypt, where a conviction on sodomy charges can land you in prison for up to six years, seven people were arrested after rainbow flags flew at a Cairo rock concert.





In the days that followed, police arrested more than 50 alleged homosexuals, in some cases entrapping them via dating apps and chatrooms. Arresting and detaining people for legitimately expressing themselvesincluding by displaying a rainbow flagis also arbitrary and violates individuals right to freedom of expression, says Colville.





While homosexuality is not illegal in most of Indonesia, the government has banned LGBT representations in the media, including Grindr and queer emojis.





Last week more than 50 men were arrested in a raid on a gay sauna in Jakarta. While a majority have been released, several were charged with violating the vague Law on Pornography, used to arrest people for consensual same-sex relations.





The particulars in these attacks differ, but the pretenses for them are flimsy or outright false: Charges of prostitution, debauchery or hooliganism.





Victims are pressured to reveal the names of other alleged homosexuals and frequently face physical violence and forced anal examinations.





Azerbaijan, Egypt and Indonesia should take immediate action to release anyone detained on the basis of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, said Colville, calling for discriminatory laws to be repealed.





At the same time, the White House, the State Department, and U.N. Representative Nikki Haley have been largely silent about these atrocities against the global LGBT community.





The last time Haley addressed LGBT rights was two weeks after reports of anti-gay pogroms in Chechnya.





We continue to be disturbed by reports of kidnapping, torture, and murder of people in Chechnya based on their sexual orientation, Haley wrote in a statement in April. We are against all forms of discrimination, including against people based on sexual orientation.





Guess thatll just have to hold us for a while, huh?

Dan Avery

In Africa, LGBT rights activists worry about Trump impact

DAKAR, SENEGAL  Gay rights activist Joseph Achille Tiedjou is worried every day that he will be harassed or arrested in Cameroon.





Defending LGBT rights can be dangerous in Africa, where many countries have laws against homosexuality. But in recent years activists have stepped out of the shadows, empowered by the support of the Obama administration and the international community.





Now many fear the Trump administration will undermine those gains, and that their exposure could make them more vulnerable if support fades.





"I have so many worries with the new administration," the 32-year-old Tiedjou said, pointing out Trump's ban on transgender people in the U.S. military. "Obama was known to be very engaged. Hillary Clinton was a champion of LGBT rights and made many guarantees in addressing these issues specifically."





Obama's administration made LGBT rights a major domestic and foreign policy, though some in Africa saw it as pushing "Western ideals." The Obama administration also created a special envoy position on LGBT rights. The Trump administration has said it will keep the post, but concerns remain.





"The difference with the previous administration was that the rights of LGBT people were explicitly part of foreign policy. So LGBT groups around the world could absolutely rely on the moral and, indeed, material support that came from the U.S. government and that made a huge difference," said Graeme Reid, director of Human Rights Watch's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program. "Under this administration, we are no longer going to be seeing that proactive engagement around LGBT rights."





Though the Trump administration's overseas policies on LGBT rights remain to be seen, the erosion of domestic advances directly undermines the authority of the U.S. to speak out internationally, Reid said. He cited the pushback against federal protections and the appointment of "openly homophobic officials" to senior government positions.





The U.S. recently joined a dozen other countries to vote against a U.N. Human Rights Council resolution that urged countries not to use the death penalty for specific forms of conduct, including consensual same-sex relations. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said the vote was made "because of broader concerns with the resolution's approach in condemning the death penalty in all circumstances" but said the U.S. "unequivocally condemns the application of the death penalty for conduct such as homosexuality."





Same-sex acts are illegal in more than 33 African countries and can lead to death sentences in parts of at least four, including Mauritania, Sudan, northern Nigeria and southern Somalia, according to Amnesty International.





Homosexuality is criminalized in the East African countries of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. In Tanzania, authorities recently stopped health providers from non-governmental organizations from providing services to LGBT people.





In Cameroon, a strong ally of the U.S. in the fight against extremism, Human Rights Watch has documented high levels of arrests of LGBT people.





Colonial-era anti-gay laws are still in place in Ghana and are implemented from time to time, and a high level of social intolerance and family violence exists against the LGBT community.





In Gambia, where former leader Yahya Jammeh made "aggravated homosexuality" punishable by life in prison, activists are waiting to see whether new President Adama Barrow will amend the law.





In Senegal, violence is directed at LGBT communities, along with arrests, according to Human Rights Watch.





"In practice the act is criminalized so it can be used broadly to detain people based on their orientation," said Francois Patuel, a West Africa researcher for Amnesty International.





But despite setbacks in some countries there have been some gains, Patuel said.





The African Commission on Human and People's Rights in 2014 adopted a resolution condemning violence and discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. South Africa's constitution specifically protects the rights of LGBT and allows same-sex marriage.





The United States has provided support for HIV/AIDS and other programs that indirectly have enabled gay rights groups to form in some sub-Saharan African countries. Patuel urged that such support not be revoked under the Trump administration.





In Mali, activist and journalist N'Deye Traore said social media has been used to incite hatred against the LGBT community, discouraging people from publicly advocating change and forcing many to live in hiding and at risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS.





Traore said she worries about the example set by the Trump administration.





"It is the life of human beings that is at stake and must be respected!" she said. "I urge the American president to seize and at least tolerate this community for sustainable development in America and around the world."

Its not illegal to be gay in Indonesia, but police are cracking down anyway

JAKARTA, Indonesia  In Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority nation, homosexuality is legal and the state largely stays out of issues of private morality. But as conservative religious groups become more prominent in political life here, police are increasingly finding other ways to crack down on LGBT communities.





This weekend they arrested 58 Indonesians and foreigners at a Jakarta sauna popular with gay men, allegedly for violating the country's pornography laws. Indonesia's pornography legislation  passed in 2008 and often criticized by legal experts and human rights activists for being too vague  technically prohibits any public depiction of sex for profit, but in practice it is often used against politically vulnerable groups.





Weve increasingly seen police targeting LGBT groups using pornography laws, said Ricky Gunawan, the director of the Community Legal Aid Institute in Jakarta. In fact, last weeks incident was the third of its kind that has been reported this year. In April, police in the city of Surabaya broke up a party at a hotel for similar reasons, arresting 14 men, and in May, 141 men were arrested at a sauna in Jakarta.





These communities have always been targeted by police, but we've seen this worsen since 2016, when a number of high-level politicians made statements portraying LGBT communities as immoral or a threat to the nation, Gunawan said.





There have been several public comments that may have led police to believe a crackdown was in order, but the most famous was probably delivered by Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, who said last year that the LGBT agenda was like a proxy war threatening national sovereignty.





This is a kind of modern warfare, he said, according to Tempo magazine. It's dangerous as we can't see who our foes are, but out of the blue everyone is brainwashed  now the [LGBT] community is demanding more freedom, it really is a threat.





President Joko Jokowi Widodo said last year that the job of police was to defend LGBT communities and other groups from discrimination, but he has largely stayed on the sidelines of the debate as the crackdown has intensified.





Since the end of 2016, radical Islamists have also been playing a larger role in Indonesia's politics. Groups like the Islamic Defenders Front, or FPI, were influential in organizing mass rallies calling for the imprisonment of Christian Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for allegedly committing blasphemy against Islam. They got their wish in May.





Ironically, pornography laws have also been used to target Islamist FPI leader Rizieq Shihab. Police accused him of violating them by sending sexually explicit images by phone, or sexting, with a mistress. He fled the country, and many analysts suspected authorities were using the laws to clip the wings of an Islamist movement that had gotten too powerful for their liking.





The glaring exception to Indonesia's tolerance of private sexuality is the conservative and semi-autonomous Aceh province, where sharia courts now dole out public punishments. In May, two men were publicly caned for having [gay] sex





But even in more liberal cities like Jakarta, where gay clubs and queer advocacy groups operate openly, the spate of arrests has had a chilling effect on the LGBT community.





The situation right now is very sad, said Azril Hadimirza, the head of People's Diversity Network, a new support organization for LGBT Indonesians and other minorities. LGBT persons have always faced discrimination in the workplace, or in their family lives, but now the police are using the power of the state against us in our private spaces, too.

Repression worsens in Indonesia and Egypt

Indonesian and Egyptian leaders have made news through repressive, wrong-headed responses to the existence of LGBTI people.





The following news briefs are modestly edited and slightly expanded versions of items from UNAIDSs Equal Eyes recap of the worlds LGBTI news, UNAIDS reports:





Indonesias House of Representatives said it will pass a law to ban all positive representations of LGBT people on television, including films, TV shows, and advertising.





Under the bill, all shows would need to be screened in advance to make sure that no films, TV shows or advertising would violate the ban.





Also in Indonesia, police raided a sauna and arrested 58 men, including six foreigners, under charges of providing pornographic services. Although homosexual activity is not explicitly criminalized except in two provinces, police routinely use charges of debauchery and prostitution to detain people who are assumed to be gay.





From Egypt came reports that the Coptic Church is organizing a conference to increase awareness on how to recover from homosexuality and to teach church patrons how to conduct gay conversions  a widely discredited and unsuccessful practice that leads to emotional trauma.





Also in Egypt, what started as a few people waving rainbow flags at a rock concert escalated significantly to anywhere from 30 to 57 arrests of supposed lesbian, gay, and bisexuals on charges of debauchery and inciting sexual deviancy.





Many groups have spoken out against these actions, including the Arab Foundation for Freedoms and Equality and the concerts rock band Mashrou Leila. Concurrently, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation issued a blanket ban on all positive appearance of homosexuals or their slogans in the media stating:





Homosexuality is a sickness and disgrace that would be better hidden from view and not promoted for dissemination until it is treated and its disgrace removed.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde

, October 14, 2017: The Associated Press, Carley Petesch, October 15, 2017 The Washington Post , Vincent Bevins, October 12, 2017 Erasing 76 crimes , Colin Stewart, October 12, 2017
Executing death row inmates is currently not a top priority as Indonesia faces the urgency of solving economic, political and social gap issues.





Jakarta, GIVnews.com  A total of 153 convicted death row inmates are yet to be executed in Indonesia, facing undetermined execution timeline. Even Attorney General M Prasetyo could not tell when these convicts people will go to the gallows.





Is an execution delay good or bad? Regardless, some in the public had repetitively questioned such long execution delay faced by these prisoners. On the other hand, human rights groups had ceaselessly sought support from the international community for the abolishment of capital punishment in Indonesia while the government had adamantly defended its use of the death penalty.





Prasetyo said on Wednesday, On the delay of their execution, I also cannot explain about it now. I can only say that there are still so many problems currently faced by this nation, which should be given a priority. So many things, Prasetyo said in a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday (11/10) as reported by Detik.com.





The attorney general said the solution of existing economic, social and political problems as well as social gap issues should be given top priority.





Prasetyo said the current law on clemency for death row prisoners had also caused a delay in their execution. Such group of prisoners included former drug dealers.





Indonesia reportedly executed 39 death row convicts, including foreign nationals, in the past 10 years. Out of this total number, 18 went to the gallows under the government of President Joko Jokowi Widodo who took up his post in October 2014.

 | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com



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"One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed,

but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde
(Reuters) - The United States for the time being will stay in an international nuclear deal with Iran, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said on Sunday, adding that the Trump administration wanted to weigh a "proportionate" response to Tehran's actions on the world stage.

"I think right now, you're going to see us stay in the deal, because what our hope is that we can improve the situation, and that's the goal," Haley said referring to what she said were Iran's ballistic missile tests, international arms sales and state-sponsored terrorism.

Haley, interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press," also said the reason the United States was looking closely at the Iran nuclear deal is because of escalating tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons development.

"What we're saying now with Iran is don't let it become the next North Korea."

In her "Meet the Press" interview, Haley said, however, "We're not saying they're in breach of the agreement."

Haley, also interviewed on ABC's "This Week," said of Iran: "We have to hold them accountable. They cant be continuing to support terrorism around the world like we are seeing they do. They cant continue to test ballistic missiles, which will lead to a nuclear Iran. They cant continue to do arms smuggling. Haley said that other countries were "turning a blind eye" to these activities by Iran in order to "protect" the nuclear agreement.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Fox News on Sunday that he is planning new sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps, IRGC, and has discussed it with "international partners".
Another Iranian convert to Christianity has been arrested in the city of Dezful, southwest of the country, an Iranian Christian rights advocate group has confirmed in an interview with Radio Farda.

The spokesman of Article 18, Kiaarash Alipour says, Security agents detained Mohammad Ali Torabi at his office in Qala Sayyed district of Dezful, on Tuesday, October 10 and took him to an unknown location. His family has no information on his whereabouts, so far.

According to Mohabbat News, a website that covers news on Iranian Christians, the person responsible for Serenity Message Church and two other Muslims recently converted to Christianity were also arrested along with Mohammad Ali Torabi, but, were freed after being interrogated.

Meanwhile, Mohabbat News has reported; two more Christian converts, Mehrdad Houshmand and Sara Nemati were also summoned by the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Security apparatus on Monday, October 9, in Tehran.

The two were put behind bars after a lengthy interrogation.

Several Iranians, converted to evangelical church, have been arrested in recent months in Iran.

In many cases, the detainees were accused of action against national security through launching home churches and participating at Christian ceremonies there.

Earlier, in an interview with Radio Farda, Christian Solidarity Worldwide-affiliated organization, Article 18 Spokesman Mansour Borji had dismissed the accusations as illusory.

According to Borji, such baseless charges are the reflection of the Islamic republics security oriented approach towards religious minorities.

Last July, the Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) raised concern over the sentencing of Christian converts to long-term imprisonment.

Christians are recognized as an official religious minority in Irans constitution, but the state continues to persecute members of the faith, especially converts, CHRI said in a July 20 statement.

While calling on Iranian authorities to immediately halt the disturbing trend of arrests and imprisonment of Christians, CHRI noted that according to Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Iran ratified in 1975, everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Last year, in a joint statement, 19 human rights organizations called on the international community to press Iran to end the persecution of newly converted Iranian Christians.

There are no recent official statistics available on the number of Christians in Iran, but 117,704 were counted in a 2011 state census, CHRI maintained. Those who said were Christians in an official census mostly belong to recognized and tolerated traditional ethnic churches, such as Armenian churches.

But evangelical or other new Christian movements, which are spreading covertly among Muslims, are treated harshly by the Islamic Republic.

In 2010, the World Christian Database (WCD) recorded 270,057 Christians in Iran. Some Christian organizations argue the number is much higher.

At least five church leaders have been murdered and hundreds more have been either interrogated or incarcerated in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Publishing the Persian version of the Bible in Iran is forbidden, while several churches have been forced to shut down.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 15

By Gulgiz Muradova - Trend:

Russias continuous arms supply to Armenia benefit the aggressor country in the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, along with threatening security of the entire region.

However, while the arms purchases of Armenia is limited to outdated rather than modern and is likely to remain relatively small in the foreseeable future than those of Azerbaijan  there is another side that needs attention.

Armenia, probably best known for occupation of Azerbaijans internationally recognized territories and attacks to the neighboring countries, is the aggressor side, while Azerbaijan is the country suffering from Armenias aggression for over two decades. Therefore, supplying Armenia with weapons can be regarded as the support to aggression rather than balanced policy between the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

The arms deals will certainly not help the peace process, said Agnia Grigas, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington DC.

Grigas, talking to Trend over the issue, stressed that the arms deals with Russia have become the status quo and will not abate until the Kremlin is ready to let go of its efforts to control its so-called near abroad.

Russia along with the U.S. and France is a co-chair country of the OSCE Minsk Group that acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict for over two decades, but still the illegal occupation has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.

Russia, providing Armenia with a loan worth $100 million to buy modern weapons, violates its obligations as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair and fails to follow the principle of neutrality, which is of upmost importance for fair resolution of the conflict.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 15

By Gulgiz Muradova - Trend:

Few days earlier, the Armenian side has approved the deal with Russia on weapons supply to Armenia through a $200 million deal. The Armenian government approved the first $ 100 million loan package, which will be extended to Armenia for 20 years.

Some experts viewed it as another provocation by Yerevan ahead of the peace talks, while others argued that the deal hardly gives Armenia more power than those of Azerbaijan.

Dr. Ariel Cohen, senior research fellow at the Atlantic Council and director at the Center for energy, natural resources and geopolitics at the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, commenting on the timing of the approval of the deal, said that it is time to consider a solution to the conflict and not waste money on weapons.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan took steps to arm themselves to the teeth, Cohen told Trend. While Armenia bought over the years a lot of Russian weapons, Azerbaijan also purchased up to $5 billion worth of Russian weapons and close to the same amount of Israeli weapons.

Cohen reminded that there were other purchases as well, stressing that in the long term, concerning the money, Armenia will not be able to compete with Azerbaijan in terms of the quantity and quality of weapons Baku is purchasing.

$100 million will not change Armenia's lagging behind Azerbaijan in terms of the arsenal, Cohen said emphasizing that it is time to settle this protracted conflict which brought so much suffering to people on both sides.

Over the recent years, Azerbaijan, while maintaining arms trade with Russia, began to increase military-technical cooperation with closer partners - Pakistan, Turkey and Israel along with building on a well-developed military industry.

Any normal analysis can prove, the Armenians should be heavily outgunned. Moreover, Armenia has a population of hardly around three million, while Azerbaijan is approaching 10 million people. Azerbaijan has nearly twice the GDP per capita, while its defense budget also exceeds Armenias total national budget.

Furthermore, Baku has wide opportunities for maneuver in matters of armament and economic potential. This gives grounds to say that the aggressor with the help of Russia will not be able to establish military parity with Azerbaijan and continue an arms race.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.15

Trend:

Azerbaijans New Silk Road provides a unique ability to merge east-west (and west-east) routes, as well as the new North-South Transportation Corridor, blending East Asian and South Asian products, said the U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan Robert Cekuta at The Silk Road Summit  2nd Annual Conference: Exploring Business, Trade & Investment Opportunities on the New Silk Road held in Washington D.C.

He noted that from the geopolitical perspective, the United States strategic interest in the success of the New Silk Road concept is rooted in very practical terms: it provides a route, for example, to enable Afghan farmers and others to sell their legitimate products, the pomegranates and other fruits and nuts they had long exported.

"It will also integrate other countries in the region with each other, but I would also suggest it can strengthen these countries ties with the Euroatlantic community," added the ambassador.

However, Cekuta pointed out that there are practical commercial aspects as well, including the transport equipment and physical and software infrastructure needed as the countries and cities along these re-emerging trade patterns make the modern Silk Road a reality.

"As the ancient Silk Road clearly demonstrated, with established transit routes you can add local products at minimal extra shipping cost as well as moving goods efficiently from one end of Eurasia to another. Countries can determine their comparative advantage, whether in labor, energy cost, materials, or location," said the ambassador.

Azerbaijans location, for example, has allowed it to provide multi-modal transit cargo capacity, more than doubling transit cargo by truck and rail, he added.

"This is of interest for a number of reasons. Azerbaijan is developing into an increasingly important transit hub, with several successful demonstrations of its ability to move goods between China, Central Asia, and Europe through the Alat Port. Those are important steps toward the regional vision for the New Silk Road. As an alternative overland route, Azerbaijans New Silk Road provides a unique ability to merge east-west (and west-east) routes, as well as the new North-South Transportation Corridor, blending East Asian and South Asian products," said Cekuta. "Much of this is due to the significant investments Azerbaijan has made in its transport infrastructure, e.g., building 6,835 miles of new roads, about 300 bridges, and renovating and expanding its main roads connecting it with Georgia, Russia and Iran. Again, the investment in the new Port of Alat just south of Baku underlines Azerbaijans role as a key node in the transportation system."

Further, the U.S. ambassador noted that energy can also flow between Asia and European markets, for example through Azerbaijans Southern Gas Corridor project, which will bring Caspian molecules to the European market.

This diversification furthers regional and European energy security by ensuring competition, maximizing efficiency, and providing additional capacity, he said, adding that the Southern Gas Corridor is not only an important project for Azerbaijan, but a critical project for the energy security and political security of Europe.

"And just as the United States played a critical role in supporting the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline back in the late 1990s, similarly, the United States sees this Southern Gas Corridor project as strategic. We will continue to work with the EU to support the government of Azerbaijan, the other governments in the region, and the companies involved to ensure its completion," added Cekuta.

He went on to add that increasing transportation options open up additional trade avenues for wider Central Asia and the Caspian basin, with the potential to boost prosperity, stability, and resiliency throughout the region.

"Along these same routes, energy  not just oil and gas but also electricity  can flow among Caspian Basin and Central Asian countries. The World Banks CASA-1000 electricity project and the Asian Development Banks TUTAP projects help Central Asian countries generating seasonal surpluses of electricity find markets for that electricity to the south. This surplus has added 1,000 megawatts to Pakistans power grid, supplying power to more than 16 million people," said the ambassador.

Along with physical trade and energy, information and ideas flow along these corridors, according to Cekuta.

"This sharing of ideas sparks new development and works against narrow, violent, extremist ideologies that fester in isolation and ignorance. Increased access to information means increased education, and a broader worldview more resistant to the poison of extremism. Sharing ideas and expanding economic markets also creates opportunities for young people, women, and minorities and enhances regional stability and prosperity," he said.

The ambassador pointed out that the U.S. has funded university studies for hundreds of Afghan students across Central Asia, and sponsored the Central Asia-Afghanistan Womens Economic Symposium and South Asia Womens Entrepreneurship Symposium in support of thousands of women entrepreneurs and business owners.

In Azerbaijan, the U.S. embassy has sponsored dozens of programs supporting women and youth entrepreneurship and increased participation by women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields, he added.

Further the ambassador noted that improving trade connections is also inextricably linked with efforts to fight corruption, to boost predictability and transparency, and to improve the rule of law.

"There has to be a strong, able, independent judiciary, for example, to ensure the inviolability and enforcement of contracts, to provide the atmosphere necessary for value-added operations to start new businesses. Profitable regional trade depends on speedy and efficient transit and on border security and good governance. Border efficiency increases legitimate trade. Strong border security fights the transit of weapons and drugs as well as human trafficking," said Cekuta.

He went on to add that the United States works with regional partners to reduce border wait times, increase cooperation at key checkpoints and crossings, and prevent the transit of illegal and dangerous material.

"We have had a number of these efforts underway in Azerbaijan, efforts which are especially key given that Azerbaijan is the only country in the world that borders both Russia and Iran, a reality that makes Azerbaijan particularly important when thinking about the evolving new Silk Road," he said. "So let me ask the question a U.S. ambassador asks him or herself daily: what is our interest here? Above, I outlined the real, immediate results of these initiatives, reinforce regional stability and prosperity. However, along with broader economic growth, the exchange of ideas, and geopolitical stability, there is also the more practical, tangible side of entrepreneurial trade and investment."

The United States is competitive in selling hardware and software for these New Silk Road routes, often in partnership with European and Asian companies, said Cekuta.

"Whether it is a GE locomotive or consultants on the latest in port operations services and equipment, I have seen how well U.S. products and services compete in Azerbaijan and in every country where I have worked," added the ambassador. "Some may say that the New Silk Road is unnecessary, or that it duplicates existing routes. To them, I point out that the U.S. has nine interstate highways crossing our country from east to west. Multiple routes provide resiliency, allow for expansion, and ensure competition keeps costs low. As outlined above, the New Silk Road plays a living and growing role in facilitating trade and economic growth in the Caucasus region, in Central Asia, and in linking Asia with Europe."

Cekuta noted that beyond the economic and trade benefits, progress in implementing the New Silk Road initiatives can have positive impact on lasting stability and security.

" It opens new avenues for countries to work together, reduces barriers to full economic participation for women and other underrepresented groups, and encourages the implementation of rule of law. The ties that are created and sustained should lead to greater security and prosperity for all countries involved," he said.

The ambassador recalled that the ancient Silk Road was not about loading a finished chair on a camel in Xian and unloading it in Venice.

"The road was not a "road," as some may picture it today: it was a series of roads and routes linking marketplaces, workshops, and artisans in an extensive web of commerce. Trade along these "silk routes" flowed in every possible direction. Ancient burial sites reveal Baltic amber, Byzantine coins, Mediterranean iron and tin, and Chinese silks and pottery in the same graves. Coveted goods made their way across thousands of miles, exchanging hands and having value added at many steps along the journey. Chinese silks and carved Central Asian wood became furniture for palaces in Constantinople. European crowns were studded with rubies from the Pamir plateau in present-day Tajikistan and sapphires from India," he added.

Like this ancient web of commerce, the New Silk Road initiative presents tremendous opportunities due to its multidimensional nature, said the ambassador.

"At each waypoint along this road, economic and political progress should be  will likely be  mutually reinforcing. Nations that are part of this new nexus should not, will not only enjoy just the benefits of greater trade: their cooperation will engender cultural, educational and intellectual exchange, greater innovation. The New Silk Road will forge cross-border cooperation and strengthen partnerships across regions, creating new connections and networks  and repairing some of the ancient networks and connections that brought prosperity to these lands in antiquity," said Cekuta.

The U.S. ambassador pointed out that these newly forged connections will create tremendous opportunities in trade and entrepreneurship, as well as in other ways for the United States and for the countries of Asia and Europe.

"So again  why is the new Silk Road important? Put simply, a safer, more secure, more prosperous world with more diversified energy and trade routes, and a more level playing field, will enable U.S. companies to compete and thrive in new marketplaces," he concluded.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.15

By Leman Zeynalova  Trend:

Royal Dutch Shell continues to study the possibility of its participation in Iranian oil and gas projects, a source in the company told Trend.

"We continue to explore the role Shell can play in developing Iran's energy potential within the boundaries of the law," said the source.

However, the source declined to comment on whether the company will remain interested in Iranian oil and gas industry in the case if the US abandons the nuclear deal.

It was earlier reported that the US President Donald Trump is expected to announce soon he will decertify the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany signed the JCPOA on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Under the agreement, limits were put on Irans nuclear activities in exchange for, among other things, the removal of all nuclear-related bans against the Islamic Republic.

Iranian oil ministry is preparing to hold a tender for the development of Azadegan oil field over the current year.

It was earlier announced that Invitations were sent to 29 international companies, including Frances Total, Royal Dutch Shell, Italys Eni, Lukoil and Gazprom of Russia, Danish conglomerate Maersk, Chinas CNPC and Sinopec, Austrias OMV and Schlumberger, which approved a bid in the countrys oil and gas tenders to participate in the tender for developing South Azadegan oilfield.

---

Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 15

By Diana Aliyeva Trend:

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has recently arrived in Khorezm region to review the socio-economic development.

The region plays an important role in the countrys development due to agriculture, big industrial enterprises, transport and communication system.

A branch of JSC GM Uzbekistan, Uztex Chovot company, Khorezm Shakar joint venture are operating in the region and exporting products.

During the Uzbek presidents previous visit to the region, a number of tasks were set for the structural transformation of industry and agriculture, the construction of social facilities and infrastructure.

President Mirziyoyev also reviewed the Urgench International Airport, which was reconstructed on the basis of modern requirements.

The president reviewed the conditions created in the new houses in the Urgench region. Sixth four one-storey and two-storey houses, as well as social infrastructure facilities have been commissioned. The houses have been provided with natural gas, electricity and drinking water. Internal roads have been laid.

During the trip, the president also reviewed the work on development of tourism, agriculture, expansion of direct investments into the economy of Khorezm region, projects within the program of complex development of the region in 2018-2019.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Oct. 15

By Diana Aliyeva  Trend:

The Uzbek delegation met with World Bank (WB) Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Cyril Muller.

The meeting was held as part of the Uzbek delegation's participation in the autumn sessions of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in Washington.

According to the Uzbek embassy in the US, during the talks the sides exchanged views on the priorities for further development of bilateral cooperation.

The key directions of expansion of partnership relations and implementation of perspective projects in such spheres as modernization of the energy, irrigation sectors, development of transport and social infrastructure, processing of agricultural products were discussed.

Muller underlined the importance of the bilateral meeting with World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on September 20, 2017 as part of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyevs visit to New York.
Tehran, Iran, October 15

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

The Iranian Parliament has requested 1 trillion rials ($29.23 million as 1 USD at 34,203 rials) to be given out as incentive for citrus fruits exports.

Such incentives would provide a very handy tool in encouraging the export of citrus fruits, a former MP believes.

"If the incentive comes in the form of low-interest facilities to top exporters, then it will create an effective tool in encouraging exports," Ali Iranpour, a former member of the Parliaments Agriculture Committee, told Trend.

It is estimated that some 5 million tons of citrus fruits will be produced in Iran during the current fiscal year that started March 21 to register a 7% increase compared with last years production, Abolqasem Hassanpour, the director general at the Tropical and Subtropical Fruits Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, said last week.

Hassanpour added that 48% of this volume will be cultivated in the northern province of Mazandaran and the rest in the countrys southern provinces.

Iranpour, in the meantime, noted that Iran enjoys high potential in production and export of citrus fruits. "The climate is such that all around the year we have citrus crops to the north or south of the country. This is a very good opportunity because it reduces production costs by eliminating the need for storage."

"Also, because we often see a surplus product beyond the domestic need, and also there is good demand for citrus fruits both to the north of Iran in countries like Azerbaijan and to the south in the Persian Gulf states, we have the opportunity of short-distance, low-cost exports," he said.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 15

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Thailand, a small country in Southeast Asia is the 9th largest market of Irans non-oil goods.

The Islamic Republic exported $288 million worth of goods to the country during the first half of the current fiscal year (March 20-Sept. 22), which is equal to 1.4 percent of Irans total non-oil exports, according to the latest official data released by the Iranian customs administration.

Irans exports to Thailand registered a rise by 118 percent during the 6-month period, meanwhile the countrys overall exports decreased by 3.2 percent to $20.544 billion in the mentioned term.

Thailand and Iran agreed in October last year to a preferential trade agreement, a move intended to rev up bilateral commerce to $3 billion by 2021.

Both sides have agreed to cut import tariffs on 100 goods.

Iran is Thailands ninth largest trading partner in the Middle East. In 2016, mutual trade totaled $421 million, up 36.1 percent from a year before. Exports from Thailand reached $267 million, up 23.1 percent from 2015.

The Iranian custom administrations report also indicates that the Islamic Republics other main trade partners are Asian countries as well.

Five countries, including China, Iraq, UAE, South Korea and India have imported 67.4 percent of Iran's total non-oil goods (including gas condensate) in terms of value, in the first half of the current fiscal year (March 20-Sept. 22).

China was the main importer of goods from Iran in the mentioned period. The country's imports accounted for 21 percent of Iran's total exports, in terms of value. During the period, Iran exported $4.313 billion worth of goods to China, which is by 7 percent more compared to the same period of the preceding year.

Iran also exported $3.18 billion worth of goods to Iraq (5 percent more year-on year), which marks 15.5 percent of Iran's total exports value.

The UAE ($2.953 billion, 17 percent fall), South Korea ($2.064 billion, 13 percent increase), India ($1.337 billion, -7%), Afghanistan ($1.199 billion, 2%), Turkey ($918 million, -41%), Pakistan ($355 million, -7%), Thailand ($288 million, 118%) and Oman ($278 million, -24%) were the other top importers of Iranian goods.
Tehran, Iran, October 15

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

The Central Insurance of Iran has announced that it has succeeded in implementing a plan to issue what it calls a unique code for third party insurance policies, but insurance brokers and agents seem to know nothing about this new feature.

Qassemi Nemati, CEO of Central Insurance for IT said that since the implementation of the plan, implying September 23.1 million insurance policies had been provided with these codes.

However, insurance agents seem to know nothing about this code. Trend called a few of these agents and asked what the code is and what it does. The answers were that they had not heard such a thing.

Nemati has said that a directive was sent to all agents and brokers before September 23 that required them to use these unique codes.

Authorities have said the unique codes will serve preventive supervision, a term vague enough by itself.

No one in the Central Insurance was available for a comment.
Tehran, Iran, October 15

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

The Iranian government is planning to boost the countrys steel consumption per capita in the mid-term.

"We have this plan on agenda to increase per capita consumption of steel from 200 kilograms to 500 kilograms," Minister of Industry Mohammad Shariatmadari said.

In the meantime, businessmen in the field believe that a large portion of the increase will inevitably go into exports.

"There is little to be done about the domestic market. Virtually all of the added consumption should find a way to be exported," Bahador Ehramian, the CEO of Yazd Rolling Mill told Trend October 14.

Irans major steelmakers exported over 4.12 million tons of crude steel and steel products in the nine months ending December 20, registering a 55 percent growth compared with last years corresponding period.

Also, Ali Jafari, the head of Metal Products Association, told Trend that a large portion of the steel goods should be exported.

"The domestic market does have the capacity to absorb some forty percent of the products, because we already have companies that are importing steel products. However, the rest should be exported," Jafari noted.

Irans steel output stood at 23 million tons in 2013. In 2016, however, it hit 31 million tons.

Iran is currently the world's 14th largest steelmaker.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 15

By Fatih Karimov  Trend:

Denmarks Minister of Development Cooperation Ulla Trns expressed her countrys readiness to help Iran in water resource management.

Trns said that Denmark is interested in boosting cooperation with Iran in the fields of energy, environment, water management and infrastructure.

She made the remarks during a meeting with Massoud Karbasian, Irans economy minister in the US capital, the Iranian economy ministry reported Oct. 15.

She further referred to a cooperation agreement between EKF, Denmark's export credit agency and Iran's economy ministry, signed in 2016, as a good ground for boosting mutual cooperation.

In his turn, Karbasian highlighted Irans regional position, saying that economic and financial cooperation between Iran and Denmark will pave the path for Copenhagen to cooperate with other countries in the region.

Karbasian has travelled to Washington, DC, to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG).

During his stay in the US capital, the Iranian economy minister is scheduled to hold meetings with a number of his foreign counterparts.

Each year, the gathering brings together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, private sector executives, and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness.
Tehran, Iran, October 15

By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:

The Iranian government is still pursuing its policy of financial support to tackle industrial recession.

According to Minister of Industry Mohammad Shariatmadari, in the current fiscal year (to end March 20) the government is providing 300 trillion rials to renovate industrial units and promote production.

This is while the first Rouhani administration, 2013-17, pursued the same policy, allocating huge amounts of finance to help low-functioning, half-idle factories to their feed.

In January 2017 it was announced that some 20,000 industrial units had emerged from recession since March 2016.

About 140 trillion rials ($3.5 billion at market exchange rate) worth of loans have been granted to small- and medium-sized enterprises for their reactivation, Reza Rahmani, the deputy minister of industries, said then.

The loans were part of a stimulus plan prepared by the government's economic team, based on which loans worth 160 trillion rials ($4 billion) were to be given to struggling SMEs (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) in the industrial and agricultural sectors.

Sonya Pouryamin, an advisor to industries minister, said the government has also helped revive factories whose production had stopped.

Some 88,000 manufacturing units are active in 992 industrial parks across Iran, which account for 42 percent of all employment in the industrial sector.

It is estimated that 96 percent of these businesses are considered small- and medium-size.

By definition, enterprises run by 100 workers or less, and 50 workers or less are considered small- and medium-sized respectively, according to Irans Small Industries and Industrial Parks Organization.

Iran's industrial sector saw the highest growth of 9.1 percent during the first six months of the previous fiscal year (started March 20, 2016) among other economic sectors of Iran, according to the Statistical Center of Iran.

The overall GDP growth for the period under review stood at 6.5 percent, including the growth in oil sector, and 4.5 percent without it.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct. 15

By Gulgiz Muradova - Trend:

At the beginning of the next week, Azerbaijani and Armenian presidents will come together in Geneva to discuss the resolution of the long-lasting Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, one of the deadliest conflicts in the world.

While the event is viewed as a chance to move the peace talks from the dead end, there are concerns that several days later hearings on Nagorno-Karabakh to be hosted by the Helsinki Commission may pull back any progress achieved in the process.

The Commission often touts its record of peace maker yet the truth is that most of the hearings aim at supporting the aggressive policy of Armenia, which causes due demur in Baku.

Asked whether holding of hearings ahead of the President's summit may put a pressure on the talks, Dr. Ariel Cohen,senior research fellow at the Atlantic Council and director at the Center for energy, natural resources and geopolitics at the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security said that the ultimate decisions are made in Baku and Yerevan.

If the two leaders decide to move towards peace, such hearings are not going to be an obstacle. If there is no decision for peace, such hearings will not be able unfortunately to bring peace, Cohen told Trend.

The Helsinki Commission is chaired by Chris Smith, who enjoys close ties with the Armenian lobby in the U.S. Smith was also the initiator of the anti-Azerbaijani bill previously submitted to the U.S. Congress by the Helsinki Commission.

Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in a conflict, which emerged over Armenia's territorial claims to Azerbaijan. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. Although the UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal from the occupied lands of Azerbaijan, they have not been enforced to this day.
Saudi King Salman bin Adulaziz Al Saud held a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump and welcomed Washingtons policy toward Tehran, praising the role of US administration, Sputnik reported Sunday.

According to Al Arabiya channel, King Salman also noted that the US administration recognizes the challenges and threats coming from Iran, and stressed the need for united actions against terrorism, calling Iran its main sponsor.

Trump, in his turn, thanked King Salman for his support and stressed that the United States was ready to work together with its allies to achieve peace and security in the world, the media added.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations and their development, according to the channel.

On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that the US administration had decided not to certify Irans compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, ordering the US Department of Treasury to impose new sanctions on Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and four other entities. Trump, however, had not challenged Iran's compliance with the deal at the international level.
Austrian citizens will go to polls on Sunday to elect the members of the National Council (Nationalrat), the lower house of the Austrian Parliament, which might result in a coalition government, including the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), Sputnik reported.

Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz called for a snap election after being chosen as the new leader of the conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP) in May amid tensions with a coalition partner, the left-wing Social Democratic Party (SPO). The foreign minister, who at 31 may become one of the youngest European leaders in modern history if his party wins the election, also announced that he would replace the regular OVP constituency selection process with a list of independent candidates backed by the party.
Two car bombs in separate parts of Somalias capital Mogadishu killed at least 22 people on Saturday and injured several others, Reuters reported citing police.

The first explosion - in the citys K5 Junction area which is lined with government offices, hotels, and restaurants - destroyed several buildings and set dozens of vehicles on fire.

We know that at least 20 civilians are dead while dozens of others are wounded, said Abdullahi Nur, a police officer who was in the area.

The death toll will surely rise. We are still busy transporting casualties, he said, adding that there were bodies under the rubble.

About two hours later, a second blast took place in the citys Madina district.

It was a car bomb. Two civilians were killed,  Siyad Farah, a police major, told Reuters, adding that a suspect had been caught on suspicion of planting explosives.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although the Islamist al Shabaab group has carried out regular attacks

The al Qaeda-allied group is waging an insurgency to topple the weak U.N.-backed government and its African Union allies and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam.

They frequently launch gun, grenade and bomb attacks in Mogadishu and other regions controlled by the federal government, though in recent years the militants have lost most territory under their control to African Union peacekeepers and government troops.
A total of five Red Crescent volunteers were killed in the recent deadly explosion in the Somalian capital, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said in a Sunday statement, Sputnik reported.

"The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Somali Red Crescent Society are mourning the deaths of five Red Crescent volunteers, killed in a large explosion in Mogadishu yesterday," the statement said.

According to the statement, several other volunteers and staff of the country's Red Crescent Society have been injured and are currently in hospitals.

On Saturday, an explosion occurred in one of the crowded Mogadishu's streets after a twin truck bomb reportedly detonated in front of Safari Hotel. Soon after that local media reported citing police about the second blast in the same area. According to the most recent figures reported by media, over 230 people were killed and more than 300 people were injured.

Somalia has been experiencing violence since the country devolved into civil war in the early 1990s. The numerous militant groups, including al-Shabaab, which is linked to al-Qaeda terrorist group, have been carrying deadly attacks against both military and civilian targets in the African state.
At least 24 militants and six soldiers were killed on Sunday in attacks on military outposts in North Sinai, the Egyptian military said in a statement, Reuters reported.

The statement did not give details, but security and medical sources said about 20 members of the security forces had also been injured when more than 100 militants repeatedly attacked security outposts south of the border town of Sheikh Zuweid.

The attackers used car bombs and rocket propelled grenades (RPG), the sources said. The militants also clashed with the security forces using light weapons, the sources added.

Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Hours later, air raid sirens went off in a part of southern Israel and the Israeli military said two rockets were fired from Sinai at Israel. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

On Friday, the militant group claimed an attack on security forces in the peninsula that killed at least six soldiers.

Egypt is fighting an insurgency by militants affiliated with Islamic State in the Sinai Peninsula, where hundreds of soldiers and police have been killed since 2013, when the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi after mass protests.

The militants have also extended their campaign to other parts of Egypt, most recently attacking churches in Cairo and other cities with the loss of dozens of lives.
Iraqi troops guard a military position retaken from Kurdish forces in the Kirkuk province town of Taza Khurmatu on October 13, 2017 (AFP Photo/Marwan IBRAHIM) (AFP)

Sulaimaniyah (Iraq) (AFP) - Baghdad has set a pre-dawn Sunday deadline for Kurdish forces to abandon positions in the disputed oil province of Kirkuk they took during the fightback against the Islamic State group, a senior Kurdish official said.

The reported ultimatum comes as thousands of Iraqi troops and allied militia are locked in an armed standoff with Kurdish peshmerga fighters near ethnically divided but historically Kurdish-majority Kirkuk.

Tensions have soared between the erstwhile allies in the war against IS since a Kurdish vote for independence last month, drawing urgent appeals for calm from the US-led coalition supporting the campaign.

"The deadline set for the peshmerga to return to their pre-June 6, 2014 positions will expire during the night," the Kurdish official told AFP, asking not to be identified.

Asked at what time, he said 2 am on Sunday (2300 GMT Saturday).

The official's comments came as Iraqi President Fuad Masum, who is himself a Kurd, was holding urgent talks with Kurdish leaders in the city of Sulaimaniyah in the south of the autonomous Kurdish region.

No statements have emerged from the meetings.

On Friday, Iraqi troops took over formerly Kurdish-held positions in the south of Kirkuk province, including in the mainly Shiite Turkmen town of Taza Khurmatu.

In June 2014, IS fighters swept through vast areas north and west of Baghdad, prompting many Iraqi army units to disintegrate and Kurdish forces to step in.

They did so primarily in historically Kurdish-majority areas they had long sought to incorporate in their three-province autonomous region in the north against the strong opposition of Baghdad.

The Kurds currently control the city of Kirkuk and three major oil fields in the province which account for a significant share of the regional government's oil revenues.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday that Washington was working to reduce tensions between Iraqi federal and Kurdish forces, urging them to remain focused on the war against jihadists.

"We are trying to tone everything down and to figure out how we go forward without losing sight of the enemy, and at the same time recognising that we have got to find a way to move forward," he told reporters.

"Everybody stay focused on defeating ISIS. We can't turn on each other right now. We don't want to go to a shooting situation," he added, using an alternative acronym for IS.
Back in May at the SALT Conference, activist investing billionaire Bill Ackman said President Donald Trump could turn his troubled presidency around if he stopped focusing on the media and just started making some progress on his policy promises.

Five months later, Ackman, the CEO of the $11 billion Pershing Square Capital, offered an update.

I think he needs to get some things done, Ackman told Yahoo Finance in the video above. And I think corporate tax reform, obviously, is very high on his list right now.

Ackman added that this is something where he sees Trump getting bipartisan support.

Everyone in Congress recognizes that were losing business, he said. Were not globally competitive because our tax rate is too high. Today, any global business can locate anywhere it wants. And as a result, theres a huge incentive for foreign companies to buy our companies and relocate them because they can do so and pay lower taxes.

After tax reform, Ackman says Trump should address Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which he characterized as the last piece of unfinished business from the financial crisis.

William Bill Ackman, CEO and Portfolio Manager of Pershing Square Capital Management REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

He added that if he were president, he would not have started with health care.

Most presidents get the order reversed. For whatever reason, every president decides to start with health care and health care is very difficult. Its a morass, Ackman said. So, I think just by getting some things done will help the president rebuild, have a successful presidency.

At SALT, Ackman said he Trump shouldve focused first on infrastructure, which is something he believes would get bipartisan support. And the private sector, he said, should take the lead. At the time, he compared Amtrak, a government-run enterprise, to Canadian Pacific, a Canadian railroad company run by an American CEO. He said the railroad industry in the private sector is efficient and well-maintained.

Why shouldnt toll roads and bridges be a regulated, utility-like private sector enterprise? Ackman said at the time.

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An activist investor, Ackman is known for taking large positions in a handful of companies and pushing for changes from management.



Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.
File photo: A Blackberry sign is seen in front of their offices on the day of their annual general meeting for shareholders in Waterloo, Canada in this June 23, 2015 file photo. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/Files (Reuters)

By Alastair Sharp

TORONTO (Reuters) - A key attorney executing BlackBerry Ltd's <BB.TO> patent licensing strategy has left the company, the second recent departure from the team tasked with making money from the Canadian company's intellectual property.

Victor Schubert, who was a licensing director for BlackBerry, told Reuters in a brief LinkedIn message that he was no longer with the company. He did not say when he left or why.

Monetizing the company's intellectual property is a key part of Chief Executive John Chen's plan for turning around the company whose revenues have declined for six straight years as sales of its once ubiquitous smartphones have tumbled.

Company representatives did not respond to requests for comment on Schubert. Two switchboard operators at the Canadian company said his name was not in a global employee directory.

News of his exit follows the recent departure of Mark Kokes, who lead BlackBerry's overall patent strategy. Kokes last month joined a health technology company.

Schubert joined BlackBerry in March 2015, according to his LinkedIn profile, as the company was embarking on a major push to boost licensing revenue.

BlackBerry is trying to persuade other companies to pay licensing royalties to use its trove of some 40,000 global patents on technology including operating systems, networking infrastructure, acoustics, messaging, automotive subsystems, cybersecurity and wireless communications.

Schubert has created and executed patent-licensing programs for at least four companies, including BlackBerry, dating back to 1992, according to his LinkedIn profile. It lists portfolio mining, patent valuation and negotiating patent sales as areas of expertise.

He was due to represent BlackBerry at a Seattle-area patent conference next month to discuss how operating companies can make money off their intellectual property, according to an agenda posted on the conference website in August. He is no longer listed as a panelist.

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BlackBerry disclosed it had secured royalty-bearing deals with Cisco Systems Inc <CSCO.O> and another company that it did not name soon after Schubert joined. It also filed patent infringement lawsuits during his tenure against Nokia <NOKIA.HE> and Avaya Inc [AVXX.UL] that are ongoing.

BlackBerry on Thursday disclosed that it had settled another lawsuit, filed against low-end Android phone manufacturer BLU Products Inc.

Both companies declined to disclose terms of the deal.

(Reporting by Alastair Sharp; Additional reporting by Jan Wolfe in New York; Editing by Jim Finkle and Lisa Shumaker)
Oct 13 (Reuters) - Constitution Pipeline said on Friday that its natural gas pipe from Pennsylvania to New York could enter service as early as the first half of 2019 if it gets the necessary regulatory approvals.

On Wednesday, Constitution asked the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to overturn New York's denial of a required water permit that would allow it to move ahead with the project.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) denied a water permit for the 125-mile (201 kilometer) Constitution pipeline in 2016 for environmental reasons.

If built, the pipeline would transport up to 0.65 billion cubic feet per day of shale gas from Pennsylvania to New York. New York does not allow fracking.

Constitution said New York failed to act within a reasonable period of time on its application and that such failure constitutes a waiver of the Section 401 water quality certification requirement.

The Clean Water Act specifies that if a state agency fails or refuses to act on a request for certification under Section 401 within a reasonable period of time, which shall not exceed one year, after receipt of such request, the certification requirements shall be waived, according to Constitution's petition.

"Here, NYSDEC clearly failed to act on Constitution's application ... within a reasonable period of time," the company said.

Over the course of two years and eight months, Constitution said it withdrew and resubmitted its 401 application twice at the behest of NYSDEC, the second of which contained no changes to the prior application.

Officials at the NYSDEC did not immediately comment on Constitution's petition.

Constitution's petition follows a FERC decision in September to overturn New York's denial of a water permit for another project, the Millennium pipeline, in the state.

In that case, FERC said the NYSDEC failed to act within a year of Millennium's original application.

The NYSDEC said it filed a formal challenge to the FERC decision in the Millennium case on Friday.

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"FERC should not, and cannot, be allowed to undercut the states ability to protect our water resources by making informed decisions to ensure water quality standards are met," the NYSDEC said in a statement.

If FERC grants Constitutions petition, the company said it would promptly seek a Clean Water Act Section 404 permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Constitution is owned by subsidiaries of Williams Partners LP, Cabot Oil & Gas Corp, Duke Energy Corp and WGL Holdings Inc. (Reporting by Scott DiSavino; editing by Diane Craft)
A still image from a video posted by the Taliban on social media on December 19, 2016 shows American Caitlan Coleman (L) speaking next to her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle and their two sons. Courtesy Taliban/Social media via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The young family freed Thursday from militants have boarded a commercial flight to London from Islamabad, Pakistan, and will travel to Canada from there, a Pakistani military official told CNN on Friday.

Joshua Boyle, a Canadian, and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, were held hostage by the Taliban's Haqqani network for five years after they were abducted while traveling in Afghanistan. The couple's three children were all born in captivity.

Speculation abounded Thursday after media reports said Boyle had refused to board a US transport plane that American officials had arranged for the family. One US official told the Associated Press that Boyle had been nervous about being in "custody" because of his background, though another official clarified that the family was not formally in US custody.

The White House chief of staff, John Kelly, also said on Thursday that US officials had "arrangements to transport them back to the United States, or to Canada, anywhere they wanted to go." He added that the family was receiving medical and psychological treatment.

"They've been essentially living in a hole for five years," Kelly said.

It's unclear what precisely about Boyle's background made him nervous around US officials, but media reports have noted that Boyle was once married to Zaynab Khadr  the sister of the Canadian-born former Guantanamo Bay detainee Omar Khadr  who has expressed sympathies with Al Qaeda.

The siblings' father, Ahmed Said Khadr, who died in 2003, was a Qaeda financier close to Osama bin Laden, with whom the family had once briefly stayed. Officials have dismissed any notion that the family's capture was connected to Boyle's previous marriage. In 2014, they described the Khadr family link as a "horrible coincidence."

But Boyle's decision not to board the US plane didn't add up, Coleman's father Jim said on Friday in an interview with "Good Morning America."

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"I don't know what five years in captivity would do to somebody but if it were me and I saw a US aircraft and US soldiers, I'd be running for it," Jim Coleman said. He also criticized Boyle's decision to travel to Afghanistan in the first place.

"What I can say is taking your pregnant wife to a very dangerous place, to me, and the kind of person that I am, is unconscionable," he said.

In an interview with The Toronto Star on Thursday, which took place during a phone call to his Ontario-based parents, Boyle said his family looked forward to rebuilding their lives.

"My family is obviously psychologically and physically shattered by the betrayals and the criminality of what has happened over the past five years," Boyle told The Star. "But we're looking forward to a new lease on life, to use an overused idiom, and restarting and being able to build a sanctuary for our children and our family in North America."

Boyle added, jokingly, "I have discovered there is little that cannot be overcome by enough Sufi patience, Irish irreverence, and Canadian sanctimony."

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(SONOMA, Calif., Oct 14)  Fierce winds were expected to stir wildfires and test firefighters on Saturday in Northern California where the most lethal outbreak of wildfires in state history has killed 35 people and forced more than 90,000 residents from their homes.

The wind-driven blazes, which erupted on Sunday night in the heart of Californias renowned wine country, north of San Francisco, have destroyed an estimated 5,700 homes.

A total of 17 major wildfires  some encompassing several smaller blazes merged together  had consumed nearly 222,000 acres of dry brush, grasslands and trees across eight counties.

Ground crews on Friday gained ground on the wildfires on Friday as they raced to clear drought-parched vegetation along the southern flanks of fires, removing highly combustible fuels adjacent to populated areas before extreme heat and winds were forecast to revive over the weekend.

Winds were to intensify overnight and into Saturday with gusts of up to 55 mph (90 kph) along with 10 percent humidity, the service warned.

If new fires start they could spread extremely rapidly, said Brooke Bingaman, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Sacramento, California in a video posted on Facebook. Those fuels are super dry right now. This also could cause problems for the current wildfires and the firefighters who are trying to suppress them.

Wildfire ripped through the Sonoma County town of Santa Rosa, where whole neighborhoods were reduced to landscapes of gray ash, smoldering debris and burned-out vehicles.

The 35 confirmed fatalities  19 in Sonoma County  mark the greatest loss of life from a single fire event on record in California, surpassing the 29 deaths from the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles.

Some victims were asleep when flames engulfed their homes, and many survivors had only minutes to flee.

With 235 people still missing on Friday in Sonoma County alone, and rubble from thousands of incinerated dwellings yet to be searched, authorities have said the number of fatalities from the so-called North Bay fires would likely climb.

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The fires have thrown Californias wine-producing industry, and related tourism, into disarray at the end of the regions annual grape harvest, damaging or destroying at least a dozen Napa Valley wineries.

Some 45 search-and-rescue teams and 18 detectives were deployed to scour obliterated neighborhoods for victims.

More than 90,000 residents have been evacuated, said Jaime Williams, a spokeswoman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Governor Jerry Brown planned to visit the area with Californias two U.S. senators on Saturday.

Well keep working day and night with our local and federal partners to fight these fires and help residents get back on their feet in these trying times, he said in a statement.

Officials have said power lines toppled by gale-force winds the first night may have sparked the conflagration, though the official cause remained under investigation.

The picturesque town of Calistoga, at the northern end of Napa Valley, faced one of the biggest remaining hazards. Its 5,000-plus residents were ordered from their homes on Wednesday night as a fierce blaze dubbed the Tubbs fire crept to within 2 miles (3.2 km) of city limits.

On Friday, fires raged along mountain ridges overlooking Calistoga, threatening to rain embers onto the resort and spa destination if strong winds blow out of the north as predicted, Cal Fire spokesman Dennis Rein said.

Its surreal. Its eerie, Mayor Chris Canning told a local ABC affiliate as he surveyed the empty town on Friday. Its calm now and its giving Cal Fire an opportunity to really bang it down.

The years wildfire season is one of the worst in history in the United States, with nearly 8.6 million acres (3.5 million hectares) burned, just behind 2012, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
By David Randall

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The first global increase in corporate spending since 2012 will likely boost the earnings of technology companies outside of the so-called FAANG group of Facebook Inc (FB.O), Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O), Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and Google (GOOGL.O), adding momentum to a 25 percent rally in the sector for the year to date.

Capital expenditure - a term that encompasses corporate spending on everything from new buildings to new computers - is expected to climb 5.5 percent in 2017 after falling 7 percent or more in each of the last three years, according to a July 31 report from S&P Capital.

Spending is expected to increase in every region of the world, with North American capex growing by 4 percent, and spending in Western Europe and Japan each surging about 10 percent, the report noted.

Rising corporate confidence and the prospect that the administration of President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress will lower taxes is one reason behind the increase in U.S. capital spending, said Steve Chiavarone, a portfolio manager at Federated Investors in New York.

"Labor is no longer cheap and abundant, so companies are looking for somewhere else to invest," he said.

McDonald's Corp (MCD.N), for instance, is expanding its use of self-service kiosks and mobile ordering technology, rather than hiring new workers, he noted. The company has said that the kiosks, each of which costs about $50,000 to install, should be in nearly all its 14,000 U.S. locations by 2020.

Corporate investment in technology over the next 12 months will likely focus on automation, cybersecurity and new software systems, allowing companies to increase or maintain productivity as labor costs rise. That, in turn, should boost revenues for technology companies that focus more on businesses than consumers.

"With every additional dollar in capex comes more spending on technology and automation," said Matt Litfin, a portfolio manager of the $4.8 billion Columbia Acorn fund (LACAX.O).

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'DELAYED MAINTENANCE'

Litfin has been adding to his position in cybersecurity company Qualys Inc (QLYS.O), whose shares are up 60 percent for the year to date, betting partly that technology spending will climb after high-profile data breaches at companies like Equifax.

While the bulk of capex spending will likely go to technology, industrial companies such as Deere & Co (DE.N) and CNH Industrial NV (CNHI.MI) should also benefit as corporations either expand new facilities or put more money into maintaining existing assets, said Brian Sponheimer, head of industrial research at Gabelli Funds.

Shares of equipment rental companies such as United Rentals Inc (URI.N) are up 25 percent over the last three months, due in part to cleanup efforts in Texas and Florida after recent hurricanes, yet shares of industrial stocks as a whole do not reflect rising capex spending, he said.

"You have a backdrop of a half decade of delayed maintenance and that's going to set a nice foundation" for revenues in the sector, he said.

The Industrial Select SPDR ETF (XLI.P), which tracks the performance of industrial companies in the S&P 500, is up 15.7 percent for the year, slightly more than the 14.1 percent gain in the benchmark S&P 500 stock index, while the Technology Select SPDR (XLK.P) is up 24.8 percent over the same time.

Chiavarone, the Federated fund manager, said Amazon is the most likely of FAANG stocks to benefit from capex due to its Amazon Web Services division, which hosts websites and other cloud-based services for corporate customers.

Amazon has roughly 34 percent of the cloud market, more than triple the size of its nearest competitor, according to Synergy Research Group. Shares of the company topped $1,005 in midday trading Friday.

"How do you compete with Amazon? It's a monopoly that is still growing and taking more market share," Chiavarone said. "I don't know what the right multiple is for a monopoly, but it's higher than the company is trading at right now."

(Reporting by David Randall; Editing by Jennifer Ablan and Bernadette Baum)
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble gives a press conference as Germany ends its presidency of the G20 at the World Bank and International Monetary fund annual meetings on October 13, 2017 in Washington (AFP Photo/Eric BARADAT) (AFP)

Washington (AFP) - A high-level Group of 20 finance ministers meeting on Friday avoided discussing trade matters, even as governments on both sides of the Atlantic remain locked in tense negotiations on commerce.

"We have not discussed on the trade issue specifically because it is not the main competence of the G20," German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told reporters at the close of the meeting.

Germany currently holds the G20's rotating presidency and the meeting coincided with this week's annual the International Monetary Fund and World Bank summit.

Trade questions have electrified politics in advanced economies in recent years, with resurgent protectionist forces rising to prominence.

In a nearby Washington suburb, US, Canadian and Mexican officials on Friday were in the midst of talks to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement, which President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to scrap.

Talks between EU and British officials also deadlocked on Thursday over the future of trade relations between the single market and Britain, which voted to secede from the European Union last year.

"You may remember we had very difficult discussions since the beginning of our presidency, especially in our meeting in Baden-Baden," Schaeuble said.

At the Baden-Baden, Germany G20 meeting, US representatives succeeded in removing the habitual warning against protectionism from the meeting's concluding statement.

"At this time, global discussions are much more relaxed," Schaeuble said Friday.

He added that inaction was the greatest threat facing the global economy.

"In the given situation in which we have a good economic situation, I would say complacency maybe could be the biggest temptation," said Schaeuble.

It was the final G20 meeting for Schaeuble, for years one of the world's most influential economic chiefs, who set a hard line for fiscal discipline during the European crisis after 2009. He announced last month that he was stepping down as Germany's finance minister.

"My advice that I've always said is that the finance minister of Germany must not look too friendly," he added.

"Otherwise he supports complacency and that is wrong."
Ivanka Trump has yet to condemn Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein for allegations of sexual assault, despite claiming to be a champion for women's issues in the White House.

Hillary Clinton spoke candidly all week about the "shock" she felt after discovering Harvey Weinsteina Hollywood producer, and a major Democratic donor for decadeshad been accused by dozens of women of sexual abuse. She admitted to having once considered Weinstein a friend, though she was entirely unaware of the allegations against him until the last several days.

The 2016 presidential election has passed, but the former Democratic candidate pledged to donate the total of Weinsteins campaign contributions to a womens organization. Clinton took her vow a step further, promising to donate at least $13,000 to charity to cover the entirety of his donations over the years, ever since her 2000 Senate primary race. "I was appalled. It was something that was just intolerable in every way," she said, speaking with CNN's Fareed Zakaria Wednesday night. "And, you know, like so many people who've come forward and spoken out, this was a different side of a person who I and many others had known in the past."

Clinton's outright rejection of Weinstein arrived five days after the first bombshell reports against him were published by The New York Times. Despite Clinton's transparency and pledge to completely distance herself from the embattled film executive, the right has slammed her day after day for her "delayed response."

Related: Hillary Clinton Is America's BiggestAnd Most ImportantLoser

Perhaps the onus to reject such appalling actions should be on those serving in the White House, rather than a private citizen with no tangible impact on public policy. Maybe Fox News should instead focus on the lack of a response to the Weinstein allegations from the first daughter and senior adviser to the president, Ivanka Trump, a self-proclaimed champion of womens issues.

Trump and her husband, White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, have long shared the same circles and networks as Weinstein. Photos show the trio enjoying each others company at functions over the years, surrounded by Hollywood elites and the mega-rich.

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Trump and Weinstein both donated to the campaigns of New York Democrats. Both were also implicated in separate investigations conducted, then dropped, by the Manhattan District Attorney Office: Trump for fraud and larceny, Weinstein for sexual assault.

For Ivanka Trump, who is attempting to establish herself as a public servant with womens causes at the forefront of her priorities, Weinstein would appear to be an easy target. When lawmakers like House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi have called the president to discuss womens issues, he's handed the phone over to his daughter. So why hasn't she spoken out against one of the most high-profile sexual assault cases in the country?

That question is not being asked by many Republicans, who have long used Clinton as their personal punching bag any time an issue even remotely connected to her appears. Whereas most news outlets have opened their daytime programs discussing the latest developments out of Washington and the increasingly hostile tweets coming from the president, Fox News has been harping on Clinton and her reaction to Weinstein.

When White House Chief of Staff John Kelly stepped out onto the podium during Thursdays press briefing and claimed he wasnt being fired "today," his remarks were the opening conversation for shows on CNN, NBC and ABC News. But Fox's The Five kicked off by pondering why it took days for Clinton to speak out against Weinstein.

"If she's so sick and appalled by this, why'd she wait a week to say anything?" the network's Jesse Watters said Thursday. "You have Bill Clinton, Anthony Weiner and now Harvey Weinsteinall of these really inappropriate men in Hillarys orbitand I almost feel sorry for her."

The same logic Watters applied against Clinton could easily be used against Ivanka Trump: Her father admitted to groping women without consent in an Access Hollywood tape that made global headlines during the 2016 presidential election, and she clearly has ties to Weinstein, the same man the right is attacking Clinton for standing alongside during fundraisers and charity events. And yet there is no major push to get the first daughter to speak out against Weinstein.

Perhaps the double standards will always plague Clintoneven when shes compared to other women with government positions. "I dont think Im held to the same standard as anybody else," Clinton said in a September interview.

And she's right. Not even Ivanka Trump, one of the most important women in the White House, faces the level of scrutiny Clinton continues to endure for simply remaining a part of the national conversation outside of Washington.

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(Reuters) - Iran has signed a flurry of deals with foreign companies since the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in 2016 after it agreed to limits on its disputed nuclear programme.

But U.S.-Iranian tensions are rising again after President Donald Trump[unveiled a more confrontational U.S. policy towards Tehran, including an announcement that he will decertify the 2015 nuclear deal reached under his predecessor Barack Obama.

That would open a 60-day window in which the U.S. Congress could re-impose sanctions, which could undo the agreement.

Trump's announcement could heighten caution among many Western and Asian companies that are planning to, or considering whether to, invest in the Iranian economy.

The Islamic Republic needs foreign investment for repairs and upgrades of oil and gas fields that deteriorated during a decade of isolation, and is also seeking new technology for its oil industry.

Below is a list of deals and memoranda of understanding (MoU) Iran has signed over the past year.

OIL AND GAS

* France's Total (TOTF.PA) became in November 2016 the first oil major to sign a big deal with Tehran since the country was re-admitted to international trade markets, and agreed to help it develop the world's largest gas field, South Pars.

* Shell (RDSa.L) signed a provisional deal in December to develop Iranian oil and gas fields South Azadegan, Yadavaran and Kish. But Chief Executive Ben van Beurden said Shell had no near-term investment opportunities in Iran.

* Iran has named 29 companies from more than a dozen countries as being allowed to bid for oil and gas projects using a new, less restrictive contract model.

The firms include Shell, Total, Italy's Eni (ENI.MI), Malaysia's Petronas and Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM) and Lukoil (LKOH.MM), as well as companies from China, Austria, Japan and other countries.

However, Irans first tender since the lifting of sanctions for developing its largest oilfield, Azadegan, has been postponed several times for unspecified reasons, and is not expected to take place in 2017.

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* Russia's Zarubezhneft signed a MoU for a feasibility study on two joint fields in the west of Iran.

* Norway's Aker Solutions (AKSOL.OL) signed an MoU to modernise the Iranian oil industry.

* Austria's OMV (OMVV.VI) signed a MoU in May for projects in the Zagros area of western Iran and the Fars field in the south.

* South Korea's Daewoo Engineering and Construction (Daewoo E&C) signed an MoU to carry out construction of an oil refinery in Bandar Jask on the southern coast of Iran.

* Italy's Saipem signed MoUs to cooperate on pipeline projects, upgrading of refineries and development of the Tous gas field in the northeastern province of Khorasan Razavi.

* Norwegian oil and gas company DNO (DNO.OL) said it was the second western energy company after Total to sign a deal with Iran under which it agreed to study the development of the Changuleh oilfield in western Iran.

* Lukoil, Russia's second biggest oil producer, hopes to reach a decision on developing two new oilfields in Iran.

* BASF's (BASFn.DE) Wintershall oil and gas exploration subsidiary signed a MoU with the National Iranian Oil Company in April 2016. In February this year, it said it was in talks with Iran about a possible investment of its oil and gas division in the country but no decision was on the cards because of uncertainty over the status of economic sanctions.

AVIATION

* Iran has set out plans to renew its ageing fleet and invest in airport infrastructure to meet expectations of sharp growth in its under-served aviation market post-sanctions.

* Flag carrier IranAir has ordered 100 aircraft from Airbus (AIR.PA) and taken delivery of three.

* Boeing (BA.N) has a deal to sell 80 aircraft to IranAir.

* Airbus and Boeing have received U.S. export licences to cover part of the deals, but bankers say doubts remain over the availability of financing because of fears of further sanctions.

* European turboprop maker ATR, half-owned by Airbus and Leonardo (LDOF.MI), sold 20 aircraft to IranAir, which has so far taken six to serve regional cities.

* Aseman Airlines has agreed to buy 30 Boeing 737 MAX jets in Irans first new business with the U.S. planemaker since Trump took office.

* Domestic carrier Zagros Airlines signed a MoU in June to buy 20 Airbus A320neo and eight A330neo aircraft.

* Privatised Iran Airtour signed in June a MoU for 45 Airbus A320neos.

RAILWAYS

* China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation, signed a 2.2 billion-euro ($2.60 billion) deal in May with Iran's MAPNA for electrification of a high-speed rail line between Tehran and Mashhad.

* Iran's state rail company and its Italian counterpart, Ferrovie dello Stato (FS) signed a final agreement worth 1.2 billion euros ($1.37 billion) in July to build a high-speed railway between the cities of Qom and Arak.

* French train maker and manufacturing group Alstom (ALSO.PA) signed a deal in July for a joint venture that will build metro and suburban rail carriages in Iran.

* Germany's Siemens (SIEGn.DE) signed a contract in October 2016 to upgrade Iran's railway network. Siemens will also supply components for 50 diesel-electric locomotives to Iran.

AUTOMOTIVE

* French carmakers PSA (PEUP.PA) and Renault (RENA.PA) have moved swiftly to sign new production deals to upgrade their pre-sanctions partnerships with Iran Khodro and SAIPA.

PSA has signed production deals worth 700 million euros ($768 million), while Renault has announced a new plant investment to increase its production capacity to 350,000 vehicles a year.

The resumption of official sales in Iran helped PSA more than triple its Middle East and Africa deliveries in the first half of the year.

* Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) said in July it would start exporting cars to Iran, returning to the resurgent market after more than 17 years.

* Trump's stance against Iran has deepened the caution of German carmakers with large American exposures. BMW (BMWG.DE) are among those that have put Iranian ambitions on hold.

However, Germanys Mercedes-Benz Trucks (DAIGn.DE) signed a contract with Iran Khodro in September, laying the foundation for resuming distribution of its trucks in Iran.

BANKING

* Oberbank (OBER.VI) signed a deal with Iran in September, enabling it to finance new ventures there and making it one of the first European banks to do so since sanctions were eased.

However, major global banks have so far shied away from handling Iranian-related business, citing the risk of violating ongoing U.S. sanctions. Among them is HSBC (HSBA.L), which has said it has no intention of doing any new business involving Iran.

($1 = 0.8459 euros)

(Compiled by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Mark Heinrich and Mark Potter)
By Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Kurdish Peshmerga fighters rejected a warning from an Iraqi paramilitary force to withdraw from a strategic junction south of Kirkuk, which controls access to some of the region's main oilfields, a Kurdish security official said on Sunday. Iran meanwhile shut its border crossings with Iraq's Kurdistan in support of measures taken by the Iraqi government to isolate the Kurdish region, the Iraqi foreign ministry said. The border closing came as an Iranian military official arrived in Iraq's Kurdistan for talks on the growing crisis between the Kurdish authorities and the Iraqi government following last month's Kurdish independence referendum. The Baghdad central government has taken a series of steps to isolate the autonomous Kurdish region since its vote for independence, including banning international flights. Baghdad's tough line, ruling out talks sought by the Kurds unless they renounce the breakaway move, is backed by neighbors Turkey and Iran - both with their own sizeable Kurdish minorities, and in Turkey's case, a long-running Kurdish insurgency. The top Kurdish leadership met on Sunday to discuss the crisis and rejected the Iraqi government's demand that it cancels the outcome of the independence referendum as a precondition for talks to resolve the dispute. The vote delivered an overwhelming 'Yes' for independence. The Iraqi government in a statement accused the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) of bringing fighters from Turkey's separatist Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to Kirkuk, describing the move as a "declaration of war". In the statement, published after a meeting in Baghdad, chaired by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and attended by top military and security commanders, the government said it would seek to impose its authority over Kirkuk and other disputed areas. A spokesman for KRG President Masoud Barzani, Vahal Ali, denied the Iraqi government claims about the PKK. "This is false, there are no PKK in Kirkuk, only Peshmerga," he told Reuters, referring to KRG military forces. The Kurdish leadership meeting, attended by Barzani, rejected the Iraqi "military threats" and pledged to defend Kurdish-held territory in case of an attack. Iraqi paramilitary groups backing the Shi'ite-led government in Baghdad had warned the Peshmerga to leave a position north of the Maktab Khalid junction by midnight Saturday, a KRG security official said. The Kurdish position north of the junction controls the access to an important airbase and Bai Hassan, one of the region's main oil fields, the KRG official said. Ali al-Hussaini, a spokesman for the paramilitary groups known as Popular Mobilisation, did not give indications about their next move following the Kurds rejection of the warning . "We are waiting for new orders," he told Reuters. There were no clashes reported 21 hours after the deadline but tension remained high with both sides mobilized. Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani arrived on Saturday in the Kurdistan region to hold talks about the crisis. He is the commander of foreign operations for Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards who provide training and guns to Popular Mobilisation The city of Kirkuk, the airbase and their immediate surroundings, including the oilfields, are under Kurdish control. KURDS SEE IRAQI "THREATS" Kurdish authorities said on Friday they had sent thousands more troops to Kirkuk to confront Iraqi "threats." Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has repeatedly denied any plans to attack the Kurds. Popular Mobilisation is a separate force from the regular army and officially reports to Abadi. It is deployed alongside the army south and west of Kirkuk. Kirkuk, a city of more than one million people, lies just outside KRG territory but Peshmerga forces were stationed there in 2014 when Iraqi security forces collapsed in the face of an Islamic State onslaught. The Peshmerga deployment prevented Kirkuk's oilfields from falling into jihadist hands. In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday the situation had the full attention of the United States, which was working to ensure it does not escalate. The United States has taken the side of the Iraqi government in refusing to recognize the validity of the referendum. (With assistance from Ahmed Rasheed in Baghdad, Parisa Hafezi in Ankara and the Dubai newsroom; editing by Richard Balmforth and Jane Merriman)
(Adds legal background)

Oct 13 (Reuters) - Las Vegas police presented a third version on Friday of the timeline of events for the Las Vegas gunman who killed 58 people and himself, saying they responded immediately to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.

Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo, who oversees the Las Vegas police department, told reporters that gunman Stephen Paddock shot at Mandalay Bay hotel security guard Jesus Campos outside his room on Oct. 1 at about the same time he opened fire on the more than 20,000 concertgoers at an outdoor venue.

Previously, police said that Paddock shot Campos six minutes before he started firing on the crowd, raising questions as to whether police and hotel security could have acted faster to prevent casualties in the attack.

"Nobody is attempting to hide anything. The dynamics and the size of the investigation require us to go through voluminous amounts of information in order to draw an accurate picture," Lombardo said of the changing timeline.

The police account is similar to one given on Thursday by the hotel operator MGM Resorts International, which said in a statement that Paddock opened fire on Campos and the crowd at the same time or within 40 seconds.

Campos was shot in the leg when Paddock strafed the hallway with about 200 bullets, police said.

Paddock, who placed cameras in the hotel hallway to monitor activity, also injured 546 people before killing himself. No motive for the attack has been made public.

The third timeline could affect claims brought by some victims that depend on the hotel's allegedly delayed response after Campos was shot. One attorney told Reuters MGM may have acted quickly but questioned whether "reasonable precautions" were in place.

Most of the wounded have been discharged from hospitals, but 45 were still hospitalized, some with critical injuries, Lombardo said.

Lombardo said law enforcement had acted heroically on the night of the attack and that he was angered by the criticism his department has received over its investigation.

Story continues

"In the public space, the word incompetence has been brought forward and I am absolutely offended with that characterization," he said.

Aaron Rouse, special agent in charge of the Las Vegas Federal Bureau of Investigation office, said there was no information Paddock was a member of an extremist group. Rouse added the FBI has hundreds of agents on the case working with local law enforcement.

"Nothing will be overlooked. We have made significant progress," Rouse said. Neither Lombardo nor Rouse took questions.

(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz in Austin, Texas; Additional reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit and Gina Cherelus in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas and Cynthia Osterman)
The fires in California's Wine Country have left entire neighborhoods in cities like Santa Rosa in ruin.

As of Friday morning, at least 31 people have died from the fires that have engulfed over 212,000 acres in Northern California, according to The Los Angeles Times. Below are a number of videos taken by drones showing the scope of the wildfires that have ravaged Mendocino, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano counties.

Ash-covered ground

The photography company Getty released drone footage on Friday that captured the destruction left behind. This overhead view of an unspecified residential area shows how one neighborhood was burned to the ground, with mounds of gray ash being all that remains of the destroyed homes.

Drone footage shows what is left after this week's devastating California wildfires. https://t.co/nf8pBCT1O9 pic.twitter.com/ieMX0KK8ZQ  Getty Images (@GettyImages) October 12, 2017

Melted automobiles

USA Today released footage on Friday showing how the fires melted cars in addition to burning homes. Additionally, the footage captures store and businesses completely demolished by flames, surrounded by empty parking lots.

Smoke fills the air

In this Associated Press video, a drone flies above a charred area of Santa Rosa, Calif. Smoke still hangs in the air, creating a hazy mist that looks like heavy fog. In one part of the video, the remnants of a home appears, its foundation being the only thing left standing.

Entire neighborhoods decimated

The Guardian posted a video from Santa Rosa showing a seemingly untouched park with green grass juxtaposed against a neighborhood that's been obliterated by the fires.

Thousands of residents evacuated

In this Los Angeles Times video captured Wednesday in Santa Rosa, more neighborhoods are shown to be wiped out.

Story continues

The Federal Aviation Administration released a notice on Friday warning people who fly drones near wildfires without proper authorization may be "violating Federal, State, and/or local laws, regulations, and ordinances, regardless of whether the FAA has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction." Hobbyists should avoid flying their robots if it impedes the work of fire fighters.

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The notice warns that interfering with firefighters can "result in a significant fine and/or a mandatory court appearance."

"So, be smart and just dont fly your drone anywhere near a wildfire," the notice said. "No amount of video or photos are worth the consequences."

See original article on Fortune.com

More from Fortune.com
As dire as some see the U.S. governments stance on climate change, former New York Mayor and current media mogul Michael Bloomberg is fairly optimistic at least on one front.

America will make the Paris agreement goals with no help from the federal sector whatsoever. Its all the private sector and local government, Bloomberg noted Friday during an on-stage interview in Boston.

The Paris accord to limit global greenhouse gas emissions was signed by the U.S. and 120 other countries in 2016. President Donald Trump has said he will pull out of the agreement, although he has subsequently waffled on doing so.

But, in Bloombergs view, whatever this administration does or does not do is almost beside the point.

On climate change, the federal government under Trump certainly and even under Obama didnt do very much. I dont think Trumps going to do much damage because you cant do less than zero, he said. It is local government and private industry that have led the way on this issue, he argued.

Cities took action, they painted roofs white to reflect heat, converted to energy-efficient light bulbs and cars. They stored water to reduce runoff. And companies, Bloomberg continued, want to be environmentally friendly so they can attract the best talent, and are also under pressure from customers and stockholders to be eco-friendly, he said.

Weve closed coal powered plants at the same rate since Trump was elected as before, he said. The reason is that plant owners are influenced by the economicsnatural gas is cheaper and cleaner than coalas well as what other people or their families think about living near a coal-fired plant.

Bloombergs interview took place at the Hubweek event sponsored by the Boston Globe, Harvard University, and others. You can see some other highlights from the interview here.

Bloomberg is no fan of Brexit.

It is really hard to understand why a country that was doing so well wanted to ruin it, Bloomberg said referring to last years referendum by British voters to leave the European Union.

Story continues

The impact of Brexit will be painful for citizens who will see jobs move outside the country. Many companies are already taking office space elsewhere, he said. Bloomberg L.P., his finance-focused media company, will not be one of them, mostly because it started building two expensive new buildings in London before the vote was announced. Had he foreseen Brexit that decision might have been different, he said.

Related: Ignore President Trump on Climate Change, says Michael Bloomberg

Bright job candidates from other countries do not view Britain, or even the U.S. as welcoming anymore, and that is not good for either country.

Brexit is the single stupidest thing any country has ever done, but then we trumped it, Bloomberg said.

Education reform is needed.

Public education is in trouble in the U.S. Too often, failing students get passed onto the next grade only to fall further behind. Once that happens, its very difficult to catch up. Having said that, not every kid needs to go to an Ivy League college. Most great software programmers were winning contests in the sixth grade, you dont see them starting later in life, he said.

One way to help would be for the country to focus on vocational schools to train students in mechanical or other skills needed to keep the country running.

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If you have two kids and one goes to Harvard and the other becomes a plumbers apprentice, the Harvard kid will never catch up to the plumber, Bloomberg said.
Professor Richard Thaler this week collected a Nobel Prize for his insights into behavioral economicsthe idea that, contrary to economic theory, humans are not rational actors when it comes to financial decisions, but can be nudged to make better choices. The most famous application of Thalers insight is a law that encourages firms to automatically enroll workers in 401K plans rather than require them to sign up. This simple nudge has dramatically increased the amount that tens of millions of Americans have saved for retirement.

When it comes to cyber-security, its clear firms like Equifax could have used a Thaler-style nudge to tighten up their sloppy IT practices. Recall that the Equifax debacle, one of the worst data breaches in history, arose because the company failed to update its softwareand a big reason for this is because it lacked incentives to do so.

According to Megan Stiles, an attorney and cyber expert at Public Knowledge, the credit bureaus systemically under-invested in data protection because their short-term interest in profit took precedence over security.

Stiles says weve reached a point where credit bureaus and other data firms require more regulation, including incentives to invest in safety. She pointed to the oil industry as a possible model, noting that those who transport tankers of oil must carry insurance in case something goes wrongand the insurance companies in turn demand they take precautions to obtain coverage.

Its not hard to imagine how this model could extend to companies that store and transport data. In this case, a mandatory insurance regime could include provisions that require up-to-date software for coverage to apply. The upshot would be a new way of aligning the economic incentives of the credit bureaus with smart cyber security practices.

There are all sorts of other ideas, of course, for how lawmakers should respond to Equifaxs data disaster. But drawing on Thalers insights, and using economic tools to nudge the credit bureaus towards better behavior, may be one of the most promising.

Story continues

Thanks as always for readingmore cyber news and fin-tech tidbits below.

Jeff John Roberts

@jeffjohnroberts

jeff.roberts@fortune.com

Welcome to the Cyber Saturday edition of Data Sheet, Fortunes daily tech newsletter. You may reach Robert Hackett via Twitter, Cryptocat, Jabber (see OTR fingerprint on my about.me), PGP encrypted email (see public key on my Keybase.io), Wickr, Signal, or however you (securely) prefer. Feedback welcome.

THREATS

Hackers want loyalty points: Or so it seems based on the frequency that cyber crooks have been hitting hotel chains. Hyatt suffered its second major data breach in two years as hackers siphoned up customer credit cards (again). Brian Krebs explains the hotel heists are likely the work of an organized crime gang whose members use tailored social engineering and custom malware.

Equi-fail so hard. Its been another fine week for everyones favorite credit bureau: Equifax had to take down a web page that was serving malware; reveal yet more breaches; and suffer the suspension of its no-bid IRS contract. Meanwhile, class action suits are coming fastand, unlike earlier breaches, Equifax will likely have to pay cold cash money.

You had one job: The idea of an air gap is to sequester a computer network that contains top secret information from the rest of the Internet. Someone should have explained this to Seoul where a ridiculous mistake allowed South Korea-US battle plans for North Korea to remain online for a yearmore than enough time for Kim Jong Uns crowd to steal them.

Bitcoin is (still) going bananas: The popular digital currency has shaken off its September slump and is reaching absurd new heights of nearly $6,000. The latest bull run/mania appears to be driven by Japan and investment bank interestand Coinbases new day trading option cant hurt either. Crypto fans: you can always check out Fortunes The Ledger for more news.

The end of porn Privacy? The site Pornhub is using AI as part of a facial recognition program to identify and catalogue professional porn stars. Some are warning the system will be used as copyright enforcement mechanism and, worse, that its use will quickly expand to identify amateur performers.

Need a fresh excuse for being late to work? Move to Sweden where DDOS attacks are causing delays on train lines.

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ACCESS GRANTED

But as real as the threat of power-utility hacking may be, not every grid penetration calls for Defcon 1. Responding to them all with an equal sense of alarm is like conflating a street mugging with an intercontinental ballistic missile attack.

An excerpt from a Wired explanation of hacking power grids. As it turns out, there have only been two full-blown power-grid penetrations (in Ukraine and Iran) while most so-called hacks relate to mundane intrusions of IT systems. It takes many more steps to plunge a region into blackness, so adjust your sense of panic accordingly.

FORTUNE RECON

Eavesdropping Google Home Mini Units Are Igniting Privacy Concerns by Barb Darrow

Couple Calls Cops Over Airbnb Hidden Camera. And Its Not The First Time by David Meyer

Commercial Use of Drones Gets a Major Setback by Aaron Pressman

This Privacy Case Could Threaten Facebooks European OperationsAgain by David Meyer

Dubai Airport is Replacing Security Checks With Face Scanning Fish by Don Reisinger

Amazons Clever Solution to Stolen Deliveries: Your Trunk by Jeff John Roberts

ONE MORE THING

Superman where are you now? Its hard not to chuckle at this sketch of Facebook asking Louis Lane, Want to tag Clark Kent? (More on Superman and AI software here).
Companies like Pfizer PFE, Merck MRK and Eli Lilly LLY were in the news this week  while Pfizer is mulling strategic options for its Consumer Healthcare business, Merck said that it will not file its CETP inhibitor.



Recap of the Weeks Most Important Stories



Pfizer to Divest Consumer Healthcare Segment? Pfizer is currently reviewing different strategic options for its Consumer Healthcare business which includes a full or partial separation via a spin off or sale. The company could also ultimately decide to retain the business. This is not the first time that Pfizer has decided to spin off or sell a non-core business segment. Some of the strategic steps taken by Pfizer include the sale of the Hospira infusion systems business to ICU Medical (February 2017), the spin-off of the animal health business that led to the creation of Zoetis (2013) as well as the divestment of the nutrition business to Nestle in 2012. Before that, Pfizer had sold off its Capsugel business to an affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.



The divestment of the Consumer Healthcare business would help Pfizer focus on its Innovative Health segment and would also bring in funds that the company could use for returning value to shareholders in the form of share buybacks and dividends (Read more: Pfizer Considering Sale/Spin-Off of Consumer Healthcare Unit).



Pfizer is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock - you can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The company has gained 11.9% year to date, compared to the 18.9% rally of the industry it belongs to.



Merck Collaborates with KalVista: Clinical-stage pharma company, KalVista Pharmaceuticals saw its shares shoot up 38.6% on a collaboration agreement with Merck for KVD001 and future oral diabetic macular edema (DME) compounds based on plasma kallikrein inhibition.



KVD001, an investigational intravitreal (IVT) injection, is scheduled to move into a phase II proof-of-concept study later this year. Merck has the option to acquire rights to the candidate following the completion of the study. Merck has a similar option for certain other DME candidates.



KalVista will receive a non-refundable upfront payment of $37 million as well as payments associated with the exercise of the options by Merck and the achievement of milestones for each program that could add up to $715 million. The company also stands to receive tiered royalties on net sales for candidates commercialized under the deal. Merck also acquired a 9.9% ownership stake in KalVista worth $9.1 million.



Another Pipeline Setback for Lilly: Lilly suffered a setback with its recently approved breast cancer drug, Verzenio, failing to meet the primary endpoint in a late-stage study in KRAS-mutated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer. While the CDK4 and 6 inhibitor failed to meet the primary endpoint of overall survival (OS), an analysis of the secondary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) showed evidence of monotherapy activity (Read more: Lilly's Verzenio Fails in Phase III Lung Cancer Study).



Meanwhile, Verzenio has been granted priority review by the FDA for use in the initial treatment of advanced breast cancer. This means a response from the agency should be out within eight months of receiving the regulatory application instead of the usual timeframe of 12 months.



J&J Seeks FDA Nod for New Prostate Cancer Treatment: Johnson & Johnsons Janssen Biotech is seeking FDA approval for apalutamide, an investigational, next generation oral androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor for men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). There is significant unmet need for this patient population given the absence of FDA approved treatments for these patients.



Prostate cancer, the most common cancer among American men, is expected to be diagnosed in more than 161,000 men in 2017, as per the American Cancer Society.



Apalutamide became a part of J&Js pipeline following its 2013 acquisition of privately-held Aragon Pharmaceuticals. Apalutamides approval would strengthen and expand J&Js presence in the prostate cancer market  the company currently sells Zytiga, which is approved for use in combination with prednisone for the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). J&J is looking to expand Zytigas label into earlier stages of metastatic prostate cancer.



Allergan Settles Restasis Litigation with InnoPharma: Allergan AGN entered into a settlement agreement with InnoPharma related to litigation regarding Restasis patents. The challenged patents are listed in the Orange Book and are scheduled to expire on Aug 27, 2024.

Story continues

Under the settlement agreement, InnoPharma can start selling a generic version of the eye drug in the United States from Feb 24, 2024 or earlier under certain circumstances. Moreover, under certain circumstances, InnoPharma will be allowed to launch an authorized generic version of Restasis on Aug 28, 2024.



Allergan is adopting different ways of protecting Restasis from generic competition. The company recently came under fire for entering into an agreement with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, with lawmakers questioning the unconventional move adopted by the company to protect the blockbuster eye drug from generic competition. Restasis is Allergans second best-selling drug bringing in sales of almost $1.5 billion in 2016. Lawmakers pointed out that the sovereign status of Native American tribes would make any patent challenges lengthy and complex as tribes may be immune from the legal claims made by generic drug makers to challenge patents. In fact, the Tribe is filing to dismiss the ongoing inter partes review (IPR) of the Restasis patents based on their sovereign immunity from IPR challenges.



The deal with the Tribe has basically raised concerns that it will curb generic competition in the pharmaceutical industry and discourage generic drugmakers from making cheaper copy-cat versions of expensive drugs. Allergan has been asked by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to provide certain documents and information about the deal by Oct 17, 2017.



Merck Will Not File Anacetrapib: Merck has decided that it will not seek regulatory approval for its investigational CETP inhibitor, anacetrapib. The companys decision was based on a thorough review of the clinical profile of the drug. We note that Merck is not the first company to drop a CETP inhibitor from its plans. Companies like Lilly, Roche and Pfizer have all had high profile setbacks with their CETP inhibitors and the class was more or less written off (Read more: Merck Will Not Seek Approval for CETP Inhibitor Anacetrapib).



CRL for AcelRxs Dsuvia: AcelRx Pharmaceuticalss ACRX shares plunged 59.8% with the company getting a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the FDA for Dsuvia (sufentanil sublingual tablet). The FDA said that it cannot approve the regulatory application in its current form and has asked for additional safety data. The agency has also asked the company to make certain changes to the Directions for Use to ensure the proper administration of the tablet. AcelRx has been asked to validate the same through a human factors study. AcelRx is looking to get Dsuvia approved for the reduction of moderate-to-severe acute pain and dosing errors associated with IV administration via its non-invasive single-dose applicator (SDA) in medically supervised settings.



Performance

Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return

Large Cap Pharmaceuticals Industry 5YR % Return

The NYSE ARCA Pharmaceutical Index gained 0.5% this week. Among major stocks, J&J is up 2.7% while Lilly declined 1.4%. Over the last six months, Bristol-Myers Squibb BMY was up 24.9% (See the last pharma stock roundup here: Mylan Up, Teva Down on Copaxone News, Lawmakers Question Allergan Deal).



What's Next in the Pharma World?



Aerie Pharmaceuticalss AERI Rhopressa will be evaluated by an FDA advisory panel for the treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension on October 13. The companys shares were up on favorable briefing documents.



J&J will be reporting Q3 earnings on October 17 (Read more: J&J to Kickstart Pharma Q3 Earnings: What's in Store?).



4 Stocks to Watch after the Massive Equifax Hack



Cybersecurity stocks spiked on recent news of a data breach affecting 143 million Americans. But which stocks are the best buy candidates right now? And what does the future hold for the cybersecurity industry?



Equifax is just the most recent victim. Computer hacking and identity theft are more common than ever. Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to inform Zacks.com readers about this $170 billion/year space. More importantly, it highlights 4 cybersecurity picks with strong profit potential.



Get the new Investing Guide now>>



Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report



Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Pfizer, Inc. (PFE) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Allergan PLC. (AGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Merck & Company, Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report



AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ACRX) : Free Stock Analysis Report



Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AERI) : Free Stock Analysis Report



To read this article on Zacks.com click here.



Zacks Investment Research
The logo is seen at the exhibition stand of Vauxhall ahead of the 87th International Motor Show at Palexpo in Geneva, Switzerland, March 6, 2017. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann (Reuters)

PARIS (Reuters) - French carmaker PSA <PEUP.PA> on Friday said it would cut about 400 jobs at Vauxhall's Ellesmere Port in Britain by the end of the year to improve the production facility's competitiveness.

PSA acquired the Opel and Vauxhall brands from General Motors Co <GM.N> in August, helping the carmaker leapfrog French rival Renault SA <RENA.PA> to become Europe's second-ranked carmaker by sales.

"Facing challenging European market conditions and a declining passenger car market, Vauxhall needs to adjust production volumes at its Ellesmere Port production facility to the current level of demand and to improve its performance, in order to protect its future," a PSA spokesman told Reuters.

The spokesman said the 400 job cuts - which amount to about a quarter of the facility's staff - would be carried out via a voluntary redundancy plan.

This and a move towards a single-shift operation will be discussed with employees representatives over a 45-day period.

PSA is committed to the Opel Astra plant at Ellesmere Port, the spokesman added, while pointing that current manufacturing costs there were "significantly higher" than those of the benchmark plants of the PSA Group in France.

PSA's Chief Executive Carlos Tavares had said last month that it was hard to decide upon the group's strategy for Vauxhall given lack of clarity over Britain's plans to leave the European Union.

The spokesman on Friday said PSA would be in a position to consider future investments once it has visibility on Britain's future trading relationship with the EU and once the plant's competitiveness has been addressed.

(Reporting by Gilles Guillaume; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)
Visitors are seen at the Saudi Aramco stand at the Middle East Process Engineering Conference & Exhibition in Manama, Bahrain, October 9, 2016. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed

By Saeed Azhar and David French

DUBAI/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Saudi Aramco is considering the sale of a stake to a Chinese investor as plans for its highly-anticipated international public offering are pushed beyond its 2018 target, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.

The initial public offering is expected to be the world's largest stock sale, and is a key component of the Saudi government's economic reform program which aims to diversify the desert kingdom away from its reliance on oil exports.

A private placement of shares in the state oil company to a Chinese investor is being evaluated as a precursor to the international IPO, according to two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity as the information was not public.

They declined to name the investor or how much of Aramco would be sold.

The move would provide Saudi Arabia with cash to help implement the National Transformation Program (NTP), as the reform package is formally known, according to one of the sources.

The NTP comprises a number of difficult economic adjustments for Saudi Arabia - including removing some state subsidies and raising taxes - that are aimed at taming huge budget deficits caused by lower oil prices.

Concerns about the impact of the austerity measures on the economy are rising. While data earlier this month showed the deficit was shrinking, the Saudi economy entered recession in the second quarter, consumer prices are falling and unemployment among Saudis is at 12.8 percent.

A Saudi Aramco spokesman said: "A range of options, for the public listing of Saudi Aramco, continue to be held under active review. No decision has been made and the IPO process remains on track."

LISTING

Aramco's dual listing on the Saudi stock market, Tadawul, and an international exchange had been earmarked for 2018 by the Saudi authorities - with stock markets in New York, London and Asia all vying for the offering.

A decision on which exchange would secure the offering has still not been made, with top members of the Saudi royal family preferring New York and Aramco's financial and legal advisers advocating London.

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Both venues have political issues which have caused the Saudis unease and delayed the location decision, according to a third source familiar with the matter.

The U.S. Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA), passed in September 2016, allowed lawsuits to proceed against the Saudi government claiming it had helped to plan the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and should pay damages to victims. Riyadh denies the allegations.

Meanwhile, London's markets regulator has been criticized for proposing new listing rules aimed at attracting state-controlled companies such as Aramco, which some U.K. industry groups have warned would weaken investor protection.

The third source added an international IPO beyond 2018 was still very much an option, while a Tadawul listing was on track for 2018, pointing to comments from senior Saudi officials, such as those made in Moscow earlier this month.

The Financial Times reported that Aramco had held talks about a private stake sale to foreign governments  including China  and other investors, amid growing concerns about the feasibility of an international listing.(http://on.ft.com/2gBheCT)

(Reporting by Saeed Azhar in Dubai and David French in New York. Additional Reporting by Tom Arnold in Dubai and Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Andrew Hay)
(Reuters) - Saudi Aramco is considering shelving plans for an international public offering in favour of a private share sale to world sovereign funds and institutional investors, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Talks for a private sale to foreign governments, including China, and other investors have gathered pace in recent weeks, according to the report. (http://on.ft.com/2gBheCT)

The company is still looking to list its shares on Saudi Arabia's Tadawul exchange next year if it pursues the private sale, the report said.

No final decision has yet been made and an international listing could still occur next year, the FT reported.

"A range of options, for the public listing of Saudi Aramco, continue to be held under active review. No decision has been made and the IPO process remains on track," a Saudi Aramco spokesman said.

Saudi Aramco had formally appointed JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N), Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and HSBC (HSBA.L) as international financial advisers for its initial public offering, sources familiar with the matter had told Reuters in March.

Both JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley declined to comment.

A plan to list Aramco in 2018 was on track, senior Saudi officials had said in Moscow earlier this month.

(Reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Martina D'Couto)
NASA is talking with Russia about establishing a joint space station in orbit around the moon. SpaceX and Blue Origin are both pinging NASA with suggestions that their (respective) rocket ships would be just dandy vessels to help build a moon base -- whether on the moon or in orbit around it.

Why all the sudden interest in moon bases and moon space stations, you ask?

In a word: water.

Image of Earth seen from a lunar sea

Gas and go -- to the stars

Water is something that rocket ships can use for fuel -- by splitting up the water molecules through electrolysis into hydrogen (a fuel) and oxygen (an oxidizer). (Cooled to a liquid and recombined in a rocket engine, liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX) undergo an exothermic reaction, generating energy and blasting out H2O as a propellant.)

In short, moon water is the sine qua non for turning Earth's first and favorite satellite into a floating gas station for interplanetary rocket ships.

Luckily for would-be cosmic explorers, it's starting to look like the moon does in fact have water -- a lot of it. An analysis of moon rocks brought back from the Apollo 15 and 17 missions in the 1970s, backed up by a new study of data recently received from satellite surveys of the moon, confirms that layers of volcanic rock deep within the moon (but minable) contain "high amounts" of water ice trapped in "glass beads." Indeed, says Brown University professor Ralph Milliken, lead author of the study, "[M]ost of the mantle of the moon may be 'wet'" and suitable for water extraction.

Why moon water is important

Since the 1960s, scientists have hypothesized that the deep recesses of lunar craters at the moon's poles, shielded from the sun, could contain deposits of water ice -- moon water in solid form. Problem is, if the poles are the only place to find water, this limits NASA's ability to situate its lunar bases, and makes getting to the water harder.

And that's not all. It costs a lot to bring water (or anything else) up from Earth's surface for use in space exploration -- as much as $35 million a ton. As Milliken explains: "Water is heavy and expensive to take from Earth to space, so any bit of water that you can get on the moon instead of bringing with you from Earth is a big deal and opens up possibilities for sustained human presence on the moon."

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Simply put, if the moon has water -- and if we can get at it -- then that makes everything in space a whole lot cheaper, a whole lot easier for taxpayers to afford, and a whole lot more attractive for commercial development.

And why that is important to investors

So how much water is on the moon, where is it specifically, how deep beneath the surface is it, and how difficult is it to mine and extract? These are the next questions to address. And as soon as early next year we could begin addressing them, when one lucky company is expected to win the Google Lunar XPRIZE for launching and landing a robot on the moon, there to beam back high-definition video of what it finds.

One of the contestants (with one of the better chances of winning) is privately owned Moon Express, which plans to try to load up a lander on a Rocket Lab Electron rocket and put it on the moon before the end of this year. And wouldn't you know it? One of the first paying projects Moon Express plans to undertake after winning the Lunar XPRIZE will be to carry a University of Maryland experiment to begin mapping the moon.

Assuming this and related explorations bear fruit, further down the road we could see publicly traded companies (i.e., the kinds you can invest in) getting into the act. Lockheed Martin and Boeing are hard at work building a lunar-capable Space Launch System to carry more equipment to the moon. Once they get there, opportunities may arise for such terrestrial mining experts as Caterpillar (mining equipment) and ExxonMobil (deep drilling) to begin prospecting for moon water to enable even deeper exploration of the solar system.

We could be witnessing the birth of a new space race, folks -- just as soon as someone strikes moon water.

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Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of ExxonMobil. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
BAGHDAD, Oct 14 (Reuters) - Tension flared on Saturday in the ethnically mixed Iraqi town of Tuz Khurmatu after a clash between Kurdish and Shi'ite Turkmen political parties divided over the independence of the Kurdistan region, security sources said on Saturday.

A dozen Kurdish families were displaced from the predominantly Turkmen district of Askari to Kurdish neighbourhoods of the town, after the two-hour clash in the early hours of the morning, the sources said.

The exchange of mainly automatic gunfire left no casualties, they said. It pitted members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan against Turkmen loyal to Shi'ite political groups ruling Iraq.

Tuz is located 75 kms (47 miles) south of the multi-ethnic oil-rich city of Kirkuk, held by the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and claimed by the central government of Baghdad.

Iranian-backed Shi'ite paramilitary groups known as Turkmen Mobilisation are deployed in the Turkmen neighborhood of Tuz, while Kurdish Asayish police control the Kurdish neighborhoods.

The Baghdad central government has taken a series of steps to isolate the autonomous Kurdish region since its overwhelming vote for independence in a Sept. 25 referendum, including banning international flights from going there.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has repeatedly denied any plan to go further and actually attack the territory, but the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has repeatedly accused Iraqi forces and Iranian-trained paramilitary groups deployed south and west of Kirkuk of bellicose intentions. Kurdish authorities said on Friday they had sent thousands more troops to Kirkuk to confront Iraqi military "threats", but also slightly pulled back defence lines around the disputed oil-producing area to ease tensions. The area from which the Peshmerga withdrew overnight on Thursday, Bashir and Taza, is populated mainly by Shi'ite Turkmen.

In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday the situation had the full attention of the United States, which was working to ensure it does not escalate.

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Kirkuk, a city of more than one million people, and Tuz, with a population of about 120,000, lie just outside the KRG territory but Peshmerga forces deployed there in 2014 when Iraqi security forces collapsed in the face of an Islamic State onslaught.

The Peshmerga deployment prevented Kirkuk's oilfields from falling into jihadist hands. They also built a defense line that runs across most of the Kurdish-held territory.

Kirkuk lies within the Kurdish defence line and Tuz is just on the outside. Shi'ite paramilitary groups are deployed opposite the Kurdish defense line in the region of Tuz. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Adrian Croft)
(Updates death toll)

By Heather Somerville

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Oct 14 (Reuters) - Thousands more Californians evacuated their homes on Saturday as fierce wildfires spread due to constantly shifting winds, and officials expected the official death toll of 38 to rise with hundreds of people still missing.

Thousands of firefighters were battling 16 major wildfires, some encompassing several smaller merged blazes, in areas north of San Francisco consumed nearly 214,000 acres (86,000 hectares) over seven days, or roughly 334 square miles, an area larger than New York City.

The 38 confirmed fatalities, including 20 in Sonoma County, make it the deadliest fire event in California history. Some 100,000 people have been forced from their homes, including 3,000 evacuated on Saturday from the city of Santa Rosa, about 50 miles (80 km) north of San Francisco, and another 250 from nearby Sonoma city. The fires have reduced many homes and businesses to piles of ash.

"It's an unwieldy beast right now," fire information officer Dennis Rein said at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa, the main staging area for the so-called Nuns Fire in Sonoma County, a wine-producing region.

For the picturesque Napa Valley town of Calistoga, the winds were a double-edged sword. The town was spared by hazardous winds when they shifted, Mayor Chris Canning said, though he warned that a resurgence in the winds could pose a new threat.

He said the town of roughly 5,000 people had been evacuated.

More than 10,000 firefighters are battling the fires, which have destroyed 5,700 buildings. At least a dozen Napa Valley and Sonoma County wineries were damaged or destroyed, throwing the state's wine industry and related tourism into disarray.

From the air, some 70 helicopters and large aircraft including a 747, two DC-10s and about a dozen air tankers doused flames across the sprawling affected area with fire retardant, officials said.

On the ground, prison inmates were helping firefighters - sometimes digging lines to help contain fires, other times preparing meals at command centers, always watched over by a guard.

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In an area largely dependent on immigrant farm labor, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they would temporarily suspend routine operations during the emergency, "except in the event of a serious criminal presenting a public safety threat," spokesman James Schwab said in a statement.

SHIFTING WINDS

Ground crews gained on the wildfires on Friday but drier weather and fast-changing winds complicated efforts on Saturday, sparking a new large wildfire in Lake County, officials said.

The Nuns Fire, which had killed at least one person, was only 10 percent contained with winds threatening more residential areas, Cal Fire spokesman Antonio Negrete said.

But the more deadly Tubbs Fire, which killed at least 17 people in Sonoma County, was 44 percent contained, which officials considered a victory.

"It's cautious optimism but it's optimism," Negrete said of the Tubbs Fire.

Cal Fire had estimated the fires would be contained by Oct. 20 but may need to revise that date because of the winds that kicked up, Rein said.

"It'll set us back a planning cycle. Everything is very dynamic," Rein said.

Whole neighborhoods of Santa Rosa have been reduced to landscapes of gray ash, smoldering debris and burned-out vehicles.

Some victims were asleep when flames engulfed their homes, and many survivors had only minutes to flee.

As parts of Santa Rosa were devastated, Calistoga, about 12 miles (20 km) to the northeast, faced hazardous winds that were forecast to push the Tubbs Fire toward town.

Canning, the mayor, said the shifting winds kept the flames at least two miles (3.2 km) from the city limit.

"If the winds shift and come back again, that's a big concern," he said in a telephone interview.

All but 12 of the city's 5,200 people heeded evacuation orders and left, Canning said, a remarkable level of participation that he attributed to television pictures showing the "utter devastation" in neighboring Santa Rosa.

"Nobody was confrontational," Canning said. "When the police or fire fighters knocked on doors, most people were already ready to go with their bags packed."

The fires' death toll surpassed the 29 deaths from the Griffith Park fire of 1933 in Los Angeles.

With 235 people still missing on Saturday in Sonoma County alone, and rubble from thousands of incinerated dwellings yet to be searched, authorities have said the number of fatalities from the North Bay fires would likely climb.

The year's wildfire season is one of the worst in history in the United States, with nearly 8.6 million acres (3.5 million hectares) burned, just behind 2012, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. (Reporting by Heather Somerville; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta, Keith Coffman and Jon Herskovitz; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Bill Trott and Leslie Adler)
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble talks to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin before IMF Governors family photo during the IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington, U.S., October 14, 2017. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas (Reuters)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned on Saturday against increasing protectionism and urged countries to work together more closely as he visited the United States for meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.

Schaeuble did not specifically name the United States but the U.S. administration has advocated a more protectionist approach under Trump's presidency, threatening to renegotiate or pull out of trade deals.

"We should all be worried about the weak growth of global trade and the increasing anti-free trade rhetoric," Schaeuble said according to the text of a speech he was due to give in Washington to the steering committee of the International Monetary Fund.

"We need more openness rather than less," he said, adding that protectionism damaged growth and urging countries to work together so more people can benefit from the advantages of trade.

Schaeuble said trade had helped millions of people get out of poverty and had ensured more stability and prosperity in many countries around the world.

He also said it was not clear when the next economic or financial crisis would happen so countries should prepare.

On monetary policy, he said: "Now is not the time for stimulating demand globally" and added that it would be better to implement structural reforms and solid fiscal policy to make the economy more resilient.

Schaeuble is due to become president of the lower house of the German parliament and step down as finance minister, freeing the post potentially for someone from another party - most likely the liberal Free Democrats (EDP).

Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives, of which Schaeuble is a member, are due to start coalition talks with the FDP and Greens next week.

(Reporting by Gernot Heller; Writing by Michelle Martin; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
President Donald Trump seemed to indicate in an interview on Wednesday that stock market gains reduce the national debt. They don't.

The president raised eyebrows in a sit-down with Fox News' Sean Hannity when he appeared to suggest that a record run for American markets is helping to reduce the United States' $20 trillion national debt. But that's not how it works. It would be like saying the sun is shining because it's Sunday -- sounds like they could be related, but they're not.

Here's Trump's full quote:

The country -- we took it over and owed over $20 trillion. As you know the last eight years, they borrowed more than it did in the whole history of our country. So they borrowed more than $10 trillion, right? And yet, we picked up $5.2 trillion just in the stock market. Possibly picked up the whole thing in terms of the first nine months, in terms of value. So you could say, in one sense, we're really increasing values. And maybe in a sense we're reducing debt. But we're very honored by it. And we're very, very happy with what's happening on Wall Street.

But growth in the stock market has no direct relationship to a decline in the national debt.

"Both of these are stocks of wealth, in some sense, one negative and one positive," said Marc Goldwein, senior policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "But one is the negative wealth of the government, and the other is the positive wealth, collectively, of basically everyone, or a subset of that wealth that's in the stock market. These are unrelated."

The national debt is the total accumulation of the federal government's budget deficits, the annual measure by which government spending exceeds revenue. According to the U.S. debt clock calculator, the national debt is currently more than $20.3 trillion.

Under former President Barack Obama, the national debt did about double, as Trump said, but as the Committee for a Responsible Budget says, the explanation of why is complicated.

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Some of the debt increase was already projected to occur before anything was signed by Obama, and the Great Recession caused hugged reductions in employment, wages and profits, which in turn resulted in reduced revenue and more automatic spending on items such as employment. Obama did sign laws worsening the debt situation, such as the 2009 stimulus and the extension of the Bush tax cuts. It is worth noting that those laws were written not by Obama but by Congress.

President Donald Trump.

The debt stands to rise under Trump as well. While he has laid out spending cuts in his proposed budget, he has promised to leave Social Security and Medicare untouched and up defense spending. The tax plan he is proposing would increase the debt.

"He does have some smart ideas with his budget, but when you add them all up...they're not enough to pay for the tax plan, let alone reduce the debt," Goldwein said.

Trump has made a habit of touting the stock market's rise as president and using it as a measure of his success. He apparently uses as his measure the Wilshire 5000, which tracks all of the stocks actively traded in the United States.

He's right that markets have done well since his election, but not, historically, the best. Trump ranks seventh in S&P 500 performance the first 11 months after his election, behind Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt (who beats him out twice), Bill Clinton, Herbert Hoover, George H.W. Bush and John F. Kennedy.

While what Trump is saying on the debt and the stock market, separately, is technically correct, tying them together doesn't make sense.

One could perhaps make a tenuous connection that capital gains and dividend taxes contribute to revenue, but it's hardly enough to reduce the deficit and, therefore, debt. Moreover, his tax plan is silent on capital gains.

Risks that the U.S. would default on its creditors if it were for some reason unable to pay off its debts (if, for example, Congress refuses to address the debt ceiling) would certainly rock markets. But that doesn't appear to be what Trump is talking about, either.

To be sure, this is not the first time the president, a Wharton graduate, appears to have confused financial concepts that seem or sound alike.

In an April 2016 interview, he claimed he would be able to get rid of the nation's entire debt, at that time $19 trillion, in a period of eight years by "renegotiating all of our deals, the big trade deals we're doing so badly on."

While speaking alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in, he appeared to conflate trade deficits with the budget deficit. "The United States has trade deficits with many, many countries, and we cannot allow that to continue...with South Korea right now, but we cannot allow that to continue," he said. "This is really a statement that I make about all trade: For many, many years the United States has suffered through massive trade deficits; that's why we have $20 trillion in debt."

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Editors' pick: Originally published Oct. 12.

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Wells Fargo & Co. shares fell the most in six months after the bank posted an unexpectedly large drop in third-quarter profit and executives signaled that the scandals of recent years are now clearly weighing on loan growth and driving up expenses.

Net income plunged 19% to $4.6 billion, reflecting not just the shrinking profit margin but a one-time cost of $1 billion to cover regulatory investigations into mortgage-underwriting practices prior to the 2008 financial crisis. Earnings per share were 84 cents, below the $1.02 average estimate of 28 analysts in a FactSet survey.

The company has been under pressure to prove it can maintain earnings growth following allegations by customers, regulators and former employees that it used overly aggressive sales practices -- including the creation of unauthorized customer accounts -- to boost account numbers and achieve business targets over the past decade.

Instead, Wells Fargo CFO John Shrewsberry, during a conference call with analysts on Friday, detailed how profit margins are shrinking, party due to increased costs to address regulators' concerns along with additional expenses for cybersecurity and data modernization. At the same time, Shrewsberry acknowledged, the beleaguered consumer bank's efforts to overhaul its sales strategy has led to a drop in the number of internal customer referrals for products like mortgages, home-equity loans and credit cards.

The stock tumbled 3.3% to $53.40 in New York Stock Exchange trading. The lingering impact of the scandal has pushed Wells Fargo's share price down this year, even as rivals like JPMorgan Chase & Co. , Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. have notched double-digit-percentage gains.

"We believe the consumer bank will be a drag on performance well into 2018 from prior aggressive sales tactics," Ken Leon, an analyst with CFRA Research, wrote in a note to clients on Friday, Oct. 13.

In September, the lender agreed to a $185 million settlement with federal and local regulators over the creation of more than 2 million unauthorized customer accounts from 2011 through 2015 by workers trying to meet their quotas. An expanded review that included 2009 and 2010 revealed as many as 1.5 million additional unauthorized accounts.

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This year, the company further conceded that it had erroneously charged some 490,000 car-loan customers for insurance they didn't need.

Tim Sloan, Wells Fargo's CEO, has been under pressure from investors, regulators and lawmakers to overhaul the bank's culture, in which branch staff were pressured to meet aggressive goals for sales growth and product referrals.

Wells Fargo's board of directors on Oct. 12, 2016, named Sloan to replace former CEO John Stumpf, who presided over the bank as many of the improper sales tactics were developed and deployed. A three-decade veteran of the bank, Sloan was called to testify in Washington before U.S. lawmakers on Oct. 3, and U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren called for him to be fired.

Sloan noted to investors on Friday's call that he's now been CEO for exactly a year and one day.

"Maybe two, I don't know," he said. "It seems like forever."

Revenue in the third quarter slipped by 2% to $21.9 billion, as fees from mortgage banking and other income declined, the bank said. At the same time, non-interest expenses climbed 8% to $14.4 billion.

The bank's "efficiency ratio" -- non-interest expenses divided by revenue, a sort of profit margin in reverse -- climbed to 66% during the quarter from 61% in the second quarter and 59% a year earlier.

Shrewsberry said the full-2017 efficiency ratio is likely to come in near the top end of a previously projected range of 60% to 61%. The bank still hopes to get the number down to 59% "at some point next year," he said.

"The reason why our 2017 efficiency ratio is now expected to be higher than we anticipated last quarter is due to lower-than-expected earning-asset growth and higher-than-expected expenses, primarily for cyber, regulatory initiatives and data modernization," he said.

Asked by one analyst when the bank might be able to safely assert that no more scandals are likely to be disclosed, Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan declined to answer.

"I can't commit to you that we've finished everything because things are still in progress," Sloan said. "It would be a mistake to put a stake in the ground and say everything's got to be done by a certain date, because then what happens is people might rush to get an answer. I don't want them to rush the answer. I want them to get the right answer."

Updated from 8:40 a.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 13, 2017

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A familiar kind of weird is returning to Turkmenistan.



President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedovs recent decrees seem like echoes from more than a decade ago, when his predecessor, Saparmurat Niyazov, was in power.



About 11 years after independence, Niyazov started raising the status of a body called Halk Maslahaty, a group numbering between 2,000 and 3,000 with representatives from various sectors of the government, the business world, state enterprises, and social organizations.



In Niyazovs case, the decision came after a reported attempt on his life in November 2002. Authorities apprehended many of the alleged perpetrators, but the details of the plot were never made clear. However, it appears to have involved killing Niyazov, then getting parliament to recognize a new leader.



The logic for boosting the powers of the Halk Maslahaty, eventually to a position higher than parliament, seemed to be that it would be difficult to assemble the more than 2,000 members quickly to make any decision, thus harder for a coup to receive official status from the completely compliant parliament.



Berdymukhammedov came to power at the end of 2006, shortly after Niyazov's death, and eliminated the Halk Maslahaty in 2008.



Now, about 11 years after he came to power, for reasons that are not clear, he is essentially recreating the body.



Berdymukhammedov already said after his reelection in February 2017 that the Elders Council would become the highest legislative body in the country; now he says younger colleagues will be admitted.



An anonymous, but clearly knowledgeable, author did a thorough job covering the new Peoples Council for Eurasia Net.



Berdymukhammedov is also shaking up national holidays.



Independence Day, which was coming up on October 27, is being moved to September 27.



That was the final day of the 10-day Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) that Turkmenistan hosted last month.



However, it seems that for this year, at least, Independence Day will be on October 27, as scheduled, as people throughout the country are being driven to stadiums for marching drills, or marshirovkas, as part of rehearsals for any major celebrations in Turkmenistan. But next year, Independence Day celebrations will remind people of the countrys glory on the day AIMAG was concluded.

Flag Day is being shifted from February 19, the day it has been marked since it became an official holiday in 1997, to May 18.

May 18 is Constitution Day; henceforth it will also be Flag Day.



February 19 was not only Flag Day, it was Niyazovs birthday.

No holiday will be marked on February 19 from now on.

Constitution Day was already a dual holiday as it also marked the birthday of legendary 18th century Turkmen poet Magtumguly.

Magtumgulys birthday is being moved -- from now on, it will be marked on June 27, which, by less than amazing coincidence, happens to be Berdymukhammedovs birthday.

Strangely, however, June 27 will not be a day off work.

The Soviet-era Victory Day, May 9, marking the end of World War II is now just a regular day in Turkmenistan.

Other holidays -- New Year's; International Womens Day; Navruz, the Day of Commemoration and National Mourning; October 6 (marking the anniversary of the devastating 1948 earthquake that hit the Ashgabat area); and Neutrality Day, December 12, remain as they were.

The shuffle of holidays seems reminiscent of the August 2002 decision, officially from the Halk Maslahaty, to rename the days of the week and months of the year, which was, of course, President Niyazovs idea, and something else Berdymukhammedov eliminated after coming to power.

In his recent remarks, Berdymukhammedov also made some impossible promises, such as spending a lot of money Turkmenistan does not currently have on boosting production of oil and natural gas, Turkmenistans major exports.

Its okay if he doesnt because Turkmenistan doesnt have customers for the oil and gas it produces right now.

Okay, at the Qishloq were used to weird and Turkmenistan.



Thats been going on for years.



But it used to be infrequent blasts of erratic or eccentric behavior.



Turkmenistan was normally the isolationist country its leadership wants it to be and it rarely generated any news.



Since 2016, Turkmenistan is a different country.



Strange decrees, reshuffling of officials, restructuring of the government, and antics by Berdymukhammedov are regular events lately.

RFE/RL Turkmen Service Director Farruh Yusupov contributed to this report

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.
YOKOHAMA, Japan, Oct. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first press briefing at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) highlighted new awards and innovations that encourage and support the treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies; these include the recognition of outstanding care teams, introduction of new guidelines for nurses and fostering the next generation of researchers.



The press conference began with a welcome message from Conference Co-Presidents Dr. Hisao Asamura and Dr. Keunchil Park, who have worked tirelessly to make this years conference in Yokohama a major success.

The first Cancer Care Team Award recognizes exceptional patient care

The IASLC Foundation is awarding its first-ever Cancer Care Team Award to multidisciplinary cancer care teams across the globe who go above and beyond to provide the highest-quality patient care. The award was proposed by Dr. Matthew Holman and his wife, Marilyn, a lung cancer survivor. Jill Feldman, a lung cancer survivor and advocate from the United States, introduced the award by telling her story and sharing why this award is particularly meaningful to her.

My team at Rush University has always been patient-centered and is so deserving of this award, along with the other awardees today, said Jill Feldman. Amazing things are possible when teams across disciplines work together to put the patient first. I am grateful to the IASLC Foundation for introducing an award that encourages this kind of extraordinary teamwork.

Teams at the following institutions were recognized with the award:

Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute (China)

Neotorax  Oncologia Dor (Brazil)

Instytut Gruzlicy i Chorob Puc w Warszawie (Poland); Klinika Chorob Wewnetrznych, Pneumonologii i Alergologii, Samodzielny Publiczny szpital Kliniczny w Warszawie (Poland); Centrum Onkologii  Instytut im. Marii Skodowskiej-Curie w Warszawie (Poland)

Johns Hopkins Hospital  Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (USA)

Rush University Medical Center (USA)

New guidelines for nurses provide best practices for immunotherapy treatment

At last years WCLC in Vienna, the IASLC Nursing and Allied Health Committee identified the need for educational support for those caring for lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. During todays press conference, Kim Rohan of the United States and Anne Fraser of New Zealand unveiled the resulting guidelines for immunotherapy. The guidelines are an invaluable resource to nurses and cover the life-threatening adverse effects patients may experience during immunotherapy treatment including gastrointestinal, dermatologic, endocrine, ocular, hepatic, neurological and pulmonary toxicities.

These guidelines are unique in that they are the result of international collaboration, said Anne Fraser. As immunotherapy treatment continues to be utilized more frequently, the guidelines will be essential to helping nurses understand and mitigate the potential side effects.

IASLC Mentorship Award participants speak to the value of mentorship

The IASLC International Mentorship Program is a professional development and education program for early-career thoracic malignancy-focused physicians and researchers from economically developing countries. Thirteen mentees were selected for the 2017 program, representing specialties from medical oncology to pulmonology and hailing from Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Thailand. Some of the worlds leading figures in lung cancer will provide mentorship and guidance during the WCLC, as well as host the mentees at their home institutions for a week.

A number of mentors shared their experiences with the program and underscored the value of mentorship, including Fiona Blackhall of the United Kingdom, Ross Camidge of the United States, Nir Peled of Israel and Mary OBrien of the United Kingdom.

For Prof. Blackhall, the benefits of mentorship include the ability to inspire the next generation of oncologists and cancer researchers, serve as a female role model in medicine and highlight areas of unmet need in lung cancer research. Prof. Peled found that there were mutual benefits of working with his mentee, as he has been able to enlarge his team network. Dr. Camidge, who is based in Denver, discussed his long-distance collaboration with his mentee, Harry Ren of China. They jointly diagnosed a patient who then traveled to Denver for a clinical trial, demonstrating the value of global collaboration.

Mary OBrien also spoke to why mentorship is so critical for young professionals in the field. Medicine is a profession traditionally taught as an apprenticeship, learning from and watching senior doctors. Medicine has changed and much is not taught through books and other sources of information. We need to remember the power of human contact. A strong mentorship scheme will bring the best out of young doctors, talents that are both obvious and hidden, said Dr. OBrien.

Livestreams of the daily press conferences are available here.

About the WCLC

The World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) is the worlds largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting over 6,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to disseminate the latest scientific achievements; increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer; and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. Organized under the theme of Synergy to Conquer Lung Cancer, the conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit wclc2017.iaslc.org.

About the IASLC

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 6,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.

Contacts:

Hillary Wasserman

Senior Associate

HWasserman@GroupGordon.com

+1 732-778-1896

Becky Bunn, MSc

Public Relations Manager

Becky.Bunn@IASLC.org

+1 720-254-9509
serbiano wrote:

Columnist: George Orwells book 1984 has exercised much influence on a great number of this newspapers readers. One thousand readers were surveyed and asked to name the one book that had the most influence on their lives. The book chosen most often was the Bible; 1984 was second.



The answer to which one of the following questions would most help in evaluating the columnists argument?





A. How many books had each person surveyed read?



B. How many people chose books other than 1984?



C. How many people read the columnists newspaper?



D. How many books by George Orwell other than 1984 were chosen?



E. How many of those surveyed had actually read the books they chose?

OFFICIAL EXPLANATION

Number of people surveyed = 1000



Number of people naming the Bible as the most influential book = 999

Number of people naming 1984 as the most influential book = 1

Answer choice (B): This is the correct answer

First try the response, 999. In this case, only one person selected 1984 as the most influential book, and the argument is greatly weakened.



Next try the response, 501. In this instance, 499 people selected 1984 as the most influential book and the conclusion is strengthened (the other 501 people would have selected the Bible). Note that you cannot try a number larger than 501 because that would mean that the Bible was not named most often.

The conclusion of the argument is the first sentence: George Orwells book 1984 has exercised much influence on a great number of this newspapers readers. The basis for this conclusion is that 1984 was the second most named book in a survey about influential books. The argument contains a serious error: just because 1984 came in second in the survey does not mean that a great number of readers selected it as influential. To illustrate this proposition, consider the following example:In this example, 1984 has come in second, but no one would say this second place finish supports a conclusion that 1984 has exercised much influence on a great number of this newspapers readers. You can expect the correct answer to address this issue.Answer choice (A): The survey in the argument asks readers to name the one book with the most influence in their lives; the number of books read does not affect this answer. To apply the Variance Test, try opposite answers of 1 and a large number, say 10,000. These numbers will not alter the evaluation of the argument, and thus this answer is incorrect., but it can be difficult since the wording is a bit unusual. The question is intended to reveal how many people selected 1984 relative to the other choices, and this addresses the issue raised in the analysis of the stimulus. Consider how the variance test works for this answer choice:Because the varied responses produce different evaluations of the argument, this answer is correct. Answer choice (C): This answer is not relevant to the columnists argument. Apply the Variance Test to disprove this answer by using opposite answers of 0 and a very large number, such as 1 million.Answer choice (D): Because the argument is about Orwells 1984, other Orwell books chosen by the readers have no impact on the argument. Apply the Variance Test, using opposite answers of 0 and a small number such as 10 (Orwell wrote dozens of essays, but not dozens of books).Answer choice (E): The survey in the argument addresses influence, not the actual reading of the book. A person might be influenced by a book like the Bible through church teachings, etc. without actually having read the book. To apply the Variance Test, try opposite answers of 0 and 1000._________________
sdrandom1 wrote:

According to a survey of graduating medical students conducted by Association of American Medical College, minority graduates are nearly four times more likely than are other graduates in planning to practice in socioeconomically deprived areas.





(A) minority graduates are nearly four times more likely than are other graduates in planning to practice



(B) minority graduates are nearly four times more likely than other graduates who plan on practicing



(C) minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to plan on practicing



(D) it is nearly four times more likely that minority graduates rather than other graduates will plan to practice



(E) it is nearly four times as likely for minority graduates than other graduates to plan to practice





Meaning is crucial to solving this problem:

Concepts tested here: Meaning + Comparison + Verb Forms + Idioms

A:

B:

C:

Correct.

D:

E:

Hence, C is the best answer choice.

Dear Friends,Here is a detailed explanation to this question-Understanding the intended meaning is key to solving this question; the intended core meaning of this sentence is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas. The infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing") to refer to the purpose/intent of an action. Comparison must always be made between similar elements. as A as B is a correct, idiomatic construction.This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "than are other graduates in planning"; the construction of this phrase incoherently implies that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to exist in that they plan to practice in socioeconomically deprived areas; the intended meaning is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas. Further, Option A uses the present participle ("verb+ing" - "planning" in this sentence) to refer to the intent of the action "are...more likely"; please remember, the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb") is preferred over the present participle ("verb+ing" - "planning" in this sentence) to refer to the purpose/intent of an action.This answer choice incorrectly compares the verb phrase "minority graduates are" to the noun phrase "other graduates who plan on...areas", leading to the illogical meaning that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely to exist as other graduates who plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas; the intended meaning is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas; please remember, a comparison must always be made between similar elements.This answer choice uses the phrase "as likely as other graduates to plan", correctly comparing the verb phrase "minority graduates are" and "other graduates (are)", and thus conveying the intended meaning - that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas. Further, Option C correctly uses the idiomatic construction "as A as B". Moreover, Option C uses the infinitive verb form ("to + base form of verb" - "to + plan" in this sentence) to refer to the intent of the action "are nearly four times as likely". Besides, Option C is free of any awkwardness or redundancy.This answer choice alters the meaning of the sentence through the phrase "more likely...rather than other graduates"; the construction of this phrase leads to an incoherent meaning; the intended meaning is that minority graduates are nearly four times as likely as other graduates to plan on practicing in socioeconomically deprived areas. Further, Option D uses the passive voice construction "it is nearly four times more likely", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.This answer choice incorrectly uses the unidiomatic construction "as A than B"; please remember, "as A as B" is the correct, idiomatic construction. Further, Option E uses the passive voice construction "it is nearly four times more likely", leading to awkwardness and redundancy.All the best!Team_________________
A serial home burglar has been arrested in Imo state and he is a teenager who is in JJS 3! He claimed he is stealing to pay his junior WAEC fee.

The Imo state police have arrested 19-year-old serial burglary suspect, Chidiebere Okpara at Obodoukwu, Ideato north local government area of the state.

Okpara was arrested by the operatives of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Akokwa Annex, led by its commander, Banjoko Idahosa.

The teenager who belongs to a gang that specialises in burgling houses that the occupants are not around has been on the wanted list of the police for a time being. Okpara and his gang robbed in the night when the houses is empty or in the day time when the occupants would have gone to work.

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When Punch correspondent queried him on why he took to burgling peoples houses at his young age,the teenager said that he was doing it: to raise money for his junior West African School Certificate Examination.

The police alleged the teenager and his accomplice Obinna, who is on the run, broke into peoples houses, stole their properties and sold them at giveaway prices.

According to a police source: The boy is a notorious burglar. Okpara and Obinna have been on our list for a long time now. They had a way of evading arrest. But this time, we were able to nab him while many of the stolen property have been recovered.

One of the victims of Okpara and Obinna menace is one Egeonu Nwachukwu in Obodoukwu where they allegedly burgled his house and made away with a plasma television, DVD multiplayer set, gas cooker with burner and 20 plates were stolen.

The teenager and his gang also allegedly stole one standing fan, one generator valued at N75,000, one DVD, one gas cooker and burner, valued at N25,000.

The victim came back home and met his house empty. Everything in the house was carted away. The suspect would steal in the dead of the night when the owner of the house was not at home or around noon when people must have gone to work, the police said.

READ ALSO: Man blesses Nigerian gospel artist who lost his job with cash gift of N1m

Okpara and his gang members were alleged to be expert in using pliers to open doors to houses. The police have documented the crime and prepare their papers for them to be taken to court for trial.

Are this not the future leaders of Nigeria?

Would you rather have money or be poor and have a good family? - on Legit.ng TV below:

Source: Legit.ng
An alleged appearance of Holy Mary at Benin City, Edo state has stirred up talks on the net.

An image of the Holy Mary is said to have appeared to some Catholic faithfuls in Benin City, Edo state.

According to a Facebook post on the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, Cbcn, profile page the Holy Mary appeared to Catholic women during a national Marian Congress on Friday, October 13, 2017.

The CBCN Facebook administrator shared photos of the epic event writing that a similar occurrence happened 100 years ago at Fatima, Portugal.

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Holy Mary appears in Edo state during Catholic national congress. Image courtesy: Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Facebook

The caption of the photos from the strange occurrence reads:

Holy Mary appears in Benin, Edo state, during Catholic national congress. Image courtesy: Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Facebook

History has repeated itself here in Benin City, Nigeria during the National Marian Congress. Just like what happened 100 years ago at Fatima, Portugal reoccurred on 13th October, 2017. What a great miracle from our mother Mary, Our Lady of Fatima...

READ ALSO: UAE mosque renamed Mary, the mother of Jesus

Legit.ng had earlier reported how a 14-year-old Portuguese traveller boy reportedly told his family that he had a vision of the Holy Mary in May.

According to the boy, Blessed Mary told him that she would reappear at the Knock Shrine in County Mayo, Ireland, at 3pm on Saturday, July 1. His family shared the details on social media.

Millions believe that the Holy Mary appeared at the Knock Shrine in 1879. Therefore, many worshippers took the boy's vision seriously and flocked the shrine on Saturday. And right on cue, they believe that the Blessed lady did appear, although it is difficult to tell from pictures shared online.

Image of Jesus Christ appears in Ikorodu Church - on Legit.ng TV below:

Source: Legit.ng
Zakka was sentenced to a decade in prison for espionage-related charges.

His son is urging President of Lebanon Michel Aoun to intervene in the situation and get his father released from jail. Aoun has previously made it clear that he wants to ensure Lebanese interests are a priority, so now is his chance to do just that.

Zakka, who endorsed Aoun, has been on a hunger strike for two weeks and is suffering from a medical condition that needs attention.

His son said that his father went to Iran on his Lebanese passport and highlights that he has no other nationality.

He wrote to President Aoun to appeal to his country to take responsibility and restore the dignity of Lebanese citizens outside their country so the people of Lebanon can regain confidence in their country, state and Lebanese passport.

Lebanon should look after its citizens that have been arrested outside the country, but it has so far failed to even comment.

Zakka lived in Washington in the United States and was in charge of an Arab IT consortium. He went to Iran in September 2015 to participate in the International Conference on the Role of Women in Sustainable Development.

He was leaving for Tehran airport on 18th September 2015, and as he was leaving his hotel, he went missing. His whereabouts were unknown until almost two months later when it was reported in Iranian media that he was being held by Irans notorious Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).

The Iranian media reported that he was an asset of the United States with links to the military and intelligence communities. It reported that Zakka had plans to organise rallies in Iran campaigning for internet freedom in the country.

However, it did not report that Zakka was invited by the Iranian government to speak at the conference. Nor that his visa had been issued by the Iranian embassy in Beirut.

After being in jail for a year, he was found guilty of espionage and handed a sentence of a decade in prison and a fine of $4.2 million.

The IRGC has arrested a number of people with ties to the West. There have been several people arrested on very vague charges like cooperating with foreign governments. The authorities are unable to provide evidence of any links or espionage, but they are imprisoned nevertheless.

Even worse, these people are very badly mistreated in prison and they are subject to harsh interrogations and torture. They are deprived of due-process, essential medical care, and contact with their families.

Earlier this month, the US Senate Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution urging Iran to release US citizens and permanent residents that are being held there, including Zakka.

Other foreign detainees include: Xiyue Wang, a Chinese-American history student at Princeton; Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, an Iranian-Canadian who was part of the Iranian nuclear negotiation team; Siamak Namazi, a businessman, and his retired father, Baquer; Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian charity worker; and Kamal Foroughi, a 78-year-old British-Iranian.
This is one step in President Trumps campaign to address the issues that are not addressed in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and asserted in his speech on Friday that the agreement is no longer in line with the interests of the United States.

The IRGC is a military unit that supports the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. An official described the unit as central to Irans goal of becoming the worlds foremost state sponsor of terror.

Trump said that the sanctions are very much overdue and vowed to curb Irans support for terrorism as well as its support of proxies and militias.

He said that the IRGC has hijacked a very large part of the economy of Iran and pointed out that it seized massive religious endowments to fund war and terror abroad.

I am authorizing the Treasury Department to further sanction the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for its support for terrorism and to apply sanctions to its officials, agents and affiliates.

Trump urged allies of the United States to do the same and accompany him in making sure that strong actions are employed to curb the Iranian regimes destabilisation and its dangerous behaviour. He recommended thorough sanctions outside the Iran deal that target the regimes ballistic missile program in support for terrorism and all of its destructive activities, of which there are many.

Iran has played, and continues to play, a significant role in the Syrian civil war where the IRGC is propping up Syrian President Bashar al Assad and his regime, as well as providing massive support to terrorist groups such as the Lebanese Hezbollah and Hamas in Palestinian territories.

Although the Treasury Department did not designate the IRGC itself as a terrorist organisation, it has sanctioned three Iran-based entities and one China-based entity for its support of the countrys military or its IRGC.

The Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin urged the private sector to take into account that the IRGC operates in a large part of the economy of Iran. He warned that those who carry out transactions with IRGC-controlled companies do so at great risk.

Despite threats made weeks ago about the United States abandoning the deal, Iran has claimed that it remains committed to the deal. The President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, confirmed his countrys commitment to the nuclear deal, and added that it will continue to be for as long as Tehrans interests are served.

Ironically, he said that the terrorist IRGC will continue its fight against regional terrorists.

Trumps move has been praised by many leaders. Irans rival Saudi Arabia said in a statement that the kingdom which once supported the deal, is concerned that it does not limit Irans proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, nor does it address its destabilisation of the Middle East and its support of terrorism.
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Equifax Inc. provides information solutions and human resources business process automation outsourcing services for businesses, governments, and consumers. The company operates through three segments: Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions (USIS), and International. The Workforce Solutions segment offers employment, income, criminal history, and social security number verification services, as well as payroll-based transaction, employment tax management, and identity theft protection products. The USIS segment provides consumer and commercial information services, such as credit information and credit scoring, credit modeling and portfolio analytics, locate, fraud detection and prevention, identity verification, and other consulting; mortgage services; financial marketing services; identity management services; credit monitoring products; and online information, decisioning technology solutions, as well as portfolio management, mortgage reporting, and consumer credit information services. The International segment offers information service products, which include consumer and commercial services, such as credit and financial information, and credit scoring and modeling; and credit and other marketing products and services, as well as offers information, technology, and other services to support debt collections and recovery management. The company serves customers in financial services, mortgage, employers, consumer, commercial, telecommunication, retail, automotive, utility, brokerage, healthcare, and insurance industries, as well as state, federal, and local governments. It operates in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil, the Republic of Ireland, Russia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The company was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.
Principal Financial Group, Inc. provides retirement, asset management, and insurance products and services to businesses, individuals, and institutional clients worldwide. The company operates through Retirement and Income Solutions, Principal Global Investors, Principal International, and U.S. Insurance Solutions segments. The Retirement and Income Solutions segment provides a portfolio of asset accumulation products and services for retirement savings and income. It offers products and services for defined contribution plans, including 401(k) and 403(b) plans, defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified executive benefit plans, employee stock ownership plans, equity compensation, and pension risk transfer services; individual retirement accounts; investment only products; and mutual funds, individual variable annuities, and bank products. The Principal Global Investors segment provides equity, fixed income, real estate, and other alternative investments, as well as asset allocation, stable value management, and other structured investment strategies. The Principal International segment offers pension accumulation products and services, mutual funds, asset management, income annuities, and life insurance accumulation products, as well as voluntary savings plans in Brazil, Chile, Mexico, China, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, India, and Southeast Asia. The U.S. Insurance Solutions segment provides specialty benefits, such as group dental and vision insurance, group life insurance, and group and individual disability insurance, as well as administers group dental, disability, and vision benefits; and individual life insurance products comprising universal, variable universal, indexed universal, and term life insurance products in the United States. It also offers insurance solutions for small and medium-sized businesses and their owners, as well as executives. Principal Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1879 and is based in Des Moines, Iowa.
The following companies are subsidiares of PepsiCo: Alimentos Quaker Oats y Compania Limitada, Alimentos del Istmo S.A., Amavale Agricola Ltda., Anderson Hill Insurance Limited, Asia Bottlers Limited, BAESA Capital Corporation Ltd., BFY Brands, BFY Brands LLC, BFY Brands Limited, BUG de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Balmoral Industries LLC, Bare Foods Co., Barrhead LLC, Be & Cheery, Beaman Bottling Company, Bebidas Sudamerica S.A., Beech Limited, Bell Taco Funding Syndicate, Bendler Investments II Ltd, Bendler Investments S.a r.l, Beverage Services Limited, Beverages Foods & Service Industries Inc., Bishkeksut OJSC, Blaue NC S. de R.L. de C.V., Blue Cloud Distribution Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arizona Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Arkansas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Colorado Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Florida Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Georgia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Illinois Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Indiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Iowa Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Kentucky Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Louisiana Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Minnesota Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Mississippi Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Missouri Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nebraska Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Nevada Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of North Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Ohio Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Oklahoma Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Pennsylvania Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of South Carolina Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Tennessee Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Texas Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Virginia Inc., Blue Cloud Distribution of Wisconsin Inc., Blue Ridge Sales LLC, Bluebird Foods Limited, Bluecan Holdings Unlimited Company, Bokomo Zambia Limited, Bolsherechensky Molkombinat JSC, Boquitas Fiestas LLC, Boquitas Fiestas S.R.L., Bottling Group Financing LLC, Bottling Group Holdings LLC, Bottling Group LLC, Bronte Industries Ltd, C & I Leasing Inc., CB Manufacturing Company Inc., CEME Holdings LLC, CMC Investment Company, Caroni Investments LLC, Centro-Mediterranea de Bebidas Carbonicas PepsiCo S.L., Ceres Fruit Juices Pty Ltd, ChampBev Inc., China Concentrate Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Chipsy International for Food Industries S.A.E., Chipsy for Food Industries S.A.E., Chitos Internacional y Cia Ltda, Cipa Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cipa Nordeste Industrial de Produtos Alimentares Ltda., Cocina Autentica Inc., Comercializadora CMC Investment y Compania Limitada, Comercializadora Nacional SAS Ltda., Comercializadora PepsiCo Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., Compania de Bebidas PepsiCo S.L., Concentrate Holding Uruguay Pte. Ltd., Concentrate Manufacturing Singapore Pte. Ltd., Confiteria Alegro S. de R.L. de C.V., Copella Fruit Juices Limited, Copper Beech International LLC, Corina Snacks Limited, Corporativo Internacional Mexicano S. de R.L. de C.V., CytoSport Holdings Inc., CytoSport Inc., Davlyn Realty Corporation, Defosto Holdings Limited, Desarrollo Inmobiliario Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Dilexis S.A., Donon Holdings Limited, Drinkfinity USA Inc., Drinkstation Inc., Drinkstation Innovation Co. Ltd., Drinkstation Limited, Dutch Snacks Holding S.A. de C.V., Duyvis Production B.V., EPIC Enterprises Inc., Echo Bay Holdings Inc., Elaboradora Argentina de Cereales S.R.L., Enter Logistica LLC, Environ at Inverrary Partnership, Environ of Inverrary Inc., Eridanus Investments S.a r.l, Evercrisp Snack Productos de Chile S.A., FL Transportation Inc., FLI Andean LLC, FLI Colombia LLC, FLI Snacks Andean GP LLC, Fabrica PepsiCo Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Fabrica de Productos Alimenticios Rene y Cia S.C.A., Fairlight International SRL, Far East Bottlers Hong Kong Limited, Food Concepts Pioneer Ltd., Forest Akers Nederland B.V., Forty-Six Peaks Holding Inc., Fovarosi Asvanyviz es Uditoipari Zartkoruen Mukodo Reszvenytarsasag, Freshwater International B.V., Frito Lay Gida Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Frito Lay Poland Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay Sp. z o.o., Frito Lay de Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Frito-Lay Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Frito-Lay Dip Company Inc., Frito-Lay Dominicana S.A., Frito-Lay Global Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Inc., Frito-Lay Investments B.V., Frito-Lay Manufacturing LLC, Frito-Lay Netherlands Holding B.V., Frito-Lay North America Inc., Frito-Lay Sales Inc., Frito-Lay Trading Company Europe GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company GmbH, Frito-Lay Trading Company Poland GmbH, Frito-Lay Trinidad Unlimited, Fruko Mesrubat Sanayi Limited Sirketi, GB Czech LLC, GB International Inc., GB Russia LLC, GB Slovak LLC, GMP Manufacturing Inc., Gambrinus Investments Limited, Gamesa LLC, Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Gas Natural de Merida S. A. de C. V., Gatorade Puerto Rico Company, General Bottlers of Hungary Inc., Golden Grain Company, Goveh S.R.L., Grayhawk Leasing LLC, Green Hemlock International LLC, Grupo Frito Lay y Compania Limitada, Grupo Gamesa S. de R.L. de C.V., Grupo Mabel, Grupo Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Gulkevichskiy Maslozavod JSC, Hangzhou Baicaowei Corporate Management Consulting Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co, Hangzhou Haomusi Food Co. Ltd., Hangzhou Tao Dao Technology Co. Ltd., Health Warrior, Health Warrior Inc., Heathland LP, Helioscope Limited, Hillbrook Inc., Hillgrove Inc., Hillwood Bottling LLC, Hogganfield Limited Partnership, Holding Company "Opolie" JSC, Homefinding Company of Texas, Hudson Valley Insurance Company, IC Equities Inc., IZZE Beverage Co., Inmobiliaria Interamericana S.A. De C.V., Integrated Beverage Services Bangladesh Limited, Integrated Foods & Beverages Pvt. Ltd., International Bottlers Management Co. LLC, International KAS Aktiengesellschaft, Inversiones Borneo S.R.L., Inversiones PFI Chile Limitada, Inviting Foods Holdings Inc., Inviting Foods LLC, KAS Anorthosis S.a r.l, KAS S.L., KFC, Kevita Inc., Kinvara LLC, Kungursky Molkombinat JSC, Larragana S.L., Latin American Holdings Ltd., Latin American Snack Foods ApS, Latin Foods International LLC, Lebedyansky, Lebedyansky Holdings LLC, Lebedyansky LLC, Limited Liability Company "Sandora", Linkbay Limited, Lithuanian Snacks UAB, Mabel, Marbo Product d.o.o. Beograd, Marbo d.o.o. Laktasi, Matudis - Comercio de Produtos Alimentares Limitada, Matutano - Sociedade de Produtos Alimentares Lda., Mid-America Improvement Corporation, Mountainview Insurance Company Inc., Muscle Milk, NCJV LLC, New Bern Transport Corporation, New Century Beverage Company LLC, Noble Leasing LLC, Northeast Hot-Fill Co-op Inc., Office at Solyanka LLC, Onbiso Inversiones S.L., One World Enterprises LLC, One World Investors Inc., P-A Barbados Bottling Company LLC, P-A Bottlers Barbados SRL, P-Americas LLC, PAS Luxembourg S.a r.l, PAS Netherlands B.V., PBG Canada Holdings II LLC, PBG Canada Holdings Inc., PBG Cyprus Holdings Limited, PBG Investment Partnership, PBG Midwest Holdings S.a r.l, PBG Soda Can Holdings S.a r.l, PCBL LLC, PCNA Manufacturing Inc., PR Beverages Cyprus Holding Limited, PR Beverages Cyprus Russia Holding Limited, PRB Luxembourg S.a r.l, PRS Inc., PSAS Inversiones LLC, PSE Logistica S.R.L., PT Quaker Indonesia, Papas Chips S.A., Pei N.V., Pep Trade LLC, Pepsi B.V., Pepsi Beverages Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bottling Group Global Finance LLC, Pepsi Bottling Group GmbH, Pepsi Bottling Group Hoosiers B.V., Pepsi Bottling Holdings Inc., Pepsi Bugshan Investments S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Colombia Ltda, Pepsi Cola Egypt S.A.E., Pepsi Cola Panamericana S.R.L., Pepsi Cola Servis Ve Dagitim Limited Sirketi, Pepsi Cola Trading Ireland, Pepsi Logistics Company Inc., Pepsi Northwest Beverages LLC, Pepsi Overseas Investments Partnership, Pepsi Promotions Inc., Pepsi-Cola Advertising and Marketing Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bermuda Limited, Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Holding C.V., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company Of St. Louis Inc., Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company of Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach LLC, Pepsi-Cola Company, Pepsi-Cola Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Pepsi-Cola Far East Trade Development Co. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Finance LLC, Pepsi-Cola General Bottlers Poland Sp. z o.o., Pepsi-Cola Industrial da Amazonia Ltda., Pepsi-Cola International Cork, Pepsi-Cola International LLC, Pepsi-Cola International Limited, Pepsi-Cola International Limited U.S.A., Pepsi-Cola International Private Limited, Pepsi-Cola Korea Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Management and Administrative Services Inc., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Company Of Uruguay S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing International Limited, Pepsi-Cola Manufacturing Mediterranean Limited, Pepsi-Cola Marketing Corp. Of P.R. Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mediterranean Ltd., Pepsi-Cola Metropolitan Bottling Company Inc., Pepsi-Cola Mexicana Holdings LLC, Pepsi-Cola Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Pepsi-Cola National Marketing LLC, Pepsi-Cola Operating Company Of Chesapeake And Indianapolis, Pepsi-Cola Sales and Distribution Inc., Pepsi-Cola Technical Operations Inc., Pepsi-Cola Thai Trading Co. Ltd., Pepsi-Cola de Honduras S.R.L., Pepsi-Cola of Corvallis Inc., PepsiAmericas Nemzetkozi Szolgaltato Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, PepsiCo ANZ Holdings Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Alimentos Antioquia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Colombia Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Ecuador Cia. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos Z.F. Ltda., PepsiCo Alimentos de Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Amacoco Bebidas Do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCo Asia Research & Development Center Company Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Cyprus Limited, PepsiCo Australia Financing Limited Partnership, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 1 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Partner 2 LLC, PepsiCo Australia Financing Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Australia Holdings Pty Limited, PepsiCo Australia International, PepsiCo Austria Services GmbH, PepsiCo Azerbaijan Limited Liability Company, PepsiCo BeLux BV, PepsiCo Beverage Sales LLC, PepsiCo Beverage Singapore Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Beverages Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Beverages International Limited, PepsiCo Beverages Italia Societa' A Responsabilita' Limitata, PepsiCo Canada Finance LLC, PepsiCo Canada Holdings ULC, PepsiCo Canada Investment ULC, PepsiCo Canada ULC, PepsiCo Captive Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Caribbean Inc., PepsiCo China Limited, PepsiCo Consulting Polska Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo De Bolivia S.R.L., PepsiCo Del Paraguay S.R.L., PepsiCo Deutschland GmbH, PepsiCo Eesti AS, PepsiCo Euro Bermuda Limited, PepsiCo Euro Finance Antilles B.V., PepsiCo Europe Support Center S.L., PepsiCo Finance Americas Company, PepsiCo Finance Antilles A N.V., PepsiCo Finance Antilles B N.V., PepsiCo Finance South Africa Proprietary Limited, PepsiCo Financial Shared Services Inc., PepsiCo Food & Beverage Holdings Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo Foods A.I.E., PepsiCo Foods China Company Limited, PepsiCo Foods Group Pty Ltd, PepsiCo Foods Guangdong Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Nigeria Limited, PepsiCo Foods Private Limited, PepsiCo Foods Sichuan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Taiwan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Foods Vietnam Company, PepsiCo France SAS, PepsiCo Global Business Services India LLP, PepsiCo Global Business Services Poland Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Global Holdings Limited, PepsiCo Global Investments B.V., PepsiCo Global Investments S.a r.l, PepsiCo Global Mobility LLC, PepsiCo Global Real Estate Inc., PepsiCo Global Trading Solutions Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Golden Holdings Inc., PepsiCo Group Finance International B.V., PepsiCo Group Holdings International B.V., PepsiCo Group Spotswood Holdings S.a r.l, PepsiCo Gulf International FZE, PepsiCo Hellas Single Member Industrial and Commercial Societe Anonyme, PepsiCo Holding de Espana S.L., PepsiCo Holdings, PepsiCo Holdings LLC, PepsiCo Holdings Toshkent LLC, PepsiCo Hong Kong LLC, PepsiCo Iberia Servicios Centrales S.L., PepsiCo India Holdings Private Limited, PepsiCo India Sales Private Limited, PepsiCo Internacional Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., PepsiCo International Hong Kong Limited, PepsiCo International Limited, PepsiCo International Pte Ltd., PepsiCo Investments Europe I B.V., PepsiCo Investments Ltd., PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company, PepsiCo Japan Co. Ltd., PepsiCo Light B.V., PepsiCo Logistyka Sp. z o.o., PepsiCo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., PepsiCo Management Services SAS, PepsiCo Manufacturing A.I.E., PepsiCo Max B.V., PepsiCo Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo Nederland B.V., PepsiCo Nordic Denmark ApS, PepsiCo Nordic Finland Oy, PepsiCo Nordic Norway AS, PepsiCo Nutrition Trading DMCC, PepsiCo One B.V., PepsiCo Overseas Corporation, PepsiCo Overseas Financing Partnership, PepsiCo Panimex Inc, PepsiCo Products B.V., PepsiCo Products FLLC, PepsiCo Puerto Rico Inc., PepsiCo Sales Inc., PepsiCo Sales LLC, PepsiCo Services Asia Ltd., PepsiCo Services CZ s.r.o., PepsiCo Services LLC, PepsiCo Twist B.V., PepsiCo UK Pension Plan Trustee Limited, PepsiCo Ventures B.V., PepsiCo Wave Holdings LLC, PepsiCo World Trading Company Inc., PepsiCo Y LLC, PepsiCo de Argentina S.R.L., PepsiCo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PepsiCo do Brasil Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., PepsiCo do Brasil Ltda., PepsiCola Interamericana de Guatemala S.A., Pet Iberia S.L., Pete & Johnny Limited, Pine International LLC, Pine International Limited, Pinstripe Leasing LLC, Pioneer Food Group Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Groceries Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Group Ltd., Pioneer Foods Holdings Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods Pty Ltd, Pioneer Foods UK Ltd, Pioneer Foods Wellingtons Pty Ltd, Pipers Crisps Limited, PlayCo Inc., Pop corners, PopCorners Holdings Inc., Portfolio Concentrate Solutions Unlimited Company, Premier Nutrition Trading L.L.C., Prestwick LLC, Prev PepsiCo Sociedade Previdenciaria, Productos Alimenticios Rene LLC, Productos S.A.S. C.V., Productos SAS Management B.V., Punch N.V., Punica Getranke GmbH, Q O Puerto Rico Inc., QFL OHQ Sdn. Bhd., QTG Development Inc., QTG Services Inc., Quadrant - Amroq Beverages S.R.L., Quaker Development B.V., Quaker European Beverages LLC, Quaker European Investments B.V., Quaker Foods, Quaker Global Investments B.V., Quaker Holdings UK Limited, Quaker Manufacturing LLC, Quaker Oats Asia Inc., Quaker Oats Australia Pty Ltd, Quaker Oats B.V., Quaker Oats Capital Corporation, Quaker Oats Europe Inc., Quaker Oats Europe LLC, Quaker Oats Limited, Quaker Sales & Distribution Inc, Raptas Finance S.a r.l., Rare Fare Foods LLC, Rare Fare Holdings Inc., Reading Industries Ltd, Real Estate Holdings LLC, Rockstar Energy Drink, Rolling Frito-Lay Sales LP, S & T of Mississippi Inc., SIH International LLC, SVC Logistics Inc., SVC Manufacturing Inc., SVE Russia Holdings GmbH, Sabritas LLC, Sabritas S. de R.L. de C.V., Sabritas Snacks America Latina de Nicaragua y Cia Ltda, Sabritas de Costa Rica S. de R.L., Sabritas y Cia. S en C de C.V., Sakata Rice Snacks Australia Pty Ltd, Sandora Holdings B.V., Saudi Snack Foods Company Limited, Sea Eagle International SRL, Seepoint Holdings Ltd., Senselet Food Processing PLC, Senselet Holding B.V., Servicios GBF Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, Servicios GFLG y Compania Limitada, Servicios Gamesa Puerto Rico L.L.C., Servicios SYC S. de R.L. de C.V., Seven-Up Asia Inc., Seven-Up Light B.V., Seven-Up Nederland B.V., Shanghai PepsiCo Snack Company Limited, Shanghai YuHo Agricultural Development Co. Ltd, Shoebill LLC, Simba (Proprietary) Limited, Simba Proprietary Limited, Sitka Spruce, Smartfoods Inc., Smiles and Bites Holdings S.de R.L. de C.V., Smiths Crisps Limited, Snack Food Investments GmbH, Snack Food Investments II GmbH, Snack Food Investments Limited, Snack Food-Beverage Asia Products Limited, Snacks America Latina S.R.L., Snacks Guatemala Ltd., So Spark Ltd., Soda-Club CO2 Atlantic GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 GmbH, Soda-Club CO2 Ltd., Soda-Club Switzerland GmbH, Soda-Club Worldwide B.V., SodaStream, SodaStream Australia Pty Ltd, SodaStream CO2 SA, SodaStream Canada Ltd., SodaStream Enterprises N.V., SodaStream France SAS, SodaStream GmbH, SodaStream Iberia S.L., SodaStream Industries Ltd., SodaStream International B.V., SodaStream International Ltd., SodaStream Israel Ltd., SodaStream K.K., SodaStream New Zealand Ltd., SodaStream Nordics AB, SodaStream Poland Sp. z o.o., SodaStream SA Pty Ltd., SodaStream Switzerland GmbH, SodaStream USA Inc., SodaStream Osterreich GmbH, South Beach Beverage Company Inc., South Properties Inc., Spitz International Inc., Sportmex Internacional S.A. de C.V., Springboig Industries Ltd, Spruce Limited, Stacy's Pita Chip Company Incorporated, Star Foods E.M. S.R.L., Stokely-Van Camp Inc., Stratosphere Communications Pty Ltd, Stratosphere Holdings 2018 Limited, Streamfoods Ltd, TFL Holdings LLC, Tasman Finance S.a r.l, The Gatorade Company, The Good Carb Food Company Ltd., The Pepsi Bottling Group Canada ULC, The Quaker Oats Company, The Smith's Snackfood Company Pty Limited, Thomond Group Holdings Limited, Tobago Snack Holdings LLC, Tropicana Alvalle S.L., Tropicana Beverages Limited, Tropicana Europe N.V., Tropicana United Kingdom Limited, Troya-Ultra LLC, United Foods Companies Restaurantes S.A., V-Water, VentureCo Israel Ltd, Veurne Snack Foods BV, Vitamin Brands Ltd., Walkers Crisps Limited, Walkers Group Limited, Walkers Snack Foods Limited, Walkers Snacks Distribution Limited, Walkers Snacks Limited, Whitman Corporation, Whitman Insurance Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Beverages JSC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Brands Co. Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann Central Asia-Almaty LLP, Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods LLC, Wimm-Bill-Dann Georgia Ltd., Wimm-Bill-Dann JSC, and Wimm-Bill-Dann Ukraine PJSC.

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Under Armour, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the developing, marketing, and distributing performance apparel, footwear, and accessories for men, women, and youth. The company offers its apparel in compression, fitted, and loose fit types. It also provides footwear products for running, training, basketball, cleated sports, recovery, and outdoor applications. In addition, the company offers accessories, which include gloves, bags, headwear, and sports masks; and digital subscription and advertising services under the MapMyRun and MapMyRide platforms. It primarily offers its products under the UNDER ARMOUR, UA, HEATGEAR, COLDGEAR, HOVR, PROTECT THIS HOUSE, I WILL, UA Logo, ARMOUR FLEECE, and ARMOUR BRA brands. The company sells its products through wholesale channels, including national and regional sporting goods chains, independent and specialty retailers, department store chains, mono-branded Under Armour retail stores, institutional athletic departments, and leagues and teams, as well as independent distributors; and directly to consumers through a network of 422 brand and factory house stores, as well as through e-commerce websites. It operates in the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Under Armour, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland.
Everest Re Group, Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides reinsurance and insurance products in the United States, Bermuda, and internationally. The company operates through Reinsurance Operations and Insurance Operations segments. The Reinsurance Operations segment writes property and casualty reinsurance; and specialty lines of business through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies in the United States, Bermuda, Ireland, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The Insurance Operations segment writes property and casualty insurance directly, as well as through brokers, surplus lines brokers, and general agents in Bermuda, Canada, Europe, South America, Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Netherlands. The company also provides treaty and facultative reinsurance products; admitted and non-admitted insurance products; and property and casualty reinsurance and insurance coverages, including marine, aviation, surety, errors and omissions liability, directors' and officers' liability, medical malpractice, mortgage reinsurance, other specialty lines, accident and health, and workers' compensation products. In addition, it offers commercial property and casualty insurance products through wholesale and retail brokers, surplus lines brokers, and program administrators. Everest Re Group, Ltd. was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
The following companies are subsidiares of Ingersoll Rand: 13125882 Canada Inc., 211 E. Russell Road LLC, 4458664 Canada Inc., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES ASIA PTE. LTD., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES BORROWER S.C.A., ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES LLC, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES MIDDLE EAST FZE, ACCUDYNE INDUSTRIES SERVICES LIMITED, ASTRUM IT GmbH, Accudyne Industries Acquisition S.A r.l, Accudyne Industries Canada Inc., Accudyne Industries S.A r.l., Air Dimensions, Air Dimensions Inc., Albin Pump SAS, BOC Edwards Global Low pressure Air business, CISA S.p.A., Cameron-Centrifugal Compression, Comercial Ingersoll-Rand (Chile) Limitada, Comingersoll-Comercio E Industria De Equipamentos S.A., CompAir, CompAir (Hankook) Korea Co. Ltd., CompAir Acquisition (No. 2) Ltd., CompAir Acquisition Ltd., CompAir BroomWade Ltd., CompAir Finance Ltd., CompAir GmbH, CompAir Holdings Limited, CompAir International Trading (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CompAir Korea Ltd, CompAir South Africa (SA) (Pty) Ltd., Consolidated Distribution Holdings Ltd., DV Systems Inc., Dosatron International SAS, Emco Wheaton Gmbh, Emco Wheaton USA Inc, Enza Air Proprietary Limited, FlexEnergy Holdings LLC, Frigoblock Grosskopf Gmbh, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Holdings Limited, GD Aria Investments Limited, GD First (UK) Ltd, GD German Holdings GmbH, GD German Holdings I Gmbh, GD German Holdings II GmbH, GD German Investments GmbH, GD Global Holdings II Inc., GD Global Holdings Inc., GD Global Holdings UK II Ltd., GD Global Ventures I B.V., GD Global Ventures II B.V., GD Global Ventures III B.V., GD Industrial Products Malaysia SDN. BHD., GD Investment KY, GD UK Finance Ltd., GPS Industries, Gardner Denver (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Austria GmbH, Gardner Denver Bad Neustadt Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Belgium NV, Gardner Denver Brasil Industria E Comercio de Maquinas Ltda., Gardner Denver CZ + SK sro, Gardner Denver Canada Corp (Canada), Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments II Limited, Gardner Denver Cyprus Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Deutschland GmbH, Gardner Denver Engineered Products India Private Limited, Gardner Denver FZE, Gardner Denver Finance II LLC, Gardner Denver Finance Inc & Co KG, Gardner Denver France SAS, Gardner Denver Group Svcs Ltd, Gardner Denver Holdings Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Investments Limited, Gardner Denver Hong Kong Ltd, Gardner Denver Iberica SL, Gardner Denver Inc., Gardner Denver Industries Ltd., Gardner Denver Industries Pty Ltd., Gardner Denver International Inc., Gardner Denver International Ltd., Gardner Denver Investments Inc., Gardner Denver Italy Holdings S.r.L., Gardner Denver Japan Ltd., Gardner Denver Kirchhain Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Korea Ltd., Gardner Denver Ltd., Gardner Denver Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Nash Brasil Industria E Comercio De Bombas Ltda, Gardner Denver Nash LLC, Gardner Denver Nash Machinery Ltd., Gardner Denver Nederland BV, Gardner Denver Nederland Investments B.V., Gardner Denver Oy, Gardner Denver Polska Sp z.o.o., Gardner Denver Pte. Ltd., Gardner Denver S.r.l., Gardner Denver Schopfheim GmbH, Gardner Denver Schopfheim Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Gardner Denver Schweiz AG, Gardner Denver Slovakia s.r.o., Gardner Denver Sweden AB, Gardner Denver Taiwan Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas GmbH (f/k/a ILMVAC GmbH), Gardner Denver Thomas Inc., Gardner Denver Thomas Pneumatic Systems (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Gardner Denver Thomas Real Estate GmbH & Co KG, Garo Dott. Ing. Roberto Gabbioneta S.r.l., Ghh-Rand Schraubenkompressoren Gmbh, HASKEL EUROPE LTD., HASKEL HOLDINGS UK LIMITED, HASKEL INTERNATIONAL LLC, Hamworthy Belliss & Morcom, Haskel France SAS, Haskel Sistemas de Fluidos Espana S.R.L., Hibon Inc., Highspeed Newco LLC, Hingerose Limited, ILMVAC (UK) Ltd., ILS Innovative Labor Systeme, ILS Inovative Laborsysteme GmbH, INGERSOLL RAND ITS JAPAN LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHANG ZHOU) TOOLS CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND (CHINA) INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CO. LTD., INGERSOLL-RAND CHINA LLC, INGERSOLL-RAND COMERCIO E SERVICOS DE MAQUINAS E EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA., INGERSOLL-RAND DE PUERTO RICO INC., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL COMPANY B.V., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL SP. Z O.O., INGERSOLL-RAND INDUSTRIAL U.S. INC., INGERSOLL-RAND PHILIPPINES INC., INGERSOLL-RAND SPAIN S.A., INGERSOLL-RAND U.S. HOLDCO INC., IR HPS Holdco. Inc., ITO Emniyet, Ingersoll Rand Cyprus Investments Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Finance LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Investments LLC, Ingersoll Rand Global Ventures LLC, Ingersoll Rand Hong Kong Investments Limited, Ingersoll Rand Inc., Ingersoll Rand Investments (SG) Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll Rand Investments B.V., Ingersoll Rand Schweiz Investments Gmbh, Ingersoll Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (Australia) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand (China) Investment Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Guilin) Tools Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (Hong Kong) Holding Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand (India) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Ab, Ingersoll-Rand Air Solutions Hibon Sarl, Ingersoll-Rand Beteiligungs Und Grundstucksverwaltungs Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Colombia S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited (Uk), Ingersoll-Rand Company South Africa (Pty) Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Cz S.R.O., Ingersoll-Rand De Mexico S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Equipements De Production S.A.S., Ingersoll-Rand Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Ireland Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International (India) Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand International Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Italia S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Italiana Manufacturing S.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Korea Holding Llc, Ingersoll-Rand Korea Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments II S.A R.I., Ingersoll-Rand Lux Investments S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Luxembourg Industrial Company S.A R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Machinery (Shanghai) Company Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Malaysia Co. Sdn. Bhd., Ingersoll-Rand S.A. De C.V., Ingersoll-Rand Services And Trading Limited Liability Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Company, Ingersoll-Rand Services Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Singapore Enterprises Pte. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand South East Asia (Pte.) Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Superay Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technical And Services S.A.R.L., Ingersoll-Rand Technologies And Services Private Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Technology R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand Tool Holdings Limited, Ingersoll-Rand Trading Gmbh, Ingersoll-Rand Vietnam Company Limited, Instrum Rand JSC, Interflex Datensysteme, Ir Canada Holdings Ulc, Ir Canada Sales & Service Ulc, Ir France Sas, Kryptonite corp, Lawrence Factor Inc., LeROI, LeRoi International Inc, MILTON ROY (HONG KONG) LIMITED, MILTON ROY (UK) LIMITED, MILTON ROY EUROPA B.V., MILTON ROY EUROPE SAS, MILTON ROY INDUSTRIAL (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD., MILTON ROY LLC, MILTON ROY US PURCHASER INC., MP Pumps Inc., Maximum AG Technologies Inc., Maximus Solutions, Mb Air Systems Limited, Nash Elmo, Officina Meccaniche Industriali Srl, Oina VV, Oina VV Aktiebolag, Plurifilter D.O.O., Pt Ingersoll-Rand Indonesia, Robuschi, Runtech Systems, Runtech Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Runtech Systems Inc., Runtech Systems OY, SEEPEX, Seepex (M) SDN, Seepex Australia Pty Ltd, Seepex Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mit Beschrankter Haftung, Seepex France S.a.r.l., Seepex GmbH, Seepex Inc., Seepex India Private Ltd., Seepex Italia SRL, Seepex Japan Co. Ltd., Seepex Nordic A/S, Seepex OOO, Seepex Pumps (Shanghia) Co. Ltd., Seepex UK Ltd., Shanghai CompAir Compressors Co Ltd, Shanghai Compressors & Blowers Ltd., Shanghai Ingersoll-Rand Compressor Limited, Shenzhen Bocom System Engineering Co., Superay, Syltone, TIWR Real Estate GmbH & Co. KG, Tamrotor Marine Comp AS Norway, Tecno Matic Europe s.r.o., Thomas Industries Inc., Trane Technologies, Tri-Continent Scientific Inc., Vacuum and Blower Systems division, Welch Vacuum Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zaxe Technologies Inc., Zeks Compressed Air Solutions Llc, Zinsser Analytic, Zinsser Analytik GmbH, Zinsser NA Inc., and crayon interface.

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Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 900 bank branches and 3,300 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. Bank of Montreal was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.
RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. provides reinsurance and insurance products around the world. The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Bermuda with offices in Ireland, Australia, Switzerland, Singapore, and the US.

The company operates through two segments that include multiple underlying businesses and investment vehicles. The two main segments are Property and Casualty & Specialty. The company operates through intermediaries that include DaVinci Resinsurance Inc, Top Layer Reinsurance LTD, and RennaisanceRe Syndicate 1458 among others.

Top Layer Re is the first major venture and was started in 1999. It is a joint venture with State Farm targeting high layers of the US reinsurance business. DaVinci Re was formed in the wake of 9/11 to assist with capacity and it was given added capacity in the wake of hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Medici was formed in 2009 and is an open-ended fund intended to spur investment in the catastrophe bond market.

The Property segment writes catastrophic insurance policies to insure insurance and reinsurance companies against natural and man-made catastrophes. These include but are not limited to hurricanes, floods, freezes, and terrorism.

The Casualty & Specialty segment provides a wide range of consumer products including business insurance, malpractice insurance, liability insurance, workers' compensation, mortgage insurance, and health insurance among others.

Among RenaissanceRes Specialty businesses is capital management. The firm offers 6 investment vehicles and has more than $11 billion under management making it the #1 ILS or insurance-linked asset manager in the US. In regards to its credit ratings, the firm and all of its vehicles carry an A or better rating from every credit rating agency.
Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. provides technical, professional, and construction services. The company's Aerospace, Technology, Environmental and Nuclear segment offers scientific, engineering, construction, nuclear, environmental, and technical support services to the aerospace, defense, technical, and automotive industries. Its Buildings, Infrastructure and Advanced Facilities segment develops/rehabilitates plans for highways, bridges, transit, tunnels, airports, railroads, intermodal facilities, and maritime or port projects; develops or rehabilitates critical water resource systems, water/wastewater conveyance systems, and flood defense projects; and provides engineering design, construction management, design build, and operations and maintenance. This segment also designs and constructs buildings; offers consulting, engineering, procurement, construction management, and delivery services for life sciences clients; and provides services relating to modular construction and other consulting and strategic planning services, as well as offers services in containment, barrier technology, locally controlled environments, building systems automation, off-the-site design, and fabrication of facility modules. The company's Energy, Chemicals and Resources segment offers services relating to onshore and offshore oil and gas production facilities, processing facilities, gathering systems, and transmission pipelines and terminals; feasibility/economic studies, technology evaluation, conceptual engineering, front end loading, detailed engineering, procurement, construction, maintenance, and commissioning services; and engineering, procurement, and construction solutions. This segment also provides services, such as manufacturing complex, expansions, modifications, and management of plant relocations; construction management and field construction services; and services to operate and maintain facilities. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.
Citizens Financial Group, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Citizens Bank, National Association that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking. The Consumer Banking segment offers deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending products, credit cards, business loans, wealth management, and investment services; and auto, education, and point-of-sale finance loans, as well as digital deposit products. This segment serves its customers through telephone service centers, as well as through its online and mobile platforms. The Commercial Banking segment provides various financial products and solutions, including lending and leasing, deposit and treasury management services, foreign exchange, and interest rate and commodity risk management solutions, as well as syndicated loans, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and debt and equity capital markets services. This segment serves government banking, not-for-profit, healthcare, technology, professionals, oil and gas, asset finance, franchise finance, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, private equity, and sponsor finance industries. It operates approximately 1,200 branches in 14 states and the District of Columbia; 114 retail and commercial non-branch offices in national markets; and approximately 3,300 automated teller machines. The company was formerly known as RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. and changed its name to Citizens Financial Group, Inc. in April 2014. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. was founded in 1828 and is headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island.
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US updates its sanctions list for Russia: Milur Electronics LLC, an Armenian company listed

Potatoes prices grow by 20%: expert claims agriculture collapse in Armenia

Peskov says Russian-American talks in Ankara initiated by Washington

Morgan Stanley: UK and euro zone economies are likely to face recession

Xi Jinping hopes for comprehensive dialogue between NATO, the EU and the US and Russia

Japan proposes to deploy Australian nuclear submarines

Biden calls talks with Xi Jinping at G20 summit frank

WB: Debt levels among low- and middle-income countries soared in 2021

Xi Jinping: China does not intend to challenge the U.S.

Scholz: Adopting a joint G20 summit statement is a tough task

Biden and Xi Jinping oppose use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine

Nikol Pashinyan receives Russian co-chair of OSCE Minsk Group

IMF head warns of risks for world economy because of rivalry between China and US

Irakli Garibashvili: Georgia is ready to promote in every possible way the dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan

Red Wings airline launches direct flights from Makhachkala to Yerevan

Olaf Scholz: EU should expand its cooperation with Southeast Asian countries

Global Leadership Foundation will visit Armenia

Kurdistan Workers' Party denies its involvement in Istanbul terrorist attack

NATO Secretary General says they must not make mistake of underestimating Russia

IRGC resumes strikes on Iraqi Kurdistan

French and German central bank heads call for speeding up EU capital markets union

Control of U.S. House of Representatives depends on several tight races

Artsakh FM speaks with his Transnistria counterpart

Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus say they cannot accept migrants

Cavusoglu thanks Mirzoyan for condolences on terrorist attack in Istanbul

Xi Jinping and Joe Biden begin first face-to-face meeting in Bali

Zelenskyy arrives in Kherson

Armenian Defense Minister: After expiration of contract service 5 million drams will be provided to servicemen

Turkey refuses to accept U.S. condolences after terrorist attack in Istanbul

Defense Ministers of Georgia and Azerbaijan sign military cooperation plan for 2023

Russian Foreign Ministry denies reports about Lavrov's hospitalization in Bali

Yellen hopes Biden and Jinping meeting leads to engagement on macroeconomic issues

Russian Defense Ministry confirms violation of ceasefire in Artsakh by Azerbaijani Armed Forces

Artsakh MOD denies accusations of Azerbaijani MOD

Azerbaijani Defense Minister holds talks in Georgia

Armenian MOD denies another lie of Azerbaijani MOD

Germany warns its delegation about Egyptian spies at COP27

NSS of Armenia reveals channel of illegal migration

Azerbaijani State Security Service announces disclosure of 'Iranian spy network'

Politico: Indonesia, hosting G20, lobbies West to soften criticism of Russia in final communique

Ararat Mirzoyan expresses condolences to Mevlut Cavusoglu over Istanbul explosion

Iranian lawmakers sharply criticize Aliyev

Ambassador-at-Large: Azerbaijan's attacks on Armenia are a terrorist attack

Germany needs to diversify its business interests in Asia to reduce dependence on China
One person is injured after a shooting on the Virginia State University (VSU) campus.

Officials say the shooting happened around 8:45 p.m. on Saturday. When Chesterfield County Police arrived at the scene on Hayden Street, they found one male suffering from a gunshot wound. Officials say the male was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injures.

The campus was on lock down for nearly five hours as police investigated the shooting.

The shooting is still under investigation.
Dublin (AFP) - Ireland has ordered all schools to close Monday as the country braces for an "unprecedented storm" with the arrival of Ophelia, the largest hurricane ever recorded so far east in the Atlantic Ocean.

"In response to the imminent Storm Ophelia, the Department of Education and Skills is now publicly informing all schools, colleges and other education institutions that they are to remain closed tomorrow, Monday 16 October," the department said in a statement.

The decision followed discussions with the government's emergency planning task force and advice "on this unprecedented storm" from Ireland's Met Eireann national weather service, the statement added.

Met Eireann issued a nationwide "status red" alert and warned of "potential risk to lives" when the storm hits daytime Monday.

Although Ophelia will weaken as the storm travels over cooler seas towards the west coast of Ireland, Met Eireann forecast "violent and destructive gusts".

Heavy rain and storm surges are expected to lead to flooding.

An amber wind warning has been issued for Northern Ireland between 1400 GMT and 2100 GMT, when gusts could reach up to 130 kph (80 mph).

"By the time Ophelia reaches our latitudes, she will be weakening and will be an ex-hurricane," said Steve Ramsdale, chief forecaster at Britain's Met Office national weather service.

"However, Ex-Ophelia will be bringing some significant impacts to Northern Ireland and western and northern Britain on Monday and Tuesday."

Scotland, Wales and parts of England were under yellow warnings issued by the Met Office, which forecast "very strong winds" and heavy rain in some areas.

- Travel disruption -

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Sunday that defence forces were being deployed to areas due to be hit by the storm.

Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the 2017 Atlantic season, which is expected to last until the end of November.

Story continues

Three major hurricanes -- Harvey, Irma and Maria -- caused catastrophic damage in the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast.

Meteorologists say Ophelia is the most powerful hurricane recorded so far east in the Atlantic and the first since 1939 to travel so far north.

It was classed Category 3 on Saturday as it passed near Portugal's Azores islands, which means it packed winds of at least 178 kilometres (110 miles) per hour.

When Ophelia reaches Ireland on Monday it is expected to weaken to a "post tropical storm", according to the US National Hurricane Center.

"Mean wind speeds in excess of 80 kph (50 mph) and gusts in excess of 130 kph (80 mph) are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding," it said.

Flights, ferries and buses all face disruption. Cork Airport in southwest Ireland said "cancellations are likely" and urged passengers to check with their airlines in advance of travel.

- Sea warning -

Matt Crofts, a lifesaving manager with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, said the seas could be "particularly dangerous and unpredictable".

"Stormy conditions may be tempting to watch but big waves can easily knock you off your feet.

"We understand why people want to experience extreme weather, but it?s not worth risking your life, so we strongly urge people to respect the water and watch from a safe distance."

Seven of the nine islands in the Azores were put on high alert for the storm's passage, but it did not cause major damage, authorities told reporters.

Four trees were torn out of the ground on the island of Sao Miguel and firefighters responded to six incidents across the Azores to deal with small floods or landslides.

Several flights between the islands or to the Portuguese mainland were cancelled, affecting about 800 passengers.

In Spain, three people have died in wildfires whipped by strong wind gusts spawned by Hurricane Ophelia.

The fires were raging across the region of Galicia with the flames fanned by wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres (55 miles) per hour as the storm moved north off the coast of Spain towards Ireland, the head of the regional government, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, said.

"The situation is critical," he added.

Three people have also died in wildfires in Portugal, which local authorities said had been exacerbated by drought.
Stephen Collins is? Why???

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child pornography

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No. He was caught on tape admitting to molesting three 10-and-11-year old girls.



But I am guessing they were actually asking why he is in the Academy in the first place?

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like this will actually make a difference lol

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Its ok to just celebrate when something good happens



Edited at 2017-10-14 11:35 pm (UTC)

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Thank you

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of course, but in the grand schemes of things it won't do much. like the OP said, cosby, collins, polanski.. they're all still academy members. this was done out of peer pressure and nothing more.

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he'll be beaten administratively

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I literally have been trying to submit this since it happened lol but I suck at making ONTD posts and it kept getting rejected. finally fixed everything and submitted only to see your post LOL ... oh well...



Good Riddance Harvey WeinSTAIN!





Edited at 2017-10-14 11:35 pm (UTC)

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Lol every once in a while I try to submit a post but I always fuck it up. Im sure theres a bunch of us 

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I've been trying to make posts but for the life of me I can't even embed an ig. Mess. Like, how can I even do that?

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I can't do it either. I've tried twelve different ways to embed IGs and none of them work, including the way they tell you to do it in the LJ instructions.

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To embed an IG post you copy the url, not the embed code, and paste it into the box that pops up for the little video camera icon.

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Mess

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https://babs.livejournal.com/4703.html



 Here you go bb

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Aww, I'm sorry, bb. I know how frustrating it is: I've been trying to get a post of Dylan Farrow's comments on this whole thing (re: the way Hollywood treats Weinstein vs. how they treat her father, Woody Allen) approved for almost 24 hours and even though she has granted me express permission to post her words here on ONTD, I still can't get a post through.

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This is huge because no one ever gets kicked out.



He went from beyond one of the most powerful people in the business to the most hated, with zero power.



Im glad Hollywood finally ended him. The women who came forward are heroes.

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Bill Cosby, Stephen Collins and Roman Polanski should be easy to get rid of since they were charged with a crime. I can't remember if Nate was or not. Casey hasn't been charged with anything so he may not be easy to get rid of.

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Nate was acquitted. Casey affleck settled a civil suit.

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Parker

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Sorry to reply to my own post, but Dylan Farrow, the daughter of Woody Allen who has written in the past about being molested by her father when she was only seven years old, shared a new essay on her private Facebook page today about the treatment Woody receives from Hollywood and the media vs. how Harvey Weinstein is treated.



Dylan gave me permission to share her post on ONTD, but I have been unable to get a post of it approved, most likely because in order to preserve her privacy and protect the name she now goes under, she asked me not to link directly to her Facebook as a source. So I am going to post her essay here and I hope thats okay



(Note: She posted this with a link to the Variety article about tonights red carpet premiere of Woodys new film)



Care for a little afternoon word vomit? You've come to the right place, friend. (Trigger warning? Yeah... Trigger Warning.)



I still have thoughts on this Weinstein aftermath.



First and foremost: I am glad Harvey Weinstein got his. His disgrace was a long time coming and well-earned. I'm glad that his victims were granted this modicum of justice, even if he isn't being punished under the full force of the law, which he so rightly deserves.



This played out to a similar scenario I had naively imagined when I first put pen to paper a few years ago and wrote about my experience. People listened, were horrified, believed me, and the perpetrator was promptly proven guilty in the court of public opinion. For me, reality proved quite different.



(Continued Below)



Edited at 2017-10-14 11:34 pm (UTC)

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(Part 2 of 3) In the wake of public accusations leveled against celebrities since my essay was published, I do believe that people have become more open to listening to the stories of survivors. I hope, in some small measure, that I helped move the needle alongside these brave women. I genuinely think the conversation is changing, and will continue to change. That small assurance is what allows me 2-3 hours of sleep a night. Well, that, and a great deal of medical marijuana.



However, like so many other survivors, I tend to turn inward in the wee small hours of the night when things are dark and a little too quiet.



I wonder why when it comes to MY particular story, MY particular abuser, there are those who continue to drag their heels. Why rumors and misinformation still abound, why fanboys continue to perpetuate the narrative that my mother brainwashed me, why there are those who still defend him both to themselves and others. There are the simple answers, and there are the not-so-simple answers. But of course, in my head, this is all somehow still MY fault. I didn't write persuasively enough, I went dark after the piece came out and didn't defend it, I didn't look "trustworthy" enough in photographs, I don't have enough clout, there aren't forty-nine more of me all making the same accusations. I could add to this list forever.



Of course I know intellectually that none of that is true. Nothing can diminish the truth, even if others refuse to acknowledge it. But that's not a lot of comfort at 3:45am.

Sometime around 5:00, my introspection turns to indignation. I'm angry. I'm really, really, REALLY FUCKING ANGRY. I want to pound on the door of every asshole in every comment section of every mention of this whole thing and scream at them until I'm blue in the face. I shouldn't need to look or behave a certain way to be believed. I shouldn't have to be flanked by a small army of other women to deserve a scrap of credibility. I have fought and clawed and suffered and bled for over two decades. When is it my turn to see justice?



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(Part 3 of 3) If Woody Allen was handled the way Harvey Weinstein was, this article would be very different. Maybe along the lines of "Amazon cancels deal with Woody Allen, severs all ties, issues statement condemning bad behavior"... just a guess. Instead they quietly shuffle him off, same shit different day, and we will all take our places to repeat this dumpster fire again in a couple of years after your regularly scheduled programming. A few new famous faces will show up, all bright eyes and bushy tails, eagerly expecting their Oscar in exchange for a few rushed comments about "not knowing anything about that". See? I've gotten pretty good at this!



I would love nothing more than to challenge this rotten industry to prove me wrong, but I've gotten used to disappointment. What Hollywood should really do to mitigate the hypocrisy that's going on is admit that there are only CERTAIN accusations that will be taken seriously and effect actual change. And only if MULTIPLE women are willing to come forward.



I'll be over here in the meantime with my scraps.



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this was really amazing to see, thank you so much for posting and pls tell her that we have her back <3

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I'm really frustrated ONTD mods can't rule out an exception for you. She even gave you permission? Can we petition or something to get it posted?

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Can you write a summary of her posts and link to screencaps (including her granting you permission via pm) as source?

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Man, this is heartbreaking. She's so strong and I truly (and maybe naively) hope one day Woody Allen gets what he deserves.

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She's brave as fuck and I hope she gets justice soon. I'm so reluctant to hope that Weinsteins downfall with bring these other criminals down, but I really want it to happen. So many people are speaking up, the bravery is astounding.

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<3 her.



the mental gymnastics for years at how people excuse him, blows my mind. I can see someone not knowing, or not knowing the full story, since every couple years we have people who post they never knew. but when you do? smdh.

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she's an amazing woman.



i hope woody allen rots and he gets what he deserves. these fucking men get away with this way too often and i hope to god he doesn't fucking die before justice gets him because that would be way too easy.

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ugh i really wish we could get this out there somehow, she deserves sooooooooo much more

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i'm also a csa survivor and it's horrible enough to deal with while people believe me and my abuser is alone and miserable. so i can't imagine how much worse it would feel being ignored and seeing my abuser deified. she's so incredibly strong.



Edited at 2017-10-15 12:33 am (UTC)

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thanks for sharing this. i really hope woody is next.

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not even the point of the post, but i was stuck on "dylan gave me permission to share her post on ONTD"



who from here knows her? i'm confused

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Thanks for sharing this, I really wish it'd get its own post. Dylan deserves soooo much better than this. :(

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Dylan is so brave and deserves to finally get justice. I hope Woody finally dies and rots in hell. It's ridiculous how many actors who have spoken out against Harvey have also worked with Woody. Do they justify it with Dylan just being one person, which would make it a "he/she said situation", while Harvey is undeniable because of the sheer amount of accusers? And so many Woody Allen fans say that Mia "brainwashed" Dylan in revenge for him getting with Soon Yi... but don't they see that since he got with Soon Yi, Mia's daughter and Dylan's sister that he was a father figure to for a decade, he would rape Dylan? Do those creeps somehow think that Woody and Soon Yi's relationship is completely normal since he technically never adopted her and didn't get with her until she was 20, which is technically legal? Well he knew her since she was 8, was in a long term relationship with her mom, and had nude photos of her from when she was underage... so.

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I'm glad I got to read this. Dylan is my hero. I'm also a csa survivor who was abused by my father and brother when I was 7/8 so obviously I identify a lot with her.



She is so brave and strong and I wish I could be like her. But I see that even if you are brave and strong and fight for yourself, nothing changes. Nobody cares. Not when your father is a religious fundamentalist or when your father is a celebrated film director.

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i get people liking woody or his movies/writing/whatever. that's their thing. but, to act like nothing happened when it's something so serious, i can't understand. if they think dylan is misremembering then they need to spend like two minutes figuring out why they think that. look at soon-yi (and the way he speaks about her), his filmography, read what dylan wrote again. read what he wrote as a response.



ronan farrow broke the weinstein piece. do they think there's no context to that?



and the oscars they got. it'll always be from a woody allen film. that's worth it to you?

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i'll get the flaming torches

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Watch the Academy lie to you



We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over, the Academy board said in a statement.



And speaking of Woody Allen--this was interesting



I need to get this off my chest:

- I worked on Woody Allens next movie.

- I believe he is guilty.

- I donated my entire salary to RAINN.  Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017





Why didnt I quit?

- My parents were incredibly proud.

- I felt there things to be gained from the experience on that set.

- I was a coward.  Griffin Halloweenman (@GriffLightning) October 14, 2017





Edited at 2017-10-14 11:38 pm (UTC) Sure, Jan. They'll nominate and award another known sexual predator come March.Watch the Academy lie to youAnd speaking of Woody Allen--this was interesting

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glad they spoke up. more should.

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I hope the people who are working on his current movie speak up too, and I hope they're ashamed.

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boy bye

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Too little too late. It doesn't take a month to figure out if you want to work with a child molester not.

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It's been known for decades. Coward is correct.

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that his mentions are full of praise speaks a lot to how low the standards are for men.

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"i was a coward" is all you need to say but better than nothing

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better than most. that's how low the bar is.

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The replies to this are too fucking much. I just poured a drink. The praise WM get is wild.

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cool that he spoke out but it's like he knew what woody allen did yet decided to work with him when he could have not worked with him at all??? plus him saying it's "hard to speak out about this" like ok but u still took the role so fuck off.

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"I believe he is guilty." okay?????



I felt there things to be gained from the experience on that set. WAT.



"I was a coward." NO SHIT!

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its good that he donated his salary but why work with him in the first place if you knew it was wrong?

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If he knew Allen was guilty already then maybe don't take the role in the first place, dude. SMH.

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do you think its because famous women come out saying he did it do them? women that are also part of the Academy. idk, seems to be the diference between him and the others, to provoke such a thing.



now this will hurt him. not being able to vote on or go to the Oscars is something that will get to him. s

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I'm sure that's a major reason why the accusations are taken seriously. Victims in the industry are harder to ignore.

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I think there's so many reasons that come into play about that - racism, classism, etc. Like somebody isn't believed until a ~believable woman~ comes forward. I often think about how Daniel Holtzclaw specifically targeted black women bc he said nobody would care about them.

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Daniel Holtzclaw falling apart when he was found guilty and having his verdict read to him was something else. Sick piece of shit deserves to rot, and I doubt he even realises the pain in the moment he realised his life was over is nothing compared to what he did to those poor women.



Edited at 2017-10-15 12:26 am (UTC)

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I think the fact that there was audio is a huge factor bc no one who listened to that could believe anything other than Harvey is a disgusting predator. I do think that Gwyneth and Angelina coming forward had a huge hand in empowered other ppl to tell their stories as well.

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yes. if it had stopped at the new yorker piece, even with argento's testimony (they'll say she was complicit), mira sorvino (nothing happened) and the audio (just a squabble with a foreign sexpot gold-diggerthis was in the news in 2015. yet "nobody knew" till 2017.) it would be a scandal and, then, nothing.



but, gwyneth paltrow? oh no.

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Interesting did know that about, allen. But whatever kick the rest out.

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The only other person they kicked out was some dude who put screeners online.....reinstate that man tbh he's a hero to us thieves everywhere.

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that's wild

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They'll never kick all the predators out because they'd have to admit they're predators to begin with

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whoomp there it is

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It also makes it accurate

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jfc it is terrifying.

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Ugh, it's almost like he's rubbing it in people's faces (or is that just me getting that vibe?).

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the fact that his bullshit is swept under the rug is so infuriating.

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he better be next

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Destroy this fucker.

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they all look 14

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Courtney is perfect proof that when you do or say awful things, itll overshadow the good things.



Shes said some really good things through the years and no one takes her seriously.

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She's also super racist.

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lemme screencap it for y'all.











jfc. ty.lemme screencap it for y'all.

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courtney is my complicated fave

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the Pam Anderson roast, she was a high as a kite during that, so nobody listened to her.

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Same. But by they I mean deaths cold painful grasp.

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Hopefully the stress of this makes him have a heart attack.

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Its Ronan Farrows crusade to put Woody in prison or at the very least destroy Woodys legacy

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pic.twitter.com/Wd2xlENZUZ  Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) October 15, 2017

maybe his supporters can all link arms to show solidarity with Woody

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Turds on a feather stick together.

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my fucking god the nerve

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I think he means he's sad that Harvey got caught. He see the reaction people are having and knows he could (and should) be next. I highly doubt he will be, but a girl can dream. I think he means he's sad that Harvey got caught. He see the reaction people are having and knows he could (and should) be next. I highly doubt he will be, but a girl can dream.

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Oh, he's scared we are coming for him next. Good, because we are.

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I hope they both die

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I can't fathom how anyone overlooks that or defends him for it. It honestly makes me sick to my stomach.



It's why I just don't care for some of the statements being released about Weinstein. "Oh I didn't know", no, some of y'all just literally didn't fucking care. They've nearly all stood up and applauded a convicted rapist but Weinstein is a shocker and too much.

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I don't think that could happen today

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for fucking real, who marries their fucking kid and everyone acts like that's okay??

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it makes my blood boil so much even seeing the way he talks about her and their relationship, like it's sick and tbh i've seen some people try super hard to say she wasn't a victim or that it wasn't predatory. still kind of bothers me that mia and some others never saw her as a victim either tbh

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Yeah even when people say Dylan is lying I'm like???? but he literally groomed and married his stepdaughter. That ALONE should be enough for people to hate him.

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but he writes witty dialogue :((

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all of it is just so heartbreaking and nauseating.

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she was 16? Jesus

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lol

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Same

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lmao

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this is such a perfect response lol

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lmao me all year

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pls die

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I'm sad for your daughters and your daughter-wife, you scumbag

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mte

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MTE

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Jameela Jamil. She plays Tahani on the good place! Its a great show. First season is on netflix, and the second season started a few weeks ago

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lol honestly

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I'm fucking loving this show.

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this attractive giraffe

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people came for donna karan and oliver stone for sticking up to weinstein. let's see if they come for woody too or if he's still exempt from any and all criticism because ~his movies are so quirky~

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Ok but also stop creepily winking at women when you wouldn't wink like that at men.



Edited at 2017-10-15 03:00 pm (UTC)

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Agreed. Its unprofessional and annoying and a woman has every right to go to HR if a supervisor or co-worker routinely winks at her and makes her uncomfortable. Thats not a witch hunt. But its hardly shocking that someone like Woody Allen would downplay workplace sexual harassment while at the same time saying he feels sad for his pal Harvey.

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exactly

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Seriously! That sort of insidious workplace harassment is not okay and hard to challenge. It sucks and makes being at work uncomfortable.

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Exactly

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It's about time Hollywood started appreciating Sam Rockwell! Most underrated actor in the business, hands down. I really, really hope this means he's finally going to get that Oscar nomination that he's deserved for a good half-dozen different performances over the years.

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I think he'll definitely get a nomination, seems like he might even be the frontrunner at the moment.

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How very dare you.

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one is basic and bland the other is not its easy

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God I love Sam Rockwell. Moon is my favorite.

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I see I, Tonya is spending some money this season.

how long they will try to make this a thing for TV?



but I'm curious about I, Tonya. And The Disaster Artist.

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should have been Amy Adams. bad move. and not having nancy in it... bad move.

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Sam should have gotten all the awards for Moon

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Ugh he was so fucking good in Moon. And The Way Way Back tbh. I don't get why he's been so ignored over the years.

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Yes yes yes to this and the comment about the way way back!

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FLAMINGO IS ON THE MOVE!



<3 <3 <3

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THANK YOU for making this comment first <3 AJ is a queen!

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i don't watch Mom....but i watch pretty much everything else i can get my hands on with her. i adore her sfm

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Allison Janney is a gem. Love her in Mom.

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i see their publicists and studio people are working overtime.

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an award they have been trying to make it happen on tv for like 2 years now?

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Who knows? I'll take what I can get.

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Yaaasss

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Sam Rockwell 4ever

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yaaas allison

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Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ

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Love them both.





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Season's eatings! The weather may be getting colder, but Dining Month on OnMilwaukee is just cooking up, dishing out your winning picks in this year's Best of Dining poll. Dining Month is brought to you by Fein Brothers, your premier food service equipment and supply dealer in Wisconsin since 1929. Congratulations to all of the winners, and happy eating for all those who voted! See all the winners for the month so far here.

Things have been getting pretty silly online over the past couple of weeks as multiple plans have been hatched on Facebook by various groups (many of which are based in Minnesota)  obviously jealous of Wisconsins rich dairy stores  to sneak into Wisconsin and steal all of the states cheese.

It seems to have begun in September when Wisconsinite Marissa Stockman and two of her friends launched the event "Go to Minnesota and steal their 11,842 Lakes."

"If we bring enough buckets we can do it," the event reads. "You can bring the lakes to your own states  just tired of them being so smug with their 10,000 lakes." The event generated the interest of 11,700, with nearly 1,900 shares and 4,400 attending the event at midnight on Oct. 6.

The event prompted numerous articles including one on TwinCities.com entitled: "Wisconsin group plots to pilfer Minnesotas lakes with buckets and Shamwows." But things really heated up when GoMN.com published an article in which Adam Uren posed a threat: "Heres hoping nobody across the border takes this seriously because if we do  were coming for your cheese."

What followed were rounds of events planned to retaliate against Wisconsin. The first was planned by Jeremiah Woodward, who noted: "While I'm pretty sure stealing our lakes is physically impossible, it is physically possible to steal all their precious cheese. So don some Packer/Brewers/Badgers gear as a disguise, bring your buckets, wheelbarrows and trucks, and lets cause the greatest cheese drought that Wisconsin has ever seen. (And if we have time, we can steal all their Pabst too)."

The latest scheme was hatched by John and Nick of Team Randomness, whose Facebook event "Sneak into Wisconsin at night and steal all their cheese" launched on Sept. 27 and has garnered the interest of 6,200, with 950 confirmed attendees. Rallying cries like "It's time we dismantle the cheddar curtain!" and "Your dairy is now our dairy!" are fueling the fire for the event, which is scheduled to begin at 11 p.m. on Nov. 25 and end at 3 a.m. on Nov. 27. Its been enough to get Wisconsinites riled up.

Meanwhile others are extending olive branches in an attempt to keep the peace.

And at least one Wisconsinite pointed out a fatal flaw in the planning. "Not that I want to aid and abet," writes Susan T. Jones, "but you may want to change the time. Nobody is protecting the cheese during a Packer game. Just sayin."

But, the Minnesotans are dead serious. One resident of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, remarked, "Being from the other side of St Croix this hits home. They have had a monopoly for long enough. It's time to take what's ours!"

It's not the first time for a heist of this nature. After all, just last year over 20,000 pounds of cheese was stolen in Oak Creek by a band of cheese pirates. Seriously. And it wasn't the first time.

Not only are there plots to steal more of Wisconsins cheese, but now some Minnesotans, including Emmanuel Liu, are even plotting to "Steal all of Wisconsin's cheese and throw it in Minnesota's lakes."

We're not really sure where any of this is going. But, you might as well be prepared. Stand strong, Wisconsin. And lock down your cheese cabinets. Because Minnesota is coming for it.
Smoke from deforested areas hangs in the air near Labrea in the Western Amazon region of Brazil

In western Brazil's Amazon, the very people tasked with looking after the world's greatest rainforest are themselves wondering if they have a future.

"We are just trying to survive," said Cleyton de Oliveira, 24.

De Oliveira lives in one of the special areas called extractive reserves that were pioneered in the 1980s by environmentalist and union leader Francisco "Chico" Mendes as a way of putting small producers in charge of the forest.

The idea was to allow modest communities to farm in a sustainable manner. That way the poor had an opportunity to make a living and to own land, while their presence would keep the giant ranches and plantations encroaching constantly on the Amazon at bay.

Mendes was murdered by a rancher in 1988 but not before his groundbreaking idea had taken root, part of a legacy that made him a national hero.

Three decades later, there are 90 such reserves across Brazil, covering 96,500 square miles (250,000 km2), including two created in 2008 in the western state of Amazonas, called Ituxi and Medio Purushuge territories home to just 6,600 people in total.

They are the descendants of workers employed in slavery-like conditions as rubber tappers in the 20th century before extractive reserves gave the poor a chance to build new, freer futures.

"We had to fight for years to get them, getting a lot of threats," said Silverio Barros Maciel, an Ituxi reserve community leader.

But today, with almost no government support and ever growing pressure from ranchers who want their lands, the forest farmers say that clock is turning back.

Guardians of the Amazon

In the two Amazonas reserves, farmers harvest Brazil nuts, acai, fish and other produce on a modest scale. The creation of the reserves "meant freedom," says Medio Purus leader Jose Maria de Oliveira.

Aerial view of deforestation in the Western Amazon region of Brazil

It also meant another line of defense for the Amazon rainforest, putting locals in charge of making sure that exploitation of the natural resources is sustainable and preventing big companies from grabbing land.

Jose Maria de Oliveira credits the creation of the two reserves for saving species like the arapaima, a mammoth fishone of the biggest river fish in the worldfrom annihilation.

But the forces pressing down on the rainforest are ever stronger. The highest deforestation rates in Brazil are found in the area of Labrea, the regional center which governs both reserves and which is a center for logging and ranching.

"There's a whole mosaic of conservation areas here but that's not enough to halt the deforestation because there are people who want it to go ahead," Jose Maria de Oliveira said.

At the government environmental body named after the slain campaignerthe ICMBio or Chico Mendes Conservation and Biodiversity Instituteofficials feel powerless.

There are just four employees to monitor conservation in an area about the size of one and a half Puerto Ricos. "We are struggling to keep the forest going but we see that conservation of the Amazon is not the government's priority," Joedson Quintino, the ICMBio representative for Ituxi said.

Abandoned

Simply living on the extractive reserves is tough. What farmers say is the government's near abandonment of their communities makes it tougher.

There are no roads, so everything and everybody must travel by river.

To get from Labrea to Ituxi takes six hours in a fast boat, using up $140 worth of fuel each way. In winter months, when the heavy rains come, boats can take shortcuts, cutting the journey in half.

Scarce educational facilities make raising a family harder. In Ituxi, for example, there is only basic schooling and the teacher, Francisco da Silva, lives in the small wooden building.

Felipe Spina Avino, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) forestry conservation analyst, uses drones to map an area of rainforest in the Ituxi reserve in the Western Amazon region

He has used his ingenuity to build a solar system powering a television, printer and music player used during classes. Others rely on noisy, expensive-to-run generators.

"Life on the riverbanks is hard," says Sicleudo Batista, another rural teacher who at 29 has already had malaria six times.

In Medio Purus there are around a dozen schools for middle school, with satellite links for distance learning, but there's no access to higher education, which makes it hard to persuade young people not to leave the reserve. There are a dozen other primary school facilities, all in simple hits with just a handful of rooms, including for where the teacher lives.

Cleyton de Oliveira is the only health worker for all of Ituxi and half of his monthly $400 salary goes on boat fuel costs. There are no pharmacies or dedicated boat ambulances, while a boat dispensing preventative care has visited Medio Purus just once so far this year and not at all in Ituxi.

It's meant to visit both twice a year.

The mayor of Labrea, Gean Barros, can offer little help. From the same center-right party as President Michel Temer, a big supporter of agribusiness, Barros opposed the creation of the two local extractive reserves.

Residents accuse him of doing everything he can to weaken the reserves.

He blames the lack of help given to them on the central government. "Ninety percent of what they promised was not carried out," he said.

Ituxi leader Francini dos Santos said there's no other choice but to keep tryingneither for them nor for the forest.

"There are so many obstacles that we get tired," he said. "But if we abandon it, everything will get worse."

 2017 AFP
This podcast is the mouthpiece of Michael Matt, Editor of The Remnant Newspaper. Hes been fighting against lunatics and heretics since 1996. If it has to be the Apocalypse, you might as well enjoy it with Michael Matt!
Austrians vote Sunday in a snap election tipped to see conservative Sebastian Kurz, 31, become the EU's youngest leader and form an alliance with the far-right, in the bloc's latest populist test. A rightward shift in the wealthy European Union member of 8.75 million people would be a fresh headache for Brussels, as it already struggles with Britain's decision to leave and the rise of nationalists in Germany, Hungary, Poland and elsewhere. But all signs indicate that Austrians, fed up with a record influx of asylum-seekers, want to swap the gridlocked centrist rule for a more hardline government for the first time in a decade. The People's Party (OeVP) -- rebranded by the fresh-faced Kurz as his personal "movement" -- is projected to reap over 30 percent of the vote with pledges to go tough on migrants and easy on taxes. The "whizz-kid" is likely to form a coalition with the eurosceptic Freedom Party (FPOe), forecast to place second or third with at least 25 percent, polls suggest. Founded by ex-Nazis, the FPOe almost won the presidency last year and topped opinion polls before Kurz stole votes with his radical OeVP makeover in spring. FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache, 48, railed against asylum-seekers and vowed to stop Austrians from "becoming a minority in our own homeland", at a rally late Friday. Meanwhile embattled Chancellor Christian Kern, 51, and his once-mighty Social Democrats (SPOe) could be flushed into opposition after their promising campaign was decimated by blunders and scandals. Open hostility between the ex-railway chief and Kurz also makes any new attempt at ruling together seem unlikely. Kern, in office since last May, issued a final warning Saturday against a right-wing alliance, saying "Austria was at the most important crossroads in decades". The OeVP and FPOe already shared power between 2000 and 2007. At the time the alliance with the far-right - then led by the late, SS-admiring Joerg Haider - sparked protests and ostracised Austria. But its return may not trigger the same backlash now that nationalists have gained ground across Europe. - 'Captures people's minds' - Some 6.4 million people are eligible to vote in Sunday's closely-watched ballot. Polls will open at 0400 GMT and close at 1500 GMT, with first estimates expected shortly afterwards. The early parliamentary election was triggered after Kurz became OeVP chief in May and ended the bickering "grand coalition" with the Social Democrats. For his turquoise movement, he drew young candidates from outside politics and vowed to put "Austrians first" again. "I am feeling optimistic," OeVP party volunteer Michael Brandstetter told AFP in Vienna. "The way Kurz goes about things is what has captured people's minds." As foreign minister, Kurz claims credit for closing the so-called western Balkan migrant route in 2016, earning him praise at home. Pushing far-right themes, the ambitious politician wants to cut benefits for all foreigners and shut Islamic kindergartens. Kurz and Strache also see eye-to-eye on lowering taxes, slashing Austria's red tape and keeping the EU more out of national affairs. Experts say their union could turn Austria into a tricky partner for the bloc. Vienna will hold the EU's presidency in the second half of 2018, just when Brussels wants to conclude Brexit talks in March 2019. Strache thinks Britain "will probably be better off after Brexit" and pushes for closer ties with eastern and central European countries. "The Freedom Party as a government partner will not make a good impression in Europe (and) Kurz is aware of that," commented Der Standard newspaper on Saturday. "But the question is whether there is any getting around Strache after this election."
Pressure mounted on Catalonia's leader Sunday ahead of a Madrid-imposed deadline to decide whether to defy international pleas for unity and declare independence or back down and unleash the wrath of his separatist allies. Spain's government has given Carles Puigdemont until 10:00 am (0800 GMT) on Monday to clear up his ambiguous stance on secession after announcing last week that he was ready to declare the region "an independent state" but called for more time for talks. Anything other than a full climb-down is likely to be viewed by Madrid as a declaration of independence which would prompt the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to lauch steps to take direct control of the region. Spain's most serious political crisis in a generation has already prompted hundreds of businesses to start leaving the prosperous northeastern region, sparking fears it may damage the eurozone's fourth-largest economy. Puigdemont is under intense pressure from Madrid and European neighbours to abandon his independence push. But he's also being squeezed by his separatist allies to deliver secession after a banned October 1 referendum on the matter saw those who voted overwhelmingly back independence. "His commitment to the people who asked this of him on October 1 is very clear, which is why we believe he will go down this route," Marta Pascal, a senior official in Puigdemont's party, said Sunday. But polls indicate that Catalans themselves are divided over independence, and many voters stayed at home during the plebiscite. - 'No turning back' - Officials in Madrid are watching Monday's deadline closely, but it is thought the Catalan leader may deliver what the central government deems another non-committal response. "If that's the case, that will show that he doesn't want dialogue and so the Spanish government will need to take necessary measures to return to normality," said Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido on Saturday. Under article 155 of the Spanish constitution, the central government can take direct control of its devolved regions if it deems them to be acting against the national interest. But such a move could spark further unrest in Catalonia. At the same time, separatist groups have vowed to stage mass strikes and protests if Puigdemont backtracks. On Sunday in Girona, a Catalan city where Puigdemont was once mayor, hundreds gathered in favour of independence, chanting the slogan: "No turning back!" But the regional president, a 54-year-old former journalist, is keeping his cards close to his chest. Laying a wreath at the tomb of former Catalan leader and separatist hero Lluis Companys, Puigdemont said his decision would be "inspired by his commitment to peace, civility and serenity, but also firmness and democracy." - 'Edge of a cliff' - Zoido urged Puigdemont on Sunday not be "pressured by a radical minority who are his partners in government and who have brought Catalonia to the edge of a cliff." Adding to tensions is Monday's expected appearance in a Madrid court of Catalan police chief Josep Lluis Trapero. He and two separatist lobby leaders are accused of sedition for their roles in a protest against the national police on September 20, and during the October 1 vote. Puigdemont has asked for international mediation in the crisis, an idea Rajoy dismissed out of hand. Madrid says it will not negotiate on a movement that violates the constitution, and EU leaders have presented a united front in favour of Spanish unity. EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker has said that Catalan independence would create a domino effect for other secession-seeking regions in the bloc. Separatists argue that Catalonia is shouldering an unfair burden by paying more in Spanish taxes than it gets back. They insist independence would allow the region of 7.5 million people to prosper. But since the referendum, hundreds of companies have started leaving, including Catalonia's two largest banks. Ratings agency Standard and Poor's has warned of a recession in the region if the crisis drags on.
Singapore Press Holdings CEO Ng Yat Chung addresses reporters at a press conference on Wednesday, 11 October, 2017. PHOTO: Dhany Osman/Yahoo News Singapore

After days of speculation, the axe finally fell on Thursday (12 October) as Singapore Press Holdings, under a new CEO, accelerated the process of cutting a tenth of its work force. A total of 130 were let go last week and another 100 will lose their jobs by the end of the year. Two weeks ago, 40 people lost their jobs as Today bit the bullet and went fully digital, surrendering the print market to its rival, The Straits Times.

Both retrenchment exercises exposed a corporate culture that is clueless and inexperienced in carrying out these painful decisions. That culture has been embedded in a DNA that is out of touch with the new reality of a brewing storm of job dislocations brought on by digital disruption.

Singapore has had an easy ride on the jobs front. The government spin was that unemployment only happened elsewhere, that Singapore was an oasis of job security. But the numbers tell the real story: the overall unemployment rate was unchanged at 2.2 per cent in June 2017 compared with three months earlier, but the nagging fear of layoffs is now ever-present as 3,500 people lost their jobs in the second quarter of this year. Such losses are likely to hit 12,000 for the full year.

SPH and, to a lesser extent Today, have been caught with their pants down as they floundered in handling a precarious human situation.

Media giants floundering

Singapore Press Holdings deputy CEO Anthony Tan at a press conference on Wednesday, 11 October, 2017. PHOTO: Dhany Osman/Yahoo News Singapore

Some SPH staff were shocked when they came to work only to find out that they could not log on to their computers. It seems the IT department was too quick on the draw and acted even before the retrenched were told of their fate. A source said the computer shutdown for those affected was actually to take effect two to three hours after the announcement. For the first time, they were efficient, said a cynical journalist.

The compensation packages were generous, but not for all. For example, a staff member at Today who had just hit 60 was given retrenchment terms different from those offered to younger staff. If I had gotten what others were offered, my package would have been $30,000 more. I was a pioneer at Today having served the paper since its inception in 2000. I felt a sour taste in my mouth, he said. A member of the SPH editorial team was also unhappy that the management did not acknowledge his many years of service in the company. I would have expected that at the very least, he said.

Story continues

Another source confirmed a report that top editor Warren Fernandez told Straits Times staff about the papers intention to recruit more foreign desk journalists to compete with US newspapers in the region. Now, why would anybody want to say that to staff under siege and facing an uncertain job future?

Even those not axed felt lousy. My poor staff is paying the price for the top managements incompetence, said one supervisor. That sentiment is resonating online, with one contributor saying these companies should have found ways to tackle the disruption earlier and only used the retrenchment route as a last resort.

Letting good people go



Retrenchments are painful exercises and nobody, whether from management or employee ranks, is ever fully prepared for a life-changing experience. More than 30 years after I had to give retrenchment letters to some staff in the New Nation, the pain of that memory is still vivid.

One of them was my chief reporter, and I was totally unprepared. I did not know what to say, or how to pitch the decision in a humane way. When he walked into the room, I blurted out: I believe you know what this is all about. I hope you will take it in the right spirit. He smiled, took the letter and vanished as quickly as he came in. Till today, I dont know if I did the right thing.

Thirty years later, the management at the two publishing houses were, like me, totally unprepared for the cruel reality of retrenchments. What has made the layoffs even worse, and unacceptable, is that both companies remain profitable. Yes, SPH profits have been going down but it is still a company with a yearly revenue of more than $1 billion.

Todays performance is not so good with pre-tax profits dropping from $10 million in 2014 to $6 million in 2015 and $3 million last year. Going fully digital will save it an estimated $20 million a year in printing costs. Couldnt that saving have been used to stave off the job cuts? Then there is the stark point made by an SPH supervisor: Why should the staff pay the price for a management that has been dragging its feet on taking bold and decisive steps to face the harsh downsides of a digital disruption in the media industry?

The job market is in a churn. Both employees and employers need to come to grips with this new reality as Singapore tries to navigate choppy waters. Dont be surprised if entire industries get wiped out of existence. Sugarcoating such eventualities will only make retrenchments, when they finally happen, more traumatic. The time has come to prepare for the dark new world.

P N Balji is a veteran Singaporean journalist and the former chief editor of Today, as well as a former editor at The New Paper. He is currently a media consultant. The views expressed are his own.

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France on Saturday urged the US Congress not to rip up the Iran nuclear deal, after President Donald Trump decertified Iran's compliance with the 2015 agreement. "We strongly hope that Congress, which is now responsible for a possible rupture, does not jeopardise the deal," French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in an interview with AFP. "If we denounce a deal that has been respected, it will set a dangerous precedent," particularly in the context of negotiations with North Korea, Le Drian said, echoing other signatories of the Iran deal Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia. On Friday, Trump ignored the advice of worried allies and kicked the fate of the landmark 2015 deal to Congress, which he told to address its "many serious flaws". Under the deal a number of international sanctions against Tehran were lifted in return for Iranian curbs on its uranium enrichment. The Republican-controlled Congress will now have to decide whether to reimpose sanctions on Iran -- a step that if taken would almost certainly doom the agreement. "For us, the Vienna accord is a good accord, it limits nuclear proliferation and prevents Iran from acquiring atomic weapons. It is robust and coherent," said Le Drian. However he left the door open to further talks on what happens after a deadline in 2025, when certain limits on Iran's uranium enrichment are set to expire. Washington would like to see the curbs extended in perpetuity. "We can open a preliminary discussions with Tehran on what happens after 2025. If the treaty is respected, Iran can fully exercise its rights under the non-proliferation treaty. If safeguards or inspections are required on this date, we will start discussing them. It is also a way to avoid breaches today. We are ready to consider these issues with the Americans," said Le Drian, who will visit Tehran in the coming weeks. Asked if Europeans would be willing to impose sanctions against Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards Corps, as Trump has requested, Le Drian said "we can talk about it". More generally he said that recent decisions by the US -- to withdraw from UNESCO and the Paris climate agreement, as well as jeopardising the Iran deal -- have called multilateralism into question. "The American position today is a position of strength... of rivalry between powers and a denial of the interests of multilateralism," he said.
Conservatives in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition were in an uproar Saturday after one of her key allies floated the idea of a Muslim holiday in Germany. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said this week he was willing to discuss the possibility of introducing a Muslim holiday in parts of the country. Germany is home to some 4.4 million Muslims, with many coming from the nation's large ethnic Turkish community. The over one million migrants that arrived in recent years also include many Muslims. "Where there are many Muslims why shouldn't we consider a Muslim holiday," the interior minister said at a rally in Lower Saxony ahead of Sunday's regional election in the state. The CSU, the Bavaria-based sister party of Merkel's Christian Democrats, strongly rejected the idea. "Germany's Christian heritage is not negotiable," Alexander Dobrindt, a senior CSU politician, told the Bild newspaper. "For us, the introduction of Muslim holidays is out of the question," he said. Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz meanwhile said Saturday that the idea was worth "thinking about", according to the DPA news agency. Schulz said he was surprised that the idea had come from the interior minister who he said was usually known for having "very little imagination" in this area. De Maiziere had previously called on immigrants to respect the German "Leitkultur", culture of reference, a term regularly used by the far-right. Sunday's regional vote is a major test for Merkel after she won a fourth term in a national election in September but without a majority in parliament, which has forced her to embark on high-stakes coalition talks. Latest surveys show the CDU lagging behind the Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Lower Saxony, the fourth most populous state in Germany.
By Maher Chmaytelli BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Kurdish authorities said on Friday they had sent thousands more troops to Kirkuk to confront "threats" of Iraqi military attack, but also slightly pulled back defence lines around the disputed oil-producing area to ease tensions. The Baghdad central government has taken a series of steps to isolate the autonomous Kurdish region since its overwhelming vote for independence in a Sept. 25 referendum, including banning international flights from going there. Baghdad's tough line, ruling out talks sought by the Kurds unless they renounce the breakaway move, is backed by neighbours Turkey and Iran - both with their own sizable Kurdish minorities, and in Turkey's case, a long-running Kurdish insurgency. Tens of thousands of Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers have been stationed in and around Kirkuk for some time and another 6,000 have arrived since Thursday, Kosrat Rasul, vice president in the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), said. In Washington, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Friday the situation had the full attention of the United States, which was working to ensure it does not escalate. "We can't turn on each other right now. We don't want this to go to a shooting situation," Mattis said. "These are issues that are longstanding in some cases ... We're going to have to recalibrate and move these back to a way (in which) we solve them politically and work them out with compromised solutions." The KRG's Security Council expressed alarm late on Thursday at what it called a significant Iraqi military buildup south of Kirkuk, "including tanks, artillery, Humvees and mortars.""These forces are approximately 3 km (1.9 miles) from Peshmerga forces. Intelligence shows intentions to take over nearby oilfields, airport and military base," it said in a statement. Kurdish security sources later said that the Peshmerga had shifted their defence lines by 3 km (1.9 miles) to 10 km south of Kirkuk to reduce the risk of clashes with Iraqi forces, which then moved into some of the vacated positions without incident. The area from which the Peshmerga withdrew is populated mainly by Shi'ite Muslim Turkmen, many of whom are loyal to the Shi'ite led-government in Baghdad and affiliated with Iranian-backed political parties and paramilitary groups. An Iraqi military spokesman said military movements near Kirkuk aimed only to "inspect and secure" the nearby region of Hawija recaptured from Islamic State militants a week ago. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has repeatedly denied any plans to go further and actually attack the territory. Kirkuk, a city of more than one million people, lies just outside KRG territory but Peshmerga forces deployed there in 2014 when Iraqi security forces collapsed in the face of an Islamic State onslaught. The Peshmerga deployment prevented Kirkuk's oilfields from falling into jihadist hands. KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani urged the United States, the European Union and the U.N. Security Council "to rapidly intervene to prevent a new war." Germany, which traditionally has good relations with both Baghdad and the KRG, called for measures to defuse tensions. "We would like to ask them to meet those responsibilities and not to escalate the conflict," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters in Berlin. President Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said on Thursday Ankara would gradually close border crossings with northern Iraq in coordination with the central Iraqi government and Iran. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim is expected in Baghdad on Sunday for talks with Abadi. (Additional reporting by Michael Nienaber; editing by Mark Heinrich and G Crosse)
Russian President Vladimir Putin is on Sunday expected to speak at a youth festival launched in the Soviet era, in his latest effort to appeal to young Russians ahead of the presidential election next year. The World Festival of Youth and Students was initiated by the USSR and the Eastern Bloc after World War II and Russia is hosting the 19th festival Sunday in Sochi's Olympic park on the Black Sea, following a Soviet-style parade in Moscow Saturday that boasted 10,000 foreign guests. Putin, who is widely expected to run for re-election next year though has not formally announced his participation, will visit the opening in Sochi along with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials. The forum, which uses guerrilla icon Che Guevara as a symbol, has the motto "For Peace, Solidarity and Social Justice, we Struggle Against Imperialism." The event's website says organisers expect 20,000 guests in Sochi from 150 different countries. Russia's embassy in Pyongyang said North Korea will also send a delegation of "Komsomol" - the Soviet youth movement. - Re-creating 1957 - The World Youth Festival first took place in Czechoslovakia in 1949 and was hosted by Communist states around the world in the second half of the 20th century. Six events have been held since 1989, with North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela among the host nations. The USSR hosted the event twice: once in 1985 shortly after Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader and most famously in 1957, when thousands of foreigners descended on Moscow for the first time during Khrushchev's political thaw. Sixty years later, this year's student parade in Moscow echoed the 1957 festival which Russians remember as marking the beginning of a new, more open USSR. On Saturday, students walked through central Moscow with flags of different countries. The rainy weather kept some people away and the spectators consisted mainly of people over 50, some teary-eyed with nostalgia. "I finally have the chance to see this as I lived in the Far East and didn't have the chance to see it in Moscow," said 71-year-old Valentina Rogova watching the parade. "All nations should be friends. We used to have more events like this in Soviet times." The 1957 festival "was a breakthrough for the West and for the East," according to Russian historian Alexander Shubin. "The West saw that normal people live in the USSR while Soviet citizens saw what foreigners look like for the first time." - Presidential campaign - This year's festival will have a different vibe. While hosting an exhibition on the lessons of the 1917 October Revolution, the leftist festival's programme also includes workshops on how to set up a business and a display of Dutch tulips. "It's a borscht of contrary ideas," political analyst Konstantin Kalachev told AFP. "Che Guevara does not fit in with the protectionism of the conservative government." Putin, is expected to use the platform to get young Russians on his side ahead of next year's vote. The Kremlin has been trying hard to appeal to the under-30 crowd and Putin's presidential campaign is widely anticipated to be centred around youth policy. "He wants to show that he's not only the president of the pensioners, but also the president of the future," said political analyst Aleksey Makarkin. The Kremlin's campaign to woo young Russians was accelerated by the increased participation of youngsters, including many underage teenagers, in anti-Putin protests this year, galvanised by internet savvy opposition politician Alexei Navalny. "The government was worried when young people took to the streets," said Kalachev. "They realised that a whole generation of non-conformists could soon come of age." The World Festival of Youth and Students was planned before the opposition protests took place, but also falls within the Kremlin's agenda to boost Putin's popularity. "They are trying to form a loyal pro-presidential youth or at least minimise the political activity of youths," said Kalachev. But the problem, analysts say, is that the Kremlin's youth policy often copies the old Soviet methods. "They organise meetings that last for hours, they speak at chess competitions - this is all very Soviet," said Makarkin.
FILE PHOTO: A man watches a television broadcast of U.S. President Donald Trump's speech, in Tehran, Iran October 13, 2017. Nazanin Tabatabaee Yazdi/TIMA/File Photo via REUTERS

By Parisa Hafezi

ANKARA (Reuters) - Iranians quickly closed ranks against a hawkish new U.S. approach to Tehran, but Iran's powerful hardliners are set to exploit the latest dispute with Washington to weaken domestic rivals who are open to the West, analysts and insiders say.

President Donald Trump's warning on Friday that he might ultimately terminate a landmark 2015 nuclear deal sets the stage for an eventual resurgence of political infighting within Iran's complex power structures, officials said.

If the accord signed by Iran and six major powers does start to fall apart, anyone who strongly promoted it, such as pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani, could face a career-damaging backlash.

That could leave Iran's security hardliners unchallenged at home, enabling greater Iranian assertiveness abroad that could worsen tensions in the Middle East, analysts say.

For the moment, solidarity within the Islamic Republic's faction-ridden political elite is the priority.

"What matters now is unity against the foreign enemy," a senior official told Reuters on condition of anonymity, like other figures contacted within Iran because of the sensitivity of the matter.

"Our national interest is a priority for all Iranian officials."

But Rouhani and pragmatists and reformist allies who promoted the deal, which lifted sanctions in return for Tehran rolling back technologies with nuclear bomb-making potential, may become increasingly politically vulnerable at home.

"GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY" FOR ROUHANI'S CRITICS

Trump on Friday defied both U.S. allies and adversaries by refusing to formally certify that Tehran is complying with the accord even though international inspectors say it is.

"The growing tension with America is a golden opportunity for hardliners to clip Rouhani's wings," said a Rouhani ally, who was involved in the 18-month nuclear talks.

Iran's top authority, hardline Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, guardedly backed Rouhani when he opened the door to nuclear diplomacy with world powers, but has repeatedly expressed pessimism about Washington remaining committed to it.

Story continues

For Rouhani the stakes are high: His rapprochement with the world won him enhanced popularity at home and prestige abroad, dealing a setback to Khamenei's hardline allies, who oppose both detente with the West and domestic liberalisation.

Now the tables may be turning.

"Hardliners will use Trump's threat as a Sword of Damocles over Rouhani's head ... While enjoying the economic benefits of the deal," said Tehran-based political analyst Saeed Leylaz, referring to the lifting of tough oil and banking sanctions.

"Rouhani and his detente policy with the world will be weakened if the deal does not survive," another senior Iranian official said.

"And of course an aggressive regional policy is inevitable."

Under Iran's unique dual system of clerical and republican rule, the elected president is subordinate to the unelected Khamenei, who has in the past reasserted control when infighting threatened the existence of the Islamic Republic.

Trump's policy will play into the hands of hardliners eventually, said an ally of Khamenei. "What matters is the Islamic Republic and its interests."

TIT-FOR-TAT STEPS

In reaction to Trump, Rouhani signalled Iran would withdraw from the agreement if it failed to preserve Tehran's interests.

The survival of the deal now is up to the U.S. Congress, which might try to modify it or reimpose U.S. sanctions on Iran. But even if the Congress refuses to consider sanctions, the deal could still be in jeopardy if Washington and Tehran resort to tit-for-tat retaliatory steps.

"As long as both sides only exchange words, business will continue as usual," said Leylaz.

Since the lifting of sanctions, Rouhani has started to repair an economy ravaged by a decade of restrictions on its vital oil industry and issued warm welcomes to global investors.

But major European investors could think twice about involvement in Iran if tension mounts with the United States and uncertainty grows over survival of the accord.

"If European companies don't have the comfort of a political agreement endorsed by the Americans they will say stop," said a senior French diplomat.

Among European firms that have announced big deals in Iran since the deal took effect are planemaker Airbus AIR.PA, French energy group Total TOTF.PA and Germany's Siemens SIEGn.DE.

REGIONAL CHAOS

Trump enraged Tehran by saying that the Revolutionary Guards, which have fought Iran's regional proxy wars for decades, was Khamenei's "corrupt personal terror force and militia". Rouhani said Iranians would always stand by the Guards.

Several officials agreed that Trump's hostility would not change Iran's regional behavior, determined by Khamenei. But if Trump somehow made good on his threats, "then Iran will adopt a harsher and aggressive regional policy," said one of the officials familiar with Iran's decision-making policy.

Iran and its rival Saudi Arabia accuse each other of fuelling regional tensions. The Sunni Muslim kingdom is at odds with Tehran's revolutionary Shi'ite leaders in struggles across the Arab world, including Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain and Lebanon.

On social policy, Rouhani's scope to loosen restrictions on individual freedoms and rights would be crushed by hardliners if he loses political prestige. Hardliners control the judiciary, security forces and state media.

"Whenever pressured abroad, the regime increases pressure at home to silence any opposition," said a former moderate official.

(Additional reporting by Jonathan Saul in London and John Irish in Paris; Writing by Parisa Hafezi, Editing by William Maclean)
2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming Digest #41

Posted on 15 October 2017 by John Hartz

Story of the Week... El Nino/La Nina Update... Toon of the Week... Graphic of the Week... SkS Spotlights... Coming Soon on SkS... Poster of the Week... SkS Week in Review... 97 Hours of Consensus...

Story of the Week...

Firefight in Sonoma County reaches second week as flames force thousands to evacuate

Firefighters from Compton put a scratch and wet line around a fire on Lovall Valley Road in Somona, Saturday, Oct 14, 2017. (Kent Porter/The Press Democrat) 2017

An army of firefighters with a larger aerial arsenal at their disposal held their ground and made some gains Saturday on devastating wildfires ravaging Wine Country, but evacuation orders that forced thousands from their homes before dawn and a rising death toll were clear reminders of the peril that still grips the region.

Northeast winds that arrived early Saturday whipped up a new fire in the hills outside eastern Santa Rosa, and spread an existing blaze outside Sonoma, prompting another round of nighttime evacuation orders.

Thousands of Santa Rosa residents were forced to leave  some for the second time since last Sunday  while others faced their first mandatory orders in Sonoma.

Firefight in Sonoma County reaches second week as flames force thousands to evacuate by Kevin McCallum & Randi Rossmann, The Press Democrat, Oct 15, 2017

El Nino/La Nina Update

The task of a climate forecaster is to see the forest, and not get hung up on the individual trees. Especially that extra tall one over there, with the gnarl that looks like a face, and the low branches that would be so easy to climb, and uh, right. My point is that we try to look beyond shorter-term weather to see longer-term monthly and seasonal patterns. After all, a particular winter can have several colder-than-average days and still be warmer than average overall.

Which brings me to the current situation in the tropical Pacific! The October ENSO forecast says La Nina conditions are favored during the fall and winter 2017-18, but at press time the ocean-atmosphere system didnt quite meet the criteria for a La Nina Advisory. Specifically, while the atmosphere is generally consistent with La Nina, the sea surface temperature in the Nino3.4 region has been volatile, recently edging up close to average following several weeks near or below the La Nina threshold (0.5C colder than average).

Animation showing sea surface temperature departure from the 1981-2010 average from early August through early October 2017. Graphic by climate.gov; data from NOAAs Environmental Visualization Lab.

Is the overall pattern truly La Nina, with some short-term fluctuations temporarily obscuring the pattern? Or has the atmosphere-ocean system really not settled down into a consistent pattern at all? The difference between these two scenarios is subtle, and the ENSO forecast team is maintaining the La Nina Watch as we wait for a clearer picture. The forecast is for that picture to become clearer soon, with La Nina conditions 55-65% likely during this fall and winter.

October 2017 ENSO update: Still watching for La Nina by Emily Becker, NOAA's Climate.gov. Oct 12, 2017

Toon of the Week...

Graphic of the Week...

Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to repeal the Clean Power Plan. In response, Janet Redman, U.S. Policy Director of Oil Change International issued the following statement:

Pruitts move to repeal the Clean Power Plan shouldnt come as any surprise. Hes repeatedly partnered with fossil fuel companies to sue the EPA for regulating the industrys air, water, and climate pollution. This kind of cronyism is exactly what happens when government agencies are captured by the corporations theyre supposed to oversee.

According to Pruitt, this is just another way to even the playing field for coal, oil, and gas  but he knows as well as anyone that fossil fuels already get massive government giveaways. In fact, permanent tax breaks for the fossil fuel industry are seven times higher than those for renewable energy.

The fight to curb the worst abuses of the fossil fuel energy industry wont stop here. Federal legislation, the courts, and millions of voters have made it clear that the federal government is obligated to protect American workers and families from the deadly impacts of dirty energy, not hand polluters taxpayer dollars.

Oil Change International Statement On Clean Power Plan Repeal, Oct 10, 2017

SkS Spotlights...

The Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) Portal was launched in 2010 as a National Science Digital Library (NSDL) Pathways project. It is led by the science education expertise of TERC, the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Science (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, and the Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College. As of 2012, CLEAN has been syndicated to NOAA's climate.gov portal.

CLEAN's primary effort is to steward the collection of climate and energy science educational resources and to support a community of professionals committed to improving climate and energy literacy.

The three key components of the CLEAN project are:

1. The CLEAN Collection of Climate and Energy Science resources- high-quality, digital resourcesincluding learning activities, visualizations, videos, and short demonstrations/experimentsgeared toward educators of students in secondary through undergraduate levels.

2. Guidance in Teaching Climate and Energy Science  pages designed to help educators understand and be equipped to teach the big ideas in climate and energy science.

3. The CLEAN Network  a community of professionals committed to improving climate and energy literacy.

Coming Soon on SkS...

The war on coal is over. Coal lost (Dana)

(Dana) The F13 files, part 1 - the copy/paste job (Ari)

(Ari) Guest Post (John Abraham)

(John Abraham) Americans want a $15 per month carbon tax; but how to get one? (Dana)

(Dana) New research this week (Ari)

(Ari) 2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #42 (John Hartz)

(John Hartz) 2017 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Waming Digest #42 (John Hartz)

Poster of the Week...

SkS Week in Review...

97 Hours of Consensus...

Ken Denman's bio page

Quote derived with author's permission from:

"The issue is not a lack of scientific evidence, the issue is the unwillingness of people and governments to act. It seems to defy logic. But a lot of addictions defy logic. Our society is completely addicted to cheap power."

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The idea of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe to emphasise to the impacts of the Reformation.

A New Testament by Martin Luther on display at the German Historical Museum in Berlin. (Source: AP/TASR)

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Ten Slovak cities received commemorative medals on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in late March 2017 from the representatives of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe.

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In addition, they were granted the title European City of the Reformation, the TASR newswire reported.

I appreciate the cooperation with representatives of all Churches active in our town and I dare say that it is good, said Jan Nosko, mayor of Banska Bystrica, one of the awarded cities, as quoted by TASR.

He supported the idea of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe to emphasise to the impacts of the Reformation, and said that Banska Bystrica with its rich Reformation history is a good example of this. The city was among the first that accepted this religion.

I believe that by receiving the title European City of the Reformation we are reminded of the great impact and diversity of the European Reformation that deserves our attention, Nosko added, as quoted by TASR.

Apart from Banska Bystrica, the title also went to Kosice, Levoca, Presov, Sabinov, Kremnica, Kezmarok, Spisska Nova Ves and Banska Stiavnica. Altogether 90 cities across Europe hold the title.

The ceremony was accompanied by a festive service held in the Evangelical Church in Banska Stiavnica, which was also attended by German Ambassador to Slovakia Joachim Bleicker.
A jug with coins from the 17th and 18th centuries was buried on a ridge above some caves.

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Archaeologists in Lucivna, a village under the Tatras, dug out a small earthenware jug with 870 pieces of silver coins.

We cleaned two thirds of the coins, so far the oldest one is from 1665 and the youngest from 1733. Hungarian mintage dominates but there are also Silesian, Tyrolean, Moravian, Lower-Austrian and mintage from the Olomouc archbishopric, said archaeologists from the Archaeological Institute of Slovak Academy of Sciences in Spisska Nova Ves, Marian Sojak, as quoted by the SITA newswire.

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Archaeologists have researched systematically in Lucivna; in the past they found unique discoveries from modern times, according to Sojak.

Some modern coin, spur or badge appeared here and there, however, this was a big surprise for us, stated Sojak for SITA.

The treasure was found in the western part of the cadastre.

It was buried on a ridge above caves located about 15 metres from a group of rocks. The person knew where to bury it to be able find it, even though he or she apparently did not come back, the archaeologist noted for SITA. He added that it is hard to say what the circumstances were that led to burying treasure.

Maybe the person hid it because of disturbances, maybe he was attacked on a well-known postal road that leads through the village, Sojak continued for SITA. The owner of the coins was a medium wealthy person, probably from the lower middle class.

The nominal value is rather low; the highest value is 15 Kreutzer of Leopold I. Among all the silver coins is also a copper one, a mining emblem from Spania dolina, that one is really precious, the archaeologist summed up for SITA.
ONEOK, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas in the United States. It operates through Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids, and Natural Gas Pipelines segments. The company owns natural gas gathering pipelines and processing plants in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions. It also gathers, treats, fractionates, and transports natural gas liquids (NGL), as well as stores, markets, and distributes NGL products. The company owns NGL gathering and distribution pipelines in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado; terminal and storage facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois; and NGL distribution and refined petroleum products pipelines in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, as well as owns and operates truck- and rail-loading, and -unloading facilities connected to NGL fractionation, storage, and pipeline assets. In addition, it operates regulated interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines and natural gas storage facilities. Further, the company owns and operates a parking garage in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma; and leases excess office space. It operates 17,500 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines; 1,500 miles of FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipelines; 5,100 miles of state-regulated intrastate transmission pipeline; six NGL storage facilities; and eight NGL product terminals. It serves integrated and independent exploration and production companies; NGL and natural gas gathering and processing companies; crude oil and natural gas production companies; propane distributors; municipalities; ethanol producers; and petrochemical, refining, and NGL marketing companies, as well as natural gas distribution and electric generation companies, producers, processors, and marketing companies. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc.,      ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics.

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Genesee & Wyoming Inc. owns and leases freight railroads. It operates through three segments: North American Operations, Australian Operations, and U.K./European Operations. The company transports various commodities, including agricultural products, autos and auto parts, chemicals and plastics, coal and coke, food and kindred products, lumber and forest products, metallic ores, metals, minerals and stone, petroleum products, pulp and paper, waste, and other commodities. It owns or leases 122 freight railroads, including 105 short line railroads and 2 regional freight railroads located in the United States, 8 short line railroads located in Canada, 3 railroads located in Australia, 1 railroad located in the United Kingdom, 1 railroad in Poland and Germany, and 2 railroads in the Netherlands with a total of approximately 16,200 miles of track. The company also operates 6,200 additional miles of track that is owned or leased by others. In addition, it operates deep sea maritime containers and provides bulk haulage, including coal, aggregates, cement, and infrastructure services. Further, the company provides rail service at approximately 40 ports; rail-ferry service in North America, Australia, and Europe; and contract coal loading and railcar switching for industrial customers. Genesee & Wyoming Inc. was founded in 1899 and is headquartered in Darien, Connecticut.
Launched back in 2011, the Chinese satellite Tiangong-1, which was orbiting Earth has lost its track and become out of control, might fall on Earth soon. The Chinese Space Agency has reported that the space station is expected to crash-land on the Earth surface this year or early 2018.

The Guardian reported that the Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell said that the Tiangong-1 is decaying quickly and one can expect it will come down a few months from now  late 2017 or early 2018, he said.

However, whats surprising is that China also doesnt know where the collision will occur as scientists have lost the track of space lab module.

Tiangong-1 was not a very big module and most of the debris will get burnt due to frictional force of atmosphere and chances are there that entire space lab module gets burnt in the air itself. Even if it manages to crash into Earth, it will shrink into a very small size but it will be moving at a speed greater than of a bullet which can be catastrophic.

Based on our calculation and analysis, most parts of the space lab will burn up during falling, said Wu Ping, deputy director of the manned space engineering office, reports Xinhua.

The unmanned part of space lab weighed over 8 tons. The space lab module has performed several key operations including a series of docking of exercises back in 2012. China wants to make its own version of International space station and Tiangong-1 (meaning Heavenly Palace) was the first brick.

China recently launched the Tiangong-2 space lab module. The module was aimed at testing life support systems and refueling technology for its 60-ton modular space station.

Tiangong-2 is placed in an orbit of 393 kilometers above the Earth and it will help in studying fundamental physics, biology, fluid mechanics in microgravity, space science and will monitor Earth from space. In addition, it has the capability to measure the topography of the oceans with very high precision which will enable scientists to study Earths gravity field.

The loss of Tiangong-1 came as a shock for Chinese space agency as their mission for modular space lab of the class of International

International Space Station will retire in 2024 and Chinese space station is a promising alternative. Other space agencies are looking forward to collaborating with China as Chinese station can become the international base for astronauts in coming years.

We have been able to form an impression of the cosmos around us through the ingenious work in space exploration. Not only have we managed to send spacecraft into the void for finding new planets and celestial bodies but also improvised continuously on the technology used for space exploration.

The primary objective of space missions is achieved through imaging which is ensured through the integration of competent and avant-garde imaging equipment such as sensors, cameras, and imagers. These tools help in capturing the images of unexplored entities in the space alongside assisting in the supervision of activities related to spacecraft and space station such as Ducking. And to carry out such activities and missions with more accuracy, Chinese Space Lab has launched the new and revolutionary Micro-satellite.

Chinas tentative space lab Tiangong-2, which is tracking the Earth with two involved astronauts, on Sunday, launched a microsatellite weighing 47kg. This microsatellite is intended to lead proficient orbit control, handle the space tasks autonomously and transmit information at high speeds, with more grounded abilities contrasted and the going with a satellite of the Shenzhou-7 shuttle.

Alongside an infra-red sensor, the satellite is also capable of generating enough power through three solar panels that are embodied in the spacecraft. With these three solar panels, it can adjust its course to click pictures of the lab and probe automatically. Banxing-1, which is the forerunner spacecraft of Banxing-1, finished the same mission for Shenzhou VII in the year 2008 and the new satellite is designed with more intensity, more power. The spacecraft is smaller than its preceding models and has a superior aptitude, said state-run China Daily.

Tiangong-2, placed in an orbit of 393 kilometers above the Earth and it will help in studying fundamental physics, biology, fluid mechanics in microgravity, space science and will monitor Earth from space. In addition, it has the capability to measure the topography of the oceans with very high precision which will enable scientists to study Earths gravity field.

Tiangong-2 has another payload named POLAR which is gamma-ray detector. It was developed by the collaboration of three countries  China, Switzerland, and Poland. POLAR will study Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs), the most energetic event in the universe. According to reports, POLAR will work for two years and will observe a total of 20 GRBs.
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<p>An incredible back garden boozer made entirely from recycled materials has been crowned Britain's best Pub Shed of the Year.</p><p>John Simmons, 50, spent more than a year and constructing the amazing DIY man-cave in his garden in Portsmouth, Hants.</p><p>It features its own dart board, wooden decor, countryside-pub style seating, a roof covered in fairy lights and even its own outdoor beer garden and decking area.</p><p>He built the miniature pub - called The Dog & Ball - from as much reclaimed material he could find from salvage yards and a Facebook page for pub shed enthusiasts.</p><p>John sourced, cut, sanded and fixed every timber and tting himself  as well all 4,500 screws.</p><p>The dad-of-three beat off more than a thousand entries to be named the owner of Britain's best Pub Shed 2022.</p><p>He celebrated the win in his garden pub last night (12/11) with friends  and said he was thrilled to be crowned the winner.</p><p>John started building the boozer last year and said he wanted a 'haven at home' he could enjoy that was cheaper than the pub.</p><p>Avid DIY-er John, a safety management consultant, said the pub cost four figures to build but would have been much more expensive had he not used reclaimed materials.</p><p>Wife Anita, 49, put the finishing touching to the Dog & Ball - named after their Labradoodle Bertie, aged seven  and the pair enjoyed celebrating with kids Libby, 23, Jacob, 19, and Evie, 12.</p><p>John said: It has all been rather overwhelming, but I am chuffed to bits.</p><p>We had 18 friends over last night to celebrate the final and it was fantastic to find out I won - I was really thrilled.</p><p>I started building it last year and wanted to have it completed this summer for my 50th birthday.</p><p>Sourcing the reclaimed material took the biggest chunk of time.</p><p>I am an avid DIY-er and love a project.</p><p>Lots of people had been doing this sort of thing over lockdown so I took inspiration from that, and I wanted a haven at home that was cheaper than the pub.</p><p>Its somewhere I can go and enjoy being with my friends and family, which was really the whole purpose.</p><p>It cost about four figures, which is much cheaper than it would have been had I done a proper build and had to go to shops for the materials.</p><p>John, who was in the Royal Navy for 22 years, said his favourite part of the pub is the oak beams which make up the main structure.</p><p>The three-metre-long bits of wood remarkably came from an old dock yard building John used to work in.</p><p>He said: My favourite part is the main oak beams.</p><p>They are from an old dock yard building that I used to work in years ago before it was demolished.</p><p>These three-metre-long beams that form the main structure of the pub had sat in a yard for 20 years and then I managed to buy them.</p><p>It is a remarkable story.</p><p>All my family and friends have been so supportive of the project, and it has been great having everyone round to enjoy it.</p><p>My wife Anita put all the finishing touches to the pub to make it look as amazing as it does.</p><p>I took the name from my Labradoodle Bertie who just loves to play with his ball, I really wanted him to be part of it all.</p><p>The Dog & Ball beat off two other finalists, a mini countryside-style pub called The Tiger, in Somerset, and The Stagger Inn, in Manchester - a nightclub-themed bar</p><p>They were whittled down from more than a thousand entries - many of which were built during lockdown.</p><p>John said: "Doing it all from salvage was of course a challenge  thank goodness for FB marketplace, advice from the fantastic members of the GSPN UK Facebook page and a very understanding wife who I dragged around local reclaim yards sifting through old timbers.</p><p>"With the exception of the main roof joists, every other part of the build is made from reclaim, re-used or recycled timber and materials.</p><p>"Each piece has a different story, from the bar ironmongery that belonged to my late father-in-law from his days as an RAF engineer, to the main oak upright timbers.</p><p>It is believed more than two million back garden pubs are now in operation in Britain after their popularity exploded during the coronavirus pandemic.</p><p>They have continued to grow amid a cost of living crisis after the average price of a pint rose to 4 across the UK and 5 in London.</p><p>As a result, Two Fat Blokes bar signs, Pub Shed Radio and the Facebook group Garden Shed Pubs & Nightclubs began running the national competition.</p><p>The winner was announced live on Pub Shed Radio on Saturday (12/11).</p><p>Ashley Turner, the owner of Two Fat Blokes Bar Signs, said: "The quality of bars and diversity of the entries has been phenomenal.</p><p>"We ran the competition to showcase the amazing community of pub sheds in the UK.</p><p>"The community has exploded during the pandemic and now with the cost of a pint heading north of 6 the trend looks set to continue.</p><p>"The Dog & Ball is a perfect example of an amazing pub shed and deserved to win with his amazing hand-built pub.</p><p>Tommy Funka, who runs, Pub Shed Radio added: Pub Shed of the year has been a great way for the pub shed community to come together and celebrate the growing army of back garden boozers".</p><p>Pub Shed Radio's DJ Mupps said: "It was brilliant to knock on the door of the winners bar live on Pub Shed Radio.</p><p>"John & Anita were totally gobsmacked to find out they had won. We then went live from the bar broadcasting with a real party atmosphere."</p><p>Nick St John, the owner of Facebook group Garden Shed Pubs and Nightclubs, added: "Being involved Pub Shed of the year has been the culmination of our ethos to promote and help people build their own back garden pubs.</p><p>"With over 280,000 members our group has really got on board with the competition.</p><p>"Judging the entries was so difficult  The Dog & Ball is a great example of a proper pub shed."</p>
By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The former president of a Vatican-owned hospital in Rome on Saturday was convicted of abuse of office for diverting nearly half a million dollars of funds to renovate a top cardinal's luxury apartment. The Vatican court, a three-judge panel, gave Giuseppe Profiti a one-year suspended sentence. The prosecution had asked for three years for the former head of the prestigious Bambino Gesu hospital. It also reduced the seriousness of the charge against Profiti to abuse of office from the initial embezzlement. Massimo Spina, the hospital's treasurer, was acquitted. Testimony at the trial, which began in July in the city-state's courtroom, again exposed lack of transparency in the financial handling of Vatican assets in Italy, where it owns numerous institutions and much real estate. Profiti and Spina were charged with spending 422,000 euros ($481,000) in 2013 and 2014 on refurbishing the large Vatican retirement home of Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Holy See's former number two. His retirement apartment, which has a huge terrace and breath-taking view of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica, has become a symbol of the difficulty of the frugal-minded pope's efforts to rein in the luxury some Church leaders still enjoy. Bertone, 82, was the Vatican secretary of state, effectively the deputy pope, for most of the pontificate of former Pope Benedict and was one of the most powerful men in the Roman Catholic Church. He was removed from office in 2013, eight months after the election of Francis. The renovation started a few weeks later on the spacious property, which is next door to the Vatican guest house where the pope lives in a modest suite. Bertone hired the construction firm of a friend to do the reconstruction work, bypassing the customary bidding process, and made a down payment with his own money. The company eventually went bankrupt but the foundation that runs the hospital sent 422,000 euros to a London-based company affiliated with the construction firm. Neither Bertone nor the owner of the construction company were called to testify at the trial. When the Vatican confirmed last year that Profiti and Spina were under investigation, a lawyer for Bertone said the cardinal had never asked for or authorised payment for the restoration work from hospital funds. Profiti said the hospital used some of its funds to renovate Bertone's apartment because the cardinal had agreed that it could be used for fundraising. After the scandal was first revealed in a book, Bertone gave 150,000 euros of his own money to the Bambino Gesu to make amends for damage done to the hospital's image. (Reporting By Philip Pullella; Editing by Ros Russell)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Politicians from North and South Korea will not hold direct talks in Russia on Monday about Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programme despite attending the same event and being urged to do so by Moscow, Russian news agencies said on Sunday. Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, is due to discuss the missile crisis in separate talks with a deputy head of North Korea's legislature and the head of South Korea's parliament on the sidelines of a congress of parliamentarians in St Petersburg on Monday. Moscow has called on the two countries to use the opportunity to have their own direct talks to try to narrow their differences. But the RIA news agency on Sunday cited Piotr Tolstoi, the deputy speaker of the Russian lower house of parliament, and an unnamed member of North Korea's delegation as saying there would not be any direct talks. The unnamed North Korean delegate was quoted as saying that U.S. pressure on Pyongyang and U.S. and South Korean military exercises meant preconditions for such talks had not been met. Konstantin Kosachyov, head of the upper house of parliament's foreign affairs committee, said Moscow would try again on Monday to encourage the two delegations to hold face-to-face talks despite the lack of progress. Russian news agencies quoted him as saying that the North Korean delegation had so far declined to hold such talks, while the South Korean delegation had said it was ready for such a meeting. "We will definitely not try to coerce or talk somebody into anything," the Interfax news agency cited Kosachyov as saying. "(But) it will be pity, both on the human and political level, if another opportunity to de-escalate tensions in relations between North Korea and South Korea is missed." North Korea's nuclear tests and missile launches have stirred global tensions and prompted several rounds of international sanctions at the U.N. Security Council. A de-escalation plan, backed by Russia and China, would see North Korea suspend its ballistic missile programme and the United States and South Korea simultaneously call a moratorium on large-scale missile exercises, both moves aimed at paving the way for multilateral talks. (Reporting by Andrew Osborn; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
WASHINGTON (AP)  In a brash move likely to roil insurance markets, President Donald Trump will "immediately" halt payments to insurers under the Obama-era health care law he has been trying to unravel for months.

The Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement in a statement late Thursday. "We will discontinue these payments immediately," said acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan and Medicare administrator Seema Verma.

In a separate statement, the White House said the government cannot legally continue to pay the so-called cost-sharing subsidies because they lack a formal authorization by Congress.

However, the administration had been making the payments from month to month, even as Trump threated to cut them off to force Democrats to negotiate over health care. The subsidies help lower copays and deductibles for people with modest incomes.

Halting the payments would trigger a spike in premiums for next year, unless Trump reverses course or Congress authorizes the money. The next payments are due around Oct. 20.

The top two Democrats in Congress sharply denounced the Trump plan in a joint statement.

"It is a spiteful act of vast, pointless sabotage leveled at working families and the middle class in every corner of America," said House and Senate Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi of California and Chuck Schumer of New York. "Make no mistake about it, Trump will try to blame the Affordable Care Act, but this will fall on his back and he will pay the price for it."

The president's action is likely to trigger a lawsuit from state attorneys general, who contend the subsidies to insurers are fully authorized by federal law, and say the president's position is reckless.

"We are prepared to sue," said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. "We've taken the Trump Administration to court before and won."

Word of Trump's plan came on a day when the president had also signed an executive order directing government agencies to design insurance plans that would offer lower premiums outside the requirements of President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Story continues

Frustrated over setbacks in Congress, Trump is wielding his executive powers to bring the "repeal and replace" debate to a head. He appears to be following through on his vow to punish Democrats and insurers after the failure of GOP health care legislation.

On Twitter, Trump has termed the payments to insurers a "bailout," but it's unclear if the president will get Democrats to negotiate by stopping payment.

Experts have warned that cutting off the money would lead to a double-digit spike in premiums, on top of increases insurers already planned for next year. That would deliver another blow to markets around the country already fragile from insurers exiting and costs rising. Insurers, hospitals, doctors' groups, state officials and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have urged the administration to keep paying.

Leading GOP lawmakers have also called for continuing the payments to insurers, at least temporarily, so constituents maintain access to health insurance. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., is working on such legislation with Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington.

The so-called "cost-sharing" subsidies defray copays and deductibles for people with low-to-modest incomes, and can reduce a deductible of $3,500 to a few hundred dollars. Assistance is available to consumers buying individual policies; people with employer coverage are unaffected by the dispute.

Nearly 3 in 5 HealthCare.gov customers qualify for help, an estimated 6 million people or more. The annual cost to the government is currently about $7 billion.

But the subsidies have been under a legal cloud because of a dispute over whether the Obama health care law properly approved them. Adding to the confusion, other parts of the Affordable Care Act clearly direct the government to reimburse the carriers.

For example, the ACA requires insurers to help low-income consumers with their copays and deductibles.

And the law also specifies that the government shall reimburse insurers for the cost-sharing assistance that they provide.

But there's disagreement over whether the law properly provided a congressional "appropriation," similar to an instruction to pay. The Constitution says the government shall not spend money unless Congress appropriates it.

House Republicans trying to thwart the ACA sued the Obama administration in federal court in Washington, arguing that the law lacked specific language appropriating the cost-sharing subsidies.

A district court judge agreed with House Republicans, and the case has been on hold before the U.S. appeals court in Washington. Up to this point the Trump administration continued making the monthly payments, as the Obama administration had done.

While the legal issue seems arcane, the impact on consumers would be real.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated that premiums for a standard "silver" plan will increase by about 20 percent without the subsidies. Insurers can recover the cost-sharing money by raising premiums, since those are also subsidized by the ACA, and there's no legal question about their appropriation.

Consumers who receive tax credits under the ACA to pay their premiums would be shielded from those premium increases.

But millions of others buy individual health care policies without any financial assistance from the government and could face prohibitive increases. Taxpayers would end up spending more to subsidize premiums.

Earlier Thursday, Trump had directed government agencies to design a legal framework for groups of employers to band together and offer health insurance plans across state lines, a longstanding goal of the president.

___

Associated Press Writers Ken Thomas and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.

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LONDON (Reuters) - Parliament will block Britain from leaving the European Union without an exit deal, the opposition Labour Party's finance policy chief said on Sunday. Negotiations are deadlocked between Prime Minister Theresa May's government and the EU on securing a divorce settlement and agreement on future relations, raising the prospect that Britain could walk away from talks without a deal. But Labour's John McDonnell, leader Jeremy Corbyn's most senior ally, said he believed there was enough support in parliament to block such an eventuality. "I don't think it's a realistic option, it's not going to happen. I don't think there is a majority in parliament for no deal," McDonnell told the BBC. Currently, parliament does not have the power to block any decision to walk away. The government has promised to give parliament a vote on whether to accept a negotiated final deal, but that does not provide a means to block 'no deal'. However, McDonnell said he thought there was enough support in parliament - where May does not have an outright majority - to amend legislation to include such a right. "They haven't got a majority to get through a no deal situation in parliament. (If) we amend the legislation for parliament to have a meaningful vote, that will force the government to negotiate and come to their senses," he said. (Reporting by William James; Editing by Mark Potter)
Photo credit: Getty

From ELLE UK

Ryan Gosling is the latest star to respond to Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment allegations. The Blade Runner star shared a statement on Twitter today, where he showed his support for the women who have spoken out against the film producer.

"I want to add my voice of support for the women who have had the courage to speak out against Harvey Weinstein," the actor wrote.

Gosling-who previously starred in The Weinstein Company-produced film Blue Valentine (2010)-added that he's "deeply disappointed" in himself for "being so oblivious to these devastating experiences of sexual harassment and abuse."

Weinstein "is emblematic of a systematic problem," Gosling continued. "Men should stand with women and work together until there is real accountability and change."

Gosling's remarks arrive two days after The New York Times published accounts from actresses including Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie accusing Weinstein of sexual harassment. The New Yorker also shared similar stories from the producer's accusers on the same day.

A spokesperson for the film producer issued a statement in response to the New Yorker story, which reads: "Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously can't speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual. Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path. Mr. Weinstein is hoping that, if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance."

Story continues

The Times first broke news of Weinstein's decades-long history of alleged sexual harassment last Thursday. Since then, Hollywood A-listers including Brie Larson, George Clooney, and Meryl Streep have spoken out to condemn Weinstein's alleged behavior and show support for those who've stepped forward.

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A South Korean court on Friday extended the detention of former President Park Geun-

hye, who is on trial over broad corruption allegations that led to her removal from office and arrest in March.

The Seoul Central District Court issued an additional six-month arrest warrant for Park which will take effect once the current warrant expires today, according to a court official who didnt want to be named, citing office rules.

Prosecutors said Park should be kept behind bars until the court reaches a verdict in her case, citing concerns she might try to destroy evidence if released. A verdict is expected as early as before the end of the year.

Park faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term over charges that she colluded with a friend to take tens of millions of dollars from companies in bribes and extortion.

The scandal led to the indictments of dozens of people, including former Cabinet ministers, senior presidential aides and billionaire Samsung scion Lee Jae-yong, who has appealed an August ruling that sentenced him to five years in prison for offering bribes to Park and her friend in exchange for business favors.

Park was arrested and jailed on the last day of March, weeks after Seouls Constitutional Court upheld an impeachment bill passed by lawmakers in December and formally removed her from office. Millions of people had angrily but peacefully marched in the streets for months calling for her ouster, turning a large boulevard near Seouls presidential palace into a sea of candlelight over dozens of weekends.
Nabors Industries Ltd. provides drilling and drilling-related services for land-based and offshore oil and natural gas wells. The company operates through five segments: U.S. Drilling, Canada Drilling, International Drilling, Drilling Solutions, and Rig Technologies. It provides tubular running, wellbore placement, directional drilling, measurement-while-drilling (MWD), equipment manufacturing, and rig instrumentation services; and logging-while-drilling systems and services, as well as drilling optimization software. The company also offers REVit, an automated real time stick-slip mitigation system; ROCKit, a directional steering control system; SmartNAV, a collaborative guidance and advisory platform; SmartSLIDE, an advanced directional steering control system; and RigCLOUD, which provides the tools and infrastructure to integrate applications to deliver real-time insight into operations across the rig fleet. In addition, it manufactures and sells top drives, catwalks, wrenches, drawworks, and other drilling related equipment, such as robotic systems and downhole tools; and provides aftermarket sales and services for the installed base of its equipment. As of December 31, 2021, the company marketed approximately 301 rigs for land-based drilling operations in the United States, Canada, and in 20 other countries worldwide; and 29 rigs for offshore platform drilling operations in the United States and internationally. Nabors Industries Ltd. was founded in 1952 and is based in Hamilton, Bermuda.
Amid the gloom and struggle that Osaka has gone through in recent years, a tourism boom has been an unexpected boon for Japans gritty second city.

The commercial roots and boisterous and friendly people of Osaka and the surrounding Kansai region provides a contrast to the relative coolness and formality of Tokyo thats winning favor with tourists from Northeast Asia.

The boom is boosting the local economy. Duty-free sales at department stores in the region were up almost 60 percent in the first eight months of this year from the same period in 2016, according to the central bank. The areas relatively high unemployment rate has dropped considerably, to 4 percent last year, while the number of companies in Osaka grew 16 percent in the 12 months through March, faster than in Tokyo or across the whole nation.

While Japan as a whole has benefited from a massive increase in tourism recently, its especially pronounced in Osaka. Almost 10 million overseas tourists visited the city in 2016, a 363 percent jump over five years, versus the 188 percent increase seen nationally.

The city is popular with tourists from Asia, partly due to increased flights by low-cost carriers, such as Spring Airlines Co. of China and Jeju Air Co. of South Korea. This year looks to be another record, with 5.3 million visitors in the first six months of 2017, according to the citys tourism office.

Within Osaka itself, the southern part of the city around Shinsaibashi is attracting many people. The Daimaru department store in Shinsaibashi sold 11 billion yen ($98 million) of duty-free goods in March-August this year.

This inbound tourism has brought a growth chance to sectors such as the retail and restaurant business, which were shrinking due to population decline, said Kimihiro Etoh, a Bank of Japan executive and manager of the Osaka branch.

Osaka was traditionally the merchant capital of Japan, with many businesses in the early-modern Edo period based there.

The merchant spirit and tradition of bargaining is one of the things that Chinese probably find attractive, according to Xiaoxiao Liu, a Beijing-born economist at Mitsubishi Research Institute in Tokyo. Chinese tourists arent just looking to to buy stuff anymore, they want to have experiences while spending money. And on that point, Osaka is totally more fun, she said.

The whole shopping district of Shinsaibashi is entertaining, according to Masahisa Maeda, the head of the areas shopkeepers association. You can eat while walking down the street, talking to people in shop and stalls, and watching them cook before your very eyes, he said.And the buzz is being shared online in China, where travelers have reported the attractiveness of Osaka.

Osaka has food, culture and shopping, said 67-year old Mok Cheong Seng from Macau, while visiting the city recently for the seventh or eighth time. Her son Peter Lee, who was traveling with her, said, Tokyos too busy, but you can relax in Osaka.

The city plans to apply to host the 2025 Expo, and is also looking to host the first casino resort, when these are legalized in Japan. Masahiro Hidaka, Bloomberg
Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. provides natural gas compression services and equipment to the energy industry in the United States. It fabricates, manufactures, rents, and sells natural gas compressors and related equipment. The company primarily engages in the rental of compression units that provide small, medium, and large horsepower applications for unconventional oil and natural gas production. As of December 31, 2021, the company had 2,023 natural gas compression units in its rental fleet with 418,041 horsepower. The company also engages in the design, fabrication, and assembly of compressor components into compressor units for rental or sale; engineers and fabricates natural gas compressors; and designs and manufactures a line of reciprocating compressor frames, cylinders, and parts. In addition, it is involved in the design, fabrication, sale, installation, and service of flare stacks and related ignition and control devices for the onshore and offshore incineration of gas compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gases. Further, the company offers customer support services for its compressor and flare sales business; and exchange and rebuild program for small horsepower screw compressors. Its primary customers are exploration and production(E&P) companies that utilize compressor units for artificial lift applications; E&P companies that focuses on natural gas-weighted production; and midstream companies. Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Midland, Texas.
Thomson Reuters Corporation provides business information services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in five segments: Legal Professionals, Corporates, Tax & Accounting Professionals, Reuters News, and Global Print. The Legal Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on legal research and integrated legal workflow solutions that combine content, tools, and analytics to law firms and governments. The Corporates segment provides a suite of content-enabled technology solutions for legal, tax, regulatory, compliance, and IT professionals. The Tax & Accounting Professionals segment offers research and workflow products focusing on tax offerings and automating tax workflows to tax, accounting, and audit professionals in accounting firms. The Reuters News segment provides business, financial, and international news to media organizations, professional, and news consumers through news agency and industry events. The Global Print segment offers legal and tax information primarily in print format to legal and tax professionals, governments, law schools, and corporations. The company was formerly known as The Thomson Corporation and changed its name to Thomson Reuters Corporation in April 2008. The company was founded in 1851 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Thomson Reuters Corporation operates a subsidiary of The Woodbridge Company Limited.
Aberdeen looking to shift focus to retail business development

The city of Aberdeen has been discussing the hiring of an economic development manager. Here's a little more about that plan.
A screenwriter.

An actor.

A novelist.

An independent film director.

These are all parts of John Sayles life.

Each one has brought attention to his brilliance.

This is part of the reason Sayles and his partner, Maggie Renzi, are being honored with the lifetime achievement award at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival on Friday, Oct. 20.

Sayles and Renzi have been making films for more than 40 years. Sayles is usually behind the camera, and Renzi produces the projects.

The pair met while studying at Williams College and released their first film together, Return of the Secaucus Seven, a few years after graduation. The film went on to win major awards and launched both of their careers.

Since then, each has become an icon within independent cinema.

The duo will stop in Santa Fe next weekend to receive the honor.

Our friend Haskell Wexler was always uncomfortable getting lifetime achievement awards, he says. I guess its because it makes you feel like your not going to achieve anymore and that your life is over. On that note, were honored to get this award.

The awards ceremony will be followed by Sayles and Renzis Oscar-nominated film Lone Star.

The film follows Sam Deeds, Sheriff of Rio County, Texas, and son of former Sheriff Buddy Deeds, who is revered for replacing the corrupt Sheriff Charlie Wade.

The young sheriff is called to the small town of Frontera, where a skeleton, the body of Charlie Wade, has been uncovered in the desert.

Deeds soon finds himself caught amid the towns long-buried secrets and suspicious that his father may not be the just man hes made out to be.

It is written and directed by Sayles, produced by Renzi and stars Chris Cooper, Kris Kristofferson, Matthew McConaughey and Elizabeth Pena.

During Sayles career, hes seen the film industry change immensely.

I think its almost more, how has your ability (to make films) changed? he says. Its gotten harder to raise money, and to get it distributed is difficult. There was a very short period in the 80s when it was doable. Its gotten really hard. The best thing about having a career this long is that we get agents and good actors to call us back now. Sometimes we get really good actors to work for scale.

Sayles has also worked with both film stock and digital productions.

He recalls worrying about running out of film while working on his first movie.

We didnt want to over-buy. We had to worry about how many takes we were doing. With digital, you dont worry about that. You can keep rolling. I edit my own movies, and it helps me save time when I edit as were shooting. With digital, it also allows me to be up near the actors as much as possible. We move faster, and that helps when youre under time constraints.

Sayles makes his living as a writer for hire.

Hes also finished his next book, which is going out before publishers.

Im a writer that can keep moving along, he says. Each story is different and has its own demands. I adjust to each project Im working on.

Sayles has filmed in 12 states and is looking to film his next production in New Mexico.

If we can raise the money, wed be shooting in April through June, he says. It would kind of be all over the state  White Sands, Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

If you go

WHAT: John Sayles and Maggie Renzi Lifetime Achievement Award

WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20

WHERE: Lensic Performing Arts Center, 211 W. San Francisco, Santa Fe

HOW MUCH: $30, plus fees at ticketssantafe.org or 505-988-1234
Jill Momaday has been on a journey for the past six years.

Its a story thats been in her heart for more than 20 years.

It is told with three different layers  the historic, the cultural and the personal.

The Santa Fe Independent Film Festival will present her film,Return to Rainy Mountain at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Lensic Performing Arts Center.

The documentary celebrates the life and legacy of the author  and her father  N. Scott Momaday and the rich cultural history of the Kiowa people.

A panel discussion will follow the film with the elder Momaday, recipient of the SFIFF Lifetime Achievement Award, Jill Momaday, and mentors Chris Eyre and Kirk Ellis, Emmy Award-winning writer and producer.

Jill Momaday says working on the documentary was one of the most difficult things shes done.

Its so incredibly personal, she says. I carried this project around in my heart and gut for about 20 years. Then back in 2010, I was clearing away the dishes in the kitchen one evening in the fall. My husband was stirring the fire, and my girls were playing. Then I hear this voice say, But youre the magic link. It was the voice of my grandmother. It became clear in the coming days that I had to work on it.

Momaday doesnt think she separated herself enough.

Instead, she let the entire documentary unfold organically.

I knew I wanted my voice, and I knew I wanted my fathers voice, she says. I wanted the historical element of the Kiowa people. Personally, I wanted to weave back and forth between my fathers voice and his written pieces. I wanted to intertwine those with my voice and pieces of prose, as well as bringing in the ancient myth and legend of our Kiowa people.

Return to Rainy Mountain retraces the sacred journey of the Kiowa people to Devils Tower in Wyoming and Rainy Mountain in southwestern Oklahoma, landmarks that inform the Kiowa oral traditions passed along for generations.

After Momadays aunt died, she felt a need for the documentary.

I realized with her passing that many stories would be lost, she says. It made a profound impression of the importance of preserving them, as my father has done with his writing.
Max Evans is a raconteur.

That style has afforded the Albuquerque-based writer a stellar career in the literary world.

In his 93 years, Evans has come out of every situation with a grand story  and hell tell you about them if you have the time.

Yet for a man whose brain swims with words, hes at a loss when he talks about himself.

For the past couple of years, filmmaker Lorene Mills has taken on the task of creating a documentary about Evans life.

She worked with Paul Barnes and David Leach on the projects and will have a screening at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Center for Contemporary Arts in Santa Fe as part of the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival.

On Sunday, Oct. 22, the documentary will screen at the KiMo Theatre at 4 p.m. The event is free.

Im very proud of what they did, and Lorene put a wonderful package together, Evans says of the film. To be honest, I am truly embarrassed. I just simply dont feel like I deserve such a tremendous tribute film. I mean that with all my heart. So many people put so much into the little film, and the work is tremendous. It humbles you a lot.

The worlds Evans creates are full of cowboy culture  one he is very familiar with.

He was born in Ropes, Texas, where he learned about life on a ranch.

Hes a cowboy. Hes a miner. Hes a visual artist.

The dozens of novels hes written include The Rounders, The Hi Lo Country and The One-Eyed Sky.

Each piece of work is of Evans. Its a glimpse into a world where everything is on his terms.

I can write a book as thick as 10 Bibles, he says with a laugh. Words come out in my head and are written through my arms. Knowing when to quit is the hardest thing. When Im writing, I dont care of what anybody will think. I will go live in that world that I created, until I decide to leave it  thats when I write the end.

Throughout his career, Evans has picked up many honors.

More than a dozen are displayed around his Albuquerque home  an oasis for the writer.

You couldnt ask for a better place to write, he says while looking out a window to his patio. All of my success has helped me get to this point in my life.

Evans has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Western Writers Association of America.

Despite all of the attention and accolades, Evans remains humble.

I know how this will sound, but I have to say it, he says. Being able to help other struggling people  writers  that I believe in  being able to help them get published, thats one of the most rewarding things to happen to me in my life. To say that I was there once and knowing how they feel when your back is against the wall. I know when I was trying to be a painter, I deeply appreciated the people who took me on, and getting help from them was immeasurable.

With the documentary, Evans was able to revisit many parts of his life  some of which he didnt remember.

There are a few spans of years that I completely forgot about, he says. I guess life happened.

Evans is also proud of two projects in New Mexico he was involved in.

The first is being part of the New Mexico Film Commission, which was started under the direction of former Gov. David Cargo, who served from 1967 to 1971.

Evans was a founding member of the commission, the first in the United States.

He was able to help out Cargo because of his Hollywood connections, thanks to his book The Rounders.

I went to Hollywood alone and on my own dime, he says. I enlisted the help of my agent, (director) Sam Peckinpah, (director) Burt Kennedy and others. This resulted in a breakfast at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Fifty-seven major Hollywood producers and directors were there. Dave Cargo made a powerful speech about filming in New Mexico. He doesnt get the credit he deserves when it comes to the film industry. The push for film in New Mexico started with him.

The other project he is proud of is helping found the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. The museum opened in 1998.

Former Gov. Garrey Carruthers and former state Secretary of Agriculture Frank DuBois wanted to start a museum in Las Cruces.

Pat (his wife) and I, we drove from here to Las Cruces back and forth for 16 years to get the museum started, he recalls. We had to meet in a little office. Frank had an office, and there were too many people and we often stood for the meeting. Being able to bring the museum to life was a blessing.

If you go

WHAT: Ol Max Evans: The First Thousand Years

WHEN: 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19

WHERE: Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe

HOW MUCH: $13 at santafeindependentfilmfestival.com
LAS CRUCES  A plane crash in the desert northwest of Las Cruces on Thursday claimed the lives of two men, including a well-known pilot and aviation enthusiast who for years was a steadfast figure at the Las Cruces International Airport.

Morris Doug Newton, 77, of Las Cruces and David Glenn Hancock, 67, of El Paso died in the crash, which is under investigation by authorities. The two were the only occupants of the fixed wing, single-engine Cesna plane.

Authorities responded to the crash about 8:30 p.m, roughly four miles northeast of the citys airport in a remote, mountainous area, according to the New Mexico State Police.

Officials said they dont yet know the cause of the crash.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Lynn Lunsford says a post-crash fire destroyed the aircraft.

Federal authorities were expected to arrive Friday to investigate the cause of the crash, according to the state police.

A state police spokesman said he didnt know why the two were flying Thursday evening.

Mayor of the airport

Newton, a long-time pilot, was a member of the citys Airport Advisory Board, a panel that gave input to city officials about operations at the city-owned airport west of Las Cruces.

Over the years, Newton has held a variety of roles in connection to local aviation, including as the manager of an aviation-services business and as a flight instructor. But what remained constant was his passion for planes and for flight, according to friends and colleagues. He flew nearly every day.

I used to refer to him as the mayor of the airport, said airport Manager Lisa Murphy. He knew everyone; he knew everything that was going on. He really cared about the airport.

Newton had a close-call in May 2010, when a single-engine plane he was piloting crashed near the Las Cruces airport. He sustained injuries to his head but made a recovery, according to Sun-News archives.

Newton had multiple types of flight certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration, according to that organizations website. He was a member of the Las Cruces Experimental Aircraft Association, a group that focused on designing, building and restoring aircraft. The organization held monthly breakfasts, where Newton became known for his omelet-making skills.

A lifelong passion

Murphy said Newton was a true flight enthusiast. Hed make a point of taking time out of his schedule to show aircraft to school children visiting the airport for field trips.

Hed been a pilot his whole life, she said. He was a really good pilot. He was kind of a natural at it. Everything he did was aviation-related.

According to a state website, Newton was president of Aero Hangars Inc., which formed earlier this year. He was also president of a second corporation, Aero Newton Inc., created in 2013.

Prior to that, Newton was manager of Adventure Aviation, an airplane fueling station and cafe at the Las Cruces airport. That business dissolved, but Newton maintained involvement at the airport.

Las Crucen Chris Franzoy, a student of Newtons, said he began flying with him in 2013. Franzoy has had a flight license since the early 90s but wanted to obtain further certifications. Franzoy said Newton was definitely one of the best instructors Ive ever had.

His passion was in flying, Franzoy said. It showed. He was a very good pilot and very good teacher. I know that whatever happened in that plane crash  Im sure Doug did everything he could to prevent it. Were sure going to miss him.

Big void

Aero Newton was a flying club, in which members shared the costs of keeping and maintaining airplanes, Franzoy said.

Franzoy said Newton did his due diligence every week making sure the aircraft were up to par and safe for flying.

This was just a very unfortunate incident, he said.

Murphy agreed Newtons death will leave a big void in the local aviation community.

Hell definitely be missed, she said.

Newton is survived by his wife, Elsie, who lives in Las Cruces.

Fourth in three years

Thursdays crash marks the fourth fatal plane crash in the vicinity of Las Cruces International Airport in the past three years.

In August 2014, a Cessna 421C crashed just after takeoff. Killed were the pilot, 29-year-old Freddy Martinez of El Paso, Fredrick Green, 59, a Las Cruces man being transported for cancer treatment; flight paramedic Tauren Summers, 27, of El Paso; and flight nurse Monica Chavez, 35, of Las Cruces. The crash was later attributed to a fueling error.

In November 2014, Tyler Francis, 29, the pilot and only occupant of a home-built Ross Vans Aircraft RV-3, was pronounced dead at the scene of a crash near the airport. Francis owned Francis Aviation.

In August 2015, David Tokoph, 64, died from injuries sustained in a plane crash at the Las Cruces airport. Tokoph lived in El Paso and held an international flight speed record.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Diana Alba Soular may be reached at 575-541-5443, dalba@lcsun-news.com or @AlbaSoular on Twitter.



2017 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.)

Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

_____
Hong Kong is needlessly inviting trouble  and dirty money. That would be the most obvious interpretation of the recent tweaks in the financial centers anti-money-laundering guidelines.

Banks, insurers and other institutions are being told by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the Securities and Futures Commission and other regulators that they dont need to collect documentary evidence of customers addresses and make efforts to verify them: Pinning down the beneficial owners of a shell corporation to a permanent address somewhere wont be necessary.

The existing guidelines, laid out as part of customer due diligence, will be formally amended next year, though if HSBC Holdings Plc wants, it can go ahead and shred the tenancy agreement it took from me while opening my bank account: it wont be breaking any rules.

Its definitely costly for banks to verify addresses  or to be on the regulatory hook for doing so. In September 2016, Hong Kong wrote to banks saying it didnt expect a zero failure regime in which institutions tightened the screws so much that they turned away legitimate businesses. The thinking goes, perhaps, that its more sensible for banks to expend efforts on catching and reporting suspicious transactions than worrying about who might actually be the ultimate beneficiary of the money parked with them. That philosophy is probably the motivation behind the changes announced Wednesday.

Still, an eyebrow or two is bound to be raised. For one thing, the rules are being relaxed embarrassingly soon after the discovery of a major transnational crime in which billions of dollars were allegedly stolen from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund and laundered around the world.

The 1MDB saga wasnt only about suspicious transactions, though there was a shocking number of them. The scandal was also about banks willingness to take on board dubious customers. After all, Standard Chartered Plc did allow a Malaysian customer to open an account in Singapore in the name of Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners, when this shell firm had nothing to do with Blackstone Group LP or its affiliate Blackstone Real Estate.

The timing of the move is off in another respect. Capital outflows from China may have abated for now, but the threat of mainland money swamping Hong Kongs asset markets and financial system is ever-present. Meanwhile, an equity trading link between the Hong Kong bourse and exchanges in Shanghai and Shenzhen has made illegal round-tripping of mainland Chinese money easier.

By the middle of next year, Hong Kong will put in place an investor ID system to get a better grip on whos trading stocks in the Peoples Republic from the former British colony. Given those priorities, it makes little sense to relax know your customer  or KYC  rules in the citys banking system.

If the idea is to boost competitiveness, Hong Kong need only draw a leaf from its arch-rivals playbook. Singapore, badly bruised by the 1MDB episode, is building a common KYC platform. Banks and fintech players can share it to cut down the cost of customer due diligence. Thats probably a better route to go down than scrapping address verification. Andy Mukherjee, Bloomberg
As Legislative Finance Committee Chair Rep. Patty Lundstrom, D-Gallup, put it in an August opinion piece, A strong national economy is lifting up our state, but overall the New Mexico economy remains stagnant.

Thats a polite way of saying that New Mexico, with its second-highest-in-the-nation unemployment, has seen slight economic progress, but that progress is not the result of reforms coming out of Santa Fe. We agree.

Sadly, Lundstrom and other leaders in the Legislature have few proposals for turning our state around. Instead, two ideas seem to have taken hold: 1) raise taxes or; 2) tap the permanent fund. Either way, more government spending  not doing more with existing funds  seems to be the priority.

Adoption of a right to work law has been one bold reform idea put forth by both Gov. Susana Martinez and the Rio Grande Foundation, and it is working around the country. In recent years, state legislatures, including West Virginia, Kentucky and Missouri, have adopted such laws as a means of restoring worker freedom and improving economic outcomes.

Unfortunately, while wed love to have the New Mexico Legislature act on right to work, for political reasons that isnt in the cards for now. But the fight for right to work is no longer limited to the states. Across the country, local governments, often frustrated with policies enacted in their state capitals, are embracing it. Before Kentucky went right to work in early 2017, in fact, several Kentucky counties, led by Warren County  home of GMs Corvette assembly plant  adopted right to work.

Within six months of passing right to work in Warren County  in December 2014  local officials received inquiries from 47 economic development projects. Thats compared to just 32 inquiries received in the entire state in 2014.

Those inquiries turned into $1 billion in capital investment in Warren County. And, when legislators in other parts of the state saw what was happening in Warren County, they certainly took notice  with 12 other counties following suit.

New Mexico is desperately in need of the kind of economic boost that a right-to-work law can provide. But if the Legislature is unwilling to act, as it has been for decades, it is up to local governments to take the lead.

Better still, these initiatives stand a good chance of holding up in court. There is no doubt that unions will fight them with every argument and resource they can muster. They took West Virginias law to court and were able to delay it for more than a year until the states Supreme Court gave it the green light. And when Kentuckys right-to-work counties faced legal challenges, those county ordinances were upheld by the 6th District Federal Court of Appeals.

As the West Virginia Supreme Court noted in its opinion confirming the legality of that states right-to-work law, the unions have not directed us to any federal or state appellate court that, in over seven decades, has struck down such a (right-to-work) law.

The legality of right to work has been repeatedly affirmed in the courts because, far from being anti-union, such laws simply allow individuals to decide whether they want to pay union dues and fees or not. Right to work respects the right of free association.

The unions will trot out all the usual lies about right to work, but the fact is that, for decades, Americans have been moving to states with greater worker freedom and better job opportunities. Our neighboring states, including Texas, Arizona and Utah, all seem to understand this, and are economically robust and fast-growing. We arent.

The Sandoval County Commission is considering adopting a local ordinance in an attempt to break free from the failed policies imposed by the Legislature. Our hope and belief is that it will be the first of many such efforts.

The Rio Grande Foundation is an independent, non-partisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization dedicated to promoting prosperity for New Mexico based on principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility.
Chronically among the poorest states, New Mexico received the dubious distinction in 2015 of being ranked 51st by the Measure of America, behind Nevada and Mississippi, which is based on 16 indicators related to the economy, education and community. New Mexicos drop to last place is a signal that the next governor must redouble efforts to increase the prospects for New Mexicans.

New Mexico Development Accounts represent an innovative model for accelerating the upward mobility of New Mexicans. Integrating behavioral economics, asset building and impact investing, NMDAs represent a new social contract between citizens and government.

 The default for an NMDA would have workers save 5 percent of wages, increased to 10 percent at worker discretion, automatically diverted to an incentivized plan, unless they opt out.

 The choice architecture matches worker savings for dedicated purposes: finishing vocational school or college, starting a business or purchasing a first-time home. NMDAs would be progressive, with savings matched according to worker attributes, so that earnings at half the federal poverty level would be matched 3 to 1, for the poor 2 to 1, and for other workers 1 to 1. NMDAs would be universal, tax exempt, portable and heritable.

 The economic development factor is significant insofar as, prior to withdrawal for dedicated purposes, NMDAs would be held in local financial institutions, providing capital for economic development projects.

 The financing of NMDAs would be through Social Impact Bonds (SIB). Conceived by the Young Foundation in Britain, an SIB is a contract arranged by a third-party intermediary, obligating government to pay principle plus interest to private investors, providing predetermined outcomes are delivered by service providers. An SIB strategy is innovative insofar as payment is contingent on delivering constructive, cost-effective outcomes. The role of government is limited to authorizing, evaluating and paying on SIBs once outcomes are delivered.

As a means for investing in human capital, NMDAs parallel the long-standing practice of issuing bonds for physical infrastructure projects, such as schools and airports.

Is there sufficient capital for NMDAs? Evidence suggests that certain investors, such as private foundations, socially oriented funds and progressive individuals, are quite willing to put their capital to public purpose. In 2013, Goldman Sachs and the J.B. Pritzker Foundation announced a $7 million SIB for 3,500 Utah children to receive high-quality pre-K education. By 2017, more than 60 SIBs have been launched in 15 countries, representing more than $200 million. Recently, the Ford Foundation committed $1 billion toward impact investing.

A mature NMDA scenario would generate significant savings. According to the Department of Labor, in 2016, the median wage in New Mexico was $15.82/hour for 805,440 workers. Assuming a 70 percent NMDA participation rate, 5 percent of wages would produce $930.75 million in savings annually. For each 100 workers, $165,000 would be deposited annually in local financial institutions, over time sufficient to leverage modest economic development projects.

Due to progressive matching, NMDAs for the most destitute New Mexican workers would accrue annualized matched savings of $2,620.40, while the working poor would attain $3,931.20 and other workers $3,301.64. Since NMDAs would be heritable, families would build inter-generational wealth. Over decades, NMDAs would become an engine for family prosperity.

Much has been written about widening economic inequality in America, which also is evident in New Mexico. Despite a reputation for hard work and faith in the American Dream, New Mexicans have been disadvantaged compared to their compatriots in other states. Extending education, home ownership and business opportunities through NMDAs would attract bipartisan support and, in the process, rectify a long-standing gap between the talents of New Mexicans and the realization of their aspirations.

This essay is drawn from David Stoeszs forthcoming book, The Investment State: Charting the Future of Social Policy.
NEW YORK  A 70-year-old passenger was arrested Saturday at LaGuardia Airport after authorities say he became irate over a $50 fee to check his bag and told an airline worker there was a bomb in the bag.

John Park of Farmington, Michigan, was arrested on a charge of making a terrorist threat after Saturday mornings incident at the Spirit Airlines ticket counter.

The perceived threat prompted a partial evacuation of the terminal and the summoning of explosives experts.

The police action shut down the ticketing area of the airports main terminal temporarily while the New York Police Departments bomb squad responded to the scene and checked the bag. No explosives were found.

Park pleaded not guilty at his arraignment late Saturday and was released without bail.

Joe Pentangelo, a spokesman with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the threat was made at about 7:15 a.m. in Terminal B. He said the airport was functioning normally about two hours later.

A New York police spokesman said the bomb squad was called to the airport at about 7:30 a.m. to check a bag.

As investigators did their work, LaGuardia Airport tried to keep travelers informed through a Twitter feed, saying in one that concourses A & B at Terminal B were not accessible and passengers should expect delays.

Stephen Schuler, a spokesman for Miramar, Florida-based Spirit Airlines Inc., referred a request for comment to police authorities.

The Port Authority operates New Yorks three major airports, which include John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York and Newark International Airport in New Jersey.
Copyright  2017 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Supporters call it a way to promote personal responsibility.

Opponents have called it cruel.

But beneath the rhetoric, its clear the proposal to revise New Mexicos Medicaid program has the potential to change health care for thousands of residents, including people with disabilities.

More than 40 percent of New Mexicos population is covered by Medicaid  or about 900,000 children, pregnant women, low-income adults and people with disabilities  and the state spends about $1 billion a year on the program. The federal government chips in billions more through matching funds.

Gov. Susana Martinezs administration, which says the state Human Services Department cannot afford to pay its growing Medicaid bill, is seeking federal permission for a host of changes to the program. Those changes include the imposition of premiums and copays on more of those covered by Medicaid, and some benefits could be curtailed. For example, some Medicaid patients would have to pay premiums starting at $10 a month and copays starting at $5 for a doctors visit.

The changes would not substantially reduce the number of those eligible to receive benefits, which range from a single adult making less than $16,650 annually to young children in a household with $60,000 in earnings.

Martinezs administration contends the proposal would help promote personal responsibility, control costs and improve the coordination of care. It would also create incentives for people to seek less-expensive preventative care, the state contends.

We continue to receive an appropriation thats insufficient to run the program as it exists today, state Human Services Secretary Brent Earnest told lawmakers in September.

The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, among other opponents, says the proposed changes would discourage people from seeking health care and worsen the financial burden on low-income families who need the help, especially if they have chronic conditions. The proposal leaves a variety of questions unanswered, the center said, and a Democratic lawmaker described the changes as cruel.

These cuts cant be taken lightly, said Abuko Estrada, staff attorney for the Center on Law and Poverty. They reach to patients and reverberate throughout our entire health care system and the state economy.

If approved by the federal government, the changes would go into effect in 2019.

There is, however, a potential wild card. The process could be interrupted if Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act and reshapes the health care landscape.

The state Human Services Department is accepting public comment on the proposal through 8 p.m. Oct. 30, and public hearings are scheduled throughout the state this month.

Here are some of the proposed changes:

New premiums

Under the Centennial Care 2.0 proposal, someone above the poverty level  roughly in the range of $12,100 to $18,100 a year  would pay a monthly Medicaid premium of $10 a month in 2019, with a state option to push it to $20 a month in future years.

Households with more than one person would pay twice the premium. For example, a family of three just above the poverty line would pay $20 a month in 2019, with the potential for an increase to $40 in future years.

The premium would vary, depending on how far above the poverty level a person or household is. An individual making nearly $36,200 a year  the highest category, about three times the poverty level  would pay a $25 monthly premium in 2019 for the services he or she is eligible to receive.

Native Americans would be exempt. The state says it would also develop other exemptions to cover homelessness and allow for other hardship waivers.

No premiums are charged now.

Copays

Individuals above the poverty level  about $12,100 a year  would face new copay requirements. Theyd pay $5 for basic office visits, $50 for hospital stays or outpatient surgeries and $2 for prescriptions.

They would have to pay $8 for medication if they opted for the brand-name drug when a generic was available.

They would also face an $8 charge if they visited an emergency room when they dont have an emergency.

Preventive services would not be subject to copays.

Native Americans, people with developmentally disabled waivers and certain other categories of patients would be exempt.

The proposed copays for nonemergency use of the ER and getting brand-name drugs instead of generics would apply to Medicaid recipients regardless of income level.

Dental, vision

The state would have the option of curtailing or eliminating dental and vision benefits for adults in Medicaid  if necessary because of budget limits. The state would develop dental and vision options that people could buy.

Retroactive benefits

The state proposes to eliminate a rule that allows people to seek retroactive coverage if theyve received care before enrolling in Medicaid. Now, people can request coverage for health bills in the three months before they enrolled.

About 10,000 people, or 1 percent of the Medicaid population, requested retroactive coverage in 2016.

Native Americans and people in nursing homes would continue to be eligible for retroactive coverage.

The state argues that retroactive coverage is no longer necessary because of other changes in the health care system. Most hospitals and safety-net clinics are able to conduct presumptive eligibility on site, the state says.

The Center on Law and Poverty says retroactive coverage protects families from medical debt. There may be medical hardships or other conditions that prevent people from applying for Medicaid right away, the center contends.

Transitional care

The state wants to transition people off Medicaid more quickly when they get a new job or pay raise that makes them ineligible for coverage. The transitional program is offered to parents and caretakers who make less than 47 percent of the poverty level but then get a new job or pay raise.

Even without transitional assistance, the state says, the parents and caretakers would still be eligible to receive subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to buy private insurance.

The Center on Law and Poverty contends the transitional aid would ensure continuity of care as families move out of deep poverty.

Home visits

A pilot program would provide prenatal and postpartum care  along with early childhood services  for women in two to four New Mexico counties. Providers would visit the women in their homes.

The goal would be to reduce preterm births, low-weight infant births and similar health challenges.

National research also shows home visiting increases school readiness, cognitive development, parental engagement and parent-child bonding and produces better maternal and infant health outcomes, according to the Pew Center on the States.

Corrections

The state proposes to begin coordinating care before an inmate is released from custody so that treatment, therapy and other health care can continue or start right away.

Missed visits

The state is seeking to allow providers to charge a $5 fee if a Medicaid patient misses three scheduled appointments without prior notification.

Supporters say far too many Medicaid patients skip appointments, hurting patients who need those appointments and providers who are unable to see patients  and dont get paid  during that time.

Reduced benefits

The state proposes to shift parents and caretakers who make at least 47 percent of the poverty level to a less expansive benefit package, similar to the standard Medicaid coverage they get now but with some limits on occupational therapy and no coverage for hearing aids.

Adults above the poverty level who dont have children already are on the alternative benefit plan.

Added benefits

The state proposes to add vision coverage to the alternative benefit package.
Medicaid is a major part of New Mexicos health-care system.

In 2015, for example, about 72 percent of the births in New Mexico were covered by Medicaid  the highest rate in the nation.

In general, the benefits a patient receives depend on the households income level. In some cases, the children in a family are covered by Medicaid but their parents arent.

The basic federal poverty levels this year are $12,060 for a single adult and $20,420 for a three-person household.

Medicaid is jointly funded by the state and federal governments.

Benefits

Standard Medicaid Package: Patients covered under Medicaid are eligible for free office visits to the doctor, hospitalizations, trips to the emergency room, mental health services, prescription medicines, dental and vision service, occupational therapy, X-rays and laboratory services. A free transportation service is available to take them to and from appointments.

There are no penalties for making appointments but not showing up.

Alternative Benefit Package: Patients get coverage similar to the standard Medicaid package, but there are some limits on occupational and speech therapy. Vision and hearing aids arent covered, for example.

Childrens Health Insurance Program: Kids covered by CHIP get the standard Medicaid package, but some copays, from $5 for an office visit to $25 for a hospital stay, are charged.

Eligibility

At 47 percent of poverty level or below: Everyone in the household gets the standard, free Medicaid benefits. An individual making $5,668 a year or less would be eligible. A three-person household making $9,597 or less would be eligible.

At 138 percent of poverty level or below: Children in the family up to age 19 are covered by Medicaid and get the typical, free benefits.

Adults without children get the alternative benefit plan  similar to full Medicaid coverage, but without vision and hearing aids covered, among other limitations.

Adults with children also get the alternative benefit plan, unless their income is below the 47 percent threshold, in which case they get the standard, free Medicaid benefits.

An individual making $16,644 or less is eligible for coverage, and a three-person household is eligible if the familys income is $28,188 or less.

At 190 percent of poverty level or below: Children in the family up to age 19 are covered by Medicaid and get the typical, free benefits.

Adults in the household dont get the Medicaid benefits themselves, unless they have a disability or meet other criteria.

A three-person household with an annual income of $38,808 or less would be eligible.

At 240 percent of poverty level or below: Children in the family up to 5 years old get the standard, free Medicaid package. Children between 6 and 18 are covered by CHIP, meaning they get the same package but are charged some copays. A three-person household with an income of less than $49,008 is eligible.

Adults in the family dont get Medicaid benefits, unless they have a disability or meet other criteria.

At 250 percent of poverty level or below: A pregnant woman can get pregnancy-related services for free. This covers most health care during the pregnancy and the birth itself.

A woman with no other household members would be eligible if she makes $30,156 or less. A woman whos part of a three-person household would be eligible if the household makes $51,060 or less.

At 300 percent of poverty level or below: Any children in the family up to 6 years old are covered by CHIP. A three-person household with an income below $61,260, for example, would be eligible.

Source: Human Services Department
After threatening for months to end billions of dollars in payments promised to health insurers, President Donald Trump finally dropped the ax with timing that could inflict maximal disruption on the Affordable Care Act enrollment season scheduled to begin in two weeks.

The most immediate upheaval is playing out in a set of states where regulators had ignored the risk that the president might carry out his threat and told insurers not to include any cushion in their 2018 rates for ACA health plans. Officials in at least three states are now debating whether to delay the Nov. 1 start of enrollment as they rush to consider higher premiums to make up for the abrupt loss of federal money.

But even in states that prepared for a possible cutoff of the cost-sharing reduction payments, Trumps action so close to the fifth years sign-up period is sowing widespread confusion among consumers, according to leaders of insurance exchanges and enrollment-assistance organizations around the country. Along with other steps the White House has taken since late summer to undercut the ACA marketplaces, they predict this latest move is almost certain to suppress the number of Americans insured under the law next year.

The timing couldnt be worse, said Allison OToole, chief executive officer of MNsure, the marketplace Minnesota created under the ACA. Hundreds more consumers than usual have phoned its call center in recent days, uncertain whether they can still get and afford health plans.

Will the [presidents] drumbeat of its a failing marketplace affect enrollment? Absolutely, said Peter Lee, executive director of Covered California, which calculates that the payments end will cost its 11 marketplace insurers $188 million for the last three months of 2017  more than the small profits many were anticipating for the year.

Insurers themselves could compound the damage, depending on how they respond. The Trump administrations timing meant its announcement late Thursday came after the deadline for insurers in three dozen states relying on the ACAs federal insurance marketplace to sign government contracts and lock in their rates for 2018 coverage. But a clause in the contracts lets insurers pull out within 90 days if the payments stop.

So far, no insurers have said they would defect. But concerns remain acute. As the number of companies selling ACA coverage has dwindled in the past two years, an increasing number of the nations counties have found themselves with just one participating insurer. Scores of counties recently appeared as if they would lack any insurers until state officials lured in replacements. If more leave this fall, states would have difficulty attracting others on such short notice.

It seems entirely possible that some insurers will now exit the marketplace for 2018 and potentially leave bare counties, said Larry Levitt, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy organization.

The late changes in insurance rates, deterrence of would-be customers and potential unavailability of ACA coverage are the biggest ground-level effects of the presidents decision  a step so strident that health policy wonks for months had made a parlor game out of debating whether the president would have the nerve to do it.

The federal payments have been the more obscure of two types of subsidies created by the sprawling 2010 health-care law to help Americans afford coverage if they cannot get such benefits through a job. The better-known subsidies help lower the monthly premiums owed by nearly 85 percent of the roughly 10 million Americans with ACA coverage.

The CSRs, as they are called, provide discounts for deductibles and other out-of-pocket insurance expenses to people with somewhat lower incomes  up to 250 percent of the poverty line, or about $30,000 for a single person and $61,000 for a family of four. Under the law, ACA health plans must continue those discounts. Trumps move means that health plans will not be reimbursed for the last three months of the year or in the future. The payments had been expected to total $7 billion for 2017.

Dramatic as it is, the payments elimination does not go nearly as far as Trump and most congressional Republicans havesought this year as they attempted unsuccessfully to rewrite federal health-care law. Still intact is the ACAs requirement that most Americans carry health coverage, though administration officials have hinted they may stop penalizing people who violate that mandate. Other consumer protections in the law still guarantee specific benefits in insurance sold to individuals or small businesses, forbid insurers to charge more or refuse to cover people who have had medical conditions, and ban yearly or lifetime limits on coverage.

Hours before the White House announced the end of the CSRs, the president took another significant step that could foster a proliferation of insurance capable of making end runs around such protections. Under an executive order that Trump signed on Thursday, federal agencies will develop new rules to widen access to association health plans and short-term insurance policies  both exempt from the ACAs insurance regulations  and allow more policies to be sold from one state to another without meeting each states regulations.

As state officials prepared in the spring and summer for the upcoming enrollment period, most instructed insurers either to include a surcharge assuming the federal cost-sharing would end or to file two sets of rates as a Plan A and Plan B.

In Colorado, one of the states that asked for two sets, the insurance commission approved the higher rates on Friday. The states marketplace, Connect for Healthy Colorado, is now scrambling to load the necessary information into its computer system, according to Kevin Patterson, its chief executive. Colorado wants to start enrollment on time, Patterson said Saturday  but he is not yet sure whether it will be ready.

In Washington state, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler also told insurers to file two rates. In order to get the smoke to clear, he said, the marketplace there may consider holding back on when enrollment begins.

Maryland is in worse shape, because the two insurers in its marketplace were told by regulators to file only rates that assumed the CSR payments would continue. Chet Burrell, chief executive of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, said officials asked state insurance regulators Friday to allow it to submit new rates  about 20 percent higher  to make up about $50 million it had been expecting in CSR money next year.

Marylands open enrollment, Burrell said, might need to be delayed.

At the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging, executive director Catherine Edwards acknowledged the challenges. Its just another hurdle that were going to have to get over, she said Saturday. Were just holding our breath to see what this does to the people coming to us.

  

The Washington Posts Carolyn Y. Johnson contributed to this report.
Hillary Clinton lumped President Donald Trump in with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein during a TV interview taped Friday in Britain, saying that the problem of sexual assault is widespread.

Look, we just elected someone who admitted sexual assault to the presidency, the former Democratic presidential candidate told Britains Channel 4 News. So theres a lot of other issues that are swirling around these kinds of behaviors that need to be addressed. I think its important that we stay focused, and shine a bright spotlight and try to get people to understand how damaging this is.

Clinton was being interviewed about her new book, What Happened, which chronicles her 2016 presidential campaign. In the book, Clinton includes a vivid description of her mind-set during a presidential debate with Trump last year, just days after The Washington Post reported on taped remarks in which Trump bragged about groping women without their consent.

During the Channel 4 interview, Clinton was asked whether she had heard rumors about Weinsteins behavior toward women before news reports this month detailed allegations of sexual harassment and assault dating back decades.

Clinton said she and her husband, the former president, have known Weinstein for years, and she attended numerous fundraisers organized or backed by the producer. She has said she was shocked and saddened by the allegations against someone she knew as a friend and that she supports the women who have come forward.

No, I did not know, Clinton said in the interview.

She estimated that Weinstein had donated from $12,000 to $16,000 to her election campaigns. She has pledged to donate a commensurate amount to a womens charity.

Numerous women have accused the longtime movie executive and leading Democratic donor of abuse ranging from creepy insinuation to rape. He was fired by Miramax, the film studio he co-founded with his brother, last week. On Saturday the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stripped Weinstein of membership.

In her book, Clinton brings up a particular moment during the debate when Trump began moving around the stage and loomed behind her as she answered questions. Narrating her interior conversation at the time, Clinton imagines telling Trump, Back up, you creep.
LOS ANGELESBeleaguered film mogul Harvey Weinstein  a once-dominant force in the Academy Awards who rewrote the rules of Oscar campaigning  has been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in response to mounting allegations of sexual harassment and assault against him.

The film academys 54-member board of governors, which includes such industry luminaries as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Kathleen Kennedy and Whoopi Goldberg, voted in an emergency meeting on Saturday morning to remove Weinstein from the organizations ranks in an unprecedented public rebuke of a prominent industry figure. The move marked the latest blow in Weinsteins stunning downfall and, in symbolic terms, amounts to a virtual expulsion from Hollywood itself.

In removing Weinstein from the organizations ranks, the academys board said in a statement, We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over. Whats at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The Board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.

The board noted that its members had voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to immediately eject Weinstein.

A representative for Weinstein told the Los Angeles Times he would not be commenting on his expulsion.

Since reports of Weinsteins alleged misconduct toward dozens of women first surfaced in The New York Times on Oct. 5, the academy had been under increasing pressure to take action against him. A petition on Change.org demanding his ouster gathered more than 140,000 signatures from the general public. On Tuesday, the National Organization for Women joined the calls for Weinsteins removal, stating, A sexual predator doesnt deserve the privilege of an academy membership  and all the opportunities to wield outsize power that come with it.

Twenty-one members of the film academys board are women  as is its chief executive, Dawn Hudson  and in recent years the organization has taken steps to dramatically increase the number of women in its historically overwhelmingly male ranks.

In the past several days, a number of academy members expressed their feelings both privately and publicly that Weinstein had no place in the film industrys most prestigious organization. CBS Films President Terry Press, who regularly battled Weinstein on the awards trail during her tenure as a marketing executive at DreamWorks, vowed in a Facebook post to quit the academy if he was allowed to remain. The idea that anyone would give him a second chance or entertain the notion that he can change is beyond absurd, wrote Press.

Even Weinsteins brother, Bob  with whom he ran Miramax Films and then Weinstein Co.  said in an interview published Saturday in The Hollywood Reporter that he felt the academy should expel him, adding that he planned to write a note to the group to that effect.

But within the academy some wrestled with the decision, fearing that it could set a precedent that would require the academy to police its members behavior going forward. As many have pointed out in recent days, other Hollywood figures who have come under attack for their treatment of women and other behavior that could be seen as violating what the academy now calls ethical standards of conduct  including Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski and Mel Gibson  remain members of the academy in good standing.

The academys bylaws give the board of governors free rein to expel members for cause, but that power has very rarely been exercised. The last member to be banished from the group was actor Carmine Caridi, who was booted in 2004 for sharing promotional copies of films that were later pirated. Sources close to the academy say that other members had been more quietly suspended in years past for selling their tickets to the Oscars ceremony, but nothing ever rose to the level of attention surrounding Weinstein.

The academys move follows the British Academy of Film and Television Arts decision earlier this week to suspend Weinsteins membership. The Producers Guild of America is set to hold a meeting on Monday morning to decide whether to take similar action.

During his years at the helm of Miramax and Weinstein Co., Weinsteins films  including such hits as Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, The Artist and The Kings Speech  racked up more than 300 Oscar nominations. He himself took home a best picture statuette in 1999 for producing Shakespeare in Love. Weinsteins ability to mint awards nominations was so renowned that, in 2003, when he had a hand in four of the five best-picture nominees, The Times wrote that the ceremony should be renamed the Harveys.

A 2015 analysis by the website Vocativ found that Weinstein was second only to Steven Spielberg in the number of times he had been thanked in Oscar acceptance speeches. (God ranked sixth.)

But beneath the surface, the brash, fiery-tempered outsider from Queens had long rankled many in the academy. His aggressive, spare-no-expense style of campaigning for his films sometimes stirred animosity and created a kind of arms race with other distributors, and he was accused on a number of occasions of starting whisper campaigns against rival films. (What can I say? Weinstein once said, professing his innocence. When youre Billy the Kid and people around you die of natural causes, everyone thinks you shot them.)

Some in Hollywood had used the platform of the Oscars not to thank Weinstein, but to make sharp digs at him. In 2002, at the 74th Oscars, Nathan Lane, presenting the award for animated feature, quipped, Gosh, up until now I thought Monsters, Inc. was a documentary on the Weinsteins.

In 2013, host Seth MacFarlane, after announcing the nominees for supporting actress alongside actress Emma Stone, said, Congratulations, you five ladies no longer have to pretend to be attracted to Harvey Weinstein.

In an interview with The Times on Saturday, actress Kate Winslet said she had deliberately avoided thanking Weinstein from the Oscars stage when she won the lead actress award for The Reader in 2009 because of his disgraceful behavior during the films production.

I remember being told, Make sure you thank Harvey if you win,' Winslet said. And I remember turning around and saying, No I wont. No I wont. And it was nothing to do with not being grateful. If people arent well-behaved, why would I thank him?

Among the academys board, several members have worked on Weinstein projects over the years, including Laura Dern, who starred in Miramaxs Citizen Ruth; screenwriter Larry Karaszewski, who co-wrote and produced Weinstein Co.s Big Eyes; and governor-at-large Reginald Hudlin, who produced Weinstein Co.s Django Unchained. Christina Kounelias, a governor for the academys public relations branch, and David Linde, who serves on the executives branch, both worked at Miramax earlier in their careers.

Other academy members have worked on movies that have gone head to head against Weinsteins films at the Oscars, including Hanks and Spielberg, who respectively starred in and directed Saving Private Ryan. That film was beaten out for the best picture prize in 1999 by Shakespeare in Love in what is still regarded as one of most bitterly fought contests in Oscars history.

Over the years, a few board members had aired less than warm feelings toward Weinstein, including producer and former studio executive Bill Mechanic. Speaking of Miramaxs bullying tactics to author Peter Biskind in the 2004 book Down and Dirty Pictures, Mechanic said, Bad behavior doesnt get punished in this business, and theirs certainly doesnt. People just ignore it and say, Theyre good at what they do, which they are.

Speaking of the Weinstein revelations this week on the talk show The View, Goldberg made a plea for women to stop taking payouts in exchange for keeping silent about harassment. We need to start talking to our sisters and say, You do not have to take this,' Goldberg said. Your career does not rise and fall on this. Because if you take this, people are going to assume that youre OK with the behavior.'

For his part, Hanks  who famously almost never has an ill word to say about anyone  told The New York Times this week, Ive never worked with Harvey. But, aah, it all just sort of fits, doesnt it?  Im not the first person to say Harveys a bit of an ass.



(Staff writer Glenn Whipp contributed to this report.)



2017 Los Angeles Times

Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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PHOTO (for help with images, contact 312-222-4194):WEINSTEIN-ACADEMY

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Money Talks: The Displaced U.S. Virgin Island Couple Living On $75,000

How Does A Hurricane Affect A Couple's Relationship? We Found Out

Everyone wants money, yet discussing it within the parameters of a relationship can be intimidating. When handled incorrectly, finances can crumble a romantic partnership  but when done in tandem, the right money conversations can go a long way. That looks different for different people, though. Welcome to Money Talks, AskMen's series on the relationship between our money and our relationships. Let's talk about cents, baby.

Emma and Ryan are a nomadic and madly in love couple who met nearly a decade ago on St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Despite their fondness for a traveling lifestyle, the engaged pair were ready to set roots and get married on St. John  and then two Category 5 hurricanes hit. Hurricane Irma, which was followed by Hurricane Maria, left most of the U.S. Virgin Islands residents without running water, electricity, and Wi-Fi. The lack of internet access and damage from the storm has affected U.S. Virgin Islanders ability to work. Whats more, the storm damaged all three hospitals in the territory so badly that access to medicine is nearly impossible. Due to Ryans recent cancer diagnosis and Emmas need for internet access for her job, the couple left the island for Florida. AskMen caught up with them to learn how to use the pillars of a relationship to stay strong through unimaginable natural disasters.

What industry do you both work in?

Emma: My job is all online. So I had to leave just because theres no Wi-Fi and if I didnt leave I would have lost my job. I work in hospitality, for a luxury club, and we lost a bunch of properties in the Caribbean in Hurricane Irma and Maria. Ryan is a chef, but he quit his job recently and was about to start working on boats, which he recently got his certificate for.

So did you leave St. John for Florida due to the financial stress of the hurricane as youre unable to access Wi-Fi?

Emma: Yes, but also the big reason why we left, and we didnt stay to help is that a week before Irma we found out that Ryan has cancer in his eye for the third time. A form of skin cancer. We had to get out of there because this medication hes on needs to be on ice, and he couldnt even get the medicine down there, let alone keep it on ice, because of the power. You need power to make ice.

Im so sorry. And youre engaged?

Ryan: Weve been engaged for two and a half years now. Thats just how we roll. We were about to get married. We were making plans to get married, and this happened.

How did you two meet?

Emma: We met when I was on summer vacation in the Caribbean from my second year of college. I was waitressing at Lotus, the little sushi place, and he was doing his externship from college there. Within a month he quit his job there to work up in Massachusetts where I was going to college at the time.

When it comes to finances, do you keep them shared or separate, and do you make an effort to keep track of things or do you have a more casual attitude?

Ryan: Its pretty casual.

Emma: Ill give you a background story; Ill never forget this. It was in 2011 where I said to Ryan, So these are the bills we have to pay, heres whats going on this month. This is what I need. He just looked at me and said, I dont want to hear about it anymore, Ill just give you my paycheck, and youll do what needs to be done. So it became my role to take care of the bills, and its just trust between us.

RELATED: How This Couple Making $350,000 A Year In NYC Spends Their Money

Where are you staying in Florida, and how did that affect finances?

Emma: Were in an Airbnb right now, as were apartment hunting. We will live anywhere; thats how weve always been. We will live where its convenient, and we will adapt, so, were used to doing that sort of thing. But I think its the first time where we felt displaced because we werent ready to move. Weve lived in probably seven states in the past nine years. Every time we moved we were ready to move. But in this situation, it was just like they swept the rug out from under us and we werent ready. [St. John] was the first place where we were like...well buy a home. Well buy a juicer and a blender. Everywhere else we were like, were good with the clothes on our backs.

In calmer times, if you were to splurge or buy a gift for one another, what would that be?

Ryan: Two days ago we decided to walk around this town, and we got some craft ice cream, but were not like, Lets go to a Michelin Star restaurant, were like, Lets talk to the locals and find the best street food in this city. I would say food. God, what do we splurge on?

Emma: Good weed. It actually really helps Ryan with his eye. This is the third time hes had cancer, and its been three and a half years now. The first time the doctor said, Dont smoke weed, and now shes saying, You know what, smoke weed. If it feels better, do it. Theres nothing wrong with weed. If anything theres something wrong with alcohol.

How do you split up car payments, debts, and food spending?

Emma: I manage the finances, but we both make the money to pay them. We rented a car when we got here. We did have a car in St. John; now its in my dads driveway. We left it specifically for protection [from looters] to make it look like someone is home. For food, the way we see it, is when we first got to Florida we were like, we went through a lot of crazy sh*t in the Caribbean. We ate a lot of [canned] soup, but we also ate well  my father had a grill on St. Thomas. Weve been traveling back and forth between St. John and St. Thomas using our dinghy boat. We went to the grocery store and bought a piece of steak to eat and sat down to dinner together out on the balcony. We didnt eat fantastically after the storm, but better than many. When we got to Florida, one night we said, Lets get some crab legs. Were not eating packaged ramen every day, but were not going over the top. I think that the biggest thing is that were not going out to eat. Were doing very well compared to others.

Speaking of money, if people want to donate to U.S. Virgin Island hurricane relief, what organizations would you point them to?

Emma: Kenny Chesney has a home on St. John and has helped the island with his time and money in an effort to rebuild. I swear he was one of the first people there. You can send money to his organization, or St. John Rescue, or Rotary District 7020 which covers the following islands impacted by Hurricane Irma and Maria: Anguilla, BVI, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, USVI, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas.
While other wine clubs try to cater to your individual tastes, Wine of the Month Club does one thing, and one thing only: curate really damn good wine. Every month, wine connoisseurs from around the world gather to bring its members two really, really great bottles of wine, picked for both quality and price point.

What is Wine of the Month Club?

In 1972, the Kalemkiarian family set out on a mission: take out the head-scratching confusion of buying a bottle of wine -- you know, trying to decipher the foreign and fancy labels on wine bottles and sift through jaw-dropping price tags? So Wine of the Month Club began with the intention to make enjoying wine a less intimidating experience; each shipments goal is to bring you really decent wines at surprisingly decent prices. Almost fifty years later, Wine of the Month Club offers up to six different subscriptions types, catered to everyone from the casual wine sipper to the person looking to add to their already-impressive vintage collection. The most basic shipment includes two bottles of wine that industry experts are currently fawning over, delivered to your door monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, or really whenever you want.

Who its for: the picky wine snob or just the wannabe wine connoisseur

the picky wine snob or just the wannabe wine connoisseur What it includes: classic subscription includes two bottles of your choice of red, white or both

classic subscription includes two bottles of your choice of red, white or both When it arrives: monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, or really, whenever you want.

Unboxing Wine of the Month Club

When you open up your monthly shipment, youll be immediately greeted with tasting notes on the bottles you have waiting for you. Inside the brown box youll find your two bottles, wrapped safely in recycled cradling, and all the reading material you need to get you started on your wine journey.

Each box includes:

Two bottles of wine

Tasting notes

Wine of the Months How to Speak Wine Guide

The Complete Wine Course manual

The Review

Im not sure about you guys, but in the age where everything is viewed on my iPhone screen, theres something really nice about having a glossy magazine in front of me. So when I cracked open the box of my very first shipment of the Wine of the Mont Club, I was gleeful. Included in the shipment: tons of magazines, tasting notes, and little books that act as basically a gateway drug into the world of wine.

Individual tasting notes and information sheets were provided for not only the wine in the shipments but other wines the club is offering via the bottle shop, so you can take advantage of the heavily discounted prices with full knowledge of what the wines will taste like. Each tasting note includes information on the taste, appearance and finish of the wine, as well as suggested food pairings. It also includes notes from professional tasters, ranging from tidbits of info on this particular bottle of wine, or fun facts on the history on where the grape came from. On the back of each sheet are prompts, so you can rate your wines and add your own tasting comments. All notes are hole-punched, so you can create your own little book of wine for dummies.

Also packed into the shipment: two magazines. One, a comprehensive guide to wine terminology (when I say comprehensive, I mean it: its 65 pages), and, more importantly, how to use those wine terms to impress the heck out of your friends at your next dinner party.

To help guide you on your trip to becoming a bonafide wine snob, the second magazine Wine of the Month Club included was a wine course guide. While this may sound like a book reserved for the high-brow, baller-budget wine connoisseurs, the magazines course is palatable to, well, anyone of any palette. The guide acts as an introduction to all things wine, covering how wine is made, how to host a wine tasting, and the ground rules of wine tastings (in their words: there are none. Just enjoy!).

That leads me to the main attraction: the wine. Wine of the Month is no newcomer to the world of subscription services: in an industry dominated by niche start-ups, Wine of the Month Club has been sending wine-lovers wine for decades, so its pretty safe to say they know what theyre doing. Each month, over 400 different wines are tried, and out of those, only 1% actually make it to the Clubs listing. I thoroughly enjoyed both the red and white wine I was sent. Plus, the provided tasting notes and story about the wines I received were so comprehensive, it felt like I had a little sommelier sitting in my apartment explaining everything to me.

In addition, while there are definitely many big-name vineyards out there that are known for having reliably exceptional quality, Wine of the Month Club puts a highlight on smaller-scale, lesser-known vineyards. A.K.A., you can impress the heck out of your boss at the next work dinner with your newfound knowledge.

One unique thing about Wine of the Month Club: they dont just cater to the wine connoisseur, they offer varying levels of membership to meet basically any wine snobs needs. Prefer California wines? Wine of the Month curates a box that focuses on highlighting the West Coasts top bottles. Looking to build an impressive wine cellar? Wine of the Month Club has a box for that. Or maybe you still break out in a hot sweat when asked to pick a bottle of wine: the classic series wine box is your first step to knowing your way around a glass of wine.

While the quality was great and the tasting notes blew me away, what I was really impressed about with Wine of the Month is the quality you get, given the low cost. Coming in at just under $25 before tax, you get two bottles of decent wine and a really comprehensive guide to what youre drinking. You also get access to a curated shop of wine at a heavily discounted rate. Consider the last time you bought wine: did you stare at the wall of bottles and eventually pick one that was either Googled, recommended to you by a sales associate, or, even worse, picked based on the fancy looking label? Weve all been there. But having access to really great wines, at a serious wallet-friendly price point, is a true luxury.

Cost

For the Classic Series Wine Club, prices sit at $23.96 per month, plus shipping and taxes. Prices from there on can range widely, depending on the club you prefer. Tax and shipping will usually set you back just under ten dollars per shipment.

Curate your orders to arrive monthly, every other month, or quarterly: prices are charged per shipment, not per month.

Another membership perk: members have access to exclusive reorder prices for bottles and cases, sitting at usually $5-8 less per bottle than the retail ticket price.

Other options from Wine of the Month Club

California Wine Series What it is: two bottles of Californias finest bottles What it costs: $28.96/month Who its for: the Cali lover

Vintners Series Wine Club What it is: two bottles curated for the wine maker What it costs: $33.96/month Who its for: the DIY wine guy

Limited Series Wine Club What it is: two bottles of exclusive vintages What it costs: $44.96/month Who its for: the person who has it all

Cellar Series Wine Club What it is: six bottles of wines, delivered bi-monthly, that are meant to be aged What it costs: $71.88/shipment Who its for: the person who wants to start their own wine cellar

Case Club Series What it is: 12 hand-selected wines every three months What it costs: $143.76 Who its for: the person who never knows when theyll need a good bottle



How to Subscribe

Signing up to Wine of the Mont Club is as simple as choosing the desired length of your subscription, your wine preference (just bottles of red, just bottles of white, or a little of both), and youre on your way. All subscription signup and subscription management is done via Wine of the Month Clubs online site. Subscriptions and gifts can be purchased on a month-by-month basis or on a subscription basis, both via the site.

Managing Your Subscription

All subscription content is managed via Wine of the Month Clubs website. While they dont yet have an app, Wine of the Month Clubs employees are quick to respond to any questions or qualms you might have regarding your subscription. You can also:

Customize your subscription to whenever you want it

Pay on a month-by-month basis

Switch to other accounts at any time

Gift Wine of the Month Club to colleagues or friends

Is Wine of the Month Club worth It? The VERDICT: Promising Investment

Simply put, Wine of the Month Club is a promising investment for anyone who just wants to enjoy wine. No matter your level of knowledge, Wine of the Month Club is like your own personal sommelier. Use the club to expand your knowledge of wine, or if you want to dive into the world of wine for the first time, Wine of the Month Club can act as your Wine for Dummies. Plus, the price point wont break the bank if you consider what you get: two expert-chosen bottles of wine for roughly $15 each (including shipping and tax). Youll find a tough time faring better in your local wine outlet.

Wine of the Month Club Competitors

Deals, Coupons and Promo Codes

While Wine of the Month Club doesnt dole out too many coupons, when you first order, Wine of the Month Club will send along a free gift -- ranging from bottle carrying kits to wine openers.
As it stands now, SEAT has two utility vehicles in the lineup. After the subcompact Arona, compact Ateca, and the 2018 seven-seat crossover , the Spanish automaker reportedly decided to introduce a coupe-like SUV in 2020.
In an interview with Automotive News Europe , board member for technical development Peter Mertens made it clear that changes are inevitable. On the subject of eliminating up to 40 percent of Audis drive systems in the foreseeable future, the official replied: We will thin out our engine-transmission combinations, but entire engine families might also disappear. Do we really need a V10 and W12 for the next generation of cars?Boo and hiss! And for good reason considering the V10 is a marvel of free-breathing engineering and the W12 packs a considerable punch. Such a decision shouldnt surprise you, not when you consider the financial burden brought by the Dieselgate scandal to pretty much all of the VW group.The so-called Premium Platform Electric is the focus of the company in the long run, an electric vehicle architecture Audi is co-developing with Porsche . Shortened to PPE, the platform is crucial for the e-mobility goals of both brands. In terms of volume, 60 percent of the platform comes from Audi , and the remaining 40 percent from Porsche. In Audis case, the PPE will mainly benefit future compact executive (A4) and mid-size (A6) vehicles.With the future of the V10 and W12 uncertain, its important to highlight that V8s are here to stay. We get questioned about the V8 , and in particular the diesel, but I cannot imagine we will do without it, said Mertens. "We have a very important group of customers that really wants eight-cylinder engines in larger vehicles. Will it exist forever? No, but [it will] for a rather long time.Before joining Audi in November 2016, Mertens worked as senior vice president of research and development at Volvo from 2011 to 2016. He is credited as the architect behind Volvos demise of big engines. Volvos current largest internal combustion engine is the 2.0-liter four-cylinder Drive-E.
SUV

We're talking about an older Jeep Grand Cherokee battling an Audi SQ7. The Jeep might pack certain offroading mods, while the Audi is probably in stock condition and, given the pricing gap between these machines, we're surprised that the guy behind the wheel of the SQ7 would put theto the test in such a stressful manner.We're not aware of the Jeep's specs, but we'll remind you that the SQ7 is animated by a twin-turbo diesel V8, a monster of an engine that churns out 435 hp and a bewildering 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) of twist.Speaking of which, it looks that while the German SUV is riding on its factory tires, the Jeep has left its stock rubber behind for a set of terrain-taming tires. And, as you can imagine, the rubber choice can make all the difference in the world.We don't want to ruin the giggles of the video, which is why we won't throw any spoilers at you, at least not when it comes to the winner of the competition.However, we will mention the fact that none of the drivers seem to be willing to cut the cars any slack. For instance, you'll get to see both the Audi SQ7 and the Jeep Grand Cherokee delivering all-wheel-drive burnouts.And while that's unhealthy for their drivetrains, we're certainly talking about uber-rare stunts here. Head over to the "play" button below to find out which high-riding machine grabbed the win.
Sure, this may sound like a scenario that comes straight from Fast And Furious, but that's not the case. Instead, we're dealing with a real-life tale that recently saw a crashed 458 burning rubber in Jacksonville, Florida.Those of you who are tuned into our supercar stories might be familiar with this Prancing Horse, since we've previously shown you the V8 animal delivering sweet slip angles.The Maranello machine was unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident. However, that didn't stop the thing from being used as a drift tool.With the mechanical side of the crash damage taken care of, the Ferrari 458 Italia returned to the streets, eager to burn even more rubber than before.It might seem strange to see the driver of a Ferrari treating his 458 like this, but we have to explain that its all related to YouTube glory.This 458 was customised by Damon Fryer, the vlogger behind the DailyDriven Exotics channel, with the camera addict willing to make the most out of it - the supercar has been gifted with quite a few extreme visual bits, from the racing wing to the eye-catching wrap.The aficionado delivers an unapologetic take on his intentions in the description of his latest YT stunt: "More than a year after the infamous DDE Ferrari 458 GT was destroyed in an accident during Car week It's reunited with the "donut king" for one last tire slaying project! Ferrari GT-458 meets the streets in a ruthless display of donuts and drifting!"
California Senate leader Kevin de Leon will announce his bid for the U.S. Senate today, challenging fellow Democrat and incumbent Dianne Feinstein who has held the seat since 1992, per the LA Times.

The backdrop: Feinstein "has faced heated criticism in recent months from liberal critics who have said her measured approach is no longer representative of a state that has become home to "the resistance" to President Trump and his policies," the LA Times reports. But De Leon faces a tough fight. Feinstein is a respected veteran of the Democratic party and wealthy enough to fund her own campaign.
Early projections indicate that Sebastian Kurz  the 31-year-old conservative candidate  will win the chancellorship of Austria, shifting the politics of the country to the right, the Washington Post reports. Per Austrian broadcasters, Kurz and the People's Party have 31.6% of the vote, with the incumbent Social Democrats at 26.9% and the nationalist Freedom Party right behind with 26%.

Why it matters: A win for Kurz and the People's Party would turn Austria far to the right after decades of centrist rulers in power. "Favoring the People's and Freedom parties is distrust of migrants and Muslims among many Austrian voters," per the AP. Kurz would also be the youngest world leader, if elected.

Go deeper: What to know about the Austrian election
National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster, UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said President Trump is not considering leaving the Iran deal yet.

Haley: "Right now you're going to see us stay in the deal we're in the deal to see how we can make it better," to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press.

"Right now you're going to see us stay in the deal we're in the deal to see how we can make it better," to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press. McMaster: "The president is not walking away from the deal yet," to Fox News Sunday's James Rosen.

"The president is not walking away from the deal yet," to Fox News Sunday's James Rosen. Tillerson: "We want to take the agreement as it exists today ... and then begin the process of addressing these flaws," to Jake Tapper on State of the Union.

Flashback: Trump said Friday, "We will see what happens with Iran. We're very unhappy with Iran ... I may very well end" the Iran deal.
Nationalist wave rolls on ... In election tomorrow, "Austrian voters concerned about immigration, Islam," by AP's George Jahn in Vienna:

Why it matters: Tomorrow's election "could turn the country rightward after decades of centrist governance amid voter concerns over immigration and Islam.""The People's Party, which has shifted from centrist to right-wing positions, is leading in the pre-vote polls. Austria's traditionally right-wing, anti-migrant Freedom Party is expected to come in second and the center-left Social Democrats [first or second in elections since World War II] are thought to be trailing in third place.""Favoring the People's and Freedom parties is distrust of migrants and Muslims among many Austrian voters."The backdrop: "The 2015 influx of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing the war in Syria and poverty elsewhere into the EU's prosperous heartland left Austria with nearly 100,000 new and mostly Muslim migrants.""That has fueled fears Austria's traditional Western and Christian culture is in danger. As a result, voters are receptive to the anti-migrant platforms of both the People's Party and the Freedom Party."Go deeper: Q&A on Austria's rightward drift.
15 October 2017 10:17 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Over the past 24 hours, Armenias armed forces have 112 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on October 15.

Armenians were using large-caliber machine guns.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 October 2017 11:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

The visit of Turkish MP Garo Paylan to Yerevan is an obvious step for the benefit of Armenia, Erdem Eren, Turkish foreign policy expert and chief coordinator of the Beyaz Hareket political movement, told Trend.

Paylan, given his nationality, may be in sympathy with Armenia, but in this case he represents the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which has long been maintaining close contacts with Armenia and PKK, he said.

He noted that in 2008, when military operations against the PKK were held in Turkey, numerous members of this organization fled to Armenia.

The expert said that Paylans visit to Armenia can be assessed in this context, as in Yerevan, he called on Ankara to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide and called Armenia a more democratic state, unlike Turkey.

If Armenia and its friends are so democratic, why dont they recognize the Khojaly genocide, and why Yerevan still holds native Azerbaijani lands under occupation?

When it comes to Turkey and its friends, some countries perceive terrorists as defenders of democracy, Eren added.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 October 2017 11:16 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Russia, providing Armenia with a loan worth $200 million to buy modern weapons, violates its obligations as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, said Arzu Nagiyev, a political analyst and deputy director general of Trend Agency.

In late 2015, Russia and Armenia agreed on allocation of a $ 200 million loan to Armenia for the purchase of modern weapons. The Armenian government approved the first $100 million loan package Oct. 12, 2017.

Under the agreement, a $100-million loan will be extended to Armenia for 20 years.

Nagiyev noted that Russia openly shows that it does not respect the principle of neutrality by providing comprehensive support to one of the conflict sides.

The expert pointed out that in the current economic situation, Armenia will not be able to repay the loan.

Russia is equipping Armenia with modern weapons and tries to strengthen military potential of the occupant country. Arming of Armenia by Russia is contrary to the principles of strategic partnership, friendship and good-neighborliness with Azerbaijan. It is obvious that Russia is not at all neutral in the settlement of Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said.

Nagiyev added that arming Armenia, Russia flagrantly violates the requirements of international law.

The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts.

The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 October 2017 11:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

Moscow acknowledges that the military advantage of Azerbaijan may be enhanced much more rapidly than Armenia's ability to reflect this pressure, said Alexander Karavayev, a research fellow at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Karavayev made the remark when commenting on Russias decision to supply Armenia with a loan worth $200 million to buy modern weapons.

In late 2015, Russia and Armenia agreed on allocation of a $ 200 million loan to Armenia for the purchase of modern weapons. The Armenian government approved the first $100 million loan package Oct. 12, 2017.

Under the agreement, a $100-million loan will be extended to Armenia for 20 years.

He added, that it is impossible to accurately calculate the military advantage of one or another party to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, since the quantity and quality of military equipment are not priorities in case of an unstable situation.

During the events of April 2016 it became possible to make an unambiguous conclusion that Moscow allows the use of military equipment, including those delivered from Russia, by Azerbaijan, with the aim of returning the regions around Nagorno-Karabakh, which remain under the occupied occupation, Karavayev said.

The military loan was issued with a maturity of 15 years and a rate of 3 percent per annum. The period of use is from 2018 to 2022.

Without any doubt, this deal will negatively affect the process of settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

However, Azerbaijan expects more balanced solutions from Moscow for the resolution of the conflict with Armenia.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 October 2017 15:34 (UTC+04:00)

An Azerbaijani delegation led by Speaker of the Parliament Ogtay Asadov has attended the opening of the 137th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Saint Petersburg.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the opening ceremony, Azertac reported.

The President of Russia awarded the Order of Friendship to IPU President Saber Chowdhury. The Order was presented for a major contribution to the development of inter-parliamentary ties, consolidation of cooperation and mutual understanding between the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

Speakers of the upper and the lower houses of the Russian Parliament Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin also took part in the ceremony for presenting the decoration.

The Inter-Parliamentary Union is the oldest international parliamentary organisation: it was founded in 1889 and unites parliamentarians from 173 countries and 11 inter-parliamentary organisations.

The IPU promotes the development of parliamentarism, respect for human rights, inter-ethnic peace building and ensuring international security.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
15 October 2017 11:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Trend

In his Friday speech, US President Donald Trump derailed an event that was meant to address Irans nuclear dossier, an expert believes.

Rather than to address Irans compliance with the nuclear deal, for which the day had been set, Trump talked about non-nuclear issues and in fact derailed the event, Hassan Lasjerdi, member of the Islamic Coalition Partys central committee told Trend October 14.

Accusing Iran of sponsoring terrorism, Trump on Friday said Washington will adopt tough sanctions on the IRGC for its regional influence.

In the meantime, the Treasury announced it had put under sanctions a number of companies affiliated with the IRGC.

Trumps speech indicated that Irans nuclear deal and its implementation are not the focus of Washingtons Iran policy, Lasjerdi noted.

Trumps speech addressed three non-nuclear issues in a bid to open new horizons with the world community to deal with Iran. The first issues was Irans regional influence. The second was allegations regarding terrorism. And the third was Irans defense capabilities, especially its missile program, Lasjerdi added.

We will counter threats to the United States and our allies from ballistic missiles and other asymmetric weapons, Trump said during a speech in which he was supposed to announce Washingtons assessment of Irans compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

We will work to deny the Iranian regime  and especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)  funding, the US president added.

---

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Las Vegas-based University Medical Center, a level 1 trauma center, saw an influx of wounded patients after gunman Stephen Paddock, a 64-year-old Nevada resident, opened fire at a country concert Oct. 1, according to The New York Times.

Here are seven things to know:

1. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department identified Mr. Paddock as the sole shooter in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, CNN reports. Mr. Paddock opened fire into a crowd of nearly 22,000 people, killing 59 people and injuring an additional 527.

2. The shooting occurred near the Las Vegas strip's Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Mr. Paddock shot at the crowd from his Mandalay Bay hotel room. A SWAT team found Mr. Paddock dead in his hotel room from a self-inflicted gunshot.

3. The only level 1 trauma center in the state, University Medical Center cared for numerous patients following the shooting. The center has 11 trauma bays, a trauma intensive care unit and three operating rooms. However, space was limited following the shooting, with 90 patients entering the center's doors within the first few hours. That number jumped to 180 by midday Oct. 2.

4. To accommodate the incoming patients, University Medical set up additional places to care for patients. The trauma center opened its ASC as well as a recovery area and a preoperative area.

5. University Medical was fighting to find ample supplies to care for patients. The trauma center sought IV tubing, fluids, chest rubes, urinals and blankets, as well as chest tubes from other departments within the center.

6. Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center and Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican, both based in Las Vegas, also cared for the injured, according to NYT.

7. CNN reports Mr. Paddock's motive is unclear at this point in time.
HAILEY  The Blaine County school district will present information about social media and internet safety for children.

The program on Oct. 18 and 19 will include information on bullying and sexting, as well as child pornography and enticement by internet child predators. Parents will learn how to protect their children by becoming familiar with the apps on their devices and software solutions which monitor their childrens activity.

The presenter is Victor Dominguez who serves as the chairman of the Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Coalition. Dominguez is a retired 21-year police officer with the Anaheim, Calif., police department. The coalition works closely with both the Boise police department and the state attorney general's internet crimes task force. Dominguez writes, The first line of defense will always be informed and knowledgeable parents and guardians.

All parents from all schools in Blaine County are encouraged to attend. Both events are free and co-sponsored by the Roy A. Hunt Foundation and the Blaine County School District. More information: Heather Crocker at 208-578-5005 or HCrocker@blaineschools.org.
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Q: My car was damaged while parked in a parking lot. The person who did the damage left and did not leave any information and of course, nobody saw anything. What could happen to the person who did the hit-and-run on my car? I was told by a friend that since it happened on private property nothing would happen. Mike

A: Well, after we let you do whatever you wanted to do to that driver then we would do our part. The prior answer of course was only a joke but we have all had that feeling at least once a lifetime. The truth is that if the driver was found then a simple private property crash would become a year-long bit of misery for that driver with his or her drivers license.

Idaho Code 49-1301 explains to us what we should do in the event of a private property crash. It reads: The driver of any vehicle involved in an accident, either on public or private property open to the public, resulting only in damage to a vehicle which is driven or attended by any person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident, or as close as possible, and shall immediately return to, and in every event shall remain at, the scene of the accident until he has fulfilled the requirements of law. Requirements of course being that information be exchanged if on private property.

If a driver failed to report the crash then they would be in violation of Idaho Code 49-1301(4) which reads: The department shall revoke for a period of one year the drivers license, privileges or permit to drive, or the nonresident operating privilege, of any person convicted of a violation of the provisions of this section. This is also a misdemeanor crime.

I can say that it is much cheaper and wiser to stay at the site of a crash than it is to run. A few bucks to fix a car is much cheaper than a year of finding rides to wherever if a drivers license suspension is added to the total cost of running away from a crash.

Quote of the month

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touchedthey must be felt with the heartHelen Keller

Officer down

Please put these officers, killed in the line of duty, and their families in your prayers. They fought the good fight, now may they rest in peace. God bless these heroes.

Corporal Michael Middlebrook, Lafayette Police, Louisiana

Police Officer Charles Hartfield, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police, Nevada

Have a question for Policemandan? Email your question(s) to policemandan@cableone.net or look for Ask Policemandan on Facebook and click the like button. Mail to: Box 147, Heyburn, Idaho 83336
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/10/2017 (1858 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two brothers accused of being involved in threatening a family on Birdtail Sioux First Nation with firearms and metal bars have been granted bail.

While the Crown consented to the release of Lance Bunn, they opposed the release of his brother, Jordan Bunn, on secondary grounds.

Lance is facing multiple charges, including pointing a firearm and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, while Jordan faces charges including possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose and uttering threats.

The following allegations havent been proven and both of the accused are presumed innocent.

Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup told Brandon provincial court on Thursday that police received a call on Tuesday from a woman reporting a man had threatened her family.

The man attended the band office and asked to speak to one of the victims in private, where he allegedly told her that he didnt care if he went back to jail, but him and his boys were going to burn her and her daughters house down and bring guns.

Defence lawyer Bob Harrison told court his client did not threaten the victim, but was trying to warn her of what other members of his family were planning to do.

Later on, the man and a group of others went to the victims home, yelling and hitting the side of the staircase railings of the home with metal objects.

One of the men was allegedly brandishing a rifle, pointing it at one of the victims when he came outside to tell them to go away.

The other men were seen holding metal bars.

The group ended up fleeing the victims property before the police arrived.

This is someone who cant be out in the community and who can be relied upon to follow court orders, Lonstrup said. A specific family is at risk here.

Harrison pointed out to the court that Lance had been previously released, and a sufficient bail plan could be presented for Jordan as well, he said.

As often the case, theres two sides and two explanations as to what happened, Harrison argued.

Jordan is not currently living on Birdtail Sioux First Nation, Harrison added, suggesting an order include a condition he not go back.

Not attending Birdtail, I think, is the key ingredient here, Harrison said.

Ultimately, Judge John Combs was satisfied with the bail plan presented by the defence.

I share all of the Crowns concerns, including the fact that this kind of behaviour is far too prevalent as its been said many times  in First Nations communities, and in particular on Birdtail First Nation, Combs said. That being said, if Im being presented with a bail plan that may alleviate some of the concerns, particularly as it relates to the apparent feud between these families, then I need to consider that plan.

Both of the accused are due back in court in November.

 edebooy@brandonsun.com

 Twitter: @erindebooy
DECLO  Northwest Farm Credit Services has awarded Declo High School Agricultural Department and FFA a $3,000 Northwest FCS Rural Community Grant.

The Declo FFA Chapter and Agricultural Department thanks Northwest Farm Credit Services for the grant that will go toward the new greenhouse, said Hannah Mamer, ag educator, in a statement. One of our program objectives is to educate the youth and give the students hands-on experience within the agriculture industry.

Ag educator Jesse Miller said, The new greenhouse will allow students to gain valuable hands-on experiences in that environment. It will also serve as an outdoor lab facility for the agricultural classes taught at Declo High School. Thank you for helping us get one step closer to the new greenhouse.

In 2017 to date, Northwest Farm Credit Services has committed $156,000 to 115 projects in rural communities across Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Since the programs inception in 2007, it has awarded 748 grants totaling more than $1.36 million.
As monsoon season heralds heavy rains throughout the Asian tropics, Buddhist monks bunker down inside monasteries for three months of heightened devotion to meditation and spiritual teaching.

The traditional rainy season retreat was mirrored in Canberra's southern suburbs as monks at the Sri Lanka Buddhist Temple in Kambah dedicated themselves to imparting guidance in recent weeks.

Devotees danced and beat drums as the street parade wound its way around Jenke Circuit to the Sri Lankan Buddhist Temple in Kambah. Credit:Sitthixay Ditthavong

But solemnity gave way to celebration as hundreds of Buddhist faithful turned out to mark Katina, a festival for the temple laity to show generosity and gratitude to monks after months of service, on Sunday.

Devotees donned cultural dress, carried flowers, danced in the street and beat ceremonial drums in a vibrant early morning parade that wound its way around Jenke Circuit.
A man has been punched in the head several times and kicked on the ground during a horrific road rage incident on Brisbane's northside on Friday.

A black Nissan Dualis and red Holden Jackaroo were driving through the intersection of Oliver Street and Leckie Road in Kedron just before 3pm on Friday when it is believed the Dualis driver cut-off the Jackaroo.

The black SUV involved in a road rage incident at Kedron on Friday. Credit:Queensland Police Service

Both vehicles pulled over and a fight broke out, with the Dualis driver punching the Jackaroo driver several times in the head.

The attacker then threw the man to the ground before kicking and kneeing him. The Dualis driver also kneed the Jackaroo station wagon before fleeing in his own vehicle along Leckie Road.
Police have launched a public appeal to find three missing children who have not been seen for three weeks after last being sighted in Redland City.

The siblings were reported missing on Saturday after being last seen by family on September 24 in the Cleveland area and police said concerns were held for their welfare.

The missing children include a boy, 6, and his twin sisters, 5, with authorities believing they are in the company of a 39-year-old man, who is known to them.

He is believed to be travelling in a grey 2004 Honda Odyssey with Queensland Registration plates 808 WEL and has been described as 175 centimetres tall with blonde hair and green eyes.

The missing 6-year-old boy has been described as 120 centimetres tall, thin build with black hair and brown eyes. The 5-year-old girls have been described as 100 centimetres tall, slim build with black hair and brown eyes.
Vandals are being blamed for cigarette bins being busted open and butts being strewn across Brisbane city.

Brisbane City Council said cigarette bins are being damaged by vandals.

Cigarette bins attached to council rubbish bins have a locking device on them but are often found hanging open above a footpath covered in cigarette butts.

While this is an increasingly common sight around the city, Brisbane City Council's field services chairman Peter Matic said the council was not at fault.

"Damage to cigarette bins is not due to a malfunction of the bin, rather, it is the result of vandalism, he said.
Imagine walking into a railway station with all the lights turned off. How would you find the right platform in the pitch dark?

David Meere, who is visually impaired, says this is what all public buildings are like for people who can't see.

"The world is geared towards those who can see," Mr Meere said.

"How I navigate the public realm is one challenge and that's met to some extent by GPS, but the real challenge ... is the indoor navigation. Because GPS is notoriously flaky or absent once you get inside a building."
A bushfire may threaten lives and homes in a remote Aboriginal community in Western Australia.

A watch and act warning has been issued for people in the Wakathuni Community, South of Tom Price in the Shire of Ashbuton, Department of Fire and Emergency Services said on Saturday night.

Mount Nameless near Tom Price in the Pilbara. Credit:TripAdvisor

About 13,000 hectares have been burnt by the out of control blaze.

People are being told to leave or be prepared to actively defend their properties.
You will recall all the bitter accusations made against the ABC and my sister-from-another-mister Julia Baird over the latter's reports about women in the Christian church (of all denominations) who said their leaders were telling them to submit to domestic abuse in the name of God.

One particular theme was that clergy themselves had engaged in it, based on the strictures of the Scriptures, which give the man of the house the role of "The Head" and required his spouse to submit. There was hell to pay, with ludicrous charges made that it was all nonsense, all designed to damage Christianity, etc, etc, etc. Usual crap, what?

Illustration: Reg Lynch

Well, this week the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney actually acknowledged the truth of the story and issued a formal apology to victims of domestic abuse, including the wives of clergymen, who the church noted it had failed. The response so far from the critics of Julia and the ABC, who said it was all nonsense? Not a peep. Usual crap, what?

Good on the Synod, too, for giving $5000 to its Domestic Violence Task Force, which recommended that the church apologise, after speaking with survivors, though I might say that on the same day it announced it had given $1 million to the "no" campaign, which would demonstrate that there is still some work to do on priorities.
Greens leader Richard Di Natale says he is prepared to fight at the barricades and risk arrest to stop the Adani coal mine.

"If this mine was a country it would be the seventh largest polluter on earth," Senator Di Natale told Sky News on Sunday morning.

Senator Natale said he would join protests against the mine  which he likened to the protest against the Franklin Dam in Tasmania in the 1980s  and was not concerned about the possible risk of arrest.

"If we can't stop it in the Parliament, we'll stop it by standing in front of those bulldozers. It won't go ahead," Senator Di Natale said.
GLENNS FERRY  A Fall Harvest Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Elmore County Fairgrounds, off Interstate 84 exit 121, in Glenns Ferry.

Vendors will have handcrafted items, homemade food and other treats. Childrens activities and games are planned along with a costume contest.

The festival will include a chili cook-off sponsored by the local fire department.

Most of the proceeds from the family event will go to support local charities.

Information: Christy, 208-598-0886 (vendors); or Heidi, 208-284-2735 (festival booth).
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has sought to reassure Australians that the country is not a "primary target" of North Korea's aggression, despite acknowledging expectations that the rogue state will continue its nuclear testing regime.

Kim Jong-un's regime has criticised Australia's "dangerous moves" in its support for the US in its "frenzied political and military provocations" against North Korea.

Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop says there are "expectations that North Korea will continue its provocative behaviour". Credit:James Alcock

"Should Australia continue to follow the US in imposing military, economic and diplomatic pressure upon the DPRK despite our repeated warnings, they will not be able to avoid a disaster," state-run news agency KCNA warned in a statement on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Sunday, Ms Bishop said: "Australia is not a primary target and North Korea has made threats against Australia before.
Barcelona: The warning from the spokesman of Spain's ruling party stopped hearts across Catalonia: If Carles Puigdemont declared independence, he might "end up like the man who declared it 83 years ago".

That man was Lluis Companys, the Catalan president who was imprisoned and later executed by the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.

Two men, one wearing a Spanish flag, left, and the other wearing an estelada' or independence flag, talk during Spain's National Day in Barcelona on Thursday. Credit:AP

Today his death, on October 15, 1940, will be marked by a march to Barcelona's Montjuic Castle, the site of the public act of punishment which still rankles deep in Catalans' historical consciousness. Accompanied by his entire cabinet, Mr Puigdemont will lay a wreath at the tomb of Companys, whose reported cry "For Catalonia!" as he faced the firing squad immortalised him as a martyr to the modern day independence movement.

As outrage grew over his words on Monday, Pablo Casado, the spokesman for Mariano Rajoy's Popular Party claimed he had not been referring to Companys' execution but instead his earlier imprisonment for "rebellion" after he declared a Catalan state within a Spanish federal -republic.
Bangkok: A landmark agreement to develop billions of dollars' worth of oil and gas reserves in the Timor Sea has been referred to East Timor, where the future of country's new minority government is in doubt.

Opposition parties, which together hold a majority of parliamentary seats, are threatening to vote down as early as Monday the government's program, the first trigger that could lead to the government's fall.

Michael Leach, an expert on East Timor from Swinburne University of Technology, said if the government program is rejected twice it will go into caretaker mode until a new government can be formed, which may also see the holding of fresh elections.

Professor Leach said having a government in caretaker mode would likely delay  but not indefinitely  the signing and ratification of the agreement on a Timor Sea maritime boundary and sharing arrangements for the $50 billion Greater Sunrise oil and gas field that has been negotiated between Australia and East Timor under UN supervision in The Hague.
Xanana Gusmao, the 71-year-old former revolutionary fighter, president and prime minister, has insisted in a high-stakes gamble that gas from Greater Sunrise must be piped to a yet-to-be built refinery on East Timor's isolated southern coast, while a consortium of investors - including ConocoPhillips and Woodside Energy - says it is not viable to bring the gas to East Timor across a deep trench, and want the gas processed on a floating platform. Young men wave the flag of the CNRT, the party of former president Xanana Gusmao. Credit:Wayne Lovell The consortium partners have indicated publicly that they don't want to pipe the gas to Darwin. "The [election] candidates are striking heroic poses about negotiations with Australia," says Clinton Fernandes, an expert on Timor at the University of New South Wales, referring to UN-backed negotiations to resolve the bitter dispute between Australia and East Timor over maritime boundaries. East Timorese President Francisco Guterres, known as Lu-Olo. Credit:Wayne Lovell

Gusmao and the generation of leaders who fought Indonesia's 1975 invasion and 24 years of brutal occupation appear likely to hold on to power after a violence-free campaign. Their candidate, Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres, also a former resistance commander, won 57 per cent of the vote at presidential elections in March, signalling strong support for a "coalition of national unity" comprising Gusmao's National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction, or CNRT, and Fretilin, the most established party that appears to have run the most modern and professional campaign. One fifth of 750,000 registered voters will be casting ballots for the first time, in a country where half of the population is under 20. Credit:Wayne Lovell Jose Ramos-Horta, a former president and prime minister and still an influential figure in Dili, said most voters remain "politically, psychologically and emotionally attached" to national leaders who led the country during the independence struggle. He told the Portuguese news agency Lusa that Timorese is a "fundamentally patriarchal culture in which the oldest means experience and wisdom".

Supporters of Fretilin and Francisco "Lu-Olo" Guterres campaign in Dili during the presidential election in March. Credit:Wayne Lovell But Michael Leach, an expert on Timorese politics at the Swinburne University of Technology, said the complexion of the new government is hard to pick because of changing voter patterns. The median age of Timorese is just under 19 and with a voting age of 17, a fifth of voters will cast their ballots for the first time. Xanana Gusmao led the negotiations at The Hague. Credit:Wayne Lovell The People's Liberation Party (PLP), led by 60-year-old former president Taur Matan Ruak, also a resistance commander in the occupation years, is supported by a host of younger Western-educated Timorese from Dili's intelligentsia.

"If we don't know how to involve young people in the development process they can become a time bomb," he told reporters. The PLP favours military conscription, prompting critics to argue it would be dangerous to train youths in use of firearms and be conditioned to follow hierarchical orders in a country where mobs made up mainly of youth rioted in 2006. According to La'o Hamutuk, an independent NGO in Dili, almost half the population live in poverty, two-thirds live in rural areas, largely by subsistence farming, and about 1200 children under five die from preventable conditions every year  15 times the number who die from physical violence. The country has almost no industry and a tiny private sector. Leach said Gusmao's personal legitimacy and popularity as a former resistance commander remains the cornerstone of his party.

And Fernandes said Gusmao's large election war chest means he can communicate his message better than his rivals. Gusmao's party has been well supported by businesspeople, who have benefited from government contracts, and the beneficiaries of pensions. "His donors have good reason to believe he will win comfortably and he also probably retains the trust of enough people to do so," Fernandes said. Two decades after Timorese bravely defied violence and intimidation to vote to break away from Indonesia in a UN-run referendum, Gusmao will remain the country's most powerful figure after the election, analysts say. He has been tasked with leading the Greater Sunrise negotiations when a conciliation commission releases its findings on September 19.

In mid-July, ConocoPhillips left open the possibility of gas from fields other than Barossa being piped to Darwin, and said it is assessing several options. These may include Greater Sunrise. East Timor's national oil company has also expressed hope in a possible gas field south-east of the country called the Crocodile project, which is 100 per cent owned by East Timor. Onshore exploration is also planned. But analysts say that even if Greater Sunrise or other fields are developed soon, East Timor's leaders will face having to implement austerity programs by 2026, given the rate of the country's spending on infrastructure and other programs. Loading Some analysts predict Gusmao may be willing to soften his stance on Greater Sunrise once the election is out of the way.
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ST. LOUIS, Mo.  According to the National Science and Math Initiative, the number of jobs in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is expected to grow significantly over the next decade. To ensure Idaho students are prepared to take on these jobs and have the education they need to help solve global challenges, the Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education program, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, has partnered with local farmers to provide a $25,000 grant to Hansen School district.

To qualify for a Grow Rural Education grant, school districts had to be nominated by farmers in eligible counties to compete for a merit-based grant of either $10,000 or $25,000. Nominated school districts then submitted a grant application describing their STEM-focused project. The programs Farmer Advisory Council, consisting of approximately 30 farmer leaders from across the country with an interest in agriculture and education, reviewed the finalist applications and selected the winning school districts, including Hansen School District.

The Americas Farmers Grow Rural Education program works with farmers to help make their local communities a better place by preparing their students for successful careers, said Al Mitchell, Monsanto Fund president. The schools weve worked with tell us that the grants they receive through the Grow Rural Education program have real results. In many cases, students seem more excited and interested in what theyre learning and the programs funded by these grants have resulted in higher student engagement in STEM.

In 2017, the Grow Rural Education program will award $2.3 million to deserving schools.
DaVinci Code author Dan Brown claims mankind's need for God will 'eventually disappear'

Humanity no longer needs God but may with the help of artificial intelligence develop a new form of collective consciousness that fulfils the role of religion, U.S. author Dan Brown said on Thursday.

Brown made the provocative remark at the Frankfurt Book Fair where he was promoting his new novel, "Origin", the fifth outing for Harvard "symbology" professor Robert Langdon, the protagonist of "The Da Vinci Code", a book that questioned the history of Christianity.

"Origin" was inspired by the question "Will God survive science?", said Brown, adding that this had never happened in the history of humanity.

"Are we naive today to believe that the gods of the present will survive and be here in a hundred years?" Brown, 53, told a packed news conference.

Set in Spain, "Origin" opens with Langdon arriving at the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao for an announcement by a reclusive billionaire futurist that promises to "change the face of science forever".

Events quickly take an unexpected turn, providing a plot vehicle for Langdon to visit the historic sites of Spain - including Barcelona, capital of the northern region of Catalonia that is now in the grip of a secession crisis.

Brown, who studied art history in Seville, expressed his concern and sympathy for both sides in the political stand-off.

"I love Catalonia. I love Spain. I hope they work it out. It's a heartbreaking situation, but it's also a sign of the times," said Brown, adding the crisis also reflected the tension in society between the ancient and the modern.

Brown, who has sold 200 million books in 56 languages, admitted to not having read a novel in five years. But he investigated deeply and spent a lot of time talking to futurists to come up with the storyline for "Origin".

He recognized that his views may not be welcomed by clerics, but called for greater harmony between the world's great religions and those who profess no faith.

"Christianity, Judaism and Islam all share a gospel, loosely, and it's important that we all realize that," he said. "Our religions are much more similar than they are different."

Turning to the future, Brown said technological change and the development of artificial intelligence would transform the concept of the divine.

"We will start to find our spiritual experiences through our interconnections with each other," he said, forecasting the emergence of "some form of global consciousness that we perceive and that becomes our divine".

"Our need for that exterior god, that sits up there and judges us ... will diminish and eventually disappear."

Reporting by Douglas Busvine; Editing by Robin Pomeroy
Gucci promises fur-free products in 2018

Another luxury brand has taken a step in challenging the role of the fashion industry in sustainability and animal protection. Italian brand Gucci announced that starting 2018, it will be going fur-free.

Many celebrities have been seen using the Gucci-launched loafers outlined with fur, designed by creative director Alessandro Michele, since its release in 2015. But amid the popularity of these, during the Kering Talk at the London College of Fashion on Wednesday, Oct. 11, Gucci president and CEO Marco Bizarri made an otherwise big and brave announcement. The brand will no longer be producing products with fur.

"Being socially responsible is one of Gucci's core values, and we will continue to strive to do better for the environment and animals," Bizarri said, adding that they have partnered with The Humane Society of U.S. and LAV, in taking this futuristic leap. The group will also be joining Fur Free Alliance as a commitment to the halt of use of fur.

The leftover pieces with fur will be auctioned. Proceeds of this will go to the animal rights groups mentioned. The 2018 Spring line, featured during the Milan fashion week, will be the first batch of fur-free products from Gucci. Kitty Block, The Humane Society International president, said that this is a "game-changer" in the world of fashion. She also expected that this will create a ripple effect in the industry.

Giorgio Armani took the same efforts in 2016, saying that present-day technological advancements had enabled them to create products without sacrificing animals. Ralph Lauren had the same landmark decision of removing fur from its product in 2006.

Stella McCartney in 2015 revealed a video, exposing the irony in the beauty of leather. The fashion designer showed the gruesome process in getting leather, which meant cruelty to animals. This move is a bid to educate the consumers and make them think of the consequences of the products made with the material.
Nokia phasing out OZO VR camera, terminating 310 employees

After only two years in the market, Nokia Technologies is halting production of its top of the line 360-degree virtual reality (VR) camera, OZO, and its follow-up OZO+.

The gadget's short legacy started out fairly well in 2015, with Nokia marketing it to professionals as the "natural evolution" for cameras. Even its initial price of $60,000 was a rate pegged for Hollywood filmmakers, although this was later cut down to $45,000.

In April 2016, the Finnish company even forged a partnership with Disney and its box-office hit "The Jungle Book," filming interactive cast and crew interviews as well as its red carpet movie premiere.

Earlier this year, Alchemy VR Head of Production Ian Syder also praised OZO in an interview with TV Tech Global and called it the "the simplest camera in the world to use" following a very challenging documentary shoot in Galapagos Islands. "Suddenly, the riskier shots are possible  you can put it on a motorized dolly, or strap it to a helicopter," Syder added.

However, for the miniature camera, its successes are far fewer than its shortcomings and it never got to officially take off.

In its official announcement, Nokia said this "means that Nokia Technologies plans to reduce investments and focus more on technology licensing opportunities. The unit aims to halt development of further versions of the OZO VR camera and hardware, while maintaining commitments to existing customers."

Nokia will also give more attention to its digital health portfolio, pertaining to Withings, a former French company it acquired in 2016 to become its digital health unit.

"Nokia Technologies is at a point where, with the right focus and investments, we can meaningfully grow our footprint in the digital health market, and we must seize that opportunity," said Nokia Technologies President Gregory Lee.

With its VR division being cut off, 310 employees will also have to be laid off. That is a third of the company's technology arm scattered around Finland, United Kingdom and the United States. Nokia, however, promised to provide all the necessary support for affected employees.
Orson Welles proved that Americans could be convinced of anything, even a story as preposterous as armed Martians invading New Jersey. His brilliantly spun 1938 radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds created such havoc it even surprised Welles. The numbers actually duped by his Martian tale have since been disputed by a counter-narrative suggesting that American newspapers hyped the hysteria with fake news reports of panic in an effort to prove that radio, increasingly competitive with print, was an untrustworthy new medium.

[I]n fact, we werent as innocent as we meant to be when we did the Martian broadcast, Welles said in a 1955 BBC interview. We were fed up with the way in which everything that came over this new magic box, the radio, was being swallowed . . . so in a way, our broadcast was an assault on the credibility of that machine. We wanted people to understand that they shouldnt take any opinion pre-digested, and they shouldnt swallow everything that came through the tap, whether it was radio or not.

ICYMI: NY journalist handcuffed to railing over his head

Americans are as prone to fear and manipulation now as they were in 1938. But its hard to imagine Welless tale of extraterrestrial invaders registering even a retweet in todays media landscape, where conspiracy theories, fake news, and intentional deceptions are churned out daily by everyone from the White House on down and spread in split seconds across tens of millions of magic screens.

The morning after the broadcast, Welles owned up to the hoax and apologized for any harm it might have caused. Today, the most outrageous spinners of hateful, horrific, and fake stories show absolutely no evidence of regret or remorse for the damage they do. On the contrary, refusing to exhibit civil decorum or own up to their lies even when confronted with irrefutable facts often bolsters their reputations.

For this piece, CJR interviewed people who have been on the opposite end of fake news stories. Repeatedly, the victims complained about a lack of accountability. Some declined to speak, fearing any public comment would spark a new round of attacks. The interviews have been edited for length and clarity.

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David Wheeler, who lost a child in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre and has been accused by Second Amendment advocate and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones of Infowars, among others, of falsifying his childs murder as part of a campaign to undermine gun rights, had this to say: It has been incredibly painful to have to live through this, to have to face this kind of thing for the offense of speaking publicly, but it comes back to something I landed on days after. From this point forward, are you going to make your decisions out of fear or out of love? I dont always succeed, but I try like hell to not have my decisions come out of fear.

ICYMI: ESPN suspended Jemele Hill. We now know the networks 1st and foremost goal

The manipulation of tragedy

Sandy Hook, Connecticut

On the morning of December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza, 20, stormed into Sandy Hook Elementary School and, in the space of five minutes, shot to death 20 first-grade children and six educators before turning the gun on himself. The incomprehensible tragedy turned the national conversation once again to gun control. While efforts to change federal law have failed, the Connecticut legislature passed some of the strictest gun regulations in the nation.

Shortly after the massacre, stories started circulating on social media claiming that the grieving parents were frauds, that their children hadnt existed and the massacre never occurred. Sandy Hook parents received death threats. Jones, of Infowars, railed the loudest and most consistently, and continues to question the veracity of the shooting and encourage his millions of viewers to dispute the facts of the tragic massacre.

David Wheeler, father of Benjamin Wheeler, 6, killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre

Somebody set up a couple of fake Twitter accounts for my wife and me, and those were awful. Of course they latched on right away to the fact that we were once actors to justify their theory. They didnt really have a coherent answer as to why [they say the shooting was] fake, just He was an actor. But you never heard about the other 10 dads who work in finance, or the other three dads employed in sales, because that doesnt fit their twisted narratives.

The way this propaganda works is you take something insane and wrap it in a little bit of truth, and then all those people swallow it because its wrapped in a little bit of truth. Look, he was an actor, thats the little bit of truth they wrapped around me. Well, yes, I was, congratulations, you found someone who once was in theater in a town of 28,000 people 65 miles from New York City. You are a fucking genius.

We were eventually able to close down the Twitter accounts. Twitter has a much more robust end-user agreement regarding truth and transparency [than] YouTube and Facebook, [which] have been much harder.

In the moment, its very hard not to click reply and swear and use every facility at my disposal to try to take these people down, but you have to take a breath, and you have to step back, and you have to realize that its not about me, its not about Benny, its not about my family, or even this town or this event. Its bigger than that, which is comforting and horrifying at the same time.

It comes back to the question of brain pathology, of monological thinking. It comes back to why they have to feel this way, that they know something that you dont know, that they feel like they have some power, like they matter in the world. They have to prove their narrative because its too much a part of how they identify and validate their existence on this planet.

I spent 45 minutes on the phone with Megyn Kelly asking her to not run that show where she interviewed Alex Jones. My point to her was, dont just hold up this guy and say Can you believe he thinks this? Thats not enough. Look into why is he that way, why does he think these things, what happened to him to make him think this? Why?

When you look at this behavior, this unconscionable, devoid-of-any-kind-of-human-empathy behavior that has been directed at us, thats mental illness.

ICYMI: You mightve seen the Timess Weinstein story. But did you miss the bombshell published days after?

The fraudulent election fraud

Columbus, Ohio

During a campaign stop in Columbus, Ohio, in September 2016, candidate Donald Trump told supporters that he feared the election would be rigged. A month later, a digital outlet called the Christian Times Newspaper (CTN) published a story claiming that tens of thousands of fake Hillary Clinton ballots had been found in a Columbus warehouse. A photograph accompanying the story showed a maintenance worker with stacks of ballot boxes. An estimated six million people saw the piece. Concerned citizens called to report the fraud to the Franklin County Board of Elections.

The story and CTN were both phony, conjured up by 23-year-old Cameron Harris, an aspiring political consultant and Republican legislative aide based in Annapolis, Maryland. He created the fake site to sell Web ads by spreading anti-Clinton stories he knew would resonate with pro-Trump voters. The various hoaxes earned him about $22,000, and his sites value surged as high as $125,000. The story was debunked by the Franklin County Board of Elections, the Ohio Secretary of State, Snopes, The New York Times, and others. As a result, Harris lost his job; his sites value dropped to zero after Google decided to pull ads from fake news sites in November, following Trumps election.

Aaron Sellers, Public Information Officer for the Franklin County Board of Elections

I had recently started as the public information person at the board, so this was [a] trial by fire.

A call came from a woman in Michigan about a story where they had found ballots in this dilapidated building downtown. Early voting was about to begin. We knew that it wasnt real. We dont have ballot boxes like that. It didnt pass the smell test.

Within 24 hours, we put a release out to all the media contacts. And the secretary of state got out in front of it and put out a release. We responded back to every single individual who reached out to us. So we tried to be as proactive and reactive as we could to nip it in the bud.

You do kind of take it personally. Were trying to do our job. Were trying to do it correctly. We want people voting. That goes across the party lines. So when we hear about things that try to cast a negative light on the election process, its kind of sad, and its malicious. Its harmful to democracy, regardless of what your politics are.

Creating narrative from murder

Washington, DC

Seth Rich, 27, a Democratic National Committee staffer working on voter expansion, was gunned down in the early morning hours of July 10, 2016, near his home in Washington, DC, in what police called a botched robbery attempt in a neighborhood that has seen an uptick in street crime.

The murder inspired various conspiracy theories that imagined Rich as an embittered Bernie Sanders supporter who provided damaging DNC emails to WikiLeaks and was assassinated by a Clinton hit team as punishment. Fox News reporter Malia Zimmerman ran with a story claiming inaccurately that law enforcement had confirmed the Rich-WikiLeaks connection. Others, including Fox News host Sean Hannity, Alex Jones, various Republican party donors, and Newt Gingrich, piled on in support of the conspiracy theory. A lawsuit filed in August by an independent investigator formerly retained by the Rich family against Zimmerman and Fox News claims that the White House, and Donald Trump personally, signed off on the fake Rich narrative.

Republican lawyer and lobbyist Jack Burkman went so far as to produce and record on video a staged re-enactment of the murder, in which an actor playing Rich confides to a bartender that he has money troubles, but also a secret plan to sort things out. After this supposed confession, two actors playing assailants confront Rich and shoot him in the back. Burkman suggested that a video of the re-enactment, to be distributed on social media, might help solve the crime. The Rich family has repeatedly rejected the conspiracy theories, and called the re-enactment gross and disgusting.

The escalation of Pizzagate

Washington, DC

In early November 2016, soon after WikiLeaks published hacked emails from Hillary Clintons campaign manager John Podesta, posts started appearing in various chat groups, including 4Chan and Reddit, focusing on Comet Ping Pong, a popular pizza place in Northwest Washington owned by James Alefantis, who was mentioned in one of Podestas emails. The posts described a cavernous venue with creepy murals and secret symbols of pedophilia and perversion. The restaurant, it was alleged, was a front for a vast child sex trafficking ring operated by prominent Democrats. The alleged perpetrators communicated in code through images of butterflies and spirals that appeared on dinner menus and storefronts.

The furor around what was dubbed Pizzagate escalated into social media attacks, phone calls, and daily death threats against Comet Ping Pong and surrounding businesses, including the owners of Politics and Prose bookstore, a DC institution. On December 4, 2016, Edgar Maddison Welch, 28, walked into Comet Ping Pong and fired several shots from an AR-15 assault rifle. He was looking to rescue the children he wrongly believed were being abused there. No one was hurt, and Welch was arrested and later pleaded guilty to illegally transporting firearms across state lines and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Some Pizzagate believers claimed Welchs assault was a false flag operation, a covertly planned event carried out for propaganda reasons, or designed to cast blame away from those who secretly orchestrated the operation.

Bradley Graham

We had an event going on that day. [Former Democratic politician and author] Mark Shriver was giving a talk. At 3pm, we saw the police, guns drawn. We were told to stay indoors and

to stay away from the windows. Instinctively,

we made the link to the social media threats.

We had gotten frustrated with the police and the FBI because they didnt seem to be doing much to address our concerns. One reason law enforcement didnt act earlier is that theyre overwhelmed. Everyone is getting threats these days. They have to prioritize.

Lissa Muscatine

You have a person at the top encouraging, inspiring it, and engaging in fake news. The greatest disseminator of fake news is the president of the United States.

Hollywood joins the fake-news fray

Houston, Texas

A questionable marketing ploy backfired in early 2017, when 20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises set up five fake local news sites supposedly based around the country to promote A Cure for Wellness, a horror movie centered on the notion of a dubious cure. One of those sites was the fake Houston Leader, which mirrored a popular community newspaper, The Leader. The fake Leader planted outrageous stories on the real Leaders Facebook page about vegans being prone to mental illness and a widely shared post that claimed Lady Gaga was planning a tribute to Muslims at the Super Bowl. Readers from all over the world contacted the papers publisher in Houston demanding answers. The story was debunked by The New York Times and BuzzFeed, forcing 20th Century Fox to apologize (but not to The Leader) and withdraw the campaign.

Jonathan McElvy, Publisher of The Leader

I came up as a journalist, but I run the business now. Its my responsibility to make the payroll for 30 employees in our company. We fight for every dollar, and part of that fight is our brand. If they wanted to buy our front page and take over our website for a week and use our audience and send out links, they could have paid [us] 10 or 15 grand.

The guy who built their fake website, they probably paid him half a million dollars, maybe more than that. In the end, it was a horrible marketing strategy.

There has been absolutely no accountability, and that just drives me mad. That was the emotional part of this thing: How dare you? What is the precedent we are setting that no one got held accountable?

ICYMI: Heres what non-fake news looks like

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Nina Berman is a photographer and an associate professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Sunday Times reports that a senior Minister who backed Remain in the EU referendum wants Michael Gove to replace Philip Hammond as Chancellor  on the grounds that, first, warnings about Brexit-related problems would not then be dismissed by Leave supporters and, second, because we need a chancellor who is inventive and proactive.

This is broadly the case made by ConservativeHome exactly a week ago, since when the Daily Mail, Nigel Lawson, Fraser Nelson and others have piled in, calling for the Chancellor to be moved or fired. The Sunday Telegraph also says that Gove is being touted for the post, adding that the DUP want Hammond reined in.

Not so fast.

Given Theresa Mays natural caution, and the Governments lack of a Commons majority, she is unlikely to transfer or dismiss a senior Remain-backing Minister without doing the same to a senior Leave-supporting one  or trying to. So whatever the Chancellor intended, his article this week on contingency planning, which was widely read as him digging in his heels, may well have had the effect of weakening not only his position, but also that of the Foreign Secretary. Hammonds Times piece was the equivalent of Boris Johnsons Telegraph missive.

To seek to change two of the Governments top three Ministers is dangerous, in these circumstances. No wonder Gavin Williamson is reported to be urging caution.

None the less, the Prime Minister herself, by indicating in a recent interview that she was prepared for a reshuffle, has made it harder now to back out of having one. Elsewhere, the Sunday Times claims that the Chancellor wants a bold, radical budgetonly a few days after it was reported, entirely accurately, that the cupboard is bare and that his wiggle-room has been drastically cut.

All in all, then, the Government could be reduced to incoherence if it doesnt sort its personnel problems at the top. But one mistaken move risks destabilising the Prime Minister further. More to the point, she must resolve her Brexit strategy before moving anyone: any reshuffle must be framed to fit a plan, not the other way round.

But she has yet to make it clear whether she favours a post-Brexit economic, social and regulatory model that is relatively close to the EUs, such as Switzerland, or less close, such as Canadas. Furthermore, Hammond cannot afford a risky Budget that goes wrong. However, the Conservative conference confirmed the dangers of simply standing still.

One can set three pluses against all this. First, that the Governments reputation for economic competence has not been trashed, unlike that of the Major administration of 1992-97. Second, that the Conservative poll rating, which is knocking around at about 40 per cent, is very high by the standard of recent years. And, third, that there is the best part of five years before the next election.

None the less, the conference season has left the Government looking less coherent than it was before. Since a reshuffle has not been ruled out, one is now being touted in the wake of next weekends European Summit. We hold to the view that Gove should go the Treasury  adding only that if the Prime Minister has now ruled a shuffle out, she should let that be known as soon as possible.
Oceania Cruises' MS Sirena made its inaugural visit to St. Kitts on Wednesday, October 11, bringing more than 600 visitors to the island, according to a statement.

Also in port the same day was the Caribbean Princess with a maximum capacity of 3,140 passengers.

Last Sunday, October 8, the Adventure of the Seas visited St. Kitts with a maximum capacity of 3,840 passengers.An estimated 120 vessels are scheduled to visit St. Kitts from October 7 to December 31, 2017.
Pa. Dems could flip the House of Reps. Here's what that might mean
TWIN FALLS  Junior Achievement of Idaho is will host Inspire to Hire career exploration day from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on Oct. 23 at Twin Falls High School, 1615 Filer Ave. E., Twin Falls. To attend the event, students must participate in four lessons of the JA Job Shadow curriculum presented by the classroom teacher. During the event, students will visit career stations, ask questions about each company, craft resumes with professional instruction and participate in mock interviews.
TWIN FALLS  Fearless Photography and the Twin Falls Animal Shelter will co-host Howl-O-Ween Pet Photography from 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Oct. 28 at the animal shelter, 420 Victory Ave., Twin Falls.

Dogs, cats and other furry critters are invited to help raise money for the Twin Falls Animal Shelter. There will be a Halloween backdrop for pets and their fur-parents to get a festive photo, a raffle, a costume contest, a Paw Print arts-and-craft station  for pets only  and other activities. Pets and parents are encouraged, but not required, to dress up for their photographs.

Admission is $10 or a bag of new and unopened dog or cat food. All participating families get two photographs that will be emailed to them and posted to Fearless Photography's Facebook page. All pet food and donations will go directly to the animal shelter. The shelter will also be open for adoptions. For more information, call Chelsie at 803-231-9308 or email www.photosbyfearless.com.
Q2 Holdings, Inc. provides cloud-based digital banking solutions to regional and community financial institutions (RCFIs) in the United States. The company offers Q2 Consumer Banking, a browser-based digital banking solution and comprehensive financial institution branded digital banking capabilities; Q2 Small Business and Commercial, a mobile and tablet digital banking solution; Q2mobile Remote Deposit Capture, a partnered solution that allows remote check deposit capture. It also provides Q2 Sentinel, a security analytics solution; Q2 Patrol, an event-driven validation product; Q2 SMART, a targeting and messaging platform; and Q2 CardSwap that allows account holders receiving newly issued cards to automatically change their payment information. In addition, the company offers Q2 Gro, a digital account opening, and digital sales and marketing platform; Q2 Biller Direct, a bill payment solution; ClickSWITCH allows financial institutions to direct deposits to the end user. Centrix Dispute Tracking System, an electronic transaction dispute management solution; Centrix Payments I.Q. System, an ACH file monitoring and risk reporting solution; Centrix Exact/Transaction Management System, a fraud prevention tool; and Q2 Caliper Software Development Kit. Futher, it provides Q2 Contextual PFM, which allows end users to add external accounts and view them together with internal accounts on digital banking home page; Q2 Goals that enables end users to establish and save towards specific savings goals; Q2 Cloud Lending, a digital lending and leasing platform; PrecisionLender platform, a cloud-based, data-driven sales enablement, pricing, and portfolio management solution; and Q2 BaaS, a portfolio of open API financial services. The company was formerly known as CBG Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Q2 Holdings, Inc. in March 2013. Q2 Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of Accenture: 2nd Road, ?What If!, ?What If! China Holdings Limited, ?What If! Holdings Limited, ?What If! Limited, ACN Consulting Co Ltd, AD.Dialeto (Digital Agency acquired by Accenture), AFD.TECH, AGS Business and Technology Services Limited, AIG Shared Services Business Processing Inc, ASM Research Inc., ASM Research LLC, ATAN, Accenture (Botswana) (Proprietary) Limited, Accenture (China) Co. Ltd., Accenture (Shenzhen) Technology Co. Ltd., Accenture (South Africa) Pty Ltd, Accenture (UK) Limited, Accenture 2 Business Process Services S.A., Accenture 2 LLC, Accenture A/S, Accenture AB, Accenture AG, Accenture AS, Accenture Africa Pty Ltd, Accenture Agencia Interativa Ltda, Accenture Australia Holding B.V., Accenture Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, Accenture Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture B.V., Accenture BPM Operations Support Services S.A., Accenture BPM S.C.R.L., Accenture BPS Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Branch Holdings B.V., Accenture Bulgaria EOOD, Accenture Business Services for Utilities Inc, Accenture Business Services of British Columbia Limited Partnership, Accenture Business and Technology Services LLC, Accenture C.A., Accenture Canada Holdings Inc, Accenture Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Capital Inc, Accenture Central Europe B.V., Accenture Chile Asesorias y Servicios Ltda, Accenture Cloud Services GmbH, Accenture Cloud Software Solutions Limited, Accenture Cloud Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Accenture Cloud Solutions LLC, Accenture Cloud Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Co Ltd, Accenture Co. Ltd, Accenture Communications Infrastructure Solutions Ltd, Accenture Company Ltd, Accenture Consulting Pty Ltd, Accenture Consulting Services Ltd Tanzania, Accenture Consultores de Gestao S.A., Accenture Consultoria de Industria e Consumo Ltda, Accenture Consultoria de Recursos Naturais Ltda, Accenture Credit Services LLC, Accenture Customer Services Distribution SASU, Accenture Customer Services Ltd, Accenture Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, Accenture Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Accenture Delivery Poland S.p. z o.o., Accenture Dienstleistungen GmbH, Accenture Digital Holdings GmbH, Accenture East Africa Limited, Accenture Ecuador S.A., Accenture Egypt LLC, Accenture Enterprise Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Accenture Federal Services LLC, Accenture Finance II Limited, Accenture Finance Limited, Accenture Finance and Accounting BPO Services S.p.A., Accenture Finance and Accounting Services S.r.l., Accenture Financial Advanced Solution & Technology S.r.l., Accenture Flex LLC, Accenture GP LLC, Accenture Global Capital Designated Activity Company, Accenture Global Engagements Limited, Accenture Global Holdings Limited, Accenture Global Services Limited, Accenture Global Solutions Limited, Accenture GmbH, Accenture HR Services S.p.A., Accenture Healthcare Processing Inc, Accenture Holding Brasil Ltda, Accenture Holding GmbH & Co. KG, Accenture Holdings (Iberia) S.L., Accenture Holdings B.V., Accenture Holdings France SASU, Accenture Hungary Holdings Kft, Accenture Inc, Accenture Industrial Software Limited Liability Company, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions Kft, Accenture Industrial Software Solutions SA, Accenture Insurance Services B.V., Accenture Insurance Services LLC, Accenture International B.V., Accenture International LLC, Accenture International Limited, Accenture Japan Ltd, Accenture Korea B.V., Accenture LLC, Accenture LLP, Accenture Lanka (Private) Ltd, Accenture Limited, Accenture Lithuania UAB, Accenture Ltd, Accenture Ltda, Accenture Maghreb S.a.r.l., Accenture Managed Services SRL, Accenture Management GmbH, Accenture Marketing Services LLC, Accenture Marketing Services Limited, Accenture Middle East B.V., Accenture Minority I B.V., Accenture Mozambique Limitada, Accenture Mzansi Pty Ltd, Accenture NV/SA, Accenture NZ Limited, Accenture Nova Scotia Unlimited Liability Co., Accenture OOO, Accenture Operations GmbH, Accenture Operations S.p. z o.o., Accenture Operations Services Private Limited, Accenture Operations Services Sdn Bhd, Accenture Outsourcing S.r.l., Accenture Outsourcing Services S.A., Accenture Oy, Accenture Panama Inc, Accenture Participations B.V., Accenture Participations II Limited, Accenture Peru SRL, Accenture Post Trade Processing SASU, Accenture Post-Trade Processing Limited, Accenture Process (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Pte Ltd, Accenture Puerto Rico LLC, Accenture Qiyun Technology (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Accenture S.C., Accenture S.L., Accenture S.R.L., Accenture S.p. z o.o., Accenture S.p.A., Accenture SASU, Accenture SG Services Pte Ltd, Accenture SRL, Accenture Saudi Arabia Limited, Accenture Sdn Bhd, Accenture Service Center SRL, Accenture Services (Mauritius) Ltd, Accenture Services AB, Accenture Services AG, Accenture Services AS, Accenture Services GmbH, Accenture Services Morocco SA, Accenture Services Oy, Accenture Services Pty Ltd, Accenture Services S.p. z o.o., Accenture Services SRL, Accenture Services and Technology S.r.l., Accenture Services s.r.o., Accenture Single Member S.A. Organization Information Technology & Business Development, Accenture Solutions Co. Ltd, Accenture Solutions Private Limited, Accenture Solutions Pte Ltd, Accenture Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Solutions S.p. z o.o, Accenture Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture State Healthcare Services LLC, Accenture Sub II Inc, Accenture Sub III Inc, Accenture Sub LLC, Accenture Systems Integration Limited, Accenture Sarl, Accenture Tanacsado Kolatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Accenture Technology Solutions (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (HK) Co. Ltd., Accenture Technology Solutions (Thailand) Co. Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions - Solucoes Informaticas Integradas S.A., Accenture Technology Solutions GmbH, Accenture Technology Solutions Oy, Accenture Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, Accenture Technology Solutions S.A. de C.V., Accenture Technology Solutions S.r.l., Accenture Technology Solutions SASU, Accenture Technology Solutions SRL, Accenture Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd, Accenture Technology Solutions Slovakia s.r.o., Accenture Technology Ventures B.V., Accenture Technology Ventures SPRL, Accenture Tecnologia Consultoria y Outsourcing S.A., Accenture Uruguay SRL, Accenture Vietnam Co. Limited, Accenture Zambia Limited, Accenture do Brasil Ltda, Accenture plc, Accenture s.r.o., Acceria, Acquity Group, Adaptly LLC, Adaptly UK Limited, AddVal Technology, Adqptly, Advantium Inc., Advoco, Agilex Technologies Inc., Alfa Consulting, Allen International, AlphaBeta Advisors, Altevie Technologies S.r.l., Altima, Altima (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Altima Asia Ltd, Altitude, Altitude LLC, Altius Consulting Limited, Altius Data Solutions Private Limited, Analytics 8 LP, Analytics 8 Pty Ltd, Analytics8, Aorui Advertising (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Apis, Apis Group Pty Ltd, Appaloosa Technology SASU, AppsPro, AppsPro, Arca, Arca Ingenieros y Consultoria S.L., Arca Telecom S.L., Ariba - BPO, Arismore, Artio People (Payroll) Pty Ltd, Artio People Pty Ltd, Aspiro Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Automation Partners Pty Ltd, Avanade (Guangzhou) Computer Technology Development Co. Ltd., Avanade Asia Pte Ltd, Avanade Australia Pty Ltd, Avanade Belgium SPRL, Avanade Canada Inc, Avanade Consulting Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Denmark A/S, Avanade Deutschland GmbH, Avanade Europe Holdings Limited, Avanade Europe Services Limited, Avanade Finland Oy, Avanade France SASU, Avanade Holdings LLC, Avanade Hong Kong Ltd, Avanade Inc, Avanade International Corporation, Avanade Ireland Limited, Avanade Italy S.r.l., Avanade Japan KK, Avanade Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avanade Middle East Limited, Avanade Netherlands B.V., Avanade Norway AS, Avanade Poland S.p. z o.o., Avanade Schweiz GmbH, Avanade South Africa Pty Ltd, Avanade Spain S.L., Avanade Sweden AB, Avanade UK Limited, Avanade do Brasil Ltda , Avanade Osterreich GmbH, Avenai, Avieco, Axia Ltd., BABCN LLC, BCS Consulting, BCT Solutions, BCT Solutions Pty Ltd, BENEXT, BPO Servicos Administrativos Ltda, BRIDGE Energy Group, BRIDGEi2i, Beacon Consulting Group Inc., Beijing Genesis Interactive Technology Co. Ltd., Beijing Zhidao Future Consulting Co. Ltd, Benext, Berico Technologies LLC, Bionic, Bionic Solution LLC, Blue Horseshoe, Boomerang Pharmaceutical Communications, Bow & Arrow, Bow & Arrow Limited, Brand Learning, Brand Learning Group Limited, Brightstep AB, Byte Prophecy, Byte Prophecy Private Limited, CAS, CRMWaypoint, CS Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, CS Technology (UK) Limited, CS Technology Group LLC, CS Technology LLC, CadenceQuest Inc., Callisto Integration Europe B.V., Callisto Integration Europe Limited, Callisto Integration LLC, Callisto Integration Ltd, Capgemini - North American health practice, Capital Consultancy Services Inc, Certus Solutions Consulting Services Limited, Certus Solutions Ltd, ChangeTrack Research Pty Ltd., Chaotic Moon Studios, Chengdu Mensa Advertising Co. Ltd., Cimation, Cirrus Connect Australia Pty Ltd, Cirrus Connect Limited, Cirruseo, Clarity Insights, ClearEdge Partners, Clearhead, Clearhead Group LLC, ClientHouse GmbH, Cloud Sherpas, Cloud Sherpas (GA) LLC, Cloud Sherpas Japan G.K., Cloud Sherpas New Zealand Limited, Cloudeasier SAS, Cloudpoint Limited, Cloudsherpas Inc, Cloudworks, Cloudworks Consulting Services Inc, Cloudworks Technology LLC, Computer Research and Telecommunications LLC, Concrete Desenvolvimento de Sistemas Ltda, Concrete Solutions, Concrete Solutions Ltda, Context Information Security, Context Information Security LLC, Context Information Security Limited, CoreCompete LLC, CoreCompete Limited, CoreCompete Private Limited, Corliant Inc., Creative Drive LLC, Creative Drive US LLC, CreativeDrive, CreativeDrive Digital Content Services (Shenzhen) Co Ltd., CreativeDrive EMEA Limited, CreativeDrive Singapore Pte Ltd, CreativeDrive UK Group Limited, Cutting Edge Solutions Limited, Cygni AB, Cygni Norrsken AB, Cygni Stockholm AB, Cygni Syd AB, Cygni Vast AB, Cygni Ost AB, Cygni Ostersund AB, DAZ Systems Inc, DAZ Systems LLC, DAZSI Systems (India) Pvt. Limited, DI Futures Corporation, Data Essential SARL, Davies Consulting, DayNine Consulting, DayNine Consulting (New Zealand) Limited, DayNine Consulting LLC, Declarative Holdings LLC, Decora Marketplace LLC, Decorado Marketplace Ltda-EPP, Defense Point Security, Deja vu Security, Design Strategy and Research de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Designaffairs LLC, Digiplug S.A.S., Digital Results Group LLC, Double Digit Limitada, Double Digit Pty SA, Droga5, Droga5 LLC, Droga5 Studios LLC, Droga5 UK Limited, Duck Creek Technologies, ESR Labs, ESR Labs AG, EdenOne Solutions Limited, Edenhouse ERP Holdings Limited, Edenhouse Solutions Limited, Enaxis Consulting, Enaxis Consulting LP, End to End Analytics LLC, End-to-End Analytics, Endorphin Medici (M) Sdn Bhd, Energuia Web S.A., Energy Management Brokers Limited, EnergyQuote JHA, Enimbos, Enimbos Global Services S.L., Enkitec, Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions LLC, Enterprise System Partners, Enterprise System Partners B.V., Enterprise System Partners Bilisim Danismanlik Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Enterprise System Partners Global Corporation, Enterprise System Partners Limited, Enthusian Pty Ltd, Entropia, Entropia (M) Sdn Bhd, Entropia Holdings Pte Ltd, Entropia Intercraft Sdn Bhd, Epylon, Ergo, Espedia S.r.l., Ethica Consulting Group, Ethica Consulting S.p.A., Evopro Group, Exactside Limited, Experity, Exton Consulting, Exton Consulting Spain Strategy&Management S.L., Exton Germany GmbH, Exton International SAS, Exton Italia S.r.l., Exton SAS, FGM LLC, Fairway Technologies Inc, Farah BidCo Limited, Farah MidCo Limited, Farah Topco Limited, Filmproduction ApS, First Annapolis Consulting Inc., First Annapolis Consulting LLC, Fjord, Focus Group Europe, Formicary, Founders Intelligence, Fruendo S.r.l., FusionX, Future State Consulting LLC, FutureMove (Beijing) Automotive Technology Co. Ltd., FutureMove Automotive, FutureMove Automotive Co. Ltd., GRA Supply Chain Pty Ltd, Gagel Group S de R.L. de C.V., Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda, Gapso Servicos de Informatica Ltda., Genfour, George Group Consulting L.P., Gestalt LLC, Gevity, Gren utvikling AS, H.B. Maynard and Co. Inc., HRC Retail Advisory, Hagberg Consulting Group, Hahntel Ltda, Halo Partners LLC, Hamilton Holding Company S.A, Hangzhou Aiyunzhe Technology Co. Ltd., Happen, Happen GP Limited, Happen Limited, Headspring, Hjaltelin Stahl, Hjaltelin Stahl A/S, Hjaltelin Stahl K/S, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting AS, Hytracc Consulting Malaysia Sdn Bhd, IBB Consulting, ICM.S S.r.l., IMJ Corp, IMJ Corporation, INSITUM, IQSP Consulting LLC, IT One Company Limited, ITBS Servicios Bancarios de Tecnologia de la Informacion SL, Icon Integration, Icon Integration (NZ) Limited, Icon Integration Pty Ltd, Imagine Broadband (USA) Limited, Imagine Broadband USA LLC, Imaginea Inc, Imaginea Technologies LLC, Industrie IT (Hong Kong) Ltd, Industrie IT (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Industrie IT Group Pty Ltd, Industrie IT Pty Ltd, Industrie&Co, Infinity Works Consulting Limited, Infinity Works Holdings Limited, Infinity Works Management Limited, Infinity Works Midco Limited, Informatica de Euskadi S.L., Innotec International EAD, Innotec International S.p. z.o.o., Innotec Marketing GmbH, Innotec Marketing International Ireland Limited, Innotec- Marketing Spain S.L, Insitum Consultoria Argentina SRL, Insitum Consultoria S.A. de C.V., International Biometric Group LLC, International Biometric Group UK Limited, Intrepid, Intrepid Futureworks Sdn Bhd, Intrigo Systems Inc, Intrigo Systems India Pvt. Limited, Intrigo Systems LLC, Inventor Technology Ltd, InvestTech, Investtech Systems Consulting LLC, ItSafer Continuity Services S.L., JKD Consulting LLC, Javelin Group, K Comms Group Limited, KSC Studio LLC, Kaper Communications Limited, Karma Communications Debtco Limited, Karma Communications Group Limited, Karma Communications Holdings Limited, Karmarama, Karmarama Comms Limited, Karmarama Limited, King James Group, Knowledge Rules Inc., Knowledgent, Knowledgent Group LLC, Kogentix, Kogentix LLC, Kogentix Limited, Kogentix Singapore Pte Ltd, Kogentix Technologies Private Limited, Kolle Rebbe, Kolle Rebbe GmbH, Kream Comms Limited, Kunstmaan, Kurt Salmon, Kurt Salmon Canada LTD, Kurt Salmon US LLC, LEXTA, LINKBYNET, LINKBYNET Indian Ocean (L.I.O) Ltd, LabAnswer, Lexta GmbH, Lexta UK Limited, Lien par le reseau Inc, Lien par le reseau infrastructures Inc, Lin Bo (Shanghai) Network Technology Co. Ltd., Link By Net SAS, Link By Net SRL, Link By Net Vietnam Company Limited, Linkbynet East Asia Ltd, Linkbynet Singapore Pte Ltd., Loud & Clear Creative Pty Ltd, Lumenup S.A., MAXIM Systems Inc., MCG US Holdings LLC, Mackevision CG Technology and Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Mackevision Japan Co. Ltd., Mackevision Korea Ltd, Mackevision LLC, Mackevision Medien Design, Mackevision Medien Design GmbH, Mackevision Singapore Pte Ltd, Mackevision UK Limited, Maglan, Maglan Information Defense Technologies Research Ltd, Maihiro, Matter, Maud Corp Pty Ltd, Maxamine International, Measuretek LLC, Media Audits Ltd., Media Hive, Mediasenz Pty Ltd., Meredith Specialty LLC, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing, Meredith Xcelerated Marketing LLC, Meridian Informed Purchasing Ltd., Mindtribe, Mistral Wind Operations  Servicos Empresariais Unipessoal Lda., MobGen, Mortgage Cadence LLC, Mortgage Cadence an Accenture Company, Most Champion Ltd, Mudano, Mudano Limited, Myrtle Consulting Group LLC, N3, N3 (Dalian) Business Consulting Co. Ltd., N3 Brazil Consultoria em Marketing Ltda, N3 Germany GmbH, N3 LLC, N3 North America LLC, N3 Results Australia Pty Ltd, N3 Results Ireland Limited, N3 Results Japan G.K., N3 Results Limited, N3 Results Malaysia Sdn Bhd, N3 Results Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., N3 Results S.A.S., N3 Results Singapore Pte Ltd, N3 Results Unipessoal Lda, NYTEC, Nanjing Demeng Advertising Co. Ltd., Nashco Consulting, NaviSys Inc., Nell'Armonia Israel Ltd, Nell'Armonia SAS, Nell'Participation SAS, NellArmonia, Neo Metrics Analytics S.L., Neo Metrics Chile S.A., New Content, New Content Editora e Produtora Ltda, New Energy Group, News Imaging LLC, NewsPage, NewsPage (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, NewsPage Pte Ltd, Northstream, Novetta Holdings LLC, Novetta LLC, Novetta Solutions LLC, Novetta Topco LLC, OCTO Technology, OPS Rules Management Consultants, Octagon Research Solutions Inc., Octo Technology Pty Ltd, Octo Technology SA, Odgaard ApS, Olikka, Olikka Pty Ltd, Olympus Systems Corporation, Openmind, Openmind S.r..l., Openminded, Openminded SAS, Operaciones Accenture S.A. de C.V., OpusLine, Orbium, Orbium AG, Orbium Consulting Limited, Orbium Inc., Orbium Ltd, Orbium Pte Ltd, Orbium Pty Ltd, Origin Digital, PCO Innovation, PLM Systems S.r.l, PRION GmbH, PT Accenture, PT Asta Catur Indra, PT Kogentix Teknologi Indonesia, PacificLink Group, Paja Finanssipalvelut Oy, Parker Fitzgerald Inc, Parker Fitzgerald International Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Limited, Parker Fitzgerald PTY Ltd, Parker Fitzgerald Services Limited, Parker Fitzgerald Solutions Limited, Pecaso Ltd., Pegasus Production A/S, Pegasus Production K/S, Phase One Consulting Group, Pillar Technology, Pollux, Pollux Automation Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pollux Canada Inc, Pollux S.A.S., Pollux USA LLC, Pragsis Bidoop, Pragsis Bidoop UK Limited, Pramati Technologies Europe Limited, Pramati Technologies Private Limited, Presence of IT Workforce Management North America LLC, PrimeQ, PrimeQ Australia Pty Ltd, PrimeQ Ltd, PrimeQ NZ Pty Limited, Procurian Inc., Prof. Homburg GmbH, Proquire LLC, PureApps Ltd., Qi Jie Beijing Information Technologies Co. Ltd., RBCP Fund 1-A Vapor Blocker LLC, RBCP Platform Vapor Blocker I LLC, REPL Consulting LLC, REPL Consulting Limited, REPL Digital Limited, REPL Group K.K., REPL Group Pty Ltd, REPL Group Worldwide Limited, REPL Pte Ltd, REPL Software Limited, REPL Technology Limited, Radiant Services LLC, Random Walk Computing Inc., Reactive Media Pty Ltd., Real Protect, Realworld OO Systems Ltd., Redcore, Redcore (New Zealand) Limited, Redcore Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Redcore Pty Ltd, Revolutionary Security, RiskControl, Root LLC, Rothco, Rothco Limited, S3 TV Technology Ltd., SALT Solutions GmbH, SEC Servizi, SOPIA Corp., Sagacious Consultants, Salt Solutions, Sandbox Studio LLC, Sapling Bidco Limited, Sapling Midco Limited, Sapling Topco Limited, Schlumberger Business Consulting, Seabury Aviation & Aerospace (UK) Limited, Seabury Consulting, Seabury Corporate Advisors LLC, Seabury Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Search Technologies BPO Inc, Search Technologies International LLC, Search Technologies LLC, Search Technologies Limited, Securiview SAS, Sentelis, Sentor Managed Secuirty Services AB, Servicios Tecnicos de Programacion Accenture S.C., Seven Seas Business Ventures LLC, Shackleton, Shackleton Chile S.A., Shackleton S.L.U., Shanghai Baiyue Advertising Co. Ltd., Shun Zhe Technology Development Co. Ltd., SigInt Technologies LLC, Silveo, Silveo Consulting India Private Limited, Simian Pty Ltd, SinnerSchrader, SinnerSchrader AG, SinnerSchrader Content GmbH, SinnerSchrader Deutschland GmbH, SinnerSchrader Praha s.r.o., Sirvart S.A., Sistemes Consulting S.L., Skylink SAS, Soltians Limited, Solutions IQ LLC, SolutionsIQ, SolutionsIQ India Consulting Services Private Limited, Somers Ventures Ireland Limited, Somers Ventures LLC, Spacelink SAS, Storm Digital, Structure Consulting Group LLC, Sutter Mills, Synership LLC, Systor AG, T.A. Cook, TXF LLC, Tambourine, TargetST8, Tech - Avanade Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Tecnilogica Ecosistemas S.A., Tecnilogica, The Brand Learning Partners Limited, The Callisto Integration Corporation, The Monkeys, The Monkeys Pty Ltd, The Myrtle Group, Total Logistics, Tquila, Trivadis, Trivadis AG, Trivadis Austria GmbH, Trivadis Denmark AS, Trivadis Germany GmbH, Trivadis Holding AG, Trivadis Partner AG, Trivadis Services AG, Trivadis Services SRL, Troop Studios Pty Ltd, VanBerlo, Vector Acquisition Company LLC, Vector Topco LLC, Verax Solutions, Vertical Retail Consulting (Shanghai) Ltd, Vertical Retail Consulting Ltd, Vivere Brasil Servicos e Solucoes SA, Vivere Brasil Solucoes De Credito Ltda., Wabion GmbH, WaveStrike LLC, White Cliffs Consulting LLC, Wire Stone, Wire Stone LLC, Wise Partners SAS, Wolox, Wolox Colombia S.A.S, Wolox LLC, Wolox Mexico S.R.L de C.V., Wolox S.A., Wolox SpA, Workforce Insight, Workforce Insight LLC, Yesler, Yesler LLC, Yesler Limited, Yesler Singapore Pte Ltd, Zag, Zag Australia Pty Ltd, Zag Limited, Zag USA LLC, Zebra Worldwide Australia Pty Ltd, Zebra Worldwide Group Limited, Zebra Worldwide Media Pty Ltd, Zenta, Zenta Global Philippines Inc, Zenta Mortgage Services LLC, Zenta Recoveries Inc, Zenta US Holdings Inc, Zestgroup, Zielpuls, Zielpuls (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Zielpuls GmbH, avVenta, designaffairs, designaffairs Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., designaffairs GmbH, designaffairs group China Co. Ltd., dgroup, i4C Analytics, iDefense, solid-serVision.com GmbH, and umlaut.

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Banc of California, Inc. operates as the bank holding company for Banc of California, National Association that provides banking products and services in the United States. The company offers deposit products, including checking, savings, money market, retirement, and interest-bearing and noninterest-bearing demand accounts, as well as certificate of deposits. It also provides various commercial and consumer loan products, such as commercial and industrial loans; commercial real estate and multifamily loans; construction loans; single family residential mortgage loans; warehouse and indirect/direct leveraged lending; home equity lines of credit; small business administration loans; and other consumer loans. In addition, the company offers automated bill payment, cash and treasury management, foreign exchange, card payment, remote and mobile deposit capture, automated clearing house origination, wire transfer, direct deposit, and internet banking services; and master demand accounts, interest rate swaps, and safe deposit boxes. Further, it invests in collateralized loan obligations, agency securities, municipal bonds, agency residential mortgage-backed securities, and corporate debt securities. As of December 31, 2020, the company operated 29 full-service branches in Southern California. The company was formerly known as First PacTrust Bancorp, Inc. and changed its name to Banc of California, Inc. in July 2013. Banc of California, Inc. was founded in 1941 and is headquartered in Santa Ana, California.
TWIN FALLS  Dont know who to vote for in your citys upcoming mayor or City Council election?

The Times-News will provide residents in four southern Idaho cities an opportunity to hear from their political candidates this week. The newspaper is hosting candidate forums in Heyburn, Burley, Gooding and Twin Falls.

The Times-News is honored to host these community forums, which lead to better informed voters and a more engaged public, Editor Matt Christensen said. Folks will have a chance to pose questions to candidates, so the audience is sure to come away with a better understanding of where candidates stand on the issues and their plans for improving their communities.

The forums begin Monday in Mini-Cassia, starting with Heyburn City Council candidates at 5 p.m. in Council Chambers, 941 18th St. Nile Bohon, Glen Loveland, Rose Schmitt, Dick Galbraith, Chad Anderson and Michael Covington are running for three open seats.

At 6:30 p.m. Monday, Burley residents can hear from their mayoral and City Council candidates at the Burley Council Chambers, 1401 Overland Ave. Mayoral incumbent Merlin Smedley will defend his seat against challenger Steve Ormond. Casey Andersen, Jon. R. Anderson, Ralph Carlson and Bryce Morgan are vying for three four-year seats on the Burley City Council.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Gooding mayor and City Council candidates will face off in the multipurpose room at Gooding High School, 1050 Seventh Ave. W. Incumbent Walter C. Nelson is running against Jeff Brekke for mayor. And Chuck Cram, Diane Houser, Mel Magnelli and Colin D. Smith are running for two seats on the City Council.

Twin Falls City Council candidates will participate in a forum at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Council Chambers, 305 Third Ave. E. Incumbent Suzanne Hawkins is running against Eric Smallwood, Liyah Babayan and Leon Mills for Seat No. 1. Incumbent Greg Lanting is running against Tim Allen and Larry Houser for Seat No. 5. And Christopher Reid will run against Brian Bell for Seat No 6.

If you care about the future of your town, its time to engage and make yourself a smarter voter, Christensen said.
Assured Guaranty Ltd., through its subsidiaries, provides credit protection products to public finance, infrastructure, and structured finance markets in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Insurance and Asset Management. It offers financial guaranty insurance that protects holders of debt instruments and other monetary obligations from defaults in scheduled payments. The company insures and reinsures various debt obligations, including bonds issued by the United States state governmental authorities; and notes issued to finance infrastructure projects. It also insures and reinsures various the U.S. public finance obligations, such as general obligation, tax-backed, municipal utility, transportation, healthcare, higher education, infrastructure, housing revenue, investor-owned utility, renewable energy, and other public finance bonds. Further, it is involved in insuring and reinsuring of non-U.S. public finance obligations comprising regulated utilities, infrastructure finance, sovereign and sub-sovereign, renewable energy bonds, pooled infrastructure, and other public finance obligations; and the U.S. and non-U.S. Structured finance obligations, including residential mortgage-backed securities, life insurance transactions, consumer receivables securities, pooled corporate obligations, financial products, and other structured finance securities. Additionally, the company offers specialty insurance and reinsurance that include life and aircraft residual value insurance transactions; and asset management services comprising investment advisory services, including management of collateralized loan obligations, and opportunity and liquid strategy funds. It markets its financial guaranty insurance directly to issuers and underwriters of public finance and structured finance securities, as well as to investors in such obligations. Assured Guaranty Ltd. was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.
BlackRock, Inc. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm primarily provides its services to institutional, intermediary, and individual investors including corporate, public, union, and industry pension plans, insurance companies, third-party mutual funds, endowments, public institutions, governments, foundations, charities, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, official institutions, and banks. It also provides global risk management and advisory services. The firm manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, and balanced portfolios. It also launches and manages open-end and closed-end mutual funds, offshore funds, unit trusts, and alternative investment vehicles including structured funds. The firm launches equity, fixed income, balanced, and real estate mutual funds. It also launches equity, fixed income, balanced, currency, commodity, and multi-asset exchange traded funds. The firm also launches and manages hedge funds. It invests in the public equity, fixed income, real estate, currency, commodity, and alternative markets across the globe. The firm primarily invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, SMID-cap, large-cap, and multi-cap companies. It also invests in dividend-paying equity securities. The firm invests in investment grade municipal securities, government securities including securities issued or guaranteed by a government or a government agency or instrumentality, corporate bonds, and asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities. It employs fundamental and quantitative analysis with a focus on bottom-up and top-down approach to make its investments. The firm employs liquidity, asset allocation, balanced, real estate, and alternative strategies to make its investments. In real estate sector, it seeks to invest in Poland and Germany. The firm benchmarks the performance of its portfolios against various S&P, Russell, Barclays, MSCI, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch indices. BlackRock, Inc. was founded in 1988 and is based in New York City with additional offices in Boston, Massachusetts; London, United Kingdom; Gurgaon, India; Hong Kong; Greenwich, Connecticut; Princeton, New Jersey; Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Sydney, Australia; Taipei, Taiwan; Singapore; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, District of Columbia; Toronto, Canada; Wilmington, Delaware; and San Francisco, California.
TWIN FALLS  Voices Against Violence will hold a vigil from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Twin Falls City Park, 400 Shoshone St. E., to honor those lost to domestic violence and domestic violence survivors. Survivors and their families are welcome to speak. There will be music and poetry readings. More information: Angelica Soto at 208-410-2708 or angelica@vavmv.org or vavmv.org.
GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the creation, discovery, development, manufacture, and marketing of pharmaceutical products, vaccines, over-the-counter medicines, and health-related consumer products in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare. The company offers pharmaceutical products comprising medicines in the therapeutic areas, such as respiratory, HIV, immuno-inflammation, oncology, anti-viral, central nervous system, cardiovascular and urogenital, metabolic, anti-bacterial, and dermatology. It also provides consumer healthcare products in wellness, oral health, nutrition, and skin health categories. The company offers its consumer healthcare products in the form of nasal sprays, tablets, syrups, lozenges, gum and trans-dermal patches, caplets, infant syrup drops, liquid filled suspension, wipes, gels, effervescents, toothpastes, toothbrushes, mouthwashes, denture adhesives and cleansers, topical creams and non-medicated patches, lip balm, gummies, and soft chews. It has collaboration agreements with 23andMe; Lyell Immunopharma, Inc.; Novartis; Sanofi SA; Surface Oncology; Progentec Diagnostics, Inc.; Alector, Inc.; and CureVac AG., as well as strategic partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences, Inc. and Vir Biotechnology, Inc. The company was formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline plc and changed its name to GSK plc in May 2022. GSK plc was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Brentford, the United Kingdom.
EnPro Industries, Inc. engages in the design, development, manufacture, marketing, and service of engineered industrial products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Sealing Technologies, Advanced Surface Technologies, and Engineered Materials. The Sealing Technologies segment offers single-use hygienic seals, tubing, components and assemblies; metallic, non-metallic, and composite material gaskets; compression packing products; hydraulic components; expansion joints; wall penetration products; and dynamic, flange, resilient metal, elastomeric, and custom-engineered mechanical seals for chemical and petrochemical processing, pulp and paper processing, power generation, food and pharmaceutical processing, primary metal manufacturing, mining, water and waste treatment, heavy-duty trucking, aerospace, medical, filtration, and semiconductor fabrication industries. This segment also provides aseptic fluid transfer products for the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries. The Advanced Surface Technologies segment offers cleaning, coating, testing, refurbishment, and verification services for critical components and assemblies used in semiconductor manufacturing equipment, as well as for critical applications in the space, aerospace, and defense markets; and specialized optical filters and thin-film coatings for various applications in the industrial technology, life sciences, and semiconductor markets. The Engineered Materials segment provides self-lubricating, non-rolling, metal polymer, engineered plastics, and fiber reinforced composite bearing products for various applications in the automotive, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, natural gas, health, power generation, machine tools, air treatment, refining, petrochemical, and general industrial markets. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
This has been the year of Facebook. Its stock price has increased by around 50 percent as it continues to assert its dominance in user activity and digital ad revenue. It undercut one of the companies trying to catch up with it, Snap, by adding a similar feature, Stories, to its increasingly dominant Instagram service. And scrutiny surrounding its role in the 2016 presidential election continues to grow, as politicians seek more information about Russias involvement on Facebook in the weeks and months leading up to last November.

How should Facebook respond to its moment? To think about where the company might go from here, consider the history of television and how its identity evolved with the culture.

As a news medium, television came of age in the 1960s. If the 2016 was the first Facebook election, 1960 might have been the first television election, with the aesthetic contrast between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon helping to put Kennedy in the White House. Asked about the influence of television on politics in the early 1960s, someone might have said that it made our leaders look better and strengthened our institutions. The period from Kennedys inauguration to his assassination might have been the high point for American institutions.

But those were early days for television as a news medium, and as institutional trust began to wane, television adapted. Video footage of the Vietnam War and protests back at home shocked Americans and helped create some of the cultural divisions in the country that persist to this day. The investigative journalism show 60 Minutes debuted in 1968, and its formative years were during the tumultuous Nixon administration. In his book, How We Got Here: The 70s: The Decade That Brought You Modern Life, David Frum noted that television was the only American institution to show a rise in confidence during this period, garnering credibility by attacking the credibility of everyone else. The cultural roots of Jon Stewarts Daily Show, which mocked American leaders during the 2000s, or the takedown journalism of the present days Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, were formed decades ago.

Facebook is coming of age in a much different environment. Institutional trust is at a nadir. Thats presumably one reason that Facebook calls itself a technology company or a platform, rather than a news company. The problem with that platform claim comes when groups beyond the pale, like white supremacists, use the medium for hate, or when nefarious foreign governments use it in an attempt to sway American elections. A recent study of college undergraduates showed that only 29 percent believe Facebook has a positive impact on political discourse, compared to 57 percent who believe it has a negative impact.

Ultimately, if Facebook wants to be more influential and more valuable, it has to be a platform that garners the trust of its users and advertisers. It cant be seen as being a den for hate groups and scam artists. Its slowly making moves in this direction, trying to help users see where content comes from in order to build trust on the platform.

Strengthening institutions is impossible without a concerted effort from the public, voters, politicians and news mediums. Televisions ratings are in decline, and Facebooks influence continues to grow. Its legacy does not have to be fake news and Russian influence. But those will be dominant themes unless Facebook takes control of its platform and earns the trust of the public.
Dril-Quip, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services engineered drilling and production equipment for use in deepwater, harsh environment, and severe service applications worldwide. The company's principal products include subsea and surface wellheads, subsea and surface production trees, mudline hanger systems, specialty connectors and associated pipes, drilling and production riser systems, liner hangers, wellhead connectors, diverters, and safety valves, as well as downhole tools. It also provides technical advisory services, and rework and reconditioning services, as well as rental and purchase of running tools for use in the installation and retrieval of its products; and downhole tools comprise of liner hangers, production packers, safety valves, and specialty downhole tools that are used to hang-off and seal casing into a previously installed casing string in the well bore. The company's products are used to explore for oil and gas from offshore drilling rigs, such as floating rigs and jack-up rigs; and for drilling and production of oil and gas wells on offshore platforms, tension leg platforms, and Spars, as well as moored vessels, such as floating production, storage, and offloading monohull moored vessels. It sells its products directly through its sales personnel, independent sales agents, and representatives to integrated, independent, and foreign national oil and gas companies, as well as drilling contractors, and engineering and construction companies. The company was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Citigroup Inc. is one of the worlds largest financial institutions. It is the 13th largest bank globally by assets and 8th by market cap with operations in consumer and institutional banking. In the US, Citigroup is the 3rd largest bank by assets and one of the Big Four deemed systemically important and too big to fail.

Citigroup Inc. was founded in 1812 as the City Bank of New York. The bank was run by Samuel Osgood who led the company with success for many years, even throughout the War of 1812. The bank was later renamed the National City Bank of New York in 1865 and by 1895 is the largest bank in the US. In 1913 it was the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and a few years later it began to expand into overseas territories.

The bank became the First National City Bank of New York after another merger in 1955 and then later, the New York part was dropped off as part of the 150th-anniversary celebration. By 1974 the company is known as Citicorp which is still the operational branch of the business and a global banking powerhouse. A merger with Travelers insurance group in 1998 resulted in the name Citigroup but the joint venture did not last. By 2002 Travelers was publicly traded once again but Citigroup retained the new name.

Today, the company is headquartered in New York, New York but boasts more than 200 million customer accounts in 160 countries worldwide. As of mid-2022, it operated 2,649 branches in the United States, Mexico, and Asia. The company reports nearly 725 branches in the US and 1499 in Mexico with the rest scattered throughout its territory. Total annual revenue topped $75 billion in 2022.

Citigroup is a diversified financial services holding company that owns Citicorp among other assets. The companys mission is to serve as a trusted partner providing responsible financial solutions to its clients. Citigroup provides financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions. The company operates in two segments, Global Consumer Banking (GCB) and Institutional Clients Group (ICG).

The GCB segment offers traditional banking services including deposit and saving accounts, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and investment services. This segment operates through local branches and digital means. The ICG segment offers wholesale banking products and services to corporate, institutional, public sector, and high-net-worth clients.
A lot of Republicans love how President Donald Trump bashes the media. They think journalists at most major outlets are biased against them, and they think its about time that a Republican president hits back. He gets applause even when he seems to be .

The premise that much of the press, from the New York Times and The Washington Post to NBC and CNN, displays a liberal bias is right. But in his nearly nine months as president, Trump hasnt been very effective at reducing that bias or fighting its effects.

No claim about Republican health-care plans this year was repeated more frequently than that they would take away health insurance from 15 million or more people. That contention was a distortion: It relied on reports from the Congressional Budget Office but misrepresented them. The CBO projected that most of those millions of people would leave the insurance rolls because they would no longer be fined for leaving. They would not be kicked off. Yet reporters routinely stated that the Republican plans would strip insurance from all those millions and ignored or played down the huge role voluntary decisions would play.

Did Trump or his White House try to correct the record? Did he call the press on a false storyline that was sinking his main legislative priority for the year? No. He tweeted about Mika Brzezinskis plastic surgery, but not about that.

In conservative circles, youll often hear the argument that previous Republican leaders were too genteel to hit back as they should have done when unfairly criticized in the press. Maybe so. But manners are not the only difference between Trump and his predecessors. Those earlier Republicans were trying, much more than Trump, to influence how people outside their political base viewed them and their policies. That goal affected their approach to media management.

Trump isnt better than George W. Bush or Mitt Romney at keeping the public from absorbing the negative portrayals of him in the media. A Quinnipiac poll finds that most people dont think hes honest or level-headed, or cares about average Americans. It also finds that 54 percent of the public trusts the media more than Trump, while 36 percent have the reverse view.

The success of the presidents media-bashing has been confined to his base. His supporters have a distrust of the press that reduces the impact of negative stories about him, even if those stories are true. Trumps media-bashing reminds those supporters not to believe news reports that reflect badly on him and thus helps him retain their support.

Its not helping him get legislation passed. Its not helping get conservative viewpoints more broadly accepted. But it is, in its limited way, working for him, and he seems to enjoy it. Republicans who applaud him for it are acquiescing in their partys reduction to a cult of personality.
Humana Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a health and well-being company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Group and Specialty, and Healthcare Services. The company offers medical and supplemental benefit plans to individuals. It also has a contract with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition prescription drug plan program; and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible, and long-term support services benefits. In addition, the company provides commercial fully insured medical and specialty health insurance benefits comprising dental, vision, and other supplemental health benefits; and administrative services only products to individuals and employer groups, as well as military services, such as TRICARE T2017 East Region contract. Further, it offers pharmacy solutions, provider services, and home solutions services, such as home health and other services to its health plan members, as well as to third parties. As of December 31, 2021, the company had approximately 17 million members in medical benefit plans, as well as approximately 5 million members in specialty products. Humana Inc. was founded in 1961 and is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky.
The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited.

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Dear Members of the Idaho Congressional Delegation:

Aviation leaders in Idaho are opposed to H.R. 2997. The Idaho Airport Management Association, Idaho Aviation Association, Idaho Business Aviation Association and Idaho Contract Tower Coalition collectively represent a majority of the states aviation community, and we have joined with over 150 other aviation associations around the country to oppose H.R. 2997.

Recently, the three entities specifically created to provide Congress with non-partisan research and analysis have reviewed the air traffic control privatization proposal being pushed by the big airlines. The Congressional Research Service said H.R. 2997 was likely unconstitutional. The Congressional Budget Office said the bill would raise the deficit by $100 billion. Finally, the Government Accountability Office said privatization would interfere with ATC programs that have delivered $2.7 billion in benefits to all users of the system and are on budget.

Since the introduction of H.R. 2997 in June, Captain Sully Sullenberger, the hero-pilot of the Miracle on the Hudson publicly said the bill would devastate rural communities. Jim Lovell, the heroic commander of Apollo 13, and several other astronauts believe H.R. 2997 would turn the ATC system over to a private board unaccountable to Congress and could threaten our national security. The former commanders of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds said the bill will add billions to our nations budget deficit, negatively impact our national security, and needlessly complicate border protection.

These highly respected voices on aviation are not only some of Americas best pilots, they are some of Americas best people. They have demonstrated their willingness to put the safety and security of others ahead of their own. Their positions on this issue arent because of payment, promotions or politics, they studied the bill and came to these heartfelt and thoughtful conclusions.

The American Conservative Union Foundation has called on Chairman Shuster to remove his bill from consideration because it does not meet recognized conservative principles. Concerns with the proposal have also been raised by Americans for Tax Reform, Center for Individual Freedom, and Institute for Liberty. These organizations dont want another Amtrak or Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that are largely unaccountable to Congress.

Groups representing consumers, including FlyersRights.org, National Consumers League, and In the Public Interest are among the well-established and authentic organizations that have also raised concerns about ATC privatization.

In addition, over 100 business leaders from 50 states, most of whom are pilots, have expressed their opposition to the ATC privatization proposal from the big airlines. These are successful business leaders who understand a profit and loss statement, as well as flight plans, and are responsible for a significant number of jobs and investment.

Finally, a recent poll by CNBC found the majority of Americans oppose turning our ATC system over to a private not-for-profit entity. That is not surprising as no one would suggest turning our highway system over to the trucking companies.

For all the reasons set forth by respected government research organizations, aviation heroes, leading conservative groups, passenger rights organizations, business leaders, the Idaho aviation community, and a majority of Americans, we are asking you, as our elected representatives to represent our views in Congress and vote no on H.R. 2997.
Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas. The Chemicals segment produces and markets ethylene and other olefin products; aromatics and styrenics products, such as benzene, cyclohexane, styrene, and polystyrene; and various specialty chemical products, including organosulfur chemicals, solvents, catalysts, and chemicals used in drilling and mining. The Refining segment refines crude oil and other feedstocks into petroleum products, such as gasolines, distillates, aviation, and renewable fuels at 12 refineries in the United States and Europe. The M&S segment purchases for resale and markets refined petroleum products, including gasolines, distillates, and aviation fuels primarily in the United States and Europe. This segment also manufactures and markets specialty products, such as base oils and lubricants. The company was founded in 1875 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. operates as bank holding company for the Prosperity Bank that provides financial products and services to businesses and consumers. It accepts various deposit products, such as demand, savings, money market, and time accounts, as well as and certificates of deposit. The company also offers 1-4 family residential mortgage, commercial real estate and multifamily residential, commercial and industrial, agricultural, and non-real estate agricultural loans, as well as construction, land development, and other land loans; consumer loans, including automobile, recreational vehicle, boat, home improvement, personal, and deposit account collateralized loans; and consumer durables and home equity loans, as well as loans for working capital, business expansion, and purchase of equipment and machinery. In addition, it provides internet banking, mobile banking, trust and wealth management, retail brokerage, mortgage services, and treasury management, as well as debit and credit cards. As of December 31, 2021, the company operated 273 full-service banking locations comprising 65 in the Houston area, including The Woodlands; 30 in the South Texas area including Corpus Christi and Victoria; 63 in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area; 22 in the East Texas area; 29 in the Central Texas area, including Austin and San Antonio; 34 in the West Texas area, including Lubbock, Midland-Odessa and Abilene; 16 in the Bryan/College Station area; 6 in the Central Oklahoma area; and 8 in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area doing business as LegacyTexas Bank. Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. was founded in 1983 and is based in Houston, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen France SAS, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Suzhou Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel Ireland Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Brooks Instrument Shanghai Co. Ltd, Buell Industries Inc., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS Australia Pty Limited, CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures Australasia S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Coeur Shanghai Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Denison Mayes Group Limited, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., E2M Production B.V.., E2M Technologies B.V.., E2M Technologies Inc.., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO Holding AG, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, Exhibit 21, FEG Investments L.L.C., Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Filtertek SAS, GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech Taicang Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Belgium B.V., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart International Singapore Pte. Ltd., Hobart Japan K.K., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components Chongqing Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components Langfang Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium B.V., ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS UK Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW China Investment Company Limited, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Construction Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Services Manila Inc., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Contamination Control Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Deutschland GmbH, ITW Diagraph GmbH, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW EU Holdings Ltd., ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.L., ITW European Finance Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW European Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Thailand Ltd., ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France Luxembourg S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW Materials Technology Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Ningbo Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology China Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers Wujiang Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion Shenzhen Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials Suzhou Co. Ltd., ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment Shanghai Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films Shanghai Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Illinois Tool Works Chile Limitada, Illinois Tool Works ITW Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Inc., Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, Instron Shanghai Ltd., Instron Thailand Limited, International Leasing Company LLC, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., Itw Spraytec, KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems Canada Inc., Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MTS 2 LLC., MTS 3 LLC., MTS China Holdings LLC, MTS Europe Holdings LLC, MTS Holdings France S.a.r.l., MTS Japan Ltd.., MTS Korea Inc.., MTS Systems China Co. Ltd., MTS Systems Corporation, MTS Systems Danmark ApS., MTS Systems Europe B.V., MTS Systems Finance C.V.., MTS Systems Germany GmbH, MTS Systems Holding B.V.., MTS Systems Hong Kong Incorporated, MTS Systems Limited, MTS Systems Norden Aktiebolag, MTS Systems S.r.l, MTS Systems., MTS Systems.., MTS Sytems Do Brazil, MTS Testing Solutions India Private Limited., MTS Testing Systems Canada Ltd., Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology Suzhou Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited Enping, Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners Shanghai Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., R&D Engineering A/S., R&D Prague s.r.o., R&D Steel ApS., R&D Test Systems A/S., R&D Tools and Structures A/S., RDGDK Engineering Private Limited, Ramset Fasteners Hong Kong Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco Japan Inc., Simco Nederland B.V., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques  SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes B.V., Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Hong Kong Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Shanghai Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stokvis Tapes Taiwan Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes Tianjin Co. Ltd., Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Subsidiaries, Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek China Limited, Teknek Japan Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Kunshan Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta Global Limited, Vesta Guangzhou Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil South Africa Pty Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, and Zip-Pak International B.V..

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Robert Half International Inc. provides staffing and risk consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Temporary and Consultant Staffing, Permanent Placement Staffing, and Risk Consulting and Internal Audit Services. It places temporary services for accounting, finance, and bookkeeping; temporary and full-time office and administrative personnel consisting of executive and administrative assistants, receptionists, and customer service representatives; full-time accounting, financial, tax, and accounting operations personnel; and information technology contract professionals and full-time employees in the areas of platform systems integration to end-user technical and desktop support, including specialists in application development, networking and cloud, systems integration and deployment, database design and administration, and security and business continuity. The company also offers temporary and full-time employees in attorney, paralegal, legal administrative, and legal secretarial positions; and senior-level project professionals in the accounting and finance fields for financial systems conversions, expansion into new markets, business process re-engineering, business systems performance improvement, and post-merger financial consolidation. It is involved in serving professionals in the areas of creative, design, marketing, advertising, and public relations; and placing various positions, such as creative directors, graphics designers, web designers, media buyers, front end developers, copywriters, digital marketing managers, marketing analytics specialists, brand managers, and public relations specialists. The company provides internal audit, technology consulting, risk and compliance consulting, and business performance services. It serves clients and employment candidates. Robert Half International Inc. was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
If at first you dont succeed, try, try, try again. Fittingly, it was an educational writer (William Edward Hickson) who popularized this old proverb. The sentiment has a dual meaning when it comes to one of the recommendations of the governors Higher Education Task Force: the so-called Adult Completer scholarship. It is intended for students who attended college for a while, moved on to other things prior to graduating, and want another shot at a degree. For state lawmakers, it means we will try to succeed in 2018 where we failed the last two sessions. Perhaps the third time will be the charm.

The State Board of Education recently approved all of the task forces recommendations. However, board members noted that the Adult Completer scholarship proposal may need some revamping in order to get through the Legislature next year. The scholarship is aimed at adults who have already earned some college credits but have been out of school for several years. According to a report in Idaho Education News earlier this year, about 28 percent of Idahoans over age 25 have some college credits, but left school before receiving a degree.

The Adult Completer idea first surfaced in 2016 when legislation was proposed to earmark $5 million in scholarships to those with at least 30 credits who had been out of school for at least three years. The measure, which I voted for, failed in the Senate 16-17 (two of my colleagues were absent for that vote). In 2017, a similar $3 million bill died in committee. It would have provided scholarships to eligible applicants of up to $3,000 per year for up to four years.

Critics of the Adult Completer scholarship claim it rewards people for dropping out of school. I seriously doubt students who have completed the equivalent of one year of college have it in their minds to drop out of school and then wait three years in hopes of qualifying for a scholarship. Students dropping out of college is not unique to Idaho. According to a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States has the highest drop-out rate in the industrial world.

Students drop out of college for all kinds of reasons. However, just about every study shows that the main factor is the cost. There is also the issue of balancing school with a job. According to a 2013 U.S. Census report, a whopping 71 percent of Americas undergraduate students work. One in five of those students clock in 35 hours a week year-round. Balancing that kind of work load with school is tough for any adult, let alone a teenager who is attending college for the first time. Its easy to see how handling a job, classes, studying and tests would be overwhelming to new students. Also, we were all 18 once. Its safe to say that our decision-making skills were not as prudent at that age as they were in our mid to late 20s. Adjusting to college life  with all of its new challenges and experiences  can be overwhelming for many young students. Sometimes, they need a few years to mature before they can tackle college and see it through to the end.

The Higher Education Task Force has a simple goal: to improve the percentage of Idahos high school students who go on to college or a post-secondary program. Right now, the states go-on rate is less than 50 percent  among the worst in the nation. If that dismal percentage does not improve, Idaho will continue to be a magnet for low-wage, low-skilled jobs. As a lifetime educator, I cant accept that state of affairs. There is no silver-bullet solution to this problem. We have to take a holistic approach. The Adult Completer scholarship provides opportunity for older, more experienced students who may have been in over their heads the first time around. Idahoans are hard-working people who want to prosper and provide opportunities for their families. I believe the Adult Completer scholarship program can help provide these opportunities. Thats why we legislators must try, try, try again to pass this legislation.
Daimler AG, together its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures passenger cars, trucks, vans, and buses in Germany and internationally. It operates through Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans, Daimler Trucks and Buses, and Daimler Mobility segments. The Mercedes-Benz Cars segment offers premium and luxury vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz brand, including the Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-EQ brands; small cars under the smart brand name; and ecosystem of Mercedes-Benz under the Mercedes me brand, as well as vans and related services under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. Daimler Trucks and Buses segment offers its trucks and special vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Western Star, FUSO, and BharatBenz brands; and buses under the Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, and FU brands, as well as bus chassis. The Daimler Mobility segment provides financing and leasing packages for end-customers and dealers; and automotive insurance brokerage, banking, investment, and fleet management services under the Athlon brand. It also sells vehicle related spare parts and accessories. Daimler AG was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany
In 1992, the United Nations Earth Summit resulted in Agenda 21, the UNs 1,100 page report and strategy for Sustainable Development.

The UNs Agenda 21 (Sustainable Development) is a plan for world government to redistribute our wealth by controlling every human activity on the planet. The goal is power and control and not real concern for the environment.

It is being implemented at all levels of government. The United Nations is the master planner. At the federal level Agenda 21 is being implemented through the EPA and other federal agencies. Unelected bureaucrats set the agenda.

Agenda 21 is implementing a global regime that will monitor, oversee and strictly regulate our planets oceans, lakes, streams, rivers, aquifers, sea beds, coastlines, wetlands, forests, jungles grassland, farmlands, deserts, tundra and mountains and our use of these resources.

It plans to protect the atmosphere with fraudulent carbon dioxide greenhouse gas reductions. Over 31,000 U.S.A. scientists have signed a petition, www. petitionproject.org against man-caused global warming and that CO2 is needed for oxygen and food.

Agenda 21 proposes plans that will result in a global police state.

The 1,100 page Agenda 21 document is summarized and published under the title, Agenda 21: The Earth Summit Strategy to Save Our Planet (Earth Press 1993). Agenda 21 is an undisguised call for total regimentation of all life on the planet with all power to the anti-American United Nations.

Sustainable development is a dictators dream come true: An emerging all-purpose, open-ended, enabling act granting global central planners carte blanche to claim it means whatever they want it to mean.

Agenda 21 authority, Tom DeWeese will speak on Tuesday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Herrett Center.

To stop Agenda 21, we must pass H.R. 193 to get out of the United Nations. Agenda 21 is incompatible with freedom and must be opposed and stopped!

Adrian Arp

Filer
Veeva Systems Inc. provides cloud-based software for the life sciences industry in North America, Europe, the Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The company offers Veeva Commercial Cloud, a suite of software, data, and analytics solutions, which include Veeva customer relationship management (CRM) and Veeva Medical CRM, Veeva CLM, Veeva CRM MyInsights, Veeva CLM, Veeva CRM Approved Email, Veeva CRM Engage, Veeva Align, Veeva CRM Events Management, Veeva Nitro, Veeva OpenData, Veeva Link, Veeva Network, Veeva Crossix, Veeva Data Cloud, and MyVeeva for Patients; and Veeva Vault, a cloud-based enterprise content and data management applications for managing commercial functions, including sales and marketing, and medical content and communications, as well as research and development functions, such as clinical, regulatory, quality, and safety. It also provides professional and support services in the areas of implementation and deployment planning and project management; requirements analysis, solution design, and configuration; systems environment management and deployment services; services focused on advancing or transforming business and operating processes related to Veeva solutions; technical consulting services related to data migration and systems integrations; training on its solutions; and ongoing managed services that include outsourced systems administration. The company was formerly known as Verticals onDemand, Inc. and changed its name to Veeva Systems Inc. in April 2009. Veeva Systems Inc. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
Watts Water Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and sells products, solution, and systems that manage and conserve the flow of fluids and energy into, through and out of buildings in the commercial and residential markets in the Americas, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers residential and commercial flow control products, including backflow preventers, water pressure regulators, temperature and pressure relief valves, and thermostatic mixing valves. It also provides heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and gas products, such as boilers, water heaters, custom heat, and hot water solutions; hydronic and electric heating systems for under-floor radiant applications; custom heat and hot water solutions; hydronic pump groups for boiler manufacturers and alternative energy control packages; and flexible stainless steel connectors for natural and liquid propane gas in commercial food service and residential applications. In addition, the company offers drainage and water re-use products comprising drainage products and engineered rain water harvesting solutions for commercial, industrial, marine, and residential applications; and water quality products that include point-of-use and point-of-entry water filtration, conditioning, and scale prevention systems for commercial and residential applications. Further, it provides smart mixing system under the IntelliStation name. The company sells its products to plumbing, heating, and mechanical wholesale distributors and dealers, as well as original equipment manufacturers, specialty product distributors, do-it-yourself chains, and retail chains; and directly to wholesalers and private label accounts. Watts Water Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1874 and is headquartered in North Andover, Massachusetts.
Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electric utility, banking, and renewable/sustainable infrastructure investment businesses in the state of Hawaii. It operates in three segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment engages in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Its renewable energy sources and potential sources include wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, hydroelectric, municipal waste, and other biofuels. This segment serves suburban communities, resorts, the United States armed forces installations, and agricultural operations. The Bank segment operates a community bank that offers banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses, including savings and checking accounts; and loans comprising residential and commercial real estate, residential mortgage, construction and development, multifamily residential and commercial real estate, consumer, and commercial loans. This segment operates 42 branches, including 29 branches in Oahu, 6 branches in Maui, 4 branches in Hawaii, 2 branches in Kauai, and 1 branch in Molokai. The Other segment invests in non-regulated renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure in the State of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. was incorporated in 1891 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- A key moderate Republican senator said she is "very disappointed" in President Donald Trump's decision to end health care subsidies to low- and middle-income Americans under Obamacare.



GOP Sen. Susan Collins of Maine told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on This Week Sunday. "The debate in Washington has been whether or not to repeal the Affordable Care Act in the future. What the president is doing is affecting people's access and the cost of health care right now."



Collins said Congress needs to "step in" to reform health care in a more comprehensive way.



"I don't agree with his decisions on the subsidies that help low-income people afford their deductibles and copays, and I don't agree with his executive order," Collins said, referring to an executive order Thursday that would allow cheaper policies that offer fewer benefits.



Stephanopoulos also asked the Maine congresswoman about former Trump adviser Steve Bannon's speech at the conservative Values Voter Summit on Saturday, where he declared "war" on the "GOP establishment."



Collins said Bannon's comments are "not helpful or appropriate."



"Mr. Bannon has the right to support whomever he wants to support. But I think his rhetoric is exactly what the American people are tired of," Collins said. "They don't want this hyperpartisanship. They want us to work together. And they want us to get things done."



They want us to work across the aisle. They want us to work with the president. And Mr. Bannon's over-the-top rhetoric is not helpful, she added.



Collins announced Friday that she has decided not to run for governor of her state because she believes she can do more for her state by staying in Washington.



My voice and vote really matter in Washington right now. The Senate is closely divided, and I am able to make a difference," she said on Friday.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
By Davis Harper

For several years, chocolate barons have devastated forests to make room to plant cocoa, a crop that naturally grows in shade. Now, a report from Mighty Eartha nonprofit that works to conserve threatened landscapesshows new evidence that illegal deforestation is occurring in protected areas; specifically, in the national parks of West Africa.

The Ivory Coast and Ghana produce a combined 2.6 million tons of chocolate60 percent of the worlds supply. Its no wonder so many of these nations protected lands are at risk. According to Mighty Earths report, 10 percent of Ghanas tree cover has been replaced by cocoa monocultures. The Ivory Coast, once heavily forested and extremely biodiverse, has lost seven of its 23 protected areas to cocoa. Due to habitat loss, its chimpanzees are now endangered, and its elephants are nearly extinct. This means that companies like Mars, Nestle, Herseys and Godiva are on the hot seat for making products using cocoa grown by uncertified sources.

Chocolate companies have taken advantage of corrupt governance in Ghana and the Ivory Coast to deforest parklands, saic Glenn Horowitz, CEO of Mighty Earth. With a rising demand for the worlds guiltiest pleasure, chocolate companies are also taking advantage of farmerson average, these growers are paid less than 80 cents a day. The main issue is that chocolate producers have neglected to establish a direct relationship with cocoa growers, said Horowitz.

The new report documents cocoa beans journey through the supply chain: Middlemen, called pisteurs, buy the crop from settlers and transport them to neighboring villages, where they are sold to cooperatives (more middlemen), who sell them to agribusinesses, who then sell them to major chocolate producers.

Despite extensive sustainability initiatives proposed by chocolate corporations like Mars, deforestation rates remain high, and cocoa farmers wages lowand these companies continue to illegally source cocoa from protected areas. Horowitz hopes Mighty Earths report will function as a wake-up call, and preface a shift from promises to actions. Chocolate producers have the power to demand deforestation-free cocoa, and that growers are paid well in the process. Weve seen this change in other commodities, such as palm oil, for instancein which case, consumer companies and traders set strong conservation and human rights standards that, when well-implemented, have made a big difference on the ground.

Its a far-from-impossible task. Several sustainable cocoa companies manage to not only produce cocoa without destroying rain forests, but also to give a fair share of proceeds directly to their growersin many cases, local smallholder farmers. So, whats stopping major producers from doing the same?

In response to Mighty Earths report, Amy Truelson, senior manager of external affairs for Mars, wrote, Mars and the World Cocoa Foundation agree with many of the reports recommendations, notably the importance of forest protection and restoration, sector transparency, joint action for monitoring and compliance, and protecting indigenous community rights. We fully support the World Cocoa Foundations position that there should be no conversion of any remaining forests in Cote dIvoire and Ghana for cocoa production. Purportedly, Mars continues to strive toward its goal of sourcing 100 percent of its chocolate from certified sources by 2020 (the company is currently at 50 percent).

Nestle, Hersheys and Godiva did not respond to requests for comment.

The pressure surrounding the issue is mounting. Case in point? The recent pledge that 12 of the largest cocoa and chocolate manufacturers in the world made to Prince Charles of Walesa longtime proponent of a more sustainable chocolate industry in the name of climate change mitigation. Earlier this year, the Prince of Wales met with companies including Mars, Nestle and Ferrero in London to solidify their commitments to develop a plan to end deforestation in the cocoa industry, which theyll present to the United Nations Framework Convention during next months Climate Summit.

Horowitz has high hopes for change in the chocolate industry. Still, he warned, These companies have to understand that they cant just pay lip service to conservation. Theyre going to have to change the way they do business.

Reposted with permission from our media associate SIERRA Magazine.
The Government has outlined its intention to retain the UK's high standards of animal welfare post-Brexit, and to avoid farmers being undermined by cheaper imports.

This week, the Government responded to the House of Lords EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committees report on 'Brexit: Farm Animal Welfare'.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) labelled the talks as "promising", but cautioned that promises "now need to be made in Brexit negotiations".

The report also said that non-British EU veterinary surgeons are critical to the UK veterinary workforce.

Around 50% of veterinary surgeons registering to practise in the UK each year come from overseas, with the vast majority of these coming from the rest of the EU.

Yet one-fifth of vets are already reporting that it has become harder to recruit since the EU Referendum.

The Governments response stated: Many vets working in the UK are EU nationals... and the Prime Minister has made clear that securing the status of the veterinary workforce is a top priority. Ongoing negotiations as part of the Article 50 negotiations will help firm up our commitment to do this.

We are continuing to work across government and with the veterinary profession to help develop a flexible and skilled workforce which meets the UKs needs.

'Undermined'

The Governments response to the report outlined an intention to retain the UKs high standards of welfare.

It agreed that the UK should seek to avoid potentially being undermined by cheaper imports produced to lower animal welfare standards.

The Committee warned that a potential increase in imports from countries operating lower farm animal welfare standards could undermine UK producers after Brexit.

The Committee heard evidence that the greatest threat to farm animal welfare standards post-Brexit would come from UK farmers competing against cheap, imported food from countries that produce to lower standards than the UK.

The Governments wish for the UK to become a global leader in free trade is not necessarily compatible with its desire to maintain high animal welfare standards, the report warned.

'Serious repercussions'

Commenting on the Governments response, BVA President John Fishwick said the impact of losing even a small percentage of the workforce could have "serious repercussions" on the practices, communities, specialist areas and industries.

Mr Fishwick said: Priorities need to become promises. We will continue urging the Government to guarantee the existing rights of all non-UK EU vets and vet nurses living and working in the UK to provide reassurance to the colleagues who have been living in uncertainty for the past 18 months.

The Government should demonstrate its intention, outlined in its response, to retain the UK's high animal welfare standards by taking action now to enshrine Article 13 on animal sentience in UK law through the EU Withdrawal Bill.

'Confidence'

The response suggests a number of possible measures to prevent high UK animal welfare standards being undermined by cheaper imports produced to lower animal welfare standards.

Mr Fishwick continued: Consumers must continue to have confidence in the food they eat when we leave the EU, so it is important that this commitment is embedded in future UK trade policy.

We must also see a single standard applied to the production of animal products destined either for UK consumers or foreign markets, which includes veterinary controls and certification, to avoid the potential for animal welfare breaches and food fraud that is associated with multiple parallel standards, while ensuring consumer confidence moving forwards.
Xiaomi Diwali with Mi sale: Get discounts on Mi Mix 2, Redmi Note 4, and more News oi -Abhinaya Prabhu Xiaomi has announced the Diwali with Mi sale.

Last month, Xiaomi hosted a successful Mi Diwali sale as soon as the festive season kicked in. Now, with just a few more days left for Diwali, the e-commerce portals such as Amazon, Flipkart, Paytm and Snapdeal have already started hosting their festival sales.

And, Xiaomi has also joined this bandwagon with the 'Diwali with Mi' sale. This is a three-day sale that will end on October 17. Similar to the Diwali sale on Flipkart and Amazon, the Chinese company will offer discounts on several products including smartphones, accessories and IoT products. The company will provide attractive discounts and offers on many of its best-selling smartphones including the Mi Mix 2, the latest market entrant.

Xiaomi has announced the Cashless EMI scheme this Diwali. Under this scheme, buyers can purchase Mi products with credit sans a credit card. To be a part of the same, customers should follow a three-step process. This process requires them to key in their Aadhaar card number. With this scheme, one can buy any Mi product now and pay for the same later. There is even EMI for 6 or 12 months.

Also, those who buy during the three-day Diwali with Mi sale can get coupons worth Rs. 50, Rs. 200 and Rs. 500 exactly at 10:00 and the same can be used later to purchase a Mi product. The company is also offering no-cost EMI on the Mi Mix 2, Redmi Note 4 and Redmi 4.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 in Black Well, the newly launched Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 is not available at any significant discount or offer. The device will be available in the Black color variant as well during the sale at a price of Rs. 35,999. Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 price drop As a part of the Diwali with Mi' sale, Xiaomi has dropped the price of the best-seller Redmi Note 4. The 3GB+32GB and 4GB+64GB variants of this smartphone have received a price drop of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 2,000 taking them to Rs. 9,999 and Rs. 10,999 respectively. This price cut is applicable to the Lake Blue color variant of the smartphone as well. Redmi 4 price drop After the Redmi Note 4, it is the Redmi 4 that is the company's second bestselling smartphone. This smartphone is available at up to Rs. 1,500 discount during the Diwali sale. Mi Max 2 discount The Mi Max 2 is available at a special price of Rs. 12,999 and Rs. 14,999 for the 32GB and 64GB variants. Eventually, both the variants have received Rs. 2,000 discount and this is applicable only on Mi.com. Accessories The Mi headphones and in-ear headphones are available at discounted rates of Rs. 2,699 and Rs. 499. The Mi Bluetooth speaker Basic 2 that was launched recently is priced at Rs. 1,799. The Mi Powerbank with 10000mAh and 20000mAh capacity are available at Rs. 200 and Rs. 300 discount taking them to Rs. 999 and Rs. 1,899. IoT products The Mi Air Purifier 2 and Mi Purifier Bundle are available at Rs. 8,499 and Rs. 9,999. The Mi Router 3C is priced at Rs. 899 in the Diwali offer. Also, there is a chance for the buyers to get the Mi Business Backpack, Crewneck T-shirt and Mi Car Charger during the sale.

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Mystery Hacker Steals Australian Defense Data

By Phil Mercer October 14, 2017

A mystery hacker who was given the alias of a TV soap opera character has stolen sensitive information about Australia's multi-billion dollar warplane and navy projects. Intelligence officials say the break was significant, although the Australian government insists that only low-level data was taken. The identity of the cyber criminal is not known.

The virtual break-in saw cyber thieves take illustrations of a major Australian naval project. About 30GB of data was stolen. Details about new fighter planes, submarines and Australia's largest warships were also compromised. The breach began in July last year, but the Australian Signals Directorate, a domestic spy agency, was not alerted until November. Intelligence officials say the hack, which targeted a private defence contractor in South Australia state, was - in their words - 'extensive' and 'extreme.'

But the government is insisting there was no threat to national security.

Australia's Defence Industry Minister, Christopher Pyne, says only low-level data was taken.

"I am pleased in a way that it reminds Australian business of the dangers that lurk out there," said Pyne. "The information that has been stolen is commercial information. It is not classified information, so it is not military information. The government is doing its job. Australian businesses need to be thorough in providing for their cyber security otherwise they will not get contracts with the government."

It is thought the hacker had exploited a weakness in software being used by the government contractor in the city of Adelaide, which had not been updated for 12 months.

Australian cyber security officials humorously dubbed the mystery attacker "Alf", after a character on the popular TV soap opera 'Home and Away'. They haven't said if they suspect a foreign state was involved.

Earlier this year, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said cyber security was "the new frontier of warfare" and espionage, while announcing new measures to protect Australian governments and businesses from foreign interference.

Last year, a foreign power, reported in sections of the Australian media to be China, installed malicious software on computers at Australia's national weather bureau.

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INTERVIEW: Haiti on path to stability, development thanks to UN mission, says envoy

13 October 2017  After 13 years, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) will close its doors on 15 October. The Mission was established by the Security Council at a time when State authority had been weak and limited to parts of the capital, Port-au-Prince, with the three branches of power either non-functional or non-existent, and a national police force that was overwhelmed by the multiple threats to public order and the rule of law.

Today, the Haitian people enjoy a considerable degree of security and greater stability; political violence has diminished; armed gangs no longer hold the population hostage, thanks in part to the work of the 14,000-strong national police; and all three branches of power are in place.

"Haiti is now in a position to move forward and consolidate the stability that has been obtained, as a framework for continued social and economic development," says Sandra Honore, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Haiti and head of MINUSTAH.

Next week will see the beginning of a smaller successor mission  the UN Mission for Justice Support in Haiti (MINUJUSTH)  which is mandated by the Security Council to assist the Government in strengthening rule of law institutions, reinforcing national police capacities, and engaging in human rights monitoring, reporting and analysis.

On the eve of MINUSTAH's closure, Ms. Honore spoke with UN News about the Mission's contributions to the Haitian Government and people, what continued UN support to the fight against cholera will look like, and how the UN is perceived in the small Caribbean nation.

UN News: What does the departure of the UN Mission represent for Haiti?

Sandra Honore: The departure of MINUSTAH represents, on the one hand, that the stabilization mandate entrusted to the Mission by the Security Council has been met, and that Haiti is now in a position to move forward and consolidate the stability that has been obtained, as a framework for continued social and economic development.

The Security Council in taking the decision to close MINUSTAH  which has been operating and cooperating with the Haitian authorities and the Haitian people for 13 years, also in recognition of certain weaknesses that still exist in the justice and rule of law areas  has decided to establish the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti. It is my hope that the opportunity will be seized by the Government and people of Haiti to use the contribution of the new UN Mission to advance and to consolidate rule of law in Haiti.

UN News: What do you think was MINUSTAH's strongest contribution to the Haitian people?

Sandra Honore: MINUSTAH's strongest contribution was to support the Haitian people with the provision of a secure and stable environment; to support them with the professionalization of the Haitian National Police, which numbered some 3,300 when MINUSTAH was established. They now are at 14,000 and by the end of 2017 will reach a minimum level of 15,000. The percentage of women in the police force has also increased: there are now 9 per cent female police officers in a country where the female members of the population number 52 per cent. It is important that the Haitian National Police also reflect the population as a whole.

The Mission was also able to support the electoral processes in the country. During 13 years, we saw the handover  on three occasions  from one democratically-elected President to another, including from one elected President to another from the opposition in 2011. The most recent handover being to President Jovenel Moise, who assumed office in February this year. The fact that the democratic process has started to become stronger, to consolidate itself. The fact that the three powers of the State are now functioning: the executive; the elected parliament; and the judiciary.

I think these are the legacy of MINUSTAH and the elements of the support that the Mission was able to provide to the Haitian Government, and above all to the Haitian people, as they strive for a better standard of living.

UN News: The UN launched a strategy to help Haiti tackle cholera. What will the UN support look like once MINUSTAH leaves, and what is the current state of relations between the UN and Haitians?

Sandra Honore: The support strategy of the United Nations for the Government of Haiti, as the Government moves to work toward eliminating the transmission of cholera, will continue even after MINUSTAH leaves. This support was not only provided through MINUSTAH but also, importantly, through the UN agencies, funds and programmes, such as UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO)  the regional arm of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Secretary-General announced in December of 2016 the new approach of the Organization to support the Government of Haiti. This involves the two tracks: one dealing with the treatment of cholera, and infrastructure for water and sanitation  which is sadly lacking in the country; and the second track of material assistance for communities most affected.

In June of this year, the Secretary-General appointed Assistant Secretary-General Josette Sheeran as his Special Envoy for Haiti. One of the tasks will be precisely to work to support the new approach and to support the mobilization of resources that will be required to pursue the new approach.

The Secretary-General has also asked Member States to forego the return to them of unexpended balances, for example from the MINUSTAH 2015-2016 budget, to be used on the new approach.

It is my hope that Member States will respond positively to the call from the Secretary-General, and that the work of the Special Envoy will go beyond the support for cholera and also involve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the goals that Haiti has for its development within the framework of the 2030 Agenda.

UN News: How is the UN perceived currently and what are relations like between the UN and the Haitian people?

Sandra Honore: The relations between the UN and the Haitian people are positive. In the time that I have been there I have been able to interact with Haitians from all sections of the society at all levels  even those who may have some difficulty, philosophically let's say, with the fact that a peacekeeping mission is functioning in the country. But they all acknowledge the contribution that MINUSTAH has been able to make to a safe and secure environment and to stabilization in the country, which saw a period of sustained disturbances in 2004 which led to the establishment MINUSTAH.

So, I see a relationship that is positive and I see a desire on the part of the Haitian people to see the United Nations contributing more to development and the development objectives of the country.

UN News: As head of the Mission, does any particular memory stand out?

Sandra Honore: I spent a lot of time after I arrived in Haiti in July 2013 working with my colleagues in MINUSTAH and in the UN system in the country, including UNDP, UNOPS and UN Women, on the electoral question together with the provisional electoral council.

There were some moments that were very difficult. The electoral process, as you know, started in August 2015 and was not concluded until January 2017. There was a presidential election in October 2015 which was rerun so that the verification process could be conducted. At the end of it, President Moise was declared the winner in the first round of the rerun presidential election, and following that the appointment of the President on 7 February and the installation of his Government on 22 March  I think that was a particularly gratifying moment because it was a moment that demonstrated that the attention and 'stick-to-it-iveness', as it were, that had to be applied to ensure that the electoral process was completed, that that was in fact done and that Haiti was now on the path to be able to concentrate on her development, and that was certainly a moment of gratification.

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Military Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq

From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Oct. 14, 2017  U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria yesterday, conducting four strikes consisting of four engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Officials reported details of yesterday's strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.

Strikes in Syria

In Syria, coalition military forces conducted three strikes consisting of three engagements against ISIS targets:

-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an ISIS headquarters building.

-- Near Shadaddi, two strikes engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed two fighting positions and a logistics node.

Strikes in Iraq

Near Qaim, Iraq, coalition military forces conducted a strike consisting of one engagement, which destroyed a piece of ISIS communications infrastructure.

Previous Strikes

Additionally, seven strikes consisting of 10 engagements were conducted Oct. 12 in Syria and Iraq that closed within the last 24 hours.

-- Near Qaim, Iraq, two strikes destroyed an ISIS vehicle-borne-bomb factory and a headquarters building.

-- Near Ramadi, Iraq, a strike destroyed an ISIS camp.

-- Near Raqqa, Syria, four strikes destroyed three ISIS lines of communication and a fighting position.

Part of Operation Inherent Resolve

These strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to destroy ISIS in Iraq and Syria. The destruction of ISIS targets in Iraq and Syria also further limits the group's ability to project terror and conduct external operations throughout the region and the rest of the world, task force officials said.

The list above contains all strikes conducted by fighter, attack, bomber, rotary-wing or remotely piloted aircraft; rocket-propelled artillery; and some ground-based tactical artillery when fired on planned targets, officials noted.

Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike, they added. A strike, as defined by the coalition, refers to one or more kinetic engagements that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single or cumulative effect.

For example, task force officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIS vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against a group of ISIS-held buildings and weapon systems in a compound, having the cumulative effect of making that facility harder or impossible to use. Strike assessments are based on initial reports and may be refined, officials said.

The task force does not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.

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At least 22 people die in powerful bomb blasts in Somali capital

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 03:25PM

Bomb explosions have killed at least 22 people in two districts of the Somali capital, Mogadishu, police say.

An unusually large explosion occurred on Saturday outside a hotel on a crowded junction in the Hodan district of the capital, when an explosive-laden truck was detonated, killing the people who were in its vicinity, said Abdullahi Nur, a police officer who was in the area.

"We know that at least 20 civilians are dead while dozens of others are wounded. We are still busy transporting casualties," he said, adding that there were bodies under the rubble. Nur expected that "the death toll will surely rise" due to the magnitude of the explosion, which also set dozens of other vehicles on fire.

Police Captain Mohamed Hussein also said security forces were trailing the truck that had raised suspicions, adding that the hotel had been targeted. He said that "the K5 junction" is located in a busy area, which is lined with government offices, hotels, restaurants and shops.

In the Madina district of Mogadishu, a second bombing was carried out about two hours later. "It was a car bomb. Two civilians were killed, " Siyad Farah, a police major, told Reuters. Police had caught an individual on suspicion of planting explosives, he added.

No militant group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but such assaults bear the hallmarks of those usually carried out by Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab Takfiri terrorist group.

The terror group has in the past carried out frequent attacks in Mogadishu and other parts of Somalia in a bid to topple the country's government and drive out African Union peacekeeping troops.

Earlier in the day, government officials announced that the Shabab terrorists took over the town of Bariire, in Lower Shabelle, which is about 50 kilometers from Mogadishu after soldiers withdrew from the area.

"We left Bariire for tactical reasons. We have moved to other towns," Nur Ali, a military official, said to justify the withdrawal.

Somalia has been at war since 1991, when clan-based warlords overthrew dictator Siad Barre and then turned on each other. The country has been the scene of deadly clashes between government forces and al-Shabab militants since 2006.

The Takfiri militant group was forced out of the capital by African Union troops in 2011 but still controls parts of the countryside and carries out attacks against government, military and civilian targets. The extremist group is just one of the challenges facing the new Somali government, which is still struggling to expand its authority beyond the capital and other selected areas.

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Taliban seizes Shia-dominated Mirza Olang in northern Afghanistan

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 03:04PM

The Taliban militants have again captured Mirza Olnag, a town mostly populated by Shia Hazara families in northern Afghanistan, which suffered a horrific carnage by the militants as well as terrorists of the Daesh Takfiri group nearly two months ago.

Local officials in the province of Sar-e-Pul said on Saturday that government forces had to retreat for tactical reasons when the Taliban blitzed the Mirza Olang Valley from the neighboring Sayad district.

"Taliban militants in an overnight operation captured seven police checkpoints in Mirza Olang area, forcing security forces to retreat," said Khalilullah Dastyar, the provincial police chief.

Other sources said Taliban forces managed to take full control of Mirza Olang around Friday night. They spoke on condition of anonymity. The central government in Kabul has yet to comment on the news of the fall of Mirza Olang, a strategically important area located near Sar-e-Pul's provincial capital, which goes by the same name, and also close to Kohistanat district.

Dozens of defenseless villagers, most of them from the Shia Hazara community in Mirza Olnag, were killed when the town fell into the hands of the Taliban and other militants, including those from Daesh, in August. Hundreds of families also escaped the deadly violence while the militants reportedly kidnapped 47 girls. The massacre sparked huge condemnations while it also showed how precarious the Afghan defense line was against the Taliban, a group that is mostly based in southern Afghan territories.

Dastyar, Sar-e-Pul's police chief, said security forces were planning to launch an operation to retake Mirza Olang. However, he did not elaborate how the government would protect the Shia Muslims in the town from another massacre by the Taliban.

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Indian forces kill two militants, civilian in Kashmir

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 11:17AM

Indian forces have shot dead two suspected militants, including the top commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militant group, during a fierce gunfight in the India-administered part of Kashmir, triggering an anti-New Delhi protest in the area.

The commander of the Pakistan-based militant group, identified as Wasim Shah, was killed on Saturday, after soldiers and special police forces acting on a tip-off besieged the southern village of Litter in Pulwama district.

"In the ensuing gun battle the LeT commander and his bodyguard were killed," a police officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

News of Wasim's death prompted hundreds of local people to take to the streets, with some protesters hurling stones at government forces and shouting slogans for Kashmir's independence from Indian rule.

Indian forces responded with gunfire that left one dead and 15 others wounded.

Armed groups have been clashing with Indian troops deployed in the region for years, demanding that the largely-Muslim Kashmir be given independence or be merged with Pakistan.

New Delhi accuses Pakistan of dispatching militants into Kashmir to wage attacks on its forces. Islamabad denies that allegation.

The clashes over the years have killed tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians.

India earlier this year launched "Operation Allout" in an effort to hunt down anti-government militants.

Indian police authorities say at least 160 militants and 59 military or police forces have been killed so far this year.

The disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since the end of British colonial rule in 1947 but both countries claim it in its entirety. The two nuclear rivals have fought three wars over the control of the territory since their partition.

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US drone attack leaves 14 Afghan civilians in Kunar Province: Lawmaker

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 11:08AM

An Afghan lawmaker says more than a dozen civilians have been killed in a recent US drone strike, which was said to be aimed at a militant targets in the country's eastern province of Kunar.

On Friday, residents from the Chawki district of Kunar Province held a gathering to pay tribute to the victims of the deadly drone attack a day earlier.

Speaking during the ceremony, Afghan lawmaker Shahzada Shahid said "the villagers are very upset about this incident, people are now busy with the funeral ceremony of the 14 civilians from the area."

"There is no doubt that they were civilians, they were not armed with weapons and those that were killed were oppressed," he added.

A resident also said, "All the victims were civilians and they bombarded the villages and the houses. All of them were local people and did not belong to the enemy."

Provincial governor's spokesman Abdul Ghani Musamim said Saturday that the strike targeted a meeting of local Daesh terrorists and Taliban militants, without elaborating on any details.

Afghanistan's Defense Ministry spokesman Dawlat Waziri also confirmed the report.

The US-led foreign military forces in the country have not yet commented on the incident.

The government has no control over the remote area where Afghanistan's Daesh affiliate has managed to establish a foothold, among other areas in the eastern part of the country.

The United Nations announced in a quarterly report on Thursday that Afghan civilian casualties from US and Afghan airstrikes have climbed by more than 50 percent since last year.

The US military has escalated attacks in Afghanistan under a new strategy announced by President Donald Trump in August.

Washington currently maintains 8,400 soldiers in Afghanistan, with NATO troops making up another 5,000.

Civilian casualties caused by NATO forces have been one of the most contentious issues during the 16-year military campaign in Afghanistan, prompting strong government and public criticism.

Afghanistan is still suffering from insecurity and violence years after the United States and its allies invaded the country as part of Washington's so-called war on terror. The military invasion removed the Taliban from power, but the militancy continues to this day.

The war in Afghanistan is the longest in US history with a cost of about $1 trillion. More than 2,400 Americans have died and another 20,000 have been wounded since the invasion in 2001.

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Kyrgyz Voters Cast Ballots Seeking Historic Peaceful Transfer Of Power In Central Asia

Alan Crosby October 14, 2017

Voters in Kyrgyzstan head to the polls on October 15 in an election that is expected to result in the first peaceful transfer of power from one popularly elected president to another in Central Asia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

While dirty tricks, arrests, and the alleged use of "administrative resources" have cast a pall over the campaign, the vote is likely to solidify Kyrgyzstan's credentials as an island of democracy in the region's authoritarian sea.

A total of 11 candidates, including one female, are vying to replace President Almazbek Atambaev, who is constitutionally barred from running for a second consecutive six-year term.

The three leading contenders  Omurbek Babanov, Temir Sariev, and Sooronbai Jeenbekov  were all prime ministers during Atambaev's term in office, raising expectations of policy continuity in a country that has to balance the often-competing interests between neighbors Russia and China.

"I am proud of my freedom-loving people which has staged two national revolutions against dictatorial regimes over the last 12 years and has proven that people are the only possible source of power in the Kyrgyz Republic," Atambaev said during the campaign.

Atambaev said that Kyrgyzstan had achieved peace and stability in recent years and claimed it is "the first and only country in post-Soviet Central Asia with parliamentary democracy."

Having battled through two revolutions and several noisy election campaigns, the 6 million mainly Muslim citizens of this mountainous former Soviet republic have become an anomaly among the region's five ex-Soviet states: the most democratic country in a predominantly authoritarian region.

While most elections in the region see incumbents garner at least 90 percent of the votes, Kyrgyzstan's vote this weekend is turning into a cliffhanger that is too close to call.

Jeenbekov, a 58-year-old political ally of Atambaev, has used his political leverage and support from the incumbent to wage a heated battle with 47-year-old Babanov, a wealthy entrepreneur and former oil trader from the north.

Neither has been able to gain a strong upper hand, with a September poll by the Western-backed NGO Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society giving Jeenbekov 41 percent to about 39 percent for Babanov.

If no candidate wins a majority of votes in the first round, a runoff between the top two vote getters will be held.

"For elections in Kyrgyzstan, one must expect the unexpected," according to Michal Romanowski, an expert in Eurasian affairs at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

"Citizens have proved to those in power that in the end they call the shots and authorities will be held accountable for their actions. The attitude promotes political pluralism and a substitute for real electoral competition," he said.

The campaign has been littered with accusation of dirty tricks and outright corruption, underlying the instability that led to the ouster of two leaders through revolutions in 2005 and 2010.

Government critics say the campaign has been marred by a criminal conviction handed down to opposition Ata-Meken (Fatherland) party leader Omurbek Tekebaev in August after a trial his backers say was politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the government has accused Babanov of trying to buy votes, and late last month it detained one of his supporters, saying they were plotting a coup during the election.

Babanov has denied the accusations and in turn alleges the government has used "administrative resources" against his candidacy and in favor of Jeenbekov.

While Kyrgyzstan's key ally Russia has stayed neutral, neighboring Kazakhstan's autocratic Nursultan Nazarbaev made a surprise appearance in the campaign in September by appearing to endorse Babanov.

That sparked a strong rebuke from Atambaev, who blasted Nazarbaev in a speech lauding his country's democratic principles and accusing Kazakhstan of being ruled by corrupt "sultans."

In a sign of building tensions and in a thinly veiled criticism of Babanov on October 13, Atambaev also called an unnamed leading contender in the elections a "flunky" of a foreign country.

Kazakhstan's government called the remarks "unacceptable" and introduced tighter border controls this week on the Kyrgyz border, citing security concerns.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kyrgyzstan-presidential -election-atambaev-babanov-sariev- jeenbekov/28794893.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Analysis: How Close Is Turkmenistan To Instability?

Bruce Pannier October 14, 2017

A familiar kind of weird is returning to Turkmenistan.

President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov's recent decrees seem like echoes from more than a decade ago, when his predecessor Saparmurat Niyazov was in power.

About 11 years after independence, Niyazov started raising the status of a body called Halk Maslahaty, a group numbering between 2,000 and 3,000 with representatives from various sectors of the government, the business world, state enterprises, and social organizations.

In Niyazov's case, the decision came after a reported attempt on his life in November 2002. Authorities apprehended many of the alleged perpetrators, but the details of the plot were never made clear. However, it appears to have involved killing Niyazov, then getting parliament to recognize a new leader.

The logic for boosting the powers of the Halk Maslahaty, eventually to a position higher than parliament, seemed to be that it would be difficult to assemble the more than 2,000 members quickly to make any decision, thus harder for a coup to receive official status from the completely compliant parliament.

Berdymukhammedov came to power at the end of 2006, shortly after Niyazov's death, and eliminated the Halk Maslahaty in 2008.

Now, about 11 years after he came to power, for reasons that are not clear, he is essentially recreating the body.

Berdymukhammedov already said after his reelection in February 2017 that the Elders Council would become the highest legislative body in the country; now he says younger colleagues will be admitted.

An anonymous, but clearly knowledgeable, author did a thorough job covering the new People's Council for Eurasia Net.

Berdymukhammedov is also shaking up national holidays.

Independence Day, which was coming up on October 27, is being moved to September 27.

That was the final day of the 10-day Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) that Turkmenistan hosted last month.

However, it seems that for this year, at least, Independence Day will be on October 27, as scheduled, as people throughout the country are being driven to stadiums for marching drills, or "marshirovkas," as part of rehearsals for any major celebrations in Turkmenistan. But next year, Independence Day celebrations will remind people of the country's glory on the day AIMAG was concluded.

Flag Day is being shifted from February 19, the day it has been marked since it became an official holiday in 1997, to May 18.

May 18 is Constitution Day; henceforth it will also be Flag Day.

February 19 was not only Flag Day, it was Niyazov's birthday.

No holiday will be marked on February 19 from now on.

Constitution Day was already a dual holiday as it also marked the birthday of legendary 18th century Turkmen poet Magtumguly.

Magtumguly's birthday is being moved -- from now on, it will be marked on June 27, which, by less than amazing coincidence, happens to be Berdymukhammedov's birthday.

Strangely, however, June 27 will not be a day off work.

The Soviet-era Victory Day, May 9, marking the end of World War II is now just a regular day in Turkmenistan.

Other holidays -- New Year's; International Women's Day; Navruz, the Day of Commemoration and National Mourning; October 6 (marking the anniversary of the devastating 1948 earthquake that hit the Ashgabat area); and Neutrality Day, December 12, remain as they were.

The shuffle of holidays seems reminiscent of the August 2002 decision, officially from the Halk Maslahaty, to rename the days of the week and months of the year, which was, of course, President Niyazov's idea, and something else Berdymukhammedov eliminated after coming to power.

In his recent remarks, Berdymukhammedov also made some impossible promises, such as spending a lot of money Turkmenistan does not currently have on boosting production of oil and natural gas, Turkmenistan's major exports.

It's okay if he doesn't because Turkmenistan doesn't have customers for the oil and gas it produces right now.

Okay, at the Qishloq we're used to "weird" and "Turkmenistan."

That's been going on for years.

But it used to be infrequent blasts of erratic or eccentric behavior.

Turkmenistan was normally the isolationist country its leadership wants it to be and it rarely generated any news.

Since 2016, Turkmenistan is a different country.

Strange decrees, reshuffling of officials, restructuring of the government, and antics by Berdymukhammedov are regular events lately.

RFE/RL Turkmen Service Director Farruh Yusupov contributed to this report

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/how -close-is-turkmenistan-to- instability/28794856.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Deadly Truck Bomb Rips Main Intersection in Mogadishu, Flattens Buildings

By Mohamed Olad Hassan October 14, 2017

At least 25 people have been killed and at least 50 others wounded in a truck bomb blast near a key intersection in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, officials and witnesses said.

The blast near Zobe, a busy intersection, may have been a suicide bomber, a police official told VOA. Witnesses said the blast occurred during a traffic jam.

A VOA reporter at the scene of the blast counted at least 25 bodies as they were transported by the city's emergency Amin ambulance service.

The reporter said buildings around the area were leveled by the explosion from a truck bomb, and dozens of destroyed cars continue to burn in the streets.

"For 10 years I have been in the emergency service, this is the first I have witnessed. I cannot tell the exact death toll, but together I can say we have transported hundreds of people on our 10 ambulances," said Dr. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adem, director of the Amin ambulance service. "And economically, I think this is the worst ever in Mogadishu in a single day."

Government soldiers have cordoned off the area, and rescuers suspect that dead or injured people are trapped under debris of some destroyed buildings, fearing the death toll will rise.

Most of the victims were civilians. The exact target of the blast remains unclear, though there are several hotels frequented by government officials and members of various diaspora communities.

The government's top security officials are at the blast site calling for the city's residents to help the rescue operation.

"This is a disaster. We ask all Somalis to reach us, to help us in the search of dead bodies under the debris. We appeal to the doctors, to those who have digging machines," Mogadishu Mayor, Tabid Abdi Mohamed said on government radio.

"It is a disaster. The terrorist elements have targeted civilians. Once we conclude the statement we will tell the exact casualty," said the Security minister, Mohamed Abukar Islow, on the same radio broadcast.

The security forces also foiled another attack when they intercepted an explosive laden-car heading to the first attack scene and took the driver into custody, according to police officials who requested anonymity.

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Making Sense of Kenya's Election Surprises: A Timeline of Events

By Salem Solomon October 14, 2017

Kenya's 2017 election followed a predictable script. Until it didn't.

Incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta faced longtime rival Raila Odinga. Kenyatta won the August election by 10 percentage points, or 1.4 million votes. Odinga alleged fraud and petitioned the Supreme Court. Violence spread through parts of the country. Dozens were killed. Kenyatta was poised to begin a second term.

Then, everything changed.

In an unprecedented move, three weeks after Kenyans went to the polls, the Supreme Court nullified the election. It said the vote was irregular and illegal, and it ordered a do-over.

Now, little is certain. A new election is slated for October 26, but Odinga has withdrawn from the race. A 2013 Supreme Court judgment says fresh nominations must ensue if a candidate "abandons the electoral quest." But six other candidates were on the ballot in addition to Kenyatta and Odinga, and the constitution says they're entitled to take part in the re-election.

Meanwhile, tensions are high as the government clamps down on protesters in three major cities.

Here's a recap of events leading up to  and following  the election:

Pre-election slaying

July 31  Authorities discover the body of a senior manager with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. Christopher Msando, who ran the commission's IT group and oversaw its electronic voting systems, was tortured and slain.

Polls open

August 8  Polls open for the 2017 general election. Kenyans vote for a president, parliament and regional leaders. Polls suggest either incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta or challenger Odinga Raila could win.

August 10  Wafula Chebukati, chairman of the IEBC, discloses that an unsuccessful attempt to hack the voting system was made a week before the election.

Kenyatta wins

August 11  Four days after the election, the IEBC declares Kenyatta the winner, with 54 percent of the vote. Longtime opposition leader Odinga gets 44 percent of the vote. Kenyatta wins by 1.4 million votes. The United States, United Kingdom and other governments around the world congratulate Kenyatta on his victory and praise Kenya for its free and fair election.

August 12  Violent postelection clashes between police and civilians result in deaths in Nairobi and Kisumu. A stray bullet strikes and kills a 9-year-old girl. Odinga says the election was rigged.

Opposition files petition

August 18  Odinga files a petition with the Supreme Court to challenge the legitimacy of the election. He alleges vote tampering, fraud and other irregularities. Under Kenyan law, the court must review the case within two weeks.

August 28  The Supreme Court begins hearing arguments. It grants both Odinga and Kenyatta "read-only access" to IEBC's electronic voting system.

Election annulled

September 1  The Supreme Court annuls the election, citing "illegalities and irregularities" in the recording and transmission of results. The court blames the IEBC for mishandling the paperwork needed to verify the vote. It also reveals the IEBC refused a court order to access its servers, thereby preventing independent verification of the vote. The court promises to provide details of its ruling in three weeks and stipulates that a new election must be held within 60 days.

September 6  The IEBC appoints six new people to oversee the re-election, a move criticized by Kenyatta's Jubilee party.

September 15  More than three-quarters of likely voters feel satisfied with the September 1 annulment, a poll of 1,500 respondents across the country shows.

Court findings detailed

September 20  The Supreme Court provides details of its historic finding. Justice Philomena Mwilu says the election was "neither transparent nor verifiable." Chief Justice David Maraga says forms to verify the results were incomplete and unsigned. October 17 is set as the new election date.

September 21  The IEBC moves the election date back nine days, to October 26.

September 26  Odinga, demanding more substantial reform at the IEBC, calls on CEO Ezra Chiloba and other leaders to resign. Chiloba refuses to step down.

September 28  The Jubilee party presses for amendments to election law. They want to de-emphasize the role of electronic ballots in vote tallies and require a recount when results are disputed.

Odinga drops out

October 10  Odinga drops out of the re-election race, alleging that the changes to the IEBC's vendors, processes and leadership needed to ensure the integrity of the election had not been made. Meanwhile, government officials confirm 37 people died in postelection violence the week after Kenyans went to the polls. All but two deaths were caused by police, officials say.

October 11  Election officials say Odinga did not complete required paperwork to withdraw from the race. They affirm an election will happen October 26. All eight candidates from the August 8 ballot will be part of the rerun. Meanwhile, Odinga calls for daily protests against the government.

October 12  The government bans protests in the business districts of three cities, including the capital, Nairobi. Officials say the ban will prevent violence. Human rights groups raise alarm bells about blocking the right to peaceful assembly.

October 13  Speaking at Chatham House in London, Odinga says international observers judge African elections on whether they're peaceful, not free and fair. He says he won't sign the statutory form to withdraw his candidacy since he already expressed his intention to drop out in a letter to the IEBC.

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U.S. Department of Defense

Press Operations

News Release

Release No: NR-351-17 October 13, 2017

DOD Announces Sentence for Detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi

The Department of Defense announced today that Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi was sentenced to 13 years in confinement for conspiracy, attacking civilian objects, hazarding a vessel, terrorism, attempts, and aiding the enemy.

The sentencing hearing took place today in a military commission courtroom at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

During his Feb. 20, 2014, guilty pleas, al-Darbi pled guilty to the charged offenses stemming from an attempt to carry out terrorist attacks against shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and off the coast of Yemen, and a completed terrorist attack against the French oil tanker, MV Limburg. As part of his plea deal he agreed to delay his sentence proceeding in order to cooperate with the Government.

Under the terms of the pre-trial agreement, al-Darbi agreed to testify for the United States at any military commission, federal court proceeding, or federal grand jury proceeding against other individuals alleged to have been involved in terrorist activity. al-Darbi has cooperated with U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies and, as part of the pre-trial agreement, must continue to cooperate. In exchange for al-Darbi's guilty plea and promise to cooperate and testify, the Convening Authority agreed to limit the amount of confinement that would be approved. If al-Darbi fails to comply with his promise to testify and cooperate, his prior plea agreement could be cancelled by the Convening Authority.

Once the record of trial is finalized, it will be sent to the Convening Authority for Military Commissions for action on the findings and sentence. Al-Darbi can submit matters in clemency in order to convince the Convening Authority to lessen his adjudged sentence further. After review of the clemency submissions, the Convening Authority may set aside the findings with respect to any charge, and he may reduce, but not increase, al-Darbi's sentence. After reviewing the record and taking final action on the findings and sentence, the Convening Authority will serve notice upon al-Darbi of his final decision.

####

http://www.defense.gov/News/News-Releases/News-Release-View/Article/1342802/

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General Details Progress, What Remains to be Done in Puerto Rico

By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14, 2017  Military personnel helping the people of Puerto Rico have made great progress since Hurricane Maria hit on Sept. 20, said Army Lt. Gen. Jeffrey S. Buchanan, the commander of ground forces on the island, but, he added, the scale and scope of devastation caused by the storm was so great that much remains to be done.

"When I got here two weeks ago, we had 25 helicopters and 4,500 troops," the general said in a phone interview from the island. "Now we have 68 helicopters and 14,300 troops. We're getting a lot done, but we have a long way to go."

Hurricane Maria was devastating to Puerto Rico. Coming just two weeks after Hurricane Irma, about 80,000 residents were still without electricity when Maria made landfall. It knocked down trees everywhere, and the heavy rain caused landslides, which cut off many communities in the interior of the island. Puerto Rico's electrical grid was destroyed in the storm, leaving the entire island without power.

The general has been working shoulder-to-shoulder with Puerto Rico's Gov. Ricardo Rossello and the Federal Emergency Management Agency team, he said.

Logistical Support

Most of the troops in the U.S. commonwealth are logisticians, medical specialists and aviation specialists, Buchanan said. Military personnel are still getting food, water and fuel to the people who need it. "We bring supplies in [to the major ports] and we distribute to regional staging areas with FEMA," he said. "The Puerto Rican National Guard pushes it out from there."

The military is also delivering commodities by air. "We had to do that early on because a lot of areas were cut off," the general said. Most communities are now being supplied via road, but there are still some remote communities where the roads are blocked.

Clearing the roads is the next big project, the general said. "We've been doing this all along, but it is complicated," he said. "It's been raining a lot, and once a route is cleared, there has been so much rain in the mountains that often there are more landslides, which close the route again."

"There are lots of volunteers out clearing routes, but we're using Marines, Army Reserve soldiers and Puerto Rican Army National Guard [to do] the bulk of the work," the general said.

Over the past week, the fuel situation has largely returned to normal, Buchanan said. Most gas stations have reopened and people who once waited up to seven hours for fuel can now just drive up.

Providing medical facilities has been a priority. A combat surgical hospital is operating in the southeastern part of the island, the general said. The hospital serving that portion of the island was destroyed when Marie came ashore. Air Force medical personnel are setting up in the northwestern part of the island, he said, and the medical crew aboard the hospital ship USNS Comfort has seen more than 100 patients since arriving in the region. More help is coming in, Buchanan noted, as eight pallets of medical supplies are expected to arrive on the island today.

Electricity

The huge problem is electrical power. It is the proverbial long pole in the tent especially when dealing with recovery, the general said. Maria toppled tens of thousands of electrical poles -- many made out of cement or embedded in cement. Trees crashed into lines, bringing them down. In some areas, the electrical wires look like giant rolls of string, he said.

"It will be months before we rebuild the electrical grid," Buchanan said. "FEMA asked the Army Corps of Engineers to take the lead in that, not necessarily with military power guys, but with contracts with local workers."

The electrical grid impacts every area from communications to water purification. The general said the military is purifying water locally and distributing it out to the communities, but this is inefficient. The short-term solution is to get generators up and running at the water treatment plants so the water system works again. The long-term solution is to get these plants -- and other critical infrastructure like sewage treatment -- back on the electrical grid.

Buchanan said has the resources he needs to accomplish the mission. He has three times the number of helicopters and twice as many troops in Puerto Rico as he did in responding to Hurricane Harvey in Texas. "We've got sufficient troops to do what needs to be done," he said.

More National Guard forces are flowing onto the island, so he expects the numbers of troops to rise. As that happens, the number of active-duty troops will decrease. Buchanan said that he has gotten everything he has asked for from U.S. Northern Command and the Defense Department.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

As recovery continues, the soldiers will stop doing jobs that really belong to local citizens, he said. In many cases, Puerto Ricans are doing those jobs now, the general noted. "You don't want a soldier driving a fuel truck," he said. "The long-term solution is having the local Puerto Rican citizen driving the truck. That's money that will go to the local economy."

Debris removal is an example. While the military clears the roads, service members do not do debris removal. FEMA contracts with local citizens to do debris removal.

Buchanan said the relationship with FEMA has been excellent. "We're connected on all levels," he said. "Daily I go out on what we call disaster area circulations and FEMA goes with me every singe day. This gives them access to the mayors they may not see regularly. The beauty of the FEMA guys being there is they can also solve the problems that are theirs to solve. If I didn't have them with me, I would have to go back and pass a problem to someone else. We can do this on the spot."

Buchanan said he meets with the governor every day and reviews priorities.

The general has only been in the commonwealth for two weeks, but noted an important fact: "Communities are very tight and family is very important," he said. "It requires families and communities to get together to rebuild this place. And that is what I am seeing. Everywhere I go I see neighbors out helping neighbors. That's what it is going to take to help this island get back on its feet."

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Nation developing fastest amphibious multi-role vehicle

People's Daily Online

(China Daily) 10:35, October 14, 2017

China is developing the world's fastest amphibious multi-role vehicle, which can be used in personnel and supply transportation at sea as well as for special warfare.

The four-wheeled vehicle is being developed at the China North Vehicle Research Institute in Beijing's southwestern suburbs. The facility is one of the biggest institutions under China North Industries Group Corp, the country's largest maker of land armaments.

The vehicle uses a v-shaped hull to minimize the hydraulic drag. It is propelled by compact pump jets in waters with the wheels retracted.

With a weight of 5.5 metric tons, the proof-of-concept vehicle reached a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour as it traveled through calm waters during a test earlier this year, the institute said. This bested the world's fastest amphibious vehicle of its kind, made by the British company Gibbs Amphibians, which has a maximum speed of 48 km/h in water.

The institute has not published other specs about the vehicle such as its land speed and operational range.

Amphibious vehicles are mainly used for military purposes and are usually launched at sea from amphibious assault ships, amphibious transport docks or hovercraft to conduct a forced entry into semi-aquatic areas. Their core mission is to spearhead a beach and to secure coastline for landing troops. Other tasks include transporting personnel between shores and ships and providing fire support.

Most amphibious vehicles in the world move slowly in water. For instance, the United States Marine Corps' Assault Amphibious Vehicle, commonly known as AAV7, has a top water speed of 13.2 km/h, and Italy's Iveco Super-AV, an eight-wheeled amphibious vehicle, is able to move 10 km/h in water. The US and Japan are developing new-generation military amphibious vehicles that will be capable of traveling at least 40 km/h.

A chief designer of the vehicle at China North Vehicle Research Institute who requested anonymity said designing such vehicles is never an easy job, as the engineers overcame a number of technical difficulties.

"We spent a lot of time and resources on finding proper methods to reduce hydraulic drag and the hull's weight. We also focused on devising a set of equipment to make sure the vehicle would be able to move fast on both land and water," he said, adding that all of the major parts used on the vehicle were developed by Chinese engineers on their own.

"Designs for some parts on this vehicle had never been worked out by others before us," the designer said. "We are leading in this field."

Qin Zhen, executive editor of Ordnance Knowledge magazine, said the ability to move fast in water is crucial to any amphibious combat vehicle. "It is difficult for them to use rapid-changing maneuvers in waters to dodge enemies' fire, therefore moving fast is the most reliable way to increase their survivability," he said.

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North Korea readies missile launch ahead of US-South Korea drill: Report

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:19AM

A South Korean newspaper has claimed that the North is "highly likely" preparing to test-launch a ballistic missile prior to an upcoming joint naval drill by Washington and Seoul.

The Donga Ilbo daily, citing a government source, said on Saturday that satellite pictures showed ballistic missiles on launchers being transported out of hangars near the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, and in North Phyongan Province.

The newspaper said US and South Korean military officials suspect the North might be preparing to launch missiles capable of reaching US territory.

There are speculations that the launch pertained to the Hwasong-14 inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), whose range could extend to Alaska, or Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missiles, which Pyongyang threatened to fire at the US Pacific territory of Guam in August.

This comes a day after North Korea renewed a threat to fire missiles toward the US territory of Guam, warning that "reckless moves" by Washington would force Pyongyang to take action.

"We have already warned several times that we will take counteractions for self-defense, including a salvo of missiles into waters near the US territory of Guam," a report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim Kwang Hak, a researcher at the Institute for American Studies of the North Korean Foreign Ministry, as saying.

"The US military action hardens our determination that the US should be tamed with fire and lets us take our hand closer to the 'trigger' for taking the toughest countermeasure," Kim added.

The US and South Korea are set to hold a joint navy drill on October 16-26 in the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea, in a fresh show of force against North Korea amid escalating tensions over its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned that any military action against North Korea could trigger "devastating consequences" days after US President Donald Trump said diplomatic solutions would not work with North Korea.

The Western military alliance further urged a diplomatic solution to the Korean Peninsula crisis.

The United States and North Korea have been at loggerheads over Pyongyang's weapons and nuclear programs.

Pyongyang says it will not give up on its nuclear deterrence unless Washington ends its hostile policy toward the country and dissolves the US-led UN command in South Korea. Thousands of US soldiers are stationed in South Korea and Japan.

Tensions have recently significantly risen between North Korea and the US. The two countries have been trading threats of military action against one another, and there is a potential for a real armed conflict to erupt.

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N Korean Lawmaker: Pyongyang Is Capable of Defending Its 'Peaceful Future'

Sputnik News

01:29 15.10.2017(updated 01:28 15.10.2017)

The First Deputy Speaker of the North Korean parliament warned on Saturday that Pyongyang is capable of assaulting any foe that would hinder the "bright and peaceful" way of the country's future.

St. Petersburg (Sputnik)  North Korea is prepared to destroy any enemy that would stand on the way of its bright peaceful future, first Deputy Speaker of the country's parliament An Tong Chun said on Saturday during the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in St. Petersburg.

"Our country wants to have peaceful future. Therefore, in order to achieve peace, we are prepared to eliminate the enemies that want to get in the way of this future," An Thong Chun said.

The 137th IPU Assembly kicked off in St. Petersburg and is scheduled to last through Wednesday.

The situation on the Korean Peninsula has escalated over the past months due to Pyongyang repeatedly conducting missile launches and nuclear tests in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The crisis led to the UN Security Council adopting its toughest resolution against the country so far, and Pyongyang and Washington exchanging threats. US President Donald Trump threatened to "totally destroy" North Korea if forced to defend the United States or its allies, while North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned Washington of the highest level of hard-line countermeasure in history.

 Sputnik

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Stressed Out, Undertrained: 6 in 10 French Soldiers Ready to Leave Army Ranks

Sputnik News

15:34 14.10.2017

A hefty 62 percent of French military personnel and police are ready to look for a new job, a report by a government committee on the state of the country's armed forces revealed.

In an interview with Sputnik France, a French Army officer, who decided to seek early retirement after spending 25 years in the army's ranks, explained why so many of his colleagues want to leave the armed forces.

Additional Pressure Over the Terrorist Threat

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the officer said that after the January 2015 terrorist attacks, the military was ordered to patrol the streets of major cities as part of Operation Sentinelle. He added that while patrolling soldiers are paid bonuses for their overtime, there are things that are more important than money.

"Ideally, a serviceperson's life consists of 16-month cycles: four months of stability when they are with their regiment, four months of intensive training, four months of combat missions and four months of a more relaxed life. We have no such respite now because they can scramble us any moment to ensure the country's security," the officer said.

Wage Arrears

"In 2011-2012, a computer glitch left half of the country's ground forces without salaries. People couldn't pay their debts and bills Situations like these create a lot of stress and the problem is still there. A serviceperson and their family no longer feel secure about their work they realize they don't have enough protection," the officer noted.

Lacking Logistical Support

"We have good logistical support during combat missions, but not enough for training. However, to be able to carry out a combat mission you've got to train!" he emphasized.

In an interview with Sputnik, Richard Labeviere, the editor-in-chief of the French journal Defense, said that to reverse the current trend the government needs to spend more on logistical support, improve living conditions in the barracks and upgrade the existing military bases and other facilities.

"The government needs to care more about the [officers' and soldiers'] families and to offer them material support while their spouses are out on a mission. When recruiting new personnel the army needs to explain how the armed forces really function and the sacrifices new recruits will be required to make," Richard Labeviere noted.

 Sputnik

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Israel's Heron TP Armed Drone May Not Find Its Way to Indian Skies

Sputnik News

11:43 14.10.2017(updated 11:53 14.10.2017)

New Delhi's ambition of obtaining technology for the manufacture of armed drones has received a major setback with the Israeli ministry of defense imposing several restrictions on the expert of Heron TP - a combat UAV India was particularly interested in.

NEW DELHI (Sputnik)  The Indian defense ministry approved the purchase of 10 Heron TP drones last year and a final deal with the Israeli manufacturer was in the offing. However, the imposition of restrictions by the Israeli defense ministry has pushed the deal towards uncertainty as India's proposal for the purchase posed a mandatory requirement of transfer of technology from the foreign vendor.

In July of this year, Israel had exhibited keen interest in supplying combat drones to India with the Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) signing memorandums of understanding (MoU) with India's Dynamatic Technologies and Elcom for the "manufacture of Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAVs in India under technology transfer from IAI & creation of futuristic UAV enterprise in India." The MoUs were signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit which was the first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Israel.

"The future is unmanned. Most Air Forces are working to have an uninhabited air vehicle for every possible mission. The USA already has more UAVs than aircraft. India must become an independent UAV manufacturer. No one will give technology. (We should either) beg, borrow or steal the technologyUse economic muscle like China didIncrease research funding," Air Marshal Anil Chopra (retired), defense analyst told Sputnik.

With the restrictions in sharing of advanced technologies, the Israel Aerospace Industries will find it extremely difficult to convince India to buy it's million dollar combat drones. For India's part, it would have to explore the possibility of a favorable deal with other contenders like American General Atomics Aeronautical Systems which is interested in selling the MQ-9 Reaper to India.

"The restrictions that the Israeli Ministry of Defense attaches to the export of this advanced UAV are many, and in such a close competition, maybe, a crucial factor," one Israeli source told Flightglobal.

Israel Aerospace Industries also announced a new export-version of the Heron TP on February 9th of this year at the AeroIndia exhibition in Bengaluru. The export version of Heron TP was meant for members of Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) of which India became a member in June 2016.

Meanwhile, India is currently developing its own combat drone  Ghatak. However, even if everything goes according to plan, the drone will only debut by 2025. India is under extreme pressure to instantly deliver combat drones to its armed forces as the Chinese military is set to get the first locally manufactured combat drones with the capability of evading anti-aircraft weapons by as early as 2020.

"India is developing the Ghatak drone which may not be capable of operating in a heavily contested airspace because of its low observability (LO). We do need the technology to launch weapons from drones. Predator B and Heron TP are both capable of releasing weapons and acquiring these drones would give India access to the technology," Vijainder K Thakur, former squadron leader of Indian Air Force told Sputnik.

The Indian Air Force's fleet of 68 unarmed Harpy Drones and 108 searchers also came from Israel, but these are generally used to neutralize enemy radar positions and are designed to self-destruct.

 Sputnik

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IAEA chief reaffirms Iran's full commitment to JCPOA

Iran Press TV

Fri Oct 13, 2017 09:05PM

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has reconfirmed that Iran is fully implementing its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), shortly after US President Donald Trump refused to certify the landmark accord.

"As I have reported to the Board of Governors, the nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Iran under the JCPOA are being implemented," IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said in a statement on Friday evening.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

Amano said upon a request by the Security Council and authorized by the IAEA's Board of Governors, the international organization has been verifying and monitoring Iran's implementation of its commitments under the JCPOA since January last year.

"The IAEA's verification and monitoring activities address all the nuclear-related elements under the JCPOA. They are undertaken in an impartial and objective manner and in accordance with the modalities defined by the JCPOA and standard safeguards practice," he added.

Amano's statement came in response to the US president's refusal to certify the major deal. Speaking from the White House a few hours earlier in the day, Trump said he would choose not to certify that Tehran is complying with the JCPOA and warned that he might ultimately terminate the international agreement, in open defiance of other world powers.

Trump's provocative comments came as Amano asserted that "Iran is subject to the world's most robust nuclear verification regime."

The US president also accused the Iranian authorities of not allowing nuclear inspectors to have full access to the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites. However, the IAEA chief refuted Trump's claim, saying, "So far, the IAEA has had access to all locations it needed to visit."

Under the JCPOA, Iran undertook to put limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the removal of nuclear-related sanctions imposed against Tehran.

The IAEA has consistently verified that Iran is in compliance since the deal started being implemented.

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Iran Angrily Rebukes Trump's Decision to Decertify Nuclear Deal

By Cindy Saine October 13, 2017

Iran's president said Friday that the nuclear deal it signed with six world powers in 2015 could not be revoked, after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would not certify that Iran was in compliance with it.

In a nationally televised speech following Trump's remarks, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged all signatories to the agreement to honor their commitments. He called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) "an outstanding achievement" in international diplomacy and said Iran would continue to comply with it.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first to withdraw from the deal. But if its rights and interests in the deal are not respected, it will stop implementing all its commitments and will resume its peaceful nuclear program without any restrictions," Rouhani said.

The Iranian leader also hit back at Trump's characterization of Iran as a "dictatorship" and "rogue regime," calling the American president a "liar" and a "dictator."

"Today the U.S. is more isolated than ever against the nuclear deal, isolated than any other time in its plots against [the] people of Iran," Rouhani said.

He rejected Trump's remarks listing Tehran's support for international terrorism, calling the examples "baseless accusations" and adding that the "Iranian nation does not expect anything else from you."

EU reaction

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini held a news conference in Brussels minutes after Trump spoke, saying the EU and the rest of the international community were committed to preserving the deal.

"It is not a bilateral agreement. It does not belong to any single country. And it is not up to any single country to terminate it," Mogherini said.

She noted the multilateral agreement had been unanimously endorsed in U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231.

"We cannot afford as an international community, as Europe for sure, to dismantle a nuclear agreement that is working and delivering  especially now," Mogherini said.

The EU foreign policy chief noted that the International Atomic Energy Agency had verified eight times, via a "comprehensive and strict" monitoring system, that Iran was meeting all its nuclear-related commitments.

"There have been no violations of any of the commitments included in the agreement," Mogherini told reporters.

IAEA Director Yukiya Amano released a statement saying Iran was already subject to the world's most robust nuclear verification regime and was implementing the deal's requirements.

In a joint statement, British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they were concerned about the possible implications of Trump's decision not to recertify the Iran nuclear deal.

"Preserving the JCPOA is in our shared national security interest. The nuclear deal was the culmination of 13 years of diplomacy and was a major step toward ensuring that Iran's nuclear program was not diverted for military purposes," the European leaders said in the statement.

Opportunity seen

Asked whether he was confident he could get the Europeans to renegotiate the Iran deal, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that he thought there was a real opportunity to address all the threats posed by Iran.

"I fully expect that our allies and friends in Europe and in the region are going to be very supportive in efforts undertaken to deal with Iran's threats," Tillerson told reporters.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his country was committed to supporting the Iran nuclear deal.

Ahead of Trump's remarks, the Kremlin warned that if the United States abandoned the Iran nuclear deal, Tehran would be likely to quit it as well. Russia is a signatory to the JCPOA, along with the United States, Iran, Britain, Germany and France.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying also voiced support for the Iran nuclear deal during Friday's regular news briefing.

"China's position on the Iranian nuclear issue has been consistent. The JCPOA has played a key role in upholding the international nuclear nonproliferation regime and the peace and stability of the Middle East region," she said. "We hope that all relevant parties will continue to uphold and implement the JCPOA."

Praise from Netanyahu

Praise for Trump's tough stance on Iran came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who released a video statement in English.

"I congratulate President Trump for his courageous decision today. He boldly confronted Iran's terrorist regime," Netanyahu said.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also expressed strong support for Trump's shift in policy toward Iran.

The Saudi Press Agency said Riyadh praised Trump's "vision" and commitment to work with U.S. allies in the region in order to face common challenges, particularly "Iran's aggressive policies and actions."

But the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, strongly criticized Trump's decision.

The group's executive director, Beatrice Fihn, said Trump's "attempt to disrupt" the Iran deal despite Tehran's compliance was a reminder of the "immense nuclear danger now facing the world" and the "urgent need" to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.

"In a time with great global tension, with increasing threats of nuclear war, the U.S. president is igniting new conflict rather than working to reduce the risk of nuclear war," she said.

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Congressional Reaction to Trump's Announcement on Iran Deal

By VOA News October 13, 2017

In announcing that the United States would not certify the nuclear deal with Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump has required Congress to reconsider the agreement.

The Trump administration said it will continue to live up to its commitments under the deal, but said Congress must address flaws within the agreement. If not, Trump said the United States will withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal agreed upon by Tehran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, Germany and the European Union.

Here are how some of the key members in Congress have responded to Trump's announcement.

REPUBLICANS

House Speaker Paul Ryan

Ryan says the Iran nuclear deal reached during the Obama administration is "fatally flawed" and has backed Trump's decision to re-examine it. "Simply enforcing a fatally flawed agreement is not sufficient. I support President Trump's decision to re-evaluate this dangerous deal, and the House will work with his administration to counter Iran's range of destabilizing activities."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

Like every Republican in Congress, McConnell voted against the Iran nuclear agreement. He has not expressed a position on how he will respond to Trump's decertification.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker

Corker says he will introduce legislation in the next two weeks that will address flaws in the nuclear deal without violating it. His proposals include allowing the United States to reinstitute sanctions against Iran if Tehran gets within one year of acquiring nuclear weapons, as well as giving the International Atomic Energy Agency more powers to verify Iran's compliance. His proposals would also require the president to certify that Iran is complying with the pact twice a year instead of every 90 days.

Several other top Republicans

"We are committed to work with the president to address these flaws [in the nuclear agreement], hold Iran strictly accountable to its commitments, and support efforts to counter all the Iranian threats," said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry, and Representative Liz Cheney in a joint statement.

"We'll take an important step to that end on the House floor by passing bills to increase sanctions unrelated to JCPOA that target Iran's support for terrorism and its ballistic missile program when Congress returns in the coming weeks," their statement read.

DEMOCRATS

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi

Pelosi called Trump's decision not to recertify the Iran nuclear agreement a "grave mistake" that threatens American security, and argued that the Iranians are in compliance with the 2015 agreement.

"I say the Iran nuclear agreement was the best way to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear armed state," Pelosi said during a press conference Friday. "The president, I think, is being frivolous with this."

Senator Ben Cardin

Cardin, who is the ranking member on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, described Trump's announcement as "one of the most dangerous and consequential decisions the president has made imperiling U.S. national security."

Senator Bob Menendez

Menendez, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that while he opposed the original nuclear deal brokered by the Obama administration, he believes Trump's decision to not recertify it is "more about campaign promises and less about our national security interests."

"Not certifying now does nothing but create uncertainty among our allies and embolden an already belligerent Iran," he said in a statement.
Foreign ministry's statement in response to Trump's new Iran strategy

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Sat / 14 October 2017 / 09:57

Tehran (ISNA)  Iranian foreign ministry in a statement has responded to the US President's remarks and his country's new strategy towards the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Here is the full text of the Iran's statement:

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iranian foreign policy has been developed and implemented based on principles of international law and international rules and conventions; respect for sovereign equality of all states and non-interference in internal affairs of others have formed the cornerstone of relations with other countries. After decades of dictatorship, dependence on foreign powers - especially the United States - and constant interference of those powers in Iran's internal affairs, the Iranian people, with their newly-established democratic government, had hoped to be able to finally build ties with neighbors based on equality and fraternity, free from political, economic and military rivalries; to form a peace-seeking nation that sought to replace enmity and bloodshed with friendship and cooperation.

By contrast, the United States and its allies in the Persian Gulf region have persistently refused to accept realities of Iran and the region, and have vainly attempted to thwart the Iranian people's quest for democracy and self-determination.

From the very first days of the Islamic revolution, the United States adopted a hostile, interventionist and destabilizing approach towards Iran's newly-established government with the aim of overthrowing it. The United States bleak record staging several coup attempts, harboring terrorists, openly supporting Saddam Hussein during the imposed war against Iran even his use of chemical weapons against Iranians, aiding secessionist plots, downing an Iranian civil airliner, and hundreds of other conspiracies against the Islamic Republic of Iran and its people - is undeniable. Even before the Islamic Revolution, the United States sponsored a coup against the democratically-elected government of Iran in 1953, thereby showing its constant historic enmity with democracy and its support for dictators.

Terrorist groups that have found safe haven in and plotted against the Iranian people from the United States over the past 38 years murdered 17000 Iranians in the first few years following the Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Republic of Iran, while successfully establishing the highest standards of stability and security at home, has provided its advisory services to the people and security forces of Iraq and Syria, playing an indispensable role in combating terrorism, thwarting the Takfiri campaign to take over Damascus, Baghdad and Erbil, and helping uproot these groups from Iraq and Syria. The constructive role of our armed forces in combating terrorist groups - which the current U.S. president himself cited during his campaign as having been created by the U.S. - has been instrumental in eradicating this scourge. It is unfortunate that, instead of discarding terrorism as a tool and joining Iran's genuine counter-terrorism efforts, the United States continues to misportray these constructive efforts as destabilizing.

The role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the frontlines of combating terrorism in the region is irrefutable. The Corps, a branch of Iran's armed forces, has an impeccable track record of containing Takfiri terrorism, restoring gradual tranquility for the people of the region as well as safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq and Syria. The Revolutionary Guards are regarded as national heroes for their role in the defense of Iranian territory against Saddam Hussein army. Any action by the U.S. administration or Congress against the IRGC will constitute a strategic mistake and will draw the indignation of the Iranian people and a strong and unified reciprocal reaction. The U.S. President will have to bear full responsibility for all consequences of his rogue behavior.

The United States has defined its interest in generating and aggravating regional disputes, and exacerbating conflict and insecurity to fuel an arms race and create bigger markets for its weapons. On the other hand, Iran has identified its regional interests with good-neighborliness, and peace and stability in the highly sensitive Persian Gulf region. This is in clear contrast with the publicly stated position of the current president of the United States, who in his campaign, publicly considered the war between Iran and Iraq as serving U.S. interests, and more recently openly made his visit to the region contingent upon the sale of hundreds of billions of "beautiful weapons"-tools of destruction that are currently being used against defenseless children and the elderly in Yemen.

The crises in our region, including in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, are rooted in occupation, illegal military interventions, and hegemonic designs of the United States in the region. In contrast, the Islamic Republic of Iran firmly believes that its national security interests can only be secured through dialogue, confidence building and multilateral cooperation within the region, and we are determined to actively contribute to the promotion of effective regional cooperation for peace and security. Iranian proposals for political settlements to end the horrifying wars in Yemen and Syria have been welcomed by the international community, and Iran has played a constructive role in every international initiative aimed at ending regional conflicts. Iran has also cooperated with Russia and Turkey effectively to de-escalate the violence in Syria, and stands ready to contribute actively to joint efforts with the United Nations Secretary General and other responsible countries - including other permanent members of the Security Council - and the European Union, to put an end to conflicts and violence.

The hostile policies of the United States and its regional allies, especially the Zionist regime, as well as the transfer of hundreds of billions of dollar worth of arms into the region that have turned the region into a tinderbox require the Islamic Republic of Iran not to be complacent about the country's defense needs. During the war imposed on us by Saddam Hussein's regime, not only did the United States and its regional allies provide military, intelligence, logistical, economic and political assistance to Saddam, and offer their support and maintained their silence during his chemical weapons attacks campaign, they also did everything in their power to interdict the acquisition of even the most basic defensive capabilities by Iran. Through that experience we learned that in order to protect our people, safeguard our independence and security and defend our national honor, we must rely on indigenous capacities and not hesitate in developing the capability to meet the country's legitimate defense needs. It is in this framework that Irans missile program has a purely defensive and deterrent character. Our missiles are strictly designed to carry conventional warheads and their range and precision are proportionate to our security environment and threat perception. It will continue with full force in accordance with our national defense program and is not, nor will it ever be, negotiable. When U.S. allies in the region, whose combined population is far less than Iran, each spend exponentially higher sums on their military than Iran, why shouldn't Iran that has attacked no one in almost 300 years but has been the victim of aggression supported by the U.S. and its regional partners acquire necessary tools of deterrence in the face the constant threats by aggressors?

The antagonistic policies of the United States against Iran have also extended to the realm of advanced science and technology in past few decades. The United States has imposed restrictions that bar scientific and technological exchanges while also imposing sanctions in these fields. These actions serve no purpose but trying to hold back our technological development and prolong dependence on advanced powers. The efforts of our young scientists to acquire the knowledge for the development of a peaceful nuclear program has from its outset been met with propaganda, sanctions, cyber-attacks and even the assassination of our scientists. Iran has repeatedly stated that it wishes to utilize nuclear energy peacefully and that we view weapons of mass destruction- including nuclear weapons- as disruptive to peace and security, and as such they will never have a place in our military doctrine. The International Atomic Energy Agency's report and conclusion in 2015, rejecting accusations of Possible Military Dimensions (PMD), acknowledged the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities.

Iran has demonstrated its good will by entering into and its conclusion of nuclear negotiations with the P5+1 to resolve a fabricated crisis, and we have proven our fulfillment of our undertakings by the good-faith implementation of our commitments in accordance with the JCPOA. In contrast, the United States fulfillment of its commitments has been lackluster and deficient from the very beginning and in several cases-especially during the current administration-it has violated both the spirit and the letter of the JCPOA. The Islamic Republic of Iran has officially registered with the Joint Commission those violations, including failures in lifting of sanctions and policies preventing the establishment of an atmosphere necessary for normalization of trade and economic relations with Iran. The claim by the president of United States regarding Iran's non-compliance has no international relevance or credibility, since the IAEA, as the sole authority to conduct such monitoring and verification, has repeatedly confirmed Iran's full compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA. This proves once again that the United States is not a reliable negotiating partner.

The JCPOA is a valid international instrument and an outstanding achievement in contemporary diplomacy. It cannot be renegotiated or altered. The nuclear deal is not a bilateral agreement that can be annulled by unilateral action, but a deal endorsed by the international community and incorporated as a part of Security Council Resolution 2231. Other JCPOA participants, as well as the rest of the international community, should not allow the president of the United States to continue to mock and undermine the deal. The Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first to withdraw from the deal, but if its rights and interests in the deal are not respected, it will stop implementing all its commitments and will resume its peaceful nuclear program without any restrictions.

Today, the United States is more isolated globally than ever before and the veracity of Iran's policies and positions have become evident to the international community. The world has witnessed that over the past several weeks, most countries have been unified in supporting the JCPOA and the Islamic republic and rejecting U.S. policies. The international community views Iran as a responsible actor endeavoring to promote peace and will not give any credence to rogue actors further isolating themselves every day by withdrawing from one or another international agreement and organization.

The difference between Iranian and U.S. policies on many international and regional issues are clear and undeniable. Because of their miscalculations, various U.S. administrations have aggravated these differences into open hostility against the people of Iran. In spite of all these animosities, embodied mostly in illegal threats and sanctions, the people of Iran have resiliently persisted in their quest for justice and independence. Iran has reached the pinnacles of influence and strength through relying on its own people and its indigenous capabilities, benefitting from the prudent and wise guidance of Ayatollah Khamenei, who has personified the dignity and integrity of the Iranian people, following the footsteps of the late Imam Khomeini. The new U.S. rulers must not forget the hard lessons of the past four decades; they should not forget that previous administrations who by uttering similar fallacies put themselves in open rivalry with the Iranian people - were forced to retreat from such imprudent utterances.

End Item

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Trump is in no position to verify Iran's compliance to nuclear deal: Zarif

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 09:08PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has stressed that US President Donald Trump is in no position to verify Iran's compliance to the nuclear deal.

Zarif made the remarks on Saturday during a live interview with Iranian national TV in response to Trump, who failed to certify the international nuclear agreement on Friday.

"Trump is in no position to verify Iran's compliance to the JCPOA," the top diplomat stated, asserting that quitting the deal is among Tehran's options.

Zarif further noted that regulations within the American government are not related to Tehran and the US must honor its international commitments under the agreement, known as Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

"The American domestic regulations are not credible for us and the US is required to remain committed to its international commitments. The JCPOA is not an agreement between Iran and the US to need Congress certification," he said.

Speaking from the White House on Friday, Trump said he would not certify that Tehran is complying with the 2015 nuclear agreement.

The president is required by US law to certify every 90 days whether or not Iran is complying with the nuclear deal. He has certified the deal twice since coming to office.

The US Congress has 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions against Tehran, removed under the accord.

The Iranian foreign minister further accused the Trump administration of following the agenda of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the region.

"Perhaps, Trump's speech was more a Netanyahu's speech delivered by Trump. Our neighbors must come to their senses about who are endorsing Trump's statement."

Hailed as a "great friend to the Jewish people" by the Israeli premier, Trump has mended ties with Tel Aviv that had gone sour under former President Barack Obama, in part due to his resolve to participate in nuclear negotiations with Tehran, which yielded a nuclear deal not welcomed by US regional allies, namely Israel and Saudi Arabia.

"The United States is isolating itself by its policies," Zarif said, citing the European Union's concerns about the "Trump administration's behavior," which is not "exclusively" limited to the nuclear agreement and "could cause trouble for the international order."

He also highlighted Trump's failure to respect several other international deals such as the Paris Climate Accord, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP).

France asks US Congress to respect JCPOA

Despite Trump's failure to certify the deal, European signatories as well as China and Russia have thrown their support behind it.

France, for instance, has called on the US Congress not to cancel Iran's nuclear deal, stressing that it is "robust and coherent."

"We strongly hope that Congress, which is now responsible for a possible rupture, does not jeopardize the deal," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian. "If we denounce a deal that has been respected, it will set a dangerous precedent."

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council  the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China  plus Germany signed the nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015 and started implementing it on January 16, 2016.

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Iran to respond to any hostile bid against its interests: Velayati

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 06:06PM

A senior Iranian official has underlined the Islamic Republic's determination to deliver a befitting response to any hostile measure against the country.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will definitely show appropriate and befitting response to any measure against its interests," IRNA quoted Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on international affairs, as saying on Saturday.

The remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced his review of US policy on Iran on Friday, in which he said he would not certify Iran's nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

Apart from his refusal to certify the JCPOA, Trump also warned that he might ultimately terminate the deal, in defiance of other world powers and undermining a landmark victory of multilateral diplomacy.

While Trump did not pull Washington out of the nuclear deal, he gave the US Congress 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the pact. Reimposing sanctions would put the US at odds with other signatories to the accord and the European Union.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani slammed Trump's speech against the Islamic Republic as nothing more than insults and delirious talk, urging the US president to brush up on his world history and geography to improve his understanding of international obligations and global ethics, etiquette and conventions.

The Western allies of the US, including the EU, as well as Russia criticized Trump's speech and reaffirmed their commitment to the JCPOA.

Trump also announced sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), which he accused of destabilizing the Middle East and threatening American interests in the region.

Velayati slammed Trump's decision against the Iranian elite force, saying, "The Armed Forces, including the IRGC, belong to the people of this land and not only have they brought prowess and security for Islamic Iran, they have also managed to fight against secessionists and those who seek to undermine countries and legitimate governments in the region through resistance and they have wreaked havoc on terrorists, extremists and Takfiri currents as well as their supporters."

In his Friday speech, Trump authored the US Treasury Department to impose further sanctions on the IRGC for what he claimed was "its support for terrorism."

The IRGC is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, a standing army of a United Nations member state. It has been effectively providing military advisory support to the elected governments of Iraq and Syria in their battles against various groups of extremist militants. Some of those militant groups receive logistical, financial, and other forms of support from the US government, particularly in Syria, where Washington has attempted but failed to have the Syrian government toppled.

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Any anti-JCPOA action to undermine global peace: Iran's Rouhani

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 04:02PM

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has warned that any action against the historic nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries - known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - would undermine regional and international security and stability.

"Harming the JCPOA is [tantamount to] harming the security and stability of the region and the world," Rouhani said during a Saturday meeting with the Swiss ambassador to Tehran, Markus Leitner, who submitted his credentials to the Iranian president.

He said "breaking the negotiation table in no skill" and expressed hope that the European Union would block "erroneous moves" aimed at disturbing international peace and cooperation.

"Today, we are in a very sensitive and important situation and this critical situation does not concern only Iran and the P5+1 countries," he said.

He added that the consequences of the ongoing sensitive situation would affect the entire region and the world, saying, "The JCPOA has brought more peace to the region and the world."

The Iranian president stressed the importance of resolving international conflicts through dialogue.

Iran has cooperated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and is determined to continue such cooperation, he further said.

Rouhani reaffirmed the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities and emphasized that Tehran would not violate the JCPOA so long as the other signatories to the deal remained committed to their obligations.

The Swiss ambassador, for his part, said his country supports the landmark nuclear deal and urged all sides to fully implement their commitments under the JCPOA.

The Iranian president's remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump refused to certify the 2015 international nuclear agreement and warned he might ultimately terminate it, in defiance of other world powers and undermining a landmark victory of multilateral diplomacy.

Trump said he chose not to certify that Tehran was complying with the JCPOA and added that his goal was to ensure Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon.

While the US president did not pull Washington out of the nuclear deal, he gave Congress 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions against Tehran that were lifted under the pact. Rolling back sanctions would put the US at odds with other signatories to the accord and the European Union.

JCPOA proves effectiveness of dialogue in crisis settlement

In a meeting with the Greek ambassador to Tehran, Dimitri Alexandrakis, Rouhani said the EU countries have played a constructive role in implementing the JCPOA.

"The JCPOA has proved that dialogue and cooperation are the best way to solve international differences and they are in the interest of the international community, including Europe and the United States," the Iranian president added.

The Greek ambassador, who submitted his credentials to the Iranian president, said all parties to the international nuclear accord must implement it.

It is imperative that any side refraining from fulfilling its commitments be explicitly told that they are making a mistake, Alexandrakis said.

Shortly after Trump officially announced that he would not certify the JCPOA, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said the US president was not in a position to terminate Iran's nuclear deal with world powers.

"To my knowledge there is not one single country in the world that can terminate a UN Security Council resolution that has been adopted, and adopted unanimously, and implemented, and verified," she said.

EU should safeguard JCPOA, use chance of cooperation

The Iranian president also on Saturday said the JCPOA had opened doors to negotiations on various regional and international issues.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the new ambassador of Norway to Tehran, Lars Nordrum, who submitted his credentials to the Iranian president.

Rouhani expressed hope that all member countries of the EU, including Norway, would play their constructive role in safeguarding the JCPOA and making use of the opportunities created after the deal implementation to boost cooperation.

Nordrum, for his part, said many Norwegian companies believed that the nuclear deal had created great opportunities to enhance cooperation with Iran.

He added that his country supported full implementation of the JCPOA and called on all sides to remain committed to their promises under the deal.

JCPOA helps improve lasting peace, security in region, world

Meanwhile, in a meeting with the new ambassador of the Czech Republic to Tehran, Svatopluk Cumba, the Iranian president said the JCPOA had created a better atmosphere for cooperation between Iran and European countries.

"We believe that the nuclear agreement  contributes to sustainable peace, security and stability in the region and across the world," Rouhani added.

The Czech diplomat, for his part, said issues would be settled only through negotiations and mutual respect.

Trump's threat to terminate the nuclear deal comes as the US has a history of quitting international pacts and organizations.

This is not the first time that the international community witnesses efforts by the Trump administration to renege on a multilateral agreement.

Trump withdrew the US from the Paris Climate Agreement in June and has ordered the US to withdraw from UNESCO next year.

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Iran's Armed Forces to Trump: You'll see more all in good time

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 07:01AM

Iran's Armed Forces have reacted to a move by the United States' Treasury Department to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), pledging to continue to boost Iran's defensive power.

"On behalf of the Armed Forces and the entire prudent people of the Islamic Iran, we tell the corrupt and rogue US government that the trend toward the boosting of Iran's defensive power in order to counter America's corrupt regime will continue unabated and with more motivation and determination," said Brigadier General Massoud Jazayeri, who is the chief spokesman for Iran's Armed Forces, on Friday.

The remarks came hours after Trump delivered a speech in which he said he was authorizing the US Treasury Department to impose further sanctions on "the entire" IRGC for what he claimed was "its support for terrorism." Trump stopped short of designating the IRGC as "a foreign terrorist organization," however, as some reports had indicated he would do.

'All in good time'

The IRGC is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, a standing army of a United Nations member state. It has been effectively providing advisory military support for the elected governments of Iraq and Syria in their battles against various groups of extremist militants. Some of those militant groups receive logistical, financial, and other forms of support from the US government, particularly in Syria, where Washington has attempted but failed to have the Syrian government toppled.

Brigadier General Jazayeri said there was more to come for Trump.

"The IRGC is today more powerfully disrupting US leaders' filthy schemes one after another, and on the rest of this path, many things remain unsaid, [but] the Trump administration will see their outward manifestations all in good time," he said.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke to the nation shortly after Trump's speech, dismissing the remarks of the American businessman-turned-politician as a "pile of delusional allegations" and defending the IRGC.

Iranian people also took to various social media platforms to express strong solidarity with the IRGC. "#I_am_a_member_of_IRGC" became a popular hashtag on social media minutes after Trump's speech.

In his Friday speech, Trump also ranted against an international nuclear deal with Iran, saying he would not certify Iranian compliance with it to the Congress and would "terminate" it if he could not "reach a solution working with Congress and our allies" to change the deal.

Iran has made it clear that the deal is not renegotiable, and Trump soon faced a storm of international reactions  including from some of the US's main allies  over his hostile remarks on Iran and the deal.

The leaders of the UK, France and Germany, which are parties to the Iran deal, issued a statement vowing continued commitment to it.

Under the deal, which has been endorsed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2231, Iran undertook to apply certain limits to its nuclear program in exchange for the termination of all nuclear-related sanctions against Tehran.





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Trump's Strategy For Toughening Iran Deal Faces Uncertain Future In Congress

RFE/RL October 14, 2017

U.S. President Donald Trump's call for legislation aimed at toughening the Iran nuclear deal faces an uncertain future in Congress even as leading Republican senators stepped forward to champion the cause.

"I am directing my administration to work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal's many serious flaws so that the Iranian regime can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons," Trump said as he announced steps to try to rein in what he described as Iran's "rogue" activities in the Middle East.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker and fellow Republican Tom Cotton shortly after Trump's speech offered an outline of legislation they said would "address flaws" in the 2015 accord identified by the president.

According to a summary, the legislation would reimpose nuclear-related sanctions on Iran if it restarts enrichment of uranium after 2025, when the deal's restrictions on enrichment are due to expire under a "sunset" clause singled out as offensive by the administration.

"I think that we have provided a route to overcome deficiencies and to keep the administration in the deal, and actually make it the kind of deal it should have been in the first place," Corker said on a call with journalists on October 13.

House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Ed Royce and other House Republican leaders also expressed support for Trump's goals and said that the House will vote in coming weeks to boost non-nuclear sanctions against Iran.

"The President's announcement today rightly focuses on the full range of deadly threats from the Iranian regime. Our relationship with Iran should not be defined by one flawed nuclear deal. From Yemen to Lebanon, Iran...supports terrorist groups like Hizballah, bolsters the ruthless [dictatorship of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad], promotes instability through sectarianism in Iraq, and abuses the human rights of the Iranian people," Royce said in a statement joined by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other House Republicans.

"We are committed to work with the president to address [the nuclear deal's] flaws, hold Iran strictly accountable to its commitments, and support efforts to counter all the Iranian threats," they said.

Republicans control Congress, but not by overwhelming majorities. Their four-seat edge in the Senate, in particular, means that for any legislation to pass, it would need Democratic support as well as the backing of nearly every Republican.

Mustering that level of support in the Senate has proved difficult for Trump thus far on other critical legislative matters.

Trump faces opposition from within his own Republican party. Senator Marco Rubio said he has "serious doubts" about Trump's Iran strategy and would have preferred that the president just abandon the nuclear deal.

"Ultimately, leaving the nuclear deal, reimposing suspended sanctions, and having the president impose additional sanctions would serve our national interest better than a decertified deal that leaves sanctions suspended or a new law that leaves major flaws in that agreement in place," Rubio said in a statement.

Most Democrats in Congress also appeared to oppose Trump's plan.

Senator Ben Cardin, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused Trump of "manufacturing a new crisis that will isolate us from our allies."

"We will not buy into the false premise that it is Congress' role to legislate solutions to problems of his own making," Cardin said. "It is now up to Congress to show the world that there is bipartisan support for the United States to uphold its commitment" to the nuclear deal.

Cardin told Reuters that he would only support legislation that has the backing of the European allies who signed the nuclear pact -- Britain, France, and Germany.

Corker acknowledged a tough fight ahead to gain backing for his legislation, but said he hoped to win over Democrats. He also pledged to seek the support of European allies.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-strategy-toughening- iran-deal-face-uncertain-future-in- congress-corker-royce/28794116.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Moscow Explains Why Iran Nuclear Deal Cannot Be Repealed Unilaterally

Sputnik News

17:00 14.10.2017(updated 19:34 14.10.2017)

Speaker of the Russian parliament's upper house Valentina Matvienko has explained why the US can't withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran unilaterally, adding that Iran's compliance with the deal was confirmed by IAEA verification.

ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik)  The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program cannot be repealed by the decision of one side, Speaker of the Russian parliament's upper house Valentina Matvienko said Saturday.

"First of all, it is an international act, a document, which was adopted in the form of a [UN] Security Council resolution. It is not a bilateral agreement between Iran and the United States, so it cannot be repealed unilaterally," Matvienko told reporters.

"I still hope that there won't be any specific decision on the withdrawal from the deal," Matvienko said, noting that such steps threaten the non-proliferation regime and raise concerns.

The lawmaker added that there were no reasons to cast doubt on Iran's compliance with the deal since the last inspection made by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran had been implementing all provisions in line with the JCPOA.

In a speech on Friday, US President Donald Trump said his administration had decided not to certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear agreement, also known as JCPOA, but had not challenged Iran's compliance with the deal at the international level. Trump explained that the White House would work with the Congress and the US allies to fix the "many serious flaws" of the agreement with Tehran.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has previously expressed concern over the US withdrawal, adding that a return to the situation around the Iranian nuclear program before the adoption of the JCPOA was impossible, especially in regard of reimposing UN sanctions on Tehran.

Earlier in the day another Russian parliament's member Leonid Slutsky also commented on this step, saying that the US is "balancing on the red line" and may isolate the country in the UN Security Council.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly referred to as the Iran Nuclear Deal, was signed in July 2015 by Iran and the P5+1 group of nations comprised of the United States, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom plus Germany after years of diplomatic work.

 Sputnik

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Kerry on Trump Nuclear Deal: 'Reckless Abandonment of Facts'

By VOA News October 14, 2017

John Kerry, the former U.S. Secretary of State, had harsh criticism for President Donald Trump's decision not to certify that Iran is in compliance with the nuclear deal signed by six world powers in 2015.

Kerry said the decision is a "reckless abandonment of facts in favor of ego and ideology." Kerry, who negotiated the deal, added that Trump "weakens our hand, alienates us from our allies, empowers Iranian hardliners, makes it harder to resolve North Korea and risks moving us closer to military conflict."

Iran's president said Friday the nuclear deal it signed with six world powers in 2015 could not be revoked.

In a nationally televised speech following Trump's remarks, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani urged all signatories to the agreement to honor their commitments. He called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) "an outstanding achievement" in international diplomacy and said Iran would continue to comply with it.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran will not be the first to withdraw from the deal. But if its rights and interests in the deal are not respected, it will stop implementing all its commitments and will resume its peaceful nuclear program without any restrictions" Rouhani said.

The Iranian leader also hit back at Trump's characterization of Iran as a "dictatorship" and "rogue regime," calling the American president a "liar" and a "dictator."

"Today the U.S. is more isolated than ever against the nuclear deal, isolated than any other time in its plots against [the] people of Iran," Rouhani said.

He rejected Trump's remarks listing Tehran's support for international terrorism, calling the examples "baseless accusations" and adding that the "Iranian nation does not expect anything else from you."

Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the U.S. House, said the president's decision was "a grave mistake" that threatens U.S. security and credibility.

She said Trump ignored "the overwhelming consensus of nuclear scientists, national security experts, generals and his own Cabinet, including, reportedly, his secretary of defense and secretary of state."

EU reaction

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said the Iran agreement "has shown for the first time that it is possible to prevent war by negotiations and, above all, to prevent a country from arming itself with nuclear weapons." Gabriel added, " We need such examples, for example, to convince countries like North Korea , but perhaps also others, that it is possible to create security without obtaining nuclear weapons."

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said, "It is not in the hands of any president of any country in the world to terminate an agreement of this sort. She said, " The president of the United States has many powers (but) not this one."

She noted the multilateral agreement was unanimously endorsed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231.

The EU foreign policy chief noted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has verified eight times that Iran is meeting all its nuclear-related commitments in line with the "comprehensive and strict" monitoring system.

IAEA Director Yukiya Amano released a statement, saying Iran is already subject to the world's most robust nuclear verification regime and is implementing the deal's requirements.

In a joint statement British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said they are concerned by the possible implications of Trump's decision not to recertify the Iran nuclear deal.

"Preserving the JCPOA is in our shared national security interest. The nuclear deal was the culmination of 13 years of diplomacy and was a major step toward ensuring that Iran's nuclear program was not diverted for military purposes," the European leaders said in the statement.

Sees opportunity

Asked if he was confident he could get the Europeans to renegotiate the Iran deal, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday he thinks there is a real opportunity to address all the threats that are posed by Iran.

"I fully expect that our allies and friends in Europe and in the region are going to be very supportive in efforts undertaken to deal with Iran's threats," Tillerson told reporters.

In Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is committed to supporting the Iran nuclear deal.

Ahead of Trump's remarks, the Kremlin warned that if the United States abandons the Iran nuclear deal, Tehran would be likely to quit it as well. Russia is a signatory to the JCPOA, along with the United States, Iran, Britain, Germany and France.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying also voiced support for the Iran nuclear deal Friday.

"China's position on the Iranian nuclear issue has been consistent. The JCPOA has played a key role in upholding international nuclear non-proliferation regime and the peace and stability of the Middle East region," she said. "We hope that all relevant parties will continue to uphold and implement the JCPOA."

Praise for Trump's tough stance on Iran came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who released a video statement.

"I congratulate President Trump for his courageous decision today. He boldly confronted Iran's terrorist regime," Netanyahu said. The Israeli leader has long been one of the deal's fiercest opponents.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain also expressed their strong support for Trump's shift in policy toward Iran.

The Saudi Press Agency said Riyadh praised Trump's "vision" and commitment to work with U.S. allies in the region in order to face common challenges, particularly "Iran's aggressive policies and actions."

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said he backs Trump's decision, describing the Obama administration deal as "fatally flawed."

Nobel winner

But the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, strongly criticized Trump's decision.

The group's executive director, Beatrice Fihn, said Trump's "attempt to disrupt" the Iran deal, despite Tehran's compliance, is a reminder of the "immense nuclear danger now facing the world" and the "urgent need" to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons.

"In a time with great global tension, with increasing threats of nuclear war, the U.S. president is igniting new conflict rather than working to reduce the risk of nuclear war," Fihn said.

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Trump Toughens Iran Strategy, Decertifies Tehran's Compliance With Accord

By Peter Heinlein October 14, 2017

Saying Iran is not living up to the spirit of a two-year-old nuclear agreement it signed with Western powers, President Donald Trump Friday unveiled a tough new strategy toward Tehran, including additional sanctions aimed at blocking the regime's path to develop nuclear weapons.

"Today, I am announcing our strategy along with several major steps we are taking to confront the Iranian regime's hostile actions and to ensure that Iran never  and I mean never  acquires a nuclear weapon," Trump said in a nationally televised address at the White House.

He stopped short of pulling the United States out of the 2015 deal involving Iran, the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany and the European Union. But he said he would no longer certify Iran's compliance with its terms, effectively giving Congress 60 days to consider whether further action is necessary.

"We cannot and will not make this certification," Trump said. "We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout."

Congressional action

He said he had directed his administration to "work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal's many serious flaws, so that the Iranian regime can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons."

"In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated," Trump said. "It is under continuous review and our participation can be canceled by me, as president, at any time."

The president also announced additional sanctions against Iranian individuals and leaders, including members of the brutal Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

"The Revolutionary Guard is the Iranian supreme leader's corrupt personal terror force and militia," Trump told the nation. "I am authorizing the Treasury Department to further sanction the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for its support for terrorism and to apply sanctions to its officials, agents and affiliates."

Briefing reporters on the new policy Thursday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made clear that the new policy would not alter the U.S. commitment to the nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

It does, however, require Congress to reconsider the Iranian Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA), a U.S. law that requires the president to certify every 90 days that Iran is complying with the accord.

Tillerson said the administration is urging Congress to strengthen the INARA law to include "trigger points" that would automatically snap sanctions back into place should Iran violate the deal.

He said congressional action to set trigger points would send a strong message of U.S. resolve to ensure Tehran does not develop nuclear weapons.

"That's what the president has asked us to do. Either put more teeth into this obligation Iran has undertaken for all the benefits and the sanctions relief they have received  or let's just forget the whole thing and we'll walk away and we'll start all over," he said.

Pledge action

Congressional Republican leaders immediately promised support for the new strategy and pledged to work with the president.

Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he would introduce legislation to address the JCPOA. Corker said the bill would not violate the U.S. commitment to the nuclear deal.

A group of House Republicans led by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce of California and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Texas issued a statement saying the JCPOA has "significant flaws that must be addressed."

"We'll take an important step to that end on the House floor by passing bills to increase sanctions unrelated to JCPOA that target Iran's support for terrorism and its ballistic missile program," the statement said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan issued a similar statement.

Democratic reactions were more critical.

Sen. Bob Melendez, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said Trump's move to decertify Iran's compliance does nothing to achieve U.S. policy objectives.

"We want to  avoid a scenario in which the Iranian regime uses decertification as an excuse not just to abandon all of its obligations in the JCPOA, but also to continue building its conventional weapons arsenal, funding terrorism, prolonging strife in Iraq and Syria, and pursuing policies that threaten the security of the United States and our allies," Menendez wrote. "None of these critical security objectives are advanced by simply not certifying the JCPOA."

Global reaction

European powers France, Britain and Germany together issued a statement following Trump's address, saying preservation of the JCPOA with Iran is "in our joint national interest."

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Friday said his country sees the JCPOA as non-negotiable, and would remain committed to it as long at it serves the national interests.

In a nationally televised address, Rouhani charged that Trump's comments were full of "insults and fake accusations" against Iran.

"The Iranian nation has not and will never bow to any foreign pressure.  Iran and the deal are stronger than ever. ... Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will continue its fight against regional terrorists," Rouhani said.

Obama administration officials involved in crafting the agreement say any attempt to tinker with it is fraught with numerous pitfalls, and will require close coordination with allies and lawmakers.

"This action is completely unnecessary and arbitrary," said Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security adviser to former President Barack Obama. "The question at play in certification is whether or not Iran is complying with terms of the nuclear deal, and as you know, the Trump administration itself has twice certified that Iran is complying with the nuclear deal."

Gary Samore, who held senior positions on arms control and non-proliferation in the Obama and Clinton administrations, described Trump's move as "mostly political theater."

"President Trump gets to denounce the Iran agreement, which he's heavily criticized, but at the same time, the U.S. will continue to comply with the agreement by waiving sanctions. So for now, it really doesn't change anything," Samore told VOA.

"President Trump found it embarrassing and irritating to have to certify this 'bad deal' every 90 days, and he made it clear to his advisers that he wasn't' going to do that anymore," Samore added. "And they've come up with a way for him to stop performing this task but not destroy the agreement."

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Hashd al-Sha'abi's Turkmen fighters, Kurdish forces clash in Iraq's Salahuddin province

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 02:25PM

Iraqi Turkmen fighters from the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) have engaged in a two-hour gun battle with Kurdish forces in the country's central province of Salahuddin as tensions remain high between Kurdish and Turkmen political parties in the wake of last month's independence referendum in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.

Security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the skirmishes between fighters from the pro-government PMU -- better known by the Arabic name Hashd al-Sha'abi -- and members of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan took place in the ethnically-mixed city of Tuz Khurmatu, located some 88 kilometers south of Kirkuk, in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The sources added that a dozen Kurdish families were displaced from the predominantly Turkmen district of Askari to Kurdish neighborhoods of the city.

The exchange of mainly automatic gunfire reportedly left no casualties.

The referendum on secession of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region was held on September 25 despite strong opposition from the central government in Baghdad, the international community, and Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey and Iran.

Following the vote, Baghdad imposed a ban on direct international flights to the autonomous Kurdish region and called for a halt to its independent crude oil sales.

On Thursday, an Iraqi government spokesman said Baghdad had a series of conditions that the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) needed to meet before any talks on the resolution of the referendum crisis could start.

"The KRG must first commit to Iraq's unity. The local authorities in the [Kurdistan] region  must accept the sovereign authority of the federal government on  oil exports, [as well as] security and border protection, including land and air entry points," the unnamed Iraqi official added.

The senior Iraqi official further said, "These are the basis for any dialogue requested by the local government of the region."

The remarks came in response to an offer for dialogue made earlier by Kurdish authorities.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has already demanded the annulment of the referendum results.

During a recent press conference in Paris, Abadi said his government did not seek confrontation with Iraqi Kurds, but reiterated Baghdad's position that the referendum was illegal and that problems should be solved within the framework of Iraq's constitution.

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Iraq tells Peshmerga to pull out from Kirkuk: Kurdish official

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 09:48AM

A senior Iraqi Kurdish official says the Baghdad government has set a deadline for Kurdish forces to withdraw from positions in the oil-rich northern Kirkuk Province, which have been under their control over their past three years.

"The deadline set for the Peshmerga to return to their pre-June 6, 2014 positions will expire during the night," the official, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP on Saturday.

He said the deadline had been set at 2300 GMT Saturday.

This is while a Peshmerga commander in Kirkuk said separately that no warning had been issued to the Kurdish forces.

Kurdish Peshmerga forces moved into Kirkuk in 2014, when the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group launched an offensive across Iraq.

The fresh ultimatum comes amid simmering tensions between the central government in Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) over a recent controversial referendum on the secession of the semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region.

The plebiscite took place on September 25, sparking strong objection from Baghdad. Iraq's neighbors and the international community also voiced concerns about the repercussions of the vote, which was only supported by Israel.

Kirkuk, with some 10 percent of Iraq's oil reserves, has long been contested by Baghdad and Erbil.

Latest reports say Kurdish and Iraqi government forces have squared off south of Kirkuk.

On Friday, Iraqi troops wrested control of formerly Kurdish-held positions in the south of Kirkuk Province, including the town of Taza Khurmatu.

The gains came as Iraqi President Fuad Masum was holding urgent talks with Kurdish leaders in the city of Sulaimaniyah, but no statements had been emerged from his meetings.

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Diplomats Urge Myanmar Authorities to Turn Promises Into Action

By Margaret Besheer October 13, 2017

U.N. envoys from Britain and France called for Myanmar authorities to translate promises into action to end violence and create the conditions for the return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees.

"Yesterday, we heard Aung San Suu Kyi set out in a speech her initial ideas for how to build that long-term future, and we will be watching developments closely as she turns words into actions," British Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters Friday, referring to Myanmar's de facto leader.

Ethnic cleansing accusations

More than 536,000 Rohingyas have crossed the border into neighboring Bangladesh in the past seven weeks, fleeing a military crackdown on their minority community after Rohingya militants launched deadly attacks on state security forces.

"This is an ethnic cleansing happening before our eyes," warned French Ambassador Francois Delattre. Myanmar's officials have strongly disputed such charges from an array of international officials.

Fleeing Rohingya have told harrowing accounts of the military burning their villages in northern Rakhine state, rape, killings, looting and the laying of landmines to prevent people returning to their homes.

U.N. Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour said the crisis is currently "quite possibly the most acute human rights crisis in the world." In the private briefing, he told council members that there had been no real progress in holding perpetrators accountable or in addressing the underlying causes of the violence.

Road map for Rakhine

Last year, former U.N. chief Kofi Annan was asked to lead an advisory commission composed of Myanmar and international experts to provide recommendations to the government on how to improve the situation in Rakhine.

Annan told reporters Friday that the commission's final report offers a road map going forward.

"It's clear that everybody agrees on what is required to be done in the short term: stopping the violence, getting humanitarian assistance to those in need, helping eventually for the dignified and voluntary return of those who have left and are in Bangladesh," he said after briefing the Security Council.

He cautioned that this would not be easy to achieve, noting in the longer term root causes of the strife, including discrimination, poverty and citizenship rights, must be addressed.

"They will only go back if they have a sense of security and confidence that their lives will be better," Annan said.

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UNSC must press Myanmar on refugee return process: EX-UN chief

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 10:06AM

The former UN chief, Kofi Annan, has called on the Security Council (UNSC) to press Myanmar to facilitate the return of over 500,000 Rohingya Muslims, who were forced out of their homeland into Bangladesh amid a government-backed military crackdown.

Annan, who leads a fact-finding commission on Myanmar, told an informal UNSC meeting on Friday that Myanmar's government must "create conditions that allow the refugees to return with dignity."

The Annan-led commission presented in late August a report on the situation in Myanmar's Rohingya-majority Rakhine State. It called for granting citizenship and other rights to the Rohingya Muslims, who are stateless and have long faced discrimination in the Buddhist-majority state.

Annan further said the refugees taking shelter in Bangladeshi border camps needed help to "get their homes back."

He urged the UNSC to agree with Myanmar's government on a refugee return "roadmap," cautioning that if no action is taken, "we are going to have a long-term festering problem" in the region that "can be very serious, down the line."

In the past seven weeks, an estimated 536,000 people have fled their homes in violence-hit Rakhine State and crossed into Bangladesh, amid shocking reports of Myanmar soldiers and Buddhist mobs murdering and raping civilians and torching their villages.

Myanmar's military has been accused by the UN and rights bodies of leading a "systematic" effort to expel the maligned minority and block their return to their home country.

The UN has described the fresh wave of violence in Rakhine State as an "ethnic cleansing" against minority Rohingya Muslims, who are denied Myanmarese citizenship and branded illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

While the army has denied such charges by numerous international bodies and human rights organizations, it has also blocked independent access to the area for probe of the alleged atrocities.

The development came as Myanmar's army claimed in a Friday statement that it is preparing to publish results of its own internal investigation into the conflict.

"An investigation team led by Defense Services Inspector General Lt-Gen Aye Win is inspecting security forces and military units (to see) whether they perform the assigned duties or not," said the statement issued by the military's "True News Information Team."

"When full information is received, the official press release will be released," it added.

A separate post published on the army chief's Facebook page suggested troops would be cleared of abuses, claiming, "It was found that all actions conformed to the law."

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Burmese Army Opens Inquiry into Atrocities Against Rohingyas

By VOA News October 14, 2017

Army officials in Myanmar say they have opened an internal probe into the behavior of Burmese troops in Rahkine State, where Myanmar military forces are accused of committing widespread atrocities

against members of the Muslim Rohingya minority. Thousands have fled into neighboring Bangladesh since August.

It was not immediately clear, however, when the military will release its findings.

"We will officially release the report (when) we have had comprehensive information," military officials said in a statement.

Amid the deepening humanitarian crisis, a former U.N. secretary-general is making a plea for fleeing Muslim Rohingyas to be allowed to return home to Rakhine State.

Kofi Annan, who recently headed a commission on the Myanmar crisis, told a private meeting of the Security Council Friday the Rohingyas "need assistance to get their homes back," and not be sent to refugee camps.

Violence erupted between Rohingya and Myanmar's military in Rakhine state August 25th, when a group of Rohingya militants attacked dozens of police posts and an army base in what militants said was an effort to protect members of their ethnic minority from persecution.

About 400 people have been killed in subsequent clashes. Satellite images released by rights group Amnesty International have shown entire Rohingya villages burned.

The fleeing Rohingya are living in refugee camps in nearby Bangladesh. Annan said Myanmar's government should "create conditions that will allow the refugees to return with dignity and with a sense of security."

The U.N. and a number of countries have called the situation that has caused so many to leave their homes in Myanmar "ethnic cleansing."

Myanmar denies the charges, blaming the situation on "terrorism."

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Pakistan, US Upbeat About Future Ties After Hostage Rescue

By Ayaz Gul October 14, 2017

Pakistan and the United States, uneasy allies in the war against terrorism, appear upbeat about better cooperation and relations after a joint effort freed a U.S.-Canadian family from Taliban captivity.

Pakistani security forces, acting on a tip from U.S. intelligence, rescued American Caitlan Coleman; her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle; and their three young children Wednesday, hours after kidnappers had transported them into Pakistan across the porous Afghan border.

The family has since been repatriated to Canada, after enduring five years as captives of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in Afghanistan, which allegedly is tied to the Pakistani spy agency, ISI.

Coleman and Boyle disappeared while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. The Afghan Taliban later claimed responsibility for kidnapping them.

"Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts," U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted Friday.

'A good beginning'

Pakistan's military spokesman, Major General Asif Ghafoor, while releasing fresh details of the rescue operation, said at a news conference Saturday that the incident offered a good opening in restoring mutual trust.

"We feel happy that there is a level of trust and confidence, which the U.S. leadership has shown in Pakistan and Pakistan's security forces  so we take it as a good beginning," Ghafoor said.

The general went on to vow that if the "trust-based" relationship was carried forward and "you [U.S.] work with us, cooperate with us, trust us, we will take all actions which are in the interest of Pakistan" and in the interest of regional peace and counterterrorism efforts.

Ghafoor explained while discussing details of the rescue operation that the safety of the hostages was the top priority for Pakistani forces. The army spokesman added that the driver and three armed men escorting the hostages in a separate car fled into a nearby Afghan refugee camp as soon as security forces surrounded them and shot out the tires of their vehicles.

Ghafoor also released a video message that Boyle recorded just before the family flew out of Pakistan, in which the Canadian man praised the rescue operation as "incredibly professional."

"So, I can say to you I did see the truth, and the truth was that [the] car was riddled with bullets. The ISI [Pakistani spy agency) and the army got between the criminals and the car to make sure that the prisoners were safe and my family was safe," said Boyle.

Staging of event denied

The army released Boyle's message in a bid to dismiss as "propaganda" reports that the rescue operation was staged and the release of the family was an outcome of secret negotiations with militants.

Coleman was pregnant at the time of the couple's kidnapping. She gave birth to four children while in captivity.

In a statement at the Toronto airport, Boyle said members of the Haqqani network had killed one of the family's children, an infant girl, and had raped his wife during the time they were held hostage.

While the hostage rescue has raised hopes of improved ties between Islamabad and Washington, analysts are skeptical about whether a single incident would bridge the trust deficit and ease long-running suspicions plaguing bilateral ties.

Tom Bossert, White House homeland security adviser, on Friday underscored challenges facing bilateral ties.

Hope of a trend

"We thank the Pakistani government and recognize this was a positive step. One action, though, does not constitute a reversal of a trend of unfortunate behaviors. However, we are hopeful that it portends that trend," said Bossert.

U.S. officials think sanctuaries on Pakistani soil have enabled the Taliban to sustain and expand insurgent activities in Afghanistan, and they want Islamabad to do more to undo those safe havens.

Army spokesman Ghafoor again dismissed those assertions on Saturday and said Pakistan had cleared its territory of all terrorist groups, leaving "no room for us to do more."

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Russia may deploy more troops, missiles in Kaliningrad: Senior MP

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 06:42AM

Russia may deploy additional military forces and equipment to its Western border regions -- including its Iskander-M tactical missile systems  in response to increasing US military buildup in Poland, a senior legislator says.

Moscow will "most certainly" respond to the ongoing military buildup by the US-led NATO alliance at its western borders, said Russian State Duma's Defense Committee Chairman Vladimir Shamanov, state news agency TASS reported.

"That may result in not only an increase of the number of military personnel, but could also involve strengthening our Iskander-M group, in [Russia's western exclave of] Kaliningrad in particular," added the lawmaker, who had formerly served as an airborne troops commander.

He further censured US moves in Eastern Europe, saying Washington is building up its military contingent in the region without consulting with Moscow, in violation of international agreements.

The senior Russian lawmaker was reacting to reports that the US had "covertly" moved a new mechanized brigade to Poland recently, which in effect increases the overall power of its military force in the Eastern European country to the level of a mechanized division.

On Thursday, Washington also announced the arrival of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in a Polish NATO outpost situated about 100 miles from Russia's Kaliningrad region.

Russia's Defense Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov also announced on Thursday that "the US 2nd Armored Brigade arrived and took up positions in Poland, [bringing in] its own military hardware" in the wake of Western concerns over the recent joint Russia-Belarus 'Zapad-2017' military drills in the area.

The spokesman further said the equipment of the 3rd US Armored Brigade, which was previously stationed in the region, "remained in place," drawing attention to the fact that the US could easily redeploy its trained military personnel from the German Rammstein base to Poland within just two hours.

"In contrast to the claims of NATO and the US on the insignificance of the troops approaching the Russian border, in fact now it is not a brigade there but a US mechanized military division," he added.

According to Konashenkov, under NATO's Operation Atlantic Resolve rotation scheme, the 3rd Armored Brigade should not have brought its own military equipment to Poland, but it should have rather used the hardware left by the 2nd Armored Brigade.

Building up such military might on Russian borders, he underlined, violates the 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act.

This is while both the NATO military alliance and Poland rejected the statements by the Russian Defense Ministry, saying that the block's activities remain "proportionate and fully consistent with its international commitment," Poland's PAP news agency reported.

The Pentagon, meanwhile, neither confirmed nor denied the reports regarding the figures involved in the military buildup, with Defense Department's spokeswoman Dana White stating on Friday, "We are in those places as a defensive posture and we are very clear about that."

NATO and its European allies have staged several war games and amassed troops on the doorsteps of Russian borders, often justifying such moves as a perceived "threat" from Moscow.

Moscow says the US and its NATO allies seek to undermine Russia's national security by surrounding it with hostile forces.

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Russia's Governors Shake-Up: Fresh Ideas Or 'Illusion Of Renewal'?

Tom Balmforth October 14, 2017

MOSCOW -- As President Vladimir Putin this week continued his run of sackings in Russia's regions, state TV told the nation the Kremlin is grooming a new generation of leaders for top posts across the country.

Channel One on October 8 aired video of a team-building exercise near Sochi in which promising thirty- and forty-something officials were shown in wetsuits and helmets, queuing up to leap from a seven-meter cliff into the water below.

"This is not the end of their career, but rather a step into the future," the reporter quipped, adding that recent graduates of the Kremlin's new "leadership school" include several of Putin's fresh gubernatorial appointees.

Over the last three weeks, the governors of 11 regions have been replaced in a series of moves that analysts say are designed to give the "illusion of renewal" as Putin, who recently turned 65, prepares to seek a fourth term in March.

"In the Kremlin, the thinking goes that a fresh face in the governor's seat may reduce the population's unhappiness and increase turnout in the [presidential] election," Natalia Zubarevich, an expert in regional politics, wrote in a piece for the Moscow Carnegie Center on October 12.

Incurring no visible political resistance, the appointments illustrate the Kremlin's firm hold on once-rebellious provinces and powerful local elites.

Some analysts declared the raft of appointments "another blow to Russian federalism."

When Putin came to power in 2000, he set about strengthening Moscow's power over the country's 80-plus regions, which were often ruled by elected governors with the backing of local elites unbeholden to the capital.

In 2004, Putin abolished direct elections for governors, appointing regional heads personally, and weakened provincial authorities through tax reform and the neutering of the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament. Gubernatorial elections were brought back in 2012 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev, but a new signature-collecting requirement known as the "municipal filter" makes it almost impossible for opposition candidates to register in elections without official backing.

In the current arrangement, Putin can dismiss regional heads and appoint "acting" governors who must then stand for election -- usually little more than a formality -- on united election day in September.

Putin's latest round of sackings at the regional leadership level -- the second such wave this year -- began on September 26.

More regional heads were replaced this week in Pskov, Ivanovo, and Omsk regions. That followed dismissals last week in the North Caucasus region of Daghestan, Primorsky Krai in the Far East, the western Oryol region, and the Siberian region of Novosibirsk, as well as late last month in the Krasnoyarsk, Nizhny Novgorod, and Samara regions along with the Nenets Autonomous District.

Loyal To Putin

Dmitry Oreshkin, head of the Moscow-based Mercator group, suggested the Kremlin's choice of mainly young, inexperienced officials to serve as acting governors is in line with a discernible shift over the past year toward youthful technocrats.

The notable exceptions have been 68-year-old Vladimir Vasiliyev, who was made head of the troubled republic of Daghestan, and 62-year-old Aleksandr Uss, who was placed in charge of the sprawling Krasnoyarsk Krai. Fifty-four-year-old Andrei Tarasenko was made head of Primorsky Krai.

Oreshkin speculated that younger appointees will be heavily indebted to, or even reliant on, the Kremlin.

"This is not about efficiency -- Putin needs to maintain control," Oreshkin said. "They have to create the illusion of a new wave, so that people believe there is renewal and improvement."

Oreshkin compared Putin's current situation -- facing deepening confrontation with the West and slow recovery at home after two years of recession -- to the situation of Soviet leader Josef Stalin in 1934 in the aftermath of his failed collectivization policies. After a clandestine revolt at the 17th Party Congress that year, three-quarters of the Central Committee would be shot, while Stalin brought in a raft of new, younger recruits. "New people were brought in from the regions -- people who, thanks to this rapid vertical social lift, were delighted with Stalin and prepared to support him to the end," Oreskhin said.

An October 10 report by the St. Petersburg Politics Foundation, a think tank, argued that the Kremlin's drive to bring in younger cadres has become a "key" factor in appointments throughout 2017. https://fpp.spb.ru/fpp-rejuvenation

In all but two of 19 important appointments made this year, the group said, outgoing officials were replaced by younger appointees. In 11 of them, the successor was at least 20 years younger than the outgoing official. In the case of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the new governor is 30 years younger than his predecessor.

The string of youthful appointees has kept the average age of Russia's regional governors around the 53-year mark in 2017, the report found. Putin's powerful Security Council, however, has aged during Putin's almost 18 years in power, with the average age of that influential consultative body's membership rising from 50 to 60.

Oreshkin insisted the Kremlin is seeking only the "illusion of renewal," arguing that authorities would behave differently if their real goal was to bring in youth. He pointed to the example of the ailing governor of Kemerovo Oblast, 73-year-old Aman Tuleyev, who has been in power since 1997 and had surgery on his back this year but nevertheless remains in power.

'Hanging By A Thread'

For analysts like Kirill Rogov, a senior research fellow at the Moscow-based Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy, the most striking thing about the appointments has been how little regional interests were taken into account. He characterized it as a "big fat full stop" in the history of Putin's gradual bringing-to-heel of the regions.

"There has never been such voluntarism, such disregard for the feelings of regions, such disregard for local elites," he told the liberal Ekho Moskvy radio station. "Even when governors were appointed [by the Kremlin], there was some kind of procedure: They were agreed with the local elites through [the ruling] United Russia [party]."

Rogov cited a lack of resistance from local elites that he said demonstrates how cowed they are following a string of arrests in the regions. Several governors and their deputies have been arrested on corruption charges in the last three years, including Kirov Oblast Governor Nikita Belykh and Komi Republic Governor Vyacheslav Gaizer.

Oreshkin agreed that governors and regional elites are rattled.

"Every governor understands they are hanging by a fine thread," he said. "That thread is called 'the faith of the president and his entourage.' Correspondingly, it is important not to make mistakes. It's not important if you're a bad economist, it's not a problem if you have a bad social situation; it's important to deliver the right result at elections and that Moscow has no doubts in you."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/regional-shakeups-fresh-ideas- illusion-of-renewal/28794607.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Syria demands 'immediate, unconditional' pullout of Turkish troops from Idlib

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 05:35PM

The Syrian government has strongly denounced an incursion of Turkish military forces into the country's militant-held northwestern province of Idlib, demanding "immediate and unconditional" withdrawal of Turkish troops from the war-ravaged Arab country.

"The Syrian Arab Republic condemns in the strongest terms the incursion of Turkish military units in[to]  Idlib province, which constitutes  blatant aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and flagrant violation of international law," an unnamed official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates told Syria's official news agency, SANA, on Saturday.

"The Syrian Arab Republic demands  immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Turkish troops from the Syrian territory," the source added.

The source further described Ankara's military incursion as an act of "aggression" which "the Turkish regime can't justify in any way."

He also dismissed Turkey's attempts to link the move to the implementation of the Astana agreements with Iran and Russia on the creation of de-escalation zones in Syria, terming it a "departure" from the deal.

Late on Thursday, Turkey deployed a convoy of around 30 military vehicles to Idlib province.

The Turkish forces entered Syria near the Bab al-Hawa border crossing, and headed to Shaykh Barakat hilltop, which overlooks lands controlled by foreign-sponsored Takfiri militants as well as Afrin area held by US-backed militiamen from the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Idlib and swaths of land in Syria's northern and northwestern regions are largely controlled by members of Tahrir al-Sham militant group.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said his country's military operations in Idlib are the follow-up of the Euphrates Shield operation in northern Syria, which Ankara launched in August last year without any authorization from Damascus.

Ankara said back then that the main objectives behind the operation were clearing Turkey's southern border of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group and stopping the YPG from gaining more sway there.

Ankara views the YPG as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group, which has been fighting for an autonomous region inside Turkey since 1984.

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Russia urges UN to fully investigate Khan Shaykhun 'staged' chemical attack

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 03:09PM

Russia has called on the UN to fully investigate an alleged chemical attack on the Syrian town of Khan Shaykhun in April, saying evidence suggests the incident was a "staged attack."

Speaking at a UN briefing in New York on Friday, the head of the Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Mikhail Ulyanov, stressed the need for the incident to be "carefully studied."

"We believe that JIM [Joint Investigative Mechanism] must work out all the versions, including airstrikes. At the same time, we expect that the version of the staged incident will also be carefully studied. Since, frankly speaking we tend more and more to opt for that version," said Ulyanov.

The Joint Investigative Mechanism is a panel of the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is tasked with investigating the Khan Shaykhun incident.

Over 80 people died in the April 4 purported sarin gas attack on Khan Shaykhun in Idlib Province, which the Western countries blamed on the Syrian government.

The Russian diplomat showed photos and videos from the alleged scene of the incident, saying the photographic evidence of a crater from the scene shows that the bomb was detonated from the ground.

Presenting photos of a number of child victims of the alleged attack, Ulyanov noted that the children may have been "drugged," arguing that their dilated pupils would have been contracted had they been attacked by sarin.

"The question comes; who drugged those kids to heat up the discussion around chemical weapons," he said.

The US claimed that its investigations showed the Syrian government was responsible for the alleged chemical attack. Using the incident as a pretext, US warships fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles from two warships in the Mediterranean Sea at Shayrat airfield in Syria's central province of Homs on April 7. US officials claimed that the suspected Khan Shaykhun gas attack had been launched from the military site.

The Syrian government, however, fiercely denied using or even possessing chemical weapons since the country's compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention was certified by international observers in 2013.

However, it noted that foreign-backed militants in the country possessed access to chemicals at two Syrian sites under their control at the time international chemical experts removed all chemical arms from the country in 2013.

In late June, the fact-finding team from the OPCW published the results of its probe of the incident, confirming that the chemical substance in the Khan Shaykhun incident had been the nerve gas sarin.

But it is now up to the Joint Investigative Committee to find the party that used the gas.

In response, Moscow described the OPCW report as "very biased," arguing that the report failed to address the question of who was responsible for the gas incident and how the chemical had been used.

Several countries, led by Russia and Iran, have strongly challenged the US and the West over their efforts to prevent an impartial probe into the Khan Shaykhun incident.

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Syrian army forces, allies liberate Mayadin from Daesh terrorists

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 01:13PM

Syrian army soldiers, supported by allied fighters from popular defense groups, have liberated the strategic eastern city of Mayadin from the clutches of Daesh Takfiri terrorists as they continue to gain more territorial gains and deal stinging blows to the extremists in the country's eastern province of Dayr al-Zawr.

"Units of our armed forces, in cooperation with allied forces, have regained control of the city of Mayadin in Dayr al-Zawr, killing a large number of terrorists and destroying their weapons," Syria's official news agency, SANA, reported, citing a military source.

"Our units are chasing down remaining members of Daesh fleeing the city amid a collapse in their ranks, and the engineering units are removing mines and explosives planted by the terrorists in the streets and squares of the city," the source added.

The loss of Mayadin, located about 44 kilometers southeast of Dayr al-Zawr, is the latest in a string of blows to the Daesh Takfiris, who are on the verge of losing Raqqah, their de facto capital in Syria, to US-backed militiamen from the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Daesh overran large parts of Dayr al-Zawr province, including its many oil fields, in mid-2014 as it seized swathes of land in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

By early 2015, the Takfiri terrorists were in control of some parts of the city of Dayr al-Zawr and besieged the remaining parts, which were under government control. It is estimated that 100,000 people remain in the government-held parts of the city.

Syria has been gripped by foreign-backed militancy since March 2011. The Syrian government says the Israeli regime and its Western and regional allies are aiding Takfiri terrorist groups wreaking havoc in the country.

Russia has been conducting air raids against the positions of Daesh and other terrorist groups in the country upon the Damascus government's request since September 2015.

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Russia: Syria chemical probe seriously flawed

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 07:57AM

Russia says there are "serious problems" with an international investigation into an April chemical incident in Syria.

Mikhail Ulyanov, the director of the Russian Foreign Ministry's non-proliferation and arms control department, made the remark at a briefing at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York on Friday.

The investigation, being carried out by the UN and The Hague-based Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), was unanimously created by the 15-member UN Security Council (UNSC) in 2015. Its mandate was renewed in 2016 for another year and is due to expire in mid-November.

Ulyanov said Russia, a permanent member of the UNSC, had to wait until the team released its next report to decide if it would support the extension of its mission.

"In order to judge if it deserves an extension of the mandate, we need to see the report to be issued on October 26 and assess it," he said.

"I ask myself what is the reason for the extension of the mandate of this mechanism if it is not capable and is not willing to fulfill its mandate," he added, noting, "We will wait for the report and then we will define our position."

The investigators have found Syrian forces responsible for three "chlorine gas attacks" in 2014 and 2015. This is while Damascus turned over its entire chemical stockpile under a deal negotiated by Russia and the United States back in 2013. The OPCW oversaw the operations to remove the chemical arsenal from Syria and destroy it.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said last week that renewing the investigation's mandate had to be the Security Council's top priority.

The chemical incident occurred in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib in early April, killing dozens of people.

The United States and its allies claimed the Syrian government had employed a chemical weapon, while Damascus and Russia said a chemical weapons depot held and run by anti-Damascus militants had been hit in a conventional Syrian government airstrike, causing the leak of the chemicals and the deaths.

Three days later, using the incident as a pretext, the US military fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Shayrat airfield in Syria's central province of Homs, from where it said the purported attack had been launched. The US attack reportedly killed several people.

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U.S.-Backed Forces In Syria Say 'Final' Battle For Raqqa Is On

RFE/RL October 14, 2017

A spokesman for the U.S.-backed forces fighting Islamic State militants in Syria says the "final" battle to uproot the extremists from the northern city of Raqqa is under way, as dozens of IS fighters surrender.

Mustafa Bali, the spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, said on October 14 that the battle could take hours or days.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) is an alliance of Arab and Kurdish militias dominated by the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia.

Also on October 14, the U.S.-led coalition said local officials in Raqqa had struck a deal with IS militants to allow a convoy to evacuate the city later in the day. Under the deal, SDF forces will have the right to inspect the vehicles as they are leaving the area.

The coalition statement said it believes the deal "will save lives" and enable the coalition and the SDF to focus on the fight against IS.

The loss of Raqqa, once the de facto capital of its self-proclaimed caliphate, would deal a huge blow to the militant group.

Bali says IS militants are putting up a desperate resistance in a number of neighborhoods in the city.

However, the coalition said in an e-mailed statement that dozens of IS fighters have surrendered over the past day.

"Within the past 24 hours, approximately 100 ISIS terrorists have surrendered in Raqqa, and were removed from the city," the statement said.

The battle for Raqqa began in June, with heavy street-by-street fighting amid intense U.S.-led coalition air strikes and shelling. The battle has dragged on in the face of stiff resistance from the militants and civilians trapped in the city.

However, the coalition says it controls about 90 percent of the city.

An activist group that reports on Raqqa, Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently, said on its Facebook page on October 14 that dozens of buses had entered Raqqa city overnight, having traveled from the northern Raqqa countryside.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Syrian Islamic State fighters and their families had already left the city, and buses had arrived to evacuate remaining foreign fighters and their families. It did not say where they would be taken to.

Based on reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/us-backed-forces-final- battle-for-raqqa/28794351.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russia Questions Validity Of Syrian Gas Attack Investigation At UN

RFE/RL October 14, 2017

Russia on October 13 complained that UN investigators failed to search for traces of the banned nerve gas sarin on their visit this week to a Syrian airfield that Western nations say was used to launch a sarin gas attack against civilians in April.

The UN team, working jointly with the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, agreed under pressure from Russia to visit the Shayrat airfield before releasing its report on the attack on the Syrian town of Khan Sheikhun on April 4.

Russian foreign ministry official Mikhail Ulyanov told a briefing at the United Nations that four investigators visited the airfield, spoke to military personnel, and checked flight plans, "but they did not take samples."

"A reliable investigation is simply impossible without sampling," Ulyanov said, calling it "a scandalous situation."

A spokesman for the UN investigative team declined to comment.

Russia, Syria's ally, helped set up the UN investigation with the goal of determining who was behind the attack, which killed at least 87 people, including more than 30 children, and provoked a global outcry.

But Ulyanov said that because of "serious problems" with the inquiry, Moscow is now weighing whether to block renewal of the investigative team's authority.

"I ask myself what is the reason for the extension of the mandate of this mechanism if it is not capable and is not willing to fulfill its mandate," he said.

"In order to judge if it deserves an extension of the mandate, we need to see the report to be issued on the 26th of October and assess it," Ulyanov said.

Russia's stance puts it at odds with the United States, whose ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said last week that renewing the mandate of the Syrian investigation should be the UN Security Council's top priority.

Russia and Syria have blamed the gas attack in Khan Sheikhun on Syrian rebels and insist it was not carried out by the Syrian government's air force, as Western intelligence sources have maintained.

The United States, France, and Britain have blamed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the attack. U.S. President Donald Trump ordered missile strikes on Shayrat days after the attack, saying at the time that the Syrian aircraft that released the gas had departed from that airfield. Syria's government has denied the accusation.

Syria agreed to destroy its chemical weapons in 2013 under a deal brokered by Russia and the United States.

Despite being found responsible for previous chlorine gas attacks in Syria by the UN investigative team, the Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons during the country's six-year civil war.

With reporting by AFP, Reuters, and TASS

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-complains-un- investigators-failed-search-banned-gas- syrian-airfield/28794078.html

Copyright (c) 2017. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian MoD Accuses US-Led Coalition of Bombings of Raqqa Residential Areas

Sputnik News

20:00 14.10.2017(updated 01:17 15.10.2017)

The Russian Defense Ministry has commented on the liberation of the town of al-Mayadeen, the largest Daesh stronghold in the Deir ez-Zor province. The ministry also accused the US-led coalition of inaccurate bombing in Raqqa during the operation to free the former Daesh "capital."

The Russian Defense Ministry has accused the US-led coalition of "carpet bombings" of residential areas of Raqqa.

"The US and coalition bombings of residential neighborhoods and the deliberate destruction of all natural sources of water supply in Raqqa have so far resulted in nothing but many thousands of victims of the population which is being 'liberated'," spokesman Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

The Russian military also accused the coalition of "incompetent planning" of the military operation to free Raqqa.

Konashenkov noted that such actions show that the leadership of the international coalition led by the US is "in a deadlock" in contrast with the successful offensive of the Syrian government troops in al-Mayadeen.

According to a source in the Syrian Democratic Forces that are conducting the Raqqa operation on the ground with the coalition's support, the city is set to be liberated from militants within 2-3 days.

Moscow has repeatedly voiced concern over the course of the Raqqa operation with the Russian Foreign Ministry saying that numerous "mistakes" by the coalition's aviation, as well as the lack of humanitarian aid led to a humanitarian catastrophe the city.

Al-Mayadeen Liberated

The Russian Defense Ministry has announced that the Syrian government forces had completed the operation aimed at the elimination of Daesh terrorists in al-Mayadeen.

"The Syrian government troops have completed the operation to destroy Daesh militants in the town of al-Mayadeen. Assault units of the Syrian army broke the fierce resistance of terrorists in the central and southern districts and completely liberated the city," Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said.

The Syrian army supported by the Russian Aerospace Forces continues its offensive after gaining control of al-Mayadeen, the Russian military said.

Al-Mayadeen is a large populated area, which remained under Daesh's control on the Euphrates River valley and was one of the most powerful fortified area of terrorists in eastern Syria, Konashenkov said.

"Over the past week, the most efficient reserve forces of Daesh from Iraq have been moved there [to the area]. Therefore, the defeat of terrorists in Mayadeen created necessary conditions for the development of the Syrian troops' tactical success."

The statement comes after the Syrian state media reported earlier in the day that al-Mayadeen had been liberated by the Syrian army.

The victory comes 8 days after the Syrian army entered al-Mayadeen (located 45 kilometers east of the city of Deir ez-Zor). During the first days of the military operation, the government troops reportedly destroyed several Daesh weapons depots and a communication hub.

The al-Mayadeen offensive of the Syrian army in the province comes over a month after the three-year blockade of the city was lifted by government troops with support from the Russian Aerospace Forces on September 5. The operation to clear the city from remaining terrorists is currently underway.

 Sputnik

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Damascus Demands 'Immediate' Withdrawal of Turkish Army From Syria - State Media

Sputnik News

18:14 14.10.2017(updated 18:44 14.10.2017)

Few days after the Turkish troops and armed vehicles entered Syria's Idlib following the announcement of Ankara's second military operation in the Arab Republic, Damascus has reportedly strongly condemned the deployment.

According to the Syrian SANA news agency citing a source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry, Damascus has demanded the "immediate and unconditional" withdrawal of Turkish troops from the country.

An official source in the ministry told SANA that Syria condemns the incursion of the Turkish army units in the Idlib province, calling it a "blatant aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria and a flagrant violation of international law and norms."

The Turkish operation the Damascus' source described as an "aggression" has "nothing to do" with the agreements reached during the latest round of the Syrian peace talks in Astana brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey, SANA reported.

Damascus' reported condemnation of the Turkish Idlib operation comes several days after Turkish soldiers, including special forces, and 30 armored vehicles entered the Idlib de-escalation zone on Thursday night.

According to the Turkish General Staff, Turkish armed forces operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone will observe ceasefire, ensure humanitarian aid deliveries and to create conditions for the population to return to their homes, began setting up their observation posts on October 12, within the framework of agreements reached in Astana.

The Turkish military operation to support the Free Syrian Army rebels' fight against al-Nusra Front terrorists in Idlib was announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on October 7.

Currently, Idlib is mostly controlled by Tahrir al-Sham, a militant group led by al-Nusra Front terrorist group (banned in Russia), al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate. The group is not party to the agreement on setting up a de-escalation zone in Idlib agreed upon during the Syrian peace talks in Astana brokered by Russia, Iran and Turkey.

The Idlib operation is the second Turkish military operation on the Syrian soil. From August 2016 until March 2017, the Euphrates Shield campaign by the Turkish army conducted also with the FSA rebel fighters was conducted aiming to clear the Syrian border town of Jarablus and the surrounding area from Daesh terrorist group.

 Sputnik

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IS Fighters Expected to Evacuate Raqqa

By VOA News October 14, 2017

A spokesman for Syrian militias said Saturday that Islamic State fighters were expected to evacuate the city of Raqqa in an agreement with the U.S.-backed Syrian militias surrounding them.

The spokesman said the jihadists were expected to let go of the city overnight, from Saturday into Sunday. Any Islamic State fighters left behind, he said, would be forced to "surrender or die."

On Friday, scores of civilians fled Raqqa ahead of an anticipated final push into the city by U.S.-backed fighters aiming to retake it from IS militants.

Hundreds of civilians streamed out of Raqqa in recent days from the remaining IS-held neighborhoods. They took advantage of a slowdown in the fighting by coalition troops meant to help civilians safely evacuate from the IS fighters' de facto capital.

Residents said local IS fighters had been surrendering in recent weeks, but that the militants still held a few areas of the city, including the stadium and national hospital.

Many of the residents who escaped the city were malnourished after having been trapped by the fighting for several months.

"Those who manage to escape speak of deteriorating conditions inside the city," U.N. refugee spokesman Andrej Mahecic said. "Food, water, medicine and electricity are scarce."

U.S.-backed fighters of the opposition Syrian Democratic Forces have been on the offensive in Raqqa since June 5 and have so far captured more than 80 percent of the city.

Coalition officials said IS militants were still holding some civilians captive to use as human shields.

Activists say more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in Raqqa since the battle to retake the city began in June. Nearly 270,000 people have fled Raqqa since April.

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Turkey issues arrest warrants for 100 former police officers

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 04:34PM

Turkey has issued arrest warrants for 100 former police officers as part of the government's widening crackdown following last year's attempted coup.

So far, 63 of the former officers have been detained pursuant to the arrest warrants, which were issued on Saturday, state-run Anadolu news agency reported.

Security forces are searching for the suspects in 19 Turkish provinces, the report said.

The suspects are believed to be users of ByLock, an encrypted messaging app which Ankara says was used by the network of the US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the government accuses of having orchestrated the July 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, an allegation that the self-exiled opposition leader vehemently denies.

Turkey has called on the US to extradite Gulen, but the demand has not been taken heed of.

Turkey, which remains in a state of emergency since the coup, has been engaged in suppressing the media and opposition groups suspected to have played a role in the failed coup.

On Tuesday, Turkish police launched an operation across seven provinces to arrest 70 military personnel over their alleged links to Gulen.

Turkey has suspended or dismissed more than 150,000 judges, policemen, teachers, and civil servants and has arrested nearly 50,000 others in the post-coup crackdown.

Many rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have denounced Ankara's heavy clampdown on perceived putschists.

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Ankara had talks with Moscow on Russia's S-500 missile system: Erdogan

Iran Press TV

Sat Oct 14, 2017 12:46AM

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Ankara has had talks with Moscow over Russia's S-500 surface-to-air missile defense systems, announcing that Turkey has also no "problem" with the Kremlin over its previous deal on receiving batteries of S-400 systems.

"In our talks with [Russia President Vladimir] Putin we are not thinking of stopping with the S-400s. We have had talks on the S-500s too," said the Turkish leader at a press conference upon his return from Ukraine and Serbia on Friday.

The S-500 air shield systems are currently under development by Russian manufacturer Almaz-Antey, and will enter service in the coming years. The systems are said to be able to simultaneously detect and destroy up to 10 ballistic missiles at speeds of up to 7 kilometers per second, as well as aircraft, helicopters and cruise missiles, within a radius of 600 kilometers.

Erdogan added that Turkey would "take joint production steps" of the S-400 systems as soon as it received the second batch of the advanced air shield from Russia.

The Turkish leader's comments came a month after Ankara and Moscow reached an agreement on the delivery of the S-400 systems to Turkey. At the time, Erdogan said a deposit had already been paid for two batteries of the advanced missile systems.

Under the deal, Russia would send two S-400 systems to Turkey within the next year and then help the country domestically produce two more batteries. The deal is said to be worth around $2.5 billion.

The S-400, whose full name is the Triumf Mobile Multiple Anti-Aircraft Missile System (AAMS), is an advanced Russian missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as 402 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.

Turkey, being a NATO member state with the second-largest army in the military alliance, drew an outpouring of criticism from the US and other members of the bloc, which criticized Ankara for drifting toward Moscow.

"They went crazy because we made the S-400 agreement. What were we supposed to do, wait for you?" said Erdogan on September 13, a day after he inked the deal with the Russians.

Earlier in the week, however, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey's decision to purchase the S-400 from Russia does not harm the military bloc's interests.

"I spoke with President Erdogan when I met him in September. I said that the kind of capabilities different nations want to acquire is a national decision," he said.

Turkey is striving to boost its air defense, particularly after Washington decided in 2015 to withdraw its Patriot surface-to-air missile system from Turkey's border with Syria, a move that weakened Turkey's air defense.

Before gravitating towards Russia, the Turkish military reportedly walked out of a $3.4 billion contract for a similar Chinese system. The withdrawal took place under purported pressure from Washington.

Turkey's ties with its Western allies in NATO have been strained over a range of issues. Erdogan has been critical of Washington for supporting Kurdish groups in Syria that he says are responsible for terror attacks inside Turkey.

The Turkish leader has also lambasted American officials for rejecting his requests to hand over Fethullah Gulen, a powerful opposition figure living in the US, who is blamed by Ankara for masterminding last year's mid-July failed coup.

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Over 600 Senior Turkish Officials Asked for Asylum in Germany Since Coup Attempt

Sputnik News

10:39 14.10.2017(updated 10:44 14.10.2017)

Over 600 high-ranking Turkish officials, including diplomats, have asked for asylum in Germany since the coup attempt last year amid ongoing purges in the country.

MOSCOW (Sputnik)  According to the data obtained by the German Funke media group from the country's Interior Ministry, a total of 250 diplomats and 380 officials have asked for asylum through mid-September 2017.

A failed military coup attempt took place in Turkey in July 2016. Over 240 people were killed, while nearly 2,200 people were wounded. Ankara accuses the movement of Islamic cleric Fethullah Gulen, referred to as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), of masterminding the coup, and has arrested thousands of military personnel, activists and journalists over suspected links to Gulen, who has been living in the United States since 1999. The cleric has repeatedly refuted all allegations.

Following the coup attempt, relations between Germany and Turkey have witnessed a setback, as Ankara believes Berlin was providing asylum for coup plotters, while Berlin has been criticizing the detention of German journalists and human rights activists in Turkey.

 Sputnik

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Turkish Forces Move Into Syria

By VOA News October 14, 2017

Turkey has deployed troops to Syria's Idlib province, as part of its effort to stem fighting and end jihadist control of the region.

Turkish military officials on Friday said Turkish forces are establishing observation posts in the area. The Hurriyet newspaper reports Turkey sent over 100 soldiers and 30 armored vehicles to the northwestern Syrian region. The newspaper said more troops would be deployed in the next few days.

Turkey's troops are supporting the Free Syrian Army, Syrian rebels who want to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

In a televised address Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "We said we would come unexpectedly in the night, and last night ... we started the operation," referring to the operation that began Thursday.

"It is us who had a 911-kilometer-long border with Syria, we are the ones threatened," Erdogan said.

About 3 million refugees from Iraq and Syria are living in Turkey. Security experts have warned that Turkey could possibly face a humanitarian crisis, but also a security threat with the jihadists based in Idlib.

Turkey's maneuvers in Syria come after diplomats from Turkey, Russian and Iran, met last month in Astana and agreed to create a de-escalation zone in Idlib that would include the deployment of observers.

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Millions of People in Ukraine Are in Desperate Straits as Winter Approaches

By Lisa Schlein October 14, 2017

The United Nations warns some 4 million people across Ukraine are facing a desperate situation as winter approaches and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance to survive the bitterly cold months ahead.

Ukraine is into its fourth year of war, a war that the United Nations estimates has killed about 10,000 people and injured more than 23,500 others. No resolution is in sight to what has become a frozen conflict between the Kyiv government and Russian-backed rebels in eastern Ukraine.

This is causing immense suffering to millions of people living in zones close to the contact line that separates the areas controlled by each side. The UN reports some four million people need food, health services, shelter, water and sanitation and protection as winter approaches.

Jens Laerke is spokesman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He says most of the people in urgent need of aid live in the rebel-controlled areas in the east, though pockets of need also exist in Government-controlled areas throughout the country.

"One of the results of this deteriorating crisis is that we now estimate that 1.2 million people in Ukraine on both sides of the contact lineare food insecure. So, that is certainly a concern," said Laerke.

Laerke says some 600,000 people, most living in separatist east Ukraine, are unable to access their pensions, which are critical for their survival.

He warns aid agencies will not be able to provide the humanitarian aid needed to help Ukraine's millions of vulnerable people this winter without more money. He notes only 26 percent of this year's $200 million U.N. appeal for Ukraine has been received.

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Once upon a time, Nokia ruled the phone world  in the early 2000s, the Finnish company received the overwhelming majority of fan interest. We sifted through our database to track the rise and fall of the Finns and other brands.

You can see the cliff  2010. Thats just before then CEO Stephen Elop posted the infamous Burning Platform memo and effectively pulled the plug on Symbian  the most popular smartphone OS at the time (and by a wide margin too).

The Lumia 800 brought Windows Mobile to the stage in late 2011, but by then it was already too late. Symbians downfall made room for Androids rise and the company never recovered.

You can see a small red sliver appear, those are the Microsoft-branded Lumias. They were barely a blip on the radar. In 2016 a new company took on the Nokia mantle, HMD, and you can see popularity start to rise again.

Sony and Ericsson handled things much better. You can see the cranberry and purple colors combine in 2001 to form a joint company. That partnership was dissolved as Sony acquired Ericssons share in 2012.

HTC started life as an ODM and its XDA devices for O2 inspired the name of the well-known XDA-Developers forum. Around 2006, HTC started selling under its own brand and and quickly became known for its premium quality. The brand is waning now and looks to VR to help carry it into the 2020s.

You can see brands from China come into prominence. The giant Huawei investing a lot of effort (and money) to make its presence felt in the western markets. Newcomer OnePlus worked on a budget and instead rode the hype train of a successful social media campaign.

Still, it has nothing on Xiaomi, which has proven an expert in self promotion and is one of the most popular brands at the moment. Compare it to Motorola, which practically invented the cell phone.

Apple didnt even need social media, people were lining up on the streets (even sleeping in tents) to get the latest iPhone. It feels like the brand has cooled off recently, perhaps people are getting tired of the pricey yearly upgrades. Or perhaps mid-rangers became too good (and Apple doesnt do mid-range).

If you take one thing away from this chart, let it be this  we have more variety now than ever before. And dont ever, ever, ever say that you are about to kill your most popular product.
Tea is one of the oldest beverages known to man, it is even regarded as the second most consumed drink after water. Only last year, we were treated to something new when Teavana finally came to the Philippines and brought with it a new and exciting way to enjoy tea. This year, Teavana brings two new beverages that will redefine the word cool as it introduces Teavana Frozen Chamomile Tea with Kyoho Grape and Aloe and Teavana Frozen Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls to tea lovers.

These two new handcrafted beverages will excite your taste buds because these are prepared icy-smooth and with the finest Teavana teas and premium ingredients like Kyoho grapes and pomegranate pearls, making for a compelling and delectable treat any time of the day.

Teavana Frozen Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate pearls and Teavana Frozen Chamomile Tea with Kyoho Grape and Aloe

Starbucks Teavana Frozen Chamomile Tea with Kyoho Grape and Aloe delivers a visual and textural distinction, especially with its honey white grape puree with bits of aloe. Meanwhile, Teavana Frozen Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls is defined by flavors of hibiscus, tropical papaya and mango, and hints of cinnamon and lemongrass and complemented with lightly sweet and tart pomegranate pearls that are made with real pomegranate juice. Aside from being served frozen, these two handcrafted beverages will also be available in iced shaken format.

The ingredients in each beverage were carefully selected to ensure that they deliver on both the Starbucks Teavana modernized tea experience, and appeal to culinary cultures in Asia. Each beverage features popular ingredients such as Kyoho grapes and hibiscus tea. said Keith Cole, Starbucks Philippines head of marketing.

Starbucks Anniversary Blend

Both drinks will go perfectly with new sandwiches from Starbucks. You can have it with the Tuna Melt on Croissant Baguette, a savory treat made with cheesy tuna on croissant baguette and made more scrumptious by topping it off with melted cheese, or with Ham and Cheese on Dutch Crepe, a delicious marriage of different flavors brought by the soft, chewy, and sweet Dutch Crepe filled with ham and cheese. A sweeter alternative is the Mango Float Cake which is made with moist and buttery cake then layered with creamy mango mousse and meringue, then finished with mango buttercream icing. Chocoholics will be delighted with the chewy and seriously chocolaty Triple Chocolate Cookie, which has dark, milk, white, and Belgian chocolate chunks.

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Starbucks Reserve Sun-Dried Brazil Serra Do Bone

Another great accompaniment for these treats are coffee that youll surely love. For those searching for coffee with herbal flavors and a distinctive spice, Starbucks Anniversary Blend is the one youre looking for. Inspired by the Starbucks muse, it is a combination of cedary aged Sumatra and the lush full-bodied coffees of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Another option is the Starbucks Single Origin Coffee East Timor Tatamailau which captures flavors that are smooth with herbal notes and cocoa finish. This is because of the way it is grown in Timor where it is cultivated on small plots of land built into the forest landscape, under huge canopy trees. This mimics the effect of growing coffee at much higher altitudes resulting in resilience and complexity of flavor.

Starbucks Reserve East Timor Peaberry

For the Starbucks experience wherever, try the Starbucks VIA Decaf House Blend, which gives any coffee lover a wonderfully balanced Decaf House Blend without compromising flavor.

Starbucks also launched a new design for its Starbucks Card. Available for an initial activation amount of a1,000, the Maple Leaf Starbucks Card comes in four colorful options. This new design is now available in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines

For more information about these new products log on to www.starbucks.ph.

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What's an eSIM, how it works and why it's important to you

In recent weeks Google and Apple brought the eSIM into the spotlight by including it within their latest product launches, the Google Pixel 2, Google Pixel 2 XL and the Apple Watch Series 3 with Cellular.

The eSIM gives us an improved and more secure customer experience, better designed devices, opens up new market opportunities for operators and enables entire new categories of connected devices. Let's explore this baby in a little more detail.

Please bear with us for the next few paragraphs, as we look back in time.

SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards store network-specific information used to authenticate and identify subscribers on a cellular network and for the last 27 years have consisted of a physical card containing the chip which has to be inserted into the phone.

You may or may not remember, but in 1991, the SIM card that you inserted into your phone was the size of a credit card! In the intervening years the size of the humble SIM card has dramatically reduced.

The SIM card has reduced in size over the last 27 years

As manufacturers continuously strive to make smaller, slimmer and lighter devices with more features, space is at an absolute premium. Even the humble headphone jack is starting to disappear to save precious millimeters, though the cynics among us may say that is to up-sell wireless headphones.

Surely the Nano-SIM, which at 12.30 mm in length and 8.80 mm wide is small enough? Yet, as an industrial designer, you have to remember that it's not only the size of the SIM card itself but also the space taken up by the associated internal hardware and circuitry that needs to be accommodated. For many years, manufactures have had to design and accommodate the physical SIM card via SIM card trays or other internal slots. In the quest for more durable and waterproof phones, the more ingress points that can be removed the better.

More importantly, if you want to change operator either after your contract has ended or you're traveling on holiday, you have to go and seek out a new SIM. In certain parts of the world, that's easier said than done.

It's all changing though. In the last few years Apple introduced the Apple SIM for use in iPad and as we led with, Google and Apple has included an eSIM as part of its new product launches.

What is the eSIM?

The eSIM/Embedded SIM, or as it's more formally known, embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC), is smaller again at 6 mm in length and 5 mm in width and is soldered onto a device's motherboard at the point of manufacturing while having the same functionality as a removable SIM. It has M2M (Machine to Machine) and Remote Provisioning capabilities. Now a GSMA standard, it wont be long before we see the eSIM become standard in other top tier handsets from Apple and Samsung, quickly followed by the others.

Remote Provisioning capabilities within the eSIM standard provide us with an enhanced customer experience when activating and managing our phones. Through our phones settings, we can select our operator and what plan we want and that's it.

At this years Mobile World Congress, in the GSMA Seminar, Thomas Henze, Program Director eSIM, Product Innovation, Deutsche Telekom demonstrated activating his phone via scanning a code that in his demonstration was part of a physical letter from an operator. In another demo, a scenario was played out where via a Universal Activation Code, again used by scanning, we could activate as many phones as we wanted.

Taken to its logical conclusion, in the scenario that I described previously when traveling, your phone will know it has changed location and offer up a number of local operators and plans. While sounding great in theory, we are yet to see if operators would like that.

An additional consumer benefit that we've heard discussed is that the eSIM should ensure future devices are cheaper to manufacture. Passing the cost saving to consumers, of course is a whole different story and it may not happen at all.

The Internet of Things

Here at GSMArena we focus on phones first and foremost, but it would be remiss of us to exclude the other devices to benefit from eSIMs. Especially considering that phones are at the core of how we 'activate' and manage those devices.

The Internet of Things devices can all benefit from the eSIM

It's been estimated that within the next few years the Internet of Things devices will become the largest connect category, overtaking mobile phones.

The eSIM not only helps these connected devices work but also enables new categories of devices with less compromise. What if Apple or Samsung had to fit a physical SIM into the Apple Watch Series 3 with Cellular and the Samsung Gear S3 frontier LTE. They would have been bigger? And with even poorer batter life?

Wearables are only one category that benefits from an eSIM. Automotive makers, with the inclusion of an eSIM allows us to quickly connect our cars to cellular.

Laptops will benefit from the inclusion of the eSIM while providing brands and re-sellers the opportunity to up-sell/cross-sell through the use of flexible data bundles.

The future

The eSIM is the future but it will not happen overnight, look down at your phone now and it's still got a physical SIM, and will still need one when you pass it onto your kids, other family members or sell it. In the Google Pixel 2 and Google Pixel 2 XL the eSIM is currently only used by Google Project Fi and thus it has a physical Nano-SIM card tray for all the other operators.

What is certain though, given the time it will take manufacturers to include eSIM's as standard, operator adoption and the lifecycle of current devices, it wont take another 27 years before we'll see the physical SIM card consigned to history once and for all.
Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Prague: Wizz Air launches new direct flights from Kutaisi

Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is adding new routes from Georgias Kutaisi International Airport to four European cities.Rome, Paris, Barcelona. and Prague  these are the four new destinations that will be added to the airlines existing routes from Kutaisi.Flights from Georgias third largest city to the four European destinations will start in spring 2018. Tickets are already on sale.Flights from Kutaisi to Prague will start on May 19 and the lowest price for a one-way ticket will be 110.99 GEL, and Paris and Rome on May 17, where the cheapest ticket will also cost 110.99 GEL.Lastly, Barcelona flights will start on May 19 and the price of a one-way ticket will start from 78.99 GEL.Commercial director of Wizz Air George Michalopoulos personally introduced this news to Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili. He said since the Georgian-Hungarian Business Forum held in Tbilisi this April, efforts were made to increase the number of Georgian travellers abroad. I returned to meet the Prime Minister and talk with him about the progress we achieved and introduce to him the decision about adding new destinations and new aircraft [to the Wizz Air base in Kutaisi], said Michalopoulos.Furthermore, Wizz Air is also doubling the number of flights to all destinations, due to the increase in the number of tourists."Kutaisi is becoming a regional centre not only in Georgia but throughout the region for tourists, said Kvirikashvili, adding that by the end of the second quarter of 2018, it will be possible to get to the Kutaisi International Airport with the new railway from the capital of Tbilisi.WizzAir, one of the largest low-cost airlines in Europe, launched flights from Kutaisi International Airport after it opened its first Caucasian base in September 2016.Opening the airline base at Georgias second largest airport was expected to increase passenger flow into and out of the country, as the airline offered 16 new cheap flight destinations to 11 European cities.
Volleyball playoffs: Hubs, Blazers will play for state titles

North Hagerstown got past Magruder in four sets in the 3A semifinals, and Clear Spring swept Forest Park in the 1A semifinals. Finals are Wednesday.
BTK railway to be launched in late October - minister

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway will be launched at the end of October, Ahmet Arslan, Turkish minister of transport, maritime affairs and communications, said, according to the ministrys message on Oct. 7.Arslan noted that everything is ready for the BTKs operation.BTK is one of the most important railway projects for Turkey, the minister said.Earlier, Arslan said in an interview with Trend that the BTK railway will help turn Turkey into an important transport corridor.The BTK railway is being constructed on the basis of a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. Peak capacity of the railway will be at 17 million tons of cargo per year.
GD offers new format of debates for Mayoral candidates

By Messenger Staff

On October 6, Archil Talakvadze, leader of the parliamentary majority and head of Kakha Kaladze's office, offered a new initiative to media outlets.Talakvadze said, Georgian Dream (GD) offers media agencies to agree on a joint format for debates of Tbilisi mayoral candidates.As he explained, little time is left before the elections, andthe demand on candidates to participate in debates is increasing."We offer all major media outlets to agree on a joint format in which every TV representative and every candidate will be able to participate and accessibility of the audience will be ensured," said Talakvadze.He also noted that Tbilisi mayoral candidate Kakha Kaladze is ready to take part only in such a format of debate.It is impossible to go to all televisions and to debate. First of all, its not interesting to hold the same debate on same issues, mayoral candidate Kaladze told journalists adding that hes having quite an intensive agenda and is planning to meet the population on a daily basis.The mayoral candidates of Tbilisi responded to the ruling team's offer. According to them, they are ready to participate in debates, but part of them assesses GDs initiative as an attempt to interfere into the editorial policy of media outlets.An independent candidate Alexander Elisashvili says the format is uncertain.I would like to address the televisions - do not make decisions in accordance to the directives of the GD. You have to decide what kind of debate it should be, Elisashvili said.According to Zaal Udumashvili, Mayoral Candidate of the National Movement, the media should not be dictated about the format of debates.One of the leaders of European Georgia Giorgi Gabashvili does not rule out that the ruling party will not participate in the debate due to an undesirable format.The statement is practically an indirect refusal, Gabashvili said about the initiative adding that every channel has its own format and we are going to take part in all the debates.The Media representatives also commented on the initiative.The head of the Information Office of the Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) also commented on the initiative of GD statingthat the Public Broadcaster is carrying out coverage of the pre-election campaign in which mayoral candidates of the self-governing cities and administrative centers will have thepossibility to debate on equal terms in a preliminarily agreed format of debates. The coverage is implemented according to the approved format and schedule and the TV company does not intend to change the format.TV companies Rustavi 2 and Imedi have not made a decision yet.TV Company Iberia states that in case the debates will take place at Public Broadcaster, they will take part. Head of TV company Kavkasia Nino Djangirahsvili has urged her colleagues to launch the organization of debates and do not let Kaladze to avoid debates.In addition to uncertain fate of future debates of mayoral candidates, there are a number of questions that need to be answered. TV companies have to agree which Channel will host the debate in a proposed format, who will be the moderator and to what extent the audience will have a chance to participate.
Bria Vinaite has suddenly become one of Hollywoods most sought-after actresses, parlaying success as a personality on Instagram into a critically acclaimed starring role in the indie Oscar hopeful The Florida Project. Playing a single mother who is struggling to make ends meet and, at times, forced to turn tricks in order to make enough cash to stay alive, Vinaite has been a revelation in her big screen debut, earning a standing ovation at the Toronto International Film Festival. Around that same time, rumors were swirling that she and legendary Canadian rapper Drake had become a romantic item, after a report wrote of them leaving a restaurant hand in hand after a late-night rendezvous. However, according to a new profile in the New York Post, she and the More Life emcee are just friends at the moment.

He liked the movie, that was it, she said. Were just friends. Drake had supposedly slipped into her DMs after seeing her performance at TIFF earlier this year. In fact, he even posed for a picture with Vinaite that she posted on Instagram, giving the pic the following caption: If @champagnepapi likes #TheFloridaProject that means you gotta see it!!! In theaters Oct 6th  @thefloridaproject. Known for being a ladies man through and through, theres no telling if Drake has actually made any moves on Vinaite after hitting her DMs, but the actress doesnt seem like shes that interested in pursuing any romantic relationships with men in general at the moment, even if theyre as rich and successful as the Champagne Papi. I dont want men in my life right now, she added. Im focused on myself.

While that nonexistent love life is mostly because of a schedule that has quickly become littered with other obligations, theres no denying that the dating rumors continue to bubble despite Vinaites statements. The article from the Post even says that Drake sent her a message congratulating her on the publication, which shows that hes at least keeping tabs on her to a certain degree. If the rapper begins to throw some financial support behind some independent film projects, theres a chance Vinaite could be up or a role or two. But, you know, because hes a really supportive friend and all

Drake
The Trump Administration has already been through what can only be categorized as a disastrous run of affairs in the White House so far. Thinly-veiled racist remarks, a poor response to the catastrophe afflicting United States and a much-maligned attempt to reform the countrys healthcare are just a few of the veyr public faux-pas that the President and his staff have endured since his election. However, a new wrinkle has been added to Trumps list of misdeeds, and this one could get serious in a hurry. What we have is a subpoena and a legal motion from Summer Zervos, a former contestant on The Apprentice.

In what is part of a larger legal attack on the sitting President, Zervos accused Trump of inappropriate physical contact that took place during a 2007 meeting at his bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel. They were supposed to be discussing a potential employment opportunity for Zervos. When her accusations were given a large amount of publicity during the 2016 election, Trump immediately distanced himself from those remarks and called Zervos a liar. She then sued Trump for defamation, and the aforementioned subpoena is out to preserve any and all documents that details the claims of Zervos and at least nine other women that Trump has groped them and, in some instances, kissed them without permission. Trump now has until October 31 to file a response to the motion.

In a copy of the subpoena that was originally obtained by Buzzfeed, the request reads as follows:

All documents concerning anyone connected to Summer Zervos, including without limitation her attorney, Gloria Allred, and/or any of Ms. Zervoss relatives or friends. All documents concerning Jessica Leeds, Mindy McGillivray, Rachel Crooks, Natasha Stoynoff, Temple Taggart, Kristin Anderson, Cathy Heller, Jill Harth, Jessica Drake, or any woman alleging that Donald Trump touched her inappropriately. All documents concerning any of Donald J. Trumps statements that Summer Zervos fabricated, created, or lied about her interactions with him, or was motivated to come forward by fame, money, politics, or pressure from the Clinton campaign, or his statement that he never met Ms. Zervos at a hotel or greeted her inappropriately.

In 2005, the President was recorded saying that he often engages in such deviant behavior in a now-infamous conversation with former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush while they were aboard a bus that housed some members of the cast and crew on Days of Our Lives. You can view an upload of that video below.
Fetty Waps new mixtape For My Fans II is just something for my fans to vibe [to] until the album, according to his post on SoundCloud. A follow-up to his 2015 EP For My Fans, the project has been shared as one audio file on SoundCloud rather than separate songs. Unfortunately, Fetty has not included a tracklist for the project, but it features a full 12 songs in its 36-minute runtime. Like Lucky No. 7, the EP Fetty dropped in June, the audio quality is pretty war and low fidelity throughout but the hooks are very much present.



Fettys sophomore album King Zoo is expected to be released in the near future. In May he released Aye, which was billed as the first single from the project. Last month, he released High Thoughts, one of a few loose tracks hes shared this summer. Fetty appeared on DJ Envys Text Ur Number this August, collaboration with fellow New Jersey artist DJ SLiink.



Fetty spoke of his prolific output in a conversation with Trevor Noah for Interview last year. Honestly, I dont spend that much time in the studio, he said. When I first started doing music, I was in the studio every day just trying to build my portfolio. But now, even though I havent totally mastered my craft, Im at a pretty high level. Cant nobody do what Fetty Wap does. So when I go to the studio, it may be four to five hours max, probably three days out the week. I used to go to the studio for 10 to 15 hours, and I would do five to 10 songs. Now I go for four to five hours and I do, like, 15 to 20 songs. Im an ad lib guy. Most people know me for my ad libs.






Jury selection in the Jelani Maraj child sex abuse case began last week, and with the severity of the legal procedure kicks up a few more notches, his sister Nicki Minaj is reportedly still supporting him unconditionally.

According to People, the 38-year-old brother of raps leading empress is expected to be tried for what could be three weeks in Long Island, New York, after he was charged with sexually abusing a child younger than 13 years old. Jelani has emphatically denied the allegations that first led to his arrest back in December of 2015, although he now faces charges of predatory sex assault against a child, course of sexual conduct and acting in a manner likely to injure a child. Leading up to the imminent trial, he has pleaded not guilty. If found guilty of the charges levied against him, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

These are a bunch of lies, his attorney, David Schwartz, originally told Newsday. Theres a big, big motive to lie here which I cant get into right now. But these are false accusations. Although the lawyer did not give details as to the inner workings of his clients defense, he did speak highly of Minaj, the sister who posted the $100,000 bail for Jelani when he was first thrown in jail. She supposedly used two of her homes to back the money that was posted. Schwartz also stated that Minaj might attend part of her brothers trial and is still behind him 100 percent.

Although Minaj has never publicly commented on her brothers legal woes or given insight into whether or not the accusations against him are true, she had previously posted a photo of the two of them not long after he was arrested, which most took as a sign of support that would continue throughout the case, if and when it did go to trial. In the caption, she wrote: I would cross the ocean for u. I would go & bring u the moon. Promise u. For u I will. I love my brother so much man. Cant believe I cried during his wedding and his first dance like a punk. May God bless him and his union [] You can check out that full post below.

Nicki Minaj
Police officers patrol in the streets of Kumanovo after armed incidents near the Kosovo border left four policemen injured on May 9, 2015. The clashes erupted during a dawn police raid in the northern town of Kumanovo after the authorities 'received information on the movement of an armed group,' a police spokesman told reporters. AFP PHOTOS / ROBERT ATANASOVSKI (Photo credit should read ROBERT ATANASOVSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

By Matt Robinson and Fatos Bytyci

KUMANOVO, Macedonia, May 10 (Reuters) - Macedonia said on Sunday its police had wiped out a group of ethnic Albanian "terrorists" in a day-long gun battle that left at least 22 people dead at a moment of deep political crisis in the former Yugoslav republic.

NATO, which dragged Macedonia from the brink of civil war in 2001, called for a "transparent investigation" of what went on when heavily armed police entered a mainly Albanian neighborhood in the northern town of Kumanovo before dawn on Saturday.

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The government said eight police and 14 members of an "armed group" had been killed in the ensuing gun battle, describing the gunmen as former rebel commanders from neighboring Kosovo, which broke from Serbia in war in 1999 and inspired an ethnic Albanian insurgency in Macedonia two years later.



A Reuters reporter saw residents returning after dark, scurrying to their homes through streets stained with blood. At least eight houses were damaged beyond repair, flames still licking the roof of one.

"It's total destruction. Thank God we're safe," said Haki Ukshini, his home reduced to a brick shell shorn of roof and windows.

Police said the gunmen had been plotting to attack civilian and state targets this month, just as a political crisis rocking the government threatens to climax in an opposition rally called for May 17.

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Explosions and automatic gunfire rattled Kumanovo through Saturday and into Sunday, recalling the clashes of 2001.

Then, NATO brokered a peace deal and some of the ethnic Albanian guerrillas entered government. But tensions remain, fueled by poverty, isolation and the glacial pace of integration with the West.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called for calm and a "transparent investigation to establish what happened."

Conservative Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, whose nine-year hold on power has been threatened by allegations of illegal wire-tapping and abuse of power leveled by opposition leader Zoran Zaev, suggested some of those killed or arrested in Kumanovo had fought "in the Middle East."



FRUSTRATIONS

"This is not a Macedonian-Albanian conflict, but a conflict between people who mean no good to the state and people who uphold the state," he said in a live televised address after police declared the operation over.

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Dozens of people were arrested, some of them taken to court handcuffed and in white jump-suits.

An estimated 30 percent of Macedonia's 2 million people are ethnic Albanians. In Kumanovo, they poured scorn on the official version of events.

"This is pure manipulation," said 40-year-old Elham Murad, an unemployed Albanian man who had fled his home in the besieged suburb. He said he had seen nothing unusual in the days leading up to the police operation, except for a drone aircraft flying above the town the day before.

"This is a stunt by Gruevski to cover up Zaev's revelations," he said. Asked if he would attend the May 17 protest, Murad replied: "I'll go, dead or alive."

Ambassadors of the United States, European Union, OSCE and NATO issued a joint statement saying they hoped the drama would prompt leaders "to pull together and engage in dialog on all issues facing the country, including the protracted political crisis."

Macedonia's bid to join NATO and the EU, seen in the Balkans as a promise of jobs, prosperity and freedom of movement, is blocked by a long-running dispute with Greece over the country's name.

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Chennai, Oct 15 (IBNS): Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman made her maiden visit to Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment (CVRDE) at Avadi in Chennai on Saturday.

Chairman DRDO & Secretary Department of Defence R&D Dr S. Christopher and Distinguished Scientist & Director, CVRDE Dr. P Sivakumar, made a brief presentation on the achievements and on-going national programs of CVRDE in Combat Vehicles & Technologies.

The dignitaries were taken to various technology centres by Director, CVRDE to witness the products and systems/technologies developed by CVRDE.

The Defence Minister has evinced keen interest in the advanced systems like Arjun MBT Mk-II, Arjun Armoured Recovery and Repair Vehicle (ARRV), Arjun Catapult, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, Sub-systems of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, Landing Gear, 180 hp engine for Rustom-II, 1000 hp Engine for T-72, 400 hp for BMP-II, besides Armoured Ambulance Tracked, Carrier Command Post Tracked, Bridge Laying Tank (BLT-72).

The respective project leaders highlighted the uniqueness and specialities of their systems to the dignitaries.

The dignitaries assembled at CVRDE-Arjun Auditorium after the showcase of Tanks/ technologies.

During this occasion, the minister released a book namely Arjun MBT  an Indian Success Story that describes the entire project of Arjun MBT Mk-I.

Sitharaman launched the website, DRDO Robotics & Unmanned Systems Exposition (https://rac.gov.in/druse) for inviting the young & talented minds of engineering community from all parts of the country to take part in Defence Challenging applications. She has also released a book titled Achievements of CVRDE during the ceremony.

She also congratulated DRDO fraternity, in particular CVRDE, for its unstinted efforts and contributions for the defence self-reliance of the nation and expressed her confidence that DRDO will strive hard to empower the nation further with Make in India concept.
New Delhi, Oct 15 (IBNS): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and suggested him to 'hug' US president Donald Trump after he posted a pro-Pakistan tweet on his Twitter page.

Trump had tweeted: "Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts."

Trump spoke about improving relations with Pakistan after the country helped rescue a US-Canadian family from their Taliban captors.

Gandhi was quick in attacking the PM over Trump's tweet and posted: "Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug."

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017




New Delhi, Oct 15 (IBNS): Children who arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan from Rameswaram by the bus aDr Kalam Sandesh Vahini Vision 2020a called on the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Dr Kalam is one of the greatest personalities ever.

He said that he saluted Dr Kalam and his monumental achievements as a scientist, a scholar and as the President of India.

One of the best ways of building the character of the youth of any country is to inspire them to read biographies of great personalities, he said.

The President said that Dr Kalam was one of Indias greatest visionaries and is fondly remembered as The Missile Man of India and Peoples President.

He has made momentous contribution to Indias scientific heritage through his involvement in varied fields ranging from nuclear technology to designing low cost stents for the heart or lightweight calipers for polio victims. India will never forget the remarkable contributions of Dr Kalam.

He had a great passion for teaching and education and truly ignited young minds with the power to think and innovate.

He enjoyed being with people.

He was adored by people and youngsters.

He loved students and spent his final moments among them.

The President said that the Dr Kalam Sandesh Vahini bus presents the life story of Dr Kalam in a very interesting manner.

He appreciated the effort.

He said he was sure that a large number of Indians, especially the young people have benefited by seeing the mobile exhibition on the life, works and the vision of Dr Kalam.

The Kalam Sandesh Vahini was launched by House of Kalam and Chinmaya University. The Vahini depicts various incidents from Dr Kalams life as well as key highlights of Indias scientific achievements, with an aim to educate and inspire the masses. It was flagged off by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi from Rameswaram on July 27, 2017, during the inauguration ceremony of Dr Kalams memorial. The Vahini has travelled from Rameswaram, through various states, to finally arrive at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, the President paid floral tributes at the portrait of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, on the occasion of his birth anniversary at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Officers and staff of Rashtrapati Bhavan along with family members of Dr Kalam also paid floral tributes on the occasion.


New York, Oct 15(Just Earth News): The United Nations in Somalia strongly condemned Saturdayas blasts in the capital, Mogadishu, which reportedly killed or injured dozens of people.

In a tweet, the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) denounced the barbaric bombings in Mogadishu targeting civilians.

The head of UNSOM and UN Special Representative of Secretary-General in the country Michael Keating tweeted that he was horrified by the attacks.

He extended his deepest condolences to the families and friends of the dead and injured.

According to media reports, a massive car bomb detonated outside the entrance to a hotel in the city's K5 junction, which is home to government offices, hotels and restaurants.

Later in the day, a second bombing was reported in the city's Madina district.

Photo: UN Somalia (file)

Source: www.justearthnews.com
Los Angeles, Oct 15 (IBNS): Adding more trouble for Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, a British actress has now claimed that he had raped her.

Lysette Anthony told media that the incident occurred in the late 1980s when Weinstein turned up at her London home.

The actress described the alleged incident to The Sunday Times as pathetic, revolting attack that left her disgusted and embarrassed.

She told the newspaper: "He pushed me inside and rammed me up against the coat rack . . . He was trying to kiss me and shove inside me.

The actress said she pushed him away but he was too heavy.

Finally I just gave up," she said.

The actress said she has reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police.

Last week the actress had tweeted: "Have just reported an historic crime to @MerseyPolice ..feel sick.. so sad.."

On Sunday, she said: "In order to cope I tried to forget..am most grateful for this touch of class after all the years of terror & brutish bullying."

Montreal actress Erika Rosenbaum had earlier gone public with her alleged sexual harassment complaints against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, saying Weinstein harassed her years ago, media reports said.

Rosembaum joined the list of actresses, who have alleged Weinstein of sexually harassing them following a report by The New York Times on Oct 5, which reported about the producer's alleged sexual misconduct.

The Montreal actress, who was so far mum about the sexual harassment, going back to mid 2000, reached out to the original reporter, Jodi Kantor, to share her own experience.

Thanking the news organisation for publishing the report, she said: "I just wanted to thank her for her reporting and told her that I had a similar experience and it was a relief that it was coming out.

"I felt that speaking out against a predator was the only choice at that point," Rosenbaum added.

Rosenbaum said she was shaken to hear the experiences of other actresses, including one Canadian, which were similar to her own experience.

Revealing her experience to the media, the Montreal actress said that Weinstein approached her aggressively thrice when she was in her early 20s, at a time she was pursuing her career in Los Angeles.

During the third occasion, Rosenbaum alleged the producer held lher by the back of her neck and masturbated while standing behind the actress.

In an interview to a radio station, the actress said she kept the whole episode a secret out of fear that her career will be ruined.

"Theres a great deal of unwarranted shame that youre settled with, she was quoted by CBC News.

"When it comes to the power and the abuse of power that occurs in this kind of relationship, theres a slippery slope where it doesn't take much for someone with influence like Harvey Weinstein to cross a line and for the innocent person to be left holding the bag and wondering what's to be done, she added.

Weinstein, however, denied any such allegations.

Rosenbaum, 37, is credited for her roles in films like The Smurfs 2 and The Trotsky.

Image: Lysette Anthony Twitter page


A lot of people are feeling dejected about where this country is headed, and to be frank, they ought to. Indians have vested their faith, life, and money in this country, only to see their hopes go up in flames.

In the past two decades or so, it is safe to say that India has undergone a drastic change, but most Indians have been perpetually disappointed, be it with scams of the Congress and its allies or the inability to speak against todays government, we live with a sword hanging over our heads.

With no power and no say in what happens to us, all we seemed to get was a waste of our taxes, complex policies and were done at the cost of what would have benefited us more. Heres a brief list of things that failed India:

1. Bullet train

Express

There are no words to describe the wastefulness of this project. Being built at a cost of 100,000 crore, an IIM Ahmedabad study showed that 1,00,000 passengers would have to travel each day at a cost > Rs 4,000 for the project to break even. A flight ticket costs around the same and can go down to Rs 2,500.

Around the time, this was announced 10 trains derailed over 15 days all over the country. Perhaps its time to focus on lesser mishaps, running on schedule, improved security, better connectivity, end-to-end delivery, food quality, and how the poorest among us can travel. Else, its like saying if they cant afford bread, let them eat cake.

2. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Memorial, Mumbai

designassociates

At a time where more than a hundred people died in India in the aftermath of demonetisation, the Maharashtra government launched a Rs 3,600 crore-grand memorial for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj off the Mumbai city coast.

The 210-meter statue is being built as the tallest statue in the world, which is exactly what we need when year after year people suffer from floods amidst crumbling infrastructure, right? Because bragging rights against China, which currently has the worlds tallest statue is what will lift us all into being a developed country.

3. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue

downtoearth

Spread across 20,000 square meters of the project area and surrounded by an artificial lake spread across 12 km. The 182-metre tall statute is being built at a cost of Rs 2,989 crore is a waste of money, effort, manpower, space and resources.

When most of the country is starving, have no electricity, potable water, toilets, or even basic safety, spending millions on a status symbol. The irony is that Sardar Patel himself famously said, My only desire is that India should be a good producer and no one should be hungry, shedding tears for food in the country. Its a shame we cant honour his wishes.

4. National mission for clean Ganga

thethirdpole

Dont get us wrong. Nothing would make us happier than seeing Indias most sacred river restored to its pristine glory. The first Ganga plan was launched by Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India on 14 January 1986. Thirty years later, and after several hundred crores spent, the situation is as bad as ever.

In fact, our most sacred river is more toxic than any other river in the country today. Did you know that there was an entire Commission dedicated to cleaning the Ganga? The only thing that has changed ever since Modi came is the ministry, committee and budgets. Not a single drop of the Ganga has been cleaned so far, the green tribunal noted at a hearing in January.

5. Demonetisation

thehansindia

Where were you when the Prime Minister announced demonetisation on 8 November, 2016? What ensued next was a blur as people scrambled to find out what would happen to their money, even that, which was entirely white.

Despite the bomb, India rose like a phoenix from the blaze. Its been nearly a year, and the government is yet to tell us how exactly that move was beneficial. Where is the black money that was to be unearthed? Who were the people who were brought to task for hoodwinking the system? Have any of you got your Rs 15 lakh?

6. Aadhaar linking

aadhaarcard

Your PAN card will soon become invalid if it is not linked with Aadhaar. You wont be able to book travel tickets if you dont have Aadhaar. Aadhaar is mandatory. Aadhaar needs to be linked with all your bank accounts these messages have been doing the rounds with not one justification why.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had clarified that linking the Aadhaar Card is not mandatory, and yet the government still seems to insist that it is.

7. Cattle protection

chiralaharekrishnas

We know that this a tricky situation. While Hinduism and Sikhism honour the cow, and most dont consume beef, the fact is there are a significant number of people who do regardless of faith. For many of the poorest Indians, it is a cheap and rich source of nutrition. And unless we can give them an option, we are in no position to judge.

And those who equate only slaughterhouses with cruelty may want to look into the dairy industry where cows are kept in inhumane conditions, forced to calve and driven so cruelly that their lifespan is cut by 15 years. And dont even ask what happens in these places when a male calf is born. We might want to think this through before imposing a blanket ban.

8. Women safety schemes

themagzone

The Nirbhaya Fund was announced by the UPA government in the 2013-14 budget with an agenda to help women with Rs 1,000 crore set aside for safety measures. Since then, an additional sum of Rs 2,000 crore has been added to fund the scheme via 2014-15 and 2015-16 budgets.

Yet, in four years and with over Rs 3,000 crores allocated, nothing substantial has been brought to the table. Some of the projects have ticked off and some of them are in the deliberation stage, yet, it is not as if the result is handy. Rapes are still a daily occurrence, minor girls are getting pregnant, molesters are moving freely, and we still have those in power who victim-shame.

9. Mann ki Baat

dnaindia

This one-way communication that happens on DD News, All India Radio, and DD National is a programme hosted by the Indian Prime Minister, where he talks about ideas and how this nation is growing. In 15 addresses of Mann ki Baat broadcast so far 61,000 ideas have been received on the website and Rs 1.43 lakh audio recordings by listeners have been received, but we are yet to figure out the outcome.

Ideas yet to be executed, grievances yet to be answered, and directions yet to be taken.
In a bizarre case, a 19-year-old has been arrested for allegedly having unnatural sex with a stray dog in Mumbai's suburban Powai. The accused was arrested after a complainant who is also the eyewitness saw that Kuldeep Karotiya was taking a stray dog in community toilet on Friday night and performed unnatural sex with the canine, told police after it lodged animal abuse case against the accused.

As per the police, after being caught, the accused got scared and asked the complainant not to tell about it to anyone. However, the complainant brought the matter to the notice of Powai police and lodged a complaint in this regard.

The control room, later, informed the Powai police and the accused was detained late on Friday night. Powai police have booked the accused under section 377 (unnatural offences) of IPC, the official said.
Fifty-one cows of a Muslim family in Alwar district have been allegedly snatched, by the police, on a complaint by some Hindu activists, and handed over to a village gaushala. For the past 10 days, the family has been struggling to get back its flock. Police said it had no role in the incident.

AFP/Representational Image

Six months after Pehlu Khan was lynched, another member of the Meo community has now been labelled the same, allegedly by members of some Hindu organisations.

Subba Khan (45) alleged that local police forcibly took away his 51 cows and handed them over to the gaushala following complaints from cow vigilantes. He is now running between the sub-divisional magistrate's (SDM) office and the police station to get back his cows but to no avail.

Police, however, said it had no role in the incident and locals had driven the cows to the gaushala.

AFP/Representational Image

Nearly 17 calves that were at Khan's house now have to be fed with milk bottles. He has given an affidavit at the Kishangarh police station as well as the SDM office that all the cows were milking and their calves are at his home.

Sher Mohammad, the Sadar (head) of Meo Panchayat told TOI on Saturday, "The police claimed it received complaints that Khan was into cow slaughtering."

"If he is into cow slaughtering, why the police have not lodged any case against him? said, Sher Mohammad.

Alwar SP, Rahul Prakash told TOI, "I am not aware of the incident. I will get details before commenting on it."

AFP/Representational Image

Kishangarh Bas SHO, Rathore refuted the allegations that police drove Khan's cows to the gaushala."It were the villagers who took his cows in their possession and handed them over to the village gaushala. Now villagers have written a letter to SDM claiming that Khan is not a cow smuggler and earns his livelihood by selling milk."

"If Meos are targeted like this, the state government should bring in some law banning the Meo community from keeping cows as pets," Mohammad said.
The terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir are using Chinese grenades in terror attacks, but these grenades aren't exploding, after all, they are Chinese. An unidentified group of terrorists on Friday evening threw a Chinese grenade at Barari Pora Chowk in Srinagar, reported ANI. However, the grenades didn't explode.

ANI

This is not the first incident where grenades have been used by terrorists. Earlier in September, one person was killed along with 14 others injured after terrorists threw a grenade at Jehangir Chowk in Srinagar. Even a day before this incident, the suspected terrorists had lobbed a grenade on a police station in Shopian which didn't explode. A FIR was lodged in this regard.
A Taliban spokesperson has denied accusations by a Canadian man that one of his children had been murdered and his wife raped while they were being held captive by militants who kidnapped them in Afghanistan in 2012.

AP

Joshua Boyle and his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, were held by the Haqqani network, a semi-independent wing of the Afghan Taliban, before being rescued by Pakistani troops in northwest Pakistan, near the Afghan border, last week.

Boyle said soon after he, his wife and their three children returned to Canada on Friday that their captors had murdered a fourth child had raped his wife.

Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid rejected that as propaganda by the Western governments that helped rescue the family.

Reuters

We strongly reject these fake and fabricated allegations of this Canadian family, now in the hands of the enemy, he said in a statement sent to media.

Whatever statement the enemy wants to put in their mouth, the family is forced to make it.

He also denied that their child had been murdered, but acknowledged that one child became sick and died.

AP

We were in remote areas without access to a doctor and medications that led the loss of the child, he said.

The US government calls the Haqqani network the most lethal and sophisticated insurgent group in Afghanistan.

AP

Its operational chief, Sirajuddin Haqqani, was named a deputy to the Talibans newly appointed leader Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour in 2015, cementing the ties between the groups.
It's probably the last thing anyone would think while watching the 'Bear Grylls' show, to get stuck in the woods and live on creepy crawlies.

But for one mother and son, duo this turned out to be a reality. According to reports, the two were lost for ten days in the Australian bush and used survival tactics inspired by Bear Grylls.

Michelle Small, 40, and her nine-year-old son Dylan Deane, from the New South Wales town set off for a short bushwalk in the Mount Royal National Park in the Hunter Valley on October 2.

But they eventually lost their way in the rugged bushland. They struggled with harsh weather and no food for ten days, but were able to get by thanks to Bear Grylls.

Hunter Valley Acting Superintendent Rob Post told news.com.au: It is amazing they have actually survived for so long.

Even more amazing is that nine-year-old Dylan has come out with insect bites but quite fit and able  he looks like he could do the whole thing again, he said.

Superintendent Post said the pair had gathered water using techniques learned from adventurer and expert survivalist Bear Grylls.
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Burma Army Chief Urges Rebels to Sign Ceasefire on NCA Second Anniversary

Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing addresses the second anniversary of the NCA signing ceremony in Naypyitaw. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy

NAYPYITAW  Myanmar Army chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing urged all of the countrys ethnic armed groups to sign the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) in a speech marking the second anniversary of several groups signing the pact on Sunday in Naypyitaw.

The commemoration saw speeches from the countrys chief peace negotiators, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Karen National Union (KNU) chairman Gen Saw Mutu Say Poe.

I firmly ask you to sign the NCA, said the army chief. No provision in this agreement limits or restricts the rights of people, but provides every possible right for them. It is therefore fair to assume that continued ignoring of this fact amounts to resisting the federal Union which people aspire to, opposing democracy, having desire for armed anarchy, and disregarding the interests of the Union and its people.

The number of NCA signatories has not increased since an initial eight ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) signed the accord two years ago.

More than a dozen EAOssome of whom helped draft the NCAhave shown little interest in signing the pact.

Sixteen EAOs under the banner Nationwide Ceasefire Coordinating Team and government peace negotiators under the previous administration drafted the NCA in late 2013.

But clashes continue in Myanmars northeast involving the Taang Nationalities Liberation Army, Arakan Army, and Kokangs Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Armyall of whom the Tatmadaw refuses to accept as peace partners.

These three EAOs are allied with the militarily strong United Wa State Army (UWSA) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) under new political alliance the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC).

The UWSA-led bloc has called for an alternative approach to the NCA. The government, though, has rejected negotiating with the FPNCC as a whole and insists on meeting each of its seven members separately.

Efforts of the governments Peace Commission to bring NCA non-signatories to sign the pact have been further hampered by a nine-point proposal from another ethnic bloc, the United Nationalities Federal Council (UNFC). The bloc of five members is waiting for the government to agree to the proposal before signing the NCA.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who heads the National Reconciliation and Peace Center among other state roles, said at Sundays ceremony that the government was ready to welcome non-signatories to the NCA.

She invited them to collaborate with the government in implementing the basic principles needed for a federal state.

Our government welcomes all non-signatory groups to participate in the process of formulating the principles towards a Democratic Federal Union in the future. In fact, the NCA is not an end in itself, but just the first step towards national reconciliation in the country, said the State Counselor.

I would like to reiterate today that the NCA opens the door for political dialogues which will pave the way to the Union Peace Conference, she added.

In the second round of the Union Peace Conference in May, the delegates signed a part of the Union Accord, but it did not cover key federal principles regarding equality and self-determination.

Union peace conferences would be held biannually in accordance with the plan, said Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Almost five months after the second session of the Union Peace Conference, national-level political dialogues are yet to be held. In the dialogues, regional stakeholders discuss suggestions at large-scale public consultations, the results of which are shared at the conference.

Still, the State Counselor said the government would hold its third round of the Union Peace Conference later this year as planned and two more next year.

Members of the Union Peace Dialogue Joint Committee (UPDJC) and the Joint Ceasefire Monitoring Committee (JMC) gave reports on their progress. The committees are the mechanisms to implement the NCA, established at a Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM) two years ago.

Gen Saw Mutu Say Poe said self-determination, autonomy and ethnic rights for ethnic nationalities are yet to be fully implemented despite an agreement between independence hero Gen Aung San and ethnic leaders of Shan, Chin, and Kachin states under the Panglong agreement signed in February 1947.

Our aim is to build a union envisioned by the 1947 Panglong agreement, and to end an almost seven decades long civil war. To reach our goal, we have to implement the peace process through the roadmap drafted in the NCA and to hold political dialogue with all stakeholders, he told the ceremony.

On the same day the KNU released a statement urging the government and the Tatmadaw to compromise on policies regarding ethnic equality and the right to self-determination.

The compromising of these policies could enable the remaining EAOs to sign the NCA, and reinforce the efforts for peace and the emergence of a federal democracy, read the statement.

Gen Saw Mutu Say Poe stressed in his speech the need to hold regular gatherings of the JICM, the highest authority in decision-making on NCA implementation.

But the government reportedly does not want to call JICMs unless there are disputes to resolve.

NCA signatories showed optimism that clashes between their groups and the army had significantly reduced since they signed the NCA.

Salai Lian Hmung Sakhong of the Chin National Front told reporters in Naypyitaw on Sunday, It is a big success as we have seen that military engagement in the ceasefire territories have been reduced by 80 to 85 percent.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi shared similar observations at the ceremony.

Despite criticism of the NCA, there has been noticeable progress. We have successfully decreased conflicts in the regions of the ethnic armed organizations signatories and as a result, the socio-economic lives of the local people have significantly improved, she said.

It has been two years since we signed the NCA. There is no reason to retreat. We only need to go forward and pave our way towards our desired goal, she added.
The News in Brief

MPs Discuss Mandatory Gender Quotas Bill



Parliamentary committee for legal issues gave its endorsement to a bill, which, if approved, would set mandatory quotas for women to help increase the number of female members in the Parliament and Sakrebulos (municipality councils).



The legislative proposal, which has been elaborated by the Task Force on Womens Political Participation, a coalition of local and international organizations that advocate for gender equality and womens political participation, and submitted to the Parliament with 37 000 signatures, envisages the introduction of the so called zipper system, where male and female candidates will appear alternately on party lists of candidates for the parliamentary and municipal elections.



According to the legislation, if a parliamentarians or Sakrebulo members mandate is terminated earlier than the end of his/her term, the next candidate of the same sex will take a seat in replacement.



The bill was supported by the parliamentary committee for legal issues unanimously on October 5, after being approved by the committees for human rights and regional development. The legislation will now be submitted to the parliamentary bureau, which will decide whether to put it to plenary voting or not.



If the bill is approved, it will apply to the party-list component and will result into at least 38 female lawmakers in the next parliament and at least 75 female lawmakers from 2024, when the country is to transition to the fully proportional parliamentary representation (currently, 77 seats are allocated based on proportional, party-list system and remaining 73 seats are distributed to majoritarian MPs from single-mandate constituencies).



Georgian Dream lawmaker EkaBeselia, who chairs the committee for legal issues, hailed the committee decision as important. I support the idea of increasing womens representation in public space, politics and eradicating the existing inequality I am trying to convince more men, who are against this idea that it is a good decision and that the political environment needs it, she said.



MP Salome Samadashvili of the opposition United National Movement party also expressed her support to the initiative, saying the introduction of quotas would increase demand for women politicians. When there is a need to have more women in politics, it will appear that there are a lot of qualified women in this country, who can hold elected positions, she noted.



The Georgian legislation currently envisages financial incentives for parties to include more women in their list of candidates. Rights groups, however, have been saying that this incentive has failed to address the under-representation of women in the Parliament (there are 23 female lawmakers currently).



Initiatives on setting mandatory quotas for women were discussed by the previous Parliamentary convocation as well. A proposal submitted by a group of civil society organizations offered the introduction of the zipper system; according to another proposal, sponsored by two GD ruling coalition lawmakers, political parties would be obliged to place women in every third position on their list of MP candidates. A part of lawmakers supported the idea, but the discussions on gender quotas failed to go beyond committee hearings.

(civil.ge)







Kvirikashvili says he does not plan to run for President of Georgia



As Georgias Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has declared, he does not plan to run for President of Georgia. He has told reporters this way commenting on information of released in media.



I would like to invite all of you in 2021 when we complete the last section of the Rikoti pass. Before it we have much to do that is very important for our people. Of course I do not plan to run for President of Georgia. I would like to repeat that we have to fulfill our promises and our team is doing its best for it, Giorgi Kvirikashvili has remarked.

(ipn)







200th anniversary of German emigration celebrated in Georgia



The Georgian region of Kvemo Kartli hosts special events dedicated to first visit of German colonists to Georgia.



It was 200 hundred years ago when a group of German Settlers from Swabia arrived in Georgia to found the town of Katharinenfeld, today known as Bolnisi.



The celebration kicks off today with the German military orchestra marching in the streets of Bolnisi, playing different types of music to the local population from swing to jazz.



Guests of the event will enjoy theatrical performances, concerts and exhibitions of Georgian and German artists, as well as traditional dances and songs. A new playground jointly designed by German and local youth designers will also be unveiled at the German district.



Opening the doors to their cellars, the locals of Bolnisi offer their guests traditional wine-tasting, artworks and home-made products.



This year has been declared as a celebration of the friendship between Germany and Georgia. It was exactly 25 years ago when Georgia and Germany established their first diplomatic ties, while 200 years ago the very first German people emigrated to Georgia.

(agenda.ge)




The Virgin Group has taken a stake in Hyperloop One, the sole company that has built the hyperloop system of passenger and freight transportation.

As a result of the Virgin investment, the founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson, will take a seat on the company's board, and the name will be changed to Virgin Hyperloop One.

The Hyperloop One system loads passengers and cargo into a pod and accelerates gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube.

The pod quickly lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag.

"For more than 20 years, Richard and Virgin have been at the forefront of transportation innovation, and a partnership with them feels like a natural fit," said Shervin Pishevar, co-founder and executive chairman of Hyperloop One.

"Virgin is an iconic brand and having Richard as an ally will help strengthen our mission to spread Hyperloop One throughout the world. Josh and I could not think of a better person or brand to be our true partner in our continued quest to make our moonshot idea a reality. Onwards."

Sir Richard said: "After visiting Hyperloop One's test site in Nevada and meeting its leadership team this past summer, I am convinced this ground-breaking technology will change transportation as we know it and dramatically cut journey times.

"Virgin has been known for investing in and creating innovative companies over the years, and I look forward to making history together as we bring Hyperloop to the world as Virgin Hyperloop One."

Josh Giegel, co-founder and president of Engineering of Hyperloop One, said: "We've focused on developing the technology required to make Hyperloop a reality and demonstrated that it works.

"The combination of our proven technology and Virgin's expertise in transportation, operations, safety and passenger experience will accelerate the commercialisation phase of our company's development.

"Together with Virgin, we will not only transform how we live, we will rethink how it feels to travel by creating a passenger experience that people will enjoy and look forward to riding. Our goal is to make travel fun again."
Samsung Electronics chief executive Kwon Oh-hyun has handed in his resignation, saying the company faces an "unprecedented crisis", even though record third-quarter profits are anticipated.

His resignation comes less than two months after vice-chairman Lee Jae-yong was jailed for five years for bribery, embezzlement and other charges. He has appealed the verdict and the appeal hearing began on 12 October.

In a statement, Kwon said: "As we are confronted with unprecedented crisis inside out, I believe that time has now come for the company (to) start anew, with a new spirit and young leadership to better respond to challenges arising from the rapidly changing IT industry.

"Fortunately, the company is now producing best-ever results but this is merely a fruit of decisions and investment made in the past."

Lee was found guilty in a corruption scandal that caused the ouster of former South Korean president Park Geun-hye.

The Seoul Central District Court, which handed down the verdict, said Lee was believed to have been involved in Samsung's provision of 7.2 billion won (US$6.38 million) in bribes for the equestrian training of the daughter of Park's longtime friend and confidante, Choi Soon-sil.

Lee was also convicted of embezzlement, hiding assets overseas and perjury.

AFP quoted an unnamed analyst as saying that Kwon's departure may be an indication of a bigger reshuffle among the top brass.

"Samsung's CEO-level leadership has remained largely unchanged for past three years, which is like an eternity in the fast-changing tech industry," the analyst said,.
The Queensland Police's Task Force Argos, a specialised unit responsible for investigating online child exploitation and abuse, ran a child pornography site on the dark Web for almost a year after infiltrating it in the search for those who were behind the site.

The Norwegian newspaper VG spoke to the head of the unit, Jon Rouse, and investigator Paul Griffiths after tracking them down in January as being the two people operating the site and posing as the administrators. The paper has a detailed report by Hakon Hydal, Einar Otto Stangvik and Natalie Reme Hansen about the case.

The police unit itself shared photos of children who were abused in order to avoid letting members of the site, known as Childs Play, from finding out that it had been taken over by police.

In August last year, as iTWire reported, Argos was alleged to have hacked into the computers of Americans who were part of a child pornography ring, The Love Zone, on the dark Web, in order to find out their actual IP addresses.

The VG report said that between October 2016 and September this year the site, said to be the largest child abuse forum, was run by officers from Task Force Argos after they had infiltrated it. The site is said to have had more than a million registered accounts and thousands of active users.

The operation to take down the site was jointly carried out by Task Force Argos, the US Department of Homeland Security and police in Canada and Europe.

When VG met Rouse and Griffiths, Argos had been running the site for three months. "Under their supervision, thousands of members have shared photos and videos of children being sexually abused. A Norwegian member boasted of abusing children in his own family. Some members got together in person to commit abuse, which they filmed and shared on the forum," the newspaper said.

But the police denied that they were in any way responsible for the material that was shared on the site while they were running it.

VG quoted Rouse as saying: "We don't create these sites. We do not want them to exist. When we do find them, we infiltrate and get as high as possible in the network's administrative structure to destroy it. But we will never create a forum for child sex offenders."

The site was set up by Benjamin Faulkner of Ontario, Canada, who was working in Toronto at the time, and Patrick Falte, a resident of Nashville, Tennessee.

Both men were active on the dark Web in 2011, with Falte providing technical programming on the Pedo Support Community website. Faulkner left a message on the site, introducing himself.

In 2015, when Faulkner visited another site, Giftbox Exchange, Falte, who went by the moniker CrazyMonk, made contact with him and they got acquainted. The site Childs Play was set up in April 2016.

Faulkner was the administrator and went by the pseudonym WarHead. Elsewhere on the Web he was known as CuriousVendetta.

With Giftbox having 45,000 users at its peak and Childs Play, just before it was taken down, having more than a million registered users, it was only a matter of time before law enforcement authorities worldwide became aware of their sites.

VG said its resident tech guru, Stangvik, who tracked the Childs Play site, wrote his own programs to download, analyse and index all public messages on the forum.

After trying a variety of methods to track down the people behind the site, Stangvik found a weakness in the host of the site - the IP address of the site could be found.

Stangvik discovered that the site was hosted in Sydney by Digital Pacific.

When VG visited Sydney and met Digital Pacific founder Andrew Koloadin he was nothing but helpful. The newspaper quoted him as saying: "Im as interested as you in clearing this up. We wont turn off the server and we wont do anything to compromise your work."

VG was thus able to find out that the server in question had been leased by Task Force Argos. Koloadin was taken aback, saying, "Storing material like this on our servers completely violates our terms. I wish the police had talked with us about this, but I understand why they didnt. Its a secret operation."

According to the report, when VG met Rouse and Griffith, the police initially refused to provide any details of the operation. They suggested that the VG journalists had done something illegal to find out who was running the site.

Rouse was quoted as telling VG: "Under Australian law, what youve done is the same as hacking. The police are allowed to hack to reveal criminal activity, but not you. So you have to be aware that what you have done can potentially have consequences."

But later Argos provided details to the Norwegian journalists and told them that Griffiths had been told in May 2016 by the police in an European country that they had arrested a moderator of the Giftbox Exchange. The European police asked if Argos would be interested in going undercover after assuming the identity of the moderator.

While Argos was looking for a way to take over Giftbox, Childs Play appeared on the dark Web and the Queensland police were able to conclude that they were being run from the same country.

In the US, the Homeland Security staff tracked a bitcoin payment made towards Web hosting charges and honed in on Falte. They found Faulkner after he posted a screenshot of code seeking help for a technical snafu with Giftbox; an investigator noticed that the site had technical issues, did a Web search and found the screenshot.

VG said that it realised that the Queensland police were running the site in order to shut it down for good, it decided to hold off on publishing the story in order not to interfere with a police operation aimed at doing good.

On 30 September 2016, Faulkner crossed from Toronto to northern Virginia in the US. Police were onto this; weeks earlier Homeland Security had put a tracking device on Falte's car and his movements were tracked as well.

The two men were arrested at a hotel in Virginia. Faulkner spilled his guts and provided passwords for Childs Play plus many other details. The usernames and passwords were tested by Argos and found to work.

The police knew that if the two administrators were missing for too long and did not respond to messages from members, then users of the websites would become suspicious.

VG said that the police in the European country in question and Australia wanted the Australians to run the site as local laws give them very broad powers to monitor suspicious activities online.

Griffiths told VG: "During a so-called 'controlled operation' we get permission from a judge to act in ways that normally would have been considered illegal. We are given the right to commit certain criminal actions and we are exempted from prosecution because we are investigating specific crimes."

After the European law enforcement authorities had given them the go-ahead, Task Force Argos took over Childs Play and copied it to the Sydney hosting provider.

From that point on, Griffiths posed as Faulkner. But the Argos detectives refused to tell VG about the methods they used to identify Childs Play members.

On 13 September, Task Force Argos shut down Childs Play. Now cases are being sent to police forces around the world. VG said Griffiths had a list of between 60 and 90 people who would be targets.

Falte and Faulkner were sentenced to life in prison on 15 September by a court in Richmond, Virginia.

Asked for his opinion on the legality of Task Force Argos' actions, criminal barrister and Australian Lawyers Alliance spokesman Greg Barns told iTWire that the conduct of Queensland Police was appalling and surely illegal.

"They have contributed to the abuse of children as much as those citizens who also host and view," Barns added.

Photo: courtesy VG
Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has opened an online university called Woz U to make it more affordable for students to gain a technology degree.

The Arizona branch is online now but Wozniak hopes to have physical campuses in more than 30 cities worldwide.

Right now Woz U offers software development and training to be a computer support specialist. Programmes to train people in data science, mobile applications and cyber security are coming soon.

Our goal is to educate and train people in employable digital skills without putting them into years of debt, said Wozniak, who invented the Apple II computer that launched the personal computing revolution.

People often are afraid to choose a technology-based career because they think they cant do it. I know they can, and I want to show them how.

Woz U has a mobile app that will help match people with the technology-based career best suited for them.

My entire life I have worked to build, develop and create a better world through technology and I have always respected education, said Wozniak. Now is the time for Woz U, and we are only getting started.
Microsoft's Edge browser, the default in Windows 10, blocked a higher percentage of phishing and socially-engineered malware (SEM) attacks than Google's Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox, a Texas security testing firm said Friday.

According to NSS Labs of Austin, Tex., Edge automatically blocked 92% of all in-browser credential phishing attempts and stymied 100% of all SEM attacks. The latter encompassed a wide range of attacks, but their common characteristic was that they tried to trick users into downloading malicious code. The tactics that SEM attackers deploy include links from social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, and bogus in-browser notifications of computer infections or other problems.

Edge bested Chrome and Firefox by decisive margins. For instance, Chrome blocked 74% of all phishing attacks, and 88% of SEM attacks. Meanwhile, Firefox came in third in both tests, stopping just 61% of the phishing attacks and 70% of all SEM attempts.

The results were not surprising to anyone who has followed NSS's tests over the years: The firm has regularly awarded Microsoft browsers, notably the venerable Internet Explorer (IE), the top spots in its malware-blocking evaluations.

NSS's assessments were of various cloud-based services that the browser makers called upon, not the applications themselves. The services are reputational at root. They crawl the Internet, and as they do, they assign sites to white- or blacklists depending on whether the content is judged malicious or suspicious. Alternately, the services crank out a numerical score. The browsers then request data from the services as they are directed to specific URLs, and - based on the response - block the browser from reaching the intended destination, warn the user that the site may be shady, or let the browser display the site as its owner intended.

NSS has almost always given Microsoft's services, a combination of the SmartScreen URL scanner/filter and the Application Reputation service, the highest scores. Google's rival service, dubbed "Safe Browsing," has ranked second, sometimes a very distant second. Both Chrome and Mozilla's Firefox rely on the Safe Browsing API (applicationprograming interface), but historically, Mozilla's implementation has performed poorly compared to Google's. No shock: Google created the API.

[ To comment on this story, visit Computerworld's Facebook page. ]

Edge also took top prize in blocking attacks from the get-go. In NSS's SEM attack testing, for example, the Microsoft browser stopped nearly every attempt from the first moments a new attack was detected. Chrome and Firefox, on the other hand, halted 75% and 54% of the brand-new attacks, respectively. Over a week's time, Chrome and Firefox improved their blocking scores, although neither reached Edge's impressive 99.8%.

But test scores like these have not helped Edge grow its share of the browser market, or kept its IE ancestor from a disastrous decline in the last two years. During September, Edge was run on just 5% of all personal computers; of those powered by Windows 10, the only OS Edge supports, the browser ran on only 17% of that PC subset. Since mid-2015, when Windows 10 and Edge launched, the latter's share of the former has continually dropped.

In fact, September's ranking was Edge's lowest ever. Meanwhile, Chrome's September user share of all personal computers was 60%, according to analytics company Net Applications; Firefox's stood at 13%.

NSS also measured the anti-phishing prowess of Chrome OS and Windows 10 S, which are based, in turn, on Chrome and Edge, and found, "No significant differences were observed between the Edge browser running on Windows 10 or Windows 10 S and between the Chrome browser running on Windows 10 and Chrome [OS]."

The testing firm's results were obtained by continuous monitoring of Windows 10 personal computers running Edge, Chrome or Firefox between Aug. 23 and Sept. 12.
Speaker to Discuss Evolution of Sexual Norms and Same-Sex Desire

Oct. 4, 2017

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. Expert on the history of sexuality Valerie Traub will present a talk, The Evolution of Sexual Norms: A Visual History, c. 1600, on Oct. 26 at 4 p.m. in the Beckman Auditorium of The Ames Library.

A professor of English and Womens Studies at the University of Michigan, Traubs research concerns gender and sexuality, particularly lesbianism in Early Modern England. The author of The Renaissance of Lesbianism in Early Modern England and Thinking Sex with the Early Moderns, Traub focuses on exposing womens homoerotic desires that were often silenced and hidden during the Renaissance. She has been awarded a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship to study sexuality and same-sex desire during 16th and 17th century Europe.

Traubs upcoming visit to campus has encouraged many professors to integrate her material into their coursework.

Students from three courses have been reading excerpts from Traubs work in preparation for her visit: Professor of History Michael Youngs Sex, Gender, and Power under King James; Professor and Director of Greek and Roman Studies Nancy Sultans Sex and Gender in Greece and Rome; and Associate Professor of English Mary Ann Bushman's Shakespeares Shrews. Students from all three courses will have a closed discussion with Traub preceding her public presentation.

Young said he is especially excited for Traubs visit because her work on the history of Early Modern European sexuality is considered groundbreaking.

It used to be routine for historians of what we today call homosexuality to focus exclusively on men while lamenting that women regrettably just haven't left behind any evidence, said Young. Traub's book, The Renaissance of Lesbianism, therefore revolutionized the field. Women can no longer be left out of the story.

Young said Traubs presentation will be particularly interesting because she will illustrate her findings with examples from the personal records, literature and poetry of the period, plus visual sources, including illustrations in medical tracts, sculptures, and paintings.

As part of the Gateway course, What Is a University, and Why Are You Here? taught by Associate Professor and Chair of English Joanne Diaz, Illinois Wesleyan's first-year Humanities Fellows will also engage with Traubs work. Humanities fellows  students who express a love for literature, philosophy, religion, art, musicology and languages  will read passages from The Renaissance of Lesbianism in Early Modern England prior to Traubs visit. Students will then discuss the readings as part of the Dialogues Across the Disciplines series on campus, an event designed to facilitate conversation between faculty members and students about scholarly works.

Diaz believes the discussions will help students understand that womens homoertoic desires during the Renaissance are under-historicized.

Mens homoeroticism and homosocial interactions are very well documented. Not so much for women. Womens desires were to some extent hidden, said Diaz. Traub is trying to historicize something that you cannot see.

Students will interview Traub in an in-class Skype session, asking about her research interests, why she became interested in lesbianism and same-sex desire in the Renaissance, and how her research relates to queer theory and gender studies in the 21st century.

When students actually speak with her, she will no longer be just a name on a page, but an actual human being, said Diaz. I want them to understand that in their Gateway they are engaging in conversations with scholars.

Students will promote the event on social media, sharing interesting ideas and images they discovered from their in-class discussions and Dialogue Across the Disciplines meeting, with the hashtag #iwuhumanitiesfellows.

The event is a co-curricular activity complementing the Universitys annual intellectual theme, The Evolution of Revolution. The event is co-sponsored by the Robert W. Harrington Endowed Chair in History, the Byron Tucci Endowed Chair in Hispanic Studies, the Colwell Endowed Chair in English, the Women and Gender Studies Program, and the Renaissance, Early Modern, and Medieval Group.

By Vi Kakares '20
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By Samuel White | EurActiv.com |  

The cost of solar power is falling quickly.

France plans to more than double its solar power capacity in the next ten years and make it easier for citizens to become energy independent, as part of its energy transition plan. But closer inspections leaves room for doubt if Paris will make good on its promises.

France met 19% of its final energy demand from renewables in 2016 and plans to increase this share to 40% by 2030. Key to the plan is the simplification of rules governing prosumers  citizens or businesses that generate and consume their own energy  and their connection to the traditional energy market.

Seventy-six percent of French citizens want to generate and consume their own energy, Virginie Schwarz, director for energy at Frances ecological transition ministry, told an event hosted by EURACTIV in Paris on 5 October.

And demand for the connection of independent generation capacity is growing. Last year one-third of connection requests for photovoltaic capacity were from prosumers. This year so far it is more than half  from households, businesses and cooperatives, she said.

Schwarz added that the share of photovoltaic (PV) energy generation in the renewable energy mix would continue to rise as prices fall.

Europes energy transition is irreversible and France is poised to become its leader, European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic said at an event in Paris on Thursday (5 October).

The price of ground-based PV generation in France has fallen by more than 60% since 2011 to 60 per megawatt hour. Rooftop PV is still more costly at 90 per megawatt hour, according to Schwarz, but even this represents a 50% price drop compared to six years ago.

For Xavier Barbaro, the CEO of Neoen France, an independent producer of sustainable energy, this upscaling of solar power generation will benefit not only the environment but also the industry and the state. The key is to be competitive and not to survive on subsidies. Economies of scale are vital for this, he said.

In order to make this a reality, Barbaro said, Europe must take a leading role. National scales are too small but diverging regulation across member states makes it hard for renewable projects to reach critical mass. The renovation of building stocks is one area the businessman singled out for a European solution.

We must arrive at a point where PV cells are a standard cladding for buildings. France is leading but so much more can be done, he said, citing intelligent networks, storage and demand-side incentives as the essential building blocks of an EU-wide energy market based on renewables.

Paolo Frankl, the head of renewable energy at the International Energy Agency (IEA), said it was wrong to assume that major change would be held back by a lack of storage options for renewable energy. Flexible integration is the major issue, he said, but if we have cheap PV and cheap storage five years from now, this will be a real game changer.

Renewables loophole threatens to dilute EU buildings law objectives

An oversight in the revised text of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) risks undermining the European Commissions promise to place efficiency first across all EU energy legislation ahead of a defining vote in Parliament this week.

Mark Widmar, the CEO of PV cell company First Solar, insisted that the rise of solar power was driven by fundamental economics and that Europe would continue to see an increasing adoption of solar technology by homeowners, companies and energy utilities.

But Green MEP Claude Turmes questioned the commitment of France, and the EU, to a truly sustainable energy transition, saying the lack of a coherent industrial policy tells a different tale.

The Luxembourger pointed out that in the last year of Francois Hollandes term as president, France invested 15bn in nuclear projects, including handing 10bn to EDF to invest in its Hinckley Point project in the UK.

At the same time, government investment in solar power was negligible, although France does not currently produce anything like enough PV cells to cover its ambition in the sector.

Wage costs for solar panel constructors are not even 5% of their overheads, so blaming [the state of the European industry] on Asian dumping is not realistic, said Turmes. The real reason European PV cells are so expensive is the high cost of capital.

Solar will be the number one energy source in terms of gigawatt hours and we will not produce any of our own panels in Europe, added Turmes. That is not my idea of a European industrial policy.

The European Commissions draft industrial strategy, which was leaked in September, has been heavily criticised for lacking strategic objectives.

Via EurActiv.com



Related video added by Juan Cole:

TRT: Money Talks: Total launches clean energy service in France
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This article was originally published at The Conversation. The publication contributed the article to Live Science's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights.

Racial bias can seem like an intractable problem. Psychologists and other social scientists have had difficulty finding effective ways to counter it  even among people who say they support a fairer, more egalitarian society. One likely reason for the difficulty is that most efforts have been directed toward adults, whose biases and prejudices are often firmly entrenched.

My colleagues and I are starting to take a new look at the problem of racial bias by investigating its origins in early childhood. As we learn more about how biases take hold, will we eventually be able to intervene before any biases become permanent?

Measuring racial bias

When psychology researchers first began studying racial biases, they simply asked individuals to describe their thoughts and feelings about particular groups of people. A well-known problem with these measures of explicit bias is that people often try to respond to researchers in ways they think are socially appropriate.

Starting in the 1990s, researchers began to develop methods to assess implicit bias, which is less conscious and less controllable than explicit bias. The most widely used test is the Implicit Association Test, which lets researchers measure whether individuals have more positive associations with some racial groups than others. However, an important limitation of this test is that it only works well with individuals who are at least six years old  the instructions are too complex for younger children to remember.

Recently, my colleagues and I developed a new way to measure bias, which we call the Implicit Racial Bias Test. This test can be used with children as young as age three, as well as with older children and adults. This test assesses bias in a manner similar to the IAT but with different instructions.

Here's how a version of the test to detect an implicit bias that favors white people over black people would work: We show participants a series of black and white faces on a touchscreen device. Each photo is accompanied by a cartoon smile on one side of the screen and a cartoon frown on the other.

In one part of the test, we ask participants to touch the cartoon smile as quickly as possible whenever a black face appears, and the cartoon frown as quickly as possible whenever a white face appears. In another part of the test, the instructions are reversed.

The difference in the amount of time it takes to follow one set of instructions versus the other is used to compute the individual's level of implicit bias. The reasoning is that it takes more time and effort to respond in ways that go against our intuitions.

Do young children even have racial biases?

Explicit racial biases have been documented in young children for many years. Researchers know that young children can also show implicit bias at the earliest ages that it has been measured, and often at rates that are comparable to those seen among adults.

Some studies suggest that precursors of racial bias can be detected in infancy. In one such study, researchers measured how long infants looked at faces of their own race or another race that were paired with happy or sad music. They found that 9-month-olds looked longer when the faces of their own race were paired with the happy music, which was different from the pattern of looking times for the other-race faces. This result suggests that the tendency to prefer faces that match one's own race begins in infancy.

These early patterns of response arise from a basic psychological tendency to like and approach things that seem familiar, and dislike and avoid things that seem unfamiliar. Some researchers think that these tendencies have roots in our evolutionary history (opens in new tab) because they help people to build alliances within their social groups.

However, these biases can change over time. For example, young black children in Cameroon show an implicit bias in favor of black people versus white people as part of a general tendency to prefer in-group members, who are people who share characteristics with you. But this pattern reverses in adulthood, as individuals are repeatedly exposed to cultural messages indicating that white people have higher social status than black people.

A new approach to tackling bias

Researchers have long recognized that racial bias is associated with dehumanization. When people are biased against individuals of other races, they tend to view them as part of an undifferentiated group rather than as specific individuals. Giving adults practice at distinguishing among individuals of other races leads to a reduction in implicit bias, but these effects tend to be quite short-lived.

In our new research, we adapted this individuation approach for use with young children. Using a custom-built training app, young children learn to identify five individuals of another race during a 20-minute session. We found that 5-year-olds who participated showed no implicit racial bias immediately after the training.

Although the effects of a single session were short-lived, an additional 20-minute booster session one week later allowed children to maintain about half of their initial bias reduction for two months. We are currently working on a game-like version of the app for further testing.

Only a starting point

Although our approach suggests a promising new direction for reducing racial bias, it is important to note that this is not a magic bullet. Other aspects of the tendency to dehumanize individuals of different races also need to be investigated, such as people's diminished level of interest in the mental life of individuals who are outside of their social group. Because well-intended efforts to reduce racial bias can sometimes be ineffective or produce unintended consequences, any new approaches that are developed will need to be rigorously evaluated.

And of course the problem of racial bias is not one that can be solved by addressing the beliefs of individuals alone. Tackling the problem also requires addressing the broader social and economic factors that promote and maintain biased beliefs and behaviors.

Gail Heyman, Professor of Psychology, University of California, San Diego

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.
Farmers are being urged to check sheds and chemical stores for DDT or other banned pesticides, and take advantage of a free collection and disposal service.

Funding for the disposal of persistent organic pesticides (POPs) is coming to an end but the company responsible for the service, 3R Group Ltd, believes there is still more out there.

3Rs ChemCollect manager Jason Richards says if farmers think they might have DDT, or anything similar in their sheds, they should book a collection before the end of October as it could be their last chance to dispose of the pesticides for free.

If left unresolved, the potential for harm is high, particularly as much of the original packaging is now deteriorating, Mr Richards says.

POPs were used in many insecticide and sheep dip products sold in New Zealand, from the 1940s to the 1970s.

They have been linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.

More information on POPs and how to register for free collection can be found at thegreatDDTmuster.co.nz or by calling 0508 243 642.
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California Senate leader Kevin de Leon on Sunday launched an audacious bid to challenge fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein for her U.S. Senate seat, saying he was running to fight President Trump s agenda and that the state has changed greatly during the quarter of a century Feinstein has been in office.

Were overdue for a real debate on the issues, priorities and leadership voters want from their senator, De Leon said in an interview. I think California needs a senator not just fully resistant to Trumps presidency, but who understands the issues most Californians face every day.

De Leon announced his bid in an email to supporters and a video, where he painted a dire picture.

We now stand at the front lines of a historic struggle for the very soul of America, against a president without one. Every day, his administration wages war on our people and our progress. He disregards our voices. Demonizes our diversity. Attacks our civil rights, our clean air, our health access and our public safety, he said in an email to supporters. We can lead the fight against his administration, but only if we jump into the arena together.

De Leon said he will focus on improving quality of life, increasing educational opportunities, cleaning the environment and creating universal healthcare.

I am running for the U.S. Senate because you deserve a seat at the table..., he said. To achieve these goals, expand the California dream, and take the fight to Trump from California to Washington, D.C., I commit to working tirelessly to earn your vote here at home, and once elected, to do my part to work even harder to reunite this nation with a progressive agenda.

The announcement sets the stage for a bitter intraparty battle next year, pitting Feinstein, who epitomizes the Democratic old guard, against a member of the partys ambitious younger generation seeking to climb the political ladder. It also presages a costly and divisive fight at a time many California Democrats argue their energy and dollars would be better spent on several congressional races in the state that could determine who controls Congress.

Bill Carrick, Feinsteins longtime political advisor, described De Leons bid as wasting money and energy on what will turn out to be a rather difficult campaign for Sen. De Leon. Hes a virtual unknown. Hes a termed-out politician looking for a gig.

Carrick predicted Feinstein would do very, very well in the contest, noting her strength with female voters, her base in Northern California and her history of winning Los Angeles County.

If he sees an opening, its a mirage, Carrick said of De Leon.

Feinstein, who toured fire damage in Northern California with Gov. Jerry Brown and fellow Sen. Kamala Harris over the weekend, did not immediately comment about the challenge.

Earlier, Feinstein seemed unfazed about the prospect in an interview with The Times.

I am what I am; Im pretty well known and people, I assume, will come after me any way they can. Thats up to them, Feinstein said. If thats of any value to people Ill win, if its not I wont.

She made the remarks as rumors about De Leon challenging Feinstein  who, at 84, is the oldest member of the Senate  crescendoed.

Unlike previous years, she has faced heated criticism of late from liberal critics who have said her measured approach is no longer representative of a state that has become home to the resistance to President Trump and his policies. Feinstein also drew rebukes from members of her party when she called for patience with Trump this summer, saying he could develop into a good president.

De Leon faces significant challenges in his effort to unseat Feinstein. She is a well-respected party elder who is among the most powerful Democratic forces in the state and the nation. When then-Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton sought a detente during the 2008 election, it was hosted in her living room. She is also among the wealthiest members of Congress and could easily self-fund a campaign if she needed to. And since she was first elected to the chamber in 1992, she has earned seniority and bipartisan trust in a chamber where both are critical, especially for members of the party out of power.

De Leon said he is used to taking on tough battles.

Were taking on the establishment, there is no doubt, he said. But Ive taken on the establishment all my life and Ive been told to wait my turn. Now is the time for change and I look forward to having this debate of ideas, of vision for the state.

Still, he seemed cognizant that he must tread carefully. When asked about policy differences, he said he wanted to be very respectful toward Feinstein, before pointing to the use of the military overseas.

Sen. Feinstein is an aggressive hawk on foreign policy matters and military intervention and a conservative incrementalist on domestic issues, he said, adding that he would take the opposite approach.

The biggest endorsement De Leon received following his announcement was from Democracy for America, the progressive political action committee formed by former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean in 2004. He was also backed by Assembly members Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher of San Diego and Kevin McCarty of Sacramento, and former state Sen. Dean Florez.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced on Sunday that it was backing Feinstein, not surprising since the group supports incumbents. She received several high-profile endorsements when she kicked off her reelection bid last week.

Political strategists say that although she enjoys institutional advantages, she cant take for granted that this may be her toughest race since 1994, at a time when segments of the Democratic electorate are agitating for change and grossly dissatisfied with the status quo. Making her case to younger voters who are unfamiliar with her record as well as the most liberal wing of the party that is hungry for a flame-throwing critic of Trump will be key.

It will be Dianne Feinsteins job to reassure voters who are concerned about that that she is very much in tune with current issues and the current concerns of California, said Darry Sragow, a veteran Democratic consultant who ran her unsuccessful 1990 campaign for governor. He added this was particularly true for younger voters. The oldest of voters under 30, they would have been five when she was first elected [to the Senate]. They were watching Sesame Street, not Meet the Press. She has her work cut out for her.
Sourcing quality umpires is the only stumbling block to growth at the Warkworth Hockey Club and, for that matter, the sport across the country.

The turf at the Warkworth Showgrounds is currently host to 22 teams each week in summer competitions.

But Warkworth Hockey Club committee member Monique Hatfull says getting umpires to facilitate games can be a challenge.

We do struggle to get umpires, even though we pay ours to officiate the summer competitions, Hatfull says.

You really need people who are actually keen to fill the role and have the confidence to manage a game.

Harbour Hockey development manager Kim Jordan says this is not an isolated issue and one that runs through all levels of the sport.

Hockey is a growing sport, but unfortunately the number of umpires we have hasnt grown to match that increase, Jordan says.

Even at international level umpires are not paid and have full-time jobs so its difficult to attract people to the role.

Jordan believes the perception of being an umpire is also contributing to the challenge.

Hockey supporters are generally well behaved. Even so, people are put off by the idea of crowd and player abuse.

She says that training quality umpires is also resource intensive and that when people become too busy with sporting commitments, officiating is often the first thing they drop.

Despite the issue, Hatfull is pleased with the direction of hockey in Warkworth, following a change of format for the summer season.

Last year, we ran sevens before Christmas and then nines afterwards, but we received a lot of feedback that people wanted nines offered for the whole summer, so weve done that.

People can still play sevens, too, and both competitions will continue through into the new year. So far, its working well.

Umpires are in demand as hockey grows nationwide.
Cribriform breast cancer is a rare type of breast cancer that often develops alongside another form of the disease. It is typically low grade, slow growing cancer that has a better outlook than most other types. Around 56% of invasive breast cancers have parts of the tumor that are cribriform, according to breastcancer.org. However, a 2015 report and review appearing in Oncology Letters estimated a much lower incidence of 0.33.5% of people with breast cancer have the cribriform form. In this article, we explain the grading and types of cribriform breast cancer, as well as ways of diagnosing the disease.

What is cribriform breast cancer? Share on Pinterest The cells in cribriform breast cancer feature a distinctive pattern of holes. This type of cancer involves breast cancer cells that feature a pattern of holes. According to BreastCancer.org, the appearance of these holes closely resembles those in Swiss cheese. Cribriform cancer can also include features from other types of breast cancer. A person may have more than one type of cancer in a tumor. A doctor may also diagnose invasive mammary carcinoma of no special type, which means the cancer cells do not resemble any specific type. Several different types of cells can grow in breast cancers, including: tubular

mucinous cribriform

micropapillary Cribriform cells are among the least common.

Grading Grading of a tumor means that a doctor examines the cancer cells and describes them as grade 1, 2, or 3. Grading is important, as it tells other doctors how different the cancerous cells are in comparison to healthy breast cells. The higher the grade, the faster the cancer cells usually grow. The grading of breast cancer is: Grade 1: The tumor cells are slow growing and closely resemble those of typical breast cells.

Grade 2: The tumor cells are moderately different from healthy cells.

Grade 3: The tumor cells are highly abnormal and appear to be growing quickly. As well as the grading, a doctor will also need to decide the staging of the cancer when considering prognosis and treatments.

Staging Share on Pinterest Working out the stage of a cancer helps a doctor define a course of treatment. Staging defines the extent of the cancer, including how far it has spread and the tumor size. Staging for cribriform breast cancer is as follows: Stage 0 (carcinoma in situ): At this stage of breast cancer, the cancerous cells have not spread beyond the ducts of the breast into the fatty tissue. Early detection and treatment at this stage usually have an excellent outlook.

At this stage of breast cancer, the cancerous cells have not spread beyond the ducts of the breast into the fatty tissue. Early detection and treatment at this stage usually have an excellent outlook. Stage 1: A tumor at this stage measures 2 centimeters (cm) or less in diameter and has not spread beyond the breast.

A tumor at this stage measures 2 centimeters (cm) or less in diameter and has not spread beyond the breast. Stage 2: Doctors define a stage 2 tumor in one of several ways: It will be: smaller than 2 cm and have spread to one to three lymph nodes under the arm

between 2 and 5 cm with or without spreading to lymph nodes

larger than 5 cm without spreading to lymph nodes Stage 3: As with stage 2, several characteristics constitute a stage 3 tumor: The tumor is any size in diameter and has spread to more than three lymph nodes or into the chest wall.

The tumor is larger than 5 cm, with spread to one to three lymph nodes. Stage 4: At its most severe stage, cancer will have spread outside the breast to other organs. This is known as metastasis. The stage of cancer can help doctors decide on the most appropriate treatments. As a general rule, the lower the stage of breast cancer, the more likely that treatment will be effective. Here, learn more about stage zero breast cancer.

Treatment Cribriform breast cancer metastasizes or spreads to lymph nodes under the arm less frequently than other forms. As a result, the prognosis for cribriform breast cancer is often favorable or good. Hormones often influence cribriform breast cancer, especially estrogen and progesterone. However, there are currently no standard treatment guidelines specific to cribriform breast cancer. A doctor will consider the cancers stage and discuss treatment options. Examples of the treatments for cribriform breast cancer include: Surgical removal: A doctor may recommend a lumpectomy or mastectomy to remove some or all of the breast tissue. This way, the surgeon can be sure that they have extracted all cancerous cells from the breast.

A doctor may recommend a lumpectomy or mastectomy to remove some or all of the breast tissue. This way, the surgeon can be sure that they have extracted all cancerous cells from the breast. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs to kill rapidly multiplying cancer cells.

Chemotherapy involves the administration of drugs to kill rapidly multiplying cancer cells. Radiation: Radiation involves exposing the tumor to high energy radiation that targets and kills cancerous cells.

Radiation involves exposing the tumor to high energy radiation that targets and kills cancerous cells. Hormone therapy: This involves drugs that inhibit the action of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, that contribute to breast cancer. Tamoxifen is a common hormone therapy drug, which prevents estrogen from binding to cancer cells. Each of these treatments has side effects that range from mild to severe. A person should discuss all treatment options, and the risks of each, with their doctor. Learn more about treating breast cancer.

Diagnosis Share on Pinterest Cribriform cancer cells show distinctive holes under a microscope.

Image credit: Nephron, 2011 A doctor will usually order a mammogram, which is an X-ray image of the breast. They may also request an ultrasound scan, which uses sound waves to identify tumors or masses in the breast. Cribriform breast cancer does not typically cause symptoms. The cancerous lesions are not always easily visible on a mammogram. If the diagnosis is not clear, the doctor may request further imaging studies, such as an MRI scan. These scans produce more precise images to aid in diagnosis. When a doctor identifies a potentially cancerous lesion in the breast, they will often recommend a biopsy. This procedure involves extracting cells from the breast with a needle and send them to a lab for investigation. A pathologist then examines the sample under a microscope to identify different types of cancerous cells. A tumor with cribriform cells will show under a microscope with its characteristic porous appearance. On receiving the results, the doctor will grade and stage the tumor. They can then make recommendations on the best course of treatment.
New research investigates the reasons behind why aging women tend to lose interest in sex after going through menopause. Share on Pinterest A range of genitourinary symptoms keep women from having or enjoying sex after a certain age. The findings will be presented at the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) Annual Meeting, which will be held in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Amanda Clark, from the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research in Portland, OR, is the lead author of the study. The research examines the prevalence of so-called genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) among postmenopausal women, and how it impacts womens ability to enjoy sex. GSM is the collective name for the range of vaginal and urinary tract issues affecting women who are either going through menopause or who are postmenopausal. Common GSM symptoms include bladder control problems and pain during sex, or dyspareunia, which tends to occurs because the vaginal walls become thinner with age.

Studying GSM symptoms in aging women From March to October 2015,Dr. Clark and her colleagues surveyed more than 1,500 women aged 55 and above using email. The women were predominantly white, and nearly half (48 percent) of them reported not having had any sexual activity in the 6 months leading up to the study. The women were approached within 2 weeks after they had visited their primary care physician or gynecologist, and the researchers selected the participants using electronic health records. In the survey, the women were asked about their history of vulvovaginal, urinary, and sexual symptoms. The researchers compiled questions from the International Urogynecology Association-Revised Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, and they combined them with similar questions that they designed specifically for vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms.

Fear of painful sex makes women avoid it The main self-reported reasons for why women were not sexually active were lack of a partner, with 47 percent of respondents saying that this was the case, or the partners lack of interest or physical inability, with 55 percent of participants responding thusly. However, in addition to these, the respondents reported several medical reasons. Bladder leaks, urgency, or too frequent urination was noted by 7 percent of the women, while 26 percent of them said that their sexual inactivity was due to vulvovaginal dryness, irritation, or pain, and 24 percent said that dyspareunia was the main reason. Sexually active women also reported feeling pain or discomfort while having sex, with 45 percent of them saying that they usually or always feel such pain. Also, 7 percent of these women said that they experienced urine leakage during intercourse. Vaginal dryness was another common problem, and 64 of the women who did not use lubricant reported experiencing this issue. Overall, [For] both sexually active and inactive women, fear of experiencing [painful sex] was reported as [the] reason for avoiding or restricting sex more often [] than fear of bladder symptoms, write the authors. More specifically, 20 percent of the women reported a fear of vulvovaginal atrophy symptoms, while just 9 percent reported a fear of bladder control symptoms. Dr. Clark and her colleagues conclude, Postmenopausal women report that [GSM] symptoms occur during sexual activity. Further, these symptoms limit the ability to be sexually active and negatively affect the emotional experience of their sexual life. Our findings underscore the need to further expand the sexual history after a woman reports that she is not currently sexually active.
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Margaret Dery, Miss Ghana 2017, together with her runners-up have paid a courtesy call on President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Flagstaff House.

During the grand finale held over the week, the President, who was in the Northern part of the country on an official tour, sent a goodwill message to the pageant via video footage which was shown to the audience.

In his remark, President Akufo-Addo promised setting up a meeting with the Queens upon his return to the Flagstaff House.

The President congratulated the organisers for a successful organization of the MissGhana60YearsOn event, Exclusive Events Ghana headed by former Miss Ghana Inna Patty.

He extolled the brand for its projection of women empowerment.

He said the Office of the President will continue to support the Miss Ghana pageant and all related projects that are aimed at uplifting the Ghanaian.

On a night filled with glitz and glamour, Miss Dery emerged winner with runners-up, Priscilla Gameli and Marigold Frimpong.

Miss Ghana 2017/MissGhana60YearsOn was organised in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture and the Ghana60YearsOn Planning Committee.
Following the death of his friend Tagbo Umeike on October 3, 2017, Davido has decided to put a hold on some of his shows.

In a statement released by the lawyer of the 'Fall' hit maker, Norrison Quakers (SAN) detailing their side of the story of the alleged murder, he added the artiste is worried by the death of his friend and in keeping with that will not hold some of his upcoming shows.

Our client in honour of the memory of his departed friend has suspended his next few shows and musical engagements. We commiserate with the families of the deceased and pray that God will comfort them at a time like this, he wrote.

Davido who is starting his '30 Billio Africa Tour' on 7th October, 2017, was invited by the Lagos Police on October 11, 2017 to help investigations into the death of Tagbo whose body was deposited at the Lagos Island General Hospital after he had gone out to party n the company of Davido and few other friends on October 2.

According to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, Davido's invitation was premised on a revelation by the CCTV footage which shows that he and his friends dumped Tagbo in the car and took to their heels.

It is our intention to know why the victim was taken to General Hospital Lagos, dumped and those who took him there fled the location without as much as notifying the hospital authorities or reporting to the police, the Police Commander said.

Autopsy has been conducted and the preliminary autopsy report reveals that the victim died of asphyxia which in layman's term means suffocation, he added.

Meanwhile, Davido's lawyer has, through the statement, refuted the claims his client had murdered Tagbo. According to him, the evidence and footage available to the Police disclose the chain of events leading to the discovery of the remains of Mr. Tagbo Umeike do not in any way incriminate his Client, but rather absolves him of any criminal culpability.

The facts that can be distilled from the CCTV footage obtained from Shisha Room are that on or about 12:23 am in the early hours of Tuesday the 3rd of October, 2017 our Client got ready to leave the premises of the Shisha Room, where he had gone to earlier in the company of some of his friends to celebrate the birthday of one Clarks Adeleke, he said.

Again, we reiterate our client arrived at the Shisha Room in his vehicle with his friends and the deceased arrived about one hour later in his own vehicle. The CCTV footage obtained from the 'Shisha Room' captured our Client and some others, including the deceased all standing close to our Client's vehicle as he prepared to leave after the drinks and celebrations, Mr. Quakers added.

Davido is supposed to start his '30 Billion Africa Tour' on 7th October, 2017 at Macufe Festival, Bloemfotein, South Africa.

In subsequent days, he will be going to Zimbabwe, Ghana, Mozambique Botswana, Guinea, among other African countries.
15.10.2017 LISTEN

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has showed his support to #NotTooYoungToRun bill which was passed by the Senate on 26th of July, 2017 in Samuel Ajibolas comedy web series Dele Issues.

In this special episode titled Dele for President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo openly declares young Dele for president  marking his support of reducing the age limits for candidates to run for elective offices in Nigeria.

The #NotTooYoungToRun bill seeks to alter some sections of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to reduce the age limit of people with intentions to run for the office of President, Governor, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly respectively.

Dele issues (Daily Issues) follows the life of Dele who is always faced with difficult situations where he is always expected to make decisions, which are mostly ridiculous. The series is garnished with funny expressions which will throw the audience into a fit of laughter.

Watch the special episode here:

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Swedru-based artiste, Patapaa will not perform at this year's Radio and Television Personality (RTP) Awards slated for this month despite reports to the contrary.

Manager for the 'One Corner' hitmaker, Godfred Bokpin said there is no contract between them and organsers of the Awards.

In an interview with Prince Tsegah on Hitz FMs Showbiz Fylla last week, he said RTP organisers had offered E1,000 for the artiste to perform at the event but they rejected it because of the meagre money involved.

"And all the person [one of the organisers] could say was, we want to put your boy on our platform to give him the hype, we have a thousand Ghana cedis for your boy," Mr Bokpin recounted, adding he flatly declined.

He was reacting to claims that Patapaa would be performing at the programme organised annually to award media personalities who distinguish themselves in their line of work.

The young artiste reportedly took E1,000 to perform at the event, an amount that has triggered unfavourable criticims from lovers of the 'One Corner' song.

Fans of the artiste have called on him to reject the offer.

But the manager said: This is false because, as far as Im concerned, nobody has contacted me for Patapaa to perform at the RTP, and I stand as a manager for Pataapa."

Although he admitted he was contacted by the event organisers for the artiste to thrill attendees with his song, Mr Bokpin said no formal agreement was signed between them.

The desperation of RTP Awards organisers, he noted was seen when they met Patapaa and handed him the money. But after the artiste was told the money was his performace fee, he told them to first inform his manager.

So I called the guy and said look! Im the manager, and were not accepting a thousand Ghana cedis or whatever amount you have agreed with your people. Lets see a contract which is fair enough then my artiste is good to go," he continued.
15.10.2017 LISTEN

The organizers of FACE OF ANKARA Fashion Show has changed the name of their proposed Fashion Show to ANKARA FASHIONISTA 2017.

The event which was initially scheduled to hold on 29th October 2017 was also rescheduled following the change.

The change of the event from FACE OF ANKARA FASHION SHOW 2017 to ANKARA FASHIONISTA came following a call received by the Project Manage on 6th September 2017 from the Project Director of FACE OF ANKARA NIGERIA Mr. Ibuot Jude Joseph.

In his call, Mr. Ibuot Jude Joseph Said that FACE OF ANKARA is a registered name under Cooperate Affairs (CAC) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that for the organizers of the event to go ahead with the name an official letter asking for permission to use the name FACE OF ANKARA should be addressed to their Cooperate Office. The Organizers having done exactly as directed by the Project Director waited too long for the feedback but couldnt hold it any longer for than to go ahead with a new name for the fashion show as well as fixing Audition and Event date.

According to the CEO of Janny Ankara Fashion World and the Project Manager of the Event Janet Ime Etefia in her words:

The change of the event was to enable us move ahead with the planning while we fix audition and event date rather than waiting to be granted permission to use FACE OF ANKARA as earlier proposed.

We strongly believe ANKARA FASHIONISTA will take us somewhere as it has come to remain as one of the Leading Fashion Firm in AKwa Ibom State.

ANKARA FASHIONISTA is organized by Janny Ankara Fashion World and it is a Fashion Show not just designed to showcase various Fashion Designers in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at Large; but to also showcase upcoming Models, Media Houses, Female Presenters and screen Divas.

The Event is officially scheduled to hold on 29 October at Vegas Paradise, Udo Umana Avenue Opposite Loto Office while Audition holds at the same venue on 21 October, 2017.

Interested Contestants are to pick up their forms in Ikot Ekpene by calling 08162772916 and Uyo by Calling 08161168346.

For Partnership and Sponsorship, please call: 08136042561.
Where To Go When Your Local Emergency Room Goes Bankrupt?" During the past ten years 84 California hospitals have declared bankruptcy and closed their Emergency Rooms forever. Financially crippled by legislative and judicial mandates to treat illegal aliens have bankrupted hospitals! In 2010, in Los Angeles County alone, over 2 million illegal aliens recorded visits to county emergency rooms for both routine and emergency care. The cost is $1,000 dollars for every taxpayer. VIVA LA RAZA?
An aircraft has crashed into the sea off Ivory Coast, shortly after taking off from the international airport of the main city Abidjan, with reports of several dead or injured people.

It was a cargo plane carrying freight for the French army, security sources told local news site Koaci.

Reports suggest it was a Ukrainian or Russian turboprop Antonov plane.

It crashed in heavy rain and the wreckage was swept back towards the shore near Port-Bouet.

At least four people were killed, a witness told Reuters news agency.

Rescue workers have removed two bodies from the plane while a further two could be seen in the wreckage, the agency says.


Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah has launched Youth Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development Initiative for Employment at Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

The programme which was launched on Friday October 13, 2017 dubbed Yiedie is a project aimed at training the Youth in technical, life and entrepreneurship skills leading to employment in the construction sector value chain.

Addressing the durbar Mr. Simon Osei Mensah disclosed the selected persons may choose a 6 weeks, Entrepreneurship and Financial literacy training program or a 3-6 months apprenticeship based Skills Training in 16 trade areas with NVTI Cert One.

He disclosed areas where the selected Youth will be training among the areas include Masonry, Plastic of Paris (POP), Tiling, Plumbing, Metal Fabrication, Carpentry, Filling Station Canopy fabrication, Machine Operations, Draftsmanship, Electrical works, Painting, Fiberglas and Aluminum fabrication, Survey Technical Assistance, Interior decor, Road Signal Installation and Steel Bending.

However the Minister Simon Osei Mensah promised to offer the Youth who will be completing training program a job through One District One Factory and other Government Social intervention programs.

On her part, Her Royal Highness Lady Julia Osei Tutu II, the wife of The Asantehene welcomed the programme and said it will enhance the skills of the youth and qualify them for employment.

She further stated many of our youth are unemployed basically because they lack skills that would enhance their chances of employment.

It is therefore a welcome development for Asanteman and Ghana she added.

Lady Julia stressed it has been the vision of His Royal Highness Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu II to ensure absolute development for the youth in Ghana thus she commended Global Communities for introduction of the programme and added they will do everything possible to sustain the programme.

She advised the youth particularly young girls to embraced the programme and refrain from social vices that affects their life.

She said most of the times the youth will be completing schools and finds it difficult to get employment but this she said will pave a way for the youth to have their own businesses.

Among the youth who have completed the skills training programme were presented to them certificates.
The former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana has indicated that the former president John Dramani Mahama could have implemented free Senior High School in its current fashion but for misuse of public funds.

According to the vociferous clergyman, the former president rather spent state funds buying vehicles and building houses for cronies whose puppet strings he could play around to his advantage.

He was speaking at a public lecture organized by the Christian Service University College on the theme Institutional corruption in Ghana causes and effects.

Prof. Martey fumed, This free Senior High School, Mahama government could have done it. But how can you dash out four wheel drives to people and to even others who do not have classmates but have formed political parties. You give them not one but two and you build houses for them. All these monies could have been used and used well. It is only in Ghana that this will happen.

Professor Martey decried the phenomenon where corrupt leaders will use scarce national resources in high profile projects which will bring them more money because the bigger the project the bigger the money. But they will neglect the lesser ones which will be the hospitals and the schools that the people need.

Some three hundred and fifty thousand senior high school first year students are currently attending school without paying school fees under government's full implementation of the Free Senior High School policy which it promised in the 2012 campaign.
The crew of the Saturday Morning Swing on Ultimate 106.9 fm has donated three thousand five hundred cedis (GHc3,500) for the purchase of a prosthetic limb for a nurse with a disability in her left leg.

Florence Tutu a graduate of the Komfo Anokye NMTC, is an ardent listener of the SM Show which has fast become Kumasis most listened to Saturday amusement show which combines music, comedy, prank calls and the most unusual fun interviews.

Donations began pouring in when Host of the show and EIB Northern Sector Brands and Marketing Manager Nana Benyin Anamel made the appeal some three weeks ago, to raise funds to support her buy a new prosthetic limb.

He narrated Florence listens to the Saturday Morning swing so one day I met her at Komfo Anokye and I realized her state. With the prosthetic leg, you need to go for it to be increased as you grow and increase in height but she didnt have the money to do that.

So I talked to those who listen to the Saturday Morning Swing, I put a post on facebook, I talked to some elderly men that I knew and then fifty cedis, thirty cedis, ten cedis gradually we were able to raise the two thousand five hundred. Then from nowhere one Doctor and Mrs McHarison also came and added a thousand to make it three thousand five hundred.

Comedian Foster Romanus, who was on the Saturday Morning Swing, also donated a hundred cedis to the course.

A grateful Florence Tutu was elated she could now walk with much ease to pursue her dream of becoming an exceptional nurse.

She told Ultimate News Ivan Heathcote  Fumador, there is this perception that nurses are disrespectful and look down on their patients but I want to be an exception to the rule because when people are sick and looking at the way nurses will treat them, I become sad.

I thank Nana Benyin; he has been a good friend. I thank Ultimate fm; I am going to do the prosthesis and come back to show you guys that this is what you did for me and this is the result of what you donated.

Florence Tutu also thanked all who donated with a quote from the book of Galatians 6:9 which quotes, Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
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Two Non-Governmental Organisations namely Reality Ghana and The Great Thinkers Club under the Impact Ghana Agenda Network, a Ghana-based youth driven hub which has acquired capacity building skills to connect and effectively empower young people to maximize their potentials for greater societal impactson September 23, 2017 successfully fulfilled their commitments to SDG 1 and 3 amongst others.

The team upon a feasibility study in the area realised that though the inhabitants of Old Fadama (Sodom and Gomorrah) appears to be struggling to make earns meet, the area was alsoengulf with fifth as well as constant pollution from burning of waste materials by scavengers who are squatters in the area. Teenage pregnancy and Child labour has become the order of the day as most children find it easier to make earns meet in the e-waste business.

This research necessitated the planning and execution of the project Meals onWheels at old Fadama popularly known Sodom and Gomorrah

Mr. Prince Charles Ackon Cann, President of the Great Thinkers Clubnoted that it was in the right direction to partner Mr. Attakorah Nyamekyes Reality Ghana on the life changing impact project dubbed Meals on Wheels. He further noted that the purpose of this partnership as change agents was to feed over thousand street children with free medical screening to improve their health care and to educate them on some healthy practices that will go a long way to improve their lives.

Exposure to these hazardous environments can go a long way to affect their future if care is not taken. Children by nature are more vulnerable to any poison, contaminants or toxin because of their rapidly developing organs he said

Mr Attakorah Nyamekye, Team lead of the Reality Ghana organisation said engaging in humanitarian activities was fulfilling knowing that the children will go home with smiles on their faces. He added that the team apart from feeding over thousand children with free health care also gave out some clothing to inspire them.

Mr. Lambert Donkor, the initiator and Country Director of the Impact Ghana Agenda Hub, commended the efforts of the two impact making giants under the network for the bold step in changing lives for a better Ghana.

He also challenged the Meals On Wheels organisers to ensure such an impactful project is sustained and also appealed to Corporate Ghana to support projects of this kind that will go a long way to bring change to our Ghana our motherland, and again added that impact makers when aligned themselves with the Sustainable development Goals will be able to achieve more and do more with regards to societal impacts.

However the event saw the likes of many volunteers such as Chiefs, Doctors, Nurses and people from all walks of like to support.

Both organizing team members have assured to roll up follow up projects with a monitoring plan of action to ensure their efforts wont be channeled into the drain.
Head Pastor of the Calvary Charismatic Centre, Rev Ransford Obeng, has taken it hard on public officers who receive bribes to issue contracts.

According to the hallowed charismatic preacher, all such politicians are neither patriotic nor compassionate to the plight of Ghanaians.

Rev. Ransford made the comments speaking to the media ahead of the churchs 2017 Spiritual Encounter with founder of the fountain Gate Chapel Worldwide Eastwood Anaba.

He is of the firm belief that until citizens are imbibed with the fear of God, corruption will not stop in Ghana.

The only way we can root out corruption, is men and women having the fear of God in their hearts and that is why we keep preaching the word and that is why we have such programs like this. If anybody comes even if he is a politician, he will be touched by God, he stressed.

Using the president Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo as a reference point, Rev Ransford cautioned the citizenry who have no experience in high public office not to arrogate innocence and integrity to themselves.

If you get the opportunity where you are going to sign millions of cedis of contracts and you dont do it in self interest but you do it in the interest of the nation, then you can say I am not corrupt.

Like our president said I have never been corrupt and I am never corrupt because he has been in government before so he can say that. Those of us who have not been in government before, we cannot say that because we dont know what you will do when you get the opportunity, he insisted.

Commenting on the October 7 Atomic Junction gas explosion which killed seven, Rev. Ransford asked that staff of regulatory agencies do well to put humanity first before money, as they go around carrying out their checks and enforcing the correct safety requirements.

The three day Spiritual Empowerment event which begun on Friday evening at the churches colossal Ayigya temple has a history of miracles, life changing testimonies and prophesies for the nation.

The annual program is also credited with a huge patronage in Kumasi with a diverse attendance of Christians and Muslims.
The Head Pastor of the Calvary Charismatic Centre in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi Rev. Ransford Obeng has expressed need for the country to raise a prayer for protection and direction for Ghana.

This admonition comes as the church gets ready to host one of the most attended events on the calendar of the church  The Spiritual Encounter with one of Ghanas charismatic forbearers and founder of the Fountain Gate Chapel Worldwide, Rev. Eastwood Anaba.

The three day event which will begin on Friday evening at the churches colossal Ayigya temple has a history of miracles, life changing testimonies and prophesies for the nation.

The annual program is also credited with a huge patronage in Kumasi with a diverse attendance of Christians and Muslims.

Speaking with Ultimate News ahead of the grand event, Rev Ransford Obeng extolled the virtues of Rev Anaba and why he would entrust the pulpit to him to preach to thousands in Kumasi.

He is one of the prophets of our time. When we talk about prophets, we are talking about somebody who comes forth with the word of God and tells you if you do this or that, it will be well with you. This is the man Eastwood. He is the man that has the word of God that can equip us for every crisis we can face in the future.

The Rev. Ransford Obeng added that all Spiritual Encounter events that the church has had with Rev. Eastwood Anaba has come out with an immeasurable impact on lives and the country.

He explained, sometimes spiritual things are very difficult to measure but the impact we have is that anytime he comes we have changed lives people come to give their lives to Christ, we have people that testify of healing and so many miracles.

Giving an advice to the country, Reverend Ransford Obeng also admonished government and politicians to ensure that they utilize the tax payers money judiciously and with some concern and pity for the ordinary Ghanaian.

He added, If you dont have the fear of God you can be corrupt and that is why we keep organizing such programs so that even if you are a politician and you come here, you will be touched by God."
If you know your Rights, you're to blame for every Human Rights violation which you let slide right under your nose. If you aren't aware of your Rights, you're slightly worse. People who are equipped with the knowledge of their Rights but do not teach others, or calmly watch the Rights of other people get violated, ridicules the knowledge of their own Human Rights.

However frequent or limited in practice, Human Rights abuse is part of the make-up of every societywhether Third World or civilized. If many more people do not stand up against it, we'd eventually be consumed by it. Our Rights are given to us to enjoy, so how much longer should they lie in wait before they come in handy?

Unfair police harassment (unnecessary most of the time) has steadily developed into an established 'legal crime' in almost every part of the world. We watch the police bully other people in front of us, while we turn our faces away. Why get violently frisked by an officer for replying an impolite question with sarcasm?

Every individual has a Right to religion, regardless of how often they choose to switch their religious allegiance. Why condemn an Atheist, or psychologically bully an ex-Christian for converting to Islam? Why should the death penalty be recommended for Muslims who terminate their loyalty to Islamic practices?

People have a Right to their choice of sexuality as long as they make advances to people of their own kind. It's up to you to disagree with their 'awkward' choices based on your belief or value system, but why nod along in agreement as a gay or lesbian folk is being assaulted or treated unfairly because of their sexuality?

It is the Right of a people to decide their political destiny through the principle of Self-Determination if they feel their interests would be better guaranteed with full autonomy. Any constitution that selfishly declares such Right illegal is absolutely in the wrong. Why demonize a secessionist movement that wants out of its parent-country on the grounds of oppression or poor recognition? Why's the idea of self-governance most often dead on arrival?

It isn't the Right of government to infiltrate people's private life by spying on their emails or phone records in the guise of secret surveillance. The occasional usefulness of this method doesn't make it right or legal.

People have a Right to choose their spouse from whatever race, tribe, religion or ethnic extraction if they so desire. Shaming them, or attempting to stand in the way of their union is ideologically-illiterate.

Why encourage severe corporal punishment for children? Why fire a vocal worker for insisting on better work conditions? African-Americans have a Right to U.S nationality as core citizens, and not as licensed-generational-squatters. Can our Human Rights finally come in handy this year?

Bio: Nimi Princewill is a Nigerian-born writer and social reformer.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @princewill_nimi
15.10.2017 LISTEN

For the past years, health and Agriculture have proven to be significant sectors worth attention by various governments. Research shown that, it is factual that Industrial countries have not been able to solve the problem of the spiraling costs of health care resulting from technological development, public expectations of health care delivery, and in particular, the rapidly increasing size of their elderly populations. The people of many developing countries are still living in dire poverty with dysfunctional health care systems and extremely limited access to basic medical care.

As we move into the new millennium it is becoming increasingly clear that the biomedical sciences are entering the most exciting phase of their development, governments from the developed nations are investing much of their resources into proving primary health care.

But the Ghanaian system is rather unfortunate; it focuses more on cure rather than prevention. But the golden rule is and would always remain the same no matter the taste of time; prevention is better than cure. The focus on treatment, especially tertiary (hospital) care, rather than prevention and early detection at the primary health care level is reflected in the governments health expenditure too, which focuses narrowly on hospitals at the expense of primary health care. Health systems in Ghana and for that matter Africa in general are geared to the management of episodes of infectious illness. We equip our hospitals and patiently wait for the citizens and not spectators to fall sick and run to us, in which most times the patient either survives or dies. Needless to say, such health systems are very poorly prepared to cope with the demands and costs of chronic care.

World Health Organizations report and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has showed that the globe has rather moved from proving cure to health needs to preventing the disease from spreading in the first place. It is high time for us, as Ghanaians to reconsider our policies in terms of health, Agriculture and the energy sector.

There is a clear need for prevention of a disease developing in the first place and, once it has developed, early diagnosis and treatment. Dr Andreas Ullrich, cancer expert at WHO. says Earlier diagnoses have the potential to produce better treatment outcomes, especially with regard to cardiovascular diseases and some cancers, and Gaita says: Now its time to focus on prevention.

It is fascinating sometimes when you hear incidence like outbreak of cholera; malaria and invasion of army-worms and many more, and then the government would say we are looking for support from world this and that to combat the challenge. I know and for the record, Ghana is still struggling with infectious diseases and weak health systems. The country faced grossly inadequate numbers of staff, mismanagement, inadequate motivation to hygiene officials and students, shortages of medicines and funds, and a sometimes total lack of insurance schemes to protect patients from catastrophic health care costs. Weaknesses in public health services drive patients to the more costly, often unregulated private sector, even for routine care.

But it would interest you to know that, in the developed world, you cant see a crowded hospital like what we have here in Ghana and other African countries. This is not because they have money and can afford private or family health professional, but it is as a result of the nations proactive strategies in making sure disease of any kind does not gain a stable breeding ground to spread. This achievement is facilitated by their dedicated research personnel, institutions producing sanitary and hygiene officials.

The Dangers of life affecting Ghana and most African countries is that, life is repetitive; so most likely what you came to meet is what you would repeat. Majority of people living in Ghana would not be able to change their lives anyway; they would only repeat the life they came to meet because life is infectious and life is repetitive. Most Ghanaians become what they hate because they is nothing dramatic changes in their lives; we hate cholera, diarrhea, and malaria but we defecate openly, we see unclean environment and we reproduce unclean environment, simply because we are reproducing what we saw and we cannot change because we have not seen change.

This is to suggest that primary health care cannot be achieved unless there is significant change in the systems by government, strategic policies should be laid down to accelerate the speed of sanitation improvement in the nation. If the policies are enforced, primary health care delivery shall be achieved in the country.

Recommendations:

In order to achieve primary health care delivery, I strongly suggest we consciously consider the following points:

1. Well thought out strategic policies should be considered with reference to the developed nations, that would help prevent rather than waiting for the incident to repeat itself.

2. Prevention is a million times the better option. What Ghana need is to focus on population-wide measures that make it easier for people to adopt healthy lifestyles. To do so, we need to revamp the hygiene schools and also provide better incentives (allowance) to students in the hygiene schools.

3. The president of the day is doing a good job for Ghana but I still hope to see the first president who would emulate Lee Kuan Yew; the first Prime Minister of Singapore after it became independence in 1965. He said, One of his first task is not to build roads and so on, but is to change the mentality of his people from third world thinking to first world thinking. Most people in Ghana still have third world mentality which makes it difficult for the nation to achieve risk free environment.

4. Every season the Ghanaian farmer loses to pathogens, which leads to decline in food production. However, research have shown that by 2030, the world's population is likely to increase by approximately 2.5 billion people, with much of this projected growth occurring in developing countries of which Ghana is part. As a consequence, food requirements are expected to double by 2025. So I think that government should not only motivate Nurses but he should extend the motivation to Agric students in the country who are our best hope to feeding the future.

REFERENCE:

Dr. Andreas U. Prevention is better than cure, Bulleting of the WHO, Vol 89: 2011

Dr. Otabil M. Going Global, Springboard 2015, Legacy and Legacy Foundation.

Giles J. Biosafety Trials Darken Outlook for Transgenic Crops in Europe. Nature 2003;425 (6960):751. [PubMed]

Lee K. Y. 2000. From Third World to First: The Singapore Story. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2000.

Professor Dan. G, Prevention is better than cure, Bulleting of the WHO, Vol 89:11

Weatherall, D. J. 1995. Science and the Quiet Art: The Role of Research in Medicine. New York: Rockefeller University, W. W. Norton, and Oxford University Press.

Abdulai Mutaru

Blogger: www.citisteps.com
Illegal Aliens Escalate Amnesty Demands, Claim Racism

Top Democrats and business allies invited reporters to a Capitol Hill event to watch illegal immigrants demand amnesty and smear Republicans as racist, in Spanish and broken English.

Im here representing all the immigrant mothers like myself, will not allow the government to tear down our sons and daughters dreams while they try to separate our families, said Lenka Mendoza, an unskilled illegal alien who has been living in the United States for 17 years since the year President Geoge W. Bush was elected. She continued, using a translator, saying:

The president does not care about our children and our families. Trump and his government supposed priorities are nothing else but an anti-immigrant and white-supremacist agenda that dont solve anything  need clean act now.

Mendoza was welcomed to the podium by Todd Schulte, a Democratic political activist who is president of FWD.us , a lobbying group formed by Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, Venture Capitalists and software CEOs. Nine of the groups 15 founders are investors who would gain from cheaper white-collar labor and a larger population of customers in the United States.

Schulte hosted the event to showcase Democrats opposition to President Trumps new immigration principles, which balance business demands for more workers and customers against Americans worries that they and their children will be unfairly outsourced, sidelined and ignored amid mass immigration.

In his October 8 letter to Congress, Trump said

These findings outline reforms that must be included as part of any legislation addressing the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients. Without these reforms, illegal immigration and chain migration, which severely and unfairly burden American workers and taxpayers, will continue without end. Immigration reform must create more jobs, higher wages, and greater security for Americans  now and for future generations. The reforms outlined in the enclosure are necessary to ensure prosperity, opportunity, and safety for every member of our national family.

Instead of urging compromise, Schultes speakers upped their demands, saying they want an amnesty for young dreamer illegals plus an amnesty for their parents, to be delivered immediately and without any compromises, such as the improved border defenses sought by a supermajority of Americans.

The illegals were invited to speak alongside leadership speakers at the event, including the House Democrats leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi  who described Trumps immigration proposals as  trash   and the chairwoman of the Democrats Hispanic caucus.

The escalating demands and aggressive rhetoric from Schultes illegals were much sharper than the prior soft-spoken claims by Democratic leaders who say they want to protect dreamers from deportation. That soft, poll-tested language has been damaged by simple questions from reporters who have shown the bigger-than-expected scale cost and demographic impact of what started out as supposedly modest demand to save 690,000 DACA illegals from repatriation.

The new language from Mendoza included a claim that immigration-enforcement officers of terrorizing people.

Congress can solve today the young peoples situation without using them as an excuse to deport their mothers or spending more money terrorizing people that live near the border, said Mendoza, an unskilled migrant who cleans houses for a living.

Many people think ending DACA or approving the Dream Act will only affect young people, but this is not true. This is something that effects all of us  mothers, our families and all of our communities, Mendoza said.

A second illegal, Ingrid Vaca, said she arrived in the United States from Bolivia in 2000. I came to this country with dreams to protect my sons and to give them a better future, she said in heavily accented English, adding: I would not let anything stand in their way.

Vaca continued:

DACA away was taken away by Trump and his racist advisors, Jeff Sessions and Steven Miller  We will not let racist men negotiate with our kids lives  We will not allow our families to be broken up  A mothers love is stronger than the racists from the White House.

The escalated demands from the illegal aliens are compatible with Schultes goals, which primarily include a defeat of the popular RAISE Act , authorized by Goerge Sen. David Perdue and Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton.

The RAISE Act is a problem for Schultes investors because it would halve the inflow of new customers and workers, and worse  it would prevent the investors from pushing Congress to pass the so-called staple green card proposal.

The proposed  staple  visa program would allow foreign students at U.S. universities to receive a green card stapled to their graduate degree. It is very popular among business groups because it would create a huge wave of salary-cutting white-collar competition in the skilled job sectors where young Americans hope to earn a good living. The salary-cutting competition would be intensified by the governments offer of the very valuable prize of citizenship to foreign graduates who take jobs sought by the 800,000 Americans who graduate from college each year with skilled degrees in business and medicine, engineering, architecture and science, technology, math and chemical engineering.

But Schultes investors wont get their staple proposal  or any increase in white-collar H-1B outsourcing  if Trump and the voters pressure Democrats to accept Trumps popular immigration principles in exchange for a limited amnesty.

Condorimay, who migrated to the United States from Peru at age 13 and earned a 2016 degree in chemical engineering. The third illegal alien introduced by Schulte was Luis

An amnesty for just younger illegals is unacceptable if it does not also include their parents, he insisted. T his is just not something I can do. Would you accept a law where you protect yourself  but hurt your father and mother?

He also spoke against any border and enforcement upgrades, and described the illegal-alien communities as the victims:

There are politicians in power right now who want to deport my father and my mother, who want to separate me from my little sister. Those politicians are the same ones who killed DACA and put the lives of immigrants on the line. They want now to use my life and the life of my sister, who also has DACA, as a bargaining chip to get a wall built on the Southern border and to militarize our border, to increase the number of immigrants agents in our cities and continue to terrorize and separate our families. They say they have heart for us, they say they understand our pain, but all they really want to do is hurt our families and continue to sperate us as they have done for the past many years  I ask you all here today to put yourself in our shoes, just for one moment: Havent we suffered enough already?

We need [amnesty] now, we need it right now because too many families have already been separated, he said.





Four million Americans turn 18 each year and begin looking for good jobs in the free market.

The cheap-labor policy has also reduced investment and job creation in many interior states because the coastal cities have a surplus of imported labor. For example, almost 27 percent of zip codes in Missouri had fewer jobs or businesses in 2015 than in 2000, according to a new report by the Economic Innovation Group . In Kansas, almost 29 percent of zip codes had fewer jobs and businesses in 2015 compared to 2000, which was a two-decade period of massive cheap-labor immigration.

Americans tell pollsters that they strongly oppose amnesties and cheap-labor immigration, even as most Americans also want to favor legal immigrants, and many sympathize with illegals.
Per the local governance concept being implemented by Ghana as a country , it is constitutionally mandatory for all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure that all citizens participate on the on- ingoing development of the 2017-2021 Medium Term Development Plan( MTDP).

Participation here means what? And what is the importance of Participation in the decentralization concept? Participation in the Decentralization concept means adequate citizens involvement in and influence over local governance. It is undeniable fact that participation enhances civic consciousness and political maturity.

. Modes of Participation

There are various ways through which citizens participate in local governance and influence the decision-making process. These include:

Participation in elections (voice) and referenda, Community or Town Hall Meetings, Public education and communication campaigns, Public Meetings or Public Hearing called by Assembly Members or the District Assembly.

Public hearings may be on the discussions of the District Assembly local development plan or strategies for revenue mobilization, MTDP , Pre-budget consultations between Local Government and citizenry in order to ensure that the priority needs of the community are captured in the budget and the development plans . Also included is Community level or organized group meetings that target the membership of a particular interest group. Examples could be business associations, market women, drivers and dress makers.

Participation may also involve information-sharing, consultation, service access, programme inputting, election, representation, association and collaboration.

Participation gives the citizens the opportunity and power to engage in discussions and contribute to the decision-making process.

Participation must seek to involve the target groups concerned with the issues and activities under consideration. There are key players who should be involved in the decision-making process. These include traditional authorities, private sector, Members of Parliament, Civil Society Organizations and citizens. Essentially, development activities are undertaken to ensure that the living conditions of citizens are improved.

The ongoing development of the MTDP by the MMDAs throughout the country is a classic example of this. The MMDAs are expected to solicit the aspirations and views of stakeholders including traditional authorities, the women and youth groups, the elderly and the opinion leaders not excluding the Persons With Disabilities concerning development so that it could serve a blue print for development.

Legal Provisions for Participation

It very important to state that Citizens participation in the decision-making process has been guaranteed by various legal provisions. The 1992 Constitution stipulates how the state should engage citizens and how citizens should be involved in the decision-making process.

The 1992 Constitution Article 1 of the 1st chapter of the Constitution affirms that the sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised in the manner and within the limits laid down in the Constitution.

Also the Chapter 20 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana stipulates that to ensure accountability of Local Government authorities, people in particular Local Government areas shall, as far as practicable, be afforded the opportunity to participate effectively in their governance.

The Local Government Act provides for members of the District Assembly to consult with their electorates before and after Assembly meetings, as well as the participatory revocation of the mandate of an Assembly Member. Other LIs provide for the active participation of citizens in the sub-district structures.

Additionally, the National Development Planning (System) Act provides for a decentralized participatory planning and budgeting.

These and other articles give citizens the right to express themselves freely and participate in the decision-making process of the nation, both at the national or local level without restrictions.

Also there are legal provisions such as the Assembly Members consulting the people before and after meetings, the participatory planning space and the avenue for complaints are clear indications that the participation is dear to the decentralization programme of Ghana.

CDD-Ghana, RISE-Ghana complements Efforts of MMDAs

Despite these constitutional provisions, most of the MMDAs as a result of resource and logistical constraints are unable to perform these roles to perfection. One of the Non-Governmental Organizations that is complementing the efforts of the most of the MMDAs to perform the assigned constitutional mandate role is the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).

Currently the CDD-Ghana is partnering with local partners in organizing 100 durbars in 20 districts across the country as part of its project to get more citizens to participate and appreciate the on-going discussions on the MTDP.

For instance In the Upper East Region, the NGO had partnered with the Rural Initiatives for Self-Empowerment-Ghana (RISE-Ghana) to organize five (5) of such durbars across the Kassena Nnankana West District.

The project, dubbed: Promoting Social Accountability through Citizens Participation in Local Governance in Ghana, is being implemented by CDD-Ghana and its local partners and sponsored by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

Mr Paul Osei-Kuffuor, the Programmes Manager of CDD-Ghana in charge of the Northern Zone, who disclosed this during one of such community durbar organized by RISE-Ghana in the Agandaa Community at Kandiga in the Kassena-Nankana West District, stated that whilst a number of such durbars had taken place in many parts of the country organized by CDD-Ghana , others were ongoing .

Mr Osei-Kuffuor said a cardinal principle of CDD-Ghana was to empower the citizenry to participate effectively in the decisionmaking process at the decentralized levels to promote all-inclusiveness and open society in attaining optimum development results.

He said it was based on those principles that all groups of persons including Persons with Disabilities, women, the youth, opinion leaders and elders were invited to be part of the community durbars to make an input.

The organized events is also providing platforms for budget and planning officers to collate the contributions into their MTDP as well as to enable citizens to ask critical questions from duty bearers about development projects and progress.

Mr Umar Mohammed, the Assistant Director of the Kassena-Nankana West District, who stood in for the District Chief Executive, Clement Dandori, at the durbar orgainsed at the Agandaa Community , said the District was one of the largest in the Region with 132 communities making up 11 area councils.

He admitted that it would have been very difficult for the Assembly to collate all the views and aspirations of the citizens to be input into the MTDP without the support of CDD-Ghana and commended it for helping the Assembly to create the platform for the citizens to participate and share ideas.

Budget Officer, Mr Seidu Soalihu, who took the community members through the Planning and Budgeting processes of the Assembly and the highlight of the 2017 Kassena-Nankana West Assemblys Action Plan and Budget, told them that apart from the community durbars, the Assembly would also organise town hall meetings and public hearings to validate inputs gathered as part of preparation towards developing the MTDP and encourage the people to always participate in the process.

Mr Awal Ahmed Kariama, the Executive Director of RISE-Ghana, said his outfit, was grateful to CDD-Ghana and OSIWA through which it has formed and is working with the District Education Committee, organizing five of such community durbars across the District.

He concluded by stressing that the high level of attendance and participation was a clear indication that citizens were now becoming aware of the need to actively participate in the decision-making process in the decentralization concept.

Whilst lauding the efforts of CDD-Ghana and its partners including RISE-Ghana for complementing the efforts of the MMDAs, there is the urgent need for the programme to be spread across all the Districts in country to help make the MTDP and for that matter the operationalization of the decentralization concept more concrete.

The Budget Officer, of the Kassena-Nankana West , Mr Seidu Soalihu , collating the views and aspirations of the Citizens to be factored into the Assemblys Medium Term Development Plan
15.10.2017 LISTEN

I hear of so many Ghanaians who have been very patriotic towards the development of this nation since the good old days of Dr Kwame Nkrumah by virtue of donations of landed properties, selfless dedication among others.

However, I have tried to scan through the category of citizens who made such sacrifices, and then I realized that, most of them were ordinary citizens; the poor and the market men and women. Very few are politicians among those making those sacrifices; I only find them at the sweet end of the sacrifices, why.

I have followed and continue to follow closely the case of the bad treatment meted out to some of these poor citizens who owns the land University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho is built on. This development has challenged me to put out this short article which deals with compulsory acquisition of land by the state as provided for under Article 20 of the 1992 constitution followed by its subsequent abuse by politicians. Upon a careful thought, I came to the conclusion that, the framers of the constitution at the time foresaw that, the poor was going to be at the mercy of the politicians who will abuse same.

Why have I never heard of a politicians land being compulsorily acquired by the state, but I only hear of outright purchases of same by the state. Are all citizens not equal in the eyes of the law? My doubts though. The 702 acres UHAS land belongs to 78 poor individuals and families who do not belong to the political class who from 2011 to 2017 have been stripped off their properties by the state who should have rather protected its own and empower them.

Some of these people are senior citizens who today cannot use the proceeds of their youth to even eat but rather have to beg other people for land to even tilt to be able to feed. How can the state be so wicked to its own?

I have just remembered Ghana Gas led by Dr. George SipaYankey and Hon. Kofi Buah also acquired lands in the same year as UHAS, but today ,the situation is different, Ghana Gas land owners were paid in 2016. But did we also have had a deputy minister in charge of tertiary education? .Yes ,yet we were still afflicted by the curse or blessing for competing for being the last region in every developmental category including compensation payments for lands compulsorily acquired.

What else do they need to do after accepting and signing an offer from the lands commission since November and December2016? Even when the sector minister has given his approval, went through finance ministry to cabinet and got the necessary endorsement and back to the finance ministry for payment, payment is still in limbo. Do they need to bring Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed to do the begging to get what legally and logically belongs to them? Who takes responsibility for devaluation of the money signed for in the offer since 2016?

I am happy we have a president who has been a freedom fighter and the right to own property as one of the tenets of the Aborigines rights society of which he and all Ghanaian citizens prides ourselves with. Today, sadly the country Ghana has deliberately and compulsorily stripped 78 off its own citizens their properties.

I have every reason to the thank our media men and women for bringing the plight of this people into the public space from the beginning, however unfortunately, the discussion does not last for even two minutes. The media has failed to sustain the discussion making it difficult for the message to get to the politicians whose lands are mostly not sold under Article 2o of the 1992 constitution.

It is sad to note that, a number of owners have died because they couldnt pay for even their medical needs; some have developed hypertension due to the loss of their life savings taken away from them by the state. They can no more sell, lease or even farm on their own land. Interestingly some have to go for loans to pay for their childrens education in the same government university who have rendered them poor yet politicians till today get raised salaries, allowances, per diems, land cruiser vehicles, accommodation among others while these poor continues to wallow in abject poverty.

Now, has the court really helped? I beg to differ. Following the aggrieved land owners quest to compel the government to pay them their due, they filed an application to injunct the assets of the university since 2015, it is sad to note that, till today the court never granted that application. The court rather became the defendant in the case to the extent to granting long adjournments sometimes to more than three months. But is this development from the court surprising? NO. If today, certain highly placed legal luminaries are appointed as the universitys Governing Council Chair, the position of the court should be nothing surprising to any Ghanaian. The citizens who own the universitys land are considered nothing but second class citizens in the eyes of the court.

Seven years down the line of nonpayment of UHAS land compensation, how many tranches of ex -gratia have so far been paid? Of course the poor like the UHAS land owners would not receive ex-gratia but is the compensation of this land compulsorily acquired also not an ex-gratia to the owners? I would have wished to see government delay the payment of ex-gratia for seven years.

As I write my article of lamentation on UHAS land owners whose living condition government further has worsened, I pray that, the media will this time publish and sustain the discussion and push for the payment of this group of people.

Whiles I conclude, i9 wish to put forward some few questions for the good conscience of Ghanaians to judge;

1. Would the situation of nonpayment of this 702 acres of land compulsorily acquired 7 years ago be different if it were to belong to officers of the flagstaff house, members of cabinet, ministers parliamentarians and powerful superior court judges some of whom are Governing council chairs including that of UHAS?

2. The confirmation during a meeting between the Attorney Generals Department and UHAS land owners in Accra that money has been set aside in a special account by the previous NDC government true?

3. Why the finance ministry is hesitant in releasing the money set aside for the payment of UHAS land compensation while government can pay GHC 1 billion for road contracts, training allowances, free SHS among others?

I am convinced that, His Excellency, the President will take notice of this issue and compel state actors to remove the shackles of poverty and restore the dignity of this people from the Volta region.

Indeed the diplomacy employed to get government honor its obligation seems to have failed again. What I foresee very soon is the ability of UHAS land owners to prove to government from the precinct of the finance ministry through to the seat of government in non violent but uncontrolled manner that they know their right and are citizens and not spectators.
As part of its 45th anniversary celebrations, UMB Bank recently paid a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu in Accra. The visit to the Chief Imam also heralded a Thanksgiving Service which was held on Sunday October 8, 2017.

The UMB delegation was led by Mr. John Awuah, the Chief Executive Officer of UMB and accompanied by other UMB Executives, Mr. Benjamin Amenumey, Chief Operating Officer; Mr. Felix Date, Director of Enterprise Risk; Ms. Yvonne Botchey, Director Marketing & Communications; and prominent Muslim members of staff to offer special prayers and gratitude to the almighty Allah for seeing UMB through 45 years of banking excellence in Ghana.

Mr. Awuah, stated that on the occasion of UMBs 45th anniversary, the visit was to strengthen the bond between UMB and the Muslim community as well as to show appreciation and gratitude for their tremendous support over the years.

The UMB 45th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service, which was presided by Most. Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante, the immediate past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, was attended by such notable dignitaries as the Deputy Finance Minister, Hon. Abena Osei Asare; the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy in Ghana, Hiroki Yamashita; Nii Kpobi Tettey Tsuru III, La Mantse; Nanahemaa Adjoa Awindor, Development Queenmother of Afigya-Kwabre District in Ashanti Kingdom; and Nana Agyapomaa II, Kontihemaa of Assin Ngresi. Other guests included customers of UMB, shareholders, UMB Board Members, UMB Foundation members and UMB staff.

The event was a moving and emotional one as all in attendance gave thanks and praise to the Lord almighty for making UMB one of the leading banks in Ghana.

Mrs. Elizabeth Zormelo, the Board Chairperson of UMB, opened the Thanksgiving Service by welcoming the guests. She set the tone for the event by emphasizing the Banks gratitude for its many blessings, most notably its loyal customers that have helped the bank to reach the milestone of 45 years of banking excellence.

At the Thanksgiving service, Mr. Awuah noted that recent developments in the banking sector rightly demonstrate the daunting challenges that banks in Ghana face daily and stated that: "on this day, we cannot help but express our profound gratitude to God. We give thanks and praises to the Lord for giving us the capacity and the wherewithal to thrive in this competitive industry. Indeed, we continue to succeed due to Gods many blessings and thanks to the Lord almighty we are a strong bank, both spiritually and financially.

UMBs visit to the National Chief Imam and its 45th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service are part of a yearlong celebration to highlight and celebrate UMBs evolution as one of the premier financial institutions in Ghana.

UMB Bank (UMB) is a full-service financial institution specializing in customized banking products and services. UMB opened on March 15, 1972 and is a leading Ghanaian indigenous bank with considerable financial expertise.

UMB is recognized for its entrepreneurial approach, innovative use of technology, and distinctive banking solutions. UMB currently has 32 branches, 3 UMB Centres for Businesses, 1 UMB PPP Incubator Centre and a vast network of ATMs.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), is raising concerns about the strain the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution may put on poor Ghanaians.

The Chambers Executive Director, Duncan Amoah, noted the inflexibility of the programme on The Big Issue, and suggested the old system of distribution be employed alongside the new module ordered by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The new module, proposed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), means that LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from highly populated areas and commercial centers.

These plants will procure, brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households through retail outlets and stations, deemed to be low risk, after a government assessment.

The directive followed the public outcry over the siting of LPG stations in the wake of the explosion at a gas station at Atomic Junction that claimed 7 lives and injured 132.

Following analysis of the module by COPEC, Mr. Amoah noted a number of challenges that could emerge with the programme, including possible arguments over cylinder aesthetics, and the need for about 150 percent more cylinders to be manufactured.

The plants would have to have their own cylinders that they will refill and send to their outlets so that when I come with my bottle, I quickly pick one, he noted.

But a key challenge will be the reduction in flexibility for consumers because of the fixed measurement expected to be sold.

Now when we move to the re-circulation point, what it would then mean is, if it's the 14 kg bottle you have, you must necessarily buy 14 kg whether your money is up to or it is not.

Thus, he said this challenge will be critical to the extent that, effectively, people will now have to pay for the cylinders they carry. People will now have to either have to own all the sizes [of gas cylinders] so that whatever your money is able to pay for, you go and pick it up.

But those who cannot afford, those are the other segment of the population we should think about carefully, and so we have suggested that it should co-exist, Mr. Amoah said.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Questions about safety still remain ahead of the implementation of the Cylinder Re-circulation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution, according to Duncan Amoah, the Executive Director of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC).

Speaking on The Big Issue, Mr. Amoah expressed some concern that the one-year deadline given for the full implementation of the new module, initially proposed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), may not be enough, and will breed some compromise.

For him, questions about the transportation of the gas and the enforcement of safety regulations had not been adequately answered, although its early days yet.

The directive from the President for the implementation of the programme, was announced only on Thursday, October 12, after a Cabinet meeting in the wake of the Atomic Junction gas explosion.

The new policy means that, LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from congested areas, to allow plants that will procure, brand, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers through retail outlets.

Danger increasing?

But Mr. Amoah, in his comments on the matter said, the question we [COPEC] are not exactly satisfied about with answers we have been provided so far, is how these plants or depots, the four of them going to be set across the country, will transport the LPG. Are we going to go by road will the trucks still drive the LPG by road?

He noted that, LPG tankers will now be going to plants to offload gas, opening up these plants to previous safety concerns.

If those plants will operate according to world class standards with no gaps and lapses, as it pertains already with the existing outlets, then we are talking safety Other than that, if what pertains in the Atomic case is allowed in any of the four, then we are graduating the danger from, let's say, 7 deaths to about 7,000.

Mr. Amoah said the one year period given for the implementation is not the kind of time we have now to go and comprehensively develop something I wonder and doubt if the one-year timeline given by Cabinet will be enough to address all the challenges surrounding the implementation of a programme that big.

He also said he doubted if the plants would be developed in bushes, and that they would still be closer to cities and developments.



By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Interplast Ghana Limited, the Ghana Reinsurance Company (GRC), and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has donated a total of GH75,000.00 towards the 33rd National Farmers' Day celebration scheduled for December 1, this year.

Interplast Ghana Limited donated GH30,000.00, the GRC presented GH25,000.00, while the GRA gave out GH20,000.00 in support of the celebration, which seeks to honour farmers and fisher folks.

Presenting the sponsorship package on behalf of Interplast Ghana Limited, Haidar Malhas, the Irrigation Services Manager of Interplast, said Ghanaian farmers continue to play active roles in the economy of Ghana, and that his company is willing to bring farmers to acceptable professional levels.

He said, We believe farmers deserve the support, and we believe that Interplast can assist the Government in their planning.

Presenting the sponsorship on behalf of the GRC, Mrs. Mary Ohene-Adu, said her company found it significant to sponsor the celebration as a way of supporting government to recognize and reward our gallant farmers.

On behalf of the Commissioner-General of GRA, Madam Sophia Godwyll and Madam Antionette Tettevi at the Communication and Public Affairs Department presented the cheque saying it was to show appreciation to farmers.

Madam Sophia Godwyll said farmers have helped the development of the country with their productivity in the agricultural sector.

Dr Gyiele Nurah, the Minister of state in charge of Agriculture and Chairman of the Planning Committee of the National Farmers Day, expressed gratitude to the three corporate bodies for their donation.

He said: I stand on behalf of the Government of Ghana, Ministry of Food and Agriculture and on behalf our gallant farmers to thank all three companies who have kick-started the donations to be able to achieve our goal.

He called on more companies to emulate the good examples of these three companies so that this year's celebration will honour our farmers in grand style.

The 33rd National Farmer's Day was launched on August 16 with the announcement of the sponsorship packages for corporate institutions to support the celebrations.

The sponsorship package starts with the bronze sponsor, which starts with GH10,000.00 and below and such sponsors would get acknowledgments in the media, a special certificate of sponsorship at the Sponsors' Awards Night as well as a photo opportunity for presentation of packages to the Minister for Food and Agriculture and for the media.


15.10.2017 LISTEN

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today announced the appointment of Major General Francis Vib-Sanziri of Ghana as the Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

Major General Vib-Sanziri succeeds Major General Jai Shanker Menon of India, who completed his assignment on 30 September, and to whom the Secretary-General is grateful to for his dedicated leadership of the Mission.

Since joining the Ghanaian Armed Forces in 1985, the new Force Commander has had a distinguished military career at national and international levels. Having served as Director-General of the International Peace Support Operations at the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces since April 2017, he had also served as Assistant Director, Ghana Army Operations (1996-1998), Deputy Head of the Ghana Military Academy (2002-2004), Commanding Officer of an Infantry Battalion (2004-2009), Director for International Peacekeeping Support Operations in 2009 and Army Secretary at the Army Headquarters (2010-2011). In 2014, he was appointed Director-General for Joint Operations, General Headquarters. He served as Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organization from 2015 to 2017.

Major General Vib-Sanziris extensive peacekeeping experience includes deployments to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1988 and 1991, United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda (UNAMIR) in 1993 and 1994 and the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2007. He also served with the Economic Community of West Africa States Monitoring Group in Liberia in 1990, in Sierra Leone, in 1999 and 2000, and, subsequently, with the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL). From 2011 to 2014, he served as a strategic military planner in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations.

Major General Vib-Sanziri holds a masters degree in military art and science from the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, in the United States, a post-graduate certificate in public administration from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree in geography and rural resource development from the University of Ghana. He is a graduate of the Nigerian Armed Forces Command and General Staff College, Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College and the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Born in 1957, he is married and has two daughters.
Rabat (AFP) - Residents angered by persistent water shortages in southern Morocco have taken to the streets in a series of "thirsty protests" that has grabbed the attention of the country's king.

Since the start of the summer, inhabitants in the region of desert town Zagora have been left parched and furious as water supplies are cut off for hours -- or even days -- at a time.

"The situation is critical. It means daily suffering for the people in this region," Jamal Akchbabe, head of an environmental group in the town, told AFP by phone.

"Families are going for days without tap water, while others don't have any for several hours each day. And this water is undrinkable."

In a bid to express their discontent over the crisis, residents began organising regular peaceful protests in the town of some 30,000, around 700 kilometres (430 miles) from the capital Rabat.

At first they were tolerated by the authorities, but then on September 24 security forces stepped in to break up a rally and arrested seven people for taking part in an "unauthorised demonstration", local rights activist Atmane Rizkou said.

The situation only got worse when residents tried again to march on October 8, activists said.

The attempt descended into violence as police boxed in the town and used force to break up the gathering and detained 21 people, said Akchbabe.

"The protesters were subjected to repression, insults and humiliation," he said.

"The town is in a state of siege."

Watermelons to blame?

Residents put the shortages roiling this arid region down to the overuse of sparse resources for agriculture, especially the cultivation of watermelons.

Akchbabe says locals accuse the ministry of agriculture of allowing this water-intensive production "which provides profit for big farmers to the detriment of the inhabitants".

University professor Abdelmalek Ihazrir, who has written about Morocco's water policy, says that rare rains have led to the overexploitation of ground water across the country.

"The rains are scarce and strong heatwaves lead to evaporation from water at the source, above all in the south," he told AFP.

"We need to develop a new, more rational policy and alternative measures."

Officials appear to have heeded the anger -- but so far their response has entailed mainly just words.

At the end of September Prime Minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani promised "emergency measures" after the national water and power authorities admitted there were "constraints" hindering the system.

A few days later the country's powerful monarch Mohammed VI called for the establishment of "a commission that will look at the issue with a view to finding an adequate solution in the coming months".

Sensitive timing

The protests come at a sensitive time for Morocco as the authorities are desperate to avoid a repeat of social unrest that has seen months of demonstrations rock the long-marginalised Rif region in the north.

But the water issues roiling the country are common across North Africa and the Middle East where access to the precious resource has long been a problem.

The World Bank estimates that over 60 percent of people there live in areas that suffer from a scarcity of water, compared to a worldwide figure of just 35 percent.

In neighbouring Algeria to the west, water shortages in 2000 and 2013 erupted into violence clashes.

Meanwhile in Tunisia, where residents are especially reliant on winter rainfall to fill up dams, droughts caused supplies to be cut in summer 2016 for periods that sometimes lasted weeks at a time.
The Accra Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service, will be closing some roads temporarily in Accra, in anticipation of the visit of Ivorian President, Alhassan Outtara, on Monday, October 16.

President Alhassan Outtara is expected to arrive in Ghana for bilateral discussions with President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The roads to be affected by the closures are the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue towards the Central Business District, Liberation Road towards Central Business District, and the Atta Mills Highway from James Town towards Osu.

The roads will be closed from 11: 00 am and reopened after a scheduled ceremonial procession.

The police will be assisting motorists on alternative routes.

The visit by the Ivorian President comes barely a month after Ghana emerged victorious in a maritime dispute with Ivory Coast at the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Germany.

The two countries have already accepted the decision of ITLOS, and have agreed to work towards implementing the ruling.

Find below a statement from the police





By: Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
The President of the Republic of Cote dIvoire, His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, will from Monday, 16th October, 2017, begin a 2-day official visit to Ghana.

The purpose of the visit is to deepen further the already strong relations that exist between the two countries, as well as explore other areas of co-operation to their mutual benefit.

This visit is a reciprocal one to the visit made to Cote dIvoire by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in May this year, at the start of his tour of the countries of West Africa.

The two Presidents and their respective teams are expected to hold bilateral discussions at the Flagstaff House on Monday, 16th October, 2017, after which the two leaders will address a joint press conference. President Akufo-Addo will, later that evening, host his Ivorian counterpart to an official dinner.

Prior to President Ouattaras departure, on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, the two countries will sign a bilateral agreement, and inaugurate a joint commission for the implementation of the recent judgement passed by the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) on the delimitation of the maritime boundaries of Ghana and Cote dIvoire.

May 5 Visit to Cote dIvoire



It will be recalled that earlier this year, from 5th May, 2017 to 7th May, 2017, President Akufo-Addo paid a 3-day visit to Cote dIvoire, at the commencement of his tour of the countries of West Africa.

During that visit, President Akufo-Addo revealed that the close co-operation between Ghana and Cote dIvoire will be facilitated by a new initiative dubbed An Agreement For a Strategic Partnership, that will be signed by the two countries.

This agreement, according to President Akufo-Addo, will bind Ghana and Cote dIvoire in even closer intimacy and go beyond the bounds of the concept of the Permanent Joint Commission, which is the conventional tool for co-operation.

President Akufo-Addo noted one of the areas of focus of this Agreement will be in the cocoa industry.

President Akufo-Addo was also decorated with the Highest National Award of Cote dIvoire, La Grande Croix dans lordre National Ivorien, at a State Dinner held in his honour by the President Alassane Ouattara.
@PatriciaMazzei

State Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez picked the most Little Havana of scenes to kick off his campaign for Congress on Tuesday, gathering a small group of supporters outside Calle Ocho's Domino Park as he pitched himself as the candidate to tackle big issues -- and what's expected to be a hotly contested race.

"When I'm speaking with neighbors, families, residents, constituents -- they're talking to me about the fact that the residents of District 27 need access to affordable health care. And that starts with protecting the gains in the Affordable Care Act," he said, a day after the Senate postponed a vote on legislation to undo some of former President Barack Obama's signature law.

As he spoke, men shuffled dominoes on nearby tables. An old-school peanut salesman walked by ("Manicero!"). Tourists streamed out of double-decker buses.

Laying out his campaign platform in addition to healthcare, Rodriguez mentioned the economy and climate change, though he offered no specifics, even when pressed about what Obamacare tweaks, if any, he'd support.

He declined to call himself a "moderate" Democrat, though that's how he's voted in the Florida House and Senate -- and how he's likely to run in the Southeast Miami-Dade County district, which leans Democratic but is currently held by Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who is retiring. Rodriguez praised the congresswoman's constituent services as a model to follow.

Several other Democrats are also seeking Ros-Lehtinen's seat. Rodriguez was the first big-name Democrat to jump into the race after Ros-Lehtinen's retirement announcement last month.

Not once did he name Democrats' likely bogeyman in next year's election: President Donald Trump.
Mr Adams Mutawakilu, the Minority Spokesperson on Energy, has called on the Government to show transparency by dialoguing with the aggrieved workers of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), on issues concerning the concessionaire process.

According to him, the Minority in Parliament is not impressed with the way the Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, is handling the issue.

Mr Mutawakilu made the call during an interview with the media in Parliament on issues concerning the aggrieved workers of ECG.

The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) has filed a suit demanding a severance package because of the possibility of a retrenchment exercise, which they believe could affect them once the company is given to the concessionaire.

The Government, however, rejected the demands of the ECG staff saying it was a hasty decision since they are yet to select a concessionaire.

The Energy Minister, at a press briefing in Accra, noted that such payments would only be made for workers who voluntarily decided to sever their relationship with the Company after the takeover.

Mr Mutawakilu said the reason for the workers' agitation was because the Minister had taken entrenched position on the matter and the workers felt they were not being respected.

He said the ECG staff had stated many times that the Minister had not engaged them and were not sure of their fate under the concession.

He cited, for example, that when the GCB Bank took over UT Bank and Capital Bank, the workers were assured to stay on for at least six months for their fate to be decided but less than three months they were being sacked.

'That tells you that word of mouth assurance is not enough. If the workers had signed an agreement with government on the issue they would have taken a different action, which would inure to their benefit.'

Mr Mutawakilu said government's assurance that no ECG worker would be laid off should not be taken as a legal binding agreement until they have signed proper agreements with the Government.

He said the workers of ECG should, by now, know their fate in terms of their job security before the company was taken over by the concessionaire in 2018.

He said the Government must explore an out of court settlement with the aggrieved workers or risk losing the Compact II since the court action was likely to affect the process.

GNA
Koforidua, Oct. 5, GNA - President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given the assurance that his government would consult teachers on policy formulation and implementation on issues concerning education.

He gave the assurance in a speech read on his behalf at the 23rd National Best Teacher and Third Best School Awards Day at Koforidua.

The President said the adage that the reward of a teacher was in heaven should not be grounds for the state to shirk its responsibilities towards ensuring the welfare of the teacher.

He said it was in that direction that the Government had embarked on several interventions to ensure that the Ghanaian teacher got the necessary resources and conducive environment to train students in critical thinking to help in Ghana's development process.

President Akufo-Addo mentioned some of the interventions as reforms of the curriculum of colleges of education, strengthening of the supervisory institutions in the educational sector and the creation of avenues for further studies and research.

Professor KwesiYankah, the Minister of State in-charge of Tertiary Education, said the implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy had changed the education environment and given hope to poor families.

He said through such policies, government hoped to use education to eradicate poverty and illiteracy in the society.

Ms Philippa Larsen, the Acting President of Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), appealed to the President to ensure the review of the conditions of service between the teachers union and the Ghana Education Service, which expired some five years ago but all efforts to have it reviewed had failed.

Daasebre Oti Boateng, Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, who chaired the function, described the Free SHS Policy as a revolution in education and called on Ghanaians to support and make it succeed.

Ms Faustina Copson, a Teacher of Richard Acquaye Memorial Basic School in Accra, was adjudged the Overall National Best Teacher for 2017.

She received a three-bedroom house and a GH50,000.00 life insurance cover from SIC Life.

Ms Agnes Nutakor of Kpeve Model School emerged the first runner-up and she was presented with a cash prize of GH110,000.00 and a life insurance cover of GH 30,000.00.

Mr Joseph Abosah of Presbyterian Senior High School, La Nkwantanang, Medina, took the second runner-up position.

He drove home a saloon car with an insurance cover of GH20,000.00.

For the first time ever, the three best award winners had all been given study leave with pay and scholarship to pursue further studies by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) Secretariat.

The event was also used to recognise and award some schools and teachers for their outstanding performance.

GNA
Niamey (AFP) - A small central city in Niger on Sunday called for the "unconditional release" of a longtime US aid worker abducted in 2016, whose fate is unknown a year later.

"We demand the unconditional and immediate release of Jeffery Woodke," a statement from the residents of Abalak read on national television said.

"Those who abducted him did not kidnap an American, but one of us," the statement read.

Woodke, reportedly in his 50s, was seized at gunpoint on the evening of October 14, 2016 from his home in Abalak in the Tahoua region of Niger, about 350 kilometres (220 miles) from capital Niamey.

According to local officials, "two armed men in turbans" stormed in and grabbed him, killing his bodyguard and a member of the national guard.

His fate remains unknown and his kidnappers have still not been identified. But Niamey suspects the al-Qaeda linked Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), of being behind the kidnapping and believes the American is being held in Mali.

"Our thoughts are with Jeffery's wife and two children: we share in your grief, we share in your hope that one day he will be back with us," the statement said.

"Whatever happens, Jeffery Woodke remains one of our heroes".

The aid worker -- who speaks the local language Tamasheq fluently as well as Fula and Arabic -- had run the aid group JEMET since 1992, helping the local Tuareg community.

Jihadists, including those of the Islamic State, have established a presence in southwestern Niger near the border with Mali -- where they have carried out a wave of bloody bombings, shootings and kidnappings.

On October 4, four US soldiers and at least four Nigerien troops were killed in the area in an ambush thought to be carried out by a regional affiliate of the IS group.
Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, His Excellency Olufemi Micheal Abikoye, has met over 500 Nigerian girls who are engaging in commercial sex activities in Kumasi.

The meeting forms part of measures to liaise with relevant authorities to find decent jobs for the girls who are mostly trafficked to Ghana to engage in such illegal activities.

Efforts are also underway to repatriate girls who have been trafficked to Ghana to engage in commercial sex work.

Olufemi Micheal Abikoye is outraged at the increasing number of Nigerian citizens engaging in illicit activities in some parts of Ghana.

The High Commissioner cited cyber-crime, prostitution and child trafficking, as some nefarious acts Nigerian nationals living in Ghana were engaging in.

He made the remarks at the Ceeta-Kel hotel in Kumasi as part of his tour to meet the Nigerian community in the Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions, as well as city authorities in both regions.

Mr. Abikoye also met police in the Ashanti region after over thirty (30) female Nigerian sex workers and child-traffickers were arrested by the command in a massive swoop.

He said it was high time the Nigerian community in Ghana supported the High Commission to work at nipping such negative activities in the bud.

He indicated that, the activities of these young girls were denting the image of Nigeria.

Let's face the truth, let's talk to ourselves as Nigerians. Go and see what aged 14, 15 little girls are doing here. I mean, I am a parent and it is something that bothers my heart that can make me cry. How can a 10-year old, a 12-year old girl be engaging in this type thing. I am going there. Is that the place I should be going? Is that what I should do as High Commissioner?

He expressed concern about how teenage girls who have been trafficked from Nigeria to Ghana are engaging in commercial sex work.

Ashanti Regional Police Commander, COP Ken Yeboah, told Citi News the meeting discussed ways to send young girls trafficked from Nigeria back home.

He said some of the girls the police arrested were sent back to custody after they were screened.

COP Yeboah disclosed that police have begun investigations to identify persons behind the trafficking of the young girls.



By: Hafiz Tijani Citifmonline.com/Ghana
President Nana Akufo-Addo is at Lawra in the Upper West Region, to partake in the climax of the annual Kobineh festival of the chiefs and people of the Lawra traditional area.

Naaa Abaifah Karbo, the Paramount Chief of the Lawra traditional area, and his sub-chiefs, were on hand to welcome the President.

The festival is celebrated to express gratitude to the gods and the ancestors of the Lawra traditional area in appreciation of a bumper harvest.

The 2017 celebration of the Kobineh festival marks the 41st of its kind. People from all walks of life, including persons from the Ivory Coast, make their way to the festival.

The Lawra constituency is currently in the governing New Patriotic Partys hands after Anthony Karbo seized the opportunity presented to him by the division within the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in its traditional stronghold.



By: Latif Mahama/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Sunda international Ghana Ltd. and Twyford Ceramics, two Chinese companies have extended their donation of relief items after the Atomic Junction gas explosion to affected students of the university of Ghana.

The affected students, through appeals from the MP for Ayawaso West Wagon constituency, Hon. Emmannuel Agyarko, received assorted products including Kleesoft Dish washing soap and washing powder, Kleesoft toilet rolls, FasKit insecticide killers and many more. The two Chinese companies also added an unspecified amount of cash to the affected students through the MP to ease their burden.

The donation to the university of Ghana students is the second donation from Sunda international and Twyford since the gas explosion claimed seven(7) lives and injured over 130 others a week ago.

The two Chinese companies previously donated similar products and cash worth Gh40,000 to victims of the gas explosion last week at the 37 military hospital in response to appeals made to corporate Ghana by vice president Mahamudu Bawumia to assist surviving victims, most of whom have been on admission at the 37 military and ridge hospitals.

Presenting the items to the university of Ghana students through the MP, Mr. Lorry Li, managing director for Sunda real estates company limited, explained that SUNDAs gesture which is in partnership with its sister company TWYFORD, who have invested tens of millions in a ceramic factory at Aboadze, Shama district, Western region, is a direct response to an appeal from the MP for the area Hon. Emmanuel Agyarko to assist the affected students, but also added that, it also forms part of the companys corporate social responsibility policy which is integral in the operations of their companies.

We are deeply sorry for the gas explosion and the victims. Social responsibility is a very important part of our companys operations since we came to Ghana fourteen(14) years ago and we are always happy to help the society, he remarked briefly before the presentation.

The Member of parliament of the area Hon. Emmanuel Agyarko expressed extreme gratitude to Sunda and Twyford Ceramics for their kind donation. On my own behalf and on behalf of the affected students, I wish to express our extreme gratitude to SUNDA and TWYFORD for this generous donation. Companies are encouraged to engage in corporate social responsibility but if they can bring it this low, then these companies are truly responsible corporate citizens. What they have done goes beyond what i thought they would do but most importantly, were grateful to Mr. Herbert Mensah for arranging everything. Hon. Emmanuel Agyarko also called on other companies and individuals to emulate their good example.

The Member of parliament urged student leaders to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of the relief items to all affected students without bias.

University of Ghana SRC President Daniel Otitng Awuah, also showed appreciation to the two Chinese companies and promised a fair distribution of the donated items to the affected students.

SUNDA International employs over one thousand people on their business operations in Ghana and one of the largest re-exporters of products from Ghana to several West African countries. Twyford is also a Chinese company producing ceramic tiles and currently employ more than one thousand Ghanaians.

SUNDA International has previously donated fourteen tones of iron rods in the circle gas explosion as well as many other donations in the past including the Odorkor fire disaster.
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The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has taken delivery of a mechanical ventilator to improve the quality of care at the referral facility's Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The machine, which cost GH 400,000.00, was a gift from Unique Royal Club, a charitable organization.

Handing it over to the hospital at a ceremony, Mr. George Kwaku Kumi, the Chairman of the Club, said it was their contribution to efforts at helping to save lives.

He said they were confident that the ventilator would be of immense help in the treatment of patients.

He pledged further support to bring healing to the sick.

Professor Ohene Opare-Sem, Consultant Physician, thanked the Club for its gesture and said it was a huge relief.

He made a plea for the supply of additional mechanical ventilators, 'Ambu' bags, intravenous pumps and defibrillators.

He used the occasion to appeal to the government to set up a special fund in support of the ICUs of teaching hospitals across the country.

That, he said, was the way forward to tackle the lack of vital equipment, which was affecting the quality of care.

He indicated that those Units had been dealing with life-threatening cases and it was disheartening that the equipment needed to efficiently handle such cases had been lacking.
15.10.2017 LISTEN

GNA - Mr Kwamina Duncan, the Central Regional Minister, has warned that his administration would deal drastically with staff of assemblies whose actions and inactions thwart and derail the work of their offices

He cautioned them against indulging in partisan politics with the aim to sabotage the development plans of government, adding that any practices that would undermine the President's vision to accelerate the country's socio-economic development would not be entertained.

Mr Duncan who issued the warning on Thursday when he addressed staff of the Effutu Municipal Assembly at Winneba on the second day of his tour of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Region, said they must stop pursuing their personal and parochial interest

"We will not tolerate any laziness, absenteeism and cronyism. You were not employed to do partisan politics in your offices and seek personal interest, so concentrate on your core business", he stated.

"You must exert your energies and intellect on doing your professional work as an employee or staff of the assembly and do away with all unethical and unprofessional acts and uphold in high esteem the ethics of your work and serve with integrity and discipline", Mr Duncan admonished.

He said government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufu-Addo was determined to develop every part of the country and would therefore not countenance lackadaisical attitudes of heads of departments or any staff of the Assemblies

Mr Duncan encouraged the staff to support the national transformation agenda by re-dedicating themselves to the services they were engaged for while exhibiting a high sense of commitment, sacrifice and integrity.

He called on all to rally behind the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) with the necessary support and innovative ideas and guidance to aid the development agenda of the Assemblies in their localities.

This, he noted will break the shackles of poverty and create wealth to ameliorate the plight of the average Ghanaian.

Mr John Ninson, the Effutu Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) pledged the Assembly's unflinching support to prioritise development and also work in unity and harmony to speed-up the comprehensive development agenda of the area.

Earlier, the Minister and his entourage paid a courtesy call on Nenyi Ghartey XI, the Omanhen of Effutu State, who hailed the President for his vision to transform lives in the country to make life better for all.

He particularly praised the President for his resolve to rekindle the spirit of localisation of cottage and district industries through the 'One district, One factory' policy initiative.

He also lauded other programmes including the free Senior Hugh School (SHS) education and the planting for food and jobs policies and said the latter was pivotal to sustaining national food security, better standard of living and jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

The Regional Minister accompanied by his deputy, Mr Agyei Baffour and other Regional Heads of the various departments later toured some on-going infrastructural projects to assess the progress of work.

GNA

By Isaac Arkoh, GNA
The National Investment Bank (NIB) has donated 24 brand new Laptops and LED Television sets to the Ministry of Education (MoE) to be given to teachers who have excelled in their fields of endeavour.

The donation is in support of the 2017 National Best Teacher and Best School Awards.

The annual award scheme established in October 1994 is aimed at recognizing the immense contributions teachers across the country make in the nation's quest to educate its citizenry.

It is a means of motivating outstanding teachers to give off their best in teaching effectively and efficiently.

NIB has over the years supported the education sector in diverse ways, in consonance with its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

In all, 12 units of 43-inch Full HD Smart TCL TV sets and 12 units of 14-inch Dual-Core HP laptops were presented to the MoE.

Presenting the items, Mr Alfred George Thompson, the Deputy Managing

Director of NIB reiterated that NIB is excited to once again support the ministry in rewarding hard-working and selfless teachers across the country.

The provision of infrastructure and logistics according to him are 'key in the advancement of quality academic work hence, the Bank's desire to partner the MoE in addressing the needs of players in the education sector, like teachers.'

He emphasized that, 'computers are very critical in the area of research, and these laptops we believe will to a large extent help beneficiary teachers conduct their research with ease and timely and also ensure that accurate and useful information is imparted to students.

'If we help teachers, we essentially help ourselves as they will impart the knowledge they have to our children who eventually, will perform excellently to become professionals in the financial, educational, energy and other sectors of the economy.'

Receiving the items, Deputy Minister for Education Hon. Barbara Ayisi Asher expressed delight at the gesture saying it will go a long way to enable the ministry and the country show appreciation to the gallant teachers of the land.

'Teachers have been very pivotal in our national development agenda, moulding and shaping our future leaders and we need to support them.'

She further pledged the MoE's commitment to partnering NIB in fulfilling its social responsibilities towards quality education and national development.

GNA

By Audrey Dekalu/Kwamina Tandoh, GNA
Witchcraft. Folklore. Psychogeography. The occult and the supernatural. This year is all about the magic of the people, real people  and real magic. The stories we tell ourselves, and the way we relate to the energy of nature and edifice around us. Head to witch events in the UK, explore your inner realm and find the others!

Heres our pick of UK witch events in 2017. Were adding to the list all the time, and we dont want to pretend that the rest of the world doesnt exist, either. If you know of a witchcraft and folklore-related event we should add to the list, contact us via the email address on our submission guidelines and well get right on it.

UK and Ireland Witch Events in 2017

October 2017

November 2017

December 2017

Witchcraft events are such a powerful way to meet like minds and swim in that restorative feeling of, you know, coming home. Treat yourself.

See more witchcraft content on Mookychick

Explore our modern magic and spirituality section to find a wealth of info. Witchy playlists? Ways to venerate ancestors? Folklore, rituals, charms and spells? Youll find much to explore in our virtual Library of Alexandria, but we always welcome new insights and contributions from witchy vamps and magic-makers around the world.
@alextdaugherty

Congress could get its first professional yo-yo player if Ken Russell makes it to Washington.

The current Miami city commissioner, who once traveled around the world to showcase his yo-yo skills, told the Miami Herald that he is officially joining the crowded Democratic primary to replace retiring Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

I love my job as city commissioner and once Ileana Ros-Lehtinen announced her retirement it started a new conversation, Russell said. Its almost serendipity that [her retirement] is coinciding with whats going on with the federal government. Instantly, I felt inside this is something I want to do.

Russell set up an exploratory committee in May to gauge his electoral prospects and begin fundraising. After conducting internal polling, Russell concluded that there was a path to victory, even though other Democrats jumped in the race.

The 44-year-old, who won a Miami city commission seat in 2015, is now the eighth Democrat who has declared a candidacy for a Miami-based district that national Democrats hope they can flip in 2018. The district is among the most Democratic-leaning in the country that is currently represented by a Republican.

Theres a lot of good people running, were all very different, Russell said. We come from different backgrounds, we appeal to different backgrounds, we all have different visions.

Seven others are vying for the partys nomination to the rare open seat: former state Judge Mary Barzee Flores, state Rep. David Richardson of Miami Beach, state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez of Miami, Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, University of Miami academic adviser Michael Hepburn, Mark Anthony Person and former Knight Foundation director Matt Haggman.

Russell, who said his interest in politics started when the park across the street from his house was fenced off because of environmental neglect, plans to highlight the need for infrastructure development to offset sea level rise during his campaign.

In Miami its more prevalent than anywhere else in the country, we cannot expel the water from our streets, Russell said, adding that the Trump presidency will dominate a lot of the conversation during a Democratic primary but that the electorate will be attracted to a candidate who is looking beyond the Trump years and has a vision.

Read more here.
- Nnamdi Kanu's family says no weapon was recovered at their compound at Afara Ukwu

- Emmanuel Kanu, a brother to the missing leader urged well meaning people to ask the police how the weapons that were allegedly recovered from the house got there

- The family also accused Anthony Ogbizi, the Abia commissioner of police of disrespect

Nnamdi Kanu's family has dismissed claims that police recovered lethal weapons when they raided their compound at Afara Ukwu on October 8.

Emmanuel Kanu, a brother to the missing leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, dismissed the allegation and urged well meaning people to ask the police how the weapons that were allegedly recovered from the house got there.

READ ALSO: Don't allow soldiers immunise your children - Ezeife tells Ndigbo

Kanu also accused Anthony Ogbizi, the Abia commissioner of police of disrespect, asking him if he could have raided the palace of the Obong of Calabar under any guise the way he raided his fathers palace, the Nation reports.

He said: This new CP was the same man who came to our house two days after the September 14 invasion with two Hilux vans and his Prado SUV and pulled down the car porch and destroyed the vehicles parked outside.

This same CP hurriedly after the invasion on the October 8, issued a press release telling the whole world that they discovered bombs in my house. The army on the other hand, denied that there was no invasion and that they never went to my house, what a contradiction.

A house that there has not been any person inside except our guard who we asked to look after the house, all of a sudden they invaded the house and came back to say they found a den gun, double barrel gun and petrol bomb. Who manufactured them? Who kept them there? That is the question to ask.

The policemen came to our house and ransacked the entire compound including my mum and my fathers rooms, removing my mums boxes, our TV and generator sets, bags of rice and many personal belongings without knowing that we had a CCTV recording their activities in the house.

But when they got clue about the CCTV and in order to concoct whatever that they would present to the public to label our family bad, they came back and removed the CCTV from where they were hung.

I am telling the international community to prevail on this people. What the police and other security agencies are doing in my house, my community, in my state and the entire Biafran Land is evil. It is clear that out of desperation, they are trying to cover their tracks and they have failed.

Nobody can tag IPOB a terrorist organisation. We dont carry arms and arms never solved any dispute. They should engage IPOB leadership genuinely. We are not violent. We dont give life and we cant take one. They have rubbished the name of the country called Nigeria, thats why we are called Biafrans.

They invaded the house and took away the CCTV now they said that they discovered petrol bomb and the rest of it, when we had only one person in the house. How possible is that? Who planted them?

Going further, Kanu said: If Ogbizi was serving in his Cross River state, he wouldnt have raided the palace of the Obong of Calabar under any guise the way he raids my fathers palace and boasted he would raid it again, this can only happen in Igbo land.

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And let me tell you something, the reason they removed the former CP (Adeleye Oyebade) was that he knew that IPOB has been non-violent in their activities and he stood on the side of truth, he refused to be compromised that was why they removed him and brought this one from Cross River state who is on a mission he will never accomplish.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the desk officer of the Operation Python Dance in Abia state denied claims that the army carted away properties and personal item of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The officer, however, confirmed the report that the army indeed visited the IPOB leader's home on Sunday, October 8, along with some police officers.

Nnamdi Kanu and Biafra agitation... the journey so far! - on Legit.ng TV.

Source: Legit.ng


@PatriciaMazzei

SAN JUAN -- Sen. Bill Nelson doesn't know how many Puerto Ricans have made their way to Florida since Hurricane Maria ravaged the Caribbean island on Sept. 20. And he doesn't know how many plan to stay on the mainland as their home slowly recovers.

But if they plan to stick around the Sunshine State, the Florida Democrat wants them to go to the polls in 2018, when he's up for reelection.

"If they will register to vote, which I'm certainly going to encourage, because I can tell you among the Puerto Rican community in the greater Orlando area, they have been very embracing of my public service," he said at a San Juan news conference after Puerto Rican reporter asked him about the post-storm migration. "The question is how many will want to register, and how many will want to return."

Standing next to Gov. Ricardo Rossello, Nelson took pains to say he wasn't encouraging Puerto Ricans to depart forever. Puerto Ricans worry an exodus of working professionals -- on the heels of years of emigration during the island's financial crisis -- will only make it more difficult for the economy to get going again.

"It could be a while coming before things get back," Nelson said, referring in particular to the island's destroyed power grid. "I will certainly encourage our fellow citizens to return home."

The question of how a wave of Puerto Ricans,, who tend to vote Democratic, could reshape Florida politics is perhaps more urgent for Nelson than for any other statewide politician. He faces a potential challenge next year from Republican Gov. Rick Scott, whose administration has set up relief centers for Puerto Rican arrivals at Orlando and Miami airports and seaports to assist them with schooling, housing and employment.

Also advocating on Puerto Ricans' behalf: Republican Sen. Marco Rubio, one of the first mainland politicians to trek to the island after the storm. At the time, Puerto Rico's non-voting representative in Congress, Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon, referred to Rubio as the closest thing the island had to a senator of its own.

"I have zero concern" of what an influx of Puerto Ricans might do to Florida politically, Rubio told the Miami Herald in a recent intervew. "What's the difference between that and people moving here from New York, New Jersey or Carlifornia?

"It's not a problem," he added. "It's a problem for Puerto Rico. It's not a problem for Florida."

Nelson said he wanted to visit Puerto Rico earlier. But a planned trip last weekend was canceled. So he hopped on a JetBlue flight to San Juan early Saturday morning.

He didn't just want to get the politician tour, he said. He wanted to go inland, to the hard-hit central mountains still struggling to get aid.

So Nelson boarded a helicopter with Rossello and flew to Utuado, a town that has become a symbol of just how badly Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico.

"The main river there, it's washed out a number of the bridges," Nelson said. "But the people are very ingenious. They have strung a line with a pulley system" to get supplies across, using a supermarket cart over the water.

Without naming names, Nelson criticized fellow mainland lawmakers who have remarked after flying over Puerto Rico that the devastation doesn't look so bad because the island's homes weren't flattened.

"Well, they don't know what's happening inside that concrete structure that is wet, and now the mold and mildew is building up," Nelson said. "This is the story that I will tell tomorrow afternoon on the floor of the United States Senate, because a lot of the reports that have come back have not told about the extent of the damage."

Rossello called Nelson a longtime "champion for Puerto Rico, and a great friend," and alluded to the help the island will need to get an aid package through Congress soon.

"Now more than ever we're going to need him and his colleagues to continue championing our efforts here," Rossello said.
Editor's note: Uche Madu in Lagos writes on the recent hoax about the some officers of the Nigerian military vaccinating school children with some unknown substance.

Madu stating that Nigerians are no stranger to free medical care by the military said no one has been able to explain why the President Muhammadu Buhari's administration would like to depopulate the southeast region.

Panic, tension, disquiet and anxiety held Nigerians in the southeast of the country for days. And amusingly the cause and source of the baseless anguish, which drenched our people in hysteria was as discreditable as the news itself.

Some social media e-rats and e-thugs posted reports that our people were being massively killed by deadly vaccines, administered by the free medical outreach programme of the Nigerian Army, as it is causing the killer monkeypox disease.

The rumour mongers expanded the scope of this malevolent and hate news to include similar deadly vaccines administered on people of the South-south by soldiers. Monkey sense, to say the least!

Nigerians are not strangers to the free medical services of the Nigerian army to host communities since the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai mounted the saddle in 2015.

The army has been conducting the free medical outreach programme in the last two years, not just in medicare, but other humanitarian gestures in water/electricity, roads and so forth, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to the Nigerian people mostly within its operational scope.

Interestingly, virtually every region of Nigeria has benefitted from these programmes, especially, its free medical outreach from north to south, since the Nigerian army got actively involved in quelling terrorism and other local armed conflicts in Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Our side of the story - Nnamdi Kanus family speaks over recovery of weapons in IPOB leaders home

The beneficiaries, among them traditional rulers, usually turn out en masse and also, attest to its efficacy and immense assistance.

The southeast region has also benefited from this exercise before yesterday, when people with Monkey wisdom hijacked and gave it a new satanic meaning.

Therefore, the roving mischief makers used the instance of the repeat conduct of the free medical services by Operation Python Dance II (Egwu Eke II) to again drum hatred for our soldiers and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) by speculating the injection of south easterners with monkeypox virus.

No lie can be so disingenuous, but some naive Nigerians almost believed it. Even an intelligent nursery pupil would never believe that soldiers on a secret mission to eliminate a race will be so crude, daft and foolish enough to openly use poisoned vaccines.

Nevertheless, a good and kind-hearted gesture was deliberately baptized with evil. These projects are funded from the Nigerian armys meagre resources.

The passion for humanity and cordiality with the civil populace by the re-professionalized, disciplined and patriotic Nigerian army under General Buratai is the motivation of these humanitarian services.

Regrettably, many had no conscience and comportment to assess the veracity of the fake news, but instantly believed its unjustified linkage with the activities of Operation Python Dance II.

The 82 Division, Nigerian army, Enugu, traditional rulers, local, state and federal governments refuted the claims as untrue.

But the criminal elements in our midst, whose reprehensible outings in violence have been terminated by soldiers, energized the publicity of this silly news. In the first place, miscreants and armed gangs opposed the presence of Operation Python Dance II and boldly requested withdrawal of soldiers so that violent crimes could fester.

The cooked news on the source of the monkeypox disease was another carefully crafted propaganda aimed at extracting their pound of flesh from the army and the government.

READ ALSO: Why we are carrying out medical outreaches - Military

So, they had no veritable evidence to buttress their claims, but hell bent on tarnishing the image and reputation of the Nigerian army, they insisted on tagging along with the polluted and wicked reports.

All manner of reasons were ascribed to justify the fake reports.

To these cursed minds, it was the strategy of the army to depopulate some regions in Nigerias south, especially southeast.

No one had the sanity of explaining why the FGN under President Muhammadu Buhari or the Nigerian army would want to depopulate any region and for what value?

The Nigerian army in a statement signed by Colonel Sagir Musa, deputy director, army public relations, stated explicitly that The Division wishes to make it clear that the free medical outreach is not a vaccine intended to infect monkeypox or any major contemporary or emerging diseases in Nigeria to the people of South East or any part of the country.

Exposing their underbelly of evil, the outlawed IPOB, through its media and publicity officer, Mr. Emma Powerful, claimed the All Progressive Congress, (APC) government and the Nigerian army are determined to kill as many Biafrans as possible in Anambra State, and southeast in general.

Thats the extent of indulgence in evil and wickedness by Nigerians, especially by IPOB members. A Kenyan proverb says The day the monkey is destined to die all the trees get slippery".

The southeast is a region assailed by armed and violent criminality by gangs nurtured by IPOB and the people cried out for government intervention.

Operation Egwu Eke II was governments response to it. But like can be deduced from the adage, since there is an innate hatred of the federal government by IPOB elements, whatever goodwill extended to the region is perceived in bad light.

READ ALSO: Don't allow soldiers immunise your children - Former governor tells Igbo people

As expected, they fought back tenaciously and ferociously, to halt Operation Egwu Eke II; they violently attacked soldiers on patrol, deployed the services of hired civil society organizations to lampoon the federal government on claims of unwarranted militarization of the southeast; blackmailed and issued out violent threats. But none of the tricks worked.

The monkeypox disease vaccination claims of extermination of southerners was just another desperate attempt by these criminal elements to cause disaffection and hatred against soldiers and the federal government to springboard instant withdrawal of Operation Egwe Eke II.

An African adage says, No matter how the wild howls, the mountain, cannot bow to it. So, gimmicks are deployed to frustrate the operation of soldiers in ridding the region of armed and violent gangs.

Except that they are not potent enough to distract or deter the resolve of government and soldiers in cleansing our communities and extricating them from the grip of criminals.

The propagandists of the armys injection of Igbos with deadly vaccines, disconnectedly linking it to monkeypox disease only displayed their Monkey Sense.

They are not using their brains to think. So, they act and behave like the typical wild and foolish monkey, who ends up consumed by the fire of its own tricks or plots.

The latest development is a pathetic illustration of the magnitude the Nnamdi Kanu-led rebellious IPOB has injected the people with a destructive monkey sense.

Only those baptized and immersed in monkey wisdom would reason and act this disgracefully before Nigerians.

Kanu has led our jobless youths on the destructive voyage and at the same time, usurped their thinking faculties, by hypnotizing them with monkey sense. So, they have continued to manifest in foolishness, silliness and stupidity.

They may end up becoming pathetic victims of their own contrivances like monkeys.

In African folklore, entanglements of the monkey, sprouts from what the animal thinks is its best and wisest wisdom. The tortoise is cleverer and wiser. It weaves and fortifies its tricks to protect his life and give him desired results from any action.

The tortoise comes out of every problem un-bruised and triumphantly. In spite of its small nature, it once tricked the mighty elephant into a bottomless pit, where it was killed and the blood used to cure a sick king.

The tortoise collected his reward for disarming the elephant, an animal dreaded by other animals, even when a handsome reward was offered.

Conversely, Kanu and his followers hate to see our kinsmen imbibe the cherished wisdom of the tortoise. They are scheming to inject everyone in Igboland with monkey brain, instead of the tortoises clever brain, necessary for gainfully navigating modern-day politics in Nigeria.

The Yorubas and the Niger Deltas are now exploiting the monkey brain of the Igbos for regional gains in the configuration of Nigeria.

But the Igbos appear to be learning nothing and they will certainly forget nothing. And so, Igbos unrestrictedly incite themselves against one another, and extend hatred and antagonism to any other nationality in Nigeria.

When our own brothers in drug war invaded a church at Ozubulu, Anambra state and massacred people, some foolish people swore it was marauding Fulani herdsmen.

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IPOB elements contrive fake news of the injection of deadly vaccinations on Igbos by soldiers, and thereafter, claim it is execution of the Fulani/Hausa agenda of the total annihilation of Biafrans.

Do they even imagine the damage such vile and farcical propaganda is doing to the cords of friendship with other tribes in this confederation?

Someone should save us the Igbo race from IPOB, which has already laid it on the slaughter slab. This mentality of dubiously frustrating a noble idea and painting it black, even where it resists such colourations is retrogressive.

History suggests that in the days of yore, when the Great Zik of Africa, the proud son/leader of Igbo nation and Nigeria impressed on the colonialists Britain, to give free milk to school children in the region, they rejected it.

We flaunted unsubstantiated claims that it was expired milk and the Britons who anchored it intended poisoning our children.

Zik again offered us Okporoko fish at campaigns and some also claimed it was poison and extracting a revenge against Zik, Igbos refused to vote for him at the polls. Who has injected us with this more deadly monkey sense? Must we embark on actions likely to boomerang dangerously against our people ?

The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Legit.ng.

Your own opinion articles are welcome at info@corp.legit.ng drop an email telling us what you want to write about and why. More details in Legit.ngs step-by-step guide for guest contributors.

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Biafra: Should Operation Python Dance in the southeast be canceled? - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Billionaire kidnapper Evans has accused the police of stealing cash, valuables from him

- His lawyer wrote a petition listing the items stolen which include the sum of N50 million

- He also accused the police of molesting his girlfriend

Billionaire kidnapper Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans has raised serious allegations against police officers accusing them of stealing money from his house.

In a petition by Olukoya Ogungbeje who is the counsel to the kidnapper, it was alleged that officers of the Inspector General of Polices Intelligence Response Team took cash and valuables from his house.

READ ALSO: Yoruba people are regretting voting for Buhari - Adebanjo

These allegations were contained in the petition sent to the Police Service Commission, National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and Amnesty International.

The lawyer also accused the police of molesting Evans girlfriend, Amaka Offor.

Read the petition below:

Our client has duly briefed us on the above captioned subject matter involving the police officers and policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is our secured brief that in the course of investigating our client while being detained in the custody of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the allegation of kidnapping, the following under-listed items were forcefully and corruptly extorted from our client.

1. The sum of N50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) cash.

2. Another sum of N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) sent by our clients wife as pressured by the above policemen.

3. Twenty-five (25) Mack Trucks forcefully taken but not listed as exhibits in the ongoing criminal trial of our client.

4. Brigade wristwatch worth One Hundred and Seventeen (117) Thousand U.S Dollars.

5. Pendant cross worth Seventy (70) Thousand U.S Dollars.

6. Necklace worth Twenty-Five (25) Thousand U.S Dollars.

7. Virtu Phone worth Thirty (30) Thousand U.S Dollars.

8. Virtu Signature Phone worth Seventeen (17) Thousand U.S Dollars.

9. Ten (10) Thousand U.S Dollars cash extorted by ASP Phillip Rieninwa.

10. Five (5) Pieces of Saphono Rucci Diamond Rings worth One Hundred (100) Thousand U.S Dollars.

11. Lexus 470 Jeep.

12. Grand Cherokee Jeep.

13. L 400 Mitsubishi Bus.

14. Toyota Highlander (Gold Colour).

15. Eighty-Five (85) Inches Samsung Television set worth 6.5 Million Naira amongst others.

Our client also confided in us that one (Amaka Offor) his girlfriend was molested and abused by the above policemen of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

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Sir, you would agree with us that these allegations are too weighty to be ignored by any right-thinking Nigerian.

There is no gainsaying the fact that it calls for prompt investigation, inquiry and appropriate sanctions. We are using this medium as our own way of galvanizing institutional sanity, cleansing and reform in the Nigeria Police Force as an institution.

As we speak, the brother in law and other relations of our client are still being detained and tortured by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team."

Meanwhile, Justice Abdulazeez Anka of the Federal High Court, Lagos on Wednesday, October 11, declined to hear a fundamental rights suit filed by Evans.

Evans is seeking N300 million damages for his illegal detention.

Evans the kidnapper lands in Kirikiri prison after first appearance in court - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Governor Rochas Okorocha erected a statue in honour of President Jacob Zuma

- Many Nigerians criticised the gesture of the governor

- They pointed out that Nigerians were being attacked in South Africa

Governor Rochas Okorocha has come under severe criticism for erecting a statue in honour of President Jacob Zuma of South Africa in Owerri, Imo state capital.

The governor unveiled the statue in the presence of the South African president and other dignitaries in a ceremony.

The huge statue of President Jacob Zuma unveiled in Owerri. Credit: Facebook

READ ALSO: Nigeria will collapse if the north insists on power in 2019 - Arewa chieftain

It was alleged that the statue costs N520 million to construct although this has not been verified or confirmed by the state government.

A road was also named in honour of President Jacob Zuma. Credit: Facebook

Governor Okorocha also named a road after Zuma and also honoured him with a chieftaincy title.

Nigerians took to social media to unleash tirade of criticism against the Imo governor with many pointing out that the South African president was being indicted for corruption in Imo.

Many accused the governor of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians pointing out that Nigerians in South Africa were being attacked regularly.

Read some reactions below:

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Meanwhile, after allegedly suffering brutalization at the hands of policemen, at least five Nigerians landed in the hospital in South Africa, NAN reports.

The unfortunate development was made public on Thursday, October 12, by the president of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo.

Is the Nigerian Police your friend? - on Legit.ng TV:

Source: Legit.ng
- The race for the 2019 presidential election is literally on

- Media mogul and former presidential aspirant, Chief Dele Momodu is of the opinion that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will contest in the election

- Tinubu is a well respected and highly influential leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

The recent comments of the former interim chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, has sparked reactions across Nigeria.

Akande, a confidante of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, was recently quoted as saying there is no automatic ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Political analysts have interpreted Akande's comment to mean Tinubu is withdrawing support for the president.

Chief Akande's comment that President Buhari is not entitled to an automatic comment had sparked controversy. Source: Twitter

READ ALSO: APC chieftain says BoT meetings were held in 2014, slams Galadima for partys deregistration comments

Joining the fray is Ife-born Chief Momodu who went further by suggesting that Tinubu will contest the 2019 presidential election.

Chief Momodu opined that Yoruba leaders are preparing Asiwaju Tinubu for presidency come 2019.

He stated that the Yoruba leadership will no longer support any other tribe for presidency, adding that zoning would never work again in Nigeria's politics.

What Baba Akande has not said is simply that the days when the presidency would be voluntarily zoned to exclude most sections of the country in favour of another section, whether the candidate presented and supported by the people is competent or useless, are over.

The truth is zoning never worked anyway, as some presidential candidates left their original parties for other parties in defiance of the zoning formula of their own party.

Without mincing words, it is obvious that the Yoruba leadership has decided it would no longer support other tribes, zones or regions to attain to power to the exclusion of their tribe.

They would rather work hard, reach out, and join hands with like minds to get power.

Their decision is borne out of the acute frustration and disappointment that makes them feel cheated about the Nigerian configuration which does not throw up the best but regularly favours the dregs of society who have only contributed to drawing Nigeria backward, in most cases.

The campaign has probably started in earnest, culminating in the search for a Yoruba presidency, Momodu, who is also the publisher of Ovation magazine, wrote.

Dele Momodu may have issued an early warning to President Muhammadu Buhari. Photo credit: Aso Rock

He said though the governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has thrown his hat into the ring, Tinubu is also warming up for his turn to take a major shot at the race of his life that is most significant.

Mark my words. One of the greatest political strategists in Nigeria, Tinubu is tired of being a kingmaker and he would rather be the king.

Indeed, that has always been his ambition but this has been largely curtailed by circumstances.

Like many of those who supported Major General Muhammadu Buhari to attain power, after so many attempts, the former Senator and former Governor of Lagos State, feels hes not gotten the respect and relevance he deserves for his monumental effort. Accordingly, he seems determined to make a personal push.

Apart from the virtues of Baba Akande that I have enumerated above, a lesser known one is his deep sense of loyalty, he concluded.

READ ALSO: 2019: North Central youths urge Buhari to seek re-election

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously listed six APC leaders who may replace Buhari in 2019.

Would you donate a kidney to save President Buhari if he needs one? - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- A chieftain of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Professor Banji Akintoye, is not happy with President Muhammadu Buhari

- Professor Akintoye is of the opinion that the president is behind the secessionist agitations in the country

- He opined that the Buhari government is not willing to restructure the country

The chairman of the political committee of Afenifere, Professor Banji Akintoye, has maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari had been fuelling secessionist agitations with his words and body language towards those calling for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Akintoye, a renowned historian, told the Nigerian Tribune in an interview, that the things being said by officials of the federal government were creating the impression that there is hard determination to hold on to the status quo and that is creating anxiety across the country.

According to the revered professor, going by President Buharis statements, those calling for restructuring were the ones provoking secessionist sentiment in the country.

Professor Akintoye is of the opinion that President Buhari's body language towards restructuring is not encouraging. Photo credit: The Guardian

Source: UGC

READ ALSO: Nigeria will collapse if the north insists on power in 2019 - Arewa chieftain

He further stated that Nigerians were sure that the government was not ready to restructure the country.

His words: What is generating secessionist agitations is that people are sure that the federal government is determined not to change anything, in spite of the fact that they made the promise that they were going to change and do restructuring.

Akintoye also reacted to the claim by former Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, that Yorubas had always had secessionist tendencies, noting that the records were clear that the southwest has never asked to be allowed to secede from Nigeria.

The presidency had described the call for restructuring Nigeria by opposition members, especially those who were once in power, as suspicious.

President Buhari's spokesperson, Femi Adesina, stated this on Friday, October 13, during the Change We Need Nigeria Initiative 8th Annual Lecture Series with the theme: Disintegration or Restructuring: Which Way Nigeria?

Adesina also said that the Buharis administration is not opposed to restructuring but is opposed to anything that will break the country.

READ ALSO: Yoruba people are regretting voting for Buhari - Adebanjo

Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu accuses President Buhari of nepotism on - Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- Senator Dino Melaye describes President Vladimir Putin as a humble man

- The senator representing Kogi west at the Nigerian Senate is awarded the Senator of the Year for the second time

Senator Dino Melaye has shared a picture of a brief meeting he had with Russian president, Vladimir Putin, at the 137th inter-parliamentary union assembly in Moscow on Saturday, October 14.

READ ALSO: Nigeria will collapse if the north insists on power in 2019 - Arewa chieftain

The senator representing Kogi west at the Nigerian senate, was seen holding hands with the Russian president in the picture he shared on his Instagram page.

Following the encounter, Melaye described Vladimir Putin as a humble man.

See the picture below:

In other news, Senator Melaye was awarded the Senator of the Year for the second time, at the Annual Senate Press Corps Awards/Dinner in Abuja.

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The controversial senator was presented the award by the special guest of honour at the event, in the person of FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello Musa.

Melaye received the award with thanks and took pictures with some of the guest at the event.

Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- A report from the office of the accountant-general of the federation shows that key agencies that remit funds into the federation account are the NNPC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Customs Service

- In the last federation account allocation committee (FAAC) meeting in September, 2017, federal, states and local governments shared N637.7 billion

- The report shows that the federal capital territory got N5.74 billion from the federal governments share of the distributable revenue

The 36 states shared N173.8 billion from the federation account in September 2017 from the distributable revenue generated for the month.

The breakdown was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a report from the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation in Abuja.

The funds are usually shared the following month.

READ ALSO: Recovery of weapons: Nnamdi Kanu's family speaks

For example, revenue generated in January is shared in February; thus, the revenue shared was actually generated in August and shared in September.

The key agencies that remit funds into the federation account are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigerian Customs Service.

Legit.ng learnt that the last Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in September, federal, states and local governments shared N637.7 billion.

The report showed that the revenue distributed included the Gross Statutory revenue, Value Added Tax, exchange gains and Petroleum Profit Tax.

The report showed that before distribution to the states, their liabilities were first deducted.

The liabilities include a total external debt of N2.67 billion, contractual obligations of N9.58 billion and other deductions amounting to N18.2 billion.

The report showed that the other deductions covered National Water Rehabilitation Projects, National Agricultural Technology Support, Salary bailout, Payment for Fertilizer, State Water Supply Project, State Agriculture Project and National Fadama Project.

To sum it up, here is what the 36 states got after all deductions were made.

Abia N4.04 billlion, Adamawa N4.02 billion, Cross River N2.85 billion, Ekiti N2.94 billion, Edo N4.5 billion, Kaduna State N5.4 billion, Kano State N6.8 billion, Lagos state N8.8 billion, Rivers N12.45 billion, and Zamfara, N3.05 billion.

Delta got N14.2 billion, Anambra N4.3 billion, Benue N4.2 billion, Borno N4.9 billion, Ebonyi N3.76 billion, Enugu State N4.07 billion, Gombe State N3.39 billion, Nassarawa State N3.74 billion, Imo N3.96 billion and Kogi N4.24 billion.

Yobe also got N4.15 billion, Taraba, N3.6 billion, Sokoto state N4.1 billion, Plateau N3.38 billion, Oyo State N4.8 billion, Osun N1.6 billion, Ondo State N4.64 billion, Ogun N3.04 billion, Niger N4.61 billion and Kebbi N4.26 billion.

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Similarly, Katsina state got N4.66 billion, Bayelsa N10.88 billion, Bauchi State N4.34 billion, Jigawa N4.67 billion, Akwa Ibom, N12.94 billion and Kwara N3.53 billion.

The report also showed that the Federal Capital Territory got N5.74 billion from the Federal Governments share of the distributable revenue in September.

From the data, the top 10 earning states from the federation account for the month are Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Borno, Oyo, Jigawa state in that order.

The 10 lowest earners for the month are Osun state, Cross River, Ekiti, Ogun state, Zamfara, Plateau, Gombe, Kwara, Taraba and Nassarawa state.

The FAAC committee is made up of commissioners of finance and Accountants-General from the 36 states of the federation; the Accountant General of the Federation, and representative from the NNPC.

Others are representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service; the Nigerian Customs Service; Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission as well as the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The federation account is currently being managed on a legal framework that allows funds to be shared to the three tiers of government under three major components.

These components are the statutory allocation, Value Added Tax distribution; and allocation made under the derivation principle.

Meanwhile, the federal government has been warned about its rising debt profile, especially foreign loans, by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The Nation reports. The financial institution issued the warning on Wednesday, October 11. This comes following President Muhammadu Buharis recent request to the National Assembly for approval to borrow $5.5 billion to fund the 2017 budget.

Legit.ng gathers that Tobias Adrian, IMF director, Monetary and Capital Markets Department, lamented over the fact that the external borrowing of low income countries including Nigeria, keeps rising.

He stressed that if the resources gotten from such borrowing are not put to good use, it would become a serious challenge.

According to data from the Debt Management Office, Nigerias public debt as at June 2017 stood at $64.19 billion (N19.63 trillion).

Are Nigerians truly tired of Buhari - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
- One major characteristic in the present administration of President Buhari is the unending bickering among senior government officials

- The officials are caught in the web of power play as they battle to outwit one other

- These infighting have created the impression that Buhari is not in charge of his government

Officials of President Muhammadu Buharis administration have thrown caution to the wind in the last few months.

The media has been awash with stories of infighting and bickering among senior government officials, as President Buhari appears helpless to nip the crisis in the bud.

Some of the key players in the government are not left out in these show of shame, thereby hampering government business and creating unnecessary distractions.

READ ALSO: Group chides Nigerian Senate for summoning chief of army staff

Here are 11 major bickering within the federal government since the present administration came on board.

1. Magu Vs Malami

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the acting boss of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, were involved in a pubic spat which raised doubts about the Buhari's government's sincerity in fighting corruption.

Malami had specifically blamed Magu for causing the suspension of Nigeria from the Egmont Group, an international anti-corruption body with over 135 member countries. The AGF had also accused the EFCC boss of breaching Section 10 (1) of the EFCC Act which states that the EFCC must send complex cases to the AGF for better cooperation and prosecution.

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, however disclosed that President Buhari was investigating the feud between both men.

The president is aware and is investigating it. He is the employer of both of them. There are divergent views between the AGF and the EFCC chairman and the appropriate authorities will look into it, Mohammed told a popular TV station.

2. Aisha Buhari Vs Presidency

First Lady Aisha Buhari recently, publicly upbraided the Chief Medical Director of the State House Medical Centre, Dr. Husain Munir, for the poor state of the health facility established to take care of the president, vice-president, their families as well as members of staff of the presidential villa, Abuja.

Aisha also admitted that Nigeria was unstable in the last six months owing largely to the her husbands ill-health that forced him to remain outside the country for months.

Maintaining that the budget allocated to the clinic must be accounted for, she said: I am sure Dr. Munir will not like me saying this but I have to say it out. As the Chief Medical Director, there are a lot of constructions going on in this hospital but there is no single syringe there."

The first lady had last year, openly criticized her husband for certain decisions he took regarding his government.

3. Hameed Ali Vs Senate

Earlier in the year, the Senate asked the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd), to appear in plenary in uniform unfailingly. The senators had previously attacked Ali for honouring their invitation without wearing uniform.

The invitation came when members of the Senate were pushing for drastic action against the NCS and the CG over the refusal to suspend action on the proposed clampdown on vehicles without duty payment, as ordered by the legislature.

Part of the actions proposed by the senate was to summon Ali to appear before all the lawmakers in the chamber in Customs uniform, which the NSC boss had earlier refused to wear.

But Ali called the bluff of the Senate, saying he would not honour the invitation extended to him by the upper legislative chamber to appear before them in uniform.

He said his attendance at the Senate plenary as scheduled by the federal lawmakers would be subjudice.

4. Magu Vs DSS

EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu, assumed office on November 9, 2015, as acting chairman of the agency following his appointed two days earlier by President Buhari to succeed Ibrahim Lamorde. But the Senate declined to confirm Magu as substantive chairman of the EFCC on December 15, 2015 based on an incriminating report by the DSS.

Though he was presented again to the upper chamber in January after an alleged executive inquest absolved him of wrongdoing, Magu was rejected for the second time by the Senate on March 15 during its confirmation hearing.

A second report by the DSS, portrayed Magu as tainted and unfit to head the anti-graft body. It referred to indictments of the EFCC boss by disciplinary authorities and his alleged illegal sharing of classified materials.

Responding to the query through the AGF, Abubakar Malami, on the DSS allegations, Magu said that it was not true that some documents relating to cases under investigation were found his house when his residence was searched on the orders of Mrs. Farida Waziri, shortly after she succeeded Mallam Nuhu Ribadu as EFCC chairman.

5. Hameed Ali Vs Kemi Adeosun

There was disagreement between the Customs boss and the minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, who took different positions on the revenue accruing into the money spinning para-military government agency.

The rift between the duo came to public awareness when Ali promoted and demoted some men and officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) without recourse to the finance minister. Matters came to a head in the National Assembly when the duo appeared to defend their 2016 budget before the Senate committee on finance.

The rift was obvious when Ali and Adeosun gave divergent figures and positions on items and figures in their budgets.

6. Magu Vs Senate

Twice, the Nigerian Senate had rejected the nomination of Ibrahim Magu as chairman of the EFCC. The lawmakers said their decision was informed by a security report made available to them by the DSS.

The presidency had since July last year requested the Senate to confirm Magu as EFCC boss through a letter signed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo in his capacity as acting president when President Buhari was away on medical vacation.

Although the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, read the vice presidents letter on July 14, 2016 the red chamber failed to schedule a confirmation hearing fueling suspicions that some corrupt senators were bent on blocking Magu from the position.

Following widespread pressure from Nigerians, the lawmakers fixed December 8, 2016 for the session but that also failed to materialise. Consequently, the Senate went into a standoff with the presidency, vowing to stand down all requests for confirmation into executive positions in the federal government. The Senates stance was based on the challenge from Osinbajo (then acting president) to the Senates capacity to confirm certain nominees of the executive into federal bodies.

The lawmakers who were particularly miffed by the continued stay in office of Magu as chairman of the EFCC, despite his rejection by the Senate on two occasions, passed a resolution asking the acting president to apologise for his challenge to the Senates power to confirm persons into certain executive bodies.

7. NHIS boss Vs Health minister

Usman Yusuf, a professor of pediatrics, who came on board as the executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) last year, was given a marching order by minister of health; Professor Isaac Adewole, to proceed on suspension for three months, following mounting petitions against alleged fraudulent practices and nepotism by concerned groups.

The letter suspending Yusuf was given to him on July 6, directing him to go on three months suspension to pave the way for an independent probe of the mountains of petitions against him.

However, in a daring tone, Professor Yusuf fired back at the health minister on July 12, telling him to his face that he could not proceed on the suspension as the minister lacks the power to sanction him. Yusuf pointedly told Adewole that it was only the president who appointed him, that could remove him from office, which has tenure of five years in the first instance and another five, if renewed.

Although the House of Representatives, in a resolution against the suspension gave the minister seven days to reinstate him, the health ministry maintained that it had the right to suspend Yusuf and that he would remain suspended. The ministry later wrote to the Nigeria Police Force to secure the NHIS headquarters in Utako, Abuja, after vows by the suspended Executive Secretary to resume.

The ministry recently, issued another statement extending the suspension indefinitely.

8. Mama Taraba Vs President Buhari

The minister of women affairs, Aisha Alhassan, announced her endorsement of a former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, for the 2019 presidential election.

The minister, popularly known as Mama Taraba made the endorsement when she led a private visit to the former vice president who is a chieftain of Nigerias ruling APC.

Mrs. Alhassan who was the APC governorship candidate in Taraba in the 2015 election restated her position during an interview with BBC Hausa. She added that even if President Muhammadu Buhari decides to contest in 2019, she would still support Abubakar.

Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-Rufai, criticized Alhassan for stance but said, he was not surprised that the minister openly endorsed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. El-Rufai also revealed that the minister was not in Buharis camp during the presidential primary election of the APC and has never supported the presidents ideology.

9. IGP Idris Vs Senator Misau

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, and the chairman, Senate committee on Navy, Senator Isah Misau.

Misau, a retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), on August 10, alleged that policemen pay as much as N500, 000 for Special promotion. The senator told newsmen that he was tired of complaints of bribe for promotions and transfer to juicy duty posts in the force as well as the Police Service Commission (PSC).

The senator also accused the IGP of collecting N120billion as payment for special security services rendered by the police to corporate bodies and oil firms, among others, annually.

The police through the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, in return, accused Misau of exiting the police unceremoniously, to escape punishment for misconducts and other inappropriate behaviours.

The police declared Misau a deserter, vowing to declare himwanted, but the senator swiftly denied the allegations.

Before the dust could settle down, the senator fired another salvo, accusing the IGP of sexual impropriety with female police officers and abuse of office. The senator alleged at the Senates plenary that the Idris had impregnated two female police officers and secretly married one in Kaduna.

Consequently, the Senate set-up an 8-member committee to probe IGP Idris on the allegations leveled against him by Senator Misau.

However, the IGP has approached an Abuja Federal High Court, praying it restrain the Senate from carrying out the probe, explaining that it was against his fundamental rights.

Earlier, the federal government through the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, filed charges against Misau, bordering on alleged falsehood against the IGP.

10. Sagay Vs APC

Earlier in July, a verbal warfare broke out between the leadership of the APC and Professor Itse Sagay, one of the key aides directing President Muhammadu Buharis anti-corruption fight. Sagay, chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption (PACAC), had in a national newspaper, described the APC leadership as lily-livered, weak and incompetent.

Sagay had said: As for the leadership of the APC, I think they are the most unprincipled group of people. They are lily-livered, weak, and cannot run any organisation. The whole party is collapsing under them. They cannot control anybody. Because they cannot control anybody, theyre now, in fact, encouraging and accepting rogues."

The National Working Committee of the APC promptly fired back, describing Sagay as a rogue elephant, while also warning all appointees of President Buhari to show respect and decorum to the party which won the victory that made them occupy the offices they hold.

Part of the statement issued by the APC had read: Clearly, if we have today, anyone in our government or, by extension, the party who feels accountable only to his own ego; who does not feel the need to bridle his tongue for the sake of anything that is higher than himself; who feels independent of everyone and every institution; that person is Professor Sagay.

11. Kachikwu Vs Baru

The minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, recently released a bombshell letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, accusing the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru of flagrant violation of due process in the award of contracts and acts of insubordination.

In the letter to the president, which was leaked to the media, the minister accused the NNPC boss of labelling him as corrupt, anti-north, and also being in collusion with militants, in order to convince the president on the need to side-line him in the decision-making process in the state-run oil firm. Kachikwu also alleged that Baru awarded about $24 billion major contracts without his input or review by the NNPC board.

After maintaining initial silence, the NNPC described the allegations by Kachikwu as baseless, even as it accused the minister of exaggerating and concocting figures to give vent to his claims.

Kachikwu later met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa but declined to speak with reporters on the outcome of their meeting. Although the two aggrieved government officials (Kachikwu and Baru) eventually met at a public function in Abuja last week where they exchanged handshakes, not many were convinced that the dust raised between the two top players in the petroleum industry is settled.

READ ALSO: Yoruba people are regretting voting for Buhari - Adebanjo

Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu accuses President Buhari of nepotism on - Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng
By Lambert Stether of Corrente.

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the publicly-traded California utility of Erin Brockovich fame, has a market capitalization of $29.6 billion dollars and took $1.41 billion in profits for 2016, up 58.4 percent from profits in 2015. Amusingly, PG&Es WikiPedia page has a separate heading for Disasters, although even a cursory search shows the list to be less than complete.

In this post, Im going to expand on that list, starting with the San Bruno Pipeline Explosion, and then moving through fire after fire until we get to the Wine Country Fire currently ravaging Northern California. We will see that there is a common factor to the fires, a factor that (teaser alert) is shared with the Puerto Rican disaster caused by Hurricane Maria.

I hope California readers will chime in with PG&E disaster stories of their own, with lots of additional detail. I know very little about PG&E as a corporate entity and even less about the California regulatory environment, and Im by no means an expert on California politics (except insofar as I follow the CalPERS story, of course).

Ill start with the San Bruno Pipeline explosion, because that tells a story about the regulatory environment, and then move on to the fires.

San Bruno Pipeline Explosion (2010)

Eight people died in the ginormous fire that followed the explosion of a PG&E natural gas pipeline in San Bruno, California. The USGS reported that the shock wave was similar to a 1.1 magnitude earthquake. In 2016, a Federal jury found PG&E guilty of misleading investigators and five of 11 counts of pipeline safety violations, including failing to gather information to evaluate potential gas line threats and deliberately not classifying a gas line as high risk. Investigators found that the explosion was caused by a combination of PG&Es shoddy maintenance and flawed record keeping, along with lax oversight of PG&E by the state PUC. in 2017, A federal judge Thursday sentenced PG&E for crimes linked to the deadly San Bruno pipeline explosion, imposing the maximum fine of $3 million and branding the utility as a convicted felon. And: Federal investigators have harshly criticized the [California Public Utilities Commission (PUC)] for nurturing a cozy relationship with PG&E that led to lax supervision of the utility.

Now, to be fair to the PUC, they did fine PG&E $1.6 billion, and (at least as of 2015) new President President Michael Picker was said to have set a new tone. But remember those cozy relationships? San Jose Mercury News, Whistleblower complaint targets PUC, PG&E in 2017:

[Karen Valentia Clopton,] the former chief administrative law judge at Californias powerful utility regulator said Tuesday she was fired for cooperating with investigators looking into collusion between regulators and executives from Pacific Gas & Electric. Clopton alleges her dismissal was retaliation for cooperating with investigators looking into the commissions actions and for telling her subordinates to do the same. She says she objected to the appointment of an administrative law judge with alleged ties to PG&E and told commissioners not to interfere with the assignment of specific judges to cases.

Now, the matter has yet to be adjudicated, but the (alleged) fact set does seem rather familiar, doesnt it?

With that, lets move to the fires. (Apparently, important, really bad fires have names, like hurricanes do, but based on their location, so Im not going to give details on the damages the fires caused.)

Sierra Blaze (1994)

From the San Francisco Chronicle: PG&E Guilty In 1994 Sierra Blaze / 739 counts of negligence for not trimming trees.

A Nevada County jury found Pacific Gas and Electric Co. guilty yesterday of a pattern of tree-trimming violations that sparked a devastating 1994 wildfire in the Sierra.  During the three-month trial, a prosecution expert testified that PG&E bilked its customers of nearly $80 million by diverting funds from its trimming program into shareholder profits.

Pendola Fire (2009)

From the Sacramento Business Journal: PG&E to pay $14.75M for Pendola fire damage. We dont have an explicit mention of the profit motive, but we do have the pattern of inadequate tree-trimming:

Since the fire, the utility company has stepped up its vegetation management and inspection program, monitoring every mile of transmission line at least once a year as opposed to every three or four years at the time of the incident.

Butte Fire (2015)

From the Sonora Union-Democrat: Cal Fire confirms PG&E caused Butte Fire. Again we have the pattern of inadequte tree-trimming. Cal Fires incident investigator Gianni Muschetto report said the fire was sparked when a Gray Pine touched a PG&E power line. As I read it, PG&E vegetation management removed some trees near the line, exposing other trees, which it then did not maintain:

Failing to identify the potential hazard of leaving weaker, inherently unstable trees on the edge of the stand, without maintaining them, ultimately led to the failure of the gray pine, which contacted the power line conductor operated by PG&E, and ignited the Butte Fire, Muschettos report stated.

Wine Country Fires (2017)

And now we come to todays fires, the Wine County Fires. Right before they started, we got this report from the San Jose Mercury-News: PG&E profits nearly double after customers utility bills jumped, with this little nugget:

PG&E slashed its spending on operations and maintenance during the second quarter to $1.55 billion, the utility reported. That was 15.9 percent below the companys spending on maintenance and operations during the same period the year before.

Followed, apparently without irony or any sense of contradiction, by this:

This has been a strong quarter, [PG&Es Chief Executive Officer Geisha Williams] said during the conference call. We continue to make steady progress on our safety culture.

Im going to, er, go out on a limb here and speculate that tree-trimming is part of the operations and maintenance line item, meaning that Williams steady progress could well have progressed in a straight line to the Wine Country Fires. PG&E claimed that its lines went down because of hurricane-force winds. Since that was not true[1[, we can look for other explanations: From the Mercury News:

[R]eports of the power equipment failures began to turn the spotlight on PG&E, the giant San Francisco-based utility, raising questions about how well it maintained its equipment in the area and whether it adequately cut back trees from power lines to reduce fire risk  as required by state law.

From the Times-Herald News, we get the hopeful sign that the relation between the PUC and PG&E is less cozy that it was: Regulatory agency launches investigation into California wildfires; probes PG&E activities in fire zones:

Thursday, Elizaveta Malashenko, director of the PUCs safety and enforcement division, sent a letter to Pacific Gas and Electric ordering it to preserve all evidence regarding the string of devastating fires

PG&Es market cap promptly tanked, losing $3.5 billion. Meanwhile, state Senator Jerry Hill (D-Redwood City), a PG&E critic, said that if tree-trimming  and lets not forget that 15.9% cut in operations and maintenance  turned out to be the problem, again, that should signal the end of PG&E. More from Hill:

If it turns out that PG&E is responsible for this fire and negligent for not putting in the resources or for diverting the resources then I will be the first one to stand up and say we need to dissolve PG&E as a private company and form a public utility.

Conclusion

I did mention a resemblance between the disasters of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and the Wine Country fires in California. Its tree-trimming, of course:

Holy moley. In words: This week, for the first time since the storm, electrical crews began appearing not just in the capital, but in neighboring Carolina and Rio Grande. Faced with a tangle of downed poles, lines and transformers on nearly every street, it wasnt clear how much progress they were making. So, the wires are all down. And why? Deferred maintenance demanded by austerity. Buzzfeed: In recent years, as part of sweeping cuts to the government budget, many public services were slashed, including preventative maintenance of the electricity network. That meant trees were left untrimmed and allowed to intertwine with power lines  with disastrous results. After a big storm in the United States, the power company may have one break in the lines every few miles from a downed tree. In Puerto Rico today, the lines are broken every few yards .

In Puerto Rico, lack of tree trimming caused by an austerity regime imposed by the Obama administration acting on behalf of Wall Street caused the complete collapse of Puerto Ricos grid. In California, a pattern of lack of tree trimming caused by the profit motive led to collapsed power lines and fires in the Sierra Blaze, the Pendola Fire, the Butte Fire, and quite possibly the Wine Country. If the relation between the PUC and PG&E is as cozy as the San Bruno Pipeline Explosion and Cloptons whistleblower suit suggest, the truth of the matter may be hard to come by. But maybe well get lucky! Then again, perhaps Senator Hill is right, and PG&E needs to become a public utility, rather than the incorrigible rogue utility it seems to be. Readers?

NOTES

[1] Here is PG&E spokesperson Matt Nauman in action. From the Times-Herald:

PG&E officials issued a statement Tuesday evening, acknowledging the equipment troubles even as a company spokesman called the questions about maintenance highly speculative.

Only if we dont combine the profit motive with past patterns of behavior. And more:

The historic wind event [no] that swept across PG&E service area late Sunday and early Monday packed hurricane-strength winds in excess of 75 mph in some cases. These destructive winds, along with millions of trees weakened by years of drought and recent renewed vegetation growth from winter storms, all contributed to some trees, branches and debris impacting our electric lines across the North Bay. In some cases, we have found instances of wires down, broken poles and impacted infrastructure. Where those have occurred, we have reported them to the CPUC and CalFire. Our thoughts are with all those individuals who were impacted by these devastating wildfires.

Ive read that at least twice, and what I get out of it is that vegetation was too close to the power lines.
(Natural News) A former reporter for The New York Times (NYT) has blown the lid on what she claims is the media conglomerates duplicitous handling of the ongoing Harvey Weinstein scandal. While the NYT is now claiming credit for most recently bringing to light Weinsteins illicit sexual escapades, which date back several decades, it was this same NYT that back in 2004 tried to cover for Weinsteins crimes, as he just so happened to be one of the news outlets top advertisers.

Sharon Waxman, who now runs The Wrap, says she was prevented from ever writing what she had uncovered about Weinstein nearly 15 years ago because the Times didnt want to ruffle any feathers. Weinstein once held a lot of sway there, and the paper simply didnt want to lose one of its major financial lifelines. So Waxman kept the story to herself  that is, until the NYT suddenly did an about-face and broke the news as if it had just uncovered a buried treasure.

The only reason that treasure was buried, Waxman claims, is because the NYT buried in the first place. And for NYT writer Jim Rutenberg to now claim that no journalistic outfit had been able, or perhaps willing, to nail the details and hit publish, claiming that they have instead functioned as media enablers, Waxman only has this to say: Thats right, Jim. No one  including The New York Times.

How many more young people did Weinstein assault because of the NYTs silence?

According to Waxman, she was still fairly new at the Times when she was first given the green light to take a closer look into allegations from even way back then pegging Weinstein as a sexual predator throughout Hollywood. Seeing as how she had been informed that much of Weinsteins illicit behavior was believed to be taking place overseas, Waxman traveled far and wide to see for herself if there was any truth to such claims.

In numerous instances, Waxman had discovered what appeared to be foul play in the way certain individuals were hired and paid to work at Weinsteins companies. A Fabrizio Lombardo, for instance, who had worked at Weinsteins Miramax company for less than one year, had received $400,000 in compensation even though he reportedly knew nothing about film. Another individual, a woman from London, had also received an unusual sum of money  but in this case, it was for another purpose.

This woman, according to Waxman, had been paid off by Weinstein after she endured an unwanted sexual encounter with Weinstein, though she was afraid to speak of it due to a non-disclosure agreement. All of this and more was compiled into an in-depth investigatory piece that, after Waxman presented it to the Times, was rejected for publishing.

Waxman says the Times was pressured not only by Weinstein not to publish the story, but also by Hollywood A-listers like Matt Damon and Russell Crowe. It was as if a Hollywood mafia had come marching through the doors of the Times demanding that the truth be censored. And that was that.

After intense pressure from Weinstein, which included having Matt Damon and Russell Crowe call me directly to vouch for Lombardo and unknown discussions well above my head at the Times, the story was gutted, Waxman writes. I was told at the time that Weinstein had visited the newsroom in person to make his displeasure known. I knew he was a major advertiser in the Times, and that he was a powerful person overall.

As to why she never came forward with the news after that through some other medium, Waxman says a lot had changed and that Miramax had separated from the Walt Disney Company by that time. She claims she didnt have enough evidence to write about what she believed to be a payoff from Weinstein to Lombardo.

See more coverage of failures in mainstream media journalism at Journalism.news.

Sources include:

TheWrap.com

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) According to a top doctor and surgeon, the number of transgender patients looking to get their surgeries reversed is on the rise. Hailing from Serbia, Dr. Miroslav Djordjevic is a urologist who splits his time between a clinic in his home country and Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. However unlikely it may seem, Serbia has actually grown into an international destination point for transgender surgeries. Dr. Djordjevic has been treating patients from around the globe for the last ten years.

Dr. Djordjevic says that in the last few years, hes seen an increase in the number of patients he sees looking to reverse their procedures. He explains that in many cases, these patients simply did not receive proper counseling and screening before undergoing their surgeries. Youd think that such a life-altering decision would be taken more seriously by medical professionals, but to mainstream medicine, profits come before patients  and sex-change operations surely do come with a hefty price tag.

Five years ago, Djordjevic says he got a call from his first patient seeking to reverse a gender-change operation. In the months afterwards, he received another six calls from patients in similar circumstances. The trend of people looking to reverse their sex operations has seemed to continue; Djordjevic says he presently has six potential candidates looking for a reversal operation. Definitely reversal surgery and regret in transgender persons is one of the very hot topics, he commented.

Sex change regret seems to be an increasingly common phenomenon, though there is little data to go on. As Dr. Djordjevic notes, transition surgeries are becoming more accepted but reversal surgeries remain highly stigmatized. Back in 1993, the Independent reported that as many as one out of every 20 people who underwent a sex change operation would ultimately regret their decision.

At the time, gender counselor and administrator of the Gender Dysphoria Trust Fran Springfield commented, Surgery is held to be the end of everyones problems, both by gender identity sufferers and by some psychiatrists. But there is no magical solution. Counselling can help weed out inappropriate cases. It is absolutely vital that those who cannot pay for private help should receive adequate counselling on the NHS.

As transgenderism continues to grow more mainstream, its hard not to wonder if the rate of regret is even higher these days. Recently, Bath Spa University, located in the U.K., put the kibosh on a research project seeking to answer that very question. The university declared that James Caspian, a psychotherapist seeking a masters degree in counseling and psychotherapy, would not be allowed to research sex change reversals because it might harm the schools reputation on social media.

Apparently studying the potential shortcomings of transgender surgeries is just too politically incorrect. Caspian was asked to revise his proposal several times, before ultimately receiving a notice that said, Engaging in a potentially politically incorrect piece of research carries a risk to the university, and Attacks on social media may not be confined to the researcher but may involve the university.

While transgenderism is picking up steam in the mainstream media, it seems that anything that might call into question the safety of transgender operations is flagrantly incorrect. Apparently, its offensive to even raise awareness about the potential regret that comes with a life-changing operation? Regardless of how you feel about transgenderism, the idea that sex-change operations are a life-altering decisions that carry a wide variety of risks (including regret) really shouldnt be up for debate. Its a serious undertaking and should be researched as such.

As is typical for the Left, anyone and anything who might disrupt their narrative is attacked and shut down. Even trans activist Caitlyn Jenner was attacked by liberals over her political beliefs. (Follow more news on transgenderism and gender politics at Gender.news.)

Sources for this article include:

DailyMail.co.uk

Telegraph.co.uk

Independent.co.uk

LifeSiteNews.com
(Natural News) It may have been one option once upon a time for the country of England, but as its population has grown over the years  and aged, and gotten more unhealthy  costs of running the National Health Service have skyrocketed past the point where the government can adequately fund its needs.

And now, because the NHS is so chronically underfunded yet still required to provide essentially free care to some 54 million Brits, family practice doctors have become so overwhelmed they are dropping out of the system in droves.

Whats more, no one is replacing them.

As reported by the UKs Daily Mail, tradition family practitioners are actually at risk of becoming extinct  at least within the NHS  because so many are leaving, warned Britains health secretary, Jeremy Hunt.

Noting that doctors who know every one of their patients are the best things about the NHS, he nevertheless said that it had become much, much harder for physicians to deliver the vital continuity of care due to shortages of staff, historic under-funding of the system, and the countrys aging, growing population.

In an address to a group of general practitioners at the Royal College of GPs in Liverpool, Hunt also said that very short 10-minute appointments are not serving patients well.

The answer is more GPs he said  and he announced plans to increase training and recruiting of doctors. But he also put some of the onus on existing physicians, asking them to take responsibility for dealing with some of the pressure. He said that GPs could shave an hour a day if they reduced overhead administration and stopped taking about a quarter of appointments which ostensibly could be avoided.

For me, the best thing about the NHS is having a doctor who knows you and your family, he said during his speech. Continuity of care, which is the professional word you use, is incredibly important to us as patients. Its why we value our GPs and its why we love the NHS.

Continuing, he said, But the truth is that because we have under-invested in general practice over decades, we have made it much, much harder for you to deliver the continuity of care that I think is part of the magic of general practice.

I want to turn it around and I recognize I cant do that unless we get more capacity into the system, he added.

In July the government published statistics indicating that just 56 percent of patients can always manage to see their preferred family doctor; thats down from 65 percent just five years ago. And with all of the GPs abandoning the NHS, that statistic is only going to get worse  and more frustrating for patients.

Its is not inevitable, but there is a risk the traditional family doctor could die out if the underlying problems, such as funding and workloads, are not addressed, said Richard Vautrey, chairman of the British Medical Associations GP Committee.

Patients do not want to see a doctor that does not know them and to whom they have to repeat their medical history each time they get an appointment, he continued. Doctors also want to build up a long-term relationship with their patients and their families, over ten, twenty, thirty years, and be a part of the local community. We dont want general practice to become part of gig-economy, like Deliveroo, where you request a consultation and get whichever doctor is available to take the job.

Hunt wants to increase the number of GPs by 5,000 by 2022. Thats going to be a daunting task, however, because he also said, The number of GPs who want to leave the profession is at the highest level it has been since 1988. (Related: Leaked documents reveal NHS plan to train 2,000 nurse associates to diagnose, administer drugs without supervision.)

Whats wrong with socialized (100-percent government-run, taxpayer-funded) healthcare? Whats always wrong with it: Too many patients, too few allotted resources, and not enough providers willing to put up with 10 years of school for too little money and too many people to see.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

NaturalNews.com
(Natural News) Like the rest of the far-Left establishment media, The Associated Press did a story attempting to link the series of unusually strong hurricanes this season with human-caused climate change and global warming. And like most of its establishment media colleagues pushing this garbage, the APs story wound up doing the same thing, primarily by omitting quotes from a University of Colorado professor and expert who didnt echo the lie.

As reported by The Daily Caller, the APs angle on the story was that the severe storms 1) are caused by climate change that is tied to human activity; and 2) that is leading to storms that cause more damage and impose higher costs on communities and the country in general.

For the story, which can be seen here, the AP reporter, Seth Borenstein, only quoted one expert  Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University  and though he asked Dr. Roger Pielke Jr. of the University of Colorado a number of questions, none of his answers were included in the storys published version.

Heres the premise of Borensteins story:

[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] climate scientist Adam Smith said 2017 is shaping up to be an unprecedented year. It is likely to tie or break the record for billion-dollar weather disasters that was set in 2005, the year of Hurricane Katrina and other deadly storms.

NOAA hasnt calculated the costs from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, but an outside disaster risk company estimates the U.S. damage from the three hurricanes to be around $150 billion. The remaining disasters so far this year have cost more than $21.7 billion and killed 282 people, according to NOAA.

Manns response: Climate change is impacting extreme weather in ways we hadnt anticipated.

As The DC notes, however, Mann is an ardent advocate for liberal policies to address global warming, and has even suggested the fossil fuel industry has launched a campaign to marginalize his work. Mann recently gave an academic freedom lecture at the University of Michigan, where he attacked his critics as climate deniers shilling for energy companies.

But Pielke, who has, for years, been researching this issue and has concluded there is no evidence that slightly warming temperatures are making weather more extreme, tweeted his answer to Borensteins question, Does this NOAA analysis seem right?

NOAA performs a simple analysis of counting the number of disasters that exceed a billion. Itd be the same exercise if you went into a supermarket once per year and counted the number of items that cost more than $50.

In addition, Borenstein quoted a meteorologist who works at Munich Re, an insurance company, who said natural disaster costs are going up because more people are choosing to live in regions that can be victimized by extreme weather. (Related: UN official actually ADMITS that global warming is a scam designed to change worlds economic model.)

As to whether the number of billion-dollar storms is increasing, Pielke said, yes, but then quantified his answer: $1 billion is not what it used to be (in 2012 I explained that a billion $ disasters [sic] in 2012 was the same as a $170m disaster in 1980). That said, weather disasters as a proportion of global GDP have not increased since 1990.

If you want to ask if hurricanes have increased  in the U.S., in the Atlantic, globally, all this data is readily available, he said.

https://twitter.com/RogerPielkeJr/status/916667295715385345

For reliable data, Pielke said Borenstein could rely on the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change under the auspices of the U.N.) and official data. But, he continued, if you want sensationalized statements, talk to Michael Mann and Kevin Trenberth, said Pielke, the latter of whom is with the Climate Analysis Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

It most definitely appears that, once again, another legacy Left-wing media outlet chose to perpetuate the human-caused climate change myth rather than report the truth.

J.D. Heyes is a senior writer for NaturalNews.com and NewsTarget.com, as well as editor of The National Sentinel.

Sources include:

NaturalNews.com

USNews.com

LibertyHeadlines.com
Exiting U.S. Highway 101 North to get to Coffey Park, the signs of devastation are already obvious from the freeway. Row after row of scorched fields, trees and the occasional sign-post were destroyed in the fires locals say jumped the freeway and engulfed entire neighborhoods within seconds Sunday night.

California Highway Patrol vehicles guard the entrance to the now burned-out neighborhood, and officers point to the Road Closed sign when cars approach. NBC Bay Area was able to show press credentials to get in, but officials reminded the crew of a curfew (Santa Rosa officials decided to impose a curfew to prevent looting and officials say that has helped so far).

Some residents of Santa Rosas Coffey Park neighborhood returned to their homes after they survived the deadly wildfires. But very few think they can continue to live there.

The first thing that hits you when approaching Coffey Park is the smell burned, almost charred earth, metal, grass, plastic, all blended together. It looks like something out of a movie set  Apocalypse Now or War of the Worlds, except its not. All that's visible is pure destruction; the fire burned everything down. Peoples homes, cars and belongings are now lost in the ashes forever.

More than 1,100 home were destroyed the night the fire swallowed Coffey Park, a square-mile of middle-class homes and friendly neighbors in Santa Rosa, which was one of the hardest hit in the wildfires. Thirty-thousand people evacuated and a day later all that was left was dust. Broken glass from windows line the street; molten plastic trash cans spill over on the sidewalk.

Besides patrol cars, the first sign of life days after the whole place burned down was a couple walking their dog through the lifeless streets.

It looks like a war zone, doesnt it? they say.

Were one of the houses that survived, the couple, who identified themselves as Jayme and Nancy Bollinger, said. You look at this devastation, and you feel survivors guilt.

The Bollingers said they woke up to the sound of bullhorns and drove straight to the airport.[[451160983, C]]

We left with just our dog, we didnt even take any clothes, said. The wind was just horrendous, it was blowing so hard.

After spending the night at the airport with dozens of other evacuees, they drove back Monday morning. They have no power, and are boiling their water for safety.

We dont even recognize some of the streets, Jayme Bollinger said. This is Hopper, and down there is Mocha and Brandy. We are right there in the last 20 or 30 houses. The firemen did a great, great job. They saved our houses. Someday hopefully we will be able to pay them back.[[450795243, C]]

The night of Oct. 8 was nothing short of a nightmare, they said.

You would never think this would happen here, Jayme Bollinger said. I was talking to the firemen and they said that the fire just came through the green lawns and the drought resistant plants and the concrete like a monster. Its evil at its worst.

Nobody knew where to go, it was just chaos, Nancy Bollinger said.

When we did get to an intersection, the officer was just waving cars through," she said. "When we asked, which way do we go, he said, I dont care, just get out.

A few blocks down were Hugo and Patty Aguirre, whose house also survived the wildfire.

It looks like a nuclear explosion  Everything is ash, Hugo Aguirre said. If you look at pictures of Hiroshima and you look at this, its identical.

A beautiful little park and picnic tables are now decimated to dust. All thats left is metal and stone. Aluminum from burned car rims streak the sidewalk like some alien life form, glinting in the evening sun.

Coffey Park, a square-mile of middle-class homes and friendly neighbors on the northern edge of Santa Rosa, was among the hardest hit areas from the series of wildfires that broke out last Sunday in Northern California. Dozens died, and thousands of homes were destroyed, 2,800 alone from the Tubbs Fire that scorched Santa Rosa.

It was a very nice, middle-class neighborhood. The area where we live was 18 to 20 years old, Hugo Aguirre said.

He pointed to a lot that used to be a house, but is now reduced to rubble, garage doors twisted into a heap.

This was one of my best friends houses right here," he said. "He was an artist and he lost all his equipment. Him and his wife made glass and wood art.

Something that resembles a kiln sticks out from the dust.

He had two beautiful bicycles  avid cyclist. He ran out with just what he was wearing, Patty Aguirre said. He was helping his neighbor, and he looked over, and his backyard was on fire. By the time he got to his car, his roof was on fire.

The Aguirres spent the whole night by the airport as well.

They were knocking on our doors  we were standing on the street at 1:30 in the morning, and all of a sudden we saw embers go over our roof, and we knew that was it  Its time to go, Hugo Aguirre said. We had two cats, we only found one, so we left with one. When we came back after the fire, and everything was done, (the second cat) actually made it through the fire.

When they came back the next morning around 7 a.m., the firefighters were trying to save their house. We couldnt believe our house was still standing, Patty Aguirre said.

Firefighters had to sacrifice the house next door to save the Aguirres house. Two-thirds of the house was already destroyed, so they cut part of the house out, Hugo Aguirre said. Monday evening at around 9 until 4 or 5:30 a.m. in the morning, it was still flaming. Every hour I would get up and just hose it down.[[450943313, C]]

The firemen came by every hour to check on them, they said.

"We would be out here, and our neighbor behind was out here putting flames out," Patty Aguirre said. "All we got was a bit of charred grass, and a busted wall.

The house next door was still smoking for days until the fire was completely out. This was a house of a good friend, and its completely gone, said Hugo Aguirre. Its bitter-sweet, you feel glad your house survived, but then you feel so much emotion for all your friends. This is a very close-knit community. We all know each other, we all cover each others houses when they were around. We probably are never going to see our neighbors again.

Yeah its interesting, a lot of them said they are not coming back. Patty Aguirre said. "Its just too much.

The Aguirres said most of the houses on their block went for $600,000 to $700,000. About 40 to 80 houses might have survived, they said, but theres no official count yet.

Some of the firemen the Aguirres talked to said that five to six houses would be engulfed in flames at the same time. And they would just go up in flames in 15 to 20 minutes  poof  the wind was so strong, Patty Aguirre said.

Residents are worried about what impact the wildfires will have on the region's tourism industry. One of the areas main hotels, The Hilton Sonoma, was grazed to the ground.

You have to be here to realize the full scope of how bad it is, Hugo Aguirre said.

The Aguirres, whove lived in Coffey Park for 20 years, were planning to sell their house and move to Oregon next year.

But now we have no equity  We dont know where to go. Hugo Aguirre said. [[450844063, C]]

Several of the Aguirres friends and neighbors wont be coming back.

Some of them lost everything  Its surreal, he said. The worst part is every morning you wake up to this. Its going to take years to rebuild. And I dont know if I can live years looking at this every morning.
What to Know At least 40 people killed by fires burning across Northern California

More than 100,000 people forced to evacuate

5,700 homes and businesses destroyed

California fire authorities said Sunday they have turned a corner in battling several of the wildfires that have devastated wine country and other rural parts of Northern California over the past week.

Some counties were preparing to let more evacuees return to their homes amid improving weather. The winds that have been fanning the deadliest and most destructive cluster of wildfires in California history did not kick up overnight as much as feared.

"Conditions have drastically changed from just 24 hours ago, and that is definitely a very good sign. And it's probably a sign we've turned a corner on these fires," said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"We're starting to see fires with containment numbers in the 50 and 60 percent, so we're definitely getting the upper hand on these fires."

It has been roughly one week since the North Bay firestorm ignited, but the fires continued to burn Sunday as crews pressed to improve containment. Sharon Katsuda reports.

The wildfires that erupted last weekend have killed at least 40 people  22 in Sonoma County, eight in Mendocino County, six in Napa County and four in Yuba County  and destroyed at least 5,700 homes and other structures. As of Sunday, roughly 75,000 people were under evacuation orders, down from nearly 100,000 the day before.

A total of 217,556 acres  nearly 340 square miles  has burned statewide since the firestorm ignited, according to Cal Fire.

The Atlas Fire has burned 51,057 acres in Napa and Solano counties and is 65 percent contained; the Tubbs Fire has scorched 44,881 acres in Napa County and is 60 percent contained; the Nuns Fire, which now includes the Partrick, Adobe, Norbbom, and Pressley fires, has burned 48,627 acres in Sonoma County and is 40 percent contained; the Pocket Fire has burned 11,889 acres in Sonoma County and is 30 percent contained; and the Oakmont Fire in Sonoma County has charred 575 acres and is 15 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

Napa County fire Chief Barry Biermann said there has been "little to no growth" for the Atlas Fire, allowing firefighters to turn their attention to the Nuns Fire. Biermann also said that crews "don't anticipate" the Tubbs Fire to make its way into the town of Calistoga.

Bodycam footage from a Sonoma County Sheriffs deputy shows him rescuing people from the fire (Warning: Strong language).

"We're not out of the woods yet, but we're making tremendous progress out there," Biermann said.

Belia Ramos, the chair of the Napa County Board of Supervisors, said "we do not anticipate any more evacuations at this time," but asked evacuated residents to practice patience as crews mop up the damage and work to open cordoned off sections of the region.

On Sunday, the Sonoma County sheriff's office said the county would start assessing evacuated areas, which is a first step toward allowing people back home. Mendocino County said it expected to allow even more people home on Sunday as well.

Some people were growing increasingly impatient to return home  or at least see whether their homes were still standing.

[NATL-BAY GALLERY]North Bay Wildfires: The Smoldering Aftermath

"We're on pins and needles," Travis Oglesby, who evacuated from his home in Santa Rosa, told the Sonoma County sheriff on Saturday. "We're hearing about looting."

Douglas and Marian Taylor stood outside their apartment complex Saturday in Santa Rosa with their two dogs and a sign that read "End evacuation now."

Their building at the edge of the cordoned-off evacuation zone was unharmed. The couple said they are spending about $300 a day staying at a motel and eating out, and they want to return home because the fire does not appear to threaten it.

Dozens of people remain unaccounted for, though officials said they believe they will locate most of them alive. Sonoma County Sheriff Rob Giordano said missing persons reports were at 1,734 on Sunday. Of those, 1,560 have been found safe.

Sonoma County officials Sunday released the names of four more people who were killed in wildfires: Sharon Rae Robinson, 79, of Santa Rosa; Daniel Martin Southard, 71, of Santa Rosa; Lee Chadwick Roger, 72, of Glen Ellen; and Carmen Colleen McReynolds, 82, of Santa Rosa.

[BAY GALLERY BAY ONLY SB]North Bay Inferno: Images From Wine Countrys Deadly Fires

Most of the dead are believed to have died late on Oct. 8 or early Oct. 9, when the fires exploded and took people by surprise in the middle of the night. Most of the victims were elderly.

"It's a horror that no one could have imagined," Gov. Jerry Brown said, after driving past hundreds of "totally destroyed" homes with Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris.



In all, 16 large fires still burned across the northern part of the state, with nearly 11,000 firefighters attacking the flames using more than 1,000 fire engines, helicopters and air tankers. An estimated 2.2 million gallons of fire retardant have been dropped on the flames since they ignited.

The Redwood/Potter Fires burning in Mendocino County have torched 35,000 acres and are 30 percent contained; the Long Fire has scorched 100 acres in Lake County and is 25 percent contained; and the Sulphur Fire in Lake County has scorched 2,207 acres and is 75 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.

Fires have destroyed more than 3,500 homes and businesses, scorched in excess of 170,000 acres  or roughly 265 square miles  and forced at least 20,000 people to evacuate since Sunday.

Weather permitting, containment of the Northern California blazes is not expected until at least Friday, according to Cal Fire spokesperson Anthony Brown.

No causes have been determined for the fires, though power lines downed by winds are seen as a possibility.


A 6-year-old boy was hospitalized in critical condition after a car plunged into a retention pond in west suburban Aurora early Sunday, according to police.

Around 2:40 a.m., officers responded to the area of Diehl Road and I-88 for an SUV that crashed into the pond on the south side of Diehl, Aurora police said in a statement.

Authorities initially said three females and a 6-year-old boy were in the vehicle at the time of the incident, later clarifying that it was actually the young boy and four females: the 31-year-old driver and three other passengers, ages 21, 15 and 12.

It appeared as though all five people in the car are related, Aurora police said, though exact relationships were not clear.

The driver told police that they were at a party in Aurora and were returning to Cicero, where authorities said all five live at the same address. She told investigators that when she exited I-88, turning left onto Diehl, she lost control of the car, went off the roadway and ended up in the pond, according to police.

The four females were able to get out of the car, authorities said, but the boy was trapped.

He was believed to have been underwater for at least 30 minutes before police said an Aurora Fire Department Dive Team located him about 80 feet from the shore and in approximately 15 feet of water, pulling him from the pond at around 3:05 a.m.

He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, officials said, and later transported to a Chicago hospital. One other occupant of the vehicle was also taken to an Aurora hospital and released after observation, according to police.

Aurora police initially said it appeared as though alcohol may have played a role in the crash, later adding that it was thought to be the main factor. It was not known if weather conditions also contributed.

The driver was being detained, police said, and charges were expected to be filed Monday.

Authorities remained on the scene for several hours early Sunday morning, and police continue to investigate.
Construction is underway on prototypes for a proposed border wall with Mexico.



Six companies are busy putting up their vision of what a wall would look like along the border just south of San Diego.



Construction began last month.



A total of eight wall prototypes will be built, four with concrete and four using alternate materials.



The prototypes will be between 18 and 30 feet high and designed to deter illegal crossings.



They're being built on land just a few yards away from a pre-existing border fence.



President Donald Trump has made the border wall one of his top priorities.



But Congress will still have to approve the funding.



Crews only have 30 days to complete the project before testing begins to determine which one will work best to secure the border.
Four deaths in Hurricane Maria's aftermath are being investigated as possible cases of a disease spread by animals' urine, Puerto Rico'sgovernor said Wednesday amid concerns about islanders' exposure to contaminated water.

A total of 10 people have come down with suspected cases of leptospirosis, Gov. Ricardo Rossello said at a news conference.

On a U.S. territory where a third of customers remain without running water three weeks after the hurricane, some became ill after turning to local streams to relieve their thirst.

Jorge Antonio Sanyet Morales, a 61-year-old bus driver, took a drink from a stream near his concrete home on a hillside in Canovanas a week after the Sept. 20 storm. He then developed a fever, his skin turned yellow and within a week, he died at a hospital in Carolina, according to his widow, Maritza Rivera.

Dr. Juan Santiago said Sanyet was among five patients who came in his emergency clinic last week with similar symptoms after drinking from streams in Canovanas and Loiza.

The water was still not running at Sanyet's house this week, but Rivera, said she and her family were drinking only bottled water, including some delivered by the town. Her husband was the only one who drank from the stream, she said.

"He was a friend to everyone," Rivera said. "I don't know how I'll face everything without him."

Forty-five deaths in Puerto Rico have been blamed on Hurricane Maria, which tore across the island with 150 mph (240 kph) winds. Ninety percent of the island is still without power and the government says it hopes to have electricity restored completely by March.

Leptospirosis is not uncommon in the tropics, particularly after heavy rains or floods. Rossello said the symptoms can be confused with those of other illnesses, including dengue, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was helping to investigate. Two of the deaths were in Bayamon, and one each in Carolina and Mayaguez. Other patients have been receiving treatment with antibiotics.

Rossello said that fliers with instructions on how to disinfect water will be sent to mayors for distribution with food supplies in towns across Puerto Rico.

"For people that have access to internet and have access to printers, be good citizens and help us distribute this information," Rossello said.

The Health Department and the U.S. military also will be distributing pills to purify water, he said.
UNIVERSITY of Huddersfield researchers have written a report that calls for a national review of Intersex and DSD medical and social treatment in the UK.

Medical guidelines, Intersex advocates and patient association advocates say that it is usually in the best interest of the child to postpone interventions until they are old enough to be involved in the decision-making process. This is because of evidence that early childhood interventions can cause serious long-term negative effects, such as diminished sexual function and serious mental health problems.

The University of Huddersfield team was disturbed to discover that over the past two decades the NHS has continued to carry out operations designed to "feminize", "masculinize" or sterilize babies and children without the consent of the child, indicating an implementation deficit regarding medical guidelines that recommend a more patient-centered and child-led approach. Most interview participants felt these interventions are only useful when chosen by the individual themselves.

The report acknowledges that medical professionals working in the field are in a very difficult position, as they are trying to support children and families with invisible conditions. However, they point out that society is changing, and there is now much greater value placed on acceptance of difference in general. This makes it possible for care models focusing on the wellbeing of the child to be more developed that previously. Person-centered care models support the child's long-term wellbeing, rather than making its body conform to rigid ideas of what a male or female body should look like.

"Support and training for medics - including about sex diversity issues - is required. The severe, harmful effects reported as a result of early childhood interventions need to be acknowledged," state the authors.

They add: "It is crucial that Intersex and Variations of Sex Characteristics (IVSC) children have access to the treatments that they need, once they are old enough to make informed decisions. There is a distinction between the treatments that they may need at birth/in childhood due to physical functionality/risk of death, and other treatments which can and should be delayed."

The key recommendations made by the research team include a call for a legal moratorium to prevent unnecessary surgical procedures that are carried out for social as opposed to medical reasons on infants and children too young to give informed consent. They suggest that a National Review of Intersex and Variations of Sex Characteristics policy and practice is urgently needed. They recommend that NHS England, which commissions healthcare, addresses the concerns raised in the report. They also ask for further research and consultation to take place, as the report is based on a small study and more knowledge is needed.

Intersex and DSD

Intersex is an umbrella term that refers to physical variations of sex characteristics that are perceived fall outside the socially-constructed norms for the male and female body. DSD has been used in medical settings to describe Intersex variations since 2006, yet while scientific articles decline DSD as 'Disorders of Sex Development', patient advocates and several medical practitioners would prefer it be declined as 'Differences of Sex Development'. These physical variations are not diseases in of themselves, yet many children with these variations are subject to cosmetic surgeries and interventions at very young ages.

Dr Daniela Crocetti, Professor Surya Monro and Dr Tray Yeadon-Lee are midway through a two-year, EU-funded project dealing with the rights of people born with a variations of sex characteristics. This project investigates the positions of Intersex activists, patient advocates, medical practitioners and policy makers in the UK, Switzerland and Italy. Dr Fae Garland (University of Manchester) and Dr Mitch Travis (University of Leeds) collaborated with them in writing the report, titled Intersex, Variations of Sex Characteristics, and DSD: The Need for Change.
Award winning childrens book authors Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen will stop by the library this week to share their stories, as well as their creative process and inspirational pizzazz with kids and parents during a joint presentation on Tuesday, Oct. 17, from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room. During their talk, the authors will share their new book The Wolf, The Duck, and The Mouse with attendees, as well as show slides and answer questions from audience members.

For more information, call the Childrens Department at 406-721-BOOK (2665).

Coming up: Get into the spirit with 'Raising Missoulas Spirits Again'

In celebration of the Halloween season, the library presents the upcoming program series Raising Missoulas Spirits Again, which explores topics such as historic underground Missoula, haunted places in Montana, as well as a presentation with a local paranormal investigation group. A detailed list of events is included below:

Beneath the Boards: An Archaeological and Historical Survey of the New Library Block

Tuesday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room

Author and Urban Archaeologist Nikki Manning returns with a presentation on historic underground Missoula and her findings in and around the houses and buildings on the 400 block of East Main Street  the site of the new library.

History and Hauntings in the Last Best Place

Saturday, Oct. 28, at noon in the Large Meeting Room

Ellen Baumler of the Montana Historical Society will weave history and the supernatural as she takes you on a journey to Montanas most haunted locations.

Tortured Souls Investigations presentation

Monday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room

TSI will explain their methods of investigating the paranormal, discuss past investigations, and lead a Q&A from participants at the end of the session.

Staff Reviews

One Round River: the Curse of Gold and the Fight for the Big Blackfoot by Richard Manning Henry Holt, 1998. Call number: 978.685 MANNING

Would we think of our waterways differently if they were one round river? Everything that we put into them would come back around, and around, and around. The title of Richard Mannings One Round River: The Curse of Gold and the Fight for the Big Blackfoot implies that in fact the waterways are round and there are repercussions for how we treat them. He reports on a river that is near and dear to Missoulians, the Big Blackfoot. Now classified as a "blue-ribbon" trout stream, not long ago it was too polluted for wild salmonids. Although this book was published in 1998, it still rings true today.

Manning leads us through the history of the Big Blackfoot, beginning with Glacial Lake Missoula and the Salish, through logging and cattle, and finally hits home with the efforts to stop a large gold mine from opening at the headwaters. If you love the Blackfoot, read this book. Educate yourself on the complex relationship between logging, cattle, mining, and healthy watersheds. The Blackfoot is more precious than gold.

READMore! Categories this title fits into: Pacific Northwest Author

Reviewed by Amanda Allpress

MakerSpace Offerings:

Zentangle Tuesday

Tuesday, Oct. 17, from noon to 2 p.m.

Join Robbin in the MakerSpace to find out how to learn the process of Zentangle drawing. Register online at https://tinyurl.com/MakersZenTangleTues101717.

MakerSpace Journal Decor Day

Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Large Meeting Room

Bring in your 2017 Book Challenge Journal or 2017 Art Journal to start or continue to make your cover creative during this class, which meets in the Large Meeting Room. Class limited to 10 participants and online registration is required.

Register online at: http://tinyurl.com/MakersJournalDecorDay101817

3D Printing 101 Workshop

Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Register online at: https://tinyurl.com/mpl3dprinting101oct.

Wednesday Night Jewelry Workshop

Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. in the Library Directors office, next to the Reference Desk. Open to ages 18 and up. This weeks class focuses on stringing.

Weekly MakerSpace Offerings:

Computer Electronics

Monday Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m.

Open Hours

Tuesday from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., Friday from 1 to 6 p.m.

Community Creative Writing Workshop

Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Computer Classes

Beginning Word

Monday, Oct. 16, from 6 to 7 p.m.

An introduction to word processing, including how to create a document, manipulate the text and font, and use templates.

Intro to Twitter

Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

Dont know the difference between a # and an @? Register for this Intro to Twitter class and learn the basics, from how to set up an account, to navigating some of the more common functions.

Registration is required to attend MPLs computer classes. Please call 721-BOOK (2665) to register.
The first-ever national survey of college administrators on their perceptions related to student marijuana use will be released at a forum Tuesday, Oct. 17, at the University of Maryland.

The event - Substance Use On College Campuses: New Approaches to a Perennial Problem - is open to the media and will also be livestreamed and recorded for later viewing at www.wirestream.tv/customer/studiobdc/2017/10-17/.

The new poll asked nearly 750 college health, counseling and student affairs professionals what they are seeing with regard to marijuana use patterns, prevalence and problems; how well their campuses are responding to shifting and varied attitudes about the drug; and what barriers may get in the way of addressing related issues. In light of new state laws that have made marijuana more accessible, the survey also explored student perceptions of the health risks associated with marijuana.

It will be released at Tuesday's event, where national leaders in higher education, policymaking and substance use prevention and treatment will convene to discuss the latest trends, challenges and innovations in preventing and addressing substance use on America's college campuses.

Hosted by the Mary Christie Foundation, the Hazelden Betty Ford Institute for Recovery Advocacy and the University of Maryland School of Public Health, the event will be moderated by New York Times best-selling author William Moyers and feature a panel of five university presidents, several notable speakers and the new poll results. Attendees will include a variety of university officials who will leave with new information, best practices and innovative solutions to help them prevent and address substance use problems on their own campuses.

The survey was sponsored by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and The Mary Christie Foundation and distributed with the help of the National Association of System Heads (NASH). It was conducted by the MassINC Polling Group.

Members of the media are welcome to attend this event or watch the livestream. It will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET in the Colony Ballroom at the University of Maryland's Adele H. Stamp Student Union (3972 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20742). Interviews can also be facilitated with event participants before, during or after the event.
Early Saturday morning Oct 07, 2017, Spike Aerospace successfully test flew the subsonic subscale SX-1.2 demonstrator aircraft for the first time. The jet is an early unmanned prototype of the companys 18 passenger S-512 Quiet Supersonic Jet. The SX-1.2 test flights proved that the aerodynamic design of the aircraft is valid and provided a tremendous amount of data regarding the flight characteristics of the aircraft.

The prototypes is for a supersonic jets that will have a top speed of 1,354 mph.

The plan if for $60 million 18 passenger S-512 Quiet Supersonic Jet.

In total, seven short flights were performed to test the design and flight controls of the jet. Between each test flight, adjustments were made to the aircrafts center of mass, balance and control surfaces. Additional performance data was observed and collected.

KrishnaKumar Malu piloted the aircraft, assisted by Mike Ridlon, at a private airfield in New England. Mr. Malu said These test flights are providing incredibly valuable information which we can use to refine the design. I am very excited about how helpful these tests will be to our supersonic development program.

Vik Kachoria, President and CEO said The SX-1.2 test flights were conducted in a real world situation, and provide significantly more data than wind tunnel tests done in an artificial environment. We were able to test not only handling, but also a range of other considerations.

The weather was absolutely perfect, with winds at 7-10 mph and temperature near 70 F. The company is planning to make additional modifications based on data collected from the initial tests and will conduct more test flights on the SX-1.2 in early November. Work on SX-1.3, the next in the demonstrator series, has also begun.

Significant engineering resources and assistance was provided by Siemens, Quartus, Aernnova, Greenpoint, BRPH and others who have all been part of the development efforts to date.

Spike intends to have the S-512 aircraft flying by early 2021, with customer deliveries beginning in 2023. The S-512 will seat up to 22 passengers, with a range of 6200 miles and a cruise speed of Mach 1.6, saving 50% on flight times. And due to the aircrafts low-boom signature, it will be able to fly overland without creating disturbing sonic booms.
Grace Cavalieri, who lives in Washington, D.C., has performed a great service for American poetry over the past 40 years with her public radio show, "The Poet and the Poem." She's also a playwright and a fine poet. Here's a "field trip" poem from her book With, from Somondoco Press. The Grace Cavalieri Reader is available this month from Alan Squire Publications.

***

Of course now children take it for granted but once

we watched boxes on a conveyor belt, sliding by,

magically filled and closed, packed and wrapped.

We couldn't get enough of it, running alongside the machine.

In kindergarten Miss Haynes walked our class down

Stuyvesant Avenue, then up Prospect Street

to the hot dog factory. Only the girls got to go

as the boys were too wild.

We stood in line, wiggling with excitement as the man

talked about how they made hot dogs, then he handed us

one, and Jan dropped hers, so I broke mine in half.

This was the happiest day of our lives,

children whose mothers didn't drive, and had nowhere

to go but school and home, to be taken to that street

to watch the glittering steel and shining rubber belts moving,

moving meats, readymade. I wish I could talk with Jan,

recalling the miracle and thrill of the hot dog factory,

when she was alive, before it all stopped 

bright lights, glistening motors, spinning wheels.
Amir ElSaffar grew up in Chicago playing classical trumpet. He shifted over to jazz, became a practicing musician, and traveled to Iraq to master the music of his fathers heritage, Baghdadi playing and singing.

ElSaffar went on to explore ways of combining Middle Eastern and Western sounds, focusing mainly on modern jazz. He was not the first to attempt such blending, but previous efforts were mainly explorations of exotica, without the deep commitment that such projects require. While Westerners often consider the music of other lands as esoteric and alien, this was not always the case; there was much intermingling of traditions in earlier times, including the borrowing of instruments. Perhaps the best known are the cases of the lute, which goes back to the Arabic oud, and the violin, possibly descended from the rebab; in turn, the Western violin circled back to the Middle East, where it is widely used today. In the fringes of Europe where cultures intertwined, in Spanish Andalusia, or in the Balkans, Arabic scales became nativized and survive to this day.

ElSaffar has tapped into this ancient eclecticism. Well trained in Western trumpet technique, hes adapted the instrument to play the quarter-tones that are so characteristic of Middle Eastern music. In addition to becoming a proficient singer in the Baghdadi vocal tradition, he learned to play the santur, a form of hammered dulcimer that, together with the jowza, an Iraqi version of the rebab, carries the melodies in traditional Baghdadi ensembles. His first attempts at blending jazz and Middle Eastern music celebrated his Iraqi heritage, but as he continued his experiments, his palette expanded to encompass the music of its neighbors. Reflecting this, the names of his ensembles have evolved, from Two Rivers, referencing the Tigris and Euphrates, to Rivers of Sound, invoking a much broader sonic landscape.

Rivers of Sound, which UMS will bring to the Power Center on October 18, is his most ambitious project to date, involving seventeen musicians of diverse backgrounds. Saxophones and clarinet, cello and violin play alongside santur and fiddle-like jowza (played by Amir and his sister Dena). The traditional jazz drum set, played by the master Nasheet Waits, combines with percussion instruments of many lands, including the Lebanese/Syrian buzuk and Southern Indian mridanga drums.

The music often develops slowly, each composition exploiting a different mood, from bright exclamations to stately procession-like dirges. ElSaffar takes his time, exploiting the variety of sounds provided by the large ensemble, using repetition to build tension and then slowly winding it down; soloists emerge from the ensemble and then blend back in, with melodies and rhythms passed between instruments. Throughout, the pulse invokes dancing, and it is no surprise that ElSaffar will appear again, in another U-M presentation, performing his own music for the Ragamala Dance Company performance on October 20.
10 down 1 to go: This is the last survivor of the Burhan Wani faction

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

The don of heff, Waseem Shah was killed in an encounter on Saturday. Shah was part of the Burhan Wani group when he signed up as a terrorist. However following the death of Wani, he switched over from the Hizbul Mujahideen to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

Before going any further, let us rewind to that viral photograph that was posted by Wani in which there were 11 terrorists. It had Wani in it posing with 10 other terrorists which also included Shah.

Wani was the first to go in a 4 minute encounter in the year 2015. Once the security forces were done with him, they have successfully managed to wipe out each of them barring one.

One of the 11 terrorists Tariq Pandit surrendered while another, Salim Padder is still awaiting the Army's bullet. Padder who is still part of the Hizbul Mujahideen is believed to hiding somewhere in South Kashmir. Intelligence Bureau officials are on the trail of Padder with the help of the local police.

An officer with the IB says that it is just a matter of time before they get to Padder. The Forces have successfully wiped out 9 members of the gang and ensured the surrender of one. Padder cannot hide for too long and he will be rounded up soon, the officer also says.

When Wani posted the picture on the social media, it went extremely viral. In fact it managed to sway the mood of several youngsters in Kashmir which took up arms. However the picture also helped the security forces identify the danger elements following which they were taken down one by one.

OneIndia News
Former Himachal CM Virbhadra Singh to be cremated at Rampur on July 10 at 3 pm

Anil Sharma's exit won't affect Congress, says Virbhadra Singh

India

pti-PTI

Virbhadra Singh on Sunday said the resignation of state Cabinet minister Anil Sharma would have no impact on the poll prospects of the Congress.

"I had prior information about his quitting the party to join the BJP. But it would not impact the poll prospects of the Congress. If some other ministers also want to quit, they are free to do so," Chief Minister Singh said.

In what is being seen as a blow to the Congress ahead of the Assembly polls, Himachal Pradesh Rural Development minister Anil Sharma on Sunday quit the Virbhadra Singh government and joined the BJP.

Sharma said he had been given a BJP ticket from Mandi.

Meanwhile, Transport minister G S Bali dismissed media speculation that he too could leave the Congress and categorically denied any plans of joining the BJP.

I am not leaving the party," Bali, who is camping in Delhi, said as he chided some TV channels for giving "wrong news" without confirmation.

The Congress election committee is meeting in Delhi to finalise the candidates. The chief minister also left for Delhi.

The BJP did not announce its list today as about five to six names are yet to be finalised and all 68 candidates would be announced in one go, senior party leaders said.

PTI
Doklam fallout? China delays high-speed train project in south India

India

oi-PTI

An ambitious high-speed train project in south India has been delayed after Chinese railways did not respond, railway officials have said.

The officials have suggested that the "lack of response" may be due to the Doklam standoff. Chinese railways had completed feasibility study for the project a year ago.

An internal brief of the Mobility Directorate on the status of nine high-speed projects of the railways, accessed by PTI, shows that the Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore corridor, a 492 km stretch, lies in limbo because the Chinese railways has failed to respond to the ministry's communiques.

"The Chinese company submitted the final report in November 2016 and after that the Chinese team has suggested for a face to face interaction. No date has been fixed from their side," said the note prepared by the Mobility Directorate.

On the reason for the delay, the brief states "lack of response" from Chinese railways.

The brief also states that the feasibility study by the China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co Ltd (CREEC) was submitted to the Railway Board in November 2016 and after that the Chinese company had sought meetings with officials of the Board.

However, officials say that the Board has been unable to get in touch with officials of CREEC despite repeated communications sent to them via mails in the last six months.

"We have even tried to get in touch with them through their embassy here, but we are yet to hear from them," said an official.

The ministry officials said that it was the standoff between the two countries in Bhutan's Doklam area between June 16 and August 28 this year that seems to have derailed the project.

"The study began in 2014 and they submitted the report in 2016. The entire cost was borne by them. In fact they have shown so much interest in collaborating with us for other projects as well, so we think that it was the standoff that must have raised doubts," said a senior rail official.

An email to the Chinese embassy by the PTI on the issue did not elicit any response.

Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day-long standoff in Doklam since June 16 after the Indian side stopped the building of a road in the disputed area by the Chinese army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam.

The brief, prepared by the department in charge of all the high speed corridors, also states that except the Chinese roadblock, work on the eight other projects was on track.

China had in fact not only pitched for the Mumbai-Ahemdabad high speed network,+ which was finally bagged by Japan, but also for the bullet project in the Mumbai-Delhi sector, which is yet to be finalised.

China is also training railway engineers in heavy hauling and it is with Chinese collaboration that India is setting up its first railway university.

The Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore corridor is one of nine such high speed corridors being developed by the ministry. The aim was to increase the speed from the present 80 kmph to 160 kmph.

PTI
Even after release, Talwar couple to visit Dasna Jail every 15 days

India

pti-PTI

Dasna (UP), Oct 15: Dentist couple Rajesh and Nupur Talwar will visit the Dasna Jail every 15 days to attend to inmates facing dental problems after their release following acquittal in the murder case of their daughter Aarushi and domestic help Hemraj, jail authorities said.

The two are lodged in the Dasna prison in Ghaziabad since November 2013 after they were awarded life sentence in the case. Both Rajesh and Nupur Talwar are likely to be released from Dasna prison on Monday following their acquittal in the sensational double murder case.

The dentist couple had helped revive the near "defunct" dental department at the prison hospital, a jail official said.

"We were concerned about the fate of our dental department after their (Talwars) release. They (Talwars) have assured us that they would visit jail to attend to inmates every 15 days even after their release," jail doctor Sunil Tyagi said. Tyagi said besides prisoners, Rajesh and Nupur Talwar have also been treating jail staff, police officials and their children. "Since Talwars have come here (prison), they have treated thousands of patients who are happy with their services," he said.

To manage rush of dental patients at the jail hospital after Talwars' release, prison authorities have also tied up with a Ghaziabad-based dental college "The doctors from the dental college will also visit Dasna Jail twice a week to attend to patients so that inmates don't face problem," Tyagi added.

Since their acquittal by the Allahabad High Court, there has been a steady increase in patients wanting to consult the couple. Sources in the jail said Rajesh Talwar's brother Dinesh Talwar, who is an ophthalmologist, would also visit the prison every 15 days along with his team to see patients. The dentist couple had challenged the sentence in the Allahabad High Court, which acquitted them in the sensational double murder case earlier this week.

PTI
Fire razes 5 houses in Gurung's stronghold Patleybash near Darjeeling

India

oi-Amitava

By Amitava

Darjeeling, October 15, 2017: 5 houses opposite the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha party office at Patleybash near Darjeeling town were razed to the ground in a devastating fire late in the wee hours of Sunday. While Bimal Gurung supporters have pointed fingers at the police for torching the houses, the police in turn claim that Bimal Gurung's supporters set fire to the houses by themselves to destroy important documents and evidences.

A fire broke out in the wee hours of Sunday at Patleybash, 6km from Darjeeling town. The area is a stronghold of the Bimal Gurung faction of the GJM with the GJM party office and Gurung's residence.

The houses of Dinesh Theeng, Pravin Subba, Rajesh Tamang, SN Gupta, Prakash Theeng were razed to the ground.

Incidentally Dinesh Theeng is a close confidant of Bimal Gurung. He has been implicated in a number of cases including running IED manufacturing units. He is absconding.

A local resident requesting anonymity stated "We live in an area located below these houses. At around 11:20pm on Saturday we heard sounds of gunshots. Then we heard of a fire also. We were too scared to come out. Later after midnight when we reached the spot there was a huge fire" stated the lady.

The houses were empty at the time of the fire. A ration shop used to be run from the house of SN Gupta. A computer including hard disks were found totally gutted in the fire. Local residents doused the fire.

"We live in Darjeeling town and come here just to distribute ration. We arrived today at 3am and the Fire Brigade was behind us. They arrived a few minutes after our arrival" stated 74 year old SN Gupta.

The fire brigade engine later left. At around 9:45 am another fire brigade engine arrived to ensure that the fire was completely extinguished. Nothing could be salvaged from the fire.

Gurung's supporters claim that the police including Binay Tamang's supporters torched the houses.

"The houses have been methodically torched by Gurung's supporters to destroy important documents and evidences against Gurung and his men. This area is Gurung's stronghold" alleged West Bengal Tourism Minister Gautam Deb.

Police claim that the owners of the houses were in the knowhow of things and was done to destroy evidence .

A forensic team will be visiting the spot later during the day to investigate stated a police official.

Gurung's supporters countered stating that though police vehicles were seen crossing the site they did not stop seeing the raging fires. Police were not seen on Sunday morning also in the area.

Incidentally the fire comes on the heels of clashes between Gurung supporters and police on Friday in the Singla forest below Lapcheybustee on the riverbed of Chota Rangeet, 20km from Darjeeling town.

26 year old SI Amitava Malik died in an alleged ambush when Gurung supporters opened fire. Gurung and his men allegedly escaped by crossing the mountain river.

A large cache of sophisticated arms (AK47, Beretta pistol,) ammunition, detonators, explosives, gelatin sticks, binocular, camping gear, radio man pack were recovered from the camps from where Gurung and his men had hurriedly left following the police raids.

Police claim of arresting a Gorkhaland Personnel from the site but have not divulged details for the "sake of investigations."

Delhi has been appraised of Friday's incident by the West Bengal Government including the recovery of arms and ammunition and the death of Sub Inspector Amit Malik. West Bengal Government has claimed that this incident is a clear pointer of links between Gurung and North East insurgent groups.

The Union Government is seen to harbor a soft corner for Gurung and the GJM, the hill party being an ally of the BJP. This move is being read as a move by the West Bengal to corner Gurung and his men.

OneIndia News

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2017, 10:48 [IST]
Himachal Pradesh assembly elections: CPI(M) to contest on 30 seats

India

pti-PTI

Dharamsala, Oct 15: Undeterred by its little representation in Himachal Pradesh politics, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will field candidates on 30 out of the 68 assembly seats where elections will be held next month, a party leader has said.

The Left party is also tying up with different organisations to form an "anti-BJP and anti-Congress joint front" in the hill state, senior CPI (M) leader Rakesh Singha said. The Election Commission (EC) on October 12 announced elections in Himachal Pradesh. The voting will take place on November 9 and the results will be declared on December 18. The term of the current assembly ends on January 7, 2018.

While the main contest is considered between the incumbent Congress and the Opposition BJP, the CPI(M), which has so far had a minuscule representation in the legislative assembly, is keen on putting up a fight. The state unit of the CPI(M) had on October 9 released a list of 14 candidates for the elections. The list included names of the former mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation Sanjay Chauhan and Singha, a former MLA.

The party has also fielded Kuldeep Singh Tanwar from Kusumti Assembly seat, Vivek Kashyap from Rampur, Lokendra Kumar from Ani, Vishwanath Sharma from Nahan, Munish Sharma from Sarkaghat, Bhupinder Singh from Dharampur, Kunal Bharadwaj from Jogindernagar and Ajay Bhatti from Solan. Other candidates chosen by the CPI(M) included Anil Mankotia from Hamirpur Assembly seat, Joginder Kumar from Sujanpur, Sudarshan from Lahaul and Spiti and Bittoo Verma from Palampur. The Left party, which has a considerable hold in the Himachal Pradesh University and in Shimla, has had very little presence in the state legislative assembly since the birth of the present Himachal Pradesh after inclusion of hilly areas of Punjab in it in 1966. The election of two CPI MLAs -- Paras Ram from Jaswan (Kangra) and Bansi Ram from Baijnath (Kangra) -- in 1967 was the highest presence of the Left in the state assembly.

Later, K K Koushal from Kotkehloor in 1990 and Singha got an entry into the assembly from Shimla in 1993. But since then no Left leader got elected to the Assembly. The rough patch continued till the Shimla Municipal Corporation elections in 2012, when the Left marked its presence with the election of Sanjay Chouhan as the mayor and Tike der Kanwar as the deputy mayor. But the CPI(M)'s success was short-lived.

In the civic body polls this June, first-time councillor Kusum Sadret, backed by the BJP, was elected as the new mayor of Shimla, while Rakesh Kumar, who won as an Independent candidate and later joined the saffron party, was elected the deputy mayor.

Talking to PTI over the phone, an upbeat Singha said he has launched his campaign from Theog assembly seat, which is currently represented by Congress leader and state Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes. Citing media reports which suggested that Virbhadra Singh may fight from Theog seat if Stokes (89) hangs up her politician's boots, Singha said he was keen on contesting against the chief minister.

Earlier this year, Virbhadra Singh, who has been active in electoral politics since 1962 and has been elected to Lok Sabha five times and state assembly eight times, sprang a surprise by offering his Assembly seat - Shimla (Rural) -- to his son Vikramaditya. The six-time chief minister had said he would himself like to contest from a seat which the Congress has never won.

PTI
Retired Judge Russell Fagg let Billings in on one of the worst-kept secrets in Montana politics on Saturday: the Republican is running for U.S. Senate.

The announcement, made at Billings Flying Service early Saturday evening, put an end to Faggs four-month exploratory committee. He will barnstorm the state over the next four days explaining his decision to join a field of five Republican candidates vying to challenge two-term incumbent Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.

Fagg would take the stage about 30 minutes after more than 100 people filed through the doors to the helicopter hangar, but the campaign signs behind the trailer bed from which Fagg would later announce his candidacy hinted at his intentions.

"Jobs First. Montanans Always," replaced the words "Exploratory Committee" which had previously rested below the outline of Montana on Fagg's political signs.

Three minutes into his speech, after being introduced by childhood friend and BFS co-owner Al Blain, Fagg stated his intentions.

"Tonight, for the very first time, Im publicly announcing that I am going to run for the United States Senate," he said.

Fagg went on to describe a 22-year career as a judge during which he said he saw 25,000 cases. "I've seen all kinds of tragedy but I know there's one theme that runs through all of this. I think I'm in a unique position through these 25,000 cases," Fagg said. "If we could raise jobs and opportunities and increase the economy and reduce poverty, a lot of these issues would be easier for people to deal with."

He also touted the endorsements he said he had received, naming former Governors Marc Racicot, Judy Martz and Stan Stephens among his supporters, in addition to former U.S. Representatives Rick Hill and Denny Rehberg. Later, Fagg criticized Tester on issues including his vote for the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, and also his vote against President Donald Trump's nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Fagg called Tester a "nice man," but said "probably the granddaddy of all issues" is what he sees as Tester's failure to abide by "ethical principles." Fagg cited a February 2016 trip to Cancun for Tester and his wife Sharla Tester, paid for by Missouri U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, as proof of this.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in May 2017 that Tester included the $7,410 trip on his 2016 senate financial disclosure forms and that a spokesman for McCaskill described the trip as a birthday celebration.

While an announcement tour of Montana lies immediately ahead for Fagg, he said in the coming months he will continue to add to his staff, which currently counts a few part-time members.

Democrats identified Fagg as a Republican front-runner in June, when the District Court judge of 20 years announced he would leave the court in October, return to private law practice and possibly seek public office.

Possibly seeking public office quickly turned to likely and then almost definitely as the judge formed an exploratory committee for a U.S. Senate candidacy. Democrats almost immediately began casting aspersions about Faggs exploratory committee, calling not only a poorly disguised Senate campaign, but also a run for public office by a sitting judge  something Montanas judicial canon does not allow.

The opponents

The Montana Democratic Party has crafted its message almost equally against Fagg and State Auditor Matt Rosendale to the near exclusion of the other three Republican candidates for U.S. Senate.

Its probably more than tea leaves, political scientist Craig Wilson said of the Democrats reading of the Republican candidates. Its probably polling. These are the guys who have name ID.

Wilson sees the U.S. Senate seat as incumbent Jon Testers to lose. The two-term Democrat and farmer from Big Sandy campaigns effectively in rural communities. Tester has also done well in Yellowstone County, which Democrats have to at least lose narrowly in order to win a statewide election.

Rosendale has been on statewide ballots twice, once for auditor in 2016 and also the 2014 Republican primary for U.S. House of Representatives, which he lost to Ryan Zinke. Fagg hasnt been a statewide candidate, but hes a ballot regular in Yellowstone County District Court races.

Because Yellowstone County has one-eighth of the vote in statewide elections, its no small matter that Fagg is the hometown candidate.

Chris Meagher pens most of the Montana Democratic Partys attacks on Republican Senate candidates, dropping a few emails to the press every week with assembly-line precision. Meagher includes Big Sky Republican Troy Downing in the discussion of Republican front-runners, although he writes on Rosendale and Fagg each on a six to one ratio to his Downing emails.

The Republicans who are getting no mention by the Montana Democratic Party are Ron Murray, of Belgrade, and state Sen. Dr. Al Olszewski, a Kalispell doctor, though Olszewski did garner a single press release by Democrats after becoming the first Republican to announce his candidacy. Newly filed Republican James Dean is not on Democrats' radar.

Early on with Rosendale, the Democrats focus was on Obamacare repeal. As auditor, Rosendale is Montanas insurance commissioner. Lately, the focus has shifted to tying the Maryland native-turned-Eastern Montana rancher to Steve Bannon, President Donald Trumps former chief strategist and champion of ousting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, of Kentucky.

With Rosendale, obviously all the Bannon stuff that's coming out  who is he associating himself with? Meagher said. National media reports that a Bannon ally group called Great American Alliance backs Rosendale. Bannon is making it pretty clear in news articles that one of his main conditions for a candidate is that they would vote against Mitch McConnell.

The messaging against Fagg from the beginning had focused on whether the Republicans exploratory campaign was ethical.

A judicial conduct committee cleared Faggs exploratory committee of wrongdoing after Fagg asked the committee to take a look last summer. But Democrats persisted in calling the exploratory committee unethical for a sitting judge. This month, Billings Gazette Editor Darrell Ehrlick penned an opinion that Faggs activities had at least the appearance of impropriety, arguing that Faggs exploratory committee had evolved beyond the scope of what judicial ethicists ruled acceptable four months ago.

Fagg fired back at the editor, arguing that he was still testing the waters, all allowed by judicial ethics standards.

On Oct. 6 national Democratic groups joined the ethics targeting. The American Democratic Legal Fund announced that it had filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission that Faggs exploratory committee was violating federal election law.

More than a week after ADLF said it filed, the Federal Elections Commission has no record of receiving the complaint. The Gazette has called the FEC daily to check on the status of alleged filing.

The announced filing by ADLF includes a quote by the groups Brad Woodhouse. Woodhouse, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, is a former strategist for President Barack Obama and a former communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. Woodhouse is also past president of American Bridge Political Action Committee, a key funding source for ADLF.

Emails sent by The Gazette to an address provided by ADLF as its only contact option were returned with an "undeliverable" notice.

Fagg told The Gazette the claims against him are baseless.

To me the only answer is the Judicial Standard Commission has given me a clean bill of health, Fagg said.

Reporter Mike Kordenbrock contributed to this story.
Hyderabad: Rohingya refugee held for illegally procuring Aadhaar card

India

oi-PTI

Hyderabad police on Sunday arrested a 19- year-old Rohingya man on charges of illegally procuring an Aadhaar card and illegally staying in the country.

The Indian employer of the man, who had claimed to be his father in order to get him the Aadhaar card, was also placed under arrest, a police official said.

The Rohingya man, Mohammad Ajamuddin alias Molla Ajamuddin, and his employer Riyazuddin Molla (36), a native of West Bengal, were nabbed from the Burma huts in the Balapur area here, he added.

Both the men were in the garment business and had recently come to the city from Kolkata, the police said.

"Ajamuddin belongs to Myanmar and he and his family were living at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh as refugees. About a year ago, Molla went to Bangladesh for some work related to his garment business and got acquainted to Ajamuddin," the official attached to the Rachakonda Police Commissionerate said.

"Molla informed Ajamuddin that he could earn more money in India and gave his phone number to him. Subsequently, Ajamuddin came to Kolkata and met him. Since then, he has been working for Molla for a monthly salary of Rs 6,000. Molla was providing shelter to him illegally," he added.

Molla also allegedly helped Ajamuddin get an Aadhaar card by giving false information to the UIDAI authorities, stating that the latter was his son, and violated the provisions of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

He had recently brought Ajamuddin to Hyderabad, he added.

Acting on a tip-off, the police nabbed the duo and seized their Aadhaar cards.

A case was registered against the two under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and relevant sections of the Foreigners Act, the official said.

Last month, the Rachakonda police had arrested a 20- year-old Rohingya man, who allegedly claimed to be an Indian citizen and applied for a passport to enable him to go to Dubai. The police had also seized a PAN card from him.

Scores of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state have been fleeing the restive region since August amid a fresh wave of violence, triggering a refugee crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh and India.

PTI
Mitra Shakti 2017: India-Sri Lanka joint military exercise to counter China

India

oi-Deepika

By Deepika

The fifth India-Sri Lanka joint training exercise "Mitra Shakti 2017" focusing on counter-terrorism operations has begun at Aundh Military Station in Pune.

The exercise is based on Counter Terrorist Operations and an infantry company from both the countries is participating in it. The opening ceremony commenced with a parade, followed by skill displays carried out by troops from the two countries.

The aim of the joint training is to share the best military practices and promoting healthy military to military relations between the two Armies and developing joint strategies by sharing expertise of conducting operations. The idea is to tap the rich repository of experience of each other and extract maximum learning value from the joint training. Forming part of different levels of the military to military engagement across the entire spectrum of operations, this exercise will enrich the two contingents in further honing basic military skills.

5th India- Sri Lanka joint training exercise The Sri Lanka - India combined training exercise Mitra Shakti 2017 in it fifth edition will send a strong signal to the world that both - India and Sri Lanka understand the emerging threat of terrorism and stand shoulder to shoulder in countering this menace. PTI file photo Stunning display of Khukri Dance A spectacular display of Unarmed Combat, Khukri Dance and Pipe Band was carried out by Indian Army and Udarata Narthanaya by Sri Lanka Army. The fly past by two Cheetah helicopters of Indian Army Aviation carrying the national flags of both countries was held at the start of the ceremony.Photo credit: Twitter@adgpi Builds mutual understanding The exercise will be conducted for the next 14 days up to October 26 and will involve sharing and learning from each other's experiences. It also contributes immensely in developing mutual understanding and respect for each other's military.Photo credit: Twitter@adgpi To counter China The exercise will be conducted over two weeks, and the training module will include weapons training, basic military tactics and complex battle strategies. The series - Mitra Shakti - had started in 2012, mainly as a response to China's efforts to increase its influence in South Asia and the Indian Ocean region. Photo credit:Twitter@adgpi

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Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2017, 23:08 [IST]
Operation All Out: Taking down the command in the Valley

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

When the Indian Army launched Operation Clean Up of Operation All Out, there was a conscious effort to go after the commanders instead of the foot soldiers. The past six months have seen a large number of commanders of various terror groups fall to the Army's bullet.

While the death of a commander shakes the operation of a foot soldier, the other advantage is that the group loses contact with the handler. The commander of an outfit is the one who keeps in touch with the handler. The handler on the other hand gives instructions to the commander on the operations to be undertaken.

The top terrorists to be killed in the Valley in recent times are Abu Dujana, Khalid, Waseem Shah and Abu Ismail. They were all commanders and their killing has hampered operations of the terror groups.

Although replacements do keep coming in, the interim period has given the security forces to plan and execute operations better.

Sources say that there are a handful of commanders remaining in the Valley. The aim is to take them down. The foot soldiers in the absence of a commander are unable to execute tasks since they are not in touch with the handlers in Pakistan, the official also said.

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Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2017, 6:55 [IST]
Proxy voting for NRIs round the corner says Sushma Swaraj

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Soon non-resident Indians (NRIs) will be able to proxy vote in elections, Minister for External Affairs, Sushma Swaraj said.

Addressing women BJP workers in a town hall interaction, she said that NRIs would be able to proxy-vote in elections in the country as the government was set to amend the Representation of the People Act.

She said that under the present law, NRIs registered in India as voters had to fly to the country during an election to cast their vote, but with the amendment, they could just issue an authorisation letter to family members or relatives to vote on their behalf. She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for expediting the matter pending for long before the Cabinet.

She also lauded the Prime Minister for having two women as members in the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). Sushma Swaraj and Nirmala Sitharaman are currently part of the all important CCS.

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Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2017, 5:32 [IST]
Demonetisation deliberate move by 'PayPM' to help his friends: Rahul Gandhi

If Cong is elected in HP, decision on 1 lakh govt jobs, pension scheme in 1st cabinet meet: Rahul

Himachal will vote for...: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's appeal to people on election day

Cong leader Abhay Thipsay who defended Nirav Modi in UK court now at Bharat Jodo Yatra

Yatra's impact not in Himachal, Guj polls but in 2024: Congress

Rahul takes jibe at Modi after Trump speaks of improving relations with Pak

India

oi-Madhuri

Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Sunday took a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter after US President Donald Trump speaks of improving relations with Pakistan.

Rahul took to twitter,''Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug.''

Modi ji quick; looks like President Trump needs another hug pic.twitter.com/B4001yw5rg  Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) October 15, 2017

The jibe comes a day after Trump speaks to develop better relationship with Pakistan and its leadership. Trump taking to his Twitter handle had thanked Pakistan for their cooperation on numerous fronts.

A day after Pakistani security forces rescued an American-Canadian family from the clutches of the Haqqani terror network, US President Donald Trump said his strategy has begun to work and Islamabad has started cooperating with the U.S. on the issue.

Trump on Friday tweeted,"Starting to develop a much better relationship with Pakistan and its leaders. I want to thank them for their cooperation on many fronts."

US citizen Caitlan Coleman and her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle, along with their three children, were rescued from the Haqqanis Thursday after an operation by Pakistani security forces based on intelligence from US authorities.

OneIndia News
Mamata Banerjee on 3-day visit to Darjeeling to attend swearing-in ceremony of GTA members

Ram Madhav slams Mamata Banerjee for shutdown in Darjeeling

India

pti-PTI

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Sunday slammed the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal for the three-and-half shutdown in the Darjeeling hills over the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

Madhav, who was speaking to reporters at the Sikkim BJP office near here, repeatedly referred to the region as Gorkhaland.

"The Bengal government is squarely responsible for the situation in Gorkhaland ... Because of its cruel behaviour, the Gorkhaland issue is simmering," he alleged.

Madhav, who is also the party's in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, said it is the West Bengal government's responsibility to address the grievances of people to restore peace and normalcy in Darjeeling.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-led shutdown was called off on September 26 following requests by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

PTI
Turn up the heat before the chill, Doval tells Forces in the Valley

India

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

Turn up the heat before the winter was a message that the National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval sent out to the security forces in the Kashmir Valley. With the successful killing of Waseem Shah of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba on Saturday, there are just a handful of commanders left in the Valley.

The Army prior to the launch of Operation Clean up or Operation All Out had prepared a kill list of 223. As of today 171 terrorists have been killed in encounters and what is significant is that most of them have been top commanders of outfits such as the Jaish-e-Mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Tayiba.

Currently there are just a handful of commanders remaining in the Valley while the rest are foot soldiers. Doval feels that the Army and the police should focus on cleaning up the commanders as it leads to shaking up the unit. He also feels that all the commanders must be cleaned up before the winter sets in.

Once the winter sets in, the infiltrations stop. If the commanders are cleaned up by then, it would help in maintaining peace in Jammu and Kashmir he says.

Further, there is also a need to maintain a very strict vigil along the border areas since Pakistan would up the ante and try sending more terrorists before the winter sets in. If the commanders are targeted before the winter sets in, then terror groups would not be able to carry out attacks in the Valley as the numbers would have dwindled.

OneIndia News
UP ATS picks up two more accused in Al-Qaeda radicalisation case

Madrasa survey in UP complete, next up is meeting with government: Minister

Uttar Pradesh: Gangrape survivor ends life after being threatened again; five arrested

India

oi-Madhuri

After being threatened with rape for the second time, a 16-year-old gangrape survivor committed suicide in Baghpat district in Uttar Pradesh on Friday evening.

According to the police, the victim hung herself from the ceiling fan in her room when three of the five accused of gangraping her five months ago, threatened to rape her again if she didn't withdraw her complaint.

The incident dates back to the month of July, when the victim was for the first time abducted by the five accused and gangraped her at a secluded spot. After holding her in captivity and repeatedly raping her for five days, the accused threw her back in her Kirthal village under Ramala Police Station.

However, the girl's parents filed an FIR against the five accused. The inquiry was later handed over to the Sub-Inspector Ajai Kumar but he did not initiate any action against accused.

After failing to get justice, the gangrape survivor met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath two months ago and told about her ordeal. Based on her complaint, Yogi directed the Baghpat police to arrest the accused immediately.

Despite strict orders from the chief minister, the police failed to arrest the accused.

The victim was for the second time threatened by three of five accused when she had gone out to the market and also passed lewd comments. The accused also threatened her to withdraw the case or they would gangrape her again and kill family.

Unable to bear this humiliation, the victim told her parents about how she was threatened again by her rapists. She later committed suicide.

After the suicide of the teenager, Baghpat SSP Jai Kumar ordered an inquiry into the case. The five accused have also been arrested, pending further investigation.

Case was registered in July. We Probed&concluded the 5 accused be arrested&produced before court. IO who probed earlier suspended:Baghpat SP pic.twitter.com/FVIfP3towR  ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 15, 2017

"I am surprised over the final report. I have already issued instructions for immediate arrest of all five accused and initiate strict action against erring police officers," said the SSP.

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Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2017, 15:29 [IST]
Hafiz Saeeds detention request withdrawn by Pakistan government

International

oi-Vicky

By Vicky

A request to extend the detention of Lashkar-e-Tayiba chief and Mumbai 26/11 mastermind hafiz Saeed was withdrawn by the Pakistan government.

On January 31, Saeed and his four aides were detained by the Punjab government for 90 days under preventative detention under the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. They have been under house arrest since then.

An official of the Home Department of Punjab government told a three-member federal judicial review board headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan of the Supreme Court that the government did not require the extension of Saeed and his four accomplices' detention anymore.

"The provincial government does not require an extension to the detention of Saeed, his aides - Abdullah Ubaid, Malik Zafar Iqbal, Abdul Rehman Abid and Qazi Kashif Hussain - under the anti-terrorism law. Therefore it requests the board to accept the withdrawal of extension to the detention of Jamaat-u-Dawah leaders," he said.

The board accepted the government's plea and disposed of the matter. Explaining as to why the government withdrew its application, a senior official of the Punjab government told PTI that since the government has extended the detention of Saeed and four others till October 24 under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance 1960 it does not require to have them house arrested under the anti-terrorism law.

He said the government was to produce Saeed and others before the review board for their detention under 11 EEE (I) and 11D of Anti-Terrorism Act 1997. "But since all five of them are detained under the public order there was no binding on the government to produce them before the review board today to seek an extension to their detention," the official said.

The Punjab Home Department issued an order extending the house arrest of Jamat-d-Dawah chief Hafiz Saeed and four other JuD men for another 30 days with effect from September 25 under the public order. The previous detention order issued on July 28 was expired on September 25. The last two extensions were made on the 'public order'.

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Story first published: Sunday, October 15, 2017, 5:07 [IST]
After getting death threat, Jakir Hossain had named two TMC supporters in complaint

Somalia: Bomb blast outside hotel in Mogadishu; 231 killed

International

oi-Madhuri

The death toll from the most powerful bomb blast witnessed in Somalia's capital rose to 231 with more than 275 injured, making it the deadliest single attack ever in this Horn of Africa nation, a senator said Sunday.

Government security official Mohamed Aden said that bombing took place in a busy part of the city. The explosion was followed by gunfire between security forces and armed men around and inside the popular Safari Hotel.

According to a witness, a vehicle loaded with explosives exploded at the junction of KM5 just opposite Safari hotel. Most of the dead were civilians. Security forces have sealed off the blast site for investigation.

Windowpanes and doors in buildings far from the scene were destroyed.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood. "I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate," he said.

Angry protesters gathered near the scene of the attack as Somalia's government blamed the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab extremist group for what it called a "national disaster." However, al-Shabab, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital with bombings, had yet to comment.

"They don't care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children," Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said. "They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians."

OneIndia News
ICO Moscow Accelerates the Cryptocurrency Era

Published October 15, 2017 by Lee R

Many representatives brought firsthand pioneering ICO experiences to the awaiting ears of attendees for the first time.

Initial Coin Offering enthusiasts from all over the world descended to Moscow for the first initial token offering conference ICO Moscow on September 20th.

Attendance

Over 300 attendees listened to 10 Russian and foreign speakers discuss todays ICO projects, citing specific token sale case studies to provide practical advice on ICO launching and investing.

Optimizing Tokens

A highlight presentation was delivered by Blockchain enthusiast and dual ICO book author Vladimir Popov, who discussed ways to detect and address unsuccessful tokens, while also touching upon greater ICO legal matters.

Targeting

Crowdfunding blockchain platform KICKICO Head of Marketing Yury Parsamov devoted his presentation to ICO promotion addressing well-ordered targeting to enhance effective the effectiveness of project marketing will be.

The Cryptocurrency Landscape

The founder of blockchain platform for prognostics and social researches Oris, Aleksandr Kolohmatov, spoke about the ICO project criteria for success with an analysis of the cryptocurrency market. He gave a major tip that Bitcoin will grow to $8000 by mid-December before a subsequent drop to $4700.

Mining Software

Polish crypto community representative Lukasz Zeligowski shared his ICO experience in launching mining software company easyMINE, calling for all ICO projects to be innovative in offering comprehensive solutions.

The Asian Appeal

Rusmarketing co-owner Ilya Egorov discussed his professional ICO user acquisition experience on ICO project websites, citing Asia as a fertile source of traffic which should be ICOs area of focus for attracting the maximum amount of investors.

Transforming into Fiat

TFH Russian Managing Consultancy Managing Partner Maxim Pervunin explained methods for transforming ICO mined cryptocurrency into fiat money, something which he cautioned was at this point not possible via Russian banks.
Newspapers and magazines are giving prominence to the notion that free will is an illusion. Some examples of this are articles in The Atlantic (titled "There's No Such Thing As Free Will: But we're better off believing in it anyway"), The Guardian (titled "Guilty, but not responsible?"), the New York Times (titled "Is Neuroscience the Death of Free Will?"), Scientific American Mind (titled 'How Physics and Neuroscience Dictate Your "Free" Will'), Psychology Today (titled "Illusion of Choice: The Myth of Free Will"). Even newspapers catering to the less-intellectually-inclined are getting into the act. For example The Independent has an article titled "Free will could all be an illusion, scientists suggest after study shows choice may just be brain tricking itself."

Just in case you think articles such as the ones above are the final word, note that ScienceDaily: Your Source for the Latest Research News reports in an article titled "The brain-computer duel: Do we have free will?" that:

"Our choices seem to be freer than previously thought. Using computer-based brain experiments, researchers studied the decision-making processes involved in voluntary movement. The question was: Is it possible for people to cancel a movement once the brain has started preparing it? The conclusion the researchers reached was: Yes, up to a certain point--the 'point of no return.'"

In this article I will show not only that free will is not an illusion, but also how the "free will is an illusion" argument rests on a premise with no scientific basis and is in fact literally faith-driven. And I will discuss why the ruling class (a.k.a. "the elite" here) benefits from us thinking that free will is an illusion. I'll start with the last point first.

Why would the elite be promoting the minority of intellectuals who say that free will is an illusion?

One reason is this: It tells the vast majority of people--who don't agree that free will is an illusion--that they are so ignorant of the basic facts of reality that they are not fit to have a real say in society. The elite have learned this trick--promoting ideas that most people reject in order to attack the idea of democracy--well; for example they told the (initially, at least) majority of people who opposed same-sex marriage that they were so wrongheaded about something so fundamental that they should not have a real say in society, that--as the liberal establishment put it-- "It's wrong to vote on rights." Telling people they're wrong about fundamental things is a way to undermine the idea of democracy--the idea that ordinary people are fit to rule society. The ruling elite always are looking for a new way to undermine the idea of democracy, so why not use the "illusion" of free will?

Another reason is this. To the extent that people are persuaded that free will is just an illusion, they will find it harder to object to the ruling elite's surreptitious manipulation of human beings. If human beings have no more free will than inanimate objects then it follows that manipulating the former is no more objectionable than manipulating the latter. The idea that free will is just an illusion thus perfectly suits the needs of any manipulative ruling class. I owe this insight to the author of the Dilbert cartoon for February 4, 2015, in which Dilbert says, "I'm programming our robot line to emotionally manipulate their owners into buying upgrades"; his colleague then asks, "You're teaching cloud-connected robots all over the world how to surreptitiously control humans?" to which Dilbert replies, "Technically, yes. But free will is an illusion anyway." This shows that the people employed to do the manipulating will find it a lot easier to rationalize what they're doing if they believe free will is just an illusion.

The "Free Will Is an Illusion" Premise: There's Nothing But Non-Sentient Matter/Energy

The "free will is just an illusion" view claims that none of our behavior is determined by our conscious choice; all of our behavior is totally determined by the atoms that make up our brains, in obedience to the impersonal laws of physics. In this view of reality, the existence of consciousness is a complete mystery, since it is impossible to imagine subjective consciousness emerging from purely non-sentient matter. (Some scientists admit this impossibility, while others who try to explain consciousness end up just waving their hands and revealing that they haven't a clue.) Scientists with this "no free will" view either deny the reality of consciousness (as B.F. Skinner, the behaviorist psychologist, essentially did) or they admit that it mysteriously exists but only as an "epiphenomenon," meaning that consciousness only reflects (somehow), but never causes, the decisions made by the atoms of our brain following the laws of physics.

If there is no free will, then it follows logically that the governance of society is rightfully a matter of social engineering and not a matter of taking seriously what individual people say they want. In this view, democracy is an irrelevant pointless idea. Society should be controlled by people who understand what makes people tick (i.e., how the laws of physics controlling the atoms in our brains yield the laws of chemistry that control the molecules in our brains, in turn yielding the laws of molecular biology that control our brain cells, in turn yielding the laws of neurology controlling our behavior and (possibly) our merely "epiphenomenal" consciousness). For example, the online film, Zeitgeist III, which has more than 16 million viewers and which is a very slick expensive production that appeals in the beginning to people who want a more equal and democratic society, ends up denying free will and calling for essentially a dictatorship of scientists.

The "no free will" idea does indeed derive very logically from the idea that all there is in nature is non-sentient matter/energy. This notion that there is only non-sentient matter/energy in the world is the chief premise of the modern scientific view of the world. Here's where it gets interesting.

What Is the Origin of the Idea that there is Only Non-Sentient Matter/Energy?

The modern scientific world view (that there is just non-sentient matter/energy) is purely based on faith. It does not derive deductively from empirical observation. Historically, this view emerged and gained ruling-class favor in the Enlightenment period of the 17th century because it was originally linked to the idea that the world consisted of purely non-sentient matter on the one hand and fundamentally different divine things (human souls and God) on the other hand. The ruling class at this time feared the "animistic" ideas that (the ruling class was afraid) influenced peasants and made them stop fearing the Church and start revolting against the rulers who claimed to derive their authority from the Church.

The animism idea was that there was no fundamental difference between our souls and our bodies because, like our souls, our bodies (and all other ordinary things in nature) had an aspect of subjectivity and did things for reasons of their own; i.e., were self-moving (like our souls) and not merely passively controlled by laws of nature. According to animism, our body and our soul are fundamentally similar, not dissimilar. The fact that our body dies and decomposes means that our souls, being fundamentally similar, also die and decompose. And this means that our souls are not eternal, and do not go to heaven or hell depending on whether we obey the Church or not. The Church, naturally, saw this as blasphemy, and relied on the new Enlightenment scientists such as Newton and Boyle (famous for his law of gasses) to rebut animism with non-sentient materialism. Newton and Boyle, themselves, were ardent defenders of the Church's claim that God and souls existed and were fundamentally different from ordinary matter.

The Church also needed ordinary nature to be completely non-sentient matter in order for the miracles of Jesus to be truly supernatural. If matter were animistic it would mean that such miracles were things that happened routinely and were commonplace. This in turn would mean that Jesus' performance of miracles would no longer provide evidence that Jesus was divine, which in turn would undermine the basis for the Church claiming to be the one true religion (since none of the other religions were based on somebody who performed miracles).

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From Consortium News



President Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in New York on Sept. 18, 2017.

(Image by (Screenshot from Whitehouse.gov)) Details DMCA



In the final presidential debate of 2016, Hillary Clinton famously called Donald Trump the "puppet" of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But what's increasingly clear is that Trump has a more typical puppet master for a U.S. politician -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Since Sept. 18, when the two men met in New York around the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu has been pulling Trump's strings on almost every foreign policy issue. Arguably, the puppet/puppeteer relationship began much earlier, but I've been told that Trump bridled early on at Netanyahu's control and even showed a few signs of rebellion.

For instance, Trump initially resisted Netanyahu's demand for a deeper U.S. commitment in Syria by ordering the shutdown of the CIA operation supporting anti-government rebels, along with the Trump administration's statement that U.S. policy no longer sought "regime change" in Damascus.

Immediately after that announcement, Netanyahu had some success in getting Trump to reverse direction and fire 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian air base on April 6. The attack followed what one intelligence source told me was a staged chemical weapons incident by Al Qaeda operatives in the rebel-controlled town of Khan Sheikhoun in Idlib province, possibly using sarin delivered via drone from a Saudi/Israeli special operations base in Jordan. Yet, although apparently duped by the subterfuge into the missile strike, Trump still balked at a complete reversal of his Syrian policy.

Then, in May, Trump picked Saudi Arabia and Israel as his first overseas trip as president -- essentially following the advice of his son-in-law Jared Kushner -- but I'm told he came away feeling somewhat humiliated by the over-the-top treatment that involved him getting pulled into a ceremonial sword dance in Saudi Arabia and facing condescension from Netanyahu.

So, over the summer, Trump listened to advice about a possible major overhaul of U.S. foreign policy that would have checked Israeli/Saudi regional ambitions, opened diplomatic doors to Iran, and addressed the Korean crisis by brokering negotiations between the North and the South over some form of loose confederation.

There was even the possibility of a Nixon-goes-to-China moment with tough-guy Trump meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the two countries restoring diplomatic ties, a process that could have given U.S. companies a better chance to compete in the Iranian market.

Those proposed moves had the advantage of reducing international tensions, saving the U.S. government money on future military adventures, and freeing U.S. corporations from the tangle of economic sanctions -- exactly the "America First" strategy that Trump had promised his working-class base.

However, instead Netanyahu succeeded in pulling Trump's strings during their conversations on Sept. 18 in New York, although exactly how is still a mystery to some people close to these developments. One source said the Kushner family real-estate company has exposure to substantial Israeli financing that could be yanked, although Jared Kushner's financial disclosure form only lists a $5 million unsecured line of credit, held jointly with his father, from the Israel Discount Bank.

Trump also has major pro-Netanyahu donors to his political war chest and his legal defense fund who are strong advocates for war with Iran, including casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson, who has plowed $35 million into the pro-Trump Super PAC Future 45 and has publicly called for dropping a nuclear bomb on Iran as a negotiating tactic. So, Netanyahu had a number of potential strings to pull.

Going on Rants

Whatever the precise reasons, on Sept. 19, Trump turned his maiden speech to the U.N. General Assembly into a war-like rant, personally insulting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as "Rocket Man," threatening to "totally destroy" his nation of 25 million people, and parroting Netanyahu's calls for another regime change project aimed at Iran.



President Trump speaking to the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 19, 2017.

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Most diplomats in the audience sat in stunned silence as Trump threatened aggressive war from the podium of an organization created to prevent the scourge of war. The one notable exception was Netanyahu who enthusiastically applauded his success in jerking Trump into the neocon camp.

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From Paul Craig Roberts Website

I agree that the official Las Vegas story seems to be unraveling. A public mass shooting should be transparent, not opaque. I think we explored the story long enough to discover that without knowing the facts, we cannot arrive at an explanation with confidence.

It is time to move on to another unraveling -- that of US/Russian relations. This unraveling is far more serious as it threatens life on earth. I have warned of the consequences of Washington threatening Russia's security by breaking agreement after agreement, by placing missile bases on Russia's borders, by orchestrating anti-Russian coups in former Soviet provinces, and by a continuing volley of false accusations against Russia. There is no act more reckless and irresponsible than to make one nuclear power fear a nuclear attack from another.

Alert observers have become aware of the mounting danger. Canadian professor Michel Chossudovsky writes that Washington has taken nuclear war from a hypothetical scenario to a real danger that threatens the future of humanity.

Mikhail Gorbachev, the Soviet leader who worked with President Ronald Reagan to end the Cold War and the threat of nuclear Armageddon, has appealed to President Trump and President Putin to hold a summit meeting and bring an end to the rising tensions. Gorbachev wrote in the Washington Post that "it is far from normal that the presidents of major nuclear powers meet merely on the margins of international gatherings." This is especially the case as "relations between the two nations are in a severe crisis."

Gorbachev's warning could be an understatement. Last March, General Viktor Poznikhir, the deputy commander of the Russian military's Operation Command, expressed concern that Washington could be preparing a surprise nuclear attack on Russia. See here, here and here.

Had any such statement from the Russian high command been issued anytime during the 20th-century Cold War era, the President of the United States would have immediately contacted the Soviet leader and given every assurance that no such plan or intentions toward Russia existed. As far as I can tell, the Trump White House let this ominous announcement pass unremarked. If this is the case, it must have provided confirmation to the Russians' conclusion.

For some time I have pointed out that the entirety of the West, both the US and its vassal states, continue to ignore very clear Russian warnings. Gilbert Doctorow has made the same point.

Perhaps the most clear of all was Putin's public statement that "Russia will never again fight a war on its own territory." If Washington's EU vassals did not hear this clear warning that they are courting their nuclear destruction -- especially the Poles and Romanians who have mindlessly hosted US missile bases -- they are as deaf as they are stupid.

One Russian official told the idiot British government to its face that if the British threat to first use nuclear weapons is directed at Russia, if such an attempt is made, Great Britain will disappear from the face of the earth.

There is no doubt that that would be the case.

So why do Washington's impotent vassals talk tough to Russia, a government that only desires peace and has threatened Britain in no way. Nor has the Russian government threatened France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, or any of the former Eastern European vassals of the Soviet Union that exchanged their captivity to the Soviet Union for captivity to Washington. Russia has not even threatened Ukraine, which Russia could wipe out in a couple of minutes. Why are all of these countries, apparently led by mindless, gutless two-bit politicians, aligned with Washington's false propaganda against Russia?

The answer is money. The vassals are paid to go along with the lies. As Alain of Lille said as long ago as the 12th century, "not God, not Caesar, but money is all."

What are the forces driving Washington's provocation of Russia? There are three, and they comprise a vast conspiracy against life on earth.

One is the Neoconservatives. The Neoconservatives were convinced by the Soviet Collapse that History has chosen not the proletariat but American "democratic capitalism" as the socio-politico-economic system for the world, and that this choice by History conveys on America the status of the "indispensable, exceptional" country, a status that places America above all other countries and above international law and, indeed, America's own laws.

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From Smirking Chimp

Mordechai Vanunu was imprisoned in Israel for 18 years because he blew the whistle on Israel's secret nuclear weapons program. He felt he had "an obligation to tell the people of Israel what was going on behind their backs" at a supposed nuclear research facility which was actually producing plutonium for nuclear weapons. His punishment for breaking the silence about Israel's capacity to manufacture nuclear weapons included 11 years of solitary confinement.

Yesterday, reading about President Donald Trump's new strategy on Iran, Vanunu's long isolation and sacrificial commitment to truth-telling came to mind.

Donald Trump promised to "deny the Iranian regime all paths to a nuclear weapon." But it is Israel, which possesses an estimated 80 nuclear warheads, with fissile material for up to 200, which poses the major nuclear threat in the region. And Israel is allied to the nation with the world's largest nuclear arsenal: the United States.

Israel doesn't acknowledge its nuclear arsenal publicly, nor does Israel allow weapons inspectors into its nuclear weapons facilities. Along with India and Pakistan, Israel refuses to sign the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. And it has used conventional weapons in numerous destabilizing wars which include aerial bombing of Gaza, Lebanon and the West Bank.

Vanunu, designated by Daniel Ellsberg as the "the pre-eminent hero of the nuclear era," helped many people envision nations in the region making progress toward a nuclear weapons-free Middle East.

In fact, Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jawad Zarif, spoke eloquently about just that possibility, in 2015, holding that "if the Vienna deal is to mean anything, the whole of the Middle East must rid itself of weapons of mass destruction. Iran," he added, "is prepared to work with the international community to achieve these goals, knowing full well that, along the way, it will prob ably run into many hurdles raised by the skeptics of peace and diplomacy."

Significantly, since the "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" pact with Iran was concluded in 2015, the International Atomic Energy Association has steadily verified Iran's compliance with inspections. Iran has accepted around-the-clock supervision by IAEA officials. What's more, "Iran has gotten rid of all of its highly enriched uranium," according to Jessica Matthews, writing for the New York Review of Books. Matthews continues:

"It has also eliminated 98 percent of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, leaving only three hundred kilograms, less than the amount needed to fuel one weapon if taken to high enrichment. The number of centrifuges maintained for uranium enrichment is down from 19,000 to 6,000. The rest have been dismantled and put into storage under tight international monitoring. Continuing enrichment is limited to 3.67 percent, the accepted level for reactor fuel. All enrichment has been shut down at the once-secret, fortified, underground facility at Fordow, south of Tehran. Iran has disabled and poured concrete into the core of its plutonium reactor -- thus shutting down the plutonium as well as the uranium route to nuclear weapons. It has provided adequate answers to the IAEA's long-standing list of questions regarding past weapons-related activities."

What do the Iranians think of the U.S. government? Ordinary Iranians might well think that whatever discontent they have with their own government the U.S. is their most implacable and most immediate enemy. Invective like Trump's recent words could be a precursor of disastrous invasion. Many Iranians remember the U.S.-backed coup that ended their democracy in 1953, and they remember the fierce U.S. support given to Saddam Hussein in the brutal eight years of the Iran-Iraq war.

Noam Chomsky rightly names the U.S. Shock and Awe attack against Iraq as the greatest destabilizing force at work in the Middle East. "Thanks to that invasion," writes Chomsky, "hundreds of thousands were killed and millions of refugees generated, barbarous acts of torture were committed -- Iraqis have compared the destruction to the Mongol invasion of the thirteenth century -- leaving Iraq the unhappiest country in the world according to WIN/Gallup polls. Meanwhile, sectarian conflict was ignited, tearing the region to shreds and laying the basis for the creation of the monstrosity that is ISIS. And all of that is called 'stabilization.'"

Trump's record of statements and of cabinet appointments suggests that regime change in Iran is a long-term goal. Despite massive involvement in funding and fomenting terrorism on the part of Saudi Arabia, Trump's evolving strategy for the Middle East strangely emphasizes Iranian impacts on the region, particularly regarding the conflict in Yemen.

Yemen is entering conflict-driven famine, with a correspondingly lethal cholera outbreak, making it the worst of the region's "Four Famines," now widely recognized as collectively the worst starvation crisis in the 72-year history of the United Nations. "In Yemen," says Trump, "the IRGC, (the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp), has attempted to use the Houthis as puppets to hide Iran's role in using sophisticated missiles and explosive boats to attack innocent civilians in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as to restrict freedom of navigation in the Red Sea."

It is Saudi Arabia and its UAE ally, with crucial U.S. backing, that have been intensely bombing Yemen since 2015 and maintaining a punishing Red Sea blockade against shipments often vital to famine relief. "The Saudi-led coalition's ships are preventing essential supplies from entering Yemen," according to an October 11, 2017 Reuters report. The report goes on to assess the dire consequences, for Yemen, caused by blocking and delaying ships carrying food and medicine. It documents many cases in which vessels were thoroughly searched, certified not to be carrying weapons, and still not allowed to enter Yemen.

In a time when 20 million people face starvation, it's particularly obscene for any country to pour resources into nuclear weaponry.

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Reprinted from www.wsws.org

The conflict within the American state apparatus reached a new level of intensity this week, after a leading Senate Republican, Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, warned that President Trump was risking "World War III," and Trump responded to media reports about internal conflict within his administration by suggesting that NBC could have its broadcast license revoked.

The recriminations between the White House and Congress and within the Trump administration itself are particularly explosive since they take place amid rising tensions between the US government and North Korea, in the wake of Trump's repeated threats of nuclear war against the regime of Kim Jong-un.

Corker made the warning about Trump's foreign policy producing World War III, and he has previously criticized what he called the lack of stability and competence in the Trump presidency. Trump responded with vulgar insults on Twitter, while White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders falsely claimed that Corker was responsible for the US nuclear agreement with Iran, which Trump appears ready to revoke as early as today.

Insider accounts of seemingly uncontrolled rages and wild mood swings on the part of the "commander in chief" have fueled a new round of discussion in the corporate media about the possibility of removing Trump from office, either through impeachment, which requires a majority vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate, or through invoking the 25th Amendment, under which the vice president and a majority of the cabinet can declare the president incompetent to continue in office.

An extraordinary editorial published Tuesday in the Post was run under the headline, "What to do with an unfit president."

The editorial concluded that impeachment was not likely, and urged congressional action to counteract Trump's policies in a range of areas (all important to corporate interests), including reinforcing US trade deals like NAFTA, and maintaining foreign aid programs that spread US political influence abroad.

That the leading newspaper in the country's capital--read by everyone in Congress and the Trump administration--proclaimed the president "unfit" for office reflects the extraordinarily sharp divisions within the ruling class, only hinted at in the Post editorial.

The corporate media has been targeting the Trump White House, in part because of concerns over his expressions of sympathy for Russian President Vladimir Putin and professed reluctance to continue the Obama administration's campaign of confronting Russia in Syria, Eastern Europe and the Baltic.

But there is a deeper concern that the policies and methods of the Trump administration, and particularly its increasing appeals to ultra-right, racist and fascistic forces, such as those which rioted in Charlottesville, Virginia two months ago, risk destabilizing the United States politically.

There is particular concern in corporate and banking circles that Trump's deteriorating relations with top Senate Republicans like Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker may hamper efforts to push through a huge tax cut for corporations and the wealthy, the main item on the agenda of the Republican-controlled Congress this fall.

On Wednesday a group of six right-wing lobbies allied to the White House, including the Tea Party Patriots, the Senate Conservatives Fund, FreedomWorks, the Media Research Center and ConservativeHQ.com, called for McConnell to step down due to the failure to repeal Obamacare or enact other right-wing measures, and threatened campaigns against incumbent Republicans in primary elections next year.

They were echoing former White House counselor Steve Bannon, who is threatening to back anti-McConnell candidates in the Republican primaries, and who called Tuesday for Corker's immediate resignation.

NBC triggered the latest round of internecine warfare with a report last week that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had called Trump a "moron" after a high-level discussion of foreign policy and nuclear strategy on July 20 at the Pentagon. This was followed by a series of denials by Tillerson and tirades by Trump, culminating in his remark Tuesday, in an interview with Forbes magazine, that if IQ tests were administered to the two men, he would come out on top.

On Wednesday the network added further details, reporting that Tillerson was provoked to an explosion of frustration by Trump's suggestion that the US should reverse 50 years of declining numbers in its nuclear weapons stockpile, and revert to the level of weaponry amassed in the 1960s, which would require a ten-fold increase.

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From Strategic Culture



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US President Trump's threats this week to shut down critical news media is an ominous sign of how fragile American democratic rights have become.

For Donald Trump to impugn media freedom -- albeit in his usual whimsical, boorish fashion -- nevertheless shows how far democracy has been eroded in the "land of the free."

The latest furore followed a report this week by NBC in which Trump purportedly harangued his top Pentagon advisers for a 10-fold increase in the US nuclear weapons arsenal.

Trump's outlandish demand was reportedly made during a high-level national security meeting back in July. It was the same meeting during which Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is said to have scoffed at Trump's antics and called him a "moron."

Trump has reacted angrily to the reports, dismissing them with his characteristic jargon as "fake news."

But, adding to the furore, the president also went on to question whether the broadcasting license of NBC and other networks should be cancelled because of what Trump views as "fake news." That is, the president is speculating on shutting down media outlets.

Such a move by a president would be legally unviable, according to US laws. But it shows the kind of slippery slope that US media and democratic rights are on.

Trump's latest musing about shutting down NBC and other channels drew predictable outcry from US media, who rightly to a degree, deplored his attack on democratic rights.

The irony is, however, that the attack on American democratic rights has already been underway before Trump entered the White House, and without much protest from the same media outlets who are now railing against Trump over this rant. We can point to the increasing surveillance powers of federal intelligence agencies which have steadily encroached since the September 2001 terror incidents in New York and Washington DC.

Media freedom in the US has been under assault for a long time.

Trump's latest outburst is not a one-off anomaly. In recent weeks, the US government has moved to severely restrict the freedom of Russia-based news media operating in the country. A move that has so far not been reciprocated by Moscow on US media operating in Russia.

Russian state-owned news channel RT has been forced to register as a "foreign agent" which will curtail how it carries out normal journalistic functions. Sputnik, another Russian state-owned channel, is also under investigation by US authorities over allegations of destabilizing American politics with "fake news."

The crimping of Russian news media is part of a wider campaign to suppress all alternative media outlets, including US-based websites, which are being labelled as agents of "foreign interests" because of merely posting articles sourced from RT and Sputnik.

The willing participation of US internet companies, Google, Twitter and Facebook, in blocking news sources that are designated "fake" or "interfering in US politics" is another troubling sign of how citizens' access to information is being curtailed. These gatekeepers of information are openly moving to restrict access to "authoritative," "respectable" media outlets. Many of these "respectable" news outlets, such as the New York Times and Washington Post, have in the past been guilty of purveying outrageously fake news, like the "weapons of mass destruction" claims which led to the 2003 US war in Iraq that killed over a million people and unleashed on the world the ongoing scourge of jihadist terrorism.

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PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-15 12:00:02

Russian Delegation Meets with Julphar Chairman

Julphar

Lama Mohanna, Communication Coordinator, M: +971501740731

T: +97172461461

D: +97172045722

lama.mohanna@julphar.net

Julphar welcomed HE Gocha Buachidze, Consul General of the Russian Federation, accompanied by a delegation representing Russian healthcare companies. The visit aims to review Julphars extensive experience in MENA pharmaceutical industry and to discuss potential mutual cooperation.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201710150050

Russian Delegation Meets with Julphar Chairman (Photo: AETOSWire)

The high-quality medicines manufactured by Julphar are recognized as strong brands with an international presence, as they are distributed to over 40 countries and provide effective treatment for a wide range of conditions, especially chronic diseases.

The visit by HE the Consul General of the Russian Federation and his delegation, reflects our growing relations and the determination of both parties to reinforce cooperation in the healthcare sector, said HH Sheikh Faisal Bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Chairman of the Board of Julphar.

The visit of the Russian delegation was an opportunity to demonstrate Julphars numerous initiatives and efforts to enhance production facilities, state-of-the-art platforms for scientific research and technical development. With more than 200 products available in our portfolio, we believe we can contribute strongly to improve access to quality and affordable treatments for patients around the world, especially in the field of Diabetes Management, said Jerome Carle, Julphars General Manager.

Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Chairman of Julphar, briefed the visiting delegation about the companys history, which started out as a standalone facility in 1980, and its ongoing commitment to implement the highest standards in pharmaceutical manufacturing. He also shed the light on the companys pioneering initiatives that garnered local and international consumers confidence and its strong presence in Middle East and Africa.

The Consul General of the Russian Federation expressed his deep admiration for the significant achievements made by the company in the field of biotechnology with Insulin and Epotin. "Meeting with H.E Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qassimi has been an important opportunity to learn about Julphar, which is one of the most renowned and important drug manufacturer in the region, and to discuss ways to boost coordination, cooperation and promote mutual relations, he said.

Following the reception, members of the delegation had the opportunity to visit Julphar XI, which is one of the most modern biotechnological plant in the region.

About Julphar

Established in 1980, Julphar is one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers in Middle East and North Africa, producing over 200 branded products across 16 facilities. Julphars mission is to offer high quality medicines at affordable prices. Our product portfolio includes Biotechnology, Wound and Women Care, Adult and Pediatric General Medicines, Gastro and Pain Management, Cardio-Metabolism, Diabetes Solutions and Consumer range. Julphar employs more than 3,000 people around the world and registered revenue of AED 1.45 billion in 2016. For more information, please visit our website http://www.julphar.net.

*Source: AETOS Wire

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/201710150050
PR-Inside.com: 2017-10-15 09:52:01

YOKOHAMA, Japan, Oct. 15, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The first press briefing at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) highlighted new awards and innovations that encourage and support the treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies; these include the recognition of outstanding care teams, introduction of new guidelines for nurses and fostering the next generation of researchers.

The press conference began with a welcome message from Conference Co-Presidents Dr. Hisao Asamura and Dr. Keunchil Park, who have worked tirelessly to make this year's conference in Yokohama a major success.

The first Cancer Care Team Award recognizes exceptional patient care

The IASLC Foundation is awarding its first-ever Cancer Care Team Award to multidisciplinary cancer care teams across the globe who go above and beyond to provide the highest-quality patient care. The award was proposed by Dr. Matthew Holman and his wife, Marilyn, a lung cancer survivor. Jill Feldman, a lung cancer survivor and advocate from the United States, introduced the award by telling her story and sharing why this award is particularly meaningful to her.

"My team at Rush University has always been patient-centered and is so deserving of this award, along with the other awardees today," said Jill Feldman. "Amazing things are possible when teams across disciplines work together to put the patient first. I am grateful to the IASLC Foundation for introducing an award that encourages this kind of extraordinary teamwork."

Teams at the following institutions were recognized with the award:

Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute (China)

Neotorax - Oncologia D'or (Brazil)

Instytut Gruzlicy i Chorob Pluc w Warszawie (Poland); Klinika Chorob Wewnetrznych, Pneumonologii i Alergologii, Samodzielny Publiczny szpital Kliniczny w Warszawie (Poland); Centrum Onkologii - Instytut im. Marii Sklodowskiej-Curie w Warszawie (Poland)

Johns Hopkins Hospital - Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center (USA)

Rush University Medical Center (USA)

New guidelines for nurses provide best practices for immunotherapy treatment

At last year's WCLC in Vienna, the IASLC Nursing and Allied Health Committee identified the need for educational support for those caring for lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. During today's press conference, Kim Rohan of the United States and Anne Fraser of New Zealand unveiled the resulting guidelines for immunotherapy. The guidelines are an invaluable resource to nurses and cover the life-threatening adverse effects patients may experience during immunotherapy treatment including gastrointestinal, dermatologic, endocrine, ocular, hepatic, neurological and pulmonary toxicities.

"These guidelines are unique in that they are the result of international collaboration," said Anne Fraser. "As immunotherapy treatment continues to be utilized more frequently, the guidelines will be essential to helping nurses understand and mitigate the potential side effects."

IASLC Mentorship Award participants speak to the value of mentorship

The IASLC International Mentorship Program is a professional development and education program for early-career thoracic malignancy-focused physicians and researchers from economically developing countries. Thirteen mentees were selected for the 2017 program, representing specialties from medical oncology to pulmonology and hailing from Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Thailand. Some of the world's leading figures in lung cancer will provide mentorship and guidance during the WCLC, as well as host the mentees at their home institutions for a week.

A number of mentors shared their experiences with the program and underscored the value of mentorship, including Fiona Blackhall of the United Kingdom, Ross Camidge of the United States, Nir Peled of Israel and Mary O'Brien of the United Kingdom.

For Prof. Blackhall, the benefits of mentorship include the ability to inspire the next generation of oncologists and cancer researchers, serve as a female role model in medicine and highlight areas of unmet need in lung cancer research. Prof. Peled found that there were mutual benefits of working with his mentee, as he has been able to enlarge his team network. Dr. Camidge, who is based in Denver, discussed his long-distance collaboration with his mentee, Harry Ren of China. They jointly diagnosed a patient who then traveled to Denver for a clinical trial, demonstrating the value of global collaboration.

Mary O'Brien also spoke to why mentorship is so critical for young professionals in the field. "Medicine is a profession traditionally taught as an apprenticeship, learning from and watching senior doctors. Medicine has changed and much is not taught through books and other sources of information. We need to remember the power of human contact. A strong mentorship scheme will bring the best out of young doctors, talents that are both obvious and hidden," said Dr. O'Brien.

Livestreams of the daily press conferences are available here.

About the WCLC

The World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) is the world's largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting over 6,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to disseminate the latest scientific achievements; increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer; and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. Organized under the theme of "Synergy to Conquer Lung Cancer," the conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit wclc2017.iaslc.org.

About the IASLC

The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is the only global organization dedicated to the study of lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies. Founded in 1974, the association's membership includes more than 6,500 lung cancer specialists across all disciplines in over 100 countries, forming a global network working together to conquer lung and thoracic cancers worldwide. The association also publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, the primary educational and informational publication for topics relevant to the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of all thoracic malignancies. Visit www.iaslc.org for more information.

Contacts:

Hillary Wasserman

Senior Associate

HWasserman@GroupGordon.com

+1 732-778-1896

This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients.

The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein.

Source: IASLC via Globenewswire









# 1318 Words



Becky Bunn, MScPublic Relations Manager+1 720-254-9509
As alternative energy fuels continue to attract more investors across the world, oil prices are poised to crash to just $10 per barrel, an expert has said.

In an interview with CNBC on Friday, Chris Watling, chief executive of Longview Economics, said the crash may be experienced over the next six to eight years.

In his forecast for 2018, Mr. Watling acknowledged that a key catalyst for the oil market would most likely be Saudi Aramcos initial public offering (IPO) in the second half of next year.

Speaking on Saudi Arabias state oil group being launched on the international stock market, he said the oil producer needed to get it away before the crash.

Well I think they need to get it away quick before oil goes to $10 (per barrel), he said.

Mr. Watling, however, explained that he did not necessarily expect such an intense decline in oil prices over the coming weeks or months.

What happens with electric vehicles is really, really important, he said, saying thats because about 70 per cent of oil is used for transportation.

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the global outlook for oil markets in 2018 could put a dampener on hopes for higher prices.

In its report Thursday, the IEA said global stock builds, rising non-OPEC production and static oil demand could weigh on the oil price.

The organisations latest monthly report was published amid optimistic forecasts from the major oil producer group OPEC, with the cartel arguing there was evidence of the global oil market rebalancing following several years of low prices.

In June 2014, the price of oil collapsed from almost $120 a barrel due to weak demand, a strong dollar and booming U.S. shale production.

OPECs reluctance to cut output was also seen as a key reason behind the fall. But, the oil cartel soon moved to curb production  along with other oil producing nations  in late 2016.

But Nigeria was exempted from the cut imposed on member countries in January 2017, due to its low output caused by unrest in its oil rich Delta region.

In September, the Joint Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, and non-OPEC Ministerial Monitoring Committee, JMMC, also extended the exemption granted the country over the output cut.

At its meeting in Vienna, Austria, the Committee upheld Nigerias position that the exemption, which was extended by another six months last May, should be sustained until the countrys oil production stabilises.

The extension of the exemption period means more revenue earnings from oil exports by Nigeria, as the country would be able to export all the oil it produces as oil prices hover around $57 a barrel.

Ibe Kachikwu, Nigerias oil minister, has said that although Nigeria was making considerable progress since October 2016 in its production recovery efforts, it was not enough as full stability had not been attained.

Although Nigerias oil production hit 1.802 million barrels per day in the month of August, that was not enough justification for a call by some countries for Nigeria to be brought back into the fold, Mr. Kachikwu pointed out.

The next JMMC Meeting is scheduled to be held in Vienna, on November 29, 2017.

Speaking further on Friday, Mr. Watling said things are changing and people may shift attention to alternative energy sources.

We forget dont we? I mean 120 years ago the world didnt live on oil. Oil hasnt always driven the global economy The point is alternative energy in some forms is gathering speed (and) things are changing, he added.

The Longview Economics CEO forecast the price of oil would ultimately slump to $10 a barrel over the next six to eight years.
The Nigerian comedian, Obinna Simon, popularly known as MC Tagwaye, who is known for mimicking President Muhammadu Buhari, has said his carer will not end even if the president is no longer in power.

Buhari has created a personality in the political environment around the world so whether he is president or not I can keep mimicking that personality for over a 100 years if i want to, Mr. Simon said in an interview with Hip Tv on Sunday.

He added that what matters is his craft and creativity which can take new dimensions and not how long Buhari will stay in office.

The comedian said though he is an Igbo man from Anambra State, he learnt how to mimic the president because he was born and raised in Katsina and he has always admired Mr. Buhari.

MC Tagwaye shot to stardom after he styled his craft in such a way that he dresses, speaks and acts like the President coupled with the fact that he has a striking resemblance with him (Buhari).

The comic actor said in another interview that he learnt how to mimic Mr. Buhari in one day after he watched his interview with Saharareporters in Kaduna in 2011. I just watched the video once and it was a nine minutes clip.

On his first performance before the President at an event in Katsina State, MC Tagwaye said, This is an army general we are talking about; he doesnt laugh, he can only smile. The people sitting on his table were looking at his countenance to know whether to laugh or not. They were indecisive but there was something I said that was very funny, so the president turned his face to a corner and laughed, then the rest followed suit. That was when they were free to laugh. It was very hilarious.

After my performance, I demanded to take a picture with the president and even though his security personnel were surrounding him, I walked straight to him and before I got to him, he stood up and we took a picture together. After the picture, a governor informed the president that I have a twin brother and he also invited my twin to take a picture with him. Some people do not know that I am a twin but Tagwaye, my stage name, means twins in Hausa.
The State House Clinic received N1.2 billion (N1, 195,257, 021) between 2015 and 2017, as expenditure, the presidency said on Sunday.

The amount consists of N970 million (N969, 681, 821.53) for capital projects and N226 million (N225, 575, 200.60) for recurrent expenditure, Attah Esa, a deputy director Information said in an official statement.

The hospital and its management have come under intense criticism from Nigerians including Aisha Buhari, the wife of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mrs. Buhari lamented the lack of basic amenities despite the allocations to the hospital, calling for probe.

I called the Aso Clinic to find out if they have an X-Ray machine, they said its not working, she said in Abuja last week.

In the end I had to go to a hospital owned and operated by foreigners 100 per cent.

There is a budget for the Hospital and if you go there now, you will see a number of constructions going on but they dont have a single syringe there. What is the purpose of the buildings if there are no equipment there to work with?

The presidents daughter, Zahra, had expressed similar views about lack of basic drugs at the hospital, used mainly by the officials and staff of the presidency and other top government functionaries.

The management of the hospital had earlier said it was underfunded and called for commercialisation of its operations.

Mr. Esa, in his statement on Sunday admitted that the hospital had received 33 per cent of its capital appropriation in the past three years as well as 48 per cent of its recurrent appropriation.

Read Mr. Esas full statement below.

The attention of the Presidency has been drawn to recent media reports suggesting that the State House Medical Centre had received N11.01billion as appropriation for the period 2015-2017.

According to the Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal A. Arabi, contrary to the above claims, out of the total Capital Appropriation of N2,941,062,044.00 and Recurrent Appropriation of N465,935,358.00 for the period under reference, only the sum of N969,681,821.53 (representing 32.97%) for Capital and N225,575,200.60 (representing 48.41%) for Recurrent was actually released.

Mr. Arabi also said it may interest the public to know that there was zero capital allocation for the Medical Centre in 2017, while out of the N331,730,211.00 being recurrent appropriation for 2017, the actual amount released up to September was N91,370,053.60 (representing only 27.54%).

The Permanent Secretary emphasised that the above figures are verifiable from the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

He observed that during the three-year period under review (indeed two years since no capital allocation for 2017), and despite the shortfalls between budgetary provisions and actual releases, the Medical Centre continued to provide free services to the over 10,000 registered patients annually. In addition, the Centre has continued to execute on-going projects.

Giving further insight into the scope of the Medical Centres clientele, Arabi stressed that apart from the Presidency, other beneficiaries of the free services include political appointees, the military, para-military, other security agencies, members of the National Assembly, and the general public.

In the words of the Permanent Secretary, Considering the unrestricted patronage base and free services of the State House Medical Centre, coupled with the funding hiccups and periodic receipts, it may not be far-fetched to notice gaps between demand and supply of medical equipment and consumables at certain stages of the budget circle.
A day after the Plateau State Governor imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Bassa Local Government Area, armed persons attacked a community in the area, killing at least six persons, the police have said.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the curfew announced on Friday by Governor Simon Lalong who said it was necessary to guarantee effective security operation toward protecting life and property.

However, on Saturday night, armed persons attacked Taegbe, a village in Bassa injuring at least five people while killing six others, according to the police.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Terna Tyopev, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Jos that the attackers, who invaded the village at 12 midnight, also burnt down 10 houses.

He said that those injured had been taken to various hospitals in Jos.

Among those killed were five adults and a teenager, residents said.

A witness, Sunday Yari, told journalists who visited the scene that the attack took place in the early hours of Sunday.

The attackers came with sophisticated weapons and moved from one house to another, unleashing mayhem on the locals.

They razed down a lot of houses and destroyed properties worth millions of naira, he said.

Mr. Yari wondered why the attacks were being casually carried out in spite of the dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed on the local government by the Plateau government.

It took the grace of God for me to escape. From my hideout, I watched them killing my aged father and two younger ones. I couldnt act because I was not armed, he said.

Also Udie Adie, the Commissioner of Police in Plateau, visited the affected village on Sunday.

Mr. Adie, who spoke with journalists at the scene of the attack, described it as very unfortunate.

We shall deploy officers and men to fish out the perpetrators and bring them to book.

We shall also identify critical stakeholders within the area and work with them toward ending these attacks. We must find a way to end these incessant attacks on the locals.

For now, we shall keep our officers and men on ground to protect the area; we shall try to ensure that no one takes the law into his hands, he said.

Those killed had been buried while the injured were taken to hospitals.
A former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, on Sunday spoke on the controversy trailing the statement by President Muhammadu Buhari, supposedly directing the World Bank to focus its assistance towards the northern part of the country.

The former governor confirmed that he was present at the interactive meeting between Mr. Buhari and the World Bank President, Kim Jim in 2015.

Mr. Oshiomhole also said the presidents statement was twisted and given sectional meaning, contrary to the true intentions and context of the discussion.

The Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said on Friday that he was at a 2015 meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the President of the World Bank President, along with three southern governors including Mr. Oshiomhole, Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State; as well as Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa.

Mr. Shettima said President Buhari had requested the World Bank to focus its efforts on rebuilding the North-east which had been devastated by Boko Haram attacks.

Mr. Shettima was reacting to the criticisms of the president on the statement insinuating that he was sectional.

Mr. Oshiomhole, in a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, after it sought his views on the matter, said the sectional meaning read to Mr. Buharis statement was unfortunate.

It is true that I was present with Mr. President during the interaction with the World Bank president, he said.

The context under which Mr. President made the statement that is now being twisted was against the backdrop of the devastation of the North-east zone, and the need to solicit for assistance from the World Bank and any other foreign agency to help address the issue.

It was a patriotic request borne out of a burning desire to find immediate and permanent solution to the crises in the North-east zone.

According to Mr. Oshiomhole, Edo State at that time had the challenge of dealing with internally displaced persons that came to settle in the outskirt of4ea3w Benin City without the knowledge of the state government.

He said it took his personal intervention and the cooperation of Mr. Buhari before a solution was found in making the location more habitable as well as provide other logistics arrangement that had to be put in place to ensure that the IDPs were adequately catered for.

This idea of trying to read sectional meaning to this genuine request for international assistance to help cushion the challenges faced as a consequence of the Boko Haram menace, is utterly unfortunate, he said.

We should know when to play politics and when not to play politics especially with serious developmental challenges such as the unpalatable outcome of Boko Haram activities.

We were quite happy that Mr. President was able to articulate his request for assistance from the World Bank amidst a host of other challenges confronting us as a nation.

We needed to prioritize the challenges and the unwholesome plight of the Internally Displaced Persons was critical at that material time.

Any reasonable president could not have asked for anything beyond that humanitarian crisis that was giving us international embarrassment.

The former Edo governor admonished that as a country and citizens desirous to be their brothers keeper, it was not right to always politicize genuine effort aimed at helping to confront developmental challenges such as the North-east Boko Haram issue.

President Buhari remains a statesman who is altruistic, genuine and patriotic in the discharge of his statutory responsibilities, he added.

We should see the country as one and work towards achieving her lofty objectives of being a true giant in the continent of Africa.

A statement by the World Bank chief that Mr. Buhari asked the agency to focus on northern regions of Nigeria had been the cause of flaks against the president, especially from the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose.

In my very first meeting with President Buhari he said specifically that he would like us to shift our focus to the northern regions of Nigeria and weve done that, Mr. Kim had said.

Mr. Fayose called Mr. Buhari as an ethnic champion, a religious bigot and the number one promoter of disunity in Nigeria.

The presidency also reacted to the criticisms, explaining that Mr. Buharis statement desired the World Bank assistance in rebuilding the North-east devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The World Health Organisation has assured Nigeria that it would continue supporting the nation in its fight against epidemic diseases and in emergency responses especially in the North-eastern part of the country.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday said the organisation is ready to partner with the country to rebuilding the health systems especially in the North-east devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Ms. Moeti who came on a two days official visit to Nigeria to assess the organisations humanitarian activities in the North-east reaffirmed the WHOs commitment to partner with Nigeria on matters of mutual interest regarding international health development in Africa and Nigeria in particular, especially on the current response to polio eradication and monkeypox outbreak.

Ms. Moeti who had flagged off an integrated polio and malaria campaign earlier in the day in Borno commended the government for its early alert of the WHO on cholera and suspected monkeypox cases in the country.

She said the early alert of cholera disease at the IDP camps helped in containing the disease and the number of deaths from reaching epidemic status

We have been supporting malaria policies as it has remained on of the child killer disease and we are ready to partner with the government in support with other international health agencies to rebuild the hospitals in the North-east as we are campaigning for Universal Health Care, she said.

In his remark, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, said WHO has been of tremendous help to the country especially in humanitarian activities and containing the spread of diseases.

He said her visit is not only expected to strengthen support of WHO to Nigeria in her fight against humanitarian emergencies but also to advocate the effective implementation of the Transformation Agenda of the Regional Director.

Mr. Adewole said the organisation is not only focusing on the North-east but all other parts of Nigeria especially in epidemic control.

Though the aim of her visit is the North-east, the organisation however will be working across the country. She is also here to assess our policies on Universal Health Care and how far we have been in achieving this, he said.

Mr. Adewole also assured Nigerians that the country would soon be declared polio free as there has been no sighting of a new case since the last one that was reported at the north-east part of the county in 2016.

This set back the country from getting a polio free certificate from the health Organization.

Recent samples of the suspected monkeypox disease were taken to a WHO laboratory in Dakar, Senegal for confirmation and with the results still being expected.

Mr. Adewole said Nigeria will leverage on the visit to deepen the countrys collaboration with WHO.
A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Sunday played host to the former South Africa President, Thabo Mbeki, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The ex-South African leader arrived Abeokuta at about 11.00 a.m. and was received by Mr. Obasanjo at the Legacy Resort Centre, located within the premises of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library

Mr. Mbeki was thereafter taken on a tour of the multi-billion naira presidential library. The tour guides took him to the wildlife park, youth centre, amphi theatre, artefacts section, the main library complex among others.

The former South Africa leader was equally showed the replica of the prison Mr. Obasanjo was kept when he was jailed by late military dictator, Sani Abacha, over a phantom coup.

Speaking to journalists after the facility tour of the library, Mr. Mbeki said he never knew the library was so massive and rich in content.

The visiting former president also admitted the role of Mr. Obasanjo in Africa and the world as a whole calling for support for the library on maintenance.

Mr. Mbeki also called on African leaders to learn from Mr. Obasanjo, and put such knowledge into use for the benefit of their various countries.
A former chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, Hamman Tukur, has said that the bail out funds to state governments by the current administration have been altogether illegal.

Mr. Tukur who spoke to the Economic Confidential in his office in Kaduna queried the rationale for such disbursement labelling it as illegal.

Buhari gave out a lot of money to states recently in the name of bail-out. Who gave him that money? How did he get access to the Federation Account, or the authority to release that money? Did he go through appropriation for approval? If he released the money before it was approved, then it is illegal, Mr. Tukur queried.

In any case, who told the states to be broke? Who stole their money? He (Buhari) should have asked the state governors where their money was. Some people argue that the money used for the bail-out was from the Nigeria LNG dividend. But, the Constitution is very clear: all revenues of government must go into the Federation Account first before anything.

He said, The only exception that is made is written in the Constitution itself, and that is Armed Forces, including the military, Police and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Anybody or agency paying tax to government for whatever description it should be channeled to the Federation Account.

Mr. Tukur recalled that RMAFC also rejected such move during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Yes I think it was only when Obasanjo asked for $5.3 billion to finance NIPP (National Integrated Power Project) that the Commission said he cannot take it from the Federation Account without recourse to the other tiers of government.

We told him that if he wanted any money, he should take it from the Federal Governments share of the money, and then go to the National Assembly for approval.

You are aware of the recent bail-out by the Federal Government to states. The president should tread softly. We have to caution President Buhari the same way we did to Obasanjo when he wanted $5.3 billion.

When the Commission said he cannot take the money, one day he had to send the then Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yayale Ahmed, to come and tell the Commission that he wanted that money. I said no, the money does not belong to me, but the Federation Account. What that means is that all the three tiers of government that own the Account must be aware and agree that the money be withdrawn for the purpose.

Then the formula for sharing between the federal, states and local governments would apply. There should be no question of states staying somewhere to allocate what the local governments want. This is wrong. The money in the Federation Account belongs to the federal, states and the local governments. This is democracy.

That is what applies to the National Population Commission. If the Commission says one village is 200,000 people, before anyone can undo it and change that decision, it would pass through a lot of processes.

That is why one of the key responsibilities of the Commission is to mobilize government revenue to the Federation Account before allocating. It is total. Exceptions are clear, so that no one can pretend

What that means is that wherever any revenue has not been remitted to the Federation Account by any agency, the Commission must ask questions. If any money must be released, the National Assembly must be approached for supplementary appropriation, he said.

Read the full interview here: https://economicconfidential.com/featured-post/bail-out-states-illegal-tukur-rmafc/
The wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, and the wife of a former Head of State, Ajoke Murtala Mohammed, would join some members of the Federal Executive Council and other stakeholders in the extractive industry for the two-day seminar on gemstones and exhibition of products and equipment starting in Abuja on Thursday.

The two-day event which is being organised by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in partnership with African Gems and Jewellery and Seminar Limited as well as other stakeholders, would also feature training sessions on different aspects of gemstones business.

Already, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development has hailed the programme as one that is capable of expanding business and investment opportunities in the countrys gemstones, adding that the ministry would continue to partner with organisations and groups in the bid to drive investment in the mining sector.

The Minister also lauded the collaboration of other critical stakeholders in the sector in ensuring the success of the programme, notably the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN); Women In Mining (WIM); Gemologists and Jewellers Association of Nigeria (GJAN); International Coloured Gemstones Association (ICA); Gemstones Miners and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMMAH); Faceters Guild of Nigeria (FGN); Beaded Jewellery Designers of Nigeria (BJDAN), and Gemstone Association of Nigeria (GAN).

Mrs. Osinbajo would deliver the keynote address at the event, with the theme: Mines to Market. She would be joined by Mrs. Murtala Mohammed in unveiling the Gem Tree.

Other highlights of the event, according to a statement by the ministry, include exhibition of equipment and gemstones; master classes, where interested participants would be trained on modern trends in gemstones cutting, polishing, marketing and pricing; as well as fashion display and sales.

The two-day event is expected to bring together mining operators, policy makers, gemstones dealers from within and outside the country, artisans, manufacturers of jewellery equipment and financial institutions to discuss and exhibit current global trends in the gemstones business.

Exhibitors from other African countries are expected to join their Nigerian counterparts in showcasing current trends in gemstones business, equipment and technology.

Nigeria is endowed with abundant mineral resources and among the varieties of gemstones are: Sapphire, Aquamarine, beryl, emerald, tourmaline, phenakite ruby, garnet, topaz, amethyst, moonstone, onyx, opal, citrine, and zircon, found across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The exhibition will provide ample opportunity to showcase Africas mineral wealth and encourage mining rich communities to embrace mining as an economic activity that has immense potential to transform not only the socio-economic wellbeing of the people, but also contribute to the national economic growth, the statement added.

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Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State on Saturday unveiled a statue in honour of South African President Jacob Zuma.

The event was witnessed by Mr. Zuma and other dignitaries.

Asides the mammoth statue, Governor Rochas also named a road after Mr. Zuma.

Sequel to the unveiling of the statue, Mr. Zuma was on Friday conferred with a traditional title of Ochiagha Imo, by Eze Imo, Samuel Ohiri.

The title certificate was issued by a former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a statement made available to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Okorocha said the honour was conferred on Mr. Zuma for his love for education.

Today, we have decided to honour you for your love for education, though you were deprived in your early days in life but you are working to make sure that every poor child went to School. Your love for education to us is the connection between you and government and the people of Imo State. The only industry we have and we can truly be proud of is education in Imo State. This is another reason why we have chosen to honour you, he said.

Mr. Zuma who spoke after receiving the award charged Africans to come together to address the issues that affect the continent, adding that we are one people.

Africans must come together to address African problems. We are the same people. We cannot succeed if we handle problems as individuals. We need to recognize that we are one.

The award comes a few days after another Nigerian, Jelili Omoyele, a 35-year-old, was killed in South Africa.

The recent development has created diverse reactions on social media as many have registered their grievances.

Read reactions here:

https://twitter.com/OsasCruz/status/919532839074435072

https://twitter.com/OsasCruz/status/919510506460925953

https://twitter.com/Uthman_Waxcav/status/919548044806426624

How worse can it get?

Despite owing workers, Gov. Rochas spent 520M to erect statue of South African president Jacob Zuma in Owerri Funke! pic.twitter.com/slsSqhbjQc  Wale Adetona (@iSlimfit) October 15, 2017

https://twitter.com/ogbeni_opa/status/919547487026925573

https://twitter.com/dhe_Mechanic/status/919558251544489984

https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/919534901384417280

Gov Rochas just erected a humongous statue of Jacob Zuma in Imo.

What next?? Name a Stadium or Airport after Robert Mugabe?? pic.twitter.com/LoET7JrakR  PRESIDENT OKONKWO (@IkechuQwu) October 15, 2017

https://twitter.com/_Tweeteractive/status/919528739117056000

I hereby congratulate ndi Imo home and abroad for this landmark achievement by Gov Rochas Joker Okorowonder pic.twitter.com/h0FcqT8SSY  IKECHUKWU (@iykimo) October 14, 2017

South African social media platforms have been laughing at us for hours. Rochas Okorocha has disgraced ALL Nigerians not just Imo state pic.twitter.com/NoulrI2WGm  Prof Stanley Nwabia (@MrStanleyNwabia) October 14, 2017

When people in Lagos & abroad praise Rochas, man, I get so disgusted. Have you seen Imo State? Like real life, not what the media shows you  Agunwanyi. (@obuteaku1) October 15, 2017

Rochas is owing my aunty, a retired Principal, pension for more than 13 months yet he has money to erect a statue for Zuma. What a man. https://t.co/K7ke1SWIvi  The Papi (@TheTawah_) October 15, 2017

https://twitter.com/ogbeni_opa/status/919537470659850240

https://twitter.com/Rouvafe/status/919530344566743040

https://twitter.com/ogbeni_opa/status/919555100183379969

https://twitter.com/officialdaddymo/status/919566830779318274

First, Rochas made a huge billboard where he had a handshake with Obama. Now, he has made a giant statue of Zuma Rochas in one word..FOOL!  Miz Cazorla (@MizCazorla1) October 15, 2017

Rochas Okorocha should have just stayed a benevolent billionaire. A statue for Jacob Zuma is the height of insanity at a time like this.  JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) October 15, 2017

Rochas is owing salary. Used millions 2 honour Jacob Zuma that's hated in S/A & dat turned a blind eye to Xenophobia pic.twitter.com/Lz4jgNUz2i  Jefe Juan Jose (@Jefe_says) October 15, 2017

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Residents of satellite towns of the Federal Capital Territory have accused the electricity service provider for the territory, the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, of deliberately exploiting them by excluding them from the new electricity billing platform being enjoyed by consumers in the metropolis.

One of such consumers is Yahaya Enejo who lives in a two-bedroom flat apartment in Gwagwa, about 40-minute drive from the heart of the metropolis.

Mr. Enejo moved with his five-member family to the apartment in the Agwa-keria area of Gwagwa in December last year. He told PREMIUM TIMES that footing his electricity bills has become a major challenge since relocating to the house.

Most of the houses in Agwa-keria do not have prepaid meters so electricity consumption is charged by estimated billing. The system leaves consumers at the mercy of AEDC officials who, Mr. Enejo said, determine how much they pay every month by inscrutable whim.

He told PREMIUM TIMES that he paid AEDC N7500 to connect his apartment in December. His bill was fluctuating between N4000 and N7000 until June when he complained to the officials and was asked to pay N3500. In July, he paid N3000.

Power supply here is terrible. So some months when they bring the bill you wonder what you are paying for because you can count the number of times they supplied light to us. Even when there is light, you dont enjoy it because the current is always low.

I am sick and tired of this nonsense. I spend between N6000-N7000 monthly just to fuel my generator, yet AEDC will bill you for what you did not consume.

Mr. Enejo said he no longer cares if he was disconnected. I wont pay any bill again until this matter is resolved, he said. The resolution he seeks is that he be taken off the old billing system and placed on prepaid metering.

The AEDC has the franchise for the distribution and sale of electricity across the133,000 km2 radius extending from the FCT to Niger, Kogi and Nasarawa states.

NO METER NO PAY

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, had directed high-end electricity consumers not provided with prepared meters to stop paying bills presented by distribution companies, DISCOs, on the basis of estimated billing methodology.

The agency, however, explained that the directive applies only to Maximum Demand, MD, customers: commercial and industrial customers who consume high levels of electricity and contribute substantially to the revenues of distribution companies.

In other words, ordinary citizens like Mr. Enejo have little chance of stopping their exploitation by the electricity companies like AEDC.

Like Mr. Enejo, Lola Owoede lives in another satellite town in the Nigerian capital. She resides in a one-bedroom flat on Arab Road in Kubwa, one of the largest satellite towns in Abuja. All the nine flats in her apartment are installed with prepaid meters. But to Miss Owoedes chagrin, the prepaid meters in her flat and two others in the apartment are not functioning. So she has been on estimated billing by the AEDC.

Since I moved to this apartment three years ago my bill has been rising every month even though my consumption has been constant. I started with paying N4000 but as I speak to you now, my bill has gone up to N15, 000, she said.

Copies of Miss Owoedes 2017 electricity bill receipts she presented to this newspaper showed that her bill varied from N6,378.75 in February to N13,854.65 in July. She paid N7144.22 in March. In April, the bill rose to N7654.54. In May it was N10716.30, while in June it was N8930.25.

The appliances in Miss Owoedes one-room apartment for which she was so billed consist of a 32-inch LG television, a 1.5 horsepower air-conditioner unit, a mini freezer and two ORL ceiling fans. She said her bills are much higher than those of some prepaid metered consumers she knows living in three-bedroom apartments with more electric appliances.

She said she had lodged several requests at the local AEDC office for functional prepaid meter but the company refused to address the requests.

AEDCs Head of Corporate Communications, Oyebode Fadipe, acknowledged to PREMIUM TIMES that consumers were complaining about the fluctuation of their electricity bills. But he said it was because people do not admit or realise that their consumption also often varies.

Nobody expects your consumption to be static. It is either you are using more or you are using less electricity in a month, he said. It natural for consumption to be fluctuating.

Mr. Fadipe said Discos would prefer to do away with estimated billing because they lose virtually 50 per cent of their generated revenue through estimated billing consumers.

I also understand what the customers are saying by estimated bill. I dont have a meter. I am constantly being estimated.

But the AEDC spokesperson insisted that the company was not exploiting consumers on estimated billing, the reason being that the transformer serving your area, we have meters there.

Unless you say that the power supply that goes to that place is static, and it is not static. Because, the more we receive, the more we also give to customers.

If we give, lets say section A hypothetically in August two megawatts or one megawatt, and by September there is more power available at the grid 

Naturally electricity is not water that you can store as it comes, we are using it as it is being generated. Now, thats the way electricity is. Nobody can store electricity and say for some time I will keep it.

They take the measurement of what they consume in an area. Once we have billed customers who have meters  one, post-paid meter and two, those who are on the prepaid platform  of course, the balance goes to those who dont have meters, Mr Fadipe said, explaining the billing methodology.

We must account for the energy that has gone into that environment. Because the transformer in that area is metered, so you know what energy has gone there.

He acknowledge that estimated billing is controversial.

The customer believes we are cheating him or her and we on our part think that we are under billing the customer. From our own records we see that we lose up to 50 per cent of our revenue through estimated billing, Mr. Fadipe stated.

METER IS FREE

AEDC disclosed that installation of prepaid meter is free to all consumers across its service area of Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger and Kogi states. But the company said it cannot meter all its customers at the same time due to logistics.

Many residents spoken to who secured prepaid meters said they paid for it.

Residents of Gold City Estate in Lugbe said they pay as high as N35, 000 to get their prepaid meters. But their neighbours in Trade Moore Estate of Lugbe said they were offered free, except that they were asked to pay as much as N30, 000 for installation.

A resident of G.R.A, Keffi who introduced himself as Engineer Zakari said he has been enjoying the prepaid meter since it was installed in his house last year. Mr. Zakari, however, told this newspaper that he paid N50,000 to AEDC for the meter.

Still, he thinks it is worth the investment.

It is far better than the estimated billing because I pay for what I consume, he said. But the estimated billing, they charge you sporadically. Sometimes they even charge you higher when you consume less.

A resident of Golden Spring Estate in Lokogoma Express Road in Abuja also said she was enjoying the new electricity billing system, describing her prepaid meter as a messiah.

The respondent who identified herself simply as Oluchi said: We paid N50, 000 through our estates management before we got the meter. But to me, this platform is way far better than the estimated billing. The estimated billing was like a death sentence.

DENIAL

AEDC said it does not have any issue with metering its maximum demand customers anymore. According to Mr. Fadipe, it is with the non-maximum demand customers, who are mostly residential customers, that the company has problems.

He insisted that the company had been distributing prepaid meters to eligible consumers without charges.

Prepaid meter is free. We are not installing meter for any customer at any extra cost to them. Once we finish the enumeration of an area, we go ahead to meter those customers. The only precondition is, when we enumerate the area, the house is fit, and it is safe to enjoy electricity.

Once we satisfy those two conditions, and there is availability, the customer is not paying any extra kobo. What I mean by availability is that power supply has gotten to that place. The customer is entitled to be metered.

I also admit very quickly that we are not metering all customers at the same time. Because it is outrightly impossible to do so, he said.

It appears that many electricity consumers especially in the satellite towns of Abuja will have to live with the agony of overbilling until AEDC finds their mostly densely-populated communities suitable for prepaid metering.
The Benue Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Joseph Utsev, has said that relief materials loaded in vehicles, which sparked protests in a Makurdi IDPs camp, were not diverted.

The materials were not being diverted as erroneously assumed by the IDPs; we were merely moving them from one camp to another, Mr. Utsev told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Makurdi.

The commissioner said that the clarification became necessary following reports alleging that camp officials had diverted relief materials.

What actually happened on that day was that we were taking some relief materials from International market camp, Makurdi to Agan camp.

When the IDPs noticed that, they insisted that the materials should not be taken anywhere. I addressed them and calmed the situation and, thereafter, called the Deputy Governor, who was the Chairman of the IDPs camps committee.

The Deputy Governor advised that the materials be returned for peace to reign. I promptly obeyed.

The drivers were then directed to return the materials to the warehouse. There was no diversion at all.

A report quoting me as expressing shock over the diversion was in error because I was part of those taking the relief materials to the Agan camp and could not have turned round to say I was shocked by a diversion that did not take place.

NAN, however, quotes Bonniface Ortese, Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, as saying that hoodlums had invaded the IDPs camps, prompting their closure two weeks ago.

Mr. Ortese, meanwhile, has been suspended from office. No reason was given for the suspension which was announced on Friday.

(NAN)
Andy Ehanire, the abducted brother of the Minister of State for Health, Osagie Ehanire, has regained freedom from the hands of his abductors.

The Edo police spokesperson, Moses Nkombe, who confirmed the release of Mr. Ehanire on Sunday, said the feat followed concerted efforts by police operatives.

Mr. Nkombe explained that constant change in locations delayed the quick release of Mr. Ehanire.

He explained that each time we have them on radar, they will change location but we were working on them and finally he was released yesterday (Saturday) at about 22:30hrs.

The spokesperson was however silent on whether any ransom was paid to the abductors before the release.

He also disclosed that the kidnapped musician, Osayomore Joseph, was yet to be released by his captors.

He explained that the command had deployed tactical teams with necessary technical strategies to ensure the release of the musician, stressing that the abductors had already established contact with the victims family.

Mr. Ehanire, the Chief Executive Officer of Ogba Zoo and Nature Park in Benin, was said to have been released at an undisclosed location in Warri, Delta State.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ehanire had since reunited with members of his family.

He was abducted on September 24 at his place of work, while the three police men who were there were shot dead.

(NAN)
The family of the controversial separatist leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has dismissed claims by the Abia Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi, that police recovered lethal weapons when they raided the familys compound at Afara Ukwu together with the Army on October 8.

Emmanuel Kanu, the familys spokesperson, told journalists via telephone that if any weapon was found within the premises, it must have been planted by security operatives.



He accused Mr. Ogbizi of fabricating the story to justify the illegal raid and also appear as though he was doing his job, The Nation newspaper reports

This new CP was the same man who came to our house two days after the September 14 invasion with two Hilux vans and his Prado SUV and pulled down the car porch and destroyed the vehicles parked outside.

This same CP hurriedly after the invasion on the October 8, issued a press release telling the whole world that they discovered bombs in my house. The army on the other hand, denied that there was no invasion and that they never went to my house, what a contradiction.

A house that there has not been any person inside except our guard who we asked to look after the house, all of a sudden they invaded the house and came back to say they found a dane gun, double barrel gun and petrol bomb. Who manufactured them? Who kept them there? That is the question to ask.

Mr. Kanu narrated how police officers arrived and searched the entire house and also took off the CCTV so as to concoct whatever that they would present to the public to label the family bad.

The policemen came to our house and ransacked the entire compound including my mum and my fathers rooms, removing my mums boxes, our TV and generator sets, bags of rice and many personal belongings without knowing that we had a CCTV recording their activities in the house. But when they got clue about the CCTV and in order to concoct whatever that they would present to the public to label our family bad, they came back and removed the CCTV from where they were hung.

I am telling the international community to prevail on this people. What the Police and other security agencies are doing in my house, my community, in my state and the entire Biafran Land is evil. It is clear that out of desperation, they are trying to cover their tracks and they have failed.

Mr. Kanu also spoke on the labelling of his brothers separatist organisation, IPOB, as a terrorist organisation by the Nigerian government. The tagging occurred after violence between members of the organisation and soldiers in September leading to death of a police officer and burning of a police station. Dozens of IPOB members are currently being prosecuted.

Nobody can tag IPOB a terrorist organisation, he said during the interview as published by The Nation newspaper.

We dont carry arms and arms never solved any dispute. They should engage IPOB leadership genuinely. We are not violent. We dont give life and we cant take one. They have rubbished the name of the country called Nigeria, thats why we are called Biafrans.

They invaded the house and took away the CCTV now they said that they discovered petrol bomb and the rest of it, when we had only one person in the house. How possible is that? Who planted them?

He accused the Abia State commissioner of police of witch-hunt.

if he was serving in his Cross River State, he wouldnt have raided the palace of the Obong of Calabar under any guise the way he raids my fathers palace and boasted he would raid it again, this can only happen in Igbo land.

Mr. Kanu also alleged that the former commissioner of police in Abia, Adeleye Oyebade, was removed was because he knew that IPOB has been non-violent in their activities and he stood on the side of truth and as such refused to be compromised.
The Civil Society Network Against Corruption has described as embarrassing the visit and honour of South Africas President Jacob Zuma by the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Lanre Suraj, CSNACs Chairman, said in a statement on Sunday the honour bestowed on Mr. Zuma would embolden the president to tell his people he is celebrated abroad.

Mr. Zuma, who is facing multiple accusations of corruption, fraud, and money laundering in his country, arrived Imo State on a two-day working visit on Friday.

The South African government said Mr. Zuma would be in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to strengthen socio-economic relations and further deepen existing cooperation in the field of education.

Those present at the Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, to welcome the South African president included Mr. Okorocha; former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; former Jigawa State governor, Saminu Turaki; and Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, among others.

Apart from allowing Mr. Zuma to address a group of selected secondary school students and other young people, Governor Rochas Okorocha directed a traditional ruler in Imo State to confer a chieftaincy title on him, Mr. Suraj said.

While in Owerri, Mr. Zuma bagged the chieftaincy title Ochiagha (Warlord) as well as had his statue unveiled in the state capital.

It is embarrassing that a state government controlled by the All Progressives Congress which is fighting corruption could play host to Mr. Zuma, allegedly a corrupt leader in the current assembly of heads of state in the African Union and portray him as a hero before a group of African youth, Mr. Suraj continued.

Is Governor Okorocha not aware that Mr. Zuma has been found guilty of corruption by the courts in South Africa and has been ordered to refund the $500,000 stolen from the public treasury to expand his private house to accommodate his many wives?

Is Governor Okorocha not aware that Mr. Zuma has also been indicted for allowing an Indian family to influence the appointment of his cabinet members?

In asking President Zuma to address officials of Imo State government, is Governor Okorocha not aware that the people of South Africa are currently demanding for the resignation of a leader who has brought shame and dishonour to the country of Nelson Mandela?

Last year, a South African Court ruled that Mr. Zuma violated the constitution by using public funds to upgrade his private residence, leading to the president apologizing to his countrymen.

Mr. Zuma has also battled allegations of infidelity and rape  he fathered a child with a woman who was not among his four wives and was acquitted of the rape charges.

On Friday, the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Mr. Zuma must face prosecution over almost 800 charges of corruption relating to an arms deal in the 1990s.

Though we recognize the federal governments position on not hosting President Zuma in Abuja as his visit would have questioned the anti-corruption policy of President Buhari, said Mr. Suraj.

All the same, the federal government should have called Governor Okorocha to order and advise him not to celebrate corruption. Since Governor Okorocha is part of the APC-led government with mantra of zero tolerance for corruption, he must tender a public apology to the people of Nigeria for promoting President Zuma who has been adjudged to be a corrupt leader by the South African judiciary.

We are not surprised that ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo was on hand to welcome and celebrate his friend, President Zuma. It is a case of show me your friend and Ill tell you who you are.
A statewide asbestos-disposal contractor has sued the state Department of Environmental Quality, claiming the agency is not fulfilling its obligation to make sure asbestos waste is being safely handled and properly disposed of in Montanas landfills.

In its petition to force DEQ to step up its enforcement action, Ingraham Environmental of Butte says that as a result of the agencys failure to manage asbestos waste  both at the level of inspection and at the entry to appropriate landfills, asbestos waste is regularly being dumped in open air in our landfills, endangering landfill workers, transporters, and anyone who breathes air in the area of these dumps.

The lawsuit, filed in District Court in Butte-Silver Bow County and assigned to Judge Brad Newman, is the culmination of years of frustration on the part of Ingraham and other industry professionals. They believe many uninspected commercial building demolitions endanger people both at the site of the demolition and again at landfills, when the materials often are dumped without being declared to contain asbestos.

Montanas laws are quite strict  even more stringent than federal regulations  regarding the disposal of asbestos, the deadly fibrous material that causes several varieties of lethal pulmonary disease, including mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lung with a near-100-percent fatality rate.

But the primary responsibility for compliance is placed on the building owner.

In its initial answer to the lawsuit, DEQ does not deny that the unregulated asbestos dumping described in the suit is occurring but says landfill operators and building owners are accountable.

DEQ says that what Ingraham seeks to force the agency to do  more aggressively enforce the law  is not legally required.

Ingraham fails to allege a clear legal duty that could support its petition to force the agency to do more, DEQs legal response states. The petition does not cite any provision of state law that places on DEQ an enforcement duty with such precision and certainty that DEQ has no discretion in the matter, the state argues.

Asked about DEQs claim that it is not legally required to enforce more aggressively, Ingrahams attorney, Cathy Tutty of Butte, had a simple rejoinder: If not them, then who?

In its response, DEQ pointed out that the sections of state law giving the agency authority over the handling of asbestos use the world may to describe the agencys enforcement powers.

By use of this permissive term may, these provisions do not mandate the performance of these enforcement activities by DEQ, the agencys response states.

To Ingraham and others in the field, thats not good enough.

We have the laws on the books, Doug Ingraham of Ingraham Environmental says. We think the rules protect us, but theres no enforcement.

In an affidavit in support of the suit, Ingraham asserted that the additional enforcement should not be a burden to the DEQ, nor should it be to landfill operators  because it is long-standing state and federal law, stipulated in their design and operation and maintenance plans for each landfill, and is a revenue stream that can offset additional costs.

Ingraham said that a few landfills in the state, most notably the one in Great Falls, have begun to realize that enforcing the laws means revenue. Landfills charge more for the disposal of asbestos-containing materials.

It is worth noting that regulatory compliance with asbestos regulations in the state of Montana ranges from 5-10 percent to a generous 25 percent by some state calculations, the Ingraham suit says. Montana DEQs Solid Waste Program is currently failing the state of Montana and violating the right each citizen has to expect clean air.

"DEQ has been working for the past several years with stakeholders in the asbestos industry to address complexities within the state and federal laws that govern asbestos regulation," DEQ public policy director Kristi Ponozzo said Friday. "Specifically, during 2016, the agency convened an asbestos advisory group to help map out recommendations and priorities to increase awareness and compliance."

Ponozzo said the agency does not know for certain where the numbers cited by Ingraham on compliance came from, although she added that the "5-to-10-percent compliance numbers were associated with a circa-2000 document that was not meant to be a definitive study on asbestos compliance."

Ponozzo added that "the relief requested (in the Ingraham petition), a writ of mandamus, is not appropriate for an action where DEQ does not owe the plaintiff a clear legal duty, but is acting within its discretion."

Ingrahams family has been in the asbestos abatement business since the 1980s. Doug Ingraham says that his father, Bruce, was trained by people in the industry who were great resources. Some of those trainers, he says, have since died of asbestos-related disease.

Indeed, asbestos already has taken a huge human and financial toll in Montana, primarily with the tragedy of the asbestos-tainted vermiculite mine in Libby, which has killed hundreds and sickened thousands more.

Ingraham says the loose-fill Zonolite insulation produced from asbestos-tainted vermiculite mined in Libby is in many of the structures that are demolished or remodeled in the state, presenting an enduring danger for construction, demolition, and landfill workers as well as anyone else in the vicinity when asbestos fibers are released into the air.

But he contends the problem starts with property owners who are trying to save time, money, and paperwork by not having their demolition projects inspected. DEQ, he says, should do more to police them as well as more to train landfill workers and change procedures at landfills to better control the waste stream.

Were not asking for new rules, Ingraham emphasized. Were not asking for a wild interpretation of the rules.

"Were just asking that DEQ assume responsibility.
For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME.

Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire.

Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III.





to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever.





Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation.





View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union.

Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history.

Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words.




MUNSTER, Germany, October 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Comprehensive cooperation in terms of technology development, localized production and commercialization

COMPO EXPERT GmbH (COMPO EXPERT), a leading manufacturer of specialty fertilizers for commercial use and portfolio company of the London-headquartered global private equity firm XIO Group, is entering a strategic partnership for the brands Blaukorn and NovaTec with Hubei Xinyangfeng Fertilizer Co., Ltd (Xinyangfeng), a leading fertilizer manufacturer in the People's Republic of China. In the future, the two companies will engage in close and comprehensive cooperation in technology development, localized production and joint commercialization of highly efficient, environmentally friendly fertilizers for the growing Chinese market.

Comprehensive cooperation in terms of technology development, localized production and commercialization for highly efficient and environmentally friendly fertilizers under the brands Blaukorn  and NovaTec 

and NovaTec Strengthening product series of nutrients for cash crops and high value crops that deliver considerable benefits for Chinese farmers

COMPO EXPERT with significantly extended access to growing Chinese market

Efficient local production with improved ecological footprint

COMPO EXPERT CEO Thomas H. Ahrens : "This strategic partnership is a key milestone in the consistent implementation of our global growth strategy."

: "This strategic partnership is a key milestone in the consistent implementation of our global growth strategy." Xinyangfeng President Bin Huang: "Xinyangfeng's decades of experience and our extensive distribution network in China are perfectly complemented by the great technology and production expertise of COMPO EXPERT."

Thomas H. Ahrens, the CEO of COMPO EXPERT said: "China is a key building block on our way to become the leading manufacturer of specialty fertilizer for commercial use worldwide. Xinyangfeng is an outstanding fit for us as a strategic partner and the partnership agreement we signed today is a key milestone in the consistent implementation of our global growth strategy. I am firmly convinced that our cooperation will be a success and will create value for both companies as well as Chinese agriculture as a whole."

Through the cooperation, Xinyangfeng will become COMPO EXPERT's exclusive partner for the brands Blaukorn and NovaTec in China. With its extensive nation-wide distribution network through 30 sales offices and approximately 4,100 wholesalers and 60,000 retailers, Xinyangfeng has a very strong position in the Chinese fertilizer market, which will benefit COMPO EXPERT. Both companies will offer a product series of nutrients for cash crops and high value crops that meet the rising expectations of Chinese farmers in terms of crop yields and sustainability. For that purpose, Xinyangfeng will establish a local manufacturing facility in Zhonglin in the Hubei province. The resulting short transport routes will ensure efficient and environmentally friendly production.

Bin Huang, the President of Xinyangfeng: "We are pleased with our strategic partnership with COMPO EXPERT. It combines two outstanding companies that are an excellent fit for one another. Xinyangfeng's decades of experience and our extensive distribution network in China are perfectly complemented by the great technology and production expertise of COMPO EXPERT. Together we are now well positioned to meet the growing demand of Chinese farmers for modern fertilizers."

COMPO EXPERT, Europe's leading manufacturer of special fertilizers, offers a broad portfolio of high-quality innovative fertilizers for commercial use. The strategic partnership is centered around two products: granular NPK branded as Blaukorn and stabilized, granular NPK under the NovaTec brand. The Chinese market offers great growth potential especially for high quality and environmentally friendly fertilizer products with high efficiency. While China accounts for about ten percent of the world's cropland, the fertilizers used there represent almost one third of global consumption.

Murphy Qiao, Partner and Head of Asia of the XIO Group, the London-headquartered owner of COMPO EXPERT: "Since the beginning of 2015 we have been supporting the management of COMPO EXPERT in the development and implementation of a value-generating global growth strategy. The company has expanded its leading position in Europe as well as in Latin and South America. The strategic partnership with Xinyangfeng is a win-win-cooperation for both companies. It provides COMPO EXPERT with extended access to the growth market of China, while Xinyangfeng will significantly expand its production know-how and product range."

Joseph Pacini, CEO and Partner of XIO Group added: "COMPO EXPERT's strategic partnership with Xinyangfeng exemplifies XIO Group's strategy to identify and invest in market-leading and high-performing businesses located across Europe and North America and to help these companies in capitalizing on untapped opportunities in fast growing markets, particularly those in Asia."

About COMPO EXPERT

COMPO EXPERT GmbH, with headquarters in Munster in the German region of Westphalia, is an international company with locations in Europe, North and South America, Asia and South Africa. The Company produces and sells special fertilizers and biostimulants for all areas of plant cultivation. COMPO EXPERT offers a broad range of high quality, innovative special fertilizers for commercial use. Its product range includes innovative slow-release fertilizers, special mineral fertilizers, coated fertilizers, nutrient salts, liquid fertilizers, trace nutrients and soil treatments. With those products, COMPO EXPERT is a market leader in Europe.

COMPO EXPERT was acquired in 2015 by XIO Group, a global alternative investments company, and now has approximately 600 employees. For more information, visit: http://www.compo-expert.com.

About XIO Group

XIO Group is a global alternative investments firm headquartered in London with more than $3.2 billion of committed capital that employs an international team of more than 70 professionals. Representing more than 15 nationalities among its employees and its network of advisors, the firm has operations in the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Hong Kong and mainland China. With a seasoned international investment team that includes professionals with experience working at many of the world's leading private equity firms, XIO Group seeks to deploy its capital for global transactions. XIO Group's strategy is to identify and invest in market-leading businesses located across North America and Europe and help these companies to capitalize on untapped opportunities in fast growing markets, particularly in Asia. XIO Group is led by its four founders: Athene Li, Joseph Pacini, Murphy Qiao and Carsten Geyer. For more information, visit: http://www.xiogroup.com.

About Xinyangfeng

Established in 1982, Hubei Xinyangfeng Fertilizer Co., Ltd. is headquartered in Jingmen, Hubei Province and Beijing, People's Republic of China. After more than three decades' development, the Company has an asset of 7 billion Chinese Yuan in fertilizer main business, and 7,000 employees in total. With a production capacity of 2.6 million tons phosphate compound fertilizer per year, the Company has developed into a large scale phosphate chemical company publicly listed in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (Stock Code: 000902) and a State-level high and new technology company, integrating the research, production and distribution of high density phosphate compound fertilizer and new-type fertilizers. During the "13th National Five-Year Plan" period, the Company will stick to the innovation-driven development concept and open synergy spirit, focus on two major business units of fertilizer and modern agriculture, further explore two types of key resources from technology and distribution channels, form four platforms of internationalization, industrial cooperation, finance and investment, as well as digitalization, so as to realize a strategic transformation and upgrade of the Company, becoming a leading modern agricultural solution provider. For more information, visit: http://www.xinyf.com.

Media Contact

FTI Consulting

Marietta Weiss

Tel.: +49(0)-699-2037-118

[email protected]

Steffi Susan Kim

Tel.: +49(0)-699-2037-115

[email protected]

SOURCE COMPO EXPERT GmbH
SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Massage Heights, a leader of professional, affordable and convenient therapeutic massage and facial services, announced today that it will expand its footprint to Indiana with a new Retreat opening in Indianapolis, within the Ironworks Hotel Indy, a 100,000-square-foot hotel that opened in September 2017 and includes 15,000-square-feet of retail space. Located at 2721 E 86th St, Suite 160, the Massage Heights Ironworks is owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Cristina and Matt Goebel. Through Nov. 26, the Retreat will offer a one-hour massage for the discounted price of $24.99 (a value of $99.99 for non-members) and a facial for the discounted rate of $34.99 (a value of $99.99 for non-members). Massage Heights Ironworks will host a grand opening celebration in late November.

Prior to becoming a franchisee with Massage Heights, Cristina was a professional cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts for four years while Matt currently serves as the chief information officer (CIO) for Massage Heights' corporate office. While accompanying her husband at a Massage Heights conference in San Antonio, Cristina visited a Retreat for the first time and loved the atmosphere and service. The visit inevitably motivated the entrepreneur to open a location in Indianapolis. Cristina has several years of experience as a recruiter at a financial planning company, which specialized in insurance and investments. Most recently, the husband-and-wife team launched an online wedding planning app business from the ground up. The Goebels are planning to open a second Massage Heights location in Carmel by the end of 2017 and a third by Summer 2018.

"After cheering for the Colts for four years, I suffered from a lot of back pain constantly. Matt suggested that I visit a Massage Heights location while we were in San Antonio and the experience was so positive that it made me realize I didn't want to go back to Indianapolis without a Massage Heights Retreat to go to," Cristina said. "After speaking with existing franchisees about their experience with the company, I learned about the strong business model and support that Massage Heights offers to their franchisees. My husband and I are extremely excited to bring locations of our own to our community."

On Saturday, Oct. 21, from 5-10:30 p.m., Indianapolis-area residents are encouraged to attend "Ironworks Social," a celebration kicking off the hotel's opening. Small plates from key restaurants at Ironworks at Keystone and Ironworks Hotel including Ruth's Chris, Sangiovese Ristorante, and Cunningham Restaurant Group's Provision and Rize will be available for purchase, as well as libations from Sun King Brewing and Fountain Square's Hotel Tango. Guests can also enjoy live music from Indianapolis favorite The Bishops and Wisconsin-based WiFEE and the HUZzBAND. Massage Heights Ironworks will be on site providing more information about the soon-to-open Retreat.

Massage Heights Ironworks will be open Monday  Friday from 9 a.m.  9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.  7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.  7 p.m. For more information, visit massageheights.com/locations/in/indianapolis-in/ironworks, or call (317) 559-5910.

About Massage Heights

Massage Heights is a family-owned, membership-based therapeutic services franchise company that provides Members and Guests convenient, professional, affordable resort-quality massage and facial services that help people achieve a balanced and healthy lifestyle, in an upscale Retreat environment. Regular massage and skin therapy services help people look and feel their best from the inside out by aiding in the reduction of stress, pain management and increased relaxation, all resulting in the ability to tackle daily life with a higher level of vitality and positivity, truly elevating the everyday.

About Ironworks Hotel Indy

Ironworks Hotel Indy is Indianapolis' first and only north side boutique hotel. The five-story original brick industrial building inspired by 19th century architecture features 120 guest rooms in addition to retail space, and provides a comfortable, eclectic first-class experience for both local guests and travelers.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Fish Consulting

Chelsea Bear

[email protected]

954-893-9150

SOURCE Massage Heights

Related Links

http://www.massageheights.com


HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Theodore A. Christopher, MD, FACEP, professor and chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, has been sworn in as the 168th president of the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED).

Swearing Dr. Christopher into office was David A. Talenti, MD, chairman of PAMED's Board of Trustees and a gastroenterologist in Sayre, Pa. More than 400 guests and dignitaries attended the ceremony, held in Hershey, Pa., on October 14.

A 15-year member of PAMED, he has served on its board of trustees since 2011.

Since becoming a physician, Dr. Christopher has been active in emergency medicine clinical practice, administration, education, and research. Under his leadership, Jefferson's Department of Emergency Medicine has treated millions of patients and has helped establish Thomas Jefferson University Hospital as one of Philadelphia's premier safety net hospitals.

He has volunteered extensively in his community and assumed leadership positions not only in his medical institution, but also within several medical organizations. In addition to his roll at PAMED, he is the past president of the Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians, receiving the Chapter's Meritorious Service Award, and the Philadelphia County Medical Society, serving as its liaison to the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (PHMC). He has also served as a Pennsylvania Delegate to the American Medical Association for many years.

A Summa Cum Laude graduate of Harvard University, Dr. Christopher attained his medical degree at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in 1981. He then completed residencies in internal medicine, at Brown University's Rhode Island Hospital (1984), and emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (1986). He is board-certified in both specialties.

Dr. Christopher has written or co-authored more than 80 peer reviewed articles and delivered more than 140 abstracts and research presentations, nationally and internationally, on a wide range of topics, including ischemic reperfusion injury, hospital patient access and flow, advocacy in medicine, and the future of emergency medicine and health care. Under his academic leadership, Jefferson's Department of Emergency Medicine is currently ranked seventh nationwide in specialty-specific NIH funding.

This fall, Dr. Christopher became the recipient of Thomas Jefferson University's first distinguished endowed Professorship in the Department of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Christopher resides outside of Philadelphia with his wife of 33 years, Claudia, a head trauma and spinal cord physical therapist. He has three daughters  Monica, a plastics and reconstructive surgery physician's assistant at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore; Adrienne, a general surgery resident at Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals in Philadelphia; and Vanessa, a fourth-year medical student at the Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia.

Based in Harrisburg, PAMED is an advocacy organization with nearly 19,000 members statewide. It's membership consists of physicians, medical students, and practice administrators, who work to address state health care issues.

www.pamedsoc.org

@PAMEDSociety

To learn more about the Pennsylvania Medical Society, visit www.pamedsoc.org. PAMED can also be followed on Twitter @PAMEDSociety. Dr. Cutler can be followed during his year as president on Twitter via @PAMEDPrez. Members of the media are encouraged to also follow Chuck Moran, PAMED Media Relations, via @ChuckMoran7.

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Medical Society

Related Links

http://www.pamedsoc.org


Working with the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), Plastics Make it Possible identified a dozen everyday heroes across the countryfirefighters, policemen, medical professionals, and other rescuersand tells their personal stories of harrowing experiences on the job. These often-unsung heroes rely on personal protective equipment (PPE) to help keep them safe, such as strong polycarbonate plastic helmets and goggles to help prevent head and eye injuries, and innovative neoprene plastic dry suits that help protect water rescuers from frigid temperatures and debris.

"For all the protective gear you wear, there's nothing that can prepare your nerves for the roaring intensity of a wildfire," says wildland firefighter Bailey McDade, a featured hero and one of many firefighters facing an especially turbulent 2017 season. "To keep me hereand the fires outwe rely on plastic protective equipment that's resistant to heat and flames, yet very lightweight. When I'm on the front lines fighting a fire, putting on my plastic face shroud feels like closing an oven door."

In addition to McDade, the online gallery and interactive exhibit include a search and rescue specialist who helps save victims in floods, a smokejumper who parachutes into remote locations to fight wildfires, and the nation's first female bomb technician who uses a plastic bomb detector with sensors to locate and disarm explosives, sometimes in the midst of sandstorms. These three heroes are highlighted in a short video that airs in the pop-up exhibit, as well as online at www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/heroes.

"Plastics makers are proud to have a role in protecting the brave Americans who protect us all," said Steve Russell, vice president of plastics at the American Chemistry Council, which sponsors Plastics Make it Possible. "High-performance plastics provide the critical combination of strength, durability, and mobility that protect the heroes who protect us."

Widespread use of PPE can help reduce risk of injury in dangerous occupations. "According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 4,000 workers are killed on the job in a given year. When used correctly, PPE can help bring those numbers down," says ISEA President Charles Johnson. "May we be ever diligent to put protection into every practice of our lives and be thankful for the technology and the innovations that allow our heroes to do their jobs."

The "Protecting Our Heroes" online gallery can be found at www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com/heroes. The pop-up exhibit is free of charge and open to the public at Copley Place in Boston from October 1315, followed by an exhibit at Greystone in Piedmont Park in Atlanta from October 2022. Additional exhibit sites will be announced in the future.

Plastics Make it Possible highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems, and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by America's Plastics Makers through the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council.

About ACC

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care; common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues; and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $768 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is among the largest exporters in the nation, accounting for fourteen percent of all U.S. goods exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

About ISEA

International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) is the association for personal protective equipment and technologiesequipment and systems that enable people to work in hazardous environments. For more than 75 years, ISEA has set the standard for personal protective technologies. The association's members are leaders in safety equipment manufacturing, testing and application, and are united in the goal of protecting the health and safety of people worldwide. ISEA's members routinely create new safety equipment solutions, including custom configurations, using modern technology for a wide array of workplace hazards. Our goal is the proper use and selection of safety equipment to eliminate workplace injuries and fatalities.

Contact: Jennifer Killinger (202) 249-2219

[email protected]

SOURCE Plastics Make it Possible

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Interact with Newgen experts at booth #833 to learn industry trends, best practices, and innovative concepts on banking and financial services. Bankers can have exclusive one-on-one sessions on Newgen's wide range of products which are built on a core Business Process Management framework that provides organizations with the competitive edge for improving efficiency, enhancing productivity and creating higher business volumes.

Speaking on the participation, Mr. Anand Raman, Vice President-Sales and Marketing, Newgen Software Inc., said, "The convention will help us understand the dynamics as well as the challenges of the current financial industry. Newgen banking solutions built on BPM framework offers a smooth banking experience, is easy to develop and deploy and is fully compliant with the regulatory system, so that you never miss a beat when it comes to enhanced customer engagement."

"We are looking forward to meeting and networking with leaders and showcase solutions that will help them decode various aspects of easy banking and enhanced delivery of services in today's connected world," he added.

Newgen's banking solutions cater to multiple lines of businesses including commercial and retail lending, commercial and institutional loan (C&I), commercial real estate loan (CRE), small business administration (SBA) loan, online account opening and Trade Finance. The simple framework makes these solutions flexible for on premise and cloud-based implementation and adaptable and scalable as per future industry requirements.

Newgen's Commercial lending solution combines its rich domain expertise with industry best practices that is required in a robust commercial lending solution. It automates and streamlines end-to-end lending cycle from prospecting, credit origination, underwriting, approvals, disbursement and servicing in a paperless and digital-enabled workflow environment. The platform is available both as on-premise and cloud-based delivery models.

About Newgen Software Inc.

Newgen Software Inc. is a global provider in banking process automation with more than 200 leading banks and financial services institutions as its clients. Newgen's banking process management framework automates critical business processes for banking institutions across commercial lending, consumer lending, customer on-boarding, online account opening, trade finance, digital and mobile customer experience strategy. Newgen offers flexible on-premise and cloud-based solutions to its banking customers. For more information, please visit http://www.newgensoft.com.



Media Contacts

Asif Khan

[email protected]



SOURCE Newgen Software Inc.
PETERSFIELD, England, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

With less than 7 months until the new EU legislation, GDPR, comes into force, many businesses are still unsure about what they need know and how they need to prepare. To help small businesses understand the implications of the changes, Really Simple Systems will be running regular, live webinars examining the key points and how to become compliant.

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Presented by Really Simple Systems' CEO, John Paterson, the first webinar is scheduled for Thursday 19th October and will be repeated in November. Titled "Understanding the Implications of GDPR for your Business" it will explain the new regulations, why it has been introduced and how the legislation will affect businesses, both in the EU and elsewhere in the world. The webinar will also include practical tips on how small business owners can prepare for the change and be compliant.

Paterson explains "This is the biggest marketing and compliance challenge businesses have faced for some time yet there is a lot of uncertainty around what exactly GDPR entails. One major area of confusion is how GDPR interplays with the forthcoming changes to the Privacy in Electronic Communications (PECR) legislation, and whether B2B marketing will be treated as different from B2C."

GDPR Compliance

Having already announced that Really Simple Systems CRM is GDPR compliant well in advance of the deadline of 25th May 2018, Paterson is keen to provide support for the company's customer base and other SMEs. He comments, "ensuring your customer data is held by a GDPR compliant data processor is one of the first steps businesses need to take. As well as checking your CRM is compliant, you need to look at any other systems you use, for example your accounting system and HR system. Make sure they only hold data in the EC and are, or will be, GDPR compliant."

Paterson continues "if you are running email marketing campaigns you'll need to start capturing explicit consents from your new enquiries and from current contacts. Pre-ticked acceptance boxes will no longer be valid and consent will need to be gained from a dedicated checkbox, or by clicking a dedicated link from an email. Check your email marketing system is able to comply and that it records how and when consent was given."

Over the coming months Really Simple Systems will run further webinars examining the legislation in more detail and covering any developments.

What is GDPR?

The GDPR is an EC regulation designed to protect the privacy of EC citizens, ensure their data is not exported out of the EC to countries that do not have adequate privacy laws, and makes sure that citizens have control over how their data is used.

https://www.reallysimplesystems.com/press-releases/gdpr-training-webinar/

About Really Simple Systems

Established in 2006, Really Simple Systems provides cloud-based CRM systems for small and mid-sized businesses operating B2B. Based in the UK, the company's philosophy is based on taking complex applications then making them easy and affordable.

With over 18,000 customers Really Simple Systems is one of the world's largest providers of Cloud CRM systems. Customers range from single users to 100 user systems and include the Red Cross, the Royal Academy of Arts and IBM, as well as thousands of small and medium sized companies.

Contact

Helen Armour

Marketing Manager

Really Simple Systems

+44-(0)-1730-823300

[email protected]



SOURCE Really Simple Systems
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Oct. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, the leading biotechnology incubator at the University of Florida, reports that resident company MLM Biologics Inc., a medical device start-up company focused on advanced wound care and musculoskeletal innovation, has responded with humanitarian help for needy patients in Puerto Rico following the Hurricane Maria devastation to the island.

Chandra Nataraj, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, MLM Biologics, said, "When we saw the crisis unfolding in Puerto Rico after the hurricane's destruction, we wanted to help as an organization. Our mission is to help patients worldwide and it's an emergency situation there so we mobilized to get wound care supplies to them."

Coordinating their efforts with MMM Healthcare, the first Medicare Advantage health plan provider in Puerto Rico, MLM Biologics participated in the airlift of medical supplies for the Puerto Rican elderly and special needs population. ReliOx Corporation, another Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute resident company, also participated in the relief efforts.

MLM Biologics' health care network solutions partner, Trinity-Pharmaco Solutions, helped facilitate the handover of the first shipment of wound care and anti-microbial supplies, valued at more than $75,000. The supplies arrived in Puerto Rico Oct. 1st.

Merrie Shaw, Assistant Director of the Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, said, "MLM Biologics' patient welfare efforts are another wonderful example of how our resident companies continue to feed, fuel and heal the world."

About MLM Biologics Inc.

MLM Biologics is a medical device startup company focused on the advanced wound care and musculoskeletal markets. A resident company of the Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, the company is currently commercializing its advanced wound care product, the bio-ConneKt Wound Matrix. This FDA-cleared all-biologic device is clinically- and cost-effective, and designed to serve the needs of patients and doctors worldwide. For more information visit MLM Biologics.

About Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute at the University of Florida

The Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute is the leading biotechnology incubator headquartered at the University of Florida in Alachua, Florida at Progress Park. The Institute has been honored with national and international awards for incubator excellence and achievements in technology commercialization, funding access, job creation and technology-based economic development. It is dedicated to mentoring and accelerating the growth of innovative early-stage bioscience and biotechnology companies, and supporting the economic growth of the North Central Florida region. For more information, visit SidMartinBio.com.

Contacts:

Chandra Nataraj, Ph.D., CEO, MLM Biologics Inc., 1-844-465-6246, [email protected], www.mlmbiologics.com

Merrie Shaw, Assistant Director, Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute, 386-462-0880, [email protected], www.sidmartinbio.com

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Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute - University of Florida

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MLM Biologics Inc.

SOURCE Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute

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After an expensive wildfire season and lower than expected revenues, Montanas leadership is faced with hard choices on how to keep our state operating. After learning that the state's ending fund balance for FY19 would be low enough to trigger further budget reductions, state leaders now have two choices: accept nearly 10% cuts to every state agency, or have a special session and attempt to pass revenue-generating legislation to defray some of the cuts.

For the Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), these cuts, on top of the 2017 Legislative Session cuts, would be crippling. One of the proposals is to close 19 Offices of Public Assistance (OPA), more than half of our states 37 offices. OPAs serve as important community resources, providing in-person assistance for families and individuals applying for SNAP (formerly food stamps), TANF, or Medicaid.

The 19 offices affected all serve rural Montana where services are already scarce: Big Timber, Chinook, Choteau, Columbus, Conrad, Cut Bank, Deer Lodge, Dillon, Forsyth, Fort Benton, Glendive, Livingston, Malta, Plentywood, Red Lodge, Roundup, Shelby, Sidney, and Thompson Falls. Despite being rural communities, these offices serve a significant number of Montanans with nearly 19,500 SNAP participants in these counties alone.

We are gravely concerned by the proposed office closures, as this cut would drastically reduce SNAP access in our rural counties. Residents will lose the ability to apply in person or have direct contact with a caseworker. It would also overburden our remaining offices, where caseworkers already struggle to keep up with caseloads.

The option for in-person assistance is especially important in rural Montana and cannot be undervalued for our seniors, those without a computer or internet access, or for anyone who wants the option to go to a local office. For example, a senior living in Crane, Montana who wanted to go into an office to apply for SNAP would need to go 102 miles to Wolf Point or 115 miles to Miles City to visit an OPA, as the local Sidney office would be closing.

Montana has taken steps to reduce the need to visit local offices in recent years, yet they remain a critical access point. The state offers a Public Assistance Helpline where residents can call for information or receive help applying for programs. However, the assistance line is already overwhelmed, which often means long and frustrating wait times. Montana does offer an online application for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid, which is an important resource for many families, but is not always practical for those without a computer or limited internet access or who are uncomfortable on the computer.

Here at the Montana Food Bank Network, we offer an additional SNAP assistance line, helping determine eligibility and offering application assistance by phone. However, this line is staffed by just one outreach worker who is able to help people apply but cannot fulfill the many other responsibilities of an OPA caseworker.

The services that our Offices of Public Assistance administer are invaluable to Montana seniors, low-income residents, and rural communities. Closing 19 of our states OPAs would severely affect the ability of rural Montanans to receive critical food, medical, and other assistance. DPPHS cannot withstand such drastic cuts and still meet the daily needs of ordinary Montanans. We urge Governor Bullock and the Legislature to come together in a special session, and work to find a balanced solution that does not leave rural Montana bearing the brunt of this budget crisis.

-- Oscar Pena, Missoula, public policy coordinator, Montana Food Bank Network
NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Global Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas Market: Overview



This report analyzes and forecasts the market for Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas market at the global and regional level. The market has been forecast based on revenue (US$ Mn) from 2017 to 2025. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas market.







Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05142599







It also covers the impact of these drivers and restraints on demand for underwater monitoring systems during the forecast period. The report also highlights opportunities in the Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas market at the global and the regional level.



The report comprises of the detailed value chain analysis, which provides a comprehensive view of the Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas market. Report also includes Porter's Five Forces model for the market to help and understand the competitive landscape in the market. The study encompasses market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.



The report provides the estimated market size of underwater monitoring system for oil and gas for 2016 and forecast for the next eight years. The global market size of underwater monitoring has been provided in terms of revenue.



Market numbers have been estimated based on Subsea Sensor, Monitoring System, and Communication method segments of underwater monitoring market. Market size and forecast for each of major Subsea Sensor, Monitoring System, and Communication method have been provided in terms of global and regional markets.



Global Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas Market: Research Principles

In order to compile the research report, we conducted in-depth interviews and discussions with a number of key industry participants and opinion leaders. Primary research represents the bulk of research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. We reviewed key players' product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents for competitive analysis and market understanding.



Secondary research also includes a search of recent trade, technical writing, internet sources, and statistical data from government websites, trade associations, and agencies. This has proven to be the most reliable, effective, and successful approach for obtaining precise market data, capturing industry participants' insights, and recognizing business opportunities.



Secondary research sources that are typically referred to include, but are not limited to company websites, annual reports, financial reports, broker reports, investor presentations, and SEC filings, internal and external proprietary databases, and relevant patent and regulatory databases, national government documents, statistical databases, and market reports, news articles, press releases, webcasts specific to companies operating in the market. Oil and Gas journal, International Trade Administration, wireless sensors market with Communication method in Oil and Gas Primary research involves e-mail interactions, telephonic interviews, and face-to-face interviews for each market, Subsea Sensor, segment, and sub-segment across geographies.



We conduct primary interviews on an ongoing basis with industry participants and commentators in order to validate the data and analysis. Primary interviews provide firsthand information on market size, market trends, growth trends, competitive landscape, and outlook, etc.



These help validate and strengthen secondary research findings. These also help develop the analysis team's expertise and market understanding.



Global Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas Market: Segmentations

The study provides a decisive view of the global Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas market by segmenting it in terms of Subsea Sensor, Monitoring System, and Communication method. These segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends.



Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for the underwater oil and gas monitoring systems market in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for subsea sensor, monitoring system, and communication methods segments in all the regions.



Global Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas Market: Competitive Landscape

The study includes profiles of major companies operating in the underwater monitoring system market. Key players of the market include KCF technologies, BMT group, Fugro, Schlumberger-one Subsea, Sonardyne,Konsberg maritime, Bowtech products, and ocean sonics. Market players have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, overall revenue, business strategies, recent developments, and SWOT analysis.



The report segments the global Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas market as follows:



Underwater Monitoring System for oil and gas Market: Subsea Sensor Analysis

Pressure Sensors

Temperature Sensors

Proximity Sensors

Inclinometers

Rotation Sensors

Load Sensors for Tension and

Compression

Linear Displacement Gauges

Flexible pipe systems

Riser Technology

Pipeline type



Underwater Monitoring System for oil and gas Market: Monitoring Systems Analysis

Acoustic Sensor Market

Acoustic underwater Vehicle

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

Sonobuoys

Hydrophones

Cable Hydrophones

Autonomous Hydrophones

Others

Wireless Sensors networks

3G/GPRS Communication Module

RTU

SCADA

Satellite Radio Navigation



Underwater Monitoring System for oil and gas Market: Communication Method Analysis

FDMA (Frequency Division Multiple Access)

TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)

CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)

SDMA (Space Division Multiple Access)



Underwater Monitoring System for Oil and Gas Market: Regional Analysis

North America

U.S.

Canada

Europe

U.K.

Germany

France

Spain

Rest of Europe

Asia Pacific

China

Japan

India

ASEAN

Rest of Asia Pacific

Latin America

Brazil

Mexico

Rest of Latin America

Middle East & Africa (MEA)

GCC

South Africa

Rest of MEA



Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05142599



About Reportlinker

ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.



https://www.reportlinker.com





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DALLAS, Oct. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The blockchain will release on Oct. 19, 2017, one of the first investment-grade ITOs (Initial Token Offering) since the meteoric rise of the 'bitcoin' over the past month. Genesis Research & Technology Group will unveil the 'Water Token' to a worldwide audience that will merge green technology and the blockchain. MVP Asia Pacific CEO Darren McVean says, "The validity of the exchange coupled with IoT is truly a building block in green technology. Water is the next 'gold' and Genesis RT&G has solved the issue chemical-free." Venture capitalists have approached Genesis Research & Technology Group for months but the company realized that the blockchain was the only sound format for extended worldwide growth. "The fact that validity is involved in the cryptocurrency and blockchain made our move an easy one to share our technology with the rest of the world," remarks Ron Price, CEO of Genesis Research & Technology Group.

Water is used in the oil and gas industry at an alarming rate. Up to ten barrels of water are needed to produce one barrel of oil. "Let's break that into layman's terms; there are up to 420 gallons of water needed to clean one barrel of oil," says William Hood, Chief Marketing Officer of Genesis Research and Technology Group. At the present time in the oil industry, toxic water is transported and dumped, after just one use, into a disposal well never to be used again. The strain on our global green footprint is enormous under the present conditions. Genesis Research & Technology Group has tested, proven, and is using in real-time a custom, mobile, and if needed, solar-powered technology solution to clean the water from oil production so that it can be reused multiple times. Michael Lagow of Genesis Research & Technology Group states, "Dirty toxic fracking water can be cleaned up to 2000 barrels per hour, or scaled to a company's needs at 20,000 barrels per hour." The technology is patented and is being used in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Mexico currently and the results are chemical-free cleaning of water at a fraction of the cost.

The eco-friendly benefits are impressive, but when we dive deeper, there is also impact to the highway infrastructure and wildlife. The fact that the systems are portable takes the human error out of moving the water and cleans it directly on the spot. The expense of transporting toxic water throughout our cities and wildlife habitats puts unnecessary wear and tear on our nation's highways and removing that from the equation equals less impact on the tax-paying citizen. The Genesis R&TG's custom, green technology is not only good for oil and gas; but, most importantly the environment, humanity, and the Earth all benefit from this green technology.

About Genesis Research and Technology Group: Genesis Research and Technology Group is a U.S.-based company that has developed a patented, state-of-the-art technology that provides clean reusable water for the world's population. The Company exploits its CHEMICAL-FREE technology as its efforts are being recognized by several leading government agencies developing and implementing Green technologies to protect and preserve our Earth's resources.

Genesis Research and Technology Group provides custom-built state-of-the-art water treatment technologies for all types of water. Years of research and development go into perfecting this technology that allows Genesis to offer its clients a sole source, reusable water filtering and cleansing technology that is totally chemical-free.

For more information: watertoken.io/genesis

Media Contact:

Patricia Almand

Phone: 855-8100UMG

Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Genesis Research & Technology Group
Former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson takes on workplace sexual harassment in her new book, Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back. According to the book, 70% of women who experience sexual harassment at their jobs don't report it. Carlson, whose allegations of sexual harassment against former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes ultimately led to his resignation, hopes to change this dire fact by empowering women to fight back.

In the book, you present a collection of stories from women who have been harassed in careers across industries and income levels. How did you decide which stories to include?

When I came forward, women started to email me to tell me their stories. The one message I got from all of them was that I became a voice for the voiceless on this issue. I tried to show the pervasiveness of sexual harassment in all industries. It was eye-opening to find it in every profession, advertising, politics, media, teachers, and flight attendants. It is everywhere.

Attorney Lisa Bloom told you, "Of all the women I know who have publicly complained, not one is working in her chosen career today." Was that a surprise?

That was one of the most real and shattering things I learned. In many cases, these women left their jobs and their chosen careers after coming forward. That is a crime. Think about all of the years that people have put into a profession, and they can't work there anymore because some random jerk took it away from them. A woman complains about a real issue, and suddenly she is the problem. What does that say about our culture? Why do we automatically turn on women?

Your book urges women to be fierce and to fight. What do you tell young people?

I am doing a college campus tour for the book because it is crucial to speak to women when they are young and just starting out. My goal is to let them know what to expect in the workplace and to empower them to be strong. You have to get the boys and men, too. I want to teach our boys to respect women at an early point as well.

You spent more than a decade at Fox, known for its conservative politics, yet this book is very progressive in many ways. How do you reconcile this?

I'm an independent. I have always been an advocate for women's rights. I don't look at sexual harassment politically. When a predator decides to sexually harass someone, they don't ask if they are a Democrat or a Republican. It could be a Republican's granddaughter or a Democrat's daughter being harassed. I am working on a bipartisan effort on Capitol Hill to fight sexual harassment. If we continue to keep sexual harassment as a taboo topic, we will never have change.
Body cameras for the Mooresville Police Department have arrived. Find out when they will be used.
Afghan authorities say they have foiled a potentially deadly blast in the capital, Kabul, after seizing a truck loaded with explosives.

The Interior Ministry said on October 15 that police officers shot and wounded the driver of the vehicle after he failed to stop at a security checkpoint.

"The driver was wounded and the truck stopped" in the incident late on October 14, a statement said.

Mohamed Salem Almas, the head of criminal investigations in the Kabul police, said that the truck was carrying more than 2,700 kilograms of explosives.

Almas added that the Haqqani network, a group that has ties to the Afghan Taliban, was behind the attack, which he said was to be carried out in a crowded part of the city.

Security has been ramped up in Kabul since a massive truck bomb ripped through the city's diplomatic quarter on May 31, killing about 150 people and wounding hundreds of others, mostly civilians.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack -- the deadliest in the city since 2001  but the government blamed the Haqqani network for the bombing. Western officials said it was caused by more than 1,500 kilograms of explosives packed in a truck.

Despite the enhanced security measures, militants have continued to carry out deadly attacks in the capital.

On September 29, suicide attackers detonated a bomb near a large Shiite mosque in Kabul, killing at least six people as worshippers prepared to commemorate Ashura, the holiest celebration in the Shiite religious calendar. The extremist group Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Western-backed government in Kabul is struggling to beat back insurgents in the wake of the exit of most NATO forces in 2014.

The administration of President Donald Trump has recently unveiled a strategy to try to defeat the militants, and officials said more than 3,000 additional U.S. troops are being sent to the country to reinforce the 11,000 U.S. troops already stationed there.

With reporting by AP and AFP


An American-Canadian couple freed in Pakistan this week after almost five years in captivity has returned home. Speaking at an airport in Toronto on October 13, Joshua Boyle said his American wife, Caitlan Coleman, had been raped and one of their children murdered by kidnappers from the Taliban-linked Haqqani network. The couple was taken hostage while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. They arrived in Canada with three of their children. (Reuters)
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has told world leaders that the time to end Russia's war in Ukraine is "now" and called for the extension of a grain-export deal due to expire shortly, as heavy fighting continues in the eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

"I am convinced that now is the time when the Russian destructive war must and can be stopped," Zelenskiy said in a video address to the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali, Indonesia, on November 15.

"It will save thousands of lives," he said.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.

But Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the highest-ranking Russian official present at the G20 summit, said Kyiv's conditions for restarting talks with Moscow were "unrealistic."

"All problems are with the Ukrainian side, which is categorically refusing negotiations and putting forward conditions that are obviously unrealistic," Lavrov told reporters on November 15.

Lavrov also accused Western countries of trying to "politicize" a joint declaration at the summit.

A draft declaration by G20 leaders seen by Reuters said "most" members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine.

"Yes, our Western colleagues tried in every way to make that declaration politicized and tried to push through language that implied condemning the actions of the Russian Federation on behalf of the entire G20, which includes us," Lavrov said.

"But let's do this in a fair way and let's make it clear that, on this topic, we have differences," Lavrov said.

In his video address, Zelenskiy ruled out a "Minsk 3 agreement," a reference to two failed cease-fire deals between Kyiv and Moscow in 2014 and 2015 over the status of the eastern Donbas region.

"We will not allow Russia to wait, build up its forces, and then start a new series of terror and global destabilization. There will be no Minsk 3, which Russia will violate immediately after the agreement," Zelenskiy said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shortly afterward said Zelenskiy's comments confirmed that Kyiv is not interested in holding peace talks with Moscow.

Zelenskiy urged Moscow to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine and reaffirm Ukraine's territorial integrity, warning that Kyiv would not compromise its sovereignty, territory, or independence. He also called for all Ukrainian prisoners to be released.

Zelenskiy outlined several approaches to achieve peace, including ensuring nuclear and food safety, the ending of hostilities, and a prevention of escalation.

He blasted "the crazy threats of nuclear weapons that Russian officials resort to," referring to rhetoric employed repeatedly by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Zelenskiy thanked the "G19," pointedly excluding Russia, for making clear that "there cannot be any excuses for nuclear blackmail."

Putin has shunned the gathering and sent Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Bali in his place.



A deal struck in July between the United Nations and Russia that allows the export of Ukrainian grains and other food products from ports blocked by Russian warships is due to expire on November 19.

Zelenskiy said the deal, which according to the UN has allowed the export of 10 million tons of grain and other food, should be extended indefinitely.

"I believe our export grain initiative deserves an indefinite extension -- no matter when the war ends," Zelensky said.

"The right to food is a fundamental right of every person in the world," he said, proposing to expand the deal to more Ukrainian ports.



Zelenskiy accused Moscow of an "attempt to turn the cold into a weapon" by launching waves of air strikes against key infrastructure ahead of the coming winter.

He also spoke in favor of a U.S.-led push for a price cap on Russian oil exports "so that energy resources are no longer used as weapons."



The Ukrainian military reported early on November 15 that its forces repelled waves of Russian attacks on positions in the Donetsk region, including Bakhmut and Belohoryivka, and on Novoselivske in Luhansk.

According to Ukraine's General Staff, the Russian military is accommodating recently arrived reinforcements in abandoned private houses in Luhansk.

The General Staff had previously said that in Luhansk, occupying Russian forces plan to carry out a complete evacuation of the civilian population from three settlements.

The Russian Army is also trying to hold captured territories and continues to equip defensive lines on the left bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, the military said.

In the parts of Kherson region recaptured by the Ukrainian Army over the past week, Russia has destroyed "all critical infrastructure," Zelenskiy said in his regular nightly address on November 14.

Zelenskiy said there is no electricity, no communication, and no television in Kherson, saying the withdrawing Russian troops destroyed everything intentionally.

Earlier on November 14, Ukrainian national energy company Ukrenerho said Russia had destroyed key energy infrastructure supplying the entire right bank of the Kherson region and a significant part of the Mykolayiv region.

"Most of the liberated Kherson region has been without electricity since November 6," Ukrenerho chief Volodymyr Kudrytskiy said. "We are doing our best to supply people with electricity as soon as possible."



Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valeriy Zaluzhniy said he spoke with U.S. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on November 14 and told him that the Ukrainian military will not accept any negotiations, agreements, or compromise decisions regarding the end of the war.

"I assured that we will fight as long as we have the strength. Our goal is to liberate all Ukrainian land from Russian occupation," Zaluzhniy said on Facebook. "There is only one condition for the negotiations: Russia must leave all captured territories."

With reporting by Reuters, AP, AFP, and BBC
Iranian women's rights campaigner Negin Shiraghaei has called on fans attending World Cup soccer games to chant the name of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old who died in September while in police custody over how she was wearing a head scarf.

"In memory of Mahsa, we will turn football matches into a stage of revolutionary attendance. In the 22nd minute of each match we will shout her name," Shiraghaei, an Iranian activist, entrepreneur, and a former news presenter and journalist for the BBC World Service, said in a tweet posted on November 10.

The World Cup, which is being hosted by the Middle Eastern country of Qatar, starts in 10 days and runs until December 18. Iran is one of the 32 nations participating in the tournament, and is in a group with the United States, Wales, and England in the opening stage.

Early on November 11, Sepp Blatter, the former head of world soccer's governing body, FIFA, was quoted by the Blick tabloid as saying that Iran should be excluded from the tournament and would have been if he was still in charge of the organization.

While officials say Amini died of natural causes on September 16, eyewitnesses and her family say she was beaten while in the custody of the morality police in Tehran after being detained for allegedly wearing a hijab improperly.

Amini's death has laid bare anger in Iran over the lack of women's rights and curbs on freedoms in general.

Since her death in September, Iranians have flooded streets across the country in protest, with women and even schoolgirls making unprecedented shows of support in the biggest threat to the Islamic government since the 1979 revolution.

The government has blamed Western governments for the unrest and has responded to the protests with a bloody crackdown that human rights groups say has left more than 300 dead and hundreds more injured.

Thousands of protesters have been arrested and officials have called for harsh penalties -- including the death sentence -- for offenders.

But the threats have failed to slow the broadening of the demonstrations and many athletes and celebrities have been at the forefront of voicing their anger over the government's actions.

The latest appears to be archer Parmida Ghasemi, who is seen in a video trending on social media where she receives a medal after a competition without a head scarf on. The video could not be independently verified.

Last month, climbing champion Elnaz Rekabi sparked a controversy by competing in the Asian Championships in Seoul without a head scarf.

Amid reports that she had gone missing, Rekabi surfaced to say she had "inadvertently" competed without a hijab and that it was unintentional. Still, Rekabi's supporters have expressed concerns about her safety after her return to Iran following the competition.
Don't cut services vital to Montana citizens

My name is Jane Shawn. I am an elementary school teacher in the Helena School District. Every day, I work with students and families in need of support services; services provided through the school district and the state.

Through Medicaid and Special Education funds, educators are able to provide the highest level of services to the most needy of students. With cuts to the school budget, Special Education will lose resources and our children will suffer those consequences. Our Functional Life Skills program serves our most medically fragile students: a deaf and blind child receives interpretative services; a nonverbal child is taught to sign; a wheelchair-bound child receives physical and occupational therapy, assisted by Medicaid. The proposed cuts to programs will harm children most in need of these services.

Our legislators must support public employees and public school teachers. I believe our legislators should support programs that help Montana families live productive lives. I believe that the Legislature should consider raising revenues  we cannot just cut our way to prosperity. The State of Montana should not be balancing the budget on the backs of state employees and by cutting services vital to our citizens.

-- Jane Shawn, Helena
U.S. officials urged Iraqi and Kurdish forces to avoid additional escalatory actions following reports of artillery clashes after Iraqi government troops moved in a "major operation" against Kurdish positions near the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

The Pentagon late on October 15 said that all actors in the region should focus on the common threat of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group and avoid raising tensions among the people of Iraq.

The U.S. military added that it continues to support a unified Iraq and that dialogue is the best option to defuse tensions between the federal government in Baghdad and leaders of the Kurdish autonomous region in northern Iraq.

"We oppose violence from any party and urge against destabilizing actions that distract from the fight against [Islamic State] and further undermine Iraq's stability," Pentagon spokeswoman Laura Seal said.

The U.S. comments follow an unconfirmed report by the AFP news agency that Iraqi and Kurdish forces exchanged artillery fire south of the city of Kirkuk, which is claimed by both Baghdad and Kurdish leaders. Kurdish news portal Rudaw also reported clashes.

The U.S. State Department later said it was very concerned about the reports of a confrontation and that it was engaged with all parties.

The reports of possible clashes between the two U.S. allies come three weeks after Kurdish officials held an independence referendum in their autonomous region and surrounding areas -- a vote blasted by Baghdad as illegal.

Kurdish officials said residents voted overwhelming for independence, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces have looked to solidify their positions outside official Kurdish territory, including in and around the oil-rich city and province of Kirkuk.

The United States, other Western powers, and the United Nations opposed the referendum, saying it would lead to instability and hamper the fight against Islamic State (IS) militants.

Turkey and Iran, which have significant Kurdish minority populations, also opposed the referendum.

Iraqi and Kurdish officials reported just after midnight on October 16 that Iraqi forces had begun moving toward oil fields and an air base held by Peshmerga fighters around Kirkuk.

Iraqi Army Lieutenant Colonel Salah el-Kinani told the Reuters news agency that the military's objective was to take control of the K1 air base, west of Kirkuk.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi gave orders to security forces "to impose security in Kirkuk in cooperation with the population and the Peshmerga."

Iraqi state Al-Iraqiya TV subsequently reported that Iraqi government troops, antiterrorist units, and federal police had taken control of

vast areas around Kirkuk, although it reported no shots had been fired.

A local Kurdish police commander said early on October 16 that Kurdish forces remained in control of the provinces oil wells.

With reporting by Reuters, dpa, and AFP


Iraqi troops and Kurdish Peshmerga fighters were locked in an armed standoff in Kirkuk Province as tensions continue to rise following the holding of an independence referendum by Kurdistan officials last month.

Kurdish commanders said they had rejected an early morning deadline set for October 15 by Baghdad for Peshmerga fighters to relinquish positions they had taken during the fight against Islamic State (IS) extremists.

Both sides are U.S. allies, and Washington has military advisers stationed with the each group in the standoff working to ease tensions, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said.

A reporter for the AFP news agency reported seeing armored vehicles bearing the Iraqi national flag posted on the bank of a river outside the oil-rich city of Kirkuk.

Peshmerga fighters were seen behind an embankment reinforced with concrete blocks and flying the Kurdish flag.

A Peshmerga commander said Kurdish fighters had "taken all the necessary measures" and were "ready for a confrontation" if necessary.

An Iraqi army officer told AFP that "our forces are not moving and are now waiting for orders from the general staff."

Kirkuk is just outside the Kurdish autonomous region, but Peshmerga forces in 2014 moved in when Iraqi forces fled in the face of an IS assault. Peshmerga fighters managed to defend Kirkuk's oil fields from the extremists.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi has said he was "not going...to make war on our Kurdish citizens."

Nevertheless, thousands of heavily armed Iraqi troops and members of the Popular Mobilization forces, dominated by Iran-backed Shiite militias, have massed around Kirkuk.

Mattis told reporters on October 13 that "we are trying to tone everything down and to figure out how we go forward without losing sight of the enemy."

"Everybody stay focused on defeating [Islamic State]. We can't turn on each other right now," he said.

The Iraqi and Kurdish sides have exchanged angry words since Kurds on September 25 voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum that Baghdad refused to acknowledge.

The referendum was held in the three provinces of the autonomous Kurdish region, but also in adjacent Kurdish-held areas, including Kirkuk.

Bagdad has rejected any discussion of increasing the area of the autonomous region to surrounding provinces until the independence referendum is annulled.

The United States and other Western powers and the United Nations opposed the Kurdish referendum, expressing concerns it would destabilize Iraq and disrupt the fight against Islamic State.



Neighbors Turkey and Iran, which have large Kurdish minorities, also vehemently opposed the referendum.

With reporting by AFP and Reuters
Kyrgyz nationals had the chance to cast ballots in Kyrgyzstan's October 15 presidential election at the country's foreign diplomatic missions. Kyrgyz students at the Border Guard Academy and the Land Forces Institute in Kazakhstan arrived to vote at the Kyrgyz Consulate-General in Almaty. In Tajikistan, voting took place at the Kyrgyz Embassy in Dushanbe. (RFE/RL's Kazakh and Tajik Services)
Three front-runners in Kyrgyzstan's presidential election -- Omurbek Babanov, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, and Temir Sariev -- spoke to journalists after casting their ballots in Bishkek on October 15. While Babanov and Jeenbekov expressed their confidence in winning, Sariev decried what he called "an election campaign full of disputes, confrontations, and leaks of dirt." A total of 11 candidates, including one woman, are vying to replace the incumbent president, Almazbek Atambaev, who is constitutionally barred from running for a second consecutive six-year term. (RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service)
Sooronbai Jeenbekov has won Kyrgyzstans presidential election by a wider margin than anyone could have predicted during the campaign.

It was apparent several weeks ahead of polling day that the election would essentially be a contest between Jeenbekov, the candidate from the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) who had the support of incumbent President Almazbek Atambaev, and Omurbek Babanov, the multimillionaire leader of the Respublika party.

But polls by media outlets and predictions by the pundits suggested a much closer race than was actually the case on October 15.

Barely an hour after polls closed, preliminary results already showed Jeenbekov receiving more than 900,000 votes, easily more than the 50 percent-plus-one vote needed to be declared the outright winner of the election.

Kyrgyzstans Central Election Commission said some 1.65 million eligible voters cast ballots.

Babanov will undoubtedly challenge the results.

As voters were still casting ballots, Babanov declared, There is no fair election today. Law enforcement authorities are interfering with the election. Is this what they call a fair election?

Babanovs complaints are unlikely to change anything. Atambaev anticipated such a response, saying as he voted on October 15 that nobody will allow any nullification of the election results. Whoever the people elect will be elected.

The final weeks of the campaign were marred by attacks on Babanov by some state media outlets, who insinuated the candidate had connections to oligarchs in Kazakhstan, especially after he met with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev on September 19; accused Babanov of inciting Kyrgyzstans ethnic Uzbeks to violence during a speech in southern Kyrgyzstan at the end of September; and said he may have been part of a plot to unleash a campaign of unrest in Kyrgyzstan if he lost.

Jeenbekov was equally dogged by accusations that administrative resources were being used to boost his chances on election day, accusations that will likely be repeated in the coming days as many question how Jeenbekov was able to gather so many votes.

For months there has been the question of who would win. But equally important was the question of how any announcement of victory would be received by Kyrgyzstans population.

The specter of revolutions in Kyrgyzstan in 2005 and 2010 that ousted previous presidents haunted this latest campaign. It remains to be seen how the countrys people will react to an outcome that just a few weeks ago seemed all but impossible.

There will be many doubts expressed about the results of the October 15 presidential election.

Babanov might have lost officially, but he still received more than one-third of the votes cast, including nearly 90 percent of the votes cast in his native Talas Province.

Much now will depend on whether Babanov gracefully accepts the results of this election.

As the apparent victor, Jeenbekov inherits a raft of problems, foremost the current feud with Kazakhstan, touched off by Atambaevs continued criticism of what he believes was Kazakh interference in the election.

Atambaevs public jabs at Kazakhstan, and at Nazarbaev, led Kazakhstan to tighten control over border crossings with Kyrgyzstan on October 10, a situation that remained as of election day in Kyrgyzstan.

Since Atambaev publicly supported Jeenebekov, it will likely now fall to Kyrgyzstans president-elect to figure out how to repair this damage to relations with one of Kyrgyzstans key partners, especially since, as Kazakh officials reminded, Kyrgyzstans main routes to the outside world run through Kazakhstan.

And while Jeenbekov vowed to continue the policies of Atambaev, many question how effective Atambaevs policies have actually been for Kyrgyzstan.

While Kyrgyzstan has not suffered unrest under Atambaev, the country is far from prosperous, with hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz working abroad as migrant laborers, mainly in Russia and Kazakhstan, making Kyrgyzstan one of the most remittance-dependent countries in the world.

There are still no signs Kyrgyzstans economic prospects stand to improve anytime soon.

And there is the security problem.

Since citizens of Kyrgyzstan are accused of being involved in the deadly bombing of the St. Petersburg subway in April, Kyrgyzstans security forces have been hunting for, and finding, people allegedly connected to extremist groups.

Detentions of such people are reported regularly now, whereas not long ago such detentions happened but were infrequent, raising the question of just how bad Islamic militancy is in Kyrgyzstan.

Jeenbekovs victory -- with some 55 percent of the vote -- represents the smallest percentage of votes ever received by a winner in a presidential election in Kyrgyzstan. So while Jeenbekov may have won, his mandate is not as solid as those of any of his predecessors.

The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL.
Macedonias ruling Social Democrats (SDSM) claimed victory in municipal elections on October 15, gaining a solid show of support as they look to lead the Balkan nation to eventual NATO and European Union membership.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's SDSM party said early on October 16 that it had won in more than 40 of Macedonia's 81 municipalities in the first round of voting, calling it "a victory of democracy" and igniting celebrations in the capital, Skopje, among supporters.

"This is how Macedonia looks when the voting is free, peaceful, and without pressures," Zaev said during victory celebrations.

Early results backed the SDSM's claims. With 30 percent of 3,480 polling stations reporting, the SDSM coalition led in 44 municipalities, including Skopje. Candidates from the main opposition, the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE, led in 13.

Officials estimated turnout at about 60 percent of the 1.8 million registered voters. Full results were expected later on October 16, and runoff elections are scheduled for October 29.

Police and the Electoral Commission said voting was mostly peaceful, although the leader of the VMRO-DPMNE, former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, complained of irregularities and said the election "passed in an undemocratic atmosphere and in unfair conditions."

The SDSM faced VMRO-DPMNE directly in about 50 municipal contests, with ethnic Albanians making up a majority in the 30 other municipalities. Zaevs SDSM formed a coalition with the key ethnic Albanian party.

Candidates from 19 parties and coalitions along with independent candidates competed in the first round.

The most closely watched contest is the mayoral battle in the capital, Skopje.

Eight candidates are competing, with preelection polls showing SDSM candidate Petre Silegov holding a 2.6 percentage point lead over incumbent Koce Trajanovski of VMRO-DPMNE. Trajanovski is seeking a third term.

Mayor races will only be decided after the second round of voting.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) sent more than 300 observers to Macedonia for the vote. It has not yet commented on its findings.

The elections were seen as a test for Zaevs government five months after it came to power following an extended period of political instability.

Before the vote, opinion polls gave a slight advantage to Zaevs governing coalition of SDSM and the ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), which came to power following national elections in December 2016 and after protracted negotiations.

Leaders of the left-leaning, pro-West SDSM had said victory in the municipal elections would signal backing to implement their policies in the face of opposition from the conservative VMRO-DPMNE.

Along with leading Macedonia to eventual NATO and EU membership, Zaev has vowed to resolve investigations into alleged wiretapping and election abuses that were launched by prosecutors against members of the former Gruevski government, which spent 11 years in power.

The VMRO-DPMNE denies any wrongdoing, blaming foreign spies for the wiretapping scandal.

VMRO-DPMNE candidates focused on "national issues" during the campaign.

They claimed that Zaevs SDSM planned to change the country's name in deference to Greece, as it looks to enhance its accession chances with NATO and the EU.

Athens has long insisted that the name Macedonia should only be used for its own northern province, and it has vetoed Skopje's attempts to join NATO and to start EU accession talks over the dispute.

Athens, Brussels, and the United Nations refer to the Balkan country as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

The U.S. ambassador to NATO, Kay Bailey Hutchison, told The Washington Post that Macedonia was a likely candidate become the next NATO member, but she said the country must first resolve the name issue in a manner acceptable to Macedonia and Greece.

Meanwhile, VMRO-DPMNE also has raised ethnic issues, slamming Zaev's government for proposing to make Albanian Macedonia's second official language.

Albanians make up about 25 percent of Macedonias total population of some 2.1 million people, and Zaev only managed to secure a majority when he reached a coalition deal with Albanian parties after the December election.

Macedonia had been thrown into political turmoil after VMRO-DPMNE finished first in the parliamentary vote but was unable to secure a governing majority.

Second-place Zaev was eventually able to form a coalition with the ethnic Albanian DUI party, a move that ignited nationalist protests in some parts of Macedonia.

With reporting by Reuters, AP, Balkan Insight, Sofia News Agency, and European Western Balkans
Pakistan's military says a roadside bomb has killed four members of the countrys security forces and wounded three others in the northwestern Kurram tribal area.

A statement said that the improvised explosive device went off on October 15 near Kharlachi, a border crossing with Afghanistan.

Unidentified security officials were quoted as saying up to three bombs went off in the attack, which was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban. Officials told the AFP news agency that the search party belonged to the paramilitary Frontier Corps.

The army statement said the troops were taking part in a search operation for the militants who had held an American-Canadian family that was rescued last week after almost five years in captivity.

It said the dead included an officer.

Kurram is one of the seven agencies in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a semiautonomous tribal region of Pakistan adjacent to Afghanistans Nangarhar Province.

On October 11, Pakistani soldiers rescued U.S. citizen Caitlan Coleman, her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, and their three children in Kurram after the military received intelligence from U.S. officials.

Coleman and Boyle were kidnapped while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012. The couple's three children were born in captivity.

The family had been held by the Afghan Taliban-aligned Haqqani network.

After landing in Canada late on October 13 with his wife and children, Boyle accused the kidnappers of murdering their infant daughter and raping his wife.

President Donald Trump has praised Islamabad for acting on the U.S. intelligence tip and showing its willingness to "do more to provide security in the region."

U.S. officials have long accused Pakistan of ignoring the presence of the Haqqani network and other extremist groups within its borders.

With reporting by AFP, AP, Dawn, and RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal
Incoming South Bend board members talk facility plans, community input

South Bend school board members elected this fall will likely play a role in shaping the district's footprint for years to come.
WASHINGTON  ASRC of Beltsville, Md., has test fired a subscale propellant injector built via additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, paving the way for a version that could support whichever engine United Launch Alliance chooses to replace the Russian-built RD-180 on the Atlas 5 rocket.

ASRC's Federal Technical Services division conducted the full-power test in April, retiring risk on an engine component that could potentially be built in a quarter of the time of previous techniques.

"We reduced production time for this injector to eight days, which would have been over a month using traditional machining," Joseph Sims, ASRC Federal Technical Services project manager, told SpaceNews. "We also reduced parts count from five parts to a single part."

The U.S. Air Force supplied $3.69 million to ASRC in January 2016 to create a preburner that enables "continuous dilution" of fuel in an engine's combustion chamber  a technology the Air Force anticipates would improve engine reliability while cutting life cycle cost.

In a statement provided to SpaceNews, ASRC said the 3D printed propellant injector will be used in the company's subscale oxygen-rich preburner (ORPB), which could then support whichever oxygen-rich staged combustion cycle (ORSC) engine ULA downselects.

Both Aerojet Rocketdyne's AR1 and Blue Origin's BE-4 are ORSC engines. In a 2014 SpaceNews interview, Julie Van Kleeck, Aerojet Rocketdyne's vice president of space and launch systems, said ORSC technology, while prevalent in Russia, hasn't been used in American rockets.

Sims said ASRC's technology maturation program "is structured to provide a pre-burner design that could be inserted into the ORSC engine development program in 2019."

ASRC's next step is to use the test results to finalize its subscale preburner design, which will undergo testing by the end of this year.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
LES MUREAUX, France and WASHINGTON  Europe's upcoming Ariane 6 rocket, though designed to be expendable, could one day sport a reusable engine, according to Patrick Bonguet, head of the Ariane 6 program at ArianeGroup.

Whether or not the rocket would ever use that engine, called Prometheus, depends on whether Ariane 6 manufacturer ArianeGroup, formerly Airbus Safran Launchers, finds enough benefit for the European launch sector. So far, the merits of reusable rockets to ArianeGroup are unclear at best, Bonguet said, but the company is researching the technology to be ready for implementation should it prove worthwhile.

"We could replace Vulcain 2.1 by Prometheus," Bonguet told SpaceNews. "Or Prometheus can be the first break to build the next generation. We will see where we are in 2025 or 2030, and then decide on the right time whether to go one way or the other."

The Ariane 6's maiden flight is scheduled for 2020, meaning the rocket would fly for at least five years or longer in an expendable configuration with Vulcain 2.1, a streamlined version of the Ariane 5's Vulcain 2 liquid engine with the same performance.

ArianeGroup's Prometheus engine received a substantial budget boost this year from the European Space Agency, which is paying the company via a fixed-price contract to build the Ariane 6 as a successor to the Ariane 5. ESA is supplying 85 million euros ($91 million) through its Future Launchers Preparatory Program, and began funding Prometheus in June.

Bonguet said ArianeGroup is studying reusability with Prometheus "in order to be sure to take the right path at the right moment." Those efforts are mostly to prevent Europe from being caught flat-footed in the wake of other reusable launch systems, namely from SpaceX and now also Blue Origin.

Reusability is far from a primary focus, however.

"We still have not understood, would we save money by reusing? At least with our launch rate?" he asked. "We hope to launch 12 times a year. If we reuse 12 times, that means we only manufacture one time per year. It is difficult for us to have that."

Bonguet said reusability would essentially erase the production efficiencies ArianeGroup is striving for, starving the Ariane 6 industrial base of the work upon which it relies.

A smaller tip-toe into reusability could come through salvaging Ariane 6's payload fairings. Swiss manufacturer Ruag Space is developing reusable fairings, which Bonguet said are of interest to ArianeGroup.

"We are discussing with Ruag," he said. "They have presented to us their concept. If it is working, and if it is bringing cost savings, we will be happy to accommodate it."

Production value of Ariane 6

ArianeGroup is seeking a 40 percent price reduction for the Ariane 6 compared to the Ariane 5.

The biggest difference between the Ariane 5 and the Ariane 6 is the way the two rockets will be produced, Bonguet said. Compared to the Ariane 5, Europe's Ariane 6 is factoring in production at the design stage. This includes leveraging an "extended enterprise" concept where ArianeGroup co-designs components with suppliers. Having production efficiency at the forefront of development will allow the rocket to be lower cost yet still reliable, he said.

"Ariane 6 is basically an industrialization of Ariane 5. So, it is not a brand new design. The innovations are more to make it robust to manufacture," Bonguet said.

ArianeGroup also gains cost savings by leveraging the combined resources of French and German rocketry expertise, which was previously stratified as Airbus and Safran. Bonguet said it is a rational step to further integrate other parts of the Ariane 6 industrial base, but ESA member states would likely reject such integration to prevent losing domestic competencies.

A third means of cost reduction and improved production efficiency is with additive manufacturing, or 3D printing. Bonguet said the Ariane 6 will likely have around a dozen 3D printed parts, compared to just one on the Ariane 5. ArianeGroup is primarily using 3D printing to streamline the production of complicated equipment that is otherwise difficult to machine. The company is also using 3D printing to create an addition to the upper stage called the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU), which is fully 3D printed, he said. The APU is a low-thrust system that enables the Vinci upper stage to drop satellites in multiple orbits for constellation deployment, and can also assist in deorbiting the stage at the end of each mission.

Maintaining schedule

Bonguet said the Ariane 6 is holding to its 2020 schedule, but ArianeGroup had to invest its own non-ESA resources into the test program to hold to that date. He didn't label the size of the investment, but said ArianeGroup is building an additional upper stage in order to perform tests in parallel with the lower stage.

Bonguet said ArianeGroup will perform tests of the fully integrated Ariane 6 in the second half of 2019 into early 2020. In 2018, test firings will begin for the Avio-supplied strap on solid rocket boosters, he said.

ArianeGroup and Arianespace plan to overlap launches of Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 until around 2023. Bonguet said commercial demand for the Ariane 6 looks promising enough that the company is considering five launches in 2022.

Arianespace bought six more Vega and four Vega C from Avio last month, has yet to place an order for Ariane 6 rockets with ArianeGroup. To keep schedule, ArianeGroup is already buying long-lead items for the first batch.

"We have already ordered long-lead items covering up to launcher 15 already in order to be on time," he said. "Industry is anticipating the start of production this way. We are doing this because there is an exploitation readiness key point organized by ESA and member states at the end of this year taking place in November-December, with a final outcome in March where the member states will formally endorse Arianespace with the operational role of Ariane 6."

So far the first Ariane 6 customer is the European Commission for two Galileo launches. Bonguet said ArianeGroup is still waiting on a commitment from the European Commission to aggregate European government demand into a binding commitment for at least five Ariane 6 launches per year. This need, in order to ensure stable demand for the rocket, "is confirmed in principle," but has yet to be confirmed in a contractual manner, he said.

This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry.
New York, October 04, 2017 (SPS) -The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has reiterated on Monday "its deep solidarity and commitment to the self - determination and independence of the people of Western Sahara, whose situation is a process of unfinished decolonization and flagrant to international law ".

In the Debate on Decolonization of the 74th General Assembly Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Commission) held in New York on Monday, the Venezuelan delegation called on the "Parties to intensify their efforts in the search for a just, lasting and final political solution to this issue."

Venezuela is confident that the new UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Mr Horst Koehler, will help revive the UN-led negotiating process for the referendum.

The South American nation hopes that "the African Union will remain a key player in ending the colonial situation in Western Sahara" .SPS

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New York, October 04, 2017 (SPS) - The nations of Guatemala and Costa Rica have expressed this Monday through our permanent ambassadors to the United Nations their support for the resolutions that have been adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council on the Saharawi issue.

Guatemala reiterates its "support for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy" in their quest for a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution to the Saharawi-Moroccan conflict.

For Guatemala the solution of this question is necessary not only for the people of Western Sahara, but also for the stability, security and integration of the Maghreb region.

For its part, Costa Rica "advocates a durable, democratic, just and acceptable political solution to all parties to the conflict in Western Sahara. This solution must be consistent with the principles and provisions of international law and human rights, which have governed the process of decolonization of this organization. " SPS

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A British actress has claimed she was raped by Harvey Weinstein when the disgraced movie mogul turned up to her London home.

Hollyoaks star Lysette Anthony described the alleged attack in the late 1980s as "pathetic and revolting" and said it had left her "disgusted and embarrassed".

Her claims came just hours after the as the board behind the Oscars expelled the producer over allegations of sexual abuse.

She said she has reported the incident to the Metropolitan Police. Scotland Yard had previously said it had received an allegation of sexual assault without naming the producer.

Harvey Weinstein in 60 seconds

Anthony, 54, told The Sunday Times she met the producer when she starred in 1982 sci-fi film Krull and the alleged assault occurred a few years later.

She said Weinstein turned up at her flat in Chelsea at about 10am.

Disgraced: Harvey Weinstein faces a string of sexual assault allegations / AFP/Getty Images

The actress, who also starred in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives, said: "He pushed me inside, rammed me up against a coat rack. He was trying to kiss me and shove me inside."

She said she pushed him away but he was too heavy. "Finally I just gave up," she said.

On Wednesday Anthony tweeted that she had just reported a historical crime, adding "feel sick... so sad".

Jason Isaacs remembers hearing rumours of a 'Harvey Weinstein tax'

The Metropolitan Police said it was passed an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police the same day.

"The allegation will be assessed by officers from Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command," the force said.

Alleged victim: Lysette Anthony rehearsing for Tennessee Williams play Talk To Me Like The Rain / AFP/Getty Images

Anthony's revelation follows several allegations of rape made by actresses in the US against Weinstein, all of which he has strenuously denied.

On Saturday some of the film industry's most powerful figures, including Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg, voted to expel the film producer from their ranks.

Dozens of actresses, including Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have made accusations of sex abuse against the 65-year-old movie mogul over the past 10 days, prompting the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to call an emergency meeting.

In a statement they said the board had "voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority" to expel Weinstein.

Actress Rose McGowan - one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment and who has since said he raped her - celebrated the Academy's decision with a post on Instagram.

She wrote: "We slay dragons."

Accused: Harvey Weinstein with actress Rose McGowan / Getty Images

Through his spokeswoman, the movie mogul has "unequivocally denied" any allegations of non-consensual sex after three actresses said he had raped them in an article in The New Yorker.

Police in the US are also investigating allegations.

The Academy said they were expelling Weinstein "not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of wilful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behaviour and workplace harassment in our industry is over."

It added: "What's at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify."

Bafta had already suspended the producer and on Tuesday Weinstein's wife, British designer Georgina Chapman, said she was leaving him.

Weinstein was labelled "sick and depraved" by his brother, Bob Weinstein, with whom he co-founded the companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company, on Saturday.

Bob told The Hollywood Reporter he had been aware his brother was unfaithful to Chapman but did not know "the type of predator that he was".

He added: "I have a brother that's indefensible and crazy. I want him to get the justice that he deserves."

The Writers Guild Of America West issued a statement on Saturday saying it "stands in solidarity" with the women who have spoken out while the Producers Guild announced they would be meeting to consider expelling Weinstein.
A man is fighting for his life in hospital after being stabbed as he left a childrens birthday party in south London.

The victim, 53, was rushed to hospital following the stabbing at around 9.30pm on Saturday in Lambeth Walk in Lambeth.

He had just left the birthday party at Chandlers Community Hall when he was stabbed outside the building.

His condition is critical and he remains in a hospital in south London, police said.

Detectives are now hunting for his attacker and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

The Met Police said officers do not believe the suspect had attended the childs birthday party.

Anyone with information that may assist police should call Lambeth CID via 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


W omen who regularly dye their hair could have a higher risk of developing breast cancer, a new study by a London surgeon has found.

Professor Kefah Mokbel found a 14 per cent rise in rates of breast cancer among women who colour their hair.

According to the breast cancer surgeon, who works at the Princess Grace Hospital in Marylebone, central London, women should colour their hair a maximum of five times year, the Sunday Times reported.

People should aim to use products with as many natural ingredients as possible  such as henna, beetroot or rose hip.

Professor Mokbel said: "What I find concerning is the fact that the industry recommends women should dye their hair every four to six weeks.

Although further work is required to confirm our results, our findings suggest that exposure to hair dyes may contribute to breast cancer risk."

Sanna Heikkinen, of the Finnish Cancer Registry, said separate research in Finland found women who use hair dye were more likely to get breast cancer.

But she added: We did observe a statistical association between hair dye use and risk of breast cancer in our study.

However, it is not possible to confirm a true causal connection. It might be, for example, that women who use hair dyes also use other cosmetics more than women who reported never using hair dyes."

Haircare professionals at the Cosmetic Toiletry and Perfumery Association said hair dyes were covered by robust safety requirements.


S cotland Yard are investigating three more allegations of sexual assault against shamed film producer Harvey Weinstein.

Another woman, whose identity cannot be revealed, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Weinstein three times in 2010, 2011 and 2015.

The first two alleged assaults are said to have taken place in Westminster and the third in Camden. The woman made the claims to police on Saturday.

Met officers are already investigating an alleged sexual assault on a woman, believed to be Hollyoaks star Lysette Anthony, in the late 1980s in west London.

Actress Ms Anthony claimed she was raped by the disgraced movie mogul at her London home in Chelsea. She described the alleged attack as "pathetic and revolting" and said it left her feeling disgusted and embarrassed.

Lysette Anthony has claimed Harvey Weinstein raped her in her London home / Getty Images

It comes just hours after the board behind the Oscars expelled Weinstein from its elite membership club over the allegations, which have now dogged him for more than a week.

On Sunday, the Met Police released a statement which read: On 11 October, Merseyside Police referred an allegation of sexual assault to the Metropolitan Police Service.

It is alleged that a man sexually assaulted a woman (victim one) in the late 1980s in west London.

Harvey Weinstein and wife Georgina Chapman, who left him this week. / REUTERS

On 14 October, further allegations were made against the same man. It is alleged that the man sexually assaulted a woman (victim two) in Westminster in 2010 and 2011, and in Camden in 2015.

Weinstein was sacked from his own company after the New York Times published the first three claims of rape against him on October 5.

Dozens of actresses, including Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, have made accusations of sexual harassment abuse against the 65-year-old producer.

Through his spokeswoman, Weinstein "unequivocally denied" any claims of rape and sexual assault, as police in the US are also investigating allegations.

A host of stars have since slammed Weinstein over his alleged behaviour, with Dame Judi Dench calling the claims "horrifying" and Meryl Streep calling the women who spoke out "heroes".

On Saturday, Weinstein was labelled "sick and depraved" by his brother, Bob Weinstein, with whom he co-founded the companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company.

The Writers Guild of America West also issued a statement on Saturday saying it "stands in solidarity" with the women who have spoken out while the Producers Guild announced they would be meeting to consider expelling Weinstein.
H illary Clinton has said that Brexit was won on a big lie as she claimed failing to secure a deal with the European Union would put Britain at a "very big disadvantage".

The losing Presidential candidate added that the vote to leave the EU, and specifically the false claims made by Leave campaigners, were a forerunner to her defeat to Donald Trump in last years US election.

Mrs Clinton accused the likes of Nigel Farage of giving "fabricated" information to voters during the referendum and raised the role of data mining and analysis company Cambridge Analytica.

An investigation was launched by the Information Commissioner's Office into the firm after complaints the Leave.EU campaign, backed by Mr Farage, had not declared its role in its campaign.

Mrs Clinton said: "Looking at the Brexit vote now, it was a precursor to some extent of what happened to us in the United States.

Whatever the role Cambridge Analytica played for example. But the amount of fabricated, false information that your voters were given by the Leave campaign."

Hillary Clinton said she believed Brexit was a precursor to Donald Trump's success in the US election / REUTERS

She added: "You had, you know, Mr Farage campaigning for Trump and the like.

You know, the big lie is a very potent tool, and we've somewhat kept it at bay in western democracies, partly because of the freedom of the press.

"But we've now developed advocacy press. You know, obviously there have always been newspapers who leaned right or leaned left and they kind of counterbalanced each other.

"But given the absolutely explosive spread of online news and sites that have sprung up that are very effective at propagating false stories, we've got some thinking to do... but there has to be some basic level of fact and evidence in our politics. Well, frankly, in all parts of our society."

The former US secretary of state added that a Brexit no deal would put pressure on businesses and the disruption could be "quite serious".

Britain must not pin its hopes on a US deal because Donald Trump "doesn't believe in trade" and was on the verge of pulling out of existing agreements with its biggest trading partners, she warned.

Mrs Clinton told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show: "I think it would be a very big disadvantage to Britain.

"I mean, no deal meaning no preferential trade deals, which means products in Britain would not have the kind of easy access to the European market that you've had under EU membership.

"It could very well mean that there would be more pressure on businesses in Britain, if not to leave completely, at least also have sites and employment elsewhere in Europe.

"I think that the disruption for Britain could be, you know, quite serious."

President Trump has said it is "possible" the US will pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) struck more than two decades ago with Mexico and Canada.

Asked about the UK's trading future with America, Mrs Clinton said: "Well, yes, but you're making a trade deal with someone who says he doesn't believe in trade. So I'm not quite sure how that's going to play out over the next few years.

"He looks like he's on the verge of taking (us) out of NAFTA rather than reworking NAFTA. Our biggest trading partners in the world are Canada and Mexico. So these will have real world economic consequences."

The prospect of no deal has become increasingly in the spotlight after talks in Brussels continued to be deadlocked.

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker has said the Brexit process will take "longer than we initially thought", blaming delays on Britain's failure to settle its financial obligations.

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said talks on issues including the "divorce bill" had not made sufficient progress for him to be able to recommend moving on to the second phase of negotiations, covering trade.
C ross-party MPs in Parliament could block a no-deal Brexit, Labours John McDonnell has said.

The shadow chancellor appeared on the BBCs Andrew Marr show and said he believes Theresa May lacks a majority in the House of Commons for a no-deal exit, adding he is "not willing to countenance" such an outcome.

He hinted that rebel Tory MPs are in talks with Labour to give Parliament the power to veto a no-deal Brexit, forcing the Government to "come to their senses and negotiate properly".

The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is notably absent from the Commons schedule for the week ahead, with the Government saying it wants to closely evaluate some 300 amendments and more than 50 new clauses proposed.

Mr McDonnell told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I don't think there's a majority for no deal. I think on a cross-party basis you'll see in the debates in the coming week - the Government will get the message, there will be a deal."

Labour's John McDonnell said he didn't believe the PM had a majority to get a no-deal Brexit through. / PA

Asked if the Commons could stop the Government over no-deal, Mr McDonnell said: "I don't believe there's a majority in the House of Commons for a no deal and I think the Government needs to recognise that."

Speaking about giving Parliament the power to have a say over the final exit deal, the Labour frontbencher added: "When we amend the legislation, which I think we will, I think there's a majority to do that, to have a meaningful vote.

"That's what we've said all the way along. We'll be able to say to Government whatever you're negotiating, it'll not be on the basis of no deal because the damage to this economy will be so great."

Mr McDonnell claimed the Tories are "fighting among themselves" rather than negotiating with the EU.

When told Labour cannot stop this, Mr McDonnell replied: "Parliament can. They haven't got a majority to get through a no deal situation.

"If we amend the legislation for Parliament to have a meaningful vote, it'll force the Government to negotiate - come to their senses, negotiate properly."

Asked if this included talks with Tory MPs, Mr McDonnell replied: "There are discussions going right the way across the House."

Pressed when the vote will be, the Labour MP said: "Shall I tell you why we're not seeing a vote next week?

"Not because there's 300 amendments that have been put down - most of them actually their own side - but because they're now negotiating with their own backbenchers on just how much they can get through.

"They're more interested in negotiating to save the Conservative Party than they are in the interests of the country.

"That's why I think actually it's a disgrace. They should come to their senses, behave responsibly and look after the interests of the country."

Chris Grayling said Mr McDonnell was "talking a lot of complete nonsense" when he suggested there was enough support in the Commons to stop the Government taking the no deal route.

"Parliament has already voted to leave the European Union," the Tory MP told Marr.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling was interviewed on Sunday morning. / PA

"John McDonnell threatening to derail this bill is John McDonnell threatening to create the kind of chaotic Brexit he himself is warning against."

He insisted Britain will "succeed whatever happens" but said it would be bad for the EU if no agreement was struck.

The Government is planning for all eventualities, the Transport Secretary added.

Asked what would happen to food prices if there was no deal, he told Marr: "It would mean that producers, supermarkets bought more at home, that British farmers produced more, that they bought more from around the world and it would damage French producers and continental producers."

Mr Grayling said the negotiations were where he "expected them to be" and insisted no one had believed they would be done in "half an hour".

Brussels meeting: Brexit Secretary David Davis and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier / AP

"This was always going to be a long and difficult negotiation," he said.

Mr Grayling was played a clip of a previous interview he gave in which he said he had "no doubt at all" the UK would continue to trade tariff-free with the EU.

"I still agree with myself," he told the programme.

Flights "will carry on" even if the negotiations fail, he said.

Despite weeks of Tory turmoil over Brexit, Mr Grayling insisted the Cabinet is united on wanting the best deal for Britain but said the Government must be "upbeat" about the future.

He dismissed suggestions Chancellor Philip Hammond was sabotaging Brexit.

Asked if he should be sacked, Mr Grayling said: "In a month's time the Chancellor is going to deliver a very important budget for this country and I'm working with him and we are all behind him in delivering that."

Additional reporting by Press Association.
A ctress Rose McGowan has hit out at comedian James Corden after he made jokes about Harvey Weinstein at a star-studded gala.

The comedian and presenter was hosting an AmfAR charity gala in front of stars including Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks in Los Angeles when he said: "It's a beautiful night here in LA. So beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage."

McGowan, the 44-year-old former Charmed TV star, was reportedly among the eight women who reached legal settlements with Weinstein over sex harassment accusations.

The furious star branded Corden a motherf****** piglet on Twitter amid ferocious backlash over the tasteless joke.

In a series of angry tweets, she added: 1) James Corden is a close friend of HWs (Harvey Weinsteins). 2) Hearing the audiences vile roars & laughs show EXACTLY what kind of HOLLYWOOD you really are. 3) @CBS DONATE TO @ELAWC OR YOU TOO SUPPORT RAPE CULTURE #f***jamescorden.

Furious backlash: Rose McGowan hit out at the joke on Twitter / Twitter

The comedian later apologised for his actions, claiming he had meant to "shame the abuser, not the victims".

He said on Twitter: "To be clear, sexual assault is no laughing matter.

"I was not trying to make light of Harvey's inexcusable behavior, but to shame him, the abuser, not his victims.

"I am truly sorry for anyone offended, that was never my intention."

In footage of the monologue posted on Twitter, The Late Late Show star's joke appears to receive a mixed reaction.

Corden responds by telling the audience: "I don't know whether that groan was because you like that joke or you don't like that joke.

"If you don't like that joke, you should probably leave now."

He continued: "It has been weird this week though, watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.

"Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, it's weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.

"Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, but he'll settle for whatever potted plant is closest."

Accused: Harvey Weinstein with actress Rose McGowan / Getty Images

When the last remark was met with loud groans, he can be heard exclaiming: "Oh, come on!"

The jokes were widely condemned on social media where one user said: "If the problem is Hollywood not taking systemic sexual abuse seriously, the solution does not involve James Corden making light of the issue."

Lysette Anthony has claimed Harvey Weinstein raped her in her London home / Getty Images

Another said: "I've always made it my mission to tell every American I meet that we hate James Corden in the UK. Now they know why."

Another said: "If today is the day James Corden is exposed for being the talentless and unfunny sycophant that he is, then hurray."

British police are investigating a sex assault allegation involving movie producer Harvey Weinstein (pictured) / AFP/Getty Images

The backlash came as Hollyoaks actress Lysette Anthony alleged she was raped by the disgraced producer at her home in Chelsea, west London.

The Met Police said it had received an allegation of sexual assault without naming the producer.

Scotland Yard later revealed three further allegations from a second victim dating back to 2010, 2011 and 2015 in Westminster and Camden respectively were also being probed.

Weinstein was fired by his own film company last Sunday after a litany of sexual harassment allegations. He also faces allegations of rape.

The film producer, who founded up Miramax with brother Bob and ran The Weinstein Company, has apologised for elements of his past behaviour, strongly denies any claims of non-consensual sex, rape and sexual assault.

AmfAR is an international charity raising money to fund research into AIDS research and HIV prevention.
J ames Corden has been blasted for cracking gags about Harvey Weinstein in front of Hollywood stars at an A-list gala.

The comedian and presenter was hosting an AmfAR charity gala in front of stars including Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks in Los Angeles when he said: "It's a beautiful night here in LA. So beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage."

In footage of the monologue posted on Twitter, it can be heard that The Late Late Show star's joke received a mixed reaction.

Corden responded by telling the audience: "I don't know whether that groan was because you like that joke or you don't like that joke.

"If you don't like that joke, you should probably leave now."

He continued: "It has been weird this week though, watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.

"Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath, it's weird watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water.

"Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, but he'll settle for whatever potted plant is closest."

When the last remark was met with loud groans, he can be heard exclaiming: "Oh, come on!"

The jokes were widely condemned on social media where one user said: "If the problem is Hollywood not taking systemic sexual abuse seriously, the solution does not involve James Corden making light of the issue."

Another said: "I've always made it my mission to tell every American I meet that we hate James Corden in the UK. Now they know why."

Another said: "If today is the day James Corden is exposed for being the talentless and unfunny sycophant that he is, then hurray."

Corden's first big break in Hollywood came when he played Britain's Got Talent winner Paul Potts in The Weinstein Company's film One Chance.

Last month the chat show host said he was "disappointed in himself" for cosying up to former White House press secretary Sean Spicer at the Emmy Awards, after a photograph emerged of him kissing Spicer on the cheek.

AmfAR is an international charity raising money to fund research into AIDS research and HIV prevention.

Additional reporting by Press Association.
N icole Scherzinger told Simon Cowell not to speak to her as she stormed off stage during another dramatic Six Chair Challenge on The X Factor.

The former Pussycat Doll was so shocked by Cowells last minute decision to swap out Filipino boy band JBK that she walked off set during Saturday nights show.

Cowell was equally shocked by Scherzingers decision to reject viewer favourite Talia Dean later in the episode, dubbing her crazy.

The newly-formed girl group, put together by Cowell just 24 hours before his Six Chair Challenge were the last to perform and the head judge even drafted in another member, Ash, for the audition.

After his decision to give them a seat he asked JBK and Lemonade to do a sing-off, before making the unpopular decision to send the Filipino group home.

Scherzinger then got out of her seat and walked off, telling Cowell that hed made the wrong decision.

Duo Afro Swag were first up to perform on Saturdays show, immediately bagging a seat before quickly lost it to JBK.

Despite not being a fan of them at their first audition, Cowell gave girl group Beau Road a seat after their rendition of Paula Abduls Straight Up got the audience going.

The X Factor 2017 launch 1 /10 The X Factor 2017 launch Nicole Scherzinger Tim P. Whitby/Getty Demot O'Leary Tim P. Whitby/Getty Nicole Scherzinger Tim P. Whitby/Getty Louis Walsh Tim P. Whitby/Getty Demot O'Leary Tim P. Whitby/Getty Louis Walsh Tim P. Whitby/Getty Dermot O'Leary Ian West/PA Louis Walsh Tim P. Whitby/Getty

They then were the first to lose it when Rak-Su, made up of Ashley, Jamaal, Myles and Mustafa blew the judges away.

Can we not sing another one? the girls asked as they stormed off stage.

The Cutkelvins, made up up of three siblings from Scotland, were dubbed the future by an excited Louis Walsh and unsurprisingly given a seat by Cowell.

Lemonade, who impressed at their room audition, won the vote for most-improved and were given an automatic seat.

Singing duo Easylife brought an entirely different vibe with Say Something, as did Jack and Joel who sang Jessie Js Bang Bang, both getting seats.

The triumph was short-lived for Easylife however as Sean and Conor Price soon stole their seats, after their two original songs got a standing ovation.

Girl band NQ were the first act not to get a seat, with their rendition of Zayns Pillowtalk not working for the judges.

Nicole Scherzinger was next in the hot seat as her overs category took their turns to perform for the arena.

Despite being booed by the crowd, Danny Lambo won a seat after giving Scherzinger flowers, only to be swapped out for retired bus driver Glenroy Grant.

Talia was also given a seat after her rendition of Macy Grays Try, only to sensationally lose it again to Loverine Fermino, 31, from the Philipines, prompting boos from the audience.

Cowell thought that Bill Downs performance was boring but he was given a seat as was Slavko Kalezic.

Gary Barker was also given a seat as was Berget Lewis after her powerhouse performance of Bon Jovis Always.

Scherzingers category will continue their Six Chair Challenge on Sunday nights show.
I think Chris Overland, himself a fine example of the genre, defined it quite well when he said: Sixty or more years of experience can confer a degree of wisdom and, unless you are truly delusional, you mostly see the world as it is, not as you might wish it to be.

They are, of course, a fairly elite group. You dont become a grumpy old man unless youve earned it. You have to be able to exhibit the scars of battle to gain membership. Not even bribery will get you there.

Youll notice I havent mentioned grumpy old women. Im sure they exist but Im not sure I really want to go there. Call me sexist or cowardly but there are some possums not worth poking with a stick. So back to the men.

GRUMPY BAY - One of the hidden delights of PNG Attitude over the years has been the contributions of articles and comments by a venerable coterie of grumpy old men.

Also, your concerns about what others may think of you diminish with age. You give yourself permission to say what you really think. You do not tend to hold back for fear of upsetting someone.

I thought that was inspiring, so much so that Ive pinched it for a memoir Im about to publish about being a migrant kid in Australia.

So who are these grumpy old men? There are actually too many to count but heres a sampler.

Theres Paul Oates, a grumpy old kiap, who has been banging his head against a brick wall for years.

His particular beef is the antics of both the Papua New Guinean and Australian governments. Paul just cant understand why things that are so simple and obvious, like good governance, disappear from view when those political guys get within cooee.

Then theres Francis Nii. If anyones battered and scarred its Francis, and not just in body. Francis casts his scathing net wide, but Papua New Guineas errant politicians and public servants particularly provoke his ire. From the misty heights of Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Hospital in Kundiawa he pounces with amazing alacrity on hapless felons.

And we mustnt forget music and film aficionado Peter Kranz. Backed up by Simbu bubus and his lovely wife Rose, Peter takes to task the more harebrained schemes of government, be it the shonky Pacific workers deal or the concentration camp run by Australia on beautiful Manus Island.

Up in the mountains of Enga theres Daniel Kumbon, indefatigable promoter of Papua New Guinean literature and a veteran journalist who is nobodys fool. He recently sat out the carnage of the 2017 elections in Wabag and Kandep and kept us all apprised of the stupidity of mixing clan allegiances with politics.

And if you need a quote for any season theres the perspicacious Bernard Corden. His comments are short, sharp and straight to the point. Bernard just loves casino capitalism and examples of neoliberalism underpinned by unilateral doctrines of laissez faire. According to Bernard theres plenty of malevolent freedoms to do harm in this casino. He doesnt suffer fools gladly which is a good gig as there are a lot of fools out there to suffer.

I could go on to mention Mathias Kin, William Dunlop, Terry Shelley, Philip Kai Morre, Arthur Williams and Michael Dom  and I just have.

Then there are the polite ones, the grumpy old men lurking behind a facade of good manners.

Im thinking of Robin Lillicrapp, Ed Brumby, Father Garry Roche, Corney Alone, Richard Jones and Lindsay Bond - gentlemen of the keyboard whose benignity is but skin deep.

And of course, theres our esteemed KJ. He can get quite prickly if you rub him up the wrong way. Usually remarkably tolerant, hes been known to cut transgressors water off pretty smartly.

As I said, just a few examples. Trawl through the archives of PNG Attitude and youll stumble across loads more. Just be careful not to step on their toes unless you first distract them with a parcel of praise.

There are others of this loyal band we havent heard from in a while (although many grump on using PNG Attitudes Twitter and Facebook varieties). Wherever they are, you can be assured they are shovelling away bullshit whenever they find it.

There is also a crop of grumpy old men in training.

People like Michael Dom, Jakub Majewski, Martyn Namorong and Leonard Fong Roka to name but three. One day theyll take up the baton, transform it into a battle axe and do us all proud beating hypocrisy and venality over the head.
On September 27th China announced that its J-20 stealth fighter had officially entered service. Earlier in 2017 Chinese officials admitted that at least a dozen J-20s had been delivered to the Chinese air force as part of a new fighter squadron. This information was apparently released to help with export sales because the recent official announcement comes at the same time that a recent Chinese press release about China-Pakistan relations seemed to confirm that Pakistan had agreed to buy J-20s. Numbers were not announced and there are still questions about how effective the J-20 actually is. Pakistani interest in the J-20 may have more to do with the fact that China is the only major-power ally they have, their main supplier of weapons and, best of all, a neighbor.

While China began offering its 18 ton J-31 stealth fighter to export customers in 2014 (as the FC-31), it was not until recently that efforts were made to export the more advanced J20. The manufacturer of the J20 (CAC. Chengdu Aircraft Company) also produces the JF-17 and J-10. The JF-17 is a joint effort with Pakistan and Pakistan is the main customer.

The J-20 made its first flight in 2011, and many more since then. Before mass production began in late 2015 eight prototypes were built. There were at least two original J-20 prototypes, and in 2013 a new prototype appeared that had several modifications and is estimated to have a max weight of 36 tons. Since then several more prototypes have been built along with at least twenty production models.

Work on the J-20 began in the late 1990s, and the Chinese knew that it could be 25 years or more before they had a competitive stealth fighter-bomber. The twin engine J-20 first appeared to be about the same weight class as the 30 ton F-15C but the production model was closer in weight to the F-22. The F-35A is a 31 ton, single engine fighter, while the twin-engine F-22 is slightly larger at 38 tons. The Russian T-50 weighed in at 37 tons.

While the J-20 looks like the American F-22 when viewed head on, it's overall shape, weight, and engine power is closer to the older, non-stealthy American F-15C. In other words, the J-20 is 20.4 meters (67 feet) long, with a wing span of 13.5 meters (44 feet). The J-20 has about the same wing area as the F-15C, which is about 25 percent less than the F-22 (which is a few percent larger than the F-15 in terms of length and wingspan). Worse, for the J-20, is the fact that its engine power is about the same as the F-15C, while the F-22 has 65 percent more power. With the afterburner turned on, the J-20 has more power than the F-15C and nearly as much as the F-22. But because the afterburner consumes so much fuel you can't use more than a few minutes at a time. The new J-20 model appears to be able to supercruise, joining the F-22, Eurofighter, and the Gripen as aircraft that can supercruise (go faster than the speed of sound without using the afterburner).

The J-20 has some stealthiness when it's coming at you head on. But from any other aspect, the J-20 will light up the radar screen. For this reason the J-20 appeared to be a developmental aircraft, not the prototype of a new model headed for mass production. China soon made it clear that the J-20 is the basis for a new fighter and will go through as many design and shape changes are needed to become combat ready. Based on recent Chinese warplane development projects (J-11 in particular) it was believed that the J-20 had a long development road ahead of it. There were some obvious changes between the first and the later prototypes, but nothing all that drastic.

The J-20 is only the fifth stealth warplane to fly, the others being the American F-22 and F-35, plus the Russian T-50. The older U.S. F-117 was actually a light bomber and the B-2 was obviously a heavy bomber. While the shape of the J-20 confers a degree of stealthiness (invisibility to radar), even more electronic invisibility comes from special materials covering the aircraft. It's not known how far along the Chinese are in creating, or stealing, these materials or the needed engines. China would most likely use the J-20 singly, or in small groups, to seek out and attack American carriers. To make this possible F-22 class engines are needed and that is still in development.

Over the last few years China has admitted it has been developing the WS-15 engine (since the 1990s), a more powerful beast well suited for the J-20. No date was given as to when the WS-15 would be available for use or whether it would have the same vectoring (ability to move the hot jet exhaust in different directions in order to make the fighter more maneuverable) the F-22 uses. A more powerful and reliable version of the WS-15 for J20 is now believed possible by 2020.

For the J-20 to be a superior fighter it would need electronics (including radars and defense systems) on a par with the F-35 and F-22. So far, the Chinese have not caught up with stuff used by current American fighters. But the gap is being closed, faster than it was during the Cold War when the Russians were creating, or stealing, their way to military tech equivalence with the West. The Russians never made it but the Chinese believe they can succeed. It may be that the J-20 is not meant to be a fighter but a stealthy strike aircraft, like the first American stealth fighter the F-117. This innovative aircraft was actually a stealthy light bomber that first flew in 1981 and entered service a few years later. It was very successful as a strike fighter and the Chinese may have noted that such an aircraft would also make an excellent interceptor. That would also explain Pakistani interest as they still use fighters armed with nuclear weapons and the main foe here is India, a country that has been improving its air defense systems a lot lately.

China is also developing other support technologies, like the AESA radar, highly efficient cockpit, stealth, and software to tie everything together. Developing, or even copying, this tech is not easy. But the Chinese already know that, having decades of experience adapting stolen technology to their needs. Thus, it appears that China was planning on having the J-20, in some form, ready for service by the end of the decade. The key factor is their ability to develop or steal the needed technology by then. The J-20 appears to be a fighter-bomber, as this kind of aircraft would be most useful dealing with the U.S. Navy and key targets in Taiwan or Japan. In any event, the J-20 is an attempt to develop some kind of 5th generation aircraft, complete with stealth.

The J-31 and J-20 are further evidence that China is determined to develop its own high tech military gear. While China is eager to develop advanced military technology locally, it recognizes that this takes time and more effort than nations new to this expect. Thus, China is trying to avoid the mistakes Russia made in this area. That means having competing designs and developing necessary supporting industries as part of that. All this takes a lot of time and involves lots of little (and some major) failures. The Chinese are doing it right and are willing to wait until they get military tech that is truly world class.
"We should not divide the world into parts," Indonesian President Joko Widodo said, calling on the world to act wisely. | Read More
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/10/2017 (1858 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Some 10 years ago, the fundraising efforts for a personal care home project in Sprague centred around a theme inspired by the story, The Little Engine That Could.

A decade later and it seems that project, aimed to create a 20-bed personal care home in the community, is facing more of an uphill battle than ever.

The Progressive Conservatives new approach to personal care home funding, offering $133,000 per bed, is a tough pill to swallow for those in the small RM of Piney.

GRANT BURR | THE CARILLON Middlebro resident Paul Campbell and Spragues Elsa Laing stand alongside land that is ready to be developed into a personal care home, adjacent to the existing East Borderland community housing.

Weve been at this game longer than Niverville and Rest Haven and we keep waiting and waiting, laments Paul Campbell.

Niverville opened a new personal care home in 2013 and last month Steinbachs Rest Haven personal care home was approved for a major expansion.

Campbell, a Middlebro resident and former South Eastman Health board chair, is well-versed in the history of the Sprague project and its need an isolated region of the Southeast.

A main frustration for him and others like Spragues Elsa Laing, who has championed community fundraising for many years, is that this project was brought to the community by Manitoba Health and RHA, not the other way around.

Theres a real need down here and it has been here for 20 years, she said.

The health authority, in 2004, thought it had a model that could work in the serving the needs of seniors in a smaller community and Sprague was seen as suitable for such a pilot.

An inordinately large elderly population and low socio-economic statistics, made the project an important one too.

Community housing for seniors, through Manitoba Housing, was realised in 2012 and has been full since the day it opened, the pair note. The remaining pieces of that continuum of senior citizen care remain unfulfilled.

Whats there demonstrates in spades that the need really exists, Campbell said.

A $400,000 commitment remains on the books of the RM of Piney. East Borderland Community Housing has a 4.4 acre parcel of land next to the community housing that be used for development, along with a $400,000 contribution of its own. All that, they say, constitutes enough to fulfill the 10 percent community contribution, required by the previous government.

Also, importantly, the project has a report penned by the health authority, which made the case that staffing of the facility could be achieved by drawing support from health care services in Vita.

That document, completed in April 15, 2016, presented the case for an elder care centre model which had been successfully implemented in other countries.

The provincial election, four days later on April 19, changed government and ultimately changed the health funding formula, but it has not changed the needs that exist in Piney.

This need just doesnt go away. We have real needs down here like all of the Southern Health community, Campbell said.

Exceptions need to be made for smaller communities they argue. Campbell notes that projects in remote areas arent able to achieve the efficiencies that can be made to happen in places like Steinbach or Niverville. Instead, projects in more remote areas can expect to cost more, not less.

Changing the rules like thattheres just no fairness in this, he said.

For a community like ours, this is the worst thing that can happen.
Photo: Saturday Night Live/NBC

After being criticized for going easy on Harvey Weinstein, SNL didnt hold back last night. Early in the show, a sketch parodying a New York Film Festival panel dove into sexual harassment in Hollywood. (Weekend Update also laid into the producer.)

In the sketch, Aidy Bryant plays a Glamour.com editor running a panel discussion into sexual harassment and assault in Hollywood. The panel features Viola Davis (Leslie Jones), Marion Cotillard (Cecily Strong), and fictional Hollywood veteran Debette Goldry (Kate McKinnon).

The panelists tick off the popular explanations for sexual harassment in Hollywood  the culture, men covering for each other, lack of male advocates, etc.

As the characters tease out the hairball of sexism, McKinnons character describes a meeting with Weinstein in his hotel room, and doesnt miss a chance to take a shot at the producer.

When I arrived he was naked hanging upside down from a monkey bar, he tried to trick me into thinking his genitals were actually his face. It almost worked, the resemblance is uncanny.
Sarah Polley. Photo: Sonia Recchia/Getty Images for Netflix

In a moving New York Times op-ed, writer, actor, and director Sarah Polley joined the dozens of women who have come forward to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault.

Polley says in the essay that, at age 19, she was summoned to Weinsteins office and told that a close relationship with Weinstein would be beneficial to her career.

He told me, in front of the publicist and a co-worker beside him, that a famous star, a few years my senior, had once sat across from him in the chair I was in now. Because of his very close relationship with this actress, she had gone on to play leading roles and win awards. If he and I had that kind of close relationship, I could have a similar career. Thats how it works, I remember him telling me. The implication wasnt subtle.

But Polley says she ultimately turned Weinstein down because she wasnt that ambitious an actor.

I just didnt care that much about an acting career. I loved acting, still do, but I knew, after 14 years of working professionally, that it wasnt worth it to me, and the reasons were not unconnected to the tone of that meeting almost 20 years ago.

Polley has since gone on to write and direct her own films. (She has adapted Margaret Atwoods Alias Grace, which will be released on Netflix November 3.) In the meantime, shes calling for changes to a broken system.
At the 19th Party Congress, Look for Xi Jinping to Further Consolidate Power

Expect Jiang Zemin loyalists to be shown the doors, and Xis allies to rise

The upcoming 19th National Congress in China will be closely watched as the Party transitions to its next generation of ruling elite.

The most powerful officials announced will be members of the Politburo Standing Committee, which currently has 7 spots. It is effectively the top decision-making body of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with current leader Xi Jinping expected to head the committee once again.

The Standing Committee is part of the larger Politburo, which has 25 seats in total.

In Xis campaign to consolidate powertaking down his enemies through his anti-corruption crusade11 of the 25 have already been purged. The shakeup has observers and analysts guessing who might be getting promoted to the top.

Among the names mentioned is 61-year-old Cai Qi, who has known Xi for almost 20 years. Cai worked under Xi when he held top posts in Fujian and Zhejiang provinces. After Xi took power, Cai got promoted to become Beijing party chief. Some observers speculate that Cai will be promoted to the Politburo, which would be a meteoric rise given his relative lack of experience.

Chen Miner, who was appointed to replace the recently ousted Sun Zhengcai as Chongqing party chief, is also cited as a major Xi ally. Some observers think he may become a member of the Standing Committee.

Meanwhile, it remains unclear whether Xis right-hand man Wang Qishan will remain in the Standing Committee. In 2002 former Party leader Jiang Zemin instituted a requirement that officials retire at the age of 68 (Wang turned 69 in July), as part of Jiangs effort to maintain control of the Standing Committee.

For Wang to stay in spite of this informal rule would not be a big surprise. Wang has been spearheading Xis anti-corruption campaign, and Xi has signaled that he does not necessarily comply with others expectations.

Many of the officials taken down by Xi were those loyal to former leader Jiang Zemin, who make up an opposition faction. Sun, for example, a Politburo member once considered a potential successor to Xi, was ousted for his close relations to Jiang loyalist Zeng Qinghong.

Other Politburo members who are part of Jiangs faction are set to retire, including Zhang Dejiang, a Standing Committee member who rose in the ranks owing to Jiangs political patronage; Meng Jianzhu, head of the security apparatus, known to be part of the Shanghai gang, a group of officials who rose to power through ties with Jiang when Jiang ruled as Shanghais party secretary; and Standing Committee member Liu Yunshan, chief of the powerful propaganda department. In the past year, the Partys disciplinary body has investigated and openly criticized Lius department, hinting at a possible shakeup there.

Under Jiang, in the 2000s, many officials were promoted or awarded based on their performance in Jiangs campaign to eradicate the Falun Gong spiritual practice, a meditation discipline that teaches truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Jiang perceived Falun Gongs presence as a threat to the Partys authoritarian rule and began a campaign to eradicate the practice in July 1999. Since then, millions have been subjected to imprisonment, brainwashing sessions, and torture, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Liu and Meng both climbed the political leader through participating in the persecution of Falun Gong.

More Jiang-associated officials continue to be targets of Xis purges.

The Central Committee, comprised of the Partys top officials, will be electing the Politburo members at the 19th National Congress. In actuality, the members are already determined through back-door power plays.

Still, it is noteworthy to see who will become part of the Central Committee, as it is set to get reshuffled at the congress as well. Of the 205 members, 99 are set to retire or have already retired, while 21 members have been disciplined and removed from the committee, according to Hong Kong newspaper Ming Pao.

Gu Qinger contributed to this report.
The Carnival Glory arrives in Cape Canaveral, Fla., on July 11, 2003. An 8-year-old girl died on Oct. 14, 2017, after falling to her death from a deck overlooking the ship's atrium. (Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines/HO)

8-Year-Old Girl Falls From Cruise Ship Deck

A holiday at sea turned tragic for one family after an 8-year-old girl fell from an interior deck of a cruise ships atrium to a deck below and died.

The girl reportedly fell on the Carnival Glory cruise ship while it was docked at the Dante B. Fascell Port of Miami on Oct. 14.

Details of the incident have not yet been released, but a diagram of the Glorys deck layouts show the Old Glory Atrium extends seven decks up from the Colors Lobby.

Photos of the atrium show it has a chest-height railing with glass panels.

The cruise ship itself carries nearly 3,000 guests and over 1,000 crew members. Besides a night club, lounge and restaurants, it includes a more kid-friendly Seuss At Sea fantasy world, where the cruise line company promises, your favorite books (and characters!) come to life before your eyes.

Carnival Cruise Lines spokesperson Jayme Eglin provided the following statement on the incident to The Epoch Times:

Yesterday, Oct. 14, at approximately 8.15 am while the cruise ship Carnival Glory was docked at PortMiami, a female child, approximately 8 years of age, fell from a deck in the ships interior atrium to a lower deck. The ships medical team responded immediately and the child was transported to the ships medical center. The ships command immediately contacted Miami Dade Police Department which was on site. She was subsequently transferred via ambulance to a local hospital where, tragically, she succumbed to her injuries. Our most heartfelt condolences are with the family at this very difficult time.

Miami Fire Rescue personnel also responded to the incident.

Capt. Ignatius Carroll, the public relations officer with the Miami Fire-Rescue Department told reporters on Saturday that when Miami-Fire Rescue arrived, they found members of their county counterparts, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, were performing CPR on the 8-year-old child.

Im not sure what happened, how exactly the child fell, but we understand that the child may have fallen about 20 or so feet from a landing, Carrol told reporters.

After providing emergency care, first responders took the little girl to nearby Ryder Trauma Center. Carrol reporters the girl was in extremely critical condition, when she was transported.

Due to weekend hours, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue were unable to respond to questions by press time.

Carrol told reporters that homicide detectives are investigating the incident.

I know that theres a lot of questions that you are asking as far as how this happened, where the child was, where all this took place, but a lot of those questions will be answered when police conduct their investigation.

Calls to the Miami-Dade Police Department were not answered by publication time. The department has issued no press releases or social media reports about the incident.

The Glory was christened on July 14, 2003, at Port Canaveral, in Florida. It was made in Monfalcone, Italy, at a cost of $500 million, and was the largest ship sailing weekly Caribbean cruises from Central Florida.
Head of Amazon Studios Roy Price (L) and Lila Feinberg attend the 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on Sept., 17, 2017. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Amazon Studios Chief Receives More Bad News After Suspension: Report

Amazon Studios head Roy Pricewho was suspended last week after he was accused of sexual harassmenthas received more devastating news.

Price was accused of lewdly propositioning Isa Dick Hackett, who is a producer on Amazons hit show The Man in the High Castle, according to The New York Post. Hackett, the daughter of legendary science fiction writer Philip K. Dick, wrote the novel upon which The Man in the High Castle show is based.

Hackett said price approached her and made a crude statement at Comic-Con 2015.

Now, the New York Post is reporting that a source close to Price and would-be fiancee Lila Feinberg, who is a writer for series 12 Parties and other productions, said that the marriage has been called off.

A source said, Lila is currently in New York and she has called off the wedding.

"Having power & influence is such a huge responsibilityWith some power I feel it is imperative for me to speak out" https://t.co/vUwhPw5HDU  Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 12, 2017

Feinberg was also slated to wear Marchesa, which was designed by disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinsteins wife, Georgina Chapman, at her wedding. Chapman, for her part, said she would be leaving Weinstein in light of accusations of sexual assault, harassment, and other misconduct.

Price and Weinstein are reportedly close friends.

After allegations of Prices alleged misconduct, Amazon released a statement on his suspension.

Amazon said, Roy Price is on leave of absence effective immediately. We are reviewing our options for the projects we have with The Weinstein Company.

In an internal statement to employees, Amazon said, The news coming out of Hollywood over the past week has been shocking and disturbingand unfortunately we are a part of it.

Its sad and very disappointing to me. Amazon does not tolerate harassment or abuse of our employees or our business partners. If a concern is brought to our attention, we investigate it quickly and thoroughly, the statement adds, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

Meanwhile, actress Rose McGowan fired a series of tweets at Amazons founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos.

@JeffBezos I told the head of your studio that HW raped me. Over & over I said it. He said it hadnt been proven. I said I was the proof, she tweeted last week.
China's top fugitive official, Yang Xiuzhu, in a file photo of her in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, on December 29, 2001. (Reuters/Stringer)

Chinas Top Fugitive Official Sentenced to Prison

After 13 years as a fugitive, former Chinese official Yang Xiuzhu was sentenced on Oct. 13 to eight years in prison and a fine of 800,000 yuan (about $121,400 USD). Her assets, worth more than 26 million yuan (about $4 million USD), were also seized.

According to the Chinese court, from 1996 to 1999 while acting as deputy mayor of Wenzhou City (located on the southeastern coast) and deputy head of the Zhejiang Province construction bureau, she embezzled more than 19 million yuan and accepted more than 7 million in bribes.

Yang topped Chinas list of most wanted fugitives when Interpol issued a red notice for her in 2015. She was considered the countrys foremost female corrupt official.

Yang fled abroad in 2003, moving from Hong Kong to Singapore, later to Europe. She sought asylum in France and Holland, but her application was rejected. In 2014, she fled to the United States. In November 2016, she was repatriated back to China. The Chinese authorities stated that she had surrendered and returned to the country voluntarily.

Yangs sentencing signals to other corrupt officials abroad what fate they could facethough it should be noted that Chinese state media said Yang was given a lighter sentence because she pleaded guilty and expressed regret for her actions.

Chinese media previously quoted a former Wenzhou official detailing how Yang accumulated her power and wealth. She sought allies among officials at every level, from the provincial level to the police. With party cadres as her supporters, Yang placed her aides and relatives in high-level positions at local companies, who helped her rake up money.

Hong Kong media also reported that Yang was an associate of Zhang Dejiang while Zhang was the party chief of Zhejiang Province between 1998 and 2002. Yang also held a position in the provincial office at the time.

Zhang later became a top official within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), rising up to the Politburo Standing Committee, due in large part to the political patronage of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin. Jiang and his faction within the Party is in a power struggle with current CCP leader Xi Jinping and his supporters.

Reuters and Gu Qinger contributed to this report.
A half-mile of semi trucks line up at a U.S. Border Patrol inspection station off the highway outside Laredo, Texas, on Feb. 22, 2017. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

DACA Recipients Caught Human Smuggling

In separate incidents earlier this month, two recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) were arrested for attempting to smuggle illegal aliens inside the United States, according to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Border Patrol agents arrested a juvenile on Oct. 4 after discovering two men in the trunk of his car at a checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35, north of Laredo, Texas.

The driver was questioned regarding his immigration status and was referred for further inspection after a Border Patrol canine alerted to the presence of concealed humans and/or narcotics, CBP said in a statement on Oct. 12.

The two men were from Brazil. The driver, a DACA recipient, was a Guatemalan national.

All three were processed for removal proceedings.

At the same Border Patrol checkpoint, on Oct. 7, agents found a Mexican man in the trunk of a car driven by a DACA recipient from Mexico. Both were processed for removal proceedings.

DACA was introduced by former President Barack Obama in 2012 to give temporary immunity from deportation to individuals who had been brought into the country illegally before their 16th birthday. DACA also gave recipients two-year, renewable work permits.

President Donald Trump announced a phase-out of DACA on Sept. 5 and has given Congress six months to find a permanent solution.

Interior Checkpoints

In the past, permanent traffic checkpointssuch as the one on I-35 that caught the human smugglerswere used as secondary operations, but they have now expanded into one of the most important and effective enforcement operations, according to the CBP website.

The majority of smuggling cases both alien and narcotics, false documents, and false claims to citizenship are encountered by agents conducting this activity, the website states.

Traffic checkpoints are our major defense against those aliens who enter as nonimmigrants with the intention of seeking employment in the interior areas. The majority of narcotic smugglers are apprehended at the checkpoints or when attempting to circumvent them.

So far this month, CBP South Texas has tweeted about two major drug seizures. One on Oct. 4, in which CBP officers seized $916,000 in heroin and methamphetamine at the Laredo Port of Entry.

Vigilant #CBP officers seize $916K in heroin, meth at Laredo Port of Entry. Read more here: https://t.co/MwujBmMmmp pic.twitter.com/f20cAompBK  CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) October 4, 2017

And on Oct. 11, CBP officers interdicted $1.5 million in methamphetamine at the Laredo Port of Entry in two seizures.

#CBP officers interdict $1.5 million in methamphetamine at Laredo Port of Entry in two seizures. Read more: https://t.co/VqkueWl73E pic.twitter.com/tJaFvtbDEQ  CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) October 11, 2017

CBP said its freight train checks have been one of the most productive operations for alien apprehensions in the sector.

It is also the most dangerous activity, which often results in numerous deaths to aliens, and serious injuries to both aliens and agents, CBP said on its website. Commercial transportation checks have resulted in many drug seizures, as well as alien and smuggler apprehensions.

The Laredo Border Patrol Sector shares 171 border miles with Mexico and has the second highest number of apprehensions of illicit border crossers in the nation (after neighboring Rio Grande Valley).

In fiscal year 2016, Laredo apprehended 36,562 illegal aliens, while across the 320-mile Rio Grande sector, agents apprehended 186,830.
Five Arrested in Georgia, Including Two Law Enforcement Officers, Over 1983 Murder

A decades-old investigation in the U.S. state of Georgia into the murder of a black man in 1983 culminated in the arrest of five white people on Friday, including two law enforcement officers charged with hindering the probe, officials said.

The body of Timothy Coggins, 23, was found on Oct. 9, 1983, in a grassy area near power lines in the community of Sunnyside, about 30 miles (48 km) south of downtown Atlanta.

He had been brutally murdered and his body had signs of trauma, the Spalding County Sheriffs Office said in a statement.

Investigators spoke to people who knew Coggins, but the investigation went cold, Spalding County Sheriff Darrell Dix said at a news conference.

This past March, new evidence led investigators from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Spalding County to re-examine the case.

#TimothyCoggins was murdered 34 years ago in what investigators say was a "racially-motivated" case  today, several people were arrested pic.twitter.com/H3ASVbsqZr  WSB-TV (@wsbtv) October 13, 2017

Dix did not provide details on the nature of the evidence, saying more tips were received after authorities, over the summer, announced to the media the case was re-opened.

Some witnesses confessed they lived with knowledge about the case for years, but were afraid to come forward, Dix said.

It has been an emotional roller coaster for everybody that was involved, Dix said.

Police arrested five people on Friday in connection with the slaying. Frankie Gebhardt, 59, and Bill Moore Sr, 58, were each charged with murder, aggravated assault and other crimes.

Authorities did not immediately say where Gebhardt and Moore lived.

Gregory Huffman, 47, was charged with obstruction and violation of oath of office, Dix said. Huffman was a detention officer with the Spalding County Sheriffs Office but his employment was terminated after he was arrested.

Lamar Bunn, a police officer in the town of Milner, which is south of Spalding County, was also arrested and charged with obstruction, as was Sandra Bunn, 58. She is Lamars mother, according to Atlanta television station WXIA.

Investigators are convinced the murder was racially motivated, Dix said.

There is no doubt in the minds of all investigators involved that the crime was racially motivated and that if the crime happened today it would be prosecuted as a hate crime, the Sheriffs Office said.

Several members of Coggins family appeared at the news conference where authorities announced the arrests.

The family held out for justice all this time, said Heather Coggins, a niece of the victim.

Even on my grandmothers death bed, she knew that justice would one day be served, she said.

It was not immediately clear if any of the five arrested people had an attorney, and they could not be reached for comment.

Dix promised more arrests in the case, as the investigation continues.
Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners march in Washington, D.C. to call for an end to the persecution of practitioners in China, on July 20, 2017. (Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times)

Persecution of Falun Gong Continues in China

More than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners subject to detention, harassment in China this year

Yang Guanren, a regional president for a major corporation headquartered in Beijing, was on a business trip. While on a cab from Guangzhou City to Shenzhen City on May 15, 2017, Yang talked to the driver about the ongoing persecution of the Falun Gong spiritual practice in China.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is an ancient self-improvement that involves meditation and living according to the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. The practices benefits to physical and mental health led to its widespread popularity, with more than 70 million adherents in China by 1999, according to a state survey. Practitioners say their numbers reached more than 100 million.

The Chinese regime perceived Falun Gongs presence as a threat to its authoritarian rule and began a campaign to eradicate the practice in July 1999. The official press office for Falun Gong, the Falun Dafa Information Center, estimates that millions of Falun Gong adherents have been arrested and detained since the persecution started, often enduring torture and abuse while imprisoned. The regime also launched mass propaganda campaigns in an effort to turn public opinion against Falun Gong practitioners.

Yang is the latest victim of the persecution.

After hearing Yang talk, the driver proceeded to drive to the local Yuehai Police Station, and ratted Yang out to police as a Falun Gong practitioner. The authorities arrested Yang.

Yangs family was notified by police that he will be released 30 days later upon paying bail. But when the 30th day arrived and Yangs family went to the Nanshan District Detention Center where Yang was being held, the center refused to release him or grant the family a visit.

When the family sought an explanation from the police station, officers refused to see them. One officer threatened that they would be arrested if they went to the police station again.

The family has hired an attorney to assist them, but has been unable to secure Yangs release, despite appealing to the local Procuratorate office, according to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong in China.

Yangs family also told the website that domestic security forces went to Yangs hometown and ransacked his parents home, both of whom are over 80 years old. Yangs mother was in such great distress that she was bedridden for many days, the family said.

The persecution still continues to affect thousands of practitioners across China. From January to June 2017, at least 3,659 Falun Gong practitioners have been taken away by authorities and detained, while 7,209 have been subject to authorities harassment, according to Minghui.orgs latest estimates. Because of the tight control on information in China, these estimates may be much lower than the actual numbers.

Detention and harassment happened across the country, with reports from 30 provinces, autonomous regions, and centrally governed municipalities.

The detentions were concentrated in four provinces, with Shandong, Liaoning, Hebei, and Jilin with the highest number of detained practitioners.

Shandong, Liaoning, and Sichuan provinces saw the most practitioners harassed by authorities. In addition, at least 1,174 practitioners have had their homes ransacked. The total amount of cash and assets taken away by authorities amount to more than 1.9 million yuan (about US$288,000).

The Ministry of Public Security, the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and the extralegal 610 Officecreated in 1999 as a Gestapo-like body to specifically target Falun Gong practitionersremain the primary authorities tasked with carrying out the persecution.
Fighters of Syrian Democratic Forces visit the graves of their late comrades at a cemetery for those fighters killed during fightings with ISIS terrorists in Kobani, Syria October 11, 2017. Picture taken October 11, 2017. (Reuters/Erik De Castro)

Syrian Town Struggles to Cope Alone After Key Victory Over ISIS

KOBANI, SyriaAlmost three years after Kurdish fighters defeated the ISIS terrorist group in the Syrian town of Kobani, residents still mourn the dead and feel abandoned by their foreign allies as they struggle to rebuild.

ISISs defeat in predominately Kurdish Kobani in early 2015 helped turn the tide against the ultra-militant group and marked the start of a more open U.S. military relationship with the Kurdish YPG militia.

But much of the town near the border with Turkey was destroyed, leaving it facing a huge reconstruction challenge and in need of help from the allies that had supported the fight to defeat ISIS, including the United States.

Electricity still works only a few hours a day and regularly cuts out. The internet, using a Turkish communications signal, is expensive and unreliable.

That, local officials say, is because aid quickly dried up, and the towns problems could soon be replicated across parts of northern Syria as ISIS cedes ground.

There were never (reconstruction) projects that reflected the scale of destruction, said Khaled Barkal, a vice president in the local government.

Kurdish ties with the West are complicated by local rivalries and alliances, and by Kurdish efforts to assert autonomy in areas captured from ISIS.

Local officials also accuse the West of trying to appease NATO ally Turkey, which sees the YPG as an extension of the PKK, a Kurdish group waging an insurgency against the Turkish government.

Turkey doesnt want life to return here, Barkal said.

Ankara opposes the YPG role in capturing Arab-majority areas such as Raqqa, saying it threatens demographic change. Kurdish self-assertion in Iraq and Syria has also brought charges of mistreatment of Arabs, which officials deny.

Western diplomats in the region say support for the YPG in the battle against ISIS cannot extend to bolstering a Kurdish-led project to cement an autonomous region.

Washington opposes plans for autonomy in northern Syria, with the international community seeking a nationwide resolution to Syrias more than six-year-old civil war.

High Price

The people of Kobani fear more upheaval lies ahead. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad wants to win back control of all Syria, and Kurdish-led authorities are seeking to cement regional autonomy through elections, which could increase tensions.

Residents say they willingly paid the price of defeating ISIS and are grateful for U.S. help in the victory.

But the price was high, in terms of lives and destruction.

Shereen Hassan was among the first fighters killed defending Kobani, which was under siege from ISIS for four months. Family members learned of her death when they tried to call her and ISIS terrorists answered her phone.

They said: Weve killed your daughter and were posting a picture of her head on Facebook, Hassans brother Ednan Hassan said at their home.

The image was later posted, showing a grinning militant holding the 19-year-olds severed head.

Fighters are buried in a military cemetery on the edge of town where yellow YPG flags flutter above gravestones. Portraits of dead Kurdish fighters dot the walls of the local administration and hang from rows of lamp posts.

The violence did not end completely when the battle for Kobani was won. In June 2015, months after ISIS was defeated in the town, the group launched a raid that killed nearly 150 people there including 11 members of Hassans family.

Such experiences have militarized society and the small scale of aid leaves people unwilling to rely on outside help.

The international community left us, Hassan said. Before the war, every home had a gun. Now its every man.

Men in the town run a night watch, taking turns to drive around armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles.

We protect ourselves, said locksmith Khaled Aldamr, cutting keys in his shop.

Kobani is Tired

Aldamr, whose home was leveled by an air strike, said business had improved for him, but that reflected the scale of the damage that during the fighting, not an improvement in the local economy.

When Daesh (ISIS) came, they kicked down doors to occupy houses, breaking the locks. People need new ones, he said, pointing at a pile of locks displayed in the window.

His services are required as new buildings spring up where homes were reduced to rubble. Many are empty so far.

The population of Kobani and nearby areas has neared its original 200,000 after people returned, Barkal said, although only 40,000 live in the town itself with fewer inhabitable spaces.

Kobani is tired. Im lucky. Many have no work, Aldamr said. We hope to rebuild better than before, which could happen if skilled Kurds abroad come back or send money. But were trapped. Borders are closed.

Turkey closed its crossing with Kobani in 2015, and has since built a concrete wall that stretches hundreds of kilometers along the frontier.

Goods come through Iraqs Kurdish region, or are smuggled from areas under Assads control. People complain of a lack of medicine.

Despite the problems, and the possibility of more violence, the people of Kobani say they will not give up.

Well defend ourselves against whoever comes, to the last drop of blood, Barkal said.

Reporting by John Davison
Vegas Shooting Survivor Kymberley Suchomel Dies Suddenly, Report Says

Grandmother says she suffered from seizures

Kymberley Suchomel, a woman who survived the Las Vegas mass shooting earlier this month, died suddenly this week, according to a local media report.

The 28-year-old died early Monday in her Apple Valley, California, home, said her grandmother Julie Norton.

She found her just after 8:30 a.m. when she arrived to care for her 3-year-old great-granddaughter, Scarlett. Norton thinks that Suchomel died when her husband, Mike, left for work, reported the VV Daily Press based in Victorville, Calif.

Suchomel had previously explained to local media outlets about how she and friends escaped as a gunman, identified as Stephen Paddock, shot at them from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel on Oct. 1. He killed 58 people and wounded hundreds more.

That was the night that my life, and the lives of my friends, and so many others were changed forever, Suchomel had been quoted as saying. I might have escaped unharmed, but I know that Ive been emotionally and mentally scarred for life.

However, Suchomels death drew significant attention because she made a Facebook post that claimed there were multiple shootersnot just Paddock.

We couldnt hide because they (and I do mean THEY) were chasing us. That exact moment is when I started to really panic. That is the exact moment in which I thought this was it, I was going to die, I was never going to see my family again. So, as we are running, we approach this fence where men are throwing women over, and we ran up to it as they had knocked It down, so we were able to get out, she wrote, according to the Facebook post.

She added later: I kept looking back expecting to see the gunmen and I say MEN because there was more than one person. There was more than one gun firing. 100% more than one.

Las Vegas police and other officials have said that Paddock acted alone in the shooting.

As Snopes noted, Suchomels death has prompted a number of conspiracy theories.

But, according to her grandmother, she suffered from seizures.

Kymberley had epilepsy and shes always been prone to seizuresshe told her friend that she recently had three focal seizures, Norton told the VV Daily Press. I believe the stress from the shooting took her life.

Suchomel was also taking medication for a pituitary tumor, the report stated. She told family members that she had difficulty falling asleep at night due to the sounds of gunfire that got louder in her head.

Phoenix Foundation supporter and community leader Thurston Smitty Smith had positive things to say about her. Kymberley was such a wonderful wife, mom, and granddaughter, Smith said. She loved life and was very instrumental in the success of the Phoenix Foundation.

This family has been there for the community in good times and hard times, Smith said. I think its time to be there for them.
Vegas Victim Tina Frost Makes First Steps After Waking up From Coma

A Maryland woman who was shot in the head during the Oct. 1 Las Vegas massacre has come out of a coma and took her first steps.

Tina Frost, 27, was shot by Stephen Paddock along with hundreds of other people in the attack that also left 58 people dead.

The bullet, reported the Las Vegas Review-Journal, passed through her eye and shattered part of her skull, and she underwent surgery at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center that night.

On Friday, she began waking up and moving without assistance, her mother said on a GoFundMe page dedicated to collecting funds for her medical expenses. She was also able to breathe on her own without medical assistance for about six hours.

More than half-a-million dollars has been raised for her via the crowdfunding website.

We are so proud of our Tina, and everyone is amazed at every single movement she makes, mother Mary Watson Moreland said.

She added: She opens her left eye just a lil and looks all around the room at us, taps her feet whenever music is playing, continues to squeeze our hands, and even gives Austin a thumbs up when asked. She sometimes taps to music and also took her first steps today with the assistance of the nurses3 steps to the chair and 3 steps back to the bed.

But Tina is going to have a long road ahead of her.

She will be moving ICU to ICU, so the whole team will be on track with her recovery, Moreland noted, saying that shell have more surgeries.

Elaborating further, Moreland told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that her daughter will have pieces of the bullet in her brain forever, citing doctors.

Dr. Keith Blum told the newspaper that he worked to remove as many fragments as possible, adding that he was forced to remove her eye.

Last week, Clark County Sheriff Joseph Lombardo, who oversees the Las Vegas police department, told reporters that gunman Stephen Paddock shot at Mandalay Bay hotel security guard Jesus Campos outside his room on Oct. 1 at about the same time he opened fire on the more than 20,000 concertgoers at an outdoor venue, Reuters reported.

Previously, police said that Paddock shot Campos six minutes before he started firing on the crowd, raising questions as to whether police and hotel security could have acted faster to prevent casualties in the attack.

Nobody is attempting to hide anything. The dynamics and the size of the investigation require us to go through voluminous amounts of information in order to draw an accurate picture, Lombardo said of the changing timeline.

Campos was shot in the leg when Paddock strafed the hallway with about 200 bullets, police said. Paddock, who placed cameras in the hotel hallway to monitor activity, injured 546 people before killing himself. No motive for the attack has been made public. Reuters contributed to this report.
A woman claims her husband suffered a brain hemorrhage that cost him part of his skull because he consumed too many energy drinks.

The woman, named Brianna and who didnt reveal her last name, wrote on Facebook that husband Austin began drinking energy drinks when he started working longer hours and commuting, Fox News and AOL.com reported.

A number of media outlets picked up the Facebook post before it was deleted. Dates, locations, and other information were not included in the story. No doctors commented on the issue, and the post only cited Brianna.

Her posts and a photo posted on a photography Facebook page have been deleted. She posted stark images of Austin with part of his skull missing. Its unclear what brandor typeof energy drink Austin was consuming.

Doctors concluded a guy had a brain hemorrhage due to his recent excessive energy drink consumptionhttps://t.co/iqkHAKVKjg  Pale_Primate (@PALE_Primate) October 13, 2017

Austins doctors blamed the severe medical condition on energy drinks, Brianna said. The two are expecting to have a child together.

Being pregnant is supposed to be one of the most amazing journeys you will ever embark on, Brianna wrote. Youre creating a new life. You are experiencing unconditional love for someone you have not even met.

I still remember my mother in law waking me up that morning. Austin had an accident, she wrote. All I knew was that my husband was in the hospital. The worst part? I didnt know why.

Austin was already undergoing surgery as she and her family traveled to the hospital.

Woman shares what energy drinks did to her husband https://t.co/VTPZSV0ypu pic.twitter.com/jrtQHZMPO0  Wellbelove (@wellbelove) October 15, 2017

The next day was round two of brain surgery. Following this were strokes, seizures, swelling, and more things we werent prepared for. There was a moment, sitting by his hospital bed, just praying he would be okay, that I knew I would never give up on him. No matter how messy our life would become. I was going to be by his side through all of it, she added.

When she delivered her child, Brianna wrote that a beautiful miracle happened as I delivered our son. Austin woke up.

I went about a week without seeing him. I thought about him every day. I cried as I looked at my child who looked just like his daddy. When the baby was only a week old, I left him with my in-laws. I knew I needed to see Austin. I needed to tell him that our baby was here, she said.

Later, she elaborated on his condition.

Our life isnt normal. There are doctors visits and hospital tripsso many that I loose[sic] count. But we are here. Fighting. I wake up every day to take care of our beautiful little boy and my husband. I prepare the meals, do physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy. I help him with personal hygiene. I help him walk. I help him with every aspect of his life. And in between these tasks I take care of our very busy eight month old. It is hard, and I am tired, but we make the most of it. He isnt the same man I fell in love with, but I still fall further everyday, We are fighting to help him recover. To make his life better, she wrote.

According to a study from April 2017, drinking 32 ounces of energy drink is associated with potentially harmful changes in blood pressure and heart function that are beyond those seen with caffeine alone.

Caffeine in doses up to 400 mg (about five cups of coffee) is generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration. While energy drinks usually contain caffeine, little is known about the safety of some of their other ingredients, the study team writes in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The energy drink industry claims that their products are safe because they have no more caffeine than a premium coffee house coffee, said Dr. Jennifer L. Harris from University of Connecticuts Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity in Storrs, who wasnt involved in the study.

However, energy drinks also contain a proprietary energy blend, which typically consists of stimulants and other additives. Some of these ingredients (including taurine and guarana) have not been FDA-approved as safe in the food supply, and few studies have tested the effects of caffeine consumption together with these novelty ingredients, she said by email.

Reuters contributed to this report.
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
Watertown talent teaches basics in creating artisan bread and charcuterie

Those interested in exploring their culinary side learned the basics of making fresh artisan bread and a guest-pleasing charcuterie board this weekend.
SAN FRANCISCOTesla Motors fired hundreds of workers after completing its annual performance reviews, even though the electric automaker is trying to ramp up production to meet the demand for its new Model 3 sedan.

The Palo Alto, Calif.-based company confirmed the cuts in a Saturday statement, but didnt disclose how many of its 33,000 workers were jettisoned. The San Jose Mercury News interviewed multiple former and current Tesla employees who estimated 400 to 700 workers lost their jobs.

The housecleaning swept out workers in administrative and sales jobs, in addition to Teslas manufacturing operations.

An unspecified number of workers received bonuses and promotions following their reviews, according to the company.

Tesla is under pressure to deliver its Model 3 sedan to a waiting list of more than 450,000 customers. The company so far has been lagging its own production targets after making just 260 of the vehicles in its last quarter.

Including other models, Tesla expects to make about 100,000 cars this year. CEO Elon Musk is aiming to increase production by fivefold next year, a goal that probably will have to be met to support Teslas market value of $59 billion (U.S.)  more than Ford Motor Co.

Unlike Ford, Tesla still hasnt posted an annual profit yet.

Despite the mass firings, Tesla is still looking to hire hundreds more workers.

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NEW YORK When Kate Winslet won the lead actress Oscar for The Reader in 2009, she thanked 19 people by name along with many others in general.

She did not mention Harvey Weinstein, whose company financed and distributed the movie.

That was deliberate. That was absolutely deliberate, Winslet told the Los Angeles Times in an interview Saturday.

I remember being told. Make sure you thank Harvey if you win. And I remember turning around and saying, No I wont. No I wont. And it was nothing to do with not being grateful. If people arent well-behaved, why would I thank him?

The fact that Im never going to have to deal with Harvey Weinstein again as long as I live is one of the best things thats ever happened and Im sure the feeling is universal, Winslet added.

Winslet made her first movie, Peter Jacksons psychological drama Heavenly Creatures, for Weinsteins Miramax Films  a fact, Winslet says, that the disgraced producer brought up every time she saw him.

For my whole career, Harvey Weinstein, whenever Ive bumped into him, hed grab my arm and say, Dont forget who gave you your first movie. Like I owe him everything. Then later, with The Reader, same thing, Im gonna get you that Oscar nomination, Im gonna get you a win, Im gonna win for you. 

But thats how he operated, Winslet continues. He was bullying and nasty. Going on a business level, he was always very, very hard to deal with  he was rude. He used to call my female agent a (vulgar name for a woman) every time he spoke to her on the telephone.

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When allegations of sexual assault and harassment against Weinstein broke last week, Winslet was one of the first to condemn his actions and embrace the courage of the women who came forward.

She says the current times demand strong statements.

In my 20s, I was very forceful and I had a big voice and I would absolutely say things, Winslet says. In my 30s, I didnt feel it was as necessary to go back over ground that I had visited before. I always stood by everything I said.

Now I feel like, you know what, this is disgraceful, despicable behaviour, the 42-year-old actress continues. This kind of treatment of any workplace is utterly unacceptable. And hopefully what will happen is that more women will feel compelled to come forward  these women are victims of crime by a man who was always impossible to deal with. I hope that Harvey Weinstein absolutely is punished within the fullest extent of the law should that be the case.

Weinsteins actions surrounding The Reader have long been seen as grievous on numerous counts.

The drama, in which Winslet played a woman hiding her past as a guard at a Nazi concentration camp, endured numerous delays during production. After director Stephen Daldry told Weinstein he couldnt deliver the movie in time for the 2008 Oscar season, Weinstein  according to producer Scott Rudin (who took his name off the film in protest)  badgered producer Sydney Pollack on his deathbed and harassed the widow of Anthony Minghella, also a producer on the film.

Says Winslet of The Reader: I cant even begin to describe the disgraceful behaviour that went on  and Im actually not going to because its a can of worms that Im not prepared to publicly open  nothing to do with sexual harassment, thankfully, lucky me. My God. I somehow dodged that bullet.

Winslet does reveal one thing about the film that she believes has never been reported: Weinstein shut down The Reader with four days left on the production schedule.

We still had a full four days of shooting of very key scenes that for me  as a person playing that part  were absolutely crucial to the story and to Stephen Daldry, they were as well, Winslet says. And Harvey just decided, OK, were done. No more money. Im pulling the plug. We had to stop and were sent home. That was it.

And again, this is just on the business side of things, but he was always, always very, very, very unpleasant to deal with. Very.

That was the last time Winslet worked with Weinstein.

Damn right, Winslet says. I . . . stand up for myself and I dont pander to what youre supposed to do and what youre not supposed to do. I wont be pushed around or bullied by anyone. I was bullied as a child. Never again. Certainly not by Harvey Weinstein.

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Throughout his career in telecommunications and technology, Bryan Johnson experienced the same thing, over and over.

Ive always been the only person of colour in the room, Johnson said.   Ive lived in four different provinces, and Ive always been the only person of colour in the room.

So two years ago, Johnson started a non-profit, Black Boys Code  now operating in Toronto, Durham, Hamilton, Calgary and Vancouver  dedicated to introducing young, Black boys to computer science.

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One of the goals is to narrow the gap in diversity . . . African Canadians are not represented in the STEM fields, he said, referring to science, technology, engineering and math.

We need to have more people of colour in the room.

Thats also the thinking behind a government-led initiative, announced Friday, to boost the number of Black youth in fields such as engineering, finance and insurance, through targeted career training and work-placement programs.

The $1.5 million a year, starting next year, will be given to agencies and firms in Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa and Windsor.

Our government is working to level the playing field for our provinces Black youth, said Michael Coteau, minister of children and youth services, who is also in charge of the provinces anti-racism initiatives.

Despite having a post-secondary education, many Black youth and young professionals are under-represented in fields such as engineering, finance and life sciences. By partnering with private businesses and service agencies, we are improving opportunities for our Black youth and ensuring they are positioned for success both now and in the future.

The move is part of the governments Black Youth Action Plan, which is spending $47 million in total on strategies to help 10,000 Black youth and families, mainly in urban centres, who face higher unemployment rates and lower incomes.

At the University of Toronto, the engineering faculty runs a program, ENGage, to engage Black youth in weeklong, hands-on summer camps. It was created a decade ago when the issue of diversity was raised by students who were members of U of Ts National Society of Black Engineers.

Students from the Toronto District School Board who are recommended for the camp are bused in, free of charge, from neighbourhoods across the city.

It has proved so popular, there is now a wait-list.

More and more, the kids who come to our program leave feeling as if they can change the world, said Dawn Britton, associate director of U of Ts Engineering Outreach Office.  . . . All of our instructors are current engineering students, and a majority of them are a part of the NSBE.

The camps promote Black role models, and showcase research by African Canadians or African Americans, she said, and over the years have hosted about 800 kids.

This program was a specific response to a need that our Black engineering students said existed in our faculty.

Colin Lynch, who is part of the governments steering committee for the initiative, said in a statement that the training and work placement programs will give Black youth meaningful experiences and opportunities that launch them into high-quality careers and long-term professional pathways in priority economic sectors.

The senior vice-president of Greystone Managed Investments said addressing the underrepresentation of Black professionals in these sectors is critical to the success of our economy and society.

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It is unlike U.S. President Donald Trump to cheer when stocks fall, but early on Saturday he did just that.

Health insurance stocks, which have gone through the roof during the Obamacare years, plunged yesterday after I ended their Dems windfall! he tweeted.

On Thursday, the administration announced it would stop paying subsidies to health insurance companies that help cover costs for low-income people.

That money is a subsidy for insurance companies, Trump said Friday. Take a look at their stocks. Look where they are. Theyre going through the roof.

In another tweet Saturday, Trump said he was very proud of an executive order he had signed Thursday. The order sought to increase competition among insurers, in large part by encouraging associations to offer less comprehensive plans and by allowing more short-term coverage.

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The Congressional Budget Office has warned that stopping the subsidies is likely to raise insurance premiums, affect the stability of the health exchange markets set up under the law and, ultimately, add to the federal deficit.

On Friday, stocks for Centene, Molina and Anthem, insurers that have participated in state marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act, slumped by more than 3 per cent. Health care providers were also affected. Shares in Acadia Healthcare declined by more than 3 per cent and in Tenet Healthcare dropped by just over 5 per cent.

While Trump appeared to celebrate this on Saturday, he has pointed to rising stocks as a sign of success in the past.

It would be really nice if the Fake News media would report the virtually unprecedented Stock Market growth since election, he tweeted on Wednesday. Need tax cuts.

On Friday, attorneys general in 18 states, plus the District of Columbia, announced a lawsuit to fight the administrations decision to stop subsidy payments.

Taking these legally required subsidies away from working families health plans and forcing them to choose between paying rent or their medical bills is completely reckless, the California attorney general, Xavier Becerra, said in a statement on Friday. This is sabotage, plain and simple.

Eric Schneiderman, the New York attorney general, called the scrapped subsidies yet another reckless and cruel decision by the Trump administration that would drive up insurance prices and increase the number of uninsured.

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Four Rohingya refugees were trampled to death by an elephant in a makeshift camp in the Coxs Bazar area of Bangladesh on Saturday morning.

A woman and three young children, who had fled violence in their home country of Burma, were killed when the animal stormed their temporary shelter in the Balukhali camp, where tens of thousands of refugees are living.

The deaths of the woman; two girls, 9 and 6; and a boy, 1; were confirmed by Abdul Khayer, the officer in charge of the Ukhiya police station in the area.

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Six people, including the husband and a son of the dead woman, Taslima Siddique, were injured and admitted to a hospital. Siddique was the mother of one of the children killed, but authorities were not sure which child was hers.

The deaths are the latest tragedy for members of the Muslim ethnic group, who were forced from their homes in Rakhine state in Burma in a brutal crackdown by the countrys security forces that began in August. The United Nations says the crackdown has amounted to ethnic cleansing. Survivors have detailed harrowing accounts of violence in their villages.

More than a half-million Rohingya have left Rakhine for neighbouring Bangladesh, but conditions in the sprawling makeshift camps there are bleak. Officials worry that disease and a lack of resources will further devastate an already suffering population. The areas roaming wild elephant population has added to the risks.

The Bangladesh branch of the International Office of Migration, the UN agency that has been monitoring the influx of Rohingya into the country, confirmed the trampling incident in a statement posted to its Twitter account. It noted that elephants had been spotted previously in the area, when the organization was surveying the site.

There have been previous elephant tramplings in the makeshift camps. On Sept. 18, at least two Rohingya refugees died after an elephant stormed the Kutupalong camp, which was built in the area of an elephant sanctuary.

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BEIRUTThe U.S.-led coalition and local officials said Saturday that Syrian Daesh fighters and civilians will be allowed to evacuate Raqqa, a deal that signals the imminent capture of the city but flouts earlier U.S. protests of negotiating safe exits for the extremist group.

Foreign fighters will be excluded from the evacuation deal, the coalition said.

The U.S.-backed Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said the final battle for Raqqa was underway, apparently propelled by negotiation efforts that secured the surrender and evacuation of dozens of Syrian militants still holed up in the city.

In a statement, the U.S.-led coalition said a convoy of vehicles was set to leave Raqqa following the deal brokered by a local council formed by their Kurdish allies and Arab tribal leaders.

The tribal leaders said they appealed to the coalition and the SDF to allow the evacuation of local Daesh fighters to stem further violence.

Because our aim is liberation not killing, we appealed to the SDF to arrange for the local fighters and secure their exit to outside of the city, with our guarantees, the tribal leaders said in a statement.

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It was not clear how many evacuees there were or where they would go, but the tribesmen said their evacuation would save the lives of civilians who the extremist fighters have used as human shields. Last week, there was an estimated 4,000 civilians still in the city.

With the push to liberate the Arab-majority Raqqa led by Kurdish-dominated forces, local officials fear a backlash once the city falls. The initiative appeared to be an attempt by local leaders to stem such tension.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the talks were bogged down over the fate of the foreign fighters there, which according to a local Kurdish commander include French, Russian, Azeri, Indonesian and Turkish combatants.

The U.S.-led coalition said it was not involved in the discussions that led to the arrangement, but believes it will save innocent lives and allow Syrian Democratic Forces and the Coalition to focus on defeating Daesh terrorists in Raqqa with less risk of civilian casualties. Daesh, is also known as ISIS or ISIL.

The evacuation deal places the U.S. in a bind as it had earlier said that only surrender, not a negotiated withdrawal for Daesh fighters in Raqqa, would be accepted. The top U.S. envoy for the anti-Daesh coalition, Brett McGurk, had previously stated that foreign fighters in Raqqa would die in the city. Omar Alloush, a senior member of the Raqqa Civil Council, said Friday around 100 militants had surrendered.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters travelling with him Friday that the U.S. would accept the surrender of Daesh militants who would be interrogated for intelligence purposes.

Right now, as the bottom drops out from underneath (Daesh), more and more of them are either surrendering  some are trying to surrender, and some amongst them  more fanatical ones arent allowing them to, he said.

Only weeks ago, the U.S. coalition obstructed a Hezbollah-negotiated deal to evacuate IS fighters from its borders with Syria toward the border with Iraq. The coalition bombed the road used by the convoy evacuating the militants, only to finally capitulate following Russian calls asking it to allow Syrian troops in the area to advance.

It is also not clear what kind of justice would be meted out to those surrendering militants in the absence of established courts in Kurdish-dominated northern Syria.

A senior local Kurdish commander said foreign fighters were unlikely to surrender so his forces are expecting to comb them out of at least two neighbourhoods. He said it could be a matter of a day or two.

Scores of civilians were seen in a video Friday leaving Raqqa in desperate and terrified conditions. They emerged from destroyed districts, some of them collapsing on the ground in exhaustion as they arrived at a Kurdish-held area of the city, in haunting scenes reflecting their years-long ordeals.

The U.S.-led coalition said it expects difficult fighting in the days ahead to completely oust Daesh from the city and secure it. SDF and U.S. officials said the remaining militants are mostly suicide bombers who only have small arms and rifles. Backed into a small area, they have no access to their weapon of choice, car bombs, said Mustafa Bali, an SDF spokesperson.

Also Saturday, the Syrian and Russian militaries announced that Syrian troops and allied fighters had seized the town of Mayadeen, a Daesh stronghold in the countrys east. The Russian Defence Ministrys spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Syrian soldiers had driven Daesh fighters from the town, which he said was the extremist groups last major stronghold in eastern Syria.

Over the past months, Mayadeen had become a refuge for Daeshs leaders as they faced an intense crackdown in Syria and Iraq.

On the western bank of the Euphrates River, Mayadeen was also a major node in the race for control of the oil-rich eastern Deir el-Zour province that straddles the border with Iraq. Washington has feared advances by Syrian troops and allied fighters could help Iran expand its influence across the region and establish a Shiite corridor of land links from Iraq to Lebanon, and all the way to Israel. Iran backs militias fighting alongside the Syrian military.

Diverting fighters from the battle for Raqqa, the U.S.-backed SDF made a bid for the province to secure territories there, focusing on securing the Iraq border, still mostly controlled by Daesh.

The Syrian government eyed Mayadeen earlier this month, fearing the SDF would get there first. The race accelerated amid fear of potential confrontations as Syrian troops crossed the Euphrates to reach the oil-rich eastern banks.

Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Observatory, confirmed that government troops, backed by Shiite militias, had taken control of Mayadeen but said they were still combing it for militants.

With the fall of Mayadeen and retaking of Raqqa, Daesh fighters are losing two of their last strongholds in Syria as their self-declared caliphate crumbles. The militants are currently besieged in the city of Deir el-Zour, leaving them with one last major urban bastion, the strategic town of Boukamal, on the Syria and Iraq border.

Militants seized Raqqa in 2014, the first city to fall under the full control of the extremist group, and declared it the capital of their self-styled caliphate. It became synonymous with Daeshs reign of terror, with public killings and beheadings  videotaped slayings that have shocked the world. It was also from Raqqa, which became a destination for foreign fighters from around the world, that many of Daeshs attacks in the West were plotted.

The latest battle for Raqqa began in June, with heavy street-by-street fighting amid intense U.S.-led coalition airstrikes and shelling. The battle has dragged on in the face of stiff resistance from the militants.

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MOGADISHU, SOMALIAThe most powerful bomb blast ever witnessed in Somalias capital killed 276 people with around 300 others injured, a government minister said early Monday, making it the deadliest single attack in this Horn of Africa nation.

Abshir Abdi Ahmed cited doctors at overwhelmed hospitals he visited in Mogadishu a day after a truck bomb targeted a crowded street near key government ministries, including foreign affairs. Many of the bodies in mortuaries had not yet been identified, he said.

In a tweet, Information Minister Abdirahman Osman called the attack barbaric and said countries including Turkey and Kenya had already offered to send medical aid.

As angry protesters gathered near the scene of the attack, Somalias government blamed the Al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab extremist group for what it called a national disaster. However, Africas deadliest Islamic extremist group, which often targets high-profile areas of the capital, had yet to comment.

Al-Shabab earlier this year vowed to step up attacks after both the Trump administration and Somalias recently elected president announced new military efforts against the group.

Global Affairs Canada has confirmed there are no reports of Canadians affected by the bombing.

Global Affairs Canada is closely monitoring the situation in Mogadishu and stands ready to provide consular assistance to Canadian citizens as required, said spokesperson John Babcock.

On behalf of all Canadians, we extend our sympathies to the families and friends of those who died, and we wish a swift recovery to everyone injured, Babcock said.

The Mogadishu bombing is one of the deadliest attacks in sub-Saharan Africa, larger than the Garissa University attack in Kenya in 2015 and the U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998.

Doctors at Mogadishu hospitals struggled to assist badly wounded victims, many burned beyond recognition. This is really horrendous, unlike any other time in the past, said Dr. Mohamed Yusuf, the director of Medina hospital.

Inside, bleary-eyed nurses transported a man whose legs had been blown off. He waited as surgeons attended to another badly injured patient. Exhausted doctors struggled to keep their eyes open, while screams from victims and newly bereaved families echoed through the halls.

Nearly all of the wounded victims have serious wounds, said nurse Samir Abdi. Unspeakable horrors.

A teary-eyed Hawo Yusuf looked at her husbands badly burned body. He may die waiting, she said. We need help.

Ambulance sirens echoed across the city as bewildered families wandered in the rubble of buildings, looking for missing relatives. In our 10-year experience as the first responder in #Mogadishu, we havent seen anything like this, the Aamin Ambulance service tweeted.

Grief overwhelmed many.

Theres nothing I can say. We have lost everything, wept Zainab Sharif, a mother of four who lost her husband. She sat outside a hospital where he was pronounced dead after hours of efforts by doctors to save him.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed declared three days of mourning and joined thousands of people who responded to a desperate plea by hospitals to donate blood. I am appealing all Somali people to come forward and donate, he said.

Mogadishu, a city long accustomed to deadly bombings by al-Shabab, was stunned by the force of Saturdays blast. The explosion shattered hopes of recovery in an impoverished country left fragile by decades of conflict, and it again raised doubts over the governments ability to secure the seaside city of more than two million people.

They dont care about the lives of Somali people, mothers, fathers and children, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire said of the attackers. They have targeted the most populated area in Mogadishu, killing only civilians.

Rescue workers searched for survivors trapped under the rubble of the largely destroyed Safari Hotel, which is close to the foreign ministry. The explosion blew off metal gates and blast walls erected outside the hotel.

The United States condemned the bombing, saying such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism.

But the U.S. Africa Command said U.S. forces had not been asked to provide aid. A spokesperson told The Associated Press that first responders and local enforcement would handle the response and the U.S. would offer assistance if and when a request was made.

The U.S. military has stepped up drone strikes and other efforts this year against al-Shabab, which is also fighting the Somali military and over 20,000 African Union forces in the country.

The United Nations special envoy to Somalia called the attack revolting, saying an unprecedented number of civilians had been killed. Michael Keating said the UN and African Union were supporting the Somali governments response with logistical support, medical supplies and expertise.

In a tweet, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he was sickened by the attack, and his spokesperson urged all Somalis to unite against extremism and work together to build a functional federal state.

Saturdays blast occurred two days after the head of the U.S. Africa Command was in Mogadishu to meet with Somalias president, and two days after the countrys defence minister and army chief resigned for undisclosed reasons.

Amid the chaos, the stories of victims began to emerge. Amino Ahmed said one of her friends, a female medical student, was killed on the eve of her graduation. The explosion also killed a couple returning from a hospital after having their first child, said Dahir Amin Jesow, a Somali lawmaker.

Its a dark day for us, he said.

As there is no consular presence in Somalia, Canadians in Mogadishu in need of emergency assistance are being advised to contact the High Commission of Canada in Nairobi at 254 (20) 266-3000, or the Global Affairs 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Centre at 613-669-8885.

With files from Jenna Moon

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ATHENS, GREECEChurch bells have rung in mourning across a western Greek diocese to protest the passing of a law making it easier for people to officially change their gender.

Under the guidance of Metropolitan Amvrosios of Kalavryta, a fiery conservative Orthodox bishop, clerics in his diocese decided that starting Sunday church bells are to ring every day, through Saturday, at noon for three minutes. They also called for the repeal of the anti-Christian and anti-Greek law.

It is an outrageous inspiration for someone to change his gender in a few minutes, with a simple declaration, so contrary to what God has gifted people with ... whoever has gender dysphoria is mentally ill, says a statement adopted by the Kalavryta dioceses clerics Saturday.

The statement, which also condemns homosexuality as a deadly sin and rails in general against every kind of bestial deviation, also expressed worries that legislation allowing adoption by same-sex couples will be next.

We do not hate the sinner, but the sin, the statement adds.

The clerics also said that they will raise protest banners in the city of Aigion, the largest in the diocese.

The law, passed with 171 votes in favour in the 300-member parliament last week, allows Greeks over the age of 15 to change the gender listed on their identity cards and other official documents following a simplified procedure in court. Until now, they had to prove they had undergone sex-change surgery and psychiatric assessment.

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The Taliban are denying allegations by freed Canadian hostage Joshua Boyle that his wife was raped and his daughter killed by their abductors in Afghanistan.

Upon his return to Canada Friday, Boyle told reporters that during his five years that his family was held by the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in Afghanistan, his wife, Caitlan Coleman, was raped with the assistance of the captain of the guard and supervised by the commandant of the network.

Boyle said the Haqqani leadership authorized the murder of his daughter in retaliation for his refusal to accept an offer from the kidnappers, but did not elaborate.

However, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has released a statement saying Coleman had a natural miscarriage after an illness that couldnt be treated because they were in a remote area with no doctors.

Mujahid says Boyle and Coleman are now in the hands of the enemy, and the statement Boyle gave was force fed to him.

Mujahid also says from the time the couple were detained until their release Boyle and Coleman were never separated because the kidnappers did not want to incite any suspicion.

No one has either intentionally murdered the child of this couple and neither has anyone violated or defiled them, Mujahid said in the statement, which was posted to the Taliban media units website.

Boyle told The Canadian Press Saturday that conditions during the five-year ordeal changed over time as the family was shuffled among at least three prisons.

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Were looking forward to a new lease on life, Joshua Boyle tells the Star after five-year kidnapping nightmare

Full statement from freed hostage Joshua Boyle upon his return to Canada

After a lifetime in captivity, the children of Joshua Boyle and Caitlan Coleman begin to heal

He described the first as remarkably barbaric, the second as more comfortable and the third as a place of violence in which he and his wife were frequently separated and beaten.

Boyle on Friday demanded that his abductors be punished for their actions.

Robert Currie, a professor of international criminal law at Dalhousie Universitys Schulich School of Law, said its possible that the kidnappers could be prosecuted in Canada, though there are significant obstacles.

It is uncommon, but its certainly not unheard of. Canada has prosecuted quite a number of extraterritorial crimes, Currie said, adding that only certain crimes committed abroad can be prosecuted in Canada, including hostage-taking and a number of terrorism-related offences.

For instance, the man alleged to have made ransom demands during Canadian journalist Amanda Lindhouts kidnapping in Somalia is now standing trial in Ottawa. He was lured to Canada as part of a sting operation.

But Lindhouts case is one of a rare few, Currie said.

Its fairly infrequent, because the preference always is for crimes to be prosecuted in the country that they take place, or the country that most of the elements of the crime take place, because usually  not always but usually  its that country that has the most interest in prosecuting them.

Joshua Boyle, Caitlan Coleman and their three children arrived in Canada on Oct. 13, ending a five-year-long kidnapping ordeal. (courtesy: Pakistan Defence/Facebook)

On Friday, Boyle called for the Taliban leadership to punish his Haqqani captors. A day later he told The Canadian Press that he wanted to give Taliban leaders a final chance to actually try to rectify these crimes against humanity, before we turn to other outlets to seek our justice.

The Taliban denied Boyles allegations that his wife was raped and his daughter killed while being held by the Haqqani.

Its not yet clear whats happened to everyone involved in Boyles kidnapping. He has described his rescue last Wednesday as involving a shootout. His father, Patrick Boyle, told reporters that some of the captors were killed. Joshua Boyle said in a video recorded before he left Pakistan that some of the other captors ran like cowards when the Pakistani military started shooting, though the conditions under which the video was shot are unclear.

Should they be caught elsewhere, they could be extradited to Canada under treaties held between the countries. Alternately, they could be brought to Canada under less conventional means like a sting operation, as was the case for one of Lindhouts accused captors.

Federal justice officials must weigh a number of considerations when determining whether to prosecute in Canada, Currie said.

It simply needs to be worked out which country has the greatest interest in prosecuting, he said. Then, it has to be determined whether its even feasible to bring the trial abroad.

Officials must also decide whether its worth it to have the trial here.

How many people will need to be transported to Canada? Are most of the witnesses in the country where the crime occurred? Will physical evidence need to be brought over? Will testimony or evidence need to be translated into another language?

There are costs associated with the answers to these questions, Currie said, meaning it can sometimes be more expensive to prosecute a foreign case in Canada.

Its unclear whether the Canadian government is considering trying to prosecute any of the surviving kidnappers. Justice officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer declined to say whether hed push for the kidnappers to be prosecuted in Canada, but said in a statement that members of the Haqqani network must be brought to justice.

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There are still two years to go until the next federal election, but last week media outlets and polling firms began releasing polls and prognosticating about who the next prime minister of Canada will be.

Horse race journalism is once again the order of the day, even though the horse race is meaningless this far out from an election.

Needless to say, a lot can and will change in two years  especially in politics. Political pundit might as well be a euphemism for fortune teller.

That said, it seems that while horse race journalism may sell, it also may play a negative role in our politics for a number of reasons.

First, coverage that focuses on polls and the race among party leaders starves voters of the coverage and information they need to reach independent opinions about both policies and candidates.

Second, the horse race lens portrays candidates as self-interested who focus only on winning and losing and not on what actually matters, something that has the effect of encouraging cynicism among voters.

And finally, as argued by Northeastern University Professor Matthew Nisbet, horse race journalism leads to coverage that seems to present a false equivalency in the treatment of meaningful issues and allows more readily for the emergence of so-called fake news.

This kind of journalism is often terribly uninformed and frequently misses the mark.

While developments over the past few months have been important, there is still a lot we dont know, making predictions all but impossible.

For example, we do now know who will be leading the major federal parties against Justin Trudeau. We have seen a generational shift in our political leaders, and this will undoubtedly change the tenor and tone of election 2019. As well, for the first time in Canadian history, a major federal party will be led by a visible minority.

However, among the unknowns are what risks are ahead for those in politics. They face many  some they can control and some that they cant.

Politicians can plan and predict how policy debates will roll out, they can strategize on how to best implement economic and environmental policy. But what they cant isolate are international flare-ups, natural disasters and unforeseen domestic crises. Voters are often swayed by how politicians react to unanticipated and often game-changing events, not by the mundane and predictable policy debates.

Politicians all face a fundamental problem  how to govern and plan for the next election, but retain the flexibility to react to an unforeseen event.

Prime Minister Trudeau and his Liberal team are well aware of what is needed in the lead-up to the 2019 election. They know that the prime minister is well-liked by a solid percentage of Canadians. They are also acutely aware that about 30 per cent of Canadians  the Conservative base  would never in a million years consider voting for him.

They know that the prime minister now faces a young, hip, new progressive on the left  NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh. As a result, Trudeau will need to fight to retain a percentage of traditional NDP voters who sealed the deal on his majority mandate in 2015. To do this, Trudeau needs to pursue a firmly progressive agenda and make things right on Indigenous reconciliation and the environment. Easier said than done.

Many commentators have outlined this very game plan for the Liberals, especially since Singh and his Conservative counterpart Andrew Scheers secured their positions at the helm of their parties.

But it is naive to believe that this is how 2019 will actually shake out.

Many things can and some will happen between now and then. The wild cards include:

A volatile U.S. president who could, without notice, fundamentally alter Canadas economic future, trading environment, military requirements, immigration policies and international standing.

A North Korea, also with a volatile leader, that supposedly has the capability to strike Canadas west coast.

The potential threat of the kind of domestic terrorism that has affected the domestic politics of other countries.

A complete collapse of the residential housing market.

And then there are the potential threats that are not even on the radar. All of this uncertainty makes trying to predict an election still two years away impossible.

So, next time you read a report or watch a panel speculating on who will win the 2019, consider the validity of what is presented and the possible negative impact such speculation may have on our politics.

And if you dont agree, just ask Secretary Clinton.

Jaime Watt is the executive chairman of Navigator Ltd. and a Conservative strategist.

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A few years ago, my preschool daughter decided to dress up as a Native princess for Halloween.

As far as I know, my family has no Native ancestry. But she wanted to dress up in a beautiful costume, and a Native princess was the most beautiful thing she could imagine.

Her teacher sent her home with instructions to change her costume because it was offensive.

This left her baffled.

I think its beautiful, she said.

I think its beautiful, too. I told her, trying to explain the teachers thought process in terms a four-year-old might understand. But some people might think its offensive because youre not really a Native princess.

But why cant I dress up as one? she asked.

I didnt have a good answer because, frankly, I disagreed with the teacher.

The message my daughter got was that she could not pretend  could not even imagine herself  to be a Native person. She got the message that a barrier existed between herself and the Native princess she wanted to be  the barrier of race. And nothing could surmount that barrier. Not even a childs imagination.

This is a horrible message to send to our children.

Now a French school board in Ontario, Conseil scolaire Viamonde, is proposing that children should not wear Halloween costumes that portray cultures outside of their own.

Essentially, the board is sending kids the message that a Jamaican boy cant imagine himself a ninja. A Latino girl cant dress up as a coureur des bois. And an Ojibwa child cant pretend to be a gondolier.

The board is saying it is better to stifle imagination than to believe that we share enough common humanity that we might be able, just for a day, to imagine ourselves as someone else.

It might be tempting to shake this off as a tempest in a teapot. But its just the latest manifestation of a movement that is gaining a dangerous grip over Canadian intellectual, educational and artistic circles.

This movement holds that any person who seeks to portray a person of another race or culture is committing the unforgivable offence of cultural appropriation.

This movement attempts to force us to define ourselves by our racial heritage. Its a highly dangerous movement, especially in a multicultural society like Canada.

In a multicultural society, its absolutely necessary that we find the common humanity in all people, not only in theory, but in our daily lives. We have to approach each person as an individual, not as a member of a race, ethnicity, or culture that is often different from our own.

When the United Nations proclaimed the International Day of Yoga in 2016, renowned spiritual leader Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev said that yoga is Indias gift to the world.

Thats a beautiful thought: to view the best aspects of our many human cultures as gifts to the world. Not as possessions of an exclusive bloodline.

Lets fight back against the intellectual movement that seeks to confine each of us into a tiny ethnic box.

Lets fight for our right to define ourselves as human beings, rather than representatives of a particular race.

Lets fight for the right of our children to imagine themselves in someone elses shoes.

Kate Jaimet is an Ottawa-based writer and journalist.

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By now the sordid details of Harvey Weinsteins alleged sexual assaults on numerous actresses and models, first reported in the New York Times and The New Yorker, are well-known.

What is now the subject of much angst and analysis is how to end the culture of silence that enabled the famous producer to get away with such appalling behaviour for three decades.

As it turns out, Weinstein was the proverbial wolf in sheeps clothing. Even as he demeaned women he was hiding out in plain sight among rich and famous actors, producers and politicians playing the role of a liberal and  brace yourself  a feminist.

Consider the irony that his Weinstein Company once distributed a documentary, The Hunting Ground, on campus sexual assault. Or that he and his family have contributed more than $1.4 million to the Democratic Party since 1992, including $46,350 to Hillary Clinton. Or that he employed Malia Obama, daughter of former president Barack Obama, as an intern. Or that he helped endow a university chair in the name of Gloria Steinem.

All the while, as at least 32 women, including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow, now publicly attest, he was luring women to hotel rooms on the pretext of having a business meeting and attacking them in a disgustingly abusive manner. At least three of his accusers allege he raped them, including actress Rose McGowan who has taken to Twitter to out him. (Weinstein doesnt deny the encounters, only any allegations of non-consensual sex.)

Most disturbingly, we now know these allegations are likely only the tip of the iceberg because of the culture of silence that surrounds sexual assault.

What this story, then, is really about is a society where money and power can still buy silence and with it indemnity and, ultimately, impunity.

Not only has that old saw of the casting couch not changed in 2017, some might argue the working world is becoming more dangerous for women as lawyers create legal walls that the powerful can hide behind.

That must end. And a close look at how Weinstein  and others like him  create that cone of silence should help pave the way to prevent future predatory acts by the powerful.

First, his board of directors (they were all men at The Weinstein Company) did not act on allegations of sexual harassment that came to their attention. Second, the companys human resources department existed to protect managers, not employees. Third, lawyers silenced employees with non-disclosure agreements, victims with gag-settlements, and Weinstein intimidated those who might still be thinking of protesting with threats of expensive lawsuits and ruined careers.

Sadly, The Weinstein Company is not alone in covering up salacious behaviour among its top executives and talent. Earlier this year the New York Times revealed that Fox News not only stood by TV anchor Bill OReilly as he faced a series of allegations of sexual harassment, but it made some of the payouts to women in exchange for them agreeing not to pursue litigation or speak about the accusations. Two of those payouts came after Fox dismissed CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment and claimed it would not tolerate that behavior in others.

Finally, the legal system too often keeps women from speaking out for fear they wont be believed. Even when there was a tape, as there was with Weinstein from a 2015 sting operation, prosecutors failed to go after him.

Still, since the revelations first appeared in the Times, actions have been taken that are cause for hope.

Weinstein has been fired by the late-to-act remaining directors at The Weinstein Company, his wife, Georgina Chapman, has left him and taken their kids, he has been publicly condemned by actors like George Clooney and politicians like Hillary Clinton, and companies including Apple and Amazon are cutting ties with him and his company. And police in New York and London are reopening investigations to see if charges should be laid against him.

So will the outing of Weinstein make a difference to a womans right to work without fear of sexual harassment or assault?

Happily, yes. First, there is a snowball effect from women, like McGowan, who refuse to be intimidated or shamed into silence. Even faced with a legal system with a dismal record of holding men to account, women have come forward in the last two years to denounce powerful men like Donald Trump, Bill Cosby, and Weinstein in the U.S. and Jian Ghomeshi in Canada.

Further hope can be found in the fact we are now living in a world that openly and honestly debates rape culture and where the media, at least, are calling out sexual predators.

In Canada there is hope, too, in legislation that requires universities to establish sexual assault protocols and new judges to take training in how to handle sexual assault cases.

It also helps when famous men like Canadian actor Ryan Gosling take a stand with women and point out that Weinsteins behaviour is not acceptable or isolated, but is a systemic problem.

So it is. But the tide is shifting. At last women are speaking out  and not just being heard, but being believed. Thats progress.

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Abortion laws part of population decline, Letters, Oct. 13

I read with interest the letter by Dan Di Rocco from Markham, which postulates that Canada is underpopulated due to the availability of abortion. He states: The lack of any law restricting abortion has helped depopulate Canada, relatively speaking, accounting for the lack of young people and a dangerously aging population.

Since when has Canadas population declined? He goes on to propose a solution to our purported problem: One of the best ways is to increase immigration but another excellent way to guarantee a future is to permit children in the womb to see the light of day.

While Canada, as a land mass, is underpopulated when compared to other land masses on this planet, the author totally fails to take into account that the planet is overpopulated. That is why people are starving. That is why children are born and soon perish of malnutrition or worse.

I find it incredibly callous for anyone to suggest that Canada should begin a policy of contributing heavily to the destruction of human life on this planet by increasing birth rates while decreasing the availability of financial assistance to impoverished nations to control their burgeoning and unsustainable population growth.

J. Brunins, Britt, Ont.

As a woman, I take great offence to Mr. Di Roccos assertion that abortion laws are the culprit of a declining population in Canada.

Women are not walking wombs whose sole purpose is to repopulate Canada. We are people, just like men, who have desires, goals and wants beyond having children. Women overwhelmingly use other methods to prevent pregnancy, such as birth control pills, IUDs and condoms. Abortions are not something women take lightly, and are not used for birth control.

People in general are getting married later, having children later and therefore having fewer children. We should not put the blame on women and abortion laws, when society is changing and people are focusing on education and securing a career before marriage and children.

We should also be encouraging other countries to put womens reproductive health and family planning at the forefront.

Lauren Saville, Toronto

Dan Di Roccos argument against access to abortion has a certain logic, but it appears to be based on the faulty and offensive hidden assumption that women have a duty to make babies for the good of society.

They have no such duty.

Laws against abortion generally oppress women.

If a stable or declining population is considered to be undesirable (and it is not clear that this is the case), then strategies to address the situation should not depend on the oppression of women.

Gregory Hill, Aurora

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A new round of threats from North Korea is expected to bolster weapons makers like Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) - Get Free Report and Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) - Get Free Report Friday.

North Korea has threatened to detonate a hydrogen bomb in the Pacific Ocean, launching the next salvo in the war of words the rogue nation has been engaged in with the west since President Donald Trump took office.

Lockheed Martin shares were up 0.47% to $309.46 in midday trading.

Northrop Grumman shares were rising 0.22%.

Boeing Inc. (BA) - Get Free Report shares rose 0.61%.

Raytheon Co. (RTN) - Get Free Report shares climbed 0.02%.

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Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. operates bookstores for college and university campuses, and K-12 institutions in the United States. It operates through three segments: Retail, Wholesale, and Digital Student Solutions. The company sells and rents new and used print textbooks, digital textbooks, and publisher hosted digital courseware through physical and virtual bookstores, as well as directly to students through Textbooks.com. It also offers First Day and First Day Complete access programs; BNC OER+, a turnkey solution for colleges and universities, that offers digital content, such as videos, activities, and auto-graded practice assessments; and general merchandise, including collegiate and athletic apparel, school spirit products, lifestyle products, technology products, supplies, graduation products, and convenience items. In addition, the company sources, sells, and distributes new and used textbooks; and sells hardware and a software suite of applications that provides inventory management and point-of-sale solutions to approximately 350 college bookstores. Further, it offers direct-to-student subscription-based writing services; and bartleby, a direct-to-student subscription-based offering that includes textbook solutions, expert questions and answers, and writing and tutoring services. The company operates 805 physical college and university bookstores; 622 virtual bookstores; 8 True Spirit e-commerce websites; pop-up retail locations; 73 customized cafes and 11 stand-alone convenience stores; and a media channel for brands targeting the college demographic. Barnes & Noble Education, Inc. was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.
Juniper Networks, Inc. designs, develops, and sells network products and services worldwide. The company offers routing products, such as ACX series universal access routers to deploy high-bandwidth services; MX series Ethernet routers that function as a universal edge platform; PTX series packet transport routers; wide-area network SDN controllers; and session smart routers. It also provides switching products, including EX series Ethernet switches to address the access, aggregation, and core layer switching requirements of micro branch, branch office, and campus environments; QFX series of core, spine, and top-of-rack data center switches; and juniper access points, which provide Wi-Fi access and performance. In addition, the company offers security products comprising SRX series services gateways for the data center; Branch SRX family provides an integrated and next-generation firewall; virtual firewall that delivers various features of physical firewalls; and advanced malware protection, a cloud-based service and Juniper ATP. Further, it offers Junos OS, a network operating system; Contrail networking, which provides an open-source and standards-based platform for SDN; Mist AI-driven Wired, Wireless, and WAN assurance solutions to set and measure key metrics; Mist AI-driven Marvis Virtual Network Assistant, which identifies the root cause of issues; Juniper Paragon Automation, a modular portfolio of cloud-native software applications; and Juniper Apstra to automate the network lifecycle in a single system. Additionally, the company provides software-as-a-service, technical support, maintenance, and professional services, as well as education and training programs. It sells its products through direct sales, distributors, value-added resellers, and original equipment manufacturers to end-users in the cloud, service provider, and enterprise markets. The company was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California.
A 20-member team of state Department of Environmental Conservation employees and volunteers is traveling to California to help fight multiple wildfires that have caused significant damage and killed at least 40 people.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the firefighting team, which includes state DEC forest rangers, left New York Sunday morning. The crew will partner with California firefighting teams to extinguish the massive wildfires.

The New York team is expected to remain in California for two weeks.

"New Yorkers help our neighbors in their time of need, and we're proud to send these brave men and women to help battle these California wildfires," Cuomo said in a statement. "These individuals represent the very best of New York, and I look forward to their safe return."

The wildfires across northern California began last week and have burned 220,000 acres and destroyed 5,700 buildings, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

At least 40 people have died in the fires.

This will be the third time New York has deployed a firefighting team to the western U.S. this year. In July, state DEC employees and volunteers assisted operations to contain wildfires in Montana. A second team was sent to Montana after the first returned to New York.

"The work of DEC's wildfire-fighting crew is a prime example of how states can work together and share resources during times of adversity," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "I wish our crew a safe and successful trip to California and will welcome these brave men and women home with gratitude for their courageous work."

The costs for the New York team to travel to California will be paid by the U.S. Forest Service or reimbursed to the state, according to the governor's office.
Full coverage of the Delphi murders: Look back at 5 years of stories
Near new condition.

we will combine postage for multiple DVD purchases

Please check out my other listings for other great DVDs

Happy to combine postage :)
First, there are two very important factors that you have not specified. 1 - how many stars (*) do you want your hotel to have? Your options a 2, 3, 4, and almost 5 stars. 2 - How much are you willing to pay for a room? Prices run from about $us60 to about $us1700 per night. A much better recommendation can be made with these two questions answered.

"Ideally we would like to be on the beach"

Most of the beach area in Montego Bay is taken up by all inclusive resorts rated 4* and above. For the 2* and 3* hotels you will need to use a public beach or walk a distance or take a taxi.

"within easy walking distance of places to eat as we dont do AI when we travel."

This means that you probably are looking for a hotel on or near the 'hip strip' located between the airport and downtown Montego Bay.

"Or should I not worry about walking distance and just take taxi's?"

The higher the star rating of the hotel the more likely you will need to take a taxi. At the very low end of the 2* hotels you will also need to look to take a taxi as many are well off the beach and mainly in residential areas of the city.

To start you search for a non-AI hotel look at Half Moon at the upper end of the star and price ranges which has great rooms, great dining, and one of the better beaches in Montego Bay. Then look at Toby's Resort toward the lower end of the star and price ranges which is within walking distance of many places to eat, drink, and shop, and is across the street from a public beach.
Sounds good, but with that very early flight out of Cairns, you will need to have your final night in Cairns to be close to the airport.

Sydney: consider hiring a car and combining Blue Mountains, stay overnight in Leura and visit Jenolan Caves next day before returning to Sydney.

Hunter as a day trip is not my fave thing to do. A lot of boring driving and a very long day. If wine is your thing, visit a wine region close to Melbourne instead.

Cheers.
We hired this for a fly in to Alice Springs 2 week adventure and we only needed to bring our clothes really. I originally thought I was paying $122 a day for it (as I usually purchase travel insurance which covers care rental excess fees) but Britz had a tricky clause where the normal included liability cover didn't cover much for a $WD so i opted to pay extra for peace of mind as we wanted to some pretty rocky roads with the 4WD. This brought the cost up to $180 a day, we were still happy with that in the end given we weren't really paying for other accommodation and it was such a good set up. The 4WD Outback (Toyota Hilux) had all the gear required for this family of 4 to have a comfortable adventurous 2 weeks in Central Australia. The pull out Engel fridge was great as was the long pull out drawers. The tents were easy to set up and durable. Be aware that there is one central pole in the middle so if you packed your double blow up bed like us, you won't be able to use it! Luckily we tested our tent out at the cabin we stayed in the first night as they were soaking wet so it gave us a chance to dry them out. The staff member said 4 adults could comfortable sleep in them, but I don't see how, it was a squash with two primary school kids and two adults. The Britz staff kindly gave us an extra tent when we passed through on the 2nd day so we could spread out between 2 tents.The chairs provided were very comfortable. The portable burners were very low quality as we could hardly bring a kettle to the boil with them so ended up using the National Parks gas burners for most of our cooking. A good quality array of utensils and pots were provided, including pop down sink basin and mixing bowls. The sleeping mats were very thick and comfortable. Two of our were already slowly deflating though on the first night so we gave them to the kids which was fine to them and we used the good ones. The Britz staff member didn't seem interested to know which ones were punctured when we returned them (we had marked them with duct tape for identification) so I assume that they will go on to the next customers to experience! The car was very comfortable and great to 4WD in. The extra insurance costs were huge for a 4WD vehicle and are the only reasons I would look at another company if they offered a similar standard vehicle and set up. overall, we loved the car and set up and recommend it. We would hire it again for another off road adventure.
Anywhere within about 10km of the city is going to be fine. Brisbane has lots of cycle paths and walking tracks and many many parks any parks and green spaces.

Being close to the train line or the dedicated bus way is better than being near a bus stop that has to sit in traffic. If you can find somewhere close to a Citycat (ferry) stop, then that isan even nicer wa to come to work.

Toowong, Auchenflower, Taringa, St Lucia, Indooroopilly, Oxley, Wndsor, Wilston, Herston, Lutwyche, Gordong Park, Kedron, Clayfield, Bulimba, Coorparoo, West End, South Brisbane etc etc are all good. Tjis list is not exhaustive.

Cheers.
We are heading to the South/Central of Vietnam for 3 weeks March 2018. Last year we spent 3 weeks in the North and absolutely loved Tam Coc as we were able to cycle around and just see general life. So after suggestions of locations similar to that (quite, few local places to eat, half decent bicycles/e-bikes). We do have 3 children (they will be 3, 6 and 8 when we are there) though so still need somewhere that will have bike rentals that can cater to them. In Tam Coc our hotel had bikes with kids seats so it worked fine but now the eldest (or even 2 of them) would need his own. In Myanmar we had e-bikes which worked even better with the kids but I haven't come across much info on the use of them in Vietnam let alone in quieter areas.

All suggestions welcome for somewhere to just explore for 2-3 days please and thank you.
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What Should I Do on New Year's Eve?

How Will I Survive the Cold Weather?

Where are the Farmers Markets and Street Fairs?

What is there to see and do near WTC/SOL/Brooklyn Bridge/SI ferry?

What should I know about visiting the 9/11 Memorial and Museum?

What Is There to See and Do in Brooklyn?

How Do I Get to the Brooklyn Bridge?

What Is There to See and Do in Queens?

Exploring neighborhoods - where should I go and what should I see?

Which is the best? ESB or TOTR or OWO?

Which are the significant churches in Manhattan?

Hidden Gems in the city - not so touristy

How do I get from NYC to the Meadowlands and back?

I'm Getting Married in NYC...what do I need to do?

Should I Buy Knock-Off Purses?

What to Do with Kids and How to Do It?

What should we do at night -- especially with kids or under 21's?

Places to eat (and drink) with a view

Where is the Old FAQ?

Trip Reports: Families with Young Kids - Add yours!

Trip Reports: Groups of Friends - Add yours!

Trip Reports: Couples - Add yours!

Trip Reports: Families with Teenagers - Add yours!

Trip Reports: Solo Travelers - Add yours!

Trip Reports: Families of Adults - Add yours!
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Amy Carabba-Salazar, a former broadcast news anchor and journalist with a background in marketing, has been appointed CEO/president of the St. Helena Chamber of Commerce, effective Oct. 18.

Amy Carabba-Salazar is a renowned journalist with an extensive background in communications and a track record of implementing successful marketing campaigns, said Marcus Marquez, the chambers board chair.

I look forward to working with her to help St. Helenas local businesses thrive year-round.

Carabba-Salazar replaces Pam Simpson, who left the Chamber in August after six years as CEO/president.

According to the Chamber, Carabba-Salazar will be responsible for expanding digital resources for community members, strengthening Chamber operations, increasing membership, managing the flow of visitors, and driving marketing initiatives.

Im excited to join such an amazing, historic community, Carabba-Salazar said in a statement.

St. Helena is truly the heart of Napa Valley, with an incredible variety of wineries, restaurants, hotels and shops, many of which are multi-generational family businesses. My goal is to build genuine relationships and support sustainable economic growth through targeted, creative approaches to achieve tangible results for businesses.

Carabba-Salazar spent more than 12 years as a TV news anchor in markets such as San Diego, Las Vegas and most recently Sacramento with ABC News 10.

Her role as an award-winning journalist expanded outside of the television studio after she was hired to help market and promote local businesses, the Chamber said in a statement.

Additionally, for more than two years, she served as communications director in the social media world, where she was responsible for creative direction, brand management, product launches and campaign strategies.
Napa is good at handling disasters. It comes from practice.

Multiple earthquakes, more floods than you can count and, of course, these end-of-summer fires.

That said, last week was a doozy. Fires rampaged on three sides of the Napa Valley. Like a basin at a pig farm, the valley floor filled with a smothering stench.

Not to brag, but, yes, I did work 18 straight hours Monday as part of the Registers news team. I reported for work at midnight knowing I wouldnt go home until the next evening.

I wasnt unique. Many people, including public safety workers, endured crazier, even dangerous, shifts.

As I drove into town I wondered about my endurance. I hadnt missed a full nights sleep since I was in the army.

When I got home Monday night, I was lightheaded from sleep deprivation. Everything was surreal. The lack of electricity. The acrid murk. The discovery that Cheryl had packed her car for evacuation.

Her employers had called her off for the day, so she spent hours in our front yard, watching the Partrick Fire light on the hill as bulldozers cut fire lines and Cal Fire lit backfires.

Unnerving? You bet.

Neighbors we havent talked to in months joined her. They scrutinized the burning hillside with the intensity of a radiologist looking at X-rays. Would the malignancy spread or would Cal Fire zap it?

The optics were not reassuring.

We went to Browns Valley Market and bought sandwiches for dinner. We didnt want to open our refrigerator and let the dwindling cool out.

Eating at night in a house without electricity was not charmless. We ate by illuminated glass pumpkins.

When I went into the bathroom, I carried a pumpkin with me. Lacking hot water, I took a stone-cold shower. Like the army.

I should have crashed that night, but I couldnt. I was wired. Thats what listening to a police scanner at high volume for 18 hours does to you.

It didnt help when we heard footsteps on our porch. Cheryl confronted the stranger: it was her daughters boyfriend from Sonoma, checking up on us per Julias request.

Thirty minutes later, more footsteps. It was Josh, Cheryls son from Oakland making his own security check.

Why was this? Because Moms cellphone hadnt worked all day and her children had worked themselves into a state from watching all the dire fire news.

Cheryl was more than touched.

As we resettled ourselves in bed, I joked that Cheryls third child, Jonathan, was probably on his way from Sacramento.

Not a joke. I found his car parked on the street at daybreak.

Cheryl is the most-loved mom ever.

Neither of my out-of-county children made an effusive show of concern for dad. They know Im a journalist. In disasters, we are at our best.

The fires were unrelenting on Tuesday. Napa Countys situation became more dire.

That night I took to bed by 8:30. My sleep deficit was catching up with me.

Cheryl roused me at 9. Another man roaming the neighborhood.

He turned out to be a city worker going door to door, notifying Browns Valley residents of a possible evacuation that night if the winds shifted.

Damn that fire. Wed been saved Monday from the Partrick Fire, now it was coming back at us.

We lugged photo albums and other sentimentals out to our cars, then I said enough and went back to sleep. Rather, attempted sleep. The cause was hopeless.

I was a walking zombie on Wednesday. So much news to handle at work.

So many phone calls asking if I could help locate a loved one.

What a scene I encountered when I got home that evening. Cheryl had a sprinkler perched on top of the garage roof and all the irrigation running. She was irrigating the neighbors dry yard too.

The woman was at battle stations. She was more wired than me.

We werent evacuated that night. Or since. But oh the apprehension that hijacked our nervous system.

This isnt sustainable. Too many people have lost homes, too many people have been displaced.

Surely these fires will end. They cant burn everything twice, can they?
Rachel Lieberstein and Sam Ross have a wedding photo that captures more than just a pivotal moment in their lives.

The couple was married on Sunday, Oct. 8, with a reception at a home with a view of Atlas Peak.

Just as Rachel was doing the traditional dance with her father, former Napa County District Attorney Gary Lieberstein, guests saw a glow in the distance.

We started seeing the red glow from the hills and I thought it was a small fire in someones vineyard so we just kept dancing and didnt pay it too much attention at first, Rachel Lieberstein told Fox News. It wasnt until the flames jumped over the hill that we started wondering what, if anything, we should do.

Realizing the fire was spreading, the couple did a quick cake cutting and prepared for everyone to leave for safety. Police arrived shortly thereafter to advise an immediate evacuation. Guests left by about 10:15 p.m., Gary Lieberstein said.

But not before the wedding photographer, Jimmy Gideon, captured an unforgettable image: The couple kissing, with the outbreak of the Atlas fire in the background.

Looking at it now, Rachel Lieberstein says she feels Overwhelmed and a little naive that I just did not comprehend what was happening to us. I had just had the best night of my life with my husband.

The 120 guests scrambled down the hill to a parking lot out of harms way, taking what vehicles they could find.

We left without taking any of our wedding presents, our guestbook, wedding wine and I left barefoot; there wasnt any time at that point to find my shoes, she said.

The bride is the daughter of Gary and Patti Lieberstein of Napa. The groom is the son of Michael and Wendy Ross of Atlanta.

They decided to go ahead with their honeymoon and have been following the aftermath of the fire with great concern, her father said.

Rachel and Sam left their home with heavy hearts for family and community, Gary Lieberstein said. They are safe and on their honeymoon in New Zealand.

Rachel told FOX News that it is physically painful to follow the aftermath of the fire and it has been difficult sorting real information from the rampant rumors.

However, we are also so grateful that our friends and family are safe, that we have each other, that we have memories of our wedding that just include only pure happiness that have nothing to do with this nightmare that currently surrounds Napa County, she said.
- The NASA coalition has warned it will take actions to ensure supporters are not beaten up by anti-riot police

- Siaya Senator James Orengo has also said the demonstrations will go on daily

- He has warned President Uhuru Kenyatta of dire consequences over police brutality

Siaya Senator James Orengo has said NASA anti-IEBC demonstrations will kick off daily beginning Monday, October 16.

The Senator also warned President Uhuru Kenyatta that he will suffer consequences of police brutality meted on the Opposition supporters during the protests.

The NASA supporters have been holding demonstrations demanding reforms at the electoral commission ahead of the fresh election slated for October 26.

Orengo says the NASA demos will go on despite police brutality.Photo:Nation.

READ ALSO: Surprise,suprise! Waititu graduates with a Masters degree(photos)

The street protests have been happening thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Our protests continue from Monday and will go on every day. If the brutality against our people continues, we will not sit back and see our people being butchered, he said on Saturday, October 14.

READ ALSO: William Ruto claims to know why Raila flew to London

The Senator said NASA supporters will take actions to ensure self-defense against the police but did not elaborate how.

Several Opposition supporters have been shot dead by anti-riot police since the demos began while many others have been left with injuries.

READ ALSO: Uhuru rules out negotiations with Raila

We will take actions that will ensure the self-defense of our people against a marauding State. And we warn Uhuru Kenyatta to be aware that he is steadily driving the country towards the end of Kenya as we know it.He and his officers must be prepared to shoulder the consequences, added the Senator.

NASA leader Raila Odinga has pulled out of the fresh election citing refusal by the IEBC to meet several of his demands.

NASA demonstrators meet the wrath of anti-riot police

Source: TUKO.co.ke
We know that not everyone or even most of the many first responders will be able to stop by on Sunday. Some may be resting or with their families, others will doubtless be still serving and protecting our community, the school wrote in announcing the event. With this in mind, excess funds will be used to purchase Napa dining and beverage gift cards to add to handmade Thank You cards.
- Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has faulted the United Kingdom where Raila held a lecture on Friday, October 13

- In a video posted on his social media accounts, the controversial MP claimed that the Britons were hosting a war criminal

- He cited the recent anti-IEBC protests that turned violent as one of the key indicators that Raila was inciting Kenyans

- In his address, the MP who has spent cold nights in police cells for hate speech charges asked the international community to jump in and cart Raila off to the ICC

Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has asked the international community to cart off opposition leader Raila Odinga off to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

READ ALSO: Raila Odingas damning speech in London that will keep the country on high alert

Speaking in Kisii, Kuria faulted the United Kingdom for playing host to as he alleges , 'war criminal'.

" Britain should know that they are holding a war criminal and take action before he plunges Kenya into unforeseen chaos," Kuria said.

Kuria who previously spent nights at the police cells on account of incitement and hatespeech accused the international community of being biased.

Moses Kuriaa and the acting Cabinet Secretary Interior Fred Matiang'i in Nyaribari Chache. Photo: Facebook/Moses Kuria

He observed that it was out of order to hold some leaders responsible for their crimes while other were walking scot free.

He appeared to have been referring to an announcement by Raila that he had withdrawn from the presidential race since he has no faith in Kenya's electoral body.

READ ALSO: I will not sign form 24A as IEBC wished-Raila

This, according to the MP was proving to be chaotic for Kenya ahead of the much-anticipated repeat election.

"Anyone who tries to stop an election should be treated as a criminal, that is unlawful and perpetrators should meet justice," Kuria added.

In a separate incident, two Kenyans have instructed a Canadian law firm to have Fatou Bensouda- the ICC prosecutor launch investigations against Raila and Kalonzo Musyoka.

On Friday, October 13, the Watson Jacobs McCreary LLP- the Canadian law firm submitted papers to the office of the prosecutor at the ICC, the Standard reports.

Raila was last week holding a lecture at the Chatham House in London where he addressed among other things, the growing political tension in the country.

Raila during his lecture at Chatham House. Photo: Facebook/Raila Odinga

READ ALSO: Case against Raila, Kalonzo filed at the ICC

In the speech, Raila justified NASAs move as that which was done out of the fear of plunging the country into a crisis.

NASA demos unsuccessful as Matiang'i beefs up security:

Source: TUKO.co.ke
This week, Heather takes us to Yaounde, Cameroon where Manuel Wandji introduces us to the traditional Hausa talking drum. Ever heard of the kalangu? Oumarou demonstrates how this drum 'talks' in a variety of everyday life events. Of course we'll also hear another fabulous pan-African mix of music that comes from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mali, Kenya, Senegal, and Ghana.
A court in Pakistans Punjab province has sentenced three men of a minority religious group to death on charges of violating the countrys controversial blasphemy law.

Mubasher Ahmad, Ghulam Ahmed and Ehsan Ahmed were found guilty and convicted by the trial court Wednesday for insulting the prophet of Islam.

The men were tried under Section 295-B of Pakistans penal code, commonly referred to as the blasphemy law, which recommends either life imprisonment or the death penalty for anyone found guilty of deliberately insulting Islam.

The men were arrested in May 2014 in a remote village in Punjab province after residents filed a complaint with the police and accused the defendants of tearing down a religious poster.

Four men were arrested at the time. The fourth man, Khalil Ahmad, was shot dead by an angry man while in police custody just a few days after the incident.

Saleemuddin, a spokesperson for the Ahmadi community, told VOA that the charges against the defendants and the courts verdict were unfair.

The convicted men were trying to take down a poster, which had anti-Ahmadi slogans and text that urged the community to socially boycott the already persecuted Ahmadi community, Saleemuddin said.

We will challenge the trial courts decision in high court, he added.

Ahmadis consider themselves Muslims, but Pakistans state does not recognize them as such and labels them heretics. There are more than a half-million Ahmadis living in Pakistan under the constant threat of persecution.

The Ahmadi community "is one of the most mistreated communities in the country. They have had been a target of blasphemous charges, sectarian violence and target killings, said Mehdi Hasan, a prominent human rights activist in Pakistan.

Ahmadis a threat

The death sentence for the three individuals came just a few days after Muhammad Safdar, a prominent member of the ruling party and son-in-law of ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, publicly denounced Ahmadi community members as a threat to Pakistan and urged the countrys institutions not to hire them in the military or the civil service.

Safdars remarks stirred a debate in the country on the issue of minorities and their rights.

Pakistan Minister of the Interior Ahsan Iqbal, without mentioning Safdar by name, denounced the anti-minority rhetoric coming from politicians.

It is tragic to see hate speech against minorities in National Assembly. We believe in inclusive Pakistan. Pakistan respects all minorities, Iqbal said in a tweet.

Abuse of law

Blasphemy is a very sensitive issue in Pakistan. Weve seen several incidents where angry mobs killed those accused of committing blasphemy without giving them a right to face the trial, human rights activist Hasan told VOA.

Rights groups say the controversial blasphemy law has often been abused to settle personal vendettas and disputes. Due process is often ceremonial, the rights activists add, and decisions are often informed by the growing religious intolerance in the country.

Even if courts do drop charges against defendants, mobs and local residents attack them, and law enforcement authorities look the other way in most cases, the activists charge.

Social media posts

Nadeem James, a Christian, was sentenced to death last month in Punjab after the court established that he sent a blasphemous poem to a friend via WhatsApp, an instant message application.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a recent report said 15 people were arrested on charges of blasphemy in 2016, including 10 Muslims and five members of religious minorities.

In April 2017, Mashaal Khan, a journalism student, was accused of posting blasphemous content online and was beaten to death by fellow students at Abdul Wali Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Pakistans government is being criticized for strictly enforcing the blasphemy laws.

In April 2017, the government used newspapers and mobile phone services to warn its citizens not to post or upload any blasphemous materials on social media.

The government has also reportedly encouraged people to report those who violate the blasphemy law.

VOAs Urdu service contributed to this report.
Almost the entire cohort of chicks from an Adelie penguin colony in the eastern Antarctic was wiped out by starvation last summer in what scientists say is only the second such incident in over 40 years.



Researchers said Sunday the mass die-off occurred because unusually large amounts of sea ice forced penguin parents to travel farther in search of food for their young. By the time they returned, only two out of thousands of chicks had survived.

Not only did the chick starve but the partner [who stayed behind] also had to endure a long fast, said Yan Ropert-Coudert, a marine ecologist with the French science agency CNRS.



Ropert-Coudert, who leads the study of seabirds at the Dumont D'Urville Antarctic research station, said the Adelie colony there numbers about 18,000 pairs who have been monitored since the 1960s. A similar breeding loss was observed for the first time in the 2013/2014.



It is unusual because of the size of the population concerned, he said in an email to The Associated Press. Zero breeding success years have been noted before elsewhere, but never for colonies of this size.



Sea ice extent in the polar regions varies each year, but climate change has made the fluctuation more extreme.



The environmental group WWF, which supported the research, urged governments meeting in Hobart, Australia, this week to approve a new marine protection area off East Antarctica. Rod Downie, head of polar programs for the group's British branch, said the impact of losing thousands of chicks was dramatic for an otherwise hardy species such as Adelie penguins.



It's more like Tarantino does Happy Feet, with dead penguin chicks strewn across a beach in Adelie Land, he said.



Ropert-Coudert said creating a protection zone in the D'Urville Sea-Mertz region, where the colony is located, wouldn't prevent larger-than-usual sea ice, but it might ease the pressure on penguins from tourism and over-fishing.
In Australia, a drive is on to restore the identity and culture of the countrys native, non-European peoples. New South Wales is the first state to pass laws to recognize and revive indigenous languages.

Dozens of languages and dialects are thought to have been lost since European colonization in the late 18th century. They were the target of deliberate efforts by Australian authorities to eradicate languages considered inferior to English.

About 250 First Nation languages existed when British settlers arrived in the late 18th century, but only about half are thought to exist today. Campaigners say that reviving them is not about nostalgia but restoring cultural pride and identity.

Center of excellence

The New South Wales Aboriginal Affairs Minister Sarah Mitchell said new legislation would help them to be re-awakened and nurtured.

The laws will ask a panel of First Nation linguists to help guide official policy, and a new center of excellence will also be set up.

Ray Kelly, an indigenous academic at Australias University of Newcastle, says it is a momentous time.

This is a magnificent day, he said. Its (the legislation) genesis is 30 years, 40 years old, so people have been talking about the rights for language and the protection of Aboriginal languages for so long.

But indigenous elders have also cautioned politicians not to exert too much control over the preservation of ancient languages.

Let Aboriginals lead

Murray Butcher said it is important that the power lies with Aboriginal communities, not parliament.

Lets do something right and help us save our languages. Put the power back into our people to save our languages and let us control our own destiny, Butcher said.

Aboriginal languages date back thousands of years and are not simply about communication. They are repositories of ancient beliefs and customs, and a vital part of the living history of indigenous Australians.

First Nations people, or native Australians, make up just more than 3 percent of Australias national population. They suffer disproportionately high rates of ill-health, early death, unemployment and imprisonment.
After more than six decades of moderate and centrist governments, Austria appears to be shifting to the right after conservative Sebastian Kurz and his People's Party won Sunday's parliamentary election.

With almost all the votes counted, the People's Party took nearly 32 percent of the vote while the far-right anti-immigrant Freedom Party won 27 percent. It was barely ahead of the ruling Social Democrats, who finished with a little less than 27 percent. They had been in a coalition with the conservatives.

The 31-year-old Kurz, Austria's current foreign minister, will likely become Europe's youngest leader.

"Today is not the day of triumph over others, but today is our chance for real change in this country," he told cheering supporters Sunday night.

Short of an absolute majority, Austrian political observers say Kurz is likely to form a coalition with the Freedom Party and send Austria on a right-wing path after decades of centrism. Many Austrians have been complaining about stagnant leadership.

The Freedom Party has been working to shake off its neo-Nazi image. The last time it was in the Austrian government was 17 years ago when the European Union imposed sanctions on Austria.

Immigration dominated the 2017 campaign. The People's Party and Freedom Party called for a tougher immigration policy, including cuts in social services for migrants and asylum seekers, most of whom are Muslim.

Kurz also campaigned for tax cuts and reduced EU regulations, although observers don't see Austria leaving the EU.
Officials in Pakistan say a roadside bomb attack Sunday killed at least four soldiers and wounded several others near the Afghan border.

The troops were part of a search party deployed in the Kurram tribal district to hunt down the handlers of a kidnapped American-Canadian family Pakistani forces rescued from captivity last week on a tip from U.S. intelligence, the army said.

The Pakistani Taliban took credit for plotting the bomb attack and gave a much higher death toll for government soldiers than what was officially reported. The militant group often issues inflated casualty tolls for such attacks.

American Caitlan Coleman, 31, her Canadian husband Joshua Boyle, 34, and their three young children were freed Wednesday hours after kidnappers transported them into Kurram from across the porous Afghan border.

Upon arriving in Toronto, Boyle revealed the captors, members of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, had raped his wife and killed one of couples four children, an infant daughter.



The Afghan Taliban Sunday rejected Boyles charges as false and fabricated, saying they are enemy-driven propaganda to defame the insurgent group. In a statement to the media, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Coleman had a "natural miscarriage."

Pakistani officials said the driver and three armed men escorting the hostages fled to a nearby Afghan refugee camp after troops shot out the tires of their vehicles.

U.S. President Donald Trump praised and thanked Pakistani leaders for rescuing the family and described the action as a positive moment in bilateral relations, which through the years have been periodically marred by mutual distrust and suspicion.
Evacuees from a number of counties in California have been allowed to return home as fire fighters say they've turned a corner in containing blazes that have devastated the state.

"Conditions have drastically changed from just 24 hours ago, and that is definitely a very good sign. And it's probably a sign we've turned a corner on these fires,'' said Daniel Berlant, spokesman for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.



"We're starting to see fires with containment numbers in the 50 and 60 percent, so we're definitely getting the upper hand on these fires," he added.



Belia Ramos of the Napa County Board of Supervisors spoke to reporters Sunday morning for what she said would be the last time as Napa County, best known for producing wine, moved into recovery mode.

This is our last planned press conference and the reason for that is that we are now switching over towards recovery mode. Its a day I have looked forward to for a week. A week ago this started as a nightmare and the day weve dreamed of has arrived," Ramos said Sunday.

But fire fighters across the state are still battling flames. The death toll rose to at least 40 on Saturday, with at least 16 fires burning. One side of the fire zone stretched for 160 square kilometers, destroying some 5,700 homes and businesses. Some 100,000 people have evacuated their homes. But some have stayed behind.

"It was wind driven. Wind driven is basically powerful winds started pushing and intensifies the fire," said Captain Jimmy Bernal of the Rancho Fire District.

The flames have crept into the town of Sonoma, a name synonymous with the California wine industry, forcing 400 households in the city of 11,000 to evacuate.

The strong, dry Santa Ana winds that blow down from the mountains every late summer and early fall are creating conditions that make the fires spread easily. Some gust to 64 kilometers per hour, pushing the flames over fire breaks dug by firefighters.

More than 9,000 people  many of them exhausted  are fighting the California wildfires, both local fire personnel and thousands of volunteers, who have poured into the area over the last few days.

The firefighters have come from other parts of California, and as far away as Australia.
Egyptian security forces have foiled a militant attack on army installations in the Sinai Peninsula, a day after half a dozen policemen were killed by insurgents in the region, a military statement said.



A statement by the Egyptian army on Saturday said a group of insurgents breached a heavily-guarded army installation in the city of el-Arish in northern Sinai to carry out a terrorist attack.



The militants, disguised in Egyptian army uniforms, were armed with grenades and firearms and carrying explosive belts  used in suicide attacks  Tamer El-Refaie, a spokesperson for the Egyptian army, said in the statement.



Rafaie did not provide the number of militants killed in the attack. But at least one militant was killed after his explosive belt went off.



The attack came a day after six policemen were killed and another four wounded in a militant attack on a checkpoint in the outskirts of el-Arish.



Egypt has been battling an increasingly violent insurgency in parts of the northern Sinai, which borders the Gaza Strip and Israel. The militant campaign accelerated after the Egyptian military overthrew elected Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.



State of emergency extended

The country has been under months-long state of emergency. Last week, President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi extended the state of emergency for another three months, which had already been extended once.



Several militant groups, including Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, which has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, are active in large swaths of the peninsula and frequently target police and security forces.



In July, Islamic State affiliates killed 23 Egyptian soldiers in a remote checkpoint in Sinai.



The volatile security situation in Sinai has also provided a fertile ground for the emergence of IS in the region. The group has also targeted local Coptic Christians in Sinai, causing more than 100 Christian families to flee from el-Arish.



Analysts say that IS and other militant groups capitalize on the Egyptian regime's alienating policies towards the local Bedouin tribes in Sinai. Locals accuse the government forces of indiscriminate bombing of their villages. Some militants hide among the local population and use locals as human shields.

Furthermore, Sinai is one of the most underdeveloped regions in Egypt and has largely been neglected by the central government in Cairo. Local tribes have repeatedly protested the harsh military actions and the poor economic situation with which they are faced.
Thirteen months ago, South Korea's defense intranet was hacked for the first time, and the military accused North Korea of infecting hundreds, possibly thousands of computers with malware.

In December 2016, Han Min-koo, then defense minister, told lawmakers that the incident was not critical.

Now, the latest reports suggest that North Korean hackers might have acquired the so-called Operation Plan 5015 during the September 2016 cyberattack.

Oplan 5015, which, according to news reports, includes plans for the "decapitation" of North Korea's leadership, is the key military operational blueprint drawn up by Washington and Seoul on how to react in the event of a North Korean invasion.

Pentagon officials have declined to comment on whether sensitive or secret information was leaked as a result of the hacking.

Kenneth Geers, a NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence ambassador and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative, told VOA's Korean service it was "entirely possible" that these plans had been hacked and that North Korea might have received help from Russia or China in obtaining them.

Geers also said that Moscow and Beijing seemed to be closely aligned with Pyongyang on cyberwarfare, as they want to go beyond testing the traditional U.S. military and assess its cyberwar capability.

Geers' 20 years of experience in the U.S. government includes time in the U.S. Army, at the National Security Agency and at the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He has also worked as a senior global threat analyst at FireEye, a California cybersecurity company.

Geers discussed the latest developments in North Korea's cyberwarfare capabilities with VOA earlier this week. His remarks have been edited for clarity and length:

VOA: South Korean lawmaker Lee Cheol-hee, a member of the ruling Democratic Party and a member of the parliamentary national defense committee, said that North Korean hackers stole the U.S. and South Korean war plan, Operation Plan 5015. Does the North have the capacity to do this?

Kenneth Geers: I think that once you digitize information it is very hard to hang on to it. That is true for everyone. The number of people who might have had access to these war plans and secrets is not low  so that increases the odds [they will get out]. Basically internet usage of cyberspace has made this a golden era for espionage. You can relatively easily hack into systems large enough to have multiple vulnerabilities and [find] timely information. North Koreans know well who in South Korea is intelligence personnel, who is involved in military planning, and who is communicating with the United States. They know whom to target.

VOA: Are you saying North Korea hacked this plan?

Geers: It is entirely possible these plans were hacked and stolen. And it is possible that North Korea got help from Russia or China because their geopolitical interests align with North Korea's on occasion. Challenging the geopolitical interests and the United States, or just testing the cyberwar defenses and capabilities, is also a possibility. There is only one internet and cyberspace, and we are all in it. That is what has allowed North Korean attacks, even attacks on the White House, denial of service attacks.

VOA: Is it easy to hack this kind of classified documents?

Geers: This case, it could be that these plans might be in possession to 500 to 1,000 people, potentially. Unless it is really tightly held secret, it is hard to hang on to it. We have seen in the past that even the NSA and the CIA get hacked and information released in WikiLeaks. Supersecret three-letter agencies can be hacked. It might not be directly through internet.

VOA: Why does North Korea hack systems?

Geers: North Korea, they are under sanctions, they have a budget shortfall like every other government, so they might use cyberattacks to steal money, because money, as is everything is now, has been digitized. So it might purely be to gain money in a country that is actually very poor with nuclear weapons. That is one possibility. But number two, they really do want to know if they are about to be attacked  they are going to want the plans. They need the classified military plans of foreign nations  in this case, the United States, Korea and Japan.

VOA: According to news reports, a major Russian telecommunications company has begun providing an internet connection to North Korea. What do you think about this?

Geers: I do think that Russia and China have geopolitical interests that may align with North Korea on occasion. There is always a collaboration  like "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" on occasion. That dynamic certainly could mean that Russia and China are involved in North Korea to a greater extent than we know. Russians would love to know the extent of U.S. capabilities in attacking what is called a hard target. So do the Chinese. It could very well be possible that they have personnel in North Korea that are studying our moves.

VOA: Are you suggesting that Russia, China and North Korea are aligned with each other in the battlefield of cyberwar, just like they were in the Cold War?

Geers: That's right. There's going to be a cooperation going on between allies. To some degree, traditional allies, they are going to have to work together in cyberspace. I think countries with an interest in supporting North Korea, even if it is only to slow down  let's say, in their perspective  the U.S. hegemony, or superpower status within Asia or within Europe. In other words, China or Russia, they might well align with Iran or North Korea on cyberissues as well as on a wide range of other issues.

VOA: Do you think there is a chance for North Korea to win a cyberwar with the U.S., South Korea or any other Western countries?

Geers: No. I think that North Korea would be a fairly easy target because it has fewer nodes, is easier to surveil, deny service or manipulate eventually. North Korea's threat would be pounding artillery, trying to fire missiles to Tokyo or the U.S. Now, if they have the nuclear bomb, that's threatening as well. But I think in the cyber perspective, they would go down quickly.

VOA: Where would a cyberwar be fought?

Geers: Cyberwar genuinely takes place all the time, even in peacetime. It involves espionage, and the modification of systems that will facilitate denial of service or scrambling of data that would lead to confusion or fear, uncertainties, doubts, or [the] inability to have a situational awareness over the battlespace during a real conflict.

VOA: Some argue that North Korea's high failure rate for missile launches might be due to the U.S. or other countries' cyberattacks. Is this possible?

Geers: Cyber basically is the key to everything today, because any kind of advanced weaponry will use information technology not only to scan the battlefield and understand where targets are, but also to defend themselves from inbound attacks as well. In the case of missiles, you might block critical information that they need in order to fly in the right direction. You can scramble information, too. You can get into computers and scramble the data. You can actually tell the missiles to fire in the wrong direction, or launch an attack on an adversary's own city.

VOA: So you can change the missile target points by manipulating the data?

Geers: Yes. This is possible because [the computer] is just doing what it is told. Applications or the processing power of the computer and the industrial control systems around it are simply following orders, going to latitude and longitude points on the Earth. In theory, if foreign actors could get inside that information loop, they can change the target, and the computer might have no way of knowing whether that is the right or wrong target. Computers just respond to commands. In that way, they can be very smart and very stupid at the same time.

VOA: So you are saying the U.S. or other countries can interfere with North Korea's missile system?

Geers: Yes. Western countries  in this case, South Korea, the U.S. or Japan  in fact, they would be fools not to have a wide range of options addressing North Korean missile threats. Some of them look traditional and some of them are probably quite experimental. And even China [can do this], because China may have some interests in keeping the North Korean threat below a certain threshold.

VOA: Are there instances where a cyberattack has been used in a military operation?

Geers: [Israel bombed] a nuclear reactor in Iraq in [1981] and Syria in 2007. They have threatened to do it today in Iran, but it is very unclear if it might work. But in the two previous cases, it was the surprise attack model, in which planes flew under the radar into Iraq. In 2007, it is not known, but it is assumed by analysts, that a cyberattack played a role in turning off Syrian air defenses so that Israeli planes could fly into Syria and destroy the target without being seen. The Middle East provides good analogy for the Korean Peninsula because war could start quickly in either place.

The Stuxnet attack was a Western attack on the Iranian nuclear weapons program. It illustrates the amazing degree of power of a cyberattack. You are telling a system to destroy itself physically, because this is an industrial system, but controlled basically by computers operating Windows and the applications that manage it. So in an aggressive attack scenario, you can change code so that machine would destroy itself, and yet code is also telling the human manager of the system that everything is OK.



This report originated on VOA's Korean service.
Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States are set to resume four-way discussions Monday in Oman in a renewed bid to seek a politically negotiated settlement to the Afghan war.

The meeting of the so-called Quadrilateral Cooperation Group, or QCG, in the Gulf state is taking place after a gap of 16 months. Senior foreign ministry officials from the four nations will lead their respective delegations at the talks.

The objective is to bring the warring factions within Afghanistan to the negotiating table. It is upon all members of QCG to meet and decide on how to move forward in this context, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Nafees Zakaria said on the eve of Mondays meeting.

The QCG was launched in January 2016. The aim was for members to use their respective influence on the Afghan government and the Taliban insurgency to nudge them to the negotiating table.

But the peace process broke down after a fifth session in May of that year, when a U.S. drone attack killed the Taliban Chief, Mullah Akhtar Mansoor, while he was traveling through the Pakistani province of Baluchistan.

The insurgents reluctance to engage in peace talks with the Afghan government and Kabuls strained relations with Islamabad also hampered previous QCG sessions from making any significant headway.

While officials have reported a thaw in bilateral relations following recent high-level meetings between Afghan and Pakistani leaders, the Taliban has reiterated its stance of not engaging in peace negotiations with Kabul until all American and NATO forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

A senior insurgent official told VOA his group has nothing to do with the QCG process.

Nobody has contacted us, nor are we participating in this meeting, the official said requesting anonymity as he was not authorized to publicly discuss Taliban political matters.

The Islamist insurgency currently controls or contests more than 40 percent of Afghan territory and continues to make battlefield gains despite intensified ground operations and airstrikes by U.S.-backed Afghan security forces.

Pakistani officials blamed Washington for scuttling the four-way process by eliminating Mansoor.

For their part, Afghan and U.S. officials complained Islamabad was not doing enough to prevent the Taliban from using sanctuaries on Pakistani soil to orchestrate insurgent attacks in Afghanistan, charges Pakistan denied.



Diplomatic sources told VOA that participating nations this time have agreed to revive the QCG process with a commitment to maintain secrecy of its proceedings.
There is more trouble for disgraced U.S. movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday he has started the process to strip Weinstein of the Legion of Honor -- the highest honor in France and one of the world's most prestigious awards.

France presented Weinstein the honor in 2012 in recognition of his efforts to promote French and other European cinema around the world.

Four French actresses are among the 13 who accuse Weinstein of sexually assaulting or harassing them over several decades.

This latest blow against Weinstein came a day after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hands out the Oscars, voted to "immediately expel" Weinstein from the academy.

The vote by the 54 member Board of Governors was overwhelming, saying it wants "to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over."

It called the allegations that Weinstein traded professional favors for sexual ones "a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society."

The British film academy suspended Weinsteins membership last week.

Weinstein was fired by the board of his production company, the Weinstein Co., following an explosive New York Times report just days earlier, in which 13 women accused him of sexually harassing or assaulting them.

History of transgressions

At least three women accuse him of rape. Among the actresses who have leveled accusations of sex abuse against Weinstein are such major stars as Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosanna Arquette.

The New Yorker magazine reports 16 current and former employees The Weinstein Co. and Miramax, which Weinstein co-founded with his brother Bob, either witnessed of knew of Weinsteins sexual abuse. According to the report, all of those employees said Weinsteins sexual deviancy was widely known within the two companies.

The 65-year-old Weinstein oversaw production of many popular films over the past 30 years, including Shakespeare in Love, Pulp Fiction, Sex, Lies and Videotape, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting and The Butler.

Weinstein said in a statement "the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it." Later, he claimed some of accusations reported in the media were false and said he would sue for defamation.

Weinstein has been a big donor in recent years to Democratic politicians in the U.S., including twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. But with the sexual harassment revelations, Democratic political figures scrambled over the weekend to distance themselves from the disgraced filmmaker.

Several Democrat politicians, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren, have promised to donate money they received from Weinstein to charities supporting women.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars, has ruled it will expel the powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein over allegations of sexual abuse.

The 54-member Board of Governors met Saturday to discuss the allegations and voted overwhelmingly to immediately expel the mogul famous for his ability to push small, well-made pictures into the Oscars race.

In a statement, the board said the decision to oust Weinstein was well in excess of the required two-thirds majority. It also said the expulsion was made to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over.

It called the allegations that Weinstein traded professional favors for sexual ones a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society.

WATCH: Observers Looking to Hollywood to Take Lead on Sexual Harassment

Allegations

Weinsteins expulsion comes after allegations emerged that Weinstein sexually harassed or assaulted a number of women over the past three decades.

Earlier this week, the British film academy said Weinsteins membership in the organization had been suspended, effective immediately.

Weinstein was fired Monday by the board of his production company, the Weinstein Co., following an explosive New York Times report just days earlier, in which 13 women accused him of sexually harassing or assaulting them.

On Wednesday, French actress Lea Seydoux and model and actress Cara Delevingne joined the fast-growing list of Weinstein accusers.

Meanwhile, celebrity news website TMZ reported that Weinsteins daughter called 911 Wednesday morning to say her dad was suicidal.

When officers responded to the call, Weinsteins daughter Remy, told them no suicidal statements were made, and it was purely a family dispute. TMZ also reports Weinstein planned to leave the country for a rehab center sometime later that day.

New Yorker interview

On Tuesday, another report from The New Yorker emerged, in which three women accused Weinstein of raping them. Actresses Asia Argento and Lucia Evans went on the record in The New Yorker story to accuse Weinstein of raping them, while another woman chose to remain anonymous.

Among the accusers are some of Hollywoods top stars, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosanna Arquette.

The New Yorker story said 16 current and former employees at The Weinstein Co. and Miramax, which Weinstein co-founded with his brother Bob, either witnessed or knew of Weinsteins sexual abuse. According to the report, all of those employees said Weinsteins sexual deviancy was widely known within the two companies.

The 65-year-old Weinstein oversaw production of many popular films over the past 30 years, including Shakespeare in Love, Pulp Fiction, Sex, Lies and Videotape, The English Patient, Good Will Hunting and The Butler. He ran Miramax and later the Weinstein movie companies with Bob Weinstein.

Weinsteins fall came quickly after the Times report Oct. 5 of his unwanted sexual advances that stretched over nearly 30 years. The story said Weinstein, who is known in Hollywood for his demanding control of film productions and angry outbursts, had paid confidential settlements to his female accusers.

In a statement last week, Weinstein said, The way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it. Later, he claimed some of the newspapers claims were false and said he would sue for defamation.

Politics

Weinstein has been a big donor in recent years to Democratic politicians in the U.S., including twice-failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. But with the sexual harassment revelations, Democratic political figures scrambled over the weekend to distance themselves from the disgraced filmmaker.

Several Democrat politicians, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren, have promised to donate money they received from Weinstein to charities supporting women.

Clinton broke her silence on the matter earlier this week, saying she was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. She addedin a statement, The behavior described by women coming forward cannot be tolerated.

Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status, former President Barack Obama said in a statement Tuesday. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories.

President Donald Trump said over the weekend hes known Harvey Weinstein for a long time and he is not at all surprised by the sexual abuse allegations.

Matt Damons first film, Good Will Hunting, won him his first Oscar after Weinstein took a chance on a script from Damon and fellow unknown, Ben Affleck.

We know this stuff goes on in the world. I did five or six movies with Harvey. I never saw this, Damon told CNNs Deadline in an interview published Tuesday.

He added later in the interview: This morning, I just feel absolutely sick to my stomach.
Whats metallic gold on the outside, neon blue and purple on the inside, and delivers relief supplies to fire victims?

The Twerkulator.

When American Canyon turned its high school into a shelter for Calistoga evacuees, it needed supplies for people displaced by the fires.

The donations and help poured in, but none were more conspicuous than those delivered in a 40-foot, gold-colored party bus called The Twerkulator.

We picked up 60 cases of water from one place, 30 cases of water from another, we got a hundred-somethin sandwiches along with pillows, blankets, diapers for babies and adults, clothes, pizza, and snacks, according to Curtis Nelson of Vallejo.

Nelson is the owner and creator of The Twerkulator, a former federal prison bus he customized so he could party with his friends and family.

It looks like a party bus, but its my festival bus, which he takes to events like Burning Man, said Nelson, who handles fundraising for 89.5 Ozcat Radio in Vallejo, which his family owns.

When the fires broke out in the North Bay, Nelson decided he wanted to do something to help those impacted by the disaster that has forced thousands of people from their homes, in addition to those who have lost theirs to the infernos.

I said to myself, I have this huge vessel to move things, Nelson said from the driver seat of The Twerkulator on Wednesday night while sitting in the parking lot of American Canyon High School.

So why dont we just find out where all the collection spots are and go swoop it, he said.

He and some friends hit the highway and began visiting businesses in Solano County that had been collecting contributions for fire victims.

We went to Vinny and Rosies in Suisun City, then we went to Western Ranch [and Pet Supply] in Vacaville, then went to the Sweat Heroes [Bootcamp] in Vacaville, said Curtis.

Pretty much everyone gave food, water and supplies, he said. All of it was a community effort.

The Twerkulator, which features mood lighting, a sound system, flat-screen TVs, a full-size bed and cushion bench seats, was even used to pick up supplies for animals affected by the fires.

While we were at the feed store, we missed the pickup [because] somebody had already picked up the stuff when we got there, Curtis recalled from his travels earlier that day. So instead of just leaving, we waited, and as customers came in and saw this 40-foot gold tour bus, they asked what we were doing. We said were picking up supplies, and some people bought hay for horses.

So we loaded the underbelly [of the bus] with all this hay, along with donations from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.

When The Twerkulator pulled up in front of the American Canyon High gym, some residents rolled their eyes.

A volunteer at the evacuation center said Nelson and his creation have a bad rap because people make assumptions about what goes on inside The Twerkulator.

But hes here helping out, said the volunteer, so maybe hes not so bad after all.

Nelson admitted people assume things when they see his bus.

They might have their preconceived ideas of what goes on in here, he said, and then they come inside and theyre like, this is awesome!

Nelson said hes never helped people during a crisis before this. But hes glad he did.

It feels good, he said. It felt really good.

So good that he was back at it the next day on Thursday.

Were going to keep doing this until we dont have to do this, you know what I mean, he said.

Its not costing me anything, he said, and were all helping each other. Lets keep it going.

Nelson set up a GoFundMe page to raise gas money for The Twerkulator, which can be costly to keep fueled. My gas gauge doesnt work, so I just fill up every 500 miles, he said.

He spent $400 of his own money on the trips, and managed to get $390 of it back through donations.

On Thursday, he drove The Twerkulator to San Francisco to pick up 700 pairs of shoes from Allbirds Shoes plus food and clothing from Love on Haight, and drove it to the Roaring Donkey in Petaluma, which was distributing supplies to shelters.

Were going to try and make it fit, Nelson said during a live video recording on Facebook as he drove across the Bay Bridge to pick up the donations.

Youll see it, he said to a friend accompanying him. Its hella shoe.

The Twerkulator got its name from the dance style known as twerking.

Everyone was into twerking, this was back in 2013, when Nelson created his first Twerkulator, a gold-painted motorhome.

But then he wanted to create something no one has ever seen, but everyone would love: a gold bus.

People have boats and they name their boats things, you know, Nelson said. So I was, I want to make a gold Twerkulator.

Who could say no to a gold Twerkulator?

The current Twerkulator came into being after Nelson purchased a used prison bus from Indiana on eBay.

The funny thing is, four years later, weve got a bigger, remodeled 40-foot bus, he said.

He not only remodeled and painted it, he also cleansed it in light of its past of hauling convicted criminals to prison.
After sitting fifty years in the National Geographic archives, 100 hours of footage on Jane Goodall and her groundbreaking observations of Chimpanzees in the African forest of Tanzania have been compiled into a documentary film. At a screening of the film in Los Angeles, Goodall spoke to VOA's Elizabeth Lee about her work and thoughts on the film.
After 50 years of sitting in the National Geographic archives, 100 hours of footage on Jane Goodall and her groundbreaking observations of chimpanzees in the African forest of Tanzania have been compiled into a documentary film.

The documentary titled "Jane" starts in 1960 when Jane Goodall was 26 years old.

WATCH: Video Report by Elizabeth Lee

Through interviews with Goodall and National Geographic footage, the film documents Goodalls early years, as a woman with no university degree, working in a remote part of Tanzania. The film portrays her work and personal life. Her unconventional ways of observing chimps challenged the scientific communitys belief on what it means to be human.

More than any other documentary that has been made, it does take me back to the actual feeling I had when I was out there in the forest and so its very moving," Goodall said at a screening of the film in Los Angeles.

The music in the documentary was composed by Philip Glass. When Goodall saw the film with the music, she described it as "magical."

The moment in the documentary that especially moved Glass was when Goodall was sitting with chimpanzees who had accepted her.

The very intimacy when she is sitting with them [chimps] and theyre like children to her. Shes combing their hair and she talks with them and theyve accepted her totally, Glass said.

Goodall remembered her unique relationship with the chimps.

Its not quite family but, its not quite like friends, but Im part of their lives. They accept me. I can watch what they do. In the time of the movie, we had a really close touching relationship, which we dont have anymore, Goodall said.

With that close relationship, Goodall made headlines by discovering that chimpanzees are intelligent, social animals who used tools to gather food, something the scientific community at the time, believed only humans could do.

When asked whether she would have done anything differently in her research, Goodall said, "Everything worked out perfectly. Were mistakes made? Of course, but one learns from mistakes, and so I wouldnt have changed anything really.

Jane features the footage of National Geographic filmmaker Hugo van Lawick, Goodalls first husband.

Going through 100 hours of Hugo Van Lawicks footage is a dream. You know, Hugos one of the greatest wildlife cinematographers in the history of filmmaking, director Brett Morgen said.

At the Los Angeles screening, Hollywood actor Jamie Lee Curtis described why she is in awe of Goodall.

She has just, by doing what she loves, has brought us all along on the journey and thats a message if anything. Be uncompromising in your vision, uncompromising in your attack and attitude of what it is that you do, Curtis said.

Even in present day, Goodall continues to travel and speak about protecting chimpanzees and being good stewards of the natural world.
A student who had been expelled from a high school in northern Kenya last week is suspected of returning Saturday with armed gunmen and killing six students and a guard in what appeared to be an act of revenge, officials said.

The shooting occurred early Saturday at a secondary school in Lokichogio, about 90 kilometers from the Kakuma refugee camp near the Kenya-South Sudan border.

The suspect, a refugee from South Sudan, had been suspended from the Lokichogio school for fighting. The suspect, whose age and name had not been released by late Saturday, was arrested after the incident.

Local media reported, however, that a mob stormed the station and lynched the suspect.

The school was not attacked by bandits, but an errant student on expulsion for disciplinary cases, Wanyama Musyambohe, a regional government official, told Reuters news agency.

Officials said the former student and two gunmen attacked the school while students were sleeping, killing six students and a guard, and injuring at least 18 others.

The Kenya Red Cross evacuated at least six students for treatment from the schools remote location.

Kenyas Kakuma refugee camp, located in Turkana County, is one of the largest in the world, and houses nearly 200,000 refugees, many from nearby South Sudan.

The Turkana region struggles with a proliferation of weapons from wars fought in nearby countries, including South Sudan and Somalia.
Kyrgyzstan began voting Sunday in a presidential election with no candidate expected to win outright, and observers predicting a close runoff between two pro-Russian candidates, one of whom is backed by the outgoing leader.

The mainly Muslim nation of 6 million people is a close ally of Moscow and hosts a Russian military base, helping its former Soviet overlord project power across the region where China and the United States also vie for influence.

In contrast to its Central Asian neighbors, mostly run by autocrats, Kyrgyzstan is a boisterous democracy that produces sometimes chaotic changes of leadership.

After its first two presidents after the Soviet Unions demise were ousted by violent riots, the country restyled itself as a parliamentary republic where presidential powers are mostly limited to foreign policy and security matters.

Atambayev ally

But outgoing president Almazbek Atambayev strengthened executive powers last year by calling a referendum on constitutional changes.

Also, alliances between parliamentary factions have been fluid, meaning a new leader could easily build a coalition around himself.

Constitutionally barred from seeking a second six-year term, Atambayev is backing an ally, former prime minister and experienced bureaucrat Sooronbai Jeenbekov, 58, whose victory would allow the outgoing leader to remain a powerful figure.

Atambayev and Jeenbekovs Social Democratic party has the biggest faction in parliament and dominates the coalition cabinet.

Oil tycoon

But they face stiff opposition from oil tycoon Omurbek Babanov, 47, whose Respublika-Ata Zhurt (Fatherland) party has the second-biggest parliamentary faction and whose poll numbers suggest he and Jeenbekov will compete in a tight runoff.

Babanov, also a former prime minister, has accused the government of abusing its powers to ensure Jeenbekovs victory after the authorities charged some of his campaign supporters with plotting a coup and planning to bribe voters.

Babanov has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the charges against his supporters as dirty election tactics.

Polls close at 8 p.m. (1400 GMT) and preliminary results may be published a few hours later. There is no set date for a second round, which takes place in the event that none of the 13 candidates wins more than 50 percent of the vote.
In May, 13 Asian and Hispanic residents of Lowell, Massachusetts, filed a voting rights lawsuit against the city government, alleging the at-large electoral system, in which the winner takes all, dilutes the minority vote and discriminates against the candidates from community of color running for office.

The plaintiffs asked the federal court to rule that the citys electoral system violates Section 2 the Voting Rights Act and for the adoption of at least one district-based seat.

The first hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled for Tuesday before the U.S. District Court in Boston. Lowells City Council filed a motion to dismiss in its first response to the residents lawsuit on Sept. 15.

At the Tuesday hearing, the judge will decide whether to allow the suit to move forward. If it does, Lowell will be going to trial against some of its residents.

Were not surprised by the citys response, said Oren Sellstrom, litigation director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Economic Justice.

Lowell prides itself as being a diverse city, but it remains to be seen whether the city wants to reflect diversity in the hall of power, Sellstrom said.

City officials said they could not discuss the lawsuit because the issue is still in executive session.

Voting Rights Act

The Voting Rights Act signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in August 1965 is considered one of the most significant pieces of civil rights legislation ever enacted in the United States.

The Lowell citizens lawsuit is based on the section of that law that specifically prohibits state and local governments from using voting systems that result in discrimination against racial or ethnic minorities.

This is important in Lowell because altogether the minority populations of the former mill town come close  49.2 percent  to being the majority. Of the minority population, Asian-Americans form the largest minority group, about 21 percent, a cohort that includes more than 30,000 Cambodians.

Since 1999, only four Asian and Hispanic candidates have been elected to the Lowell City Council, which is currently all white. No non-white candidates have ever been elected to the school committee, Lowells version of a school board.

Changes possible

No matter how the judge decides, the City Council will be looking at the possibility of changing the citys form of government, which includes the voting system. There have been two public discussion sessions on the issue since August.

It is better for us and the citizen to have a district representation with a combination of at-large councilor, and it is better for the public to elect the mayor, said James Leary, a city councilor and one of the three councilors leading the ad hoc subcommittee on the charter review that was formed in June.

In the next few months, after organizing several public sessions across the city, the committee is expected to make recommendations to the City Council on changing or keeping the current form of government.

After reviewing the committees recommendation, the City Council will make a decision on which direction to take. Before anything changes in Lowell, though, residents will be faced with a ballot measure in November 2018 using the current system.
A Refugee Food Festival showcasing the cooking talents of refugee chefs from five different countries has won the hearts of Geneva residents by connecting through the food of their national cuisines.

Over the past week, local chefs have turned their kitchens over to their refugee counterparts from Syria, Eritrea, Sri Lanka, Tibet and Nigeria.

Nadeem Khadem al-Jamie smiles broadly as clients at this high-end restaurant applaud his culinary skills. Nadeem, a 29-year-old Syrian refugee, says cooking is his passion. An interpreter explains that he learned how to cook from his uncle and worked in his family restaurant in Damascus before he was forced to leave the country in 2015.

And, he went to Turkey and from Turkey to Greece and then he walked all the way to Germany and then to the Swiss border, the interpreter said.

Nadeems wife and two daughters eventually joined him through a family reunification program. He hopes this spot as guest chef will land him a job.

Force behind the festival

Louis Martin, the co-founder of Food Sweet Food, a nongovernmental organization that initiated the Refugee Food Festival in 2016 in partnership with the U.N. refugee agency, says the project has two main objectives.

The first one was to change the way we look at refugees by valorizing talents and skills, culinary skills, he said, and the second was to create a professional accelerator for the refugee chefs participating  and we asked to every restaurant  to recommend the chef to his network and then create professional opportunities for him.

Martin says he was struck by the negative image conveyed by the arrival of thousands of desperate refugees to Europe in the summer of 2015. That, he says, inspired him and his Food Sweet Food partner, Marine Mandrila to create the festival.

So, we thought, how can we leverage food, how can we leverage all that we have learned through our travels and food documentaries  to create a better understanding between citizens and refugees, Martin said.

U.N. gets involved

Martin and Mandrila brought their idea to the United Nations refugee agency in Paris. Celine Schmitt, UNHCR senior public information officer, tells VOA she was immediately captivated.

Food is a great way to create connections, she said. It is also a great way to change the way people see refugees because if someone eats well, he will maybe have another idea, perspective afterwards. But, also, it is a way to integrate refugees."

The festival caters to different tastes and different pocketbooks. Nadeems five-course Syrian menu is served in an elegant dining room in one of Genevas luxury hotels for $90. People with less money to spare can enjoy delicious Nigerian or Ethiopian food at two lakeside refreshment bars for about $20.

Schmitt says one of the great aspects of the festival is the collaboration between the restaurants usual chef and the refugee chef.

The chefs who have invited the refugee chefs, she said, they have all told us that they want to start again and that they learned something. And, they were so happy to be able to learn from another chef because food has always been inspired by different cultures and different spices, tastes.

When the applause dies down, Nadeem goes back to the hotels spotless kitchen.There he gets together with restaurant chef, Michael Coquelle. He happily looks on while Nadeem demonstrates how to make a Baba ghanouge, an eggplant puree with sesame cream, which is out of this world.
The death toll from Saturday's massive truck bombing in the Somali capital Mogadishu - the deadliest terror attack in the countrys history - has topped 270.

Abdirahman O. Osman, Somalia's minister of information, tweeted that the number killed is now 276, with about 300 wounded. He also laid blame for the bombing on the Islamist militant al-Shabab group.

In other tweets, Osman acknowledged Kenya, Ethiopia, and Turkey for sending medical aid to Somalia.

Angry protesters took to the streets condemning al-Shabab. The militant group, which often claims attacks in Mogadishu, has so far stayed silent. But the Somali government and terror experts strongly believe the group was responsible.

"Whether they claim or not claim makes no difference, we know the act that has happened, its al-Shabab, former intelligence officer Abdi Hassan Hussein told VOA. The information we are getting so far shows this is the work of al-Shabab, it has their hallmarks."

Hundreds of residents on Sunday marched to the scene of the attack, condemning the militant group.

Where is my child, fight against the wicked, to hell with them, my god condemn the evil said one elderly angry women. Other protesters shouted anti al-Shabab statements like, We dont want blood thirsty elements.

Some protesters wept as they reached the scene and saw the apocalyptic aftermath of the explosion. The truck bomb turned one of Mogadishus most beautiful junctions into death and destruction.

US reaction

In Washington, the U.S. State Department condemned the attack "in the strongest terms."

"In the face of this senseless and cowardly act, the United States will continue to stand with the Somali government, its people, and our international allies to combat terrorism and support their efforts to achieve peace, security, and prosperity," a statement said.

Mohamed Yusuf, a doctor at Medina hospital, described what happened when the explosion happened at around 3:20 pm local time on Saturday.

We were preparing to leave work for the day but then huge blast occurred, we were shocked, within five minutes ambulances brought in the wounded, he said. We have received many dead people, unlike we have ever seen. The hospital is working, we are lacking intensive care equipment, we get support from ICRC but we are still lacking full capacity.

The victims

Maryan Abdullahi, 21, just finished Banadir University where she studied medicine. She left her voluntary work at Banadir hospital Saturday and was waiting a bus when the explosion occurred. She was killed instantly. He mother Hindo Yuusuf immediately called her number when she heard about the location of the explosion.

I called her number immediately but someone else answered and they said the owner of the phone died, her body is near the hotel [Safari], she told VOA Somali.

Abdullahis father flew from London Saturday to attend his daughters graduation from the university. He arrived in Mogadishu Sunday morning and attended her funeral instead.

Also killed were five members of the same family who were running a clothing shop.

Aweys Moallim Ali is a cousin to the family. He too was wounded in the attack. He said his relatives own two shops but they gathered into one before the explosion.

They were doing accounting work about the sales made so far so that they can make zakat [alms] payment, they closed the other shop and were meeting in a shop near Hotel Safari, He said.

VOA reporter

Hundreds were wounded in the attack including VOA reporter in Mogadishu Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulle.



Abdulle sustained injuries to the neck, hand and burns throughout the body. But he was in good spirits as he spoke about his condition.

Im injured in the lower neck, there is shrapnel inside. I have a second injury on the right hand, maybe its broken, and third, my body is burned in particular on the torso, he said. "I have smaller injuries throughout the body, facial injuries, I had about 4 stitches on the face, I have multiple injuries.

Abdulle recounted what happened at the time of the explosion

I remember leaving the building near Safari hotel, I wanted to get into my car, as I stepped towards the car the explosion went off, that is all I remember, he said.

The next thing I know is this morning when I woke up at 10am when I saw people standing around my bed.



The Somali government has called for three days of national mourning and lowering the flag at half-mast. President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo has condemned the attack as barbaric.



Sahra Ahmed, Asha Aden, Jafar Kukay and Kenneth Schwartz contributed to this report.
This year marks the 150th anniversary of Russia's sale of Alaska to the United States. Alaska is one of the biggest US states in land size and one of the least populous, with less than three-quarters of a million residents. Among them is a group of people whose story is a classic American tale of religion and refuge in a remote land. VOA's Natasha Mozgovaya (narrated by VOA's Martin Secrest) uncovers a group of Soviet refugees who have planted roots in what once was Russian territory.
Syria's Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned the U.S. administration of President Donald Trump for its position on the Iran nuclear deal, saying in comments to state media that it would increase regional tension and threaten security and peace.

"Syria condemns the aggressive policies of the U.S. administration against the interests of the people, and which will increase the atmosphere of tension in the region and the world," state news agency SANA quoted an official source at the ministry as saying.

Trump refused on Friday to formally certify that Tehran was complying with the 2015 accord even though international inspectors say it is. He warned he might ultimately terminate the agreement.

Syria is a close ally of Iran, which has given extensive military and financial aid to President Bashar al-Assad in his more than six years of war against rebels seeking to oust him.

The nuclear deal was also signed by China, Russia, France, Britain, Germany and the European Union, leading European allies to warn that putting it into limbo risks undermining U.S. credibility abroad.

The U.S. Congress will now have 60 days to decide whether to reimpose economic sanctions on Tehran that it lifted under the pact.
U.S. President Donald Trump lambasted Iranian expansionism in the Middle East Friday when disavowing the international nuclear deal with Tehran, citing in particular Irans support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But analysts charge his strategy to check Iran in the region remains inconsistent, especially when it comes to Syria.

In his statement announcing hes withholding certifying Irans compliance with the nuclear agreement, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), President Trump accused Tehran of fueling sectarian violence in Iraq, and vicious civil wars in Yemen and Syria.

He added: In Syria, the Iranian regime has supported the atrocities of Bashar al-Assads regime.

But U.S airstrikes have been helping Iranian-backed Shiite militias in Syria consolidate territorial gains by the Assad regime, and in recent weeks American-led coalition bombing raids have been assisting the militias, which are recruited, trained and directed by Iranian revolutionary guardsmen, to retake territory from the Islamic State militants in the province of Deir el-Zour, neighboring Iraq.

Inconsistent strategy

There's certainly a lack of coherence in the Trump administration's policy with respect to Iran, says Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, an analyst with the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based policy research group. This lack of coherence is reflective of the extraordinary complexity of the Syria/Iraq conflict, and also, in my view, of the great difficulty that the U.S. has in thinking strategically."

Last month, Syrian regime forces lifted a vicious 32-month IS siege of a loyalist enclave in Deir el-Zour city, marking a significant battlefield success. Since then the Syrian army and Shiite militias have been moving fast to advance in the wider oil-rich province as well as to oust IS militants from pockets in Deir el-Zour city itself.

On Saturday, Syrian military officials claimed government forces had retaken the town of Mayadin from IS militants, who appear to have abandoned their positions 44 kilometers southeast of Deir el-Zour city along the eastern bank of the Euphrates River after a week-long assault.

There are two simultaneous offensives against IS underway in Deir el-Zour with the Euphrates River acting as an informal demarcation line between them. The U.S.-backed Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have been pushing north of the river, towards the border with Iraq; while the Assad forces have been advancing south of the Euphrates.

A moving wall of airstrikes by coalition warplanes well as Russian and Syrian jets have been helping the advances of both  but U.S. airstrikes have not been restricted to areas north of the Euphrates.

On Saturday, officials with the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve reported coalition warplanes conducted three strikes near Abu Kamal, claiming to have destroyed an IS headquarters building.

On September 29, they reported that earlier in the month airstrikes had killed three IS drone experts near Mayadin as well as destroying a drone factory. The removal of these key ISIS leaders disrupts and degrades ISIS ability to modify and employ drone platforms as reconnaissance and direct fire weapons on the battlefield, said Coalition Spokesman Col. Ryan Dillon.

U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in eastern Syria have for several months targeted IS positions on the Syrian regimes "side" of the unofficial demarcation line in Deir el-Zour city and elsewhere with Mayadin since April, often in the crosshairs as it appeared IS leaders were abandoning Raqqa and in effect moving the terror groups de facto there.

In May, for example, coalition airstrikes targeted in two rounds of raids buildings housing IS fighters and their families in Mayadin, prompting criticism from rights groups because as many as 106 civilians, including 42 children, were killed.

Strange bedfellows

The latest phase in the long-running Syrian conflict is presenting a dizzying picture of strange bedfellows and temporary battlefield deals as sectarian groups, President Assad and overseas powers, including the United States, Russia and Iran, maneuver to gain an edge or to steer the war to a resolution.

The current maneuvering reflects the shifting priorities of external states as they try to shape an interim set of pre-settlement conditions, splitting the wrecked country into territorial zones of control, say analysts.

The map is becoming increasingly clear with Assad and his Iran-commanded Shiite allies controlling the west and center and parts of the east, the U.S.-backed Kurds the northeast of the country, and anti-Assad rebels bottled up in northern Idlib province and a small part of the south.

But the effect of the maneuvering in Syria, including U.S. actions there, pull away, say some analysts, from Trumps stated policy aim of checking Irans expansion in the region. Trumps Iran strategy promises a new balance of power in the region, but the main imbalance in the region is not in conventional forces but in Irans proxy militia presence in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen, says Paul Salem, an analyst at the Middle East Institute, a U.S.-based policy research group.

He complains there is no explanation about how the U.S. plans to push back against this asymmetric warfare imbalance.

Speaking last month at a think event in Washington, and before Trumps disavowal of the Iran nuclear deal, U.S. national security adviser H.R. McMaster emphasized one of the Trump administrations chief objectives is to block Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, the radical Lebanese Shiite militia, from consolidating their territorial gains in Syria as IS is defeated.

According to the Washington Post, when asked to articulate the plan to achieve that goal, he said, I cant tell you, although he said there is strategy and it is to weaken Iranian influence across the region broadly. McMaster acknowledged the Assad offensive assisted by Iranian militias and Russian warplanes helps in the war against IS in the short term but remains hugely problematic in the longer term.

But for some, the administration has merely compounded the problem by withdrawing support from Syrian rebels battling to overthrow Assad and by assisting the Syrian regime when it is fighting IS.

Gartenstein-Ross blames not only the Trump administration for contradictions in Iran policy. It is consistent rather than inconsistent with the Obama administration's approach. U.S. efforts to push back IS, in both the Obama and Trump administrations, has helped advance Iranian interests, in particular Iranian-backed militias.
After days of thick, choking smoke over the Napa Valley, Sunday dawned blue and clear  much like county Supervisor Belia Ramos outlook, one week after massive wildfires broke out in the North Bay.

Its a crisp fall day in the Napa Valley, and we are so close to a new normal, she said at a press conference at the Sheriffs Office on Sunday morning that featured updates on the increasing containment of blazes outside Napa, Yountville and Calistoga. The day we hoped for, one week later, has come.

Authorities reported no new breakouts overnight of the conflagrations that have killed at least 40 people, including six in Napa County, forced thousands more to flee and overrun tens of thousands of acres in Napa and Sonoma counties, including neighborhoods of Santa Rosa that were reduced to cinders.

Sunday afternoon, authorities announced the end of mandatory evacuations for the city of Calistoga and the Gordon Valley area. The communities were being reopened only to residents and public safety workers, not to visitors, Deputy County Executive Officer Molly Rattigan said in a statement shortly before 1:45 p.m.

Calistoga residents were allowed to return home starting at 2 p.m. using Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, but other routes to the Upvalley town remained closed. All legal access routes to Gordon Valley and Wooden Valley Cross roads were through Solano County due to continuing shutdowns of Highway 128 and Monticello Road near the Atlas Fire, Rattigan said.

Calistoga had ordered all 5,000-plus residents to leave on Wednesday, as the Tubbs Fire edged onto Mount St. Helena within two miles of the Upvalley resort town.

Earlier, Mayor Chris Canning said the town would time the end of its evacuation based on further containment of the Tubbs Fire and the absence of strong northerly winds, to avoid having to order residents to flee a second time if winds suddenly shift  as happened in parts of Santa Rosa and the city of Sonoma last week.

Despite a red flag high-wind warning that stayed in effect through 8 a.m. Sunday, fire crews increased their containment of the Atlas Fire east of Napa to 56 percent at 51,057 acres, and the Tubbs Fire north of Calistoga to 60 percent at 35,470 acres, Cal Fire announced shortly before 7:30 a.m.

Fire agencies battling the Atlas Fire are concentrating on its east and north flanks to keep it in its box, and were very confident that it will remain there, said Napa County Fire Chief Barry Biermann.

With the continuing progress made outside Napa and Calistoga, Biermann added, fire agencies are steering more resources toward the Nuns Fire, which is burning west of Browns Valley, Yountville, Oakville and Rutherford. Cal Fire listed the Nuns Fire as 25 percent contained, covering 47,106 acres.

Fire lines in the west valley held Saturday night, with more secondary lines added, including near the Veterans Home of California, Biermann told reporters. I do not see any threat to any communities on the Highway 29 corridor, he said.

The National Weather Service forecasted a high of 86 degrees under sunny skies at Napa County Airport, with north-northeast winds of 5 to 10 mph. Rain is in the local forecast Thursday into Friday morning.

Biermann said firefighters do not anticipate the Tubbs Fire advancing past Mount St. Helena into Calistoga.

All road closures in and near fire zones remained in effect Sunday, according to Capt. Chris Childs of the California Highway Patrol in Napa. As in Calistoga, road reopenings in the county will initially be only for residents before outsiders are also let through.

Vineyard owners and winemakers seeking access to evacuation zones in Calistoga or the unincorporated county to check on their crops are asked to call 707-253-4501 in advance.

Restaurant owners and managers seeking to provide food for firefighters and other safety staff are asked to arrange their contributions by calling the Napa Salvation Army at 707-226-8150.

Napa County has asked donors not to give any more in-kind donations of clothing, toiletries, prepared food and the like. Instead, people should donate money directly to the Napa Valley Community Foundation at napavalleycf.org.

To help fire evacuees, $25 Visa, American Express, or MasterCard gift cards can be donated to the Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership located at 433 Soscol Ave. (Suite A-100) in Napa.

Local assistance centers will be opening this week, the county announced earlier.

Napa County and city scheduled two public meetings Sunday to provide fire updates to the public. A Spanish-language meeting was to take place at 1 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 960 Caymus St. in Napa, with an English-language meeting at 3:30 p.m. at the Napa Valley Unified School District auditorium, 2425 Jefferson St. in Napa. Both forums were to be streamed online via Facebook Live.

Sundays media briefing was to be the last to be scheduled as Napa shifts from emergency to recovery mode, Ramos said in conclusion.

A week ago, it started as a nightmare, she said. Now, the day we have waited for has arrived. Its going to be a long road to recovery, and I look forward to the day when this is a distant memory, when we recall that we were resilient and we got through this together.
President Donald Trump blames the Senate's Republican leader for the health overhaul failure, tantalizes deals with Democrats and watches his former strategist work to bulldoze the Republican establishment on Capitol Hill.

There's no need for air conditioning at the White House with that chill in the air when Trump, a public official since January, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, first elected to Congress in 1984, meet on Monday.



Mitch McConnell's not our problem. Our problem is that we promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, and we failed. We promised to cut taxes and we have yet to do it, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and a member of Congress since 1995. If we're successful, Mitch McConnell's fine. If we're not, we're all in trouble. We lose our majority and I think President Trump will not get re-elected.



Steve Bannon, back at Breitbart News after helping Trump win the presidency and serving in the West Wing, is committed to dumping McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky. In a speech to religious conservatives Saturday, Bannon put on notice some of those incumbents who are at risk of a challenge from his flank of the party. He said the lawmakers possibly can avoid that wrath if they disavow McConnell and meet other conditions.



This is our war, Bannon said. The establishment started it.... You all are gonna finish it.



Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine moderate who just passed up a run for governor and was a pivotal no vote on health care, said Bannon's rhetoric is exactly what the American people are tired of. They don't want this hyper-partisanship. They want us to work together. And they want us to get things done, she said.



Collins, who's served in the Senate since 1997, added that Bannon's over-the-top rhetoric is not helpful. Mitch McConnell is the Senate majority leader. The president needs him. I'm glad they're working together on tax reform and a lot of other issues. And I'm glad they're meeting this week.''

Frustration abounds

McConnell responded to Trump's Twitter barrage after the failed health care effort by saying that the challenges of governing should come as no surprise.



A lot of people look at all that and find it frustrating, messy. Well, welcome to the democratic process. That's the way it is in our country, McConnell said at a Republican Party event in Kentucky this summer.



Trump, a former Democrat himself, cut a deal with Democratic leaders on raising the U.S. borrowing limit and keeping the government running into the winter. The president has also talked about future arrangements, though his recent list of immigration demands soured Democrats who had seen an earlier opening for legislative progress.



Hard-right conservatives frustrated by the stalled agenda in Congress wrote in a letter last week during the Senate's break that McConnell and his leadership team should step aside. The senators' weeklong recess also drew criticism from the White House: They're on another vacation right now. I think that we would all be a lot better off if the Senate would stop taking vacations, and start staying here until we actually get some real things accomplished, Trump spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders had said.



Meanwhile, a McConnell-backed political committee spent millions and Trump endorsed Alabama Sen. Luther Strange in a recent primary election, but Bannon-backed Roy Moore prevailed. Moore, a former judge, has defied federal court orders, described Islam as a false religion and called homosexuality evil.



Senate Republicans had been upbeat about adding to their 52-48 edge in the chamber, especially with Democrats defending more seats next year - 10 in states Trump won in last year's presidential election. But the Bannon challenge could cost them, leaving incumbents on the losing end in primaries or Republican candidates roughed up for the general election.



If we don't cut taxes and we don't eventually repeal and replace Obamacare, then we're going to lose across the board in the House in 2018. And all of my colleagues running in primaries in 2018 will probably get beat. It will be the end of Mitch McConnell as we know it. So this is a symptom of a greater problem, Graham said.



He added that Bannon can't beat us if we're successful. And if we're not successful, it doesn't matter who tries to beat us, they'll be successful.



Collins spoke on ABC's This Week, and Graham appeared on CBS' Face the Nation.
President Donald Trumps decision to end a provision of the Affordable Care Act that was benefiting roughly 6 million Americans helps fulfill a campaign promise, but it also risks harming some of the very people who helped him win the presidency.

Nearly 70 percent of those benefiting from the so-called cost-sharing subsidies live in states Trump won last November, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. The number underscores the political risk for Trump and his party, which could end up owning the blame for increased costs and chaos in the insurance marketplace.

The subsidies are paid to insurers by the federal government to help lower consumers deductibles and co-pays. People who benefit will continue receiving the discounts because insurers are obligated by law to provide them. But to make up for the lost federal funding, health insurers will have to raise premiums substantially, potentially putting coverage out of reach for many consumers.

Some insurers may decide to bail out of markets altogether.

I woke up, really, in horror, said Alice Thompson, 62, an environmental consultant from the Milwaukee area who purchases insurance on Wisconsins federally run health insurance exchange.

Thompson, who spoke with reporters on a call organized by a health care advocacy group, said she expects to pay 30 percent to 50 percent more per year for her monthly premium, potentially more than her mortgage payment. Officials in Wisconsin, a state that went for a Republican presidential candidate for the first time in decades last fall, assumed the federal subsidy would end when they approved premium rate increases averaging 36 percent for the coming year.

An estimated 4 million people were benefiting from the cost-sharing payments in the 30 states Trump carried, according to an analysis of 2017 enrollment data from the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Of the 10 states with the highest percentage of consumers benefiting from cost-sharing, all but one  Massachusetts  went for Trump.

Kentucky, for example

Kentucky embraced former President Barack Obamas Affordable Care Act under its last governor, a Democrat, and posted some of the largest gains in getting its residents insured. Its new governor, a Republican, favors the GOP stance to replace it with something else.

Roughly half of the estimated 71,000 Kentuckians buying health insurance on the federal exchange were benefiting from the cost-sharing subsidies Trump just ended. Despite the gains from Obamas law, the state went for Trump last fall even as he vowed to repeal it.

Consumers such as Marsha Clark fear what will happen in the years ahead, as insurers raise premiums on everyone to make up for the end of the federal money that helped lower deductibles and co-pays.

Im stressed out about the insurance, stressed out about the overall economy, and Im very stressed out about our president, said Clark, a 61-year-old real estate broker who lives in a small town about an hours drive south of Louisville. She pays $1,108 a month for health insurance purchased on the exchange.

While she earns too much to benefit from the cost-sharing subsidy, she is worried that monthly premiums will rise so high in the future that it will make insurance unaffordable.

Most beneficiaries in Florida

Sherry Riggs has a similar fear. The Fort Pierce, Florida, barber benefits from the deductible and co-pay discounts, as do more than 1 million other Floridians, the highest number of cost-sharing beneficiaries of any state.

She had bypass surgery following a heart attack last year and pays $10 a visit to see her cardiologist and only a few dollars for the medications she takes twice a day.

Her monthly premium is heavily subsidized by the federal government, but she worries about the cost soaring in the future. Florida, another state that swung for Trump, has approved rate increases averaging 45 percent.

Probably for some people it would be a death sentence, she said. I think its kind of a tragic decision on the presidents part. It scares me because I dont think Ill be able to afford it next year.

Double-digit premium increases

Rates were rising in the immediate aftermath of Trumps decision. Insurance regulators in Arkansas, another state that went for Trump, approved premium increases Friday ranging from 14 percent to nearly 25 percent for plans offered through the insurance marketplace. Had federal cost-sharing been retained, the premiums would have risen by no more than 10 percent.

In Mississippi, another state Trump won, an estimated 80 percent of consumers who buy coverage on the insurance exchange benefit from the deductible and co-pay discounts, the highest percentage of any state. Premiums there will increase by 47 percent next year, after regulators assumed Trump would end the cost-sharing payments.

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has estimated the loss of the subsidies would result in a 12 percent to 15 percent increase in premiums, while the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has put the figure at 20 percent. Experts say the political instability over Trumps effort to undermine Obamas health care law could prompt more insurers to leave markets, reducing competition and driving up prices.

Trumps move concerned some Republicans, worried the party will be blamed for the effects on consumers and insurance markets.

I think the president is ill-advised to take this course of action, because we, at the end of the day, will own this, Republican Rep. Charlie Dent of Pennsylvania said Friday on CNN. We, the Republican Party, will own this.

Dent is not running for re-election.

GOP support

In announcing his decision, Trump argued the subsidies were payouts to insurance companies, and the government could not legally continue to make them. The subsidies have been the subject of an ongoing legal battle because the health care law failed to include a congressional appropriation, which is required before federal money can be spent.

The subsidies will cost about $7 billion this year.

Many Republicans praised Trumps action, saying Obamas law has led to a spike in insurance costs for those who have to buy policies on the individual market.

Among them is Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, a state Trump won. An estimated 78,000 Arizonans were benefiting from the federal subsidies for deductibles and co-pays.

While his actions do not take the place of real legislative repeal and revitalization of free-market health care, he is doing everything possible to save Americans from crippling health care costs and decreasing quality of care, Biggs said.
U.S.-backed militias said Sunday they have launched their final assault on Raqqa, the northern Syria city Islamic State has claimed as the self-declared capital of its religious caliphate.

The Kurdish-led Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) said that about 275 Syrian Islamic State fighters and their families were allowed to leave the city held by the jihadists since a 2014 takeover, leaving "no more than" 200 to 300 militants to fight on.

Raqqa's fall could be imminent, with the SDF saying the operation would continue "until all the city is cleansed from terrorists who refused to surrender."

But Colonel Ryan Dillon, a spokesman for the U.S.-led international coalition supporting the Kurdish and Arab militias fighting to seize Raqqa, said, "We still expect there to be difficult fighting." Islamic State took over Raqqa as it claimed vast swaths of Iraq and Syria three years ago before steadily losing back territory in the last two years.

The SDF decided to hasten the end of fighting in Raqqa by allowing the 275 Islamic State fighters and their families to leave, but the jihadists did not release them as originally agreed, instead taking them further away to another stronghold. The SDF described the civilians as human shields for the fighters.

Dillon said the U.S.-led coalition did not agree with the SDF's evacuation plan, "but we have to respect their solutions."

Fighting over Raqqa has raged since June 6, a city where Islamic State at times had celebrated its battlefield victories with parades. The jihadists imprisoned its captives there, executed dozens of captured Syrian soldiers and created a slave market for Yazidi women captured in Iraq and given to fighters.

The U.S.-led coalition said Raqqa was the hub for international terrorist attacks abroad, including the November 2015 attack that killed 130 people in Paris.

In more recent times, Islamic State not only faced the SDF offensive, but also attacks from the Syrian army supported by Russia, Iran and allied Shiite militias.

Activists say more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in Raqqa since the battle to retake the city began. Nearly 270,000 people have fled since April.

Before the departure of the group of 275, an SDF spokesman said that any Islamic State fighters left behind would be forced to "surrender or die."

On Friday, scores of civilians fled Raqqa ahead of the anticipated final push into the city by the U.S.-backed fighters.

Residents said local IS fighters had been surrendering recently, but the militants still held on to a few areas of the city, including the stadium and national hospital.



Many of the residents who escaped the city were malnourished after being trapped by the fighting for several months.



"Those who manage to escape speak of deteriorating conditions inside the city," U.N. refugee spokesman Andrej Mahecic said. "Food, water, medicine and electricity are scarce."


HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwes ruling ZANU-PF is planning a special vote to give veteran President Robert Mugabe a fresh five-year mandate as party leader, three sources said, strengthening his hand as rivals plot to succeed him.

One member of the partys politburo told Reuters the 93-year-old president could also use the party election in December to end divisions in its top ranks, raising the prospect of the removal of some of his challengers.

Comrade Mugabe is the only one centre of power in ZANU-PF and that will be re-affirmed in December, another politburo member told Reuters.

Mugabe is the only leader Zimbabwe has known since its independence from Britain in 1980 and is due to stand again in presidential elections next year.

But his age, rumours about his health and a mounting economic crisis have prompted open speculation in local media of factions competing for control of the party, one led by Mugabes wife Grace.

Politicians and diplomats told Reuters last month that Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa had also been positioning himself for the day Mugabe either steps down or dies - an account backed up by hundreds of documents from inside Zimbabwes Central Intelligence Organization.

PLOTS

Leading members of the party held a five-hour meeting on Wednesday and decided to start making plans to hold the vote at a special congress, three people there said. Mugabes term as party leader would have ended in 2019. A new mandate would take him past his 98th birthday.

His argument is that the party is divided and only an elective congress can unite the party and go into the elections as a united team, the first politburo member said.

When asked whether Mnangagwa would be fired at the meeting, the member said Mugabe was a stickler for party rules and had so far resisted pressure to axe the vice president outside such a congress. He did not elaborate further.

Mnangagwa last week told reporters he had been poisoned in August - a report quickly dismissed by Grace Mugabe who went on to accuse the vice president of plotting to overthrow her husband.

The vice president - also known as Ngwena or the Crocodile -was seen as Mugabes favoured heir when he was appointed in December 2014.

But his political fortunes have dimmed in recent months. On Monday, Mugabe stripped him of his control of the justice ministry in a reshuffle and fired three of his allies. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Background

Langila volcano, whose activity record goes back to the 19th century only, is one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. Langila's frequent activity consists typically of mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, that are sometimes accompanied by lava flows.

The volcano consists of four small overlapping cones on the lower eastern flank of the extinct Talawe volcano,- the highest volcano in NW New Britain. The rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater of Talawe has a large gap to the SE; the younger Langila volcano formed NE of Talawe's breached crater.

Extensive lava flows have reached the sea from the N and NE flanks of the volcano. Since observations have begun, 3 summit craters have been active. The youngest and smallest of these, with a diameter of 150 m, was formed in 1960.


Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa.), left, talks to Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.). (Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg)

Tom Marino is a four-term Republican member of the House who represents a district in northeastern Pennsylvania that has been hard-hit by the opioid crisis. Yet Marino also has been a friend on Capitol Hill of the giant drug companies that distribute the pain pills that have wreaked so much devastation around the nation.

Marino was the chief advocate of the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which requires the government to meet a higher bar before taking certain enforcement actions.

The Drug Enforcement Administration fought against the bill for years, but finally relented last year after a leadership change at the agency. Marino is now President Trumps nominee to become the nations next drug czar.

The new law makes it virtually impossible for the DEA to freeze suspicious narcotic shipments from the companies, according to internal agency and Justice Department documents and an independent assessment by the DEAs chief administrative law judge in a soon-to-be-published law review article. That powerful tool had allowed the agency to immediately prevent drugs from reaching the street.

[Read the investigation: How the drug industry triumphed over the DEA]

The law was the crowning achievement of a multifaceted campaign by the drug industry to weaken aggressive DEA enforcement efforts against drug distribution companies that were supplying corrupt doctors and pharmacists who peddled narcotics to the black market. The industry worked behind the scenes with lobbyists and key members of Congress, pouring more than a million dollars into their election campaigns.

Political action committees representing the industry contributed at least $1.5 million to the 23 lawmakers who sponsored or co-sponsored four versions of the bill, including nearly $100,000 to Marino. Overall, the drug industry spent $106 million lobbying Congress on the bill and other legislation between 2014 and 2016, according to lobbying reports.

Marino declined repeated requests for comment. Marinos staff called the U.S. Capitol Police when The Washington Post and 60 Minutes tried to interview the congressman at his office on Sept. 12. In the past, the congressman has said the DEA was too aggressive and needed to work more collaboratively with drug companies.

Deeply involved in the effort to counter the DEAs tough enforcement campaign was the agencys former associate chief counsel, D. Linden Barber. While at the DEA, he helped design and carry out the early stages of that campaign, which targeted drug companies that were failing to report suspicious orders of narcotics that made their way into the hands of users and dealers.

When Barber went to work for the drug industry in 2011, he brought an intimate knowledge of the DEAs strategy and how it could be attacked to protect the companies. He was one of dozens of DEA officials recruited by the drug industry during the past decade.

Barber played a key role in crafting an early version of the legislation that would eventually curtail the DEAs power, according to an internal email written by a Justice Department official to a colleague. He wrote the Marino bill, the official wrote in 2014.

Barber declined repeated requests for an interview to discuss his role in formulating the legislation.

Marino was a former county and federal prosecutor with deep ties to a hometown district that was reeling from the opioid epidemic.

As Rep. Tom Marinos Pennsylvania district was reeling from the opioid crisis, he sponsored a bill that, current and former Drug Enforcement Administration officials say, undermined the DEA's efforts to stop the flow of pain pills. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

On Feb. 18, 2014, Marino introduced the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act, which raised the DEAs standard for suspending drug shipments by requiring that the agency establish a significant and present risk of death or serious bodily harm that is more likely than not to occur.

Nearly two months later, with the bill stalled, Marino confronted the nations top law enforcement officer, then-Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr., during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. Marino told Holder the DEA was treating the companies like illicit narcotics cartels.

This mind-set  its extremely dangerous to legitimate business, Marino said.

He told Holder that he wanted the Justice Department to meet with industry executives. When Marino wrote to Holder three weeks later urging him to set up the meeting, the congressman added a handwritten note: It would be great to work together on this.  Tom.

In a Sept. 18, 2014, congressional hearing, Marino tore into then-DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart. By then, the legislation had passed the House and had stalled in the Senate.

It is my understanding that Joe Rannazzisi, a senior DEA official, has publicly accused we sponsors of the bill of, quote, supporting criminals, unquote, Marino said. This offends me immensely.

[Have questions for the reporters or Rannazzisi? Join them on Facebook Live at 11 a.m. Monday. Submit questions now at wapo.st/backstory.]

Marino told Leonhart that Congress was sending the DEA a message: You should take a serious look at your regulatory culture and seek collaboration with legitimate companies that want to do the right thing.

Marino and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) demanded that the Justice Departments inspector general investigate the remarks by Rannazzisi, who ran the DEAs diversion control office. They said he had tried to intimidate members of Congress. An investigation was launched. Rannazzisi was replaced in August 2015 and retired that October.

That led to his undoing, said Matthew Murphy, a DEA official who worked with Rannazzisi in the diversion office. Rannazzisi had very, very strong views on what was happening on the street, Murphy said. He wasnt going to change his opinion because of some heat.

Marino told The Post last year the conflict boils down to one person  Rannazzisi.

We had a situation where it was just out of control because of [Rannazzisi], Marino told The Post last year. . . . His only mission was to get big fines. He didnt want to [do] anything but put another notch in his belt.

In April 2015, the House took up Marinos bill. On the floor of Congress, Marino said:

This bill will bring much-needed clarity to critical provisions of the Controlled Substances Act. In doing so, we will ensure that the DEAs authorities are not abused and threatened by future legal challenges; foster greater collaboration, communication and transparency between the DEA and the supply chain; create more opportunities to identify bad actors at the end of the supply chain; and, most importantly, be certain that prescriptions are accessible to patients in need.

The House passed the bill by unanimous consent.

But it didnt make it through both houses of Congress until 2016, when Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah.), negotiated final language with the DEA and Justice Department.

President Obama signed the bill on April 19. The White House issued a one-page news release announcing its enactment.

Marino also issued a release taking credit for the legislation.

With this law, our drug enforcement agencies will have the necessary tools to address the issue of prescription drug abuse across the country. I applaud the hard work of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress and President Obama for realizing the importance of this legislation.

With a few words, the new law changed four decades of DEA practice. Previously, the DEA could freeze drug shipments that posed an imminent danger to the community, giving the agency broad authority. Now, the DEA must demonstrate that a companys actions represent a substantial likelihood of an immediate threat, a much higher bar.

Theres no way that we could meet that burden, the determination that those drugs are going to be an immediate threat, because immediate, by definition, means right now, Rannazzisi said.

Chief DEA Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney II agreed.

In his article planned for the winter issue of the Marquette Law Review, Mulrooney wrote: If it had been the intent of Congress to completely eliminate the DEAs ability to ever impose an immediate suspension on distributors or manufacturers, it would be difficult to conceive of a more effective vehicle for achieving that goal.

READ MORE:

The full investigation into the drug industrys triumph over the DEA

Analysis: This shows everything people hate about Washington


Joe Rannazzisi, seen here in September, ran the DEAs division responsible for regulating the drug industry and led a decade-long campaign of aggressive enforcement until he was forced out of the agency in 2015. (Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post)

Joe Rannazzisi is a man of strong passions who admits that he has a temper. For more than a decade, he was the frontman in the governments war against opioid abuse. As head of the Office of Diversion Control for the Drug Enforcement Administration, he was responsible for cracking down on doctors, pharmacies, drug manufacturers and distributors who did not follow the nations prescription drug laws.

He said he worked hard to uphold the law, until he was pushed out by members of Congress and an industry campaign that he says has resulted in a weakening of the nations drug laws at a time of unprecedented crisis.

The burly, tough-talking Long Islander is now a man in the news, appearing in The Washington Post and on 60 Minutes this Sunday to give his views on how the DEAs war on opioids got derailed by pressure from Congress and the drug industry.

You know all these people that died  happened on my watch, he told 60 Minutes. The one thing I wanted to do, the one thing that I just thought would have the most impact, is to lock up, arrest one of these corporate officers.

[Discover how the drug industry triumphed over the DEA]

You arrest a corporate officer. You arrest somebody thats  thats involved in the decision process, knowing what the law is. If you make that arrest, then everybody sits up and takes notice because three-piece-suit guys just dont do well in prison. They dont.

To industry and members of Congress, Rannazzisi was too tough and unrelenting, and communicated poorly about the laws the companies were supposed to follow.

In 2005, he came to DEA headquarters in Washington after a stint as an agent in Detroit, where he watched prescription drugs flood small towns and cities in the Midwest. He wanted to hold those in the distribution chain responsible.

There were just too many bad practitioners, too many bad pharmacies, and too many bad wholesalers and distributors, Rannazzisi recalled.

As Rep. Tom Marinos Pennsylvania district was reeling from the opioid crisis, he sponsored a bill that, current and former Drug Enforcement Administration officials say, undermined the DEA's efforts to stop the flow of pain pills. (Alice Li/The Washington Post)

Joseph T. Rannazzisi was assigned to head the DEAs Office of Diversion Control. He had both a law degree and a pharmacy degree and brought an aggressive approach to the diversion control office, which was seen as a backwater operation whose 600 investigators had toiled for years with little recognition.

Under Rannazzisi in the mid-2000s, the DEA repeatedly warned drug companies that they were shipping unusually large volumes of opioids to customers around the country. But the shipments continued.

The DEA soon began bringing enforcement actions against the nations largest drug distributors for failing to report those suspicious orders. The companies ended up paying hundreds of millions of dollars in fines.

Along the way, Rannazzisi made powerful enemies.

They definitely didnt like Joe Rannazzisi, said Matthew Murphy, one of Rannazzisis chief lieutenants. Not at all. He wasnt viewed as a person that they could work with.

Rannazzisi was unmoved by their complaints.

Were worried about their feelings being hurt because we were doing our job? he said. We were making them comply. We were holding their feet to the fire.

[Have questions for the reporters or Rannazzisi? Join them on Facebook Live at 11 a.m. Monday. Submit questions now at wapo.st/backstory.]

In 2011, Rannazzisi was called to the Justice Department to brief then-Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole about a case he was pursuing against one of the nations largest drug distributors.

Rannazzisi was stunned. He had brought hundreds of these cases and had never been called to brief Cole, the second-most-powerful law enforcement official in the country.

The meeting was contentious, and Rannazzisi believed he was getting the subtle message to back off. Cole, now a lawyer in private practice, said he was not trying to pressure Rannazzisi.

A defiant Rannazzisi returned to the DEA determined to redouble his efforts.

Now this is war, he recalled telling his staff. Were going after these people, and were not gonna stop. Were just going to continue to move forward. And we dont really give a damn any more what the department wants.

Things came to a head in the summer of 2014. Members of Congress pressed for a meeting with the DEA to understand why Rannazzisi was so opposed to legislation proposed by Rep. Tom Marino (R-Pa).

At a conference call on July 2, Rannazzisi and congressional staffers clashed over the bill, which would have set higher standards for the DEA to take certain enforcement actions.

Were just trying to create a better relationship between industry and DEA, a congressional staffer said.

Youll be protecting criminals, one participant recalled Rannazzisi saying.

The congressional staffers were furious. We cant work with you, one told the DEA.

The bill stalled in the Senate, but its sponsor, Marino, went after Rannazzisi.

It is my understanding that Joe Rannazzisi, a senior DEA official, has publicly accused we sponsors of the bill of, quote, supporting criminals, unquote, Marino told Rannazzisis boss, then-DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart, at a hearing in September. This offends me immensely.

A week later, Marino and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) accused Rannazzisi of trying to intimidate the United States Congress and asked the Justice Departments inspector general to investigate.

Rannazzisi said he never said the bill would protect criminals.

I said that this bill is going to protect defendants that we have under investigation, he said in a recent interview. And if they dont like the truth, well, I dont know what to tell em.

In 2015, the Justice Department named a new DEA chief who said he wanted to mend the rift between the agency and the drug industry, Chuck Rosenberg.

Rosenberg wanted to paint a new face on the DEA for the Hill, said Regina LaBelle, the chief of staff for the White Houses Office of National Drug Control Policy at the time. He wanted to show them the softer side of the DEA, and he wanted to work with industry.

In late 2015, with the inspector generals investigation into his comments hanging over his head, Rannazzisi retired from the DEA after a 30-year career.

The investigation went nowhere. But, Rannazzisi said, It destroyed me.

In the spring of 2016, the law he had so opposed was passed by unanimous consent in the House and Senate, after the DEA had dropped its opposition to it.

With a few words, the new law changed four decades of DEA practice. Previously, the DEA could freeze drug shipments that posed an imminent danger to the community, giving the agency broad authority. Now, the DEA must demonstrate that a companys actions represent a substantial likelihood of an immediate threat, a much higher bar.

Theres no way that we could meet that burden, the determination that those drugs are going to be an immediate threat, because immediate, by definition, means right now, Rannazzisi said.





Chief DEA Administrative Law Judge John J. Mulrooney II agreed.

In his article planned for the winter issue of the Marquette Law Review, Mulrooney wrote: If it had been the intent of Congress to completely eliminate the DEAs ability to ever impose an immediate suspension on distributors or manufacturers, it would be difficult to conceive of a more effective vehicle for achieving that goal.

Today, Rannazzisi is a consultant for a team of lawyers suing the opioid industry. Separately, 41 state attorneys general have banded together to investigate the industry. Hundreds of counties, cities and towns also are suing.

This is an industry thats out of control. If they dont follow the law in drug supply, and diversion occurs, people die. Thats just it, people die, he said. And what theyre saying is, The heck with your compliance. Well just get the law changed. 

READ MORE:

The full investigation into the drug industrys triumph over the DEA

Rep. Tom Marino: Drug czar nominee and the opioid industrys advocate in Congress

Analysis: This shows everything people hate about Washington


Martha & Snoops Potluck Dinner Party has its second season premiere on Monday. (VH1/Viacom International Inc.)

Here are some of the things Martha Stewart has done on her new show with Snoop Dogg: She has worn a blinged-out cheese grater on a chain around her neck. She has drunk out of what can only be described as a pimp cup. She has taste-tested a stoner recipe for a pizza omelet. She has name-dropped Escoffier. She didn't flinch when Rick Ross said to her audience, "I wanna make some noise for Martha because baby got back."

When did Martha Stewart go from being America's most earnest homemaker, ready at a moment's notice to spray-paint silk flowers and shape them into elaborate wreaths, to being America's coolest grandma, who makes weed jokes and hangs out with Wiz Khalifa?

After she went to prison, of course, but not right after. The cultivation of New Martha, of Hip-Hop Martha, of Martha the Queen of Dank Memes, took time. And it has culminated in "Martha and Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party," her cooking-show-meets-stoner-buddy-comedy that enters its second season Monday on VH1.

Im a very strait-laced person, Martha told The Washington Post. I dont smoke, I hardly drink. Its kind of an odd combination right from the get-go.

[I used every pumpkin spice product I could find for a week. Now my armpits smell like nutmeg.]

Respectfully: Is Martha all that strait-laced anymore?

It's the perception that she is strait-laced that makes it funny just hearing her say the names of her guests, often hip-hop artists: "We had Lil Yachty. Do you know him?" This is, after all, the same woman who wrote an extensive blog post about bathing her donkeys: Billie, Rufus and Clive. It's the same woman who, in a roast of Justin Bieber, delivered a withering monologue calling comedian Natasha Leggero "the dirtiest used-up ho I have ever seen," and gave Bieber tips for when he "inevitably" goes to prison. If you ever slept on a set of Martha Stewart floral print sheets, you'd be surprised to hear her joke about them, which was (1) unprintable, and (2) directed toward the rapper Ludacris.

Her show with Snoop is a very particular cultural exchange between two people of seemingly disparate backgrounds, which is a thing America could use more of these days, frankly. Martha, 76, tries on a grill, shotguns a beer and glugs out of a 40-ounce bottle of malt liquor this season. Snoop, 45, meanwhile, has learned about lobster thermidor and croquembouche.

"She's taught me how to . . . have better food etiquette, how to be more professional in the kitchen," Snoop said. "I showed her a few things, the ghetto way of doing things," like his method for making bacon.

Ive learned a lot about music from Snoop and our guests, Martha said. Hes extremely knowledgeable, hes also very amusing. Hes really laid back, she said, quoting one of his songs. She genuinely likes rap: Ever since I saw 8 Mile. It started with Eminem . . . I like that kind of poetry. And Rick Ross: Were email pals.



Snoop Dogg and Martha Stewart are genuinely friends, according to producer SallyAnn Salsano. (VH1/Viacom International Inc.)

Snoop is becoming Martha, and Martha is becoming Snoop, and it's been happening for years, before our very eyes. He first appeared on her show in 2008, putting cognac in his mashed potatoes, teaching her the phrase "fo shizzle." A year later, they made brownies with green sprinkles and a wink and a nod, because those green sprinkles stood for an altogether different green substance. Then a Reddit Q&A in which Martha said Snoop was a person she would like to get to know better, and then the Bieber roast. After that, SallyAnn Salsano, who also produced "The Jersey Shore," realized that they would be the perfect odd couple for a cooking show.

These guys are genuinely friends, and thats why I think it works so well on screen, Salsano said. Their relationship is real.

[The meal-kit industry is at a crossroads. Will it ever figure out what we really want?]

Some of the show's best comedy comes from how Snoop and Martha play off each other when she says something contrary to type or he eats something delicious. Snoop will look at her and say, "Martha," amused and awed. There is recipe instruction, but it's not really about that. The format is basically: Snoop and Martha each make dishes according to a (usually stoner-friendly) theme, like tacos or grilled cheese, and invite celebrity guests over to hang out. This season will feature Laverne Cox, RuPaul, T-Pain, Ty Dolla $ign and P. Diddy, among others.

Snoop is, unsurprisingly, high for every episode.

He comes onto the set pretty high, and leaves pretty high, said Martha, laughing, but hes not incompetent or incoherent at all. Thats the way he lives.

Sometimes I may smoke one blunt, sometimes I may smoke 100 blunts, Snoop said. It depends on whats necessary for me to do what Im doing.



He comes onto the set pretty high, Martha said of her co-host. (VH1/Viacom International Inc.)

And then he has some cocktails, because many episodes kick off with Martha demonstrating a drink recipe.

Every episode I was drunk. Every one, Snoop said. The lines become that much more easier, the flow becomes natural. Its more relaxing. Youre not doing a job, youre just having fun.

Martha is having fun, too. She seems cannily aware of her role as the comedic straight man, the person who can send Jamie Foxx into peals of laughter by sucking on a helium balloon, as she does during Season 2s Birthday Party episode, while misquoting Migoss Bad and Boujee: Rain drop. Drop top. Smoking on kush in hot box.

Martha was once so earnest that her daughter, Alexis, hosted a show poking loving fun at her mother. Ana Gasteyer's "Saturday Night Live" impressions of her were of a woman with a quiet rage within. People didn't know Martha was funny  much less that she could go toe-to-toe with some of the filthiest comedians. It's been in her all along, said Kim Miller-Olko, senior vice president of television and video for Sequential Brands Group, one of the show's producers.

Its not like shes a truck driver, but the Bieber roast was who she is when youre in the car with her. That sense of humor is very much her, she said.



Martha Stewart and Snoop Dogg at the Comedy Central Roast of Justin Bieber in 2015. (Chris Pizzello/AP)

Martha wouldn't describe her sense of humor as dirty.

My business partners wouldnt like that description of me. I like humor, I like all kinds of humor. I dont watch horror movies, though, and I dont watch porn. I dont watch any bad stuff.

(If you're surprised to hear prim, proper Martha Stewart even use the word "porn" in an interview, know this: Martha knows what sexting is, and she's done it, she told Andy Cohen).

It's all so funny that a cynical person might wonder if this is a calculated effort to expand her brand among millennials. After she published an essay about how much she loves drones, the Daily Dot wrote that Martha was "trolling the Internet into oblivion."

The Internets oblivion or my oblivion? asked Martha, when I read that line to her. I cant imagine what that means.

Trolling means youre fishing, it means youre dragging a line . . . so it doesnt really make any sense, that statement, does it? Does it to you?

[I tried a microwaveable mug cake for one and fell into a deep abyss of despair]

I tried to explain that the Internet has a different definition of trolling, and that in this context, the word meant being cheekily provocative. And I wondered: Was Martha trolling me?

No, Im doing a fun show, she said. Were having interesting guests, were doing all sorts of great, I would say funny, things. Were trying to give people a little bit of information and a lot of enjoyment.

For all their odd couple dynamic, Martha and Snoop aren't so different. They're both lifestyle gurus  Snoop has a cannabis company with artful packaging, a digital media company and a series of apps. They're both rich people who live in fancy homes, attended to by staff. When they appeared on "$100,000 Pyramid," Martha grilled Snoop on the intricacies of interior design: wainscoting, sconces, credenzas. He answered every question correctly.

At one point a meme went around, a picture of Snoop and Martha from the holiday brownie episode of her show, clad in a three-piece suit and a holiday sweater, respectively. The caption reads: "Be mindful of stereotypes! Only one of them is a convicted felon."

Except it's not true: Snoop, too, is a felon, having been convicted of drug possession and possession for sale in 1990.

But its the spirit behind that meme that is the force of the show: Anyone can find common ground over a good meal, even two people who seem so different.



Many episodes of their show begin with a cocktail-making demonstration by Martha. (VH1/Viacom International Inc.)

Snoop is writing his own cookbook, one more thing he'll have in common with Martha. It will feature recipes from the show.

People were inquiring about those dishes, and how can we do it. I was like, you know, [expletive] it, Im gonna do a cookbook.

Its going to be refined: I didnt put no baloney sandwiches in there. That might be in my second book. That might come with the hood recipes in there too, he said. I wanted . . . [people] to know that it was good and coming from a cooking perspective, and not just me just doing it to be doing it.

And it wont be about cooking with cannabis.

[Artisanal marijuana crab cakes: Is this the future of getting high?]

Im gonna be on cannabis while Im cooking, but aint no need to put it in the food.

Martha says she doesn't consume cannabis, though she says she has gotten a contact high from being around Snoop. He has gifted her with marijuana seeds, and she hasn't yet planted them, but is considering doing so at her Maine household ("I need to find out if I need a license.").

Even though it would seem the ultimate culmination of both personal brands, Snoop and Martha have no plans to launch the most logical merchandising spinoff of their show: a line of gourmet cannabis edibles.

New Martha makes weed jokes. Old Martha wants to grow something else.

Id rather do a line of my own hydrangeas or my own tulip bulbs, she said.
John Hagedorn and Diane Rehm married Saturday at the Washington National Cathedral. They first met 30 years ago and reconnected last year. (Tony Powell)



John Hagedorn and Diane Rehm married Saturday at the Washington National Cathedral. They first met 30 years ago and reconnected last year. (Tony Powell)

Most people think this is a love story, but its really a story about hope.

Diane Rehm and John Hagedorn were married Saturday at Washington National Cathedral in front of their families and 250 friends. The bride, 81, walked down the aisle with her son and daughter. The groom, 78, waited for her with his two sons.

They were, said the Rev. Canon Jerry Anderson, the oldest couple he had married in his 49 years in the clergy. They say that marriage is actually the triumph of hope over experience, he told the congregation. Its obvious God is not finished with the two of you.

Marriage is not something to be entered lightly, especially when youre mature enough to know exactly what that really means. So the ceremony was traditional, serious and formal: The bride and groom vowed to love, comfort and honor but not obey. They exchanged rings and a chaste kiss, and then everybody applauded after they were pronounced husband and wife. And yes, they were beaming.

This is something I never thought would happen to me, Rehm wrote on her blog a few days before the wedding. I truly believed I would spend the rest of my life alone, and find a way to enjoy it.

After 54 years of marriage to the late John Rehm, the beloved public radio host had planned a solo life around travel, writing and friends. Then fate intervened in the form of Hagedorn, a retired Lutheran minister and widower. The two met 30 years earlier at the wedding of a friend they had in common and reconnected at a book reading of Rehms On My Own last year. On their third date, he told her he loved her.

"That's ridiculous," she answered. "How can you possibly know that?"

Thats what I feel, he said.

But Hagedorns honesty and optimism cracked open her heart to him. Do I want to spend the rest of my life alone? she thought. When I met John, I thought, Maybe not. Maybe not. 

[Diane Rehms next act: Using her famous voice to fight for the good death]

As a minister and a therapist, Hagedorn says he is always working to get people in touch with their own hope. Falling for Rehm knocked him for a loop, but he quickly recovered and just went for it: Anything new always gives us some hope and some fright at the same time.

And so they fell in love  that giddy, blushing, ageless kind of love. And then they got engaged.

People kept saying to me, Why are you getting married? Why dont you just go on like this?  says Rehm. I just knew that wasnt me.



The bride and groom cut their wedding cake. (Tony Powell)

The bride wore a pale rose peplum mermaid gown by Italian designer Chiara Boni. "I would have never worn white," she said. "My goodness. That would have been totally inappropriate for me." She wasn't nervous at all  until she slipped on the gown Saturday afternoon. "I know that putting this dress on meant it was real."

The groom wore a tuxedo, but then, as it was black-tie wedding, so did all the other men.

After the service, guests  including Roger and Vicki Sant, Jim and Kate Lehrer, Buffy Cafritz, Lucky Roosevelt, Bob Barnett and Rita Braver, Mary and Robert Haft, and NPRs Scott Simon, among others  made their way to the Sulgrave Club on Massachusetts Avenue NW for the wedding reception.

Guests were seated in five rooms of the clubs elegant second floor, awash in candlelight and roses, while a small band played love songs all evening. The toasts, issued from the upstairs foyer, were short and very sweet, with references to love, goodness, truth and Plato.

Through love we get to all these great virtues, said Rehms son, David. We see beauty in the two of them, and were not talking just about the fact that they are a splendid-looking couple. Or as George Vradenburg  quoting his late wife, Trish  affectionately put it: Heres to Ken and Barbie at 80.

My heart is filled with joy, with love and with life, said the groom. To life, to love, to the love of life and the lives that love.



Guests at the reception dinner at the Sulgrave Club. (Tony Powell)

The four-course dinner included mushroom soup, poached lobster salad, rack of lamb, crab cakes and wedding cake for dessert, although the newlyweds spent the entire night walking from room to room, chatting with their guests.

There was a first dance, a private moment for the couple as their friends ate dinner, as the band began When I Need You: When I need love/ I hold out my hand and I touch love/ I never knew there was so much love/ Keeping me warm night and day.

The couple will have a short honeymoon in Florida, where John has a home, and a longer celebration cruise in the Baltics planned for next summer. The bride will keep her name and her apartment in Washington.

Im not moving to Florida, and he is not moving to Washington, Rehm explained on the blog. It will be a modern marriage in the most modern sense of the word.

But the wedding was old-fashioned, in the best sense of the term. As the bride put it: I love who he is, I love how he is, and I love what we have together.
Former columnist

As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump vowed to change the libel laws to make it easier to win big lawsuits against news organizations. It never happened.

After the election, he pressured the FBI director to consider sending reporters to jail for publishing classified information. That was another non-starter.

And just last week, he suggested that a TV network have its broadcast license revoked because he objected to a news report. That isn't evenpossible under FCC rules; the agency licenses individual stations, not networks.

Trump keeps ranting about the dishonest news media. And reporters and editors keep doing their jobs, undaunted.

So theres no problem and First Amendment champions should just calm down, right?

Stop overreacting to Trump's tweet-threats, counseled Jack Shafer of Politico last week, suggesting that, while not ignoring them, "we discount their value in the political marketplace down to the junk level."

As many have noted, Trump is actually more accessible than his predecessor  often answering reporters questions in informal settings, calling them on the phone and giving plenty of interviews (though mostly to his friends at Fox News).

Whats more, his Twitter feed means that we have a real-time understanding of the presidents thinking, such as it is. (Peter Baker of the New York Times, speaking last week at George Washington University, said that, in this way, at least, its the most transparent presidency we have had in our lifetime, and added, half-joking, that Trumps tweets are like the Nixon tapes, if they were played every night on the CBS News.)

Still, it would be a mistake to see Trumps anti-media threats as harmless. Theyre anything but.

Consider a Turkish court's conviction last week of Wall Street Journal reporter Ayla Albayrak. It sentenced her to more than two years in prison, determining that she had engaged in terrorist propaganda by writing a news story.

"This was an unfounded criminal charge and wildly inappropriate conviction that wrongly singled out a balanced Wall Street Journal report," charged Journal Editor in Chief Gerard Baker. The article's purpose was "to provide objective and independent reporting on events in Turkey, and it succeeded."

The State Department issued a strong rebuke to Turkey: Freedom of expression, including for speech and the media, strengthens democracy and needs to be protected, it said.

Notably, it said, that includes even speech which some find controversial or uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, the executive-branch boss was lashing out at American news organizations for reporting that he found uncomfortable  or, as he prefers to put it, "fake."

"It is frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write. And people should look into it," Trump stormed. Brandishing a copy of the U.S. Constitution, Jake Tapper of CNN retorted that he'd done the investigation and found the answers. (The president later backed off a bit, saying he didn't really want to limit the media; he just wants journalists to be what he considers honest.)

Trumps constant press attacks carry a worldwide price  they hurt Americas ability to stand for democratic freedoms around the world.

When the president consistently speaks that way, theres a loss of U.S. influence and credibility on matters of press freedom, Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, told me.

As Simon sees it, the American government needs to be able to exert influence  and maintain the moral high ground  in all kinds of cases involving the news media.

American officials lean on a strong democratic reputation when they raise concerns about the treatment of the U.S. media around the globe, he said, whether its the Chinese governments withholding visas, or the Turkish authorities expelling Wall Street Journal reporter Dion Nissenbaum last December, or the ban on CNN en Espanol imposed in Venezuela.

Turkey, nominally a democracy, has a disturbing record of human rights offenses  including throwing many journalists in jail.

But Trump keeps lavishing praise on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling him a great friend and (as with Vladimir Putin) awarding high marks for strong leadership. (Behind the scenes, Turkey and the United States have been in a bitter disagreement about the arrest of an employee of the American consulate in Istanbul.)

It may be tempting to shrug off Trumps threats as nothing but venting  or to see them as a big slab of red meat to feed his base.

And it may also be tempting to say his fighting words dont matter much because the worst threats havent come to fruition.

But even if Trump cant really get a networks broadcast license revoked or libel laws changed, he can still can  and does  undermine American values, both here and abroad, when he attacks the press.

And no amount of transparency-by-tweet or backslapping access for reporters can make up for that.

For more by Margaret Sullivan visit wapo.st/sullivan
On a spring day at Marylands largest state psychiatric hospital, a patient tried to escape, soiled herself and attacked a caregiver and a hospital police officer. She also spat on the police officer and tried to bite her.

The caregiver had her glasses broken. She was treated at St. Agnes Hospital and missed nine days of work. The police officer missed 12 days of work.

The attacks were part of a spike in assaults on employees at Spring Grove Hospital Center in Catonsville, as the Hogan administration labors under a court order to recruit staff for positions there that were already difficult to fill.

The May 19 assaults at Spring Grove were two of 68 at the hospital from January through June, according to records obtained by the Baltimore Sun under a Maryland Public Information Act request. Thats almost twice the 35 attacks reported in the final half of 2016, and more than any six-month period going back to July 2014.

Psychiatric hospitals are workplaces with known risks of violence. Facilities across the country face persistent problems in attracting qualified people to care for often-dangerous patients.

The Maryland Department of Health is reporting significant improvements in safety at most of its psychiatric facilities. But Spring Grove faces particular challenges.

Patricia Watson, president of the union local that represents most non-nurse employees at Spring Grove, said security has deteriorated in the three years shes worked at the hospital.

Its getting worse. Its like watching a train wreck, she said. All you can do is pray and try to help the patients and staff after [an incident] happens.

But John Robison, chief of hospitals at the Maryland Health Department, called the increase a blip in patient assault data.

It does not signal an unsafe place to work, he said.

For many years, the percentage of patients committed voluntarily to Marylands state psychiatric hospitals has been dropping, while the percentage referred by the court system  known as forensic cases  has been increasing. Spring Groves population is 80 percent forensic.

The Maryland Health Department, which runs Spring Grove and other state psychiatric hospitals, finds itself in an increasingly untenable bind. It doesnt have enough beds to treat all the people referred by the courts as not criminally responsible or incompetent to stand trial. When the state hospitals legally responsible for treating them cant admit them, sick people languish in jails that are ill-equipped to offer more than stopgap treatment.

Last month, Baltimore Circuit Judge Gale Rasin found acting health secretary Dennis R. Schrader and five other top department officials in civil contempt of court  saying the department had willfully dragged its feet in adding capacity.

Rasin, a retired judge who presides over mental health cases in the city, ordered the department to fully staff 20 beds recently added at Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup and staff 20 beds in an admissions unit at Spring Grove. She gave Schrader and his department a Dec. 31 deadline. The state is appealing the decision.

If the order is upheld, state records and interviews with department employees and their union representatives indicate, the state faces a daunting task  even if the Hogan administration comes up with the resources to hire that many employees. Qualified people are not lining up to take such jobs.

April Minniefield, area vice president of the AFT Healthcare Maryland union, said Spring Groves nursing shortage has worsened and conditions have become more dangerous since she started work there as a registered nurse four years ago. Meanwhile, she said, the state has not made the pay and benefits attractive.

You have to be competitive with other state facilities, she said. You have to be competitive with some of the private facilities.

Spring Grove is one step down from Perkins in the danger level of the patients sent there. It houses 343 patients when at full capacity. As of July 25, Rasin found, Spring Grove had 37 patients on its waiting list.

[Judge holds Maryland officials in contem pt, orders them to open dozens of psychiatric beds ]

Rasin described Spring Grove in her court order as a hospital that is being deprived of resources and one that cannot meet its obligations. She noted its chief executives testimony that the hospital had lost almost 50 positions over the past three state budgets and spent $5 million last year on staff overtime.

Other state hospitals have had problems with violence and vacancies. The Sun requested records for Spring Grove after hearing complaints from employees there.

The department keeps a monthly log of assaults classified from Level 1  requiring no treatment  to Level 5, in which a staff member died. There were no deaths in the past three years, but the number of assaults classified as Level 3  requiring medical intervention  has increased over that time. There were 28 in the first six months of this year, nearly double the 15 in the previous six months.

After inquiries from a reporter, the Health Department produced a chart showing annual assault counts that differed slightly from the totals the Sun compiled from the monthly logs.

The department chart showed 81 assaults in fiscal 2015, 78 in 2016 and 98 in 2017. The Sun counted 77 assaults in fiscal 2015, 77 in 2016 and 103 in 2017. Both counts totaled 257 assaults over the three years.

The department did not explain the discrepancies. The Sun is relying on the logs.

Patrick Moran, president of AFSCME Council 3, said all psychiatric hospitals have problems, but Spring Groves stand out  especially compared with improvements at Perkins in recent years.

Moran said the level of violence at Spring Grove seemed to have leveled off in recent years.

All of a sudden it skyrocketed, he said.

Moran said the reasons include a more dangerous patient population, too many patients and the staffing shortage. He said Spring Grove, unlike Perkins, was not designed to be a mostly forensic facility and is not staffed that way.

Records show that Spring Grove has three positions classified as building security officers. Perkins, meanwhile, has 80 security attendants  the closest counterpart to Spring Groves attendants, according to union officials.

Watson, who tracks court orders to admit forensic cases, said employees are aware of the increased danger because theyre hearing more codes  alerts that a disturbance has broken out  and have fewer people to respond. She said she has seen no signs of improvement since June, the last month for which the state provided logs.

The log for June shows there were 13 assaults on staff by patients that month. It was the fourth month since January with at least a dozen assaults. In the previous two years, the most reported in a single month was 11  a number reached only twice.

Since obtaining the records through fiscal 2017 in September, the Sun has pressed the state to supply the logs for subsequent months. The department declined to do so in time for this article, but reported that there were 24 cases between July 1 and Oct. 6 in which staff members were struck by patient or third party. If the numbers are comparable, that means assaults have slowed since the first six months of 2017, but still are on a pace to exceed 100 for the year.

The records portray a workplace in which staff members are constantly at risk. On June 5, a licensed practical nurse was punched in the eye while helping to dress a patient and required medical care. The staff member missed four days of work. On June 19, there were three assaults on nurses in a single day.

That morning an LPN had her hair pulled and was punched in the head. That afternoon, two registered nurses were attacked in what appears to have been a single incident. The patient slammed a cart into one nurses ankle and kicked the other nurse in an ankle as well.

Christopher Garrett, the Health Departments chief spokesman, said patients assault staff at many psychiatric hospitals, public and private.

Assaults happen, he said. Patient-related assaults happen at facilities.
Samantha Russell is in her senior year at American University. And in her time on the Northwest Washington campus, so much has changed.

To start with, when Russell arrived as a freshman in fall 2014, a program known as Empower AU wasnt even around.

As someone who helps educate her peers about staying well, she can tell you all about Empower AU: It involves students working with fellow students, teaching about consent, boundaries and what resources are available. It began a few years ago, during a time of increased national attention on the issue of campus sexual assault  a time of sweeping change and vocal concern across the country.

Freshmen come in, and its almost an icebreaker with them, meeting their now-peers but also learning these new topics and learning that its okay to talk about sex, its okay to be open about this stuff, its okay to ask questions, said Russell, an international relations major from Scituate, Mass.

In recent years, a subject once consigned to the shadows  sexual abuse, along with its victims and perpetrators  has moved into the spotlight. It remained a focus at the start of this school year as students arrived on campuses and the Trump administration announced changes to guidance on Title IX, the federal anti-discrimination law.

Students all across the country are going to take this issue on as one to champion, said Felicia McGinty, vice chancellor for student affairs at Rutgers University at New Brunswick in New Jersey. They dont want us to retrench. They want us to move forward and continue to embrace our commitment around these issues.

For those people who read political tea leaves, I think theyve got it wrong if they think this generation of students is just going to say, Hey, okay, thats last years issue. Weve moved on to something else. I dont think so.

[1 in 5 college women say they were violated]

At George Mason University in Fairfax, the work to combat campus sexual assault begins before students arrive in the classroom. At this years freshman convocation, students heard the universitys president talk about the importance of taking care of themselves and one another, said Rose Pascarell, vice president for university life. They also learned about student rights and responsibilities and went through training on how to intervene in situations that appear troubling.

By reaching first-year students, schools can build a foundation of knowledge about the topic, said Samantha Skaller, a master's degree student at McGill University in Montreal who is involved in the "It's On Us" sexual-assault awareness campaign.

And then your second year, you get to learn more, and your third and fourth year, you get to continue to learn more, she said.

[Biden calls on students to change the culture to fight college sexual assault]

Skaller, who went to Syracuse University as an undergraduate, recalls her freshman experience with sexual-assault prevention education. We had to do some tutorials about consent, but no one took it seriously. No one watched it, she said.

Skaller didn't watch, either. But twice, she said, she was the victim of rape while at Syracuse. She never reported the allegations to law enforcement, but the second time, she went to the university with a formal Title IX complaint.

The process was draining, and the result was disappointing: The man was found not responsible.

But while at Syracuse, Skaller also became an advocate working to change the campus culture. She saw the Its On Us campaign spread. Students signed pledges. Professors mentioned it in class materials.

We have a lot of progress to make, she said, but in five years, I have such a good feeling that the passion is still going to be there and were still going to be creating small movements of change.

Surveys show how often sexual assault occurs on campuses. A 2015 Association of American Universities study found that more than 20 percent of female undergraduates at prominent universities were the victims of sexual assault or misconduct.

That same year, a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey reached a similar conclusion, reporting that 20 percent of current and recent female college students experienced sexual assault.

The Association of American Universities, a group of research universities in the United States and Canada, followed up on its 2015 survey with a report in April that pointed to increased staffing, training and student support.

All the responding schools had changed (or were working to change) education and training for faculty and students in the past three academic years. The report indicated that schools were dedicating more attention to training their campus communities on how to step in during troubling situations.

There is no magic bullet, the report said, or one-size-fits-all approach: Universities have undertaken a wide variety of actions including increased and targeted training, greater awareness-building, better coordinated data collection . . . and greater levels of collaboration within institutions and their communities.

In its short time at the institution, for example, Empower AU has already become a point of pride at the school, which was recently lauded for its sexual-assault prevention efforts.

Mickey Irizarry, director of American University's student wellness center, pointed to the 2011 "Dear Colleague" letter that laid out guidance for schools on handling sexual-assault complaints as a turning point. At the same time it came out, she said, there was a push from students who had a "desire to hold their university accountable to do this type of programming" and do work around the topic.

They were asking for more resources, asking for more support, asking for policies and for more transparency, she said.

Julian Williams, vice president for compliance, diversity and ethics at George Mason, called the 2011 guidance a game changer.

It spurred colleges and universities to develop what I call a Title IX infrastructure, which means, okay, so how do we do this in a way that recognizes that we want to create a campus thats free from sexual assault, dating violence and stalking, he said.

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos spoke on George Mason's campus in September, delivering remarks vowing to replace a "failed system" of campus sexual-assault enforcement. Later that month, the Trump administration rescinded the Obama-era guidance.

Even with the changes, Pascarell, George Masons vice president for university life, said she did not expect her institution or others in higher education to backtrack, a sentiment Williams echoed.

With the advocacy that weve seen and the commitment that institutions have made to their students, theyre not going to let us go backward, even if folks wanted to, Williams said. The cats out of the bag a bit here, in terms of this being the expectation that students have when they arrive on campus.

Emily Guskin contributed to this report.
Maryland is setting the rules to allow property owners and others to buy and sell credits for environmental cleanup, an emerging strategy for improving the health of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers.

The Maryland Department of the Environment has drawn up the regulations that will guide how companies, local governments and property owners that go above and beyond in water-quality-improvement goals can earn credits to be sold to others that are struggling to meet environmental bench marks.

Supporters of water-quality trading say that, when done properly, the practice uses market forces to achieve environmental benefits.

Its a very important step, and its a necessary step, said state Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles, who added that the regulations will jump-start the restoration economy.

Maryland and other states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are required by federal law to reduce pollution enough to eventually get the bay off the list of the nations most impaired waterways, and the state has required property owners and governments to take steps toward that goal.

The trading of water-quality credits aims to address one of the struggles of restoring the health of the bay  namely, that some cleanup projects are much more expensive than others.

Projects on farms, such as planting cover crops in the winter or adding trees along farm streams, are less expensive than, for example, upgrading a sewage- treatment plant or adding storm- water controls in urban areas.

The Chesapeake Bay and its rivers are plagued by an overabundance of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus that flow into the bay from farms, lawns, septic systems, sewage plants and poorly managed storm water. Those nutrients fuel the growth of algae in the water, which then use up dissolved oxygen in the water as they decompose, leaving oxygen-deprived dead zones where fish, crabs and oysters struggle to survive.

The proposed regulations for nutrient trading set rules for identifying who can earn credits that they can sell and where they can be sold.

The regulations will be reviewed by a joint Senate-House of Delegates committee in the coming weeks and will be subject to a public comment period after that.

Officials with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for bay restoration, said the regulations are an important step but have some flaws they believe should be fixed.

For example, credits can be traded within three regions: the Potomac River watershed, the Patuxent River watershed and a third area that includes the rest of the Western Shore, Eastern Shore and the Susquehanna River.

Doug Myers, a senior scientist at the bay foundation, said that third region is just too big, creating the possibility that polluters in one area could buy a lot of credits from areas across the bay  still allowing localized pollution.

Myers said the foundation is also concerned the regulations allow for credit trading between states, which he said is way too premature.

Still, Myers said its a positive step to set up a framework for credit trading.

Trading isnt the silver bullet by any stretch, Myers said. But if its done right, it can help us make load reductions at a lower cost per pound.

Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has been a proponent of water-quality trading and last year proposed an ambitious plan to use $10 million to start a trading program. After receiving tepid interest from environmentalists and farmers, Hogan agreed to narrow his proposal, called the Clean Water Commerce Act, into essentially a $2.5 million annual grant program to pay for certain innovative pollution-fighting practices.

Grumbles, the environment secretary, has said the Clean Water Commerce Act is giving the state a chance to try new projects and determine how much the pollution projects might be worth. He said the Clean Water Commerce Act investments, plus the new regulations, will help get trading off the ground.

 Baltimore Sun
Joseph W. Schmitt, who helped develop the spacesuits worn by the nations first astronauts, and who helped secure the straps, boots and helmets of John Glenn, Neil Armstrong and other astronauts just before their history-making flights, died Sept. 25 at a nursing home in Friendswood, Tex. He was 101.

A granddaughter, Susan Alexander, confirmed his death, but she did not know the specific cause.

Mr. Schmitt, who began his career as an airplane mechanic and instrument technician, was present at many of the momentous events in aeronautical history. He helped install and monitor the instruments of the Bell X-1 rocket plane, in which Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier on Oct. 14, 1947.

During the 1930s, when Mr. Schmitt was in the old Army Air Corps, he had helped rig parachutes and repair flight suits. Later, when he worked for NASAs predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, that early experience prepared him for a job that had never existed before.

They saw I had done a little work in aircraft clothing repair and asked if I wanted to work on spacesuits, Mr. Schmitt told author Billy Watkins in the 2006 book Apollo Moon Missions: The Unsung Heroes. I said sure.



Astronausts James A. McDivitt, right, and Edward H. White II, are shown with suit technicians Clyde Teague, right center, and Joseph Schmitt, left center, in 1965. (NASA)

When NASA was formed in 1958, Mr. Schmitt became the agencys chief spacesuit technician. He worked with engineers at the B.F. Goodrich tire company in Ohio to create a pressurized suit that could withstand extreme temperatures and a weightless environment.

A spacesuit would have to include devices to monitor an astronauts health and to allow him to breathe in an oxygen-free environment. Cool air would have to flow under the layers of aluminum-coated nylon, yet it had to allow freedom of movement.

Because even the slightest hole could have life-threatening consequences, a spacesuit had to be strong enough not to rip.

One time, Mr. Schmitt increased the pressure inside a spacesuit to five pounds per square inch.

And the thing blew, he said in Watkinss book. Sounded like a shotgun went off. We wrapped it up and sent it back to the factory.

And, yes, Mr. Schmitt also helped invent a necessary item officially known as a urine collection device.

He accompanied the astronauts to the launchpad and was among the last people to see them before liftoff, as he secured their air hoses and buckled them into the space capsule.

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He helped Alan Shepard into his spacesuit for the country's first space flight in May 1961. Nine months later, on Feb. 20, 1962, Mr. Schmitt tightened Glenn's helmet, gloves and boots and put the astronaut in the capsule of the Friendship 7 spacecraft in which Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.

In 1969, Mr. Schmitt needed an entirely new kind of suit for Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, as they stepped out of the spacecraft to walk on the moon.

The 28-layer spacesuit, costing $100,000 apiece, had to be able to resist ultraviolet radiation and withstand a 500-degree temperature range, from minus-250 degrees Fahrenheit to 310 degrees above zero. The boots needed to be tough enough to walk on the lunar surface, yet the arms and legs of the suit had to allow enough freedom of motion for the astronauts to collect rocks and plant the American flag on the moon.

In a NASA oral history, Mr. Schmitt recalled boarding the elevator with the astronauts and riding up with them more than 320 feet, to the hatch of Apollo 11.

My work station for ingress was just inside the spacecraft hatch just above the center seat, which means I had to get out each time the next crewman got in, he said. Before getting out of the spacecraft, I always made a quick check of everyones equipment, asking them if everything was okay and wish[ing] them good luck.

Joseph William Schmitt was born Jan. 2, 1916, in OFallon, Ill. Less than three months later, his father, a police officer, was shot and killed in the line of duty.

His mother took in laundry, and Mr. Schmitt worked shining shoes and cleaning spittoons at his brother-in-laws barbershop.

Mr. Schmitt had a strong mechanical aptitude as a young man and took up taxidermy as a hobby. Because there were few jobs available during the Depression, he entered the Army Air Corps after high school and learned airplane mechanics.

He left the military in 1939 to join NACA, the early aeronautics research branch, and helped develop flight instrumentation for military aircraft during World War II.

After the war, Mr. Schmitt worked at the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., where early advances in the space program were made. He moved to Texas in 1963 to work at NASAs Johnson Space Center.

Mr. Schmitt continued to refine spacesuits through the Gemini and Apollo space programs and on into the days of the space shuttle before retiring in 1983.

He appeared on an episode of the television game show "What's My Line?" in 1963. The panel guessed that he worked in the space program but could not pin down his exact job.

His wife of 69 years, the former Elizabeth Rayfield, died in 2008. Survivors include two children, six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

In 1964, Mr. Schmitt drove to artist Norman Rockwell's studio in Stockbridge, Mass., taking a couple of spacesuits with him.

The reason I had to go up, he said in the NASA oral history, was because the Gemini spacesuits at that time were classified. So they couldnt just put them in the mail and ship them.

Rockwell portrayed Mr. Schmitt in two paintings, as he helped astronauts fit into their spacesuits. When Mr. Schmitt asked why the artist included him, Rockwell replied, Because you were always there.
A Prince William County teenager who went missing overnight, and was said to be in extreme danger, was found safe Sunday, along with the man suspected of abducting her, authorities said.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the girls disappearance.

An Amber Alert had been activated for 16-year-old Sinahi Aguilar-Cruz after police said she was likely abducted by 21-year-old Roberto Medrano Segovia in the Woodbridge area. Authorities later found the two in the same area and canceled the Amber Alert, Prince William County police said.



Sinahi Aguilar-Cruz, 16, was found safe in the Woodbridge area. (Virginia State Police)

Police spokesman Sgt. Jonathan Perok said Aguilar-Cruz and Segovia were being questioned Sunday afternoon.

As of right now were trying to figure out what happened, he said.

Aguilar-Cruz had last been seen at 14807 Danville Road in Woodbridge, police said.

Perok said Aguilar-Cruz was reported missing after a house party at that address. Witnesses reported the two had gotten into a dispute, and Aguilar-Cruz was forcibly placed into a vehicle, Perok said. The Amber alert was activated at 1:43 a.m.

They were found together Sunday afternoon, Perok said.
A shooting at Virginia State University on Saturday night prompted a lockdown on campus, in what police called an isolated incident that came at the end of homecoming weekend.

Virginia State University Police said about 8:25 p.m., police were called to the 1 block of Hayden Street in Petersburg for a reported shooting. Officers found a man who was wounded by gunfire, authorities said. The man was hospitalized with injuries described as non-life-threatening.

At this time, police believe this is an isolated incident and there is no further threat to the campus, campus police said in a Facebook post early Sunday.

The Chesterfield County Police Department is investigating the incident. The department could not be immediately reached Sunday. It was not clear whether a suspect had been identified or an arrest had been made.

In a letter posted to Twitter, university President Makola M. Abdullah told students the immediate threat had dissipated and the lockdown had been lifted. The man who was wounded was not a VSU student, he said.

During our homecoming activities, I am saddened that a young man was injured, he wrote. It was very unfortunate that an individual would use the occasion such as homecoming to display a senseless act of violence upon another individual.

Virginia State University is located about 25 miles south of Richmond.
A pedestrian was struck and killed while trying to cross an interstate north of Baltimore on Saturday night, police said.

Davion Tyree Bell, 27, was struck by a 2008 Honda Accord traveling in a southbound lane of Interstate 795 at about 11 p.m. Saturday in Owings Mills, according to the Maryland State Police.

Bell was pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver of the vehicle was not injured. Police are investigating the collision.
Harry Wilson is familiar with the challenges of running for statewide office in New York.

In 2010, he was the Republican nominee for state comptroller. It was his first run for political office and his opponent was Democratic state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who had been appointed to the office three years prior.

On paper, the race was DiNapoli's to lose. Democrats hold a large enrollment advantage in New York, especially downstate. But Wilson, a corporate restructuring expert who served on President Barack Obama's task force to save the American automobile industry, overcame those odds and nearly won the race.

DiNapoli's margin of victory was over 200,000 votes, or four percentage points. It was the best performance by a Republican in a statewide race since George Pataki, a three-time GOP governor, won re-election in 2002.

Seven years later, Wilson is considering a run for another statewide office. He has been traveling around New York to gauge interest in his potential run for governor.

Wilson, 46, said in an interview with The Citizen that he's "seriously exploring" a gubernatorial bid. He plans to make a final decision by late fall.

"I really feel I can make a huge difference in the state," he said. "I've seen this set of problems before where you've had bad leadership and problems on the ground in company after company. I really that there's nothing in the state that's not fixable with better public leadership."

Wilson, who earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, began his career as an investor at The Blackstone Group and Silver Point Capital, two leading financial firms. After his work on the Obama auto task force, he founded MAEVA Group, a corporate restructuring firm, in 2011.

MAEVA Group, according to Wilson's biography, "focuses primarily on investing in or acquiring companies undergoing major change, or advising companies going through similar operational or financial transformations, so that these companies can better compete and thrive in the future."

The main issue for Wilson is the state of New York's economy. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who plans to seek a third term in 2018, has advanced several economic development initiatives during his seven-plus years in office. These programs have invested billions in the state's economy and created thousands of jobs.

But challenges, especially in upstate New York, remain. Even as the state has supported new economic development in the region, some businesses have left. Wilson blames overregulation and the state's tax system for its economic struggles.

Employers leaving New York is a problem. But Wilson also thinks there are few entrepreneurs willing to take the risks necessary to create a business in New York because of the regulatory and tax hurdles.

"I think that's very fixable, but it takes a lot of effort to fix it," he said. "It takes a fundamental change in the way that we operate state government. But that's exactly what I've done in my business career. I feel like I can really make a huge impact on the state by focusing on those issues."

To address the state's economic woes, Wilson believes the education system needs to be improved. He's a proponent of public schools. He and his wife attended public schools and his four daughters attend public schools in Westchester County. He called public schools "the lifeblood of the state."

However, he noted that there are public schools in some regions of the state that perform better than others.

"That's just robbing a generation of kids of opportunity," he said.

Another education-related issue is how the economy has changed, especially in the last two decades. The United States is transitioning from an industrial economy to a digital economy, Wilson said. This will result in some jobs, including many traditional blue-collar jobs, being eliminated. Even higher level jobs, such as accounting, could be automated.

Wilson doesn't think the state  and society as a whole  is prepared for those changes.

"I think the answer comes to education and training," he said. "I think we just need a much more flexible system that helps build skills."

One idea, which isn't new, is that college isn't for everybody. Technical schools and vocational training may be a better option for young people.

"That will be a better fit for their long-term goals and something that is critically necessary for the economy as a whole," Wilson said.

When Wilson discusses the economy and other issues, he sounds very much like someone who's running for governor. He admits that if his decision was based solely on the issues, he would have entered the race by now. But there are personal factors to consider.

As the founder and CEO of his own company, he's been successful. He said the firm has saved more than 50,000 jobs over the last six years. His work also gives him the flexibility to spend time with his family and attend his daughters' events.

In his interview and during a speech at a Cayuga County Republican Committee event over the summer, he said his family will be a major part of his decision-making process.

Another factor is the political reality for a Republican in New York. There are 3 million more active Democratic voters than Republicans, according to the state Board of Elections. That enrollment disadvantage could be enough for some GOP candidates to pass on the race.

But Wilson, who nearly pulled off the upset in a statewide race seven years ago, isn't fazed by those numbers.

"I think it's a surmountable challenge, particularly given some of the governor's failures," he said.
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A series of actions by the Trump administration is likely to depress sign-ups during the Affordable Care Acts fifth enrollment season. (Department of Health and Humans Services )

After threatening for months to end billions of dollars in payments promised to health insurers, President Trump finally dropped the ax with timing that could inflict maximal disruption on the Affordable Care Act enrollment season scheduled to begin in two weeks.

The most immediate upheaval is playing out in a set of states where regulators had ignored the risk that the president might carry out his threat and told insurers not to include any cushion in their 2018 rates for ACA health plans. Officials in at least three states are now debating whether to delay the Nov. 1 start of enrollment as they rush to consider higher premiums to make up for the abrupt loss of federal money.

But even in states that prepared for a possible cutoff of the "cost-sharing reduction" payments, Trump's action so close to the fifth year's sign-up period is sowing widespread confusion among consumers, according to leaders of insurance exchanges and enrollment-assistance organizations around the country. Along with other steps the White House has taken since late summer to undercut the ACA marketplaces, they predict this latest move is almost certain to suppress the number of Americans insured under the law next year.

The timing couldnt be worse, said Allison OToole, chief executive officer of MNsure, the marketplace Minnesota created under the ACA. Hundreds more consumers than usual have phoned its call center in recent days, uncertain whether they can still get and afford health plans.

Will the [presidents] drumbeat of its a failing marketplace affect enrollment? Absolutely, said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California, which calculates that the payments end will cost its 11 marketplace insurers $188 million for the last three months of 2017  more than the small profits many were anticipating for the year.

Insurers themselves could compound the damage, depending on how they respond. The Trump administrations timing meant its announcement late Thursday came after the deadline for insurers in three dozen states relying on the ACAs federal insurance marketplace to sign government contracts and lock in their rates for 2018 coverage. But a clause in the contracts lets insurers pull out within 90 days if the payments stop.

So far, no insurers have said they would defect. But concerns remain acute. As the number of companies selling ACA coverage has dwindled in the past two years, an increasing number of the nation's counties have found themselves with just one participating insurer. Scores of counties recently appeared as if they would lack any insurers until state officials lured in replacements. If more leave this fall, states would have difficulty attracting others on such short notice.

It seems entirely possible that some insurers will now exit the marketplace for 2018 and potentially leave bare counties, said Larry Levitt, senior vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a health policy organization.

[HHS slashes funding to groups helping ACA consumers enroll by up to 92 percent]

The late changes in insurance rates, deterrence of would-be customers and potential unavailability of ACA coverage are the biggest ground-level effects of the president's decision  a step so strident that health policy wonks for months had made a parlor game out of debating whether the president would have the nerve to do it.

The federal payments have been the more obscure of two types of subsidies created by the sprawling 2010 health-care law to help Americans afford coverage if they cannot get such benefits through a job. The better-known subsidies help lower the monthly premiums owed by nearly 85 percent of the roughly 10 million Americans with ACA coverage.

The CSRs, as they are called, provide discounts for deductibles and other out-of-pocket insurance expenses to people with somewhat lower incomes  up to 250 percent of the poverty line, or about $30,000 for a single person and $61,000 for a family of four. Under the law, ACA health plans must continue those discounts. Trumps move means that health plans will not be reimbursed for the last three months of the year or in the future. The payments had been expected to total $7 billion for 2017.

Dramatic as it is, the payments' elimination does not go nearly as far as Trump and most congressional Republicans have sought this year as they attempted unsuccessfully to rewrite federal health-care law. Still intact is the ACA's requirement that most Americans carry health coverage, though administration officials have hinted they may stop penalizing people who violate that mandate. Other consumer protections in the law still guarantee specific benefits in insurance sold to individuals or small businesses, forbid insurers to charge more or refuse to cover people who have had medical conditions, and ban yearly or lifetime limits on coverage.

Hours before the White House announced the end of the CSRs, the president took another significant step that could foster a proliferation of insurance capable of making end runs around such protections. Under an executive order that Trump signed on Thursday, federal agencies will develop new rules to widen access to association health plans and short-term insurance policies  both exempt from the ACAs insurance regulations  and allow more policies to be sold from one state to another without meeting each states regulations.

[Trump administration to dismantle small-business part of ACA marketplaces]

As state officials prepared in the spring and summer for the upcoming enrollment period, most instructed insurers either to include a surcharge assuming the federal cost-sharing would end or to file two sets of rates as a Plan A and Plan B.

In Colorado, one of the states that asked for two sets, the insurance commission approved the higher rates on Friday. The states marketplace, Connect for Healthy Colorado, is now scrambling to load the necessary information into its computer system, according to Kevin Patterson, its chief executive. Colorado wants to start enrollment on time, Patterson said Saturday  but he is not yet sure whether it will be ready.

In Washington state, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler also told insurers to file two rates. In order to get the smoke to clear, he said, the marketplace there may consider holding back on when enrollment begins.

Maryland is in worse shape, because the two insurers in its marketplace were told by regulators to file only rates that assumed the CSR payments would continue. Chet Burrell, chief executive of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, said officials asked state insurance regulators Friday to allow it to submit new rates  about 20 percent higher  to make up about $50 million it had been expecting in CSR money next year.

Marylands open enrollment, Burrell said, might need to be delayed.

At the Missouri Association of Area Agencies on Aging, executive director Catherine Edwards acknowledged the challenges. Its just another hurdle that were going to have to get over, she said Saturday. Were just holding our breath to see what this does to the people coming to us.

Carolyn Y. Johnson contributed to this report.
When women dont want to conceive a child, many consider long-term birth control such as an intrauterine device (IUD), which can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years, or a tubal ligation, a permanent procedure that blocks the fallopian tubes. But not every doctor is on board with those options. Why do some refuse to provide those methods of contraception?

In some cases, the justification is medical: a current pregnancy, significant risks from the anesthesia needed for a tubal ligation, or a uterine abnormality that might make inserting an IUD dangerous. However, says Jen Gunter, a San Francisco area OB/GYN, "there are really very few medical reasons a woman can't have an IUD."

But some providers refuse to insert IUDs because of misconceptions about their safety and function, especially in women who have not had children. A 2012 survey of medical providers found that 30 percent mistakenly thought the devices are not safe for women without children. And many seem particularly reluctant to insert IUDs in adolescents. (Current practice guidelines say that adolescents and women who have not had children are candidates for IUD insertion.)

Another survey conducted in 2014 found that among the 4 percent of providers who didn't perform any IUD insertions in the past year, almost a quarter were concerned that the IUDs are a method of abortion. (They aren't, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Although IUDs can prevent an egg from being fertilized, they cannot disrupt the implantation of a fertilized egg.) Compared with condom use, which fails 18 percent of the time, IUDs fail as little as 0.2 percent of the time. Contraceptive pills  the most popular form of birth control  involve putting hormones in your body; they fail about 9 percent of the time, in some cases because women don't take the pill when they are supposed to do so.

Doctors' hesitancy to provide IUDs stems, in part, from lingering memories of the Dalkon Shield, a device that was pulled from the market in 1984 after causing serious medical problems, including perforations and scarring infections, in some women. Today, though, IUDs are considered safe, and more women want them than ever. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IUD use increased fivefold between 2002 and 2013.And earlier this year, Planned Parenthood's president, Cecile Richards, told CNN that demand for IUDs increased substantially after last November's election.

Nevertheless, Gunter says, she hears about providers refusing to implant IUDs all the time. She encourages women to advocate for themselves if they meet resistance from their provider  or go to another provider who recognizes the devices merits.

Tubal ligations are trickier. Sterilization  usually by tubal ligation  is the second-most-popular form of contraception in the United States. However, some women who get their tubes tied regret their decision, especially those who have the procedure done at a young age. Concern about those regrets, enthusiasm about IUDs, and the general irreversibility of tubal ligation cause providers such as Gunter to challenge women who think they want the procedure.

Its all in how you discuss it with the patient, she says. Sometimes surgeries require more thinking beforehand. But I would also expect that people would present this in a kind, non-patriarchal way. Since tubal ligation involves anesthesia and surgery, it carries a degree of risk. For some women, though, especially those who have had complications with IUDs, the risk is worth it.

Ultimately, the decision to move ahead with sterilization, an IUD or another form of long-term contraception is a personal one, doctors said, and patients must find providers who can help them reach their goals.

Beyond that Gunter has another suggestion: If you have a long-term male partner, ask him to get a vasectomy. Though far less reversible than an IUD, the procedure is cheaper than tubal ligation and simpler to perform. Its a minor outpatient surgical procedure that involves no [general] anesthetic, she says. And it has no side effects for a woman  aside from a serious conversation.

Learn more: cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception.

health-science@washpost.com

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Downtown Sonoma is deserted at dawn on Saturday as smoke from wildfires rises northeast of the community. (Stuart Palley/For The Washington Post)

California was burning and emergency management officials in Sacramento were listing the latest statistics about the fires, the firefighters, the acres burned, the fatalities, the missing people, the number of tanker planes and helicopters deployed, and so on. To one side, in a suit and tie, stood the governor, Jerry Brown.

When he took the microphone, he offered the long view of this extraordinary year of natural disasters in the United States.

Its just part of the facts of a highly developed society, is that you have a lot of people and a lot of assets in the face of floods and hurricane and fires, Brown (D) said at the Wednesday briefing. And this is what happens.

That might have sounded detached and cerebral while in the middle of a crisis, but its what everyone in the emergency management business knows to be true. As a people, we are consistently stepping into the path of destruction. Natural disasters have a heavily engineered element.

Recent months have delivered a steady pounding of misery, as flooding drowned Houston, hurricanes chewed through Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and wildfires killed dozens of people in California. If it feels like these things are getting worse, experts say thats because, in some cases, they are.

[Their island homes wiped away in the hurricanes, Caribbean residents wonder: Should they go back?]

There are more people and property vulnerable to natural forces. And climate change doesnt help. Scientists know that global warming does not create a specific hurricane or a wildfire, but climate change, which has been driven significantly by the burning of fossil fuels, primes the pump for extreme weather.

A warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture and produce heavier deluges. On a hotter planet, droughts can be, and have been, more severe. Coastal flooding gets worse as seas rise.



A burning tree throws off embers during a flare-up caused by offshore north winds in Sonoma County, Calif. (Stuart Palley/For The Washington Post)

The wildfire season has gotten longer in recent years, and the wildfires are bigger, said Shawna Legarza, director of Fire and Aviation Management for the U.S. Forest Service.

Were seeing intense periods of longer, hotter summers, she said. We saw that this summer in Montana where it didnt rain for 60 days.

[Massive wildfires turned prairies to ash, leading Montanas cowboys to weigh federal help]

Kerry Emanuel, a professor of meteorology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the kind of torrential rains that flooded Houston are far more likely than they were a generation ago.

The underlying probability of a [Hurricane] Harvey-like rainfall in Texas was maybe 1 percent annual probability in 1990 and is 6 percent probability today because of climate change, Emanuel said.

The recent U.S. events have been catastrophic but hardly unimaginable. Engineers have long warned of the flood risks in Houston, which flooded in 2015 and 2016.



Flooding from Hurricane Harvey ruined vehicles and homes in the Houston area at the end of August. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Florida, meanwhile, has historically been a magnet for hurricanes, getting hit by more than any other state between 1851 and 2015, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Florida's population has quadrupled in half a century, to more than 20 million. At one point in September, the entire Florida peninsula was under a hurricane warning from Irma, which traveled up the state as if trying to drive up Interstate 75 and affected almost every one of Florida's major population centers.

Floridas booming coastal population might create its own herd mentality of collective safety rather than vulnerability. And psychologists say its human nature to avoid thinking about natural disasters.

Most of us evaluate risk based on our gut feelings, said Paul Slovic, a psychology professor at the University of Oregon. When we rank potential threats, natural hazards tend to be relatively low considering the amount of damage that they pose and their frequency.

[Fear is in the water, spreading with new and viral efficiency]

Disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes and floods have been around forever, so were familiar with them, he said. People tend to be worried about new, unfamiliar threats, he said  such as terrorism and the kind of mass shooting that took scores of lives in Las Vegas.

Mother Nature isnt malicious, Slovic said. We dont feel she is out to get us, whereas a terrorist is out to harm us, just for the pure hatred, desire to harm.



A Stock Island, Fla., resident cleans and organizes what is left of her kitchen on Sept. 14 after Hurricane Irma crashed through the Florida Keys. (Maggie Steber/For The Washington Post)

Some hazards have only recently been grasped by the scientific community. Researchers in the Pacific Northwest have discovered that every few hundred years, an offshore fault known as the Cascadia Subduction Zone ruptures in a manner that creates not only a powerful earthquake but also a devastating tsunami.

The odds of an 8-magnitude earthquake or stronger somewhere in the Cascadia region are between 30 and 40 percent during the next half-century, said Chris Goldfinger, a paleoseismologist at Oregon State University. This years rash of hurricanes or flooding might seem unprecedented, Goldfinger said, but such things have happened thousands of times before, back when there werent any humans around to record them.

Wherever we are in time, were always between things most of the time, until your number comes up, he said.

Science and technology can limit the hazards that develop whenever that number comes up. For example, satellites monitor weather patterns in a way impossible 50 years ago  and people have more time to evacuate before a hurricane. Scientists such as Goldfinger can study prehistoric earthquakes and improve the nations seismic hazard maps.

The Internet and smartphones give people instant access to emergency information. Facebook and other social media platforms helped organize rescues when intense flooding struck Houston. Police and fire officials can send out alerts to tell people to flee or take shelter from a shooter.

[The only California county that sent a warning to residents cellphones has no reported fatalities]

There is an extensive disaster-management community that preaches the virtues of mitigation  essentially, planning ahead, making preparations, strengthening defenses, improving building codes.

But mitigation is often a budget line that gets scratched out during recessions or when a community or government agency is facing a fiscal crunch. The Forest Service repeatedly has exceeded its budget for firefighting and has had to dip into funds intended for fire risk reduction and other forest management programs.

Whats unfolding nationally is a race between vulnerability and preparedness.

It seems to me like were losing, said Ken Hudnut, science adviser for risk reduction at the U.S. Geological Survey. It seems to me like were not figuring out strategies and implementing them rapidly enough to keep pace with all of the change that we are observing.

Carol Friedland, an associate professor of construction management at Louisiana State University, echoes that view: I do not believe were keeping pace with what were facing from nature.

She noted that Louisianas flood maps do not factor in land subsidence or sea level rise.

Our elevations are lowering. And while sea level rise, at least down here, can be a controversial topic, everybody knows our land is sinking, she said.

Much of the country is settled around coastlines, in part because historically, before the age of railroads and airlines and interstate highways, people and cargo tended to travel by water and societies built up around ports. Those coastal cities are now exposed to storms and the threat of sea level rise. Moreover, port cities often have a great deal of reclaimed land, created with dredged material, and that can be shaky ground  as seen in the Marina District of San Francisco, which was heavily damaged by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Human nature often doesnt help: People like a view of the ocean. And as the governor of California pointed out last week, people like being close to green places that are full of wildfire fuel.

According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin, in the Lower 48 in 1990 there were 30.8 million homes in the wildland-urban interface, or WUI. Thats pronounced WOO-ee by researchers. The number increased to 43.4 million by 2010. California added 1.1 million of those homes.





The University of Wisconsin researchers last week studied three of the big California wildfires and compared them with the WUI database. Two wildfires, the Atlas and Adobe, fit the usual pattern: The overwhelming majority of the homes (upward of 80 percent) within the fire perimeter were classified as being in the wildland-urban interface.

But the Tubbs fire that devastated Santa Rosa was an anomaly. About 71 percent of the homes in the Tubbs fire perimeter were classified as being in the WUI, but most of the rest of the homes were in solidly urban neighborhoods. That includes homes in Coffey Park, a neighborhood tucked behind six-lane Highway 101.

The extreme winds showed how a wildfire can invade an urban area. Embers can be blown more than a mile from a hot fire. Then, when some homes in Coffey Park ignited, they became fuel for the urban fire, said Pam Leschak, a program manager for the Forest Service.

People dont think of their homes as fuel for a wildfire, she said.

A 2004 analysis of fire danger in Santa Rosa described the city's location, surrounded by forested uplands, as "remarkably similar" to communities that have experienced "historic urban interface fires" in recent decades.

In a major urban interface fire, the extensive annual grasslands in the Santa Rosa area would provide a receptive fuelbed for spotfires to occur resulting from long-range spotting in heavier fuels, rapidly expanding the fire front in more developed areas, the analysis said.

My heart goes out to the people who lost homes, and lost friends and family. But what happened was not unforeseeable, Volker Radeloff, a professor of forest ecology and management at the University of Wisconsin, told The Washington Post. Almost the exact same area burned in the 1960s.



The Coffey Park area of Santa Rosa, Calif., was devastated by fire. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)

That was in 1964  the Hanley fire. It burned 52,000 acres, according to the Napa Valley Register, but destroyed only 150 structures.

There just werent many people or homes there then. In 1960, there were 766 homes within the perimeter of the Tubbs fire, compared with 6,253 in 2010, an eightfold increase, according to University of Wisconsin researcher H. Anu Kramer.

Emergency managers talk about an all-hazard approach to their jobs. They say people need to be ready for whatever might happen. Calamity can come in many forms, often with no warning.

Legarza, the Forest Service official, poses simple questions for everyone.

Are you ready? she asks. Do you have your bags packed?
Columnist

Send a spy to spread rumors on the other side of the front line. Drop leaflets into enemy territory. Debilitate the enemy using its own people, in their own language  Lord Haw-Haw, Tokyo Rose  over their own radios. The tactics of demoralization are as old as politics  as old as war  and now we know what the second-decade-of-the-21st-century version looks like, too.

Pushed by a congressional investigation, Facebook has finally turned over some 3,000 advertisements and links to pages created and paid for by Russian trolls. Among them was "Secured Borders," a fake, Kremlin-backed "organization" that appeared to be based in Idaho. It pumped out messages about immigrant "scum" and attracted 133,000 followers before it was shut down. In August 2016, its Russian backers actually promoted a rally in Twin Falls to protest an alleged "upsurge of violence against American citizens."

At the same time, a different set of Russian operatives sponsored and advertised two black rappers who bashed "racist b----" Hillary Clinton. They also borrowed the identity of a Muslim group that claimed Clinton "created, funded and armed" al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Meanwhile, thousands of computerized bots pushed repetitive pro-Trump messages on Twitter, persuading many actual humans to respond.

All these games are familiar: Russians have used similar tactics for years in Europe, where pro-Russian social-media users on Facebook, Twitter and many other platforms have long sought to amplify support for parties of the far left and the far right. During Germany's recent elections, official Russian media and networks of Russian bots tweeted and posted messages warning of immigration's dire threat to Germany and pushing the cause of Alternative for Germany, an anti-immigrant party.

As in the past, the Russian advertisements did not create ethnic strife or political divisions, either in the United States or in Europe. Instead, they used divisive language and emotive messages to exacerbate existing divisions. As in the past, it's enormously misleading to name "Russia" as the source of the problem. The old KGB had whole departments devoted to the invention of rumors and the creation of fake extremists; the KGB's institutional descendants simply realized, sooner than most, that social-media campaigns are a cheap way for an impoverished ex-superpower to meddle in other countries' politics. But in 2016, they were one of many groups  among them the Trump campaign and a whole network of conspiracy-minded and alt-right trolls  who built targeted Facebook groups and bought divisive advertisements aimed at carefully sliced and segmented bits of the population.

The real problem is far broader than Russia: Who will use these methods next  and how? If Russians worked out how to create fake "Black Lives Matter" Twitter accounts, why can't others? I can imagine multiple groups, many of them proudly American, who might well want to manipulate a range of fake accounts during a riot or disaster to increase anxiety or fear. I can imagine a lot of people who might want to take control of Defense Department accounts, as Russian hackers also tried to do, to send false information during a military conflict. There is no big barrier to entry in this game: It doesn't cost much, it doesn't take much time, it isn't particularly high-tech, and it requires no special equipment. Facebook, Google and Twitter, not Russia, have provided the technology to create fake accounts and false advertisements, as well as the technology to direct them at particular parts of the population. Many other countries and political groups  on the left, the right, you name it  will quickly figure out how to use them.

In part, this malicious world grew so quickly out of ignorance  people didn't know, simply, how this all worked  but that's not an excuse any longer. There is no reason existing laws on transparency in political advertising, on truth in advertising or indeed on libel should not apply to social media as well as traditional media. There is a better case than ever against anonymity, at least against anonymity in the public forums of social media and comment sections, as well as for the elimination of social-media bots. Facebook's own experiments have shown that conversations are more civilized when people use their own names. The right to free speech is something that is granted to humans, not bits of computer code.

There is no chance that the Trump White House will show any leadership on this issue, given that it has been the main beneficiary of these damaging and divisive techniques. But other political leaders  in Congress, in the states  have an obligation to think about it. So do citizens, so do schools  and so do tech companies. The alternative is a dystopia in which election-year dirty tricks become a way of life for everyone.

Read more from Anne Applebaum's archive, follow her on Twitter or subscribe to her updates on Facebook.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and others dismissed questions about whether the United States is sending a message to North Korea, for example, that undermines any deal that nation might contemplate over its own nuclear program. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

and John Wagner

The United States will remain a trustworthy international partner, administration national security aides said Sunday, offering reassurances after allies and members of Congress criticized President Trump for deciding to alter terms for participation in the international nuclear deal with Iran.

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and others dismissed questions about whether the United States is sending a message to North Korea, for example, that undermines any deal that nation might contemplate over its own nuclear program.

I think what North Korea should take away from this decision is that the United States will expect a very demanding agreement with North Korea, one that is very binding and achieves the objectives, not just of the United States but the policy objectives of China and other neighbors, Tillerson said in an interview on CNNs State of the Union.

That shared goal, he said, is to rid the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons.

We intend to be very demanding in that agreement, Tillerson said. And if we achieve that, then there will be nothing to walk away from.

Trump on Friday set further conditions on U.S. participation in the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and five other nations and threatened to walk away if his concerns are not met. His decision threatens but does not undo a signature foreign policy priority of former president Barack Obama that Trump has called an embarrassment.

European allies have warned that they will not follow suit if the United States abrogates the deal. Although Trump did not kill the agreement outright, as he had frequently threatened to do, the current limbo is not much better from the perspective of several key allies.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said Saturday that Trumps action increases the threat of war near Europe and risks a spillover effect for other conflicts.

My big concern is that what is happening in Iran or with Iran from the U.S. perspective will not remain an Iranian issue, but many others in the world will consider whether they themselves should acquire nuclear weapons, too, given that such agreements are being destroyed, Gabriel said.

Tillerson said on Sunday, The issue with the Iran agreement is, it does not achieve the objective. It simply postpones the achievement of that objective. And we feel that that is one of the weaknesses under the agreement, so were going to stay in. Were going to work with our European partners and allies to see if we cant address these concerns, which are concerns of all of us.

U.N. Secretary Nikki Haley was asked what incentive North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would have to cut a deal now. Such an agreement has long been presumed to require American leadership and backing, since Kim considers Washington his principal enemy. Many U.S. officials believe Kims rapidly advancing nuclear weapons capability is aimed at preventing a U.S. attack or increasing Kims leverage in an eventual international negotiation.

The whole reason we are looking at this Iran agreement is because of North Korea, Haley said on NBCs Meet The Press.

What were saying now with Iran is, dont let it become the next North Korea. So what this says to North Korea is, Dont expect us to engage in a bad deal, and also, if at any point we do come up with something, expect us to follow through with it. Expect us to hold you accountable.

Trumps national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, said that the presidents threat to cancel the Iran deal set out a marker for the United States and its allies to fix what he called a weak deal that is being weakly monitored.

The president has made clear that he will not permit this deal to provide cover for what we know is a horrible regime to develop a nuclear weapon, McMaster said during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.

One of the real problems with this deal is we cant really say with confidence that theyre complying, McMaster said, accusing Iran of having walked up to the line and crossed the line several times in terms of the restrictions.

This is not a trustworthy regime, he said. So much more comprehensive monitoring is in order.

Asked what incentive Iran has to revisit the deal, McMaster said, They have to revisit it because otherwise what you do is you just give the Iranians the opportunity to develop a nuclear capability. Their programs can advance and then they can go to industrial scale enrichment of uranium within a very short period of time and then bridge into a weapon, and that is just an unacceptable risk to the world.

McMaster insisted that the presidents not walking away from the deal yet and wants to see some real change.

Tillerson said Trumps action on Iran is a signal to Congress and the other signers of the agreement, including Iran.

If we dont see improvement, there is no sense in staying in, and he has every intention of walking out, he said on CBSs Face The Nation. The action Friday puts the onus on Congress to decide what to do next, including attempting to add provisions that would satisfy U.S. concerns, Tillerson said.

A separate new agreement among the international parties to the deal could lay alongside the existing 2015 pact, Tillerson said. He dismissed criticism that Trumps opposition to the Iran deal as it stands would spoil chances for a similar international compact to address North Koreas nuclear program.

It would be pretty rich for North Korea to doubt U.S. trustworthiness, Tillerson said with a smile. He said the diplomatic approach he is pursuing will continue until the first bomb is dropped.

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) said Trump is taking the right approach to Iran and a deal the senator said he agrees is deeply flawed.

The president ran on the idea that this was a bad deal for America, and he won, Graham said.

He said he could support the approach favored by GOP Sens. Bob Corker (Tenn.) and Tom Cotton (Ark.) to add triggers for Iranian behavior that would lead to a return of U.S. sanctions suspended under the deal. That would require legislation, and some Democrats say it appears to be only a precursor to an eventual U.S. withdrawal from the deal.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, said it is an absolute fantasy to believe that Iran deal negotiations will be reopened.

The Iranians will not renegotiate it, and neither will the Europeans, Murphy said on Fox News Sunday. And so if we were to pull out of this agreement, as the president is threatening, Iran would get everything they want. They would be able to restart their nuclear program, because we would be in violation of the deal. The Europeans would continue to grant them sanctions relief, their economy would continue to grow and they would look like the victim in the situation.

Murphy also said that Iran is complying with the agreement.

The White House is required to tell Congress if they are not, and theyve submitted absolutely no submissions, he said.

Hillary Clinton sharply criticized Trump on Sunday, arguing that his declaration says Americas word is not good.

Appearing on CNNs Fareed Zakaria GPS, the former Democratic presidential candidate and former secretary of state noted that others in Trumps administration had advised against the move and that Trump was decertifying a deal in the absence of evidence that Iran is not complying.

That is bad not just on the merits for this particular situation, but it sends a message across the globe that Americas word is not good, Clinton said. We have different presidents, and this particular president is, I think, upending the kind of trust and credibility of the United States position and negotiation that is imperative to maintain.

I know that Iran plays a game of aggressiveness and undermining of our interests and the interests in the region  theres no argument about that, Clinton said. But my point has been and remains, I would much rather deal with Irans other bad behavior while not worrying at this moment about their nuclear program getting up and going again. And why on earth would we want two nuclear challenges in Iran and North Korea at the same time?

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also said that the United States is becoming less credible as a partner.

Zarif, interviewed on the same CBS program, said Tillerson had not called him to preview Trumps speech Friday, and I didnt expect him to. Zarif, who led negotiations for Iran, said Trump is undermining global confidence in the United States. The United States is no longer just unpredictable but unreliable, Zarif said in an interview in Tehran.

Trumps advisers were also asked about turmoil among those advising the president on national security matters.

Tillerson defended his standing within the administration Sunday, saying Trumps social-media pronouncements on major global issues did not undercut the nations top diplomat.

Im not going to deal with that kind of petty stuff, Tillerson said on CNN, rejecting a chance to address reports that he called Trump a moron after a national security meeting at the Pentagon in July.

Corker, a close Tillerson ally, also said last week that Trump had castrated the secretary of state with tweets undermining his diplomatic efforts over North Korea.

I checked; Im fully intact, Tillerson said on CNN.

Tillerson said that his relationship with the president, often described as strained, was just fine. I call the president Mr. President, Tillerson said. We have a very open exchange of views.

He ran into similar questions on CBS but gave no sign of irritation or dismay. Tillerson said there is close coordination among the administrations national security agencies and pointed to what he called a productive relationship with China over North Korea policy as an example of how he and the White House work together.

He also put a positive gloss on Trumps unpredictable behavior.

Trump likes to cause action with unpredictable or bold statements, Tillerson said.

Haley deflected reports that she and Tillerson are butting heads amid suspicion that she will replace him at Foggy Bottom.

Thats ridiculous, she said on ABCs This Week.

Paul Kane contributed to this report.
Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) believes some of President Trump's recent threats against the news media run contrary to the Bill of Rights.

Unlike some Republican senators, you wont hear him question Trumps character or fitness for office as a result. But Lankford has not shied away from pointing out, if sometimes indirectly, where he and Trump diverge.

"I see that as against the First Amendment," Lankford said of Trump's recent tweet suggesting that TV networks' "licenses" should be revoked because of "Fake News" reporting.

I dont want anyone, from any party, deciding what the press can and cannot write, he said. I would also say, first things first on it, the American people pick who is fit for office. I dont question his fitness for office based on a preference on how he communicates.

The 49-year-old senator, a widely respected up-and-comer within the GOP, is a prime example of how Republicans who disagree with Trump but dont want to alienate his supporters are navigating the presidents latest controversial comments.

Lankford is savvy about the political risks of openly defying Trump, and he has done so carefully.

In June, he made headlines when he said Trumps conversations with former FBI director James B. Comey about an investigation into Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, were very inappropriate.

Trumps attack on the ACA portends new health-care battles on Capitol Hill

Later that month, when Trump referred to MSNBC hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski as Psycho Joe and low I.Q. Crazy Mika, Lankford said the tweets didnt help our political or national discourse.

But his strategy of criticizing the president without naming him was most apparent after Trump blamed both sides for violence at the white supremacist march in Charlottesville in August that resulted in three deaths.

Our words must not create confusion, Lankford said in a lengthy statement. The supremacy of any race is abhorrent, un-American and should be condemned by everyone. Period.

Last week, Trump gave Lankford and other Republicans plenty to disagree with.

In an interview before a town hall here, Lankford said he disagreed with Trumps tweets Thursday suggesting that federal aid workers pull out of Puerto Rico just 3 weeks after Hurricane Maria hit.

But he was careful not to criticize Trump directly.

Traditionally, weve stayed in a disaster zone as long as needed, he said. I would expect there to be people on the ground from FEMA for at least two years in Puerto Rico.

Lankford went just far enough to indicate hes bothered by Trumps frequent tweeting, particularly when it comes to escalating threats toward North Korea and the presidents recent criticism of Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).

I dont like the rhetoric, Lankford said. I dont like the way its coming out in a Twitter war back and forth.

Still, he took pains to be evenhanded about Trumps appeal.

I know some people say, I dont like [Trumps] policies, or I dont like the way he communicates,  he said. There are also other Americans that love how he communicates.

The political reality in deep-red Oklahoma means Lankford has to be careful about crossing Trump.

Reince Priebus, former Trump chief of staff, interviewed by Mueller team

The state went for Trump over Hillary Clinton last year by 36.4 percentage points, supporting him even more strongly than Mitt Romney, who won the state by 33.5 percentage points in 2012. A SoonerPoll quarterly survey released in September showed that a majority of likely voters in Oklahoma still view Trump favorably, despite his record-low national approval rating. Denouncing Trump could, at some point, bring Lankford a primary challenge from his right.

Republican voters are also sensitive to how GOP members of Congress privately view the president. Thirty-seven percent think Republican lawmakers only pretend to like Trump in order to enact their agenda, according to a new survey from CBS News. Thirty-nine percent said they feel their party doesnt like Trump and is trying to undercut him.

Alienating Trumps supporters is not the only concern: A confrontation with the president and his allies could turn into a nasty public brawl.

This just happened to Sen. Ben Sasse (Neb.), another younger GOP senator from a red state, who was outraged by Trumps latest comments on the news media. In addition to questioning networks licenses, Trump had said its frankly disgusting the way the press is able to write whatever they want to write.

Sasse issued a public statement asking whether Trump was recanting his oath to preserve, protect and defend the First Amendment. His anger garnered praise from Trump critics on the right but also drew an attack from Fox News host and regular Trump defender Sean Hannity.

One of the biggest mistakes in my career was supporting Ben Sasse, Hannity tweeted. Just useless.

Sasse replied that it was Hannity who had changed, not me.

Some of us still believe in the Constitution. No President should play with censoring news they dislike, he tweeted.

Before Sasse, it was Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who came forward among Republicans to criticize Trump.

After the president went after him on Twitter, Corker, who is not running for reelection, responded by calling the White House an adult day-care center, arguing Trumps recklessness has put the United States on the path to World War III and saying GOP senators were privately concerned about Trumps fitness for office.

Lankford said he hasnt heard Republican senators express concerns about Trump contributing to another potential world war and praised the administrations military posture toward North Korea, specifically the role of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.

I know the rhetoric, there might be disagreement with, he said. Whats actually been done on North Korea is pretty historic.

In a Senate Republican Conference fraught with conflict and showboating, Lankford is considered levelheaded. Elected in 2014 to replace retiring Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), the conservative Republican and member of the Intelligence and Appropriations committees has built a reputation as a serious legislator.

He declined to answer directly when asked if he would cast another vote for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Mitch McConnell is the leader in the Senate, period, Lankford said. I anticipate hell be the only one running in the days ahead.

McConnells hold on the conference has steadily weakened after a wave of legislative defeats, criticism from the White House and most recently, the loss of his preferred candidate in Alabamas special Republican Senate primary runoff.

Trump to extend March 5 deadline to end DACA protections if Congress doesnt act, GOP senator says

Lankford offered muted criticism of McConnells famously tight-lipped style.

Mitch is historically known for keeping issues very close to the vest and that no one else in the Senate knows his plans. That is something that needs to open up, Lankford said.

The war within the Republican Party was far from the minds of the people who gathered to hear Lankford speak Thursday night in a historically black area of north Tulsa, where a prolonged and deadly race riot targeted residents in 1921.

At the under-renovation Big 10 Ballroom, a former music venue where talents such as Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and Count Basie played, Lankford let his background as a Baptist preacher show with exhortations to the crowd.

Has your family invited a family of another race to your home for dinner? he asked the roughly 250-person audience, about half white and half black. Im not talking about some structured something. . . . Just normal conversation so that youre developing friendships.

The crowd cheered a womans question about universal health care and a mans comment that health insurance he received through the Affordable Care Act saved his life.

Lankford knew his audience, which included current and former Democratic officials, young people with questions about the Dream Act and several members of Moms Demand Action, a pro-gun control group.

Asked at one point why Republicans hadnt managed to enact a health-care plan, he deadpanned: Youre welcome.

Trumps name wasnt mentioned once  and Lankford never brought him up.

Read more at PowerPost
Residents look at the damage at the site of an explosion in the center of Mogadishu. (Mohamed Abdiwahab/AFP/Getty Images)

The death toll from two truck bombs in Somalia's capital soared to as many as 276 on Sunday as the deadliest attack in the country's decade-long war with Islamist extremists signaled that the insurgency is far from defeated despite years of U.S. counterterrorism operations.

Nearly all of the dead were killed by the first bomb, which exploded Saturday outside a popular hotel near a busy intersection in Mogadishu, sending a plume of smoke into the sky that could be seen across the city. The second truck bomb killed several more people nearby.

The Somali capital is a frequent target of attacks by al-Shabab, an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda, but residents said they quickly discerned that the twin blasts were of a different order of magnitude.

The death toll continued to climb overnight. By Sunday night, officials said they were still trying to calculate the number of victims. In a radio address, the mayor of Mogadishu, Thabit Abdi, said, "We have lost more than 240 innocent people." Somalia's information minister said the death toll had risen to 276, the Associated Press reported.

A large swath of a city block appeared wiped out, and a tower of charred automobiles could be seen at the bombing site. A BBC reporter said people were trapped under the rubble of the Safari Hotel. Throughout Sunday, bodies were carried from the rubble.

[Exclusive: U.S.-funded Somali intelligence agency has been using kids as spies]

Somalia's president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, declared three days of national mourning. The government blamed the carnage on al-Shabab, but the group has not claimed responsibility.

Todays horrific attack proves our enemy would stop at nothing to cause our people pain and suffering. Lets unite against terror, Mohamed said on Twitter.

Medical workers spoke about the scale of the attack, which quickly overwhelmed the citys few hospitals.

Today is the worst day of my life. We are overwhelmed by the high number of the casualties. I have been working at this hospital for more than seven years, and I never saw or heard this number of deaths, said Ahmed Osman, a nurse in Mogadishus Medina Hospital, where many of the dead and wounded were taken.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said five of its volunteers were among the dead. One volunteer who survived, Abdiasis Mohamed, said he and his friends were drinking tea when one of the bombs exploded. When he regained consciousness, he said, he was covered in blood and several of his friends had been burned to death.

Thank God I am fine, he said.

Two of Hawo Ahmeds sons, both shopkeepers, were killed.

They came home for lunch, and we had lunch together, she said. They were innocent and the breadwinners for my family.

Last year, she said, her husband was killed in an attack.

[The U.N. asked for billions to avert four hunger crises. The money didnt arrive.]

Somalia has been battling al-Shabab insurgents since 2007, with the help of 22,000 troops from the African Union and a U.S. counterterrorism campaign that has expanded under President Trump.

For years, drone strikes were the centerpiece of the U.S. military strategy, carried out with the expectation that the militant group would dissolve if its leadership was vanquished. That has not happened.

Although the U.S. and African Union operations forced insurgents from territory they once controlled, they have not curbed al-Shababs ability to launch deadly and frequent attacks in Mogadishu, mostly targeting restaurants, hotels and places where officials gather.

Earlier this year, the White House loosened the rules governing U.S. operations in the country, declaring parts of Somalia to be an "area of active hostilities."

A one-star general was assigned to coordinate operations from a compound within Mogadishus airport. The small, elite teams of U.S. Special Operations forces in Somalia were augmented with conventional Army troops who provide a variety of training for the Somali forces.

The Pentagon refuses to say precisely how many Americans are deployed to Somalia  believed to be a few hundred at most  but Defense Secretary Jim Mattis indicated earlier this year that the Trump administration would consider sending more personnel if asked by the Somali president.

Its unlikely, though, that the weekends attack will result in any substantial American military buildup. As in other unstable parts of Africa, the U.S. strategy in Somalia has been to support allied forces by sharing intelligence, providing training and equipment, and conducting precision airstrikes  but not doing the fighting for them.

Mattis has characterized the objective in Somalia as "buying time" for the Somali government to assemble its own security forces. Still, the mission there remains dangerous. In May, a Navy SEAL was killed and two other U.S. commandos were wounded during a battle with militants west of Mogadishu. It marked the first U.S. combat death in Somalia since the early 1990s.

A number of officials were killed in Saturdays attack, including Mohamoud Elmi, the director general at the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.

In 2016, al-Shabab was the deadliest terrorist group in Africa, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Dataset, killing 4,281 people.

Somalia has struggled to maintain a stable government or a defense force capable of challenging the Islamist militants. Last week, both the defense minister and the army chief resigned for reasons that remain unclear. Many analysts argue that Somalias undeveloped security sector has made it easy for al-Shabab to penetrate the countrys largest city with thousands of pounds of explosives.

Earlier this year, the country teetered on the brink of famine, in large part because of the fightings effect on agriculture and the distribution of humanitarian aid.

In the wake of Saturdays attacks, one Mogadishu ambulance service underscored the scale of the bloodshed.

In our 10 year experience as the first responder in Mogadishu, we havent seen anything like this, Aamin Ambulance said on Twitter.

In a statement, the U.S. Mission to Somalia called the bombings "cowardly attacks" that "reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somali and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism."

As rescue teams continued their work at the site of the bombing, residents of Mogadishu took to the streets to protest al-Shabab, shouting, We dont want bloodthirsty elements.

Mire reported from Mogadishu. Andrew deGrandpre in Washington contributed to this report.

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Afghan police seized a truck carrying explosives hidden under boxes of tomatoes late Saturday in Kabul, officials said, averting another potentially deadly blast in the capital months after a massive truck bomb killed and wounded hundreds. (Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images)

Police arrested the driver of a truck carrying three tons of explosives in what appeared to be an attempted suicide bombing in a section of the Afghan capital near an engineering university, officials said Sunday.

The driver of the small cargo truck was approaching a security checkpoint near Kabul Polytechnic University just before midnight Saturday and ignored orders to stop, officials said.

Authorities said police at the checkpoint then fired at the truck, injuring the driver. They found 30 buckets filled with ammonium nitrate hidden beneath boxes of tomatoes inside the trucks cargo hold.

[In Kabul, anger against Afghan government touches off deadly street clashes]

Kabul has been on high alert since a May suicide bombing near the German Embassy killed scores and injured several hundred. Investigators linked that attack to the Haqqani network, an offshoot of the Taliban.

This could have been a massive suicide attack if it was not paralyzed, Mohamed Salem Almas, head of criminal investigations for the Kabul police, said of the Saturday night arrest.

In the same area of the city, investigators recently discovered a factory that they said was being used by the Taliban to make land mines and suicide vests.

Read more

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Austria became the latest European country to take a sharp turn right on Sunday, with the conservative People's Party riding a hard-line position on immigration to victory in national elections and likely to form a government with a nationalist party that has long advocated for an even tougher stance.

The result puts the 31-year-old foreign minister and Peoples Party leader, Sebastian Kurz, in line to become Austrias next chancellor after a campaign in which he emphasized the need to strengthen border controls, reduce caps on refugees and slash benefits for newcomers.

Much of Kurz's rhetoric echoed positions long held by the Freedom Party, which for decades has anchored the far right of politics in this nation of 8.7 million.

With nearly all results counted as of Monday morning, the Freedom Party was in second place at 27.4 percent, with the ruling Social Democrats trailing close behind at 26.7 percent. The Peoples Party was the decisive winner, at 31.6 percent.

Ill fight with all my strength for change in this country, Kurz told cheering supporters  many clad in turquoise, the color he adopted to signal a new era for the Peoples Party after decades of identification with black. Theres a lot to do.



Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, the leader of the Peoples Party, talks to reporters after casting his vote in the election in Vienna. (Christian Bruna/European Pressphoto Agency-EFE/Rex/Shutterstock)

Two years after Austria was among the more welcoming nations in Europe for refugees fleeing en masse across the continent, the results revealed just how sour public sentiment has turned. Hundreds of thousands of people fleeing war, oppression and poverty passed through the central European nation on their way to destinations farther north and west in late 2015 and early 2016. Tens of thousands stayed in the country and applied for asylum protection.

Austrians are fearful because of immigration and the refugee crisis, said Reinhard Heinisch, a political scientist at the University of Salzburg. Kurz addressed these fears, and played with these fears.

As in other elections across Europe this year, the far right made significant progress, but not enough to triumph.

In France this spring, National Front leader Marine Le Pen made it to the final round of the presidential election. Just last month, the Alternative for Germany Party took 13 percent of the vote  putting a far-right party in the German Parliament for the first time in more than half a century.

But unlike in those nations, in Austria the far right is expected to become part of the government. Kurz will need a coalition partner to form a majority in the parliament, and the Freedom Party is considered the most likely option.

If he goes that route, it would end a grand coalition between Austrias center left and center right that has led the country for the past decade, and for much of its modern history.

Some on Sunday called on Kurz to avoid teaming up with the Freedom Party.

We strongly urge Mr. Kurz to form a coalition of centrist parties and not be beholden to a party of the far-right in his new coalition government, European Jewish Congress President Moshe Kantor said in a statement. A party which has run on a platform of xenophobic intolerance and the targeting of immigrants must not be granted a seat at the governing table.

The Freedom Party, whose first leader was a former SS officer and whose current leader was a onetime neo-Nazi youth activist, has been in government before; it teamed with the Peoples Party for five years starting in 2000. At the time, the European Union imposed sanctions against Austria to show its displeasure with a government that included a party long relegated to the fringe.

But in a measure of how far Europe has shifted to the right, no one is contemplating sanctions today.

Freedom Party backers were in a jubilant mood Sunday night, eating schnitzel, dancing to Austrian folk music and waving flags at the partys election-night celebration. Heinz-Christian Strache, the party leader, said the results proved that our message has reached the mainstream.

[How dirty campaigning and fake Facebook sites came to dominate the Austrian election]

That was evident not only in the partys results, but also in the influence that it had over its rivals, who adopted many of the partys positions as their own.

Kurz, who would be the worlds youngest head of government, frequently boasted that as foreign minister he had closed the Balkan route for asylum seekers in the spring of 2016 by shutting Austrian borders to new arrivals. He has promised to pressure Europe to do the same now with the central Mediterranean route, the main path for migrants and refugees seeking to enter the continent.

If theres one topic that really dominated the campaign, its migration and integration, said Sylvia Kritzinger, a political analyst at the University of Vienna. Especially with Kurz, it always came back to immigration. We had very little discussion of the issues beyond that.

The Social Democrats, the traditional party of the center left, had attempted to shift the debate onto friendlier terrain by emphasizing the robust health of the economy during their decade in government.

The party on Sunday appeared to have avoided the distant third-place finish that some polls had projected, with its almost exactly even finish with the Freedom Party representing a modest surprise.

But Sundays result is almost certain to end the chancellorship of incumbent Christian Kern.

In an interview with broadcasters Sunday evening, he said the Social Democrats were not thrilled with this result, but we can live with it. He ascribed the partys challenges to forces that are buffeting center-left parties across the West.

Weve seen a move to the right in this election. Its not a time that favors social democrats, he said. Weve seen that in all of Europe.

Kern hinted that the party would be willing to serve in a coalition government. But analysts consider such a possibility unlikely given the rightward tilt of the electorate  as well as the bad blood that developed between the two establishment parties after a scandal involving fake Facebook pages that smeared Kurz and were attributed to a Social Democratic operative.

The elevation of Kurz to chancellor would put another young and charismatic leader at the helm of a European government, after the election of 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron in France.

Kurz, though ideologically to the right of Macron, modeled much of his campaign after the Frenchmans. The Austrian politician styled his run for the nations highest office as a movement, not a conventional election, and personalized his party, informally renaming it the Sebastian Kurz List.

Kritzinger said Kurzs opponents were flummoxed by how to counteract the charismatic Peoples Party leader, who took the reins in the party this year and promptly remade it as his own.

From a rhetoric perspective, hes an absolute talent, Kritzinger said. The other parties didnt know how to deal with him.

Read more

Win or lose in Austrian vote, the far right triumphs as rivals back policies once deemed fringe

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In this image from video provided by the Turkey-based Kurdish Mezopotamya agency on Oct. 13, civilians flee the last sliver of territory in Raqqa that is still controlled by Islamic State militants. (Uncredited)

The last of the few dozen Islamic State holdouts inside the militant group's de facto capital in Syria were mounting a final stand Sunday, after a stream of militants surrendered under a deal brokered by local officials.

A U.S.-backed alliance known as the Syrian Democratic Forces, or SDF, said that 275 militants had left Raqqas city center, along with their families, and that they would be interrogated and sent to court if they were suspected to have participated in killings.

The battle for the Islamic States most famous stronghold began in June, and SDF forces have advanced with the support of heavy airstrikes by the U.S.-led coalition as the city has been turned into a virtual ghost town. The Islamic State has lost all but a sliver of territory in Raqqa. At least 90 percent of the city is believed to be under SDF control, with demining squads combing the streets for explosives laid to deter advancing forces.

[Deal reached to evacuate civilians, local militants from ISIS-held Raqqa]

There are around 100 foreign fighters still inside a small part of the city, said Mustafa Abadi, a spokesman for the Kurdish-dominated SDF.

Footage broadcast by the ANHA news channel showed the surrendered militants limping out, some of them on crutches, before being herded into a single hall.

The Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently monitoring group, run by former residents of the city, said the detainees had been taken to Hawi al-Hawa prison west of the city, a facility that it described as being under the control of the SDFs intelligence arm.

The U.S.-led international coalition against the Islamic State has distanced itself from the locally brokered surrender. Critics have likened it to a widely derided deal between the Islamic State and the Lebanese Hezbollah militia under which militants and their families were given safe passage from Lebanon to their last stronghold in Syrias eastern border region of Deir al-Zour.

Hundreds of civilians have been evacuated from the city in recent weeks, many of them in pitiful condition after months without adequate food or water. In a video filmed Saturday by the Turkey-based Kurdish Mezopotamya news agency, people can be seen stumbling toward an SDF meeting point, some of them laughing, some crying uncontrollably.

Many face an uncertain future, packed in camps for residents displaced from territories recaptured from the Islamic State.

Mustafa said several of the groups key operators remained inside Raqqa on Sunday night, including Salah al-Fransi, a French jihadist believed to have masterminded attacks on Paris in November 2015 that killed 130 people.

[Shocking conditions await civilians fleeing ISIS in Syria]

Although Raqqa no longer holds strategic significance for the Islamic State, the loss of its most famous stronghold would deal a deep symbolic blow to a group already on the back foot.

It still holds parts of Deir el-Zour province and Iraqs Anbar province, as well as small, scattered pockets elsewhere. But a self-declared Islamic caliphate spanning Syria and Iraq lies in tatters, with the extremist group reduced to a skeleton force across the two countries.

Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi remains at large, suspected to be hiding in Syrias eastern borderlands. Those, too, are under pressure from competing U.S.- and Syrian-backed forces racing to rout the group from Syrian territory.

Heba Habib in Stockholm and Zakaria Zakaria in Istanbul contributed to this report.

Read more:

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Clashes broke out early Monday in northern Iraq as Iraqi forces moved to recapture Kurdish-held oil fields and a military base near the city of Kirkuk, setting the stage for a battle between two U.S. allies.

After a three-day standoff, Iraqi forces advanced into the contested province with the goal of returning to positions they held before 2014, when they fled in the face of an Islamic State push. The positions have since been taken over by Kurdish troops.

The conflict between Kurdistan and the Iraqi government over land and oil is decades old, but a Kurdish referendum for independence last month inflamed the tensions. The Iraqi government, as well as the United States, Turkey and Iran all opposed the vote.

The flare-up presents an awkward dilemma for the United States, which has trained and equipped the advancing Iraqi troops, which include elite counterterrorism forces, and the Kurdish peshmerga on the other side.

But the Iraqi side is also backed up by Shiite militia forces close to Iran, at a time when the Trump administration has been vocal about curbing Iranian influence in the region, having sanctioned Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps last week.

Iraqi forces said they were under instructions to avoid violence, but Kirkuk residents said that gunfire and explosions could be heard in the city in the early hours of the morning. Kurdish media reported that thousands of Kurdish volunteer fighters had rushed to take up arms.

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had ordered his forces to protect all citizens as they retake positions, state television reported.

Kurdish forces took full control of the ethnically and religiously mixed city of Kirkuk after the Iraqi military fled from large swaths of northern Iraq in 2014 in the face of an Islamic State push. It also seized oil fields formerly run by Baghdad that pump hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil per day. Now Iraq wants that ground back.

Army, police and forces from Iraqs popular mobilization units, which include the Iran-backed militias, have massed in the area, as Kurdish forces furiously dug defenses. Humvees and firing positions protected by sandbags were stationed on the main highway from Baghdad to Kirkuk. Bulldozers dragged earth to the road to build blockades to stop armored convoys from advancing. Bridges were blocked.

As Kurdish authorities warned they were about attack, Abadi tried to defuse tension, taking to Twitter to assure that Iraqi forces cannot and will not attack our citizens. Iraqi commanders initially dismissed troop movements as routine deployments aimed at securing nearby Hawija, recently recaptured from Islamic State militants.

But Shiite militia leaders close to Iran said that they were there to move into the province and had presented a list of demands to Kurdish Peshmerga commanders.

Those demands included a Kurdish withdrawal from positions including the citys K1-military base and oil fields.

The orders are to surround K1 and oil fields and stop and call on the Kurdish forces to retreat, said a counterterrorism officer who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the topic. There are strict orders to avoid violence. But militia commanders took a more combative tone. Anyone who fights Iraqi forces is the same as ISIS, said Karim al-Nuri, a spokesman for Iraqs mobilization units. State television said that counterterrorism forces, the 9th Division of the Iraqi army and federal police forces had taken large areas of the province without a fight. It said popular mobilization units took positions outside Kirkuk.

Earlier in the day Col. Ryan Dillon, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad had described the situation as stable but said the heightened tension was distracting from the fight against Islamic State militants.

After recapturing the city of Hawija, Iraqi forces were supposed to deploy to the borders with Syria to stamp out the last pockets controlled by Islamic State militants.

The confrontation with Baghdad has also brought out splits among the Kurds. Earlier in the day, senior Kurdish officials from its two main parties met in the town of Dukan to discuss how to proceed in negotiations with Baghdad. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, or PUK, which has closer ties to Iran and Baghdad, has been more open to agreeing to a deal for Baghdad to enter key sites, in contrast to the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party.

Given the financial sanctions announced against the IRGC, its comical really, said a Kurdish official who declined to be named when criticizing an ally. If you want to push back Iranian influence, dont stay quiet. In the Middle East silence is taken as a sign of weakness.

mustafa.salim@washpost.com

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People queue at a polling station in Caracas's Baruta municipality in Venezuela during elections Sunday seen as a crucial test for the government. (Federico Parra/AFP/Getty Images)

Venezuela's electoral council declared pro-government candidates the overwhelming winners in Sunday's key state elections, even though the opposition  which opinion polls had shown poised for widespread victories  cast serious doubt on the results.

In Sundays vote to elect the governors in all 23 Venezuelan states, the pro-government electoral council said government candidates had won in 17 states, with the opposition capturing five and one remaining too close to call. But opposition officials, who had predicted an almost inverse outcome, suggested possible fraud  saying they would not recognize the results while calling for an independent audit.

The results dont reflect reality, said Gerardo Blyde, head of the opposition coalitions campaign. Venezuela and the world wont buy it. The government cant explain the results.

The results could spark a fresh round of international condemnation and further sanctions on the authoritative government of President Nicolas Maduro. After a vote in July creating a pro-government super-congress loyal to Maduro that was widely decried as fraud, President Trump labeled Venezuela a dictatorship and increased sanctions against Maduro and his government while warning that more could come. European Union nations also are considering sanctions.

Late Sunday, however, Maduro hailed the results not only as a victory for his socialists, but as proof of his governments commitment to democracy.

This is one more victory, he said on state TV. The path is democracy. The path is elections  not violence, not economic war.

[Venezuelas government is turning Trumps threats into a call to arms]

The stakes were dampened by Maduro's insistence that all winners would serve under the authority of his new Constituent Assembly, an all-powerful national legislature run by some of his closest allies. But it was nevertheless seen as a key test of Maduro's willingness to give space to the opposition.

Earlier in the day, Venezuelans went to the polls with the opposition decrying obstacles and illegalities. The government put the turnout at a relatively high 61 percent  a level at which key pollsters had predicted the opposition would win sweeping victories. Government officials issued thinly veiled threats against crying fraud.

If someone in the opposition decides to cry fraud in this election, he disappears as a political option in Venezuela forever, said Jorge Rodriguez, a senior Maduro backer and mayor of the capitals Libertador district. I just say that as advice. Opposition officials campaigned hard for seats, even as they accused the government of sabotage.

Earlier Sunday, Blyde said many voting centers had opened late because of tardy government-appointed witnesses. Pro-government messages, he said, were still appearing on state TV in violation of election laws.

In Maracaibo, Venezuelas second-largest city, witnesses said on social media that groups of masked men broke car windows, stole purses and threw molotov cocktails at an opposition tent. Government officials did not mention those alleged attacks, but said that at least 26 electoral crimes had been committed, including some by people who tried to damage voting machines.

The pro-government National Electoral Council last week abruptly decided to relocate hundreds of voting centers  mostly in opposition districts  for security reasons. On Sunday, many voters arrived to find that their polling stations had been moved to poor, often pro-government neighborhoods, where some voters feared to go.

At one center located at a school in northeast Caracas, a sign informed voters that they were now registered to cast ballots in a nearby slum. They put up this obstacle so that well give up and go back home, said Ignacio Sanchez, a businessman who lives nearby.

Sanchez was sitting with a dozen neighbors, waiting for buses that the opposition promised to send to take them to their new polling place.

One man said his adult children had returned home because they didnt want to go through the trouble of voting elsewhere. But thats what they want, said a 74-year-old neighbor, Maria de Alba. Voting is resisting.

Yet the opposition also faced a hurdle in the form of anti-government Venezuelans who felt that opposition leaders should have boycotted the state elections, as they did the July vote.

In Plaza Francia, the center of the opposition protests that shook Venezuela earlier this year and in which more than 100 people died, Janeth Hernandez, a woman in her 50s, sat on a park bench. She said she was abstaining.

Im not going to vote, Hernandez said. If you vote, you contradict yourself. So many deaths in protests, all for an election? All the politicians are the same here. Liars. If I vote for the opposition, the government isnt going to let them work. If I vote for the government, theyre going to rob money and do nothing. I see no solution here.

At a voting center in the inner-city slum of Petare, the spray-painted eyes of Hugo Chavez  who anointed Maduro his successor before his death in 2013  greeted voters alongside the name of the pro-government candidates. Salsa music was sounding as national guardsmen and pro-government militias organized the long lines.

After casting their ballots, some voters proceeded to a tent where they could register to claim allocations of free food. Pro-government neighborhood activists have suggested a link between voting and government aid  a considerable incentive in a nation suffering from a brutal economic crisis that has led to severe shortages.

"For the food, you know," said Jose Blanco, a 57-year-old unemployed driver, handing over his ID to a government worker after casting his vote.

On Sunday, state channels showed Maduro walking in the presidential palace with a cup of coffee, and images of pro-government candidates and officials casting their ballots. One of them, Edwin Rojas, the government's candidate in the state of Sucre, declared, "Today, peace wins; future wins; the Venezuelan people win."

"We will show Donald Trump and his agents here in Venezuela . . . that we prefer to vote and chose our own destiny," Rojas added.

Faiola reported from Miami.

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Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 14/10/2017 (1858 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

GRUNTHAL  In a packed auction ring with more than 200 people bidding on horses, Louise May kept flashing a white piece of paper.

Up for bid was the distress sale of 23 rare horses, mostly Ojibway horses  an endangered breed imported 500 years ago by Spanish conquistadors and later adopted by northern Ojibway people.

Only 200 of the horses are believed to exist. The 23 horses suddenly come up for auction in a messy court-ordered divorce settlement.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Rhonda Snow says goodbye to some of her rare Ojibway horses Saturday at the Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart. More than 200 people were on hand to bid on the 23 horses put up for auction.

On two days noticed, May rounded up 10 investors to pool their resources and hopefully rescue from five to seven of the horses for her Aurora Farm in St. Norbert.

At this point, its just about saving them, May said heading into the auction.

The first one she grabbed, after back-and-forth bidding war with a man in a white hat, was a one-year-old filly for $800, the highest sale of the day to that point. Next, she aggressively outbid all challengers for a cross-bred mare named Raven for $900. A third horse, a filly, was secured for $550.

By the time the sale ended, May had secured her seven horses, including four breeding Ojibway mares, formally called Lac La Croix, that she said will help ensure against the breed becoming extinct.

She was beaming. We all recognize how important this is, she said.

Rhonda Snow, the owner forced to auction off half her herd of the rare breed, expressed relief. When May approached Snow 90 minutes before the horses went to auction and told her the plan, an emotional Snow wrapped her arms around the stranger and hugged her hard.

Theyre wonderful people, she said afterward.

The forced sale was devastating for her. She started with four rescue horses 12 years ago on her Manitou Mistatim Ranch near Fort Frances in northwestern Ontario, and had built her herd up to about 45.

I am writing this from my broken heart and with tears for my babies, wrote Snow  who is Ojibway on her fathers side  on Facebook.

In desperation, she posted the sale on social media late in the week for fear the rare horses could wind up on the meat market. The horses were probably never meant for the meat market because there just isnt enough meat on them  theyre small, like Icelandic ponies. But Snow was panicked.

The posting went viral. It just blew up, said Snows friend, Cheryle Wolff.

RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Photo of a crowded auction house at Grunthal Livestock Auction Mart Saturday.

This is a last resort of what she never wanted to do. She was backed into a corner because of the divorce, said Wolff.

Interest in the sale went far beyond the local market and all the way to Florida, as well as Toronto and British Columbia. A buyer representing the woman from Florida was the winning bidder on three or four horses.

Skylynn Sigurdson from Gimli, a former assistant trainer of racehorses at Assiniboine Downs, also secured one of the horses. Sigurdson traces her lineage to Peguis First Nation, and said there was a spiritual element to her desire to own one of the horses.

Elwood Quinn, livestock co-ordinator with Rare Canada Breeds, could not be reached after the sale. But earlier, he expressed fears the auction could mean the last nail in the coffin for the endangered breed. Its disgusting, he said.

Indigenous people favoured the horse because it is so quiet, he said. They were the stealthiest little animal. That was their forte. They could move anywhere silently, including into an enemy camp.

Quinn maintained there is documented history that the United States military tried to kill off the breed because it was viewed as part of the arsenal of native peoples. Snow said indigenous people also favoured the horse for its ability to survive in the woods.

Snow has won awards from Rare Breeds Canada for rescuing Ojibway ponies.

bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/10/2017 (1857 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Norm Packulak used to get by getting people high  he sold cocaine to make his money.

I always had money, but I drank it all the time, used it up my nose, he said.

Drinking and drugging were his way of life.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Headingley jail, just west of Winnipeg.

Once I start drinking, I have to do some cocaine, said Packulak, now 48. Pull out a couple rails, snort a couple rails.

He was also one of the first provincial inmates to graduate from Winding River Therapeutic Community, a unit at Headingley Correctional Centre meant to help drug- or alcohol-addicted inmates deal with their substance-abuse problems.

Ultimately, the goal is to keep the inmates sober and out of jail.

According to an evaluation report by the University of Winnipegs Justice Research Institute (JRI), Winding River does just that  it reduces recidivism rates. A reporter obtained a copy of the evaluation through a provincial freedom-of-information request.

Selling and snorting was day-to-day for Packulak  until in 2007, when he sold cocaine to a police officer and a handgun to a robber.

He was charged with a laundry list of crimes  drug trafficking, robbery with a firearm, discharging a firearm.

He was looking at 12 years in prison. He pleaded guilty and got seven, bouncing around provincial jails in Manitoba. He also spent time in federal prison.

Then, in late 2012, Manitoba Corrections converted an old trades building at Headingley Correctional Centre to house Winding River.

The program gives the inmates day-to-day structure, peer support and access to addictions treatment  from information on harm-reduction and cognitive therapy to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

After the program had been up and running for three years, Manitoba Justice contracted the U of Ws JRI to evaluate the program in 2015.

The program works well, according to Dr. Michael Weinrath, the U of W criminal-justice researcher who led the evaluation.

Offenders are hard to change, Weinrath said. But even small differences in recidivism are significant.

The researchers compared 83 Winding River inmates to 104 general population inmates. Part of what they studied is whether Winding River had a positive effect on recidivism, the tendency of criminals to reoffend after being released.

In the researchers evaluation, about 88 per cent of the Winding River group had a criminal history prior to their incarceration at Winding River  repeat offenders. Almost three-quarters of the group members  about 74 per cent  were charged with a violent crime.

After following the groups for a year, the researchers found Winding River inmates were about 71 per cent less likely to be arrested for any kind of crime compared to about 56 per cent of the control group  about a 14 per cent drop in recidivism.

That 71 per cent works out to be about 61 people in the researchers group.

Fourteen per cent might sound like an insignificant number  a drop in the bucket in a province with the second-highest crime rate in the country, according to Statistics Canada. But thats at least 61 people who didnt get charged for committing new crimes.

The average daily cost to keep a person in jail in Manitoba is $204, according to Statistics Canada.

Thats about $4.5 million that could be kept in taxpayers pockets or in government coffers, if these 61 offenders dont come back into the system for one year.

Considering Manitoba Corrections 2015 budget was $233 million, $4.5 million might sound like pocket change.

But in a province with a $764-million deficit, possibly saving $4.5 million is significant.

Packulak got bailed to the Behavioural Health Foundations residential drug treatment centre in St. Norbert in 2011.

About a year later, he got charged with a breach of probation and went back to jail. But he was a year sober.

His lawyer, Stacey Soldier, told him about a new program that just opened up at Headingley Correctional Centre  Winding River. He got transferred in January 2013.

It structures you to not fail when you get out of jail. Im still sober today. Ive been sober nine years Norm Packulak

He was doing well then, Soldier said. Hes doing well now.

The inmates have to actively participate in running the program  a key to the programs success, according to Packulak.

But Winding River isnt just about costs.

Although Winding River is in a jail, the inmates told researchers the facility lacked a jailhouse mentality  what Packulak explained as an inability to trust other inmates.

A lot of guys think if you go to these programs, youre a rat, he said. But you make it the way you want to make it.

That trust makes the program work, because the inmates have to work together to improve, Packulak said.

Like personal growth of any sort, it wont work if the inmates dont make the effort.

If you put 100 per cent energy into the program, it works. It really does, Packulak said.

It structures you to not fail when you get out of jail, he said. Im still sober today. Ive been sober nine years.

The program isnt without problems, despite the possible cost savings and reduced recidivism rates.

Packulak went back to jail in 2015 for another robbery charge.

About one in five of the inmates in Winding River said they didnt feel like they had a drug or alcohol problem, according to the researchers evaluation.

If inmates dont believe they have a drug problem, they might not participate in the programming, ultimately reducing the efficacy of the program as a whole, the evaluation suggested.

About one in five Winding River inmates spent only 15 days or less in the program, according to the researchers evaluation.

Fifteen days doesnt count for much when it comes to drug treatment. Effective residential addictions programs need to run for 90 days, according to National Institute on Drug Abuse research from 2015.

At least in Packulaks view, the program works  it can help people stay out of jail.

I wish more guys in jail would go to these programs. There would be less guys in jail, he said.

Manitoba Justice did not respond to a request for comment on the costs of Winding River and whether there are any changes planned for the program.

Erik Pindera is a senior journalism student in the Creative Communications program at Red River College in Winnipeg. This article was a product of a feature writing assignment.

epindera@gmail.com
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/10/2017 (1857 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Churchill received its emergency fuel supply by ship Sunday, and the mayor reluctantly admitted the northern town will likely spend the winter as fly-in community.

The MV Nunalik arrived with a shipment of 2.2 million litres of propane and equipment, sent by the provincial government at a cost of $6 million.

Churchill Mayor Mike Spence said the ship arrived at the Hudson Bay port around 4:30 a.m. Sunday. It was late by a few days because of storms.

Submitted MV Nunalik arrives in Churchill Sunday. The northern Manitoba town has been without its rail link to the south since May. The ship has winter supplies for the town, including propane.

Spence said he doesnt expect the rail line to the town will be fixed before next months freeze-up. That marks the first time an official has admitted that possibility since flooding washed out bridges between Gillam and Churchill on May 23.

Its pretty obvious now that were running out of time, Spence said by phone Sunday. Its a disappointment; its not something that we take well.

Via Rail confirmed Sunday afternoon its two locomotives and train cars are set to be loaded onto the ship and leave the town Monday, depending on weather and how quickly the ship is offloaded with the propane and supplies. Some of the rail cars were moved Friday afternoon during violent wind gusts, in order to prepare them to be shipped south.

The two locomotives and five rail cars have been rusting in recent days, and the company expressed doubts the train could even be sent south by rail in its current condition had the rail line been operating.

Security has been ramped up around the port, according to locals. The RCMP recently held a meeting with Via Rail, town officials and activists who had publicly discussed demonstrating, delaying or even blocking the train from leaving the town on the ship.

Submitted The first tank of an emergency shipment of propane is taken off the MV Nunalik at the Port of Churchill, on Sunday, October 15, 2017, the day the ship arrived.

Almost a dozen residents have said while they arent angry with Via, a Crown corporation, which has brought thousands of tourists to the town, they see the train as a symbolic asset. They believed refusing to allow it to leave would give them leverage with the federal government.

Federal Energy Minister Jim Carr, Manitobas only cabinet minister, said he plans to visit the town shortly. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had promised Spence in late July that there would be a solution to the towns loss of a rail link to the south. But Spence said Sunday hes encouraged that Carr has taken an active role on the file.

He also said hell look at whether the towns Nutrition North food subsidy is adequate heading into winter, by comparing costs with Nunavut communities and speaking with officials. Food costs have jumped despite federal and provincial subsidies on food that has be be flown in to the town.

On Friday, Carr announced his government had given rail owner Omnitrax 30 days to fix the rail line and then launch legal proceedings to get back the $18.8 million Ottawa paid the company in a 2008 funding agreement. That agreement saw the feds, the province and Omnitrax each commit $20 million to improve service along the line.

Its unknown how much Manitoba contributed, and whether the provincial government would join such a lawsuit.

Two locomotives and a few passenger cars belonging to Via Rail will be loaded onto the ship at the Port of Churchill and will be transported south. Via decided to ship the cars by ocean instead of waiting for the rail line, which is owned by U.S.-based omnitrax, to be repaired. Churchill Mayor Mike Spence concedes the rail line will be inoperable throughout winter.

In response, Omnitrax issued a scathing letter Friday. It claimed that Transport Canada bureaucrats had shunned an invitation to visit damaged sections of the rail line. It joining demands by Churchillians to return the port to the public sector.

Spence said Omnitrax had thwarted a move by Keewatin Railway Company to fix the line. On June 23, the First Nations-owned company, which runs an offshoot of the line near Flin Flon, said it could fix the line sooner than Omnitrax had said it could.

Spence said Sunday Omnitrax had denied KRC access to the line to inspect and possibly repair it.

Ottawa transferred the rail line to Denver-based Omnitrax in 1997, and since then the company argues federal and provincial governments have ruined its profitability by axing the former Canadian Wheat Boards monopoly that almost guaranteed shipments to Churchill, and closing an organization that marketed the port.

Spence said the people of Manitobas north are known for their resilience. He continues to see a strong role for Churchill in climate change research and shipping.

Submitted Propane containers are unloaded from the MV Nunalik at the Port of Churchill Sunday.

At the end of the day, you never give up.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 15/10/2017 (1857 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two weeks ago, Dr. Brian McWhirter went to work and found a makeshift campsite in his parking lot.

Wet clothing hung from the exterior walls and a television and toaster were plugged into his power outlets.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Osborne Village: The corner of River Avenue and Osborne Street.

Ive had so many insurance claims I cant even use insurance anymore. The last time my windows were broken I actually had to replace them myself Dr. Brian McWhirter

McWhirter, the owner of Stradbrook Chiropractic Centre on Osborne Street, in the heart of Osborne Village, says the scene resembled a shanty town.

It was quite resourceful, McWhirter says with a chuckle. But it doesnt reflect well on Osborne Village. It just causes pause for people to come here.

An increase in homelessness and vacant storefronts has been taking over the Osborne Village area for the past few months. A TD bank, now sitting empty facing Osborne Street, has become a popular spot for squatters to spend the night. Augustine United Church, located just steps from the corner of River Avenue and Osborne, also had to tackle the issue over the summer.

A growing number of people were sleeping on the churchs front steps, with their personal effects strewn across the stairs.

Kelsy James Photo Dr. Brian McWhirter stands outside his Osborne Village chiropractic office where vandals have permanantly damaged the windows with acid and shoe polish.

Squatters are not the only problem local business owners such as McWhirter have been dealing with of late. McWhirter says he also deals with graffiti every week  sometimes daily.

In the spring, his front window was tagged with a mixture of acid and white shoe polish.

The writing is now permanently burned into the glass.

McWhirter says the climbing expenses from vandalism are difficult for a small business owner to keep up with.

Ive had so many insurance claims I cant even use insurance anymore, McWhirter says. The last time my windows were broken I actually had to replace them myself.

The TD bank sits beside Stradbrook Chiropractic Centre. With a lone ATM available inside, some area homeless have been taking shelter in the space. The interior is now littered with discarded cigarette butts and garbage.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A man sits in a closed TD Bank in Osborne Village.

McWhirter says some of his patients feel uncomfortable going into the bank, especially when people are loitering inside. He believes Osborne Village squatters will continue to camp there and other places in the neighbourhood as long as they can get away with it.

Positioning themselves to sleep in that cash machine didnt just happen overnight, McWhirter says. They panhandled here for months, probably even years, and bylaws werent enforced. I dont believe the police did as good a job as we would expect them to, and they have their reasons, but I dont know why.

Oak Table has been serving meals to the areas homeless out of Augustine United Church for 36 years. What began as a small organization has had to expand to meet the growing demand in the area, which the group believes has been steadily increasing over the years.

Our numbers have increased so much, says Glynis Quinn the organizations executive director. A big day used to be 30 people, then that turned to 50, then 80, then 100. This summer we had 212 come in for one of our days.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A woman sleeps under a blanket in a back lane.

Quinn says Oak Table doesnt just provide food for Osborne Villages homeless. It also feeds seniors living on pensions, those with disabilities  such as mental illness  and people who can only scrape up enough to pay their rent.

Quinn says Osborne Village is not the same vibrant place as when she started working at Augustine United 17 years ago, but believes the issues are not native to the area.

Every time theres a bit of a crisis in a neighbourhood people think its attached to something, Quinn says. Sometimes it isnt attached to anything, its just the neighbourhood going through a transition.

Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge  East Fort Garry), says Osborne Village is a known route for Canadian transients, but the squatting issue  such as at the vacant bank  is a recent development. She says dealing with squatters near businesses or inside abandoned buildings is the responsibility of property owners, and should not negatively reflect on the neighbourhood.

If buildings are unoccupied, at some point people will begin to question how healthy the Village is, Gerbasi says. There are some empty storefronts, but theres also new businesses coming in. Its thriving in a lot of ways, but that doesnt mean there arent challenges.

Gerbasi believes the issue of squatters in the Village reflects broader, underlying social problems  ones other Winnipeg areas also face.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Gas Station Theatre in Osborne Village

I think some of the issues weve had in Winnipeg this summer have to do with increasing problems with addiction and mental health, Gerbasi says. And all of those things come together. Sometimes they get worse, and it seems like were having a more difficult year with those issues.

Stephanie Meilleur of the Osborne Village Business Improvement Zone (BIZ) says the Village has always been a target for squatters, but this year has been especially difficult and caught a lot of people in the area off guard.

Osborne has always been a hot spot, primarily because of the population, Meilleur says.

Panhandlers and buskers have always been a part of the community. I think because its become so welcoming to that culture squatters continue coming back.

Meilleur also hopes the reopening of vacant shops will help revitalize the area. Aside from TD, the former American Apparel, Black Rabbit Bistro Lounge and Desart spaces have been sitting empty for months.

There are a couple individuals who own property and arent willing to drop their rent prices, so thats why we do lose a lot of young entrepreneurs, Meilleur says. Some of the rent is just atrociously high. Weve tried to work with property owners, but theres only so much we can do.

Meilleur says the BIZ is also looking at introducing an entrepreneurial startup grant. It would help new area businesses pay rent for the first few months after opening. She says it has not been passed yet, but it is in their 2018 budget.

While Meilleur says the BIZ did not anticipate the increase in squatting this year, they are already preparing to tackle the problem again next summer. Methods will include new lighting and continuing a current streetscaping initiative. Meilleur says they are also looking at the possibility of creating an Osborne Village foot patrol, but it is dependent on funding and grants.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS A closed down American Apparel.

The area still bustles despite these issues. Gary Flater, a local busker, spends most weekends strumming his guitar in the downtown area. He says he only recently started spending more time in the Village, but it is now where he comes to clear his mind.

Its very cosmopolitan here, Flater says. You get people from different cultures and countries in one place, and I dont think that has changed over the years. Theres still a real community.

After half an hour of playing in front of the Osborne Village liquor mart, four people stop to chat with Flater. Others sit and listen to his cover of a Pink Floyd song or toss a coin into his open guitar case as they walk by.

The fact I can actually do this here and get a good response says something positive about Osborne Village, Flater says. Here people stop and listen. They stop and talk for a while. There are other places in the city where they dont. The culture is still alive.

kjames37@Academic.RRC.ca
Trump's healthcare reforms will hit his own supporters hardest: AFP/Getty

Donald Trumps changes to the Affordable Care Act will deal the biggest blow to the supporters who helped him secure the presidency, according to new analysis.

Nearly 70 per cent of people benefiting from cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which Mr Trump pledged to end by executive order last week, live in states that he won during the election last November.

Late on Thursday the White House announced it would stop the subsidies which were established under Obamacare and are paid by the federal government to insurers to help reduce health care costs for lower-income Americans.

It is estimated that the payments benefited 4 million people in the 30 states that Trump took in the election, according to analysis from the US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Of the 10 states who benefit the most from the subsidies all but one voted for the president.

Marsha Clark,61, is a real estate broker living an hour from Louisville, Kentucky, a state in which 71,000 of those buying health insurance through the federal exchange system are thought to benefit from the subsidies.

She said: "Im stressed out about the insurance, stressed out about the overall economy, and Im very stressed out about our president."

Sherry Riggs, a barber from Florida, who benefits from the current system said the change would probably be a "death sentence" for some people.

"I think its kind of a tragic decision on the presidents part. It scares me because I dont think Ill be able to afford it next year."

Clark pays $1,108 (833) a month for health insurance through the system.

Mr Trump has been threatening to end the current system for months as part of his plans to repeal Obamacare.

Following the Republicans failure to repeal Obamas landmark healthcare changes at the end of last month the Trump administration has confirmed they will stop the subsidies and cut funding for Obamacare outreach, threatening the program through which millions of Americans buy health insurance.

Additional reporting by The Associated Press
Bob Weinstein says he wants brother Harvey 'to get the justice he deserves' Harvey, left, and Bob Weinstein, seen in 2001.

In an interview, Harvey Weinsteins brother says My brother has caused unconscionable suffering  I am heartbroken for the women that he has harmed

The movie executive Bob Weinstein has launched an extraordinary attack on his elder sibling, the disgraced Harvey Weinstein, insisting he had no idea about the type of predator that he was and saying he is sickened by his depraved siblings apparent lack of remorse over decades of alleged sexual misconduct.

In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the younger Weinstein who cofounded Miramax and The Weinstein Company (TWC) said: I want him to get the justice that he deserves.

Later on Saturday, the board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was due to hold an emergency meeting to discuss potential action against the elder Weinstein, 65, who since the first accusations emerged last week has faced allegations of sexual misconduct from more than two dozen women and three of rape.

Police forces in the US and the UK have announced that they are investigating allegations. Weinstein has apologised for elements of his past behaviour but unequivocally denied any allegations of non-consensual sex. He has also said he hopes to get a second chance.

In a statement issued after the New Yorker detailed allegations of rape, the TWC board said it was shocked and dismayed and committed to assisting with our full energies in all criminal or other investigations of these alleged acts.

Sallie Hofmeister, a spokesperson for Harvey Weinstein, said: Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein. With respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.

The scandal has destroyed Harvey Weinsteins reputation as one of Hollywoods leading executives, which he acquired as a co-founder of the Miramax and Weinstein Company studios. The producer of Oscar-winning films The Artist and The English Patient, and patron to directors Quentin Tarantino and Steven Soderbergh, he was dropped by the TWC board soon after being placed on indefinite leave earlier this week, while he underwent therapy.

Story continues

Bob Weinstein, 62, told the Hollywood Reporter he had barely spoken to his brother in almost five years.

I could not take his cheating, his lying and also his attitude toward everyone, he said. While he said he was aware his brother was philandering with every woman he could meet, he insisted he had little idea about the alleged predatory harassment that has come to light.

I have a brother thats indefensible and crazy, he said. I find myself in a waking nightmare. My brother has caused unconscionable suffering. As a father of three girls I say this with every bone in my body  I am heartbroken for the women that he has harmed.

Bob Weinstein insisted TWC could survive, despite widespread predictions it will be forced to close or sell parts or all of the business. There is a plan to come out on the other side, he said.

Weinstein often became emotional, the Reporter said. He and his brother, he said, ran separate companies so many of the people Harvey Weinstein did business with  actors, actresses  he had never met. He declined to discuss specifics of the case, including claims that the TWC board of directors were aware of settlements with several of his brothers accusers.

The members of the board, including myself, did not know the extent of my brothers actions, he said.

I know him on a personal level better than anyone. Its hard to describe how I feel that he took out the emptiness inside of him in so many sick and depraved ways. Its a sickness but not a sickness that is excusable. Its a sickness thats inexcusable. And I, as a brother, understood and was aware as a family member, that my brother needed help and that something was wrong.

He also said he believed the Academy should expel his brother. Its 54-member board, made up of leading actors, directors and executives including Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg and Steven Spielberg, was meeting to consider that question on Saturday. The Oscar awarded to the producer in 1999 for his work on Shakespeare In Love may also be considered for nullification, according to reports.

The British Academy Film Awards (Bafta) has suspended Weinsteins membership, and organisers of the Cannes film festival said they were dismayed.

Harvey Weinstein won an Oscar for Shakespeare in Love, from 1999. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

Bob Weinstein said he was aware of some aspects of his brothers behavior.

Ill tell you what I did know, he told the Reporter. Harvey was a bully, Harvey was arrogant, he treated people like shit all the time. That I knew. And I had to clean up for so many of his employee messes. People that came in crying to my office: Your brother said this, that and the other. And Id feel sick about it.

Weinstein also said he was a victim of his brothers abuse, including physical abuse.

I do not put myself in the category at all of those women that he hurt, he said. But its a complicated situation when its your brother doing the abusing to you as well. I saw it and I asked him to get help for many years. And thats the truth. He avoided getting the help. We begged him.

This hurts, but I dont feel an ounce of remorse coming from him, and that kills me too. When I heard his written, lame excuse  Not an excuse. When I heard his admission of feeling remorse for the victims and then him cavalierly, almost crazily saying he was going to go out and take on the NRA [National Rifle Association], it was so disturbing to me. It was utter insanity.

My daughters all felt sick hearing this because we understood he felt nothing. I dont feel he feels anything to this day. I dont.

Bob Weinstein denied leaking information that contributed to the New York Times report that launched the scandal: I didnt and, you know, Harvey is suspicious of everybody. Its unbelievable that even to this moment he is more concerned with who sold him out.

Weinstein said his brother should never be allowed back into the film industry.

He lost his rights, he said. He didnt lose his rights to be rehabilitated as a human being. But as far as being in this town again? I mean, give me a break.
Actress-director Asia Argento, and models Samantha Panagrosso and Zoe Brock have come forward with new details heightening the scrutiny on Fabrizio Lombardo, the former head of a short-lived Miramax Italy unit, and who allegedly acted as a procurer of women for Harvey Weinstein.

Two of the three women Variety spoke to also claim they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein. Panagrosso, in the latest set of allegations against Weinstein, says she was groped by the Hollywood mogul in a hotel swimming pool in Cannes, and then assaulted in the cabin of a yacht during the 2003 film festival. Brock alleges she was tricked into going back to Weinsteins hotel, and Argento alleges she was raped by Weinstein after being taken by Lombardo to Weinsteins room, a claim he has refuted.

Lombardo has denied Argentos claims in a statement. Variety has reached out to his Italian lawyer for further comment.

In an interview with Variety, Argento reiterated her claim shared on Twitter that during the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, Lombardo took her to Weinsteins room at the Hotel du Cap. Argento told the New Yorker last week that she was subsequently raped by Weinstein.

Lombardo that evening came to pick me up at my hotel, which was the Hilton on the Croisette, Argento told Variety. And he picks me up and we drove with him, going towards this party at the du Cap.

And during this drive I remember [Lombardo] kind of touching my knee, not that he put his hand up my skirt, but thinking he had the license to touch my knee because I was wearing a short dress, which I found repulsive.

Then he brought me to the room and when we were inside the room I said what the heck, theres no party, how come? and it was like dont worry everybody is coming, we arrived too early. And we sit there and I am kind of nervous, and we sit there and were chatting and they give me champagne, Harvey doesnt drink I remember, and after a while Lombardo says oh wow nobody is coming, let me go and check out where the other guests are. [It was a] f*****g lie because nobody came.

Story continues

Lombardo denied this accusation. The insinuation that I accompanied Asia Argento to Mr. Weinsteins suite in a well-known hotel is highly surprising and regrettable as it is both untrue and is clearly the fruit of a distant and distorted memory, he said in a statement.

Argento says she remembers clearly. How could I forget my rape, I remember every detail, she said.

With him maybehe has brought hundreds of girls to Harveys room so he does not remember me, but I remember him, she noted.

New Zealand model Brock also claims she was tricked into going back to Weinsteins hotel room during the Cannes Film Festival in 1997.

She says Lombardo was in the car with her, Weinstein, and his assistant Rick Schwartz, as the group went back to the Hotel du Cap on the pretense of going to a party, before Lombardo left the room and Weinstein made unwelcome advances, after Schwartz too left. She has given her account in a detailed blog post.

She told Variety that Lombardo saw her one or two days later, said he had heard what happened, and offered his sympathies. His then-girlfriend Claudia Gerini then invited her back to Rome, where, Brock says, the couple tried to persuade her to join them in a threesome.

Panagrosso told Variety that said she met Weinstein while staying on a friends yacht during the Cannes Film Festival in 2003 and he sat next to her at a dinner at which Weinstein made salacious comments and advances.

The next day we had lunch at the Eden Roc hotel. I was in the pool after lunch and he came into the pool and started to grope me under the water, to my legs and stuff, and I said you have to stop this is not ok.

She says she later refused a dinner invitation but Weinstein came into her cabin. He pushed me on the bed, tried groping me and I tried to play it off because I thought hes not going to do anything because my friends are on the boat. But it got very frustrating to get him out. It was like bargaining. When I said no he said maybe if I cant massage you, will you massage me? When I said no to that he said come on why are you being so difficult, all the [other] women are ok with it. I dont see what you are making such a fuss about. Let me see your breasts at least.

In the interview Panagrosso said that Lombardo, who ran a Miramax outpost in Italy between 1999 and 2004, in truth was not running anything. She added: He was just giving that title as a pretext.

Panagrosso said she first intersected with Lombardo in the Milan fashion world where he was someone who uses the girls from model agencies to bring them to dinners with powerful people. She subsequently met him in Cannes and I talked with him and said: what are you doing? And he said: I work for Harvey at the company in Europe.

But honestly the guy was always with girls; bringing girls, I saw him [doing that] so many times.

After Lombardo was hired in 1999 to open a Miramax office in Italy he soon became known at Miramax as The Talented Mr. Lombardo, according to several sources.

He had become a friend of Harvey Weinstein in the 1990s, he told the New York Times in a 2004 article which questioned Lombardos competency as a film business executive. He accompanied Weinstein to the Cannes Film Festival from 1995 and they also spent time together on St Barts, the Caribbean resort island, the Times said.

Argento, who as the daughter of prominent Italian horror film director, Dario Argento, has always been part of Italys film community, said she was first introduced to Lombardo as a producer, which she found surprising.

What is funny is I had been working in cinema since I was nine and I know everybody in the Italian industry and I had never seen him before, and they said hes an Italian producer. I was like wow, I have never seen this guy around, she said.

As the Weinstein scandal started to unfold, Lombardo sent Argento two messages which he has told several outlets including The Guardian and Vanity Fair were sent by accident. One is a joke about Silvio Berlusconi wanting a 25-year-old escort, the other is an odd video titled Have You Ever Been This Drunk?

Argento told Variety she considers them a deliberate attempt to silence her.

It was actually a threat to try and say to me I am a drunk and I am a whore, she said. And it put fuel in my fire, it gave me strength. How dare you, after what happened, try and scare me to say my reputation will go down, which is how Italy is describing me in the newspapers.

Argento also underscored that she is being slut-shamed in the Italian press. I am being shamed by the Italian media, which is medieval, she said. She noted that Until the 60s [in Italy] you could kill your wife and it was called murder of honor, if she had cheated.

Italian transexual politician and TV host Vladimir Luxuria has tweeted that Argento should have said no to Weinstein at the time when he allegedly raped her.

Until 1996 rape was considered a crime against morals, not against a person Argento said to underscore what she called the Italian mentality even today.

Several sources have alleged to Variety that Lombardo procured women for Weinstein while employed by Miramax (which at the time was owned by Disney).

Lombardo, in his statement, is adamant that Miramaxs Italy operation, and his role in the business, was legitimate. During the three years in which Lombardo ran an Italy outpost for Miramax, the company was indeed quite active.

Martin Scorsese shot Gangs of New York at Romes Cinecitta studios and Miramax was also involved in the production of Italian director Giuseppe Tornatores Malena and Roberto Benignis Pinocchio. The company acquired Marco Tullio Giordanas The Best of Youth and Gabriele Salvatores Im Not Scared.

But according to several accounts of people who worked on those films in various capacities, Lombardos role on both the production and acquisition side was marginal. As an independent, Miramax films were released by other distributors in Italy and didnt need a full-fledged distribution base there.

By all accounts Lombardo was very active as an ambassador for Miramax in Italys film community. As reported by Variety at the time, Lombardo attended an AmFar gala at the 2001 Venice Film Festival where he purchased the highest priced item, a white gold, topaz and diamond necklace from event sponsor Bulgari, for $27,000.

He then credited Elizabeth Taylor, who chaired the evening, with inspiring him to up the bidding. I told Liz Taylor if she gave me a kiss Id go higher, and she did, Variety reported that Lombardo said.

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Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific and bigger in area than the U.S., Canada offers boundless opportunities to filmmakers  especially film studios, TV networks, streaming services, and production companies.

Not only do its varied landscapes offer practically any outdoor look required for location shooting, but its urban areas can double for many American and European cities. Perhaps most important of all, the countrys 16% tax incentive can be stacked with multiple regional incentives offered by its provinces and territories.

Specifically, Canadas national incentive offers a refundable tax credit on Canadian labor. There are no caps. The minimum spend required to qualify varies by type of project: 1 million Canadian dollars, or about $800,000 in U.S. currency, for feature films; 100,000 Canadian dollars, or about $80,000 in U.S. currency, for TV episodes of 30 minutes or less; and 200,000 Canadian dollars, or about $160,000 in U.S. currency, for TV episodes greater than 30 minutes.

One of the financial attractions that make Canada so appealing is the fact that the national incentive can be added to a wide variety of regional incentives, including the following:

Alberta: 25-30% Grant British Columbia: 28% Refundable Tax Credit Manitoba: 30-50% Refundable Tax Credit Newfoundland and Labrador: 40% Refundable Tax Credit New Brunswick: 25-40% Grant Northwest Territories: 25-35% Rebate Nova Scotia 26-32% Grant Ontario: 21.5% Refundable Tax Credit Quebec: 20% Refundable Tax Credit Saskatchewan: 25-30% Grant Yukon: 25% Rebate



Feature films released this year that shot in Canada include It, Flatliners, The Shape of Water and mother! TV series that recently began shooting in Canada and are still shooting there include Star Trek: Discovery, The Good Doctor and The Handmaids Tale.

Incenitves 16% Refundable credit on Canadian labor 20%-50% Range of refundable tax credits offered by provinces and territories $800k Minimum spend for films ($80k-$160k for TV episodes) Information courtesy of EP Financial Solutions, a production incentive consulting and financial services company.

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Saturday Night Live was criticized last week for cutting jokes about the developing revelations about Harvey Weinsteins decades of alleged sexual assault, but this week it didnt pull any punches.

After an Actress Roundtable sketch about sexual assault in Hollywood  during which a Kate McKinnon character compared Weinsteins face to genitals  Colin Jost and Michael Che both dove in on Weinstein during Weekend Update.

Apple has announced that it will add hundreds of new emojis to its iOS system, including a person at a spa, a vomiting face, and shh-ing finger, finally giving emoji fans the ability to describe what it was like to work for Harvey Weinstein, Jost began, before jumping into a second joke about the former heavyweight producer.

Weinstein has been accused of multiple accounts of sexual assault. He is reportedly going to Europe for sex rehab, Jost said. Somehow, I dont think that is going to help anybody. He doesnt need sex rehab. He needs a specialized facility where there are no women, no contact with the outside world, metal bars, and its a prison.

Che jumped in with his own Weinstein zingers: This is a tough spot for a comedian because its so hard to make jokes about sexual assault, but its so easy to make jokes about a guy that looks like this. I mean, he looks like chewed bubblegum rolled in cat hair.

Che continued by shooting down Weinsteins statement that, We all make mistakes.

Nah, man, Che said. You assaulted dozens of women. Thats not a mistake. Thats a full season of Law & Order. Your names a verb now, dude, as in, If this guy tries to Weinstein me, Im going to cut off his little Harvey.'

In the wake of numerous allegations of sexual misconduct, Weinsteins representative issued a statement to the New Yorker denying any claims of non-consensual sex. Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein, read a statement issued from Weinsteins rep last week. Mr. Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances. Mr. Weinstein obviously cant speak to anonymous allegations, but with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr. Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual. Mr. Weinstein has begun counseling, has listened to the community and is pursuing a better path. Mr. Weinstein is hoping that, if he makes enough progress, he will be given a second chance.

The duo ended Weekend Update with an earnest entreaty for donations for Puerto Rico, directing viewers who want to help to Somos One Voice.
Celebrities are boycotting Twitter today in solidarity with Rose McGowan

Earlier this week, amidst the numerous accusations of sexual harassment and assault against Harvey Weinstein, Rose McGowans Twitter account was suspended. In an act of solidarity, other celebrities are coming together to boycott Twitter on McGowans behalf.

Twitter notified McGowan on Wednesday that her account had been suspended  allegedly due to the inclusion of a private phone number in one of her tweets, which technically violates site policy.

And while McGowans account has since been restored, many celebrities were quick to show their their outrage over the way in which Twitter handled such an extraordinarily important issue, as well as the sites general lack of action regarding sexual harassment on their platform. Software engineer Kelly Ellis initially came up with the idea to boycott for a day, suggesting the hashtag #WomenBoycottTwitter.

#WomenBoycottTwitter Friday, October 13th. In solidarity w @rosemcgowan and all the victims of hate and harassment Twitter fails to support. https://t.co/G0my9EyKpQ  Kelly Ellis (@justkelly_ok) October 12, 2017

And so far, #WomenBoycottTwitter has reached a huge audience, including McGowans Charmed costar, Alyssa Milano.

Tomorrow (Friday the 13th) will be the first day in over 10 years that I wont tweet. Join me. #WomenBoycottTwitter pic.twitter.com/xoEt5Bwj5s  Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) October 13, 2017

Tomorrow I follow the Women. #WomenBoycottTwitter  Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) October 13, 2017

I stand with #WomenBoycottTwitter. I love this platform, but its time to do better. See you all in 24 hours.   Brianna Wu (@Spacekatgal) October 13, 2017

Tomorrow. And maybe even forever. #WomenBoycottTwitter  christine teigen (@chrissyteigen) October 13, 2017

Fuck the patriarchy. Fuck the silencing of women. Fuck victim blaming. Men, you must stand up for what's right.#WomenBoycottTwitter  Chris (@ChrisCrocker) October 13, 2017

Boycotting Twitter is a great way to take a stand against the system. But some are arguing that going silent may not be helpful during a time where the world is listening to those who have been assaulted.

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I will not be silenced by Twitter or anyone else.

A woman's opinion matters. Boycott? Shout loud instead #WomenBoycottTwitter  Geraldine  (@overheavenshill) October 13, 2017

Honestly, I have no idea why women would want to silence their voices when the whole world is now listening. #WomenBoycottTwitter  Calvin _ (@analyticalps) October 13, 2017

However, others have noted that the boycott will not keep women silent, its to prove that Twitter users have power. The fewer clicks on the site, the less money the site makeswhich incentivizes them to listen to users and make concrete changes to their platform.

Ok ok Jesus, let me clear this up. #WomenBoycottTwitter will not silence us, but @Twitter will make much less $$ b/c of fewer clicks. Im in pic.twitter.com/LPEbKJwpgM  Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) October 13, 2017

We stand in support of every woman (and man) taking action to bring positive change, and applaud the bravery of every victim speaking out on this issue.
Top row from left: Asia Argento, Rosanna Arquette, Jessica Barth, Cara Delevingne, Romola Garai, Judith Godreche, Heather Graham, Angelina Jolie, Ashley Judd, Rose McGowan, Lea Seydoux and Mira Sorvino, who have all made allegations against producer Harvey Weinstein - AP

Two years ago, American tabloids published a story about the Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein and an accusation of sexual assault levelled at him by an Italian model. On March 27, 2015, he had invited Ambra Battilana Gutierrez to his office in New Yorks Tribeca area for a business meeting. While she was there, he allegedly lunged at her, groping her breasts and attempting to put his hand up her skirt. Gutierrez went straight to the police.

Consequently, detectives set up a sting on Weinstein, the co-founder of Miramax and The Weinstein Company and a titan of the US film industry: the then 22-year-old who had shopped him was to meet him at the Tribeca Grand Hotel the following day, this time wearing a wire, in an attempt to extract a confession from him. The plan worked, and the audio  obtained by The New Yorker magazine and released this week  recorded the movie mogul dismissively apologising for having groped the model, but persistently urging her to join him in his room.

This damning evidence could have been the smoking gun that brought Weinsteins world crashing down. If charged and convicted of the alleged offence against Gutierrez alone, he could have landed in jail. But he was never charged, with the Manhattan district attorney citing a lack of evidence to prove criminal intent.

Harvey Weinstein, who's been fired from his own production company over sexual harassment allegations Credit: PAUL BUCK/ EPA

Instead, a shadow was cast over Gutierrez instead, as it emerged she had once attended a Bunga Bunga party hosted by former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi. She had also reportedly accused an Italian businessman of sexual assault, but later refused to cooperate with the investigation into him. Two weeks after the Weinstein sting, the Manhattan district attorney decided not to bring charges. The 65-year-old married father-of-five is understood to have reached a financial settlement with his accuser in return for her signing a nondisclosure agreement.

Had the alleged incident been an isolated one, this might have been the end of it. In the past few days, however, we have learned this could not be further from reality; that the Gutierrez affair was, in fact, just the tip of the iceberg, the full extent of which is still emerging from the murky depths of shame, deceit, obfuscation and denial beneath which it has lain for the best part of three decades. If all the stories that have exploded into the public arena since October 5 are true  indeed, even if only half of them are true  then Harvey Weinstein, one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, is a serial sexual predator with a frighteningly long string of offences against women to his name.

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Weinstein with his wife, Georgina Chapman, who left him this week Credit: Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The fuse was lit this month, more than two and a half years after the Gutierrez story had died down, by the New York Times. Last Thursday, the newspaper published the first of two investigative articles on the Oscar-winning producer behind dozens of big screen blockbusters, including Pulp Fiction, Good Will Hunting, Shakespeare in Love, Sex, Lies and Videotape, The English Patient and The Iron Lady. In it, the two reporters detailed decades of allegations of sexual harassment made against Weinstein by women who had entered into his orbit. One of these women was the actress Ashley Judd, who says she was invited by Weinstein to the Peninsula Beverly Hills hotel for what she thought was a business meeting. Instead, she was summoned to his room, where she found him dressed in a bathrobe. He allegedly asked if he could give her a massage or if she could watch him shower.

It was an approach he is believed to have made to multiple others also, seemingly following a similar formula, time and again, of inviting a young woman to his hotel room on the pretext of doing business, appearing in a state of semi-undress and suggesting massages, showers and baths. The carrot commonly dangled before them was the promise, implicit or otherwise, of career advancement. And his power to make or break careers could not be overestimated  until now.

Ashley Judd was among the first women to go public with her allegations against Weinstein Credit: Jordan Strauss/Invision

Over the years, he had reached at least eight settlements with female accusers, according to two company officials of Weinsteins who spoke to The New York Times on condition of anonymity. Among these women were a young assistant in 1990, an actress in 1997, an Italian model in 2015 and a woman called Lauren OConnor who used to work for Weinsteins company. Unlike many of Weinsteins alleged victims, OConnor had spoken out, writing a memo to several of the company executives in which she made claims of sexual harassment by Weinstein. There is a toxic environment for women at this company, she wrote.

This detail provided the first clue to outsiders that allegations about Weinsteins behaviour were known about. Since the revelations of recent days, many have admitted it was the worst kept secret in movieland.

Another actress named in the October 5 piece was Rose McGowan, who had appeared in the Weinstein-produced Scream film in 1996. The following year, Weinstein reportedly reached a $100,000 settlement with the then 23-year-old, following an alleged episode in a hotel room during the Sundance Film Festival. The purpose of the payment was not to be construed as an admission, but to avoid litigation and buy peace. Again, it is understood the tactic was deployed repeatedly by Weinstein, who appears to have bought peace many times in this way.

Weinstein with Rose McGowan, who unleashed a torrent of tweets about him this week Credit: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic, Inc

Emboldened, perhaps, by the storys publication, McGowan broke cover shortly afterwards, unleashing a torrent of thinly veiled tweets. On the day the scandal broke, she wrote: Anyone who does business with ____ is complicit. And deep down you know you are even dirtier. Cleanse yourselves.

And yet, two days on, precious few had come forward to do so. Exasperated, McGowan wrote: Ladies of Hollywood, where are you? And: Ladies of Hollywood, your silence is deafening. A few had spoken out: Patricia Arquette congratulated McGowan and Judd for coming forward; Brie Larson declared she stood with the brave survivors of sexual assault and harassment. But many more remained strangely tight-lipped on the subject. To begin with, at least.

Weinsteins initial response to the story was an apology. I appreciate the way Ive behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it, he said in a statement. My journey now will be to learn about myself and conquer my demons... I so respect all women and regret what happened. He said he was taking a leave of absence from his company and seeing a therapist.

Gwyneth Paltrow (L), Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Harvey Weinstein at the film premiere of Shakespeare in Love Credit: The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images/ Time & Life Pictures

He is an old dinosaur learning new ways, said his lawyer Lisa Bloom in a separate statement. She resigned shortly afterwards.

Weinstein did, however, dispute the New York Times report, and Blooms statement said her client denied many of the allegations as patently false. Another of his lawyers, Charles Harder, said Weinstein was preparing to sue the newspaper.

On October 6, as the Weinstein Company announced it was launching an interal inquiry, its beleaguered co-founder insisted his wife of 10 years, the British designer Georgina Chapman, 41, who co-founded the Marchesa fashion label, would stand by him. She would, he said, be kicking my ass and forcing him to apologise to people for my bad behaviour.

That was before the dam broke and the full torrent of allegations engulfed all before it. Last Sunday, Weinstein was sacked by the board of his own company  a decision reached in light of new information about misconduct. Dozens of Democrats, to whom Weinstein was a major donor, severed ties with him, and many said they would transfer his financial contributions to womens charities.

By now, the story had gone transatlantic. A Sunday newspaper in Britain published a piece by Lady Liza Campbell, a writer to whom Weinstein had given some freelance script-reading work. In it, she detailed how he had allegedly ambushed her in his suite at The Savoy hotel in London in the mid-90s. In what has turned out to be a familiar pattern, he had invited her there for a work meeting, only to request that she jump in the bath with him, she wrote. Come on, itll be fun. We can drink champagne. You can soap me  whaddaya say? were the words she attributed to him. Furious, the mother-of-two, then in her 30s, fled.

It was allegedly not the last time Weinstein would do this at the five-star hotel on the Strand. British actress Romola Garai, 35, went public with her Weinstein experience on Monday, telling a British newspaper she was auditioned by him there when she was just 18. He was in his dressing gown, she claimed, and she left feeling violated.

Her account was published on Tuesday, the day that the floodgates opened. Accusations from 13 more women were published by The New Yorker in a story by Ronan Farrow, son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen. The silence had been well and truly broken, and the allegations were profoundly shocking: three of the women, including Italian actress Asia Argento, claimed Weinstein had raped them orally or penetratively. Four said they had been subjected to unwanted touching. Four claimed he had exposed himself or pleasured himself in front of them. Some 16 former and current executives and assistants employed by him said they had seen or known about unwanted sexual advances and touching.

Barack Obama has now joined the chorus of disapproval, voicing his condemnation of Weinstein's alleged conduct Credit: Julio Cortez/ AP

Finally, two of the biggest names in Hollywood joined the list of alleged victims: Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow sent statements to The New York Times claiming Weinstein had harassed them, too, early in their careers. Paltrows alleged that after the producer had cast her in the title role of the 1996 film Emma, he invited her to his hotel suite, where he touched the then-22-year-old and suggested massages. She described telling her then boyfriend, Brad Pitt, who confronted Weinstein about it.

Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Leonardo DiCaprio and countless others joined the chorus of voices condemning him. Breaking her six-day silence, his wife announced she was leaving him and branded his conduct unforgivable.

The next day, Wednesday, another British star, Cara Delevingne, came forward, alleging hed sexually harassed her when she first started work as an actress. He had urged her to kiss another woman, she claimed, before trying to kiss her himself. On Thursday, it was actress Kate Beckinsdale who made headlines with her own Weinstein story. The 44-year-old actress claimed she had repeatedly rejected his sexual advances over the years. By Friday night, Weinstein had been accused of sexual harassment by around 30 women, and of rape by three.

So what now? The New York Police Department is reportedly investigating two cases from 2004. In Britain, Scotland Yard are investigating claims he sexually abused an actress in London in the 1980s. The man at the centre of the scandal has flown to Arizona to seek therapy for what he calls sex addiction.

Hollywood has been left reeling and the shock waves have spread far and wide. In time, the industry at the epicentre of such ignominy will heal. America will cleave to the narrative of reform and redemption that has carried it through before: rebuild, recover and root out the evil.

As for Weinstein, hes asked for a second chance, too. Its hard to imagine hell be offered one.
A cargo plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near the international airport in Abidjan, killing four crew members and injuring six others, an Ivory Coast official said Saturday.

Ten people were aboard the plane that was approaching from the capital of neighboring Burkina Faso, Lt. Issa Sakho, commander of the military fire brigade, said on national television. The dead were four Moldovans, he said, adding that two Moldovans and four French crew members were injured.

The cargo plane was carrying French military cargo, a French military official said.

We have six injured that we have evacuated to the Port-Bouet camp in Abidjan for treatment, the official said. He gave his name only as Lt. Villain, citing French protocol.

Earlier reports indicated the plane had taken off from Abidjan.

Ange Koutaye Ismael, a 19-year-old student, told The Associated Press he saw the four bodies carried out of the airplane, which had been broken in two in the shallow waters.

Ismael said he was at home Saturday morning when he noticed a plane flying low over his neighborhood. When he heard a plane had crashed on the beach, he ran down to film it.

Stormy weather likely played a role in the crash, he said.

There was winds yesterday and I saw how planes seemed to have difficulties in getting up, he said.

Chrisian Kouame, who also lives near the airport, said he was awakened before 7 a.m. by a loud noise.

We thought at the beginning it was the waves of the sea in the rain, but the cries of our neighbors caught our attention, he said. When we went out we saw the aircraft broken by the beach. Airport authorities were alerted and rescue workers were immediately sent to help recover those wounded.

Hundreds of onlookers gathered at the beach. Rescue workers carried away what appeared to be a corpse in a yellow bag. The tail and propellers of the plane were exposed.

Air traffic at the airport in the West African nation appeared to continue after the crash, according to the flight-tracking website FlightRadar24.

In February 2000, a Kenya Airways Airbus 310 carrying 179 people destined for Lagos, Nigeria crashed into the ocean after takeoff from Abidjan, leaving only 10 survivors.
Los Angeles (AFP) - Forty-five people remain hospitalized following the mass shooting in Las Vegas nearly two weeks ago and some are in critical condition, the county sheriff said Friday.

Meanwhile, the FBI said no evidence has been found so far that the man who carried out the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, was motivated by "ideology or affiliation to any groups."

Paddock, a wealthy retired accountant, amassed an arsenal of weapons in his Mandalay Bay hotel room and opened fire on the evening of October 1 on a crowd enjoying a country music concert, killing 58 people.

Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo told a news conference that the latest figure on the number of injuries from the shooting was 546.

He said 501 people have been discharged from hospital and of the 45 people still admitted, some were in critical condition.

Lombardo also sought to clarify some confusion over when exactly Paddock wounded a security guard, Jesus Campos, outside his 32nd floor room and opened fire on the crowd.

Police had earlier said they believed Campos was shot by Paddock at 9:59 pm, six minutes before he rained fire down onto the concert crowd.

But Lombardo said Friday that police now believe Campos was shot "in close proximity to 10:05 pm" -- the time he started shooting at the concert crowd below.

Lombardo also said the authorities believe that Paddock deliberately fired on large jet aviation fuel tanks at Las Vegas' McCarran airport.

"It is believed the fuel tanks were fired upon with intent," he said.

The storage tanks did not catch fire and Lombardo said he had been informed in any event there is a "very low probability that aviation fuel could be ignited by gunfire."

The FBI special agent in charge, Aaron Rouse, said hundreds of FBI employees remained involved in the investigation of the shooting.

But the authorities appeared -- at least publicly -- to be no closer to determining Paddock's motivation.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed shortly after the shooting that Paddock was one of its "soldiers" but Rouse said "to date, we have found no signs of ideology or affiliation to any groups."
The discovery of a 4,000-year-old pyramidion found near the excavation of the largest Old Kingdom obelisk fragment may be the first evidence of the existence of satellite pyramids for Queen Ankhnespepy II, the most important Egyptian queen of the sixth dynasty.

The pyramidion itself is a striking archaeological find, but its location is even more intriguing. The pyramidion was found very close to where French-Swiss archaeologists, led by Philippe Collombert of the University of Geneva, recently uncovered a 4,300-year-old obelisk last week. At eight feet tall, the obelisk, a tall stone pillar placed at the entrance of burial pyramids, is the largest fragment of an obelisk from the Old Kingdom ever found. The obelisk is inscribed with the title and name of Queen Ankhnespepy II, suggesting it stood before the queens pyramid.

egypt 1

Mission archeologique franco-suisse de Saqqara

The queens burial chamber was discovered in 1963 and her pyramid uncovered in 1998. However, archeologists are still searching for her satellite pyramids, tiny pyramids usually found next to the pyramid of a king or queen. The recently uncovered pyramidion was found where near where archaeologists believe we can expect to find the queens satellite pyramid. According to Collombert in a statement from the Ministry of Antiquities's official Facebook page, this pyramidion is the first evidence of the existence of satellite pyramids.

We are 90 percent sure that this pyramidion will lead us to the satellite pyramid, Collombert tells Newsweek. But we also expect the satellite pyramid to be almost completely destroyed, because all this area of the necropolis was used in later times as a quarry for good limestone, for centuries.

egypt 2

Mission archeologique franco-suisse de Saqqara

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As of yet, the true purpose of satellite pyramids is not clear. They are too small for burials and researchers aren't sure what other function they may have served.

Queen Ankhnespepy II was married to Pepy I, and when widowed she married her nephew Merenre, the son of her deceased husband and her sister. From her marriage to Merenre she gave birth to King Pepy II, who ruled Egypt from about 2332 through 2283 B.C. However, Ankhnespepy II ruled in his place until he came of age. Although she did not ascend as high as the position of Pharaoh, her important position as Queen-regent meant that upon her death, Queen Anknespepy was given a large burial pyramid and an equally large obelisk.

The pyramidion was found south of King Pepy Is pyramid, in Saqqara necropolis, a vast ancient burial ground 19 miles south of Cairo. The pyramidion measures about 4.2 feet high and 3.6 feet long on its sides. Collombert believes the pyramidion would have once sat on top of the satellite pyramid he and his team are searching for. Although it is now partially destroyed, archaeologists think the pyramidion was once covered with a metal foil, of either gold or copper.

Collombert says (in French) that he and his team will continue to reveal further evidence about the satellite pyramid's location and keep us updated in the search for this ancient mysterious chamber.

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Steve Bannon has a message for the good folks at Vanity Fair, stating Donald Trump will not only finish his term but gain a landslide 400 electoral votes in the 2020 presidential election.

Speaking at the controversial Family Research Councils Values Voter Summit, Bannon hit back at a report from Vanity Fair that suggested he did not have any faith that his former boss would finish out his first term.

The former White House chief strategist said on Saturday in comments carried by ABC News: The populist, nationalist, conservative revolt thats going on, that drove Donald Trump to victory, that drove Judge Moore to victory, that will drive 15 candidates to victory in 2018, and well, I hate to break the news to Graydon Carter and the good folks at Vanity Fair, but yes, President Trump is not only going to finish this term hes going to win with 400 electoral votes in 2020.

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon: "Pres. Trump's not only going to finish this term, he's going to win with 400 electoral votes in 2020." pic.twitter.com/uzX4epfStq  ABC News (@ABC) October 14, 2017

A win of such magnitude would better Trumps 2016 win by almost 100 electoral college votes; the Republican in 2016 gained 304 votes to his rival Hillary Clintons 227 votes.

Vanity Fair this week quoted two sources close to Bannon as saying the Breitbart executive privately believed the president had a less than 30% chance of completing his first term, in comments Bannon appeared to deny as he addressed the anti-LGBT groups annual summit.

President Trump himself addressed the Values Voter Summit a day prior to Bannon, on Friday, in what was a first for a sitting president and prompted criticism from the Southern Poverty Law Center, which classifies the Family Research Council as a hate group.

trump bannon

Reuters

Trumps speech played heavily to the Christian, conservative crowd, as he made comments stating: We know that it's the family and the churchnot government officialswho know best how to create strong and loving communities.

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He added: We are stopping cold the attacks on Judeo-Christian values."

As well as pledging that Trump would see a massive victory in 2020, Bannon also encouraged the crowds at the conference to back the president, telling them: The president needs our support more than ever.

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Bob Weinstein has called on the Academy of Motion Picture, Arts and Science to expel his "sick and depraved" brother Harvey from its ranks, describing his sibling as physically violent and thuggish, and saying he hopes he is made to pay for his actions.

"I find myself in a waking nightmare," he said. "My brother has caused unconscionable suffering."

Speaking hours before the 54-member board of governors of the Academy meets in Los Angeles to decide whether to take the unprecedented step of expelling Harvey, Bob said he hoped they decide to censure him.

Bob Weinstein, right, with his disgraced brother Harvey Credit: WireImage

"I was gonna actually write [to the Academy]," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "And I will do it. I am gonna write a note to them saying he definitely should be kicked out of the Academy.

I have a brother thats indefensible and crazy.

"I want him to get the justice that he deserves.

Harvey Weinstein Credit: AP

Bob, 62, said his older brother once physically assaulted him in a meeting, and he now wishes he went to the police.

He said he had spoken to Harvey "on a personal level" only around ten times in the past five years. Bob is based in Los Angeles and Harvey in New York, and the two run different divisions of the company.

The film producer said he had spoken to Harvey twice since the bombshell exploded - first with a story in The New York Times, and with then a separate story in The New Yorker.

"I don't hear concern or contrition for the victims. And I want them to hear that.

"Harvey has no remorse whatsoever. I have spoken to him two times [since news broke], hoping to hear Oh my God, what have I done? I didn't hear that.

"I heard a guy who still was fighting to get back and I was disgusted by it. Do you know how disgusted I am? I divorced my brother five years ago. Literally. And those that know me personally in this company understood how I could not take being around him on any level. And certainly my daughters and my family knew it. I could not take his cheating, his lying and also his attitude toward everyone."

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Some of the women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment and assault

He said he knew Harvey, 65, was serially unfaithful to his first wife, Eve Chilton, and to his second, British fashion designer Georgina Chapman. But he insisted he had no idea Harvey was "predatory".

He said of his brother: "Harvey was a bully, Harvey was arrogant, he treated people like ---- all the time," adding that he had to "clean up for so many of his employee messes" and cope with frequently tearful staff members.

Bob insisted that The Weinstein Company, which employs around 150 people, would survive - but that they would change its name.

Harvey is reported to be preparing to contest his firing at a board meeting on Tuesday, but Bob said Harvey would lose the battle.

"[Harvey] should never be allowed back, ever. Ever," he said.

He said he welcomed reports that Jay-Z was interested in buying Harvey's stake, but said they had not received any formal notification and extricating Harvey from the business would take time.
Police believe theyve found the body of a missing Arizona Kindergarten teacher who was last seen bailing a man out of jail.

Cathryn Gorospe, who was a teacher at Arrowhead Elementary School in north Glendale, was reported missing by a roommate after leaving Phoenix to bail Charlie Malzahn out of jail in Flagstaff on Friday, Oct. 6, according to Fox 10.

Malzahn later tried to buy items at a mall with Gorospes credit and debit cards and was arrested on unrelated charges while he was driving her SUV, according to the report.

While police have not confirmed what the relationship was between Malzahn and Gorospe, rumors appear to support that their relationship was romantic, a Flagstaff police spokesman told AZ Central.

An acquaintance of Malzahn said blood was found throughout Gorospes SUV, according to the report.

Before his arrest on Monday, Malzahn was accused of physically assaulting a female student at Arizona State University on Sunday night, according to ABC15.

Authorities are not releasing information about where the body, believed to be Gorospe, was found until an investigation of the area is completed, according to the Arizona Daily Sun. The identity of the body is also still pending an official identification.
Washington (AFP) - British tycoon Richard Branson called Friday for rebuilding the hurricane-thrashed Caribbean with more durable housing and sustainable energy, to limit the damage of future storms.

Branson, who rode out massive category-5 hurricanes Irma and Maria last month on his private Necker Island in the British Virgin islands, compared the devastation throughout the region to that of a nuclear blast.

"None of us hunkering down in the basement in Necker Island were prepared for its force and its intensity," he said in a discussion of natural disasters at the World Bank's annual meetings in Washington.

But after the two storms wrecked the tourism-dependent economies of the region, destroying homes and taking out power supplies for weeks, Branson said the region's leaders need to take the long view and invest more to better survive meteorological disasters.

With global warming, he said, the annual hurricane season could just worsen.

"Another storm could strike within the coming weeks," he said.

"The Caribbean must seize the opportunity and take the leap from 20th century technology to 21st century innovation."

"These island states have a great opportunity to build greener and more resilient communities than ever before, setting shining examples of what climate-smart recovery around the world can and should look like."

Branson, a billionaire who created Virgin Records and Virgin Atlantic airline, said that for one, the region was too dependent on imported fuels and centralized power systems.

In some countries imported fuel consumes up to a quarter of GDP, he noted. Compared to that, solar power comes cheap. "You don't have to ship in sunshine on expensive boats."

Power grids need to be distributed rather than centralized so that one failure doesn't bring down the entire system.

He pointed to the story of Puerto Rico flower grower Hector Santiago. While much of the US territory remains without power three weeks after Maria tore through, Santiago's solar system, used for his greenhouses and pumping water, was back up within hours after the storm.

"That's the type of resilience I would like to see go to scale" in the region, Branson said.

"The time now is to make this happen."
A helicopter drops water on a wildfire over Mt Helena, California - The Press Democrat

The death toll in Californias wildfires passed 40 at the weekend, with hundreds of people still missing in the most lethal outbreak of bush fires in the states history.

More than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes as entire neighbourhoods are reduced to blackened ruins.

Authorities hope weakening winds will help more than 10,000 firefighters contain fires that have already consumed more than 330 square miles, an area larger than New York City.

This is truly one of the greatest tragedies that California has ever faced, said Jerry Brown, California governor, during a visit to the affected region.

The devastation is just unbelievable. It is a horror that no one could have imagined.

Hundreds of buildings are devastated in Santa Rosa, California Credit: AFP PHOTO / JOSH EDELSONJOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images

Firefighters reported progress at the end of last week, clearing dry vegetation and starting to contain some of the 17 separate fires that are still burning.

Crews from the states of Colorado, Washington and Nevada have joined the effort. From the air, some 70 helicopters and large aircraft including a 747, two DC-10s and a dozen air tankers have dropped millions of gallons of water and retardants on the flames.

California wildfires: Firefighters battle deadly inferno in wine country, in pictures

But officials say the flames shifting winds and tinder-dry land mean thousands more people had to evacuate their homes at the weekend. Forecasts that the fires would be under control by October 20 may have to be revised, they admitted.

The fires now stretch 100 miles across.

A firefighter holds a water hose while fighting a wildfire in Santa Rosa Credit: AP

The city of Calistoga, in Napa Valley, was among those evacuated. Chris Canning, the mayor, said all but 12 of the citys 5200 population had left.

He said the winds were keeping the flames just over two miles from the city limit.

If the winds shift and come back again, that's a big concern, he told the Associated Press.

Napa Valley and Sonoma County, at the heart of California wine country, have been the worst affected areas, throwing the industry and related tourism into disarray.

A trade group reported that 13 Napa Valley wineries have been destroyed.

Officials say they still do not know what caused the powers, although power lines brought down by winds are among the possibilities.
By Abdi Sheikh MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Two car bombs in separate parts of Somalia's capital Mogadishu killed at least 22 people on Saturday and injured several others, police said. The first explosion - in the city's K5 Junction area which is lined with government offices, hotels, and restaurants - destroyed several buildings and set dozens of vehicles on fire. "We know that at least 20 civilians are dead while dozens of others are wounded," said Abdullahi Nur, a police officer who was in the area. "The death toll will surely rise. We are still busy transporting casualties," he said, adding that there were bodies under the rubble. About two hours later, a second blast took place in the city's Madina district. "It was a car bomb. Two civilians were killed, " Siyad Farah, a police major, told Reuters, adding that a suspect had been caught on suspicion of planting explosives. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, although the Islamist al Shabaab group has carried out regular attacks The al Qaeda-allied group is waging an insurgency to topple the weak U.N.-backed government and its African Union allies and impose its own strict interpretation of Islam. They frequently launch gun, grenade and bomb attacks in Mogadishu and other regions controlled by the federal government, though in recent years the militants have lost most territory under their control to African Union peacekeepers and government troops. (Writing by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Several celebrities are expressing their approval of the decision to expel Harvey Weinstein from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

On Saturday morning, a special meeting was held in Los Angeles by the Academy board. They later released a statement about their decision.

Read: NYPD Investigating Harvey Weinstein, Who Says He Is 'Devastated' Over Scandal, Wife Leaving: Report

We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over, the statement read.

Whats at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify."

Celebrities quickly turned to Twitter to react to the decision.

Mia Farrow tweeted Harvey Weinstein is out after the news.

Proud of the @TheAcademy! Harvey Weinstein is out. There are others- but hopefully we are witnessing the end of an awful era.  Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) October 14, 2017

Other stars, such as Emmy Rossum, the star of Shameless, and Ron Perlman, also tweeted about the decision.

Amen, the academy!!!  Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) October 14, 2017

As a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences I am proud of their decision to expel Harvey Weinstein.  Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) October 14, 2017

Rose McGowan, one of women who accused Weinstein of sexual harrasment and assault, wrote on Instagram, We slay dragons."

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The Academy also noted in its statement that the votes to boot Weinstein were well in excess of the required two-thirds majority.

Read: Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow Say Harvey Weinstein Sexually Harassed Them

Weinstein, 65, has already been suspended by the British Film Academy in the aftermath of an explosive article in The New Yorker in which several women accused Weinstein of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Weinstein was also fired Sunday by The Weinstein Co., a studio he co-founded with his brother.

"Im ashamed that he is my brother, to be honest, Bob Weinstein told the Hollywood Reporter. And I am ashamed that these are his actions.

Watch: Ashley Judd Among Women Accusing Producer Harvey Weinstein of Sexual Harassment

Related Articles:
Trump's revised travel ban included Chad which has since withdrawn troops from fighting Boko Haram: Getty

An African country included in Trumps revised "Muslim ban" has pulled out of the US-backed fight against Boko Haram militants.

Less than a month after Trump placed travel restrictions on citizens from Chad entering the US, the country has pulled hundreds of troops from neighbouring Niger where they were helping local forces fight jihadists.

Chads government has not given any reason for the withdrawal of troops but it comes weeks after they warned the US travel restriction could affect their security commitments, including their involvement in the fight against the Islamist militant group.

In a statement following the introduction of the revised ban in September, Chads communications minister Madeleine Alingue said it seriously undermines Chads image and the good relations between the two countries, notably in the fight against terrorism, according to Newsweek.

Residents warned they had already seen an impact from the withdrawal over the past two-weeks with a number of attacks being carried out by the militants in Nigers Diffa region.

Diffa parliamentarian Lamido Moumouni said residents had started complaining.

They have come to rely on the forces so there is a perception that security will be lacking, he said.

In September Trump expanded the list of countries covered by his original travel ban to include restrictions on citizens from Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela.

The initial ban, established under Executive Order in January, stopped all refugee admissions and temporarily barred people from seven Muslim-majority countries, leading it to be criticised for targeting Muslims and dubbed the Muslim ban.

Fighting between Chads armed forces and Boko Haram dates back to 2015 and during the peak of the conflict Chad had 2,000 troops stationed in Niger to counter the militant group.

Additional reporting by Reuters
Who is the bigger moron, Donald Trump or Rex Tillerson? Stephen Colbert thinks he knows the best way to find out: have the two face off in the Thunderdome.

A sketch aired on Colberts Late Show Friday night in which he pitted Tillerson against Trump in the cage-encased battle arena from the Mad Max movie series.

Inspired by Trumps offer of an IQ test faceoff with Tillerson after the secretary of state reportedly called the President a moron, the sketch featured a caped announcer introducing the battle between the tenacious Texan and the Manhattan Moron.

The pairedited into the scene via archive broadcast footage of their speeches and press appearanceswere asked to answer one simple question: What is the name of the invisible force that holds us to the Earth?

Both men obfuscate. First, Trump says that people still dont know all the facts. The question passes to Tillerson, who says he wont deal with petty stuff like that. Back to Trump: When I make a statement, I like to be correct, the President says, unhelpfully.

In order for us to assess your intelligence, you need to at least attempt to answer the question, the announcer says with mounting frustration. But its no good. Tillersons final attempt runs: I have answered that question repeatedly I do not, and I will not operate that way.

10_14_Rex Tillerson

Mike Theiler/Reuters

The announcers conclusion: Both are moronsbut more importantly, were all screwed. The scene ends with assorted nuclear mutants chanting: Both are morons! Were all screwed!

Its not the first time the Late Show has referenced the Thunderdome. Back in June, Colbert parodied the media circus around former FBI director James Comeys appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee with a skit called James Comey Enters the Thunderdome that promised, ground-stomping, heart-pounding testimonial mayhem.

Related Articles
Mr Tillerson said that his boss doesn't think diplomatic talks with North Korea are a waste of time: Getty

Donald Trump does not believe diplomatic efforts with North Korea are a waste of time and talks will continue "until the first bomb drops", Rex Tillerson has told CNN.

"The president has also made clear to me that he wants this solved diplomatically," Mr Tillerson said.

"He is not seeking to go to war," he continued.

The statement comes after months of tense relations between Washington and Pyongyang. Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have engaged in an increasingly vitriolic war of words, with North Korea testing missiles and vowing to develop nuclear weapons capabilities that could hit the United States mainland.

The US plans on conducting joint military exercises with South Korea in the coming week. Those exercises will include at least 40 naval vessels, and both of the countries' air forces.

Those drills will include the aircraft carrier the USS Ronald Reagan, two guided missile destroyers, and elements of the US Army, in addition to the air force presence.

"Trump called for total destruction of our state and people at the UN arena, and continues to bring nuclear strategic assets into south Korea and its vicinity, pushing the situation on the peninsula to the brink of war," a state owned newspaper in North Korea wrote Sunday.

Contrary to what Mr Tillerson said on CNN, the President has previously said that he has told his secretary of State that discussions with North Korea were pointless. That statement was made in a recent tweet, and preceeded weeks of rumours that Mr Tillerson might be replaced soon, especially after news broke that Mr Tillerson had allegedly called Mr Trump a "moron" after a meeting on nuclear weapons.

Mr TIllerson has refused to verify or outright deny whether he called the President a "moron" after a meeting.
Kobane (Syria) (AFP) - Foreign and Syrian jihadists from the Islamic State group are to evacuate their former stronghold of Raqa, as US-backed forces near the capture of the city, a senior official said Saturday.

Omar Alloush, a senior member of the local Raqa Civil Council, told AFP the deal would see IS fighters either turn themselves in or leave on buses, possibly to neighbouring Deir Ezzor province.

The news of an evacuation of IS fighters came shortly after the US-led coalition backing the assault on the city announced a convoy would leave Raqa in a deal to minimise new civilian casualties.

But the coalition specifically ruled out the exit of foreign IS fighters while making no mention of local fighters, and warned against any deal that allowed jihadists safe passage without "facing justice".

Once the de facto Syrian capital of IS's self-styled "caliphate," most of Raqa is now held by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters.

In recent days, fighting dropped off as local officials tried to negotiate a way to secure the last 10 percent of the city held by IS while preventing further civilian casualties.

Local tribal leaders issued a statement late Saturday saying they had urged the SDF and US-led coalition to find a way to "settle the status" of Syrian jihadists in the city and "secure their exit".

"The Syrian Democratic Forces agreed. We are now preparing a mechanism to evacuate (them)... to protect the lives of civilians who were taken as human shields," the statement added.

"We as tribal leaders guarantee the lives of those who will be taken out."

Alloush said up to 500 Syrian and foreign-born jihadists remained in Raqa.

"They have 400 hostages with them -- women and children -- in the national hospital," he told AFP.

He confirmed foreign IS fighters are "included in the deal" to evacuate jihadists.

"The foreign fighters have two choices: either surrender or be taken out" of the city, Alloush told AFP, saying it was "possible" they would be taken to Deir Ezzor, an eastern Syrian province where IS still holds territory.

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- Raqa 'on verge' of capture -

The US-led coalition backing the SDF earlier announced a convoy would leave Raqa on Saturday under a deal negotiated by local officials.

"The arrangement is designed to minimise civilian casualties and purportedly excludes foreign Daesh terrorists as people trapped in the city continue to flee the impending fall of Daesh's so-called capital," the coalition said, using the Arabic acronym for IS.

"People departing Raqa under the arrangement are subject to search and screening by Syrian Democratic Forces," it added.

It had earlier insisted that "foreign fighters are not being allowed to leave Raqa", and cautioned that it still expected "difficult fighting in the days ahead".

Deals to allow IS fighters to withdraw from territory have been negotiated in the past, including in May when an agreement allowed several dozen jihadists to flee the town of Tabqa, west of Raqa.

IS captured Raqa in 2014, and the city has become synonymous with the worst of the group's abuses, and infamous as a centre for planning attacks abroad.

Since breaking into Raqa in June, the SDF has captured around 90 percent of the city, backed by heavy US-led coalition strikes that have rendered whole streets unrecognisable and killed scores of civilians.

"Daesh is on the verge of being finished in Raqa in the coming days," said Nuri Mahmud, a spokesman for the Kurdish People's Protection Units that form the SDF's backbone.

The loss of Raqa would be only the latest in a series of devastating blows to IS, which earlier this year ceded the Iraqi city of Mosul.

The group now holds just a sliver of territory in Iraq, and is under attack from two separate campaigns by the SDF and Syrian army in Deir Ezzor province.

On Saturday, Syria's army seized the former IS stronghold of Mayadeen in Deir Ezzor, in a campaign that is backed by President Bashar al-Assad's ally Russia.

More than 330,000 people have been killed in Syria since the conflict began in March 2011 with anti-government protests.
Ex-White House strategist refers to Shakespearean assassination in call for Senate leader McConnell to go and focuses fire on Trump critic Bob Corker

Steve Bannon speaks at the Value Voters Summit in Washington. Photograph: Mary F Calvert/Reuters

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon declared war on the Republican establishment on Saturday, comparing Mitch McConnell to Julius Caesar and asking whos going to be Brutus in the political assassination of the Senate majority leader.

In an unapologetic speech at the annual Values Voter Summit in Washington DC, Bannon called on the social conservatives assembled in the cavernous ballroom of the Shoreham Hotel to join him in replacing sitting senators with outsiders in next years midterm elections.

If I can a little riff on Plutarch and Shakespeare, Bannon said in his remarks regarding McConnell, up on Capitol Hill, its like the Ides of March. The only question  and this is just an analogy or metaphor, or whatever you want to call it  theyre just looking to find out whos going to be Brutus to your Julius Caesar.

After leaving the White House in August, Bannon rejoined the far-right Brietbart News website, promising to use his influence with Donald Trump to push a populist agenda from outside the West Wing. Now the rightwing bomb thrower has dedicated himself to tearing down a party establishment that finds itself in a tailspin.

Bannon has become emboldened since his candidate of choice, Roy Moore, a hardline conservative twice removed from the state supreme court and known for making controversial comments, won the Alabama special election primary against Luther Strange, the incumbent supported by McConnell and Trump.

That victory was a clear warning shot to McConnell and the GOP establishment, Bannon said.

Bannon drew raucous cheers when he spoke of the the populist, nationalist, conservative revolt thats going on, that drove Donald Trump to victory, that drove Judge Moore to victory, that will drive 15 candidates to victory in 2018.

Story continues

He predicted: Trump is not only going to finish this term, hes going to win with 400 electoral votes in 2020.



Theres a time and season for everything and right now its a season of war against a GOP establishment, Bannon said, adding: Nobody can run and hide on this one, these folks are coming for you.

He singled out senators John Barrasso of Wyoming, Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Dean Heller of Nevada for not siding with the president in a boiling war of words between Trump and Bob Corker.

In a New York Times interview last week, the Tennessee senator, the Republican chair of the Senate foreign relations committee and once strong ally of the president, accused Trump of setting the nation on a path towards world war three.

This weekend he told the Washington Post Trump had castrated secretary of state Rex Tillerson, who has been trying to set up talks with nuclear-armed North Korea in the face of public criticism from his president.

Corker will retire next year. Bannon called on him to resign before then.



Bob Corker has trashed the commander in chief of our armed forces while we have young men and women in harms way, he said.

There was still time for senators to offer a mea culpa, Bannon said, calling for such figures to publicly take the presidents side in the feud with Corker, to band together to remove McConnell from his leadership role and to dismantle a legislative procedural hurdle that requires 60 votes for certain legislation in the Senate.

Trump has repeatedly blamed that rule for stymying his legislative agenda  in fact healthcare reform needed only 50 votes to pass and Republicans have failed to find a majority.



Seb Gorka, a controversial former advisor to the president who also left the White House in August, also addressed the Values Voter crowd. He compared Bannon to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the Jedi master played by Alec Guinness and Ewan McGregor in the Star Wars film franchise.

If you strike me down now I will be more powerful than you ever imagined, Gorka said, paraphrasing Obi-Wans warning to the villain Darth Vader during a lightsaber duel.

That is Steve Bannon today.




Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-14 14:23:08|Editor: Zhou Xin

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BISHKEK, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kyrgyzstan on Saturday reminded presidential candidates not to violate "the day of silence" regulation before Sunday's elections.

"The day of silence" came on Saturday, just one day before the presidential elections.

According to the CEC press service, the Kyrgyz presidential candidates have no right to conduct campaigns "on the day of silence."

Mass media and Internet publications accredited by the CEC are also not allowed to participate in any campaign during the day.

"If 'the day of silence' is violated by the participants in the electoral process, the CEC has the right to apply measures against the offender," the CEC warned.

A total of 13 presidential candidates registered with the CEC. However, two of the candidates withdrew from the pre-election race, leaving 11 candidates in the race.

The CEC has established 2,375 polling stations for the elections, including 37 overseas stations.

About 800 international observers from 58 countries and 46 international organizations will observe the voting.

According to the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, the country's president is elected for a six-year term, and one person can hold the highest office only once.

President Almazbek Atambayev's term will end on Dec. 1.
A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), backed by US special forces, monitors the area on the western frontline in Raqqa on October 8, 2017 - AFP

A convoy will leave Syria's Raqqa on Saturday under an evacuation deal agreed as a US-backed force battles to seize Isil's last positions in the city.

The US-led coalition said the deal for the evacuation would exclude foreign Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) fighters, but left unclear whether Syrian jihadists would be able to quit their one-time stronghold.

The agreement, reached by local officials, comes after days of talks on a way for the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces to secure the last parts of the city while avoiding further civilian casualties.

Earlier Saturday, the US-led coalition said around 100 Isil fighters had surrendered to the SDF in the past 24 hours, but again stressed that no foreign fighters would be allowed to escape the city.

In neighbouring Deir Ezzor province meanwhile, Syria's army captured the Isil stronghold of Mayadeen, in the latest blow to the jihadists who are seeing their self-styled "caliphate" crumble.

Raqqa was once the de facto Syrian capital of the jihadist group's "caliphate" and the city's loss would be a new blow for Isil, which has already been driven from its strongholds in Iraq including second city Mosul.

In June, the US-backed SDF, an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, broke into Raqqa, and since then they have captured around 90 percent of the city.

'Minimise civilian casualties'

In recent days, talks had been under way on a deal to secure the last parts of Raqqa while protecting trapped civilians, some of them being used by Isil fighters as human shields.

"The arrangement is designed to minimise civilian casualties and purportedly excludes foreign Daesh terrorists as people trapped in the city continue to flee the impending fall of Daesh's so-called capital," the coalition said, using the Arabic acronym for Isil.

"People departing Raqqa under the arrangement are subject to search and screening by Syrian Democratic Forces," it added.

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A Raqqa official told AFP on Saturday that Syrian Isil members had surrendered overnight to the SDF, without specifying how many.

Syrian women and children gather on the western front after fleeing the centre of Raqqa on October 12, 2017 Credit: AFP

"They sent a message to the Raqqa Civil Council (RCC) and to the tribal mediators," the official said.

"Those that surrendered are local, not foreigners - the foreigners have not handed themselves in yet," he said.

An SDF military source told AFP that buses and trucks were waiting outside Raqa and would take the surrendered fighters further east to Deir Ezzor province, much of which remains under Isil control.

Members of the RCC - a provisional administration for the city, set up by the SDF - had been working with tribal leaders throughout the week to try to secure safe passage for civilians.

Up to 1,500 civilians have managed to flee the battle-ravaged city in the past week, according to the coalition. The United Nations estimates thousands more may still be trapped inside.

US-led coalition strikes have dropped off at points in the past week, with its latest update reporting no air raids on Friday.

City on verge of capture

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitor of the war, said all the Syrian Isil fighters in the city had left, but negotiations on the fate of 150 foreign jihadists were ongoing.

"The foreign fighters are asking to leave in one group towards areas under Isil control in Deir Ezzor province," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

The US-led coalition however insisted that "foreign fighters are not being allowed to leave Raqqa," and cautioned that it still expected "difficult fighting in the days ahead."

The damage near the central hospital of the embattled northern Syrian city of Raqqa Credit: AFP

"Daesh is on the verge of being finished in Raqa in the coming days," said Nuri Mahmud, a spokesman for the key Kurdish People's Protection Units that forms the SDF's backbone.

Isil captured Raqqa in 2014, turning it into a byword for its outrageous abuses as well as a centre for the planning of attacks abroad.

The jihadists are also under attack in their remaining territory in Deir Ezzor province, where Syria's Russian-backed army on Saturday captured the town of Mayadeen.

The army and the SDF are fighting two separate campaigns in the province.

In neighbouring Iraq, the jihadists now hold just a sliver of territory in the Euphrates River valley.
Unfortunately, it's no longer enough to cut CO2 emissions to avoid further global temperature increases. We need to remove some of the CO2 that's already there. Thankfully, that reversal is one step closer to becoming reality. Climeworks and Reykjavik Energy have started running the first power plant confirmed to produce "negative emissions" -- that is, it's removing more CO2 than it puts out. The geothermal station in Hellsheidi, Iceland is using a Climeworks module and the plant's own heat to snatch CO2 directly from the air via filters, bind it to water and send it underground where it will mineralize into harmless carbonates.

Just like naturally forming carbon deposits, the captured CO2 should remain locked away for many millions of years, if not billions. And because the basalt layers you need to house the CO2 are relatively common, it might be relatively easy to set up negative emissions plants in many places around the world.

As always, there are catches. The Hellsheidi plant capture system is still an experiment, and the 50 metric tonnes of CO2 it'll capture per year (49.2 imperial tons) isn't about to offset many decades of fossil fuel abuse. There's also the matter of reducing the cost of capturing CO2. Even if Climeworks improves the efficiency of its system to spend $100 for every metric ton of CO2 it removes, you're still looking at hundreds of billions of dollars (if not over a trillion) spent every year to achieve the scale needed to make a difference. That will require countries to not only respect climate science, but care about it enough to spend significant chunks of their budgets on capture technology.

It could be a long while before you see systems like this implemented on a global scale as a result. With that said, the very fact that CO2 capture prices are falling so sharply (they were estimated to cost several hundred dollars per ton in 2011) is important. It's now realistic enough to use capture technology that it's being used at a real-world power plant, and it's easy to see countries like China adopting this to tackle smog and the other immediate short-term effects of runaway CO2 emissions.
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site.

Ford said it would offer a limited-time-only free repair for about 1.4 million SUVs after a wave of public concern about Ford Explorer carbon monoxide leaks.

The company made the announcement Oct. 13. Its a reversal for the second-largest U.S. automaker, which has insisted that there are no elevated CO levels in nonpolice versions of the popular SUV. Drivers have reported nausea, headaches, and even loss of consciousness.

Ford had previously offered free repairs for the law-enforcement version of the Explorer to fix unsealed holes after the installation of police equipment.

Even as it offered the free repair for regular consumers, Ford insisted Friday that there was no defect and that the vehicles are safe.

Complimentary Service for 'Peace of Mind'

Our investigation has not found carbon monoxide levels that exceed what people are exposed to every day, the company, based in Dearborn, Mich., said in a news release. However, for our customers peace of mind, Ford is offering a complimentary service that reduces the potential for exhaust to enter the vehicle.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been investigating the alleged carbon monoxide leaks for more than a year, upgrading its probe in late July. NHTSA tests showed that levels of the poisonous gas could be detected in certain driving scenarios, but the agency said it had not obtained any substantive data or actual evidence of injuries or crashes directly related to CO poisoning.

Ford had already issued multiple bulletins to its dealers to address exhaust odor, NHTSA said. Ford offered free repairs for the police vehicles the day after NHTSAs upgraded investigation was announced.

The company stopped short of calling that action a recall, as well.

Consumers can take their 2011 to 2017 Explorer to any Ford dealer for the service starting Nov. 1 but no later than Dec. 31. Dealers will reprogram the air conditioner, replace the liftgate drain valves, and inspect the sealing at the rear of the vehicles, Ford said. All work will be done free of charge.

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The action covers 1.3 million vehicles in the U.S., 84,000 in Canada and 24,000 in Mexico. The reference number for the service is 17N03.

Call the dedicated hotline at 888-260-5575 if you have any questions about your Ford Explorer.







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Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright  2017, Consumer Reports, Inc.
A former deputy director of the CIA has criticised Donald Trumps decision not to re-certify the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and six world powers.

John McLaughlin said it was one of the President's "worst decisions" and would "shred" America's credibility.

Iran speech - one of Trump's worst decisions: feeds Iran hardliners, splits allies, shreds US credibility, roils congress, gift to Russia, he wrote on Twitter.

Trump could combat Iran's testing of missiles etc without touching nuclear deal, he continued.

John McLaughlin at the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, in 2004 (Getty)

But needs POTUS [President of the United States] discipline, hard work so far lacking.

The Obama-era deal lifted crippling international sanctions on Iran in exchange for Irans agreement to restrict its nuclear programme for at least 10 years.

In a speech on Friday, Mr Trump said removing sanctions had given the fanatical regime in Iran a financial boost, increasing its ability to fund terrorism. He accused Iran of spreading death, destruction and chaos around the globe.

Iran speech - one of Trump's worst decisions: feeds Iran hardliners, splits allies, shreds US credibility, roils congress, gift to Russia.  john mclaughlin (@jmclaughlinSAIS) October 13, 2017

Mr Trump said he would not re-certify Irans compliance with the agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He threatened to terminate the agreement unless Congress devised a deal placing tougher requirements on Iran.

We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Iran's nuclear breakout, he said.

Trump could combat Iran's testing of missiles etc without touching nuclear deal. But needs POTUS discipline, hard work so far lacking.  john mclaughlin (@jmclaughlinSAIS) October 13, 2017

Iran announced in September it had successfully tested a ballistic missile and claimed its tests did not contravene JCPOA. But a UN resolution asks Iran not to develop any ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

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Mr Trump's speech "hands a tool to Iran's hardliners who attacked Irans more pragmatic president Rouhani for entering the deal", Mr McLaughlin wrote in The Cipher.

Five of the six other parties in the deal, including the EU, UK, France, Germany, Russia, have declared their continuing support for the agreement following Mr Trump's announcement. The sixth party, China, called on the US before Friday to preserve the agreement.

Russia of course does not support the US position, nor does China, pro-Kremlin MP Alexi Pushkov told Russias state-run Rossiya-24 TV station.

So Trump will be left in proud isolation in an attempt to improve his image among his own supporters.

However, US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia have come out in support of Trumps decision.

Mr McLaughlin previously said Mr Trumps address to 40,000 Boy Scouts at their annual meeting had the feel of a third world authoritarians youth rally.

Mr McLaughlin was deputy director of the CIA under Presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush, then acting director.

He retired in 2004 after 32 years of service and now teaches at Johns Hopkins University.
Former UN chief Kofi Annan urged the Security Council on Friday to push for the return to Myanmar of hundreds of thousands of Muslim Rohyingas who have been driven out in an army campaign.

Annan, who led an advisory commission to the Myanmar government, said world powers must work with the country's military and civilian leaders to end the refugee crisis.

The Security Council is weighing action, possibly a resolution laying out demands, but diplomats have said China, a supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, and Russia are opposed to such a measure.

"I hope the resolution that comes out urges the government to really press ahead and create conditions that would allow the refugees to return with dignity and with a sense of security," Annan told reporters after a closed-door meeting with the council.

"They should not be returned to camps. They should help rebuild," he said.

More than 500,000 people, mostly Rohingyas, have since late August crossed into Bangladesh, fleeing military operations in Myanmar's Rakhine state that the United Nations has denounced as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar authorities say they are rooting out Rohingya militants following attacks on police posts in late August.

The issue of the return of the Rohingyas is shaping up as a major hurdle.

A recent report by the UN human rights office accused Myanmar of seeking to permanently expel the Rohingya, by planting land mines at the border with Bangladesh.

"The international community is now beginning to put pressure on the military," Annan said, adding that "military-to-military talks" were aimed at pressing Myanmar to rein in its operations.

He called on the council to agree with Myanmar on a "roadmap" and warned that without action "we are going to have a long-term festering problem" in the region that "can be very serious, down the line."

In late August, Annan presented the final report of the advisory commission on Rakhine state that he chaired at the request of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The report called for granting citizenship and other rights to the Rohingyas, who are stateless and have long faced discrimination in the Buddhist-majority nation.

The UN's top political affairs chief, Jeffrey Feltman, traveled to Myanmar on Friday for talks.
Harvey Weinstein has been expelled by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in an unprecedented condemnation of decades of sexual harassment.

Weinstein, 65, stands accused of at least four rapes, which he has denied. But he has admitted to improper behaviour, and over 30 women have now come forward to accuse him of sexual harassment.

Last night Hollyoaks actress Lysette Anthony, 54, joined the growing list of accusers.

She told the Sunday Times she had reported Weinstein to the Met Police for allegedly raping her at her London home in the 1980s, describing the incident as "pathetic and revolting".

The 54-member board of governors, which includes such Hollywood luminaries as Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg and Kathleen Kennedy, voted on Saturday to dismiss him from their organisation.

Following the meeting, the Academy issued a statement saying the board had voted "to immediately expel him from the Academy."

Lysette Anthony claims Harvey Weinstein raped her Credit: WireImage

They said: "We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over.

"What's at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy member will be expected to exemplify."

No one has ever been expelled from the Academy for personal misconduct before.

Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski and Mel Gibson are all still members of the organisation.

22 Hollywood stars who have spoken out about Harvey Weinsteins sexual harassment of women

The lone known example of the Academy expelling someone was Godfather: Part II actor Carmine Caridi, who was dismissed after he loaned his Oscar "screeners" (previews for industry insiders to see before release) to a neighbour, who turned out to be a movie pirate.

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In the latest reported assault by Weinstein, Anthony told The Sunday Times she met the producer when she starred in 1982 sci-fi film Krull and the alleged assault occurred a few years later.

She said she met him for a drink at his rented home in Chelsea. The next thing I knew he was half undressed and he grabbed me, she said.

It was the last thing I expected and I fled. That was when the predatory stalking began.

Anthony said that one day he arrived at her flat at about 10am.

He pushed me inside and rammed me up against the coat rack," she said. "He was trying to kiss me and shove inside me.

Harvey Weinstein with Gwyneth Paltrow - one of the women who has accused him of sexual harassment

She said she pushed him away but he was too heavy: Finally I just gave up.

On Wednesday, Anthony tweeted that she had just reported a historical crime, adding "feel sick... so sad".

The Metropolitan Police said it was passed an allegation of sexual assault by Merseyside Police the same day.

Weinstein's younger brother Bob - with whom he founded The Weinstein Company in 2005 - described him as "sick and depraved" and said he showed no remorse.

"I'll tell you what I did know: Harvey was a bully, Harvey was arrogant, he treated people like (crap) all the time," Bob said.

"I'm mortified and disgusted by my brother's actions. And I am sick for the victims. And I feel for them.

"I want him to get the justice he deserves."

Others had also demanded Weinstein be ousted from the Academy.

Terry Press Marx, president of CBS Films, said she would resign from the Academy if it did not expel Weinstein.

The idea that anyone would give him a second chance or entertain that notion that he can change is beyond absurd, she said.

On Tuesday, the National Organization for Women publicly called for Weinsteins removal, stating: A sexual predator doesnt deserve the privilege of an academy membership  and all the opportunities to wield outsize power that come with it.

Profile | Harvey Weinstein

But there remained some resistance to setting such a precedent. The Academy has up until now always insisted that private conduct was irrelevant when it came to the professional body's views.

There are all sorts of people whove done all sorts of things in the Academy, one Academy governor told Vanity Fair on Tuesday.

Did we throw out Roman Polanski? Did the TV Academy throw out Bill Cosby? Ive never heard of this happening with anyone. Thats not the way business is done.

The academys move follows the British Academy of Film and Television Arts decision earlier this week to suspend Weinsteins membership. The Producers Guild of America is set to hold a meeting on Monday morning to decide whether to take similar action.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 02:01:00|Editor: yan

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DAMASCUS, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Foreign fighters of the Islamic State (IS) group are still inside Syria's northern city of Raqqa, a monitor group reported on Saturday.

What hindered the transfer or surrender of the foreign militants is the opposition of the Western countries, mainly the United States and France, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

It was believed that one of the foreign IS fighters inside the city was the mastermind behind the terror attacks in Paris, according to the Observatory.

Meanwhile, the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition reportedly said that a convoy of IS militants would leave Raqqa on Saturday, as part of a deal reached by "local officials."

The coalition said earlier that 100 IS militants had left Raqqa to an undisclosed destination.

A day earlier, Al-Arabyia TV said Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS, was empty of IS militants following a deal for their surrender with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurds, Arabs and Assyrians led by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) and supported by the U.S.-led coalition.

Meanwhile, the SDF said in a short statement Saturday that its fighters had controlled over 95 percent of the city.

The SDF said that "a few days are remaining until Raqqa completely get rid of the cancer of IS."

The SDF also posted a video showing civilians fleeing the IS-controlled areas in Raqqa towards the areas recently captured by the SDF.

The coalition estimated that around 4,000 civilians were still being held by the IS as human shields in Raqqa.

IS militants declared Raqqa as their capital in 2014, after announcing their self-styled caliphate.

Tens of civilians have died during the intense battles as well as in the airstrikes of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.

On Sept. 7, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 978 civilians had been killed in three months by the U.S.-led airstrike and the shelling on Raqqa.
A family was elated to discover that their Bernese Mountain Dog, Izzy, somehow managed to survive the wildfires that have ravaged areas of California.

Jack Weaver and his brother-in-law Patrick Widen hiked miles to Weaver's mother's home in Santa Rosa earlier this week. Despite being turned away by police, the men managed to make their way to the property for an important mission.

SEE ALSO: Striking images reveal wineries devastated by wildfires

Although most valuables had been destroyed in the wildfire that ripped through the city, the men returned to the burned down home to retrieve the body of the family dog, which was presumed dead, the Associated Press reports.

But when the men arrived on the scene, Izzy was there waiting for them to return, tail wagging as they approached.

"The anticipation is killing me," Jack can be heard saying in a clip, later uploaded to Facebook by Beckyjean Widen, Jack's sister. The men start to desperately call for Izzy, clapping and whistling. Finally, one of the men spots the dog, and the two immediately break down.

"Izzy's here! Izzy! Izzy, come here, baby!" Jack says as the very good dog happily approaches.

According to the post from Beckyjean Widen, her parents were forced to evacuate in the middle of the night, and in all the chaos, Izzy ran away. Their mother, Kathy Weaver, was obviously upset they were forced to leave the family dog.

"They lost everything, but my mom was most devastated about leaving Izzy," Beckjean wrote.

"She went from being devastated about losing her home to the being the happiest person I've ever seen. I couldn't get home fast enough. She was really, really happy ... She's still shaken up by the whole thing, but she's in much better spirits now that Izzy is at our house," Jack told the Associated Press.

A vet check revealed that 9-year-old Izzy was unharmed in the fire, which is miraculous considering the destruction the fires have caused.

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The Tubbs fire burned over 35,000 acres in Santa Rose, and is only 60 percent contained as of Sunday, according to California firefighters. Overall, the multiple fires that started first on Oct. 8 are responsible for the deaths of at least 40 people, making it the deadliest wildfire outbreak in the state's history.

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The former First Lady said she continues to 'believe in the value of the European Union': Getty Images

Hillary Clinton has suggested Theresa May's Tory Government lacks "empathy" as she called for an end to the "divisive rhetoric and policy" that has emerged in the wake of Brexit.

The former US presidential hopeful, speaking in Swansea as she completes a tour of the UK, raised the issue of EU citizens' uncertain futures once Britain cuts ties with Brussels in 2019.

She also warned that children were being given short shrift in the Brexit process.

As she was presented with an honorary doctorate at Swansea University for her commitment to promoting the rights of families and children around the world, the former first lady said: Teachers and schools are reporting an outbreak of bullying and racially motivated insults.

Here in the UK, divisive rhetoric and policy shifts are having their own effects.

Right now, the residency rights of half a million children, including many who were born in the UK, are hanging in the balance.

So there are reports of children being worried, feeling uncertain, even unsafe. Trying to make sense of their places in the world.

The children's commissioners for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have already raised concerns that children's interests are getting short shrift in the Brexit process.

Ms Clinton said she continued to believe in the value of the European Union, but added: What's missing in both of our countries at the moment it seems to me, and what we need more than anything else, is empathy.

It should not only be at the centre of our individual lives, families and communities, but at the centre of our policy, politics and public lives.

Some protesters gathered outside the campus ahead of Ms Clinton's visit.

The university's college of law was renamed The Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law and she was presented with a book about her Welsh roots.

Ms Clinton also took a swipe at the Trump administration, accusing political leaders of stoking divisions and saying that anger and resentment were underpinning the national conversation.

Story continues

The bonds of community that once united us are fraying. Too much of the current discourse on both sides of the Atlantic is dominated by a zero-sum view of life, which argues that if someone else is gaining, I must be losing, she said.

The measure of any society is how we treat the most vulnerable among us, especially our children.

And when we lose empathy, when it does become everyone for themselves, children are the first to suffer.

Just look at my own country where currents of anger and resentment are underpinning our national conversation.

Americans are divided and less trusting of democratic institutions. But instead of bringing people together we have leaders who stoke our divisions, try to distract us with controversy, after controversy, and undermine free speech and the press."
Baghdad (AFP) - Baghdad said Sunday that foreign Kurdish forces were present in the province of Kirkuk in what amounted to a "declaration of war", dramatically raising the stakes in its dispute with Iraq's Kurds.

Kurdish officials denied Baghdad's claim that forces from Turkey's outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) were among its peshmerga fighters in an armed standoff with Iraqi troops in the oil-rich province.

But the National Security Council headed by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said PKK fighters were among "fighters not belonging to regular security forces in Kirkuk", a move it called "a dangerous escalation".

"It is impossible to remain silent" faced with "a declaration of war towards Iraqis and government forces," it said in a statement.

"The central government and regular forces will carry out their duty of defending the Iraqi people in all its components including the Kurds, and of defending Iraq's sovereignty and unity," it added.

General Jabar Yawer, chief of the peshmerga ministry, rejected the Iraqi claims. "There are no PKK forces in Kirkuk, but there are some volunteers who sympathise with the PKK," he said.

Baghdad's statement came just hours before the expiry of a new deadline for Kurdish peshmerga fighters to withdraw from disputed areas they took in 2014 during the fightback against the Islamic State jihadist group.

Crisis talks on Sunday made little headway in resolving the standoff between Kurdish and Iraqi forces in the province, three weeks after a contested Kurdish independence vote.

- Fruitless talks -

Iraqi President Fuad Masum, himself a Kurd, met with Iraqi Kurdish leader Massud Barzani in Dukan in Sulaimaniyah province for several hours, after an overnight deadline for Kurds to withdraw was extended by a day.

A statement after the talks made no mention of the call to pull the peshmerga back, instead renewing an offer of dialogue and warning that "military intervention or troop movements" by Iraqi forces would wreck hopes of a peaceful solution.

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Hemin Hawrami, an adviser to Barzani, said in a tweet that the main Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), had agreed to "reject any demands to nullify the referendum results" and to "refuse preconditions" on talks.

Baghdad has demanded the Kurds scrap the results of the September 25 non-binding referendum that produced a resounding "yes" for independence for the autonomous Kurdish region of northern Iraq.

Tensions have soared in the wake of the vote, with the crisis raising fears of fresh chaos just as the country's forces are on the verge of routing IS from the last territory it controls in Iraq.

- Oil fields contested -

In Taza Khormatu, a town just south of Kirkuk, an AFP photographer saw tanks, armoured vehicles and artillery deploying on Sunday.

A Kurdish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said about a dozen Kurdish homes were torched in Taza Khormatu, blaming Turkmen units based in a nearby town.

As well as heavily armed federal troops, members of the Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilisation forces, which are dominated by Iran-backed Shiite militias, have massed around Kirkuk.

Long claimed by the Kurds as part of their historic territory, the province has emerged as the main flashpoint in the dispute.

Polling during the referendum was held not only in the three provinces of the autonomous Kurdish region but also in adjacent Kurdish-held areas, including Kirkuk, that are claimed by both Baghdad and Iraqi Kurdistan.

The referendum was declared illegal by Baghdad and held despite international opposition.

The Kurds control the city of Kirkuk and three major oil fields in the province that produce some 250,000 barrels per day, accounting for 40 percent of Iraqi Kurdistan's oil exports.

The fields would provide crucial revenue to Baghdad, which has been left cash-strapped from the global fall in oil prices and three years of battle against IS. Iraq is also demanding the return of a military base and a nearby airport, according to the Kurds.

Abadi said this week that he was "not going... to make war on our Kurdish citizens" but has also rejected any negotiations until the independence vote is annulled.

Tensions have also risen between the Kurds and Ankara and Tehran since the independence vote, which both countries fear will stoke the separatist ambitions of their own sizeable Kurdish minorities.

Iraq's foreign ministry said Iran on Sunday closed its border crossings with Iraqi Kurdistan at Baghdad's request. A local Kurdish official confirmed the crossings were closed, though Tehran earlier denied the move had been taken.
James Corden has been slammed after opening the AmfAR Gala with cheap jokes about disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The Late Late Show host was reportedly met with a series of groans by the A-list audience in LA on Friday night after making light of the sexual abuse allegations made against Weinstein during his opening monologue.

Its a beautiful night here in L.A. So beautiful, Harvey Weinstein has already asked tonight up to his hotel to give him a massage, he started.

James Corden blasted for cracking Harvey Weinstein jokes at celebrity AmfAR gala

When the gag received a mixed reaction and some nervous groans from the audience, according to Variety, he told the audience: If you dont like that joke, you should probably leave now.

He continued: It has been weird this week though, watching Harvey Weinstein in hot water. Ask any of the women who watched him take a bath.

Harvey Weinstein wanted to come tonight, but hell settle for whatever potted plant is closest.

While official footage of the event has yet to be broadcast, mobile phone-shot footage has been doing the rounds on Twitter, with many people disgusted at Corden.

Straight out gate, host @JKCorden with Harvey Weinstein jokes. Too soon? Some laughs, some groans #amfARLosAngeles pic.twitter.com/nx88w5UwUe  Chris Gardner (@chrissgardner) October 14, 2017

One Twitter user wrote: Imagine sitting in an exclusive event and f***in *James Corden* telling you if you dont like my rape jokes leave now.

Another raged: F*** James Corden and his painfully unfunny attempts at mining other peoples trauma for cheap jokes.

And another commented: Jesus wept, James Corden. Some topical sexual abuse gags, theyll go down well. Prick.

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A-listers present on the night included Tom Hanks, Chris Martin, Julia Roberts, Sean Penn and Kate Hudson.

Cordens jokes came as Weinstein was expelled from the Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences following a vote by its board.

Over 35 women have now accused the movie mogul of either sexual harassment, assault or rape. Weinstein has apologised for elements of his past behaviour but strongly denies any claims of non-consensual sex.

Police forces in both the US and the UK have announced that they are investigating the allegations.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for all of the latest celebrity gossip.

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By Joseph Akwiri MOMBASA, Kenya (Reuters) - Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, who withdrew from a presidential election re-run set for Oct. 26 saying it should only take place once wide-ranging reforms are undertaken, urged his supporters on Sunday to hold protests. Authorities have banned protests in central Nairobi and other hotspots in a bid to keep a lid on mounting political turmoil in the build-up to the repeat vote, in which Odinga had been set to challenge President Uhuru Kenyatta once again. The Supreme Court nullified Kenyatta's victory in the original election on Aug. 8, citing procedural irregularities. On Friday, Odinga said his withdrawal meant the poll had been "canceled" and that there should be fresh nominations for a new vote. "Come out in large numbers tomorrow like you have done today and fear no-one. This is your country and you have the right to protest," he told a crowd in the coastal city of Mombasa. The election board has said the vote will go ahead, with Kenyatta facing six other candidates, none of whom polled more than 1 percent in August. During a trip to London last week, Odinga told Reuters that he might consider returning to the Supreme Court for clarification on whether the Oct. 26 poll was legal. "I went to tell our friends in London the truth of what was happening here. Jubilee should know that we are not interested in a coalition government," he said, referring to Kenyatta's party. Despite the ban, protests have taken place in the East African country -- a regional and trade gateway which is the region's richest economy and an important Western ally in the fight against militant Islamists. On Friday, Kenyan police shot dead two people and wounded a third when a crowd tried to storm a police station in the town of Bondo in the southwest county of Siaya during a rally. Police also used teargas to break up small demonstrations in Kenya's three main cities -- Kisumu, the capital and the port of Mombasa -- the same day, defying the ban on rallies in city centers. Hospital authorities said 20 people were injured in Kisumu, an opposition stronghold. "I am ready to die for change in Kenya," James Orengo, an opposition senator and lawyer who led Odinga's successful petition at the Supreme Court, told the crowd in Mombasa, which numbered in the thousands. (Writing by Aaron Maasho; Editing by Catherine Evans)
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump is "creating an international crisis" with his "dangerous" decision to decertify the Iran nuclear deal, John Kerry, the former Secretary of State who negotiated the agreement, said Friday.

"It endangers America's national security interests and those of our closest allies," Kerry said of the move by Trump, who has long criticized the agreement, which is aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear program.

In a speech pocked with grievances dating to the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Trump railed against the "Iranian dictatorship, its sponsorship of terrorism, and its continuing aggression in the Middle East and all around the world."

While he threatened to rip up the 2015 agreement, he stopped short of doing so for now, instead taking the procedural step of "decertifying" it, leaving its fate in the hands of the Republican-controlled Congress.

Kerry called on the legislature to stand in Trump's way, saying that "the stakes are enormous for Congress."

"That means rejecting president's plan and the legislative maneuvers being contemplated that would unravel the agreement once and for all," he said.
By Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump's call for Congress to toughen the Iran nuclear deal faced opposition on Friday from among the ranks of his fellow Republicans as well as from Democrats, narrowing the chances any legislation could pass. As Trump announced that he had chosen not to certify Tehran is complying with the deal but would not immediately withdraw from it, Republican Senators Bob Corker and Tom Cotton offered an outline of legislation they said would "address flaws" in the accord. If passed, the measure would set stricter restrictions on Iran and immediately revive U.S. sanctions imposed over Iran's nuclear program if Tehran is deemed able to produce a nuclear weapon within a year. "We have provided a route to overcome deficiencies (in the agreement) and to keep the administration in the deal, and actually make it the kind of deal that it should have been in the first place," Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said on a call with journalists. Republicans control Congress, but their four-seat edge in the Senate means any measure would need Democratic support to pass, even if every member of Trump's party supports it. That is not a given. Republican Senator Marco Rubio said he had "serious doubts" about the Corker-Cotton plan. He said he would reserve judgment until the final measure, but preferred that Trump abandon the deal. "Ultimately, leaving the nuclear deal, reimposing suspended sanctions, and having the president impose additional sanctions would serve our national interest better than a decertified deal that leaves sanctions suspended or a new law that leaves major flaws in that agreement in place," Rubio said in a statement. Most Democrats were strongly opposed. Senator Ben Cardin, ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations panel, said he would only support a measure backed by European allies who had signed the nuclear pact, formally known as the JCPOA. "Anything we do must be consistent with the JCPOA, cannot lead us on a path to violate the JCPOA and must have the support of our European allies," he told Reuters in a telephone interview. Cardin said he wanted a full-Senate briefing on the plan from administration officials, and then committee hearings. Corker acknowledged the tough fight ahead, but said he hoped to win over Democrats. He pledged to seek the support of European allies Britain, France and Germany, who had signed the agreement and urged Trump not to decertify. (Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alistair Bell)
Venezuelans will vote in nationwide gubernatorial elections Sunday seen as a key test for the countrys fragile institutions. President Nicolas Maduro faces the opposition in a race for the government of 23 states, 20 of which are currently under Socialist Party rule.

After months of protest, Maduros support is waning. In one recent poll reported by Reuters, the opposition front was given 44.7 percent of voter support versus 21.1 percent for the government.

Opposition leaders have led thousands of people in the streets in the past six months seeking to enforce regime change via a new presidential election. The government responded by moving its regional election scheduled for December to October, temporarily suspending the anti-government demonstrations.

'It won't be a proper election, international lawyer Robert Amsterdam of Amsterdam & Partners, who works in emerging markets, tells Newsweek. The opposition is exhausted and it's part of Maduro's game. It's all about the next presidential election, that's what everybody has to focus on.

At least 125 people have died in street protests so far this year, the second major wave of anti-Maduro demonstrations since 2014. The public outcry has unfolded as Maduro has called for a new legislative body and the Venezuelan Supreme Court moved to take power away earlier this year from the National Assembly, the opposition-controlled legislative body,

Ahead of Sunday's vote, the oppositions main challenge was to motivate a population facing hardships and lack of basic food and goods to enforce regime change via the ballot box rather than through barricades.

Sundays vote will measure how strong the opposition is ahead of next years presidential election in terms of organization, logistics and capacity to supervise the vote and prevent the government from manipulating the process, Diego Moya-Ocampos, senior analyst at IHS Markit, tells Newsweek.

The other key indicator is to which extent the government, which has already shown ability to conduct an electoral fraud, is willing to concede to the opposition to prevent a new wave of anti-government protests, he added.

Story continues

Read more: For the women leading the anti-Maduro protests, the political is personal

10_13_Maduro

Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters

President Donald Trump said on Friday the U.S. would keep sanctions on Venezuela, mentioning the country, which he has called a dictatorship," alongside Iran, North Korea and Cuba.

"We will not lift the sanctions on these repressive regimes until they restore political and religious freedom for their people" Trump told a conservative political conference in Washington.

Trumps words could fuel Maduro, who has attempted to portray the opposition-led street protests as a U.S.-sponsored coup attempt.

Donald Trump has become the head of the Venezuelan opposition, Maduro said last week during his weekly program on state TV, according to local media.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 02:11:02|Editor: Liangyu

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Abu Subhi sits in front of his shop in Aleppo, Syria, on Oct. 12, 2017. In the ruins of the world's most historic souks, 62-year-old Abu Subhi runs a very small shop in Khan al-Harir street in old Aleppo city, surrounded by devastation of the war. His small shop, in which he sells table runners and table cloths, is the only sign of life in the centuries-old area. (Xinhua/Hummam Sheikh Ali)

By Hummam Sheikh Ali

ALEPPO, Syria, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- In the ruins of the world's most historic souks, 62-year-old Abu Subhi was arranging his goods in a very small shop in Khan al-Harir street in old Aleppo city, surrounded by devastation of the war.

Wearing a grey galabiyah over a shabby pair of black shoes, the man looked much older than his real age, with a face swept by wrinkles of weariness and trimmed white mustache and thick beard.

His small shop, in which he sells table runners and table cloths, is the only sign of life in the centuries-old area.

He wanted his existence to remind and encourage people to return and rebuild their homeland after it was destroyed in the battles between the rebels and the Syrian army.

"I came to this area in 1973, when it was bustling with life and business. Here is the Khan al-Harir street. Nearby was the Civil Status department and a bank, which made the area a stomping ground for people day and night," he told Xinhua.

The man said he was deeply rooted in the area. Something stronger than his business, maybe his soul, has attached him to the old quarter of Aleppo.

When the war raged, he had no choice but to leave, hoping that one day he could return. He did.

He fled to the city of Bab in Aleppo's countryside, where the war followed. He fled again, this time to his daughter in the Maysaloun area in Aleppo.

"When this place was liberated by the army, I immediately returned," he said.

But the war has wrecked historic souks of 15 km in the old quarter of Aleppo, like a rubber erasing the best chapter of a historic book.

The old man, also a father of four, could not afford to find his business of a lifetime had fallen to pieces after he came back.

"When I first came after the liberation, I found my house completely destroyed and my goods, worth 150 million Syrian pounds, were gone as well. I also found my shop destroyed and my heart broke from the inside, but I couldn't do anything about it," he recounted.

For residents of the old Aleppo who had spent their entire life here, the ruins of the buildings represent their bleeding souls that they can never run away from.

"I was raised in this souk and there is no place else I would rather be. I cannot sell my shop because this souk is all I have ever known," Abu Subhi said, sitting on a plastic chair contemplating the scenes of destruction around him.

The war uprooted those people from where they belong. The liberation of the eastern Aleppo, including the old city, has since revived hope and pushed those like Abu Subhi to return to their homes.

"When I returned after the war was over, I started repairing my shop and thank God I am here. I am waiting for people to reopen their shops because the souk would then be alive again. If they come back, the souk will be back in business again," he said.

Like the very few shop owners who returned to the sprawling marketplace in old Aleppo, the man knew clearly that his business would never flourish like it used to before the war, but he wanted more than just business.

He wanted to be a sign of life in a lifeless place, to remind people that destruction is everywhere but hope still remains.

"I come here every day, open my small shop and arrange my goods. I make tea on a heater that works on firewood, I sit and drink tea," he said.

The revenues are not sufficient to make a living. The man lives off his savings when he was a rich merchant.

"I may not sell anything for two straight days, and sometimes I would sell one piece or two, but I am not here to sell things, I am here so that people would know that there is a life here and that the city would be alive again one day," he said.

Abu Subhi also hoped that the government could speed up the reconstruction of the area to attract more visitors.

Some people passed by as they greet him warmly.

"You still here," most of them would ask with smile on their faces.

"Yes, come over for a cup of tea," that was his usual answer. Then he would move next door to a completely destroyed shop.

He would make tea for himself and the passersby he invited in, before sunset when he would close his shop as the daylight faded.
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) - Voters in ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan head to the polls Sunday to choose their next president in an unpredictable election setting the Central Asian country apart from its deeply authoritarian neighbours.

Voting in the toughly fought election begins at 0200 GMT and concludes at 1400 GMT with a split electorate making a second round of voting a strong possibility, according to analysts.

"I am undecided," Talant Jumabekov, a 20-year-old student at a university in Bishkek told AFP. "A lot of my friends feel this way. It is our first opportunity to vote for our country's leader but we don't know who to vote for."

The journey from uprisings in 2005 and 2010 to a vote that could secure an unprecedented peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents has not been easy for the landlocked nation of six million.

President Almazbek Atambayev's six years at the helm of the country, which is dependent on Russia for political support and looks to next-door China for loans and much-needed investment, have been dogged by intrigue, crackdowns and upheavals.

His own election in 2011 came on the back of political and ethnic violence the year before that left hundreds dead.

Now Atambayev, 61, is stepping down with two main candidates vying to succeed him for a single-term constitutional limit that contrasts sharply with the rule-for-life political culture that exists in neighbouring Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.

But he has made it very clear which of the names on the ballot he would like to replace him.

Sooronbai Jeenbekov, 58, a member of the Social Democratic Party Atambayev is most closely associated with, has benefited from favourable coverage in the pro-government media according to monitors.

Atambayev has described him as a friend, while regularly criticising Jeenbekov's chief rival, oligarch Omurbek Babanov, 47, who authorities say may have incited ethnic hatred with comments made during a speech on the campaign trail.

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The country's state prosecutor said on Friday it was reviewing comments made by Babanov at a rally in an Uzbek-inhabited region for evidence of inciting racial hatred, accusations his campaign has strongly denied.

The accusations came soon after a political ally of Babanov was arrested on coup-plotting charges and amid a media smear campaign depicting the wealthy candidate as corrupt and beholden to businessmen in neighbouring Kazakhstan.

Regional divisions, enhanced by the country's mountainous geography, are also destined to play a role in the election with Babanov hailing from the north and Jeenbekov from the south.

"If mishandled, this election could shatter Kyrgyzstan's facade of democracy. A fragile stability is at stake," said Deirdre Tynan, Central Asia project director for the International Crisis Group.

"Despite technical progress in how votes are cast on the day, the system remains based on smear campaigns, vote buying, coercion and the use of administrative resources," Tynan told AFP.

Voters, too, are worried about fraud.

"If elections are clean there will be a second round," said Bishkek pensioner Shakena Omuraliyeva.

"But I fear the government will do everything in its power to make sure its candidate gets more than 50 percent."
Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) - Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev's chosen successor Sooronbai Jeenbekov won a presidential election on Sunday, defying predictions of a second round and instability in the Central Asian nation.

The Central Election Commission said former prime minister Jeenbekov had pulled in over 54 percent of the vote, with oligarch opponent Omurbek Babanov taking more than a third of the ballot.

"Jeenbekov is leading," CEC head Nurzhan Shayldabekova told reporters in the capital Bishkek, saying 97 percent of the ballots had been counted.

"The elections can be considered valid. The remaining three percent of ballots will not change the overall picture."

The CEC said turnout was around 56 percent.

Addressing cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters in Bishkek, Jeenbekov said Kyrgyzstan "had shown the whole world that we are a democratic and sovereign state, that only the people of Kyrgyzstan decide the country's destiny.

"I am grateful to my opponents who ...made the elections competitive," he said.

However, there was no sign that Babanov had accepted the outcome with a campaign spokeswoman telling AFP they were conducting "a parallel count".

Resource-poor Kyrgyzstan, which looks to Russia for political support and China for investment is often described as the most democratic state in Central Asia, a predominantly authoritarian region.

But pre-election campaigning was overshadowed by an apparent smear campaign against Babanov, who leads the parliament's second largest party, and suspicions that Jeenbekov could benefit from government patronage.

Jeenbekov is a close ally of incumbent president Atambayev, 61, who chose to respect a single, six-year presidential term and step down.

Atambayev's own election in 2011 came on the back of political and ethnic violence the year before that left hundreds dead.

- Tensions during run-up -

The country saw its first two presidents -- autocrats Askar Akayev and Kurmanbek Bakiyev -- overthrown in 2005 and 2010 respectively.

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Sunday's election featuring 11 candidates promised to see the first peaceful transfer of power between two elected presidents but the build up to the vote was beset by tensions.

Visible government pressure on the defeated Babanov and his supporters cast a cloud over the vote.

One of Babanov's main supporters was arrested in the poll run up on coup plotting charges and he was depicted by pro-government media as a pawn of neighbouring Kazakhstan after appearing to win an endorsement from its 77-year-old autocrat Nursultan Nazarbayev.

The country's state prosecutor also said it was investigating comments made by Babanov on the campaign trail for inciting inter-ethnic hatred.

Several voters told AFP on election day they believed Babanov would look to foment unrest if he lost, a claim that was strongly promoted by pro-government media.

"I will vote for anyone apart from that Babanov," said Asiya Muratova, a 37-year-old teacher from Bishkek.

"I have heard for some time that he is preparing unrest in the event he loses," she told AFP.

The candidate repeatedly said that allegations made against him and his campaign by pro-government media were false and accused security services of preparing "provocations" against him on Sunday.

Regional factors also appeared to play a role in a vote overwhelmingly counted by automatic machines.

CEC data showed that northerner Babanov won the vote in the northern Chui and Talas regions but was thoroughly beaten by Jeenbekov in the populous southern region of Osh.

Just over three million Kyrgyz nationals were eligible to vote in Sunday's election.

But hundreds of thousands of migrants working abroad in Russia could not vote because they did not submit biometric data in time.
Attorney generals contention that asylum system is widely abused amounts to attack on countrys core principles, says Annaluisa Padilla

Jeff Sessions described rampant abuse and fraud in the countrys asylum system. Photograph: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

Attorney general Jeff Sessions latest attack on the US immigration system is an attack on core principles of who we are as a nation, according to the head of the countrys largest body of immigration lawyers.

In Falls Church, Virginia, on Thursday, Sessions said the asylum system was rife with fraud and abuse, allowing people to enter the country illegally and threaten public safety.

This concept that there is a nefarious intent of these individuals goes against the core of who we are as a nation, Annaluisa Padilla, president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), told the Guardian. Its very concerning.

Sessions, who was speaking to audience of justice department lawyers, said rampant abuse and fraud was accomplished in the asylum process by people taking advantage of credible-fear screening, an interview conducted when people seek asylum at the border.

In the interview, an asylum officer asks questions to determine whether the applicant has a credible fear of persecution, torture or death if they are returned to their home country.

Sessions said dirty immigration lawyers encouraged people to make false claims of asylum, providing them with the magic words needed to trigger the credible-fear process. He gave examples of cases where people were found to have taken advantage of the system.

He also pointed to the increase in credible-fear interviews, which he said went from fewer than 4,000 in 2009 to more than 73,000 by 2016  nearly a 19-fold increase, as proof of abuse in the system.

That period was marked by a surge in people fleeing violence in Central America. From January to June 2017, according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, credible-fear interviews were overwhelmingly conducted with people from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

There is no such thing as a magic words when it comes to the asylum process, said Padilla. These individuals are really the most vulnerable individuals in the immigration process.

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Sessions went on to say that because half of those who pass a credible-fear screening never file for asylum, this suggests they knew their asylum claims lacked merit and that their claim of fear was simply a ruse to enter the country illegally.

Padilla, whose group represents more than 15,000 attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law, said that comment showed a misunderstanding of how the asylum system works. Instead of tens of thousands of people intentionally committing fraud, she said, it was more likely those people were confused by the complex asylum process.

After a two or threehour interview, which Padilla said was often traumatic, an asylum officer will tell a person who is found to have credible fear they can stay in the US.

They think: OK, this is it, Padilla said, not understanding what else needs to happen.

Sessions attack was personal for Padilla, whose family sought asylum in the US in 1983, fleeing Guatemala, when she was 15. She said her experience was much easier than the one facing children today.

We have always been a nation that opens its doors not just to innovators and entrepreneurs and those who want to make this country great, but also to those who are seeking safe refuge  those who are seeking to protect their families from horrendous acts around the world, Padilla said.

Sessions concluded his speech by encouraging Congress to adopt White House proposals for immigration reform, which were released on Sunday. On asylum, the plans specifically call for tightening standards, imposing penalties for fraud and ensuring detention while claims are processed.
Two of the 38 priority projects endorsed by the Central New York Regional Economic Development Council for the seventh round of the statewide competition have direct connections to Cayuga County's representatives on the panel.

The Cayuga County Industrial Development Agency is applying for a $284,000 grant to expand sewer capacity at the Aurelius Industrial Park, which is occupied by Cayuga Milk Ingredients and Grober Nutrition.

CNY economic council seeks millions for 7 Cayuga County projects The Central New York Regional Economic Development Council is once again competing for state

Tracy Verrier, one of the county's two representatives on the regional council, serves as executive director of CCIDA. She holds the same title with the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce and the Cayuga Economic Development Agency.

Another proposal supported by the regional council is Currier Plastics' $9.9 million expansion. The company requested a $1.8 million grant and $180,000 in tax credits to fund the project.

John Currier, president of Currier Plastics, is the county's other representative on the economic panel.

Currier and Verrier couldn't participate in the discussions when the council reviewed their respective projects. When the Aurelius Industrial Park sewer line expansion was on the agenda, Verrier had to leave the room.

"They kicked me out every time we talked about it," she said in an interview. "It's all part of the recusal process. I clearly staff (CCIDA) and my name was on that proposal."

Currier's experience was the same. When Currier Plastics' expansion plan was considered, he had to recuse himself from that discussion.

It wasn't until after the meeting, Currier said, when he would see the paperwork and learn how his company's project fared in the review process.

"When it comes around and that's on the table, I leave the room, come back in and hope things went well," he said.

The recusals are in line with the regional economic development council code of conduct, which is detailed in the competition's annual guidebook for members.

The code of conduct includes a ban on members participating in regional council discussions or votes "where they or a relative has a financial interest in the matter under consideration." Council members complete a statement of interest form, which requires them to detail any entities they or immediate family members "have a vested interest."

Ethics training is mandated for all regional council members. New members are required to complete ethics training before they participate in the regional council review process.

Critics of the regional economic development councils have called for greater disclosure from members of the panels. Earlier this year, state legislators pushed a proposal to require members to submit financial disclosure forms.

The plan didn't advance in the state Legislature and wasn't included in the final state budget agreement adopted in April.

Verrier acknowledged that there might be a perception about why these projects were supported by the regional council. But, she said, the merits of the projects should be considered.

The sewer expansion would benefit two existing companies in the Aurelius Industrial Park. One motivation for the project is to allow Cayuga Milk Ingredients, a major employer in Aurelius, to advance expansion plans. The milk processing facility won't be able to expand without the added sewer capacity.

Currier also touted his company's expansion project. He said they were confident the project would receive a positive assessment from the council.

"For us, it looked like it was going to hit all the important things that New York state looks for in terms of development," he said.

It's also not the first time Currier Plastics has sought funding through the regional council process. The company received $1 million in 2011 to support a large expansion project at its existing facility in Auburn. Currier wasn't a member of the regional council when that grant was awarded.

Central New York and the nine other regional councils will learn later this year  likely in December  whether the projects they endorsed will receive state support.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced earlier this year that more than $800 million will be awarded to help finance economic development projects across the state.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 02:36:04|Editor: yan

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ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's national carrier Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is eyeing a bigger share of the Chinese tourists' market which at more than 120 million is estimated to be the single largest tourist numbers globally.

Speaking exclusively to Xinhua on Saturday, Tewolde GebreMariam, CEO of ET, said with the air carrier having a presence in China since 1973, one of the handful foreign airlines pioneers at the time, it has been a witness to the economic transformation of the Asian giant.

"Today, China is the single largest market for Ethiopian Airlines with 5 destinations and 31 total weekly flights," he said, adding that ET has the largest market share on flights between China and Africa, employing dozens of Chinese nationals as cabin crew members in its flight to China.

Ethiopian Airlines currently flies to Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou. It has also announced plans to start flights at an unspecified date to Shenzhen dubbed the "Silicon Valley" of China for its tech-savvy entrepreneurial nature.

Despite China being a large source of tourists to the world, the East African country received a relatively smaller proportion of Chinese tourists numbering 41,660 in 2015, up from 35,383 in 2012.

Although the number of Chinese tourist to Ethiopia was smaller than that of American and British tourists, the two largest groups of tourists received by Ethiopia, Chinese tourists tend to stay longer and spend more, making it even more urgent to attract them, according to the Ethiopian government.

Ethiopia had earned 3.32 billion U.S. dollars from 886,897 tourists that visited the East African nation during the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2016/17, that ended July 8th.

The country plans to earn 4.5 billion dollars from 1.2 million tourists during the 2017/18 Fiscal Year, that started July 9th.

GebreMariam adds that ET's most recent flight destination Chengdu, capital city of Sichuan province which has 120 million people in total and its proximity to the metropolis of Chongqing city, makes it a lucrative market to attract Chinese tourists and businesspeople.

"We expect China-Africa and China-Ethiopia ties to grow very fast with trade, investment and tourism development, and ET's China plan is in a way positioning ourselves for the future," said Gebremariam.

"We have Chinese meals on our flights to China and we have Chinese websites, we're present on social media network Wechat, and here in Addis we're building a five-star hotel which, when completed, will have the largest Chinese restaurant in Africa, helping attract even more Chinese tourists," he added.

The ubiquitous Chinese language signs visitors and passengers see when they enter Addis Ababa Bole International Airport seem to indicate the planning is well underway.

There is also Chinese help desk with Chinese customer service agents serving Chinese customers in their language with the objective of promoting Addis Ababa airport as the most Chinese friendly airport in the region.

However, Ethiopia isn't just looking at Chinese tourists, but aims to have strategic cooperation with China on the aviation sector as it works to be an African aviation hub, Ahmed Shide, minister of Ethiopia's Ministry of Transport, told Xinhua in July.

"We plan to make Addis Ababa a strategic aviation hub between China and Africa," said Shide, adding that with China working on being an airplane manufacturing center, he expects Ethiopia to be a customer of fully developed Chinese airplanes in the future.

Ethiopian Airlines currently buys most of its airplanes from the U.S. airplane manufacturer Boeing and the European Airplane manufacturer Airbus.
Photo of a bottle of Recession Wines in front of Manhattan's skyline in New York, November 18, 2008. The Californian wines, available in three flavours, Recession Cabernet Sauvignon, Recession Merlot, and Recession Chardonnay. (AFP Photo/Emmanuel Dunand)

By Liu Mei

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The wildfires scorching Northern California, are not only one of the catastrophes in the Golden State history, but also one of the most expensive disasters, since some of the world priciest wines were burning to ashes and the whole billion-dollar industry were thrown into the chaos.

Till Saturday, the wildfires descended on Napa, Sonoma and Santa Rosa Counties since last Sunday night, killed at least 31 people, destroyed thousands of structures, including homes and businesses, and left hundreds still missing.

These areas are the homes of some world-renowned vineyards and wineries, identified by its climate, geology and other factors to be ideal for producing high quality wine.

There are over 400 wineries and about 45,000 acres (182 square kilometers) of vineyards in Napa Valley area. Sonoma County has about 60,000 acres (243 square kilometers) of vineyards and 425 wineries.

Now some small wineries have been totally burned down by the ruthless fire, like the well-known Napa's Signorello Estate and White Rock Vineyards. While some big wineries are suffering more losses, since their 10 years'or even 20 years'cellar have been destroyed.

Almost all the tasting rooms in Napa and Sonoma are shuttered and nobody knows the re-open time.

"As the situation is still pending, so it's still very difficult to really tell what the specific impact it will bring to the industry. I can tell that there will be some significant impact, and the impact will be lasting for some time for sure," Arthur Walsh, the chief editor of Food and Beverage World magazine told Xinhua on Friday.

The optimistic side for some vineyards owners is that as much as 90 percent of this year's grapes have been harvested, because this summer's heat wave prompted growers to take the grapes off the vines earlier than usual.

However, for those who grow the grapes like cabernet, sauvignon and petite sirah might be more disastrous, since most of these crops are still on the vine and the price for these grapes are about 6,800 U.S. dollars a ton, which is one of the priciest grapes in the world, according to the report released by Napa Valley Vintners on Thursday, a non-profit trade association.

Napa and Sonoma Valley are always the popular point for the tourists from all over the world, especially for Asian. The famous wine tasting tours are something "must-do" when tourists visit Northern California. Just spend thirty or fifty U.S. dollars, one can taste about a dozen of different wines, and most visitors from Asian, such China, Korean and Thailand would purchase some wines from Napa or Sonoma.

"All of our one-day tour to Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley have been forced to change due to the fire. All the visitors from China feel regrettable for not going to the wine country," an Asian travel agency owner Bessie Wong told Xinhua on Friday.

According to the statistic report of 2017 by Napa Valley Vintners that the local wine industry and related businesses provide an annual economic impact of more than 13 billion U.S. dollars locally and more than 50 billion U.S. dollars in the U.S., create 46,000 jobs in Napa County and 303,000 nationwide.

Jim Gordon, editor of Wines and Vines magazine, told Witter Daily News that he is more worried about the fire's effect on wine tourism than the harvest itself.

"It's a huge worry that people will stay away because of the fires, especially this time of year. Wine country does most of its tourism business around harvest."

When asked if the market price of those saved wines will be raised later, Walsh said it is still too early to give the answer, he would like to do some survey about the losses and impact that the fire has brought to the industry on earth.

The wine industry consultant, Robert Smiley believed that the fire could shrink the supplies, but as there are some competitions from France and Chile, it's hard to say if the price will be affected, Sacramento Bee newspaper reported.

There are over 4,600 wineries in the state of California, those are affected by the fire in Napa and Sonoma are small part of it. On Wednesday, some unaffected wine industry business in the state is reaching out to help, the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance started a fundraising effort for affected wineries.

Living in Sotona, Walsh is quite familiar with Napa and Sonoma area.

"Though the impact will come, that's not to say our city will not adapt. We are working very hard to get the fire under control, from there we will rebuild and get back to business as usual," Walsh told Xinhua.
In the New York Times, actress Mayim Bialik weighed in on the Harvey Weinstein saga by detailing her own experience with the culture of Hollywood  one that differs from that of many of her peers.

It's okay that Bialik's experience is unique. Every woman's is, and valid to boot. What's not okay is Bialik's fundamental misunderstanding of how harassment works  a misunderstanding that makes the piece careen into victim-blaming territory.

SEE ALSO: This New York Times comment perfectly explains why women didn't speak up about Harvey Weinstein

"I still make choices every day as a 41-year-old actress that I think of as self-protecting and wise," Bialik writes. "I have decided that my sexual self is best reserved for private situations with those I am most intimate with. I dress modestly. I dont act flirtatiously with men as a policy."

She then connects these choices  as well as her refusal to adhere to Hollywood's beauty standards  with the fact that she "has almost no personal experience with men asking [her] to meeting in their hotel rooms" (an obvious allusion to Weinstein's abuses). Whether intended or not, the insinuation is clear: Bialik has evaded harm because of her own choices.

It's a dangerous and irresponsible connection. Contrary to Bialik's implications, it's not just "doe-eyed" women with personal trainers who experience harassment. It's all of us.

SEE ALSO: Samantha Bee on the Weinstein problem: 'This is about men'

In the days since the Weinstein allegations surfaced, one of the narratives that's emerged is that nearly every woman has a story of harassment, abuse, or misconduct  even if she hasn't shared it.

This narrative hasn't emerged because it's a bunch of hot air. It's emerged because nearly every woman has a story of harassment, abuse, or misconduct. And to imply otherwise is to erase victims who don't fit the "Hollywood mold"  including women who made the same "self-protecting" choices as Bialik but were abused anyway.

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To be clear, there is nothing wrong with Bialik's lived experiences. She has the inherent right to dress, believe, and behave how she pleases. And she's certainly not responsible for the toxic, profiteering culture in Hollywood.

But neither is Asia Argento. Neither is Gwyneth Paltrow, or Angelina Jolie. Or Ambra Battilana Gutierrez. Or Rose McGowan. Or any of the women who are made to feel small by their abuse-ridden industries every single day.

Misogyny's a monster  by now, that's as crystal-clear as ever. But the impetus to defeat it isn't on its victims.

It's on the men.
Meghan McCain has hit out at Steve Bannon for referencing the military to slam Senator Bob Corker.

The daughter of Senator John McCain tweeted a verbal eye-roll at the former White House chief strategist on Saturday after he suggested Corker should not criticize President Donald Trump while there are troops abroad.

Speaking at the Family Research Councils Values Voter Summit on Saturday, Bannon took the opportunity to hit out at the GOP senator, who last weekend referred to the White House as an adult daycare center.

Meghan McCain

REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

"Bob Corker has trashed the commander in chief of our Armed Forces while we have young men and women in harm's way, right? He said he's leading them on a path to World War III, that he is not stable, that people have to keep him moderated," Bannon told the audience at the summit.

"Why some U.S. senator in a position of that authority for the first time in the history of our Republic has mocked and ridiculed a commander in chief when we have kids in the field," he added.

Responding to Bannons comments, McCain, who has recently been given a place as the conservative voice on ABCs The View, tweeted: Trump slammed my dads service when both of my brothers were (and still are) currently serving. Give me a break with this.

Trump slammed my dads service when both of my brothers were (and still are) currently serving. Give me a break with this. https://t.co/yuLqqio5QL  Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) October 14, 2017

Trump has previously commented of Senator McCain: He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured."

The daughter of Senator McCain has become increasingly outspoken over the Trump administration and its allies in recent weeks, following the news the president did mocking impressions of her father while he was ill.

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"What more must my family be put through right now?" McCain wrote on Twitter after hearing of Trumps apparent mocking of her father, as he struggles with an aggressive form of brain cancer. "This is abhorrent."

According to a report from Axios, Trump mocks McCain by imitating his thumbs down gesture during the historic healthcare vote, also singling out Mitch McConnell for imitation.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 03:01:09|Editor: yan

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by Li Jizhi

AHTARI, Finland, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Surrounded by calm lakes and thick woods, a spacious building has been erected in the Ahtari zoo in central Finland to accommodate a pair of giant pandas, who will arrive hopefully by the end of this year.

Ahtari zoo, the largest wildlife zoo in Finland, has paced up the preparation for receiving the newcomers. A ceremony was held on Friday to celebrate the completion of the roof construction of the panda house.

The ceremony is a typical Finnish tradition: The owner of a newly built house shall invite the construction workers and relatives and friends to dinner when the house is capped with a roof, said Mikko Savola, member of Finnish parliament and the board director of Ahtari wildlife zoo company.

The ceremony also means that eighty percent of the construction is finished, and the panda house will be ready for use as of November, added Savola.

According to an agreed project, the two countries are supposed to jointly conduct a research of the giant panda and a pair of pandas will be staying in Ahtari zoo for 15 years. During the research period, the offspring belong to the Chinese authority and will be sent back to the mother country within five years after they are born.

"The arrival of the giant pandas signifies the fact that Finnish international cooperation reaches the highest level ever since its independence," Finnish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Jari Leppa said in his speech at the ceremony. The year of 2017 marks the centenary of the independence of Finland.

Chinese Ambassador Chen Li said the joint project is the best gift to the Finnish people when they celebrate the centenary of independence. The construction of the panda house started only nine months ago, and the amazing speed of the working process manifests the sincerity for cooperation.

Leppa said Finland specializes in the study of bear family animals, and Finnish experts have been dispatched to China for knowledge exchanges. Leppa believed the pandas will enjoy the comfortable natural environment and the vast open space in Finland.

The panda house occupies some 10,000 square meters, including the panda's indoor living rooms, an outdoor playing park as well as auxiliary facilities like restaurants and cafeterias. It will become the biggest construction inside the zoo.

Frequent exchanges are going on concerning the inspection of the facilities and training of the professionals.
A Florida woman is suing Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera for child support. (AP)

Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera has been slapped with a paternity suit that could ultimately cost him $100,000 a month in child support.

According to the Detroit News, court records show the child-support suit was filed in August by Belkis Mariela Rodriguez, 35, of Orlando, Fla. The suit alleges that the two-time MVP cut back on child-support payments earlier this year after helping her purchase a home worth nearly $1 million.

Cabrera has been paying a $6,200-plus monthly sum, according to court documents. Rodriguezs attorney says Cabreras salary after taxes could dictate he pays more than $100,000 a month in child support under Florida statute guidelines.

Cabrera, 34, has earned over $216 million over the course of his 15-year MLB career. Hes guaranteed another $184 million on his current contract which runs through 2023.

In response, Cabrera, who is married and has three children, claims Rodriguez is attempting to extort him. Hes also requested paternity tests on the children, who were born in 2013 and 2015 respectively.

Heres more from the report:

Rodriguez, a florist, has custody of both children, though Cabrera has visitation rights and a say in all major decisions involving the children, per court documents. Cabrera is named as the father on both birth certificates, Rodriguez says in the court documents.

Cabreras legal team has accused Rodriguez of embarking on a mission to extort additional moneys to be used for her benefit under the guise of child support, according to court records filed in Orange County, Florida.

Cabrera is scheduled to be questioned under oath by the womans lawyers during a videotaped deposition Thursday in Orlando. Rodriguez was scheduled to begin her deposition Friday.

The Detroit News report offers some pretty intense details from the 193 pages worth of court documents. Money is clearly at the heart of the matter, as Rodriguez and her legal team are looking for a bump that would require health insurance and other expenses covered.

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The story also provides details that strongly suggested a long-standing relationship between Cabrera and Rodriguez existed. Though no relationship is directly mentioned on her social media, shes seen in several ballparks where the Tigers were visiting over the summer. Some of those pictures were posted as recently as September, after the suit was reportedly filed.

The case now is headed for mediation, which is scheduled for Oct. 25. A final judgment isnt expected until November or December.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

      

Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at bigleaguestew@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
(ROCHESTER, N.Y.)  A woman and one of her sons who were convicted of killing her estranged husband and disfiguring his body before dumping it in upstate New York woods have been sentenced to 26 years to life in prison.

Forty-six-year-old Laura Rideout and 24-year-old Colin Rideout were sentenced Friday in a Rochester court where they were found guilty in July of murder and evidence tampering. She was sentenced to an additional 15 years for burglary.

A second son, 20-year-old Alexander Rideout, was sentenced to two to eight years for an evidence tampering conviction.

Prosecutors say 50-year-old Craig Rideout was strangled and beaten in his suburban Rochester home last year. His body was found wrapped in a tarp in woods in the Finger Lakes Region. Acid had been poured on his face to mask his identity.

Defense attorneys argued evidence was contaminated while being collected.
Seoul (AFP) - North Korea is believed to be preparing to launch a ballistic missile ahead of an upcoming joint naval drill by the US and South Korea, a news report said Saturday, citing a government source.

The US navy said Friday that a US aircraft carrier will lead the drill in the coming week, a fresh show of force against North Korea as tensions soar over the hermit state's weapons programme.

The move will likely rile Pyongyang which has previously responded angrily to joint exercises.

The Donga Ilbo daily, quoting a government source, said satellite pictures show ballistic missiles mounted on launchers being transported out of hangars near Pyongyang and in the North Phyongan Province.

US and South Korean military officials suspect the North might be preparing to launch missiles capable of reaching US territory, the newspaper said.

This could be the Hwasong-14 inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM), whose range could extend to Alaska, or Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missiles which Pyongyang threatened to fire towards the US Pacific territory of Guam in August, the report said.

Another possibility is that the North might be preparing to test a new Hwasong-13 ICBM, it added, that has a longer maximum range than the other two missiles and could potentially reach the US West Coast.

A defence ministry spokesman declined to comment on the report, saying: "We don't comment on any matters of military intelligence".

"We are keeping a close watch over the North," he added.

The joint drills led by the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier come after hectic US military hardware movements around the Korean peninsula in recent days.

These follow a flurry of missiles from Pyongyang, which conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test last month in defiance of international sanctions.

On Friday the nuclear-powered USS Michigan submarine arrived at the southern South Korean port of Busan, just days after another nuclear-powered submarine -- the USS Tuscon -- left after a five day visit.

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Earlier this week the US flew two supersonic heavy bombers over the Korean peninsula, staging the first night-time joint aviation exercises with Japan and South Korea.

That mission came 17 days after four US F-35B stealth fighter jets and two B-1Bs flew over the peninsula.

Professor Yang Moo-Jin of the University of North Korean Studies said it was "highly likely" that the North could launch missiles in response to next week's joint navy drill.

US President Donald Trump's continued threats of military action against Pyongyang if it does not tame its weapons ambitions have fuelled fears of conflict on the Korean peninsula.

But military intervention against North Korea would have "devastating consequences", NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg warned Friday, after Trump said diplomatic efforts had failed.
Jerusalem (AFP) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli police faced off in a rare public dispute Sunday over an intensifying graft probe that has led to speculation over whether he will eventually be forced from office.

Netanyahu late Saturday lashed out at the police on his Facebook page over leaks to the Israeli media related to the graft investigation.

That prompted a stern response from the police, who have been probing gifts Netanyahu allegedly received from wealthy supporters as well as suspicions he sought a secret deal with the publisher of a top-selling newspaper.

His wife Sara has faced a separate investigation into alleged misuse of public funds.

Netanyahu has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has accused members of the Israeli media of seeking to force him out of office.

Israel's Channel 2 television reported Saturday night that the long-serving prime minister is to soon be questioned again by police as part of the investigation, prompting Netanyahu's Facebook post.

"When he took office, the police chief made two important commitments: that there would be no more leaks and that the police will no longer make recommendations," he wrote, referring to reports that the police recommended to prosecutors his wife be indicted.

He said however that the "illegal leaks have become a tsunami," while mentioning by name a consultant employed by the police, Lior Horev.

Netanyahu also wrote that there "is a transparent media campaign" against him, adding that the allegations will amount to nothing.

The post prompted a rare response from the police, who denied any political motivation.

"The police carry out their work in keeping with the law and will not be provoked by baseless attacks that disrupt their work and undermine the rule of law," a police spokeswoman said.

The graft probe has shaken Israeli politics and stirred speculation over who could succeed the 67-year-old Netanyahu if he is forced out of office.

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He has been prime minister for a total of more than 11 years, from 1996-99 and beginning again in 2009.

In another case last month, Sara Netanyahu was informed by the attorney general that she faces possible trial over alleged misuse of public funds.

Separately, police have been probing suspected corruption in the purchase of submarines from Germany's ThyssenKrupp.

David Shimron, a relative of Netanyahu and his family lawyer who also represented ThyssenKrupp in Israel, has been among those questioned.

David Sharan, a former chief of Netanyahu's office, has also been detained.

Netanyahu himself, however, has not been named as a suspect in the submarine case.
OSLO (Reuters) - Norway said on Friday it planned to send an armored battalion near its arctic border with Russia and buy more tanks and artillery to respond to growing threats. Defence Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide did not mention Russia as she described her minority government's defense plan, and said she did not see a specific, current military threat. But the NATO member and other nearby countries have grown increasingly alarmed about Moscow's ambitions, particularly following its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in 2014 and its naval and air force maneuvers in the region. "The security situation has become more challenging and less predictable. This has consequences for how we organize the military," Soereide told journalists. The plan calls for the armored unit - still referred to as a cavalry battalion - to be stationed in the remote Porsanger district, in the far north on the edge of a long fjord leading into the Barents Sea, which also borders Russia. It also includes more investment in tanks, artillery and long-range precision weapons in the area and other locations further south, together with an extension of the time people have to spend in some national service positions to 16 from 12 months. "We must be able to defend all parts of our country ... this is a clear signal that we have a particular responsibility in the north," Soereide said. The Russian embassy in Oslo was not immediately available for comment. Norway's minority government will need to get support from other parties to get the proposals through parliament, but there is a broad consensus on strengthening defenses in the Arctic north. In June, Russia said Norway's decision to extend the presence of U.S. Marines on its soil would worsen relations and could escalate tensions on NATO's northern flank. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik and Nerijus Adomaitis; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump sharply criticized Iran and the international agreement aimed at curbing its nuclear program Friday, refusing to certify Tehran's compliance and warning the United States could pull out at any time.

These are some key points from his remarks:

- 'Fanatical regime' -

Trump denounced the Iranian government as a "fanatical regime" that backs a wide array of militant groups and laid out a long list of US grievances against Tehran to set the stage for his specific remarks on the nuclear deal.

He described Tehran as "the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism," saying it backs Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah, Hamas and "other terrorist networks," and warning of "the increasing menace posed by Iran."

- 'Multiple violations' -

Trump lambasted the 2015 nuclear deal struck with Iran, Germany, Britain, China, France and Russia as "one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into."

He accused Iran of "multiple violations of the agreement," but was light on specific examples.

The president said Iran had on two occasions exceeded the 130-metric-ton limit on heavy water, and that Tehran had "repeatedly" said it would not allow inspectors onto military sites suspected of having been "part of Iran's clandestine nuclear weapons program."

But the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has been monitoring Iran's compliance with the deal, said that "the nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Iran... are being implemented," and that it "has had access to all locations it needed to visit."

Trump also cited "many people" who think Tehran "is dealing with North Korea," and said that Iran "continues to fuel conflict, terror, and turmoil throughout the Middle East and beyond."

Neither are part of the legal requirements of the nuclear deal.

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- Nuclear deal left hanging -

Trump stopped short of nixing the nuclear deal, instead taking the procedural step of "decertifying" the agreement and leaving its fate in the hands of the Republican-controlled Congress.

"I am directing my administration to work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deal's many serious flaws so that the Iranian regime can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons," he said.

Trump singled out "sunset clauses" that eliminate restrictions on Iran's nuclear program "in just a few years," while citing "insufficient enforcement" and "near total silence on Iran's missile programs."

Iran and other parties to the agreement have said that they are not open to revising the accord.

Trump threatened to scrap the deal if his concerns are not addressed, warning that "our participation can be cancelled by me, as president, at any time."

- Sanctions on Revolutionary Guards -

Trump announced targeted sanctions on the Revolutionary Guards, a key instrument of Tehran's military and foreign policy that the president described as "the Iranian Supreme Leader's corrupt personal terror force and militia."

He said he is authorizing the US Treasury Department to "further sanction the entire Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for its support for terrorism and to apply sanctions to its officials, agents, and affiliates."

But the US leader backed away from designating the Guards Corps as a terror group, a move that would have triggered a slew of sanctions and almost certain Iranian retribution.
Kuwait City (AFP) - Oil producers may not need to roll over a deal to cut production beyond March if all members fully comply with their pledges, the Kuwaiti oil minister said Sunday.

"The current reduction deal is sufficient to achieve the desired purpose," of rebalancing the oil market, Essam al-Marzouk told reporters after opening an oil conference.

Although "the compliance level to the cuts has reached an unprecedented 116 percent", this was mainly due to the fact that some countries were making higher cuts than pledged.

"Our focus now is centred on making all member states fully comply with the cuts to reach an even better percentage and therefore not need a new extension," Marzouk said.

Marzouk, who heads a joint ministerial committee monitoring compliance, said it was too early to say if a new extension was needed and that "OPEC will take a decision next month".

The oil cartel is holding a key ministerial meeting in Vienna on November 30.

OPEC and non-OPEC producers struck a historic deal a year ago to cut crude output by 1.8 million barrels per day for six months.

The deal was extended by nine months until March. It has boosted oil prices to above $55 a barrel and reduced record high inventory levels.
Manila (AFP) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned he is prepared to establish a "revolutionary government" to fend off alleged efforts to oust him, fuelling fears of a looming dictatorship.

He issued the warning on state television late Friday as he railed against the press, European lawmakers and other critics of his drug war that has left thousands dead and led rights groups to warn of a crime against humanity.

Duterte said he would resort to a revolutionary government, as opposed to martial law that would require congressional approval, if communists and other opponents tried to destabilise his rule.

"If your destabilisation is taking place and there is chaos already, I will not hesitate to declare a revolutionary government until the end of my term and I will arrest all of you and we can go to a full scale war against the reds," Duterte said, in reference to communist rebels who have waged a nearly 50-year insurgency.

Duterte cited the precedent set by Corazon Aquino, who established a revolutionary government soon after leading a "People Power" uprising in 1986 that ended the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos.

Aquino sacked all elected officials, abolished Congress and tore up the 1973 constitution in favour of a provisional charter.

She handpicked a commission to write a new constitution, which was ratified by plebiscite in 1987 and paved the way for elections. She is revered by many Filipinos who continue to see her as a heroine of democracy.

Under the post-Aquino constitution, presidents are limited to a single term of six years.

Duterte's critics fear the 72-year-old, who has repeatedly threatened to impose martial law, is intent on dragging the country back into dictatorship and allow himself more freedom in prosecuting his drug war.

Duterte was elected last year largely on an incendiary law-and-order platform in which he promised to eradicate illegal drugs in society by killing 100,000 people.

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Since he took office 15 months ago, police have reported killing 3,850 people in anti-drug operations while thousands of others have been murdered in unexplained circumstances.

Many Filipinos continue to support Duterte, seeing the charismatic politician as a saviour fighting corruption and crime.

But opposition has started to build, with the influential Catholic Church and leftist groups taking a prominent role in speaking out against his drug war.

Rare street protests broke out last month after police involved in the drug war killed two teenagers in controversial circumstances.

The Philippine military, which backed Marcos until the last days of his dictatorship, did not respond to AFP's request for comment on Duterte's warning.
Until July 2017 Polestar served as Volvo's in-house performance brand. That month, the Swedish mothership spun off its cyan-hued subsidiary into a distinct division billed as "a new separately-branded electrified global high performance car company." On September 25, Polestar uploaded a black square to its Instagram page with two words: The End. One week later, another black square appeared bearing only a date: 17.10.17 (that's October 17 to US folks). The next day, Polestar began uploading a series of detail shots of what will be its first car as a standalone operation, the Polestar 1. Put all the Instagram pieces together like Autocar magazine did (plus a few other images we didn't see on the feed), and you get the image above.



The white wonder - maybe a coupe, maybe not - will be revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show on October 17. A seriously handsome teaser, the rear end bears welcome resemblance to the gorgeous Volvo Concept Coupe revealed at the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show. Thomas Ingenlath, who designed the Volvo Concept Coupe, now fills the role of Polestar CEO, and we can only hope he brought the rest of his design with him. In Frankfurt, Volvo claimed its plug-in hybrid, S60-based concept to be good for roughly 400 horsepower and 442 pound-feet of torque.



Earlier this year, some expected Polestar to devote itself to "high-performance electric cars," yet Volvo's statement about the spinoff used the word "electrified." That, combined with the tailpipes on the teaser, would appear to indicate a robust hybrid in the works: consensus has gathered around a plug-in hybrid with 2.0-liter T8 Twin-Engine powertrain pushing 600 horsepower. Polestar's statements about the Polestar 1, made in the teaser video below, want us to know that there won't be any bluff or guff between car, driver, and road. That's to be expected from a company that created its first two highly-lauded vehicles by letting in-house racing driver Robert Dahlgren spec performance and parts to his liking, giving him no more instruction than, "Use your imagination. Just try to make it as fun as possible." Come on Shanghai. This should be good.



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Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 03:01:10|Editor: yan

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DUBAI, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- China topped the list of Dubai's electronics trade partners in the first half of this year, with a total of 53.3 billion dirham (14.54 billion U.S. dollars) in import, state news agency of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) WAM reported on Saturday.

The value of Dubai's information technology had reached 134.5 billion dirham in the first six months of 2017, Sultan Bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of global container port operator DP World Group, was quoted as saying.

Sulayem revealed that China accounted for 39.63 percent of Dubai's total import of electronics products, followed by Vietnam with 14.4 billion dirham worth of import and the United States with 2.3 billion dirham.

The value of Dubai's trade in mobile phones reached 75.9 billion dirham, while trade of laptops amounted to 11 billion dirham and desktops worth 2.3 billion dirham.

Sulayem said he expected "more momentum and huge growth in the information technology sector in the few coming years."

He referred to the ambitious projects Dubai had set about to prepare for the Dubai Expo 2020.

The projects included development of new cities and tourism and business facilities.
In a Facebook post Monday night accompanying the approximately one-minute clip, Jessica Stipe wrote that Peter Gallogly, a doctor at the Gainesville After-Hours Clinic, angrily argued with her earlier that evening after she told clinic staffers she was tired of waiting for treatment.

I specifically asked this lady to let people know when they make an appointment that they may not been seen in a timely manner, Stipe says at the beginning of the clip, apparently referring to another clinic employee.

Are you kidding me? Do you know how many people  Ive got seven rooms back there.  Do you want to be seen or not? Gallogly asks Stipe, noting that one test had already been done on her.

I want to go home and get in my bed. I am miserable, Stipe responds.

Beyond confirming the open and active investigation, a police spokesman would not discuss the specific aspects of their probe of Galloglys behavior.

It was not immediately clear if he has been questioned by police as part of the inquiry.

Galloglys statement acknowledged that he regrettably lost my temper before characterizing his behavior as unprofessional and unacceptable.

 Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

In her post on Facebook, Stipe wrote that she made an appointment for 6:30 p.m. Monday and asked staffers to refund her co-payment at 7:45 p.m.

Stipe was in severe pain and throwing up in the trash can as she sat in the waiting room for more than an hour, she wrote.

I asked for my co-pay back so I could leave and go back home, Stipe wrote. The [doctor] was mad I wanted my co-pay back and was unhappy with having to wait so long and proceeded to cuss me out. My daughter recorded it because they were so rude.

After Stipe tells Gallogly he is being disrespectful and rude, he yells at her, Get the f out of my office. Now.

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Toward the end of the clip, Stipes daughter asks the doctor for his name. According to Stipe, that is when Gallogly allegedly grabbed the phone from the girls hand and walked away with it.

 PEOPLEs special edition True Crime Stories: 35 Real Cases That Inspired the Show Law & Order is on sale now.

In his own statement, Gallogly, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment, said Stipe was allegedly aggressive while at the clinic.

Ms. Stipe had been increasingly belligerent and abusive to the office staff, cursing them and threatening them with violence, because she was unwell and had been waiting to be seen by me for more than an hour, his statement read.

After Ms. Stipe received her refund, she refused to leave the office, and continued her abusive behavior towards the staff, he claimed.

You know this was uncalled for, she wrote, adding she is still sick. I pray you and your kids are never in this situation.
Vatican City (AFP) - Pope Francis declared 35 new saints on Sunday, nearly all of them martyrs drawn from the bloody history of Catholicism's spread in Latin America.

Before a crowd of some 35,000 in St Peter's square, the pontiff carried out the rite of canonisation for 30 martyrs massacred in Brazil in the 17th century.

The two priests and 28 lay people were slaughtered by Dutch Calvinists and indigenous people in 1645, and in some cases had their hearts torn from their chests after being tortured and mutilated.

Catholicism's spread in southern Brazil started at the very end of the 1500s with Jesuit missionaries and priests from Portugal, but the arrival of Calvinists in the coming decades meant persecution for Catholics.

The new saints also included three teens slain in 16th-century Mexico due to their embrace of Catholicism. One of them, who had attempted to convert his father, was beaten to death by him.

The other two canonised were a priest from Spain who devoted his life to studying therapeutic plants in the 19th century, and an Italian priest who died in the 1700s after spending his life criss-crossing the southern end of his country.

Neither of those men are considered martyrs by the Catholic Church.

"The saints who were canonised today, and especially the many martyrs, point the way," Francis said Sunday.

"They did not say a fleeting 'yes' to love, they said 'yes' with their lives and to the very end," he added.

Francis has frequently spoken out against the persecution of Christians, especially those targeted in the Middle East.

The pope also announced he was calling a global assembly of bishops that would be devoted to the Amazon region, with an emphasis on indigenous people.

He said the aim was to find new ways to evangelise in that region, noting that indigenous people are "often forgotten" and face an uncertain future due to deforestion in the Amazon.

In August, Brazil stripped a vast nature reserve of its protected status in a move that could expand mining in the area.

The four million-hectare reserve is home to indigenous people but also rich in gold and manganese.
By Heather Somerville

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (Reuters) - Andrew Lopas' plans to bring his marijuana business out of the black market with a legal, profitable and organic pot farm went up in smoke in the wildfires that have scorched Santa Rosa, California.

After four decades of growing pot illegally, the 54-year-old saw an opportunity last year to start a legitimate business serving the medical marijuana market.

Last Sunday, as the wildfires, which have now killed at least 40 people, first erupted, Lopas' cannabis farm in Santa Rosa went up in flames, leaving behind the stumps of two chimneys, heaps of ash, charred marijuana plants and a despairing entrepreneur. [nL2N1MP07S]

After moving into the farm last November, he had been only days away from his first harvest.

Lost in the conflagration at Mystic Spring Farms were 2,500 pounds (1,100 kg) of cannabis worth an estimated $2 million, $10,000 in cash to pay the mortgage and workers, a farmhouse that dated back to the 18th century, trailers and farm vehicles, and 900 marijuana plants.

"That was all our eggs in one basket," Lopas said. "We were devastated."

California's newly legalized marijuana industry was hit hard by the deadliest blaze in state history.

Fires consuming communities north of San Francisco have destroyed almost 30 pot farms in Sonoma, Mendocino and Napa counties and significantly damaged a similar number, according to the California Growers Association. Those are a fraction of the estimated 15,000 pot farms in the region.

California is the source of most of the nation's illegal marijuana farming. Humboldt and Mendocino counties, in the cannabis-growing region known as the "Emerald Triangle", have led the state's production.

FLEEING FROM FIRE

California voters approved medical marijuana in 1996, despite a federal ban, and last year approved recreational use of the drug by adults. Since then, the state has been developing rules to allow recreational sales.

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Lopas said he and his girlfriend, Monika Meyers, were focusing on the medical marijuana market, taking a "wait and see" approach to the developing recreational market.

Medical marijuana businesses in California are expected to operate as non-profit cooperatives, but beginning in January 2018 they can apply to run as for-profit companies, according to the California Franchise Tax Board.

Lopas fears the fires have irrevocably destroyed many farmers in Sonoma County. He said marijuana's illegal status on a federal level means farmers cannot qualify for federal aid in disasters and most do not have crop insurance that would cover the fire losses as there are not adequate policies available.

Lopas' first warning of the rapidly approaching fire was flickering lights in his greenhouse as he worked last Sunday evening. He smelled smoke, and when the wind picked up, he and Meyers fled, grabbing little more than some clothes and their two dogs.

Lopas, who has grown marijuana since he was a teenager and sold it illegally much of his life, said he wanted to make his farm a shining example of regulatory compliance and environmentalism, spurning the pesticides that many illegal farms use to boost yield.

"We were trying to bring the industry out of the dark," he said.

Lopas has had trouble sleeping since the loss and worries how he will repay his investors. But he is not giving up.

"We want to rebuild," he said. "This property is too special to me."

(Reporting by Heather Somerville, additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Ben Klayman and Mary Milliken)
President Donald Trump poses a significant threat of nuclear war and is increasingly dangerous, according to leading psychologists who are stepping forward to warn Americans of his escalatingly threatening behavior.

The Duty to Warn PAC, an organization of psychologists who believe Trump has a personality disorder called malignant narcissism, will host marches across the nation Saturday to warn people about a perceived increase in his volatility and unpredictability in his performance as president.

James Gillian, a licensed psychologist of 25 years, has spent his career working with mass murders, serial criminals and overseeing mental hospital programs for the most violent American criminals. He analyzed Trump's statements for indications of danger for a The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, a book with 27 expert psychiatrists analyzing the president's behavior.

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Scott Olson/Getty Images

Gillian has analyzed quotes from Trumpspanning campaign calls for Hillary Clinton to be imprisoned or assassinated to more recent threats of nuclear action against North Korea. He said psychologists are bound by a "duty to warn," people about specific threats to safety, which sparked his co-authoring of the book.

"I know more about the psychological side of violence than almost anyone in our society," Gillian told Newsweek. "When I say Trump is dangerous, the only question is, is that an understatement?"

John Gartner, a psychotherapist who taught psychiatric residents at Johns Hopkins University Medical School, founded the Duty to Warn PAC. The political organization plans to financially sponsor members of Congress who support legislation that invokes impeachment. Gartner said the PAC is not just focused on supporting Democrats. He told Newsweek, "If I can find a Republican doing it, I'll give them double."

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Gartner said licensed psychologists have used "concrete, observable traits" to determine that Donald Trump has a "pervasive pattern" of exploiting and violating the rights of others. The evaluations are based on Trump's history, his statements and documented quotes of those close to him, Gartner said.

The boasting of sexual assault, allegedly not paying workers, the fraudulent Trump University caseGartner said evidence points to malignant narcissism. The traits of malignant narcissism were coined by a German psychotherapist, Erich Fromm, who escaped Nazi Germany and developed the diagnosis to explain leaders who rose to power in World War II.

"It was his attempt to explain Hitler, to explain Stalin and sadistic megalomaniacal dictators like them," Gartner told Newsweek. "When malignant narcissists gain power they become flagrantly worse."

The key patterns of behavior in that diagnosis: bragging, paranoia, conspiracy theories, demonization of those who oppose him, lying, exploitation and bullying. Gartner rejects the theory that Trump presents a public persona or uses the tactics for calculated political strategy.

"I'm an expert on personality disorders," Gartner said. "I don't just know a media portrayal of Donald Trump. I have hundreds of hours of behavior that I have observed on video of his own words not mediated by anyone. I have more samples of behavior and speech from Donald Trump than most of my patients."

A long-held "Goldwater Rule" cast taboo on psychologists providing a diagnosis for public figures they never personally met. The principle emerged in the 1960s when psychiatrists were polled about whether politician Barry Goldwater was "unfit to be president." The results from psychologists were split, in reality, but a newspaper headline implied Goldwater was mentally unstable. Goldwater sued the newspaper and won.

Gillian believes that rule is misinterpreted.

"We're not telling the public anything that Donald Trump hasn't already told them," Gillian said. "We aren't making this up. We're listening to what he's saying, hearing it and reminding the public."

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An elderly woman in Puerto Rico is helpless as her husband's body becomes a patchwork of ulcers and sores from Parkinson's disease. Another woman risks respiratory disease from a mold-infested bedroom and destroyed roof.

The snapshots come from American volunteers on the devastated island who are working with the American Federation of Teachers. The union has sent 40 nurses to Puerto Rico, where the natural disaster of Hurricane Maria and neglect from the Trump administration has created a perfect storm of death, disease and decay across an island of 3.4 million American citizens.

"This disaster is caused by neglect by the federal government," union president Randi Weingarten told Newsweek. "That's why this is such a tragedy. For President Trump to say they're safe is cruel and an abstention of responsibility."

Puerto Ricans are fighting to live with that failure. The elderly woman is in her 70s and caring for her grandchildren while also trying to relieve her wheelchair-bound husbands pain. There are wounds covering his body and an infection that's festering on his foot. The couple lives in Yabucoa, on the southeast edge of Puerto Rico, and hopes to join family on the U.S. mainland soon.

Hes got pressure ulcers on his back and feet, and she can barely lift him, Maureen Upton, a 12-year nurse practitioner, told Newsweek. She was just in tears. She didnt know what she was going to do.

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COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

'There is no help' for Puerto Rico

Misty Richards, a registered nurse from Oregon who volunteered with the teachers union, worries there will be a slow increase in deaths, as people in rural communities lack medicine and nutrition.

Those with the money and resources to leave are able to head to the U.S. mainland, but not everyone is so fortunate. As well-off citizens leave the destruction behind, that leaves fewer people in the community to aid those who have nothing, creating a resource drain, Richards said.

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I wish I could say that I thought it wasnt a socioeconomic caste system, but it absolutely is, Richards told Newsweek. These Puerto Ricans are being treated like they are disposable. It's been inhumane.

Richards met a woman and her 8-year-old granddaughter while searching rural municipalities outside San Juan. The woman beamed at her from the decimated shell of her kitchen and welcomed her into their home.

In the woman's bedroom, everything is molding from water damage. Richards worries that the woman will develop respiratory problems the longer she lives in the room. There is no roof over the house and no sign that she'll have shelter anytime soon, but the woman smiles and advises Richards of which neighbors need help more than she does.

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COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

'There's not enough FEMA workers' in Puerto Rico

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is struggling to respond to simultaneous natural disaster relief efforts and is desperately in need of local workers. It's seeking local temporary employees to help as crisis counselors, registered nurses and insurance specialists.

FEMA officials allow Puerto Ricans to apply for financial aid online, but a majority of the island lacks internet and electricity. FEMA visits towns, providing spots for people to sign up for money to offset the damage to their homes, which ranges from ripped-off roofs to fully gutted structures. Waiting for FEMA aid brings lines down the street. The agency takes who it can, and the rest are left waiting for their own internet to return.

Water bottles are guarded by FEMA officials and local police to prevent raiding. Officials distribute five bottles of water per person each week to ration the resources. The nurses in Puerto Rico are collecting donations to buy food and water to deliver to rural communities without access to the city. They know five water bottles won't be enough in the humid climate as Puerto Ricans struggle to clear roads and rebuild.

Tin roofs ripped from Puerto Rican homes remain wrapped around trees. Uprooted electrical poles lay exposed on the ground, and telephone lines are toppled. Dead trees and debris cover roadways, cutting neighborhoods in half.

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COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

There is not enough of them [FEMA workers], and they can only do so much, Richards said. Im sure this is just breaking their hearts. You cant look in the face of these people and not have compassion, but theyre being kept on a very short leash.

'It will get worse before it gets better'

On the island, families are draining savings accounts and running out of resources. Health care professionals warn that illnesses and diseases on the island will only increase with the standing water and poor sanitation.

"The storm surge washed farm manure into towns, which completely ruined spring water," Upton said. "I was in the Peace Corps [30 years ago], and it reminds me of a developing country. I think it's going to be several years for recovery. It's not getting better."

As citizens work to clear up yard debris and open roads, they get abrasions and cuts. The open sores are infected in dirty water, Upton told Newsweek. With limited running water in some municipalities, citizens are trying to rig their own makeshift plumbing. Pumps to clear the water from towns are broken, so the water sits, attracting mosquitoes in the humidity.

The House of Representatives on Thursday approved disaster funds for Puerto Rico. The $36.5 billion in relief money will need Senate approval, which could take several weeks.

Hurricane Maria deaths expected to rise

The official death count in Puerto Rico for Hurricane Maria is 45, but communication difficulties from remote areas mean additional deaths go unreported. Experts say the actual number is likely much higher, and volunteers worry it will spike in coming weeks as mosquito-borne illnesses rise and clean water runs out.

Most pharmacies are still closed, and citizens are out of desperately needed medicine. They are unable to get nutrition and water, distorting the count of Hurricane Maria deaths as people suffer and die slowly, Richards said. She doesn't think the people of Puerto Rico can wait a few more weeks for help.

A man is dying of renal failure while he couldnt get to his dialysis, Richards said. But that wont look like a hurricane-related death on a certificate. It looks like natural causes.

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Dublin (AFP) - Ireland has ordered all schools to close Monday as the country braces for an "unprecedented storm" with the arrival of Ophelia, the largest hurricane ever recorded so far east in the Atlantic Ocean.

"In response to the imminent Storm Ophelia, the Department of Education and Skills is now publicly informing all schools, colleges and other education institutions that they are to remain closed tomorrow, Monday 16 October," the department said in a statement.

The decision followed discussions with the government's emergency planning task force and advice "on this unprecedented storm" from Ireland's Met Eireann national weather service, the statement added.

Met Eireann issued a nationwide "status red" alert and warned of "potential risk to lives" when the storm hits daytime Monday.

Although Ophelia will weaken as the storm travels over cooler seas towards the west coast of Ireland, Met Eireann forecast "violent and destructive gusts".

Heavy rain and storm surges are expected to lead to flooding.

An amber wind warning has been issued for Northern Ireland between 1400 GMT and 2100 GMT, when gusts could reach up to 130 kph (80 mph).

"By the time Ophelia reaches our latitudes, she will be weakening and will be an ex-hurricane," said Steve Ramsdale, chief forecaster at Britain's Met Office national weather service.

"However, Ex-Ophelia will be bringing some significant impacts to Northern Ireland and western and northern Britain on Monday and Tuesday."

Scotland, Wales and parts of England were under yellow warnings issued by the Met Office, which forecast "very strong winds" and heavy rain in some areas.

- Travel disruption -

Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Sunday that defence forces were being deployed to areas due to be hit by the storm.

Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the 2017 Atlantic season, which is expected to last until the end of November.

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Three major hurricanes -- Harvey, Irma and Maria -- caused catastrophic damage in the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast.

Meteorologists say Ophelia is the most powerful hurricane recorded so far east in the Atlantic and the first since 1939 to travel so far north.

It was classed Category 3 on Saturday as it passed near Portugal's Azores islands, which means it packed winds of at least 178 kilometres (110 miles) per hour.

When Ophelia reaches Ireland on Monday it is expected to weaken to a "post tropical storm", according to the US National Hurricane Center.

"Mean wind speeds in excess of 80 kph (50 mph) and gusts in excess of 130 kph (80 mph) are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding," it said.

Flights, ferries and buses all face disruption. Cork Airport in southwest Ireland said "cancellations are likely" and urged passengers to check with their airlines in advance of travel.

- Sea warning -

Matt Crofts, a lifesaving manager with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, said the seas could be "particularly dangerous and unpredictable".

"Stormy conditions may be tempting to watch but big waves can easily knock you off your feet.

"We understand why people want to experience extreme weather, but its not worth risking your life, so we strongly urge people to respect the water and watch from a safe distance."

Seven of the nine islands in the Azores were put on high alert for the storm's passage, but it did not cause major damage, authorities told reporters.

Four trees were torn out of the ground on the island of Sao Miguel and firefighters responded to six incidents across the Azores to deal with small floods or landslides.

Several flights between the islands or to the Portuguese mainland were cancelled, affecting about 800 passengers.

In Spain, three people have died in wildfires whipped by strong wind gusts spawned by Hurricane Ophelia.

The fires were raging across the region of Galicia with the flames fanned by wind gusts of up to 90 kilometres (55 miles) per hour as the storm moved north off the coast of Spain towards Ireland, the head of the regional government, Alberto Nunez Feijoo, said.

"The situation is critical," he added.

Three people have also died in wildfires in Portugal, which local authorities said had been exacerbated by drought.
Reince Priebus left his role of White House chief of staff after six tumultuous months - Reuters

Reince Priebus, the former White House chief of staff, has been interviewed by the federal investigator probing Russian meddling in the presidential election.

He is the most senior figure in Donald Trump's inner circle yet to answer questions as part of Robert Muellers investigation into whether anyone in Mr Trumps team knew that Moscow was trying to influence the outcome of the vote.

Mr Priebus was voluntarily interviewed by special counsel Muellers team today, said his lawyer, William Burck. He was happy to answer all of their questions.

Mr Trump is under suspicion of trying to obstruct justice by removing James Comey as head of the FBI as he investigated the Russian angle.

Mr Priebus is expected to have been asked what he knew about that decision.

Robert Mueller has assembled a team of heavy hitters as he pursues his investigation Credit: AP

His position at the heart of the White House puts him in a prime position to have known about crucial meetings, draft documents and about how key decisions were made.

He was fired after the incoming White House communications chief ridiculed him in a foul-mouthed tirade that exposed festering tensions inside the administration.

During the campaign he was chairman of the Republican National Committee.

The latest developments are a reminder that the Russia scandal continues to cast a long shadow over Mr Trumps presidency 11 months after he won a surprise election victory.

Mr Mueller has assembled an impressive legal team and set up a grand jury as part of his investigation, with the power to subpoena records and demand witness testimony.

Last week it emerged his team had interviewed the former MI6 agent who assembled an unverified dossier of connections between the Trump team and Russia.

Mr Mueller has told the White House he also plans to interview Sean Spicer, former press secretary, Don McGhan, White House counsel, Josh Raffel, spokesman, James Burnham, senior associated counsel, and Hope Hicks, communications director.
Moscow (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin is on Sunday expected to speak at a youth festival launched in the Soviet era, in his latest effort to appeal to young Russians ahead of the presidential election next year.

The World Festival of Youth and Students was initiated by the USSR and the Eastern Bloc after World War II and Russia is hosting the 19th festival Sunday in Sochi's Olympic park on the Black Sea, following a Soviet-style parade in Moscow Saturday that boasted 10,000 foreign guests.

Putin, who is widely expected to run for re-election next year though has not formally announced his participation, will visit the opening in Sochi along with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and other officials.

The forum, which uses guerrilla icon Che Guevara as a symbol, has the motto "For Peace, Solidarity and Social Justice, we Struggle Against Imperialism."

The event's website says organisers expect 20,000 guests in Sochi from 150 different countries.

Russia's embassy in Pyongyang said North Korea will also send a delegation of "Komsomol" - the Soviet youth movement.

- Re-creating 1957 -

The World Youth Festival first took place in Czechoslovakia in 1949 and was hosted by Communist states around the world in the second half of the 20th century. Six events have been held since 1989, with North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela among the host nations.

The USSR hosted the event twice: once in 1985 shortly after Mikhail Gorbachev became Soviet leader and most famously in 1957, when thousands of foreigners descended on Moscow for the first time during Khrushchev's political thaw.

Sixty years later, this year's student parade in Moscow echoed the 1957 festival which Russians remember as marking the beginning of a new, more open USSR.

On Saturday, students walked through central Moscow with flags of different countries.

The rainy weather kept some people away and the spectators consisted mainly of people over 50, some teary-eyed with nostalgia.

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"I finally have the chance to see this as I lived in the Far East and didn't have the chance to see it in Moscow," said 71-year-old Valentina Rogova watching the parade. "All nations should be friends. We used to have more events like this in Soviet times."

The 1957 festival "was a breakthrough for the West and for the East," according to Russian historian Alexander Shubin.

"The West saw that normal people live in the USSR while Soviet citizens saw what foreigners look like for the first time."

- Presidential campaign -

This year's festival will have a different vibe. While hosting an exhibition on the lessons of the 1917 October Revolution, the leftist festival's programme also includes workshops on how to set up a business and a display of Dutch tulips.

"It's a borscht of contrary ideas," political analyst Konstantin Kalachev told AFP. "Che Guevara does not fit in with the protectionism of the conservative government."

Putin, is expected to use the platform to get young Russians on his side ahead of next year's vote.

The Kremlin has been trying hard to appeal to the under-30 crowd and Putin's presidential campaign is widely anticipated to be centred around youth policy.

"He wants to show that he's not only the president of the pensioners, but also the president of the future," said political analyst Aleksey Makarkin.

The Kremlin's campaign to woo young Russians was accelerated by the increased participation of youngsters, including many underage teenagers, in anti-Putin protests this year, galvanised by internet savvy opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

"The government was worried when young people took to the streets," said Kalachev.

"They realised that a whole generation of non-conformists could soon come of age."

The World Festival of Youth and Students was planned before the opposition protests took place, but also falls within the Kremlin's agenda to boost Putin's popularity.

"They are trying to form a loyal pro-presidential youth or at least minimise the political activity of youths," said Kalachev.

But the problem, analysts say, is that the Kremlin's youth policy often copies the old Soviet methods.

"They organise meetings that last for hours, they speak at chess competitions - this is all very Soviet," said Makarkin.
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A senior official in the Russian parliament will discuss North Korea's missile and nuclear program in separate talks with parliamentarians from Seoul and Pyongyang on Monday, TASS news agency said. Valentina Matviyenko, speaker of the Senate upper house, will discuss the issue with a deputy head of North Korea's legislature and the head of South Korea's parliament on the sidelines of a congress of parliamentarians in St Petersburg, TASS quoted a senior Russian lawmaker as saying. "Both meetings will take place on Oct. 16," TASS cited Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Senate's international relations committee, as saying. Quoting an unnamed source, RIA news agency said earlier on Saturday the meetings would take place on Oct. 15. "I believe that during the meetings the Russian side will call (on North and South Korea) to hold direct contacts. This would be quite natural, but of course we cannot, and should not, force anyone to do so," Kosachev told TASS. North Korea's nuclear tests and missile launches have stirred global tensions and prompted several rounds of international sanctions at the U.N. Security Council. A de-escalation plan, which is backed by Russia and China, would see North Korea suspend its ballistic missile program and the United States and South Korea simultaneously call a moratorium on large-scale missile exercises, both moves aimed at paving the way for multilateral talks. (Reporting by Dmitry Solovyov; Editing by Richard Balmforth)
Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright in House of Cards, 2017. (Photo: David Giesbrecht/Netflix/courtesy Everett Collection)

The Russians who worked for a notorious St. Petersburg troll factory that was part of Vladimir Putins campaign to influence the 2016 presidential election were required to watch the House of Cards television series to help them craft messages to set up the Americans against their own government, according to an interview broadcast Sunday (in Russian) with a former member of the troll factorys elite English language department.

The interview, broadcast by the independent Russian TV station Rain, provides new insight into how the troll factory formerly known as the Internet Research Agency targeted U.S. audiences in part by posting provocative comments pretending to be from Americans on newspaper articles that appeared on the websites of the New York Times and Washington Post.

A central theme of this messaging was demonizing Hillary Clinton by playing up the past scandals of her husbands administration, her wealth and her use of a private email server, according to the interview with the agency worker, identified only as Maksim, with his face concealed.

Maksim says he worked for the agency during 2015, the year before the election, when it was already focusing its attention on Clinton.

The main message is: Are not you, my American brothers, tired of the Clintons? How many have they already been? Maksim says, adding that he and his colleagues were told to emphasize the Clintons past corruption scandals.

Screen grab of Maksim with his face concealed, a former member of the Internet Research Agency troll factorys elite English language department. (Video still: TV Rain)

But more broadly, the instructions given to employees of the English language department were to stoke discontent about the U.S. government and the Obama administration in particular. We had a goal to set up the Americans against their own government, he says. To cause unrest, cause discontent [and] lower [President] Obamas rating.

Just how effective comments placed on the websites of American news organizations are in influencing public opinion, if they do anything at all, is far from clear. Still, the interview is potentially significant. Although other Russian language trolls who worked in the agencys domestic departments have spoken out in the past, Maksim appears to be the first member of the highly selective English language section to describe the agencys meticulous methods. This is the same department that Facebook has said covertly placed over 3,000 messages on its platform  one component in the Russian influence campaign during last years election that is getting increased attention from the House and Senate intelligence committees.

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The Rain broadcast says the stations journalists verified Maksims bona fides because he was able to produce documents showing that he worked for about a year at the Internet Research Agency, the former name of a media conglomerate that is believed to be owned by Evgeny Progozhin, a wealthy oligarch and restaurateur who is widely known as Putins chef.

While the anti-Clinton messaging Maksim describes is consistent with the longstanding conclusions reached by the U.S. intelligence community about the Russian influence campaign, Maksims account adds some colorful new details  especially the requirement that the agencys English language trolls study House of Cards to better understand American politics.

Hillary Clinton with Michelle Obama, then-President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton in Philadelphia on Nov. 7, 2016. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)

The popular Netflix TV series features a ruthless, power-hungry South Carolina congressman (played by Kevin Spacey) who, with the aid of his equally ambitious wife (played by Robin Wright), rises to the presidency, in part by cutting corrupt deals, planting damaging stories about his political foes in the press, and then covering his tracks by murdering a fellow congressman and a journalist.

At first we were forced to watch the House of Cards in English, said Maksim in the interview. It was part of a documented strategy in the English language department to fully understand how the American political system works. It was necessary to know all the main problems of the United States of America. Tax problems, the problem of gays, sexual minorities, weapons, he said.

You were given a list of media that you had to monitor and comment on  New York Times, Washington Post, he added. The trolls were required to look through thousands of comments on the publications articles. It was necessary to look through all this and understand the general trend, what people were writing about, what they are arguing about, he said. And then get into the dispute yourself to kindle it, try to rock the boat.

The trolls were even measured by how much you got likes. The comment was supposed to provoke a discussion.

The trolls were also instructed to use VPNs  virtual private networks  for their posts in order to disguise their Russian origin. If they caught you using a Russian IP address, youd get a dressing down, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin during a ceremony of receiving diplomatic credentials from foreign ambassadors in the Kremlin on Nov. 9, 2016. (Photo: Sergei Karpukhin/Pool via AP)

Among the major themes the trolls were to write about in their posts were guns and gays. When it was gays, we almost always had to bring out the religious themes, he said. Americans are very religious, especially those [who post] on news sites and write comments. You had to write that sodomy is a sin. That could always get you a couple of dozen likes.

But among the subjects the trolls were told to avoid entirely was any mention of Russia or its president. Neither Russia nor Putin could be mentioned, he said. Because the Americans do not talk about it. They, in fact, do not care about Russia and Putin.

Special correspondent Patrick Reevell contributed to this report from Moscow

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 03:41:16|Editor: yan

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BRATISLAVA, Oct.14 (Xinhua) -- Slovakia plans to launch a national air carrier. It might start with one or two planes that would regularly serve Bratislava-Poprad-Kosice route, said Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on Saturday.

"We chiefly need to ensure a regular air transport on the Slovak territory, connecting the eastern and western parts. This is the most important to us at the moment," stressed Fico.

Fico sees getting Presov region, Kosice region, Bratislava region and Bratislava municipality engaged in cooperation as a solution to the national air carrier project.

"The government cannot automatically give money for it, as this would be an unpermitted state aid," added Fico.
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will not certify the Iran deal. As Elena Chachko and Suzanne Maloney have already explained, this will not necessarily lead to the reimposition of sanctions. It will, however, trigger a period of intense congressional debate and geopolitical uncertainty. According to the deals architects, this is enough to unleash disastrous foreign policy repercussions.

Perhaps these critics are correct. However, an honest reckoning with the presidents decision must include not just projections about its effects, but also an evaluation of its causes. Foremost among these is the framework created by decades of U.S. sanctions legislation.

First, consider the certification requirement. Despite some misleading reporting, certification is not simply a matter of the president affirming or denying whether Iran is complying with the 2015 nuclear deal. On the contrary, current law requires that a president make two different kinds of determinations. First, the president must decide whether Iran is transparently, verifiably, and fully implementing the agreement; is not in material breach with respect to the agreement; and has not acted to significantly advance its nuclear weapons program. Second, the president must also make more general determinations about the worth of deal: whether the suspension of sanctions is appropriate and proportionate to Iranian conduct and vital to the national security interests of the United States.

The existence of these twin requirements places the presidents expected certification decision in a different  even reasonable  light. Rather than claiming Iran is in material breach when, according to most judgements, Iran is largely complying, the president can claim that his failure to certify is based on his evaluation of American interests.

This claim has the virtue of truth. For better or worse, Trump really does seem to believe that the United States would be better off taking a harder line with Iran. So, the presidents failure to certify is best understood as a policy disagreement rather than a politically motivated lie about Iranian actions. Just as my Lawfare colleague Benjamin Wittes has encouraged readers not to become accustomed to presidential lying, recognizing this difference is crucial.

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As importantly, the existence of these twin determinations also means that a presidents refusal to certify would comply with law. The certification determinations are not optional. The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (INARA) mandates that the President shall, not less than every 90 calendar days make such determinations, and that if he is able to certify an affirmative answer to congressional leadership, he must do so. So if not for the laws national interests determination, a presidential failure to certify would actually be a violation of law. This too is important to ignore. Even now, specific presidential breaches of law would be a big deal. As Jack Goldsmith has noted, while Trump has profoundly eroded American political norms, he has been almost entirely blocked from violating laws.

Of course, Trump did not draft the INARA; Congress did. If members of Congress dislike that certification requires a policy judgement  in addition to a factual one about compliance  they have only themselves to blame.

In fact, the legislative origins of the dual determinations framework lie even deeper than the INARA. Its crucial to remember that the American sanctions regime did not begin with Irans nuclear program. It accrued over decades, frequently referencing Irans nuclear program  but just as frequently citing Irans heinous human rights record, support for terrorism, and destabilizing regional role. During the nuclear negotiations, American officials made a show of only bargaining away nuclear-related sanctions. Yet the troublesome truth is that there is no such category. The vast majority of sanctions punished Iran both for its nuclear behavior and for other activities in conflict with American interests.

It is precisely because these sanctions are complex, multipurpose policy tools that Congress sought to provide presidents with maximum flexibility. Therefore, the vast majority of sanctions contained provisions permitting a president to waive or suspend sanctions when he determined it was essential to the national interest to do so. Because sanctions were never just about nuclear weapons, presidents would be required to make wider judgements as they adjusted sanctions to control Iranian behavior.

This suspension power was precisely what President Barack Obama used so effectively in reaching a deal without congressional support. In doing so, he operated within the legal framework that already existed. In accordance with underlying sanction legislation, he affirmed  publicly and repeatedly  that these suspensions were essential to the national interest.

In the lead up to the nuclear deal, opponents lacked the votes in congress necessary to block it. But a strong bipartisan majority did agree that the preexisting certification requirements ought to continue to limit future presidents. Consequently, the INARAs demand for recertification that sanctions relief is vital to the national interest is a retention of a standard at the heart of decades of American sanctions policy.

None of this means that Trumps evaluation of the national interest is particularly wise. But it does mean that criticism based entirely on the claim that Iran is in compliance is inadequate. Indeed, decades of law dictate that the president must look beyond compliance alone when evaluating whether to continue the suspension of sanctions.

The spirit of the deal

There is still some rhetorical slipperiness afoot. For weeks, the White House has signaled that a central rationale for decertification will be Irans violation of the spirit of the deal. This phrase is frustratingly ambiguous.

But here, too, the president has a point. In recent months, Iran has repeatedly conducted ballistic missile tests in defiance of the very same U.N. Security Council resolution that implemented the Iran deal, or Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran is specifically called upon not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology. Crucially, the same resolution explicitly states that the parties participation in the JCPOA is contingent upon the United Nations Security Council  requir[ing] States to comply with the provisions in this statement. So in a sense, restrictions on Iranian ballistic missile activity are an element of the deal.

Yet, the same resolution noticeably (and inexcusably) avoids binding legal language for these restrictions. In contrast to other provisions which are decided by the Security Council under Article 41, the missile restrictions are simply issued as an exhortation. Moreover, Footnote 3 of the JCPOAs Annex V explicitly warns that [t]he provisions of this [Security Council] Resolution do not constitute provisions of this JCPOA. So as a technical matter, the missile launches also seem to lie outside of the deal itself.

Hence the strange conclusion, shared by the White House (and interestingly, France): Iran may be technically compliant, but is not abiding by the agreements spirit. This also follows Trumps corollary: ongoing sanctions relief is no longer in the U.S. national interest.

As should be clear, the administrations verbal gymnastics are rooted in the diplomatic dance that went into the deal itself. The United States and its allies wished to retain ongoing restrictions on Irans ballistic missile activity as part of the deal. Iran adamantly refused. Where Western negotiators saw such activities as an illegal (under prior Security Council resolutions) and aggressive supplement to Irans nuclear program, Iran claimed that any such restrictions were themselves a form of punishment. Rather than resolving the issue, diplomats fudged it. The result gives the appearance of restraining Irans missile program, but without legal teeth. It does so in a way that ensures that both a bellicose Iran and compliance hawks can self-righteous condemn the other.

When combined with the national interests certification requirement  and of course, a singularly unpredictable president  this sort of ambiguity becomes radioactive. Sundays deadline also reveals a sad if unsurprising irony: Artful diplomacy may have facilitated the deals formation, but overly clever drafting may also lead to its unraveling.

The president has made his choice, and he must bear full responsibility. But decades of prior choices  particularly legislative and drafting choices  created the framework for Fridays decision. Prior Congresses, presidents, and the public ought to recognize this. Blame, or credit, will be due.

Photo credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
Barcelona (AFP) - As Catalonia's separatist challenge heats up, far-right groups are increasingly taking to the streets in their quest for Spanish unity, sparking fears they will grow stronger after decades on the margins, analysts say.

In central Barcelona Thursday, xenophobic group Hogar Social, far-right party Vox and ultra nationalist group Espana 2000 rallied along with tens of thousands of families, couples and retirees for Spain's national day.

Not far off on Barcelona's mountain of Montjuic, several hundred other far-right supporters rallied, holding fiery speeches next to a stand selling memorabilia like Adolf Hitler's "political testament" or items marked with "SS", the insignia of the Nazi elite force.

Small groups of far-right supporters have gathered on other occasions in Barcelona, or further afield in Valencia or the Balearic Islands -- parts of Spain with strong regional identities -- sparking scuffles.

While these types of incidents have happened in the past, some fear that the far-right could grow stronger if the face-off between Spain's central government and Catalan leaders who want to break away persists.

- Far-right weak in Spain -

"The longer the polarisation (in Spain) and the harder it is to resolve the conflict, the more the potential for these groups to get organised and gain political influence, or take to the streets," says political analyst Pablo Simon.

"There have never been such big protests with Spanish flags, and that's what these groups are taking advantage of to grow bolder and expand.

"They're becoming more visible."

Historian Xavier Casals, who specialises in the far-right, counters that there is currently no political party with a brand strong enough to capitalise on the Catalan crisis.

But he adds it is difficult to gauge what will happen as "the situation in Catalonia is evolving rapidly, with unpredictable and changing scenarios."

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Unlike other European countries such as France or Germany, Spain's far-right is very much on the margin and "has been hugely fragmented since the start of the 1980s," says Jordi Borras, a photojournalist who has long studied the issue.

The country's national parliament has not had any far-right lawmaker since 1982.

After Spain transitioned to democracy in the 1970s, the far-right found itself unable to broaden its appeal beyond nostalgia for Francisco Franco's 1939-1975 dictatorship, says Borras.

Not only that, but many people who identify with the far-right vote for Spain's conservative Popular Party, which is currently in power, he adds.

- Catalyst of Spanish unity -

But while issues such as immigration or Islamophobia federate the far-right in other countries, "the catalyst for Spain's far-right is Catalonia's independence movement, because their main obsession is guaranteeing Spain's unity," says Borras.

On Thursday in Barcelona, Manuel Andrino, leader of the Falange, a small far-right party, pointed out in an angry speech that Madrid was hosting its traditional national day military parade.

"I don't think there's any parade to celebrate, and even less in Madrid. Our army needs to be here, now, with our compatriots," he shouted.

Sociologist Narciso Michavila says that while opinion polls show "a rise of parties like Vox," they still don't have much support.

But Catalan nationalist leaders, in his opinion, "have spread xenophobia with regards to other Spaniards," with themes such as "Spain is robbing us," in reference to a widely-used complaint that Catalonia pays more in taxes to Madrid than it gets back.

Michavila says this has contributed to the far-right's response to the Catalan crisis at a time of high political tension.

"At the end of the day, extremes need each other," he says.

"They live off this radicalness and this confrontation."

Borras, meanwhile, says he has "been warning for a while that things will escalate."

"It's very probable that there will be more incidents."
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian government and allied forces have taken the eastern town of al-Mayadeen from Islamic State, a Syrian military source said on Saturday, further weakening the militants' diminishing presence in Syria. Al-Mayadeen, near the Iraqi border in Deir al Zor province, had become a major base for Islamic State militants as they were being driven out of their de facto Syrian capital in Raqqa city by a U.S.-backed offensive. Over the past few months many of the individuals which the U.S.-led coalition against Islamic State has targeted have come from al-Mayadeen, coalition spokesman Ryan Dillon told Reuters. The Syrian government campaign to take al-Mayadeen has been supported by heavy Russian air strikes. The U.S.-led coalition has also previously struck in the vicinity of the town. Al-Mayadeen lies south of the provincial capital Deir al-Zor city, where Syrian and allied forces are also trying to oust the militants from a small pocket they still control. The Syrian military source said the jihadists in al-Mayadeen had suffered a "collapse" in their ranks. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says President Donald Trump has made it clear to me to continue my diplomatic efforts with North Korea. (Photo: Yuri Gripas / Reuters)

The Trump administration intends to continue diplomatic efforts with North Korea until the first bomb drops, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Sunday.

Appearing on CNNs State of the Union, Tillerson raised the specter of a military response, saying that the White House had spent substantial time getting military preparations ready to go against North Korea.

But he said such an action targeting the rogue nation, while on the table, would constitute a last resort.

President Donald Trump has also made clear to me that he wants this solved diplomatically. Hes not seeking to go to war, Tillerson said.

He dismissed Trumps recent tweet that his top diplomat was wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man (North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un). Trump also tweeted: Save your energy Rex, well do what has to be done!

Those tweets were widely seen as undercutting Tillerson, who had said the U.S. was seeking a dialogue with North Korea about its missile and nuclear tests.

Trump has made it clear to me to continue my diplomatic efforts, Tillerson said. As I have told others, those diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops.

Tillerson says Trump wants diplomacy in N. Korea: "Diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops" https://t.co/es8NqLurrJ  CNN (@CNN) October 15, 2017

In an interview with Fox News Sunday, White House national security adviser H.R. McMaster argued that Trumps tweets denigrating Kim are helping to convey his seriousness, rather than undermining attempts at diplomacy.

I think what the real danger is in terms of communicating with Kim Jong Un is that if he doesnt understand how serious we are about his behavior and the behavior of the regime, McMaster said. The president has been very clear on that, and I think that is beneficial to the safety and security of not only the United States but our great allies in South Korea and Japan and the world.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
Rex Tillerson pauses in his remarks before a meeting at the State Department on Friday. (Mike Theiler/Reuters)

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is still refusing to address reports he called President Trump a moron after a meeting with the commander in chief and top national security officials over the summer.

Im not going to deal with that kind of petty stuff, Tillerson said on CNNs State of the Union on Sunday. This is a town that seems to relish gossip, rumor, innuendo, and they feed on it. They feed on one another in a very destructive way. I dont work that way. I dont deal that way, and Im not going to dignify the question.

Tillerson reportedly made the moron comment after a July 20 meeting during which Trump, Tillerson and other top national security advisers discussed the countrys nuclear arsenal. Last week, NBC News reported that Trump told the officials he wanted a tenfold increase in U.S. nuclear weapons, returning the number of nuclear weapons to levels not seen for decades. Trump later called the report pure fiction and threatened to revoke NBCs broadcast license.

Earlier this month, NBC reported that Tillerson considered resigning after Trumps rambling, highly politicized speech to a gathering of Boy Scouts on July 24, and that Vice President Mike Pence had to talk him out of it. That report prompted the secretary of state to abruptly call a hastily arranged press conference during which he rebutted the story and reaffirmed his commitment to the Trump agenda.

The vice president has never had to persuade me to remain as secretary of state because I have never considered leaving this post, Tillerson said.

But when asked specifically at that press conference whether he had called the president a moron, Tillerson did not deny it, saying, Im not going to deal with petty stuff like that.

President Trump, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. (Photos: AP, Getty)

Two weeks ago, Trump appeared to undercut Tillersons diplomatic efforts in North Korea, tweeting that the secretary of state was wasting his time trying to negotiate with the rogue nuclear nations leader, Kim Jong Un.

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I told Rex Tillerson, our wonderful Secretary of State, that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with Little Rocket Man, Trump wrote on Twitter. Save your energy Rex, well do what has to be done!

On State of the Union, Tillerson insisted that Trumps tweets did not undermine his efforts to negotiate with Pyongyang.

He has made it clear to me to continue my diplomatic efforts, Tillerson said. Those diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops.

The president has also made clear to me that he wants this solved diplomatically, Tillerson explained. Hes not seeking to go to war.

The secretary of state was also asked by CNNs Jake Tapper to respond to Sen. Bob Corkers comment that Trump has effectively castrated the nations top diplomat.

You dont want to say anything about the senator suggesting you were gelded? Tapper asked.

I checked, Tillerson replied. Im fully intact.

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On Thursday, President Donald Trump nominated Kathleen Hartnett White to be the chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). This relatively little-known office helps coordinate environmental policymaking in the Executive Branch, and works with agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency to vet new rules and regulations.

Even in an administration loaded with climate deniers, Hartnett White, if confirmed, would stand out for her extreme views on climate science. She has a track record of expressing an enthusiasm for burning more fossil fuels, like oil, coal, and natural gas, compared to renewable energy sources.

SEE ALSO: Trump's top environmental official spends most of his time hanging out with the industries he regulates

Hartnett White currently directs the Armstrong Center for Energy and the Environment at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which received funding from Koch Industries, a major donor to climate denial groups. She also is a former chair of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

In an op-ed in June of last year, for example, she wrote that carbon dioxide, which is the longest-lasting greenhouse gas, is actually beneficial for the environment.

"Carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, and carbon is certainly not a poison," Hartnett White wrote.

EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, talks to a reporter after speaking at Whayne Supply in Hazard, Kentucky on Oct. 9, 2017.

Image: AP/REX/Shutterstock

"... This falsely maligned natural gas is better known as the 'gas of life' because it is a necessary nutrient for plant growth  the food base of life on the planet Earth," she wrote.

Her views, as expressed in that op-ed, even put her out of step with most fossil fuel companies. Even Exxon's leadership acknowledges the existence of human-caused climate change, and backs particular efforts  namely a carbon tax  to address the issue.

Climate scientists have warned for decades that emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases, such as methane, from burning fossil fuels are causing the Earth's global average temperature to increase. This warming is triggering large-scale changes to our planet, from melting polar ice sheets to increasingly common and severe extreme weather events.

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Last year was the planet's warmest on record, and carbon dioxide levels in the air are currently at their highest in all of human history.

Hartnett White, however, denies that the science tying the burning of fossil fuels to global warming, and she favors creating a new panel to take a fresh look at the evidence.

Her views jibe well with EPA administrator Scott Pruitt, who is planning to hold a series of televised climate science debates sometime this winter.

Hartnett White has been a particular critic of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which issues comprehensive climate science assessments about every 7 years, which are used to inform policymakers worldwide.

Hartnett White told the Washington Post in 2016 that she is unconvinced that acting on climate change is an urgent task.

I am not at all persuaded by the IPCC science that we are standing on some precipice, Hartnett-White said. Were not standing on a cliff from which we are about to fall off.

In fact, many climate scientists have issued increasingly dire warnings that if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced significantly within the next decade, the world will be locked into such a large amount of warming that world economies will take a large hit, many species will go extinct, and coastal megacities will be swallowed by rising seas.

Christine Goldfuss, who led the CEQ under former president Barack Obama, said Hartnett White espouses "classic [fossil fuel] industry talking points.

"This is not a nomination that is fit for the position that she would be filling. She is just so extreme in her denial of science and what we know to be true," Goldfuss said in an interview. "She is not capable of doing the job"

The job of the CEQ director, as spelled out by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, is to establish environmental policy goals for the nation and to develop regulations and guidance for how agencies should conduct their environmental review processes.

The CEQ staff is supposed to meet with the public to hear their concerns about environmental issues, and recommend to the president how to better protect the air, water, and public lands.

"A person who denies, ignores the greatest environmental danger we face  it's shocking  it's shocking this would be who he'd put in there," Goldfuss said about Hartnett White's nomination, which is subject to Senate approval.

Goldfuss thinks that under Trump, the CEQ is being turned into a fast-track permitting agency, through which special interests are having the government to sign off on their desired energy projects. Goldfuss, along with three other former CEQ leaders, recently wrote to Trump, warning of the consequences that could result from rushed, inadequate environmental reviews of everything from oil pipelines to new bridges.

She said Hartnett White would complete the "trifecta" of climate deniers at key environmental agencies, including Pruitt and Energy Secretary Rick Perry.
Derek Sire, a 26-year-old student living in a suburb of Chicago, can only afford health insurance because of the Affordable Care Act's subsidies. Every month, the subsidies pay for $199 of his insurance plan, while he contributes his own $133, using the money he earns working part-time at a local church. When Sire heard President Donald Trump eliminated the ACA's subsidies late Thursday night, he panickedin addition to suffering from back pain, Sire relies on his insurance to treat a mental health condition.

The stress of not knowing whether he would be able to continue accessing mental health care, he says, has already taken a toll.

"It causes me more stress that I have to worry about this," Sire tells Newsweek. "It almost compounds my diagnosis."



Sire is just one of some 6 million enrollees who qualify for the ACA's cost-sharing payment program. Trump's decision to scrap the subsidies will impact low-income Obamacare recipients most acutely: Enrollees who qualify for the subsidies earn incomes between 100 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level.



In some ways, Sire says he's fortunate: As a student, he's able to access his university's campus health care services. But without the ACA's monthly subsidies, he may no longer be able to afford health insurance at all, making these services his primary form of care. That could be a huge problem.

Sire explains:

Im a former political science major and have taken classes on health care, so Im aware of what it means for people to be able to manage their diagnoses. Im actually someone who wants to take care of myself, and Id like to be able to do that. It causes me more stress that I have to worry about this. It almost compounds my diagnosis. Im privileged in many ways. Im white and male, but its unjust that this is something that compounds my mental health diagnosisthat I have to worry about being able to treat that diagnosis for reasons like this.



Thank God I have access to student health services, but it will be a problem for my prescriptions. If a doctor wants me taking prescription medication ... and I can't get it because I don't have coverage, that could lead to me having an episode or relapse, and that wouldn't be good for me. It could change my future in terms of a school semester or maintaining a job and I don't think that would be fair. I don't know how else people can strongly convey to politicians the weight of the decisions they are making: It's life or death for many people. It shouldnt be that we see a story in the middle of the night that somebody just makes a decision that could have implications for whether or not someone continues school the next semester because they might lose health care. To hell with political parties and legacies. If theres any legacy that matters its that people's lives matter.

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There may be hope for Sire yet: According to ABC News, Trump's decision to eliminate Obamacare subsidies could be entangled in legal battles for years. Attorneys general in almost 20 states already have reported plans to sue the Trump administration to uphold the subsidies, arguing Trump is legally bound to continue paying them.

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Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 04:41:26|Editor: yan

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- As an open and inclusive platform, China's Belt and Road Initiative could help deepen international cooperation in development and faster economic integration in the region, a Chinese official said here during the International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank annual meetings.

"There are many profound changes under development now in the world. Interests of all countries are increasingly conversed. We are also facing problems in global development and economic globalization," said Shi Yaobin, vice minister of China' s Ministry of Finance.

Shi told Xinhua in an interview that this required international communities to strengthen cooperation, because a country alone cannot solve these problems. "This is why China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)," said Shi.

The BRI is an open and inclusive platform, and cooperation is one of the best ways to deliver fruits under the initiative, according to the official.

The initiative is to promote infrastructure investment, facilitate trade and investment, and coordinate development strategies in the region, said Shi.

According to early estimate of the World Bank, the development of BRI will likely influence the foreign direct investment activity in developing East Asia and Pacific region, because the initiative involves more than 60 countries and a combined inward FDI stock of around 6 trillion U.S. dollars.

The World Bank estimates also showed that trade in the BRI region would increase 13 percent at most, because the BRI will likely foster infrastructure connectivity in the region and reduce trade time by 26 percent on average.

When talking about cooperation with the World Bank, Shi said that World Bank has been a strong supporter for the BRI, because the initiative has overlaps with its development business in the region.

According to Shi, World Bank's support sets an example for other multilateral development banks (MDBs) in view of its leading role in the area.

The cooperation with the World Bank could mobilize participation of more MDBs, private sectors and other funding sources, and create all-win solutions, said Shi.
President Donald Trump could begin referring to the detractors within his own party as fake Republicans if he acts on the advice of Jerry Falwell Jr.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity, Falwell Jr. said he had advised the president to step up his attacks on those members of the GOP who did not support his agenda.

I spoke to the president last week and I told him he needs to coin a new term: Fake Republicans," Falwell Jr. told Hannity in the Friday interview.

Mitch McConnell, John McCain

Dominick Reuter/AFP/Getty Images

Because thats what those people you just named are," he added in reference to Senator John McCain and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell after Hannity asked him about the politicians.

McCain prompted ire from Trump after failing to back his attempt to repeal and replace Obamacare, with McConnells attempt to get a skinny version of the bill through the Senate failing and adding to the existing rift between the pair that has seen McConnell suggest Trump doesnt understand the Senate, and Trump stating he is very disappointed with Mitch.

Indeed, Trump has previously lashed out at McCain over the healthcare bill, stating in an Alabama radio interview in September: Now, when it matters because you have a president who is actually going to sign it, they don't do it. And they pander, and they grandstand. You look at McCainwhat McCain has done is a tremendous slap in the face to the Republican Party. Tremendous. He was good to go all the way up until 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning when he voted... Without John McCain, we already have the health care.

In addition, Trump has reportedly taken to impersonating McCain and McConnell while he is in private. Trump is said to imitate Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells slumped shoulders and lethargic body language, according to Axios, and to re-create Senator John McCains famous thumbs-down gesture that signaled the death of the Republicans health care overhaul in July.

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Falwell Jr. added in the interview with Hannity: Theyre not really Republicans. We dont really have a majority in the Senate, and I think that would be a good term for him to start using."

Trump is no stranger to dubbing entities that fail to support him as fake, frequently referring to members of the media, negative stories about him, and entire news networks as fake when he encounters news he feels paints him in an unfavorable light.

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Tehran (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's speech outlining an aggressive new strategy against Iran violated Tehran's nuclear agreement with world powers, said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Trump's virulent speech contravened three articles of the 2015 deal, Zarif said in televised remarks broadcast late on Saturday.

They include the requirement to implement the accord "in good faith" and for the US to "refrain from re-introducing or re-imposing" sanctions related to Iran's nuclear programme.

"I have already written nine letters (to EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini) listing the cases where the United States has failed to act on or delayed its commitments under the JCPOA," Zarif said, using the technical name for the nuclear deal.

Mogherini helped negotiate the nuclear deal alongside the US, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia.

Zarif said he would write a new letter regarding Trump's speech last Friday, and warned of a "reciprocal measure" if sanctions were reimposed.

In his speech, Trump refused to "certify" the nuclear deal and warned he would "terminate" the deal unless Congress introduced tough new sanctions against Iran's missile and nuclear programmes, as well as its "destabilising" activities in the Middle East.

Zarif responded by saying: "Our achievements in the field of ballistics are in no way negotiable.

"We live in a region into which hundreds of billions of dollars of lethal American weapons have poured, turning it into a gunpowder storehouse... so we have the right to have defensive means," he said.

Meanwhile, Iran's Atomic Energy Organization chief Ali Akbar Salehi said the country would no longer abide by the Additional Protocol of the Non-Proliferation Treaty if the nuclear deal fell apart.

The protocol allows unannounced inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iran agreed to implement it as part of the nuclear deal, without turning it into law.

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"Without the nuclear agreement its application is meaningless," Salehi told state television.

He also repeated his warning that Iran could very quickly return to the production of highly enriched uranium if the US reimposed sanctions.

"If one day, the leaders of the country conclude that the nuclear agreement is no longer to the benefit of the country and decide to resume 20 percent enrichment we can do so within four days," he said.

Weapons-grade uranium is enriched to 90 percent, but most of the work to get there has already been done once scientists have achieved 20 percent.
The Donald Trump administration has already picked fights with most international organizations and accords, from NATO to NAFTA. This week, it took aim at the World Bank, refusing to pony up more money for development projects because the bank lends so much money to China. That could serve to turbocharge Chinas own efforts to craft an alternative to Western-led development banks.

For two years, the World Bank has been trying to get member countries to subscribe to a capital increase for its development unit, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and hoped to reach a deal this week during the annual meeting in Washington. But the U.S. Treasury wont back the move.

The bottom line here is right now weve got too high a percentage of the World Banks balance sheet thats going to countries and to projects that already have ample borrowing capacity, a senior Treasury official told Reuters, which noted that China is the IBRDs biggest recipient of development loans, totaling $2.4 billion.

The Treasury official suggested that poor countries should use their own limited money or turn to the private sector, instead of seeking the development aid that has traditionally been disbursed as part of the World Banks poverty-reduction mission.

To fund development needs, there needs to be renewed focus on domestic resource mobilization and engagement in private sector development, the official told Reuters.

By tying funding to the World Banks China portfolio, former Treasury official Scott Morris told the Financial Times, the Trump administration is essentially picking a direct fight with China.

The United States has what amounts to veto power over the World Banks efforts to raise fresh capital. World Bank President Jim Yong Kim, who had requested the capital increase, disagreed with Treasurys decision.

For me the rationale for us working in China is quite clear: Not only are we helping them along the development path but the lessons we learn in China  are very helpful to our work in other developing countries, Kim said on Thursday.

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By pushing the bank to further exclude China from Western-dominated lending institutions, the U.S. government will only hasten Beijings tendency to establish and strengthen parallel organizations beyond Western influence. Stung by years of Western refusal to alter voting rights in the World Bank to reflect Chinas increased economic heft on the global stage, Beijing in 2015 launched the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

Headquartered in Beijing, the AIIB seeks to meet the massive need for infrastructure in Asia  and has more capital than the World Bank. The United States declined AIIB membership, while its efforts to prevent Western allies from joining the bank failed.

Until this week, the World Bank had largely escaped the censure that President Donald Trump has directed at other prominent international organizations.

Campaigning on an isolationist, protectionist agenda, Trump entered office intent on abandoning or renegotiating any commitment which he viewed as a bad deal for the American people. Trump has disparaged the United Nations and NATO, torpedoed the Trans-Pacific Partnership, threatened to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, and withdrawn the United States from UNESCO and the Paris climate agreement.

On Friday, he threatened to blow up the 2015 nuclear deal unless Congress gets tougher with Iran, which nearly everyone in the administration acknowledges is complying with the agreement.

In keeping with Trumps America First platform, the presidents 2018 budget request also envisioned massive cuts to U.S. foreign aid, essentially discarding Americas 70-year tradition of assistance to developing and low-income nations. Congress rejected most of the cuts.

As both a conduit of development aid and a global multilateral organization, the World Bank makes an easy target for administration critics who want to ensure that any organization receiving U.S. support also backs the presidents interpretation of U.S. interests.

Kim had already made overtures to the Trump administration, perhaps out of a desire to gain its backing. In May, the World Bank collaborated with the presidents daughter Ivanka Trump to set up the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, with President Trump offering $50 million in funding for the project.

But by tying funding to the World Banks China portfolio, former Treasury official Scott Morris told the Financial Times that the Trump administration was essentially picking a direct fight with China.

Mark Wilson/Getty Images
Trump says he will not recertify deal but stops short of pulling out entirely

President says US participation can be cancelled by me at any time

Donald Trump has threatened to terminate the 2015 Iran nuclear deal if Congress and US allies fail to amend the agreement in significant ways.

In a vituperative speech on Friday that began by listing Irans alleged crimes over the decades, Trump announced he would not continue to certify the agreement to Congress, but stopped short of immediately cancelling US participation in the deal.

Based on the factual record I have put forward, I am announcing today that we cannot and will not make this certification. We will not continue down a path whose predictable conclusion is more violence, more terror and the very real threat of Irans nuclear breakout, Trump said at the White House.

Trump put the onus on Congress and US allies to agree to means to toughen the conditions on Iran  and to make restriction on the countrys nuclear programme permanent. He made clear that if those negotiations fail to reach a solution  which is almost certain  he would unilaterally pull the US out of the international agreement, a move likely to lead to a return to nuclear confrontation in the Middle East.

In the event we are not able to reach a solution working with Congress and our allies, then the agreement will be terminated, Trump said. It is under continuous review and our participation can be cancelled by me, as president, at any time.

The president also announced he had ordered the US Treasury to impose new sanctions on Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a backer of terrorist groups in the region, although the state department did not designate the IRGC as a terrorist group itself.

The international backlash to Trumps speech was immediate. The leaders of the UK, France and Germany  also signatories of the nuclear deal  issued a statement vowing their commitment to the agreement.

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The EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, insisted that the agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was working, and that no single country or leader could terminate it.

The president of the United States has many powers, but not this one, Mogherini told reporters in Brussels.

Yukiya Amano, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UNs nuclear watchdog, issued a statement restating the agencys finding that Iran was abiding by its obligations.

Within minutes of Trumps speech, Irans president, Hassan Rouhani, went live on state television.

He said: What we heard tonight was a repeat of the same baseless accusations and insults that weve heard over the past 40 years. It had nothing new; we werent surprised because for 40 years weve got used to these words. With your baseless speech you made our people more united.

Rouhani went on: Today, the US is more isolated than ever against the nuclear deal, [more] isolated than any other time in its plots against people of Iran.

The Iranian president shrugged off Trumps call for constraints on Irans ballistic missile programme.

Our missile and defence activities have always been important to us for our defence, and today its more important, Rouhani said. We have always made efforts to produce weapons that we need, and from now on we will double our efforts. These weapons are for our defence and we will continue strengthening our defence capabilities.

Trump received rapid support, meanwhile, from Israel and Saudi Arabia, who have emerged as his own major allies on the world stage.

Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he wanted to congratulate President Trump for his courageous decision today and for boldly confront[ing] Irans terrorist regime.

For European diplomats seeking to salvage the JCPOA, the days leading up to Trumps long-awaited speech were a roller-coaster. Initially fearful that Trump could immediately trigger a possible collapse of the deal, the Europeans were buoyed when they were briefed that Trump would not call for the reimposition of sanctions by Congress.

However, in the wake of the presidents speech on Friday, the JCPOAs survival looked tenuous.

In the speech, Trump declared: I am directing my administration to work closely with Congress and our allies to address the deals many serious flaws so the Iranian regime can never threaten the world with nuclear weapons.

He noted that congressional leaders were already drafting amendments to legislation that would include restrictions on ballistic missiles and make the curbs on Irans nuclear programme under the 2015 deal permanent, and to reimpose sanctions instantly if those restrictions were breached.

However, any such changes would need 60 votes in the US Senate to pass, and Democrats are high unlikely to give them their backing. Even if they did pass into law, the restrictions would represent a unilateral effort to change the accord that would not be acceptable to the other national signatories.

Hours earlier, the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson had acknowledged that it was very unlikely that the JCPOA agreement could be change, but suggested that the issue of Irans ballistic missile programme and the time limits on some of the nuclear constraints in the deal, could be dealt with in a separate agreement that could exist alongside the JCPOA.

Trump, however, made no reference to such a way out of the looming impasse.

He appeared to go out of his way to goad Iran, even linking Tehran with al-Qaida and the attacks on US embassies in 1998. He referred to Tehran as a fanatical regime and a dictatorship. He even referred to the body of water almost universally known as the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf.

How come a president has not yet learned the name of a famous gulf in the world, the same Persian Gulf that US vessels always pass through aimlessly? a riled Rouhani said in his response.

He needs to study geography, but also international law. How come an international agreement that is endorsed by a UN resolution, which is a UN document  how a US president can annul such an international document?

The exchange of insults mirrored Trumps continuing spat with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, adding personal animus to already tense situations on opposite sides of the world.
The U.S. and Iran have both taken defensive measures to prepare for a potential conflict following President Donald Trump's controversial decision Friday to not certify a landmark nuclear treaty between both countries and four other leading powers.

Despite recommendations from his security and defense advisers, Trump decertified the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a 2015 deal negotiated by the U.S., Iran, China France, Germany, Russia and the U.K., and designated Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization. Trump's remarks, in which he accused Iran of being a "fanatical regime" that sponsors terrorism abroad, had immediate repercussions in the region, with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani quickly condemning the speech during a televised address.

Related: In Trump's War With Iran, U.S. Allies Are Siding With Russia and China

Mr. Trumps remarks on Irancontained nothing but expletives and a pile of delusional allegations against the Iranian nation, Rouhani said, according to Press TV, the English-language affiliate of the semiofficial Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting agency.

"The Iranian nation has not yielded to any power and will not do so in the future," he added, arguing that U.S. forces, not the IRGC, were responsible for destabilizing the region.

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Stringer/AFP/Getty Images

In response to Trump's decision to add the IRGC to the State Department's list of foreign terrorist organizations, Iranian lawmaker Alireza Rahimi, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told the Iranian Students' News Agency that Iran would put the U.S. military on its "list of groups that undermine international security and stability." The IRGC is an official branch of Iran's armed forces but also maintains external operations and operates under direct orders from an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Given that the army and [other] armed forces of a country are guarantors of its security, the [possible] move [by the U.S. to designate IRGC forces as terrorists] is tantamount to a declaration of war, Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's atomic agency, told British analysts and media figures Thursday during a meeting in London, according to the semiofficial Tasnim News Agency.

The JCPOA's other signatories, the U.N. and the State Department have all found Iran to be in compliance with the deal, despite Trump's claims otherwise. Trump also has said that Iran violated "the spirit of the agreement" through ballistic missile tests and support for mostly Shiite Muslim movements across the Middle East.

Both the U.S. and Iran are actively fighting the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in Iraq and Syria, but tensions have escalated between U.S. and Iran-backed factions as Trump has adopted an increasingly bellicose stance toward Iran. The Pentagon also responded to Trump's move by announcing it was "reviewing the entire breadth of our security cooperation activities, force posture and plans," CNN reported.

Defense Secretary James Mattis has not yet officially commented on Trump's decision to decertify the JCPOA, but told Congress earlier this month it was in the United States' interests to remain in the deal. Former military officials have agreed, arguing the move could ultimately remove nuclear restrictions against Iran and move the U.S. closer to war.

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MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

Retired Army Major General Paul Eaton, who played a key role in rebuilding and training the Iraqi military in the wake of the 2003 U.S. invasion, on Friday warned that Trump's decision may not only bring about a new crisis in the Middle East, but further escalate an already tense nuclear standoff with North Korea and further complicate the U.S.'s 16-year military campaign in Afghanistan. He appealed to Congress to not destroy the deal by adding more sanctions during the 60-day window lawmakers now have to take action.

"Donald Trump has moved us closer to a war with Iran, while he has also moved us closer to a nuclear war with North Korea. All while we're in a war in Afghanistan," Eaton said in a statement.

"The path we are now onmassive loss of human life, on the scale of millionsis not a positive development for America, or humanity," he continued. "We implore Congress to step in and rein in this president.

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By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - Venezuela's former chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega said on Friday her team had supplied the United States with evidence "compromising" top officials in the leftist administration of President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration has already slapped sanctions on Venezuelan officials for alleged corruption and rights abuses, so news Ortega has been providing information to Washington is likely to irk Maduro's unpopular government. Asked if she was sharing information about corruption in the Maduro administration with Washington, including graft linked to food imports for the shortages-hit country, Ortega said meetings have taken place. "The prosecutors in Colombia with me ... have been meeting with prosecutors from the United States and some other countries to exchange information," Ortega told reporters after meeting United Nations rights boss Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein in Geneva. "We've supplied them with a mix of evidence that compromises high-level government officials," she said, adding she planned to visit the United States. Ortega, 59, was removed from her post in August after breaking with Maduro earlier this year in a dramatic split the opposition said evidenced Venezuela's swerve into dictatorship. She went into hiding before fleeing the country on a speedboat to the Caribbean island of Aruba and going on to Colombia. Since then, she has been traveling around the region denouncing the Maduro government for persecuting her and engaging in corruption. She has said she has evidence that Maduro was involved in graft with Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and also profited off food imports to her country where millions are unable to eat three square meals a day. Socialist Party officials have denied Ortega's allegations. The Venezuelan government says Ortega failed to tackle corruption while she was in office and instead ran an extortion ring that allowed culprits to pay in exchange for getting off the hook. Ortega has rejected those accusations as politically motivated. Ortega, who was Venezuela's chief prosecutor for over a decade, long adhered to the ruling Socialist Party line and her office spearheaded the jailing of political foes. Two years ago she said she assumed she was on the U.S. State Department's list of Venezuelan officials who would be denied visas and have property confiscated there due to alleged rights abuses and corruption. Ortega's public change of heart came in March when she condemned the Supreme Court's usurping of powers from the opposition-controlled congress, a move that was quickly partially overturned. (Writing by Alexandra Ulmer; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
Three women led police on a high-speed car chase after allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of Victorias Secret merchandise. (Photo: Fox2Now)

Brittany R. Bobo, 24, Shomyia Hemphill, 28, and Lamonica McGee, 23, face felony theft charges after the trio allegedly shoplifted $7,500 worth of merchandise from a Victorias Secret store. The three women are in custody after leading police on a high-speed chase in Lake St. Louis, Mo.

The women walked into the store at the Meadows Shopping Center last week and began building stacks of clothes from the display tables. Once each had a bundle of apparel, they ran out of the store.

The three took off in a maroon 2007 Nissan Ultima, and police soon gave chase. In an effort to avoid capture, the women drove into oncoming traffic on a local highway and then over a concrete divider to avoid a head-on collision.

This caused one of their tires to blow out, but the thieves continued down Interstate 64 at high speed. Riding on the rim caused the car to burst into flames, shutting down all but one lane of the eastbound side of the highway.

#TRAFFICALERT: major backup on 64 EB due to car fire near Spoede exit. (Took this from the WB side, where far left lane is also closed) pic.twitter.com/hmG8J4OjXZ  Abby Llorico KSDK (@AbbyLlorico) October 11, 2017

Two of the suspects fled on foot, but Bobo reportedly stayed with the car and was arrested at the scene. Hemphill and McGee were both apprehended not long after. None were injured. All of them face felony stealing charges, and Hemphill an additional charge for resisting arrest. Bond has been set for each of them at $10,000.

Costly shoplifting sprees are nothing new to Victorias Secret. Late last year, three women were arrested for stealing thousands in merchandise from several stores. In February, a south Florida man was tased by police after stealing $4,000 in bras and panties.

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In another case, three suspects can be seen on security camera footage running out of a mall, arms loaded with items, dropping some as they fled.

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Paris (AFP) - If the Iran nuclear deal fails then all the countries involved have a lot to lose -- and not just for political and security reasons.

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced that he will not certify to Congress that Iran is complying with the deal, which could pave the way for future sanctions that could have a big impact on countries and companies which have re-engaged with Tehran since the 2015 deal.

The nuclear agreement is designed to prevent Iran developing a nuclear weapon, and saw Tehran halt its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions.

Since it came into force in January 2016, the Iranian market of 80 million people has been opened up to European, Russian and Chinese businesses.

Many investors have held back but others, including several large companies, have already concluded some big deals, including European aircraft manufacturer Airbus which has signed agreements with Iran to deliver 100 aircraft.

Here are some of the other major trading partners and what's at stake for them:

- Germany -

Before sanctions, Germany was Iran's main trading partner.

After the lifting of sanctions, German exports to Iran increased by 26 percent in 2016, and continue to rise, according to the federation of German industry(BDI).

The Siemens group relaunched in Iran in March 2016, signing an energy agreement with Iranian power and infrastructure group Mapna.

Daimler signed letters of intent with two Iranian groups in January 2016 to produce and market Mercedes-Benz trucks.

"Companies that have since resumed commercial relations with Iran and are also active in the United States would be extremely destabilized by the reintroduction of sanctions," warned the BDI.

- France -

Trade, which had collapsed under sanctions, rebounded dramatically after the end of sanctions, rising by 235% in 2016, mainly due to oil imports.

Carmaker Peugeot-Citroen (PSA), which was forced to leave Iran in 2012, returned in 2016 after signing production deals worth 700 million euros.

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Renault, which had remained in the country and already makes about 200,000 cars per year there, signed a joint venture agreement to step up production and make more than 300,000 cars a year.

Total, for its part, was the first Western oil group to return to Iran in more than a decade. It signed a $4.8 billion gas deal in early July, heading an international consortium alongside Chinese CNPC.

- Italy -

Trade between the two countries, which had collapsed due to sanctions, saw a sharp rise in 2016, to such a level that Italy was named the first trade partner of Iran in the EU.

In 2016, Rome and Tehran signed a number of agreements, including in tourism, renewable energy and railways.

- Russia -

Moscow and Tehran have had close political and economic relations for some time.

In the nuclear field, Iran has begun building a second nuclear plant with Russian help.

Tehran already runs one Russian-built nuclear reactor at Bushehr and plans to build more.

In March 2017, railway business RZD International, part of the Russian company RZD, signed a 1.2 billion euro contract with Iran for the electrification of a railway line.

In June 2016, gas giant Gazprom signed an agreement with the Iranian company NIOC for a joint operation in the Iranian gas field Farzad.

- China -

Beijing, a gas and oil importer, has significant economic interests with Iran, the sixth largest oil producer in the world.

In January 2016, during President Xi's visit to Iran, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

In February, Chinese builders began the electrification of the high-speed Tehran-Mashhad rail line.

In October 2017 Arish Kordi, CEO of the Iranian group Tavanir, announced cooperation with China to renovate Iran's electricity infrastructure.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 06:11:45|Editor: yan

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by Shi Zhongyu

WARSAW, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- "When Chinese company invested in Poland, we were worried about whether we could keep our jobs," said Malgorzata Bielica who works at Liugong Dressta Machinery in Stalowa Wola, southeast Poland.

Malgorzata and her husband both used to work for HSW, a Polish company preceding Liugong Dressta.

In 2012, when she learned that the company was to be acquired, Malgorzata had some concerns. If she and her husband had lost their jobs, the family would have faced a difficult position with no income.

In February 2012, China Guangxi Liugong invested 170 million zloty (about 49 million U.S. dollars) and made the acquisition of HSW's civil engineering machinery division. Liugong also gained a 100-percent stake and access to HSW wholly-owned subsidiary company Dressta.

However, not only could the Bielicas continue to work there, but salaries of employees changed for the better. The company's business condition also has taken a turn for the better thanks to the upgrading of production.

Before the acquisition, Dressta was facing a difficult situation. Local media reported that due to fierce competitions from American and German enterprises, its business condition continued to deteriorate, even near bankruptcy.

Michal Kolakowski, adviser to public administration and managing partner of Warsaw Consulting Group said: "Like a long-awaited rain after a prolonged drought, Liugong's investment has saved struggling Dressta."

Five years since the acquisition, Malgorzata's family have had a better life. Three years ago, Malgorzata decided to introduce her just-graduated daughter to join Liugong. When asked about the reason, Malgorzata said:"Liugong is a good employer, and this kind of family and work combination has many advantages, we discuss work even after we get home in the evening."

Malgorzata was not the only one who benefited from Chinese enterprises. According to the data by Liugong Dressta, the company has provided more than 1,200 job opportunities in the region, with a total of more than 230 million zloty (about 66 million U.S. dollars) of various accumulated taxes and fees contribution to the country between 2012 and 2016.

Along with the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, some Chinese companies chose to increase investment in Poland, creating jobs and promoting local economic growth. Liu Lijuan, business counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Poland, said that China's investment for Poland has provided about 15,000 jobs.

In September, Liugong Dressta opened its first regional headquarters in Warsaw and a new European Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) in Stalowa Wola. According to Hou Yubo, vice chairman of Liugong Dressta, the new distribution centre covers an area of 3,500 square meters, with an investment of nearly 9.4 million U.S. dollars.

Jerzy Kwiecinski, Polish deputy minister of development,said:"We are delighted that such companies as Liugong increasingly choose to relocate their business to Poland."

"Chinese investments in Poland are increasingly technologically advanced, and they help to build a modern knowledge economy in our country,"Kwiecinski said at the opening ceremony of Liugong's regional headquarters in Warsaw.

In the same month, Nuctech Warsaw, owned by Chinese Nuctech, started building a new manufacturing and office facility of 6,000 square meters in Kobylka, near Warsaw. With the total investment of 40 million zloty (11 million U.S. dollars), the facility will produce large-scale security inspection equipment.

Robert Roguski, mayor of the town of Kobylka, said that the investment of Chinese enterprises in Poland increased local taxes and promoted employment, providing more possibilities for cooperation at the local level between the two countries.
When the Womens Convention announced that Bernie Sanders would speak on the opening night of its national conference in Detroit later this month, the response on social media was swift and brutal.

Many supporters of the group, which spearheaded the record-setting marches around the U.S. to protest President Donald Trumps inauguration in January, were outraged that conference organizers would pick a white man to address a convention meant to elevate women of color. Others were annoyed that Sanderswho recently endorsed a candidate for mayor in Nebraska who has been criticized as anti-abortionwould be embraced by a movement that supports reproductive rights. Others nursed a grudge against Sanders and his supporters for their role in Hillary Clintons election defeat.

On the surface, the hoopla may seem silly: many of the critics were objecting to the misperception that the Vermont Senator was headlining a womens conference. He isnt. The Womens Convention doesnt technically have a headliner, but its featured speaker is Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Democrat who has called for Trumps impeachment. Sanders is one of only two men among the 42 speakers at the three-day conference, held in Detroit from Oct. 27 to Oct. 29. The publicity around the former presidential candidates appearance was a function of the fact that he is the most famous speaker on the docket.

But the controversy over Sanderss role in the Womens Convention raises larger questions about whether the progressive grassroots uprising against Trumps agenda can thrive as a leaderless movement that aspires to unite coalitions across the left.

How can the movement amplify the voices of specific groupsespecially women, immigrants, and people of colorwhile embracing white men as full participants? How can it harness the activist outrage that drove the largest demonstration in U.S. history while expanding its ranks to win seats in the midterm elections? The best way for the so-called Resistance to achieve tangible change is to build a broad coalition. But is it still a womens movement if it showcases male leaders?

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In their first interview since the controversy erupted Thursday, the leaders of the convention defended the move, chalked up the controversy to a misunderstanding and expressed dismay that Waters role at the gathering was overlooked.

Why did the same people not take as much interest in sharing and helping to uplift Maxine Waters and the other women of color? asks Tamika Mallory, a racial justice organizer and co-founder of the Womens March. People who claim to be feminists often ignore the voices of women of color and particularly black women.

Mallory acknowledged that inviting Sanders was a controversial choice. Some people just dont want to hear from Bernie Sanders, says Mallory. There are some people who dont believe that a man has a place at a womens convention.

Bob Bland, an entrepreneur and Womens March co-founder, said she was surprised by the controversy about Sanders role at the convention, which will include panels on mobilization for the midterms and activist training. Do we want to re-litigate the past or move forward together? asks Bland. Even though we dont agree on every issue, we have to work together to win the midterms in 2018. Otherwise we will continue to lose. We need to focus on that.

Others disagreed. This choice sends the wrong message, tweeted Stephanie Schriock, president of Emilys List, a political organization that funds and supports pro-choice women candidates, who is also scheduled to speak at the event. We have more women leaders in elected office than ever before. Women ARE leading in the Senate. This is a moment to highlight them.

A Change.org petition asking the Womens Convention organizers to reconsider Sanderss role had gotten nearly 8,000 signatures by Friday afternoon. The organizers also invited leading female Democrats like Clinton, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Sen. Elizabeth Warren to speak at the Convention, but organizers say the event did not work with their schedules.

The dispute boils down to a question of strategy. If the goal among the organizers is to try and generate the broadest possible support for their agenda, then it could potentially be the right call to invite Sanders, says Jennifer Lawless, director of the Women & Politics institute at American University, who points out that Sanders has made feminist enemies when he advocated for endorsing candidates who oppose abortion rights. If your goal is feminist ideological purity, it raises a lot of questions and suggests they might be selling out.

The misunderstanding may have been rooted in the groups aversion to hierarchy. The Womens Convention is called Reclaiming Our Time, after Waterss now famous retort that she was reclaiming my time in a congressional hearing. Waters is giving a major speech at the event on Saturday, but she is not given top billing on the agenda because organizers have so far avoided designating any keynote speakers or official headliners. Instead the speakers are listed in alphabetical order, and there is nothing on the website that indicates that any speeches are more important than any others.

I was surprised that a lot of women that marched on January 21st were so up in arms over this, adds Bland. I wish that many had mobilized with us when we were marching to confront white supremacy in August.

But that doesnt mean the controversy is going away. It highlights some of the deep issues that came out as a result of the campaign, says Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. It feels a bit like the marginalizing of women at an event that is supposed to be put on by women, for women, about women.
Woody Allen has said he is sad for Harvey Weinstein, as the Hollywood movie mogul faces multiple accusations of sexual assault.

The actor and director told the BBC he had heard rumors about Weinstein, but not these horror stories."

"The whole Harvey Weinstein thing is very sad for everybody involved," he said.

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Kevin Winter/Getty Images

"[It's] tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that his life is so messed up. There's no winners in that, it's just very, very sad and tragic for those poor women that had to go through that."

Weinstein is under investigation by police in London and New York after a series of sexual assault allegations, recent and historic.

Weinstein and Allen have worked together in a series of movies, with the producer credited with reviving Allens flagging career after the comic writer and director was accused of molesting his daughter, Dylan Farrow.

Shunned by Hollywood means nothing to Miramax, Weinstein told The LA Times in 1994. Were talking about a comic genius.

The allegations emerged after Allens separation from his wife, Mia Farrow, in the early '90s.

Allen denies the accusations.

In a twist befitting a Woody Allen movie, Woody Allen and Mia Farrow's son Ronan Farrow penned the 8,000 word New Yorker article that was among the first to publicly expose Weinstein's alleged conduct. Farrow is estranged from his father, and has previously said he believes his sister's abuse allegations.

Allen went on to discuss rumors he heard about Weinstein in the BBC interview.

"No one ever came to me or told me horror stories with any real seriousness. And they wouldn't, because you are not interested in it. You are interested in making your movie," he said.

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"But you do hear a million fanciful rumors all the time. And some turn out to be true and some  many  are just stories about this actress, or that actor."

The allegations against Weinstein were made public in a bombshell New York Times report, which alleged that Weinstein had paid a $100,000 settlement to actor Rose McGowan after a alleged assault in a hotel room.

Weinstein was expelled from the board responsible for the Oscars Saturday following the allegations. He claims that the sexual encounters were consensual and is seeking treatment for sex addiction.

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Woody Allen has clarified his comments regarding the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct scandal, calling Weinstein a sad, sick man.

When I said I felt sad for Harvey Weinstein I thought it was clear the meaning was because he is a sad, sick man, Allen said in a new statement to Variety. I was surprised it was treated differently. Lest there be any ambiguity, this statement clarifies my intention and feelings.

On Sunday, Allen received backlash after he said he was sad for everyone involved in the Weinstein scandal.

Tragic for the poor women that were involved, sad for Harvey that [his] life is so messed up, Allen, 81, told the BBC in an interview published on Sunday. Theres no winners in that, its just very, very sad and tragic for these poor women that had to go through that.

Allen  who worked with Weinstein on a number of films throughout his career, including the Oscar-winning 1995 film Mighty Aphrodite  went on to say that although he heard some rumors, he wasnt privy to horror stories about the producer.

No one ever came to me or told me horror stories with any real seriousness. And they wouldnt, because you are not interested in it. You are interested in making your movie, Allen said. But you do hear a million fanciful rumors all the time. And some turn out to be true and some  many  are just stories about this actress or that actor.

The filmmaker  who has long faced controversy over allegations he sexually assaulted his adopted daughter with ex Mia Farrow, Dylan Farrow, which he has consistently denied  went on to say that although he hopes there will be some amelioration following the accusations against Weinstein, he doesnt want the situation to turn into a witch hunt atmosphere.

You also dont want it to lead to a witch hunt atmosphere, a Salem atmosphere, where every guy in an office who winks at a woman is suddenly having to call a lawyer to defend himself. Thats not right either, Allen added. But sure, you hope that something like this could be transformed into a benefit for people rather than just a sad or tragic situation.

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Some took offense to Allens comments. Wrote Twitter user Melissa McEwan, It is physically impossible for me to care any less what Woody Allen has to say about Harvey Weinstein.

It is physically impossible for me to care any less what Woody Allen has to say about Harvey Weinstein.  Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) October 15, 2017

The fact that Woody Allen felt safe expressing his opinion on this tells you all you need to know about how society protects predators  Ghouls N. Binoculars (@surfbordt) October 15, 2017

Allens latest film, Wonder Wheel, premiered at the New York Film Festival on Saturday night to much less fanfare in the wake of further sexual misconduct allegations against the films distributors Amazon Studios  programming chief, Roy Price. The Wonder Wheel red carpet was canceled by Amazon Studios, according to Variety. On Friday, producer of Amazon hit Man In High Castle, Isa Hacket, told The Hollywood Reporter that Price had harassed her during the 2015 Comic-Con.

Following THRs story Amazon Studios announced Price was going on a leave of absence effective immediately. Price, through a spokesperson, declined to comment to THR.

Weinsteins scandal began when eight women, including Ashley Judd, spoke out against him in a bombshell New York Times report published Oct. 5., where they accused the mogul of sexual misconduct. The paper also reported that Weinstein reached private settlements with eight women, including actress Rose McGowan, who later claimed that the producer had raped her.

Following the initial report, Weinstein said in a statement that he was working with therapists and planned to deal with this issue head-on. He has since been fired from his powerhouse studio, the Weinstein Company, kicked out of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and his wife, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman, has announced shes leaving him.

In response to the lengthy allegations, a spokesperson for Weinstein said, Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr. Weinstein.

Harvey Weinstein (left) and Rose McGowan

On Tuesday, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie added their own accounts of alleged mistreatment  Paltrow alleging to the NYT that Weinstein sexually harassed her in a hotel room when she was 22 and Jolie claiming to the outlet that she had a bad experience with Weinstein in a hotel room during the release of Playing by Heart in the late 90s.

Also that day, in an expose written by Ronan Farrow  who is Allens estranged son with Mia Farrow  The New Yorker revealed that Weinstein allegedly forcibly performed oral sex on Italian actress Asia Argento two decades ago, among 13 different womens accounts of alleged sexual harassment, assault or rape. Actresses Mira Sorvino and Rosanna Arquette also claimed that after rejecting Weinsteins unwanted advances, they were removed from or kept from being hired for projects.

Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Harvey Weinstein in 1999.

Weinstein spoke to cameras on Wednesday while leaving his daughters Los Angeles house, saying he was not doing okay and hoping for a second chance amid the allegations.

A source confirmed to PEOPLE that the 65-year-old had flown out of Los Angeles to a luxury resort.
DUBAI (Reuters) - Yemen's ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh has had a successful operation at a Sanaa hospital after a Russian medical team was flown in to perform it, government sources said on Saturday. The Russian team arrived in Sanaa two days ago and operated on Saleh on Friday for wounds he sustained in an assassination attempt in 2011. Saleh's General People's Congress Party said the procedure was successful, and that his condition was stable. Saleh was severely wounded in an attack on the presidential palace in Sanaa in June 2011. He went to the United States for treatment on one occasion, before a travel ban was imposed. The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Saleh in 2014, accusing him of threatening peace and obstructing Yemens political process, subjecting him to a global travel ban and an asset freeze. Government sources told Reuters the Russian team had arrived with approval from the Saudi-led Arab alliance but did not reveal the precise nature of the surgery. Saleh ruled Yemen for 34 years, but was forced from power after pro-democracy protests in 2012. Forming a surprise alliance with the Houthi movement when they seized Sanaa in 2014, Saleh's army loyalists and Houthi fighters have weathered thousands of air strikes by the Saudi-led military coalition in more than two years of war. (Writing By Maha El Dahan; Editing by Andrew Bolton)
Hijabi teacher discriminated against by school. (Photo: Fouzia Khatun via Instagram)

A preschool English teacher was told to remove her hijab if she wanted to be hired by a school in Kuwait. The 23-year-old applied for a job in Kuwaits the English Playgroup. After an interview, she received an email from a school official saying that her new job depended on whether she was OK with teaching without a hijab on.

Fouzia Khatun shared a screenshot of the alleged email on her Instagram page. The email was sent by Caroline Brooks, a human resources employee from the English Playgroup, a prestigious education company dedicated to early childhood education, with over 25 schools throughout the country.

Brooks wrote, The customer (parents) do not want their children taught by covered teachers. It is an English school. She continues, if this isnt acceptable to you I wish you every success. This is s a non-negotiable.

Khatuns post has received nearly 2,000 likes and 1,000 comments. Khatun, who currently lives in the city of Bradford in England, shared a thorough message, reflecting upon the alleged discrimination.

The teacher wrote, I applied for a job in Kuwait where I felt I would easily fit in due to same religious beliefs and Islamic mind of thoughts, where I thought being a hijabi would be an honour rather than an accepted dress code, where I was hoping to feel free and liberated, only to go and be asked to take off the one piece of clothing that made me want to move to Kuwait in the first place.

I find It disgusting that you think its acceptable to ask your employees to remove such a personal and important thing for the sake of appearing physically acceptable to parents, when in fact you should be demonstrating to your students acceptance of all kinds of people and presenting this with your varied choice of employee.

She continued, There is enough discrimination against female Muslims from non-Muslim countries, its extremely sad to see that your school in a Muslim country like Kuwait also demonstrates this kind of discrimination and frankly such a superficial judgmental ethos! I am sorry that you have judged the capability of a teacher based on a piece of clothing that covers my hair.

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Please stop corrupting the minds of innocent angels and let them blossom into beautiful human beings and not the narrow-minded monsters that you are guiding them towards.

Khatun told Yahoo Lifestyle she is now suing the English playgroup. She declined to comment any further, citing legal purposes.

In a comment on her Instagram page, Khatun states that the school denied her allegations at first and said that they didnt have an employee named Caroline Brooks, but that they then changed their story. She wrote, If it was a one-man mistake, an apology would have sufficed but they disappeared for a few days then come back saying she doesnt work for them. Then come back again saying they didnt accept me because of my social media and that they have taken action against her.

The English Playgroup didnt respond to Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment, but it did release a statement on its private Instagram page.

Photo: Instagram

The statement reads, The English Playgroup and Primary Schools employ qualified teachers from all nationalities, religions and backgrounds who serve students as excellent and caring teachers. Allegations of discrimination against hijab-wearing staff are untrue. Our schools proudly employ many hijab wearing teachers and administrators across our schools. The allegations against the school have been disseminated by an unsuccessful overseas job applicant who was refused employment because of inappropriate behavior as illustrated on her social media platform. The opinions expressed by a new employee in the HR department are against company policy and necessary disciplinary action has been taken.

Khatun reported that her Instagram page was private before this incident, so the claim of inappropriate behavior on social media is false.

The English Playgroup then released several images on their Instagram of teachers wearing a hijab while on the job.

Photo: Instagram

Photo: Instagram

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Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump and Marla Maples, just turned 24. (Photo: Getty Images)

Donald Trumps youngest daughter rang in her 24th birthday on Friday evening in Manhattan with friends, family, and a smattering of paparazzi. The daughter of Donald Trump and Trumps second wife, Marla Maples, the young law-school student partied at the Manhattan restaurant Urbani Truffles on the citys Upper West Side, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

While none of the White House-dwelling Trumps were in attendance, the presidents namesake son and his family showed up to help Tiffany usher in her quarter century. The presidents daughter did celebrate with her famous mother at her side. The new 24-year-old sported a double-breasted white blazer dress and black pumps.

Tiffany and mom Marla Maples getting ready for the part. (Photo: Instagram)

Donald Trump Jr. posted a celebratory photo. (Photo: Instagram)

Tiffany's B-Day party yesterday  @tiffanytrump @itsmarlamaples @madelinepenn #tiffanytrump #birthdaygirl #marlamaples A post shared by I love Tiffany and Marla (@forevertiffanymarla) on Oct 14, 2017 at 6:23am PDT

Tiffany Trump's birthday dinner videos last night!  @TiffanyTrump @itsMarlaMaples A post shared by Tiffany Ariana Trump (@tiffanytrumplovers) on Oct 14, 2017 at 8:08am PDT

Tiffany Trump is probably one of the least exposed of the Trump brood  spending her own time attending law school at Georgetown University and avoiding scandalous headlines like those of her half-brother Donald and half-sister, Ivanka. Nevertheless, she has been the subject of speculation and intrigue lately, with many discussing whether or not she is in line for an inheritance from the elder Trump and then striking a raw nerve with a seemingly tone-deaf social media post following the recent hurricane fallout in Puerto Rico.

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Over the years, Israel has learned to deal with critical American administrations and neutralize their criticism. Donald Trump is presenting Israel with a new kind of challengedealing with an American president who repeats all of Israels claims unconditionally. On Friday, in his speech , Trump gave us a big embrace as far as Iran is concerned. The challenge is to prevent his embrace from turning into bear hug.

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What would Israel like the outcome of the speech to be? What is Israels interest? According to Israel's security echelon, the nuclear agreement with Iran is bad for Israel. But as long as Iran upholds itthe threats are not imminent. The agreement gives the West time, 13 years from now, to curb the nuclear project.

At the moment, the Iranian threat to Israel focuses on two issues that are not covered by the nuclear agreementIran's progress in the development of precision-guided surface-to-surface missiles, and the growing Iranian influence in Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

The gun has been placed on the table. No one knows how it will be usednot even Donald Trump (Photo: AP)

Israel is not the only country concerned by these two developments. The regions Sunni statesSaudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey under certain conditionsare even more concerned. The European Union countries are afraid the development of accurate Iranian missiles would pose a direct threat to Europe, while an Iranian takeover of Syria could hit Europe with a renewed wave of Sunni refugees from Syria.

This concern is shared by the American defense establishment. Its no coincidence Trump mentioned Iran and North Korea in the same breath.

There is an almost global consensus on these two issuesthe missiles and the expansion. Even Vladimir Putins Russia, which is currently cooperating with Iran in Syria, isnt eager to see an Iranian hegemony in the region.

Moreover, the Israeli defense establishment doesnt see Iran as a monolithic country. The Revolutionary Guards have one agenda. The commander of the Iranian forces in Syria, Qasem Soleimani, strongly represents that agenda. He aspires to create an Iranian land corridor from Tehran to the Mediterranean Sea.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has different aspirations: His goal is to improve the economic situation. Iran has invested more than $1 billion a year in Syria, in addition to $800 million in Hezbollah every year. Hundreds of Iranian officers and soldiers have been killed in the civil war.

Israeli defense officials are convinced the last Islamic State cells in Syria will be eliminated within two or three months. According to Israeli assessments, the damages of the war have reached $280 billion. President Rouhani is demanding a large chunk of the funds that will be infused for the countrys reconstruction. He is also interested in Iranian involvement in Syria's oil fields. Russia is expecting to receive a chunk of the Syrian economy as well.

Syrian President Assad, meanwhile, is maneuvering between his two patrons with a considerable amount of talent. The Israelis, who disregarded him at the beginning of the civil war, have learned to take him seriously again.

An Iranian man reading a newspaper mocking US president as Crazy Trump following Fridays speech (Photo: AFP)

Rouhanis main interest is expanding Irans economic ties with the world, which is why he hasnt deviated from a single clause in the nuclear agreement. Trump admitted it in his speech. He is accusing Iran of violating the spirit of the agreement, not the agreement itself.

The conclusion reached by Israeli defense officials is clear: There is no room for nixing the agreement at the moment; the American pressure should be used to push the missile threat away and moderate the Iranian expansion in the region. This pressure will match the interests of Rouhani and his supporters, as well as the interests of all world powers, including Russia. Israel can contribute its share. In fact it is already doing its part: Both in dozens of strikes in the past yearaccording to foreign sourceson Iranian targets in Syria, and perhaps mainly through its influence in Washington.

Everything I have said here allegedly contradicts the Israeli governments policy. In his speeches, Prime Minister Netanyahu is calling for a one-sided cancellation of the nuclear agreement. Its only an alleged contradiction, however. We shouldnt rule out the possibility that Netanyahu is presenting the maximum demand in a bid to improve the minimum result. He too realizes its impossible to cancel an international agreement without real cause and without the consent of the other countries that signed the agreement.

The question is where is Trump leading us toassuming he actually knows where hes leading to. Like in the crisis with North Korea, Trump is creating an ultimatum with his rhetoric. The ultimatum is directed at the two rebellious countries, but also at his allies in NATO, his partys representatives in Congress and the entire Congress. Its a gamble that could end in a disastereither war or the United States losing its credibility.

Trumps critics in Washington, including senior members of the Republican Party, have called him a dangerous man. The fear Trump would make an unwise decision is so big, that Congress is being pressed to enact a law to limit the president's use of nuclear weapons. His rivals in Congress are trying to take the red button away from him.

On the other hand, Trumps attempt to rectify historic mistakes made both vis-a-vis the regime in Pyongyang and vis-a-vis the regime is Tehran is commendable. The gun has been placed on the table. No one knows how it will be usednot even Donald Trump.
Israel didnt wait for US President Donald Trumps indictment against Iran . Earlier this year, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman already asked for an additional NIS 4.5 billion (roughly $1.3 billion) to the defense budget. A large part of this financial injection is aimed at refueling the defense establishments preparations for a nuclear Iran.

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The IDF estimated in 2015 that the agreement with Iran had opened a window of opportunity for the army to invest in its neglected ground force and take its foot off the gas in terms of building its strategic force against Iran. In 2017, Israel is making a U-turn. The army has basically been told by the political echelon: The window of opportunity has been closed. We wont change the work plan youve built, but well give the army more money to step up the preparations for a conflict with Iran.

In order to implement the new American policy, the president needs the cooperation of both Congress and the Europeans. That won't be easy (Photo: AP)

Trumps speech only strengthened the understanding that the region is about to explode, faster than expected. The effect of the speech is already having repercussions in the region and creating tensions and an atmosphere of conflict. The worlds big banks, for example, estimated what Trump was going to say as early as several weeks ago, and the effect on the Iranian economy was immediate: An economic stalemate is already apparent there, as major investors are afraid of proceeding in a country that is on its way to a conflict.

Inside Iran, tensions are already rising between President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarifs moderate bloc and members of the Revolutionary Guards, who have kept arguing that Iran should have made no concessions on the nuclear issue. Where will the unrest in Iran lead? Thats unclear. The crisis is still in its infancy.

There is a tendency to disregard Trumps speech in Israel and in the world because of his failure to firmly declare that he is cancelling the agreement. But Trump didnt cancel it intentionally. His threat to cancel the agreement was directed at Congress and at the Western European partners in the agreement, to make them support his change of policy against Iran. If they fail to cooperate, thats when hell pull out the stick of cancelling the agreement, which the Europeans are so afraid of.

Trumps indictment against Iran includes quite a few inaccuracies, which are being used by European commentators to ridicule Trump. That doesnt change the fact, however, that his demands from the Iranians are clear: He wont accept the fact that once the agreement expires, Iran will be able to resume its race toward a nuclear weapon.

Beyond the nuclear agreement, he is presenting an updated American policy vis-a-vis Iran, which includes a demand to restrict the ballistic missiles project. The Revolutionary Guards people have claimed in public that during the negotiations with the Americans on the nuclear agreement, they received a permit with a wink to produce missiles with a range of up to 2,000 kilometers. Trump wants to put an end to these winks.

Another issue in Trumps policy against Iran is the circulation of terror: He is demanding an end to the terrorist activity of the Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah and Hamas in the Middle East.

Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Trumps speech only strengthened the understanding that the region is about to explode, faster than expected (Photo: AP)

In order to implement the new American policy, the president needs the cooperation of both Congress and the Europeans. The latter, however, are refusing to cooperate with any move which could lead to the nullification of the agreement with Iran and to a renewed nuclear threat. And the Iranians are well aware of how to play this game: President Rouhani declared on Saturday that the Iranian response would be to step up the production of missiles. It doesnt violate the agreement, so its as if theyre saying: Show us what youve got, Trump. What will you do to us?

Congress has no intention of going easy on Trump either when he asks for approval to impose and step up the sanctions on the Revolutionary Guards and on the Iranian government.

Trumps real test is in the implementation. So far, the president hasnt really fulfilled his commitments, not to mention the fact that he is facing internal and external diplomatic and political obstacles which may dissolve the declarations. But even if nothing practical comes out of the speech, the fragile structure of calm around the nuclear agreement, which is based on conflicting interests, has already been undermined.

Iran will only step up its provocations against Trump in a bid to test him and deter him from taking further hostile steps. The presidents inability to deal with North Korea is encouraging the Iranians to challenge him. And thats the exact recipe which could lead to instability, to security tensions, to military escalation and to a regional explosion.
Israel's Execution Office presented the Ministry of Finance with a foreclosure order on NIS 500,000 in Palestinian Authority (PA) funds, to be received as court-mandated reparations for collaborators with Israel who were caught and tortured by the PA's security forces.

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The Execution Office is tasked with ensuring a debtor who received a favorable judgment receives their due recompense, and to that end is entitled to seize property or funds owned by the defendant.

President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority was ordered to pay NIS 500,000 to collaborators (Photo: AP)

The affair began several months ago, when the Jerusalem District Court ordered the PA to pay half a million shekels in restitution to 50 collaborators with Israel who were captured and tortured during their interrogation.

The plaintiffs, who never received the money they were owed, decided to contact Israel's Execution Office to stop Israel's regular transfer of funds to the PA. Execution consented to the request made by attorney Aryeh Arbos, who represents some of the plaintiffs, and provided the foreclosure order, a move considered highly irregular.

The damages derived from a verdict the Jerusalem District Court decided on four months ago, in which the PA was said to be responsible for the illegal detention, torture and even murder of collaborators with Israel starting in the 90s.

The verdict went on to describe the brutal methods of torture exacted upon the collaborators by the PA, adding that in some cases the PA even went so far as to kidnap collaborators from Israel after they had escaped and return them to areas under its control for further torture.

The funds are held by Minister of Finance's Moshe Kahlon's ministry (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

In many of the cases, the torture and detentions did not cease until IDF forces intervened to free the collaborators during Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

After banding together, the aggrieved collaborators petitioned the High Court of Justice, and were eventually award half a million shekels in restitution.

The High Court of Justice ruled in the plaintiffs' favor (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

"We're pleased with the foreclosure order for NIS 500,000 in Palestinian Authority funds held by Israel," said the law office of Rom-Arbos-Kedem-Tzur, representing the claimants.

"It's the government's sworn duty to honor a court of law's verdicts and, moreover, the State of Israel's deep commitment to assist those who have paid with their well-beingand sometimes with their livesin order to save its sons and daughters from terrorism, death and bereavement," the law office's statement concluded.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 06:36:51|Editor: yan

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LIMA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The defense team of former Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo asked a court to free one of his bank accounts in Lima, his lawyer Roberto Su confirmed Saturday.

According to a request filed with the Peruvian judicial system, this account has money from Toledo's pension fund and thus cannot be blocked as it is constitutionally protected by Peruvian law.

The bank accounts of the former president have been blocked as investigations continue into how Toledo allegedly received a bribe worth 20 million U.S. dollars from Brazilian construction company, Odebrecht, during his time in office in exchange for a contract to build the Interoceanic Highway between Peru and Brazil.

The request stated that the account has funds worth 147,653 soles (45,000 U.S. dollars) and is unrelated to the Odebrecht investigation.

The bank account also received Toledo's salary payments as a former president.

Currently, Toledo is a fugitive in the U.S., having fled after a court sentenced him to a preventive prison term of 18 months for suspected money laundering. Peru has lodged an extradition request with the U.S. government.
A former student of the Central University College, Duke Kafui Darlington, is appealing to the general public to help him raise a sum of $35,000 for his kidney transplant.

Kafui was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2015 after his tertiary education, but has been unable to raise enough funds for his treatment.

Duke KAFUI Darlington

The patient had been undergoing treatment at the Kwesimintsim and Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Takoradi and Accra respectively, where he was diagnosed with the disorder.

READ ALSO: Former NDC MP for Kwahu Afram Plains North dead

He has since been on constant dialysis at the Interbeton Hospital in Cape Coast, but needs a whopping $35,000 in order to successfully undergo kidney transplant.

Kafui had his secondary school education at Mfantsipim, before proceeding to the Central University College, where he contested for several high positions on campus.

He then had his national service at Cal Bank, before unfortunately being diagnosed with kidney failure.

Get more YEN news here.

Kafui is therefore appealing to the public to help him raise the money for his treatment.

Persons who wish to help can send their donations to Zenith Bank. The account name is "LET'S SAVE DUKE", while the account number is "6012007515".

READ ALSO: Nana Addo's appointees showing signs of corruption - Prof Martey

Those who wish to make their donations through mobile money can also send them through the number +233 24 354 7025, which is registered with the name Nanna Afi Nutsukpie.

Send us a message on our official YEN Facebook group or at info@yen.com.gh.

YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other.

Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition?

Your stories and photos are always welcome.

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Media say the United States and the SDF had struck an agreement with IS for their evacuation from Raqqa to Deir al-Zour, where the Syrian government forces are fighting the IS militants.

DAMASCUS, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of the Islamic State (IS) militants are being transferred under the protection of the U.S.-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) from the northern city of Raqqa towards Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, state news agency SANA reported Saturday.

Citing activists, SANA said the U.S.-led coalition's warplanes are flying over Raqqa, the de facto capital of IS, without conducting airstrikes over the past two days.

SANA said the United States and the SDF had struck an agreement with IS for their evacuation from Raqqa to Deir al-Zour, where the Syrian government forces are fighting the IS militants.

"This U.S.-Daesh agreement is not the first, as several similar agreements have preceded this one in the city of Tabqa, Mansura and Karama in the countryside of Raqqa, under which IS militants were transferred to areas the Syrian army is fighting the terror group," SANA said, suggesting that the United States is supporting the IS.

The state news agency said the agreement sparks questions about the goal of the United States and the SDF.

It said that the United States had evacuated tens of IS leaders from Deir al-Zour before the Syrian army reached their areas.

It said the new agreement came days after the Russian defense ministry accused the U.S. forces in the Tanf area of lending a blind eye, while around 400 terrorists crossed the area where the U.S. forces were stationed.

SANA also reminded of the U.S. attack on Syrian military positions in the Tharda mountain last year, during which 90 Syrian soldiers were killed, and the IS managed to take over the area in the countryside of Deir al-Zour.

"All of these facts are pieces of evidence that the United States considered and still considers terrorism, whether IS or any other group, as a paper it manipulates to achieve its schemes to target Syria," SANA said.

Earlier in the day, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said foreign IS fighters were still inside Raqqa, while the local militants of the terror-designated group were evacuated out of the city.

What hindered the transfer or surrender of the foreign militants is the opposition of the Western countries, mainly the United States and France, according to the Observatory.

The coalition said earlier that 100 IS militants had left Raqqa.

IS militants declared Raqqa as their capital in 2014, after announcing their self-styled caliphate.

Tens of civilians have died during the intense battles as well as in the airstrikes of the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition.

On Sept. 7, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 978 civilians had been killed in three months by the U.S.-led airstrike and the shelling on Raqqa.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 00:16:42|Editor: Yamei

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KATHMANDU, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari said on Saturday that time was appropriate to invest in Nepal as the country was entering into the phase of economic development following the promulgation of new constitution in 2015.

The Himalayan country which held local elections recently is now holding provincial and federal elections to implement the constitution, which envisioned federating the country.

Addressing the eighth international convention of the Non-Resident Nepalis Association (NRNA), a grouping of Diaspora population of Nepal, here on Saturday, she asked the NRNs to increase their investment in the areas of healthcare, education, tourism, hydropower and infrastructure, among others.

More than 1,500 Nepalis living abroad have taken part in the convention which kicked off on Saturday.

Diaspora populations of Nepal have been working in an organized way in Nepal and other countries since the establishment of NRNA in October 2003. Since then, the NRNA has expanded its networks to 77 countries around the globe. Over 100,000 Nepalis, except those residing in South Asia, are associated with the organization.

Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, has considered Diaspora Nepalis as one of the importance source of investment in Nepal and they are also expected to help promote tourism and goodwill of Nepal across the globe.

As per the study conducted by the NRNA in 2015, the NRNs have invested as high as 286 million U.S. dollars in Nepal.
Oct. 15, 1997

PORT BYRON  The district has called in the police to find out how one of its school buses ended up sitting in another county for the past six months.

Tuesday, Superintendent Terrence Blanchfield said he had referred the matter to the Cayuga County Sheriff's Department for an investigation.

The bus, the school's specially designed "safety bus," has been missing from the school bus garage since May.

"We're tracking it," Blanchfield said. "It's been missing and we've asked the Sheriff's Department to look into it."

Blanchfield, who said he had been aware of the problem since mid-September, said he referred the matter to Cayuga County Sheriff's Deputy Christopher Lukins. Lukins was not available for comment Tuesday.

A school board member, Frank Thomas, located the bus on Monday in the Morrisville-Eaton School District's bus garage, after following up on a rumor that it was missing.

Thomas said he had heard that the district had not been using the bus to conduct its usual safety programs. On Sunday he talked to a driver with the district's private carrier, Birnie Bus.

"I talked to a driver and he said they didn't know where the bus was," Thomas said.

Thomas said he started snooping around and heard a rumor that the bus was at the Morrisville-Eaton school district in Madison County.

Since school was closed for Monday's Columbus Day holiday, Thomas said he decided to take a drive to Morrisville and take a look around.

"It was sitting right there in the parking lot," he said. "I don't understand how this happened. It's been missing since May and I was able to find it in 24 hours."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 10:22:27|Editor: Liangyu

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by Shristi Kafle

KATHMANDU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A narrow alleyway with both its sides filled with stalls of bangles and beads in Kathmandu's Indra Chowk leads to a courtyard called Itum Bahal.

Inside the main square lies a newly-constructed five-story building with big dark glass windows.

An old passerby bows his head in front of a flex print of an astounding looking little girl hanging on the ground floor of the same building. The picture belongs to the youngest daughter of the family, Matina Shakya.

But Shakya's identity is not that of a regular child as she lived as Nepal's living goddess, known locally as "Kumari," for nine years.

In Nepal, Kumari is worshipped by both Nepali Hindus and Buddhists who regard her as the reincarnation of the Hindu goddess Taleju.

Just two weeks ago, Nepal appointed three-year-old Trishna Shakya as the new Kumari to continue the centuries-old tradition. With this crucial change, 12-year-old Matina, who was also appointed as Kumari at the age of three, was bid farewell amid religious rituals.

The only reason for Matina's retirement was that she had reached the age of puberty, which means she no longer fits the criteria of Kumari any more.

After her retirement, Matina started living a normal life as a regular young girl. On the fourth morning of her school journey, she was getting dressed in her school uniform on the first floor of the same building.

"She has been living a normal life like other children. She is trying to adjust herself in every way. She studies in the school just like other children. I am glad that she is loving this new phase of life," Pratap Man Shakya, father of Matina, told Xinhua at his home.

Unlike the regular Kumari look that includes red robe with heavy jewelry, red paint on the forehead and black winged eyeliner, Matina's new look comprises a white shirt, green skirt, tie and a white ribbon on her two hair braids.

The recently-retired Kumari has lived a sacred life as a goddess in isolation from the outer world for nine years. She only stepped outside of her temple-palace, known as "Kumari Ghar," on 13 particular occasions a year, such as during special festivals and chariot processions.

In addition, Kumaris are always carried by someone when appearing in public during the festivals as the religion decrees that her feet should not touch the ground.

Her family members are glad that Matina has been adjusting to her new home and school environment in such a short period of time. At home, she is especially fond of her elder sister Mijala Shakya and loves to go outdoors, play guitar and surf the internet.

She now attends the Green Peace Co-Ed School, where she attended nursery classes before being appointed as Kumari.

During her nine years as Kumari, she has received private education inside Kumari Ghar itself. A teacher at the Green Peace Co-Ed School, Laxmi Maharjan, used to visit her every day to teach her all the subjects as per the curriculum. Now, she is continuing her educational journey from Grade 7 at the same school.

For years, Maharjan spent three hours every day with Matina, whom she still calls "Deu Maa" meaning goddess.

"She calls me miss but I still call her goddess. I feel very special and fortunate to be the teacher of a living goddess. I found her always eager to learn new things and she was very active in extra-curricular activities like drawing, painting, weaving and cooking. She also taught me so many things," Maharjan told Xinhua at the school.

According to the teacher, Matina is now mostly interested in science and mathematics. Maharjan said she had not expected the former Kumari to have adjusted so well to the school environment and made new friends so quickly.

Right after entering the classroom, Matina's classmates bow their heads in front of her, paying the same respect as she used to receive as Kumari. In a small classroom with around 30 students, Matina sits in the first bench with two other girl friends.

Though Matina feels shy to talk with teachers and strangers, she seems very friendly with her bench-mates.

Amid giggles and whispers, they often ask her to share her experiences as a living goddess.

Twelve-year-old Abigya Tuladhar, a close friend and bench-mate of the former Kumari, told Xinhua, "I am very happy and proud to be friends with her. I always help her when she feels uncomfortable. I will help with her studies too."

As Abigya said this, Matina smiled gently at her friend.

Photos and newspaper cutouts about the former Kumari hang on the the walls of the classroom indicating that the school management has warmly accepted Matina as a regular student.

Hemant Kumar Yonjan, director at the Green Peace Co-Ed School, told Xinhua, "We are very proud to have the retired living goddess studying at our school. We are committed to providing her the best education in a proper way."

The school has also started providing her with extra-curricular training, including separate classes on music, as she is fond of playing guitar. Those who have heard her playing the guitar said she sings Nepali songs really well.

"We know that she is good at painting too. We want to encourage her to pursue the arts," Yonjan added.

Matina still has more than three years until she completes her secondary school education. Though her education was handled solely by the government during her term as Kumari, the responsibility now rests on the shoulders of her parents.

Matina's family does not demand much of the government. She has been receiving a minimal allowance for her living expenses, although her family wants financial support for her future education.

Matina's father, who is an advocate for Kumaris' rights, told Xinhua, "Kumari is an ancient tradition so we need to continue it in a proper fashion. Since it's a matter of national identity and culture, the state should seriously consider all aspects of its preservation."

After spending an hour at his daughter's school, Pratap Man Shakya rushed to his private office, which is related to finance. On his way back, he noticed dumplings, popularly known as momos, being prepared in the school canteen.

"Momos are her favorite. This is the reason why she has not carried lunch with her from home today," Shakya said jovially.

For now, the parents of the former living goddess do not have any big plans or dreams for her future. They are just concerned about providing her with the best education possible in every way.

"I just want to see her become a good citizen of Nepal," Shakya said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 10:32:28|Editor: Yamei

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Delegates of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) arrive at Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 15, 2017. The congress will start on Oct. 18. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Delegates to the 19th Communist Party of China (CPC) National Congress started to arrive in Beijing Sunday morning.

The first delegation arriving from outside the capital is from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Li Feng'e, one of the delegates and a teacher in Inner Mongolia, said she was excited to attend the congress.

"Education facilities have improved a lot in pastoral areas in recent years," she said. "I hope there will be more supporting policies for education in ethnic minority regions."

The congress, a five-yearly event, will be convened in Beijing, starting Oct. 18. During the year, 2,287 delegates have been selected to attend the event.

Attendees will include high-ranking government officials, Party leaders, and military officers as well as grassroots Party members from "frontline production and manufacturing" such as workers, farmers, technicians, nurses and teachers.

A report to be made by the 18th CPC Central Committee to the 19th CPC National Congress, a work report of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) to the congress, as well as an amendment to the CPC Constitution will be submitted for examination and deliberation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 10:37:30|Editor: Xiang Bo

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MACAO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) canceled all marine transport and most of airlines before the passing of Typhoon "Khanun," the SAR's government departments said on Sunday morning.

Macao Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau had hoisted Signal No.8 at 10:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and issued yellow storm surge warning. It said that Typhoon "Khanun" (1720) is located about 260 km south-southeast of Macao and is now moving toward the Leizhou Peninsula of southeast China's Guangdong Province.

Macao Marine and Water Bureau said all marine transport have been canceled and all ships inside Macao's ports should remain alert for severe weather condition.

Macao International Airport said among the airlines taking off from Macao, 39 have been canceled and three delayed. For those heading for Macao, 22 have been canceled and five delayed.

Macao's buses also have stopped operation until the weather changes in favor of road condition.

Macao Civil Emergency Response Center suggested all residents and tourists remain indoor and those living in low land pay attention to possible flood caused by sea water encroachment.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 11:17:37|Editor: Yamei

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BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The eyes of the world will turn to China as the Communist Party of China (CPC) will hold its 19th national congress, at which the CPC will unveil new leadership and set a blueprint for national development for the next five years and beyond.

Analysts said that comprehensive, strategic and foresighted guidelines are expected to be raised at the congress. China is aiming for a "moderately prosperous society" and a modern socialist country while moving toward the world's center stage.

The congress comes at a critical time for the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, under which China has witnessed an economic miracle and accomplished even impossible missions.

SOCIALISM WITH CHINESE CHARACTERISTICS

When many Western countries continue to stagnate, China has grown and remained stable. This is due to the strong leadership of the CPC and socialism with Chinese characteristics, which is markedly different from the Western system, in which multiple parties hold office in turn, often bickering on their way to power.

"Since the 12th CPC National Congress in 1982, the CPC has always held high the banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics. This is what the Party has learned over the past four decades," said Xin Ming, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

China has become the world's second-largest economy after decades of rapid economic growth. China's GDP expanded by an average annual rate of 7.2 percent during 2013-2016, compared with 2.6-percent average global growth and the 4-percent growth of developing economies.

Chen Shuguang, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said that one of the major advantages of the Chinese political system is its ability to formulate long-term development plans and implement them in an effective manner.

The CPC has maintained consistency in its commitment and policy-making while adapting to changing domestic and international conditions, Chen said.

The International Monetary Fund raised Tuesday its forecast for China's economic growth to 6.8 percent this year, reflecting the country's stronger-than-expected economic performance and its efforts in deepening economic reform.

Under current circumstances, the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics entails pushing forward the "Four Comprehensives" as socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new development stage, said Xin.

The "Four Comprehensives" refers to a four-pronged strategy to create a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepen reform, advance rule of law and strengthen Party governance.

China's great achievements in socialism with Chinese characteristics do not only mean that socialism has gained strong vitality in China, but has also expanded the pathway to modernization for developing countries around the world, said President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission.

TWO CENTENARY GOALS

Completing the building of a moderately prosperous society by 2020 is a promise the CPC has made to the people.

Improvement of people's livelihood has always been high on the agenda of the central authorities. The per-capita disposable income of all residents rose from 7,311 yuan (about 1,111 U.S. dollars) in 2012 to 23,821 yuan in 2016, an annual increase of 7.4 percent. The figure for the first half of 2017 rose 7.3 percent year on year.

China has lifted 700 million people out of poverty in the past 30 years. In the coming three years, another 40 million will be added to the list, meaning 20 people are lifted out of poverty each minute.

The central authorities have said that not a single family living in poverty will be left behind on the path to combating poverty.

After a moderately prosperous society is achieved by 2020, the whole Party and people of various ethnic groups nationwide will be motivated to build a modernized socialist country by 2049, the centenary of the People's Republic of China.

"It is harder to achieve the second centenary goal than the first, as no country has ever realized modernization at the primary stage of socialism," Xin said, adding that China is confident and capable of achieving the goal.

STRICT PARTY GOVERNANCE

Since its 18th national congress in 2012, the CPC has shown it is serious about strict Party governance and tackling corruption. Experts said the CPC will continue its anti-corruption drive with more weight on prevention and education.

"For the next five years to come, the CPC will continue its efforts in anti-corruption while attaching equal or more importance to preventing the emergence of corruption," Xin said, adding that a sound political ecology will be cultivated and more attention will be given to ideological education.

In December 2012, the central authorities issued the "eight-point rules," requiring government officials to strictly practice frugality and clean up undesirable work styles such as formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance. Practices such as the use of public funds to buy gifts, hold banquets and pay for holidays have since been strictly banned.

Now, the anti-graft drive has gained crushing momentum. Since 2012, the Party has investigated more than 280 senior officials, including Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, Guo Boxiong, Xu Caihou, Sun Zhengcai and Ling Jihua.

The strict governance of the Party will always be an ongoing process, Xi said, stressing that the future of a political party or a regime is ultimately determined by whether the people are for or against it.

DIPLOMACY HIGHLIGHTING WIN-WIN COOPERATION

China will continue to actively participate in global governance reform and contribute Chinese wisdom to the world.

Xi has proposed forging a community of shared destiny for mankind, as well as establishing a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation at the core.

The vision of building a community of shared future for humanity holds that all countries, big or small, are equal in terms of their right to development and political status, making a more harmonious and equal world possible.

This proposal, together with China's Belt and Road Initiative, was incorporated into UN Security Council resolutions.

This vision, derived from traditional Chinese culture, presents Chinese wisdom for the world, Xin said.

China's average contribution to world growth in 2013-2016 was about 30 percent, the largest among all countries and higher than the total contribution from the United States, the eurozone and Japan.

Currently, as anti-globalization rears its head and some Western political systems suffer setbacks, China is sure to play its due role in promoting trade liberalization and economic globalization, as well as advancing global governance and multilateralism.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 11:17:37|Editor: Liangyu

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Pakistani army said at least one civilian was killed and five others injured in Indian forces' firing along the Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Kashmir region, according to local reports early Sunday.

Four children are among the injured, a statement from the army's media wing the Inter-Services Public Relations said late Saturday. The injured were evacuated to a local hospital in the region.

The army said earlier that Indian forces "resorted to unprovoked firing and targeted civilian population" in Satwal and Nikial Sectors along the LoC, leaving two Pakistani civilians injured.

"Pakistan Army aggressively and effectively responded to hostile fire, silenced their guns and caused considerable damage to the posts carrying out fire," the statement said.

"Targeting civilians will not deter Kashmiri people from their just struggle against Indian oppression," the army said.

Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC and the Working Boundary in 2003. Both, however, routinely accuse each other of violating the ceasefire.

There has been escalation along the LoC and Working Boundary since the militants attacked an army base in the Indian-controlled Kashmir, killing 19 soldiers on Sept. 18 last year.

The Indian military had blamed the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad group for the attack and also pointed fingers at Pakistan. However, Islamabad rejected the charges and suggested an independent investigation.

In 2017 to date, the Indian forces have carried out more than 900 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the Working Boundary, resulting in the killing of 45 civilians and injuries to 155, as compared to 382 ceasefire violations in 2016, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 11:32:39|Editor: Yamei

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GENEVA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- A group of prestigious musicians from various Silk Road countries Saturday performed at a special concert at the United Nations (UN) headquarters here as an example of intercultural dialogue and understanding.

Held in the famous Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Hall of the Palais des Nations at Geneva, the concert was described as "a true encounter between East and West."

The special concert, co-organized by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and the Barcelona-based Fundacion Onuart, brought together the Symphonic Orchestra of the Balearic Islands directed by Spanish Maestro Pablo Mielgo, as well as some well-known artists from Silk Road countries.

While offering a musical journey through the Silk Road, the organizers said the concert set out to use music "as an instrument to foster intercultural dialogues and rapprochement between nations and cultures."

"The setting of the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Hall in the Palais des Nations in Geneva will provide the ideal backdrop to promote dialogue and peace around the world through music," the organizers said in a statement.

Ma Zhenxuan, president of the Center for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange and one of the organizers of the event, said the concert demonstrated the power of music in the process of enhancing mutual understanding among people, as well as people's support towards the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative which links the countries located on the ancient Silk Road and beyond.

In order to better practice the Chinese concept of "building a community of shared future for all humankind," the center is now trying to establish an international network for public diplomacy, or even a World Public Diplomatic Organization, he added.

Cao Mingqi, vice president of the Center for Public Diplomacy and Cultural Exchange, said after the concert that the center hopes to better promote the Belt and Road Initiative through cultural exchanges.

He voices his hope that the concert will bring more countries together to contribute even more to world peace and prosperity in the future.

The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, seeks to promote trade, financial integration, infrastructure inter-connectivity and people-to-people exchanges along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes linking Asia with Europe and Africa.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 11:52:42|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Virginia State University in Petersburg, U.S. state of Virginia, is on lockdown after an on-campus shooting Saturday night, authorities said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 12:37:48|Editor: Yamei

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Virginia State University in Petersburg, in the U.S. state of Virginia, is on lockdown after an on-campus shooting Saturday night, authorities said.

At least one person was shot, with life-threatening injuries, according to local media reports.

Other reports said the person who was shot was rushed to a local hospital and the suspect is described as a male wearing a white jersey.

"Police scene still active and the campus remains on lockdown," the Virginia State University (VSU) Police Department said in a tweet Saturday night.

VSU police urged people to avoid the area.

The university said on its website that it was celebrating its homecoming weekend.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 12:37:49|Editor: Song Lifang

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Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2017 shows fireworks display presented by local Chinese community and Chinese companies after the opening ceremony of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Brunei's first cable-stayed bridge, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge, also known as Water Village Bridge, was officially opened to the public on Saturday evening, in conjunction of the golden jubilee celebration of Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's accession to the throne. (Xinhua/Jeffrey Wong)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's first cable-stayed bridge, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge, also known as Water Village Bridge, was officially opened to the public on Saturday evening, in conjunction of the golden jubilee celebration of Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's accession to the throne.

The Sultan, together with other members of the royal family, attended the opening ceremony and officially named the 750-metre-long bridge after his wife as Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge.

The 139-million-Brunei-dollar (103 million U.S. dollars) bridge, which links the capital area to the southern part of the Brunei River, home to the iconic water villages, started construction in July 2013.

Abu Bakar, Brunei's minister of home affairs, said in his welcoming speech that the bridge marks another milestone in the Sultan's 50-year reign, demonstrating his utmost interest in the capital's modernization and infrastructure development.

The bridge will open up the capital's southern bank area and make the area more attractive for both commercial and residential development. In addition, it will offering residents in the area reduction of travelling time to other parts of Brunei, an official from Brunei's Ministry of Development told Xinhua on the sidelines of the opening ceremony.

After the ceremony, a river float procession and two sessions of fireworks display presented by local Chinese community and two Chinese companies Hengyi Industries and Bank of China Hong Kong (BOCHK) Brunei Branch separately, lit up the sky and drew cheers and applause from about 60,000 audience.

"It's the most amazing show of fireworks I have ever seen, especially the second session prepared by the Chinese companies," Izzat Razak, a local teacher told Xinhua. "It's so refreshing for me and my family."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 12:47:52|Editor: Yamei

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ATHENS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Europe should further its cooperation with China to jointly contribute more to world harmony, former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has said here.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, he noted that considering the unpredictability of the United States, Europe should step up its cooperation with China.

"We need to have driving forces to tackle challenges and uncertainties the world faces today," de Villepin said after attending a prestigious international forum on the Rhodes Islands in Greece.

He pointed out joint efforts in combating climate change as one of the best examples to illustrate the beneficial cooperation between the two sides.

Regarding the measures taken by the European Union on Chinese steel imports, de Villepin said every country has to be able to control things without adopting protectionist measures.

"This has to be done in a very civilized way. It needs not to be a fight, my interest against your interest," he said.

Both China and Europe need to take care of their own economic interests. The escalation of measures which could be considered aggressive should be avoided, he said.

Through dialogue between not only governments, but also companies, civil societies, universities and tourism groups, Europe and China could become closer and understand each other better, the former prime minister said.

"We are happy to see that more Chinese are coming to Europe. At the same time, Europeans want to know China better," de Villepin said.
I've written a book. Much of it is based on historical fact that a century ago was buried because at the time, public opinion required it.

Over the past few decades, history has often had to be rewritten because when it was first recorded, deception was required. The obscuring of the truth and lying in order to manipulate public opinion about the historical event was often necessary.

But what I discovered is something that was intentionally buried!

It was the fact that the first seances in the nation were held in the homes of Auburn's most prominent citizens  that the Spiritualist movement actually started here.

Called "circles" in the beginning, the group met in the homes of Auburn's most prominent citizens, who included: Dr. and Mrs. Robinson, 6 William St.; Mr. And Mrs. James Boswick, 172 W. Genesee St.; Dr. and Mrs. Sullivan Nortan Smith, 148 W. Genesee St.; Mr. and Mrs. Dewitt Miller, 25 South St.; and C.V. Woodward, 120 North St.

(J.H. Bostwick was a surveyor and, for a time, Auburn's police chief; Dr. Haratio Robinson Sr. was the hospital's chief physician; and Dr. Sullivan N. Smith was a dentist.)

The Cayuga County Office Building occupies where the Boswick home once stood, and the Veterans Memorial Park is on the site where the Smith home stood. The only house still standing today is the white columned home on North Street.

Others that attended the "circles" included Henry D. Barron, Lucio Gardner, Martha A. Hilman, Miss Amanda Hoskins, Mary and Charles W. Bennet, Henry Sheffield, Mr. and Mrs. Justin Sturtevant, S.A. Tamlin, Haratio N. Thompson, Ethan A. Warden and George S. Wilson.

The group called themselves The Auburn Circle. Always in attendance was 10-year-old Catherine Fox. (She and her younger sister, Maggie, were already beginning to get national and worldwide attention with the "rappings" that occurred during their public seances.)

It was the same "spirit" that first communicated with the children in their house in Hydesville, a small hamlet near Newark, whose rappings were also heard by anyone who visited the house. (The spirit was supposedly murdered in the house and buried there.)

For several years, the Fox sisters drew big crowds wherever they performed.

Unfortunately, what happened when the cellar was dug up to a depth of about 5 feet, during the summer of 1848, was that nothing was found! The occurrence put an almost immediate end to the media blitz that had been occurring since the girls' mother, Margaret Fox, gave a statement to the press six months earlier.

But the "proof" was finally discovered ... too late. Fifty-six years later, a further discovery was made that proved beyond all doubt that someone had actually been buried in the cellar of the Fox household, but was found instead behind the cellar wall!

The following statement appeared in The Boston Journal (a non-Spiritualist newspaper) on Nov. 23, 1904: Rochester, N.Y., Nov. 22, 1904: The skeleton of the man supposed to have caused the 'rappings' first heard by the Fox sisters in 1848 has been found in the walls of the house occupied by the sisters, and clears them from the only shadow of doubt held concerning their sincerity in the discovery of spirit communication.

A wake-up call

Spiritualism was a wake-up call in the 1850s. Despite established religion being shaken up by the movement, Spiritualism captured the American imagination.

Trance mediums changed the fabric of the country, shaking the mainstream in many ways! The Spiritualist movement freed women to speak up in public and was also responsible for helping end slavery.

By 1870, the Auburn area was home to more than 100 mediums.

It was after Mary Todd Lincoln's trip to Auburn in February 1872, to see the medium Mary Andrews in nearby Moravia, that the town became known as a mecca of Spiritualism. Her trip increased the popularity of mediums, as evidenced by the eight trains that made the 17-mile trip from Auburn daily to Moravia.

Due to the credibility of my research, as well as the documentation that I'd acquired, Ellen McHugh's efforts led the Cayuga Museum of History & Art to host an exhibit in 2002 that confirmed that Auburn was the first city in the nation to hold 'seances' in the homes of the city's elite.

Therefore, I believe that portion of the book I've written  The Possible Impossibilities, which deals with the history of Spiritualism  meets the distinction of being credible.

Unfortunately, Spiritualism got swept under the rug for another 100 years, until the proof of its existence was made possible by those considered credible: world-renowned psychiatrist Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell.

After Mitchell's experience in space, he realized that mankind had barely begun to probe the deepest mystery of the universe  the fact of consciousness itself. He became convinced that the uncharted territory of the human mind was the next frontier to explore, and that it contained possibilities we had hardly begun to imagine.

Within two years of his expedition, Edgar Mitchell founded the Institute of Noetic Sciences in 1973 and, after he and his team of researchers looked at Kubler-Ross's work, they confirmed the existence of mediumship, calling it channeling. (Go to the IONS website for more information: noetic.org/directory/person/edgar-mitchell.)

Since 1980, all nurses in the U.S. have been exposed to Kubler-Ross's work. The following passage is taken from her book, Death and Dying:

At the moment of transition, you're never, ever alone. You are not alone right now, but you don't know it. At the time of transition, your spirit guides, your guardian angels, people whom you have loved and who have passed on before you, will be there to help you in this transition. We have verified this beyond any shadow of a doubt, and I say this as a scientist. Most of the time it is a mother or father, a grandparent, or a child if you have lost a child. It is sometime people that you didn't even know were on the other side.

Although my book contains considerable historical facts, there are also numerous accounts of how I (eventually) found the truth of what I consider the unfindable existence of the mystery of the spirit world that really began when I was a child because I could see "ghosts":

"Ghosts: Most call them 'ghosts' but they should, instead, be referred to as either 'earth-bound spirits' or 'lost souls.' The reasons many do not progress ... 'go to the light' ... are numerous. Many are stuck because they are unprepared to die. There are also those who stay 'earth bound' because of their while-on-earth addictions. And, for those who were electrocuted, they usually remain as 'earth-bound spirits.'"

My years of being involved in the investigation of the paranormal and a pursuit of finding proof of it fills many chapters, including the stories of "ghosts of the big house" told to me by Auburn inmates. Why the crows have come to Auburn is answered. The chapter about the importance of the "ley lines" that go through Fort Hill Cemetery is what has a lot to do with why there has been so many unusual occurrences of phenomena in our area.

For more information about the book, The Possible Impossibilities, visit createspace.com/7137350.

Proceeds from its sale will go to the Universal Church of the Master, my religious affiliation.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 13:07:54|Editor: Xiang Bo

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ZHENGZHOU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sixty-six giraffes arrived in central China's Henan Province in the early hours of Sunday, on a chartered flight from Johannesburg, South Africa, according to local sources.

The giraffes, 22 males and 44 females, are all around two years old. Adult giraffes of this species can grow to 5.2 meters tall.

The animals will go through a health check and be quarantined for 45 days in the city of Jiaozuo, before being sent to zoos across China to meet visitors.

In August last year, Xinzheng International Airport in Zhengzhou, Henan's capital, received 63 giraffes from South Africa.

According to the Henan Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Zhengzhou has received close to 10,000 imported animals since 2015, including giraffes and zebras from South Africa, polar bears from Russia, alpacas from Chile and dolphins from Japan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 14:08:05|Editor: Xiang Bo

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WUHAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three tourists from Taiwan were killed by falling rocks at a scenic area in central China's Hubei Province on Sunday morning, according to local authorities.

The accident happened at 9:45 a.m. in Yichang. Two others, who were injured, have been rushed to a local hospital, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of Hubei.

Local tourism authorities has asked for strengthened efforts to guard against possible hazards for the safety of tourists as the autumn flood season has begun and certain areas of the province are prone to geological disasters.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 14:23:09|Editor: Song Lifang

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Luo Linquan, Chinese consul general in San Francisco, speaks during a promotion campaign in San Francisco, the United States , on Oct. 14, 2017. An event for the new initiative "Beautiful China -- Journey Along the World Heritage" that seeks to promote China's 52 UNESCO World Heritage sites to tourists from the United States was held here Saturday. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaoling)

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- An event for the new initiative "Beautiful China -- Journey Along the World Heritage" that seeks to promote China's 52 UNESCO World Heritage sites to tourists from the United States was held here Saturday.

"From the iconic Great Wall in Beijing to Fujian Province's Kulangsu Settlement, the newest 2017 addition to UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, China boasts a long list of must-see attractions," said Wang Xiaofeng, vice chairman of the China National Tourism Administration at the event held in downtown San Francisco, in the U.S. state of California.

Kulangsu, or better known as Gulangyu island in China, is a pedestrian-only island off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian Province in southeastern China. It is renowned for its beaches, winding lanes and varied architecture.

Luo Linquan, consul general of China's Consulate-General in San Francisco, said tourism is an effective way to expand friendship between China and the United States, adding that about 5.32 million people from both countries visited each side in 2016, up 12 percent over the previous year.

"The U.S. has now become China's third-largest source of tourists, with an average 2.1 million people visiting China annually," he said.

More than 3 million Chinese tourists visited the United States in 2016, making it the fourth-largest destination market of China, Luo added.

The promotion campaign was joined by delegates from an unprecedented 18 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 14:33:11|Editor: Liangyu

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Explosions hit a military check post in Pakistan's northwest tribal area of Kurram Agency on Sunday morning, leaving at least four soldiers killed and two others injured, local Urdu media reported.

The explosions were reportedly triggered by about three landmines at the check post in the semi-autonomous Kurram Agency located along Pakistan-Afghanistan border, according to the Dawn.

Security forces cordoned off the area and kicked off a search operation to hunt down the attackers. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital.

No group or person has claimed the attack yet.

The blast came a few days after the Pakistani army recovered a Canadian-American family in the agency from the custody of Taliban militants who entered from Afghanistan.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 14:38:13|Editor: Xiang Bo

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by Alexia Vlachou

ATHENS, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- China will take greater responsibility as it assumes an increasingly significant role on the global stage, and the world will rely more and more on China, former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin has said.

"China has been looking at the UN (United Nations) system for a long time. Now they are the first contributors in terms of peacekeeping troops around the world," de Villepin told Xinhua at an international forum held in Greece.

He noted that considering the unpredictability of the United States, Europe should cooperate more with China.

"We need to have driving forces to tackle challenges and uncertainties the world faces today," he said.

From the Korean Peninsula issue to the Iran nuclear crisis, from the migration crisis to terrorism, most of the countries around the world are involved in these global issues, he said.

Besides, there are critical regional issues in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya and other countries, strong economic challenges face the United States, and banks in Southern Europe are encountering various difficulties.

As the United States is pushing for isolationism and nationalism and is favoring an 'America first' approach, something needs to be done, de Villepin suggested. "We should get organized," he said.

BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE

De Villepin said the Belt and Road Initiative not only benefits the Chinese economy, but also helps safeguard the safety of countries along the routes.

He pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative creates an opportunity for countries with different state systems along the Belt and Road to work together for their common interest, which is to protect the region from terrorism.

"One should be counting all the benefits of stability, with less wars, less tension, less crises and less terrorism. It is very important to have a global picture," he said.

He also advised Europe to learn from what China has done for Africa, and to launch a big European-African project.

"China's strategy for Africa is not only about the economy, but also involves politics, stability, culture and communication," he said.

By building more infrastructure in Africa, African people will stay in their own countries instead of coming to Europe as they have enough job opportunities in their own countries, he said.

EUROPE-CHINA PARTNERSHIP

"Europe and China can take more responsibilities, contribute more to world harmony and dialogue between countries," de Villepin said.

One of the best examples to show the beneficial cooperation between the two parties is the COP 21 (the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference, the 21st yearly session of the Conference of the Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and their joint efforts in combating environmental challenges, he said.

China, one of the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, is committed to limiting carbon emissions.

Over the past years, China has been in the forefront of fighting against climate change. Now, the two leading forces in the world for climate change are Europe and China.

Regarding the measures taken by the European Union on steel imports, de Villepin said that every country has to be able to control things without adopting protectionist measures.

"This has to be done in a very civilized way. It needs not to be a fight, my interest against your interest," he said.

Both China and Europe have to take care of their own economic interests. The escalation of measures which could be considered aggressive should be avoided, he noted.

Through dialogue between not only governments, but also companies, civil societies, universities and tourism groups, Europe and China could become closer and understand each other better.

"We need more Chinese tourists. We are happy to see that more Chinese are coming to Europe. At the same time, Europeans want to know China better," de Villepin said.

He said that the optimism of the Chinese people attracts him the most. Whenever he travels to China, he said he senses Chinese people's confidence in a better future. Chinese people are interested in new ideas, which is not the case for Europe.

"If you discuss with a young European, he has the feeling that tomorrow might be not as good as or maybe even worse than today. In China, it is different. Chinese people have seen in the last decade that things are becoming better, and they feel that they will be stronger tomorrow," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 14:58:18|Editor: Liangyu

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VIENNA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Austrians went to polls on Sunday to elect the members of the National Council, the lower house of the parliament.

It has been seen as another important test for the right wing wave amid a migration crisis in Europe after the German elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 15:03:20|Editor: An

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BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson expressed sympathy after three Taiwan tourists were killed by falling rocks at the Three Gorges scenic area in central China's Hubei Province on Sunday morning.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the office also offers its condolences to the families of the victims.

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits will jointly set up a work group to help at the site of the accident, Ma said.

The State Council and ARATS have activated an emergency response mechanism and updated the Taiwan tourism agency about the tragedy via the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits, Ma said.

The three tourists were members of a group organized by a Taiwan travel agency. Two other group members were slightly injured in the accident. The remaining 39 Taiwan tourists stayed on the ship.

Hubei provincial tourism authorities have asked for strengthened efforts to guard against possible hazards to ensure the safety of tourists as the autumn flood season has begun and certain areas of the province are prone to geological disasters.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 15:08:22|Editor: Song Lifang

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KABUL, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan has obtained the permanent membership of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the country's finance ministry reported on its website Sunday.

Afghan Finance Minister Eklil Hakimi received the Certificate of Permanent Membership of the AIIB on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meeting earlier this week in Washington, the United States, the ministry said in a statement.

Hakimi also met Jin Liqun, president of AIIB, and discussed a number of topics including Afghanistan's membership in the bank, financial and technical facilities for Afghan solar energy, railway connectivity of five countries (Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Iran and China), financing infrastructure projects, among others, the statement noted.

"Afghanistan's membership in the bank has been very important and paves the way for the implementation of major national projects," the statement said.

Established in 2015, AIIB aims to provide financing to address the daunting infrastructure needs across Asia.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 16:33:34|Editor: Song Lifang

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by Keren Setton

JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed U.S. President Trump's announcement on Iran, as experts thinks tensions could spiral with such a statement.

Trump stopped short of pulling out of the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) dealing with the Iranian nuclear program that was reached after lengthy negotiations two years ago.

The Israeli leader has been a fierce critic of the deal but has failed to rally international support for his stance.

During his presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly slammed the deal, saying he would cancel it.

Netanyahu had finally found an ally -- and one that had serious clout in the international arena.

So over the weekend, when Trump said he would not re-certify the deal with Iran, as U.S. law mandates -- Netanyahu's office immediately released a pre-recorded message in which the Israeli PM congratulated Trump for his "courageous decision."

While Trump could have withdrawn the United States from the deal completely, he did not. It is now in the hands of the U.S. Congress -- will they find away to appease Trump or will the U.S. leave the deal?

Should the U.S. Congress re-introduce sanctions on Iran, the United States will be considered in violation of the JCPOA, giving the Iranians possible justification to abandon the agreement.

This could set the stage for rocky times.

"There is now potential for unstable conditions in the region, a greater potential for a confrontation than in the past," said Ehud Eiran, a Board Member at Mitvim, the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, and an assistant professor of international relations at the University of Haifa. He is also a former assistant foreign policy adviser to Israel's prime minister.

Earlier, Israeli Intelligence Minister Yisrael Katz said to Israel's Channel 2 news that he thought the statement had the potential of starting a war.

"The statement was based on the current agreement but was very clear about the future," said Katz minutes after Trump finished his speech.

Eiran pointed out that the Iranian presence in Syria, on Israel's northern border, is now more sensitive than ever. Iran also backs Hezbollah in Lebanon -- a guerrilla organization which has frequently clashed with Israel. Friction points are hence increasing.

"Iran sees Israel as an American proxy," Eiran said, adding that the move by Trump also damages the stability of the international coalition against Iran.

All these conditions do not bode well for stability in the region.

The United States is not the only party to the deal. There are seven other signatories which are still very much in favor of the original deal. Netanyahu and Trump are in a minority.

A few weeks ago, when the Israeli prime minister made yet another threat towards Iran while speaking at the UN General Assembly, Israeli and international media reported that Netanyahu does not have the support of defense officials within his administration.

"The Israeli voice is not unified," Eiran said.

Israeli military and security officers have been quoted as saying the deal has its benefits, mainly keeping Iran under close tabs. So far no one has come up with a better alternative to the international pact.

So how can Netanyahu see the Trump move as an achievement?

Amir Oren, a columnist from Israel's Haaretz newspaper, wrote that Trump's speech "burst Netanyahu's last hope ... to create a ... crisis with Iran." But clearly, the reactions in the international arena demonstrate that there is fear of a crisis, be it military or diplomatic.

Eiran said Netanyahu can be satisfied for several reasons.

"Firstly, it allows him to portray himself as the first leader who warned of the danger," he said. "It is very convenient internally, as it allows him to divert attention from investigations against him, from media coverage of him."

Netanyahu is the subject of various police investigations dealing with suspected corruption. Media coverage of his affairs has caused him public discomfort.

But the Trump speech did have an achievement for Israeli policy. The Jewish state, which sees Iran as its arch enemy, has frequently warned that Iran has other programs that are just as dangerous as its nuclear one.

Trump basically adopted the Netanyahu stance and marked Iran as the chief destabilizer of the region.

The JCPOA does not deal with Iran's ballistic missile program which it is developing enthusiastically.

In fact, days after Netanyahu's UN speech, Iran tested a long range ballistic missile in a clear provocation.

"Israel's main goal is to roll-back Iranian influence in the region, the nuclear program is just one component of that," Eiran added.

Whether Netanyahu will sit on the sidelines in the next 60 days or try to influence the U.S. Congress as he has done in the past is not known.

This could be an opportunity for him to get the United States to tweak the agreement in a manner that will be more favorable to Israel. He himself suggested in the UN that the agreement could be fixed.

"In the end, Netanyahu, with all his rhetoric, is very, very careful ... he wants to see Iran contained, but he will be very careful to take aggressive steps," Eiran said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 16:43:36|Editor: Song Lifang

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NAY PYI TAW, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi on Sunday reiterated the government's welcome of non-signatory armed groups to the nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) to join in the peace process by being inclusive in formulating the principles toward a democratic federal union in the future.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who is also chairperson of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), made the remarks in her opening speech at a ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw marking the second anniversary of the signing of the NCA between the government and eight ethnic armed groups out of 15.

The NCA was initiated on Oct. 15, 2015 during the previous U Thein Sein's government tenure.

There will be a third meeting of 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference scheduled for later this year, during which unfinished fundamental principles on federalism, and the formulation of new principles will be discussed, Aung San Suu Kyi said.

The country plans to hold two meetings of the peace conference in 2018.

She expects that at the upcoming third meeting of the peace conference, all the fundamental principles on federalism will be finalized, calling for continuation of dialogue on the division of power, allocation of resources and revenue between the union, states and regions and the power sharing described in the constitution.

Agreeing that a federal system is the only solution for the internal armed conflict which has been unresolved under successive governments, Aung San Suu Kyi warned that the opportunity to end the conflict by political means is in the hands right now, adding that the people of Myanmar have great expectations on the upcoming Panglong Peace Conference.

She called for continuing the ceasefire mechanism, braving both in thoughts and action and walking towards ending all wars and conflicts in the country.

Following the initiation of the NCA between the government and the eight ethnic armed groups in October 2015, Myanmar's incumbent government had held the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference for two times respectively in August 2016 and May 2017.

The second meeting of the Panglong Peace conference was able to incorporate a total of 37 adopted principles into a union accord in the country's peace process for the first time in Myanmar's history.

Attending the event were also President U Htin Kyaw, Vice Presidents U Myint Swe and U Henry Van Thio, Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and General Saw Mutu Sae Po, who is chairman of the Kayin National Union (KNU) and represents signatory armed groups to the ceasefire agreement.
ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- The Democratic leader of the House of Representatives said President Donald Trump "went rogue" with his decisions on ending Obamacare subsidies, changing birth control coverage mandates and decertifying the Iran nuclear deal.



President Trump went rogue," House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in an exclusive interview on This Week Sunday. "He went rogue on women's health in particular, the Affordable Care Act, the Iran decision that he made. And ... he continues his war on the middle class with his unfair tax plan.



On Thursday, Trump announced he is ending subsidy payments to health care insurers that help low- and middle-income Americans afford premium costs and other expenses under Obamacare.



The next day, Friday, Trump decertified the Iran nuclear agreement but left it up to Congress to decide whether to go further by renewing sanctions on Iran that ended when the deal took effect in 2015.



Pressed by Stephanopoulos about what can be done about these decisions, Pelosi said, I've tried to suggest to him that while we understand our differences, we can find our common ground if we have evidence-based decisions.



Pelosi referenced two Republican governors, John Kasich of Ohio and Brian Sandoval of Nevada, as being against Trumps latest health care executive order because it would destabilize the market even more.



Either the president doesn't know or he doesn't care, said Pelosi.



Stephanopoulos asked Pelosi about fellow California House Democrat Linda Sanchez saying "it's time for change" and a new generation of leaders for the Democratic Party.



Pelosi said she thinks theres a great array of talent in the party that she has promoted all along the way, but also noted its up to the caucus to elect its next leadership.



The Democratic House Leader stressed that shes not ready to leave government while Obamas health care system is under attack by the Republican Party.



The Affordable Care Act, as you know, is very important to me... When the president became the president and I saw the threat to it, I said, I've gotta stay to take care of the Affordable Care Act.' That's my fight. That's my mission, she said.

What [Trump is] doing is hurting the American people. This isn't about policy or politics. It's about the American people.

Copyright  2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
AUBURN  A dozen dogs, one cat and their humans came to Hoopes Park Sunday afternoon to participate in an animal blessing, courtesy of Auburn United Methodist Church and the Finger Lakes SPCA of Central New York.

Pastor Richelle Goff, who has been holding the pet blessing event for the past three years, started the ceremony with a short prayer.

"We thank you for giving us these pets that bring us joy," Goff prayed. "Grant that these animals have good health and peace."

Following a reading from the biblical book of Genesis, Goff and those gathered prayed for their pets who have died by calling out their names or thinking them silently.

"We give thanks for the gifts they've given us and the way they've enriched our lives," Goff prayed.

Then the animals lined up with their owners and received a individual blessing.

"May you and your human family experience joy and companionship for years to come," Goff prayed over the animals.

Mike and Nancy Bishop, parishioners at Auburn United Methodist, brought their dogs, two-year-old Toby and seven-year-old Snickers, to the park for a blessing.

"It's a beautiful day to bring the dogs out and to get a special blessing," Mike Bishop said. "It's what St. Francis of Assisi would have done."

Goff said Finger Lakes SPCA Shelter Director Carol Russell came to her three years ago and expressed a need for an event like this. They worked together to plan the event and spread the word three years ago.

"There are some people at the church who are very passionate about animals and caring for all of God's creatures," Goff said. "I want to thank Carol at the SPCA for all the important work they do. We do all we can to support them."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 16:59:59|Editor: An

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Traders attend the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2017. The 122nd China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, kicked off here Sunday. The China Import and Export Fair is held every spring and autumn and is seen as a barometer of the country's foreign trade. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 17:33:46|Editor: An

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MANILA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS)-linked militants are putting up fierce resistance as Philippines forces continue its bloody offensive to retake southern Philippine city of Marawi, an army commander said on Sunday.

Col. Romeo Brawner expressed hope that the Marawi siege will end "very soon." In a news conference in Marawi, Brawner said, "We are trying our best (to meet the military's self-imposed Oct. 15 target). Our troops are fighting hard."

"Until now our troops are still assaulting the defensive positions of the Maute-ISIS, and despite the fact that we have set today as a target day for finishing the arm conflict, our troops are still pushing hard, fighting hard to meet this target," Brawner said.

He said "the Maute-ISIS have established very strong defensive positions," adding that the IS fighters are hiding in dugouts and basements of their occupied buildings.

Around 40 Maute fighters are believed to be holed up within a two-hectare area near Lanao Lake in the devastated city, Brawner said.

He said the militants are using the hostages, including women and children, as shield against the government forces.

Quoting a woman hostage rescued on Saturday, he said "even the women and the children are now forced to fight together with the Maute-ISIS fighters."

"These are desperate measures that Maute-ISIS are doing because it is like their last defensive stand," Brawner said.

Brawner said 20 soldiers were wounded in action, including a battalion commander, during a firefight on Saturday.

He said the troops are using loudspeakers and air-dropping leaflets over the main battle area to encourage the remaining fighters to give up the fight and surrender.

The war in Marawi, which broke out on May 23, has dragged on for almost five months now. The 145-day conflict has so far claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, including 813 militants and 162 soldiers and policemen.

Brawner said more than 1,700 government security forces have been wounded, mostly from gunshot wounds in the legs from snipers and improvised explosive devices that were laid by the fighters.

A martial law has been imposed on the entire Mindanao island in southern Philippines till December 31.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 17:33:47|Editor: An

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RAMALLAH, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Unity Government said it will begin meetings to retain control over the security and border crossings in Gaza Sunday, following the recent agreement between rival Palestinian parties Fatah and Hamas in Cairo.

Head of the Governmental Commission for Borders and Civil Affairs Hussein Al-Shaikh said in statements to the official Palestinian radio station (Voice of Palestine) that the prime minister will hold a meeting with heads of security apparatuses in West Bank city of Ramallah soon.

The meeting will discuss "the mechanics and restructuring of the security bodies in cooperation with the relevant parties in Gaza," said Al-Shaikh.

He noted that this would represent "a real and serious test" for the implementation of the national reconciliation deal.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas is expected to head a meeting for his party's (Fatah) Central Committee in Ramallah Sunday, for the first time since the national reconciliation deal was singed between Fatah and Islamic Hamas movement in Cairo last Thursday.

Al-Shaikh, who is a member of Fatah's Central Committee pointed out that the the committee meeting will discuss several issues, including the reconciliation deal and the work of the party members to Gaza Strip to deal with various issues there.

Hamas and Fatah agreed last Thursday in Cairo on measures that would empower the Palestinian government's work in the coastal enclave and take full responsibility of all affairs there by December 2017.

The Egyptian patrons of the reconciliation deal invited Palestinian factions for a national dialogue in Cairo on Oct. 21, to discuss the remaining issues related to the decade long internal Palestinian division.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 17:58:53|Editor: An

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NEW DELHI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- India's main opposition Congress party Sunday won a crucial parliamentary by-election in northern state of Punjab, decimating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, who contested for the parliamentary seat, swept the by-election by trouncing BJP candidate Swaran Salaria by nearly 200,000 votes. Delhi's ruling, anti-graft Aam Aadmi Party, which had also put up a candidate, was also heavily defeated.

The Gurdaspur parliamentary seat in Punjab has fallen vacant after the death of Bollywood actor-turned-politician Vinod Khanna in April. Khanna, a BJP parliamentarian, had won the seat for four consecutive terms.

Punjab is ruled by Congress party which came to power six months back, defeating a BJP-led coalition that ruled the state for 10 years.

State Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was among the first to congratulate Jakhar.

"Congratulations to @sunilkjakhar ji for his impressive win in #Gurdaspur bypoll... Assure people of #Gurdaspur that every single promise made by @sunilkjakhar will be fulfilled and all development works will be fast-tracked," he tweeted.

Jakhar said his win was a "referendum" on the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's rule in India. "The people of Gurdaspur has sent a strong message of their resentment to the policies pursued by the Indian government," he told the media.

The BJP has not yet commented on its huge loss in the seat that was the party's stronghold in Punjab for years.

The general election in India is due in 2019.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 18:03:55|Editor: An

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ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's national air carrier Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is mulling flights to the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, has in recent years been known as an emerging technology hub and home to e-commerce giant Alibaba.

Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of ET, told Xinhua on Sunday the air carrier is mulling Hangzhou as its next destination as part of its plan to attract more Chinese tourists and business people.

Private investment from China to Ethiopia in 2017, up to September 5, has reached more than 680 million U.S. dollars, outpacing the entire 2016 figures of 560 million dollars.

China is the single largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ethiopia for the last several years, as Ethiopia bids to attract Chinese expertise and money for its industrialization ambitions.

Chinese tourists are also a rising demographics with the East African country attracting 41,660 Chinese tourists in 2015, a trend the Ethiopian government expects to grow in the coming years.

Ethiopia had earned 3.32 billion dollars from 886,897 tourists that visited the nation during the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2016/17 that ended on July 8.

The country plans to earn 4.5 billion dollars from 1.2 million tourists during the 2017/18 Fiscal Year that started July 9.

Hangzhou however is not the only Chinese destination that Ethiopian Airlines is mulling starting flights to.

Gebremariam previously told Xinhua ET is considering flights to Shenzhen, a major innovation and entrepreneurship center, as another destination possibly bringing the number of flight destinations ET has to Chinese cities to seven in total.

Ethiopian Airlines currently flies to five destinations in China: Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 18:08:56|Editor: Song Lifang

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SKOPJE, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 1.8 million Macedonians went to polls on Sunday to elect mayors and municipal council members in the capital city of Skopje and 80 other municipalities.

The campaign preceding the elections was intense and was marked with incidents, as major parties, including the ruling Social Democratic Union and the largest opposition party and Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, see the results as a test for voters' confidence and their political strength.

"The police will take any measures necessary to make sure the citizens use their voting rights peacefully and unobstructed," the Macedonian ministry of interior announced.

The citizens are encouraged to report any voting irregularity via the phone lines of the state prosecutor's office and the Ombudsman, it added.

Nikola Dujovski, a professor from the Faculty of Security of Skopje-based Bitola University, said Macedonia desperately needs clean elections to restore its image.

"The state institutions simply can't allow violence or incidents at the elections polls. The whole election process has to pass peacefully. Otherwise, negative remarks will give an undisputable signal that the country is not ready for EU (European Union) and NATO membership," Dujovski told Xinhua.

According to the Macedonian law, the members of the municipal councils throughout the country are elected in a single round, while mayors are elected with a majority vote.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 18:49:01|Editor: Lu Hui

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WUHAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Three tourists from Taiwan were killed by falling rocks at a scenic area in central China's Hubei Province Sunday morning, according to local authorities.

The accident happened at 9:45 a.m. in Yichang, when a group of 45 people organized by a Taiwan travel agency were at the tourist attraction of Three Gorges on the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. Two men and one woman tourist died.

Two others, who were injured, have been rushed to a local hospital, according to the Taiwan Affairs Office of Hubei. Their injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

The remaining 40 have been evacuated to a safe location, among whom 30 are heading for the next stop of the trip, while 10 will stay in Yichang.

The scenic area has been closed and cause of the accident is under investigation.

Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said the office offers its condolences to the families of the victims.

The Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) and the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits will send a task force to Hubei to assist, Ma said.

The State Council and ARATS have activated an emergency response mechanism and updated the Taiwan tourism agency about the tragedy via the Association for Tourism Exchange Across the Taiwan Straits, Ma said.

Hubei provincial tourism authorities have asked for strengthened efforts to guard against possible hazards to ensure the safety of tourists as the autumn flood season has begun and certain areas of the province are prone to geological disasters. The local governments have asked tourist attractions close to the area to close temporarily for the safety of travelers.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 18:54:03|Editor: Song Lifang

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TRIPOLI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based army closed the seaport of the eastern city of Tubruq for security reasons, an army source told Xinhua on Sunday.

"The General Command of the army has issued orders to close the port of Tubruq over detected smuggling of drugs and fuel, as well as smuggling of raw materials, such as iron and copper," the source said.

The source pointed out that the port did not meet standards of occupational safety, and that security violations were recorded.

The army changed the route of international commercial ships of the port to Benghazi's port until further notice.

Tubruq port is controlled by the eastern-based interim government allied with the armed forces.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:14:07|Editor: Song Lifang

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BAGHDAD, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian authorities on Sunday blocked its border crossing points with the region of Kurdistan in northern Iraq in response to controversial independence referendum held by the region last month, a local Kurdish media said.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has closed its border crossings with the Kurdistan region since this morning," said the official website of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), a major Kurdish party in which the Iraqi President Fuad Masoum is a leading figure.

The Iranian authorities blocked the crossings of Pervez Khan, Bashmakh and Haji Omran, the website quoted Sirwan Mohammed head of the Kurdistan's regional Commerce Chamber in Sulaimaniyah province, as saying.

"The Kurdish authorities do not yet know why these crossings have been closed," Mohammed said.

Earlier, Baghdad government adopted punitive measures that included suspension of international flights to the Kurdish region and blocked all the border crossings which are outside the control of the federal authorities, and call on the neighboring countries (Turkey and Iran) to help the Iraqi government in implementing its measures.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by most other countries, because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against Islamic State militants.

Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey, Iran and Syria, fear the Iraqi Kurdish independence move would threaten their territorial integrity, as large population of Kurds live in those countries.

The U.S. has repeatedly warned the Kurds to postpone the referendum, saying such move could derail or confuse the war against IS.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:14:08|Editor: Song Lifang

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by Justice Lee Adoboe

ACCRA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Consistent technical support has been a major factor in the hugely successful China-African cooperation on agriculture, an official with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said.

Speaking exclusively with Xinhua, Peter Anaadumba, Program Officer for South-South Cooperation at the Africa Regional Office of FAO, pointed out that through the technological innovation provided by China, African countries have been able to multiply yields in specific staples and livestock.

"If you look at the last three decades, cooperation between China and Africa has increased significantly and has contributed a lot to agriculture development," Anaadumba said.

He highlighted the role of technology in such programs, saying: "I think the most successful aspect over the last decade has been China's introduction of small mechanization tools to support agriculture in Africa."

He mentioned some of the mini mechanization tools as small transplanters, small harvesters, small and processing machines, which have been made available for African countries.

In Liberia, Anaadumba lauded China for how its artificial insemination technology enabled exponential growth in yields of pigs, and in Nigeria where about 500 technical assistance personnel were deployed, for a significant increased yields in rice and fish production.

Through its collaboration with FAO, China has, deployed since the inception of the South-South Cooperation on agriculture, more than 1,000 technical experts and technicians, and the continent benefits from over 70 percent of the initial 30 million U.S. dollar and the top-up of 50 million dollars Trust Fund set up by China for the South-South Cooperation projects across the world.

"The number keeps increasing. Last month we fielded 13 Chinese cooperants in DR Congo, based in Lubumbashi. We have other projects that Chinese cooperants are assisting in and this new project that we are developing tells us that the number of Chinese cooperants to these countries will only increase because there is more requests coming," he added.

"If you want to feed a hungry man you don't give him the fish, but you have to teach him how to fish," he said, citing a Chinese proverb. "The most tremendous contribution is capacity building."

Anaadumba said people will by training understand that they can improve upon their yield. In water management for example, due to China's age-old prudent water management practices, it is a technique that African farmers can apply for maximum returns, he said.

The benefits of this cooperation, the programs officer said, are diverse, including creating the right environment for private-sector investment in the African countries.

"So you look at Uganda where we had a project of about 1.5 million dollars and now there have been other provinces in China that came in to have a bilateral cooperation to have an industrial park. And this project is around 225 million dollars. So you see this cooperation is also bringing in the private sector."

He continued: "Once you have the private sector in an economy, it is definitely going to create employment, it's definitely going to boost exportation of the country's own production. So in a way it is beneficiary to both because China will be importing, and Africa will be exporting."

Through the China-Africa Cooperation, Anaadumba said China has been giving the opportunity to African countries to be able to produce and meet international import expectations, but then it also creates a win-win situation for both sides.

"So for me, the benefit is a win-win situation for both countries. It's not about one country only taking and not giving. I have seen it from both ends," he emphasized.
After two primaries and a spring and summer filled with court battles about redistricting and voting laws, Election Day has arrived in New Yor
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:29:13|Editor: Song Lifang

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by Guo Chunju

TALLINN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A majority of Estonian registered voters were expected to go to the polling stations on Sunday to elect 79 local councils.

Opening from 9 a.m. local time (0600 GMT) to 8 p.m. local time (1700 GMT), the polling station at the Tallinn city office building near the Freedom Square was quiet with few voters in the morning, while the one at Solaris shopping mall at city center received more voters.

After casting his vote, a gentleman, who said he is a lawyer and his wife, a psychologist, told Xinhua "Voting is not the best way to express democracy, but up till now the best".

The couple, who preferred to be anonymous, also noted that they chose to elect the candidate on the basis of the overall policy, not out of concern of specific sectors.

The Estonian registered voters totalled more than 1.1 million and 1,729 local council members will be elected at 557 polling stations out of 11,804 candidates, Priit Vinkel, head of State Electoral Office, said at a seminar on Saturday night.

In 2017 local elections, advance voting stated on Oct. 5 and ended on Oct. 11 when E-voting or internet voting also ended as a part of advance voting, attracting 306,508 voters, up from 265,208 in last local elections in 2013.

Among them, there were 120,474 voters in voting districts, down from 131,400 in 2013, and 186,034 E-voters, up from 133,808 in 2013 to make a new record since the first-ever pan-national internet voting in October 2005, official statistics showed.

Voters in advance voting accounted for 27.8 percent of the total registered voters in 2017, against the 24.4 percent in 2013.

Firstly, internet voting is regarded as a progress, and secondly it is good for government budget calculation and relocation as the system needs cooperation and support from government ministries and institutions, said Tarvi Martens, Head of I-voting of the State Electoral Office,

Led by Chairman Meelis Eerik, the Estonian National Electoral Committee exercises oversight, hears complaints and verifies national election results.

The 2017 local council election is the first time in Estonian election history 16-17 years old young people can vote, with more than 24,000 new voters.

Center Party, the main party of the Estonian ruling coalition, is expected to win Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, and form a coalition with Social Democrats.

Reform Party, the main opposition party, is poised to win Tartu, the second largest city in Estonia, and Parnu in southwest of Estonia and form coalitions there, according to Andreas Kaju, who introduced the trends and notes of the 2017 local elections.

Preliminary results of the local elections will be announced about at midnight of the election day.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:29:14|Editor: Song Lifang

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HANOI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Ariyana Convention Center, a key venue of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Week slated for Nov. 6-11 in Vietnam's central Da Nang city, was inaugurated on Sunday in the presence of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Covering an area of 12,000 square meters, the Ariyana Convention Center has a grand ballroom which can accommodate 2,500 people.

Connected with the Furama Da Nang International Convention Palace, the Ariyana Convention Center becomes Vietnam's biggest international conference complex which has a total of 5,000 seats.

The center and the nearby palace will serve most of the week's events, including the APEC CEO Summit.

Leaders from 21 APEC member economies, and some 10,000 Vietnamese and foreign delegates are expected to attend the events.

On Sunday, the prime minister attended an investment promotion forum entitled "Invest Da Nang 2017," instructing the city to complete eight urgent tasks, including completing all preparations for successfully hosting the APEC Leaders' Week.

Da Nang has basically completed logistics preparations for the related meetings, said the municipal department of external affairs.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:34:15|Editor: Song Lifang

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MOGADISHU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Saturday afternoon's bombing at a hotel in Somali capital of Mogadishu has risen to over 85, sources in medical facilities confirmed to Xinhua on Sunday.

Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adem, director of the Amin Ambulance Service, told Xinhua by telephone that medical officers had so far counted 85 dead bodies after the attack in Mogadishu's Safari Hotel.

Adem said the figure could go higher while more than 250 victims of the attack were still receiving treatment at health facilities.

"This was the deadliest attack in Mogadishu in recent times" said Adem.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed has declared three days of mourning as the Horn of Africa country came to terms with the deadly bomb explosion on Saturday afternoon.

The explosion happened at the KM5 junction that is usually busy in the afternoons.

Hospitals have already sent out appeals for blood to help save lives of the injured victims of the blast.

The Al-Qaida linked militant group, Al-Shabaab, which has carried out similar attacks before has not claimed responsibility for the latest one.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:39:18|Editor: Lu Hui

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by Raimundo Urrechaga

HAVANA, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has played a "vital role" in China's rapid development since the start of the Asian country's reform and opening-up process in 1978, said a renowned Cuban expert.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Maria Teresa Montes de Oca, director of the Institute of Chinese Studies at the University of Havana, said that over the past decades Chinese leaders and people have kept strengthening the role of the CPC as the leading force of society.

"The CPC has a very active and direct role in making economic and political decisions in the country," said the academic.

Now China has grown into a "world power," Montes de Oca said, attributing it to the "vital role" of the CPC and its "coherent policy."

The Cuban academic also spoke highly of China's tremendous efforts in reducing inequalities and fighting corruption during the past five years.

She noted that the Chinese government takes the problem of social inequalities seriously and the CPC is working hard to address it.

Developing countries in Latin America, she suggested, should follow China's example to make substantial improvements in reducing poverty and social inequalities.

"China is a country worth for everyone to follow. Governments in Latin America should seek solutions similar to what China has achieved with such a large population in terms of poverty reduction," she stated.

The Cuba expert also noted that by combining tradition and modernity, China does not have to appeal to any foreign figure as an example for its society, because the nation has thousands of years of traditional culture, which the Chinese people feel proud of.

"China has adjusted to new times and of course the CPC has led this effort. The country has been modernized and freed of old canons both politically and economically," she said.

The Cuban academic added that China always follows the "win-win" maxim both in its internal economic development and in international political relations.

"China's development prospects over the next five years are superb and China will inevitably become the world's leading economy without a doubt," she said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:49:21|Editor: Song Lifang

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Photo taken on Oct. 12, 2017 shows the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris, France. The United States on Thursday informed the UNESCO that it would formally withdraw from the organization on Dec. 31, 2018. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

by Keren Setton

JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- In a hasty announcement late last week, Israel said it would be following the United States and withdrawing from the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is seen as the culmination of a rocky relationship Israel has had with the organization, especially in the last six years.

The move, expected to be completed by the end of 2018, was announced by the Israeli prime minister's office after the U.S. administration said it was withdrawing from the international body citing the need for "fundamental reform" in the body and "continuing anti-Israeli bias."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the U.S. decision by instructing the foreign ministry to prepare a parallel withdrawal.

UNESCO was the first UN body to recognize the state of Palestine in 2011. It was a success for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who failed in an earlier bid to become a full member of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Since then, there has been a series of events and decisions at UNESCO that have caused Israel unease in the international arena.

Although Israeli media has reported that officials were not given a heads up on the U.S. decision to withdraw, the Israeli approval was quick to come.

"When you take advantage of the dramatic momentum of the U.S. withdrawal, it's much smarter than another timing which people may not have noticed," said Ronen Hoffman from the Interdisciplinary Center of Herzliya.

"The Israeli message is that Israel is not alone, not isolated. It has an alliance with a strong power," he adds.

In one of its most controversial resolutions, UNESCO voted a year ago for a resolution belittling Jewish ties to several holy sites in Jerusalem. While emphasizing Muslim ties to the places in the city, it downplayed the importance which the Jewish faith attaches to the same exact sites.

The original document referred to the site known by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and by Jews as the Temple Mount only by its Muslim name.

The resolution was later amended to include Jewish names of sites.

Jerusalem is at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

One of UNESCO's biggest contributions is its classifications of world heritage sites -- this has impact on tourism and economy.

Ron Prosor, a former Israeli ambassador to the UN, said to an Israeli news website Walla that "UNESCO has been abducted." He spoke hours after the Israeli decision.

Israel has been struggling with a tainted international image and is subject to continued criticism over its policies towards the Palestinians.

In the past, UNESCO has criticized Israel for limiting Muslim access to holy sites.

Israel captured the eastern part of the city, the holy sites within that area, in the 1967 Mideast War. The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.

Speaking to Israeli radio station Kan Reshet Bet after the United States and Israeli announcements, Israeli ambassador to UNESCO, Carmel Shama-Hacohen said he was "very satisfied" with the decision.

"The great power (the United States) is taking actions that have great meaning for Israel," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:49:22|Editor: Song Lifang

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ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Senior lawmakers of BRICS countries, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, agreed to strengthen parliamentary cooperation among them.

The agreement was reached during a BRICS parliamentary forum held here on Saturday, which was presided over by Zhang Ping, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress -- the national legislature.

The forum was held to implement the outcome of the ninth summit of BRICS leaders in southeast China's coastal city of Xiamen last month.

Zhang said legislatures from the five countries should push for reform of international governance and improve exchanges of governance experience to create a sound legal environment for broader BRICS cooperation.

Participants in the forum expressed support for closer cooperation among their countries' legislatures.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:59:25|Editor: Song Lifang

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DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people, including two newlyweds, were killed and several others were injured after a head-on collision between a mini-bus and a truck in Tanzania's northern region of Manyara on Saturday night, police said on Sunday.

Francis Massawe, the Manyara Regional Police Commander, said the victims and those injured were returning home after attending a wedding at the Lutheran Church at Katesh in Hanang district.

"The couple who had just married also perished in the grisly accident," said Massawe.

He said the accident occurred at Getasam village in Maskharoda ward in Hanang district, along the Babati-Singida highway, shortly before 9 pm on Saturday.

Massawe said the accident occurred after the truck with its trailer rammed onto the mini-bus after its driver failed to negotiate a sharp corner.

He said the injured people were rushed to Tumaini Hospital at Katesh in Hanang for treatment, adding that some of the injured were in critical condition.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 19:59:26|Editor: An

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Traders attend the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2017. The 122nd China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, kicked off here Sunday. The China Import and Export Fair is held every spring and autumn and is seen as a barometer of the country's foreign trade. (Xinhua/Liang Xu)

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 122nd China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, opened in south China's Guangdong Province Sunday, drawing around 25,000 companies as exhibitors.

More than 160,000 types of products are being exhibited at more than 60,000 booths in an area covering nearly 1.2 million square meters, organizers said.

Held in the provincial capital of Guangzhou every spring and autumn, the event is seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade.

China's foreign trade has maintained its momentum to stabilize and improve, after with a continuous decline in the past couple of years, said Xu Bing, spokesperson for the fair.

Data from the General Administration of Customs said the country's foreign trade volume rose 16.6 percent to 20.29 trillion yuan (3.08 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of this year.

Exports increased 12.4 percent to 11.16 trillion yuan, while imports surged 22.3 percent to 9.13 trillion yuan.

The import exhibition zone of the fair has attracted 341 companies from 17 countries and regions along the Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by China in 2013 to connect the vibrant Asian economic circle at one end and Europe at the other, and then extending it further to other regions.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:14:30|Editor: Song Lifang

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BAGHDAD, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government on Sunday reiterated its stance that the Kurdish semi-autonomous region must recognize Iraq's national sovereignty and abides by preserving its unity before any talks that aimed at defusing the crisis between Baghdad and the region.

"The situation in different; the dialogue before the referendum is not as after it. Therefore, the local government in the (Kurdish) region must declare its commitment to the constitution and national constants before entering into the details of any dialogue," Saad al-Hadithi said in an interview with the state-run al-Iraqiya channel.

"The federal government is obliged, according to the constitution, to impose security and maintain order and protect citizens in all parts of Iraq without exception," Hadithi said, asserting that the Iraqi constitution set the mandate of the central government on the disputed areas, including Kirkuk.

"The referendum showed the tendency of the Kurds towards secession, therefore, the government of the region should provide assurance that such tendencies will not be repeated in the future," he added.

On Sept. 27, the Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi called on the Kurdish regional government to cancel the results of the controversial independence referendum.

"We want Kurdistan region to cancel the outcomes of the referendum if they want to start talks with Baghdad, which must be under the roof of the constitution," Abadi told the lawmaker when attended a parliament session to discuss the crisis with the Kurds.

Baghdad government also adopted punitive measures that included suspension of international flights to the Kurdish region and blocked all the border crossings which are outside the control of the federal authorities, and called on the neighboring countries (Turkey and Iran) to help Iraq in implementing its measures.

The independence of Kurdistan is opposed not only by the Iraqi central government, but also by most other countries, because it would threaten the integrity of Iraq and undermine the fight against Islamic State militants.

Iraq's neighboring countries, especially Turkey, Iran and Syria, fear that the Iraqi Kurdish independence move would threaten their territorial integrity, as large population of Kurds live in those countries.

The U.S. had repeatedly warned the Kurds to postpone the referendum, saying such move could derail or confuse the war against IS.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:19:32|Editor: Song Lifang

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by Zhai Wei, Tian Dongdong

BRUSSELS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, used to tell his fellow countrymen at the height of the Great Depression that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

Roosevelt's words can serve as an admonishment for some Europeans and western media who portrayed as if a monster the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative launched by China in 2013.

While projects connected with the Initiative has benefited foreign countries, including those in Europe, some expressed their bias against China in the pretext of national security concerns.

The fear was amplified by a story of New York Times in late August, which called China's investment in Greece as "a kind of neocolonialism without the gunboats".

But their accusation was refuted during the New Silk Road Forum held in Greece's second largest city of Thassaloniki in last September, during which senior representatives of news agencies along the route pointed out that Chinese investment in Europe is mutually beneficial and based on equal footing.

Organized by Greece's Athens News Agency (AMNA), national agency of the Mediterranean country, the forum focuses on the cooperation of countries as well as news media along the Belt and Road and aims at improving communication, facilitating trade and enhancing cultural ties.

Responding to the New York Times' story, Michalis Psylos, president of AMNA, told Xinhua that "nobody cares about the NYT report."

The Initiative "gives Greece the room and potential to upgrade its own role in the modern world as a member of the European Union," said the president in his opening remarks.

"We think the relationship between China and Greece is of strategic and geopolitical importance, and the news agencies in both countries wish to continue the promotion of the cooperation for it is mutually beneficial for the two countries and the two peoples," he told Xinhua.

The financial crisis broke out in 2008 brought Piraeus port, the largest one in Greece, at the brink of bankruptcy.

Fearing the investment in the harbor by China's COSCO SHIPPING would erase any prospect of revival, Yannis Lagoudakis, mayor of Greek municipality of Perama, was one of the locals who did not warmly welcome the change of hands at Piraeus port at first.

But he changed his mind sooner than expected.

When COSCO SHIPPING came here, Piraeus port was listed 93rd in the world ranking of cargo tonnage and now is 38th. Cargoes loaded and unloaded at the port totaled 3.74 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2016, up from 880,000 TEUs in 2010, when COSCO Shipping's subsidiary Piraeus Container Terminal took over the management of Piers II and III.

COSCO SHIPPING, which also purchased the majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority last year, will help create 125,000 jobs in the region.

Lagoudakis told Xinhua that he is convinced that Sino-Greek collaboration at Piraeus port is promising and beneficial, and the revival of the Silk Road in this era of globalization will offer Greece the opportunity to become "a key hub between China and the rest of Europe."

"I believe that Greece's friendship with China can bring only positive results. I believe the Greek government is right when trying to deepen bilateral cooperation," he added.

B&R Helps Spain's Exports

Meanwhile, Miguel Sanchez, Spain's EFE Agency's director economic and financial sector, said during the Forum that "we are very happy to see in these days the growing number of Chinese companies in Spain because Chinese companies are offering more and more high-quality products."

The economic ties between Spain and China have been facilitated by the China-Europe freight train from Yiwu city in east China's Zhejiang province to Madrid, the capital city of Spain.

As one of the first outcomes of the Initiative, the important bridge of Eurasian connectivity would allow Spain to become a 'hub' for connections with North Africa and Latin America, said Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last May in China.

Besides, the Initiative also improves Spain's trade balance with China, with a record of exports worth over 5 billion euros (about 5.47 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016 and an expected further growth, according to Rajoy.

Asked why smear campaign has been run against China's investment, Sanchez explained that China is "growing and becoming more and more competitive each day, the best way to fight against you is to say that you are doing nothing or doing things in the wrong way".

The Belt and Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

As of last May, over 60 countries and international organizations have signed agreements with China on Belt and Road cooperation. Total trade between China and other countries along the Belt and Road exceeded 3 trillion dollars between 2014 and 2016, and Chinese investment in these countries surpassed 50 billion dollars.

A multi-dimensional infrastructure network, that is underpinned by economic corridors featuring land-sea-air transportation routes and information expressways and supported by major rail, port and pipeline projects, is taking shape.

Chinese investment is not focused on one country, but is a boon to the economic development of countries in the South Europe, said Nenad Babic, executive officer of Serbia's TANJUG news agency.

"China invested in Serbia's biggest iron producer under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative. The construction of the railway connecting Serbia and Hungary will be done also with the financial help of Chinese banks. The railway will connect the south Europe with the Piraeus port in Greece which will facilitate the big trade in the whole region," he told Xinhua. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Chen Zhanjie, Liu Yongqiu in Greece also contributed to the story.)
All New Yorkers should commit to voting Yes this November to start the process of a state constitutional convention and halt the New York state Legislature from wasting billions of tax dollars in unaccountable spending. New Yorkers secured rights and protections from every previous convention, we have everything to gain in this effort.

The state Constitution guarantees the right to a free public education, to join a union, to protect our health, to care for the needy, to secure jobs, and to protect state lands and forests. These rights  and much more  could be strengthened with a constitutional convention.

Those who want to squash this process do not trust New Yorkers. We can build a convention of the people. Last year, Citizens Union reported that $13 billion in the state budget were neither accounted for nor available for review by the public. We demand innovation from our workplaces to our homes. It is time to innovate government, with the tool provided to innovate, the constitutional convention.

This year alone the New York state Senate has rejected 19 pieces of proposed legislation. If the current Legislature were up to the task of moving forward with good government initiatives, we would not have to vote yes, calling for a meeting. If the current Legislature were up to the task of providing information to the public about $13 billion spent in the shadows of New York state government, we would not have to call for a meeting.

In this meeting, we could have a room that includes the brightest and most forward-thinking minds of our present moment in New York state. New York is ranked top in the world for bringing together technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, prioritizing public health and valuing public transportation.

We are also the most politically corrupt state in the United States. The $13 billion unaccounted for represents a failure to adequately serve the people of New York. Nearly every elected official is against the New York State Constitutional Convention; the ones not against the convention are not talking about it. We could balance our state government to serve the people and not backroom deals.

I urge all to vote yes on the Nov. 7 ballot referendum to hold the New York State constitutional Convention.

Priscilla Grim

New York City

Grim is communications and marketing manager for Citizens Union
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:19:33|Editor: Lu Hui

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Simon Haworth is showing his grandmother's diaries and photos in the attic where he lived as a child. (Photo provided by Simon Haworth)

by Xinhua writers Sui Lixi, Yu Pei, Wu Zhi

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Simon Haworth introduced biotechnological business in Wuhan City in central China's Hubei Province in 2013 and two years ago, was given the Yellow Crane Friendship Award by the local government, the highest honor for a non-Chinese in the city, in recognition of his contributions.

His company has fetched him another unexpected reward as well. It has led to his rediscovering his family history, especially its long link with China. The 56-year-old British entrepreneur is the fifth generation of a family that has maintained trade and other links with China over 140 years.

A FORGOTTEN LEGACY

The revelation came in 2014 when he visited his parents near Manchester. When he talked about his new venture in Wuhan, his father, Sir Philip Haworth, shot him a question.

"He asked me if I still remembered that my grandparents had been to Wuhan when I was two," Haworth described the conversation. Haworth's father also reminded him that the grandparents had also made many videos and kept journals about the trip. Simon Haworth still has a tiger doll as a souvenir from their trips.

"It was a little bit embarrassing when I realized that I started business in China without knowing this huge family connection with China long long ago," he told Xinhua with a rueful smile. "I remember seeing the diaries and videos when I was young but did not pay much attention to them."

Those journals and videos are a precious part of the family's heritage. Every time Haworth comes to China and meets people for business, he shares photographs of the journals with them. "My relationship with my Chinese partners always becomes much closer once they learn about my grandparents' visits and our long commitment to China," he said. "It is kind of an unexpected windfall for me."

He realizes how fortunate he is to have such historical ties with China, which have helped him to better understand Chinese culture and integrate.

Starting a business overseas is often difficult. As a pioneer and successful entrepreneur in China, Haworth said the family history helped him a lot. "It seems like I am simply following the path prepared so well by my grandparents," he said.

SIX GENERATIONS SINCE 1875

The connection between the Haworth family and China started in 1874, when Simon Haworth's great-great grandfather, Henry Theodore Gaddum, founded a silk trading company, H.T. Gaddum & Co.

For years, Henry Theodore imported silk from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces in China. Then in 1887, he sent his eldest son Harry to Shanghai to learn business management and run the silk trade fair there. Harry stayed in Shanghai for two years, describing this period of time as "the most wonderful days of my life" in the family book.

The company continued to import silk thread from China till the 1990s. But it was Simon Haworth's grandparents who kept the most impressive records and took abundant footages of their China visits.

They went to China twice, in 1963 and 1967. "None of us encountered anything except kindness and friendliness," his grandmother Dorothy Haworth wrote.

Simon Haworth showed his grandmother's diaries and the drawings she had made of the sceneries encountered during the trips, along with the memorabilia they collected -- Chinese paper-cuts, postcards, stamps, invitations and even old cigarette packs carrying the image of the Wuhan Yangtze Bridge, the Chinese city's well-known landmark.

And now, walking along the actual bridge, Simon Haworth reflected that it was like following in his ancestors' footsteps across time. "I often call it echoes of history," he said reflectively. "My ancestors came here before and now, here I am."

"CHINA IS THE FUTURE"

Just like his great-great grandfather, Haworth has also sent his eldest son George to Shanghai to intern there. He calls it another "echo of history" with two fathers doing the same thing with a similar purpose, born of their same optimism about China's development potential.

Both his second son William and his 17-year-old daughter are now looking forward to coming to China. Haworth said his daughter told him that it was time she started learning Chinese.

Haworth's company is also involved in cultural exchanges between China and Britain. The project it runs, Dynasty Youth Exchange, sends Chinese teens to the UK and vice versa for both to experience the different culture and promote communication between the two countries. "I want to do some work to sweep aside misunderstandings and prejudice between China and the UK," he explained.

Haworth thinks the Belt and Road Initiative is an opportunity for everyone.

"My ancestors joined the first Silk Road trade hundreds of years ago, and now China has proposed the Belt and Road Initiative. I believe China is stepping up to its proper place now, taking its place on the world stage," he said. "Britain was the engine of the world during the first Industrial Revolution. Now is China's turn."

He sees his family's long-term commitment to China as a lesson for him.

"My responsibility is to carry the flag to the next generation," Haworth said. "My children's careers will be dominated by the growing impact of China and they will be able to elevate their own position in a competitive world if they can learn about China, differentiate themselves with language skills and begin to develop the long-term relationships that will prove so important to them."

"For my children and me, China is the future," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:24:35|Editor: Song Lifang

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DAMASCUS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and five others wounded on Sunday, when four mortar shells slammed a neighborhood east of the capital Damascus, a medical source told Xinhua.

The mortars, fired from rebel-held areas east of Damascus, have slammed the Qishleh street in the predominantly-Christian neighborhood of Bab Touma east of Damascus, said the source on condition of anonymity, adding that all wounded five will have some of their limbs amputated.

The attack is the latest in a string of intensified terror attacks the capital has been suffering from, after a long period of lull.

Last Wednesday, three suicide bombers attempted to infiltrate the Police Department of Damascus, and upon failing to do so, they blew themselves up near the department.

Two of the bombers had planned to enter the department from its main gate in the Khaled Bin al-Walid street in the Fahammeh area in the heart of Damascus. The bombers clashed with the guards before detonating their explosive belts in front of the department's building.

The third bomber fled toward a nearby market for selling second-hand clothes and blew himself up while being pursued by a policeman.

Local media cited websites close to IS militants as saying that the terror group was behind the blasts.

On Oct. 2, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the police station in Damascus' central Midan neighborhood, killing 17 people, including policemen.

At the time, IS claimed responsibility for the bombings, making targeting of the government institutions in Damascus a pattern of IS suicide attacks.

The mortar attacks had been a daily occurrence in Damascus, before the Syrian army and the rebels agreed to a de-escalation zones' deal supported by Russia and Turkey, which brought in a clam to the capital.

Still, groups affiliated with the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are still holding positions in the Ghouta area, which explains the frequent attacks.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:34:38|Editor: Song Lifang

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ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Sunday strongly condemned the deadly attack that killed scores of people in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Saturday.

The Chairperson of the AU Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned in the strongest terms the attack that killed scores of innocent civilians and wounded many more in Mogadishu, said a statement from the pan-African bloc.

The chairperson called on Somalia's leadership to show renewed unity and overcome divisions, and to rebuild cohesion at all levels of the federal institutions.

"Such cohesion is a prerequisite for fulfilling the aspirations of the Somalia people for lasting peace, security and reconciliation," he said.

The chairperson has reaffirmed the commitment of AU, including through the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to continue its support to the Somali government and people in their efforts to achieve sustainable peace and security.

Mahamat also urged the international community to renew commitment to ensuring a more coordinated and robust international support to Somalia's institutions in their struggle to defeat terrorists groups.

"It is now clear that without adequate and appropriate support to Somalia, many of the security gains made in recent years could be reversed," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:39:40|Editor: An

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TAIYUAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Fubin cannot not see anything, but to many people, he brought them light.

For 17 years, the elderly blind man's library, named the House of Sunshine, has offered free access to more than 5,000 books to residents in Nanchangchi Village, north China's Shanxi Province.

Zhang, 68, fall ill in 1983. After he recovered, he lost his sight. His family took him to many hospitals in Taiyuan, Shanxi's capital, and Beijing, but his sight could not be restored.

"I entered the hospitals with hope, and left in tears," he recalled. "At first I could see dim light, but later everything disappeared from before my eyes."

At the end of that year, two officials from the local civil affairs bureau visited him on a snowy day and gave him 200 yuan (about 30.4 U.S. dollars), which was not a small amount at that time. They encouraged him to open a mill, so he did.

Several years later in 2001, Zhang was listening to broadcast and heard that a farmer Zhao Rongsheng had opened a village library. "That sounded like a good idea," he said.

He located Zhao and with his help, Zhang contacted the Yuxian county government, which donated 2,000 books. Other companies and individuals donated another 1,000 books. He cleaned up his courtyard and made it a venue for people to sit and read.

Now Zhang's House of Sunshine has become a favorite place of children in the village, while some young people have stopped playing cards and picked up books again. From time to time Zhang used his own money to add new books to his library. To date he has spent more than 16,000 yuan.

Pointing at an iron box full of check-out slips, Zhang said he is satisfied. "I can't read the characters myself, but I am happy all the same to know others are reading my books."

SHEDDING LIGHT

Sunday is the White Cane Safety Day. China is home to about six million blind people like Zhang. With the development of the country, many of them have found their lives become easier.

In the Gansu Provincial Library in northwest China, there are two registration books for blind readers. "Almost every day we have blind readers," said Xu Shuangding with the library.

In March 2011, the library launched a project allowing blind people one-to-one service given by library staff.

Pei Xiaoping, 55, visits the library every week almost. "In the past I didn't want to go out," he said. "Now I not only have volunteers pick me up from home, but also enjoy a free lunch here."

During its first year, the project served 800 blind readers. Last year the number grew to 1,297 and Xu estimated that this year it could exceed 1,500.

The library also organizes computer training class for the blind and invites them to listen to subtitled movies.

While Xu was introducing their activities, Yang Haitao, 35, was calling a friend on his mobile phone, something the blind man was not able to do in the past.

"It's thanks to software which reads aloud what is written on the screen," he said.

The software, named Baoyi Yueting which means pleasant listening, was developed by Cao Jun, who was born blind.

Cao taught himself to use computers in 2000 and became a teacher, before he began developing the screen reading software in 2008.

The software has allowed about 430,000 blind people to be able to use smart phones.

"We are no longer cut off from the outside world," Yang said.

"The use of modern technology has not only improved the standard of living for many blind people, but has also helped them learn, integrate into the society and boosted their confidence," said Chang Wei, chairperson of the Blind Persons' Association of Gansu.

In fact, the differences between blind and sighted people are being reduced.

In the past many blind people could only get jobs as massagists, but now they have bigger dreams. At a vocational school for the blind in north China's Shanxi Province, when asked what they wanted to be in the future, students replied "writer," "teacher," "lawyer" and "historian."

China began amending the college entrance exam to make it accessible for blind students in 2014. This year seven students finished the braille version of the exam paper.

"Blind students are equally intelligent," said Zhang Yongliang, headmaster of the school. "May society be more tolerant towards them and give them a broader stage."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:39:42|Editor: Song Lifang

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VIENNA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has expressed his hope that Sunday's legislative election will have a high voter turnout, as he cast his own vote in Vienna, the capital of Austria.

The president was joined by his wife Doris Schmidauer as he voted at an elementary school in the Vienna district of Mariahilf.

He said voting is "not a luxury, but a duty."

When asked by journalists over his expectations for the outcome of the vote, the former Greens Party leader said "much is possible," and that he did not particularly trust opinion polls leading into Sunday.

Concerning the issue of whether he would support a coalition involving the far-right Freedom Party given their critical stance toward the EU, he said he places "great value on a pro-European government."

He added that Austria has been "better off" in the EU.

Some 6.4 million Austrian voters began heading to over 10,000 polling booths on Sunday to elect the members of the National Council -- the lower house of the parliament.

Sunday's legislative election has been seen as another important test for the right-wing wave amid a migration crisis in Europe after the German elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 20:59:47|Editor: Song Lifang

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BISHKEK, Oct.15 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev on Sunday warned that anyone who try to arrange disorders to the current presidential election will be punished by law.

Atambayev cast his ballot in the No. 1209 polling station in the capital city of Bishkek. Answering reporters' questions after voting, Atambayev said that the presidential election will be clean and open, the press service of the Kyrgyz president reported.

"I promise you honest elections. For those who are trying to arrange disorders, there will be enough places for them in prisons," said the head of state, adding that the Kyrgyz people have the right to choose any of the candidates to be their next president.

Atambayev stressed that until December 1 he remains president and he has enough time to teach those troublemakers a lesson.

The president urged citizens not to be afraid of anything, and calmly go to the polls and cast their votes.

"My duty is to put things in order for the elections to take place in a clear atmosphere, and that after the voting there should be no riots. If there are riots, it's good, I would like to clean up everything to the end, " he said.

The Central Election Commission said that about 3 million citizens will be eligible to vote for their future leader at 2,375 polling stations, including 37 outside the country.

A total of 11 presidential candidates are competing for the presidency after two of the 13 registered candidates withdrew from the pre-election race.

The voting began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and will end at 8:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT). After that, preliminary results will be summed up.

About 800 international observers from 58 countries and 46 international organizations will oversee the voting.

According to the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, the country's president is elected for a six-year term and will not be allowed to run for re-election. Atambayev's term will end on Dec. 1.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 22:09:58|Editor: Song Lifang

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PYONGYANG, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sunday slammed the United States for pulling out of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in a commentary that the withdrawal of United States from UNESCO is "the height of the extreme U.S.-style egoism and arrogance as it does not mind sacrificing global peace and civilization for its own interests."

It also pointed out that it is the second time United States quitted the organization, which has become "more expressive after Donald Trump took office."

The United States had withdrawn from the organization in 1984, complaining about its discussion on the issue of establishing the fair international information and communication order, and signed up for the body again in 2003.

The commentary said that the United States pulled out of UNESCO "under the pretexts of its dues worth hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars it has not paid until now and the UNESCO's increasing voices denouncing Israel."

The commentary also said that Washington has refused to pay its dues to UNESCO since 2011 after Palestine joined the organization, using excuse of its domestic law which bans financial backing for organizations recognizing Palestine as a state.

"Now the international community unanimously condemns the United States for going in and out of UNESCO," it added, "this time it withdrew from UNESCO, utterly depriving itself of any justification to talk about global peace, security and civilization."

The United States on Thursday informed UNESCO that it would formally withdraw from the organization on Dec. 31, 2018.
The aerial photo taken on Oct. 13, 2017 shows the newly built panda house at the entrance of Ahtari Zoo in central Finland. (Xinhua/Li Jizhi)

by Li Jizhi

AHTARI, Finland, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Surrounded by calm lakes and thick woods, a spacious building has been erected in the Ahtari zoo in central Finland to accommodate a pair of giant pandas, who will arrive hopefully by the end of this year.

Ahtari zoo, the largest wildlife zoo in Finland, has paced up the preparation for receiving the newcomers. A ceremony was held on Friday to celebrate the completion of the roof construction of the panda house.

The ceremony is a typical Finnish tradition: The owner of a newly built house shall invite the construction workers and relatives and friends to dinner when the house is capped with a roof, said Mikko Savola, member of Finnish parliament and the board director of Ahtari wildlife zoo company.

The ceremony also means that eighty percent of the construction is finished, and the panda house will be ready for use as of November, added Savola.

According to an agreed project, the two countries are supposed to jointly conduct a research of the giant panda and a pair of pandas will be staying in Ahtari zoo for 15 years. During the research period, the offspring belong to the Chinese authority and will be sent back to the mother country within five years after they are born.

The aerial photo taken on Oct. 13, 2017 shows the bird's eye view of the Ahtari Zoo in central Finland. (Xinhua/Li Jizhi)

"The arrival of the giant pandas signifies the fact that Finnish international cooperation reaches the highest level ever since its independence," Finnish Agriculture and Forestry Minister Jari Leppa said in his speech at the ceremony. The year of 2017 marks the centenary of the independence of Finland.

Chinese Ambassador Chen Li said the joint project is the best gift to the Finnish people when they celebrate the centenary of independence. The construction of the panda house started only nine months ago, and the amazing speed of the working process manifests the sincerity for cooperation.

The aerial photo taken on Oct. 13, 2017 shows the entrance of the Ahtari Zoo in central Finland. (Xinhua/Li Jizhi)

Leppa said Finland specializes in the study of bear family animals, and Finnish experts have been dispatched to China for knowledge exchanges. Leppa believed the pandas will enjoy the comfortable natural environment and the vast open space in Finland.

The panda house occupies some 10,000 square meters, including the panda's indoor living rooms, an outdoor playing park as well as auxiliary facilities like restaurants and cafeterias. It will become the biggest construction inside the zoo.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 22:40:06|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Israel's political arena was in uproar on Sunday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the police of leaking information about corruption investigations in which Netanyahu is a suspect.

Writing on his Facebook page on Saturday night, Netanyahu lashed out at Police Chief Roni Alsheikh, who is chosen by Netanyahu when he was appointed in 2015.

Netanyahu accused Alsheikh of failing to prevent "a tsunami" of "illegal leaks" from the two criminal investigations into graft, bribery, and breach of trust, in which Netanyahu is a suspect.

His remarks came shortly after a media report said Netanyahu was expected to be summoned for another questioning in the next few weeks.

The prime minister said that the media reports about the investigations are a "witch hunt."

The police dismissed the comments as "baseless attacks aimed at disrupting police work and damaging the legitimacy of rule of law."

The remarks were criticized across the board.

Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak blamed Netanyahu for orchestrating prosecution against Israel's law enforcement bodies. "Netanyahu is going down and he's willing to burn the entire country," Barak tweeted.

Interior Minister Gilad Erdan, who is a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, backed chief Alsheikh, saying he has "full confidence in his integrity and professionality." He also said that he will ask the police to consider launching an investigation into the alleged leaks.

Netanyahu has been under two separate criminal investigations over alleged corruption and bribery. He denies any wrongdoing.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 22:50:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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VIENNA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The leader of the Austrian far-right Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache, has cast his vote in Sunday's lower house elections, the last party leader to so.

Strache, who followed his tendency of voting later than most other candidates, made his way to the polling booths in his home district of Landstrasse in Vienna in the early afternoon.

He told the assembled media he is confident of a positive result, hoping to make gains over the previous election in 2013, where his party took just over 20 percent of the vote.

A result in line with the party's best, the near-27 percent of the vote it received in 1999 under former leader, the late Jorg Haider, would be a "pleasant surprise," he said.

Some 6.4 million Austrian voters began heading to over 10,000 polling booths on Sunday to elect the members of the National Council -- the lower house of the parliament.

Sunday's legislative election has been seen as another important test for the right-wing wave amid a migration crisis in Europe after the German elections.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 23:05:11|Editor: Mengjie

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Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing speaks during a ceremony to launch the service at Shamshad TV station in Kabul, Afghanistan, Oct. 15, 2017. A local Afghan Pashto Television Channel Shamshad TV on Sunday launched a news service to broadcast China-related news. (Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah)

KABUL, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- A local Afghan Pashto Television Channel Shamshad TV on Sunday launched a news service to broadcast China-related news.

Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan Yao Jing, Deputy Information and Culture Minister Sayed Aqa Houssain Sancharaki and founder of Shamshad TV Fazil Karim Fazil were among other officials attending a ceremony to launch the service.

The move came after Shamshad has inked an agreement with the China's CGTN (China Global Television Network) recently.

Shamshad will broadcast the 15-minute news service from 05:00 p.m. local time to 05:15 p.m. daily.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Yao Jing said China will continue to support Afghanistan's peace and reconstruction process to see a peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.

The Chinese ambassador also emphasized for more people-to-people contact between the two nations.

"Afghanistan and China are good neighbors and launching China-related news service today would definitely enhance and improve cultural and social relations between the two neighboring nations," Fazil told the ceremony.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 23:15:13|Editor: Mengjie

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Traders attend the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Oct. 15, 2017. The 122nd China Import and Export Fair, known as the Canton Fair, kicked off here Sunday. The China Import and Export Fair is held every spring and autumn and is seen as a barometer of the country's foreign trade. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The 122nd China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, opened in south China's Guangzhou city Sunday, drawing around 25,000 companies as exhibitors.

More than 160,000 types of products are being exhibited at more than 60,000 booths in an area covering nearly 1.2 million square meters, organizers said.

Held in Guangzhou every spring and autumn, the event is seen as a barometer of China's foreign trade.

China's foreign trade has maintained its momentum to stabilize and improve, after with a continuous decline in the past couple of years, said Xu Bing, spokesperson for the fair.

Data from the General Administration of Customs showed the country's foreign trade volume rose 16.6 percent to 20.29 trillion yuan (3.08 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of this year.

Exports increased 12.4 percent to 11.16 trillion yuan, while imports surged 22.3 percent to 9.13 trillion yuan.

The import exhibition zone of the fair has attracted 341 companies from 17 countries and regions participating the Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by China in 2013 to connect the vibrant Asian economic circle at one end and Europe at the other, and then extending it further to other regions.

More than 2,000 domestic manufacturers with their own brands attended the event, featuring smart, high-end, low-carbon and customized products.

Haier, a world-leading home appliance producer based in east China's Shandong Province, brought its state-of-the-art models to the fair, including a washing machine that can automatically distinguish fabric and colors and a self-cleaning air conditioner able to purify air.

Zhang Qingfu, a senior executive of Haier's overseas operation, said the company's "revolutionary technology" has boosted export.

From January to August, export of Haier's refrigerators grew by 54 percent year-on-year and that of its washing machines increased by 29 percent, while the sales of smart air conditioners doubled.

Hisense, another home appliance producer, recorded year-on-year growth of 30 percent in the overseas revenues in the first nine months. In Japan, deemed as the most inaccessible market for foreign home appliances, its sales doubled compared with the same period last year.

In order to help with China's anti-poverty battle, from this event to the 128th in 2020, domestic exhibitors from poor regions will be exempted from exhibition fees and a display zone will be dedicated to products from these areas.

More than 500 companies from over 800 poor counties across the country attended the ongoing fair.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 23:35:22|Editor: huaxia

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TRIPOLI -- Libya's eastern-based army closed the seaport of the eastern city of Tubruq for security reasons, an army source told Xinhua on Sunday.

"The General Command of the army has issued orders to close the port of Tubruq over detected smuggling of drugs and fuel, as well as smuggling of raw materials, such as iron and copper," the source said.

(Libya-Closed seaport)

- - - -

MOGADISHU -- The death toll from Saturday afternoon's bombing at a hotel in Somali capital of Mogadishu has risen to over 85, sources in medical facilities confirmed to Xinhua on Sunday.

Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adem, director of the Amin Ambulance Service, told Xinhua by telephone that medical officers had so far counted 85 dead bodies after the attack in Mogadishu's Safari Hotel. (Somalia-Blast)

- - - -

FAIZABAD, Afghanistan -- At least one person was killed and two others injured after a roadside bomb struck a police van in Khash district of northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province on Sunday, a local official said.

"A roadside bomb launched by terrorists struck a police vehicle in Khash district today afternoon killing one person and injuring two others," the official told Xinhua but refused to be identified.

(Afghanistan-Roadside bomb)

- - - -

BISHKEK -- Former Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov appeared to be winning the largest chunk of votes cast in the country's presidential election on Sunday, according to official results.

Jeenbekov garnered about 868,000 votes, accounting for about 54.69 percent of the total, data published by the central election commission showed. (Kyrgyzstan-Presidential election)

- - - -

DAMASCUS -- At least four people were killed and five others wounded on Sunday, when four mortar shells slammed a neighborhood east of the capital Damascus, a medical source told Xinhua.

The mortars, fired from rebel-held areas east of Damascus, have slammed the Qishleh street in the predominantly-Christian neighborhood of Bab Touma east of Damascus, said the source on condition of anonymity, adding that all wounded five will have some of their limbs amputated.

(Syria-Attack) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 23:40:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ISLAMABAD, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan and Iran have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Sunday to improve border security between the two neighboring countries, according to local reports.

The MoU was signed during a meeting of the joint border commission of the two countries in the coastal Gwadar city in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province, the Radio Pakistan said.

The commission was formed in May this year to curb cross-border movement of terrorists and to address other border-related issues.

On Sunday, the 21st meeting of the commission was held in which joint proposals regarding border situation, security matters, immigration and trade between two countries were discussed.

The representatives from the both countries expressed determination to put a check on drugs smuggling and intrusion of illegal immigrants in the border areas.

Both sides also stressed that their soil should not be used for terrorism against each other.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-15 23:40:24|Editor: Yamei

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Photo taken on Oct. 14, 2017 shows the explosion site near Safari hotel in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia. (Xinhua/Faisal Isse)

MOGADISHU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Over 230 people have been confirmed dead while 288 sustained injuries following a terrorist attack at a busy inter-section in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Saturday, a lawmaker said on Sunday.

First deputy speaker of the Upper House of the Somali parliament, Abshir Mohamed Ahmed, confirmed the latest casualty figures to reporters, saying emergency assistance for the injured has been intensified.

"Myself and other members of the Upper house of Somalia Parliament attended the funeral of several people who died in yesterday's deadly incident in Mogadishu," said Abshir. "We visited both Madina and a Turkish-run hospital and gathered from medical officers that 230 dead bodies were admitted there."

Mogadishu residents on Sunday came out in large numbers to donate blood to help save the lives of injured victims.

The African Union (AU) and the United States on Sunday condemned the Saturday afternoon terrorist attack, pledging support to help Somalia eradicate the scourge of violent extremism.

The special representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia, ambassador Francisco Madeira, urged collective resolve by Somali people and their allies to defeat terrorism.

"It is this strength and resilience of the great people of Somalia that will contain and defeat Al-Shabaab and continue to pave the way for the rebuilding of the country," said Madeira.

"We should together transform this tragic attack into renewed strength and resolve to continue working to restore peace and stability in Somalia," he added.

The United States condemned the deadliest terrorist attack in Mogadishu in recent times and promised to support efforts to root out terror in the Horn of African state.

"Such cowardly attacks reinvigorate the commitment of the United States to assist our Somalia and African Union partners to combat the scourge of terrorism to promote stability and prosperity for the Somali people and their regional neighbors," Washington said in a statement.
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on new Iran strategy at the White House in Washington D.C., the United States, on Oct. 13, 2017. (Xinhua/Ting Shen)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump wanted to solve the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue diplomatically.

"The president has also made clear to me that he wants this solved diplomatically," Tillerson said in an interview with CNN.

"He (Trump) is not seeking to go to war," Tillerson said, adding that "those diplomatic efforts will continue until the first bomb drops."

Despite Tillerson's stress on diplomacy, White House National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said in a separate interview with Fox News on Sunday that Trump would do whatever is necessary to prevent an attack from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on the United States.

"He's (Trump) going to do anything necessary to prevent that from happening," said McMaster. "If he (the DPRK leader) thinks the development of this nuclear capability is keeping him safer, it's actually the opposite."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 01:15:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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by Hummam Sheikh Ali

ALEPPO, Syria, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Once used by the rebels as bases, the schools in the city of Aleppo have now returned to its original function as a place of education for kids.

Xinhua reporters took a recent visit to the Ibrahim al-Tanbi school in the previously rebel-held Skahour neighborhood.

The school building has been torn to pieces, but students at various ages were studying at simple prefabricated classrooms set up by the government in the courtyard.

"We have been deprived of education because there were no schools. We had to work to help our families," Muhammad Hazzori, a 15-year-old student, told Xinhua.

Hazzori should be at the ninth grade considering his age, but he is now attending the seventh grade classes.

To compensate for the lost years, students were allowed to complete two educational years within one year.

"Now we are trying to make up for the years we lost. We have some educational weakness and lack teachers in some subjects. We wish Syria could rebuild again," Hazzori said.

However, the school was not so good for the boys as what it used to be before the war.

"Surely we prefer the old school before the war because the buildings were better and the view over the courtyard was good and the courtyard itself was much bigger than it is now... But in comparison with the situation we have been through, this is perfect," said Ali Zarqa, another student.

During the time when the school was controlled by the rebels, the students could not receive an appropriate education, for the curriculum focused on religious knowledge and teaching of weapon use.

Eleven-year-old Omar Na'san told Xinhua reporters that he had studied in one of the rebels' schools.

"When we were besieged in eastern Aleppo, the armed rebels set up schools. Most of the curriculum was to teach religion and to teach us how to join them," he said.

Na'san said the current school is much better than that of the rebels.

The current school in Aleppo is something that people from other war-torn regions pray to have.

At the principal's office, a man from Raqqa, the de facto capital of the Islamic State (IS), showed up with his kid, telling the principal that he had finally managed to enroll his kid in this makeshift school.

"We have fled Raqqa last year due to the war. We arrived in Aleppo for safety and to educate our children as the schools in Raqqa were closed," Abdul-Aziz Othman told Xinhua.

According to official statistics, there were 4,040 schools in Aleppo before the war with around 1.25 million students. Now only 950 schools remained and 450,000 students were still attending classes.

For the government, to find solutions to the education difficulty in Aleppo and to deal with the high dropout rate is a priority.

Samer Hallaq, associate director of education in Aleppo, said that most of the active schools in the city had sustained damages, noting that reconstruction should start in that area.

He told Xinhua that some schools had ten classrooms that could be used, while others were inaccessible as they were completely destroyed.

The official noted that using the courtyards of the destroyed schools as classrooms was a temporary solution to the problem.

"That's why we need maintenance and reconstruction to provide the basic facilities for education, such as desks and heaters," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 01:20:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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SANAA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Teachers in the Shiite Houthi rebel-held northern Yemen went on strike Sunday, the first day of new school term in the war-torn Arab country.

"All teachers in all schools are on an open strike until Houthi-controlled authorities pay our salaries," an official at the Teachers' Union in the capital Sanaa told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

Like other thousands of Yemeni government's employees, the teachers have not been paid for more than a year.

Teachers went to schools on Sunday, but did not teach the classes.

"We (the teachers) and students went to schools today, and we did not teach the students as we first awaited to be paid," said Amal Mutahar, a female teacher at al-Rammah School in Sanaa.

Teachers in other northern provinces went into an open strike too, according to provincial officials.

About 4 million students across all northern provinces, including Sanaa, are more likely to not be taught this year as the authorities here have been suffering deadly financial crisis.

Houthi rebels overran the capital Sanaa and northern provinces in September 2014, seizing control over all state ministries after forcing the legitimate government into exile.

In March 2015, a Saudi-led military coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict to roll back the Iranian-backed rebel gains and reinstate the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi into power in the capital.

More than two-and-a-half years of war have killed over 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and displaced 3 million, according to UN agencies.

The war has also led the country to a total economic collapse and the deadly cholera disease hit nearly one million people, mostly children.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 02:00:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized his country's partnership with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council as a whole to counter Iran's "destabilizing activities" in the region, the White House said on Sunday.

In a phone call with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud on Saturday, Trump thanked Riyadh's support for his "visionary" new Iran strategy, the White House said in a statement.

Trump also "emphasized the importance of the Gulf Cooperation Council in countering Iran's destabilizing activities in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and elsewhere in the region," it added.

According to the statement, the Saudi king hailed Trump's Iran strategy, pledging to "support American leadership."

The two leaders also discussed ways in which the two countries can combat terrorist groups and counter extremism.

On Friday, Trump announced that he had decided not to certify Iran's compliance with a landmark deal reached in 2015 between Iran and six world powers.

The decertification would not pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal at the moment, but it would open a 60-day window in which U.S. Congress could reimpose nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, a step which would mean the violation of the deal on the U.S. side.

In response, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani downplayed Trump's aggressive remarks over Iran's commitments to 2015 international nuclear deal as well as Tehran's ballistic missile program.

In a live speech on Friday that followed Trump's remarks pertaining to the new U.S. strategy towards Iran, Rouhani said that Trump cannot decertify Iran's international nuclear deal "unilaterally."

The Iranian president stressed that Iran would respect the nuclear deal as long as its "national interests and rights are met."
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 02:41:04|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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CAIRO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Six Egyptian soldiers and 24 militants were killed as the Egyptian army foiled terrorist attacks on checkpoints in North Sinai province, the Egyptian military spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

The foiled terrorist attempt in mid-day targeted checkpoints in Qawadis area in North Sinai province bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, said Egypt's military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay in the statement.

"Another terrorist was injured and two four-by-four vehicles used by the terrorist elements were destroyed," the spokesman added, noting that the forces are currently combing the area in search for escaping terrorists.

The confrontations came two days after a terrorist attack killed six soldiers in the restive province on Friday.

North Sinai has been the center of anti-government terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military removal of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

The army removed Morsi in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Since then, most of the terrorist operations were claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The Egyptian military in cooperation with the police killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country's anti-terror war declared in 2013 by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's removal.
125 YEARS AGO

From 1892: The drought is having a serious effect on the range. The green grass is gone. The little cured grass that remains shows the barest the ranges have ever been. One remedy may be to move all the cattle at once, leaving only the brood cattle to give some little hope of them living through the winter and spring. The cattle industry in this country may become a dream of the past.

NOTICE: On and after October 16, the Bank Hotel dining room will be open at night. Oysters will be served in every style. Fish Game and other short orders such as the market may afford.

BETTER HURRY: Our two carloads of Stoves and Heaters that just arrived are Going Like Hot Cakes. Babbitt Bros.

The Grand Army Men of Flagstaff will show their patriotism on Columbus Day Friday night, October 12, with a Camp Fire Meeting at their hall along with few invited friends.

The trains have been running regularly this week!

The windows for Jim Vail's new residence were put in this week and are giving his house a palatial appearance.

Dr. Cornish is painting his new house a very becoming shade of yellow, which he will probably change to red if the election goes his way.

Theres a new tar roof going on at the Bank Hotel.

J. B. Montgomery, Sheep Buyer of Los Angeles, is in town this week and buying lots of mutton.

The Catholic Fair will begin Monday night and run for four evenings.

The nights are running pretty cold these days and there was snow on the Peaks Sunday.

100 YEARS AGO

From 1917: Full details of the 3-cent postage plan inaugurated as a war revenue measure are contained in a circular received by our local Post Office. Beginning November 2, the rate of 3 cents per ounce or less will be charged for a letter leaving the city and 2 cents for local mail. Post cards will rise from 1 cent to 2 cents. If supply falls short of new stamped envelopes, then a 1 cent stamp must be added to 2 cent envelopes.

Ralph Ellenger arrived in Flagstaff last Friday on record run from Magdalena, New Mexico, in a Ford Machine. He covered the distance of 450 miles between 7 a.m. and midnight.

If you want a real utility pleasure car that will be both a credit to you and give satisfaction to use, it may be found in the Overland Light Four. This is easily the easiest riding car and is maintained at a lower cost than any larger car. Immediate delivery. J. J. Waldhaus Garage.

Jose Majai, A Lomeli, and G. Lometete were brought in Police Court on Saturday by Marshall Murray on charges of gambling. Upon conviction Majai and A. Lomeli were fined $200 or 200 days in jail and were released on $200 bonds. G. Lomeli was fined $25 or 20 days in jail. Anselmo de Miguel was arrested on Wednesday by Marshall Murray on a charge of allowing gambling in his pool hall on San Francisco Street. His trial will come up in Police Court on Friday afternoon.

Due to the vigilance of the Truant Officers school attendance continues to increase.

For Sale: 1917 Ford Chassis. Bought July 20 last -- at your own price. Will be at City Park Camp Ground until Saturday morning.

After several months of patient waiting, the Flagstaff Home Guard received rifles on Thursday evening. Their drill period is now moved to Sunday afternoon in order that they make take up more maneuvers and more target practice. Their Winchester 30 rifles are a very beautiful gun and were secured at favorable price.

D. A. Purtyman was in from Oak Creek on Saturday, says it has not yet frosted in the Canyon and the crops are looking very good.

Thursday was the first really cold night. It was found that it was hard to heat the school building satisfactorily against the east wind. We have a liberal coal supply that makes us feel safe about the winter to come.

L. P. Miller arrived in Flagstaff on Tuesday from Hermosa, California, to look our city over as a place for him to reside, and to create a cigar factory and to form a good band.

Sealed bids are to be received by the Office of the Supervisor to construct a bridge with a concrete foundation on the Flagstaff Greenlaw Road approximately half a mile east of the city limits. Bids must be accompanied by certified check for 5 percent of the bid.

For Sale: I am slightly overstocked in the dairy business. Will sell several high-grade dairy cows -- also have 3 driving horses for sale. L. E. Johnson Phone 123R5.

Wanted help: Handyman. General work. $60 a month and board. Apply promptly to C. F. Butler. Overland Garage

Harry Jackson returned Friday from Holbrook where he has been getting a garage business underway. He is beaming with starting a new railroad project.

75 YEARS AGO

From 1942: All farmers who expect to operate a truck after Gas Rationing goes into effect must fill out and file certification of War Necessity this week and register it at the Court House before this Saturday. Gas Rationing for truck operators begins on November 5. Members of the Registration Board and volunteers will be on hand to assist. Bring your State Registration Card, an estimate of expected consumption, the mileage on the tires, plus the nature and the amount of tonnage. Repair parts and tires will be allowed on this information. City trucks will make their final scrap drive run on Friday.

Have your scrap on your front curb making it easy to pick up. Over 100,000 tons of steel have been lost since the United States entered the conflict. There will be a Special Drive conducted on November 11. Lloyd Heller, Salvage Committee.

Aid is sought by the School Board. We have 1,672 students registered, an increase of 589 over last year. The School Board has filed for Federal Aid under the Lanham Act. In order to have students not arrive before daylight, the school opening has advanced to 10 a.m. for the winter months during the War Emergency. J. Q. Thomas, Superintendent.

Elaborate and Patriotic plans are being made by Flagstaff College Students for their 19th Homecoming Parade with the theme Unity for Victory. No cars will be allowed. There will be the annual repeat of the Rally Bonfire and then Saturday evening the Ball and selection of the Homecoming Queen and King. Attendance is not expected to be large given transportation difficulties and all the business of war work.

50 YEARS AGO

From 1967: Wednesday morning early risers were able to observe a total eclipse of the moon. It began at 2:26 a.m., Mountain Daylight Time, and came to total darkness in 61 minutes at 3:45 a.m. It began southwest of our city with a full moon and ended just above the southwest horizon.

The Flagstaff Hospital needs about 50 volunteers to assist visitors with finding patients, to feed patients, read to patients, write letters for them and run errands in general. Assistance is also needed in Central Supply. Volunteers generally work about 2 hours a week. Mrs. F. E. Downum, Coordinator.

Two female Black Antelope arrived at Buffalo Park on Tuesday to keep company with the single male that was already in residence. They were donated by the Arizona Retail Grocers and valued at $250 -- each is promoting the sale of Patio Foods. They are a native of India and bred in captivity on the Rickenbacker Ranch near Hunt, Texas.

The Post Office in Ash Fork was robbed of over $400 in Postage Stamps, Savings Stamps, Duck Stamps and blank money order forms on Wednesday night, Post Mistress, Pearl Guthrie.

The new owner of the Plaza Mall is resurfacing and improving the parking area.

Ladies, you will find the best looking snow boots in town in many styles with prices beginning at $8.95 at Clarks Sporting Goods, 7 N. Leroux.

The City Council is finding the one-way streets to be one hot potato, with stiff opposition from Merchants who say they are hurting their businesses. The council finally decided unanimously that the six-month trial period is not long enough to prove the point.

25 YEARS AGO

From 1992: This year both the Flagstaff High School and Junior High, in a addition to the Leupp School, received computers, lasers and robotic equipment and computerized drafting equipment to help meet changing educational needs.

Have you noticed those little red ribbons on lapels around town? They are a symbol of unity from the Citizens Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse.

Kachina residents will no longer breathe dust. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on Monday to form a paving district. After 18 months of meetings and three petition drives, Kachina Village is about to have paved roads. About 4 miles of the roads will be paved at an estimated cost an estimated $1.5 million most of which will be paid for by the property owners.

NAU President Eugene Hughes has turned over the problem of cuts in programs at the University to a faculty/student panel and given them five months to come up with what they consider a satisfactory solution to the needed cuts in programs ranging $1.5 to $3 million.

The Clean and Green Committee proposal does not mean that there will be a Litter Cop peering over fences. Rather it is an incentive for people to clean up their messes and keep our alleys clear. The city already has authority to clear properties and to charge the owner for the cost for doing so plus 5 percent. The proposed ordinance allows the City Attorney to go after violators. Ultimately a Magistrate could fine a third-time offender up to $2,000. The difference is the new proposal contains definitions of garbage.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 03:01:08|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ABUJA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The police in Nigeria on Sunday confirmed that six people killed and scores others injured following a predawn attack in the central state of Plateau.

The police said unknown gunmen, carrying sophisticated weapons, stormed the Taagbe Village in the state's Bassa local area. The attackers also razed at least 10 houses.

Plateau state police chief Udie Adie said authorities are investigating the motive and identities of the attackers.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Plateau state is situated in Nigeria's middle belt where the Muslim-dominated north and the Christian-majority south meet.

The state has witnessed some bomb blasts and constant rifts between Berom and Fulani herdsmen, with many, especially women and children, murdered in cold blood.

On Sept. 7, some 19 people were killed and five others injured in an attack suspected to have been launched by armed herdsmen in a village in the Plateau state.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 03:21:12|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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Sebastian Kurz (C), leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP), arrives at a polling station to cast his ballot in Vienna, capital of Austria, on Oct. 15, 2017. Sebastian Kurz, leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP), has declared victory after projections showed his party would win the most seats in the 183-seat parliament by receiving 31.7 percent of votes in Sunday's election. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

VIENNA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Sebastian Kurz, leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP), has declared victory after projections showed his party would win the most seats in the 183-seat parliament by receiving 31.7 percent of votes in Sunday's election.

Kurz, born on Aug. 27 of 1986, is set to become new Austrian Chancellor and the world's youngest head of government.

In 2013, the People's Party won 24 percent of the votes and was the second largest party in the National Council, the lower house of the Austrian parliament.

Kurz said the outcome represents a "strong mandate to change the country" and he wished to create a "new culture", and will take on the responsibility with "great humility".

Kurz, who has been Austrian foreign minister four years ago, seems to find the path to sell his conservative party by a new marketing strategy. By changing the color of his party from traditional back to turquoise, the so called "new OVP" was re-branded.

His party then swung to the right concerning the migrant and integration issues. In some respects, the ideology and policies of OVP are barely distinguishable from the right wing populist Freedom Party, local political analysts have said.

He pushed to close the migration route through the Balkans, promised a crackdown on illegal immigration and brought the refugee crisis to an end.

The right wing Freedom Party (FPO), led by Heinz-Christian Strache, won 26 percent votes in Sunday's election, according to the projections.

That represented a stronger support to the EU skeptical FPO party compared to that in 2013, when the party won 20.5 percent of the votes. It was just a bit lower than the highest level of support in 1999, at 26.9 percent.

Strache was buoyed by the result, but said he would not make any comment on a potential coalition government.

In an interview on television station ATV, Strache expressed fear that the People's Party and Social Democrats (SPO) will once again form a coalition government.

The center-left SPO, led by current Chancellor Christian Kern, almost defended its support, scoring 26.9 percent of votes on Sunday and then losing its strongest party position in the parliament.

Talking to Xinhua about the result of the election, former Austrian vice chancellor Erhard Busek said Sunday's election showed a general political movement to the right, even including the center-left or the conservative parties.

The populist Freedom Party's strong performance in the election also showed this trend.

Busek said the People's Party might form a coalition government with FPO, but other options were also possible. Forming of any coalition needed a long time of negotiation, he said.
Iran on Sunday accuses Israel and Saudi Arabia of fueling U.S. president Trump's anti-Iran emotion. (Web Pic)

TEHRAN, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. President Donald Trump's recent anti-Iran speech was under the influence of lobbyists from Israel and Saudi Arabia, Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said on Sunday.

It was clear that the Zionist regime of Israel and some countries like Saudi Arabia "have played a major role in "writing" Trump's speech and guiding him," Larijani was quoted as saying by Press TV.

He said that the U.S. president's aggressive rhetoric was aimed to cause commotion and prevent international economic cooperation with Iran.

On Friday, the U.S. president refused to certify Iran's international nuclear deal and accused Tehran of sponsoring terrorism, saying that he would deny Iran's "all paths to a nuclear weapon."

Accordingly, Saudi Arabia and Israel welcomed the new strategy towards Iran announced by Trump.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear energy program is aimed at civilian purposes.
Six Egyptian soldiers and 24 militants were killed on Sunday in terrorist attacks on checkpoints in North Sinai. (Web Pic)

CAIRO, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Six Egyptian soldiers and 24 militants were killed as the Egyptian army foiled terrorist attacks on checkpoints in North Sinai province, the Egyptian military spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

The foiled terrorist attempt in mid-day targeted checkpoints in Qawadis area in North Sinai province bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, said Egypt's military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay in the statement.

"Another terrorist was injured and two four-by-four vehicles used by the terrorist elements were destroyed," the spokesman added, noting that the forces are currently combing the area in search for escaping terrorists.

The confrontations came two days after a terrorist attack killed six soldiers in the restive province on Friday.

North Sinai has been the center of anti-government terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military removal of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

The army removed Morsi in response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group.

Since then, most of the terrorist operations were claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The Egyptian military in cooperation with the police killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country's anti-terror war declared in 2013 by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi's removal.
Israel said it would follow the U.S. and withdraw from the UNESCO in complaining "bias" against Israel. (Web Pic)

JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- In a hasty announcement late last week, Israel said it would be following the United States and withdrawing from the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is seen as the culmination of a rocky relationship Israel has had with the organization, especially in the last six years.

The move, expected to be completed by the end of 2018, was announced by the Israeli prime minister's office after the U.S. administration said it was withdrawing from the international body citing the need for "fundamental reform" in the body and "continuing anti-Israeli bias."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the U.S. decision by instructing the foreign ministry to prepare a parallel withdrawal.

UNESCO was the first UN body to recognize the state of Palestine in 2011. It was a success for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas who failed in an earlier bid to become a full member of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Since then, there has been a series of events and decisions at UNESCO that have caused Israel unease in the international arena.

Although Israeli media has reported that officials were not given a heads up on the U.S. decision to withdraw, the Israeli approval was quick to come.

"When you take advantage of the dramatic momentum of the U.S. withdrawal, it's much smarter than another timing which people may not have noticed," said Ronen Hoffman from the Interdisciplinary Center of Herzliya.

"The Israeli message is that Israel is not alone, not isolated. It has an alliance with a strong power," he adds.

In one of its most controversial resolutions, UNESCO voted a year ago for a resolution belittling Jewish ties to several holy sites in Jerusalem. While emphasizing Muslim ties to the places in the city, it downplayed the importance which the Jewish faith attaches to the same exact sites.

The original document referred to the site known by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary and by Jews as the Temple Mount only by its Muslim name.

The resolution was later amended to include Jewish names of sites.

Jerusalem is at the center of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

One of UNESCO's biggest contributions is its classifications of world heritage sites -- this has impact on tourism and economy.

Ron Prosor, a former Israeli ambassador to the UN, said to an Israeli news website Walla that "UNESCO has been abducted." He spoke hours after the Israeli decision.

Israel has been struggling with a tainted international image and is subject to continued criticism over its policies towards the Palestinians.

In the past, UNESCO has criticized Israel for limiting Muslim access to holy sites.

Israel captured the eastern part of the city, the holy sites within that area, in the 1967 Mideast War. The international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, which Palestinians see as the capital of their future state.

Speaking to Israeli radio station Kan Reshet Bet after the United States and Israeli announcements, Israeli ambassador to UNESCO, Carmel Shama-Hacohen said he was "very satisfied" with the decision.

"The great power (the United States) is taking actions that have great meaning for Israel," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 04:26:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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TRIPOLI, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Libya's eastern-based army commander General Khalifa Haftar has officially announced plans to liberate the capital Tripoli from control of militias.

Haftar, while addressing a large crowd of army officers in the eastern city of Benghazi, said that "only a few areas of no more than 30,000 square km are out of the control of the army."

"The area of Libya is 1.76 million square km. The army now controls 1.73 million square km. There is little left for the army to control all of Libya," Haftar said.

Haftar revealed that the army had taken control of parts of the western region stretching from Zwara on the border with Tunisia to the city of Zawya, some 30 km west of Tripoli.

"For a while, we have been in contact with officers and soldiers in the western region. They have joined the army and recently liberated their areas From Zwara to the Zawya," Haftar said.

Libya's western region has recently witnessed an uprising of armed battalions backed by armed civilians, against militias, which resulted in the expelling of the militias from the cities of Sabratha, Sorman and Ajailat.

Haftar, who controls south and east of the country, revealed that the army's next target is "the city of Zawya near Tripoli" and that the city would be seized "in a few days."

"The goal announced by Haftar was previously known to many observers of the Libyan affair, however, it has been kept secret for many years until the opportunity was available," Marwan Aqil, a Libyan political analyst, told Xinhua.

"The liberation of Tripoli from the militias is a popular demand in Libya. It should have been achieved years ago. The authority of the state must be imposed by a regular army," Aqil said.

"Haftar's movement in the capital will be welcomed by the residents, who had already staged demonstrations over a month ago to demand Haftar's intervention to save them from the rule of the militias, who become more dominant after seeing the helpless government of national accord," Aqil added.

Faraj Daghman, a former officer of the Libyan army, expressed surprise at the announcement of Haftar to "move to Tripoli and the west of the country at this particular time."

"Everybody knows that there is a new UN road map being implemented to solve the Libyan crisis. Haftar has blessed it, though implicitly, when he met with UN envoy Ghassan Salama, at his office two weeks ago," Daghman told Xinhua.

Gassan Salame, head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, has proposed an action plan in September for Libya that includes amendment of the current UN-sponsored political agreement, holding a UN-sponsored national conference for all Libya's political factions, adopting a constitution and election of a president and a parliament.

Haftar's announcement came as the first stage of the new UN-led dialogue between the Libyan factions continues in Tunis since Sept. 26.

"The launching of a military campaign to enter western Libya in this time will be considered by the international community as an escalation of the situation, blocking the road to political solution, and replacing it with a military solution the west has long rejected," Daghman added.

Haftar's army, allied with the Libyan eastern-based parliament, controls eastern and southern Libya, as well as part of the west. The rest of the country is dominated by the UN-backed government of national accord.

Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition since the fall of former regime in 2011. The country is plagued with political division and unrest.
Sooronbay Jeenbekov (C), candidate for presidency from the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK), casts his ballot at a polling station in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Oct. 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Roman Gainanov)

BISHKEK, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Former Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Sooronbai Jeenbekov is leading with more than 50 percent of the vote in the country's presidential election on Sunday, according to official results.

According to the latest information, some 1,557,225 voters have voted in the presidential election in Kyrgyzstan, Central Election Commission Chairwoman Nurzhan Shaildabekova told reporters.

Some 15,465 ballots were recognized as void, she said.

"According to the Central Election Commission's website, Sooronbai Jeenbekov leads with 856,971 votes, Omurbek Babanov comes second with 530,189 votes," Shaildabekova said.

A total of 11 presidential candidates are competing for the presidency after two of 13 registered candidates withdrew from the pre-election race.

The voting began at 8:00 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) and ended at 8:00 p.m. local time (1400 GMT).

According to the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan, the country's president is elected for a six-year term and will not be allowed to run for re-election. President Almazbek Atambayev's term will end on Dec. 1.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 04:41:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Militants in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula fired two rockets towards Israel on Sunday night, Israel's military said in a statement.

"Two rockets fired from the Sinai area hit the Eshkol Regional Council," the statement read. Eshkol is a region in southern Israel.

A spokesperson for the regional council said there was no immediate report of injuries, adding that the rockets apparently landed in an empty field.

The incident came two weeks after Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired a rocket towards Israel, which failed to reach Israeli territory. Israeli's army responded by attacking a Hamas post in the besieged enclave with artillery.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 04:46:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ANKARA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained more than 300 illegal migrants on Sunday in northern and eastern Turkey, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

A total of 206 illegal migrants, including 25 women and 18 children, was arrested from a bus in the Black Sea province of Amasya.

The bus carrying the migrants was stopped by police when it was heading to Istanbul from the eastern province of Agri.

The suspects were Afghan, Pakistani, Iranian, Syrian, and Burmese nationals.

In another operation in the eastern province of Elazig, police caught 97 illegal Pakistani and Afghan migrants at the bus terminal, who attempted to reach Istanbul from Turkish eastern province of Van.

Turkey and the European Union signed a refugee deal in March 2016, which aimed to discourage irregular migration through the Aegean Sea by taking stricter measures against human traffickers and improving the conditions of nearly 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 05:01:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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ALGIERS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- An Algerian court on Sunday sentenced in absentia running away senior terrorist, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, alias Belaouar, to death penalty, APS news agency reported.

The sentence has been pronounced by the prosecutor of the Criminal Court of Oran, western Algeria, as Belmokhtar, leader of the terrorist group of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), was charged by the creation and management of a terrorist organization, abduction as well as arm detention and trafficking.

The case dates back to April 2011. Detectives concluded that there was a terrorist plot to kidnap foreign nationals, specifically workers in charge of the construction of Oran tramway.

Mokhtar Belmokhtar, was the mastermind of this plot, as he was first tried in absentia in 2012. By then 8 other defendants were also tried, including three in absentia, and 5 others were present at the court.

Among these five defendants, four were sentenced to life prison, while the fifth defendant was set free due to lack of evidence.

The prosecutor of the Criminal Court of Oran has reopened the case and sentenced in absentia Belmokhtar and his three companions to death penalty.

It worth to recall that Mokhtar Belmokhtar, alias Belaouer (the one eyed) claimed responsibility for the terrorist attack that targeted a gas field in the Algerian desert in January 16th 2013.

Al-Qaida linked militants attacked the gas field of Tiguentourine, in Illizi province, 1700 km southeast of Algiers and took some 800 workers as hostages, forcing the Algerian special forces to storm the field and release the hostages.

This rescue operation left more than 37 dead, including 36 foreigners. As many as 29 assailants were killed, while three others were captured alive, according to an official report.
WASHINGTON  Advocates and lawmakers in Arizona say the path to a bill protecting DREAMers got more difficult this week, when the White House issued a list of immigration policy priorities that it said must be part of any DACA legislation.

In a letter to House and Senate leaders Sunday, President Donald Trump said he will not support any legislation that does not include funding for a border wall, increased immigration enforcement in the interior, an end to chain migration and other requirements.

One state lawmaker said Thursday that she was absolutely horrified when she saw Trumps demands while an analyst in Washington said the incredibly unreasonable list is just a way to sabotage negotiation on any bill to replace the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, called Trumps negotiation posture extortion. He called on House Democrats to ignore the rhetoric and work toward a permanent solution like the DREAM Act, by separating the issues of a pathway to citizenship for 800,000 DACA recipients from border security and stricter enforcement.

Its holding 800,000 young people hostage so that he can get his political agenda on immigration done, Grijalva said Thursday of the presidents statement. I think its sad and very unpresidential, but him going back on his word and lying doesnt seem to be a problem with this president.

Robert Neustadt, the director of Latin American Studies at Northern Arizona University and an activist for immigrant rights, said he is hoping and advocating for a clean DREAM Act.

In other words, we believe that Dreamers should be given the right to work, the right to drive, protection from deportation and a path to legal residency and citizenship, Neustadt said in an email. Dreamers cannot and should not be used as a bargaining chip. Their immigration relief should not be linked to a border enforcement surge.

Neustadt, who is a member of the group called Keep Flagstaff Together, said the group is happy to talk to anyone regardless of their DACA status and research whether they can help offer legal relief.

Lori Poloni-Staudinger, the founder and executive director of Together We Will Northern Arizona, said her group will continue to fundraise to pay for legal aid as well as a bail and bond fund specifically for undocumented people arrested in Flagstaff.

But Arizona Republican Reps. Paul Gosar of Prescott and Andy Biggs of Gilbert hailed Trumps action, commending him for following through on stricter enforcement of immigration policies, something that was central to his campaign.

I applaud @POTUS for keeping his immigration promises to the American people, Gosar said in a Tweet Monday. We must secure our borders, and he is going to do just that.

Biggs said he thinks most Americans and most of Congress agree  but acknowledged that one of the major hindrances for the administration will be getting past the 60 votes needed in the Senate to head off a filibuster on the proposals.

I am confident that, if enacted by Congress, these actions would secure our open borders and reduce incentives for illegal immigrants to remain in or enter the United States, Biggs said in a statement Tuesday. The American people are tired of these flip flops, and we must give them the results they deserve  before any other reforms are enacted.

The immigration principles and policies laid out by Trump list more than 70 items in three broad areas. The first, border security, includes building a wall and making it easier to repatriate unaccompanied children, asylum seekers and other immigrants. Interior enforcement includes cracking down on sanctuary cities, hiring 10,000 immigration officers and requiring use of e-Verify when hiring. The final category, establishing a merit-based immigration system, calls for giving preference to skilled and financially stable immigrants, among other changes.

Arizona Rep. Isela Blanc, D-Tempe, during a conference call Thursday on how children of DACA recipients could be affected by loss of the program, said she was absolutely horrified by Trumps proposal. She called it a response to the growing Hispanic population in the U.S. and a way of redefining what this White House wants this America to be. Which is more white.

This administration is attacking families, is breaking apart families, creating fear and hurting children, Blanc said. We have children who are in fear for their parents, wondering if their mom or their dad will be home when they arrive from school.

We have to start asking ourselves, Is that the America we want to live in and are those demands appropriate? Absolutely not, she said.

DACA is an Obama-era program that allowed immigrants who were brought here illegally as children to be protected from deportation for two years at a time and get work permits  but it did not change their citizenship status.

Critics have called it an executive overreach, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced in September that the Trump administration would end the program on March 5. No new DACA applications are being accepted, and people whose coverage lapses after March 5 could be subject to deportation.

Sessions and Trump said the six-month winding down of the program would give Congress time to act on a replacement plan. But David Bier, an immigration analyst at the CATO Institute, said the latest Trump demands are poisoning the well and undermining any chance for bipartisan negotiation on a replacement bill.

Theres no negotiation thats going to happen around these principles  this is just a way to sabotage negotiation, Bier said Thursday. If you look at the major points of emphasis here theyre really just non-negotiable items.

Bier, noting Trumps apparent willingness last month to work with Democrats on a DACA deal separate from issues like a border wall, said the latest demands indicate that whoever wrote the letter does not have the same interests at heart as the president does.

Petra Falcon, of the Latino voter outreach organization Promise Arizona, said any policy change must include a path to citizenship for immigrants but that it would be wrong to barter that against a wall, border security and tougher interior enforcement.

To mix the two issues together is wrong, Falcon said Thursday. Immigrants who come to this country to provide for their families are being used as scapegoats for our security issues, for our drug-trafficking problem.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 05:06:34|Editor: Yamei

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Sebastian Kurz (C), leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP), arrives at a polling station to cast his ballot in Vienna, capital of Austria, on Oct. 15, 2017. Sebastian Kurz, leader of the Austrian People's Party (OVP), has declared victory after projections showed his party would win the most seats in the 183-seat parliament by receiving 31.7 percent of votes in Sunday's election. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

VIENNA, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- As the conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP) led by young Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz is projected to have beaten the center-left party to be the biggest party in the snap elections on Sunday, the country has shown a political trend to the right despite the coalition still pending.

CONSERVATIVES' VICTORY

Kurz has declared victory after projections showed his party would win the most seats in the 183-seat parliament with 31.7 percent of the votes in Sunday's election.

It's a big gain for the OVP compared with the 24 percent of the votes it gained in 2013 elections, when the party became the second largest party in the National Council, the lower house of the Austrian parliament.

It's also a victory for Kurz, who was born on Aug. 27 of 1986. The 31-year-old is likely to become new Austrian Chancellor and the world's youngest head of government.

Kurz said the outcome represents a "strong mandate to change the country," saying he wishes to create a "new culture," and will take on the responsibility with "great humility."

Kurz has already been in action after he set a new marketing strategy for his party, and swung the party to the right concerning the migrant and integration issues.

With regards to migrant crisis, the young politician pushed to close the migration route through the Balkans, promising a crackdown on illegal immigration and bringing the crisis to the end.

Within the country, he calls to shut down Muslim kindergartens to prevent a parallel society in Austria, asking Muslims to adapt to the local society.

Riding the wave of the right wing populism, the shift has helped the OVP, to some extend, gain more votes from the right wing supporters.

COALITION TALKS CRUCIAL

But to form a government, OVP still needs a partner to form a coalition.

The two parties in the second and third places, namely The center-left Social Democratic Party of Austria (SPO) led by the incumbent Chancellor Christian Kern and the right wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) led by Heinz-Christian Strache, are the possible partners.

Projections show that the SPO scored 26.9 percent of the votes, losing its strongest party position to the OVP but still a little bit higher than the 26 percent of the FPO.

The result for the EU skeptical FPO is much higher than the 20.5 percent of the votes in 2013 elections. Although the 26 percent is still a little bit lower than its highest level of 26.9 percent achieved in 1999, it's the best performance since then.

Therefore, the upcoming negotiations among the three parties will be crucial.

Heinz-Christian Strache, who was buoyed by the result, said the support for his party shows people want change, that must be reflected in the next government's agenda.

But he declined to make any comment on a potential coalition government.

However, in an interview on television station ATV, he expressed fears that the OVP and the SPO will once again form a coalition government.

Talking to Xinhua about the result of the election, former Austrian vice chancellor Erhard Busek said Sunday's election showed a general political movement to the right, even including the center-left or the conservative parties.

The populist Freedom Party's strong performance in the election also showed this trend.

Busek said the OVP might form a coalition government with FPO, but other options were also possible. Forming of any coalition needed a long time of negotiation, he said.
A bullet train drives in the fields of Binyang County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 16, 2017. China has built one of the world's most extensive high-speed rail networks in just a few years. (Xinhua/Huang Xiaobang)

by Zhai Wei, Tian Dongdong

BRUSSELS, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, used to tell his fellow countrymen at the height of the Great Depression that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself".

Roosevelt's words can serve as an admonishment for some Europeans and western media who portrayed as if a monster the Belt and Road (B&R) Initiative launched by China in 2013.

While projects connected with the Initiative has benefited foreign countries, including those in Europe, some expressed their bias against China in the pretext of national security concerns.

The fear was amplified by a story of New York Times in late August, which called China's investment in Greece as "a kind of neocolonialism without the gunboats".

But their accusation was refuted during the New Silk Road Forum held in Greece's second largest city of Thassaloniki in last September, during which senior representatives of news agencies along the route pointed out that Chinese investment in Europe is mutually beneficial and based on equal footing.

Organized by Greece's Athens News Agency (AMNA), national agency of the Mediterranean country, the forum focuses on the cooperation of countries as well as news media along the Belt and Road and aims at improving communication, facilitating trade and enhancing cultural ties.

Responding to the New York Times' story, Michalis Psylos, president of AMNA, told Xinhua that "nobody cares about the NYT report."

The Initiative "gives Greece the room and potential to upgrade its own role in the modern world as a member of the European Union," said the president in his opening remarks.

"We think the relationship between China and Greece is of strategic and geopolitical importance, and the news agencies in both countries wish to continue the promotion of the cooperation for it is mutually beneficial for the two countries and the two peoples," he told Xinhua.

The financial crisis broke out in 2008 brought Piraeus port, the largest one in Greece, at the brink of bankruptcy.

Fearing the investment in the harbor by China's COSCO SHIPPING would erase any prospect of revival, Yannis Lagoudakis, mayor of Greek municipality of Perama, was one of the locals who did not warmly welcome the change of hands at Piraeus port at first.

But he changed his mind sooner than expected.

When COSCO SHIPPING came here, Piraeus port was listed 93rd in the world ranking of cargo tonnage and now is 38th. Cargoes loaded and unloaded at the port totaled 3.74 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) in 2016, up from 880,000 TEUs in 2010, when COSCO Shipping's subsidiary Piraeus Container Terminal took over the management of Piers II and III.

COSCO SHIPPING, which also purchased the majority stake in Piraeus Port Authority last year, will help create 125,000 jobs in the region.

Lagoudakis told Xinhua that he is convinced that Sino-Greek collaboration at Piraeus port is promising and beneficial, and the revival of the Silk Road in this era of globalization will offer Greece the opportunity to become "a key hub between China and the rest of Europe."

"I believe that Greece's friendship with China can bring only positive results. I believe the Greek government is right when trying to deepen bilateral cooperation," he added.

B&R Helps Spain's Exports

Meanwhile, Miguel Sanchez, Spain's EFE Agency's director economic and financial sector, said during the Forum that "we are very happy to see in these days the growing number of Chinese companies in Spain because Chinese companies are offering more and more high-quality products."

The economic ties between Spain and China have been facilitated by the China-Europe freight train from Yiwu city in east China's Zhejiang province to Madrid, the capital city of Spain.

As one of the first outcomes of the Initiative, the important bridge of Eurasian connectivity would allow Spain to become a 'hub' for connections with North Africa and Latin America, said Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy last May in China.

Besides, the Initiative also improves Spain's trade balance with China, with a record of exports worth over 5 billion euros (about 5.47 billion U.S. dollars) in 2016 and an expected further growth, according to Rajoy.

Asked why smear campaign has been run against China's investment, Sanchez explained that China is "growing and becoming more and more competitive each day, the best way to fight against you is to say that you are doing nothing or doing things in the wrong way".

The Belt and Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

As of last May, over 60 countries and international organizations have signed agreements with China on Belt and Road cooperation. Total trade between China and other countries along the Belt and Road exceeded 3 trillion dollars between 2014 and 2016, and Chinese investment in these countries surpassed 50 billion dollars.

A multi-dimensional infrastructure network, that is underpinned by economic corridors featuring land-sea-air transportation routes and information expressways and supported by major rail, port and pipeline projects, is taking shape.

Chinese investment is not focused on one country, but is a boon to the economic development of countries in the South Europe, said Nenad Babic, executive officer of Serbia's TANJUG news agency.

"China invested in Serbia's biggest iron producer under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative. The construction of the railway connecting Serbia and Hungary will be done also with the financial help of Chinese banks. The railway will connect the south Europe with the Piraeus port in Greece which will facilitate the big trade in the whole region," he told Xinhua. Enditem

(Xinhua reporters Chen Zhanjie, Liu Yongqiu in Greece also contributed to the story.)
A bullet train drives in Liuzhou City, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, July 15, 2017. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

by Shi Zhongyu

WARSAW, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- "When Chinese company invested in Poland, we were worried about whether we could keep our jobs," said Malgorzata Bielica who works at Liugong Dressta Machinery in Stalowa Wola, southeast Poland.

Malgorzata and her husband both used to work for HSW, a Polish company preceding Liugong Dressta.

In 2012, when she learned that the company was to be acquired, Malgorzata had some concerns. If she and her husband had lost their jobs, the family would have faced a difficult position with no income.

In February 2012, China Guangxi Liugong invested 170 million zloty (about 49 million U.S. dollars) and made the acquisition of HSW's civil engineering machinery division. Liugong also gained a 100-percent stake and access to HSW wholly-owned subsidiary company Dressta.

However, not only could the Bielicas continue to work there, but salaries of employees changed for the better. The company's business condition also has taken a turn for the better thanks to the upgrading of production.

Before the acquisition, Dressta was facing a difficult situation. Local media reported that due to fierce competitions from American and German enterprises, its business condition continued to deteriorate, even near bankruptcy.

Michal Kolakowski, adviser to public administration and managing partner of Warsaw Consulting Group said: "Like a long-awaited rain after a prolonged drought, Liugong's investment has saved struggling Dressta."

Five years since the acquisition, Malgorzata's family have had a better life. Three years ago, Malgorzata decided to introduce her just-graduated daughter to join Liugong. When asked about the reason, Malgorzata said:"Liugong is a good employer, and this kind of family and work combination has many advantages, we discuss work even after we get home in the evening."

Malgorzata was not the only one who benefited from Chinese enterprises. According to the data by Liugong Dressta, the company has provided more than 1,200 job opportunities in the region, with a total of more than 230 million zloty (about 66 million U.S. dollars) of various accumulated taxes and fees contribution to the country between 2012 and 2016.

Along with the development of the Belt and Road Initiative, some Chinese companies chose to increase investment in Poland, creating jobs and promoting local economic growth. Liu Lijuan, business counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Poland, said that China's investment for Poland has provided about 15,000 jobs.

In September, Liugong Dressta opened its first regional headquarters in Warsaw and a new European Parts Distribution Centre (PDC) in Stalowa Wola. According to Hou Yubo, vice chairman of Liugong Dressta, the new distribution centre covers an area of 3,500 square meters, with an investment of nearly 9.4 million U.S. dollars.

Jerzy Kwiecinski, Polish deputy minister of development,said:"We are delighted that such companies as Liugong increasingly choose to relocate their business to Poland."

"Chinese investments in Poland are increasingly technologically advanced, and they help to build a modern knowledge economy in our country,"Kwiecinski said at the opening ceremony of Liugong's regional headquarters in Warsaw.

In the same month, Nuctech Warsaw, owned by Chinese Nuctech, started building a new manufacturing and office facility of 6,000 square meters in Kobylka, near Warsaw. With the total investment of 40 million zloty (11 million U.S. dollars), the facility will produce large-scale security inspection equipment.

Robert Roguski, mayor of the town of Kobylka, said that the investment of Chinese enterprises in Poland increased local taxes and promoted employment, providing more possibilities for cooperation at the local level between the two countries.
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 05:31:41|Editor: huaxia

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TEHRAN -- Iran will stop implementing Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the nuclear agreement is nixed, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) said on Sunday.

"If the JCPOA (the acronym for nuclear deal) collapses, we will suspend the implementation of the Additional Protocol because we are now implementing it voluntarily," Ali Akbar Salehi was quoted as saying by Press TV. (Iran-Nuke)

- - - -

CAIRO -- Six Egyptian soldiers and 24 militants were killed as the Egyptian army foiled terrorist attacks on checkpoints in North Sinai province, the Egyptian military spokesman said in a statement on Sunday.

The foiled terrorist attempt in mid-day targeted checkpoints in Qawadis area in North Sinai province bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, said Egypt's military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay in the statement. (Egypt-Sinai-Attack)

- - - -

ALGIERS -- An Algerian court on Sunday sentenced in absentia running away senior terrorist, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, alias Belaouar, to death penalty, APS news agency reported.

The sentence has been pronounced by the prosecutor of the Criminal Court of Oran, western Algeria, as Belmokhtar, leader of the terrorist group of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), was charged by the creation and management of a terrorist organization, abduction as well as arm detention and trafficking. (Egypt-Sinai-Attack)

- - - -

RAMALLAH -- Palestinian Unity Government said it will begin meetings to retain control over the security and border crossings in Gaza Sunday, following the recent agreement between rival Palestinian parties Fatah and Hamas in Cairo.

Head of the Governmental Commission for Borders and Civil Affairs Hussein Al-Shaikh said in statements to the official Palestinian radio station (Voice of Palestine) that the prime minister will hold a meeting with heads of security apparatuses in West Bank city of Ramallah soon. (Gaza-Palestine) Enditem
Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-16 05:36:43|Editor: Mu Xuequan

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Army has fired a two-star general who allegedly sent flirty messages to the wife of an enlisted soldier at his post in Italy.

Major General Joseph Harrington was sacked due to "a loss of confidence in his ability to command," an army spokesman said in a statement.

The statement said the Army has been investigating allegations related to Harrington's communications with the spouse of an enlisted soldier but it provided no further comment citing an ongoing review of the investigation.

The Army said Harrington, who is also married, was probed for sending inappropriate Facebook messages to the woman.

Harrington asked the woman to delete what reports said "flattering, playful and flirtatious" messages, which she refused. Instead, she shared most of them with U.S. media outlets.

The two-star general was suspended from his post in early September but had stayed in Italy.

Following his dismissal, he was recalled to Pentagon and will work as a special assistant to the director of the Army Staff until the investigation is finished.

Harrington is one of a spate of senior Army officers who have been disciplined and probed over improper behavior in recent years.
A town on the edge of the Navajo Nation that unknowingly drank uranium-tainted water for at least 12 years.

Navajo babies showing increasing uranium concentrations during their first year of life.

Children swimming in natural pools near Cameron they later learned had been filled with water from abandoned uranium mines.

The stories about the impacts of Cold War-era uranium mining on the Navajo Nation became highly personal during a forum hosted at the Museum of Northern Arizona Wednesday night.

Four decades later, the subject has come to the fore again as a grandfathered uranium mine moves forward with operations south of Tusayan and a new president stokes fears about the reopening of 1 million acres of the Grand Canyon watershed outside the national park to new mining.

The 20-year mineral withdrawal is now up for grabs under the current administration, the Grand Canyon Trusts Roger Clark said Wednesday night.

Among most at the forum, the thinking was obvious: Allowing more mining around the Grand Canyon is opening the door to repeating past mistakes.

But as it stands, researchers havent yet determined if data from soils, waters and living inhabitants largely supports or refutes such a fear. They are still nailing down possible sources of high uranium measured in a handful of waters in the watershed, are just starting to understand how water travels through rock layers that surround the breccia pipe uranium mines and have completed only an initial set of studies on how surface operations could impact nearby plants and animals.

What is clear, however, is that modern mining in the Grand Canyon isnt simply a repeat of the past. Different mining methods, more rigorous regulations and a better understanding of underground water and geology make evaluation of the current risks its own, complicated beast.

MINING THEN AND NOW

On the Navajo Nation, uranium mines were blasted into plains, mesas and mountains across the landscape. The methods created radioactive waste piles, open tunnels and pits. Much of the mining, which occurred between World War II and the 1980s, predated the founding of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of associated environmental laws. Groundwater contamination from mining has stretched for miles and crossed state lines, and more than 500 abandoned uranium mines remain on the Navajo Nation. Just nine have seen cleanup or stabilization work by the EPA.

In the Grand Canyon area, two mines on the North Rim  Pinenut and Kanab North  are in various stages of closure while another, Arizona 1 is on maintenance status. At the grandfathered Canyon Mine south of Tusayan on the South Rim, mine owner Energy Fuels Resources has drilled a main shaft to about 1,500 feet and is continuing with ore evaluation and mine planning. Spokesman Curtis Moore said the company is not publicly announcing when it expects ore mining to begin, though past estimates were for mid-2018.

The mines have a much different uranium target than those on the Navajo Nation: large, underground vertical pipes of high-grade uranium ore that measure 200 to 300 feet in diameter and 1,500 to 2,500 feet in length. Mine shafts are dug parallel to the uranium-rich breccia pipes and from there miners tunnel horizontally into the ore. The ore is dug out, then scooped up with machines like small bobcats and transported to the surface, where its dumped in piles, said Frank Bain, a mining consultant who has worked in the industry for 40 years.

State and federal agencies regulate mining activities like the amount of ore that can be stockpiled at the surface and how dust must be contained onsite. Energy Fuels must submit quarterly and annual water quality data to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, spokeswoman Caroline Oppleman said in an email.

As for deeper groundwater, Moore said a wall of impermeable rock protects the aquifer beneath the mine shaft.

Again, Energy Fuels and our regulators are confident that the Canyon Mine will have no impact on water, Moore wrote in an email.

CREATING A PICTURE

That sort of certainty isnt echoed by the U.S. Geological Survey researchers tasked by the Interior Department with determining potential impacts of uranium mining to the Grand Canyon environment.

Five years into their research, USGS scientists havent yet answered whether mining will or wont affect groundwater, much less as what level of contamination and for how long, said Fred Tillman, who is leading the team investigating water resource impacts.

The groundwater system is complex and not yet well-understood, though researchers are finding evidence of connections between the surface and the deepest aquifers that challenge the assertion of an impermeable barrier between them. (See related article)

The USGS is hoping more information will come from future spring and creek monitoring as well as a monitoring well installed in the perched aquifer near Canyon Mine.

ON THE SURFACE

Its the job of Jo Ellen Hinck to figure out how uranium mining might affect animals and plants near the canyon. Her colleague Katie Walton-Day is measuring surface radiation and levels of uranium and other mining-related elements in soils around mine sites.

Five years after starting their research, Hinck said her team is just now getting a picture of what the data means. Walton-Day agreed that many information gaps still exist.

Among their initial findings:

Tadpoles living in Canyon Mines containment pond registered levels of selenium and arsenic above wildlife toxicity thresholds and significantly greater than tadpoles living in nearby ponds and springs.

Studies measured significantly greater uranium concentrations in the plants and mammals at the now-closed Kanab North mine before reclamation began compared to Canyon Mine, which has not produced any ore to date.

Soil samples taken inside and outside of the perimeter of Canyon Mine indicate that mining-related constituents haven't made their way offsite during mine site development.

WEIGHING RISKS AND THE UNKNOWN

Even with the boost in research resources deployed across the Grand Canyon after the 2012 withdrawal decision, researchers themselves say its far from enough.

The USGS originally planned to have eight to 10 monitoring wells, for example, but so far it has received funding to drill only one into the shallow aquifer near Canyon Mine, Tillman said.

Dave Kreamer, a hydrologist with the University of Nevada Las Vegas who has spend decades researching water sources in the Grand Canyon, called current monitoring "totally inadequate" to detect possible contamination.

Ive seen countries in the developing world that have better monitoring of mine sites than what theyre exhibiting in Grand Canyon," Kreamer said.

The mines around the Grand Canyon also dont have a spotless record.

In 2009 the owner of Pinenut mine found that 2.8 million gallons of water had accumulated in the mine shaft since it was put on standby in 1989.

In 2010, the USGS reported evidence that wind had dispersed uranium-rich dust offsite at three mined sites.

In 2016, uranium concentrations in soils near Pinenut Mine measured more than four times background levels, triggering additional dust control measures.

In 2017, Canyon Mine was issued a violation notice by state regulators for using giant hoses to spray water out of its containment pond that was overflowing due an influx of aquifer water flowing into the mine shaft.

Those violations bring up the question of what sorts of impacts should be expected and accepted in return for the benefits of mining, Bain said.

There is a little bit of a cost of doing business, Bain said. You have to admit, mining is hard on the landscape. Is that a price you want to pay so you can have electricity and not live in a cave? Its hard to say.
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Former vice president Atiku Abubakar has reacted to a disclosure by World Bank president, Jim Yong Kim, that President Muhammadu Buhari sought the institutions support for Northern states.

In a Facebook post on Saturday, Atiku stated that news of assistance to Nigerians by international organisations was commendable.

The Waziri Adamwa said hes glad to hear the President of the World Bank Group, Jim Yong Kim and the IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde reiterate some of the points Ive made recently in the ongoing conversations on restructuring as it relates to investing more in human capital, infrastructure, education for our people, etc.

Im also glad to learn of the work both organizations are doing, in partnership with the Federal Government to boost and stabilize our economic growth.

Atiku, however, shared a link of a speech titled Restructuring for a united and progressive Nigeria he deliveredat the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

It reads in part: My vision of Restructuring, will not make some States richer and others poorer. Restructuring is a win win for all Nigerian states.

So let me make it clear beyond any possible doubt: the Restructuring I am proposing will not reduce the share of our nations oil revenues that any state currently enjoys. However, if we are to grow our revenues we need to change the way we think of our resources and nurture them for the benefit of all.

Let us start by not thinking as if our resources consist only of oil. Oil is not infinite. In fact, within the industry, the oil majors and multinationals are looking for ways to further invest in alternative energy because, in the next 10-20 years, the proportion of the energy market share that fossil fuels hold will shrink and almost vanish even as that of alternative energy is set to rise dramatically.
Aminu Abubakar, one of the sons of former vice president Atiku and his ex-wife, Miss Ummi Bukar Bolori on Thursday at Parkview estate, clashed over the custody of their two children, Amirah, 8, and Aminu and Atiku, 7.

Heres what really happened as exclusively reported by LIB;

Aminu and his wife got married in Borno State in 2017 and enjoyed a five-year marriage before their union was dissolved by a Sharia Court in Maiduguri.

Following their separation, on 11th of October 2017, Miss Bolori secured a court injunction to take custody of their daughter upon reports that her children who have been with their father, were lacking motherly care.

The court document also revealed that their 8-year-old daughter sent numerous text messages to the mother that she wasnt happy at her fathers home and wanted to be with her.

Miss Bolori arrived their daughters school in Parkview estate, Lagos on Thursday but could not go with the child after Aminu stormed the school with his police escorts.

The LIB team arrived the scene at about 5.30pm and learned that brouhaha has been going on for about three hours. Upon carrying out our coverage on the shameful clash between Aminu, and his ex-wife Bolori, his police escorts seized our camera, phones and threaten the LIB team to stay out of the family matter which was fully displayed in public.

Despite the humiliation and threats, LIB was able to get footage and photos from the ugly scene as Aminu disagreed to accept the court order.

The former couple took over the street in Parkview estate as they argued and raised voices at each other for over one hour before the DPO attached at the Divisional headquarters in Ikoyi arrived the scene.

At about 7:45 PM, the drama continued as the DPO ordered that they should be taken to the Divisional headquarters. The parents began to drag their 8-year-old daughter in other to determine whose car she was going to drive in.

At the end, little Amirah went in the company of her mother in the DPOs car, while Aminu drove down to the Divisional headquarters with his police escort where they went for a dialogue with their lawyers.

The LIB team also followed the duo to the Divisional headquarters where they held a closed-door meeting with their lawyers and the DPO for almost 2hours and scheduled another meeting with the Lagos State Commissioner of police, Imohimi Edgal.

After the whole brouhaha on Thursday, we met with the DPO and got our camera and phones back.

When LIB reached out to Miss Ummi Bukar Bolori, the distraught mother of two had this to say:

Quote

We have been married for like five years and we got divorced 6-years ago. My kids have been with me for a period of two years since after we divorce, but after they went for holidays at his place he refused to bring them back. Since then Ive been struggling to get them back. Even when I had my second child, I went through pressure. I gave birth to him through an operation, he wasnt there for me, it was only me and my family. I almost lost my life at that time, now they are denying my right as a mother to see my kids, even when I want to see them it has to be under Police supervision. Whenever I come to see them on Holidays, Police will have to be there, even in the car and everywhere. He always claims hes protecting his kids but thats a lie hes protecting them from me. Thats the same thing he did when he came, he picked the kids for holidays and never returned them. So hes scared I want to do the same thing. He told the DPO at the Police divisional headquarters in Ikoyi that his father told me that I shouldnt go to court that we should sort the issue between ourselves, because it took my father and his a long while to build their name, so we the kids shouldnt drag their names. But if an old man, a responsible man speaks, he would do the act he says he would do. Ever since we sat down and talked and I withdrew the case it became another story entirely. When they were sure I have withdrawn the case nobody was answering my call. I sent Atiku Abubakar a mail like two times, telling him I dont see my kids. He told me that the best thing for me is to go back to his son, because his son told him that he wants me back in his house. I said no, that I cant go back because hes very rude and arrogant to me. Im not worshiping money, its my happiness I want. Because I moved out of the house, they dont have to punish me and my kids, they belong to me and him and to himself alone. He has a son in London, why didnt go there to carry him, because he knows in London theres a law and he must abide by it. He has broken the law by refusing to go to court and when the court order says they should provide the kids he turned out at the school premises and didnt move anywhere, he kept on gathering Policemen. It just the power and that was what he used for me at the beginning. They told me that if I fight I will never win. Even Atiku crowd told me that even if I put it out in court theyll support their Ogas son and will give money to the court because they have the power. We had for long reached an agreement that we have to share custody. He has the children for holidays, while I have them during school time and I still have that on record and it was signed by all of us. On why he left her husband, she said: Because hes not responsible, he wasnt there, he was never a responsible person. You should know how this big men children do when you get married to them, they feel they have everything and even now he still feels like that.

When LIB asked if there was a case of domestic violence when they were still married, she replied:

Quote

What will I say? She asked adding that Will I say yes or no to that. I dont know. But he pushed me when I was pregnant; he pushed me to a stool close to a glass in our room. If had fallen down, only God knows what would have happened. This happened when I was pregnant with his first child. When I was pregnant with the second child, I was already depressed, I went into an emergency surgery for my baby to be removed. The baby was in ICU, I also was in ICU and none of his family members were there, it was just me and my family. When I got married to him, his family members were feeling too big, they talk more luxury life to the kids than reality, you travel to London, go to Dubai and Paris. Most times they threaten the kids by telling them they will not see their mother and to some extent, they even barred the nanny from taking my calls so that my kids wont talk to me. He wants his present wife to take care of my kids so that they can forget about me, when am not on drugs neither am I a mad person. He should go and try that with the mother of his son in London if he can get away with it. He had that child out of wedlock and I didnt know about it when I got married to him. He cant separate that child from her mother because of the law there. Hes rude to the court here in Nigeria, he repeatedly told me that no court cannot take his kids from him. Even the Police are with him. The Police that accompanied me to the school to pick my kids all joined him because they heard hes Atiku Abubakars son.

More details soon

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaOWOpIDkHF/
All of this meant that Davido could not be in Zimbabwe as scheduled for the launch of Jah Prayzahs Kutonga Kwaro album launch at Harare International Conference Center. Spokesman for the event organizers Dee Nosh claimed that Davidos team had given them assurances that he would attend, telling Zimbabwean media:

When we learnt that Davido was picked for questioning by the police we continuously got in touch with his camp and we were being told everything was under control that even part of his advance team had already left Lagos, Dee Nosh said.

As the concert organisers we were also optimistic that he will make it for the launch, but its unfortunate that due to circumstances beyond his or our control he will not be part of us tonight as initially scheduled.

The organizers of the show slashed the ticket price from $20 to $10 and got some local acts as replacements. However, they are appealing to those fans who bought tickets specifically to see Davido to wait for a make-up show that is scheduled for the future. They explained it thus: For those who had purchased tickets specifically to see Davido in action if they decide not to come tonight they can keep their tickets for another Jah Prayzah and Davido concert coming soon.

This goes to show that things are not going too well for Davido as the recent troubles threaten to stifle his career even if he avoids any criminal proceedings related to the death of his friends.
Last week I wrote about what has turned out to be the biggest corruption scandal in African history-the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation $26 billion can of worms.

Little did I know when writing that piece that the matter should enter into another absurd stage. Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing (Damaging?) Director of the NNPC caused a response to be made to Ibe Kachikwu which proved that both Kachikwu and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are mere figure heads.

Essentially, Mr. Barus defense in the saga is that he got approval from President Buhari to bypass the NNPC board and award the contracts at a time that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was supposed to be the acting President.

If what Baru said is true and President Muhammadu Buhari approved contracts from his London sickbed, then what Presidency was Osinbajo acting? A Presidential movie?

So this is what President Buhari meant when he cited the Vice President as the coordinator of national affairs?

If nothing happens to Babachir Lawal, Ambassador Oke of the Ikoyi Billions, Rotimi Amaechi and Maikanti Baru, then President Muhammadu Buhari should release Sambo Dasuki and apologize to him!

Why? Because the two biggest corruption scandals in Nigerian history (?2.8 billion in 1978 and $26 billion in 2017) have both been linked to President Buhari. But the funny thing is that under Buhari, if a Peoples Democratic Party member is accused of corruption, he is a thief, but if it is an All Progressive Congress member, he is only guilty of not following due process.

And by now, Kachikwu must have learnt a bitter lesson that you do not report a demon to the devil and expect the demon to be disciplined for his evil ways.

In fact, the more wicked the demon is the more influence he wields with the devil. Report him and he gets promoted and you get demoted.

Look at Barus response. Achebe said if you see a bird dancing in an open pathway, know that its drummer is in the nearby bush. Baru is the bird. President Buhari is the drummer. Kachikwu is the drum.

If Kachikwu thinks Baru wrote that insulting response to him without clearance from the C-in-C of the 97% forces, he must be very naive.

You see, ?President Muhammadu Buhari only knows how to rule. He does not know how to lead. In 2019 we need a leader. Rulers belong in a math set not in Aso Rock.?

And to prove that he only knows how to rule, notice how he never takes responsibility for any negative thing and never fails to take credit for anything that is even slightly positive.

A good example is the State House Clinic. Both the Presidents wife and daughter have complained about the shameful state of the clinic under President Buhari.

?But thanks to BudgitNG, we now know that less money was budgeted for State House Clinic under Dr. Goodluck Jonathan than under President Muhammadu Buhari.

In 2015, President Jonathan budgeted only ?137 million for the facility and ?862 million in 2014. However, in 2016 President Buhari budgeted ?2.8 billion (an amount equal to the entire State House Clinic budget throughout the five years that Jonathan led Nigeria), yet it was better staffed and equipped under Jonathan. My own family members were admitted there and received the best treatment. Even Dr. Jonathan was utilized the clinic.

So why are we experiencing a case where despite spending more, Nigerians are getting less value for money?

If you say you are a leader, you should lead, not blame. If you say you are an anti corruption crusader, you expose corruption, not cover it! How can you be presiding at Aso Rock and your wife and daughter are complaining about Aso Rock Clinic? Who is in charge if not you?

In all my years I have never seen such abysmal failure to take responsibility as a first family complaining to the public about a clinic that they are in charge of! First rat chased you from your office now your family are complaining about Aso Rock clinic. Are you President or a decoration in Aso Rock?

And yet, from all indications, this man who cannot even take responsibility for his own failures wants to re contest? God forbid that we should be afflicted with another four years of this Muhammadu Buhari misrule!

This is a man whose campaign poster of 2015 said If anything goes wrong, I will take responsibility, and will fix it. That is what it means to lead.

We never knew that he meant he will take responsibility for knowing whom to blame.

And lest I forget, a man who cannot even take responsibility for the State House Clinic wants to borrow more money to fund the budget?

Why does President Buhari want to borrow an additional $5.5 billion? Why should we borrow $5.5 billion when NNPC has $26 billion to spend illegally?

Rather than borrowing $5.5 billion from foreign nations and putting unborn generations of Nigerians into debt, I appeal to President Buhari to go and borrow the money from Maikanti Baru!
Stalwarts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Friday held a closed door meeting at the Abeokuta residence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Ogun State Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party, Tunde Odanye, disclosed that the delegation visited Obasanjo to solicit for his blessing and support as the party was set to re-invent itself.

Odanye, who noted the Party had transgressed against the former President, further informed journalists that forgiveness was sought and Obj, as fondly called, forgave the party.

He added that though, Obasanjo insisted that he was done with partisan politics, the former President, however, wished the PDP the best.

On his part, former governor Gbenga Daniel, said he was part of the delegation to consult and solicit Obasanjos support ahead of his formal declaration to run for the position of the National Chairman of the PDP.

According to him, I cant make any move in that direction without the exPresidents input.

Im contesting for the PDP chairmanship position. Im consulting and Baba is one of the foundation members of the party and we cant move without him, Daniel added.

He submitted that PDP had become better, more united and being rejuvenated to make it a party to beat both in Ogun State and in Nigeria come 2019.

We have been united. You can see all of us are here. We have realised that united we stand, divided we fall, he said.
Morocco and the China Association for Industrial Cooperation (CAIC) have agreed to set up an economic zone in Fez offering a platform for various industries.

The deal is reflective of Chinas increasing interest in Morocco notably after the Kingdom signed with Chinas Haite Group an agreement to set up a $10 billion industry and technology hub in Tangier, which will create 100,000 jobs in the long run.

The deal aims at creating an economic zone that will offer a platform to attract Chinese investments in the fields of the car industry, aviation, agriculture, renewable energies and health.

Following the boost given by the visit of King Mohammed VI to Beijing in 2016, an increasing number of Chinese companies are taking advantage of the stability and location of Morocco at the crossroads between Europe and Africa in their quest to conquer European and African markets.

Morocco is also becoming the default investment destination in North Africa. Alongside traditional exports to China such as phosphates, Morocco is seeing a tidal wave of Chinese investment in a host of sectors. Between 2011 and 2015 Chinese FDI in Morocco increased 195%, with a 93% increase between 2014 and 2015 alone.

The growing interest of Chinese firms in Morocco is reflected, inter alia, in the setting up of an office of the Bank of China in Casablanca in March 2016 as part of Moroccos Casablanca Finance City initiative, as well as the announcement of Yangtse Automobile of a $100 million investment (expected to create 2,000 jobs) in Tangier to produce electric cars and buses for export to Europe.

Moroccan tourism sector and culture are also attracting the Chinese, a trend witnessed even before Rabats decision to drop visa requirements for Chinese visitors in July 2016, as the 2016 National Day Travel Prediction Report had predicted a 3500% increase in visa applications to Morocco.
Moroccan security services dismantled a terrorist cell in Fez comprising 11 members pledging allegiance to IS.

The Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) dismantled the extremely dangerous terrorist cell whose members were plotting attacks on sensitive areas in a scheme to undermine the security and stability of the Kingdom, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Local media broadcast video footage showing armed and masked members of the BCIJ surrounding a building in Fez where they arrested the cell members who were operating in different cities including Fez, Meknes, Khouribga, Casablanca, Zaouiat Sheikh, Sidi Bennour, Demnate and Sidi Hrazem, the statement said.

During the operation, security forces seized firearms (three pistols and two shotguns), a large amount of ammunition, small butane gas cylinders, tear gas bombs, a large amount of suspect liquid, chemicals that could be used in the preparation of explosives and two waistcoats, intended to be used in the manufacture of explosive belts.

Electric wires, nails and bags containing toxic pesticides, four fire extinguishers, electric and telescopic batons, telecommunications apparatus, several electrical equipment, knives of various sizes, in addition to plastic handcuffs and sums of money were also seized.

Morocco has been leading a proactive security approach aiming at averting terrorist attacks and busting terrorist cells before they move to action. The Kingdom has been spared deadly jihadist attacks since a 2011 bombing in Marrakeshs famed Jamaa El Fna Square, which killed 17 people, mainly European tourists.
Warmonger. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images

There is seemingly nothing Breitbart executive chair and GOP insurrectionist Steve Bannon enjoys more than declaring war.

Speaking at the conservative Values Voter Summit on Saturday, the ex-Trump adviser said that right now, its a season of war against the GOP establishment.

Its not my war, this is our war and yall didnt start it, the establishment started it, Bannon said, words that bring to mind a certain Billy Joel classic.

In his effort to purify the GOP and possibly guard against impeachment, Bannon has pledged to field candidates against every Republican senate incumbent in 2018 except for Ted Cruz.

We are declaring war on the Republican establishment, Bannon told Sean Hannity last weekend, putting to rest any uncertainty on the matter.

Bannons love of verbal combat, plus his habit of reading the occasional book, have lent him a reputation as the thinking mans pugilist.

Bannon does like to cite literary inspirations to explain his unconventional views. But more than that, he relishes announcing his intentions to brawl.

Now Im free, Bannon said after being booted from the White House in August. Ive got my hands back on my weapons. Someone said, its Bannon the Barbarian. I am definitely going to crush the opposition.

If theres any confusion out there, let me clear it up: Im leaving the White House and going to war for Trump against his opponents, Bannon told Bloomberg. (There had been no confusion.)

Bannon may be repetitive, but to his credit, its better to threaten a figurative war with the GOP repeatedly than to provoke an actual one with North Korea.
Sebastian Kurz. Photo: Thomas Kronsteiner/Getty Images

An anti-immigration, Euroskeptical party made significant gains in Austrias national elections on Sunday. Early results show that the Freedom Party, led by Heinz-Christian Strache, picked up about 26 percent of the vote, possibly earning it a spot in the countrys next governing coalition. Its ascension is a sign that the nationalist wave sweeping Europe over the last few years may not yet have crested.

Topping the vote in Austria was the center-right People party, headed by the slick 31-year-old Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz, who will likely now become the youngest leader in Europe. He fended off the challenge to his right by adopting many of the Freedom Partys tough platforms on immigration, like further restricting the number of people allowed into the country and cutting off the countrys generous welfare benefits to refugees. He also overhauled his stolid party with an election-branded name (the New Peoples Party) and more dynamic image.

The center-left Social Democrats were projected to come in second with about 27 percent of the vote  a disappointing result that mirrored the struggles of similar liberal-leaning parties across Europe. Kurz may yet choose to form an alliance with them, but the Freedom Party is guaranteed to have enormous influence on his decisions going forward.

It was the best result for the Freedom Party party since 2000, when it was headed by the charismatic Jorg Haider, who was known to express sympathy for Nazis. (The party was founded by former Nazis in the 1950s; Austria, unlike Germany, has never done much soul-searching about its past.) When the center-right government at the time invited Haider to join a governing coalition, which ended up lasting six years, the move sparked outrage and street protests. But with the steady rise of right-wing populists around the continent, a similar alliance is expected to create little uproar this time around. The party has attempted to scrub the anti-Semitism from its reputation, positioning itself as pro-Israel and anti-Muslim.

Austria is one of the worlds richest countries, but its economy has been sluggish in recent years. And, amid the fallout from the Syrian Civil War, it became a way station for refugees. About 90,000 have arrived in the country of 8.4 million since 2015, sparking a right-wing backlash similar to the one seen in Germany, which, as a country, has led the way in welcoming immigrants. Last year, Austria came very close to electing a Freedom Party candidate to the presidency, a largely ceremonial position. (That result was annulled because of voting irregularities, and the candidate, Norbert Hofer, lost more resoundingly in a later election.)

In the last several years, nationalist candidates and parties from Hungary to France have seized on anti-Islam sentiment, the specter of immigration, and skepticism of the European Union to make a roaring comeback in Europe. But after the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU and President Trump was elected, the tide seemed to have turned against the populists, with voters decisively rejecting right-wingers in the Netherlands and France.

But last month, Alternative for Germany, the countrys anti-immigration party, made major electoral gains, signifying that the continents revanchist forces were still a force to be reckoned with. Sundays results only confirmed that reality.
The fair Ophelias tropical-storm-strength wind forecast as of Saturday night. Photo: NHC

This years busy and bizarre hurricane season isnt done stunning scientists. The latest named storm, Ophelia, is now the sixth major hurricane to form in the Atlantic this year and the tenth consecutive named storm to reach hurricane strength this year  only the third time in recorded history and the first time in a century that has happened  tying the all-time single-year record. On top of all that, no major hurricane has ever formed as far east as Ophelia has. The storm intensified so far east, in fact, that it now threatens Europe. Ophelia reached Category 3 strength 220 miles south of the Azores on Saturday morning, and is now on track to strike Ireland beginning Monday.

Taking @splillo's earlier plot, here's #Michael's location relative to #Ophelia. Ophelia became a major hurricane >1 month later in season. pic.twitter.com/X01YRUHMcd  Philippe Papin (@pppapin) October 14, 2017

No, this is not even close to normal, as astounded meteorologists like Weather Undergrounds Bob Henson are pointing out:

To call Ophelia unusual would be an understatement. For one thing, it became a major hurricane at longitude 26.6W, further east than any other formation of a Category 3 in the Atlantic. The former record-holder was Frances (1980), which became a Category 3 at 12.8N, 29.8W. Ophelias achievement is even more impressive when you consider its latitude: 34.8N. In data going back to 1851, no other major hurricane is known to have formed anywhere close to as far northeast as Ophelia. The runner-up at Ophelias latitude range, Michael (2012), developed some 900 miles further west [(as seen above)] []

By conventional standards, one wouldnt even expect Ophelia to be a hurricane, much less a major one. Sea surface temperatures beneath Ophelia are around 25C (77F), which is roughly 1C below the traditional benchmark of SST levels warm enough to support tropical development. However, these waters are about 2C (3.6F) above average for the location and the time of year, and upper-level temperatures near the top of Ophelia are several degrees C below average.

While it wont still be a hurricane by the time it reaches the British Isles  Ophelia is forecast to have become an extratropical storm before then  it will probably still arrive as a destructive windstorm in Ireland on par with some of the most damaging in the nations history, according to Henson, with winds as high as 70 m.p.h. along the islands southwest coast. A status red alert, Irelands highest, has been issued for five counties in that region. Storm-surge flooding along the coast is possible, but the biggest threat will be from the high winds.

Atlantic has now generated 19.25 major hurricane days in 2017 - 5th most thru Oct. 14 on record - trailing 1893, 1933, 1961, 2004. #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/3ghUFbSZq7  Philip Klotzbach (@philklotzbach) October 14, 2017

There is a lot of uncertainty as to the exact evolution and movement of this weather system during the coming four days, but storm-force winds, outbreaks of heavy rain, and very high seas are threatened, according to the Irish weather service Met Eireann.

TC points stacked by intensity show max wind across Atlantic.



Another demonstration of how rare #Ophelia is.

(00z position, 100kt) pic.twitter.com/Ui7o0yFgfp  Sam Lillo (@splillo) October 15, 2017

Extratropical storms reach the British Isles several times a decade, and Ophelia may be among the most powerful ones to strike over the last 50 years. The only known storm to still be a tropical hurricane when it affected Ireland was Hurricane Debbie in 1961. When it brushed the island, wind gusts as high as 106 m.p.h. were recorded there. A plane crash caused by the storm killed 60 people in the Azores beforehand, and another 18 were killed in Ireland, where tens of thousands of trees were knocked down, many buildings were damaged or destroyed, and the overall damage, including to the islands agriculture, totaled what would be more than $300 million in todays dollars.

Ophelias cone of uncertainty as of Saturday night. Photo: NHC

Ophelia is expected to affect the U.K., and could have an impact on Portugal, Spain, and France as well. One disaster modeler told Bloomberg that the storm could potentially cause even more damage than Debbie did. But Ophelia might also do some good, in the form of a big boost in megawatts generated by the U.K.s wind-power infrastructure. According to Bloomberg, remnants of Hurricanes Irma and Maria already led to record wind-energy generation in the country, and the storms didnt come close to actually striking Europe.

Whatever happens, the fast-moving storm is currently expected to dissipate around Wednesday somewhere north of Scandinavia.
President Yoweri Museveni has criticized public servants who frustrate foreign investors, warning that their days of corruption are numbered.

While speaking at the official launch of Pearl of Africa hotel, owned by Aya Brothers Group, President Museveni noted that Ugandas private sector still lags behind due to the red tape brought on by rigid public servants, who risk being fired for corrupt tendencies.

The hotel is partly managed by Mohammed Hamid, a businessman who accused Herbert Kabafunzaki, the former minister of state for Labour, of soliciting a bribe to cover up a case.

Museveni said that without a vibrant private sector, the economy cannot support its citizens.

Many of the rich countries in the world are rich because they [countries] have got a strong private sector but here in Africa, including Uganda, they have been looking at the private sector as if the government is doing them a favour. That is why you find all those illiterate people in the offices sitting in swinging chairs and wasting time of businesspeople. But I have sworn to make those public servants endangered species, he said.

With tourism among Ugandas top exports, Museveni emphasized that with more investment in the hotel and service sudsectors, Uganda would be able to lure more tourists into the country.

He revealed that government wants to attract at least five million tourists every year from the current 1.5 million.

We are handling a number of issues, including facilities for tourists. Tourism is an export bigger than coffeeThe other day we had a big club of tour operators and conservationists and the experts stated that they need more demand. We now need to build a big conference center which can sit 5,000 people. I am working with some people to build it somewhere near the new road going to Munyonyo, he added.

The Pearl of Africa hotel has 253 rooms and employs 2,000 Ugandans. Hamid Mohammed, also the chairman of Aya Group of companies, thanked government for supporting the private sector, revealing that the new hotel has created employment for 2,000 Ugandans.

The company is also planning to open up an industrial park in Soroti district, which is forecast to create a minimum of 500,000 jobs for Ugandans.

We also plan to create more jobs for Ugandans in the near future through the industrial park. We are working very hard to make sure we bring more investors to invest a minimum of $4 million, Hamid revealed.

Trade and Industry Minister Amelia Kyambadde said the hotel industry has grown by 6.5 per cent and currently one of the biggest constributors to the countrys Gross Domestic Product.

With a national policy on services trade in place, Kyambadde encouraged more Ugandans to invest in the sector, noting that it now employs 450,000 people directly.



eyotaru@gmail.com
Bank of Uganda has frozen all the bank accounts belonging to Action Aid Uganda, a Non-Governmental Organisation operating in the country, following a police investigation of alleged money laundering.



All the five accounts including their Ugandan shillings account, US dollar, pounds sterling and two Euro accounts held in Standard Chartered bank.



In a letter dated October 3, to the managing director of Standard Chartered bank, Louis Kasakende, also deputy governor Bank of Uganda explained that the Criminal Investigation Directorate (CID) of the police is investigating Action Aid International Uganda for alleged conspiracy to commit a felony and money laundering.

Action Aidoffices

Kasakende listed five bank accounts belonging to the NGO held at Standard Chartered which police CID is investigating.



Pursuant, to section 110 of the Financial Institutions Act, 2004, Kasakende directed the bank to freeze all the listed accounts.

"The accounts in question shall remained frozen until otherwise advised by Bank of Uganda," reads part of the letter.



Arthur Larok, the country director Action Aid Uganda, has confirmed that all their accounts have been frozen. He described the act as unfortunate and erroneous.



He asked the public to treat the allegations against ActionAid with the contempt they deserve.

"Anyone with the slightest of understanding and knowledge about ActionAid's work would know that the reality cannot be any farther from the truth." He added: "We shall push back, together with our numerous partners the sad trend in our country that the allegations against ActionAid symptomise."



Last month on September 21, police raided ActionAid Uganda offices in Kampala, where they conducted a cordon and search operation. Police accessed and searched computer accessories, mobile handsets, money transfer related documents and bank related transaction documents where they carried some.



A similar operation was conducted on Great Lakes Initiative for Strategic Studies (GLISS). The police raids came at the height of protests against plans by the ruling NRM party to repeal Article 102(b) of the constitution that put a cap of 75 years on the presidential age.



Police accused the organisations of funding illegal activities with the aim of destabilising government.
LONDON  There is a muse of the soul.

It is a primal call to the artist that, when answered, ignites a heated and inventive circuit through arms, legs and heart. It sets fire to the painters brush in heavy, bold strokes, as burnt umber and raw sienna oils trail over heavily stained unbleached muslin. It inspires a composers nubile notes over 88 keys and it whets the writers pen, giving it license to journey into the depths of the heart, the core of the earth and the center of the story.

Only do it if you have to do it. If your life depends on telling a story, said screenwriter and playwright Craig Pearce, from his London apartment on Wednesday. You have to drill down and get to the essence of your story.

Australian-born Pearce, who co-wrote Moulin Rouge! Strictly Ballroom, The Great Gatsby, Romeo + Juliet and just wrapped up filming for a 10-episode series on TNT, Will, is traveling from London to Glens Falls for the Adirondack Film Festival later this week to participate in the Screenwriters Panel on Saturday.

I always heard of the beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and thought what a great opportunity to see that part of the world. Will was intense and we just finished the final episode two months ago, he said. The festival looks really interesting  and attendees are lovers of film. Its really important to foster that passion and love of the arts. Its all storytelling; we are communicating about the human spirit.

It was his mothers love of Shakespeare that inspired Pearces ongoing connection to the literary master, and several of his own works  Romeo + Juliet and Will  explore Shakespeares connection to the present.

On Wednesday, Pearce recounted a childhood story.

One of my earliest memories is in the kitchen with my mum. She was washing up, I was drying, and there was this big black book, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, open on the cutlery drawer, he said. I was helping her learn her lines for Romeo and Juliet. 

And hes been drawn to the work of the bard ever since.

He is the most famous person we know so little about, Pearce said. Perhaps he was a divided soul hiding in plain sight  did he put his beliefs in his work? Was it a way of expressing what he really felt?

It is rumored that Jane Austens unrequited love for Tom Lefroy sprouted the love story in Pride and Prejudice; and Amadeo Modiglianis profound love for Jeanne Hebuterne inspired his rare and obscure canvases.

Was it that same invisible force that drove a young Shakespeare to leave his family and children behind for Londons controversial and gritty theater scene? Did that impassioned muse lead him to write his sonnets to a Dark Lady?

And then what is it that propels writers like Pearce to keep writing, to keep taking chances on the page?

If you want to really be a writer, he said, be prepared for a long journey.

Partnership of Pearce and Luhrmann

One might wonder if Pearces childhood friend, longtime collaborator and lauded director Baz Luhrmann, is perhaps part of the reason he is inspired to continue.

We met in high school, it was more of a sporty high school with rugby, he said. I was always interested in storytelling. Id secretly dreamed of being a writer, but as I got older, acting took over.

He continued.

In grade 11, I was cast as Nathan Detroit in the end-of-year musical Guys and Dolls. Playing opposite me, as Sky Masterson, was this new guy, Baz, Pearce said. Hed only recently arrived at the school and was different from anyone Id ever met. He had this amazing imagination and was very, very funny. He was also incredibly serious about acting, theater, film and art.

The two became friends.

We were walking down the street to my house and Baz said, I was born on this street. And then he said, I think I lived two doors down,  Pearce said, adding that he did recall a group of boys who lived nearby who used to chase him.

Bazs dad was an amateur photographer and we were watching these slides of a birthday party with ice cream cake, Pearce explained. And (this slide came up), there was my 4-year-old face ... so really Ive known him since I was 4.

The two went on to drama school at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and both started acting professionally.

It didnt take long for Luhrmann to start a theater company and Pearce joined his friend in the endeavor. Together they developed the musical stage play Strictly Ballroom, and two years later co-wrote the film.

Strictly Ballroom hit theaters in 1992 and went on to win a long list of film awards. Currently, Pearce and Luhrmann are bringing the legendary, almost cult story, back to the stage.

We are casting in London at the moment. It will be in the West End at The Piccadilly Theatre, he said. Rehearsals will start early in the new year. Well start previewing in March and the first night opening will be in early April.

The Bard, the muse and Craig Pearce

When Pearce creates a story, it often starts with research.

Before writing Will, I did a huge amount of research, he said. The theater back then was very modern and everyone went in huge numbers, about 2,000 with an open roof. If they didnt like the show, they might burn the theater down.

With his stories, Pearce tries to change preconceived assumptions about history, by drawing parallels to modern culture. The more he can drill down the superficial, the more he gets the story to a place that audiences can relate to.

If you have William Shakespeare walking around in tights smelling a flower in a bunch of trees, he said, adding that the image is not relatable. Who are they as human beings? William Shakespeare is often viewed as a balding middle-aged genius.

He continued.

That couldnt have been true, he had to have struggled. He was a young man with three children ... he left his wife to go to the big city to try and make it.

In Romeo + Juliet, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, Pearce sets the scene in Verona Beach (Shakespeares version is set in Verona) with modern themes and music. And with his most recent creation, Will, Pearce takes audiences deep into the possibilities of William Shakespeares life 400 years ago by comparing then and now.

He said the theater back then reminded him of the punk rock scene of the 1970s and 1980s and so that theme runs through Will. In the opening episode, Shakespeare and theatrical counterparts go to a punk rock party.

Shakespeares plays were written 400 years ago. When the barriers are stripped away ... it can be similar to our time, he said.

Pearce on writing

As part of the film festival screenwriters panel on Saturday, Pearce and four other screenwriters will talk about their craft and art.

Pearce offers his thoughts on writing:

Dialogue is incredibly important, but all writers tend to overwrite dialogue, he said. If this were a silent film, how would you show the story? With dialogue, try and hear these voices. Would a person like that actually say that?

He suggests finding films you love and re-watching them to break the stories down.

Who are the characters and what did each character want? Do they get what they want and how does that move the story forward? he said. Then go back to your own story and ask the same questions. Make your lead character want something.

To hear more from Pearce about writing, plan on attending Saturdays screenwriters panel at The Queensbury Hotel.

Whats on tap for Pearce after the film fest?
GLENS FALLS  In the past five months, four local women and a young girl have been killed in their own homes, allegedly by a partner, friend or family member.

And on Saturday, more than 30 women and a handful of men gathered at Bev Saunders Fine Art Gallery in the Shirt Factory on Lawrence Street to talk about and support community efforts aimed at changing perceptions about violence against women.

For the size of Glens Falls, the number is high, said Lorraine Abess, vice president of the Zonta Club of Glens Falls. The incidence of gender-based violence against women and girls is rising. We need to get men involved to help change the conversation.

According to the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, intimate partner killings in 2016 increased 22 percent  64 to 78  from the previous year and 48 percent of 2016 female homicides were by an intimate partner, as compared to four percent of males.

This is the tenth year that Saunders has been holding such an event during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and donating the proceeds of art sales and donations to the Glens Falls Catholic Charities Domestic Violence Project.

Saunders efforts to shed light on issues of violence against women and to reach out to those who may be suffering in silence got an additional boost when Abess and the Glens Falls Zonta Club stepped in this year to support her decades-long initiative.

What I like about this exhibit is that is breaks through some of the shame women feel. It breaks through that self-talk  What did I do wrong? Why did he hit me?  that we are taught as young girls, Abess said. The climate is changing and womens rights are being challenged. The conversation needs to occur at the family level  theres no joking about this; it needs to be addressed.

A service organization dedicated to empowering women through service and advocacy, Zonta, has taken on the task of bringing awareness to the issue of violence against women through an ongoing international campaign.

Zonta is saying, no, to domestic violence. And I have known Bev for a long time, said Abess, adding that this month-long exhibition at the Saunders Gallery is a pre-cursor to Zontas 16-days of activism in November. We see our job as bringing awareness of violence against women to the community.

As visitors enter the gallery and observe the power of an exhibition of art pieces and sculptures created by Saunders dear friend, Pam Brown Barker, who succumbed to cancer last year, Saunders nods her head and offers kind, gentle support. You never know what might reach someone, said Saunders referring to women who might be living in a violent situation or know someone who is. For me, it is about connecting with the people who are in it, perhaps suffering behind closed doors.

Sometimes she smiled. Sometimes she showed attendees around the gallery. And sometimes she was silent, allowing visitors to find their way through the gripping pieces in their own way.

Throughout it all, Saunders was and is a powerful and gentle presence, rarely revealing her own tragic loss.

In November 2008, Saunders daughter, Kimberly Ann Long, 31, was killed in Nevada by Longs boyfriends father, Edward Preciado-Nuno. She had just returned home from work and was ambushed by Preciado-Nuno while she was carrying a bag of groceries into the house for her children, who were sleeping inside.

Being able to celebrate Kimmies life at this point is really important, Saunders said in an interview last year, shortly after the October exhibition at her gallery. Here is this woman, a mom who worked, who loved her children. She thought she had found love and then something went very bad. She didnt have a chance to get out of a bad situation and move forward in life. She didnt get a chance to grow into maturity, and thats unfair. She deserved a chance to have her life and be the great woman, mother, sister, friend she aspired to be.

Locally, on May 3, Sherry Norton, 52, was killed by a hatchet in her Hadley home. Her husband Michael C. Norton 58, recently pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

In July, Kevin L. Gonyea, 50, was charged with second-degree murder in the choking death of his 95-year-old grandmother, Leona Twiss, in her Fort Ann home.

In August, a young mother, Crystal Riley, 33, and her 4-year-old daughter, Lilly Frasier, were stabbed to death in their South Glens Falls home. Bryan M. Redden, 21, an acquaintance of Riley, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder related to their deaths.

In September, Derrick M. Guilder, 22, allegedly left his girlfriend Ashley E. Cotrain, 18, behind as he escaped the blaze he allegedly set. Cotrain succumbed to smoke and heat inhalation and Guilder was charged with second-degree murder and first-degree arson related to her death.

To help raise funds for the Domestic Violence Project, Abess, Saunders and several other artists hand-strung 40 beaded bracelets that are being sold for $10 at the Saunders Gallery; all proceeds will go to the Domestic Violence Project.

According to Saunders, the women donated the beads and their time, and made the bracelets together. There is a lot of power in women working together, said Abess. They are all different. All have a charm with the domestic violence awareness charm on it; it is a way for people to make a statement this month and advocate for women.

The exhibition runs through the end of the month at the Saunders Gallery.
Howard Unruh walked into a small shoe repair shop in Camden, N.J., pointed his German Luger pistol into the stomach of the owner and pulled the trigger.

He then walked across the street to the clothing store where he murdered the 28-year-old wife of the tailor. The couple had been married a month.

Unruh, a 28-year-old World War II veteran, believed several of the local shop owners had slighted him, and were talking about him behind his back.

From the clothing store, he walked into the neighborhood barber shop where he shot a 6-year-old boy having his hair cut while his mother looked on. He then killed the barber.

Back in the street, he looked up to see a 2-year-old in an apartment window. He shot and killed him, too.

Seconds later, Unruh walked up to the car window of a television repairman and shot and killed him in his car.

Walking out of the drug store, an insurance salesman came face-to-face with Unruh and when he didnt get out of the way fast enough, Unruh fired two shots into him.

Entering the drug store, he put one bullet into the back of the fleeing druggist, fired another shot into the closet where the druggists wife was hiding, and as the druggists mother tried to call the police, Unruh put two more bullets into her.

He reloaded his Luger and went back into the street where he shot into a random vehicle, killing two more women.

It took Howard Unruh 20 minutes to kill 12 and wound four more. One of those wounded would eventually die as well.

This happened in 1949.

Some consider it the first real mass killing in the United States.

Like the multitude of mass shootings since, it made no sense.

After a standoff, local police took Unruh into custody alive. He spent the rest of his life in prison and died in 2009 at the age of 88.

Many of us would consider the mayhem inflicted by Unruh that September morning to be quaint by modern comparisons.

When I stumbled upon the story among a collection of great newspaper stories, I hardly reacted at all to the death toll.

Not after 58 were slaughtered in Las Vegas.

It was the details that were shocking, especially the murder of innocent children and the randomness of the acts. But weve seen that many times since as well.

Perhaps, the only difference between Unruhs carnage in New Jersey nearly seven decades ago and what we see regularly today is the efficiency.

What if Unruh had an automatic weapon that morning in 1949 instead of a Luger? What if he sprayed the storefronts of his bustling Camden, N.J. neighborhood with high caliber ammunition?

What if he had other weapons?

Would 20 have died?

Thirty?

Maybe it would have been as high as 50 or more.

There is no way to prevent these senseless killings at the hands of madmen.

There is no way to identify when someone might snap or act out uncontrollable rage.

Thank goodness, Unruh did not have access to an automatic weapon. That is not the case today.

Sadly, thats where we are with the gun debate.

While we can never prevent the act, we could reduce the casualties by limiting access to the firepower.

The 1949 story by Meyer Berger of the New York Times ends with the writer quoting neighbors as saying, We cant understand it. Just dont get it.

That hasnt changed 70 years later.

What has changed is the increasing number of victims.
On Iowa Politics is a weekly news and analysis podcast which re-creates the conversations that happen when Iowa's political reporters get together after deadlines have been met. This week's show features James Lynch, Ed Tibbetts, and Todd Dorman. This week's show was produced by Max Freund and the music heard in the podcast is courtesy of Steven Kristopher. Chat with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter @OnIowaPolitics, and subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher. Know an Iowa musician who should be on our show? Send their band sound files to oniowapolitics@gmail.com
Davenport police have released the name of the robbery victim who was beaten by two teens whom authorities say were trying to steal the man's bicycle.

Two 13-year-old Davenport boys have been charged in connection with the Oct. 12 beating and robbery of Lester Norton, 47. The beating left Norton on life support, police said.

Doryan Phynell Jackson, of 1417 Warren St., and Christopher M. Shadrick, of 710 E. 10th St., Apt. 1, each are charged with one count of first-degree robbery and willful injury causing serious injury.

Both of the charges are forcible felonies under Iowa law. The names of juveniles aged 10 or older who commit forcible felonies are public record under Iowa law.

The two teens are being held the Scott County Juvenile Detention Center, Davenport.

First-degree robbery carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years, 70 percent of which, or 17  years, must be served before parole can be granted.

Willful injury is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Charges will be upgraded if Norton dies, police said.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport Police Detective Maureen Hammes, at about 11 p.m. on Thursday, Norton was walking with his bicycle on the Davenport bike path, the Duck Creek Trail Parkway, near Hickory Grove Road and Hillandale Road.

Jackson and Shadrick knocked the victim over and attempted to steal his bike, according to the affidavits.

When Norton attempted to stand up, the teens began hitting and kicking him. Jackson and Shadrick then stole the mans cell phone and sweatshirt, according to the affidavits.

Norton was taken to Genesis Medical Center-East Rusholme Street, Davenport. Davenport police were called to the hospital at 11:30 p.m. and alerted to the assault.

According to the arrest affidavits, The victim sustained life-threatening injuries which required him to be intubated and undergo brain surgery. The victim is currently on life support.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-6125 or submit an anonymous tip to the citys mobile app, CityConnect Davenport, IA or CrimeReports by Motorola.
August 10, 1920 - October 11, 2017

DAVENPORT - Carma Margaret Drechsler, 97, of Davenport, passed away Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at Ridgecrest Village Crest Health Care, Davenport. She was being cared for by the loving staff of Crest and Genesis Hospice. Memorial services in celebration of her life will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, October 16, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 2136 Brady St., Davenport, where her family will greet friends from noon until time of service. Inurnment will be in Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church, Camp Shalom or Lutheran World Relief. Weerts Funeral Home, Davenport, is assisting her family with arrangements.

Carma was born on August 10, 1920, in Davenport. She was the youngest of three children born to Otto Gruenau and Rosette (Thomsen) Gruenau. She attended Grant Elementary, Sudlow Junior High and Davenport High School, graduating in 1938. Carma met her future husband Jo S. Drechsler in Chemistry class at Davenport High.

After high school, Carma attended Augustana College and St. Lukes School of Nursing. She then worked at the Davenport Public Library. She continued to see Jo during this time, and on March 14, 1941, they were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Their first son, Jo Jr., was born in November of that year and son Lawrence was born 14 months later in 1943. While Jo was serving in the United States Army Occupation Forces in Germany and Austria from June of 1944 to September of 1946, Carma was home raising two small boys. Carma and Jo wrote many love letters and sent many photos to each other during this time, Carma even sending lipstick kisses on tissue paper to her Jo. After Jos return home, more children were added to the family, Celia in 1948, Carol in 1957 and Christopher in 1960.

Carma was a loving mother and very skilled in running her household. She was a wonderful cook, and especially liked to bake pies, coffee cakes, breads and Christmas cookies. Many friends and teachers over the years were recipients of her baked goodies.

Carma was also a skilled seamstress, making many of the clothes she and her family wore. She made several quilts over her lifetime, and she and Jo continued piecing quilts for St. Paul Lutheran Church until they were well into their 80s. Carma also enjoyed knitting and made numerous sweaters, scarves and hats for Lutheran World Relief and other organizations.

Carma was always involved with her childrens activities, as a Cub Scout den mother, Girl Scout leader and Sunday school teacher. She was involved with the Garfield Elementary School PTA for more than 20 years. She and Jo were avid tent campers, and took their family on camping trips from Maine to New Mexico.

After her children left the nest, Carma became even more involved with activities at St. Paul. She was active in the womens group WELCA, the King's Daughters, her Myr Lin-Ann Circle, Stephens Ministry and the St. Paul prayer chain.

Carma and Jo were among the founders of Camp Shalom, an originally Lutheran multi-denominational church camp located near Maquoketa, Iowa. They helped build cabins, lay trails, plant trees, and cooked in the kitchen for many years. She faithfully attended church and read her Bible. Her life was a testament to her deep faith, trust and love for her Lord.

After her husband retired, Carma and Jo took many wonderful vacations - to China, Russia, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, France, Copenhagen, Canada and Alaska, plus many trips to visit family all across the United States.

Carma was preceded in death by her sister, Eleanor; brother, Curtis; son, Jo; daughter, Celia; and grandson, Jo R.

Carma is survived by her husband of 76 years, Jo, of Crest Health Center in Davenport; son, Lawrence of Culpeper, Virginia; daughter, Carol (Loren) Conrad of Albion, Iowa; son, Christopher (Natacha) of St. Paul, Minnesota; grandchildren, Jane (Jay) Jessen, Andrew Chace, Emily (David) Smesrud, Erin (Kirk) Conrad-Schwarte, Kristin Conrad and Joel Conrad, great-grandchildren, Jakob and James Jessen, Elenora and William Smesrud; as well as several nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Online condolences may be expressed to the Drechsler family by visiting Carmas obituary at www.WeertsFH.com
Butting up to Camden Park in Milan is a wooded area that in the late 1800s was the farm of Henry Bastian. Young men who were hired by Bastian as farm hands worked for awhile, then mysteriously disappeared. In time, authorities determined that Bastian had murdered three of the men, burying two of their bodies on the farm, and may have killed five more.

And Bastian might have gotten away with more crimes except that one of the men  a German immigrant named Frederick Kushmann  had relatives in the area who began asking questions. They did not feel their loved one died in a fall from his horse, as Bastian claimed. As the questions got more intense, Bastian committed suicide.

This account of a long-ago serial killer in the Quad-Cities is one of 16 stories of unusual deaths, hauntings and spirits in a new walking tour titled "The Darker Side of Davenport" that is drawing unprecedented crowds to the German American Heritage Center.

"It's a dark story that you almost cannot believe happened this close to here," said Kyle Dickson, the center's assistant director who came up with the tour idea.

Well that's for sure. I've heard a few ghost stories about the Quad-Cities, but I wasn't familiar with this one.

If it weren't for the fact that center director Kelly Lao found this story on the blog written by the Davenport Public Library's Richardson-Sloane Special Collections department, quoting newspaper articles by date, I might not believe it.

The Bastian story bears an eerie resemblance to the serial killings of a pharmacist told in the bestselling "Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson, a creepy book if there ever was one. The pharmacist hired young women with few strong family connections and eventually killed them.

"Oh exactly," Lao said of the similarity.

Most of the research for the tour was done by a summer intern, consulting the library blog, newspaper archives, the histories of Scott County written by Harry Downer and authors of books about the paranormal. Lao and Dickson contributed, too.

The connection between this creepy, darker side and the German heritage story is that many of the stories involve people of German descent, or occurred in areas of Davenport where German influence was strong. Standing in front of Davenport City Hall, for example, tour leaders can talk about the influence Germans had on government.

But it's probably the creepiness that is drawing the crowds.

The first tour was Saturday, Oct. 7, and, at the starting time of 10:30 a.m., in the almost-pouring rain, there was a crowd of 70.

"I was ready for five or 10," Lao said. "But more and more people kept coming. Kyle drove in from Galesburg to help. We split the people into two groups."

She offered vouchers to people who might want to leave and come back when it wasn't raining, "but no one left," she said.

The crowd included four "regulars," plus members of the Rock Island Paranormal Society, children between the ages of about 9 to 13 with their parents, and, as Lao said, "a bunch of new faces."

"There were 20somethings," she said. "I don't usually see them down here. And then people of all ages  30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s."

Because of the popularity, another tour was added for Friday. The final two tours are at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, Oct. 21 and 28.

Paranormal society members told Lao that they had never heard the Milan serial killer story, but that it might explain why they occasionally get calls of lights and sightings near Camden Park, Lao said.

Camden Park is located at the corner of the Milan Beltway and U.S. 67.
In the midst of a governing crisis, House Speaker Paul Ryan has once again risen to his role as the voice of bland complacency. Concerning the open warfare between President Trump and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., Ryan advises "these two gentlemen to sit down and just talk through their issues."

But what are Corker's "issues"? He has asserted that Trump requires constant handling to control his volatility: "I know for a fact that every single day at the White House, it's a situation of trying to contain him." Corker has accused Trump of lacking strategic thinking: "A lot of people think that there is some kind of 'good cop, bad cop' act underway, but that's just not true." Corker has called out Trump's routine deceptions: "I don't know why the president tweets out things that are not true." Corker has talked of Trump's vacuity: He acts "like he's doing 'The Apprentice' or something." Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has expressed the fear that Trump's instability could lead to conflict: "We could be headed toward World War III with the kind of comments that he's making."

So how does Ryan imagine that a Corker/Trump conversation might unfold? Over dinner, Corker accuses the president of being a chaotic, directionless, shallow liar who could start a nuclear war. Trump passes the peas and attacks Corker for being short. This is, after all, the way gentlemen resolve their differences.

GOP denial about Trump has generally taken Ryan's form. The president may be eccentric and divisive, but Republicans need to keep their heads down and think of tax reform. This assumes that the main challenge is to avoid distraction from essential tasks.

But the real problem has always been Trump's fundamental unfitness for high office. It is not Trump's indiscipline and lack of leadership, which make carrying a legislative agenda forward nearly impossible. It is not his vulgarity and smallness, which have been the equivalent of spray painting graffiti on the Washington Monument. It is not his nearly complete ignorance of policy and history, which condemns him to live in the eternal present of his own immediate desires.

No, Corker has given public permission to raise the most serious questions: Is Trump psychologically and morally equipped to be president? And could his unfitness cause permanent damage to the country?

It is no longer possible to safely ignore the leaked cries for help coming from within the administration. They reveal a president raging against enemies, obsessed by slights, deeply uninformed and incurious, unable to focus, and subject to destructive whims. A main task of the chief of staff seems to be to shield him from dinner guests and telephone calls that might set him off on a foolish or dangerous tangent. Much of the White House senior staff seems bound, not by loyalty to the president, but by a duty to protect the nation from the president. Trump, in turn, is reported to have said: "I hate everyone in the White House." And also, presumably, at the State Department, headed by a secretary of state who apparently regards his boss as a "moron."

It was once urged, "Let Reagan be Reagan." Who, besides the oleaginous Sean Hannity, would say, "Let Trump be Trump"? The security of our country -- and potentially the lives of millions of people abroad -- depends on Trump being someone else entirely. It depends on the president being some wise, strategic, restrained leader he has never been.

The time for whispered criticisms and quiet snickering is over. The time for panic and decision is upon us. The thin line of sane, responsible advisers at the White House -- such as chief of staff John Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson -- could break at any moment. Already, Trump's protests of eternal love for Kelly are a bad sign for the general's future. The American government now has a dangerous fragility at its very center. Its welfare is as thin as an eggshell -- perhaps as thin as Donald Trump's skin.

Any elected Republican who shares Corker's concerns has a political and moral duty to state them in public. If Corker is correct, many of his colleagues do have such fears. Their silence is deafening and damning.

"Brave men are all vertebrates," said G.K. Chesterton. "They have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle. But these modern cowards are all crustaceans; their hardness is all on the cover, and their softness is inside."

More than anything else at this moment, the nation has need of Republican vertebrates.
I do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Iowa, and that I will faithfully and impartially, to the best of my ability, discharge all the duties of the office in Iowa Legislature.

- Iowa's oath of office

Iowa lawmakers knew they were flogging their oath of office in 2012, when they criminalized filming on farms. Then-Gov. Terry Branstad was fully aware that he was probably stomping on the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when he signed the colloquially named "Ag Gag" into law.

None of that mattered, though. Serving special interests -- in this case, industrial farms -- trumped basic respect for constitutional principles. And, now, that disdain for free speech could be exposed for the rank patronage it was.

Animal rights and free speech activists this past week filed suit in federal court challenging the 2012 law that criminalized filming mistreatment of livestock on factory farms. The law went so far as to require local courts to read employees' minds. It's now a misdemeanor to seek employment on a farm "under false pretenses." That, of course, assumes a would-be filmmaker sought the job expressly to out animal abuse. That's definitely true in some cases. It's also entirely possible that a new employee could be downright horrified by he or she saw and decided to speak out.

Either way, it doesn't much matter. Neither instance negates the First Amendment.

Since its inception, this absurd handout to special interests touts a dismal record in the courts. Just this year, federal courts in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming have ruled AG Gags in those states violate First Amendment rights. In Utah, Judge Robert Shelby called bull on the state's claim that its Ag Gag was about protecting animal welfare. One Utah legislators made Shelby's job easy, proudly expressing on the chamber floor that the bill's true purpose was to target "vegetarian people that [are] trying to kill the animal industry." In Wyoming, 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower courts ruling and, last month, declared Ag Gag an affront to the First Amendment. The simple act of trespassing, itself a violation, does not nullify one's right to free speech and expression, the appellate panel concluded.

Ag Gag has always been an attempt to cover for bad actors in industrial farming. It's rise in states throughout the country was a direct result of prosecutions for animal abuse that only happened because animal rights groups did, indeed, plant people in order to gain evidence. In many cases, they found it.

Lawmakers admitted as much in 2012 when they debated Ag Gag. They acknowledged that the law was probably unconstitutional. And still, they pounded through a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution. Let the courts figure it out, they said.

Such an approach was a shameful, cowardly shirking of duty from lawmakers more interested in covering for special interests than the republic's founding principles.

Iowa's Ag Gag doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's but an example of the willingness of state lawmakers to attack the rights of those with whom they disagree. Such thinking is not only incredibly dangerous. It displays nothing short of utter contempt for the very concept of universal rights. Take, for instance, state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann's ridiculous attempt to criminalize political protest, dubbed the "Suck it up, buttercup" bill. Kaufmann's total lack of respect for dissenting views have no place in a free and open society. Kaufmann, a Republican, was more interested in scoring points with his base -- guilty of the same emotional and intellectual weakness as the "buttercups" he so despises -- than upholding his duty.

One mustn't agree with someone to staunchly defend his or her rights. In fact, that concept is the very legs on which U.S. governance stands.

But, in 2012, lawmakers in Iowa opted to service their paymasters. And they were willing to reject their oaths to do it.
There has been interest in Puerto Rico recently so this is a good time to provide additional information. I have a Puerto Rican wife, studied at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras and have kept in touch through visits, letters and calls, and available news.

What we read, hear and see on American media frequently is erroneous. Puerto Rico is not an American territory; its an American Commonwealth, stated in its Constitution and approved by our federal government. Puerto Ricans do not immigrate to other states; they are native-born Americans and move here as citizens in any state do. If Iowans wish to go there and establish residence they legally become Puerto Ricans, just as Puerto Ricans moving to Iowa become Iowans.

It has had major problems recently, but most of the island has remained a beautiful place to live or visit, until Hurricane Maria destroyed so much. My wife and I find tears fill our eyes when we think of the things we enjoyed there that no longer exist and wonder what has happened to our friends.

Some good may come of this if an adequate effort is made to plan for a better tomorrow, combining technological skills with the knowledge of the culture that Puerto Rican leaders possess. Once necessities have been restored, it is they who must replace its paintings and sculptures, authors works, music, poetry, and traditions dating back to Columbus. They must restore the Puerto Rican soul, but we fellow Americans, must help.

Donald C. Hawley

Eldridge
MORAN, Texas | In this tiny West Texas town, Jeremiah Cottle was trying to take comfort in the support he has gotten from neighbors.

But elsewhere, there was little comfort. Cottle and the company he owns, Slide Fire Solutions, have come under heavy criticism for selling a rifle attachment that few outside of gun enthusiast circles had ever heard of until recently.

But since a gunman killed 58 people attending a country music concert earlier this month in Las Vegas, a flood of attention has turned to Cottle's little-known device, called a "bump stock" or "bump fire stock," which may have enabled Stephen Paddock to turn semiautomatic, one-shot-per-trigger-pull rifles into ones able to fire much like machine guns.

Online commenters have called his invention "irresponsible" and said he has blood on his hands. Retailers have rushed to pull the items from shelves and websites. Members of Congress have called for the bump stock to be banned. And in a surprise announcement, even the National Rifle Association said it would not oppose regulation of the device.

Unshaven and red-eyed, Cottle, 40, declined to talk about the shooting or the blowback against the company he founded in 2010.

All of the attention clearly has taken him by surprise.

"I'm a hunting and fishing kind of person," he said, standing in front of his business that is housed in a corrugated metal building at the end of a gravel driveway.

At the last census, Moran had a population of 270. Since the tragedy, the tight-knit community has rallied around Cottle.

He said he was heartened by his neighbors' response, adding that "we've lived here since the 1880s."

"We've always been about community. Everybody is," Cottle said. "That's the way we live out here."

If his business had to close, Cottle said, "it would hurt the whole town, the school. We pay a very large amount of property taxes.

"I'm one of the largest businesses in Shackelford County."

And one of the largest employers. At one time, Slide Fire Solutions employed 27 people, the equivalent of a tenth of the town's population.

Simple idea

The idea behind the "bump stock" is incredibly simple.

It essentially uses the force of the gun's recoil after a shot is fired to bump the trigger against the shooter's finger again and again almost instantly as the rifle slides back and forth within the stock. As a result, the shooter can fire almost continuously.

According to a 2011 article in The Albany News, Cottle spent $120,000 of his life savings developing the idea and getting a patent for it. It was an immediate hit.

"We were expecting to sell 500 to 1,000 units the first year, but we sold that many in the first week," the article quoted Cottle as saying.

Slide Fire sent a letter to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in 2010, apparently to ask if any regulations prohibited its use. The sale of automatic weapons to civilians has been banned since 1986, though weapons manufactured before then can still be owned.

The company received a letter from the ATF, which it had posted on its website, saying that because the "bump stock" was not a firearm, it would not be regulated.

It was not known where the Las Vegas gunman bought the bump stocks that federal officials say he used to accelerate the fire during his massacre.

Authorities found 19 guns in Paddock's home and 23 in the room he used as a sniper's nest at the Mandalay Bay hotel. Police said 12 of those weapons were outfitted with bump stocks.

Pressure mounts

Though bills to curb guns, ammunition and related devices have been nonstarters in Washington for several years, last week, members of Congress seem to be coalescing around the idea of at least holding hearings on the use of bump stocks.

Some lawmakers from Texas have said they favor legislation to ban the device.

Meanwhile, consumers were rushing to gun stores last week to try to buy the devices in advance of anticipated regulation.

But Cabela's and Wal-Mart pulled the items from their websites last week. Wal-Mart said in a statement that they had been listed by mistake.

"These items, which were sold by third-party sellers on our online marketplace, violate our prohibited items policy and never should have been sold on our site. They were immediately removed," the statement said.

A representative of Amazon told The New York Times that its policies did not allow the sale of bump stocks.

While there are other manufacturers of the device, Slide Fire has drawn the most attention online. Its Facebook page has become a venue for pro- and anti-gun-control forces to clash.

As of last week, the company had not issued any statement about the shooting on its website. It did have a note saying that it was struggling to keep up with demand for the devices.

"We have decided to temporarily suspend taking new orders in order to provide the best service with those already placed," the statement said.

Key business

In the town that is now infamous as the birthplace of the bump stock, nearly everyone knows someone who works at Slide Fire.

Sisters Patricia and Crystal Ward have cousins who work there. They said the business provides jobs in a town that offers few others.

There's the liquor store, the bank and Cyrilla's Eatery, which serves up meatloaf and "taters" for lunch and town chatter for breakfast. Most businesses close long before sundown.

"Everybody I ever talked to loves working there," said Joey Scott, who rolled down Fisher Avenue in low-slung Slingshot, a three-wheeled car-motorcycle hybrid.

The 63-year-old was raised in nearby Albany and moved back to just outside Moran in 2010 after spending 26 years in North Texas.

Scott, who remembers riding in his pickup as a teen with loaded rifles in the back, doesn't think much of the notion of banning Cottle's product.

"I don't think it's going to solve a single problem one," he said, gesturing for emphasis. "All it's going to do is put some good people out of work."

"This whole thing is a sad situation, and I sure feel for" the victims and their families, he said. "I just don't think you can blame it on the gun.

"You've got crazy people in the world. They're going to get those guns, legally or you can get 'em on the black market."

Shackelford County Commissioner Lanham Martin took a break from road repair duties last week to speak up on behalf of Slide Fire Solutions.

Martin has known Cottle and his family for years. Decent people all, he says.

He bristled at the notion that Cottle and his company were being vilified on social media for the weekend carnage in Las Vegas.

"I couldn't find any fault in Slide Fire," said Martin, who was friends with Cottle's grandpa "Buster." "I don't have anything against the Cottles."

Cottle, a military veteran, hired other vets and brought in mobile homes for those who needed a place to stay, Martin said.

The small red-brick Moran Post Office is on Fisher Avenue, which served as the main drag in headier times.

It rests next to a row of squat, earth-toned homes, across from an overgrown field.

Most days it's only open until noon. It almost wasn't open at all.

There was talk, Martin said, of shutting it down. But a steady stream of shipments from Slide Fire saved it.

Since the shooting, Martin's been listening to the radio. He hears talk about how Congress may turn Slide Fire's signature product into an outlaw.

Martin sees the wrath directed at Slide Fire as misplaced, akin to "blaming Smith & Wesson" for a shooting. In his view, Cottle is just making a product that people want to buy.

"The people that work for him are extremely proud to work for him," Martin said. "I know there will be somebody that will try to blame him or the company. I think it's ridiculous."
SAN DIEGO | A maddeningly slow inspection process that can make crossing the border an ordeal lasting as long as six hours for trucks carrying cargo from Tijuana to San Diego soon could be dramatically speeded up.

Under a new program expected to launch this month at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, qualifying shippers  many carrying products from Tijuana's large maquiladora industry  can expect significantly reduced wait times as U.S. and Mexican inspectors conduct joint inspections.

The program is a first for Otay Mesa, the second busiest commercial port of entry on the U.S.-Mexico border. It will allow users enrolled in the secure-cargo shipping program known as FAST (Free and Secure Trade) to forgo outbound inspections in Mexico, and instead drive straight into the U.S. port to be inspected simultaneously by inspectors from both countries.

"You're cutting inspection times in half, not to mention increasing the efficiency in the primary lanes and the wait times in between," said Pete Flores, director of CBP's San Diego Field Office.

The joint inspections started last August in Calexico, where U.S. and Mexican officers "are doing 200 trucks a day, and at times over 300 trucks in a day," Flores said. "The relationship with Mexico is the strongest it's ever been. It continues to get stronger for us."

The close collaboration between U.S. and Mexican officials aimed at facilitating the flow of trade between both countries at the border comes in contrast to the rhetoric and uncertainty surrounding the current re-negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, involving the United States, Mexico and Canada.

"Whether NAFTA is signed or not, these are operational efficiencies we need to have," said Gustavo de la Fuente, executive director of the Smart Border Coalition, a binational group that promotes more efficient border crossings between Tijuana and San Diego. "This region should be at the forefront of these things."

Under the traditional system, goods sent from Mexico to the United States must undergo two inspections, first as they leave Mexico and then again as they enter the United States. The joint inspections offer the promise of savings both in terms of time and money.

At a time of tight federal dollars for expanding ports of entry and hiring inspectors to process both people and goods, the program has been winning applause on the Arizona border, where it was first launched last year at the Mariposa cargo facility in Nogales, and has since been expanded to Douglas and San Luis. In San Luis, the joint inspections now apply to all categories of cargo traveling and includes joint inspection of southbound shipments as well.

The program has drastically reduced wait times for commercial truck trade in Nogales  by as much as 85 percent, from three hours to thirty minutes.

"It has just been tremendous, everyone is delighted with it," said Russ Jones, a customs broker and international freight forwarder whose company has offices in Arizona, California and Texas. "The efficiencies of this goes without saying," said Jones, who is chairman of the Border Trade Alliance.

Though the past year has seen a dramatic expansion of joint inspections, the United States and Mexico have long been laying the groundwork for this to take place. Among those measures is the Joint Declaration on 21st Century Management signed by the two governments in May 2010 and aimed both at promoting economic competitiveness and enhancing security along the border.

In October 2015, a pilot pre-inspection program allowed armed Mexican customs officers for the first time on U.S. territory to inspect southbound air cargo shipments at the airport in Laredo, Texas. The joint inspections there have now been expanded to include rail and trucks, according to CBP.

In January 2016, Otay Mesa became the first point on the U.S.-Mexico border to allow armed U.S. customs officers to work with Mexican counterparts in Mexico  in this case a pre-inspection facility for certain northbound agricultural products. But the traffic has been fairly light with inspectors processing about 10-12 shipments a day, Flores said, and more than 20 on busy days.

Overall some 3,000 to 3,500 trucks cross northbound each day at the Otay Mesa Port of Entry, according to CBP. About a third are enrolled in the FAST program and would benefit from the joint northbound inspections, Flores said. The exact date of the launching of these joint inspections has yet to be announced, but they are expected to begin sometime this month.

Many of those who stand to benefit directly from the program are members of Tijuana's maquiladora industry, said Eduardo Acosta, a customs broker and president of the Otay Mesa Chamber of Commerce. Companies such as Foxconn, Toyota and Sony are eager to see the program start.

Trucking companies who carry the cargo are also eagerly awaiting the changes. "We're hoping to start this as soon as possible," said Alfonso Esquer, whose company, Fletes Esquer, crosses between 25 to 50 shipments at Otay Mesa  all through the FAST program. As wait times are reduced, "we're hoping to move more loads with the same amount of equipment and personnel," he said.

Esquer said under the current system, "we can go from one to three hours, easy," to clear both Mexican and U.S. customs  even if his trucks are not pulled over for secondary inspection.

Jose Luis De La Fuente, the owner of another trucking company, Atlas, whose 34 trucks that specialize in short-haul movement of merchandise between Tijuana and San Diego, said the wait "can take five to six hours if you get pulled into secondary."

Jones of the Border Trade Alliance sees joint inspections as a trend that will continue, and could even at some point be extended to passenger vehicles. And even with strains over NAFTA, such collaboration shows that on the border "it is business as usual, in spite of the rhetoric and positioning that we read and see."
So. This is 30.

You probably wouldnt know it by looking around my apartment. For my 30th birthday, a group of my girl friends sent me fun things in a rainbow/unicorn theme, a nod to my entirely grown-up love of unicorns, bright colors, and all things glitter. Think Lisa Frank on steroids. I also dyed the bottom layer of my hair in rainbow colors. #thisis30

As I sat in my apartment, surrounded by unicorn/rainbow-themed paraphernalia, watching the last few minutes of my 20s tick away, picking the occasional pink hair off my shoulder, I couldn't help but wonder why there's so much fuss over turning 30.

Aside from hearing My Next 30 Years by Tim McGraw nearly every day on the radio in the weeks leading up to my birthday, the approach of 30 was quiet. Sure, this is the end of a decade. The start of a new one. And there's plenty of room for nostalgic retrospect-ing as the shadow of the oft-dreaded milestone looms.

But turning 30 is like the house no one wants to go into in a horror movie. Eventually they all do, and then they generally all die, which either works well or not at all depending on how you take this metaphor. The point is, many people hold on to their 20s like a little kid holding on to a toy he doesn't want Little Sister to have.

Except this futile death-grip doesn't really make sense. Whoever romanticized the 20s as a decade of youthful whimsy and carefree fun has clearly never been screamed awake at 3 a.m. by a neighbor through the paper-thin walls of the tiny efficiency apartment they can barely afford despite working 70 hours a week at multiple jobs. This is the time of your life when you hear Martina sing, Livin' on dreams and Spaghettios, and think, Man, I wish I could afford Spaghettios.

But OK, whatever, you survive that. Then you turn 29, and the regret starts to sink in. Not that you're turning 30. Regret that you're turning 30 and still haven't written that book or taken that trip or paid off that card or found Narnia or transformed into a unicorn (OK, maybe those last two are just me).

There's also that moment where you look around and realize that all your friends are married and buying houses and having babies, and you still take your laundry to your parents' so you won't have spend $10 in quarters just to do a load of towels. Maybe you've been too busy just getting by. Maybe you're scared to go after that thing you really want. Maybe you have good reason to be scared, because, as we know, chasing waterfalls is fraught with peril.

Or, maybe youre like me and play this game: Every day, I type in the celebrity birthdays that run on our Page A2, and as I do, I look at the celebrities who are my age and younger, and I mentally tally up how much more they've accomplished in their short lives than I have. This year, I discovered that I share a birthday with Malala Yousafzai, who at age 20 has already been loudly and proudly defying the Taliban for years. I've defied the expiration dates on milk a few times. Mine seems less adult-ey, and certainly less admirable.

But wait! There's more. It's not just celebs and big-wigs. We look at friends and families and colleagues and berate ourselves for not being as put-together as they are. They wrote a book. What have you done with your life? Hmmm? HMMM???

See? This is a terrible game. Don't play it. No one wins.

Turning 30, somehow, feels like letting go of those things. After months of writers block, I wrote this. Maybe soon I'll write something else. I see more doors opening than closing, so, the challenge now is to be sure to walk through them rather than just longingly gaze across the threshold. Follow your arrow. Find your bliss. Reach for the stars. Follow the yellow brick road. Become a unicorn and grant your own wishes. Shake your glitter wand. Whatever image works for you. As the clock turns over a new day, and for me a new decade, I feel some of the burden of the last one slipping away.

Being a 20-something is hard. Let's give 30 a chance.

#adulting
Two high-profile death penalty cases in Pennington County have led to large increases in funding for the county courthouse and public defender's office.

On Sept. 26, Pennington County Commissioners granted the courthouses and public defenders' request for half-a-million-dollar increases to their 2018 budgets. A significant portion of the amounts will go toward defending two men who are facing the death penalty on first-degree murder charges.

Jonathon Klinetobe of Sturgis and Richard Hirth of Rapid City are charged with murder, kidnapping and conspiracy in the disappearance and death of 22-year-old Jessica Rehfeld in 2015.

Klinetobe, 28, is represented by three appointed lawyers, two from the county public defenders office and one private attorney. Hirth, 36, has two court-appointed private lawyers.

The public defenders office has been approved a $567,000 increase to its $2.4 million existing budget, according to documents from the county auditors office.

About $200,000 of the new funding has been earmarked for expert evaluations, witness fees and travel expenses in Klinetobes defense. In recent years  and before county prosecutors announced in April that they were seeking capital punishment  the public defender's office requested only around $35,000 for this category of expenses.

The county courthouse, which initially shoulders the cost of court-appointed attorneys, got a raise of $530,000 to its current $1.4 million budget. Nearly $1.2 million of the new funding will be allocated for court-appointed attorneys.

The law mandates that defendants who cannot afford to hire a lawyer be appointed one by the court. Death penalty cases require at least two lawyers, but defendants are responsible for repaying the county the cost of their legal defense.

Death penalty cases are exceedingly expensive, said Eric Whitcher, director of the county public defenders office. He said taxpayers can reasonably expect to shoulder $500,000 to $1 million for the prosecution and defense of such a case.

During a Pennington County budget hearing in August, Commissioner Ron Buskerud commented that the Supreme Court should just allow people facing the death penalty to have a trial, then be taken outside and shot.

Buskerud, who used to be a county prosecutor, later said he regretted the statement and that it was made out of frustration over the exorbitant cost of the death penalty cases.

When defense lawyers take on capital punishment cases, Whitcher said, they need to hire the assistance of various people who they otherwise dont have access to.

The people who are available to handle those cases are highly specialized, and they cost significant funds, he said, naming as examples criminal investigators, lab analysts, psychiatrists, crime scene analysts and pathologists. Some of these experts apparently can be found only in big cities like Denver and Minneapolis.

In contrast, prosecutors have at their disposal resources of the state, such as law enforcement officers and crime lab analysts, Whitcher said.

The county states attorneys office will next year get $135,000 more than its $5.1 million budget now. The increase includes the $57,000 it requested for its witness fund, which States Attorney Mark Vargo said is expected to be spent on expert witnesses for the death penalty cases and other homicide cases.

The money being sought for the death penalty cases is necessary to meet the essential requirements of such a case, Whitcher said. Defendants have a constitutional right, he said, to a competent defense.

If you fail in your efforts to do those basic things, the case will likely come back and will likely cost even more, he said, referring to a defendants appeal rights, which could go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Were in a fight for a humans life, and its grave business.

Not all of the three departments funding will come from taxpayers; each generates some type of revenue.

The courthouse will shoulder nearly 30 percent of its budget in 2018; the states attorneys office, 10 percent; and the public defenders office, 5 percent.

Its not clear when Klinetobe and Hirth, detained at the county jail since May 2016, will go to trial. The court right now is in the midst of settling pretrial matters between prosecutors and defense lawyers.

If Klinetobe and Hirth arent tried this year, their cases will likely again come under the spotlight in the budget hearings for 2019.
Secretary Steve Emery Elected Vice-President of the Governors Interstate Indian Council

PIERRE  Delegates to the Governors Interstate Indian Council (GIIC) in Orlando, Fla., elected South Dakota Tribal Relations Secretary Steve Emery to serve as vice president for 2017-2018.

The GIIC General Assembly comes together each year to discuss issues relating to self-governance, state-tribal relations and critical issues in Indian Country.

The Governors Interstate Indian Council is a great opportunity to meet with peers and discuss best practices and challenges, said Secretary Emery. I am honored to have been elected as vice president of GIIC.

The GIIC, formed in 1949, currently has 39 member states and includes state Indian affairs offices, commissions and departments from across the country. Their mission is to promote and enhance government to government relations between the tribes and states; respect and recognize individual sovereignty of the tribes and the state; support the preservation of traditional Indian culture, language, and values; and encourage socioeconomic development aimed at tribal self-sufficiency. According to the Federal Register there are currently 567 federally recognized tribes throughout the United States.

Council delegates elected Nealie McCormick, chairman of Georgias Council on American Indian Concerns, as GIIC president; Sherry Rupert, executive director of Nevadas Indian Commission, as treasurer; and Sally Tuttle, chairwoman of Indianas Native American Affairs Commission, as secretary.
Nebraskas National Guard has a long, distinguished history of serving our state and country. Since 1854, the Nebraska National Guard has played a pivotal role in helping keep Nebraska safe and secure. As Governor, I am honored to serve as their commander-in-chief for the 4,600 soldiers and airmen from every corner of Nebraska who proudly wear our nations uniform. Their stories are all different, but they all have one thing in common: A desire to serve their state and nation.

The National Guard has a unique mission and dual role in the Department of Defense. Day-to-day, the constitutional militia in the 50 states, 3 territories, and the District of Columbia answer to their respective Governor. In Nebraska, the National Guards mission is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of our state. When they are federally mobilized, they report to the President of the United States and their mission is to fight and win our nations wars.

Usually in Nebraska, anyone you see in uniform is a Nebraska National Guard member, unless youre in Bellevue, home of Offutt Air Force base. The Nebraska National Guard has 25 readiness centers in 23 different communities. Throughout its history, the Nebraska Guard has maintained armories in 109 different communities across our state.

Since its inception, the Nebraska National Guard has played a vital role in helping secure and protect our state, our nation, and our allies. Prior to September 11th, 2001, most National Guard members did not expect to be deployed. Since that tragic day, the Nebraska National Guard has deployed over 10,000 soldiers and airmen. Nebraskas young men and women now join the National Guard with the expectation that they will be deployed and making a difference. Their commitment to service gives both myself and all Nebraskans something to be proud of.

During my time as Governor, I have had the honor to represent the people of Nebraska at a number of send-off ceremonies. Susanne and I have delivered words of encouragement and watched as families say goodbye to their sons, daughters, husbands, and wives. They must begin a chapter in life without them. It is a difficult moment for everyone. I know, however, the entire state stands behind them and are ready to help the families.

I have also had the honor of attending a number of welcome home ceremonies. These are some of my favorite memories as Governor. This April we welcomed home 35 soldiers who conducted aeromedical evacuation services in Afghanistan. And in August we welcomed home 51 airmen who conducted 40 combat missions and delivered six million pounds of fuel for air strike operations. The days that our servicemen and women return home safely are unforgettable for them, their families, and for our state.

Right now, Nebraska soldiers and airmen are around the globe protecting the Republic. For example, we have dozens of Nebraska soldiers deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where they are supporting detainee operations. Next year, the Nebraska Air National Guard will take on new missions to key locations in the Pacific as well as the Middle East. Our National Guard members are ready, able, and willing to take on any mission they receive.

But missions are not just in faraway lands, they are also on the home front. The Nebraska National Guard recently supported relief efforts for our neighbors in Texas and Florida. Following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, they rescued 461 people and 44 pets, delivered 142,000 pounds of cargo, 6,000 pounds of bottled water, 3,000 pounds of food, and 1,000 pounds of medical supplies. Often, the National Guard is one of several Nebraska resources, such as Nebraska Task Force 1, responding to natural disasters. Together, they put into action that Nebraska community spirit by helping our neighbors in need.

Whether they are responding to disasters or serving overseas, Nebraskans are grateful to the men and women of the Nebraska National Guard. Our members sacrifice and leave family, friends, and employers to protect us both here and abroad. They and their families couldnt do this without the support of community and family support they receive from people like you. Whenever you get the opportunity, I encourage you to take the time to thank our National Guard members for their service. God bless them, God bless Nebraska, and God bless the United States of America!

If you would like to share a story about the positive things youve observed our servicemen and women doing in your community or across the country, I want to hear from you. Please call my office at 402-471-2244 or email me at pete.ricketts@nebraska.gov.
Dear Editor,

Last week Senator Tom Brewer used 1,256 words in an opinion piece in the Chadron Record to argue against wind power development, especially in the 23,600 square mile expanse of Nebraskas Sandhills. Not once did he mention climate change.

I appreciate his concern for the plants and animals and the people of the Sandhills. It is a unique and beautiful area which should not be further disrupted. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that up to 85% of the Sandhills is still ecologically intact. Which means at least 15%, or 3540 square miles, have been developed, or destroyed to use Sen. Brewers terminology, much of by center pivot irrigation and roads. Wind power development must not add to this destruction and an amendment should be added to Brewers LB504 to protect the Sandhills from all forms of development.

The larger problem, which overshadows the whole discussion and which Sen. Brewer completely ignores, is climate change. If we do not reduce our emission of greenhouse gasses soon, the Sandhills as we know them will not be there to argue over. That ecosystem and that way of life will be destroyed. Ignoring the issue will not make it go away.

Opposing wind turbines on ecologically undisturbed areas is applaudable. Completely ignoring the issue that necessitates the development of clean energy is irresponsible.

I ask that Senator Brewer amend his bill, LB504, to include limitations on all types of development on intact Sandhills lands, and allow clean energy development in areas that have been previously seriously disturbed.

Steve Welch

Chadron
SIOUX FALLS | Authorities say a South Dakota state prison inmate has died.

Corrections Department officials say 54-year-old Wade Aikins was found unresponsive in his cell Saturday morning at the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls.

A preliminary investigation shows the death is due to accidental asphyxiation. An autopsy will be conducted.

Aikins was sentenced to life in prison in 1985 after being convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of South Dakota Highway Patrol Trooper Oren Hindman. Hindman, of Sturgis, was stabbed after arresting Candace Archambeau for drunken driving on Interstate 90 west of Spearfish on May 1, 1985.

Hindman needed to transport Archambeau to jail and decided to put Aikins, Archambeau's boyfriend at the time, in protective custody also. While en route, Aikins stabbed Hindman multiple times.

He was also sentenced in 1994 to consecutive 5-year sentences from Bon Homme County for attempted escape and possession of a weapon by an inmate.
An Ellsworth airman convicted of child sexual offenses was sentenced Friday to dishonorable discharge and eight years in prison.

Staff Sgt. Jason Cherry, of the 28th Communications Squadron, was found guilty of sexual assault and sexual abuse of a child during a three-day military trial that ended Thursday.

He was accused of committing lewd and sexual acts against an underage female, which occurred at or near Whiteman air base, in Missouri, and Ellsworth air base, according to Ellsworth's public affairs office.

Cherrys sentence was announced around 11:15 a.m. Friday, the office said. He was penalized with eight years in prison, dishonorable discharge and a four-level reduction in rank to Airman Basic, the lowest enlisted position in the Air Force.
PIERRE | In view of new federal regulations requiring truckers to install Electronic Logging Devices in their rigs by Dec. 18, which provide detailed reports on time spent driving in a given day, week or month, the Journal decided to ask how South Dakota will enforce the mandate.

We asked Capt. John Broers, commander of the state Department of Public Safetys Motor Carrier Division, how his 60 personnel throughout the state are preparing for the new regulations and about concerns expressed by independent truckers, an industry association and South Dakota cattle producers. The division is charged with enforcing all state and federal trucking regulations in regard to size, weight and safety.

Q: Whats the rationale behind these new regulations and what does the federal government hope to achieve?

A: Driver fatigue is one of the major causes of crashes. Obviously, you dont want to be drowsy when youre driving 80,000 pounds down the road. Theres no new hours of service regulations. Drivers are still allowed to drive the same number of hours per day and per week. It simply changes the way they log those hours. Instead of a handwritten piece of paper, its now an electronic device that records their hours. When a driver gets in the truck and reaches a certain speed it records that he is driving. When he stops, he must input whether hes loading, off-duty or in the sleeper berth.

Q: Is your division charged with enforcing the new regulations and how difficult will that be?

A: Yes. The Motor Carrier Division will be at the forefront of enforcement of these new regulations. There will be a period of education and training. We have training scheduled for November and December for our employees. FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) will provide that training, and we will be focusing on that training when these new regulations take effect so its fresh in everybodys mind. No new people have to comply with hours of service regulations. If you were exempt from those regulations before, youll be exempt now. There are still exemptions for those who have to use the electronic log book, including those who use a log book for eight days or less per month, and drivers of vehicles manufactured prior to 2000.

Q: What are the costs associated with these ELDs?

A: As little as $20 a month for prescription services and actual devices are available for as low as $100. The top end is basically whatever you want to spend. Some large trucking companies will have a device that tracks all their trucks and tells fleet managers how many hours that engine ran and where they went. Some can even track shipments and help facilitate billing. Some will use the device as a fleet management tool.

Q: Do you have concerns over implementing these new regulations in South Dakota and, if so, what are they?

A: Just the education component  getting the industry and enforcement educated on these devices. But there are no changes in regulations, so I dont have education and enforcement issues with that. We want to keep truckers moving down the road as efficiently as possible.

Q: Independent truckers weve interviewed say these new regulations will be tough on rural carriers, particularly cattle haulers who face long distances moving cattle from South Dakota to far-away packing plants. What would you say to them?

A: Its the same regulations as before, with no changes in how long they can drive. These devices will aid the accuracy of timekeeping and they will make the record more accurate. Our priority is accuracy. Sometimes when a new regulation comes out, everybody has their own version. Our desire is to ensure accuracy in what the regulations actually are.

There are exemptions for hours of service for haulers of agricultural commodities. Its not a full exemption. There are conditions to the exemption, but in some cases it allows an exemption for a 150-mile radius from the source of the commodity, in this case the ranch in which the cattle were picked up. Lets say someone drives from Pierre to Rapid City, about 150 miles, and the driver picks up cattle south of Pierre on a ranch. They bring them to a summer pasture south of Rapid City, all within 150 miles, and they do not have to record that time.

For more information on the new ELD regulations and exemptions, Id urge folks to go online at fmcsa.dot.gov.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson reportedly called President Donald Trump, a "moron," but we are the real morons  certainly those in Washington, D.C., who allow Trump to so easily mess with our minds.

He's at it again by calling in media types for a photo op at a White House dinner he was hosting for his seniormost generals and their spouses. It looked purely social, just a group picture for souvenirs. That is, until the Trumpster threw out this little bit of provocation: "You guys know what this represents? Maybe it's the calm before the storm."

Whoa! What did he mean by "the storm"?

Good journalists that the White House pool reporters are, they asked that very question. Repeatedly. And repeatedly he refused to explain himself, brushing off requests for an explanation with a cagey "You'll see."

When the commander in chief starts talking about a "storm" in a room full of generals, "You'll see" is just not going to cut it. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the spokesperson whose job it is to keep White House correspondents in the dark, was her usual helpful self, which is to say not helpful at all. Of course, that led to the obvious question: Was the chief executive simply messing with the press? "I wouldn't say that he's messing with the press," she said, which means he definitely was messing with the press.

He's been known to do that. In fact, it's nonstop. He's made "Fake news" his contemptuous go-to dismissal of any story that doesn't praise him to the high heavens. He also runs a never-ending guerrilla campaign against the media. His latest Twitter onslaught to leave us ink-stained wretches all atwitter, to say nothing of the hair-sprayed wretches on TV, was his tweet "Why Isn't the Senate Intel Committee looking into the Fake News Networks in OUR country to see why so much of our news is just made up -- FAKE!"

Of course, that would be seriously unconstitutional. Presumably Trump is familiar with the Constitution, but it doesn't matter. His base probably isn't. Besides, Senate Intel is a bit preoccupied right now, investigating whether Trump and/or his campaign sold out the country's election to Russian comrade Vladimir Putin.

In the meantime, we will just simply have to wonder what POTUS was talking about when he declared that it was the "calm before the storm." It already has set off a bombast of speculation on cable news, as every pundit imaginable is slithering on set to pretend to have some special knowledge. Is he talking about some significant development concerning North Korea or Iran, or maybe he was talking about Nate, the latest hurricane to wreak havoc? Who knows? Among those who might not even know is Donald Trump himself. I understand that this might seem to be astonishing, but sometimes he shoots off his mouth because he just wants attention.

Perhaps he really does have some specific turbulence in mind. To a great extent, he does control the climate. Maybe, just maybe, he's aware that it would create quite a storm in Washington if he fired Rex Tillerson. Then again, he's moved on from Tillerson. His newest Twitter trash-talk target is Sen. Bob Corker, who has responded in unkind by calling the White House "an adult day care center." Adult?
PIERRE | In an opinion issued Sept. 20, 2017, the South Dakota Supreme Court handed citizens a significant victory.

The justices, in a 4-1 decision, ruled the presumption of openness should prevail on public records.

The Legislature in 2009 purposely placed the presumption of openness at the top of South Dakotas laws regarding public records.

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader achieved this victory for the public. Its lawyer, Jon Arneson, deserves credit.

The Argus Leader had challenged the city government of Sioux Falls over the then-secret settlement regarding the siding on the recently built Premier Center.

The Supreme Court ruled for the Argus Leader. The city government released the settlement to the newspaper.

The newspaper followed with a public-records request for other settlements. City officials released two.

Justice Glen Severson wrote the majoritys opinion in the Premier Center case, overruling the decision by Circuit Judge John Pekas that the settlement wasnt open to public inspection.

The first case Justice Severson cited was the South Dakota Supreme Courts decision from 2015 regarding the 2009 public-records law.

That was my case. I went before the five justices and argued the states attorney general should release the records related to the death of Richard Benda in 2013.

Jeff Hallem, representing the attorney generals office, told the justices their court wasnt the place for my argument.

I wanted the court to overturn the investigation-records exemption in the public-records law. Hallem said I should be talking to the Legislature.

The justices unanimously agreed and rejected my challenge. Two years later, a majority on the Supreme Court appeared to have a different view.

South Dakotas public-records laws and the exemptions are complex. I wouldnt dare draw a straight line from my case to the Argus Leader case. But the context was instructive.

Justice Glen Severson in the majoritys opinion said his decision turned on an ambiguous trailing modifier in the specific exemption city lawyers cited. He set aside the citys argument and said his decision favoring the newspaper relied on context, not punctuation.

Severson said the Legislatures requirement that governments should construe the laws liberally in favor of open, public records guided the decision.

There is no question that in this case we are dealing with a record of an expenditure involving public funds, Severson wrote in his 10-page decision.

Supporting Severson were Chief Justice David Gilbertson, Justice Janine Kern and retired Justice John Konenkamp.

Justice Steven Zinter stood alone in opposition. He began: The Courts interpretation of a statute today requires the removal of a comma and the addition of words to the text.

Zinter continued: The Court states that it is guided by the purpose of a general act rather than the statutory language we must interpret.

He next wrote: Using an acts general purpose to change text is a breathtaking proposition.

His six-page dissent closed: The Argus Leaders request to change the punctuation and text of the statute should be made to the Legislature, not the courts.
Last week, The New York Times front page described the Trump administration's repeal of the Clean Power Plan, the Obama administration's attempt to slash carbon emissions from coal-fired power plants. "The war on coal is over," declared EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. Right under that article was a story from halfway around the world detailing China's massive new investment in electric vehicles, part of Beijing's determination to dominate the era of clean energy technology. It is a tale of two strategies.

The Trump administration has decided to move into a new century: the 19th century. Coal has been in decline for at least seven decades. In 1950, it accounted for half of all U.S. electricity generation. It is now down to a third. Additionally, massive automation of mining has meant that the jobs in the industry are disappearing, down from 176,000 in 1985 to 50,000 in 2017. Machines and software are replacing coal miners just as surely as in other industries. Demand for coal is weak because of alternatives, chiefly natural gas. In the last couple years, many of the top American coal companies have been forced to declare bankruptcy, including the largest, Peabody Energy.

Despite Trump's policy shift, these trends are unlikely to change. Reuters found that, of 32 utilities in the 26 states that filed lawsuits over the Clean Power Plan, "the bulk of them have no plans to alter their multi-billion dollar, years-long shift away from coal." The reason utilities are shedding coal is economics  the price of natural gas has plummeted in recent years, and its share of U.S. electricity generation has nearly tripled since 1990. In addition, costs are falling dramatically for wind and solar energy.

And, of course, coal is the dirtiest form of energy in use. Coal-fired power plants are one of the nation's leading sources of carbon dioxide emissions, and most scientists agree those emissions lead to global warming. They also cause terrible air pollution, with all its attendant health problems and costs.

That's one of the reasons why China, which suffers over a million deaths a year because of poor air quality, is making huge investments in clean energy. The country has become one of the world's leading producers of wind turbines and solar panels, with government subsidies enabling its companies to become cost-efficient and global in their aspirations. In 2015, China had the world's top wind turbine maker and the top two solar panel manufacturers. According to a recent report from the U.N., China invested $78.3 billion in renewable energy last year  almost twice as much as the United States.

Now Beijing is making a push into electric cars, hoping to dominate what it believes will be the transport industry of the future. Already China has taken a large lead in electric cars. In 2016, more than twice as many were sold in China as in the United States, an astonishing catch-up for a country that had almost no such technologies 10 years ago. China's leaders have let it be known that by 2025 they want 20 percent of all new cars sold in China to be powered by alternative fuels. All of this has already translated into jobs, "big league" as President Trump might say: 3.6 million people are already working in the renewable energy sector in China, compared with 777,000 in America.

China is still heavily reliant on coal, which it has in plentiful supply, and it has tried to find steady sources of other fossil fuels. It went on a shopping spree over the last two decades, making deals for natural resources and energy around the world, often paying at the peak of the commodities bubble in the mid-2000s. But over time, it recognized that this mercantilism was a bad strategy, tying Beijing up with expensive projects in unstable countries in Africa. Instead, it watched and learned from America as technological revolutions dramatically increased the supply and lowered the cost of natural gas and solar energy. China has now decided to put a much larger emphasis on this route to energy security, one that also ensures it will be the world's leading producer of clean energy.

Donald Trump has often talked about how China is "killing us," and how he's tired of hearing about China's huge growth numbers. He should notice that Beijing is getting its growth by focusing on the future, the next areas of growth in economics and technology. The United States under Trump will be engaged in a futile and quixotic quest to revive the industries of the past. Who do you think will win?
A group of industry analysts finds the U.S. forest products industry has fallen far behind in producing new things out of wood.

Many traditional forest product markets have matured or declined, the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities report stated. Yet the sectors research and development funding  essential to innovation  has fallen and its R&D capacity has withered.

The report, released on Oct. 6, found the wood products sector invested just six-tenths of a percent of its sales revenue toward research and development, while the U.S. manufacturing sector average was six times as much. Specific industries like biomedicine spend 12 percent or more.

Report authors were Robin Jolley of American Forest Management Inc., Tim Punke, formerly of Weyerhaeuser Co., Richard Ringeisen of the University of Illinois, Larry Selzer of the Conservation Fund and John Williams of Domtar.

I think it accurately calls out that theres a significant decline in public and private dollars going in, University of Idaho Policy Analysis Group Director Dennis Becker said. Whats happened in the last decade or two is the responsibility (for R&D funding) has fallen back on the public sector. The private sector has really pulled back in that area.

The report noted that since the financial crisis of 2007, more than 1,000 mills and factories closed nationwide as housing starts fell 78 percent in the following two years. More than half the countrys pulp and paper mills have closed in the last 25 years, driven in part by the rise of paperless digital media. With about 56 percent of the nations timber coming off private forests, thats put pressure on property owners to find other uses for their land.

Housing starts in 2016 were barely half the January 2006 level, the report authors wrote. In many areas, timber markets alone are not strong enough to provide the markets and income certainty that private landowners need to maintain working forests.

At the same time, technology research went dim. The report authors counted barely a quarter of the researchers in forest products technology, chemistry and general engineering compared to three decades ago. The U.S. Forest Service Forest Products Laboratory shrank from 725 after World War II to 141, only 50 of whom are researchers.

Todd Morgan at the University of Montanas Bureau of Business and Economic Research said that problem grew as the timber industry moved away from its historical vertically integrated corporate structure.

When you had mills that also owned the land and had logging crews and the value chain was all in one place, they were recovering the most value from the product, Morgan said of the old style of companies like Champion International. When you split that into the part that owns the land and the part that does the milling, thats changed who the players are and who wants to get involved in the R&D. And what they do do, theyre using for their own competitive advantage. Its not something to lift all boats.

The western United States, primarily Oregon and Washington, produce about a third of U.S. lumber demand. The mostly private forests of the Southeast contribute another third, with Canada supplying the remainder. Becker said that presents a particular challenge for dry, slow-growing forests in places like Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and Arizona.

The low-value products from those Ponderosa pine forests have no good markets in those areas, Becker said. And theres not enough federal money to manage those forests without products being removed (such as traditional sawlogs). Those areas need to create product opportunities like heat and electricity, structural applications or manufactured products. Thats where the infusion of research is really critical.

The paper recommends more science on a variety of topics, from microcrystalline cellulose used in food and cosmetics to renewable energy production. It also calls for more strategic research effort from the federal government and universities while noting incentives are needed both for corporate investment in R&D and for private landowners forest management and conservation.

Society of American Foresters Director of Government Affairs John Barnwell agreed the industry needs to have more collaboration and clear strategic focus.

But we dont want basic research overlooked, Barnwell added. Its important to experiment with new technology. But dont lose sight of changing climate conditions, best management practices and work thats actually going on in the forest.

While the report observes that forest thinning efforts are essential for growth of large trees in the long term, theyre prohibitively expensive if they dont generate any income to offset the costs. Small diameter wood that was once sought by pulp and paper mills now has little value in some areas because of mill closures.

On the other hand, companies like Columbia Falls SmartLam Technologies Group has seen enough success with its cross-laminated timber panels made from small wood that it plans to move into Weyerhaeuser Corp.s former lumber mill in January. The company expects to increase production from 20,000 cubic meters a year to more than 80,000 cubic meters, and grow its workforce from 31 to 75 by the end of 2019.

Especially in the West, those forests also require multiple-use management for things like water supplies, recreation, and wildlife habitat. The authors noted society hasnt found a good way to price those ecosystem services,

If we do want to manage our lands, do restoration treatment, hazardous fuels reduction, and help reduce incidents of catastrophic forest fires, then we need to have an industry and capacity to do work on the ground, Morgan said. Theres got to be a profit there. You have to be able to make money doing it. Congress isnt willing to write a check to subsidize all forest management activity.
During my service in the military, the Air Force would immediately start designing the next generation fighter jet while the previous generation jet was still on the assembly line. In the same way, both political parties should support President Trumps tax plan so that we can create enough goodwill to build a far better tax system soon.

President Trumps tax plan is designed to gain Democratic support by preserving high income taxes for the rich. It reduces business taxes to make the U.S. more competitive with foreign countries so we can attract more businesses. The tax cuts will boost job growth and help unions and retirees earn higher returns on their pensions so they can retire. Other parts of President Trumps tax plan will simplify the tax code. I wholeheartedly support the Presidents tax proposal because it promotes unity.

We need unity because the nations problems are so severe. Debts are so high that every taxpayer is on the hook to pay nearly $900,000 in unfunded liabilities. We cannot afford those debts because 69 percent of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings, and millions of people face hunger every day. We cannot spend or tax our way out of this mess. Liberal and conservative economic strategies will no longer work.

We need new solutions. If you elect me to the Senate, I will build a new system designed to address every concern of both parties. I will help people generate lots of money to get rid of their debts and build savings. We must interconnect people to solve each others problems as fast as possible. If we can solve everyones problems in more effective ways, then we dont need to rely so heavily on government spending to get things done.

People need to solve each others problems through personal relationships without having to involve the federal government as much. For example, new technology allows us to organize society to give each child a personalized education system that helps children toward a lifetime goal.

Everyone needs their own personalized tax code, and it must adapt as circumstances change. Everyone is different, so the government should treat everyone differently. It makes no sense to tax children or young college students because we should invest in them, not take money from them. Businesses that are testing new ideas and need assistance should pay low taxes at first.

We also need to harness everyones knowledge and opinions more effectively. The best system will employ everyones ideas, not just the elite few. You need a senator who will build a system that magnifies the power of your own personal knowledge and experience and allows you to benefit accordingly.

I support President Trumps plan because it fixes defects in the tax code. When our car breaks down, we fix it. If it keeps breaking down, we buy another car. Lets fix the tax code now. Then lets build ourselves a brand-new tax system.

James Dean

Candidate for U.S. Senate

Havre, MT 59501
Guwahati: Two practicing physicians from the city based Down Town Hospital conducted the last weekly evening OPD clinic at Guwahati Press Club on 14 October. Dr Siben Dutta and Dr Santos Reddy, while interacting with the participants, had offered necessary consultations.

Organized under the 'Evening with a Doctor' program for the benefit of press club members along with their dependants, the camp witnessed the participation of over 25 media persons. The participants also got their blood sugar & pressure checked by nurses Nimanihal Changloi and Taku Aampi in the Saturday camp.

The 7 October camp was graced by Dr Rupam Choudhury and Dr Tapan Sharma from the Sun Valley Hospital. A number of doctors from Apollo Chennai Hospital, SIMS Hospital Chennai, Manipal Bangalore Hospital, Fortis Hospital Bangalore, Medanta the Medicity Hospital, GNRC Hospitals, Dispur Hospital, Hayat Hospital, Ayursundra Hospital, Nemcare Hospital, Sight First Eye-Clinic etc attended the camps.
Kathmandu, Nepal: It is likely that the ministers from the CPN Maoist Center would be relieved from the responsibility as cabinet ministers and state ministers.

As the CPN Maoist Center decided to clinch in the government even though it forge electoral alliance with the main opposition party CPN UML, the Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has been mulling to relieve the Maoist Ministers from the responsibilities.

A reliable source claims that the ministers from the CPN Maoist Center will be transformed as the ministers without portfolio by Monday. It is said that Nepali Congress has been consulting with other democratic parties including the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) to this effect.

However, there is also an equal chance that Prime Minister Deuba would remove the ministers from the CPN Maoist Center. PM Deuba had given a clear hint towards removing ministers from the CPN Maoist Center while speaking at the parliament on Saturday.

Responding to the criticism of the CPN UML chairman KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister Deuba had said the size of the cabinet might decrease in a couple of days.

While speaking in the parliament, UML chairman Oli had criticized the government for increasing the cabinet size to 64.

It is said that the responsibilities given to the ministers from the CPN Maoist Center will be transformed to the RPP. It is said that Newly inducted Deputy Prime Minister and RPP chairman Kamal Thapa will discharge the responsibility of Ministry of Home Affairs.
Forecast: GDP expected to continue rising at 6.9% in second half of year

Positive expectations for China's economic growth in the second half of the year have consolidated the central bank's determination to refrain from monetary easing, but prevention of risk will be a priority.

GDP growth, which was 6.9 percent in the first six months, is expected to continue at the same pace in the second half, as recent data show a strengthening trend, Zhou Xiaochuan, the central bank governor, said over the weekend at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Washington, DC.

China will continue to pursue a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy, while encouraging deleveraging and preventing potential risks, according to Zhou, who warned that shadow banking and housing market bubbles could increase vulnerability.

"Growth continues to improve in terms of structure and quality, indicating that China has made strong progress in rebalancing the economy," said Zhou, who stressed that the financial regulator's battle to lower the debt burden had shown some results but was still in the "early stages".

The country's broad money supply, or M2, rose 9.2 percent in September from a year earlier, its fifth straight month with growth below 10 percent, slightly up from 8.9 percent in August, according to data released by the People's Bank of China on Saturday.

The single-digit M2 growth rate, much lower than the annually targeted 13 percent, is a result of the regulatory clampdown launched earlier this year to curb interbank lending or "shadow banking" activities, said Wen Bin, chief researcher at China Minsheng Bank.

According to the China Banking Regulatory Commission, as of the end of August interbank assets had fallen by 13.8 percent year-on-year. Interbank wealth management products, a main source of off-balance-sheet fundraising, fell by 2.2 trillion yuan ($334.4 billion) from January to August.

"Shadow banking appears likely to continue to face greater regulatory scrutiny, at lease while the authorities remain comfortable with economic growth," said Katie Chen, financial institutions director at Fitch Ratings.

As of last month, yuan-denominated new loans rose by 13.1 percent from a year earlier, down by 0.1 percentage points in August, the PBOC said. New loans have increased by 11.16 trillion yuan in the first three quarters, up by 998 billion yuan from a year earlier. Nearly half the amount was borrowed by households.

Short-term loans saw rapid expansion, accounting for 14 percent of the total number of new loans, compared with 5 percent a year earlier, but some funds may be flowing into the housing market through illegal channels, creating a risk of a price bubble, Wen said.

Markus Rodlauer, deputy director of the Asia-Pacific department of the International Monetary Fund, said at the fund's annual meeting on Saturday: "Growth in China is strong right now, so clearly there's no need for expansionary fiscal monetary stimulus in the economy."

The high level of corporate debt is a key issue for China, requiring the country to further push reform of State-owned enterprises in the next few years to ensure successful economic rebalancing, while allowing the economy to continue to grow relatively fast, Rodlauer said.
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 LWOP+ sentence imposed for impaired driver who killed two in Florida | Main | "Why kids dont belong on sex offender registry" 

October 15, 2017

Pope Francis calling for evolution of formal Catholic teachings on the death penalty as always "inadmissible"

As reported here via Vatican Radio, Pope Francis spoke out against the death penalty in a notable new way while addressing participants attending a meeting celebrating the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Here is a translated account of his notable comments (with my emphasis added):

I would like now to bring up a subject that ought to find in the Catechism of the Catholic Church a more adequate and coherent treatment in the light of these expressed aims. I am speaking of the death penalty. This issue cannot be reduced to a mere resume of traditional teaching without taking into account not only the doctrine as it has developed in the teaching of recent Popes, but also the change in the awareness of the Christian people which rejects an attitude of complacency before a punishment deeply injurious of human dignity. It must be clearly stated that the death penalty is an inhumane measure that, regardless of how it is carried out, abases human dignity. It is per se contrary to the Gospel, because it entails the willful suppression of a human life that never ceases to be sacred in the eyes of its Creator and of which -- ultimately -- only God is the true judge and guarantor. No man, not even a murderer, loses his personal dignity (Letter to the President of the International Commission against the Death Penalty, 20 March 2015), because God is a Father who always awaits the return of his children who, knowing that they have made mistakes, ask for forgiveness and begin a new life. No one ought to be deprived not only of life, but also of the chance for a moral and existential redemption that in turn can benefit the community. In past centuries, when means of defence were scarce and society had yet to develop and mature as it has, recourse to the death penalty appeared to be the logical consequence of the correct application of justice. Sadly, even in the Papal States recourse was had to this extreme and inhumane remedy that ignored the primacy of mercy over justice. Let us take responsibility for the past and recognize that the imposition of the death penalty was dictated by a mentality more legalistic than Christian. Concern for preserving power and material wealth led to an over-estimation of the value of the law and prevented a deeper understanding of the Gospel. Nowadays, however, were we to remain neutral before the new demands of upholding personal dignity, we would be even more guilty. Here we are not in any way contradicting past teaching, for the defence of the dignity of human life from the first moment of conception to natural death has been taught by the Church consistently and authoritatively. Yet the harmonious development of doctrine demands that we cease to defend arguments that now appear clearly contrary to the new understanding of Christian truth. Indeed, as Saint Vincent of Lerins pointed out, Some may say: Shall there be no progress of religion in Christs Church? Certainly; all possible progress. For who is there, so envious of men, so full of hatred to God, who would seek to forbid it? (Commonitorium, 23.1; PL 50). It is necessary, therefore, to reaffirm that no matter how serious the crime that has been committed, the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and the dignity of the person. The Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes (Dei Verbum, 8). The Council Fathers could not have found a finer and more synthetic way of expressing the nature and mission of the Church. Not only in teaching, but also in life and worship, are the faithful able to be Gods People. Through a series of verbs the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation expresses the dynamic nature of this process: This Tradition develops [] grows [] and constantly moves forward toward the fullness of divine truth, until the words of God reach their complete fulfillment in her (ibid.) Tradition is a living reality and only a partial vision regards the deposit of faith as something static. The word of God cannot be moth-balled like some old blanket in an attempt to keep insects at bay! No. The word of God is a dynamic and living reality that develops and grows because it is aimed at a fulfilment that none can halt. This law of progress, in the happy formulation of Saint Vincent of Lerins, consolidated by years, enlarged by time, refined by age (Commonitorium, 23.9: PL 50), is a distinguishing mark of revealed truth as it is handed down by the Church, and in no way represents a change in doctrine. Doctrine cannot be preserved without allowing it to develop, nor can it be tied to an interpretation that is rigid and immutable without demeaning the working of the Holy Spirit. God, who in many and various ways spoke of old to our fathers (Heb 1:1), uninterruptedly converses with the bride of his beloved Son (Dei Verbum, 8). We are called to make this voice our own by reverently hearing the word of God (ibid., 1), so that our life as a Church may progress with the same enthusiasm as in the beginning, towards those new horizons to which the Lord wishes to guide us.

I have quoted this extended passage because I am struck by how much of the Pope's advocacy and themes echoes (1) Justice William Brennan's concurrence in Furman v. Georgia in which he stressed human dignity as a reason to find the death penalty per se unconstitutional, as well as (2) much Eighth Amendment jurisprudence which stresses that the "Eighth Amendment has not been regarded as a static concept" but rather has prohibitions that can and do acquire new meaning "as public opinion becomes enlightened by a humane justice" based on the "evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there is not a universal view that the Pope's view on these issues is wise and in keeping with Catholic principles and teaching. Here are two pieces from LifeSite highlighting why these latest comments on the death penalty by Pope Francis are controversial:

October 15, 2017 at 01:20 PM | Permalink

Comments

Easy for him to say. He has the Italian Death Penalty to dispatch violent and disruptive prisoners, by the hundreds a year. Given the population of Italy, we would need to kill 6000 felons to match their methodology.

Posted by: David Behar | Oct 15, 2017 1:32:25 PM

Considering that I have been opining on this topic on this forum prior to the Pope's recent comments....

Both the Pope and his critics can be correct. It is true that the traditional teachings of the Church have allowed for the DP...I point that I have made before. It is also equally true that (a) the Pope is entitled to his personal views on the matter and (b) that the teachings of the Church can change in this area...indeed, they have changed in this area in the past so they can certainly change again. IMO Dr. Feser (from the second linked article at the bottom) overstates his case in that regard. Whether the Church should change is a difficult question on which reasonable minds can and do disagree.

Posted by: Daniel | Oct 15, 2017 6:49:59 PM

Brennan was a Catholic.

Let's take the second article.

"Both the Old and New Testaments indicate that the death penalty can be legitimate."

Helps when you are dealing with a tribal society or trying to work within the Roman Empire. Even then, if you actually followed all the rules, it was damn hard to do it. In one account, e.g., Jesus interferes with was understood as a legal stoning for adultery.

This appeal to "traditional" teachings rubs of selective originalism. Catholic doctrine today wasn't applied how it was in 1787, to take a random date. It also is a reflection in each case of the times as applicable. Mary's immaculate conception very well might not be open in change but the death penalty over time as applied to actual conditions might.

Likewise, after 2000 yars, there is so much material, you can apply stuff in various ways. For instance, there was a real shot -- with support of some Catholic theologians -- of acceptance of artificial contraceptives in the 1960s. Perhaps, sanity will be applied there at some point.



Posted by: Joe | Oct 16, 2017 12:35:41 AM

mentally impaired children

Posted by: Claudio Giusti | Oct 18, 2017 10:23:49 AM

Post a comment
SIOUX CITY  It doesnt matter if you want to become a Chopped champion or chop some wood, a new Sioux City venture has the equipment, space and instructors to help visitors do both.

MakerSpace Sioux City is set to open later this month and the purpose of the nonprofit business is best illustrated in its straight-to-the-point name.

Its a place where people come together to make something whether thats in the demonstration kitchen, state-of-the-art wood shop, sewing room or computer lab equipped with 3-D printers and a laser engraver.

The presence of makerspaces  also known as hackerspaces, hackspaces or hacklabs  have been on the rise nationally in recent years. In a way, makerspaces are the blue-collar cousin to office co-working spaces.

Theres a definite need here and no one has anything like this in Sioux City, said Eric Holmquist, a MakerSpace Sioux City board member and an avid woodworker.

As Holmquist noted, MakerSpace will be a one-of-a-kind facility in the region. The next closest places that offer similar attractions are in Des Moines, Omaha and Sioux Falls.

Bringing something like MakerSpace to the area has been a dream of Holmquists for more than 20 years.

To get started, three years ago he reached out to Gary Turbes, the executive director of Sioux City-based Mid-Step Services, a nonprofit that assists people with intellectual disabilities.

Initially, Holmquist wanted to see if Turbes would be interested in collaborating with him on a project.

One idea he had in mind was that he and other woodworkers would build birdhouses and Mid-Steps clients could paint them and then sell them as a fundraiser for the organization.

As they were trying to figure out how that project would work, Holmquist shared with Turbes his dream of a community woodshop. Instead of limiting it to just woodworking, Turbes suggested they expand the concept.

Lets get all different kinds of disciplines: Robotics, technology, and everybody is loving the 3-D printer stuff, Holmquist recalled Turbes saying. Those are things that would just enhance what we were initially trying to do.

Shortly after, MakerSpace registered as a nonprofit and a board of directors was formed to oversee it. One of the biggest challenges the board faced was finding somewhere to build MakerSpace.

After a thorough search, the board acquired an 8,000-square-foot space last fall on the corner of Tri-View Avenue and Hamilton Boulevard that once housed a flea market and is highly visible from Interstate 29.

From there, board members and volunteers worked on renovating the site inside and out over the last year.

A major task included painting the outside of the building an eye-catching shade of dark blue and painting "MakerSpace" in big white letters above the entrance.

That paint job is what caught the eye of Tom Elledge, a Jefferson, South Dakota, resident who works in Sioux City and who became the latest person to join the eight-person MakerSpace board about a month ago.

I got excited, said Elledge, who was already familiar with the makerspace concept. I got in contact with Gary and said, Id like to be part of this, and made myself available.

Outside of anything that required a license to do, all the of the rehabilitation work necessary to get MakerSpace ready to serve the community was done by board members and volunteers.

Additionally, most of the equipment acquired by MakerSpace came via donations or grants, including a $25,000 from Missouri River Historical Development Inc. that financed most of the tools and accessories in the woodshop.

The hours and days of operations are still being reviewed by the board, but Holmquist envisions MakerSpace becoming a catchall venue for creative types in the region.

He also wants people who want to just come in and make a phone case with the 3-D printer or to sew a quilt to feel free to come in and use the resources available.

We wanted to bring many disciplines in so that people could learn different skills, Holmquist said. Im good at woodworking, but I dont know much about the technology side or much about the sewing.

I can take in a lot of information from people that are experts in those fields and, hopefully, Ive got something to share with the people who dont as much about woodworking.

MakerSpace also will offer a wide-range of classes. Some ideas already in the works include a beer brewing course and a healthy cooking class, and the board is always on the hunt for more teachers.

Justin Vore, a board member from Le Mars who eventually plans on teaching a drone-making class at MakerSpace, said he wished there was a similar type of place in the area when he grew up.

While all are welcome at MakerSpace, Holmquist does think it could turn into a potential field trip destination for Boy and Girl Scout troops, school groups, 4-H clubs and other youth organizations.

This is a big idea, he said. We all have our favorite things that we like to do and want to work in it and thats why we got involved in the first place, but more than anything we want to give the community a place to work on these projects and give kids a place to work on productive things.

Weve got technology here; instead of playing just a video game or be on their devices, they can come out here and create with technology and put it towards some use.

If the MakerSpace becomes a hit, which Holmquist and the other board members hope it does, they already have thoughts in mind for an expansion.

One proposal is to add a metal shop for welding and related projects and the other is renting out studio space to creatives who want a little more room to work.

Until then, Turbes and the others are just glad to see that MakerSpace is almost ready to open up shop after years of working towards this moment.

I think its going to great for the Siouxland community, Turbes said. People can learn to make and do and teach (with) a hands-on experience.
ORANGE CITY, Iowa  Douglas Firth Anderson, professor emeritus of history at Northwestern College, has contributed a chapter to a new book about California history.

California Dreaming: Society and Culture in the Golden State was published in September by Pickwick Publications.

The volume features eight authors inquiring into the moral questions that emerge from studying California.

Anderson contributed a chapter titled Engaging Landscapes: San Francisco Bay Area Protestants in the Progressive Era. He examines the way Anglo-American Protestants in the first two decades of the 1900s engaged with both the natural and sociocultural landscapes of the Bay Area, citing Protestantisms impact on the rise of environmentalism in America.

Richard Mouw, a 1959 graduate of Northwestern Junior College who is the president emeritus and professor of faith and public life at Fuller Theological Seminary, also wrote a chapter. He contributed The Enigma of California: Reflections on a Theological Subject.
WAYNE, Neb. -- Kam Reeves, Wayne State College Class of 1979, was awarded the Alumni Service Award at the colleges recent Homecoming.

The award is presented to someone who enhances the college through dedicated service, promotion, financial support and other efforts.

Wayne State College faculty, staff and alumni can nominate those alumni who display the qualities needed to receive the Service Award. The staff of the Foundation/Alumni Office will review the information submitted on each nominee to determine who shall receive the award.

Reeves has served as the department head and superintendent for the Ottumwa, Iowa, Water Pollution Control Facility since 2013. Prior to that, he worked as the operations supervisor for 14 years and as a shift operator for 3 years. He has a Grade IV Wastewater License, issued by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

A native Ottumwan, Reeves became part of the Wayne State family when he transferred from Ottumwa Heights College in 1975. He graduated in 1979 with a bachelor of arts in secondary education with a major in physical education and a minor in traffic safety.

Reeves was invited to become a trustee of the Wayne State Foundation in 2012 and continues to encourage graduates to give back to the college. He established the J. Kevin Reeves Memorial Theater Arts Endowed Scholarship in 2016, in honor of his older brother.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | The South Sioux City Police Department is searching for a man who is believed to have shot another man with a BB gun Wednesday night.

In a Thursday release, police said the shooting occurred near 11 p.m. in the 300 block of East 16th Street. Yisak Ketma, 18, of South Sioux City, was found to have a small-caliber gunshot wound to his right leg.

Ketmas was transported to Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City by the South Sioux City Fire Department for the non-life threatening injury.

Police said they are searching for a Hispanic male who fled the incident, and robbery appears to be a possible motive.

The investigation continues and people with information pertaining to the incident are asked to contact the police department.
Le MARS, Iowa | Each day, more than 6,500 vehicles, including about a half dozen school buses, pass through a rail crossing in downtown Le Mars that one national expert describes as a death trap.

The crossing on Iowa Highway 3, locally called Plymouth Street, is marked with warning signs and flashing lights, but doesn't have crossing gates. The nearly 45-degree angle where the tracks cross the street often makes it difficult for westbound motorists to see oncoming locomotives.

Why aren't there gates at that crossing? Bob Comer, a nationally-known expert who has investigated rail crashes for 28 years, asks. The geometry of Plymouth Street makes the crossing a deathtrap. The skewed angle, the speed of the trains, and that Lally's restaurant building obstructs the view for drivers."

In late December, a westbound semi-truck driver thought the coast was clear at the crossing while the bells and lights were ringing and attempted to drive across the tracks. With her view of the tracks partially blocked by Lally's Eastside Restaurant, 125 Plymouth St. NE, she failed to see the Union Pacific train in time. The southbound engine collided with the trailer, dragging it about 100-feet until the train came to a complete stop.

The 56-year-old driver, Jeannie Harmdierks, escaped with minor injuries. The semi-trailer hauling raw turkey was sliced in half by the train.

Counting that collision, theres been six train-vehicle accidents at the crossing in about 40 years, according to a Journal check of online records. None of the collisions resulted in a fatality and none involved school buses.

Still, Comer said the most recent accident should be a wakeup call for local and state authorities.

"That lady is extremely lucky," Comer said earlier this year. What if it had been a school bus? That would get peoples attention."

There should be more flashing lights and gates ... It's very important for public safety."

Over the years, local leaders have pushed to install gates at the crossing, but have been told it was too low of a priority to qualify for scarce state or federal funding for such rail safety improvements.

In the wake of last years accident, city officials are redoubling their efforts to win funding.

"Sight visibility is a major concern and that one has a visibility problem because of the Lallys building and with the skew of the railroad compared to the highway, Le Mars City Manager Scott Langel said earlier this year. Anytime you are not crossing at a perpendicular angle that will always pose an issue because you are having to look over your shoulder and behind you."

Comer, president of Magnolia, Ohio-based Forensic & Electronic Research, points out that federal law mandates that state highway rail crossings that receive federal funds have adequate warning devices if one or more of the following conditions are present:

Multiple trains use the track

Trains travel at a high rate of speed

The intersection carries a high volume of traffic

A substantial numbers of school buses or trucks carrying hazardous materials regularly use the crossing.

"When a state is looking to spend federal money to upgrade a crossing they are supposed to go by this law," he said.

The crossing meets the federal threshold on several of those fronts. Highway 3 is one of the most heavily traveled roads in the Plymouth County seat of about 10,000. The tracks, owned by Union Pacific, are also regularly used by BNSF Railway and Canadian National Railway. Combined, around 10 trains per day roll through the city.

The Highway 3 crossing is on the route for some school buses operated by the Le Mars Community School District to transport both its own pupils and students from the crosstown Le Mars Gehlen Catholic School District.

Le Mars public schools superintendent Steve Webner said some buses occasionally cross the tracks downtown at another unguarded intersection on Center Street, a block down from Plymouth.

At all rail crossings, Webner pointed out bus drivers are required by law to activate their four-way flashers, come to a stop, open the bus door and window, look and listen for any approaching trains proceeding through the intersection.

On a typical day, the Le Mars district runs 18 buses carrying a total of about 850 students. Some other routes run across rail tracks, and some of those intersections are equipped with crossing gates.

Scores of school districts in Siouxland operate bus routes that cross tracks without crossing gates, though state officials do not keep data on the total number of crossings.

Comer noted that Iowa and other states must complete federal inventory forms for each rail crossing that asks if the crossing is regularly used by school buses." In most states, that box is consistently marked "no," he said.

Phil Meraz of the Iowa Department of Transportation Office of Rail Transportation said the box was added to the form more than a year ago and the "no" really means "no data is available."

"I would love to have that data as I am doing safety analysis and that kind of thing," Meraz said. "But when you figure we have 4,300-plus public crossings and another 2,500 private crossings and 336 school districts (and) the way bus traffic moves around, we have not found a good way to (collect that data) on a mass scale."

Kris Klp, manager for the Iowa DOT Crossing Surface Program, reiterated the difficulty in gathering the data.

"It's always fluid. It is never going to stay the same and there's no way to keep it absolutely completely accurate," Klop said. "Of course, if a new kid joins the district and the bus stops at their house they certainly are not going to get a hold of the DOT to provide that information.

When ranking crossings eligible for upgrades like crossing gates, state officials rely on a formula that takes into account such factors as vehicle and train traffic, train speeds and effectiveness of the proposed improvements, said Jim Gibson, crossing manager for the DOTs Rail Transportation Office.

Gibson said the Highway 3 crossing's predicted accident number is below the ratio that gets top priority from the federal government. But under another metric that determines the benefit-cost ratio, the crossing is due for improvements. On a scale of 1 to 5, it scores at 1.1, which just hovers on the side of the public benefit exceeding the public cost for an upgrade, he said.

UP spokesperson Kristen South said safety is the rail carrier's top priority and it is "actively" working with the Iowa DOT to upgrade the Highway 3 crossing. But she said the carrier still has concerns that need to be addressed, such as a center turn lane and private driveway near the intersection.

"Union Pacific is working with IDOT, who is coordinating with the city, to come to an agreement," South said.

Langel said city officials are anxious for a deal, noting the potential danger associated with the crossing increased after UP recently upgraded a section of track.

Since (Union Pacific) did the improvements on that stretch of rail (putting in) a lot of new ties and rail, they almost doubled the speed that the train goes through town, the city manager said. You couple that speed with the visibility problem and I really do think there is an issue there. It really needs to be addressed."
I've been struggling with this question for a month.

It's been that long since a Democratic state legislator rose during the Q&A after a speech and asked me a deceptively simple thing: What should Democrats do now? What should their message be?

I had no idea how to answer that, nor even any confidence that I was the one to do it. It seemed to me it was a question not for a professional kvetcher uninterested in the nuts and bolts of political machinery, but, rather, for some high-powered operative like Donna Brazile or James Carville.

But then, it is high-powered operatives who've led the party into its present cul de sac.

Indeed, as internecine fighting loudly fractures the GOP, Democrats quietly struggle with a civil war of their own. Largely shut out of power at the state and federal levels, the party is torn between pragmatists who want to chase Donald Trump's voters with a centrist economic agenda and insurrectionists a la Bernie Sanders who want to move hard to the left. What should Democrats do?

As I said, I've been wrestling with that. And I finally have an answer.

The Democrats need to move left.

That conclusion does not come easily to me. I am, by nature, a centrist deeply suspicious of political extremes, which I consider Kryptonite to thoughtfulness. I remain convinced no ideology has a monopoly on good ideas. Moreover, I'm skeptical the agenda proffered by the likes of Sen. Sanders -- free college? -- is politically or economically do-able.

But here's the thing: The center is all but gone. That was, in fact, one of the points I made in the speech that inspired the lawmaker's question: We have, I said, become a country dominated by its extremes.

A 2014 Pew Research Center study found that the percentage of Democrats and Republicans holding extremely negative views of the opposite party has more than doubled since 1994; Pew also found that, while 64 percent of Republicans in '94 held opinions that were to the right of the average Democrat, these days 92 percent do. And 94 percent of Democrats are now to the left of the GOP median.

So the right is moving further right, the left, further left and the center, as the poet Yeats observed, "cannot hold." And it is a fantasy for a party heavily populated by African Americans, Muslims, the LGBTQ, immigrants and other marginalized peoples yearning to breathe free in an increasingly oppressive environment, to think it can attract angry, older white voters who believe that what America really needs is to be made "great again."

No one manufactures tents that big.

What other option, then, do Democrats have but to move left, exploiting the anger, energy and enthusiasm to be found there? It's an imperfect solution for all the reasons noted above, but it has one advantage: It clarifies the choices, makes them stark. That would be a good thing just now.

Say what you will about Trump: He was definitive, and did not lack for boldness in his appeal to white resentments and rage. What if Democrats were as bold and definitive as he, but for universal health care, sane immigration reform, a living wage, fixing the broken justice system, jobs training and day care for families on public assistance, addressing climate change, and not blowing up the world in manhood-measuring contests with Asian dictators? What if they were pugnacious and uncompromising in the service of simple decency? Of inclusion and compassion? Of just treating people right?

If these days you must be an extremist, well ... there are worse things to be an extremist for.
The Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa Sualauvi II, has welcomed Chiles new Ambassador to Samoa, Rodrigo Espinosa Marty.

On Thursday, Mr. Marty presented the letter of credence from the President of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, acknowledging him as his countrys Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Samoa.

The presentation took place at the Head of States Office at Motootua. His Highness Tuimalealiifano was accompanied by the Masiofo, Her Highness Faamausili Leinafo, during the meeting.

The new Ambassador wants to strengthen Samoa and Chiles bonds of friendship.

Especially nowadays, where the geographic barriers that separate us seem more irrelevant, thanks to the increasing connectivity, and the ties that exist between our peoples become closer. The Polynesian connection that links Rapa Nui with Samoa is just a starting point of many convergences of our countries, which I hope we can continue to deepen over the next years, he said.

The Ambassador also highlighted the common challenges of today.

As President Bachelet recently mentioned at the United Nations General Assembly, the notion of development that prevailed until now has been shaken by the relentless reality of climate change, a threat that looms over our countries and we must face together.

And, as you also mentioned at the U.N. General Assembly, we are living in an environment of risk. Certainly, as you said, climate change has no respect for sovereignty and does not discriminate countries between rich or poor, large or small.

In this regard, we value Samoas active role in the protection of the Oceans, mainly through its participation in the Oceans Conference held in New York and the 13 voluntary commitments assumed by your government on that occasion that showcased the efforts towards the conservation management and sustainable use of the Ocean, its resources and the engagement of communities.

Our countries also share similar values, including our commitment to human rights and the rule of law. For this reason, Chile has decided to present its candidacy to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Nuclear weapons was also on the agenda.

Both countries signed recently the Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, another indication of our governments commitment to international peace and stability, and our clear-cut and firm aspiration to have a world without nuclear weapons. Additionally, Chile and Samoa are part to the MALIAT  a Multilateral agreement on liberalisation of air traffic  whose purpose is to promote better connectivity between our two countries in passengers and cargo and linking Asia and the Americas.

Chile also recognizes the stability of the Independent State of Samoa and the important role that plays in the architecture of the Pacific, especially in regional bodies such as the Pacific Islands Forum, whose annual meeting was held here last month.

We will seek Samoas views in our efforts to improve our involvement with the Pacific through its institutions, especially in the Pacific Island Forum. We know of the interest that exists for our participation in that forum -through Easter Island-, and I hope to be present soon in that summit representing my country.

In April of this year, I had the opportunity to participate in the South Pacific Defence Ministers Meetings held in Auckland. Our presence at that summit is also a sign of Chiles commitment to this region and our interest in being linked to the Pacific region through its multilateral architecture.

Indeed, one of the areas in which we could explore cooperation is connected to the exchange of experiences in the field of early response to natural disasters and disaster relief.

Our countries are also highly dependent on agriculture. Chile wants to become a world food power, and our knowledge in this area could be a contribution to Samoas economy. Currently, Chile is developing an agricultural cooperation project with Fiji, and we could look for ways to replicate this experience with Samoa.

Every year, the Diplomatic Academy of Chile - an institution that instructs our Foreign Service - organizes an international course. We hope to have an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Samoa in that course soon. Thereby, we will be fostering the dialogue and better understanding among our young diplomats.

These are just some of the areas we could nurture our relationship with and I am certainly very interested in including others matters that are of interest to you and your authorities.

As a representative of a country with a strong interest in the Pacific, I wish to express, Your Highness, the assurances of our sincere friendship and respect during the fulfilment of my mission as Chiles representative to Samoa, and I hope that at the end of my duties the ties of friendship that unite us may have strengthened and increased by then.

The Head of State, His Highness Tuimalealiifano gladly welcomed the new Ambassador to Samoa and expressed Samoas deep desire to strengthen the bonds of friendship with Chile.
London, Oct 12, 2017 (SPS)  Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW) warned the European companies against the risks of illegal trade with Morocco, that involves products from the Sahrawi occupied territories.

Following a call to tender launched by the Moroccan government for the extension of the agricultural area in Dakhla, in the Sahrawi occupied territories, WSRW warned the companies which would be attracted by this project, about the "serious legal, moral and financial risks."

Last September, Moroccan government announced an addition of 5000 hectares to the agricultural zone in Dakhla, WSRW said.

The call for tenders includes, inter alia, co-financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure and a desalination plant for a period of 22 years. SPS

125/090/700
On Friday (October 13), Peace A Pie, a daughter of Valley Victory and the Speedy Crown mare Armbro Eclair, passed away from the complications of old age at Lindy Farms.

Although the 25-year-old mare was unraced, she was a half-sibling to Cake Rattle N Roll (Meadow Road, $220,000) and Echo Hanover (Balanced Image, $304,538). Peace A Pie was also a full sister to Chocolate Layered ($167,306).

Peace A Pie, whose dam earned $187,443 on the racetrack, descends from an illustrious family, as Armbro Eclair was a full sister to Armbro Flori ($571,711), Family Firm ($100,423), Armbro Propeller ($107,245) and Armbro Rotary ($131,238). Armbro Eclair was also a half-sister to Armbro Scorpion (Balanced Image, $308,800) and Armbro Vanquish (Garland Lobell, $321,552).

Armbro Vanquish continued the family tradition of excellence, as she was responsible for 2011 Kentucky Futurity victor and world champion Manofmanymissions (Yankee Glide, $1.21 million).

Like her half-sister, Peace A Pie also contributed her outstanding genes to many Standardbred pedigrees, as she foaled Mars Bar (Malabar Man, $390,176), Dan Patch Award winner Pizza Dolce (Conway Hall, $668,824), Big Stick Lindy (Conway Hall, $236,176) and The Lindy Treaty (Conway Hall, $181,995).

Pizza Dolce followed in her forebears hoof prints by providing the likes of Belle Dolce (Kadabra, $730,884), For You Almostfree (Glidemaster, $510,817), Miss Paris (Kadabra, $865,160) and Boli (Kadabra, $209,664).

Currently, Belle Dolce has provided the sport with Amalfi Coast (Muscles Yankee, $168,611) and Ragazzo Dolce ($198,845), while Big Stick Lindy's daughter Satin Dancer ($506,961) is preparing to become a dual Indiana champion. From 160 registered foals, the stallion's progeny has 65 starters that have amassed $2.5 million.

Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Peace A Pie.

(USTA)
From high-energy musical acts and guests such as Bandmaid to tasty booths such as the Sake Fest and assorted Japanese food trucks, there's a little bit of something for everyone under the sun; and believe me when I say that the sun really was out in full force during the event. Despite that however, many a fans were thrilled to satiate their palette with a selection of some of the Bay Area's finest ramen shops at the Ramen Fest, with each of the five restaurants bringing their best specialty bowls to the shores of Fort Mason.

Although we did not get a chance to try out the Spicy Miso Ramen from Yoroshiku, the only non-California based shop, we were more than eager to indulge in the rest of the selections available on-hand.

Marufuku Ramen:

Jason: Starting with Hakata Tonkatsu Ramen from Marufuku Ramen in San Francisco's Japan Town, their handmade Hakata-style ramen was first on our plate. Immediately, we were presented with a succulent tonkatsu (pork bone) based soup that managed to avoid the overly salty taste that a lot of other ramen shops tend to run into. With a carefully attended to broth, their special ultra-thin noodles reminded me quite a bit of the thin noodles that pho restaurants tend to use with their broths. The thinnest of the four restaurants we tried, this personally came in as my personally least favorite but that's not to disparage the taste! I personally just prefer something that is original, even when it's as well done as the folks from Marufuku Ramen. Also, I will admit that I may be biased as I've visited Marufuku in the past!

J.M.: Having had Marufuku Ramen in the past and then comparing it to the others, it was just as succulent and porky as you would expect their tonkatsu base to be but for myself, the mouth-feel was a bit much. While extremely rich in flavor, it was also rich in its unctuousness, which can be off-putting if youre not really into fatty or greasy food. The broth goes down smoothly thanks to it, but combined with the rather thin noodles, it was an odd feeling. That said, they are a great restaurant to hit up if youre ever craving ramen while visiting Japan Town.

Hinodeya Ramen:

Jason: Of the three tonkatsu-based ramen bowls we tried, Hinodeya's tonkatsu ramen was definitely the most interesting due to the company's signature use of whole wheat noodles which produced a rather refined taste compared to the others giving it a very earth feel. As one of the top ramen restaurants from Northern Tokyo, you could tell that they've been practicing for a very long time trying to perfect their noodles. Bonus points for the hard boiled egg, which is always a personal favorite when it comes to ramen.

J.M.: With Hinodeya Ramen, I loved how earthy their ramen was. Of the four we tried, Hinodeya didnt shy away from giving us lots of vegetables but it was their whole wheat noodles that made it stand out. The nuttiness of the whole wheat noodles played well with the earthy mung bean sprouts and enoki mushrooms. The broth itself was a nice and while not as unctuous as Marufuku, its lightness still paired well with the various toppings. Finally, yes, Im a firm believer in having an egg top all of my ramen so having an egg was pretty much the cherry on top.

Orenchi Beyond:

Jason: As a lover of all-things garlic, along with all of the bonus side effects it causes, Orenchi Beyond was easily my favorite. Located in San Francisco's Mission District, their combination thick noodles, creamy tonkatsu sauce and garlic soy sauce was everything I expect when I eat my favorite ramen. With a broth where you can taste the garlic without having it become overbearing, I definitely plan to start visiting one of their four Bay Area locations sometime soon.

J.M.: Orenchi Beyond featured my second-favorite ramen of the day, due to the use of their thick noodles and garlic soy sauce. While our sample didnt feature too much broth, it did well to highlight both the noodles and the soy sauce funny enough. I actually enjoy having chewy ramen noodles, so Orenchis noodles hit the spot for me while the garlic soy sauce combined with the tonkatsu broth was the perfect accompaniment. Overally, I enjoyed Orenchi Beyonds ramen and the lightness of it was just what I needed after eating the other delicious bowls of ramen previously.

Nojo Ramen Tavern:

Jason: As the only non-pork based soup of the bunch, I appreciated their sincere efforts to bring the taste of chicken from Japan to San Francisco. Although the argument can be made that it's not that different from your mom's typical chicken noodle soup, the fact that it's able to replicate that taste with ramen is actually a quite refreshing experience. I really enjoyed their succulent chicken meatballs which made it different from any previous ramen experience I've had.

J.M.: Personally, Nojo Ramen was my favorite of all the four ramen dishes that we had sampled. Due to the use of chicken meatballs (which was unexpected) and yuzu, Nojos broth was a delightful lemony-flavored chicken broth that reminded you of a great chicken noodle soup. Chicken meatballs were delicious and moist while their noodles had just the right amount of chew to them. Maybe Im just a sucker for both lemon chicken and a good chicken noodle soup, but for me, Nojo Ramens dish was absolute comfort food.
U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Battle Ground) will visit Clark and Lewis counties Monday to host events centered around veterans telling their personal stories.

At each event, Southwest Washington veterans' stories will be recorded to be kept in the Library of Congress, and Herrera Beutler herself will interview the first veteran at each event.

In a press release, Herrera Beutler's office asks veterans who wish to attend to RSVP ahead of time by calling 202-285-9243 or emailing angeline.riesterer@mail.house.gov.

The two events will be held Monday at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Vancouver from 8:30 a.m. to noon and the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The address for the Vancouver location is 15005 NE 65th Street, and in Chehalis, 100 SW Veterans Way.
How did seven people trapped in the blast zone of the Mount St. Helens 1980 eruption survive the natural disaster?

That question is the main focus of the first episode of Smithsonian Channels new television series, Make It Out Alive. The episode, centering around the catastrophic blast, will air Sunday at 9 p.m.

All of these people are at the heart of the disaster, said series producer Edward Hart, from Belfast-based 360 Productions. The question the audience is asked to consider is, who will make it out alive? What would you do in the situation?

The seven real-life people trapped in the eruption each had a unique challenge when it came to escaping the blast, Hart told The Daily News Friday.

Logger Jim Scymanky was 11 miles outside the red zone and wound up with severe burns from the eruption; couple Roald Reitan and Venus Dergan were camping along the Toutle River when a landslide of volcanic debris swept them away; geophysics student Keith Ronnholm had snuck into the red zone to take photos; U.S. Geological Survey volcanologist David Johnston was the first to report the eruption; Harry Truman, who was the caretaker of the Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake, refused to budge from his cabin; and Reid Blackburn was a photojournalist for The Columbian and Natural Geographic.

Although those who remember the event vividly might know which of these people escaped the blast and which did not, Hart said his team still put in monumental effort into finding the most exciting stories from the eruption and to keep the documentary accurate.

We spent some time really tracking down the most interesting stories, and in the 30-odd years since the disaster, many survivors have scattered across America, he said. We started with news reports from the day and newspaper articles in the immediate aftermath. We had to do quite a lot of investigative work to track them down, encourage them to tell their story and persuade them wed do it with integrity and respect.

Hart said to create the episode, they filmed interviews with survivors and family members of those who didnt survive the blast. Beyond that, 360 Productions used original archive photos and film, computer-generated effects, and even dramatic reenactments (filmed in Ireland, not Mount St. Helens) to bring the scenarios to life.

The producer said working with Southwest Washington locals was a treat.

People were hugely supportive, and were greatful for them for these emotionally forthright interviews, some from whom lost love ones, or felt great trauma themselves during (the explosion), Hart said.

Mark Smith, owner of the Eco Park Resort in Toutle, helped provided some of the narration during the Harry Truman portion of the show. He said this episode provides a nice counterpoint to most Mount St. Helens documentaries.

The neat thing about (Make It Out) is that its not just the story of the volcano from the geological standpoint, theyre starting to tell the stories, Smith said. The history of the mountain has focused too much on geology and science, which is interesting to a point, but it needs to focus on the people.

According to Hart, each episode of Make It Out Alive will follow the format of tracking real-life people who were impacted by certain disasters. Future episodes will feature a tornado in Oklahoma and a dam collapse in Italy.

Hart frequently spoke of his respect and gratefulness towards those who were wiling to be interviewed for Make It Out.

For people who lived through that, it can be a cathartic experience to tell the story. Its a story that you have to tell, because its part of you. It may not be something that you tell every day of your life, but there comes a moment where you do need to tell. For some of these contributors, that time was now, and were grateful for them.
Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman is encouraging students to write letters to their favorite authors as part of a national competition.

Letters About Literature asks students to explain how a particular book changed their view of the world or themselves.

The contest, sponsored by the Washington Center for the Book, is open to schoolchildren and homeschooled students in grades 4 through 12.

Letters About Literature is a great contest for kids and teens because it encourages them to look within themselves to find the reasons why there were inspired by a favorite book or why it made them think in different ways, Wyman said. Students submit so many incredible, heartwarming letters, and I look forward to reading them every year.

This is the thirteenth-straight year the Washington State Library has participated in the national contest.

This is also the first year the Washington Center for the Book has sponsored the competition. The centers mission is to promote literacy and a love of books, reading and libraries.

Students who enter can write about works of fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Writing about music lyrics is not allowed. Entries in Spanish are also welcome.

Entries will be accepted starting Nov. 2.

Students compete at three levels: Level 1 for grades 4-6; Level 2 for grades 7-8; and Level 3 for grades 9-12. One letter from each level from each state is entered into the national competition.

National winners will receive a $1,000 cash prize. The states winners will be announced in April and will be honored with a special ceremony held at the state capitol building in Olympia.

Last year, nearly 3,000 Washington students submitted letters for the competition.

For more information, visit the state librarys webpage or contact Nono Burling at (360) 570-5576 or nono.burling@sos.wa.gov.
Editors note: Todays editorial originally was written by Cowlitz County Assessor Terry McLaughlin. Editorial content from other authors and publications is provided to give readers a sampling of regional and national opinion and does not necessarily reflect positions endorsed by the Editorial Board of The Daily News.

In 2012, a Washington State Supreme Court ruling (called the McCleary decision) ordered the Legislature to raise education funding to meet its paramount duty to fully fund the public education of all K-12 students by 2018. In response, the Legislature passed EHB2242 which makes two key changes to property tax you pay to support schools. The state school levy will be increased by approximately $0.81, or about $162 for a $200,000 home, in 2018 and the maintenance and operations (M&O) levy for each school district will be reduced to $1.50 in 2019. These legislative changes do not impact the voter approved general obligation and capital bonds.

Currently school property taxes are comprised of three elements:

State school levy

Maintenance and operations levy (voter approved levy)

General obligation and capital bonds (voter approved levy)

For taxes payable in the years 2018 through 2021, the State School Levy will be $2.70, subject to equalization based on each countys sales ratios as determined by the Department of Revenue sales ratio study. This represents the increase of approximately $0.81 per $1,000 dollars of assessed value. Those who qualify for the senior and disabled exemption program are exempt from this increase. To qualify for the senior and disabled exemption program, your income must be under $40,000 and you must be at least 61 years of age.

Beginning in 2019, M&O levies will be called enrichment levies. Enrichment levies will have a maximum rate of $1.50 per thousand dollars of assessed value, or $300 on a $200,000 home. Current M&O levies range from $1.67 in the Kalama School District to $3.52 in the Kelso School District. All future enrichment levies will be reduced to $1.50 per thousand dollars of assessed value. However, four of six school districts in Cowlitz County have M&O levies that expire in 2018. In order to collect the $1.50 maximum enrichment levy approved by the Legislature, it will be necessary for these school districts to go to the voters for approval of a new levy.

In summary, the increase in the state school levy rate becomes effective in 2018 and will be reflected on your property tax bill that you will receive from the Treasurers Office in February of 2018. The decrease to the M&O levies becomes effective in 2019. In Cowlitz County, you will see an increase in the total school portion of your property tax in 2018 of approximately $0.81 per $1,000 of assessed value. The districts with an existing M&O levy exceeding the $2.50 range in 2018 will likely see a decrease in overall school property taxes in 2019. School districts potentially seeing the decrease in overall school property taxes in 2019 are Woodland, Toutle Lake, Longview and Kelso. However, since the taxes you pay are based on the value of your property, the actual increase or decrease you pay to support schools will vary.
Resurrecting coal

The Sept. 23 headline in The Daily News read: Trump could slap tariffs on solar panels. We all remember the recent political campaign in which candidate Trump promised to bring back coal mining jobs as part of his make America great program. To many, including me, this seemed to be inveighing against the economic tides and counter productive to economic growth. Metaphorically speaking, tariffs are an economic breakwater against the tides of change. One way to slow down the economys natural tendency to switch from relatively expensive and dirty coal is to make alternative energy sources more expensive. Using tariffs to increase the cost of solar panels and windmills more expensive will slow down the transition from coal power to cleaner sources of sustainable energy.

This is a thinly disguised attempt to protect the coal industry at the expense of cleaner energy forms. The result will be lower total employment, more expensive energy, dirtier air and a less competitive economy in world markets. How is this making America great?

Economic nationalism is incoherent and ultimately self defeating.

Edward Phillips

Kalama

Political courage

I posed a question to Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler earlier this month.

Fellow Republicans Representatives Dan Newhouse and Dave Reichert joined in a bi-partisan request that the Department of Homeland Security extend a renewal deadline for DACA recipients from Oct. 5 to Jan. 15.

Why didnt she?

The only reply was a form letter about DACA, the same DACA form letter her office sent me the month before in reply to another email.

If indeed, as the representative says in her form letter, DACA recipients have done nothing wrong, why not at least try to give them a reasonable time to apply for renewal and raise the $495 application fee?

I applaud Republican Representatives Newhouse and Reichert, and Democratic representatives from Washington and Oregon who joined in the request for extension. They demonstrated that they understand the plight of DACA recipients, and they had the political courage to do something about it.

Judy Zeider

Battle Ground, Wash.

Life or death?

A co-worker once emphatically declared; Any doctor who performs an abortion is a murderer! Any woman who has an abortion is a murderer! Any politician who votes for abortion is a murderer! Any person who votes for a politician who votes for abortion is a murderer!

He was likely a member of the, Right to Life party.

Using his absolutist logic, would any politician who supports deregulation of the coal industry thereby increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the acceleration of global warming be a murderer? Would anyone who votes for that politician be a murderer? Witness recent deaths from hurricanes, floods and wildfires.

When George W. Bush canceled Bill Clintons New Source Rule on power plants it was estimated that the 40,000 lives per-year that would have been saved by the rule would continue to be lost to various respiratory conditions.

The Trump administration will now repeal another rule to limit greenhouse-gas emissions from power plants.

Maybe the Right to Life party should be re-named the Right to Death party.

More death to follow.

Dave Van Curen

Longview

Toledo taxes

Dear Toledo community: Many of our senior and disabled community members are on fixed incomes, often times bringing in under $40,000 annually. I want to make sure our community is aware of the opportunity for a property tax exemption or a property tax deferral. In addition to writing this letter, Ill also be placing information around town in all of our high traffic areas. Please check the bulletin boards and share this knowledge with your friends, family and neighbors. Ive also provided contact numbers and a link below.

As a parent and a citizen in favor of this bond, I urge you to reach out for assistance. Vote yes this November on the school bond and know that there are ways to lessen or remove the financial burden. We need your vote, but not always your tax dollars.

Deidre Dillon

Ethel, Wash.

A case for electric

Starting Oct. 16th, the proposed ammonia plant located at the Longview Mint Farm, begins the SEPA process.

The developers for this project want to produce anhydrous ammonia by using natural gas. This 1909 Haber-Bosch method is an antique process.

Ammonia can be made with just air, water, and electricity. There is an electric power generation facility at Mint Farm. PUD could supplement the power with electric obtained from renewalable sources.

The removal of the gas line from this proposed facility would eliminate the explosion risk to residential property located adjacent to this site. Just by itself, this proximity to residential property should be reason to deny this permit.

Switching from natural gas to electricity would shield the facility from the volatility of the market on natural gas. Natural gas customers are forced to sign interruptible contracts for already oversubscribed gas lines that can be shut off at the whim of the gas companies. The electricity would provide a steady reliable source of energy.

Lets bring the 21st century technology to Longview rather than an ancient process.

Chris Turner

Longview
WASHINGTON  At least seven Cabinet-level officials, and a smattering of aides, appear to have abused their access to publicly funded travel. Collectively, these bureaucrats billed taxpayers for millions of dollars worth of private jets, military flights, spousal travel and other questionable expenses.

Yet so far just one of them, former health and human services secretary Tom Price, has been forced to step down.

The White House argues that while Price may have misbehaved, there is plenty of precedent for such extravagant government travel. And the administration is right. Government officials were abusing travel budgets long before President Trump came on the scene.

Like, a really long time before Trump  were talking ancient Rome here.

So maybe examining how Roman emperors dealt with the problem can offer insight into how to deal with it now.

During the Roman Empire, government representatives traveling on official business used a state-authorized transportation system, called vehiculatio. They received special travel passes (called diplomata, and issued by emperors or governors) that allowed them to requisition carts, horses, food, lodging and guides from provincial populations along their route.

Locals were usually compensated at set rates. But otherwise, the rules varied from province to province, reinforced or modified over time as governors and emperors saw fit, according to Hunter College classics professor W. Graham Claytor, an expert in Greco-Roman documents.

In practice, this led to a lot of abuse.

Public officials took personal trips disguised as work trips. They spent, and extracted from locals, much more than they really needed. They seemed indifferent to the hardships created by their profligacy and oblivious to more productive uses for the scarce taxpayer resources they were gobbling up.

Sound familiar?

Consider a petition from the villagers of Skaptopara in Thrace (today Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria), sent to Emperor Gordian III in A.D. 238.

The village, renowned for its hot springs, was located between two army camps and a famous market. Villagers complained that soldiers leave their proper routes to stay in their town, where the soldiers demanded hospitality and provisions free of charge. Governors and other officials also frequented the town, further burdening locals.

Villagers warned the emperor that the abuses might force them to pick up and leave  and take their tax dollars with them:

If we are weighed down, we will flee our homes and the treasury will suffer the greatest loss.

In other ancient correspondence, officials tried to expand their already-generous travel perks.

In one letter, Pliny the Younger (governor of Bithynia and Pontus in A.D. 110) used flattery to justify a travel pass he had recently issued to his wife, even though she was traveling on a private matter.

It was for familial piety, Pliny explained; surely the beneficent Emperor Trajan would understand. Trajan replied that he did.

When emperors or governors did get mad about such abuses, sometimes they issued financial or other penalties. Often enough, though, the result was another edict reminding officials to please, please follow the rules  and stop making the government look bad!

Heres one, from Marcus Petronius Mamertinus, provincial governor of Egypt, dated A.D. 133-137:

I have learned that many soldiers, traveling through the countryside without a diploma, unjustly demand boats, baggage animals, and men, sometimes taking things by force, sometimes receiving them from the local governors as a favor or service. As a result, private citizens suffer insults and abuse, and the army is accused of greed and injustice. Therefore I command once and for all that the local governors and their lieutenants furnish none of the things given for escort to anyone without a diploma, neither to those going by boat nor those traveling on foot. I shall forcibly punish anyone who, after this proclamation, is caught either taking or giving any of the things specified.

You can find many similar edicts issued across centuries. Which shows that travel-related corruption and abuse were a recurring problem.

Why wouldnt this problem go away? Because, as scholar Russell S. Gentry has argued, rulers preferred to cast bad behavior as isolated incidents rather than systemic flaws in an empire that treated provincials as unimportant and afforded government elites relatively little oversight.

Just as, say, Trump might prefer to cast a jet-setting former health secretary as a bad apple not representative of the spirit of his administration, Claytor observes.

It took centuries for Roman emperors to realize they needed to make real, system-wide changes if they hoped to curb the wanton abuse of taxpayer resources. How long will it take Trump?
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Blue-Whale addicted college student held in B'baria

UNB, Brahmanbaria :

Police detained a college student, who was allegedly involved in the deadly Blue Whale Games, from his home at Jinodpur village in Nabinagar upazila on Saturday midnight.

Mushfiqur Rahman Emon, 16, who obtained GPA-5 in SSC, is studying at a college in Dhaka, said Aslam Sikdar, officer-in-charge of Nabinagar Police Station.

Being informed that the student cut his hands with blade at one stage of playing Blue-Whale Games, police rushed in and took him to police custody, said the OC.

Later, he was handed over to his mother on Sunday noon, the police official added.
BNP places 20-point proposal to EC to hold fair polls

UNB, Dhaka :

BNP on Sunday placed its 20-point proposal, including holding the next polls under a supportive government, deployment of army with magistracy power, and dissolving the current parliament before the election, in a dialogue with the Election Commission (EC).

During the nearly three-hour dialogue with the Commission, the party also proposed withdrawal of all the 'false' cases filed against its leaders and activists, including party chief Khaleda Zia, before the election.

Talking to reporters after the dialogue, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir briefed reporters about their party proposals.

He said, their party proposed the Commission to take steps from now on to ensure the rights of all the political parties to hold public rallies and political programmes.

The BNP leader said, they also want the EC to take steps for a dialogue between the government and the political parties for ensuring a fair election.

Replying to a question, he said they, after the dialogue, have got a little bit hopeful about the Election Commission that it will play a positive role.

The dialogue began around 11am at the conference room of Nirbachon Bhaban in the city with Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda in the chair.

A 16-member BNP delegation, led by Fakhrul, joined the talks.

The other members of the delegation are BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Tariqul Islam, Mahbubur Rahman, Rafiqul Islam Miah, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, chairperson's advisers ASM Abdul Halim, Ismail Jabiullah and Abdur Rashid Sarker and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

The Election Commission on August 24 last started dialogues with 40 registered political parties to take their opinions over the EC's preparations for the next national election likely to be held in December 2018. So far, the Commission has held dialogues with 32 parties.

The EC will also hold talks with Awami League on October 18.


No provision to publish gazette as per Constitution : Adv Zainul

Staff Reporter :

President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Advocate Zainul Abedin on Sunday said that there was no provision to publish a gazette notification for appointing Acting Chief Justice as per Article 97 of the Constitution.

"If the post was vacant then the oath must be

needed. But the Acting Chief Jistice was not sworn in. So, he is not Chief Justice. This kind of violation of the Constitution is very sad for the nation," added the lawyers leader.

He said this in a briefing to reporters at the chamber of the Bar President.

Advocate Zainul said, "The President also violated the Constitution. How he (President) conducted a meeting with the Appellate Division's Judges excluding the Chief Justice? That is ultra vires of the Constitution."

He also said, "There is no provision what explanation had been given by the Law Minister on the Article 97 of the Constitution. It means they intentionally created drama."

Supreme Court Bar Secretary Barrister A M Mahbub Uddin Khokan also present at the briefing.

Meanwhile, hundreds of lawyers demonstrated in a human chain programme held on the Bar building premises demanding Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha's return in the Supreme Court.

Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker, Advocate Abed Raza, Advocate Saifur Rahman, Advocate Rafiqul Haq Talukder Raza, Advocate Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, Advocate Mirza Al Mahmud, Dr Arifa Jesmine Nahin and Advocate Sharif U Ahmed also spoke at the programme.
Hillary warns UK on potential trade deal with Trump

Reuters, London :

Former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton cautioned Britain on Sunday over its push to secure a trade deal with U.S. President Donald Trump after it leaves the European Union.

Clinton, the Democratic Party candidate who lost out to Trump in last November's election, also said Britain would face serious disruption if it left the EU without a negotiated deal with Brussels.

The British government has talked up the prospect of bilateral trade deals with the United States and others as one of the major benefits of leaving the EU following last year's surprise referendum vote to leave.

Asked about the prospects of a British-U.S. deal, Clinton told the BBC: "You're making a trade deal with somebody who says he doesn't believe in trade, so I'm not quite sure how that's going to play out over the next few years."

British Prime Minister Theresa May visited Trump in January to talk trade. The countries share $200 billion of trade each year.

But May has since intervened in a dispute between U.S. aerospace firm Boeing and Canadian planemaker Bombardier, lobbying in the interests of Bombardier to try to

protect jobs at its factory in Northern Ireland.

Clinton also said Britain would be at a "very big disadvantage" if divorce negotiations with the EU failed, and went on to compare the factors behind the Brexit vote to her own election loss.

"Looking at the Brexit vote now it was a precursor to some extent to what happened to us in the United States... The amount of fabricated, false information that your voters were given by the 'Leave' campaign," she said.

She said her own presidential campaign was subject to similar treatment, citing the spread of false stories by online news outlets, and warned that Britain and other countries must be alert to the risks of such new media.

"The big lie is a very potent tool," she said.
Scale of influx triggers humanitarian emergency

IOM DG in city, visits Cox`s Bazar today to see Rohingya's condition

Special Correspondent :

International Organization for Migration [IOM] Director General William Lacy Swing arrived in Dhaka on Sunday on a four-day visit to see the condition of displaced Rohingyas staying in the camps at kutupalong and Balukhali.

"He has arrived in Dhaka Sunday afternoon and will leave Dhaka on Wednesday. He will visit Cox's Bazar today," Shirin Akhter, an official of Bangladesh IOM

office, told The New Nation.

The IOM DG during his visit is expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, among others.

Meanwhile, the IOM has appealed to the international community for more relief and assistance for the displaced Rohingyas as the speed and scale of the influx has triggered a humanitarian emergency in Cox's Bazar.

Officials said about three quarters of a million refugees now depend on humanitarian assistance for shelter, food, water, sanitation and other life-saving needs. Prior to the August influx, Cox's Bazar was already hosting over 200,000 previously displaced Rohingya, placing the district's infrastructure and basic services under immense strain.

IOM Bangladesh Chief of Mission Sarat Dash said: "The seriousness of the situation cannot be over-emphasized. These people are malnourished and there is insufficient access to clean water and sanitation in many of the spontaneous sites. They are highly vulnerable. They have fled conflict, experienced severe trauma and are now living in extremely difficult conditions."

There is tremendous pressure on the existing settlements, with the population of multiple sites and settlements more than doubling since August 25. This has resulted in a huge need site management for an estimated 700,000 people. This will cost an estimated USD 65 million, according to ISCG site management agencies.

Different organizations, including IOM said some 35,000 Rohingyas crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar, bringing the total arrivals since August 25 to over 556,000. In this backdrop, the IOM appeals for more relief and assistance for the displaced Rohingyas.

"The risk of an outbreak of communicable disease is very high given the crowded living conditions and the lack of adequate clean water and sanitation. Maternal, newborn and child health care are also in desperately short supply given the very high numbers of pregnant or lactating women and children among the new arrivals," said IOM Senior Regional Health Officer Patrick Duigan.

According to the IOM-hosted Inter Sector Coordination Group [ISCG] of aid agencies, the number of displaced Rohingyas spiked again this week when some 15,000 Rohingya crossed into Bangladesh between 9-11 October.

Earlier, last week ISCG aid agencies appealed for USD 434 million as part of a 6-month Humanitarian Response Plan targeting 1.2 million people including the Rohingya refugees.

Many of the new arrivals require immediate health assistance and agencies have appealed for USD 48 million to scale up primary health care in all the new settlements over the next six months.
Malaysia`s DPM in city

UNB, Dhaka :

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrived in Dhaka on Sunday morning on a two-day visit to discuss bilateral and Rohingya issues.

This visit reflects Malaysia's 'concern and seriousness' on the Rohingya issue in general, said an official.

Secretary (Bilateral and

Consular) Kamrul Ahsan and Malaysian High Commissioner in Dhaka Nur Ashikin Binti Mohd Taib received the Deputy Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 10:30 am, UNB reports.

The Foreign Minister will host dinner in honour of the Malaysian Deputy PM after the meeting.

This is Zahid Hamidi's first visit to Bangladesh since assuming office as the Deputy Prime Minister in 2015.

Hamidi is accompanied by his spouse Hamidah binti Khamis; Minister of Human Resources Dr Richard Riot Anak Jaem and senior officials of the government of Malaysia.

He is expected to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and relevant ministers to take stock of the existing bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation that are mutually beneficial to both countries, according to a statement UNB obtained from Malaysian Foreign Ministry on Friday.

Apart from the bilateral meetings, Zahid Hamidi will also travel to Cox's Bazar on Monday to witness the Rohingyas.

Malaysia is optimistic that this visit will further strengthen the existing friendly ties between Malaysia and Bangladesh not only in the areas of bilateral cooperation but also on regional and international issues.

He will leave for Kuala Lumpur from Cox's Bazar on Monday through a special flight.
Allegations of corruption against CJ can`t be raised before President: Barrister Mainul

Staff Reporter :

Allegations are being raised after Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha has gone abroad. It is forgotten that Justice Sinha is the Chief Justice of Bangladesh and protector of justice system for the people. Barrister Mainul Hosein asserted so at a talkshow of Ekattor Tv on Saturday night. He pointed out that the judiciary is above the government.

The President has no authority to deal with corruption allegations against the Chief Justice and no documents should have been sent to him.

He elaborated to say that Justice Sinha came back from abroad to resume his duties as the Chief Justice. He was kept confined and nobody other than government men like the Law Minister Mr Anisul Huq and the Prime Minister's Special Adviser

Gowher Rizvi could meet him. Thereafter news came that the Chief Justice wrote a letter to President Abdul Hamid seeking leave for treatment abroad as he was suffering from acute cancer. The Law Minister was saying lies again and again that Justice Sinha was suffering from aggravated cancer.

The letter requesting leave on ground of ill-health described by Barrister Hosein as a lie. Acting Chief Justice Mr Abdul Wahhab Miah told the senior lawyers when they appeared before the open court seeking his help for a meeting with the Chief Justice Sinha that he (Acting CJ) said that he spoke with him (CJ) and reassured us of his good health.

One should talk about the boldness of Chief Justice Sinha who in a written statement to the journalists said he was fully in good health. He added he was embarrassed but he would return.

Barrister Hosein was surprised why allegations of corruption will be made to the President for consideration. It was also absurd to say that the President gave the documents to other judges of the Appellate Division to take them to the Chief Justice. Judges do not do that. It is for the Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate the matter.

Barrister Hosein found it most degrading that the way lies were easily circulated by responsible persons in the government about the Chief Justice of a country treating the whole nation as illiterate.

Barrister Hosein asked those who knew about the serious allegations of corruption and money laundering against Justice Sinha and then allowed him to leave the country honourably should be punished.

In answering to a question Barrister Hosein found it unbelievable that the judges of the Appellate Division expressed their unwillingness in advance to sit with the Chief Justice because of the allegations. He is away from country, the question of sitting with him is irrelevant now.

The Tv talkshow named 'Ekattor Journal' was moderated by Farzana Rupa and the other participants were Barrister Tureen Afroz and journalists Nazrul Kabir and Zahid Ahmed Pintu.


Big changes in SC admin

10 high officials transferred

Staff Reporter :

The Supreme Court (SC) on Sunday brought big changes in its administration.

The SC authorities approved a proposal for transferring 10 high officials of the Supreme Court Registrar's Office, including Registrar General Syed Aminul Islam, Additional Registrar of the High Court Division Md Sabbir Faiz and the Chief Justice's Personal Secretary Mohammad Anisur Rahman.

The Law Ministry issued three separate gazette notifications in the evening after getting the Supreme Court's approval notice.

Among three District Judge level officers, Registrar General of the SC Syed Aminul Islam has been transferred as the Chairman of the 'Minimum Wage Board' of Dhaka, Registrar of the High Court (HC) Division Md Abu Syed Dilzar Hossain has been transferred as the Special Judge of the Special Court 3 of Dhaka and Additional Registrar of the High Court Division Md Jadib Hossain has been transferred as the judge of Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal of Rangpur.

Additional Registrar of the High Court Division Sabbir Faiz has been transferred as the Additional District Judge of Lalmonirhat, Personal Secretary of the Chief Justice Mohammad Anisur Rahman has been transferred as the Additional District Judge of Panchagarh, Additional Registrar of the Appellate Division of the SC Arunav Chakraborty has been transferred as the Additional District Judge of Satkhira and Special Officer of the SC A E M Ismail Hossain has been transferred as the Additional District Judge of Barguna. These four are Additional District Judge level officers.

Among three Joint District Judge level officers, Deputy Registrar of the HC Division Md Azizul Haque has been transferred as the Joint District Judge of Thakurgaon, Deputy Registrar of the HC Division

Farzana Yasmin has been transferred as Joint District Judge of Pirojpur and Deputy Registrar of the HC Division Mohammad Kamal Hossain Shikder has been transferred as Joint District Judge of Chuadanga.

The SC also approved another 15 judicial officers' transfer in the same notification.

On October 11, Law Minister Anisul Huq told reporters that Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, who is performing duties of the Chief Justice, has desired to bring some changes in the SC administration.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, who is now abroad, said on October 13 that he was a "bit worried about the independence of the judiciary".

Citing the senior most judge [of the Supreme Court] who is now acting as the Chief Justice, the Law Minister on Thursday said, "The judge acting as the Chief Justice will bring changes to the Supreme Court administration soon."

In a written statement the CJ said, "There is no precedence of interference in the administration of the Chief Justice by the judge acting as the Chief Justice or the government. He [the judge acting as the CJ] will only discharge daily work as per the routine. It has always been like this."

"If any interference is made in the Chief Justice's administration, it can be easily assumed that the government is interfering in the higher court and this will further deteriorate the relationship between the Judiciary and the government. It would not bring any good to the state," he concluded.
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3 alleged drug smugglers held

Chittagong Bureau :

Elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested three alleged drug smugglers from Chittagong and Cox's Bazar on Saturday. RAB- 7 team arrested two drug smugglers and recovered 913 bottles of Phensidyl syrup from the possession of arrested persons from Boro Daroga Hat area in Chittagong.

The arrested are identified as Mohammad Ismail Hossain alias Saddam Hossain (28) and Sohel Sikdar (30). Sources said, RAB team showed signal to two Chittagong bound covered van for checking. But, violating the signal of RAB, the covered van crossed the team.

After checking, RAB team recovered a total of 913 bottles of Phensidyl syrup and arrested the drug smugglers Ismail Hossain alias Saddam Hossain and Sohel Sikdar from the spot.

On the other hand, in a separate raid the team of RAB-7 arrested one yaba smuggler named Anwar Hossain from a tea stall at Jaliapara area at Teknaf in Cox's Bazar. The team also recovered 10,000 pieces of yaba tablets from the possession of arrested Anwar. RAB officials said Anwar was handed over to Teknaf thana for legal action.
At the recent Montana High Tech Jobs Summit in Missoula, there were 26 male speakers and eight female speakers.

Patricia Duce, a lecturer at the University of Montana who teaches computer science, estimates there are about 10 male students for every female student in her classes.

That disparity is representative of a national situation: There are many fewer women in the high-tech industry than men. That means that not only are women missing out on good-paying careers, but businesses are missing out on a source of acquiring top talent.

I think females have a misconception of what computer science really is, Duce explained. They think its a lonely career when its not. You interact with people. I dont think they know everything its involved with. Technology is part of everything we do, so you can tie it in to whatever your passion is. If you want to solve the world's problems, you can. You can study data and help with climate change, for example.

In her Careers in Computer Science class, she said there are seven or eight women out of 80 students. She thinks that younger students, in grade school, middle school and high school, need to be exposed to leaders in the technology industry to show them whats possible.

We gotta do more at the lower levels, she said. There are a lot of job opportunities in Montana. There are two to four times more jobs than students getting degrees in this field. And Im talking just a four-year degree. And Montana and Missoula (are) becoming more competitive.

According to the National Center for Woman & Information Technology, only 26 percent of the U.S. computing workforce was comprised of women in 2016, although 57 percent of the professional occupations in the countrys workforce are held by women.

And there isnt a huge pipeline of women earning degrees that will get them into tech and computer jobs, either. Only 16 percent of computer science bachelors degrees at major research universities were earned by women in 2015, down from 37 percent in 1985.

Diversity reports published by 11 of the worlds largest tech companies show that only 30 percent of tech workers are women. And a much smaller percentage hold jobs in actual software engineering or executive positions in those companies. Only 5 percent of tech start-ups are owned by women, according to the nonprofit Women Who Tech.

The current figures stand in contrast to the early days of computer technology.

Mathematician Ada Lovelace is widely considered the first computer programmer and added to designs developed by her husband for a machine to quickly complete complex calculations.

That work became a starting point for the first computers built a century later. For decades, women frequently studied mathematics and crunched numbers for a variety of scientific endeavors, from engineering to launching rockets. That translated into jobs as software programmers, although those posts were sometimes seen as less prestigious than the hardware work dominated by men.

Erna Schneider Hoover held multiple patents and worked on anti-ballistic missile defense systems at Bell Laboratories, but is best known for developing the telephone switching system. Jean Jennings Bartik and five other women wrote programs for one of the worlds first all-purpose, all-digital computers. Grace Hopper, a math professor and eventual rear admiral of the U.S. Navy, developed COBOL, the first programming language to use words rather than numbers.

But often those women had to struggle to earn respect for their achievements.

Christina Henderson, the executive director of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance in Missoula, acknowledged numerous stories out of Silicon Valley in recent years about the cultural barriers at some tech companies that block women from advancing or staying. Some companies' actions were unintentional, such as inviting just the boys out for beers, and some created openly hostile work environments, such as not taking seriously repeated sexual harassment complaints against particular male employees.

Its absolutely true that culturally, tech as a whole, or particular firms, create environments that are unwelcoming to women, Henderson said.

Montana has not fallen into the same spotlight for persistent discrimination, but women in tech here say work remains to be done.

Montanas most famous software company is probably RightNow Technologies. Thats because two-thirds of Montanas Congressional delegation, Sen. Steve Daines and Rep. Greg Gianforte, are former executives at RightNow. The company was founded by Gianforte and his wife in Bozeman, and was sold to Oracle in 2011 for approximately $1.5 billion. Gianforte was the CEO of RightNow when it sold and is a past board chair of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance.

Gianforte recently gave the keynote address at the Jobs Summit at the University of Montana on Oct. 9. He showed the crowd a slideshow of the early days of RightNow that illustrated tech's cultural challenges.

This was our first Christmas party, Gianforte said, pointing to a picture. Its like, five geeks standing around with a beer. We did hire women, but they knew better than to show up for the Christmas party.

Henderson said addressing the under representation of women in tech is one of her priorities and one she said Gianforte shared as the Alliances board chair.

Its sort of disheartening when you see the numbers, but when you look at the efforts to recruit women, I have hope that it will improve, she said.

***

In Montana, Henderson said women are playing an important role in the tech industry, which pays higher-than-average wages and is growing seven times faster than other industries.

We have counted in the past that 18 percent of our member companies are founded by women or have women at the top, either leading or co-leading the companies, she said. That number is pretty comparable to nationwide numbers in the tech industry.

Henderson thinks there may be a pipeline problem where fewer girls join middle school coding clubs, take rigorous STEM courses in high school and enroll in computer science programs in college. She noted several exciting initiatives in Montana, including outreach programs by Big Sky Coding Academy with a Montana Code Girls program and a Chick Tech chapter in Missoula that offers mentoring.

Elixiter in Bozeman was named one of the top workplaces for women, and 60 percent of employees are women there, she said. The companys president and founder, Andrew Hull, spoke on the first panel at the Summit.

Many of our tech companies, although they may be led by men, are actively looking for women programmers, Henderson said.

She said the panel speakers at the Jobs Summit were primarily scheduled by Daines' staff, but she consulted on some.

We definitely had those conversations, Henderson said. Lets make sure we have a lot of women on the panels and we brainstorm women speakers. One of the panels had two women, which I thought was great.

Susan Carstensen is the former chief financial officer and chief operating officer at RightNow Technologies. She said when she joined in 1999, the company had about 60 total employees and quite a few were women.

Not as much in the computer science or engineering area, though, she said. The lack of candidates is a real problem. I think theres been a lot of data around that. If you get a diverse workforce, it produces better results. You would have better products with more women in computer science. Its not that women design things better than men, but you would have an overall more diverse workforce.

She is seeing positive trends in Montana and believes the state stacks up well with other states as far as getting women involved in tech.

I could list 10 women in tech in Montana that are all doing interesting things, she said. A lot of good things are happening.
New Indian diplomat meets Mayor

Chittagong Bureau :

Newly appointed Assistant High Commissioner (AHC) of India in Chittagong Aninda Bhattacharjee paid a courtesy call on Chittagong Mayor A J M Nasir Uddin Chowdhury at his Andarkillah residence on Thursday noon.

Recalling immense contribution of friendly country India to Bangladesh liberation struggle in 1971 the Mayor hoped that India will come forward with all kinds of cooperation and stand beside Bangladesh at all odds. Earlier, the Mayor welcomed the Indian envoy with a bouquet and a crest of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC).Officials of Indian High Commission in Chittagong and CCC were present during the meeting.
Manarat College holds Cultural Week

Campus Report :

Manarat Dhaka International School and College has celebrated its Cultural Week 2017. On this occasion, the college witnessed a festive look. Different competitive events were organized for the students. One of the events was Wall Magazine Competition. Other events were Qirat, Naat-e-Rasul, Bangla Poetry Recitation, English Extempore Speech, General and Islamic Quiz, and Bangla Essay Competition.

The events of the Cultural Week commenced with the inauguration of preparing Wall Magazine launched by the Vice Principal, Fatima Jemaima Rahman of the College. Md Raihan Uddin, coordinator of Boys' Section, SM Serajul Islam, Tahera Tasneem, Jahanara Bilkis, Abdul Hamid Khan and Ibrahim Mondol were also present.

Then the primary selection round of other events was initiated. At the final day of the Cultural Week, winners of various events performed in front of the audience and showed their competence.

A discussion session on the life and work of Prophet Muhammad (SM) was held at the end. Brig Gen (Retd.) Mehdi Hassan Pramanik, psc, Principal of the College, presided over the session where among the senior faculties Ayesha Begum, Sajeda Akhter, Sk Shahadat Hossain and Aminul Islam delivered their speech.

Among the learners, SM Tahmid Siddiqui of class ten, Fairuz Masuda Haque of class nine, addressed the occasion. With special prayer wishing the wellbeing and betterment of our country, the event came to a close.
Research works for higher education stressed

BSS, Rangpur :

Academicians at an orientation workshop here stressed on conducting adequate research activities for ensuring quality and international standard of higher education.

They came up with the observation at an inaugural ceremony of the two-day workshop on 'Participatory Action Research' organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR) on Sunday afternoon, said a press release.

Professor of the Bengali Department at the university Dr Parimal Chandra Barman attended the function as the chief guest with Head of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism Dr Md Nazrul Islam in the chair.

Forty students of the Department of Mass Communication of BRUR are participating in the workshop being arranged with assistance of 'Pollishree', Monash University of Australia and Oxfam GB.
SC full court meeting today

banglanews24.com :

Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah has again convened a full court meeting with participation of all judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court. The meeting will be held today (Monday).

The notice in this regard was released on the website of the Supreme Court on Sunday.

Signed by Deputy Registrar (administration

and justice) of the High Court Division of the SC Azizul Haque, the notice was said that the meeting will begin at 4:00 pm today Monday at the Supreme Court Judges Lounge.

Earlier, Md Abdul Wahhab Miah also held a full court meeting of the apex court on October 03, hours after he started serving his duty as acting chief justice in absence of SK Sinha.
He who can`t see a lie as a lie speaks truth always

Editorial Desk :

The Law Minister Mr. Anisul Huq is of the view that those who think he lied over the ill-health of the Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha are idiots. He claimed repeatedly that Justice Sinha's ill-health needs treatment abroad. But Mr Justice Sinha denied his statement, though without mentioning name of the minister and said he was fully fit.

Mr Law Minister is right that everybody has some illness and he is also no exception. He should have explained the truth. By calling others idiots who understand by ill-health a serious incapacity, he had created a language problem. He who cannot see a lie as a lie should not have any difficulty in claiming that he always speaks the truth.

The Law Minister Mr. Anisul Huq is a nice man but he is bearing too much responsibility.

Supreme Court administration yesterday quoting a press release issued by the Registrar General Office and reportedly ordered by Acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah notified some major changes in senior administrative posts. After the recent activities of the Registrar, it made clear that he was acting under pressure and not expressing the true position.

The proposal for transfer of 10 high officials of the Supreme Court Registrar's Office including Registrar General Syed Aminul Islam, Additional Registrar of the High Court Division Md Sabbir Faiz and the Chief Justice's Personal Secretary Mohammad Anisur Rahman is a big reshuffle intended to establish the authority of the judges as against unholy political pressure. The Law Minister Mr. Anisul

Huq is still anxious to prove that the administration of the judiciary is under his control.

The Law Minister has lost his credibility and personality by telling lies about the health of the Chief Justice again and again. He enjoyed the forced confinement of Chief Justice Sinha. One day he will have to explain what he and others of the government wanted to secure from the Chief Justice of Bangladesh and the protector of the Constitution. Justice Sinha only said he was embarrassed by the situation.

Let our Law Minister imaging himself in this position in any other democratic country telling lies about the health of the Chief Justice for justifying confinement and everything else known and unknown. He would have lost his job.

The Law Minister should have defended the Chief Justice in his effort to save the judiciary being himself a practicing lawyer.

The news about the whole episode during the confinement of the Chief Justice after his foreign visit, including the role of the President is too shameful for a nation as educated as we are.

Why Chief Justice Sinha was sent on a foreign visit makes no sense. The Chief Justice said at the airport that he would return. Justice Sinha will retire in January and so it was not necessary to be unceremonious with Justice Sinha. The judgement that went against the government cannot be changed unless the judiciary is to be destroyed altogether.
I'm a budtender for an excellent dispensary in Montana. I've also served the state as a legislative secretary. Before that, my career was in nonprofit fundraising. I was a budtender first in Helena where dispensaries are banned in city limits. I affectionately call it the country store, but it's not as sweet as it sounds. It can take longer for emergency personnel to respond to our remote location, making it less safe for our employees and the people we serve. The icy, winding road is known for accidents. It's often poor driving conditions for people traveling from town, or worse, Great Falls, another banned city we serve with our country store. Our patients need to carve out an hour-and-a-half to a half-day, depending on their travel.

I've transferred to our Butte store. We are right in town. Our patients often choose the bus or walk, as they would here in Billings. In the three years we've in Butte, we've had no increase in crime. We have happy neighbors. My favorite customers are the retirees. We talk about our back surgeries. We recovered together in water aerobics. The retirees of Helena are my friends. I worry about them when they tell me that the dispensary is the one place they drive. Some tell me they are uncomfortable driving on some of the prescription pills they take.

Think about the elders in your family. You would do anything to help them. If you ban dispensaries, be prepared to give them a long ride out of town. The old and the wise are choosing pot brownies over pills.

Erica Siate

Butte
Although my perception of Jeff Essmann may be considered particularly biased because of his support of recognizing mental illnesses as medical problems and recognition of the need for suicide prevention, there are additional reasons to consider his abilities as a leader.

My contact with his services to Montana in the state House of Representatives and Senate for many years impressed me with his sincerity, rational and common-sense thinking, organizing ability and capacity to relate with people having variable ideas.

These characteristics make him the proper choice for mayor of Billings.

Donald Harr, MD

Billings
Zimmermans receive steakhouse award

Dale and Melodie Zimmerman, owners of 40 Steak + Seafood and Peacock Alley in Bismarck, recently received the Steakhouse of the Year award from the Certified Angus Beef brand during its annual conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Council presents safety, service awards

Safety and distinguished service awards were presented at the Lignite Energy Councils Fall Conference on Oct. 4.

Employees of the Freedom and Coyote Creek mines, both at Beulah and both subsidiaries of North American Coal, received the Safety Excellence Award for having the lowest overall accident incident rate in the state lignite industry in 2016.

Distinguished Safety Awards recognizing accident incident rates lower than the industry average went to Otter Tail Powers Coyote Station, Beulah; Minnkota Power Cooperatives Milton R. Young Station, Center; Montana-Dakota Utilities Co.s Lewis & Clark Station, Sidney, Mont.; BNI Coals Center Mine, Center; and The Falkirk Mining Co.s Falkirk Mine, Underwood.

Basin Electric Power Cooperative received the Community Service Award for its work in developing a community day care center in Hazen.

Russ Smith, a vice president with TriTec Steel Fabrication, won the 2017 Contractor/Supplier Member of the Year Award. He was nominated by employees at the Coyote Station.

Ambassador of Lignite Awards for achievements and support of the lignite industry were given to Jan Rudolf, Otter Tail Power Co.; Doug Stoltz, The Falkirk Mining Co.; Steve Tomac, Basin Electric Power Cooperative; Sue Black, Minnkota Power Cooperative; Becky Luhning, Otter Tail Power Co.; Chris Blowers, BNI Coal; and Chuck Kerr, Great Northern Properties.

Credit unions raise funds for hospitals

Credit unions in North Dakota and South Dakota and the Credit Union Association of the Dakotas raised more than $40,600 in support of Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals on the Sept. 13 Miracle Jeans Day.
ALL recognition

Joe Kalvoda, principal of South Central High School in Bismarck, received the Outstanding Leadership/Service Award during the Sept. 29 state conference of the North Dakota Association for Lifelong Learning.

The award is given to an individual, legislator, administrator or businessperson who demonstrates exceptional leadership in his/her area of responsibility, exemplifies and supports the NDALL purpose of supporting lifelong learning, and encourages others.

Student of the Year Awards are given to individuals who are current or recent students/graduates, demonstrate determination and perseverance, and sacrifice to achieve their educational goals. The Adult Education Student of the Year Award winner is Cory Anvik.

Michelle Schuh, of Dickinson Adult Learning Center, tied for the highest average GED score in North Dakota, achieving an overall score of 706 and an average score of 176.

Nursing study aided

Karli Laeger and Madison Cermak, who both work at Lakewood Landing in Mandan, have been awarded $1,000 Allan B. Engen Nurse Scholarships by the North Dakota Long Term Care Association.

Laeger is a CNA/med aide I and Cermak is a CNA/med aide III.

Employed with Lakewood Landing for over two years, Laeger is enrolled in the Dakota Nursing Program through Bismarck State College.

Cermak, also employed for over two years, is enrolled in the nursing program at the University of Mary.

The Allan B. Engen Nurse Scholarship was established in recognition of the work and accomplishments of the NDLTCAs first executive director, the late Allan B. Engen. It is designed to help combat North Dakotas nursing shortage.

Senger recognized

Mary Senger, Burleigh County emergency manager, has received the Distinguished Service Award from the North Dakota Emergency Management Association.

It is the organizations highest award and honors current members who, through long-term efforts, have influenced the field of emergency management and the work of the association in a positive manner.

The groups newly elected board members include Amanda Schooling, Ward County, vice president, and Denise Brew, Dunn County, secretary-treasurer.

4-H'ers pitch in

Burleigh County 4-H kicked off observance of National 4-H Week Oct. 1-7 with a service project that provided local charities with 120 birthday parties in a bag.

The bags containing the basics needed to have a birthday party (cake, frosting, a few decorations) were donated to Carries Kids and the Ronald McDonald House.

The items were donated by 4-H members and their families. The County Kids 4-H club also secured funds through the Thrivent Action Team program to purchase additional items.

It was fun to see members from different clubs come together and work on a common project, said Amelia Doll, Burleigh County 4-H youth development agent. One of 4-Hs focus areas is community service.

Many clubs also decorated rocks with the hashtag, #4Hrocks to hide around the Bismarck-Mandan area. Finders of the rocks are encouraged to post a picture of their find to social media with the hashtag and either keep or rehide the rock.

Grant aids zoo

Dakota Zoo in Bismarck recently received a $500 national Family Campers & RVers wildlife refuge grant.

Terry Lincoln, zoo director, said the money will provide mesh shade cloth to a new flight pen used to house injured or orphaned raptors during their rehabilitation at the zoo.

The grant resulted from a submission by JeAnne Selby, Bismarck, state FCRV director.

The FCRV Wildlife Refuge program offers financial grants to governmental and private organizations to assist in wildlife conservation projects.

PAEMST finalists

Two Bismarck teachers are among state finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence Mathematics and Science Teaching.

Vicki Wolf is a mathematics teacher at Wachter Middle School.

Shawn Brink teaches science at the Bismarck Career Academy.

The PAEMST awards program for K-12 mathematics and science teachers is administered by the National Science Foundation on behalf of the White House.
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ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia's national air carrier Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is mulling flights to the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.

Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province, has in recent years been known as an emerging technology hub and home to e-commerce giant Alibaba.

Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of ET, told Xinhua on Sunday the air carrier is mulling Hangzhou as its next destination as part of its plan to attract more Chinese tourists and business people.

Private investment from China to Ethiopia in 2017, up to September 5, has reached more than $680 million, outpacing the entire 2016 figures of $560 million.

China is the single largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Ethiopia for the last several years, as Ethiopia bids to attract Chinese expertise and money for its industrialization ambitions.

Chinese tourists are also a rising demographics with the East African country attracting 41,660 Chinese tourists in 2015, a trend the Ethiopian government expects to grow in the coming years.

Ethiopia had earned $3.32 billion from 886,897 tourists that visited the nation during the Ethiopian Fiscal Year 2016/17 that ended on July 8.

The country plans to earn $4.5 billion from 1.2 million tourists during the 2017/18 Fiscal Year that started July 9.

Hangzhou however is not the only Chinese destination that Ethiopian Airlines is mulling starting flights to.

Gebremariam previously told Xinhua ET is considering flights to Shenzhen, a major innovation and entrepreneurship center, as another destination possibly bringing the number of flight destinations ET has to Chinese cities to seven in total.

Ethiopian Airlines currently flies to five destinations in China: Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou.
Seventy-five years ago, during World War II, on an island about 1,100 miles off the northeast coast of Australia, a group of North Dakota National Guardsmen fought the monthslong Battle of Guadalcanal.

We fought for each other, said Col. Richard Stevens, of Grand Forks Company M, during the last reunion of North Dakotas famed 164th Infantry Regiment, of which he was a member.

And even at times that their gun barrels were too hot to touch from continuous firing, Dennis Ferk, Bismarcks Company A, said they just kept shooting upon the advancing enemy.

It was them or us, he said. If we didnt do it, we would be the ones that would die.

Stevens, Ferk and five other members of the regiment during WWII were honored in a ceremony at Bismarck State College on Saturday, 75 years and one day to their landing on the island, making them the first U.S. Army unit of the war to offensively engage the enemy.

Collections of 164th Infantry uniforms, journals, photos, memorabilia and military equipment were on display for the gathering of the regiments soldiers and soldiers families.

The 164th had a big impact on the state, said Shirley Olgerson, editor of the 164th Infantry News, adding the regiments soldiers fought in WWI, WWII and Korea before it was disbanded in 1955.

Christine OHara and Susan Larson attended in memory of their father, Friedolph Willard Anderson, who served in Company E.

The 164th was very important to him, Larson said, and he attended many of the reunions before he died and was buried in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan.

OHara said the 164th was like his extended family: In a war situation, you become very tight knit.

Barry Robertson came to honor his father Wallace Roberts of Wahpetons Company I. He said his father had lied about his age in order to join, enlisting at the age of 15 and seeing his first combat at age 16.

His father, who died at the age of 57 from cancer, didnt like to talk about his years in the war, so hearing other WWII veterans stories helped Robertson and his family connect.

The 164th lost its first soldier on that very first day of the landing. Marines had been protecting the Henderson Airfield on the island from falling into the hands of the Japanese, which would have given the enemy the ability to expand its hold in the Pacific Theater. The 164th was sent as reinforcements.

When the guardsmen got to the beach, they had to vault over the sides of their landing boats into the water.

Douglas Burtell said they were told the water was maybe waist high but they found themselves splashing into water 10 feet deep.

There was nothing to it really, Louis Hanson, of Company E, said jokingly, but that couldnt have been further from the truth.

The troops were greeted with air raids, one at 11 a.m. and another at 2 p.m., said Stevens. That was followed by a night of the Japanese Navy raining 14-inch shells on them that Hanson said left craters you could pour a homes basement in.

Ive never been so frightened in my life than I was the first day in Guadalcanal, Stevens said, recalling the swish, swish, swish, swish as the shells flew over his head.

Because they had just arrived they didnt have any foxholes dug. Hanson said he climbed in a hole with a marine and laid on top of him.

Hanson would track the marine down years later, calling him up and asking, Can you still feel my heart beating?

The 164ths role in Guadalcanal would lead to the turning point in the wars Pacific Theater.

After 12 days on the island, the regiment would be thrust into intense fighting.

The 164th were set to guard the eastern edge of the airfield, with the marines to the west, north and south. Stevens said the marines thought they were putting the guardsmen on the safe side but it would end up being near where the Japanese launched their main attack.

The marines held the line for two to three hours before Stevens said his battalion was called in for backup. They marched through the rain in the dark up along Bloody Ridge then down into jungle and into the fray.

We go there just in time, he said.

When the two days of fighting ended and the gunsmoke settled, there would be about 1,800 Japanese soldiers bodies lying on the battlefield.

By the end of the battle in February, Stevens would be the last living member of Company M.

The Japanese had expected they would force the U.S. to surrender in that second day but the 164th and the marines won that critical battle.
COBDEN  A decade ago, Linda Austin and Bob Hageman visited the Union County museum in Cobden and were having a frank discussion about when they'd get around to starting that art gallery they'd always dreamed of opening.

The time seemed right: Hageman was a year retired from his job of 28-some years as an administrator for Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Austin had retired six months earlier as a Jackson County prosecutor.

Judy Travelstead, a member of the museum, overheard part of their conversation and pointed out an empty building across the downtown loop in Cobden, on North Front Street.

The two went over, peered into the windows and minutes later called the landlord, who came out and showed them the place: It felt right, and the next day they signed a one-year lease.

They always intended to run it for five years, but along the way, they just began to have so much fun, Austin said.

Around years seven to eight though, they realized they needed to get back on task and move on to other loves they wanted to pursue while they were healthy and able to: Like Austin's art and Hageman's photography.

Looking ahead, they decided to hold out until the 2017 eclipse, wanting to celebrate the event along with the rest of Union County and Southern Illinois. They did, celebrating the event with a "Moon Shadow" exhibit of eclipse-themed art work from their various artists.

Just as they had when they started, they realized this was the year: They got to celebrate eclipse 2017 in grand fashion, and Austin turned 70.

That decision is to close the Anthiill Gallery and Vintage Curiosities shop, which the couple ran for a decade, creating a viable venue for artists to showcase and sell their work and residents and visitors to the region to acquire unique pieces of art.

"It's a good thing to get out when you're able to make the decision yourself," not because of health concerns or an economic downturn, Austin said.

Its time, its just time, and it feels fight, Austin said.

The art gallery will stay open till Christmas, she said. In January, the two plan to spend time returning commission artwork back to the artists and selling displays, furniture and other items.

The business  the furnishings and the like  she noted, is also for sale. The couple is available to help facilitate working relationships between any possible buyer and the 60-some artists with whom they bought work.

Making an impression in Southern Illinois

The art gallery is at 102 N. Front St. in Cobden, two doors down from Yellow Moon Cafe and Fuzzy's Tavern.

Inside the gallery are two other smaller businesses, Rare Images and Firelight Studios, which Austin owns.

Throughout the gallery are artworks, photographs, sculptures and other pieces of art from 60-some artists, the bulk from throughout the region, and a handful from throughout the country. Over the life of the shop, she thinks they couple has worked with 80 to 90 artists.

The couple keeps the gallery looking fresh by rotating pieces and creating new exhibits and even returning to artists pieces that aren't doing well in the shop  and offering much-needed feedback that the artists wouldn't otherwise receive, one of them, Linda Bollenbach said. She said she has worked with the anthill owners since the beginning, giving them pieces of her silver and gold jewelry to sell on commission; sometimes, she can sell as much as 10 pieces in a month, sometimes as little as one.

Plus, she added, the couple is always able to give the customers insight into the artist, what their inspiration was for a piece or how they did it.

"They're going to be a big loss for me, personally," she said. "They're going to (leave) a big hole in the arts community."

She's hoping the shop can survive with new owners who are as conscious, supportive and fair as this couple is.

"It takes a long time to develop a good relationship" between an artist and someone with whom they sell work, on commission, she said. "It's a trust issue," giving someone pieces of your jewelry.

"They were honest; they kept it nice."

Looking forward

The couple is looking forward to traveling  a road trip to Maine, where they'd like to take a ferry to Nova Scotia and other parts of Canada  and pursuing their own artistic passions. Austin specializes in stained glass sculptures and her husband in photography.

"Were going to be looking for a gallery to put our work in 'cause we wont have this place," she said. "And were going to take a break, because we need one."

As they prepare for that and close out, though, their thoughts are for the future of the little artist community that grew up around the gallery. They have been talking to one person, but would definitely like to see the business be taken over by some interested person.

"We really dont want to have this empty storefront here in Cobden," she said. "Cobden is having a nice little renaissance, and thats one of the reasons we stayed a lot longer than we originally thought we would."
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Sunday the US is trying to stay in the Iran nuclear deal while hoping to achieve more from it, days after President Donald Trump threatened to pull the US out of the agreement.

"We're going to stay in," Tillerson said in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union," though he left open the possibility that the US could seek another agreement.

"We're going to work with our European partners and allies to see if we can't address these concerns," he added.

Trump on Friday said Iran was violating the agreement and threatened to pull out of the deal, pushing the issue to Congress. Tillerson has said in the past Iran was in "technical compliance" with the deal.

Asked to square these two claims, Tillerson said Iran had committed technical violations of the deal, but that the agreement was structured in a way to give Iran significant time to remedy its violations.

"They have remedied the violations, which then brings them back into technical compliance," Tillerson said.

Tillerson said Trump had demanded a broader strategy on Iran and said the US was focused on more issues than simply Iran's potential nuclear ambitions, citing the nation's ballistic missile program and support for groups adversarial to the US throughout the Middle East.

"What the President wants is a more comprehensive strategy," Tillerson said.

He said the US was working to address issues it had with the multilateral agreement and anticipated that might require a new deal.

"Let's see if we cannot address the flaws in the agreement by staying within the agreement, working with the other signatories, working with our European friends and allies within the agreement," Tillerson said. "But that, as I said, may come in a secondary agreement as well."
COLUMBIA -- The Indian Waters Council of the Boy Scouts of America recently conducted a major event at the new law school of the University of South Carolina, and it was a big hit for Scouts and leaders alike.

On Sept. 30, 75 Boy Scouts from throughout the Midlands spent their day learning about various aspects of the law and law enforcement from distinguished statewide leaders in those fields.

In todays society, it is vital for our young people to better understand the importance of law and law enforcement, said Doug Stone, Scout executive of the Indian Waters Council, BSA. It was remarkable to have done that with the top caliber of professionals we had represented from those fields.

The event was led by a large group of law professionals who are all Eagle Scout alumni, including federal Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr., South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, former SLED Chief Robert Stewart, Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon and state Sen. Brad Hutto. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster provided the opening remarks with a history of the American legal system and encouraging words for the young men.

The new University of South Carolina School of Law was the setting for the big day. The new law school was the perfect venue and afforded opportunities for panel discussions, classroom instruction and even mock trials with real judges, said Jack Cohoon, an Eagle Scout and legal aid attorney for South Carolina Legal Services who coordinated the event. It was a great day for Scouting.

During lunch, Scouts were treated to demonstrations and exhibits by eight different local law enforcement agencies that were set up adjacent to the Law School on Senate Street, which was shut down for the event. They included bomb trucks, four-wheelers, bloodhounds, mobile SWAT command posts and armored transports.

The Scouting and law and law enforcement community were proud to present the Indian Waters Councils Law Day and will look to continue its success on an annual basis. The council wished to thank the Legal Eagles, guest speakers and volunteers who contributed to the event.

The Indian Waters Council serves youth and families in eight counties in the Midlands: Richland, Lexington, Fairfield, Saluda, Bamberg, Calhoun, Orangeburg and Kershaw.
COLUMBIA  Governor Henry McMaster has proclaimed Earthquake Awareness Week for 2017 be observed Oct. 15-21 in South Carolina. The S.C. Emergency Management Division encourages everyone to take this opportunity to learn about our states seismic fault system and how best to prepare for earthquakes. A highlight of the week will be the Great Southeast ShakeOut earthquake safety drill at 10:19 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 19.

More than two million people across eight states and Washington D.C. will take part in the Great SouthEast ShakeOut earthquake safety drill. The regional ShakeOut drill is part of an international effort in which participants simultaneously practice how to stay safe during an earthquake  Drop, Cover and Hold On. For most people, in most situations, this means to:

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees;

COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand, as you crawl for shelter under a nearby table or desk;

HOLD ON to your shelter with one hand until shaking stops (remain on your knees and covering your head and neck with your other arm and hand).

Schools, businesses, organizations, government agencies, communities and households are all encouraged to participate in the drill. Worldwide, 25 million people are currently expected to participate in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills next Thursday. Although the primary activity of the ShakeOut is based upon a drill procedure similar to a fire or tornado drill, participants are encouraged to take actions to become better prepared for all disasters. This could include:

Securing heavy items to prevent them from causing injuries during an earthquake

Creating an emergency plan and/or updating emergency supply kits

Talking with their families and neighbors about emergency preparedness

Registration on the Southeast ShakeOut site is an important part of this event. The Great ShakeOut is open to everyone in South Carolina. To register, go to www.shakeout.org/southeast.

Similar to other emergency preparedness drills sponsored by SCEMD, the signal to begin the drill will be broadcast next Thursday at 10:19 a.m. on NOAA tone-alert weather radio and broadcast media. All media are encouraged to participate in the ShakeOut by broadcasting the drill message issued by SCEMD and the National Weather Service.

There have been ten low-magnitude earthquakes recorded in South Carolina since October 2016. Our state experiences approximately ten to 20 earthquakes a year according to geologists with the College of Charleston. The epicenter of the largest earthquake ever recorded along the eastern United States coast was just outside of Charleston on August 31, 1886. The 7.3 magnitude quake devastated the region and was felt from Chicago, Ill, to Cuba. According to a study commissioned by SCEMD, an earthquake of similar magnitude occurring today would result in tremendous loss of life, severe property damage and extreme economic loss.
Nina Turner, president of Our Revolution, will give the keynote address at the Our Revolution South Carolina Fall Conference in Columbia.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Homewood Suites at 230 Greystone Blvd.

Also speaking will be S.C. House Dist. 90 Rep. Justin Bamberg.

Turner has served as a state senator from Ohio and chair of the Ohio Task Force on Community and Police Relations. Nationally, she has become a strong voice in progressive politics, and she was a key adviser to U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders during the tumultuous 2016 Democratic presidential primary. Turner appears regularly as a commentator on national television and radio networks. She recently assumed the presidency of Our Revolution, a national organization that supports progressive issues and candidates, with more than 400 chapters across the country.

Bamberg is in his second term representing S.C. House District 90, which encompasses Bamberg and parts of Barnwell and Colleton counties. After graduating from USC Law School in 2011, he established a private practice in Bamberg. In recent years, he has served as attorney for clients in some of the United States most high profile cases, particularly in regards to officer-involved incidents. In January 2016, Bamberg endorsed Bernie Sanders, citing his unwavering support of racial, social and economic justice. The lawmaker, who has a dynamic progressive message, will be the featured speaker at the conference at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20.

Throughout the day on Saturday, interactive workshops will be presented around the conference theme Social Justice In America. Topics will include Access to Healthcare, The Environment, Voter Rights, Civil Rights and the Law, Womens Rights and Campaign Training.

More information on the conference can be found at: www.ourrevolutionsouthcarolina.weebly.com or by calling Co-Chair Lawrence Moore at 803-238-0331.
A veteran Orangeburg County magistrate charged with driving under the influence is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 25 in North Charleston.

Jacob Gillens Sr., 68, of Eutawville will be appearing before the North Area 2 Magistrate Court in North Charleston, according to South Carolina court records.

Gillens has been charged with driving under the influence with a blood alcohol level of greater than .08 but less than .10, according to state court records. It was his first offense, records indicate.

He was charged following a Sept. 28 crash.

The S.C. Highway Patrol claims Gillens was traveling west on Interstate 26 in a 2013 Cadillac when, at around the 211 mile marker, he ran off the road to the left and struck the median wall.

He came back across the interstate before side-swiping a 2017 Ford and ending up in a ditch, according to the SCHP.

Gillens was hospitalized at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston with minor injuries after the incident.

Troopers allege they found a cup with a liquid that smelled of alcohol and a half-empty bottle of liquor in his back seat during a routine check of his car.

Officers further allege he admitted to pouring the alcohol in the cup earlier that evening.

Gillens refused to submit to a blood sample, causing his license to be suspended, according to the SCHP.

If convicted, he could face a fine of up to $400, up to 30 days in jail, 48 hours of community service or a six-month driver's license suspension.

He is also accused of violating the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, which regulates the transport of alcoholic beverages. The charge is a misdemeanor and carries with it a maximum fine of $100 and a maximum jail sentence of not more than 100 days if hes convicted.

Orangeburg County Chief Magistrate Robert Clariday declined comment on Gillens status, saying the ultimate decision is still pending.

The South Carolina Supreme Court's Office of Disciplinary Counsel's Lesley Coggiola referred all inquiries to Clariday.

Gillens could not be reached for comment at his listed residential phone number or his office in Holly Hill.

According to online court documents, Gillens was first appointed a magistrate for Orangeburg County in 1985. He serves as an eastern region magistrate.
An Orangeburg County businessman and SCANA board member is named in a lawsuit related to the failed nuclear project in Fairfield County.

James Roquemore, a SCANA director since 2007 and chair of the boards nuclear oversight committee, is one of 12 individuals named in the lawsuit against the company's top executives and board.

The 25-page lawsuit, filed Sept. 26, seeks to recover more than $21 million in bonuses that top executives got during the 10 years two reactors at the V.C. Summer nuclear project were under construction.

Roquemore, who is the general manager of Orangeburg's SuperSod, also sits on the SCANA compensation committee.

Roquemore declined comment on the matter, referring all questions to SCANA media relations.

The lawsuit alleges Roquemore and the other three members of the compensation committee "approved the executive bonus compensation with actual knowledge of the executive defendants were failing to properly manage the nuclear construction project and that the project was significantly over budget and behind schedule."

The lawsuit also claims that since Roquemore also sits on the SCANA nuclear oversight committee, he knew the "contractors were not being adequately managed ... and as a result, the contractors were not required to adhere to budgets or schedules."

The lawsuit was the first of a half-dozen filed against SCANA to date that name individual top SCANA executives and board members as defendants. It seeks to hold them individually responsible for failing to act in the best financial interests of the company.

The lawsuit is also the first of the lawsuits filed by a stockholder. Others have been filed by SCANA customers who allege their monthly bills were unlawfully inflated to pay for the failed project.

The lawsuit alleges that "while driving SCANA to the brink of financial disaster, the Board (of directors) simultaneously rewarded SCANA executives with millions of dollars of bonus compensation, based upon their performance related to the (nuclear) project and other short-term performance metrics ....

In all, $21.4 million in bonuses were handed out from 2007 through 2016, when $3.3 million in bonuses were distributed, the lawsuit said.

John Crangle of ethics watchdog group Common Cause brought the lawsuit. It demands that the defendants reimburse SCANA for the "appalling, disturbing and galling performance bonuses handed out to the executives.

SCANA subsidiary South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. and state-owned utility Santee Cooper halted the construction of two new nuclear reactors this summer after chief contractor Westinghouse filed for bankruptcy.

Both utilities have faced intense scrutiny since the nearly $10 billion failure, which both state and federal authorities are investigating. State lawmakers also are probing the collapse.

Ratepayers have already paid more than $2 billion in interest fees on the project's debt, money the companies have said won't be refunded. SCE&G wants to recover billions more from customers to pay off the debt, though lawmakers want to stop that.
Combat readiness of the Buk-MB anti-aircraft missile systems of Azerbaijans Air Defense troops were inspected in line with the instructions of Azerbaijani defense minister, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov, the Defense Ministry said on October 14.

During the execution of tasks, the Air Defense units detected and took for tracing high-speed, small-sized air targets of the simulated enemy, and destroyed them in practical missile firings.

The Defense Ministry leadership commended the combat readiness, skills and interoperability of military personnel.








In his Friday speech, US President Donald Trump derailed an event that was meant to address Irans nuclear dossier, an expert believes.

Rather than to address Irans compliance with the nuclear deal, for which the day had been set, Trump talked about non-nuclear issues and in fact derailed the event, Hassan Lasjerdi, member of the Islamic Coalition Partys central committee told Trend October 14.

Accusing Iran of sponsoring terrorism, Trump on Friday said Washington will adopt tough sanctions on the IRGC for its regional influence.

In the meantime, the Treasury announced it had put under sanctions a number of companies affiliated with the IRGC.

Trumps speech indicated that Irans nuclear deal and its implementation are not the focus of Washingtons Iran policy, Lasjerdi noted.

Trumps speech addressed three non-nuclear issues in a bid to open new horizons with the world community to deal with Iran. The first issues was Irans regional influence. The second was allegations regarding terrorism. And the third was Irans defense capabilities, especially its missile program, Lasjerdi added.

We will counter threats to the United States and our allies from ballistic missiles and other asymmetric weapons, Trump said during a speech in which he was supposed to announce Washingtons assessment of Irans compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal.

We will work to deny the Iranian regime  and especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)  funding, the US president added.
Pre-order I think Dad wants us to pick up where he left off. You know, saving people, hunting things. The family business.  Dean Winche...
Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA), the executive arm of The High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, today launched the Naming Rights Program of its Riyadh Public Transit Network, currently under construction.

The program was launched at a press conference in the Diplomatic Quarter of Riyadh.

Out of the 85 stations of the Riyadh Metro system, 15 will be eligible for well-known national and international companies to bid for, out of which only 10 will be awarded naming rights by ADA, a statement said.

This is the first of a series of commercial initiatives launched by Riyadh Metro for the business community. Others to follow soon will include retail space and advertising concessions, as well as opportunities for telecom providers.

The new Riyadh Public Transit Network is one of the strategic vehicles for the urban and economic development of the city of Riyadh. It is also one of the key enablers to make our capital one of three Saudi cities recognised in the top-ranked 100 cities in the world, as per Vision 2030, stated Eng Alwalid Alekrish, ADAs Vice President for Programs and Projects, in his opening remarks.

The income from the Naming Rights Program and other commercial initiatives will be reinvested in the Riyadh Public Transit Network and will contribute to keep its operational cost down. This is a good example of how commercial initiatives could benefit Saudi society, he added.

Companies bidding will get a package which includes not only naming rights, but also other benefits such as retail space and advertising locations in the station. Key landmark stations, like Qasr Al Hokm, are out of the scope of the program, to prevent over-commercialisation of the network. Moreover, only companies compatible with Saudi values and culture will be selected by ADA, the statement said.

Selected Stations

The Naming Rights partners will provide vibrant community hubs through their presence. They will be encouraged to provide an enhanced environment for brand experience that would benefit users of the network. Banks and telecom companies are examples of possible partners which will contribute to improve Riyadh residents lifestyle, emphasized Architect Khalid Al-Hazani, Director of Architectural Projects Program and Public Affairs at ADA.

Naming rights offer branding, marketing and sales opportunities on a scale never seen before in a public transport environment, due to the unique integration of a brand into the stations signage and touch points. The Riyadh Metro Naming Rights Program will enhance Riyadhs image as a vibrant, modern and cosmopolitan destination, he concluded.

High returns on the project

Eng Khalid Al-Hazani said that the tender offers a rare opportunity for major private sector entities to get services, benefits and facilities that will make their brands and products available to all the targeted segments of the project, whether through billboards, advertising, maps, publications is-sued by the project, retail outlets, or the project website and its accounts on social media.

Mechanism of participating in the tender

Eng. Hassan bin Abdulaziz Al Musa, Deputy Director of Transport Planning Department at the Au-thority, gave a brief explanation on the mechanism of participation in the tender for the sale of naming rights of for the stations of Riyadh Metro, in which he pointed out that it will begin today (October 15), through registration on the project website (www.RiyadhMetro.sa), and obtaining the criteria and rules of bidding. The ADA will then study the information and data of the bidding companies, to classify and qualify them according to the criteria, conditions and controls specified in the program.

He added that the authority will begin to receive quotations from companies starting December 17, 2017 until January 25, 2018, after which the authority will study the offers submitted and then an-nounce the award of the tender to the winning companies.

Promising Opportunities

It is believed that returns achieved by (King Abdul Aziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport - Metro and bus), for the city and its inhabitants, will exceed the provision of public transport for users of service project. It will extent to developing the lifestyle and enhancing its quality, as well as up-grading many sectors of the city, developing their economic structure, improving their investment environment, and boosting the city position as a destination for quality investments.

The project is designed as per high technical specifications, notably the use of automated rail sys-tem (without driver), and the establishment of stations according to modern architectural designs, prepared by a group of leading engineering firms in the world. It is characterised by high standards of amenities and safety systems, the latest information and communication systems, number of restaurants, cafes and shops, as well as train carriages that have been manufactured by three of the largest rail carriages manufacturers in the world.

To register, interested companies should go to the new Riyadh Metro website at riyadhmetro.sa for more details.

ADA will pre-qualify firms on an ongoing basis and the final date for companies to register is

17 December 2017. ADA will then issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) for all pre-qualified firms, which will cover the full bid terms, and will simultaneously ask for bid submissions. Bids must be returned to ADA no later than 25 January 2018. said Hasan Almousa, Deputy Director of Transportation Planning at ADA.

Companies will first need to respond to the RFP and submit their best and final bid. ADA will only consider bids which are compliant within the terms of the process, and which exceed the minimum price for the relevant stations. he added.

ADA expects to award the naming rights contracts in early 2018.  TradeArabia News Service
Maria Katherman always wanted to be outside instead sitting still in desk at school. In ninth grade she took the bus with local science teachers Beecher Ed Strube and Dana Van Burgh on their Field Science summer program in 1969.

Finally, she had a chance explore her curiosity about the natural world as the class examined plants, rocks, geology and animals.

Strube and Van Burgh started the classes a few years earlier and responded to demand for sessions for older students, teachers and adults. They taught the classes for 52 years as they expanded them around the state and region. Fellow teacher Terrence Logue joined the two founders for about 40 years.

In 1978, Strube and Dana Van Burgh published a book inspired by the classes, A Field Guide to the Casper Mountain Area with editor Peggy Knittel.

Logue was among local contributors to that book along with Katherman, who by then worked as an assistant for Field Science Program while in college. He and Katherman still teach field science classes in the community.

The two also co-authored the newly-released second edition and spent Saturday afternoon signing copies of the book with original authors, Strube and Van Burgh, at the Tate Geological Museum at Casper College.

The field guide is a well-known publication in this area and treasured, but it was out of print, she said. So there was a lot of, I would call it clamoring, to update the book and bring forth the new science thats known.

A guide to explore

A Field Guide to the Casper Mountain Area covers the geology, plants and animals people will find in the area, along with a bit of local history, maps, mileage markers for driving and fold-out diagrams.

The new edition adds new color photos, maps, artwork and diagrams as well as updated scientific knowledge  including how the Rocky Mountains formed through plate tectonics.

We include the geology, the biology and some of the history, Logue said. It seems like Casper Mountain is pretty popular, and I think people that dont have a science background or a history background picked it up and used it because it was fairly interesting.

Logue spearheaded the new edition and wrote much of the geology updates, Katherman said. Several local science professionals also contributed to the new guide.

Terry really writes it in a way you can understand it, Katherman said. Its accessible. And yet its real science; its the latest science.

One of the things Logue enjoys about the second edition are new labeled photos that better show the contact points where different geologic formations meet, Logue said. The updates also include a color version of the original, to-scale cross-section diagram of Casper and Muddy mountains.

Katherman, who spent most of her career in plant research, updated plant and animal sections with a little extra information such as medicinal purposes, she said. Readers can find facts in the book about the mountain from marmots to the tree species that change at different elevations.

I hope everybody, no matter what theyre interested in, this can open a world thats just right there for us, Katherman said.

An idea for generations

Strube and Van Burgh looked out a window one day at Dean Morgan High School where they taught general science and mused about how to show students the science they learned in the classroom, Van Burgh said. They started the field science classes in 1964.

So much of school was just in the classroom, Van Burgh said. Theres more to it than that.

Not only did students learn the names and facts about the science, they were excited to keep exploring and learn more, Strube said. Booklets they made for students to reference became a book about the Alcova area and the Casper Mountain field guide.

They get interested in it that way, and they know where to go now, Strube said.

Experiencing the wildlife, plants and geology out in nature changed Kathermans world view, she said.

Im kind of a feral human; I like to be outside, and I was outside every day, and that was my world, Katherman said. Seeing it from a scientific view as well as from a wild childs view, it enhanced my experience of the world.

She also recalled the teachers raconteur over geology versus biology. Van Burgh would groan about another flower stop, she said, and Logue would play the straight man every good comedy team needs, she added.

It was joyful to be on the bus with them, Katherman said. It really was just this constant banter.

Cindy Farrell was among visitors on Saturday who also shared memories from the field science class. The former Spanish teacher recalled Strubes excitement about a leopard lily she brought into class in her specimen book.

The flower with grass-like leaves is rare and hard to spot, but now she keeps an eye out for the flower each spring in her yard. Its one of many ways she still enjoys and understands more about Casper and Wyoming that she otherwise might not have, she added.

It was all hands on, it was all positive and just with lots of energy, Farrell said. It was such a valuable experience.

Kathleen Giangiacomo wasnt familiar with the classes, but she brought an original edition shes owned for about 10 years and picked up the new edition on Saturday. She and her family have used the book to explore the mountains minerals, rock formations and history, including the mines and homesteader Neal Forsling and mineral rocks on the mountain, she said.

Strube and Van Burgh smiled as they shared memories, shook hands and signed copies of the book with the visitors.

They hope A Field Guide to the Casper Mountain Area will keep encouraging people in Casper to explore and learn outdoors.

If we can just get people to go out and look, amazing things will happen, Van Burgh said. Put the cell phone in the pocket and go sit on the hillside and just sit there for a while, look and listen.
A survey of National Park Service employees found widespread complaints of harassment and discrimination in the workplace, and top officials vowed to address it through training and enforcement.

Reports of misconduct have tarnished the image of the Park Service and its parent agency, the U.S. Interior Department. A sexual harassment scandal forced the retirement of a Grand Canyon National Park superintendent in May 2016 and led the park to abolish its river district. Investigators also have uncovered problems at many of the nations premier parks, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Canaveral National Seashore and Floridas De Soto National Memorial.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told employees during a visit to the Grand Canyon on Friday that he would hold people accountable for behavior that has killed morale within the Park Service. He urged employees to report misconduct and keep going up the chain of command if their complaints go unanswered.

A culture that tolerates harassment and discrimination is simply unacceptable to this administration, and were going to take action, he said.

According to the department, nearly two of five Park Service employees surveyed this year had experienced some sort of harassment or discrimination over a 12-month period. More than 10 percent of employees were sexually harassed. The survey also looked at discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity religion and disability. About 19 percent of employees reported gender harassment. Less than 1 percent reported sexual assault.

Acting Park Service Director Mike Reynolds apologized Friday to employees who had been victims of misconduct, saying the agency will do more to support them. His and Zinkes remarks were broadcast to Park Service employees across the country.

Reynolds outlined a series of reforms, including standardizing and strengthening sexual harassment policies, hiring more people to investigate complaints, expanding training and empowering employees through resource groups. The Park Service also created an ombudsman office to hear employee complaints.

The survey makes it clear that NPS has a significant problem with harassment, he said. A culture that enables harassment and hostile workplace behavior thats infiltrated the organization needs to stop, and it needs to stop now, he said.

The Park Service has grappled with sexual harassment since at least 1999, when then-Director Robert Stanton appointed a task force focused on problems faced by women in law enforcement. The task force surveyed female employees and found 52 percent of them had experienced sexual harassment while working for the Park Service.

The issue was thrust into the spotlight again when 13 people who have worked at Grand Canyon National Park wrote to then-Interior Secretary Sally Jewell in 2014 saying male employees who conducted trips on the Colorado River preyed on female colleagues, demanded sex and retaliated against women who refused. The group said its efforts to get the Grand Canyons chain of command to respond went nowhere.

Grand Canyon Superintendent Chris Lehnertz said the Park Service has learned that the trauma is real and must be addressed to heal.

The trauma changed lives, it changed families, it changed careers, she said.

About half of the Park Service permanent employees participated in the latest survey. Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said they did not file a report or complaint over misconduct. Of those who did, about 46 percent thought it would go nowhere, and a third of them reported mistrust in the process.

A separate survey was conducted for seasonal Park Service workers.
Politics is a blood sport, and sharks will circle at the slightest sign of weakness. But John Barrasso isnt weak, and the sharks seem to be swarming anyway.

Within the course of just a few days last week, two potentially serious conservative contenders announced that they were exploring a run to unseat Wyomings popular junior U.S. senator. Both have access to personal or family wealth to fund a campaign, though neither has ties to Cowboy State politics and one currently lives in Virginia. Political observers in the state arent quite sure whats going on.

This is strange, said Liz Brimmer, a longtime Republican campaign consultant based in Jackson. This is clearly strange.

Strange because Barrasso has no obvious vulnerabilities. Though born in Pennsylvania, he has established deep connections in Wyoming and served as a state lawmaker before being appointed to fill an open Senate seat, following Craig Thomas death in 2007. Hes gone on to hold the seat with over 70 percent of the vote in two consecutive elections.

Barrasso, a Casper surgeon, comes home on weekends and during congressional recesses to travel the state and gladhand at chamber of commerce luncheons and charity pancake breakfasts that are so crucial to political success in a state with a small population like Wyoming.

He sits on the right Senate committees to influence federal policy that affects Wyoming, like energy, and has voted in lockstep with his fellow Republican senators.

Republicans have won every statewide congressional election in Wyoming for decades, and Barrassos two prospective challengers  Foster Friess and Erik Prince  appear to be considering a bid for the GOP nomination, not a run as independent candidates.

For a sitting senator to be unseated by his own party in a primary they generally need to have done something outrageous  failing to maintain residency in their home state, for example  or hold views that are either too moderate or too extreme for party members.

Those political sins dont apply to Barrasso, said University of Wyoming political science professor Jim King.

He comes back, hes known in the state. Hes popular. Hes got a voting record that fits with the state, King said. Theres none of the red flags.

And so far, neither Friess nor Prince has offered justifications for unseating Barrasso that are likely to resonate with voters.

Questionable challengers

Friess, a Jackson philanthropist who made hundreds of millions of dollars as an investment banker, told a conservative Washington tabloid recently that if he runs it will be to promote civility and bipartisan discourse in Washington, D.C.

Then he told the Washington Examiner that Barrasso was both a hero of his and one of the most civil politicians in the country.

A major donor to conservative and right-wing Christian causes, Friess has not always been known for his own promotion of civil discourse. He generated controversy in 2012 when he dismissed the notion that birth control needed to be expensive.

Back in my days, they used Bayer Aspirin for contraceptives  the gals put it between their knees and it wasnt that costly, Friess said. He later apologized.

Unlike Prince, Friess lives in Wyoming and has donated to some local organizations in Jackson. But former state GOP chair Matt Micheli said it was hard to compare the deep statewide network of Barrasso to Friess presence in Teton County.

Ive known Sen. Barrasso before he was Sen. Barrasso. Weve known him as a community leader, as Wyomings doctor. Weve seen him at all the civic functions, Micheli said. This entire time I havent seen Foster anywhere.

Despite confirming to two Washington newspapers that he was considering entering the race for Barrassos seat, Friess has not responded to requests for comment from the Star-Tribune.

Princes interest in the seat was revealed one day before Friess last weekend, and he may face an even tougher battle in making a bid for the seat. Best known for founding the notorious private security contractor Blackwater, which had several employees convicted in federal court for killing Iraqi civilians, Prince doesnt live in Wyoming.

That there are potential candidates who are not residents of Wyoming  that first must explore ways to establish residency  it really raises a central question, Brimmer said. Why are you running to represent us in Wyoming?

The depth of a candidates roots in the community they are running to represent can generate controversy anywhere in the country. But Brimmer said Wyomingites are especially sensitive to candidates who could be seen as carpetbaggers.

Prince has all sorts of vulnerabilities, King agreed. Ten months from the primary? And you dont live in the state?

Prince said in an interview with Breitbart News that his family owns a ranch near Wapiti and that he had been a resident in the state for several years in the 1990s while he was serving in the Navy.

The Star-Tribune was unable to reach Prince for comment.

Prince has gone further than Friess in justifying considering a bid against Barrasso, arguing that as the nations most conservative state the delegation  including Barrasso  ought to be more vocal on hot-button issues like illegal immigration.

The delegation from Wyoming should be the most rock-ribbed conservative, Prince said. They should be leading the charge on these issues, and not going along to get along.

King, the political science professor, said that based on those comments, Prince does not seem to be pushing issues that Wyoming voters care most about.

It sounds like from the statements ... that Prince is trying to get the Wyoming delegation interested in whats of greater interest to another state, he said.

Bannons role

Prince also said that Barrasso, the fourth-ranking Republican in the Senate, was part of the GOP establishment that needed disruption.

That hints at the larger reason why both Friess and Prince may be floating runs against Barrasso. Several media outlets have reported that former Trump administration official and Breitbart executive chairman Steve Bannon has been encouraging both men to challenge Barrasso as part of a larger effort to unseat top Republican senators.

I dont know that its anything about Barrasso in particular, its that there are only so many Republicans to go after, King said. If youre trying to change the Republican party, youve got to defeat the incumbent Republicans.

Bannon, who was pushed out of the White House in August, has promoted a brand of conservative politics that combines economic populism with white supremacist nationalism.

Bannon successfully backed a far-right candidate, Roy Moore, in an Alabama Senate primary last month, defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Luther Strange, who lost despite President Donald Trumps endorsement. Right-wing media tied Strange to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been criticized by many on the right for being ineffective and insufficiently supportive of Trump. But Strange had also only been in office for several months and had been appointed to his seat by a governor who later resigned in disgrace. Further, Moore was able to draw on a powerful, conservative Christian voting bloc in Alabama.

While McConnell backed Stranges campaign and funneled money to his primary effort, as a member of GOP Senate leadership, Barrasso is actually closer to the majority leader than Strange ever saw.

King acknowledged that might be one place to hit Barrasso, though as a rule anger at Washington dysfunction in general rarely has a negative impact on specific incumbents.

Anybody who can be identified as part of the leadership ... is going to have some sort of chink in the armor, King said. At the same time, people associate the failings of Congress as a whole with the congressmen from other places.

Brimmer said that the same tactics used down South would be unlikely to work in Wyoming.

If your question is, Could we be Alabamized?, I dont think thats the case, Brimmer said. Theres no doubt Wyomings different.

She said voters in the state are especially wary of becoming pawns in a national fight, in this case between mainstream Republicans and the alt-right movement supported by Bannon.

We are our own particular puzzle, and were not comfortably a puzzle piece for anyone elses grand game, Brimmer said.

Little traction

If the comments by Friess and Prince were intended to rattle Barrasso or test the appetite for a Bannon-backed uprising against him, they appear to have generated little support.

Conservative National Review blogger Jim Geraghty defended Barrasso in a post last week, arguing that there was no substantive argument to be made for ousting the Wyoming senator. Geraghty noted Barrasso had sided with Trumps positions in nearly all of his votes.

It is pretty much impossible to argue that the reason the Trump administration isnt able to enact its agenda is a senator like John Barrasso, he wrote.

Not to mention, Trump apparently likes Barrasso. Barrasso said that the White House reached out to him about joining Trumps cabinet as Health and Human Services Secretary because Trump appreciated Barrassos relentless advocacy for repealing the Affordable Care Act.

Even the podcast host interviewing Prince for Bannon-led Breitbart News seemed confused about why Prince was targeting Barrasso.

Barrassos not one of the worst guys out there, and Im not 100 percent positive on your connection to Wyoming, host Alex Marlow asked Prince. Is this real?

Unique challenges

If instead the thought is that, Barrasso aside, sparsely populated Wyoming is an easy place to elect an insurgent Republican, former state GOP chair Micheli says outsiders should think twice.

Wyomings small population and large size make campaigning here a unique affair. With fewer than 300,000 registered voters, candidates and elected officials are actually able to meet many of the people whose votes theyre asking for  and residents have come to expect that.

Combine the need for personal politics with a large and very rural state like Wyoming, and a statewide campaign means candidates must cover a lot of ground over an extended period of time in order to get facetime with enough voters. Barrasso is frequently spotted around the state, both at more formal events expected of Wyoming politicians and simply running errands or grabbing a bite to eat in Casper.

What does that mean for an upstart candidate seeking to unseat a popular incumbent who has been traveling the state, and shaking hands, for years?

Work hard, Brimmer said. And work earnestly. Actually travel across a great big state with a lot of people who care very much and listen.

Never say never

So far, Barrasso has been relatively quiet on the prospect of facing two challengers who could turn what was expected to be an easy ride to re-election into a competitive race.

His office has declined to make Barrasso available for an interview, and chief of staff Dan Kunsman released a terse statement last week emphasizing that Barrasso was prepared to run for re-election.

The senator himself told the Washington Examiner that he was confident about his standing in Wyoming but wasnt taking anything for granted.

Ill be home again this coming weekend and will continue to visit with people all around the state of Wyoming, and theyll have a chance to decide, Barrasso said. Elections are about the future, not the past, and Im going to continue to listen to the folks at home.

While Barrasso has all the advantages of a popular incumbent  including fundraising ability and $563,000 worth of cash on hand in an affiliated political action committee, according to the Center for Responsive Politics  and no obvious vulnerabilities, the political watchers cautioned lawmakers should never feel too secure when it comes to reelection.

I dont think any candidate should take it for granted  not even just John, Brimmer said. Any candidate that takes things for granted is always a candidate that is vulnerable.
We've collected a few front pages from newspapers.com to give you a look at some Oct. 15 papers in history. With a subscription to newspapers.com you can search the Arizona Daily Star and many other newspapers using keywords or dates, and download articles or pages.
A haboob is coming.

Not the monstrous dust-carrying kind that fills television newscasts and social-media pages. Its a haboob of a different kind that wont make the evening news but instead is intended to envelop Arizonas communities with a message of change and action.

YWCA Southern Arizona is spearheading #OperationHaboob, a public campaign through the organizations Stand Together Arizona Training and Advocacy Center or STAT. The goals are to get people to vote, to get involved, to push for change in policies and politicians, to improve the health, education and lives of Arizonans.

Thats a tall order, but the YWCA is committed to finding common ground among the various constituencies and communities in Arizona.

Our approach is about shared values, said Mari Herreras, YWCAs director of organizing and advocacy.

The YWCA in Maricopa County is taking part in the campaign as well as some 40 organizations and groups statewide.

Locally #OperationHaboob will hold community huddles to solicit ideas and engage residents. The first of these will be held Saturday, Oct. 21, at Woods Memorial Library, 3455 N. First Ave., from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In addition, YWCA organizers will travel across Arizona to smaller cities and rural towns to bring more people into the discussion. The organizers aim to create a critical mass, generate a groundswell, foment an attitude that change can and must occur in Arizona.

Were going to see common issues and assemble partners to create policy, said Jillian Thomas, communications and digital media manager for STAT.

One priority on policy change will be education. Its no secret that Arizona ranks near the bottom nationally in spending for public education. Its become a state tradition to cut school funding, and resist efforts to stop the bleeding and to restore funds. At the same time, corporate tax cuts have reduced revenue to the state, leading to a projected budget shortfall of more than $100 million for the current and next fiscal year, according to the Legislatures budget analysts.

And rather than reverse the tax cuts, Gov. Doug Ducey insists that discussion on corporate tax increases is a non-starter.

STAT believes a new public policy agenda is needed to ensure equity, opportunity and justice.

At the kickoff two weeks ago at the Frances McClelland Community Center on North Bonita Avenue, Kelly Fryer, CEO of YWCA Southern Arizona, stirred the audience with a call to action.

Women have always done what it takes to take care of our families and children, she said. Were making a robust choice that we can co-create a new future for our state. Were going to take Arizona by storm.

Other speakers, representing various groups, talked about shared goals and ideals. They said the campaign will also conduct research, collect information and share that with people in its outreach. Additionally, #OperationHaboob will recruit candidates for local and state political offices. Change cant happen without changing those who make the decisions.

While other efforts exist to reach similar goals, #OperationHaboob is not meant to replace or take away from other citizen-driven initiatives.

This is not a replication but an augmentation, said Community Outreach & Education Director Liane Hernandez.

While STAT will rely on old-fashioned face-to-face contact, the campaign will extensively use social media. Currently STAT is asking people to take an online survey in English and Spanish:

The campaign also has created videos about #OperationHaboob:

The organizers emphasized that #OperationHaboob is not partisan. Its not about Republicans or Democrats. Its not about women or men. Its about Arizona families and creating legislative policies that benefit families through participation in public discourse and through the ballot box.

People see that there are consequences for the lack of political participation, Hernandez said. Weve been disconnected from that.

Its STAT. Its time to connect. And its going to take a haboob to get it done.
GRAND FORKS  The University of North Dakotas total fall enrollment sits at one of its lowest points so far this decade, but a university admissions leader says theres more to the number than meets the eye.

Even at an apparent ebb, UND director of admissions Jason Trainer said the school is still within its average range of students. The institution is also posting evidence of some modest growth over the past 10 years as it watches the outflow of its largest enrollment year on record, a 15,250-student total headcount in 2012 that marked a peak both in the past decade and in the history of the institution.

Trainer says the main headcount  what he calls the big number  is useful as a quick reference for the size of the institution as a whole. It doesnt tell the whole story, though.

For our day-to-day stuff, its not a benchmark that we look at in the recruiting process, said Trainer. The straight number of enrollments might also obscure some important trend  one being the rising tide of online students.

Trainer said distance-only education accounts for 24 percent of the student population at UND, a level that comes out to a real number of about 3,537. That digital set breaks down to 17 percent of undergraduates and 53 percent of all graduate students.

To take a step back, the fall 2017 total headcount  a number that combines undergraduates with graduate and certificate-seeking students  now sits at a little over 14,400. According to a set of UND data outlining the university population back over the past 10 years, that headcount rests a little higher than that recorded in 2010.

The data set also includes full-time equivalent enrollments, a statistic that breaks the total number down even further to show the compiled students taking 15 credits. That credit load is chosen to reflect the average per semester needed to graduate a student in four years.

For 2017, the FTE enrollments sit at about 10,275, but that more specific enrollment number hasnt actually changed much over the 10-year window. In 2007, there were 9,976 FTE students at UND. The total headcount that year was slightly less than 12,560.

The FTE enrollments provide a layer of specificity that guides some deeper insights into the demographic at UND, but Trainer still favors a more holistic set of data. He points to the number of incoming freshmen as a more telling guide to the growth potential of the university, and, for recruiting, said the rates of retention and graduation can be more helpful metrics of institutional success. Trainer says both of those have shown improvement over the 10 years of the data set, with retention between freshman and sophomore year  the highest risk period for drop-outs and transfers  showing a boost from 75 to 81 percent kept at UND.

Beyond institution-specific analysis, Trainer also says the deeper read of enrollment numbers is reflective of some national trends in higher education. The disparity between the two statistics of headcount and FTE is due primarily to the schools population of part-time students, a group that includes those who fall outside the traditional student profile of ages 18-24. Students like that are increasingly common in the mix of those who now enroll in programs across the country.

The enrollment numbers show a changing picture of higher education in North Dakota. When taken as a whole, Trainer thinks they bode well for UND.

What you see is obviously some growth over last 10 to 20 years for sure in the total headcount, he said. Im also seeing a stabilization of the undergraduate traditional population and growth in some of the nontraditional venues. As for the growing number of digital students, Trainer believes the statistics at UND reveal programs that speak to the working professional  a pool increasingly targeted by higher education.
Banner Healths transition to operating two academic medical centers in Tucson has caused problems with physicians workloads, morale and recruitment, independent reviews have found.

Among challenges expressed by faculty in the reviews:

Uncertainty about the future of residency programs to train new doctors;

A compensation plan that rewards clinical work without adequate attention to academic pursuits;

And added layers of bureaucracy under Banner that affect recruiting efforts.

The findings were contained in clinical program reviews of the University of Arizonas departments of emergency medicine and pediatrics for the 2016-17 academic year.

Leaders from the UA and Banner Health say the results are opinions from some employees, not necessarily fact. Also, some of the issues have already been addressed, including a recently approved $1 million upgrade to the emergency department and improvements to the recruiting process.

But officials also say its to be expected that some physicians would be dissatisfied, given the changes that have occurred since Banner came into the local market in 2015. They say Banner has brought financial discipline and consistent structure to an institution that was losing money.

In addition, they say, health care is rapidly changing, which is creating uncertainty for providers regardless of where theyre working.

Banner Health, one of the countrys largest health systems, owns, leases or manages 28 medical centers in six states. But its foray into Tucson in 2015 marked the first time the company tried to operate an academic medical center.

The emergency medicine and pediatrics reviews, the only two UA clinical program reviews completed this year, were released to the Star through a public-records request.

The reviews examine programs that staff crucial and specialized clinical services in Tucson, two years after the February 2015 merger between the locally owned, nonprofit UA Health Network and the Phoenix-based, nonprofit Banner Health.

Opinion vs. fact

Banner Health was the surviving entity of the merger, which occurred as UA Health Network was experiencing unprecedented operating losses.

Banner now owns Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, 1501 N. Campbell Ave., and operates Banner-University Medical Center South, 2800 E. Ajo Way, through a lease agreement with Pima County.

The merger included an academic affiliation between Banner Health and both of the UAs medical schools. The UA has two separately accredited medical schools, one in Tucson and one in Phoenix.

The merger also calls for the two Tucson hospitals to be faculty-based academic medical centers for the UA.

Academic program reviews are meant to examine, assess and strengthen programs, and Arizona Board of Regents policy says they must occur at least every seven years.

The independent review panels, UA guidelines say, are made up of a joint committee of three outside reviewers from peer institutions, two internal reviewers, a community member and a recent alumnus. The review included a site visit earlier this year. For departments, the review typically takes about a year to complete and includes a self-study.

The process is administered by the office of Gail D. Burd, the UAs senior vice provost for academic affairs.

The faculty is asked to speak freely, this is their perception. And I think its super-important that they have a venue to do that, said Dr. Leigh Neumayer, interim senior vice president of health sciences at the UA.

A lot of what is in the reports is absolutely verifiable and its true. And a lot is opinion. The purpose is not to go back and fact-check. The purpose is, are there things in here we can use that will help improve the program?

Neumayer said the Stars inquiry about the reviews prompted her to plan on including them in future Academic Management Council meetings of Banner and UA officials.

Neumayer co-chairs the council along with Kathy Bollinger, president of the Banner-University Medicine Division. The council is responsible for approving business plans, hiring, compensation and physician recruiting strategies for Banners academic enterprise, among other things.

Banner and the UA each have one block vote on the council, so they have to agree with each other before any change occurs.

Why should I stay?

Some junior and mid-career emergency medicine faculty members at the UA College of Medicine Tucson told reviewers they arent sure if the departments vision aligns with their career goals, particularly whether they will have the support needed to pursue their academic ambitions.

Productivity pressures are perceived as unbalanced and discourage academic commitment and growth, the review says.

One faculty member stated, If things continue to evolve this way, why should I stay here?

In emergency medicine, another challenge was diversity  the department is 80 percent male and 80 percent white, the reviewers wrote, adding that when they met with faculty, the only five women present seated themselves on the edge of the group.

On the upside, they found far more diversity among residents and fellows in the department. Residents and fellows are doctors who have graduated from medical school and are in graduate training in medicine, including specialties. They take care of patients under the direction of attending physicians.

The UAs Tucson pediatrics department, in contrast, was praised for its strides in recruiting women, as there are slightly more women than men on its faculty.

But reviewers were concerned about the future of pediatric services at Banner Diamond Childrens Medical Center due to competition from other pediatric sub-specialty services in Tucson and Phoenix, specifically from Tucson Medical Center and Phoenix Childrens Hospital.

The reviewers said they heard that since Banner took over operations, Recruitment of nationally competitive faculty has been more difficult, in part due to less autonomy for department chairs.

Rigor and discipline

Banner and UA officials, responding to the Stars questions about the reports, stressed what they deemed as positives about their partnership, including facility improvements, plus structure and rigor to make sure there is enough money at the end of the day to fund important academic work.

The clinical engine needs to provide enough of a bottom line to pay for teaching and research, Bollinger said.

If we each do what were supposed to do, then were going to be paid fairly for that, Bollinger said. But everybody has to do their part.

Bollinger and Neumayer said that before the merger, department heads had almost complete autonomy to hire and large discretion over pay as well.

We dont want to go back to a system where its so autonomous that crazy stuff is going on and theres no accountability, no discipline, Neumayer said.

You have to swing almost to the other side to put some process into place. ... These hospitals are better hospitals, they are safer, they are more efficient, they are more productive hospitals and they are beginning to turn around financially, echoed Bollinger.

These are better places as a result of the investments that have been made, she said. It is also absolutely a true statement that on any given day there are people that are not happy.

As for claims in the reviews about inadequate physician compensation, Bollinger said theyre not true.

When we arrived we were actually quite surprised to see how poorly our faculty was compensated here in Tucson, Bollinger said.

Within 30 days, we sent out a request for proposals to get a new academic compensation plan in place. So almost to a person, our people are better-compensated today.

Bollinger said the company has invested $26 million into raising salaries.

Our compensation is all benchmarked. Theres no hijacking that has gone on, Bollinger said.

But she added that output and compensation have to match. Part of the compensation plan includes meeting target productivity goals.

Doctors, including specialists, have to earn their business and it can be difficult to build a practice, she said.

The partnership since the merger has made the medical center more attractive to many physicians, officials said. Many have hired on because, We have a strong clinical partner, Neumayer said. Its not just one, small struggling hospital anymore.

Banner vs. UA

Of the approximately 600 faculty doctors who practice at Banners two Tucson hospitals, two-thirds are employed by the UA, and about one-third by Banner, though the numbers employed by Banner are increasing and the balance is shifting.

The division has created concern among some staffers in emergency medicine over a two-class system  a concern that is palpable, regardless of employer or rank, that departments review found.

While its true that UA employees have UA benefits and those employed by Banner have the companys benefits, both Bollinger and Neumayer say there is not a two-class system. All are part of the Banner-University Medical Group, Bollinger said.

We have one set of rules, one compensation plan for everybody, regardless of who signs their paycheck, she said. Everybody is treated the same way.

The emergency medicine reviewers wrote that people employed by Banner who have young children are at increased risk, and potential disadvantage, with diminished childcare and health benefits, compared with those employed by the UA.

Similarly, the pediatrics review recommends adjustments to achieve similar total compensation between Banner and UA faculty.

The benefit structure may be a little different if you are a Banner employee versus if you are a UA employee, but I couldnt follow that particular comment, Bollinger said. We have 50,000 employees and many of them have young children.

She recalled one time when an employee missed both the deadline to enroll and an extension, so that persons family did not have health insurance. Such stories can turn into urban myths about coverage, she said.

Emergency medicine

Like other academic institutions, the Banner/UA emergency medicine department faces challenges in terms of patient flow.

These include long wait times for specialty consultation services, lack of timely outpatient follow-up for patients and a lack of available on-site translation services for a large Spanish-speaking population of patients, the reviewers said.

Emergency department chair Dr. Sam Keim said the department is now including a physician in the triage process, which means the time from patient arrival to seeing a doctor is about 10 minutes. And he was confused by the comment about Spanish translators, as the department has a good system in place, he said.

Among other challenges reviewers found in the emergency medicine review: faculty members who are overly stressed by clinical work, residents who feel that clinical demands and pressure for rapid patient processing are negatively impacting teaching and learning, and residents who said funds for education and travel now require an increased administrative burden to obtain funds through the Banner system.

Reviewers recommendations included remodeling the front entry of the emergency department at the main hospital to provide adequate space for rapid medical evaluation. Keim said a $1 million upgrade was recently approved.

The reviewers were positive about Keim and department administrator Dale Borgeson and praised the department for developing strong subspecialties, including toxicology and critical care.

The department has a positive national reputation in the academic world, the reviewers said, but added that incentives for clinical scientists to pursue research are lacking.

It would be an exaggeration to say they are not getting enough time to do research, Keim said. Im not saying I dont wish we had more protected time. But keeping 100 percent of all faculty completely, perfectly doing what they want is probably impossible and I think were pretty darn close.

Keim said overall his department has high morale and low turnover. We have no issue recruiting whatsoever, he said.

Residency program

Uncertainty about the future of residency training at the UA should be rectified and communicated as soon as possible, the emergency medicine review said, as it poses a significant recruitment and reputation threat.

The merger agreement allows for Banner to add, but not take anything away from residency programs, for at least five years. After five years, it has leeway to evaluate and decrease the size of residencies.

We have 1,000 residents in Phoenix and Tucson in our three academic medical centers training every single day, Bollinger said. I think weve added four residency programs since we (Banner) arrived.

If anything is done to change the size of the programs, it would need support from both the UA and Banner, Bollinger said. There is no way for Banner or the UA to strong-arm this.

If there are decreases in residencies, it would be done in phase-outs, Neumayer added. Its not like we are going to throw residents out on the street or anything like that.

Pediatrics

The pediatrics review was generally positive and highly complimentary of Dr. Fayez Ghishan, chair of the UA pediatrics department and physician-in-chief of Banner Diamond Childrens.

The steadiness of his leadership has resulted in an atmosphere of collegiality and energy among faculty, trainees and staff, despite the internal and external uncertainties, the review says.

Those uncertainties include competition for pediatric patients from other hospitals, specifically Tucson Medical Center and Phoenix Childrens Hospital, which is considerably larger than Banner Diamond Childrens.

Tucson Medical Centers 2015 decision to sever its relationship with the academic medical center for pediatric intensivists and pediatric hospitalists is very concerning as it poses a significant threat to the pediatric residency program at Diamond Childrens, the review says.

The decision occurred one month after the Banner merger with UA Health Network.

The review says pediatrics faculty compensation is a problem and is not in line with national benchmarks.

The chairs of clinical departments to whom we spoke believe that their autonomy, especially in recruitment and compensation, is less than it was, the review says.

The pediatric chair must have flexibility to negotiate with nationally competitive faculty candidates in real time rather than through a complex process involving Banner Health recruiters.

Capital projects

On the positive side, the reviewers found that the affiliation with Banner Health provides opportunities for growth and said an infusion of financial support from Banner will benefit both the clinical and academic programs.

That support includes building a nearly entirely new academic medical center  a $426.7 million nine-story hospital tower at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson that is set to open in April 2019.

Banner is also building a $98 million, three-story outpatient facility on the north campus of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., scheduled to open in January.

The new facilities are a clear demonstration of Banners commitment to Tucson, Keim said. He says the hospital, including his department, is operating more efficiently post-Banner.

When the new facility opens, its going to be stunning and I think morale will improve. The facility you are in matters, Keim said.

When physicians, nurses and staff move in, its going to be a really great thing. For patients, obviously, too.
Two local men were sentenced in federal court here recently for their roles in a scheme to buy semi-automatic firearms, including AR-15 rifles, a 0.50-caliber rifle and variants of AK-47 rifles, in Tucson and Phoenix and send them to a drug trafficker in Mexico.

One of the 12 firearms, a Sig Sauer semi-automatic rifle, was recovered in Caborca, Sonora, in July 2013, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Tucson. A Springfield semi-automatic pistol and a Century Arms semi-automatic pistol were found when authorities searched a property in Arivaca four months earlier.

Richard Orozco, 38, the man prosecutors said recruited four straw purchasers as co-conspirators, was sentenced to five years in prison on Sept. 20 after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting the acquisition of firearms through false statements.

Prosecutors alleged an unnamed Mexican citizen who is a drug cartel member recruited Orozco to carry out the scheme. But as a convicted felon, Orozco could not legally buy the weapons himself. He recruited four people and drove them to gun stores to buy rifles and pistols for him from December 2011 to September 2012, according to court documents.

One of the men named co-conspirators, Stephen Seal Jr., 35, was sentenced Oct. 6 to three years of probation after pleading guilty to helping Orozco with the fraudulent purchase of a Bushmaster 0.50-caliber rifle from a Phoenix gun store in May 2012. Court documents said Seal tried to buy the same model of gun at the same chain store in Tucson earlier that same day, but his application was declined. Court documents do not state why his application was denied at the Tucson store.

Nicole Jones, who is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 27, and two others were allegedly the other straw purchasers  people who bought guns on behalf of Orozco and lied on transaction forms when they said they were the real buyers, according to court documents.

Authorities dismissed the charges against the two others in March 2017. Prosecutor Jesse Figueroa said he could not comment on why their charges were dropped.

People seeking to buy guns from stores are required to fill out a Firearm Transaction Record, known as Form 4473, for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, according to the June 2016 indictment. The form requires customers to provide a photo ID, name, address and answers to a series of questions about the transaction. In addition, customers have to confirm they are not buying the guns on behalf of another person.

Buying a gun at the request of another person knowing that person is unable to legally purchase it independently is a felony. It is also illegal to export firearms from the U.S. without a license, according to the indictment.

Jones and Orozco are the parents of two children together, and have been in a relationship for 11 years, according to a memo filed by Orozcos assistant public defender, Walter Goncalves Jr.

Jones faces charges of fraudulently buying five semi-automatic weapons: a Bushmaster rifle, a Springfield 9 mm pistol, two Windham Weaponry WW-15 rifles and a Stag Arms rifle.

Jones tried to buy a sixth weapon, a Bushmaster BA50 0.50-caliber rifle from a Tucson store in May 2012 but rescinded her application when an employee told her that her application was delayed, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said Jones bought two firearms in Tucson on Dec. 8, 2011, then bought two more firearms at the same store within the next five months. She bought a fifth firearm from another Tucson store in May 2012.

Court documents state the two co-conspirators with dropped charges bought six semi-automatic guns for Orozco in Tucson in May 2012 and September 2012: a DPMS A-15 rifle, a Sig Sauer M400 rifle, a Windham Weaponry rifle, Colt Lightweight Commander 0.38 pistol, a Century Arms PAP M92 pistol and a New England Pardner 12-gauge shotgun from various Tucson stores.

Goncalves stated in court documents that while Orozco directed others to buy the guns, there is no proof that Orozco knew or intended that the guns would be shipped to Mexico or land in the hands of a drug trafficker.

While he said he is not trying to minimize Orozcos role in the conspiracy, Goncalves said in a sentencing memo that Orozcos motives were not at all or not entirely reprehensible because he was trying to financially support his family.

Orozcos sentence was too harsh and he did not deserve the maximum sentence of five years, Goncalves said in an interview. The criminal justice system needs to do a better job of remembering why people make the decisions to get involved in criminal activity in the first place, he said.

Jones public defender was unavailable for comment. Seals public defender, Mark Evans, declined to comment. U.S. Attorneys Office spokesman Cosme Lopez declined to comment, saying it is an ongoing case.
PHOENIX  Volkswagen is telling a judge it cant be found guilty of consumer fraud because its now-disproved claims about the cleanliness of its diesel vehicles were just promotional puffery.

In new court filings here, Volkswagens legal team is acknowledging that the company designed and sold vehicles under the VW, Audi and Porsche labels with defeat devices. Those essentially allowed its cars to emit more nitrogen-oxide pollutants during actual on-road driving than showed up during tests. The emissions were many times higher than federal standards.

VW eventually pleaded guilty to three felonies, including defrauding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and agreed to $4.3 billion in penalties and another $4.9 billion to address pollution from the supposedly low-emission diesel vehicles. Arizona is getting $57 million from that for projects to reduce emissions of oxides of nitrogen.

But the legal team, represented in Arizona by attorney Keith Beauchamp, told Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Randall Warner he should reject a bid by Attorney General Mark Brnovich to have VW also found guilty of consumer fraud because it advertised and marketed the vehicles to Arizona consumers as clean.

In essence, VW contends that its promotional phrase of clean diesel has no legal meaning and didnt amount to specific environmental claims made to consumers about its nitrogen-oxide emissions.

Simply put, clean diesel is legal puffery under Arizona law and means there was no violation of the states Consumer Fraud Act, VW argues in legal filings.

To buttress this argument, the lawyers told Warner that its not like VW was claiming a factual basis of cleanliness or that the term clean has an actual meaning.

Consider how one perceives how immaculate different clean locations are: a clean bedroom, a clean locker room, a clean operating room, and a clean semiconductor fabrication facility, they wrote. Each conveys different degrees of cleanliness  driven not by the word clean but by the location clean describes.

VW said Arizona, in filing suit, never claimed there is an objective meaning of the word clean or that consumers who viewed its commercials would share such a meaning.

Even if it did convey some meaning to those who bought its vehicles, VW said the statement is true to the extent that the vehicles emit less soot and carbon dioxide than earlier diesels, even if its nitrogen-oxide emissions were higher than legal standards.

Similarly, the companys lawyers brushed aside other claims by Arizona of consumer fraud based on statements by VW claiming that diesel is no longer dirty.

No standard is provided to measure dirty or clean, they said.

VWs contention is getting a fight from Assistant Attorney General O.H. Skinner, who is leading the legal team that filed the 2016 lawsuit. He hopes to get Warner, after reviewing the companys commercials at a January trial, to conclude they misled viewers.

That finding would open the door to fines of $10,000 per violation. With VW admitting in other legal documents that more than 11,000 of these vehicles were sold or leased to Arizonans between 2009 and 2016, that would total $110 million.

The state also is claiming that Arizona laws make false advertising a violation. And that makes each ad and each commercial aired in the state a separate offense.

Skinner does not deny that courts have ruled that mere puffery does not give rise to claims of consumer fraud. But he told Warner in his own court filings that VWs arguments should be rejected.

The puffery doctrine does not protect criminal schemers from the consequences of their intentional deception, he wrote.

Puffery is no defense to the specific representations made in the ads, Skinner said, adding it cannot apply to long-running intentional deceptive practices in which the state claims VW engaged.

Skinner said he sees the commercials as part of a master scheme that started with VW manufacturing vehicles designed to defeat emission testing and then concealing that from regulators.

The lawsuit claims that Arizonans were effectively duped into buying vehicles with a special diesel engine that was advertised as having just a fraction of the emissions as similar cars. Buyers paid anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 more than for comparable vehicles.

But those low emissions were, in many ways, on paper only. VW engineers had programmed each vehicles computer to recognize when it was being tested for emissions. At that point, it would go into a low-power mode with sharply reduced pollution.

Once the test was over, the engine returned to full power  producing more pollutants, including as much as 40 times the maximum allowable standards of nitrogen oxides.

At a hearing Warner has scheduled for January, the judge will review several of the companys commercials aired in Arizona to determine if they cross the line into consumer fraud.
In the wake of the mass shooting in Las Vegas that left 58 people dead and about 500 wounded, Americans have sought for answers as to why the senseless loss of life took place. Although there are more questions than answers right now, there are some, like Tucson Councilman Steve Kozachik, who feel that the answer is simple: remove the means by which the horrific slaughter was carried out.

One thing that can always be counted on when there is a mass shooting is a call for tighter gun control, often with the target being the particular weapon/weapons used by the perpetrator in the incident. Councilman Kozachik has long been an advocate of gun control measures and on Friday he submitted an agenda item to outlaw the so-called bump stocks that were alleged to have been used by the shooter in the murderous rampage unleashed by the Las Vegas gunman to effectively turn his semi-automatics into automatic firearms.

While it is highly unlikely that this proposal will pass legal muster, even if it should be brought up for a vote at the council and be signed into law there, there is every reason to wonder what exactly such a ban would accomplish, aside from stripping individuals of their right to own the devices.

Kozachik indicated in statements to the Arizona Daily Star that his intention in proposing the city-wide ban was to prompt action from state and federal officials who as of yet havent banned the accessory themselves saying: Weve waited on the state and Congress to act on any of this stuff since 20 little kids were killed in Newtown (Connecticut). We waited on them after Orlando, where 49 people were shot, dozens more in Aurora (Colorado) and our own on Jan. 8, 2011, he said. So my sense is again, lets show them what leadership looks like.

When I spoke to him, he told me he hoped that by Tucson passing the ban, even if it should be struck down, the action would at least get the conversation about the ban into the public eye, and perhaps motivate similar legislation at the state, and federal level.

Although such a proposal is not likely to meet with support from the Arizona legislature given recent history, Democrats in Congress, led by Senator Diane Feinstein, have already called for a ban on the device. Will this change anything though?

Senator Feinstein said recently that there was no law that could have prevented this awful tragedy from occurring, yet, she is among those pushing for bump stocks to be outlawed. To what end? Will it stop events like this from happening in the future? Short answer: no.

Around 100,000 people die each year from alcohol-related causes like drinking and driving crashes, other accidents, falls, fires, alcohol-related homicides and suicides. This far outpaces the death toll of homicides and suicides committed by guns. Should we ban alcohol? Never mind, prohibition was already tried and was a spectacular failure.

Most people today agree that alcohol should be regulated and continue to push for responsible consumption, but, despite the massive amount of deaths it accounts for each year, there is no move to try and reinstitute a ban on it.

Meaningful regulations to such items as the bump stock already have wide national support, and I myself think they should be regulated, but banning them outright will not achieve the desired effect of stopping someone from using them in a crime if they are so inclined.
Editors note :Cao Huy Tuong is a Vietnamese research assistant at the University of Adelaide. He sent this piece to Tuoi Tre News after three scientists won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Physics for their decisive contributions to the LIGO detector and the observation of gravitational waves.

About 1.4 billion years ago, two lonely massive black holes collided, spiraled and collapsed, undergoing one of the most powerful astrophysics phenomena ever known to humans.

It sent out its own message, something that we now call gravitational waves, which then traveled through the universe at the speed of light. But while it's traveling for 1.4 billion years, let's talk about the recent science history 

A brief history

In 1916, Albert Einstein predicted the existence of gravitational waves as a consequence of his theory of general relativity. In Einstein's theory, space and time are aspects of a single measurable reality called space-time. One can think space-time as a fabric. The presence of large amounts of masses such as planets and stars will distort this fabric. When these large masses suddenly move, they create space distortion in space-time like waves, rippling outwards like ripples of an agitated pond. As these waves travel out through the universe, they stretch and squeeze space-time like sound wave stretches and squeezes the distribution of air molecules, carrying information about their sources and waiting to be discovered. Unfortunately, often by the time these waves arrive at our Earth, the distortion would become too minuscule to detect. One would need an instrument that, if capable, measures down to half of the radius of a proton to detect gravitational waves. This caused Einstein himself to doubt whether such phenomena would ever be detected.

There have been numerous attempts to measure these cosmic signals since 1960s. Many have failed and many results were never reproducible. Rainer Weiss, who had been previously a college dropout given a second chance at MIT and went to establish himself as a respectable physicist working in microwave background fields, then came up with a design of a gravitational wave interferometer, which uses laser light to measure minuscule change in length, and eventually becomes what we know today as LIGO. Yet up until now, when asked about it, Weiss still humbly says that the idea had been floating around in literature a long time ago. Yet to anyone working in the field of gravitational wave detection, we were all aware that it was Weiss who was the first to come up with a detailed design which could work, the first to identify all the potential noise sources that could limit the detector's sensitivity, and the first to draw up a map of guidance, paving the way to the new territory of astronomy.

Like any big physics issue today, it's important to have an experimental instrument to perform the measurements, yet it is also equivalently important to understand the theory that describes the physics to optimize the instrument and to be able to interpret the data recorded and understand their implication on our knowledge of the universe. This is where Kip Thorne, professor of theoretical physics at Caltech, plays a vital role in the development of LIGOs instrument. He created the theoretical gravitational wave research group at Caltech in 1968, and also the experimental group later on in the late 1970s together with Ronald Drever, who was originally from Glasgow. It was the trio Rainer Weiss, Kip Thorne and Ronald Drever who are now hailed as the fathers of the field. Unfortunately, Drever passed away earlier this year.

Yet the road to LIGO's success today had not been easy. There had been ups and downs. There was even a point when the National Science Foundation had almost decided to withdraw funding for this project due to poor management. It was Barry Barish who saved the project from this tragedy. Barish was appointed as LIGO's director in 1994. He started to reorganize the structure of LIGO, oversaw the construction phase as well as the installation of LIGO's facilities. He was also the one to establish the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, which brings together thousands of scientists from hundreds of institutes within America and across the globe, whose expertise spans across various areas from material science, quantum optics, to data analysis and astrophysics.

The daily challenges of gravitational wave detection

Having the big concept does not mean one can immediately detect gravitational waves. It feels like the whole universe is working against the detector when one desires to measure such minute change in distance.

Ground vibration becomes a serious problem since the tiniest movement can already move mirrors by microns. Thus all mirrors are hung on one thin glass fiber. These fibers create a pendulum system which significantly reduces the high frequency seismic noise of ground vibration. Yet, the whole detector is still severely affected when there is an earthquake. Sitting at LIGO's site, one can observe the effects of an earthquake across the globe, even if they are all the way across the Pacific Ocean from the remote corners of Nepal, or Tahiti. Dependent on their strengths or locations, earthquakes can leave severe consequences on a detector's sensitivity. Like any object, mirrors and glass fibers have their natural frequencies that, once excited, they can ring up. Seismic waves arriving from earthquakes can easily trigger this excitement that lasts for weeks, which puts the detectors out of observation and requires efforts from many scientists and engineers to re-calibrate the whole system. But an earthquake is not the only troublemaker. Every day going to work at the observatories, one can see noise caused by people's footsteps in the morning as everyone is heading to work in the nearby city. Every car and truck on the highway 10km away also leaves signature noise sources, which require years of study to understand their characteristics so one can eliminate them from the signals.

After ground motion, the tiny fluctuations of temperatures in the surroundings also impose noise coupling into the detector. The movement of air up and down the atmosphere also creates noise in the signals. Photons in laser beams pushing the mirrors by nanometers also create multiple issues that require weeks or months of study and calibration.

The daily life of a scientist at LIGO's observatories can be quite similar to a detective's work. There are noise sources popping up here and there, at different times, different places, sometimes having a regular pattern, sometimes occurring irregularly. The number of PhD theses taken to understand these noise sources over the years has almost become uncountable. Stories of refrigerators at the observatory injecting noise to the ground, or ravens knocking on metal pipes transporting liquid nitrogen outside the complex, causing strange noise coupling to signals, and many more have become legends being retold multiple times between people within the research community.

A researcher takes a selfie in complicated laboratory attire at a LIGO lab. Photo: Cao Huy Tuong

But thanks to these types of issue, LIGO has helped facilitate pushing the boundaries of science in multiple areas. Because of LIGO, we can now have a device that can measure the nanometer change in optics thickness due to ambient temperature fluctuation. Because of LIGO, we now have new detectors that can predict earthquakes 30 seconds earlier than current technology, a short yet crucial amount of time, just enough to help factories and power plants to carry on safe power-off and minimize damage caused by such tremors.

The success

All of these hard work and efforts finally came to fruition on the night of the 14th of September 2015 during Advanced LIGO's first observation run. Gravitational waves coming from two massive black holes had finally arrived at Earth after 1.4 billion years of travelling, triggering two LIGO detectors in Hanford, Washington and Livingston, Louisiana.

For 5 months, hundreds of scientists worked on the signal, making sure that the signal was true, performing statistical analysis and calculating the chance that such a massive event could occur. The first month was shrouded in both excitement and nerves. There were thousands of data channels that every scientist working at the observatories had to go through to check that it was not a false signal. It was well known to everyone that LIGO often employs a procedure called false triggering to test both the detectors as well scientists' integrity during science run. A secret committee elected by LIGO's governance, whose identities are unknown, would decide on injecting a false signal that imitates gravitational signals to the detectors during this process. Other scientists had to work independently to recover this kind of signal and characterize the detectors' response. By this way, we could verify the performance of the observatory. This is also used as a test on whether all scientists collaborate as a group and determine if anyone will leak premature information to the public. After months of confirming that this was not the case for the first detection, everyone could finally sigh with relief and in February 2016, LIGO announced the detection to the world, thus becoming the very first direct observation of gravitational waves. For the very first time in history, we can measure the equivalence of sound in space-time in continuum. For the very first time, we are able to listen to the sound of the universe. And for one more time, we are able to prove Einstein's theory of general relativity, answering his 100-year-old question about the existence of gravitational waves. Since then, multitudes of detection have been made.

Into the future

The most exciting yet is the most recent announcement of gravitational waves detected by both LIGO's 2 detectors and LIGO's European counterpart, Virgo on the 27th of September. On August 14, 2017, a signal was seen at LIGO-Livingston. 8 milliseconds later, LIGO-Hanford reported a detection and 6 milliseconds after that, VIRGO also detected a signal. Statistical analysis shows this event must be a true one, the chance for a false signal to be detected by all three detectors is one in 27,000 years. The signal was found to come from a merger of black holes of 30 and 25 solar masses each and at a distance of between 1.4 and 2.2 billion light years away.

The combination of three detectors has made the localization of gravitational wave sources improved dramatically, reducing the area from which the signal came from to an area of sky measuring roughly 60 square degrees. This is still a large area, approximately twice the size of Vietnam. However, this is already 10 times better than any previous detection.

This localization is expected to improve further in coming years due to new detectors being built across the globe. One of the new detectors is KAGRA, which is LIGO's counterpart in Japan. The basic concept of KAGRA is similar, albeit some different technologies being employed. Unlike LIGO and VIRGO, whose detectors are on the ground, KAGRA is built inside a mountain to minimize the effects of atmospheric Newtonian noise. All KAGRA mirrors are also made from sapphire and kept cold at cryogenic temperature (less than minus 150oC) to minimize thermal noise. KAGRA is expected to enter observation by 2020. Another facility that will be built soon is IndIGO  a new observatory in India. This detector will inherit technology from LIGO. The Indian government officially unveiled this plan after the announcement of the first gravitational wave detection. Currently, the process of choosing a site for the detector has been finalized.

Further into the future, LIGO and VIRGO are currently planning for technologies used in the next 20-30 years. Two new designs for the third gravitational wave detector are currently under investigation: LIGO Voyager and Einstein Telescope, proposed by the European Union. LIGO Voyager calls for change of silica optics to silicon optics, all of which will be kept at minus 150oC, as well as a change from laser source 1064nm in wavelength to a 1.5 or 2 micron laser source. These will improve LIGO's thermal noise, which currently limits its sensitivity at the intermediate frequency band (from 10 up to tens of kHz). The Einstein Telescope, on the other hand, calls for the increase of the detector's arm length to 40km instead of the current 4km. This will impose challenges on building a large-scale high-quality vacuum system as well as designing a structure that is not limited by the curvature of the Earth. Beyond LIGO Voyager and Einstein Telescope, there is the Cosmic telescope, which is a combination of LIGO Voyager and Einstein Telescope technologies.

The story of gravitational wave detection does not just end there. Next step, detection will be brought from ground into space. This mission, called LISA (Laser Interferometer Space Antenna), is currently under intense research at the European Space Agency (ESA). LISA will consist of three spacecrafts, arranged in an equilateral triangle, flying along an Earth-like heliocentric orbit. The laser beam will link each spacecraft to one another over a distance of 2.5 million km, whose length is precisely controlled to detect gravitational waves passing by. By moving the detector from ground into space, we will be able to eliminate seismic noise, which limits sensitivity at low frequencies. LISA is expected allow us to detect gravitational waves emitted by binary systems on much smaller scales than black holes such as white dwarves and neutron stars. In 2016, ESA's mission LISA Pathfinder performed a test for new technologies for the future LISA. The results were extremely successful, exceeding ESA's initial expectations. Since then, NASA has also expressed interest in joining the LISA mission.

We are living in one of the most exciting times in science

This years prize is about a discovery that shook the world, said Goran Hanssen, the Swedish Academy's secretary general. LIGO's discovery certainly shook the world, not only for what it had been able to accomplish so far, but also for the promises it brings to the future of physics, to the knowledge of humankind of the vast universe that we are a part of. With traditional electromagnetic astronomy, we had only been studying the universe with our eyes, searching for light signals emitted by celestial objects. We had been guiding ourselves through the universe without the ability to hear. Various objects in the universe never emit light, such as black holes. Like sound, gravitational waves carry at least half the information about an object. With LIGO's fully functioning VIRGO joining the network of detectors, we can finally know what our universe is saying. We will be able to learn about things we have never known before, from the structures of black holes, neutron stars to the physical processes occurring in these extreme conditions. We will be able to confirm or reject theories that we have been trying to understand for decades. And more importantly, we now can enjoy the eagerness like a child, waiting to see what new physics we can learn, to unwrap the mysterious gift that is our universe.

As a student working in the LIGO scientific collaboration, it has been an honor for me to get the opportunity to work on such an exciting field of physics. We were all overjoyed by the news of the Nobel Prize awarded to Weiss, Thorne and Barish. Words can't describe the contributions they have made to the field. Their stories and success remain an inspiration for generations of physics students to come, to keep us going through the most challenging tasks, to stay up until 2:00 in the morning to solve some issues in the lab, to maintain curiosity and to be passionate, all for putting together the symphony of the universe.
Have a nice Sunday!

Society

-- Speaking during a national webinar on Saturday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc directed that activities, including approved projects, to change forested land into agricultural land and small-sized hydroelectric plants cease in a bid to stop rampant deforestation.

-- Experts at a seminar on Saturday pointed out human activity, including infrastructure construction, mining and deforestation, has been to blame for the rising number of flash floods and landslides in recent times.

-- Sixty-three people have been killed while 35 remain missing as of Saturday evening after heavy rains and floods swept through north-central and northern Vietnam, according to the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

-- At a working session on Saturday, the Ministry of National Defense agreed to hand over some of their land plots to assist the Ho Chi Minh City administrations efforts in relieving traffic congestion on the streets leading to Tan Son Nhat International Airport and Cat Lai Port.

-- Approximately 10,000 women aged 40 and above will receive free screenings for breast cancer in a campaign launched on Saturday by the Ministry of Health in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue, the heart of central Thua Thien-Hue Province.

-- Da Nang City and Quang Nam Province in the central region have agreed on a public-private partnership project to launch electric train services between the two localities, Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, deputy chair of the Da Nang Peoples Committee, disclosed at a conference on Saturday.

-- Residents of Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province, neighboring Ho Chi Minh City, on Saturday erected barriers on a street to block trucks rumbling to and from a quarry in the neighborhood.

Business

-- Ho Chi Minh Citys animal health department has asserted they are set on rejecting pigs from localities which do not wear rings to facilitate origin traceability in a ban to take effect on Monday (October 16) despite complaints from small-scale farmers that the requirement will hurt their business.

Lifestyle

-- One hundred and sixteen delegates from Vietnam are ready for the activities at the 2017 World Festival of Youth and Students, which is taking place in Sochi, Russia, from October 14 to 22.
Vietnams Ministry of National Defense has agreed to hand over several pieces of military land to the Ho Chi Minh City administration to help combat regular traffic jams.

During a meeting on Saturday evening, the defense ministry said it would support the citys efforts to alleviate congestion by giving some land plots near Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Tan Binh District and Cat Lai Port in District 2.

The gathering was chaired by General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense, and Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee.

Delegates discussed topics on the management and use of military land in the southern hub and agreed to permanently solve existing issues related to the encroachment on the land.

The meeting between the Central Military Commission and the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on October 14, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The defense ministry stated it would first focus on assisting the development progress of Ho Chi Minh City.

Several pieces of land will be handed over to the city in a bid to eliminate traffic jams near Tan Son Nhat and Cat Lai, it added.

The bases of some military units in the metropolis will be relocated to facilitate the plan.

Since 2004, the ministry has handed over 177.3 hectares of land it managed in Ho Chi Minh City to the local administration and 98.62 hectares to the Ministry of Transport.

In 2017, about 53 hectares of land surrounding Tan Son Nhat has been provided to facilitate socio-economic and cultural development in the southern metropolis.

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (R) and General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defense. Photo: Tuoi Tre

At the said meeting, the Central Military Commission and the municipal Party Committee reached a conclusion that they would enhance their cooperation, attaching defense and military missions to local development.

According to Colonel General Tran Don, Deputy Minister of National Defense, the agency will initiate its assistance by giving a land plot on Truong Chinh Street, which is adjacent to Tan Son Nhat, on October 19.

The illicit operations of 50 kiosks and three filling stations on this 700-meter long piece of land have been terminated.

Local authorities are planning to plant green trees and build several social security works in the area.

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A murder suspect has been apprehended by police in the southern Vietnamese province of Binh Duong after being at large for one and a half decades.

The provincial Department of Police confirmed on Saturday they had nabbed Le Nhu Thom, 37, hailing from the north-central province of Thanh Hoa.

Thom is a suspect of murder, attempted assault, and disturbing public order in a case that happened 15 years ago.

According to police records, Thom and four other young men hung out at a coffee shop in Binh Hoa Ward, Thuan An Town, Binh Duong Province, in January 2002.

As Thom and his friends were joking with each other, two men sitting nearby were unintentionally offended, before approaching Thoms table and starting an argument.

The row quickly escalated into a violent confrontation when the two groups attacked each other with bricks and sticks.

One person in Thoms group stabbed a person from the other group to death.

They then attempted to escape after the incident but were eventually captured, except for Thom.

The man was on the loose for 15 years before being found hiding in Tan Vinh Hiep Ward, Tan Uyen Town, Binh Duong.

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The US Television Academy, which oversees the Emmy Awards, will now consider expelling disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein.

A possible expulsion would follow both the Academy Awards booting him from their ranks, and suspension by BAFTA.

Our view has been this alleged behavior is abhorrent and appalling. We expect this to be discussed at our Board Of Governors meeting this Thursday evening, a Television Academy spokesperson has said.

Weinstein has been nominated for Emmys 17 times.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences held an emergency meeting and voted to strip away Weinsteins lifetime membership.

The Academy issued a statement saying the board had voted to immediately expel him from the Academy. We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over.

Whats at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy member will be expected to exemplify.

Weinstein is only the second person to have ever been expelled in the 90-year history of the Academy (the other, actor Carmine Caridi, was found to have been loaning awards season screeners which ended up online).

Meanwhile UK police are investigating a rape allegation against the producer after Hollyoaks actress Lysette Anthony claimed Weinstein raped her in the 1980s.

Weinstein has denied any nonconsensual sexual conduct with any women.

Source: Deadline, Hollywood Reporter
FARGO  The immunization rates for North Dakota schoolchildren, which once lagged among the 10 lowest in the nation, have risen in recent years as officials have joined together to boost vaccinations.

New figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that North Dakotas immunization rate for measles, mumps and rubella has reached 93.8 percent, which almost matches the national median, 94 percent.

North Dakota ranked 27th for measles, mumps and rubella immunization, shared with four other states. The immunization rate was up from 89 percent two years earlier, said Molly Howell, immunization program manager for the North Dakota Department of Health.

Weve increased pretty significantly over the last two years, she said.

The recent increase is the result, she said, of a concerted effort involving health officials, the North Dakota Attorney Generals office and the state Department of Public Instruction, which works with local schools.

Among other efforts, state education officials now send a letter to school districts reminding them of a state law requiring schools to exclude students who lack required vaccinations from attending until theyve been immunized.

Many local education officials were not enforcing the exclusions because they didnt want students to be absent from school, not realizing that it was required by law, said Kirsten Baesler, North Dakotas superintendent of public instruction.

Our school districts, they want our kids in school, she said. They have their own mandates to meet.

But school officials ultimately agreed that they have an important role in enforcing the law, and came onboard, Baesler said. She believes the state has turned around its declining immunization rates.

Its a different environment, she said. Its a different mindset. She attributed the turnaround to the partnerships between a wide variety of state and local officials.

It was a very concerted, collaborative effort, Baesler said.

West Fargo public schools now are enforcing the exclusion, said Heather Konschak, the districts public relations coordinator.

Last year was the first year that we enforced the exclusion date, she said, referring to an immunization deadline that falls in November. This will be the second year that well be doing that, so were working with families now.

Students are sent home with forms. Parents also are contacted via email and, if confirmation of vaccination has not been received as the deadline approaches, follow-up contacts will be made, Konschak said.

We do make phone calls and walk them through the process, she said.

A spokesperson for the Fargo public schools was not available Friday.

Children who are not fully immunized according to state requirements have 30 days to receive any missing shots or they must be excluded from school.

For the 2016-17 school year, North Dakota's immunization rates for three key vaccines were 93.8 percent for measles, mumps and rubella; 93.8 percent for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; and 93.5 percent for varicella, or chickenpox.

Those compared to the national median of 94 percent for measles, mumps and rubella, 94.5 percent for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; and 93.8 percent for varicella.

Before the recent upswing in immunization rates, North Dakotas rates had been declining. In 2000, for example, 95 percent of North Dakotas kindergartners were fully immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella and varicella.

The state has a goal of regaining the 95 percent rate under its Healthy People 2020 goals. This threshold is important to achieve herd immunity, which occurs when a critical percentage of the population is vaccinated against a disease, a state report said. When herd immunity is achieved, outbreaks are prevented by limiting the spread of disease.

Although school immunization compliance is improving, the percentage of North Dakota children obtaining exemptions from the immunizations for religious, moral or philosophical reasons continues to increase.

The exemption rate reached 3.14 percent in 2016-17, up from 0.5 percent in 2000, or a six-fold increase over the period.

A stakeholder group last year including educators, health providers and parents overwhelmingly agreed that immunization exemptions are too easy and should be made more stringent. The report found that most schools around the state were not enforcing the exclusion law.
Help India!

By Mohd Asim Khan

New Delhi, (IANS): The criticism of certain recommendations of the review committee on the new Haj policy  including that of women performing Haj without mehram  is not valid, a vocal member of the committee has said.

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Kamal Farooqi, a member of the committee, said the criticism is not valid as in some schools of Islamic jurisprudence, women can travel without a mehram  her husband or a male relative like her father, brother and paternal and maternal uncles.

In the Hanafi sect, women are not allowed to travel without a mehram for Haj and otherwise. But in some other schools, and in Shias, it is allowed. A woman can perform Haj alone if there is no mehram, Farooqi told IANS.

But when we are forming a Haj policy, we are forming it for Muslims of all schools of jurisprudence, not just for Hanafis, he said, stressing that he himself is a Hanafi Muslim. And above all, this condition is not binding on anyone. Nobody is forcing women to travel alone if they dont want to.

He explained that as per Saudi Arabian rules, a woman below 45 years of age cannot travel with a namehram  the opposite of mehram.

It is totally opposite of the Hanafis stand. They allow women to travel alone, but not with a namehram. So the Saudi government, in my view, should have no problem in allowing women above 45 years to perform Haj in a group of four, Farooqi said.

He said the committee travelled across the country as well as to Saudi Arabia and consulted a large number of stakeholders and scholars of different schools of thought before finalising their recommendations.

Shia scholar Maulana Kalbe Jawad Naqvi has welcomed the recommendation.

As per our maslak (sect) a woman can perform Haj alone. So the recommendation, if accepted, will allow Shia women to perform Haj all by themselves if they want, Naqvi told IANS.

He said that for those who do not want to travel without a mehram, the rule is not binding.

The Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) had formed a committee consisting of prominent Muslims under the chairmanship of retired IAS officer Afzal Amanullah in February to review the Haj policy and suggest measures to improve the overall experience of the pilgrimage. The committee recently submitted its report to the Ministry.

One of the recommendations said that women above 45 years of age should be allowed to perform Haj without a mehram in a group of four. This has not gone down well with the majority of Islamic clerics of the Hanafi school who see the recommendation as going against the Sharia.

We cannot understand the purpose of this recommendation because as per Islamic Shariat a woman cannot travel alone without a mehram, Maulana Niaz Farooqui of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind (JUH) told IANS.

He added that apart from the Shariat prohibition, the safety and security of women during the travel and stay in a foreign country are also an issue.

The government can make a policy but those who follow Shariat will not go without mehram, he said.

The Shahi Imam of Delhis Jama Masjid, Maulana Ahmed Bukhari, too condemned the recommendation and said that an important diktat of Shariat was being ignored to garner some popularity.

Women are not allowed to travel alone and there is no ambiguity in this. Now those who have this recommendation should come clear on whether this diktat of Shariat is no longer valid for an important religious obligation like Haj, Bukhari said.

He said the Saudi Arabian government will have to decide whether it accepts this proposal.

The other recommendations include abolishing the reserved category of applicants  70-plus of age and the fourth timers  and the continuation of khadimul hajjaj (a person responsible for looking after a group of 200 pilgrims) should be reviewed.

The Ministry has not yet finalised what recommendations it is going to accept.
The last Week In Politics has seen round 5 of negotiations with the EU over Brexit, the government come under severe scrutiny over their rollout of Universal Credit, the government also decided that to attract foreign investors post-Brexit, they are going to build a 100 million yacht for the royal family, this had been dubbed the 'royal Brexit yacht'.

In Spain, the Catalunya president said they would delay action on referendum pending negotiations, in France, Macron's popularity wanes slightly. Donald Trump became the first sitting US president to speak at a hate group's summit and Brazil passed a series of controversial electoral reforms.

UK news and Brexit

The rollout of the Conservative flagship welfare reform policy, Universal Credit, has been a disaster. The single benefit designed to simplify six other benefits into one has seen the costs rise from 2 billion to 12 billion, issues with project management and the IT systems and the 6-week waiting period for the first payment cause many people to fall into debt and in worse cases even homelessness. However, to add insult to injury, it was revealed that the government helpline that the poorest in society need to call to deal with the mess, charges 55ppm.

Round 5 and the final phase of the first stage of Brexit negotiations took place and Michel Barnier summed up where they are in his speech by saying 'We worked constructively this week.

We clarified certain points. But without making any great steps forward'. The major sticking point is the financial settlement and in response the government have appointed a 'minister for no deal Brexit', a position designed to create a contingency plan in case the government can't walk away with a deal.

Senior Tory ministers, reportedly including Boris Johnson, have been pushing plans to build a brand new 100m luxury Royal Yacht for the Queen.

The plans involve getting private firms to pay for a large proportion but it would cost 10 million a year of taxpayer money to maintain, in 1997, the Labour government scrapped the royal yacht due to the expensive annual running costs. This comes after 369 million is to be spent on Buckingham Palace yet the Conservatives voted against lifting the public sector pay cap due to being 'too expensive', further proving austerity is an ideological attack on the austerity is an ideological attack on the poorest..

World News

Carles Puigdemont, the Catalan President, declared that the region had "earned the right" to independence from Madrid. However, he told the parliament in Barcelona that he would seek negotiations with Spain to take the heat off the political stand-off. Nine public sector unions were engaged in a one-day strike to protest Emmanuel Macron's cost cutting labour reforms. Schools, hospitals and transport were affected by action taken by unions. Donald Trump addressed the Value Voter's Summit, a group who have been labelled a hate group and consist of evangelical Christians. The group are known for their hate speech against the LGBTQ community.

Brazilian president, Michel Temer, signed through controversial electoral reforms that include suspension of all publications denounced for promoting hate speech or spreading fake news from social networks and smartphone apps.

However, the law doesn't require that the information needs to be proved to be fake or slanderous before suspension. The Congress also approved the creation of an electoral fund, which will provide public funds for the election. Additionally, a barrier clause will restrict advertisement time for parties which fail to achieve minimum requirements: either to have 1.5 percent of votes in at least nine states or to elect representatives in nine states. The requirements will gradually increase until 2030. This will restrict the growth of smaller parties.
As emerged from a government energy subsidy power auction held in September, the production of electricity by the many wind farms in the Northern Sea has become less expensive than using nuclear plants. The surpass represents an important victory for clean energy, which is becoming an increasingly competitive alternative to other forms of non-renewable energy supplies.

Plummeting costs

The savings of employing wind power mainly come from technological advancements that cut the costs of production by 50%. In particular, from 2007, the power of wind turbines has more than doubled and it is expected to further escalate, causing costs to hit the bottom.

It has been said that wind is not a reliable source of energy, due to its intermittent nature, it has been proven that, even if we take these considerations into account, the additional costs would not make wind power more expensive than nuclear.

Furthermore, the lower subsidies the government should grant to wind farms projects, with respect to the construction of nuclear facilities, represents another reason to opt for the former. In fact, a number of subsidies offshore wind farm developers are asking for diminished significantly in recent years thanks to optimised construction procedures. Considering that, since 2012, no electricity facility has been built in the UK without the support of taxpayers, wind power represents an extremely attractive opportunity.

The right choice

Existing coal and nuclear stations are becoming obsolete and the UK is looking for newer ways to meet the demand for power, which is expected to soar due to the take-off of the electric vehicles revolution. In 2016, the government approved a project for the construction of a new nuclear plant, the so-called Hinkley Point C, with a budget of 19.6 billion.

After 15 months, the project is already 1.5 billion over budget and a minimum 1-year delay is expected. On the other hand, as explained above, the price of offshore wind farms is constantly dropping.

As a consequence, in light of the most recent developments, the British government is thinking whether to set aside the nuclear project and focus substantially on clean energy supplies.

The advantages of this shift to offshore wind power are significant both from an environmental and a social point of view. Concerning the former, the use of wind power would reduce CO2 emissions, therefore permitting the country to meet its environmental objectives.

The construction of new wind farms would represent the opening of new working opportunities both for British and foreign companies. As Richard Harrington, the British energy minister, recently pointed out, The offshore wind sector alone will invest 17.5 billion in the UK up to 2021 and thousands of new jobs in British businesses will be created.
"I want the truth!"

I'll let you fill in the blank with your own best Jack impression.

Some movies are eternally quotable. The lines of dialogue roll off the tongue with a natural rhyme and rhythm that anybody and their uncle can rattle off an entire scene without missing a beat - and probably in a particular actor's unique cadence. Quoting movies is half the fun of loving movies. You could be in a completely inappropriate situation and be compelled to spout out your favorite line from your favorite flick. Rob Reiner had quite the hot streak from the late 80s and into the 90s. Whether you're discussing the merits of a game of wits against a Sicilian, the importance of louder than normal stereo equipment, or the fate of your favorite romance novel character, Reiner crafted some of the best and most quotable comedies and dramas ever made. Perhaps his best and most quotable film is A Few Good Men whose classic Sorkin script gave rise to one of Jack Nicholson's fiercest performances and one of the best legal thrillers of the 90s.

We all know this movie by now. Backward and forwards, film fans have been watching and parroting this film for 25 years - and for good reason. Before he was known for crafting America's favorite television presidential fantasy with NBC's The West Wing, Aaron Sorkin was known primarily as a fledgling playwright and screenwriter. A Few Good Men earned some solid notices when it premiered on Broadway and a film adaptation was quick to follow. For his first screen credit as a writer, Sorkin hit it out of the park. It's understandable, this is an arresting film from minute one when we witness the frighting assault on a young marine in the dark. It's a hell of a way to start a flick. Then we get to meet Tom Cruise's cocky Lt. Kaffee, Demi Moore's determined Lt. Commander Galloway, Kevin Pollak's sly Lt. Weinberg and ultimately we get to meet the fearsome Col. Nathan Jessep so iconically played by Jack Nicholson that you can't imagine anyone else in the role.

Between the terrific cast, Rob Reiner's impeccable direction, and Sorkin's original play and script, there is a lot of credit for success to be handed out. It's difficult to see anyone but Tom Cruise as Kaffee. At that point in his post-Top Gun career, that was a role engineered for Cruise and his boyish good looks and cocksure gumption. While Nicholson's turn as Jessep is the most iconic, I'm always impressed by Demi Moore in what could be argued as her last good performance after Ghost before her career went off the rails and crashed into Striptease. She proves she had a dramatic presence to make her character feel real and authentic as a woman working in a very masculine world.

However, there is often an unsung hero of this film that wasn't given credit. Like so many films that earned great accolades, A Few Good Men was one of the many scripts doctored by legendary screenwriter William Goldman. While I don't know the full extent of those rewriters, apparently they were good enough for Sorkin to alter his own original play to reflect the character changes and dialogue. Suffice to say, when you know that Goldman had a hand in the dialogue, it's easy to hear those echoes of The Princess Bride and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in the way characters talk and present exposition. Even with Goldman's contributions, you can hear the seedlings that would sprout into what would become the foundation for Sorkin's infamous "walk-and-talk" banter.

Whether consciously or not, A Few Good Men is a movie I inevitably pull off my shelf at least once a year. I'll be looking for a good flick to keep me occupied and somehow that one always sticks out. I wouldn't call it an absolute favorite, but I do enjoy it. It's like comfort food at this point. I know what's going to happen and when, and most importantly what line is going to be said by what actor. I'm not someone who ever feels the need to quote along with a movie, but whenever Jack's on screen I feel the need to brace myself for one hell of a sinister line delivery. 25 years on, A Few Good Men may have much in the way of mystery anymore, but it still grabs and holds onto my attention with every viewing.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

A Few Good Men arrives onto 4K UHD from Sony in a two-disc 4K UHD + Blu-ray + Digital set. The discs are housed in a two-disc black UHD snapper case with identical slipcover artwork. The disc loads to a static image main menu with Sony's unique navigation system indicative of their releases. The included digital copy does redeem through Movies Anywhere, however, it did not unlock a 4K UHD version, only a standard HDX presentation. The included Blu-ray is the exact same disc as the one already on the market. No new upgrades have been made there.
While I readily admit the following statement is much too soon of a prediction to be making, I'm willing to wager Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets could potentially find a cult following. Frankly, the entire production shares familiar trappings to two other dearly-beloved Luc Besson favorites: The Fifth Element and Leon: The Professional. But that's not to say this sci-fi adventure flick is nearly as good as either of those, both of which have rightly earned their cult classic status. Rather, Besson's latest actioner, which bombed at the worldwide box office, was welcomed with a generally lukewarm reception, similar to those movies except this one hardly received the same level of praise. Ultimately, time favored those movies, and I have a sneaking suspicion the same could happen to this one. A significant, if not also major difference, is the production being based on the French sci-fi comics, which are obviously not popular or really even known in the U.S., presumably from Besson's childhood, making it one of the most expensive pet projects ever brought to fruition.

Moreover, Valerian is, to some degree, a blend of those aforementioned movies, arguably Besson's two best-known features. The plot revolves around the clumsy, awkward romance of the two leads, Major Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and Sergeant Laureline (Cara Delevingne). Only, here, we are told the latter refuses the aggressive advances of the former because he's a near-narcissistic, monogamy-hating womanizer. And given the recent news about inappropriate conduct that's been fermenting throughout Hollywood, this character trait is hardly an endearing quality most audiences would want to champion at the moment. Granted, it's easy to see where Besson, who also wrote the script, is going with this  a sadly cliched trope for a predictable character development  the first mark on a checklist of several flaws. And no offense to DeHaan since he typically delivers a good performance, but he doesn't exactly have the screen presence or even the natural charm to make the character believable. Basically, Valerian's pompous boasting and self-importance comes off as artificial, more of a charlatan than a praiseworthy hero.

Unfortunately, this back and forth romance between the two young actors further fails in the flat, dead-eyed performance of model-turned-actress Delevingne, who was more effective under layers of makeup and CGI as Enchantress in Suicide Squad. Throughout the film's 137-minute runtime, Delevingne is better at being more visibly frustrated taking orders from her pretentious ranking officer than she is at feigning a love interest. The chemistry between the two is so wide and empty, the International Space Station, which has evolved into a gigantic space-traveling city, could comfortably park betwixt them. All the while, we're meant to believe the two soldiers are simultaneously solving a massive government conspiracy. It's worth noting the pair inadvertently stumble upon the mystery by sheer happenstance rather than clever detective work, exposing another troubling drawback of the film. The central premise of uncovering the truth behind a believed extinct species of primitive aliens is largely driven by coincidences, little blunders, and various flukes. The story is largely, if not entirely, motivated by several much-too-convenient plot devices.

It may seem as though I'm harshly hating on Valerian, but, truth be told, I was surprisingly entertained by this silly sci-fi adventure despite its many glaring issues. The wildly imaginative visuals, reminiscent of the eye-catching spectacle of The Fifth Element, is ultimately the production's winning charming. As if from the feverish revelry of a lunatic talking to himself at a park bench, the movie is essentially a cavalcade of bizarre, wacky creatures brought to life thanks to some incredibly talented computer animators and stage designers. And this inventively whimsical vision is brilliantly photographed by long-time collaborator Thierry Arbogast (Lucy, 3 Days to Kill), turning what could have been a far worse film into a tolerably elaborate curiosity. Besson and his crew unapologetically embrace the preposterous without the slightest sense of cynicism, delivering an amusingly straightforward, if also imperfect, popcorn flick. And somehow, the French filmmaker also convinced John Goodman, Ethan Hawke, Rutger Hauer, Rihanna and Clive Owen to join the fun. If for nothing else, Besson has given moviegoers a delightfully enjoyable bad movie.

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray

Lionsgate Home Entertainment brings Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets to 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray as a two-disc combo pack with a flyer for a Digital HD Copy, which can be redeemed via EuropaRedeem.com or through VUDU but only available in HD SDR and HDX. The triple-layered UHD100 disc sits comfortably opposite a Region A locked, BD50 disc inside a black, eco-vortex case with a glossy slipcover. At startup, the disc goes straight to a static menu screen with full-motion clips and music playing in the background.
MINNEAPOLIS  Ella Dorner was 15 years old when her parents introduced themselves to her. It wasnt her first time meeting them. In fact, shed spent her entire life living with them. But after falling and sustaining a traumatic brain injury, she had no idea who they were.

The blonde ladys your mom, Jules Dorner would tell her daughter, referring to herself in the third person.

Jules Dorner had mounds of evidence: photographs from Ella's childhood, saved pictures Ella had drawn, recordings of Ella's concerts before the accident. Eventually, Jules said, her daughter realized that only a parent would stick with her this long.

Ella would study photo IDs of her mom, her father, Jeff Dorner, and her sister, Hannah Dorner. She memorized their faces as people she could trust.

When Ella discovered her parents' names werent actually Mom and Dad, she burst out laughing.

But to her, even these "memories" are stories she heard from her parents. For the first several days after hitting her head and being diagnosed with retrograde amnesia, Dorner forgot not only her entire life before the accident, but also each day of recovery.

Nov. 14, 2008

A loud thud.

Hannah Dorner heard the noise and rushed to the bottom of the steps in their Stillwater, Minn., home, where her younger sister was lying dazed. Their parents arrived and noticed immediately it was worse than the typical bump on the head.

Ella couldn't stand or speak, and she was holding her head with both hands. Whether she fell because of a seizure, as doctors later suggested, or simply because she lost her footing, she hit her head twice upon landing and had a grand mal seizure, temporarily losing consciousness.

Initially, she did not know who she was or where she was, and could not describe colors or letters, a medical report said.

Her prospects seemed to perpetually worsen as she was transferred from hospital to hospital, her father said. Her diagnosis didnt specify just how much shed forgotten, though. That was something her family members would discover on their own. For Jeff Dorner, it was while helping Ella Dorner eat in the hospital.

Her first time eating, she chewed the food then stopped before swallowing. She didnt know where to put the food next. When she did swallow, she was thrown into panic mode, wondering where the food had gone.

What do you want to drink? her father asked her. She looked up, but didnt respond. Ella do you want a pop? He asked.

I dont know what that is, she said.

Soda pop. Like Pepsi. Mountain Dew. 7-Up. Do you remember pop?

She didnt. So Jeff prepared a sampler of drinks for Ella to taste-test. He smiled when she chose Mountain Dew as her favorite. It was a drink the two had shared many times before the accident.

Eating, drinking, and understanding what words meant were everyday experiences that turned into adventures.

Recovery

Nothing came naturally to Ella Dorner. Everything had to be explained.

At the grocery store, she would pick up food and start eating it. When she got dressed in the morning, she would put on clothes that were all the same color. She threw limes and hard-boiled eggs because they were round. She ate bananas without peeling them first. Once she learned that some foods require peeling, she peeled everything.

For the first month, she had to begin learning all over again every morning. Her family would teach her how to put on her seat belt, to recognize that bathroom items were not to be eaten while many kitchen items could be eaten. She would try to match socks while her mom folded the laundry.

Dorner's account of those weeks is filled with laughter. But for her parents, none of it was funny at the time.

"Seriously, it was so scary, her mother said. Dorner slept in a tent indoors because it was the only place she felt safe. She would use business cards of family and friends as flashcards, rediscovering the people who loved her.

She wore a dog tag on her wrist as identification. She had her moms phone number written on her stomach in case she got lost. And she would sleep for hours as her brain worked to repair the passageways that had been damaged by the fall.

Jules Dorner, a speech and language pathologist and former early-childhood teacher, was accustomed to working with students who suffer from brain injuries and memory loss. But no one in their family had ever met anyone with Ella's exact condition.

Most of the doctors who saw her were bewildered as well. According to Kelvin Lim, a University of Minnesota psychiatry professor and traumatic brain injuries researcher who did not deal directly with Dorner's case, retrograde amnesia is an understudied area.

"There have been some studies ... that suggest damage to the temporal lobe seems to be associated with retrograde amnesia," Lim said. But "the actual anatomy of what's involved in retrograde amnesia is still not very well understood."

After about a month, Ella Dorner began to show improvements.

"She'd smell something and she'd get (an entire year) back," her mother said. "She would learn years in a day."

She would go to Stillwater Area High School for an hour each day, coloring and watching while her classmates learned. When the school went into lockdown at one point, she wasnt even afraid. Everyone was a stranger, so one stranger was no scarier than the next.

After school, she would come home and talk to her dog, Rupert. At first, she was offended that Rubert didnt say anything back. She didnt understand that he couldnt talk.

Google was (and still is) her best friend, she said. What is an avocado? What is an elephant?" she would search.

Despite horrible grammar and spelling, Dorner joined the high school student newspaper. Through that, she was able to interview strangers who had been close friends before her accident.

Even as she improved, every day brought new surprises. Essentially every family decision depended on how Ella felt. When they went to family parties, Hannah would help her navigate the crowds.

Beautiful performance tonight, Hannah would tell her sister afterward.

Independence

Ella Dorner took dozens of online classes during the summers. She graduated from high school and entered college at the University of North Dakota. It was her first time away from home since the accident, and her parents were terrified.

But for the first time, she said, she felt she belonged.

Oh, you dont know how to do laundry? she would think to her classmates. I cant even believe we have laundry machines.

Classes were hard (It would be like if you and I both took the same ethics class, but it was in German and I didnt know German), and she often experienced depression.

In high school, she was the girl who forgot her life, so when she met new people in college, she didnt tell them about her accident.

How do you tell people, I forgot my life, but Im fine. Its just not a casual conversation to bring up. She still occasionally tells people shes an accountant to avoid the conversation, because no one asks follow-up questions to that.

College was a challenge as she continued to learn about the world away from the safety of her home. When she learned about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in a class, she had to go home for a few days.

She also was shocked at how caffeine and alcohol could affect people.

I never understood why anyone in their right mind would voluntarily lose their memory for a short period of time. It almost pissed me off, Dorner said.

But shes used to people taking her condition lightly. Its the punchline of jokes, the refrain of a song. When people mention their terrible memories, she laughs.

You know what they say, others will mention casually. Not Dorner. She doesnt have any idea what they say.

Childlike optimism

Dorner says she uses childlike optimism to inspire others. After graduating from college, she moved back to Minneapolis, where she works as a motivational speaker and is writing a book about her experiences.

Dorner doesnt remember anything before sixth grade. She looks up words a bit more frequently than her peers, and, at any given point, she could run into someone she thinks is a stranger, only to find out she was best friends with them in elementary school.

But for the most part, Dorner's life is like that of any other 24-year-old living and working independently in Minneapolis  with a few unique interests. She prefers elementary science experiments and crafts to watching TV, she marvels at the brilliant inventions of hangers and straws, and she continues to be amazed by what she calls the rituals of daily life.

Consider hair. If you pull it, it hurts. But if you cut it with a sharp knife or curl it with a hot metal rod, you cant feel it, Dorner said. Our bodies are filled with all this red liquid and one little poke and it will spew out like a cheap water balloon. Why do we risk taking a razor to our skin?

Many want to know: Is she the same person she was before the accident?

Well, shes no longer an aggressive softball player who wants to be an orthodontist. She cant even throw a ball, her mother says. But some of the change may have just been maturing out of her teenage years and into her twenties.

She has this kind of softer side to her now. Shes more compassionate, more animated, I would say. She was always a little bit of the leader of the pack, never afraid to speak, but shes just fearless now in that capacity, her father said.

Ella lost her peripheral vision due to the accident, but she gained perspective on how to laugh at misfortune and the oddities of daily life. Shes still amazed that water comes from the walls (sinks and showers) but also from peoples faces (tears).

"I think the hardest part ... was to ask, 'Have I lost the girl I raised?' " Jules Dorner said. But she doesn't dwell on that. "I think she's just the person she turned out to be."
The United States of America declared today that it would be withdrawing from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Heather Nauert, a spokeswoman for the State Department, announced the news this morning in a statement. However, this is not the first time that America has withdrawn from the organization.

Why America is withdrawing from UNESCO?

In the statement that Nauert gave regarding the decision to withdraw from the organization, she said that This decision was not taken lightly and reflects U.S. concerns with mounting arrears (debt) at UNESCO. The two specific areas that she cited for the decision were the demand for foundational reform within UNESCO and their ongoing bias against close ally Israel.

Politico also reported that Nauert said America will remain part of the organization until its withdraw becomes official on December 31, 2018. Following this date, the U.S. will intend to stay involved with UNESCO as an observer state. According to the Washington Post, State Department officials hope the withdrawal will get the organization to make changes that will satisfy them.

US indicated to Director Gen. @IrinaBokova its desire to remain engaged with @UNESCO as a non-member observer state. https://t.co/JA9WirHMLE  Department of State (@StateDept) October 12, 2017

Not the first time U.S. had left UNESCO

The United States played a key role in founding UNESCO in 1945 following the end of World War II.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan pulled the country out of the organization, citing that the group had a pro-Soviet Union, anti-Western bias. For the next 18 years, America was not part of UNESCO until President George W. Bush had the country rejoin back in 2002.

OFFICIAL: UNESCO Director-General expresses profound regret at US decision to withdraw from UNESCO. https://t.co/KoOMd3Kl9H https://t.co/Mj1BZXIOAF  UNESCO (@UNESCO) October 12, 2017

UNESCO's perceived anti-Israel actions

In 2011 under President Barack Obama, America drastically cut its funding to UNESCO by 22 percent as a reaction to Palestine being let into the organization as a member.

According to Foreign Policy magazine, this has left the United States in debt to UNESCO on paying its membership dues by over $500 million. This was done as Israel was upset with Palestine being allowed in, so the U.S. as a close ally took action.

Last year, UNESCO made some decisions that have been perceived as anti-Israel.

Reuters reported how the organization passed a resolution characterizing the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem as only a Muslim holy site. Jews, who refer to the site as the Temple Mount, got upset and Israel recalled its ambassador to the organization in retaliation.

The Atlantic also reported that UNESCO further ticked off Israel by declaring a part of the West Bank city of Hebron as a Palestinian World Heritage Site. This led to Israel being upset that Jewish connections to holy sites in that area were not recognized and led a further suspending of ties with the organization.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went to Twitter following the announcement praising the move by America to withdraw from the organization.

He then announced that Israel would be following in America's footsteps by also leaving.

I welcome @realDonaldTrump's decision to withdraw from UNESCO.  Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) October 12, 2017
Tina Frost, 27, of Maryland was injured in the deadly Las Vegas mass shooting incident and has been in a coma ever since. However, she has finally come around and has responded to relatives with a thumbs up and has also taken her first steps since the October 1 attack by Stephen Paddock at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Paddock shot and killed 58 people and injured at least 500 before turning the gun on himself.

Mandalay Bay shooting victim comes round from coma

According to relatives, Frost has come around from the coma following the deadly mass shooting.

On Friday Frost managed to take three steps, aided by nurses, to a chair in her hospital room and a further three steps back to her bed. In a statement on a GoFundMe fundraising page, her mother, Mary Watson Moreland, said Tina can open her left eye a little and look at them. She added that Frost also taps her feet when music is playing in her room.

27yr old Tina Frost of Maryland was shot in the head in Vegas, loses eye comes, out of coma takes her first steps. https://t.co/WkyvyQwKwG pic.twitter.com/bUEDvuCHWw  American Real News (@USArealnews) October 14, 2017

Injury suffered during Las Vegas shooting massacre

During Paddocks deadly attack on the Route 91 Harvest Festival from his hotel suite, Frost received a single bullet to her forehead, losing her right eye and going into a coma.

She is one of around 45 victims who are still in four hospitals in Las Vegas following the shooting, but she is starting to recover and can now breath without a ventilator.

Outpouring of support for Las Vegas shooting victim

As reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, there has been an outpouring of support for Frost, with one Florida medical supply company planning to donate the skull implants required for Frosts forehead to be reconstructed.

That report also said some of the hospitals in the Las Vegas area have promised to waive all medical costs of victims injured in the mass shooting.

The newspaper also quoted Moreland as saying Frost will have pieces of Paddocks bullet in her brain for the rest of her life. Dr. Keith Blum, the surgeon who worked on Frost, said he had carefully removed as many of the fragments and shrapnel from the bullet as he could but was forced to remove her badly injured right eye.

At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page set up for Frost has already raised $539,847, way over the initial goal of $50,000, donated by 9,223 generous people. Her mother wrote on the page that Frosts doctors are talking about the next step in Frosts recovery and are discussing hospitals with the necessary specialists to aid in her road to recovery.
It's no secret that Donald Trump and the majority of the mainstream media haven't seen eye to eye for some time. In the president's latest rant on social media, he re-tweeted a former Fox News host, while adding his own thoughts on the matter.

Trump and O'Reilly

It all started back during the summer of 2015 when Donald Trump and his family caused a media frenzy on the floor of Trump Tower in New York City by announcing his campaign for president. During his campaign announcement, Trump spoke out against illegal immigrants from Mexico, labeling them "rapists" and "murderers." The media reaction was predictably negative, which kicked off the war of words between both sides that has only continued to get worse.

Since being sworn into office just over nine months ago, the former host of "The Apprentice" has lashed out against the press on a routine basis, typically doing so during his daily tweetstorms. Trump's latest media target has been NBC News after the network reported that the president was looking to increase the United States' nuclear arsenal. Trump wasn't pleased with the reporting, calling it "fake news" and challenging whether or not the network should eve be allowed to hold to a journalistic license. Over the last 48 hours, Bill O'Reilly has come to the president's defense on social media, with Trump re-tweeting the former Fox News host on October 13, while also giving his opinion.

Sadly, they and others are Fake News, and the public is just beginning to figure it out! https://t.co/8B8AyA7V1s  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 13, 2017

Taking to Twitter on Friday morning, Donald Trump re-tweeted Bill O'Reilly's recent post about NBC News and the media.

"The President will not be able to impact licenses, but he is doing major damage to the @NBC brand," O'Reilly tweeted. "Sadly, they and others are Fake News, and the public is just beginning to figure it out!" Trump added.

The President will not be able to impact licenses, but he is doing major damage to the @NBC brand.  Bill O'Reilly (@billoreilly) October 12, 2017

Donald Trump's latest remarks come just one day after doubling down with his criticism of NBC News, calling the network "dishonest," disgusting," and "fake news," while warning potential viewers that the channel could even be worse than CNN.

NBC responded to Trump's criticism and stood by their original reporting and sources.

Trump Retweets Bill OReilly to Slam Fake News NBC Amidst Weinstein Scandal https://t.co/SwN6NWz2LD pic.twitter.com/zx6rIz1qIu  Mediaite (@Mediaite) October 13, 2017

Moving forward

As Donald Trump and the mainstream media continue to battle in the public eye, the commander in chief has many other issues to deal with in the White House.

With the president facing pressure to make progress on health care and tax reform, Trump is also dealing with rising tensions between the United States and North Korea, as well as reported in-fighting with members of his own administration.
While fans of "Alaskan Bush People" are waiting for the show's return for season 8, they are currently happy to receive updates about the Brown family. Aside from Ami Brown's condition, fans follow what the Brown children are doing.

Many fans had been sending love and prayers for Ami who is still battling cancer. But there is also some good news for show's followers. Recently, the Alaskan Bush People Exposed Facebook page revealed something interesting to the fans of the show. The post is about the current status of Noah Brown and fiancee Rhain Alisha.

Noah confirms engagement

In a post, Noah talked about his fiancee saying that Rhain is an angel and that she is his soul mate. He added that Rhain has always been patient and supportive all the time. She was there for him in every life challenges he faces including his mother's cancer and their departure from Alaska.

Noah said that Rhain is everything he could have ever wanted, adding that she is his dream girl. The post also confirms that Rhain is already living with him and they are currently engaged. To recall, the pair was afraid that their relationship would end after Rhain decided to leave Alaska and move to her home.

But the couple made it through every challenge and are preparing for marriage.

Noah also said that he is very thankful that Rhain chose to stay with him instead of going back to Oregon. Currently, they are planning their life together.

Their love story

The lovebirds met in Hoonah, which is a place that the Brown family visits. After a few months of seeing each other, they immediately fell in love. Rhain came from Oregon, and her first appearance on "Alaskan Bush People" is during the show's season 6 back in January, when Noah introduced her to his family.

Talks about their engagement started when Rhain flaunted her engagement ring on social media.

In "Alaskan Bush People" season 7, Noah informed his family that he would not move with them in Colorado. Instead, he wanted to work as a local sheriff and start his own life. His parents Billy and Ami did not stop him from fulfilling his dreams.

Right now, fans had been seeing Noah and Rhain in Montana and Oregon.

Because of Noah's decision, it is not yet sure if he will still join his family for "Alaskan Bush People" season 8. As of now, there are no updates about the new season yet while Ami Brown is still taking a rest from the rounds of chemotherapy she received in California.
20th Century Fox launched the official trailer of "The New Mutants" movie and it featured a group of teenage mutants who are struggling to survive a haunted institute, while they are dealing with their own personal demons because of their growing powers.

The film is directed by Josh Boone, who is known for helming movies such a "Stuck in Love" and "The Fault in Our Stars." "The New Mutants" will be part of the "X-Men" film franchise and this is Fox's first attempt at creating a sci-fi horror film based on a superhero comic book.

Who are the New Mutants?

In the Marvel comics, the New Mutants team are the teenage splinter group of the X-Men who are trained to use their powers to help humanity other than fighting. The group was trained by Professor Xavier before Magneto took over for his friend.

The film version of the team consists of Sam Guthrie (Cannonball), Roberto da Costa (Sunspot), Danielle Moonstar (Mirage), Rahne Sinclair (Wolfsbane), and Illyana Rasputin (Magik). They are being held inside a mutant institute run by Dr. Cecilia Reyes.

Sam has the ability to release thermo-chemical energy that he can use to boost himself and fly like a rocket. Roberto can absorb solar energy that enhances his physical strength and unleash solar blasts.

Danielle is a psychic who can create illusions based on a person's fear or desire. Rahne can transform herself into a werewolf and has animal-like senses, strength, speed, and healing factor. And Illyana can create dimensional discs to teleport and she also happens to be the sister of X-Men member Colossus.

The team will fight the Demon Bear in the movie as the monster hunts down each character inside the institute.

They are all connected

Director John Boone confirmed that "The New Mutants" will be connected to the "X-Men" Film Franchise, but he cannot reveal how these connections will happen.

"I can't... there's some things I can't talk about," Boone told IGN. I can just say that it is connected to and a part of the X-Men universe, and will continue to be a part of the X-Men universe and will be part of that as it opens up in the next movies and all that."

Boone also revealed that the "X-Men" spin-off will take place in the present timeline as the "Deadpool" movie.

Fox announced that fan-favorite characters Karma and Warlock will be added to a future sequel depending on the success of the first film.

The studio is also working on other "X-Men" films such as "Dark Phoenix," "Deadpool 2," and "X-Force." The film will premiere on April 13, 2018.
This past week, there has been an eruption of violence in the southeastern African nation of Malawi due to rumors of Vampires over the last month. The scare has led to mob violence and even killings in certain parts of the country, as vampire hunters try to seek out the alleged bloodsuckers among them. This caused a curfew to be imposed by the government and prompted the United Nations to move their staff in the country.

Violence mobs seeking vampires

According to reports from the country covered by the BBC, at least five victims have been murdered by violent vigilante mobs. These victims were believed by the mobs to be behaving like vampires and that they were drinking human blood as a part of magic rituals they were performing.

In a report on the issue seen by Reuters, the United Nations (UN) is saying that these unfounded rumors of vampires seem to have come from Malawi's southern neighbor, Mozambique. From there they spread across the border into the southern districts of Phalombe and Mulanje, although it is unknown what set off the fears initially

Government installs curfew

In response to what has been happening President Peter Mutharika and the government of Malawi have installed a curfew. The BBC reports that the night-time curfew has been put in place to try to prevent more deaths from taking place. It will halt movement for 10 hours from 7:00 to 17:00 local time.

The office of the President also released an official statement on the matter.

President Mutharika has promised to launch a major investigation into these immoral mob killings, saying that the issue is of grave concern to the entire government.

Reuters UK is also reporting that President Mutharika told village chiefs to crack down on witchcraft. He also urged suspected vampires to stop terrorizing people, saying If people are using witchcraft to suck people's blood, I will deal with them and I ask them to stop doing that with immediate effect.

United Nations moves staff in Malawi

The United Nations said that they have moved their staff out of the two aforementioned southern districts to a safer area of the country due to the mob killings.

The UN, as well as many aid agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), operate in the country.

Malawi is one of the poorest nations on Earth and has low educational standards. Belief in witchcraft and the unnatural is common throughout the country, with a similar spate of mob violence due to rumors of vampires taking place back in 2002.
Hawaii is a perfect destination for families as well as honeymooners and everyone in between. The islands are steeped in both native and World War II history, which guests can immerse themselves in by visiting historic palaces, museums, and Pearl Harbor sites such as the USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri. Hawaii is also famous for its volcanoes and beaches. For the best of the beach, check out Kaanapali, HI. For volcanoes, head to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Parks Jaggar Museum and Overlook. Hawaii is the perfect destination to unwind, enjoy nature, and learn a bit of history.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1. Iolani Palace  Courtesy of guynamedjames - Fotolia.com

The Iolani Palace was the royal residence of many rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii, and it is also the only royal palace on United States soil. The residents began with Kamehameha II and ended with Queen Liliuokalani. The palace is now a National Historic Landmark. It has been restored and is currently operating as a historic house museum. The palace is located in downtown Honolulu and offers two tour options. Guests can choose to go on a docent led tour or a self-led audio-guided tour. Both tour options see the same parts of the palace  both the first and second floors. Guests of both types of tours can explore the basement gallery on their own after the tour. There is an introductory video shown every half hour in the barracks. Online reservations are recommended to secure a spot. 364 King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813, Phone: 808-522-0822

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2. Battleship Missouri Memorial, Hawaii  Courtesy of Jeff - Fotolia.com

The Battleship Missouri is a U.S. Navy ship that was named after the state of Missouri. The ship, also known as Mighty Mo or Big Mo, was the last Navy battleship to be commissioned by the United States. The ship has historical significance, as it was the site where the Japanese surrendered during World War II. This momentous occasion that took place on September 2, 1945 marked the end of the war. The Battleship Missouri Memorial offers tours twice a day and opportunities to learn and explore more on your own. At the time of writing, some sections of the battleship were closed for renovation. 63 Cowpens Street, Honolulu, HI 96818, Phone: 808-455-1600

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3. Ka'anapali Beach  Courtesy of Scotty Robson - Fotolia.com

Kaanapali Beach consists of a three-mile stretch of white sand fronting some of the most popular hotels in Maui. Kaanapali was the first planned resort in Hawaii and has been used as an example for resorts around the world. There are five world-class hotels and six luxury condominium villages that face the beach. The shopping complex Whalers Village is also located on the beach. The village has a selection of shops and restaurants as well as a whaling museum and Hawaiian entertainment. Kaanapali is famous for the cliff-diving ceremonies that happen each day off of the northernmost cliffs of the beach, a spot known as Black Rock. 2525 Kaanapali Parkway, Lahaina, HI 96761, Phone: 808-661-0011



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4. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden  Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden



The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden is a nature preserve and botanical garden located along the Hamakua Coasts 4-mile scenic driving route off of Hawaiis Route 19. The botanical garden is a living museum featuring a large, exotic collection of plants from around the world. The botanical garden contains more than 2,000 species of plants that come from more than 125 different plant families. The garden is located in a 40-acre valley that serves as a natural greenhouse and provides protection from the wind. There are nature trails that wind throughout the valleys natural rainforest past several waterfalls and across streams. 21-717 Old Mamalahoa Highway, Papaikou, HI 96781, Phone: 808-964-5233

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5. Maverick Helicopters  Courtesy of Kelly Headrick - Fotolia.com



There is a special magic in seeing Hawaiian islands from the air. With Maverick Helicopters, visitors have an opportunity to see Hawaiian volcanoes, waterfalls, jungles, and villages from high up in the sky. With Maverick, the passengers experience the highest level of quality and service aboard their luxury, ECO-Star helicopters featuring Quiet Technology. Flying out of Kahului Heliport in Maui, they offer a range of tours with breathtaking views of the most beautiful scenery in Hawaii. Some of the most popular tours are the 75-minute-long Hana Rainforest Experience, with a 30-minute landing in the rainforest, as well as the 50-minute-long Maui Spirit, which flies over the island's famous volcano, waterfalls, and the Hana Rainforest. With more than 20 years of experience in the business and the highest level of safety in the industry, Maverick tours are the most popular helicopter tours in Hawaii. Lelepio Pl, Kahului, HI 96732, Phone: 808-893-7999

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6. Things to Do in Hawaii: USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park  USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park



The USS Bowfin is a Balao-class submarine that was deployed in the United States Navy and named after the bowfin fish. The sub has been open to the public since 1981. The museum and park are located conveniently in Pearl Harbor, next-door to the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center. Visitors to the site can tour the museum on their own with an audio-narration device. The narration tells the stories of life aboard the submarine during World War II. The museum contains artifacts and exhibits related to submarines and their place in U.S. military history. There is also a memorial to those submarines and submariners who were lost during the Second World War. 11 Arizona Memorial Drive, Honolulu, HI 96818, Phone: 808-423-1341

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7. Fun Things to Do in Hawaii: Dolphin Quest  Dolphin Quest

Dolphin Quest is a dolphin-encounter experience for the whole family. They offer programs for children starting at age 2. Toddlers, young children, and their parents can participate in a 10-minute meet and greet with a dolphin. Older children, teens, and adults can have even closer encounters, including what they call Sea Quest, a 1 hour and 45 minute guided snorkel and swimming experience with Hawaiian fish and sea turtles that is then finished off with 40 minutes of swimming with dolphins. In addition to their location on Hawaiis Big Island, Dolphin Quest has a second location at the luxurious Kahala Hotel and Resort in Oahu as well as a location in Bermuda. 69-425 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, Phone: 808-886-2875



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8. Hawaii Things to Do: Limahuli Garden  Courtesy of stevengaertner - Fotolia.com

The Limahuli Garden and Preserve is a nature preserve and botanical garden located on Kauais north shore. The garden lies in a tropical valley and contains three different habitats, including the Makana Mountain ridge, the Limahuli Stream, and inland areas of the Haena State Park. The stream features an 800-foot waterfall. The garden contains a large number of native Hawaiian and Polynesian-introduced plants. It has won several awards from the American Horticultural Society as the best botanical garden in the U.S. The garden is open to the public, but the 13 acres of nature preserve land is not open to visitors. 58301 Kuhio Highway, Hanalei, HI 96714, Phone: 808-826-1053



9. Places of Interest in Hawaii: Allerton Garden  Courtesy of flares38 - Fotolia.com

Allerton Garden is a botanical garden created by Robert and John Gregg Allerton. The garden, also known as Lawai-kai, is located on Kauais south shore between the McBryde Garden and the Pacific Ocean. The garden is comprised of 80 beautiful acres and lies in a valley crossed by the Lawai stream. Allerton Garden includes pools, miniature waterfalls, garden rooms, fountains, and statues, and it is open to visitors. Guests can choose a docent-guided, self-guided, or specialty tour when they visit the garden. Tour options are available that combine a visit to Allerton Garden with adjacent McBryde Garden for even more outdoor fun. 4425 Lawai Road, Koloa, HI 96756, Phone: 808-742-2623

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10. Hawaii Vacation: Akatsuka Orchid Gardens  Courtesy of DmitriK - Fotolia.com

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens is a major player in the growth and sale of Cattleya orchids, and has been for more than thirty years. The blooming orchids, which can be seen on display at the gardens, number more than 500 at any given time. The orchids come from a number of different varieties, including Oncidiums, Miltonia, Dendrobiums, and many others. Besides the orchids, the gardens sell other flowers and tropical flower arrangements to individuals and retailers. The gardens have a handicap-accessible showroom and gift shop. The showroom has many orchids and tropical plants on display. Visitors are able to tour the propertys greenhouse. 11-3051 Volcano Road, Volcano, HI 96785



11. Things to Do in HI: Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy  Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy

Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy is a locally owned and operated surf academy and one of the oldest surf schools in Maui. The academy offers group as well as private and semi-private surf lessons. They also offer private and semi-private stand-up paddleboard lessons and rentals. For those who are adamant surfers, Royal Hawaiian offers an experience they call a Surfari. On the Surfari, guests will travel with native Hawaiian instructors down the coast looking for the perfect wave to ride. The experience includes an exclusive private lesson in the perfect location, which changes depending on the day and conditions. 505 Front St Suite #127, Lahaina, HI 96761, Phone: 808-276-7873



12. What to Do in Hawaii: Polynesian Cultural Center  Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a Polynesian-themed theme park and living museum on Oahus north shore in Laie. The park consists of forty-two acres of simulated villages staffed with actors who perform various art and craft activities from all around Polynesia. The park has an Imax special effect theater and a lagoon that guests can travel across by canoe. Each of the prominent cultures of Polynesia has their own section set up as a traditional village. Visitors can participate in an authentic luau with a roasted pig cooked in an underground oven and other traditional Polynesian dishes. The center also hosts a popular evening show that includes various aspects of Polynesian culture. 55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Laie, HI 96762, Phone: 800-367-7060



13. World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, Hawaii  NPS Photo

World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument is the home of the USS Arizona Memorial. The site memorializes the location of the attack of Pearl Harbor, which led to the United States involvement in World War II. The monument tells many stories from the Pacific side of the war, including the wartime internment camps that housed many Japanese Americans, and tales from the battles in the Aleutians. Visitors begin their visit at Aloha Court in the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. From there, they can spend their day exploring the galleries, watching a film in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater, or shopping for books in the well-stocked bookstore. 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96818, Phone: 808-422-3399



14. Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park  Courtesy of srongkrod - Fotolia.com



Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park preserves a former refuge site from the times of an older Hawaii. The sanctuary was a place where lawbreakers could go to escape punishment. There were walls surrounding the Hale o Keawe temple, which held the bones of chiefs and was said to give the sacred place their power. The site is considered sacred even today, and visitors should act respectful and refrain from loud or unmannered behavior while there. Visitors can take a self-guided tour of the grounds and the Puuhonua. Those who are looking for more of a challenge can hike the back country trails to other historic sites from Hawaiis past. Fishing and picnicking is permitted in the parks picnic area. 1871 Trail, Captain Cook, HI 96704, Phone: 808-328-2326

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15. Hawaii Attractions: Byodo-In Temple  Courtesy of shanemyersphoto - Fotolia.com



The Byodo-In Temple is a non-denominational temple at the Valley of the Temples in Oahu that was built in commemoration of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The temple is located at the foot of the beautiful Koalau Mountains and is a replica of the famous Byodo-In Temple that was built almost 1000 years ago in Japan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors of any faith are welcome to worship, meditate, or simply appreciate the temple grounds. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and include small waterfalls, areas for meditation, and a large reflecting pond. Visitors will certainly have a chance to see the many wild peacocks that roam the grounds or the beautiful Japanese koi carp that swim in the parks water. 47-200 Kahekii Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744, Phone: 808-239-9844



16. Things to Do in Hawaii: Greenwell Farms  Greenwell Farms



Greenwell Farms is a coffee farm that has been around since 1850. The farm has a historic store and offers free tours all day, every day. You can take a personalized walking tour of the coffee fields where you can see coffee growing. You can also visit the processing facilities where you can see coffee being processed and learn about each and every stage of the production process as it is roasted and prepared for sale. The tour includes samples of several coffee products as well. On Thursdays, the local historical society hosts a community event where they bake traditional Portuguese bread in a wood-fired oven. 81-6581 Mamalahoa Highway, Kealakekua, HI 96750, Phone: 808-323-2275

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17. Hawaii Tourist Attractions: Honolulu Museum of Art  Honolulu Museum of Art



The Honolulu Museum of Art is the largest art museum in the state of Hawaii and was founded in 1922. The museum is home to the United States largest single collection of Asian and Pacific art and includes more than 50,000 works of art. Visitors can tour the museum galleries on their own or arrange for docent-guided private tours. The museums Doris Duke Theatre is an art house theater that shows many independent and international films throughout the year. The museum store sells a variety of art, handicrafts, books, stationary, jewelry, and more. The museum also boasts a popular cafe that regularly attracts a large crowd at lunchtime. 900 Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96814, Phone: 808-532-8700

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18. Things to Do in Hawaii: Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor  Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor



The Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is Hawaiis premier aviation museum located on historic Ford Island. The museum features many different aviation exhibits, most of which are directly related to World War II and specifically the attack on Pearl Harbor. The museums hangars show damage that resulted from the Pearl Harbor Attacks on December 7, 1941. Some important aircraft in the museum include the remains of the Japanese A6M2 Zero B11-120 that crash-landed on Niihau during the attacks as well as many other World War II era planes. The museum is home to the planes that President George H.W. Bush used for flight training and his first solo flight as well. 319 Lexington Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96818, Phone: 808-441-1000



19. Hawaii Activities: Hawaii Plantation Village  Hawaii Plantation Village



Hawaii Plantation Village is an outdoor museum that features historical homes and botanical gardens. The site tells the story of the Hawaiian people through a variety of exhibits and experiences. Guests can explore the site with the help of local guides who can teach them about Hawaiian life in the early 1900s. There are more than twenty-five historic plantation homes and other buildings located throughout the village. The homes are filled with personal artifacts including furniture, clothing, and artwork. The botanical gardens feature native Hawaiian plants as well as many unusual species that were brought from East Asia and other Pacific Islands. The village has a gift shop that sells a variety of Hawaiian goods, cookbooks, souvenirs, and more. 94-695 Waipahu Street, Waipahu, HI 96797, Phone: 808-677-0110



20. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Hawaii  Courtesy of Jeff - Fotolia.com



The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific is a U.S. national cemetery located at Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu. The cemetery was established after World War II to provide a permanent burial site for thousands of servicemen whose remains were awaiting burial on the island of Guam. The cemetery is the final resting place for many who died in the wars Pacific Theater, including Wake Island and Japanese POW camps. The cemetery contains a memorial pathway that passes by several memorials that commemorate Americas veterans in various ways, including those who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor. 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, HI 96813, Phone: 808-532-3720

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21. Things to Do in Hawaii: Queen Emma Summer Palace  Queen Emma Summer Palace Queen Emma Summer Palace, also known as Hanaiakamalama, was the retreat home of Queen Emma of Hawaii during the years 1857 to 1885. Her husband and son also stayed in the home. The palace is located in the lush and beautiful Nuuanu Valley. The Nuuanu Pali Lookout offers a beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. The palace is currently preserved as a home museum, which contains a large collection of Queen Emmas personal belongings and furniture. The exhibits also include other royal artifacts and memorabilia. The museum store sells a selection of local, handcrafted items as well as Hawaiian books and other merchandise. 2913 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817, Phone: 808-595-3167



22. Things to Do in Hawaii: Kona Coffee Living History Farm  Kona Coffee Living History Farm Hawaii is home to several coffee plantations and processing facilities. Kona Coffee Living History Farm is located on the Daisaku Uchida Coffee Farm in the Big Islands Kona District. The historic farm was established on 5.5 acres of land in 1900. The farm tells the story of Hawaiis history in the coffee industry and allows guests to explore and learn about the farm through self-guided tours. The property includes a 1920s farmhouse where employees in period dress demonstrate daily life during the times. Guests should certainly take advantage of the opportunity to sample the farms 100% Kona coffee and buy some to take home. 82-6199 Marmalahoa Highway, Captain Cook, HI 96704, Phone: 808-323-3222



23. Things to Do in Hawaii: Shangri La  Shangri La Shangri La is an Islamic-style mansion built by Doris Duke near Diamond Head. The home was inspired by the extensive travels of Duke who was an heiress and philanthropist. Her travels took her through North Africa, the Middle East, and Southern Asia. The home reflects traditions from these exotic lands. It is now owned and operated by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art. The art center offers guided tours, artist residencies, and more. The centers art collection includes approximately 2,500 pieces of art and artifacts from Islamic countries around the world. The center hosts cultural events throughout the year such as dances and lectures. 4055 Papu Circle, Honolulu, HI 96816, Phone: 808-734-1941



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 Where's the Coverage of Torture in Gaza Prisons? | Main | Fatah: A Sea of Blood Will Create the State of Palestine 

October 15, 2017

Imaginary BDS Demon Gets Haaretz Photo Editor

Oct. 17 Update: Haaretz Prints Correction on BDS Activists That Weren't

In his Oct. 13 column ("Exorcising an imaginary BDS demon"), Haaretz's David Rosenberg argues that the anti-Israel BDS (boycott, divest, sanctions) movement is an "imaginary demon." As the subheadline puts it: "Israel isn't under any threat from boycott movement, but fighting a phony BDS war is too tempting for many to pass up. Even, [sic] the U.S. Congress has been enlisted in the fight."

In addition to the U.S. Congress, it seems that a Haaretz photo editor has also been taken in by the phony BDS demon, imagining BDS activists where there are none. Thus, the photo caption accompanying the article in the print edition (page 14) stated: "Israel supporters separated by a police barrier from BDS activists at a New York parade."

But the "BDS activists" are actually anti-BDS activists, as made clear in the original Associated Press caption.

Haaretz's digital edition got it right, correctly identifying the demonstrators as anti-BDS activists.

CAMERA has contacted Haaretz to request a correction. Stay tuned for an update.

Hat tip: LDS

Posted by TS at October 15, 2017 06:34 AM

Jeffrey Goldberg of the Atlantic details how Neo Nazis love Haaretz.

http://www.israellycool.com/2016/08/02/haaretz-ripped-for-hating-on-jews/

Posted by: Barry Meridian at October 16, 2017 02:07 AM

Guidelines for posting

This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material.

Post a comment
There is a race to roll out the largest LoRa network as eventually trillions of devices will need a low-power way to communicate at distance For this reason Actility is powering Comcasts efforts to deploy LoRa gateways in their set-top boxes. Each will have a range of 500 meters to one kilometer (roughly 0.3 to 0.6 miles). Trials are taking place in Philadelphia, San Francisco and Chicago and 11 more cities are in the works. Perhaps other cable companies will follow suit and they will join their networks together like they do with their CableWiFi WIFI solutions.

These gateways will also power consumer smarthomes, things like smoke detectors and the like. The technology actually allows select customers to track Comcast trucks as of February of this year.

In other news, Actility selected Stripe to power its IoT marketplace  Stripe is the payment-processing darling of the startup world.

ThingPark Market is already the market-leading e-commerce platform for LoRaWAN IoT, offering for sale over 175 products from more than 75 companies around the world. Using Stripe Connect, ThingPark Market will enable payments from buyers to sellers in their local currencies in almost 30 countries, and accelerate further the expansion of the platform.

In an in-person interview with Jay Yang, VP Channel and Strategic Accounts of Actility, he explained the company was one of the founding members of the LoRa Alliance. He also said he thinks the Comcast roll-out is the first attempt at this and moreover the U.S. is behind Europe. He believes eventually LoRa will be very big in this country.

To learn more, be sure to attend the Enterprise IoT Event, IoT Evolution Jan 22-25, 2018 and see IBM, Ingenu, Cradlepoint, Tellient, ARM, McAfee & other major companies. Special focus on Smart Cities, Security, IIoT and case studies.
HA NOI  Stock analysts have predicted the market will likely extend gains this week but divergence will continue in the context of third-quarter earning reports.

The VN-Index on the HCM Stock Exchange rose 1.63 per cent in all five trading sessions last week, closing Friday at 820.95 points. The benchmark index has expanded over 2 per cent since the beginning of this month.

On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index increased 1.05 per cent last week, ending Friday at 109.11 points. The northern market index edged up 1.3 per cent since early October.

Liquidity also improved with an average of 188.7 million shares worth a combined VN3.8 trillion (US$167.4 million) being traded per session on the two exchanges. These figures represented growth of 10.2 per cent in trading volume and 22.6 per cent in trading value compared to the previous session.

However, the cash flow only focused on certain stocks, creating a strong division.

Last weeks rally was mainly driven by large-cap stocks, particularly on the VN30 basket, which tracks the top 30 largest shares by market value and liquidty on the HCM Stock Exchange.

Mobile phone retailer Mobile World Group (MWG) gained 6.3 per cent for the week, followed by real estate giant Vingroup (VIC), up 6.5 per cent; IT group FPT (FPT), up 5 per cent, brewer Sabeco (SAB), up 4.6 per cent; PV Gas (GAS), private quity firm Masan Group (MSN) and budget airline Vietjet (VJC) each growing by over 2 per cent.

Among banks, VPBank was the biggest gainer with a weekly gain of 7.9 per cent; BIDV (BID) rallied by over 1 per cent, while others such as Vietcombank (VCB) and Military Bank (MBB) increased by less than 1 per cent.

Nguyen Van Hanh, a broker at Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities JSC, said large caps will likely continue to grow and be a major market supporter this week because leading companies are expected to report good earnings.

Securities growth

Hanh said the financial stocks, particularly banks and securities companies, will have more growth opportunities as these sectors are forecast to achieve high profits. Besides banks which have continuously gained value in recent weeks, securities shares started to rise last week.

Shares of MB Securities (MBS) climbed 8.3 per cent; Viet Capital Securities (VCI) rose 7 per cent; HCM Securities Corp (HCM) grew 4.8 per cent; and Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities (SHS) was up 1.6 per cent.

According to Nguyen Duy inh, a stock analyst at MB Securities Co, with the strong growth of the stock market since the beginning of this year, securities companies have bright prospect. Revenues from all core businesses, from brokerage services to self investment and margin lending, all increased.

Apart from securities companies, realty stocks also have rising potential thanks to favorable development of the real estate market this year.

According to BIDV Securities Cos report, about 26 listed companies on the two national stock exchanges have released their third-quarter earnings with total net profits of VN937 billion, a temporary decline of 15 per cent from the previous quarter.

However, some analysts reckon investors will start to sell stocks when their companies disclose earnings results to book short profits.

Despite possible divergence, analysts are optimistic about the market trend this week with the Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities forecasting the VN-Index may touch 830 points.

On the negative side, foreign investors remained net sellers on the two exchanges last week with total trading volume of over 17.5 million shares, equivalent to combined net sell value of nearly VN551 billion.  VNS
By Vuong Bach Lien

Far from the hustle of crowded streets in Hai Duong City, the Temple of Nguyen Thi Due is surrounded by Phuong Hoang (phoenix) mountain in Kiet ac Village. It overlooks endless rice fields.

Every day, at sunset, hundreds of storks come home to nest in trees around an immense lake in front of the temple dedicated to the first and only doctoral laureate female mandarin in Viet Nams feudal history.

Since 2006, when local people built the temple, the storks flocked there to nest. Villagers believe that it is a prosperous and sacred region.

Behind the temple, is Dues brick tomb, built in the 17th century on Mam Xoi Hill in the form of a tower. The tower called Tinh Phi is presently among the top eight historical relics of Chi Linh.

It was damaged in late 18th century and restored in 1993 by villagers. Since then, it has been visited every day by teachers and students and other pilgrims from the region and across the nation.

After more than 400 years, Vietnamese people are still passionate about the amazing life of Nguyen Thi Due.

During the feudal period, women did not have equal rights to men. They had no rights to study or take part in any exams. But Due, who was a talented, beautiful and virtuous woman, overcame all the strict regulations to get her doctorate.

In 1594, at the age of 20, Due disguised herself as a man to take an examination held by King Mac Kinh Cung and won the top position. She became the first and the only female doctoral laureate in Vietnamese history.

At a royal banquet for new laureates, King Mac Kinh Cung was surprised to find a young doctor with slender form and pleasant face. A shadow of doubt appeared in his mind. He later discovered that Due was actually a woman. Admiring her talent, the King forgave her, then married her and gave her the name Tinh Phi. He later assigned her to teach his other wives and concubines. People used to call her "Queen of Stars".

Inspiration: The Statue of Nguyen Thi Due in her temple in Chi Linh District of Hai Duong province. VNS Photo Bach Lien

After the fall of the Mac Dynasty, she was still respected and entrusted with educating palace women by the Le Kings and Trinh Lords.

Due also contributed much to the countrys education. She cared much about the national Confucian examinations and the selection of talented students. In most examinations, she herself selected and trained gifted students from Hai Duong and other regions.

She also had a big heart. Faced with natural calamities and war destruction of her country, she persuaded the Trinh Lords to share out free food to the destitute and to develop fertile rice-fields. Legend has it that her own family was poor and humble and that her brother was treated harshly by people in her village. When she became a mandarin at the Royal Court, she did not seek revenge.

Towards the end of her life, she went back to her homeland in Kiet ac Village. She died when she was more than 80 years old. Local people, who adored her talent and virtue, built a statue to worship her.

At the Mao ien Temple of Literature in Hai Duong, she was worshipped with seven other great national personalities born in the province, including Nguyen Trai, illustrious scholar and poet; respected teacher Chu Van An; and herbal doctor Tue Tinh, founder of Vietnamese traditional medicine.

Despite a brillant life, Due was among many other mandarins who were forgotten for a long time when historians failed to record history properly. While Vietnamse knew about other outstanding women, such as the Trung sisters, or poet Ho Xuan Huong, Due was still unknown to many until recently.

The Mac Dynasty paid great attention to find talent for the country by organising examinations. Even when they had to flee to Cao Bang to escape from revenge by Trinh Lords, King Mac Kinh Cung still preserved the tradition.

The Mac Dynasty had a postive role in the history of Viet Nam by helping improve the life of people by developing handicrafts, opening shipbuilding workshops and developing external trade relations with foreign countries.

But the historians of the time, influenced by the opinions of the Le and Nguyen dynasties, thought the Mac Dynasty amounted to little under the reign of King Mac Kinh Cung. And so, they didnt want to note the names of those who succeeded in the examinations during his reign and afterwards.

"Maybe, this is the reason why Nguyen Thi Due was forgotten for such a long time, said Associate Prof Dr o Thi Hao from Ha Noi Folk Literature and Arts Association, who studied about the life of Due.

Due has become a role model inspiring many Vietnamese women to go to school and succeed in a career.

Still relevent: A guide shows people around the temple and explains the role of Nguyen Thi Due in the development of Vietnamese education. VNS Photo Bach Lien

Roles for women: VN leads in Asia

A report released in June this year by by Deloitte Global, one of the worlds largest accounting firms, said Viet Nam has the highest percentage of women in top positions in Asia.

It said Viet Nam took the lead as women represented 17.6 per cent of executive board members throughout the nation. The proportion of female leaders in Viet Nam is even higher than the global average of 15 per cent.

The Chairwoman and CEO of Deloitte Vietnam, Ha Thi Thu Thanh, said in the report that in the past 25 years, after the Law on Enterprises came into effect, women-owned businesses had grown rapidly. Deloitte predicted that the proportion of women on executive boards in Viet Nam would increase to 35 per cent by 2020.

Moreover, for the proportion of women business owners, Viet Nam was also ranked among the Top 10 markets in a report by Mastercard released in April.

However, few Vietnamese women join politics. The country has three women in the Politburo. Up until August this year, only 11 out of 30 ministries and government organs had women in leadership.

Although the proportion of women in leadership roles in politics and the economy has increased in recent years, it is still insufficient compared to their potential, said Ton Nu Thi Ninh, vice chairwoman of Viet Nams Peace Committee, at an international conference last year. She added that the percentage of Vietnamese women in the Party Central Committee remained at only 10 per cent.

She said the Government should provide more opportunities for women. Even though Viet Nam was regarded as a pioneer in narrowing gender gap in recent years, it still had much to do to promote gender equality.

Legacy: Tourists from across the nation burn incense to Nguyen Thi Due, the only female mandarin in Viet Nams feudal history.  VNS Photo Bach Lien

Many Vietnamese parents still dont encourage girls to climb high the education ladder, believing that the more they study, the more difficult it will be to find a husband. Some people still think that the best place for women is at home cooking, cleaning and taking care of children.

As a result, many women lose out on opportunities for higher education, quality jobs, and deeper social engagement.

Nguyen Thu Ha, chair of the Vietnamese Womens Union, said parents should create more favourable conditions for their children to go to school and get a better job.

She said steps should be taken at home, in schools, and in communities to teach boys to appreciate, even look up to women, and acknowledge that care-giving and housework are natural tasks for both men and women. Girls should be taught to treasure themselves, to cherish and chase dreams bigger than traditional roles as wives and mothers.

If Nguyen Thi Dues parents didnt support her disguise as a man to take examinations, the country would never have had such a brillant role model.

Alive, she wrote many poems, but most are lost. Only a few verses survive. They include:

Women who are motivated

Can achieve what talented men can do.

(Nu nhi du ang co le

At la tay thiep kem gi trang nguyen.)  VNS
Thanks to the rising number of Japanese expats in HCM City and the popularity of Japanese food, there is no shortage of Japanese restaurants around. However, Hanabi Japanese Cuisine is one of the few places where you can try a traditional multi-course meal at a reasonable price. Nomad Quynh reports.

When we talk about Japanese cuisine, perhaps the word "kaiseki" is still quite new. Most people associate Japanese food with sushi and sashimi, although in fact, there is a whole lot more to one of the worlds most elaborate cuisines.

"Kaiseki" refers to a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner, including several small dishes which are meticulously prepared and beautifully presented. Nowadays in restaurants, it is served in various ways depending on the chefs creativity, the availability of seasonal ingredients and of course the price, but in general, it comprises a few different appetisers, some sashimi, grilled dishes, fried dishes (tempura), boiled/steamed dishes, pilaf (mixed) rice and miso soup, plus a dessert.

The whole meal is a combination of both hot and cold dishes that take guests on a memorable culinary journey. Kaiseki is considered one of the most sophisticated Japanese meals - and therefore one of the most expensive. In Japan, the price for one person might vary from US$100-500 excluding drinks. However if you are in HCM City, you can try it at a much more affordable price at Hanabi.

Balance: The seafood cocktail comes after fried tempura  a perfect balance to prepare for the next dish.

This restaurant was opened a few months ago by Taka san, a 30-year-old chef who used to work at the Japanese consulate in HCM City. He also has experience working in a Japanese restaurant in San Francisco.

At his place, guests have three kaiseki menus to choose from: Hasu (VN600,000), Sakura (VN800,000) and Hanabi (VN1,000,000). The restaurant is not that big, there are only about 10 seats plus a private room that can host 11. The chef prepares the ingredients and the food depending on the number of guests coming, so you will have to make reservations at least a day in advance, and advise which menu you plan to use. Basically, what they all have in common is an appetiser tray consisting of several small dishes, different kinds of tempura, pilaf rice (mixed rice) with miso soup and desserts.

For the first time, I chose the Sakura menu which came with the following items:

- Appetiser (six kinds): Pumpkin cream soup, mackerel sashimi with ikura (salmon eggs), rolled scrambled eggs, unagi (grilled eel) sushi, grilled bacon with onion and cheddar cheese, and summer vegetable marine. Among these, my favourites were the soup, the sashimi and the unagi sushi, as Im a big fan of grilled eel.

- Second dish: Cold slow cooked crab with vegetables

- Third dish: Seven kinds of tempura including shrimp, okra with shiso (a kind of herb), kisu (white fish), squid, pork-stuffed mushroom, slow cooked baby onion and cheese-stuffed bitter melon. These are the highlights of the meal. All of them are fried on the spot, one by one by the chef in front of customers. My favourites were the shrimp, the mushroom and the baby onion, so fresh and delicious.

- Fourth dish: Seafood cocktail. At this point when the guest is probably already a bit full, especially after many fried dishes, this one - with its mild sourness - comes as a perfect balance, and also as a break to prepare for the next dish.

- Fifth dish: Pilaf rice with miso soup, served with hot Japanese green tea. If the above dishes havent made you full yet, this one will.

- Last one  dessert. Orange passionfruit jelly with sweet potato cake and seasonal fruits. The mild sweetness of the cake complements the sour taste of the jelly, making this a perfect ending to such a lovely meal.

These menus arent permanent. About once a month Taka san will change, using different ingredients and his limitless creativity. Therefore, guests can have a new experience everytime they go. And enjoy a drinks list with lots of good sake choices.

To sum up, Hanabi Japanese Cuisine is the perfect place when you want to taste a real kaiseki meal without breaking the bank, or if you are looking for an original dinner idea to impress a partner. The place might only be a few months old, but from what Ive seen, with the chefs real talent, passion for food and wonderful Japanese hospitality, plus a cosy unpretentious venue and a clear concept that separates it from many other Japanese restaurants in town, I think I wont be the only customer falling in love with it.

Hanabi Japanese Cuisine

Address: 36A Nguyen Ba Huan Street, Thao ien Ward, District 2, HCM City

Tel: 0931 115 088

Opening hours: Tuesday  Friday: 6pm  10.30pm

Saturday, Sunday: 5.30pm  10.30pm

(Dinner only. Monday closed)

Comment: One of the most special Japanese restaurants in HCM City. Diners can try a traditional Japanese-style multi-course meal at a reasonable price. Only fixed set menus are served. Reservations must be made at least one day in advance.
Decorah bank

set to expand

DECORAH -- Viking State Bank & Trust has submitted a site plan for a new bank that would triple its space in downtown Decorah.

The plan was approved by the Decorah Planning and Zoning Commission last week, and the Decorah City Council is scheduled to consider the plan at its meeting Monday. The bank is located at the corner of Water and River streets and is about 4,670 square feet.

The bank is proposing a new, two-story structure of about 14,271 square feet.

Tattoo, barber

shop opens in CF

CEDAR FALLS -- Salvation Parlor Tattoo & Barber Shop has opened at 2302 W. First St., Suite 101, lower level of Thunder Ridge.

The owners are a brother-sister team. Co-owner Bo Kohl started tattooing in 2007 with additional skills in scar coverup and reworks. Co-owner Laura Kohlmeyer has been a barber for 10 years. Formerly working at Kate's on Main before deciding to follow her passion to become a shop owner. The shop will provide both men's and women's cuts, colors, styles and manicures.

Employee Deb Simcox has more than 20 years of barbering experience. She cut hair at Simcox and Fink Barbershop from 1990-2011, working with her father Jack Simcox, who established the business in 1960.

RSM gives gift

to Iowa State

WATERLOO -- RSM, a provider of audit, tax and consulting services with an office in Waterloo, has made a $250,000 gift from the RSM US Foundation to Iowa State University to endow the RSM Fellowship in Accounting for the benefit of the department of accounting in the College of Business.

Earlier this year, the RSM US Foundation announced the formation of a $1 million chaired professorship at the University of Northern Iowa to enable the school to continue to attract and retain high-quality educators.

RSM also has a long-standing relationship with the University of Iowa through the RSM Institute of Accounting Education and Research.
WATERLOO  A company overhauling the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center and Ramada Hotel is using local architects and a Waterloo furniture manufacturer.

But an international hotel chains banner will now fly over the downtown convention hub.

Leslie Hospitality Co. of Omaha, Neb., announced it is dropping original plans to rebrand the Ramada as a Hotel RL under the Red Lion chain in favor of a new soft brand being developed by the Wyndham Hotel Group.

The roughly $14 million purchase and remodeling of the downtown hotel includes renaming it Hotel 4th Waterloo  a nod to its location on West Fourth Street  which will be part of Wyndhams new Trademark Hotel Collection.

Company President Edwin Leslie said the change will put the facility in a better position to compete head-to-head for business travelers with other area hotels, including Hilton, Marriott and Fairfield.

What it gives us the ability to do  and the benefit that we have a little bit over where we were at with RL  is national and international presence, Leslie said. With Trademark we are affiliated with Wyndham Rewards, which gives us the top producing frequent-stay and frequent-travel program in the United States.

Leslie said Hotel 4th still will be the upper-middle-scale facility promised under his development agreement with the city.

We have all the independence to do what we wanted with a fabulous boutique project, he said. And thats still the direction were going.

Soft brands are a growing trend in the hotel industry, allowing independent hoteliers to tie into the marketing and loyalty programs of larger companies while continuing to keep a unique identity.

Rich Edin, regional vice president of Wyndham, said his company has more than 8,000 hotels worldwide under 20 brands, which creates the top-ranked loyalty program for travelers, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Wyndham is selling Trademark franchises now and expects to have 15 in the U.S. by years end, including Hotel 4th.

Were taking hotels that really have a history, that have a story to be told, and really giving them a soft brand, Edin said.

The announcement came last week as Leslie updated the City Council on the hotel and convention center project.

City Council members voted in July to provide property and hotel-motel tax incentives for the renovation of the 208-room hotel. A separate agreement approved in August sold the convention center to Leslie for $1 and provided a grant and tax breaks to leverage a $6 million renovation of the 42-year-old building.

Leslie said the project has a $15.8 million financing commitment in place, which should allow the city and his firm to close on the sale within the next two weeks.

Plans call for every hotel room to be completely redone, including new flooring. Leslie has a nearly $1 million contract with Bertch Cabinet Manufacturing, of Waterloo, to provide furniture for the rooms.

We love the people over at Bertch, Leslie said. The designs theyve come up with for custom furnishings are fabulous.

Don McDowell, acting general manager and project manager, said the entire main floor will be redone, with the Factory City Gastro Pub being replaced by a Matthews Restaurant, focused on steak and seafood.

Were going to move the restaurant and the bar to the back where the pool is now, McDowell said, noting the restaurant area will become an open lobby and gathering space for guests.

InVision Architects, which is working on both buildings, is still developing plans for the overhaul of the convention center, which will be renamed Waterloo Convention Center at Sullivan Brothers Plaza.

The interesting thing about working with InVision is that they have a considerable amount of in-depth knowledge of the convention center, Leslie said.

One of the things that we really, really like is photos from the convention center from when it was originally built  in the late 70s, he added. A lot of what were looking at doing in some of the design and the aspects and features of that are actually going back to the original design: open ceilings, open concept.

Both Leslie and McDowell said there has been an uptick in interest from conventions and events since they announced the remodeling plans and took over operations at both facilities.
VGM Group added four new associates. FELIX MARTINEZ joined VGM Homelink as a bilingual patient care coordinator. He previously was at Tyson Foods Inc. JEREME GUNNUSCIO joined VGMs IT division. He is a systems architect and previously was at ACES. LIVVY BOECK is the new social media strategist at VGM Forbin. Prior to joining VGM, she worked at State Farm and graduated from Iowa State University. MANDI JOYNER also joined VGM Forbin as an account executive. She is a graduate of Buena Vista University and previously was at Mechdyne Corp.

Cedar Valley Hospice welcomed several nurses to its team. ABBEY GELNER is an on-call admissions nurse working at all four of its locations. She graduated from Hawkeye Community College in 2016. RACHEL DANCER of Cedar Falls is a nurse at the Hospice Home. She has nearly 10 years of experience in the health care industry. KIERNAN NICOL is a nurse in the Waterloo and Independence locations. She is a Kaplan University graduate and has worked in the medical field for five years. SUE ANDRIANO of Waterloo joined the organization as a PRN nurse at the Hospice Home. She has 24 years of experience working in the medical field and currently is a nurse at Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo.

Cedar Valley Hospice is welcomed new aides to its team. JENESSA EDWARDS of Dike is as an aide at the Hospice Home. She is continuing her education at Hawkeye Community College. AMY GOMEZ of Allison joined the Waverly office as an aide. She has more than 17 years of experience in her position.

REDZO HODZIC was promoted at Veridian Credit Union to branch manager at its Oelwein location. Hodzic, of Waterloo, has worked at Veridian for five years. He previously was a loan officer at Veridians Martin Plaza branch in Waterloo. Hodzic has a degree in business management from the University of Northern Iowa.

RYAN SHERIDAN, president and CEO of Denver Savings Bank in Denver, was named a member of the Iowa Bankers Associations Management Committee. The committee is comprised of bank management professionals from across the state.

DAVE BLUM was selected for the store director position at Hy-Vee in Cedar Falls. Blum started with Hy-Vee in 1993, and most recently was store director at Cedar Rapids No. 5. He graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City. Blum also obtained an operations degree from Hy-Vee University and is a certified wine specialist along with certified safety manager.

JANNELLE PRICE, JAY MORALES and TIM CORNELIUS joined Prairie Lakes Church. Price has joined the Cedar Falls campus as their NextGen administrative assistant. She has a bachelors degree in family services from the University of Northern Iowa and was an associate/cashier at J & C Grocery in Sumner. Morales is the creative video coordinator. He has a bachelors degree in interactive digital studies from UNI and was most recently employed as a video and worship intern at Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls. Cornelius is the website and social media coordinator. Cornelius, recently self-employed, has a bachelors degree in Bible and business management from Piedmont International University.
NAACP banquet

tickets available

WATERLOO  The Black Hawk County Chapter NAACP 96th annual Freedom Fund Banquet is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Isle Casino Hotel in Waterloo.

Guest speaker will be former Waterloo native Terry Johnson, who was a wrestling standout for the East High Trojans. He is currently vice president and commercial lending relationship manager for the State Bank of Texas in Chicago.

Also, poetess Queen Gabby will perform her piece Dear Black America.

The deadline to purchase tickets is Oct. 25. Tickets are $50 each, which includes a one-year membership to the NAACP chapter. For more information, call 214-3434.

Exchange club

to host speaker

WATERLOO  The weekly meeting of the Sunrise Exchange Club, set for 7 a.m. Tuesday at the Ramada Inn, will feature Michelle Teymeyer of the Waterloo Community Foundation.

Teymeyer will give an update on current activities of the foundation.

Anyone is welcome to attend at no charge. For reservations, call Brad Condon at 239-4162.

Great Decisions

group to meet

CEDAR FALLS  The Great Decisions discussion group will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in the conference room of the Cedar Falls Public Library.

The October topic is Prospects for Afghanistan and Pakistan. After watching a DVD, participants will discuss, Should we maintain, drawdown or withdraw completely?

The event is sponsored by AAUW and Cedar Valley United Nations Association.

Voting continues

in photo contest

INDEPENDENCE  People may vote through noon Tuesday for the winners of the photos submitted for the 2017 Buchanan County Natural Areas Photo Contest now posted on the Fontana Park Facebook page.

Category winners will be selected by those getting the most likes in each of the four categories  People enjoying Nature, Wildlife, Plants and Wildflowers, and Landscapes.

Category winners will receive $50. Winners will be announced Wednesday on the Facebook page.

Quota group

set to meet

CEDAR FALLS  Quota International of Waterloo, a nonprofit service organization that supports many groups in Black Hawk and contiguous counties, will meet Oct. 24 at Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, 3117 Greenhill Drive.

Social time is 5 p.m., with dinner following.

Kris Izer, Headstart service coordinator, will be the speaker. Guests will eat free by making a reservation at 233-4635.

Blood drive

set in CF

CEDAR FALLS  There will be an American Red Cross blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday at AMVETS Post 49.

Schedule an appointment at redcrossblood.org or (800) 733-2767.
WATERLOO  Waterloo City Council Ward Five candidate Chris Shimp acknowledged Saturday he was arrested for public intoxication in Cedar Falls on Friday.

Im sincerely sorry for the disappointment I have caused due to my actions, Shimp wrote in a statement to media Saturday. I made a mistake and take full responsibility for it.

University of Northern Iowa media relations confirmed a person by the name Chris Shimp was arrested Friday for public intoxication. Shimps statement Saturday said he is taking steps to assure incidents like this do not happen again.

The arrest report was not immediately available.

This in no way changes my passion for Waterloo and my intentions to serve its citizens, Shimp said. I plan to take the next few days to spend (time) with my family and will continue the campaign later this week.

Shimp is one of two candidates running for the open Ward Five council. The other candidate is Cody Leistikow. The election will be held on Nov. 7.
WATERLOO  The granddaughter and grandniece of Waterloos five Sullivan brothers killed during World War II and their namesake ship will participate in a 75th anniversary commemoration of their deaths during Veterans Day observances in New York City next month.

That will be followed by a separate commemoration in Waterloo at 1 p.m. Nov. 18 at the Grout Museum Districts Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum, 503 South St.

Kelly Sullivan, a Cedar Falls elementary school teacher and the granddaughter of Albert Sullivan, the youngest of the five brothers who died on the USS Juneau during World War II, will participate in events in New York and Waterloo.

She has met with family members and descendants of the Sullivans shipmates in recent months and will be reunited with current and former sailors of the current Navy ship named for them when the USS The Sullivans arrives in New York, where it was commissioned into the Navy 20 years ago. Kelly Sullivan christened the ship when it was launched in 1995 and is its official sponsor.

The USS The Sullivans ships crew will participate in New Yorks Veterans Day parade, Sullivan said.

It just so happens its the 75th, so we decided to make it a big commemoration of the 75th too, Sullivan said, with activities Nov. 9-11.

At a recent event in Pittsburgh, Sullivan met the daughter of the late Margaret Jaros Woods, who was engaged to Joseph Red Sullivan, the middle of the five brothers. A few weeks later, she participated in a reunion of the USS The Sullivans Association in Buffalo, N.Y., where the original USS The Sullivans, now decommissioned, is docked at a military park. She participated in her first such reunion there 40 years ago as a young girl with her parents when that ship was brought there.

Its hoped the current USS The Sullivans, a guided missile destroyer, can be docked at the same Staten Island pier where it was commissioned in April 1997, Sullivan said. That pier, now named Sullivans Pier, is across New York Harbor from the Brooklyn Navy Yard where the Juneau was commissioned in 1942.

Its pretty poignant to think about the fact that 75 years ago is when the Juneau left from that area, because that where the Juneau was commissioned, Sullivan said. The ship was commissioned on Feb. 14, 1942.

Nine months later the Juneau, a Navy light cruiser, was torpedoed and sunk by a Japanese submarine off the Solomon Islands on Nov. 13, 1942, as it and other battle-damaged American ships were returning to port from the naval Battle of Guadalcanal. All but 13 of the Juneaus crew of 700 perished, including George, Francis, Joseph, Madison and Albert Sullivan of Waterloo.

They had enlisted in the Navy after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the condition they be allowed to serve together. The five brothers deaths is considered the greatest combat-related loss of life by one family at one time in U.S. military history. The Juneau and the Sullivans earned four battle stars for engagements in which they were involved.

Its going to be really meaningful, Sullivan said. Im excited. Theres a lot of symbolism. I just think its going to be neat. Im excited my sailors (of the current USS The Sullivans) get the chance to be there to celebrate Veterans Day and honor those killed on the Juneau. She noted crew members are schooled in the Sullivans history. Its hoped as many former crew members as possible can attend. She noted the crew saved the ship, based in Mayport, Fla., from damage during Hurricane Matthew last year.

The Waterloo event is being held a week later so Sullivan can attend. That event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Museum admission will only be charged to those wishing to tour the exhibits. For more information, call 234 -6357.
Genres : Action, Thriller

Starring : Dave Bautista, Brittany Snow, Angelic Zambrana, Jeremie Harris

Director : Cary Murnion and Jonathan Milott

Plot Synopsis

Emerging from a NY subway on her way home from college, Lucy (Brittany Snow) discovers her neighborhood of Bushwick engulfed in utter chaos. Trying to escape the violence, Lucy seeks refuge in the basement of Stupe (Dave Bautista), a former Marine on his way out of town to find his family. As the unlikely pair navigate through a hail of gunfire and lethal explosions, they learn they are in the middle of a civil war as Texas attempts to secede from the US. With the clash between local residents and the militia escalating, Lucy and Stupe must rely on each other in an impossible race to get out of the city and survive another day.
When it comes to the artful science of economics, most American farmers and ranchers are classic Ricardians, or followers of David Ricardo, an 18th century English stock trader whose influential book, On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, explained what he saw as the markets guiding lights.

Any ag econ student from the last 150 years can spot a Ricardian principle a mile away. Some of his classics include comparative advantage, the law of diminishing returns, opportunity cost and the ever-useful theory of economic rent.

All, not coincidentally, fit snugly into most U.S. farmers and ranchers near-sacred belief that, given free markets and free trade, theyll out-produce everyone else.

Maybe, but production doesnt mean profit, and free trade and free markets are ideals, not realities. In fact, there are huge barriers to both: over-the-moon land prices, soaring seed costs, market bubbles, currency manipulation, price inelasticities, monopolies, monopsonies, tariffs, weather, sanitary barriers, ongoing global conflicts.

Moreover, any of these external influences can lead to negative market consequences like market losses and even bankruptcy. Thats one reason why Ricardos economic principles are labeled theories, not truths or facts.

An even better reason, explains Richard Thaler, a non-Ricardian economist at the University of Chicago, is that humans are not always rational so, often, the markets they live and operate in wont always be rational either.

That makes sense. Why else would hardware stores put the cherry licorice display next to the checkout lane if they didnt want me to make a completely irrational purchase? Does anyone really need two pounds of chewy, artificially flavored fructose?

Irrational behavior, in fact, explains so many market consequences the Nobel committee just awarded Thaler its 2017 Memorial Prize in Economics. In announcing the award, the committee not only honored his work on how people are economically irrational, but how they are predictably irrational  that they consistently behave in ways that defy economic theory.

Predictably irrational?

For example, Thaler explained to the New York Times, the theory of supply and demand clearly states people will pay more for an umbrella during a rainstorm. In real life, however, many people will become angry if you charge more for one during a rainstorm. Most, in fact, wont buy it.

Thats predictably irrational: You really need an umbrella because its raining but refuse to buy one because, well, its raining.

We down-to-earth farm and ranch folks are predictably irrational, too. How else can you explain why some of us only buy green machinery and others only red?

Right. Its complicated. And predictably irrational.

If thats complicated, how do predictably irrational people around the world design and implement farm and food policies that are effective both nationally and internationally?

Thaler, the newly minted Nobel laureate, might call on his fictional friend, Homo Economicas, to tackle that knotty problem. Econ Man, as Thaler calls him, is part of a group of highly intelligent beings that are capable of making the most complex of calculations but are totally lacking in emotions.

In other words, Econ Man is always predictable and perfectly rational.

On one occasion, Thaler put Econ Man to work in his classroom after a group of high-achieving students averaged 70 points on an exam. When their bitter complaints over the test scores finally ebbed, Thaler assured the students that, on his grading curve, 70 still equaled a B. That meant nothing to the students; all they saw was 70.

Econ Mans solution was beautiful: Thaler raised the value of the next exam from 100 points to 137 points. As a result, the average score on this second exam hovered near 100, not 70. The relative letter grade, however, still was a B. The students didnt care; they saw 100, not 70, and were elated. Predictably irrational? In spades.

How would Econ Man score the 2018 farm bill?

I dont know but on his principle alone, Ricardo would give it a 100.
Fix our divisions

DELBURN CARPENTER

CEDAR FALLS  For centuries kneeling was the way to show respect. Now some of us are upset because some choose to kneel instead of stand? OK, the kneeling is more than just a show of respect. The kneeling is also meant to send a message to all that we have serious social divisions which are harming us.

The message is true. We have divisions. The divisions are harming us now in our competition with the rest of the world. By our waste of human resources, the divisions now will also harm us in the future. We need to hear the message and fix our divisions.

Tax reform

CHERYL HANNAH

WATERLOO  What does it really mean when we hear the words tax cuts? At first it sounds good. We all want more money in our pockets, right? But on a closer look, the average Iowan may actually end up paying more in taxes. It is likely by 2027 the top 20 percent of taxpayers would receive 86.6 percent of all tax cuts. Most average Iowans do not fall within the top 20 percent of taxpayers. Lower income households might see a gain from the increase in the standard deduction but would lose out from the repeal of personal exemptions.

These two things could very well mean a tax increase for lower and middle income families with two or more children. This proposed tax reform does not help the average Iowan. Tell Rep. Rod Blum, who supports the tax reform, to take care of the average Iowan, not just the wealthy like himself.

Books message

ROGER W. SMITH

WATERLOO  In one of the most important new books, Not a Day Care: The Devastating Consequences of Abandoning Truth, by Everett Piper, Ph.D., president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, warns, Today, college campuses are bastions of speech codes and ideological conformity. Faculty and students alike are more interested in identifying trigger warnings than they are in pursuing truth. For decades, our schools have thought that all morality is relative; they have promoted the cultural Marxist position that race, sex and class are what matters; they have derided America, western civilization and Christianity as deeply flawed and deeply oppressive. We are now seeing the results of that teaching, not only on college campuses, but in our culture, in our laws and in our political life. In the universities few are willing to speak out against their liberal tendencies.

To that I would add that eight years under President Obama accelerated the process that alarms Piper and the rest of us.

Sabotage

JUDITH THOMAS

CEDAR FALLS  What do Republican leaders and Trump do when repeal and replace doesnt work? They sabotage the current ACA and CHIP programs to implode. Iowa designed a waiver that will assist people, but Trump called CMS (Centers for Medicare/Medicaid Services) to deny the waiver. We only have 30 days to protest and call legislators for assistance, or according to Iowas insurance commissioner, Doug Ommen, the impact on many Iowa families would be catastrophic.

Here is the scheme:

1) Delay response to Iowas waiver plan for subsidy until deadline passes.

2) Cut enrollment period in half.

3) Slash funding for outreach and marketing by 90 percent.

4) Take down the Healthcare.gov website for maintenance, hours at a time during sign-up period.

5) Cut off ACA payments to current insurers.

6) Roll back the law requiring birth control coverage by insurers.

7) Deny funding for CHIP (child health insurance program) by not re-authorizing program.

Please call legislators and make your voice heard. These actions are outrageous and need to be stopped.

REAP assembly

ROGER WHITE

CEDAR FALLS  One very popular conservation, natural resources and recreation program in Iowa is Resource Enhancement And Protection.

REAP invests in the enhancement and protection of the states natural and cultural resources by providing money for projects through state or local agency budgets or in the form of grants. Several aspects of REAP also encourage private matching contributions that multiply the programs impact. Every county has the opportunity to participate with REAP.

Part of REAPs popularity is due to the amount of citizen input. Every county has a citizen committee made up of conservation, natural resource, outdoor recreation and cultural/historic stakeholders charged with writing a REAP plan and reviewing all grant applications. Every odd-numbered year, there is a series of REAP assemblies across the state where citizens give input and elect delegates for the REAP Congress in Des Moines. This year, the regional REAP assembly for Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Butler, Chickasaw and Grundy counties will be Oct. 24 at Cedar Valley SportsPlex, 300 Jefferson St, Waterloo, starting at 6:30 p.m. This is a public meeting and all individuals who are interested in natural resources, conservation, recreation or historic preservation are invited to attend.

Fireworks

DAVE CARLTON

CEDAR FALLS  Pretty sparky issue right now with the residents of Cedar Falls. There are upcoming elections for council members in certain districts too that could change the whole fireworks code outcome.

Just a word to the wise. Put some thought into this. Do your due diligence and dont be fooled by any newcomers that say something one day and something else the next day; council member possibles who wont answer simple straight-forward e-mail questions. They either just need the career status or possibly a paycheck. If they cant provide their personal opinion in a hard copy e-mail or text, based on whats safe and sane for Cedar Falls, then what control do you as a voter have? Vote no. These huge vote-for-me signs are just a way of dodging the real issues.

Road work

ASHLEY WEEPIE

HAZLETON  When are they going to finish the road that has been torn up since this spring in Hazleton? It is really upsetting that its taking this long.

I hope its fixed by Halloween.
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Svetochka seems to be not feeling just perfect. She is okay, but she had her flue shot vaccination (I refuse such things,) and she, while okay is off key. That is normal and so we will wait an extra few days, before we take off to the village. Just to let her rest

I could have had the same shot, these vaccinations are supplied by her work free and literally anyone who wants to have a flue shot can get one in Russia. Free

Therefore, I am sipping a cup of coffee this morning, after walking Boza the spoiled brat doggy and that spoiled brat, is back sleeping near his Svetochka and they both are sawing logs in unison

That leaves me to sip coffee, write something with earthshaking importance and to contemplate the future of mankind! Except the latter is not too high on my list. Mankind is kinda a lost cause when it comes to abilities of the species to live within the planetary worlds in peace and harmony.

I suspect that beings from another solar system and or maybe our own, would look at us like this..

We earthlings think we are Tarzan as we swing in the trees, beating our chests and yelling, aahuaaa uaaa uaaaaaaaa at the top of our lungs to impress the universe. Instead the other beings watching us, most likely see us as George of the Jungle; watch out for that tree

I suspect that if there is a Las Vegas betting pool of the Universe, we are one of the more interesting subjects in that race to the end of us humans 20 to 1, they do not survive the weekend!

Our aahuaaa uaaa uaaaaaaaa can be heard everywhere. From Save the Whales to Save North Korea and removing from schools To Kill a Mockingbird to what is a Babbitt? It can even be heard as a constant background noise, war drums all over the world. Why, aahuaaa uaaa uaaaaaaaa is heard daily about Russia, Trump and Id like to teach the world to sing even if you dont wanna us to. So drink Coca-Cola or else

Yes, I suspect that we will not last as long as the Dinosaurs did. Give or take a few million years, those rulers of planet earth survived about 165,000,000 millions years and we have been around give or take measured in just a few measly thousands of years

Could you image the shape earth will be in, if we continue to rape her as we do now?

Hmm

* * * * *

Thought for today:

Sometimes I go hours without drinking coffeeits called sleeping!  Anonymous

WtR
Genres : Drama, Comedy

Starring : Bonnie Bedelia, Leslie Jordan, Caroline Rhea, Dale Dickey, Emerson Collins

Director : Del Shores

Plot Synopsis

Seventeen years after family matriarch Peggy tripped over G.W. s wooden legs in Sordid Lives, same-sex marriage equality has barreled into Winters, Texas and not everyone is ready to accept it. An anniversary memorial service is being planned in honor of Peggy at the bar while the Southside Baptist Church plans an Anti-Equality Rally to protest the abomination of gay marriage and work to defend their religious freedom. The beloved cast of colorful characters are all on a collision course for shenanigans and fireworks on the big night. Along the way a bisexual serial killer shows up, a drag queen country medley is performed and a beauty-salon-versus-the-bigots battle turns getting your hair done into the front lines of the equality battle. Friendships are tested and families are reunited as fear and bigotry are confronted with acceptance and understanding on the way to a surprise wedding with (almost) everyone in attendance. Bonus Features: -Music Video -Behind the Scenes -Cast Interviews -Extra Scenes -Bloopers -Official Trailer


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Melbourne, Oct 16, 2017 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Australian Securities and Frankfurt Stock Exchange cross listed iSignthis Ltd ( ASX:ISX ) ( TA8:FRA ), the global leader in RegTech for identity verification and transactional banking/payments, is pleased to announce that it has completed integration of its services to Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) regulated Tradefinancial (http://www.tradefinancial.com.au).



Highlights:



- Australian CFD Trader, Tradefinancial, completes integration and is now transacting "live" with ISXPay(R) via Paydentity(TM) platform.



- ISXPay(R) providing payment processing, settlement and full payment facilitation services



- Tradefinancial will contribute revenue in the current quarter



As previously announced, iSignthis offers payment facilitation services in Australia (ISXPay(R)), via its integration with the National Australia Bank ( ASX:NAB ). The agreement with the NAB allows ISXPay(R) to offer full card acquiring payment facilitation services including processing, clearing and funds settlement to merchants, including Tradefinancial, of Visa and Mastercard transactions, in addition to BPAY payout facility to Australian cards. ISXPay(R) incorporates the Company's Paydentity(TM) technology, which provides identity verification (IDV) services in addition to our patented payment instrument verification (PIV) and strong customer authentication (SCA).



Tradefinancial is now processing live transactions via the ISXPay(R) service, and will contribute revenue in the current quarter. Services are progressively going live from today, commencing with payment facilitation. Paydentity(TM) services to be scaled in shortly.



Revenue contribution has been forecast on an aggregated basis based upon merchant provided data per the announcement dated 11th October 2017. Actual revenue and earnings will be reported on a sector, geographic and/or service stream basis. The Company has now contracted merchant customers for ISXPay(R) and Paydentity(TM) services across multiple sectors, including the trading/brokers, gaming, digital, fintech and retail sectors.



The Company's agreement with the NAB will be leveraged to provide card acquiring services for further Australian and New Zealand online merchants. The A/NZ acquiring services complement the Company's European Monetary Financial Institution e-Money license, its European partnership with Worldline ( EPA:WLN ) and the Company's own Principal Memberships of Visa Inc ( NYSE:V ), Mastercard Worldwide ( NYSE:MA ) and JCB International. Principal membership of card schemes allows the Company to independently offer both acquiring (i.e. fund processing & settlement) together with issuing of cards, including virtual, credit, debit & prepaid cards.



iSignthis continues to build strong relationships with AML/CFT regulated merchants, enabling them to meet the vast and complex compliance requirements of AML regulations in Australia, the USA and Europe via its Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) services.



About TradeFInancial - http://www.tradefinancial.com.au/about-us



TradeFinancial has gained a reputation of a leading online trading provider, offering a full range of assets, trading styles and order executions. It is the goal of TradeFinancial to provide the safest, fastest, most enjoyable trading experience to our clients so that they can concentrate on making smart trades and earning potential profits. Our clients are our highest priority.



TradeFinancial has developed an advanced, dynamic and transparent trading platform, providing their traders with an outstanding investing experience that embraces the latest trading technologies, userfriendly interface, extensive educational materials, as well as safe and secured and regulated trading environment.



TradeFinancial commits to excellence in providing a trading platform that can be used by private and institutional investors worldwide to execute trades in the fastest and most efficient manner.



Tradefinancial.com.au is owned and operated by Ozifin Tech Pty Ltd registered under ABN 16 618 038 396. Ozifin Tech Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative (AFS Rep# 001256645) of AGM Markets Pty Ltd (AFSL# 422662). Suite 502, 1 Queens Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004, Australia.





About iSignthis Ltd





iSignthis Ltd (ASX:ISX) (FRA:TA8) is a hybrid monetary financial institution and also a RegTech leader in remote identity verification, payment authentication with deposit taking, transactional banking and payment processing capability. iSignthis provides an end-to-end on-boarding service for merchants, with a unified payment, electronic money and identity service via our Paydentity(TM) and ISXPay(R) solutions.

By converging payments and identity, iSignthis delivers regulatory compliance to an enhanced customer due diligence standard, offering global reach to any of the world's 4.2Bn 'bank verified' card or account holders, that can be remotely on-boarded to meet the Customer Due Diligence requirements of AML regulated merchants in as little as 3 to 5 minutes. Paydentity(TM) has now onboarded and verified more than 1.5m persons to an AML KYC standard.

iSignthis Paydentity(TM) service is the trusted back office solution for regulated entities, allowing merchants to stay ahead of the regulatory curve, and focus on growing their core business. iSignthis' subsidiary, iSignthis eMoney Ltd, trades as ISXPay(R), and is an EEA authorised eMoney Monetary Financial Institution, offering card acquiring in the EEA, and Australia.

ISXPay(R) is a principal member of Mastercard Inc, Diners, Discover, (China) Union Pay International and JCB International, an American Express aggregator, and provides merchants with access to payments via alternative methods including SEPA, Poli Payments, Sofort, PRZ24 and others.

Probanx Solutions Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of iSignthis Ltd, provides API based access to CORE Banking solutions, SEPA Core, SEPA Instant and SEPA business scheme, for neobanks, banks, credit unions and emoney institutions, and provides a bridge to the Eurosystem's Central Bank of Lithuania's CENTROLink service.
India and Sri Lanka agreed to find a permanent solution to the fishermen issue existing between the two countries.

The two sides held ministerial-level talks on the fishermen issue in New Delhi and agreed that a permanent solution to the fishermen issues should be found at the earliest.

The ministerial-level talks were attended by Indias Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Radha Mohan Singh and Sri Lankan Minister for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera.

The talks were followed by the third meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) on fisheries held in the national capital on Friday.

The JWG was co-chaired by Secretary (Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries), Government of India and Secretary (Ministry of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development), Government of Sri Lanka.

The co-chairs of the JWG briefed the outcome of the issues and discussed during the 3rd JWG meeting for consideration of the ministers and for further directions.

The ministers agreed that a permanent solution to the fishermen issues should be found at the earliest.

The Indian side was satisfied with the progress on release of apprehended fishermen and detained fishing vessels in the recent past, while reiterating the release of all the remaining Indian fishing vessels in Sri Lankan custody.

Recent initiatives taken by the Indian Government to end bottom trawling in the Palk Bay Area were shared with the Sri Lankan side.

These include launching of a program on diversification of bottom trawlers into Deep Sea Fishing Vessels for tuna long lining under Blue Revolution Scheme, construction of Mookaiyur and Poompuhar fishing harbours, capacity-building program for fishermen of Palk Bay Area in deep sea tuna long lining.

Besides, the Government of Tamil Nadu has banned fresh registration for bottom trawlers in the Palk Bay Area.